Goober37 - Thought you would notice ;). Thank you very much. I know! It went really fast. Note: the ending is changed, per se. What you read on the forum still happens, the ending "fade out" words are just different. Longer. I still haven't finished editing it yet because I'm sick and I want to take my time on it. Thanks for your feedback as always.

xxMaNdYxx - Thanks :]

War Myce - Thank you. Hell yes she is. Poor lil' ghost.

Movies7Too - No, absolutely not. I never get annoyed. I love when people have questions for me to answer. Your question is answered in this chapter. That's all I'll tell you. Thanks a lot for your feedback.

DeadWitchReading - She went psycho-bitch because, with the latest revelation and the reminders of her family around, she was just frustrated. Unbelievably so. Nothing is ever fair to either of them and she reached breaking point. I'm not sure whether or not that's a good thing, you know. I'm just as nervous to post this chapter here as I was a year ago when it was posted for the first time. There's only one more chapter after this one, so the end is very, very near. I sincerely hope nothing is a disappointment, but I can accept and DO appreciate any displeased comments toward this chapter.

lexj - Aw, okay. The update after this one will be the last, so you don't have too long to wait until I answer everything for you.

weightofitall - Aw, I'm sorry! After this chapter, there's only one left. That was sweet, thank you very much. :D

lonerchild - Well, I can't have you going insane now, can I? ;)

Conscious - *looks to watch* You're a bit late to the party, aren't you? I've been back for days! :P. Aw, I barely survived either. Migraines were kicking my butt like you would not believe. It was clearly withdrawl symptoms *cough*.

SSKICKSS - LOL Why are you laughing? Twat :P. Actually, that kind of depends where you're from. I say it both ways, just because I like to vary things up like that. I never play anyone with my accent :P. Why would I? Just like most American's don't see the appeal with their accent, I don't see the appeal in mine. Haha, you loser. I'm sure you took care of the boyfriend. Will do, kid. You, bitchy? I can't see it. Nope, not at all.

AbsoluteGarbage - I'll take that as a good sign :). Aw, I'm sorry about that. Have faith!

littlejaz - I'm glad!

XSamXStutterzX - No, not at all. S'what I'm here for. Thanks for your review :D.

lulubirdy - Yeah, it's definitely time for a break. They've been through the ringer. :P Well, their curse of not being able to touch without pain is because Spencer isn't supposed to be there, she should have moved on with her family but she couldn't because she needs Ashley and Ashley needs her. I'll explain more when the story is over if you don't get it (which will be soon, as there's only one chapter after this one). Thanks for thinking of me like that. Really, I couldn't ask for a better reader.

NotxxWhatxxItxxSeems - Neon signs are the shit! Oh yeah, trust me I know. Ususally they only last like, three days, but this one just wouldn't leave. Aw lol. You're going into medicine? Very, very nice, m'dear. An intervention does sound pretty intense. Well, it's almost as frustrating as this in some parts, if that's a helpful hint :P. Not QUITE, though! Nothing will be as frustrating as this, I don't think. Thank you :D. Well, I'm addicted to the feedback, so it was kind of lose-lose for us all ;).

lolzzaa2 - Aw, thanks!

SpashLuva - I know! Amazing self-control throughout this story. Both of them. I don't think I would have lasted quite as long. I've never seen that movie, but it sounds sweet. OMG! Jim fucking died? What? Why? He was so sweet. Was it a dream, or something? Why does GW do this to me? S1 was bad enough! I always liked Denny in GA. Jefferey has the sweetest, kindest, most handsome smile ever.

When I was little, I had to sleep with the curtains shut every single night. If they were open even a fraction, I would put on the light and walk the short distance to the window and close them properly, wondering why when you ask someone to close the curtains and make sure they're closed properly, they don't do it. As soon as I got back into bed I would always feel just a little guilty for thinking that. They didn't have to even attempt, they could have told me to do it myself.

My reasoning for such things was that I hated the shadows on the wall. I hated the trees at the front of the house which used to cast them and how they would sway when it was windy and make it look like somebody was trying to get in through the window.

That was also something I grew out of and something I would forever deny ever frightened me.

