A/N I really can't thank you all enough for being amazing readers. I really appreciate all of your reviews/comments immensely. I will be back next weekend with the last part of my fic :( I can't believe this story is almost over!
Epilogue Part 1
Ashley put her hand on Spencer's knee to get it to stop moving. "You really need to calm down, Spence."
"I know that in theory, but I'm too anxious to calm down," Spencer replied. She had been trying to do relaxation exercises with little to no success. "So many things are going to change after today, I can't help how I'm feeling."
Ashley could have dismissed Spencer's declaration as being over dramatic or just her nerves talking, but she actually agreed with her girlfriend. That is, if things went as Ashley hoped it did. Everything was going to change, but that didn't necessarily mean it was bad. "I'm sorry, I'm not trying to tell you not to feel what you're feeling." Once again, Ashley put her hand on the other girl's knee. "Whatever happens, I'm here for you."
Spencer stopped moving her leg for a second in order to give Ashley a soft, chaste kiss. She would have loved to deepen the kiss, but now was not the time or the place for that to happen. "I know you are, you have no idea how much that helps." Spencer squeezed her girlfriend's hand, "This morning helped a lot too." With a lot of delight, Spencer watched as Ashley's face turned crimson. "You are the best kind of stress reliever."
"I won't disagree with you on that," Ashley replied. She was going to do her best not to react to Spencer even though she knew that she couldn't hide her blushing. Ashley was much more comfortable with topic of sex than she had ever been, but there was a way that Spencer said things that she reacted to. She got so much pleasure in putting Ashley on the spot.
"I can't believe we won't be together for the next month." Spencer went from serious to pouting in about two seconds. "No wonder we had to go out with a bang this morning—literally. I'm never going to get through the next month. It's going to suck!"
Ashley would never tell Spencer how much she enjoyed the way she pouted. The brunette suspected that wasn't much of a secret to her girlfriend. Ashley had a soft smile on her face as she watched Spencer's pout get more and more pronounced. It was almost bordering on ridiculous. On the other hand, at least when she was sulking, Spencer wasn't worrying too much about what was about to happen or the challenges that lay ahead. "Aren't you being a little melodramatic? It's not like we're not going to see each other or be with each oth-"
"But it won't be the same!" Spencer whined uncharacteristically. She had gotten quite used to having Ashley around without restriction. They attempted to spend a night here or there away from one another just to prove that they could, but, in reality, Ashley was practically living at the Carlin house full time. It was a unique arrangement and one that both girls loved. Even if it wasn't conventional or something other couples could survive, it worked for the two of them. "Especially when you're abandoning me and won't even sneak in at night."
Ashley stayed very patient while her girlfriend continued to rant about an abandonment that wasn't happening. She allowed Spencer to go on until it was her turn to speak. "You know I'm only doing this because Dr. Cooper thinks it's best for you and your dad to have time to work on your relationship. I would be a distraction if I was there. We both know that."
"But I love how you distract me," Spencer replied, her head tilting to one side. "And you can't tell me you're happy about this arrangement."
"You think I'm happy to be apart from you? I'm really not, but I want to do what's best for you and even though you're being adorable and throwing a fit. Deep down you know I'm right." Ashley laced her fingers together with Spencer's. "Not to mention I have to go back and live with my mom. I bet she's forgotten I even exist by now." Ashley saw that Spencer was about to turn the conversation around so this was about Ashley, but that's not what needed to happen. This day was about helping Spencer through it. When she'd told her mom about coming back home, she was met with indifference. It wasn't the warmest welcome, but it wasn't rejection either. "I'll be fine, I promise. We're going to be talking all the time anyway. Just think, we get to experience what it's like to be a typical teenage couple, that's kind of exciting."
"No, it's not, but I appreciate you trying to make me feel better," Spencer said sincerely. Ashley really had a knack for talking her off the ledge. "And we're still going to have lots of sex, right?" Ashley chuckled, but made sure to nod enthusiastically at the blonde's question. "Because that's really important. Like, we can sneak around at school, but that's not going to be enough for me."
