Here you are. Hope you like it thanks for sticking with me, being patient with me and the long time it takes me to post these chapters. This story has been a blast to write and don't get feisty with me, I may surprise you. I just wrote it and it felt like it reached it's end. Thanks for loving on this fic and for supporting my writing. Your encouragement is extremely appreciated. Leave some feedback and you may get a Valentine's Day treat...just saying. Until we meet again! Enjoy and thank you.
Day 156 (Epilogue)
"Spence, I miss your face."
The blonde giggles as she dries her hair with a towel, dropping it on her bed.
"Stevi, I'll be home tonight. It's my last day of the tour you'll be okay without me."
"No, I won't! Niko keeps stealing all the snack packs that Bishop bought me."
"Tell Niko that if he doesn't cut it out he won't get all the souvenirs I got him." Spencer drops onto her bed still feeling tired from her—unreasonable—early wake up call.
She rolls her eyes as Stevi shouts the message to Niko in her best threatening manner. She can hear them bicker and hears some shuffling on the other side of the phone. She giggles at their petulance. She misses them tremendously. Excited to go home and have some time with them. The production of her book moving a lot faster than normal but those are the perks already having a foot in the industry. Her book "In Pieces" gripping the hearts of many, the storyline well rounded where it's not overly sappy and still entertaining for a male audience, though her female audience had been quite extensive. She's had plenty of marriage proposals via Twitter but has politely declined, saying her heart has already been promised to someone else, even after all this time. Spencer smirks as she mentally has a Potter moment and thinks…Always.
A part of her feels a little guilty at the rapid success of her novel. However, Ashley has reassured her whenever they spoke, which isn't often wanting to keep decisions as unbiased as possible. They haven't seen each other since the night of their date. Almost six months since they've seen one another. They went eight weeks and five days without talking, neither of them sure how they even lasted that long. It took everything in Spencer not to text the brunette but she had to let Ashley move at her own pace. It had been the worst eight weeks and five days of both their lives. Their conversations weren't often and just long enough to ease the anxiousness that grew within them. They didn't want to succumb too quickly, the sound of one another's voice provided such a peace in their hearts. The more time they spent apart the more they craved one another. Ashley confessed that she missed Spencer the moment she left her doorstep but agreed it had been the best decision. She had been healing, her anger dissipating, her resentment defusing, and her head starting to finally catch up to her heart. There's no point in pursuing the company of someone you have feelings for if you can't be comfortable in your own company.
Spencer has been traveling nationwide for the past two months on her book tour, stopping in her home time for the last three holidays since she promised her mother at the end of the summer she would visit. Now in Chicago, the last city on her tour, Spencer had been looking forward to going back to New York. She hasn't been home since the middle of November, it's now two weeks after the New Year. She's ready to go back, deep dish just isn't doing it for her. She's brought out of her thoughts when a new voice flows through the phone.
"Spence, did we or did we not establish that anything without our names on it is fair game!"
"Niko…" Spencer begins but is cut off by her friends bickering.
Clearly her absence has tested their compatibility. Every day for the last month one of them has called complaining about the other. Their schedules don't mesh normally but since Spencer's been out of town they figured they'd switch things up so they wouldn't feel so lonely. It has gotten to a point where they spent too much time together. Spencer hears a door slam and she sighs, putting the call on speaker phone as she gets ready for the day.
"I can't stand him!"
Stevi growls through the phone making the blonde chuckle.
"You two love each other, stop it. You just have to go back to your normal schedules. I told you that lining them up would not work in your favor."
"Yeah well it's your fault."
If they hadn't been friends for as long as they had Spencer would be confused at this logic. She just apologizes sincerely for her absence and continues on with the conversation. Stevi tells Spencer all about meeting Bishop's family. The holiday and how she can't wait for the blonde to return so they can have a proper celebration. Tradition has been broken and that didn't sit well with the DJ or the messenger.
"So how are things, besides your snack pack thievery?"
"By things do you mean Ashley?"
Spencer blushes as she slips her black skinny jeans up her legs and buttons them, hoping the monotonous action will formulate her brain to think of a believable answer.
