I have no excuse for it nearly being a year since I updated, I can only apologise. If you are still persevering with my stories, first let me say I adore you for your patience, and I hope this offering is enough!

…

Once they were dressed Misty practically dragged May out the house as quickly as she could. She wasn't sure whether Ash and his girlfriend were still arguing but she wasn't planning on sticking around to find out. Especially as she knew how Ash liked to make up, they may have broken up years ago but there were some things she could do without hearing.

"Why don't you ever let me enjoy the drama." May pouted, who needed a soap opera when she was a ride along in Misty's life.

"Because we didn't come here to gawp at a couple having a domestic." She rolled her eyes. Misty didn't know where she was leading May but as long as it was away from the house she didn't mind.

"Well we aren't getting those papers signed yet." She reminded. "So, we may as well embrace this experience fully."

"Oh god." Misty groaned. "What if he doesn't sign them?"

"I'm not sure." She bit her lip. "We can't exactly force him."

"I could always forge his signature. I've done it enough times." She shrugged casually, the problem with their joint account was the fact they both needed to sign for any transaction. It had been agreed they could sign on the others behalf, they trusted each other enough. Ash may not have been so willing if he had known he had signed the cheque for her ticket out of Florida.

"Come on, even I think that's morally wrong." May gave her a look.

"Wow, when you say something's wrong it really is wrong." She laughed.

Misty almost stumbled over her own feet when she took in her surroundings, clearly this town would forever be embedded into her subconscious. Without even trying she'd taken May to a familiar part of the high street. The café where her and Ash had had their first official date, the diner where her and friends could spend hours after school nursing just one coke, the drug store where she'd been bored as her sisters tried on all types of makeup before smuggling it out in their bags.

"Ooh a café!" May exclaimed, completely oblivious to the frozen woman next to her.

"You've just eaten a huge fry up." She groaned, but she knew it would be useless.

"Exactly, and now I want elevenses." She laughed, taking Misty by the arm and dragging inside.

Misty felt her insides churn slightly, making sure to keep her eyes on the ground. She highly doubted anybody would recognise her, and if they did, they were even more unlikely to speak to her. People moved, hell she was one of them, the chances of a face from her past suddenly appearing was slim to none.

Despite not attending the ceremony, she knew one of her sisters had married well while the other two had worked hard for their money. No longer having to reduce to pocketing makeup for a five-finger discount. They could probably spend a fortune on cosmetics now and not even bat an eyelid. Misty was sure she had nieces and nephews running around as well.

It wasn't often that she felt guilty for her choice to run away but when she thought about her family, in particular her sisters, she did.

"Smell that fresh coffee." May inhaled as they stepped inside the café. "Can't beat ground beans."

"True." She nodded.

Misty wanted to laugh as she took in her surroundings, so little had changed since she'd last been here. The décor that had once been the height of fashion looked dated and tired, but she wouldn't have changed it. It was as if her old world had been paused, just waiting for her to return. She may not have recognised the staff but she felt welcomed into the familiar warmth.

"What do you want?" May asked, leaning down to look at the cakes behind the glass display.

"The Bakewell tart." She said, Misty would be lying if she didn't say she was disappointed that the triple chocolate cake she used to live on was gone, but she supposed some things had to change.

"Great, you find us a table and I'll order."

Misty nodded, squeezing through the miniature gaps between the tables, this café had always been the most popular one in her small town. The owner still seemed to composite for that by forcing more tables than was acceptable into a tiny space, rather than extending.

Her heart leapt into her throat when she spotted the booth, very rarely empty as it was the only table in here that offered any sort of privacy. How Ash had managed to score it on their first date was still a mystery to her. But here it was empty again on an idle Tuesday morning and she couldn't bring herself to head over to it. It would always be the place she and Ash shared their first kiss, she couldn't change that memory even after a break up.

Instead, she headed for a small table, to the side and away from prying eyes but next to the window for prime people watching.

"One Bakewell and a cup of Joe." May said with an accent, sounding like she belonged here more than Misty did – her accent had phased out when she moved to New York.

