Here comes another chapter! Thank you for those who always take time to read, and review. And to all of those anonymous guest readers, too. The story will slowly come to an end, but there will be a few more chapters to come.

Enjoy for now, and please tell me what you think in a comment!

...

Two weeks later

Spencer's eyes stayed focused on the smaller body in her arms sleeping peacefully in her bed in the barn. It had been two weeks since her life had been put to a hold. Despite having wished never to return to her hometown, she had decided to come back to Rosewood to stay with Aria and be with her. She had given up on applying for any jobs in Washington and decided a break from everything but Aria was what she needed the most. It had also been two weeks since they had taken Ezra to the police station, and they hadn't heard anything since. Spencer knew Aria wanted to talk to him, but Spencer was perfectly fine not having to see him ever again. They were both sure however that he would probably end up with Alex in a mental institution. Aria had been hinting at seeing her again, trying to convince Spencer that she had changed and that she had tried to help them when she went missing. Spencer knew she was right, but she just didn't know how to feel about her twin sister. However, letting Aria go alone, was not an option. Ever since that night, Spencer hadn't let Aria go out of sight, and while she knew she was probably overreacting at times, she couldn't help but feel a little overprotective over her girlfriend. She knew she should try and give her space eventually, but the sole thought of losing her again was tearing her apart. That is why Spencer had finally decided to agree to take Aria and visit Alex Drake in Philadelphia. She would lie if she said she wasn't nervous and she didn't like the idea of her sister still having feelings for the girl she was with, but she tried to relax and reason with herself that Aria had chosen her in the end. She knew if she didn't do this now, she would chicken out later, and never be ready for this.

She smiled, when she saw Aria's eyes flutter open and she kissed her forehead lovingly.

"Good morning."

Aria smiled momentarily, but pulled the blanket over her head a second later, nestling into Spencer's embrace and mumbling something that sounded like "5 more minutes". Spencer laughed, pulling away the blanket and searching for Aria's brown eyes.

"I have been thinking.", the older brunette announced and Aria's head peeked from under the blanket, her eyes searching Spencer's face for answers.

"I know you want to see how Alex is doing. And I have thought about what you said..."

Aria sat up in bed, suddenly fully awake and she was looking at Spencer with wide eyes. It made Spencer realise how much Aria really wanted to go visit her, but at the same time she couldn't help but feel a little jealous at Aria's excitement. She just hoped Aria wouldn't notice.

"Spencer?", she heard Aria say and she realized she hadn't really finished. She sat up in bed to sit next to her, and was suddenly nervous. A part of her regretted having decided to go through with it.

She felt Aria take her hand then, and the small movement of Aria's thumb brushing against the back of her hand, made her feel more relaxed.

"We can go to Philadelphia and visit her, Aria. I would do it for you.", she almost rushed out the words before she could think otherwise and she could see Aria's lips curve into a smile.

The smaller brunette crawled over grinning, stretching out her arms to lay them loosely around Spencer's neck. "You would do that for me?"

Spencer couldn't help but smile at seeing Aria so happy. "Yes.", she hesitantly nodded.

She felt Aria's hand brush her face and her eyes burned deep into hers. "Are you sure?", Aria asked. "I wouldn't want you to do this if you aren't ready. I can go see her alone, when we are ready for me to go out alone, I mean."

Spencer couldn't help but smile, a thoughtful look crossing her features.

"I am sorry that I have been a bit overprotective lately. I just worry." She looked down, avoiding Aria's eyes as she spoke.

"Hey.", Aria said firmly, lifting her chin to maintain eye contact.

"I don't blame you, okay? And honestly, I feel safe with you." She pecked her on the lips, before drawing back.

"And like I said, I think it would be good for you to actually see her. I want you to move on from all of this. And I swear, she has changed. You said it yourself, Hanna and Em said she seemed worried when I was gone, right?"

Spencer couldn't help but roll her eyes. "Yeah, because she is in love with you." She didn't mean to sound so bitter, but the words escaped her mouth before she could stop herself.

