Spencer arrived in Rosewood around six o'clock, and after a call from Alison - telling how sorry she was, and explaining how she had had an absolute emergency having to do with her house, from what Spencer understood - they agreed she'd come and pick her up from the train station. Which, surprisingly enough, she did.
Spencer did not manage to hide her (genuine) smile at the sight of her friend. Yes, she was not sure she wanted to be in this town at all, and yes, she's had had some problems with her, but she was still her friend, and she had still missed her.
« Oh Spencer, you cannot know just how sorry I am ! I am so - so - sorry! »
Spencer laughed slightly at her friend - who had not changed a lot, which she enjoyed, and hugged her:
« It's fine Ali, don't worry about it! »
« Come'on, let's get going ! I guess you want to go home first, and Emiliy's gonna kill me if we get there after 7! »
She laughed and got in the car with her blonde friend. Now that she was here, half-listening to her friend talking and seeing the streets of the town she once lived in she could officially say it: it was not that bad to be back.
Spencer left her carry-on and her laptop in the barn after saluting her mom, who was the only one home. She then managed to change with some clothes her sister - or herself, she could not recall - had left there (a simple white blouse that matched her black jeans) and was ready to go. Her friends living the house next to hers, Alison had already left to help Emily, so Spencer would have time to do a few things. But now that it was all done, she would have liked her to stay with her so as not to get there alone.
In the short time leading her to her friend's house, she noticed all the things that had changed around the neighborhood. Six years really was a long time.
« Spencer ! Oh my god! »
She turned around only to be faced with Hanna and her huge bump, a huge smile plastered on her face « Han, hey ! How are you? »
« I'm fine ! How about you? How's life in D.C? »
The blonde did not let her friend time to answer her questions as she squeezed her into a hug « I'm great, really! But hey, where's Caleb?»
« Oh, he'll probably be late. He went all the way to Philly to pick up Toby because his truck died or something. Dunno if they'll be coming afterwards. »
Spencer let out a breathe. She had to admit: she had thought she might be seeing Toby tonight, but she actually hoped she wouldn't. Now, this was the perfect excuse for him not to come.
As they advanced towards the door, Emily opened it, grinning. She hugged both of her friends and they entered the house where a little boy was endlessly running around.
« Arthur, pleaase, come in here ! How can you not be tired right now? » Aria's voice seemed hopeless, as she was running behind him « come on! »
Spencer couldn't help but smile at the scene. She had not seen her friend in her maternal role a lot, but she had to admit: the role suited her just fine. Spencer managed to catch the little boy who made a pricing sound just between a scream and a giggle, and once he recognized who his catcher was, his smile grew even bigger - if that was even possible. « Spencyyy » he said as he hugged her tight
She carried him in her arms as Aria came towards them « See, you really need to come around more often: I can't deal without you », the brunette said all smiling « Not true, I know you're the hell of a mother »
She put Arthur down only to be able to hug her friend, and went in to the living-room. There stood Ezra, Aria's husband, whom she hugged as well. Alison came into the living room with a bottle of white wine in one hand, and a few glasses in the other. Spencer could seen Hanna pouting next to her, and she would have sworn it was because of the thought she could not drink while being pregnant. She smiled at the thought and sat down on the couch, next to Arthur who was now reading a book - or, at least, looking at the pictures of his book. Aria sat down next to her and started talking.
« Eli, come here and drink some water for me please! » she heard Emily say
She frowned. Eli? She didn't know a « Eli ».
Emily came into the living-room a few minutes later with a little girl in her arms. The girls looked about four years old, had long blonde hair and bright blue eyes.
Spencer turned to Aria, frowning and cut her off in the middle of her sentence: « Aria, who's that? »
« What? »
« Who's that little girl? »
« Oh, you know, that's Elizabeth! » Aria simply answered as if she was supposed to know about her. She looked at Aria, waiting for her develop, which she did not.
« So I was saying, my boss was all… »
« Aria, who's kid is she? » Spencer pressed. The more she looked at the little girl, the more she reminded her of someone. But she stopped that thought.
Aria's face fell a little and she looked from the little girl to Spencer a few times. The girl was now walking towards them, a stuffed monkey in her hand, not paying attention to Emily who was still talking to her.
« You don't know? » she finally said as Elizabeth was getting closer « No, no I don't. Should I?»
Elizabeth was now facing them and looking intently at Spencer, her head tilted to the side « I don't know you » she said to her, her voice really calm and quiet
Spencer's heart was now starting to race « I, hum.. I'm Spencer »
« I'm Eli » she simply said, before adding « can we be friends? »
When Spencer nodded, the girl smiled brightly and then looked at Spencer's left arm. She started playing with her watch and bracelets, being really careful with all of her actions. Spencer didn't know what to do.
Finally, the door opened to two voices and Caleb entered the room, soon followed by Toby: the both of them in the middle of a conversation.
Toby scanned the room upon entering, and saw the scene. His eyes locked with Spencer's for a few seconds and then fell on Elizabeth, who was still oblivious to the two men's arrival. When the little girl finally turned her head, and her eyes met his, she let go of Spencer's jewelry and ran directly to him, screaming:
« Daddyyy! »