A/N- New developments and sentimental people?? A lot unfolding in this chapter. Read and please review! =) Enjoy! -Mel

Arthur's POV

Karen,s Cafe

The three of us arrived at Karen,s about fifteen minutes after leaving Ashley's house, it was Ashley's suggestion that we come here, because apparently they serve good food. We've just been seated and are going over our menus.

WAITRESS: "Can I take your drink order?"
ASHLEY: "I'll have a spring water and a cup of coffee please with some cream and sugar on the side."
WAITRESS: "Ok and for the two of you?"
ARTHUR: "Um I will have coffee as well with cream and sugar. Spence?"
SPENCER: "Uh, I'll have a glass of orange juice and a water as well please."
WAITRESS: "Ok I'll be rite back with your drinks."
She walks away to fill the order.

ARTHUR: "So Ashley. . you go to school with Spencer?" I ask, still looking at my menu.
ASHLEY: "Yes sir. I attend the zoo." She replies playfully. I look over my menu at her with an amused smile on my face. Spencer snickers as well.
ARTHUR: "What kind of classes do you take?" I finish picking what I want and then place my menu back on the table. Then look at Ashley intently.
ASHLEY: "Hmm. I'm in mostly average classes, nothing under my own graded level. I have English Three Honors with Spencer and I have Advanced Astronomy, other then that its all grade level stuff."
ARTHUR: "Very interesting. So you like Astronomy?"
ASHLEY: "Well I love the stars, so if I can learn more about them then I'd like to take that opportunity." She looks over at Spencer, almost like she's looking for her approval. Spencer appears to be listening intently, which makes Ashley smirk.

I'm guessing Spencer and Ashley haven't shared that little detail about that with one another. Spencer loves the stars as well.
ARTHUR: "That's awesome. Spencer's in Astronomy also." I say smiling at Spencer briefly.
ASHLEY: "Really?" She asks looking over at Spencer also, a smile on her face.
SPENCER: "Mhm, I plan on taking advanced next year as well." She responds, returning Ashley's smile.
ASHLEY: "I'm glad we have that in common." She smiles at Spencer and then I see her arm reach over under the table, I'm guessing to grab her hand.

I'm watching Ashley intently and the way that her and Spencer are acting together. They seem really happy with each other. I haven't seen Spencer smile like that since we were in Ohio. Ashley seems really happy being with Spencer as well.

SPENCER: "I'll be right back, I have to use the restroom." She says standing up.
TOGETHER: "K."
She leans over and kisses Ashley's cheek and then walks away.

ARTHUR: "Ok," I start, sitting up on my elbows. "Ashley, what are your intentions with my daughter?" I ask her seriously.
She smiles before answering.
ASHLEY: "Well sir, I plan on treating her with respect. I'm obviously not a guy so there's a lot you don't have to worry about. But I'm going to be honest with you sir, I'm not perfect and I make mistakes just like everybody else, my only hope is that if or when that happens, I can redeem myself and make it right without loosing your daughter. But sir can I ask you a question?"
She imitates the position I'm in, and looks down at the table, seeming in deep thought.
ARTHUR: "Sure." I answer, wondering where this could lead.
ASHLEY: "Do you know how amazing your daughter is?" She asks meeting my gaze intensely.
She catches me off-guard with her question and I mull it over in my head before answering.
ARTHUR: "Yea I do. Why do you ask?" I reply, tilting my head the way Spencer does. She got that from me, for those of you who are wondering.
ASHLEY: "Because your daughter is very special to me sir. I've only known her for a short time now and in that time I have already seen a difference in myself. She makes me want to be better and she's all I care about. The person you see sitting before you is not the same person you would have seen if you would have met me just a few weeks ago."
Just then Spencer returns and joins us at the table again. Ashley takes Spencer's hand in hers on top of the table.
ASHLEY: "And all of this is because of how wonderful your daughter is. Because she was and is willing to give me a chance, I'm willing to give myself a chance. ." She finishes quietly, but seemingly honest. Spencer's slightly blushing, while wondering what just happened while she was gone.
ARTHUR: "A chance at what Ashley?" I ask, further intrigued by her answer.
ASHLEY: "A chance at something real and true and honest. . Everything your daughter is." She replies and then smiles at Spencer.

There's an easy silence between all of us.