Ashley continued to laugh, Spencer really was too adorable for her own good. "There's always my house and your house when you're dad isn't home. I just won't be spending the night anymore or hanging out as much as I have been. Maybe the time apart will be good for us. This way we can actually miss each other."
"Yeah, yeah, yeah, I'm sure spending time away from you will be wonderful." There was no way to miss the sarcasm in Spencer's voice. "But I am glad you're here with me now. Did I thank you for that?"
"I think you thanked me enough this morning," Ashley replied, amused.
"That's true." Spencer sighed and then her knee started bouncing up and down again. "What is taking so long? I thought we'd be on the road by now."
Ashley shrugged. "I have no idea, but I imagine that leaving rehab involves a process of some kind. There's probably paperwork and other stuff that needs to be taken care of."
Spencer didn't respond. She leaned back in her chair and closed her eyes. She felt Ashley squeeze her hand as a show of support. Spencer made sure to squeeze back to let her girlfriend know she was OK. She was still anxious and still somewhat upset Ashley wouldn't be around like she wanted her to be, but if things went well, having her dad back at home—sober—was something Spencer was looking forward to. She was still freaked out about it and not that comfortable with the idea of being around her dad without a buffer of some kind. What it really came down to was Spencer was trying her hardest not to get her hopes up. She knew that coming home and facing real life stress often led to people falling back on old habits. The very idea that she could possibly watch her dad go downhill again was horrifying. She didn't want that to happen.
Over the last few months, Spencer had been back a couple of times to see her dad. Those visits were still awkward and strained. Even with her dad's advice being somewhat of a catalyst for Spencer to get back together with Ashley, she was still guarded around him. Years of being letdown and pushed aside because of his addiction did not disappear from Spencer's memory overnight. She wasn't rude or combative anymore, but she was distant.
That's why Ashley had taken Dr. Cooper's suggestion of staying away for a bit to heart. She was going to miss Spencer just as much as Spencer was going to miss her, but this wasn't about them. They had worked on their issues a lot since their reconciliation, now it was time for Spencer to work on a different relationship. She might not say in words how much she wanted to have her dad back in her life, but Ashley knew her girlfriend very well. She knew she was afraid and worried—justifiably so—but she also knew that Spencer needed this.
Ashley hadn't realized how true that was until Paula had paid an unexpected and very unwelcome visit to Spencer some weeks previous. Spencer had been editing a project for film class while Ashley worked on getting dinner ready for the two of them. It had been an uneventful Sunday until Paula showed up. She'd burst through the door when Spencer had answered it and demanded that she have the opportunity to look around to see what Spencer was up to. Of course, that action lead to Spencer being on the defensive and making some wise crack that Paula did not appreciate.
At first Ashley hadn't even realized that anything was going on. She had music on in the kitchen while she cooked, taking extra care she wasn't messing up the new recipe she was trying. But when a shouting match erupted, she rushed off to the entranceway to find Spencer and Paula engaged in a full-blown argument. Neither was holding back any punches, and it got ugly very fast. Eventually Ashley stepped in to break things up and basically kicked Paula out of the house. Once she was gone, Ashley was all ready to make a joke to lighten the mood, but when she turned around, she found Spencer crying.
She'd been doing so well and her mom coming back to remind Spencer of how much she was a disappointment to her, drove the blonde to a breaking point. For the first time, she finally admitted to Ashley how hurt she was by Paula's rejection of her. Gone was the anger and the bravado. All that was left was a daughter who couldn't understand why her mom didn't love her. Ashley had never seen Spencer so broken. She had cried in a way that Ashley had not previously witnessed and it broke the brunette's heart. At the same time, the fact that Spencer had been able to admit what she had long hidden from everyone was actually a good thing. It was just another wall of hers that was slowly coming down.