Ashley made us go to bed early last night. We didn't do the things I know we both wanted to do, but we said the words we both needed to say. I told her again that I loved her and she told me she loved me, too.

I knew she was getting tired when her blinks were increasing and she started taking more time to open her eyes again. I smiled and told her to rest because, really, she looks so cute when she's trying not to fall asleep. She returned the smile and continued to look into my eyes until hers closed and she whispered "goodnight," before sleep claimed her.

I didn't take my eyes off her for hours. I tore them away thirty minutes ago and felt satisfied in having watched her sleep, watched her dream. I smiled at how every time I moved my arm closer to hers and ignored the pain she would frown slightly and move hers away from me, not wanting to hurt me even in sleep.

A low moan causes me turn to face her again and I feel her shift slightly underneath the covers, it makes my eyebrows raise and the corners of my lips turn up. My face feels a little warmer than usual.

Her breaths are rapid and her head leans to the side just slightly, pressing back into the pillow. I move my hand across the sheets and place my palm against her rapidly beating heart. Even though I have my usual reaction, I keep it there for a few seconds longer, loving the feel of it against my palm.

It wasn't long before I moved my hand away. I was afraid I would wake her up. The last thing I did was press my lips over her heart before I pulled back and was mildly disappointed when her dream appeared to be over.

An hour passes where all I think about is my family and what their plans would be if they were still alive. I think about how many people are going to die today, some by natural causes, some by terrible accidents, some by intentional cause, and some unnecessarily in vicious attacks or murders.

Mr and Mrs Davies are awake, their shower was running earlier and I can hear the radio from behind closed doors. They didn't even speak to Ashley yesterday.

Ashley takes in a breath through her nostrils and stretches out, causing her leg to come into contact with mine. She pulls it back quickly enough that it was almost nice, it was almost a simple, albeit very brief, pleasant touch.

Hey her eyes are open and they look sleepy. They're beautiful. They close again and I smile at her laziness. "Ash, wake up."

She grunts and nestles her head further into her pillow, not ready to return to the land of the living just yet.

"I know you're not asleep," I try again. She's trying not to smile at me. "Did you have good dreams?" I ask with a barely concealed smirk.

There isn't one sign of embarrassment to her features. She must not remember it. Her shoulders shrug. "Only remember one."

I have an idea of what went on during her dream, but I ask anyway. "What happened in that?"

"What always happens," she answers simply.

I don't need to ask for an elaboration. She tells me of her dreams when I'm dancing with her frequently. I open my mouth to speak when Christine walks into the room. Ashley is as shocked as I am. Her mother is hardly ever in here.

"Good morning, Ashley," she says almost pleasantly.

Ashley raises her arm as her greeting. Probably still finding her voice.

My hand seems to have a mind of its own when it slides across to Ashley and I soon find my fingertips pressed against the base of her throat. She's trying to act normally but she must look like a lunatic widening her eyes at me to stop in front of her mother.

I tiptoe my fingers down her chest and the look on her face is more than worth the pain.

Christine sighs impatiently. "I need you downstairs in five, Ashley."

My fingers skip down over her soft but firm stomach and as soon as they reach the waistband of her underwear she jumps out of bed. I wasn't going to go any further, I couldn't.

"I'll be there," she assures her mother.

My hand hurts but I'm smiling.

As soon as Christine leaves the room Ashley turns to look at me with wide eyes and an expectant expression.

I lift my hand up and smack it with the other one, not looking at all apologetic.

"Spencer Carlin, that was uncalled for."

I laugh and move over to her side of the bed, loving how it smells. "Shower now, or later?" I ask.

She pulls a face of slight annoyance before answering. "Later. Mom wants to talk or something."

My head nods briefly, accepting her decision. "Later," I echo. "Okay, with or without me?"

She arches an eyebrow and purses out her lips to keep from smiling. "With." A pause. "Out. Sorry."

I knew she was going to say that and I smile to let her know I'm not offended before pulling the covers over my head. Ashley is quick to talk. "Oh no, if I have to spend time with Godzilla, then so do you. Get up."

My eyes roll but I kick the covers off and stand up. "Get dressed. I'm going to move the milk across the breakfast table," I announce seriously.