"No, I mean things in general. Bishop, work, the apartment, you're watering the plants right?" There's a hint of warning in Spencer's voice as she does her best to sell it.
"No the plants were dying," Stevi responds not sounding remorseful at all. It's then followed by a hint of mischief. "But then Ashley started to revive them."
Spencer's stomach did a flip. She swallows down her nerves at the mere mention of the Dean not wanting to give Stevi any upper hand on the situation. She plays it cool.
"Oh, she was there? That's cool." Spencer rushes that out as she pulls her sweater over her head and sits on the messy bed to put on her socks.
"Don't act like you don't care."
"I'm not. It's cool that she's there. Glad you guys are hanging out."
Spencer truly is grateful that Stevi has been keeping in touch with the brunette. It's good that she's had a friend. No one is meant to do life alone and Stevi is an amazing counterpart. She's happy that Ashley's getting to experience that. It also doesn't hurt that Stevi tells Spencer how she's doing even though she's sure that the DJ is delivering the same messages to both parties. If Stevi didn't mind being some form of a messenger no matter how often Spencer protested then she wouldn't punch a gift horse in its mouth.
"She says hi by the way."
"Hi." Spencer throws out casually, slipping on her boots.
"When are you two going to just be together? You're both miserable."
"We're not miserable." Spencer protests.
Okay, she's not that miserable. She's enjoying the tour, loving the excitement of meeting her readers, allowing them to pick her brain. It's been great. It'd be even better to share that excitement with Ashley. So she hasn't been completely miserable. Maybe a little more than half.
"She mopes in your room, she cute but it's weird."
"She does not!" Spencer becomes defensive but smirks a little at Stevi's joke.
"No she doesn't but she does go in there sometimes and take a look at your stuff. I think she stole one of your hoodies."
Spencer tosses her head back laughing along with her best friend on the other line. "She didn't steal it. She asked if she can borrow it and I said she could. Stop teasing her."
"So you're borrowing each other's things but not seeing one another. That makes sense."
"Stevi don't start."
"Fine. I'm only just saying."
"Yeah! I get it." She shouts frustrated. Sighing, dropping her face into her hands. She mumbles out an apology.
"It's okay. I bet it's hard to be in love and not be with that person."
"Yeah."
Her voice is weak as she agrees. She wipes at her eyes, ridding the tears that were pooling together before they can obtain their freedom. She clears her throat, standing up and takes Stevi off speaker phone.
"I've got to get going, have an early start and need to finish packing because I'm leaving right after the book signing."
"Then coming straight home right?"
"Yes, straight home."
"Alright good, because I've had enough of this crap. You being gone is not okay!"
"My goodness. What are you going to do with yourself when we all move into our own homes?"
"Be your neighbor," Stevi answers seriously.
Spencer laughs knowing that the chances of that happening are very likely if left up to the woman on the other line.
"I'm not getting rid of you am I?"
"No, no you're night."
"Okay, so let me enjoy my last few minutes of freedom."
Spencer struggles to get her friend off the phone and finishes her morning routine just in time to answer the knock at her door. She smiles at her assistant as she stands at the door with a coffee in hand.
"Hey, Macy," Spencer greets as the tiny girl with her dark brown curly afro bounces cheerfully through the door.
Spencer hired her for her spunky attitude, not caring that it wasn't someone Jess would approve of. She was deemed as someone that didn't have the air of a professional. Spencer wanted someone that got shit done and someone she could get along with. After countless interviews, Macy had been the only one that stood out to Spencer and that definitely counted for something.
"Hey, girl. You all set?" Macy looks around the room as if she didn't trust Spencer's word. On good authority as well. Several times Spencer has said she was ready and Macy's second sweep has often discovered things that Spencer could not live without.
The blonde smiles proudly. Macy rolls her eyes. "You can wipe that smile off your face. Twenty-five cities and you wait until the last one to not forget anything."
"Damn Macy, you couldn't even let me gloat for a second."
"Not a damned one, let's go we've got a tight schedule and I got to get you back to your wife."
"She's not…"
"We can go through your denial stage on the drive, the car is waiting downstairs."
"Can I have a sip of coffee first?"
