Hi! Hope you like the story. Some of it is based on true events so it's like a dedication to my girlfriend :) Anyways hopefully you like it and obviously i don't own any of the characters from South of Nowhere, much less the show.

Two months.

Six months.

A year.

A year that turned into two and two years that turned into three. Three years without any word, any contact. And now she was returning.

"Lord Ash, I can't believe we're really done."

She turned away from the window she had been staring out of to greet her best friend. Ashley had met Kristina Willis on the first day of eighth grade at King High School and since then they have been inseparable; except for their first year of college three years ago.

Three years. My god.

"I can't believe it's really been three years." Ashley sighed, taking one last look around her childhood home. She was finally moving out for good, only it was to the one place she dreaded going back to.

Kristina smiled and grabbed her car keys off her friend's desk. "It's going to be alright dude. We waiting for mommy dearest?"

A low chuckle filled the room. "Not a chance. I think she's in Cabo with the latest boy toy of the month."

"Sweet, well let's hit the road Jack."

"Jack!" Ashley jumped, having almost forgotten about her three year old lab. "Where are you, you little shitter? Jack!"

She didn't have to look to know he was coming; she just had to listen for the quick heavy thuds getting closer. She smiled when she saw him, his black coat shining underneath her bedroom lights. Kneeling down, Ashley scratched affectionately behind his ears, earning herself a nice little sloppy kiss. Doggy style.

"You ready, little man?" She ran her hand along his back, patting softly here and there. "You're headed back home. I know someone who's going to be excited to see you again."

Someone who probably isn't going to be so excited to see Ashley though. The thought saddened her and giving Jack a final pat on the head she rose back up. Finding his leash easily, she clipped it to his collar and together they headed out to meet Kristina.

****

Hey Aid. Been awhile, huh? Sorry it's taken me forever to get back to you dude. I've been crazy busy with school and moving. Speaking of, guess what? You remember Kristina? Well we're moving in together a couple weeks after graduation. The best part is we're headed back you're way. I'm finally coming back man. Hey, I gotta run now, but I'll catch you later. Send me you're number or something sometime. I'd love to catch up. Peace out Dennison.

P.S. How is she?

Shock. It was the only word to describe what Aiden Dennison was feeling as he read and reread and then reread again his newest email. Ashley Davies was coming back to Las Angeles. His once roommate and best friend. There was only one word to describe the coming disaster.

Holy Shit. Okay, so maybe two words. Damn.

Feminine laughter from the living room drew his attention away from the computer screen. He closed his laptop, still half in shock that she was coming back. He'd be lying if he said he hadn't missed her. And he'd be lying if he said he wasn't damn excited she was coming back. So much so he couldn't help the ridiculous grin that spread across his face.

He slid off the bed from where he'd been laying down and searched out his shoes in the chaos that was his room. After a few minutes he managed to find them buried beneath a pile of dirty laundry.

"What up losers?" Passing by his friends he picked a pillow off his couch and wacked one of the giggling blondes in the back of the head.

As expected one rolled her eyes and crossed her arms in irritation; the other was over the couch in a second, launching the pillow at his head.

When she moved in for a second hit, he grabbed her arms twisting her around until he had them locked in his grasp behind her back. She set her jaw stubbornly refusing to back down. It didn't take a genius to see the wheels turning in her blue eyes.

He grinned, knowing her too well, "Don't even think about it Carlin." He released her before she could damage his precious family jewels and went in the kitchen to grab a beer. She followed close behind.

The email was still on his mind when he shut the fridge and faced her. Should he tell her about it? He didn't even know how to bring something like that up. As it turned out she saved him the trouble when she started rifling through one of his kitchen drawers.

"And just what the hell do you think you're doing?" He questioned. She didn't answer right away, taking a few more moments to rifle through a small stack of envelopes and junk.

When she was done she confronted him with the last thing he expected her to know about. "I found these in here yesterday. Don't worry," she held her hand up to shush him, "I wasn't snooping, I was just looking for scissors."

With her other hand she handed Aiden the small stack of photos in her hand. He flipped through them absently already well aware what, or who in this case, was in them. Ashley, Spencer, and he were in all of them, grinning and happy under the illusion they were going to be friends forever. Had it really been three years since the three of them were together?

"I told you, Aiden, you don't have to keep pictures of her hidden just because I live here now. She meant a lot to you, you should put them up if you want." Spencer said quietly, her eyes downcast.

"She meant a lot to you too." He frowned, trying to hand her back the photos only to have his hand pushed away.

"Once upon a time."

He watched her shake her head, her eyes glancing to the living room. The annoying blonde was flipping channels, obviously bored.

Aiden wasn't all too fond of blondie number two. "Spence, when are you going to dump her? I mean seriously.."

Not being able to help the bark of laughter at his whining, Spencer Carlin finally took the photos from him to place them on the counter.

"Come on little baby. I think it's time to hit the bars on that note."

As she pulled him to the living room he made the decision to not tell her about Ashley's coming arrival.

"Let's go party crazy kids." Spencer cheered, using her free hand to grab her girlfriend, Alexa, off the couch. He was released a second later because she needed to use both hands to pull the reluctant blonde up.

He would let her remain in blissful ignorance for a bit longer. Besides he could always tell her tomorrow: hey Spence, the ex girlfriend you were madly in love with is finally back and she's asking about you.

Yeah he was definitely going to wait until tomorrow.