One month later Ashley had gone through six rounds of chemo and radiation. Ashley and Chris once again sat in Dr. Grant's office along with Dr. Ragsdale. Ashley sighed and looked at Chris. It had taken so long for them to get her ready for the day. It was taking her longer, and longer to get ready for the day. Chris hated watching his wife struggle with daily actives especially since she had once been a hands on mother, who now how to resort to having her husband help her.
Dr. Grant walked in along with Dr. Ragsdale. They sat down and nodded at Ashley. After a moments silence Dr. Ragsdale began. "Ashley I've been up front with you about your treatments since the beginning. The chemo and radiation don't seem to be working. The cancer is spreading and quickly to other organs."
Ashley nodded and hung her head knowing what that meant. "What can be done?" Chris asked leaning forward.
Dr. Grant sighed and Ashley could tell she was holding back tears. "More chemo but…" Dr. Ragsdale began.
"But it won't work Chris" Ashley cut him off. "I am guessing I am in Stage IV?" She asked.
Dr. Grant nodded. "Yes." She said hoarsely.
"What's that mean?" Chris asked.
"It means the cancer has spread probably to my lungs. It's the most advanced stage of ovarian cancer. Only 1 of woman who enter this stage come out alive." Ashley said with tears in her eyes.
"Well you'll be one of those 1." Chris said and rubbed her shoulder.
"I don't want to fight anymore Chris. I am tired." Ashley said and hung her head.
"Don't! Don't talk like that!" He cried.
Dr. Ragsdale frowned. "Chris." He said calmly. "There's nothing we really could do to help Ashley at this point. Any more chemicals in her system will just make her life that much shorter."
Chris' eyes welled up with tears. "So I am just supposed to sit back and watch my wife die?" He shouted.
Ashley sighed and touched her husband's shoulder. "Baby. I want to end the fight. I am ready to end this fight." She said with a smile.
Chris hung his head. "Alright. Well can we go?" He asked.
Dr. Ragsdale nodded and Ashley hugged the two doctors. "Thank you for all you've done for me. Really."
"I wish I could've done more." Dr. Ragsdale said and kissed her forehead.
Ashley smiled. "It's okay. I am okay."
One week later, the Jericho, Kendrick, and Austin families were sitting on the beach in front of the condominium in Hawaii. Ashley smiled and looked down at the rather large clan gathered here for a two-week vacation. The first family was her family, Chris and herself. Her stepchildren, Ash, Cheyenne, and Sierra played near the edge of the water with her children Austin and Noah.
The second family was the Kendrick family. Brain and Misha sat down in the sand playing with their three children, Troy, Taylor, and Sabina.
The third family had kind of spilt into two. The Austin clan still consisted of Steve, Stephanie, and Cassidy. However, twenty-year-old Stephanie had married Jayden Smith and had a one-year-old son named Adam.
Ashley smiled and leaned into her husband's strong arms. "I love you." She murmured into his neck.
Chris smiled and nodded. "I love you too baby. You tired?" He asked.
Ashley smiled and nodded. "Yeah."
"Want me to carry you inside?" Chris said with a smile.
Ashley shook her head. "No I can walk inside." She said with a smile.
"Well can I at least come take a nap with you?" Chris asked.
"I dunno." She said with a smile. "If you can keep your hands to yourself you can."
Chris groaned. "How can I do that? You're just so damn beautiful." He said.
Ashley laughed a bit and stood up. "You're cheesy." She said. Chris smiled and as he stood up, he swept Ashley off her feet and into his arms. "I told you I can walk."
"But I wanted to carry you so deal with it!" Chris said.
Ashley smiled and kissed her husband on the lips. Chris grinned and carried her into their room. He laid her on the bed and then shut the door. He then grinned and raced towards the bed and jumped on it. Ashley cracked up laughing. "You haven't done that since our honeymoon." She said. Chris smiled and pinned his wife down to the bed. He kissed her deeply then laid down and pulled her close to him. "Sing me to sleep." She demanded.
Chris smiled and nodded. He sang just soft enough for her to here. "I wanna make you smile, whenever you're sad, carry you when you're arthritis is bad. All I wanna do is grow old with you. I'll get you're medicine, When you're tummy aches, Build you a fire If the furnace breaks Oh, it could be so nice, Growin' old with you I'll miss you, Kiss you, Give you my coat When you are cold I'll need you, Feed you, Even let you hold The remote control So let me do the dishes In our kitchen sink, Put you to bed When you've had Too much to drink Ohhhh, I could be the man, Who grows old with you I wanna grow old with you"
Ashley smiled and kissed him and with tears in her eyes, she said. "I am sorry I couldn't stay until we were old."