Macy stares at the blonde as she grabs her boss's bag, draping it over her shoulder. Spencer takes a slow dramatic sip and releases a content sigh. She opens her blue eyes to find Macy with her arms crossed over her chest, completely unimpressed. She looks at the door and Spencer's shoulders drop.
"Fine, let's go."
They make their way out of the hotel room and wait for the elevator. Spencer smirks as she feels Macy's eyes on her. She knows her assistant is sizing her up making sure that her outfit is decent. The writer didn't want to stray too far away from her personality when it came to the way she dressed. She doesn't want to be branded in a look that's not hers, Macy did a good job a balancing the look of a starving artist and a successful one.
"So how'd I do?" She asks not taking her eyes off the shut doors of the elevator.
"You could've done something more with your hair." Macy suggests not missing a beat. The elevator bell dings as if it were adding jest to her punchline.
"I was trying to go all natural like you." She whines. Spencer steps into the elevator pouting.
"Don't do it to yourself. It looks good but the work is a pain in the ass." She doesn't give Spencer room to retort knowing that the blonde can go all day. "Reading and signing are at ten. We should be done by two. Then you have an interview with the magazine at four hopefully that doesn't take more than an hour because your flight is at seven-forty. Then you're back in New York doing your thing, whatever it is that you do before you were this big deal."
Macy stops scrolling through her phone and beams a smile at the blonde.
"I'm not a big deal."
"Tell that to all the people that are lined up in the cold waiting to get into that bookstore to meet you."
The elevators seem to be in sync with Macy as it dings again and she steps out like a woman on a mission. With her coffee to her lips, she schleps out, taking her time. Macy doesn't even need to turn around to know that the writer is being difficult.
"Spencer!" She shouts and she doesn't hesitate to pick up the pace. Macy is not a force to be reckoned with. She picks up the pace as they take on the day.
She never wants to get used to it. The minute you get used to the appreciation of the people that are a pivotal part of your success is the minute you stop being the person they admire. So Spencer won't change herself because it'd be a disgrace to herself and to the people that are buzzing with excitement on the other side of this door she's standing on. Once her name is introduced she steps out into the room and the cheers give her chills. She smiles widely as she steps out, looking out into the large crowd, scouring the faces that look back at her with adoration. She knows it's unrealistic but every time she does she always wishes she'd catch Ashley looking back at her.
On her third cup of coffee for the day. The writer is running on fumes. It's as if all the fatigue from the entire trip is weighing down on her now. This is the final stretch as she shakes hands with her interviewer. Clyde is his name and the blonde wants to snort at it because it's a weird name but she gets the motherly look from Macy and holds it in. Macy is a quick learner and quick to put Spencer in her place, another attribute of the assistant that the writer is in high favor of.
"Thanks so much for meeting with Spencer."
"It's a pleasure, Clyde."
"I'm sure you're ready to get home, this being the last city on your tour. How's the traveling been?"
"Exhaustingly exhilarating," She answers honestly.
He gives a soft chuckle and she throws a look at Macy who is giving off her own pointed look, warning the writer to play nice. She's reached her petulant stage of exhaustion. There is always levels when it came to anything according to Spencer. You weren't just hungry, you weren't just bored, you weren't just a funny person, there will always be levels and her level of tired had just graduated from too tired to sleep to childish behavior tired. That's the kind of tired where everything pisses you off. Even if you like it at any normal point in time at this level of tired everything's bullshit. So even though she knew that her honest answer is worthy of a hearty chuckle the fact that the interviewer is laughing at is uncalled for.
She sighs, trying to dial it back. He asks the normal questions, she gives the basic answers. Where's her inspiration derived? Everything around her. What's her favorite part of this journey? Meeting the readers. How do you like, name of city? It's amazing. Obviously, the interview isn't that bland but that's how Spencer is feeling.
"So your dedication in the front of this book. Everyone is so interested in learning who it is." Spencer smiles as she thinks of the line, Clyde reads as if she weren't the one that wrote it. "To my muse, the magic happens at Trader Joe's. Now, what does that mean?"
"Well, it means what is says. I met my muse at Trader Joe's and my relationship with her inspired the book."
"So you're in a relationship?"
"Not yet."
"But you have been in love?"
