Chapter Seven

Hey guys! PLL LAST NIGHT…OH MY SPOBY.

Thanks again for all of your stellar reviews, and I hope you enjoy this chapter. : ) No more sadness, pinkie promise!

- Jenn

Spencer was sure that she was hallucinating. That couldn't be Toby, standing handsomely next to the jewellery kiosk, his blue eyes intent on her face. It couldn't, because that was impossible.

Except it was.

Barely a second had passed, and all at once Spencer broke into a sprint. She navigated the Starbucks tables expertly at lightning speed, desperate to get to Toby. As soon as he'd seen her start running, he began running, too.

Normally, Spencer and Toby were in no way the raging teenage, PDA lovebirds - that was Hanna and Caleb's job. But today, everything was different.

When the couple met in the middle, Spencer literally jumped into his arms, wrapping her legs around his waist. Toby caught her reflexively, holding her tightly against him. Moaning and shaking, Spencer crashed her lips against his, not caring who saw or what they thought. Toby's kiss was intense, more so than ever before, his lips soft but furiously urgent. Spencer's hands were wound tightly around his neck, holding herself as close to him as was possible. His scent was pristine, hypnotic and perfect. Toby adjusted his grip on Spencer, freeing one of his hands. Supporting her with only one arm, he used his other hand to pull the hair band out of Spencer's hair, letting her dark brown locks fall around her shoulders. Toby intertwined his fingers in Spencer's hair, a low moan escaping his throat as she sucked on his bottom lip.

Slowly, Toby moved his lips to Spencer's neck. Tears of bliss fell from Spencer's eyes as she breathed heavily, caressing his hair. "My heart. Is so yours," she stammered, rubbing the back of his neck, burying her face in his hair.

Toby lifted his head, kissing her nose. The way his wispy eyelashes framed his eyes was so beautiful that it made Spencer want to cry harder. "Without you, I would die," Toby countered, cupping her cheek.

Desire overcame her again, the need for Toby's lips on hers so potent that it was almost painful. Time, place, predicament - all was forgotten. All that mattered was that while she was kissing him - Toby Cavanaugh, the boy she loved so much that just the sight of him shook her to the core - there was no such thing as an imperfection.

Only minutes had passed, but it could have been hours. Finally, the two pulled back, both gasping for air. Spencer blinked rapidly, assembling her jumbled thoughts. One minute she had been yelling at her friends, and the next she was being lovingly cradled by her own personal Greek-God-miracle. How the hell had that even happened?

"Yardley?" Spencer stammered questioningly.

"I'm holding something far more important," Toby reasoned, brushing the stray hairs out of Spencer's face.

"But-"

"Shh, baby, no buts. Just kissing," he said, pressing his lips gently and slowly against hers, tracing the shape of her lips with his tongue.

After several more minutes of vigorous French kissing, Toby spoke again. "I wish I had gotten here sooner, Spence. I should have been there for you at the funeral. I'm so-"

"No apologies, just kissing," Spencer ordered, brushing her lips on his forehead and eyelids.

Toby chuckled softly. "Don't you worry, Miss Hastings. We have all the time in the world for kissing…but I think we should stop grossing out your friends."

Spencer humphed, suddenly remembering that there were other people in the world that existed outside her little bubble of happiness. "Okay. You can put me down."

Toby set Spencer carefully on her feet, squeezing her shoulders. Her friends were standing a few feet away, grinning like idiots. Spencer was about to call them over, but suddenly she needed something else. She turned around, half expecting Toby to be gone, the whole thing just a figment of her imagination. Miraculously, he was still there. "Umm, hug me, now," Spencer begged, wrapping her arms around him and leaning her head against his rock-hard-but-soft-at-the-same-time chest. Toby kissed the top of her head, wrapping his strong arms protectively around Spencer, enveloping her into her absolute favourite kind of hug.

"Okay. Okay I'm good," she said, and Toby laughed. "I'm done," Spencer called to her friends, who exploded with laughter. "Now get your asses over here so I can hug you before I kill you."

Aria, Emily and Hanna walked over slowly, Hanna literally doubling over with laughter. "That…was…classic!" She stammered, wiping the tears of laughter off her face.

Spencer gave Hanna a quick squeeze, and then all four girls arranged themselves in a group hug. "Okay, that was just mean." Spencer said in mock horror.

Aria laughed. "Jesus, Spencer, you made it hard enough. I don't want to go to the mall, I don't want to shop, I don't want to go to the jewellery kiosk," Aria mimicked her. "I thought I was going to have to drag you over there by your hair."

"Have you known about this all day?" Spencer demanded, turning to Emily for the answer.

"Umm…maybe?" Emily said.

Spencer's mouth popped open. "I colour-coded my salad today. You couldn't have clued me in?" she demanded, trying to keep a straight face.

Hanna's rolled her eyes. "Yeah, that was kinda freaky. But we were sworn to secrecy," she explained, shifting her gaze to Toby, who was watching their hilarious conversation with an amused expression.

