Authors Note (A/N): This does not follow the Current Track, none of the guys besides Ezra are in this story, Characters will be slightly OOC (out of Character)

Hey guys! Taz and Zak here...Sorry for the long absence guys...things have been hectic at our respective offices lately and Zak194 was down with a nasty flu but we hope a long chapter makes up for it! Enjoy

We didn't proof read this so sorry for any errors

Chapter 15: Revelations and a race against Time

*One Month Later- Hastings Residence*

Hanna Marin was close to her due date, her baby was soon to enter this world and she desperately wanted to completely mend her relationship with Spencer. The brunette had made it clear on multiple occasions that she had forgiven Hanna but the pregnant blonde couldn't help the guilt that stirred within her every time Spencer withdrew from her after their more amorous activities.

Spencer loved Hanna, this, the blonde had no doubt of but it seemed as though the brunette had forgotten the fact that Hanna had loved Spencer as well. The girls had shared a deep and passionate love for one another...the kind that filled the pages of many a book and the lyrical rhymes of over a thousand sonnets and poems. Hanna knew of their love and because of this she was certain that Spencer's withdrawn aloofness was her fault

'I broke her...I used her past against her and I hurt her deeply...I need her to trust me again, to allow me to touch her...I need to feel her again...to know that I can...I have Spencer but Spencer doesn't have me...I know, deep down, I know that Spencer thinks that she doesn't deserve me, that I'm too good for her but that's not true...we're equals...partners...lovers and I want her to know this. Every time she makes love to me it hurts that she won't let me return the favour...I need to get her to trust me again...but I need to be patient, she was patient with me when I wasn't ready to reciprocate her love so I need to prove to her that I am worthy of being her lover...'

The blonde, clad in an deep purple elegant baby doll maternity dress and strappy sandals, was pulled from her thoughts by the sound of a large crash emanating from behind her. The sound pulled her back to reality and she couldn't help but smile at the sight of a disgruntled Mona Vanderwall and an equally disgruntled Paige McCullers stomping down the Hasting's Staircase

Mona: "Paige! You dropped the box with Spencer's trophies...you better hope that none of them are broken!"

Paige: "Oh please, she won't miss them she's got plenty...besides she told me not to move that box to the barn but you insisted on shoving it into my hands!"

Mona: "I think the baby needs to know how talented their Mother is..."

Hanna chuckled at the two girls, her giggling alerting the hardworking movers to her presence

Hanna: "So...are you saying I'm not talented Mon?"

Mona flushed a deep embarrassed shade of pink and her eyes darted across the room, desperately avoiding Hanna's gaze

Paige watched Hanna, terrified that the pregnant girl would snap at them suddenly, as she drew closer to her due date Hanna had been unbelievably moody and her temperament was unpredictable, she'd lash out at people over the random-est of things but the behaviour was excused because of her pregnancy and Hanna nearly burst out laughing at Paige's mumbled comment to Mona

Paige: "Good god Woman...don't anger it!"

Hanna chuckled at Paige's reaction and soothingly addressed the two girls

Hanna: "It's fine Paige...I'm not mad..."

Paige let out an over dramatic sigh of relief which caused Hanna and Mona to chuckle

Hanna: "So...did you guys move everything into the barn yet?"

Mona: "Kinda...we got the smaller boxes of Spencer's clothes and pictures in but there's a lot of heavy lifted still to do...Ezra is coming over later to help Spencer and Paige carry that red couch of hers into the barn..."

Hanna: "Oh...ok..."

Paige: "So...Aria done with the painting?"

Hanna shrugged at the question and responded

Hanna: "Dunno...she said she was putting the finishing touches on the nursery this morning but it's been hours since I saw her..."

Hanna then began walking towards the Hastings' back door as she continued to speak

Hanna: "...I'm going to check on her...tell Spencer I'm in the barn ok?"

Paige and Mona both nodded as Hanna left. The two girls could sense the uneasy tension in their friends' relationship and were desperately inclined to fix the rift between Hanna and Spencer. Mona had been told of the problem by a distraught Hanna while Paige had been clued in by a reluctant Aria. Both girls decided to not take sides in the situation but it was well known amongst the entire circle of friends that this whole predicament needed to be put behind them before the baby was born.

Paige stared at Hanna's retreating back and addressed Mona

Paige: "We need to get Spencer to get her head out of her ass...she's being stubborn! It's been a month and Hanna apologised!"

Mona sighed at Paige's words and spoke

Mona: "Great job not taking sides there Paige...and Spencer needs distance, Hanna can't expect Spencer to get over what happened this quickly...Hanna needs to build back Spencer's trust..."

Paige: "Trust? I thought Spencer was still mad at Hanna?"

Mona scoffed at the clearly ludicrous notion and quipped

Mona: "Oh please! Spencer could never be mad at Hanna...she loves Hanna waaay too much for that..."

Paige: "We need to talk to her though...maybe we can help her with whatever's bothering her...besides Hanna needs to get laid, her hormones are making her crazy horny and she's scary when she's unsatisfied..."

Mona: "Oh she's satisfied, trust me...Spencer wouldn't dare leave Hanna unsatisfied, Hanna's just...well...she told me that she's frustrated..."

Paige: "Frustrated is just a fancy way of saying unsatisfied Mona...and Spencer's been extra 'brood'-y lately..."

Mona: "No...not sexually frustrated...emotionally frustrated, Spencer caters to Hanna's every desire Paige and Hanna's bent out of shape because Spencer won't let her return the favour..."

Paige: "so...you're telling me that I got yelled at by our heavily pregnant friend yesterday for eating the last granola bar, a snack she doesn't even like by the way, just because Spencer isn't allowing Hanna to fuck her?"

