This fic is like a soap opera. There's always some drama cooking up.

"What is it," the rocker asked cautiously.

Clay glanced at the dining table's patrons. "Um, Ashley, it might be best if we discuss this in your office. Ryan? You'll have to come too. This concerns you as well."

"Alright," Ashley said. "You two head up there. Everyone else, enjoy the rest of dinner. Spencer didn't take all that time slaving over the stove for nothing right?"

With that being said, everyone began eating and chatting again. Spencer gave her fiancée a worried look. Ashley smiled lightly and kissed her cheek, "I'll be back soon Angel. Stay here," she whispered before heading upstairs.

When the brunette entered her office, she found Clay seated across from her desk, a stack of papers were clutched tightly in his hands. Ryan, anxious, stood with his arms crossed next to Clay.

Letting loose a deep, shaky breath, Ashley took a seat behind her desk and folded her hands on the dark brown surface. "What's going on?"

"This," Clay answered as he slammed the papers down on the desk "I was just informed on the phone to fish this out of the mail."

"What is it," Ryan asked leaning over to get a better look.

"It's a lawsuit."

Ashley's eyes shot up to meet her accountant's, "What?"

"Your record label, Rebel Rock, is suing you and the band."

"You've got to be fucking kidding me," the rocker whispered.

"I really wish I was," Clay replied with a sighed.

"Why?" Ryan questioned baffled. "What reason do they have for suing us?"

"According to, Mike Lewinski, the label's attorney, if there is no new manager signed on with an artist within a month of the former manager's absence than they have right to sue for creative control over any songs written in the past two years."

"That's bullshit," Ashley growled. "The label knows what shit I've been going through this year. How the fuck was I supposed to know I needed to get a new manager!"

"They said it was in the contract you signed."

"I signed that fucking contract when I was sixteen!" The rocker countered. "That was nearly seven years ago. Don't they think a refresher as to what was on that fucking sheet would have helped?"

"This is ridiculous," Ryan muttered. "How much are they suing for?"

"Six point two million."

"What the fuck," the rocker gasped.

"No fucking way," the bass player growled.

"I know," Clay sighed. "I was just as shocked."

"Let me call these fuckers." Ashley took hold of her phone and punched in the label's number.

There was a light knock on the door before Spencer slowly opened it and cautiously stuck her head inside. The blonde's face was contorted with worry. "What's going on?" She whispered.

"Our record label is suing the band," the bass player supplied quietly.

"What," Spencer gasped with wide eyes.

"Yeah," Ryan deadpanned. He nodded towards the brunette. "Ashley's on the phone with them right now."

Spencer nodded and silently closed the door. Slowly, she walked over to the heated rocker and along with Ryan and Clay she listened in on the one-sided conversation.

"Yes this is Ashley and you know why I'm calling," Ashley yelled. "No, I will not accept that! Why didn't you call or tell anybody about this… oh really? Well, I was in fucking rehab! Excuse me? I'll talk to you how ever I fucking want to! You what? Fine, I don't give a fuck!" She slammed the phone down on to receiver.

An uncomfortable silence fell over the four. Ryan, Spencer, and Clay looked at one another questioningly. All of them silently asking whom would approach Ashley.

The blonde decided to take the plunge. "Ash," she whispered. When she didn't get any response from Ashley, she placed her hand on the rocker's shoulder and quietly called her name once more.

Ashley angrily shrugged off the touch. She held a cautious hand up as in a warning for the blonde to back away. Letting out a viscous scream Ashley chucked her cell phone hard against the wall. Everyone jumped as the device shattered on impact.

"Ryan, Clay, Spencer," Ashley said quietly. "Tell our guests to go home. I don't want them getting in the middle of any of this. Don't tell the guys what's going on either."

"Alright," Clay agreed. "Come on you guys."

"Wait, can you two leave Ashley and I alone for a minute," Spencer whispered.

Ryan shook his head. "Spencer, I don't think that's such a good idea." He'd seen Ashley this angry before. Nobody should be near the rocker when she was this destructive. Not even Spencer.

"I'll be fine," she replied ushering them out of the room.

"Spence I seriously don't think you should stay in here," Ryan hissed from the doorway.

"I'll be fine," Spencer repeated shutting the door.

Ashley brought her hands up to her face and let out a frustrated breath. She walked over to a wall and started slamming her fist into it repeatedly. Spencer immediately ran over to the rocker.

"Ashley stop," she yelled tugging on the rocker's arm. "Your knuckles are starting to bleed. You're hurting yourself!"

"I don't fucking care!" Ashley growled as she continued on with her violent ministrations against the undeserving wall. "I do not fucking care!"

"Ashley please!"

