Hey folks! Thank you all for your great interest in this story! Your kind words make my day and it helps me to write those chapters more frequently, cause I don't want you to keep waiting! So big Thank you!

Hope you enjoy this one! It's going to focus on Aria's and Spencer's thoughts because Alex is still out haha, but I promise you next chapter will be more Alex centric and also Alex/Aria! :)

Still anything can happen for the endgame, but I know there are some hardcore Sparia fans out there! :)

Much Love!

...

"Before we go inside -", Ezra had picked up Spencer and was now carrying her sleeping friend towards their apartment but Aria had to tell him first about Alex being there.

Ezra turned around then, he must have noticed her change of voice because she could see the worry in his eyes.

"Just to let you know but Alex is inside. And she is chained to the bed."

Ezra's eyes might have well popped out, considering how wide they went after Aria had said that.

"Should I ask?", he let out and Aria shook her head slightly.

"Caleb is there, too. Watching her. I will tell you later. Promise.", she smiled then, hoping it was her most trustful smile, because being honest with herself she didn't know how much she would share about that night.

Aria let themselves in, turning the key and scanning the dim room. Caleb was not in plain sight and she turned on the lights, nudging Ezra slightly and pointing to the couch. Ezra carefully laid Spencer down on the sofa, and Aria decided to go check if Caleb was in the bedroom. She could hear footsteps following her, and knew Ezra was behind her.

"Caleb?", she whispered and when she was fully in the room, she saw him work on his computer.

He turned around then, with a look of both - anger and relief.

"Looks who is finally here! I called you like 50 times, Aria! You can't just go off like that and not text or answer calls for hours! I was worried sick!", he kind of yelled, not even trying to lower his voice.

Aria sighed. "You're right! But there was no reception underground and I had to figure out how to get them out - ", Aria noticed then how his eyes travelled to Ezra and he smiled softly.

Caleb got up and walked up to him, giving him a handshake and an awkward man hug.

"I'm glad you're okay, man. Just be glad that you're back here and have a good reason for leaving Aria at the altar, or I might have just kicked your ass."

Aria knew it was supposed to be a joke, but she couldn't help the memories of that day that came up and she smiled at Caleb for being so protective. He really was a good friend.

"Thanks man. And I sure hope so.", Ezra replied.

Caleb's eyes roamed through the room, and Aria knew he was looking for Spencer.

"Spencer is sleeping. She was pretty shaken up - I don't know what AD did to her." She looked at Alex then. The name fit somehow but Aria couldn't believe that it was in fact her that had Ezra and Spencer locked up. Ezra still hadn't told her all of it. She basically knew nothing and it was time she got some answers.

"Tell me what happend.", she demanded while looking at Ezra, knowing Spender wouldn't be up for at least another hour and Alex would probably be sleeping a few hours longer as well.

Ezra seemed to finally gave in because he grabbed one of the wooden chairs of the rooms, and slumped down, the exhaustion of the past weeks finally hitting him, and started talking. He explained her, and Caleb - who had stopped whatever he was doing - that he had made some reservation for the honeymoon at the Radley and that he saw - what he thought was Spencer - approaching him. He told them how he wanted to thank her for the suggestion but she seemed confused and weird - but as he wanted to follow her and see what was going on she had hit him hard on the head. He told them how he woke up and how he saw Spencer and explained them everything. How Alex Drake was actually Spencer's twin and Mary Drake's second child; how she grew up in London; how she met Wren, and then Charlotte and how they all were this close group. Ezra told them how through the game Alex seeked revenge after Charlotte's death, wanting to honor Charlotte by continuing the game. Apparently she also decided to take over Spencer's life because she was jealous and because she had fallen for Aria a little when she had been observing Spencer and her friends. Aria's cheeks suddenly reddened but she was glad when the boys didn't notice. Ezra explained how they would normally receive food and drinks during the time Alex had them locked up but Alex had told him that Spencer had been punished and wouldn't receive anything that day, which explained her friend's shaken form.

"Why didn't you tell me sooner!", Aria yelled out, angry that he would keep something so important from her, especially when she had been so worried about her best friend.

"I didn't want you to worry more than you already were. I thought it would be better to tell you here, where we're safe. Where Spencer is safe."

Aria nodded, partially understanding where Ezra was coming from.

