Disclaimer: South isn't mine. At all. Seriously. No ownage.
Previously: He laughed, leaning down, and kissed me quickly before the door opened. From the staircase, Peter and I stood there watching as an older woman, who looked much like Chelsea, stepped into the house. She looked like she was in her forties, while the young man didn't look a year over twenty. The woman's eyes found ours and we nodded politely, which from her expression told me that she wasn't expecting the kindness.
Peter's fingers laced with mine and I pulled my eyes up to his. His eyebrows are scrunched together in thought, giving the woman one last glance before leaning down to whisper in my ear.
"The woman finds young people PDA disrespectful."
"Good to know," I shrugged, leading him farther into the upstairs hallway. "We've got a few hours before the dinner starts, we can just take our PDA in our room."
I smirked back at Peter as we entered the room, throwing him onto the bed and locking the door behind me.
AUTHOR'S NOTE : Okay, keep in mind that everyone's around their mid-twenties now, so this isn't such a stretch. Trust me. And if you don't like the way it all wrapped up, well, too bad because it was the best I could muster given my shitty summer. Give me a break, eh?
Chapter Thirty - Five : We've Come A Long Way (part 3)
(Spencer POV)
I grumbled in pain as another wave of my spiked-eggnog hangover hit me.
Ashley laughed from the other end of the table as she set down the plates. "Still alive over there, Baby?"
I groaned, laying my head down on the cold surface and crossed my arms over my head. "I am going to kill your best friends."
"By all means," Ashley says," But you might wanna wait until you're better first. Might miss and hit me."
"True," I murmured, raising my head to pout at my wife. Ashley's eyebrows raise and she snorted, resuming her duties at the other end of the table.
"I'm not gonna do it for you, Spence," She says sternly, but I could hearing her smiling through her words. My head falls back down in defeat.
A door slams and I almost scream, plugging my ears with my fingers. Hoping the coast was clear, I removed my fingers a few seconds later to find that other voices had joined Ashley's inside the dining room.
"She okay?" A familiar voice asked softly and my ears perk up.
Through squinted eyes, I lifted my head up toward the voice. "Mia, is that you?"
It was Mia, definitely, and as I focused harder, I could see Jen's smiling face smirking at me. She's laughing in her head, I know she is. As Ashley turned to finish putting all the cutlery in their rightful places on the table, Mia and Jen walked to my spot at the table. I managed the best smile I could give them, rubbing my temples.
"I'd hug you but my head hurts too much."
"Oh, well, I can totally fix that," Mia says, waving off my words, and skipped over to the fridge. I couldn't tell what things she pulled out but I swear I saw a mustard jar. More shuffling noises sounded off on the counter before she turned around holding a glass of...well, I don't really know what I'd call it.
Mia smiled in satisfaction. "Tada."
I gulped, fighting the urge to throw up. "What is that?"
"My Dad was a drunk remember?" Mia reminded me, pushing the glass of red clump closer. I stared down at the mixture in front of me begrudgingly, feeling the color drain from my face just looking at it. "Drink up, Sunshine, and you'll be back to normal before you know it."
I took a deep breath, just wanting to get it over with already, and lifted the edge of the cup to my lips-making sure to plug my nose with my free hand-as I painstakingly gulped down the smooth liquid.
I slammed down the glass, feeling like I'd just nawed on Glen's feet.
"Ew, ew, ew, ew."
"Well, what'd you expect? Peaches and cream?" Mia asked, cackling softly beside Jen who smacked her arm. My head resumed its spot against the table for the next few minutes as Mia and Jen talked about school and their new apartment.
As the seconds fell away, I could feel the pressure in my forehead becoming less apparent until it was only a minor sting now if I pinched my eyebrows together. For the first time since that horrid eggnog, I felt myself smile as I slowly regained my normal self.
I took a deep breath, leaning over to give Mia the biggest bear hug. "Thanks so much."
"Damn, how'd you do that?" Ashley asked her, eyes wide in shock. "Seriously, it's only been like five minutes."
Mia laughed, kicking up her feet on the table smugly. "It's because I'm awesome."
"And so full of yourself," Jen murmured, tipping the chair over, on purpose. Mia's wide eyes glared up at her girlfriend as she held up her hands innocently. "Oops."
You could've heard both Ashley and hers' snickering as her girlfriend stumbled backwards. I crossed my arms at Ashley as she high-fived Jen and poked down at Mia's groaning form on the floor.
(Ashley POV)
"Psst."
I threw back another mouthful of wine, ignoring the looming hangover I'd most likely succumb to in the morning.
"Psst."
I was in the middle of refilling my glass, when I felt a painful amount of pressure strike my right foot.
"Son of a—" Was all that slipped from my lips before I bit my lips closed and glared over at Darion's bemused face beside me.
"What?" I murmured, leaning toward her.
Darion whispers back, glancing at Spencer's laughing form on the other side of me. "Did you tell her yet?"
