Author's Note: Just wanted to say thanks to my assistant creative director, you know who you are LOL, for coming up with a movie that worked well. And I realize no one will get what that means, but you will after you read it.

Craig was left wondering if it really was over between him and Ashley. If everything they had gone through meant nothing and they could never get it back. She didn't seem to want it back. At times, he thought he saw something that gave him hope but her latest actions confused the hell out of him and he was ready to give up.

Ashley awoke the next morning, well early afternoon, in tears. She had a dream that Craig left and when he came back, he brought his new girlfriend with him. While the thought made her sad, it also made her sick to her stomach. She ran to the bathroom and sat down on the floor next to the toilet. She didn't think she would throw up, but she wanted to be safe.

She thought back to the night's events. Craig was being so sweet and when he walked up behind her, she wanted nothing more than to kiss him right then and there without having to worry about what would come next.

She just left him standing there and her…well, she ran out in a sobbing mess. Why does love have to be so complicated she thought?

Feeling a little bit better, she decided to go downstairs. She walked over to the couch and sat down, reaching for the remote. She almost pushed the 'power' button, when her mom interrupted her.

"Ashley, are you OK?"

"Ya, I'm fine. Why?" Ashley asks.

"Hon, I could hear you crying all night. What happened?"

"This whole thing's just one big mess," she says fighting back tears.

"You and Craig?"

"Yes. I want to be with him so…so badly, but he's leaving and I don't want to have to deal with that."

"Sweetheart, come here," she says while pulling Ashley over into her arms. "You can take a risk, you know. Sometimes the most rewarding things in life come from taking a chance. Maybe you need to give Craig that chance."

"I want to, I really do. I'm just afraid."

"Ashley, I've seen a difference in you since you've been back. You grew up while you were gone. You're not a little girl anymore and I can't tell you what to do. But I will say this…just go with your heart, honey." She kissed Ashley on the forehead and went into the kitchen.

Ashley sat there for 20 minutes going through in her head what her mom had just told her and decided that she was right. She was going to follow her heart.

She calls Craig's house and Joey answers the phone.

"Hi Joey, it's Ashley. Is Craig around?" she asks.

"Actually Ashley, I don't think he's up to it."

"I know, but this is really important. I promise I'm not going to do anything to upset him. I hope I do the opposite actually."

Joey smiled. "Well, OK then. Hold on a sec."

Joey gives the phone to Craig, but he refuses to talk. "Tell her I'm not here or sleeping or something," Ashley hears Craig say.

"I think you should listen to what she has to say," Joey counters.

Craig sighs. "Fiiiiiine." Joey smiles again and leaves the room.

"Hello?" Craig says all mopey-like.

"Hi, Craig." She pauses and he doesn't say anything, so she continues.

"OK, so I know what I did last night was horrible and you probably don't want to talk to me right now…"

He interrupts. "You're right, I don't," he says and hangs up the phone.

"Hello?" Ashley's mouth drops. "Damn him! I can't believe he just hung up on me."

She calls back and he picks up the receiver but doesn't say anything.

"Was that really necessary? Do you feel better now?" she asks.

"Not really."

"Well, let me finish and maybe you will."

"Fine, I'm listening…for now," he says.

"You can be such an ass sometimes," she says. She senses he might hang the phone up again so she adds, "But I understand. All I ask is for five minutes."

"I already said I'd listen."

"Right." She takes a deep breath before starting again. "So after I left your house last night…"

"After you ran out on me, you mean," he interrupts.

Silence.

"Anyway, I went home and cried most of the night."

Craig began to feel like a jerk for being so mean earlier.

"This morning, I got up and my mom and I had a talk."

"And she was proud of you for leaving me and told you to stay away."

"You would think, but she basically said the opposite."

"Your mom? Kate Kerwin?"

"Yes, it's shocking. I know. She said you've changed and she sees the good in you now, which she assumes is what I always saw."

"Wow, this is really a surprise. I can't believe your mom defended me. So what did you come away with after your talk?" he asks.

"Basically that I'm in love with you and always have been. I don't want to be scared anymore; I want to give us a chance."

"Ash, are you serious? 'Cause if you're just messing with me…"

"I'm absolutely serious. You know, we've gone through some bad times, some very bad times. But not once did a part of me ever think we wouldn't find our way back to one another. No matter where I am, no matter what I'm doing, it always comes back to you."

