Regarding my last A/N... I wasn't just talking about this fic or myself. I have a few friends who write Spashley and other shippers that are getting the same heat. I just don't think it's entirely fair, that's all. You all are amazing and wonderful for your support! I hope I don't disappoint you.

Enjoy!

69.1 - Please Spare Me

Alex's PoV

"Mom? Dad?" I threw my keys on the kitchen table and frowned, taking in the empty room. My parents usually joined us for a day of sliding but they both wanted to stay behind and set up for the New Year's party they were throwing for the family.

It wasn't every day you finally get all of your children and grandchildren under one roof.

I heard someone rustling in the living room and made my way in there. I swear to the Lesbian God herself, if my parents were going at it and I walked in on them, I'd curse her up and down ten times over.

"Mom? Dad?" I called out again, a little softer.

"I think they went to the corner store." I heard her voice and jumped when she appeared from the hallway. "They let me in because I don't have my house keys and you weren't home…"

"Tracey?" My heart started to pick up pace when I walked closer to her.

"Alex?" She teased lightly before I stepped in front of her. "Wow, you look really good."

"Thanks." I smiled almost shyly before taking her hands in mine. "You look amazing." And she did, her hair was down and framing her face perfectly. "When did you get in?"

"About an hour ago." She bit her lip. "I tried breaking into the house but it didn't go so well. I figured you'd be here but I wanted to shower and change first. I had two flights to catch to get here."

"Aw baby," I whispered with a smile, wrapping my arms around her waist, "you have no idea how good it is to see you again."

Tracey nodded. "I think I have a pretty good idea." She looked around and raised an eyebrow. "Where is everyone?"

"Johnny's." I mumbled. "I didn't really feel like sitting around eating fries and onion rings."

"Liar, you live for Johnny's food when you're home." Tracey smiled and squeezed my hand.

"Well now that you're here I definitely don't want to go." I brushed her loose curls away from her face. "I'd like to go home."

"Sounds good to me." She smiled and grabbed the bags that managed to go unnoticed when I first entered the house. I helped her pile them in the jeep and we silently made our way back to our home.

I figured she'd be hungry so I was deciding on what to make her for lunch when I felt warm hands slide under my shirt and a kiss pressed lightly on the back of my neck. "I think you need to follow me into the bedroom," Tracey whispered and I happily followed her.

Three and a half hours later, I was stepping out of a hot shower. I smiled and sighed, realizing that I had missed spending time alone with my fiancée. I missed feeling her and hearing her.

"Your mom just called," Tracey said, coming up behind me and placing the phone on the bathroom counter, "she wants to know if we'll be making it to the party because your dad pretty much made enough food to feed an army."

"He always makes more than enough food." I chuckled, brushing the last of the tangles out of my hair. I noticed she was already changed and ready to go. "I'm guessing since you distracted me from making you lunch, you're hungry and wanna go pronto?"

"Precisely." Tracey winked and grabbed her make-up bag before taking off towards the bedroom.

After I was changed and my make-up was applied, I sat in the kitchen waiting for Tracey to get off the phone with her parents.

"There you are!" Sammy flew into the house, throwing her set of keys in her pocket. "Paula figured you'd be here. I tried calling you a thousand times and you never answered your phone, I was getting worried."

"Hey, didn't I give you that key for emergencies only?" I quirked an eyebrow and flipped through a magazine.

"Well this is an emergency. It's the last day of the year and you're wanting to spend time alone in a place you said you didn't really care to spend alone time in!" Sam took a deep breath and exhaled slowly, sinking into a seat beside me. "What's up?"

"Oh, I was just-" I started to speak and Tracey rounded the corner.

"Sammy hey, I never even heard the door." My fiancée placed a kiss on my temple and grabbed her purse and coat.

"I actually never knocked." Sammy shrugged and grabbed the spare key. "Sorry for intruding."

Tracey stared at the key momentarily before looking at me briefly. I bit my lip and smiled slightly. "What? I figured it couldn't hurt right? With me being here all alone and all..."

