2

"Mm... this is just what I needed," Ashleigh moaned taking another bite of her extra large chocolate muffin. 

"I knew you were stressed about upcoming exams so I thought I'd take you out for a break," Damien smiled before taking a sip of his coffee. 

"But you know I can't be eating unhealthy."

"A little cheat couldn't kill anyone. I was going to get you a whole meal of desserts but I thought I should rather not or you're going to kill me."

"Are you trying turn me into a fat pig?"

"No! Though I do love bacon."

Ashleigh rolled her eyes as her boyfriend laughed at her reaction. 

"So, how are things going with Richard?" he enquired.

Ashleigh sighed, "It's alright. I mean he's trying to get me to like him."

"Thats good."

"I don't know. I don't know if just being a fake like the others or if he's actually genuine."

"Well, what do you know so far?"

"Hes a head manager at some insurance company, he has been super nice to my mom and overly nice to me. His favourite colour is green, favourite flavoured ice-cream is mint and they've been dating for six months apparently. Why I'm only finding out of their "strong" relationship now, only God knows!"

"May I be honest with you?"

"Go ahead," Ashleigh sighed.

"I think you should give him a chance," Damien stated.

"A chance?!" 

He had a sip of his coffee before he went on, "Yeah. I mean think about it, he has a stable job, if they've actually been dating for six months hes definitely treating her well, and unlike your mom's exes, he's trying to get you to like him. That means he's serious. That means he wants a future. 

"Your mother loves you, he probably knows that, and when that's the case the best way into her heart permanently is if he can develop a relationship with you. Your mother sure as hell is gonna leave him if you say so. But if you like having him there, they probably gonna get married."

Ashleigh cringed at the thought. 

Her mother married? Her mother romantic with a man? 

Eww... 

She couldn't see it. Especially after her most recent ex Dave. He was a psychopath. Somehow Shanice was in love with a wanted serial killer without even knowing it. They were dating for six months. Those six months were the worst few months of Ashleigh's life.

She had to watch as her mother was abused and misused. Only after a month into the relationship he was already living with them and somehow given the authority to rule the house. During that time Ashleigh was barely home. She often spent her days with Damien and nights sleeping over either with Heather or Bethany. 

She hated him. She could see from the start that Dave was sus. He was hella scary but her mother loved him. It was as if she was under some kind of curse. She tried warning her mother about him countless times but love is blind, so Shanice saw nothing wrong with her relationship. 

This ended one day when Dave laid a hand on Ashleigh. Backhanding her across the face just as Shanice walked in. Her eyes finally opened and she saw Dave for who he was. It was too late though. Dave was angered. He almost killed them both but thankfully Damien walked in just in time to save them.

He ran off but was still on the loose, vowing to have his revenge. Ashleigh was scarred because of that relationship so her mother in a serious relationship with Richard didn't sit well with her. 

Another thing was the fact her mother wanted to get married again. She understood the concept of her mother being alone for over a decade, and she now needed someone in her life. What she couldn't handle though was the thought of another man trying to replace her father.

Her father, Brandon Riot, had passed away in an accident when she was only ten. Losing him was devastating. As daddy's little princess they had a very strong bond. They spent tons of time together having tons of fun. She knew someone could try fill the empty seat but no one would be able the empty void.

Richard was no different. 

Damien took her hand and she looked into his eyes, "Listen, I know its hard, I really do. But your mother is looking for happiness. Looking for love. It's been years since your father's passing and she needs someone to at least kill the sense of loneliness.

"Now I'm not saying let her do what she wants to do and not care at all. Im saying give Richard a chance. Yes, I know Dave happened but so far so good. And I think we both would prefer to know what type of person he is before things get too serious."

She nodded with a sigh, "Ok. I'll try to give him a chance. Can't make any promises though."

"Ok." Damien kissed her hand and smiled. 

After a while they left the cafe and went for a stroll at the park. 

"So how are you doing on your paintings?" Ashleigh enquired.

"Great. Just have to add finishing touches to the last painting and I'll be ready for the auction on Sunday. Then I can finally get started on my painting for Mrs Jillian."

"Thats good."

"Yeah."

"Hows Courtney doing?" 

Damien sighed at the thought of his nanny, "Shes alright. She just has a serious cold. She's been coughing so much it's actually quite concerning."

"Has she seen a doctor?" Ashleigh asked.

"No, she says she'll be fine but I have a feeling something is very wrong."

Damien was very worried about Courtney. For three days now, his nanny had been taking medication and resting. But it seemed like things were only getting worse. Each time he tried to get her to see a doctor she refused, waving off the suggestion with the popular "I'm fine". 

Despite how many times a day she told him this, he didn't believe her. He had a feeling deep within that something was very wrong. And whenever he had such a feeling he was always right. Always. 

Like the day he lost his parents. When the intercom came on warning of an emergency landing, Damien knew it was more than just a storm. He knew it was far worse. He had a feeling deep within. And he was right. As always. It was indeed more than just a storm. Now he knew, it was more than just a cold. It was something worse but his nanny wouldnt admit it.

