A/N: Thanks again, for all of the reviews. I appreciate any and all feedback. Not sure how this chapter flows…but here it is.

Disclaimer: Do I need to say it again? I mean, really…I. Do. Not. Own. Anything. SoN. We clear? Perfect.

I cannot believe I didn't pick up on this? I should have known those eyes the moment I lost myself in them. I should have known that smile the moment it sent warmth straight to my heart. GOD, I'm so fucking stupid.

"It's the drugs," Ashley laughed to herself.

"I'll blame it on the drugs," she nodded emphatically, before laughing again, "I'll blame my talking to myself on the drugs, too."

Sliding back on her bed, leaning against the wall, Ashley crossed her arms over her chest and allowed her mind to replay every moment of her discovery.

She couldn't help but smile, replaying the look on Spencer's face when she met her eyes through her office window. She shook her head, her grin slowly spreading from ear to ear.

She knew. In that instant, she knew I remembered. God, it's crazy how connected we have remained…but that doesn't ease the ache in my heart from when she walked away all those years ago…and NEVER looked back. How could she? I mean, I was tortured by her memory every day of my life, for 5 years, until I pushed it away.


When dad died, I didn't have a choice in remembering anymore. As much as I needed her…when she never came or called, I knew she was no more…that we were no more. I had to face my grief alone…except I found a new best friend.

"Addiction…what a bitch," Ashley scoffed.

Addiction. Man, I've been addicted to something bigger than any drug or drink for years. Her. She's been my addiction…the addiction. I've pushed her to the recesses of my mind, in hopes that it would just go away.


GOD! Everything always comes back to her doesn't it? Why?

Ashley jumped off the bed and headed over to the desk to retrieve the notebook from her bag.

"If I'm going to figure this out, I have to clear my head. I have to clear my heart," Ashley mumbled as she dug through her bag, looking for her favorite pen.

"Where is my fucking pen," Ashley seethed through gritted teeth.

Aha…gotcha, you sneaky little bastard. You thought you could hide didn't you?!

Ashley turned on her heel and headed back to the bed, stopping mid-stride to change direction.

"I have to stay off that bed! I'm on that thing way too much," Ashley laughed, as she made her way around the bed and headed for the chair she had positioned near the window.

The rain had slowed to a mere shower and the sun was trying to push through the puffy clouds that seemed to hang overhead with purpose.

Ashley stood by the window for a minute, admiring how quickly the clouds were moving overhead…almost running from the sun that threatened to chase them away.

She smiled, letting her eyes trail down from the sky to the courtyard. Her grin slowly faded at the sight before her.

"Spencer," Ashley whispered to no one.

Look at her. God, she's just…everything. She looks so lost right now, but I can't help it. I can't just move forward like no time has passed. As much as I would like to do that, I just can't. Not until I work through these feelings I'm having right now. It's just like, everything pulls me back to her.

"My gravity," Ashley smiled.

Ashley backed away from the window and sat down in her oversized chair, quickly putting pen to paper.

Words came to mind with ease, and quickly made their way on to the blank paper in front of her, as she allowed herself to release all of her thoughts and feelings…her grin becoming a permanent fixture.

OUTSIDE IN THE COURTYARD

I'm walking such a fine line of professionalism right now, and that is so not like me.

Damnit, Spencer, you have to put first things first right now…Ashley needs to work on her recovery.

Maybe I should re-assign her altogether, just in case seeing me hinders her program. I don't want to be a weight on her shoulders, but GOD, now that she knows…I just want to hug her and hear about everything she's been through over the years, but she's not in a place for that right now.

Spencer continued walking through the courtyard as the rain slowed to a near stop and the sun threatened the clouds overhead.

Finding a swing that was under shelter, Spencer sat down and attempted to gather her thoughts about the day thus far.

Audibly sighing, Spencer pushed back with her feet, starting the swing in its natural back-and-forth rhythm.

There is a reason she's here at this facility, and not some of the other ones in the area. I have to take that as a sign that we were supposed to meet again.

I know so much time has gone by, but I have never felt as close to her as I do right now.


We have both been through so much, and some of it very similar, and we weren't even in each other's lives at the time. That's gotta mean something, right?

"Why can't this be easy," Spencer asked her self aloud.

Swinging back in forth in steady time, Spencer gripped the chains that suspended her current seat.

Could I really love this girl, after all these years? I mean, come on…we were just kids…and…we are totally different people now, right? I mean, we hardly know each other anymore, yet, I can't shake the tumbling stomach every time I'm near her.

"I can't love her…right?" Spencer asked her self.

Spencer came to an abrupt stop on the swing and looked down at her feet, sighing.

"Wrong," Spencer whispered aloud.

Spencer got up from the swing and started back toward the building. Glancing down at her watch, she noticed it was nearing 4pm.

