The night before Spencer was to leave for Germany, the couple held tightly on to each other as they cuddled on the bed.
"Angel," Ashley sighed, running her fingers through Spencer's hair. "As much as I really hate to say it, our time … is up."
The teen broke down and hung onto Ashley tightly. Burying her head in the brunette's neck she sobbed, "I'm not leaving you; I'll call my parents and say … I missed the plane or something."
Ashley let out a humorless laugh, "Yeah right, do you really believe Captain C would fall for that Spence?"
"Then I'll tell the truth," Spencer cried looking up into Ashley's eyes. "I'll tell them that I love you and that I won't come back!"
"Take it easy baby," the rocker whispered trying to calm her. "You're just going make it worse for the next time if you try to fight with them. I've been thinking… you know how I've always wanted you to see my mansion?"
Spencer nodded.
"Well," Ashley continued. "Right now, I've got some business to take care of in New York for a few weeks, and then I've have an album I have to polish off for a film. So, if you go back and do well in school and behave, maybe your parents will let you visit the Big Apple with me and my family."
Spencer loved the idea, but she didn't know how long it would be before she'd ever get to see Ashley again. Anything could happen between now and then. As the blonde considered her options she was knocked out of her thinking when she heard a sniffle coming from Ashley. She looked up and saw that Ashley too was crying. Something the rock star rarely did.
"What's wrong," Spencer whispered in concern whipping away the brunette's tears.
"I don't know," Ashley replied softly. "I just … it's hard, you know, being without you. When I'm with you Spencer I like who I am, but when you're not around I feel like I have no … hold on myself … like I'm not grounded. Promise me, that no matter what ... you'll never leave me."
The vulnerability in Ashley's voice broke Spencer's heart. The blonde lowered her body on top of the brunette's and brought her hand up to cup Ashley's cheek.
"I promise," Spencer swore sealing it with a kiss.
Ashley's heart raced faster as she wrapped her arms around Spencer's waist and deepened the kiss. The blonde felt a tingling sensation within when Ashley's hand slowly moved under her shirt and onto her bare back. The rocker's need for Spencer escalated as the kiss became even more heated.
Ashley moaned and rolled them over so that she was on top of the writhing blonde, "I love you Angel," she whispered against the teen's swollen lips.
"I love you too," Spencer softly replied meshing their lips together.
Their 'lovemaking' had more feeling and intensity than ever before. The rocker didn't enter Spencer, she didn't have to. She fulfilled the teen's every desire simply with a kiss.
Ashley didn't walk Spencer into the airport. They kissed goodbye in the limo. It was a tender but excruciatingly brief moment.
Spencer walked onto the plane like a robot. She was in a daze throughout the eleven our flight. She talked to no one and didn't care who saw the tears that seemed to endlessly stream down her face. Her world had come to an abrupt end.
Finally she closed her eyes and in her mind relived every moment of her visit. Before she knew it the stewardess was telling the passengers to fasten their seat belts for the landing. The thought of freshening up before she arrived never occurred to her. The teen just sat, waiting for the plane to taxi to a stop. She slowly gathered up her things and made her way out.
"There she is," Paula cried out with joy when she spotted her daughter from a far.
"Where," Arthur asked looking over the bundles of heads.
"She's right …" the older blonde's words stopped short as Spencer came nearer. Abruptly their happy expressions turned into ones of absolute horror.
"Hey mom and dad," Spencer greeted hoarsely with a weak smile.
Arthur angrily turned away angrily. For a moment Paula just stared. Then she reached into her purse, pulled out a mirror, and thrust it at her daughter.
"Look at yourself," Paula yelled. "How could you walk off the plane like that?"
Spencer glanced in the mirror and immediately understood their response. Two weeks before, she had left them, a fresh faced seventeen year-old, wearing an appropriate sun dress and nothing but a touch of mascara. Now, not only was she wearing the heavy makeup, but her tears had smeared it all over her face. She hadn't bothered to lift a comb to her hair, which was unkempt and tangled.
