Every Other Weekend
Summary: "I can't tell her I love her, because there are too many questions and ears in the car. So, I don't tell her I miss her, and I don't tell her I need her, she's over me, that's where we are. So we're as close as we may ever be again, every other weekend." Spencer and Ashley are separated with three kids. Is it really over for the two of them or does life have another plan for the two?
Pairing: Spencer/Ashley. Spencer/OC. Ashley/OC.
Disclaimer: All television shows, movies, books, and other copyrighted material referred to in this work, and the characters, settings, and events thereof, are the properties of their respective owners. As this work is an interpretation of the original material and not for-profit, it constitutes fair use. Reference to real persons, places, or events are made in a fictional context, and are not intended to be libelous, defamatory, or in any way factual.
Author's Note: I don't know what this is, I don't know if this is going to be a short chapter story if it is going to be just a standalone like this, I haven't really decided yet. But with the South of Nowhere episodes re-airing on The N, I got inspired to write this and so I did. I don't even know if anyone out there still reads Spashley but I hope so! Anyways, this is unbeta'd so all mistakes are my own. Reviews are always, always greatly appreciated.
"Okay, everyone got what they need?" Thirty two year old Spencer Carlin asks, her eyes flickering between the three heads in her Honda Civic. Sitting furthest to the right, with two wrestlers in his hands, battling them to 'death' is six year old Clay. Beside of him sits four year old Cadence, cradling her baby doll in one hand while a Capri sun in the other. And sitting on the left, in her car seat, happily oblivious to all that goes on around her is two year old Sophia, who is babbling about something that Spencer just can't quite hear.
The three kids are the perfect mixture of both she and her ex-wife. Clay is more like her ex-wife than she would like to admit, even though he was produced from her egg. Before they separated, the running joke was that they accidentally inseminated Ashley's egg with the sperm instead of Spencer's, and of course, the entire family would always laugh. But now, years later, Spencer actually wonders if instead of it being a joke, the statement is actually true. His brunette hair swoops down in his face just slightly and when he looks up at her with those dark brown eyes, she is taken aback by how much he looks like Ashley.
"Mommy, are we really going to see Mama today? I miss her so much!" Cadence exclaims waving her baby doll in the air as a brilliant grin appears on her face and Spencer chuckles, leaning against the seat. Her brunette hair curls hang just around her shoulders and her eyes are a piercing shade of emerald. She is the perfect mixture of Ashley and Spencer, and seeing her now just reminds Spencer of how in love they truly had been, how good the two of them really were together.
"Yeah, we are. Today is Friday, isn't it?" Spencer replies and Clay nods excitedly.
"Today was the day that I got to feed Mr. Speckle!" Clay exclaims with a bright, proud grin, clutching tightly to his half-dressed wrestlers. Spencer chuckles quietly at her son's enthusiasm over feeding the classroom's pet frog. Only her son would be excited over something as simple as that.
"Mommy, why doesn't Mama live with us anymore?" Cadence asks, taking a sip of her Capri sun, looking up at her under those long, soft eyelashes. Looking at her daughter with guilty eyes, Spencer sighs, running her free hand through her golden hair. She wishes they could understand; she wishes they didn't ask this every other weekend when she dropped them off to Ashley but she knows they are too young. They are too young to understand the true evils of the world, to understand how sometimes, even in the best situations, love just isn't enough.
"Cadence, we've talked about this…"
"You don't love her anymore?" Clay asks and the question breaks Spencer's heart completely. It is not that she does not still love Ashley, it's just… life. And sometimes, no matter how hard you try, life does not work out the way that it is supposed to, life does not always work out the way that you want it to. If she had her way, she and Ashley would still be happily married; they would still be excited to call each other wife and still beam over their children just like they did the day they were born. But life got in the way and forever became just a lie, just a simple word on a Hallmark card, and I love you became something said absently to avoid a fight. Somewhere along the way they lost each other and that is just where they are now.
"No, that's not true. I still love your Mama. I will always love your Mama. She gave me you guys. But we just weren't happy together anymore. But we are happy now, aren't we? I mean, we have each other, and Grandma Paula and Grandpa Arthur and Uncle Glenn, Aunt Chelsea, and you have your Mama, and Uncle Aiden and Aunt Kyla and your cousins Andrew, and Tara. We're happy now; there isn't any fighting or crying. We're our own little families and we're pretty happy, I think. What about you?" Spencer asks and instantaneously all three of the kids nod their heads fervently.
"But Mommy, I miss you when you go away. Can't you just stay with us and Mama for the weekend?" Clay asks, looking at her with those big brown eyes and Spencer feels that all too familiar flutter in her stomach, the same way that she felt it for Ashley all those years ago. Chuckling softly to herself, she leans forward as she ruffles his hair, placing a kiss on his forehead.
"You know I wish I could, but that is not really fair. I get you all to myself for a whole week. Mama likes to spend time with you too, we shouldn't make her share. That's not really fair, is it?" Spencer asks with a smile and shyly, Clay shakes his head. Smiling softly, she tickles the little boy who squeals in laughter before reaching over and tickling the girls who all burst out in a comforting giggle.
