(I know Ali and Jason are out of character, but I had my reasons. hope you enjoy this chapter. Also, I would recommend reading the copious number of notes at the end, it will help later.)

Warning: Crude language is used.

🌹Chapter 4 ~ Charlie To the Rescue🌹 (Revised some)
Jason removed Cathy's hand from his ass as he tried to choke down some of Spencer's anniversary cake. He had wanted to leave as soon as Aria left, but he held it together for Spencer. They were here to celebrate Spencer and Wren, but conversation was centered around Ezra and Aria, the proposal and how everyone was shocked.

Jason thought what Ezra had planned was a pretty dick head thing to do since tonight was supposed to be about his sister and Wren not the "Ezria" show. Jason knew he was being petty, but he had a lot at stake here, he thought as he as he tried to remove Cathy's arms from around his waist without dropping the fucking piece of cake. Jason didn't notice one of his sisters watching him with a smirk very similar to his as he tried to dodge his "girlfriends" tongue trying to lick the icing he'd gotten on his chin off while trying to get out of her vice grip like hold around his waist.

If Jason didn't love Aria and hadn't been so sure that he was going to get his heart stomped on further when Fitz knelt in front of her in that stupid "hot seat" while Spencer, Wren, Hanna, Alison and Emily shared knowing looks and smiles he might have found Aria's reaction comical. The look on every one's face especially Ezra Fitz's was pure comedy.

There was Ezra knelt in front of her going on and on about how they completed each other and would she finish making him whole and Jason could see the shock, fear, anger and confusion written all over face. No one else noticed as they all stood there with tender, knowing smiles as Ezra knelt there confident as to what her answer would be. Every one of them thinking they would be celebrating a newly engaged couple, but Jason couldn't blame them, even without the rose-tinted glasses that every else wore when it came to Aria's feeling for Ezra he still expected her to say yes.

Even after her silence those gathered were still wearing the same looks as if their brain was having trouble comprehending what was happening. Jason wanted to grab Aria's hand and get her out of this uncomfortable situation, but then she smiled at Ezra as if she were the happiest girl in the world. Jason's heart broke a little more than it already was before Aria proceeded to tell Ezra and the rest of the room that she forgot to buy a certain feminine hygiene product.

Jason had been just as shocked as everyone including Aria herself at what came out of her mouth. He seen her struggling to control herself and her mouth, but she just kept going on and on, then she stood and walk backward toward the door. Cathy had found it all very amusing and he could hear her muffled giggling, but he couldn't move. It was like he was rooted in place afraid he was dreaming.

It wasn't until Spencer recovered that Jason snapped out of it and quietly followed her out as the girls descended on the distraught Ezra Fitz still on his knee holding the ring. If Ezra wasn't his rival he might feel sorry for guy, but he didn't feel sympathy he thought as he removed Cathy's wondering hand from the inside of his thigh.

It hand taken awhile for things to settle down afterward, but even now as they laughed and smiled and celebrated the married couple's anniversary, he could tell that Ali, Emily and Hanna were still wondering why Aria hadn't happily said yes to Ezra. Spencer suspected that Jason was involved somehow and he could tell she was even now trying to figure things out.

Since Ezra left when he heard someone talking about the couple in hushed tones things like: " she is so happy" and "loves him so much" and " meant to be" kept popping up, over and over. It seemed even most of those who were supposed to know her best had never noticed how miserable she was behind that fake smile she wore.

Last October, the first weekend he was home his sisters had a welcome home party and invited everyone including Ezra and Aria. It had taken him less than an hour to know she miserable and Jason had decided then that if the chance arose he was going to fight for his girl. It was obvious to him she was putting on an act for Ezra and her friends benefit. Beside himself the only people that he knew who wasn't fooled and had disapproved were Aria's family.

Even after what happened tonight when "Ezria" came up the girls would gush about how "perfect they were together", that they were "soulmates" and how "long and hard they fought to be together". Jason's jaw was aching from gritting his teeth, if he heard that crap on more time he'd "Eeep!"

He squeaked loudly as he felt Cathy discreetly caress his balls, everyone looked at him and he feigned a cough holding up his hand "Went down the wrong pipe." his sisters', except for one, looked at him oddly then went back to their conversation, this time luckily it was about where Spencer and Wren were going for their second honeymoon.

Charlotte sat back quietly having a blast watching her brother trying to avoid being molested by the woman who, not even and hour ago, he was acting as if he couldn't get enough of. He and Charlotte along with Cathy had come early to help get everything ready for the party, but Jason and his "girlfriend" were only in the way, constantly hanging all over each.

