Title: Changing Hearts And Minds
Author: Freeing Alys
Rating: T
Pairing: Spashley[Spencer/Ashley
Summary: Spencer is at college and things are going good, then Ashley shows up out of nowhere half a year after their fallout and Spencer's whole world is turned around.
Disclaimer: I DO NOT own South Of Nowhere or any of the charectors or story plots. Those all belong to The-N and anyone else affiliated. I'm JUST a fan, trying to improve my writing skills. I'm not making any profit off of this at all. No copywrite infridgement intended.

Chapter Nine

Ashley let out a loud laugh as her and Spencer walked through the dorm building's halls. "Shhh! You are going to get me in so much trouble." Spencer whispered as she helped Ashley walk.

Brianna and her new boyfriend Trey, walked behind the couple stifling giggles. Spencer glanced at them and rolled her eyes, they really just thought this was hiliaries. And it really wasn't.

The foursome had gone to a local club and Ashley spent the night having fun. Way too much fun. She drank four bottles of beer and three shots of vodka…which got her way to drunk to legally be in Spencer's dorm. "S-s-s-sorry." Ashley slurred out and Spencer shook her head.

She didn't know why, but Ashley seemed to have gotten way more drunk then anyone else. The other three had just as much to drink as Ashley, if not more, and only got mildly buzzed. "You are such a light weight." Spencer grumbled as she opened the door to her dorm and Ashley stumbled in.

"You guys okay?" Brianna asked as Spencer shoved her key back into her pocket.

Spencer nodded her head and smiled at her best friend. "Yeah, thanks for walking us."

Brianna nodded her head back towards Spencer. "See you later okay?"

Spencer nodded her head as Trey waved at Spencer and nodded his own head. "Bye Spencer." He mumbled and the couple walked off.

Spencer walked into her dorm room and shut the door behind her. She glanced towads Aubrey's bed and watched Aubrey sit up in her bed and glanced at the two with a confused look. "Hey Aubrey." Spencer greeted her roommate as Ashley fell down on Spencer's bed.

"Wow, you guys had fun." Aubrey stated and Spencer rolled her eyes.

"Yeah, we just went out with some friend to celebrate midterms you know." Spencer explained and Aubrey nodded her head.

"I guess so." Aubrey flipped the book she had been reading shut and glanced over at Ashley. "She okay?" Aubrey asked taking her in and Spencer nodded her head.

"Sure, she's fine. I guess." Spencer mumbled while taking off Ashley's shoes.

"Does she normally get like that?" Aubrey asked sliding off of he rbed and glacnign at Ashley.

Spencer shrugged and looked over at Aurbey. "I have no idea. I haven't seen her for like six months. And we didn't drink all that much when we knew each other."

"Oh." Aubrey said as Ashley's eyes fluttered back open.

Ashely glanced at Spencer and smield. "I love you." She mumbled barely audible and Spencer glanced at Aubrey who let out a laugh.

"Wow, I think she needs rest." She said and walked back over ot her side of the dorm.

"Yeah." Spencer sighed out and she laid down next to Ashley on the bed.

000

The next morning Spencer woke up before alarm clock, due to Ashley sliding off of the bed. Spencer opened her eyes and watched as Ashley stumbled over to Spencer's closet and pulled out an outfit. Ashley brought her hand to her head and let out a groan. "You okay?" Spencer asked as she sat up in bed.

Ashley smiled at Spencer and nodded. "Yeah I'm okay. Just hungover." Ashley explained and Spencer nodded her head.

"I noticed." She joked and Ashley stuck her tongue out at Spencer.

"Whatever." Ashley mumbled as she slipped out of the clothes for the night before.

Spencer glanced over at Aubrey's bed and saw that she was no longer there. Aubrey was always an early morning person. Spencer figured half of it was to see her boyfriend, ASAP.

Spencer slipped out of her bed and walked over to her closet, next to Ashley. "Ready for today?" Spencer asked as she pulled out a skirt and tank top.

Ashley nodded her head slowly as she pulled her clean pair of jeans on. "Yeah, I guess. I mean…if you want to go."

Spencer slipped into her skirt and nodded her head at Ashley. "yeah, I want to go. It's okay with you right? I mean I can just wait to tell my mom."

Ashley slipped her shirt off and glanced at Spencer. "You want to tell your mom?" Ashley asked, a mixture of confusion and happiness in her voice.

Spencer smiled at Ashley as she slipped her shirt on and nodded her head. "Yeah. I mean I don't want to let you down anymore Ashley and my mom has to know. I don't want to hide." Spencer admitted as she slipped on her own shirt.

Ashley smiled at Spencer. "Wow Spencer, I'm proud really."

Spencer let out a laugh and nodded her head. "I'm glade."

Ashley hugged Spencer, wrapping her arms around Spencer's waist. "What time do we head out?" Ashley asked and Spencer glanced at her clock.

"I don't know. Glenn is supposed to drive us, I don't have a car." Spencer mumbled as she picked up her phone.

Ashley let out a sigh and plopped on Spencer's bed. "I know. I need to get a car." She sighed out and Spencer smiled at her.

Glenn's phone rang two times before he finally answered. "Hey Spencer." He greeted as the phone picked up.

"Hey Glenn. You are coming to pick me and Ashley up right?" Spencer checked.

"Yeah…Mom can't stop talking about your new guy." Glenn joked and Spencer rolled her eyes.

"Whatever, she'll figure it out soon enough. When are you going to be here?" Spencer asked taking a few steps towards Ashley.

