To: Arie my little friend, you're a ball of sunshine, a giggling sensation, and a contagious little princess. Who would have thought such a little person could be more dramatic than me. I enjoyed every minute with you and you will always be in my heart and mind, when either I'm writing or just flicking through those photos. You are a very special person, reach for the stars and never stop dreaming. Influence other and show boys whose boss :P Looks don't matter when you're showing what's on the inside, be safe and one day I hope we see each other…. Xxx
HaloRoses
(This message is to everybody out there, don't stop because someone told you that you can't. Get up and have another go, like the world we are always moving. Whether you're having a moment of happiness or sadness, excitement or anger, laughter or grief. Know that as the world spins and circles the sun, we circle through emotions time and time again. We are human, that's all I can say, yet there will never be another person that looks and acts like us. Some will always be remembered; others may just leave a fingerprint for few people. Will and choice are what this world consists of, only you decide the outcome of your future. The rose has many beauties, colours and smells. Yet its touch is painful if handled the wrong way as its stem is embroidered with thorns. A halo is seen as something holy, yet to be holy you must always be in right and must do right, therefore the crown becomes a burden. Looking at fine details from signing something to looking at a plant in your backyard will grant you many things to learn and discuss with people around you. We weren't born perfect, but hell were we born to be something awesome. And as Andrew Denton says, 'At the end of the day we're all walking each other home.')
Love you all thank you for reading!
Previously on 'What if…' Both friends laughed as the third scramble through his notes seeing how much he had actually taken down.
"I'll see you three this afternoon, be good and don't give Dec too hard of a time please," Bear told them as bubble doors all over the campus opened and closed for the beginning of holidays.
"Ok Dad, I'll say hi and let… Dad knows what's happening," Ez told him. "Want us to pick anything up from the store?"
"No, your sister doesn't come until Monday and Sam will have some spare time, go have fun I'll see you tonight."
"We'll stay out of trouble, don't worry," Landon said, giving Bear a reassuring wink.
"That's what I'm afraid of you're not going to try at all and half the house is going to be a mess like two years ago."
"What?" Ash asked.
"Never mind," Ez said. "We should go if we're ever going to get there."
"Ok, I'm just going to have a word with Ash before you three head off," Bear said. The boys moved to a clear spot to use the bubble door while Ash waited for Bear to talk next.
"I heard you chose to stay," he said. It took her by surprise, but she quickly overcame it and nodded to confirm. "Well, just know that you don't just have family there, but here, if you ever need a house, you're more than welcomed to stay with us or I can arrange somewhere else if you want." He told her.
"Thanks Bear, I'll let you know," she responded.
"Also, I know that with Kaladoras coming up, the family will definitely be getting you something so…"
He handed Ash a little blue velvet pouch, it jingled around to what sounded like-
"Bear you're not giving money, are you?" She asked, opening the bag and true enough gold coins with a map on one side and a palace on the other sat there.
"Well, you could just say I had a few spare coins lying around, you need the money more than I do Ash, now go, start your holidays and I'll see you tonight." He said turning away before Ash could say anything else. She grabbed her suitcase as well as her backpack and walked over to Landon and Ez.
"Don't tell me, Dad gave you some money for the Kaladoras holidays," Ez deadpanned.
"Yeah, why?"
"Because he does that," he replied, eye rolling, obviously some of it came out of his pocket money.
"Ok any day now can we please get to Woodhaven!" Landon pleaded.
"Fine, fine we're going," Ez told his friend. He held up the bubble vial and smashed it on the ground. The rainbow portal came up slightly taller than Ez.
"See you on the other side," he said. Ez stepped through the rainbow mixture and disappeared. Ash was next, she stepped forward and eyed the portal wearily.
"Need a push?" Landon whispered in her ear.
"You even think about it for a second, Lan, I'm going to show you first-hand what Epsilon combat feels like," she threatened.
"Well hurry up, Gammy's pie awaits my tongue," he said, holding his hands in a praying pose.
