"Hanna, are you ready to go home now?" asked Dr. Sullivan.
"Yes! Finally!" Hanna exclaimed as she jumped off of her place on the loveseat.
Dr. Sullivan and Ashley both chuckled.
"But before you go anywhere, there's something else I need to say," interjected Charlotte.
Hanna inwardly groaned and sat back down on the loveseat. She just wanted to go home already.
"I know this probably won't do any good, but I'm sorry… for everything. "Mom, I'm sorry I pinned Detective Wilden's murder on you. To be honest, I killed him because (1) he was a crooked cop, and (2) because of the way he treated you and Hanna. And most importantly, I'd like to apologize for all the pain and suffering I've caused you and your friends, Hanna. I didn't mean to take it as far as I did. Like I said earlier, the game was like a drug and I was addicted to it. I had no one to turn to for help so I kept playing. You and Mom have both apologized to me and I don't know why. You don't even have anything to apologize for and if you did, I don't deserve your forgiveness. I know simply saying 'I'm sorry' won't make up for all the horrible things I did, but I need to know what I can do in order for you to forgive me," Charlotte said sincerely.
"Look Charlotte, Mona was my best friend and she tortured me as 'A' too… and I (eventually) forgave her. When she came here for our session and (really) explained her motive for being 'A', I understood where she was coming from; she just wanted friends. Sure, she could have just told me what she was feeling instead of threatening me and running me over with a car but… hey… Mona being 'A' actually brought me, Emily, Spencer and Aria closer together so there was some good that came with all of that. So what I'm trying to say is, there's some good that came with you being 'A' too," said Hanna.
"Like what?" asked Charlotte with eyebrows furrowed.
"I mean, I would've lived my whole life never knowing the truth about my family. Like you being my twin sister, Ted being our father, my dad not actually being my dad, Grunwald being our grandma, Mrs. DiLaurentis being our aunt and Ali being our cousin," answered Hanna.
"So what are you saying?" Charlotte asked with hopefulness.
"I'm saying that I've heard your story and I understand," Hanna paused. "I forgive you, Charlotte."
"Really?" Charlotte asked emotionally.
Hanna smiled and nodded.
"Thank you, Hanna! I don't know what I did to deserve a sister as great as you," Charlotte said as she got up to give Hanna a hug. Charlotte then walked over and stood in front of Ashley. "Mom, do you forgive me?" she asked shyly.
Ashley looked up at Charlotte, glanced at Hanna and then returned her attention back to Charlotte. "If Hanna has decided to give you a second chance after all the things you've done to her, then I guess I will too. I forgive you, Charlotte," she said as she got up to give Charlotte a hug. "But if you ever try to hurt Hanna again or if she ever gets another message from 'A', I'm sending you back here. Do you understand me, Charlotte?" Ashley said seriously.
"Yes. I understand mom. I don't want to spend another day in this place… or go to jail. I'll do whatever it takes to earn your trust. I'll take my medication and I'll go to therapy. Anything that will keep me in your good graces," answered Charlotte.
Ashley smiled and stood up. Hanna followed suit. "Good. Let's go home, shall we?" asked Ashley to both her daughters.
Both girls nodded feverishly.
No one really said anything on the ride back home. Ashley decided to break that silence: "Girls, Ted asked me to marry him!" she said happily from the driver's seat.
"Mom that's great!" "Please tell me you said 'yes'?" Charlotte and Hanna said at the same time.
Ashley laughed. "Of course I said 'yes'."
"Great. Now we can be a real family," Charlotte said with a smile.
"Oh! Mom! While we're on the subject of marriage, Caleb proposed to me!" Hanna said happily.
"What?! When did this happen?" Ashley asked in objection.
"When he came for our session. You don't approve, do you?" asked a now saddened Hanna.
"Honey, you know Caleb is like a son to me. He's not the issue. The issue is you're too young to get married. You're only 17."
"Just because we're engaged doesn't mean we're planning the wedding right this second. Some people are engaged for like two years before they actually get married. And for some people, the engagement is longer than the marriage itself. I love Caleb and he loves me. Our love isn't any different than your love for Ted… err… Dad. Age shouldn't matter when it comes to love. I don't see what the big deal is."
"You're right, Hanna. I'm sorry. I'm happy that you've found a man who loves you and wants to protect you and I can't wait for him to be part of the family."
Hanna's smile returned. "Thanks, Mom!" Hanna was sitting in the passenger seat while Charlotte was sitting behind Ashley. Hanna turned back to face her. "Charlotte, when Caleb and I eventually get married, would like to be my maid of honor?"
Charlotte didn't know what to say. "You really want me to?" she asked, all choked up.
"Of course I do," Hanna said with no hesitation.
