The Cost Of Winning

ASHLEY'S POV :

Hank and Lillian glance at each other for a second , before turning their attention back to Fianna . "Well , Brendan stopped out here by the fence to talk for a couple of minutes , before he left for work that ... , that morning ." , Hank says . "Apparently he'd gotten a call from the school counselor the day before , and she thought that you were stressing yourself , and maybe feeling a bit pressured ."

"And he said that he'd been thinking about it , and thought that maybe she was right ." , Lillian continues . "So he was planning to take you out to eat after your swim meet , and talk to you , tell you that you didn't need to worry about being a doctor , unless you really wanted to . He said that you were smart enough to be anything in the world , but he wanted you to be happy , not do something just because you thought it was what he wanted . But he didn't get the chance , and we've wondered about that ever since you moved away with your grandma ."

By this time , she can't stop the tears from rolling down her face , and Bren immediately climbs out of her chair and puts her arms around Fi's waist . "Don'ts cwy , Mommy , me no wikes you be sad . Me gives yous hugs , so yous no more feels bad . Gives Mommy tisses , Daddy , so hers wills feel gooder ."

"It's okay , Smidge , I'm not sad . Sometimes grownups cry if they're happy , too ." , Fi tells her , as I scoot my chair closer and put my arm around her .

Bren gives her a confused look , and replies , "Yous no s'posed to cwy if yous happy . That are weiwd , yous s'posed to waugh if yous happy . Big peoples is siwwy ."

"No , cutie , it's not silly . Sometimes something makes you so happy that it just feels too big for you to manage , and it makes you cry ." , I explain . "You don't do it on purpose , you just can't help it ."

"But yous cwy when Gampy goed byebye , Daddy , and yous were sad , wasn'ts you ?"

"Yes , I was . But I cried when you and Mommy got better after you were sick , too , because I was so happy ."

"Sick ? What was wrong , hon ?" , Hank inquires .

Before either of us can say anything , Bren looks at him and says , "Mines tummy were bwoke , but Mommy share hers parts wif me , 'cause her wuvs me . Then some bad stuffs getted in hers owie , and her has to goes back to the hopsickle , and thems maked it go 'way , and her is all gooder now ." She lets go of Fi , and spreads her arms out so wide that her hands are behind her , and announces , "Me wuvs yous this big , Mommy . You is my goodest fwend ."

Fi leand over in her chair and wraps Bren up in a hug , saying , "I love you too , Smidge . All the way to the moon and back ."

Bren whispers something in her ear , and she asks if she can take her to the bathroom . Lillian asks if she remembers where it is , and she says she does , and takes Bren inside . When the door closes , they both look at me curiously , and I explain about the transplant , and the surgical screw up .

When I finish , Hank sort of nods , and says , "Well , at least nobody has to worry about her bein' anything like her mama , in anything but looks . If that had happened when she was little , the poor kid woulda been waiting around on some list , because Claudia would've been more worried about spoiling her looks than helping her daughter . Brendan thought the sun rose and set on that girl , and so did Claudia's mama , but Claudia didn't give a flip about anyone but herself ."

"That's true ." , Lillian agrees . "I never met Fianna's grandpa , but Colleen Butler was a lovely woman . I never understood how someone so sweet managed to end up with such selfish , unpleasant daughter . Do you know if Fianna ever hears from her ?"

"From what she's told me , she hasn't seen her since her folks split up , and hasn't even spoken to her since her grandma died ." , I reply . "Apparently , she had a friend who kept her up on what was going on around here , but she never bothered coming to visit after her mom got sick , and didn't even come for the funeral , so Fi pretty much doesn't acknowledge her existence ."

"Can't say I'm surprised ." , Hank states . "I still remember goin' out to pick up the paper , and seeing her car pull out , not thirty minutes after Brendan left for the plant . I figured they were going to the doctor or something , since Fianna was sick , but then I went in and made toast , and went to sit in my chair to read the funnies . Just about fell right back out when I glanced out and saw that little face starin' out the window over there ."

Lillian takes up the conversation , saying , "I was in the basement , folding the wash , and I heard him cussing all the way down there . Brendan had given us Colleen's number in case of an emergency , so I called her , but we still had to get Brendan home from work , because she didn't have a key for the deadbolt . I can't imagine what that woman was thinking ! What if she'd gotten sicker , or there had been a fire or something ?"

"She was thinking about heading off to her boyfriend's place to get some ." , Fi's voice says from the doorway . "I didn't get that then , but I heard some conversations between Dad and Grandma later on , and figured it out , and I decided that there was no way I was ever going to be like her . Maybe one of these days , it will occur to her that she's bailed on everybody who ever cared about her , but she'll be out of luck , because nobody does anymore ."

They sit back down , and we change the subject , because Bren doesn't need to hear all of this . We talk for another hour or so , and look at more pictures , until we have to go back to the hotel to get ready for the show . They swap phone numbers , Hank promises to send her copies of some of the pictures , and she gives them our address in Nashville , then we go back out to the car . I buckle Bren into her seat , then get in and pull away from the curb .

"Are you okay , babe ?" , I ask , as she sits quietly in the passenger seat .

"Yeah , I'm fine , just thinking ." , she says . "I'd almost forgotten about some of that stuff until I saw those pictures . And I guess I'm just processing that Dad actually knew that I didn't really want to be a doctor , and he was okay with it . I always just wanted him to be proud of me , and I thought that would do it ."