"I know what it feels like." Spencer does her best to vague. She doesn't want Ashley's first time hearing that she's in love with her to be read out of an article.
"Does it feel like what you describe in your book?"
"I don't think I give true love justice."
"I think your readers beg to differ."
"I cherish their enthusiasm."
"So what's next after "In Pieces"? Is there more stories that we can expect from you?"
"For sure, there isn't only ever one story to tell. Knowing which one's are worth sharing and which ones are meant to stay private are always the true obstacle. I'm excited to see what else I come up with because I'm waiting just like everyone else."
Clyde laughs and scribbles in his notebook. "Now you're heading back to New York after a packed schedule, what's the first thing you're going to do?"
"Sleep."
Spencer does her best to keep quiet as she opens the front door of her apartment. It's so good to be home. The Christmas tree lit up with all white lights. Her roommates vowing not to take it down until they've had a real Christmas together. She closes the door behind her, making her way to the tree. Her flight got delayed three hours and Stevi warned her that if she isn't in her bed in the morning she's getting the locks changed. She bends down and slips her presents one by one under the tree feeling like a parent pretending to be Santa. She hopes her kids don't wake up to find her, ruining the surprise.
"Are one of those for me?"
Spencer drops the gift and clutches her heart, stumbling awkwardly to the ground. She laughs at herself as she's helped up.
"I didn't mean to scare you."
Spencer laughs, running her hand through her messy hair. She regains her composure staring into her favorite set of green eyes. She swallows the lump in her throat and says the first thing that comes to mind.
"I'm sure you didn't mean to steal my heart either?"
Ashley smiles looking down, a full second hasn't passed as Spencer lifts Ashley head up.
"It's been too long since I've looked into your eyes. I'm not ready to stop yet."
Ashley feels her body turn hot at the small connection between the two of them.
"Whatever you want," She answers and Spencer closes her eyes at the shift. That statement alone holds so much weight but what she's about to say holds even more.
"Whatever we want."
Ashley is frozen, not sure what to do now. She sees the blonde smiling brightly and she giggles.
"Stop enjoying how awkward I'm being right now."
"But it's absolutely adorable." Spencer compliments taking a step forward.
It's been so long since they've seen each other and it definitely felt like eons while they were apart but as Ashley stares into Spencer's familiar warm eyes, in her familiar comfortable apartment, feeling that familiar feeling of belonging it felt as if Spencer left her doorstep only yesterday. They fell back into a rhythm like it was never broken. Ashley giggles softly.
"So were you the reason I was to come straight home?"
Spencer nods her head in the direction of the couch so they can sit, immediately forget how tired she was. Sleep deprivation? What's that? Spencer watches as Ashley makes her way towards the couch and has a seat. Everything inside her is bubbling up with excitement. She isn't sure what to do entirely she's just letting the situation unravel on its own. She takes a seat next to the Dean.
"I am. I told Stevi that she didn't have to insist as hard as she did but once she gets an idea in her head..."
Spencer smiles as the brunette talks about the DJ in complete understanding. She's become one of the group.
"Yeah…" She says absentmindedly. She's taking in everything in front of her. Ashley looks a little different. Less…unhappy. Even when she had been enjoying herself during their time together Spencer could still sense the heartache she was fighting. Now she looks happy to put it simply. Her hair is longer as well. She's wondering if the brunette is studying her as well.
"You look tired." Ashley comments.
"Way to make a girl feel beautiful." Spencer quips as she turns in her seat, resting against the back of the sofa.
Ashley smirks mirroring Spencer's change in position. They were staring at one another stupidly. Ashley though she'd be better at this since it's her idea to surprise the blonde when she got home from her book tour. A lot of time away from the blonde and barely there conversations has given her enough time to process through her heartbreak, prepare her heart and mind to move on, and fall in love with the blonde without even being in her presence.
"I'm sorry I just meant…"
Spencer reaches her hand out grabbing Ashley's and caresses it. "I'm kidding."
The laugh awkwardly.
"This is so bad." Spencer comments.
"Extremely."
"Okay here, let's try this." Spencer gets up and starts walking away from the brunette. She points to the front door. "I'm just going to step out for a few seconds, to give us a chance to regroup. Then we can pretend it's the first time we saw each other."
