My note….here's the last chapter….for this story, that is. I appreciate all the wonderful comments and reviews for everyone. I had a lot of fun writing it and hope you all enjoyed! Thanks.
FATHER KNOWS BEST
CHAPTER 8: DADDY'S LITTLE GIRL
Ashley's cell phone buzzed across the nightstand. She quickly pulled her nightshirt over her head and plunged onto her bed, flipping the phone open as she did. "Hey El", she greeted cheerfully.
"So, how did it go?", Ellie blurted anxiously.
"It was great", she answered nonchalantly. There was a frustrated sigh at the other end of the phone line and Ashley smiled with the knowledge that Ellie wanted more elaboration. "The food was amazing, everyone got along just fine, I had my first 'official' margarita….my dad even asked the Mariachis' sing 'Happy Birthday' to me", she chuckled happily.
"And?", Ellie prodded.
"And what?", Ashley questioned quizzically.
"So, what did you get?", Ellie enunciated carefully hoping Ashley would get the hint she was dropping.
"Oh", Ashley let out an understanding sigh. "We each ordered something different and shared with one another. I ended up eating most of Jimmy's enchiladas though…" , she trailed off into a giggle.
"I wasn't talking about the food Ash", Ellie moaned impatiently. "Did anything happen after the meal….like at dessert?", she added coaxingly.
"You mean was there something sparkly stuck in my fried ice cream, besides the candle?", Ashley offered.
"Yeah", Ellie gasped excitedly.
"No", Ashley replied simply, trying to mask her disappointment.
"Sorry Ash…I really thought he was gonna ask", Ellie apologized. "When Spinner told me that Jimmy would stop every time they passed a jewelry store window, I just figured…".
"So did I", Ashley cut in. "I mean, I wasn't really expecting anything else, the necklace and earrings are so beautiful...", she paused to touch the pendant around her neck. "I guess I was just kind of hoping for...ya know, with my dad being here and everything…", she trailed off wistfully.
"Well there's always graduation day", Ellie suggested enthusiastically.
"Yeah, maybe", she concurred agonizingly. "I don't know El…I asked my mom if he had mentioned anything and she said no…".
"Maybe he wants it to be a surprise", Ellie offered.
Ashley sighed heavily, "No, Jimmy's such a gentleman….he'd definitely ask my parents first. And my mom's a terrible liar, so if Jimmy did have something planned, she wouldn't be able to keep it a secret", she chuckled ruefully. "She almost seemed sad that he hadn't…".
"He still has time Ash...your graduation isn't for three more days anyway", Ellie stated playfully.
"I know", Ashley sighed and paused for a few seconds. "Maybe he doesn't want to...".
"Ash, don't be rediculous", Ellie scolded. "Jimmy loves you and I'm sure he wants to propose...he's probably just waiting for the perfect moment to pop the question", she added assuredly.
Ashley smiled, "You're right El".
"No prob", Ellie chuckled lightly. "Goodnight Ash...Happy Birthday", she added in parting.
"Thanks Ellie, 'night", Ashley replied and flipped shut her phone.
Ashley laid her cell phone on her bedside table and leaned back onto her pillows. After a minute or two, she sat up and opened the drawer of the table, pulling out a folded page of a magazine. With a sigh, Ashley opened the page and gently brushed her fingers over the picture of her dream wedding gown...the gown she found while flipping through a wedding magazine when her father and Chris were getting married...the gown she would wear when she walked down the aisle. Ashley neatly tucked the picture away inside the drawer and turned her lamp off. Crawling back into bed, Ashley's smile returned as she closed her eyes and pictured herself walking down that aisle, in her dream wedding gown...to a waiting Jimmy.
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Saturday was finally here...the gradutation day for Degrassi's class of 2007. With the ceremony just a few hours away, Ashley and her family went to the Brooks' house to prepare for the party that was to take place afterward.
"I'm staying as far away from this house as possible while you guys are setting up", Jimmy firmly stated. "Me and party preparations do not mix", he added jokingly and turned for the back door.
Toby chuckled and followed Jimmy and Ashley onto the deck. "So yeah Jimmy, how is that leg of yours feeling?", the words came out before Toby had a chance to think about what he had just said.
