The Falling 7/?
-South Of Nowhere
-Spencer/Ashley
-AU (Alternative Universe) story. Angst and smatterings of humor. Christmas/holiday-time themes are present. Spencer POV 99% of the time.
-And right before Spencer Carlin’s world ended, she just wasn’t sure if her answers were as good as she wanted them to be.
-PG 15-ish to possibly light R
“What are we seeing again?”
“’It’s A Wonderful Life’. I can’t believe you’ve never seen this.”
“It’s an old film, right?”
“It’s a classic.”
“But it is in black-n-white… right?”
“Yessss…”
“Then that is why. I’ve never been a fan of movies like that.”
“Well, this will change your mind. Besides, it is a Christmas tradition.”
“For you, maybe…”
“We used gather around and watch it every Christmas Eve. Well, before I left and my brothers took off for college…”
“…Sounds nice.”
Spencer turns and catches the sad smile on Ashley’s face. And she cannot stand to see it, so she leans over and wipes it away with a buttery kiss.
She can feel the woman’s lips curl upward and then the vibration of a light chuckle.
Spencer pulls back, raising one eyebrow in mock irritation.
“What’s so funny?”
“You taste like popcorn.”
“That’s because I’ve just eaten some.”
“More like the whole bucket.”
“Hey!”
“The movie has not even started yet and I’m going to have to go back out to the concession stand.”
“I don’t see that box of Whoppers anywhere, Ms. Davies…”
“What are you implying, Ms. Carlin?”
“I think you know perfectly well what I am impl-“
Now it is a kiss that tastes faintly of chocolate and Spencer likes the combination of cheap candy and Ashley’s mouth - which is anything but cheap. I’d say Ashley’s mouth is priceless.
When Ashley pulls back, self-satisfied smirk in place, Spencer just rolls her eyes.
And then the lights go down in this refurbished theater, where they are the only customers - feet propped up on the seats in front of them - and the screen crackles to life… Jimmy Stewart, struggling to find meaning in a life that seems destined for anything but greatness… and then realizing that meaning is everywhere in his life after-all. His life is the meaning of it all.
And yes, Spencer Carlin loves this film - bittersweet memories of her family flashing before her eyes. But it is not for her, not this time.
It is for Ashley Davies.
Ashley, who has spent too many holidays in an office, alone.
Ashley, who feels like the world expects more than she can ever give, always.
Ashley, who almost ended her life… without a care as to who might miss her…
Spencer hasn’t forgotten why she is here, back on Earth and back in her body.
She has taken a few liberties with the job description - ‘coz falling in love wasn’t part of the ultimate plan…
But how could anyone not love this woman?
Past the hardness and the coldness, Ashley is so very fragile and so very wounded - like the most beautiful bird you’ve ever seen… but they are caged, bound and broken.
And Spencer’s only goal is to set this woman free.
For good.
*** *** ***
They are walking along the beach, shoes off, and Ashley makes a point of their hands brushing close to one another - swish, swish, swish - like a reminder that this is real at all.
Spencer likes it.
“I really don’t do things like this, you know…”
“Walk on the beach?”
“Uh, no… uh, I don’t open up to people very well... More like not at all. And yet, here I am... with you...”
“Well, I am pretty amazing and all. You probably can’t help yourself.”
“Yea, that’s it.”
And Ashley laughs, face breaking out with mirth and Spencer is blinded by it - like looking into the sun.
I’m sorry Gabe, I really am. Tell God I am sorry, too. But I can’t help it… just look at her! She is freakin’ gorgeous!
They are silent again, the rush of the ocean beside them a nice and calm kind of lullaby. But Ashley’s voice rings out once more, this time subdued and almost child-like.
“…Why did you save me? I mean, really… why?”
Spencer reaches out and gently grabs Ashley’s wrist, ignoring for just a moment the tears threatening to spill from the woman’s brown eyes, pulling them effectively to a halt on this mostly empty stretch of shoreline.
“Because the world would be wrong without you in it, Ashley.”
And then Spencer cannot ignore the tears, because they are falling.
As is the woman herself, tumbling to the wet sand and Spencer does her best to catch Ashley as she crashes down… does her best to hold Ashley as she cries and cries… does her best fix what has been forever cracked and left hollow…
When Ashley is calm again, just a hiccup or two of sorrow, they are sitting close and Spencer’s arm is across Ashley’s shoulders.
