Chapter Fourteen

Ashley, Ryan, and their band memebers sat in the recording studio working studiously on a new song they were hoping to cut later in the week. The Trouble Makers milled around the room, passing the time with playing card games or spontaneous rounds of thumb wars. The atmosphere was all very nostalgic, in a good way. Very calm.

That was until—Claudia burst into the room. Her unintentionally permanent smile stretched across her face as she bustled past the guys and headed in Ashley's direction.

"Whoa, where's the fire," Eric said, holding his hands up.

Aiden frowned. "I don't smell any smoke."

Ashley rose from her stool, handing her guitar off to Brian. "Claudia, we're kind of in the middle of some—"

"Breasts!"

The rocker stared at her agent, baffled. After a moment, she stuttered out, "Wh—what?" Her eyebrows pitched.

Claudia nodded as if they were both on the same page. "Breasts. Exposed abs, your shapely legs glistening in the—"

Ashley took hold of her agent's arm, dragging her out of the room, much to their amused audience's disappointment. She shut the door behind them with a resounding thud. Crossing her arms, she turned to Claudia. "Okay. What the hell are you talking about?"

"I am talking about sex appeal, my dear sexy client," Claudia said. Her smile grew larger, much to Ashley's amazement. "You've had it, it's fading and now we're going to get it back!"

Ashley scoffed, mildly offended. "I haven't lost my sex appeal."

Claudia grinned cynically. "I'm sorry, honey, but the banging Davies that once used to grace the covers of every tabloid and magazine wearing nothing but a bikini looking all kinds of hot, has left us."

The rocker shifted in place, suddenly very uncomfortable. "Okay, so I haven't been out there showing off my ass as much, but I— look, what's your angle here?"

"Look at you, Ashley!" Claudia swept a dramatic arm over Ashley's body. "You are still incredibly beautiful and have abs that could rival the finest statues in Greece. Not to mention, you're only twenty-seven, with an equally beautiful twenty-three year old wife."

"Wow, this conversation isn't weird at all," Ashley deadpanned.

"We need to see more of you and your wife," Claudia continued, ignoring her client's remark. "You two are the one-two-punch. The golden couple. RobSten has got nothing on you."

"I can do without the riddles and RobSten, thank you."

"My point is," Claudia smacked her lips with indigence. "You two are probably one of the hottest couples in Hollywood, but you're not being seen enough. With this comeback album of yours coming up, you're going to need as much publicity as you can get."

Ashley shrugged. "Well, what are we supposed to do? Have sex at Times Square and project it on the big screens?"

"Don't be smart, dear," the agent admonished with a smile. "No, what we need from you both are more public appearances—more public displays of affection. The both of you kissing as you hold hands walking down the sidewalk. Your typical couple stuff. Shippers eat that stuff up."

"Okay, so—wait," Ashley's eyebrows bunched together. "What the hell are shippers?" With a second thought, the rocker threw her hands up. "I don't wanna know."

"We also can't forget the hunks you work with," Claudia added thoughtfully, placing a finger on the tip of her manmade chin. "I do recall a couple of tweens going wild over the Trouble Maker members."

Ashley's eyes went wide. "The—you want—the guys?" She sputtered. "Are you serious right now?" The rocker didn't know whether to laugh or have her agent committed.

Claudia clucked her tongue. "Don't be naïve, Ashley. You have some handsome male friends and playing up their sex appeal wouldn't hurt either. Of course they wouldn't do anything with you, but as a separate unit they can definitely help add to your appeal."

Ashley huffed out a laugh. "Sure."

"That's why I've booked you and the Trouble Makers for a more…suggestive photo shoot with Harper's this weekend."

Ashley narrowed her eyes. "What if I had disagreed?"

"We have no time for disagreements."

The rocker sighed. She suddenly just wanted to get back to work. "Fine. Whatever."

"Excellent! All I need is for you to get your wife on board and you leave the rest up to me, darling," Claudia winked and with a turn, as dramatic as a ballet dancer, pranced down the hallway out of sight.

^/^/^

"The woman is crazy," Ashley said, pacing the floor of Jamie's nursery. Spencer giggled as she played a small round of patty cake with their eight month old. Well, it was more so 'wave your hands like crazy and smack them together' than like patty cake.

Ashley's pacing seized as she turned to her wife. "Spencer," she whined. "You're supposed to be listening to me. My agent—"

"Is pimping you out," the blonde supplied with a grin.

