Chapter Text
The birds chirped, the squirrels jumped from branch to branch, and a little girl with ginger hair and dark brown eyes. She was playing with some figures in the dirt until a voiced called out to her.
”Audrey! Are you out here?” Ashlyn called out, then seeing the small girl turn to her and start reaching out to her with her hands. “There you are, you really do like this spot huh?” Ashlyn would smile at her then bending down again to pick up the toys Audrey wasn’t playing with.
Ashlyn would walk down trail and starts at the bench table. She’d place Audrey down on the table and places the figures right next to her. “Let’s get your cleaned, you have dirt all over you” Ashlyn chuckled, plucking wipes and wiping the little girls face and hands. Audrey would protest and wave her arms around, she never liked being cleaned especially with the wipes. “I know I know, but being dirty is worse then getting wiped down”
After Ashlyn was down she’d move onto to the figures, wiping them down carefully as she thrifted them. Thrifting is cheaper than getting them at some expensive store, even the clothes Audrey was wearing was thrifted.
Once she completed cleaning the figures, she’d get bumped and ends up dropping one. “Ugh, Alexander, Alice, be more careful when you’re running. And watch out where your going or you’ll run into a tree.
”What!?” The two shouted out before running into a tree, they were too busy focusing on a squirrel that they didn’t hear anything that their mother said. The two had black hair and sharp green eyes with freckles plastered all over them, Audrey also had freckles but not as much as the twins.
”Ugh…You said you were watching!!” “I was watching!” The two argued back and forth until suddenly twigs fell on them, they would look up to see the squirrel run further into the tree. “Come on you two, why don’t you help your beloved mother start a fire so I can make Audrey some tea. Her allergies are acting up.”
”Okay!” The two said in unison and ran off to go get wood, Ashlyn would pick up Audrey and place her down on her righteous chair and starts placing scraps of things to help the fire, like news paper or dry leaves. She’d kneel down and picks up a ragged looking lighter with a yellow smiley sticker on it, she’d then sit down on her chair and sigh. But then she’d hear two of them giggling while dragging a wagon full of wood
”Good job you two” Ashlyn would then plant stickers on their noses, while the two scrambled to peel off the sticker Ashlyn would grab the wood and place it strategically just like how she was taught. Then flicked the lighter till a small flame ignited and lighted a news paper and threw it to the wood. And for good keeping she put the fire to some bits of the wood to make sure it really lit.
Ashlyn would then grab a rod with a small hook and places it over the fire, then grabs a jug of water and a kettle. She’d pour the water into the kettle and hooks it up to the hook.
”Do you know when dad will be back” Alice said quickly after folding her sticker until she couldn’t anymore. “He should be back in ten minutes if I’ve been counting right” Ashlyn looked at her watch while saying her sentence with a lively tone. “Okay! He promised to teach me how to jump off of high places safely!” Alice would wave her limbs around in excitement. “Yeah well, maybe he will teach if you chicken out or not. Plus your not gonna jump off really high places, your only eight.” Ashlyn would pinch her cheek softly. “I’m not gonna chicken! I’m brave!” Alice would pout swatting her moms hand away while she laughed.
The kettle would whistle loudly causing everyone’s attention towards it. Ashlyn would pick up a rod and carefully removes the kettle from the fire and in the ground. She’d put on oven mits that she prepared picks up the kettle and pours the boiling water into a cup with a bunch of clovers messily painted on. Then she’d take a tea pouch from a box and plop in the pouch, dipping it in & out a couple times.
”There you go Audrey, your tea will be ready soon.” After Ashlyn said that a car would pull up and the twins would race over to the car while Ashlyn stayed put to watch Audrey. A tall man with dyed blonde hair and those brownish eyes Audrey has would jump out of the truck, just to almost fall over with the twins tackling him. Audrey would turn over and jump in delight seeing him. “Okay okay! You’re gonna murder me!” Aiden would pick the two by the collar and put them aside so he could balance himself. “You two have gotten stronger huh? That’s good because you need to be big and strong for the activities I got planned” Aiden would say the last few words in a singing tone while patting the two’s heads.
