Seasons of Love

by Forever without him

When Alison DiLaurentis is thrust into a world of choices between obligation & loyalty she makes an impossible decision. After spending three years without Emily Fields, she sets out to prove to the brunette that she's worth loving. As looming threats from their past emerge and an unexpected tragedy unfolds, they learn to lean on one another. Canon-Divergent. Rating may change.

27. Dark Side of the Moon

A/N: Thanks for continuing to hang in there with me while I try to get the penultimate chapters out. If you've followed me through my other stories you know I get increasingly neurotic when the story is reaching the climax and the mystery reveal.

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Chapter 26:

Dark Side of the Moon

Tanner kept her eyes on the girls while they were still in the station. She was watching, waiting, lurking.

"I think they're telling the truth." Furey slapped a file down on the desk in front of her, forcing her to tear her eyes away from the glass wall separating them from the girls and their lawyer, who were on their way out.

"You don't know them like I know them." Tanner narrowed her eyes, pinching her brows in suspicion.

Wherever those girls go, trouble follows.

She knew that her entire case with them in Rosewood had been fumbled. But it was only because she didn't have all the pertinent information.

She had gotten reprimanded for that case even though it was out of her control.

"You don't know them either. Not anymore." Furey pointed out. "You used to know them. Years ago. When they were children. I think you're letting your past get to you."

"Maybe. But maybe not."

There was so much unfinished business back in Pennsylvania, and it didn't sit right with her. Jessica DiLaurentis's cold case being reopened was huge.

Charlotte's confession was word for word what was written for cause of death in Jessica's file. Sara Harvey's confession on the Fields' back doorstop added to that.

"You're jaded and you're being biased as hell." He called her out.

"There are a lot of moving pieces to this, Furey. You'll see that once this heats up." Tanner warned him.

"I think you're looking for smoke when there is no fire. From what I saw in that meeting room they fully have themselves together. You have to admit that if the roles were reversed you'd be seeking counsel, too. They were falsely convicted more than once. You came down on them really harsh. I would shut down, too."

"They were keeping secrets." Tanner looked like she was on the verge of a meltdown. A full-on toddler meltdown complete with tantrum.

"We don't know that. Your past with them has made them the perps in your eyes. This case is not against them. In case you're forgetting, someone sent those girls a message that would have ex-mobsters shaking." Furey seemed disappointed in the way she was handling herself. "We're here to help them, Linda. I refuse to make another spectacle of their lives. And if you continue on like this I have no hesitation calling Headquarters over it. So you can either work with me or we can take it up with HQ."

She turned, fully ready to snap at the younger man. But instead she took his criticism and noted it.

"Perhaps I am misjudging them. I just wish we knew everything so we could get to the bottom of this and put it to rest." She sat down and started reading through her notes.

Furey followed the notes as well.

"They seem to think that Sara Harvey was working with Charlotte DiLaurentis, right? But why would Charlotte have Sara killed and then send a trophy to the girls that live here…" He glanced at the file. "Alison and Emily?"

"I told you, everything always comes back to these girls."

"But how?" Furey asked. "It seems statistically unlikely. Unless Charlotte somehow found out that Sara was going to give us intel for a lesser sentence. That could explain the animosity between the two women, as they seemed friendly prior. But why send Sara's severed ear to Alison DiLaurentis and Emily Fields? What was the purpose? And how did it happen?"

"We have the report on that. The attack on Harvey was brutal. She was stabbed dozens of times and her ear was cut clean off." Linda peered at the photos.

"How clean we talking? Like…a hack job or something precise and surgical?" Furey asked.

"A little of both. Whoever did it knew what they were doing, but they didn't have much time to get it done. The cuts don't show hesitation, but they do show either inexperience or someone who rushed through it." Tanner replied.

"Our next step is going to be to backtrack and see how it was exported out of the facility and who got it in the mail without raising red flags." Furey started to formulate a plan. "What do you make of the older DiLaurentis kid? The boy? He's supposedly been gone overseas on business the last few months. And since he's been back he's been cooperating."

"I have never once trusted a DiLaurentis." Tanner shook her head. When she looked up and saw that the lobby was empty she grumbled to herself. "Maybe we need to talk to the local PD...set up some kind of unit that could keep an eye on them."

"You want to spy on them?" Furey frowned. "Good idea. That'll piss them off. Just what we need."

"Not spy. Monitor them for their own safety."

Furey snorted out a laugh,

"Good luck with that. I have a feeling the sue-happy-one…" He read her name, "Spencer Hastings…" He was impressed, because he knew all about Veronica Hastings' campaign. "She'll shut down your spy-ware." Furey leaned back against the desk. "They have Jerica Park-Lewis in their corner, Linda. They know what they're doing. Park-Lewis will run circles around us. She's the real deal. You don't face off with her unless you're ready to lose."

"You realize she's married and you have no shot with her?" Tanner teased.

"Unlike all the other men you've been partnered with, I have no interest in vying for a date. I have my own life. My lovely lady is in El Salvador visiting family."

"You don't wear a ring." Tanner pointed out. "That reminds me…Hanna Marin was sporting an engagement ring, even though she knew it would pique my interest."

"Are you comparing me to a 21-year-old fashion designer?" Furey bellowed a laugh.

"You and Marin have the same big mouth." Tanner uttered.

"I don't make it my business to advertise my family to the bad guys. This line of work can be dangerous."

"You have no idea." Tanner uttered.

"Listen, we've got bigger things to worry about back east. While it's clearly connected to what's happening here, home is where it starts. We have to work with them. Not against them. They are already on edge. We need their cooperation. I'm warning you, don't go at them like you did back there in that meeting. It won't end well. For anyone."