"Uh?" Ashley stares at her love interest appreciating her silliness. "Okay?"
"Yeah, that's about the amount of excitement I'm going for. Don't display anymore because I may just mistake this for a good idea." Spencer stares at the brunette pointedly.
Ashley pulls her lips into her mouth trying her hardest not to laugh. She clears her throat and stands up, claps her hands together once trying to pump herself up.
"Alright let's do this."
"Take it down a notch you faker." Spencer throws out as she turns around smiling brightly at Ashley's laugh.
She walks out of the door, closing it behind her. She counts to ten Mississippis then walks back into the apartment. When she enters the apartment Ashley is nowhere in sight. Spencer's steps are tentative as she looks for the brunette.
"Ashley? You're not trying to scare me again are you?" She turns her head towards the kitchen to see if the brunette had been hiding in there. "I swear if I wake up and this was all a dream I'm going to cry." She warns no one in particular as she walks towards her room assuming that's the only other place Ashley could be.
The door is closed and she slowly opens it. Her mouth drops as she sees Ashley sitting on her bed, covered with rose petals, lit candles filling the room.
"Ash…"
"Welcome home."
Spencer rests her hand on her quickly beating heart, commanding it slow down. To no avail with every step she took the more excited she became. She stands at the foot of her bed admiring the woman. Ashley leans back against her elbows, teasing Spencer with the edge of her foot rubbing it up and down her thigh.
"So you just gonna stand there?"
"I'm just making sure this is all really happening. That I'm not having a delusion due to exhaustion."
Ashley pushes herself up onto her knees and moves closer towards the writer.
"It's all very real," She reassures as she rests her arms on Spencer's shoulders. The blonde rests her hands on Ashley's waist. "You're here, I'm here." She buries her fingers in Spencer's hair, scratching her scalp gently. She closes her eyes reveling in the sensation.
"You're making me sleepy." Spencer moans out as she pushes her head further into Ashley's working fingers.
Ashley giggles stopping but Spencer grunts and she picks right back up.
"I really want to devour you right now but I smell like travel."
"Don't worry I'll be here when you get back. Go shower."
"I'm sorry I ruined your grand gesture." Spencer pouts realizing how long Ashley must've waited.
"It's not ruined." She smiles softly at the blonde. "Go freshen up and we can just lie down."
"Okay," Spencer whispers sheepishly.
She watches as the brunette slips off the bed and goes to blow out the candles. She shakes her head at herself. Mumbling 'screw it' and quickly rushes over toward her heart thief. She yanks her from behind by the waist. Ashley gasp as their bodies connect. Spencer slips her hands around Ashley's middle, sneaking her hand under the woman's sweater.
"Sorry love…I lost my mind for a second." She whispers in a husky tone.
The Dean moans as she feels Spencer's short nails drag across her stomach. She lifts her arm up and rests her hand on the back of the blonde's neck. The writer places gentle open mouthed kisses on Ashley's neck. Letting her lips slowly slide off her neck. She smirks as Ashley's body shivers under her touch. Slowly turning her around, not wasting any time to capture her lips. It's been too long, Spencer sighs at the contact.
Ashley hasn't felt this level of completion in a long time. She'll admit it later, the fact that every second she wasn't with Spencer she was falling apart. However, right now, in this moment, the blonde is doing the very thing Ashley knew only Spencer could do. Loving her unconditionally.
The next thing Ashley knew she was falling against the bed, the rose petals fly up slightly from the wind they caused. Spencer is not wasting any time to climb on top of her. Ashley stares up at her, biting her lip, she would deny the woman above her no longer. She snakes her hand around Spencer's neck pulling her down for a slow and deep kiss. Ashley slips her tongue into the writer's mouth. Moaning in delight, Spencer slides her hand down Ashley's thigh, pulling her leg to hook around her waist. She rocks slowly into the Dean. Ashley pushes her head back further into the mattress at the intense pleasure. Spencer keeps their mouths connected. Ashley hooks her other leg around Spencer, the blonde masterfully rolls onto her and sits up with Ashley in her lap in one fell swoop. The drummer felt a wave of pleasure wash over. The wetness pooling between her thighs. She pushes into Spencer hoping to ease some of the ache between her legs. It backfires as the blonde matches her stride. The small actions so simple but extremely enticing.
