A/N (ZAK194): Sooo...a belated Merry Christmas and Happy Hannukah to everyone...

Hope you guys enjoy this chapter, and since this is the last chapter of 2017...Taz and I wish all of you a wonderful, prosperous and joyous 2018...have an awesome one guys!

Chapter 20: Guided Birth

*Rosewood Memorial Hospital- Corridor Outside Private Maternity Ward*

Aria waited for the door to click shut before turning to face the crowd of concerned family members behind her. You could still hear Hanna's screams of pain and cries for Spencer wafting through the barrier of the door and flooding the hallway they were currently standing in.

Peter Hastings had clutched a silver cigarette case in his right palm his usually put together appearance slightly ruffled. His wife Veronica and daughter Melissa looked just as ruffled as he did and all three surviving Hastings flinched with worry and fear every time Hanna's screams echoed around them but they kept their gaze focused on Aria, their strong expressions demanding answers but their stance begging for an explanation.

Ashley Marin on the other hand was openly distraught. The red head stared at Aria impatiently, demanding a quick answer so she could rush to her daughter's side and comfort the young mother.

Aria cleared her throat and tried to find the right words but her delay only served to annoy Ashley Marin.

Ashley: "Aria...say something! I need to see Hanna...and where the hell is Spencer?"

At the mention of the tall brunette Aria burst into tears, an action that found Aria engulfed in the comforting embrace of Melissa Hastings. Aria looked at the older girl in both gratitude and confusion and was about to speak when Melissa cut her off

Melissa: "Where's my sister Aria? Is Spencer here?"

Veronica had found her lost voice and began to question the Montgomery girl

Veronica: "Her car is outside but she's not with Hanna...She's in the hospital right? Was there an accident? Is she with a doctor?"

Ashley immediately chimed in

Ashley: "We can find out where Spencer ran off to later...Hanna needs me!"

Ashley was about to push past Aria and rush into the Private ward when Peter Hastings broken voice stopped her in her tracks.

Peter: "Spencer's gone..."

The Hastings' patriarch had read Aria's broken expression correctly and Aria could see the man struggle to accept the reality of the situation. She watched a father silently battle with the realisation that his child was dead while holding firmly onto the curiosity of the circumstances in which his off spring was ripped away from him.

Veronica and Melissa stared at Peter in shock while Ashley merely snapped

Ashley: "Nonsense! Spencer won't leave Hanna! She loves her..."

But Peter ignored the women he arrived with and kept his gaze on Aria.

Peter: "What happened?"

Those two words, and the defeated tone of a man Aria once thought was invincible, were enough to cause the entire events of the day to tumble out of Aria's mouth.

Veronica, Melissa and Ashley gasped when Aria told them that someone was spying on Spencer. They swore when they were told that someone put up cameras in Spencer's room and bathroom, they yelled in anger shock and frustration when Aria revealed the stalker to be Alison and asked curiously as to the whereabouts of Hanna while these discoveries were being made all while Hanna's cries of labour and pleas for her beloved filled the air around them.

Peter Hastings clutched the cigarette case in his palm tighter and Aria could tell that his rage was directed at Alison. So to prevent the man from hunting Alison down and punishing her himself, Aria began speaking

Aria: "Ali took Hanna to the lost woods...she was err...umm...well obsessed with Spencer and thought that Hanna was in the way..."

Clearly understanding where Aria was leading them, Peter harshly spat out

Peter: "So she tried to kill Hanna? Alison tried to kill MY DAUGHTER?"

Aria smiled momentarily when she heard Peter refer to Hanna as his daughter but the smile immediately faded when a loud scream from Hanna filled the air

Aria: "Yeah..she grabbed a pitchfork and was about to stab Hanna but Spencer shielded her...Spencer got stabbed instead..."

Veronica, Ashley and Melissa gasped in shock at the revelation but recovered quickly. Melissa turned to her mother and spoke

Melissa: "Mum find out which operating theatre Spencer is in..."

Aria tried to interrupt the older Hastings but the girl clearly ignored her

Aria: "Melissa..."

Melissa: "...I'll wait there for an update..."

