All is Found - Chapter 41: Chapter 41

The day after the VMA's I drove us all home to Salem. Alyssa is flying out of Boston and Nikki will drive her to the airport tomorrow. Needless to say Alyssa has been quite busy with the fall out of my instagram post. I probably should have warned her before I hit send but it's in the past now. Alyssa handled all the interview requests and gave everybody the no comment for a statement. After I gave the acceptance speech at the show, I knew people were going to question if they heard that right. This was my way of saying that yes they did.
When we got home on Monday afternoon Thea was waiting for us on the couch. She was dressed in a pair of shorts and a cut off tee shirt. The late August heat wave brought humid weather to the North East and I wish I could have enjoyed it more before going back to treatment. We didn't stay at home for long. I placed the two shiny new awards on the mantle above the fireplace, repack my backpack with some clothes hugged Alyssa and Nikki and we were out the door. I did stop next door to see Pat before we hit the road though. He was so excited on my win he said he might steal one of the awards by the time I come back.
Thea and I stopped at a small sushi place on our way into Boston and got a chance to have some time together before I won't see her for the next three weeks. Our lunch was nice and I just wish it lasted longer. Soon enough I was hugging and kissing her goodbye and leaving my cell phone with her before walking inside the treatment center.
Three weeks of working on my feeling and emotions was honestly the hardest thing I have ever done before. To be that open and honest with how I was feeling every day was so eye opening to me to see how unhappy I truely was with my life before this. Okay unhappy is a strong word. It's more like I finally have the clarity to see how different events in my life have  affected me mentally. Now when I'm feeling things, I know it's better to feel them instead of bottling them up and leaving them on a shelf forever.
It was actually nerve wracking for me to leave the comfort and peace I've found in the treatment center. I didn't want to go back to the real world just yet but I know I can't stay here in this bubble forever. So when I walked out the door and turned around to look at the place that has given me a new lease on life, I couldn't help but cry a little.
When I wiped my eyes and turned around I found Thea waiting in the same spot she was in when she picked me up for the VMA's weekend. I sighed and smiled still rooted in my spot. We have only talked on the phone three times in the three weeks I've been back here. One call a week for an hour was what I wanted. My doctors have also called Thea while I've been here with updates on how things are going at my request so she wasn't completely in the dark with how I was doing while I was away.
Thea waited patiently as I slowly walked over to her and dropped my duffle bag and backpack to the floor and wrapped my arms around her. I could hear Thea sigh in relief and she wrapped me tightly in her arms. It took a while for us to untangle our arms from each other. When we separated, the chilly late September wind breezed through my hair and I knew it was Asher and Ashley welcoming me back into the real world.
Thea and I got into her truck and she drove us home to my house. When we got there I stood out front of my house and admired the changing colors of the leaves on the trees. Fall is approaching and I was more than excited for my favorite season of the year to start. Thea grabbed my bags out of her truck and brought them inside for me and I followed after her when I was ready.
Nikki was standing in the living room waiting for me to walk inside. I gave her a smile and walked over to give her a hug. When I pulled away the empty mantle caught my attention and I walked over to where a note card was in its place. Chad and Brad are keeping me company until you get you home. ~ Pat
"He named them Chad and Brad?" I asked and turned around to the two women standing in my living room.
"He said he was lonely and I couldn't say no to him." Nikki said and looked worried I would be mad.
"I'll get them back sometime Nikki don't worry. How have things been here while I've been gone?" I asked and took a seat on the couch I've missed so much.
"Other than the whole Pat stealing your VMAs, fine. I've paid the water, electric, gas and security bills for August. Oh and I haven't burnt the kitchen down which is a major plus." Nikki said and plopped down on the couch next to me.
"How are things with Malia?" I asked and noticed how Nikki's face went bright red.
"Well other than the one time I walked in on them having sex in front of the fire place, I would say things are great between the two love birds. They've even made it official." Thea said and took a seat next to me.
I couldn't help but laugh and look over at Nikki. Her face was getting redder by the second and I couldn't stop laughing.
"Did you guys have your first time on my living room floor?" I asked after I came down from my laughter.
"I can be romantic sometimes you know." Nikki said and huffed. I smiled and pulled Nikki into a hug and kissed her temple.
"I think it's time I replace this rug now that we both have had sex on it." I said and looked behind me at Thea.
"Ew, no, come on really?" Nikki said pushed herself away from me. I took no offense and just leaned back the other way into Thea's waiting arms.
"Yea, we've done it a few times in front of the fire right babe?" I asked and looked up to see Thea's face get red.
"I will neither confirm or deny that." Thea said and wrapped her arms around me.
Nikki let out groan as someone knocked on the door. She jumped off the couch and opened the door. Malia was waiting on the front steps with a smile on her face. Nikki invited her inside and closed the door behind her.
"It's nice to see you home Ashlyn." Malia said and flashed me a smile.
"It's nice to be home Malia." I said and heard Nikki come running down the stairs.
"I'm going to be staying at Malia's tonight to give you guys some alone time." Nikki said clutching her backpack strap.
"Hey, no sleep overs on a school night." I said and smirked.
"Whatever you say mom, should I just stay out till the day after tomorrow to be sure not to walk in on anything?" Nikki asked and raised her eyebrow in challenge.
"No tomorrow Thea and I have some rug shopping to do to replace this one so we'll be out in the afternoon." I said and watched as Nikki's face turned red again. I could feel Thea snicker behind me.
"Nikita you told her?" Malia asked looking like she wanted to be anywhere else then here.
"Family dinner tomorrow night, I expect to see you here Malia." I said before Nikki could respond.
"Anything else mom?" Nikki asked as she grabbed Malia's hand to pull her out the door.
"Use protection!" Thea yelled at the couple.