"One hour. You two will be ready right?" Glenn asked and Spencer nodded her ehad.

"Yeah, we just have to grab food and we're ready."

"Good. I'll be at your dorm." Glenn stated before he hung up the phone.

Spencer hung up her phone and plopped down on her bed. "We have an hour to eat and get ready. Want to go to the cafeteria?" Spencer asked sitting close to Ashley.

Ashley smiled as she glanced over at Spencer. "Yes! I'm starved." She admitted and stood off the bed.

"Good." Spencer agreed and the pair headed out of the dorm room.

000

After Spencer and Ashley finished breakfast they walked back to Spencer's dorm. The couple walked side by side discussing the events of the afternoon as they walked into the dorm building. As they rounded the corner to Spencer's dorm they spotted Glenn sitting by the door. "Glenn!" Spencer walked towards him as he pushed himself off the floor.

"What's up Spencer?" Glenn asked shifting his weight from one foot to the other.

"What do you think?" Spencer asked as she pulled her key from her bag and unlocked her door.

"I guess that's far. Hey Ashley." Glenn turned his attention from Specner to Ashley. "What's going on with you?"

Ashley let out a laugh as the three stepped into the room. "The same but different." Ashley answered and Glenn rolled his eyes.

"Fine. I quite. "He mumbled.

Spencer laughed as she got together the few things that she needed for the day and turned back to Glenn. "Ready?" She asked.

Glenn nodded. "If you are."

Ashley took Spencer's hand and they took a few steps toward the door. "Good because we are." Ashley answered and Glenn let out a laugh as he followed the couple of the of the dorm room.

000

An hour later the Spencer, Ashley and Glen pulled into the driveway of the Carlin's residence. Ashley glanced over at Specner and Spencer smiled back at her. "You ready to do this?" She asked softly.

Ashley nodded her head. "As I'll ever be. Are you?" Ashley asked. Spencer didn't even take time to weigh the question in her mind, she already knew the answer.

"Yeah I am." She responded and Ashley kissed her on the lips.

"Okay." She sighed out.

Glenn, who had been watching the couple, let out a sigh and smiled at them. "Let's go have fun!" He exclaimed and Spencer rolled her eyes, if only.

The three took their time walking up to the door and Glenn knocked once they did. Mr. Carlin answered the door, a huge grin spread across his face. "Glenn! Spencer! And Ashley." Mr. Carlin glanced at Spencer and Spencer shrugged her shoulders.

"She just couldn't stay away." Spencer joked and Mr. Carlin laughed.

"That's right Mr. C." Ashley added and Mr. Carlin wrapped Ashley in a hug.

"I'm glade to see you Ashley. You're Mom is going to flip." Mr. Carlin warned spencer and she nodded her head.

"Yeah, I guessed that." Spencer mumbled as Mr. Carlin stepped aside and allowed the three kids to walk inside.

"She's outback with the food and Clay, Chelsea and the baby." Mr. Carlin stated.

Glen ran out the door quickly as Ashley reached for Spencer's hand and nodded at her. "I'm so ready, if you are." Ashley said.

Spencer glanced out towards the back door and felt her stomach flip around in itself. It wasn't a moment that Spencer really wanted to live over again. But she was an adult she could officially love who she wanted to. No one could stop her, not even her Mom. "I'm ready." Spencer stated.

Ashley smiled at Spencer and then over at Mr. Carlin. "Let's go girls." Mr. Carlin stated and lead the pair outside.

Spencer and Ashley stepped outside, hand in hand, and watched Mrs. Carlin attend to Clay and the baby. Spencer glanced at Ashley quickly and then back at her mom, when Mrs. Carlin turned around everything was going to change…again. "It's fine." Mr. Carlin told Spencer, taking in her nervous glance.

Spencer smiled at her Dad and waited until Mrs. Carlin turned around. "Spencer!" She exclaimed right as she turned around and as Mrs. Carlin's gaze fell on Ashley her expression turned sour. "What's this?" She asked.

Spencer took a deep breath and smiled over at Ashley. "Mom, me and Ashley are back together!" Spencer stated excitedly.

Mrs. Carlin propped her hands on her hips and glared at her daughter. "What? Why? Where's Robbie?" Mrs. Carlin asked and Spencer took another deep breath.

"Look Mom…I'm gay. There isn't anything you can do, I can do, or anyone can do to change it. I'm gay Mom…and I love Ashley." Spencer fought and she felt Ashley lightly squeeze her hand.

Mrs. Carlin shook her head and turned from Spencer and Ashley. "Fine." She mumbled.

Spencer shook her head, let go of Ashley's hand and walked away from the scene. She found a spot of grass to sit on and plopped down, as Ashley ran over to her. "Screw her." Ashley stated and Spencer laughed.

"Whatever." She mumbled staring at the grass and picking it with her fingers.

"I love you so much." Ashley whispered sitting next to Spencer and wrapping her arm around her.

Spencer smiled over at Ashley and nodded her head. "Yeah, I love you too."

"I'm proud of you Spencer, really. Standing up for yourself like that…you're amazing." Ashley stated and Spencer shook her head, her face flushing red.

"Thanks." She mumbled.

Ashley leaned over, kissed Spencer on the cheek and squeezed her with her arm. "Your welcome."

Spencer glanced over at Ashley and realized that she didn't need anything more for her life then moments like this one over and over again. Spencer was happy, and nothing was going to change that.

THE END