Hey peeps!

well this is a short-ish chapter (for me I mean), but sometimes a scene just comes out on its own, and it is what it is, you know? Nothing dirty here, this is totally G-rated sweetness...and as an added bonus, you get a mini-tutorial in crucial queer films according to me :) So enjoy!

Really

Chapter 2

By JewWitch

Anyone who knew Spencer would agree that one of her best qualities was her sunny disposition; hardly anyone could count on one hand the number of times they'd ever heard a cross word from her (except for Glen, who knew perfectly well he'd earned every one of her withering glares a hundred times over). Waking up next to Spencer, well, that was one of life's greatest joys for Ashley; opening her eyes to find those stormy-ocean blues locked on hers, full of warmth and light and love, all for her.

It was probably lucky for Ashley that she wasn't there when Spencer opened her eyes today, though. Twisted uncomfortably into the old couch, sweaty and sniffling and aching all over, Spencer couldn't remember the last time she'd awoken feeling so cranky. The fact that Ashley wasn't there beside her, as she'd been the night before, only added to her foul mood. She just up and left, Spencer thought angrily, as hot tears sprang to her blurry eyes. I can't believe she didn't even leave a note... Pulling herself out of the tangle of blankets, Spencer was seized with an onslaught of conflicting emotions that pounded on her already aching head as she shuffled toward the kitchen. She knew that Ashley was still dealing with the very legitimate fear of her house...she didn't need to be reminded how horrible it was the night her mom had walked in on them, and thrown Ashley out the door, half-naked, by her hair. It had been awful for her, too. But that wasn't going to happen again-- her mom was trying now, she really was, and Ashley had to know that, didn't she? Wasn't Ashley going to try, too? Wasn't Spencer worth the effort? This thought plunged her mood into an even darker pit as she wiped away her tears, sniffling angrily as her nose started to run. She felt guilty for needing Ashley this much, when Ashley had every reason to stay away; and she felt angry at Ashley for not being there. Righteous indignation swelled in her chest as she pushed the kitchen door open, hoping her dad would be there to make her some tea.

There was Ashley. Standing over the stove, singing along to the radio, wearing-- no. She must be delirious, hallucinating. Ashley...wearing her dad's "Kiss the Chef" apron? Spencer was too bewildered to speak, and just stood there with her mouth half-open. Then Ashley turned and saw her standing there, a shy, bemused grin making its way crookedly onto her beautiful face.

"Morning, sleepyhead," she said, as if this were the most natural situation in the world, as if they greeted each other every morning this way. "How are you feeling?" Speech was still beyond Spencer; it was perhaps merciful that her runny nose chose that moment to assert itself, doubling her over with a huge sneeze, then another, and another.

"Bless you, bless you, bless you!" Ashley exclaimed, still grinning crookedly as she laid a cool hand on the small of Spencer's back, pushing her down into a chair at the counter. "You better ease up with those sneezes, baby, or you're gonna give yourself whiplash," she joked.

"I can't help it," Spencer whined plaintively, snatching the tissue Ashley offered her and blowing her nose hard.

"So I guess you're not feeling better," Ashley observed sardonically. Spencer just glowered at her. "How about some breakfast?"

"No thanks, I'm not hungry." Spencer crumpled up the kleenex and took another, slowly shredding it.

"Not even for chocolate chip pancakes?" Ashley asked, eyes twinkling. Spencer blinked up at her in amazement.

"You made chocolate chip pancakes?"

"Uh-huh."

"For me?"

"No, for Glen," Ashley replied seriously. Spencer smacked her on the shoulder. "Ow! Of course for you, doofus! You think I'd put this on for anyone else?" She gestured to her newly acquired accessory, which was currently smudged with flour. A reluctant grin curled the corner of Spencer's mouth. Ashley seemed to take this as a sign that Spencer was hungry after all, because she jumped up and brought two plates of steaming, chocolate-studded pancakes over to the table. Spencer really wasn't hungry, but she felt it would be rude in the extreme not to at least force down a few bites. Never once had she seen Ashley cook anything (unless pressing the "popcorn" button on the microwave counted as cooking); she was therefore shocked in the extreme when she put the first bite in her mouth.

"Ash, this is amazing," she mumbled, and Ashley's eyes sparkled with glee. "They taste just like my dad's!"

