Goodnight Moon.
Home Sweet Home. <3
Ashlynn’s POV.
We walked toward the front of the airport where my mom said she would meet us. When I spotted the woman who gave me everything, my five foot two inch mother… my bags dropped to the floor when I ran to her and she engulfed me in her arms. I never realized how much I missed her till I saw her and remembered what it was like to be in the same room as her.
“My sunshine! I missed you my girl!” she said to me as she squeezed me tighter.Jayci was behind me bringing my bags in for me when my mom noticed her as well and pulled her in for a hug! “I’m so glad my girls are home!! It’s just so quiet here without you two!” she informed us.
“Mom, Niall Horan and I are going to get married!” Jayci told my Mom excitedly.
“Is that so? About time you found a nice guy CiCi!” My mom told Jayci! My mom had called Jayci ‘CiCi’ for as long as I can remember. Jayci hated it but my mother giving her a nickname just proved to everyone how much she looked at Jayci like another daughter.
“Oh God, don’t call me that. Especially when you meet Niall…knowing him he will call me that and never call me by my real name again. “Jayci said to my mom causing us all to laugh.
“So what about you Grace? You going to marry Styles like you always said you would?” My mom asked me not skipping a point at all.
“I mean...I’d like to one day.” I told her shyly.
“Do you love him?” my mom asked me.
“Not nearly as much as he loves her. Harry like worships the ground Ashlynn walks on.” Jayci told my mom causing me to heat up!
“Is that true Grace?” My mom asked me again. It was like a BBQ, BEING GRILLED.
“It’s equal love. I just never thought I would be with someone as amazing as him. I have to constantly remind myself that I’m actually dating him…that it’s not all just a really good dream. It’s real life. He makes me so happy Mom. “ I told her.
“Good baby, I’m glad. Let’s get some food in you girls and head home! Your family is all there and would like to see you.” She informed me. I just remembered the reality of my trip. Laying my father to rest.
We got back to my house where I spent my childhood and grew up at. Every piece of my home held a memory I would never forget. The tree house in my front yard; where I had my first kiss when I was 13. Our front porch where my mom told my sister and I she had cancer when I was 15.The front family room which had a closet in it that my sister locked me in when I was 10 because she had friends over and I was being annoying.The staircase I used to sit on when I listened to my parents fight.This house I grew up in. This was my home, the house that built me.
I walked up the front porch steps to smell my Grandma’s famous enchiladas; we called them her healing food. She always made it when something tragic or sad had happened.I ran in my house leaving my bags at the front and ran to my kitchen past all of my other family and straight to the woman who practically raised me.
“Wella!!!!!” Short for Abuela, what I always called my Grandma since I could talk.
“MI CHICQUITA! How’s my princess?” she asked me as she hugged me causing me to tear up. My Wella and I had a bond that could never be broken. I spent summers with her till I was 15, she used to pick me up from school every day and she was my go to person when it came to venting about my family and I was hers. She was my Dad’s Mom; as much as she loved my Father she knew after a certain point she couldn’t save him that something was too messed up in his head to continue to try. She has always stood by my mom, my sister and I through everything. She was the epitome of the person I wanted to be when I got older.
“Why do you look so skinny…do they not feed you in England? You have a big pop star boyfriend and look at you, does he not feed you? You look like one of those models from Hollywood Mija.”Little did she know those models were some of my best friends...the British ones at least.
“Wella, I eat! Trust me!” I told her laughing.
“Wait till she see’s Harry. She’s going to feed him so much when he gets here!” Jayci remarked as she walked into the kitchen over hearing our conversation.
“Si si, when do I get to meet this Harry?” she asked.
“Tomorrow. He will be here around 8ish.” I informed her.
“Bueno. Mija, your Father loved you. Don’t forget it. It was his brain that was sick…not his heart.” She told me as she pulled me in for another hug.
“Gracias Wella.” I told her hoping to avoid the dead father subject the whole time I would be home.
“THERE SHE IS!” yelled a familiar voice that I would know in any country.
“ZACKARY!” I yelled back before jumping into his arms.
Zack was my sort of cousin. Only we weren’t related at all. Growing up, my mom and his mom were best friends. He was the oldest friend I had and by far the best guy friend I had.
“How’s our big shot London photographer?!” he asked as he set me down and released me from his hold.
“She’s good! She missed her big shot news anchor though!” I told him.
Zack had just graduated with a broadcasting communications degree, he was currently interning for ESPN as a night host fill in on the channel and we were all so proud of him.
“Zackary, mijo...get me some paper plates from the garage will you?” My grandma asked him.I followed him to the garage to supervise.
“We miss you a lot around here…especially your mom.” He told me causing me to feel guilty for not being here all the time.
