November 12th:

"So, Sam. I need to tell you something." Ashley couldn't keep the smile off of her face. She couldn't help but admire the ring that Chris had picked out. It was beautiful, though inexpensive.

"Go for it." Sam sounded like she was ready to give any advice, if need be. Ashley wasn't sure Sam was going to. "Is everything alright?"

Ashley nodded, though she knew Sam couldn't see her action. "Um, yeah. Everything is great, actually. Um, Chris and I are going to get married." Pause. Ashley had to stop herself from laughing. Sam must have been drinking a diet coke or something because she heard the spit take. Of course she couldn't hold in the laughter. Sam had to calm Ashley down through the phone.

"Ashley! What the hell?"

She blinked a couple of times. This wasn't the reaction she was expected. She didn't judge though. This was a shock. "Sam?" No response. "Sam, are you there?"

"Yeah, yeah. Um, Ashley, aren't you and Chris rushing things a bit?" Sam's words vibrated through the phone. It was a fair question, though. If any of her friends were in this situation, she would tell them to think carefully before getting married. She would tell them to make sure that the guy was actually going to be there for her, not turn into a jerk. She would tell them to make sure the guy actually loves her, and is not just doing this for the sole purpose of a baby, but this was her and Chris.

They had a real, though unconventional love story. She remembered meeting him, sitting next to him as a sophomore in high school in her Vocabulary Development class. There were two different class periods, but with how the class schedules lined up with electives, there were only six people in the class. It was her, Emily, some girl who always smelled like she was smoking too much weed, some senior guy who was taking the class just so he could have enough credits to graduate, an athlete Ashley had recognized as one of Matt's friends from the football team, and Chris. Ashley had naturally navigated towards Emily because she was at least someone she knew, but as the semester went on, she gradually got to know Chris more and more.

Of course she would be a senior in high school before the two of them even admitted their feelings for one another. Before that it was just shy smiles and awkward dodging around the subject, both too blind to notice how much they pined for one another. Looking back, Ashley could see why the gang wanted them to get together so much. They have been officially together for about a year and a half at this point.

She knew the pregnancy wasn't the only reason Ashley had said yes to marrying Chris. She knew, one day, they were going to be together. Maybe it was a secret blessing Josh had left her and Chris with, underneath all the terror. She wasn't sure she was ready to go visit the empty grave where a tombstone symbolically stood, guarding the last good memories of the Washington boy, but Ashley knew she could forgive him. He was ill. She had known that. The death of his sisters had obviously screwed with him more than he led on throughout the year following their death. Ashley knew he had been strangely calm.

A cough took Ashley away form her thoughts. She had zoned out, forgetting she was on the phone with Sam. "Ashley?"

"Yeah, yeah. Sorry. Zoned."

She heard Sam let out a sigh, but she could also her the smile behind it. "Anyway," she said, "are you sure you and Chris aren't rushing things?"

She smiled, giving a sideways glance to look over at the other side of the apartment. Chris was in the kitchen, preparing to put a tray of frozen chicken nuggets and french fries in their oven for their dinner. Chris' portion of the chicken nuggets were dinosaur shaped. How is it he was able to be adult enough to propose to her, but be childish enough to demand his chicken nuggets be dinosaur shaped. She was eating chicken nuggets, she admitted, but hers were at least a honey batter that could be arguably adult chicken nuggets. She also knew this was one of this was one of the things she loved about him. Not specifically his love for the dinosaur shapes, but his ability to enjoy what he wanted, no matter the consequences. "Sam, I really don't think we are."

"Well, Jess, Em, and I had a bet going on from years ago, betting who the first people in the gang to get married would be. Jessica bet you. Emily had bet Matt, this was before they were dating, but I knew it was going to be you or Chris. I guess I was right on both accounts." Ashley could feel the blush spreading to her cheeks. Her friends had made bets like that? "Anyway, do you know when your wedding is going to be? Is it going to be before or after you have the baby?"

She and Chris hadn't talked about it, but she knew she wanted the wedding to be before, so she Chris and their baby could all share a last name when they were born. Ashley Hawkins. Ashley Maranda Hawkins. Wow. That was going to be her. Thinking of her name squished with Chris's, she realized she hadn't answered Sam. "Um, we haven't talked about it, but I would probably want to have the wedding before." She didn't really want to be fat for her wedding either, but she had to pick and choose her battles. She couldn't have everything... She bitterly thought back to what her mother had said to her. Ashley knew she wasn't typically one to hold grudges, but if the person had hurt her enough, it was enough to make her lose faith in them. "Sam," her voice came across timid, a whisper, trying to not disturb Chris in the kitchen, who was now tinkering with the blender for some reason. Ashley decided she didn't want to know what he was up to. "Um, I need a Maid of Honor, I think. Would you like to be mine?"

