Chapter 31- The End Of An Era (Part 1)
All was quiet in the Hastings-Cavanaugh household until the unmistakeable sound of the wake-up call required to get Spencer Hastings out of bed at 6:30 on the sunny summer's day. Weeks had passed since Toby had arrived back where he belongs and the girls (and Caleb) where finally preparing themselves for the day that they were due to graduate from Rosewood High.
As the sun leaked into the bedroom of the couple they were both awoken not by the sound of a whimpering baby but a noise that proved soon enough Spencer Hastings would be free of all ties to Rosewood and they could start the countdown to their wedding day.
She swiftly rolled over and out of the embrace that she was currently sharing with her slumbering beau and switched off the alarm trying her hardest not to wake Toby up. Pulling herself out of the bed and stretching dramatically as the light licked her skin giving her a beautiful glow.
"Morning beautiful" Toby yawned as he rubbed his eyes trying his hardest to adjust to the light.
"I'm sorry if I woke you up, I tried to be quiet"
"That's not what woke me up. It was realising that you weren't where you should have been that woke me up" He stuck his bottom lip out in faux sadness while opening his arms as wide as his current position on his side would allow him. He received an adorable giggle in response from the beautiful brunette as she crawled onto the mattress on all fours so she could peck him gently on the lips making sure to say good morning properly. "Can you just stay here...with me...all day"
"Unfortunately I can't. You know what though?" Spencer jabbed him playfully his solid pectorals which as per usual sent a spark of electric through both of their body's. "After today, we're on holiday. Which means we can have days together, as a family. And they will be epic"
"Did I honestly just hear Spencer Hastings refer to something as being epic? I think my life has just been made" He beamed affectionately at her as she swatted at his shoulder in playful annoyance. Soon enough he had buried his nose into the crook of her neck as was breathing in the scent that she acquired in the morning. It was never unpleasant- it was impossible for it to be unpleasant. She smelt like a mixture of her vanilla perfume and the detergent that had been used to wash their bed sheets; but for some reason it always made her completely irresistible to the likes of Toby Cavanaugh. "Have I ever told you just how much I adore you?"
"mmm, no I don't think you have" Spencer smiled lovingly at the usual routine that took place every single morning; however it never ceased to start her day of brilliantly. Especially today; this was such an important day for all of them.
"Well I do, I love you more than the moon and the stars and everyone in the entire universe put together. Well other than Eli of course but that's different" Spencer giggled childishly at the feeling of his warm breath on her milky neck; the vibrations that sent shivers down her spine as he spoke words that gave her goose bumps as it was. "What are you laughing at missy? I just poured my heart and soul out to you and all you do is laugh. Pah."
"Aw baby, I'm so sorry. I didn't mean for it to seem like that. It was just you were really tickling me."
"Oh, you mean like this..." Within seconds Toby had lifted himself up onto all fours and flipped Spencer over so he had her pinned beneath him and was tickling her relentlessly. There were shrieks escaping from her mouth and tears of mirth involuntarily rolling down her cheeks, even as she tried to muffle up the scream so they wouldn't wake Elijah up it was proving to be useless.
"TOBIAS CAVANAUGH. STOP AT ONCE OR I WILL SCREAM FOR HELP. ARIA WILL COME SAVE ME." Spencer laughed as she used her hand to cover Toby's face and push it away from her own.
"What do you say?"
"PLEAAAAAAAAAAAASE"
"Nope, not that. I think you were laughing at me confessing my love for you. So I think it's about time you returned the favour"
"Do I have to?" Spencer repeated what Toby had done earlier and stuck her bottom lip out like a toddler would do if they were pleading their parents for more ice cream, or the take them to the park.
"Yes you do. You have to say 'I Spencer Jill Hastings, love Tobias James Cavanaugh more than anything in the world and I am the happiest woman in the world to know that I had the chance to have his beautiful blue eyed baby boy.' Now say it"
"I will once you let me go" Toby could feel her cocoa coloured eyes boring straight into his soul as she glared at him from her position.
"You swear?"
