Ashley pulled into her drive way, heart pounding and sweat dripping from her hands. The look in Spencer's eyes when she tried to leave made her stomach twist; it held fear and wanting at the same time. She shut her car off and got out, her legs felt weak. The night grew longer and longer, Arthur tried to get Clay to come home but the boy just sat by Chelsea's bed. Glen and Madison had gone hours ago to find Paula, she and Arthur had a fight and she took off and didn't know what was going on. Digging through her purse for the house keys, she pulled a note from the bottom. Her heart seemed to stop, Spencer's note from earlier while they were at school. She unfolded it to reread it:

Hey Baby Bear, (Spencer's little nick name for Ashley)

I'm so happy that you've decided to go to prom; I know you don't like these kinds of things yet you're doing it for me. You have no idea what this means to me to be going to a dance with some one I'm desperately madly in love with. I want to spend my life with you if you'll let me and it doesn't sound too stalkerish. I don't want to push you ever, so this dance...this perfect night is all I'm going to ask you for.

Love you all ways,

Spence

Ashley bent forward and puked in the bushes.

"Ash?" Kyla asked finally getting out of the car when she saw here sister stop at the door. The younger Davies' was in her own world, she hated Aiden. The boy took her out to prom just to turn around and proclaim his love for her sister. How could he lead her on knowing he wasn't in love with her, or is he and he just doesn't want to lose Ashley? Kyla shook her head; she didn't want to think about it.

"I'm fine..." Kyla just nodded and both went into the house. She wanted to help but didn't know how, the two sisters separated. Kyla went to her room, she saw Aiden's jacket laid on her bed. She had planned to give it back to him before leaving for prom, but getting fixed up and talking to Ashley and her mom made her completely forget about it. She sat on the bed, picked the jacket up and held it close. Tears she held back all night flowed from her eyes, she had loved him, hell she still loved him. How could he do this to me, lead me on and still love Ashley...she felt arms wrap around her. Looking up she saw Ashley, tears gone and a small smile on her face trying to help her sister out.

"Are you okay?" Ashley asked after a few minutes, stroking Kyla's hair in a soothing manner.

"I'm fine..." Kyla slightly chuckled, earning her a look from her older sister.

"What's so funny?"

"This...us...we both know were not fine yet we say it anyways," this caused Ashley to laugh lightly.

"We are definitely part of the Davies' family." The older brunette gave her award winning smile while opening her eyes wide for emphasis. At this point both girls were just relaxing, trying to push every thing away but knew it wasn't working, "Help me pack?"

"Pack, you leaving?" Kyla spoke following Ashley into her room.

"Sort of, Spencer's doctor says I need to stay with her so she..." Ashley had a hard time talking about it. The doctor had pulled both Arthur and her into a room and talked for an hour about what was going on with the blonde.

"Is she okay, I mean no one has told me what's exactly going on...she wasn't shot was she; I thought you checked her out..." Kyla was babbling, so many thoughts running threw her mind.

"Kyla...Kyla," Ashley shook her head exasperated when her sister finally stopped talking and stared at her, "It...she's..." she licked her dry lips trying to find anything to say, "She has post traumatic stress disorder...remember when she passed out at the school," Kyla nodded, "She all most had a heart attack."

"OMG Really?" She couldn't comprehend how a seventeen year old girl could have a heart attack.

Ashley nodded her head while packing some cloths, "Doctor said not to get my hopes up about her wanting me around...said I was a safe place to go before it happened so, in her mind I'm still the safe place you know...I told him about what happened and he said that this isn't her way of forgiving me its just something she can hold on to so she doesn't slip away. Arthur, I mean Mr. C said when this is over me and her...she could still be mad at me and will have to deal with it then."

"You mean your going to go take care of her and she still may break up with you?" That threw Kyla for a loop.

"I know it sounds crazy, I know it does to me. But I love her and if me being there for her helps, I'm there. No questions asked." Ashley zipped her two bags up, "It's not like all the other times, I'm going to fight for this...for her." She whispered the last part but Kyla heard.

"Hurry back," Kyla hugged her sister, hating that the big mansion was going to so lonely and quiet with out some one else there. I guess I'll see how Ash lived before I came, she sighed with waving good bye to her sister and walking back into the empty house.

Carlin's Residence

"That girl is not staying here," Paula seethed for the hundredth time that night. Arthur told her the minute he returned home, his wife in the kitchen wiping tears away when he entered.

"Yes she is and you are not going to bother them, Spencer needs this right now..."

"What Spencer needs...if it wasn't for Ashley she wouldn't be in this predicament, that whore has corrupted her and now she's...she's..." Paula couldn't even finish the sentence when the door bell went off.

Arthur quickly opened the door to find Ashley with two bags over her shoulder, her eyes held grief but she tried to force a smile but he saw right threw it, "Ashley...come in."

"Mr. C..."

"No, I told you...Ashley please leave," Paula pointed to the door.

"What, I thought you were going to speak to her?" Ashley turned to Arthur, who seemed at a loss of words for what his wife just said.

"He did and you are not what my daughter needs, in fact you're what put her there." Paula took a couple steps toward Ashley, "So you need to get your slutty ass out of here and stop trying to turn my daughter gay!"

The three people downstairs didn't see the blonde standing at the top of the stairs, didn't know she was listening, didn't see the hatred in her eyes for what was going on and certainly didn't notice her pick up a vase and throw it down toward them. It shattered in a million pieces, shaking the three out of their argument to look up at her.

"Spencer!" Paula slightly yelled, appalled at what she just did.

"She is not a slut, she didn't turn me gay...I just am. If you can't accept that than leave, go fuck your boyfriend or complain to him. Don't you ever say another word to me about her, or so help me I'll..."

"You'll what Spencer, this is what I am talking about Arthur..." Paula turned her attention to her husband.

"Or I'll kill you!" Spencer screamed getting her mother's attention. Arthur and Ashley both stared in complete shock.

"What did you just say?" Paula asked not believing her own ears at the moment. Spencer ran back to her room, banging could be heard.

"Ashley..." Arthur didn't have to time to finish, the girl was all ready bounding up the stairs, "Paula I think we need to talk?"

"You're right, I'm having divorce papers drawn up. Ben and I are moving back to Ohio and we're taking Spencer with us."

"No, you can't. I'll fight you!"

"And you'll lose..." Paula grabbed her purse and walked casually out the door, leaving Arthur to his thoughts. He sighed, sliding down the wall holding his knees trying to think of anything that might help. The banging up stairs was keeping his attention but he knew if Ashley needed his help she'd call out, for now he just had to deal with Paula and find out how his boys' are doing.

TBC

Read the next chapter to figure out what's going on upstairs.