Chapter 27:

Just Say Yes

The funny thing about snowflakes is that they just keep changing. Never quite solid, but nearly whole for a minute, before flaking away into tiny wet crystals and dripping into liquid, then evaporating back to their home in the sky.

In some ways, Hanna was like a snowflake. Her life had had enough change in it to supply an entire family of people. Hanna would fall, crumple, melt away, but then slowly get back up and make her way back home.

She thought she had seen the last of her smiles when she hit rock bottom with Caleb. No one left for her, no love, no smiles to brighten her face on a cold winter's day…

But yet, there she was, on Christmas Eve, walking down the snowy street of Rosewood, her heels clicking against the pavement, arms adorn with last-minute Christmas gifts, wearing a huge grin on her lips even as the chill of the day nipped at the tip of her nose and cheeks.

She was…happy.

Confident.

Strong.

Will had texted her early that morning, apologizing that he couldn't attend the Christmas party for about the fiftieth time, and she had smiled even more.

It was so odd, when she thought about it. Going from loving someone so much and feeling so much pain over losing them, to grinning widely over an old friend who just made the world that much brighter for her.

And maybe it wasn't that she had needed Will, or needed anyone for that matter. Maybe it was just because she needed someone to show her who she was. Help her find herself in the mirror, after her reflection had gotten so lost beneath the layers of superficial things and heavy secrets.

As she opened the door to Saks, stepping inside and being welcomed by the sweet scent of leather and tissue paper, Hanna wondered why it had been such a shock for her.

In that little infinity of time, that long stretch of minutes and hours that make up life, she felt that something would change. That while everything else crashed around her, ranging from Caleb to Spencer, she had found this little diamond in the rubble. Amid the flames.

She had found herself. In the most abstract way possible.

And somehow she had known that her life would change in some way.

And just like that, it had.

"Deck the halls with boughs of holly, fa-la-la-la-la-la-la-la-la-la!" Aria rang out in her thick, fake-Christina-Aguilara-esque singing voice as Spencer opened the front door. She held up a handful of mistletoe over them, and leaned in to plant a kiss on her maid of honor's cheek. "The party has arrived!" Behind her, Ezra chuckled and put a hand on her back.

Spencer grinned and stepped aside, "Come on in, you two lovebirds! Join the party!"

Inside, Toby was already busy mixing the hot chocolate for their guests, putting a few drops of liquor into the mugs for an extra kick. Emily and Samara were lounging across the sofa, amid bunches of lit candles and other holiday festivities. Hanna – who was sadly not bringing Will Lovat – had yet to arrive, but Melissa actually bothered to stop by. Wren was "working" (insert Spencer's eye roll here), so Melissa had only seen it fit to "visit her darling little sister" and "bring little Taylor along." Not that Spencer minded, of course – she adored her little niece. But Spencer had half-expected after nearly a month of not speaking to Melissa, she might show up with a new baby in her arms. But alas, her baby bump was not yet visible, although the embryo continued to grow and develop within her.

Maybe she just hadn't wanted to be lonely for the holidays.

But nevertheless, Melissa had only spent a good half-hour with them before deciding that she "ought to visit Mom before the day was over" and packed up her things and promptly left. Spencer wondered why she had been in such a hurry to make a dash for the door. Did she realize that she felt unwelcome? Or maybe she wanted to meet up with Franco?

Now, only two ladies relaxed in the living room, on the very same couch that had survived countless intimate encounters between Spencer and Toby. She tried not to giggle when remembering the incident that had happened just a few days previous…

"Does this sweater smell weird?"

"What?"

"My sweater. Does it smell weird?"

"Spencer, you and your odd questions…"

And somehow, it had evolved into something entirely different and all too sensual for a night before her makeup exam. She bit her lip and blushed, looking away. She had half-expected herself to write her exam essay on Toby's abs and how distracting his arms were at times…

Everything was perfect. The drinks were set, the cookies were fresh from the oven, and Hanna was on her way. Sadly, Jason had been called home to visit his parents in Seattle, and was unable to attend the get-together, but had given her a little wrapped present before leaving that morning.

Spencer vaguely wondered why Melissa had failed to show up accompanied by her knight in shining armor – the father of her yet-to-be-born child – but brushed it off and closed the door behind Aria and Ezra.

