Recollection

"It's gonna be a series of smaller flights until we reach D.C., then it'll be the hellish flight." I heard Jinxx say to me from across the aisle.

We had made it through check-in, x-ray scans and were now seated on the plane. I was buckled in coach along with the other guys and Punk.

Jinxx was across the aisle on the outside, Jake next to him in the center while Andy and CC were directly in front of me. Ash and Punk to my left side.

Punk was all wide eyed at the commotion around him and whimpered a tiny bit. Ash kept it at a bare minimum with his creative theatrics.

"Here, put this in your mouth and chew like a bitch when the plane gains air." Ash handed me a piece of spearmint flavored gum. "It'll help when your ears pop from the pressure."

I was more worried about Punk's ears than my own. I wasn't sure how he'd react but I was soon to find out as the plane began its taxi out onto the runway.

Once the pilot finished talking and the flight attendants were strapped in, we were off. I furiously began chewing as the plane kept gaining speed and I felt it arch up into the air. Punk began whining and I went immediately on alert and reached for my seat belt. Ashley reached over and smacked my hand roughly, shaking his head 'No'.

Once the plane evened out and the seat belt sign flicked off, Ash undid my belt and placed Punk in my lap, hands right behind him. His head fell into the crook of my breasts and he quieted down. I could see his little eyelids continuously flutter as he tried his damndest not to fall asleep.

Ash began to run his long fingers up and down Hunter's back and it wasn't but minutes that his small chest slowed in repetitions as he fell off into a slumber.

I watched in complete pride as my little boy took each small breath. I couldn't imagine being anywhere but there at that moment. My son in my arms and Ashley right next to me.

Hunter slept through the flight from Los Angeles to Dallas and halfway through the short layover. He awoke wet and hungry. Jake took him from Ashley and changed him right there on his lap in the terminal. Jinxx went ahead and ran to the bathroom for some warm tap water for a bottle.

Once he returned, he scooped Punk up and immediately placed the bottle to his lips. The guys already were picking up my slack. Ashley grabbed my hand before tears threatened to spill.

"It's okay A." and he leaned over to put his lips to mine.

Andy cleared his throat to get us to pay attention. The plane to Washington D.C. was boarding.
CC grabbed my carry-on since I was going to be seated next to him and Jake this flight. I was nervous because Ashley and Andy were going to have Punk the entire way there. And there were quite a few rows of seats between us.

"It'll be okay, Autumn. Ash and Andy will be able to handle the situation." Jake came up alongside of me and helped me limp along down the corridor to the plane. All the guys must have knew my nervousness, all remained close by except for Ashley who I asked to go ahead with Hunter securely in his arms.

Once we were all settled in our seats, I felt my new iPhone vibrate in my pocket.

One new picture message from Ash!

I opened it to see Ashley's and Punk's faces fill my screen. I couldn't help but grin in response. I sent a smiley face back and received an 'We <3 U' reply back almost instantly. I turned it off once the pilot's voice came over the loudspeaker.

I settled in for the next leg of our trip.

We landed in D.C. a bit later than we should have. We were all rushing as quickly as we could considering it was nearing boarding time for our last leg of the flights to London.

As soon as I cleared the plane, Jake threw his bag to CC and whisked me into his arms.

"Making up for lost time" he whispered as he ran up the ramp between the plane and the airport terminal.

As soon as we were inside, bags quickly switched hands, then I was put onto CC's back where he gave me a piggy back ride to the next terminal. Throughout the running taking place, I saw Ashley close behind, holding onto Punk with his dear life.

With the guys completely out of breath, we luckily made it for final boarding call. We checked in with customs so they could check our passports and went through another set of full body scans before prancing down the ramp to yet another plane.

Notes