Aria looked taken back, creating a distance between them. "Spence."

Spencer sighed. "I am sorry. I can be a bitch sometimes. I just worry."

"About what?"

Aria's fingers started brushing at the nap of Spencer's neck and it made her nervous.

"That you and her get along. That you connect. That somehow – she is a better version of me. I know what she did was terrible. But to create such a game, you have to be smart, incredibly intelligent. And she never really harmed you that much. She wanted you on her team, she targeted you the least and - "

"Shh.", Aria stopped her. "Just try and forget the past for a sec, okay? Please. She is sorry for the things she did to us. And maybe she does have a soft spot for me, so what? I told her that we could only be friends and she accepted that. You don't need to worry, okay? You're stuck with me."

Spencer closed her eyes briefly, trying to get rid of her doubts. With a soft kiss planted on top of Aria's head, she nodded.

"Okay. Thank you. I love you, you know?."

"I love you, too."

…

"Are you insane?", scolded Hanna next to her on her couch and Aria waved her hand a little for Hanna to lower her voice.

"I just think it is time. They are sisters, after all. Plus, Spencer agreed. I wouldn't force her into this. You know me, Han. I wouldn't do this, if I didn't believe it won't help her. I think both of them can benefit from this."

Hanna sighed. "Did you guys tell Ali? I mean, technically she is family, too..." She trailed off, clearly waiting for Aria to say something.

"I have mentioned it, and she didn't seem too upset about it. I wanted to ask her to come, but I just have this weird feeling that it wouldn't be the best idea. All Alex and Ali really shared was their love for Charlotte, and now that she is dead there is still so much unresolved business, I guess I don't want it to blow over. I mean, she should know what's best for her and she has Emily and the girls now. Maybe she doesn't need to visit her to move on."

"And Spencer does?"

Aria sighed. "I know Spencer seems tough. But she is hurting, still. She can't let go of the fact that Mary is still gone. She hasn't heard from her. No letter, no call, nothing. And I haven't really thought of that woman until a few days ago, because our lives have been crazy again, but I know she is hurt. I hope Alex can give her the answers no one else can."

Hanna bit her lip, and Aria noticed how the blonde was nervously squinting next to her.

"Hanna?", she asked, but her friend didn't quite meet her eyes.

"You haven't talked to Alex or Mona at all since it all happened, have you?"

"No, I already told you, we -"

"And Emily or Ali haven't said anything, either?"

Aria grew nervous, as if there was something bigger to come. She hated that secrets had started to dedicate her life again. She grew impatient.

"Hanna, what aren't you telling me?"

Hanna's voice was shaky. "It's about Alex, and Mona. They have been working together again."

"To save me. They worked together to save me, Hanna."

Hanna shook her head. "No, even before that."

Aria's forehead wrinkled in confusion, not knowing what Hanna was trying to say. "What?"

"Alex knows. She found out about your relationship with Spencer, because Mona told her."

Aria's head was spinning. "What? Why would she do that?"

"Because Alex asked Mona to spy on you. She wanted to know the real reason you were avoiding her."

For a moment, the small brunette was too shocked to talk as she sat frozen at Hanna's coffee-table. Her heart sank when she realized that Alex had once again betrayed her. She knew it hadn't been very nice of her to avoid her and she haven't had the chance to visit her since her kidnapping, but she thought Alex understood that she needed time to come to terms with what happened.

"No." Her voice was tiny, broken as she realized she might have been wrong about Alex after all.

Hanna's face showed empathy, and she reached out a hand to comfort her, which Aria gladly took, still not fully believing what that meant.

"I am sorry, Ar. I know you liked her."

Aria smiled, despite feeling betrayed and hurt. "Thanks, Hanna. For telling me. I guess now is the time to tell me: I told you so."

Hanna shook her head, moving a little closer to Aria on the couch, and draping an arm over her shoulder. "I won't do that. But Aria, there is more."