Mona: "well that pretty much sums it up...but you're right Paige...we need to talk to Spencer, help her through this..."

The two girls grabbed a few bottles of water from the Hastings fridge and made their way back upstairs, each one mentally preparing their speech to the brooding brunette packing boxes upstairs.

*The backyard- In the Hastings' barn*

Hanna watched Aria's nimble fingers delicately work the tiniest of paintbrushes, the brunette was putting up the final touches on her child's woodland fairytale nursery and Hanna couldn't help but marvel at Aria's talent.

Hanna: "These are really good Ar..."

Aria turned to face Hanna and smiled

Aria: "Thanks...I thought I sucked until that exhibit you made me do last week...I sold quite a few paintings...Did you know Spencer was the first person ever to buy my artwork! She bought the best piece at the showcase and once people saw that one of my works were sold they snapped up everything else! I heard that nine people approached her and requested that she sell her painting to them but she refused..."

Hanna: "I know Ar...I was there...she loves your work and that painting holds a special place in her heart..."

Aria: "I know...it's because the painting is of the two of you...'Fire and Ice'..."

Hanna: "We're such opposites...She's always the calm, cool and collected one and I'm just this unpredictable fiery ball of chaos...we should destroy each other but in actual fact we keep the other in check..."

Aria smiled softly at Hanna's wistful tone

Aria: "...so...er...how are things with Spencer?"

Hanna sighed deeply and spoke

Hanna: "its...well it's been...cool...between us..."

Aria: "that's good...Has she forgiven you?..."

Hanna: "Ar she forgave me that same night!"

Aria: "Wow...you really do have her wrapped around your little finger...tell me how you do it so I can use the same trick on Ezra..."

Hanna: "It's not a trick... per se...she loves me and will do anything for me...and I...well I feel lousy Ar...I said some horrible things to her and she just forgave me in an instant...you were right...I don't deserve her..."

Aria: "Maybe she just needs time Han...maybe you should try make-up sex? Every time Ezra and I have a tiff a good long steamy session between the sheets always smoothes things over..."

Hanna sniffed softly and the tears slowly streaming down her face caused the shorter brunette to put down her brush and palette and rush over to the crying blonde, wrapping the girl tightly in her arms

Aria: "Han? Han what's wrong?"

Hanna: "She...she won't let me touch her..."

Aria stared at Hanna quizzically and waited for the sobbing girl to elaborate

Hanna: "I need to let her know that I love her Ar...That she doesn't need to prove herself to me..."

Hanna sobbed loudly and Aria watched devastated for her friend, the guilt was clearly eating away at Hanna and Aria wanted nothing more than to help Hanna overcome this situation she had found herself in

Hanna: "...I feel soo guilty Ar...I made no effort to win her back and she forgives me, I feel like I'm taking advantage of her you know? The sex is phenomenal...but it's like she's trying to prove to me that she deserves to be around me and that breaks my heart...Every time when I try to reciprocate she pulls away from me!"

Hanna let out an exasperated sob at this as fresh tears began streaming down her face causing Aria's heart to clench with worry for her friends. Sniffing loudly, Hanna continued

Hanna: "Aria... she believes all that crap I told her a month ago and I don't know how to get it out of her mind..."

Aria sighed at the desperate tone in the blonde's voice and tried coming up with some way to help the girl

Aria: "Well why don't you surprise her...do something romantic?"

Hanna: "I've tried but she won't let me touch her...Everytime, after we have sex, I try to return the favour she crawls off of me and goes to sleep on that red couch of hers..."

Aria: "Romance doesn't have to mean sex Han...make her dinner or take her out on a date...:

Hanna: "I've tried that too...everytime she caught me while I was still preparing everything then she scolded me for 'over exerting' myself and afterwards she fucked me into nirmana..."

Aria: "nirvana...it's nir-va-na..."

Hanna: "Whatever...point is...she's making it so hard for me to do anything for her, and I know once the baby comes this hot ball of guilt inside me will only get worse, Spencer's going to be the perfect parent and I'll be reminded of every horrible thing that I said and how wrong I was that day..."

Aria: "Han...she's already forgiven you, just be patient with her, you know how Spencer gets...remember our Junior High Prom? She forgave you after you called her 'a skinny know it all' and threw your punch on her dress..."

Hanna smiled at the memory and was soon lost in a much simpler time

*Flash Back- Rosewood Junior High- Prom Night*

The gymnasium of Rosewood Junior High was magically transformed for the evening and over a hundred and fifty well dressed pre teens were currently milling about, enjoying the music or the company of their friends.

Hanna in the corner of the gym and watched as Alison twirled around the makeshift dance floor with Sean Ackard. The other blonde knew that Hanna wanted to ask Sean to the dance and had deliberately snatched the boy up before Hanna could even broach the idea with him. So instead Hanna was at the dance with Lucan Gottesman and even though he was a really nice guy, Alison went out of her way to humiliate Hanna. Hanna felt pretty in her pale yellow maxi dress with subtle silver sequins detailing the garment and was furious at Alison for calling her 'hefty Hanna' but she was also devastated at the awful nickname that had apparently stuck with most of their class, so she nursed a cup of some really awful fruit punch as she watched Alison enjoy herself. The blonde didn't register the presence of someone beside her and turned around sharply when she felt someone tap her on her shoulder.

In front of her stood the lanky brunette that was one of her best friends, Spencer wore a blush pink knee length dress that hugged her slim frame and accentuated her beauty. The girl paired the simple dress with minimal accessories but Hanna was certain that the diamond earrings and necklace the girl had worn cost a small fortune, and that's what Hanna loved about Spencer the girl never bragged about her wealth whereas Alison would flaunt her family's money for the whole world to see.