She's already pulling on some black jeans that I love on her. She hasn't worn them in a couple of weeks. "I'm decent enough," she says while reaching for a white shirt and fastening up the buttons I would prefer her to keep open.

Ashley uses the bathroom quickly and within five minutes and true to her word, she's downstairs with her parents. When we're standing in the same room as her parents I scratch the corner of my mouth to indicate she has a little toothpaste on hers. It's strangely endearing.

She wipes it off with her thumb. "So, what's up?" Ashley asks her mother.

"I just thought you'd like to know your father and I are going away for a little while." she says with a tone I can't place.

"You're leaving?" She frowns.

"Yes, our plane takes off in a few hours."

"You're leaving the state?" Ashley asks with shock. "And you didn't tell me till now, or ask me if I wanted to go with you?"

Her mother finds it difficult to conceal a sigh. "You're old enough to make your own vacation plans, Ashley."

"How long are you leaving for?" she asks.

"Just three weeks."

Ashley raises an eyebrow. "Oh, just three weeks?" she asks derisively. "Why not a month? Hell, why not two?"

"You get your dramatic nature from your father," she sighs.

"Why do you keep doing this? I thought maybe you were changing but you still just take off whenever you want. Both of you." Christine opens her mouth to speak when Ashley cuts in, "You know what? It's fine, just go."

Her mother misses her tone and kisses the air next to her cheek. "Goodbye, sweetheart."

Raife smiles half-heartedly but Ashley doesn't manage to smile in response. "Bye, Mom," she says faintly.

The door closes and I stand there not knowing what to say. Thankfully Ashley saves me from the discomfort I feel. "Spence, do you want to be an angel and make my day?" she asks calmly.

It's a no brainer. "Of course."

"Breakfast," she almost asks.

"Sure," I agree without hesitation.

I made her the pancakes she sadly still hasn't managed to master and the coffee she swears is from heaven itself. She's on her third cup. "Are you okay?" I ask her.

"Yeah." She nods and finishes off the rest of the warm liquid. "I'm going to shower and go out."

"Where are we going today?"

Her eyes are warm despite earlier. "I just want to be alone for a bit, Spence. Is that okay?"

"Sure," I tell her truthfully. "You don't have to ask."

Ashley has showered and is adjusting her necklace. We're both in the foyer. "Be careful. No talking to strangers," I tell her, adding on a smile.

"What could you do if I did? Say boo?" she asks, almost smirking.

I step closer to her to quickly kiss her cheek and she leans into me for a second. My lips burn. "Yeah, well, I know where you live. Remember that."

She smiles at me the way I love. "I'll see you soon, okay?"

"Yes, Ashley." I sigh dramatically in jest. "I can live without you for an hour or two."

"Okay." She smiles. "Now, what does one say to another when they're leaving the house?"

"Bring me back something nice?" I quip

She laughs. "That's not what I was looking for."

I smile at her tone of voice before I reply, "I love you."

"Finally," she drags the word out. "I love you, too."

I open the front door for her and keep my fingers wrapped around the doorknob. "And I'll see you soon?"

"You'll see me soon," she confirms.

When you get used to spending time with a certain person and they leave for a while, you feel like every time you look at the clock, it's barely been a minute. I busy myself cleaning up from breakfast, something I should have done hours ago and I go upstairs to fold the towel Ashley always seems to forget to fold each time she's finished using it.

I'm reduced to singing along to some of the bad eighties music in the kitchen, music that I usually love but not when the radio decides to play songs that just barely made the top forty when they entered the charts.

Watching Ashley's eyes scan over my body as soon as she walks through the door is nothing out of the ordinary, I welcome it and sometimes forget where I am when her eyes are on mine. Something a little like what is happening now. "Ashley Davies, you've been gone all day. I was contemplating worrying," I tease.

Ashley closes the front door and her eyes dance as she walks closer, stepping into my personal space.

"You're wearing my favourite outfit," I offer upon the silence.

"Yeah," she murmurs, her eyes growing darker.

Something is different. She's never like this. I'm never like this. "Ash, -"

"I love you," she interrupts gently, lifting her soft hand up to my face to caress the skin.

