How To Heal A Broken Spirit
Pairing; Hayden X Ashley(Hiccup X Astrid)
Rated; M for Mature
Disclaimer; I do not own HTTYD or any songs I might use.
Always
It was the month of November, nearing Thanksgiving in two weeks as Hayden and Ashley still lived together. Of course, it's not like she had anywhere else to go. Ashley didn't want to go anywhere else because she was comfortable at Hayden's, and he didn't seem to mind letting her stay there. In fact, Hayden loved it. Not much had happened since that fateful day in August when Ashley's fiery spirit showed while she protected Stormfly from her previous owner. Ashley wasn't like that all the time, but it was clear that she had it in here. Also, there was an obvious soft spot for the dragons. True to her words; Ashley adopted Stormfly as hers, and the blue and the yellow dragon had come a long way since that day. Storm trusted Ashley, Hayden, and their friends, even the others dragons, but nobody else. Everything thought it was incredible that Hayden hadn't been able to get through, but Ashley could, and Hayden claimed that he didn't care; it just meant that Ashley and Stormfly belonged with one another, as he was bonded to Toothless, and the others had a connection with their dragons. Ashley and Stomfly came from a similar background as far as being held against their will, forced to do things they didn't want, and getting abused if they didn't follow instructions.
Ashley still worked her four days a week at Archia Burger while Hayden worked five or six. Hailey and Ford were now married; having tied the knot in September. The rest of the friends were still living their lives contently, but there was a rumor floating around that Eli might ask for Roxanne's hand in marriage over Christmas. Of course, the only one who hadn't heard this was Roxy. Travis is going to be a father because he got Alicia pregnant, and boy did Seth give him a piece of his mind. Apparently, the two lovers had sex on their one and a half-year anniversary, and then she learned five weeks later she was pregnant with a home test. That happened back in October, so she's about two months right now, and due for July of next year. Last Ashley and Hayden heard Travis and Alicia were going to be getting their own apartment to raise their baby. Seth finally asked Caitlyn Boggs out, happened when they took Brandon trick or treating. Devon was going to ask Skye to marry him over Thanksgiving, or so everyone had been led to believe. Ashley got to re-meet Gabriel Forger, and Hayden tried to explain that this man was his Godfather, but Ashley didn't seem to recall him much.
Hayden wanted to tell Ashley that he loved her, but wasn't sure what could happen to them if he revealed his feelings. Things could go great, or he risked losing her for good if she didn't feel the same. Also, Ashley was still healing. Hailey talked her into seeing a professional, so that happened twice a week, and Ashley would take the bus to get there. All Hayden asked was that Ashley would check in with him when she left, arrived, and then was headed back to the house. Ashley didn't mind; she knew he worried and had a sneaking suspicion that he liked her as more than a friend, but she couldn't prove it. However, one thing Ashley knew is that she was quite fond of Hayden; liking him on a more than friends level. Ashley recalled those feelings while they were growing up, and in High School; Ashley saw Hayden as her best friend and crush, but never found it within her to tell him. After all of this; Ashley planned to make it known. How could she not? Hayden went above and beyond to rescue her, but Ashley was waiting until she remembered everything. She felt in her heart that there were pieces missing, and she didn't feel like she could give herself to Hayden until she knew who she was, and remembered everything.
Today, Hayden and Ashley both had off from work, and they were taking a drive together. It was part of Hayden's plan to help Ashley remember things; by taking her around to places she used to go to, and it was working because Ashley would always have some kind of flashback, and the two of them would laugh about things. Ashley always joined Hayden at the playground now; they couldn't use the elementary school one since the school year had begun once more, so they went to the park one, and still had the same amount of fun. Once or twice a month, they'd make a picnic out of it with their dragons. Hayden and Ashley would talk about anything they could; usually the past. On this day, Hayden wasn't sure where he could take her.
"So where are we going today?" Ashley asked him with a smile.
"Where would you like to go?" Hayden inquired.
"Uh," Ashley paused a moment, tapping her chin to think of something. "Actually, can we get something to eat first? I'm starved," she wondered.
"Sure. What are you in the mood for?" Hayden chuckled. Ashley always did have a hearty appetite.
"Is Chinese an option?" Ashley questioned.
"It is. I'll take you to the best spot in town," Hayden told her. Ashley nodded, clapping her hands excitedly as Hayden smiled. How could he not? This was the Ashley he fell in love with, but he noticed her behavior was that of a younger child's. Though, he didn't mind it because he assumed that it's been a long time since she had felt this kind of joy, and had this type of freedom. Hayden pulled into the parking lot, then parked the car, and shut it off. Hayden and Ashley got out, then walked into the restaurant. The hostess greeted them with a smile.
"Table or booth for two?" the woman inquired.