"Ok, ok fine," Ash said taking another step toward the portal and took a deep breath-
A gentle set of hands pushed Ash off balance and through the portal. Soon enough she was in the middle of a frosted street, her suitcase next to her, Ez stood next to her doing his best not to laugh, though it came out in small chuckles. Landon soon joined him as he came through the bubble door with his bags.
"Bailey."
Ash hit Landon hard on the shoulder making him back step.
"What I gave you a warning, you were being slow," he defended.
"Whatever, where's home from here, my fingers are suffering frostbite already," Ash asked. Ez gestured for her to turn around. Behind her was a small cottage home, the light on the first and second stories was a light. There was a small garden from inside the entry of the front gate, though only small blue and purple flowers seemed to bloom in the winter months. Ez unlocked the front gate with a key, gesturing for the other two to go through before him. Ash stepped in first, a creature watched her every move, prowling next to the snow covered garden beds before leaping out and straight into her.
To be honest a squeal may have been heard as Ash was tackled to the ground, something was sniffing high in her face before giving her warm friendly licks. Her friends sighed, trying to call and get the animal off Ash yet it didn't move from is spot sitting right on top of her, licking her face like a lollipop.
"George!" a voice called. "Come here."
Immediately, the extra weight left, she stood up, Ez had a wipe waiting for her. The redness in his face told her it was bad.
"Could have warned me," she mumbled, wiping the remaining wet spots on her face.
"Sorry I really thought that he would be inside or in the backyard," Ez said, looking a little sheepish though Ash didn't miss the laughing glint he and Landon shared. Somebody cleared their throat catching the three teens attention. Ash turned around to see a man leaning against the front door with a dog at his feet. It looked like a cross between a blue kelpie and border collie, a border-kelp, a blue collie? Whatever, though it looked a bit different with two sets of eyes and speckled wings.
"George is a cross of Vaeolda giving him wings and Torelor having an extra set of eyes…" The man told Ash, giving George a scratch behind the ear. He was tall and muscular, not packed but enough to knock Ash to the ground with a push, his skin was deeply tan underneath his grey winter vest, he also had short cropped black hair and a warm smile.
"Ash, this is my other dad, Declan," Ez introduced. "Dad, this is Ashlyn, my new other worldly, kick ass friend I was talking about."
"Nice to finally meet you," Declan said, holding out his hand for a shake. Ash ignored Ezran's comment as she took his father's hand and shook it, though she was not expecting the hug that came afterwards.
"Welcome to the family," he said.
"Thanks," she responded. He nodded before moving toward his son.
"Ezie boy, how've you been?"
"Not bad," he responded.
Ash stole a glance over to Landon, 'Ezie boy?' She mouthed in question. Landon just nodded; the twitch of his lips made it clear he was doing his best not to smile. Declan had finished his catch up with his son and moved along to him.
"Landy! What's been happening?" He asked.
"Landy, Ezie? Where do the names come from?" Ash asked, she prayed she wasn't going to become an 'Ashie'.
"My little sister Arie is bound to give you a name before Kaladoras day is here, plus Dec just seemed to catch on the first year and it's a whole family joke now," Ez told her, not at all fazed at the name used. "You'll get used to it."
"I'm getting used to a whole new world, one name will be just fine if you ask me," Ash told him. The words sounded odd as they left her lips pretending for month had become rather defining. Declan didn't seem fazed but rather understanding and amused.
"Hey where is the little monkey?" Landon asked.
"Inside, toasty warm, unlike us weirdos," Declan said. He took Ashlyn's suitcase as she and the boys followed him inside. The warmth welcomed inside her body. The little cottage home was nice and warm, stairs wielded up to the second floor and what looked to the attic. Kitchen looked to be across the hall and the living room had a huge pine tree in the corner, making the room smell of the fragrant oils it held.
"Home sweet, home," Ez said. A squeal of joy came from the staircase as a small girl came running down them.
"Ezie!" She squealed, launching herself into his arms.
"Hey princess!" Ez said. He caught the little girl in his arms and gave her a big hug. The little girl giggled nonstop; Ash couldn't help but smile at how much joy was in one child. Another squeal erupted as Ezran's little sister was transferred over to Landon.
