HEY GUYS!So this story died, but after watching the Degrassi episode on the-N this evening, I was struck with a sudden inspiration to revive it. I had to do some tweaking to get it to match the facts revealed over the last year that this had been on hiatus, but the story did no suffer! The plot is still intact, and now it's back and shiny. So read over some of the changes if you actually remember it, and if you're new, "hi!" So, reviews help, and I will update this before to long. Standard notes -- I do not own TNG, this will be spoiler free up to the season finale with Ashley leaving for London, and the pairings WILL be random. The story is Spin&Ash, and if you don't like it ... um, why would you not like Spin and Ash!

Prolouge

Coming into the house, I shook off the last bit of snow that had been stuck to my jacket. I hung it on the coat-rack and shut the door, locking it and throwing the bolt. It had been a hard day at work, I mused, but it was never really easy being a store manager. I was climbing the steps, thinking about my job. It was hard but it made very good profits and it wasn't half bad - enough to keep a nice house over Julie and my's head, food on the table, and nice school clothes for my growing daughter.

I poked my head in her half-ajar door, sighting her fast asleep in her bed. I pulled the covers tighter around her and kissed her forehead, turning out her bedside lamp with a flick of my finger and marking the page in her book she'd fallen asleep on. I slid the glasses off her face and folded them on top of the closed book, smiling as I turned to leave the room.

Everyone told Paige and I were we too young to get married - fresh out of highschool, heading into college and lucky to be. During my expulsion, things had been pretty rough on Paige in general -- I never got it all, but the details I did hear seemed painful enough. Once my extensive summer school was over and I was allowed back into Degrassi's hallowed halls, we were two older, broken people who fell right back in sync.

But we didn't listen to their warnings, headed straight to the alter with goofy, lovesick grins and had baby Julia seven months after. Choosing to continue with school was tough, but at the time it was the most sensible option for me. We were a happy little family (admittedly, Paige and I had our traditional newlywed fights) but in my eyes, I had the best life available - that is, until Paige got sick. I had to move out of Degrassi and quit college, taking as many jobs as I could to pay our bills.

After her death, I was miserable. But I wasn't going to allow myself, as much as I missed her, to give up - she wouldn't have wanted that. So I kept working until I got more and more promotions, raised a daughter the best way I knew how, by myself and around my job, until we were well off enough to move into a nicer neighborhood.

She's 15 now, the prettiest girl I'll ever know. She's my pride and joy, reminding me an awful lot of Emma Nelson I used to go to school with -- pretty, stands up for what she believes in, and wickedly smart. She can handle herself and knows where she's going and I couldn't be more proud.

I slid out of my shoes and curled up under the covers, fully dressed, and turned off my bedside lamp. She's grown up so well for a girl without a mother.

- -

Chapter One

Fourteen year-old Julia Mason rolled over and hit her alarm, turning on the radio to the usual loud volume she loved. She rose slowly, pushing the covers off and rubbing sleep out of her eyes. After showering, she blew her long blond hair dry and pulled it back into a ponytail. She dressed in her school clothes and descended the stairs, heading toward their kitchen.

Her dad was sitting at the counter, reading the paper, and she pecked him on the cheek and took a seat across from him. As she poured her Lucky Charms, he wordlessly handed her the Arts section and she smiled, reading and munching on the cereal. After she was done and had washed the bowl, her dad folded the paper and they headed out to the car.

He took her to school and then went to his office, prepared for another day of hard work. Today was her last day before winter break and his lengthy holiday break, so he needed to prepare the assistant manager for the workload since he was going to be with Julie for a week and a half to celebrate Christmas.

- -

His cell phone rang him out of his reverie he had fallen into while doing some paperwork. Suprisingly, he found an overly excited, breathless daughter on the other line.

"I won! Daddy, daddy! Oh my gosh!"

He laughed to himself, "Honey? Slow down, what's going on?"

"Okay, you know how the radio was having that contest, with the backstage passes and concert tickets to see AK?"

"Yes," he replied.

"I won!" She exclaimed.

He smiled brightly, happy for her fortune, "That's great! When is the concert?"

"Well, it's a little north of town with this weird name, so it's about three or four hours from here. The concert is two nights from now!"

- -

Ashley Kerwin pulled her hair back from her face in a short ponytail, having changed into her pajamas and wiped out from her concert that night. She'd been on tour for a couple months and was about to have a break before Christmas, but not after her final show.

Her manager rapped at her door and Ashley gave her permission to enter.

"Great show, doll!" the blonde said, and Ashley good-naturedly rolled her eyes.

"You always say that."

"Well, I'll let you get to sleep. I just wanted you to know that backstage pass winner was finally chosen."

"Really?" Ashley said wearily.

"Yeah, a fifteen year old from Toronto."

"You made sure she didn't go to school at Degrassi Community School, right?"

"I don't know why it's so important to you, but, no, she didn't go to school there."

Her manager left and Ashley turned to face the wall, shifting underneath her covers.

"You wouldn't understand," Ashley muttered before falling to sleep.

- -

The next day was a bustle of activity with Julia's anticipation and Gavin's enjoyment of the break. She convinced him she needed some new top, so after a quick stop by the mall, they departed for the concert around noon. After about three hours on the road, Spinner parked. Leaning over, he woke Julia up by poking her shoulder.

"Where are we?" she questioned dazedly, looking around.

"It's a suprise, come on, I wanna show you something," he said, removing the keys from the ignition as she rose from her passenger seat and followed her dad into the building, still slightly sleepy.

The only thing she noticed was the sunset's glare off the metal letters above the glass doors, letters spelling out she was entering 'Degrassi Community School.'