for her

21

"Where's Cleo?" He asked as we opened our chicken, sitting close to each other.

"Maddie was already asleep when I got there- I didn't want to wake them" i mumbled out, seeing him look to me.

"He's happier, Payton" he spoke, placing his hand on mine own.

"He's in Heaven, you have to believe that- you have to give yourself some sort of leverage, you can't let every death put you down in the dumps" he spoke, running his hand through my hair gently.

"He was five Ashton"

"And he died peacefully baby, think about it- he wasn't murdered, he didn't have cancer- he passed out the second he inhaled, it didn't hurt him- he didn't feel anything you did to him, and now he doesn't have to recover from CPR along with a drowning incident" he spoke, making me eat a piece of chicken.

"I don't think I'm cut out for this" I spoke- the thought of quitting making more and more tears well in my eyes.

"No- Payton, you're meant for this- just not pediatrics."

Ashton spent the rest of the night cheering me up, which meant a lot.

I left him to shower, getting out and throwing a pair of short shorts and a big t shirt on, putting on my most comfortable bralette.

I walked out- seeing Ashton already showered, laying in my bed in a pair of shorts, no shirt.

He locked his phone as I crawled into bed, him turning his full attention to me.

I sat beside him, placing my hands onto his chest, making him grab my hands- pulling me on top of him.

I straddled his waist, my hands on his stomach, us both looking to each other.

"What happens if people find out?" I asked.

"Who found out?" Ashton quickly asked.

"No one that I'm aware of- but you live with Luke, Michael and Calum, aren't they suspicious-" "Michael is engaged to a girl who started off as his intern, they know there's something going on here, they just don't question it cause they're used to it" he spoke slowly.

"But to answer your question" he continued.

"The more serious we get- I'm going to go sit with the Chief and tell him, that's what Michael did and the Chief didn't give a flying fuck, so it should work for us" he shrugged out as I traced shapes into his skin.

"And what happens if he refuses to let us?" I asked.

"We keep it a secret- or we find a way to make it work" he spoke simply.

"Don't stress over this yet" he laughed, placing his hands on my hips, running his thumbs under my shirt to rub my skin.

"We have time- and I won't do anything without talking to you" Ashton spoke, smiling to where I could see his dimple.

I lightly touched his dimple, making him laugh out

"Come cuddle, Princess"