Too embarrassed to look at her parents, Spencer put her hand to her face and nonchalantly tried to wipe off the residue of black mascara and liner. Then she whispered, "I'd like to go to the ladies' room."
"You're going straight home," Arthur snapped. "If you left it on this long, you might as well keep it on another hour."
Captain Carlin hardly said another word to his daughter until they got home and she washed her face completely clean.
Ashley and the trouble makers all sat palling around in the game room. Tom and Brian entertained themselves playing on the Xbox 360. Susan was busy teaching Aiden how to play goldfish. Danny, Rick, and Eric were in the middle of a heated game on the air hockey table. Clay was working away on a cross word puzzle and Ashley sat in the corner cradling her beer sulking. Ryan, noticing his best friend's quietness, took a seat next to her.
"What's up with you Ash, you're being all … quiet," he asked in concern.
"Nothing," she shrugged taking a sip of her Budweiser.
Ryan looked at her with a knowing smirk, "You miss Spencer don't you?"
"So much," Ashley replied leaning back into her seat with a huff.
The bass player nodded, "I know the feeling. I get the same way whenever Kyla and I are apart. That's just one of the things that come along with being-"
"Whipped," Eric yelled with a laugh.
"Nice one dude," Rick chuckled giving him a high five.
Ryan rolled his eyes and then continued, "Like I was saying, missing you're partner is just one of those things that comes along with being in a committed relationship."
Ashley frowned, "Well it sucks!"
"I know dude," the bass player laughed.
"I want my woman," the rocker grunted.
"Okay Tarzan," Ryan chuckled. The bass player smiled when he spotted Kyla walking in the room, "Speaking of women," he began. "I'm going to go say hello to my girl, while you call your girl," with that he winked and went to greet Kyla.
"Alright," Ashley smiled pulling out her cell and dialing Spencer's number.
"Hello," the blonde answered groggily.
"Hey Angel, did I wake you," the brunette asked worried.
"No, it's fine, I'm awake now. So, what's going on?"
"Nothing much, just going out of mind missing you," Ashley whimpered.
"I miss you too Ash."
"When will I be able to see you again?"
"I don't know… my parents are still a little bit miffed about what happened when I came home last month."
"Why? It's not like they found out about the Vegas trip."
"Yeah, but you didn't see the looks on their faces when they first saw me at the airport Ash. My dad's been giving me a hard time."
"I just want to see you," the rocker whined stubbornly. "I can't live without you Angel."
"Ashley-"
"I want you here for Christmas," Ashley blurted.
"Ash, my parents-"
"I don't care how you arrange it or what you have to tell your parents. I'll go along with anything you say, as long as you get here."
The blonde sighed, "Ashley you know that I would love nothing more than to be with you at Christmas, but …"
"Please Spencer," the rocker pleaded.
The desperation in the rocker's voice, pulled at Spencer's heart, she couldn't say no, "Okay, I'll see what I can do."
"Thank you."
"I better get off the phone before my dad hears."
"Alright Angel," Ashley replied. "I love you."
"I love you too, bye."
The rocker hung up her phone, and then called, "Ryan, come over here for a minute!"
"What's up," the bass player asked as he jogged over to her.
Ashley reached into her pocket and produced two pill bottles, "Take these," she commanded shoving them into Ryan's chest.
"What," he asked in confusion.
"Take them away," she repeated sternly. "I want you to keep these as far as possible from me okay!"
Ryan nodded, "Alright Ash, but what about your-"
"I'll be fine okay, I don't need them," she interrupted.
The bass player nodded as he slipped them into his pockets. "Why the sudden change of heart?"
Ashley sighed looking down at her hands, "Last time Spencer was here I snapped at her. I saw it in her eyes … I sacred her Ryan. I don't ever want to do that again. I think it's the pills, I mean I know they help me with the … y'know but, I'd rather deal with those than loose the best thing I've got going in my life."