Spencer cleared her throat and spoke

Spencer: "Ali and Sean look good together..."

Hanna immediately grit her teeth and glared at Spencer and anyone other than the brunette would have fled in fear

Hanna: "Oh please...you're just saying that because you're afraid of Alison..."

Spencer: "Well I know that Alison and Sean are a good couple, you and Sean would have never worked..."

Spencer gave Hanna an annoying smile and continued to speak to the clearly irritated blonde. Had Hanna known that the brunette had a bigger plan in mind and was deliberately trying to get a rise of her she would've acted differently, but alas! Hanna was young and brash and played right into Spencer's hands. Hanna growled at the girl and flung the drink in her hand at her, causing a few on lookers to gasp

Hanna: "Well what do you know? You're just a skinny know it all who had no friends until Alison and I came along..."

Once the words left her mouth, Hanna immediately regretted it. She began to panic and started to profusely apologise to her friend

Hanna: "Oh God! Spence...I'm sorry...I didn't mean it! And I ruined your dress! I'm sorry..."

Hanna was puzzled at the satisfied smile that graced Spencer's features and was even more confused when the brunette laughed and spoke

Spencer: "There's that fire I love about you...It's fine Hanna...I'm not mad...Kinda deserved it since I deliberately tried to piss you off to distract you away from that train-wreck of a couple that's currently waltzing in-correctly across our gym floor , didn't expect you to throw your drink at me though..."

Hanna: "What? You don't think Ali and Sean make a good couple?"

Spencer: "God no...they'd be over as soon as this night ends...I just said that to distract you..."

Hanna: "Spence...I'm sorry..."

Spencer: "It's fine...And I don't actually like this dress, trust me the punch is an improvement...Melissa picked it out, she's going through her 'I think I can be a fashion designer' phase and she's been using me as her own personal mannequin all week..."

Hanna: "It's not that bad..."

Spencer: "Whatever...I'm no one's Barbie doll..."

Hanna laughed at Spencer's comment and looped her arm around Spencer's shoulder

Hanna: "Well let's get you cleaned up..."

Together the two girls walked towards the school bathroom ignoring the bewildered looks of Aria and Emily as they passed by, their friends clearly confused since they had witnessed the earlier part of the exchange between Hanna and Spencer.

While they walked towards their destination Hanna looked up at Spencer and asked hopefully

Hanna: "You'll let me dress you though right?"

Spencer smiled at Hanna and responded

Spencer: "Sure..."

*End Flash Back*

Hanna smiled at the memory and addressed Aria

Hanna: "You know that night was the first time I started liking Spencer..."

Aria: "Really?"

Hanna: "Yeah...we were cleaning the punch out of that beautiful blush pink dress from forever 21 and I realised that if she was willing to get such an exquisite piece of clothing dirty just to distract me away from my pain then she must be pretty great..."

Aria smiled at Hanna's words and said

Aria: "I bet your inner fashionista wanted to murder her though..."

Hanna: "I did! But when she flashed that dorky lopsided grim at me, I just melted..."

Aria held Hanna close to her and hugged the brunette tightly

Aria: "She'll come round Han...don't worry..."

Hanna: "I hope so Ar...I Hope so..."

*Hastings' Residence- Spencer's Room*

Mona and Paige watched as Spencer started taking books of her shelf and organising them into boxes labelled 'storage' and 'barn'. Most of Spencer's school textbooks were piled into the storage box but most of the brunette's classic literature still adorned the white oak shelves of her bookcase.

Mona cleared her throat and addressed Spencer, the brunette was clad in a pair of black skinny jeans and a soft crème silk shirt paired with sturdy black riding boots.

Mona: "So...erm...Spence...Have you forgiven Hanna? She er..Told me about the fight... You know she feels really guilty..."

Spencer sighed deeply before turning to address Mona

Spencer: "I forgave her a while back...I love her Mona and I can't stay mad at her...but she was right...I don't deserve her... so until I'm worthy enough I'll keep my distance..."

Hearing Spencer's words accompanied by the taller girl's dejected tone caused a deep anger to stir within Mona. The young Hawaiian was suddenly angry at Hanna for making Spencer feel worthless but she was angrier at Spencer for believing in such an absurd notion. So the shorter brunette couldn't help the sharp tone her voice took when she yelled at the brunette

Mona: "Spence you are worthy!"

But Mona's words and tone didn't convince the brunette, even Paige's reassuring nods of agreement didn't assuage the dejected slump in the once confident brunette's shoulders. It hurt Paige and Mona to see their friend like this and it only made them more determined to lift the girl's spirits. But what Spencer said next completely threw them.

Spencer: "It's...it's just ...ever since that day... After what happened, I have this feeling...in the pit of my stomach...telling me that Hanna and I are not meant to last..."

Mona was about to strongly protest the dark thoughts clouding Spencer's judgement when Paige's outraged cry filled the air

Paige: "That's nonsense...you two are soul mates!"

Spencer shrugged her shoulders and dryly retorted

Spencer: "So were Jay Gatsby and Daisy Buchanan and look how they ended up..."

Paige: "How can you say that? You acting as though you've already lost her Spencer! Hanna loves you and I know you love her!"

Spencer: "But Paige what if I can't make her happy? What if I can't keep her happy? All I know is that Hanna deserves all the happiness in the world and if she's happy then I'm happy..."

Paige and Mona stared at the girl before them, each of them deeply moved by the intensity of the love Spencer had for Hanna.

Mona: "Wow...you really love her huh?"

Spencer turned to face Mona and the brunette spoke to the shorter girl with a strength Mona was all too familiar with

Spencer: "Like I said before Mona...she's my world... and I'll do anything for her..."

