Re: A very OP Christmas.

[Jabberwocky]

Ash takes Moira to a corridor far away from the prying ears of anybody else

Ashley:"I'm taking Naomi back to Vancouver and...thats going to be it. I know that if I tried to tell Alexis it would be to 'ard to do but...I know more then ever now that me being around is going to cause more 'arm then good. I can't be that catalyst. Not with those children around. It's to much to risk. I would rather feel the sting of not seeing them instead of being responsible fer...anything that could 'appen...So I'm not going to call to see 'er or them. I'm not going to call their place, 'er in-laws, or anybody related. If...at some point...when they are older, if they care to ask about me, that will be their choice."

he sighs

"When Colin didn't loik me, 'e 'ad friends. 'e 'ad a loif. Soon as 'e started defending me, all that got thrown away. So I'm not going to pursue proving I've changed to 'im. If 'e wants to find out that's 'is choice. Maybe...maybe this forgetting thing will be a fresh start fer 'im...

I've thought 'ard about this. All I want is for there to be peace on both sides of our daughters family. I...I don't fit anywhere in that equation. And I can't force meself to be a part of that equation.
I'm just telling you this because...I don't know...I guess I needed to say it out loud to somebody who meant something. Now that I 'ear it outloud......I stand by it."

[Pockets]

Moira: I jus' 'ave one question for you. Can you go an' look our daughter in the eyes an' tell 'er that all the effort she put in to actually make a relationship with 'er father, despite the feelings of the family she married, was for absolutely nothin'?

[Jabberwocky]

Ashley:"I already know the answer to that. That is exactly why I can't say a word about this to 'er. I know it wasn't fer nothing. I know she loves me. And even if I'm wrong on that, one thing I know is I love 'er. I always will. Which is why I need to do this. It isn't fair to 'er or to those kids if things are loik this every time I'm around...
You know what gets me though?..."

[Pockets]

The look on Moira's face clearly shows she doesn't agree with Ashley's course of action.

Moira: Wot is that?

[Jabberwocky]

Ashley:"During those twenty or so years...I remember only calling about 5..maybe 6 times. The first time wasn't until something loik three years after."
he laughs ironically
"On their anniversary."
he shakes his head
"There was the odd time where I would be drunk and....something would remind of back when we were all....You know, some stupid random thought and I would call to be all "'ey remember when we...?"...Soon as somebody picked up I got sober enough to realize wot I was doing...So I'd 'ang up and get drunk enough to try to ferget i did it...

I mean...maybe there was times that I was so drunk that I called and 'ave no recollection but...

It wasnt until I realized the friendship their children and ours 'ad...I thought maybe there was 'ope...
And then Alex proposed...I wanted peace between the families. Thats all. I 'ad carried the guilt fer so long without acting on it...Or feeling loik I 'ad...Maybe I over did it? I don't know. I don't know a lot of things...

But after wot 'appened in London, and today...I think part of the reason I need to do this is...

I 'ate the Edwards.

I didn't always, just this past few months. But I can 'onestly say...I 'ate every last one of them....And that is going to keep the peace.

I don't expect you to agree...I don't remember the last time you did agree with me. Roit now, this is the course I'm going to take. "

[Pockets]

Moira: But if you 'ate them so much, why give in to them? You are giving them wot they want and sacrificing spendin' time with your daughter an' grandkids for it. You 'ate them so much that you're lettin' them win, an' abandonin' your daughter the same way you did with your drinkin'. Nice goin'.

[Jabberwocky]

Ashley:"I'm doing it because I don't want 'er 'aving to be in a marriage, raising innocent children, in climate OF 'ATRED! She deserves better then that. They deserve better then that. I know it looks loik I'm abandoning...It...it 'onestly feels more loik I'm freeing 'er...Freeing both kids...They've carried enough of me burden. I won't allow it any longer.

Maybe..one day..a better solution will come along. But until then...I'm willing to make that sacrifice if it means they never 'ave to be part of any of this."

[Pockets]

Moira: If you can't look 'er in the face an' tell 'er that then you are jus' runnin' away a coward. So fine, wotever. Run, Ashley... run like you did into the bottle. That's your answer for everythin' that's 'ard, ain't it?

[Jabberwocky]

Ashley:"I'm not feckin' running I'm.....Oh ferget it. I knew talking to you was a bad idea. Me talking to anybody is always a bad idea because I'm Ashley O'motherfeckin Ryan; kicker of pregnant woman, heavy abuser of alcohol, divorcee, I'm sure theres more. And if I stay then I'm desperately trying to regain something I destroyed or wotever...If I leave, I'm a coward. So either way, I 'ave no good choice. But at least this one doesn't involve my daughter seeing 'er 'usband punching 'er father out again."

