Disclaimer: I own nothing.
Well here it is, the final chapter. Many thanks to those who have consistently taken the time to read and review, it has been greatly appreciated.
I hope this is the ending you were looking for.
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10.
Spencer rode down to the bottom floor in the lift, feeling saddened at leaving Ashley. She had willed Ashley to try and stop her, but knew she'd made the right decision in the long run, no matter how hard it was to keep walking and not head back up to the penthouse at that particular moment. The last thing Spencer needed was a broken heart a load of unfulfilled promises and dreams. As she stepped off the lift, she noticed Arthur at the reception desk.
"Hi Arthur"
"Ms. Spencer, is everything alright?"
"Yes, fine. I just wanted to say goodbye."
"You're not accompanying Ms. Davies to New York?"
"Come on Arty, you and me live in the real world… most of the time."
Arthur smiled sadly. He'd hoped the two young women would have become more than a convenient arrangement, having seen the both of them getting closer during the week and Spencer blossom into a remarkable lady. "Have you arranged for transportation?"
"I was just going to get a cab or something."
"Allow me. Michael, please take Ms. Spencer anywhere she wishes to go." Michael nodded to his boss and went to warm up the car. Turning his attention back to Spencer, Arthur said, "It's been a pleasure meeting you. You are more than welcome to come and visit us again sometime."
"Thank you Arthur" said Spencer wrapping her arms around him, before heading out to the awaiting limo and off to start a new life.
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It took Kyla a while to placate Ashley after Spencer had left. Ashley had wanted to run after her, but she knew trying to run down the stairs when she was in the penthouse suite would be useless; she never would have made it in time. Kyla managed to settle Ashley down on the sofa and got her a drink. "I can't believe I lost her. I can't believe I couldn't get my stupid brain and ass in gear. I'm staying here in L.A for her and she doesn't even know."
"I know Ash, I know. It'll be ok" said Kyla, wrapping her arms around Ashley to comfort her. "You're a famous rock star with a lot of contacts. You'll find her."
"But what if I don't?"
"Then you still need to get your ass back to L.A. seeing as I'll be coming back here now too and I'll need my big sister to whip any guys into shape for me. You still have your life to lead too and an album to promote, ok."
"Life goes on, eh?"
"I know that's not all too inspiring right now, but yes Ash, life goes on."
Ashley finally calmed down enough to fall asleep on Kyla's shoulder in the early hours of the morning.
A few hours later, Ashley woke up, aware she needed to start getting ready to vacate her suite.
"Morning sunshine"
"Uch… god you're cheery… coffee! Now!" grunted Ashley, before Kyla already prepared, handed her a fresh steaming cup of coffee.
"Look Ash… I need to head off. I need to arrange a meeting with my lawyer and do a bit of house hunting. I've started packing up some of your things for you while you were sleeping and there's some food on the table, which I really think you need to try and eat."
"Thanks Kyla, you're awesome"
"Hey it's what sisters are for" said Kyla smiling, before giving Ashley a hug and kiss goodbye. "Call me later ok, when you get back to New York… or you know, if your luck changes and you meet some hottie on the way there."
Ashley finally broke into a genuine smile, before ushering Kyla out.
Ashley wasn't feeling all that well rested as she'd only managed a few hours sleep and she was still feeling deflated over the events the previous afternoon. She therefore felt no motivation at that time to get packed to head back to New York. But she knew what Kyla had said was right. She and Spencer would find each other again if it was meant to be and if her luck changed. Here was hoping. She finally managed to get herself in an upright position, after swallowing her coffee in one long gulp and began to make preparations for her departure.
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"Is that everything Ms. Davies?"
"Yes, I think that's all, thank you Arthur," said Ashley smiling up at him
"My pleasure"
Before leaving, Ashley hesitated… "I don't suppose there were any messages for me, were there?"
"I'm afraid not Ms. Davies." Arthur replied sadly, "However I have been in contact with the Airport and have been informed that your flight is running on time. Michael will be willing to take you to the Airport."
"Thank you again Arthur." Said Ashley, turning to leave, suddenly feeling more dejected.
Arthur paused slightly, wondering if he should divulge customer information freely, but his heart won out in the end… "Uh Ms Davies… I don't know if you're interested, but I thought you should know, Michael took Ms. Spencer home yesterday."
Ashley's face lit up following that nugget of information and she leaned up over the reception desk to kiss Arthur on the forehead, before running out to the limo, more hopeful now, knowing what she needed to do.
