Chapter 17
Ashley-
Its been two months since Ross left for the deployment. It's been pretty hard for everyone. We all miss him so much, but of course, we'll have to get used to not having him around the house until he gets back.
But, at the moment, the kids and I are putting up the Christmas tree, because it's the first week of December.
"Mom," Annabelle says. "When was this taken?" She holds out a ornament with a picture of Ross and I on our first Christmas together.
"That's your dad and I," I smile slightly at the memory. "It was our first Christmas together." She smiles. "Really? You hang this on the tree every year?"
"Yeah," I smile. "And there's this one," I hold another ornament out to her of her first Christmas. "And this was your first Christmas with us."
"Yeah," Carter takes it from my hand. "One of the best Christmases ever." He kisses Annabelle's cheek softly, walking over to hang it on the tree, and I can't help but smile at the two.
Jewel starts to babble from her bounceseat, so I walk over to her, crouching down, handing her one of the plastic ball ornaments. I smile, Standing back up, hanging the rest of the ornaments on the tree with the kids. Once we're done, the phone rings.
"Hello?" I greet. "Ash? Um," I hear Ryland's voice on the other end.
"Ry? What's wrong?" I ask frantically. Worst case scenario, Ross could've not lived. "It's.... it's Ross."
"Oh my god," I breathe. "What happened?"
"He got a minor injury," he tells me. "But, they said he'd be okay."
"O-okay," I say shakily, and suddenly, everything goes black.
Carter-
Annabelle and I hang the last of the ornaments on the tree, and suddenly, we hear a thump from just outside the living room. My eyes widen as I run to see Mom laying on the ground, passed out.
"Mom!" I call her name, and her eyelids open, her eyes meeting mine. "C?"
"Yeah, it's me, Mom," I say. "Let's go sit in the living room." I help Mom up, and Annabelle's eyes widen as we walk in sitting on the couch.
"What happened?" I ask softly, holding Mom's hand in mine. "Your dad has a minor injury. But he'll be okay they said."
I nod. "How's your head?"
Ashley-
"It's alright," I say. "Belle, could you grab me some ice from the freezer?" She nods s she quickly walks out.
She comes back a minute or so later, and I lean back on the cushion, placing the ice pack on it behind my head.
"You want me to feed Jewel?" Carter asks. I bite my lip. "If you wouldn't mind hun." He nods, smiling, taking her out of her bounceseat, taking her into the kitchen with him to warm up the bottle.
~~~
"Ross?!" I ask frantically into the phone. We get one call to him until he comes home.
"Baby," he says on the other end. "I missed your voice. But I'm okay. Promise."
"You pinky promise?" I smile slightly at my silly antic, and Ross chuckles. "Yeah, pinky promise. How is Jewel?"
"Good," I reply. "But missing her daddy, of course."
Ross-
Being across the world - in Iracc - from Ashley and the kids is getting to be really hard. But it's pretty brutal out here. Planes everywhere, and watching people die from above is just hard.
I chuckle. "I assume so. How are C and Belle?"
"They're missing you," Ash tells me. "Mostly C though." I sigh longingly. "Tell them I love them, okay? I gotta go, I love you so much. Never forget that."
Ashley-
"Love you too, Ross." We hang up, and I can't help but blink away my tears, but let out a watery smile to myself just because of his voice.
"Was that Dad?" Carter walks into our bedroom, and I nod.
"Yeah," I tell him, wiping my stray tears. "He says to tell you that he loves you." He nods, but I see tears fill his eyes as he comes to sit with me on the bed, leaning against me.
"I-I miss him, Mom," he cries softly. "I know, I do too babe. But time will fly by, don't worry." I run a hand through his blonde hair, soothing him.
"Mom?" He looks up at me, and I look down at him.
"Yea?"
"Never forget, that I love you, okay?"
---
Hey hey!
Sorry for not updating in so long! Blame it on school ugh haha
Do you think Ross will live to come home?
Leave your thoughts! :D
Love you all,
~Ashley xx
YOU ARE READING
As Time Goes By - MHB Sequel - Ross Lynch/R5 Fanfic
FanfictionRoss and Ashley have been married for several years now, with their ups and downs. And now with Carter and Annabelle getting older, they're starting to notice it more. What will happen with their marriage? What will the kids do? Sequel to My Half Br...
