Chapter 9

Life Is A Gift

Six pounds and seven ounces of pure perfection. Amelia Ann Fitz, was born on Tuesday, August 13 at 9:45 AM. Aria was in labor for about an hour or so, but it was worth it when she got that sparkle in her eyes the first time she held her baby girl. Amelia was the exact replica of her parents with the Ezra and Aria's dark hair and Aria's beautiful green eyes. And Ezra couldn't get enough of her, he'd always be holding her if no one else was.

Spencer thought Amelia was one of the most precious babies she'd ever seen. She'd actually enjoyed holding the little newborn in her arms. She actually teared up when Amelia smiled at her. She knew Toby would love to hold her, but strangely enough he didn't hold the newborn at all. In fact, he hadn't even seen Amelia yet and he had this solemn look on his face ever since he got to the hospital. And Spencer was couldn't figure out why. But she was gonna find out.

"Penny for your thoughts?" Spencer said as she sat down next to Toby in the waiting room.

He turned his head to look at Spencer and actually smiled when she saw that she was actually holding up a penny. He took the penny from her hand and placed it in his pocket.

"I'm thinking about stuff."

"That sounds pretty deep." Spencer said and noticed the faint smile on his lips, but it instantly faded away."Want to tell me what you're really thinking about?"

"A lot of things that have been happening." He said and in his mind he was screaming Emily's sick!"Mostly, I've been thinking about life and how the lives of the people you love could easily be taken away at any moment."

Spencer felt herself getting sick. Life is a gift, but hers and Toby's little life was taken away a long time ago. She pulled herself together and cleared her throat before she said,"Is this because of your father? His heart attack?"

Toby let out a deep sigh as he combed his fingers through his hair."He's apart of it, but It's just that the people you love are only with you for a short time and when they're gone...they're gone forever."

She was surprised when she felt his hand reach over and grab hers. Her interlaced their fingers together and held her hand tightly, like at any moment she would fade away. He leaned over to give her a tender kiss.

"Promise that you'll never leave me." He said and gripped her hand a little tighter."I don't think I could keep going on without you."

"Hey, look at me." She cupped his face in her hands to make sure his eyes stayed locked on hers."I am right here and I'm not going anywhere."

He gently caressed her hand that was on his face with his own hand. He quickly pecked her lips and actually smiled for the first time ever since he heard the news about Emily.

"Come on." Spencer said as she released his face and stood up. He looked at her questioningly."Let's go see Amelia."

Spencer lightly tapped on the door and waited for an answer.

"Come in." Spencer opened the door and grabbed Toby's hand to lead him into the room with her.

Aria was in a hospital bed with a sleeping Amelia bundled up in her arms. Ezra wasn't to far away, he was sitting at the end of the bed, taking pictures.

"Hey, Toby. Finally came to congratulate us?" Ezra teased as he snapped a picture of Toby off guard. But it just made Toby feel even more like a bastard.

"I'm sorry, guys. Congratulations." He apologized before he went over to Ezra and shake his hand. Next, he went over to Aria to place a friendly kiss on her head before turning and standing next to Spencer.

"Well, you're forgiven." Aria said and gestured Spencer over. She gently passed Amelia into Spencer's awaiting arms."Actually, you guys came just in time. Ezra was on his way to the cafeteria to have lunch and I need to shower. Do you guys think you could watch her?"

"Ummm...I-I...we-"

"We'd love to." Spencer finished for Toby when she saw he was struggling with words.

"Great! It'll only be fifteen minutes tops." Aria said. Ezra and Toby went over to assist her with standing up and Ezra led her into the shower.

Toby turned around and saw Spencer sitting on the edge of the bed, cradling Amelia in her arms. He couldn't help the smile that spread on his when Spencer started to hum a lullaby to Amelia.

"Can I...Can I hold her?" Toby asked meekly as he slowly walked over to sit on the bed next to Spencer.

"Sure, but remember to support her head." She carefully passed Amelia over into Toby's arms.

Amelia looked so small in Toby's large arms, but she was safe. He used his free hand to gently stroke her tiny fist and his heart swelled when she gripped his finger in her hand.

"She's really strong." He joked and Spencer laughed along with him."She's really tiny."

"Like Aria." Spencer commented with a smile and Toby chuckled. He started rocking Amelia in his arms slowly.

"I can't believe that two people made something so beautiful..." He mumbled under his breath, but Spencer heard him and that made her heart melt.

She wrapped her arm around his upper arm and snuggle up close."Hey, I promise one day we'll make something beautiful too."

"Good because I plan on making a lot of beautiful things with you." He responded as he turned his head to place a soft kiss on her head.

"So, what's going on with you and Hanna?" Toby asked Spencer.