Of course there were discussions about it in therapy and Ashley had even come to a few sessions not only to discuss Paula, but also what had happened with her. Their first attempt at a relationship was built on shaky ground. Ashley was hiding the truth about who she was and in the back of Spencer's mind, there was this sliver of doubt that Ashley would hurt her again. But now, what they had was built on a much stronger foundation. It was one that they both hoped boded well for their future together.
There were still fights and disagreements. Living together brought on a whole slew of challenges that most other couples in their school didn't have to face. At the same time, the payoff they received from all the hard work they put into their relationship was absolutely worth it. Both of them were confident in where they were headed and how much they could rely on the other person.
Which was why Ashley was not afraid that time apart from Spencer was not going to ruin them. The last thing that she wanted was for them to become too dependent on each other. Having her dad back was something that Spencer had to face herself, but she would absolutely have Ashley's support and love. Spencer might put on more of a show than Ashley, but deep down she understood that taking the time to with her dad was going to be good in the long run. She didn't have to like it, but Spencer knew it was for the best.
"I see him," Ashley whispered to get Spencer's attention.
Spencer's eyes flew open. She was suddenly on edge and nervous, even more so than before. As soon as she saw her dad, her stomach dropped. He looked so much like his old self that it terrified her. The beard that he'd grown in rehab was gone. Everything on the outside looked normal, but Spencer did not feel normal at all. She held on tightly to Ashley's hand as she got up from her seat.
Arthur was also dealing with his own set of nerves and anxiety. There were a lot of daunting tasks in front of him, which, if he though about long enough, made him not want to leave rehab. At least he was safe here—safe from temptation, safe from the many different things he'd run away from. But looking at Spencer's uncertain face actually calmed Arthur down. He was determined to be the father that his daughter deserved. He'd said goodbye to the doctor and counselors who'd worked so hard with him these last number of months. They talked about what he was going to face and how he could help himself stay sober. He already had plans to attend an A.A. meeting later that night.
"Hey, Mr. C.," Ashley said when he was standing in front of the two of them. She hoped that by taking the lead here, it would help Spencer — at least in the short term.
"It's really nice to see you, Ashley." This was Arthur's first time seeing Ashley since the night that he'd had his big fall. "Thanks for picking me up."
"Well, we couldn't exactly let you walk home." Ashley smiled and hoped that her attempt to lighten things up was a good idea.
Arthur smiled at Ashley, but he was really focused on his daughter. "Hey, Spence, I'm really happy you're here."
Spencer nodded, but otherwise remained silent. There were a lot of things that she wanted to say and a lot of different ways she thought about reacting. In the end, she needed to stay inside herself just for a little bit while she worked her feelings out. It was the only way she felt safe.
"OK, let's blow this popsicle stand," Ashley said when it was clear that Spencer was still feeling uncomfortable. "We have a long drive ahead of us."
When Arthur walked outside he felt the rush of freedom and the uncertainty that came with it.
The three of them piled into Ashley's car, all of them unsure of what lay ahead and what was going to happen when they got back to the house. Ashley did her best to keep up the conversation throughout the ride home. Inevitably there were silences, though not all were awkward, throughout the drive. Spencer held on to Ashley's hand as much as she could and tried her best not to get too caught up in the fear that she was feeling.
After they arrived home, Arthur excused himself to go up to his room. He didn't want to start off on a bad foot with Spencer by intruding on her time with Ashley.
"That was fun," Spencer mumbled once she was alone with her girlfriend.
Ashley thought about reminding Spencer that she promised to give her dad a chance, but ultimately decided against it. She found that in dealing with Spencer it was often wise to let the blonde reach conclusions on her own instead of forcing her to do something. "I have a couple of errands I need to run, so I'm going to head out for a bit."
"You're going to do what?" Spencer practically shouted. "There is no way you're leaving me, Ashley. You can't."
