So, this is chapter 32. I am not sure if there will be a chapter after this, or if we just jump ahead to the epilogue. I do want to have a scene between Alex and Aria though, so I might squeeze in a chapter before ending this with an epilogue that will most likely be set after some time has passed. And with that, Aftermaths will be finally be completed.

But if you are up for it, I do have an idea for a Sequel, a few years into the future.

For now, enjoy the last installments of Aftermaths. What a journey.

...

Her heart couldn't stop pounding. How many times had she envisioned this moment before? When she first got into this place, she had wanted to spit at her, slap her across the face or worse – crank up her neck so she would never have to see her again, her – Spencer Hastings– the lucky one. It could have been her life if she had been born first, just seconds had decided fate and that thought alone had created a bitterness towards her sister so cruel and murderous she had wanted to make her life a living hell. Alex didn't know what had changed exactly. Maybe it was the pills, or the talks with Dean and the friendship the two had began to share. Or maybe it was Aria and her perspective of life to give everyone a second chance, to believe in people in the worst state and to fight for those you love more than anything. It had been a puzzle of small pieces, a series of events that had led up to this moment, and Alex suddenly found herself looking forward to a future in freedom. She knew she would never fully cross the line to the innocent, to the white hats, she would remain in the fine line between black and white, the color of grey marking her territory, but she had come to understand, and she did want to try and live a life outside these walls. It was easy what she wanted. Simplicity. Being able to build herself a life, and move forward. She could only guess what it would take to get there, but she was up to accept that challenge.

"Is she?", Alex asked her visitor, feeling nervous, anxious even as her eyes searched for answers.

"You tell me, Alex." Alex had imagined Spencer to be cold, hateful, but not this. Calm, forgiving and even almost – almost caring. Putting all her pride aside she knew what she needed to say, needed to finally say out loud.

"I want her to be. Right, I mean. I know I hurt you. And I – I am sorry." Her eyes closed at that briefly, before she looked for Spencer's stoic face again. "I am really sorry, Spencer."

There was a brief pause that hovered between the two sisters, before Spencer's hard facade finally broke and a small smile appeared on her lips.

"Alex Drake – apologizing?"

If Alex was honest to herself it did sound like a joke. Never in a million years had she thought she would one day be apologizing to Spencer. But there she was, finally wanting to make things right.

"Yes.", she chuckled nervously. "I know there are some things that cannot be forgiven, and I don't want people – I mean especially not you – to forget what I have done. I will always feel responsible for killi - "

Spencer's hand shot up suddenly to cover her mouth and Alex's eyes widened in surprise.

"Stop. I don't know who else knows about this, but as fas as everyone else knows you only held me and Ezra Fitz hostage, and that's it. You do want to get out of here someday, don't you?"

Alex couldn't control the small smile that broke out at those words. Did Spencer really care about her getting out of there?

"Dean knows anyway. He saw the tape, the one were I explained everything to Aria."

She could see Spencer's eyes dart away from her, and she wondered if Aria was still a sensitive topic to her. She realized that Spencer was a lot like her. She tried to bottle up emotions, making it seem like she didn't care. She wanted to say something, but Spencer beat her to it.

"So? Those informations are confidential, it's like confessing to a psych. They can't do anything about it. As far as the police knows you are not a murderer."

"Why would you protect me?" Alex's voice almost cracked at those words.

"Believe it or not, I now believe in second chances. I spend a lot of time thinking about this, and I won't say it will be easy for me, but I will try. I will try, if you will."

"I will. I promise."

"Good."

They both smiled shyly at each other, and Alex didn't quite know what to do next. She knew normally those promises would be sealed with some sort of gesture. A handshake, maybe? But a handshake just felt too business like and she didn't know if a hug was appropriated.

"I guess it is too soon for a hug, right?", she attempted to joke to break the tension and she felt relieved when she heard Spencer chuckle.

"Let's not overdo it.", her twin sister said, but did put a reassuring hand on her shoulder.

Alex smiled warmly, getting used to this feeling around someone so close yet so far at the same time.

"Does that mean you will come visit me again?" She had never been shy around people, except maybe Aria, but she did feel uncertain in that situation.

"If you want me to, yes."

She nodded, finally being able to accept that she wanted to work on this relationship. There was still one thing though that she needed to know. She had thought about the small writer constantly, and even though she had finally come to the conclusion that there would never be a chance for them as something more than friendship, she still missed her deeply.