"Good, he'll be glad to hear I was actually paying attention." Spencer raised one eyebrow in question at Ashley's satisfied grin. "Your dad was the one who showed me how to make them," she explained with a shrug. "It's his recipe." The thought of Ashley and her dad cooking together, standing right here in this kitchen while she slept...suddenly, Spencer felt a huge, dead weight of guilt drop into her stomach for thinking that Ashley had bailed on her. She looked down at her fork miserably.

"Spence?" Ashley hesitantly put out a hand to push Spencer's hair back from her face. "What's the matter? Is it...should I not have...?"

"No, it's great that you-- I just--" Spencer looked up miserably, and was immediately swallowed up by Ashley's deep brown eyes, fixed anxiously on her. "When I woke up and you weren't there...I just assumed you took off." Ashley blinked, but didn't say anything. "I was mad at you...and you were in here making me pancakes." Still Ashley didn't speak. "Forgive me?" Spencer said in a small voice. Ashley picked up Spencer's hand from the table, and drew it to her lips, kissing her knuckles with such reverence, Spencer almost burst into tears right there in the kitchen.

"Only if you finish your pancakes," she said seriously.

"Goof," Spencer laughed weakly.

"Your goof," Ashley corrected her, and, leaning forward, she kissed the end of Spencer's nose.

"Ash!" Spencer squealed, leaping back. "Don't do that, are you crazy? You're gonna get my germs."

"Ohhh, it's okay...I already got my cootie shot at recess," Ashley grinned, waving her off with a wink.

"I am not talking about cooties, you nut. I've got germs-- legitimately gross, snotty germs, and now you're gonna get them too, and I'll feel soooo guilty!" Spencer actually looked like she was on the verge of tears again.

"Shh, baby, c'mere..." Ashley pulled Spencer into her lap, letting her girlfriend cry into her hair for a few minutes while stroking her back soothingly. This wasn't her Spencer, she knew; this was a fever and a train-wreck of emotions all crash-landing on her sweet girl's shoulders at once. Her desire to protect Spencer, to keep her safe and whole and away from all pain flared up then, always so close to the surface.

"Spence, I don't care about stupid germs, okay? I'm not gonna stop kissing you, so just forget it. Anyway, you were probably more contagious yesterday, right? So it doesn't even matter now, does it?" Spencer sniffed, looking up from Ashley's shoulder with red, wet eyes.

"You won't be mad?" She asked in a small voice.

"I won't be mad," Ashley assured her, shaking her head gravely. "Especially if you make me chocolate chip pancakes when I'm sick."

"Okay," Spencer grinned, putting her head back down on Ashley's shoulder with a sigh. They stayed that way for a few moments, both of their eyes growing heavy as Ashley's cool fingers ran gently through Spencer's silky hair. Then the front door slammed, and Spencer jerked her head up the way a child does when they don't want to admit they were falling asleep.

"What was that?" she yawned, rubbing her eyes with the heel of her palm.

"Oh, your dad and Clay went out for some videos and stuff," Ashley informed her, "so we wouldn't have to go out again for the rest of the weekend. I gave him a totally dykeadelic movie list...seemed like a good time to start your queer media education, anyway."

"Oh yeah?" Spencer grinned. "What are we watching?"

"Well," Ashley's eyes tilted up thoughtfully. "We should probably start with D.E.B.S., because it's the silliest and the least angsty...then we've got But I'm a Cheerleader, The Incredibly True Adventure of Two Girls in Love, some Margaret Cho, and Tank Girl, which isn't technically a lesbian movie, but it's indie and still totally queer. Then if we have time, we should totally go online and watch Girltrash." Ashley's dark eyes sparkled with glee as she ticked off her selections.

"I cannot believe you sent Dad and Clay out for those movies," Spencer grinned, shaking her head in disbelief.

"Yep. It might've been kinder to send them out for tampons, huh?" Looking at each other, the two girls burst into hysterical giggles.

"Okay, let's go get this party started," Spencer snickered, feeling a lot less miserable about being stuck inside and sick all weekend. They uncurled themselves from the chair where they were entwined, and headed for the living room. "Wait!" Spencer exclaimed suddenly, stopping short so that Ashley walked into her back and bounced back.

"What?" Ashley blinked. Spencer smiled shyly.

"Bring the pancakes."