“I miss everyone too…I just needed to get away.” I told him.
“I know it, I don’t blame you. Sorry about your dad Grace.” He told me as he grabbed the plates and I grabbed the red solo cups.
“Yeah...me too.” I told him.
“You look great though, I always see you in all those magazines at Wal-Mart when I stand in line at the check out aisle. You always look really happy but from the looks of it you don’t have a life threatening disease and you are not pregnant.
“Hahah don’t believe everything you read Zackary Lane…” I told him. I missed being able to just talk about nothing with him. Even after not talking for months. When Zack moved to Connecticut for his internship we lost touch a lot, then I moved to London for mine we were completely cut off from each other.
We walked back to the kitchen where I was greeted by my many aunts and uncles and cousins all sharing the same condolences. I just don’t know why I had to be constantly reminded from each family member that my dad was dead…obviously they were sorry or else they wouldn’t be here. Everyone was here…everyone except my sister. The one person who I needed to see more than anything. The one person who would understand what I was going through more than anything.
“Hey Wella, where’s Marie?” I asked my Grandma.
“She’s at work sweetheart. Doesn’t get off until 5. She is so excited to see you though. Maybe you should text her and let her know you’re here. “ That’s exactly what I was going to do.
Me: HOME SWEET HOME…only my partner in crime is NO WHERE TO BE FOUND.
Marie: HELL YESSSSSSS! FINALLLY! I MISSED YOU! I get off in like 2 hours; I’ll be there right after!
Me: Preferably sooner than later lady.
Shit I never texted Harry letting him know I got here. He’s probably too busy to even realize.
Me: Made it home.Now the only thing missing is you.
Harry: Good, I was getting worried. I’ll be there tomorrow.
Me: Better hurry, Wella made ENCHILADAS!
Harry: If you love me you will save me some!
Me: I’ll consider it.
I was sitting on the front porch by myself till Zack and Jayci came and sat outside with me.
“UNITED AND IT FEELS SOOOO GOOOOD”Jayci sang.
“CiCi, SHUT UP!” Zack yelled at her.
“Don’t call me that! It’s so annoying!” she snapped back at him.
“Yeah, well so is your singing!” he snapped right back.
I looked to both of them and smiled and thought about how seriously blessed I was.
“I’m so glad we are all together right now..” I told them as I leaned my head on Jayci’s shoulder and grabbed Zack’s hand.
“Hey Ash…Zack needs to tell you something.” Jayci said pushing Zack to tell me. I looked to him waiting to hear whatever rubbish he was about to say.
“Brendan came by last night. He gave your mom flowers and asked for you…” HE DID WHAT.
“That’s it?” I asked him acting not affected.
“Well there was that and I may have chased him off with your BB gun that you keep underneath your bed and gave him a piece of my mind.” He told me causing me to laugh knowing he deserved whatever Zack was willing to give him.
“Well thanks for defending my honor Lane!” I told him.
“Any day Grace.” He said back.
A truck pulled up to my house and a very important man got out of it. My God Father, My dad’s brother…my Uncle Paul.
“Well hello there my very grown up yet still very small niece.” He said to me.
“Well hello there dear uncle who bought my first bottle of liquor for me at 17. “ I said to him back.
“I brought you something.” He said as he opened his passenger door from his 2 doored F150.
A mix colored 75lb dog then jumped out of his truck and my heart about exploded.
“SHELLY!!!!” I yelled as she ran towards me tackling me to the ground licking me all over my face. “I missed you girl!!” I told her as I wrapped my arms around her neck. I missed her so much. This time when I went back to London she was going with me…I was going to need her, especially when Harry left.It was so good to be home. I think it was mostly great because everyone I loved was in one place…well almost everyone.
After a couple hours my sister got there and we lay in my bed together and cried for what felt like hours and we laughed and talked. Something I missed more then I realized. We lied there a bit longer in silence till she asked me a question.
“You think Dad left us anything…?” She asked and I laughed.
“Doubtful Marie…. very doubtful.” I told her causing her to laugh.
“He owes us though…well at least me.” She said causing me to turn my head away from the fan and to her.
“He owes me too bitch!” I told her causing her to laugh.
“Yeah but you have a Harry… I don’t…” she said.
“Oh Marie…come to London. There are plenty there. “ I told her causing her to laugh more.
The rest of the night I played Scattergories with my family in our family room for 2 hours till finally Zack, Jayci, and I all went upstairs to lay in my bed and watch The Ringer and we all fell asleep in my bed.
We walked toward the front of the airport where my mom said she would meet us. When I spotted the woman who gave me everything, my five foot two inch mother… my bags dropped to the floor when I ran to her and she engulfed me in her arms. I never realized how much I missed her till I saw her and remembered what it was like to be in the same room as her.
