A/N: Thank you everyone for commenting and giving me support. I'm feeling a bit depressed and didn't like this chapter but decided to post anyway. I hope you guys like it and if this is getting boring let me know.

~Ashley's POV~

Three Years Later

"Spender I swear if you touch my drums!"

She bugs me so much lately. Always touching and breaking my things and now just because I wouldn't let her watch her stupid Power Ranger show she threatened to play my drums and everyone knows that daddy and I are the only ones allowed to touch them. Not even my mom's touch them, it's a rule or at least it should be.

"You can't stop me!" she yelled back dashing up the stairs. For a four year old she's fast and small so she can like go through tiny spaces way faster than me. But I'm seven so she can't beat me. Isn't it like a sister rule? The big sisters are better at everything. I love rules but Spender loves to break them, doesn't she know things are that way for a reason. Mainly for me to do what I want and I've laid down so many rules and she just breaks them over and over again.

"Spender!" I stopped at the top landing and screamed. She skidded to a halt just outside my room, her hair pulled back in a pony tail. She wore chucks, jeans and a red tee shirt; mommy loves to dress us up. Her blue eyes widened in fear of knowing that I can dish out as good as she gives or shock that I was as close as I was but it didn't matter, she was going to DIE if she touched them.

Her mouth twitched up into a smirk as she took a step forward which was followed by me taking a step forward. We were in a battle, silently watching the other for any sudden movements.

"Girls," Mama called up the stairs but neither of us moved instead she furrowed her brows looking into my room than back at me as I shook my head, "Are you up there?"

"Yes," she mouthed earning her a silently whispered no back. She nodded and I shook my head.

"Ashley? Spencer?" We both could hear mama coming up the stairs and as if her foot was the green flag at a race we took off.

Spender ran into my room and I was close on her tail. As I turned in the door way she was standing right next to the drum set my dad gave me for Christmas three years ago, glaring as hard as I could so she would get the point but obviously like every other time she ignored it. Her hand reached out and she smiled as she curled her fingers leaving her index out.

"There you two are," Mama walked into the room with gentle eyes trained on us, "What is going on here?"

"Spender was going to touch my drums," I growled taking a step forward only to have mama place her arm out blocking me at the chest and waist.

"She wouldn't let me watch Billy!"

God her and that blue ranger. I don't get her obsession with him or the show at all, I prefer Gumby and everyone I know likes that show. Its way better I mean he gets to transform into almost anything and go inside books and have big adventures. All the Power Ranger's do is morph and fight bad guys, yawn.

"Spencer you know Ashley doesn't like you to touch her drums," I smiled at her sticking my tongue out but mama caught it between her fingers, "...and you're not suppose to stick your tongue out." she removed her fingers and I stuck my tongue back, "Now why don't you two get dressed your party is going to start soon and me and mommy have to talk to someone for a little so please be good."

She pointed at both of us glaring her mom glare the one that makes you shiver and nod silently but everyone knows you'll start bickering quietly once she leaves. Once she was out I kicked Spender out and started getting ready, today is February thirteenth, mommy and mama wanted me and Spender to celebrate our birthday's together this year, I don't know why but they wouldn't listen to me on how I'm to old to share my birthday with her. She'll want baby stuff and I want grown up stuff. Shaking my head I just ignored my feelings of hate for her and ruining my life and continued to get dressed, I already turned seven but Spender had to wait longer to turn five and that thought made me smile.

~Christine's POV~

The years flew by it seemed. The girls are going to school and I won the bet on Spencer's name, Spencer was the first to say it right. Ashley refuses to take the D out even now when we've heard her say the name right. Paula graduated and is now a staff intern at Los Angeles Medical Center and her boss is a big pain in the ass although he's actually the good guy in all especially if you put him up against the director of the hospital who just really doesn't care about her patients.

