It has been way too long, but alas! Here I am. I just realized this fic is way past overdue of being completed and I've set a timeline to complete it by July. Thank you for all those who read and take time out to review. I hope you guys enjoy this chapter. Promise not to have you wait too long on the next one.

CHAPTER 10: Guess Who's Coming to Dinner

"Well it really started when I was about nine, my mom could not get me out of the bar…"

"So you were a young alcoholic then,"

"Ash! Let me finish the story, do you wanna be here all night?"

I eyed her knowingly, smiling as her words played out in my head, entertaining more than what she was suggesting.

"Ashley!"

"Okay, I'm stopping," the way she gets flustered so easily is incredibly cute.

"Good," she's smiling at me and I can't help but smile back, "I was helping my dad wait tables and my mom had to literally tie me up to keep me out of the bar; she didn't hate it, she just felt that I was too young to be getting exposed to the drunken bar fights and baby mama drama."

My eyes go wide at the thought when she swats my arm, "Really Ashley? You're so gullible; there weren't any bar fights...okay, maybe one, but it's not because they were drunk, Glen got his best friend's foot stuck in a pint...don't ask," she's grinning at me and I feel, for lack of a better word, happy. I lean back so I'm sitting against the pillow and pull Spencer up with me, "Where are your parents now?" She looks away for a minute and I know that feeling, "It's okay, you don't ha-"

"No, it's okay. My dad passed away a few years ago, my moved to Portland after that, she still practices."

"Spence," I can barely get the words out and Spencer realizes that. I feel her hand slip into mine giving it a reassuring squeeze and my eyes close.

"Can I try something?" Before I can answer she moves, swinging her left leg across my thighs, c'mon Ashley, be mature this, I can feel my face burning as Spencer straddles me and when she quirks her head to the side, "You're cute when you blush,"

"Cute? Nope, Ashley Davies doesn't do cute. I slipped that suit when I turned twelve."

"Okay, a different one then?"

Her eyes are burning into mine and again I can barely get the words out, but this time it's a different feeling. I nod my response and feel her shift, her hands moving up to cup either sides of my face, slowly pulling me forward. Lips ghost across my own, a gentle tongue sweeping across in the process. I feel my body waking up and in that instant she pulls away, staring and the silence is maddening. She's drawing patterns all the while trailing up and down my arms, she still hasn't said a word but I don't mind it; when she reaches my wrists I pull my hands from hers and grab hold of her wrists, finding her eyes.

"What's wrong?"

"It's nothing, really," she's biting her bottom lip and I know she's not being honest. I train her eyes to look at me, "You can talk to me you know,"

"I know,"

This is me waiting Spencer, an arched eyebrow and she still hasn't said anything, if she keeps at this she'll be the death of me.

"When I look at you this song starts playing in my head and then there are so many things I wanna say to you Ash but I can't.., not yet."

"Why not?" I try not to frown at her statement.

"You don't think it's too soon?"

I think for a minute and I know what she's asking, I know what she means when she asks it, I can see why, it doesn't feel that way though. A thousand thoughts run through my mind,

"No."

"No?"

"No."

My hand finds the back of her neck and pulls her down, when she kisses my lips I can't help but smile, this feels amazing; she smiles back, her hands finding purchase on my hips pulling me into her. Never breaking the kiss, I shift from under her and move so now I'm on top, I start trailing kisses down her neck, biting down then licking the sensitive skin; I feel Spencer shiver beneath me, when I look at her, her eyes are shining.., I know that look. She tugs at my shirt, pulling me back into her, her lips crashing down on mine, a new wave of desire sweeping in my lower abdomen. I hear her moan and it's so sexy, "You're beautiful" she whispers as she licks the shell of my ear. Her hand starts trailing up my inner thigh and it sends my mind into overdrive, I want this, I want her but.., I stop her hand before it can reach its destination, "Spence"

With her chest rapidly rising and falling, her eyes seemed calm, her lips pouting and her skin flushed, "I— I know, forward."

"I want this with you, but can we go slow?" I swear, I feel like 16 all over again, going slow!? Really Davies?

She's smirking at me and I can feel the color rising in my cheeks.

She reaches up brushing strands of hair out of my face, her thumb caressing cheek, "We can go as slow as you need," my eyes light up when she squeezes my thigh with her free hand. As she pulls me back down to her, "Let's keep doing this though," and before I know it, her lips are on mine and this, I never want to stop.

