A/N Thanks as always for your feedback, it is appreciated. And thanks to nautic187 for mentioning one of the other stories I have written. I was thinking of posting "Today I Met The Girl I'm Going To Marry" over here. If anyone is interested let me know and I will. The last part of this story will be up some time this week.
Chapter 3
"There must be something wrong with my cooking."
Ashley was too busy staring at her plate to realize that anyone was talking to her.
"Really, really wrong."
It took a few seconds for the brunette to tune into the one-sided conversation. "Huh, what?" She looked up to find warm eyes on her. "I'm sorry, Mr. C, what did you say?"
Arthur Carlin gave his daughter's girlfriend a sympathetic smile. "You've been distracted all night. The better question is, are you ok?"
Ashley let out a really big sigh. She usually enjoyed her time with Arthur because she viewed him to be the closest thing she'd had to a father in a really long time. Whenever Spencer went out with her mother she'd come over and spend time with her dad. He'd usually cook her a good meal and on occasion he'd let her help. That's how the brunette had managed to pick up her culinary skills. "I'm fine," she replied, obviously lying.
Arthur took a seat next to Ashley and then he put his hand on her shoulder. "Come on, Ashley, I know you better than that." He could tell there was something weighing heavily on her mind. "Are you and Spencer having problems?"
"What? No!" Ashley replied quickly. The brunette knew that a lot of people thought her and Spencer had moved to quickly in living together but it was a decision she didn't regret for one single day. Even with the blonde's seemingly impossible task of making an anniversary gift, things were still great between them. Ashley took great pride in how well things were going with Spencer and she didn't like anyone, even Arthur, thinking otherwise. "You know how much we love each other."
Arthur couldn't help but smile wider at how defensive the brunette was. He knew how much she loved Spencer and how quick she was to stick up for her, and their relationship. "I didn't mean to upset you, but you've been acting a bit off all evening." He watched Ashley relaxed a bit and then he continued, "And to top it all of you've left most of my amazing dinner untouched."
"I'm sorry, it's got nothing to do with you," Ashley assured the older man. She was stressing way too much about Spencer's anniversary twist but the brunette couldn't help it. Disappointing her girlfriend was not an option and she hadn't come up with one good idea yet. "And your food is never bad," to prove her point Ashley took a big bite of her delicious dinner, "I'm just distracted.
"I can see that," Arthur observed. "Want to tell me what's on your mind?" He could see Ashley hesitating, "Just because Spencer's my daughter doesn't mean you can't talk to me."
Ashley felt genuinely bad for alarming Arthur and she also felt a bit silly for making such a big deal over something that shouldn't be. "In two days it's mine and Spencer's first anniversary..."
"I wasn't aware of that," Arthur commented, interrupting the brunette. While he didn't doubt the love the two girls had for each other, he was still impressed at how they'd managed to make things work. He knew from experience how hard being young and in love could be. "I assume this is a happy occasion?"
"Of course!" Ashley exclaimed passionately. "The past year with your daughter has been the best year of my life."
"I'm sure it has been." Arthur still couldn't figure out why the brunette looked so stressed out.. "Then why the long face?"
Ashley continued to play with the food on her plate. "Because Spencer doesn't want us spending a lot of money on gifts so she insisted we make them instead."
Everything was starting to make sense to Arthur. "And you have no clue what to make?"
"Exactly!" Ashley put down her fork as her face turned serious. "I've screwed up so many things in past, especially when it comes to Spencer, and I don't want to mess this up. It's too important."
Arthur's smiled returned, it was evident how earnest the brunette was. "First of all, Ashley, you have to stop beating yourself up for the past. You're not that person anymore."
Ashley felt a sense of pride deep within her. No matter how cool she tried to play things, getting approval from Arthur meant a lot. He had been such a source of advice and comfort since her own dad had died. "I know that, but sometimes I still feel that way and Spencer means the world to me. I love her a lot."
"You don't have to convince me ," Arthur assured the younger girl, "and you don't have to convince Spencer of that either. You're putting way to much pressure on yourself when you should be enjoying the process of what to make for her."
