Damaged Hearts (Norman Reedus)

Christmas Morning

Ashley's POV

After shopping we went to go take Mason to go see Santa. We had to stay in line for about 10 minutes to see him but hey shit happens. Mason surprisingly was pretty good since Norman was holding him.

"Do you want to buy the pictures?" A young woman dressed up as a elf asked.

"Nope...I'm a photographer so I'll be taking my own." Norman said.

"That will cost you $25.00." She said.

"Very well." Norman said as the line began to move.

All I could do was shake my head and laugh silence. Mingus on the other hand laughed out loud making me laugh out loud as well. Norman glared at him for a moment then smiled as he took Mason to Santa and placed him on his lap.

"Have you been a good boy this year?" The Santa Claus asked to our surprise he said a word.

"No." Mason said as we laughed within seconds Norman started snapping pictures getting Mason in his good angle.

"You seem like a good boy to me." Santa said making Mason laugh making Norman take more pictures of him. After a few minutes Mason started to get cranky and wanted to be back with Norman, so he put his camera away and took Mason from Santa.

"Come on Son." Norman said as Mingus and I looked at him and smiled. "What it works both ways." He added cocking his brow at me.

"I didn't say anything." I said cocking my brow back at him before putting my hand in his as we walked out of the Mall.

When we got back out to the Jeep and settled I started to hurt again, really bad. Norman noticed it since I had my eyes closed.

"Here..." Norman said tapping my leg making me open my eyes.

"No...I don't want it." I said.

"You need it...it's only a half, I don't like seeing you in pain...if you don't take it I don't want you coming back out with me until your completely healed." Norman said.

"But I don't want to get addicted to them...I don't want to be like my sister." I cried.

"I will help you thru it...I promise but I don't want to see you in pain...please take it for me." Norman begged.

"Fine." I said taking the half of pill from Norman and took the mountain dew and downed it before lighting a cigarette trying to relax.

Norman's POV

Ashley was out within a few minutes after smoking her cigarette. I still had a 15 minute drive and the gas needle was about empty so I pulled into the Gator gas station to get gas. Roxie pumped while Mel stayed in the jeep with Ashley and Mason.

"Do you think we over done it with her today dad?" Mingus asked.

"Either way she would have went....she's to stubborn and strong whiled for her own good...I hate telling her she can't do something." I said looking for some energy pills and found Mini-thins so I grabbed a bottle knowing I was going to need it before going to the counter.

"$20 on pump 2." I said pulling out 40 dollars to pay for my pills and gas. The young man behind the counter smiled at me and gave me 5 dollars back in change before Mingus and I left to get back to the Jeep.

Ashley was still out when we got back in. I figured I would have to take her in the house and put her to bed when we got home and I was right. She was still out when we got to the house so I had Mingus take in the stuff we bought today and place it under the tree. Mom, Jeff and Leslie was back when we got there and was already cooking. I could smell the food cooking when we walked in.