Their conversation was interrupted by the loud voice of Melissa Hastings emanating from the next room

Melissa: "Spencer! I need you to tell me which sheets you want to take to the Barn!"

Spencer rolled her eyes at her sister's words and quipped

Spencer: "I'm moving to the backyard but you'd think I'm moving across town with all the crap she's making me pack..."

Paige and Mona laughed at Spencer's words and grinned as they watched Spencer walk out of her room while speaking with Melissa

Spencer: "Mel! I'm moving into the backyard barn I'm still going to have laundry room privileges!"

Mona and Paige chuckled as the two siblings continued their conversation. Eventually their silent giggles died down and Mona wistfully stared at a picture of Spencer and Hanna that was left behind on Spencer's bookshelf. Mona picked up the picture and sighed heavily. Her tone alerting Paige to her melancholy.

Mona: "God...I wish I had someone to love me like that..."

Paige reassuringly rubbed Mona's shoulder and addressed the shorter girl

Paige: "One day Mona...your partner is out there waiting for you..."

Mona: "But what if I already found them Paige? What if I'm not what they want?"

Paige pulled Mona in for a tight side hug and spoke to the younger girl

Paige: "They'll come round...be patient...and if they're too blind to see how amazing you are then maybe they're not the one for you..."

Mona looked up at the other girl and grinned, Paige words provided a great deal of comfort to the shorter girl and Mona couldn't help but wonder if the former hockey player was speaking from experience. It was no secret that Paige was madly in love with Emily but the swimmer was yet to return the girl's affections because of her love for Alison.

'We're going to be happy Paige...one day...we'll both find someone that makes us happy...'

Mona smiled at that thought and pulled herself out of Paige's embrace and once again looked at the picture in her hands

Mona: "I'm envious of them...they have everything I want..."

Paige sighed at the picture of the smiling couple and said

Paige: "Same here...but they work so hard to be together and as their friends we need to make sure that their hard work pays off..."

Mona: "You're right...maybe we can help Hanna plan a romantic getaway for these two before the baby is born?"

Paige: "Yeah...that might soften Spencer up...now put that picture frame back on the shelf or in a box because either way it's going to be packed away..."

Mona laughed and put the frame back on the spot she had picked it up from, she stared at it for a few more seconds when a small flashing red light caught her eye. The movement was so subtle that it could easily go unnoticed

Mona: "Paige..."

Paige quickly followed Mona's gaze and gasped at the small blinking light that was apparently emanating from the upper inside corner of the middle row of Spencer's bookshelf. Mona quickly reached towards the light and gasped when she felt something small hard and metallic graze her finger tips, Quickly the younger girl clasped her hand around the cool metal object and pulled the contraption out of it's confines. She withdrew her hand from the dark corner of the shelf and slowly opened her palm, gasping at the sight revealed to her.

Paige: "Is that?"

Mona gulped slowly and nodded.

Paige: "A camera... Wow...Spencer's pretty kinky, that was pointed directly at her bed..."

Mona: "Paige...I don't think Spence knows that this is here..."

Paige stared at Mona for a few seconds as the implications of the girl's words began to sink in.

Paige: "Wait...are you saying that someone has been spying on Spence and Han?"
Mona quickly rushed over to her messenger bag and fished out her laptop.

Paige: "Mon? Mon What are you..."

Mona: "I'm tracing the signal of the feed...Paige...Paige I think whoever put this camera up is the same person that hurt Hanna..."

Paige: "Mon...the camera is in Spencer's bedroom...I don't think it's the same person..."

Mona: "But who could do something so despicable! I mean this is a violation of privacy!"

Paige stared long and hard at the camera and in a soft but scared voice had spoken

Paige: "Someone who is obsessed with Spencer Hastings..."

Mona looked up at Paige and gasped

Mona: "Paige! Paige tear the room apart...and the adjoining bathroom! See if there's another camera! I was wrong...maybe the person trying to break Spencer and Hanna up is not after Han..."

Paige: "...maybe they're after Spencer..."

Mona began frantically typing away on her keyboard, hoping to speed up the decryption software she was running so she could run the trace on the feed faster as she watched Paige tear the room apart from the corner of her eye. The software was taking its time to run the trace on the feed and Mona watched as Paige rushed into the adjoining bathroom. Soon Mona heard a loud string of angry curse words emanating from the adjoining room

Paige: "Son of bitch!"

Paige rushed out of the adjoining bathroom clutching a similar small device, only this time the outer shell of the camera was painted half white, half a soft caramel brown to match the porcelain tiles of Spencer's adjoining steam shower. The sight caused Mona's stomach to drop

Paige: "This freak has been watching her shower!"
Mona: "Not only Spencer...Hanna too..."

Paige: "You better find out who this creep is so I can kick their ass!"

AS though sensing Paige's rage, Mona's laptop chimed loudly the programme signalling that the commanded trace had been completed. Both girl's rushed to face the laptop screen and gasped when they saw the location that the feed had been streaming to.

Mona's laptop had a green blinking light over an image representing the house next door. Underneath the green light was a more accurate destination for the origin of the feed and Paige and Mona gulped loudly when they read the location that Mona's laptop had provided

'Bedroom on the Upper floor, Right side..."

Paige and Mona both looked at each other and said in unison

Paige & Mona: "Alison..."

*Same Time- The Hastings Backyard*

Hanna Marin had just exited the barn, her phone clutched tightly in her hand as she was about to cross the backyard and re enter the main house, the sound of her name being called stilled her movements so she turned and smiled at the sight of her two other friends approaching her. Emily Fields was clearly dressed to work in her offcut jean shorts sneakers and navy tank top, the swimmer was boasting a radiant smile and Hanna was glad that Spencer and Emily had mended their relationship.

Hanna: "Hey Em!"

