a/n: This chapter will be in two parts, that's why it's kind of short, because I wanted to update before I leave for a week. Sorry it took so long, I had a lot going on this week.

But I posted a new WIP called whispers in the dark, it features Spoby as a modern day beauty and the beast. I hope to update that too before I leave (Hence my haste to get this posted ) So check it out!

Please review, it means the world to me. Also you're welcome to leave prompts/ chat with me/ and follow me on my tumblr adarkromance. Also if you see anything from atthecolorshow that is my 'main' tumblr! So if you get followed by me, that's who it will be from, but I mostly use the other blog now, so that's the one to follow!

Hope you enjoy, remember this chapter will have a part 2, and then the real action should start in chapter 10/11/12, I'm not quite sure yet, but it's coming up!

If your not sure what this is I've left some pretty heavy clues to where this story is going, feel free to leave your speculations in a review, I might give some hints! ;)

always in the twilight

chapter two

the legacy of a loss, part one

by colorshow

Toby's bedroom was somewhere he spent minimal time, if he was there he was sleeping or doing homework, or having sex with Spencer, it was always one of those three things.

Currently Green Day was blasting from the speakers in his room as he tried to tackle his Calculus homework. Taking a drink of the can of Coca Cola he had grabbed from the fridge he knew that it would taste a lot better with a little rum added to it.

Although he knew from experience homework and alcohol were not a good combination. And he needed to get his homework done, or at least some of it. Since he started dating Spencer she had began to make he care about how he did in school, she would always remind him that just because he had a reputation or was expected to act a certain way didn't mean he couldn't prove to himself he was worth something.

His life had always been complicated, sometimes he felt he was just staring as he watched it all blur by. Until he had met Spencer he never felt quite alive. Maybe that's why after his mom committed suicide and his dad pretty much no longer gave a damn about him he resorted to drugs and alcohol.

He wanted a better life in his future though, and a future with Spencer. That's why these next few years had to be so important, he couldn't stand to lose her, or a future for himself.

He couldn't afford to screw things up.

Maybe that's why the messages from 'A' had him worried, even though the majority of the messages from 'A' had been sent to Spencer he knew they were meant for his eyes too.

Toby had received a message just an hour after dropping off Spencer, Things may seem creepy now, but wait until we start playing the game, don't think you'll get out of this. See you next Monday, don't forget. -A.

In a way it sort of made Toby feel better, knowing that whatever the hell was going on he could be involved in it and help protect Spencer. He would do anything to protect her, he knew that.

Groaning he got off the bed, he knew that trying to focus wasn't going to work.

He knew where he needed to be.

The house smelled of weed, with the music blaring, and the alcohol flowing freely. Taking a drag from the joint in his hand Toby leaned back against the couch, letting his high overcome him, he watched the door, eagerly wishing for someone he knew most likely would not show up.

Spencer, it was always Spencer, they had been seeing each other for two months now. Long enough for him to know that she was a genius, who always did her homework and received decent grades, and that the first time she drank alcohol she eagerly gulped down the whole bottle of the wine cooler, because she liked how it tasted and the feeling that came afterward, because it made her forget about her problems. He knew that her family looked down on her, and often paid her no mind, instead focusing their attention on her sister, Melissa.

He knew that she smelled like coffee, or vodka on her worst nights. And that she was a virgin but after she admitted it to him she whispered in his ear, I hope one day it's you, which gave him a boner right there and then. He knew that she loved to kiss him, and the first time she slipped her tongue into his mouth she tasted like vanilla. That she loved her favorite leather jacket although she loved to steal Toby's even more. She liked wearing dresses, and leggings, and black lace. She often wore black and tried to look tough, and she insisted everything matched her combat boots.

He knew they were keeping their relationship secret, and although she insisted that it was because she like the thrill of it, seeing how intimate they could get without other's knowing, he knew it was for one reason.

Her best friend, Alison DiLaurentis.

Ali was the head bitch of Rosewood, holding power over everyone, except maybe Spencer, who everyone knew Ali considered her equal. Toby respected that Spencer wanted things the way they were, but still, it never made sense to him that she should care about something affecting Ali so much.

He loved Spencer though, it wasn't exactly a startling realization for him. He knew it was true, even if he wouldn't tell her yet, and he cared about her more than Ali ever would, he knew that too.

He sat alone with his thoughts, watching the others do shots and play beer pong around him, thinking that he would rather be home than here right now, if home wasn't hell.

Since his mother had committed suicide home felt empty, and unless he was with Spencer he felt empty too. His dad was distant and seemed aloof towards his son.

Left alone with his thoughts he thinks about just how empty he feels, he only felt alive when he was with Spencer, and occasionally when he was breaking the law, which wasn't quite the same 'good feeling'. But still, he can't imagine letting her go, because she is quickly becoming so important to him, that it nearly scares him to death. He loved his mom too, and when she left it just about broke him, he can't imagine how it'd feel to lose Spencer too.