"Two, and booth, please?" Hayden said. The woman nodded while grabbing two menus, then leading them down a row and to the third booth by the window on the left. Ashley and Hayden slid in across from one another, then the menus were set down in front of them.
"Can I start you with a beverage?" the woman questioned gently.
"Ladies first," Hayden insisted.
Ashley fought blushing. "Shirley Temple, please?" she asked, and the female nodded.
"Orange soda, please?" Hayden said. The hostess smiled, then walked away to get the drinks while Hayden and Ashley started looking at the menu so they could decide what to order for lunch.
"What are you going to get?" Ashley wondered.
"Same thing I always do," Hayden chuckled a bit. "Peking Dumplings and Beef Teriyaki sticks to start, then a small order of Chicken and Broccoli," he stated.
"Huh, that sounds good. I might copy you," Ashley replied.
"Copy away. The dumplings and sticks have six each; we can split if you want?" Hayden offered.
"Sure if you want too," Ashley giggled some. "So I was wondering if you might want to help me with something, well, two things?"
"I'll do my best," Hayden looked at her.
"Since I…didn't get to finish High School, would you want to help me get my GED? A-And maybe teach me how to drive? I've been saving up for a car; then I realized it's kind'a pointless if I'm not licensed and don't know how to operate a vehicle," Ashley remarked a little nervously.
"I can help you do all of that, Ash. I graduated with all A's, but Ford was Valedictorian. However, I passed my licensing test with a perfect score," Hayden informed.
"That's great. I missed out on so much, and I still feel like a huge chunk of my memory is missing. Everything from Junior Year to being at Fantasies is blocked out, and no matter what I do, I can't bring is forward," Ashley sighed.
"Hey, you went through a lot, Ashley," Hayden put his hand over hers now. "It will come to you in time. You heard what Hailey said; traumatic situations tend to get blacked out. A way for your mind to protect you from the pain of whatever the situation brought you. And Ford added that you won't remember until you're ready to handle it,"
Ashley sighed. "It's been almost a year, Hayden. A year in April; that's only five months away. What if I never remember because I'll never be ready to deal with it. Hell, I don't even remember most of what Ryker and Shawn put me through. I just know that they were in charge of punishing. Johnathon handled advertising, and Kyle was in charge of entertainment, but Virgil owned it all, and me,"
"Not anymore he doesn't," Hayden reminded.
"Yeah, now you do," Ashley rolled her eyes.
"Ash, that's not what it is. I only did that to get you out of there, and as I told Virgil that day; I searched four years for you, and I said that if I found you that there isn't anything I wouldn't do to get you back. I would have drained my bank accounts to set you free," Hayden stared into her eyes. "There is only one Ashley Hofferson, and she is priceless to me,"
Ashley blushed a deep shade of red now. "Will I ever be ready?"
"Even if you aren't, just like with everything else; something could trigger you remembering, and you'll have to get through it just as you did with nightmares," Hayden smiled.
"Pfft. I only got through those because you were with me, remember? You kept coming into the room to hold me," Ashley closed her eyes.
"At your request for me to come to you, Ashley," Hayden said as Ashley looked at him. "I only came into the room because you kept calling for me, saying you needed your best friend to save you from that hell. And what makes you think I won't be here for you when you recall all that stuff?"
"Come on, Hic. You're twenty-one-years-old, and GM in a huge fast-food chain. I'm sure you'd like to move on with your life instead of-," Ashley started.
"Hey, I'll be the judge of what I do with my life, okay? If I wanted to do something else, I would. I'm doing all this because I want to, Ash. I said I would search for you as long as it took to find out, and though it took four years, I found you. I promised that once I located you, I wouldn't let you go, and I made sure that you came home with me instead of being stuck in that hell with those heartless people. I swore that I would be with you through all of this, and bring back my best friend, and I will. I will be here for everything and anything because I choose to be," Hayden told her.
"What if I never remember? I'm just…a burden to you," Ashley teared up a little. Hayden got up and slid into her side of the booth.
"Ashley, listen to me," Hayden lifted her chin up, so she was looking at him. "You and I have been through everything together. Good, bad, happy, sad-all of it. You're not a burden to me; you're the most amazing person I've ever met, the best and first friend I've ever had. I'm not letting that go over something like this." Hayden held her hand tighter. "Ashley, you have me no matter what. Okay? Whatever that means. Whatever you want it to mean," Ashley's eyes widened a bit. "I am with you. There will always be a Hayden and Ashley. Always,"
Ashley's tightened her hand on Hayden's, and finally, she smiled. Her eyes closed as she laid her head on his shoulder. "And I'm with you, always, Hayden," she said softly. Ashley didn't know what else would happen in her future, but she knew that she had Hayden no matter what. Hayden would always be there for her, just as he'd always been, and always would be.