And those brown eyes, watery and wide, stare at Spencer’s profile - as if seeing the first person on a planet full of trees and wild things… looking at Spencer with the kind of gaze that speaks of a total lack of understanding and, yet, with more hope than anyone else could ever muster…
Spencer likes it. She really does.
“I don’t do this…” Ashley whispers, eyes unnervingly focused on Spencer - running a loop over her cheek and neck and then back up again.
“…Do what?” Spencer asks, because it feels like the time for jokes has long passed now.
“It’s… it’s like I want to just… I… Spencer, I…”
Ashley is stumbling under the weight of it all and Spencer reaches out again, not with her arms this time - but with all she has, all she is… angel and woman, friend you never knew you’d meet and lover you’ve always wanted… a girl from Ohio, a girl from New York, a girl from Heaven… Spencer turns her eyes toward Ashley and gives over everything she can.
Because she must. Because she has to. Because she wants to and nothing can stop her from doing so - even the facts, as cold and final as they are.
“…You make me feel things, things I’ve spent so much time killing off and… and shoving away… Spencer…”
Ashley’s fingers are hot and cold at the same time, real and alive and Spencer slides against them - rough and soft upon her face.
And Ashley pushes off the skin and into the hair, gathering locks of blonde like they are strands of gold, running through it like feet through a field.
“Spencer… I think I am really starting to like you…”
It is whispered and it is not what all those thousands of romance novels would preach as the ultimate declaration of love - but from Ashley Davies, who really has no reason to trust some woman who fetches her files and fills up her coffee mug… who buts in on her suicide attempts and plays witness to each shattered moment… who forces Christmas cheer when it is probably not the woman’s favorite day…
It is everything and more.
It is spoken with such sincerity and honestly, tripping from Ashley’s mouth like the biggest confession - beyond sins and sanctimonious babble.
And Spencer doesn’t just like it. She loves it.
“Good, because I think I am really starting to like you, too.”
And on Christmas Day, on a beach in California, they sit and stay silent… Ashley’s hand trailing down and taking hold of Spencer’s hand, all at once shy and brave.
And Spencer loves it.
///
Did you help others?
Yes. Yes, I did… I am… and it is helping me along the way.
///
TBC
-Spencer/Ashley
-AU (Alternative Universe) story. Angst and smatterings of humor. Christmas/holiday-time themes are present. Spencer POV 99% of the time.
-And right before Spencer Carlin’s world ended, she just wasn’t sure if her answers were as good as she wanted them to be.
-PG 15-ish to possibly light R
“What are we seeing again?”
“’It’s A Wonderful Life’. I can’t believe you’ve never seen this.”
“It’s an old film, right?”
“It’s a classic.”
“But it is in black-n-white… right?”
“Yessss…”
“Then that is why. I’ve never been a fan of movies like that.”
“Well, this will change your mind. Besides, it is a Christmas tradition.”
“For you, maybe…”
“We used gather around and watch it every Christmas Eve. Well, before I left and my brothers took off for college…”
“…Sounds nice.”
Spencer turns and catches the sad smile on Ashley’s face. And she cannot stand to see it, so she leans over and wipes it away with a buttery kiss.
She can feel the woman’s lips curl upward and then the vibration of a light chuckle.
Spencer pulls back, raising one eyebrow in mock irritation.
“What’s so funny?”
“You taste like popcorn.”
“That’s because I’ve just eaten some.”
“More like the whole bucket.”
“Hey!”
“The movie has not even started yet and I’m going to have to go back out to the concession stand.”
“I don’t see that box of Whoppers anywhere, Ms. Davies…”
“What are you implying, Ms. Carlin?”
“I think you know perfectly well what I am impl-“
Now it is a kiss that tastes faintly of chocolate and Spencer likes the combination of cheap candy and Ashley’s mouth - which is anything but cheap. I’d say Ashley’s mouth is priceless.
When Ashley pulls back, self-satisfied smirk in place, Spencer just rolls her eyes.
And then the lights go down in this refurbished theater, where they are the only customers - feet propped up on the seats in front of them - and the screen crackles to life… Jimmy Stewart, struggling to find meaning in a life that seems destined for anything but greatness… and then realizing that meaning is everywhere in his life after-all. His life is the meaning of it all.
And yes, Spencer Carlin loves this film - bittersweet memories of her family flashing before her eyes. But it is not for her, not this time.
