60.1 - The Trouble With Love Is…

Sammy's PoV

It was Christmas Eve and I was sitting in a small coffee shop in the middle of Midtown. I blew into my mug a bit and turned my head when the bell on the door went off, signalling an incoming. My smile widened when I finally saw who it was.

I stood up and Alex fell into my open embrace, her face buried into my neck, holding on for dear life. "God, I missed you." She breathed and pressed her lips to my cheek, squeezing my hand.

"I've missed you too." I smiled softly and brushed a stray black hair behind her ears. She looked so grown-up, it was unreal. We both sat in our seats across from each other and shared a soft look. "You look really good."

Alex shrugged but whispered a thank you. "Not as good as you, Samantha Taylor."

"Always." I grinned and shrugged my own shoulders. "How have you been? It's been a couple of months."

Her grey eyes scanned the shop before landing on me. "I don't know. I just feel like such an asshole."

I widened my eyes at her confession and tilted my head. "Why?"

"Why do you think?" She gave me a look and sighed. "I miss them, Sam. I miss everyone and how everything used to be."

A part of my heart would always belong to the young Carlin, there was no question in that. I missed a lot of things too.

Her being one of them.

"It's like everyone grew up and moved on and I just kind of stayed here."

"What are you talking about, Alexis?" I frowned. "You're a rock star. You've got millions of women and men falling at your feet, enjoying your music. You're living the dream."

She snorted slightly and tiled her head, licking her lips. "What if I told you my dream from high school, turned out differently from the dream I have now?"

"How so?" I leaned forward and brushed my thumb against her hand before taking a sip of my coffee.

"In high school, I wanted to play music. I wanted to be famous and I wanted to make a difference in the world with music. I wanted to be Ashley. She did it all, and she wasn't even in the spotlight." Her eyes closed and she took a deep breath. "Don't get me wrong, I'm in love with the woman I'm about to marry but this wasn't how I pictured things."

"You and me?" I asked gently, raising an eyebrow.

"Yeah."

"I miss the high school Alex and Sammy. I miss the carefree Alex who did things for the right reasons and not just because she thought it was right. I miss you all the same but you've become a different person." I shrugged. "I'm not saying that your difference is bad in any way babe, I just mean that we all grow up to live up to different expectations and yours was to get laid and play the rock star role."

"I did not expect to get laid!" Alex said hurtfully. "I just got caught up in the moment of being wanted."

"I always wanted you." I whispered.

"I know," she said quietly and played with the sugar shaker, "and I'm sorry."

"It's the past. We already said we'd leave it there." I smiled and bit my lip. "I have a feeling this isn't about us though, is it?"

"I want to make things right with my sister and Ash." Alex swallowed and looked at me. "I just don't know how to go about that, you know? I've messed up big time and I realize that. I made so many mistakes along the way that I don't blame them for not wanting to talk to me."

"They do." I nodded and stared into my coffee. "Carmen says that Spencer always talks about wanting to call you but she needs to do it when she's ready. With this being Christmas and all, I'm sure she'll come around."

Alex smiled and reached over the table, grabbing my hand. "I love you Sammy, you know that right?"

"I know." I grinned. "I love you too."

"We would've been great." Alex mused, her hand still in mine gently. I pulled her around to my side and wrapped her up in a hug.

"Yeah." I whispered and looked out the window, the snow starting to fall heavier. "Come on," I paid for my coffee and pulled her outside, shivering instantly as we hit the cold air, "I think we should go to Modest Point."

Only the hottest retro lesbian 'couples only' club in all of Southern Ontario.

"Modest Point?" Alexis grinned and clapped her hands. Then she stopped and stared at me. "That place is for couples only!"

"So?" I looped my arm through hers. "Two friends who used to be lovers, can't pass as a couple?" I raised an eyebrow. "Come on Alexis!" I pouted. "I've been there once since we broke up; let's go for old time's sake."

