Violence of Summer, chapter 46

"I didn't know what to expect from this to be honest with you Chaz. No one could've planned for any of this. It's just the way it is you know? Maybe life really is planned out for you."

Tre and Charlie were walking around the mall while Ashleigh ran off to look at various shop windows as the two adults talked casually. Charlie hadn't realized how much she had missed having her funny obnoxious, wild friend until he came back to see her after three years. Since the moment she opened the door and they saw each other they both knew the spark between them was still there.

Tre had been in New York for almost a week now. Ashleigh had taken an instant liking to him immediately. Already Charlie could see the connection the two have them had made as they passed their secret jokes to each other leaving Charlie clueless but happy at the same time.

"It's stupid to say that." Charlie replied to Tre's previous statement. "If you want something so bad you go out there and get it right? I mean look at you guys, ten years ago you were playing people's basements. I was there Tre remember?"

Tre sighed with a smile starting to appear on his face. "Hey those days were fun huh?" he chuckled nudging Charlie. "Remember that guy's house that ended up getting bacon all over the walls, 'cause some jackass went raiding through his fridge. The cops had to get called the fight got so intense."

Charlie laughed at the memory of their reckless youthful days. "How could I forget? Billie almost got a black eye by some motorcyclist and Mike jumped in grabbed the guy's beard before realizing the dude was like 7'0!"

The two adults laughed as Ashleigh ran back over to them pulling on Charlie's jeans. "Mommy look it's the fair tomorrow! Can we go can we go!?" she asked enthusiastically jumping up and down.

Charlie smiled and looked up at Tre. "A fair!? Charlie how dare you keep me in the dark about this! You never told me about a fair, you know how Tre goes hyper on fair's!" Tre said loudly making Ashleigh giggle furiously at the childish adult.

"Yeah that's why I didn't tell you, you crazy ass." Charlie laughed hitting Tre on the arm. She picked Ashleigh up and looked at her beautiful brown eyed daughter as Ashleigh widened her eyes with excitement.

"Can Tre come too mommy?"

"I dunno, Tre, can you come to the fair with me and this little rascal tomorrow?"

"Why would I want to pass up a brilliant opportunity of escorting two beautiful ladies like yourselves huh? Anyone would be crazy not to take up on the offer." Tre said over dramatically.

Charlie just shook her head at her outrageous friend grabbing his arm with her free hand as they walked further through the mall. "C'mon let's go eat. I don't know about you two but I'm starving."

***

Once the three of them had been to McDonalds (at Ashleigh's request may I add) they arrived home with a fast asleep four year old as Charlie carried her upstairs changing her into her pajamas and attempting to get her into bed.

Meanwhile Tre went into the kitchen starting to make some coffee. For the first time in months, no years, he felt some genuine happiness. Something inside of him had been missing ever since Charlie left, and he was here to get it back, whatever it was.

"Mommy, is Tre staying here forever?" Ashleigh whispered as Charlie tucked her into bed.

"I don't know honey." Charlie replied honestly. She rested her hand on the pillow next to her daughter's head caressing her soft skin tenderly.

"If I'm really good do you think he'll stay?" Ashleigh asked hopefully.

Charlie chuckled lightly. "Well, it doesn't look like you have to win him over anymore, I mean you two have already created your own little language I don't understand." Ashleigh started giggling as Charlie sat up and kissed her forehead, "Now get to sleep sunshine, or you won't be able to get up tomorrow morning."

Finally, Charlie retired downstairs leaning against the wall next to the sofa for a few seconds watching Tre slumped with a mug of coffee. She studied his profile for a while with a smile in the corner of her mouth. He was still beautiful to her. He still had the cheekiness about him that she fell for every time. Had he finally come to rescue her, she wondered. Had he come to rescue her from this rut she was stuck in, for the first time in three years she felt warm, she felt safe just with him a few feet away. It was his absence that made her feel so secure.

Tre spotted her in the corner of his eyes as he turned his head to look at her and smiled. "Your coffee awaits Madame."

