A/N

Here's another chapter.

The more I think about finishing this story, the crazier it sounds. It's been 2 years since I started it and it really does seem ridiculous.

But you know when something just nags at you? It's like I'll always wonder what if by leaving this unresolved, and I left it in a really shitty place.

I know it's probably a bit late, but I am sorry to those of you who were reading it back then, for just deserting it.

I'm back to finish it because I need to do it, for myself if nothing else.

If anyone is reading, that's amazing and thank you for doing so.

I hope I don't disappoint again.

Now, onto the chapter.

Read, Enjoy, Review.

Spencer's POV

I woke up the next morning feeling totally exhausted. I can honestly say that last night was the worst night's sleep I'd ever had. I lay there with my eyes closed, my eyelids felt heavy and dry, a lack of sleep and an abundance of tears meant I wouldn't be having the most productive of days. But the one thing I knew I had to do today was the one thing I wanted to put off doing indefinitely. Deep down I knew I had to do it. I knew I had to get up, exhaustion or not, get dressed, get in my car and go speak to Aria.

-XXXX-

Aria's POV

I got little to no sleep last night. I kept having nightmares of Spencer leaving, going somewhere without me and not wanting me to be part of her life anymore. I guess it was some kind of karmic retribution, seen as how that's probably the way Spencer feels now, that I'm leaving without giving her or us a second thought. I need to see her, explain that it was just the immediate reaction to somewhere actually wanting me. And that I was being accepted into something, that I was good enough. The excitement and joy I felt was only about that, and it was definitely not about leaving her behind.

If anything she's the reason I know for certain I'm not going. I couldn't leave her. I couldn't move to London for 4 years and be without her. It just isn't an option.

I get out of bed and get ready, I need to speak to her immediately and make things right between us.

I check my phone. No new messages. I know Spencer probably doesn't want to see me, but I hope she'll at least give me the opportunity to explain. I'm in the middle of doing my hair when I hear the doorbell ring.

"Can someone get the door?" I yell. No response.

"Mom?" I yell again. No response. I guess I'll just have to do it myself.

I run downstairs, hair from the left side of my head in my hand and open the door. I drop the hair I'm holding when I see Spencer standing in front of me.

-XXXX-

Spencer's POV

Last night I sat out outside my house in my car, clutching the steering wheel for about 30 minutes before I could muster the energy to drag myself inside. And this morning I'm sitting in my car, outside Aria's house, clutching the steering wheel once more, debating whether or not I have the courage to get out and ring the doorbell. I don't know if I have the strength to see her beautiful face, whether I'll break down or not, whether I'll be welcoming and supportive, or cold and distant. The only way I'll find out is if I get out of this car. But once I do, our relationship will change forever, one way or the other. And I don't know if I'm ready to leave the security of 'what ifs' just yet.

Just then, I remember I'm Spencer Hastings, and indecision just isn't in my nature. So I pick myself up, I tell myself to be brave, and I get out of the vehicle. I walk the short distance to the front door of the Montgomery house, take a deep breath, and push the button that makes the bell chime.

I wait for what feels like an eternity before the door swings open and I see Aria standing in front of me, she drops the bundle of curls on her head she had been holding and stares at me, chest heaving, eyes glassy. And without thinking I step forward, brush my thumb across her cheek, the tension in her body is tangible, I slowly move my hand to the back of her neck, pulling her into me and kissing her as hard as I could manage. I feel the tension running through her dissipate as she melts in the heat of my kiss. I pull back and look at her.

"We should talk." I whisper.

She nods without saying a word, taking my hand and moving toward the living room. We take a seat and she looks at me, takes a deep breath and begins to speak.

"Firstly, I need to apologise to you…" I try to protest but she cuts me off.

"Please… I need to get this off my chest before you say anything." I nod to let her know I understand.

"I need to apologise for my reaction last night, it was purely out of excitement for being wanted by someone, for feeling like I have a purpose. After everything with Yale, I felt so lost and like I had no place in this world, and then to get that letter, to say they wanted ME. I just, I got overwhelmed. But I want you to know that it wasn't excitement to be leaving. I could never be happy about leaving you, or my family, I never ever would. This is a once in a lifetime opportunity, and it feels amazing to be accepted by someone. But, you're the love of my life, and the thought of having to leave you, and be that far away from you, nothing is worth that. So I'm not going Spencer."

I watch her as she speaks and I see the determination on her face.

"Aria… You're the love of my life too, and you are the most talented, most wonderful person I've ever known. We've known each other for what feels like forever, and that means I know you better than you know yourself. I have never met someone as unselfish as you are. And I know for a fact that you've never met someone as stubborn as me…" she scoffs loudly and smiles at this, "I love you, and now it's my turn to be the selfless one. This is an amazing thing to happen to you, and I'm sure Lewis has done a hell of a lot to get you this opportunity, there's no way in hell you're turning it down. You're going and that's that."

"Spencer, I'm not going, I'm not leaving you." She protests.

"Aria listen to me, you cannot give this up. Neither of us knows what will happen in the future, but this is happening right now, and you need to take it and go with it. You don't know what will happen next year, this is where your life is taking you now, and you have to let it." I say, tears forming.

"But… what about us?" She sobs.

"We'll figure something out. But this is happening soon, and you need to take this chance. You need to go for it." I say, my voice cracking with the emotion that's threatening to take me under.

"I love you" She whispers, tears flowing freely now, as she moves towards me and pulls me close, her grip on me tighter than I've ever known it.

"I love you too Goose. I always will." I move my hand and run it soothingly over her back.

As she cries on my shoulder, I try to comfort her, and I rack my brain trying to come up with a way we can figure this out. But my head is so foggy with sadness I can't think about anything but the fact that Aria will be 3,540 miles away from me.

How can I make this work?