(Not becoming a relationship statistics)

Daisy was beginning to wonder where Ashlee was spending all her time and who she was texting every five minutes. Before Ava Ashlee was just as likely to leave her cell phone on the desk as to put it in her bookbag. Daisy was the only person aside from her mother that called her regularly and Daisy was in most of her classes and Ashlee always talked to her mom eventually

Ashlee fell asleep sitting in bed eating yogurt and cucumbers while waiting on Ava to return from a study session. It was a rare weekend of a quiet house free of minors except the Thomas the chocolate lab. Stino and Spence were spending the night at the farmhouse after joining the family in cheering on Emma during her basketball tournament. The girls left earlier with Blake and Doris after Cat almost had an incident with a boy a little too rambunctious with his foam finger. This was the first time in weeks that the women had an entire night alone and Ashlee wasn't going to let the opportunity slip by. There were unlit candles scattered around the room and she was lying on top of the duvet in a negligee saved for a special occasions. It wasn't until she felt the bed dip that Ashlee even realized she'd fallen asleep.

It was obvious that her wife had been beside her for some time and a quick check towards the alarm clock and all the scattered clothes on the floor attested to that fact. Any other day the sight of power suits and silk blouses anywhere but hanging in the closet or properly sorted in the hamper would be cause for an immediate bitch out however tonight Ashlee's didn't give a single thought to the frustrations of trying to domesticate a house full of Spencers. It had taken her years just to get Ava grocery capable so she expected the lesson of sorting by color and fabric to take some effort. Only Stino was showing moderate progress but she was sure that was in spite of his mother's genetic profile.

No laundry was the last thing on Ashlee's mind especially when she looked over as saw Ava's naked back exposed as the sheets fell to her slender waist and the bathroom lights backlit the slight swells of breast. The tiny dimples sitting at the base of Ava's spine and few sprinklings of moles marking her pale skin stirred emotions that left Ashlee aching. They had been together for almost ten years and been married for most of those but Ava's body still affected her as strongly as their first night together. Moving to shadow Ava Ashlee ghosted her finger tips up and down Ava's hips and waited as the other woman's breathing patterns changed. Ava stretched slowly and eventually rolled over with her eyes firmly shut and asked in a whine similar to Cat's "is it morning yet?" Ashlee didn't bother responding as she molded her body tightly to her wife's lithe form and started kissing her neck and shoulders.

Several hours later Ava's eyes were still sealed shut and the covers again settled around her waist but infrequent gasps replaced the gentle snores. "So it's safe to say that I'm not in trouble for not color coding my laundry?"

Running her hands through Ava's hair Ashlee laughed before responding "I don't know about that but you did earn a few hours of reprieve."

To top off the short break from parental obligation they watched tasteless and shameless reality tv and ate Buzz burgers with extra spicy chili cheese fries before the dreaded phone rang. Immediately they looked at each other wondering if they should dare to press their luck and respond. On the one had they did have four children at two different grandparents' homes who were very prone to trouble. On the other a weekend like this might not happen for another six months. Eventually Ashlee's sense of responsibility overpowered her wife's sweaty grip and she was able to wiggle free and answer the phone as she shot Ava the middle finger. "Hello?"

"Took you long enough to answer."

"Daisy! Hey how are you girl" Ashlee laughed as she watched Ava wander into the bathroom knowing that the women were likely going to be on the phone for the next few hours. "What happened to you calling me right back last week?" The pair had gravitated towards each other while teenagers in Springfield. Both grew up with complicated and tenuous relationships with their mothers and never felt quite comfortable in the small town. The friendship had only grown stronger during their two years at Berkley. Daisy was the person that Ashlee first voiced her burgeoning feelings of homosexuality and Ashlee was the one that Daisy cried to when Harley frequently detached emotionally. Time and distance caused some strain but the love and trust between the two friends never faltered. So even over hundreds of miles of distance Ashlee could still picture the creases gathering on the woman's face just from the heavy sigh. "Daz what's wrong?" After a few false starts Ashlee heard her best friend breakdown and cry. She asked into the silence "Sweetie what's the matter?"

In between the tears Daisy repeated "It's over" and "I'm so stupid" a few times until she was ready to tell her story.

"Sweetie whatever is wrong you know I will do whatever you need to make it better right?"

"Not even you can help me this time Ash" Daisy mumbled as she breathed deeply into the phone. "My marriage is over. James and I are getting a divorce."

All the while Ashlee was whispering words of comfort in back of her mind a little part of her felt as if a long held burden was finally lifted. The sweet and earnest young man that had driven the girls out to California sharing big dreams and plans had long ago changed for the worst. The women tried to fool each other and themselves by making excuses for his bursts of selfishness,greed, and bullying. Ava was the first to grow callous to his constant excuses and promises of change but Ashlee believed if only for the benefit of her dearest friend. "What happened? What's wrong?"