I rolled my eyes, motioning to the half empty wine bottle in front of me. "What do you think?"
"Ash, seriously," Darion threatens, with mock glare. "Or I will."
My jaw sets in halfhearted anger. "You wouldn't."
Darion's eye brow raises, before she rolls her eyes in defeat. "Fine, but only because I don't want to be slapped. By her."
I groaned. "Fine, but I'm not going to be the one bringing it up..." My eyes catch Chelsea's, who also knew of my intentions, and I through her my best puppy dog face. She gives me an incredulous look, knowing exactly what I wanted her to do, and took a deep breath.
"So, Spencer, Ashley tells me you're homesick," Chelsea says, trying to sound casual.
Spencer glances at me before nodding. "Yeah, a little bit. Just the country really, the trees. Our apartment isn't close to any parks or the pond by the college, but we take every chance we get to runaway."
"Yeah, you're Miss big time Fine Arts professor, must be pretty busy," Chelsea joked.
Spencer sighed. "I have to be."
"Look at this. You're one of the finest students in your class, with great recommendations, and you're fresh out of the gate. Just give it time, they'll be knocking down your door," Chelsea encouraged. "You've been looking for a new place too, right?"
"Yeah, hopefully a little more out of the city," Spencer says," But it depends on where my I want college courses to be based. It'd be a dream to work closer to my home town, I think I do more of my best work just being near Ohio."
"Is that so," She inquired, smiling a little, before crossing her arms seriously. "How much do you really miss home?"
Spencer's brow furrows. "Why?"
"You know how your uncle has been fixing up your house and trying to find another buyer?" Chelsea's smile catches mine and she continues. "Which brings me to this. Mom?"
A few seats down, the surly and spirited older woman who I had known to be Chelsea's mother, stood from her seat clutching her purse. Her steps are slow as she reaches Ashley and I, retrieving a folded envelope from her purse and handing it to Spencer.
"Consider this my very late wedding present to you both," She laughed, squeezing Spencer's hand then my own, before returning to her seat. "Better take good care of that deed, child, wouldn't want to lose it."
Spencer looked at the woman, before her eyes landed on mine again. "Deed?" She asked, raising an eyebrow.
"Open it," I whispered, barely containing my excitement.
Spencer eyed me suspiciously, reluctantly fingering open the envelope and pulling out a packet of papers. As her eyes focused in on what information was typed within the packet, I watched anxiously as the expressions on her face changed from confusion to unbelieved astonishment.
I swear my smile was going to crack my face.
"Ash, what is this?" She inquired, breathlessly.
"It's the deed to your father's house," I explained, turning around in my chair to face her and took her hands. "I know how much you love that house, and I know you think about it every time we visit the lake. You always told me, when you were older and married, Columbus, Ohio is the only place you'd want to settle down and raise your kids."
My wife shakes her head and looked down into her lap at the folded envelope, comtemplating what we had just told her. Once her eyes returned to mine a few seconds later, all big and torn, I instantly knew where her thoughts were taking her. Before I knew it, soft hands held onto mine and pulled me from the dinner table, out of the room, and into the hallway.
"Why didn't you tell me that they didn't sell the house?"
"In my defense, I've only known for a few months," I protested, seeing my wife crossing her arms as a sign to continue. "Look, I was going to tell you sooner, I just...I wanted to wait until you got your degree and shuffled around a little, you know, explore all your options just incase you wanted to stay. But even then, like I expected, you still talked about home and how much you missed it...so, I called up Chelsea and got the paperwork together."
Spencer let out an exhausted breath, yet, I knew she wasn't mad at me, Just tooken by surprise. "I can't believe you did this."
"Yes, you can," I teased, giving her a small knowing grin, and took her hands in mine once more. "Just hear me out?"
My wife gives me a hesitant nod and I pulled her farther from the door frame, the hushed whispers telling me our privacy was decreasing by the minute.
"We're grown up now, Spence," I said, raising her hands to rest under my chin. "School's over. It's time to get jobs and settle down and have babies." Even now, as I said the words to my wife, I couldn't believe how content I had felt at the possibility of a family of my own. "Now, don't worry about me regretting leaving the city. I mean, I can be a police officer anywhere right? Plus, Papa C put a good word with the sheriff when I was seven so maybe I can cash in on that. And if this whole cop thing doesn't work out, my mom still owns the rights to that awesome vacant club a few miles into the city. You know I'd make one hell of a club owner, and hello, daddy's in the music bizz." I grinned at her. "Piece of cake."
Spencer laughed at my grinning face, rolling her eyes. She unweaved one of her hands from mine and placed the deed onto a shelf beside us before leaning into me and cradled my face. Beautiful blue eyes stared into mine without indecision or indifference, just like that, perfectly still.
"So, what do you say," I offered, the corners of my lips curving into a soft smirk as I leaned into her hand. "Wanna get knocked up and grow old with me?"