"I'm sure she'll be fine," Ashleigh smiled giving his hand a comforting squeeze. 

"I hope so." 

Damien looked up to see his best friend approach, he smiled. "Jonathan."

"Damien, brother," his friend smiled. 

Damien released Ashleigh's hand to give his friend a hug.

"Good to see you man," Jonathan smiled. He turned his attention to Ashleigh, "Ash," he gave her a hug, "How you doing?"

"Great." Ashleigh looked at her boyfriend, "I'm just gonna fill up my bottle."

Damien nodded before he turned his attention to his best friend, "How are things going?"

"Good, good. Oh and I was meant to tell ya. Guess who's engaged?"

"Congratulations! You two belong together!" He gave his friend a hug. "I'm happy for you both."

"Thanks man. I was thinking you could be my best man," Jonathan smiled.

"Me?! I don't deserve such honour. What about your brother, Nicolas?"

Jonathan sighed, "You know we don't get along."

"But he's your brother."

"But you're my friend that's closer than a brother."

Damien sighed in defeat. Just then they heard a scream. They looked up to see Ashleigh sprinting towards them with a bulldog happily chasing after her, barking in excitement, thinking it was a good game of Chase. 

She jumped into Damiens arms, clinging onto him for dear life as she tried to catch her breath.

The men laughed at this.

"Ash, it's just a cute bulldog," Jonathan stated petting the animal. 

"Cute?! That thing almost bit me!" Ashleigh exclaimed. 

Jonathan shook his head, "Oh my gosh, she's still afraid of dogs."

"Yup," Damien sighed setting her down.

"Thats a shame. Well, I'll see you two around."

"Bye Jonathan."

Damien turned his attention to his girlfriend. He let out a small chuckle, "You never change."

"It was chasing me," she stated with an innocent gaze and a babyish voice. 

Damien shook his head with a chuckle, "Lets go."

They walked to Ashleigh's home. 

"Yeah, I think what's important is just doing what I love, what I earn doesn't really matter. After all, wise men say happiness is the true meaning of life," Damien stated with a sigh. 

"Yeah..." 

"Well, here we are. I'll let you go back to studying now."

Ashleigh looked at her boyfriend and gave him a hug, "Thanks for the break, I actually needed it."

"You are certainly welcome."

She broke the hug and gave him a wave. "See you tomorrow." Damien waved back and watched as she went inside.

Ashleigh closed the door behind her and looked up to see her mother and Richard together in the living room. 

"Hi Ash," her mother greeted.

"Hi."

She was about to head upstairs when she heard her mother's boyfriend call her, "Ash? May we have a word?"

She shot him a glare, "It's Ashleigh! You have to earn the right to call me by my nickname," she spat.

"Ash, what did I say ab-" Her mother was yelling when her boyfriend stopped her.

"Its ok hun." He looked back at her daughter, "Ok... Ashleigh, may we please talk to you?"

Ashleigh sighed. She picked a spot on the other couch and sat down, trying to stay as far away from them as possible.

"I know you're not for our relationship-"

"You think?!"

"but, I was hoping you could give me the chance to change your mind. I want to get to know you and-"

"Let me guess, you want my approval because you want something serious with my mom and blah blah blah. Let me tell you this Richard, I am not for it and I will never be for it!"

"Ashleigh!" her mother lashed at her disrespect.

But she went on, "Mom, if you want to date him. Date him! I'm not stopping you! Its your life! Just leave me out of it!"

"Ashleigh!"

She then got up and went upstairs. 

"Come back here!" her mother called.

She went to her room, closing it behind her with a sigh. She didn't need that in her life. She just needed to study and get that distinction. 

Meanwhile. Damien walked into his home to hear severe coughing. He followed the dreaded coughing to be led to the kitchen. Courtney stood holding onto the counter edge coughing into a handkerchief. 

"Aunt Courtney?"

She looked at him. "Damien," she coughed, "I wasn't expecting you back... so soon."

"I told you to stay in bed."

"W-what about-" she sneezed, "What about lun-" she sneezed again, "What about lunch."

"I'll make lunch and dinner. But firstly I'm calling the doctor-"

"Oh no Damein. That is not necessary, I'll be fine. It's just a little cold."

"This little cold could be life-threatening. With all due respect, you are not young anymore. Something as small as the flu can kill you and I don't wanna lose you. Please, let me call a doctor," Damien pleaded. 

"No no... please, spare yourself the effort and money-"

"Aunt Courtney, I'd rather be safe than sorry!"

"well then save te doctor's time!"

Damien gave his nanny a look. 

"Damien... son, please... if you really want I'll go to bed, okay?"

He sighed in defeat. "Fine but you aren't getting out until you get better."

He helped his nanny into bed. He helped her take medication before he sat by her side waiting for her to fall asleep. When she did, he went to his room and gathered the paintings he would be auctioning the next day.  

He analysed each of them, contemplating on whether or not he was satisfied with his result. He was very critical in doing so. He looked st every detail, from background to foreground. From the angle of each shadow to the specks of white and yellow to add light.