"I don't know it's probably easier to say what's right since that's a much shorter list. I guess I just got tired of always being an afterthought. How long should I keep accepting him sleep walking through our relationship. The last straw was when he didn't even bother to make it to the ceremony. I finally realized that he doesn't care anything about anyone but himself and his money."

"Oh No sweetie why didn't you tell me? I could have flown in and…"

"The kids were sick and Ava was out of town on an emergency meeting. I understood."

"But I hate the fact that no one was there for you on your big day. You worked really hard for this. I wanted to be there. Damn it!" Ashlee cursed as her own tears started to form.

"Hey if you could have been there you would have. I know that. It's too bad I can't say the same about my Grandpa Buzz or Reva. But I guess they have their own lives and it is a few years overdue. But for James not to even make it. I was the only person in my entire class that didn't have one person in the audience." Daisy said before breaking out into sobs.

Ashlee loved Buzz and Reva but didn't know if she should see either of them anytime soon. Daisy was their fucking granddaughter and earned the first master's degree in either of their families and they couldn't take a couple of days out to see her walk across the stage? Ashlee was incredulous at the carelessness but for James to not make it. Wringing his neck would be too good for the dickhead. "It doesn't matter how long it took you Daz it only matters that you graduated. And what the hell did James say anyway?" It really didn't matter but she had to know what kind of excuse he had the gall to utter.

"Oh his secretary texted me that an important opportunity for Spaulding came up. He sent a limo filled with flowers and champagne and got his assistant to plan a celebration party the next week."

"Son of a bitch" Ashlee growled before she stopped herself.

"No I think that's exactly right. He has never been there for me. He doesn't support me or comfort me the way that Ava does for you. If it doesn't benefit him it's not even on his register regardless of how it affects me." Ashlee had begged Daisy to finish her degree but James insisted on being married immediately and promised that soon she'd return to school. The rest of the call consisted of Daisy crying and Ashlee promising constant love and encouragement. A few hours later when Ava climbed up the stairs baring cereal and scrambled eggs she too shook her head in anger and offered her support. After hearing that Daisy was seeking a break from the confusion by returning to Springfield for a few days Ava immediately offered their home as shelter. The two had never been the best of friends. Daisy had been justifiably worried that Ava meant her friend harm at the start of the relationship but time had eased the tension and both respected the other's place in Ashlee's heart.

"I know this is horrible to say but it's probably a good thing James was always too busy to have kids after all" Ava said upon hearing the news. "The last thing she needs right now is to go through a custody case with a Spaulding. A divorce is bad enough. I hope you told her that she's welcome here for as long as she needs. Our house is a little noisy but that might be just what she needs to get her mind off of all this."

There was another woman passing through security with two small children one a girl around the same size as Cat and a boy that was a few inches taller than Stino. They found out that Rose lived less than a mile from their subdivision and was flying the children out to her mother's while she worked with a team of lawyers on a deposition in Huston for the next two weeks. Numbers and email addresses were exchanged as they departed towards their individual flights.

"Stop it. I've told you both to calm down and I'm tired of saying it" Ava kept repeating as Spence and Alli ran through the kitchen throwing toys at each other. "Spence and Alli I said…"

Not even looking up from cutting Cat's steak Ashlee ordered "Stop it right now and the both of you sit down and finish your dinner." Of course the two immediately stopped and sat down at the table to eat as if the entire situation had been a figment of Ava's imagination. Stino didn't even try to conceal his look of pity. Cat was more concerned with her meal to even consider the scene and never looked up until the phone rang. "I'm going to answer that but I expect you all to listen to your mama until I get back is that understood." Ashlee said training a critical eye on each of her brood.

"Yes mommy" They chorused. Ashlee often teased her wife that if she became bedridden even for a week the kids were going to sell Ava off to a band of Gypsies and her wife's eye roll that the threat wasn't missed.

"Hello?" A phone call on the house phone during dinner rarely meant anything good so Ashlee braced herself for some kind of dramatics from either her family or her students. "This is the Wolf-Peralta residence."

"Ash?"

"Rose?"

"I hope this isn't a bad time" Ashlee assumed the other woman said but was unsure because of the noise from the other side of the line.

"No it's fine. Hey I haven't heard from you in a couple of weeks. How are things?" she asked as she signaled to Ava that they didn't have to pick anyone up from the county jail or the local bar. After they spoke for a few minutes Ashlee sensed there was something her friend was holding back. "Why didn't you call me on the cell phone? I almost didn't answer it because only telemarketers use this line." It was then that she heard the silent weight in the other woman's voice.

"I know that this is probably completely the wrong time and totally out of line but do you think I could maybe come by and see you?"

"What? When?" Their relationship with Rose had matured into a solid friendship although the couple never moved back to New York as expected. The two families visited each other regularly when they were near each other and Ashlee and Rose were constantly exchanging texts and emails. They both laughed that they strictly avoided making eye contact much less conversations with people at airports but the stars had been aligned that day. "Why didn't you tell me that you and Bobby were going to be in town? We would have picked you up." When she didn't get a response for a few moments Ashlee thought they'd lost connection. "Rose?"

