(Aria: Week 1)

"What did you say?" It should have been just a word, one of millions Spencer had spoken over the years, but something about it was different. It was rattling around in her brain since Spencer climbed out of bed, sweaty and naked, and looking so perfect.

The night had begun innocently enough. She'd gone to Spencer's, the one friend who let her cry on her shoulder and didn't try to offer up solutions to her problems. She'd been missing Ezra, and the thought to call him had crossed her mind more than once. She loved him, but their relationship was too complicated. There was always an issue. Social issue, legal issues, professional issues. Every time they cleared one hurdle another appeared. Eventually they decided to call it quits. Aria was doing her best to be strong, avoid calling him, but love was like a drug. Finally, she made her way to Spencer's house.

Spencer listened to her talk for an hour, offering the occasional word or two but never much more than that. The conversation shifted from what she had, Ezra, to what she wanted, and before she knew what was happening, she was straddling Spencer's waist. The night was hazy after that, laughing, when did Spencer get so funny? Making out, damn was Spencer a great kisser. Sex, wow is she great in bed, wild unpredictable and consuming. It was the definition of mindless dirty sex, fun and free but the sort of thing you knew didn't actually count in the morning. After it was over Aria was dumbstruck. Did this make her a lesbian? No, she clearly liked men, but this was something, it wasn't nothing. Experimenting? That was what she settled on, and Spencer agreed. It didn't mean anything, just two friends sexperimenting.

"What," Spencer asked as she toweled herself dry. She'd suddenly lost all sense of modesty, she'd been naked for at least an hour. Aria had wanted to get dressed but she didn't want to seem like a prude.

"Knackered?" The word threw Aria for a loop. It was just a word, but it was a word she'd never heard Spencer use. She hadn't heard anyone use it in fact. It was the second time that night Spencer had said something odd. During sex she'd screamed out Bloody Hell, in a perfect British accent. She explained it away as a goof, even going so far as to call Alison in the fake British accent and asking her if she wanted her bangers mashed. Alison, never one to back down, started cursing and Spencer threatened to flog her with a snooker stick. The whole thing had been so hilarious she'd shot milk through her nose and forgot about how odd it was. That was until they'd climbed out of the shower and Spencer said she should nap a bit because she looked knackered.

"You look exhausted, get a nap, I'll go grab us some food and we can finish our sexperiment." Aria wouldn't have minded the ride to get food, but she was comfortable and feeling pretty good lying around naked. She pushed the word out of her head and turned on the TV. Spencer left to grab the food, a trip that should have taken no more than fifteen minutes on a bad night. She was gone for over an hour.

When she came back, she was back to being plain old uptight Spencer. The food run had killed her funny bone because she didn't make one joke, and she'd been making Aria laugh all night. They'd even almost got into a fight, but Spencer had sweet talked her back into bed. But things were different this time. The first time they'd had sex it had been seemingly for kicks. This time Spencer took her time, stared into her eyes, kissed her gently, held her afterwards and spoke about the bond they'd created. She'd done a complete 180. Dirty sex had turned to love making on a dime. Aria had enjoyed both equally. If round one was pure gratification, round two was connection and intimacy.

When Spencer climbed on top of her and pulled off her skull tee-shirt, Aria simply let it happen. When she looked into Aria's eyes and promised her they'd go as slow as she wanted, as gently as she wanted, and that she could trust her, she'd never hurt her, Aria believed her. Despite the marathon session they'd had earlier in the night, it was like they were touching each other for the very first time.

(Aria: Week 2)

Spencer had spent the better part of the week being Spencer. No British accent, no comedy routine. Things were normal as far as Aria was concerned. She listened to Aria fret about college for an hour then made a detailed list of why Aria shouldn't be worried about getting accepted some place. It was completely ridiculous but also completely Spencer.

Days later Spencer showed up unannounced with college acceptances. Aria hadn't believed it at first, but Spencer insisted she call the schools and verify, even leaving her to look up contact information online so she'd know it was legit. Aria had kissed her, and it had been the sweet and gentle kiss of a girlfriend, love and emotion wrapped in warmth. They made plans to see one another again on Saturday. Aria was actually looking forward to the comfort being with Spencer would bring.

