Forever & Always || Redlyn

Touring

"Ashlyn!" Big Red ran over to Ashlyn and enveloped her in a hug. "I love you baby."

"I love you!" She hugged him tightly.

"I missed you so, so much." He squeezed her and kissed her cheek. "It's been too long." He whined.

"I know." She agreed, tearing up.

"You were amazing, though." He said, as she had finished the show shortly before they met up.

"Thank you." She mumbled gratefully into his shoulder. They sat down. "How've you been?"

"I've been fine." He rubbed her back. "How 'bout you?"

"Exhausted, but having fun." She smiled and kissed his cheek.

"That's amazing." He smiled slightly.

"So who's with Hazel?"

"EJ. I thought about bringing her so you could see her, but... now wasn't really the time. Kinda needed a break." He told her.

"Oh, okay." She nodded.

"Did you want me to bring her?"

"No, no, it's fine." She shook her head. "I get it, breaks are good."

"They are." He smiled.

"Did me leaving overwhelm you?"

"Not at— honestly, a little. But it'll be alright." He shrugged.

"Okay." She put her hand on his cheek and kissed him. He kissed her back then smiled.

"Thanks again EJ." Big Red said, taking Hazel out of EJ's arms. "Really appreciate it."

"Of course, any time." He smiled.

"I should get going home." He responded, starting to leave EJ's place to his car.

"Goodbye."

"Bye!"

"This would be 10 times better, if not easier, if your mom was here." Big Red mumbled as he picked up a crying Hazel in the middle of the night. "You look just like her." His eyes watered while he adjusted to make both of them comfortable. "Shh..."

He had had so much trouble with Hazel without Ashlyn. Sometimes it was fine, but the added thought of how long she would be gone made it harder. Plus, he was up every night trying to get Hazel to sleep.

"If I cry will it make you stop?" He joked. "Because I might cry either way." A few tears rolled down his face. "I'm glad you don't really know her yet. You'd miss her so much."

Ashlyn laid down on her stomach, flopping onto her small bed. She shoved her face in the pillow, sighing. She slowly started crying. "Just... 8 more months..." She whispered to herself.

She loved performing, and she had become friends with some of the cast, but when they weren't together or on stage, she struggled to consistently stay happy. Sometimes she felt fine, sometimes great, but likely upset and homesick.

She called Big Red, hoping he was free to talk. He almost never called her, unsure when she was busy. She called him from time to time, but often was busy.

"Ash!"

"I miss you." She replied simply.

"I miss you too hon."

"How do I keep doing this without you here?" She asked. "I mean, it's really fun, but I really miss you baby."

"I miss you too. Like, a lot."

"How's Hazel?"

"She's fine." He said. "I guess she doesn't realize the best person ever's gone."

"The best person is spending time with her."

"It's so hard, honestly." He sighed.

"You've got it sweetie."

"I know. You've got this too, you're doing amazing."

"Thanks." She sighed. "I have to go."

"Oh. Bye."

"Bye."

Many months passed. Only a few months were left in Ashlyn's run. She had started to get used to being away from home more and was enjoying it significantly more. Big Red was getting used to being without her, but didn't like it. He was impatient, and she was too.

Big Red occasionally attended some of her shows, trying to see her whenever he could. This night, he came. "Hey!"

"Love!" Ashlyn ran over. "Aww, and Hazel!"

"I thought you'd want to see her." He set her down in Ashlyn's arms.

"You thought right." She smiled, leaning against him and looking at Hazel.

"Great." He sat down, resulting in her doing the same. She put her head on his shoulder. "I especially figured I should bring her, considering she's getting so big. Almost 1."

"She's growing so quickly."

"She walked for the first time the other day..."

"Oh." She frowned. "I'm the worst mom ever."

"No you aren't." He hugged her from behind, gently kissing her neck a few times. "You're doing your dream, and you won't miss much more. We're raising her together."

"I missed a year of her life."

"Maybe it isn't ideal. You won't have the memories, but neither will she. It's not bad for her that you're gone."

"Okay, maybe it isn't. But I still left you to raise her for a year. Average mom, bad wife." She whispered.

"No. No you aren't." He said definitively, his eyes watering. "Don't say that."

"But—"

"There isn't a but. You're one of the best things that's ever happened to me. And everyone who loves you, I'm sure." He said.

"Okay, maybe you think I'm great, but that doesn't make me a good wife."

"If you're great, you're a great wife. Easy." He kissed her head. "I promise. I miss you for a reason."

"I miss you too." She hugged him with one arm, making sure to support Hazel with the other. "I love you so, so much."

"I love you too." He hugged her.