Tanner felt like telling the younger man to fuck off, but she knew there was an air of truth to what he was saying. He wasn't like all of the other arrogant men she'd worked with. He was an intelligent and compassionate person. She was a hot-head and he was the cool one that prevailed.

Balance was important in any partnership.

No one knew that better than one of the young girls she was going head-to-head with.

Spencer knew exactly how Linda Tanner operated. She knew how the older woman processed, and she was not going to be caught in her trap again.

Once they were outside, she grilled their lawyer…in her polite Hastings way. She asked for advice on the next steps and wanted to strategize about future meetings.

"Oh my God, Spencer, relax." Hanna closed her eyes and rubbed her eyelids. "You're stressing me out more than the actual meeting did."

"The questions are fair." Jerica tried to mediate. "I understand it's a high stakes situation, and it probably drudges up bad memories."

"Exactly." Spencer nodded, like only the lawyer got it. "So, what do you make of the other cop?"

"Furey? I don't know yet, but he seems willing to communicate without assigning blame. That could be a good thing or it could be a tactic. He did seem genuine though. We'll have to see where it leads."

"I just want to be prepared. I don't want to get railroaded again."

"I'm not going to let that happen."

"We've heard that before." Spencer sighed.

"Okay. You really want my suggestion?" Jerica lifted a questioning brow.

"Yes. Please. Anything." Spencer needed a direction, some sense of control.

"Unwind. Relax a little. Let me sweat the small stuff. Today went just like I thought it would. We're right where we need to be. It's going to be fine." She offered the girls a warm smile.

Alison peered at her in curiosity. She had doubted her when they first met because she had an aversion to the law and lawyers. But Jerica seemed totally unshakable. It wasn't an act. She was not like lawyers who played it up for the cameras. She actually listened…and what's more…she cared.

When she looked over at Emily she realized the brunette saw it, too.

"You five have done nothing wrong. I know it. Those FBI Agents know it, too. Let me deal with the logistics. Just…take some time to catch up with each other. I'll work on some notes and keep you posted."

"What kind of notes?" Spencer perked up.

"Ones that you don't need to worry about. You shouldn't spend every waking moment here stressed out. You should take some time to find a sense of normalcy."

"What if you have questions that only we can answer?" Spencer challenged.

"Trust me, I'll be able to figure it out. I've been doing this for a long time. Plus…phones exist. I'll take care of this. You just go with your friends."

"I get it." Hanna leaned towards the lawyer, trying to be stealthy, but everyone heard her. "I need breaks from her sometimes, too."

Jerica lifted a curious brow and then laughed it off.

"Like you're a total peach to be around all the time?" Spencer poked Hanna's arm with a smile.

"We all have our vices." Emily shrugged.

"Mine's the most fun." Hanna nodded eagerly. "I know exactly what we all need to lighten the mood." She had a hopeful grin on her face as she turned towards Alison. "Remember those outfits I brought?"

Emily couldn't tell if she had already moved past the interrogation or if she was trying to bury it with random flashy things. Knowing Hanna, it was probably a little bit of both.

"I guess we could do a makeshift catwalk." Alison thought it over.

She knew it would be good to take their minds off of things.

"I'll take the pictures." Aria replied with an eager, yet cautious smile.

"I have a ring-light I could help you set up." Alison was already picturing how she wanted things placed.

"Let the professional worry about that." Hanna reached for her phone and started flipping through it.

"I thought your forte was fashion." Alison peered at Hanna's screen.

"And making models look good." Hanna looked up from her phone.

"I already look good." As soon as Alison said it, she felt conceited, but Emily wrapped her arm around her shoulder and grinned.

"You look the best." Emily argued.

"So…I guess this is happening then." Spencer looked at the lawyer one last time, begging her to say something about how she needed help.

Instead the older woman looked directly at the younger girl with a smile on her face.

"Have fun." It almost sounded like she was teasing Spencer.

Spencer muttered something about how she'd rather have a root canal, but the girls were chattering so much that they didn't hear her.

It wasn't that she wasn't happy that everyone had found something to think about other than all the stress in their lives. She was just worried about what the upcoming days were going to bring.

Emily seemed to sense that she was uncomfortable. She gave Spencer a slight nod. A "let them have this" look.

And of course Spencer was going to let them have their moment of joy. It was just going to take time to adjust to the fact that Charlotte was trying to run circles around them again.

When they got back to the condo Alison and Hanna started working on the outfits and Aria and Spencer set up the ring-light. Emily went between all four of them seeing what they needed.

Getting everything set up was fairly informal. It was a small area. Everyone had already seen the dresses Alison was going to be showcasing to score Hanna points with her boss.

They were gathered in the living room getting ready. Alison was wearing a short red dress not much unlike the dress she'd been wearing for Valentine's Day. But the fabric was different and it had black trim and a slit up the side. It looked like something people wore to parties in Hollywood, which is exactly what Hanna was aiming for.

"That dress looks great on you, Ali." Aria snapped a few pictures. "I could totally see you wearing it at an awards show or fashion week."

"That's so sweet. Thank you. We could find something for you and make it a double photoshoot." Alison suggested.

"I prefer my fashion to be my own. I like making my own statement." Aria politely declined.

"Aria, I love you, but most of your outfits make you look like you're a toddler who dresses herself." Hanna reached for a pin cushion and started looking for areas in the dress that didn't satisfy her.

"We all have phases." Aria didn't seem to mind the jab at her wardrobe.

"Your phase lasted all throughout high school and into college." Hanna challenged.

"I am who I am. Take me or leave me." Aria readjusted the ring-light.

"We'd never leave you." Spencer found herself reaching out to engulf the smaller girl in a hug.

"Aw, thanks." Aria smiled. "What about you? Want to join Alison on the catwalk?"

