From the bottom of my heart, thank you all so much for your sweet reviews! Means the world and you bring me to tears with your overkindness, truly.

I LOVE that you guys loved Jenna getting slapped hahaha it was one of my favorite moments from the show and writing Jenna has been so much fun. She's just so deliciously evil. I love it. I wanted to give her what was coming to her haha which you all seemed to agree with.

Italicized chunks of text are flashbacks, which hopefully was obvious enough without noting it here :)

I do not own Pretty Little Liars.


She wasn't heavy, so carrying her all the way to his place really wasn't a big deal. He was a strong guy what with his manual labor work. He had been going to the fitness center at school to keep himself that way, since pouring coffee didn't exactly inspire muscle tone.

"Can I get you anything?" Toby asked her softly once she was inside his place and on her own two feet. He locked the door behind them, noting that Jenna's bedroom was thankfully still dark. He didn't know how she could've beaten him home since he left before her, but when they were all walking together as a group they were dawdling quite a bit so he hadn't been sure the place would be empty. He was certainly grateful it was though.

"Water would be great." she half-croaked, her throat sore from all of her crying.

"I'll meet you in my room." he promised, gently guiding her in that direction before heading to the kitchen himself to pour them both a tall glass of ice water. He had only had a few beers and he was pretty sure Spencer only had the one drink but he was not looking for either of them to end up with a hangover the next morning. Better safe than sorry.

Spencer accepted the glass graciously when he returned. He spotted her necklace in a heap on his night table and her shoes collapsed haphazardly by the closet. Although her dress looked beautiful on her, he knew she couldn't sleep in that.

Toby dug through his drawers for a lengthy t-shirt or something. Sighing in defeat, he grabbed the long sleeved shirt that was under his pillow with his pajama pants from the night before. He held them up to her, miming throwing her each one.

"Top or bottom?" he deadpanned.

Spencer's eyes darted from his face, to the pants, to the shirt and back to his face in a frantic triangle of gazes. His composure broke at her genuine bewilderment and he tossed her the shirt, far too entertained with her reaction.

"I'm just kidding. You can have bottom if you want, but I figure you'd prefer that."

She rolled her eyes at him and got off the bed. "I'm going to go change and get cleaned up."

He nodded, sipping at his own water. "Kay." he replied, changing into his blue plaid pajama pants when she was gone and throwing his day clothes into his overflowing hamper. He really needed to do some laundry. He grabbed a white wife beater from his dresser drawer and pulled it over his head, sitting on his bed to wait for Spencer to return.

Remembering their naps and the cravings he'd get when he woke up with her in his arms, he knew they wouldn't be sharing a bed tonight. He just… couldn't. He wouldn't take advantage of her when she was vulnerable and he was pretty sure she was still with Wren despite their fight. He wanted to just be there for her tonight, as her best friend, nothing more.

He ran his hands irritably through his hair. Why did he have to feel like this for her? Why couldn't things just be simple? When she was around he just forgot all rational thought. One of these days he was bound to do something stupid. Like earlier, when he practically proclaimed his love for her to defend her honor, on multiple occasions. If she was oblivious to his feelings, she must not be as smart as she made herself out to be, because he literally couldn't be more obvious about it.


Meanwhile, Spencer was washing her make-up off in the bathroom. She checked herself out in Toby's soft blue long sleeved shirt. It had a big anchor in the top left corner of the shirt and the hem hit about halfway down her thighs. She left her hair down as it was and held the cold wash cloth up against her swollen eyes, hoping she'd stop looking like she had been bawling, even though that's exactly what she had been doing.

She was really happy she was at Toby's. She knew Hanna would've hovered at home and if she had spilled her guts about the fight, Hanna would none-too-subtly suggest it was probably time to end things with Wren for good. And she didn't want to do that.

