"If he's bothering you just tell him to go somewhere else," Andrea called to Aria and her friends. After three and a half s'more sandwiches later, Jack had become a sugary, outgoing, giggling mess. He had trace amounts of chocolate still on his mouth as he came to sit with Aria and all her friends.

"Oh no, he's great," Emily responded as she looked down to Jack still laughing on her lap as she bounced her legs.

"He's in a sugar coma," Hanna noted.

"Kind of like how you get when you're in the mall," Caleb teased behind her. Jokingly offended, she hit her boyfriend's arm and continued to watch the little boy with Emily. His laughter was too cute to ignore and he made everyone else chuckle too. Emily had done the simplest moves to ignite the spark in his eyes and so far, she looked to be his favorite out of the friends.

As Jack got off of Emily's lap, he approached both Aria and Jason, standing in front of them. With a smile Aria whisked him off his feet and began continuously tickling and planting kisses all over. "You're a little flirt you know that?" Aria joked as he gave a jolly laugh from his stomach and wrestled against Aria's hold.

"Ari," he said breathless when she finally stopped. "I missed you."

"I missed you too buddy," she smiled, kissing him on the nose for real this time. Jason smiled at the pair of them; both now in his arms somewhat. Aria was really good with Jack, more than he ever was with kids and he wondered what their future was going to be like. Did Aria want kids like he did? Did she want to stay around Rosewood and raise them?

Jack started to calm down as he lay looking up at the stars on Aria's lap. She had been slightly swaying her legs back and forth while humming, making his sugary high sooth right down. Eyes began to droop and before anyone knew it, he was out.

"I'll get him," Greg said getting up from his seat. Scooping his son in his arm, he picked him up gently and announced they should start heading back.

"Mike will you help Andrea?" Ella asked getting up to leave too.

"That's my cue too," Ashley said standing up.

"Hopefully you have enough room for us?" Andrea asked Ella as they talked about staying arrangements.

"Of course," Ella cheered, waving off the worry to the pregnant woman.

"Jason, don't get up," Greg insisted lightly as Jason went to get up from behind Aria so he could show his guests the door out. "You both look very content." Aria immediately blushed, seeing the way her uncle was staring at them. "It was a pleasure to meet you Jason," Andrea called with wave as she got up from her seat. "I'm sure we'll see you around."

"Aria," Ella called, telling her she should get up and say goodbye to her family.

"Oh no, don't," Andrea said waving the gesture off. "We will see you back at the house. Have a good night okay you guys? Oh and it was nice meeting the rest of you too. Thanks for playing with my son," she smiled happily.

Everyone said their goodbyes to Aria's family and Mrs. Marin, watching as they left from sight.

"What a night," Toby sighed, exhausted from playing with Jack earlier.

"Feel like sleeping over?" Jason murmured in Aria's ear.

"Like I would object," Aria coyly smiled back. Asking Spencer to be her cover, Aria quickly pulled out her phone and texted her mom to where she was staying. For a while, the friends talked and laughed. Sometimes they would bring up the randomest topics, but they always had a story to go with it.

"We should get home, I'm beat," Hanna said staring into the fire tiredly with Caleb behind her.

"Me too," Emily agreed. With the group standing up, they all gave hugs and promised to see each other again tomorrow.

Aria and Jason stayed outside for a while, watching as the fire died down and the night sky shined brighter. "It was a good day," she declared happily as they sat together with blankets wrapped around them.

"It was," he confirmed, kissing the side of her face.

"When did you know Caleb was back?" Aria asked turning to look at Jason.

"I didn't really. I told Spencer to tell Toby and whoever else about the bonfire. He got back today right?" Jason replied.

"Yea," she smiled. Caleb had been with his mom in California for the time being, and he was supposed to stay longer but after missing Hanna for so long, he took a flight home and came to see her. "Hanna was pretty happy to see him. They seemed to miss each other."

"I'm glad," Jason said entwining his hands in hers as they cuddled further. He couldn't seem to get enough of Aria. She was everything to him and watching her today made him fall for her even more.

"So what should we do with the rest of the night?" Aria asked him with a sparkle in her eyes.

"Oh, I can think of a few things," he grinned before setting his lips on hers.

The two were always a bit frisky and had their fun when it came to making out. At times, Jason's hands would wander or Aria would tug on his hair in pleasure, but it never went as far as they let it the night of the bon fire. Something was ignited between the two and it took them a while to stop. After fooling around outside for a while, the two shoved their way inside and did a dance all around the house. They crashed into walls, rolled off the couch, and even stumbled up the stairs all while keeping their lips against each other. Jason's shirt came off somewhere in the family room and Aria's sweatshirt and top was lost near the stairs so now only modeling a fitted tank top.

