Forever & Always || Redlyn

Finals

It was May. Both Big Red and Ashlyn were overwhelmed with wedding preparations, simultaneously overwhelmed with finals. They had decided on November for their wedding.

"Is this good?" Big Red asked Ashlyn, showing her a picture on his phone. He was sitting on her bed, and she was doing homework at her desk.

"Uh... I guess? I don't know." She mumbled, frustrated.

"So a maybe?"

"Yeah, yep." She nodded. "Why is it so hard to memorize stuff?" She dropped her pen on the floor, annoyed.

"Take a short break."

"Okay. But make me get back up in a few minutes, because I'll procrastinate otherwise." Ashlyn sat by him.

"That's fair." He pulled Ashlyn into a hug, now partially sitting on his lap. "Will do."

"Love you." She buried her head in the nook between his shoulder and neck.

"Love you too." He smiled. They sat in silence for a few minutes. Big Red hardly wanted to interrupt the moment, but did. "Back to work?"

"Right, yeah." She sat up, yawning. She sat back down at her desk, beginning to work again.

"I think I'll head back to my dorm." He sighed. "Can't get much done while you're working, and I should probably study too."

"Oh... goodbye." She smiled at him. "I'll see you later."

A week later, they had both finished their finals. They met for a celebratory dinner, before returning to Big Red's dorm room. Lizzie wasn't there at the time, so they were alone. They weren't doing much. Ashlyn was scrolling on her phone. Big Red was tiredly lying his head on her shoulder, occasionally looking at her phone with her.

"I can go if you wanna sleep baby." She offered.

"Nope."

"Okay." She adjusted to kiss him, then readjusted to how she was sitting before. "Sleep if you'd like."

"Mhm." He smiled slightly, before falling asleep. Ashlyn smiled, kissed the top of his head, then threw a blanket over him.

"You up, sleepyhead?" Ashlyn grinned.

"Obviously." Big Red kissed her cheek, rolling his eyes. She smiled wider.

"Great. I couldn't help but notice you were awfully quiet as you slept."

He laughed. "Yeah, it happens sometimes."

"Wouldn't have guessed." She kissed him. He kissed her back, only stopping a minute later when the door started opening. Putting his arm around her instead, he smiled. "Hi Lizzie." She waved at Lizzie, who had just walked in.

"Oh hey." Lizzie replied, putting her stuff down.

"What's up Liz?"

"Eh, not much. I was at Zoe's."

"Cool." He said. Ashlyn smiled, then cuddled against him more, herself getting tired now. After a few minutes of talking, she spoke.

"I think I'll go." Ashlyn said. "Talk to you guys later." She said, gathering her things.

"You don't have to leave." Lizzie said.

"I'm just tired."

"Okay, bye."

"You still don't have to go." Big Red added. "We can chill out for awhile if you want. It's only 7, and it's supposed to rain."

"Mm... I'll stay." Ashlyn decided, setting her things back down and laying by Big Red, who smiled at her.

"Night love."

"Goodnight." After a few minutes, she fell asleep. The rest didn't last long, a storm waking her up. Actually, she could easily sleep through a storm, but Big Red had hugged her much tighter. "What's wrong?" She sat up.

"Oh, I'm fine." Big Red said. He knew it was just a thunderstorm, but his instincts didn't care. They told him to hold Ashlyn tighter. No storm was hurting her again.

"Okay." She laid her head on his chest.

"Actually..." Even if it was a white lie, he didn't want to lie. "I was just a bit startled. After the last storm and all."

"Oh. I'm right here." His chin being the only spot she could reach without moving much, she kissed it. "Nothing will happen, it's just a storm. But you'll know if I get hurt. And I'll know if you do."

"Thanks Ash." He nodded. "Go back to sleep."

"It's not a problem. I think I'll stay up though." She was, realistically, tired. But she wanted to make sure he really was calm before going back to sleep.

"Alright." They sat in a comfortable silence. Despite her trying to stay awake, Ashlyn quickly fell back asleep.

"Baby..." Big Red whispered, kissing the top of Ashlyn's head. "Wake up..." She groaned.

"Yeah?"

"Sorry I woke you, but the storm's really loud and fast... I just wanted you awake."

"It's fine." She hugged him. "Nothing's gonna happen."

"I know." He nodded. He hugged her back, sighing. "It just feels better when you're here." He paused. "And awake."

"Then I'll stay right here." She smiled.

"Thank you." He closed his eyes, breathing deeply. He focused on the sound of Ashlyn's breathing, slowly calming down.

"Better?"

"Mhm."

"Good." She rubbed his back, until they both fell back asleep.