001. SUN AND SEA

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The flight to Greece wasn't bad since Ashley was so used to flying. She had packed all her clothes into her large suitcase and dufflebag, with a carry-on being her handbag. Once she finally landed, twelve hours later, she grabbed her bags from the turnstile and made her way out of the airport when a small voice called out

"Aunt Ash!" Bradley ran up to her, through the small crowd.

"Hey!" Ashley knelt down as the young boy wrapped his arms around her neck, hugging her with all his might, "Oh, I have missed you, you've gotten so big!"

"Ashley!" Carole spoke as she made her way to the woman and son, "I'm so glad you made it" Carole and Ashley engulfed each other in a hug

"You suggested it and it seemed like an amazing idea. I miss you and Bradley" Ashley smiled, ruffling the six year old's brown hair as he giggled. Carole helped Ashley with her bags as the three of them made their way to Carole's pale blue truck that she owned, before driving off to her home.

Carole's home in the bay of Naxos, overlooking the sea was beautiful. Its white cement walls glowed in the sunlight, with blue detailing on the doors and window frames, with a beautiful cobbled patio, stretching out across the terrace, coming to an end at the swimming pool that lay at the bottom of her property. On the terrace lay a ratten table and chair set, with a cream parasol shading the table and plants accessoring the area to make it look calming.

"Carole, your home is amazing!" Ashley exclaimed as she looked at the house once Carole parked the truck on the driveway outside the garage.

"Its very greek" Carole laughed

Both women climbed out of the truck, Ashley helping the six year old out of his car seat before grabbing her luggage and following Carole's lead into the house, which was just as well decorated as the exterior.

"I have a spare guest room upstairs with a balcony on it for you," Carole said as she led the brunette upstairs, "The other room is occupied"

"That's no problem. I could've just book a hotel room"

"No, you're my guest. And my best friend" Carole said, turning around as she reached the top of the staircase, "I am not going to make my best friend stay in a hotel, granted they are beautiful here but that's not my point" She said as Ashley chuckled and held up her hands in a surrender.

Bradley opened the bedroom door to Ashley's room and she was welcomed with a pale blue and white bedroom. A plush double bed lay in the middle of the room, just underneath one of the windows that belonged to her room, and the view of the coast just outside her balcony doors.

"Wow" Ashley muttered, her jaw slightly ajar at the sight of the place.

"Well, this is all yours for as long as you like. Help yourself to anything downstairs, my housemate does" She chuckled, "Bathroom is just down the hall and what's mine is yours" Carole said

Ashley smiled, "Carole, I can't thank you enough"

"Ash, you're my best friend and you were Nick's friend too, you're welcome here anytime" Carole said, holding both of Ashley's hands, "And Bradley can finally spend more time with his auntie and godmother"

"Godmother?" Ashley questioned

Carole nodded, "Yeah, I never had him christened but if anything was to happen to me, you and Maverick would get custody of him" Carole said in a hushed tone, despite the fact her son had ran off to his own bedroom next door to Ashley's room.

"How is he?" Ashley asked

"He's okay, he's safe- from what I know" Carole hesitated as Ashley raised her eyebrow, "He's on the island."

"He's your housemate?" Ashley asked

Carole nodded

"Does he know I'm here?"

Carole nodded her head again, "He spends all of his time working at the bar on the beach and is up and out of the house before me and Brad get up" Carole said, "But I know he's safe and fine because he knows if he gets injured, we'd both kill him" Carole said before both women burst out laughing.

"I'm going to let you unpack, I can make us some lunch then we can show you around the island" Carole said as Ashley nodded. The blonde woman left the room, leaving Ashley in her thoughts.

Maverick was here. . . After the mission Top Gun had placed her team on, Maverick taught at the base for only a few months before deciding that it was not what he wanted to do anymore. Obviously, he gave up on the Navy completely if he's working in a bar in Greece.

Once Ashley had unloaded her luggage into the closet and dresser, she chnaged out of the outfit she travelled in, pulling on a pair of denim shorts, a white ribbed tank top and pair it with her classic boots. She let her brunette hair cascade down her back and over her shoulders. She made her way downstairs where Carole and Bradley sat at the table, tucking into the small spread that Carole had prepared

"Come eat, Aunt Ash! Mummy's made food" Bradley called out to her as he spotted her at the doorway.

Ashley let out a smile before joining the mother and son duo, eating, laughing and Bradley mainly talking about what his school is like, his friends, and he would often bring up Goose and Maverick, which Ashley smiled slightly but her heart broke at the same time.

This was where Ashley belonged. . . With her family that she loved, and who loved her twice as much.

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