A/N: Sorry for the delay…but considering this is already longer than I had originally planned I think I'm successfully sure that I have no idea wth I'm doing anymore. We'll see what happens

Ashley's POV

Finally

A moment of peace where I can just sit back in this over priced office chair and say 'ahhh'

Today was rather long considering it consisted of nonstop meetings but I feel the need to establish a solid and trustworthy connection with my staff. The little work I did do gave me a familiar distraction and a new drive for my passion. It felt good to be working again after everything that has happened the past six months. My drive to make my form of art was pulsing through my veins again and there's only one more thing I need to complete my day.

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After 7 hours 55 minutes and 49 seconds have passed since I last saw them I'm pulling into the parking garage to pick up my angels

Locking the car and walking into SMC I'm met with the same staff I was introduced to during the tour

"Hello Mrs. Davies. How are you doing this evening?"

"Great Sharin, how about yourself?"

"Very well, thank you."

She comes from behind the counter, "I will walk you to where the kids are all playing. I think Arin and Emma are playing Barbies and Addison is well…" she trails off when we enter the play room where I see him laying across the lap of a beautiful blonde who seems to be dozing off herself and we share a quiet laugh.

"That is definitely my boy. Thank you again Sharin."

"No problem. I'll see you later Mrs. Davies" she says as she pats my shoulder in a friendly way

I walk over to the play area and sneak up behind Arin covering her eyes. "How's my little teapot?"

"Short and stout!" She squees and jumps into my arms giving me a tight hug. "I miss you today mommy"

"I missed you even more baby girl. Have you been good today?"

"Yes, great! Gampa let us eat pancakes and fruit for lunch and then he drop-ded us off and we watch-ded a movie and Dr. Spencer took Addi cuz he was asleep and drooly on me and I'm playing dolls with Emma." She shoved the blonde haired doll in my face, "See look and we dress-ded her all pink cuz thas both our favorite colors and now you here so I go home."

After all of that all I can do is shake my head and laugh at my hyperactive baby girl

"That's right baby girl. Say goodbye to Emma and let's go get Addi so we can go home."

She and Emma give each other hugs and say bye and I grab her little hand and head over to the couch. She taps who I'm assuming is Dr. Carlin on the knees and she awakes slowly to reveal the most gorgeous set of blue eyes I have ever seen. I see her slowly take in her surroundings and if I'm not mistaken I see her eyes trail up my body while Arin introduces me as 'mommy'. We get the kids gathered and she helps me by carrying a still sleeping Addison to the car. After the kids are all buckled in I get the air conditioner going and Arin asks to see Dr. Spencer to say goodbye so I roll down the back window and they say their farewells

I'm watching in amazement at the sincerity of her voice and the fact that Arin is excited about seeing someone new again. I turn back to Spencer looking her in the eyes, "My kids are happy kids but they don't take a liking to many people like this. It was nice meeting you Dr. Spencer" I say with a say with a smirk realizing we have yet to properly introduce ourselves to each other.

"It's Carlin, Spencer Carlin. It's just easier for the kids to call me Spencer, plus Dr. Carlin reminds me of my parents but it was nice meeting you..."

"Ashley"

"Well it was nice meeting you and your lovely children Ashley."

She hands me her business card, "I actually am only visiting as I live in Oregon but feel free to call me for whatever." I can tell she really enjoys what she does and I believe she means what she says which is rare these days. I smile and hop in the car as she closes my door saying her last goodbyes to Arin before she walks away.

I keep my window rolled down until she's entering the building. You know, just keeping up my polite manners and all. Wouldn't want anything to happen to Spencer, right?

I smile to myself at the feeling I get from checking her out as she walks away

She glances back at us and I smile and bite my lip as she turns back towards the building

I can definitely get used to this place

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The 10 minute drive must have stirred Addi awake because I now have a bubbly bouncing little guy in the backseat trying to sing along with his sister to the radio

We get home and I give the kids a wash off and we all get on a change of clothes and head down to our secret nightly ritual

"READY!"

I smile at my crazy daughter and her funky pink and white swimwear dragging Addison behind her in his little dinosaur shorts. This is what you get when you let your kids pick their own clothes.

"Let's hit some waves!"

That's another reason why I love L.A.

Me and my babies are true water lovers

They both have been practically swimming since they were born and even though I know that I still don't let them stray more than a foot or two away from me in the water

We pack back up in the car and head to the beach instead of going to the pool since it's still rather early

Giving them a bath tonight is going to be hell. Thank God it's a weekend and I don't have to wake them up early to go to work. As much as Addi sleeps trust me, Arin loves her sleep time too. She's just outgrown having a nap but she passes out and the three of us are definitely not morning people by any means

We get to the sand and I let them play like wild animals since there aren't many people out today

Half an hour into the madness of swimming and splashing we attempt a mess of a sandcastle and all things come to a halt when I see Arin jumping and waving at someone running in our direction


Spencer's POV

After seeing off the last of the school and daycare children I make my last round to the floors and leave the evening staff with a warm but tired smile. After a quick stop at Wendy's and a nearby Red Box to pick a movie for the night I'm walking through the door to my home away from home. I take in the soft floral scent around me and thank myself for spending that little extra money to make sure this place is taken care of when I'm away.

