A/N: So this is sort of the end but I might go on in a whole new direction. I haven't decided yet! This chapter was so fun and intense to write. #nospoilers. Anyway, thanks to anyone who has taken the time to read this whole thing! I really enjoyed writing it so I hope you have enjoyed reading it =] Reviews always, always appreciated!

Chapter 10

"Spencer, what the hell are you doing?" Alison asked.

Spencer had her gun raised, pointed straight at Jessica Dilaurentis.

"Do you have any idea what – "

"I know, I know everything," Alison said, "They killed your sister… but you don't want to do… this. It's not you, you're not…a killer."

Spencer stepped forward, "Maybe I am," she said quietly, "It seems to run in the family," she looked directly at Jessica.

Aria frowned, "Spencer, what are you talking about?"

Alison looked to her mom and back to Spencer, sensing something in their glares at one another, "More secrets," she muttered before asking Spencer, "This is about more than Melissa?"

Spencer took another step forward, only a few feet from Jessica and Charlotte now, "Mary was my biological mom," she whispered.

"What?" Emily and Hanna spoke at the same time.

Spencer's stare didn't leave Jessica's face, "I always knew I was different. I always knew I didn't fit in to the perfect Hastings household… but Melissa was still my sister and I loved her."

"Okay but that's not worth – "

Spencer cut in, her stare finally leaving her aunt to glare at Emily, "You wouldn't know. Your mom loved your dad and you were all an open book. I grew up knowing I didn't know anything… " she looked back at Jessica, "Until now."

The look on their friends' face scared the other girls. They'd never seen that kind of hate in her eyes. Despair, yes but not that kind of hate. Coupled with the slightly shaking gun in her hand, they knew they needed to de-escalate the situation.

"Spencer, please – "

"Seriously, Alison?" Spencer growled, "They've fucked you over more than anyone. You thought they were both dead. They let you think they were both dead. They – "

"I don't need the list," Alison cut in, "I get it. I'm not exactly thrilled with the situation either. I'm probably as pissed off as you. The difference is I'm not holding a gun."

Spencer's eyes flitted over to her friends' pleading eyes before switching back to Jessica's cold ones, "Then let me do us both a favour."

"You're as weak as your mother," Jessica rolled her eyes, "She held a gun on me once. Never had the guts to pull the trigger."

"Really?" Spencer advanced another step, "You think I won't? You should know more than anyone that the women in this family aren't exactly known for their sanity."

Jessica's lips curved into a smirk, "I'm the one who signed off on your mothers electrotherapy, so yes, I'm well aware that we have slight… tendencies."

Spencer flicked the safety off of the gun in her hands, "If I believed in the devil, you would be the reincarnation. Thankfully, I'm pretty sure once you're dead, you're dead."

Jessica wouldn't give the younger woman the benefit of looking scared. She just kept on smiling. Until Spencer shifted the aim of the gun to Charlotte.

"Let's see if the devil is really capable of love," Spencer smiled a smile that wasn't all that different from the one just wiped off Jessica's face.

Charlotte had barely looked to her mom when Jessica stepped in front of her.

"No, mom," Charlotte grabbed at her arm, trying to push her out of the way, "Don't. Please."

Jessica pulled her arm from Charlotte's grip, "Stop, Charlie," she ordered, "I told you I'd never let anyone hurt you. And I won't."

Spencer chuckled, a low, cold sound, "It doesn't matter. Once you die, I'll shoot her too."

It was the first time anyone had seen fear in Jessica Dilaurentis's eyes for a long time.

"You really want to spend the rest of your life in jail?" Jessica asked quietly, "Or follow in your mothers' footsteps and spend your life in an asylum."

Spencer shrugged, "You forget I have your blood in my veins too, Jessica. You're not the only one who can cover up murder."

Jessica looked around at the other girls, at her own daughter, "And I suppose this wouldn't be the first time you've all covered up murder. We never thanked you for that. Archer was becoming quite a lovesick pain."

"Spencer, seriously – "

"Shut up, Hanna," Spencer snapped, "You guys should just leave. Now," she looked at each of them, "I don't want to involve any of you in this any more than you already are."

"Spencer, please – "

"I mean it," Spencer growled, "Leave," she yelled, "Go!"

Aria and Hanna looked at each other. So did Emily and Alison.

"You can't…" Emily looked at her with pleading eyes.

"Whatever happens," Spencer said quietly, "Tell my parents I know they loved me. I loved them too. Tell them I want to see them, if I can. Tell them – "

"Spencer," Aria tried one last one time.

"Tell them," Spencer spoke over her, "All I ever wanted was the truth."

"We'll be over at your house," Hanna said firmly, "Whatever happens...we'll be there."

Hanna tugged at Aria's hand and they slowly backed off. Alison looked at Spencer, at that look in her eye. There was no reasoning. She turned to her mom and her sister.

