"Why do you keep saying was?"

"Um…..when he uh…whe…when he graduated he left for the army. About two years had passed and he always wrote letters. I would get them like every other day. One letter he told me how he became a general and that they were being brought back in from Iraq. He said that in five months, five months and he would be home. That was a year ago. The troops were brought back into Iraq and I haven’t heard from him since"

By the end Ashley was quietly sobbing as she mentally slapped herself for crying in public and Mia had tears rolling down her face. She pulled over and hugged her younger sister to her body whispering ‘its okay’s’ and ‘I won’t leave you’s’ as the girl quieted her sobs to mere hiccups.

"We’re almost there now. Let me drive us and then you can go and crash"

Ashley nodded her head and let go of her sister. Mia began to drive as she sat in her own stew of thoughts. She knows how hardheaded and closed off Ashley Davies normally is. She’s hella happy that she was able to reach the sensitive real Ashley. It was a good sign that she had been vulnerable around her, it meant that she trusted Mia. When she looked at the rocker princess she saw her self at that age, closed off and with walls of ice around her heart. She was determined to fully knock them down.

They sat in a comfortable silence for the remainder of the drive. They pulled up into a wide drive way that faced a two door garage.

"Home sweet Home"

Mia popped the trunk and let Ashley take out her bag before gently closing the compartment and grabbing the bag from her.

"You don’t have to do that"

"Well then you should be flattered that I am willingly doing so"

"Says the girl who was just mocking my lack of modesty"

"Guess I was just trying to cover up"

The reached the front door and before the key was slid in Ashley spoke in a soft, shy, uncomfortable voice.

"Thank you. And I’m sorry for before"

Quirking a perfectly sculpted eyebrow Mia curiously replied.

"Your welcome. And what for?"

"The crying thing. I shouldn’t have made you feel like you needed to hug me or whatever. You probably felt weird or something"

Mia watched, both amused and saddened, as Ashley shuffled from foot to foot during her unnecessary apology. Why should she feel bad about…feeling? Mia knew why and how…and that is why she was saddened.

"Its nothing to be sorry over. We’re sisters, you can show me a little emotion"

Ashley ducked her head in order to hide her embarrassed blush. She nodded before being lead upstairs and to her bedroom. Mia opened the door with a shy grin and allowed her counterpart to go in ahead of her. Ashley stared at the room in amazement.

"They sent me some pics of your room so I got Jamie to fix it up as so."

Ashley walked over to the far right wall and traced the letters of her name that were spray painted into the concrete of it. She then lightly touched each guitar, and the lone drum set before turning to Mia with tears in he eyes.

"Its just like back home. I can’t believe….why would you do this? For me of all people”

Mia simply smiled and turned before disappearing down the hall and to what Ashley could only assume would be her room. The younger Davies decided to brush off the generous act an the fact that her question was never answered and stripped down to her boxers and bra before curling up within her unusually huge bed, exhaustion keeping her from a needed shower. A moment before sleep had fully claimed her she heard Mia bellow from down the hall.

“oh…forgot to tell you, school’s tomorrow. So get some sleep!”

“ugh…you have GOT to be kidding me”

Was muffled into her pillow as she finally let sleep consume her.