I've been very busy with school and work, but I found time to update. Thank you for the reviews and I hope you enjoy this update.

The Great Love

Part One (Continued)

X.

and if I promise to listen, would you please tell me again

As the girls neared their destination – a refuge in much the same pattern as the Underground, where they could stock up on supplies – the air around the group became much more pleasant. Ashley had become almost cheery in the wake of her breakdown that night over two weeks ago.

Every since that night, she and Spencer had found a new sleeping arrangement. Each night, the blonde set up her "bed" the same way she usually did and crawled in. Then, seconds, minutes, maybe an hour later, the curly-haired girl would crawl in next to her. The positions changed with the day – sometimes Ashley would fall asleep with her head on Spencer's shoulder, other times she would find herself holding Spencer from behind as they lay on their sides. She liked those nights most, with her arm around the other girl and another body so close and so warm.

They didn't talk about their arrangement, barely acknowledged it, but they both drew comfort from the closeness of another human being. Madison knew about it, had seen them together on those few mornings when she was the first to wake. She didn't say anything – she even seemed to approve, in her own way.

One night, as they came even closer to supplies and refuge of sorts, the routine was shaken. Ashley had stayed up the majority of the night before, wary of sounds she heard in the underbrush. It turned out to be some wild animals that stayed well clear of their camp, but the brunette was still lacking for any rest and she barely functioned long enough to set up camp for the night before she was dozing against a log.

Madison nudged her awake, kneeling in front of the worn out girl. Ashley looked at her, confused. "Go to sleep, Ash'." Brown eyes glanced to the blonde sitting on a log several feet away. "Your girl'll be there soon. Now go." Ashley grinned sheepishly at being discovered looking at Spencer. She stood slowly, yawning widely as she fished the blankets out of the pack. She set up her sleeping area unevenly and sank down, going to sleep within seconds.

Both of the girls that were still awake looked at the exhausted girl as she did this, soft smiles on their faces.

"She's cute when she's too tired to act all tough," Spencer murmured, blushing. The girl in question grunted in her sleep and turned over. Madison nodded and furrowed her eyebrows thoughtfully. She was silent for several moments.

"You hurt her, and I'll kill you."

Spencer looked to the other girl in surprise, stuttering out a response as Madison stared at her with a hard expression, "Oh, y-yeah, w-well I don-don't plan to d-do any..." She took a deep, steadying breath, "I don't want to hurt her."

"It's not what you want, it's what you'll do." Madison's emerald eyes seemed to stab into the blonde and she squirmed under the attention. "She doesn't deserve any more pain."

Spencer nodded shakily, unable to open her mouth to say anything. A few seconds later, Madison nods firmly and looks away, into the fire. Silence descends. Spencer glances over at the blanket-covered lump that is Ashley, timidly. The Latina across from her sighs.

"You can go to sleep now, if you want." Blue eyes shot up from their place, anywhere but the curly-haired girl on the ground.

"What? Oh, well I am a l-little…"

"Just go." She nodded and jerked up, walking apprehensively to the sleeping girl on the ground. She crouched down next to Ashley and nudged her, careful not to startle her too much and have the other girl attack her, especially with a gun in reach. The dark-haired girl edged out from under the covers at the insistent prodding, looking at the blonde blearily. Spencer smiled softly at her and Ashley woke up some.

"Are you gonna let me in?" The blonde's smile turned playful. Ashley grunted and moved back, holding the covers up for the other girl to enter the warmth. Spencer crawls in and settles against her companion. They find their position for the night as Ashley lies back and Spencer curls up against her, head on the brunette's shoulder.

They are comfortable and happier than either girl would admit to being, but neither girl falls asleep. Even Ashley, who hadn't gotten a ton of rest and was still fairly exhausted, stayed awake. They breathed in unison and Ashley felt Spencer's warm breaths against her neck. Both girls listened as Madison went to bed also, and then they lay in the silence that remained after she had fallen asleep.

Ashley shifted slightly under the girl above her and sighed. When the silence was broken by her husky voice, Spencer jumped slightly (both at the sound and the rumble that went through the other girl's chest, under her cheek). "You know, I used to have a sister who had eyes like yours."

Spencer was slightly confused by the unexpected admittance, but she was happy to have any information about Ashley. She gently urged the girl to continue. "Yeah?"

"Mmm, her name was Kyla."

"What was she like?" Spencer looked up and saw Ashley grin, eyes fixed on the stars above her.

"She was so happy, had the brightest smile I've ever seen. Used t' brighten my day with just that smile. I had the most fun when she was there, just running and playing around with her.

"She was nine years younger than me, only eight when she...," she swallowed roughly, "…when she died."

"I'm sorry, Ashley." Spencer lay a comforting hand on Ashley's shoulder, propping herself up on an elbow to lean over her. The other girl shook her head, gulping back tears.

"I miss her so much sometimes – her laugh, her joy. She loved life, spent every minute living it. I wish I was like that." A pause. "I wish I could be like that, for her. I can't." Her voice broke slightly on the last word. "I want to be so much, Spencer. Why can't I be like that?" She looked into blue eyes pleadingly, brown eyes about to break with tears.

Spencer stroked a tan cheek with her thumb, shaking her head sadly. "Not many people can be like that; very few have the strength. But, I think you're honoring her memory just fine, doing what you're doing. You're one of the strongest people I've met, Ashley. Kyla would be proud."

"Yeah?" Ashley's voice was small, almost childlike.

"Yeah." Spencer smiled kindly.

Ashley sank back slowly, lazily, a soft smile crossing her lips. "Yeah."

--

The girls woke in the early hours of the morning, just as dawn was breaking. Ashley groaned and stretched as much as she could with a girl lying on top of her. Spencer, for her part, buried her face into the crook of Ashley's neck, refusing to wake up.

"Mmm…time to get up."

"No." Spencer pouted into tan skin; Ashley could feel her lips. Ashley nudged her with her shoulder repeatedly until she raised her head, sleepy frown in place. She propped herself over the darker girl, looking down at her blearily. "Why'd you do that?"

"You weren't getting up," she shrugged. Spencer's mouth flowed into a drowsy smile. Her blue eyes drifted lazily, falling on a set of moist lips – Ashley's, to be specific. Her eyebrows furrowed and her gaze didn't move. Ashley grew uncomfortable under the scrutiny.

Slowly – so slowly Ashley almost didn't realize it was happening – Spencer leant down and captured Ashley's lips with her own. It was soft and over almost before it started, just a mere brushing of their mouths. Spencer pulled back gradually and smiled softly. Ashley smiled back.

"That was nice."