Aria had chosen to deck herself out in a pair of green skinny jeans and oversize red reindeer sweater that only she could pull off, and pair them with two spiral antennas bouncing from her headband, little red balls topping the end. Ezra, on the other hand, had settled on a casual pair of dark jeans and dark-red sweater that Spencer knew he'd probably owned since he was their teacher in high school.

Spencer herself had decided to wear a red, long sleeve, turtleneck sweater dress with a pair of black boots that Hanna would surely approve of, and let her hair fall in loose curls down her back with a thin red ribbon clip decorating one side above her ear.

Toby had told her that she looked absolutely adorable, yet in a completely adult/mature way. She had laughed and hit him over the side of the head before sauntering into the living room to finish decorations.

The tree was the biggest and most decked out one the two of them had ever had, and a large pile of gifts exploded from beneath it. In the background, Andy Williams' Christmas album, mixed with a bit of Barbra Streisand Holiday and some Frank Sinatra classics played low through the speakers.

Emily and Samara had arrived first, the two of them altogether too giddy just to be there. Spencer got the impression that neither of them got out too much. Or maybe they were just excited to be spending their first Christmas together. Who knows?

Emily, always very collected in her wardrobe, had appropriately dressed in black jeans, a cream turtleneck, and an adorable red sweater that Spencer had seen her buy at Nordstrom when Spencer had taken them shopping the first week of semester break.

Samara, on the other hand, couldn't have looked more unique in her omnipresent beanie – this time in a fierce shade of red – and cream-colored tunic shirt, tied at the waist with a red leather belt, and a layered black maxi skirt. The whole outfit came together with a pair of red-leather boots that could stop a semi-truck in its tracks. And yet...Samara was the only one who could pull it all off.

It was obvious that Melissa hadn't exactly planned for the occasion, and it had been an incredibly last-minute ordeal, for she had worn the same black leather jacket she had owned since last year, and a plain pair of dark-wash jeans and red sweater. Taylor wore the same Christmas dress that Spencer had seen her wear in a picture of last Christmas, which they had spend in Hawaii as a family. It had been Spencer's favorite picture of them – all three of them were arm-in-arm, smiling and laughing like they were having the time of their lives. In all of the other photos, Melissa and Taylor had been cozying up to the camera for their close-ups, while Wren typed away at his BlackBerry in the background.

But it didn't exactly matter, since Melissa had put her shoes back on and quietly left shortly after arriving, the same black cloud hovering over her like it had when she first arrived.

Finally, Spencer's eyes centered upon her always well-dressed boyfriend. Hanna had always complained of having to fix Caleb's wardrobe during parties and events, trying to make him look less like a "juvenile delinquent" and more like a "presentable adult male of his time."

But it was safe to say that Spencer never had to do anything for Toby to dress appropriately. She wasn't sure how he had pulled the "well-dressed" gene out of his parents, seeing as he had spent less time with them than Spencer had in detention, but whatever the reason, Toby never failed to impress with his attire. Like that day, for instance. Rather than pulling out the corny purposely-ugly-for-comical-reasons-Christmas sweater that most guys his age were so prone to do, Toby wore a nice pair of dark jeans, a long-sleeve dark green sweater, and a loose black cloth jacket. Spencer could have sworn that someone pulled him straight out of a Brooks Brothers catalog and stuck him right smack dab in the middle of the party.

Spencer rounded the side of the counter as Aria and Ezra slipped their gifts under the tree and made themselves comfortable on the couch amongst Emily and Samara.

"Ah, nothing like some holiday football to bring everyone closer together." Ezra said with a smile on his face.

"Yeah, it's really an endearing thing when you can't understand anything that's going on." Aria replied snidely, and Ezra laughed, putting an arm around her and kissing her temple.

"Hey, that's not true!" Spencer said from behind the counter. "You know that Tom Brady looks yummy in a beanie."

"And for that very reason I can't watch Patriots games anymore." Aria narrowed her eyes at Ezra, who held his hands up in surrender.

Emily giggled and Samara looked from the TV back to the group. "I don't know. Football's never really been my thing."

"What, you don't like watching a bunch of sweaty, bearded, brawny guys parade around in pants tighter than their skin and shoulder pads that belong in the 80's?" Emily teased.

"Especially not when you put it that way." Samara laughed, "And everyone wonders why I like girls…"

The rest of the group joined in with the chorus of laughter, and Spencer stepped to the side so that she could wrap her arms around Toby's middle.

"Hey, those look great." She smiled, peering around him at the second set of drinks he was preparing.