"I need to talk to you Cavanaugh." The sharp voice that he couldn't stand broke him out of his thoughts.

Turning his head he gave the girl a lazy smirk "Alison, to what do I owe this pleasure." he drawled, taking another drag from the joint in his hands, letting the lightness of it overtake him.

Giving him a simpering smile she yanked on his arm, pulling him out the door before Toby could even recognize what was going on.

Pushing him up against the wall, with surprising strength, she sneered in his ear "I want you to stop fucking with Spencer."

Toby shook his head "And how do you know I'm fucking her? Or seeing Spencer at all?" he asked condescendingly, causing Ali to hiss at him "It's obvious, the lovelorn glances she sends to you, the way she undresses you with eyes, and when she gets all smiley when she looks down at a text. I didn't really catch onto it until I found your jacket in her room. Spencer doesn't smell like whiskey, we all know she prefers vodka."

Giving her a wary glance he carefully removes her hand from his chest "I'm not fucking with her, or fucking her for that matter! I care about Spencer, okay? And if you were a true friend to her you'd care about her happiness and wouldn't be so controlling."

Ali glared at him "Well I care enough about her happiness to know when something is going to be nothing but toxic for her, and don't-"

"Why don't you ever let anyone make their own choices Ali, I know why, because you need control, you need to be manipulative and deceitful, you have nothing without being a bitch. You just know one will ever love you and you're jealous because Spencer-"

A smack across his face interrupted Toby from his rant, he looked down at the now fuming Ali, whose face was covered in tear tracks.

Taking a step back her words came out choked "You'll never deserve her, and I won't make things easy. But I expect this little interrogation to be kept secret." Before Toby could even respond she had walked off, rubbing the sleeve of her sweater over her eyes.

He'd never deserve Spencer, he knew that.

The house was quiet as he walked past, almost completely deserted. Toby had received a few texts from Jason over the past year, but otherwise the DiLaurentis' had steered clear of Rosewood, except for Alison's funeral of course.

He honestly didn't know quite how he felt about Alison, she had been a bitch when she was alive, some of the things she had done to Spencer after the fall out of their friendship made him want to do nothing more than give her a taste of her own medicine.

But Toby knew Spencer still did care about Alison,and regretted not making things right with her before her death, the two had been like sisters since second grade. No matter how much of a manipulative bitch Ali could be. Although Spencer didn't have a crystal clear reputation either, Toby wished he had never heard some of the things that people have said about Spencer.

Often people saying these things around Toby ended in him getting detention for nearly punching someone.

Because his girlfriend was not a slut, or a bitch.

He'd always protect Spencer, even if the offenders were just plain assholes.

Passing Spencer's house he could see the soft glow of the lights coming from the barn, probably turned on by a half drunk Cat who was watching reruns of How I Met Your Mother.

At least he couldn't hear yelling from. Things could tend to take a turn for the worse in the Hastings' household. Especially over dinner.

Still, he knew on his walk back home he'd probably stop by, because things were almost bound to go awry.

"So, I told my parents we were dating." Spencer said slowly as she climbed into Toby's truck. As he shifted the gear from park he raised an eyebrow at her.

Leaning over to give her a kiss he whispered "And...?"

Letting out a sigh she leaned against his chest, scooting over on the truck bench to sit next to him, "It went worse than I thought." Spencer admitted. Pausing briefly she continued "They want to have dinner with you."

Letting the words sink in Toby gave her a hopeful glance, "Maybe that's a good thing..." Spencer immediately shook her head at his words "Or not. Look Spencer, we need to make the best of this and maybe prove to your parents I'm not a complete good for nothing asshole."

Pushing at his chest she gave him a disapproving glance "Don't you dare refer to yourself as that Toby Cavanaugh. You are not a good for nothing asshole, okay?"

"At least I get points for being honest, it's better that they find out from me instead of Ali. I don't want to give her that satisfaction. Still, you have no idea how horrible a Hastings Dinner can be." Spencer urged, Toby suppressed a smile, she was so damn cute when she got worked up.

"Well, we'll just have to probe how awesome and utterly perfect for each other we are, okay?" Toby affirmed, pressing a kiss to a forehead.

He had no idea right then just how bad things would go.

Toby didn't even like to think about the first dinner he had with Spencer's parents, to say the least she hadn't been lying.

Even though he'd been seeing Spencer for over two years they still weren't too fond of Toby, at all. But maybe by now they could tell that Toby really did love Spencer.

And there wasn't too many people he loved anymore. Maybe his dad, at the times he actually was a dad to Toby. It seemed to him though that the only living person he loved with his whole heart was Spencer.

The other person who he shared that love with was buried in the ground.

As he approached the sight he let out a deep breath as he set the flowers down on the gravestone. Clearing his throat he knelt down next to the grave.

"Hey Mom, it's me."

Please let me know what you think! This chapter will have a part two because I wanted to update before I leave for a week!

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Thank you all for being such lovely readers :)