"I…I don't even know what to say," she said shakily, "You're not who I thought you were. Either of you. I loved both of you with everything I had and you… you used me," she looked at her mom, "You're my mom. You're meant to protect me. You did the total opposite. You…" she shook her head, "You don't hear me anyway," she felt Emily's hand tighten around her own, "Whatever happens next… I don't want to know."

The two girls cast one last look at Spencer, who didn't even send a glance their way before meeting Hanna and Aria at the door and walking out.

"Are we seriously just going to…" Aria trailed off.

Back inside, Spencer watched the fear in Jessica's eyes. Revelled in it.

"You don't have to do this," Jessica said, "We're family."

Spencer laughed bitterly, "Right. Clearly."

"Fine," Jessica growled, "Kill me. But leave Charlotte be. She only ever followed my orders."

"Exactly," Spencer growled, "She could have said no – "

Jessica spoke over her, "Spencer, please. Charlotte had nothing… she was just a puppet, that's all. A means to an end. Stupidly loyal."

"You can say that again," Spencer muttered.

"From the moment she was born, I broke her," Jessica was trying not to sound pleading, though not altogether successful, "She couldn't make any of these decisions without me. Who knows who she would have been otherwise."

"Mom," Charlotte bit her lip, tugging at her mom's sleeve, "Don't – "

"Charlotte, don't," her mom said sharply, before turning back to Spencer, "Just let her live."

Spencer's lips curved up into a smile, "I don't think so, but you can keep begging if you like," her gun-hand was steady now, "Tell me, when you took me away from my mother, did she beg you not to?"

Jessica bit her tongue, "Yes," she answered quietly.

"Did you listen?"

Jessica ground her teeth, "Obviously…not."

Spencer shrugged, "Obviously not. I guess listening doesn't run in the family," she grinned and took another step forward, finally close enough to hold the gun against Jessica's forehead, "Any last words?"

"Spare her."

It was the first shred of humanity Spencer had seen in her aunt but… too little, too late.

"No, don't," Charlotte pulled at her mother again, stepping half in front of her.

"Charlotte," Jessica said harshly, "Don't," she placed her hands on her daughters' face, "I told you I'd never stand by and watch anyone hurt you. Let that be the only promise I could ever keep in my life. Please."

Charlotte's eyes searched her mom's for a hint. She'd always been able to get out of everything. But there was nothing, only fear in those eyes now. Charlotte held her tears in the back of her throat and nodded.

"I love you, mommy."

Jessica smiled, "I know. I love you – "

The shot rang out loudly and Jessica's body hit the floor hard.

Spencer bent down on a knee beside her. She watched the blood soak through Jessica's shirt as the older woman tried to breathe. Spencer smiled. She bent her lips close to Jessica's ear.

"I changed my mind," she whispered, "I'll let her live," she paused, "After all, if she's as easy to manipulate as you say…well, I could use some help with the cover up. Plus, you know what they say about family bonds," she thought for a moment before finishing, "This was for Melissa. This was for my mom."

Jessica's chest heaved in one last desperate attempt for air before deflating and stilling.

Spencer stood up right as Charlotte fell to her knee's, sobbing besides her mom.

"What was it your mom said about mine? That at the end… she wanted to die?" Spencer spoke over Charlotte's sobbing, "Kind of the same with yours, huh? She wanted to die, Charlotte. For you."

Charlotte only cried harder. Spencer sighed and crouched down beside her.

"She wanted you to live," she whispered, "You do want to do what your mommy wanted, don't you?"

Charlotte looked at her, glaring through tears, "I hate you," she looked to the gun, still laying in Spencer's hand.

Spencer grinned, "You want it?" she held it out.

Charlotte snatched it, aiming it at Spencer and pulling the trigger. Nothing. Again. Nothing. Again and again and again. She threw it aside.

"Oh yeah, I only had one bullet," Spencer laughed, "Well, I'd say we've got a bit of clean up to do, wouldn't you?"

Charlotte glared at her, "I'm not helping you."

Spencer shrugged, "Your choice, Charlie. But you know, you're pretty smart and I'm…really, really smart so you're kind of my top pick in covering this thing up."

"You're insane," Charlotte spat.

"That makes two of us," Spencer smiled, "Except you're the one who's meant to be dead… but now a bunch of people know you're alive," she raised her eyebrows, "So, thing is… I think you need my help. I know you're smart but let's face it, mommy was the real brains of the operation. You're no leader, Charlie. You're a follower and your leader…" she looked at Jessica, tilting her head.

Charlotte felt panic settle in. She looked at her mom and then forced herself to look away.

"I'll protect you," Spencer whispered, fixing her eyes on Charlotte's.

Charlotte bit her lip, shaking her head.

"I'll never stand by and let anyone hurt you," Spencer echoed Jessica's words from earlier, "I promise."

Charlotte looked at her wide eyed for a moment, "You promise?"

Spencer's lips curved into a smirk, "I promise."