Nicole walked into the general store the next morning on Ashton's arm. Brandy grinned happily at them from the counter when she looked up. "Hey!"

Ashton smiled contentedly at her. "Hi, Brandy. How's everyone doing this morning?"

"Bryan got a little bit of a cold, but me and Trevor are doing great. What about you two?" She leaned on the counter.

Nicole smiled at her. "We're doing great, too." She leaned a little into Ashton. He'd seemed happy the night before when she rested her head on his arm, so she didn't think he'd mind this, either. He slipped his hand from hers and put his arm around her waist. Nope. He didn't mind.

"Good! What did you guys need this morning? Oh, sorry we can't go with you to Columbia, by the way."

"Don't worry about it. We'll find someone else," Ashton assured her. "This morning, we were trying to find a place Nicole can stay for a while. She'll be staying here after our wedding, but she wants to stay here a little while longer so we can finish getting things together."

"Have you tried seeing if you can rent the cabin you're already in?" Brandy asked Nicole. "You'd be able to do that, I'll bet."

Nicole hadn't thought of that, and she felt a little dumb for it. "I'll ask today," she promised. Ashton gave her a slight squeeze and that told her he was happy and would make sure she did. He wouldn't say it, but she knew he was glad she would stay a while longer.

"You're going to invite me, right?" Brandy said with a grin.

Nicole returned it. "Of course! We wouldn't dream of not inviting you!"

"Good. Is there anything else I can help you with?"

Ashton and Nicole glanced at each other. "No, but thanks," he replied.

They said their goodbyes and left. Ashton removed his arm and went back to holding her hand. She wasn't sure how she felt about that, but she went with it. They ended up spending most of the day on the beach, going over details they needed to settle in Columbia when they were there. After lunch at the restaurant, they walked around town, trying to figure out how they were going to get to Columbia and back.

"Maybe we could go with my parents," Nicole suggested as they passed the police station. Ashton's gaze had wandered to the doors. "Did you hear me?"

"Yes," he answered distractedly. "I heard." He was still and quiet for a moment. Abruptly he turned to face Nicole. "We can go up with your parents, and we can take Mason with us. I need to get a vehicle anyway, so I can get one while I'm there and we'll ride back in that, the three of us."

She didn't think it would work, and she wasn't sure how she felt about having Mason tag along. "Do you think he'll be able to get off of work?"

Ashton shrugged. "All we can do is ask." He tugged her hand and she followed him across the street and inside the building she'd come to really, really dislike.

Everyone was sitting at their desks inside. Gary was eating a bag of chips. He nodded at them when they came in. Norman looked up from what he was writing, smiled at them, and went back to his job. Mason was arguing with someone on his phone. He was staring blankly out the window.

Ashton nodded back to everyone. He chewed his lip while he studied them. She raised an eyebrow at him. "I think we should come back later," she whispered to Ashton.

Norman sat his pen down and stood. Ashton's grip on Nicole's hand tightened a little, though his face didn't change. "Why did you come back, Ashton?" Norman asked once he'd sauntered over.

"I was going to check with Mason to see if he'd come with us to Columbia for a few days or so," he answered. Nicole forced away the frown.

Norman nodded as he rubbed his hands together. "You know, I'm overdue for a vacay. He's taking off tomorrow, and that's his last vacation day. I still have all of mine."

Ashton raised an eyebrow. "I didn't know sheriffs took vacations."

Norman shrugged with a small smile. "We have to sooner or later. Hey, all work and no play makes Norman a very moody guy." He winked at Nicole and she fought rolling her eyes. She already knew he was obnoxious – he didn't have to prove it.

Ashton's face changed, but Nicole couldn't decipher the look. "Well, okay, I guess."

"When do we leave?" Norman actually looked excited.

"The day after tomorrow," Nicole said quickly. She glanced at Ashton but he didn't look away from Norman. "Mom wants to spend the day with me looking at wedding dresses."

"Well, okay, then." Norman nodded and then his eyes opened wider. "Oh! I forgot – there's one last thing you gotta do for the job Ashton. I had forgotten about it until I began filling out the paperwork. I gotta have you get a complete physical and a drug test."