"Come on you guys, you know that you like Mama better, you're just trying to not hurt my feelings. I mean, she lets you guys watch TV and play video games and you get to eat chocolate and have dinner in the living room and you can go swimming in her pool and all of that fun stuff that I don't like for you to do." Spencer smiles teasingly and Sophia nods her head with a gentle smile.
"Mama lets us play with Phoenix too but we have to wash our hands before we eat." Sophia smiles, referring to Ashley's West Highland white terrier puppy that the kids are absolutely crazy about and Spencer knows secretly, Ashley is crazy about the pup too. Laughing quietly, Spencer reaches forward as she brushes some of Sophia's golden locks away from her face.
"See? Mama has Phoenix." Spencer smiles at the children.
"Oh, and an Xbox!"
"And a dollhouse!"
"And a pool!"
"And Rockband!"
"And the good chocolate milk!"
"And…"
"Okay, okay, I get it!" Spencer laughs at her kids' enthusiasm as they shout out all the reasons why their Mama is so great. But she can't even pretend like she is jealous, because honestly, she wishes that she could live with Ashley as well, she wishes she could experience all those things with her that their kids too. But she knows things are different now, it is not her place to be with her anymore, not after everything they have been through. Things happen for a reason, Spencer sighs as her eyes flicker between her three kids, and this is for the best. At least, that is what she tells herself every night when she lays down to sleep in their bed alone.
"Alright, everybody buckled in?" Spencer asks, checking the buckle on Sophia's car seat, before reaching over and checking Cadence and Clay's buckles as all three of the kids nod their head. Smiling, Spencer ruffles her hand through Clay's brown hair as the boy squirms underneath his mother's touch, trying to shove her away but laughing at the same time.
Moving to the driver's side, Spencer glances back at the kids who are playing and chatting to themselves about all the fun and cool things they are going to do at their Mama's house and her heart swells with love. Looking at these kids, she can see her life with Ashley; she can see the love they had once shared. But much like her father, Ashley's life took a few spirals in the wrong direction and their life of wedded bliss turned more into the marriage from hell. When the brunette found her solace at the end of a liquor bottle, Spencer knew their problems would not be solved and that is when the two of them decided to separate, at least for the time being.
But that was months ago, months of no contact except for the simple greetings when they dropped the kids off or when they had to talk to each other about the kids' school events. It had been months since Spencer even had a conversation with her ex-wife about something that did not involve class parties or field trips; it had been months since she looked at her like a lover instead of just her children's other mother. And even though there is such a big part of her that wants the two of them to work it out, she knows that it is already too late for them.
Their love, much like the Titanic, had sunk. And there was nothing humanly possible that could be done to save it.
The ride had been mostly quiet except for the soft hum of the radio and Cadence's attempts to sing along with some of her favorite songs. For the most part, the kids had been quiet, staring at the scenery of trees and businesses as it passed them by and playing with their toys until they pulled in that all too familiar parking lot in which that black Chevrolet Equinox sat, Ashley leaning against the driver's side door in a white muscle shirt and a pair of worn out jeans.
Swallowing hard, Spencer can feel her heart racing in her chest and the butterflies, even though it feels more like Pterodactyls, fluttering in her stomach. It is amazing the control Ashley Davies still has over her, how she can still make her weak in the knees and make her heart long for her. It is amazing all those thread still bind those two together, like a million strings pulling them together, no matter how hard they fight it. Watching as Ashley pushes herself off the door, pulling her sunglasses back from her eyes, Spencer's heart aches. She knows the two of them can make it work, they can figure a way, they can be that couple again. Sure, it wouldn't be easy, but wouldn't it be worth it? Sighing as she unbuckles Sophia from the car seat, she is almost afraid to hear Ashley's answer on that one.
"Mama! Mama!" Clay exclaims, practically smacking Spencer upside the head with his seat belt as he throws it off himself. Spencer doesn't count the seconds but if she did, she is sure that she would discover that their son is quite the speed runner. Ashley almost does not have time to brace herself when the little boy leaps practically from the car door straight into her arms.
"Mama! Mama! I missed you sooooooooooooo much! And… I… I … I got to feed Mr. Speckles today and then Toby let me play with his trucks on the playground and Anna May asked me to be her boyfriend but I said no because girls are gross. And then I… I got a 100 on my spelling test and I got a sticker!" Clay exclaims, practically tripping over his words, as he presses his face excessively close to Ashley's during his exclamation. The brunette laughs playfully, ruffling a handful of her son's hair as she kisses his forehead.
"Whoa, buddy, you don't have to be in such a hurry. We have all weekend to talk!" Ashley smiles and he nods his head, wrapping his arms tightly around her neck. Spencer unlatches Cadence who waits patiently for Sophia who is quickly freed from her car seat as well.