Spencer rolled her eyes.
"Oh, when you put it like that," She scoffed, pushing me away playfully. Then her eyes narrowed at me, growing serious. "You really want to do this? I mean, just leave the apartment and the city just like that, and move to Ohio. You'd be okay with that?"
When it came down to it, I didn't even have to think about my answer. Not even for a second. Sure, it'd be tough in the beginning months, but hey, I'd have Spencer there. We can do this whole family thing. I know we can.
"I'm game if you are, Spence," I whispered. "Now, I'm not saying we have to up and leave tomorrow. When you're ready and I'm ready, is all I'm putting out there."
Spencer's face is unreadable for the next few moments as she looked down at me, tracing her thumb across my cheek. Blue eyes fluttering slightly, she steps forward and kissed me. That's was it. No words or looks holding us there. Just that kiss.
Then, my wife pulls herself away with a shaky breath. "Okay."
It took me a moment to fully absorb the word, still slightly dazed from her lips. I shook my head, finding her glittering blue eyes watching me. "Okay?"
Spencer nodded in finality, smiling her perfect smile. "Okay."
I cleared my throat, finding another cheesy grin on my face. We stepped apart from each other, but still stayed close, entangling our fingers. "Okay."
Spencer's giggling is the only thing I hear as we head back into the dining room, greateful to see that everyone hadn't been listening in on us for too long before resuming their previous conversations.
Darion bumps my shoulder as we took out seats, giving me a playful smirk. "Nicely done, Davies."
"Thanks." I smirked back, throwing my arm over her shoulders. "Now it's your turn."
"My turn...," She trailed off, unaware of where I was going with this.
"Ask her if it'd be alright," I whispered, softening my smile, " if you to stay the summer with us while your mom traveled to Paris with her fiance. You know, since your Aunt is the devil and staying with her would mean you whining to me more than you already do."
Darion beamed at me. "Really?"
"Really." I give her an expectant look, and she nearly whimpers.
"Ash, I don't think—I mean, what if she," She grumbles, words all jumbled together, "We've both witnessed the wrath of Spencer, okay? Especially when she's all sexually frustrated and me being in the house for the summer really isn't helping—"
My hand slaps against her mouth as I failed to stifle my laughter. "Oh my god, shut up, you're like a freaking babbling idiot."
"Why are you laugh...?" Darion's eyes creased in annoyance and I just laughed harder. "Son of a bitch, Davies, that wasn't funny."
"But it was," I managed, clearing my throat. "I talked to Spence about it a few days ago, you're cool."
Darion just stared at me, before throwing a punch to my arm. Then, she turned back to her plate with a satisfied grin as I rubbed my arm.
...
Clay stands up from his place at the head of the table, clinking his wine glass.
"Okay, settle down, settle down," He orders. "It's toast time."
Instantly, the conversations at the table died down and everyone's eyes were on him.
"I'd like to end with something my father used to say at these things," Clay adds softly. His glittering eyes flitted across the table to smile at his siblings before he looked down at his wife and kissed her hand.
"Another year has passed and another soon to be born on this Christmas day. We are here in honor of the treasure that is family and friends, and of love. We've been together through the lowest and highest of each others lives before this point...You know, because that's what families do, and my dear friends, we are all family. With this day, we remember happiness and give thanks to God for the gifts we've been given in our lives. With this day, God gives us grace to see the New Year and I am blessed to share it with you..."
For the first time, Clay's voice falters and his tear-brimmed eyes closed. Chelsea's there, kissing his strong hand and encouraging him to continue with his speech. Spencer's chin trembles beside me as a tear falls from her cloudy blue eyes. I leaned across the small distance and kissed away her tear, gently squeezing her hand under the table.
"So, my friends, let's raise our glasses." Clay raised his glass, a crooked smile forming on his lips. "In the words of my father, 'To all the days here and after, may they be filled with fond memories, happiness, and laughter.' "
Several 'cheers' and clinks of the wine glasses broke out around dinner table as he sat down next to Chelsea.
"Who knew your brother was such a tear jerker," I whispered, leaning against my wife's shoulder. Spencer smiled and clinked our glasses together.
"Or that you were such a softie for holiday speeches." She raised a teasing eyebrow.
"Hey, look who's talking." Spencer giggled.
"Well, I have a lot to be thankful for," She says after a minute of silence.
I pulled back to smile at my wife. "Me too."
This gets me one of Spencer's brightest smiles. She kissed me then, soft and slow, like there wasn't a crowed city or apartment we'd have to go back to in a few days. No classes or deadlines, just Spencer and I sitting here and doing just this, too entangled with each other to even notice the eye rolls and smirks of our friends and family around the table.
THE END
:')
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(EDIT : BITTER AUTHOR's NOTE WAS BITTER AS FUCK and removed, so carry on. Nothing to see here. Hope you enjoyed, guys.)