"What do you mean, she's not allowed visitors?" Spencer says furiously. "We have to see her!"
"I'm sorry," the cop says, looking very not sorry. "There's nothing I can do."
"Is she allowed phone calls?" Emily asks as Aria consoles a very upset Hanna.
"Yes," the cop says. "According to these records, Mona is allowed phone calls."
"Do you have a number we can call?" Spencer asks.
"Here," the man says, handing her a Post-It note.
"Do we do this now?" Spencer asks, her eyes on Hanna.
"Let me," Hanna says, dialling quickly. She puts it on speaker and the four of them listen to it ring out.
"Hello?" a man's voice says.
"Hi, we're looking for Mona Vanderwaal," Hanna says tearfully.
"Hold on," the man grunts.
There is a long pause and then Mona says, "Hello? Who is this?"
"Mona, it's me," Hanna says nervously.
"Oh my God," Mona says. "Hanna, you're home!"
"Yes," Hanna says. "Mona, the others are here too. We all wanted to speak to you."
"Hey Mona," Aria says lightly.
"Aria," Mona says tearfully. "Are you okay?"
"I'm okay," Aria says. "Are you?"
"Not really," Mona says. "You guys, I didn't do this…I couldn't, I swear. I didn't like Alison but I…"
"We know, Mona," Aria says. "That's why we called, to tell you that none of us believe it and we're so sorry that this has happened to you."
"Oh thank you," Mona says. "Spencer, Emily, are you okay?"
"Yes," Spencer says. "Hold out in there, Mona, okay? We're going to find a way to get you out of there."
"Spencer's right, Mona," Emily says. "We know you didn't do this, don't let it get you down."
"Thank you guys," Mona says, breaking down in tears. "The call's about to run out but as soon as I'm allowed visitors, I'll put you all on the list."
"Okay, babe," Hanna says. "I love you, Mona."
"I love you too, Hanna," Mona says. "Call me again soon, okay?"
"Promise," Hanna says, hanging up and bursting into a fresh wave of tears.
"She's okay, Han," Spencer says, squeezing her shoulders. "She's a strong girl. She will get through this."
"What do we do now?" Emily says.
"I don't know about you guys, but I think Ezra and I need to have words," Aria says, frowning.
"Not yet," Spencer says. "We need to talk about what went down with Sullivan."
"What do you mean?" Hanna asks tearfully.
"What is she going to tell our parents?" Spencer says.
"Nothing that we said," Aria says. "To be honest, talking to her, I feel like I have PTSD. I haven't dealt with my grief over Alison, I haven't dealt with my fears about A, I haven't dealt with a lot of crap that's happened to us, but being able to talk to someone about it, someone who…doesn't matter…? I don't know but it made me feel a lot better."
"Same," Emily says. "Like a weight had been lifted."
"I mean, to be honest," Aria says, "I think it's an absolute certainty that she's going to tell our parents we need more sessions. We might as well face up to that."
"Do you think our parents will all be together?" Hanna asks.
"Most likely," Spencer says, rolling her eyes. "Aria, why don't you start driving us home and I'll call my mom and find out where everyone is?"
"Ezra," Aria says as she leads the girls into Spencer's living room. "Can I have a word?"
"Yes," Ezra says, getting up with a heavy sigh. "Shall we step outside?"
"Um…" Ella says and they both look at her expectantly. "It's raining."
"I don't care," Aria says. "Come on, Ezra."
They step outside into the pouring rain and immediately start to bicker loudly. Aria's parents watch through the window as Aria shouts at Ezra, as he tries desperately to placate her, as she bursts into tears and he pulls her to his chest, and then finally as they make up and kiss deeply. Now Byron pulls a face and turns away, looking instead to Hanna and Caleb, who are bickering in hushed voices, to Spencer and Toby who have their backs to each other and haven't spoken a word since they arrived and finally onto Emily who is leaning on the counter, tapping away at her phone furiously.
"Em?" he asks quietly and she looks up with a vague interest.
"Yes, Mr Montgomery?" she says politely.
"Why is everybody arguing?" he asks.
"Because Dr Sullivan told us about Mona," Spencer says loudly. "And we are not pleased that the boys, or any of you for that matter, made the decision not to share that with us."
