A/N: Here is the 4th chapter...hope you all are still with me here. The next chapter will be dinner, and you will find out more about the state of the girls' relationship at the time of the break-up. I know some of you have had questions about that. I promise I'll try to tie it all in to make sense. This story will be different from Addiction in that this is more about building a successful relationship based on all the crap life throws at you. It doesn't seem like a sequel to some...and it may continue to feel that way, but if you enjoy it nonetheless, hang in there with me! :)

Thanks for all the reviews and kind words. It's nice, as a writer, to hear what readers think...so it's appreciated...MUCHLY! I'm hoping to maintain a fairly regular schedule for updating, but I'm a perpetual traveler. I live in the Midwest and travel to LA about every 2 months to visit friends, so updating gets thrown off for me sometimes. Throw in TRYING to date and it's all upside down! haha

Hope you all are well, and this finds you happy, smiling, and ready to kick a$$ in the new year! :)

Disclaimer: no changes...see chapter uno!

Spencer had just finished putting Katelyn to bed when her phone chimed, signaling a new text message. She kissed her daughter's forehead one last time and then exited the room, only pulling the door nearly shut to allow the hall light in, before heading off to the comfort of her own bed.

She dropped her full weight down on the bed and fished her phone from her jeans pocket, flipping it open to read the new message.

Thanks for seeing me today. I told you I would be talking to you sooner than I would admit! How 'bout dinner tomorrow at 8pm?

Spencer grinned through Ashley's message and dialed a familiar number before responding.

"Hello?"

"Kyyyy-laaaaa…."

"Oh lord, Spencer, what the hell do you want with your sing-song voice?"

Spencer giggled into the phone and could almost see the brunette rolling her eyes.

"How are you, Ky?"

"Oh cut the how-are-you-Ky shit, I know you don't give a crap about me right now. The only time you sing-song my name is when you want something. I swear, you are worse than a child sometimes…you know…"

"Okay, okay, I get it. Shut up already," Spencer cut in. "I swear you'd go on for days if I allowed it."

Kyla laughed on the other end and Spencer immediately felt her heart warm. She and Kyla had really developed a great friendship, even after everything that happened with Ashley. In fact, she was Katelyn's Godmother, and loved her little girl as if she were her own. For that, Spencer would be forever thankful.

"So what's up Spence?"

"Well, your sister and I have been working through some things she since has been back from her tour, and she just sent me a message asking about doing dinner tomorrow night," Spencer explained.

"Need me to watch munchkin?" Kyla inquired.

"If you can, that would be great. I just didn't want to ask dad again, even though I know he wouldn't mind."

"Oh you know I don't mind. I haven't gotten to spend any quality time with her as of late, so this will work out great. Just let me know what time and where you want me."

"Well, Ashley mentioned dinner at 8, so maybe around 7?"

"Sure, that should be fine by me. Do you want to bring her here, or would you rather I just come over there? Then I can see that no-good-excuse-for-a-sister of mine before you all head out!" Kyla laughed.

Spencer couldn't help but laugh along with the brunette. She knew Kyla had already seen Ashley since she'd been back, but she was still giving her such a hard time for everything that had happened between them.

"Just come by here. Katelyn likes being in her bed at night and I won't want to move her if she falls asleep at your place."

"You know she can just stay here with me, Spence."

"Oh, I know Ky…and I wouldn't mind, but it will be nice to come home to her after we have dinner. I just don't know what to expect of things right now, so she's as much a comfort to me as I am to her."

Kyla nodded on the other end, and sighed.

"I hope you guys figure your shit out, Spence."

"Me too, Kyla, me too! Just make sure you're here tomorrow evening. I'll let it be a surprise for Katelyn when you show up."

"Sounds good to me, I'll see you tomorrow Spence."

After hanging up with Kyla, Spence sat staring at Ashley's message for what seemed like forever. Just as she was about to hit reply, her phone chimed signaling another new message.

You can say no, Carlin, I won't be offended.

Spencer smiled at Ashley's impatience. Some things never change, she though, shaking her head.

She hit reply and quickly typed her message.

I had to line up a sitter. Since Kyla agreed, dinner sounds great, she wrote.

Pick you up at 7:30, reservations at 8. Dress casual.

Spencer debated how to respond, but decided on a simple 'sounds good,' before setting her phone on the nightstand and curling up under the covers to watch Ace of Cakes. The one thing she couldn't seem to shake was the smile that had adopted her face as its new home. She would be having dinner with Ashley Davies tomorrow night, and she couldn't imagine it being anything short of comforting.

