Chapter 44: I think I’d like a grandmother

It took Ash a while to gather herself enough to consider the rest of her questions after the bombshells of the morning. She had planned to spend the remainder of the day outside drawing.

Archibald and Octavia came by with Fox while she was drawing, the couple taking a seat on the grass not far from her for a while. At first they just sat and watched, Ash was watching the comings and goings around the pack house, making sketches of wolves an children, of trees and buildings.

She knew that people would come to look at the sketches later on, some parents had already approached and given her their children’s names so that any drawings that Ash made would get back to them, they took photos of the sketches that she had done sometimes and occasionally left her a little treat, a drink or a biscuit.

Ash liked to sit out and interact with the pack like this, the pack house was a hub of activity and there were very few pack members who would never need to come here for something. When her grandparents joined her, she had turned her attention to them, sketching them as they sat and watched her. Eventually they started to make some light conversation, Octavia asking Ash about school, Archibald asking about Micah, they asked if she needed anything, about her friends.

After a little while Archibald stood, walking away a little towards the tree line, watching the wolves training and playing. Ash knew that Micah was nearby with Xavier if she needed them but she didn't feel threatened. Octavia seemed to have got herself under control now.

Ash let her move closer, she wasn't sure she wanted to sit right next to the woman yet, Octavia seemed to realise this however and stopped an arms length from her.

“I am sorry, my dear, that I have upset you. I was so excited to finally get to you, to see you and have you in my arms that I have…. Well I have acted foolishly. I hope you can forgive me and we can move on from here” she told Ash with a small smile on her face.

Ash was shocked by the apology she was given. She felt that Octavia really meant it and Ash certainly did not expect a genuine apology for her behaviour. She would love to have a relationship with her grandmother, it would be the closet thing to a mother she could get.

Because as lovely as Melody was and as well as they worked together on luna things, Ash could feel the disapproval running off her in waves. Melody wanted a more traditional match for her son, and that was fair enough, every mother must have plans for their children. But this is the situation as it was and Ash was going no where.

It took a few minutes for Ash to respond to Octavia. Finally looking the other woman in the eyes.

“I’d like to move forward. I think I would like to have a grandmother. But I don’t want to leave Micah, or my pack. You cant take me away from here and you need to accept my pack, they are family too” Ash was firm, but the vulnerability was clear in her eyes, she needed this woman to accept her terms. She couldn’t explain why she wanted acceptance, but she felt the need to have this woman in her life.

Octavia nodded softly as she spoke “of course, I’m sorry I made you worry about that. We wouldn't want to take you away unless you wanted to leave. But I do want you to know that there other options for you”

The two sat in silence for a while after this. Ash’s sketch pad in her lap. The men seemed to have gravitated towards each other, they were stood by the training field, their voices drifting over on the late September breeze, the air beginning to chill a little around them.

Ash was starting to get a little cold, she turned to Octavia, to invite her up to the office for a hot drink when she saw Loki jogging over with a hoodie in his hands

“Micah sent me to get this for you… Zander wont let him ignore your needs even if he is busy” Loki told her with a chuckle “I pulled it out of the laundry, so it shouldn’t smell too much like me”

Ash growled at him playfully “I will hold you down while he skins you” she told him with a laugh. Loki planted a kiss on her head and bounded away laughing. Their earlier fight clearly forgiven.

“You get on well with the brother?” Octavia asked curiously “He is a good friend?”

“Loki, yes we get on well. He hugged me the first time we met, he never treated me like I was broken. He knows me somehow, we just kinda, click” Ash said with a shrug, pulling on the hoodie and rubbing her arms a little

“He’s a joker. Like this” she pulled at the hoodie a little “It will still smell like him even though its clean, which means I will smell a little like him and that will drive Zander insane, I’ll have to shower before bed to get rid of the smell” Octavia smiled, clearly not sure about Loki. The pair lapsed into silence again for a while, still a little awkward together. They didn’t know how to interact with each other.

“You are very talented” Octavia said softly, nodding towards Ash’s sketch pad. She wanted to be closer to her granddaughter, wanted to know her, wanted her to open up a little, but she knew it would take time for the girl to trust her.

Octavia was just about managing to restrain herself from throwing her arms around Ash and telling her just how much she was loved and how she, Octavia, never wanted to let go again. Usually she had no trouble containing her emotions, she was the ice queen, yes she knew what people said about her, but her granddaughter seemed to have unlocked everything.

“I think I would like to be close to you too, Octavia, but please don't try to hug me… I’m not sure I’m ready for that” Ash replied.

Octavia’s jaw dropped, she didn't know how to respond at first. How had Ash known that was what she had wanted to hear? After a moment or two, she managed to pull herself together and formulate a response “Just let me know when you are ready… but Ashlyn, how did you know that is what I was thinking about?”

Octavia had turned to look at Ash more as she spoke. Her eyes wide and puzzled as she tried to work out what was going on with her granddaughter.

Ash gave a small shrug “I don’t know, it just happens sometimes, like how I know things when I touch people, well everyone but Micah I guess”

Octavia nodded, understanding. Ash had merely read her. It was an. Ability that very few could control, and since Octavia was feeling more emotional it had to make it easier. “I will help you with your shields, that will help with your mental abilities.” She told Ash matter of factly.

“Actually, I want to ask you about something else… if thats ok?” Ash said tentatively, pushing to her feet and motioning for Octavia to follow her, knowing that Micah will likely head inside too to stay close by.

They settled in Ash’s office/ studio a few minutes later. The kettle boiling ready to make a hot drink. The walls were being slowly filled with her artwork. There were drawings and sketches of Micah and Zander, Greyson, Loki, Mark and his wolf, Ash had yet to get him to share his name, Xavier, Emery, her friends and others.

There were also images from her past and her imagination. Ash motioned to one of the comfy chairs in the big bay window, indicating that Octavia should take a seat. “What was it that you wanted to discuss with me child?” she asked kindly.