If he was asked to do anything Cathy would simper and pout that she would miss him while he was gone and he did the whole sickening miss you more and I'll hurry back routine, even blowing kisses from across the room until they could attach themselves at the lips again. It was sickening and annoying,

"I know it's still new, but really!" Spencer hissed to Ali, Cece and her friends. At the time, she hadn't put it together, but the only time he didn't have to attach himself to his girlfriend was when a certain tiny brunette was not around, but as soon as she was then it was like Cathy was a magnet and his balls were made old iron.

How he was acting was very un-Jason like. It wasn't Cece finest moment, but she when she dated her brother, that was not Jason at all, he was affectionate, but he was private. He wasn't some simpering lovesick fool who didn't understand too much PDA was nauseating, Charlotte just hadn't figured out what he was trying to do until the whole "Ezria", gag she thought, thing went down.

Now that Aria was gone Jason was desperately trying to avoid Cathy's lips, hands and on a couple, occasions her foot without being rude, but after the way he had carried on with her earlier after they arrived and he seen Aria, it was no wonder Cathy didn't take the hint, she though he was playing a game and he was, just not the game Cathy though he was playing.

Charlotte rolled her eyes as she watched Cathy once again wrap her arms around his neck and stick her tongue down his ear causing him to 'dropped' his fork. He quickly learned to pick it up probably thinking it would dislodge her, but Cathy held on bending with him. "Time for big sister to step in and save her baby brother he before he loses his virtue." she muttered to herself. "Jason?"

Jason, green eyes wide almost looking afraid jumped up quickly almost knocking Cathy to the floor, good Cece thought, too bad she didn't fall on her ass. "Charlotte!" People turned looking at him he was bit too loud and a bit too excited at seeing his sister, especially considering they had been together since late morning, he had wanted to pick her up from Welby so she could drive to Philly with him.

" Could I talk to you for a bit?" He nodded and quickly moved toward Cece. Cathy got up to follow him, "Alone." Cece said with a fake smile, "Thanks, hon." she added in an almost condescending voice causing Cathy to blush. Jason would have felt guilty, but he needed a break. Even if he and Cece hadn't made peace he could have hugged her right now.

It was cold out, but Cece led him outside, she didn't get to go outdoors much so she was enjoying while she could, "So, what are you doing with the bimbo?" Charlotte asked baldly. At first, he tried to look like he had no idea what she was talking about. "Come on Jase you don't think I haven't noticed the hot and cold act all day and I pieced it together and I'm crazy! They got me on so many meds half the time I don't know my own name and even I seen through the game you're playing"

"You're not crazy Cece."

"Jason, I collected living people as dolls for a dollhouse I had built underground, tried to blow up you, Ali dad and myself up so we could be together forever with mom," Charlotte said very matter of fact, "That's some crazy shit."

Jason nodded and the with a groan said, "God Charlie, it's such a mess" he ran his hands roughly through his hair, Jason didn't notice it, but he had called Cece Charlie, she noticed and her eyes started burning, it was what he had called her when they were kids, when she was his "bestest friend in the whole wide world" Jason had been young, not even in school, but it had made her feel special and proud when he would tell her that. Cece cleared her throat

"Does this have anything to do with why you brought Aria to the hospital to visit me?" she asked. Jason had brought Aria to visit her three times, the first two times had been so awkward, Jason never the biggest talker, had tried to carry the conversation until finally on that second occasion Aria had told him to just stop and then asked him to give her and Charlotte a few minutes. Cece had nodded so he went to get them some coffee. Aria had unloaded on her venting the anger and fear she caused by her,

Charlotte said nothing, knowing that Aria had done nothing to deserve what she had done to her. Except maybe break her baby brother's heart. Cece hadn't taken over the game yet, but she liked to sneak out of Radley and watch her brother the only family she had left in Rosewood, she hadn't found out that Spencer was related to her yet.

She was watching Jason the day Spencer sent Ezra to get Aria from Jason's thinking he was dangerous, little did Spence know it was the teacher, not Jason stalking them. She was watching when Ezra and Aria kissed in front of her brother's house, and she seen his heart break when he walked around and seen them. Cece could do nothing, but watch.

After Aria finished saying her peace, Charlotte only said "I'm sorry Aria." She never made any excuses nor begged for forgiveness she said three words that held a wealth of meaning and Aria nodded. "You're important to Ali, Spencer and Jason and they mean a lot to me."

Charlotte smiled, it wasn't perfect, but it was a start. Charlotte waved Jason over, who had been watching as he paced nervously. "Jase, sit down before they think you're a patient and drug you." Aria giggled and Jason quickly sat down. The third time he brought her it still wasn't completely comfortable, but less strained. The ice had been broken and Aria was trying; she loved her friends and Cece thought she just might love Jason a little too.