It is for Ashley Davies.
Ashley, who has spent too many holidays in an office, alone.
Ashley, who feels like the world expects more than she can ever give, always.
Ashley, who almost ended her life… without a care as to who might miss her…
Spencer hasn’t forgotten why she is here, back on Earth and back in her body.
She has taken a few liberties with the job description - ‘coz falling in love wasn’t part of the ultimate plan…
But how could anyone not love this woman?
Past the hardness and the coldness, Ashley is so very fragile and so very wounded - like the most beautiful bird you’ve ever seen… but they are caged, bound and broken.
And Spencer’s only goal is to set this woman free.
For good.
*** *** ***
They are walking along the beach, shoes off, and Ashley makes a point of their hands brushing close to one another - swish, swish, swish - like a reminder that this is real at all.
Spencer likes it.
“I really don’t do things like this, you know…”
“Walk on the beach?”
“Uh, no… uh, I don’t open up to people very well... More like not at all. And yet, here I am... with you...”
“Well, I am pretty amazing and all. You probably can’t help yourself.”
“Yea, that’s it.”
And Ashley laughs, face breaking out with mirth and Spencer is blinded by it - like looking into the sun.
I’m sorry Gabe, I really am. Tell God I am sorry, too. But I can’t help it… just look at her! She is freakin’ gorgeous!
They are silent again, the rush of the ocean beside them a nice and calm kind of lullaby. But Ashley’s voice rings out once more, this time subdued and almost child-like.
“…Why did you save me? I mean, really… why?”
Spencer reaches out and gently grabs Ashley’s wrist, ignoring for just a moment the tears threatening to spill from the woman’s brown eyes, pulling them effectively to a halt on this mostly empty stretch of shoreline.
“Because the world would be wrong without you in it, Ashley.”
And then Spencer cannot ignore the tears, because they are falling.
As is the woman herself, tumbling to the wet sand and Spencer does her best to catch Ashley as she crashes down… does her best to hold Ashley as she cries and cries… does her best fix what has been forever cracked and left hollow…
When Ashley is calm again, just a hiccup or two of sorrow, they are sitting close and Spencer’s arm is across Ashley’s shoulders.
And those brown eyes, watery and wide, stare at Spencer’s profile - as if seeing the first person on a planet full of trees and wild things… looking at Spencer with the kind of gaze that speaks of a total lack of understanding and, yet, with more hope than anyone else could ever muster…
Spencer likes it. She really does.
“I don’t do this…” Ashley whispers, eyes unnervingly focused on Spencer - running a loop over her cheek and neck and then back up again.
“…Do what?” Spencer asks, because it feels like the time for jokes has long passed now.
“It’s… it’s like I want to just… I… Spencer, I…”
Ashley is stumbling under the weight of it all and Spencer reaches out again, not with her arms this time - but with all she has, all she is… angel and woman, friend you never knew you’d meet and lover you’ve always wanted… a girl from Ohio, a girl from New York, a girl from Heaven… Spencer turns her eyes toward Ashley and gives over everything she can.
Because she must. Because she has to. Because she wants to and nothing can stop her from doing so - even the facts, as cold and final as they are.
“…You make me feel things, things I’ve spent so much time killing off and… and shoving away… Spencer…”
Ashley’s fingers are hot and cold at the same time, real and alive and Spencer slides against them - rough and soft upon her face.
And Ashley pushes off the skin and into the hair, gathering locks of blonde like they are strands of gold, running through it like feet through a field.
“Spencer… I think I am really starting to like you…”
It is whispered and it is not what all those thousands of romance novels would preach as the ultimate declaration of love - but from Ashley Davies, who really has no reason to trust some woman who fetches her files and fills up her coffee mug… who buts in on her suicide attempts and plays witness to each shattered moment… who forces Christmas cheer when it is probably not the woman’s favorite day…
It is everything and more.
It is spoken with such sincerity and honestly, tripping from Ashley’s mouth like the biggest confession - beyond sins and sanctimonious babble.
And Spencer doesn’t just like it. She loves it.
“Good, because I think I am really starting to like you, too.”
And on Christmas Day, on a beach in California, they sit and stay silent… Ashley’s hand trailing down and taking hold of Spencer’s hand, all at once shy and brave.
And Spencer loves it.
///
Did you help others?
Yes. Yes, I did… I am… and it is helping me along the way.
///
TBC