"Landy!" she shouted. He threw her up and down in his arms before tickling her.
"S-stop-p-pl-please!" she squealed.
"Only if you help me get back at your brother for last year," Landon challenged.
"O- K!" She said Landon immediately stopped and put her down and whispered something in the little girl's ear, making her squeal in excitement. She rushed over to stand in front of Ash. She had the same deeply tanned skin as Declan, though her eyes were a magnificent shade of baby blue. Her smile was very cute with the two front teeth missing, the right just coming through. Her hair was in two braids and bows were in each hair tie. She wore a pink long sleeve T-shirt and navy-blue leggings to go with the pink glittery princess dress she wore over the top.
"Hello," she began. "My name is Princess Aria Jordan Stirling the First and I look forward to making your acquaintance."
"Hello, your majesty, I'm Lady Ashlyn Soraya James the First and it will be an honour to serve by your side." Ash said playing along with the little princess's game crouching to be on the same level as her. Arie again squealed, wrapping her arms around Ashlyn's neck and squeezed. She hugged back, picking her up and spinning in her arms. The little girl giggled and laughed. Quickly Ash became dizzy, she stopped, yet the world kept spinning around her. Small hands pressed against her cheeks.
"Again!" the girl in Ashlyn's arms shouted.
"With all due respect, I'll be sick if I do and that dress looked like it took a while to get ready," she said, setting Arie down.
"I think that is a wise idea," an elderly voice said. A woman in her later seventies or early eighties shuffled over to the new arrivals with a wrinkled smile.
"Dotty! How are you?" Landon asked, a wicked smile lit up his face as he hugged the old woman.
"What have I said about such people that use that name, Mr Bailey?" Potentially Dotty said.
"That they will get the most love and will forever be in your favour," Landon quipped. Dotty did her best eye roll before holding up her hand with a wooden spoon tight in her grip.
"Then no pie for you," she told him. The smile dropped off Landon's face, he silently nodded his head muttering, 'Yes, Gammy.' The older woman nodded once and turned to Ash, who was wide eyed with over dramatic astonishment.
"Teach me your ways?" Was the first thing that flew out of her mouth. "I mean it's like you just said the magic words."
Gammy chuckled before giving Ashlyn's right arm a squeeze.
"I will be more than happy to, though my name is not Dotty it is Gammy or as you will quickly learn there will be no pie for you," Gammy told her, but there was something about the spark in the old woman's eyes that told her she was worth something else to her.
"I understand loud and clear," Ash told her. Gammy smiled and gave her a wink before moving over to Ez.
"Would you still give an old woman a hug, Ezran?" She asked. Ez looked around the room in question and huffed.
"Well, I don't see any other young woman around to compete with, so until then you're the one I'll have to hug," he told her. Gammy chuckled at the comment, giving her grandson a hug and a pat on the back.
"Good, now you all need to eat, the special I presume?" She asked, walking toward what looked to be the kitchen. The boys nodded, Landon more for Ash than himself.
"Ok, as Gammy cooks up a storm I think we should go up and put our stuff away," Ez said. "Ash your taking-"
"I'll show you your room!" Arie piped up, taking one of Ashlyn's fingers pulling her along and up the stairs. She looked for any signs of help, but both boys put their hands up in defeat, signalling that there was no way out of this one. Arie marched Ash up the stairs to the second floor of the house. The little girl pushed open the second door down the hallway with a pastel blue door.
"This is your room," she told Ash. The room was simple, white was and black covered bed, a whiteboard and cork covered frame sat neatly against the desk on the other side of the room.
"This was Amy's old room," Arie said, twirling around the room in her dress.
"Nice," Ash responded, looking around the room, taking notes for her own room. Declan called the little girl to her room next door to Ash as she went back downstairs, grabbed her suitcase and dragged it up taking notice that Landon and Ez had disappeared. She unpacked a few things before an aroma filled the air of baked goods and home cooked goodness. Coming back down, the two boys came down the stairs leading to the attic.
"You sleep in the attic?" Ash asked.
