Saving Ma

Summary: After Frank proposed to Natalia, Rafe Ave and Emma team up to help their moms.
Disclaimer: I do not own these characters and I do not make any profit from this.

Chapter 40

Ashley came out of her room and heard Ava and her mother talking. At the top of the stairs she looked down, saw Ava and her breath caught. She looked so gorgeous it made her stumble a little, and Olivia was right, she almost swallowed her tongue. 'God she's heart stoppingly stunning' she thought to herself. She berated herself, they were just friends. Ava didn't see her any other way. Determined to make the most of the night she took a deep breath she took her first step down. As she did Ava looked up.

Ava stood there frozen in place. There she was. Ashley descended the stairs in a floor length, shimmery white gown that tied at the neck showing plenty of cleavage and leaving her entire back uncovered to just below her waist. There was a slit up the side that showed a little leg with every step and the gown hugged every curve perfectly. Her hair was down and curled with ringlets framing her beautiful face.

Doris watched Ava watching her daughter in utter awe and she could have sworn she had muttered sweet Jesus. Well, well, well she thought. This could be interesting. She looked up and saw her baby looking Ava over as well. 'Oh my baby, god I hope this works out for you' she thought. She could see and feel the emotions pouring off both girls in waves. She raised her phone and took a picture of both.

As Ashley reached the bottom step Ava found her voice. "Ashley." She took a deep breath. "You look beyond fabulous. You are so stunning."

Ashley blushed beautifully. "Thank you. You look breathtakingly gorgeous yourself." She tried to sound light but it sounded a little breathless.

Ava blushed herself, took another deep breath and held out an arm to her friend. "Well we should get going. Traffic is a nightmare."

Ashley smiled taking her arm. "Let's go then, can't be late."

Doris held up a hand. "Wait I need a picture." They turned to Doris and let her take their pictures still wrapped up in the beauty of the other. "Ok got it. You guys have fun and I will see you there later."

They nodded and headed out. Doris watched as Ava walked her daughter to the car and helped her in before getting in herself. She took her phone and fired off the pictures she just took to Olivia and Natalia then rushed inside to finish getting ready herself. She had to pick up her date in less than an hour. The ball started at 8:00.

Olivia looked at the pictures that Doris just sent and grinned showing them to Natalia. "Oh princess. Those two are smitten or I'm not a Spencer."

Natalia looked over the pictures. "Oh querida. You are definitely a Spencer. How long do you think until they both figure it out?"

Olivia sighed. "I think they already know or at least have an idea, but just haven't admitted it to each other. I hope they figure it out quicker than we did. We wasted so much time."

Natalia rolled over and covered Olivia's mouth with her own. "I think things worked out perfectly for us just like they were supposed to. They'll figure it out in the right time for them."

Olivia smiled up at her. "Ok baby." And she took her mouth again.

Ava and Ashley arrived at the Beacon a few minutes after 7:00. Ava exited the car and helped Ashley out. They made their way into the ballroom looking around. Ava chuckled. "It looks like Valentine's day in here."
Ashley smiles. "Well…"

She was about to say that was the idea but was cut off by Greg. "OH. MY. GOD! Look at you two. You both look stunning." He said grabbing both their hands. "You absolutely have to leave before 8:00 and come back to be formally introduced like the other guests. You deserve a grand entrance."

They looked at each other and shrugged. "Sure, sounds fun. I've never been formally introduced to a room." Ava said with a chuckle.

Ashley just smile. "Hey it will be the first time I wasn't introduced as and daughter."

Ava nudged her. "Well, all the more reason."

They checked with the wait staff, photographers, the DJ and donation table staff before heading to the kitchen and checking on dinner preparation. Everything was going very well and everything looked to be on time and ready to start. They headed over to the photographers that were set up to take couples pictures.

Ava nudged Ash. "Hey, why don't we get this picture out of the way while we both look fantastic and don't mess it up dancing later or whatever?"

Ashley smiled. "Sure, Ok." She hadn't thought that they would take pictures.

They walked over and Ava handed the man her ticket. "Can we get our picture done early? We still have a few more things to take care of before everyone arrives and I don't want to get busy and not get it." She smiled sweetly at him.

