Here's the next chapter. As always this will probably go through some editing as the story continues.

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Chapter 9

Ashley walked out of the boardroom after the Friday meeting looking at the notes that she received from the new case that Aiden assigned to her. A young single mother left her five-year old at home alone when the babysitter called last-minute to say she couldn't watch the girl in fear of losing her job if she called in. Ashley was hopeful that the mother would be reunified with the child soon. The fact-finding hearing will be on Monday, she will be in court all day Monday due to her full work load. She has the new case she received today, she will be asking the judge to reunify the child with the mother if the mother agrees to attend parenting classes, plus DCS will help arrange daycare vouchers to help the mother pay for reliable daycare.

"Hello Ashley."

Ashley looked up and saw Spencer "Hello Spencer, How are you?"

"I'm good, and you?"

"I'm good." Ashley has had this same conversation with the blonde for the last month. She turned to walk to her cubicle stopping when Spencer continued "I was wondering" she stopped.

"Yes."

"Oh I was just wondering how Ryan Jackson's case was coming along."

Ashley could tell this is not what Spencer was originally going to ask but didn't want to push so she updated her on Ryan's case "Monday is the thirty-day follow-up with the judge, unfortunately his parents are not cooperating with me at all, they refuse to show up for visits, class, or court hearings. I will be asking the judge to consider termination of parental rights in six months unless the parents decide to co-operate."

"That's sad, that poor sweet boy. How is he doing?"

"He's doing well, he's bonding with Stacy and her husband, and if it ends with termination they are thinking about adopting him."

"That would be great, I know that Stacy has wanted to adopt for a while."

"For Ryan's sake I hope they adopt him."

Ashley was about to tell Spencer that she needed to get back to work when Madison walked up "Hello ladies."

"Hello Madison." Both women said in unison.

Madison had watched these two women dance around each other for the past month, both staring when the other wasn't looking. She decided it was time to get these two really talking "So I'm having a Halloween party at my place tomorrow night, your both invited.

"Halloween isn't for another 3 weeks Maddy." Spencer said laughing

"I know that, but everyone is always busy the closer it gets to Halloween, then the holiday season kicks off which means we are all busier with family and heavier case-loads. So I'm throwing my famous Halloween party early, that way everyone can come."

Spencer and Ashley both started to decline when Madison interrupted them "I won't take no for an answer, be at my house at seven, you may bring a date if you like, and don't forget to wear a costume." Turning to walk away before either woman could say anything.

They stood there in silence, watching Madison retreating back "Is she always like that" Ashley spoke first

"Yep"

"Well I guess I will see you tomorrow night. I need to get working on my cases, preparing for court Monday or I'll never get out of here today"

"I understand, talk to you later."

Ashley walked into her cubicle wondering how she managed to get committed to a Halloween party and what Spencer really wanted to ask her. She sat down at her computer, making herself focus on her cases.

She prepared all her cases for Monday, she had a four case going to court on Monday, an initial fact-finding hearing, a thirty-day follow-up, a termination hearing, and a reunification hearing. Having cases all at different levels was emotionally draining, she leaned back in her chair, rubbing her eyes her contacts were bothering her again. Ashley logged off the computer, grabbed her bag glad she was leaving with enough time to visit her mom. Spencer was getting on the elevator when Ashley walked up "Leaving already?"

Spencer laughed "Apparently I have to go find a Halloween costume before tomorrow night."

"So you're going to Madison party?"

"Oh yes, I have too or she will never forgive me, are you?"

"I haven't decided yet."

"I hope you do" was all Spencer said before walking off the elevator.

Ashley walked into her apartment after visiting with her mom. She had decided to go to Madison's party, she kept telling herself it was so that she could get to know her co-workers better, but really knew the only reason she was going was because Spencer wanted her to. She had tried to avoid the blonde thinking that was what she wanted, but the last few days the blonde has been the one to approach her. Ashley could tell there was something on her mind and just when she thought Spencer was going to say whatever it was on her mind she would say something else last second.

Ashley picked up her cell phone, she was going to go to the party, but she wasn't going to go alone. She called Kyla knowing that she would always be up for a party.

"Hey Kyla."

"Hey girl, how is everything?"

"Doing well, busy but good. Would you be up for a party tomorrow night?"

"Of course."

"Great it's a Halloween party so you have to wear a costume, Wear your leather."

"Oh biker chicks, I can dig it, are we taking out the Harley?"