Aria tried once more, her tone desperate and her eyes filled with tears

Aria: "Melissa..."

Melissa: "... and you guys and wait here with Hanna..."

The older Hastings child was about to turn on her heel and march down the hallway when Aria suddenly blurted out

Aria: "SPENCER'S DEAD!"

The broken disbelief etched across Melissa and Veronica's faces caused Aria's heart to snap painfully in her chest. The remaining Hastings women were frozen in shock while Peter's control had slipped causing the man to wipe feebly at the tears streaming down his face. The entire family was destroyed by just two words, the realisation of their loss to great to bear as each surviving member of the Hastings Family broke down. Ashley held Veronica as both women cried bitterly while Melissa rushed into her father's arms as the two of them broke down.

Watching the four of them, Aria felt the sudden need to explain the situation so she just began to speak and could not stop herself

Aria: "...we tried to stop the bleeding, but it was too much...I called 9-1-1 but the ambulance was too far out...Mona, Hanna and I tried to keep her alive, Paige and Emily were holding Alison down and Hanna was screaming...and...and..."

Aria burst into tears once more an action which caused Veronica and Ashley to pull the girl into their embrace as the three of them sobbed

Aria: "I-I-I..t-tried...I tried..."

Veronica: "It's okay sweetie...shh..."

A loud piercing scream from Hanna filled the air, the pain behind the word causing everyone who heard it to shudder in despair.

Hanna: "SPENCER!"

Ashley broke out of the embrace, leaving Aria and Veronica separated from each other, while Melissa untangled herself from her father and latched on to her mother.

Hanna: "SPENCER!"

Hanna's broken please were enough to make Ashley rush into the ward housing her daughter to comfort the girl while Aria remained outside with the rest of the Hastings clan. Veronica and Melissa had collapsed into a few nearby waiting chairs that had littered the hallway while Aria and Peter remained standing in the hallway everyone flinching every time Spencer's name was taken as Hanna's pained cries filled the air.

Aria watched as Peter quickly stuffed the silver cigarette case he had been clutching in his hand into his pocket. The man wiped the tears streaming down his face and stared at the young Montgomery girl. Hanna's screams for his deceased daughter were taking its toll on Peter and the man cleared his throat and spoke, in an attempt to distract himself from the painful turmoil he had found himself in.

Peter: "The man...err.."

Aria stared at the broken Hastings Patriarch and waited for him to continue

Peter: "Pam's err, um, Attacker was caught...it was the same guy who..."

Aria stared at the man and filled in the blanks for herself

'...the man who raped Hanna attacked Pam...Oh my God!'

Peter looked at Aria and sighed deeply

Peter: "Jason Dilaurentis has been arrested on charges of Rape and Assault..."

Aria clamped her hand over her mouth in shock, the father of Hanna's child was revealed but the events of the day had allowed only one thought to cement in her mind.

'that child is Spencer's and the Dilaurentis family took her away from her baby...'

*Inside the Delivery Room*

Hanna's POV

White hot pain bubbled through my body, somehow the gash on my arm had been bandaged but I paid no attention to it. The source of my pain originated in my lower abdomen and desperately I glanced around the room for the only one who could take the pain away. Soon I began calling for her, hoping that she'd hear my voice and come to save me

Hanna: "SPENCER!"

Dr Cochran and Mona flinched at the mention of my girlfriend and quickly I grabbed Mona's hand

Hanna: "Mona...Mona please get Spencer...I need her here...she promised to be here with me!"

A sharp pain surged through me and I called for my beloved once more, hoping my saviour would rush to my side and take away my pain

Hanna: "SPENCER!"

I caught sight of Mona, my best friend, standing beside the doctor but she was not the brunette I was searching for. Mona smiled at me, her expression sad but reassuring, I quickly glanced around once more and locked eyes with Dr Cochran, her expression was sad too but she was determined to do her job. Somehow my mother had entered the room and soon she stood beside me on my left, taking the position that should have been Spencer's, and held my hand as she tried to help me through the birth of my child

Ashley: "You're doing great sweetie...deep breaths okay?...that's my girl..."

Through the deep breaths I was now taking I managed to ask for my saviour once more

Hanna: "Spencer?"

