Ashton's POV:

Our alarm going off made me whine as Carter turned it off and rolled out of the bed, careful of the little girl between us.

"Do we have to?" I mumbled.

"Yes, get up." She yawned. "We have a lot to do."

I got out of the bed as well and followed her downstairs where she made us coffee while I went over to the suitcases and opened the tops.

I sat down on the floor in front of the big suitcase with my name on the tag and began to put the stack of clothes and other personal items inside.

Carter brought me my cup of coffee and then sat down on the floor next to me, putting her new clothes and old clothes into the suitcase.

"I'm exhausted." She very cutely yawned again.

"Me too, but we'll have plenty of time to catch up on sleep on the plane." I placed a now stack of black skinny jeans in the suitcase after Carter had gotten on to me that wearing the same two pair over and over again was basically gross and had made me get more while we were out shopping.

"Oh great, you're going to be all snoring on the plane and people are going to look at us."

I widened my eyes as I looked at her.

"Okay finish your coffee before you keep talking." I told her in a mock snippy tone and she sarcastically blew me a kiss before going back to folding her new shirts.

"So this party tonight, it's nothing big right?" She asked me.

I had told her about the party last minute in order to hopefully make sure she didn't freak out over nothing.

"No it's small. It's just a going away party for the band. It will just be family and friends at Calum's house. Nothing to worry about." I assured her.

"Okay." She sent me a smile.

We packed for a few more minutes until we heard two pairs of feet coming down the stairs and Gracie and Ender walked into the room.

"Mommy! Daddy!" Gracie called out when she didn't see us in the kitchen.

"We're over here!" I said and they both came over, Ender sitting next to Carter and leaning on her.

"Can we have bacon with breakfast?" He asked her and she told him yes before getting up to start cooking.

"Ender start packing your suitcase for me please." She instructed him and he began to make trips up and down the stairs with his clothes to start packing them.

I put on cartoons for Gracie and went to help Carter with breakfast after handing Gracie her sippy cup.

"You guys might want to see this." Ender came over and told us as Carter and I had just finished cooking and we followed him over to the suitcases where Gracie was now curled up inside of mine, asleep.

"Oh my gosh." Carter giggled.

"That's hilarious." I laughed quietly and got out my phone.

I took a few pictures of the cuteness, Gracie's head resting on my shirts, before going to video her.

"Gracie." I reached over and shook her shoulder. "Wake up baby girl."

"Gracie." Carter called out to her as well and Gracie opened her big brown eyes, smiling when she saw us.

"What are you doing?" I asked her with a little laugh.

"Napping." She answered in her innocently high pitched voice and we all burst into laughter.

"Why are you napping in Daddy's suitcase and not your bed?" Carter asked her and Gracie shrugged her little shoulders.

"I don't know."

"You don't know?" I laughed.

"Come on lovey, it's breakfast time." Carter reached in to pull her out while Gracie cheered because it was breakfast time, her favourite time, and I stopped recording so we could all go eat.

I made sure to post the video after we ate before we went back to packing. I hurried to finish my bag since I had less than Carter so I could begin packing up Gracie.

"Okay, I need you to go up to your toy chest and bring me your toys." I told Gracie and she did that while I began to fold her clothes into the large suitcase on one side and put her toys on the other.

"Put the ones she uses the most in her duffel." Carter said as she zipped up her luggage and went to grab the black duffel from the living room to pack a few outfits, her cosmetics, and other items such as her phone charger, medicine, and things like that.

I made sure to have all of our passports sitting on the counter next to my wallet so I wouldn't forget.

Carter spent the next hour battling it out with Gracie over what toys went in the duffel and what toys went in the suitcase, until they were all packed and Carter laid down on the sofa for ten minutes to relax for a second while Gracie stood next to her asking questions.

I finally dragged the child away and sent her outside to play so Carter could have a breather.

Gracie came back in and went to help Carter fold her blankets while I assisted Ender in finishing packing his large suitcase.