[Cryonix]

Meanwhile...Ben and Ewan are overlooking the 'grandkids'. Ben chuckles a bit and pulls out some Cohiba cigars and hands a pack to Ewan...

Ben: Congrats, grand dad.

[Cruel Britannia]

Ewan smiles, taking the cigar, he sniffs it and puts it in his breast pocket.

Ewan: Thankyou..... I take you'll join me and the rest of the menfolk later once things have....hmmmn.... calmed down a little and we have a chance to actually celebrate the occasion?

[Cryonix]

Ben: I would love to...but that's more of a family occasion. I wouldn't want to intrude.

[Cruel Britannia]

Ewan: Nonsense....after everything you've done for Alex and Lexi, you have every right to be considered family....

.....you seem... hesitant to acknowledge that...... what's bothering you my friend?

[Cryonix]

Ben smiles and takes a seat on the couch next to the cribs...

Ben: Honestly...I have to admit, you're right. You know...I take good care of Moira. I love her to death...but...ever since she saw Ashley with Naomi last year, there's been this...hesitation...with her. Almost like her being with me and seeing how I go about things...makes her wish I was him. I'm just worried that she's in love with the idea of being secure...instead of with me.

[Jabberwocky]

Meanwhile Colin lays in his hospital bed alone in the room staring at the ceiling.

He looks over to the side table, something catching his eye. He picks up the photo that Ewan had handed him earlier. For all Colin knew at this point, he always carried that picture around. He stares at the photo for several minutes before putting it down and picking his cellphone up.

send group message

he goes through the list of names, clicking on Alex, Amanda, Micah, Jillian, Ewan, Gabe and Ben..basically anybody who isn't blood and adding them to the group message

"who am i?

he stares at the phone, wishing he knew the answer himself. He clicks send and goes back to looking at the ceiling tiles.

[Cruel Britannia]

Ewan: I understand why you may think that.... Moira can be....difficult to read sometimes..... she's often not very....forthcoming with how he she feels....which is somewhat contradictory of her habit of being brutally honest.....

But she is ultimately brutally honest Ben..... and she is a woman of honest tastes.... she knew exactly what Ashley was before she married him.... but she still married him.... because she loved him..... she is not so easily impressed as to be won over by a bank account and reliability..... there are a million men in the world who could give her that.....she is with you because she wants to be with you.....

I'm sure a part of her still loves Ashley, and always will.... they were married.... but what she feels for him..... more than love..... is regret.... regret that she couldn't "fix" him and Naomi seemingly can....

.... the thing is Naomi.... is very..... patient.... but she hasn't come close to seeing the worst of him yet..... Moira did.....and it was too much..... she wonders if it was her fault..... and I imagine she worries that someday she'll "break" you.

[Cryonix]

Ben: I see. It's tragic that she would have to have that kind of thought. You make a good point, though. I should probably stop worrying about this.

He nods, seemingly having made up his mind...

Ben: Yes. Oh, by the way. I did send over the quarterly numbers for your CBCA venture. I know you've been operating under temp licencing...but all the finalized paperwork should be on your desk. A couple quick signatures and you'll fully be in business. Now...I understand you wanted Erin as an operating exec, correct?


Micah finishes his cigarette and looks down at his chirping phone. He reads the text and texts back...

Micah: You and I need to talk before I go back to Seattle.

[Jabberwocky]

Colin:"you know where i am..."

[Cruel Britannia]

Ewan: If I may suggest you take your own advice? And be honest with her if you have concerns?

...and yes Erin's running the show....

Amanda looks at her phone.... she has the same message as Micah.

Amanda: He's asking the wrong person.... texting me too....

[Cryonix]

Micah: I should go talk to him before we head home. Did you want to go back to the house with everyone? I know you don't want to come with...and I understand that.

[Cruel Britannia]

Amanda kisses Micah and giggles.

Amanda: I'm not just gonna leave you sweetie..... I'm not gonna go in with you.... but I'll be waiting right here when you're done..... OK?

[Cryonix]

Micah: Thanks, babe.

Micah tosses his cigarette butt away as he walks hand in hand with Amanda up to Colin's room...

Micah: Just be a moment or two, hon.

[Cruel Britannia]

Amanda: Take as long as you need.... I'm not going anywhere.

[Cryonix]

Micah smiles at her and walks into the room...

Micah: Colin?

[Jabberwocky]

Colin:"...Micah, if you're not sure of that yourself then I'm more lost then I thought..."

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