It's been about a few weeks since Aria had Amelia. She had went home with Ezra and Aria a few days after being born. The doctors said she was healthy and clear to go. But during those few days in the hospital when they would visit, Toby would notice something. He would notice the tension between her and Hanna. They didn't talk to each other, they didn't look at each other, and they were barely in the same room together for a few minutes.

Toby decided to bring it up since they weren't doing anything today. Spencer was laying at the end of the bed on her stomach with her school work sprawled everywhere on the bed as she typed a paper. Toby was resting up against the pillows as he was studying for one of his classes as well. To him it just seemed like the right time to ask.

"I don't know what you're talking about." She said innocently as she typed away on the laptop.

"Really? Because in the past two weeks the only words you've said to each other was Hello and Goodbye. What's up with that?"

"Nothing. We're fine, Toby. It's just girl stuff."

She placed her earbuds in her ears to block out anymore of Toby's questions. But Toby knew of a way to get her full attention. He closed his book and placed it on the nightstand next to him. He slowly crawled over Spencer's body and hovered above her on all fours. But when he lowered his weight on to her back, he heard a soft moan slip from her lips. He took that as an invitation to start kissing and occasionally nipping at her neck while his hands were skimming all over her body.

She extended her neck out further giving him more access, but he pulled back. He sat up against the pillows again and heard her groan of frustration. Yep, he had her right where he wanted her.

"Why'd you stop?" Spencer whined in a childlike voice as she sat up on the bed and situated herself in Toby's lap."Toby, I've got two ten page papers to write and a test to study for before next week. I need you to relieve me of my stress."

"Nope, you'll get none of Toby's magic loving until you tell me what's going on with you and Hanna." He retorted back and crossed his arms over his chest for added effect.

"Toby's magic loving? You think you're that good, that you call what you do is magic?"

"I don't get many complaints from you. Actually, all I hear you say is Yes! and-" He stopped talking because Spencer covered his mouth with her hand.

Her face was a bright red and she was completely embarrassed."I don't say those things."

"Exactly, you don't say them, you scre-Ouch!" Toby yelled when she hit him on the chest before he finished that sentence. But he thought it was adorable how flustered and embarrassed she got when talking about their intimate moments.

"I promise I'll tell you if you just stop talking." She promised and Toby zipped up his lips and threw away the key. She took a deep breath before she explained the whole situation."Hanna thinks our marriage was just to beat her marriage with Caleb to the punch. She thinks our weddings are a competition because they are in the same month. And I might have told her that if she wants it to be a competition, then may the best bride win."

He groaned and dramatically threw his head back."Spencer, why would you do that? Hanna's your best friend and you guys are gonna be fighting over something stupid, like who has the best wedding cake or wedding dress."

"Hey, I wasn't the only in the wrong! She started it and I intend to finish it." She stated and tried to unstraddle Toby, but he gripped her hips in place, so that she couldn't run from this conversation.

"You do know that you're both being immature don't you? I mean best friends fighting over who has the best wedding? That sounds like something out of a movie."

"You know that I don't back down from a challenge. I'm a Hastings, it's in my blood not to."

"But this is your best friend. You guys have been through thick and thin together and you're willing to throw it all away because you're both being bridezillas?"

In a way, she knew that he was right. She and Hanna had been friends since they were little. Hanna always stood up for her in school when others would pick on her for being nerd in elementary school. And Spencer would always be there for her when she needed help with her school. In general, they'd always been there for each other for everything. Spencer loved Hanna with all of heart because that wasn't just her friend. Hanna was like her sister too.

"I guess you're right." She muttered softly as she wrapped her arms around his neck.

"I know. Now, you and Hanna are gonna sit down and talk about this like adults."

"Since when did you become all demanding. Remember, I'm the demanding one and you're the fun, who challenges my demanding ways."

He leaned up to quickly peck her lips."Maybe your rubbing off on me."

"Okay, are we done talking now? Because I'd really like to move on to something else." She whispered seductively as she trailed kisses along Toby's neck and collarbone.

"Ah, you always know my weakness." He teased as he flopped them over on the bed, so he could pick up where they left off a few minutes ago.

He nervously tapped the plastic lid on his coffee in a rhythmic movement. He checked his watch for about the tenth time. Emily was supposed to be meeting him at the Brew. He's been counting down the minutes until she got there. They agreed that they would meet before Toby's class in the afternoon, but he wanted to get to the Brew early to have to time to find the right questions to ask.

Spencer was curious to where he was heading out to so early, but he lied and told her that there was an emergency at the office. She brought it and turned over to go back to sleep. He hated lying to her, but he knew if he told her, then she tell Aria, who'd tell Hanna, who'd probably confront Emily. Then Emily may never speak to him again and he'd never find out the whole truth. But he promised himself that once Emily told him everything, then he'd tell Spencer.