Charlie came forward sitting on the sofa next to him. "Why thank you so much." She said poshly. "Wow, what with the five star meal at McDonalds and wonderful home made coffee I feel treated like a princess!" Charlie joked.

"It's how you should be treated." Tre said putting his mug of coffee down on the table in front of the two of them.

Charlie looked at him as she sat back into him. "Tre, how is it back in California?"

Tre looked at her frowning slightly. He shrugged after a while sighing. "It's home. Same old you know?"

"It's not the same though is it? I mean, it's different now."

Tre looked ahead of him taking in a deep breath. "Sometimes, I walk along the beach and, there are kids, playing around and having fun, without a care in the world and... I see us. It's so hard seeing that and thinking about, stuff I've been through the past ten years. Sometimes it haunts me Chaz... " he whispered looking at her. He leant forward rubbing his face tiredly. "I just wish I could... leave it all behind it but, I can't. I just wish I could scream it all out sometimes. Like I, I need to tell someone everything."

Charlie leant forward and rubbed Tre's back gently moving closer to him. "Tell me then." She said softly.

Tre breathed in heavily rubbing before speaking. "It's harder for a man... " he started. "You know it's like you don't really realize it 'till you hit thirty and then one day you just wake up and it's like a huge boulder has just fallen on top of you and all of a sudden you realize that it's you their all gonna turn to in the end. And you've got all this responsibility to like... take care of the family and be the man you know?" Tre paused briefly before continuing taking in a shaky breath. "But... it was a bit different for me because... I couldn't just wake up and do it... there were... obstacle's and shit and it's just... I feel like I've failed. In everything. And... " Tre's voice broke slightly as his eyes glazed over and he felt a huge lump form in his throat as he put his hand on his forehead. "I try and do things right, but it turns upside down and I just end up fucking up my life and other people's lives as well... " Tre tried really hard to hold back his tears as he breathed in heavily. "You think you can mend things and it won't be so hard but it is and... it's hard to make your wife try and trust you again after... all the stuff you've done and said. Words cut deep you know? And when you're young you don't quite realize what you're saying or doing... and there was me thinking I could have anything or anyone I wanted... and just like that one day I can't be the father I was supposed to be... " Charlie watched Tre as he rubbed his face and the tears fell from his eyes. "You're daughter is crying in your arms because her mommy and daddy don't love each other anymore and she's too young to understand... and I can't explain because it was me who fucked it up and it's my fault that she's so confused...but... " Tre stopped speaking as he put his hand over his face and Charlie took his hand and held it tightly. He wiped his eyes with his free hand as he continued sitting forward avoiding eye contact with Charlie.

"But Tre, you're starting new now. I mean Mona still loves you... when she's old enough she'll understand... what about Frankito and Claudia?"

Tre shook his head running a hand through his hair. "It won't work Chaz. It never does for me."

"How can you say that yet?"

"It's been decided. We don't love each other. How can I be with someone I don't love?" Tre turned his head to look at Charlie in the face. Charlie brought herself closer to him resting her chin on his shoulder.

"You're a great father."

Tre looked at the floor. "How come I can't do it right then? Every time I try... I just fail. It's like; there I go making a mess of everything again."

Charlie took Tre's face making him look at her. He sat up slightly so he could look at her properly as she held both sides of his face in her hands. "What are you talking about? Tre you haven't failed. Wake up and look around you! You may have made mistakes... we all learn from them that's what mistakes are for! You're just human. You were named one of the most successful rock bands ever? Isn't that an achievement? Despite the shit you may have gone through with your wives... your kids still love you. Isn't that something to be proud of? Despite the fact that you may have fucked up you've still got your five best friends by your side? Is that failing?"

Tre watched Charlie's face taking her hands. "I may have lost two of them... " he whispered.

"You haven't lost them." Charlie sighed. "You've spent the last fifteen years in each others faces Tre. Sometimes you just need a break."

"Yeah we've had breaks Charlie. This is more than a break. It's serious... "

"Well why should you be blaming yourself for it?" Charlie said angrily. "It's just as much Mike and Billie's fault if the three of you aren't talking anymore! You all must've said some pretty harsh stuff to each other for you to just stop talking Tre. I'm not stupid. We all fucked up. One time or another."

