Alex places her head in her hands roughly. How had she let herself get like this? She has never felt so powerful, yet so weak.

She had a plan, a damn good one at that. She was going to get back at Spencer for everything she had put her through, her entire childhood of never fitting in or being wanted just so Spencer could have a good, happy life with the perfect family and the perfect friends along with the perfect relationship. She needed to suffer just like she did. That was the plan. Toby is an easy target, take him down and Spencer is vulnerable, she proved that when she had thought that he had died and was sent to Radley. He is the key to her success.

It would be easy but she can't bring herself to do it, not anymore. Now there is a new plan, one that doesn't involve Toby or Spencer. It only involves on other person and it'd the same person that is causing her to become weak. A short brunette with enough compassion that she could take over the world and everyone would welcome her as their new leader with open arms and toss their guns away.

Aria.

The girl haunts her dreams and crushes her hate in a way that she can't resist. At first she thought she could work around it by tricking her into joining her but her heart is too pure and watching her cry to herself once she had hurt her friends was enough to make her stop and formulate a new plan pretty quickly. She thought about killing Ezra but that would push her further away. She won't be accepted if she introduces herself because they will find out about her past and put the dots together when she comes into their lives and the messages stop. This will take a plan that is going to take time. Time that she doesn't have in Rosewood. Well if there isn't time in Rosewood, then she won't stay in Rosewood.

Aria lets herself fall back onto the couch for the third day in a row. Her and Ezra have been arguing every day so she is trying to give them space by sleeping separate from each other, only leaving their shared bed once he is asleep so he can't try and make her stay. He was convinced that it's just pre-wedding jitters but she knows that he is struggling to come to terms with the fact that she can't have kids, she should know because all she does is think about it. She had always dreamed of one day getting married and having kids but now she had doubts about even getting married. She knows how much Ezra has wanted a kid, ever since the Malcolm incident.

She tries to get comfortable but her mind is working at a mile a minute and she is trying desperately not to cry as her life seems to be imploding around her. She can't even talk to her friends because she doesn't want to smother them with her problems when they are still mad at her for betraying them. They don't even know about her not being able to have kids yet.

After a good three hours of tossing and turning she decides to just get a drink of water to help her relax. She brushes her hair out her face as she slips into a sitting position to stand up. The walk to the kitchen is purposefully slow, taking her time to focus on anything else but her problems for a few minutes at least. The low buzzing of the fridge is soothing as she reaches in to find a chilled bottle of water. The lid is on too tight so she struggles to uncap it so she decides to walk back to the couch and retry once she is there.

Aria turns and is startled as she sees a figure standing before her.

"Spence? What are you doing here?"

"Need some help with that?" The words sounded strange, it was Spencer's voice but the accent was thick and British.

"Why are you talking like that?" Aria is confused as to why her friend has shown up unannounced in the middle of the night talking in a strange accent. "Do I need to call Toby for you?"

"No, I came here for you. I couldn't sleep and wanted to go for a drive. Sound good?" She was talking normally now and acting really weirdly but she had nothing better to do so she nodded and let Spencer lead her outside, still in her sweatpants.

Her eyes surveyed the area but couldn't see her car anywhere. "Where's your car Spence?"

"Spencer's car isn't here. We'll be taking my ride now." Aria went to turn to look at her friend confusedly but before she could she was grabbed from behind with an arm around her shoulders and a hand holding a cloth over her nose and mouth. She struggled to get away and fight the drowsiness but eventually failed and had to give in to the figure that may or may not be Spencer.

Alex couldn't believe that she had actually done it but as she looked back at Aria laying tied and unconscious in her back seat she knew that she had really done it. She smiles at the peaceful look on her love's face, happy that she is asleep because she knows how restless the girl has become based on the cameras she had installed in all of the girls' houses that she had now redirected the connection of so that they can't be traced back to her when the cops find them. They will only find a name, Vivian Darkbloom.

After Aria had stopped struggling and gone completely slack against her she slipped the rag into her pocket and lifted Aria so that she was in her arms bridal style. She couldn't help but to stare at her whilst enjoying the weight of her. She truly belonged to her now. She walked at a brisk pace to avoid the risk of being seen as she approached her truck. She placed Aria on the back seat before reaching into the bed of the truck to locate the ropes she had stored there. It took a few seconds to untangle them but when she did she smiled. Alex started with her feet first tying them together before circling the rope up her legs too, no reason why not. Next she turned her over so she could tie her arms together behind her, once again circling the ropes up her limbs also before taking the time to gently turn her over so that she's once again on her back with a pillow under her head, Alex was glad she thought ahead on bringing one for her because she looks so peaceful. Once that was done she threw the remaining pieces of rope back into the bed before reaching into her glove box to retrieve a strip of fabric to tie around her face as a gag. She didn't enjoy this task but knew it was necessary if she wanted to get away with it.

Once she had completed this task she covered Aria with a blanked that is pulled up enough to cover her lower face so to passers by she simply looks like she is asleep. Alex is sure to lock up before re-entering the apartment and taking a few sets of clothes for Aria, along with pigtunia for comfort. She went to the cameras to take them down and corrupt to footage, placing them in a backpack she had brought with her before exiting, leaving the door wide open.

I wasn't going to write this yet but seeing the Arlex story by Momma Duck inspired me.