Chapter 25

Disclaimer: I own nothing but the kids and the plot.

Ashton POV

"Are your sure this will be alright?" A hushed and nervous voice asks in the darkness of my car. I glance over at the petite red head using the purple light of the car's speed gages to set eyes on her uneasy expression.

"Yes." No. I'm pretty sure this won't go other well with my family or anyone really. Matter of fact I know my brother will be pissed.

"Do they know about-"

"The only one that knows is Adam… unless he…" No, Adam wouldn't tell them. Would he? He promised he wouldn't and I know he can keep a promise.

"Unless what?" She urged.

"Nothing. Just a thought." I grumble at her. This is going to be a long night. I sigh and impulsively reach for my cigarettes in my jacket pocket. I just get my hand in my front pocket when a small hand grabs my wrist.

"I'm pregnant remember." Star whispers resting my hand back on the wheel.

"Right. Sorry." I guess I have to get used to that. Great another person against my habit. Wonderful. I see her head nod in acceptance then curls herself in to my side, hiding her face in my coat. I tense involuntarily a million memories rushing back to me; her scent and the familiar feel of her body taking me back. Shaking off the thoughts I go to push her away but as I look down she's sound asleep, looking more peaceful than I've seen her since she walked through that back door. I just sigh wearily and shake my head again but let her stay put.

"God what am I doing?" I mumble ,irritated at myself. Hopefully Gaby doesn't take this unpleasantly. Thinking of my baby girl, I should call her. I slip my blackberry from my pocket and scroll down until I get girls name. It rings three times before I get an answer.

"Hello?" Her sweet voice has an anxious edge to it.

"Hey baby. I'm on my way back to yours. Um, my mom's still there right?"

"Yeah she and Adam are still… We've all been worried." There is worry evident in her soft voice.

"I know honey. I'm sorry but something came up… Something I need to talk to all of you about." I sound guilty even to myself.

"Is everything alright?" Her concern has yet to leave her voice.

"Not sure yet baby, but I'll be there in five 'kay?"

"Okay. See you in a bit Ashy." I smile at the name.

"I love you Gabs." I had a sudden desire to assure her of that.

"Love you to." I slide my phone closed and take a deep breath and stop at yet another red light. It would probably be best if I left Star in the car while I talk Ma. I drive in a silence the rest of the way to the Carlin house with Star occasionally snuggling closer to me. This is a bad idea but what's a girl to do. When I pull into the driveway I kill the engine and just sit here and think.

How in the hell am I going to approach this? What will they say, how we they react… How will Gabs respond. I know she loves me but I don't think she will be too thrilled with my idea either. Dammit how do I get myself in these predicaments?

I look up from my dash board and up at the house. I see the window curtain move. Well I guess I can't hide in here forever. Here goes nothing. After I carefully get extract myself from Star's death grip I slow approach to large red brick house, hesitating outside the door. Just as I was raising my hand to the knob the door suddenly swings open reveling my beautiful girlfriend. I give her I weak smile before accepting her offered hand and allowing her to pull me into the air conditioned house. After I close the front door I turn and face Ma, spencer, and my twin.

"Hello guys." I say uneasy.

"Hey Ashton." Adam and Spencer greet me. My mom is just giving me a questioning look as if she doesn't know what to say or think.

"What did she want Ashton?" Adam asked, his voice suddenly cold and accusing. My eyes snap to my fuming brother.

"That's what I wanted to talk to ya'll about. She's in trouble. She needs my help-"

"Help! She doesn't deserve it," Ma growls, now deciding to butt in, " after all she did and put you through. You shouldn't even think about assisting her with anything."

Wait a minute. What does she know? I look from Ma's face to Spencer's then last to Gaby's. By the looks on their faces I snap my eyes to Adam's guilty face. Oh did not tell them.

"You," I growl at him, " You told them didn't you. How could you do that? You promised me you wouldn't speak a word!" I'm a foot away from my fearful brother when I feel a sharp tug on my arm. I look behind me and see Gaby giving me a pleading look.

"Ashton hear him out before you do anything." She tells me gently. I soften my stance and step away from Adam while taking a deep calming breath.

"Okay. Explain why outing me about my past addictions was a reasonable thing to do." I mutter demandingly. I feel Gaby squeeze my hand and when I turn to her she gives me a sweet kiss on the lips. I give her a confused smile. How could she act this way with what Adam spilled about me?

"Trust me Ash," Adam started, " I would have never said anything but on that star showed back up after months of being gone doing god knows what I thought it would be a good time to tell them. Just in case you, uh, fell off the wagon. So to speak." I stared at him in disbelief.

"Do you really think I would go back to all of that? Do you really know me? I know I screwed up once and it came close to killing me a few times. I will not go down that road again. Do you understand me." I'm again in his personal space yelling my words in his face.