"If anything really bad happens, I'm only a phone call away." Ashley kissed the Spencer's forehead and then pressed a kiss against her girlfriend's lips. "You can do this, Spence, I know you can. And I won't be gone forever."
"I can't believe you're going," Spencer replied. When she saw genuine concern flash across Ashley's face, she decided to tone things down a notch. "I know, I know, for my own good and all that jazz. Promise to make it up to me later?"
"For sure." Ashley was relieved that Spencer wasn't truly mad at her. "I'll be back soon." She gave her girlfriend one more kiss. "I love you."
"I love you too," Spencer said. She desperately wanted Ashley to stay with her, but she was going to let her go without any further drama. "Drive safe."
With a tremendous amount of trepidation, Spencer closed the door behind Ashley. She was now alone with her dad for the first time in what felt like forever. Not just because he had been away, it had more to do with the fact that Spencer couldn't remember the last time she'd been at home with her dad when he was completely sober.
Spencer tried to have courage, she really did. But the need to protect herself and get away from this tough situation won out. She had to escape and while she couldn't leave the house, she could find refuge in her room. Unfortunately for Spencer, as she was running up the stairs to get away, her dad was coming down the stairs to find her.
"Uh, hey," Arthur said. "Where's Ashley?"
"She had to leave for a bit," Spence replied. She was looking everywhere but at him. "I, uh, I have homework to do, so yeah, I..." She didn't finish her thought, but rushed passed him to the safety of her room. When she was inside, she let out the breath she'd been holding in.
Her homework excuse was lame. She knew that and her dad probably knew that. It was very early on a Saturday afternoon; homework was the last thing Spencer was usually doing now. It was the only reason she could think of not to spend time with her dad.
After a few minutes of trying to think of something—anything—to do in order to be distracted, Spencer heard this voice in her head compelling her to go downstairs. At first, the voice sounded remarkably like Ashley. Then, it slowly morphed into her own voice. Spencer had to be brave, not for her girlfriend or because she felt pressured, she had to do it for herself. Sometimes it was so much easier being afraid than facing what she didn't want to face.
But that wasn't this version of Spencer. It might take her a while to get there, but she was no longer interested in taking the easy way out, especially because it wasn't actually an easier way to live. In the long run, it was much harder. Fighting with herself every step of the way, Spencer eventually left her room and headed back downstairs.
When she found her dad, he was in the den. "Watching anything good?" she asked him. Her throat felt tight so it was hard for Spencer to speak.
Arthur looked at his daughter in surprise. He hadn't expected to see her for a while. He wasn't upset when she had taken off. A little disappointed maybe, but not upset. One of the things he'd talked about a lot in rehab was not forcing things with Spencer. As much as he wanted another chance with her, he knew that might not happen and that she might never forgive him for everything he'd done. How could he expect her to forgive him when Arthur wasn't even sure he would ever forgive himself? "I found a Cavs game on. It's been a while since I've seen them play."
"Yeah, me too." Spencer wished things weren't so awkward and that she didn't feel like her father was a stranger. "Mind if I join you? I mean, if you'd rather be-"
"I'd love it if you would join me," Arthur cut in. He smiled warmly at his daughter. He was not going to turn her away.
Spencer sat down next to her dad and pretended to be watch along with him. She thought about all the times that she'd be watching a Cavs game with Glen and her dad, with Clay pretending to watch but actually doing his homework. She used to love being with the three of them. On occasion, Paula would even join them. She'd sit beside Arthur and attempt to follow what was happening. Spencer, along with Glen, would make fun of her for not knowing what was going on and Arthur would try to defend her from the two of them. Sometimes Clay would join in on the fun and the night would end with a lot of laughter and sometimes trips for ice cream together. The warmth of that memory turned Spencer ice cold. She hated remembering those times because of how much they hurt. There were never going to be memories like that again.