Before they knew it, the three Marin girls arrived home. Hanna hadn't been there in almost three weeks whereas Charlotte hadn't been there in almost ten years. Hanna and Ashley had already walked to the front door but Charlotte was still in the driveway, staring at the house; thinking of all the (good and the bad) memories she had whilst living there.
"C'mon, Charlotte!" said Hanna. "I want us to walk in at the same time."
Charlotte smiled. Her sister was so adorable. How'd did she ever want to hurt her? At the sound of Hanna's voice, Charlotte ran to catch up with her and their mom.
Ashley unlocked the door and the girls stepped inside. Nobody could see a thing.
"Surprise!" The lights came on and Hanna saw Spencer, Emily, Aria, Ali, Toby, Ezra, Caleb and Ted standing in the foyer. Everyone except Ted had a puzzled look on their faces when they saw Charlotte enter.
A bunch of "Welcome home, Hanna's" rang through the air and Caleb immediately ran over to hug Hanna. He held her so tightly, she was afraid he would never let go. "Don't ever leave me again," he said sternly into the crook of her neck. "Never" was Hanna's reply.
"Can I squeeze in a hug with her, Caleb?" asked Ted. Caleb was confused but he didn't let it show. He removed himself from Hanna's embrace to let Ted in.
When everyone was out of earshot, Ted decided now would be a good time to tell Hanna. "Hanna?" he asked.
Hanna looked up at him. "Yeah?"
"I know."
"Know what?"
"That you're my daughter. Charlotte too. I'm sorry I couldn't have been there for you when you were growing up."
"Don't you dare apologize for that. It wasn't your fault. And besides, for the short time that I've known you, you treated more as a daughter than Tom ever has. I'm happy you're my dad."
Ted smiled. "Well, I'm happy you're my daughter." Hanna reciprocated his smile. From the corner of her eye, she could see Charlotte watching them with a sad look on her face. Hanna knew what she had to do. "Ted… err… Dad, I think Charlotte needs you more than I do right now," she said as she cocked her head in Charlotte's direction. Ted nodded and made his way over to his other daughter.
Since Hanna got home, she never once got a second to herself. Everyone was treating her like she was made of glass. She guessed she couldn't blame them though. This time, it was Spencer, Emily, Aria and Ali who approached her.
"Guys, can we go outside onto the patio? There's something I need to tell you," said Hanna.
The girls gave her a concerned look but didn't say anything. They did as Hanna asked and went outside onto the patio.
"What's wrong, Hanna?" asked Spencer.
"Ask me what's right if you want a shorter answer," was Hanna's reply.
Spencer gave her a quizzical look.
Hanna told the girls everything that she learned in the past two days. She told them about Cece Drake actually being her twin sister whose real name was Charlotte, Ted being their biological father; him proposing to her mom, her mom being sisters with Ali's mom; Mrs. Grunwald being their mother, Caleb proposing and Charlotte being 'A'.
"Jesus, Han. That sounds like a bad soap opera," said Spencer.
"Tell me about it," said Hanna.
"My mom and your mom are sisters? And Grunwald is our grandmother?" asked Ali. Hanna nodded. "That means we're cousins, Han," Ali said with a smile.
"So you didn't already know?" asked Hanna.
"No. Why would you think I already knew?"
"No reason," Hanna said, trying not to push the subject further.
"Congrats on your engagement, Han!" said Emily.
"Thanks, Em," Hanna said with a smile.
"Wait… Cece... Charlotte's 'A' and you let her into your house?!" asked Aria in a panic.
Hanna nodded like it was no big deal.
"I know she's your sister Hanna, but she tortured us. She should be in Radley or jail," added Aria.
"I know what she did Aria and I forgive her," replied Hanna.
"You what?!" asked Spencer, in disbelief.
"I forgive her," Hanna repeated.
"Why?" asked Emily.
"Because I listened to her story. I understand why she did what she did. She apologized and wants to make things right. Plus she's my sister… my twin sister. I know you guys won't understand. You don't have to forgive her just because I did. I know if you do eventually decide to forgive her, it's not going to be for a long while," answered Hanna.
"Do you trust her?" asked Ali.
Hanna had to think for a second. "No. Not yet," she answered honestly. "She's going to have to earn my trust. I think everyone deserves a second chance, including Charlotte. My mom told Charlotte if she blows it, she's either going back to Radley or going to jail."
"Well, I don't speak for all of us but if you're willing to give Charlotte a second chance, I am too," said Emily. "But that doesn't mean I forgive her. She's going to have to earn that too."
Spencer, Aria and Ali nodded in agreement.
"So that's it then? No more 'A'?" asked Spencer.
"No more 'A'," answered Hanna. "God that felt great to say."
Everyone chuckled because they knew it was true. 'A' was gone for good and their friend was alive. What more could they ask for in life?