A/N: Future chapters will be much more fast pace than this, I just wanted to get the basics out of the way. I have a lot in mind but I don't know whether to continue with this story so please review and let me know if you think I should. Thank you for reading and I hope you enjoy.

One particularly cold evening in late October, Spencer Hastings sat alone in her family lounge with a pen in hand, completing her AP history homework that she had received only hours before. Her sister, Melissa had just moved into her townhouse in Philadelphia and her parents, Peter and Veronica Hastings both had late meetings with clients that afternoon, much like the other seven days of every week. Growing up with two successful lawyers as parents had taught Spencer to appreciate her own company, although today she was feeling particularly isolated from lack of communication. She pulled out her phone from the pocket of the sweatpants she was currently sporting and decided to text her friends.

Can you come over? - Spencer

I'm on my way over to Ezra's, sorry Spence! - Aria

Spencer sighed at this but she had yet to receive a confirmation from Emily or Hanna.

Family dinner night tonight, I'd come if I could. Sorry. Xx - Emily

Got a yearbook meeting with Lucas in 20 minutes. Tomorrow maybe? - Hanna

Spencer threw up her hands in frustration, not with her friends but out of pure boredom. She quickly replied to her friends and arranged to meet with them the following day as a way to compensate for the recent distance between the group due to the transition into senior year.

Having completed her workload completely by 8:30pm, Spencer decided to get an early night and went to bed.

Spencer was awoke later that night by the sound of glass smashing and a car screeching away from her driveway. She looked at the alarm clock positioned next to her bed and read 11:23pm. Spencer's mind immediately drifted to thoughts of Melissa's ex-fiancee Ian Thomas, who she herself had shared previous intimate moments with. However, this had proved to be a bad interest for either girl to pursue as Ian was soon revealed to be the mysterious "stranger" who had been recording and creating videos starring the girls of Rosewood. This included Spencer and her friends. This discovery was only made after Ian had fled town and he had not been seen since. Considering these events took place over a year ago, they took over Spencer's thought process constantly.

After making sure that she had given the car enough time to get away and taking a few moments to listen for anymore possible intrusions, Spencer began her hastily venture downstairs while being sure to stay silent.

She was met by the glass doors of her patio broken and smashed into from the outside. Spencer's felt a sudden pang of uneasiness flood over her as she realized that she had slept through the most part of a breaking and entering in her own home.

After making complete sure of the fact that she was now the only person in the house, Spencer called the police who assured her that an officer would be with her shortly. While waiting, the brunette girl decided to call her parents in order to fill them in on the situation that had unfolded while they had been out with clients. However, neither one of the Hastings parents had answered. Spencer mulled over whether to call her sister but decided against it, concluding that the night had already been too long and she didn't need the extra stress of an argument with Melissa as the two hadn't been civil since Spencer had kissed Ian almost three years ago, who was at the time engaged to her sister.

Spencer was ripped out of her thoughts by a distinct knock at the door of the family home which proceeded with the standard "it's the police." Spencer stood up from her place at the kitchen island and opened the door to be met with a tanned man in uniform who was standing next to a very familiar face, dressed the same.

"Toby?" she asked, eyebrows raised.

"Spencer, I thought I'd see you here"

He said while gulping and Spencer laughed lightly as they locked eyes. Toby Cavanaugh was a former student at Rosewood High who graduated last year and had joined the police force, as well as Spencer's ex-boyfriend of four months. The pair broke up after Spencer concluded that they needed time apart even after the pleads from Toby for her to reconsider. Spencer's eyes drifted around Toby's Facial features and hair as she noted the slight changed that had occurred in recent months, as Toby did the same to the girl stood in front of him. Toby's facial hair was not unkempt but the stubble was clearly visible. At the point that he never allowed it to get to while they were together, for all of two years.

"I'm guessing you two know each other?" The man who appeared to be Toby's partner spoke up, filling the silence after clearing his throat.

Toby finally ripped his eyes from their fixed position on Spencer's to look at the man and then cleared his own throat.