My eyes widen as I stumble back from her, breaking any contact between us. I didn't feel any pain. "No." I shake my head in disbelief. "Tell me… tell me you didn't."

"Spence, -"

"No," I cut her off. If breathing was a necessity I'd be in trouble. "Please, tell me. Tell me you didn't, Ashley."

"It's okay," she insists softly, walking closer to my dumfounded body.

My eyes fill and burn while my chest feels empty and cold. "No, it's not." I can't look at her. "Oh god, what did you do?"

"Spencer, look at me."

My blurry eyes fixate on hers. "How is it okay when you, you're…oh god, your body." I dart toward the door. "We have to get you to a hospital and you'll be fine. You'll be fine and safe and, and -"

Ashley hurries after me and her hand grasps my own, stopping my speech. I'm positive I'm not breathing anymore, how could I be? I stop walking. Her hand is on mine and it doesn't hurt, not even a little. She moves in front of me lifting both of my hands and placing them firmly on to her face, her forehead resting on my own. "Hey, it's okay. I'm fine, see? I'm right here, baby. I'm right here."

"Ashley," I whisper brokenly, giving her a desperate look and sliding my hand down to her chest and putting my hand over her heart. It isn't beating. "How could you do that?" I ask, barely coherent through my tears. "How could you? Your parents, Ashley."

"It was the only way, we both know that."

I shake my head and close my eyes, not willing to believe this.

"I did everything I wanted to," I hear her say quietly. "Remember that day on the bridge when I told you what I wanted?"

I let out the most pathetic sob but I don't even care. I remember that day. I remember it so well.

Ashley is crying now, too. "Please stop crying, baby."

I cling to her; finally able to touch her without feeling anything but her. I press us so close together I'm afraid we'll both get lost.

"Dance with me," she requests softly, her tears flowing steadily. She's as beautiful as ever.

"You can't just -" I stop, not remembering what I was going to say and wonder if it would have even made sense. "Ashley." I say her name just to hear it.

"Dance with me," I hear her say again, softly.

"This isn't real."

It can't be. I felt her heart this morning. I felt it pounding. Her fingers painlessly pressing into my skin through the material of my shirt contradicts that statement immediately, causing a fresh batch of tears to fall from my eyes. "Oh, god."

Her arms tighten around my body and I can't stop my arms from reaching up and linking around her neck. Our bodies move together slowly and I am unsure of anything but Ashley and how we fit together, how soft she is.

Almost on autopilot my arms pull back, leaving my fingertips to graze the skin on the back of her neck emitting a low sigh from Ashley, her face pressing into my neck. My eyes close instinctively as soon as her hands creep underneath my shirt to brush against the skin, moving up my back and down again.

I step on her toes like I always knew I would and she laughs how I always imagined she would. I laugh too, the action forcing more tears down my face, and then I stop because nothing about this situation is funny, and it never really was.

My eyes close again and I can feel my lips trembling. She's right in front of me and her hands are on my body. The side of Ashley's face presses against my own and I lean into it. "I'm right here," she repeats.

I push my face even harder against hers and I press my shaking lips together, nodding.

"I love you," she whispers to me and it nearly knocks me off my unsteady feet.

I can smell her perfume like I could when I first kissed her, how I can every morning when I indulge in the secret pleasure of mine of smelling her pillow, only this is so much better because it's real and my body doesn't feel like I'm dying all over again. And because I couldn't get any closer to her skin if I tried.

"Do you love me?" Ashley asks me.

"You know I do," I whisper out, barely able to talk.

"Will you say it?"

"I love you," I manage to say strongly as I try to pull her closer. "I love you so much."

Her face moves from off mine and when I open my eyes she's looking at me with such a content look in her eyes that it nearly breaks my heart. "You're beautiful," she says, as though she's never seen me before, sounding as if she doesn't stay up until the early hours most nights just in case she forgets the exact shade of my eyes.

"I'm going to kiss you now," Ashley whispers, wiping away my tears with her thumbs. "Okay?"

I don't know why she's acting like this; so calm. I don't know why I'm the one who is needing constant reassurance and why I'm being treated delicately when she's the one who woke up for the last time this morning.

