{Ashley's POV}

Learning that Hayden liked me, and wanted to be more than friends was the best Thanksgiving I'd ever had since before my father died. I had planned to tell Hayden I wanted to be with him, but it seemed we were on the same page because he spoke up first. I wanted to cry, but I didn't. After the feelings had been revealed, and things were made official between Hayden and me; we all sat down to enjoy a meal together. I know Hayden was missing his parents; it was the first big holiday without them. It was a full year now that they'd been gone; January 1, 2017 marked that place in time. I know Hayden took the day off from work, and spent most of it at the cemetery in front of his parent's headstones. Anyway, back to Thanksgiving; all our friends, and Gabriel knew that regardless of the momentous occasion where Hayden and I got together as a couple; it was still hard for him. It seemed we all had the same idea to have dinner with him so he wouldn't be alone, and have plenty of support to get through things. Christmas was more of the same; getting together once more so Hayden could be surrounded by those who loved him, me especially. I could say that I loved him; he was always there for me before I got sold, and he stayed true to that once he had me in his life again. I was truly blessed to have this man in my life, and I hoped he'd always be part of it.

However, something told me that whether we were in a relationship as lovers or not; we'd be in one another's lives as best friends as we always had been. So here we are on January 29, 2017, one month from Hayden's twenty-second birthday, or supposed birthday since the 29th of February didn't come this year. All our friends are doing great too. Travis and Alicia had their own apartment; happened before Christmas, and they were finally settled in, and preparing the nursery for their baby who was still coming in July. Eli and Roxy got engaged January 2nd; they were planning their wedding for April of 2018 because Roxy wanted it in Springtime. Devon asked Skye to marry him over dinner at her folk's place. I wasn't sure when they were planning to get married; it was rumored they would get hitched at the courthouse with Hailey, and Skye's parents, then hold a reception later on. Seth and Caitlyn were doing well, just taking things slow. Also, Hailey and Ford were doing exceptionally; currently on the market to buy a house. Yep, everyone was doing fantastic. I was still working on some stuff in therapy, but overall, I'm happy.

I was at work right now. Eli and Alicia were here as well but Hayden had to leave the store to travel to another one for product that somehow didn't make it on the delivery truck. The closest store with what we needed was in the city, so that's where Hayden had gone. Right now, we were under the Shift Supervisor's command. Alicia was my runner because Hayden had been asked by Travis not to let her do anything strenuous, and he agreed. I was at the front counter, taking orders as usual, but it was a slow day. A lot of people were going to Drive-Thru, so I kept busy with cleaning things. Hayden was still teaching me how to drive, and helping me prepare for an upcoming GED test in March. I was going for my permit sometime in February; I'm sure Hayden said we'd go on our next day off. I guess I had to take a written exam first, then hold a permit until the next available road test. I didn't mind waiting; more time to practice, right? I was smiling while I moved around the front end to wipe things down, or stocking up for the small lunch rush we were sure to get. I heard the bell of the side doors openings; this meant there were customers entering. I moved to the sink to wash my hands, then as I dried them to move to the register; I saw someone familiar, or at least I thought so.

"Ashley?" said the female. I looked again to see my mother standing there. "It is you!"

{Normal POV}

"I'm surprised you even recognize me," Ashley muttered to herself. "What can I get for you today?"

"My little girl," the woman began to get emotional. Ashley sighed; she wasn't buying into this bullcrap.

"I'm sorry, I'm afraid I don't know you," Ashley cleared her throat a bit.

"Baby girl, it's Mama," Asvora tried to step past the counter to hug me.

"You need to step backward. Employees only," Ashley remarked in an attempt to stay professional.

"Come around; let me get a good look at you. Its been so long since I've seen you," Asvora smiled. Ashley clenched her fist, but stayed in control.

"You have me confused with someone else, Ma'am," Ashley stated.

"I know my own daughter," Asvora informed.

"And she isn't me," Ashley said.

"Don't be foolish, Ashley. How can I forget you?" Asvora smiled broadly. Ashley's fists were shaking at her sides; beginning to lose her cool.

"The same way you did after dad died," Ashley scoffed while glancing at the side. "Sorry. My father died in 2011, and my mother not far behind him," she added.

"Oh, sweetheart. I'm not dead; see? I'm right here. Things must have been hard for you after you ran away, but you're back now, and everything is going to be okay. Mama will help you," Asvora offered.

And there went the rest of Ashley's control. Ashley's eyes narrowed darkly at Asvora; taking the woman by surprise. "Ran away? RAN AWAY?! That's what you're going with?! Really?!" Ashley scolded. Eli and Alicia hurried over, seeing the mother and daughter there.

"Call Hayden, Eli. Now," Alicia said quickly. Eli pulled out his phone, ignoring the shift supervisor, and called Hayden's cell.

"Hayden. How close are you to home?" Eli inquired.

"Uh, about twenty-thirty minutes. Why?" Hayden replied.

"Ashley's mother is here, and Ashley's fearless, fierceness just took over when her mother insinuated that Ashley ran away from home," Eli informed.

"God damn it! Get her in the back office. I'll get there as soon as I can," Hayden demanded, then the call ended. Eli put his phone away, then tried to get near Ashley.

"Hey, Hayden's on his way, Ash. Come into the back, Alicia will run the front for now," Eli tried.

"NO! And you!" Ashley turned her attention back to her mother. "Gods. I would have hoped that maybe some remnants of my mother; the one who loved my father and me to no end was still in there somewhere, but I guess what I said before stands. My mom died with my dad,"

"Ashley, you're making a scene," Alicia mentioned softly.

