So this took a lot longer than intended and I'm really really sorry for that! I have this problem that the longer I sit and stew about my writing and keep reading it over, the more I want to rewrite almost everything. I did that on my english AP test for petes sake, I was so confident when I handed it in yet by the next day I was convinced I had failed. I'm a perfectionist that way. I hit some road blocks with this chapter but I've come to the conclusion that I need to just accept it the way it is. I mean you guys aren't looking for perfection, you're just looking for a story right?

Am I not making this chapter appealing to you? All things aside I think it did turn out good and I hope I was able to keep Toby and Spencer as in character as wanted... you'll have to tell me how I did.

Enjoy!

Their calmness in sitting there, on Tobys' couch, made it clear that both Toby and Spencer knew nothing could be done about either of their predicaments that night. They weren't heading off to confront Melissa and it wasn't as though had headed off straight away to look for some old patient papers. So Toby decided it was better they didn't stew about their problems either.

"Let's order in." he said suddenly. "Chinese?"

Spencer looked at him with surprise which quickly melted into relief.

"I'd love some."

After leaving momentarily to retrieve the food that was only a walks way from brew, Spencer and Toby found comfort in the confines of his old futon and some bad game shows. They sat, they ate and they laughed at stupid jokes. It was nice, for a little while at least, to compete at Jeopardy and be a normal couple. One that worried about who would pay for the popcorn at movies and argue over what television show to watch.

Though, a competitive game was never really a good idea with Spencer.

"It was the SA node!'" She shouted at the television jumping up from her seat. "The Sinoatrial node sends impulses to the heart causing it to contract!"

"Well Alex said it was the Aintioventricular node so -"

Spencer gave a huff and sat back down onto the sofa. Toby looked at her, grinning, he found her competitive spirit hilarious and one of the many amazing things that made Spencer, Spencer.

He was still glad she didn't see his smirk though, with her eyes focused solely on the blue game board on the screen, because when she was this riled up, it was dangerous to look at her the wrong way.

"What are you looking at?"

All the sudden, whenever there was completion involved, Spencer turned into your common schoolhouse bully.

But maybe she needed that, some way of letting out her frustration, her anger, her inability to control her own life. Maybe she needed a game on a piece of cardboard with fake money as some way of proving her strength.

Not that she really needed too. The way Toby saw it, she proved her strength every time she made the decision to get out of bed and keep going when there was still a psychopath threatening to ruin her and everyone she loves' lives.

"The Persian Gulf." Spencer shouted out before anyone had even hit their buzzer.

Toby had nearly forgotten their unofficial contest. But it didn't matter, Jeopardy was one of those games Spencer usually won anyway, scrabble on the other hand…

Spencer always thought bringing out the biggest and most scholarly words she could think of would get her the crown when they played. The girl was like a human dictionary. But throwing out chronomentrophobia didn't always win gold. Toby always seemed to find a way to use his letters more wisely, even if he was only putting down octopus.

Spencer suddenly shouted out more answers, eloping herself in hype that the contestants, who actually had a chance of winning hundreds of thousands of dollars, felt.

It wasn't until the clock struck twelve and Tobys yawning came on a minutely basis that Spencer seemed to get uncomfortable. She had abandoned leaning on his shoulder to curl her legs up to her chest, resting her head on her knees as though she wished she took up less space. Then she'd continue to chance cautious glances at him before returning her attention back to the flashing figures in front of her. After more uncomfortable minutes passed, with Toby almost completely ignorant from exhaustion, Spencer shifted her body to face him.

"Look Toby, I know you have work in the morning… if you wanna go to bed…" She spoke smalley, like she didn't want to say it. But her determined expression went against her voice, as though they were having a silent battle. Her voice said she didn't want to say it but her face said that she must.

Toby ran his fingers quickly over his eyes. "No Spence, I'm fine" the sleepiness still evident in his voice.

"I'm not stupid Tobes, you've been drifting in and out since we started Leno."

He couldn't deny it, he was sure the bags under his eyes were going to make sure of that. "It's just been a long day…"

"I know, I know..." She looked down, ashamed. He had clearly wanted to end the night as soon as he walked through the front door. But Spencer had pushed on, making him stay up through hours of mindless television. The word selfish seemed to ring out in her ears.

"Spence…?" He looked at her with concern. It took her a moment to met his gaze.

"I just - um -" she spoke softly, unsure of her words, "my parents are out of town and it's just Melissa and I…"

Even in his drowsy state, Toby could pick up on the clues. He took her hand in his. "Spence you know you're always welcome to stay here-"

"No I know - I just …" she stubbled, searching for what to say that could possibly get her point across.