Our lawyer Robert Dugan was stopping by soon and we still had to get everything ready for the girls' party. We are going on a family vacation before Spencer birthday so decided to just celebrate them together so they can both have their friends come. Paula was waiting impatiently by the door so I crypt up to her wrapping my arms around her waist holding her tight into me.

We'd talked about taking custody away from Raife for a while but it didn't seem necessary. Than he just had to mess up and even I was pissed at him and usually I can forgive him because he is just prone to bad luck. He had drugs around Ashley, did drugs around Ashley and got arrested for said drugs while Ashley was over at his house. She spent hours at the police station for us to show up and when we got there and found out that Raife had drugs around her well I blew up and we finally called our lawyer. Robert said we have a really good chance at winning the custody battle.

"It's going to be okay," she whispered back at me knowing how much this is hurting me. I fought so hard to give him chances and for him to finally break my resolve and take his daughter away just broke my heart.

"I know," I whispered back as the door bell rang signaling the arrival of Robert.

Paula let him in and they went to the back porch while I got some drinks ready. Bringing the lemonade out I sat down listening to them until I could jump into the conversation.

"So we'll take it to court after that, you are sure now that this is what you want to do?" Robert asked sipping his glass of lemonade.

I nodded, "It is...I'm tired of him putting Ashley in dangerous situation."

"Well with this latest case of drug abuse in the home it will be a pretty open and shut case."

"How long does something like this take?" Paula cupped my hand squeezing it for support as a lump formed in my throat.

"Depends on the court and when your ready with all the evidence. A few months probably, now for the last bit is how far do you want to take this. Full custody no visits, with visits supervised or unsupervised visits?"

"Supervised," Paula shot out before I could say anything.

Tugging on her hand it brought her blue eyes to settle upon me, "Can we talk about that?"

Her brows furrowed but she nodded not wanting to fight in front of Robert and I had a feeling a fight was coming our way.

"Do you want me to set up a court date; I can get you in about two weeks,"

I shook my head putting my glass down, "Not this month. We're taking a family vacation, how bout the beginning of next month?"

He nodded flipping through papers littered on his side of the patio table. Our pool glittered behind him in the sun and we just sat outside in the cool air leaning on each other waiting for him to finish what ever he was doing.

"Yes that can be arranged, how about March 10th?"

"Sounds good to me," Paula smiled standing up to shake his hand.

That was the fastest meeting I've ever been too and I feel slightly bad that he came all the way down here for a thirty minute conversation we could have done a three way phone conversation to deal with.

"Thank you so much Robert and I'm sorry you had to come down here for this," I smiled giving him a tight hug; he was friend of my families. First my father's lawyer and now mine.

He squeezed me back, "No problem Christine it is always a pleasure," he kissed the top of my head than hugged Paula and left.

"SPENDER!"

Paula and I glanced at each other with wide eyes and dashed up the stairs to save the little blonde girl from the wrath of our little devil.

~Arthur's POV~

I couldn't wait for work to be over so I could rush home and phone the Davies'. I sent the girls' their presents two weeks before their birthdays and than Paula called to tell me they were celebrating them on the thirteenth so I had to wait a little longer for Ashley's reaction while I get to hear about Spencer's a bit early.

A knock on the door brought me out of my thoughts. Standing in the door way was one of my troubled teens Harold Blinsky; he had red ear length hair and always wore girl like jeans and net fish shirts with studded leather wrist cuffs.

"What do I owe the please Harold?" I sat back in the chair holding my hands in front of me observing the way he moved. He just turned eighteen which he was very proud of for what reason besides being an adult I have no idea.

"Just came to talk is that okay?" he asked shifting his feet back and forth and not making eye contact.

Cocking my brow I nodded and told him to take a seat, "Are you okay? Everything okay at home?"

Harold just waved the question off, "Yeah things are fine I just um wanted to talk, we can do that right?"

"That is what I'm here for,"

He smiled at me letting his guard down, "How...how did you know?"

"Know what?"

He shifted uncomfortably in the chair again not making eye contact which worried me as this was one of the kids that usually challenged me and stared right into me.