"Dad, I'm not inviting her to dinner… Jeff, tell him I'm not inviting her to dinner." This is unbelievable; it hasn't even been five minutes yet since I've stepped through the door.

"But Ashley, I wanna meet this hot, young blonde Jessica's been telling me all about," his eyes light up and he's smiling and…gosh, he's so adorable...sigh. "If I ask her to come will you agree not to make it awkward?" His smile has now turned into a full on grin, "I promise." I nod gratefully, that was easy. "You do a good job of that on your own," did he really just say that? He's laughing now and so is Jeff, then Jessie walks in, the paparazzi scandal that is my life.

"Why is everyone laughing?" then she looks at me, "Everyone except Ashley that is."

"She's decided to invite her girlfriend to dinner,"

"She's not my girlfriend," is he serious right now?

"But you're kissing her, all the time"

"Shut up Jess!" I can't believe she just said that.

"Back in my day, the only time you kissed a girl was if the two of you were dating, he looks across to Jeff.

"That's so true Raife, kids nowadays," none of this is actually happening right now. The three of them are insufferable, my family.

"Jess can I talk to you for a minute?" I don't give her a chance to answer; I grab her wrist and haul her out of the room behind me.

"Hot, young blonde?"

She's grinning, "This is no time for grins Jess, what exactly have you been saying to my dad?"

"That Spencer's young, hot.., and blonde"

"Jess, I'm serious!"

"So am I Ash. Quick pause; I ran into Kelly today, she wanted to know why you haven't gotten back to her as yet about the launch."

I inwardly groan, I completely forgot about that, maybe because I don't wanna do it. I'm not going back there, that part of my life is over. I don't want anyone saying overcome your demons, because there are people in this world who can use their hurt to make them better, that's not me; I don't go back, I move on because I'd rather not deal.

"I'm not doing the launch."

"But Ash, the music, the tons of adoring female fans."

I eye her questioningly, "Jess, no."

"But you have to Ash, you're on vacation, so no work, you can focus on a stellar performance, it's perfect if you ask me."

"I didn't."

"Ouch. Fine then. Subject closed."

"Thank you," wow that was easy.

"What time's Spencer coming to dinner?"

I should've expected that, really, I should have. I pull my phone out of my purse and run through the contacts, finding S. "Hey, are you free for dinner tonight?"

"Ashley..., this is so forward."

"Is that a yes?"

"Sure."

"Good. My dad's expecting you, and Jess, and Jeff."

"Who's Jeff?"

"My dad's friend. Dinner's at 6:30. Okay, later baby."

I mentally slap myself, totally forgot that Jess was hearing that. Wait for it…

"Baby huh?"

"Shut it Jessica, I have to go get ready for dinner. Are you coming?"

"Right behind you Cap'n."

When Spencer knocks on the door I have to get into a full on sprint to catch it before my dad does, not the way I wanna start this is night. I step outside, needing to brief her of the crazies in my house before she goes inside.

"My dad can be a little…," funny I can't find the right word right now.

"It's okay," she takes my hand to her lips and kisses my knuckles and it's strange how with the simplest gesture of affection, my heart rate speeds up.

"You're beautiful," she really is.

"You don't look half bad yourself, now let's go inside, I'm anticipating meeting your dad."

I walk Spencer to the table and pull her chair out, when she sits down; I look across to my dad who is just smiling. Jeff is gawking at Spencer, failing to hide his obvious blush and then the throat clears, thank you Jessica.

"Spencer, meet my dad, and Jeff; you already know Jessie."

"It's a pleasure meeting you both, thank you for inviting me to dinner." She sounds so proper.

"Ah, a proper lady. The pleasure's all mine my dear."

The table is quiet for a few minutes then Spencer says, "I loved the live show you did in Bristol back in '86," and I drop my fork, interesting.

"You a fan?" he chuckles.

"The biggest," Spencer admits proudly.

"Well my dear, looks like we're off to becoming fast friends."

"Ashley, you never told me your dad was the Raife Davies,"

"Uh...Um, well…"

"She never likes to tell any of her friends about me; sometimes I wonder where her loyalties lie."

"Hey, she never tells any of her friends about me either, "Jeff pipes in.