"It'll just be me and the kids. Bobby isn't coming."

"Oh okay but is anything wrong sweetie you sound a little off."

"I'm sorry I know it's inconvenient but I was hoping that I could come. I mean I don't want to be any trouble so if you can't I totally understand but…"

"Hey none of that of course you can come. When are you flying in so either Ava or I can arrange to pick you up from the airport?"

"Um would right now be a bad time?"

"You're flying in tonight?"

"I'm actually already here. I'm standing by the carousel"

"Oh" Ashlee said dumbly as her mind raced. Rose was a high powered corporate attorney who was probably one of the most level headed women she'd ever known. The woman planned out family meals months in advance. She was not a woman to jump on a plane and pop up on the spur of the moment.

"If this isn't a good time I can go to my parents. I won't be mad. I know haven't given you any notice. You probably have a million things going on. You know what that's okay. It's fine I'll just…"

"Hey stop it. I'll just tell Ava to come get you that's it. It'll give me a chance to get the guest room situated. You said it's you and both kids right?"

"If this is too much you don't have to do this. I completely understand Ash"

"Enough of that okay. I'm just going to get Ava from the table so she can get the car ready. We went shopping earlier but were too lazy to take the stuff inside. It'll just be maybe thirty minutes."

"No, if it's okay then I'll just get a cab. There's no use dragging her out of the house when there are loads of cabs right here." The other woman sounded a bit less strained by the time they got off the phone but Ashlee was even more unsettled as she explained the situation to her wife. She knew easily that the confusion on Ava's face was more than mirrored on her own but they tried to calm down some as they awaited their friend's arrival. The kids had no such worries as they saw the Baxters' at the door. Stino and Spence immediately grabbed Ricky's hand after they exchanged kisses with Aunt Rose and the three ran upstairs. Alli latched onto Reese and refused to let the little girl's hands go as she and Cat entertained the girl in the living room. Somehow Ashlee understood instinctively that Rose would be uncomfortable sharing until the children were safely asleep. Although her curiosity mounted with each passing moment she managed until everyone was bathed and tucked in. "You must be wondering what the hell is going on" Rose laughed as she nervously chewed on her fingernails.

Ava had volunteered to clean up after their impromptu dinner party leaving Ashlee and the lawyer sitting in the guest bedroom. "You don't have to tell me anything if you're uncomfortable. I just need to know that you and my Godchildren are alright."

"I guess that depends on what you consider alright."

"Rosie you're starting to scare me." Ashlee whispered as she rubbed the other woman's arms.

"I'm pretty scared myself." Rose laughed bitterly as she wiped tears from her eyes. "The man I married, the father of my children, my life partner came home from a golf game and informed me that his mistress is pregnant."

"Oh my God" Ashlee liked and respected Bobby and even considered the man a good friend so if she had the sensation of being kicked in the gut she could only imagine what his wife was feeling. The bank executive was tall, handsome, and extremely charming but never insincere or at least that's what everyone had assumed. "Jesus Christ. I mean what? Dangng I'm sorry I just don't know what to say"

"You're not the only one" Rose said as she got up and paced up and down the room. "In two weeks we were going to take the children on an extended vacation to visit our parents. A month ago we left the children with his sister and went on a romantic weekend to Martha's Vineyard."

"Whatever you need just ask, please" Ashlee said as she sat in partial shock. She wanted to get up and hug the other woman but didn't know if it would be appreciated by her friend.

"She's his best friend's sitter. She's nineteen and he wants to fulfill his obligations to her and his new child. He said he needs time to get his head together. Can you believe that son of a bitch he had the nerve to say that to me with a straight face."

"Better you than me. I think I would have been calling you to recommend a criminal lawyer specializing in murder cases." Ashlee tried to joke but the attempt fell flat when she heard the next words that came out of Roses mouth.

"What about his obligations to me, Ricky, and Reese?" Ashlee did not think it possible to hurt for her friend anymore until Rose revealed another hidden secret. "What about our baby?" as she stroked her hand across her currently flat stomach.

"Jesus. Does he know?"

"He's spent the last three months persuading me that another child was exactly what our family needed. That's why were visiting our parents and celebrating in Massachusetts. She's due a month before me. Pretty funny uh?" There were no words capable of lessening even an ounce of her grief and Ashlee spent the rest of the night holding her friend and listening to all her catalog all of her fears and worries. By the time that she tiptoed out of the room just before dawn Ava had fallen asleep awaiting her return and woke to Ashlee raining kisses on her brow.

"Wow I must be even better than I thought if I get this and I didn't even do anything."

"You did everything. I can't believe how lucky I am to have someone like you" Ashlee whispered in between kisses.

"I'm the lucky one. I don't know where I would be without you."

"You won't ever find out. I promise." Ashlee vowed as Ava held her tight.