"Spencer…" he looked at her knowingly, "there's something you're not telling me."

She dropped her eyes to her hands and bit her lip.

"Wow, thanks for clearing that up."

Why did he have to be so persistent? She looked up at him, annoyance plastering her face. "Toby -"

"No Spencer," he released his grasp on her hand and stood up, annoyed as well, the mix of exhaustion and secret keeping being enough to make him so. "There's something you clearly want to keep from me and I don't get why. What is it that you can't tell me? Why are keeping more secrets? "

"I'm not keeping any secrets from you!" She was standing too, frustration pumping her veins. "I just want to go home!" Her eyes narrowed, "And this conversation is turning a bit hypocritical don't you think?"

He just looked at her, slightly surprised, but didn't know how to respond without denying her claim, which he didn't think he could.

Meanwhile, Spencer took this opportunity to retrieve her purse and other belongings off his kitchen table.

"You don't have to do this!" He shouted out of his daze.

"Do what?" She spoke sourly, hastily shoving her keys and jacket into her hand.

He sighed, trying to make his voice gentle. He finally understood what was going on. Just like with Jeopardy and Scrabble and all those other monotonous games, Spencer had to find a way to prove her strength. "Spence, you're allowed to be afraid -"

"I'm not afraid!" She shouted indignantly, spinning around from her quick attempted leave threw the door. "I can handle my own sister!"

"I didn't say you couldn't -"

"You kinda did!" She spat. "You think I won't be able to take care of myself - like I'm too weak or -"

"That isn't the question here Spencer! It's why you would want to deliberately put yourself back in danger -"

"It's not dangerous, it's my home!"

"With a supposed murderer living in it!" He threw his hands up in disbelief and exhaled deeply. "Look, I'm not one to pass judgement quickly, but if there's even the slightest chance that it could be true…" His voice had since lowered from beating anger to solemn concern. He looked at her with begging eyes and she lost some of her furious adrenaline under them.

"I'll be fine" she said determinedly, like it wasn't just him she was trying to convince.

Toby's face of concern grew into that of frustration, again. "So you won't do this for me, you won't do this to yourself - you won't even admit that you're scared -"

"Because I can't be!" She attempted to yell but her voice failed her and cracked mid sentence. "I can't continue to live my life in fear, constantly looking over my shoulder, flinching every time my phone rings, feeling like I can't trust my own family…"

Toby opened his mouth to retort but his words caught in his throat. He couldn't stand seeing her like this anymore. That look in her eyes, that feeling of desperation and exhaustion. That was the reason he joined the A team. He'd known she had been lying to him about A being back and he knew she was lying to him because she thought it was the right thing to do. Because that's what A did, she wasn't just some bully who'd threaten you with the secrets she had on you. A found a way to control you and everything you did, playing with you like you were some sort of doll. A would tell you what to do, who to believe, what to think. A convinced you to lie to the people you loved, no matter how much you didn't want to, because she convince you it was what you had to do.

Toby could attest to that.

A changed you. Slowly but surly A changed everyone she came in contact with. Whether that be Lucus or Caleb or Toby himself; but no one was changed by A's wrath more than the girls. A'd turned these girls with a dirty secret and a dead best friend into scared-for-their-lives, paranoid girls with more secrets than they could handle and multiple dead bodies on their hands.

He just hated it. All he wanted to do was keep Spencer safe, and he was sure all she wanted was to be safe, she was just too stubborn from being hurt too many times before. He didn't even think she thought being safe was an option anymore.

"Spence…" He began softly, choosing his words carfully, "I know it's not fair that you have to live like this but you can't just deny a danger right in front of you because you're tired of dealing with them. Going home tonight wouldn't be brave it would just be stupid. It wont prove anything, it could just get you killed. That's what you feel so why can't you -?"

She cut him off, "Oh well thank you very much for telling me how I feel -" she spat sarcastically.

"Don't pull that -"

"No," she said mockingly, "what I feel now is all warm and fuzzy about the sister who's supposedly going to kill me in my sleep tonight -"

"Spencer -" Toby responded annoyed.

"No ya know what, I really don't feel like having this fight tonight," it was twelve am and she was yelling at the person she felt guilty for ditching only a few hours prior "I don't think either of us want to." She spoke, her adrenaline bubbling down.
She was already battling A and Melissa (if those were two separate entities), she really didn't need to add her boyfriend to the mix.
She threw her keys defeatedly on the counter. "I'll stay." She said with finality.