Ashley's eyes narrowed. "So not funny."

Jamie crawled towards a discarded stuffed animal in the corner of the room, bored with their hand game. Spencer smiled up at her wife, "Ashley, I get that Claudia is…a little out there—"

"A little?"

"But I'm pretty sure she means well," Spencer tilted her head as she considered the situation. "She has a very good reputation that precedes her and this could be a great move for your career."

"Or career suicide," Ashley groaned out.

Spencer let out a small huff of breath and climbed to her feet, making her way over to her distressed wife. "C'mere," she said, opening her arms.

Ashley fell into her wife's embrace with a sigh. "Am I just being a big cry baby about all of this," she asked, nuzzling her neck into the crook of Spencer's neck.

"No." Spencer ran a hand through her wife's unruly hair. "I think that you are scared and nervous, which is completely normal. This is like learning how to ride a bike all over again."

Ashley bit her lip, pulling back to look at the blonde. "Okay…maybe I am kinda scared." She placed her hands on Spencer's hips. "It's been years, Angel. I want to get back out there, but what if…what if I'm not good enough?"

Spencer grinned. "You're Ashley Davies."

"But what does that even mean, Spencer?"

The blonde placed her arms around Ashley's neck. "It means that you were born to be a star. The stage is your true home and I know the second you step in that recording booth, you immediately light up. Music is your passion, Ash. You're gonna be great."

Ashley smiled, "Yeah?"

"Yeah," Spencer giggled out, placing a kiss on the rocker's lips. "Don't think too much about it. You're turning into your crazy agent."

"Ah ha!" Ashley smiled ruefully. "You admit she's crazy."

Spencer nodded. "Oh, she's pretty crazy."

"Who's crazy," Kyla asked, entering the nursery.

"You," came Ashley's automatic response.

Spencer smacked her wife's arm before turning to her sister-in-law. "We were talking about Ashley's agent. She wants to play up Ashley's sex appeal."

Kyla huffed out a laugh. "Good luck with that."

Ashley turned to her wife, "Can we disown her," she asked, pointing at Kyla.

"You wish," Kyla chuckled, leaning against the doorframe. "So what? You're whining about a couple of steamy photo shoots and public appearances?"

Ashley frowned. "How did you know I was whin—I didn't whine. What the hell, Ky? Eavesdrop much?"

Kyla rolled her eyes. "Oh please. I could hear your whining from down the hall. Talk loud much?"

"Yeah, well, don't be surprised if Agent Crazy calls you asking to join in on the fun," Ashley said, crossing her arms. "She's on the rampage."

Kyla's mouth dropped open in shock.

Spencer shook her head, "Calm down, Kyla. Ash is just playing with you."

Kyla waved her hands, dismissing Spencer's words and pointed behind the couple. Her face still painted in shock. Spencer and Ashley turned around and gasped simultaneously.

Jamie stood wobbly on her feet with caution and looked up at her parents. Ashley scrambled to kneel in front of her daughter and Spencer did the same behind the infant. Kyla pulled out her cell phone and began to film from the side.

"C'mon, Jay," Ashley cooed, waving her hands toward herself. "You can do it, baby. C'mon. You've got this."

Jamie bit her lip, looking every bit like Spencer as she did so. Her dirty blonde curls swayed against her chubby cheeks as she took one step forward and halted, trying to catch her balance.

Spencer held her hands out prepared to catch her daughter. Her eyes widened as the toddler took another step towards Ashley. "C'mon, Jamie," she whispered.

Jamie took two steps this time, blinking up at the rocker with surprised hazel eyes. It was as if even she couldn't believe this was finally happening either. Pressing forward she took one step. Then two steps. Then three…four…five—Kyla let out a squeak, zooming in closer.

Ashley's smile shined brighter than the sun. Jamie stumbled her last few steps and fell into her mother's waiting arms with a happy gurgle of accomplishment. The rocker swooped her daughter up and spun her around with a cry of joy.

"You did it, Jay," Ashley shouted. Spencer, who now had tears in her eyes, rushed over and kissed her daughter's cheeks, unable to get words out at the moment.

Kyla smiled proudly, continuing to film. Jamie turned to the camera and waved her arm out to her aunt. Kyla giggled. Much like Ashley, Jamie loved any sort of spotlight and learned not too long ago, what a camera was and what it did. Kyla waved back at Jamie and she could have sworn she saw the toddler smirk.

