I'm blown away with all the feedback and your kind words! Thank you so much! It's so much more fun to write if people appreciate your work. So thanks again, your words mean a lot to me!

So. This is a more of an Aria / Alex chapter where Aria tries to further figure out what's off with this new version of Spencer, overstepping some boundaries...

Enjoy!

Feedback and Reviews are like always very welcomed :)

...

"Do you want to come back to mine? We could watch a movie or something and order in Chinese later? I could use the company." Aria asked, a shy smile covering her lips, when inside she was fuming. But she needed that girl to trust her. And something told her this Spencer wanted to spend with Aria. So what better way to get close to her?

"Sure.", she smiled and they paid for their drinks.

Once back at the apartment, Aria sat her purse down and plopped onto the couch with such an ease that she was almost feeling proud of herself for being so cool about this whole thing.

"What do you wanna watch?", she asked her visitor who had just taken off her boots and joined Aria on the couch.

"I don't mind. Whatever makes you forget about your awful day. I still can't believe he had the nerve to call you. If I was there with you, I would've given him some shit for doing this to you!"

Aria looked over. It was brutal how accurate the words came flying out of her mouth, how Spencer-like they were. It almost made her angry. What if this was Spencer? What if the scar was still there, but she just couldn't see or feel it because Spencer had had some weird procedure done that healed it during those weeks she was busy shooting the movie to her and Ezra's book? And if this was really Spencer next to her, what was she up to? Why would she know that Ezra went to New York and why was she acting so weird lately? She would just have to wait and pretend everything was normal, she would get her answers soon enough, she had to.

"What about Mary Poppins? I love that movie.", Aria asked and the girl on the couch chuckled.

"Sure."

Aria put in the movie and picked up a blanket from the armchair covering them both. She really did love Mary Poppins and it annoyed her that she couldn't even pay attention to the movie. Her phone vibrated and she looked briefly at who was texting her.

Pam got the kids, so it's movie night at Em's and Ali's, wanna join? - H

"Did Hanna text you, too?" Aria turned her eyes to meet the other girl's eyes. Shocked how close this form of Spencer had shifted to her.

"Yeah.", Aria answered her and the girl smiled softly. "Do you wanna go?"

Aria thought about it for a moment. Maybe this was her chance to get the girls on the same track, but at the same time she wondered if it was a good idea for them to spot something. Would they confront Spencer without thinking about consequences if they noticed something was off? Would they just not notice and Aria would lose a big chance to get some answers? Maybe it was better if it was just her and Spencer for that night, and when they met on Sunday, she could still observe all of the girl's interaction with this new side of their friend.

"I'm actually pretty tired and not in the mood to move. But go ahead if you want to." Aria hoped her plan wouldn't get crushed. She was unsure if Spencer was going to get up any second to join their friends, but she didn't seem to move at all.

"I will just say I'm helping out my mum with some open cases." Spencer smiled and Aria smiled back for a moment. "Okay." She tried to get comfortable again and sent Hanna a quick text that she couldn't come because she was feeling too tired and a little ill.

Okay, hope you feel better soon. Spencer isn't coming either. You're not ditching us, are you? - H

Aria rolled her eyes. For Hanna being the last one to figure things out normally, she was annoyingly curious at that particular moment.

No. I just don't want you guys to get sick. I will text you tomorrow. Say hi to the girls. Xx – Ar

She hoped Aria wouldn't bother anymore and she apologized quickly to Spencer for stopping the movie. She pressed play again and adjusted the blanket, feeling a little cold. Maybe it was just the nerves, she thought.

"You okay?", she must have noticed the way Aria shifted under the blankets.

"Mhmm." Aria smiled, she could almost feel Spencer's breath on her neck. That was how close she was. A shiver ran down her spine and Aria figured it was because she still felt a little creeped out by this whole situation.

"You're shaking." Why was she so good at observing?, Aria thought annoyingly.

"Are you cold?" Aria shrugged her shoulders, not really answering, but soon felt arms move under the blanket beside her and wrap around her middle. The arms moved her so she was leaning into the other girl and she felt fingers draw small circles on her waist and soon her thighs as well.

This was definitely not the Spencer Hastings she had grown up with, Aria thought, having trouble breathing normally as the tingling sensation was not helping her concentrate.

The Spencer Hastings she knew was rather shy when being so close around someone, of course there incidents like Ian and Wren, but it was them who had made the first move, never her, if it was? Was it? A first move? Was this – does she dare use the word stranger? - trying something? She kept her eyes focused on the TV, willing her heart to stop beating as if she had just run a marathon. The fingers didn't stop and Aria almost let out a squeal when she felt them touch her bare skin just beneath her shirt and a little above her jeans. She turned to the person sitting next to her then, wanting to say something. However, the second she turned to the brown haired girl, lips smashed onto hers and she couldn't move.