When they arrived on Jason's bed, with Aria underneath him, the two finally began to cool down. Neither of them were ready for such a thing as sex yet. Aria was only 18 and he being 22, it was still too fast in their relationship. They both understood the silent agreement of not doing anything too soon, so when it became too steamy, Jason pulled away from Aria with a heavy breath and rolled himself to cuddle next to her.

"Have you ever thought about the future?" Jason asked her as she curled up on her side to face him.

"Like college and stuff? I mean, yea considering we had to turn in our applications a while ago…" She answered, propping her head up with her arm. "Its scary to think about but we're moving on from high school and Rosewood. We are finally growing up."

"So…what do you see?" he wondered, lightly running his fingers over her skin, "for the future."

"Well, that's kind of hard to say," she said watching him cautiously. "What do you see?"

"A future with you," he said honestly, gathering courage to meet her eyes. "I see my life with you." Her eyes were kind and loving, showing no wrong to his answer. Leaning in, she kissed him softly. "What else?" she wondered as they moved so she could lie on his chest to hear his heartbeat.

"Would you leave Rosewood?" he wondered, trying to picture their life together.

"I don't know," she said shifting her head a bit, "maybe. There are so many variables to the future that it's hard to think about. I don't want to set something and later be disappointed you know?"

He understood where she was coming from a little, but he also wanted to know what they were going to do and be. He wanted to start mapping out things for them and really set their future.

"Say you get into NYU," he envisioned as he held her. "What would you do?"

"I would rush over here and make you pack your things," she said glancing up at him with a teasing tone. Even though he smiled and loved the answer, he was being more serious than that, and she noticed it. Shifting around, she laid on her stomach and really looked at him. "What is this about?"

"I just want to start seeing our future that's all," he answered guardedly. Although that was true, he wanted more too. As girly as it sounded, he wanted that happily ever after with Aria. He had been pining over her for so long, since he was a teen, that he wanted their life to be perfect.

She considered her reply for a bit before adding more to her own answer. "It would be a dream come true to get into NYU," she said. "And it would be great for you to go with me. I know we talked about it – that you would join me – but I wouldn't make you have to do that. I wouldn't want you to feel obligated to go when it doesn't have to be like that."

He went to speak up, but she continued to look at his bare chest and speak. "After hearing my uncle's story today it made me realize that love is stronger than anything. It wouldn't matter if we were half way across the world from each other, I think we could do it," she said glancing up at him. "You built a business for yourself here and we both call it home. Me leaving for a while would be temporary and we would survive."

"But anyways," she said clearing the clouds from her head. "I picture myself with you – whether your with me at college or not. We could be living in Rosewood or somewhere new. Honestly, I can't say I've put it together perfectly, but I will try."

Altering their positions on the bed again, Jason moved so he was gently laying on top of Aria, staring directly into her gorgeous eyes. "You are the only person I ever want to be with. I'm not letting you go so easily."

Aria let out a laugh and leaned up to kiss him. "I'd go anywhere for you Ar." Bringing a hand up to his face, Aria pushed the blonde hair away from his eyes and took careful note of all his features. "Why the sudden questions?"

He gave a sigh, and then bowed his head further to kiss her neck as a distraction from the matter. "Jason," she breathed out before moaning. Trying to push at his shoulders to get him to stop, she felt her toes curl in pleasure. The neck was a big weakness for Aria; she was like silly putty in his hands when he kissed her there.

"I'm being serious here," she said trying not to moan again as he continued. Aria swore that he had the best lips. The feeling of him against her skin, sucking or kissing; It felt so good she had a hard time forming words. Tugging on his hair, she arched her back a bit and really tried to make him stop. "You're not getting out of this."

His actions came to a slow stop as Aria no longer made a peep. Looking up, he saw she had been biting her lip, keeping quiet so she could finally get his attention. "What's with the questions?" she repeated somewhat breathlessly.

"Haven't you ever thought about the future?" he groaned, moving back to his side of the bed.

"Oh I have," she said pulling up the covers around her. "I told you I have, but there is something more to what you're telling me." He let out a long huff while glancing up at the ceiling. Ugh, when did he become such a girl?

"Please tell me," she murmured with her hands folded under her head on his chest watching him.

