A/N: Sorry I took so long to update this story! I have a lot of conflicting ideas for it so I was afraid to commit to one particular story path. Also, I haven't been getting much feedback, so I'm not sure if anybody is actually still interested in this story…Please review and/or msg me if you do want me to go on, otherwise I'm just wasting time that could be spent writing up one of my upcoming stories that I can't wait to share with you all. Lol. As promised in the second to last update of Pretend, here's your long awaited update!

Spencer stood in front of his bed as she had so many times before, half dressed, trying to put herself together and push aside the part of her that wanted to snuggle up to him half-undressed all day.

"I was supposed to be going with my family to my Nana's," she said as she buttoned up her shirt, slowly. She was only wearing her bra, shirt, and underwear. He just laid in bed in his boxers and watched her. He felt overwhelmingly guilty for getting back with her when he knew he would just end up hurting her. Nevermind what her parents might say or do…

"You should get going before it gets too dark – I don't want you driving by yourself so late on a holiday weekend. It's not safe."

"Well that's the best part," she smirked, pulling up her skirt over her shirt, tucking it in and zipping up the back effortlessly. She walked over to his closet and pulled out slacks and a blue-green plaid button up. "I'm bringing you with me."

"What?!" He narrowed his eyes at her. "Absolutely no way. Your parents will have a shit fit."

"If they want me to come, they have to accept that you come with me. Melissa brought her boyfriend, so I'm bringing mine." She smiled dangerously, happy to finally decide on a title for the boy she loved.

"I don't think it's a good idea."

"If they're too bad about it, we'll leave. But if we expect to not let any more secrets or space come between us again… we have to stand united against anything that comes between us. Which is honestly only ever going to be my parents. Screw them. My birthday is coming up and then I go off to college. They can't control me anymore."

"Fine," he rolled his eyes, taking the outfit from her. This is going to suck. Why can't I dare to say no to her? I can't lose her again… I have to be better. It's the only way to erase the past.

"Thank you," she kissed him. "I'm going to go upstairs and make coffee for us to bring with us. Don't be too long," she smiled and waltzed upstairs sexily, leaving him wondering how he ever stood to be apart from her in the first place.

xx

The trip was a long one, as everybody was out on the road to visit their own respective families.

"How is Melissa doing?" Toby swallowed hard.

"Same old. She's dating a new British doctor. My parents love that," her fingers tapped the steering wheel as she waited for traffic to let up.

"So she's…moved on?"

"They've all moved on. Toby…I thought you'd let this go." Her face sunk in.

"Yeah…uh, it did. I'm fine. I was just curious, so I knew what I'd be walking into."

"Just relax…" She smiled, moving one hand to his thigh as she drove.

The rest of the drive was mostly quiet.

xx

They arrived at Spencer's Nana's house close to 8PM, just after dinner time. Spencer rang the bell and held Toby's hand tight as she waited for someone to let her inside.

She seemed not to be nervous at all. "Toby would you stop fidgeting? It's going to be okay." She smiled sweetly.

"How are you not more nervous? After last time your parents and I were in the same room with you…"

"Because I've chosen to change my attitude about the whole situation." She said simply. "I refuse to be the victim when I have so much free will. It just isn't who I am. There isn't anything physically stopping me from being with you, no real danger…so I should be with you…because you make me happy." She smiled and kissed his lips.

Just as their lips met, Spencer's Nana came to the door, Peter Hastings closely behind her.

"Ooooh, my dear Spencer!" Her Nana sung, pulling the couple, now glued together at their latched arms, inside and throwing her arms around Spencer and leaving a big kiss on her cheek. "My gosh, you've gotten so tall. And I see someone's starting to fill out on top," She smiled, embarrassing Spencer in the way that only a grandmother really could. Toby did his best to keep from laughing. "And you've finally got a boyfriend!" She cooed. "What a handsome one," she grabbed at Toby's cheek, and it was Spencer's turn to suppress a giggle.

"What the hell is he doing here?" Peter snapped, but Nana turned around.

"Don't be rude. The girl can bring whoever she like to my house. The more, the merrier. Melissa's brought somebody, I don't see why Spencer couldn't also bring a date to the holiday. I'm just here they've gotten here safely."

"Thank you, Nana." Spencer smiled, removing her already unbuttoned jacket and taking Toby's from him, hanging them on the hooks near the entrance to the large home. Spencer still held Toby's hand tightly as they walked into the kitchen following Spencer's short, plump, ashy-haired relative.

