I'm sorry about not posting sooner but my ex has struck again in order to get my kids. I have a court date on my birthday of all days for criminal charges now and all I did was keep him from busting into my parents house unwelcome by standing in front of the door. This could also cause me to lose my job as well to make matters worse and why just because he doesn't want to pay child support. Sorry about the rant. I've been a little upset lately. This update has more spashley goodness in it so enjoy.

Unbeta'd ( Scouse is sleeping on me at the moment)

Rating PG-13

Chapter 5

"Together" is repeated from Ashley. Followed by a comfortable smile.

"Any idea on where to start to figure all this out?" I ask

"Maybe" Her eyes revert down to the book she is holding in her hands. Tracing the cover with one finger before looking back up at me.

My eyes focus back down to the book in her hands. The cover taunts me because it gives nothing away about the book. The simple picture of school books and an apple leaves me wondering if that is the book that is going to help us solve our mystery.

"We need to get back before they come looking." Ashley stands up and the helps me up as well.

Tripping over my own feet, I fall into her arms. Our noses are almost touching, and I can feel her breath on me. My breathing hitches at the explosion of electricity entering my body. My brunette savior must of felt it too because her breathing stopped as well. Our eyes lock and the urge to kiss her consumes me. It takes all I have to push away from her and muttered "sorry".

"its okay" Ash's breath is shaky. Her eyes have darkened in color. Did she want to kiss me too?

We leave the barn in silence, walking towards the house, stealing glances at each other trying not to get caught but failing every time.

Reaching the house, we are greeted by Susan. " Where have you two been?" Her hands placed on her hips and tapping her foot, she waits for our answer.

Ashley replies for the both of us " I was showing her around the barn and the yard"

"Okay. Both of you go get the kids cleaned you and ready for dinner. Norman will be home soon." The last part causes all the color to drain from my face and a cold sweat to break out. Ashley must have noticed and grabbed my hand again and squeezed it to reassure me that I wasn't alone.

"Okay" with that she yanks me inside the house to help round up the kids.

Some of the older children helped us out getting the small ones washed and dressed for dinner. Norman's eldest daughter wasn't much younger then Ash and I. She's fifteen years old and is the spitting image of her mom Rita. Dark hair and eyes and a smile that meets her eyes. I wonder who her dad is going to marry her off to.

"Kyla, go make sure James is getting ready please" Ashley yells over her shoulder while getting Amanda dressed. I on the other hand was having a time getting a diaper on Mathew the youngest. He reminds me of a spider monkey. Always moving.

"I'm on it" Kyla yells on her way out the door.

Dinner is nothing like at my home. There is no laughing or joking when Norman is around. The children eat at their own table while the rest of us eat together. The food is good though. Rita is a great cook.

Ashley is sat across from me. She keeps looking at me when no one else is paying attention but me. I would give anything to be sitting beside her right now instead. Norman is to my right and his hand brushes against me every so often causing me to flinch.

Dinner felt like it lasted for hours and I hated every minute of it sitting beside him. At one point his hand wondered to my leg, and I did the only thing I could think of at the time. I crossed my legs away from him. The look on his face told me I shouldn't have done that, but I didn't care.

Now here I am washing all the dishes with Kyla's help.

"I remember you from school. Don't I?" Kyla asks as she dries another cup.

I don't answer. I just simply nod my head yes. I miss school already and its only been a day.

"younger and younger" is muttered under her breath. I don't think I was meant to hear it but I did. I stare at her realizing that she feels the same way I do about all this.

"yeah" is all I say to let her know I heard her and that I understand. We continue doing the dishes in silence after that.

In living room I'm all the sisters wives are sitting and chatting, all but Ashley. I'm about to ask where she is when I realize Norman is nowhere to be found either. My eyes follow the stairs up. Knowing what she is doing. My heart breaks for her.

"Spencer, come with me I'm gonna show you where you can sleep on your free nights." Free nights? Is that what they call there nights away from him. I guess the room I was in last night was his then. Rita gets up and heads for the stairs.

"Okay" I follow

The room she takes me to is small. There are two twin size beds and two small dressers. "We already put your clothes up for you." She points to bed closest to the door "that's your bed" Rita states placing a hand on my shoulder before leaving.

I nod to let her know I heard her. The door shuts behind him and in an instant I'm on my new bed crying. I don't want to be here. I wanna go home.

Eventually I drift off to sleep not looking forward to tomorrow.

The next morning I wake to find the other bed still empty. It doesn't look like anyone slept in it all night. Looking out the window, I can tell the sun hasn't come up yet which means its really early still.

The door knob turning adverts my attention away from the window. When the door swings open, I pray for it to be anyone but Norman.

The figure stands in the doorway and it takes a minute for my eyes to adjust to see who it is.

"Ashley?" I croak out.

"Spencer is that you? What are you doing in here?" She shuts the door quickly before turning on the light.

"Rita said too" The smile that beams from her is enough to light up the whole room easily. "Where you with Norman last night?"

She focuses on the bed unable to look me in the eyes and I know she was. "Why? I figured it would be me again."

"I took your place" The look in her eyes is something I can't place at the moment.

"Why?"

"I was protecting you. I saw how you where acting earlier with just the mentioning of his name and then dinner. I didn't want him to hurt you again, so I offered myself to protect you" She rambled out in one complete breath.

" You didn't have to but thank you. I don't think I could have handled another night" I've never felt so bad in my life.

"Your welcomed Spence" A hand brushes the hair away from my face and the urge I had yesterday is back. I still want to kiss her.

I just wish I knew why I wanted to and where these feelings are coming from. They are completely new to me. My mind thinks back to the book Ashley has. I wonder if that is the key to solving all the mysteries inside me.