She could almost see the smile on Sam's face as she heard her best girl friend squeal yes. She didn't know Sam squealed. "That's a new noise," she commented.

Sam rolled her eyes. "Come on, I may be a guy at heart, but it actually means a lot to me that you would ask me that. I know Jessica and Emily both probably wanted to be Maid of Honor." It was probably true. Jessica had been dropping hints since they were in fifth grade playing MASH, back when they both decided they would marry Matt if no one came along, back when being twenty seemed like a lifetime away.

Ashley decided she didn't care, though. She would still ask them to be bridesmaids. Her and Emily had sort have reconciled after the events on the mountain, both agreeing neither of the were in the right state of mind, Emily realizing that if she were in Ashley's place she might have taken the gun herself. The reconciliation hadn't happened over-night -it actually spanned several months- but they both realized the other was just scared. Ashley and Emily had come to the understanding that this was a one time thing, and if it should ever happen again then they would both have faith in one another. She knew she needed to call Jessica and Emily, tell them about her and Chris's proposal, as well as ask them to be her bridesmaids. "Hey, Sam, I'll call you later, alright?" CLANK.

"What was that?"

Ashley had no idea, but it came from the kitchen. "No idea. I'll call you later."

Ashley put down her phone and went to where Chris was standing, with what appeared to be chocolate ice cream all over his face. "What on earth did you do?"

Chris gave a sheepish shrug. "Um, I was going to make some milkshakes to have with our chicken nuggets."

Ashley rolled her eyes and smiled. "Thank you for the thought. It was very sweet," she gave him her most angelic smile, "but clean it up. I need to call Jessica and Emily." She got up on her tiptoes and gave him a kiss on his lips, her tongue peeking out so she could lick some of the ice cream off. She scooped up Louis in her arms, knowing that, given the chance, he would totally eat the ice cream that had been spilt all over the floor. She didn't miss the playful glare Chris was giving her from the kitchen. She felt bad for abandoning him with the mess, even though he caused it, so picked up her phone and called Jessica while she was soaking a wash cloth.

"Hello?" Jessica sounded confused, like she had just woken up from a nap. It wouldn't be surprising. The girl took whatever opportunity she could to get in a few extra minutes of sleep.

"Hey Jess. Are you busy?"

Sigh. "Not anymore. What's up?"

"Chris and I are getting married." Silence.

Three. Two. One. She could practically see the timer counting down in her head for the reaction. "WHAT?"

Ashley went on to explain how she and Chris had gone to the doctors, then the bookstore and Chris's awkwardly adorable Netflix and cupcake proposal in their living room. Thinking back, she liked how he knew she would like being proposed to in private, without pressure from the outside, without everyone looking. No pressure to say yes, even though there was really no doubt she would. Ashley focused on wiping down the counter while Jessica asked questions. She eventually just put the phone on speaker so Chris could heard their excited friend's babbling. "Chris? Did you even plan to ask her in advance, or was it like a spur of the moment kind of thing?"

Ashley gave Chris a sly smile. She didn't know the answer to this. She was curious. The tip's of Chris's ears went red and a blush spread on his face. Ashley thought it was cute that he would blush, even though it was only the two of them in the room. She honestly didn't care what his answer was. At least they were together. That didn't mean it wasn't fun to watch Chris squirm a little. "Um, I mean, I guess after our first year dating I knew I wanted to marry her. Like, she was different than any girl I met, no offense, Jess-"

"None taken."

"-but, I don't know. Ashley was having a rough day and I wanted to make it better."

Ashley could hear Jess squealing into her pillow. She was a sucker for romance. "That is so sweet of you Chris. Ashley is a total catch, but you are too. You two will be great together, I just know it!"

"Jessica, do you want to be one of my bridesmaids?"

"Uh, did you eat a brain tumor for breakfast? You don't even have to ask! Duh!" Ashley smiled. Two down, one to go. "Any idea on when the wedding is?"

Ashley glanced at Chris, who shrugged back at her. "We'll get back to you on that," Chris said, taking a moment to glance at Ashley's belly, though there was no sign that she was pregnant yet. "You can probably assume it'll be sooner rather than later."

She could hear Jessica's devilish smirk. "Well, you're lucky I have my Big Bad Bridal Binder I made with Emily back in high school. It hold up surprisingly well."

