I was extremely anxious to see what Ashton's fans had said about our photo, and the moment he came home from the grocery store I pounced, wanting to know everything

"Babe, let me set down the bags first." He laughed.

"Have you already looked?" I asked as he carefully set the plastic bags on the counter.

"Not yet." He said and then pulled out his phone. "Okay, come look."

I flew to his side and looked over at his phone as he opened his app and went to the photo.

"387,422 likes." He bumped into my shoulder. "Do you want to read some of the comments?"

"Yes." I nodded and he began to scroll through them.

A majority of them said things like "OH MY GOD" or "CUTE" but there were a few that said extremely rude things.

"Looks like we got a good approval." He smiled.

"I'd say so." I scrolled through a few more.

"Let's check Twitter." He said and moved onto another app, this one I had been on before.

"Hey, we already have an article." He laughed.

"Read it." I smiled and he opened a new page on his phone.

Drummer of the popular pop-punk band 5 Seconds of Summer, Ashton Irwin, has finally confirmed his relationship with his "Mystery Girlfriend".
He posted a picture of himself and the girl on his Instagram with the caption 'C & A'  which leads fans to believe that the girls name starts with a C.
Irwin posted the photo just hours after video of him, his girlfriend, and a little girl, eating lunch was posted by fans in which you can clearly hear Irwin telling his girlfriend that he loves her.
Despite the fact that no one knows her name, 5SOS fans now have confirmation of Irwin's relationship, and if we do say so ourselves, he looks pretty happy.
We wish C & A all the best!

"That's so sweet." I smiled and Ashton pressed a kiss to my cheek.

"That was really sweet. I told you they loved you."

"It's funny that they don't know my name."

"That is pretty funny." He chuckled.

Ender came home a few minutes later, excited that Ashton was there.

"How was practice?" I asked him.

"Good. Coach Robin is pretty excited for you to come work with the varsity team. But all the older guys keep talking about you and it's gross." He made a disgusted face at the end.

"Talking about me?" I laughed.

"Yeah. They keep saying you're hot and stuff and it's so weird."

"Hey, I think your sisters hot." Ashton said as he put his arms around my shoulders from behind me.

"That's so gross." Ender scrunched his face up.

"What you don't think I'm pretty?" I gasped playfully.

"Pretty? Sure. Hot? No way." He gave me a look like he knew everything.

"I'm gonna agree to disagree with you there, mate." Ashton smirked, pressing a kiss to my cheek.

Ashton let me go so he could start on dinner while I helped Ender with his homework and watched Gracie play with Bear on the living room floor.

Ashton was cutting onions for whatever he was making us when his phone began to ring.

"It's Michael." I glanced at the screen.

"Answer it." He said.

I hit accept and pressed the phone to my ear. "Hey Michael."

"Dude, you sound like a girl."

"That would be because it's Carter."

"Yes it would. Put the phone on speaker would ya?"

"Okay, you're on." I said and set Ashton's cell on the counter.

"What's up?" Ashton asked.

"Why the hell did you post a picture of you two on Instagram? Are you that stupid?" Michael scolded us.

"I called Adam and he said it was fine. Carter and I decided to go public." Ashton rolled his eyes.

"Just making sure. Didn't want management all on your ass about this."

"Hey, watch your language there's children in here." I warned him.

"Oops. Anyways. Happy for you guys. I guess this means I can post the picture I have on my phone of Carter kicking Calum's...rear end area.... at footie."

"Knock yourself out bro." Ashton laughed. "Talk to ya later."

"Bye Michael." I said and hung up the phone for Ashton.

"I'm interested to see this photo." I laughed.

Ashton just shot me a grin and continued to cook dinner for us.

After a delicious meal of home made enchiladas I helped Ashton clean up the kitchen and then got Gracie in the bath before we watched a movie.

We watched Harry Potter and the Deathly Hallows Part 1, with Ender and Gracie falling asleep on Ashton midway through.

I laid my head on his lap pulling Gracie to me and Ender leaned over as well, all of us using Ashton as a pillow.

I heard the click of his camera as he took a photo, then felt his fingers start to play with my hair.

When the movie was over I sat back up, lifting Gracie and putting her in her little sofa bed, then waking Ender up enough to send him up to bed as well.

Turning off the television Ashton and I walked up to my bedroom, quickly changing into pyjamas and then getting in bed.

He was pulling me closer to him when I spoke. "I want one of those Instagram things."

"You do?"

"Yeah. I want to post photos of us too and see what you and everyone else posts. It looks fun."