Ashton's jaw tensed. "You forgot? Really?" He sighed but shrugged when Norman held out his hands to the side and raised his shoulders. "Okay. Let Benson know I'll be there in a few minutes." He turned to Nicole. "I shouldn't be too long."

She forced a smile and gave him a quick kiss. "Okay. I'll just go hang out somewhere."

"You can hang out with me," Norman offered, hands in his pockets. "I was going to lunch, actually."

That was the last thing she wanted. She was about to say, 'not on your life,' when Ashton told him, "I guess she can." She glared at Ashton. He caught it and looked away. "But I'll come find her when I'm done."

Norman smirked at him. "Okay." He looked relaxed, but she could see the tightness in his smirk. She knew that meant he was nervous. Maybe lunch with him wouldn't be too bad.

Ashton gave Nicole a quick kiss. "Be nice," he breathed into her ear, sending shivers through her. "It's only for a little bit." With those words, he walked out the door.

She sighed when she saw him leave, but then turned back to Norman. "He really won't be that long," he offered as he turned and walked back to his desk. "Let me give Benson a heads-up and I'll go." She watched him call and then have a long conversation in a low voice. Finally, he hung up and headed over to her. "Okay, let's go."

---

It didn't take long for Nicole and Norman to realize they really didn't have anything to say to each other. Or for Nicole to realize that this would probably feel like the longest wait of her life. They got to the diner in silence, waited for their food in silence, and then ate in silence. Norman finally leaned back about halfway through and studied her. She shifted, feeling a little uncomfortable with the way he was looking at her.

"Have you tried beer?" he asked finally.

She'd tried her dad's before, but while she wasn't fond of it, she didn't hate it. "Yeah. It's okay, I guess."

He nodded. "You're 18, right?" She warily nodded. "I'll be right back." He walked up to the bar and while she waited, Nicole took a couple of his fries. She wouldn't order them because she never wanted more than a couple. She figured he wouldn't miss them.

While she was finishing off the local fish she'd ordered, Norman returned with two glasses, one full and the other filled halfway. He sat and slid the half-filled one to Nicole. "But I can't drink," she said, looking at him, curious.

He took a long drink of his glass, draining a third of it. A quick wipe of his mouth. "Go ahead. I'll just look the other way." He grinned at her. "You're close enough."

She gave him a suspicious look, but took a drink anyway. Her mouth filled with a taste she thought of as musty bread and the burn of alcohol. She swallowed with a grimace. It didn't taste the same as she remembered and burned way more than last time, but she figured maybe it was the brew. She took another bite of her food while Norman smiled at her, amused. "What?"

He shook his head, popping a fry in his mouth. "Nothing." After she took a long drink, draining most of it, he gave a short laugh before covering his mouth. She gave him a questioning look. "It's just, well, you should see your face every time you swallow." He laughed some more and drained more of his beer.

She smiled as she took another bite. It didn't taste so bad with food, she thought. She studied Norman while he watched her. "What?" she asked, on the verge of feeling exasperated. She drained the last of the beer and shoved the glass over to him. "Thanks, by the way."

He sniffed. "You're welcome." He passed a hand quickly over his mouth and stopped smiling at her the same way. "Um." His eyes kept darting behind her.

She looked back, towards the doors. "What?"

He snickered and she turned back to him. He held up his hands in surrender. "Hey, I can't help it."

She rolled her eyes and finished eating. Her head was beginning to become a little fuzzy. Norman's eyes studied her. "Um, what are you looking at?"

He shook his head. "Nikki, are you getting tipsy?" He smiled. "You can't hold your liquor, can you?"

She squinted at him. "Um." She'd never drank enough to see if she could handle it. "I don't know?"

Norman just gave her a little smile and tilted his head at her. He finished off his beer and stood. "We need to start heading back."