Hanna embraced the swimmer happily before being pulled into the slightly chilled embrace of the group's other blonde, Alison. Alison was dressed casually in a pair of light blue jeans and sneakers but her top was dressier than required to help your friends move so Hanna assumed that Alison was not about to lift a finger.

Emily: "Soo..how's my future niece or nephew?"

Emily had immediately began caressing Hanna's baby bump and if the blonde was being really honest she hated it when people touched her like that. Absolute strangers would walk up to her and caress the spot just above her crotch, a spot reserved only for Spencer, and she was expected to just be fine with it because they were complimenting her pregnancy.

Hanna: "Hand's getting a little low there Em...What would Ali think?"

Emily blushed deeply and withdrew her hands while Alison chuckled at Hanna's attempt at humour.

Hanna: "I'm just teasing...the baby's good I'm due at the end of the month but the doctor and Spencer are treating me like I'm an invalid...I swear the other day she carried me up the stairs because she didn't want me to over exert myself..."

Alison grit her teeth in annoyance at Hanna's words, an action that went unnoticed by the other two while Emily let out a boisterous laugh

Emily: "God...She's soo whipped...anyway I'm going to see if Spencer needs any help in there..."

Hanna: "Yeah...Paige and Mona are in there too but I think they're going to need someone stronger to stop Spencer from killing Melissa..."

Emily snorted at this and in between chuckles had asked

Emily: "What's Melissa done now?"

Hanna: "She means well...but Spencer thinks she's being a little over bearing..."

Emily: "How ironic that she sees that flaw in others..."

Hanna: "I know right!"

Emily laughed as she walked towards the Backdoor entrance of the Hastings' mansion leaving Alison and Hanna alone in the backyard

Alison cleared her throat and asked

Alison: "So...err...how's things between you and Spence?"

Hanna sighed deeply, she had told Emily about her fight with Spencer days after it had happened. She had gone to the Field's home to check on Pam and had run into the swimmer and Hanna couldn't help herself when she broke down in Emily's outstretched arms as soon as the girl opened her front door. Naturally Alison was with Emily that day so Hanna had ended up telling the story to both girls and each one offered up their own brand of advice with Emily encouraging her to be a bold romantic while Alison had recommended that she give Spencer some space.

Hanna: "Things are...okay...she's still a bit distant..."

Alison: "She'll come round...you've tried make-up sex right?"

Hanna: "Yeah..but it's only makeup sex if your partner allows you to touch them..."

Alison: "That bad huh?"

Hanna: "Yeah...I mean it's good but I feel awful when she pulls away after I'm done..."

Alison inwardly smirked at this, having already been aware of Hanna's predicament due to her inside look of Spencer's bedroom, the blonde feigned ignorance as she questioned Hanna further

Alison: "Done? Like she lets you finish and then..."

Hanna: "Leaves? Yeah...it's just...I want to return the favour..."

Alison wrapped a reassuring arm around Hanna and spoke

Alison: "I might know of a place that will help you grab Miss Hastings' attention and keep it..."

Hanna: "Thanks Ali...but I already tried Lingerie...it's not working..."

Alison: "Han...trust me...Spencer will be looking for you everywhere after you go to this place..."

Hanna: "Okay...so...err...where is it?"

Alison: "It's a secret...I can take you there now if you like?"

Hanna grinned at Alison's sudden bout of helpfulness and eagerly followed the blonde to her car. Had Hanna known what sinister thing Alison had planned she would have run towards the house and into the safety of Spencer's arms, but alas she trusted the wolf in sheep's clothing in the name of friendship and had unintentionally set the ball rolling to the tragic events that would change her life forever.

Alison grinned as Hanna got into the passenger seat of her car and her mind played over her motivations for her actions

'You're soo easy to fool Han...you deserve what's coming to you. You took Spencer...you took MY Spencer away from me...and for that you're going to pay! I'm going to end you Han...you and your little spawn...and once the two of you are gone, I'm going to try this plan once again...and then Spencer and I will raise my baby...and we'll be happy...and she'll forget all about you, and you can do nothing to stop it, you'll be buried somewhere behind the lost woods resort and no one would ever find you...even if they tear apart that entire forest...you'll be gone and Spencer would be where she belongs...in my arms, in my bed and buried deep in me...like how it should be...'

It took every ounce of restraint Alison possessed not to laugh maniacally at Hanna's naiveté but had Alison known that she had already been found out she would have acted differently. Had she known that her perversions had been exposed, she would have put a stop to the events she had unwittingly set in motion. Alison Dilaurentis could have avoided multiple heartbreaks in that moment, if only she stopped what she was doing rather she remained blissfully unaware as she drove her victim out of the Hastings' property and towards her bleak future.

*Inside the Hastings' Mansion*

Emily Fields had just pulled out a bottle of water from the refrigerator when she heard Spencer Hastings gripe as she descended the stairs

Spencer: "I swear she's wanted this since I was born..."

Emily laughed loudly at her friend's sour expression alerting the other girl to her presence. Spencer had flashed Emily a radiant smile as she made her way over to the swimmer

Emily: "Having trouble there Spence?"

Spencer: "Yeah...Melissa's kinda driving me crazy..."

Emily: "She means well...try not to kill her..."

Spencer had opened the fridge and pulled out a can of coke which she immediately opened and began to drink.

Spencer: "I make no promises Em..."

Just as Spencer took her second pull from the can, Aria came bursting through the back door, the tiny brunette appeared exhausted.

Aria: "I'm done! No more...your baby better love that room Spencer coz I'm not painting another one!"

The tiny artist huffed as she plonked herself dramatically onto the Hastings' couch causing Spencer and Emily to snigger

Spencer turned to Emily and whispered

Spencer: "I bet you five bucks I can get her back on her feet in the next minute..."