"Thanks." Misty rolled her eyes, and, despite judging May before for her insatiable appetite, she heartedly dug into her tart.

"So…" May bit her lip as she uselessly swirled her coffee around in her mug. "We need to talk about him."

"Who?" She frowned, there were two hims now, unfortunately. Did they need to discuss her stubborn, estranged husband who refused to sign the papers, or her devoted, loving fiancé who was about to get the shock of his life when she returned.

"Ash." She gave Misty a look.

"What about him?" She asked, attempting to sound casual.

"He seems nice, very attractive." She offered. Misty rolled her eyes, she knew May was practically drooling over him last night but she had hoped it was the booze talking. It was weird enough being back here, she could do without her best friend fancying her husband.

"He has a girlfriend." Misty warned.

"And a wife." May scoffed. "The man couldn't be any more taken if he tried."

"Then what is your point?" She frowned.

"My point is, it's not what I expected. I guess when you told me you'd run off I was expecting some sort of tyrant." She explained.

"I never said he was." Misty laughed, there wasn't a bad bone in Ash's body – it was one of the reasons she fell in love with him in the first place. "I did warn you that I was the bad guy in this relationship."

"I know, I just couldn't believe it." She said, Misty cringed. May was her best friend, she would hate to think her old skeletons in the closest would change May's opinion of her.

"May, we loved each other don't get me wrong. But we drove each other crazy, and that was exciting when we were teenagers but it soon grew old. Maybe if we hadn't married, we would have naturally drifted apart and stayed friends but as soon as we said our vows it became a ticking time bomb." She shook her head ruefully.

"Then why run away? I mean I'm glad you did otherwise I would never have met you. But why not divorce him then and just carry on your life?" May asked.

"Because I still loved him, I knew I would never actually do it. Running seemed like my only choice, now I'm grown up I realise that was stupid but too late to change it now." She attempted to laugh, as if she didn't feel a knot in her throat every time she thought of the night she ran.

"To err is human." May said, Misty so relieved she was lightening the mood.

"Alright Shakespeare." She snorted.

"Alexander Pope actually." She corrected.

"Whatever." She rolled her eyes, forgetting May had a soft spot for the classics.

"Anyone else you want to see while we're here?" May asked, swiftly changing the subject but unfortunately for Misty it was hardly safer territory.

"Like who?" She scoffed.

"I don't know, family? Friends? A great-aunt's pet cat?" She offered.

"Ash wasn't the only person I abandoned that night." Misty said softly. "They don't want me here."

May looked like she was going to press the issue, she came from a big family. And despite living in a different state to both her parents and brother they were still close. Weekly skypes, facetimes, trips to see each other were par for the course.

Luckily for Misty though, her friend was thoroughly distracted. Her mouth had made a soft 'o' shape, her hands had gone limp next to her coffee and her eyes were wide but sparkling. May had seen a man, Misty could tell. May fell in love at first sight at least once a month, only to discover he was a mouth breather, kept his socks on during sex or turned his underwear inside out to get another day out of them. Then she swiftly fell out of love again.

"Oh my god." May breathed. "Don't look but the most gorgeous man ever has just walked in."

Despite the warning, Misty quickly – and rather unsubtly – turned in her chair to see the mysterious man.

"And she looks." May scoffed under her breath.

Misty barely registered her, instead she felt her heart drop from her chest as her eyes met with a familiar pair of green.

"Drew." She whispered to herself but May heard her.

"What? You know this stunning specimen?" She hissed.

Misty could only nod dumbly in response, she did know him. Well, she knew him, it had been ten years after all. Once upon a time, Drew and Ash had been inseparable to the point Misty couldn't remember an evening when she didn't come back to the flat to find Drew lounging across her sofa, eating her food and smoking her weed.

Then Drew had got a girlfriend and slowly started to phase out their lives, he and Ash still kept their friendship but not as strong as it had once been. She'd always assumed after her disappearance, Drew had come back even it was just to lend a sympathetic ear to Ash. She had a number of aggressive texts from him to prove it. So, she highly doubted bumping into her casually in a café would be high up on his list of favourite activity.

