002 . MEMORIES .

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After showing Ashley around the island, the trio watched the sunset over the horizon which was magical. Back in Miramar, Ashley very rarely got to sit down and watch the sunset without the constant running order that was always given. Here, she was at peace. . . Free and it felt surreal but amazing.

Bradley had fallen asleep on his mother's lap, snuggling into her chest. The women decided that they would head back to the house so Carole could put Bradley to bed. Once he was settled in his own room, Ashley and Carole sat on the terrace, drinking wine under the starry blanket that covered the sky.

"So, the Navy? Why'd they discharge you?" Carole asked

Ashlsy dreaded the conversation that was about to commence.

"I was on a hop with the unit I was teaching, and one of the pilots had trouble so I intercepted to help. . ." Ashley explained, ". . . As they dropped down below the hardline and close to the mountains"

Carole sighed as she listened to the woman explain. After Goose's death two years ago, Carole became very protective over Ashley and Maverick when they were serving and flying. She couldn't bare to bury either one of them, not after her husband.

"Jester lectured me and handed me my discharge papers. He told me I can return in a few weeks to a few months"

"Is that what you want to do?" Carole asked

Ashley sighed, "Since I was little, I would admire my father. Watch him fly his plane or the crop-duster we owned on the ranch." Ashley smiled as she remembered her late father, "Me and Rob enlisted together and trained together. But my mother always resented the idea of me being an aviator, let alone a solider"

"Being in the Navy has been a dream of mine since that young age and I don't know what I would do if I gave it all up" Ashley told her, "I'm continuing my dad's legacy but it's going to kill me if I don't stop, especially when I've come so far and made the Thompson name something again"

"But now my father's gone and Rob is gone too" Ashley looked down, "Maybe my mother was right, maybe the Navy isn't my place, and maybe Jester's right too, it will kill me if I carry on"

Carole took Ashley's hand in her own, "Ashley Jocelyn Thompson, my AJ, you are the best aviator and solider there ever was, and I'm not just saying this as your best friend, but you have served this country with all the strength and courage that I have seen in my lifetime," Carole said, "You were made for the Navy. Just because you're currently going through a small hiccup, doesn't mean it's all over. Everyone has small setbacks, but they overcome them"

"Don't give up now, not when you've come so far. Make your father, Robert and my Nick proud. And continue to prove your mother wrong"

Ashley's eyes filled with tears as she and Carole hugged. Ashley cried a little as did Carole before both pulling away, "Oh god, you made me emotional" Ashley chuckled, wiping her tears from her face as Carole laughed

"But seriously, you've got so much and I'd hate to see you throw it away. . . Like Mav has" Carole said

Ashley nodded.

Carole decided to change the conversation when she let out a gasp, "I was busy sorting through some boxes the other day and guess what I found" Carole said, quickly running into the house before returning with a small box in her hand, "This was in with Nick's things after he died and look at this" Carole opened it and handed a polaroid to Ashley.

As she looked at it, her face beamed with a smile. It was a photograph of her, Maverick, Goose and Rob the night they all met in the bar, "Oh my god, I remember this" Ashley chuckled as her thumb rubbed over Rob's face

"And here's another," Carole handed Ashley another photo, this time it was a photograph of Ashley and Rob together

"I had no idea he kept this" Ashley said

"Nick was full of secrets and surprises" Carole smiled, "Keep it. It only seems right since it's you and Robert"

"Thank you" Ashley smiled before hugging Carole again. The two women looked through more of Nick's memory box before retiring to bed for the night.

Ashley changed into her pyjamas before climbing under the soft quilt of her bed as she lay on her side, staring at the new decoration on her bedside table. Her and Rob. As her mind replayed that day.

FLASHBACK
1986

Ashley, Rob, Goose and Maverick had gone to the bar after their long day of training to enjoy some drinks as Goose and Maverick played darts. Ashley and Rob sat by the bar as they immersed in a conversation.

Maverick stopped playing darts when he watched the twins talking and laughing. Ashley's face lighting up in a bright smile as whatever the twins were conversing about made her happy. Goose had noticed that Mavefick was watching them and he decided to grab his camera and capture a photograph of them both for his scrapbook he was planning on making for Ashley's birthday present.

As the flash of the camera went off, the twins were drawn from their conversation and Ashley raised an eyebrow at the man, "Did you just take a photo of us?" She asked

Goose shook his head, acting completely oblivious to what had happened, "No idea what you're talking about, Ash"

Ashley tried to tackle the man to see the photo but lost, given their slight height difference but the day ended perfectly, for Ashley of course, when she beat both men at darts.

Ashley fell asleep with a smile painted across her face as the memory played in her mind, allowing her to sleep happily that night.

Downstairs, Carole had come back down from her room and was sat on the sofa, holding a photo of Goose when the front door clicked shut and Maverick walked in

"Nice of you to join us tonight" Carole spoke softly as the man stepped down into the sunken living room, "You're avoiding her, why?"

"I'm not, it was busy at the bar" Maverick shrugged

Carole nodded, in disbelief at the man’s words, "Sure it was. You can't avoid her forever, she's going to be staying for quite a while and this island isn't big enough to run away again"

"I didn't run, Caz" Maverick sighed

Carole stood up snd placed her hand on his leather covered shoulder, "Does she know that? Goodnight Pete" Carole tapped his shoulder before going back to her room, leaving the man in his own silence.

Of course Ashley knew that he didn't run away. . . Right?

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