Spencer hated that her friends had only ever seen her and Wren fighting together. When they were alone, things were great. He was one of the only people who completely understood her strong drive to work hard for what she wanted. When Spencer was studying weeks in advance for midterms, Wren encouraged her. Most of her friends just told her she was being ridiculous or thought it was an endearing quality of hers. Maybe it was, but it was nice to have someone understand why she did it. Plus Wren didn't always want to watch some stupid mindless drama; he, like her, liked to indulge in some intelligent television like a documentary on the history of light bulbs or something. Spencer was just someone who was passionate about learning in general and not many people shared that quality; but Wren did. And she loved him for it.

Plus Wren was sweet and shared a similar sort of wit. He knew how to make her laugh when she was upset and was always doing sweet gestures like bringing her flowers to get her to smile or congratulate her on something like a decent grade on a random essay. He was a good boyfriend, but her friends only ever saw him as the guy fighting with her tooth and nail every time they hung out.

She knew that was partly her fault; it was obvious that intertwining Wren with her friends wasn't working. Even when Aria and Hanna had boyfriends, Wren sort of stuck out like a sore thumb. He was always really polite and friendly, and the guys usually warmed up to him nicely, but it was obvious he felt out of place which is why they usually tended to fight afterwards. Spencer didn't know how to make things easier for him and he was usually picking at something she said or some moment she missed when she could have made him more comfortable or thrown him a bone.

They got through those fights though. She'd promise to be better next time and he'd promise to try harder and need her less.

Tonight's fight however had been different than their past ones. Really cold, hateful words had been said. She wasn't sure what was going to happen this time, but it didn't look to be anything good.

His words kept repeating in her head, like a reel, a sick vision of an out of control Merry-Go-Round flashing before her eyes at the chaos of the whole thing…


Their first argument had been about after she returned from outside. Wren had grabbed Spencer's arm as she walked past; she hadn't even noticed him hovering at the bar.

"Spencer, what the hell? Where were you?" he demanded.

"Sorry, Toby got into a fight with his step-sister and left the club. I had to make sure he was okay." she told him honestly, resting a hand on his forearm.

"And you couldn't have told me where you were going?" Wren asked patronizingly, clearly annoyed. "You know I don't know your friends well and this is a night club. I didn't know if someone had kidnapped you or something… put something in your drink and was off taking advantage of you… I came out and you were gone."

Spencer clued into the fact that he was worried about her, amongst his annoyance at her sudden abandonment. It was sort of sweet and she had to admit he had a point. She just was so concerned about Toby she had forgotten about anyone else. She hadn't told her friends where she was going either if they even noticed she was missing.

"I'm sorry, Wren. He left out of here so fast I had to act in an instant. It was really spur-of-the-moment. I was only gone a couple minutes. I wouldn't have left you without telling you, you know I'm not that kind of girl. But Toby was really upset and I was concerned. He's my friend, Wren, and I care about him."

She detected a subtle eye roll by her boyfriend but she chose not to comment on it.

"Well, he seems fine to me." Wren interjected with a pout as he nodded over to the guy in the middle of their dance group. The girls had all warmed up to him so quickly; Wren couldn't help but feel bitter about it. He'd been dating Spencer ten months and they had never worshipped him the way they did Toby.

Spencer tried her best to speak patiently. "He is now, but I had to talk to him first. His relationship with his step-sister is complicated."

"Looks like he needs your rescuing again." Wren commented sarcastically as he saw Toby and the green-eyed wavy haired brunette talking again to the side.

Although Wren had been bitterly joking, Spencer's eyes widened and she determinedly strode over when she saw Toby's broken expression.

Wren rolled his eyes. His patience for this guy and his girlfriend was running extremely thin.


Their next argument was after the whole Jenna ordeal. Hanna had slapped the girl clear across the face and they all rushed out of there. Spencer hadn't even offered him a glance as she laughed excitedly with her friends at the craziness that had gone on inside the club. Wren, frustrated and feeling woozy from how fast he had drank his scotch, held her back from the group.

She looked at him with innocent eyes but he could tell by the set of her jaw that she was annoyed that he was ruining her fun.

"Have you forgotten who your boyfriend is?" Wren asked irritably.

Spencer rolled her eyes, her innocent look being replaced with one of annoyance. "Of course not, Wren. Look, Toby-"

"Yeah, yeah, he needs you. Why don't you go off with him then? He's obviously who you'd rather be with." he told her coldly.