My mother's face fell at the mention of my girl friend so I tried once again, frustrated by the fact that my girlfriend was not by my side after she had promised to be and that no one would tell me where she was

Hanna: "Where...is...she?"

A beat passed, I took a few deep breaths as another wave of pain hit me before I spoke again

Hanna: "She...said...she'd...be ...here..."

Another wave of pain hit me and I cried out before looking up at my mother

Hanna: "I...can't...do...this...without...her..."

My mother now had tears flowing freely down her face, but I couldn't care...I was angry since I wasn't looking at my beloved so I turned my head to the right and closed my eyes to avoid staring at my sobbing mother.

Suddenly my heart skipped a beat, I felt warm, safe and beautiful when I sensed an all too familiar presence beside me. I opened my eyes and smiled at the sight that greeted me before yelling at the person who I saw to my right

Hanna: "Finally ...I ... needed...you..."

The brunette to my right chuckled before quickly placing a chaste kiss to my sweaty forehead. My girlfriend had arrived and suddenly every ounce of pain that I was in didn't matter. She was still wearing the bloodstained crème shirt but I ignored the deep red staining my beloved's torso, Spencer was here beside me, like she promised and now we were going to welcome our baby into the world

Hanna: "Oh...Spencer..."

Immediately I felt the every eye in the room lock on me. My Mother, Mona, Dr Cochran and the various nurses and doctors scurrying about seemed to have stopped moving as I spoke with my beloved

Spencer smiled at me reassuringly as she spoke

Spencer: "You got this Hanna..."

I whimpered softly as I spoke again

Hanna: "It ...hurts ...Spence..."

Spencer frowned deeply when I mentioned the pain and held my hand. I relished the feeling of her hand in mine, sure it was slightly colder than I was used to but in that moment I didn't care.

Spencer: "You're gonna be okay baby..."

I smiled at her, completely missing the bewildered looks everyone in the room were shooting my way. Suddenly Mona's voice filled my ears

Mona: "Han? Han...err...who are you talking to?"

I turned to face Mona and smiled happily ignoring the sharpness in my lower abdomen as another wave of pain bubbled through me

Hanna: "Spencer...Spencer's...here!"

Mona stared at me strangely and was about to speak when I heard my mother's voice

Ashley: "Spencer?...baby...Spencer's...not here..."

I huffed angrily before I spoke to my mother

Hanna: "She's...here! I'm holding...holding...her hand!"

I turned to my girlfriend and yelled

Hanna: "You're here! You're...real...Tell...them...Spencer!"

Spencer: "Something real is actually existing as a thing or occurring in fact..."

Hanna: "I...I don't...know what...what you're say...saying..."

Spencer kissed my forehead again and a sudden warmth spread through me when her lips made contact with my skin, I felt the pain ebb away as she spoke, my body comforted by the sound of her voice

Spencer: "A dream is an experience...and an experience is real...do you understand?"

Hanna: "N-No..."

Spencer chuckled and kissed my forehead once more before speaking

Spencer: "I promised you I'd be here so I am...I'm here for you...and only for you Hanna..."

I smiled at this and clasped her hand tighter in mine as another wave of pain filled me. I was safe, I was going to survive, Spencer was by my side and I couldn't have asked for anyone better.

*Same time- Inside the Delivery Room*

Ashley and Mona shared quizzical looks across the room before turning their attention to Hanna once more.

Ashley stared at her daughter and her heart broke when she realised the extent of Hanna's sorrow

'My poor baby...oh! Hanna...honey...Spencer's gone baby girl...I'm sorry...she's not really here...'

Mona had shared similar sentiments to Ashley Marin while Dr Cochran on the other hand was awed with the latest development regarding Hanna, the good doctor smiled when she heard the birthing blonde speak to her girlfriend before chuckling to herself as she let her thoughts float into the universe

'You kept your promise kid...even from beyond the grave you're supporting Hanna...She needed you Spencer...you did good...'

