A soft tugging at my shoulder woke me from my slumber and my eyes creaked open, immediately closing as the harsh light burned them.

"Babe, wake up." Ashton's quiet giggle came from above me and I groaned.

"No." I rolled over so that my face was buried into the pillow.

"I made breakfast." He cooed in another attempt but I just weakly waved in acknowledgement.

"What if I bring you breakfast in bed?" He tried again and I nodded in agreement.

Ashton chuckled in satisfaction and then left. I sat up, stretching my arms to the ceiling and then using the hair tie on my wrist to pull back my messy hair.

He came in a few minutes later, tray in hand, with two plates and two glasses on it.

I scooted over in the bed so that he could sit next to me and let him place the tray on the bed before leaning over to kiss his cheek. "Morning."

"Morning, Car." He kissed my temple back and then we both reached forward to begin eating.

Last night had been so fun and so good for the both of us. I felt like it was what we needed before he left for almost a month.

I remembered watching the beginning of 'About a Boy' , snuggled into Ashton's lap, and then the rocking movement as he carried me up to bed.

Glancing at him from the corner of my eye I watched him as he sipped his orange juice. The thought of him actually liking me still blew me away. It was beyond me that he would want to be here with me like he was now, sitting here in my bed eating breakfast, or be with me when we were playing with Ender and just hanging out. It surprised me that he liked me enough to meet his mother and have dinner with my best friend to prove his feelings for me. He actually wanted me to be apart of his life, and that I couldn't truly fathom.

I leaned my head on his bare shoulder and played with the frayed end of his white tank top.

"What are you thinking?" Ashton chuckled.

"That I'm really happy." I smiled into his tan skin.

"I'm really happy too." He smiled down at me. "I don't want to leave."

"Don't talk about it." I shook my head and buried it into his shoulder.

He giggled his glorious laugh and then pulled me into his lap, careful of hitting the tray, so he could hold me there.

"Thank you for meeting Ari and Jason last night. It meant a lot to me." I said as I felt him run his hands up and down my arms.

"Thank you for inviting me. It meant a lot to me that you wanted me to meet them." He squeezed slightly at the top of my arms then began to rub back down. "I'm excited for you to meet my mum, she's going to love you."

I smiled at the thought. "I hope so."

"I know she will." He pressed a light kiss to my hair.

"Ender should be home any time soon." I sighed and Ashton hugged me tight against him before releasing me from his hold.

We went downstairs to clean up our breakfast mess and Ashton threw a few things in his suitcase and set it by the door.

While he was turning on the television I went to start some laundry and finish the grocery list, Ender and I would go after we dropped Ashton off.

I had just shut the lid to the washer when I heard his phone ringing from the living room and a quiet groan followed after that.

"What is it, Luke?" He asked in a slightly edgier voice than he was only minutes ago.

I stepped out of the laundry room quietly so I didn't disturb his call but froze when I saw him standing in the living room, his back toward me, one hand with the phone pressed to his ear, the other wrapped in his hair making a fist.

"I know mate, I know." Ashton sighed.

I moved into the kitchen, pretending to act busy.

"Soon. I promise." Ashton continued.

In an attempt to pretend look for something in the pantry, the back of my hand knocked over a can of peaches and it tumbled to the ground with a loud clank.

Ashton turned around to see what the noise was while I stared at him wide-eyed and guilty for attempting to eavesdrop.

"I'll talk to you tonight okay? I gotta go." Ashton hung up and then made his way over to me.

"You okay?" He asked as he handed me the now dented can.

"Yeah, just clumsy I guess." I innocently half smiled.

Ashton chuckled and closed the pantry for me.

The sound of the front door banging open caused us both to turn around to see Ender bouncing in, full of energy.

"Hey little bro!" I grinned at him and he dropped his bag, bounding across the kitchen to give me a hug.

"Car!" He hugged me tight before flinging himself right onto Ashton.

" 'Sup little mate?" Ashton ruffled his hair. "How was your night?"

"It was fine! We played monopoly and Mr. Riley taught me how to juggle!"

"Sweet! You'll have to show us!" Ashton grinned at him.

"How long until you leave?" Ender scratched at the back of his head.

"Not for a few hours. Don't worry, you have plenty of time to show me." Ashton assured him.

I sent Ender upstairs to unpack his stuff and made myself another cup of coffee.

Ashton was now engrossed in his phone, pulling a sour face at whatever had appeared on his screen. Something had caused his mood to change from jubilant to displeasure and that thought made me frown.

"Ash." I spoke quietly, hoping to draw his attention elsewhere but he didn't seem to hear me.

"Ash." I said a little louder but still got no response.