…

She was kissing Aria Montgomery. She was kissing her and Aria wasn't pushing back. Alex noticed that Aria had yet to kiss back, but just as Alex was about to draw her lips back, she felt Aria's arms snatch around her neck, drawing her closer. Alex couldn't believe that this was happening. She had dreamt about this moment for weeks now, but nothing could compare to the softness of Aria's lips on hers and her fingers running through her hair. She slowly slipped her tongue into Aria's mouth and their tongues danced for dominance, Aria gripping onto the hem of Spencer's shirt, and almost aggressively pushed her down onto the couch. She opened her eyes for a second, surprised when she saw Aria starring back at her, her eyes having changed from a bright green to a dark brown. She felt Aria pushing back slightly and she almost pulled her into her again, already missing the contact and feeling the distance between their bodies. "Spence?", Aria breathed out from above Alex, eyes still shining and it was like someone had just slapped Alex's face. Of course. Even though it was her plan to take over Spencer's life, it still hurt a little every time that name left Aria's lips. Especially now, when Alex had felt such a deep connection between the two of them. "You're beautiful.", Alex breathed out, letting emotions take over her mind. Aria smiled down at her, pecking her softly and smiling before connecting their lips again, this time more demanding and with a side of aggression Alex wouldn't have guessed coming from Aria. She liked it though. Loved it, how Aria pulled on her hair and kissed her way down her neck. She was intoxicated with that woman and when Aria swirled her tongue over her shoulder blade, biting it softly, she let out the moan she was holding in since it started.

…

Aria continued to kiss the girl's lips, breaking contact only when it seemed necessary to breath. She had a feeling this girl was into her, and now that she was sure it wasn't Spencer who had initiated that heated make out session, she was even more determined to find out who this person was. She crossed out the idea of a mask, she would have noticed that for sure, but then there was only another explanation left and Aria wasn't really ready to give into it. She looked identical. It wasn't so much her hair or her body that Aria was so surprised about being exactly like Spencer's. It was the way her eyes shone with energy and the way the corners of her lips slightly lifted whenever she started into a smile. But now, having this woman so close to her, she could suddenly see all the differences. She continued to kiss her neck, but she noticed how the tiny mole on Spencer's cheekbone was missing, how the color of her eyes was a bit to dark to be the caramel eyes she had looked into so many times. And as she kissed the stranger's lips, she could feel how rough they felt against theirs – so different to Spencer's lips that felt like honey balm. To be honest with herself, the last one shouldn't probably count, because the last and only time she ever felt Spencer's lips on hers was at some party back in Washington, but she was sure these lips now weren't Spencer's anyway - and it was that thought that made it so hard to moan Spencer's name softly and pretend to kiss her best friend. It was not that the girl was a bad kisser. Quite the opposite. The way her hands ran up and down her back, her nails scratching it lightly and her kisses being filled with fire – Aria Montgomery had to admit she enjoyed this, but it still didn't take away the weirdness of it all. She had to focus, anyway. This was what was bringing her to her answers. This was what was hopefully leading her to Ezra, what could lead to the real Spencer.

The thought felt like a bucket of cold ice and she almost pushed away the girl that had meanwhile changed positions and was trailing kisses down her stomach now, pushing up Aria's shirt in the process and while she whimpered and moaned slightly, her eyes rolling almost to the back of her head, Aria suddenly realized what this meant. If it wasn't Spencer that was currently making her grip that brown hair with force, it meant that Spencer was out there. This new person had taken over for her and god knew where her best friend was at this exact moment if not – No! - she would feel it in her heart if something had happened to her. She was still alive. She had to be. She gripped deeper into the ball of hair that was spread out over her chest - Exhaustion taken over her.

…

"You're in a good mood.", Spencer observed and she suspiciously looked for any trace of emotion on Alex's face.

"You could say that.", she said and slipped a tray of food beneath the gap of the door.

"Enjoy." Spencer was surprised when she saw a tray with different kinds of cheese, some freshly baked buns, some fruit and a coffee coming from under the door.

"What's this? Is this poisoned?" She didn't turn her eyes away from Alex. She didn't trust her, and while she was so hungry she would probably eat anything right now, she wasn't taking chances. This looked too suspicious to be true.

"Calm down. It's not poisoned. See?", she slipped her hand through the hole and grabbed a slice of an apple, plopping it into her mouth and pushing the tray further into the room for Spencer to actually reach it, as her left foot was still chained to the bed.

