Ch.26

Her father, step-mom, and brother spent two hours at the house before they left. "I'll see you later at your party," Cole said.

"Ok, bye Dad," Ashley replied, hugging him.

"Bye baby," he said, kissing her head. She walked them to the door and watched them leave before heading back into the kitchen.

"Ok, what's going on?" she asked.

"What are you talking about?" Coop asked.

"I know that you all are hiding something from me. I'm not stupid," she said.

"We have no idea what you are talking about," Phoebe replied, before all five walked out of the kitchen. Ashley just stood there, trying to figure it out.

The next couple of hours were spent with getting hugged, kissed, and wished happy birthday by her whole family. It was finally 5:30 and time for her party. The party was being held at her Aunt Piper's club, P3. It was named after her three sisters Prue, Phoebe, and Paige. It was packed with Ashley's friends, Aunts, uncles, grandparents, cousins, brothers, sisters, parents, and stepparents. Everyone was laughing, dancing, and having a great time. At around 7:45, Cole walked up to the stage.

"Ok, can I please have everyone's attention," he said. When everyone quieted down, he continued. "Thank you," he started, "well, I can't believe that my daughter is the big 16 today. Ashley, I didn't get you a card, or anything that is wrapped on that back table right now. I got you something that you can really use, now that you passed for your license. Outside right now is parked your very own, brand new blue Infiniti M35X!" Everyone gasped as well as Ashley. That was the car that she had wanted for so long now that she couldn't believe it. She ran up to Cole and straight into his arms.

"Thank you so much Daddy!" she cried.

"Your welcome baby," he replied, hugging her. When they broke the hug, he smiled at her as he wiped away the falling tears.

"Can I go see it?" she asked.

"Of course, it is yours you know," he said. Her smile grew before she quickly hugged him again and her and her friends and some of her family ran outside to see her car. After about 20 minutes, they came back inside and got back to the party. Ashley couldn't stop smiling. Everyone had gone back to dancing when a new song came on. She new that song well and watched as everyone started dancing with either their husbands, wives, boyfriends, or girlfriends. She stood there, feeling left out, when she heard someone singing. She knew that voice, she knew that singing too well. She stopped where she was and looked at her mother. Phoebe was staring at her, a wide smile on her face. She nodded her head and answered Ashley's silent question. Everyone around her stopped dancing and watched as she slowly turned around, tears fallings once more. There he stood, only about 5 feet away, a smile on his face, staring at her. He held a microphone in one hand and she watched as he brought it up and started singing once more. Everyone stood right where they were, watching and listening, as he sang the birthday song to her. When he finished, he handed the mic to Piper, before making his way over to her. He stopped in front of her and she threw herself into his arms. They stood there, hugging, and her crying.

"I promised you I would be back, didn't I?" he asked. She nodded her head.

"I didn't think you were going to be back in time though," she replied.

"I would never miss your birthday, not for anything. I promised you I was coming back to you and you know that I keep my promises, especially to you," he added.

"I love you," she said. "I love you too. Always and forever," he said. She smiled at him, before leaning in, wrapping her arms around his neck, and kissing him. He wrapped his arms around her waist and pulled her closer. When they finally broke the kiss, they hugged again. Ashley took this opportunity to look at her mother and mouth, "thank you." Phoebe's smile grew and she simply nodded her head once again. As for gifts, Ashley received the car from her dad and Tiffany, Shawn from her mother and Coop, a necklace that was pure gold and said sweet 16 on it from her mother, cd's from some of her cousins, cards from everyone, clothes from her grandparents, and finally a scrapbook from her friends and Shawn. It included pictures of her, Shawn, Jessie, Adam, and Jack. It started from when Ashley and Jack met at 3 years old, all the way until a day before he was killed. From Shawn, she had gotten a card with something he wrote in it, a ring, necklace, and bracelet that all went together, and a ticket.

"What's this for?" she asked.

"This is a plane ticket for you," he replied. She just looked confused at him.

"Look at the date," Shawn said.

"August 1," she said, reading the ticket.

"that's right. I was able to get a ticket for you from my uncle for two months from now. It was part of the surprise that everyone knew about. I was the other part, along with the car. I want you to come to New York for a couple of weeks after school ends," he answered. She looked at him, shocked, before once again throwing her arms around him. After the party, Ashley and Shawn were putting everything into her car. Once they finished and had noticed that basically everyone had left, Ashley grabbed Shawn's hand and brought him close.

"Get into the car. I know exactly how to repay you for everything," she said. He just looked at her and smiled, before they both got in and she drove to the nearest motel.