Both girls turned red and walked out the door as Thea and I busted out into a fit of giggles. When we calmed down I turned around so I could face Thea. She gave me a smile and leaned in to give her a kiss.
"What is your work schedule like this week?" I asked after I pulled away.
"Off today and tomorrow then on nights for 4 days." Thea said.
"How have you been?" I asked turning in her arms to get a better look at her.
"Things have been okay, definitely missed having you around. I've put on some muscle weight and been going to the gym more often. Work has been going well; I'm finding my grove again and I'm back working with the gang unit. They have been really welcoming and have had my back since the incident and I've really liked working with them. One of the guys is retiring soon and I think that I'm going to push for his spot." Thea said and ran her hand through her hair.
"That's amazing baby" I said and kissed her cheek.
"Thank you love" Thea said and blushed.
"I kind of want to do something crazy." I said.
"What's that?" Thea asked and smiled.
"I want to go get a tattoo, well actually two of them." I said.
"Right now?" Thea asked.
"Yea" I said and bit my lip.
"We can do whatever you like baby." Thea said.
I gave Thea a kiss and hopped off her lap to change quick. Once I got to my bedroom I found Asher's Boston Red Sox hat sitting on my bed waiting for me. It stopped me in my tracks and it took me a second to go through with changing. When I was done I grabbed the hat off my bed and ran back downstairs. Thea was already waiting for me with her keys in her hands.
"I just want to stop next door really quick." I said as I locked the door behind me. Thea nodded and made her way to her truck as I walked next door.
I knocked on the door and waiting for Pat to open the door. To my surprise Nicholas answered the door. He pulled me into a big hug and I was really glad to see him.
"What are you doing here?" I asked as he invited me inside.
"The state fair is next weekend, Sydney and I thought we would come up and visit dad and go to the fair." Nicholas said and I watched Pat talk with Sydney.
"It's next weekend already?" I asked and pulled my phone out to check the date.
"It's always the first weekend of October Ash, thought you knew that." Nicholas said.
"I've been away for the past three weeks; I'm still catching up on things and I didn't realize the date." I said.
"Well now you know." Nicholas said and took a seat on Pat's couch.
"You couldn't pick better names then Chad and Brad?" I asked as Pat walked towards me.
"It just came to me." Pat said and laughed as I pulled him into a hug.
"I came over quick because I'm having family dinner tomorrow night and wanted you to be there. Nic and Syd are invited too. I also expect you to bring Chad and Brad back home to me." I said after I pulled away from Pat.
"Wouldn't miss it for the world kiddo." Pat said and we both heard Thea honk her horn.
"I've gotta go but I will call you tomorrow morning about dinner." I said and quickly made my way back outside to Thea.
Black Magic Tattoo has been a staple in Salem for as long as I could remember. I've always wanted to get a tattoo but I never knew that I wanted until now. I went with Asher when he got his first and I've always been intrigued about tattooing. When we walked into the shop I raised the hat on my head a bit to look around.
"I was wondering if we would ever get the pleasure of having you come in." I heard the man at the front desk say.
"Why does it still surprise me when people recognize me?" I said quietly to Thea who is standing right next to me. "Well I'm looking to get a tattoo so I figured I would need to go to a tattoo shop and I'm pretty sure the sign out front says Black Magic Tattoo." I said and walked over to the desk.
"You're a home town hero Ash, I've tattooed so many of your lyrics on kids the past couple of months. I'm Ben." The man said and held out his hand.
"It's nice to meet you Ben, I'm Ashlyn, this is my girlfriend Thea." I said and shook his hand.
"What can I do for you ladies?" Ben asked after he shook Thea's hand.
"I want to get two tattoos, both small, nothing crazy. The first I want is a semi colon on my wrist. The second one I wanted to get is of the Brooklyn Bridge in New York City. I want it to be from the perspective as if you are looking at it from the Brooklyn side of the bridge, looking up at it from the waterfront. I want that one to go right below the crook of my elbow on my forearm." I explained.
Ben asked me a few more questions about size and how detailed I wanted it to be then he went off to draw it up. Thea and I sat on the couch in the waiting area. While we were waiting I explained a little bit why I wanted the bridge. For me I feel like the night of the VMAs was a turning point in my life. After working so hard on this new music and touring, people are finally seeing me. I don't have to hide anymore.
About a half an hour later Ben came out and showed me what he drew up. I wanted the bridge to be simple. Just the outline of it and I was super excited with what he came up with. He took us back to his station and finished getting set up. Ben did the semi colon first and that one hurt so badly. The wrist is a tender spot for tattoos as Ben explained afterwards. Once he was done he moved right onto the bridge tattoo. The bridge didn't hurt as bad and I actually watched him do it. It kind of felt like magic watching him, just like how I felt whenever I watched my mother play the piano.
Ben took his time and created every detail perfectly. I was so happy with the final product. He got a few pictures of it and even one of us together so he could post it on the shops instagram. After I paid Thea and I left and picked up some pizza for lunch.
When we got back to my house I started to plan dinner for tomorrow night. I was thinking of having a Mexican taco night. While I was making a list of things I needed to get from the store I had Thea text Lindsey to invite her over as well. I wanted to do something for Lindsey for when she helped out Thea while I was on tour and just being there for her while I was in treatment.
With the company set, menu made, list prepared of what I needed to get from the store tomorrow, I joined Thea in the living room as she started getting a fire going. Once she got it going Thea sat down on the couch next to me. I handed her a glass of her favorite whiskey as cuddled into her side with a glass for myself.
"I've missed this." I said and took a sip.
"Agreed." Thea said and took a large sip of her drink. "You know I think it's only fair that if you want to get rid of this rug tomorrow that we send it out with a bang."
I looked at Thea and smirked. The rest of my first night home was spent naked on my living room floor in Thea's arms.