"Why?" Spencer wasn't going to leave it at just that. She needed to know what had happened.

"You wouldn't believe me if I told you, love."

"Try me." She was done playing games with Alex. She wanted some answers.

"Well, I spent the night at Aria's again. But let's just say we weren't too focused on watching Mary Poppins." Spencer's blood drained from her face and she felt her chest tighten. It made her skin crawl to think about Alex's hands on Aria, Aria touching Alex – She felt like she was going to be sick. Shocked she gasped at Alex, lips parted in confusion. Just the night before she felt hope rising inside her, she thought Aria had figured out it wasn't Spencer who had spent those nights close to her. Unless – No! It couldn't be. Aria couldn't know about all of this. Spencer knew Aria loved Ezra and her too much to not do anything about it. She couldn't allow another thought like this enter her mind.

"Did you sleep with her?", Spencer's cold voice must have startled Alex because the girl tilted her head slightly, seemingly amused by Spencer's outburst.

"I asked you a question!", she demanded and thought about kicking the tray with the food for a second, but Spencer knew she would regret it later, when Alex was gone and the only noise that would be heard was her stomach gurgling.

"Well, I think we're waiting for the right time." Spencer was furious, but also a little bit revealed that Aria hadn't gone all the way with that monster. She couldn't help but think about the fact that Aria and Alex had in fact at least kissed, if that was what Alex was implying.

"But you kissed her? You kissed and you pretended to me?", her voice was smaller than she intended. Still feeling shocked and confused as to why Aria would kiss Alex back, kiss her back.

"I wouldn't call it kissing, making out maybe?", she chuckled. She grew more serious. "And you know, you're not the only one who is not happy with this. I would rather have her call me Alex, no shit, but I am getting used to the name Spencer anyway, so it's alright." Spencer felt like she couldn't breath. Alex and Aria had made out? Aria had made out with her sister thinking it was in fact her? She didn't know what she should think of Aria wanting to kiss, to touch her. Those thoughts were buried under years of keeping the secret of the incident on that party ages ago. No way, would Spencer allow them to crawl back only to have them haunt her.

"Oh, and you were right by the way.", Alex interrupted Spencer's thoughts and she looked up again.

"About that little moan thing. It's adorable." she winked at Spencer and Spencer's eyes filled with tears as she looked at Alex leaving the underground.

It was then, when no one else could see her, that Spencer started crying. Her gut wrenching sobs filled the room and she was sure that even Ezra could hear her weeping all through the closed slide doors. Emotions that been bottled up since she got there finally found their way out and Spencer hugged her knees to her body, swaying back and forth while tears streamed down her face, resembling water cascading down from a waterfall. She and Ezra would never make it out of that place. Alex would finally win and take over her life. Her friends and family would be fooled, and she was left with the shallow of what was once her life. And above it all, Aria was going to be fooled the worst, played, by this new version of her who seemed to not stop at any point. How could Aria let her kiss her? How could she not have noticed the missing scar? How could Aria not know it weren't Spencer's lips that she felt on her body when it was Alex that kissed her? Had she forgotten the way Spencer had kissed Aria's soft skin, whispered into her ear how much she meant to her, how she kissed her earlobe and her nose playfully – feeling happy to experience something new with her best friend? She was aware that both of them had made a vow to never talk about it ever again, they had agreed that they didn't feel ashamed, that it was a nice experience but Aria had still clung to Ezra and Spencer herself had been still unsure what she was feeling for Toby at that point. She let her head fall back to the wall with a sigh. Alex was going to make Aria fall for her, she was going to make her hers and all Spencer could do was sit in this shitty place and have her mind wander to images she couldn't handle seeing. Her sobs had stopped, but silent tears continued to stream down her pale face. Her heart was aching in a way it never had before and her thoughts filled with memories of what was once her life. Her heart ached for Aria the most. She couldn't protect her tiny friend from the evil. And something inside her hurt even more knowing she had not only lost Aria as her best friend, but she had lost any chance there was for them as well. She realized how thoughts of Toby had slowly left her mind over time, and now all she could think about was Aria. Her delicate hands, her soft skin, her soul searching eyes. Alex would take everything from her, but taking away Aria somehow hurt more than anything else. It was then that Spencer lost all the hope she ever had and wondered if it had been less painful if she had died the night a bullet went through her body. She was right. Hope did breed eternal misery.

...

What do you guys think? Who do you think Aria should end up with? What did you think of Alex and Aria together (both kind of tricking the other) ?

Please leave some words. :)