"Huh." She nodded slowly and made her way towards the door.

Samantha winced and whispered an apology. "I didn't know me having a key was a secret."

"It's not." I sighed heavily and gently grabbed her arm. "I just never had the chance to tell her, that's all."

Samantha stepped ahead of me and walked past Tracey, telling us she'd meet us at my parents' house.

"Does Sam really need a key to our place, Alex?" Tracey finally spoke halfway down the driveway.

"I'll get it back, don't worry. I only gave it to her while you were away." I shrugged and stepped up into the driver side.

"Cause that sounds so much better," she laughed a little bit and shook her head.

Was she actually getting jealous?

"I'm sorry, I didn't mean for it to upset you." I placed a hand on her knee gently. "Really."

"It's okay, I mean, how would you feel if I gave a key to an ex-girlfriend?" Tracey brushed hair out of her eyes.

I swallowed and frowned. The thought didn't really bother me all that much. "Samantha isn't just an ex, you know that. She's my best friend, she's our friend."

"Yeah." She sighed and faced the window slightly. "I'm sorry, I don't know why I'm feeling jealous," her brown eyes looked at me, "it's not like me. I guess being away longer than usual is affecting me more than I thought."

"If it makes you feel any better," I murmured, "that was the first time she used it."

Tracey smiled a little. "Really?"

"Really."

"It does make me feel a little bit better." She grinned finally and grabbed my hand that was resting on the gearshift, squeezing a little.

"So, dare I ask how long you're back for?" I asked, turning down the highway. I could vaguely see Sam's rental ahead of us.

"I wasn't actually supposed to be taking a break," she grinned sheepishly, "but I felt bad for not being there with you for Christmas so I convinced coach for some time off."

"Thank you." I kissed her hand softly, paying attention to the road. "So when do you have to leave me again?" I pouted.

"Two days." Tracey sighed and frowned. "I know I suck but it's crunch time and-"

"I get it." I smiled softly. "The last thing I want is for you to feel like you have to explain your career to me and your time on and off Trace, I know how much you love hockey."

"I know but you're right, I should've been here when I was the one that convinced you to take time off of touring."

"Well this time off touring has been a blessing." I assured her. "Don't feel bad. I mean look at Spencer and I? Look at Ashley and I? I have nieces and a nephew I get to spend time with. Press I get to steer away from. Fans that really don't pay attention to me here in Midtown. I'm able to actually breathe."

"Is that a thank you?" Tracey leaned over the console and kissed my cheek.

"Thank you." I laughed and turned down my parents' street.

"And you and Sam seemed to have patched up things even more so." She pointed out a little bit. "Is she still with Carmen?"

I swallowed and put my jeep in park. "Yea." I nodded.

"Good for them." Tracey smiled and I could feel her studying my profile. I refused to look at her. "Or is that a bad thing?"

"Hey!" Carmen opened Tracey's door and hauled her in for a hug. "Holy shit I missed you, Trace. Spencer and I were just talking about rounding up a few hockey players tomorrow night, what do you say? You in?"

"Jesus Carm, she just got here. Let her breathe will ya?" I rolled my eyes while she sneered at me, her arm wrapped around Tracey's waist and dragging her towards the house.

"I take it she didn't like the fact that you gave me a key." Sammy stepped out of her vehicle and crossed her arms, leaning against the door.

"It's no big deal." I shrugged. "It's not like you were using it to sneak into my room the nights she was away."

Sammy smirked and raised an eyebrow. "Yea, cause that'd be a shame."

I shook my head and shoved her towards the house.

--

Next time in Points Underneath:

"All I'm saying is I cannot believe you scored such a babe." Uncle Glen laughed, taking a sip of his beer.

"Uncle, she's not mine and she's seventeen you perv." I stuffed the photo of Jaiden back in my bag.

"Hey, I'd never go there but you have to admit, your taste in the ladies is almost as good as mine." He smiled teasingly and slid down the wall, sitting next to me in the hallway.