"Yes...this is Spencer Hastings. My ex-girlfriend...she goes to Rosewood High. Smartest girl in the school if I'm not mistaken." He said, politely while turning his head to look back at Spencer, who returned his gaze with a shy smile. "Spencer, this is Lorenzo my partner on the force."

"Lorenzo...Hi, it's nice to meet you. Toby mentioned about you before"

"likewise" The man returned, some what professionally. "So, you called about a breaking and entering?"

"Yeah, come in." Spencer replied while leading the two men through the house towards the smashed glass covering the hardwood floor. "I woke up to the patio door being smashed and then heard a car pull away from the driveway."

"Are you the only one home?" Lorenzo asked, keeping the same tone he had used before.

"Yes, my parents are out of town on business and my sister recently moved out."

Toby inaudibly grunted at this. He always hated the way the Hastings treated Spencer by leaving her alone on a daily basis. "Have you noticed anything different other than the door? Has anything been stolen?" Toby finally spoke up again after eyeing Spencer up and down for a short while.

"I've looked around and nothing seems to be any different. I heard the car pull away not even a minute after the door was smashed so I don't see how they would of had time to steal anything..."

"I see...this seems like someone was just trying to scare you. Is there anyone you know who has a reason to do something like this, Miss Hastings?" Lorenzo asked and Spencer realized that he must be new to Rosewood because the rumors of her and her friends dispute with Ian were spread around town in an instant and everybody knew. Toby looked at the girl with a raised eyebrow, he seemed to be thinking the same thing but he waited for her to speak.

"There is somebody but...he left town, last year. No one has heard from him since. It can't be...He's specifically trying to avoid police...I-" Spencer rambled and Toby could see she was struggling to explain the situation to Lorenzo, so he decided to help.

"Ian Thomas was the man Tanner told you about when you first joined the force. The perv that recorded girls without them realizing."

"Oh, you were one of those girls?" He asked.

"Yes."

"I see...well is there any reason he would do this to you in particular? From what I remember being told, he did this to a lot of girls."

"I was the one who found his video's and handed them into the police last year"

The interaction between the three went on for a while until Lorenzo announced that an official report had to be made, regarding Ian Thomas. As the tanned man was on the verge of leaving, Toby spoke up.

"Hey...um...shouldn't one of us stay here with Spencer? You know, she's home alone and if this guy decides to come back then he's made an easy and quiet entrance for himself"

"I guess I could stay here if you wan-" Lorenzo was quickly interrupted by his partner who had a frantic look on his face.

"No, No...I uh...I can stay here. Like you said a report needs to be made and you've always been better at those..." Toby said, hoping that Spencer wouldn't pick up on his sense of urgency. Although, she did and she smiled to herself at the realization of Toby's actions. As did Lorenzo.

"oh, yeah I guess I do need to file this report. I'll tell Tanner where you are. Bye Toby, goodbye Miss Hastings, I'm sure we'll find this guy soon enough."

"Thank you. Goodbye, have a good night." Spencer smiled at the man who was quick to return it before nodding his head towards Toby and headed out through the front door.

An awkward silence followed as Toby rocked back and forth on his heel before rotating himself around to face Spencer.

"You can, um...just pretend I'm not here. You're probably tired. Maybe you should go to bed and I'll just hang out down here"

"Are you kidding? I've had way too big of a night to sleep now." Spencer said while letting out a giggle, making Toby smile too. "I'm gonna go see if anything's on TV...wanna come sit with me?"

Toby gulped for what seemed like the millionth time that night. Being around Spencer again made him nervous, just looking at her in her current state of sweatpants and baggy shirt that hung loosely on her body gave Toby butterflies.

He knew that he had never fell out of love with Spencer and he knew that he never would. "Yeah. That sounds great."