Spencer was surprised at his hostility. "Toby and I are just friends. You're my boyfriend. I'm sorry I've been paying so much attention to him the past twenty minutes-"

"The past twenty minutes? Spencer, you've been all over him all night! Even when I arrived, you guys were off on your own, acting like a couple. Don't stand here and lie to my face. You have feelings for him and spent half the night bragging to your friends about how great he is while I sat there like a moron. You sat next to me at that table, flirting heavily with him while I had to just sit idly by and enjoy the show. How do you think that makes me feel?"

"Wren… I-It wasn't like that…"

"Oh, it 'wasn't like that'? Tell me Spencer, when was the last time you and one of your girl friends got into a flirty wrestling match? You literally were running your hands all over him in front of everybody. I'm not an idiot, Spencer, I see the way you look at him and the way he looks at you."

"We've always been just friends. Nothing has ever happened." she promised, tears falling now. She knew if she didn't get control of this soon she was going to lose him completely. She had never seen him so angry. But she didn't know what to say. She couldn't lie when he so obviously saw the truth of her feelings for her best friend.

"Yeah, well that's probably because Toby is actually more respectful of our relationship status than you are. He didn't hang off of you the way you were all over him. When I talked to him, he seemed like a decent guy. But you two looked more like you were dating than you and I did. And that means something to me, Spencer."

"Wren, I'm sorry… I love you. Me and Toby have only ever been friends and that's all we'll ever be. You have to believe me."

"Well I don't. You guys are too touchy-feely to be just friends. You can lie to yourself all you want, but I'm sick of you lying to me. I gave up so much to be with you. Your sister was a real catch you know and doing really well for herself. My parents are disappointed in me. My friends don't understand why I want someone so young… and inexperienced." he added, her understanding perfectly what he was implying and felt like she was being punched in the stomach.

"And you know…" he continued with a slur. "I'm starting to forget why too. I mean, if you're just going to leave me for another guy your age, why go through all these complications? Is it because your parents may not like me right now but you know they'll never accept you dating a carpenter?"

Spencer desperately wanted to correct him and shout 'architect' in his face, but she was crying too hard now to pull herself together and it wouldn't help anything anyways, just make it worse.

"What are you saying, Wren? Are you breaking up with me because I'm suddenly too young for you? Age was never a problem between us before. There is nothing going on between me and Toby. We're just friends!" she half-shouted through her tears, begging for him to understand the words she had been repeating like a mantra since their fight started. She didn't want to end things like this.

"Fine. Then look me in the eye and tell me you have no feelings for him." Wren demanded furiously, hands on her shoulders to force her to look at him.

She looked down in shame.

"That's what I thought. Fuck you, Spencer. I'm done with your immature lies. Grow up already." he growled, pulling away from her seeking hands and casting one last disgusted look back at her before storming across the street to put as much space between them as possible.

"Wren!" she yelled, wishing he'd just turn around and stop to actually listen to her.

But he disappeared into the night, stumbling slightly, too pissed off and hurt to offer her the smallest of glances.

Spencer stood, alone, tears pouring down her face, wrapping her arms around herself to hold her fragile body together.

Toby had come to her rescue moments later, and his sweet simple words had set her off. She started sobbing on the spot, not caring if random passer-byers were staring at her; she could barely catch her breath. She had been incredibly grateful to feel his loving arms lift her up and the promise to take care of her for the rest of the night. She had merely snuggled closer to his warmth, not wanting to think about the angry man who had just left her probably forever.


Spencer twisted the bathroom doorknob, planning on rejoining Toby, before thinking twice. She left the door ajar as she pulled out her phone from her clutch and dialed Wren's number. It kept ringing until it hit voicemail. It was the fourth time she had tried him since she had gotten to Toby's. When the beep hit, she sighed into the phone.