Toby looked over his shoulder at her and set down the flask he was holding, turning around to wrap his arms around her as well. He pressed a kiss to her forehead. "Thanks. Have I told you how incredible you look today yet?" He murmured into her hair.

"Approximately four and a half times since this morning."

"Four and a half?" Toby drew back, furrowing his eyebrows. "How can someone give someone a half of a compliment?"

"Well, you were half of the way through saying it when Emily and Samara rang the doorbell. So four and a half compliments today."

"Well, let's make it five and a half." Toby chuckled and tucked a loose curl behind her ear. "You look beautiful." He murmured low in her ear, and she shivered a bit as she felt his warm breath on her skin. She pressed her face into his sweater and quietly breathed him in, tightening her hold on him. Toby always emanated a special kind of smell – a mix of sawdust, the same cologne he'd worn since high school, and something so simply…Toby. That same distinctive sensation always hit her when she was kissing him, tasting something in him that could only be described with his name. Intoxicating as it was, it never failed to remind Spencer of how lucky she was, how true and honest Toby was. She knew him to the core.

And in just a short six days, she would be one step closer to becoming Mrs. True-And-Honest.

She smiled into his chest for another moment before drawing away. "Alright, enough of that." She said professionally, "We have guests to entertain. Toby laughed and planted one last kiss on her forehead, before letting her grab the tray behind him and walk around the counter into the living room. Just as she was setting the drinks on the coffee table, the doorbell sounded, and a huge smile grew on Spencer's face.

"Hanna!" She exclaimed upon opening the door. Her best friend stood out in the midst of the falling snow, looking like a holiday greeting card with her snowflake-dappled curls, slightly pink cheeks, black leather jacket, red scarf, and huge smile.

Hanna wrapped her free arm around Spencer, the other arm balancing a pile of gifts on her hip, and entered the apartment, stomping snow off of her new Marc Jacobs boots.

"Yes, yes, I'm here. Feel free to start having fun now." Hanna teased.

"Phew." Toby replied, coming out from behind the kitchen counter and towards her. "Good, we were waiting for your okay." He joked.

She playfully punched him in the shoulder before wrapping an arm around him. He hugged her back. "Thanks for coming, Han."

"Well, it wouldn't be Christmas without that annual Cavanaugh-Hastings party, now would it?" Hanna answered as she crossed through the foyer into the living room, setting her pile of gifts amongst the other beneath the tree.

"Dinner will be ready shortly, but in the meantime, feel free to munch on the cookies we've put out and toss back some eggnog." Spencer told her as Hanna took a seat next to Aria on the couch. The little black-haired pixie threw her arms around her, squeezing her tightly. "Han!"

Emily and Samara were the next to hug the blonde fashionista, smiling widely. Spencer couldn't tell if they were just vivaciously happy to see her, or if they still feared that she would shatter to pieces after the events with Caleb and the mugging.

But Hanna still sat there with that wide, genuine smile on her face, looking like she didn't have a care in the world. It was nice to see her like that; Spencer had missed her smile.

"Alright, guys, I have to admit, I brought some pretty incredible prezzies for all of you!" Hanna exclaimed. "So are we doing gifts before or after dinner?"

"Before." Aria decided.

The rest of the group broke into a fit of laughter, "Alright there, Miss Aria. The boss has spoken." Emily teased.

"Whose first?!" Aria asked eagerly.

"Me!" Samara raised her hand. "Me!"

"Alright, Samara, you first!" Spencer replied as Toby pulled her into his lap on the free armchair.

Samara clapped her hands together with glee and approached the tree, digging out six colorfully wrapped boxes. Spencer snorted at the sight of them – they were all so creatively wrapped they looked like something pulled straight out of a cover of a Betty Crocker Holiday magazine.

"For the soon-to-be-newlyweds." She smiled, handing Aria and Ezra each a gift.

"For my fashion sister." She winked, giving one to Hanna.

"For my darling lovebirds." She presented Spencer and Toby each with one.

"And for my lovely Em." She said finally, handing her girlfriend a slightly larger box with a pink ribbon on the top. "Well, open them!"

The group obeyed, and suddenly the air was a storm of colors – red and orange wrapping paper, yellow and pink tissue paper, decorative bows and cards…

"Aw, Samara!" Aria exclaimed, holding up the gift once she had unearthed it from the box. "It's adorable!"

