Disclaimer: I do not own South of nowhere or any of the characters.

Author's notes: Thank you so much for your continued support. Here is the next chapter. I have you like it. Have a good week!

World Tour

Chapter 13 – Cincinnati

"Ugh!" Ashley grumbles out as she tries to stretch in the back seat of the SUV. Spencer is leaning on the other window with a pillow under her head still sleeping. The blonde has her legs across Ashley's lap.

"Do you ever wake up in a good mood?" Spencer asks with her eyes still closed.

"Says the one comfortable as hell because she has her legs on me." Ashley snaps at the blonde.

"I can move them." Spencer throws back and starts to pull her legs off Ashley. Ashley grabs her legs and holds them in place. "John, how much longer?" Spencer asks their driver.

"Just a little over an hour."

"Ugh… This is the longest ride ever. I could not ride in this for this long ever again." Ashley gripes out.

"Come here." Spencer says leaning up and grabbing Ashley's hand. Spencer turns over onto her side and pulls Ashley between her and the back of the seat. "Now shut up and go back to sleep. Spencer grabs her blanket and throws it over them before tucking her head into Ashley's neck. Their legs tangle together. They are holding each other around the waist. Their other arms are under their heads that are on Spencer's pillow. "Comfy?" Spencer whispers. Ashley's breath hitch when she felt Spencer's lips graze her neck. Ashley's heart began to beat faster. "Ash?" Spencer says as she pulls back and looks at the Rockstar in her arms.

"Yes, I'm fine." Ashley answers quickly. "Let's get more sleep Princess." Ashley whispers. Spencer moves back into Ashley's neck. Ashley never ended up going back to sleep for the last hour of the car ride. She laid there holding Spencer while she slept and couldn't stop thinking about how great it feels to be this tangled up together.

"I swear, if you keep waking me up, I will go back to getting my own room." Spencer whispers into the brunette's neck. Ashley sighs out.

"You couldn't sleep without me." Ashley whispers back trying to hold in her feeling of wanting to kiss the blonde. "We are about to pull up to your grandparents house. So, you need to get up anyways. You might want to fix yourself." Ashley adds with a slight laugh.

"Oh please, I grew up with these people. They have seen me at my worst." Spencer says keeping her position in Ashley's neck. Ashley's giggles at the blonde.

"Well I didn't so I need you to let go. I need to look presentable. I am a Rockstar, you know?" Ashley says moving her arm from around Spencer's waist.

"Fine." Spencer grumbles. Ashley giggles at the blonde again before moving herself into a sitting position.

"Sleep good girls?" John asks.

"I've had better." The blonde states before sticking her tongue out at Ashley. The brunette flipped her off. "You wish." Spencer stated once again.

"HA! If you say so Princess." Ashley laughs out. Spencer smiles at the older woman and shakes her head. Ashley grabs her small bag and grabs her mirror out looking at herself. Spencer starts bouncing her leg up and down becoming extremely nervous. "What's wrong Spence?" Ashley asks stopping what she is doing and looks over at the blonde.

"Just nervous." Spencer answers quietly.

"Shouldn't I be the one nervous? This is your family after all." Ashley asks clueless to why the blonde is starting to freak out.

"I just haven't seen most of my family since I moved out to L.A." Spencer tries to give a reason as to why she is acting the way she is. Ashley eyes her before giving up and leaving the blonde to her own devices. "You look good, Rockstar. Stop worrying about it." Spencer adds trying to take her mind off her inner turmoil. Ashley nods then smiles over at the younger woman.

"It'll be okay Spence. You know they can't wait to see their famous family member." Ashley tells Spencer sweetly. Spencer smiles before turning her head to look out the window. They sat in silence the rest of the ride to the place they will be having dinner at. "Come on. Let's go grace your family with two awesome Rockstar's." Ashley says as she pulls Spencer out of the vehicle by her hand. Spencer composes herself some and begins to pull Ashley up to the cute little house.

"Ready?" Spencer asks as she turns around and faces Ashley. The brunette nods her head and squeezes Spencer's hand reassuringly. Spencer nods, takes a deep breath, and turns back to the door. John lets out a giggle as Spencer slowly turns the doorknob.

"Any day now Princess. I do have other things I need to do at some point." Ashley states with a smirk on her face.