"Actually Tobes...it's not", Jimmy quipped, good-naturedly. Toby blushed furiously at his slipup. "But the cut is healing nicely, thanks for asking".
Toby sheepishly returned Jimmy's smile, but still felt very embarrassed. Ashley quickly jumped to the rescue by asking Toby to go inside and collect some things she needed to decorate the backyard with. Jimmy looked up at her suspiciously. "I wanted a little alone time with my boyfriend. Is that a crime?", she defended innocently and carefully sat on Jimmy's lap.
"I'm not sure about that. Maybe I should ask a future pre-law student", Jimmy teased and kissed Ashley on the lips.
"Yeah, maybe you should", Ashley teased playfully and stood up. "That reminds me", she stated, running into the house. "I want to give this to you now", she finished as she walked back onto the deck and handed Jimmy a neatly wrapped box.
Jimmy smiled and humbly accepted the gift. "Ash you didn't have to...".
"Of course I did", she cut in and sat on the end of the bench, next to Jimmy. "It's our graduation day. Did you really think I wasn't going to get my boyfriend a gift?", she asked incredulously. "Now open it".
"Okay", Jimmy smirked as he did what he was told. He unwrapped the package to find a custom oak box filled with an array of drawing impliments. He gasped, pleasant surprise, "Ash, this is amazing".
Ashley grinned. "With all the emphasis on going to law school...I wanted to make sure your love of art didn't suffer", she explained with a slight apprehension and giggled softly. "And after seeing the condition of your current set, I figured you were in desperate need of new pencils".
"Thanks Ash", Jimmy whispered, flashing one of his killer smiles as he pulled Ashley down for a kiss. "And it just so happens that I have a similar gift for you too".
"Sketching pencils?", she asked skeptically.
"No", he answered sarcastically and backed up to a small table over in the corner of the deck. "Something that has special meaning for the future...", he trailed off and pivoted around, reaching behind the table.
With Jimmy's back to her, Ashley could bearly contain her excitement...until he pulled out a large, awkward shaped gift bag. Ashley smiled graciously as she lifted the gift from the bag. "Wow Jimmy this is...".
"Not what you were expecting?", he interrupted before she could finish.
"No...I-I mean...yes, it's beautiful Jimmy", she stuttered miserably, looking down at the feminine, black leather attache case, monogramed with her initials. Jimmy frowned, sighing heavily as he slumped back in his chair. "It's really lovely Jimmy", she assured him. "The only problem is that...well, I was figuring that by the time I need to use it...I was hoping my initials would be slightly different...maybe the K would be replaced with a...B", she hinted, nervously chewing on her lower lip.
"Ash, are you trying to say...", Jimmy trailed off, confused.
Ashley blushed shyly. "I just figured that with the way our relationship is going...", she paused and sighed. "...that the next logical step would be...".
Jimmy interrupted, "But your dad said...".
"What did my dad say?", she asked curiously, grabbing Jimmy's hands.
He shrugged casually. "Nothing really. He just told me that with everything that happened with Craig and then Allistair...he really didn't think it was the right time to ask you...that maybe you weren't quite ready to...".
"You mean you were gonna ask me to...", Ashley gasped, feeling as if the air had been knocked from her. She stood up and started pacing.
Jimmy avoided her gaze, starring down at his hands fidgeting in his lap. "Yeah, already got the ring and everything", he mumbled nervously.
Ashley nearly squealed at the revelation, but then reality hit. "But why would he...", she trailed off as the pieces began to fall into place.
"Ash?", Jimmy called out after her and followed Ashley inside.
Ashley stalked back into the house. "How could you?", she choked out, tears filling her eyes as she breezed past her father and out the front door.
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Robert watched with great pride as his daughter walked across the gymnasium to accept her high school diploma. But the guilt he felt over Ashley's harsh words just a few hours ago and her subsequent avoidence of him and everyone else at the house, was eating away at him.
The class gathered at the front steps of the school, hugging each other, laughing through tears of happiness and some of sadness. Ashley stood next to Jimmy and Spinner at the bottom of the steps, lost in their own little group of friends, the friends they should have graduated with the year before.