Tre leant back on the sofa looking at Charlie holding out a hand for her to take. Charlie placed her hand in Tre's open palm as he brought her closer to him embracing her tightly.

"I'm sorry... " Tre said quietly after a while.

"What for?" Charlie asked as she sat up and looked at his face.

"For... " he paused slightly. "For being a dick... for every time I might have said something that hurt you. Whether it be about Lisea or Sid... or Ricky... " he finished. Charlie pursed her lips together looking down at her lap for a few seconds. "I wasn't fair sometimes... "

"Neither was I... " Charlie whispered. Tre lifted his back up from the sofa sitting up right bringing himself closer to her. Charlie looked up realizing Tre's head was closer to hers than it was meant to be. He moved in closer bringing his hand up to her face pulling her in. Their lips barely touched as they both breathed heavily and Charlie moved her body closer to Tre's feeling his body heat transfer to hers. Finally Tre placed his lips over hers as they exchanged a heated deep passionate kiss that lingered for a few minutes. Before Tre had a chance to pull away a small voice suddenly erupted from the side of the couch.

"Mommy... "

Charlie pulled away from Tre quickly turning around to see Ashleigh stood by the door holding her rugged teddy bear tightly in her arms.

"Ashleigh what's wrong hunny?" Charlie said moving away from Tre slowly.

"I had a bad dream... " she mumbled looking at Charlie and Tre sitting on the couch.

"Okay well let's go tuck you back into bed then... " Charlie said lifting herself from the sofa. She looked back at Tre briefly smiling at him as Ashleigh took her hand and they made their way out of the front room.

Once Charlie had got Ashleigh back into bed tucked up and warm she sat down beside the bed to give her kiss. "Mommy... " Ashleigh suddenly said quietly.

"Ashleigh... " Charlie replied as her little girl giggled hugging her teddy close to her.

"Why were you kissing Tre?" she asked with a cheeky smile on her face.

"I was kissing Tre because... " Charlie started. "Because Tre was feeling upset, so I gave him a feel better kiss. You know like when I kiss you when you're feeling sad?" Charlie said smoothing out the covers in Ashleigh's bed.

"But mommy!" Ashleigh burst, continuing to giggle. "You were kissing Tre on the lips! Like growed up people kiss."

Charlie wasn't quite sure how to answer that as she contemplated a quick response. "Well hunny that's how grown ups kiss if they feel bad. Now look if you want to go out to the fair tomorrow you better get some sleep because it's very late."

Ashleigh pouted disappointed with that explanation as Charlie reached to turn off the bedside lamp. "Can Tre come up and tuck me in mommy?"

Charlie looked down at her daughter sighing slightly. "Now why would Tre want to tuck in a wretched little rascal like you huh!?" Charlie said tickling Ashleigh as she squealed under the covers.

"Please mommy please! I promise I'll sleep!"

"Okay then... let me go see if he'll even consider tucking a naughty little thing like you in."

"He will mommy!" Ashleigh giggled sitting up in bed.

"She wants you to tuck her in... " Charlie smiled as she stood in the doorway of the living room watching Tre flick through the channels on the television. He turned his head to look at Charlie and chuckled lightly.

"If her diva commands... " he said poshly turning off the telly standing up.

He walked past Charlie slowly as Charlie smiled to herself going over to the sofa completely exhausted. It had been a long day... and she knew it was going to be a long day tomorrow as well...

Tre slowly opened the door to Ashleigh's room seeing she had already fallen asleep. He went over to the bed softly trying to be as quiet as he could as he turned off the lamp. He paused for a moment looking at the small girl, in the bed who resembled Charlie so much it was almost like looking at a miniature version.

Could this be mine? Tre thought to himself. They could be family, him, Charlie and Ashleigh. It seemed perfect... almost to perfect. He tried to shake off the feeling. He was almost scared of thinking of something too good to happen to him after all that had happened to him in the past. But what if he really could make this right?

He started making his way downstairs as he walked into the living room. He caught Charlie who had fallen asleep on the sofa as he laughed lightly going over to her. He took the blanket that was hanging over the chair and laid it down over her body. He watched her for a while, almost in awe.