"Something about today just made me wonder where we were going. I've known you for so long Ar, and finally having a relationship with you has been…amazing."

"You sound like you want us to break up," she stated completely confused. Moving to sit up so they could talk better, he quickly rushed to push that idea away. "No, I'm not trying to say that at all!"

"Then what are you getting at here Jason?" she wondered sitting up against his headboard.

"I love you," he stated while gazing at her. "And the future can be a scary thing."

Tilting her head, Aria was still bewildered. Puzzles were not always her strong suit, especially with 'A'. "I just want to make sure you want to spend your life…your future…with me – to have kids, to get married, to buy a house and do all those crazy things."

"Is that what this is about?" she wondered now catching on. "Kids and stuff?"

Jason was stuck at a stand still. Did he really want to throw away his man card and say yes? That the her little cousin Jack brought all this on when he ran to Aria when he saw her and fell asleep on her legs. Did he want to confess that he wanted that? That he wanted a future for himself and Aria where things weren't so messed up – where you could have a future that didn't involve a dead sister and secrets. Did he want to express all of it?

"Jack brought this all on didn't he?" she asked him, clearly reading his face. Jason wanted to shake his head and deny it all, but then he would be lying. He couldn't think of another excuse or reason to why he was suddenly bringing up their future and this talk.

"I know kids are still a long ways away to be having this talk…" he trailed off with a deep breath, still trying to rack his brain for where he was going on in this speech.

"That's why you're asking me about staying in Rosewood after college and stuff? You're worried about our future?" Aria asked cutting him off while connecting all of the dots together. She was a bit off based about being worried of their future. Jason wasn't worried, not one bit. He knew Aria loved him and he loved Aria; it was simple and they didn't question it. But he did wonder. Wonder was the word. Were they ever going to have kids? When? How many? Would she want girls or boys?

God he was such a loser…

"Jase," Aria said glancing at him with a small curious smile.

"Never mind," he groaned, lying back against the mattress.

"No," she said encouragingly. Straddling him now, she took his hands off his face and sparkled with happiness. "Jack brings out a lot of questions for us – I get that," she said kindly. "So ask me anything you want."

He sighed, not really sure if he wanted to get into the whole twenty questions thing. "Your uncle was talking to me today," he finally settled for which threw Aria off her game. "We were talking about sports, childhood, how you and I met," he said glancing up at her for a quick second to see her reaction. "Hell, we even swapped stories about each other."

"And?" she wondered softly.

"And it was all very…revealing," he said. "I struggled for years and years trying to deal with my crush on you Aria," he admitted, "and for the longest time I thought that you didn't feel the same, that you couldn't because I was Ali's brother."

Aria glanced away knowing that was not the case. She liked him even more because he was Ali's brother. It meant she got to see him frequently and try to talk to him. "I want our future to be so different from what we've been living. I hate this small town gossip and how fast news spreads. I want us to live without secrets and miscommunication. There should be space for us to breathe and not be judged."

His words sparked things in Aria's memory. As he talked about small town gossip, she knew he was talking about his sister's death. Thinking about secrets; that was directed to her and what she was hiding from him – what she was still hiding (about 'A'). Bringing up miscommunication was all about their short break up. (It was still unclear how that all went down, but it still bothered both of them). And finally the judging. That was mostly about Spencer and the town. When they became a couple, many people, including Spencer had a hard time dealing with it. Many thought it was odd that Ali's brother was dating one of her best friends and vice versa. The two of them had to go through some hardships, and tough words, but they got through it over time and the town adjusted to the sight.

"I'm still getting to know you Ar," he stated. "I'm still learning about your childhood and funny habits; I'm still getting to know your family and ways of thinking."

"But," she wondered.

"But nothing. I want to know more – I crave it. Your uncle told me so many stories of you and made me promise to treat you well. He looks at you more than a niece and as your second father, but your actual one. I felt like I was really dealing with a father when I talked to him. It couldn't even measure to what your own dad said to me that night of our first date."

"I know," Aria sighed. "He watches over us a lot," she said thinking of her uncle. "Even though he isn't around often, he has seen and experienced some hard things in his life. Protectiveness is something he's big on – it's the biggest quality of him."

"Ar," Jason breathed, "I'm happy he is. But he also made me realize that because I love you, I should know everything about you."

"Everything huh?" she asked with a small smile.

