It had been at least two years since Ashyln made the trip back home, so she couldn’t wait to see the look on both of her parent’s faces once they realized she was there. It only took her Dad a second to spot her in the car, which was why he was so happy to call out to his wife that they had company. Monica quickly dried her hands before making her way outside. The second she noticed the car was full, she got a bit teary eyed. Ashlyn quickly got out to head over and give her Dad a hug before giving her Mom a hug as well. “Why didn't you tell us, you were coming!” She asked. “Because I wanted to surprise you guys!” Ashlyn replied. “I swear you’re worse than your father.” She turned her attention to Deshawn giving him a quick hug before smiling over at Kyleigh. “Kyleigh, it’s bout time that we met.” Despite this being their first time meeting, she wasted little time hugging Kyleigh as well. “And you must be Stephon. Wow. Nice work, Ash.” Ashlyn could feel her cheeks flush over at her Mother’s words, but still had a smile nonetheless. “Mom…” She groaned. “I’m sorry.. I’m sorry. It’s nice to meet you both.” Derrick gave everyone a quick wave as he made his way over to the car to see if there were any bags he could help with. 

Ashlyn wasn’t surprised to see that the house was spotless, her Mother was a bit of an OCD freak. She could remember plenty of times getting in trouble over the simplest things of leaving her shoes by the door. Over time she eventually learned to just go with the flow, and now slowly, but steady, she was picking up on her Mother’s habits as well. When Derrick came into the house, he looked over already expecting to see his pause game off, but still sighed out of annoyance. He made sure to place all the bags in his hand by the stairs, looking over at Stephon with a smile when the game was mentioned. “I’ve been hooked since I was a teenager.” He admitted. “I don't understand why you have to buy the game every single year though. Isn’t it the same thing?” Monica asked as she brought over a glass of sweet tea for Kyleigh. “No, it’s not the same every year. Updated rosters, new rookies. Not to mention the special edition copies.” Derrick had every intention of grilling Stephon a bit, but that could wait. “You wanna hop on the game? I got an extra controller.” Ashlyn took a seat next to Kyleigh, her eyes on the screen as she watched her father place the channel back to its original.

(TXT): that’s only because you started teasing me first, so I had to get payback somehow.

Ashlyn had a feeling there was something Mary was up to that she wasn’t telling her, but since she had no proof, she decided to let it go — at least for now that is.

Ashlyn loved that her father was so protective of her. Well she did love it when she was a little girl. However now that she was grown and out of the house, she sometimes wished he would have a little more faith in her. That might have been why she started to gravitate to her Mother more, because she treated her as an adult, and not some teenager. However now that she was listening to Stephon, she was starting to feel a little silly for even feeling that way in the first place. After all, she was his one and only child. “I just don’t want him to make you feel uncomfortable.” She replied, smiling at his following words. “You’re right. I’m tripping over nothing.” She leaned in to kiss him softly against his lips before turning her focus on Kyleigh. She wasn’t sure why Tyson hadn’t wanted to tag along as well, maybe because he still felt she hated him, which couldn’t have been further from the truth. The second Kyleigh and Tyson mended their relationship, whatever beef she had with him was long forgotten. 

It had been at least two years since Ashyln made the trip back home, so she couldn’t wait to see the look on both of her parent’s faces once they realized she was there. It only took her Dad a second to spot her in the car, which was why he was so happy to call out to his wife that they had company. Monica quickly dried her hands before making her way outside. The second she noticed the car was full, she got a bit teary eyed. Ashlyn quickly got out to head over and give her Dad a hug before giving her Mom a hug as well. “Why didn't you tell us, you were coming!” She asked. “Because I wanted to surprise you guys!” Ashlyn replied. “I swear you’re worse than your father.” She turned her attention to Deshawn giving him a quick hug before smiling over at Kyleigh. “Kyleigh, it’s bout time that we met.” Despite this being their first time meeting, she wasted little time hugging Kyleigh as well. “And you must be Stephon. Wow. Nice work, Ash.” Ashlyn could feel her cheeks flush over at her Mother’s words, but still had a smile nonetheless. “Mom…” She groaned. “I’m sorry.. I’m sorry. It’s nice to meet you both.” Derrick gave everyone a quick wave as he made his way over to the car to see if there were any bags he could help with. 

