A/N: Wow....so, yeah...sorry it's been forever. Life definitely threw some curve balls my way, but I feel like I'm back to a place where writing will flow naturally once more. I hate for a story to feel forced, and had I relied on sitting and forcing myself to write I don't believe I would have felt comfortable posting. I hope you all understand. HOPEFULLY, I'm back 100%. I have another chapter ready as well...so we're moving in the right direction.

Thanks, as always, to those that reviewed the last chapter...means so much.

River R. - love ya girl...let's chat soon!
Birdseyeview57 - hope you enjoy this one...i always appreciate your feedback and support!
LoveAsh87 - glad you liked the last chapter...hope this one doesn't disappoint.
Hotcutii3 - I love Kyla, too...definitely one of my favorite characters to develop. Thanks for hanging around from the start!
mb168 - Thanks for the compliment...hope you enjoy what's ahead.
SoNFANFOREVER - I really appreciate your kind words, they were very sweet. Thanks for sticking around with me.
DarceLynn - It's been far too long since my last update, again. I hope I can satisfy your cravings once more wink
coachkimm - First off, glad to see you updated not so long ago. Second, thanks for being involved and continuing to read.

*and with all that said...let's get on with it!

Disclaimer: Seriously...totally not repeating myself again...check out my last chapters!


Chapter 29

Ashley awoke in the middle of the night to find she was alone on the couch. She looked around for a few solitary moments before realization hit…Spencer had gone home, at some point, to relieve Kyla of her baby sitting duties with Katelyn. With a smile on her face, she turned over on her side and snuggled into her blanket for the remainder of the night.


Spencer's alarm clock rang earlier than what she thought appropriate, causing her to jump from bed and turn it off. She stretched her sore muscles, smiling at the reason she was sore, and then headed to the shower to start her day.

The water was hot on her back, but she almost instantly felt the release wash through her as her muscles began to relax.

Before long, she was dressed and heading to Katelyn's room to wake her for school. She was shocked to find her little girl's bed empty.

"Katelyn," the blonde yelled.

"What mommy?"

Spencer headed down the steps to find her daughter at the kitchen table coloring.

"What are you doing baby?"

"Coloring something for Ashwey."

Spencer smiled to herself as she ran her fingers through her daughter's hair. "Well that is really sweet of you honey, but how 'bout we get you dressed for school today then you can finish your picture?"

"I don't wanna go today. I wanna stay home in my jammies and watch Spongebob."

"Since when do you like Spongebob?"

"Since now. Ashwey likes it too."

Spencer smiled and sat down next to her little girl.

"You like Ashley a lot, don't you baby girl?"

Little blue eyes looked up at her in question, but she just nodded her affirmation.

"You know she's mommy's special friend though, right?"

Katelyn put down her crayon and sat back to stare at her mother.

I cannot believe I'm jealous of my daughter's crush on my girlfriend, Spencer thought.

"She is my special friend too, mommy."

"I know she is sweetie, but I want you to understand that your mommy really loves Ashley."

"I know. She is your special, special friend."

Spencer grinned and stood from the table, collecting her daughter in her arms.

"Let's go get you dressed silly girl."

As Spencer was half way up the steps, with her daughter thrown over her shoulder and giggling, the doorbell rang. She turned around and headed back down to the front door, Katelyn securely in place. She sat her daughter down by the door and swung it open to reveal a smiling young man.

"Hey…sorry to just drop by like this," he started.

"Mommy, who is that," Katelyn responded, pointing at the man that now stood on their front door step.

Spencer knelt down beside her little girl and spoke directly to her, "Baby, go on upstairs and pick out your clothes…then we'll plan your day, ok? Maybe even include some Spongebob."

At that, Katelyn smiled and squealed, taking off for the steps and her bedroom.

When her shadow was out of view, Spencer turned back to the surprise visitor.

"You have no right to just show up at my house, Jason," Spencer seethed.

"Look, I know, okay…I just didn't know if I was going to hear back from you and I wanted to see Katelyn."

"I understand your want, but that doesn't entitle you. You have zero rights to see her at all, and pulling a stunt like this doesn't make me want to consider allowing you in again."

"Spencer, come on. You know it would be good for all of us if she had a father-figure to look up to," he responded.

"She already does…my father," Spencer replied, "I think its best that you go. I haven't talked with Katelyn about you and I am not having this conversation with you on my doorstep either."

"When are we going to talk?"

"When I'm ready to talk, Jason, and not a minute sooner."

