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Finding Home	By : mama-ghostie-61542 Category: Singers/Bands/Musicians > Black Veil Brides Views: 853 -:- Recommendations : 0 -:- Currently Reading : 0
Disclaimer: All I own are the plot and my OC's. Seriously, folks, I'm broke. Never met these guys; just a fluke dream I had and decided to expand on as cheap therapy. Please remember this is a work of fiction, as such, I don't get anything out of this.

Chapter List
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Chapter Two

Leigh PoV
The ride back to my house was long and relatively quiet. There was small talk, like him asking;
"What happened to make you give yourself a buzz cut?"
And then my reply, "An abusive ex-husband. If he could get his hands into it, it was too long," I said.
During a lull in the storm I asked, "Are you a 'ketchup on your ketchup' man?"
Ashley laughed and said, "No. That would be Andy."
The discussion was intense but sparse. Generally during the times when the wind wasn't whipping around the truck and pushing it all over. Those times were where he just watched the snow falling, letting me concentrate on the yellow line.
A trip that normally takes an hour in good weather, took three. When we pulled into my driveway, he heaved a soul-deep sigh.
"Well, we made it," I groused as I put the truck in park and got out, leaving it running for my parents.
Ash looked at me confused. "Aren't you gonna..." he trailed off.
"Nope. It's my mothers truck. I have an Explorer that is in the shop at the moment."
"Whats wrong with it," he asked as I let us in.
"It needs a new motor. I need a new truck, but thanks to my ex-husband, I can't get one."
"Ah. Let me guess. Rented an apartment in your name, ran up a ton of bills, and then, once everything had gotten turned off, told them your address and that it was all yours."
All I could do was nod as I slid out of my boots and hung up my coat.
"Ugh. I've been there. It's not easy to climb back out of that."
"Divorce is the only time you go to a courthouse and come out weighing less," I laughed as I slid a pair of slippers over my sock feet.
He laughed. "Amen to that. So divorced and widowed?"
I answered with a nod as I unlocked my kitchen door.
Ash sat his bag down just inside the door and said, "Ouch. Does the universe have it in for you?"
All I could do was shrug. "It is what it is. It's been four years now and I am getting tired of the constant complaints from family. They are pushing me to settle down again, but it ain't gonna happen in podunk."
"Do I sense a hint of resignation in your voice, Dear," Ash joked, his dark eyes sparkling with mirth.
"Hushit, you, " I chuckled. I turned to see my father standing in my kitchen, glaring at Ashley, with his arms crossed over his chest.
"Pop, this is Ashley, a friend who came pretty far for the concert and got stuck. I offered to let him sleep here until the road is cleared."
My father growled, "And does Ashley have a last name?"
Ash paled and swallowed, "Purdy, Sir. It's nice to meet you, Mr. Burdett," he said amiably as he held his hand out for a handshake.
As my dad shook his hand, he laughed, "Mr. Burdett was her idiot husband. I'm Carl Humphries and that," he said as he pointed to my mom, "Is Donna, my wife."
Ash chuckled, "Well, its nice to meet ya, Carl," then he waved at mom, "You too, Miss Donna."
My mother leveled an icy glare at me, "The kids are asleep. Why didn't you tell me you had a date?"
"Because I didn't, Ma. Where the kids any trouble?"
She shook her head as she replied, "No more than normal," she said, then stood up to put her coat on, "But, they went down early, so you may want to get to sleep. Dad already took Izza out and she is in her kennel."
I sighed, "Thanks, guys."
Dad put his arm around my shoulders as my mother walked out the door to the truck, "Don't worry about it. It has been nearly 4 years since you went anywhere, other than work, without the kids. You were overdue for some time to yourself," he said as he hugged me. "Well, we should get home."
I looked at Ash and pointed to my eyes as I caught him rubbing one.
He nodded, as he blinked hard a few times.
I tapped on the bathroom door with my nails as I walked past it to lock up. Afterward, I stood there, leaning against the door breathing for a minute. Then, I heard the water in the bathroom sink come on. I got the coffee all set up for the next morning and the timer turned on and set for 6a. Then, when I heard the shower start up, I went to throw on my pj's. First, I traded my sexy lace undies for a pair of lime green boyshorts. Then, I grabbed a pair of fleece pants with frogs all over them, a big, white t-shirt, and a gray hoodie that I had sewn one of the frogs onto the sleeve. Next, I grabbed my thick, cotton knee socks and was sitting downin the living room in my chair, pulling them on, when Ash came out of the bathroom.
"Wow. Those are hot," he laughed. "Bet they are warm."
"They are," I said, blushing a little as I pulled one up.
"Where did you get them," Ash asked as he knelt down next to my chair and gently ran his hands over my sock clad foot and calf.
"I made them."
His eyebrow shot up, "Really?"
"Yeah."
Ash smiled softly, "You are just full of surprises, aren't you."
I sat back and looked up at him, "In ways you can't fathom, Darlin'."
He laughed and stood up towering over me, "Try me, Babe."
I grinned darkly, "So you like a challenge?"
He smirked, "I crave a challenge. It's why I have so many side projects."
"Well," I chuckled, "Stick around and you will have all the challenges you can handle." Changing the subject, I added as I stood up, "Need anything?"
He laughed, "A bed. I am exhausted," he stated emphatically as he headed to the couch.
After a moments hesitation, I said, "You take the bed, I'll take the couch."
Ash softened, "I can't put you out of your bed."
"Don't worry about it. If you are out here and the kids get up early, they will wake you up. You need sleep and I can handle these three on my own," I said as I grabbed my pillows off of my bed and went to fix the couch.
As I walked past, Ash grabbed my arm. "You misunderstand; I CAN'T put you out of your bed. My grandmother would beat my ass. It's big enough we can share. If it makes you more comfortable, we can have separate blankets."
I nodded and we set up our sides of the queen size bed. Shortly after, we laid down and fell asleep.
Somewhere, in the night, I heard him shushing me. I vaguely remember gentle fingertips and arms around me.
The kids got up around 6, and I got up with them. I closed the door so he could sleep. He looked too cute to bother waking him up; those dark lashes sweeping across his cheeks.
At almost 10:00, he walked out, hair all a mess, and his eyes still held the haze of sleep.
"Mornin', Sunshine," I smiled.