Spencer looked at Aria like she'd just smacked her.

"I'm going to have to decline. I'm someone who appreciates fashion as much as the next woman…"

"You wear tweed three times a week." Hanna interrupted with a laugh.

"It's comfortable and reliable." Spencer shrugged. "Either way, while you all play dress up I think I'm going to go out and get some air."

"I can show you around. There is a trail not far from the condo." Emily offered.

"Yes, because running into the woods has worked out so well for us in the past." Aria shook her head.

Emily grinned in amusement.

"It's a small park overlooking the ocean. It's an open area. I jog it all the time."

"She thinks she's invincible." Alison scoffed and rolled her eyes.

"Maybe I am." Emily teased, wrinkling her nose and laughing.

"Mmmhmm." Alison twisted a bit to the side so Hanna could get a better fit of the dress on her. "Be careful." She gave Emily a gentle kiss.

"You too." Emily kissed back. "Lock the door and set the alarm after we leave."

"Okay."

"All those years in Rosewood…and none of us thought to ask our parents to install alarms." Aria thought about it.

"My house had alarms." Emily pointed out. "My dad basically locked me in like I was on a military base."

"Only after you freaked out so much that you nearly stabbed him with scissors." Hanna pulled the pin cushion from her mouth and grabbed another safety pin.

"We actually had an alarm before that. My parents rented the house out when my mom went to be with my dad in Texas. The people renting it kept setting it off."

"Oh yeah." Aria nodded. "Why did it never work for you?"

Emily laughed sheepishly and reached up to rub the back of her neck.

"I was constantly disabling it to sneak out. I guess our stalkers did the same."

"Dogs are more efficient than alarms." Spencer interjected. "Criminals are more afraid of guard dogs than alarms."

"Don't look at me. I begged my mom for a dog for years when I was little. I gave up when I hit puberty." Hanna tucked a loose thread from the dress in and pinned it in place.

"You didn't need a guard dog at that point. You had Caleb." Alison reminded her.

"That's true. He had the shaggy hair and the attitude and everything." Hanna laughed. "He even ate all of my food and slept in my bed." She gave her a friends a cheeky look. "Sometimes."

"And cue my exit." Spencer moved towards the door.

Emily followed her. She knew Spencer could take care of herself, but that didn't mean that she didn't need her friends. Spencer hated asking for help. She was as bad as Emily was when it came to admitting she was overwhelmed. It's why Emily was able to pick up on it so easily.

"You don't have to feel obligated to play my tour guide," Spencer said after Emily shut the door and locked it.

"I need an escape as much as you do." Emily clipped her keys to her belt loop. "Besides, I would rather stick my hand in a blender than don sparkly dresses and ten-inch heels."

"So in this scenario I'm the blender?" Spencer laughed.

"Well, you are sharp and cut straight to the point." Emily shrugged.

They walked to the elevator. When it stopped on their floor the doors parted and Zoe and Samara walked out.

"Em, hey." Zoe's expression was a mixture of relief and apprehension.

"Hey." Emily lifted her hand and half-heartedly wiggled her fingers.

"Spencer?" Samara recognized her. "Wow, it's been a long time since I've seen you in person. I don't think I can thank you and your mom enough for what you all give to the Alliance."

Spencer had met Samara briefly when Samara lived in Rosewood. Then she met Zoe online when following up on a conference call for the Alliance donations. She liked them both.

Samara and Zoe knew the girls were in town. As much as they wanted to keep an eye on Emily and Alison to make sure they were okay, they also knew they needed to give them space to breathe. They had offered their place if the girls wanted to crash there. They had a romantic weekend planned at a desert spa. The timing couldn't have been better. Emily was worried they might be targets because they lived so close. She was glad they were getting away for two days.

"It's so nice to meet you in person." Zoe nodded politely. "We were just grabbing our bags. We already told Emily if you'd like to stay at our place…"

"I really appreciate that, but I've got a place lined up already." Spencer shook Zoe's hand.

"Everything go okay at the station?" Samara glanced at Emily.

"As okay as can be expected." Emily had kept the details down to the bare minimum.

She didn't want to pull Zoe and Samara into it. It wasn't fair to them. She told them they'd received something suspicious in the mail and that they suspected it had come from Charlotte. Zoe and Samara didn't ask for more details.

"Our offer stands." Zoe reached up and adjusted her hoop earring, which was caught in her hair. "If you need anything let us know."

"Thank you so much." Emily smiled as Samara put her arm in front of the elevator door to keep it from closing. "Enjoy the spa."

Emily and Spencer walked on to the elevator and Samara moved her arm. They waved goodbye as the doors closed.

"You always luck out with neighbors." Spencer watched as Emily pressed the button for the lobby. "First Toby and now Samara and Zoe."

"Garrett was also my neighbor. And he turned out to be a predator and a dirty cop. It's a mixed bag."

"When did you get so cynical?" Spencer laughed darkly.

"Probably around the time Alison and I received a human ear on our doorstep." The brunette shuddered. "Maybe before. We did go through a lot back east."

"Totally fair." Spencer nodded. "Don't worry. We're going to find out what happened. And we're going to put a stop to this."

Emily looked over at her friend and managed to shoot her a smile, though it wavered.

"I'm as freaked out as you are about all this." Spencer admitted. "I didn't have time to think about the anxiety and the panic while I was getting everything in order to come out here, but now it's real. And I'm kind of spinning out."

"I know." Emily gave Spencer's hand a gentle squeeze and let go. "I know how that brain of yours works."

"Really? Can you map it out for me? Because most of the time I feel like I have five brain cells angrily slapping post-it notes on a large board of chaos telling me how much of a failure I am for not seeing this coming."