"Shut up." Spencer spats out before stepping into the house and letting go of Ashley's hand. Spencer leads Ashley and John to the dinning room where she is hearing voices coming from.

"Yay, Spencer is here."

"Hey mom." Spencer says pulling her excited mother into a hug. After Spencer breaks from the hug with her mom. "Everyone this is Ashley and John." Spencer looks at both her tour companions then back to the people around the table. "This is my mom Paula. My dad Arthur. That is my gram, just call her gram, everyone else does. She will insist. My grandpa Arthur. My uncle Tom and his wife Terry. My aunt Alice and her husband Bill. Their kids are around somewhere. You know the man child already and…" Spencer pauses for a second and meets her pleading eyes with Glen. "That's Carmen." Spencer introduces everyone at the table.

"Nice to see you too Spencer." Glen throws to his sister understanding her pleading eyes.

"I just seen you yesterday morning dip shit." Spencer throws back with a laugh. Spencer walks over to the three empty chairs and takes the seat next to Carmen.

"Nice to meet you all." Ashley and John say in unison. They got the same response back from almost everyone at the table but Carmen and Glen.

"You got here just in time Spencer. Dinner should be done in about 5 minutes." Spencer's dad tells his daughter.

"How's the tour dear?" Her grandma asks taking the attention of everyone at the table.

"It has been wonderful gram."

"How are you feeling? Better I hope."

"I am. I've been great. Ashley has been great help." Spencer tells her grandma. Her grandma smiles at Ashley.

"How are you, Ashley? How is the tour for you? I hear you have been doing this for some time now?"

"I'm good. This tour has been the best one I have ever done but my first tour is pretty up there." Ashley pauses and laughs. "I have been doing this for a while. I did my first tour when I was 17. I will be 22 next month." Ashley finishes answering Spencer's grandma's questions with a smile on her face.

"Are you not going to say anything at all to me?" Carmen asks in a harsh whisper to the blonde sitting next to her. It causes everyone's attention to move from Ashley to Carmen.

"Not now." Spencer spat out.

"Everything alright Spence?" Paula asks her daughter.

"Yes, mom. Right Carmen?" Spencer tells her mom then looks over at Carmen. The woman next to her closes her mouth and nods her head.

"What was that?" Ashley whispers into Spencer's ear. Spencer smiles softly at the brunette and mouths later.

"John, how has the tour been for you? Hopefully these girls have been great to you." Paula says trying to eliminate the awkward tension.

"I love what I do. I have been on every tour with Ashley since she started. She is a wonderful young lady. Spencer has been a great addition to the tour. They are the best bosses I have ever had. They make sure I am always included in anything they are doing. I've worked for other people as their drivers and I was always left in the car. They make sure I go with them and enjoy myself." John tells everyone then smiles at Ashley and Spencer. Both women smile back.

"Do you usually share your driver with the people you are on tour with?" Carmen asks looking passed Spencer to Ashley.

"No. Spencer would be the first." Ashley answers.

"Dinner is served." Arthur comes out of the kitchen with a large pot. He sits it in the middle of the table before going back into the kitchen. Spencer's aunt and uncle went to get their kids from the back yard before prayers. After they prayed everyone began to pass the food around the table. The parents at the table made small talk amongst themselves while everyone ate. After everyone is done eating Arthur and his mom started grabbing the dishes from the table.

"Let me help you." Ashley says jumping up from her chair and grabs Spencer's plate and sits it on top of hers.

"It's okay sweetie…"

"Don't you have enough money to pay someone to clean up after you." Carmen asks sarcastically.

"I do but I can clean up after myself just fine." Ashley throws back. Spencer drops her head and shakes it. This is starting to become everything she feared.

"Shut up Carmen." Spencer harshly tells the woman next to her. Carmen grumbles but doesn't say anything else. Ashley grabs a few more plates before carrying them into the kitchen behind the other two adults carrying dishes. Ashley helps until the table is cleared off once again.

"Need help with the dishes, Gram?" Ashley asks.

"Oh no. I've got it. Thank you for your help and offering Ashley. You are too sweet." The older woman says with a smile on her face.

"I think you need to rethink your relationship choice Spence." Glen says while laughing.

"I second that." Paula says glaring at Carmen.