The two sat on the same chair but left a reasonable amount of distance between each other as Spencer flicked through channel after channel to no results. Spencer looked over at Toby who's eyes were fixed to his worn shoes as he sat, straight backed with his hands in his lap. Spencer laughed at the sight which caused Toby's eyes to snap onto Spencer. "What's so funny?" he asked confused. "Oh, just you." Spencer replied as Toby struggled to comprehend the situation.

"Me?...What about me?"

"You, being a police officer."

"You knew me as a police officer for six months, Spencer..."

"Yeah but I was never on the receiving end of things. I saw you dressed in uniform but I never actually saw you play the part until tonight."

"well...what do you think?" Toby asked with a half smile, slowly regaining his confidence.

"I think you're way to professional. You need to lighten up, Tobes"

This gained a laugh from Toby, the first real one he had displayed all night. Spencer's eyes lit up at the sound. She broke up with Toby because she felt like she couldn't give to him what he deserved. She was always paranoid and on edge since the whole Ian incident as she felt as though this put a huge strain on their relationship. Toby would always try to reassure Spencer that she was safe but no words could ever truly set Spencer straight. So she ended things, that way all of Toby's kind and caring words wouldn't be lost on her although, she told the boy that they needed time apart. She felt that telling him, to put it bluntly, that he doesn't make her feel safe would hurt his ego to say the very least. Tonight Spencer wished she had been selfish. She wished that she didn't love him as much as proved true because that way Toby would still be hers and he would be able to hold her on a night like this, instead of sitting as far away as he could possibly get.

"I guess I'll take that into consideration next time I'm taking down a murderer. I'll make sure to lighten up." Toby shot back with a laugh as his posture seemed to relax in his position.

Spencer smirked at this. She loved to see him finally start to let his guard down. "That's all I'm asking"

The two looked at each other. They shared the same look they used to share before a particularly intimate kiss. Toby moved closer to Spencer and Spencer shifted forward in her position and shifted her gaze towards the boy's lips. It was then that Toby realized that this was unprofessional and he didn't want to kiss Spencer again if it meant that it would be the last kiss they would ever share. He knew his heart couldn't take the trauma of a last kiss, again.

Toby sat up straight again and resumed his staring contest with his shoe laces. He then cleared his throat and spoke. "Can I uh...do you mind if I grab myself a drink? I'm really thirsty." This wasn't a lie. His mouth had completely dried up at the thought of kissing Spencer.

Spencer averted her eyes from Toby and to the opposite wall. "yeah, sure. You uh...you know where the fridge is." She said while giving the boy a light smile which Toby returned before standing up and turning towards the fridge.

Once Toby had gotten himself a bottle of water from the Hastings fridge he called out to Spencer. "Hey, do you want a water?" He waited but got no reply. "Spencer?" The girl heard this and assumed Toby needed help with something so made her way to the officer, without his knowledge. Before Toby saw that Spencer was directly behind him, he gave another loud call "Babe?" Toby let out a gasp and covered his mouth, realising what he had just said and hoping that Spencer hadn't heard until he felt a pair of eyes hot on his back.

"Toby..."

"No, I'm sorry I really didn't mean to call you that. It was just out of habit in this type of situation...I um...I can call for a different officer to stay with you tonight if you feel uncomfortable..."

"No, I don't want you to do that at all. Seriously, it's fine. No harm done."

"Are you sure? I mean I know it's been a while since we've broken up bu-"

"four months." Spencer interrupted him without thinking.

"Yeah...four months but I guess sometime that kinda slips my mind..."

"What do you mean?"

"I mean that sometimes I forget that we're broken up...like sometimes I wake up and reach over to pull you closer but obviously you're not there. Stupid stuff like that happens all the time. Maybe it's just wishful thinking, you know? Like sometimes I even sta-"

Toby was interrupted by the feeling of lips pressed tightly to his. He stumbled slightly onto the counter top. Spencer was kissing him. He had yet to register the complexity of the situation but it felt right. Spencer had her hands planted firmly to Toby's cheeks and Toby's hands had fell to grip Spencer's waist in a tight embrace. He could feel the ripples of pleasure coursing through his veins as he kissed the girl he loved. Toby moved his lips to match the rhythm of Spencer's and was about to deepen the kiss when the girl suddenly pulled away, panting.