"Hey, don't be so hard on yourself." Emily shook her head as the elevator doors opened. "Look at what you've accomplished in less than a day. You got everyone out here and you secured a shark of a lawyer."

"True." Spencer took the praise. "But now what?"

"Now…" Emily took a few steps forward. "We eat. There's a little sandwich cart we can hit up on the trail. It's really good."

"Sandwiches?" Spencer followed. "After all of…that." She motioned up and pointed towards the condos above them, "Sandwiches is your answer."

"We have to eat." Emily shrugged. "You've barely touched food since you got here."

"That's your biggest concern right now?" Spencer lifted a brow in curiosity as Emily opened the door to the building.

"Yes." She walked out and let the door slowly shut behind Spencer.

"That's why you came with me?"

"That…and I'm running away from the fashion queen in my apartment."

Spencer let out a boisterous laugh.

"Which one?"

"All of them." Emily smiled.

"I get it." Spencer didn't argue. "So…tell me about this little sandwich cart."

"They freestyle. Sometimes it's sandwiches. Sometimes it's burritos. And sometimes it's ice cream. They usually have a mix of things."

"Innovative." Spencer nodded in appreciation.

"It's amazing. They partner with lower income communities and libraries. They have this program where they lend books to children from preschool to high school and when the kids return the books after they've read them they have to answer two or three questions to make sure the kid really read it. After that they get a ticket for a free sandwich, taco, or dessert of their choice." Emily smiled.

"Neighbors helping neighbors." Spencer approved. "What do they offer adults?"

"Good food at rational prices. They work because of word of mouth. A bunch of kids have social media hashtags about the book program that I've seen while working with the social media team at the Alliance. I think it's great that they're trying to improve literacy. And in general their food is delicious."

"Cool. I'm sold. Let's go." Spencer set the pace. "Too bad we don't have Aria. We could dress her up and pass her off as a child."

Emily laughed.

"No kidding. Not to mention…she wouldn't flinch if she was quizzed about a book." Emily kept up with Spencer's pace. "I meant to ask the girls if they wanted anything. Alison likes their literacy program, but not the food. But I should ask Aria and Hanna."

"Aria won't eat anything that ever had a face or a heart. And she won't do animal byproducts either. Are there vegan options?"

"Three. I can see what she wants. I'll check in with Hanna, too. She's not really picky."

Emily pulled her phone out and checked with the other girls to see if they wanted anything, but they were too busy with the fashion show to care about food.

Alison says this is what you're missing.

Hanna had attached a photo of Alison in a skin-tight black dress. The blonde was winking at the camera.

Tempting. But is that a 'yes' or a 'no' on the food?

There was a brief pause before Hanna responded,

Alison said something I'm not going to repeat about having everything you could ever want to eat right here in the condo.

She showed Hanna's response to Spencer, who blew out a breath and started laughing.

"I don't know about the others, but I think it's funny that you went from keeping your relationship quiet for several months and now Alison is flat out sexting you through Hanna."

"What can I say? We're trying to live in the moment." Emily's cheeks turned red.

I'll grab something on our way back for you all to eat. Tell Alison she looks delicious.

Hanna shot back a quick retort,

I didn't know this fashion job was going to include three-ways, but okay.

Emily laughed and put her phone away. Alison clearly had their full attention. Food was the last thing on their minds.

"Guess it's just us. I'll check back later." Emily shrugged.

"Yes. Later. After they're drunk from the mimosas they're sure to be having while we're away." Spencer grinned at her.

"Yeah." Emily nodded with a sigh. "I can see that happening. I remember when we were young and we slipped out to the barn to have mimosas. We thought we were so sophisticated and grown up. Then Melissa caught us." She laughed. When she mentioned Spencer's older sister she saw the same look on her face that she'd seen when Spencer said her name at dinner. "She was so mad at us."

"Melissa is mad at the world." Spencer mumbled, trying to avoid eye contact.

"Are things between you really that bad? I know you two don't get along, but I didn't realize your relationship was at an Alison-Jason level of headbutting."

Spencer looked up, but didn't respond. There was a flicker in her eyes, and Emily could tell she was holding back.

"Hey, what's wrong? Is something going on with her?" Emily asked gently. She didn't want to force it out of her, but she'd noticed that Spencer had been acting weird about Melissa since she first got to Malibu.

"Nothing out of the ordinary for her." She clenched her teeth.

"You know you can always talk to me, right? Maybe I don't understand what it's like growing up with siblings, but I do know what it's like to feel like an outcast in my own family."

"It's not so much that. I have been dealing with being the Black Sheep my entire life. There is just…a lot that I am working through."

Emily waited for Spencer to elaborate, but when she didn't Emily stepped back and let her process what she needed to on her own. She wasn't going to hold Spencer down and demand to know what was going on.

"Is that the trail?" Spencer peered at the start of a walking area behind Emily.

Clearly they were done with the Melissa conversation.

"Yeah." Emily nodded, motioning for Spencer to follow. "The trees won't be in full bloom, but it's still a nice walk."

Spencer wordlessly followed.

Halfway through their walk they found the food cart, which was constantly moving. There was a variety to choose from. Emily knew Spencer's stomach was twisted in knots from anxiety, so she guided her towards the milder and easier to digest meals.

They both opted for fairly plain house sandwiches that were wrapped up nice and tight in foil to keep them fresh. They held on to their food as they trekked towards their destination.

Emily stopped to show Spencer where the water fountains were so they could fill up their thermoses with water.

Spencer seemed to be taking to nature in a way Emily hadn't seen before. The prickly Senator's daughter had a natural dislike of being surrounded by the woods. Emily didn't blame her. When Spencer was sixteen she found a body whom she believed was the love of her life in a forest. Even though Toby was okay, Spencer was still scarred from that experience.