"Does your hesitation have anything to do with Ashley?"

"Ashley has nothing to do with any of this."

Spencer rubbed her forehead and looked up to meet brown eyes filled with hurt.

"Ash?"

Jason spun on his heels to come face-to-face with his old friend.

"Nothing to do with anything…nice."

"Ashley, you don't understand…"

"It's nice to see you again Ashley," Jason interrupted.

"Yeah. Wish I could say the same thing. Look, Spencer, I'm just gonna go. I'll call you later or something."

"Ash wait, what are you even doing here?"

"Well, not that I thought I needed a reason, but I was hoping to keep the munchkin today and just hang out. Some other time."

"ASHWEY," came the scream from inside the front door.

Spencer and Jason parted from their positions as a blur of blonde rushed past them and into the arms of a smiling brunette.

"Hey kiddo."

"I colored you something…wanna come see?"

Ashley's eyes met blue as Spencer nodded for her to go inside.

"Sure thing kid, let's go see it."

Katelyn grasped the rock star's hand and led her past the others and into the house before shutting the front door, leaving her mother and the strange new man on the front step.

"So, they're pretty close," Jason stated.

Spencer sighed, nodding her head, "Yeah, they are….Ashley goes above and beyond to make sure Katelyn stays happy."

Jason nodded, staring at his shoes, before motioning behind him.

"I should go…call me when you're ready. I'm sorry about showing up. That was wrong of me."

"It's okay. I will call you soon...one way or another."

Jason offered a polite smile before heading for his car.

Spencer re-entered her house and found her two favorite girls sitting at the kitchen table.

"Katelyn, go get mommy your hairbrush so we can tame that wild mane of yours."

The little girl giggled, but headed for the steps without questioning her mother.

"Ashley, I'm so sorry…"

The brunette held her hand up, effectively cutting off the conversation.

"I'm just plain tired of all the apologizing Spencer…so don't. Whatever your conversation with Jason was about is not my business, so it doesn't matter."

"Yes, it does matter. What you heard was easily mis-interpreted, and I don't want you thinking that I was leaving you out of things. You know I want your involvement, but I don't want to give Jason any reason to put up a fight for things."

"He gave up his rights…of which he now has none. In my eyes, there's no fight necessary."

"Okay, you obviously have your mind made up on this so I'm not going to push it any further. What do you want to do with Katelyn today?"

Ashley sat a little shocked at Spencer's demeanor and the change in conversation, "Umm…well, I was just wanting to hang out here with her…watch a movie, color, whatever."

"Okay."

"Okay," Ashley questioned.

"Yeah, it's fine. Whatever issue you have with me stays with me…so I know you won't take it out on her."

"I would never…"

"I know that Ashley. We're on the same page there, okay? I will be home early today so I will just see you around 2," Spencer commented, while collecting her things to leave. "Kate, come give mommy a kiss. I'm going to work and you're going to hang out with Ashley for a while."

"Spencer?"

"Not right now, okay? I'm mad at numerous things right now and I don't want to take that out on you," the blonde confessed, turning to lock eyes with the brunette, "but I still love you…don't forget that."

Ashley offered a small smile and then grabbed the blonde's hand, gently squeezing it, before placing a kiss to the top.

"I love you, too."

Katelyn came bounding down the stairs, dressed back in her pajamas, and jumped into Spencer's arms, hugging her tightly.

"I love you mommy."

"I love you too, baby. Be good for Ashley and I will see you soon."

Spencer placed her little girl back on the ground and headed for the front door, offering Ashley a smile on the way.

"Mommy, wait," Katelyn yelled.

Spencer turned in her spot with questioning eyes, "What is it Kate?"

"You didn't give Ashwey a hug and kiss bye."

The blonde blushed, looking down at her daughter then back up to chocolate orbs.

Ashley stood from the kitchen table and made her way over to where Spencer seemed to be frozen, leaning in to slide her arms around the doctor.

"It's better to just give her what she wants," Ashley whispered, hugging the blonde close.

Pulling back, the brunette placed a soft kiss to waiting lips, feeling the warmth of her attraction to the blonde spread throughout her entire body.

"Bye Spencer," Ashley grinned, before heading for the couch with her new little shadow in tow.

It took the blonde a few seconds, but when she snapped back to reality she saw her daughter rooted on the brunette's lap on the couch, watching a new Spongebob that was just coming on.

"Bye," she whispered, before heading out the door for work.