001

Gretchen Donimari had been surprised with an unexpected house guest when long-time family friend, Ash Devereaux had decided to visit her on a whim. From the moment she found out that Ash was coming, a pair of butterflies had formed in her stomach and had not stopped flapping their wings. It came from the crush she'd had on Ash from the time she was a young girl. Ash had been one of her older brother's best friends and had always been nice to her. She hadn't seen him in years and despite annoying butterflies causing mischief in her stomach, she was excited to host him. Ash hadn't come alone; his husky Sinatra had come with. Gretchen was a huge dog lover and had her own pittie-mix named Howie.

Even though they hadn't seen each other in years, Ash and Gretchen acted as though they were the best of friends. They bantered back and forth and discovered they had a lot of similar interests, one in particular being anything spooky. After lounging around her duplex apartment for most of the day, Gretchen had the idea that they should go ghost hunting all over Dallas. So, they put the television on for their dogs and went out. They were gone for a total of a couple of hours and after not finding any ghosts, decided to head back— she'd had a spooky incident with a spider web and there had been a raccoon she was certain was a trashcan ghost.

Ash was enjoying her company. He hadn't told her why he'd come— he'd passed it off as a passing whim. He'd told her that he was bored and restless. It had been more than that. He hadn't slept right in weeks. He was depressed and it took everything in him to get through a twelve-hour shift at his job. He was a nurse in a palliative care hospice, working the overnight shift. He'd seen so many people die over the last year that the names and faces had blurred together. The darkness was tainting everything in his life and he was afraid he was going to find himself in the bath, drawing a razor-blade across his wrists sooner rather than later. He didn't tell Gretchen any of this, of course. He didn't want her to look at him strangely.

When they got back to the apartment, it was around eleven and both were in need of a shower. Being the gracious hostess, Gretchen offered him the first shower. While he was taking his shower, she got some snacks ready along with some spiked hot chocolate. By the time she'd finished with those, he was done with his shower and she went to take hers.

Since he'd gotten to her place and they'd caught up, there was a smile on her that didn't want to leave. She'd always known she had a crush on him, but now it felt like more than a crush and it had been awhile since she'd liked anyone like that.

Gretchen had finished her shower and dressed in a pair of black lace pajama shorts, a gray spaghetti strap top that showed off just a hint of her midriff and an over-sized gray sweater that buttoned up the front and came down past her thighs. She threw on a pair of knit socks and after combing through her damp blonde hair, she went out to the living room where Ash was already lounging on the couch with both dogs playing together on the floor.

"Okay so here's the dealio." She said as she went to the couch and took a seat next to him. There was an oversized afghan that she threw over her bare legs. "Netflix and Hulu both have some decent movies for Halloween, also Amazon Prime has some surprisingly good choices. Since you're the guest, I'm gonna let you pick."

An easy smile came to Ash's face, lighting it up. "I'm feeling nostalgic. Something old and cheesy. Maybe the original Nightmare on Elm Street?" He pushed the sleeves of the thermal undershirt he had on up his arms, showing off the tan and muscles there. He'd come here for a quick visit, only. Now that he'd arrived, he was having a hard time with the prospect of leaving on Monday. The easy company they'd immediately fallen into was welcome. "I'm not fussy. Just throwing that out there. If you're up for something else, I'm game."

"We can do Freddy Krueger; I actually have the collection." Throwing the blanket back, she went over to where her movies were; she found the first movie and put it in the DVD player. She wouldn't say it but knowing he was only there for another night or had her feeling down. It had been a long time since she'd connected with anyone like she had with Ash. He was such a good guy and anyone would be lucky to have him in their life. "Just so you know, Howie is a great spook detector." She gave her dog a hug and also one to Sinatra before taking her place back on the couch. She covered herself back up and started the movie.

Ash looked over at her, a teasing smile on his lips as he spoke over the opening of the movie. "I should've brought more pickles. We're fresh out and I feel like I might need something to occupy my hands and mouth during this super-scary movie." He was mostly joking. He didn't always eat pickles. Just the first night they'd been chatting over messages, he'd been munching because there was nothing else in his fridge. He'd stopped buying anything perishable because he hadn't had much of an appetite lately.

"If you are worried about your hands, we could thumb wrestle." She said as it was the most natural solution. "Okay and about your pickles…" She leaned over to where the snacks were on the coffee table and grabbed an unopened bag of chips that were dill-flavored. "I know they aren't pickles, but along the lines?" She held out the bag to him.