"You've been hiding something from me," Jason claimed quietly. "I'm not sure what it is, and we haven't brought it up in a while…"

"Jason," she warned. 'A' was not a good thing to bring up before bed. "Look," she sighed, shutting him down from asking the questions she knew he was dying to ask. "We don't know everything about each other, but we will – we can. And as for my uncle, he lives like it's his last moment. It's who he is. What he's trying to say to you Jason is to take everything in and not to let life pass us." Leaning forward, she hovered over his face and whispered softly "We're together now, that's all that matters."

A new day shined on them from the curtains of his bedroom. Groaning, both Aria and Jason cuddled closer with each other to block out the sun. Just as they were both about to fall back asleep, there was an incessant knocking at the door. Jason, clearly pissed off and tired, walked downstairs and opened the door.

"Uh…hi," Spencer said awkwardly with her arm still up in the air. "Is Aria still here? I need to talk to her for a quick second."

"What's up Spence?" Aria squinted against the incoming sun as she ended up following Jason down.

"Uhh…" Spencer blanked as Jason still stood there.

"Right, I'll go make some coffee," he announced, leaving the doorway as he got the hint.

"Get out here," Spencer commanded pulling Aria by the elbow and gritting her teeth together when Jason went out of sight. Situating her out onto the front porch, Spencer reached over and shut the front door. "Do you not pick up your cell phone anymore?!"

"I didn't hear it?" Aria asked hoping it was a viable excuse. Throwing it out, Spencer rolled her eyes and went frigid again. "We have a huge problem."

"What happened?" Aria asked waking up some more.

"Caleb worked on that video encrypted in your phone during break."

"Wait, I thought he was going to stop," Aria asked like with an expression similar to a deer in headlights.

"You and me both. Hanna is super pissed and Emily is freaking out. But anyways, he just brought it over, you need to see it," Spencer rambled back urgently.

"Have you watched it yet?" Aria asked tying up her hair into a high pony.

"No, we were waiting for you to pick up your phone, but after about 15 calls later, I just marched over here instead," Spencer grumbled.

"Yea yea," Aria replied. "Alright, let me go put some better clothes on and I'll be over there in a minute."

"Yea," Spencer agreed, "speaking of which," she said before Aria could go into the house, "a half naked Jason? Why no shirt Aria?"

Rolling her eyes, Aria hid her blush by opening the front door and repeated she would be over in a few minutes. Shutting the door behind her, Aria trotted upstairs and tried to find her bag.

"Hey Jase? Do you know where–?"

"Ah," she said spotting it on the floor near the back door. Slipping on a V-neck tee over her tank top, she quickly shut the curtains and then changed out of her old shorts to new ones.

"Where are you off to?" he asked peering at her from the kitchen.

"Spencer's," Aria sighed, quickly trying to touch up her make up. Moving the curtains back to their place, she trotted back upstairs. "She needs me for something."

"Everything okay?" he called to her. Standing in front of the bathroom sink, Aria put toothpaste on her toothbrush and tried not to think about it. "Fine," she called back to him before sticking the thing in her mouth. Quickly rinsing when she was done, she stuffed the items back in her purse and came back downstairs.

"Skipping breakfast too?" he asked her when she put her shoes on.

"I'll grab something at Spencer's."

Kissing him quickly on the cheek as she passed, she ran from his house and to Spencer's.

"Okay, what's going on?" she asked her friends as she came in the back way and saw them all sitting around the kitchen and living room.

"Watch," Spencer said already having viewed it since she was so impatient. It was the second half of the N.A.T video that connected with the first one 'A' sent them. Ian was now telling Garrett he was "going down" and pulls out the camera from where it was hidden. Garrett and Ian began fighting just as Alison enters the room and then the tape suddenly stops there.

Aria was speechless after it ended. "Play it again," she instructed. Watching it another time, Aria was still at a loss for words.

"Caleb, I'm not sure if I want you to find the rest," Emily admitted fearfully.

"I second that," Hanna stated with force.

"How else are we supposed to figure out who this 'A' person is?" Caleb asked them.

"Caleb-" Aria started, but was cut off when there was a knocking sound and everyone turned to see Jason through the glass window door staring at them.

"Oh crap," Spencer stated. Holding her breath, Aria slipped off the stool and opened the door.

"Hey," she said cautiously.

"You forgot this – I didn't know if you needed it," he said holding up her bag. Mentally slapping herself, she forgot she had dropped it on the floor when she put on her shoes.

"Uh…thanks," she smiled, which looked more like a grimace as she took it from him.

"Everything okay here?" Jason asked, looking from Aria to everyone else.

