Disclaimer: South of Nowhere in no way belongs to me…

Author's Note: I'm really happy that I have so many loyal readers. It really boosts my inspiration. So here it is chapter 14!

Chapter 14

Damn it…what time is it? The older blond stumbled as she removed herself from the bar stool. Whoa you know the floor moves awfully fast! The tall blonde moved clumsily between the chairs and tables. I am never gonna make it back to my hotel room alive…maybe I could find some place closer…some place "homier". She smiled and began swaying drunkenly down the street.

An hour later Paula stood facing the Carlin's front door without any idea how she had gotten there. Well there is no going back now… she raised her fist and banged loudly against the red door. Wait there was a doorbell? It too late for her to correct her was mistake however because Arthur soon opened the door.

"What the hell are you doing here Paula?" he snapped in no mood for one of his ex-wife's scenes.

"I…need to seeSpencer…" her words were slurred and Arthur could smell the alcohol on her breath.

"First of all I would never let you see Spencer in this state. Secondly even if you were sober Spencer has a visitor and we'd rather you not scare her off." Paula frowned and tried to push herself through the door but Arthur was a solid wall he would not let her through. She heard footsteps coming down the stairs and a familiar voice protruding from the door.

"Dad, who is that at the door? Me and Ashley heard yelling…mom…" she stops dead and stares at the blonde standing on her doorstep, "mom…wha-what are you doing here?"

"Baby! I just wanted tosee you!" Paula tried vainly to get inside of the house again, and once again 'Wall' Arthur stopped her.

"Paula I told you, you are not aloud into my house!"

"LET ME SEE MY DAUGHTER!" Arthur stepped back in surprise and Paula took advantage of the space and squeezed in through the crevice. She just stood there starring at her daughter. Look at the…the…dyke standing there looking at me like that… bile rose up in the tall blonde's throat… Stop! She's your daughter! This is how you lost her the first time, "Honey! I reallyneed to talk to you…"

"Talk or slur?"

"Shut up for just one second please!"

"No! You're such a bitch! Do you realize that whe…" she couldn't finish her words got caught in her throat they wouldn't budge.

"Me!? I may be a bitch but at least I'm not a dyke," she spit out the last word with such venom that Spencer was surprised her lips didn't burn. Spencer still couldn't speak the words were choking her; making her gag. Paula looked at Spencer and laughed at her gagging, "you even disgust yourself don't you." Spencer couldn't stop she was bent double now crying. She didn't know what was happening to her. It was as though the hatred from her mother was rising up and choking her. She was about to give in when a face showed up crouched below her. She looked into two big brown orbs and saw the way they were looking at her; with passion and care. It helped a little but soon the feeling returned. Ashley bent looking at her girlfriend felt a wave of anger sweep through her. She spun around.

"Who the fuck do you think you are! Stop talking can't you see that you are hurting her!?" Ashley screamed in the blonde woman's face.

Paula laughed, "Me? Well I'm her mother and you must be her new play thing," she smirked and looked down at her daughter, "look what affect I have on you and you know what… I didn't even have to hurt you this time." Ashley's fists clenched. She turned back to Spencer and pulled her up kissing her passionately on the mouth trying to revive her girlfriend. She pulled away and was happy to see that Spencer had stopped gagging and was now just staring at her.

"Well I'm glad that worked," she smiled at her girlfriend, "now one more thing babe and then we can go." Ashley turned around in one quick motion her arm cocked back. With a yell she swung back and her fist connected hard with Paula's face.

"Ashley!" Arthur screamed but made no effort to help the tall drunken blonde who was screaming on the floor. Ashley turned back to Spencer.

"Come on babe let's go…" Spencer nodded in amazement and the brunette grabbed her hand and pulled her out of the building, "Spencer can I have your car keys? We need to get away…" Spencer nodded still unable to speak and handed over her car keys to the brunette. Ashley pulled out of the driveway and started heading east down the highway.

"As-Ash-Ashley," Spencer said after awhile finally pushing words past her lips, "thank you for standing up for me…"

"Was there anything else I could do? I mean I do love you, you know."

Spencer smiled, "Where are we going?"

"My place…"

"Oh okay…hey do you know that you just punched out my mother back there right!?" Spencer asked still in awe.