Beyond that they'd been held in a bunker in the middle of nowhere surrounded by the woods. It didn't bring back the best memories.

But Spencer looked like she felt free in the California wilderness.

"It's so peaceful out here." Spencer closed her eyes, listening to the sounds of the squirrels scurrying in the trees. "It's kind of like the ocean. Existing in infamy with great power." She took a deep breath and opened her eyes. "I've been out here a few times for 'Preserve Our Natural Forest' for my mom's campaign, but this just feels more authentic."

"Because nothing in politics feels authentic." Emily pointed out.

"Spot on." Spencer didn't argue.

They walked up a small hill. Emily was leading the way, and Spencer was happily following her. Spencer didn't ask her friend where they were going. She trusted her to lead. It was a rarity in the dynamic in their friendship, because Spencer usually had to be in charge. But in this instance she knew she was out of her depth. And as she got older she realized she had to learn to trust the people she loved.

After a while they walked out on to an overlook where the beach was visible from miles away. They claimed an empty bench and sat down.

Emily folded the wrap covering her sandwich back and took a bite.

"This is where I come when I need a breather." Emily admitted. "It's quiet. It's peaceful."

"It's perfect." Spencer unwrapped her sandwich.

They sat in silence for a few minutes as they ate and watched the ocean from the distance. Spencer's eyes were on the ocean, but her mind seemed millions of miles away. Emily knew the feeling well. It was what happened when reality was lost long enough to give some semblance of serenity.

"I never asked you why you chose Malibu, of all places. And I know it wasn't for Pepperdine. I know you had other offers. I find it intriguing that the rest of us stayed close to the east coast, granted we travel. But completely uprooting everything and going across the country is brave." Her eyes were still on the horizon.

"Being in politics is brave. So is going into fashion and publishing books. And putting yourself out there on camera for the world to see. In a way, we all chose very brave options." Emily smiled.

"I guess." Spencer nodded. "Still curious about your move, though."

"Malibu just felt right." Emily finished off the last of her sandwich. "I can't explain it. I got that acceptance letter and it fell into place. When I was holding that letter in my hand I knew that's where I was going to go. It felt like an opportunity to do everything over…to explore and to reinvent myself."

"You get that from your dad." Spencer smiled.

"A little. Part of it is the wunderlust of traveling." Emily paused to consider something. "I think I was kind of drifting after I lost my opportunity at a swim scholarship. I needed to figure out who I was without Rosewood."

"You kept in touch with us."

"You guys aren't Rosewood. You're family."

Spencer nudged Emily's shoulder, giving it an appreciative bump.

"You are, too. Even when you're annoyingly protective and put yourself in precarious situations."

Emily chuckled, her smile slowly fading as she peered into the distance.

"It wasn't always easy. It was hard to leave everyone. You all felt so far away. I cried a lot the first couple of months," she admitted.

"I'm going to tell you something I've never told another living soul. And if you tell anyone, I'll deny it." Spencer peered at her friend, her face soft and compassionate. "I cried a lot, too. I think we all did. It was healing…in some ways."

"Exactly." Emily nodded. "I could never put it into words. I was sad, but I also felt a sense of…I don't know…relief?"

"Because we made it out. We made it out of that hellhole alive." Spencer's expression hardened.

"Yeah." Emily tried to keep the past from tearing her apart, though Charlotte wasn't making it easy. "Everything we went through, and we're still here. It took some time, but I did actually find my footing here."

"And you're happy?" Spencer questioned. "With Alison?"

"Very." Emily felt the warmth in her veins flood her entire body. Her cheeks felt hot and her stomach was fluttering. "It wasn't easy getting where we are, but I can't imagine my world without her in it. All the social media and fame and fanfare included."

She could picture Alison strutting around their living room in all of the outfits Hanna had brought for her. She was twirling around and working the camera. Emily didn't have to be there to know exactly what she was doing.

"You know, out of all of us I think you're the only one who has any common sense." Spencer picked at the wrap on her sandwich and stared into the distance.

"Why is that?"

"Because despite Alison's career you have managed to stay completely under the radar. You're the only one who chose to study something that hasn't put you in the spotlight." Spencer exposed her sandwich a bit more and nibbled on it.

"It wasn't always my career path. I had my heart set on the Olympics."

"Mona and Charlotte really made sure to crush that dream." She muttered.

"I don't know." Emily shrugged, taking a sip of water. "I think it was always a long shot. Every athlete dreams of the day they qualify for the Olympics, but very few get that far."

"Do you ever wonder what could have happened if you hadn't hurt your shoulder?" Spencer asked.

"I spent my whole life trying not to wonder what could happen…because of my dad and his job." She sighed. She saw Spencer flinch. "I mean…sure, I had dreams. But the reality is I think it's always been in my nature to do exactly what I'm doing. I think I'm where I'm supposed to be."

"On the west coast?" Spencer smiled.

"Helping people."

"Have you decided what you want to do yet?"

"No. But I feel like it's leading me somewhere."

"I think no matter what you do, you're going to be amazing at it. You're smart. You're compassionate…"

"And in love."

"I'm happy for you."

"What about you?" Emily asked.

"What about me?"

"How is politics working out?"

"It's great. I get to argue with people and tell dumbasses to get lost. It's a good stress reliever." Spencer took a bite of her sandwich and chewed slowly. "Of course, it's also the reason I'm stressed in the first place. But I prefer being able to control the narrative."

"Hence you hopping on a plane the second you found out about Charlotte's demented little gift." Emily pointed out.

"Couldn't leave you two hanging. It didn't feel right."

"I know, but I feel like this is too much. I'm glad you all are here, but Tanner asking you to stay in town isn't fair. You have your own lives to live."

