Unbreakable

“Today was great wasn’t it?” Ashley smiles.

“It really was.” I agree, while crawling into bed.

“That little girl April was so cute too.” he shuts off the light, and gets in next to me.

“Oh my gosh yes!” I exclaim. “WIth her little cheeks, and her eyes, and her hair.”

He wraps his arms around me, and I rest my head on his bicep. “You were great with her.”

“I just love children.” I laugh.

“I can tell.” He places a gentle kiss on the top of my head.

“I wish I could have one. “ I sigh.

“I know.” He kisses my head again.

“It’s probably for the best though, I mean we’re never home, and we’re really young too… It just…” We lay there in silence for a few minutes.

His fingers start to wiggle on my stomach. “No more being sad.” He tells me.

“Ashley.” I warn.He rolls over, and tickles me more aggressively. “Ashley!” I scream.

“What Rose?” His hands move up my sides, making me laugh harder. “Rose what is going on? You’re acting like a lunatic.”

“Ashley. Stop.” I get between laughs.

“Stop doing what?” He tickles my hips, and I lose it.

“Ashley! Stop!” I try to squirm away, but he holds onto my waist.

“Lace I have no idea what you’re talking about.” He chuckles. I laugh so hard that no sound is coming out, and tears are streaming down my face. “Aw why’re you crying?” He tickles my stomach again. “Tummy please don’t cry.” He says in a mock sad tone. I find his hands, and try to pull them away. He grabs my hands, pulls them above my head, and lightly kisses my lips. “Better?”

“Better.” I smile. My sides, and face hurts so badly from laughing, but it’s a wonderful reason. Ashley lays down beside me, and drapes an arm over me. We stay in this perfect place for a while. I hear rain hit the window, and I get an idea. I roll over, and see him looking at me. “Wanna go for a walk?”

“Rose it’s raining.” he brushes some hair behind my ear.

“Exactly.” I grin. He looks at me seriously, and then a smirk creeps to his face. We throw the covers back, and jump out of bed. I find a bra, and some jeans on the floor, and put them on. He throws a shirt over his head, and puts on some shoes. “Come on come one come on!” I squeal.

“I’m coming I’m coming.” He laughs. I grab his hand, and we bound downstairs. The dogs are barking at us from their kennel. “We’ll be back don’t you worry.” He calls. I rip the door open, and run outside. “This is insane!” Ashley laughs.

“We’re insane.” I reply.

He walks down the walkway, and wraps his arms around my waist. “I love you so much.”

“I love you too.” He picks me up, and spins me around while kissing me. He puts me down, and we look into each other’s eyes. “Let’s go!” I grab his hand, and we run down the sidewalk.

“Where are we going?” He calls over the pounding rain.

“You’ll see!” i laugh. I lead him around the corner, and across the road. We’re laughing like maniacs, and getting weird looks, but that just makes it better. We turn another corner, and walk onto the boardwalk.

“Oh I remember this place.” He smiles.

“I should hope so, you only live a block away.” I smirk.

“You know it’s crazy that we lived like two blocks away, and we’ve never seen each other.” He rests his chin on my head, and holds me close.

“Well i wasn’t there for most of the year so I mean it’s not that weird.” I shrug.

“True.” He nods.

“You have no idea how good for me you are.” I tell him.

“Really?”

“Really, did you know that I’ve been clean for four months, and I haven’t had a night terror either?”

“Oh that can’t be because of me.”

“Four years of hating myself, and wanting to die, and then that all goes away when I start dating you. Yeah it’s definitely because of you.” I smirk. “I can’t thank you enough.”

“You don’t have to thank me for anything.” He kisses my head, and we stand there in silence.

“My parents would have loved you.” I sigh.

“Mine would have loved you too.” He laughs. “They would have brought you out on rides every weekend, and have weekly jam sessions.”

“Really?” I giggle.

“Really, they would have made sure we were a thing if you had lived in my town. My dad liked ‘projects” that’s what he would call them.” He chuckles. “My mom would have helped too, she would have invited you over every weekend, and probably would have left us alone for hours.” I sit on the railing so I can look at him. “Of course they wouldn’t have to because you’re totally awesome, and I would have done all of that on my own.” We both laugh at this. “What were you parents like?”

I smile at the memories that we had together. “Well my dad was your typical Irish fellow. He liked to party, and he was very passionate about music, family always came first though. My mom was quiet when you didn’t know her that well, but once you did you had better hold on for the ride.” I laugh. “She was sassy, and sarcastic wrapped up in a sweet sugary package.”

“Kind of like you.” He smiles.

“Kind of.” I shrug. “I got contaminated by Ronnie, and Boston.” I chuckle.

“That’ll do it.” He laughs. “I came from a family of bikers, there was no hope for me.”

“Ah, I have three older brothers there was no hope for me either.” I smile.

“I’d say we turned out alright though.” He nods.

“Me too.”

“So what was living in Ireland like?”

“It was wonderful.” I smile. “Well before all of the sad things started to happen.” My mind flicks back to that dark place that I was in for so long. I shake my head to pull myself out. “We lived in this big beautiful house with a huge yard, and a forest behind it.” I smile, “And out house was pretty much dedicated to music. My dad was the guitarist in his band, and my mom was a professional french horn player, she played a lot of other instruments, and she taught me all of those too.” I smile at the countless hours of music that filled my life. “She home schooled me too, that’s why I graduated so early.”

“How old were you?” He asks.

“I graduated when i was fifteen.”

“Oh my God that’s insane.” His eyes are huge.

“I know right? It was nice for my career though.”

“I can imagine. What was high school like for you? We always talk about me, now it’s your turn.”

“It was weird because I was a twelve year old freshman in advanced classes.” I chuckle.

“Holy shit you’re like Einstein!” He exclaims.

“Oh God no! Einstein had an IQ of like 160, mine is only 145.” I shrug.

“That’s insane.” He gasps.

“Babe I’m the definition of insane!” I laugh.

“Yes you are.” He smirks. He leans in, and we share a sweet kiss.

“I love you so much.” I smile.

“I love you too.” He pecks my lips, then my nose, and cheek. "God you're beautiful." He sighs.

"Oh stop." I scoff.

"You always do that." He says.

"Do what?"

“Whenever compliment you, you push it away.” He brushes some hair out of my face. “Why?”

I search his face for a few moments to see if there is any way to get out of this, there’s not. “I don’t know.” I whisper.

“Okay.” He nods, and pulls me into a warm, welcoming embrace. I love Ashley’s hugs, they’re where I feel safe. Home. I tighten my grip, and bury my head in the crook of his neck, he rubs my back.

"Ash."

"Yes Rose?"

"You smell really good."

Notes