He looked at the proportion of every object in comparison to its purpose in the painting. He took in the colours, from the boldest to the most feint. Thinking of what emotions they could conjure. 

He did this for every painting. From the most complex to the simplest. From the smallest to the biggest. He wasn't trying to make much money from them. Truth be told, he as already loaded. He just wanted to feel like he achieved something in life.

The next morning Damien got up and got ready for church. He combed his hair and tied it in a pony tail. He got into semi formal clothing and put on shoes. He walked out of his room to check on his nanny. He gently opened her bedroom door and took a peek inside to see her still asleep. 

He closed the door before he headed downstairs to have breakfast, leaving Courtney's in a dish. After breakfast he went to church. He found a parking spot and parked. He got out of his car and looked around with a sigh.

The parking lot was emptier than usual, meaning he was early. He sat on his car trunk waiting for Ashleigh to arrive. He was faithless until he met Ashleigh. Not that Ashleigh converted him, he just followed her example and found himself referring to himself as Christian.

"Damien?" he heard someone call after a long while.

He looked up to see meet eyes with his girlfriend. He got up with a smile. "Hey Ash."

"Hi handsome. Ready for church?"

"Sure am!" They held hands and looked into each others eyes. "You look well rested," he smiled.

"I'm not. But I'm glad I look good," Ashleigh grinned.

"Wheres your mom?"

"With her boyfriend," Ashleigh sighed, "so I'm with mine."

"Are you even trying?"

"I am!"

"Ash, I'm just going to remind you. It's Sunday and we're at church."

Ashleigh removed her left hand from his and briefly tap her forehead, chest then either shoulder, "Lord have mercy. But Damien... its hard."

"I didn't say it'd be easy."

Ashleigh sighed. 

"We'll talk about this later. We're here for God not for your inability to give a guy chance."

Ashleigh rolled her eyes.

After church Ashleigh went to chill with friends while Damien went to prepare for the auction. He packed his paintings in the back seat of his car. He then got into different clothing. He had an early dinner and left some for his nanny.

He then left for the auction.

He was placing his paintings on display when a man approached him. 

"Mr Frost," he greeted.

"Mr Davies," Damien greeted in return giving him a handshake. "Are you the auctioneer tonight?"

"That I am. And I see you're getting better, every time I see you, your work looks better and better."

"Thank you sir."

The man left. After a while, when he finished, he watched as people walked in and took a look at his works. Occasionally he tried to be interactive and tried asking then what they thought. Most of them loved all of them but there was that one guy who had something bad to say about every piece of art there. 

When the place was filled with potential buyers, the auction began. 

As Damien watched, he realised how much work it was being an auctioneer. You had to have the eyes to spot hands, the breath and projection to speak fast but clearly and loud. The guy sounded like he was rapping. 

By the end of the evening his paintings were sold for good prices. When he went home, it was raining heavily. He drove into the driveway and noticed someone standing by the front door. He parked his car in the garage. He got out and walked into the rain closing the garage door from the outside.

He looked into the front porch which was dimly lit. He walked up. He watched as the stranger took off their hood.

"Pardon me, can i help you?" he asked politely. 

The stranger face him. It wasn't a stranger at all, in fact it was Ashleigh. 

"Ash? What are you doing here?"

She threw herself into his arms and he hugged her back, slightly confused.

They stood there for a while, under the low light, nothing but the sound of heavy pitters and patters around them. Damien was getting worried. He wondered what happened. Why his girlfriend was soaked from head to toe. He wondered why but he didn't ask. 

When she broke the hug finally, he led her inside. 

"Thank you," she mumbled. 

"I'll run a hot bath for you," he told her.

"I'd rather pass..."

Damien looked at her with confusion plastered on his face. She lifted her shirt to show him a nasty cut on her stomach which was red and looked like it was still bleeding. His eyes widened.

He closed the space between them and dropped to his knees so his face was in front of her belly. "Ash... what happened?" 

"Dave."

Damien looked at her. The look in her eyes said it all. She was attacked and probably almost killed. "Come on... let's get you cleaned, bandaged and warmed up." He led her up to his room. He sat her down on the bedroom bench. He kissed her lips, "Be right back."

He returned with a bottle of alcohol and some other stuff. Almost a diy first aid kit. He was often too lazy to get the real deal. He treated her wound, as she winced and squirmed. 

"Shh shh... I know it hurts," he whispered.

Ashleigh let out a shaky breath as a tear drop rolled down her cheek. Damien kissed it away before he finished his treatment. When he was done he gave Ashleigh clothing to change into while he packed the things away. 

He returned to the room with a glass of water and painkillers. "Take this," he instructed.

Ashleigh had the medication before she was helped on the bed.

"Are you alright now?" her boyfriend enquired. 

She nodded with small smile. 

"Want to talk about what happened?"

She shook her head.

"That's ok." He caressed her cheek then kissed her briefly. "You get some rest now. I'll be downstairs if you need me."

"What are you doing downstairs?"

"Nothing, I'm just not tired."

"Please stay.... Damien please stay," she pleaded.

Damien sighed. "Alright. I'll stay here with you. Ok?"

"Thanks Damien."