"Probably," he said looking away his shoulders hunched as though he was carrying a heavy load.

"So, you're trying to make Aria jealous." It wasn't a question, but he nodded anyway, "Well, next time you try something like that, find someone to help that can act like a lady and dial way back on the PDA, I mean way, way back. You managed to make yourself look like an idiotic hormonal twelve-year-old boy while Aria was here and now your acting like a scared virgin and sending mixed signals to your would-be suitor."

With that she patted him on the back, "Now, let's go in so you and you girlfriend can entertain your big sister some more. my favorite so far is when she tries to play with your balls. You sound just like a dog toy. It's uncanny." She laughed happily as he blushed a deep shade of red and took him by the arm so he could escort her inside.

After the talk, she led an unwilling Jason back to Cathy smiling sweetly she said "You can have my brother back now." She gave Jason a saucy wink and a conniving grin, "have fun kids." and went back to the corner she had been sitting in for most of the evening and sure enough she was well entertained. Cathy didn't disappoint, but neither did Jason practically turning himself into a pretzel at times to keep Cathy's wandering, hands, lips and feet from his more delicate parts.

Cece especially got a kick out it when she heard another loud squeak emitted from her brother's mouth followed by a fit of coughing while talking to Peter and Veronica Hastings. Peter still hadn't thrown his arms wide and welcomed his son to his bosom, but he was at least civil on these occasions.

Veronica, on the other hand, had begun warming up to Jason. Currently she was patting his back in concern, asking if she could get him some water. Cece had to give it to Cathy, she sure could manage to look innocent as stroked a guy's package without anyone noticing. Jason excused himself and walked away as fast as he could, leaving Cathy in his wake, thinking she had really turned him on.

Jason was now hiding out in the bathroom he has been there at least fifteen minutes. Cece decided that even though he had brought it on himself, it was time to tell his other sister's the predicament he has gotten himself into. Cece asks Spencer and Alison to go outside with her and as soon as they step out on Spencer's deck where Cece stood with Jason earlier she asked, "So has either of you noticed Jason's behavior today?"

"Well I think it would be kind of hard to miss." Alison snorted. Spencer just looked away and Cece would bet Jason's left nut she knew something "I know she's your friend and you set them up and all, but Cathy is a total skank Spence." Alison added,

Spencer turned back, horrified, "I didn't... she's not…" finally Spencer got it together, "she was in the same dorm freshman year and I did not set her up with him, she gave him her number and chased after him before he went to Africa. A couple weeks ago, he called her and has been dating her since. I didn't set them up. God, they are so disturbing and uncomfortable to be around.' Spencer shook her head in disgust, "I don't know how you put up with them at your house all the time Ali."

"Actually, the only time she has ever been to the house was last week when you guys came over for lunch. When he found out he asked if he could invite a friend over and I was busy and without thinking I told him it was fine. Of course, it ruined lunch. I wanted to gag every time she called him honeypoo, and all the kissing and groping." Ali shivered in disgust "Blech"

"Ugh, I know it makes everyone so uncomfortable. You remember Ali, he called the other day and asked if I was busy. I told him the girls were here. He asked if Aria was here also and the he brought her over and..."

Spencer's eyes opened wide, Cece arched her brow with a smirked very reminiscent of Jason "And?" Alison asked annoyed, her ass was starting to freeze and she wanted to get this powwow over with.

Cece looked at Alison surprised she hadn't caught on, "Alison, really?" She flicked the other blonde upside her head, "When I, not my finest moment I'd like to add before continuing, was dating our brother," Spencer and Ali gagged, " I was trying to get close to my family!" Cece defended.

Ali snorted something about not being hillbillies, Spencer snickered and Cece cleared her throat and continued, "As I was saying before I was so rudely interrupted," she looked pointedly at her sisters, "when I was dating Jason you were always complaining about something to me. Remember?"

"I complained about a lot of things when it came to Jason, Cece?" Ali starting listing them off "His music, his friends, his drugs, his drinking," a couple minutes later and Ali was still going and Cece was starting to get annoyed with her sister who seemed to have turned completely clueless since she fell in love with a certain guy, "because he wouldn't let me sit in the front seat when he had to take me to the mall, because he wouldn't take me to the mall, his hair, the way he's always stared at Aria," she turned to Spence, "like he's in love with her or something." she continued, "Oh, he leaves his shoes in the middle of the floor sometimes, and I trip over them, he doesn't change the toilet paper or the paper tow...," Spencer and Cece just stared at Ali as she now was listing current grievances along with past ones.