(Aria: Week 3)

When Saturday rolled around Aria had wanted to make a complete day of it. She'd wanted Spencer to come over around noon, they could watch some movies together, hang out, have a good day and when the sun went down, have some adults only type of fun. Spencer had ruined the plan though. She claimed to have errands, but Aria didn't understand what errands couldn't be done immediately to get their day started. She finally semi-threatened to call the whole thing off, and Spencer had relented. It took her over an hour, but she finally showed up.

The Spencer who walked through her door was the fun Spencer, the jokester. They spent the night together and had a great time, but when they climbed into bed Aria felt that familiar excitement. The sex wasn't soft and gentle, it was wild and free, almost dirty, a fun sort of dirty.

The change was obvious. It was like she had a switch in her head that she could flip. One minute she was perfect girlfriend Spencer, then the next she was 'lets bang it out' Spencer. They both had their strong points, hell, together they were almost the perfect girlfriend. That was if she could even call what they were doing being girlfriends. But it was itching her brain, the drastic change in personality.

After they'd tired themselves out Spencer held her in her arms. Even THAT was different now. Girlfriend Spencer held her in her arms tightly, occasionally twirling Aria's hair in her fingers, and said sweet things to her. They talked about the future, the past, how they met, their shared history. Wild child Spencer, who she'd began calling The Brit, in her head, spoke about some movie they'd watched together. There was nothing intimate about it.

Up until that point Aria had began to entertain the idea that they were two separate people. Two Spencers trapped in the body of one. It was silly of course. The Brit knew all the things Girlfriend Spencer knew. She knew that Aria had cut her arm, or poked it really hard, with a Compass in Geometry class in 8th grade and needed to get a tetanus shot. She knew Aria had hid in Spencer's barn for a weekend when she found out she was moving to Iceland. She knew all the things she was supposed to know. And even more important, Spencer didn't have any sort of multiple personality disorder.

A bit after midnight Hannah sent out an SOS, finally fessing up to her problems with shoplifting, and Aria pushed the crazy thoughts out of her mind again. When the night was over, and both were on their way home, Aria, still plagued by questions, decided to test a theory. She walked over to Spencer and kissed her, really kissed her. The last time they'd kissed, Spencer had been gentle, cupping the nape of her neck in a way that really got Aria's motor running. The Brit had been just as great a kisser but instead of gentle she was passionate and excited. She'd even grabbed Aria's ass. Something inside Aria's mind told her to run, so she did. She got out of dodge and avoided Spencer all together the whole week.

(Aria: Week 4)

Aria was being crazy, she knew this. There was no other explanation for it. And worse yet, she couldn't share her fears with anyone. She couldn't very well explain to her friends that there was something going on with Spencer. See when we kiss and have sex it's different each time. She knew her friends, they'd spend the entire night talking about the fact that she and Spencer were now having sex and wouldn't even broach the subject of Spencer's split personality.

Aria knew her only recourse was to lie. Find the most gullible of the group and lie to them. Emily. Emily wasn't a moron, she was stern on some issues, but there was an innocence to her that made her really easy to manipulate. Aria bit the bullet and lied to Emily, telling her she was worried Spencer was back to doing speed. Eager to help, they'd staked out Spencer's house on a Saturday afternoon. Nothing happened and Emily suggested they give up until Spencer finally appeared. She hopped in her car and hit the road. She drove thirty minutes to Brookhaven, making no stops, until she finally reached an apartment complex. Aria and Emily watched her get out of the car, walk inside the building, (there was a buzzer on the door but Spencer must have been buzzed right in) and return to her car and head back to Rosewood. The visit inside took less than two minutes.

Spencer called Aria on her way back to Rosewood, catching her completely off guard. Spencer didn't sound high, but the quick visit had all but convinced Emily that Spencer was back to taking pills. It made sense in a way, drugs made people act weird. It would surely tie things up in a neat little bow. They made plans to meet up with her, agreeing to keep their suspicions to themselves before alerting the other girls, and made a vow to watch Spencer more closely from now on. The first sign of serious trouble and Emily said she'd tell Spencer's mother, damn the strain it would put on their friendship. Aria agreed but decided she'd never rat Spencer out, if she had to lock her in a closet until the drugs left her system, so be it.