Very much like Ashley indeed.

^/^/^

"Beautiful! Beautiful!"

Carol, Kyla, and Spencer all cringed as the heard the photographer, Lance Von Won; cry out for the fiftieth time. They watched from the sidelines as the eccentric photographer directed the Trouble Makers in the photo shoot. 'Beautiful' was one of his favorite words.

Meanwhile, the guys couldn't feel any more awkward. They all wore matching black muscle t-shirts along with white—tight skinny jeans. Ryan was used to posing for pictures, but not to this extreme.

Or with this kind of photographer.

"Eric, darling, move in closer! Closer," Lance waved his arm to the right. Eric complied, squeezing in next to Danny. "Danny! Wipe that look off your face! You look like the Grinch getting a blow job!"

Carol's eyes widened. "I…I don't want to know how that phrase even begins to make sense."

Kyla nodded. "Good thing Jamie's being watched by the Carlins. Her childhood would be destroyed…like mine. Right now."

Spencer couldn't be bothered with even trying to come up with the right words for this man. She shook her head and shuddered instead.

Ashley, just freshly made up, walked over to the three. A disturbed look was on her face. "Did I just hear blow job and the Grinch used in the same sentence?"

Spencer's face scrunched up. "Let's pretend you didn't."

Ashley let out a breath. "Could this photo shoot get any more awkward?"

"Okay! Beautiful!" Lance cocked a hip to the side and smirked. "Now, off with the shirts my lovelies!"

"It just did," Carol sang out.

All of the Trouble Makers tensed up, save for Aiden who whipped off his shirt obediently. He was actually having a little fun with the shoot. He turned to the other guys who all shuffled awkwardly in place. "C'mon, guys! What are you waiting for?"

"Elmer's," Danny groaned out. "Dude, this is weird."

Aiden rolled his eyes. "We're doing this for Ashley."

Ashley held her hands. "My agent! You're doing this for my agent."

"Let's just get it over with," Aiden continued, turning back to the camera and striking a flexing pose with a smile.

Lance sighed. "Boys! Get with the program! Chop chop. Chuck those shirts off and let's show the world what you've got."

After a moment of hesitance, the guys slid out of their shirts. Much to the photographers delight, the Trouble Makers were all in very good shape. He licked his lips and hummed appreciatively. "I'm like a kid in a candy store," he whispered. "Or my mother at a sex shop. Happy, happy!"

Eric covered his nipples.

Ryan cleared his throat and crossed his arms over his chest, tossing a glance over at his ex. Kyla's eyes shot up from Ryan's body and darted elsewhere around the room.

Ashley took in her sister's flushed appearance. "You okay, Ky?"

"Yeah—yeah, no, I'm okay." Kyla clasped her hands together. "Bathroom," she muttered before half walking-half jogging towards the restroom.

"Very subtle," Ashley chuckled out.

"Yes! Beautiful! Now pose!"

"I knew she was still hung up on Ryan," Carol said, nodding in Kyla's direction. "She's still in love with him…and he with her."

"What," Ashley said with a raised brow. "No, Ryan's seeing somebody."

"That doesn't change how you feel," Spencer supplied. "I think it's good that they're moving on, but are they really?"

Ashley paused to think about it before giving up with a shrug. "I don't even want to get in the middle of Kyla's drama." She shrugged again. "All I know is that Ryan's got a good thing going and maybe it's time Kyla…got out there and started dating again," her last words came out hushed as her sister made her way back.

Lance stepped away from his camera. "Okay, lovelies, I'm done with you. You all did beautifully."

The Trouble Makers rushed off the set and pulled their shirts back on with thankful sighs. Aiden smiled, opting to leave his shirt off. "I think the camera loves me," he said airily.

Danny patted Aiden's shoulder. "Oh, Elmer's," he said with a smile.

Ryan walked over to Kyla and grinned. "That was…weird, huh?" He chuckled lightly.

Kyla nodded like an idiot before breathing out. "Yeah…weird."

Ryan rocked on the back of his heels and nodded as well. The conversation suddenly fell flat and neither one of them knew what to say.

Ashley rolled her eyes and whispered, "Someone get my sister a life-jacket, she's sinking."