Ryan smiled and gathered the rocker into a hug. "I love you Ashley," he whispered sincerely.
"I love you too," she replied giving him a squeeze.
"So, I got a call from Ashley the other day," Spencer causally said as she and her family sat around the table for dinner.
"Oh that's nice sweetie," Paula replied taking a sip of her milk.
"Ashley's long distant telephone calls are costing me more than I make in a year," Arthur huffed cutting into his steak a lot harder than necessary.
Spencer held back an eye roll.
"So Spence," Glen piped cheerfully. "What did you and Ashley talk about?"
"Actually we were talking about Christmas."
Sammy perked up at the mention of her favorite holiday, "Can I have a pony for Christmas mommy?"
Paula laughed lightly, "We'll see honey," she replied patting the hopeful eleven year olds cheek affectionately.
"Anyways," Glen continued. "Spence, did Ashley drop any hints on what she's sending you for Christmas."
"Actually," Spencer said nervously biting her lower lip. "She wants me to spend Christmas with her, in New York."
"Absolutely not," Arthur declared wiping his mouth with a napkin.
"But dad-"
"It's out of the question Spencer. Christmas is for the family. That's the way it's always been and it's not going to change, not even for Ashley Davies!"
"Dad I just-"
"No Spencer, you're not going to New York and that's-"
"I love her," Spencer shouted slamming her hand down on the table with such force it made the Captain jump. After a few moments of dead silence her eyes widened at what she had just professed so bluntly to her parents.
"What," Paula whispered.
"Um," Glen cleared his throat. "I'm gonna go take Sammy for some ice cream," he awkwardly stated as he dragged his little sister out of the apartment.
Spencer closed her eyes and sighed. This wasn't the way this was supposed to happen, "Please say something," she whispered.
"When will this end?" Paula murmured with an anguished expression.
"It ends now," Arthur growled angrily. "Ashley doesn't love you Spencer."
"Yes she does," Spencer countered as frustrated tears began to roll down her cheeks.
"She only wants one thing out of you," he shouted. "She's using you like any rock star would. Spencer, you are not some … groupie doll she can just boss around and dress up as she pleases!"
"It's not like that," the teen shouted. "She loves me and I love-"
"That's it," the captain screamed standing from his chair and pointing an intimidating finger at his daughter. "No more Ashley Davies!"
Spencer let out an aggravated shout and ran to her bedroom slamming the door shut. Arthur followed swiftly behind her, "Don't walk away from me when I'm talking to you young lady!"
"Arthur calm down," Paula tried to reason tugging on his sleeve.
The captain shrugged her hold off. He tried open Spencer's door but it was locked. This only seemed to make matters worse. "Open this damn door right now Spencer!"
"No, I'm never coming out of here again," Spencer shouted leaning against the door.
"We'll see about that," Arthur yelled as he began to jam his shoulder into the door.
"Arthur, stop it," Paula cried getting a firm grasp on his shirt and holding him close. "Look at what we're doing," she gasped. "We're driving her away. Arthur, she's in love."
Spencer pressed her ear closer to the door.
"All this anger and resentment will do nothing but break this family apart," Paula whispered as tears sprang from her eyes. "Please don't let that happen to us." Arthur gathered his wife into a hug as she sobbed into his shoulder, "Not us Arthur. Don't you see? She will destroy herself to prove a point."
Arthur turned around and rested his head against the door in defeat, "Spencer," he whispered. "I don't know if you can hear me but, I'm your father and I love you. I care about you, and I don't want you to throw your life away. Ashley wants you now but what happens when she gets you? Do you think she'll get bored and leave you? Have you ever thought about that," he asked as his voice broke.
"Yes," Spencer answered pressing her cheek against the door.