He rubbed the back of his neck tiredly. "Thank you." He said, not with a sense of victory but with a sense of relief.

It seemed dangerous to end like this, so unresolved. But Spencer was right, if they kept going they'd just keep arguing through the night, they were both to hot headed for their own good. So they left it at that, neither of them having enough energy to carry on.

They cleaned up the remnants of their take out without a single word, mindlessly putting cartons into garbage cans and washing silverware. Then, as a large yawn escaped Toby, he retreated into his bedroom while Spencer hovered in the kitchen a few moments longer.

She hated this, being in this state of unrest. She'd thought that ending their disagreement was the best thing to do, but stoping it before everything that needed to be said was said felt dangerous now.

After heading into the bathroom to ready herself for bed, many of her things still there from her stays the previous week, she quietly slid into the bedroom. She wasn't surprised when she found Toby fast asleep under the covers of his bed, his face slammed against his pillow. A feeling of relief washed over her. She was glad, both because the day had been both physically and emotionally draining for him and because it meant she could avoid more awkward silence.

She hesitated next to the bed. Everything felt so raw and uncomfortable between them. She, silently contemplated turning around and going to sleep on the couch in the living room or, just leaving and going home. Toby wouldn't realize until morning anyway.

She laughed at the thought, after all that fighting over it, it would only be that easy.

Toby gave a small snore and turned over onto his back. Spencer couldn't help but let out a small smirk. Whatever their fight had been about, Spencer couldn't just deliberately cause him pain. And leaving, after she said she wouldn't, in the dead of night while he was asleep and could do nothing to stop her, seemed like it would do that.

She pulled back the covers of the unoccupied side of the mattress, and hesitated for another moment before joining him, curling awkwardly to the side so all she felt was the cool sheets against her skin. She heard another snore and peeked over her shoulder, to find Toby sprawled out next to her with his mouth slightly ajar. She looked back again and returned to her isolated state. This didn't seem like it would be one of those night where they'd sleep soundlessly in each others arms.

Spencer let out an sigh in attempts to relax and shut her eyes tightly, trying to stop her thoughts. It was just a stupid fight. They'd gotten through much worse. It'll be fine.

Then suddenly a beep sounded from the other room. Spencers' eyes shot open and she carefully removed herself from bed at the familiar sound. Her heart started beating heavily, something in her gut was telling her it wasn't her parents or the girls wondering where she was at 12 in the morning. She quietly crept into the bathroom where he saw her cell phone perched next to the sink. She picked it up.

Trouble is paradise? Nothing ever stays good for long Spencer. You should know that by now. Kisses -A

She quickly looked behind her at the man still sleeping soundlessly in the other room. She wasn't even going to question how A knew about they're squabble, there was no use wondering how A knew anything anymore. Besides it shouldn't surprise her, who knows what kind of stuff A installed in Toby's apartment when he joined the A team. Spencer suddenly felt uneasy, looking rapidly around the room as though she'd suddenly notice a big security camera hanging from the ceiling.

She put her phone carefully back on the counter and retreated into the darkness of the bedroom. Her knees hit into something soft and, once again, she hesitated for a moment. But this time, she didn't think about her and Tobys awkward silences and all the things they'd left unsaid. Spencer got into bed and scooted as close to Toby as she could, not stopping until she hit body. He stirred slightly at her touch and turned over again, this time towards her, instinctively wrapping his arms around her in his sleep, grasping her in a way that was both soft and protective.

Spencer shut her eyes again. She tried to focus on matching her racing heart to his and force the text message from her mind. But pictures of what A couple have in store swirled in her head. He was here, she told herself, right beside her, holding her like he always did, nothing had changed, everything was okay.

Nothing ever stays good for long.

It took her hours before she was able to let the slow steady breathes behind her carry her into sleep.

What'd ya think? Thumbs up? Thumbs down? Would it help if I told you that in my rough draft I wrote Nothing ever stays food for long instead of good? ... it's actually pretty true if you think about it

Also, if you haven't come to realize from this chapter and the last, I love when couples sleep together. I mean sleep sleep not sex sleep, I just think it's one of the sweetest most innocent things. You can't hide things or be angry when you're sleeping. Everything is honest and innocent and when you truly love someone, no matter what kind of fight you've had, everything is forgotten in sleep. You just become two people who love each other unconditionally and protect each other instinctively.

If you don't agree I think you should go watch the season 3 finale again... and read The Hunger Games: Catching Fire.

Also Also, Fun Fact: chronomentrophobia = fear of clocks

You're welcome :)