"It's supposed to rain but if it doesn't than definitely."

Kyla squealed "I love the Harley"

Ashley laughed, she talked to Kyla for a few more minutes arranging pick up times and listening to her hope that it didn't rain. Ashley almost believed that her Harley was the only reason Kyla was her friend, which she wouldn't blame her; she was in love with her Harley.

Ashley pulled up outside of Kyla's, getting out of the car, and sprinting to the door. The bit of rain that that had been expected had turned into a downpour. Ashley walked in not bothering to knock "Kyla" she called as she removed her coat.

"In the bedroom"

Ashley walked to the back of her house towards the bedroom "I hate to break it to you but the Harley had to stay nice and dry in my garage."

Kyla stuck her head out of the bathroom door with a pout "I figured when I saw the rain."

"I promise to take you on a ride before I store her for the winter."

"Deal" Kyla looked Ashley up and down "Wow you look hot!"

"You don't look too bad yourself."

"Yea but I always dress like this, you don't. You wouldn't be trying to catch the eye of a certain blonde that you can't keep from talking about are you."

Ashley said "No" out loud, but secretly when she was dressing that was her goal. She had to admit that she looks good tonight wearing tight leather pants that hugged her hips just right, a black leather vest that barely covered the red lacy bra and boots.

"So how are things going with you and your girl?"

"She's not my girl, Kyla"

"Okay, not yet. How are things going though, how insane is it to have her back into your life?"

"I wouldn't say she was back in my life" Ashley says sitting on the bed watching Kyla put on the finishing touches of her make-up. They had tried dating a few years back, but quickly realized that they were better friends than lovers. "We don't talk, I get the feeling there is something she wants to tell me, but every time she starts she changes her mind. I am relieved to know she is okay, for ten years I have" Ashley paused, looking for the right word when Kyla finished for her "loved her."

"Worried about her." Ashley corrected.

"Call it what you want, you were in love with her ten years ago just as you are still in love with her now."

"I'm not in love with her, do I care about her? Yes, Do I hope she's happy, Yes, Have I worried about her, Yes. Do I love her, yes she was one of the most important people in my life, I will always love, but am I in love with her. No, it's been too long, we are different people now."

"Then why haven't you ever had a serious relationship?"

"I haven't found the right person yet."

"Or you already found the right person and she just walked back into your life. When we were dating there was a part of you that you kept guarded, that you wouldn't let me get near."

"What? No, we just didn't work as a couple, the chemistry wasn't there."

"No the chemistry was there, your heart wasn't."

Ashley rolled her eyes no point in arguing when Kyla believed something there was no changing her mind. Ashley laid back on the bed, closing her eyes, thinking about when she realized she was in love with the blonde.

11 years ago; age 16

Ashley was sitting on her bed with her text books scattered around her for the past hour she has attempted to study. She had a test tomorrow in Algebra "when am I ever going to use this in real life" she grumbled as she once again attempted to solve a problem for the third time. She threw down her pencil in frustration when she still gets the incorrect answer, just then she heard her door opening, thinking her was mom coming to tell her good-night "good-night mom." After a few seconds when no one responded she looked up surprised to see Spencer standing there, tears falling down her face. She threw her books aside, homework forgotten, and went to Spencer. It had been awhile since Spencer has shown up at her house after one of her mother's punishments, she still spent the night almost every night, but more often than not it was because she wanted to be with Ashley.

Now that Spencer was older her Mother didn't have the opportunities to punish her as often as she used to. The blonde kept busy with school and work usually arriving home after her mother had passed out and leaving before her mom woke back up.

"Spencer what's wrong?" Ashley said going to Spencer, she learned long ago not to touch Spencer until the blonde made the first move.

Spencer didn't say a word she just raised the sleeves of her sweater causing Ashley to gasp when she saw the multiple cigarette burns that line her arms from her wrist to elbows. "Oh Spencer"

At that the blonde fell into Ashley's arms, the brown-eyed girl held the tears back that wanted to fall. Ashley led spencer over to her bed, clearing all her school books off the bed. The girls sat on the bed Ashley just held Spencer knowing that when the blonde was ready she would talk.

"I had to work late tonight, one of the girls called in. I tried calling Mother to let her know, but she never answered. I was two hours late getting home; I had hoped that Mother would have passed out already. As soon as I walked in the door, she started screaming at me about whoring around, I tried to explain to her that I was at work and had tried calling of course she didn't believe." Ashley could hear the anger building in Spencer voice as she talked, more often after the tears would run dry, Spencer would be filled with anger.