"Yea," Spencer said standing in front of the laptop. "Just going over some school things," she stumbled, quickly moving a hand behind her to shut the laptop's screen.

"Right," Jason replied unbelieving. "I'll see you later then," he told Aria while still analyzing her.

"Sure," she forcefully smiled. Watching as he left, she quickly shut the door and leaned against it.

"Do you think he saw anything?" Emily wondered.

"He definitely knew something was up," Spencer said turning back around.

"Let's wrap this up quick guys," Aria instructed before going back to the computer and playing the tape again.

"Wait, hold up," Caleb said, taking control over his computer as he and the girls watched the clip over and over. "Right there," he said trying to zoom in on something.

"What is that?" Aria wondered.

"I don't know," he said trying to clear up the image.

"Okay stop," Hanna said ready to burst. "Caleb, you need to quit this."

"Hanna!" he protested when she shut his computer.

"No, no more," she instructed.

"Han," Spencer said carefully.

"No," Hanna snapped at her friend. "You know what can happen if he continues this. Caleb's done you guys," she told her friends. The girls knew what she was talking about and couldn't seem to blame her. Hanna had a right to be worried about her boyfriend's safety.

"Alright," Caleb sighed as he saw Hanna overly worried for him. "I'll stop."

"Us too," Aria spoke up for them. "No more."

"Thank you," Hanna sighed. Standing around quietly, the girls still continued to reel over or what the picture could have been. It was blurry and pixilated, but it looked like an ID of someone. If only they could figure it out…

"Can Caleb at least send this to me?" Spencer huffed with curiosity. She couldn't seem to let it go.

"Spencer!" Hanna protested.

"What?" she responded defensively. "We are so close to figuring out who 'A' is. Maybe it's that person in that image."

"Its too dangerous," Hanna decided. "I'm sorry, but I don't want Caleb doing this anymore." Caleb looked a little sullen while Spencer seemed frustrated. Giving an aggravated outburst, the teenage Hastings stomped upstairs and slammed her bedroom door shut. Hanna rolled her eyes, telling Caleb they should go while Emily and Aria glanced at each other; unsure of what side they should take.

Parting ways was awkward to say the least. After watching Hanna and Caleb go, Emily and Aria took some time to talk about what they were going to do.

"I really don't want to pick a side," Emily stated as they walked down the driveway of Spencer's house.

"Me either," Aria agreed. "Its like picking one friend over another."

"What are we going to do?" Emily asked her worriedly. "Its not like we can push Caleb to help us, but Aria, that picture seems vital to solving this whole 'A' thing."

Aria sighed while running a hand through her hair on what to do. "I'm not ever sure what I saw today Em," Aria admitted. "As good as it sounds to think that we are getting closer to finding out who 'A' is I still feel like we are on some wild goose chase. Don't you feel like your running around with your head cut off?"

"'A' is right behind us ready to chop our heads off," Emily corrected, "so I feel more like I'm like running for my life," she stated. Groaning, the girls continued to walk and talk.

"Maybe Hanna will lighten up," Emily declared.

"Em, she got run over by a car with 'A' driving it. I don't really see her getting passed that and letting Caleb get back on 'A's radar."

"So what do we do then?"

"I don't have a clue," Aria sighed. "I guess just keep our heads down and see if Hanna will come around. We can't really expect her too but I can't think of anything else to do."

"He's the only one we know that can figure out what the image is Aria," Emily sighed. "Maybe Spencer is right."

"Even if she is," Aria said, "we don't have a right to keep asking Caleb for help. I know if Jason was in the same place that Caleb is in, I would be right where Hanna was."

"I guess," Emily shrugged. "Wouldn't you if it was Samara on 'A's hurt list?" Aria asked defensively to her friend. Emily went quiet and understood then. The expression of putting yourself in someone else's shoes really came in handy there.

"Do you think 'A' will always be after us?" Emily wondered as they came to a stop in front of Aria's house.

Aria furrowed her eyebrows and tried to really think about it. Would her future always consist of 'A'? "There has to be an endgame right?" she asked glancing up to Emily for confirmation. "This can't go on forever."

"But how is the game supposed to end?"

"Good question," Aria said trying not to think about it. Hopefully, for all their sake it wouldn't end in another death…

A/N: Dun dun dunnn! Glad you all liked Jack, Greg, and Andrea. There will be more coming up soon. Hopefully I did a better job of proofreading this one. (If not, so sorry haha). Anyone have an ideas of what's going to happen next? I'd love to hear what you think so like always, please review!