"You like it?"

"Love it!" Hanna agreed, holding up her matching gift.

Samara had given each one of the friends a copy of her trademark beanie, each in different colors and styles depending on their gender and personality.

"Aw, look, Ezra!" Aria cooed, "Now you, too, can look like Tom Brady!"

Ezra chuckled and kissed her forehead, while Aria forcibly wrestled his new navy beanie onto his curly-haired head. She tossed her festive antenna headband onto the coffee table and put on her own red-and-black-striped beanie, smiling.

Toby reached out and plucked Spencer's hat from her hands, gently tugging it over her head, purposely covering her eyes with the hem. She giggled and fell back against him, poking his chest and tugging the hem up so that her eyes were once again visible. He gently pecked her lips and nuzzled her temple while Emily unwrapped her own gift for Samara.

"Aw, Samara!" She said, "It's beautiful!"

For Emily, Samara had selected not only a dark green beanie nearly identical to the one Em had been wearing when the two first became friends, but also a short, classy, silver necklace with an elegantly-written Emily charm hanging from the end.

"Here." Samara took the box from her and threaded out the necklace. "Turn to the side."

Emily obeyed, and Samara pushed all of her girlfriend's long black curls over one shoulder before hooking the necklace around her neck and letting it settle over her collarbone. "Perfect." She grinned.

"Thank you so much! I love it!" Emily threw her arms around her, and Samara kissed her cheek.

"I'm glad you do."

When Emily drew back, she looked around the room, a smile on her face. "Alright, I wanted to wait to tell you guys until dinner but…I don't wanna wait anymore."

She exchanged a knowing look with Toby, and Spencer furrowed her eyebrows as her boyfriend nodded in approval. What were they planning…?
"As of the next semester, I'm going to be transferred to U Penn!" She exclaimed. "So now, I get to swim for them, see you guys more often, and we can hang out on weekends!"

The rest of the group exchanged looks before breaking out into grins once more.

"Oh my God! Are you serious?!"

"That's amazing!"

"Yay! OMG now we can shop together!"

"I've missed hanging out with you!"

They all chorused at the same time.

Samara, on the other hand, looked surprised and didn't say a word. Emily turned to her, taking both of her hands. "Well, say something…"

Samara shook her head in awe. Finally, a huge smile graced her lips and she threw her arms around Emily, hugging her tight. "You mean that I get to see you as much as I want now?"

"Promise you won't get tired of me?" Emily teased.

"Not a chance."

So, after unwrapping the rest of the gifts from one another, the group of friends sat down for a wonderful dinner of Christmas ham and turkey – tofurkey for little Miss Vegan Aria – and a bunch of other goodies that had been brought to the party by their guests.

As for the presents, Spencer and Toby's gift of See's Candy and a different little trinket for each person in correspondence to their personalities was a hit. For Aria, they had given her a new set of watercolors – the poor girl had been practically begging for them all month. For Hanna, Spencer had purchased a pair of black boots that she knew the fashionista would practically salivate over. For Ezra, they had picked out the complete works of his favorite poet. For Emily, a charm bracelet to start collecting charms for; as a joke, Toby had hooked a tiny mermaid charm to one of the links, which had brought out a huge giggle fit from Emily. And lastly, for Samara, Spencer had bought her a tiny traveling sewing kit and a pair of pink hoop earrings that were all-too-Samara to pass up.

Hanna had given all of the friends wrapped boxes of letter-shaped chocolate, arranged to spell out each of their names. Of course, they were an immediate success. Aria was already gnawing on her dark chocolate "A" before the gift-giving was even over.

Emily had gifted the friends each with a Starbucks gift card and a free movie passes for a month. Hanna and Aria were already making plans to see the new Nicholas Sparks film before Spencer even unwrapped hers.

Aria and Ezra had been generous enough to buy each of the friends a classic, collector's version of each other their favorite books. So, for Toby, a hardback version of Cather in the Rye, for Hanna, Confessions of a Shopaholic, for Emily, The Complete Works of Edgar Allen Poe, and for Samara, the final Twilight novel.

When Spencer opened hers, she tilted her head to the side and gave Aria a knowing smile. When she unearthed her new, fancy edition of Shakespeare's greatest love story of all time – Romeo and Juliet – the group had begun to cheer loudly.

"Because your other copy was nearly falling apart at the hinges." Aria had reasoned. "I hope you like it!"

