Disclaimer: Don't own, seriously.

A/N: I know this update came a lot slower than the others, but school and whatnot. Um, I got some requests for more conflict in the story, I figured that Ashley dying was conflict enough, but if y'all really want more I'm sure I could work something out, so let me know. Aside from that whole thing, this piece is going to be mostly fluffy because I'm a total girl and that's what I like to write. Ididn't proofread but I did run it through a spell checker, though there might be errors still. Feedback is love.

It's a little late when Spencer and Ashley make it home. Granted, it's still just barely light out but it's still past dinner time. Ashley feels bad because she's sure she made them miss dinner and she doesn't want Arthur to be worried. She let's Spencer out of the car because she's supposed to head back. Spencer turns and looks back inside the car once she's shut the door and smiles at Ashley, thanking her for today. Ashley thinks it's a little ridiculous, Spencer thanking her. After all, Spencer had made Ashley's year, spending today with her. But she just smiles and tells Spencer that it was no problem.

Ashley watches Spencer walk to the door, her ponytail swaying with each step, and Ashley can't believe how much she loves her. Spencer pauses before going inside and glances back at Ashley over her shoulder and smiles again. Ashley's almost embarrassed for staring so she turns back to her steering wheel but can't help it when the corners of her mouth turn up.

When Arthur asks Spencer where Ashley is as she comes through the door, Spencer tells him that she had to go back to the hospital and she's sorry she couldn't stay for dinner. Turn's out dinner is a large pizza from Domino's because Arthur burnt the roast again. Spencer thinks it's kind of sad that her dad can't manage to cook anything but pasta, but loves him for trying. She grabs a slice of the cold pizza and heads up to her room. She pauses for a second next to her father and gives him a peck on the cheek, swatting lightly as she does the apron he's wearing that says "Kiss the Chef."

-----------------------------------

Spencer hears a ringing just as she's about to fall asleep. This time Spencer knows it's her phone because Ashley programmed it to play "Barbie Girl" when she calls. Spencer flips it open in the dark and manages something that isn't quite hello.

"I can't sleep," Ashley whines. She sounds pretty sleepy to Spencer.

Spencer can't seem to form coherent sentences right now because she was having no trouble sleeping, but Ashley tells her to tell her something, anything, so Spencer finds her voice. Spencer tells Ashley whatever she can that Ashley doesn't already know. She tells Ashley about the first day Clay spent with them, officially a part of the family. She tells Ashley about Glen's first basketball game and how she had cheered herself hoarse. She tells Ashley about the time she fell off the pyramid at cheerleading practice and sprained her wrist. It's hard for Spencer to believe that she'd had a life before Ashley, but she did. And Spencer's half-asleep at this point and is sure that whatever she's mumbling isn't even English. Ashley hasn't said anything for awhile and Spencer wonders if she's still awake.

"Ash?"

"Hmm," Ashley murmurs.

"You still awake?"

"Hmm," Ashley says again. Ashley clears her throat again before telling Spencer, yes, she's still awake. Spencer remembers Ashley was doing that a lot today, clearing her throat. And coughing, too. Spencer tries not to worry about that. "Spence? You don't have to talk anymore. Just don't hang up."

"I won't," Spencer promises. "I love you, Ashley." Spencer hears what she's pretty sure is "Love you, too." She closes her eyes and focuses on Ashley's breathing as she slumbers, listening as Ashley coughs in her sleep and Spencer tries really hard not to worry about that.

-----------------------------------

Spencer is back in Ashley's room as soon as she's able. They're sitting on Ashley's bed, watching Sunday morning cartoons and Spencer has Ashley's hand in hers, painting her nails the same soft pink she's already painted Ashley's toes. Ashley said she didn't like this pink but Spencer's painting, so Spencer decides. Ashley's hands are bit too unsteady to do her own nails, plus Spencer's enjoying it.

"Ahem," Ashley clears her throat. Spencer watches as she leans over and picks up her Oxygen, securing the hose around her ears then nose. Spencer must have a worried look on her face because Ashley glances at her and is quick to reassure her. "I'm fine." Ashley gestures at the open bottle of nail polish remover, "Acetone smell just makes me nauseous."

Later, after Ashley's finished eating what passes for lunch, there's a knock at the door. Ashley yells for whoever it is to come in. Spencer expects another nurse and is surprised to see a very handsome boy round the corner into Ashley's room. Spencer's even more surprised to see Ashley's face light up at the sight of him.

"Aiden!" Ashley exclaims. "You're back early!" The boy leans over and wraps Ashley in a big hug. Spencer wrinkles her nose, did this guy swim in his after shave?

"Did you bring me anything?" Ashley asks as soon as Aiden let's her go. Aiden laughs and pulls a paper bag from Carl's Junior out from behind his back.

"Criss-cut fries with extra chili."

"Oh, my hero. Real food!" Ashley takes the bag from him and starts into the fries like she hadn't just eaten five minutes ago. Her appetite was just one of the many things about Ashley that never failed to amaze Spencer. Another was her complete lack of table manners. "Oh, Aiden," Ashley says around a mouthful of fries. "This is my girl Spencer." She points at Spencer with her fork before going back to her food.

"Hey, it's nice to meet you. I've heard a lot about you," Aiden reaches a hand around Ashley to shake Spencer's hand.

"Really," Spencer's asked. "I've heard almost nothing about you." Spencer hopes that doesn't sound as rude out loud as it does in her head.

"Well, I'm not surprised. Ashley does have a tendency to center her conversations around herself." Ashley turns to Aiden and sticks her tongue out at him. He does the same and makes a reach for one of Ashley's fries, but Ashley slaps his hand away.

"Aiden was at sleep away camp," Ashley says, finally turning her attention back to Spencer.

"It was a basketball clinic!" Aiden corrects. Ashley says she fails to see the difference and Aiden actually pouts for a second, but Ashley smiles at him and the pout melts away. This time she lets him take a fry from her plate.

Spencer thinks she's had enough of this. This is weird, she's uncomfortable, and it's really warm in here. She gathers up her things to leave and is almost surprised Ashley notices. Ashley wants to know where she's going, why she's leaving, and if she'll be back. Spencer says she doesn't know, to everything, because she just has to go. She doesn't like the way Aiden and Ashley were looking at each other and all she could think about on the way to the elevator was they way Ashley was smiling at Aiden and how she always smiled at Spencer like that.

A/N: I'm not entirely happy with this update, but there it is. Please review, and maybe I'll get an update up today or tomorrow.