This is shorter, and literally the only purpose is to give you some background to Spencer. The next chapter is from Toby's POV, and there's a few day time jump. Just so you know what's coming. I want to update Falling to Pieces first, but this will be after that :)

Happy PLL day, friends! Let me know what you thought of the episode!

Chapter 4

SPOV

She leaned against the brick wall, completely unable to stop the smile that was playing at her lips. He looked so excited, and it was literally the most adorable thing that she had ever seen. "You like it then?"

His smile lit up his eyes, bringing some kind of life back into them. This was a man who had taken a figurative, and maybe literal, beating. But maybe she could help him out. If Jason hadn't agreed to help her... if Hanna hadn't forgiven her... she'd be no where. Hell, she'd probably be dead.

Maybe she was being too trusting, but she could see the goodness in him. It was as obvious as anything. And maybe she saw a little bit of herself in him, the girl who was so fiercely independent... who got herself in way over her head way to fast. The girl who didn't know how to ask for help even though she needed it more than she ever had. And she owed it to that girl to help someone else in the same situation. She owed it to that girl to be the person that she had needed back then.

She was so cold. The wind whipped around her, blowing her damp hair around her face. Maybe she had never been this cold before. She huddled until the porch roof for awhile before knocking. Even if he sent her away, even if he told her that he never wanted to see her again, at least she could be out of the rain for a minute.

What was the point? What was the point in getting warm just so the cold could be all the more shocking the second she stepped back out into the downpour. What was the point in living anymore, really? She was worthless. Every minute of the last two years had proven that to her. She was pathetic, and no one was going to help her. She didn't deserve it.

She knew she couldn't stay here forever. Eventually he would come out or a neighbor would notice her presence on his porch. She took a deep breath and mustered all of the courage and self preservation that she had left and knocked quietly on the door. Maybe he wouldn't be home. Maybe she wouldn't have to further humiliate herself by letting him see her like this.

But as per usual, her luck was non existent. She could hear his footsteps the second she removed her fist from the door. And for a second she thought about running, but what was the point? She didn't have the energy to get too far. He'd see her.

He'd see her. He'd see her like this; sickly pale, too thin, dirty... he'd see her like she never wanted him to see her. She was supposed to be stronger than this. And before she even consciously made the decision she stepped off the porch and back into the rain, the icy water acting like a shock to her system.

"Spencer?"

She kept walking. Maybe she should run, but it was a struggle to even put one foot in front of the other. When was the last time she had eaten anything?

"Spencer, stop."

She tried to keep walking, but his hands were on her arms, turning her, holding her up. "Oh Spencer," her brother whispered. "What have you done to yourself?"

A single tear trailed down her cheek. "Jason, I'm pregnant."

"I love it," he said softly, bringing her back from a time she'd much rather keep behind her. "Do you mind..." he trailed off, gesturing to the hallway.

She grinned. "No, go for it. We'll wait here."

He nodded and turned, walking down that hall with the tips of his fingers grazing the brick. As soon as he was out of sight Caleb rounded on her. "What the hell are you thinking, Spencer?"

His hostility didn't damper her smile. "I'm thinking that he's where I was not even five years ago, Caleb. If I can help him I'm going to. You're the best judge of character I know. Tell me you think he's dangerous," she said softly, not wanting Toby to overhear.

Caleb faltered. "No, I don't think he's dangerous. But you don't know what kind of people he associates with," Caleb insisted. "It isn't safe."

"I'm not going to refuse someone help because they've pick up a shitty friend or two along the way," she bit back. "Listen, I appreciate your concern, but you aren't going to change my mind."

He stopped whatever reply he was going to say when Toby walked back into the room. "It's great, but are you sure?"

She nodded. "We were going to put it on Craigslist anyway, this does us all a favor. Because you strike me as being far less creepy than the average internet tenant."

"I-"

She cut off what was sure to be a thankful rant with a jerk of her head. She already recognized that gleam in his eyes. "Come on. Let me introduce you downstairs."

He followed her down the interior stairs wordlessly. Caleb put a hand on her arm. "I'm going to bow out, if you don't mind," he gave her a look that suggested he'd really stay if she wanted him to. "I owe Maya $50, and I don't have it. You know how she gets," he laughed, glancing at Toby warily.

"Get out of here," she waved him off. "I'll be sure to let her know I haven't seen you."

He nodded, gave Toby a tight smile, and walked back upstairs to go out the back exit. Toby waited until Caleb was gone before speaking. "He doesn't like me."

"No," she disagreed. "I actually think you and Caleb will get along great. It's just that he's naturally suspicious. He didn't have the best childhood."

Toby grabbed her arm suddenly, pulling her to a stop before they left the stairwell. For a second she was nervous, but that was before she registered the gentleness of his hands. "I just- Spencer you're doing so much for me, and I need to explain."

She shook her head. "No you don't."

He looked up at her, fear obvious in the blue that she felt far too familiar with. She barely even knew him. "It's really bad," he whispered. "I- it's just bad, Spencer."

She told Caleb that he was the best judge of character she knew, and maybe that was true. But she wasn't bad herself. She knew when she was being lied to more often than not. "Listen, if you want to talk about it I'm here, okay? I know how important that is to any kind of recovery. But if not then it really isn't my businesses. If I thought you were dangerous I wouldn't have let Caleb leave, and I certainly wouldn't have let you anywhere near my daughter."

"I'm not dangerous," he said in a low, earnest voice. "I would never hurt anyone, but- I can't say the same about the people I left behind in New York. If they find me..." he trailed off.

She hadn't given that a lot of thought, but it made sense. And Riley- God, she had put her daughter through enough in her life already. "Is that likely?" She matched his quiet tone.

"I don't know," he continued on, desperately. "I had my cousin take me to the train station the second I was released. I went to Philly before I came here throw off any trail, but I just don't know. I want to think they'd let me go, but-"

"We're dealing with a lot of what ifs, Toby," she said softly, putting a hand on his arm. "Take it day by day. If things get bad I have a lake house that Riley and I can go to. But I'm not going to let you wonder around the streets because of a what if. You have obviously been dealt a really shitty hand; just let me help you."

He hesitated for a long moment. She could see further protests building up in his eyes, but in the end he just nodded.

She smiled. "Good. Now let's go get some coffee and talk to Emily and Maya. It's been about an hour since I've had a cup, which means that I'm long overdo."