"Can I ask you something?" She begged the universe – and she never did – to not let this ruin their moment, but she had to ask.

"You could try."

"Do you think Aria will stop hating me?" Her heart still leaped in a way it never had before, when she said her name, but time was slowly healing her and making her ready to move on.

She could see Spencer's eyes squint a little, and she hoped she hadn't ruined everything they just had built.

"She does not hate you, Alex.", Spencer finally said and Alex let out a breath she didn't know she was holding. "In fact, I think she misses you." The somewhat bitter and sad tone she said those words with didn't go unnoticed though. "I know she wants to see you. She really cares about you, Alex. And I know I said I want to try to get to know you. But I swear if you ever hurt her again, I will have you move across the country to never see you again."

She knew it wasn't the time, but she couldn't help but chuckle slightly at her sister's words. It was ironic how one tiny person could make both her and Spencer's life turn upside down.

"I care too much about her to hurt her again. I just want to see her again. I want her to know that she got me through this. She was there for me when no one else was. She was my first real friend. And I know Aria loves you, Spencer. I know a big part of her wouldn't come see me because she was too worried about you. That girl would do anything for you. Oh, and one thing goes right back at you. If you hurt her, I will promise you the same fate you promised me."

There was a long pause, and Alex hoped they would still be able to move forward, hoped Spencer would understand where she was coming from.

"Sounds like a deal. I promise to talk to her, okay? To come see you I mean."

Alex eyes widened in awe. "You would do that for me?"

"I would do that for both of you. Maybe we could visit you together sometime?"

"I would really like that.", she whispered. And she really, really meant it.

"Okay. Take care, Alex."

"See you soon, Spencer."

And with one last smile Spencer was gone, and Alex finally felt like the hole she carried along in her soul was starting to slowly heal.

...

Sitting in her car for what felt like hours, Spencer couldn't get herself to turn on the engine. She kept replaying her conversation with Alex inside her head, and she didn't notice the tears falling from her eyes until she heard a sob escape her own throat. The feeling of relief flooded through her like wild waves and she finally felt free. Tears streamed down her face and she let them fall, not attempting to catch even one. This was it. This was what had been bottled up inside her for so long and now - finally - she could get it out of her system. She sobbed wildly, and at the same time she began laughing, too. She was finally free.

A loud knock on her car window pulled her out of her somewhat delusional space and she was about to yell at whoever had interrupted her own victory dance against her own emotions, when she turned and saw no other than her girlfriend smiling softly through the glass. She quickly unlocked the car, already stepping out of it, and enveloping her in a tight embrace. Her breaths were still uneven, as tears continued to stream down her cheeks but she didn't care who saw.

They stayed like this for several moments longer, until Aria slowly leaned back to look her in the eyes, her arms still wrapped around her and her own arms encircled around the smaller woman's waist.

"Are you okay?", Aria asked her in a whisper, taking one hand away from her grip around her neck to trace it along the tears stained cheeks, smiling as her eyes automatically closed by Aria's feather touch.

"I am.", she replied with all honestly and she took the short pause as an opportunity to peck her girlfriend softly on the lips.

"What are you doing here?", she wondered, still in awe that Aria had shown up.

"I figured you could need some support.", the other woman smiled lovingly.

Spencer's heart leaped, smiling at Aria as she let her fingers wander through her hair. "I do."

"How did it go?"

Deciding it would take a while to explain, Spencer took Aria's hand in hers. "I finally feel free" She bend down to rest her head against Aria's.

"Let's go home first, okay? I will tell you everything there. But just so you don't worry, I am fine and Alex is fine, too."

"Does that mean you will give her a second chance?" Spencer could see Aria's eyes twinkle with pride and excitement.

"It does.", she nodded, letting her eyes rest on Aria's. "Thank you."

"For what?"

"For supporting me. For giving Alex a chance when I couldn't."

"Spence. You don't ever have to thank me for that." With that she stood on her toes, guiding Spencer towards her, kissing her with force.

"You don't know how proud I am. You are the strongest person I know.", Aria whispered against her lips and even though Spencer wanted to protest, to

say that she wasn't that strong, that if it hadn't been for Aria she wouldn't have mend things with Alex that day, Spencer decided to tell her later.

In that moment, all she wanted was to hold onto Aria, kissing her senseless, letting herself fall into the moment.

And for once in Spencer Hasting's life, her mind was free. It was not racing, it was not thinking. All there was, was the present. And she finally felt content.

tbc