赤裸裸的滑稽故事

Three days had passed since the remembrance feast.

As much as Caleb wanted to give Ashleigh and her family time to mourn together, they had stayed away from Summer for far too long. To his surprise, Ashleigh agreed right away to return home.

“I am sorry to see you leave, darling,” Corrine said as she pulled Ashleigh into a warm embrace.

“I'm sorry to leave you too, mom,” Ashleigh smiled, hugging her mother tightly. “I have really missed getting to see you every day.”

“We all have our burdens to bear,” Corrine smiled.

Ashleigh smiled and then gave Corrine a serious look.

“Are you sure you will be, ok?” Ashleigh asked. “I know what Axel plans to do. Personally, I think he should wait. At least a month or two.”

Corrine nodded.

“I understand your concern,” she replied with her gentle smile. “But I am the one that first suggested this plan to him.”

“But that was before,” Ashleigh said gently.

“Yes,” Corrine nodded sadly, “but everything was before.”

Ashleigh sighed.

“Life, whether mine, yours, or Axel's, doesn't stop just because we lost Wyatt,” Corrine said. “He is with the Goddess now, with no worries or troubles. But the rest of us must move forward and continue as we always have.”

“It's ok to take a break,” Ashleigh whispered.

“Yes,” Corrine nodded, “and I will when there is time. But right now, my Valkyries need me to focus on the here and now.”

Ashleigh let out a soft sigh.

“Autumn's actions against us are an indirect declaration of war. One we will not ignore,” Corrine stated, a soft growl in her words.

Ashleigh nodded in understanding.

Part of the reason she had agreed so readily to return to Summer was because of this exact thing. Winter needed to push back against Autumn. And Summer and all the rest of their allies needed to prepare to do so at any moment.

“None of us will let them get away with what they did, mom, none of us.”

Corrine nodded.

“Ash, Corrine,” Caleb greeted them as he carried the bags to the car. “I hate to rush this mother-daughter moment, but we must get on the road as soon as possible.”

“Of course, dear,” Corrine smiled.

“Where's Axel?” Ashleigh asked, looking around.

“I saw him on my way from saying goodbye to Bell and Galen,” Caleb said, “I think he was on his way to the hospital.”

“Oh,” Ashleigh replied with some disappointment.

Caleb glanced at Corrine, who gave him a nod letting him know that she had this covered before he moved away toward the car.

“Alice is being released this morning,” Corrine said.

“I figured,” Ashleigh replied without looking at her mother.

“Are you still upset about it?” Corrine asked.

Ashleigh sighed.

“I don't know,” she replied honestly.

“Tell me,” Corrine said gently, touching Ashleigh's shoulder comfortingly.

Ashleigh took a deep breath.

“I still don't know if she is trustworthy,” Ashleigh began. “And I still have questions about her time in Autumn and with Granger.”

“Both valid concerns,” Corrine nodded.

Ashleigh looked away. Her mind drifted over her memories of Axel in the last few months, especially over the last few days.

When he had taken up the mantle of Alpha, she was concerned. She didn't know if he could handle it all on his own. That was why she and Wyatt had done so much around him. But that had been a mistake. Axel was more than they had given him credit for.

He had grown into someone almost unrecognizable. Gone was the shame and the self-doubt he had carried for so long. His childishness was still present but had evolved from petulant to playful.

He was a new man, and according to him, it was all related to Alice. To recovering his memories and finding her again.

Wyatt's death was an open wound for all of them, but Axel had hardly allowed himself to feel it in those first days. Instead, choosing to busy himself and push back against the reality of his grief. It wasn't until the remembrance that things changed.

Ashleigh had seen him taking Alice back to the hospital. She had no idea what they had talked about, but whatever it was seemed to have left him lighter.

Ashleigh took another deep breath through her nose.

“I'm not ready to face Alice being a part of our lives now,” Ashleigh sighed. “But I can acknowledge that what they share is real, and Axel is better for it… at least for now.”

“It's a good start,” Corrine smiled.

“I still don't like it,” Ashleigh said softly.

Corrine chuckled.

“We all deserve a chance to prove ourselves. Regardless of the mistakes we have made,” Corrine said softly. Giving Ashleigh a look that implied she meant the comment to be about her.

Ashleigh furrowed her brows.

Corrine nodded toward Caleb. Ashleigh glanced back and closed her eyes.

“I'm never going to live it down, am I?” she sighed.

“Darling, you pushed away the man you loved for a duty you placed on yourself, and then again in hopes of avoiding a war that is happening anyway,” Corrine smiled. “No, you will never live it down. But at least we can laugh about it now.”

“If it helps,” Caleb's voice whispered in Ashleigh's mind. “I no longer care about the past, only our future.”

Ashleigh smiled.

“Oh Goddess,” Corrine rolled her eyes. “You two having this mind link is really quite irritating.”

Caleb chuckled, and Ashleigh laughed.

“In all seriousness,” Corrine said, touching Ashleigh's arms gently. “Alice deserves a chance to prove herself to us. Not just for Axel, but for Wyatt as well.”

Ashleigh looked away and nodded.

“I will try,” she said softly.

***

It was almost sundown when they reached Summer. Fiona waited for them at the steps. She held Ashleigh close, whispering her condolences.

After a light dinner together, Fiona left them to settle back in. Reminding Caleb that his day would start even earlier than he was used to in order to get him caught up with all the reports of movement from Autumn and unknown sources.

Returning to their bedroom, Ashleigh realized just how tired she actually felt as she crawled onto their bed and laid back.

“It's good to be home,” she sighed.

Caleb chuckled as he set their bags beside the couch. He moved over to the bed, standing between her legs and looking down at his wife.

“Come on,” he said. “Let's get you in the shower so you can get into bed.”

“But I'm already in bed,” she whined playfully.

Caleb laughed and reached his hands out to her; she took them but remained on her back as he tried to help her up.

“I just want to cuddle you and sleep. I'll shower in the morning,” she said with a pout.

Caleb smiled and raised a brow.

“But I'm not getting in bed yet,” he said.

Ashleigh pouted dramatically.

“I'm getting in the shower,” he said with a hungry smile. “With you.”

Ashleigh smiled and bit her lower lip.

“Why didn't you say that from the beginning?” she whispered.

Caleb laughed and pulled up on her hands. This time Ashleigh allowed him to pull her up. She wrapped her arms around his neck and lifted her legs to wrap at his waist.

Ashleigh gave him a playful smile before leaning forward and pressing her lips to his. Their kiss was gentle and filled with warmth. Ten days apart, and then a week of mourning.

Her heart still ached for her loss, but it also longed for the connection she shared with Caleb.

They deepened the kiss together, each craving more, needing more. Ashleigh felt the familiar heat rising through her body and pouring into him.

Caleb ran his hand up her spine and into her hair, gripping just enough to make her gasp. Then, he pulled his mouth away from hers and trailed kisses down her exposed throat.

“I missed you,” Ashleigh whispered in a husky voice.

“I missed you, too,” he whispered against her throat.

Caleb dropped his hand from her hair and held tightly to her as he carried her toward the bathroom.

“I think you might be late for your meetings tomorrow,” Ashleigh whispered as they entered the bathroom.

“I plan on it,” Caleb growled. Closing the door behind them.