"Gracie what are you doing here?" John asked his voice was full of concern. It was about 8 o'clock and it was raining and cold. It didn't take long for Ashley to notice the black eye but she chose not to say anything just yet. They walked inside and Ashley went upstairs to get Gracie some clothes to change into. Her cousin Kelsey had left some when she slept over last and her and Gracie were just about the same size so it worked out. After she was dressed in warm clothes and wrapped in blankets did John and Ashley make she talk.
"I ran away" she said.
"What happened to your eye?" Ashley asked.
Gracie didn't answer right away but then she figured it would be better to tell them the truth she seemed to trust them instinctively.
"My mom hit me" she said not taking her eyes off the floor.
John could feel his anger building up and he knew it was going to make it's way to the surface very soon, he just prayed it wasn't around Ashley or the kids.
"She heard me singing that song and she got mad" Gracie continued.
Ashley's heart broke she felt responsible for what happened to Gracie. She walked over to the couch and crouched in front of her.
"Don't worry sweetie I'm going to make sure she never does this to you again" she said. Ashley stood up and walked into the kitchen. She walked over the the counter and grabbed her keys.
"Shel don't do this" John said but she ignored him. She walked out of the house, got into her car and took off.
"Damn it" John cursed slamming his hand into the wood work surrounding the front door.
"John" Gracie said from behind him.
John turned around. Gracie had tears in her eyes, before he could think he pulled her to him.
"I'm scared" she said.
"Don't be you are safe here" John said.
"I don't want to live with mommy anymore" she said "I want to live here".
"I'm not sure that can happen" John replied.
"Why not, you adopted Talon why can you do the same thing for me?" she asked.
"It's more complicated in your case neither Ashley or me have any biological connection to you and your mother won't sign over custody of you to us" he tried to explain.
"Please John I don't want to go back there" Gracie pleaded.
"We'll see if we can work something out" he told her. "now I need to go find Ash so I'm going to call my friends Randy and Trish to watch you and the boys they are very nice people and I don't want you to be afraid of them"
"Yeah sure ok" she replied.
John called Randy and he agreed to be right over.
Meanwhile Ashley had just pulled up in front of Madison's house. Getting out of the car she slammed the door so hard she thought it was going to come off the hinges. She banged on the front door. Right now she was so mad she had no control over he actions.
'Maybe this is what someone who pleads mental insanity feels like' she thought.
The door opened to reveal Madison, she was about 4 inches shorter than Ashley and not as built.
'Easy target' she thought. Of course Ashley knew how to fight very well. That was something her father would not be to happy to find out but who cares. When she was 18 she paid Randy and Dave Bautista to teach her the art of wrestling. But that is neither here nor there she was focused on giving Madison as ass whoopin and that was what she was going to get.
"Can I help you?" Madison asked annoyed. Her brown eyes skimmed over Ashley's body. She was confused because as far as she knew she had no idea who this person was at her door.
Ashley didn't think the moment she saw Madison she snapped. She punched her really hard in the face. Madison fell to the floor and crawled backwards. Blood was coming from her nose and mouth now. A sick smile appeared on Ashley's face, she was getting revenge for Gracie but she was also getting it for herself.
"Yeah you can help me" she said kicking Madison in the ribs.
"For starters you can stay the hell away from my fiancée" she said.
"I... I have no idea what you are talking about" Madison said.
"You must really be sick convincing your daughter to lie so you could pass her off as John's child"
For the first time fear showed on Madison's face. She knew right then that she had messed up. Ashley wasn't a person to be messed with.
"Are you familiar with wrestling Madison?" Ashley asked.
"Yes" she replied.
"Well if you were then you'd know who I am" Ashley said.
"I don't" she said.
"Well let me fill you in I'm Chris Benoit's only child but not only that but I am also Matt and Jeff Hardy's baby cousin, so basically that makes me wrestling royalty"
"Why are you telling me this?" Madison asked.
"Simple because I want you to be afraid just like your daughter is every time you hit her" Ashley answered calmly.
"Do you want to know how I know that she is afraid Madison because I used to be that little girl not your daughter of course but someone just like her and that is why I'm hear because I vowed to myself that no child would ever have to go through what I did"
Ashley didn't want to do any of this violence doesn't solve anything she always told herself, but then why does it feel so good to beat the crap out of this pathetic excuse for a human being.
"I should kill you not for lying to John but for putting your hand on an innocent little girl" Ashley yelled. "what kind of sick fuck does that?"
She kicked Madison in the ribs a few more times. Then she grabbed her by the hair.