"Go outside," Aria says, stepping inside and taking the towel Spencer's mom is offering her. "Just get it out of your system, Spence. It will make you feel better. Plus, we need to talk about other things too so get on with it please."
"Okay," Spencer says, stalking outside. Toby doesn't move until Aria shoots him a dangerous look, at which point he scurries out of the door.
Ezra sits down on the sofa next to Emily, but Aria stays leaning on the counter and asks her dad, "Did you speak to Dr Sullivan?"
"Yes," Byron says. "We wanted to talk to all of you about it together."
"Okay," Aria says, throwing herself down on Ezra's lap and burying her head in his shoulder.
"You okay?" Ezra asks quietly.
"Yeah," Aria says. "Just tired. I feel like this has been one of the longest days ever and I still need to go and see Jason."
"Why?" Ezra asks, his jaw tightening a fraction.
"Because I haven't seen him since I got back," Aria says. "And he's my best friend and I love him and I need him right now."
"Okay," Ezra says. "Well I can drive you after we've finished here."
"Thank you," Aria says, leaning up and kissing him absent-mindedly. Instinctively his hands fist in her hair and he pulls her slightly closer to him, but as she pulls away, he remembers where he is and glances nervously at her dad. Byron is staring obstinately in the other direction but his face is bright red, his teeth are clenched together and he looks like he is working himself up to say something. Before he can do so, Spencer and Toby come back inside, both soaked but looking happier.
"Okay," Veronica says as they sit down. "We better get started."
"So you spoke to her?" Emily asks.
"Yes," Pam says. "She said she needs another session with Spencer before she can give a formal diagnosis for her, since their one was cut short, but she has given a provisional diagnosis and treatment plan for all of you."
"And?" Hanna says, reaching out to squeeze Caleb's hand.
"She has diagnosed you all with PTSD," Ella says gently. "She says that your sleeping patterns and the way you avoid talking about what happened in that bunker indicates this and that you should be treated accordingly."
"This is the diagnosis we were expecting," Peter says. "I don't want you girls to worry about it; she said it's perfectly normal given the trauma you've experienced and that it is treatable."
"How?" Spencer murmurs. "How does she intend to treat us?"
"She suggested drugs," Byron says. All of the girls gasp and he hurries on, insisting, "But we didn't think it was a good idea either, so she's recommended a therapy plan for now and we hold off on the drugs until it becomes absolutely necessary."
"She did recommend you all start taking sleeping pills," Wayne says. "She says that your exhaustion is not helping you handle or process what has happened to you."
"What about the paranoia?" Emily asks quietly.
"The same," Ashley says. "She hopes it will improve with therapy but she did say that until whoever did this to you has been apprehended, it is unlikely that it will completely fade."
"Great," Aria says sarcastically, starting to get up. "Well if that's all, I need to go and see Jason."
"It's not," Byron says sharply and she sits back down. "There was one other thing. She has expressed…concern about how much time the four of you are spending together, and how much time you spend with…significant others."
"What?!" the four girls say furiously.
"She is concerned that you are becoming…dependent on each other and on the boys," Pam says, avoiding her daughter's eyes. "She has recommended that you spend some time apart to regain your independence."
"No," Aria says and the other girls all nod vehemently. "I refuse, and if you push me on this, I will leave home and I'll go and stay with Ezra. I need my friends right now; I will not have you separate us."
"Can't you see that's what A wants?" Hanna says desperately. "He wants to make us feel alone and afraid and he wants us back in that bunker and it'll be way easier to get us if we're alone. Don't you understand that he's playing you the way he's played all of us?"
"Girls, I really think-" Pam begins but Emily cuts her off.
"Enough," Emily says. "We'll go to as much therapy as you want. We'll take drugs if she says we need to, we'll stick to a curfew or anything you want, but we are not stopping seeing each other and that is that."
"I'm going to Jason's," Aria says. "Hanna, we still coming round to yours for a movie?"
"Yeah," Hanna says, getting up off the sofa. "Caleb, shall we go get something to eat?"
"Yes," Caleb says. "Em, Spencer, Toby, wanna come?"
"I'm in," Emily says.
"Yeah, sounds good," Spencer says.
"Where are you going?" Aria asks. "Ezra and I can come join you after we see Jason if that's cool?"