The rocker stopped and turned to look at Spencer. Her brown eyes were filled with an uncontrolled rage. Spencer knew the anger was directed at her, but what she saw still shook her foundation.

"I've given almost everything I've fucking got to that record label," Ashley said in an eerily composed voice. "They wouldn't have two legs to stand on if it wasn't for my father and I. He practically owned the fucking company. I can't trust anyone."

"That's not true Ashley and you know it," Spencer replied in a stern tone.

"Really Spencer, it's not?" the rocker laughed out humorlessly. "It really fucking feels that way. It's like no one is on my side here!"

"I'm on your side," the blonde assured.

"Oh yeah, like I should really believe that! I've been fooled so many fucking times I'm surprised you haven't yet! I've just been waiting for you to fuck me over!"

Spencer gave her a disbelieving look. "Don't say that."

"Why not," Ashley shrugged totally gone. "It's true. You probably only agreed to marry me so that you could take my fortune and run away like everyone else!"

"Ashley," the blonde gasped in hurt. "I would never do that."

"How do I know you're not lying to me huh," Ashley growled gripping Spencer's arms tightly in her hands. "You're probably not even a fucking virgin! You've just been holding out on me because you like to tease!"

The slap came so fast Ashley barely had time to react to it. She held her cheek and looked at the blonde in disbelief and guilt.

"How could you say that," Spencer cried out.

Ashley shook her head. "Baby I-"

"No! Don't you ever call me that again," the blonde yelled before she quickly sprinted out of the office in tears. The rocker fell on to the floor. Her heart began to race painfully. She struggled to breath. Her eyes glazed over with tears.

Kyla came running into the room. She ran over to her sister and grasped her shoulders, "Ashley, what in hell just happened?"

"I don't know," Ashley whispered her eyes devoid of any emotion.

"Why was Spencer crying?"

"I yelled at her, I fucking yelled at her for no reason," the rocker answered in disgust. "She didn't do anything I just … I'm a monster."

"Why did you yell at her?" Kyla asked carefully. "What did Clay come back here to tell you and Ryan Ash?"

"The label is suing the band for me not having a manager." Ashley swallowed. "I called the company up, one thing led to another and …they fired me. Spencer … Spencer was here trying to calm me down and I just exploded."

"You had another one of your rampages."

"Yes, but," the rocker closed her eyes in pain. "I've never taken anything out on Spencer. I've never screamed at her like that before… she must … she must hate me," she sobbed.

"No, she doesn't hate you," Kyla whispered gathering her sister into a hug.

"You didn't hear what I said Ky," Ashley countered. "She probably never wants to see me again. She probably wishes I were dead. I wish I was dead."

"Stop that Ashley, don't talk like that," Kyla hissed. "It scares me when you talk like that."

"It's all gone Kyla, my career, my angel, my friends, my … daddy. Everyone keeps leaving me and it hurts. I have no control over anything anymore."

"We're not going anywhere Ashley, look at me," the short brunette said. "We're not going anywhere. We are here to help you. All of us. We are not leaving you."

"Spencer too?"

Kyla nodded. Ashley searched her eyes for assurance. She found it but she was still unsure. The rocker was hoping she hadn't screwed up anything permanently.

"I don't know how many times we have to tell you that were here to help, but, I guess we'll just have to keep on hammering it in that hard head of yours," Kyla half joked.

"I'm an idiot."

"Yes, you can be," the short brunette agreed. "We all can be idiots every once and while. You just tend to go a little over board sometimes."

"Do you think she'll forgive me," Ashley whispered brokenly. "She has to Kyla. I can't live without Spencer."

"She'll forgive you," Kyla assured. "You're gonna have to get off your ass and apologize first though. This isn't just gonna clear up all of a sudden on its own."

"I realize that."

"We're also going to have to work on that temper of yours."

Ashley nodded. "I realize that also."

Spencer had made it no further than the front steps of the house before she slumped to the ground in heap as she sobbed uncontrollably. Ryan, having seen Spencer run out of the house, jogged out front and wrapped his arms around her.

"I should have listened to you," she cried into his shoulder.

"Calm down Spencer," Ryan cooed. "Don't blame yourself for this. You didn't know any better. You were just doing what you thought was best."

"Why would she say that to me?"

"Don't take what she said to heart," the bass player informed. "She didn't mean any of it."

"Yes she did," Spencer sniffled. "She does."

"No she does not." Ryan stated cupping her face. "When Ashley gets like this she'll take all of her anger out on anyone who's within five feet of her. It's like a human versus a hurricane. You can't fight it and when you try to … you always walk away hurt."

The blonde rubbed at her red eyes and let out a humorless chuckle.