"Toby...I'm so sorry...I didn't mean to..."

"Stop, Spencer. Why are you apologizing? You know as well as I do that what we just did felt right, It is right. Why would you stop that?"

"Because we're broken up Toby. It was for the best an-"

"Fuck for the best, Spencer. I've felt like shit from the moment you left me and you've just gave me that happiness back, only to take it away form me again? Please, Spencer. You know we belong together."

"Toby, you think this hasn't been hard on me? You think I don't dwell on the company of others just to get you out of my head?"

"Then why aren't we together? We both want it so why not? I love you so much, Spencer. I am so, so in love with you. I'll never stop loving you. Please, let me prove it to you."

"you don't have to prove anything to me, Toby. I know you're still hurting but I pro-"

Toby couldn't bring himself to listen to any more of Spencer's reasoning's as to why they shouldn't be together.

"Spencer, stop. I don't wanna hear it. I came here tonight because someone broke into your house but I wasn't even the officer that was meant to show up. I heard what had happened and they mentioned the address and I froze, Spencer. I told them that I'd take this one and drove straight here. Not as a police officer, but as someone who cared. I was so scared that you had been hurt or was in danger, Spence. I know I hid it well when Lorenzo was here but I was so, so scared. I didn't plan on admitting all of this to you tonight. My plan was to come here and protect you at all costs. When I catch the guy that tried to pull one over on you tonight, I swear I'll kill him, whether that's Ian or not. I will no-"

"Toby..." Spencer all but whispered as tears fell from her eyes freely as she tried to take in all the information that Toby had just gave out.

"No, Spencer. Please, let me finish. What I just said goes fro anyone who ever tries to hurt you. I will do anything to protect you and make sure that you're safe. Just the same whether you take me back or not. You asked for space and I gave it to you. Now please give me another chance. I love you, Spencer."

Spencer's lip trembled as she stared at the boy in front of her. That confession was everything she ever wanted and needed while the two were in a relationship. Spencer then realized that she should of always felt safe around Toby because his main priority was always protecting her. She cursed herself for not realizing this before Toby's confession but she knew it was what she needed. Toby's eyes were now glassy and on the verge of tears as he watched the girl he loved, crying and speechless.

Spencer took a deep breath in as a way to control her tears before replying "I...I love you too, Toby. I'm so sorry. I should never of ended things with you. I was so stupid to ask for space, I was just under so much stress. I still am but now I know that you're the only one that can help me with that...I'm sorry, Toby."

Toby wiped his right eye with the back of his hand, clearing away the tear that had escaped before gently smiling and swallowing the lump in his throat. "You're apologizing for taking me back?"

Spencer laughed and sniffed back a few tears before taking a step forward so that she was now directly in front of Toby, leaving no personal space. She then looked the boy hard in the eyes before whispering so quietly it was almost inaudible "I guess I am. Do you forgive me?" Toby kept his focus on Spencer's eyes before reaching up with both hands and wiping her tears away with his thumbs. "I'll always forgive you, Spencer."

Toby then reached behind Spencer's neck and gently pulled her towards him until their lips met in a tight embrace. Spencer then wrapped her arms around Toby's neck as Toby's hands dropped down to Spencer's waist once again. Spencer soon felt Toby's tongue scrape her bottom lip and she opened her mouth to allow access. Their tongue's met for the first time in four months and it felt amazing for both of them. Their mouths moved against each others for a few long moments, although it felt like an eternity. The kiss was eventually broken when the pair ran out of oxygen.

They both pulled away and their previous intense eye contact was again resumed. This went on for what seemed to be as long as the kiss until Spencer finally spoke.

"Stay here with me tonight?"

"Of course. It's my job after all, right?" Toby joked.

"I love you, Spencer."

"I love you too, Toby. So much."