"Wren, it's me again. I get that you don't want to talk but can you please text me to let me know you're alright? You took off into the dark night, drunk and angry. I'm worried. I just need to know you're safe. Please." Her tears fell again and she leaned against the wall. "I'm sorry about everything. I just really want to figure out where we're going to go from here. I mean, obviously I keep screwing things up. But I love you. I miss you already. I just… give me a chance to explain. I'll be a hundred percent honest with you if you just give me a chance. Please Wren…"

The message clicked, signaling her time was up, and she exited the call. She placed her face in her hands, groaning.

Pulling herself together, she headed back out into the apartment, finding Toby in his room looking troubled.

Immediately concerned, she sat next to him. "Toby, what's the matter?"

He scratched the back of his neck. "It's nothing." he fibbed, forcing a smile. "Are you hungry? I'm thinking of making a grilled cheese sandwich or something…"

Spencer, momentarily distracted by her rumbling stomach, clasped her hands together excitedly. "That sounds so amazing right now it's not even funny."

Toby laughed and headed out to start prepping the food. He turned the knob to warm up the burner and dug the cheese slices out of the fridge.

Spencer had joined him and was buttering the bread in preparation, smiling over at him. She was happy she was here. Toby was very relaxed and good company.

They formulated the sandwiches and threw them on the frying pan. Spencer leaned against the counter, twirling a strand of hair around her finger absent-mindedly as she checked her phone for the millionth time.

"Can't get a hold of Wren?" Toby asked sympathetically.

She sighed and shook her head, tracing the grooves in the kitchen tiles with her big toe. "No. I just wish he would let me know he was all right. He stormed off drunk and angry. I just want to know he's safe; he doesn't have to talk to me. I'm sure he is… but I worry."

Toby nodded understandingly. "Do you want to talk about what happened? It's okay if you don't, I'm just offering the option." he added, flipping the sandwiches. They were the perfect golden brown. He tried to hide his little smile of pride at this fact.

Spencer ran her hand through her hair. "It was just… stupid. It always is when we go out with friends, my friends especially. It's not because of them, but I always screw up somehow and he gets frustrated with me… it's only worse when he's drinking…" she trailed off, hand over her face now in stress.

"Hey." Toby murmured, reaching out and squeezing her hand. "You guys will work it out. You always have in the past."

She nodded but couldn't bring herself to smile. "Toby… do you think you and I… are too close?" she asked.

He kept his eyes focused on the frying pan but could feel the blush crawling up his neck. He considered his reply but couldn't fight the truth. He sighed. "I didn't really, until tonight. There's stuff I'd normally do like have my arm around you or hold your hand that I found myself avoiding and feeling guilty over. I guess it didn't hit until I saw Wren in the flesh that my behavior around you was pushing some boundaries. It doesn't feel wrong when we're alone… but at that club…"

Spencer nodded, leaning her hip into the counter now so she could face him. "I know exactly what you mean. I know we're just friends… but it's how it looks to other people that concerns me."

Toby placed their sandwiches on plates. "I take it Wren noticed."

She graciously accepted the proffered food. "Yeah. He did." she said quietly.

Toby closed his eyes in defeat, pinching the bridge of his nose. "I'm so sorry, Spencer. I hope I didn't permanently screw things up between you guys."

They both settled down at the table Spencer had shown off earlier.

She shook her head, half-smiling at him. "It's not your fault. He actually found you to be very respectable and… I guess in control? He was bothered by how much attention I paid you… which if you remember, really wasn't much at all once Wren arrived. He's just really sensitive and insecure around my friends. I think seeing how my friends warmed up to you in only their second encounter with you makes him feel kind of down… Add drinking to the mix, and I should've known it would end up like this."

They both chewed thoughtfully for a moment, thinking back through the night.

"I probably shouldn't have stormed out of the club like that. I know Wren wasn't pleased that you left to chase after me. I just… had to get away from her. From everything."

Spencer shook her head. "I'd do that again in a heartbeat, Toby. I needed to make sure you were okay. If Wren can't handle me caring about my friends, then he can consider himself single because I won't put up with that for a minute. He was just mad that I abandoned him without telling him where I was going. But it was a spur of the moment thing, which I explained. He got over it; he just was worried something happened to me and didn't fancy hanging out with my friends alone."