SPENCER: "Well I hope y'all didn't talk about me while I was gone." Spencer says, joking, and we all laugh light-heartedly.
ARTHUR: "Thank you Ashley." I say once we've all calmed down.
ASHLEY: "No, thank you sir." She replies with a smile and I see her gently squeeze Spencer's hand.
ARTHUR: "Please Ashley, call me Arthur or Mr. C, you make me feel old calling me sir." I tell her with a smile.
ASHLEY: "Sure Mr. C., no problem."

We all order finally and have a nice breakfast with each other, just laughing and having a good time. Then I drive them back to Ashley's house.

Pulling up at Ashley's house.
ARTHUR: "Are you staying here Spencer or are you coming home with me?"
Spencer looks at Ashley and they smile at each other.
SPENCER: "I'll stay here if that's alright."
ARTHUR: "That's fine. Will you be home for dinner?"
SPENCER: "Yea I'll be there."
ARTHUR: "Ok, will you be there too Ashley?"
ASHLEY: "Um sure." She replies, sounding nervous.
ARTHUR: "Ok, so then I'll see you girls at seven?"
TOGETHER: "Yea."
ARTHUR: "Ok then. See the two of you later."
TOGETHER: "Ok."

Ashley's POV

Pool side, Twelve pm

After Spencer and I returned from breakfast with Spencer's dad, we decided to just soak up some sun by the pool. I let Spencer borrow the same bathing suit as before, when we had gone to the beach. . . I loved her in that particular one. . it brings out her eyes and her ass looks sexy as hell in it. . but shh, she doesn't know that part. . yet anyways. . . Laughing at myself in my own head. Man I'm a nerd!!

We're laying on beach towels right on the pools edge, and I'm tracing light circles all over her hand and arm. She appears asleep, until I accidentally graze her exposed side while tickling her arm, causing her muscles to tighten and a smile to faintly cross her lips.

SPENCER: "Enjoying yourself?" She asks, keeping her eyes closed.
ASHLEY: "Not as much as I could be." I say seductively, intentionally grazing her side, this time with my fingertips. Watching her skin break out in goose bumps.
SPENCER: "What's stopping you then?" She asks, still not looking at me.

I sit up on my elbow closest to her and with my other hand, I cup her right cheek, turning her to face me. When she opens her eyes, I'm barely an inch from touching my lips to hers. Her blue eyes are brilliantly shining in the California sun. Her stunning beauty making my heart race as she looks at me waiting. I lean in and kiss her lips, softly at first, until I feel her hand on my side, pulling me on top of her. My tongue grazes her bottom lip, asking for permission, which she grants. I slide my tongue into her mouth and explore slowly. Tasting and teasing her. I'm getting really into the kiss until. .

???: "Oh goodness. ." The female proclaims, caught off guard and embarrassed for intruding, "I'm so sorry Ashley. . I didn't mean to interrupt."
I groan at the sound of the familiar voice and stop my sweet kiss to Spencer.
ASHLEY: "What the hell are you doing here?!" I ask, pinching the bridge of my nose, with my eyes still closed. Hovering over Spencer.
???: "Um. . Well u see. ." She starts stammering.
ASHLEY: "Just spit it out Kyla!!" I demand of her. Already annoyed enough cause she ruined an incredible kiss.
KYLA: "My mom is moving back to Baltimore and since the will says we have to live in the same area I can't exactly go with her. ." She rushes out quickly.
ASHLEY: "So then what do you want? Money? An apartment of your own. . What!?" I ask getting more annoyed by the second.
KYLA: "Actually, I was wondering if you'd be willing to let me live with you. At least until we turn 18 and inherit what dad left us. . then you won't have to bother with me again."
ASHLEY: "I don't know Kyla, I'm going to have to think about it." I say letting out a deep, frustrated sigh.
KYLA: "Oh. . um sure" She says looking down at her hands.
ASHLEY: "When does your mom leave back to Baltimore?"
KYLA: "In three days." She says softly.
ASHLEY: "Ok, I'll call you."
And with that she leaves.

SPENCER: "Who was that?" She asks, confused as to what just happened.
ASHLEY: "My half sister. . did I forget to mention my dad had an illegitimate love child?" I say, anger crossing my face and my jaw visibly tightening.
SPENCER: "I'm sorry Ash." She says, rubbing my back soothingly. God her hands feel so good.
ASHLEY: "Don't be. It's not her fault, it's my dads."
SPENCER: "Then why were you so harsh to her?" She asks in a curious, yet surprised way.
ASHLEY: "Cause she's just another reminder of why my dad was hardly around." I say and sit up, facing away from her as tears brim my eyes.