"Yea well I don't think you should call her 'mother' she doesn't love you…it makes me sick…"

"You knocked out my mom and it…was…HOT!"

Ashley laughed, "how can you be turned on after what just happened?"

"Baby anything you do turns me on…" Spencer leaned over and began to kiss Ashley's collarbone. She began making soft circles against Ashley's thighs and she was happy when she heard the brunette moan.

"Spencer I'm trying to drive," she said jokingly.

"Fine! Be like that!" Spencer said as she stopped kissing the shorter girls neck; the circles on her thighs, however, kept on turning.

"Come on Spence…what I'm about to do I really need to be focused for!"

"Yes well, you do kind of need to be focused for what I want to do but…"

"Shut up Spencer!" Ashley said playfully, "seriously and I'm really going to need you to be focused to…please…"

"Well what are you going to do?"

"You'll see…"

A little while later Ashley drove up to her house and looked over at Spencer in the passengers side, "Spence…after this everything…everything is going to change…but for the better…I hope," she whispered the last part but Spencer picked up on it.

"Babe…what's going on?'

"Just shut up and follow my lead for once," Ashley said teasingly. The two got out of the car and walked into Ashley's house.

"Ashley! Sweetie…you know I really enjoy when you actually come home," Ashley couldn't tell whether her mother was joking or not but didn't have much time to think about it, "and…Spencer! It is so great to see you! How have you been darling? Have you cooked anything since our last fiasco in the kitchen?"

Spencer laughed, "I don't know...I just…I'm scared you know…" she said in her best baby voice.

Mrs. Davies laughed, "Well yes it was freighting…"

Ashley cut her off, "mom can I….can we….talk to you about something?"

"Well of course honey…come girls in here…" she said as she walked into the living room and sat on the couch. Ashley squeezed Spencer's hand as realization dawned on the blonde. Oh no…

"Mom look…I know you…you are not great with change but things…things do change mom…" Spencer put a hand on Ashley's shoulder trying to give her the feeling she had given Spencer when she was facing her mom. Ashley looked reassured and so she plowed on, 'Mom you…you like Spencer right?"

"Well of course I do she is a great girl…why?"

"Okay and three words couldn't change that…right?"

"No I don't think they would."

Ashley took a deep breath, "Mom…Spencer's a lesbian…" Ashley watched her mother's face freeze as she looked at Spencer's hand on her daughter's shoulder and how close they were.

"Umm…sweetie…I…I don't…"

"Look…Mrs. Davies," Spencer cut in, "I may be a lesbian but that doesn't make me that different I'm still the same girl you almost blew up your kitchen with…the same girl who had you almost collapsing with laughter…the only difference is…is that I love your daughter…" Ashley's mom still just sat there tongue tied. Ashley's eyes began brimming with tears and she looked over her shoulder at Spencer. Mrs. Davies watched this scene the words just issued in the room were spinning in her head. She looked at the two girls. Inside she was battling with herself…she's gay…that's…that's wrong. It's not right but…look how happy she is. I've never seen her so happy! So which one matters more to you? Your daughter's happiness or your reputation… She looked back at the two Spencer had now embraced Ashley and was whispering comforting words in her ears; Ashley was sobbing into Spencer's shoulder. Spencer…she will treat her right…I know she will…she…she'll cook for her… a smile cracked on the older woman's lips…she'll tell her jokes…she'll... love her… Mrs. Davies cleared her throat calling the attention of the embracing girls.

"Honey…" she stood up, "I…I love you…and I always will…It has nothing to do with who you're with or who you love as long…as long as they make you happy…because that's all I truly care about." Ashley let go of Spencer and turned to her mother.

"I love you mom…"

"I love you too Ashley, "and with that her mother swept her into a fierce hug tears began to stream down both of the girls faces. Spencer stood there awkwardly watching the touching scene before her. Why couldn't my mom be like this…this understanding…this caring… she began to cry without realizing it. Mrs. Davies looked up at the blonde and ushered her over to them. She opened her arms and the three just stood there hugging, crying together. After a long period of silence Mrs. Davies finally spoke.

"Welcome to the family Spencer Carlin…"

Okay so this was a realllyy long chapter so I expect major loving . I know it got a little sappy at the end but that's the way to do it! I love all of my readers for sticking with this story but don't worry it is not over yet!