Hello all and welcome to my first ever PLL fan fiction.
I'm a little bit nervous because I binge watched the first 5 seasons up to where we are in like 3 weeks so I don't know if I'm really in a position to be writing about characters that I've known for less than a month. But having taken a look around the fanfiction section on here there are some pretty incredible stories but not really any that explore the AshleyElla relationship. I know we've only ever had (I think) the one scene with just the two of them where they talk about being divorced / dating again, but it's a relationship that I think would be really interesting and sweet.
I've written the first 4 chapters at the moment but before I continue I wanted to know whether anyone was actually interested. I know they're not particularly popular characters so maybe no one will actually have an interest in reading?
The first chapter's almost more of an introduction. As I said they have no real relationship in the show past having daughters that are friends, so I didn't want to suddenly write about them being BFF's. I hope the pace is okay because I didn't want to drag everything out but at the same time I also hate stories that feel rushed.
Right I'm going to stop rambling now, let me know what you think / whether you're interested in the characters.
Kisses, C
Ps. This is a T at the moment but I might change it depending on how I feel when I reread chapter two. There is going to be mature content, I just don't know whether it's T mature or M mature... I'll have a think.
Oh and this is not a slashfic... at least at the moment haha. I'll see where the plot bunnies take me but I can't see it being in that direction. ;)
Hi A, don't suppose you're free tonight? x
I can be. Is everything okay? x
are the opposite to okay. Can't talk now class have just come in. See you later? x
Mine at 7? Everyone's out. x
See you at 7. x
AE - AE - AE
Ella knocked at the door and waited patiently for it to be opened. Okay so not as patiently as she normally would. She fidgeted and looked behind her and checked her phone. She didn't want anyone to know she was here. She didn't want anyone to know why.
"Hi Ella, come in."
The door had opened and the occupant had let her inside. Taking a deep breath the 41 year old walked in and shut the door behind her. "Thank you so much, I really appreciate this. I… I needed to talk to someone but… All of my friends are at home with their husbands and their kids and I just…"
"Ella take a breath. Let's sit down, grab a bottle of wine, and we can talk about whatever it is that has an intelligent English teacher talking in worse sentences than my 17 year old daughter."
Ella managed a small laugh. "Thank you. Well not thank you for the English teacher dig but… for everything else. Thank you."
"Ella"
"Yes?"
"Just sit down."
Ella laughed softly and then sat down at the kitchen table while the host went to a rather empty looking fridge and pulled out a chilled bottle of white wine.
"This one work for you?"
"Anything strong and alcoholic will work for me at the moment. I'm not really that fussed about the taste."
Ashley laughed and poured them both a large glass before sitting down opposite her daughter's friend's mother. "What can I do for you Ella?"
"I'm sorry I probably shouldn't be here but when I split up from Byron you were so good to me. I know we only really have a connection because of our daughters but I didn't know who else to turn to. I felt so stupid."
"I'm sure whatever it is you have no reason to feel stupid, but if you want me to offer more advice than that I'm going to need a little more information. And just for the record I consider you a friend Ella."
Ella offered a small smile and took a sip of her wine. "You heard about what happened with Zack?
Ashley nodded. "I'm really sorry Ella, I genuinely thought he was… well, not what he turned out to be."
"I'm sorry."
Ashley tilted her head to the side looking a little confused. "What on earth are you sorry for? He's the creep that was engaged to you and then tried to hit on my daughter who is half his age."
"I'm the reason he was around your daughter Ashley, and he's half MY age." Ella could feel her cheeks getting red and it wasn't because of the wine that sat half finished between her slightly sweaty palms.
Ashley leant forward and took one of those hands. "Ella I'm only going to tell you this once. What happened with him and Hanna was NOT your fault. Not even a little bit. He would have done that whether he was with you or not." She paused. "Oh god sorry that probably doesn't make you feel any better does it?" Ella shook her head but smiled a little at Ashley's foot in mouth moment as she continued. "And he isn't even close to half of your age. I'm much older than you and he isn't even half MY age." Ashley thought about Jason who pretty much was half her age and felt her stomach sink a little lower. "And even then… you couldn't blame yourself. Or maybe you could… I really don't know anymore."
Ella raised her eyebrows. "I'd point out what a dreadful job you were doing of making me feel better about myself but I have a feeling that last bit wasn't about me?" She looked in concern at her friend. "Is there something you want to talk about?"
Ashley opened her mouth and then shut it again before reopening it to say "hey this is about you, don't deflect."
