Without Me

Pressure

This update is late because I'm kind of behind, meaning Clara hasn't got an update this week unfortunately. Anyway it's Em's birthday today so
yay🎊🎂 (depending on when your reading this of course). Hope you enjoy the chapter though 💕

Marshall's palms were sweaty. He never thought he'd be this nervous ever again. Sitting on the edge of the bed, while waiting for Ashley to finish getting ready, it hit him that he was going to meet the women who had really raised her. Granted Sarah did a good job but was only there for Ashley in her teenage years; from sixteen years. Miss Charles had watched Ashley blossom from a mini red-headed pixie to the beautiful fiery red-headed women she was to him now.

"You ready?" Ashley asked as she slipped into a pair of boots that she'd placed ready by the bed. Marshall nodded his words getting caught in the back of his throat. Instead, he stood up and helped her into her coat, kissing her lightly when he stepped away.

"I'mma be honest," he breathed out, whipping his hands in his trouser legs, "I am a little nervous," scrunching his eyes up, Marshall waited for the laughter, but it didn't come. He felt a hand pressed lightly to his forearm instead.

"It'll be ok I promise," Ashely reassured him, but dispute her words the nervous feeling so rolled over him, "She knows all about ya from my letters anyway," Ashley shrugged, removing her hand from his arm.

"I'm sorry letters? What letters?" He questioned, a frown settling across his features. He'd never known her to write letters ever. So this was certainly new information to him.

''We write letters to each other, I've done it ever since I moved,'' Ashley shrugged as if it wasn't such a big deal. Although Marshall felt otherwise; he was sure Miss Charles was a very trustworthy person, but if the letters got in the wrong hands then there'd be a problem, coupled with the fact he had no idea what Ashely had even written in them to start off with. He didn't say of that though, in fear that he'd make Ashley upset as it was clear she really loved her foster mother and was just so excited to see her again so instead he settled with a simple harmless comment.

''All good things I hope or we're having a word later,'' Ashley giggled, visibly relaxing before his very eyes. Thankfully that was his desired effect.

''We might be having a word then,'' she winked taking his hand, ''seriously though come on. I don't wanna be late cause even though we're grown adults she'll still tell us off,'' Marshall shook his head, following her out, he watched a little bounce made its way into her step. He was glad she was finally loosening up and getting back to the destressed Ashley he knew and loved.

+++

''Oh god, now I don't think I can do this,'' Ashley muttered, now it was her palms that were sweating. She hadn't realised that as soon as they came down the road she grew up on, she'd suddenly start to panic.

Marshall noticed the colour drain from her face as the driver pulled up outside the house. He then noticed how her hands appeared to be shaking and her knee started to bob up and down. All these symptoms told him that she was starting to become overwhelmed by the whole situation.

''Ashley,'' he whispered, bringing his left hand to rest firmly on her knee, ''everything will be fine,'' he cooed bringing his other hand over to hold onto her own.

''It's just...it's been so long Marshall. What if she doesn't think it's me. I mean we write all the time, but what if she takes one look at me and goes, 'that's not my Ashley,' what then,'' Ashley breathed in deeply before letting all the air rush out of her again.

''Ash, you're overthinking things again. I thought it was just me who was doing that today,'' Marshall placed a Kiss on her temple before removing his hands from her, ''but here's what we're gonna do, we're going  go in and then I', going to meet Miss Charles for the first time and your going to see the women who raised you. The women who made you who you are and without her I can guarantee you wouldn't be here right now with me,'' somehow, he wasn't quite sure how, but Marshall's words helped because confidence started to ooze out of Ashley again.

''Ok let's go,'' without another word Ashley unbuckled her seat belt, thanked the driver and left the car. Marshall was left to scramble out after her.

Marshall wrapped one hand around Ashley's waist as he let her ring the doorbell. She was still nervous, he could feel it in the way her body was still shaking. Trying to calm her he stroked her side gently. Although as soon as the door opened the nervous seemed to disappear as she near enough launched herself out of his grip and into that of the elderly women who stood on the side of the threshold.

''Oh Ashley my baby it's been so long. I cannot believe this is the first time that you have visited, you've had countless visits to this country,'' Marshall couldn't help but smile as he listened to Miss Charles chatter on about how Ashley had managed to get out of visiting Miss Charles over the years.

''I keep telling you we're busy, we don't usually get tourist days,'' Ashley defended herself, but Miss Charles wasn't having it.

''Well you could have snuck out. You always seemed to be good at that when you were younger, the number of times I'd go into you're room and you wouldn't be there missy,'' Miss Charles shook her head, only stopping when her gaze landed on Marshall. He swore he saw a glint in her eye as she made her way towards him.

''You must be Marshall,'' he nodded a little unsure of her next move, ''come here dear,'' a little nervous he stepped forward, what happened next shocked him, Miss Charles brought him in for a hug. A hug that he felt he didn't want to part from; it was warm and welcoming.

''I think that's enough before you suffocate him,'' Ashley was laughing softly to herself while watching the scene unfold before her.

''Oh don't be so dramatic, I'm not the strongest of people Ashley,'' Miss Charles turned around and Ashley's cheeks flared red, feeling as if she was nine years old again being told off for sneaking the last of the cookies away and into her room instead of leaving them for the new children arriving.

''Now Marshall, I'd like you to call me Catherine because I can't deal with formalities anymore unless they're my own children.''

''Wait so I still gotta call you, Miss Charles,'' Ashley exclaimed, throwing her arms up exasperation.

''Yes now let's get inside, I don't wanna hang around outside all day, otherwise the whole world and it's bloody mother will be at my doorstep soon,'' Miss Charles patted Marshall's arm gently to get him to move and he did, not wanting to argue with the elder. Ashley was left to shake her head as he grinned widely at her.

''I think she likes me,'' he whispered a wide grin forming across his face.

''Just move it,'' she muttered shoving him inside.