Chris smiled and wiped her tears away. "Don't talk like that sweetie. Please." He said.
Ashley nodded and closed her eyes. "I love you." She mumbled as she began to drift off to sleep.
The next day everyone but Ashley and Misha had gone to a luau. They sat right on the shore their feet being tickled by rush of the water. Ashley was drawling shaped in the sand with her finger. The cousins hadn't spoken for a long time. "You'll help him right Misha?" She asked suddenly.
"What?" Misha asked.
Ashley looked up with tears in her eyes. "You'll help Chris with the boys right ya know when I am gone?" She asked.
Misha sighed and said. "Don't talk like that."
Ashley shook her head. "I am tired of people saying that! I am dying Misha! I need to get everything straight before that time!" Ashley snapped.
"I am sorry." Misha said looking down. "It's just hard for us to handle."
"I know. I know. Just please promise me you'll help Chris with the boys." Ashley said.
Misha nodded. "I will."
Ashley smiled and hugged her. "One more thing. If Chris remarries give her hell for me."
Misha laughed and nodded. "Damn right I will." Misha cried.
Ashley smiled once more. "Make sure Austin and Noah know how much I love them and how much I didn't want to leave." She said.
Misha nodded as tears sprung to her eyes. "God this is hard."
Ashley nodded. "Yeah."
"Do you remember when I found out about you and Chris?" Misha asked. Ashley giggled and laughed.
Seventeen-year-old Ashley awoke up in the morning. She sat up straight and looked over at the man she shared a bed with. It was thirty-three year old Chris Jericho, the man she had been crushing on since she was thirteen. She got out of bed slowly and dressed as quickly and quietly as she could. She bumped into the chair. Chris stirred in his sleep and he smiled. She smiled at him and nodded. "Goodbye." She whispered and hurried out of the room.
She rushed down the hall way and slide the key card in and tried to enter quietly. "Where have you been young lady?" Steve asked his voice seething in anger.
Ashley groaned and turned to look at her father. "Hi daddy." She said with a smile.
"Where were you?" He asked again.
"In Chris Jericho's room. I couldn't find my new last night after I picked him up so I just stayed on the couch in his room." She said.
"Where was the key?" Steve asked.
"In my car. I am really sorry daddy, I should've called." Ashley said.
"Damn right you should've. I am going to see Chris and he better say the same damn thing." Steve said and walked out slamming the door.
Ashley raced over to the phone and called Chris' cell phone. "Hey my dad's coming over so get dressed! I told him I left my key in the car. Just say I slept on the couch." Ashley said and slammed down the phone staring at her cousin, Misha.
"So you didn't leave your key in the car?" She asked a smirk playing on her lips.
Ashley blushed and shrugged. "No."
"Tell me the truth!" Misha cried and jumped on the bed.
"We slept together." Ashley said and laid down.
"What?" Misha shirked. "How could you?" With each word she slapped Ashley.
"It just happened." Ashley mumbled.
"You said it we would wait for marriage!" Misha said with a pout.
Ashley laughed a bit. "Yeah but Chris Jericho is very persuasive." Ashley giggled.
In the morning, Ashley took Ash, Cheyenne, Sierra, Austin, and Noah on a Submarine tour. She had chosen it just to be them because she wanted the kids to remember it was her who had taken them on a trip like that. It had been a very memorable morning and the day wasn't over. They got off the sub and they piled into the rental van. Ashley had planned a picnic and was excited about it.
They got to the park and Ashley smiled at the place she had chosen. It over looked the ocean and it was perfect. The kids ate and Noah rambled on about the fishes he had seen on the tour. Finally, everyone was done eating and Ashley pulled out a bag of wrapped gifts. "Come on ladies and gentlemen." She called reining everyone in.
"Is all the gifts for me?" Noah asked jumping up a down.
"No buddy but you have one." Ashley said with a smile.
"Just one?" Noah cried pouting.
Ashley laughed and pulled Noah onto her lap and tickled him. "You're such a goof ball." She said laughing. She set him to the side and then handed each of them a box. "Well what are you waiting for tear it open!" She had gotten each of them a gift they could keep to always remember her.