"Sweetheart , your dad loved you , and he wanted you to be happy , just like we want for her . And even though I never got to meet him , I can tell you that if he saw the person you've become , he'd be as proud of you as I am . That's why I want you and Bren at the show with me tonight , I want everybody to see how lucky I am , because I have the two of you in my life . I want to show you off ."

"Well , then I guess we'll see if your fans cope with this better than they did Andy and Juliet . I know they put out that statement about your 'family problems' when people were wondering why you've been gone so much , but I doubt that this is what they've been expecting ."

"Probably not , but they can get over it . Or not , it's their choice , but I've made mine , and that's all that matters ."

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FIANNA'S POV :

The limo that picked us up at the hotel pulls up in front of the venue , and we get ready to get out . Bren is sitting between me and Ash , and Alice is sitting on my other side , with Jake , Inna , and Jinxx sitting across from us . Jinxx gets out , and helps Alice , and Jake does the same with Inna . I get out , and I see people in the crowd giving me puzzled looks , like they're wondering if they should recognize me . I glance around , and see the second limo pull up with the rest of the group , and then people start cheering again when Ash gets out . The people who looked confused are now sort of nodding to each other , and I actually hear the girl nearest to me tell someone , "Shoulda figured that she was part of Ashley's Barbie collection ."

Then , he reaches back into the car , and comes back out with Bren on his hip , and it gets quiet . He takes hold of my hand , and we walk toward the door with the others . Andy and Juliet pause to speak to one of the journalists , and when they finish , she turns to Ash and asks , "So , you've brought two dates tonight , Ashley ? Can I ask who they are ?"

He flashes that killer smile at the camera , and says , "Sure . This is my girlfriend , Fianna , and this little cutie in the red dress is our daughter , Brenna ."

The girl blinks at him a few times , and finally manages to say , "Well ,I'd have to say that's rather unexpected , wouldn't you agree ?"

He grins again , and starts to lead me away , saying , "Possibly , but that's why it's called a personal life , isn't it ?"

We go inside , and manage to find our way to where all of the band are getting together . Ash leaves us with the girls , while they go to get into their stage gear , since they're doing full warpaint for this show . Apparently , word has spread pretty fast , because by the time the program actually starts , even some of the other bands are looking at us like they don't quite know what to make of us .

They come out of the dressing room , and Bren says , "Wook , Mommy ! Daddy wooks wike a zereba ! And Unca Zinxx ams a scawy cwown . Can's me have colors ons me , too ?"

Ash hears this , and says , "Not this time , sweetie , we don't want to mess up your pretty dress . Next time , we'll get you and Mommy both painted up , just like us ."

He hangs with us for a bit before they go onstage , and I ask , "What do you want me to say if one of these reporters starts asking me questions ?"

"Whatever you're comfortable with , babe . I'm not hiding our relationship from anybody , so there's no need to be all secretive . But if they get too pushy , just get security ." He kisses both of us , then follows the rest of the guys out to the stage .

They only play two songs this time , so Bren is disappointed that it's over so quick , but she loves it while they're playing . "Them pways good , Mommy ! But them's vewy woud , and Unca Andy say wots of naughties ."

The girls all crack up at this , and I tell her , "Yes , I know , but this isn't our house , or Aunt 'Kaela's , so it's not against the rules , Smidge ."

They come off the stage , and she jumps up and down when she sees Ash , shrieking , "Daddy , me wikes contherts ! But do you nots know some more musics ?"

He laughs , and says , "Yes we know a lot more songs , cutie , but we have to take turns this time . There are lots of people here , and they all get a turn to play some songs . One of these days , you can come to one of our big concerts , and that's as long as a movie ."

"And yous wills gets Mommy to wets me has colors on me , wif not being ins timeout ?"

"I think I can do that . I'm gonna go clean up , and I'll be back ."

He heads off to the showers , and a couple of people stop to ask questions ; nothing too personal , mostly just wanting to know things like what I do for a living , or how old Bren is , or how long I've known Ash . I'm actually kind of surprised that nobody has been rude or upset so far .

We hang out and watch the rest of the show , then everyone goes to Jake and Inna's house for awhile , before the three of us head back to the hotel .

Bren is thrilled to get to play with Jake's little dog , and while they chase each other around the living room , the guys get curious and decide to check on social media . the first thing up is a piece by the first reporter we saw , which details several things about the show , and then shows that she actually checks out her facts , by saying , "And one of the biggest surprises of the night came when Ashley Purdy arrived with former girlfriend Fianna Chandler , with whom he has apparently reconciled . Even more surprising is the fact that she is also the mother of his toddler daughter , Brenna . We all knew that Ash was good at keeping his private life under wraps , but he's apparently more skilled than anyone realized ."

And when they start checking Facebook and Twitter , everyone is swamped with notifications . Looking through them , there are probably hundreds saying things like , "Congrats , Ash !" , "Sooo adorable !" , and , "Cool , good to see you happy !" , which they're reading back and forth to each other .

But then , of course , the other comments start to pop up . The ones that say things like , "Typical plastic blonde bimbo . Wise up and get some taste , Ashley ." , "Noooo ! NEVER believe a chick when she says she's got your kid after you dump her ! I thought you were smart !" , and one on CC's Twitter feed , which says , "Guys , help Ash get a clue ! Don't just sit there and let him get scammed . No way that's his kid , talk him into getting a DNA test !"

As they start calling out usernames to each other , deciding who to block , Juliet turns to me and says , "Well , congratulations , Fi . You're now officially part of the 'Evil BVB Wench' club ."

I look over at Bren , crawling around on the floor with Ernie , then at Ash , and I tell her , "I'm okay with that , it's totally worth it ."

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