"Yeah, it's sweet and cosy, plus all the old stuff is up there and we go through it every year." Landon said, jumping down the stairs to her level. Without another word Landon rushed down the other flight of stairs and ran into the kitchen shouting 'Pie!'.
"Can't beat them, join 'em," Ez said, running down the stairs just without the catchphrase. Ash rolled her eyes before she ran to catch up. The aroma got ever so strong as she entered the kitchen, a pie on the counter, purple cookies on a plate and little purple star shaped fruit in a small bowl. Landon grabbed a plate from a nearby cupboard and got down on one knee as Gammy came through a small door connecting onto the kitchen.
"Feed me?" he asked. Gammy chuckled and nodded. She cut up more than just a plate size piece of pie on each plate, with two cookies and a spoon of the small purple fruit. Gammy handed out the plates of food, slapped Landon's hand with a wooden spoon after trying to take a second helping of pie.
"Now go sit down, and use a knife and fork," Gammy told them, sparing a look at Landon, who tried to smile somewhat sweetly. They all sat down at the table, the boys went for the pie first, she grabbed her fork off the table and scooped up the pink berry inside of the pie. The moment it touched her taste buds, it was… amazing.
"Oh," was all Ash said as she scooped another helping of pie into her mouth. "Forget it, school's food is coming in second, Gammy five stars," she said.
"Why would you put stars on food?" Landon asked with a mouth full of cookies.
"That's not what I-"
"What do you think you're doing eating Gammy's goodness without us?" Declan questioned at the top of the staircase, carrying Arie in his arms.
"Naughty!" She shouted, waving her finger in the air. "Naughty, naughty, naughty!"
"Please tell me that the boys didn't make malfet toothpaste again," Bear said walking through the front door. Just like when Ash and the boys arrived, Arie jumped out of Declan's arms and ran over to Bear.
"Daddy!" She shouted loud enough that the neighbours were bound to hear. A boy stepped in behind, he was fair skinned and had a freckled face, blonde hair sat straight on his head just covering his head. He wore a black farming flannel and jeans.
"Ash, that is my brother, Sam," Ez said, getting up from the table to greet the newcomers. Arie had already beaten everybody to give both Bear and Sam a hug. Declan stepped in and gave Bear a welcoming kiss, as the other three moved to Sam.
"Sam this is my new friend Ash that I was talking about," Ez told him after giving his brother a hug.
"Ahh, so Ash is a 'she', this will be interesting," Sam said, his blue eyes sparkling all too much like the boys. Ash shook the hand he held out in greeting, though she couldn't help the colour coming to her cheeks. She ended up gripping Sam's hand, tightly making him cringe.
"So, first year of apprenticeship huh," Ash asked, loosening her grip only the slightest, before letting go.
"Yeah SAS, strength and Subterfuge," he said.
"Ok, but let's get one thing straight, I'm Ez and Landon's friend, nothing more," Ash said, giving a daggering look that Karter would be sure proud of.
"Got the message, loud and clear," he cleared, raising his hands in surrender, though the shit eating grin on his face said otherwise.
"Good, now Gammy's goodness is sitting on the table getting cold so I'm going to eat, who's joining me?" Landon asked already halfway back to the table. A rise of 'mes' echoed through the house as everybody sat down at the table with their own plates of pie.
The day was filled with chatting and getting to know each other. Declan was a Warden, in other words a guard for the royals in Tryllin, the Medoran human capital. Sam doing SAS a subject that fourth years start if you make the cut, apparently it was worth a concussion, a broken wrist and three fingers. Little Arie was dreaming to becoming a princess and Gammy was formally a tailor and dress designer that her niece took up. Ash learnt that the whole town of Woodhaven seemed to gather at the Stirling's house. Bear's side of the family was more than just a couple of siblings. Landon's parents come for the Kaladoras day and the day after.
The conversations carried through dinner which was more of Gammy's cooking. Soon after, Bear took Arie to bed, with a quick promise from the other kids that they would be here in the morning.
Sam went to his room, and Declan went to help Gammy in the kitchen. Ash, Ez and Landon went to the living room snickering and laughing at something each other had said.