"Are you sure? I mean I'm okay with that, but people are going to be mean because they are jealous, and I don't want you to get your feelings hurt." He said in a warning tone.

"I wanna do it. If I'm going to be a part of this life with you then I want to go all in." I said, confirming what I wanted.

"Alright then. Hand me your phone."

He began to download the app and then helped me set up an account, deciding my username to be 'carterchase'. Once I had created the account he showed me how to follow him and I did, then taught me how to like our photo.

He followed the other boys for me then helped me choose a profile picture, which since I didn't take selfies unlike Ari, we used a photo of him and I. Then after that was done he pulled out his own phone and followed me back.

"There you go, you're all set up." He smiled and passed me back my phone.

"Thank you." I said happily and began to scroll around, trying to figure out how to use the new app.

Ashton scooted down in the bed and laid down, his arm going across my middle while I sat up, still messing around on my phone.

"Babe, it's like midnight, let's go to sleep." He mumbled after about twenty minutes.

"Fine, fine." I said and locked my phone, setting in on my nightstand and burrowing myself into the blankets.

Ashton accommodated for my body and we went to our normal sleeping position. Quickly, snuggled up in his arms, I fell to sleep.

When I woke up Ashton was already awake.

"Morning." He smiled down at me and leaned into press a kiss on my lips. "Go look at your Instagram."

I picked up my phone and my screen was crowded with so many notifications.

"Turn your notifications off." He said and I did that before going over to my Instagram.

Since I only followed four people it was easy to find the picture Ashton had posted of us this morning.

I was asleep, my head on his chest and my hand clutching his shirt like always, he was awake though, his head turned to the side pressing a kiss to my nose. Underneath he had captioned it 'Sleepy Car'.

"Aw." I smiled. "That's cute."

"I tagged you in it too."

"You did?" I asked.

"Mhmm. Go look at your profile."

I did as he said and when I went to my page, it said I had 157 thousand followers.

"Woah. I haven't even posted a photo." I gawked.

Ashton laughed at my expression.

"We can do that later, but now I need caffeine." He pressed a smiling kiss to my forehead then climbed over me to get out of the bed.

"Ugh, I don't wanna get up." I whined, Ashton chuckling as he pulled on some socks.

"Come here." He said and flipped off my blankets, scooping me up into his arms.

"Hmm, you should do this every morning. I could get used to this." I hummed as I wrapped my arms around his neck to pull myself closer to him.

"What did I get myself into?" He sighed with a peek of a grin and I kissed his cheek contentedly.

He set me down once we reached the kitchen and then it was my turn to hold a small person named Gracie.

"I think I'm the cutest boyfriend ever, what do you think?" He asked as I was handing him his coffee.

"Hmm, I've had cuter." I smirked.

"Very funny, not true, and not what I meant. Come look." He showed me his phone where he had posted a picture of me holding Gracie from behind and said 'Mornings.' underneath it.

"Aren't your fans going to get mad if you keep posting these pictures of us?" I asked.

"Some might. But hey, it's my account and my relationship so I can do whatever I want." He shrugged.

"Sir, yes Sir." I laughed and he took my waist in his hands.

"I like when you call me Sir." He whispered into my ear, tickling my skin with his lips.

"I'll keep that in mind." I winked and he squeezed my hip as I moved away from him to start breakfast.

Finally after we had got Ender awake, ready, and to school, Ashton took me and Gracie back to the house because I really needed to practice my drills for next Tuesday.

"Need some help?" Ashton asked me as I sat on the ground in front of the ball, tying the laces for my running shoes.

"No, I just need to practice. Thank you though." I said as I finished tying my shoes and then stood up.

I bent down to touch my toes and started to stretch.

"Or we could do something completely different?" He said very suggestively and I rolled my eyes, knowing his were glued to my ass.

"Ashton." I shook my head and straightened back up, grabbing the back of my foot and pulling it up behind me so that it touched the back of my thigh.

"What?" He laughed. "Come on, let me help stretch you out."

I turned around and placed my hands on his chest.

"I love you. But I really need to practice. These boys are going to think they're better than me and if I don't prove them wrong on the first day then I'm never going to get the job." I leaned up on my tip toes to press a kiss to his lips.

"You know, I'm not really sure about those boys. It sounds like they've taken quite the liking to you."

"What's that supposed to mean?" I asked him, taking a step back.

"Just that it sounds like they are trying to hit on you. They're horny teenage boys Car, they're going to try and get in your pants."