"Listen up cause I'm only going to say this once, if you ever put your hands anywhere near that little girl again I will kill you and you'd better believe I can get away with it because unlike you I have a job as a lawyer and I also have friends in very high places and they have no problems disposing of trash like you"
Ashley punched her one last time in the face and let her fall in an unconscious heap. She left the house but the moment she got outside she was hit with an overwhelming wave of guilt. She had to sit down on the front steps and calm herself down. It wasn't long before John showed up. It was still raining and Ashley was soaked but she didn't care she was numb.
"Are you ok?" John asked.
"Yeah" Ashley replied in a whisper.
"Did you kill her?" John asked carefully.
"No she's just out cold" she said.
John went into the house just to make sure that Madison was still alive and that she'd survive her injuries. Thankfully she would but she would be in a lot of pain for a long time. John was proud and also somewhat scared.
"Damn Shel I'd hate to be up against you in a fist fight" John joked.
"I couldn't stop myself I saw her and all I could think about was what she did to Gracie and what my parents used to do to me" she said looking down at her hands.
"I understand" he said.
"It's not going to stop" Ashley said "she just going to beat her worse to spite us"
"I was thinkin bout that on the way over here" John said "I have an idea".
"What?" Ashley asked.
"Are you sure you want to know it ain't exactly legal?" John asked.
"Yeah tell me" Ashley replied.
"Well it's clear that Madison wants money so why don't we give it to her" he said.
"You want to give her money for beating her child I don't follow" Ashley said confused.
"No you idiot, we're paying her to sign over her parental right" he said.
"John, that has to be the smartest thing that has ever come out of that head of yours" Ashley said.
"I'll pretend that was a complement" he said.
"Tomorrow I'm going to call one of my professors and make sure we can do this" she said.
"I'll call James also" John added.
They each got into their cars and drove home. Christian and Talon were asleep but Gracie was still awake. It was about 10 now way past bedtime for a 6 year old.
"What are you still doing up young lady?" Ashley asked.
"I wanted to make sure you were ok" she replied.
"I'm fine now get upstairs and into the guest room" Ashley ordered.
"Ok night" she said.
The next morning...
It was still early but Ashley couldn't sleep so she had spent most of the night checking and re-checking her law books to make sure their plan would work and ensure neither John or Ashley would be arrested. It was 6:30 in Massachusetts so it would be about 8 in California(A/N: I have no idea the actual time difference but who really cares). She picked up the phone and called Shannon.
"Hello" Marc said.
"Marc what the hell are you doing in California?" Ashley asked.
"I'm visiting, what's up with the third degree" Marc countered.
"I don't have time to deal with this please put Shannon on" Ashley said.
"Ok fine hold on a sec" he said "oh and by the way nice talkin to you too"
"Hey what's up?" Shannon asked happily.
"Sha Sha, remember the case about the guy accused of baby brokering?" Ashley asked.
"Yeah" Shannon said.
"What was the verdict?"
"He was found guilty and sentenced to 15 years in prison" Shannon answered. "why?"
Ashley explained the situation to Shannon. Shannon thought carefully for a few minutes before answering.
"Technically you aren't buying the child you are using the money as an incentive"
"So basically we won't get arrested if this doesn't work out" Ashley said.
"I don't think you will but then again this is you and John we are talking about so you never know" she said.
"Thanks Sha it means so much that you think that I'll get arrested" Ashley said sarcastically.
"You know I love you two" Shannon said. "So when are you coming back here me and Laney are missing you like crazy?"
"Umm ... sometime in March" Ashley said.
"Ok" Shannon said.
"Hey how come Marc is hanging around?" Ashley asked.
"He and Laney have been spending a lot of time together lately. I think it's starting to get serious" Shannon said.
"Marc and Laney sitting in the tree K.I.S.S.I.N.G." Ashley sang.
"You are so immature" Shannon said.
"So" Ashley said.
"How old are you 5?" Shannon asked.
"No, actually I'm 20" Ashley said.
"Prove it" Shannon said.
"Maybe later I have to call Professor Dawson anyways" Ashley said.
"Ok talk to you later and give the boy a kiss for me and Laney" Shannon said.
"Will do" Ashley replied.
"Bye"
"Bye" Ashley said.
Ashley let out a sigh before picking up the phone and calling her favorite professor. She told him she was working on a paper and she wanted to clear over some legal procedures that she wasn't sure of. They talked for a while and then Ashley hung up.
"Lying, Assault and Battery... what is next Grand Theft Auto?" Ashley asked herself.
A/N: Well there is another chapter done. For those of you who liked the part where Madison got her ass beat thank my math teacher for pissing me off.