"I suppose that's true," Ashley replied half heartedly. She couldn't help but sense that whatever idea she would eventually come up with was going to be super lame.
Arthur could tell that the brunette wasn't convinced. "And whatever you come up with, Spencer is going to love it."
Ashley felt like she'd already had this conversation with Kyla. "That's not the point. I don't want her to love it because she has to, I want her to be blown away and I want her to really get how much she means to me."
Arthur held his hands up in surrender. "Ok, ok, I can see how strongly you feel about this." He took Ashley's plate from her because she clearly had other things on her mind. "Why don't you and I put our heads together and I'm sure we can come up with the perfect gift for you to give Spencer."
"You're the best, Mr. C." Ashley flashed Arthur one of her trademark nose crinkle smiles. "Besides your daughter of course."
"Of course," Arthur agreed. He decided when he got to the kitchen to put on a put a coffee. He had a feeling he was in for a long night.
"I love this place," Spencer said as she found a bench for her and Paula to sit at. "They don't have anything like this back in Ohio."
"They certainly don't," Paula concurred before handing an ice cream cone to her daughter. She'd been worried at first when Spencer moved out that she'd never get to see the blonde. It didn't take long though for her to realize how wrong she'd been. At least twice a month she had a night out with Spencer and like tonight, they often ended up people watching at the Santa Monica pier. A favorite place for both mother and daughter.
Spencer was beyond happy that she'd been able to repair her relationship with her mom. Having the love and support of her whole family now meant the world to the blonde. "Thanks for the ice cream, mom."
"You're very welcome sweetie," Paula replied before getting comfortable. "I don't want you to think I'm interfering or anything..."
"That sounds ominous," Spencer observed nervously.
Paula gave her daughter a reassuring smile, "I don't mean it to sound that way." While their relationship was in a very good place, it still had the potential to unravel. "I just wanted to make sure everything is ok with you and Ashley." Despite how awful Paula had acted before, all she really wanted for her daughter was to be happy. "She didn't seem like herself tonight."
Spencer relaxed immediately, "I think she's just stressed out, no big deal."
"I know I haven't always been your biggest cheerleader when it comes to you and Ashley," Paula pointed out, "but I'm here for you if you need me."
"Honestly mom, everything is fine," Spencer was touched by the concern she heard in Paula's voice. "I think she's freaking out about our anniversary."
Paula was even more confused, "And you're ok with her freaking out?"
Spencer shook her head and chuckled, "Not that kind of freaking out." Any of Ashley's issues with commitment had been laid to rest over the last year. "I suggested that we don't buy presents for each other but make them instead."
Ashley's behaviour started to make a lot more sense to the older woman. She may have judged the brunette harshly in before but things were different now. "Did you do that to torture your girlfriend?"
"What?" Spencer was totally confused. "Why is that torture? Ashley loved the idea."
Paula was almost certain that her daughter was wrong but at the same time she didn't want to meddle in things that weren't her business. That didn't stop her from feeling a lot of sympathy for Ashley because she had a good idea of how much she wanted to make Spencer happy. "I'm sure she did sweetie, I thought maybe you were doing it to test her or something."
"Ashley and I don't play games," Spencer replied forcefully. Although it did occur to her that she was in fact lying, she wasn't referring to those kind of games when she'd said that statement. "I made the suggestion because while I enjoy not having to worry about money, I don't want my life with Ashley to be all about material things. I want it to be filled with all the things that money can't buy."
"That was a bit cheesy," Paula teased but quickly changed her tune when she noticed the expression on the blonde's face. "I'm only joking, I think that's actually really nice."
"Thanks, mom," Spencer felt her defenses subside; she couldn't help that she still felt the need to defend her relationship with Ashley on occasion. "I love her so much, it's overwhelming at times but I wouldn't give her up for anything."
Paula grinned. "And nobody should ever make feel like you have to." It had taken her a long time to accept Spencer being gay and her being in love with Ashley. Now though she was one of their biggest defenders and having her daughter back in her life was a gift she would never return. "Have you decided what you're going to give her?"