All I can do is close my eyes and I feel her lean in, I feel her lips hovering for just a second before her hands move around to cup either side of my face and then they're on mine. They're warm like I always know they are but have never had the opportunity to revel in the sensation for too long before.

And now I can do more than close my eyes because when she's so close to me and when her lips are on mine I can do a lot of things, but when she tells me she loves me, then I can do anything.

I press my lips back against hers and feel her smile, just for a second, until my bottom lip is being caressed by her tongue. Her back is against the wall before I even register that my feet are moving and I take the hands that are gently holding my face and push my fingers through hers before lifting them up in the air by the side of us and squeezing, holding them against the wall above us.

Lips slide and part allowing kisses to grow deeper, hotter. I push my body against hers, eliciting a content sigh from Ashley.

Pulling away from her lips, I open my eyes. Hers are still closed as she runs her tongue over her lips and it's all I need to see before I lower my head to the crook of her neck. I press gentle kisses to the delicate skin underneath my lips and drag my tongue back up, drawing a soft lobe into my mouth and bringing out a beautiful moan from inside Ashley's throat, causing her hips to roll into mine.

She leans into me and turns her face toward mine. I release the soft skin out of necessity and her mouth kisses my cheek until I turn my head and reconnect our lips for a time that could never be enough.

"Upstairs?" she asks with a thicker voice and darker eyes.

I lower our hands in response and lead us to a room I'd be able to find even if I was blind. I don't let go of her hand once.

As soon as we're through the door she gently presses me against it and lowers her lips to my neck, an area that, up until now, has remained untouched by Ashley. I feel her bring her tongue out to brush against the skin and my eyes almost roll back.

When she stops for a second we're both taking fast and shallow breaths, though our bodies won't react to it.

Ashley's hands that were resting on my hips loosely hold the tips of my fingers before dragging over them and pressing her palms against the skin of my arms, sliding them upward. I could swear I feel goosebumps rising in their wake. They come to a stop when they get to my shoulders and she kisses the sensitive patch of skin next to my ear, making me shudder.

My hands are free to slide underneath her shirt and move across the softest skin I've ever felt. Her breath hitches as soon as she registers the contact and my short nails press into her skin. "Spence," she breathes out.

I feel her fingers press down onto my shoulders.

I walk us toward the bed and lower her onto it. Kneeling next to her, I carefully press half of my body against hers before she grasps my face and guides my lips back to hers. I love kissing her, the sounds our lips make, how she keeps trying not to moan too loudly.

I don't even realise we were sideways on the bed until she sits up, forcing me to sit up with her, my legs falling either side of her hips. Her eyes are dark when she reaches down to the hem of my simple grey tee I decided to put on the last day I woke up alive, the simple grey tee she tells me I look beautiful in, and she lifts it up slowly past an abdomen I was first shy to show and to ribs she's never seen. My arms raise and the material is pulled over my head exposing my bra clad chest.

I look down to her heavy lidded eyes and swollen lips that mirror my own before her lips kiss over my heart. When she looks back up to my eyes she makes me swallow thickly with the intensity of her own.

My shaking hands lift the hem of her white shirt and expose skin I've imagined seeing this close and in this situation countless times before. Once the material is out of the way, I press my lips over her heart and my eyes fill once more at how I don't feel it beat.

Ashley brings her arm around my neck and pulls my lips back against hers quickly before tugging me to lay back down, effectively causing us both to gasp at how it feels to have our skin finally pressed together with no barriers and no pain.

Her gasp evolves into a moan and her hands move to my hips in an attempt to pull me closer. I roll mine into hers and reattach our lips, quickly asking for permission to enter her mouth which is instantly granted.

She copies my action of rolling her hips and I slide a leg between hers, positioning myself on top of her thigh and feel the already acute ache between my legs begin to grow in intensity. Her tongue repeatedly rubs against my own and her hips will barely keep still, her breaths are heavy.

I tear my lips away from hers and release a throaty moan when she lifts her leg up and pushes it against my centre.

Ashley whispers out my name and I force my eyes open, they stay lidded, locked with hers. I think I just asked her if she was okay but I'm not positive.

