A/N: Re-uploading Chapter 21 with a few edits. Also, chapter 22 is here. Finally.


"Do you need an extra blanket? Some more pillows? Water's here by your table. I already charged your phone. I'll get a couple of books if you want to read, or you can sleep first if you want to. I guess you should, you need to rest some more and –" Aria rambled as she walked frantically inside Spencer's room.

"Aria, it's fine. I don't need anything else. You're the one who should rest. Melissa said you barely got any sleep." Spencer sat up a bit on her bed and pulled the frantic girl to her side. She was discharged from the hospital a couple of hours ago. Melissa was at the barn right now and Aria, unsurprisingly is still with her, walking around like a mad woman and making sure she got everything that she needed close by.

"I'm fine, Spence. Don't worry about me. And I wanna do this. I wanna take care of you." Aria rolled her eyes as she stopped walking around and stood beside Spencer. She leaned over and tucked Spencer in – for the third time – and smoothed down the covers.

Spencer swatted her best friend's hands away and tugged her arm, making Aria sit on the bed next to her. "You've been doing that basically our whole lives. Just stop and lie down here. If you'd sleep, I'd sleep."

Aria looked at Spencer and sighed. "Fine." Spencer scooted over a bit to make room for her best friend. Aria got under the covers and gave Spencer a look that said "There. Happy now?"

Spencer moved on her side to face the smaller girl and smiled. "Ar?"

"Yeah?" Aria looked at Spencer as she lied on her back.

"Thanks for staying with me." Spencer said with a smile. She is really grateful to have this person in her life. Aria smiled back.

"Anytime."


"Hey, you awake?" Aria opened her eyes a bit to find Hanna shaking her left shoulder a bit. She glanced at her right to find Spencer peacefully sleeping. She carefully moved to a sitting position and looked questioningly at Hanna.

"I am now. What's up?" Aria whispered.

"I need your help with some stuff." Hanna gestured for her to get up.

"What stuff?" Aria whispered, raising her eyebrows.

"Just get up and I'll tell you outside." Hanna whispered with a wave of her hand.

"Fine." Aria got out of bed and followed Hanna outside Spencer's room. With a glance at her still sleeping best friend, she carefully closed the door and walked up to Hanna.

"I just need to run some errands and I need you to come with me." Hanna stated. Aria looked at Hanna as if she was an idiot.

"What? Why? I can't just leave Spencer." Aria said with a gesture of her hand towards Spencer's room. Hanna rolled her eyes.

"Aria, you're not her guard dog. Besides, Jenna's here. She can stay with Spencer." Hanna grabbed Aria's arm and started walking down the stairs.

"Jenna's here?" Aria asked as she sleepily tried to keep up with Hanna walking down the stairs. She stopped when she saw Jenna at the foot of the stairs and unconsciously fixed her hair. "Oh, hey. When did you get here?" Aria asked the green-eyed girl with a smile. Jenna smiled back.

"Just now. I rode with Hanna." Jenna stated, making Aria widen her eyes.

"You did? Why?" Aria asked incredulously. Hanna rolled her eyes and grabbed Aria's arm again to lead her outside.

"So she can stay here while you help me. Now stop asking questions and let's go." Aria followed the blonde with a quick wave at Jenna.


"Thanks for doing this." Emily said as she emerged from the Hastings' bathroom after Hanna and Aria left.

"Sure." Jenna nodded.

"I know we need to talk as well –" Emily started awkwardly. Jenna held her hand up and gestured towards Spencer's room.

"It's alright. Some other time. It's best that you and Spencer talk." Jenna said with a small smile, feeling quite uncomfortable as well.

"Right. Thanks again." Emily nodded and started to walk towards Spencer's room.

"And please hurry. I don't know how long Hanna and Aria will be out. I don't want Aria to get mad at me." Jenna added as she watched Emily go.

"Uh, okay." Emily nodded.


"What exactly did you need my help with?" Aria asked as she eyed Hanna. "And why are you with Jenna? I thought you didn't like each other."

"Well, she's one of Spencer's good friends. I think I can at least be civil with her. Anyway, I just want to -" Hanna was cut off as they were exiting the Hastings' gate and ran into Spencer's parents.

"Aria. Hanna. Hey. What are you guys doing here?" Veronica asked the two teens.

"We're here to see Spencer. I'm surprised to see you here though." Aria stated with genuine surprise.

"What do you mean? We live here, of course we'd be here." Peter replied with bewilderment.

"Not here enough though." Aria muttered. Hanna's eyes went wide.

"What was that?" Peter tilted his head at the small brunette.

"We should go." Hanna spoke out as she nudged Aria.

"No, wait. I think Aria had something to say." Peter folded his arms on his chest and stared at Aria.

"Peter, I don't think -" Veronica started to say.

"Actually yes, I have something that I needed to say." Aria declared as she returned Mr. Hastings' stare.