For the longest time Ashlyn had been dreading Stephon meeting her parents, however the moment they confessed their love to one another, whatever fear she might have had before instantly disappeared in a blink of an eye. She still wasn’t sure how to feel about the possibility of her father embarrassing her, but regardless she was actually looking forward to everyone meeting. She wanted them to love him just as much as she did. “We gotta go to Boston next.” She replied. Mostly because she was beyond curious to see Aunt’s Joan diner and the place her bestie called home. “Nah, I’m born and raised from Atlanta. I don’t know why the hell my Uncle picked Denver of all places to live.” He replied, chuckling as he glanced over at Kyleigh. “Easy. To get far away from you.” Ashlyn teased. “You a lie, I’m his favorite nephew.” Dee replied. “You’re his ONLY nephew.” She said with a roll of her eyes. “Still favorite though.” As they continued to walk through the airport, Deshawn let it be known that he had thought ahead to rent a car, and everyone could wait outside while he grabbed the keys.

Ashlyn loved that her father was so protective of her. Well she did love it when she was a little girl. However now that she was grown and out of the house, she sometimes wished he would have a little more faith in her. That might have been why she started to gravitate to her Mother more, because she treated her as an adult, and not some teenager. However now that she was listening to Stephon, she was starting to feel a little silly for even feeling that way in the first place. After all, she was his one and only child. “I just don’t want him to make you feel uncomfortable.” She replied, smiling at his following words. “You’re right. I’m tripping over nothing.” She leaned in to kiss him softly against his lips before turning her focus on Kyleigh. She wasn’t sure why Tyson hadn’t wanted to tag along as well, maybe because he still felt she hated him, which couldn’t have been further from the truth. The second Kyleigh and Tyson mended their relationship, whatever beef she had with him was long forgotten. 

@lunarruled gets a starter<3

For the longest time Ashlyn had been dreading Stephon meeting her parents, however the moment they confessed their love to one another, whatever fear she might have had before instantly disappeared in a blink of an eye. She still wasn’t sure how to feel about the possibility of her father embarrassing her, but regardless she was actually looking forward to everyone meeting. She wanted them to love him just as much as she did. “We gotta go to Boston next.” She replied. Mostly because she was beyond curious to see Aunt’s Joan diner and the place her bestie called home. “Nah, I’m born and raised from Atlanta. I don’t know why the hell my Uncle picked Denver of all places to live.” He replied, chuckling as he glanced over at Kyleigh. “Easy. To get far away from you.” Ashlyn teased. “You a lie, I’m his favorite nephew.” Dee replied. “You’re his ONLY nephew.” She said with a roll of her eyes. “Still favorite though.” As they continued to walk through the airport, Deshawn let it be known that he had thought ahead to rent a car, and everyone could wait outside while he grabbed the keys.

Since he and Kyleigh were back on track again, Tyson had been in an amazing mood. It didn’t even bother him when Stephon cracked jokes about him. “My vitamins. I’m still a growing boy after all.” He replied. Deshawn tried his hardest not to laugh, because it was so corny, but at the same time he admired how the older man had a thick shell, and words didn’t seem to bother him. He almost cracked a joke as well, but he had caught the look Kyleigh gave Stephon, and he definitely did not want that smoke. Instead he grabbed a plate and helped himself to a blueberry waffle, and chocolate chip one as well. He loaded up with eggs before taking a seat at the table. “So, Stephon, man. You made it out to Denver to visit yet” It was a good thing Ashlyn was distracted by Kyleigh, because she probably would have given her cousin a look at the mention of her hometown. Of course she wanted to bring him around her childhood home, but only when the time was right. Tyson grabbed a plate for himself, loading up on the fruit and a waffle. He wasn’t paying attention at all about the conversation going on behind them. “My Uncle can be a bit of a hard ass, but he’s cool. My aunt is awesome.” He said as he went on speaking. 

Despite the fact Ashlyn’s Mother hadn’t met Stephon yet, he already had her seal of approval. She had taken note of how happy her daughter had been as of late, but more importantly how close they have become as well. She was always a little jealous of the relationship Ash shared with her father, mostly because whenever she needed advice about anything, anything at all she would go to him first. Now she was starting to open up to her Mother more, also call her more as well which had Monica over the moon. As far as Derrick went, he just wanted what was best for Ash, and it did help him sleep better at night knowing she had a dependable guy in her corner. Ashlyn yawned as she took one final sip of her orange juice, not realizing how tired she had started to become until that very moment. She might have had it all planned out where Stephon would take a nap, but at the rate she was going, she would definitely need to join him as well.