(Becoming a family)
During the twenty minute drive to the hotel Clarissa had voiced her approval of the new joining and happily declared that Ashlee had become the big sister she'd always wanted. Ashlee tried her best to keep the overwhelming sense of doom from showing on her face as the girl listed all the new activities that Ashlee and she could share and when Ava turned backwards to snarkaly congratulate her and Clarissa on the many hours to look forward to together Ashlee intoned that it would only be right for Ava and Emma to tag along.
"Okay what's next the wipeout or the whizzer?" Ava asked the girls as they walked through Six Flags. Emma and Clarissa were spending their first week alone with the couple since Ashlee transferred to Northwestern and Ava began managing the Beacon's new Chicago hotel. The nine and ten year olds were still riding high from their first flight without an adult and Ava was just as excited to show the big city. Ashlee didn't think that anyone got any sleep last night. The girls bounced around in their beds planning out the next four days and Ava made phone calls finalizing reservations. When eleven o'clock came and her girlfriend was still playing on her android Ashlee punted her to the girl's side of the suite.
Taking a look at the brochure Ashlee reminded "Ava they aren't tall enough for the wipeout and it is rated as maximum."
"The whizzer it is." With that the three went running leaving Ashlee to bring along their snacks and book bags. She had known that the week would be a success but Ava had worried that Emma and Clarissa would be disappointed. Like that could ever happen. Emma practically worshiped Ava and whenever they went to Springfield the girl tried her best to monopolize her sister's time. Clarissa was the same but Ava was the one who always complained on the way back of needing a vacation to recover from the weekend. Ashlee and Clarissa went to museums, plays, and other cultural events but Emma loved to drag her sister to amusement parks, athletics fields, and monster truck rallies. All the places Olivia and Natalia were unlikely to go without extensive whining.
The last thing Ashlee expected after the shock of falling in love with Ava was gaining three little sisters. She'd wanted one her entire life but had never felt comfortable confiding the need to her mother. Even as a child Ashlee knew that her mother would take it as a slight. Maybe it was. She'd never been lonelier than when she waited at sitters for her mother to return from school or work. Now she understood all the sacrifices that her mother made to improve their lives but at the time all Ashlee wanted was Doris' time. That it had taken twenty two years and a marriage for this to happen could have made her bitter but Ashlee was only glad that eventually her mother had gotten the message.
"Come on slowpoke. The line is moving." Ashlee heard over a background of yelling and screaming.
"Oh no I'll wait right here thank you very much."
"But Ash it's not even that fast." Clarissa promised with a large smile.
"That's okay I'll stand here and take your pictures."
"But Ashhhhh."
"Avaaaa" Ashlee said before narrowing her eyes towards Ava's new Cub's cap. "Are you going to wear that hat or leave it with me?"
"I'm not a child Ashlee I'm perfectly capable of keeping track of my possessions." Just as expected the hat was flying off by the second loop around but it didn't look like Ava was much concerned with the thirty dollar loss. It looked like she was trying her best to wrap not only her arms but also her legs around the safety bars. When the ride was finally over Clarissa and Emma bounded over filled with adrenalin while Ava looked decidedly less enthused, and green. "I lost my hat." She whispered in Ashlee's ear as she leaned into her opened arms. "I don't think that's all you're about to lose sweetie" and if called by suggestion Ava rush towards the grass to heave.
"Wow I didn't even see her eating anything blue."
(5 years later)
"So what do you guys want to do now? We could go to the rides or we could go get something to eat?"
"Let me think? Do I want to waste my time standing in the geriatric/midget lines or wait for twenty minutes while everyone decides where to sit and eat."
"I didn't say that you had to ride with me smartass I was just asked…"
"You know what Em why don't you and Rissa meet us by the first aid station in four hours." Ashlee said separating her sister-in-law from her wife.
"Well that was a big surprise. I go out of my way to make sure everything is perfect and all she's done for the past week is bitch and"
"I wanna go on the rides." Francesca said tugging on Ava's hand when she finally looked up from her dripping cone. She'd learned to ignore the loud and rough tones that permeated the conversation since their arrival at O'Hare.
"Which one do you want to go on first?" Ashlee asked.
"I get to pick?" Francesca gasped in wonder not at all used to this power.