"Honestly Ashton, you worry too much."

"Really? Didn't stop that Dylan kid."

"Oh my God." I turned away from him before I started to get mad, but he took my arm and pulled me back.

"What if you just ask the head coach to change your team?"

"Because Ashton. I'm not scared of a few stupid teenage boys. But if you're that insecure about me leaving you for a high school football player then I can't help you." I snapped at him, my tone darker.

"I'm insecure? You're the one who freaked out when you saw pictures of Jenna online." He flung back at me.

"Yeah I did! She's a freaking model Ashton. When was the last time you saw me in lace lingerie for a photo shoot?!" I exclaimed.

"Well if you're that insecure about me leaving you for a model then I guess I can't help you." He said back, his voice low.

I stood back staring at him, fury in my eyes.

"How dare you?" I seethed at him.

"How dare I? How dare you?" He fought back.

He took a deep breath like he was trying to calm himself down. "Maybe I should go."

"Maybe you should." I said back, my arms folded across my chest defensively.

He opened his mouth like he was going to say something but then turned around and walked away in the direction toward the car lot.

Annoyed now I sat back down on the ground, resting my head on my knees and letting out a strangled scream .

How had this even happened? One minute we were joking around and the next we were fighting with each other.

We had made progress these past few days and now it got yanked away in the matter of a minute.

But if he honestly thought that I would ever cheat on him then maybe we shouldn't be in a relationship.

Huffing, I stood up and began to practice, starting to take out my anger on the ball.

Ashton didn't come back or try to call by lunch, and when I had to pick up Ender from school I had to phone Trey's mom to see if she could bring Ender home which she thankfully could.

By the time dinner rolled around I had made up my mind not to call him. If he wanted to apologise then he could call me. But it seemed like all he ever did now was apologise.

I wished I honestly never found out who he really was. I liked thinking he was just like me, not some prince who had fallen in love with a commoner.

After I had a silent dinner with the kids who knew something was up but thankfully none of them asked about it, I got Gracie into the bath and then into bed on the sofa.

Ender was sitting at the counter working on homework so I decided to go up to the crows nest to think.

Climbing out the upstairs hall window, I made my way onto the roof and scaled the wooden ladder to the circular perch. Like I normally did I kicked my feet off the side, letting my legs dangle.

I let out a loud sigh and fixed my eyes on the ocean in front of me. The moon was bright tonight and there wasn't a cloud in the sky, showing off the expanse of stars.

The light reflected off the boats in the marina below me and the silver plating of my name painted onto the side of my boat flashed in my eyes.

Life was a funny thing.

It can take so long to build up a life or a relationship and then suddenly everything can get taken away from you in a second.

My parents were ripped away from me, so were my grandparents. Ender was suddenly my responsibility and so was Gracie who I hadn't known existed till not even two months ago. And then Ashton had appeared in my life and it felt like maybe everything was going to get better, and now he was being taken away from me too.

Maybe it was me, since I apparently seemed to be the common factor in all of this.

I sniffled as I felt my eyes start to water.

What was I going to do?

I was planning to forgive Ashton for what he did and hopefully move on from this, but now after our fight today I felt like we took a major step back and I didn't see the point anymore. Maybe it just wasn't meant to be.

I heard the creaking of the wooden ladder behind me but didn't bother to turn around.

A pair of legs came around mine and so did a pair of arms that wound around my waist. A head was placed on my shoulder and my body was held tightly.

"Please don't cry." Ashton spoke softly and I unravelled at his words.

I let out a little sob and hastily tried to put myself back together but was failing.

"Why won't this get better?" I cried and he shushed me.

"I'm sorry." He whispered. I could feel his forehead against the skin of my neck.

"You seem to be saying that a lot lately." I commented through my flash flood of tears.

"I know baby, I know."

It took me a few more minutes but I was able to stop crying enough that I could breathe normally.

"I didn't mean what I said earlier. I was just annoyed and I was just thinking about my worst fear and I took it out on you and that wasn't right." He spoke to me.

"Your worst fear?" I asked him, my voice still whimpery.

"Losing you to another guy. There's so many guys here that could give you the life you deserve, the life your parents would have wanted for you. You deserve that."

"You think I want to marry a small town boy and never leave this town again for the rest of my life? Ashton, one of the reasons I'm with you is because you make me feel like the whole world is out there for me. I'd never left the island till you came here. I chose you over them because you're the life I want. You have to see that."