Misty spun back around abruptly when she noticed Drew was getting served, hoping if she turned her back to him he would forget she was there. But of course, luck was not on her side, and by the way May practically began vibrating in her chair she knew Drew was coming over.

"Fuck." Misty whispered, and sure enough stood by her side was Drew with a to-go cup.

"Misty? Is that you?" He asked, although the question was redundant. Why else would they have stared at each other from across the café for so long if it weren't her.

"Drew! Hi." She smiled, jumping up to give him a hug. As if they hadn't seen in each in just a couple of weeks and their friendship was still thriving.

Thankfully he returned the hug with his free hand or else that display would have been even more awkward than before.

"Well look at you all grown up." He grinned as he stepped back. "You grew your hair out."

"So, did you, what happened to the frosted tips?" She teased, Drew always prided himself on being up to date on the latest looks and when frosted tips came into style he jumped right on that bandwagon. Misty was very familiar with a highlight cap and some bleach.

"We don't speak of that." He warned.

"Of course." She nodded.

"So, are you back?" He asked, they both knew there was a third person that neither one wanted to mention. Instead he loomed over them like an elephant in the room.

"Just for a stopover." She shrugged casually, choosing not to mention the engagement but the ring was big enough that Drew probably had already clocked it. "Showing my friend all the sights."

"Hi." May smiled after being included in the conversation for the first time. "I'm May."

"Pleasure." Drew said, taking her outstretched hand and giving it a shake. "Drew."

"Misty you neglected to mention every man from your past is stunning." She said, lacking the usual embarrassment women have when openly talking to an attractive man.

"That's because when she left we were still awkward teens growing into our limbs." He said causing Misty to cringe.

It may have come across as a joke to May but Misty could feel the snide undertones.

"Right, I can't stay and chat. I've got to get to work." Drew said, Misty for the first time noticing he no longer dressed in clothes far to large for him but instead wore a tailored suit.

"Of course." Misty nodded, glad one of them had an excuse to get out of this encounter.

"We'll have to catch up some time, properly. And bring your friend." He said, giving May an appraising look followed by a wink. The girl preening at the look. "See you around."

"Bye." May said, Misty still a little bit shell shocked to offer more than a pathetic wave.

She dropped down heavily into her chair and took a big bite out of her tart, hoping the sugar would help settle her slightly.

"Well, if I knew that was the sort of man I was missing out on I would have insisted we came to Florida sooner." May gushed, biting her lip as she watched Drew retreat. Misty had to hand it to him, the man knew what styles worked on him.

"Wait until you see an old picture of him, even you wouldn't be able to get past the frosted tips." She teased.

"Used to have frosted tips, hardly a deal breaker now." She rolled her eyes.

"Sure." She nodded, she was sure the long distance might be a problem though. "Hurry up, we better head back to check Dawn hasn't killed Ash yet."

"Fine." May huffed, finishing the last of her coffee.

Misty knew she had wanted to avoid Ash but she decided it was better than potentially running into more faces from the past. Least she knew what to expect with Ash, she could do without any more surprises.

"You ready?" May asked, clattering her mug back to the table.

"Yep." She smiled, rising up and leading May out of the café.

"Now these frosted tips, we talking David Beckham?" May asked, linking her arm through Misty's as they walked.

"God no." Misty snorted. "Think DIY with a cap."

May's eyes widened, having flashbacks to the ill-fated ombre incident when Misty had assured her she'd dyed hair plenty of people's hair in the past.

"How many gorgeous people's hair must you ruin?" She narrowed her eyes.

"Only I can have good hair, I'm taking you all out one bad dye job at a time." She laughed.

A blonde woman across the street did a double take as she saw Misty exiting the café, the flaming red hair seemed too familiar but she couldn't truly believe it for herself until she heard that laugh. It hadn't changed in years, it was rich and full. You could tell it came from deep inside, a real place of joy.

But the question still remained, what was she doing back here? Why now after all this time?

"Mummy?" A voice whined, pulling on her hand. "We want to get the park."

"Sorry darling." The woman replied. "Just got distracted.