"Aria and I talked about this last night. Her boss doesn't care where she is as long as she sends her manuscript pages in. And I can take a few days. I've got some groundwork to cover for my mom's campaign anyway. Donors to meet and all that glamorous work. I'm also wildly ahead in most of my courses and I can easily keep up online. I'm not as sure about Hanna, but she seems like she's fine with it."

"As long as her boss thinks she's here coordinating with Alison I think it'll work out for her. It's still unfair that you three had to uproot your entire lives to come out here for this though." Emily furrowed her brow.

"You worry too much." Spencer rolled her eyes.

"That's the pot calling the kettle black." Emily scoffed.

"I worry just the right amount." Spencer argued with a smile. "You worried yourself right into an ulcer in high school." She paused and then scratched her brow. "Then again, I ended up popping pills and wound up in a mental institution." She paused and shook her head. "Sometimes I look back and wonder how you didn't end up my roommate in Radley. All that death you dealt with."

"After Maya died I drank myself into oblivion. I don't remember anything about that summer. I completely blacked out. My coping mechanisms weren't exactly healthy." Emily ran her fingers through her hair. "Alison came back for me, but I barely remember that."

"She came back?" Spencer glanced at her in surprised. "When?"

"I was apparently running around the woods drunk after Maya was killed. Alison took me home."

"I had no idea." Spencer replied quietly as she considered Alison's actions.

"I didn't either. Not until recently." Emily stretched her legs out and wiggled her toes. "It's not like I'm surprised. She came back for all of us at one point."

"She didn't show up for us the way she showed up for you though." Spencer finished her sandwich. "She was always in love with you."

Emily smiled.

"I know a certain someone who was always in love with you, too." Emily winked.

"Toby and I were different…are different…" She corrected herself. "Alison had someone trying to kill her and she came out into the open when you were in trouble every single time. She risked her life for all of us, but she would have risked everything for you."

"She did risk everything for me." Emily answered thoughtfully. "That's why I need you to promise me something."

Spencer scrutinized her.

"I'm not sure I like where this is going." Spencer's entire demeanor changed.

"Charlotte destroyed all of us, including Alison. But she had an extra three years to hurt her. And I won't let it happen again. I want your word that no matter what goes down from here, Alison comes before I do."

"Em…" Spencer frowned in annoyance. "You can't ask me to make that kind of decision…"

"I'm making the choice. You don't have to. I'm going to do whatever I have to do to protect her…"

"Alison is going to blow her top if she finds out." Spencer warned.

"She won't. Because this stays between us. I know what I'm asking. And I'm sorry. I really am. I'm desperate here. I can't stand myself for putting you in this position, but it has to be you. I love Hanna and Aria with all my heart, but you're the one I know who can see this through."

"I don't think I understand what it is exactly you want me to do." Spencer stared blankly at her.

"You do. Deep down…you do. And you'll know what to do if things go south." Emily sighed and pinched the bridge of her nose. "I know how dangerous this is. We all know what Charlotte is capable of. We already know someone else is involved. And Charlotte won't stop until she gets to Ali. And I won't let that happen. If I have to kill for her, I will. If I have to die for her…"

"Emily, I swear to God if you finish that sentence…" Spencer cut her eyes at her friend sharply.

"I just need to hear it. Your word, Spence."

There was a pause and then Spencer replied,

"Yeah," she nodded, not sure how else to respond, "I promise. I've got her." There was another silence followed by, "I mean Alison and I are pretty much stepsisters since my dad can't keep it in his pants."

They looked at each other and then started laughing.

"So, this was your devious plan all along." Spencer teased with a smile. "Swoon me with sandwiches and a good time and then Godfather your way into 'a favor'." She lowered her voice to a raspy gravely mob accent and did her best impression of Marlon Brando.

"I'm sorry." Emily took a sip of her water. "I didn't mean to ambush you. I think the reality of everything is just starting to hit. And realism sucks. But just so you know, you could have said no and I wouldn't have been mad."

"I think you know I wasn't going to." Spencer smiled. "And since you're the one who brought it up, I expect the same in return. Toby still lives in Rosewood. And he adores you. He loves you like a little sister. Charlotte won't hesitate to use that against you. I'm going to do everything in my power to see to it that she doesn't get the chance. But if I cross lines that can be uncrossed…"

"You have my word, too." Emily interrupted before Spencer could finish.

She knew what was being asked of her.

"The timing of this conversation is a little terrifying, but not for reasons you would think." Spencer flicked her toes, moving her shoes. "I thought about this a lot on the plane, and I was going to have a similar talk with you. You beat me to it." She frowned. "That annoys me."

"Why?" Emily couldn't help but laugh. "We both got what we asked for."

"I'm competitive." Spencer pouted. "I wanted to ask first."

"We can pretend it happened that way if you want."

Spencer was all-smiles again, but Emily still felt a pool of guilt in her stomach. Asking Spencer to make the choice if it came down to Alison's life or hers felt dirty. It wasn't an easy ask. It wasn't something that was even in the realm of possibility for her when she and Alison ran into each other one sunny summer afternoon. But things were changing. Tides were turning.

And tensions were incredibly high.

She had no way of knowing that in that exact moment, Hanna and Alison were making tough decisions of their own.

At the condo the mood was still light and airy.

Hanna was so busy making her impossible choices in fashion that she hadn't noticed that Alison had gone quiet.

They had been having a great time catching up. Hanna had been changing Alison's clothes like she was a grammy-winning singer going for the record of most outfits in one performance.

But things had slowed down a bit, and Alison had too much downtime with her thoughts…which she did not like.

She had seen a strange look on Emily's face when she left with Spencer. Alison had suspected she wanted to talk to her, but she couldn't imagine what Emily would want to keep from her.