As we were putting it with the others the front door opened and Ari and Jason walked in.

"Knock knock!" Ari smiled at us.

"Hey." Carter went over to give her a hug.

"Need any help?" Jason asked.

"Wanna help me get the kids bikes?" I asked him and he agreed, going outside with me to get Ender's bike and skateboard, Gracie's tricycle, and Ender's skates.

We set those off to the side and went back in where Carter and I went upstairs with Gracie to get dressed.

We came back down and sat at the bar with Ari, Jason and Ender.

"We brought mail too." Ari said and Jason took a bag before pulling out some envelopes. 

"Thanks." Carter said as she took the stack of mail from Jason and as she passed by I noticed an envelope from Stanford on top.

She made her way to the counter by the fridge next to the garbage can and began to flip through them.

"The blue one." Jason mouthed to me and nodded towards Carter and I noticed a light blue envelope in the stack.

My eyes were carefully trained on her as she came to it and an immediate hateful glare crossed her face.

It lasted for a few moments before her head snapped up.

"Hey Ender, why don't you and Gracie take Bear for a walk." She said and the two of them ran outside with the dog.

Ari got out of her stool and acted like she was walking to the bathroom while Jason pulled out his phone and began to "show me something" while Carter watched us, and when she turned away I glanced up to watch her throw the other trash envelopes away and then glare at the blue one again before ripping it to shreds and throwing the pieces away.

We all went back to acting like nothing happened and when Ari came back I pulled out my phone and texted her.

'Distract her.' I sent and Ari read the message before putting her phone away.

"Oh Car, show me what you're going to wear to the party tonight!" Ari said.

"Okay! So I was thinking my jean shorts and this new white top I got." Carter said as her and Ari walked up the stairs and the moment they were out of sight I slid out of the chair and hurried to the trashcan, Jason following.

We quietly rummaged around until we found all the pieces, going quickly and making sure they weren't coming back as we dug around.

"Get an envelope." I whispered to Jason who ran to get one and we began to shove the pieces inside it.

I found the last pieces in the trash and shoved them in the envelope as we heard Carter and Ari coming down the stairs.

Jason folded the envelope in half and pushed it into his pocket just as they hit the bottom step.

"That's cute." Ari smiled.

"Okay, so how about lunch before we have to go?" Carter suggested and we all agreed.

Car went over to the refrigerator and Ari walked past me and Jason, Jason carefully passing the envelope to Ari which she shoved into her purse.

I felt guilty for invading Carters privacy like that but I just needed to know what she was hiding from me. We were supposed to be husband and wife and not have any secrets from each other, and by the looks of it this was a pretty big secret.

My eyes were still carefully watching Carter as she prepared lunch with the help of Gracie and Ari.

Carter really did act like she hadn't just hatefully torn up a mystery letter just minutes ago.

She was back to her normal, cheerful self, and I figured I shouldn't weigh on this for I knew she would catch on.

Today was going to be difficult for her nonetheless and I needed to be there for her and forget the letter for now.

As everyone was sat around the kitchen eating lunch I reached over to put my hand on her back, rubbing up and down just to show her I was there for her and she sent me a genuine smile.

There was a car coming to pick up our luggage that would be going to the airport ahead of us and as we were cleaning up there was a knock at the door and Carters shoulders dropped.

I answered the door for her and let the driver who normally picked up the bands luggage inside and over to where we had separated the suitcases into two stacks and to the one for him to take of all the larger suitcases.

Jason and I helped him take them to the van that already had what looked like Michaels bags in it and made a few trips until they were all gone, and so were our bikes and things, and then it was time for us to pack the jeep so we could leave.

Everyone pitched in to help pack my jeep with our duffels for each person, Gracie's little Frozen suitcase, Carters bag with all of her things, my backpack, and Ender's suitcase.

When I got back into the house from the final trip to the jeep, Carter and Ari were explaining to Gracie why we couldn't take the whole house with us.