"Ashley, honey", Kate waived and called out as the families began to make their her way through the crowd. She embraced Ashley tightly and pulled Toby in for a group hug, then moved on to Jimmy and Spinner.
"I'm so very proud of you Ash", Robert stated softly as he moved in to hug his daughter. Ashley visibly stiffened at his touch and didn't return the gesture. Robert slowly backed away, studying Ashley's emotion filled face before offering, "I think we need to talk".
"I'm not sure we have anything to talk about, Dad", Ashley spat, turning her face away from him. Robert nodded slowly and turned around, Ashley watched as he walked over to a picnic table on the other side of the courtyard.
"Ash, maybe you should go and talk with him", Jimmy suggested as he moved out of the huddle of people and pulled up next to Ashley.
"Why, so he could make up some story like the one he told you...no thank you", Ashley scoffed and folded her arms across her chest.
Jimmy tugged on one of her hands. "Don't you think you deserve to find out why he did it in the first place?", he offered with a gentle squeeze. "Maybe find out why he doesn't like me", Jimmy mumbled under his breath, head down, eyes focused on the ground.
Ashley's features softened and she smiled. It was beyond all comprehention how anyone on this planet could not be completely enamored with the man in front of her. Ashley cupped Jimmy's cheek, taking him by surprise and leant in to kiss his lips. "I love you Jimmy", she whispered as she turned toward her father
"I'll be right here if you need me", Jimmy promised, releasing her hand. Ashley let her fingertips linger on Jimmy's as she nodded and pulled away.
"I just want to know why", Ashely demanded to Robert's back, causing him to swing around to face her. "Why did you lie to Jimmy...and me?".
"I-I don't know Sweetheart", he replied dumbfounded. "I...I just...".
"What do you have against him Dad?", she cried. "There was never a problem with us dating before".
"No, and I didn't think there would be now", he answered truthfully. "But then when I got here, I saw first hand what it was like for you two...the difficulties you'd have to face. The way people talk, they way they look at the two of you...treat the two of you...".
"So you just go and decide what's best for us?", she snipped.
"Ash honey, I was only trying to protect you", Robert started to explain, but was cut short by a gasp from Ashely.
"From what Dad...this crazy, cruel world...or from Jimmy?", she questioned bitterly. Robert shook his head in protest. "Don't you think we know what we're up against Dad. I mean, no couple is perfect...but the girl with a gay dad and a Jewish stepfamily, dating the bi-racial guy in a wheelchair, is pretty unique".
"I'm sorry Ash", he apologized fervently. "I thought I could spare you from having to go though what Chris and I went through".
"But wasn't it all worth it Dad?", Ashley asked incredulously. "Would you have changed anything if you knew...would it really have made a difference...would you love Chris any less?", she pleaded through her tears.
Robert pinched the bridge of his nose and shook his head weakly. "I expected you of all people to understand Dad", Ashley whispered painfully.
"I do Ashley. I understand...and I'm so sorry for hurting you", Robert reiterated, grasping her by the shoulders.
"I love him Daddy, more than anything", she defended firmly, this time slightly accepting his embrace.
"I can see that Sweetheart...and he loves you too,very much", he replied pointedly, nodding over to Jimmy who was eyeing them from his place next to Spinner. "I just want you to be happy".
"I am", she assured him and turned on her heel.
"Love you Ash", Robert called out after her.
Ashley stopped to look over her shoulder. "I love you too, Dad", she replied softly and quickly headed back to Jimmy.
Robert was filled with the urge to run after Ashley and expain himself better or apologize again, but he knew he shouldn't. It was time...time to let his little girl go.
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Okay, so it wasn't my usual cotton candy, happy ending. There is still a little strife between Ashley and Robert, but they'll work through it...I'm sure. My deepest thanks to all those who read this story and to all my wonderful reviewers.
For all of you who haven't heard...episode 4 of season 7 is a JimAsh plot. The info came out last week, from one of the execs., and they also said that the opening sequence will change a bit too, some characters will be gone and some will be added(I don't really care, just as long as Melissa's featured in the credits). There was no episode descriptions released yet, or info on when the new season will start, but I'm really looking forward to epi.#4.
Degrassi is not mine.