"Yeah." She moans again when I rock against her. "Spence, I need -" Ashley stops when my lips cover her bra clad nipple, bringing it to an even harder peak and mirroring the action to the other breast soon after.

"I know," I tell her softly just after her low moan fills the silence of the room.

At some point our pants were removed and we got underneath the covers. Our legs are tangled and our bodies are pressed together as she kisses me deep enough that I can't help but let her know how good she feels with a deep moan and pushing my knee harder against her. She responds with a moan of her own and I smile against her lips.

Ashley stops kissing me and I draw back to see her eyes closed, she's trying to remember this moment, not to take any contact between us for granted.

She's carefully pushed onto her back and her legs part immediately, allowing my body to rest between hers. Her hands are everywhere and I'm certain mine are, too. I'm certain the only reason I've been around for the last year is to be here right now with Ashley, experiencing ecstasy I only ever used to dream about. Ecstasy I only ever expected to dream about.

I let my lips taste her neck again and I'm rewarded with a quiet whimper, my hand is caressing the smooth skin covering the inside of a toned thigh and I can feel the heat. We've had months to build up to this, it isn't just today.

"Spence," she breathes my name again with her face flushed and her lips parted and swollen, her lidded eyes screaming to me. "Please," she whispers, arching up into me. "I need you."

My hands shake as they pull her underwear down her legs until they're completely off and out of the way. I shift to the side of her. "Are you sure?"

Her almost desperate nod of the head says yes, positive.

I lean down and I press the softest kiss to her chin that I've always wanted to and can't believe I just did, how easy it was and how much I'm going to do it again at another time. For the countless time, my lips press against hers and I give her a deep, languid kiss, content to feel her body's reaction through my mouth. "I love you," I remind her quietly, in case she forgot from the last time I told her.

Our kiss eventually stops and my hand skates over her skin until I get to her hipbone. Ashley's breath's are choppy and shallow. "Love you," is all she can say, her voice almost hitching.

I enter her easily and a guttural moan escapes from deep inside her throat as her hips lift up to meet my hand. It doesn't take long for me to find and stick to a rhythm that elicits the most frequent moans from her and I never take my eyes off her face; how her head is thrown back onto the pillow as her hips meet every thrust of my hand; how her face is flushed pink and her lips are swollen and bruised; how her chest is heaving.

My lips lower to her shoulder and my tongue tastes the skin underneath, how it's salty from the light sheen of sweat.

Ashley's breaths are laboured and her neck looks more than alluring when she pushes her head harder against the pillow.

Her hips are moving faster against my hand and she's getting tighter against my fingers. I don't attempt to stop my lips from reaching her neck while never slowing the movement of my fingers and thumb, and I don't attempt to hide a moan of my own when I drag my tongue over Ashley's soft throat and her fingernails dig into my shoulders and drag down the skin of my back.

I repeat the action and she breathes out my name and an obscenity, pushing her hips at an even faster pace against my hand.

My eyes close on their own accord when her words become almost incoherent and she reaches a powerful climax.

Much like before, my eyes open first and set on Ashley's face, they notice how unbelievably calm and sated she looks. It would have made more sense for her to be the one who starts crying, but it's my eyes that are filling. I can't believe what she did today.

I remove my fingers and shift my body further over hers to bury my head in the crook of her neck, shivering at anything but the cold.

"It's okay," she whispers to me, her hands moving to rest on the small of my back.

I'm not sure if she told me to look at her or if it was something I did on my own accord, but her fingers are tracing over my face and my swollen lips, over the slight dip underneath my bottom lip and over my chin. She tips my head up a fraction and lifts hers up to kiss me so slow and so deep that I never want to stop. I never want to move my body from on top of hers.

We made love to each other more than once that night. It took a couple of hours for my eyes not to fill with tears each time I felt the intensity of a touch; each time I felt her grasping at me when the throbbing between her legs was building to an unimaginable degree; each time I could feel her hands moving across and down my body to slide between my legs and how it didn't shake uncontrollably from pain but from her and her touch only.

The last time we made each other's bodies arch up off the mattress wasn't where we stopped. She kissed me for hours. Not always on the lips, but everywhere they touched made me feel so much more alive than I ever felt with a heartbeat.

I only hope I made her feel the same way.