"You should get your head checked out. I don't like how it looks. It could be infected.", she wanted to sound more caring, more loving, but a small part of her was still mad that he hadn't told her about Alex really being AD back in the cell. Aria wasn't dumb. She had known Alex was hiding something ugly, but albeit she knew she had done some stupid things, and had made some horrible mistakes - she hadn't been prepared for this. All this time she hadn't let the thought cross her mind that AD was actually back. That Alex Drake was in fact the person who stole Emily's eggs and who had succeeded in blackmailing Aria to the point where she had betrayed her friends more than once. A part of her didn't want to believe that Alex could have been part in all of this, she thought the lost girl had just wanted to pretend being Spencer in order to live a normal life, to escape her old one - but now that Aria knew all the horrible things she had done - like kill Wren, like trying to kill Mona who they had thought was suicidal since that incident in Radley - she didn't know what to think anymore. She didn't know why she could still feel Alex's lips, or hear her voice - the voice that held the familiarity of Spencer but was just a little more edgy, a little more daring. Alex. Alex from London. She was a little surprised to find out she was British, considering she had mastered the American accent in a way Aria would have never guessed she was anything than that. Alex. The mysterious girl had a name and Aria had to admit that it fit her perfectly.

"Aria, are you okay?", it was Caleb who brought her out of her thoughts and she nodded. Shaking her head up and down, hoping she didn't look to weird.

"I'm going to check on Spencer. Can you stay here, and watch her?" She didn't wait for an answer though, and headed to the bedroom door.

"What's wrong with her?", she heard Ezra whispering to Caleb, but she turned and closed the door anyway.

Aria made her way to the couch. It was weird. A minute ago, thoughts and images of Alex seemed to haunt her, but now that she was kneeling in front of Spencer's sleeping form all she could think of was her and the relief Aria felt that she was finally saved. She reached out a hand to trace Spencer's face and tuck a fallen strand behind her ear. Now that she had been so close to both girls, Aria could easily make out the differences between the sisters. She was about to remove her hand, not wanting to disturb Spencer's sleep any further, when she felt a hand covering hers, resting softly on top of it. She looked up to see Spencer's opening eyes and her heart warmed when she saw Spencer smiling at her. Before Aria could speak, Spencer had turned her head slightly, kissing Aria's palm tenderly, holding onto her hand like a life line, and intertwining their fingers.

"Thank you for rescuing me.", and even though her voice sounded a little hoarse, Aria could hear the conviction in every word she spoke.

"Drink this.", Aria ordered with a smile and helped Spencer bring the glass of water to her lips.

"Are you hungry? I know you haven't eaten in a while." It hurt Aria to see Spencer like this, but it hurt even more to think about what she had been through.

"A little", the older girl admitted and Aria sprang into action and prepared her some soup. Knowing it would do her good. When she was ready she lifted the spoon so she could blow a little of cool air to the hot soup and began to feed Spencer, who let out a small laugh. "You don't have to feed me Aria. I can eat by myself."

"It's okay. Just let me take care of you." Aria needed this. She needed to know that Spencer knew she was there for her, unconditionally. And then there was also the bit of guilt that hit her whenever she thought of Alex. So she tried to push those aside and focus on Spencer.

Aria was glad that Ezra and Caleb hadn't yet entered the living room, because after a period of silence, Spencer spoke again.

"How did you find us? What - god! Where is Alex?", Spencer jolted up from the couch, but Aria's hand shot up to quickly grab Spencer by the arm in time and she pulled her down again.

"Calm down, okay? Please. I will explain."

"Where is she? Do you not know where she is? She is dangerous, Aria! She is going to go after me, after Etra! Aria, she is going to come after you, too!" Spencer's hectic looks around the room made Aria nervous.

"Spencer", Aria tried, using her best calming voice she could. "You're safe, we are safe. She can't hurt us."

Spencer's face went pale. Her facial expression stoic and Aria couldn't tell what she was feeling, but she was sure of what she must be thinking.

"She is not dead. She is just.. she is resting."

"Resting?! Where? I'm going to kill her! Or hurt her! I don't know!"

Aria was glad she still held Spencer's arms firmly in her hands and that Spencer hadn't gained her whole strength back, so Aria could prevent her from standing up.

"If I tell you, do you promise not do something stupid? Promise you will listen to me and stay here. Please", Aria pleaded and she saw Spencer's face soften, her eyes finding Aria's, and finally she gave in.

"I promise."

Making sure Spencer wouldn't just jump up from the couch again, Aria's hands remained tightly on Spencer's arm, but the older girl didn't seem to mind.

"She is sleeping.", Aria confessed for a while and the way Spencer's eyebrows wrenched in confusion, made her go on.

"We are safe. She - she is chained to the bed. In the bedroom and she is on some kind of drugs."

There was a moment of silence and Aria could feel Spencer's body tense up under her touch. She was sure Spencer fought the urge to run through the bedroom door and strangle the girl, but Aria was relived when she didn't.

