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A/N – this is one of those chapters that I had to cut short because it was an emotional one for me to write. Spencer's relationship with his parents has always been in the background on the show, but as the kids grow up, conflicts that have been put on hold will come to the forefront. As much as Sam has father issues, I believe Spencer does too. This will color his view of their eventual disclosure, as well as any serious relationship in which he is involved.
As always, thanks to all readers and reviewers. There is no story without an audience.
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It was beastly hard to leave the Shay apartment that night – not that it was ever easy returning to her mother's house. What she really wanted to do was say goodnight and retire to Spencer's room where she belonged. A voice inside kept urging her to just do it – waltz down the hall and shut the door as pretty as you please. After all, she was 18 now; any naysayers had just been deprived of a key piece of ammunition. But she'd seen the look on his face the moment she'd called for attention – the flash of apprehension before he'd smoothed it over and moved in for back up… or damage control. He wouldn't have left her hanging, but she didn't think he was really ready for full disclosure either. So disappearing into his den was out of the question, and the evening of her eighteenth birthday found her back where she'd started. In her own bed, alone.
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Spencer worked late into the night on what had started as a doodle. Although she hadn't let the cat out of the bag, Sam was flirting with the idea and his feelings about it spilled from his subconscious onto the page. The doodle turned into a cartoon panel in which Sam, dressed as a female version of an old-fashioned newspaper boy, held up the local Daily calling out "Extra! Extra! Read All About It!" The headline screamed "Thirty Year Old Artist Takes Up With High School Student" in big bold letters. He'd placed himself on her left side with arms crossed and jaw set – the "us against the world" mentality evident in his expression.
Their family and friends were scattered around them, placed distance-wise in accordance with their receptiveness to the news. Closest to him was Socko, whose morality was somewhat blurred to begin with and could be counted on to support him without question. The word bubble above his head read "I've got your back." Next out was Pam Puckett who stood with a cigarette in one hand and a glass of champagne in the other. She raised the glass in a toast to him, a knowing smile on her lips. Beyond Pam was Gibby, who looked startled but not unhappy. Social conventions didn't necessarily make sense to him to begin with. Besides, anyone who could control Sam would be welcome to her in his book. And here was Freddie, eyes narrowed but not to the point of anger. Spencer counted on him to be level-headed and reserve judgment, but it was possible that in that moment that the see-saw tipped, he would take his cue from Carly.
Carly was the key - he actually drew it on a chain around her neck. Farther out than Freddie, she wore an "O" of shock on her face. Swaying Carly was critical to swaying Granddad, who had a soft spot for his favorite grandchild. Without Granddad, he had no hope of ever swaying his father. He drew both men on the fringe of the group – Granddad marginally closer but with a frown of displeasure on his face. The Colonel stood in a pose virtually identical to Spencer's on the opposite side of the frame, his angry scowl almost burning a hole through the page. Spencer stared back at the picture defiantly. His resistance to his father had always been of the passive-aggressive variety, but maybe it was time to change that.
Spencer viewed the panel critically. Besides Melanie, whom he didn't feel he knew well enough to read, there was someone else missing from the scene. Out of sight but not out of mind, he was certain she could sense the love in his heart and did not object to what she found there. Hovering just behind them and above their heads, barely perceptible, Spencer drew the lightest outline of angel wings.
"Hi Mom…" he whispered to the empty air. "I could really use your help. I've been taking care of Carly all this time, just the way you would have wanted. I didn't do it for Dad; it was always for you. She's about all grown up now Mom, and there's someone else I need to take care of. You'd love her; I know you would – she's special. I'm kind of out on a limb here, and I really need Carly on my side. So the next time you blow her a kiss goodnight, put a bug in her ear, ok Mom?"
Spencer put the picture carefully away before looking up again. "Goodnight Mom. We really miss you…"
He didn't know how soon the scene would play itself out, or how close he had come to gauging the reactions of the other people they cared most about. Spencer knew only that the confrontation was imminent, and if you're in for a penny, you're in for a pound. He was committed to Sam. He was committed to the relationship. He was not only defending her, but his right to the pursuit of his own happiness, wherever it might be found. The inevitable clash with his father had been brewing for years, and Sam would be the pinch of salt that at long last caused the pot to boil over. It was time to armor up and prepare for battle; the Colonel was a formidable opponent. But as much as Spencer was his mother's son, he was also his father's. This time he would not yield, because Samantha had been damaged enough by flawed parents. There was no way in this universe that he would allow it to happen again.