"I love you Charlie... " he whispered. "But if only it was that easy... "

***

"I'm never buying candy floss again; I got it stuck all over my fingers!" Tre moaned as Ashleigh laughed at him running into the house.

"You say that every time and you always buy it again and again." Charlie chuckled closing the front door behind her.

"Well I blame Ashleigh. She tempted me." Tre said frowning at Ashleigh who was stood on the stairs.

"I did not!" Ashleigh giggled.

"Did too!" Tre shot back sticking his tongue out.

"Did not!"

"Did too!"

"You know when you start acting anywhere near your age you can help me start dinner." Charlie said looking at Tre as she walked past him.

"Yes mommy, I'm hungry!" Ashleigh said bouncing up and down.

"I'm hungry too." Tre announced. "... hungry for you." Tre whispered in Charlie's ear as he walked past her in the corridor going over to Ashleigh. Charlie stared after him un-able to say anything as she just watched him. "Now come on Ash, let's go start a pillow fight on your mom's bed, I'll race you."

"Yey!" Ashleigh cheered as she raced upstairs.

"Hey, don't you dare I just changed the sheets this morning!" Charlie shouted.

"You'll have to fight me to get your own way honey." Tre smiled as he ran upstairs. Charlie threw her bag down running after him.

"Frank Edwin Wright, get off that bed now!" Charlie panted as she came to the door way of her room.

"Ah, Chaz come on show me your fun side!"

Ashleigh crept up behind Tre grabbing a pillow and hitting him round the back of the head completely off guard. Charlie cracked up going forward as Tre grabbed Ashleigh and started tickling her furiously.

Charlie then jumped onto the bed grabbing Ashleigh's previous weapon hitting Tre over the head again as Tre looked up at her his jaw dropping. "Sorry Ashleigh, but it looks like I have more important issues to abide too. Like attacking evil women!" Ashleigh crawled off the bed still giggling as Tre picked up another pillow as him and Charlie began a furious pillow fight war and Ashleigh watched them all the while cheering and jumping up and down. Finally Tre threw his pillow aside grabbing Charlie off guard as she squealed.

"Hey!" Ashleigh shouted. "What about the pillows?"

"It's okay Ashleigh I never hesitate on attacking your mother." Tre smirked.

"Hey don't encourage her!" Charlie said smacking him playfully on the arm. Ashleigh laughed at the two adults as she stood up on the bed picking up the pillow.

"Mommy can we attack Tre now?" Ashleigh said bouncing up and down.

"Hey that's not fair! Two ladies against a man that's harsh!" Tre said pouting as Charlie snickered picking up her pillow hitting Tre over the head with it. Tre squealed as Ashleigh began laughing hysterically jumping up and down hitting Tre with the pillow as Charlie joined in and Tre yelped from beneath the two of them.

Suddenly there was a loud ring on the doorbell as they stopped hitting Tre and Ashleigh threw her pillow down. "I'll get it!" she said brightly jumping off the bed running down the corridor. Charlie turned her head back to look at Tre and couldn't help but laugh at him. His hair was all messed up from being hit with the pillow various times and he had a few bits of white feather stuck to his hair.

"You know I should get you back for that... " Tre said quietly raising an eyebrow grabbing Charlie's wrists as she giggled trying to pull away from his grasp.

"You're just shamed you got beaten by me and my four year old daughter!" Charlie said as Tre pushed her back onto the bed pinning her down.

"Oooh that's tough!" Tre said as she smiled up at him as she lay beneath him. Their heads closed in slowly as Charlie felt Tre's chest rise and fall with the deep breaths he took.

"Mommy!" Ashleigh suddenly shouted from the corridor as the two of them turned their heads. Suddenly Ashleigh appeared in the doorway of their bedroom looking at the two of them with wide eyes. "Look whose come mommy... " she said quietly. Charlie pushed Tre off her as she sat up... and beside Ashleigh he appeared in the doorway... she swallowed hard as she looked up at the man behind her daughter...

Ricky.