"I just finished it this morning," Spencer told her mom. "I hope she likes it." She'd worked really hard on what she'd made but she was still nervous to give it to the brunette.
"She'll love it," Paula said reassuringly.
Spencer went back to enjoying her ice cream but she couldn't help but wonder if her mom was right about her home made present idea. She couldn't deny that Ashley had been acting a little strange over the last few days but she just assumed that it was no big deal. She made a note to check in with the brunette later. In the mean time she was going to enjoy her evening with her mom
"Did you have a good time with my dad?" Spencer asked when her and Ashley arrived home. The brunette had been quiet on the ride back to their place.
Even with the brainstorming session she had with Arthur, Ashley was still without one solid idea on what she was going to make for Spencer. "Yeah, I always do." She was about to head to the bedroom to change when the blonde stopped her.
"Ok Davies, spill it," Spencer ordered forcefully. "What is going on with you?"
Ashley wasn't going to let her girlfriend figure out how uncreative she suddenly felt. "Did anyone ever tell you how sexy you are when you're demanding?"
Spencer shivered in the best way possible, but she refused to be distracted. "And you're not going to try and seduce me right now."
"I have to try?" Ashley pretended to look wounded. "That hurts, Spence."
"I'm not fooling around," Spencer dropped her voice down to a whisper, "You can tell me anything and I won't get upset."
Ashley couldn't believe how stupid she was acting. Instead of enjoying her time with her girlfriend she was overreacting. When she saw the love Spencer felt for her in the blonde's beautiful blue eyes she finally realized she had to stop letting her own insecurities get to her. Kyla and Arthur were right; anything she made, Spencer was going to love. And as long as she put some genuine thought into her gift, it would all work out. "I'm honestly fine," The brunette said truthfully because she wasn't going to worry too much anymore. "I promise."
Spencer eyed the brunette carefully, "You're sure."
"Scouts honor," Ashley pledged, "I'm a hundred percent sure."
"Then why are we talking and why aren't you kissing me?" Spencer husked out before pushing her girlfriend against the nearest wall. She was positive the brunette was fine and there wasn't anything to be concerned about
"I haven't a clue," Ashley replied before she kissed the blonde as passionately as she could.
"You really wore me out," Spencer yawned and then cuddled closer to Ashley.
"Damn right I did," Ashley smirked as she held on to the blonde. "I have a reputation to maintain."
"Reputation?" Spencer felt her eyes getting heavier. "As what exactly?"
"The world's best lover!" Ashley exclaimed before kissing her girlfriend's shoulder. "Can you deny that I deserve that title?"
"Of course not," Spencer yawned again, she was almost asleep.
"Hmmm, that doesn't sound too convincing," Ashley wasn't being serious, "perhaps we need to go another round so I can prove that to you."
"Ashley!" Spencer whined as she turned around. She placed a soft kiss on the brunette's mouth. "Give me a few hours to get my energy back."
"I suppose that's ok, you can't help it if you're getting old," Ashley teased affectionately. She locked eyes with the blonde and then felt herself get lost in them. "I love you."
Spencer smiled, "I love you too." She kissed her girlfriend tenderly and sweetly. "You mean everything to me."
Ashley felt herself starting to get a little choked up as all of a sudden things turned intense. "I can't even begin to tell you what you mean to me." She even scooted closer to the blonde, "I don't want to imagine what my life would be like without you in it."
"You never have to worry about that Ash," Spencer was getting emotional too. She took the brunette's hand and placed it on her chest. "You feel that?" Ashley nodded, "It belongs to you and only you."
Ashley's whole body tingled, "Yeah?"
Spencer nodded before kissing her girlfriend again. "Yeah. It's yours as long as you want it."
"How does forever sound?" Ashley choked out, her voice cracking
"Forever sounds perfect." Spencer replied before pulling the brunette on top of her. "Now about you calling me old, I think it's time for me to prove to you how wrong you were."
Ashley's face broke out into a very wide grin. Not just because of what was about to take place but more importantly because she'd finally had the epiphany she'd been hoping for.
She knew exactly what she was going to make for Spencer and she couldn't wait to see what kind of reaction she was going to get.
