Nothing Left to Lose

Chapter Eight

Small footsteps pattered across the hardwood floors of the upstairs bedrooms. Ashley hadn't slept well at all that night compared to the night before. Those footsteps made their way into Ashley's room and into her bed.

"Momma!" Ben jumped up and down on the queen sized bed, anxiously waiting for his mom to answer his request. Ashley rolled over from her stomach to her back and slowly opened her eyes, her son and daughter coming in to clear view.

"Yes, baby?" She smiled, pulling him down and sitting him next to her.

"Why didn't you wake us up?" Ben asked. Brooklyn nodded as she sucked her thumb on the edge of the bed; she wasn't a morning person like her brother and definitely took after her mother in that aspect.

"I thought I would let you guys sleep in." Ashley smiled as she pulled the little girl onto her lap, playing with Brooklyn's hair as she did so.

"Are we going to daycare?" Brooklyn asked as she looked up into her mother's matching brown eyes.

"I was going to see if I could work at home today and maybe we can go see a movie or go to the park." Ashley suggested. The twins' eyes lit up in excitement at the mention of a day with their mom. Ashley knew that she hadn't been spending as much time as she used to with the two of them, and she did feel bad about it. She wanted her kids to have at least one parent present in their life.

"Momma.. I have a question. The other day, on the playground, Kyle was talking about his mommy and daddy. Do we have a daddy?" Ben asked. He sat down in front of his mom and sister and waited for an answer to the question Ashley had been hoping wouldn't come for a while.

"Yes, Baby, you do." Ashley nodded; she reached over to her nightstand and pulled out a scrapbook from high-school. She opened it to a page with a picture of her and Aiden. He was standing behind her with his hands wrapped around her waist.

"That's our daddy?" Brooklyn asked, pointing at the picture.

"Yep."

"Where did he go?" Ben sighed.

"That's a good question. He isn't around here anymore." Ashley lied. She didn't want to give the twins false hope about their dad coming around anytime soon. The two seemed somewhat satisfied with that answer and left the room in a chatter about their school friends. Ashley sighed and sat back on her bed, wondering what could have been.

A few hours later, the kids were playing on the swing set at the park while Ashley sat on a bench nearby and watched. She was reading her history book and trying to take in the information she was reading opposed to the thoughts she was thinking.

"Hey stranger." Ashley heard a familiar voice coming from in front of her. She looked up and shielded her eyes from the blaring noon sun.

"Hey, what are you doing here?" Ashley smiled at the blonde as she sat down on the bench.

"Just walking. You hanging out creeping on kids?"

"Oh yeah, all day." Ashley bantered playfully. Spencer scooted closer to Ashley. Brooklyn yelled from a distance away for her mom to watch her jump off the swing. The mother focused her attention on her daughter, although it was hard to pull her eyes away from the blonde beauty.

"Very good Brookey!" Ashley yelled back, waving at the little one.

"How is your day going?" Spencer asked, placing her hand on top of Ashley's thigh.

"It just got a little better. My mom called, she wants to see the kids; and then Aiden called and he wants to see them too." Ashley shook her head.

"That's rough." Spencer silently commented.

"It just sucks. They have both been out of my life for three years and now all of a sudden they want back in. They left because of the kids, because of my stupid decision. I mean- don't get me wrong- I love my kids to death. I just wish they would have come a little later in life with someone more important than Aiden…" Ashley scoffed and ran her hand through her curly hair. She leaned her head back on the bench and closed her eyes, allowing the sun to warm her body. She looked up to make sure her kids were okay and turned her attention back to Spencer.

"I understand where you're coming from, but wouldn't it be nice to have their father in their life again?" She suggested. "I mean, it may free up some of your responsibilities, lift a little weight off your shoulders."

Ashley shrugged, she wanted to let Aiden back in to Brooklyn and Ben's life, she just didn't want him to leave and for them to get hurt. Those kids, although they weren't aware of all they had gone through didn't need anymore hurt.

"And as for your mom, give her like a trial run. Hang out with her with the kids and see how she approaches and acts around them and then go from there."

The brunette smiled at the girl and placed a caring hand over the one Spencer had on her thigh. Ashley nodded and felt a small sense of peace come over her. Spencer may not be a mother, but she had some good ideas.

The afternoon passed and Ashley and Spencer went their separate ways.

Spencer arrived back at her condo while the sun was setting. She thought back on the day and the conversation she had with Ashley. She was glad that she could help her friend out. Was that all that Ashley was though, just a friend? Spencer knew that there was something different about the brunette and she knew that the feelings were not strictly those of a friend-like relationship. Spencer hadn't been in a real relationship since Chloe. Even though it was only four years ago that things had ended, it still felt like a whole different lifetime to Spencer.

Do you wanna grab lunch tomorrow.. talk about a few things? – S

Spencer smiled and placed her phone on it's charger. She showered quickly and climbed into bed in a pair of boyshorts and a tank top. She checked her phone but had nothing back yet.

Ashley was currently rubbing Brooklyn's back as the little girl profusely threw up into a bucket. Ashley couldn't handle puke on most occasions but Brooklyn was crying so hard she couldn't not help. Ashley pulled the little girl's hair back and handed her a water bottle, telling her daughter to swish out her mouth and spit. Brooklyn obeyed and said that she thought she was done throwing up.

Ashley nodded and carried the little girl into her room, telling Ben to go climb into Ashley's bed. The brunette slowly rubbed the little girl's back until she fell asleep. She placed another bucket by the bedside just in case. As she exited the room, she left the bedroom door open so she could hear if anything happened. She entered her own room where she found her little boy flipping through channels, stopping on 'Transformers II'. Ashley smiled.

"You can watch for a little while, then to sleep." Ashley instructed and Ben nodded at his mother's command. Ashley picked up her phone and smiled at the text message that popped up on the screen.

Brooklyn is sick. Want to bring over something and we can eat here so I can keep an eye on her? – xx Ash

Ben quickly fell asleep in the middle of the bed, forcing Ashley to maneuver her way around him to get comfortable. Spencer had responded with a simple smiley face and Ashley fell asleep with her a smile on her own face.

SOOOO SORRY! ): it's been too long since ive updated and I'm sorry! I was so super busy this semester but my classes are over as of tomorrow morning and I am taking a lighter load of classes over the summer. I hope you enjoyed the short short short update.

Coming Soon: Spencer admits her true feelings and hesitations about Ashley. Aiden pops into the picture, as does Christine.