"Stop" Cece, butted in.

Alison shrugged, okay so maybe she still liked complaining about their brother especially since he was staying with her. "Oh" she said and it clicked, "he only brings her around when Aria's around."

Charlotte nodded, "Our idiot brother came up with the brilliant plan to make Aria jealous, of course that worked out great since he managed to make himself look like an oversexed idiot, and now he's trying to avoid being molested by your friend Spence," Spencer protested that Cathy was not her friend, not that anyone was listening, "unless he's still hiding in the bathroom. She probably has him in another head lock trying to lick something," Cece stopped and took a deep breath "I hate to tell you this Spence, but your friend..."

" Not my, oh never mind."

"May I continue now without being interrupted? As I was saying, I hate to tell you this, but your friend was trying to play with our brother's balls while he was talking to your parents."

"What the hell!"

Cece nodded, "Had the poor guy squeaking like a mouse, coughing all over your parents trying to cover it up. Your mom was about ready to send him to bed with a big bowl of chicken noodle soup. Your dad looked at him like he was retarded." Suddenly, the girls couldn't help it and dissolved into giggles thinking about the mess Jason had gotten himself into. It was really such an un-Jason thing to do, but they should have caught on with the over the top PDA they had the misfortune to witness. Tears were rolling down there faces when Emily came outside, she immediately apologized thinking she had interrupted a tender moment which just set the girls off again.

"Um okay," this has been such an odd day, starting this morning with the sex dream she had about her best friend, Toby. "Aria is back to get her car, Jason has her blocked in. His girlfriend is looking for him, but no one can find him. Veronica thinks he may have the flu because he has been coughing so much and she thought he looked peeked and she said the last time she seen him he was running upstairs"

Alison and Cece both put their heads down so they didn't laugh in poor Emily's very serious face. Spencer wiped her eyes and collected herself, will you two go up and check on our brother," her voice was coming out kind of wobbly and she tried not to laugh. This really was a serious situation. Cece and Alison both nodded.

Spencer and Emily walked in first, "Aria's a mess Spence, Hanna, Wren and I tried to get her to come in, but she refused, Hanna's with her..."

"Crap!" Spencer and Ali both exclaimed. "Ali, you come with me and Emily, Cece you take care of Jason" with that Ali, Spencer and Emily headed for Aria and Cece ran up the stairs.

When she got there Cathy was knocking telling him to let her in and she would make him all better; he wasn't saying a word. Cece had a feeling he was trying to hide even though he had been found, some things never change it seemed. Jason had done that when they played hide and seek as kids. Charlie would figure out where he was and Jason would go completely quiet thinking he was still hidden. Jason really had been adorable now that she thought about it.

"Come on Jason, I know you're in there, quit playing games. That hot and cold act is driving me wild" she said breathlessly.

"Um, Cathy, is it?" Cathy nodded, "be a dear and ask my sister's husband if they have any Alka-Seltzer, my baby brother has a belly ache."

"Uh, sure" Cathy was a little scared of Cece. When Jason came to pick her up she had been a little jealous when she seen Cece sitting in the front seat, then he introduced her "Cathy this is my sister Charlotte, Cece this is Cathy."

Cathy smiled as if she and Cece were old friends "Nice to meet you Cece, I'm Jason's girlfriend." Cathy had expected Cece to move to the back so she could sit in front with Jason.

Instead Charlotte gave her a smirk very like the one Jason often had, "Really? Isn't that nice." then looked straight ahead while Jason opened the back-passenger door for Cathy.

"Jason, you can open up, the bogeyman' s gone it only me. Never fear Charlie's here!" Cece almost giggled at the phrase she would use occasionally when Jason was little and something scared him.

Cece rolled her eye when she heard the shower curtain slide open and his feet hitting the floor, he unlocked the door before opening it cautiously, peeking out before opening it enough to let Cece in. "Hurry before she comes back and knows we're in here"

"Jason, you don't have her fooled, she knows you're in here." Jason gave her a dirty look, he knew that, he was hoping if they were really quiet she would think they had left before she got back. "also, Aria's back she wants you..." And boy howdy, didn't that grab his attention. He had been in the process of climbing back into the tub and like a flash he was at the door.

" Why didn't you say that in the first place?" He demanded, why hadn't she come straight to the point. Aria wanted him!

"...to move your car, you have her blocked in." Cece finished feeling awful as she watched his shoulders droop a little.

They were heading down the steps as Cathy walked up carrying a box of Alka-Seltzer. "Oh thanks, but Jason's tummy is all better now."

