AN: Not sure if there is enough interest to continue but here's the next update! Enjoy!

Two weeks later!

Two weeks had passed and Spencer refused to return to school after her humiliating breakdown, she felt weak and stupid and became gradually more withdrawn from her friends, from Toby and even from her mom. Veronica Hastings was at a loss as to what to do for her daughter, who spent her days lying on the couch watching mindless television. Her once lively, sociable daughter was a shell of herself and was shutting herself off from the world and not one of her attempts to help her had worked. She urged Aria, Hanna and Emily to call over but Spencer made excuses not to talk to them, Toby called continuously but Spencer wouldn't let him near her and she made all her daughters favourite dishes but the broken girl couldn't stomach more than a bite.

Standing at the kitchen counter and staring tenderly at her daughter, Veronica had never felt so wrecked. Spencer had lost weight, her clothes hanging off her tiny frame, she had bags under eyes from lack of sleep but what was most scary to Veronica was the haunted yet empty look in those big brown eyes. It truly scared her to see her daughter like this and she knew that she had to find some way to help her. Veronica had sobbed in Peter's arms last night and he too was at a loss as to what to do. Spencer couldn't handle being in the same room as him and even though he understood his daughter's terror, it hurt him not be able to comfort her. He had left for the city that morning, opting to spend some time with Melissa and Veronica desperately hoped that things would be better by the time he returned.

That afternoon the older woman sat for hours on the couch, her daughter's head in her lap as she lovingly stroked her hair. It was a small comfort shared between the two and it gave Veronica a small sense of hope. Feeling her mom's tenderness Spencer felt guilty for putting her mom through this. She wanted to be better, to feel normal again but instead she felt scared and embarrassed and so exhausted. She was tired of putting on a brave face for her friends, for her mom, for her sweet Toby, she just didn't have the energy to pretend that everything was ok so instead of breaking down or reaching out for help, she spent her days avoiding her friends, avoiding her family and avoiding life. Spencer was just drifting off to sleep in her mom's lap when a knock at the door startled her making her jump off the couch and head for the stairs. Veronica let her go knowing that she didn't want to see anyone and headed for the door. She opened the door and was surprised to see Ashley Marin standing on the other side.

"Ashley, hi, come in", she said hiding a yawn and watched as the other woman moved gracefully inside.

"What can I do for you Ashley", she politely asked but wasn't expecting her reply

"Actually, I was hoping to speak to Spencer" she replied and Veronica frowned.

"I don't really think she's up to dealing with Hanna's dramas, Ashley, I'm sorry" she curtly replied but the other woman wasn't fazed insisting that she talk to the girl,

"Please Veronica, I really think it might help", and Veronica decided that at this stage anything was worth a try.

She led Ashley upstairs and gently knocked on her daughter's bedroom door. There was no reply so she carefully peeked her head inside, heartbroken to find her daughter in tears on the bed. Upon seeing her mom Spencer scurried to wipe her tears and was mortified when the ever eloquent Mrs Marin followed her mom into the room. The two older women sat down on the bed as Veronica tried to comfort her daughter. Spencer wondered what Ashley was doing their, why everyone couldn't just leave her alone but she was surprised when the other woman gently reached for her hand and whispered, "You'll get through this honey, I know you can do it" and looking into her eyes Spencer thought that maybe this woman really did know. She panicked slightly as her mom announced she was heading to the grocery store but that Ashley would stay until she got back, but there was something about the other woman, her best friend's mom, that made her feel safe.

Hearing Veronica leave the house, Ashley gently moved closer to Spencer as she began to tell her story, a story that would prove to give Spencer the strength to try and live again.

"My father was a horrible man, Spencer, he was a drunk and he beat me for years", she tearfully began, "and then when I was fifteen by mom died and things got worse. He would drink from one day to the next and he would hit me more often and then one night before my sixteenth birthday he crawled into bed with me", she said and Spencer gasped in shock

"Did he, I mean did he …" she whispered and the older woman nodded tearfully,

"Yes he raped me."

They embraced each other, tear flooding their faces before Ashley pulled back and continued to speak,

"After that night, I packed my bags and I ran and I struggled on my own for a long time. There were lots of days when I felt like giving up but then I realised that that would mean he had won and I couldn't let that happen. So I got a job as a teller in a bank and I worked my way up, I met Tom and I fell in love and for a long time I ignored the love because I wasn't ready to be in a relationship. But then with the help of a counsellor I worked through it and we got married and had Hanna and well you know the rest, but Spencer the point is that you can get through this you just have to fight."

"What if I'm not strong enough" the younger girl whispered but was empowered to feel Ashley's warm hand squeeze hers as she promised, "you are sweetie you just need to let people help you, let people love you", and with that promise Spencer decided that she was right that she wasn't going to let Ian win.

Later that night long after Ashley had left and her mom had returned, Spencer approached her mom with apprehension, she needed to ask her something but felt like maybe asking was a sign of weakness, that what she was requesting would taint her family's reputation. Tentatively she sat down at the kitchen island as her mom ate dinner alone and plucking up her courage she blurted,

"Mom, I think I need to see someone"

Her mother looked up from her pasta shocked. She didn't know what Ashley had said to her daughter but ever since she left Spencer was surprising her, first she had pledged to return to school in two days and now she was asking, really asking for help.

"You mean a counsellor honey, of course, you just tell me when and I can make an appointment" she encouraged and was delighted to see Spencer smile as she replied,

"Tomorrow if you can, thanks mom" before embracing Veronica in a tight hug.

Wiping a stray tear from her eye Veronica hugged her daughter back, believing for the first time that Spencer really could get through this.

Up next some Toby I promise! Please review!