Lisa Cochran checked the time on a nearby wall clock and sighed, it had been close to 4 hours since Hanna's contractions had started and the new mother was now fully dilated. The stress of the day and the emotional blow dealt to the young mother clearly accelerated the birthing process but Dr Cochran was not too worried about it, she smiled up at Hanna and spoke clearly, grabbing the blonde's attention

Dr Cochran: "Hanna...I need you to push..."

The gynaecologist watched as Hanna turned to her right again, as though asking permission from someone. The doctor smiled when she heard the blonde mumble 'okay Spence' and knew that she was talking to the apparition of her recently deceased girlfriend.

The young mother turned and nodded at me before she slowly began to push. Everyone in the room suddenly became respectfully silent as we watched the miracle of life unfold before our eyes with bated breath.

Hanna's POV

The pain was excruciating, it felt like my lower body was being torn apart as life exploded from me. I held Spencer's hand in a death grip while I cried in pain

Hanna: "ugh!...aahhh...never...again..."

Spencer laughed beside me and gently kissed my temple before speaking to me

Spencer: "You got this Hanna, it's going to be fine..."

I scoffed at this and growled

Hanna: "Well... if you think it's fine...next time...you do it!"

I huffed loudly as I spoke, ignoring the curious and pained glances my mother and Mona were giving me as I talked to my beloved.

Spencer smiled at me and placed a chaste kiss on my forehead just as I felt a sharp stabbing pain in my abdomen. The feel of her cool lips against my sweaty skin numbed me to the pain I was feeling and I almost didn't hear doctor Cochran call out.

Dr Cochran: "We have a head! Hanna...I'm going to need you to push harder..."

I followed the doctor's orders and soon I heard the small soft wails of a new infant. Soon the cries became louder and it hit me that my baby had come into the world.

I refused to look down at the doctor holding my child in their arms, rather I turned to my beloved and asked

Hanna: "Is Peanut okay?"

Spencer glanced quickly at Doctor Cochran and smiled when she saw the woman giggle softly in remembrance

Spencer: "She's pink and covered in gunk but she's healthy and...perfect..."

I smiled up at Spencer before realising what she had said

Hanna: "She? We have a girl?"

Spencer chuckled deeply at my surprise before commenting

Spencer: "Yes Hanna Banana, we have a girl...a mini Hanna..."

I finally looked down at Doctor Cochran holding my little girl in her arms, I laughed happily at the sight before turning to my beloved

Hanna: "...a mini Spencer..."

The brunette beside me kissed my forehead once more before covering my face in chaste kisses. Spencer grinned down at me once she had successfully exhausted her emotions on the surface of my face before turning to look at our child

Spencer: "She's beautiful Han..."

She kissed me once more before standing up and moving away. I blocked out everything and everyone else, my mother and Mona were crying softly in the corner I couldn't be bothered over whether it was out of happiness or worry for my mental state. Doctor Cochran had handed my daughter over to a few nurses to get cleaned up while she smiled up at me. Suddenly, a nurse was beside me putting my baby girl in my arms as I watched the love of my life walk away from me, my voice filled with panic as I cried out to her.

Hanna: "Spencer! Where are you going? We need you! Spencer!"

The brunette I loved smiled sadly as she tried to reassure me

Spencer: "I don't want to go...but I have to...Han...I'm sorry...I's soo sorry...but I'll be around...I'll never truly leave you baby...I love you...I love you both soo much..."

And with that she vanished from my sight and slowly it dawned on me that maybe she was never there in the first place. My heart clenched with sadness as I came to terms with the reality that my beloved was dead, that my child was going to grow up without ever knowing Spencer. I held my little girl in my arms and cried bitterly for my loss. Soon I felt my mother and Mona wrap their arms around me and the three of us cried together. Happiness, sadness, fear and anger swept through me as I dealt with the hormonal aftermath of giving birth and I was so caught up in conflicting emotions that I barely registered the voice of the nurse beside me

Nurse: "So...do we have a name?"

At this, I finally looked down at my daughter and smiled at the sight that greeted me. Even though she had small tufts of blonde hair, her big beautiful brown eyes reminded me so much of the brunette that had just vanished from my life.

I turned to face the nurse beside me and sighed as I said the name I had chosen

Hanna: "Spencer"