Ashley It seemed like so long since he had seen and spent time with Tommy and just Tommy. They both were so wrapped up it felt like, in their own romances. It was nice to finally sit back and hang out once more. Sitting in a hammock, he let the wind rock him as he waited for Tommy to find him there on the beach. Shifting some, he smiled as he knew why his back was sore and it was only in the best way possible.

Tommy hurried toward the hammocks with his odd little hop skip that made him easily distinguished from a distance by anyone who knew him. He was going faster than usual because he was meeting up with Ashley. The two hadn't had much time to spend together. Everything with Eddie had was so new and so addictive, but he knew that as much as he wanted to be with his boyfriend all the time keeping and nurturing friendships was really important to. He came up to the hammock with a giant smile on his face. "Scoot over, goober, I wanna cuddle with my friend."

Ashley chuckled as he saw him coming. Seeing Tommy there, he looked...well, he looked happy. Like extremely happy. "Hmm I'll think about it, let me sleep on it." Ashley teasing of course as he rolled over and let him join him there on the hammock. Once Tommy laid down, Ash was quick to hug him. "So how are you, Mister Eddie's boo thang?"

Tommy laughed as he pulled off the big brace and settle in next to Ashley. He blushed brightly as he knocked shoulders with Ashley. "Hey! I don't know you tell me Sam's, what the heck did you call it? ... Sam's boo thang." He teased right back before settling back into the hug.

Ashley chuckled. "Well its big, I mean, he's big." Chuckling. "I love it, its amazing. I've waited for all this since we were young and its crazy to have it, you know? I loved Tj, I did but how I felt about Sam was always there." Kissing his hair softly. "You didn't answer me though, how are things? You seem so happy now. Like really happy."

Tommy smiled curling into his friend's side. "I'm so happy for you dude. Also.." He coughed and tipped his head to look up at Ashley. "I told you so." He had always said that there was something... someone special out there for his friend. He blushed a little again. "It's... it's really great. He's great. I.." Tommy paused and bit his lip. "I love him."

Ashley rolled his eyes. "I know and I said the same for you, so told you so too." Hearing him say it, seeing his face, Ashley's face lit up as he rolled away with a laugh. "I knew it! I knew you could fall in love again and I knew it was going to be Eddie. I saw that coming."

Tommy playfully nipped at Ashley's nose like an unruly puppy. "Ok, ok..." he pulled back at Ashley's next words. "You did? How? Why? I didn't."

Ashley nodded, holding him once more. "Yeah, I did. Because what he needed is what you are, I couldn't ever be that person for him. I care about him and I really liked Eddie but I needed something he couldn't do, so yeah. Just spent enough time with you and him to know, you were good for each other."

Tommy bit his lip again. "I never would have... I wasn't trying to take him or.. or be... You know I'm not like that right?" He had been worried when things started really happening with Eddie, hell he'd worried when he first slept with Eddie that he'd hurt his friend. "So tell me about Sam. When did you guys meet?"

Ashley held his cheek. "Stop okay? Just stop, I know you didn't and you didn't. I know you didn't take him or use him. I was just filling the space until you both saw it. I was never upset, just happy for you. Plus, he doesn't keep you from me like others did." Not mentioning names. "What do you want to know about him? Oh, well we met in a hospital. I was bored in the room with my family, my grandma was there. So I wandered and there he was, just sitting on a bed. He caught my eye and made my heart skip a beat. When he saw me, he smiled so I just went in and talked to him."

Tommy smiled lightly feeling relieved that Ashley understood. "He just gives so much and I think.. I know I can give to him." It was hard sometimes, but he was determined to take care of his boyfriend. Ashley more than anyone understood how Eddie could be, putting others before himself. Tommy leaned up on his elbow already enjoying the story. "And you guys stayed in touch? That's pretty cute. So you guys were kind of like me and Johnny but instead of being together when you were kids and then... " He made a face and just continued on, "You guys weren't together when you were kids and now you are. It's like a rom com."

Ashley smiled and nodded. "I know you can, you have mroe love in you for others then you see." His smile fell a little. "Well I kept visiting him there and then he ended up going to academy with me. He told me around then was when he started to like me. After well...he kind of took off to Europe and we lost contact some because of the distance...he came here for me." Ashley blushing, truly blushing in front of his friend.

Tommy smiled at his friend. He reached up and poked his cheek. "It's nice seeing you like this." He turned a little so that he could lay in the circle of his arm and look up at the dappled sky through the trees. "But I'm just telling you now that if he hurts you I'm going to make his life hell."

Ashley chuckled, hugging him once more. "Well same for Eddie. We've both been through enough, its about time we get our happy endings...also, I think he's jealous of you." Laughing softly. "I mean he doesn't hate you, just think he's jealous of anyone that I was with in some way before."

Tommy laughed. "He's jealous of me? You can tell him I was kind of the island bicycle soo... you know probably not worth being jealous of. He's got your heart and that's what matters." He had to admit that he worried that Sam wouldn't like him because it was pretty well known around that he and Ashley had slept together... a lot. "Should I talk to him or something?"