…

Misty and May let themselves into a surprisingly quiet house. No arguing in the living room, no moaning in the bedroom.

"My god, they actually killed each other." May gasped.

"I doubt it." Misty rolled her eyes, but at this point it wouldn't surprise her.

"Kitchen!" Ash shouted.

As much as Misty wanted to avoid Ash's girlfriend, she knew she had to be the bigger person. The pair of them walked through to the kitchen to see Ash blending ice and pouring it into a glass.

"Isn't it a bit early?" Misty rose an eyebrow, taking the drink from his outstretched hand anyway.

"Never too early for some hair of the dog." He winked at May and passed her a drink. "And in this Florida heat frozen Margheritas are a god send."

"Where's Dawn?" Misty asked, eyeing the fourth glass on the side.

"Sunbathing, as usual." He smiled, as if it were an in joke, as if he could forget Misty didn't know anything about his life now.

"I'll take it to her." May offered, she might have enjoyed the drama but she also knows when to make herself scarce.

"Everything alright now?" Misty questioned with a sip, nearly choking on the strength. She forgot how heavy-handed Ash was when it came to liquor.

"Yeah, it was a bit of a misunderstanding anyway." He shrugged, Misty had to suppress the urge to roll her eyes, having a secret wife was hardly a misunderstanding. Not that she was really one to talk.

"I'm impressed you managed to charm your way out of it." She smirked, knowing most girls would have kicked him to the curb.

"Well, it's something most adults do. They talk about their problems instead of running from them." He shot back.

Misty knew it was a low blow, delivered to get a reaction out of her and, just like all those years ago, she couldn't resist rising to the bait.

"And here I thought you preferred to solve all your problems in the bedroom." She quipped, Ash could act all high and mighty but she knew he was hardly willing to talk about their relationships either.

"Oh darling, that's not as fun unless its you." He pouted.

Before she could respond, Dawn walked into the kitchen, obviously deciding the pair had been on their own long enough.

"Hi." Dawn greeted Misty awkwardly. "I guess we should be properly introduced. I'm Dawn."

"Misty." She replied, raising her glass at an attempt at greeting. "Sorry I sort of sprung up like this."

"No, it's not your fault. Not like it's your responsibility to tell me about your relationship." She said, shooting Ash a glare that implied it wasn't as sorted as he made out.

"But it's all water under the bridge now, no chance of rekindling." Misty cringed slightly, sounded far too much like she was overcompensating. Even though it was the truth, she had no interest in starting something with Ash again, she wasn't sure it would sound that way to Dawn.

"Oh, I totally get that." Dawn nodded eagerly. "Looking at you I can see why you broke up."

"Thanks?" Misty frowned as Ash laughed loudly before heading into the garden with May.

Misty supposed she didn't belong here, her penchant for all thing's designer didn't exactly belong in Ash's rustic lifestyle. But could Dawn really see their incompatibility just from a look, opposites attract after all. She knew it wasn't an insult and yet the comment had somehow offended her.

"So, how long have you and Ash been together?" Misty attempted at conversation.

"Now he's signed you can go back to where you came from." Dawn said, obviously without Ash around there was no need for niceties.

Misty could out Ash, let his lies come back to bite him, feel satisfaction as she wiped the smug smile from Dawn's face but that just wasn't who she was. Not a woman who got pleasure from tearing others down. She'd had enough of it growing up in the shadow of her sensational sisters, she didn't need to inflict it on others.

"Yeah, just going to catch up with some friends before I head back." She shrugged, giving a better explanation as to why she would be sticking around.

"And you have to stay here to do that?" Dawn asked.

"Well, Ash offered." She grinned, hoping that seeing her everyday would irritate Ash into signing. She was going to destruct his life being back, surely to goodness.

"Right." She rose an eyebrow at Misty, clearly assessing her competition.

"Relax. It's all innocent." Misty rolled her eyes, she was welcome to him.

"It better be." Dawn warned before slipping into the garden.

Misty sighed before following her, Ash really had his work cut out with that one.

…

It was late by the time they all made it to bed, after the late night yesterday, the flight over and the emotionally draining conversations, Misty was ready to drop. Dawn had stayed until the last minute, obviously waiting for Ash to extend an invite for her to spend the night.

