We all sat around Ashe as she cried over the news of her missing daughter. Everyone pushed aside the dissapearance of the mayor and focused on Lexi. Orga showed everyone else the newest memo in the agenda that we had found so we were all sure that he was in on this. That sick bastard. When Ashe finally calmed down, she finished the tea that Rufus had given to her so we took this as the best time to ask.
"Ashe, I know this is hard on you, this is hard on all of us, but we need your help." She looked up at Sting and shook her head, her matted hair flying everywhere.
"No, I need to focus on Lexi right now." Her eyes started to water again but she wiped them away and looked down at the empty cup in her hands.
"Ashe," I walked over and kneeled down in front of her. I grabbed her hands and when she looked at me I continued, "We have a feeling that her disapearance is linked with the mayors. Please Ashe, to save Lexi you need to help us." She stared at me for the longest time before she nodded.
"What do I need to do?" Her voice was so hoarse from crying and running all the way here that it was more like a whisper. I squeezed her hands in reassurance and smiled at her.
"You just need to help us get to and around Pateo." She sighed knowing she'd regret going back there, but also knowing it was the only way to help Lexi.
"Alright, I'll help you." This time she whispered it intentionally, still not wanting to go back.
"Hey guys, how's the search go-" Illiana walked back in and stared at us all hovered around the couch. "What's going on?"
"The search is fine. Is there something you need?" Sting asked, avoiding her original question. I stood up and joined the conversation.
"I was just checking in to see if you found anything new." Her eyes kept drifting towards Ashe who was still sitting on the couch, just staring at the cup.
"Actually yes, we're headed to our newest destination now to look there." I told her which caused her eyes to gleam with hope.
"Alright, well I'll go get my stuff and-"
"No, we really don't need you to help. We have enough people as it is." She turned towards Sting and glared at him, confused as to why we wouldn't need her.
"But I hired you. I should be able to go." Illiana stepped towards Sting, trying to intimidate him, which was failing considering her height.
"I understand you want to go but we already have six people, which is enough."
"I'm going. Whether you like it or not." With that she turned around and stomped out of the office.
"Ugh, that was difficult." Ashe laughed a bit when Sting complained which caused us all to smile, happy that she was feeling at least a bit better.
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"What you'll want to do is turn right up here and then you-" Ashe was giving the driver directions to the next town, since it wasn't on any general maps she had to make her own. When she got in the cart with the rest of us, Frosch and Lector sat on her lap and she made my head lean against her shoulder, knowing I'd be sick in a few minutes anyway. Sting fell back and collapsed onto Yukino's lap where she left him and rubbed his head as we drove. Orga was just about to say something before I toppled over from my dreaded motion sickness.
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"Wake up you bum, we're here." Ashe pushed me off her shoulder and I woke up quickly. We must've been in there for at least five hours considering how dim it was outside. Hopping out of the cart I automatically noticed the small town around me. It brought me back to my childhood, before Sabertooth. I could practically see Ashe and Frosch running down the street and heading to our favorite bakery. I smiled reminiscing my favorite times when something hit me in the back of the head.
"Heads up." Sting was tossing our luggage from the hotel over the side to its owner. I grumbled and picked up my bag that was now on the floor. I looked over at Ashe and she was looking over the town with a small smile playing on her lips. "It's getting late, where are we going to stay? I don't see any hotels around here."
"That's because there aren't here. Come on, follow me." Ashe flung her bag over her shoulder and started walking. We followed behind and I already knew where we were going.
"Why couldn't we have taken the carriage? It's so far." Illianan was starting to complain which caused Ashe to 'huff' in annoyance. Without answering she continued walking, but at a much faster pace. When we finanlly got to our destination, Ashe went to the gate and punched in a code. Once she finished, the gates to Spade Estates opened and we followed Ashe inside. She unlocked the door to the large house and put her bags by the door, we followed suit and I instinctually walked to the living room.
"Brings back memories, huh?" She gave me a smile and I nooded, taking in the familiar settings.
"This is your old house?" Rufus looked around before taking a seat on the couch and she nodded. "So, can I assume that you guys were well off?"
"Yes you can. My father owned a railroad company and my mother's father had some oil farms around." Rufus just nodded in understadning as he took in the house. Everyone seemed so suprised to know she had money.
"Hey, this girl looks kinda like that girl from Fairy Tail... Lucy, right?" Orga picked up a picture and showed everyone who agreed to the resemblance.
"Oh, that's Jude and Layla Heartfillia. They were really close to my parents." She picked up the picture and stared at the four people smiling lovingly.
"So you and Lucy were close?'
"Somewhat. We met a few times, but considering she is, or was, five years older than me we weren't really best friends." She put the picture back down and grabbed her bag from near the door. "I'll show you to your rooms." She directed everyone to their rooms, Yukino and Illiana got her sister's room, Orga and Rufus got her brother's, Sting and I went to the guest room and she took her room.
Everyone was getting settled into their rooms and I went back down to the living room, where Ashe was sitting, looking down at a picture of her family. She heard me and put the picture down, wiping away a stray tear that made its way down her face. I sat next to her and hugged her as she let a few more fall.
"This is going to kill me." She chuckled before pulling back, showing me her gorgeous eyes. Not once in all of my travels have I seen eyes like hers, so pink and happy. No matter what happens to her, she you can always see the kindness and love she has in her heart.
Ashe blushed a bit when she noticed I kept staring. She didn't flinch, just sat there as I pushed a small piece of blonde hair behind her ear and rested my hand on the back of her neck. I looked down at her lips and started to lean in, noticing she seperated them a bit. Just as our lips were about to touch, "Rogue?"
We stopped and I turned towards my little friend, "Can I have something to drink?" I turned back to Ashe and she had turned a deep shade of red. I kissed her forehead and got Frosch some water.
Hey everyone, just wanted to say thank you for reading and for those who don't know, I uploaded my one shot book! So that's out and ready for requests! Hope you enjoy!!!
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Alone No More (Rogue Cheney)
Fanfic"I-I just hate being alone." I watched as she cried, dying at the sound of her whimpers. "Who said you were alone?" I asked. The tears slowed and she looked at me with those eyes I loved. "You have me." I hugged her tight as she cried onto my robe...