His heart raced when the Brews door opened and the bell sounded. He looked up and there was Emily. For the first time he looked at her and he really looked at her. She looked sick with her pale skin and purplish bags under her eyes. He cursed himself for not knowing sooner. She was his best friend, but he couldn't even tell when something was seriously wrong with her.

"Hi." Emily greeted him as she took as seat across from him.

"Hey." He said back awkwardly because he was nervous."Um, can I get you a coffee or something?"

"No, I'm fine."

"Okay..." He said as he suddenly become very interested in his coffee cup lid.

After few moments of silence, Emily finally spoke up."Toby, we don't have to do this. We don't have to make this awkward or uncomfortable. Just ask me whatever questions you have."

"Alright, do you have cancer?"

"Yes." She answered simply and Toby felt like the wind had been kicked out of him.

"Okay, um, how-how long have you know?"

She inhaled deeply before she slowly exhaled and said."I've known for about four months."

"Four months and you didn't tell me!" Toby yelled causing Emily to cry and people to start looking over in their direction."Look, I'm sorry for yelling, but you've known for four months. Do your parents know? Does Paige? What about school and your scholarship?"

"I had to stop swimming because I was to sick and weak to compete."

"But that means-"

"That means I lost my scholarship and I had to quit school." Emily concluded for Toby.

"Em, you've been telling everyone that you've been at Stanford. Where have you been if not there?"

"I'm staying with my parents. I sometimes stay with Paige in her apartment at Stanford. But usually when I'm here, I don't leave the house because I stay in bed all day or I'm in the hospital."

"Jeez, Em." He said in disbelief as he ran a hand through his hair. She'd been here all along, under their noses and nobody could tell."Please, tell me that they have a cure or-or something."

"My doctors think that chemo would work. I just started chemo the day after Amelia was born."

"Emily, don't hate me, but you do know that I'll have to tell Spencer about this."

"I know and I think you're right. I think it's time they know the truth."

He reached across the table to cover Emily's hand with his in a comforting manner."Yeah, because I know they'll want to help you and they'll want to know because they love you."

"I promise I'll tell them, but can you go with when I tell them?"

"I'll be right by your side when you do. I promise." He smiled at her and she smiled back. Be was happy to see that smile on her face."Now, how would you like a chemo buddy? I could come with you and we could play cards or scrabble."

"I think that'd be great." She said honestly and leaned over the table to place a gently kiss on his cheek."Thank you, Toby."

It was the moment of truth. Spencer had to stop being stubborn and make amends with her friend. She'd been standing outside of Hanna and Caleb's door for about twenty minutes. Hanna was home because her car was in the driveway. Spencer was just nervous and didn't know what to expect when Hanna opened that door.

Expect, it was time to brave up and fix this. She ringed the doorbell and waited. A few moments passed and nothing. So she ringed the doorbell again. She got the same result.

"Hanna, open the door!" Spencer yelled, but got no response."I know you're home!"

Still nothing. She knew Hanna was mad, but she couldn't be that made that she wouldn't answer the door. Spencer was beginning to worry about Hanna. Maybe she wasn't answering because something was wrong? Maybe she was in grave danger?

"Hanna, I'm coming in!" Spencer warned as she pulled out we emergency key and let herself into the house."Hanna, please tell me where you are!"

The house was quiet, so quiet that if a pin dropped you could hear. Spencer had a feeling that something was wrong. She made her way through the house in search of her friend. She searched the first level top to bottom and now she had to check the second level.

She slowly walked up the staircase to get to the second level. She slowly opened the master bedrooms door, but the bedroom looked untouched. Everything seemed to be in perfect order. Maybe Hanna wasn't home and she just left her car here. Spencer decided to just leave and Caleb to find out where Hanna was.

But as she was leaving, she noticed something. The light was on in the master bathroom. The door to the bathroom was closed, but you could see the sliver of light come from under the door. She slowly approached the door. She opened and she'd finally found Hanna. But she didn't expect Hanna like that.

Hanna laid sprawled out on the floor. She wasn't moving. And Spencer couldn't tell if she was breathing. On instinct, Spencer rushed over to Hanna and kneeled down beside her.

"Hanna! Hanna, answer me!" Spencer yelled as she took Hanna's head and placed it on her lap, but she wasn't responding Spencer didn't know was wrong and it didn't look like she was attacked."Hanna, I'm sorry! You just have to wake!"

She waited for Hanna to respond, but she got no response. She cradled Hanna's head in her arms as she pulled out her phone to call the police.

"You're gonna be okay, Hanna. I promise." Spencer sobbed.

Hanna was gonna be okay. She had to make it though because if she didn't, then Spencer wouldn't know what to do.