Ashley.

I can't... I can't believe it. I didn't realize I had fallen to my knees until Aiden got on the floor in front of me. Is it real? Is he real? I look over to Em, tears streaming down her cheeks, they're happy tears. I touch the hardwoods, grazing my fingers over the rough grains, it's real. I can feel everything, I'm not dreaming, but how?

"We buried you." I tell him. He nods, his face trying to look upset on my behalf for what we've been through, but I can see he's having a hard time holding back his excitement.

I throw my arms around him; he lifts me up to where we're standing. I weep into his shoulder, then my hand wonders the air for Em's hand. When she finds it I pull her in to us. Stepping back, I admire both of them. My brother is alive, my best friend. She's alive but how stupid! She really did go to Italy!

"Emilia Banks!" I try to be stern but my smile cracks through my façade, Em looks at me her eyes beaming, "You must love him so much." I cry, so thankful to her for so so many things throughout our friendship.

From breakups, to undecided majors, to failed test and helping me through not having a father to helping guide me through life. She has been the reason mine and Aiden's relationship has catapulted into something more. We barely spoke before and now we are closer.

"She's your angel." I tell him, Em blushes. Ever the girl who can't take a compliment. But that's what I love about her, brilliant, beautiful and humble. Things have been rocky in our lives and we haven't been able to spend much time together, but she is my best friend, and now my brother's protector as much as he is hers.

I look to Aiden, the sight of him taking my breath away. My body shakes as he holds my shoulders, I notice Ricky standing behind me with his hands behind my waist.

"Who took you?" Ricky ask Aiden after he shakes his hand, more words were said but I didn't catch them.

Aiden shrugs, unable to answer. I can see the bandages on his wrist, I can see the bruises. What has he gotten himself into?

But nothing, absolutely nothing compares to the overwhelming joy I feel to have them both home and safe. I am on the verge of breaking down from everything going on, but I am too elated to feel anything but happy.

I pull Aiden to the side and study his face, so many things I wanted to say to him, but it was too late. It's not anymore. "You know in that video." He nods his head, clearly guilt ridden.

"I'm sorry Ash, I just..."

"No, don't explain or apologize. I get it, you wanted all of us protected. But what you said, about how you haven't always been there for me."

He takes in a sharp intake of breath, clearly uncomfortable with such a heartfelt conversation... I don't care. "Listen, I know you didn't have it easy growing up after your mom passed. I know how shitty dad was, I'm sorry I never visited."

"I never wanted you under the same roof as him." He states, his tone cold.

"I know it was hard for you to visit me and see the interaction with my mom and me. I know you've spent your life building an empire for yourself, but this has to be it Aiden. However you're able to get out of this, you have to find a way. But I'm proud of you for how well you've done for yourself but nothing like this can ever happen again, I can't believe I'm even able to say this to you." I've reversed that in my head on multiple occasions, in the hopes that he could hear me in heaven or the insane notion that one day he would walk through the door just like this, I guess it wasn't so insane of a thought Afterall.

He smiles, slightly rolling his eyes. He's clearly uncomfortable with a heart to heart but it needed to be said. Surprisingly, I feel his arms wrap around me, "Thank you, Ash. Thank you for understanding."

I keep my arms wrapped tightly around Aiden's chest and my eyes flutter over to my smiling best friend as she watches us, gently bouncing on the balls of her feet from excitement.

Then the guilt takes over.

I hope she can forgive me for what I did.

♥️

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