Ashley POV
I stretched out and reached for the other side of the bed. No one was there, but there was a ruckus on the other side of the door. I rolled over and dozed for a bit. When I finally got up, the noise had quieted down. As I opened the door, I heard a voice say,
"Mornin', Sunshine," she said as she stood there in a beat up pair of jeans, a white v-neck tee, and a turquoise cardigan. On her tiny feet were turquoise colored crocheted slippers encasing her socks from last night. Being that chipper in the mornings should be illegal. Especially after a nightmare like that.
"Mornin'," I grumbled, my voice still rough with sleep.
"Can I get ya somethin' to eat," she asked as she set a mug of black coffee, a sugar bowl, and a cup of milk in front of me.
"Sure. Whacha got," I asked as I fixed my coffee. The black mug had 'Mr. Right' on it in big red letters.
I looked up to see her smile, "'Lambas bread, Lambas bread; Oh, and look, more Lambas Bread'."
I laughed, catching her reference. "Toast and coffee will be fine."
"It'll be ready in just a minute."
I watched her as she made my toast. She had Kane Brown playing in her kitchen. Her eyes were soft and I observed her soft, sweet, smile as she looked into the living room at her kids. Her pretty green eyes were almost shining with an emotion I couldn't place, somewhere between love and pain.
"Dad," one of the boys yelled.
"Jon, you know Daddy is gone, Bud," she said softly.
When he turned his face to me, I realized, that her oldest son has Downs Syndrome. I was struck by the thought of her facing everything alone for so long. She had to be made of something stronger than steel to still be standing on her own.
As I watched her, she sat the plate of toast in front of me and patted my arm gently. I smiled up at her. She smiled back and walked into the living room, having heard the beginning of a scuffle.
"Hey," I heard her yell. "Don't smack your sister! Get your ass to your room," she said as I stood up to see what happened, only to see her hugging a little girl, "Your ok, Rae; it's ok. Jonny doesn't understand why you got upset. Go play in your room, ok, Sweets."
I watched Rae as she went to her room and Leigh went to the kitchen. I followed Leigh. As I got closer, I could hear her sniff and breathe deeply, then whisper, "Good Mother, get me through this. I know you wouldn't put anything in my path I couldn't handle, but I am seriously wondering about this."
I saw her wipe her eyes and somehow knew it weighed heavy on her. Before I could stop myself, my hand was on her shoulder.
"Are you alright?"
She nodded, "I'm fine."
My internal bullshit meter hit 100. "Liar," I whispered. "You are not ok," I said as my hand slid from her shoulder to the small of her back, turning her to look at me.
She shook her head and sighed deeply before locking her sea green eyes on me. "I don't have a choice, Ashley. I have to be fine. I am not allowed to fall apart, not anymore. These guys need me to be tough, to put it away and deal with it later."
"But doing that will just eat you up inside, girl."
"Do ya think I don't know that? It's just a little rough today," she said as she patted my arm. "Sorry, I'm just not used to having a guy around. Over the past few years I have gotten used to being alone."
"But you shouldn't need to," I replied, absolutely astonished that this pretty, strong, country girl was still alone. "Any country boy worth his boots and truck would be lucky."
She laughed, "Right. 'Cause the ones around here only want one of 2 girls; one, they want to own a girl, and two, she can't be a boss. They want a meek and mild girl, and not a strong, wild Mama. They want the girls they hear about on the radio, not a mama who don't need a man."
"Well, after four years, I can understand why you don't need a man," I laughed. "But there comes a time when you just can't be strong anymore."
"That is a buncha fuckin' bullshit," as she crossed her arms over her chest.
It hit me then that this woman wasn't just strong, but she was stubborn, too. "Are you willing to let me try to convince you," I said, cheekily as I pressed her up against the counter.
"Forget it, Dude," she growled as she pushed me off. "We are just friends. Don't read any more into it. It is safer for me that way."
"Safer," I asked.
"No heartbroken mama's around here. I don't generally play around, and when I do, I play for keeps. I already know about the other girls. So, hang it up, Buddy-Boy; it ain't happenin'," she said as she left the room and stalked into the living room.
I stood there for a minute. She had actually turned me down. I can honestly say it had never crossed my mind that she would. But, I had a little more insight. I must say I have never met a more stubborn woman.
Leaning back against the counter, I sighed, thinking. "Well then, that changes the name of the game, then doesn't it," I said to myself, glancing out of the corner of my eye at the living room doorway. 'Game on, then,' I thought to myself, grinning at the thought of her eating out of my hand before the storm passed.
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Finding Home