While things would never be like they were when Spencer was growing up, she was being given an opportunity to create new memories with her dad. Ones that didn't involve taking care of him when he was drunk or having to see his lifeless body at the bottom of the stairs covered in blood. She just had to be the one to make the first move—that much was clear. Spencer could tell that her dad was waiting for her to get things going. "We should probably talk."
Arthur gulped. He didn't think this would happen so soon. He quickly shut off the television in case Spencer changed her mind. "Yeah, we should."
Spencer suddenly found her fingers very fascinating so she played with them instead of looking at her dad. She might be trying to do the right thing, but that didn't mean it was easy. "I don't even know where to be begin," she admitted. How do you start addressing years of issues?
"Can I begin with I'm sorry?" Arthur asked tentatively. He had months worth of self-revelations that he was desperate for Spencer to hear. "I know those are hollow words and ones that maybe you don't want to hear, but I am so sorry for what I've put you through. I can't even imagine what you think of me and how much I've hurt you, Spencer. Honestly, it keeps me up at night because of what I've put you through. I wish I could go back and change what happened and how I handled things after Clay died." Spencer immediately tensed up at the mention of her brother's name. She remained listening to her dad though, this was important. "I wish I didn't make the choices that I made, but I can't change the past. The only thing I can offer you is the promise that from today forward I'm going to work as hard as I can to make sure I never do that to you again. I can't promise I wouldn't relapse or have moments of weakness, but I can promise you that if that happens, I will fight as hard as I can to get up back up and keep going."
Spencer stayed silent for a few moments as she absorbed everything her dad had just said. "I want to believe that promise, I really do, but…" She felt awful responding with doubts, but she had to be honest. Nothing would get better if she lied.
"You don't believe me," Arthur finished. He did his best to not take Spencer's words too hard. "I understand, I have to earn your trust and prove to you that I've changed. I guess," this was going to be the hard part, because asking this question could potentially answer one of Arthur's biggest fears, "I guess what I need to know is, will you give me that chance?" If Spencer answered no, Arthur would be crushed.
Once again, Spencer remained quiet after her dad spoke. She finally worked up the nerve to look at him before she responded. "Yes, I will give you that chance." A few seconds passed before Spencer continued. "I really want my dad back."
Those six words were almost impossible for Spencer to admit. Letting go and putting her faith in her dad scared her. But what she came to realize since her dad had been gone, was how much she did actually want him in her life. Going to see him when she had been at her lowest point and getting advice from him had changed something for Spencer. Yes, she could be strong and take care of herself. She had proved that and then some. But just because she could do those things didn't mean she wanted to all the time. She wanted to have an adult in her life that she could go to and trust with her problems.
Dr. Cooper was amazing, but it wasn't the same. She wasn't going to be the one to comfort Spencer if things went bad. She wasn't going to give her advice and guidance in the same way that a dad could. If Spencer was hurt, the idea that she could let someone take on that pain and comfort her was very appealing. It wasn't easy trying to be strong all the time. She did have that in many ways with Ashley, but there was something different about having a parent to go to for that as well. Spencer was a few weeks away from turning eighteen but that didn't mean she was ready or that she wanted to be a full grown adult yet. She'd spent so many of her teenage years taking on more responsibility than most people her age, she wanted a break.
"I want that too," Arthur said, he was getting choked up. "You have no idea how much."
"I'm going to push you away, you know, and probably act like a brat a lot," Spencer told her dad. "I will probably yell at you, but I won't run away." This wasn't only about her dad making promises, Spencer had some of her own to make. "I will come back and listen to you eventually. I will try."
Arthur was doing his best to keep his emotions in check. "That's all I want." He wanted to reach over and hug his daughter and tell her how much he loved her, but Arthur didn't. The last thing he wanted to do was overwhelm Spencer. "Thank you for not giving up on me."
Spencer shrugged, her discomfort was rising. She was trying to be more open, but she didn't love the feeling of vulnerability that came with it.
