Alex had stuck to her word and freed Aria of her confines once she was sleeping soundly but couldn't help but want to keep them on, to know that no matter what Aria can't leave her, she can't run away. Aria had believed in her for a split second when she had said she wanted to come with her and she is determined to make Aria believe in her again. They can be happy together, she just knows it.
Paris is beautiful, not nearly as gorgeous as Aria but a close second, Alex decides. The girl in question has been asleep for much longer than she had first anticipated, perhaps due to her size. She is on top of the silk sheets of the bed, now dressed in a beautiful lace nightgown. Alex had changed her but the experience wasn't sexual, more sensual and led Alex to falling more in love with her as she noted the softness of her skin and the firmness hiding beneath her flesh, truly perfect.
Once it reaches late afternoon and Aria has been asleep for nearly seven hours, Alex decides to try and wake Aria, the girl hasn't eaten and her health comes before anything else.
"Aria, Ari, wake up." She calls softly as she shakes the girl's shoulder lightly. She twitches slightly but doesn't wake. "Come on baby, time to wake up." Aria's eyes open slowly, filled with a mixture of drowsiness and confusion.
"Wha...where.." Aria tries to make a coherent sentence but the banging in her head in causing her too much pain so she is forced to wince and cover her eyes with her hands as she tries to sit up. "Ow." She groans in pain, only causing the throbbing to increase.
Alex panics at the clear pain spread across Aria's face until she remembers the side effects of the pills. Damn, they really were a bad idea. She grabs a bottle of water from the mini fridge and takes it over to Aria, unscrewing the lid and holding it up to her lips gently.
Aria senses the presence of someone else in the room and is forced to open her eyes when something cool is pressed against her lips. She realises what is happening and parts her lips, allowing the cool liquid to run down her dry throat, quenching her thirst. But the position feels all too familiar and the memories come rushing back to her, causing her to flinch away quickly, scooting further across the bed. Alex watches Aria as she tries to understand what is going on in her confused state worriedly, she had no idea that the pills were that strong so she doesn't know how to help her. "It's okay, you're safe. It's just me, It's Alex." She attempts to calm the girl.
"Alex?" Aria whimpers, torn between seeking comfort and recoiling away from her kind-hearted captor.
"Yeah, it's just me. You're okay." Alex moves towards the shorter girl tentatively, as if trying not to startle an injured bird. She watches as the weakened girl lets go of the tension in her shoulders and slumps back down onto the bed, the action seeming like she is giving up on something. Alex brushes her hand along Aria's arm, joyful that she hasn't pulled away. She then takes this as a sign to carry on so she hooks an arms around the girl's back, manoeuvring until she is sitting up, leaning into her side. Once Alex is bearing the weight of the girl she once again brings the water up to her lips, encouraging her to drink. "This will make you feel better Ari, please drink."
Aria guzzles the water greedily, much to Alex's satisfaction but she can't bring herself to smile with the knowledge that she had put Aria in such a state in the first place. She was planning on taking the girl out tonight but she clearly isn't up to it so she will order some room service and they can watch some crappy movies until she is rested enough. For now she is stroking the wild mane of brown hair, smoothing it down and massaging her scalp. "I'm so sorry." Tears leak out of her eyes as she whispers to the girl.
"Alex, where are my clothes?" Aria mumbles, burrowing into the comforting warmth.
"I thought you might want to sleep in something comfier so I changed you into this, I didn't do anything inappropriate don't worry. I just thought you would look beautiful in it." She explained anxiously, unsure of how she will take it.
"Okay." The girl didn't have the energy to argue, she felt vulnerable but safe in the arms of her captor. "I'm sorry I went off on you before, but I have people I care about in Rosewood and I can't just leave them behind." She spoke softly, trying to appeal to the softer side of Alex.
"What if I make you a deal?" Alex shifted to look into Aria's eyes as she spoke, continuing after she received a brisk nod. "I'll make sure nobody ever hurts your friends and family again if you stay with me for a year. Just a single year for a lifetime of safety." Alex watches as Aria frowns a little, evaluating her options and she has to admit that the little furrow of her brows and wrinkle of her nose is the cutest thing she has ever seen.
"How will you keep them safe?" Aria needs to know everything before she can make a choice, this isn't like deciding what she wants for dinner, this is a year of her life.
"I have connections, people that can make sure that nobody will try to attack them or harm them in any way and if they need money we can give them that, send it anonymously."
"And what about me? Where will I be going?" Aria can't help but find the idea of her loved ones being cared for like that appealing.
"A week or so here and then with me back to England and then after a year you can decide where you go, anything you need will be cared for and you will come to no harm but if you try to run away I will have to call off the protection on the others in Rosewood."
"Can I call them? Or text them at least." Aria begs as she makes up her mind. She is taking the deal, they deserve to be safe, to live a normal life.
"You can have one call but after that no communication unless I allow it." Alex states firmly, showing that her mind is made up on this and to go against her would be stupid.
"Spencer. Let me call Spencer." Alex is surprised that she isn't choosing her parents of her supposed fiance but she always keeps her word so she stands and finds her phone, the one she used as AD.