"Close enough," Ash replied, snatching the bag from her hands. His fingers grazed hers, the touch so brief it could have been imagined but he definitely felt something that he immediately covered up by noisily opening the bag.

"Huzzah, I did good." The brief touch between them had caused her skin to goosebumps and her cheeks slightly reddened. When she leaned back into the couch, Gretchen made sure that she went just a couple inches in Ash's direction. Their shoulders were almost touching. "So, you're heading back to Mississippi soon. Time kinda went fast."

"I know." He sighed and shook his head slowly, crunching down on a chip he'd just pulled from the bag. "Wish we could just pull a Zack Morris…remember he used to go 'time out' and everything would freeze? How did that even make sense in the context of the show? Was he a God? Was it a Sims simulation of high school? Like...how did dude have the power over that?" Realizing he'd just sped off down the tangent highway, he shook his head. "Shit. Sorry. It's just been a while since I've been around actual coherent people."

"No apologies because look at who you're talking to." Gretchen had always been good at getting on her own tangents. "And as it pertains to Zack Morris, I'm thinking he was a Sim God." Turning her direction onto Ash, she cleared her throat. "I was thinking that when you head back to Mississippi for that last month, I would come with you. Yanno, help you pack and stuff?"

"Oh." The sound was more a soft exhale and then he almost choked on the mouthful of crumbs. Reaching for the glass of water he had on the table, he took a quick gulp and swallowed loudly. When he recovered, he turned to look at her, surprised. "You're serious?"

Thinking that she may have overstepped, her shoulders went up in a quick shrug. "I dunno, I was just thinking that you've got a long drive ahead of you. We're going to be moving anyway. It's not like I've got much stuff here. Anyway, it was a silly idea." Her attention went back to the television as she mentally called herself a dunderhead.

"No. Okay. Wait…" Ash stumbled over his words, turning his whole body towards her. "I wasn't trying to be dismissive. You just caught me off guard. That's all." He reached out and touched her arm gently. "It wasn't a silly idea. Not at all. I'm just… kinda like 'whoa', you know?" He laughed nervously. "It is a long drive. Could use a co-pilot who can actually read a map." He nudged Sinatra with his foot, grinning like an idiot at his own joke, "this guy always wants to take the wrong turn at Albuquerque."

The awkwardness she felt kind of evaporated as she laughed at his joke. "Weird Al kind of made Albuquerque sound like fun. Taking a wrong turn there might not be such a bad thing." Where he had touched her arm felt flush and she exhaled deeply. If there had been any doubt before about how she felt about Ash, there wasn't now. So badly she wanted to lean into him and snuggle against him. "Plus, I would hate for Howie to have to miss Sinatra for too long. I think they're best friends forever."

Ash nodded, considering how the two dogs were snoozing happily at their feet. "It was meant to be," he said quietly, keeping his eyes on the TV for a few seconds, watching while the idiot high school kids tried to outwit Freddy. He didn't just mean the dogs, but he wasn't about to put a label on this thing. The last time he'd ended up living with someone, it had gone to shit so fast it'd made his head spin. "They're gonna be hetero-lifemates now."

"There's no way that we can tear them apart." She studied him and turned her body so that she was sort of facing him. "Yanno, usually I only share my blanket with Howie, but I guess I will make an exception for you. It'll be your blanket too."

"What a generous offer." He chuckled and then gestured to the TV. "Look at this shit. Freddy can supposedly only harm people in their dreams but that schmuck wasn't asleep. It's like all his rules have exceptions. This movie is so poorly written it makes Twilight look good."

"Ugh, sparkling vampires." She face-palmed and shook her head. "We can always turn on some spooky stuff that I have to cover my eyes during." She was trying to figure out a way to physically get closer to him without being conspicuous. "I tend to grab the people next to me when I'm scared… it makes it awkward for strangers sitting next to me."

"Awkward only if they object, I'd imagine." He glanced over at her, returning to his munching on the chips. "Do you go to the movies alone? I always felt weird doing it...like anyone is gonna notice and judge my sad life. Working weird hours and mostly graveyards helps, I guess. Built-in excuse. I think the last one I saw out in the theater was The Ring."

