Chapter 4

She had just left the cemetary and was headed to see Kendall and Aidan. She hated that she'd broken the memorial that they had every year as a family, but this was an extreme circumstance, she done her best to explain that in the note she left.

She'd bought three orange roses, one for each year since Nicholas's death, and taken them to his grave. To her orange was the most apporiate color. For her orange symbolized life and family, and even though Nichloas didn't have either for very long, he would have eternal life and a loving family forever. She'd said a prayer and talked to him, asking him to show her what was right. She'd asked for a sign, anything to tell her not to go to Llanview...but nothing had happened so she was going.

Kendall and Aidan were happy to see her. Kendall espeically, it seemed that everyone always forgot that Nicholas was her brother too. She was going to have a baby of her own anyday, and Ashlee figured that's why she didn't think this idea of Ben being Nicholas was all that crazy. Aidan on the other hand was extremely skeptical.

" Ok, I admit, the resemblence is uncanny." Aidan said looking at a picture of Nicholas and the article's picture of Ben. " But a picture is far from proof that Ben is Nicholas."

Ashlee shook her head, completely agreeing with him. " Of course not. I still have a lot of questions to ask, and I plan to ask them all before even approaching the idea of a DNA test. I know this is crazy Aidan, I do. But I just have this feeling, and I gotta go with it."

Aidan nodded studying her face, " Erica can't know."

" I wouldn't think of telling her, not until I have more evidence."

" Where do we come in?" Kendall asked, ready to help in whatever way she could.

" I need whatever info you can get me. Ummm...Ben's date of bith, where he was born, blood type...maybe adoptions records if you could find them. Whatever you can find, anything."

Aidan nodded, " Ashlee, there is a very big chance that Ben isn't Nicholas, are you perpared for that?"

" Aidan, I know in my head that the chance of Ben being Nicholas are slim and none, but in my heart and in the pit of my stomach I know something else happened the night of the accident. I have never believed that it was just an accident. I had control of the car, Aidan." She said tearfully, silent tears already staining her cheeks." I have always believed that the police should have looked into the idea that he was kidnapped. I saw people on that bank, I saw a woman leave with Nicholas. I'm the reason that Nicholas isn't with Erica, whether he's dead or alive. I need this, Aidan. For me, for my own piece of mind. I need to know once and for all what happened that night...I need to heal." She told him honestly.

" Alright, I'll find out whatever I can." Aidan told her with a smile.

" Thank you, thank you. I have my laptop, so just email me whatever you find."

Kendall nodded, " You got a plan?"

Ashlee smiled at her, laughing lightly. " Of course."

" I should have known." Aidan laughed, " You're going to Llanview?"

Ashlee nodded, but it was Kendall who spoke. " What did you tell Erica and David?"

" I said I went to NYU to see a friend that it was an emergency, and that I would call them as soon as I could."

" Ok. We won't say anything, we never saw you." Aidan told her.

" Thanks." She said.

" Be careful, Ashlee. And whatever the truth is, I hope you find it." Kendall said, giving her a quick good bye hug.

To be continued...