"Ash." The word came out firmly and he looked up, eyes wide and his mouth agape like a fish.

"You okay?" I asked and he sucked in a breath like he was going to say something but after a moment closed his mouth and nodded.

"Yeah. Sorry, just was reading a work email." He shut off his phone and tossed it onto the counter. "Let's go have some fun, okay?" He put an arm around my shoulder as I walked towards him and we were met with an energetic Ender who was ready to seize the day.

We spent the rest of the morning and afternoon playing outside until the sun peaked high in the sky and I knew Ash would have to leave soon.

Checking the time on my phone I knew I was right and I let him know, a frown crossing his face.

"Oh wow, it's time already." He slumped his shoulders forward.

"Yeah." I sighed and Ashton followed with one of his own and went inside to collect his phone and duffel.

Reluctantly all three of us got on the bikes and rode down to the ferry landing. I couldn't escape the feeling of dread the entire ride there.

Ashton's boat was still unloading its previous passengers when we arrived so we had a few minutes to say our goodbyes.

"Bye Ender. Be good for your sister okay?" Ashton hugged the little boy and have him a pat on the head.

"I will! Will you still call everyday?" Ender asked.

"I promise." Ashton held out his fist for Ender to bump with his own.

The moment Ashton turned to look at me and our eyes met, my bottom lip poked out and I didn't even try to hide it.

"Babe." Ashton tugged me forward to wrap me in a hug. His embrace was warm and inviting and if I could stay there forever I would do it in a heart beat.

Our one week separation was easy but this time is was triple that and I was scared of how we would make it through.

A lot could happen in three weeks.

"I don't want to let you go." Ashton said into my hair and I nodded into his chest.

"Then don't." I said into his shirt and felt his body shake as he chuckled.

"I wish I didn't have to."

He ran his hands up my back and to my hair, running the tips of his fingers through the ends.

"I'm gonna miss you." He said again and I tilted my head up to look at him.

"I'll miss you too." I gave him a half- hearted smile.

He leaned down and pressed his lips to mine. It wasn't feverish or heavy but sweet and gentle, to show me that he cared.

The loud honk of the boat horn sounded off behind us and Ashton sighed into the kiss.

"Call me when you get home." I traced my fingertips across his cheek as we parted.

"I will." He nodded. "I'll see you in three weeks."

"See you." I smiled again.

He leaned down to give me one more kiss then picked up the duffel he had dropped to the ground and swung it over his shoulder.

I pulled Ender against my side and we watched as Ashton made his way up the boat ramp, turning around and giving us a wave before he disappeared inside.

I didn't want to watch the boat leave so I quickly got on my bike, Ender following suit, and rode away from the landing.

Ender caught up to me and rode next to me, both of us trying not to be sad.

Letting out a big sigh I shook off the feelings that came along with Ashton leaving and decided that I couldn't let them control my life for the next few weeks until I saw him again.

I had a business to run and a brother to raise, there wasn't time to wallow in my misery.

We rode into the town and to the grocery store, parking our bikes outside. The list was a mile long in my pocket so Ender and I split up so we would take less time.

He was off getting milk while I was picking out fruit when my phone rang; my heart skipping a beat when I read Ashton's name on the screen.

"Hey!" I answered, immediately smiling.

"Hey, babe!" He answered back. "I just landed from the boat and I'm on my way home. But I'm going out with the guys tonight so if I'm not on my phone then that's why."

"Oh alright! Well have fun and tell the boys I said hi for me."

"I will." He chuckled. "I miss you already." I heard him mumble and I couldn't fight the smile at my lips.

"I miss you too. Now go have some fun and I'll talk to you soon okay?"

"I'll call you tomorrow morning." He promised.

"Alright. Good night, Ash."

"Night, Car."

We hung up and I smiled to myself placing my phone back in my pocket then turning around to continue choosing apples but a figure in front of me caused me to jump back.

"God! Ender you scared me!" A hand flew over my heart while Ender began to laugh hysterically.

"Was that Ashton?" He asked after he finally caught his breath.

"Yea, he just docked in Sydney." I threw a few good apples into a plastic bag and then set them in the basket.

"I can't wait to go to the city, it's going to be so much fun!" Ender grinned.

"Me too. And it will be like a vacation after the first week of school." I smiled and he grinned even wider if it was even possible.

"I need to get my school supplies too, Car!" Ender gasped.

"I know, I have it all planned out for this week." I patted him on the head gently. "Now go get the eggs and meet me on isle 6." I sent him off.

In two weeks Ender would start school and a week after that we would be in Sydney with Ashton and his mum.

Three weeks, just three weeks.