Punks Meet Flower Crowns >> Lashton AU ✔️

98. ~ Confrontation

Note: By far, the longest chapter but this is also the most emotional and eye-opening one. 

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Time: 7:58 pm.

Setting: Tomlinson Residence.

Harry: (opens door, Ashton is standing in the doorway,surprised tone) Ashton. (smiles) Hi, how are you? Haven't seen you in a long time.

Ashton: (fidgeting, obvious he wants to leave) I-Is...Are they here?

Harry: (confused) Who?

Ashton: (choked) Niall. Gemma. (weakly) Are they here?

Harry: (steps away from the doorway) In the living room with Darcy and Lou.

Ashton: (stepping in, follows Harry to the living room, everyone looks up in surprise, Darcy squeals for Ashton, Ashton automatically goes to pick her up) Hi, Ducky.

Louis: Fletch...

Ashton: (looking straight at Louis, avoids Niall and Gemma staring at him) Can I talk to them? Alone? (kisses Darcy on the temple, shaking)

Louis: (nods, moves to grab Darcy, to Harry) Let's go check out that play set for Darce that we saw at Walmart. (to Ashton, voice low) Just call and we'll come right back. (starts to leave)

Harry: (kisses Ashton on the cheek, encouraging) I'm glad you're doing this. (to Gemma and Niall) Bye, guys. (Gemma and Niall mumble low goodbyes)

Ashton: (deep breathing, turns to face Gemma and Niall, twiddles fingers) I-I'm here to say sorry.

Gemma: Ashton, you don't have to. (moves to stand, struggles because of her pregnant stomach)

Ashton: (shakes his head, motions for her to sit back down) No, please. (insistent) Let me...let me talk, please. (Gemma nods, Niall watches him carefully) I-I've been angry with you. Both of you. I was mad because I felt that you both abandoned me. You were my best friends, yeah? And I was hurt when the two of you got together. (shaking) I was so upset. I still am, a little. (gulping) But...I've been told to have courage, to come to terms with why I feel the way I do and...understand why it happened. (to Gemma) You were unhappy. I was making you unhappy. I was broken when we lost our baby girl but I didn't bother to see how badly you were suffering, too. I was selfish and angry. Then you left with...with my best mate, the lad that was my best man at our wedding and I lost it.

Gemma: (near tears, hand twitches like she wants to reach out to him) Ashton, I'm sorry. (sobs) I'm so very sorry.

Ashton: (soft) I know you are. I know that now. I'm sorry I couldn't have been a better husband to you. (to Niall) Ni, I'm sorry for acting the way I did. I just...I saw you do what I couldn't. You fixed Gem, made her smile. You made her laugh again when I couldn't. Then, your career took off and the two of you left me. (sniffling) You left me to deal with it all on my own and, yeah, I had Calum and Harry and Louis but I didn't have my brother, the boy I grew up with, who's parents took me in when my dad went to jail and my mom got sick. It took me so long...so long to get over it. (wiping away tears) I was so close to talking again, to both of you then Gem showed up pregnant and I just felt like I lost everything all over again. (crying) I freaked. I freaked out bad. If it wasn't for Luke, I'd have...I don't know what I would have done. (quiets, tries to calm himself, takes in multiple breathes, clears his throat) I wasn't ready then but I'm ready now. (small, scared) But if you're not, then I understand.

Niall: (stands, walks over to Ashton) You know I never meant to steal her from you.

Ashton: (nods, wet chuckle) Do you love her?

Niall: (soft) Yeah.

Ashton: (shakes his head) Then I can't blame you. (choked, realizing) You can't help who you love, can you?

Niall: No, mate. You can't. (quiet) I'm sorry, Ash.

Ashton: (low, small smile but it's genuine) I know. I forgive you. It's okey.

Gemma: (starts to stand, Niall quickly moves to help her, smiles at Niall, love in her eyes, shifts her gaze to Ashton) We're having a boy.

Ashton: (heart pounds, eyes wide, tries to keep his breathing steady) That's...that's awesome. (nearly hysterical) That's wonderful.

Niall: (holds Ashton's head to his, presses his forehead to Ashton's) Breathe. Just breathe, Ash.

Ashton: (closes his eyes, nods, breathes steadily) When's he due?

Gemma: August. (moves closer, wraps one arm around Ashton, the other around Niall, both men do the same, they form a small circle) We were hoping you would be the godfather.

Ashton: (crying, smiling) Me? (looks at Niall) Are you serious? Even after everything?

Niall: (kind) You are my brother, Ashton.

Ashton: (wipes his tears, choked but happy) Of course. Of course, I will. (small giggle, eyes glistening, grinning) What do you guys plan on naming him?

Niall: (glances at Gemma, grins) Ashton James. (tightens his grip on Ashton's shoulder) After his godfather.

QOTD: How has Ashton shown growth from the beginning of the chapter up until this moment?