"We'll be back to see the house when we come back for Aunt Ari and Uncle Jason's wedding." Carter assured the little girl before standing up and looking back at me.

"You ready?" I asked her, not wanting to rush her, and she nodded her head.

"Yeah, let me just do a walk through really quick to make sure we didn't forget anything." She said and I watched her walk upstairs.

I felt awful for doing this to her.

I was taking her away from her home.

Five minutes later when she hadn't come back down I sighed and stood up from the sofa, heading up there to find her, Ari giving me a sad look.

I opened our bedroom door to see her sitting on the bed, her knees drawn up to her chest and her forehead resting on them, hiding her face from me.

"Baby?" I said softly once I had closed the door behind me and she looked up. Her eyes were wet and she sniffled.

"I'm sorry." She wiped at her eyes.

"No, it's okay. I know this is hard for you." I kept my tone soft and she wiped at her eyes again.

"I just feel like I'm doing everything that goes against my instincts, like I'm doing everything my parents wouldn't have wanted me to do." She murmured and I moved forward, kneeling down in front of her and placing my hand on her leg.

"Car, your parents would have wanted you to do whatever made you happy. You're not abandoning the business, you're not doing anything wrong, you're just going off to spend time with your fiancé, brother, and daughter. There's nothing to be ashamed about baby." I moved a hand up to her face to touch her cheek. "You know we're coming back. This isn't forever."

She nodded.

"Is it too late to back out?" She asked and I was taken aback.

"Do you not want to go anymore?" I frowned.

"I was trying to make a joke." She said and sat up a bit straighter. "I guess it didn't go over very well."

"Not really." I chuckled and she smiled lightly. "Hey," I stroked her cheek to regain her attention, "I'm right here with you okay? We're in this together. I want you to know that you have me there to lean on if you need to, and to be quite honest I think you do."

"Yeah." She sniffled as she nodded again. "Thank you."

"Of course." I smiled and got back up so I could kiss her forehead. "I love you."

"I love you too." She smiled with her lips closed and then stood up.

I held her hand as we checked our room and then moved on to the other rooms upstairs to make sure we had gotten everything we would need and then headed downstairs.

"Okay then, I guess this is it." She said once we hit the bottom step.

"You okay, doll?" Ari asked.

"Yeah. Yeah." Carter nodded but I could detect that waver in her voice that meant she was about to cry.

"Come on, I'll walk you to the car." Ari came forward and took Carter from me, holding her hand.

They got as far as the front door before Carter turned around, looking around the space and sucking her bottom lip between her teeth.

She let out a loud breath before lightly stomping her foot on the floor and bringing her hands up to her eyes.

"I can't do this, I can't I can't I can't I can't I can't." Carter said before walking out of the house, the door banging closed behind her.

My mouth was gaped open. I didn't know what to do.

Was this hurting her that badly?

Did she need to stay here?

I moved forward to go find her but Ender stopped me.

"Can I talk to her first? I think I know why she's upset." He said and I nodded.

He left the house and I let out a sigh.

"Don't blame yourself." Ari stepped forward and patted my arm. "Carter will be okay, she just needs time to work through this. She's been through a lot in this house."

"Yeah." I nodded. "I just wish I could help her."

"You are. Ashton you're there for her 100%, but sometimes you can't make someone's hurt go away completely. She's a broken girl Ashton, and she's been that way for a long time, but you've helped put her pieces back together, put Ender back together, created a family and a home with her...she needs you."

I nodded and sat down on the bottom step, holding an oblivious Gracie in my arms while I waited for Ender and Carter to come back.

We sat there for several minutes until the front door opened and Ender walked back in.

"She's at the car, she's ready to go." Ender said and I nodded and he went over to Bear who was sitting on the floor.

"Bye Bear. I'll see you soon okay?" He pet the dog on the head, scratched behind his ears and then gave him a hug.