"I pinky swear" Spencer flung her little finger out into the little space that was currently between them in anticipation for Toby returning the favour. Once Toby had locked his smallest finger in a temporary embrace with hers they had formed the unspoken bond that epitomized the childishness that took over their relationship; she soon began her speech.
"I Spencer Jill Hastings love Tobias James Cavanaugh more than the moon and the stars and every single life form that may exist in the entire universe combined. I am so ridiculously happy to know that I shall spend the rest of my life with him; proving to him every single day that my love will never falter and I wish that I will be able to make him as happy as he makes me. He does not understand how much pride the son that we so lovingly created brings to me because every day I see more of his amazing, kind-hearted, wonderful father in him and I can't wait to see what magnificent young man he turns into. So Tobias Cavanaugh, I love you. And definitely cannot wait to be your wife"
It was obvious that no more words needed to be said between the pair because Spencer had managed to sum their feelings for each other up perfectly. He took her face firmly into his callous hands and kissed her fiercely trying his hardest to match everything she had just said with everything he has feeling.
With suddenly impeccable timing they were drawn apart by the wail of their awaking child in the room next door which alerted them of their need to get up and ready for the long day that was lying ahead of them.
"TOBIAS CAVANAUGH GET YOUR ASS OUT HERE RIGHT NOW BEFORE WE LEAVE WITHOUT YOU" Spencer was shouting from the living room where she had been joined by the other members of their group, hoping that she could speed her fiancée along.
"Woah Momma bear; have you had enough caffeine today, you seem a little cranky?" Aria jested from her place on the sofa where she was playing intently with the gurgling baby boy. His intense blue eyes gleaming in pure joy like the sun kissed ocean as he giggled adorably due to the faces Ezra was pulling behind him.
"Not cranky, just stressed. Today needs to go perfectly. Which is why we need to plan it exactly around his routine" The brunette was checking through the changing bag that was hung over the handle of the stroller for the fourth time that morning, muttering her check list as quietly as possible ensuring her complete efficiency.
"Say hello guys" Toby jogged into through the door to join their friends holding a video camera and pointing at each of them individually as they waved enthusiastically.
"Where the hell did you get that Toby?" Spencer demanded.
"Um..."
"Did you buy that just for today? Toby we have the one we bought when Eli was born; we could have just used that" She chided.
"No I didn't buy it"
"Did you steal it? OH MY GOD TOBY, YOU DON'T NEED TO STEAL THINGS!"
"For god sake Spencer, just listen" Toby was chuckling to himself at how easily she was willing to jump to conclusions " I'm going to sound so foolish saying this now but, my mom bought it when I was born and my Dad only just found it. He said she would have wanted me to have it, so what better time to use it than at my fiancée's graduation ceremony."
He could feel the temperature in his cheeks rising slowly but not at all subtly as the 9 pairs of eyes fixed on him. There was a silence that filled the room, a not at all awkward one but still, it made Toby feel even more self conscious. What he didn't realise was that everyone else was taking in the fact that Toby very rarely mentioned anything to do with his mother yet at that moment in time he was using a camera that she had bought with every intention of using on his graduation day. However, they all knew and they all hated the fact that Toby's day wouldn't come, and Toby's mother wouldn't get to stand there filled with pride as she watched her son collect his diploma along with the rest of his peers.
"Was it a stupid idea?" Toby questioned meekly; it had taken a lot for him to share this piece of equipment that was potentially the last thing he had of his mother with people other than Spencer.
"No, Toby it's a brilliant idea!" Spencer beamed appreciatively at him and kissed him delicately on the cheek. Her smile was reciprocated by every other person in the room, maybe it was because her smile was so infectious; or there was something in the air causing them all to be infinitely happy on that particular day.
Due to the brilliance of the weather that day, they had all decided that they would brave the walk from Spencer, Toby, Aria, Ezra and Mike's apartment block to Rosewood Day where they would be greeted by various family members and peers that they had spent most of their educational life with.