She stood up pacing "Mother than tied me to a chair, I tried fighting her, but she threatens to lock me in the basement again. I can't handle being locked in the basement so I let her tie me to the chair. She then lit a cigarette and said as punishment I would receive one burn for every minute I was late, sixty on each arm." Spencer then sat back down, leaning on Ashley "I can't wait until college, I'm going as far away from here as I can go."

Ashley panicked they were just starting their junior year and hadn't talked about what they were going to do when they graduated "What college are you thinking of attending?"

I've been looking at UCSD."

"Where is that?"

"University of California, San Diego it's a good school and better then that it is far away from here."

Ashley was quiet for a long moment "California" the sadness she felt being heard in her voice

Spencer looked at the brown-eyed girl "Ashley you know I don't want to leave you, but I have to get away from Mother."

Ashley stared into the face of her best friend, trying to imagine what life will be like without her. She couldn't imagine going a day without seeing the blonde, but she knew that Spencer needed to go. If she was going to survive she needed to get away from her mother. "I'll go with you, I'm not set on any college and if UCSD is good enough for you than it's good to me" Spencer looked shocked "Ashley I can't ask you to leave your family."

"Do you not want me to go?"

"Of course Ashley, you are my best friend. Would you really leave your family and follow me to California?"

"Spencer, it's not like I would never see my family again, I can come back on breaks and it's only four years. Besides I" Ashley froze, realizing what she was about to say. Spencer looked at her confused "love California I mean, come on sunshine, beaches, and year-long warm weather what's not to love. Spencer face broke out into a huge smile and she hugged the brown-eyed girl knocking her over, squeezing her between her body and the mattress. Ashley couldn't help but notice how good Spencer felt lying on top of her, then the blonde began to kiss her, the rest of the night they spent kissing and whispering plans for the future.

While Spencer slept the brown-eyed girl lay awake holding the blonde and thinking about what she was about to say. Shocked when she realized that she was about to say "I love you" they had told each other that they loved each other in the past, especially if it was going to be a few days until they were going to be together again. Tonight however when Ashley almost voiced her feelings, it wasn't the friend love as it had always been in the past Ashley knew that had she said the words she was saying that she was in love with the blonde.

Ashley sat up when she heard Kyla announce that she was ready to go to the party "about time."

"Hey it's not easy to look this good it takes time and a lot of hard work." Kyla said walking past Ashley and out of the bedroom.

Madison answered the door dressed as a sexy nurse, she pulled Ashley into a hug as they were walking in the door "I was worried you weren't going to make it."

"We would have been here sooner, but apparently it takes forever to reach this kind of perfection." Ashley pointed at Kyla, who smacked her "Oh shut up" Kyla said blushing. Madison led them into the living room "There's food in the kitchen, alcoholic and non-alcoholic beverages as well make yourself at home." She yelled over the music that was blaring through the house.

Ashley turned to Kyla "Would you like a drink?"

"A rum and coke would be great."

When Ashley walked into the kitchen see saw Spencer dressed as a baseball player, talking to Aiden as soon as the blonde spotted the brown-eyed girl she stopped speaking and her mouth fell open. Ashley walked to the counter, acting like she didn't notice the effect she was having on Spencer. Aiden was the first one to speak up "Hot damn Ashley, you look amazing, the biker chick thing works for you."

Ashley laughed "Thank you, boss" she turned to Spencer who no longer had the shocked look on her face "hello Spencer"

"Hello Ashley, nice costume."

"Thanks" Ashley smiled "I like the irony of your uniform."

"I thought it was clever. Did you bring someone?" Spencer asked, looking at the two drinks in Ashley hands.

"Yes, my friend Kyla I should probably deliver her drink, talk to you both later."

The party had actually been fun, Ashley was glad she went even if she didn't have another chance to talk with the blonde. She was driving Kyla home "you know if looks could kill I would be dead."

"What are you talking about?" Ashley glanced at Kyla.

"Spencer was shooting daggers at me all night, did you forget to mention to her that we're not dating."

"I told her you were my friend, we didn't talk much tonight."

"Well she couldn't keep her eyes off you, and sent glares my way all night. If I was to guess I'd say she's not over you either."

"You are imagining things, there's nothing to get over, and she hates me."

Kyla looked at Ashley but didn't say anything she just hoped that the two women would find their way back to one another for her friend's sake.