"You sure do just as long as you're tall enough we can get on anything you want." Ava laughed as she bit a piece of rocky road. Ava was teasing Fancy as they played Ispy to distract her from the long line but Ashlee could tell that her wife was upset about the earlier encounter. Although they both loudly and frequently complained about being summoned home every month both loved the time they spent with their families. Both were raised as only children by single mothers so the novelty of having brothers and sisters had yet to wear off. Ashlee knew that being at being at odds with her sister was killing Ava especially when she used to be admired like a superstar.
"Hey" Ashlee heard as she felt someone drop beside her on a bench.
"It's not four yet is it?"
"Nope, Clarissa absolutely needed a pretzel from that stand and I saw you waiting on Fance and Ava." Ashlee nodded in acknowledgement but said nothing. She was trying her best to stay neutral for the benefit of the trip and out of respect for the sisters' relationship but Ashlee wouldn't stand much more disrespect towards her wife. Clarissa had shared that it was Emma's forced absence from her beloved basketball team that was driving the biting and hurtful comments but that would only so go far. Of course she felt sympathy when a simple layup resulted in a hyperextended knee but taking it out on loved ones wasn't the answer. "Looks like they're having fun."
"They are."
"Listen I'm sorry that I've" Emma started before stopping and shaking her head in silence.
"Are you because you really hurt your sister today?" Ashlee asked finally turning towards the teen.
"Fancy can't ride the ones that I like and the ones that she can are boring. It was just that simple. I don't know why everyone is making a big deal of it."
"I don't know maybe because every day this week it's been something that everyone else is making a big deal about. Ava went through a lot of trouble to bring you girls here and you might want to remember that it's not just your vacation. We could have used the time to spend with our friends before we move away. Francesca and Clarissa don't need to hear you being sarcastic and mean all the time." She wanted to say more but really didn't want to make things worse. They didn't need anymore of the famous Spencer temper. "Listen I'm sorry you aren't having a good time but we thought that everyone could find something they liked here." Ashlee stood up and waved when she finally saw Ava and Francesca finally boarding the ride. "We're going to be here for another hour and then we're going to eat dinner. We'll be back at the hotel soon then you and Clarissa can spend a few hours in Chicago alone before we all fly back home." It wasn't exactly a bribe but Ashlee knew that Emma had been bugging her sister about having some freedom since they left Springfield. If she could let up the attitude for the next few hours Ashlee would appreciate it.
"I thought we were going to the show."
"And listen to you complain for the next two days? I don't think so. Francesca's been looking forward to this since we told her about the trip and I'd like her to enjoy herself." Ashlee responded before walking away to take more pictures. When Ashlee returned she wasn't surprised to see Emma gone so when a hand tugged at her pocket she turned around with fists up expecting to confront a pick pocket. "What the hell" she said before looking into Clarissa's and Emma's shocked faces.
"I was just putting my card in your pocket I didn't want to lose it." Clarissa said holding up two hands. "Now I'm going to go potty."
"Clarissa wants to see the show"
"Emma"
"No, I mean I want to see the show too." After taking a few deep breaths the taller teen turned towards Ashlee again. "I know I've been a bitch this week and I'm sorry. I guess I'm just. I don't know."
"I understand. You worked hard to prepare for the season only to get hurt in the first game but you can't take your frustration out on everyone."
At that Ashlee heard the girl laugh for the first time in months. "I miss the team but that's not why I was so pissy." At Ashlee's softening gaze Emma nodded her head a few times then looked down. "I guess I got used to you all being here and now you're leaving. You're going all the way to New York. I can't just come up and spend the weekend anytime that I need some space from home. You're going to be busy with the babies and your new job and Ava's going to be working on opening the Beacon."
Taking the younger girl in her arms Ashlee whispered "Em your sister and I will always have time for you. You're right we're going to be busy but your parents and my parents are not going to let us keep their grands away for too long." Kissing Emma's head Ashlee continued "Baby if you ever need us we will be there. Okay?"
"Okay."
"Is sensitive time over cause I'm thinking another go on the whizzer is in order." Clarissa laughed as she wrapped her arms around her girlfriend and sister.
"I wanna ride Rissa. I wanna ride. I wanna ride Emma. Can I go please?"
"Last one there has to rides home on the hump."