”You’re forgetting Audrey, how cruel of you” Ashlyn chimed in while dipping the tea pouch in & out of the water. “Ah, I’d never forget her!” He’d pick Audrey up and place her on his shoulders while she giggled and held onto his hair. “Oh! I see your making the tea, I’m guessing her allergies are acting up?” He’d make direct eye contact with Ashlyn, unaware of the twins crawling into the trunk. “Yeah, im just glad I don’t make to make any huge remedies. Her body isn’t as complicated as Alexander was.” She’d chuckle to herself. “Oh and the two are digging through the trunk”
He’d spin his body around to see them playing tug of war with a rope. “Hey! I got sharp things in there! Be careful!” He sprinted over and lifted them up, but then Alexander clung to his arm like a monkey while holding Alice in his arms. “Wow you guys are gonna kill me” he groaned, wobbling his way to the ring of chairs.
Aiden plopped down Alice and shook Alexander off of him while seating Audrey in her chair. He’d sit down in his chair and sighed, leaning back. “Daddd! I wanna know what you have planned!”
”I can’t tell you, it’s a surprise for your two’s birthday.” Aiden would pick up the clover cup and starts to blow the steam to cool it down. “Uggh! No fair!” Alice would pout, shooting up from her chair and darts to the trailer with Alexander following behind.
Ashlyn chuckled, looking over to him. “I have a feeling where she gets her impatience.” She’d nudge him gently with her shoulder while taking the cup out of his hands and handing it to Audrey. “Oh please, and I wonder where she gets her attitude from?” Aiden would scratch his chin mockingly.
Ashlyn pinched his arm while shaking her head. “Keep saying stuff like that and maybe your point might be proven” Aiden would look at her shocked. “I was just- pssh whateverrrrr”
She’d smile, but something moving in the bush would startle them both tremendously. The impact the phantom and when they got- “oh god” Ashlyn mumbled. Thinking about that place, the white walls and silence sent chills down her spine. And the things she saw and how violent everything was, it was clear Aiden felt the same thinking about it.
Aiden would put his hand on her shoulder and give her a nod showing that everything will be okay, and that he’s here for her. Ashlyn would put a hand on his and smile, she felt better and her anxiety eased. “I still can’t believe we have to live the rest of our lives in fear..it got so bad we moved far away from Georgia.” Ashlyn sighed, as much as she hated thinking about Savannah; she still missed her childhood home. “Yeah, I’m with you 100%. But remember that we promised to each other that we’ll have each others backs till the day we die, and that we’ll talk to each other.” Aiden squeezed her shoulder a bit while Ashlyn smiled at him, his words made her feel a lot better.
10:24 PM
Aiden would be tucking Audrey in and placing her figure next to her, he’d turn around to make sure Alice & Alexander were sleeping and thankfully they were. He’d sigh and exits their room, closing the sliding door quietly. Turning the handles on the sink he’d fill up a cup of water, but it in the corner of his eye he’d see something that looked like a phantom and he jolted, almost dropping the cup but spilling the water everywhere. Ashlyn heard the water spilling and she’d exit their room to see him breathing heavily and shaking.
”Hey, what happened?” Ashlyn would get paper towels and places a hand on the back of his neck. “I’m guessing you “saw” one again” she’d sigh, motioning for him to sit while she wiped the water. “Sorry for-“ “HUSH” Ashlyn cut him off. “No need to apologize.” She’d stand up and throws the paper towels she used away. “There’s nothing to apologize about anyway” She held her hand out to help him up, while holding hands they’d walk to their room.
Aiden sat down on the edge of the bed and looked out the window before reaching out and closing the curtain. He’d sigh and hears her sitting down on the edge of the bed as well. But she’d swing her legs on the bed and gets under the blanket and gets comfortable, and once she did he tugged at his shirt as she wanted him to calm down.
He’d look over at her and smiles, he’d slowly lift his legs onto the bed and rests his head on the wall. “I just hope everything will be easier tomorrow. Plus I do want to teach Alice how to bungee jump, she’s been waiting forever.” Aiden chuckled. “Well about you go to sleep and think about it more tomorrow, you’ll be more efficient if you actually get some sleep.” Ashlyn looked up at him, smiling at him like he always does. And of course it eased him. Aiden would lay down and put the blanket across his stomach, looking at the roof while Ashlyn had already closed her eyes.
Aiden smiled, shuffling closer to her a bit. But then suddenly he’d get grabbed and dragged by Ashlyn and she’d wrap her arms around him. “Even when we’re married and have three kids, you’re still awkward with me.” Ashlyn smiled wider and he returned the embrace, smiling along with her.