He looked them over smiling. "It would be my pleasure." He posed them with Ashley's back to Ava with Ava's hands on Ashley's hips.

Ava slipped her hands around to her stomach hugging her. "Thank you for coming with me tonight." She said in her ear.

Ashley leaned into her. "I was happy to." She said looking back. Neither knew he was already snapping pictures. They turned back to the camera and Ava moved her hands back to her hips putting space back between their bodies.

He took one more picture in that pose. "Ok ladies I got some good ones."

They nodded moving reluctantly away from each other. They decided to check the kitchen one last time then make their entrance around 8:15.

When they got back to the entrance Ava handed her ticket to one of their staff that was announcing the guests. "And now the Beacon's very own Ms. Ava Spencer and Ms. Ashley Wolfe." Ava and Ashley smiled at him as they entered coming down the stairs. All eye were on them. Tongues wags, jaws dropped, and applause were heard all around.

As they got to the bottom Greg met them and helped then down the last step and they stepped to the side for the next couple. Greg beamed at them. "Oh my ladies. That's what I call an entrance. Now you are sat at the table toward the back away from the speakers. That was your Ma's request and it was too late to try and change it, but I'm sure you won't mind the quiet and privacy of the spot."

Ava just smiled. "Thank you Greg, its fine. Now go do what it is you do and leave us to it. You know where we are if you need us or there is a problem." He giggled and left to oversee the ball.

Ashley nudged her. "Is that my mom over there with Blake?" she asked in a shocked voice.

Ava looked. "Yep, that's them. Let's go over and say hi." She took Ashley's elbow and steered her through the growing crowd.

Doris smiled when she saw them approach. "Hi sweetheart. That was some entrance." She said hugging Ash.

Ashley whispered into her ear. "Mom is Blake your date?"

Doris looked to Ava and Blake. "Could you excuse us for a moment? I need to talk to Ashley for just a moment, we won't be long." They nodded and she led her out of ear shot of her date. "Yes Ash, she's my date."

Ashley looked worried. "You know what this is going to do? Are you ready for this?"

Doris smiled at her concern. "I am. I am so tired of hiding who I am. I finally found someone who wants me for me. I'm falling in love with her and I will not lose another person I love because I am too afraid to be myself."

Ashley squealed and hugged her mom tight. "I am so proud of you mom, and so happy for you. I hope she makes you happy."

Doris pulled back and caressed her cheek. "Thank you sweetheart. She makes me so happy. Now let's get back before they think we abandoned them." Ashley smiled and led her mother back.

When they had walked away Blake turned to Ava excitedly. "Oh everything looks so great. You guys did an amazing job."

Ava beamed. "I'm glad you think so. Everyone worked very hard on this night."

Blake smiled. "I haven't been to one of these since Ross died. I'm so glad Doris invited me. It's like prom for adults with legal liquor."

Ava looked a little confused at the reference. "I've never lived here during one. This is my first."

Blake clapped excitedly. "Oh you and Ashley will love it. The sweetheart ball is a Springfield tradition."

Ava looked up sharply at that. Things were starting to click. The decorations, the introductions, the photo set up. Low lit dinner, music, dancing. "Prom for adult." She muttered. She looked around and it hit her square in the head. 'Oh my god, Prom for adults.' She thought franticly. 'Does Ashley know? Of course she knows, she was a major help in the planning of this with Greg.' Ava's thoughts were running wild.

Blake was still going on and on about the tradition of the ball when Ashley and Doris got back to them. Doris wrapped and arm around her. Ava looked at Ashley franticly. Ashley pulled her to the side. "Hey, what's wrong?"

Ava looked around again. "I need some air." She darted off toward the back Ashley close behind.

Blake yelled after them. "Don't be long, opening speeches and dinner start in 30 minutes."

Doris watched after them worriedly. "What was all that about?"

Blake shrugged. "I don't know. We were just talking about the ball."

Doris turned back to her. "Well, let's find our seats."

Ava ran out the back to the loading dock not stopping until she got outside and took in deep breaths to calm herself. That's why everyone seemed shocked at her bringing Ash, including Ash. Wait, is that why she looked disappointed. Because she wanted this to be a date and she said they were best friend. And how to find out without looking like a fool to her friend if she were wrong. Did she feel that way about Ashley, like she thought might be the case for her if she was right about why she was disappointed? Did she even want to know the answer?