"You have no idea how happy I am right now."

"I have a guess," she says with a smile.

"So where do we go from here?" he asks.

"I was gonna ask you that same question."

"Well this is probably gonna sound lame, but do you want to come over?"

"Totally," she says eagerly. "When?"

"Like right NOW!"

"Um, I haven't even showered yet."

"Well you can smother me in sweat then."

That memory makes her smile. If he was standing in front of her right then, she would have kissed him.

Instead she says, "Ya, I think I'm gonna shower first."

"If you must, but you'll come over right after right?"

"Actually, I was supposed to hang out with my mom this afternoon, but I can…"

"No, it's OK. Do that. She is the one that changed your mind after all. Just come over afterward."

"OK. I look forward to it," she says.

Ashley spends the rest of the afternoon shopping with her mom. After eating dinner, she goes to Craig's. She shows up and Craig is sitting on the couch with Angela watching TV.

"Hey guys," she says giving Craig the weird 'what is she doing here?' look.

"Sorry, Joey had to leave so we're stuck here with this little squirt."

"I'm not little or a squirt, dorkface," Angela says.

"And that is why I miss this one right here," she says sitting down next to her.

"Did you miss me?" Ashley asks.

"Yes," Angela says while giving Ashley a big hug.

"Aww, you're too cute."

This whole scene makes Craig smile. He loves when Ashley's around his little sister. She's so great with kids. He knows she'll be a fantastic mom someday. He couldn't help but picture himself in that scenario.

"So what are you guys watching, anyway?" Ashley asks.

"High School Musical," Angela responds.

"Ah, I LOVE that movie!" Ashley exclaims.

Craig rolls his eyes.

"What is it with girls and musicals?" Craig says.

"I just like the cute guy," Angela says.

"Uh, aren't you too young to think boys are cute?" Ashley teases.

"No, I'm old!"

Craig and Ashley both laugh.

Apparently the two girls had a rough night, Craig knew Ashley did, because they both fell asleep on the couch. Angie was curled up next to Ashley and Ashley had her arm around her. Craig couldn't pass up the photo-op. He ran to his room to get his camera. He stood in front of the girls and got down on one knee, so he could be at their level. This reminded him of that night when he proposed to Ashley. He didn't get the response he had wanted, but it came later. And he was sure, one day, he would see that ring on Ash's finger.

They woke up an hour later upon hearing Joey come in. Ashley was completely groggy and barely remembered where she was at, until she saw Angela sitting next to her.

"Hey guys, you have a nice nap?" Joey asks laughing.

"I didn't even know I fell asleep." Ashley looks around. "Where's Craig?"

"He must be upstairs," Joey responds. "I brought you guys some food if you're hungry?"

"Oh thanks, but I ate before I came here."

"OK, well Angie come in here and eat."

"I'm gonna go see what Craig's doing," Ashley says.

She goes upstairs and Craig's brushing his hair, yes…brushing his hair!

"What are you doing?" she asks.

"Oh, hey. I actually forgot that I have to meet someone and I'm already late!"

Ashley was confused and a little hurt. Who was he going to meet and why did that require a hairbrush, she wondered.

"Oh, OK," she says disappointed.

"Do you need a ride home or something 'cause I'm sure Joey can give you a lift?" he asks.

Wow, that was kind of cold, she thought. "Uh, no. I can walk."

They both walk downstairs.

"Bye Joey, bye Angie," Ashley says.

"Bye Ash," they respond in unison.

"Hope to see you soon, Ashley," Joey says.

"Ya, you and me both," she whispers under her breath while waving goodbye.

Her and Craig walk outside. She didn't know what was up with him and was afraid to ask.

"So I guess I'll see you later then," Ashley says.

"Ya, guess so. Walk safely."

"Uh, ya. Bye," she says.

"See ya."

Ashley didn't know what in the world just happened. She could've sworn things were going good with Craig, but this turn of events made her change her thinking. She couldn't believe she thought things could go back to the way they were. And where was he going anyway? If he was meeting another girl…NO, she couldn't even think it. She was so distraught and out if it that she actually passed her house without realizing it and had to turn around. She got halfway down the driveway before she even looked up. It was then that she saw him standing there. There he was with a huge smile on his face and a single red rose in his hand.

"Did you really think I was going to leave you like that?"