Neither spoke, and Aria began to worry, when Spencer suddenly laid her head on Aria's shoulder.

"I really want to go in there and hurt her.", her teeth clenched and Aria didn't know if she had ever seen Spencer look this way.

"I Know. I know you want to."

"How?", she asked Aria and Aria didn't need any further explanation.

How did you do it?

How did you get us out?

How did you save us?

"It's a long story-", Aria began and she knew how lame that sounded.

"After I thought Ezra had left me, Alex, insisted to stay with me. I thought it was you, so I was thankful for the company. However a few nights after Ezra had disappeared, she stayed over and in the middle of the night she began shaking. So to comfort her - you - I took her hand like I always do with you and traced the hand with my fingers." Aria stopped for a moment. Reaching for Spencer's hand and copying the movement. Her heart warmed when she felt the outline of Spencer's scar under her finger tip, and it almost brought tears to her eyes, knowing it was in fact her.

"You knew.", Spencer drew her hand away suddenly, her eyes filled with tears and her face hard, as to not want to show emotions. It shocked Aria that Spencer had reacted that way. She didn't know where she was coming from. She tried to touch her again, but Spencer turned her body to the side, not facing Aria.

"You knew.", she repeated her words and Aria could hear her voice cracking. "She kissed you. You two kissed, and you knew it wasn't me."

Aria sat there dumbfounded. Not sure what to say. How could Spencer even know? Had Alex really told Spencer about those nights? In a way, she felt betrayed. She felt stupid for thinking that away, especially because she was not naive enough to accept that Alex's intentions were not good at all. But it still hurt that Alex seemed to have bragged about those intimate moments, moments Aria couldn't forget about - as much as she tried to.

"Spencer I only did it because I knew it was the only way to get answers." Aria tried to defend herself, but there was no reaction.

"Spencer. Look at me." She reached for the side of Spencer's face, turning her head so they could lock eyes. It hurt Aria to see the betray in Spencer's eyes, and for a minute, for only a second, she wanted to kiss her nose playfully, tell it was all some messed up dream and wish they were still in DC. She didn't know where that thought was coming from though, she and Spencer had agreed to never mention it again..

"It was the only way. You have to believe that.", Aria tried again, but it was like she was talking to a brick wall.

Then, after minutes had passed, Spencer spoke: "Did you sleep with her?"

The question caught Aria off guard, and part of her wanted to yell at Spencer and tell her that it was none of her business. But she held her tongue, and just shook her head. Spencer's body began to relax and Aria could see the relief on her face

"But you kissed. Did you like it?", Aria had always loved that Spencer didn't hold back, that she told her the truth about what she was thinking, but in that moment she wished Spencer would have stayed silent. Aria knew she was taking too long to answer, when Spencer raised an eyebrow, obviously growing frustrated.

"Unbelievable.", was the only thing she said and Aria jumped in.

"I was pretending to kiss you, Spencer! It's complicated. But no, I didn't like the idea of kissing a strange girl! It was to save you! But you obviously don't care!" She didn't know if she was lying then. She still felt unsure about the whole situation and it was like her emotions were all over the place, like somebody had sprinkled them onto the floor like they were simple bread crumbs.

"I'm sorry, Aria. I'm being a bitch.", apologized the taller girl and Aria wondered if Spencer had ever really used that word before.

"It's okay.", she whispered - still confused, and a little guilty when she thought about that one moment when she might have debated to let Alex take of the garment she had been fumbling with, more guiltily when she felt heat rising in her body at the thought alone.

"You don't know how many times I prayed for you to save me.", it was Spencer who broke the silence - again - and Aria chuckled.

"You didn't imagine Toby coming in on a white horse and rescuing you from the dragon?"

Spencer laughed with her then, until it died down and she was serious again. "No. Somehow I think I knew you were the one to get me out of there."

They smiled, and there was silence again, and no words were spoken, but this time it felt right. Spencer was back, and she was safe, and she was mostly okay and Aria couldn't express how much of a relief that was - with that she pushed all thoughts of Alex into the far back of her mind.

They stayed there on the couch, Spencer had rested her head on Aria's small shoulder, and Aria had began to trace Spencer's scar again. It was all too comforting to be true, when the door suddenly slammed open and they parted in confusion.

"Shit!", Ezra screamed.

"She's waking up!"

...

I know you've all been waiting to see Alex's reaction - but I just felt that it was important for Aria to talk not only to Spencer, but also to Ezra about what happened down there before facing Alex.

I promise more Alex in the next chapter!

As always, leave some words and tell me what you think! :) - good and bad I take it haha -

Thanks for sticking with me!