Forever & Always || Redlyn

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Big Red had only met up with Ashlyn once more after their last meeting before she finished the tour's run, for Hazel's first birthday. Now the tour was over, and Big Red was counting down the hours before he needed to pick Ashlyn up from the airport. It was early in the morning, and he was supposed to pick her up around 4:00 p.m.

"Are you excited?" He asked Hazel in a baby voice, despite the fact she couldn't answer or understand. "Momma's coming home." He couldn't help but grin. He heard a knock on the door. "Coming!" He walked over and opened it to Ashlyn beaming, who immediately hugged him.

"I'm back!"

"Good morning!" He laughed and hugged her back. "Did our plans change?"

"Plane landed early. Just decided to surprise you." She smiled.

"This is amazing, um... well, how are you feeling?" He asked, sitting down at their table. She sat across from him.

"I'm so exhausted." She said. "But really excited to be here."

"Wanna lie down?"

"Yeah." She nodded and walked to their room before flopping onto their bed. "I miss this bed." She mumbled, hugging her pillow.

"I miss you being beside me." He laid by her.

"Me too." She wrapped him in a huge hug and put her head on his chest. "I love you."

"I love you too." He kissed the top of her head a few times and started messing with her hair. She giggled, making him smile. "This feels so right."

"Mhm." She nodded in agreement, closing her eyes.

"Tired?"

"Yeah. It's hard to sleep on a plane."

"Sleep now."

"Mhm..."

"Hey, go back to sleep." Ashlyn whispered around midnight that night. "I've got her." She continued, referring to Hazel, who was crying.

"No, I wanna stay up." Big Red stubbornly declined, smiling.

"Why?" She got back in bed, trying to soothe Hazel.

"Because it's what we would always do."

"And then someone would end up asleep anyway." She pointed out.

"I don't care. Even if I fall asleep, it'll be like normal. An accident. Or because you finally convince me to maybe sleep."

"But you've spent all your time watching Hazel. You need sleep."

"This is family time then." He sat up. She sighed, but smiled.

"I'd argue but you're being super sweet and I do love spending time with you." She kissed his cheek.

"I just want things to be normal."

"Hey, nothing's normal. But I get that." She put her arm around him. "You didn't really like it alone, did you?"

"It was fine." He shrugged the question off. She raised an eyebrow. "It didn't feel right." He admitted. "Not coming home to you. Hazel crying in the night wasn't somewhat fun, it was hard. Obviously I'm infinitely proud of you and happy you had a good time. It was just so weird to be away from you constantly."

"Oh, I'm sorry..." She leaned her head onto his. "I really, really missed you."

"It's fine. I sound over dramatic. It wasn't that bad."

"No, but I get it."

"Love you." He kissed her cheek. "Now convince me to sleep please, I only slept a few hours last night."

"Why?"

"Hazel and excitement."

"Okay. Well... then you need sleep." She held his hand and he laid down. "G'night hon."

"Goodnight." He fell asleep with a small smile on his face.

"Good morning." Big Red enveloped Ashlyn in a hug, noticing she was awake before him. "How long have you been up?"

"Few hours."

"Hazel?"

"Nope. Just a habit." She shrugged. "I've gotten used to not sleeping in."

"Come on, lie down." He pulled her into a lying position, cuddling with her. "Let's rest."

"Mhm..." She held his hand under the covers. "I love you."

"I love you too." He kissed her forehead, beginning to mindlessly play with her hair. "Quiet or wanna watch something?"

"Movie?"

"Yeah, sure." He grabbed the remote and put something on. Ashlyn sat up to watch, before shifting and trying to get him to play with her hair again. When he didn't, she finally gave into asking. She would never ask him in the past, thinking it was more meaningful if it was something he chose to do, but now she really missed it.

"Hon?"

"Yeah?"

"Can you keep—"

"Sure." He nodded, interrupting her and starting to play with her hair again.

"You knew?" She furrowed her eyebrows.

"Of course. You always look so happy. And sometimes I don't realize you want me to until we're apart or something."

"Oh, that's so sweet..." She turned to kiss him before turning her attention to the movie. He smiled.

The movie ended and Ashlyn looked at Big Red, who was fast asleep. She smiled to herself and kept leaning against him for a few minutes, before sitting up. "Biggie, wake up." She whispered, causing him to groan.

"Why?"

"Salt Lake, hon." She reminded him. "Dinner, home, all that."

"What time is it?" He yawned.

"It's 10, we should get driving soon."

"Mkay." He sat up.

"Love you."

"Love you too." He kissed her cheek. She smiled and got up to get ready.