"Oh my God, get over here," Spencer ordered. Toby obeyed, wading through the mass of girls to get to Spencer, kissing her again.

Hanna coughed. "Get a room."

Aria giggled mischievously. "Oh, but they have one."

Spencer turned toward her friends. "Pardon?"

The girls just laughed. "We'll see you later, Spencer," Aria called.

And with that, Aria, Hanna and Emily walked away, leaving Spencer alone with Toby, a perplexed look on her face. She turned to Toby for answers.

Toby laughed, grabbing Spencer's hands, pressing his forehead against hers. "A little bird told me you hate surprises," Toby said slyly.

"I'll kill Aria," Spencer growled.

Toby chuckled, using his lips to make her swoon. Spencer clutched his plaid shirt, deepening the kiss. Effortlessly lifting her into his arms again, Toby pulled back so that he could use the power of his eyes on his girlfriend. Spencer's whole body was on fire, chills running down her spine as Toby's blue eyes bore into her own. "Would you call the cops if I told you I was kidnapping you?" Toby asked.

Spencer paused, pretending to consider it. "Hmm. Maybe I would."

Toby kissed her forehead, and began walking to the nearest exit. "I suppose I'll take my chances, Spencer Hastings," he said, pushing open the door.

Spencer laughed, searching the lot for his truck. She spotted it, a good 300 feet away in the last row. "You know, my legs work perfectly fine," she said.

Toby rolled his eyes, and continued walking as if he was carrying a pillow rather than an 115lb person. "Can you calm down? We're doing this my way."

Spencer widened her eyes, and pretended to zip her lips and throw away the key, leaning her head against Toby's chest.

When they reached the truck, Toby opened the passenger door, setting Spencer down carefully. "What, you aren't gunna do up my seatbelt?" she asked sarcastically. Toby patted her head, buckled her seatbelt, and kissed her forehead. Spencer had no idea what the hell was going on.

Toby shut her door, and walked around his truck, getting into the driver's seat. He started the car and began driving, holding one of Spencer's hands. "Toby, what the-"

"Shh!" Toby said in mock sternness. "You're my kidnappee, and I say that now is not the time for questions."

Spencer raised her eyes at him. "Am I allowed to break the law and take off my seatbelt so I can lay in your lap?" she asked innocently.

Toby tapped his chin dramatically. "I suppose that would be acceptable," he said.

Spencer unbuckled her seatbelt, crawling across the seat to lay her head against Toby's jeans. He stroked her face, driving with one hand. Spencer grabbed the hand on her face, playing with it. It was about 5pm, the sun low in the sky. After about 20 minutes, Toby parked the truck. Spencer knew where they were without having to look; it was their spot.

Toby cut the engine. "Sit up, baby," he prodded Spencer, "Let me hold you."

Spencer sat up immediately, eager to be held. Toby arranged them so that his back was against the passenger door, Spencer snuggled in his lap, facing him. He pulled Spencer against his chest, using his strong, laboured hands to message her shoulders. Spencer's low moan of pleasure broke the silence; his fingers probing her spine felt simply amazing.

"See," Spencer said, her voice muffled against his shirt, "If it were up to me, I would take up a permanent residence as your kidnappee. Even though kidnappee isn't a real word."

Toby chuckled, squeezing her. "You okay, Spence?"

Spencer smiled into his chest. "Mmm, perfect."

"No no, baby. Look at me," Toby said seriously, gently gripping Spencer's arms and pulling her backward so that he could see her face. "Are you really okay? A lot's happened over the past few days, and I know I haven't been around. I'm sorry," he said sadly, the look in his eyes heartbreaking.

Spencer wanted to cry. How badly she wished she could tell him everything - the whole story, from start to finish. She knew he could protect her.

But of course, Spencer couldn't tell Toby about A. "Toby," she said softly, placing her hands on his smooth cheeks, "Don't apologize, please. It's okay. I'll admit, yes, being Spencer Hastings isn't easy," she said, laughing once without humour. "But I have something the rest of the world doesn't - this amazing person who loves me, insists on surprising me even though I hate surprises, and never lets me walk anywhere, because he thinks carrying me is fun."

Toby pressed his lips to Spencer's then, his kiss heartfelt and infinitely tender. Spencer swooned, sweeping her hands slowly from his cheeks to his chest. "I love you, Spencer Hastings," Toby whispered into her hair, "And if there's ever anything, anything bugging, bothering, hurting, or frightening you, I want you to tell me, okay? I'll take care of it. I'll take care of you."

Tears welled in Spencer's eyes as she resumed leaning against Toby's chest. "I love you," she whispered. Toby rubbed the small of her back in soothing, rhythmic circles.

Suddenly, Spencer's stomach gurgled audibly, ruining her moment of perfection.

"Ahh," Toby said, his tone having changed back to light, dramatic and flirty, "I see it's dinnertime for my prisoner."

TO BE CONTINUED : )