Flashbacks are in italics.

This flashback was taken from Wash It All Away – Chapter 52.2: Holding My Breath.

15 - Coach…Who?

Ashley's PoV

Victory.

Happiness.

Ecstatic.

Overwhelmed.

I was feeling it all as I hopped into my classic new mustang, hitting the highway. "I've been waiting for this moment."

"We have one more case to go through," Chelsea Lewis smiled at me. She was my new case worker and was assigned to help me get Dylan back. "When we get to Kenora, you will be informed on more information of the young woman taking care of your daughter."

I nodded and gripped the steering wheel. "I'm so excited." I couldn't help it, I was on my way to see my daughter. I haven't seen her in long over a year and if I had one wish, it'd be to have her back in my life, safe and warm. It didn't even register in my head the destination she had just told me. "Wait, what?" I blinked. "Where did you say we're going?"

"Six hours West." Chelsea tilted her head and looked at me. "Looks like you've seen a ghost."

"Kenora?" I repeated and gripped the steering wheel in my hand. "Wow."

Memories of the place flooded through my head. Memories that I've thought about every single day.

"You okay Ashley?" Chelsea patted my shoulder and I nodded slowly. "Are you familiar with Kenora?"

Was I familiar with Kenora?

The greatest moment of my life happened there.

//

You would think it was thundering out with the sounds my heart was making by pounding hard against my chest, causing the blood to rush wildly in my ears.

Her blue eyes were heavy on me as her chest heaved with anticipation. I blindsided the poor girl with the question that I wanted to ask her and never really meant too, but it was there. It was out there and that was truly how I felt but I didn't want to scare her away.

She looked like she was about to cry and I couldn't tell if it was a bad thing or a good thing. I started to panic, thinking I probably just ruined the strong relationship we worked hard to create.

"I didn't mean," I sighed heavily and ducked my head a little bit, "like right now or anything. I mean, I want to marry you in the future of course. Not right now because we're young and we've got other things to think about and I really didn't mea-"

"Yes." Her voice was barely a whisper but I heard it loud and clear. My brown eyes snapped to her big blue shocked eyes and she licked her lips. She stared at me and I swallowed.

Oh right.

She was waiting for my reaction to her answer.

"Yes." Spencer repeated a little louder but this time there was a blinding smile that spread across her face. My heart stopped.

I could see stars but took a deep breath.

Was I engaged?

Oh right.

She was still waiting for my reaction. "Spencer," I breathed and was enveloped in her arms as her lips found mine.

Warm flesh moved slowly against my lips. Slow was the key word. She dragged her perfectly shaped lips against mine at a pace that was almost unmovable. "Yes." She repeated again and pressed her hand against my large hoodie, over my heart.

"Oh God." I couldn't help but smile back at her, tears were streaming down my face. "Really?"

Spencer nodded. I don't think she could talk either. We both leaned in to kiss over and over again.

Needless to say that I was the happiest seventeen year old on the face of the earth.

I pulled back, my hot breath against her lips as I dug inside my jean pocket before shakily grabbing her left hand. "I know it's not much," I whispered as I placed the band of white gold on her ring finger, chewing on my bottom lip, "but when you were warming up before your game earlier, I asked Chase if she knew a good jewellery store and well, this just seemed perfect."

Spencer stared at the plain yet elegant looking band before her lashes flicked upwards, her eyes burning into mine. "It's beautiful." She held her hand up and looked at the ring closely. "You didn't have too, Ash."

I raised an eyebrow and grabbed her left hand gently, pressing my lips against it. "I just proposed. You cannot propose without a ring, Spence." I laughed lightly when she grinned, pleased that I did have a ring.

Spencer smirked and kissed me again. "This is perfect," she pulled back and tugged on the strings of my hoodie, "you are perfect."

//

"So you proposed to your high school sweetheart there?" Chelsea smiled as if she were in awe.

I nodded and bit my bottom lip. "Letting her go would be the first mistake of the rest of my life."

"You were young Ash," she said softly, "besides, you didn't exactly let her go. You just wanted her to live her dream, right?"

I nodded again and pulled onto the Trans Canada highway. "We could have had Dylan together," I quietly whispered, watching the road.

"Maybe." Chelsea shrugged. "So it's been twelve years since you've seen her last, right? Do you still think about her?"

"All the time." I sighed and glanced at the dark woman beside me. "Aside from Dylan, she's the one that occupies my brain all the time."

Chelsea grinned and reached over to put on the radio. "Well we have to be in court first thing Monday morning," she said excitedly, "Carter is meeting us there of course and then depending on the results, which you have a very good chance at the visitation rights, we'll be heading to the Children's Development Centre where you'll meet with," she searched through some papers, "Kathryn Michaels and she will be handling the dates from there."

"I am so nervous," I said seriously and inhaled deeply, "I could be seeing Dylan by next week."