"Whose bright idea was in to walk to this thing?" Hanna whined as she stopped for the fifth time to adjust her six inch, killer heels that she had decided was a good idea to wear that particular day.
"That would be me" Jason admitted as he raised his hands in surrender knowing full well that there was soon to be a rant about how inconvenient it was and that Hanna's favourite pair of shoes were being ruined because he decided that they shouldn't use to wonderful invention that was the car.
"You know, I wouldn't have even minded if we got the bus or something. But this, this is taking it to a whole new level" She was still complaining as they made it to the foot of the steps outside the entrance to the school that they had all spent so long at one point or another slaving away at.
All of the guys had stopped to help lift the stroller effortlessly up the steps so Jason could take over the duty of transporting his nephew to around the school while everyone else either took part in the day's events or documented every second of it (Toby hadn't put down the camera since he walked into the living room griping it tightly).
All 10 of them walked in a huddle through the door to the school gym where teacher, students, parents, siblings alike all integrated with each other making the most of what would be their final day at the school.
"Emily, Aria, Hanna and Spencer" A familiar voice laughed affectionately from behind them. They all spun around still unsure as to who they expected to see stood there only to be greeted with the beaming face of Dr. Anne Sullivan.
"Dr Sullivan oh my god!" Emily shrieked as she went to embrace her former psychiatrist after not seeing her in almost a year. "What are you doing here?"
"Well, I figured it was you girl's graduation so I should come and see how fabulous you all looked just before you left to face the big wide world on your own"
"I think I'm going to be sick" Hanna whispered from Caleb's side as she thought of a life that didn't revolve around popularity and all the material things. The thought of the future was proving to be quite a tough one for Hanna but she was soon dragged back to reality all too willingly as her phone, along with 8 of the other's phones chimed in completely unison.
"Wow, so the liars finally made it to graduation. I'd hate to see it ruined. Wouldn't today be such a fine day for the truth to be revealed? I wonder what Jenna would think of that? Or should I say Courtney? Let's just say today will end with a BANG. Beware bitches. –A"
Melissa was the only one who hadn't received the text at that specific moment and was completely baffled by the look of horror that had contorted both her sibling's faces and that of their friends.
"Shit." Mike whispered, as though he was speaking the one word that had filled everyone else's mind.
"Was that who I think it was?" Dr Sullivan questioned from her position in front of the now completely stunned girls.
"Was that who, what? Would someone like to tell me what the hell is going on here?" Melissa looked desperate for answers as she saw the fear that filled her fragile sister's eyes.
"I can't tell you right now Melissa, but I promise we will at some point" Spencer grasped at her sister's hand and stared deep into her eyes, hoping that she would drop the subject.
"Fine, yeah okay. It's obvious that you guys need to talk about something, so I'm going to take Eli and go find mom and dad, okay?"
"Yes, thank you so much Melissa; I owe you for this. We won't be long I promise." With that Melissa took control of the stroller and pushed her way through the bustling crowd; leaving the others all stood in a state of complete shock
"Spencer? Earth the Spencer?" Hanna clicked impatiently inches away from her face trying her hardest to pull Spencer back into the harsh reality. "Spence, did you hear me?"
"Pardon? What did you say?"
"What do you think –A's plan is now? Please don't tell me it's going to be the Meredith thing all over again, we got into enough she for that as it was." Hanna rambled.
"What time is it?"
"12:30, why?" Aria questioned from behind Spencer's back, still shaking in shock at what –A could be planning.
"Right, we have an hour and half until the actual graduation is going to start. We have that much time to figure out who the hell –A is and what the plan is. To do that we need to split up and scale the entire area, leaving no place untouched. I'm not willing to let her/him whatever the hell it is, ruin today for us. We worked hard to get here okay?" Tears were pouring silently down her flawless cheeks.
"Okay, are we going in pairs then?" Jason stepped forward to take his youngest sister into his arms and cradle her as she dragged every ounce of self belief, strength and power she could find within the shell that was her body. Time seemed to have stopped in its entirety and they were frozen in a moment of fear, waiting for the time when they would have to break away from each other and take on the world that had become so cruel to each and every one of them. Spencer pulled herself out of her brother's embrace and wiped her face of the tears that settled there.
