Canlis Restaurant

he nods and turns to Ashley

Waiter:"And you sir?"

Ashley:"Uh...well..."

he glances at Alexis and sighs

Ashley:"Bring me a damn sprite"

Alexis looks at her father, surprised.

Alexis: Wow, are you serious?

Ashley:"I'm sure I'm not the only one 'ere on me best behavior."

he looks over at Alex

Ashley:"Am I right?"

Alex looks back at Ashley.

Alex: I don't hold grudges that started before I was born..... and although the fact that you're the cause of me not being able to wrestle stings a little...... the fact that you helped give birth to the love of my life more than makes up for it.

Colin texts back
"Our dad? Ashley O'Ryan? The infamous drunk?You sure thats him?

Ashley politely smiles at Alex
Ashley:"I'm starting to think you take more after yer mothers side."

Alex laughs.

Alex: I'll take that as a compliment..... I think you're the first person to ever say that.... most people seem to think I'm like my dad.

Colin:"I'm on my way, got held up.."

Ashley:"Well...your mother was less prone to flying off the handle when I knew them, put it that way."

Alex: I may have broken both of my dad's arms for being.... shall we say.... less than respectful to Lexi.

Alexis: Colin's on his way, he said he got held up.

Ashley looks at Alex surprised
Ashley:"Really?"
he looks over at Alexis, then back at Alex
Ashley:"...Interesting."
he looks back at Alexis
Ashley:"Darling, why don't you freshen up in the bathroom a bit."

Alexis: Wow, want to talk to him alone already?

She stands up.

Alexis: Alright, I'll go keep a lookout for Colin and Amber.

She walks out of earshot, but still keeps glancing over.

Ashley watches Alexis leave, then leans back in his chair. His eyes fixed on Alex
Ashley:"So...lets not bullshite 'ere. Tell me, wot are yer intentions with Alexis."

Alex nods. He leans back also. He answers honestly.

Alex: I love Alexis. I have for as long as I'd care to recall. We've only been together for seven weeks so it's a little early to be asking her. But it's my intention to, one day.... when she's ready..... ask her to marry me.

Ashley just looks at the young man in front of him. After a moment he repeats Alex

Ashley:"When she's ready...when she's ready..."

he leans forward

Ashley:"Tell me, Alex. Why do you think a couple loik yer mother and father 'ave made it all these years. But me and Alexis' mother didn't make it? Can you guess?"

Alex cocks his head and looks at Ashley curiously.

Alex: I wouldn't care to make assumptions..... but Lexi has always led me to believe that your.... lifestyle choices were a contributing factor.

Ashley sighs, then lets out a little bit of a laugh

Ashley:"My..drinking...it was more of a coping mechanism. Not something I'm always proud of but something I seem to fall back on. When me and Moira were married I drank because...well because frankly I was scared. I wasn't ready for all that was going to come with being married. I wanted to be a good 'usband...a good father...all that. But I was scared of failing, which caused me to drink, which turned into a vicious cycle. Me point is, I thought I was ready. But I wasn't. Along the way I 'urt people...a lot o'people."

a sigh

Ashley:"Me point is this...if you aren't ready to marry me daughter then I will not allow it. And you can not simply say that you are ready. You 'ave to prove it. I'm not going to tell you 'ow you can do that, that is up to you. But it 'as to be 'onest, and from the 'eart and the mind. Not from the libido. Don't jump into this balls first, because those will be the first things you lose if you do that."

Alex nods and replies honestly.

Alex: As I said... it's still a little early to be worrying about. But if you will allow me to be honest. Were it solely up to me.... I'd tell you to go to hell, because I don't have to prove myself to anyone but her. Not to you, or Moira, or my father, or my mother or anybody but HER. But it isn't up to me. Alexis seems ready to give you another chance to be a part of her life... I'm not going to do anything to put a strain on that. So rest assured I've heard what you've said.... and when.... not if, but when the time comes for me to ask.... you'll know that I'm ready.

Ashley sits back in his chair, laughing under his breath and shaking his head

Ashley:"I don't give to shites what you think o'me. If you end up liking me that be fine. If you 'ate me fecking guts, I couldn't give two shites. I would prefer the first of course. But I'm not talking about proving it to me. Go a'ead and tell me to go to 'ell. I'll simply tell you that I've already been there the past twenty years of me god damned loif. When it comes to it, prove it to Alexis and nobody else matters. But do anything to break that girls 'eart and so 'elp me any feelings you 'ave won't mean shite to a 'eartbroken father who wants nothing but to 'ave 's kids in 'is loif back and 'appy. Am I clear?"

Alex; Crystal Clear.... But since we're in the business of warning each other.... I'll simply tell you this..... If you screw up with her again..... if YOU break your daughter's heart..... You'll find out exactly how much like my father I am. Am I clear?

Ashley laughs

Ashley:"You better watch yer fecking insolence boy. If you think fer one bloody second that I am going to purposely do ANYTHING to 'urt that girl then you are even thicker 'eaded then any Edwards I met. And if you think that threatening to break me fecking 'arms is a bigger threat to me then losing Alexis again then go feck yerself. Now, am I clear??"

Ashley stares directly at Alex, a fire and life in his eyes he hasn't had in decades

Ashley:"There ain't a damned thing you can threaten me with that is worse then wot I already lost."

A smirk crosses Alex's face. His father's smirk, although he's clearly trying very hard to control the legendary Edwards temper clenching his fists tightly.

Alex: You have some nerve to talk to me about insolence.... you spent the majority of her life in a drunken stupor... and you turn up here, half-assedly order a soft drink, issue some wonderfully tough-sounding threats, question my love for her..... just so you can sound like a father.... well.... to quote you Ashley... "you can not simply say that you are ready. You 'ave to prove it"

.... you say I have to prove I'm ready to be a husband? I say you need to prove you're ready to be a father. So cut the fucking self pity and start working for it.

He stands and walks away before he does something he'll regret, he walks over to Alexis by the door puts his arm sround her waist and gives her a quick peck on the cheek.

Alex: I'm just gonna go get a little fresh air.

Alex walks out.

Alexis looks at Alex go out, then back at her father, then back to Alex, and walks out after him.

Alexis: What happened?

Alex forces a smile but is clearly stressed.

Alex: As expected..... being a good dad and warning me that he'll hurt me if I break your heart..... I warned him of the exact same thing.... he thought that I should learn my place.... I thought I'd better step out before I lost my temper.

.... It's no big deal.... you just have two very stubborn guys at the same table who love you very much