Emily: "You're on..."

Spencer cleared her throat and nonchalantly spoke

Spencer: "Hey...Ar...you know Ezra told me that after he saw your designs for our baby's room he's dead set on you painting the nursery when you guys have a kid..."

Aria's eyes widened and immediately she jumped to her feet

Aria: "WHAT!"

Immediately Spencer burst into hysterical laughter while Emily groaned and began reaching for her wallet. Realising that her friend was joking, Aria grabbed the nearest throw Pillow and flung it at Spencer who expertly caught it.

Spencer: "Thank you..."

The brunette then turned to Emily and stretched out her palm and grinned when Emily slapped a crisp Five dollar bill into her hand

Spencer: "...And thank you...I'm here all week ladies..."

Aria and Emily both rolled their eyes and said in unison

Aria and Emily: "Asshole..."

Spencer grinned at both her friends and winked

Spencer: "But you love me..."

Aria rushed over to Spencer and pulled the taller girl into a tight hug

Aria: "That we do..."

The three friends shared a look before bursting into uncontrollable laughter. Aria, was thrilled, after months of distance and anxious encounters it finally seemed like things were slowly returning to normal and she savoured their renewed friendship as she shared a laugh with two of her friends. But her reprieve was short lived, the sound of rushed heavy footfalls bouncing down the Hastings' staircase burst the small bubble of happiness that had cocooned Aria's mind. Her heart sank at the anxious looks worn by Mona and Paige and her stomach dropped at the sight of a laptop and two other small devices in Mona's hands. Emily, had not seemed bothered by the entrance of the two girls laughed their expressions off and quipped

Emily: "Hey guys...where's the fire?"

Mona and Paige exchanged a worried look before turning to address Spencer.

Mona: "Um...Spence...could we..."

Paige had picked up on Mona's hesitation and continued

Paige: "Talk? Er...can we talk in private?"

Spencer looked at the two girls curiously before nodding as though saying 'sure...why not?', the youngest Hastings gestured towards her father's study and the three girls were about to exit when Emily had interrupted them

Emily: "Guys...What's going on?"

Mona and Paige shared another glance, Mona seemed desperate to speak with Spencer alone but Paige clenched her jaw and bit out

Paige: "They deserve to know..."

Mona sighed in defeat and walked to the middle of the lounge, she cast an apologetic glance at Emily before placing her laptop and the two other devices on the small glass table beside the couch the clattering of the hard steel against glass echoing the ominous stance the situation had taken.

Aria leaned forward and examined the objects on the table, she recognised the laptop, but the two other devices strewn on the table were unrecognisable. One was sleek and shiny gunmetal while the other was a two tone of white and brown the combination triggering a sense of familiarity within the young artist but the tiny brunette couldn't figure out why.

'Those colours seem familiar...where have I seen them before? And what exactly are those things...'

Aria exchanged a curious glance with Emily, clearly the swimmer was at a loss as well. Spencer's gaze, however, was fixed on the three items strewn on the table. The brunette had clearly figured out what the mysterious devices were and Aria could tell by the sour expression worn by the taller girl that she was disgusted. Spencer gulped slowly and raised her head to address Mona and Paige

Spencer: "Where...Where were they?"

Mona and Paige shared a look, relieved that Spencer had figured it out but still clearly uncomfortable by what they were yet to reveal.

Mona: "One was hidden in your bookshelf...the other..."

Mona hesitated and turned to Paige, the redhead bit back the urge to vomit as she said

Paige: "was...was in your bath room..."

Spencer gasped loudly and immediately clapped her hand over her mouth in shock. Aria and Emily shared a bewildered look, the two girls clearly realising that they missed some vital piece of the puzzle.

Emily: "Er...what's"

Spencer, Mona and Paige ignored Emily and continued.

Spencer: "How long..."

Mona and Paige shared a glance, an action that caused a surge of anger and frustration to stir within Spencer

Spencer: "Mona...How long?"

Mona flinched at the sharp, menacing tone of Spencer's voice and squeaked

Mona: "I dunno..."

Paige glared at Spencer, the redhead clearly over protective of the now terrified Mona and immediately Spencer's stance softened.

Spencer: "I'm sorry Mona...It's just I need to know..."

Aria and Emily stared at the brunette waiting for her to continue

Spencer: "Do you know who?"

Mona nodded, glanced quickly over to Emily and remained silent.

Spencer kept her gaze trained on Mona and a hint of desperation tinged her angry tone as she spoke

Spencer: "Please Mona...tell me...If you know who's been spying on me for god knows how long Tell Me!"

Aria and Emily stared at Spencer in shock, before turning to face Mona and Paige at the news of the revelation

Emily: "Someone's been spying on you?"

Aria stared at the two devices on the table before her and recalled what had been said to Spencer moments earlier

Mona: "One was hidden in your bookshelf...the other..."

Aria picked up the sleek black device and gasped loudly when she caught sight of its lens

'It's a camera! Oh My god...it's a Camera...it was in Spencer's bedroom...someone has been watching Spencer...'

Aria gasped loudly when Paige's earlier words rang clearly in her mind

Paige: "was...was in your bath room..."

Aria picked up the two toned camera and turned to Spencer, the younger girl squeaking with fear

Aria: "This was in your bathroom! Some freak put a camera in your bathroom!"

Emily grabbed the device out of Aria's hands and examined it and the swimmer gasped when she confirmed to herself that the two mystery devices were indeed cameras

Emily: "God...what sick freak would do something like this?"

Paige and Mona shared a look and Emily's voice hardened at their lack of ability to volunteer an answer

Emily: "If you two know who it is..."

Mona cut Emily off with a soft plea..