"And you have to see that too." He said to me. "I chose you because you're real and honest and beautiful and you're strong. You have a family and a home and a job and I want that lifestyle. I want you because you make me see that there's more to life than just my job."

"That fight was stupid." I mumbled.

"So stupid." He agreed and I felt his lips pucker slightly against my neck.

He sat there for a bit longer, just holding me to him before he spoke.

"After we fought today, I went back to that bed and breakfast and cried. I seriously sat on the floor of that room and I cried, because I was so angry at myself for everything I've done. I wanted call and say that you deserved better than me and that I would leave, but Carter I'm selfish. I'm so selfish, and I just don't want to give you up."

"Then don't." Was all I said.

"I won't. I'm here until you push me away."

I leaned against him, my head dropped back against his chest.

"I think we overlooked what happened because we both wanted it to be over with, but we didn't get to fix it. And I'm scared that if we move on without really patching up what happened, then one day something will come up and we are going to end up worse because of it."

"Then let's talk about it."

"Okay."

"I didn't tell you about the band because I didn't want you to be hated on by fans. I didn't want paparazzi following you and the kids around everywhere. I didn't want my management to try and use you to promote us. I was trying to protect you from all of that, and instead it ended up hurting you, and I'll never forgive myself for that."

"But now I feel so left out because everyone else knows about the band and your life except for me. It makes me feel like you don't want me involved."

"I want you involved, but I don't want to put you in the spotlight and subject you to this industry I work in. It wouldn't be fair to you."

"I understand that."

"You do?" He asked.

"Yes. I know what you were trying to protect me from, and I understand why you did what you did."

"What made you think that way?"

"If I tell you will you not get angry?" I asked in a much more innocent voice.

"Depends." He replied.

He was going to see it anyways, so I might as well just tell him.

"Earlier today I got on the Instagram we made for me, and there were messages on there telling me to kill myself and to die and that I was just a gold digging whore. And when I read those it clicked why you didn't want me to know about it. But there were also some really nice messages too, telling me that we were cute together and that we looked in love and all of this other stuff, and I also realised that even though there's inevitably going to be trials and hard times between us, if we love each other then we'll make it through."

He exhaled loudly and I could feel his muscles tense and relax against my back.

"Okay one, I'm putting your account on private so you don't have to see that ever again. Two, when did you get to be so wise? And three, I think you're absolutely correct. I'd be concerned if we weren't fighting about what happened. Everything was like this perfect story between us, and I think this was the reality we needed to show us that it's not always going to be that way."

"You're right."

I sat up a little straighter, fixing my gaze back on the boat.

"Do you remember the first time I brought you up here?" I asked him.

"Yes. It was on our first date, and I clearly remember thinking "This girl is making me climb out a window onto a roof, she's something else." And you are, you're something so entirely wonderful."

"I miss that. I wish I could go back to how we were then. When we were happy and carefree and there was so much less on my mind."

"Me too. But I also want us to move forward. I want us to eventually get past this and start working on us and a life together."

"I'd like that." I sighed.

I could feel his breath tickling my neck.

"Can I ask you a question, and don't freak out, but just listen?" He asked me.

"I don't think anything could freak me out anymore."

"Okay then." He said and took a deep breath. "If I were to ask you to marry me, what would you say?"

"In like five years if we were still together, I'd probably say yes." I shrugged, not really thinking.

"What if I were to ask you right now?" He asked, his thumb beginning to stroke my side.

"I'd say you were crazy." I laughed lightly. "And that we were too young and we've only been together for not even five months. But as I've learned in this relationship, time isn't really a factor in most decisions."

He chuckled against the skin of my neck.

"Okay, well what if I told you I had a ring in my pocket?"

"Then I really would say you were crazy." I laughed again and then sat up straighter than a board, my head turning around. "You don't, do you?" My eyes were wide and my heart was starting to beat faster. If this wasn't a joke...

"I'm hypothetically not telling you until you answer my hypothetical question." He said, a smirk on his face.

"Ashton Fletcher Irwin, if you have a ring in that pocket I swear to God..." I said deadly serious.

By the massive grin on his face I couldn't tell if he was kidding or not.

"Hypothetically-"

"If you say that word one more time I'm going to punch you in the face." I glared at him through narrow eyes.

"Hypothetically," He gave me a teasing smile, "if I were to propose to you, what would you say to a long engagement?"

"A long engagement?"

"Yes. Like we would be engaged, but we would still be working on our relationship and starting to build our life together. We wouldn't have to get married for a year or two or three, not until you were ready."

"What about you being ready?"