Ashley rolled his eyes some. "Stop doing that, stop putting yourself down or I'm telling Eddie on you." Punching him softly in the arm. "You can if you want but I've told him he shouldn't he jealous, we were only friends making points."

Tommy laughed, but his eyes went a little wide. "Don't. He doesn't like it. It makes him feel sad or something." It was still kind of a mystery why, but it did and he never wanted Eddie to feel sad. Or Ashley for that matter. "You know it wasn't just.. making points. I mean yeah, we're just friends and I never needed more than that from you, but you and me... it wasn't like my hook-ups ok? You're more than that."

Ashley smirked. "Then stop putting yourself down. We all go through things like that or in some way, that doesn't mean you need to put yourself down." Listening, he smiled and kissed his forehead. "You were more too, I told you that I was falling for you right? Like I started to like you but I held back because I knew it wouldn't work and you deserved everything."

Tommy bit his lip. "You always deserved more than me. Eddie deserves more." He realized that was probably not the right answer so he just shook his head as if to say 'enough of that'. "Oh, hey, guess what?"

Ashley smiled, holding him and rubbing his back. "You are enough, now we're done." With the change in things, Ashley smiled. "What?"

Tommy perked up "I think I've maybe figured out a way for me to skate again." He made a little face. "Ok. I maybe had the idea when I was shit-faced in Amsterdam, but I still think it's doable."

Ashley laughed. "You always seemed to have your best ideas when you're out of it huh? Tell me what this idea is and I'll tell you if you're crazy or not."

Tommy rolled his eyes, but laughed. "Sad but true. Ok, so what if I could attach a brace to the board. I could figure out how to make it be able to pivot and you know if I eat it, I'll really really eat it, but it could work. It'll keep my leg from going out on me." He looked at Ashley biting his lip. "What do you think? Is it crazy?"

Ashley thought about it. He really thought about it all. "I think it would work but you'd have to try it all out on flat land before you start doing it on a down hill bases, but what would you do if you needed to bail to keep from getting hurt?"

Tommy shrugged. "No bailing and dude... gotta go for the hills." He laughed knowing that it obviously made sense to test it out on flat land. "I just gotta figure out how to build it. Enough about me dude. Tell me about what you've been up to. How was Amsterdam? Other than getting me drunk."

Ashley nodded some. He knew better then to think he could ever hold Tommy back. "Well maybe you could ask around, I mean i'm good with my hands in a mechinal way but maybe not in the way you're looking for." At the meantion of Amsterdam, Ashley shrugged and smiled. "it was good, i told you all this and you're a cute drunk so you know."

Tommy acted affronted.. "No I'm not!", but he laughed of course. "I don't even remember how I got back to the hotel. I remember a sort of angry lady who called me idiot a lot, but she had a nice smile too. I'm glad you had a good time."

Ashley joined the chat 4 hours ago

Ashley laughed. "you tried to ride her, you thought she was bike or something. it was pretty funny but I mean it was fun. I think next time Eddie should be there to make sure you don't jump on people again."

Tommy frowned. "Hey, how do you know if you're spending too much time with someone. Like being a pest and shit. I mean Johnny and me just about lived in each other's pockets. I don't want to make the same mistakes this time."

Ashley thought for a moment. "Well i don't think you can but I know and believe if you really love someone, you're not going to be pest. You might fight and have problems but that doesn't mean you need to leave them alone or something. Just means you need to talk, to work through it."

Tommy nodded. "But you know Eddie. He's kind of the nicest person ever. What if he doesn't tell me." Tommy's voice dropped low as he turned away, uncomfortable with how vulnerable he felt. "I love him so much Ash. I... I don't want to mess up."

Ashley groaned, turning him back to look at him. "Stop that, stop it right now. He wouldn't ever get tired of you and if you love him so much, tell him. Don't let the moments pass without him knowing htat."

Tommy looked at his friend for long moments. If anyone knew about not letting time slip away from you because you can lose your chance, it was Ashley. "Ok. I promise." He turned again so he was looking back up at the trees. "Do you think you and Sam will claim?"

Ashley smiled, nodding a thank you to him. "Good. You better keep that promise or I'm gonna make your life not fun." Poking his nose. Ashley laid back, looking up as well. "I think so, yeah. I mean I know we're done with living without each other and plus...subs have to have a claim."

Tommy nodded. "Good. I want you to be happy. Happily ever after!"

Ashley "Same to you, Tom tom. You need your forever too." Hugging him before rolling from the hammock. "Wanna go walk some?" Stretching and rubbing at his own back.

Tommy went into the hug gladly. They'd been friends from almost day one at Orenda and he was so glad they still were. "Yeah, yeah... can you grab my brace."

Ashley grabbed the brace and helped him by putting it on Tommy. It was something he had mastered long ago. Helpping him then from the hammock, he put his arm around his shoulder in a friend way as they headed off for a walk.

Tommy was grateful for Ashley's help. His friend never looked at his scars with disgust or discomfort and that meant a lot to him. As they walked along Tommy felt a smile spreading across his face. "It's good, isn't it. It's all good right now."