“My sunshine! I missed you my girl!” she said to me as she squeezed me tighter.Jayci was behind me bringing my bags in for me when my mom noticed her as well and pulled her in for a hug! “I’m so glad my girls are home!! It’s just so quiet here without you two!” she informed us.
“Mom, Niall Horan and I are going to get married!” Jayci told my Mom excitedly.
“Is that so? About time you found a nice guy CiCi!” My mom told Jayci! My mom had called Jayci ‘CiCi’ for as long as I can remember. Jayci hated it but my mother giving her a nickname just proved to everyone how much she looked at Jayci like another daughter.
“Oh God, don’t call me that. Especially when you meet Niall…knowing him he will call me that and never call me by my real name again. “Jayci said to my mom causing us all to laugh.
“So what about you Grace? You going to marry Styles like you always said you would?” My mom asked me not skipping a point at all.
“I mean...I’d like to one day.” I told her shyly.
“Do you love him?” my mom asked me.
“Not nearly as much as he loves her. Harry like worships the ground Ashlynn walks on.” Jayci told my mom causing me to heat up!
“Is that true Grace?” My mom asked me again. It was like a BBQ, BEING GRILLED.
“It’s equal love. I just never thought I would be with someone as amazing as him. I have to constantly remind myself that I’m actually dating him…that it’s not all just a really good dream. It’s real life. He makes me so happy Mom. “ I told her.
“Good baby, I’m glad. Let’s get some food in you girls and head home! Your family is all there and would like to see you.” She informed me. I just remembered the reality of my trip. Laying my father to rest.
We got back to my house where I spent my childhood and grew up at. Every piece of my home held a memory I would never forget. The tree house in my front yard; where I had my first kiss when I was 13. Our front porch where my mom told my sister and I she had cancer when I was 15.The front family room which had a closet in it that my sister locked me in when I was 10 because she had friends over and I was being annoying.The staircase I used to sit on when I listened to my parents fight.This house I grew up in. This was my home, the house that built me.
I walked up the front porch steps to smell my Grandma’s famous enchiladas; we called them her healing food. She always made it when something tragic or sad had happened.I ran in my house leaving my bags at the front and ran to my kitchen past all of my other family and straight to the woman who practically raised me.
“Wella!!!!!” Short for Abuela, what I always called my Grandma since I could talk.
“MI CHICQUITA! How’s my princess?” she asked me as she hugged me causing me to tear up. My Wella and I had a bond that could never be broken. I spent summers with her till I was 15, she used to pick me up from school every day and she was my go to person when it came to venting about my family and I was hers. She was my Dad’s Mom; as much as she loved my Father she knew after a certain point she couldn’t save him that something was too messed up in his head to continue to try. She has always stood by my mom, my sister and I through everything. She was the epitome of the person I wanted to be when I got older.
“Why do you look so skinny…do they not feed you in England? You have a big pop star boyfriend and look at you, does he not feed you? You look like one of those models from Hollywood Mija.”Little did she know those models were some of my best friends...the British ones at least.
“Wella, I eat! Trust me!” I told her laughing.
“Wait till she see’s Harry. She’s going to feed him so much when he gets here!” Jayci remarked as she walked into the kitchen over hearing our conversation.
“Si si, when do I get to meet this Harry?” she asked.
“Tomorrow. He will be here around 8ish.” I informed her.
“Bueno. Mija, your Father loved you. Don’t forget it. It was his brain that was sick…not his heart.” She told me as she pulled me in for another hug.
“Gracias Wella.” I told her hoping to avoid the dead father subject the whole time I would be home.
“THERE SHE IS!” yelled a familiar voice that I would know in any country.
“ZACKARY!” I yelled back before jumping into his arms.
Zack was my sort of cousin. Only we weren’t related at all. Growing up, my mom and his mom were best friends. He was the oldest friend I had and by far the best guy friend I had.
“How’s our big shot London photographer?!” he asked as he set me down and released me from his hold.
“She’s good! She missed her big shot news anchor though!” I told him.
Zack had just graduated with a broadcasting communications degree, he was currently interning for ESPN as a night host fill in on the channel and we were all so proud of him.
“Zackary, mijo...get me some paper plates from the garage will you?” My grandma asked him.I followed him to the garage to supervise.
“We miss you a lot around here…especially your mom.” He told me causing me to feel guilty for not being here all the time.
“I miss everyone too…I just needed to get away.” I told him.
“I know it, I don’t blame you. Sorry about your dad Grace.” He told me as he grabbed the plates and I grabbed the red solo cups.
“Yeah...me too.” I told him.