Spencer lifts Ashley's sweater up and over her body. She takes in the beautiful body before tracing all along it with her fingers. Dipping her finger in between Ashley's cleavage.
"You are so damned gorgeous."
"And I'm all yours."
Spencer looks up at the brunette with dark eyes. Her desire growing by the second. She slips her hand between Ashley's thighs grabbing at her arousal possessively. Ashley hisses in pleasure, biting her bottom lip. The glow of the candles adding to the ambiance as they dance to a melody only they are familiar with. Spencer closes the gap between them, making up for the all the days they went without kissing one another.
Ashley leans her body into Spencer's so they'll fall back against the mattress again. They're taking their time, making sure to savor every second of their first time. It didn't need to be said. It's unnecessary at this point. Ashley simply being there clarified everything for both of them. Spencer makes sure she tops her girlfriend, flipping their bodies again. Ashley giggles cutely as the blonde attacks her neck.
"You really love topping me don't you?"
"Favorite activity bar none." Spencer jokes as she nips then kisses her way down Ashley's body. Dragging her tongue slowly down her stomach, dipping it into her belly button, biting at the base of her stomach. Ashley hisses, burying her fingers in Spencer's hair tugging it roughly. Spencer groans in pleasure. She slips off Ashley's pants, she takes a second look and smirks as she notices that the sweats are hers. Maybe she had been stealing the blonde's clothes. It's okay, she didn't mind sharing with her girlfriend. The thought of the title making Spencer's heart flutter with joy. She gets the pants off dropping off the side of the bed. She's about to lean back down but Ashley puts a hand up, quirking a brow. The lulls her head back and starts to remove her clothes. Sliding her wool sweater over her head, popping open the buttons of her black dress shirt.
She stares at Ashley as the brunette stares at her wantonly. She bites her bottom lip in appreciation. Her eyes dance over the blonde's fit body, scouring her tattooed skin. She clenches the muscles in her stomach trying to control the heat between her legs as her desire burns more with every second. Spencer steps out of her pants. Both of them only in underwear, she holds her arms open.
"Satisfied?"
"Slightly." She sits up straight and turns so now her body is now perpendicular to the bed. "C'mere."
Spencer closes her eyes as a wave of arousal courses through her body. She obeys, crawling onto the mattress, loving the silkiness of the rose petals as the press against her skin. She hovers over Ashley's body. Stealing a quick kiss.
"I missed you." Spencer confesses an obvious secret.
"Missed you more." Ashley says as she guides Spencer's body on top of hers. "I don't ever want to be away from you like that again."
"You won't be." Spencer seals the promise with a kiss.
She pushes her thigh into Ashley, the brunette matching her stride for stride. Her wetness seeping through her black panties. Spencer moans in delight. Kissing her girlfriend deeply, tongues dance delicately together, teeth scrape slightly against lips. Spencer slips one arm between their bodies, slipping her fingers past the waistband. She releases a guttural moan as her fingers are flooded.
"Tell me." Spencer orders. She teases the brunette, not caring about her whimpers until she's told.
Ashley knows. It's only fair. Spencer put herself through hell, being patient, giving ample space, pressure completely nonexistent. Even through the first ten days, she put herself out there every time.
"Baby, tell me." She repeats, this time, it's needy. Like she can't go another second without hearing the words.
Ashley places her hands on either side of Spencer's face. She makes sure their eyes are locked. The message needs to be delivered clearly, it'll be the first time it's said she didn't want either of them to miss it.
"You've been so amazing from the very beginning. I'm sorry if it felt as if I were objectifying you making you my rebound but I'm glad to have been with you because it brought us here. I'm ready to be serious with you. I love you, Spencer."
Her eyes shoot closed as Spencer slips three fingers inside. Her hands drop to the bed. Her fingers gripping the sheets and petals. Spencer lowers her head and pushes her fingers deeper with her hips.
"I love you too…and don't worry Ash. I didn't mind being your rebound."
Show me what you're working with...