Mona: "Em...Emily...can we just speak with Spencer?"

Spencer could sense the desperation in Mona's tone and in Paige's eyes and the brunette was about to pull the other two girls away so that they could chat, but a sudden outburst from Aria dashed all hopes of a private conversation

Aria: "NO! I want to know who this is! I'm going to kick their ass...how dare they! This..."

Aria grabbed the other camera off of the table and continued with her tirade

Aria: "...this...is an invasion of privacy! It's sick...perverted and wrong!"

Emily: "Tell us who's behind this Mona..."

Mona stiffened slightly, her reluctance to reveal the identity to anyone but Spencer caused Paige to huff in annoyed exasperation. The redhead rolled her eyes at Mona's behaviour before turning to face Emily

Paige: "Alison..."

Emily stared at her teammate in shock

Emily: "WHAT?"

A lesser person would have flinched at the harshness of Emily's tone but Paige held her ground. The redheaded swimmer had clicked on Mona's laptop and showed Emily the results of signal trace Mona had performed moments earlier

Paige: "Mona traced the signal to Alison's bedroom...Em...I'm sorry...but Alison has been spying on Spencer..."

Aria gasped in shock while Spencer had an expression of stony silence, the brunette clearly processing the information being given to her. Emily, however, shook her head in disbelief, the swimmer clearly refusing to accept the fact that her girlfriend could be in the wrong.

Emily: "NO...No way! I don't believe this!"

Aria reached up and held Emily's hand, trying to comfort the distraught girl

Aria: "Em...Em calm down..."

Emily: "NO! These two are accusing Ali of this despicable act and you EXPECT ME TO BE CALM!"

Aria flinched at Emily's tone of Voice, as did Mona, Spencer however intervened before Emily could resume her yelling.

Spencer: "Em...Aria's right...please calm down..."

Emily huffed in annoyance while Paige rolled her eyes at Emily's behaviour, the redhead was about to rejoice in Alison's perverted pastimes by throwing the sordid reality in Emily's face but was silenced with a mere look from Spencer. The look was commanding, strong and Paige understood it to mean 'don't rile her up...she needs time to accept this...'

Paige sighed deeply before speaking

Paige: "Maybe we should get Alison here... give her a chance to explain all this..."

Emily: "yeah...Mona probably made a mistake..."

Emily shot a dark look at the young Hawaiian which caused Spencer to clear her throat and jump to the younger girl's defence

Spencer: "I trust Mona's ability to trace a signal Em...but I would like to hear from your girlfriend her version of why there are cameras in my bedroom and adjoining bathroom..."

Emily huffed at Spencer's tone, the swimmer clearly angry that everyone had turned against Alison and were painting her girlfriend out to be this heinous monster

Emily: "Well...she's right outside with Hanna let's go ask her!..."

Aria immediately interrupted Emily before the swimmer could march off to the back yard

Aria: "Em...I was just outside...Ali and Hanna aren't there..."

Emily turned to Aria and snapped

Emily: "Well...they must be in the barn then!"

Aria: "Em...I locked the barn when I left...they aren't there..."

Mona and Spencer shared a worried look, the two girls clearly realised something and immediately Spencer turned to Emily and spoke, her voice commanding

Spencer: "Em...call Alison now!"

Terrified if she disobeyed, Emily pulled out her phone and dialled Alison's number, after putting the device on loudspeaker the girls listened to the dial tone for a few seconds before they heard the call being diverted to voicemail. Emily cut the call and dialled again only to meet with the same result. Spencer, who was clearly agitated, turned to Mona and begged

Spencer: "Can you trace her cell?"

Mona nodded shakily and grabbed her laptop and began running the tracing software to pin point the location of Alison's cellphone. He seconds ticked by slowly as the tension in the room steadily climbed. After a few agonising minutes Mona's laptop beeped loudly. Mona read the results on the screen out loud

Mona: "She's in her bedroom..."

Spencer and Emily dashed out the back door and quickly made their way towards the Dilaurentis house. An exasperated Aria and Paige close behind them while Mona lagged behind the group carrying her laptop. Seconds later the group entered the Dilaurentis property and Emily fished out her copy of Alison's house keys, the swimmer got the front door opened in record time and quickly all of them entered the house calling for Alison.

Emily: "Ali? Baby?"

Spencer: "Alison!"

Upon hearing no response, the girls made their way upstairs to Alison's bedroom, the door was wide opened and everyone was puzzled at the lack of the room's blonde owner.

Emily: "See...she's not here...Mona was wrong..."
Spencer took stock of the room, at first glance it seemed normal, Eerily normal. Spencer entered and began looking around.

Emily: "What are you doing?"

Spencer turned to face the swimmer and said

Spencer: "looking for her phone or laptop!"

Mona, Paige and Aria entered the room and quickly they began searching. Emily sighed in annoyance as the girls ransacked her girlfriend's bedroom but eventually she joined in their frantic search with the intention of proving everyone wrong.

It was Aria who had found Alison's phone, the phone was hooked up to a power bank and was charging in Alison's closet.

Aria: "Found it!"

She tossed the phone to Mona who began trying to unlock it, while Paige, Emily and Spencer waited impatiently. While Mona was preoccupied with the small device and everyone else's attention was on her, Aria spotted something out of the corner of her eye. The familiar soft pale blue fabric was sticking out of Alison's bottom drawer and immediately Aria' bent down, opened the drawer and pulled out the fabric. She was greeted with the sight of the front of a pale blue Rosewood field hockey jersey clutched in her hand.

'Ali doesn't play any sports...why does she have a rosewood hockey jersey?"

Spencer had spotted the garment in Aria's hand and immediately exclaimed

Spencer: "Hey! That's mine! I lost it two years ago!"