"You know man...you know!" he growled a moment later standing up and passing back and forth. His reaction alerting me to what the question was.

"Gay?"

Harold swung around sweat dripping down his brow, his eyes so hollow yet full of life deep down, and I could see he just wanted understanding of what he was feeling and to be accepted.

Sighing he plopped back down running his hand through his hair, "Yeah," he whispered out.

"It took me awhile up till college. There was this guy, he was a jock and like the perfect guy on campus. I went to all of his games and cheered. Soon I just started feeling this pangs in my heart when he walked by but he didn't notice me and why should he I was just another guy."

"Did...did you ever get to talk with him?" Harold leaned forward eyes wide showing how much he was into the story.

Chuckling I nodded, "Sure did. I was lost and looking for my class room when I bumped into him."

Harold licked his lips before gently biting down on it, god the kid was hot I had to admit that, "Did you...hook up?" he wiggled his eyebrows making me laugh.

"You mean did we have sex?"

He nodded than frowned and shook his head as if what I said just caught up with the rational side of his mind, "No...Yes but no. Did you guys like get together?"

Nodding once I stood up walking to another tiny desk on the side of the room where I had most of my pictures set up. Ashley and Spencer, smiling toothlessly at a carnival, Paula throwing Ashley up in the air when she was one, the little girl glancing downward with a huge smile. Christine and Paula sitting on a blanket on the sand in Hawaii, the waves crashing behind them as the sun sets casting orange and red hues across their hair and skin. It was a romantic photo I snapped secretly, to this day I don't think they know. But the picture I was picking up was my absolute favorite. Mark and I in tuxedos at our wedding last year.

He had been cheating on me with a woman causing us to break up. Turns out though the woman was black mailing him with false information and photo shopped pictures. He apologized over and over again but I just felt betrayed and couldn't take him back. So one night he brought Raife with him to the house. Raife played the guitar and he sang, horrible, a love song. He won my heart and we started dating again than he proposed, we were married November 1st, 1992. Best day ever...well maybe that night was the best.

I handed the photo over, it showed Mark and I feeding each other our wedding cake. Harold glanced at it as I sat on the edge of my desk, "Is that him?"

"Yep. Mark. We've been together a long time and just got married last year."

"Wow," he cocked his head handing me the photo back. I looked at it tracing the outline of Mark's face, his green eyes staring into my brown ones in the picture. Once we got back together he had become everything like he once used to be, "He's out..."

"Yes well..." I stood up putting the picture in its rightful place.

Turning around I gasped, Harold was standing close to me. I stepped back into the desk causing them to shake a bit as he stepped forward, "Not as hot as you Mr. Rylan,"

"Harold what are you doing?" my voice shook and for some reason I couldn't force him back. I wanted to but than he could claim what ever and I could get in trouble so I just stood there unsure of how to react.

He had green eyes just like Mark. They held so much life that shined through and glittered, "I've wanted you since the first day I sat my ass in that seat,"

"Harold," I put my hand on his shoulder pushing him away only to have him smack my arm away. Grabbing my tie he pulled me in and kissed me hard upon the lips. I froze. Thoughts of Mark and our relationship flashing through my mind, thoughts of jail for what just happened and even though I thought all of it I couldn't respond.

He pulled away a second later with wide scared eyes, "Mr. Rylan I'm so sorry!"

Tears threatened to spill out of his eyes as he took a few steps back. Straightening myself I looked at him hard, I wanted to kill the little bastard but I remember how it was trying to figure yourself out and having a crush on someone you don't think wants you back, "Harold its okay. Lets talk about it,"

"No...I have to go!" Before I could say anything else he rushed from the room leaving me confused and dazed.

Rubbing my forehead taking deep breaths I sat back down trying to figure out what I should do.

"Hey baby,"

Glancing up I saw Mark standing in the doorway, icicles ran down my spine at what I had to tell him and I hoped he understands.

TBC...