Holding onto Gracie I made a sweep through of the downstairs before grabbing my phone, wallet, and Gracie's teddy bear back pack to place on her shoulders, putting her Olaf, Mr. Carrots, and Ellie the elephant in her arms before leaving.

As we walked up the docks and into the car lot I saw Carter leaning against the jeep looking completely miserable.

"Oh I'm going to miss you." Ari went forward to hug her. "We'll talk everyday so we can complain about those two boys and help plan my wedding."

"Of course." Carter gave her a smile as she hugged her back.

"Love you doll."

"Love you."

Jason then came forward to hug Carter as well while Ari went to Ender and I set Gracie and all her toys down before she skipped to them to get her hugs and kisses as well.

Once Carter had said her goodbyes she got in the jeep, closing the door, and I frowned before hugging Ari and Jason goodbye and getting Gracie into her seat.

When our little girl was buckled in and ready to go I got in the drivers seat, looking over at Carter who honestly looked like she was going to be sick.

"Carter are you sure-" I began but she interrupted.

"Just drive, Ashton." 

"Car-"

"You said you'd be there for me, well you can do that by driving the car."

"I need to know that if I drive this car away you won't hate me."

"I just need to get it over with okay? So just go. I'll be fine." She dropped her head down and I stared at her, mouth agape, wondering if I was doing the right thing.

Ender placed a hand on my shoulder and nodded at me so I sighed and put the keys in the ignition, starting the car.

I waved to Ari and Jason as I backed out of my parking spot and then drove out of the lot onto the main road.

Once we hit the street Carter reached over for my hand which I took and held tightly, rubbing soothing circles on the back of her hand with my thumb.

We got onto the ferry and Gracie fell asleep for her nap while Carter sat there for a few minutes before speaking to me.

"Today was my grandpas birthday." She kept her eyes forward.

My jaw dropped.

"Car...I'm so sorry I had no idea-"

"No it's okay." She turned to give me a little smile. "You didn't know. I'm not mad."

She squeezed my hand and sat there in apparent deep thought.

"He would have wanted me to live my life, all of them would." She said and I didn't speak, just nodded. "So that's what I'll do."

I gave her a closed lip smile and she turned to give me the same before leaning her head on my shoulder.

I pressed a kiss to her hair and ran my fingers through the strands to try and soothe the heart ache she was feeling.

"I love you." I murmured into her hair and she whispered it back to me before going silent, leaning against the console between us.

We were quiet while we waited on the ferry, the two of us not saying anything for over an hour until she spoke.

"I want chips."

Her voice was so soft and childlike and I couldn't help but start to laugh at her, Carter joining in.

"You have the weirdest cravings at the most random times." I commented and she shrugged.

"I'm a growing child." She said and I laughed

"Oh great, I have three children and I'm only twenty." I joked.

"I win. I'm nineteen and have three so bite me."

"Okay." I smirked and moved my head down to her shoulder lightly pressing my teeth into her skin.

"Ow!" She moved away before smacking my head. "Vampire."

"Don't test me sweetheart." I leaned in to graze my teeth against her ear and I felt her shiver. "And I'm not a child."

"I literally tied your shoes for you this morning." She moved so she could look at me, rolling her eyes but I could see the smirk on her lips.

"I was dressing our daughter!" I defended myself, Carters smirk widening into a grin.

"Oh yes, use her as an excuse." She teased and I giggled at her before leaning across the console to kiss her.

"I love you baby, so much."

"I love you too. Thank you for helping me today. Honestly I did a lot better than I expected."

"That was better than you expected?" I widened my eyes.

"I thought you were going to have to carry me to the car kicking and screaming." She said and I frowned.

"Well if that's what the plan was then yes you did much better." I said and she cracked a smile.

"See, I can surprise you." She winked.

I glanced back to see both Ender and Gracie asleep, and leaned over the console.

"Prove it."

She guffawed at me, her jaw dropped but she smiled anyways and put her hands on my face before attaching our lips.