"I'm glad things worked out with Ashley." Arthur wasn't able to address everything he wanted to with Spencer in one go, but this was something he felt safe enough to bring up. They hadn't really discussed it before—their visits at rehab had been too strained. "She seems to have grown up to be a fine young woman."
Even with the tension in the room, Spencer smiled. That seemed to happen a lot when it came to Ashley. "She's amazing and I'm lucky to be with her." As hard as it was to be around her dad, Spencer loved that she could talk to at least one of her parents about someone she cared so much about. "Thank you for listening to me when we, well, you know, it helped a lot."
"I'm glad. You deserve to be happy." Arthur was relieved that Spencer was still talking to him. "I, uh, I assume she stayed here a lot with you."
Spencer wasn't sure where her dad was going with this. "Yeah, she did."
"Look, I just need you to know that with me coming back…" Arthur sighed, this wasn't coming out right. "It's obvious that the two of you did a great job taking care of the house while I was gone. I mean the place looks amazing and you're doing well at school, so I just want you to know that…" He sighed again. "What I'm trying to say is that Ashley is welcome here any time. I think you've earned the right to be treated like an adult and well-"
"Thanks," Spencer decided to save her dad from having to go on further. For both their sakes. She explained to her dad that Dr. Cooper thought it was better for Ashley to take a step back for the first month or so that he was back.
"Just know that she's welcome any time," Arthur said after Spencer was done. "And not just because she's was there for you when I was away. She is welcome here because she's your girlfriend. Anyone you love is always going to be welcome here. I hope you know that."
Spencer nodded, she too was fighting to keep composed. "I can't wait for you to get to know her again."
"I can't wait either." Arthur smiled. "I remember how much fun it was to tease Ashley, she'd always blush like crazy and you'd always defend her when she got picked on."
Spencer smiled as well. She'd forgotten how much Glen and Clay had treated Ashley like a sister and how Arthur had treated her like another daughter. They'd all had a lot of fun together. "She still blushes you know, it's adorable." As soon as she said that, it was Spencer's turn to blush. She wasn't used to gushing about Ashley to anyone, let alone her dad.
"I always had a feeling about you two," Arthur admitted.
Spencer wasn't sure what to make of that. "I can't remember a time that I didn't love her." It felt strange to be having a normal conversation with her dad, but it also felt really good.
"I don't want to upset you, Spencer, but…" Arthur left that last part hanging in the air for a bit. While he was grateful for the opportunity to just be with his daughter, there were still things that he had to get out. There would be time for them to address their issues in the coming weeks and months, but there were things that had to be said today. Right now. He had to find the courage to face what he'd avoided for so long. He couldn't have a superficial conversation with Spencer and let that just be it. "While I appreciate you giving me a second chance, more than you will probably ever know, I need to explain a few things to you."
"Uh, OK." Spencer wasn't pleased that things were getting serious once more. She stayed on the sofa, even with though her instincts told her to leave.
"You know, it was always so easy to talk to you. Out of all my kids I always felt like you and I could talk about anything." It was hard to face someone you've wronged when you're sober, Arthur thought to himself. "When Clay died, it was like a part of me died with him. I couldn't handle how much pain I was in; I still struggle with it."
Spencer also felt the pain of her brother's death deeply. She suspected it was because she hadn't dealt with it and that was only confirmed in her therapy sessions. She was working through her grief, much like her dad seemed to be as well. She hoped that one day she could think of Clay and remember him without wanting to run from his memory.
"I was so wrapped up in my issues that I neglected my other two kids." He didn't even bother bringing up Paula, it would have been too much for Spencer and he knew that. "I nearly lost you both and I don't know if I will ever forgive myself for that. I'm not trying to make excuses or have you feel sorry for me, I just want you to understand what was going through my mind and why I made some of the bad choices that I did. There's no excusing how I abandoned you."
