*Hello. In case you haven't noticed, I've re-uploaded this chapter due to some glaring errors I noticed while reading it back. I'm not sure if I will continue this story or start a new one, but do you like the Spencer & Toby "fluff", or should I gear it more towards drama and consolation? Please review and say if you prefer the "fluffy romance" or "hurt/comfort" storyline. Thank you so much!

Hi! I'm sorry I didn't update sooner, but I've been trying to come up with a good storyline for this chapter. I hope you enjoy it :)

*Also, thank you so much for all the kind reviews! I really appreciate each one.

Disclaimer: I do not own PLL or Bless the Broken Road by Rascal Flatts

"I have to say, chocolate is definitely one of my all-time favorite foods," Toby confessed, slyly reaching for a covered spatula from the mixing bowl. Spencer playfully rolled her eyes, but let this obvious action slide.

She watched him lick some of the decadent mixture from the utensil before retorting, "Since when is chocolate considered a food?" She couldn't deny her need to be incessantly right any more than she could deny her Hastings blood.

"Since it tastes better than anything else I've ever eaten!" He replied, his blue eyes twinkling in the light from the fixture overhead. Spencer plucked the now clean spatula from his hands while he furrowed his brows in shock.

"All those years of schooling gone to waste. Opinions versus facts, Toby. Just because you happen to indulge in chocolate by the spoonful, does not mean that everyone else shares this hobby."

He brought the last tray of cookies over to the oven and opened the door, a wave of heat rushing to meet him square in the face. After recovering from this, he answered his impatient girlfriend. "First of all, there's a reason I left Rosewood High. We don't all enjoy doing worksheets on how to read people and their writing. Sometimes, going out and living it firsthand is more efficient. And secondly, everyone loves chocolate. It's a known fact."

Sure that he had made his point, Toby grinned in anticipation of Spencer's response to their friendly debate.

"You know, Emily didn't eat chocolate for all of third through sixth grade. It took her three years to come to her senses." Spencer changed tactics, using a cool tone and bringing up a valid example.

"So you admit that everybody should love it!" This was Toby's initial comeback, until her comment registered with him. "Emily didn't eat chocolate? Why?"

She smirked at sparking his interest, and said, "Nobody knew. She just stopped eating it one day, and didn't seem to miss it."

Toby looked genuinely taken aback. "That should be a crime! And you, I must admit, would make an excellent lawyer if you weren't on my side."

Spencer laughed, and said, "What does that even mean?"

Passing her a handful of chocolate chips, he spoke, "It means that while your argument was logical and supported, it was clear that you are fully on team chocolate."

Tossing some of the candy into her mouth, Spencer stifled a chuckle. "Please tell me you did not just say team chocolate!"

"Hey, it's been a long week. Remind me again why we're awake at 10:30 at night making delicious chocolate cookies?" Toby inquired, emphasizing the object of importance.

Melissa's baby shower was the following day and her sister had promised to bring dessert, which consisted of cookies drizzled in a chocolate concoction. Since the Masquerade Ball, and Maya's death, Melissa had actually approached Spencer and asked for her forgiveness. This was, of course, not granted until the eldest Hastings daughter came clean. It turned out that Garrett was Taylor's dad. Subsequently to making a scene over Ian, Melissa was too embarrassed to reveal that it wasn't possible for him to be the father, and that it was in fact Garrett who she had conceived the unborn Taylor with. She hid this from Spencer by using a façade of intimidation and secrecy, which didn't work too well as all it did was increase Spencer's suspicions that her sister was her stalker. Relieved to learn that the image was just an attempt at concealing Garrett, Spencer let go of her past and became civilized with Melissa.

With a few short weeks until the birth of Spencer's niece, she had been asked to come to the shower along with cookies, which she had dragged Toby into making with her. He would also, much to his dismay, be attending the event.

"So you can eat them?" This was Spencer's feeble try at looking past the fact that neither of them was comfortable with this baby shower.

To alter the subject, Toby brought up Taylor, or the 'demon fetus' as the girls had once called her. "Are you excited to be an Aunt?" He asked, piling up all the used baking implements and depositing them in the sink.

Spencer sighed and started to clean off the kitchen counter with a wet washcloth. "I am. I really want to see…what it's like to be a good parent."

"If we had a baby…" Toby began, his voice playful and alluring, "you would always make sure they were safe. Not to mention be caring and generally sweet…" He was such a romantic!

"And you would make sure that I didn't go insane, just like now." She smiled softly and put her arms around his neck. As if on cue, a crash ensued just outside the Hastings' House. Although Mona had been safely locked up, Spencer's heart dropped to the floor and her blood must've frozen.

It had been two long months since the Ball and the girls had, surprisingly, been recovering. Spencer was understandably shaken that she had been the one trapped in an accelerating car with the lunatic. Hanna felt betrayed, and for good reason. Emily was heartbroken over Maya but starting to let people in. And Aria, well—she was in disbelief. All of them were!