"Mama, I got a baby!" Cadence grins, flashing a bright smile toward the brunette, showing her the plush doll that she is clutching tightly in her hand, so tight, in fact, that half of her face is squished in. Smiling at her daughter, Ashley sits Clay down to reach out for the little girl, pulling her into a hug, smothering her face in kisses as Cadence squeals against her.
"Does she have a name?" Ashley asks with a smile and Cadence nods quickly.
"Pippa." Beams Cadence and Ashley wrinkles her brow, looking up at Spencer who just shrugs her shoulders with a gentle smile, gently swaying Sophia on her hip.
"Like Kate Middleton's sister with the great butt?"
"Ashley!"
"No, Mama!" Cadence giggles loudly, cradling her doll in her arms before she looks up at her with those sparkling emerald eyes, "like Tori's baby sister!" She squeals loudly and Ashley laughs, nodding her head as she tucks a strand of the blonde hair behind her ear.
"Oh, much better," Ashley chuckles and Cadence giggles, shaking her head softly as she steps beside of her brother, reaching the doll to him but Clay just sneers his nose toward her and continues to play with his wrestlers. Smiling at her two trouble makers, Ashley approaches Spencer, poking Sophia in the ribs as the little toddler smiles shyly at her.
"And what about you, huh? What have you been up to, little quiet angel?" Ashley smiles and Sophia hides her face in Spencer's neck, clinging tightly to her. Smiling quietly at her wife, Spencer gently scratches up and down the toddler's back.
"Come on, Soph. You know how this works. You get to go spend some time at Mama's house and then I'll be back Monday to pick you up, okay? You're going to have so much fun and you can play with Phoenix. You love Phoenix!" Spencer states, scratching her back and Ashley looks at her wife longingly for a moment before back at their daughter.
"Oh yeah, and he has been missing you like crazy!" Ashley smiles at her and Sophia looks at her with wide eyes and the biggest smile on her face.
"Really?"
"Oh yeah! He needs you!" Ashley grins and Sophia looks back at Spencer skeptically.
"It's okay, honey. I'll be back soon. Go with Mama and take care of Phoenix. I'll be just fine, really. I love you so much!" Spencer smiles, kissing her chubby cheek before the little girl launches herself into Ashley's arms. The brunette catches her with an 'ooof', gently tickling her fingers into her sides to hear the little girl squeals in delight at her mother's playfulness. Chuckling quietly, Ashley opens the door to her car as the kids climb in. Clay buckles himself and then, rather proudly, reaches over and buckles Cadence while Ashley nestles her daughter into the car seat and Spencer watches with careful eyes.
"Hey… uh… Sophia. She's been kind of congested lately so you should probably try to rub something on her chest, vapor rub if you have it but she will fight you on it so you have to tell her a story or do something to distract her. Oh, and a humidifier, those have been really helpful, you'll have to tell her some type of princess story to get her to actually be okay with it being in the room with her. Oh, and keep a check on her temperature, although I think it is just a cold. But one of the kids at day care had the flu so she might have it and…"
"Spence," Ashley smiles, placing her hands on her ex-wife's shoulders with a gentle squeeze, "these are my kids too, I can handle it, trust me. I haven't killed one yet, have I?" Ashley teases and Spencer chuckles a little with a shy nod of her head.
"Yeah, you're right. Oh, could you make sure that Cadence does not eat peas. She's allergic." Spencer exclaims and Ashley rolls her eyes with a laugh.
"Re-lax. I got this." Ashley laughs and Spencer blushes with a gentle nod before she opens the door for Ashley before she steps back, anxiously running her fingers through her hair, watching as Ashley settles into the driver's seat, clicking the seat belt over her body and sliding on her shades. Sometimes when she looks at her, Spencer sighs, it is like nothing ever happened, like they are still those two reckless teenagers who ran away that night and ran out of gas. Sometimes when she looks at her, it's like the world just simply stands still.
"I'll take care of them, I promise. And I'll give them back Monday, with all their limbs and heads still attached. They'll be fed and given enough sleep and happy. They'll be fine," Ashley smiles and Spencer nods her head, crossing her arms over her chest with a gentle smile. The two exes share a moment, a brief moment, in which their eyes are locked and the smiles play upon their lips, they share the briefest moment in which nothing had ever happened. Ashley sighs gently; closing the door but not before Spencer speaks out.
"Ash!" Spencer calls out and the brunette looks up at her quizzically and Spencer blushes in a gentle, almost playful smile, "You look really good." At this, the grin practically cracks on Ashley's face as the warm blush curls within her cheek.
"Y-You look really good too." Ashley smiles in return, giving Spencer one last look over before she shuts the door. Spencer shuffles quickly back to her car, the tears building up in her eyes as she hears the sound of Ashley's car roaring to life, and then, just like that, she drives away, taking her whole life and her whole heart with her.
Sighing in desperation, Spencer climbs back into the car, placing both of her hands on the steering wheel as she squeezes gently, glancing through the rear view mirror in which a bunch of toys and empty Capri suns are left scattered. Suddenly, when she can no longer keep it together, Spencer rests her forehead against the steering wheel as the most heart wrenching cry escapes from her.
"I love you, Ashley." She cries.