Ashley woke to find the sun glaring at her through her bedroom window. Groaning in frustration, she rolled out of bed and closed in on the offending light, quickly pulling her drapes closed. Hanging black drapes in her bedroom was one of the smartest decisions she made when she began decorating her house. In no time, she was back in bed willing herself back to sleep.

It was mere minutes before Ashley was woken up by the sound of her bedroom door clicking shut. She sat up in bed, reaching for her glasses to see who was going to round the corner in her room and was met with her most favorite grin; Spencer.

"Breaking and entering…doesn't seem your style, Carlin."

Spencer smiled, but kept mum while walking over to Ashley's bedside and sitting down in the round chair near her bed. She set the bag of muffins and the coffee cups, secured in their traveler, on the bedside table.

"I figured since you were taking me to dinner, I'd beat you to the punch and bring you breakfast," she smiled.

Ashley smiled big before reaching over and pulling one of the cups from the carrier and taking a sip. She immediately scrunched up her face in disgust.

"Yuck. This one is definitely yours," Ashley admitted, handing the cup to Spencer. "I'll never understand why you don't take sugar in your coffee," Ashley grimaced.

"I get enough of a high from the caffeine in this liquid gold. I don't need to add insult to injury by increasing that high with sugar," Spencer reasoned.

Ashley sipped her coffee, lowering her cup to peer at Spencer over the top of it, "You're serious with that aren't you?" Ashley scoffed. "I would advise sprucing up the taste and ordering decaf if that's what you want to do."

Spencer shook her head in amusement before leaning back in the chair to settle her body. Neither girl spoke for a few moments, both just enjoying the silence and coffee, reminiscent of similar days of the past.

After some time had passed, Ashley finally broke the silence; "Where is Katelyn this morning?"

"OH MY GOD…SHE'S STILL IN THE CAR!" Spencer yelled, jumping from her seat, startling Ashley.

She broke out into roaring laughter upon seeing the look on Ashley's face. The blonde doctor dropped back in her chair, holding her sides as she continued to laugh.

"Real funny, Spencer," Ashley scolded.

"Oh stop it, you should have seen the look of terror flash across your face. That was hilarious."

"Har har har. I'm glad you got a good laugh…now seriously, where is she? Did you leave her at Starbucks?" Ashley questioned, with raised brows.

Spencer giggled before responding, "She is at school. I take her three days a week so she can play with other kids and be stimulated mentally, outside of the little lessons we have at home together."

Ashley nodded her head, impressed at the way Spencer was raising her daughter.

"You know, I would really like to meet her sometime."

Spencer smiled, nodding her head, "I would like for you to meet her as well…"

"…but?" Ashley questioned.

"…but, I would like for us to clean our slates as best we can before I introduce you into her life as well. I hope you understand."

Ashley nodded and looked down at her comforter, saddened a little by Spencer's response, but not really understanding why.

"It's for no other reason than me wanting to ensure that you and I are okay first, Ash," Spencer stated, reassuringly.

"I get it. It's okay. I mean, I wouldn't want to do anything wrong by your daughter Spencer…she's such an innocent party in all of our drama."

Spencer grinned and started to stand, finishing her coffee and tossing the cup in the waste basket by Ashley's bed.

"I should probably head out. I need to run some errands before I pick her up. Kyla said she would be at my place around 7, so I'll be ready to go by 7:30, if that's still the plan?"

"Yeah, that's perfect."

Ashley shuffled out from under her comforter to stand and walk Spencer out, not realizing she was in a blank tank top and black and pink boy shorts.

Spencer stopped in her tracks, slowly admiring the body she had seen so many times before in even less clothing. She allowed her eyes to drag up tanned legs, over covered abs, and up to the chocolate brown eyes she adored. She noticed Ashley's shy grin along the way, and found herself blushing at being caught.

Looking down at her feet, shuffling her toes a little, the blonde started towards the bedroom door when a warm hand caught her by the wrist.

Ashley locked eyes with her former lover and gently pulled her in for a lingering hug. She placed a kiss on Spencer's cheek before pulling away and proceeding to pull the blonde toward the door.

Spencer just blushed and smiled at their interaction, knowing they could still cut the sexual tension between them with a knife.

Upon reaching the front door, Ashley pulled the door open and stood off to the side. Smiling, she pulled the blonde in for another quick hug then shooed her out the door. Spencer laughed at Ashley's impatience and waved over her shoulder as she headed for her car.

"See you later this evening Ash."

"Bye Spence," Ashley shouted in return, shaking her head while closing the front door.

That girl will be the death of me, Ashley thought.