"What do you think they're plotting?" Alison stared at her reflection in the mirror.

She was not a huge fan of letting Hanna do her make-up, but Hanna was a step up from Aria who had basically made her look like an angry goth with heavy eye-liner for the last outfit. On the plus side, Aria was more gentle with her approach. Hanna poked her incessantly with the eyeliner because she was multitasking. She made Alison's make-up artists on set seem tame.

Hanna had sent Aria to get fresh coffee from a coffee shop around the corner while they switched up Alison's style.

While sharing the condo with Hanna, Alison had learned that Hanna had turned into an aggressive stage-manager in New York. Aria had been happy for the reprieve. She was using it as an opportunity to call Liam to make sure he and the dog were okay.

Hanna stopped assaulting Alison's eyes long enough to peer at her in confusion.

"Who's plotting? What are you talking about? Tanner and that new guy? Forget about them. Not worth letting them live rent-free in your head." Hanna didn't seem concerned.

"How many mimosas did you have between my first three wardrobe changes?" Alison scoffed.

"Don't worry about it. It doesn't matter." She put the eyeliner down. "But that reminds me, you're out of orange juice. I'm going to text Aria to see if she'll grab some while she's out."

She started tapping her nails on her phone.

Better her phone than my face. Alison thought to herself.

If she had told her high school self that three years after graduation she would be letting Hanna style her she would have laughed in her own face. It did serve as a nice distraction, but not enough to keep her mind from wandering.

Aria had been gone for longer than Alison liked.

"Maybe we shouldn't have sent her out on her own." Alison bit her lip.

"Stop that. You're smearing your lipstick. Now I have to do it all over again." Hanna scolded. "Aria will be fine. It's broad daylight and there are plenty of people around. She practically volunteered."

"I would have volunteered had I known it was an option." Alison uttered.

"What?" Hanna asked.

"Nothing." She smiled innocently.

Hanna's phone buzzed.

"See? Aria is fine." She put her phone back down. "Now, where were we?" She peered at the plethora of make-up spread out all over the counter.

"I was talking about Emily and Spencer plotting something."

"Oh, that's what you're worried about?" Hanna reached for a peach blush. "They're probably talking law strategy."

"I don't know about that. Emily had a look in her eyes when she left."

"What are you talking about?"

"I'm still trying to figure that out." Alison sighed. She looked at her reflection, a girl she barely knew. "Hanna, do you ever ask yourself what you would do for Caleb? Like…how far you would go?"

"I would straight up murder for him. He would do the same." Hanna had clearly given it consideration. "That's part of being in love."

"Don't ever let anyone dull that ferocity of yours. It's one of the things I love most about you."

"That I would kill for love?" Hanna chuckled.

"That you would do anything for the people you're loyal to."

"You make me sound like I'm a Saint Bernard or something." Hanna feigned a frown. "And I'm offended. If anything, I'm a Golden Retriever. Do you not see the hair?"

"Beethoven was a Saint Bernard. And he was very heroic." Alison pointed out.

"The classical music guy?" Hanna pursed her lips.

"Never mind." It wasn't even worth explaining that she was talking about a movie with a dog and not the classical composer.

"I wonder what Cheese would do if Caleb brought a dog home. He keeps insisting on doing it. He wants us to be a two-pet household." She looked both excited and overwhelmed at the idea. "As if we don't clean up enough fur. I swear Cheese sheds on purpose."

"You love that cat. Don't deny it." Alison poked her elbow.

"A little." Hanna smiled.

"I think about asking Em if she wants a pet sometimes. I think we're both too busy right now, but maybe in the future. I liked it when I had Pepe around after I got back from being on the run."

"Yeah. It sucks that Jason left the gate open. I know he's your brother and all, but that was a real dick move." Hanna frowned.

"He is a dick." Alison didn't deny it.

"When you think about it, all of our siblings really sucked. Not just yours. Melissa was a terrorist. My step-bitch sister Kate was a lying two-faced ho. Mike dated Mona after Mona tortured us for years. I mean, I like Aria's brother and everything, but that was shitty. And I say that as someone who is friends with Mona. What she did to Aria is unforgivable, and Mike dated her, bringing her around while Aria was still dealing with PTSD. Makes me regret ever having a crush on him. He was such an entitled douchebag. If I could go back I would have punched every single one of them in the face."

"I get that." Alison nodded in solidarity.

"I'm just glad we have our chosen family." Hanna smiled.

It was just what Alison needed to hear. Their blood relatives were mostly terrible people, but they had each other.

Chosen family.

"Definitely." Alison picked at an uneven nail cuticle. "Hey, can I ask you a favor?"

"You're saving me from my boss's wrath right now. I'd give you a kidney if you asked me." She stopped when she thought about the human ear sitting in police custody and backtracked. "Not like as a gross gift in a holiday box or anything…"

"I know what you meant." Alison laughed softly.

"So, what's up?"

"I've put Emily through so much. I never intended on bringing my past with me, much less did I think it was going to put her in danger. Ever since we were kids she would constantly sacrifice herself to protect us. She ran towards the danger."

"She still does." Hanna bit her lip.

"Which is exactly why I need you to protect her, no matter what. I'm going to do everything I can to keep her from getting hurt this time, but if something happens to me…"

"Nothing is going to happen to you. Spencer and the lawyer are on it."

"We don't know what's going to happen. I just need to know that if something does happen don't let her do anything stupid. Take care of her for me."

"Would you relax? Nothing is going to happen to you! Or to Emily!" Hanna blew out a frustrated breath. "Your neurosis makes you two perfect for one another. Everything is going to be fine. We're all here for you."

"Because Charlotte has never dared coming after all of us together?" Alison challenged.

