On her way back from Dr. Johansen's office Ashley had received a phone call from Grandma telling her the family had migrated from the hospital to the mansion. That was understandable, it'd been a long day and everyone had to be tired.

Ashley didn't know whether to feel relieved or guilty that she hadn't gone in to see her sister. She couldn't bring herself to do it. Her stomach tied into knots at the prospect of seeing her sister lying … nearly lifeless in a bed with various machines hooked to her. It scared her to death.

By the time the rocker pulled up to the house's gates it was already going on eleven. As she tiredly shuffled to the front door she looked up to see that some lights in the house were still on.

Quietly making her way into the house, Ashley made a beeline straight for her bedroom. She wasn't in the mood to talk with anyone at the moment. The rocker just wanted to cuddle up with her fiancée and get some much needed rest.

She opened her bedroom door and frowned slightly when she saw Spencer sitting up in bed with the light on reading. The blonde acknowledged her with a small smile before turning her attention back to the book.

The rocker shrugged off her jacket, letting it carelessly drop onto the floor, "Shouldn't you be asleep right now," she asked as she slowly took a seat in front of the blonde.

Spencer bobbed her head slightly, "Yeah, maybe I should be, but I couldn't sleep," she replied sheepishly as she closed her book. "Not with you gone at least."

"You know," the rocker whispered. "You didn't have to wait up for me Angel."

Spencer placed her book off to the side and sighed, "I can't help it," she informed with a weary shrug turning her attention to Ashley. "Call it a habit I guess. How did the session with Dr. Johansen go?" She asked carefully.

"It went ah," Ashley breathed out with a shrug. "It went fine," she assured with a nod.

Spencer too nodded her head. She remained silent as she looked down at her intertwined hands thoughtfully. For whatever reason, the confidence that she had spent the past few hours building up in regards to confronting her fiancée suddenly … went out the window.

Ashley eyed the blonde suspiciously. She could tell her fiancée had something to say and this prolonged silence was killing her. The brunette anxiously waited for her to speak. After another minute of uncomfortable silence the rocker spoke.

"Spencer, what is it," she sighed out impatiently.

Spencer took in a shaky breath and stared directly at her fiancée. "Ashley," she said steadily as she felt a sudden boost of confidence.

"Yeah," the rocker pushed.

There was no other way to say this kindly Spencer realized but it had to be done. Her growing curiosity had been nagging at her all day long. She needed to know. "Did you take any pills today?" She finally asked.

Ashley looked taken aback, "What," she whispered.

Spencer swallowed hard. She really didn't want to repeat her words. "Earlier … this afternoon," the blonde clarified her voice breaking slightly. "Did you take any pills?"

The rocker looked down. Her shoulders dropped a fraction. "I had one," she muttered ashamed as she peeked up to gauge Spencer's reaction.

The blonde let out a shaky sigh. She had prepared herself to hear this reply come from her fiancée but … actually hearing the words still left her slightly shaken. Spencer sighed once more and ran her fingers through her hair.

Ashley bit her lip apprehensively, "Are you going to say anything," she asked timidly. "Aren't you going to yell at me or … or something?" She pressed hating the awkward silence that had enveloped them.

"What am I supposed to say Ash?" Spencer asked calmly.

The rocker shrugged helplessly, "I don't know," she breathed out shaking her head. "I don't know," she whispered.

"Where are the pills now," the blonde questioned quietly.

The rocker looked slightly surprised at her question, "There um, I left them with Dr. Johansen at her office," she replied slowly.

A big part of Spencer wanted to believe her fiancée and yet, there was a tiny part that held nothing but denial. "Are all of the pills there," the words slipped from the blonde's mouth before she could stop them.

Spencer quickly buried her face in her hands embarrassed, "Wait, I'm sorry, don't answer that," she muttered.

The rocker gently grasped the blonde's hands, "You have no need to apologize Spence," she snorted. "I'm the one that should be apologizing-"

"That question though," Spencer bit her lip as she searched for the right words. "Asking you if all the pills are with Dr. Johansen makes it sound like I don't trust you and I do Ashley, I do-"

"Spencer calm down. It's alright," the rocker assured. "I promise they're all there. I didn't take any of them with me … there all there I promise," she said with conviction.

The blonde let out a breath she didn't realize she had been holding. She could tell the brunette was telling the truth. Ashley wasn't hiding anything. "Good," she replied and without another word Spencer turned the light out and lay down on the bed.

Ashley couldn't help but show her confusion, "Spencer wait," she muttered as she rose from her seat on the bed. "So … you're not upset with me?"

Spencer stared up at the baffled rocker and sighed, "Of course I'm upset Ashley … but what good will scolding and yelling at you do?" She questioned with a shrug. "If I do that you'll get nothing but upset. I don't want that. But … if this happens again … I won't be as forgiving." The blonde warned as she shut her eyes and snuggled into her covers.

"Okay," Ashley mouthed as she nodded slowly. She stood, shed off her pants and crawled into bed next to her fiancée. She folded her hands over the sheets and stared up at the ceiling. A million thoughts ran through her head.

She heard Spencer shuffle beside her. She turned to see the blonde staring at her. The rocker looked at her expectantly. Spencer bit her lip and spoke, "I love you Ashley." She began.

"I love you too Angel," Ashley replied with a warm smile.

"We're getting married," the blonde continued. "I want there to be nothing but honesty between us. I can't be in a marriage that's full of lies and secrets."