Toby nodded but still looked bothered. She reached across the table to squeeze his hand.

"Toby, don't be upset. I don't blame you. Hell, even Wren doesn't blame you. He's pissed at me. He's always pissed at me. He's been so distant the last few weeks it was just a matter of time."

He looked up at that in surprise. She shrugged.

"Maybe it's not about you, Spence. Maybe it's something happening to him personally. He mentioned to me he had a rough day today; maybe things at the hospital aren't going as well as he passes them off to be. Maybe he's feeling a lot of pressure at work or it might just be because of the crazy hours he pulls. It can't be easy on his body working all hours of the day and night at the drop of a hat. Or it could be financial problems that he doesn't want to burden you with, or family trouble, or any number of things that aren't your fault. I know you have this habit of blaming yourself for everything, but just because he takes it out on you doesn't mean that's the full story."

Spencer considered this, wiping her mouth gracefully with a napkin as she finished eating. "First of all, I don't know how, but that was the best grilled cheese I've ever eaten in my life."

Toby smirked at that. "It's probably because of the alcohol in your system."

She rolled her eyes but ignored his comment. "Secondly, maybe you're right. God, I forget how good you are to talk to. You're always so… rational." she said amusedly. "I can never see the things you do until you say them and then I'm like 'oh'."

He smiled. "It's easier to be rational when it's not affecting you as personally." he explained.

She nodded. "Are you sleepy? I'm sort of wired. Want to play Scrabble?" she said, all very quickly.

Toby laughed. Hyper Spencer was something he hadn't really experienced much of yet. "Sure, why not?"

"Should we play it at the table?" Spencer asked as Toby dug it out of the top of the linen closet. There were only so many places of storage in the apartment.

He shook his head. "I'd rather be more comfortable. Give me a second."

Toby handed her the game and moved the cushions off the couch, revealing a pull-out bed. The sheets were already on there.

Spencer climbed on the bed next to him when it was all set and they started the game.

Despite her burst of energy, it quickly ran out. Their game started going rather poorly after about thirty minutes, which really wasn't very long in Scrabble time. It didn't help that they only started with a five letter word and were forced to play the majority of the game in one corner of the board.

As Toby contemplated his letters, Spencer hugged one of the pillows to her body and closed her eyes. "Is this my bed?" Spencer asked as she sighed contently.

He shook his head, although she couldn't see him, and tried not to smile. He could get used to the sight of her in his t-shirt. "You ready for bed?"

She nodded and didn't look like she was going anywhere. Toby packed up the game and put it away. He moved to her side of the bed and lifted her gently into his arms. She immediately snuggled into him like she had earlier, humming sleepily.

He carried her to his bedroom, placing her delicately on the bed and pulling the blankets over her small frame. He brushed her hair off her forehead and turned to head towards the door.

Spencer reached out and grabbed his wrist. "Where are you going? You are coming back, right?" she asked, her eyes bright and child-like.

Toby sighed and crouched down so he was eye-level with her. He caressed her face tenderly. "Spence, I don't think it's a good idea tonight. You were right earlier… we've gotten too comfortable with each other. We should probably steer away from that stuff even in our private time. I think tonight of all nights, with everything that's going on with Wren, it would be a bad idea to share a bed. I'm going to sleep on the pull-out bed. I want you to have mine."

"Toby, I should sleep out there, this is your bed-" she began to protest but he shook his head.

"You're the guest, you're getting my bed." he told her in a final tone so she wouldn't argue. "Sleep well, Spence. I'm just in the living room if you need me." he added, kissing her forehead and cursing himself for taking all of five seconds to break his own rule from moments before. He had to stop acting like her boyfriend not just in public but in their alone time too. That's when it was most dangerous.

"Okay. Night Toby." she murmured and he wasn't sure what he saw in her eyes. It was disappointment and maybe something more. He swore her eyes were wet. She had rolled over before he could figure it out.

Feeling like the world's biggest asshole, Toby flopped down on the bed in the living room and groaned quietly to himself. No matter how hard he tried, this night was going how he hoped it would.