Ash's POV:

I tried to stop the memories. Every one that popped up in my head was like another kick in the teeth, sometimes even literally. Every punch, slap and kick rushed back, making the tears speed faster down my face. I looked at Gerard. The look of concern in his face made me hate myself. "Ash…" he said quietly as he walked up to me and just held me in his arms. I tried to stop crying and just make everything turn back to normal. I had never told anyone about Jack. Lauren and Ryan knew a little about what happened, but only because once they walked in on one of our arguments. I finally regained control over the tears and they slowly subsided, leaving just the tracks as evidence they were there. Gee finally let go of me and stood there in front of me, his hands on my shoulders. "You never deserved anything like that, and if I ever see that disgusting bastard again, I promise you, I will make him pay for everything he did to you." He moved his hands gently down my arms and clutched my hands. I looked him in his hazel eyes and gave a small smile. "Thank you," I whispered, squeezing his hands gently. "You going to get ready for bed?" he asked quietly, returning the squeeze then letting my hands drop again. "Yeah, I better had," I smiled, making my way towards the wardrobe which my suitcase was in. I pulled it out and rummaged through all the clothes to find a pair of black pyjama bottoms decorated with white skulls and a blue cookie monster t-shirt. Before I realised what I was doing I quickly pulled off the plain black t-shirt I was already wearing to put on the cookie monster one. I tried to do it quickly so he wouldn't see anything but it didn't really work. "What the hell is that?" he said, as I quickly pulled my cookie monster t-shirt down.

"Nothing!" I said quickly, laughing. I hoped to god he hadn't seen what I thought he'd seen. "No, that was definitely something," he laughed and he walked up to me and pulled up the bottom of my t-shirt to reveal the bottom of my back. "Stop it!" I laughed, trying to pull away, but he had already seen it. "That was a dragon right?" he giggled. "Yeah, you caught me," I laughed.

"Wow, Ash, you badass," he laughed. "Seventeen and you've already got a tattoo," he sniggered. "Shut your face!" I laughed, changing into the pyjama bottoms too. "Oh, can you go and grab a few quilts and stuff from the spare room? Sorry," I said, suddenly remembering that Luke was in the room next door sleeping. "Yeah, sure, which way is it?" he asked, still giving me reassuring smiles every so often. "You go out the door and go left, it's the door at the en of the hallway," I said, softly. He walked quietly out of the room, returning a minute later with armfuls of quilts and pillows. He dropped them on the floor near the corner then turned back to me. As he looked at me I yawned, tired as hell. "Go on, go to bed," Gerard laughed, arranging one of the quilts on the floor along with a pillow, taking off his t-shirt then laying on the floor under the quilt, his head on the dark blue pillow. "Ok, night then," I smiled, turning on one of the bedside lamps then making my way towards the main light switch. I flicked it down, then walked back over to my bed, sitting gently on it, before pulling back the covers and getting under them. "Night Ash," Gee said quietly.

"Talk to you in the morning," I said, smiling to myself as I settled myself down, drifting slowly to sleep, still quietly smiling to myself.