Ella didn't want to push so she just nodded her head in acceptance and took another sip of her wine. "Ergh how did my life end up so messed up? One minute I'm a happily married woman with two children and now… one of them had a break down, one of them started messing around with her English teacher. Then my marriage fell apart. I thought I'd got as low as I could but oh no, why not make the situation a hundred times worse by embarrassing myself genuinely thinking someone like Zack would have any interest in an old woman like me."
"Ella you're not old. And he wouldn't have asked you to go away with him if he didn't genuinely like you. Relationships fall apart sometimes. The way he treated you was not okay. But that doesn't mean he didn't ever care about you."
"He might have cared Ashley, but he certainly never loved me."
There was a moment of silence. "I don't know sweetheart. But if he didn't then he's a fool."
"I gave him my heart."
"I know sweetheart."
"And he broke it."
Tears were starting to fall down the younger woman's face now and Ashley felt at a bit of a loss. She wasn't so great at this. She could just about cope with her daughter's emotions, but she wasn't really someone that other people came to as a shoulder to cry on. And for good reason. She was actually pretty dreadful. Last time was different. It was just one divorced woman talking to another about starting over. A bit of a chat. But nothing too intense. Just some dating advice. This… this was a whole other ball game.
Pulling herself together she stood up, got the bottle of wine, topped up both of their glasses, and then hesitated before saying. "Ella I would love to give you all of the answers you need right now. But I can't. They're answers that only Zack could give you and I don't think you're in a place where you're ready to have that chat with him yet. But I will tell you one thing honey, you aren't the only person that's making a mess of this whole being divorced thing. I thought I had everything sorted when I met Ted. And then the whole murder thing happened and I thought I'd lost him and I was so so scared that I'd lost my only chance of happiness. When I found out he was the one that posted the bail money… I had everything. Everything I'd ever wanted. Even my grumpy daughter loved him. He proposed to me last night Ella, and I couldn't say yes."
She stopped and Ella raised her eyebrows. "You didn't want to say yes to marrying a guy that you just said yourself is perfect and that your daughter supports your relationship with?"
"I don't deserve him Ella."
"You deserve to be happy."
"No I don't."
"Why?"
The look between them was intense now, neither one of them sure they were ready to hear the answer to that question out loud.
"Because I am just as bad as Zack, Ella. I cheated on Ted."
Silence.
"Who? Why?" Ella couldn't keep the look of shock off her face. Of all the people to cheat… Ashley had been in that position just like she had. Why would she do that to someone else when she knew perfectly well how it felt.
It was Ashley's turn to cry now. Warm tears were flowing down her cheeks, leaving smudges of black mascara in their wake.
"Because I was lonely. I know that makes me a horrible person. I know he waited for me for months when I was inside. But he was gone for three months and I felt like I used to when I was married and I just… I don't know Ella. I screwed up okay. Please don't look at me like you hate me, I've already had Hanna do that."
"I don't hate you Ashley, and neither does Hanna. Wait. How does she know?"
"She walked in as he was leaving."
"Who's he?"
"Please… Ella I… I can't do this."
Ella sighed. "Ashley I can't pretend I'm okay with this. Cheating is never okay. We know that more than most. But I also can't pretend that I don't understand. When I got back together with Byron the first time and we were fighting… I was so lonely. I get that. I get feeling like you're totally on your own. I'd like to say that I could never do the same as you, but I can't be sure of that. So I'm here, as your friend, not asking for a name, just to know whether it's someone that would be likely to tell Ted?"
"I don't know."
"Then you need to tell him yourself. Because we both know how it feels to find out from someone else. And we both know it will be far better coming from you."
"I know."
The two women held one another's gaze for a second before going back to their wine. Ashley finished her glass and then turned her attention back to Ella. "Thank you. For not lying to me. Not pretending this is okay. But being there for me anyway."
"You were wrong earlier Ashley. You're not a horrible person."
"Then maybe Zack isn't either."
"Maybe." Ella thought for a second. "No wait. Why are we defending him. He hit on your 17 year old daughter. That is not okay."
"True. He's a total sleazebag. Which means you're too good for him Ella."
She brunette sighed and shook her head unsure. There was no defending what Zack did but she was clearly kidding herself to believe it wouldn't happen eventually. Whatever they had… it was clearly just the novelty of being with an older women that captured his attention. Once that had worn off there was just nothing in it for him anymore.
Ashley, sensing the mood, stood up and retrieved another bottle of wine from the fridge. "Did I ever tell you about the date I went on before Ted?"
"I don't think so."
"Oh boy do I have a story to tell you. Let me refill our glasses first though, you're going to need it."
Thoughts of their current love lives aside, they reminisced about other unsuccessful dating experiences, their lives before children, and anything else you share with a new friend after copious amounts of alcohol.
At around three in the morning Ella ordered a taxi back to her apartment.