"Seriously, now is not the time." Spencer says annoyed. "John can I have the keys, I need to grab my bag from the car."

"I will get it for you Ms. Spencer."

"Just Spencer is fine." The blonde tells her driver. He nods his head before excusing himself from the table.

"Are you alright?" Ashley whispers to the blonde. Spencer gave Ashley a look that told her no. "It'll be okay. Are you staying here tonight?" Ashley adds. They never talked about Spencer staying with her family or if she is going to go back to the hotel with Ashley. After Ashley pulls back to meet Spencer's eyes. The blonde leaned close to the brunette's ear.

"Thought you said I can't sleep without you?" Spencer whispers lightly. Ashley's breath hitches which causes her to clear her throat. Spencer giggled at Ashley's reaction. "That answers your question, right?" Spencer whispers again. All Ashley could do is nod her head.

"Are you two always so secretive?" Carmen spat out to the blonde next to her.

"Is that really any of your business?" Ashley spat back.

"When it has nothing to do with anyone else." Spencer tells her at the same time Ashley spoke.

"I think when it comes…"

"Carmen, seriously shut up. Now is really not the time for this." Spencer speaks out quickly cutting the woman next to her off.

"When is the time Spencer? You haven't answered my calls in almost a month. You didn't even acknowledge me when you came in." Carmen complains to Spencer. The blonde sighs before standing up from the table and heading out of the dining room.

"Your girlfriend has been on tour and was extremely sick. I think you need to be more understanding." Paula says sternly to her daughter's girlfriend. Ashley lifts her head and looks over at Spencer.

"Fuck." Spencer mumbles out. "Ashley?" Spencer adds. Spencer meets her eyes with the older singer, but Ashley gets up from her chair.

"Thank you for dinner and having me. It has been wonderful, but I should get going I have several things to do early tomorrow." Ashley addressed everyone at the table.

"It was lovely meeting you Ashley. Good luck with the rest of the tour. I hope to see you again. You are always welcome here." Spencer's grandma tells the Rockstar before pulling her into a hug. Ashley exchanged hugs and goodbyes from everyone else before turning back to the blonde, who has yet to say another word.

"I hope you enjoy the time you have with your family. I have to go back to the hotel." Ashley whispers before kissing the blonde's cheek then heads for the front door.

"See you later Ms. Spencer." John says following Ashley out of the house.

"Bye John." Spencer sighs out. She is frozen to her spot eyes still looking at the doorway Ashley disappeared through. This is what Spencer has been so scared of. She never wanted Ashley to find out this way. Spencer's legs finally started moving and she followed Ashley out the door. "Ashley?" Spencer yells once she opens the door and sees Ashley getting into the black SUV. Spencer runs over to the car.

"I've got to go Spencer." Ashley says not looking at Spencer.

"Can we please talk about this? I'm sorry, I never told you. Please just hear me out?" Spencer pleads with the brunette that still won't look at her.

"No, your family is here. I'm not doing this right now. I've got to go. Have a goodnight." Ashley tells the blonde.

"Please?!" Spencer pleads once again.

"Not tonight Spencer." Ashley says once again. Spencer sighs but steps back from the car and watches Ashley close the door.

"Fuck." Spencer sighs out before walking back up to the house.

"I take it she didn't know." Spencer's mom states once Spencer gets to the front porch. Spencer shakes her head in the negative and wipes the tears that started to fall from her eyes. "I'm sorry sweetie. I thought she knew. You have been spending so much time with her, I thought you would have told her. I'm sorry." Paula adds pulling her youngest child into a hug. Spencer wraps her arms around her mom.

"It's okay mom. It's my fault. I should have told her. I just didn't know how to really bring it up, I just… I don't know. I should have told her." Spencer rants out to her mom after she pulls out of their embrace. Paula takes a seat on the top front step and Spencer follows suit.

"You like her Spencer?" Paula asks quietly.

"She is wonderful mom. I have never met anyone like her before. She is sweet and caring. Ashley has been there every step of the way this whole tour. She made sure I got the rest I needed after I fainted. She wouldn't leave my side. She didn't let me do anything. All she cared about was me getting better. She is so amazing." Spencer declares.