"I left your phone behind so it can't be tracked. If you try to tell her your location or anything that could be incriminating I will be forced to do something that I won't like. I won't ever hurt you but I am willing to punish you if necessary. Make it quick." Alex keeps her voice low as she tosses the phone over and moves to sit next to Aria again.
Aria hold her breath as the phone rings. Each beep makes anxiety flow through her, please pick up, please pick up, please pick up.
"Hello?" The voice is raspy and suspicious. Her friend is clearly wondering who is calling her from an anonymous device.
"Spencer, I don't have a lot of time so I just need you to listen to me for a second."
"Aria, are you alright? You don't sound too good."
"Listen, I've made a deal of sorts so I can't come back to Rosewood for a year, I can't tell you where I am but you will be safe, I promise you, all of you."
"What kind of deal? You can't leave, we need you. I need you Ari." Spencer is definitely panicking now.
"I can't say. Tell Ezra I'm sorry and make sure my parents know I love them. I've already left so it's too late to say it myself." Spencer could hear Aria's tears and sobs through the phone and it is breaking her heart.
"Aria, I will fix this, whatever you agreed to can be undone."
"It's for the best, this is the last time I will be able to speak to you. I'll see you in a year. I love you."
"No Aria, wait. Don't hang up."
"I'm sorry Spence, forgive me."
"There is nothing to forgive, I love you."
"Bye Spencie." With that the line went dead, leaving both girls with sobs wracking through their bodies.
-.-.-.-.-.-.-.-.-.-.-.-.-.-.-.-.-.-.-.-.-.-.-.-.-
Spencer isn't sure of what to make of the phone call, she can't wrap her head around it. Was it real? Has her best friend really left, sacrificed herself for them? She needs to be sure so she stand on shaky feet from where she was sat on her couch. She is going to see Ezra.
It only took her fifteen minutes to do the usually twenty five minute walk. She didn't bother knocking, instead waltzing in in a frenzy. "Ezra!"
She hears Ezra running through the apartment. "What's wrong?" He seems pick up on her panic.
"Is Aria here?"
"No, I thought she had gone to one of you girls when she wasn't here this morning, she took a bunch of clothes too."
"She's really gone." Spencer mutters to herself. She falls to her knees as tears stream down her face.
"Spencer, what do you know? What's happened?" Ezra begs the girl.
"She made a deal Ezra, she called me this morning. She is leaving for a year, no contact of any kind in exchange for our safety. She told me to tell you that she's sorry." Spencer can't bear to see the look on his face so she stares down at the floor, her tears dampening the carpet. She has no idea what to do now. Aria isn't something that can ever be replaced, she's her best friend.
-.-.-.-.-.-.-.-.-.-.-.-.-.-.-.-.-.-.-.-.-.-.-
Alex attempts to console the weeping girl after listening to the car crash of a phone call. "I am sorry Aria, but this is for the best."
Aria pulls away from her. "For the best? You're separating me from the people I love!" Her rage is out of control, she attempts to stand but falls down to her knees beside the bed. Of course Alex rushes to help her but her own anger is building, especially as Aria continues to push her away, even as she is trying to help her.
"Alright that's it Aria, you're clearly hurt and weak so let me help you for Pete's sake!" Alex doesn't raise her voice but she doesn't need to. The tone is harsh, much harsher than she ever envisioned using towards the love of her life.
"Just leave me alone." Aria sobs into the edge of the bed, resting her weight onto it.
Alex has had enough and finally snaps. She storms over and wraps her arms around Aria, throwing her over her shoulder. Her movements are swift and meticulous as she moves sound the room, grabbing the things she needs with Aria fighting her hold weakly, her fists founding against her back rhythmically. "You've left me with no choice." She places the girl back onto the bed but holds her down.
"What are you doing? No, please don't." Aria assumes the worst as Alex climbs on top of her and tries to get away.
"I would NEVER force you to do anything like that Aria but you do need to learn. You'll stay here tonight, I have another room booked so I will stay there and check on you in a few hours but I know I can't trust you so unfortunately I'm going to have to restrain you again." Alex doesn't give Aria a chance to argue before using a scarf to gag her, tightening the knot on the side of her head so that she can lean her head back comfortably. Next she grabs some rope and binds her wrists to opposite corners of the head board. She makes sure the ropes will hold by tugging on them roughly which makes Aria groan into her gag. She is whimpering, clearly not enjoying this experience. Alex takes the last step, she pulls out a bandanna and winds it around Aria's eyes, blinding her. "I hate doing this to you Aria but I need you to know that you can't defy me like that. I am in charge and always will be. Rest up and I will be back later, if you're good then you can be let out but if not then I will be forced to leave you tied up but in a much less comfortable position."
Alex stands slowly, taking in the masterpiece. Aria looks so perfect, even like this and she can't help but stare at her breasts as they are accentuated but the angling of her arms. She is truly magnificent. Alex may hate that Aria is clearly in distress, if the quiet cries are anything to go by, but she still notices her beauty. She takes on last look at the girl before turning away, walking to the exit swiftly, flicking the lights off as she goes, leaving the tiny brunette in complete darkness, not that she can see through the blindfold anyway. Alex locks the door behind her as she leaves flipping over the sign to turn away house keeping. Aria can't be found, she belongs to her now and only her.
Alex's girl. Alex's Aria.