Aria's eyes widened, not knowing what to think. "More?"

The blonde girl tensed, almost as to not really wanting to say what was really going on.

"Hanna, what is it?""

"She and Mona tried to sabotage Spencer by manipulating her interviews. Mona hacked into the e-mail accounts of the law firms she applied for. That's why nobody would offer her a job and all she got was rejections."

Aria felt like she couldn't breathe. Spying on her, betraying her – was one thing, but involving Spencer into this – crashing her chances at having a real job – Aria couldn't believe it. The emotions of disappointment and sadness had evolved into rage and anger. Alex had tried to ruin Spencer's life – again. Maybe had been wrong. Maybe Alex hadn't changed at all. Her body was trembling with resentment once again.

"Why would she do that? I thought she had changed. God, I feel so stupid for believing that bitch could ever change."

She held her head in her hands as a few tears started to fall.

"Aria, I am sorry.", Hanna tried to calm her as she rubbed circles on her back. Aria was grateful for having her there, she needed the comfort.

"Spencer has finally moved on. We are finally on our way back to normal... she has even begun to try and understand why it was important for me to give Alex a chance. This ruins it all. I have to speak to Alex."

Aria made a move to stand up, but Hanna was faster as she took hold of her wrist and pulled her down again.

"Speak to Alex?! Aria, are you crazy? Look, I know this is confusing right now, but you need to speak to Spencer first. She thinks that nobody wanted her as a lawyer and it's not even true! Who knows how many jobs she would have actually gotten?"

"I know, Hanna. I just – I am scared.", Aria confessed and she spilled her heart out to Hanna. She told her that part of her wanted to tell Spencer everything, despite knowing that eventually it was the right thing to do. But there was a bigger part that was conflicted about that choice. It was the part of her that was scared. Scared to finally accept that Alex didn't deserve another chance. Scared for Spencer to ultimately lose the chance to connect with a member of her real family, scared to lose Spencer to Washington again, now that she might have a real chance at getting a job, scared that everything that happened would be too much for their newfound relationship to get passed.

"What do I do?", she finally asked, tears having stained her face and she tried to wipe them away.

"Speak to her. Tell her everything. Tell her you are scared. Tell her that you still want to see Alex. Just talk to her. Don't try to make this more complicated. Secrets always come out."

Aria nodded, glad that Hanna was there to reason with her.

"Do you think it is wrong for me to still want to see Alex?"

Hanna shrugged. "I saw the look on her face when you went missing. We were all scared and Em and I wanted to kill her at first because we thought she had something to do with it. But after a while, we both understood how scared she was for you. There is no such acting, Aria. She cares. I guess, you have to find out if she cares enough to accept you and Spencer and enough to change."

Aria wondered when Hanna had become so wise, but as she looked at her friend, she could see how she had grown up into this incredible smart, beautiful woman. Out of the four of them, she had clearly gone through the most personal development. She felt proud to see her grow from the more superficial and naive high school girl into this intelligent, funny and loving woman.

"Thank you, Hanna. For telling me, and for making me feel better. You are the best. I am really glad to have you, you know?"

"Me too.", she smiled, and then suddenly she hiccuped, a few tears making their way down her cheeks. Aria frowned, but it turned to confusion as she saw Hanna starting to laugh.

"I am glad to have you, too. And I really need all of you right now, because Caleb has finally managed to knock me up, and I can't do this without my girls."

"Hanna!", Aria exclaimed, forgetting her own problems for a moment, and pulling her friend into her arms, as her lips turned into a real smile. "I am so, so happy for you. You deserve this. Both of you. And we are here for you, whatever you need."

"Thank you. I am here for you, too. It's what best friends do."

...

There you have it. A little short, but Aria now knows about Alex betrayal and Hanna is finally pregnant!
Please tell me what you think..

Slowly everything will fall into place.. But will the girls finally get their happily ever after?

Thank you so much for reading! xx