"I do." Spencer replied sincerely. She crossed the room and wrapped her free arm around her favorite bride. "Thank you for being the crazy romantic you are."

"My pleasure." Aria grinned.

When Spencer sat back down in the armchair with Toby, Hanna had cupped her hands around her mouth as if she were part of an audience at a concert and called out, "Read us something!"

"Yeah, read us something!" The rest of the group agreed in unison.

Spencer exchanged a look with Toby, and she smiled, shaking her head and opening to one of their favorite lines. They already knew the page number by heart.

"If friendship can be love, you can try this -

So dear I love him that with him,

All deaths I could endure.

Without him, live no life."

The friends had smiled and applauded, and Spencer smiled softly, looking around the room at all of her lovely guests.

Because…they were more than "friends," as Juliet had put so lovingly. They were a group of people who depended on each other and loved each other unconditionally.

They were a family.

And always would be.

"Alright, I think that's the last of the tissue paper." Spencer said, flopping back on the couch amid the many trash bags filled with wrapping paper, bows, and other gift-giving festivities.

"Yeah, I think that Hanna had a little bit too much fun making confetti out of Samara's colorful wrapping…" Toby sat down beside her. All of their guests has finally returned to their houses, and were probably asleep in their beds, eagerly awaiting Christmas day.

Spencer peered up at the tree beside them, still wonderfully decorated for tomorrow's holiday.

"That was a great night. Wouldn't you say?" She said, kicking off her shoes.

"Wonderful." Toby agreed. "I think everyone had a great time. Even Melissa."

"Oh, yeah, for the entire twenty minutes she was here." Spencer teased, rolling her eyes.

Toby chuckled. "I'm so glad I get to spend the holidays with you now; it actually makes me look forward to them, rather than dreading them."

"Why would you dread Christmas? It's the most magical time of year!"

"Well, maybe in the Hoity-Toity Hastings' house it is, but gathering around our yearly Charlie Brown tree while Jenna played out notes from O, Christmas Tree on her flute and watched my parents throw away all of the cookies people had made for us because they were so 'fattening' isn't that much fun."

Spencer giggled. "Wow, who knew the Cavanaughs were Grinches?"

"Everyone."

"Not me."

"Well, that's because you hardly paid attention to me until you came to tutor me junior year."

"Hey, don't make me feel guilty for that!"

"I'm not trying to. I still remember that day as one of the best of my life; I learned I could trust people again." He tightened his arm around her shoulder. "And I'm so glad you were the person to show me."

Spencer smiled and leaned in to kiss him. "Me too. I couldn't be happier. And honestly, I can't imagine my life anyway else than the way it is – here with you, spending my best years growing and learning with you by my side. And I hope I never have to live any other way."

"I was hoping you'd say that…" Toby grinned, swiping the tip of his finger over the end of her nose, causing her face to scrunch up and her to giggle.

"Always and forever. I promise."

Toby leaned in and nuzzled her hair. "Merry Christmas, Spence."

"Merry Christmas, Toby. And a happy New Year." No pun intended, she thought giddily.

When she drew back an inch to look over her shoulder at the tree, she shrugged. "Well, that's the last of the gifts."

"Uhm, well, not quite…I still haven't given you your gift yet."

"I thought we promised each other no gifts this year! So we could save our money for gifts for our friends!" Spencer protested.

"I couldn't help myself."

"Toby Cavanaugh, you never fail to amaze me. Just when I think that I have the upper hand on this romantic mumbo-jumbo, you decide to swerve in on your dreamy little Valentine's Day float and outshine me to no end. It's really quite annoying and I'm wondering when you'll finally realize that – "

While she was yammering on in her familiar, scolding tone, Toby had gotten to his feet and rounded the side of the tree, pulling out the large gold-wrapped gift adorn with a large cream bow, and sauntered back over to her.

"Shh…Spence. Just be quiet and take the gift." He chuckled, sitting back down beside her and slipping the box into her lap. His hand touched the back of her neck, gently stroking her hair.

Spencer let out a frustrated breath. "Fine. But if you think that I'm not going to buy you an expensive gift in return, you've got another thing co – " Her heart stopped beating as she lifted the top off of the box, revealing an aging, semi-beat-up Scrabble box.

"Is this...?"

"The very same Scrabble Board that we played in the room next to 214 at the little motel in Rosewood four years ago." Toby finished. "Glyceraldehyde and goofball. Ring a bell?"