"Come on, let me make you a plate. We just put everything away. What will it be? Roast beef or turkey? Yams? Ooooh but we're going to have dessert soon if you'd just rather wait, I think you're old enough for dessert before dinner."

"Did you make your tomato soup?" Spencer's face perked up as she sat at the bar stool of the island near the fridge, her hand on Toby's lap as it had been on the drive there.

Toby couldn't help but smile. Spencer was never chipper near her parents, but her Nana was so welcoming and they clearly had a good bond.

"Of course I did, I knew my girl was coming." Nana smiled. "I'll just have that for now. Do you mind if I make us grilled cheese to go with it?"

"Let me do it, honeybun. You relax, I'm sure it was a treacherous drive up here."

"Let me do something?" Toby piped up for the first time since he'd entered the house.

"Well, alright. I won't say no to a boy who'll earn his keep! If only I could ever get Petey to lift a hand!" She laughed, but Peter's jaw clenched as he joined them with Veronica.

"Spencer, can we have a word with you. Inside?" Her mother gritted through her teeth.

"Leave her be for now, I want her to introduce me to this strong fellow." Nana grazed over Toby's bicep, making Spencer laugh out loud.

"This is Toby… He lives nearby. We used to go to school together, but now he's getting his GED…he's graduating soon, actually." Spencer's eyes nearly twinkled, she was so proud of him.

"It's all thanks to Spencer, she was helping me with my French so I could pass my exit exams. She's truly brilliant." He rested his hand around her waist as he flipped the sandwiches on the stove.

Spencer's parents practically watched in horror before excusing themselves to the parlor to sit with Wren and Melissa and pour themselves cocktails to help numb the blasphemy of the situation – a Cavanaugh at the Hastings estate.

"What was that about? Petey hasn't had his panties in a bunch like this since his younger brother got a better scholarship than he did to Princeton!"

"They don't like me very much," Toby said honestly.

"They actually just haven't given him a chance. They're too obsessed with me dating someone they pick, and they're mad I found someone I like better."

"Do you care about my granddaughter?" Nana looked at Toby.

"I love her," Toby smiled, shifting his attention back to Spencer.

"And what do you plan to do with your future?"

"College, maybe, eventually… but I've gotten a job lined up in construction. I would be managing a site right after I finish school."

"Good with your hands..and that sounds responsible. I can respect that. Nothing to bat an eye at, a guy that can really get his hands dirty. You remember that, Spencer."

"I know, he really is great with his hands," she smirked, remembering the games his fingers had played inside of her just a few hours ago. And then her smirk softened into a smile as her fingers went up to her new necklace around her neck.

"Well as long as you're happy, I take it that we should be celebrating! It's a holiday, everyone is healthy, and love is in the air." She sang.

Spencer just laughed. "I missed you, Nana."

"I know, kid. I missed ya too." She smiled, going to check on the other Hastings as Spencer sat down with her soup, and poured some into a bowl for Toby. He brought over a plate with the sandwiches.

"I like her." He announced.

"She's the best one of us all," she smiled.

"She's like you… if you were old and more pillowy." He joked.

"Just wait 40 years," she smiled and took a spoonful of soup.

In the other room, Peter got reprimanded for not respecting his daughter and her "wonderful" boyfriend. Peter was not going to let this go, and his mother's instruction would only make things worse.

After they ate, Spencer got Toby to join her with the rest of her family inside. They drank champagne, toasted to the season, and indulge in all kinds of sweets. Toby wiped some frosting on Spencer's nose to be silly, and it ended up in a full-fledged war between the two. It was safe to say only Wren and Nana got a kick out of it.

Later that night, Toby was in the bathroom and Spencer had gone downstairs to get extra towels and blankets.

"You need to send him home before we wake up tomorrow." Peter said sternly, trapping his daughter in the corner by the linen closet.

"Dad, get off." She tried to back up as much as she could. "He's staying. Nana asked him to. He's going to help her take down the outdoor lights tomorrow, anyway. He promised."

"I can do that."

"Dad, I can't even remember you ever changing a lightbulb."

"Spencer I'm SERIOUS. I don't know what point you're trying to make my bringing him here to my mother's house but I do NOT like it."

"It's not a point, dad. I love him. I want to spend the holiday with him. He was home alone! Melissa brought her new boyfriend…"

"He's a respectable doctor not some sleazy carpenter."

"Don't talk about him like that!" Spencer finally yelled.