"Listen, I don't mean to be disrespectful but I since I love my best friend so much, I'll just spit this out. I know how busy you both are because of your careers, so much that you barely see your kids and it's fine. I understand that you just want to be able to earn as much as you could to give both of them a better future but things are different now. Don't you think you at least owe Spencer your presence - your physical presence - in her life with how things are going now? I mean -" Aria spoke as she firmly stood in front of Peter.

"Aria, I think that's enough." Hanna cut in. Aria held her hand up to Hanna.

"No, I wanna say this. My best friend is dying." Aria paused for effect and looked at the two adults seriously. "God only knows how much time she has and I know she would really appreciate it if her parents cared enough to stay with her right now as they barely did before." Aria firmly stated as she brushed a fallen tear off her cheek.

"Aria -" Hanna pleaded. Peter frowned but Veronica held his arm firmly to prevent him from going off on Aria.

"It's fine Hanna. Why don't we all sit down?" Veronica offered. "Listen, I understand what you're saying and I can't express how thankful I am to you for loving my daughter the way you do – as if she's your own sister. I know how important you are to her as well and so I would like for you to be there when we talk to her." Veronica gently stated.

"Veronica, I don't think we should -" Peter started to object.

"Hush, Peter. Aria is practically Spencer's twin, and Hanna is one of her best friends. They should know about our plans."

"Plans? What plans?" Hanna interrupted this time.

"It's best if Spencer is here to hear about all of it. Let's go upstairs and see her, alright?" Veronica replied and gestured for everyone to go inside the house.


Jenna walked down the stairs of the Hastings house as Peter was about to walk up to Spencer's room. "Mr. Hastings, hi."

"Hello, Jenna. Good to see you. I was just about to go see if Spencer is alright to talk to us."

"Oh, uhm, she's asleep. Really tired. Medications and all. You shouldn't wake her right now. Too tired and yeah, asleep, you know?" Jenna rambled.

"Oh, Okay then." Peter said with a frown.

"I uh, I should uh -" Jenna thought frantically on what to do next. She needs Spencer and Emily to have this time to talk. Give them as much time as she can. She can't allow Mr. Hastings to go upstairs. Fortunately Hanna appeared behind Peter. "Hanna, hey. Spencer's uhm, asleep. I should uh, -"

Hanna widened her eyes and touched Mr. Hastings' arm to get his attention. "Let's just have that talk later, Mr. Hastings. It's best that we let Spencer rest. Jenna and I will go home for now and - "

Jenna subtly shook her head, eyes wide. "No? No! I mean no." Peter looked at Hanna, perplexed. "I mean we should uh, wait for Spencer to wake up, because you know, she might need someone to be there when she wakes up." Hanna explained.

"I could stay with her. You guys could go home." Aria interrupted behind Hanna. Jenna and Hanna looked at each other in panic. Oh, boy, Oh, no. Aria can't know that Emily is upstairs with Spencer. Peter was just about to come down when Veronica appeared behind Aria.

"Why is everyone talking on the stairs?" Veronica asked.

"Alright, everyone back to the family room. Jenna, you can stay with Spencer for a bit, if you don't mind." Peter smiled at Jenna gesturing with a wave of his hand to Aria and Hanna.

"Sure thing, Mr. Hastings." Jenna let out a breath and walked back upstairs. She stood in the hallway, a respectable distance from Spencer's room, not wanting to disturb the two brunettes yet.


"I'll go make coffee for everyone." Veronica said as she left her husband, Hanna and Aria in the family room. The two teens were seated next to each other, facing Peter. There was an uncomfortable silence between the three. Finally, Aria decided to cut the tension. "I want to apologize for earlier, Mr. Hastings. It wasn't my place to say those things." Aria spoke politely. Hanna placed her hand on the smaller girl's back comfortingly and nodded at Peter.

"It's alright, dear. I understand where you're coming from. I'm actually quite thankful that you're still as caring and supportive to my daughter, after all these years. Spencer's very lucky to have you in her life." Peter said with a smile.

Veronica came back with 4 cups of steaming coffee and placed them on the coffee table. Before anyone could speak, Melissa walked in as well.

"Oh, everyone's here. Is Spencer okay?" Melissa asked Aria as she took a seat on the single chair on Aria's right.

"Yeah. She's asleep right now. Jenna's staying with her upstairs." Aria replied to Melissa as she thanked Mrs. Hastings for the coffee.

"Oh, good. Jenna's such an angel for always being around to help take care of Spencer." Melissa said with a smile.

"Yeah, she is." Aria said with a blush. Wait, what? Why the hell am I blushing? Hanna noticed Aria's cheeks redden and raised a single eyebrow. Before she could say anything, Mrs. Hastings spoke.

"That's good to hear. I'll make sure to thank her later. Anyways, now that we're here, why don't Peter and I fill you in on what's happening? After all, you're basically part of the family." Veronica looked at Peter and Melissa for confirmation before continuing. Her husband and daughter nodded.

"We've been trying to find the best treatment options for Spencer, and after several weeks of flying in and out and meeting with specialists, we've finally found the best doctor to handle Spencer's case." Veronica explained to Hanna and Aria.

Peter looked at his wife and spoke. "We're moving Spencer to Seattle in three days."