Ash smiled at his. "Thanks Ashley!" He cried. Ashley had gotten him a picture frame with a picture of him and her at WrestleMania last year. Underneath it was engraved. 'Name buddies today, tomorrow, and always.' Sunday April 1st 2011. Ashley and Ash had always called each other name buddies because of their shared Ash.
Cheyenne screamed with delight as she pulled out an angle snow globe. It was engraved with 'May you always have your wings Chey. Love always Ashley.' On the back was a picture of them together from the same day as Ash's. "It's so pretty." She said with a smile.
Sierra giggled and hugged Ashley after she had opened the present. It was a locket with a picture of Ashley and her on Chris and Ashley's wedding day. He name was engraved on the front on the back it said. 'Timeless love. Love Ashley.'
Austin pulled out his two gifts. The first one was a simple sliver ID bracelet that said Austin Jacob on the front and on the back it said love always mommy. The second thing was a picture album engraved on the front it said. 'Our life together. Cherish the memories good and the bad. Love always Mom.' Inside it was filled with pictures of the family but mainly focusing on Ashley and him.
Noah smiled and laughed seeing his two gifts. The first was a Noah's Ark piggy bank engraved on it was 'Noah's money.' The second one was a Noah's ark picture album. Engraved on it just like Austin's it said. 'Our life together. Cherish the memories good and the bad. Love always Mommy.' Also like Austin's it was filled with pictures of the family but again focusing on Noah and Ashley.
"You guys like your gifts?" Ashley asked.
"Love them!" Austin yelled and tackled him mother. Ashley laughed and hugged and kissed them all.
That night Ashley and Steve went out and were alone for the first time since Chris and her had told him. Steve was quiet all through dinner. Finally, they took a late night walk on the beach. "Daddy." Ashley said quietly.
"Yeah baby girl?" Steve asked.
"I have a gift for you." She said softly.
"Yeah? What is it?" He asked.
"Let's sit down please." Ashley said.
"Are you tired? I mean we could go back to the house if you are." Steve said worried.
Ashley laughed and smiled. "I am fine daddy." She said as she plopped down in the sand. Steve sat down and smiled at his daughter, tears gleaming in his eyes.
Ashley handed him the box. He opened it and there was a picture album. Engraved on the top with a picture of Ashley and Steve was 'Austin family memories.' "Wow." He said tears in his eyes. "This…this is wonderful baby girl." Steve said.
"Thanks daddy." Ashley said softly. He opened the next gift and smiled. It was a picture of Ashley and him on her wedding day engraved on it was "Daddy's little girl on her big day.' Tears sprang to Steve's eyes. "What's wrong? I didn't mean to make you cry."
Steve shook his head. "It's just hard. It's not right order of things your not suppose to bury your children they are suppose to bury you." Steve said sobbing.
Ashley started to cry. "I don't want to leave daddy. I am sorry." Ashley sobbed.
"Don't be like that sweetie. God has a plan and if taking you away is it then so be it. I love you and I will see you again." He said.
Ashley sobbed harder and hugged her father close to her. "I am so sorry daddy."
"Not your fault." Steve said and kissed her forehead.
On the last night of the vacation Ashley and Chris went to a romantic dinner and dancing. Ashley and Chris were dancing to 'I can't help falling in love' Chris whispered the lyrics in her ear. Take my hand Take my whole life too Cause I can't help Falling in love with you As a river flows Gently to the sea Darling so we go Some things were meant to be.'
Ashley sighed and kissed him as the song ended. "You're perfect." She mumbled.
"You are two my angel." He said and kissed her softly.
"I have something for you." She said with a smile.
"What is it?" Chris asked.
"It's in the car." Ashley said.
"Well let's go get it." Chris said. The two walked hand in hand together to the car. Ashley sat in front seat and Chris kneeled down next to her. She handed him a small box. The first was a cross, in the back was engraved her name. The second was a double heart frame. In the first frame was a picture of them when she was seventeen and the second was a picture of them on their wedding day. Engraved in the middle was 'Love knows no boundaries.'
Chris smiled and kissed his wife deeply. "I love you so damn much Ashley. I promise on my life I will never remarry."
"Don't' say that baby. You'll never know who you will find." She said.
"I will never break our wedding vows again." Chris said and kissed her deeply.