Peter got closer, and she could smell the whiskey on his lips. "Don't!" He gritted through closed teeth, pushing her hard into the wall. "Don't you talk back to me. This isn't over, Spencer. You are not staying with that boy." Peter slammed her into the wall one more time before heading down the hall to meet Veronica in bed.

Spencer toppled over to the floor once her father had left, feeling like she had to fight for oxygen. He'd caught her on the doorknob of the closet, and she felt like she'd had the wind completely knocked out of her. The middle of her back was on fire. She took a minute to regain composure before slowly hobbling up the stairs, meeting Toby in the bathroom that joined the separate rooms they were supposed to be staying in to bring him a towel.

"What took so long?"

"I just couldn't find any new sheets," she lied. "I had to go to the basement."

"Did you want to shower with me?" he smirked, holding her hips. His hands went up to her back and she jumped as he grazed over the spot where the doorknob had been shoved into her; she already felt a bruise forming.

"You okay?"

"I'm fine…uhm, that sounds nice, but we probably shouldn't do that here." She laughed. "But we can still share the bed. Just make sure you lock your bedroom door on that side." She smiled.

"I'll see you in a few minutes then." He smiled, pressing a kiss onto her lips.

She forced a smile and hobbled to bed, wanting to take a shower after him but not having the will to stand again from the pain that seemed to radiate through her back and into her kneecaps.

She sent all night wincing as he squeezed her in, praying that tomorrow she'd feel better.

xx

Tomorrow, she didn't feel better. In fact, she felt worse.

It certainly didn't help that her father shoved her again in the morning, suggesting once more that she send the boy home – even if it meant she went with him. At this point, Peter and Veronica were disgusted not only by Toby, but by Spencer for loving him and having the nerve to bring him to Christmas.

But Spencer wanted to stay, she loved spending time with her grandmother, and Christmas was her absolute favorite time of year – she refused to let her family ruin it.

Later on in the day, after being cornered by her drunk father twice, Spencer nearly fell coming down the stairs due to the pain in her back, and now again in her side from the new spots Peter had assaulted.

"Whoa, babe, be careful. Did you miss a step?" Toby caught her halfway, as she draped herself against the banister for support, consequently hurting herself more as she slammed into it, but it seemed like the only way she'd be able to stay upright.

"I must have. These stupid heels. I'm just going to take them off. It's alright." She said removing her shoes and holding them in her free hand, Toby steadying her with the other.

xx

They played board games, laughed, and watched home movies with Nana all day. Nana, Toby, Spencer and Wren had all stayed up way past everyone else to play cards. Spencer was growing to really like Wren, and Nana was loving both of her granddaughters boy toys – Nana even joked that she liked Wren more than she liked Melissa, because Melissa was uptight and never laughed at any of her jokes. She also said that she liked Wren and Toby better than Ian, who always seemed to have an alternate agenda. Ian, the name had stayed in Toby's head, shivers down his spine. He kept hearing the yells as he fell to his death. By Toby's hand. He had to try to shake it off.

"That video of you on Christmas when you were two was the cutest thing I've ever seen." Toby laughed, sitting on the edge the bed, taking off his shoes, getting ready for his shower and bed. The video had showcased Melissa opening each of her presents quickly, and showing off her reading skills with her new books she'd gotten. Veronica and Peter had only eyes for her. Spencer picked up each of her presents from her side of the tree one by one, going up to Nana and stammering sweetly "For me, Nana? Thank you! I love you Nana." And opening the present slowly, and then repeating it for every present. She was even attempting to fold the wrapping paper. Her parents encouraged her to hurry up, but her cute self was too thankful and sweet to listen.

Spencer blushed. "I don't know, I'm sure you had some silly moments." She stuck her tongue out.

"Not as cute as you" he smiled. "I snuck scrabble upstairs. I saw it on the game cart." He smiled. "Up for a round?"

"Maybe after I shower." She smiled, getting up to head towards the bathroom with her towel and nightgown. When she got to the bathroom door she turned around to see him and smiled. "Aren't you going to come keep me company?" She winked.

"You don't have to ask me twice," he smiled, feeling better since having pushed Ian from his mind. He would do anything to keep his mind busy.

Truth was, Spencer wasn't even looking for intimacy in showering with her new boyfriend – she just needed him there to make sure she didn't fall, and to help her since she was so stiffened from her injuries. Although she wouldn't admit that. If Toby knew that Peter had drunkenly shoved her around – something he hadn't done since she was a small girl. Although it had been a long time since her father was drunk and angry enough to hurt her, she was used to it – but she knew Toby wouldn't be. He would make it a bigger deal than it needed to be, and make Peter have even more against him.