"This has been one of the best holidays ever," Ash proclaimed, though quietly since Arie was asleep. The boys chuckled nodding their heads.
"Do you miss it?" Landon asked, rubbing his hands together before getting off the couch to sit by the fire.
"Miss what?"
"Home… Freya, do you miss anything from there?"
Ash thought for a moment, looking back on memories, most making her smile.
"No and yes… I don't miss much other than the fact that this will be the first Christmas- Kaladoras without my dad… we did this thing every year, he said it was something mum liked… we'd get glitter, cover ourselves in glue and threw it all over the place…" Ash whispered, a ghostly smile tracing her lips in memory. "It would take weeks to get it out of our hair and skin, more to get it out of the carpet and furniture."
Small chuckles filled the room, the boys stayed quiet as Ash slowly returned to reality.
"I miss him… and her," she whispered looking at the fireplace tears slowly picking her eyes. Ez got up off the couch, gesturing for Ash to take it. She does and the two join Landon of the floor near the fireplace, warmth working its way through the fabric of Ashlyn's clothing and touching her skin. She takes in a shaky breath and blows it out through her lips.
"I may not know what it's like to truly lose a parent but… I get how you miss them; I only see my parents three times a year at best, there always buys but I know that they are always looking for time to spend with me and that's what matters to me," Landon said, taking one of her hands. Ash leans her head on his shoulder as Ez takes her other hand.
"Why not tell us about them… what are your parents like?"
Ash looks at him, he gets comfortable, lying on his side his hand supporting his head. Landon gave her a nudge before rolling onto his stomach his hands under his chin, pushing up his cheeks making him look a little chubby. Ash let out a sigh, lying onto her back, letting her ponytail out so her head was comfortable against the carpet. She looked at the white painted ceiling, looking through her memories to find where to start.
"I get my eyes from my dad… my mum had these hazelnut brown ones they matched her hair they used to turn amber in the sunlight, when she smiled her eyes would practically glow… her laugh would light up the room and my dad… he loved her so much. He had a knack for always knowing things, like when I'm lying or when I'm upset… he says I get my bad lying from her… I remember they had this one song my mum would dress in something green and tie her hair in a bun, as my dad would dress in a white shirt and black business coat, they would dance around the living room, I would get in a small blue dress… they- we were so happy…"
Ash trailed off, sucking in a breath as her throat began to tighten and her view of the ceiling became blurry as tears pricked her eyes.
"You know we're just your friends, right? We- hell everybody in this house is your family too Ash… we care for you and are here if you need… you're not alone," Ez whispered. She took another shuttering breath as she fought her tongue about what she should as next.
"She used to tell me stories about this world… some parts feel a bit made up but others are spot on like… she was here…"
"You think she came to Medora?" Landon asked. "How?"
"I don't know the Library… I just have this feeling that I'm here because she was…" Ash said. It was true, in the pit of her stomach there was this feeling like Medora was familiar- how else could she have a gift if she was from Freya. Nobody there has a gift, abilities like these were fiction. Plus, the Library said she came from many who were Chosen to come to Medora, if she could just speak with Alexandra-
"Well whatever reason, we should thank your mother for giving for new friend and you an adventure of a lifetime," Ez said. The comment brought a smile to Ashlyn's face.
"Thanks, Ezie boy," she said earning a playful eye roll from her friend.
"Arie is the only one who can call me that- period," he said. Ash let out a small chuckle, before she was pulled into a squeezy, warm embrace from behind.
"Missing out on the love?"
"Yes, though just wanted to make sure you were ok after sharing all that," Landon said, letting go of her.
Ash nodded; a small smile planted on her face.
"Better now actually… I hadn't told anybody that- ever, it feels freeing though," she said looking into the fireplace. The flame was small and almost gone now that the wood had turned to charcoal.
"You can tell us anything you know, any hour, day and night- we'll both be here for you and so will whole Stirling family," Ez said. Ash nodded opening her arms wide. The three embraced silently comforting the newest to the trio.
1