Spencer wasn't sure what to do with this information. It wasn't that she didn't know that Clay's death was a very large part of the reason her dad had started to drink. Logically it made sense. But when you're hurt and feel like your dad has turned his back on you, logic doesn't really matter.
"But I am dealing with it now and trying to move on, even if I will always feel his loss." A parent never gets over losing their child, but Arthur was going to do everything he could to keep reaching out to Spencer and Glen. He wasn't going to give up on rebuilding what had been lost between them. "One of the things I talked a lot about in group therapy was how to take that first step. I, uh, want to go visit Clay and I was hoping you'd come with me. I think it would be good for both of us.
Spencer inhaled sharply. She had only been back to Clay's grave one time since he passed away. She always avoided going because then it would be real.
Arthur took his daughter's silence as a bad sign. "I mean, you don't have to, and we don't have to go right away or anything like that."
"I think it's a good idea too," Spencer said quietly. She needed closure and to move on just as much as her dad did. "He's probably going to be really upset with us for not visiting sooner. You know how sensitive he could be. I always told him he needed to toughen up."
Arthur breathed a sigh of relief and smiled at the same time. It was nice to hear Spencer talk about Clay in a way that wasn't angry or upset. "Hopefully he will forgive us."
"He could never stay mad for too long, it's one of the things I loved most about him."
"He was a very special person," Arthur agreed.
Seeing as it was seemed to be a time for tough conversations, there was something that Spencer also needed to get off her chest. She'd been waiting for her dad to get home before she brought it up. "I, uh, also have something I want to talk to you about."
Arthur wasn't sure if he should be worried or not. The look on Spencer's face was very serious.
"There's really no easy way to say this, so I'm just going to come right out and say it." Spencer didn't like being direct, but it was needed in this case. "I can't have you push me to try and have a relationship with mom. She's awful to me and I can't put myself in the position to be hurt by her any more than I have already." Spencer had forgiven Ashley and she was willing to give her dad a chance, but that didn't extend to Paula. Too much had happened between them for her to try. Why should she put herself out there when all she got back was judgment and rejection? It wasn't worth it. "I'm not saying you have to like it, but I need you to be OK with it and not push me."
Arthur was sure that in her own way Paula did love Spencer. She also had been destroyed when Clay had died, but that didn't excuse her behavior. He always tried to get mother and daughter together because it felt like the right thing to do. Spencer was telling him that wasn't the case and he had to respect her wishes. "You won't hear another word from me on that subject of your mother."
That put Spencer at ease. "Thank you."
"I'm so proud of you," Arthur said, meaning every word of it. "You've been through so much and you've turned out to be an incredible person, Spence. I wish I could take credit for it, but you deserve that credit. You're amazing and I'm really looking forward to spending time with you again."
Spencer wasn't sure how to respond to that. She felt overwhelmed. She wanted to tell her dad that she was proud of him too. That she could only imagine how hard the last few months had been for him. She wanted to get out every last thing she'd been holding in. Nothing came out of her mouth though. There was still a part of her that was fearful. She needed to take a breather from the intensity. "I really should get some homework done. I hope that's OK."
"Absolutely," Arthur replied. He knew this was going to be the first of many, many moments that would hopefully lead to better times between himself and Spencer.
Spencer jumped up from her seat, she felt an almost instantaneous feeling of relief. But she didn't leave. She couldn't, not just yet.
"What's wrong?" Arthur asked when he noticed that his daughter hadn't moved. He stood up as well, the concern etched on his face.
Spencer slowly turned around. She was determined to tell her dad what she hadn't said to him in a very long time. She looked up at him, her eyes already tearing up. "I love you."
Arthur was not prepared to hear those words coming from Spencer. Not yet anyway. He also wasn't prepared for the hug that she was now giving him. Arthur wrapped his arms around the blonde and soon both of them were crying. "I love you too. So much."
"Welcome home, dad," Spencer managed to get out.
Arthur wasn't able to say anything else, instead he just held on to Spencer. The healing between father and daughter had begun.