"Yes, if we go in pairs then we can cover more of the surface area and we can do it quicker. If we went singly then they could find us and no one would know where we went. So choose who you're going with and pick somewhere to look."
Toby's face was etched with a bittersweet smile as he watched Spencer turn into what he had so greatly missed; the strong, fearless woman he had grown to adore. In his mind he knew that he hadn't really grown to adore her. Since that day when she turned up on his porch and apologised for her own misjudgement, he had realised that there was something wonderful about this girl; that beguiled and intrigued him in ways that he had never experienced before.
As he watched her bear herself up for what could potentially be the fall, there was a sudden twang of fear that surged through his body like a hurricane; destroying every bit of hope that he had within him. There were thoughts of Elijah's life without his parents there to guide him and teach. He thought of Spencer having to bring their son up on her own because –A had taken it upon themselves to make his child fatherless for their own sick pleasure.
"Spence, can I talk to you for a second?" He pulled her gently towards the light of the outside world they had stepped in merely 15 minutes ago.
"What's wrong? You look liked you've seen a ghost" Her hand stroked his jaw line affectionately, while she stared lovingly into his beautiful aquamarine eyes.
"What happens if something happens to either one of us, god forbid something happens to the both of us. We have a child to think of now, we haven't actually thought about who Elijah would go to if something happened to us two. We thought we had time but Spencer we might not have time. Our son could end up growing up without his parents because of our mistakes. We never thought this through Spence" Short, sharp breathes were escaping his mouth as he tried to fight with the terrified feeling that was filling his body.
" Toby, stop. Calm down please? I know you're scared about this, and if I said that I wasn't scared then I'd be lying but we have to take this risk because we could end up making everything better for him. I know I never told you this but I remember talking to Aria when I was pregnant with Elijah and I told her about everything that scared me about having to live with –A. I told her that if anything happened to either of us two then I wouldn't know who would look after Eli and I couldn't deal with someone that we wouldn't have known bringing him up. So she said that if it came to it, not that it will but her and Ezra will take him in and give him the best life they possibly can."
"Did she seriously say that?" It had never occurred to him that maybe Spencer had talked to her friends about it because being an expectant mother there were things that terrified her every day about her child's life.
"All of the girls, Melissa and Jason would do anything to keep that child safe. They love him nearly as much as we do and if they thought that him staying with any of them would be what we wanted then they would do whatever it took to make sure he stayed there" She pulled his head gently into the crook of her neck, that was covered in her brunette tresses so they could pull themselves together before they took on the fight that they would be sure to face.
"I love you Spencer, I don't know what the hell is going to happen and I know that I'm talking like we're all going to die but I'm just scared that something might happen to you and I'll have to live knowing that I couldn't do anything to save you. Spencer, I can't live without you" His speech was broken as he sniffled and his entire body racked with sobs. "Please, promise me everything will be alright?" His blue eyes pierced through her deep mocha ones and she could feel every sense of security that she had built up crumble in that instant.
"Toby, I know promise you that I will try my hardest to make sure that nothing happens to me, you and most of all to Elijah. I love you so much Toby. I can't live without you."
They stood there for nearly 5 minutes but to both of them it definitely wasn't long enough to stand in each other's embrace.
"Please don't ever leave me Toby."
"You will never get rid of me that easily Spence, we're going to fight whatever happens today and get married and have the absolute best lives we can ever have".
I'm sorry that it took me so long to upload again but I've been crazy busy :-( I think school hates me at the moment but I promise that whenever I get time I will definitely upload. As for this chapter it is going to be a two-part series so I'll try my hardest not to keep you in suspense for too long. But please bare with me because I have like 10 exams to do because I'm in my final year at high school. I hate GCSEs. But yes thank you like loads for still reading and I love you all so much for staying with me along the way for this! If you feel like you want me to put anything in to the sequel of this story then I promise that I will incorperate it somewhere. But again, thank you all so much! -Chloe :-)xxx