"Yes, oh…oh my God." Spencer shook her head, "How did you find it?"

"You left it in the motel room, and I took it home. At first, I thought about returning it to you…but then I decided to hang onto it for safe-keeping."

Spencer kept shaking her head in awe. "It's so…perfect."

Toby leaned in and kissed her temple. "Open it." He whispered low in her ear.

Confused, she obeyed, lifting off the top of the box.

When she did, she stopped breathing.

Her heart thudded to a halt.

Her legs felt like jelly.

Her hands started shaking.

There, nestled atop the folded Scrabble board, were two letter-holders glued together. The letters before her spelled out "Will You Marry Me?" with a stunning diamond ring in place of the "O."

With shaking fingers, she reached for the ring. Toby's hands beat her to it, and when she looked over at him, he was already kneeling before her on the carpet. One hand clasped over her mouth, still shaking her head.

"Spencer Jill Hastings." He started slowly, his soft blues eyes peering deeply into hers. He wore that soft smirk that she knew too well. "Everyday with you has been a dream come true. You make everything I do meaningful. The thought of spending even a single day without you is too horrible to even think about. I can't even express how much I've enjoyed waking up next to you every morning, watching our relationship continue to grow and develop, and learn new things about each other every day. You're the love of my life, my best friend, my solid rock, my safe place to land, and I want you to be my wife and mother of my children. Will you please give me the greatest honor of marrying me?"

Spencer sighed, her eyes still wide and her lips parted. Her pulse pounded in her temples and she shook her head once again with awe.

The side of Toby's mouth quirked up into a smile. "Spence, say something." He urged.

"I…you…I…why did you go and do something like that, you idiot?" She asked, blissfully happy yet exasperated. "I had everything planned! I was going to propose to you on – "

"New Year's Eve. More specifically midnight New Year's Day." Toby replied.

"How did you…?" She furred her eyebrows. "Aria." She said her name like an expletive.

Toby chuckled and shook his head. "Nope."

"Hanna?"

"Nope."

"Melissa? Ezra? The lady who slices my ham at Raley's? Who?!"

"Let's just say a little mermaid told me…"

"Emily?! Why would she…why would she do that?"

"Because she knew that I was going to propose to you and neither one of us wanted you to beat me to it." Toby answered, "See, Spence…this is how it should be. Now please don't get all feminist on me, but this is one last romantic thing I want to do before we get to share our lives together as equals."

"But I…the watch a-a-and my poem and my plans and I…" She sputtered.

"Spencer." Toby said with a smile. He put his finger over her lips before cupping her face in his hands. "Just say yes."

She sighed, snorting with the romance and silliness of it all, but nonetheless smiled widely, squeezing his hands. "Yes."

And with that, Toby's face became something that she very rarely saw in a man – a look of triumph, ease, complete bliss, and the feeling that everything was right in the world. He took her shaking left hand and slipped the ring onto it. The square-face diamond glimmered in the low candlelight, and the band was adorned with tiny little diamonds in a line. To Spencer, it couldn't have been more perfect. It was exactly what she would have picked out for herself, and yet also something that was so obviously picked out by Toby.

"It's perfect." She whispered under her breath.

Toby shook his head in awe, "Even more perfect than I thought it would be." He marveled. "Look at the inside."

She slipped it off of her finger, turning it on its side in her fingertips, reading the words engraved inside: "…Juliet and her Romeo…"

Tears welled up in Spencer's eyes and she gave a soft yelp as he got to his feet, pulling her off the couch and into his arms, squeezing her tightly. She buried her face in his shoulder as he gently twirled her in a circle, before drawing back and letting him kiss her full on the lips, softly devouring her mouth. She sighed and breathed him in as they stood there, in the pale glow of the candlelight, on Christmas Eve night, happier than they had both been in a very, very long time.

Romeo and Juliet would have been proud.

"Just say yes, just say there's nothing holding you back

It's not a test, nor a trick of the mind

Only love..."

ta-da! yes, so this has been the ch you have all been waiting for! i hope it was everything you hoped for! sorry it took me so long - schoolwork-slash-wisdom-teeth-extraction was pretty taxing on me :/

anyway, altho this story is FAR from over, i want to thank all of my lovely followers and reviewers, and my darling spobettes :) i love you to infinity and beyond ;)

alright guys, if i get over 260 reviews on this ch, i'll update by Friday ;)