Kyla, having been the only one who heard her, shot Ashley a glare. She turned back to Ryan and smiled. "At least it's over with, right?"

Ryan returned the smile. "Yeah."

The conversation died again.

Ryan cleared his throat. "Well, I'm uh—I'm just gonna head over to the guys."

"Yeah," Kyla said, internally smacking herself.

Carol eyed Ryan as he walked away. She shook her head. Those two had it bad.

Lance turned to Ashley, "Your turn, Ashley! We're all ready for you."

"Oh joy," Ashley said. She turned to her wife and pouted. "Can't we just ditch this and go home?

Spencer smiled, tilting her head. "You've come this far, Ash. There's no turning back now. You can do this," she placed a kiss on her wife's cheek.

Ashley sighed, turning to the photographer and walking on set. Spencer took in her wife's appearance, fully, for the first time and grinned. She was dressed in a white mini-skirt with a black vest. No bra.

Sexy, didn't even begin to describe Ashley.

"Beautiful," Lance sang out. "Now we do with the magic!"

"Does he have to be so loud," Carol said with a cringe.

"I wonder what awkward thing he'll ask of Ashley," Kyla said, almost looking like she couldn't wait for Lance to embarrass her sister. "Make her stand on her hands? Juggle?"

Spencer shook her head. "I'm sure there won't be anything out of the ordinary," she said in a placating manner. "It's all about being professional. If Lance calls for something weird, the trick is to remain calm. If I'm calm, Ashley's calm."

Kyla shot Spencer a look. "You think it's that simple?"

Spencer nodded. "I know it's that simple."

Carol and Kyla shared a knowing look. Sure, Spencer.

"Beautiful!" Lance turned his head to the side. "Bring in the models!"

Ashley frowned, "Models?"

On cue, two supermodels walked from the dressing room. One redhead and one blonde, both clad in tiny white bikinis. They walked—more like glided over on set, waiting for instructions.

The redhead winked at Ashley, "I'm a big fan," she breathed out.

Ashley only nodded in response, keeping her eyes faithfully on the model's faces and not their bodies. Fully aware of her wife's presence just off to the side.

Lance clapped his hands together. "Beautiful! Now, girls, move in close to Ashley. Blonde, I want you to wrap an arm around Ashley's shoulders and Red, yeah, you put your arms around her waist. Yes, like that!"

Spencer shifted in her spot and frowned. "I don't remember Claudia saying anything about models," she said, crossing her arms.

Kyla smirked. "What was that you said about staying calm?"

"I am calm," Spencer hissed out, clenching her fists.

Carol's eyes widened. "You and I share a different definition for that word."

"Okay!" Lance pointed at one of the models. "You, Red! I want some pictures with just you and Ashley!"

The blonde sauntered off the set as the redhead moved in closer to Ashley. "It would be my pleasure," she whispered, draping herself on the rocker.

Ashley huffed out an awkward laugh and put a little distance between her and the model. Wow, this was so…not comfortable.

"Move in closer!"

The redhead slid her leg around Ashley's waist. Spencer's jaw dropped. She marched onto the set and pulled the model off of her wife, "I think you're job is done here," she growled out, stepping between the redhead and Ashley.

Lance let out a whine. "But I barely got any pictures!"

Spencer glared at him, "You got enough!"

Ashley smirked. Jealous Spencer was always a turn on. She took hold of her wife's hand and turned to the photographer. "I would listen to her if I were you," she said with a raised brow. "Or else it will get ugly."

"Fine," Lance sighed out before smiling. His mood doing a 180. "Let's get the photos of the lovely couple now! C'mon, girls! Steam it up!"

The redhead model crossed her arms and scoffed. "I don't think Spencer will be able to deliver the goods. She's never posed before."

Spencer lifted her head defiantly. "You want steam," she said, turning to Lance. "I'll give you steam." With that, she wrapped her arms around Ashley's neck and pulled her in for a passionate kiss.

The redhead's eyes went round with shock.

Ashley moaned into the kiss and pulled her wife in closer. She tilted her head and allowed Spencer to deepen the kiss, letting her take the lead. Their tongues glided against one another, teasingly. The rocker's heart began to race with excitement.

Lance rushed to get as many pictures as he could.

After a moment, Spencer pulled away, with a smirk. Ashley's eyes remained closed, her body still stuck somewhere between bliss and reality. The blonde turned to the photographer and grinned. "I think we can call it a day."