That night Aria decided to spend the evening with Spencer to watch her closely, make sure she wasn't doing drugs. That inevitably led to sex. Girlfriend Spencer was back, saying the right things, staring into her eyes, turning on music in her bedroom and slow dancing with her. It turned out to be the most romantic night she'd had in a long time. When Spencer grabbed her gently by the hand and led her upstairs, she followed with zero resistance.

Sex was soft again, romantic and perfect. When they climbed in the shower Spencer kissed her, really kissed her, and she allowed herself to consider if she were simply overreacting. While they kissed, Spencer's hand slipped to the nape of her neck. Afterwards, Spencer pulled away from her and whispered softly in her ear that she could trust her, that she'd never hurt her, and Aria freaked out. She practically jumped out of the shower, got dressed, and began to head home, before she left she turned around and went back for another kiss. She prayed for dirty talk, or an ass grab. Instead she got a hand to the nape of her neck, she went home.

Aria was pissed at Spencer for getting back on the pills but she was sure she knew where her dealer lived. Brookhaven. It made sense for Spencer to travel so far away to score. Last time her dealer, a girl from school, ratted her out. This time she was being careful. She was going far enough out of town where she could blend in with her surroundings. Unfortunately, dealing with drug dealers meant eventually they'd give you something else than what you were looking for. A girl like Spencer, clean cut and wealthy, they'd surely try to get her hooked on heroin or something. If Aria didn't sniff out this dealer, Spencer would flush her entire life down the drain.

Her plan was to head to Brookhaven and do some investigating. She knew the building the dealer lived in, but she didn't know which apartment. Or what they looked like. She decided to figure things out on the way. She made it as far as the school parking lot before Spencer found her and asked her what was going on. Unarmed with the information she needed to fix the situation, Aria promised to come over later to discus where her head was. Spencer seemed happy with that and Aria took off from school at lunch to go find Spencer's dealer.

When she parked her car she realized almost immediately what a stupid plan this was. It's not like she could go knock on the door and say please stop selling drugs to my friend. Drug dealers didn't like stuff like that. Her only safe course of action was to get the dealer busted. That was safe. She could find out where they lived, and leave an anonymous tip with the police. With her dealer busted Spencer would be unable to score and Aria could hopefully talk some sense into her. Maybe find some outpatient therapy that wouldn't involve her parents. Hannah's new doctor could help, she'd have to.

Aria gave the street a careful look. It was a nice neighborhood, not exactly the sort of place you'd expect a drug dealer to live. There was a middle aged woman across the street from the dealer's building sitting on a stoop and playing on her phone. She looked like a hippie but she didn't look friendly. She was scowling. In a bind and out of ideas, Aria decided to bite the bullet. She dug her phone out of her purse, pulled up a picture of Spencer and walked over.

"Excuse me ma'am. Do you know my friend?" Aria held out the phone for the woman to see. She glanced half heartedly then went back to her own phone.

"Alex. Across the street. Apartment 2."

Aria wanted to ask if Alex was a drug dealer, but the woman's scowl made her think better of it. Instead she thanked her and went back to her car. The woman said apartment 2 with such confidence she had to be correct. Spencer was here often enough that the woman knew she was here to buy drugs from Alex. It was a start. She hopped back into her car and considered her options. The woman on the stoop was staring now. Aria, suddenly worried her undercover mission was going to be shot to hell, cranked up her engine and circled the block. She parked far enough away that the hippie didn't see her and sat in her car for twenty minutes looking for drug dealer activity. She saw none.

Aria decided just asking Spencer would be too confrontational. She'd deny it and they'd fight, and she wouldn't be in the position to help her at all anymore. So instead she told Spencer to be honest with her, tell her what was going on, no consequences, no judgment.

Spencer pulled Lucas Gottesman out of left field. Apparently, she was breaking up with her idiot boyfriend Todd, and was going to start dating Lucas. It was completely ridiculous but not surprising. Todd was a boyfriend in name only. He did whatever Spencer said and Aria knew Lucas would be no different. Lucas in fact would likely be even worse than Todd. Todd was at least great looking, and popular, but Lucas was none of those things. He wasn't ugly, but he wasn't going to win any contests. And he was such a puppy for Hannah that if Spencer actually bothered to give him the time of day, she could walk right over him and he'd likely just say thank you. Aria was annoyed by the whole thing, but if given a choice between Spencer dating handsome Todd, or Lucas, she'd choose Lucas.