"You think Ashley Davies is going to marry you, is that what you think," Arthur asked calmly as a few tears fell down his cheeks. Everything was happening so fast. His little girl was slipping away from him and he had no control over it.
"It's what I feel," Spencer replied without hesitation. "She told me she can't live without me."
That was the breakthrough.
"Cut," the director yelled in frustration. "Everybody take a ten minute break!"
"I'm sorry Jay," Ashley apologized sincerely before she stepped off the set and made her way over to her actor's chair.
"Ashley, babe, what's going on," Mark asked placing a hand on her shoulder.
The rocker eyed her manager wearily then shrugged, "I've just got a lot on my mind," she muttered looking down at her hands.
"Let me guess," Mark said with a smirk. "You're thinking about that one girl you're always talking about isn't it?"
"Spencer, her name is Spencer," Ashley corrected with a glare. "She's not just that one girl. She's my girl."
"Whatever," Mark shrugged. "Look, you need to get your head back into the game babe. The record label's got a lot of money riding on this music video; we don't want to get behind on production."
"Yeah, I know," Ashley replied over a yawn.
Mark frowned, "You look like the living dead by the way," he deadpanned as he noted her paleness and the dark circles developing under her eyes. "Are you getting any sleep?"
The rocker shook her head, "Not lately."
"Haven't you been taking the pills I gave you?"
"No, I don't take them anymore."
"Here," Mark said reaching into his pocket and producing a bag of red and yellow pills. "Start taking these, they'll keep you wide awake."
"I can't," Ashley replied eyeing the bag. "Maybe I should just try getting to bed earlier."
"No, we can't have my multimillion dollar rock princess falling asleep on the job can we," he asked shoving the bag into her hands.
"Well no but-"
"Good, then you'll be fine," he smiled. "You're dad always wanted me to take care of you right? I'm just doing my job, I'm here for you babe."
"Thanks," she replied.
"I'll take those," Ryan said as he snatched the bag from her hands.
Ashley had to stop herself from whimpering at the loss. She lowered her head in her hands and let out a deep sigh.
"What the hell do you think you're doing," Mark asked the bass player.
"Saving your rock princess," Ryan answered smugly before he walked away with a smile.
Mark glared briefly at the bass player's back before slapping on a grin and taking a seat next to Ashley. "So, have you had any good lays lately you dog?"
"What," she asked lifting her head to look at him.
"Fucks, lays, scores," Mark husked nudging the rocker's shoulder suggestively. "Don't leave out any details. Not like you ever do!"
"No," Ashley answered sternly. "I have a girlfriend, I told you that."
Mark snorted, "Like that's ever stopped you before!"
"She's different okay," Ashley growled. "I'm different because of her."
"Wow," her manager gasped. "She must be really good in the sack for you to be getting all defensive over her."
The rocker rolled her eyes, "It's not like that."
"What is she a virgin," he asked playfully. When he didn't get any response from Ashley, the answer hit home. "She's still a virgin isn't she?"
"That's none of your fucking business," she snarled.
"Wow, take it easy babe," Mark laughed raising his arms in surrender. "I was just asking a simple question."
"Anymore of those simple questions and I'll fire your ass," Ashley growled as she strutted back onto set.
"She's different," Mark's assistant Jill whispered.
"Yeah," he nodded eyeing the rocker suspiciously.
One month later, Spencer was on a flight bound for the United States. After the restless fourteen hour flight, she finally landed at the JFK airport.
Stepping through the gates, Spencer almost immediately heard a familiar voice yell, "Hey, Spence-a-nator we're over here!"
With a smile on her face the blonde turned to see Danny and Eric waving their hands frantically in her direction. Shaking her head she ran and gave the two of them hugs.
"Hey Carrot Top! Eric? Oh my God, you shaved you hair," Spencer said ruffling her hand over his new buzz cut hairstyle.
"Yeah I wanted to switch it up a little bit. The ladies dig it," Eric boasted puffing his chest out.