"Course," Hanna says. "We'll probably just go down to the grill?"
"Sure," Ezra says. "Come on, Aria, let's go."
"Jason?" Aria shouts as she knocks on the door.
"Aria, maybe he's not home," Ezra says, but before Aria can reply, the door swings open and Jason steps out.
"Aria," Jason says quietly and she spins on the spot, throwing herself at him. "Hey hey," he laughs, hugging her tightly. "How are you, beautiful?"
"I'm getting better," she says. "I missed you so much."
"I missed you too," Jason says lightly. "I wish you'd come to see me sooner."
"I know, I'm sorry," Aria says. "I guess I just thought…"
"You thought I was angry at you?" he guesses. "Aria, I'm devastated that my sister couldn't escape that creep alive. But I'm so so happy that you're alive and back here with us."
"Thank you," Aria says tearfully. "I love you."
"I love you too," he says, finally letting go of her.
"We're all going to get something to eat," Aria says. "Do you wanna come with?"
"I would love that," Jason says, following Aria down the stairs. He extends a hand to Ezra, who grins broadly and shakes it.
"How are you bro?" Ezra says. "How are you doing?"
"I'm fine," Jason says. "How are you?"
"Yeah, not too bad," Ezra says. "We've been out at the therapist's all morning and then we went back to Spencer's house, but the parents are off on one today and the girls needed to get out of there so here we are."
"How was the therapy, Aria?" Jason asks quietly. "Did you find it helpful?"
"A little," Aria says. "What about you? You did therapy for years, did it help you?"
"Yeah, of course," Jason says. "I'm still sane and I don't think I would be without it, but there are certain wounds that even time can't heal and I just…"
"Yeah," Aria says, nodding sympathetically. "I get it."
"You'll get there though," Ezra says. "Both of you will, one day. The police finding Alison's killer should help."
"Yes, but while they're still messing around with Mona, I don't have much hope for that," Aria says.
"Agreed," Jason says, frowning.
That evening, the four girls and their respective partners are scattered around the living room in Hanna's house. Aria and Ezra are horizontal on Hanna's couch and haven't stopped making out for about half an hour – they are paying no attention to the movie on the screen. Hanna and Caleb are entwined in one of the armchairs and similarly seem more interested in each other than the film. Toby has a sleeping Spencer lying across his lap and is watching the movie with a vague interest as he plaits her hair absent-mindedly. Emily and Maya are sitting on the floor in front of the couch, half watching the film, half watching each other.
"Hanna?" Aria says, finally detaching herself from Ezra breathlessly.
"Yeah?" Hanna says, peering around Caleb with a slight annoyance apparent on her face.
"Can Ezra and I use your spare bedroom for…a couple of hours?" Aria asks.
"Sure," Hanna says, grinning.
"A couple of hours?!" Emily says incredulously. "You're going to be going for that long?"
"We've got a lot of making up to do," Aria says, jumping over the back of the couch and hurrying towards the stairs. "Thanks, Han!" Ezra grins and follows her up the stairs, and then they hear excited giggling.
"I'm surprised she's lasted this long to be honest," Spencer says sleepily. "Or him to be fair."
"What do you mean?" Maya asks, laughing.
"Aria and Ezra used to have sex, like, every day," Hanna says. "Sometimes more than once. We'd leave school at 3, arrange to meet at 5, and when she'd get to us, she'd have sneaked off and had sex with him. They're both so horny for each other."
"Yeah, and God, how long has it been?" Emily says. "Almost 3 months? Aria's gonna spread her legs so wide for him tonight."
"Do you want to go upstairs?" Hanna asks Caleb, who nods keenly. "Are you guys gonna be okay?"
"Yeah, course," Spencer says. "Go, go have sex."
"I mean, we're not-" Hanna begins and Caleb shoots her a scandalised look.
"We're not?" he protests.
"No, we are, but-" Hanna cuts off again, blushing at the broad grins on the girls' faces. "Whatever, we have another spare room so if you guys wanna get it on, just go right ahead. I'll probably see you tomorrow?"
"Enjoy," Emily teases.
"Do you want to go upstairs?" Maya whispers, kissing Emily's neck.