The rocker looked down, "I know," she whispered.

Spencer reached out and linked her hand with Ashley's, "Promise me there'll be no more lies between us Ash," she whispered.

Ashley shifted her body, leaned up on her elbow and hovered over the blonde, "I swear to you there will be no more lies," she replied as she leaned over to kiss her fiancée tenderly.

The kiss was intended to be a short one but when the rocker felt her fiancée thread her fingers in her head that wasn't the case. It suddenly dawned on both of them it'd been a while since they'd had any real alone time.

Ashley cupped the back of Spencer's head and deepened the kiss earning a moan of delight from the blonde who had managed to wriggle herself under the rocker. Spencer parted her lips and the rocker responded completely. Their bodies heated with need.

The kiss was both tender and passionate it felt almost therapeutic. Right now, it was just the two of them; there was no one else in the world. After a few minutes hands began to wander.

Ashley moved the kisses down onto the blonde's neck, "Spencer," she whispered hoarsely.

"Yeah," Spencer breathed out clutching the brunette's hair.

"If we go any further," the rocker groaned in between kisses. "I can swear to you I won't be able to stop." She nibbled at the sensitive skin producing a deep moan from the blonde.

Spencer hesitantly slid her hand down in between their pressed bodies. Her hand slowly touched the front of Ashley's soaked panties. The rocker moaned at the contact and unconsciously began to move against the hand. She reclaimed the blonde's lips with bruising force.

Spencer added more pressure. The rocker felt light headed. It had been so long since somebody, other than herself, had touched her. She cupped the blonde's breast and started moving against the hand faster. Both of their breaths came in pants. Then something clicked.

Ashley began to pull away; her libido was on the verge of pushing her rational mind aside. "We can't," she panted gripping Spencer's hand with her own shaking one. "We don't have to do anything you're not ready to do Spence."

The blonde's hand dislodged from the rocker's. She looked away from the brunette's eyes and blushed deeply, "I just wanted to satisfy you … I know it's hard for you to wait," she whispered bashfully.

Ashley gently cupped the blonde's heated cheeks, "I don't want you to do anything that's uncomfortable to you for my benefit Angel," she replied. "Your first time will be special … and pleasurable and comfortable for both of us … alright?"

"I love you," Spencer said quietly as she lifted her head to give the rocker a small peck. "Thanks for being so patient and understanding with me."

"Well," Ashley sighed rolling onto her back. "I am the best and sexiest fiancée that has ever lived." She said with an air of cockiness.

The blonde cuddled into her side, "So, I'm not sexy?" She questioned jokingly.

Ashley pretended to mull over her words, "Okay," she conceited. "I am the second best and sexiest fiancée that has ever lived."

"Goodnight Ashley," Spencer giggled closing her eyes.

"Night Angel."

The next day Ashley, Aiden, and Spencer took the first flight out of New York to the next state Ashley was scheduled to perform in. The news media circus was hot on their tails. Since the rocker had been in New York three concerts had been cancelled.

A bundle of fans were in an uproar and a lot of fans were leaning more towards the compassionate side. Either way it made for a good story as far as the trash magazines were concerned.

Even Ryan's hospital room had been swarmed with reporters. Ashley made sure to have his room guarded at all times after she heard of the incident. She might be mad at the guy but she still cared for his safety.

As the three walked into the rehearsal hall Eric greeted them with open arms and his classic wide cheesy smile. "Welcome back Spence-a-nator, Ashley, Elmer's and," he paused and scratched his head. "Aren't I missing someone here?"

"Where's Ryan," Danny asked. "I thought he was well enough to join us."

Ashley shrugged, "I fired him," she replied casually.

Everyone's jaw dropped. "No way," Brian gasped.

Clay looked baffled beyond words. He pinched the bridge of his nose and sighed, "Ashley, please tell me you didn't fire him," he said.

"I did," the rocker said.

"Are you kidding me," Clay fired back. "We don't have a bass player! What the heck are we supposed to do now? Go on without any bass?"

"Calm down," Ashley reprehended. "Our next show isn't until Saturday. That gives us four days to find a replacement bass player."

"Four days," her manager hissed. "How am I going to find a bass player in four days? That's insane Ashley, there's no way. There's no way in hell. Four days?"

"Wow," Eric whispered to Spencer. "I've never seen him this pissed."

"Yes I am pissed," Clay growled out shooting Eric a glare.

"Hey," Eric said raising his hands in surrender. "Ashley is the one that fired Ryan not me. Yell at her. She's the bad guy here!" That earned him an elbow in the stomach courtesy of Spencer.

"Don't worry Clay we'll handle this," Ashley assured. "We'll hold auditions and select the best one."

"Wait a minute," Brian spoke. "Does this mean we won't see Ryan anymore? I mean I know he's not coming on tour but … he's gonna be back at the house right?"

"Not if I can help it," Ashley said sternly shaking her head.

"But-"

"Drop it okay," the rocker yelled making everyone in the room jump slightly. Ashley let out a sigh and dropped her head. "I'm sorry. I didn't mean to yell it's just… Ryan and I had a little falling out and … that's it okay?"

An awkward silence filled the room. Eric rubbed his hands together, "So," he huffed out turning to Ashley with raised eyebrows. "You slapped your mom?"

"Eric," Spencer chastised.

"What," he asked with an innocent shrug.