"Ooo." I smirked as she moved her lips to my jaw, Car kissing her way down to my neck. She had defiantly turned into quite the little seducer.

Carters breathing sounded in my ear as we switched so that I was now kissing her neck and she moved her hands to my hair, tugging on the strands which she knew I liked.

She brought me back up so we could continue kissing and I was getting a little more excited than I should have, knowing we couldn't go very far, but I couldn't help it. When it came to Carter I had no self control.

"Daddy?" Gracie's little voice piped up from the back seat and Carter shoved her hands against my chest as I moved back to my own seat. "What are you doing?"

"I was just uh...telling Mommy a secret." I hurried for an excuse while Carter tried to calm herself down in the passenger seat.

"I need to go to the bathroom." Gracie kicked her feet.

"I'll take you sweetie." Carter said and leaned over to kiss my cheek.

"Tease." I muttered and she sent me a wink as she opened the car door to go get Gracie from her car seat.

I watched the two of them walk inside where there were snacks and restrooms and spent the next several minutes calming myself down.

They came back a few minutes later and Carter got Gracie back in her car seat and got out a snack from her back pack for her to have.

We spent the rest of our time on the ferry aimlessly chatting, Gracie trying to say all of the fruits in her fruit snacks.

When Ender woke up we were off the boat and on my way to my mums house but when we arrived she wasn't there since she was at Calum's house preparing for the party with the other moms.

Carter went to start getting ready as soon as we arrived, standing in what used to be my bathroom curling her hair, and for some reason seeing her in there made me really happy.

"So tell me about your friends." She called out to me.

"Well I mean what do you want to know? They're fine I guess. I haven't really seen them in a couple months." I shrugged as I walked into the bathroom and sat on the counter.

"Why not?" She began to wrap another section of hair around the curling wand.

"Well I was a little busy helping my girlfriend raise a four year old girl then asking said girlfriend to marry me." I chuckled.

"Oh." She scrunched up her nose as she smiled. "Did you miss them?"

"I don't know." I shrugged again.

"How do you not know? It's going to be so hard for me without Ari there, she's literally the one person I tell everything to." Carter said and I widened my eyes at her. "Besides you of course." She corrected herself.

"Mhmm." I raised my eyebrows. "And I guess I was just focused on other things. I mean they texted asking if I wanted to hang out but I had other things like daddy-daughter dates, taking Ender to footie practice, and spending time with you that I wanted to do instead."

"That's sweet." She smiled. "But are you excited to see them?"

"Yeah I guess."

"Okay I thought I was supposed to be the one in this relationship with no friends." She set her curler down and folded her arms across her stomach.

"I've just changed a lot in the past few months. They all want to go party and get drunk and sleep with girls every night and that's not the life I want to live. I want to settle down and be a husband and a dad, that's the person I am now."

She smiled and then moved over to me, standing in between my legs.

"So Mr. I want to be a husband and a father, did you ever tell your friends about me?"

"A couple." I answered honestly. "But at the time our relationship was very new and I was still trying to make sure you weren't mobbed the moment you walked out your front door."

"How considerate." She smirked before leaning in for a kiss.

"Daddy! Can we play dress up now?" Gracie called out through the house.

"Time to go play dress up, Daddy." Carter gave me another kiss and I rolled my eyes at her before hopping off the counter. "Get her for real dressed for me too, the blue jean coloured sundress with the little straps and the cinched ruffle at the top."

"Got it." I gave her a thumbs up.

"And the white sandals!" She called after me.

"Okay!"

I shook my head, lightly laughing as I walked into my old bedroom where Gracie was pulling clothes out of bags and I went to go stop the mess from becoming more and get her dressed so we could head out to the going away party.

--

It made me sad writing Carter leaving the home she grew up in.

Don't forget to add the second book Haven Harbour: Beyond the Sea to your libraries and read the prologue!

Just two more chapters left!

Much love xx -M