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Spencer was busy packing clothes into suitcases, getting ready to leave the apartment that she shared with Madison, and move onto bigger and better things. Since getting back home the day before, she'd made it her prerogative not to waste time or her talent. She spent some time contacting the potential clients she'd accrued while going to parties with Ashley and had promptly been offered some good assignments which came with a pretty decent pay-check attached to them. With the money she'd make from those, she'd be able to afford to rent a better apartment. She'd managed to find a place not too far away and it had space for her to create a room for developing her own photos. Spencer put a deposit down right away with some of the money Ashley had paid her. Now all she had to do was get her things there.
"Living on your own is not that great, you know"
"Well I think it's about time I did. I need to get out there into the real world and do something more with my life, now that I can. I'm going to miss living with you though." Said Spencer, wrapping her arms round Madison. "You know you can visit me anytime! It's not like I'm moving cities."
"I know, I know. It'll just be strange not waking up to freshly made coffee in the morning or having someone to moan to after a long night on the town" said Madison, returning the hug.
"You can always get someone else in. Here… take this" said Spencer, handing over an envelope
"What is it?" said Madison, looking at the envelope with a puzzled expression on her face.
"It's part of the Ashley Davies fund. So you better use it and do something better with your life ok? We think you've got a lot of potential Madison Duarte."
"You think I've got potential?" Madison asked, beaming at Spencer.
"Oh yeah. I know you have. Just, don't let anyone tell you any different ok."
"Ok. Thank you! I was always thinking of doing a beauty course you know…" Madison mused. "So when will you be leaving?"
"In the next few days, just as soon as I get my contract through for the apartment and once everything's all packed up."
"You want a hand?"
"I'd love one. Thanks Maddie."
"No problem chica."
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"Michael, pull over here will you" Asked Ashley before hopping out of the limo to a flower stall on the street. After picking an extravagant bouquet of mixed flowers, she got back in the limo with a smile on her face, ready to resume her search for the fairytale ending.
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Madison and Spencer had spent a good hour or so sorting out and packing up much of her belongings. They were disturbed though by an incessant car horn, so Spencer decided to go and investigate.
"Spencer! Princess Spencer!"
"Ashley? What the…?" She couldn't believe her eyes as she peered over her apartment balcony at Ashley. The upper half of Ashley's body was poking out of the limo sunroof, while she waved a bouquet of flowers above her head. Once stationary, Ashley climbed out of the limo and made her way up the fire escape to Spencer's balcony, not once taking her eyes off her princess.
"You never gave me a chance to reply to you yesterday. You never even asked what it was that Aiden was so angry about." Said a Ashley, slightly breathless.
"I, uh, sorry Ashley… I figured it'd just be best not to listen to rejection – only so much a girl can take you know!"
Ashley smiled, stepping forward, softly tracing her fingers over Spencer face, before pulling her into an embrace, which Spencer readily returned.
"What's going on Ash? What're you doing here, and how did you find me?"
Ashley silenced Spencer by seeking out her lips and drawing her into a passionate and love filled kiss. "Had you ever thought that just because I may think I'm not able to give more, I might just be willing to try anyway? I tried to follow you yesterday, but the lift doors had already closed by the time I got my body working."
"I don't understand… You're supposed to be on your way home to New York today."
"Yeah I am. My flight leaves in 2 hours. But I needed to see you, to explain what I wasn't able to yesterday. I thought I'd missed my chance, but then Arthur told me Michael had brought you home and it was like, this is a sign! I wanted to tell you that although I'm still going back to New York today, I'm coming right back here to L.A with a U-Haul."
"What?" a puzzles Spencer asked.
"I meant it when I said I'm not good at relationships, and that I was scared. But I also meant it when I said I didn't want to lose you. I know we haven't met under ideal circumstances and there will be barriers in our way… my own self doubt included… but I'm willing to try, willing to give us a try. Aiden was pissed at me because I told the record label yesterday that I wanted to leave New York. Aiden didn't want to be uprooted from his star studded lifestyle there and he took it out on you, because you were one of the reasons I wanted to stay in L.A," explained Ashley.
"You're serious? You're moving back here to L.A?" asked Spencer, not quite willing to believe what she was hearing.
"Yeah… I miss L.A. I miss the sunshine. I miss all the places I used to visit with my dad. If I leave, I'll also miss you. L.A is where my heart lies. I've fallen in love with you Spence and… I want to be close to you, because I agree, the odd week here and there just isn't enough, when I've been going crazy without you this last 24hours."
"Oh Ash… I love you too!" replied Spencer, as tears of joy began to spill from her eyes. She wasn't able to form anymore adequate words after hearing Ashley's declaration. Instead she pulled Ashley into another kiss, as they sealed their unspoken promise to each other that they were going to try and rescue each other everyday from now on and have their fairytale ending.
The End.