"What would Carmen think?" She teased as we walked towards her vehicle.

"I had a hot date for the evening?" I grinned. "It'll be fun."

We shared a warm moment and she nodded, opening her passenger door for me. "Just like old times."

--

Spencer's PoV

I passed Lucas a present from under the tree. All of us were in our pyjamas and opening up the traditional Christmas Eve, one present only.

"Is it…" she shook the box, her dark grey eyes looking at it curiously, "a dog?"

Ashley laughed and kissed the top of her head. "I think if it were a dog, it'd have to have holes in the box so it could breathe."

"Right." Lucas frowned. "I knew that."

"Open it!" Dylan squealed and nearly hopped in Lucas' lap.

Luc laughed and shook it again before tearing open the box. "Oh my!" She stood up and bounced up and down. They were old collector hockey cards that were rare to find anymore.

I had connections.

"MOM!" She jumped in my lap and squeezed me tightly. "I love this! I love you!"

"You're welcome." I smiled and ran my fingers through her hair. "Now you keep them all together and I don't want to hear that you've lost any."

"Look Dyl," she showed them to Dylan and I looked over at Ashley, who was rummaging through the presents until she held one up.

"Dylly, did you want to give this to Spencer?" Ashley stood up and held out the small box, placing it in Dylan's eager little hands.

"What is this?" I smiled, a little surprised that they snuck in a present without me knowing about it.

"It's a box, now open it." Dylan stared at me seriously, her brown eyes looking to my fingers and at the box again when I grabbed it.

Ashley smiled and made her way towards me, sliding her arm around my shoulders. "We hope you like it."

I slowly tore off the paper and opened the small box, gasping. "Ashley?"

"Here," Dylan took the chain out of my fingers gently and crawled on the couch behind me to help me put it on. "Mommy said you'd love this."

The pendant on the white-gold chain had four birthstones embedded into it. One birthstone representing the months we were born in.

The four of us.

As in a family.

"This is beautiful," I choked out and pulled Dylan into my lap while grabbing Ashley and pulling her into a hug as well, "I love you two so much."

Dylan pulled back and wiped the tears off my cheeks and smiled. "I love you too, Spence."

"I love you too, Spence." Ashley repeated with a warm smile.

"Where's the Lukey lovin'?" Lucas pried her way through and soon we were all on the couch in a heap of laughter, hugging.

A while later, after we finished having some milk and cookies Ashley and I were ready to tell the girls about our trip to Midtown.

Dylan sat on the floor clutching at her new hockey skates and Lucas was sorting through her newest card collection.

"So," I slipped my arm around Ashley's waist, waiting for the girls to look up at us, "we have another surprise for the both of you."

Lucas raised an eyebrow and cleared her throat. "Is the part where you tell us that you're pregnant?"

Dylan covered her mouth and snickered.

I gave Lucas a hard look and she smiled while mumbling an apology. "You want to tell them Ash?"

Ashley smiled and nodded, tightening her own grip on my hip. "It was an early gift from Spencer but we're all in it together. Dylan, how'd you like to fly down to meet Lucas' grandparents and your other family?"

Lucas was the first to jump on her feet while Dylan stared in confusion. "Sis! This is awesome! You can meet Nana and Grandpa! You can meet Anton and Cailyn! Oh my lesbian God!"

Finally Dylan got it. She was hugging me and then Ashley just as excitedly as Lucas did.

"This is the best Christmas ever!" Lucas sighed happily.

I really couldn't agree more.

--

Next time in Points Underneath:

I woke up to muffled laughter and a warm body next to mine. I blinked when I realized I had three pairs of eyes looking at me.

"She's awake." Dylan whispered as if I couldn't hear or see her.

"Time to wake up sleepy head." Lucas smiled and sat on my legs, her grey eyes sparkling. "It's Christmas morning!"

I grinned and stretched, sitting up and ruffling both the girls' hair. I smiled at Spencer and pulled her in for a short kiss.