Jason blushed because standing in the open door with her friends around her stood Aria. Cece had been loud enough that all five girls looked at him. Spencer and Ali bowed their heads a hand covering their mouth when he turned and looked at Cece, she smiled and shrugged.

Great now Aria was going to think he had diarrhea. Did his sisters not get he was trying to be cool and suave: and where had Cathy gotten to now, how was his plan going to work if she was constantly taking off.

"Oh, good Jason, I hope you're feeling better.?" Spencer asked sweetly

Dammit why did they keep insinuating he had diarrhea, he was trying to be manly. "I wasn't sick Spence, don't you remember you sent me up to get rid of that big spider? It's all taken care of now, and while I was in there I noticed the light flickering so I changed the bulb."

"Without a ladder" Ali chimed in just to mess with him

"I climbed on the sink." His sisters were being dicks. Hanna, Emily and Aria were looking confused as fuck while Cathy was standing on the steps looking at the blue box in her hand.

"Cece said you wanted me." He looked straight into Arias hazel eyes as he said it totally meaning the double entendre.

Aria blushed and Spencer wanted to kick her idiot brother's ass. " Yes, Jason she needs you to move your car you have her blocked in." Spencer told him, even though she knew Cece would've told him.

Still looking only at Aria, he said "As you wish, mi lady" Aria looked confused.

Who the hell had replaced Jason with Wesley from the Princess Bride, Spencer wondered? Jason remembered it was one of Aria's favorite movies. They had watched it snuggled together in bed during one of Ezra's Philly trips

Alison hissed " Move your car, she has enough problems without you flirting."

Notes: Like I said I know characters are out of character, but I didn't want this to be a totally depressing chapter, hope my attempt at humor worked. Also, I wanted try to establish a relationship with Charlotte so I hoped this worked. I know it seems ridiculous, but I don't know about anyone else, but I have gotten myself in completely ridiculous situations to make someone jealous and it caused all kinds of troubles and I spent the night hiding in the bathroom and someone thought I had diarrhea and offered me Pepto-Bismol tablets, it was humiliating. Lucky the person I was trying to make jealous was not there to see that part of my impressive display.

More Notes: Cece has not been paroled, she is just on a day pass from Welby for Spencer's engagement party, I know it's unrealistic, but I figured, look at the show this fanfic is based on. In that world, Charlotte getting a day pass for an anniversary party from a hospital for the criminally inside is totally realistic. Also, concerning the Mary Drake situation, not long after Cece was arrested and confined to Welby, someone anonymously left an envelope in her room where she finds out about Mary Drake, the identical twin sister that she or her siblings has never heard of before, the file also contained information about the real parentage of Spencer. Charlotte showed the file that was left in her room to, Spencer, Alison and Jason and with a little digging they find out what in the file is true when Alison confronts Kenneth and Spencer confronts Veronica and Peter. Jason has been trying to locate Mary Drake, but he has been unsuccessful as she seems to have just disappeared. For my purposes, Kenneth is Charlotte's father, but I don't yet know if Jessica or Mary is her mother. Like in the show, Spencer is the result of Mary posing as Jessica and Peter having an affair with her again. (I think Peter probably had feeling for Jessica), Jason is still the result of the affair between Jessica and Peter, Alison is Jessica and Kenneth's daughter, Melissa is Peter and Veronica's daughter. In my world, I don't know if Jason and Charlotte are technically cousins, but Charlotte considers him her little brother and he thinks of her as his sister or if they are indeed half siblings. Alison and Spencer are still cousins (lol remember in the book they are half-sisters) if I make Charlotte Mary's daughter then: Melissa, Spencer, and Alison are Jason's half-sisters, Alison and Spencer are Charlotte's half-sisters, Charlotte and Jason are Alison's half siblings, Charlotte, Jason and Melissa are Spencer's half siblings and finally (I think) Jason and Spencer are Melissa's half sibling, and Charlotte and Jason would be cousins and Spencer and Alison would be cousins. If I make Jessica Charlotte's mom them: Melissa, Spencer, Alison and Spencer are his half-sisters. Melissa and Jason are Spencer's half-sister, Alison and Charlotte are her cousins. Whew putting that together took some efforts on my part, think my brain melted but I would prefer to do this now instead during the story which could over complicate things and I have a thing about Back stories, I love them, I feel like they give me the complete picture and yes, I am like this in everyday conversation and life.

Anyway, I am sorry about the overwhelming number of notes at the end. Who should be Cece mother in this, Jessica or Mary? Hope you like this chapter love it or hate it, either way let me know.

Thanks for reading GrimLi