I'll swing by the commons area and then stop in and see if Ashley is okay. Maybe she'll want to chat.

Spencer made her way up the stairs and headed down the hall towards the commons area. She noticed that most people were already gone to the cafeteria or were in their rooms.

She smiled and waved at a few people in the halls as she continued her journey.

Light piano music filled Spencer's ears as she rounded the corner leading to the commons.

Spencer's breath hitched as she noticed Ashley sitting behind the piano. Her back was to Spencer, so she never saw her enter the room.

Ashley had her head tilted to one side as she was starting to play the melody of a song Spencer had never heard.

Spencer stopped in her tracks and leaned against the wall next to her, arms folded across her chest, just listening to the melody of the keys.

Ashley started to softly sing, but her voice was loud enough that Spencer focused on her every word.

"Something always brings me back to you.

It never takes too long.

No matter what I say or do I'll still feel you here 'til the moment I'm gone.

You hold me without touch.

You keep me without chains.

I never wanted anything so much than to drown in your love and not feel your rain.

Set me free, leave me be. I don't want to fall another moment into your gravity.

Here I am and I stand so tall, just the way I'm supposed to be.

But you're on to me and all over me.

You loved me 'cause I'm fragile.

When I thought that I was strong.

But you touch me for a little while and all my fragile strength is gone.

Set me free, leave me be. I don't want to fall another moment into your gravity.

Here I am and I stand so tall, just the way I'm supposed to be.

But you're on to me and all over me.

I live here on my knees as I try to make you see that you're everything I think I need here on the ground.

But you're neither friend nor foe though I can't seem to let you.

The one thing that I still know is that you're keeping me…down.

You're keeping me down….yeah, yeah, yeah, yeah….

You're on to me, on to me, and all over…

Something always brings me back to you.

It never takes too long."

Ashley exhaled and slowly allowed her fingers to slide from the ivory keys. She turned her body around on the piano bench, her eyes meeting blue orbs almost immediately.

Spencer took a few tentative steps forward, wiping at the tears that had found their way down her cheeks.

"That was beautiful, Ash," Spencer whispered.

Ashley slowly stood from her seat, never breaking eye contact with the girl in front of her.

Spencer stopped right in front of Ashley, searching her eyes for any sign that it would be okay for her to reach out to her.

"It's you… you know…my gravity," Ashley explained. "It always comes back to you. It always has."

Spencer shyly smiled, and reached her hands forward, grasping Ashley's shoulders and pulling her towards her body.

She could instantly feel the warmth of their bodies fitting so snuggly together.

Ashley wrapped her arms around Spencer's waist, taking comfort in the warmth of the girl she had missed for so long.

Running a hand over the back of Ashley's head, Spencer spoke through sniffles, "I have missed you so much, Ash. I never stopped thinking about you, or missing you, or…"

"Or what, Spencer," Ashley asked, slowly putting Spencer at arm's length.

"Loving you," Spencer said through fresh tears. "I never stopped loving you."

Ashley leaned forward, her nose brushing the side of Spencer's face. She could feel the dampness from the blonde's tears, and the warmth of her cheek.

Slowly inhaling, she memorized the smell of raspberries that filled her senses. She ran her hand up Spencer's arm and then into her hair, bringing her impossibly closer to her.

"I never stopped loving you, Spence," Ashley whispered in her ear.

Shivering from the warm breath on her ear, Spencer felt her stomach flip-flop and her knees go weak. She pulled back, just slightly, staring into the whiskey eyes that captivate her every thought.

Both girls heightened breathing was noticeable to the other.

"Where do we go from here, Ash?"

Running her thumb across the blonde's cheek, Ashley just smirked.

"If I didn't know any better, I would suggest my room," Ashley suggested.

Spencer giggled before lightly shoving the brunette in front of her.

"Not a good idea, Ms. Sarcasm, but how about we get some dinner? We can discuss everything and figure out what to do about your sessions."

"My sessions? What about them," Ashley inquired.

"Well, I just figured…maybe it's a good idea you start talking with someone else as well…you know…that whole, conflict of interest thing," Spencer threw out the hand quotation marks for the end of her statement.

"What if I don't want anyone else? Are you trying to get rid of me already?"

"Not at all, I just want to make sure your recovery remains the number one priority, and we'll figure out the rest."

"You are my recovery, Spence. The rest is just details."

Spencer smiled and nodded in understanding.

"Well, let's just grab a bite and we'll set up a time to talk tomorrow, okay?"

Ashley nodded in agreement and grabbed the blonde's hand, pulling her toward the cafeteria.

"Well, let's go then. We eat. Then we talk. I have a lot of questions that really need answers Spence," Ashley said. "I'm still not sure how I feel about all of this."

"I know, Ashley, I know," Spencer responded.

At least you know your heart…that's what matters most.

song lyrics courtesy of Sarah Bareilles – "Gravity"