"Yeah," Emily says, grinning broadly. "Unless…Spence, Toby, do you wanna go?"
"Nah," Spencer says, glancing at Toby. "I bet we can make really good use of that couch."
"Definitely," Toby grins, leaning in and kissing Spencer hungrily as Emily and Maya creep upstairs.
The two of them move to the couch, where they continue to make out for a few minutes. "I don't…we've never…," Toby says breathlessly. "Is this the right time?"
"No, probably not," Spencer says, chuckling. "I wouldn't want you to feel pressured into doing it just because everybody else is."
"Same here," Toby says. "Maybe we should just wait for another night."
"Sounds good," Spencer says. "Let's just watch the movie, yeah? It's been a long time since we spent any alone time together."
"Yeah, it's nice," Toby says. "I mean, I love your friends, of course I do, but it's nice that it's just you and me."
They cuddle up together on the sofa and start to watch the movie but barely five minutes have passed before Spencer turns to him again. "You know, just because we're not going to have sex…that doesn't mean we can't have some fun."
"That's true," Toby says, pulling her onto his lap and kissing her again.
The next morning, the girls are sprawled around Spencer's living room. Aria is wearing a pair of skinny jeans, a black vest and a green bomber jacket, with her hair tied up on top of her head with a green ribbon. Hanna is wearing a pair of black leggings, a long white vest and a cropped denim jacket, and her hair is in loose messy waves around her shoulders. Emily is wearing a pair of jeans, a baggy white t-shirt and an army green sleeveless jacket with black boots and her hair in a loose plait over her left shoulder. Spencer is wearing a pair of brown jeans, a flowery top and a blue cardigan with brown boots and her hair in a messy bun.
"So," Spencer says, "how did everyone find last night? Are you satisfied now?"
"Very," Hanna says, licking her lips as she grins. "It's been a long time since Caleb and I…but it was great. I'm surprised you didn't hear us?"
"Oh I heard you," Spencer says, laughing. "But you were sort of masked by Aria's screams – are you always that loud?"
"I am with Ezra," Aria laughs. "I'm sorry, guys – it had been like 12 weeks and I was so tightly wound."
"Oh same," Emily says. "It was so nice to just be with Maya again."
"Spence, you and Toby," Hanna says. "Did you two do it before…?"
"No," Spencer says. "And we didn't do it last night either. I mean, we fooled around but we never…"
"That's fair enough," Aria says. "Your first time with someone is important – you shouldn't do it unless you're both ready."
"Yeah, and I mean, we will do it," Spencer says. "I just didn't think last night was the right time."
"Have you seen your parents this morning?" Emily asks her.
"No," Spencer says. "I don't know what to say to them really."
"Me either," Hanna says. "I worry that they're gonna keep tiptoeing around us forever."
"Yeah," Aria nods. "I mean, I don't know about you guys but I feel so much better after talking to Dr Sullivan yesterday. Like this whole A thing might finally be coming to an end."
"I know what you mean," Emily says. "I mean, we haven't heard from him in ages, we haven't…maybe it's over."
"Yeah," Spencer says, smiling. "Maybe it is."
Just then, all 4 of their phones ping and they look down, paling. "I'm still here, bitches," Aria reads shakily. "And I know everything."
"Loose lips sink ships," Spencer reads, white as a sheet.
"You tell on me, I tell on you," Emily reads, her eyes filling with tears.
"Got a secret, can you keep it?" Hanna reads, choking back sobs.
"A," all four of them say aloud and then there is a full minute's silence.
"What do we do now?" Hanna says quietly. "Do we tell the police?"
"No," Aria says and Spencer nods in agreement.
"The message is quite clear," Spencer says. "Tell anyone about this and he'll spill all of our secrets. And he knows every single one now; we told him all of them in the bunker. God, we're so screwed."
"No, we're not," Emily says. "There is something we can do."
"What?" Hanna asks.
"We can tell the secrets ourselves," Aria says, deep in thought. "As much as we can without involving the police."
"What?" Spencer says. "You're gonna tell your mom about being pregnant?"
"Yeah," Aria says. "I think I'm going to have to. God, I need to go home and think this all over. I'll let you know when I decide, okay?"
"Okay," Hanna says, rubbing her shoulder reassuringly. "You still gonna come to Em's for the movie tonight?"