Sifting through the random pieces of mail while I indulge in my hearty salad and a glass of red wine I feel like putting off the movie and taking a jog. I rarely get out of the house lately when I'm here and the beach is calling my name.

Going through my closet I find a pair of running shorts, shoes, and throw on a tank over my sports bra and head right out to my 'backyard' where the edge of the beach soon will connect me to that salty breeze and cool mist floating around me as I take off in a light sprint.

I've always envied the people who run while listening to music and just let themselves get lost in a fun workout.

I on the other hand am a thinker

This is like the time I get to free my mind of all things and just be one with nature.

No music, no talking, just me hitting the ground running

Literally

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Why is it that they always say to push through the pain

I'm Spencer F'ing Carlin and I say fuck that

This hurts like hell

Now I remember another reason why I'm not a freaking runner

30 minutes later I'm out of breath and slowing down to take a moment to stretch some more before I make the trail back up the beach

The lack of people on the beach today makes me less self conscious about how awkward I look right now

No matter how fit I look I will never have that runners look and I feel like all eyes are on me the moment I step foot outside in the runners attire

Breathe In

Breathe out

And repeat

Alright body

It's time to make this trek back up the mountain

You can do this

Yes I'm talking to myself

It's just a little pep talk

Leave me be

Starting again I just decide to take my time in a light jog and finish in a sprint the last five minutes of my run. This time around I actually take in all things around me. At this time there's only a few couples holding hands that I smile at as I pass them by. I can see a family up ahead building what looks like a sandcastle and a few kids running in and out of the water chasing their dog.

I get ready to start my sprint and I see little flailing arms looking to get someone's attention in my direction. I look around and there's really no one around but I don't know anyone here to be waving at me and assume it's one of the kids from SMC.

As I get close my heart starts beating faster as I slow to a fast walk towards who I have now noticed is Arin and her family. I can hear her yelling Dr. Spencer now that I'm closer and Ashley looks almost shocked but she covers it as she stands and dusts sand off her toned legs.

I'm caught staring as she is now speaking to Arin telling her stop asking me questions and to go back to play with Addison for a sec.

She asked me questions?

Hmm

Well I'm sure I looked like a spaz by not answering her but come on my eyes are a little distracted

Mmm

Oh did I not mention that Ashley is half naked

Well she has on a bathing suit top and a mini skirt and her abs are to die for and her legs, my God, what I would do to…

"Spencer!"

"Oh, hmm? Hey! Ashley, nice to see you again." I give a slight blush and notice a slight smirk on her face this time as she catches my eyes.

"Didn't expect to see you so soon? Can't say that I'm not happy about it though."

Did she really say that?

I'm doing a little happy dance

In my head of course

She makes me flustered and I'm sure she already thinks I'm nuts I don't need any extra help in that department

We share a smile and she asks me to join them and I don't have anything better to do so heck why not

Being the big kid I am I grab a pail and shovel and dig down into the sand with Arin while she talks away a mile a minute but it's very entertaining to say the least. Halfway through our sand collecting and a partially buried Addison covered in the sand I see Ashley give me that same look Arin gave me when she left Addison with me earlier. That Dennison stamp of approval I'm assuming. It suits them. I look over at Addison who is waving at me and I wave back making a cheesy face that makes him giggle.

Moments like this make me miss a lot of things I can't or don't have

Sigh

Before I can let dark thoughts creep in my mind I'm drenched by a wave crashing on top me and a shocked Arin. We are both wearing the same expression and at the howling laughter to the left is Ashley.

I whisper in Arin's ear then we dart off before she even knows what's coming and we tackle her

"Tickle fight!" Arin yells and I've got the Addison, tickling his little belly while Arin is failing at her attempt to tickle Ashley's sides. "Help, help! Dr. Spencer I need backup"

I pile Addison on top of Ashley and join in the family fight to take her down and after a few seconds she is at our mercy

"I give! Uncle!" We all end up rolling on our backs breathing hard and still trying to tame our laughter. After a few minutes when we've settled I start to get up and I feel a hand fall into mine and a glare sent my way. She whispers "payback" and somehow I don't think I'm going to mind it that much if the spark I felt from her hand in mine is any indication of what's to come.

-----

The night ended shortly after the tickle match

We all said our goodbyes, this time with Ashley giving me her card and made plans to see each other again before the end of the weekend

One last wave at the passengers and I stepped away from the Dennison's SUV with a smile that was plastered on my face the rest of my jog home