"I would say the answer to my question is yes." Paula says giggling at her daughter. Spencer nods her head agreeing with her mother. "Just talk to her Spencer. Try to explain. Hopefully she can find it to forgive you and maybe she can understand why you were so hesitant on telling her." Paula adds before kissing her daughter's head then walks back into the house.

(Spencer's POV)

I should have told Ashley, I know that. I hate that she found out this way. I don't really know why I didn't tell her and why I felt so uncomfortable telling her. I think most of it was the instant attraction I had to her. From our first meeting I felt it. My feeling for her have only grown since especially after I fainted. She never left my side. She literally took care of everything for me. Ashley has been so amazing to me and I have just let her down. I kept my biggest secret from her, and I know she thought we was closer than that. I have hurt her, and I am really kicking myself in the ass for it. That is the last thing I ever wanted to do. I really hope she will and can forgive me. I don't want to lose her from my life. I don't want her to disappear on me. I am so scared that is what is going to happen. I should have just told her.

"Are we going to talk yet?" Carmen asks pulling me from my thoughts. I sigh out and turn around to look at her.

"You have been so damn disrespectful tonight. I haven't seen most of my family in years and you repeatedly disrespected them and their home. I don't even know who the fuck you are anymore, Carmen. I can't do this anymore…"

"Spence…"

"Don't fucking cut me off. I fucking fainted and ended up in the damn hospital and you just left. You didn't even know what was going on with me and you claim you love me, and we have been together for years. You should have fucking been there. Tonight, was the last fucking straw. I'm done Carmen. Now you may talk but I really don't care to hear anything from you." I spat out.

"You had Ashley. You didn't need me…"

"Don't bring Ashley into this. Whether Ashley was there or not. You still should have been. You were my fucking girlfriend." I yell at the brunette standing above me. I stand up on my feet on a step below her.

"She didn't know you are gay?" Carmen asks me, ignoring everything I said.

"No, she didn't." I sigh out. "But honestly that isn't your business. Again, leave her out of this. I think you should go. I'm sorry we didn't work out." I add then start to walk around her to walk into the house. Carmen roughly grabs my arm pulling me back towards her. "You have two seconds to let go of me before you find yourself on your ass." I let out sternly, glaring at the woman. She isn't a woman she a damn girl especially after her actions just now.

"You can't do this. You can't leave me." Carmen yells in my face. She has yet to let go of the tight grip she has on my wrist. I yank my arm out of her grasp and move closer to her face.

"I can do what I damn well please. Leave now before you regret it. We are done Carmen." I tell her sternly never letting my eyes leave hers. Carmen sighs then starts to walk down the steps of the house. Halfway to her car she stops and turns to look at me.

"You will regret this Spencer, believe that." Carmen declares before finishing her walk to her car. I watch her leave. This is just great. I just hope she doesn't out me to the world. I want and need to do that on my own terms not anyone else's.

"Fuck tonight!" I yell out leaning my head against the front door of the house. This has been the worst night ever and it should have been a great night. I finally got to see my family after years. I haven't seen my parents since before I left on tour about two months ago. Before I knew the front door sprung open and I fell headfirst to the floor. Seriously, could anything else go wrong tonight? "FUCK!" I scream out rubbing my forehead where it met the floor. Now I probably have a concussion and I still need to try to call Ashley.

"Shit, I'm sorry Spence. Are you okay?" My brother rushes out before leaning down to help me roll over.

"What did you guys break?" My dad and mom say in unison as they rushed to us.

"Just my head." I mumble out, trying to laugh the slight headache off.

"Are you okay?" My mom asks lending down checking out my head.

"Just a little headache. I'll be fine."

"Did you pass out?" My mother rushes out, worried.

"No mom. I'll be fine. Can everyone back off so I can get up now?" I ask annoyed. I just want this night to finally be over.

"Slowly get up Spencer and I'll get you some ice and medicine for the headache." My mom tells me before helping me up slowly from the floor. After I get up off the floor, she walks me over to the couch and sits me down on it before disappearing into the other room.

"You okay sweetie?" My dad asks then takes a seat next to me. I sigh and lean my head against his shoulder. He wraps his arms around me and pulls me closer to him. I finally let the tears fall. I cry because the thought of losing Ashley is unbearable. I cry because I spent 4 almost 5 years with someone who didn't deserve one day of my life. I cry because damn it, my head is hurting, and this crying isn't helping any either.