The trio approaches the ice skating rink and Ashley starts to second guess her decision on joining the two gorgeous girls before her. "Umm… I'm not so sure about this." She says backing away from the rink.
"Come on Ashley!" Emma says as she takes a step on to the cold ice. "It's easy." Emma begins to skate off leaving Ashley and Spencer behind.
"Yeah come on. I'll teach you." Spencer reaches out her hands.
Ashley shakes her head. "I'm going to fall."
"Take my hands. I promise not to let you fall." Seeing the sincerity in Spencer eyes and finally grabs a hold of her hands, wobbling just a little as she takes a step onto the ice towards Spencer.
"Promise you won't let me fall?"
"I promise." Spencer begins to skate backwards while Ashley attempts to skate forward and never taking her eyes off the blonde in front of her. For the first time she notices dark royal blue eyes staring back into her brown ones.
Ashley tries not to let her hormones take over. She reminds herself that Spencer is a widow and the only friend she's really made since coming to New York, usually keeping to herself in her dorm room or occasionally having dinner with Aiden during the week.
"Come on Davies, don't think those thoughts." She internally says as Spencer almost gracefully guides her around the rink but with Spencer's blonde hair blowing in the wind and her smiling at Ashley the way she is, she can't help the butterflies she feels in her stomach.
"I need a break." She breathes out, not being able to handle the closeness of Spencer anymore. Spencer guides her to the exit and then takes Emma's hand and beings to skate around the rink as Ashley watches on.
She watches as Spencer and Emma giggle while holding hands circling the rink. Spencer than gets bold by quickly skating towards the middle of the rink and twirls around doing some fancy jumpy thing that Ashley can't begin to understand.
Ashley watches in awe.
"Wow." She breathes out as Spencer skates off the rink and takes a seat next to her. "You're really good."
"I'm rusty."
"You're incredible." Ashley gushes in admiration.
Spencer blushes. "You want to skate some more?"
Ashley smiles and nods her head yes.
"Come on you." Spencer grabs her hand and leads her back onto the ice.
"Don't let me fall." "I won't. Come on." Spencer grabs Ashley hands and begins to lead her around the rink. They both get lost in thought as they stare into each other eyes. Not missing a beat, Spencer leads them around the rink, as Emma skates close by.
Spencer had taught Emma how to skate a couple years ago, it was a family tradition that Spencer and James would bring Emma to Rockefeller Center every Christmas to ice skate but last year was the one year that Spencer didn't bring Emma herself. Emma begged for days until Spencer finally called Glen asking if he could take his niece ice skating.
It's not that she didn't want to take Emma she was just afraid of all the emotions she would endure when returning to a place that held so much happiness for the three of them. She wishes she could have those days back, the days when her mourning got the best of her.
Emma didn't deserve it.
A group of young teenagers playing chase skate roughly by them causing Spencer to lose her balance and falling down onto the ice bringing an already terrified Ashley down with her.
Ashley falls down on top of Spencer, they both stare into each other's eyes a moment before Ashley speaks, "hi."
"Hey." Spencer whispers back.
"You promised not to let me fall." Ashley breathes not rushing to get off Spencer.
"I know. I'm sorry."
Ashley fights the urge to run her fingers through Spencer's hair. It's almost like the world has stopped moving around her.
"I'm sorry." Ashley says finally rolling off Spencer so she can get up, but she doesn't get up she just lays there still giggling at the whole incident.
"I can't believe we just fell down." Spencer begins to giggle hysterically.
The whole scene did not going unnoticed by a small seven year old who realizes she hasn't heard her mother laugh in such way a long time and a big grin appears on her face.
Ashley tries to get up but falls down again, her butt hitting the ice hard and it strikes up another fit of giggles. "You're so cruel Spence." Ashley pouts crossing her arms at her chest like small child throwing a tantrum.
"You're cute when you pout." Spencer giggles out before standing up and offering her hand to the brunette.
A smirk grows on Ashley's face as she reaches out and grabs Spencer's hand and pulls her down onto the cold ice with her. Ashley begins to laugh. "That's for laughing at me and for calling me cute."
Spencer giggles again.
"Guys, you're starting to embarrass me." Emma says skating over to the older ladies causing both the old women laugh as they realize how silly they must look in the middle of rink.
"I guess we better…"
"Yeah…" Ashley agreeing with whatever Spencer was about to say.
Spencer finally gets up and helps Ashley up and off the rink without any more falls. They return their skates and start to walk away from the Rockefeller Center.
"Soooo… I guess I should be…" Ashley breathes out once she realizes they are approaching Spencer's building, not wanting to intrude.
"Do you want come up and have some hot chocolate or coffee?" Spencer asks quickly not wanting Ashley to leave just yet. "I mean if you don't have anywhere to be. I mean it is Saturday night of course you probably have plans. We could do it another time."