Spencer wasn't biting, she wasn't going to confess to her pill addiction, not yet. Aria was thinking of ways to force her to do it, when Spencer dropped those three little words. I love you. Well, actually she said Spencer Hastings loves Aria Montgomery. It was a strange way to say it, but it still counted.

"So, you love me regardless of your secrets." It was a silly question, but Spencer was all girlfriend charming. Spencer admitted her feelings wouldn't be affected by her secrets and Aria decided to let it go for now. Spencer leaned in for a kiss, and knowing her, probably more, but Aria rebuffed her politely. Only a kiss.

Spencer's artful handling of her social life left Aria feeling a little exposed. Between her trysts with Spencer and recent breakup with Fitz she would surely start drawing attention. Noel Kahn had given her a call asking her out and she decided it was time to call him back. Noel wasn't Lucas, but he was a playboy, he wouldn't get attached. He was the perfect guy for her right now. Handsome, and a bit full of himself. Not the type to be tied down. Spencer looked as if she wanted to say something about Noel but kept it to herself. Typical Spencer.

(Aria: Week 5)

Aria decided now wasn't the time to leave Spencer hanging so after spending the night with Noel she brought Spencer breakfast Sunday morning. Noel had gone the traditional dinner and a movie route for their first date and Aria had been a bit disappointed. Things were so unpredictable with Spencer she started feeling let down by the typical.

Spencer of course didn't ask about the date, opting instead to make a face every time Noel's name was mentioned. She hadn't ever shown any particular dislike for the guy but that all changed today. Today he was public enemy number one, except she never came out and said it. She decided instead to spend the morning making jokes, putting a smile on Aria's face and trying to talk Aria out of her pants.

At school things got even weirder when Spencer sat Lucas at the lunch table. Aria didn't understand why Spencer had made the decision, but she didn't understand half of Spencer's decisions when she was being The Brit. She'd even made a crude joke about ice cream and oral sex right at the lunch table. Aria had found it disgustingly hilarious and inappropriate. The Brit had a way of making things fun. Aria assumed The Brit was Spencer's high as a kite persona.

The thought of her off somewhere popping pills and making shady drug deals in dark alleys made her sad. She had to push things forward to help her. She had a great time with The Brit, they laughed and joked and had incredible dirty sex together, but if the risk of having that was possibly losing Spencer, she'd gladly give her up.

Aria's life got even more complicated when Fitz came back into the picture. Desperate for a reunion, Ezra asked for a few minutes to discuss 'their situation'. That one conversation had turned to two, then three and all other things fell away. For a few days she forgot about Spencer, Noel, drug deals and spent some time figuring out an answer to the Ezra question in her life.

Aria did her best to hide quietly in the bushes of the park. Now was the time to get the proof she'd desperately needed to confront Spencer. If she could catch her in the act, Spencer wouldn't be able to deny being back on the pills.

The sting had come about by accident of course. She'd simply been on her way to Spencer's house to talk, she'd practically ignored her all week and figured she at the very least owed her an explanation. What she'd found was a disheveled Spencer, wrinkled and unkempt, very UN-Spencer like, leaving her house.

Spencer climbed into her car and took off down the road. Positive that she was off to score more pills, Aria followed her. The sting took an unexpected turn when instead of going to Brookhaven to Alex's house, Spencer headed to a shady Ravenswood park.

She watched from a safe distance while Spencer made a seat on a swing set and waited for someone to show up. It took ten minutes, but a Toyota pulled into the parking lot, it's lights temporarily basking Spencer in its glow. A shadowy figure climbed out of the car, slammed the door and made its way into the park.

Aria watched with nervous anticipation as the figure emerged from the darkness and her heart leapt to her throat. The girl walked over to Spencer and wrapped her in a hug. Aria couldn't believe her eyes. It was Spencer, and Spencer. Two Spencers. Suddenly everything about the past month came crashing into focus. Spencer seemed like two different people because she WAS two different people. Twins. Spencer had a twin. Alex wasn't Spencer's drug dealer. Alex was Spencer's sister.