Danny rolled his eyes, "No, he accidently got gum in his hair and he had to shave it all off. It just now is starting to grow back. And by ladies he means his mom and his sister."
"Fuck you fire crotch," Eric growled with a blush.
Spencer shook her head and laughed, "I missed you guys!"
After a few minutes of arguing Danny and Eric finally dropped Spencer off at Ryan's penthouse. Ashley had given them instructions to escort her there and then the rocker would pick her up.
A few minutes after they arrived at Ryan's Ashley called.
"Hey baby, are you at Ryan's yet?"
"Yeah I just-"
"Okay, I'm on my way!"
The rocker hung up before Spencer could even reply. No longer than five minutes a knock sounded at the front door.
As soon as Ryan opened the door he was pushed aside as a blur of brown curls bounded past him and towards Spencer. Ashley smiled and lifted Spencer off her feet as she gathered her in a bear hug.
"You don't know how much I missed you Angel," Ashley said smothering Spencer's face with affectionate kisses. "I'm so glad you're finally here."
"I missed you too," the blonde whispered wrapping her arms around the brunette's neck.
"Um," Ryan cleared his throat. "I don't mean to break up your reunion or anything, but, I kind of want to say hi to my girlfriend too so, can we…" he gestured towards the front door.
"Right, let's go," Ashley breathed out grasping Spencer's hand smiling.
The rocker's twenty thousand square foot mansion was everything Ashley had said it would be. The front lawn was adorned with a nativity scene and the columns of the house were ablaze with holiday lights. It was the second most beautiful sights Spencer had ever laid eyes on; the first of course was Ashley.
Inside the mansion a crowd of Ashley's friends and relatives all stood waiting to greet the teen. Spencer felt relaxed and comfortable since she had already met several of Ashley's friends when she was in Los Angeles.
"Someone, more special than me, has been waiting for you," Ashley said leading Spencer down a hallway and into a bedroom.
When they walked into the room they saw Carol seated in her rocking chair knitting.
"Grandma," the rocker called out softly gaining the older woman's attention. "Look who I brought to see you."
"Spencer, get over here," Carol commanded with a smile.
"Hey Grandma," Spencer whispered as she hugged her.
"It took you long enough to get here," Carol joked, her green eyes lighting up with joy. "If you hadn't come any sooner your love sick girl here was going to die of heartache."
"Grandma," Ashley groaned as she blushed deeply.
"You wouldn't believe how lovesick Ashley can get," Carol continued ignoring her granddaughter's whines. "She would just sit in her room and stare at your picture over and over and -"
"I have to go use the bathroom," the rocker lied as she made a quick getaway out the door.
Even though Carol seemed to be in good spirits, Spencer could easily tell something was bothering her. "Grandma, how has everything been with you?"
Carol let out a sigh, "I don't know. I'm worried about Ashley. I know people around here might think I don't know what's going on but I do. I see a change in Ashley, she hasn't been able to get any sleep, and her nightmares have been coming back to her."
"Nightmares," Spencer asked confused.
Carol nodded solemnly, "Yes. When my son died, something snapped in Ashley. She became a different person; she began having these nightmares of her father's death. She blames herself for what happened that night. We've told her thousands of times it wasn't her fault, but, she doesn't want to hear it. She even considered giving up music she was so depressed. Then she told Mark about her nightmares and he gave her these pills to help her sleep. Suddenly there were no more nightmares and everything was perfect in her mind at least. But, those pills made her-"
Suddenly there was a knock at the door, both of them turned to see Ashley walking in the room with a huge grin. "Dinner is ready," she said. "You didn't tell too many embarrassing stories about me did you Grandma?"
"Well," Carol replied coyly. "I was just about to tell Spencer about the bed wetting problem you couldn't get rid of until your freshman year in high school."
"Okay we're leaving now," Ashley screeched yanking Spencer out of the room.