Ashley smiled. "That'll be great! Just don't tell Emily yet. I was going to call her as soon as I got off the phone with you."

"Well, then I guess I'll have to let you go! Planning for a wedding, then immediately turning around and planning for your baby. Aunt Jessica is going to spoil the hell out of her."

Ashley rolled her eyes. "It could be a boy, you know."

"Emily and I have a bet going. She's betting boy. I'm betting girl. Either way, I'm going to love them to death."

"Alright. We'll talk to you later, Jess."

"Bye!"

Ashley pressed end call and looked up at Chris, smiling at her like she was a queen or something. It was like he couldn't help himself, and he pressed his lips to her. He was still a bit sticky from the shake fiasco. Ashley kissed him back, happily accepting his advances. Chris lifter her up and placed her on the newly cleaned counter, covering her in kisses. "What," kiss, "are," kiss, kiss, "you doing?" kiss, kiss, kiss.

"I can't," kiss, "just kiss," kiss, kiss, kiss, "fiancé?" kiss, kiss.

She pushed him back. It was sudden, like getting hit with a train. A wave of happiness hit her. "Oh my gosh," she whispered. "We're actually engaged."

He had a smile on his face like he was the happiest man in the world. He started kissing her, working his way underneath Ashley's shirt, working on unclasping her bra, which had been feeling rather snug. Maybe she needed to go out and buy a new pair, or wear a sports bra until she could go out. Chris fumbled with it under her shirt, so she guided his hands with her. She smiled and moaned lightly as he flicked her nipples. Just as they were about to get busy, though, a timer went off. Chris looked mildly annoyed. "Dammit."

Ashley smirked. "Dinosaur nuggets?"

Chris nodded and walked over to the over, where he pulled out the try with their dinner. Het gave her a quick kiss on the cheek. "Go and call Emily. I'll get you a plate."

She rose up on her tiptoes and kissed his cheek in return. "I'm the luckiest girl, you know that?"

He smirked. "Yeah, well, you do get all of this. Who wouldn't be jealous?" He was making wild hand gestures about himself.

Ashley rolled her eyes, grabbed her phone, and sat on the couch. She pulled up Emily's contact and called the girl. "Jessica said you were going to call me." Single ring. Like she was waiting for a call.

"Oh, uh, yeah." She took a breath and just let it out at once. This got easier and easier the more she said it out loud. She was excited to tell the guys. "Chris and I are getting married!"

"Congratulations."

She smiled. "Thank you." Pause. "I was wondering if you wanted to be one of my bridesmaids?"

She could hear Emily smiling in her voice. "Yeah, I'd like that."

"Jessica said she was going to get with you to plan some things? I mean, it's not going to be overly extravagant, and we don't even have a date yet-"

"Please," Emily cut her off. "Your wedding will be on Christmas. You've wanted that for years, you just never said anything. You were dropping hints like crazy, though. Is Chris there?"

She looked at the kitchen. Chris was squirting ketchup onto their plates. She could see the two plates and two water bottles that were laid out. Ashley got up off the couch. "I'll get him." She pulled the phone away from her face. "Chris, Em wants to talk to you."

Chris nodded. He took the phone and started munching on one of his t-rex. He was nodding, saying yes, and occasionally looking Ashley over with a smile on his face. The conversation took about three minutes. When he was finished he hung up the phone.

"What was that about?" Ashley asked as she took one of slightly more adult chicken nuggets.

"Can't tell you." He was smirking.

"Fine." She rolled her eyes. "I guess we won't finish what we started in the kitchen in our bedroom."

Chris's turn to roll his eyes. "Emily would kill me if I told you. Just trust me, alright?"

She nodded. "With my life." It was true, too. He had chosen to save her twice back on the mountain, once of Josh, once over himself. Those moments were still some of the most fear filled moments of her life, but she had Chris at least, and that had given her hope. "I love you."

He smiled. "I love you too," he said. "I cannot wait for you to be my wife." He placed one hand on her face and kissed her, a deep, romantic passionate kiss, much like the one they shared on Blackwood, but Ashley noticed his hand creeping up to her still flat belly and resting there.

So a longer chapter today! I'm trying to increase the length of each chapter of my story, but with my update schedule for all my stories, it is often easier for me to produce shorter chapters. I'm hoping this is something I can improve on for this story and other stories! I hope you all liked the chapter! There wasn't too much fluff, though there was a bit of mild smut. Let me know what you all thought!