We're a Family

(13) Just Don't Hurt Her

"Oh yeah?" I mock putting my hands on my hips.

"That's not something you get to-" BANG BANG BANG! Knocks someone on the door.

"Open the damn door Llyod!" I  recognize Ashlyn's angry voice from the hall. "I can hear you two fuckers from my room! Open up or I swear I'm going to kick it in!" Carli groans before huffing and yanking the door open. 

"What do you want Harris?" she snaps. Ashlyn glares and shoves her backwards. "Hey!"

"What the hell did you say to Julie?" she growls holding her by the collar of her shirt. "I damn well know it wasn't Hope who made her cry!"

"I didn't say anything to her!" breathes out Carli trying to pull away from her. "Let go Ashlyn!"

"Not until you fucking tell me what you said to JJ!" insist Ash gripping her shirt harder. "Ali's down there trying to console your kid who's obviously shaken up by something you said!"

"Ashlyn." I say calmly stepping in. She's about to make Car pass out if she doesn't let up. That may not be a bad thing. What? No Hope! Shit you can't think that! "You're choking her. Relax okay?"

"But-" I narrow my eyes at her making her sigh and give in. As soon as she releases her Carli high tails it to the other side of the room. "Sorry Hope." she grumbles keeping her head down.

"Oh you can keep yelling at her." I tell her crossing my arms towards Carli. "You just can't kill her."

"Oh alright." smirks Ashlyn cracking her knuckles. Carli's eyes widen and she starts to back up even more. 

"Woah woah woah!" she says putting her hand up. "You can't punch me either!"

"I don't see why not." I mumble turning away and going back to my makeup. I hear her huff so I smirk while putting on some blush. 

"I'm not going to hit you Llyod. Chill out scaredy cat. Geez." says Ash smoothing back out her suit. "I still want to know what the hell you said to that kid."

"Can you watch your language please?" I question. "Damn Ashlyn you sound like a sailor."

"If I'm just a sailor you're the fucking captain." she sasses while fixing her cuffs. I spin around in my seat and raise my eyebrow making Carli laugh. "Are you going to tell me what you  said or not?" Car and I both look at each other before explaining the argument to Ashlyn. "Hope you can't do that and Carli you can't say that infront of her."

"I don't think it matters anymore." says Carli. "Hope said I'm not her mama anymore." Ashlyn rolls her eyes.

"Julie makes that decision, not her." she states shaking her head. "Hope I know you were her mom first, but she made you that, not you. It's Julie's choice who she thinks as that not you."  Another knock echos through our room. Ashlyn, being the closest to the door answers it. 

"JJ? What are you doing here? Go back down to-" she says but gets cut off by Julie ducking under her arm and running to me. 

"Mommy?" she whimpers into me hugging me tightly.

"Hey princess." I coo holding her. "I thought I told you to go to Ash and Ali's room?"

"Aunt Ali told me I could come back here." she says standing on her tip toes and looking up but not at me. Mhm.

"She did?" I question looking at her sideways. She falls back flat footed and continues to look around the room. "Cause Julie Bean I don't think she did."

"Mhm." she insist biting her lip nervously. "Are you and Mama still fighting?"

"Baby I think you need to go back to your Aunt." I say giving her a slight look and spinning her around to the door. 

"But Mom." she pouts turning back to me. "I want to stay with you." I sigh, but nod. I can't say no to her. She's got me wrapped around her finger. 

"Car?" I say. "We'll finish this later, yeah?"

"Yeah." she nods looking at Julie. "Jay where does Ali think you are?"

"I know Alex did not tell you you could come here so where did she say?" ask Ashlyn as well. 

"With Moe downstairs." she says looking down. 

"When you see her you're apologizing for disobeying her, yes?" I direct while picking her face up with my hand and making her look at me in the eyes. 

"Yes ma'am." she says softly. 

"Good." I nod letting her go. I look down at my phone and sigh. "It's time to go guys. JB go ahead with Ash baby. Mama and I are coming behind you." Julie skips off with her and I look to Carli knowings she wants to say something.

"Can we please just let this go? I was wrong to yell at you with her in the room and I was wrong to say what I did with her in earshot, but Hope you were also wrong. You can't go behind my back and tell her that she can disobey me. You need to ask me first next time."

"I know and I'm sorry." I say blushing red. I overreacted big time. "You're right about us needing to be united. I'll work on it. Also we need to probably apologize to her too. We probably scared her half to death."

"We'll both work on it." she smiles giving me a hug. "I love you Hopey, and I love that kid too."

"I know Car. I shouldn't have said you weren't her mama. You'll always be her mama." I say hugging her back. "Oh and I love you too."