Ashley came up behind her wrapping her arms around her pulling her close. "Hey, you ok?"

Ava leaned into her taking another deep breath. "I'm not sure."

Ashley rubbed her stomach. "Tell me what's wrong."

Ava sighed. "I'm not sure how to ask and don't know what to do with the information even if I do ask."

Ashley was confused and concerned. "Well, you can ask, or you can wait and think on it for a bit and ask later. Maybe then you can figure out what to do with the information you're asking for." They stood there for a moment, Ava calming just being held close by her.

Ava turned around in her arms and pulled her into a hug. "Ok, thank you. I think I will wait and think on it for a bit. Why don't we head back, eat our dinner and dance for a while. Just enjoy this ball."

Ashley smiled seeing that she had calmed. "Sounds like a plan."

Ava took her hand and they headed back in to found their table. Once they were seated Ava turned to Ashley. "Oh by the way I got a room away from the family for the night. I figure if we drank too much we could stay there. I don't want to risk waking my parents or the kids stumbling in drunk. I put our PJ's and toiletries in there earlier."

Ashley smiled. "That was probably a good idea. We can be loud drunks." They laughed and settled in as dinner was served.

They ate dinner, talking like always. They danced to fast and slow songs like they always did at the club. They were having a great time. Ava kept thinking about earlier. She answered one of her own questions. She did have feelings for Ashley, she had for a while. She was just now admitting to herself, she was in love with her. Now she needed to know the answer to her other questions. Why was Ash disappointed and did she feel the same about her. She didn't want to lose her friend but she couldn't not know either. She had seen how it tore her parents apart, the not knowing for sure.

The evening was winding down and the head of the Harding foundation that was having this ball came to the stage. "We are fixing to have the last dance of the night. I just wanted to take a moment and thank the Beacon and its staff for all their hard work to give us this wonderful evening. It has been a true joy." Everyone clapped and Ava was pat on the back by a few of the closest guests. "I also want to thank everyone for coming out tonight and for all your generous donations. We have more than reached our goal of the night." Cheer erupted as he announced this. "We will be able to fund the remodel of the Children's Wing at Cedars and have leftovers for some new equipment we didn't think we would be able to afford. So thank you so much. Now for the last dance and don't forget the tradition of kissing your sweetheart before the end of the song for good luck for a long and happy life together." He handed the microphone back to the DJ and exited the stage.

Elvis's 'Can't Help Falling In Love With You' filtered through the speakers as Ava pulled Ashley onto the floor. They started dancing and Ava pulled her close. "I'm ready to ask my question now." she whispered into her ear.

Ashley pulled back slightly to look in her eyes. "Ok, ask."

Ava took a breath. "When I asked you to come tonight you were disappointed when I said it was because you were my best friend. Why were you disappointed?"

Ashley looked down. "I…I…"

Ava lifted her chin up so she was looking at her again. "Did you want to be here as my date Ash?" She asked gently.

Ashley sighed. "Yes." She answered in a whisper Ava barely heard.

Ava smiled. "I didn't know it was a sweetheart dance when I asked you to come. I didn't know until Blake told me tonight. I just love being around you and thought we would have fun."

Ashley tried to look down again but Ava kept her hold firm. "But if I had known, there is no one else I would have wanted here with me."

Ashley searched her eyes. "Really?"

Ava smiled softly. "Really."

Ashley let out a breath she wasn't aware she had been holding, then Ava moved in and gently lay her lips on hers. She glided them slowly against Ashley's and ran her tongue softly across her bottom lip. Ashley moaned and opened for her. Their tongues slide together in a heart stopping, slow kiss. Ava pulled her closer one hand around her back caressing the bare skin there and the other in her hair, deepening the kiss in intensity but not speed. Ashley melted into her. As the song ended they pulled apart and rested their foreheads together breathing deeply.

Ava pulled her into a hug and kissed just below her ear. "I love you Ashley."

Ashley sobbed out "I love you too, so much," and she held her tighter never wanting to let go.