Upon hearing the noise, Toby instinctively put himself in front of Spencer to protect her from any impending trouble. To her horror, the door handle turned, and in walked…or, stumbled, Wren. A very intoxicated Wren, clearly not the best doctor the hospital had to offer.

Spencer mused for a moment about how the man of her ex-fling always seemed to be drunk. This was, she noted, possibly the third time he'd shown up at her house in an unfit state. It was almost a tradition, but not a ritual Spencer wanted to prolong.

She and Toby both tensed as Wren clambered towards them in the kitchen.

"Spencer!" He slurred, making a grab for her hand but missing by a foot. She yanked her arm away from him and Toby tightened his grip on the nearest chair until his knuckles had turned white.

In a cold voice, she spat, "go away. We don't ever want to see you again."

"But you came back to me—when he left you!" Wren turned his glare to Toby, lifting a finger to point at him so there was no confusion as to who left Spencer.

"He left to protect me!" She shot back.

Wren sneered. "Oh yes, I heard all about Mona!" His stupid British accent made him sound, if possible, even more ludicrous than usual. Spencer clenched her fists, but it was as though Wren had tunnel vision. He only had eyes for the girl, completely oblivious of her boyfriend guarding her from him.

With a sad expression, she said, "Wren, I love Toby. Goodbye." Her tone was gentler than one would have assumed she'd use in this situation.

Unfortunately, Wren was not so easily moved. He pressed on, "I can keep these monsters out of your life, Spencer." He took a step forward, and she arched into the counter behind her to avoid closer confrontations.

Pained, she responded, "You're becoming one of the monsters. The best way to get rid of them is for you to leave."

He was nearly laughing now. "What are you doing? Listen to your heart!"

This had become all too much for Toby. He stepped up, deadpanning, "She is! And she said no." His voice was stone cold. Spencer saw that things were quickly getting out of hand, but before she could intervene, a particular scent floated up and hit her innocent taste buds.

"The cookies are burning!" She cried, hastening over to the oven—which was now emitting clouds of smoke into the air. It was only a matter of time before…

BRING! BRING! BRING! BRING!

The smoke alarms whined in displeasure. Toby, who had gone from watching anxiously as Spencer dealt with the burnt cookies to panicking over the alarm, went into full-carpenter mode. "Ladder?" He called.

"Over by the radiator!" Spencer returned, opening the kitchen's side door to let the cool evening air clean out the smoke. He retrieved this and in a flash had turned off the patronizing item and folded the ladder back up. His girlfriend sighed in relief while Wren just stood clumsily in the kitchen, falling over himself as a result of intoxication. She took the singed cookies and placed the tray on the stovetop. To be honest, Spencer welcomed the pandemonium that ensued. It was a good excuse to exit the awkward engagement she was trapped in with her past and current lovers. Truth be told, she never really loved Wren, but he refused to admit this.

Once the smoke had let up, Toby and Spencer turned back to the imposition in the house. "You know I'm in love with Toby. This isn't a possibility. It never was, and you always knew that. Thanks for stopping by, but you should really go home. Oh, and Wren? You should also stop making late night trips to the bar. It doesn't flatter you to be drunk." Spencer's little speech impressed Toby, and he raised his eyebrows at her but said nothing.

"I should…I should probably go," Wren suggested. He showed himself to the door he broke in with, and let it slam behind him. He was hopefully walking to his apartment, because he would not be accepted at work if he came in the next day with a DUI.

Toby turned around to face Spencer and grinned. "I think that's the last we'll see of him."

"Thank goodness. Sadly, it will also be the last we see of these cookies!" She replied, lacing her fingers with Toby's. He walked her over to the stove and picked up a charred cookie drizzled in hardened chocolate. When he bit into it, the entire treat crumbled to the floor. Spencer laughed and peeled a lone chocolate chip off the tray, popping it into her mouth.

"Alright, I'm definitely counting chocolate as one of my favorite foods," she reluctantly divulged.

Smiling, Toby said, "I knew I could turn you around. And besides, we've got enough cookies for Melissa's shower already. These were just extras…but we'll have to settle for doing something else."

He pressed the button on an old stereo Spencer hadn't even realized was present, and made the first song he heard louder. As cliché as it was to dance their troubles away, they did.

Every long lost dream led me to where you are
Others who broke my heart they were like Northern stars
Pointing me on my way into your loving arms
This much I know is true
That God blessed the broken road
That led me straight to you

*Thanks for reading! Just to get closure with one of the most manipulative characters on the show, I brought back Wren so he can be put in his place and leave for good! I hope I don't offend anyone British with my comment on his accent. Also, I've been getting lots of comments about my Dr. Sullivan being related to Toby theory. This was just what first came to my mind, and I assumed "stepmother" because he called her Dr. Sullivan instead of "mom", and he isn't very close with his parents. I guess we'll just have to wait until June 5th to see what happens! Filming for season 3 has already begun :)