She sits up next to me, hesitating, before finally wrapping her arms around me. I continue to try and fight it, but it doesn't work, as usual, and I fall to pieces in Spencer's arms. I don't know how long I cry for, but she stays and holds me until my crying heaves turn into sniffles, rubbing my back and murmuring sweet "it's ok's" and "I'm here's". God how nice it was to hear that. This girl is just too amazing and perfect.

I look into the eyes of my beautiful girlfriend, as my tears became fewer and my breathing slower. Just staring, finding all the security I need in those sapphire blues. She reaches both of her hands up and wipes my last few tears from my cheeks, then she just cradles my face in her hands, rubbing her thumbs in soothing motions on my cheeks. I lean in and kiss her perfect lips. Everything I need is in this kiss, everything that I've been missing in my life since before I met Spencer: belonging, feeling, devotion. It's all in this one kiss. I pull my head back slightly and rest my forehead on hers softly.

ASHLEY: "Thank you Spencer." I tell her, almost in a whisper.
SPENCER: "For what?" She asks confused.
ASHLEY: "For not leaving. For being you. Just. . . for everything."
I kiss her lips again and she wraps her arms around me. Holding me close to her.
I break the kiss.
ASHLEY: "You want to go watch a movie or something inside?" I ask leaning into her.
SPENCER: "Sure, that sounds great." She says with a smile.

We get up and walk into the house and then head upstairs. We both throw some sophie shorts on over our bathing suit bottoms. Spencer climbs into my bed as I pop some random movie, from my massive collection, into the DVD player. I walk to the bed and climb in next to Spencer, wrapping my arms around her and snuggling up close to her. She lays her head on my chest and wraps her arms around me as well.

Twenty minutes into the movie, we're both asleep comfortably in each other's arms.

A few hours later

I love holding her, she's so warm and she fits so perfectly with me. I hug her tighter to me as I'm pulled back into consciousness by her phone going off. I grab it from my nightstand, trying not to move Spencer too much. I look at the caller ID and it reads Allison.

-Phone Convo-
ASHLEY: "Hello?" I answer tiredly.
ALLISON: "Spencer?" The voice asks confused.
ASHLEY: "No, Ashley, can I help you?" I ask sincerely, with a groggy voice.
ALLISON: "Umm, no. . um. ." She stutters, sounding taken aback to hear another girl answering Spencer's phone. "Could you just tell Spencer I called?" She asks in a low voice.
ASHLEY: "Sure, as soon as she wakes up."
She hangs up without another word. I close her phone and put it back on the nightstand then cuddle back into Spencer.

It didn't hit me at first, but then slowly in the back of my mind, the questions start creeping in:

"Is she still talking to her girlfriend from back home?"

"Did they ever even break up?"

I don't think Spencer ever told me if they did or not. . As my insecurities start taking over and the rational part of me starts to diminish, I find myself climbing out of the bed and pacing my room.

Spencer's POV

I feel Ash let me go and pull herself from under me, then get up. I thought I heard my phone go off. Did she answer it? Hmm. .

SPENCER: "Hey you." I say softly and look up at her.
She's pacing at the foot of the bed and biting her thumb nail. She looks upset about something, but totally cute.
SPENCER: "Everything ok babe?" I ask concerned, sitting up and stretching.
I hear her mumble something under her breath as she continues to pace.
I'm getting a little worried now, so I get on my knees and crawl to the end of the bed.
SPENCER: "Baby? Baby. ." She continues to pace.
I grab her by the waist and pull her to me so she's now looking at me. She's still biting on her thumb nail and she's looking at me with confused eyes.

SPENCER: "Baby? What's wrong?" I ask concerned.
ASHLEY: "Umm, someone called your phone." She says around her nail.
SPENCER: "Ok. . Who?"
ASHLEY: "Allison. ." She mumbles and looks away from me.
My face goes from concerned to shocked in a millisecond.
SPENCER: "What'd she want?" I ask quickly.
ASHLEY: "She didn't say. She just asked me to tell you that she called and then she hung up."
SPENCER: "Ok, so then what's wrong?"
ASHLEY: "Are you still with her?" She blurts out quickly, then looks as though she regrets asking.
I stare back at her dumbfounded. . .

"Am I still with her?"