"Ashton. Stop it!," Gaby again sharply yanks on my hand, " He's not saying you will. He's saying if you get a temptation that will would know… so you can came to us so we can help you." I back away from Adam again turn to look at the two adults on the couch- at Ma. She looks as though she's about to burst into tears.

"Oh Ma." I say and dart over to the couch and pull the shaking woman out of Spencer's arms into my own. As soon as I have her she let her tears go and sobs into my neck.

"Shh it's okay. I'm sorry. Sorry I did come to you. Sorry for the way I've been acting these last few years. I'm sorry." I mumble soothingly in my mother's ear. She just cries harder. I sit on the living room floor with her in my arms until her cries turn to hiccups.

"I'm sorry to. I should have been able to see or find something wrong but I wasn't around enough to see it." She whispers in my neck, her voice husky from crying.

"It okay. I glad you didn't know. To think of me in that low state." I mutter in her hair.

"I wouldn't of looked at you like that. I would have helped you. I love you kiddo." I smile softly and whisper the words back to her. Once she pulls away from her she wipes some unknown tear off my face and kisses me on the forehead. I smile softly at her and help her back up on to the couch with Spencer and then I get up and walk to Gaby. I stand before her for a moment before she pulls me into a loving kiss. I kiss back with all I have telling her I love with everything with her returning the favor. God I love her. When I pull away from her I turn and face my brother.

"I'm sorry bro. I love you dude." He smiles and walks over to us giving Gaby and me a huge hug. He pulls back after a minute and walks to the couch and takes a seat next to our mother.

"What happened with Star?" Spencer asked breaking the silence that had overtaken our group. All of their eyes jump back to me. I take a deep breath.

Here we go.

Gaby POV

I feel Ashton tense at my mom's question. When I look up at her she has a troubled and slightly guilty look on her face. One that makes me nervous. She looks down at me and sighs.

"She's in a real tight spot and she has no one else to turn to. No friends. No family. No one." I see a look of pity cross her face.

"What's wrong her?" I ask quietly.

"IT has to be bad if you're thinking of helping her. Ash is silent for a second before she grabs my hand and drags and to the love seat where she sits down sitting me on her lap.

"Two months ago she found out that she was, um…." She trailed off.

"She's what?" Ashley asks giving Ashton a questioning look.

"She pregnant and the father kick her out and won't have anything to do with her or the child and her parents and family disowned her years ago so now she's been living on the streets and homeless shelters. I can't leave her out their pregnant and alone." Oh god. I can't help but feel bad for the poor girl.

"And what are you supposed to do about it." Ashley asked slight angry slightly curious. I feel Ashton tense under me again. I massage her side softly trying to relieve her tension.

"I told her that I would…. takeherinandtakecareofher." She said the last part so fast I didn't catch it. We all give her a quizzical look.

"What?" Adam asked ,his tone confused. Ashton takes another deep breath before trying again.

"I said I told her I would take her in and take care of her till her baby comes." She say slowly and uncertain. Okay I don't know how I'm supposed to take that.

"You told her what!" Ashley and Adam bellowed together.

"Ma! I know I shouldn't of said that but think of it this way. I'm doing it for the kid. It's not it's fault that his mom has nothing or no one to help and take care of her."

"I know that but Ashton.. .telling her to live with us is crazy!" Ashley says somewhat more calm.

"I agree with Ma." Adam says.

"I know it crazy but I can't just dump her and leave her on the streets can?" she ask looking at all of us for an answer.

"I agree with Ash but I don't think it's wise to let her live with you. What if she's using?" I ask concerned. I don't feel comfortable with Star being that close.

"She's not. I talked to her about that and she told me she quite because she don't want to hurt the baby."

"Are you sure?" My mom asked with doubt.

"Yeah. I could she was. She looked…. Healthier than I remember." Ashton said this with confidence.

"Ashton I don't know." Ms. Davies said, eyeing her daughter.

"I don't like it much either but like I said I can't not do something." It quiet in the room after a minute or two before Ashley speaks again.

"Where is the girl now?" She asked hesitantly.

"Asleep in my car." Ash tells her, glancing out the window for a second as if she confirming her statement. Ashley sigh and her and Ashton have I staring contest.

"Fine she can stay but there will be many rules concerning her. I don't know all of them yet but there with be." Ashley says with a firm voice.

"I agree completely." Ash say before turning to me.

"What do you think baby?" she asks her with concern in her eyes.

"I don't like it but I know it's the right thing to do so… I'm fine with it." I tell, trying to believe my own words. Trust me I know it's the right thing to do but I don't like the thought of Star being so close to Ash, but I trust her.

"I love you y'know." She whispers in my ear placing a kiss on it.

"Love you to Sweetheart." I give her a kiss on the nose then a peck on the lips.

Hopefully this will be okay.

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I would also like to thank all my readers and reviewers. Thank you peoples!