Ashley smiles, "Are you done?"
Spencer nods with a small blush.
"I would love to come up. Believe it or not Spence; I don't have very many friends so I'm enjoying myself very much right now. Plus I left my shopping bags at your place earlier."
"Oh right, so Emma and I shouldn't be worried that we're keeping you from a jealous boyfriend?" Spencer questions as they walk into the lobby of her apartment building.
"No, no jealous girlfriend." Ashley stresses causing Spencer to drop the keys she was pulling out of her purse. Ashley bends down and picks up the keys and holds them out for Spencer to take. "If you don't want me to come up for coffee anymore I understand."
"What? No. I'm sorry it just took me by surprise. I still want you to come up." Spencer takes the keys from Ashley before looking down and smiling at her daughter who is looking slightly confused at the two other older women in front of her.
Spencer had gay friends in college, she was taught love was love and it didn't matter who it was with just as long as you found it. Her father being a social worker taught her at an early age there was no reason to judge anybody for any reason and to except people for who they are as a person.
She's even has her suspicions that her brother might even be smitten with the fellows; he had never brought a girl home or even seen him with one now that she thought about it.
"You know, I think Glen plays for your team." Spencer giggles out.
This causes Ashley to laugh knowing full well Glen does play for her team. Aiden and Glen have been seeing each other for the past six months but she knew that the other Carlin's had yet to know about their relationship. And as much as she wants to let Spencer in on the truth, she won't, it's not her place and Glen will let Spencer know when he feels the time is right.
"Home, sweet home." Spencer says upon entering her condo. All three girls take off their jackets and hang them on the coat hanger located just next to the door. "So come on in make yourself at home."
Ashley watches as Spencer moves around the condo turning on a couple of table lamps and lighting various candles throughout the living room that give off the aroma of vanilla cookies.
Emma scurries off to her room leaving the two older females alone in the nice glow of the living room. "So hot chocolate or coffee?" Spencer asks when she finishes lightening the last candle, it had been a while since Spencer last entertained and she wasn't sure what to offer her new friend.
"Usually, I'd say coffee but I'm a hot cocoa mood tonight." Ashley smiles and Spencer notices how adorable it is that her nose crinkles when she does.
"So cocoa it is." Spencer turns on the kitchen light and starts to fill her kettle with water and sets it on the stove. "So where are your parents?" Spencer questions returning to the living room and taking a seat on the couch Ashley is currently occupying, she notices the way Ashley's body stiffens at the question.
"Well…"
Spencer reaches out and places her hand over Ashley's hand that is currently resting on her thigh, "I'm sorry, if you don't want to talk about it."
"No, it's just been a while since somebody has asked about them. My mother died of leukemia four years ago. My dad couldn't deal with the constant reminders of her in LA so he's out traveling the world. We hear from him once in a while and saw him about a year ago."
"Oh wow, I'm sorry Ash." Spencer realizing her hand is still placed on Ashley gives it a gentle squeeze before reluctantly pulling it away.
"It's okay. I mean I went through a rough patch but Aiden was able to get back on track and here I am. So I guess I owe a lot to him."
"Maybe in that aspect, but you're truly a great person. I've had a great time with you today."
"Good. Cause I'd hate to find out I'm a total bore." Ashley teased with a slight chuckle which in turn caused Spencer to chuckle as well. "You know, you really have a beautiful laugh, very melodic. You should laugh more often." Ashley inwardly curses herself hoping not to scare Spencer off with her honesty.
Spencer stops laughing and flickers hers eyes up to meet Ashley's both just staring at each other not saying a single word.
The whistle of the kettle disturbs what little moment that they had been sharing and Spencer gets up leaving the room to tend to the boiling hot water.
Ashley quietly gets up following, "so is there any reason why you don't have a Christmas tree yet?"
"Well, I haven't had a chance to get one yet."
"Spencer! Christmas is in two weeks! Oh no… come on…" Ashley drags Spencer to the front door. "Emma, come here."
"Ashley?" Spencer questions as Ashley throws Spencer her jacket and starts to put her own on.
"Yes?" Emma comes out of her room.
"Here princess put this on." Ashley hands Emma her jacket and puts it on with slight hesitation as Spencer stands there confused still not having put on her jacket.
"Ashley? What are you doing?" Spencer questions.
"We're going to get you two a Christmas tree. Come on, hurry." Spencer looks at the clock and realizes it's only eight at night and a few places should still be open.
"Yay!" Emma starts to jump up and down excited about going to get a Christmas tree and Ashley's heart swoons at Emma's obvious excitement.
"You're crazy, you know that." Spencer gushes as they head off onto the streets of New York in search of a Christmas tree.