“You look great though, I always see you in all those magazines at Wal-Mart when I stand in line at the check out aisle. You always look really happy but from the looks of it you don’t have a life threatening disease and you are not pregnant.
“Hahah don’t believe everything you read Zackary Lane…” I told him. I missed being able to just talk about nothing with him. Even after not talking for months. When Zack moved to Connecticut for his internship we lost touch a lot, then I moved to London for mine we were completely cut off from each other.
We walked back to the kitchen where I was greeted by my many aunts and uncles and cousins all sharing the same condolences. I just don’t know why I had to be constantly reminded from each family member that my dad was dead…obviously they were sorry or else they wouldn’t be here. Everyone was here…everyone except my sister. The one person who I needed to see more than anything. The one person who would understand what I was going through more than anything.
“Hey Wella, where’s Marie?” I asked my Grandma.
“She’s at work sweetheart. Doesn’t get off until 5. She is so excited to see you though. Maybe you should text her and let her know you’re here. “ That’s exactly what I was going to do.
Me: HOME SWEET HOME…only my partner in crime is NO WHERE TO BE FOUND.
Marie: HELL YESSSSSSS! FINALLLY! I MISSED YOU! I get off in like 2 hours; I’ll be there right after!
Me: Preferably sooner than later lady.
Shit I never texted Harry letting him know I got here. He’s probably too busy to even realize.
Me: Made it home.Now the only thing missing is you.
Harry: Good, I was getting worried. I’ll be there tomorrow.
Me: Better hurry, Wella made ENCHILADAS!
Harry: If you love me you will save me some!
Me: I’ll consider it.
I was sitting on the front porch by myself till Zack and Jayci came and sat outside with me.
“UNITED AND IT FEELS SOOOO GOOOOD”Jayci sang.
“CiCi, SHUT UP!” Zack yelled at her.
“Don’t call me that! It’s so annoying!” she snapped back at him.
“Yeah, well so is your singing!” he snapped right back.
I looked to both of them and smiled and thought about how seriously blessed I was.
“I’m so glad we are all together right now..” I told them as I leaned my head on Jayci’s shoulder and grabbed Zack’s hand.
“Hey Ash…Zack needs to tell you something.” Jayci said pushing Zack to tell me. I looked to him waiting to hear whatever rubbish he was about to say.
“Brendan came by last night. He gave your mom flowers and asked for you…” HE DID WHAT.
“That’s it?” I asked him acting not affected.
“Well there was that and I may have chased him off with your BB gun that you keep underneath your bed and gave him a piece of my mind.” He told me causing me to laugh knowing he deserved whatever Zack was willing to give him.
“Well thanks for defending my honor Lane!” I told him.
“Any day Grace.” He said back.
A truck pulled up to my house and a very important man got out of it. My God Father, My dad’s brother…my Uncle Paul.
“Well hello there my very grown up yet still very small niece.” He said to me.
“Well hello there dear uncle who bought my first bottle of liquor for me at 17. “ I said to him back.
“I brought you something.” He said as he opened his passenger door from his 2 doored F150.
A mix colored 75lb dog then jumped out of his truck and my heart about exploded.
“SHELLY!!!!” I yelled as she ran towards me tackling me to the ground licking me all over my face. “I missed you girl!!” I told her as I wrapped my arms around her neck. I missed her so much. This time when I went back to London she was going with me…I was going to need her, especially when Harry left.It was so good to be home. I think it was mostly great because everyone I loved was in one place…well almost everyone.
After a couple hours my sister got there and we lay in my bed together and cried for what felt like hours and we laughed and talked. Something I missed more then I realized. We lied there a bit longer in silence till she asked me a question.
“You think Dad left us anything…?” She asked and I laughed.
“Doubtful Marie…. very doubtful.” I told her causing her to laugh.
“He owes us though…well at least me.” She said causing me to turn my head away from the fan and to her.
“He owes me too bitch!” I told her causing her to laugh.
“Yeah but you have a Harry… I don’t…” she said.
“Oh Marie…come to London. There are plenty there. “ I told her causing her to laugh more.
The rest of the night I played Scattergories with my family in our family room for 2 hours till finally Zack, Jayci, and I all went upstairs to lay in my bed and watch The Ringer and we all fell asleep in my bed.
Notes
Hey everyone! Looking for some feedback, let me know your thoughts please! Hope you enjoyed this chapter it kind of gives you all some more insight on how her family is and where she comes from! I hope everyone has a good Friday tomorrow and a great weekend! I'll try and update tomorrow! Love you all!
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Do you think Zack and Ashlynn's relationship will come between Ashlynn and Harry's relationship?
Wow you are doing really good with the story! I love this story and hope you keep doing an awesome job of writing it!
6/3/14