"Actually, I do go to the movies alone. If anyone looks at me weird, I just throw popcorn at them and tell them to watch the movie." She had never been good at making the first move, but was going to try something. "I look at it this way, if there's a movie I want to see but no one else wants to go, then no reason I can't go alone." Casually, as if it was nothing, she leaned in so her shoulder was pressed against his side.

He didn't act like it was weird, instead tilting the chip bag in her direction. "Want some? I dunno if it's just the company or what...but these are delicious."

"Thank you for the offer but I am going to decline." She took another chance and tilted her head so that it was on his shoulder. "The hot chocolate has a lil shot of somethin' in it if you get thirsty." She then rested her arm on his leg.

"Oh, I see how it is. Gonna get me drunk and take advantage?" He laughed, taking the hint and rolling up the top of the bag. He tucked it down beside himself, between his body and the arm of the couch. He checked his hand for any debris and when it passed muster after a dust against his shirt, he reached over and took her hand, bringing it into his lap. His fingers twined with hers, a smile on his lips even though he didn't look at her. "I'll let it cool a little. Don't wanna burn myself. Lukewarm cocoa is still good."

She glanced up at him and saw the smile on his face, one crossing her own. "Yeah, last thing I want is for you to burn your tongue." Gretchen turned so that she was pressed against his side. "Though there are ways to soothe a burnt tongue."

"Like ice. Absolutely." Ash nodded, sneaking a look at her as he grew serious. "Olive oil works too. Weirdly enough. Mayonnaise, if you have the real stuff." He shrugged, "the shit you learn as a field medic. Learn how to improvise. Science rules, I guess?" He tilted his head, looking down at her with a twinkle in his eyes, "if you were implying you'd 'kiss it better', I'm sorry I ruined it by shooting holes in the theory. Wasn't trying to be a smart ass."

"Well you can never know enough first aid stuff." She was looking up at him as her other arm went across his stomach. "You're really comfortable… like better than any pillows. And I don't think my lips have any healing properties."

"That's such a Hufflepuff thing to say," he joked, "if you're a walking disaster, I can save you. I would have gone all the way through med school but…" He shrugged, "school sucks. I did what I could and made it work with the marine field experience. I'm a registered nurse. Certified EMT. Not that you asked. I don't know why I'm rambling." He chuckled, "maybe I'm allergic to cute blondes?"

"Okay, how about I try something." She had never done what she was about to do. "Just take my lead, okay?" Sitting up, she leaned in and pressed her lips against his. She'd never been the one to lead the first kiss. Hopefully she wasn't overstepping.

He kissed her back, immediately, eyes closing and his arms went around her even as Freddy Krueger was brutally murdering some kid in their bed. He was smiling and then he let the kiss deepen, his tongue sweeping her mouth before he pulled back, almost embarrassed. "You were wrong," he murmured, eyes opening to meet hers, "your lips…" he kissed her again. "Mmmm, yeah. Definitely have healing properties."

"You sure that your lips aren't the ones with the properties?" Pulling back slightly, he could see how flushed she was. "It's uh… it's warm in here so I'm just gonna…" Her lips eagerly found his again as she slid off her sweater. This time she slid her tongue into his mouth. Kissing him had been better than she could have imagined.

He was thinking the same thing, and it had been so long since he'd been with anyone that he'd almost forgotten how it all worked. When the next kiss broke, he found his hands were on her bare shoulders. "Whoa…" he breathed, "hi."

"Hi." She was grinning at him as her hands were on his sides. "So… how are you?" There really weren't any words she could think of to describe how she was properly feeling. The smile on her face said it all, though.

"I'm good." He grinned, "poor Freddy. We're ignoring his finest moments."

"I don't feel too bad for him, we did agree this movie wasn't his finest." Her head went back to his shoulder. "Tonight, instead of sleeping on the couch, you and Sinatra sleep in my bed. I can tell you some scary stories in the dark."

"He's not much for beds." Ash replied with a wry grin, "he's a 'guard the doorway and trip you in the night' kinda guy. But I'll take that invite. For sure... but only if you promise you'll come back to Missisip with me?"

"That is a promise I'm happy to make." This felt right, being with him and planning an adventure together. With him, she could see a life together, not altogether sure what that life entailed. She just knew she wanted it to be with him. "Tomorrow, I am going to pack up and tie up loose ends. I kinda feel like wherever you go next, Howie and I are going to be with you. To the end." She kissed him once more before putting the blanket over them and going back to the movie. She didn't know it at that moment, but she just had fallen unconditionally in love with Ash.