"Maybe," Aria says. "I'll see how I get on today." She hugs all of them tightly and then leaves the house, dialling Ezra's number as she goes.
"Aria?" Ezra says, walking into the bedroom and locking the door behind him.
"Hey," Aria says. "I need to tell my parents about the baby."
"Okay," he says. "So this is a goodbye?"
"No," she says firmly. "Certainly not. But it might have to be a 'see you later'. I don't know how they're going to react but I can't imagine they'll be very pleased."
"No," he laughs. "But we'll be okay, Aria. I'll do anything for you, you know that right?"
"Yeah," she says. "I know, and I love you so much for it."
"I love you too," he says. "Oh and by the way, you are the sexiest person alive."
"Nah, that's you," she laughs, turning around and turning off the water. "Come on, we better just get this over with."
"Okay," he says. "Do you want me to stay?"
"No," Aria says. "I'm gonna tell my mom first and hopefully she can help me work out how to tell my dad. If not, I have a secret or two of his up my sleeve and if I have to use them, I will."
"Aria, do not tear apart your family for me," Ezra says. "Your parents are the most important thing right now; you need them in your life."
"I'll do what I have to do," Aria says. "You should go, I'll call you later."
"Okay," he says. "Love you."
"Love you too," she says, kissing him lightly before she walks him downstairs, watches him drive away and then heads into the kitchen where her mom is sitting at the table.
"Hey honey," Ella says. "You want something to eat?"
"No," Aria says. "I was hoping we could talk?"
"Of course," Ella says. "What's wrong?"
"I lied to you," Aria says. "I lied and I'm sorry but I'm ready to tell the truth now."
"Okay," Ella says. "Sit down and talk to me."
"I lied," Aria repeats. "My relationship with Ezra- it was physical before I…went away."
"I assumed so," Ella says wisely. "Why are you telling me this now, Aria? Your father and I have accepted Ezra because we know that you need him."
"I know that," Aria says. "But I have another secret."
"What secret?" Ella asks.
"God, Mom, I messed up so badly," Aria says tearfully. "I was so careful, I've always been so careful, but one stupid mistake and it all came crashing down. I should have told you, I think I probably would have eventually, but I knew you'd be so disappointed in me and I didn't know how to…"
"Okay, stop," Ella says gently. "Aria, are you trying to tell me you're pregnant?"
"No," Aria says. "I'm not pregnant. But I was."
"Oh Aria," Ella says. "Come here." She pulls her sobbing daughter into a hug and holds her until she calms down. "Now are you ready to talk?" Aria nods tearfully and Ella says, "I'm not disappointed in you for getting pregnant. I'm sure you were being careful and I understand that sometimes these things happen. I'm disappointed you didn't come to me – I thought we had a better relationship than that?"
"Mom, you didn't even know I was seeing Ezra," Aria says. "And I found out the day I was taken. That's why I was in that drug store, it was all my fault. I wasn't deliberately keeping it a secret from you, I just didn't know how to tell you that without telling you everything else and I…"
"I know," Ella says. "So did you sneak off after you got back…I don't get it, you've hardly left the house?"
"I didn't have an abortion, Mom," Aria says. "I guess I miscarried. I don't know whether it was the stress, or the electric shocks, but I…a lot of blood and then…"
"Oh baby," Ella says tearfully. "I'm so sorry."
"Yeah, well," Aria says. "It's for the best."
"Don't say that," Ella says. "You're allowed to be upset; it's a terrible thing to happen to anyone, let alone someone in your position."
"What do we do now?" Aria says. "I want to be honest with Dad, of course I do, but he'll wanna call the police on Ezra and I can't let that happen. I will not let it happen. I'd die for him, Mom, I'd…"
"I know," Ella says. "I will talk to your father. Tell him as much as he needs to know."
"Thank you," Aria says.
"I would like you to think about what Dr Sullivan asked you though," Ella says. "I know it seems cruel and unnecessary, but you and Ezra can't spend every waking minute together for the rest of your lives. Some distance is always good, okay?"
"Yes," Aria says. "I know that, I get why she said it now. But the two of us are… I need him right now, Mom."
"I know, baby," Ella says. "It will all be okay, I promise."