"Spencer, meet my dad, the badass guitarist with an out of this world vocal range and Jeff, the drummer with kickass skills. Are you guys happy?"

"I could do with a little more gloating, just like your mother used to do, tell her about my album sales."

"Dad, Spencer already knows about your album sales, I'm sure."

"Do you know about my album sales Spencer?"

She nods yes, the look on her face nothing short of amused.

"See, she never likes to tell any of her friends about me. If I didn't have all these pictures to prove I'd be a sad old man who thinks his daughter doesn't love him. But enough of that do you like the asparagus?"

"It's good, really good," she bounces a bit in her chair, nodding her head.

"Perfect, it's my specialty."

"It's true, saying that my dad loves asparagus would be an understatement."

"You know what would be an understatement?" Where's he going with this? "Saying my grandbabies are going to be absolutely beautiful."

I think my heart just stopped, dad, really? Jeff puts a glass to his mouth but sputters some of the water due to his chuckling and Jessie, well, let's just say I haven't seen her this interested in asparagus in forever. Spencer's smirking at me, completely unphased by my dad's statement.

"I think so too," and that was it.

"Dad, did you know that Spencer and her brother Glen own Takers?"

His eyes never leave Spencer, his smile only grows, his eyes are shining, "You picked a right one Ashley, she's perfect."

Jessie chimes in out of nowhere, "So were you two able to get through enough legal the other day?"

I can feel the heat rushing up my face and Spencer puts a piece of asparagus in her mouth then points her fork in Jessie's direction, "We got quite a bit covered, and Ashley's really good at what she does."

When Jessie looks at me, brow raised in question, she smirks, "I can bet."

"Do you like fishing Spencer?" Jeff has been quiet for most of this dinner but his much appreciated at the moment.

"I've never been actually."

"Well maybe Raife and I could take you sometime; Ashley used to love it when she was little, though she never did catch anything but boy she could cast a line."

"I'd really love that."

"Lemon Sponge cake anyone?" As my dad gets up from the table he quips to Spencer, "Did Ashley ever tell you that her father, the badass guitarist with the out of this world vocal range is also a master chef?"

"I don't think she did."

"See what I mean, she never tells anyone about me," before he leaves the room, he walks over to me and kisses the side of my head, "I still love you."

"Dinner was pretty nice, I liked it. Your dad is a riot and so handsome."

"I'm glad you had a good time."

"Yea, me too." Spencer takes my hand, rubbing her cheek against my palm, "I'm going to miss you tonight. I already miss you."

"You're somethin' else you know that?"

She leans forward, pressing her lips to mine, biting down on my bottom lip before her tongue slips out, begging for entrance which I all too willingly accept. As she's kissing me she whispers, "You should've seen the look on your face when your dad said beautiful grandbabies", when I pull away to answer her, she doesn't allow it, putting her arms around my waist, pulling me in further, deepening the kiss. Spencer slows the kiss, resting her forehead against mine, "I hope you weren't frightened," she's still trying to catch her breath.

"No," that's all I could say.

"Good," she looks at me smiling, "I have to go, the bar needs tending."

"Stay."

"I wish I could but Glen's out of town remember."

I sigh, pouting, letting her know my disapproval. Spencer pulls me in for another senseless kiss, "You're cute when you pout."

"Did it work?"

"Almost, I promise I'll stay next time." Then she pulls me into a hug and it's the safest place I've been in a long time, I never want to let go. I walk her down the driveway and as she pulls the car out of park, "They will be beautiful," winking at me before driving off.

When I step back inside and close the door my dad is standing at the entrance of the kitchen with a bowl in his hand and a dish towel over his shoulder, "She's the one Ashley."

"She is somethin'."

"No, no, no, she's the one."

I look over on the coffee table at the two of us, even in black and white her eyes are captivating. She was a wonderful woman. I never thought I'd want anything after she went away. Spencer makes me want things without even trying. Realizing my throat has gone dry, I lick my lips. When I look up at my dad, his eyes are easy, expecting.

"I'm falling in love with her."

He just smiles and turns to head back into the kitchen, "I told you!"

So that dinner wasn't a total disaster, I don't know why I was so nervous; Spencer handled it like a pro. The realization that I told my dad how I feel about Spencer hasn't set in yet. I'm falling in love with her; I am in love with her. The thought resonates, my eyes close, and this could be the start an amazing dream.