Emily followed Spencer's gaze and chuckled

Emily: "No Spence...you didn't lose it...you lent it to Ali sometime back during a sleepover...remember?"
Spencer stared at Emily confused before responding

Spencer: "No Em...I never lent that Jersey to anyone...I wore it when I won MVP for the season our sophomore year...I lost it that same night! I whined about it for two weeks afterwards remember!"

Suddenly Emily recalled the memory of Spencer lamenting over her lost jersey and her heart dropped

'Ali lied to me...she told me Spencer gave her that jersey...could it be true? Does Alison love Spencer? Is she the one who put up the camera's?'

Aria, who still had the jersey clutched in her hand, felt something soft and small fall out of the garment, and gasped at the sight of what had fallen on the floor. A pair of plain black boyshorts landed softly on the dark wood panelled floors of Alison's bedroom. Spencer rushed over to them and picked them up, the brunette gagged when she picked up the intimate garment.

Spencer: "This went missing from my laundry hamper last year...after our back to school sleepover..."

Paige, Mona and Aria cringed at the implication of Spencer's words

Paige: "She kept your underwear! Gross..."

Emily, ever quick to defend Alison, ground out

Emily: "How do you know it's yours Spence?"

Spencer stared at Emily and added

Spencer: "I categorise my closet, I know every item of clothing in there and this was part of a set...I have a black bra that's been missing the matching boyshorts for well over a year now..."

Mona, who had clearly realised something, pushed past Aria and began inspecting the closet. The short Hawaiian threw open the wooden doors and began searching for something frantically.

Emily: "Mona...what are you doing..."

Mona immediately turned to the group and spoke, her voice low and terrified.

Mona: "What is the first step to obsession..."

Spencer stared at Mona, clearly understanding the reasoning and reference behind the girl's question

Spencer: "Covet...you covet something...you want it so desperately that you need to have some part of it to keep sane..."

Mona nodded slowly before continuing

Mona; "And how...how do we begin to covet?"

Spencer turned to Alison's window and looked out of it, her gaze landing on a clear view of her bedroom, which caused the brunette to respond in an eerie whisper

Spencer: "We covet what we see everyday..."

Mona: "Exactly! She could see you everyday Spencer! But then as you got older you shut your drapes and closed your room and yourself off to her..."

Paige: "But she sees Spencer everyday! They're neighbours and best friends!"

Mona: "But that wasn't enough...sight alone won't satiate someone..."

Aria: "Mona...what are you saying?"

Surprisingly it was Emily who spoke, the swimmer having finally come to terms with the reality her girlfriend's condition, turning to Spencer the raven haired girl spoke, her voice breaking with each word

Emily: "She needed to have a piece of you...so she stole your shirt and underwear...but that wasn't enough...she couldn't look at you whenever she wanted..."

Mona had pulled up a loose board from the back of Alison's closet and turned to reveal the sight to the rest of the girls

All of them gasped loudly at the sight of a massive collage of images. All were of Spencer, some were candid, some were of her and Alison while others were downright invasive. Aria turned to Spencer to gauge the girl's reaction and could see the taller brunette barely controlling her rage

Spencer: "What...the... hell!"

Aria, Mona and Paige flinched at Spencer's tone

Spencer: "Mona...track Hanna's phone... find them...Alison has a lot of explaining to do..."

Aria turned to Paige while Spencer paced the length of Alison's room as Mona worked frantically on her laptop.

Aria: "why?"

Paige turned to Aria confused

Paige: "Why what?"
Aria: "Why have this shrine? I mean... the cameras?"

Again it was Emily who spoke, and Aria's heart broke for the girl. The swimmer was distraught at the revelation that the love of her love was in love with another.

Emily: "The camera's were so she could see everything...she wanted to know Spencer in a way that no one else did..."

Aria rushed over to Emily and held the sobbing swimmer in her arms, and just as Aria took the crying girl into her embrace Mona's laptop chimed loudly.

Mona: "They're at the lost woods resort..."

Paige turned to the shorter girl and asked, her tone hesitant

Paige: "You don't think that...well...that she'll try to hurt Hanna do you?"

At the mention of the pregnant girl, Spencer bolted out of the room and began rushing away from the house and towards her car. Emily was hot on the girl's heels and Aria, Paige and Mona trailed behind the swimmer. Spencer had magically produced her car keys and had unlocked her vehicle, she jumped into the passenger seat and seconds later, Paige, Mona and Aria piled into the back seat with Emily riding shotgun.

Spencer turned on the ignition and the engine roared to life, the girl quickly exited her driveway and began barrelling down the streets of Rosewood towards their destination. The drive was eerily silent, the tension hung thick in the air and Spencer growled out. Her knuckles white from her tight grip on the steering wheel and her eyes never leaving the round, she addressed the swimmer beside her

Spencer: "Em...I know you love her, but I swear to god if anything happens to Hanna I'll kill Alison myself..."

Mona stared at Spencer through the rearview mirror, the girl's desperate gaze had caused Spencer to take her eyes of the road for a few seconds and the two girls held each other's gaze in the small reflective glass.

Mona: "Spence...calm down...Hanna's going to be fine..."

Spencer sighed angrily at Mona's words and spoke to the shorter brunette

Spencer: "Until I know she's safe Mona, I'm not going to calm down...I love her ...and if anything happens to her I'll never forgive myself... once she's safe I'll do everything in my power to keep her safe..."

The group barrelled down Rosewood's main road, soon they were outside of the city limits and headed through the winding roads carved between the dense forests surrounding Rosewood. Each one anxious for what was to come, each one terrified of what may happen but one thing was certain in the mind of Spencer Hastings

'Protect Hanna...at all costs...'