Author's Notes

Alright, I'm back, like you all knew I was going to be. I hope I didn't make you wait too long. This story takes place after Not Where We've Been, which takes place after It's Where You're Going. If you haven't read those, please go do so. For reference, I go back to school on the 8th, and I have to get my computer scanned before they'll turn on the internet in my room, which could take a few days, so you won't be hearing too much of me until then. With that said, I proudly present the final story in my series, We're Finally Here.

Disclaimer: I own Dr. Courtney Thomas. I do not own any other characters. They are owned by the creator of South Of Nowhere, Tom Lynch.

We're Finally Here

Chapter 1

By Persephone's Nautical Nun

"Therapy's not that bad!"

It was the day before I was scheduled for my first session with Dr. Thomas. This is the same lady that my mom talked to that told her it wouldn't be a good idea to separate Ashley and I.

Ashley and I were lounging around in my room, with thew door cracked, of course. My mother wouldn't have it any other way. Because of the lovely door situation, Ashley was laying on my bed while I sat in my round chair thing in the corner.

"I know it's not that bad, Ash." I was very careful not to mention anything negative about therapy itself, considering how long Ashley's been in it. "It's the principal of the thing. I mean, she treated this like it was some kind of disease."

I had told Ashley about the conversation I'd had with my mother about therapy, and how I agreed to go on a weekly basis to try to fix myself.

"You have a point there," she said, her voice on the brink of sadness. She brought her mood back up quickly, though. "But, hey, at least we can be together."

But, even then I thought that we weren't really together, like it wasn't real. Mom just sweeps it under the rug, and tries not to notice it, like she's waiting for the phase to pass.

Ashley must have seen the look on my face, because she came and squatted in front of me, taking my hands in hers. Even after all this time, I still felt shock waves course through me every time Ashley touched me. "Don't worry about it, Spence. We'll figure it out, eventually. Right now, just go to therapy, don't talk about anything substantial, and stall for as long as possible. We'll be okay."

She was trying to be confident, I could see it in her eyes. But, I also saw a tiny glimpse of fear there also. No doubt she's heard the same horror stories about people trying to reform homosexuals; religious brain washing, aversion shock therapy. It was scary.

I ran my finger lightly across her eyebrow, down her cheek to her jawline, before guiding her chin up to meet her lips with mine. "You're right, Ash. We will be okay."

She smiled at me, and it was so cute that I went to kiss her again, but I stopped when I saw my Dad out of the corner of my eye. "Hey, Dad."

This wasn't nearly as bad for Ashley and I as when Mom caught us making out in Ashley's car. Dad and Clay were cool with everything. So, I was never worried when Dad was around.

He walked into my room pretty casually, like he always does. "Hey, Spencer, hey, Ashley." I loved that he greeted her like that. No condescending tone, no look of disgust. He accepted her as part of my life. That meant so much to me.

"Hey, Ash, do you mind if I talk to Spencer in private for a minute?" How cute was that? My Dad just asked my girlfriend if he could steal me for a minute. Who could say 'no' to that?

"Sure, Mr. Carlin," she said with a smile on her face before bopping out of my room.

When she was gone, my dad sat down on the end of my bed and faced me. "Spence, I know that you're not looking forward to this whole... therapy thing. To be honest, I'm not happy about it, either. There's nothing wrong with you."

I smiled at him, but let him continue.

"But, it could be good for other things. I mean, I'm sure you're not happy with your mother right now, and maybe this is a good time to get those feelings out. You promised to start therapy, Spencer, but you didn't promise what for."

I was speechless. My dad really was good at this stuff. I think he noticed me mulling it over because I felt him pat my knee before leaving the room. That's how Ashley found me a few minutes later when she came back. She found me sitting in my chair, staring blankly at the wall.

"Hey, what's wrong?" she asked from the doorway.

I snapped out of my thoughts and gazed up at her. "Nothing. Just thinking that I have one of the best dads in the world." I stretched my hand out to her, telling her to come closer to me.

She did, and took my hand, pulling me up and wrapping me in a tight embrace. "I could have told you that."

I think it was that moment that I really believed that we'd be okay.