They climbed into the shower together and she pushed herself against him, trying to steady herself. They laughed as they shampooed each others hair and their hands slipped all over each other. He gently washed her as he held her, and she did the same for him. He got a bit rowdy and pushed her against the wall of the shower to kiss her when she squealed loudly. He mistook it for giddiness. "Does somebody want more of yesterday's game?" He laughed, his hand sliding down between her legs, but she didn't respond. She just pushed more of her weight onto him.

"Spencer?" He narrowed his eyes. "Are you okay? I don't mean to force you…"

"You, uh, you pushed me into the wall, that's all. My back's still sore from when I tripped on the stairs this morning."

"But you fell onto your side. Into the banister, and twisted up your ankle a little, maybe… but I didn't touch you there."

"I…" She started, but before she could finish, he grazed over her back again and pushed to find the spot. "Is this where it hurts?" He asked, pushing right on her first injury, causing her to nearly double over and fall down into the tub. He caught her and turned her around to see a big black and blue covering most of her middle back. Parts of it were yellow and red.

"Oh my gosh Spence what is this?"

"I don't know, I told you I think I did it today…but it really hurts. Don't touch it again."

"You didn't hit your back here." He said matter-of-factly. "And you were fine when you came over my house yesterday…"

"Toby, drop it. Just don't touch it again." She said sternly, trying to free herself from him. "Come on, let's just relax" she started to kiss his collarbone, but he pushed her lips away.

"No…I'm not dropping it. This is a serious injury."

"I might have banged myself on a doorknob when I was fumbling around looking for towels last night…I'm not sure. I was a little tipsy from Nana's eggnog to be honest. I'm a clutz," she laughed, forcibly. "Plllleeeease just kiss me better and let's just go get warm and snuggle?"

He assessed the situation for a minute before decided to believe her and agreeing. Her pout made it too hard to deny her much.

He kissed her as he promised, along her back, around her bruise, and around to her neck and finally her lips as the water trickled down onto them. He stopped the water and dried her off like a small child. He rummaged through her grandmother's medicine cabinets to find some sort of cream to apply to heal Spencer. He settled on an IcyHot wrap, wrapping her softly before helping her pull her nightgown over her head. When he put the box back, an opened box of condoms fell out of the medicine cabinet.

"Did you bring those?" She smirked.

"Nu-uh…" Toby laughed, only imaging the kind of men Nana might bring home. "Nana's wild." He laughed.

"Nana wouldn't keep that in here," Spence laughed at the prospect of Nana bringing home a stud from bingo in the Church basement. "This was always for guests. Probably belonged to Ian and Melissa." She made a face.

Ian, the name rang through Toby's head again. The flashbacks and all.

"Toby, you look like you just saw a ghost," Spencer laughed. "It's no big deal, the walls are pretty soundproof anyway, even if they are Melissa and Wren's or…Nana's" she laughed. "Or if you wanted to use them…" she winked.

"They're probably expired." He tried to smirk jokingly. "And your back is killing you. Not tonight. Come on, let's go snuggle like I promised."

She smiled and followed him into bed. After they'd fallen asleep, Spencer was woken up by Toby's muted sleep-yells and incessant squeezing of her whole body. "Toby, stop." She tried to wiggle out, but realized he was in a deep sleep. He started to yell in his sleep.

"Toby, wake up…" she tried once out of his grasp, but he only gasped and sat up, his breathing labored and forced, his whole body sweaty.

"Shhh…" She kissed his head. "You had a nightmare or something. Go back to sleep."

Ian, the name rang through his head again.

Although Spencer slept well after taking a sleeping pill due to her pain, Toby woke up twice more that night, full of sweat, gasping for air, haunted by the thoughts of the ghost of Ian.

xx

The next day, they all had a bi breakfast together, and Toby even helped Nana, much to Peter's dismay.

After a while, they all left, and headed home.

Spencer stayed with Toby only long enough for a brief makeout session in her car before telling him she had to meet the girls for a group project they were working on that was due as soon as school was back in session the following week, and with New Years' around the corner, they knew they wouldn't have time except for today.

Toby was more than relieved – he had slept horribly and just wanted to sleep.

Only when he laid down, all he could see was Ian, falling to his death.

Toby's nightmare was just beginning.