They walked down the street, holding hands, on their way to the nearby playground. It had rained hours earlier, and it was the kind of summer night where the air is warm, the breeze is a soft gentle comfort, and the asphalt is steamy. Spencer and Ashley had long abandoned their shoes in the Carlin lawn, and subsequently engaged in puddle splashing battles. Ashley's tank-clad abdomen was nearly transparent with moisture, making it clear Spencer had been the victor. Ashley smiled.
"I let you win!"
"Whatever helps you sleep at night…" the blonde grinned.
Ashley kissed her on the cheek. As Spencer turned to counter with a real kiss, the brunette had run toward the playground, grabbing the first swing, jumping on the bar, flipping, and somehow managing to gracefully land. She struggled to stay balanced and stumbled into the nearby grass garden. Spencer laughingly approached her offering her hand, only to be pulled into the older girl.
"Hah, truce," Spencer said.
"Deal," Ashley replied, smiling before connecting their lips.
Spencer pulled away. "How much did you drink tonight?"
"A few beers with Aiden, that's all. Is that okay, mom?" The brunette chuckled, but the laughter faded when she was met with a glare from the blonde.
"Oh, Spence, I'm only kidding," She conceded, tilting her head slightly.
"I know it's just…I'm only looking out for you, you know? We've been together for quite a while, and I'm in love with you. So it's natural for me to want you to be around forever, and not do things that threaten that," Spencer replied, pointedly.
"You want me to be around forever?" the brunette questioned.
"Yes," Spencer stated, her clear eyes locking on the object of her affection.
"Foreva eva?" she joked.
"Ashley…" Spencer couldn't help but grin while rolling her eyes.
"I know, I know. Not everything's a joke. I want to be too. And I'm in love with you too, more so than ever before. Every day has brought me a new kind of love for you. You're sorta like my reason for living," Ashley admitted, a soft blush creeping up. She truly looked beautiful, noted Spencer. Her summer-light, curly, brown hair was damp, with stray thick locks sticking to her neck.
Spencer reached and swept Ashley's bangs out of her eyes, hooking it behind her ears. And there, as they lay in the damp and cool grass close together, did she lean in and warmly and lovingly kiss Ashley.
"Is it naïve to think we'll be together forever? I mean, we're so young. Shouldn't we be on our 20th relationship by now?" the blonde questioned, leaning her forehead against Ashley's.
"I think people go through all that to find the real thing. And in a way, we're really lucky because we've found that so early, and that we don't have to waste our time."
Spencer looked adoringly at her girlfriend.
"Ashley, you're pretty deep when you drink," she smiled.
"Why, thank you. Now let's look at the stars. I want to make a wish for Skyler."
Spencer's felt her heart swell, the sweetness in Ashley always amazing her. "What are you going to wish for?"
"Well I can't tell you, otherwise it won't come true, but I'll give you a hint, since I like you so much. I just want her to always have this much love surrounding her throughout every birthday in her life."
"You're very 'marriage material', you know that?" Spencer beamed at the other girl.
"I just want her to know that when she was born, she changed everyone's life, and each for the better. She's apart of our lives."
They kissed once more, only this time it was longer. When they parted they began their walk hand in hand, looking for a shooting star.