"What's so funny," Ryan asked confused.

"Oh, nothing's funny. Tonight was supposed to be a happy night," Spencer explained. "And it's turned out to be one that I want to completely erase from my memory. Ashley and I didn't even get to make our announcement."

"What announcement?"

"Spencer?"

They both turned to see a vulnerable looking Ashley standing at the door way with her arms wrapped protectively around herself. Kyla stood next to her. Spencer looked away.

"We'll give you two some privacy," Ryan announced taking Kyla's hand. "Do you mind if we stay the night Ash?"

"That's fine," Ashley replied keeping her eyes on Spencer.

After Ryan and Kyla left Ashley slowly approached the blonde and took a seat next to her. Spencer kept her eyes trained on the ground.

The rocker let out a nervous breath and twirled her hands. "Spencer I'm-"

"I realize you were mad," Spencer intervened quietly. "I realize you were … hurt and confused and I should've known not to bother you when you get like that."

Ashley shook her head. "You did nothing wrong Spencer."

"You know that when I lose my virginity it'll be very important to me Ashley," Spencer's voice rose with each word. "You know that I wouldn't lose it to anyone but you Ashley."

"I know that baby," Ashley said gripping the blonde's hands.

Spencer pulled her hands back, "No, I don't think you do. Or at least it didn't sound like you did."

"I didn't mean what I said up there Angel," the rocker whispered in tears. "I shouldn't have taken anything out on you and I hate that I did. That wasn't me up there baby you've gotta believe me."

Spencer stared long and hard at her. "You hurt me Ashley."

"I know I did," the rocker cried. "I'm so sorry. I am so … so sorry baby. I just felt abandoned."

"I never left you!"

"I know that now. I know that." Ashley assured cupping the blonde's face. "That was a side of me that I never wanted you to see. I swear that demon will never show its fucking face again. I mean it. Forgive me Angel."

Spencer let out a quiet cry and threw her arms around the rocker. Ashley held on to the blonde as if her life depended on it. They both silently sobbed in each other's arms.

"I'll never do that to you again," Ashley murmured. "I'd rather die."

"Fuck man," Danny sighed. "What are we going to do?"

"I don't know," Clay responded. "They're asking for way too much money. I don't want this to be taken to court because this will take months to get settled and I know that they'll try to weasel more money out of this."

"I can't believe they're doing this," Eric said. "Especially after everything that Ashley's done for them. Six platinum records, nonstop promoting, countless hours and then they just wanna drop her like she's nothing. She's the best artist they've got!"

"Had," Ashley corrected walking into the room. "I was their best artist, now, I'm not."

"Ash, are you alright," Ryan asked concern.

Ashley nodded and patted his shoulder. "Yeah, Spencer's in bed... I can tell she's still shaken up but … we're doing okay. She should be asleep."

"What did they say on the phone to you Ash," Clay questioned.

"Well, they said I either pay up and the suit is dropped or I don't pay and I'm fired with the suit still on my hands. I said no and they fired me. I'm going to pay them still though; I don't want to deal with that lawsuit."

Everyone was prepared to respond but Ashley silenced them. "I know this is all unfair you guys and I know you're all wondering why I should pay the company that's just fucked me over but, I have a plan. Clay, I know this is going to kill you but I want you to sign them over the check tomorrow. The faster I get this over with the less media attention this will gather."

"What's your plan Ash," Brian asked.

"I'm going to start my own record label."

"What," Clay blurted. "Ashley that's going to take a lot of money and time."

"Clay you act like I'm poor or something," Ashley countered with a frown. "I have money. Are you forgetting that I'm one of the top artists in this country?"

"No I'm not," the accountant said. "But, cash flow hasn't been running as steadily since you checked into rehab Ashley. We owe the movie studio a couple hundred thousand for the film that you never finished then on top of that you don't have a manager."

"Don't have a heart attack there buddy, I've got that all covered." Ashley replied calmly. "I've already got somebody in mind of whom I want to be my new manager. He's in the room with us right now actually."

"Ashley, me, really? I'm flattered." Eric began.

"Not you dumbass, I was talking about Clay."

Clay's eyes widened. "Me?"

"I can't think of anyone else better for the job," Ashley said. "I know I can trust you. I also know that you're very capable of keeping my crazy ass in check. Plus, it you're the best accountant there is. I know I can trust you with my money."

"Thank you," Clay smiled.

"No problem," the rocker replied.

"We still have a problem though," Danny said. "What about the money?"

Ashley thought it over. After a minute she let out a sigh. "I guess … I'll go back out on tour."

Which would mean leaving home again … and Spencer.

Has Spencer really forgiven Ashley?