"I don't care. How dare she come in here, see me, and act like this is some kind of miracle reunion when she knows what she did! I ran away? No, Mother. You GAVE me away!" Ashley glared.

"CPS took you, Ashley," Asvora sighed.

"Don't even feed me that lie again! You have no idea who you sold me to; the awful things they did to me! And while you did what? Sat in my father's house doing Odin only knows what with the money you got from selling your own child to a WHOREHOUSE! I was sixteen-years-old! You told lied to police about where I was!" Ashley yelled.

"I did not. I don't know what happened to you!" Asvora tried to lie.

"The Chief of Police came to the house a week after I went missing, and you said I ran away. What you don't know is that I texted Hayden that CPS took me after leaving dad's! Hayden and his dad knew CPS didn't take me because they went to the main building to ask!" Ashley grumbled. Asvora flinched a bit. "You're a goddamn liar! You didn't give a shit what happened to me; you still don't care what I had to go through! And you have the balls to stand there and act like you care!?"

"Ashley, please? I'm sorry. I-I know I made some mistakes after your father died-," Asvora began.

"S-Some mistakes?! YOU SOLD ME FOR MONEY TO COVER YOUR GAMBLING DEBTS AND HELD ONTO EXTRA TO FEED YOUR ADDICTIONS TO DRUGS AND ALCOHOL! I KNOW EVERYTHING! Those people locked me up; starved, beat, whipped, and molested me for six months! And when I still wouldn't break, they raped me! I wasn't even eighteen! FOUR YEARS! FOUR LONG, LONELY, PAINFUL YEARS; that I was that son of a bitches sex slave. Servicing him, and his stupid clients! And when I finally was found by Hayden; I didn't even know who he was. I didn't know any of who I was before ending up there. I couldn't remember my past. It's because of Hayden, and my friends that I do now!" Ashley screamed.

"Ashley?" Hayden said gently. Ashley quickly looked at him, and he was able to see the tears in her eyes.

"Please, give me another chance?" Asvora pleaded.

"You don't deserve one! I can't stand the sight of you; I don't even know you. You neglected me; spending all the money dad left us on your stupid addictions! It was MY JOB that kept the house afloat! And instead of being grateful, you gave me away. I didn't matter to you when I needed to, so you don't matter to me. You're just some woman who looks like my mom, but I know she's long gone; she died when dad did. You go live your life, and I'll continue living the one that was saved from your mistake. Hayden rescued me; reminded me of who I am, and made me, well, me again. I'll never forget what I went through, but I know I'm stronger now for having survived it. My life has meaning again because I have my friends, and boyfriend in it. You have no place in my life, or my future. Leave me alone; I never want to see you again," Ashley turned away from the register and walked towards the back.

"Get out of my store, Asvora. I want you away from my girlfriend and me; you're not welcome here. You should be lucky that I haven't called the cops yet, but I believe Karma will catch up to you for what you did to her, and I can't wait to see the day that happens," Hayden stated before he prepared to walk away. "Alicia, front counter, please? Andy, run for her, and make sure this woman leaves. I need to check on Ashley," he then headed for the back office where Ashley was inside, breaking down on the floor with her knees up to her chest. Hayden entered, shutting the door behind him. Hayden got on his knees and hugged her tightly. "Ssh. It's alright; she's gone now,"

"Why? Why did she have to show up?" Ashley cried.

"Unfortunately, Archi Burger is a public place in Berk, Milady. I don't believe your mother knew you'd be here since last she remembered, you were at the whorehouse with Virgil," Hayden reminded.

"I-I don't want to be here right now. C-Can we go home?" Ashley asked.

"Of course. Come on now; let's get up, and you can use the bathroom to splash your face. I'll leave Andy in charge, and we'll go home," Hayden told her. Ashley forced herself to stand up, then she palmed away her tears carefully while sniffling a bit. Hayden led her out, as she quickly scampered to the bathroom. "I'm taking her home; something tells me that we might have a small set back in recovery," he stated to Eli and Alicia, who undoubtedly wanted to know how Ashley was doing.

"Don't worry about a thing here; I've got it," Andy patted Hayden's shoulder. Hayden nodded, grateful to the man. Ashley came out of the bathroom as Hayden and she both clocked out for the day, then moved outside to Hayden's car. Once inside, Ashley and Hayden put on their seatbelts. Soon after Hayden started the vehicle, they were gone down the road back to Hayden's place.

(Hayden's Home)

Upon reaching the house, Ashley went to take a hot shower while Hayden let his friends know what had happened; hoping they might be able to come over after work to cheer Ashley up a bit. Ashley finished her shower, redressed, then plopped on her bed with a sigh. Hayden walked to the door frame, knocking on it twice.

"Feel any better?" Hayden asked. Ashley shook her head while laying down. "Anything I can do to help?"

"Will you hold me? I want to feel comfort, warmth, love…not heartbreak and betrayal," Ashley asked. Hayden nodded as he moved towards her bed, then laid down behind her and she curled up in his arms.

"How about now?" Hayden wondered.

Ashley closed her eyes letting out a sigh of contentment. "I'm right where I belong," Ashley finally said as she held onto Hayden tighter. If this is what made her happy, then Hayden was pleased to do it for as long as she wanted. Hayden knew today wasn't easy; a very unpleasant experience indeed, but now she was in his protective and loving embrace where she belonged; with him.