It had finally come to a head when Ash claimed he was tired and offered to call her a taxi. Dawn really must like him because he was hardly winning any boyfriend points at the moment.

"She wanted to stay, you know." Misty said as she climbed into bed beside Ash. This wasn't her place, this is where Dawn should be. She belonged in a four poster in Rudy's townhouse. Speaking of her fiancé, she'd manged a ten-minute conversation with him today where they had once again come to blows about wedding details before her signal dropped out. She really hated the fact Ash lived in the back of beyond.

"Who? Dawn?" He asked, getting a nod from Misty as response. "But where would she have slept?"

"Here you idiot." Misty groaned, slapping him on the shoulder.

"But you're here." He said, rolling onto his side to his back was now turned to Misty. As if he decided this conversation was too stupid for him to engage with anymore.

"I could have gone top to toe with May?" She offered. "Hell, I'd have slept on the sofa."

"You know I'd never banish my wife to the sofa." He laughed.

"Ash, this isn't a joke. You've got a girlfriend, surely that's a good enough reason to get a divorce." She groaned, she was getting those papers signed even if she had to pester night and day.

"I'm not marrying Dawn." He scoffed. "We've only been together six months."

"Well I'm not saying marry the girl tomorrow. But eventually you might want to, or maybe someone else?" If Misty was being honest Dawn didn't really seem Ash's type. Sure, she was pretty to look at but she got the impression she was quite a high maintenance girlfriend.

"It won't last a year, it never does." Ash shrugged, aiming for casual but Misty could see the blush raising up his neck.

"What do you mean?" She asked.

"Don't know, relationships never work out for me. Mum says I have trust issues or something. Who knows where I got that from?" He joked but it was hollow.

"Ash, I'm sorry." Misty swallowed thickly. "I didn't…"

"What? Didn't realise your actions would have had consequences? Ending a marriage is about two people Misty, don't forget that." He snapped.

"I'm sorry, I'm so sorry. I was selfish and I didn't think." She apologised.

"Well funnily enough a half-arsed apology isn't going to fix the issues I've been carrying around for the last decade." He shouted, Misty jumping slightly at the volume.

"Ash, please…"

"Look, Misty can we just drop it?" He sighed, reaching out to turn the light off and plunging the room into darkness.

"Sure, goodnight."

"Night." He mumbled back.

She hated to go to sleep on an argument, and Ash knew that. Many times she'd shower Ash with kisses in the dark until he relented and forgave her before going to sleep. But she could hardly do that now.

Misty shuffled until she was lying on her back, biting her lip as tears built in her eyes. She didn't want to cry, she didn't have the right to cry. She'd tainted this amazing man, taken this bright and optimistic boy and ruined him. She'd promised to love him forever but instead crushed his heart and threw it out like it had never mattered in the first place. He deserved to be happy, to feel that rush when you meet someone new and wonder if they could be the one.

But she'd taken that from him. His heart had grown hard and cold in her absence and no amount of apologies would fix that. He'd grow old, feeling bitter and alone, all because of a mistake he'd made in his youth by letting Misty into his world.

Misty tried desperately to muffle her cries but when she heard Ash curse under his breath and flip over, she knew she'd failed.

"For fucks sake." He muttered, pulling her into his arms. "How come I'm the one pissed off and yet I end up comforting you."

"I'm sorry." She cried. "I'm sorry I was such a bitch, I'm sorry I fucked you up, I'm sorry."

"Yeah, yeah. You're sorry." He scoffed, gently stroking her hair – sure fire way to calm Misty whenever she cried.

"You don't deserve to have been screwed over by me, you deserve all good things. You deserve to be happy. Please tell me you're happy Ash, I need to know you're happier without me." She begged, she needed to know she'd made the right decision for both of them all those years ago.

"Sure Misty, I'm happy." He reassured her, but even Misty could tell it was fake.

She may have only come here to get her papers signed but she wasn't leaving until Ash was happy. Be it with Dawn or some other girl, she was making sure he got his happy ending.

…