She stood and he immediately took her arm. She jerked away. "I can walk," she snapped. A few steps and she reached out to grab his arm. She blushed when he raised his eyebrows. "I'm fine," she said as she let go and walked out the front door. Her mind was a little fuzzy, but it didn't seem to be getting worse.

They walked back to the station, her grabbing his arm occasionally to steady herself. When they got to the steps she realized something. "Where's Ash?"

"Benson has a bit of a line," he explained. "It's going to be a little while longer. Do you want me to drive you home?"

She squinted at him again. Being in a car with him was the last thing she wanted, but she supposed she would have to get used to it since she was going to Columbia with him. Why not start now? "Okay, I guess."

He smiled and led her over to a car. Mason came down the steps. "Where are you going?" he asked.

Norman opened the passenger door and Nicole sat heavily. "I'm just bringing her home." He closed the door once her feet were in. They talked another moment, their words muffled so she couldn't catch what was being said, though she knew they were discussing her.

Mason shook his head as he walked away. Norman slid into the driver's seat and started the car. He backed out carefully and started driving towards the beach house. She relaxed into the seat. "So, um," he began, scratching his nose. "I'll tell Ashton where you are if he comes by." He drove in silence. They pulled into her house. "I had fun?" he said when she didn't open her door.

She started to open the door, but drew back. "I can't go in there. Mom and Dad will kill me when they smell beer." She looked over at Norman.

He sighed. "Fine." He backed out. "Tell me where to take you, then."

Was he finally annoyed? Or was he concerned? Things weren't really clear to Nicole at the moment. They were driving by the doctor's office and she spotted Ashton walking out. "Here's fine."

Norman followed her gaze and he stopped. "There you go."

She hopped out, slamming the door. He watched her for a moment before pulling away. Ashton gave her a smile she knew was forced. She put her hands on his chest and tried to kiss him, but he jerked away. "What's wrong?" she asked, surprised.

He grabbed her hand and led her in the direction of his place. When she reached over with her free hand to steady herself, he turned to her. "What's wrong with you?" Concern creased his forehead.

She sucked her bottom lip and glanced around. "Um." She wasn't sure she wanted to tell him she'd had beer with Norman. Especially since she wasn't sure he didn't have a little something else added.

He leaned in and she thought he was going to kiss her, but he didn't. He pulled back. "Beer? When-" He closed his mouth. Understanding grew in his eyes and his jaw set. "Why did Norman let you drink? He knows you're underage!"

She shrugged. "He said it was okay with him. He was the one that gave it to me!"

Ashton's eyes narrowed as he leaned close again. After a moment he kissed her. Abruptly he pulled back. "Whiskey." He raised an eyebrow. "Oh, and don't have the local fish again." He shook his head as he kept going into the forest.

She followed, stumbling through the brush. After a few minutes of it, Ashton sighed and carried her the rest of the way.

---

While Nicole napped on his couch, Ashton sat in his kitchen, sipping water. He still felt the flush in his face he'd gotten near the end of the physical. Another sip of water. He pressed the glass to his face, hoping the coldness would make the redness go away.

He forced himself to think instead of what he was going to do to Norman for giving Nicole liquor. If he'd been there, he would've tasted it before she drank any of it. What had he been thinking, anyway? Norman must have been trying to get Nicole drunk. That was all Ashton could figure. But why?

Once he'd drained the last of the water, he stood. He checked on Nicole. She was snoring softly. He smiled and kissed her forehead, his lips lighter than a butterfly. She gently swatted the air before she resumed snoring. He laughed softly to himself.

He headed to his room and looked at himself in his bathroom mirror for a long moment. Before he'd face Norman, he had to be sure what he was going to say. Words left him and he just stared at the man in the mirror with two spots of red on his cheeks. He turned the faucet on and began splashing the cold water on his face.

Water streaming down his face, he braced himself on the edge of the sink and hung his head over it. A physical is no big deal, he tried to tell himself. Everyone has them. He raised his head and looked at the mirror again. His face wasn't red now.

He grabbed a towel and dried his face. He put it around his neck and picked up his laundry. If he let it go much longer he'd run out of clothes. He sighed as he lugged it across the hallway.