A/N: Loved how this chapter turned out. Has some fluff, angst (thanks to an old, well known, and frquently unliked character), and humor. Tori's idea invovled that character. Chapter 15 has a little something she wrote that i squeezed into the story. I think it fits into the story very nicely.
You know the deal: Read, rreview, and enjoy!
(a review or two would be nice... Please?)

Chapter 12: Surprises

(Ashley POV)

Ashley let out a belch as she finished her fourth drink. Griffin rubbed his forehead and sat his half full glass down. "Bloody hell, how did you finish it that quick?"

She shrugged, her eyes drooping as she did. The first drink was in Ireland, second in Australia, third in Los Angeles, and now they were in Berlin. Griffin watched her as she rubbed an eye. "Where to next?" she asked in a dreamy tone.

Griffin shook his glass. "I'm not done yet."

Ashley rolled her eyes. "I'm younger than you and I can drink more. How shocking," she said as her eyes grew wide.

He downed the rest of his drink. "Wait, you're younger?" he asked.

Ashley shook her head from side to side. "Maybe…"

"How old are you?" he asked, seeming very uninterested in the conversation.

She held out her fingers, pointing to a few. "Twenty," she said holding up both hands with a grin.

Griffin's look turned to shock. "How do you get into bars for drinks then?" She went to answer and his look turned to amusement. "Actually, don't answer that."

Ashley stuck her tongue out at him. "I get Tori to buy them. So shut up. Now where are we going next?" She hopped off the stool, the heels of the boots making a slight thunk sound as they made contact with the shiny wood floor.

"Follow me," Griffin said as he slid off the stool and jumped.

Ashley looked around and realized why he chose to sit in the corner of this place. 'No one's looking this way. Secluded.' She sighed and followed through his jumpscar, finding herself in a dark Tokyo alley. Turning to the right, Ashley saw Griffin holding the door to the pub open. She smiled and noticed it was the same one he brought her a drink in when they first met. "Nice choice," she told him as she walked past him and into the building. Sitting, she nodded at the familiar man behind the bar. "Two please," Ashley said.

Griffin sat down on the stool next to hers and leaned on the bar slightly. Ashley watched him from the corner of her eye. The barman placed two cups in front of her and she slid one to him. They were small sake cups, to her surprise. Ashley held hers up and gave a small shrug as she said, "Cheers."

"Cheers," Griffin said in a low tone before they both downed the liquid. Ashley gave a subtle cough as the sake stung her throat. "I'm out of pubs I know now," he told her.

Ashley shrugged. "I sure as hell don't know any good ones. Let's go back to the lair and drink there," she smiled at him and slid off the stool, stumbling lightly. A hand flew to her arm and helped her regain her balance. She looked and found it was, shockingly, Griffin. He had a somber look. "I figured you'd rather watch me fall," she said sheepishly. 'This was such a bad idea. I told you so…' The voice in her head chirped, making itself known once more. She grumbled as he unexpectedly jumped them to the lair.

"So," he let go of her shoulder, "we've been to a convention, you made me dress up like a cat, and we went bar hoppin'. Any other requests?"

She chewed lightly on her lower lip. "Kiss me," Ashley half asked, half commanded. He gave her a sudden look of confusion and amazement. 'Why the fuck did I say that? Stupid alcohol.' She swallowed hard as she watched a small smirk come upon his lips.

Griffin took a step closer to her and grabbed her arm, jumping them to the opposite side of the lair. He moved even closer, causing Ashley to back up and bump into the wall. Apparently the alcohol was numbing her brain, as she didn't get the idea to jump away once he put his hands on either side of her head, trapping her there. Griffin's smirk turned into a grin as he said, "Thought you'd never ask." He began to inch his face towards hers slowly.

Ashley's tired eyes watched as he mind screamed at her. 'Will you move? Jeeze, punch him or something. Do you really want this?' "Yes," she mumbled as she felt the press of his lips against her own.

---

(Tori POV)

The movie's credits were rolling and Tori clapped happily as David pressed the button to stop the movie. "I never knew that was a good movie," she admitted as she stopped clapping.

"Yeah, who knew?" David chuckled as he glanced over his shoulder at her while removing the DVD. A phone began to ring and Tori looked at him oddly. "Um…excuse me," he before jumping.

Tori sensed the jump and felt him end up in his bedroom. 'Hmm…' She got up off the couch slowly and crept over to the hallway. She poked her head around the corner and listened closely.

"…you know I can't," she heard David's voice, talking to whoever it was. He groaned as he said, "Look Millie, I said no." He paused. Tori thought she heard a scoff. "I don't care if you have to waste money. I'm not your damn travel agency!"

Tori took a step back, pressing herself against a bookcase. 'Millie? That's his ex. She wants him to take her somewhere… Bitch, much?' She shook her head and returned to the couch.

Seconds later, David jumped back to his spot by the DVDs. "Sorry," he muttered. "Uh, it was wrong number." He smiled weakly as he walked back over to the couch and sat down lazily.

Tori tilted her head. "Really? It sounded a lot more like it was someone else…"

David gave her a look of confusion, which shortly turned to sadness. "You heard, didn't you?" Tori nodded slowly. "It was Millie," he sighed. "She wants me to take her to Paris for a weekend. Some sort of fashion show." David rolled his eyes and leaned, hunching over with his elbows on his knees. "She's always calling when she wants to go somewhere. It's why we broke up. Her constant jumps attracted Paladins."

He looked over at Tori who had a smug grin on her face. "Throw her off a cliff then," she joked as she nudged him with her shoulder. David just smiled at her and shook his head. "I'm only kidding…halfway," Tori mumbled the last part under her breath. She grinned as he gave her a return nudge.

---

(Ashley POV)

Her brain felt tingly and everything felt slow around her. Ashley pulled away from him. "Tori says I'm not allowed to drink and jump," she said in a hushed voice. "Can I stay with you Griffers?"

Griffin pushed off the wall with his hands and gave her a quick kiss on the forehead. "You've still got half a day left," he murmured. "I could take you home…"

Ashley latched onto his waist as he backed towards the couch. "Or I could stay here," she suggested sweetly.

"Or," he began as he pulled her arms from his waist and spun her. She giggled and fell into sitting on the couch. "You can sit here while I go to the bathroom. Then I'm takin' yeh to David's." Griffin turned and started towards the bathroom.

"Wait, why?" Ashley asked. She swayed slightly before crawling over to the arm of the couch nearest to the bathroom. He walked into the bathroom, looking at her over his shoulder for a second, and then closing the door behind him. Ashley pouted and smacked her chin into the fabric of the couch with a sigh.