I could tell Chelsea was grinning as she sat back and closed her eyes. For the past month she had been helping me and Carter with my case. We had grown close and she was really my only real friend. After Alex's visit a month ago, she hadn't really kept in contact. There something going on with her but I couldn't be bothered with the silent treatment she seemed to be giving me. I had a daughter to get back and a life to start living again.

Damn her if she wanted to be that way.

--

I looked out the all too familiar window facing the lake. The water looked so cold and ice started to form around the edges seeing as it was already mid-November.

I was in the same town that held my daughter. I was in the same town that held my heart in the palm of its hand. I was in the same town that held so many beautiful memories.

I felt like I was almost home.

The sun was barely setting and I grabbed my hotel key, wanting to take a walk and see how much had really changed since being here last.

"Chels," I knocked on the hotel door across from me. Chelsea opened the door holding a bowl of popcorn and in her animal printed pyjamas, "cute."

"Ha." She sneered sleepily and yawned. "I'm going to watch a movie and then hit the sack, wanna watch one with me?"

I quickly shook my head. "Nah, I'm going to go for a walk."

"No." Chelsea grabbed my arm. "You cannot be wandering around Ashley, you know the court rules."

"I'm not going out to look for her," I said softly, honestly, "I'm just going to go and take a walk across the street. I don't know, maybe check out the gym."

"Ash," she drew my name out as if she didn't believe me, "please just stay in? They have a pool on the top floor, go for a swim!"

"I'm going for a walk," I insisted, "I promise I'll be back in twenty," I laughed quietly and threw her both sets of my car keys, "can't go anywhere too far without these, right?"

"Okay." Chelsea eyed me up and sighed. "Twenty minutes!"

"Yes mom." I rolled my eyes and smiled. "Have fun watching your movie."

The night was chilly and I was glad I was just walking across the street to the Recreation Centre. I stopped at the doorway as a bunch of kids carrying their hockey sticks ran out to meet their parents.

I slowly made my way in the building and took a deep breath before opening the doors to the one place I had yet to see for years.

A hockey rink.

The smell brought back more memories and I felt weakened with the force of it all. I looked at the pictures that were still on the wall from years ago and smiled; remembering the look in Spencer's eyes when she saw what the small town had won; the Stanley Cup.

I caught teenagers practicing on the ice and watched for a minute, leaning over the railings. Nothing really changed in the area except a few renovation jobs here and there.

I made my way down the cement steps to get a closer look at the team that was practicing on the ice. I smiled at the thought of doing this so many times back in high school; getting up before the sunrise just to get a glimpse of her skating on the ice.

I missed the sounds of the skates even.

I missed it all.

"Fresh meat?" I heard a throaty laugh behind me and spun around to find a rather attractive brunette in hockey gear staring at me.

"Excuse me?"

"Well I know you're not exactly from high school but it looks as if you're interested in playing." She smirked and stepped closer, holding onto her hockey stick.

"Oh," I smiled, "I'm just admiring what I can't do."

"I see." She smiled and shrugged. "Well feel free to join us if you want too. I'm sure Coach Carlin would love to check you out," she winked, "if you know what I mean."

What?

Huh?

Eh?

I blinked and my mouth went slack. She didn't just say Coach Carlin-

Did she?

--

Jaiden's PoV

I think I broke the hot brunette. She looked like she had just been hit by a ton of…

…something.

"Oh," I said with the nod of my head, "you're not gay."

"Huh?" She blinked again and licked her lips. "No, wait, what? Yes I am."

Poor thing was confused. I loved when they got confused. It was fun to mess with them but something about her was different. Something about her seemed so familiar yet not at all.

And she looked a little pale.

"I'm sorry, did I do something wrong?" I asked, frowning slightly.

"No." The woman sighed and rubbed her forehead. "No sorry, I just, I swear I heard you say someone's name."

I nodded slowly and tucked my helmet under my arm. "You're new around here, aren't you?" I smiled and she smiled questioningly. "What gave it away?" I asked for her and she nodded. "I would've definitely noticed you."

Even though she did look eerily familiar.

"Aren't you like, what, sixteen?" She asked in an amused voice.

"Nice try," I laughed and placed my helmet on top of my head, "feel free to stick around, maybe I can show you around afterwards." I winked and she had an amused look on her face.

"Wynters!" I swung my head to look over at the ever impatient Coach Carlin. "Stop flirting with the hot brunette and get your ass back on the ice!"

"Man she's good isn't she?" I laughed, "she knows your hot and she's yet to see your face. That's Coach Carlin for ya." I smiled and brushed passed the shocked looking brunette.

She was definitely in shock. I bit my lip and skated towards Coach Carlin. "Um, that woman over there seems to be having some crazy shock fit. You should check her out." I grinned and went back towards the team.

-\-/-

Give it a few more chapters and you'll have your Spashley reunion. No worries, most of the drama-angst is over with. Almost.