"Carter, I'd marry you tomorrow if you'd let me."

"You're so sure about us, why?"

"What did I tell you earlier Carter? I'm selfish. I'm not letting you go without a fight, and I'm sure as hell never breaking up with you. You could probably commit murder and I'd still be head over heels for you. And I'm as sure of that as I am as sure of the fact that I love you more than anything else in the world, and that I have a ring in my pocket ready to prove that to you."

My hand flew up to cover my mouth.

"You're serious?" I gasped.

"As serious as I'll ever be about anything in my life."

"Oh my God." I managed to get out while I tried to find breath.

"Come here." he said and turned me around so that I was sitting in front of him. "Give me your hands."

He laced his fingers through mine and pulled them into his lap.

"Halle Carter Chase..." He started and my head dropped down, not believing this was happening.

"Hey, look at me, look at me." He said and tilted my chin up with his fingers then reclaimed my hand with his.

"Halle Carter Chase, you are the most beautiful, amazing, and loving girl I have ever met and ever will meet. And I know I've made some mistakes, and I'm not saying that I won't make them, but I will never hurt you again. That I can promise you. I've never loved someone as much as I love you, and I want you to know that. You're the best thing that's ever happened to me, and I want to be the best thing for you. So..."

He let go of one of my hands and reached into his pocket, pulling out a small black velvet box.

This was happening, this was actually happening.

"So if you'll have me, I promise to love you and protect you for the rest of my life. And it may not be for  two years or five years, but one day I want to be in front of all of our friends and family, and make you my wife, but only if you say yes. So Carter," He squeezed my hand.

Letting go of my fingers he opened the box to reveal a gorgeous silver band with intricate designs carved into the sides, and one single diamond on top.

My eyes were wide and misty, and my jaw was dropped open in complete shock.

"Will you marry me?"

My heart thumped loudly as is stumbled over itself. The air was suddenly gone from my lungs and I felt a feeling of elatedness that I couldn't describe.

It was every girls dream come true.

This was completely insane.

We were arguing with each other not eight hours ago, and now here we were, Ashton asking me to marry him.

Yes, this was all happening so fast, and it was the craziest thing that has ever happened to me, but I loved Ashton.

Looking up into his eyes I was taken aback by the overwhelming amount of love in them. He was my world and I was his, and as simply crazy as this was, I wanted it.

"Yes." I whispered, not believing this was actually real and a breathtaking smile graced his lips and I let out a little smile of my own.

"Can I put it on you?" He asked me, barely able to talk because he was smiling so much.

"Yes." I nodded. Taking my hand in his again, he took the ring out of the box, took the promise ring off my finger and moved it to my right hand ring finger, then slowly slid the engagement ring onto my left hand.

Once he had done this I looked up at him and placed my hand at the back of his neck, pulling him closer to me so I could fit his lips to mine.

His hands went to each side of my face as his lips moved against mine more passionately then they ever had before.

"Oh my God." I breathed between kisses, a laugh lingering in my words and I felt his smile as he kissed me again.

"I love you." He rested his forehead against mine. His eyes were looking down into mine ever so beautifully.

"I love you too." I said, my voice breaking and he attached his lips to mine again.

My eyes were wet with joyful tears and my mind was consumed by thoughts of our future together.

When my lips were cherry red and I was out of breath, I leaned so that my head was against his chest, my eyes looking back at the water.

"Who would've thought four months ago, that you and I would be engaged?" I asked, the word "engaged" feeling different but good on my tongue.

"I don't know, but I don't want to imagine it any other way." He hugged me to him, his lips trailing kisses across my forehead and cheeks.

Tilting my head up I pressed my lips to his jaw and he moved down so he could kiss me properly. My hand went to his cheek as we did, the skin soft beneath my fingers.

Tonight had been everything I hadn't expected it to be.

In the span of two weeks Ashton and I had told each other we loved each other, made love for the first time, had almost broken up after I had found out he had been lying to me about who he was, barely gotten us put back together when I told him I trusted him again, fought again, and then got engaged.

If my mother was here she'd probably be smacking me around the head telling me I was crazy, and I didn't care.

I was 19 and stupid, but I was in love.

--

SURPRISE!!!!

betcha didn't see that coming!

and don't think that this is the end because there's A LOT more left to this story!

when I originally planned this story I didn't have the idea that they would get engaged but once I wrote it it felt so right and I think you guys will see why as the chapters go on.

as always, vote and comment if you'd like and I'll have the next part up soon!!

much love xx -M