<P> In 1999, Ashley and Maxine get back together, and finally marry in September . Ashley also finds out that his uncle, Fred, is actually his biological father . Fred tells Ashley about Kathleen and her reluctance to be a mother at a young age . Fred also explains to Ashley that Beryl, who he believed to be his mother, is actually his aunt, and that Fred let her raise Ashley so he could watch him grow up . Ashley decides that he wants to meet his birth mother but Fred begs him not to, believing it would hurt Beryl . Ashley, however, tracks Kathleen down to her home in Oldham . He is initially very bitter towards her for abandoning him but they reconcile and Ashley lets Kathleen attend his and Maxine's wedding . </P> <P> Ashley and Maxine decide to have a baby and after months of trying, it is discovered that Ashley needs minor surgery . While he is in hospital overnight, Maxine gets drunk and has a one - night stand with local doctor Matt Ramsden (Stephen Beckett) and subsequently becomes pregnant with his child . When Joshua (Benjamin Beresford) is born in 2002, Maxine lets Ashley believe that he is the father and Ashley is named on the birth certificate . Maxine tells Ashley the truth and he is hurt and betrayed by her actions, but he forgives her and agrees to raise Joshua as his son and asks her never to reveal to anybody that he is not Joshua's biological father . In January 2003, Maxine is murdered by Richard Hillman (Brian Capron), leaving Ashley devastated . At Maxine's funeral, her boss Audrey Roberts (Sue Nicholls) causes a scene and accuses Richard of murdering Maxine and attempting to kill her and Emily . Later at the wake in The Rovers', Ashley is very angry with Audrey and does not accept her apology . However, he accepts the support of Audrey's daughter, Gail (Helen Worth), Richard's wife . Ashley is further devastated when a blood test confirms that Matt is indeed Joshua's biological father . </P> <P> Ashley realizes that he needs help looking after Joshua and hires a nanny, Claire Casey (Julia Haworth). Ashley and Claire bond over Joshua and they eventually fall in love . In September 2004, Ashley proposes to Claire in The Rovers and she accepts . They get married on Christmas Day 2004 . In November 2005, Fred challenges another butcher, Eddie Maddocks, to a boxing match between Ashley and Eddie's son, Marvin, a local boxing champion . On the day of the fight, Fred drops a weight on Ashley's foot and he is hospitalised . Ashley recovers and goes ahead with the fight but a riot breaks out amongst the spectators . In order to restore order, Ashley and Marvin agree on a tie . </P> <P> On their first wedding anniversary in December 2005, Claire tells Ashley that she is pregnant . Their son Thomas is born on 17 July 2006 . Around the same time, Matt contacts Ashley and demands access to Joshua . Ashley refuses and the matter goes to court . Eventually, Claire persuades Ashley to make Matt an offer of limited access which he accepts but ends up delivering Claire's baby when she goes into labour and congratulates Ashley on becoming a father himself . Ashley supports Claire when she suffers from post-natal depression and is sectioned after trying to kill Thomas . Ashley stands by Claire during her ordeal and they reconcile when she is allowed home . </P>

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