"You're overreacting." Hanna saw that Alison's patience was wearing thin. "Fine. If you do something stupid, I've got Em, okay? Geeze, no more caffeine for you..."

"That's all I ask." Alison nodded in satisfaction. "And don't you dare touch my caffeine."

There was a quiet pause as the fashionista considered something.

"Why me?" Hanna asked.

"What?"

"Why did you ask me to take care of Emily, and not one of the other girls?"

"Because you love Em enough to put her first even if she asked you not to. I won't ever begrudge you for that."

"It's not like that…" Hanna softened. "I care about you, too."

"But not like her. You said it yourself. Chosen family. Emily is your sister. Aria and Spencer love and respect her. But you two have always had something special. Spencer would do anything Emily asked her to do. That's what they've always done for each other. They both feel the need to step into that role. And Aria just wants everyone to be equal. But you know how to make the tough choices. And I admire the hell out of you for that."

"Really?" Hanna smiled.

"I'm sitting here in what has to be the seventh outfit you flew across the country with trying to keep my eyes from watering because the last thing I want is to ruin my make-up and disappoint you." Alison laughed softly. "Yes, really."

"It's the eighth outfit." Hanna corrected her. "And for the record, I don't mind touching up your make-up."

"Well, I do. You're going to blind me with that damn eye-liner."

They both laughed.

"You know, Ali, you're wrong about one thing."

"What?"

"Emily could convince anyone on this planet to fight for you. She loves you enough to make it happen."

"Not everyone. I've definitely made some enemies who will hate me until the day I die."

"Which will not be any time soon." Hanna stated firmly.

Alison shrugged and looked in the mirror.

"I need more eye shadow. And this blush makes me look like a fried sweet potato."

"I should thank you, you know." Hanna primped Alison's hair, wafting it out like soft wavy feathers to play up the next outfit.

"Modeling is no big deal. You don't have to thank me." Alison popped her lips and glanced in the mirror.

"Not for that." Hanna grinned, her reflection catching a glint in her eye. "For giving me experience in dealing with dramatic divas who demand their way."

"I…" Alison opened her mouth with a counter-argument, but she realized she didn't have one, "Actually, that's a valid point. But I think we can all learn ways to better ourselves. And I'm trying."

Hanna started to laugh.

"I'm just messing with you. Lighten up." She straightened Alison's hair out. "I know you and Em are wound up really tight, and I get that. I am, too."

"Yeah, sorry about that. Emily and I tried to keep you all out of it for as long as we could. Guess we were naïve to try."

"It's ironic." Hanna paused in thought. "We lied our way through high school and now we can't keep the truth from one another if we tried."

"Full circle." Alison shrugged.

"You know, even before Emily asked for Caleb's help we felt like something was wrong. I thought I was reading too much into things, but Caleb kept telling me that there was something going on. Then I started having these dreams about getting phone calls in the middle of the night telling me that Charlotte had gotten to you and Em and no one got there in time to save you."

"Yeah, her nightmare fuel never ends." Alison sighed, catching Hanna's eyes in the mirror. "Still nothing from Caleb?"

"He's ruled out two other people on the list, but that's it. He did say he was circling back to Theodore Kim. He thinks he found a connection that warrants a closer look. He told me this morning. I was going to say something when we got back from the inquisition with Tanner."

"Did he say what the connection was?" Alison asked hopefully.

"He's running through the records again, cross-referencing birth dates and his medical training."

"Maybe we'll luck out and he'll find something and we'll be a step closer to our freedom."

"I don't know that we'll ever be free-free." Hanna looked away, her eyes distant.

They carried their trauma with them.

"Alison? Hanna?" Aria interrupted the silence.

They heard the front door close and the alarm code being punched in.

"Back here! Bedroom!" Alison called back.

"I hope you're just doing modeling stuff and not anything of the bedroom variety." Her voice got closer. Seconds later she was pushing the cracked door open all the way. "Otherwise I'd have to kick both of your asses for doing that to Em."

She was holding a tray of take-out coffee and a paper bag with the top of an orange juice container poking out.

"When did you become a comedian?" Hanna asked.

"You should really read her book. There's some one-liners in it that are pretty clever." Alison stood up. "How do I look?"

Aria took in the touched-up make up.

"You look…nice." She struggled to get the word out.

Her face betrayed her.

"I want your real opinion." Alison frowned.

She knew she looked like a clown in the make-up.

"You like you fell asleep in a tanning bed…" Aria laughed.

"See?" Alison faced Hanna. "The blush is too much."

"You look like an orange who just had a skin-peel." Aria put the tray of coffees down.

"I heard you the first time. Thanks." Hanna was not amused. "It's going to work for the camera. Trust me."

"How? She looks like a deflated Oompa Loompa!" The shorter girl was doubled over in laughter."

Alison started laughing with Aria. She thought she looked silly, too. And she was glad that Aria was telling the truth. Seeing her smile was a bonus. She liked it when the girls were happy.

Twenty minutes later it was Hanna who got the last laugh. With the way the lighting was set up and the way she staged the photos, Alison looked like a normal everyday supermodel.

"Got to admit, this really worked out well." Aria scrolled through the photos.

"Told you so." Hanna stuck her tongue out at Alison and Aria. "Now, how about another round of mimosas? Spencer and Emily should be back soon, and they can join the party when they get here."

They made another round of mimosas and started going through the photos.

"I think this one is my favorite." Aria pulled up a photo of Alison in a slim-fit black dress where she was naturally posed slightly sideways with her head turned towards the camera. Her right leg was angled out in front of her and she had a sultry look on her face exacerbated by her smoky-eye make-up.

"That's because you did the make-up for this one." Hanna teased her. "You were right about smoky-eye though."

"Not too bad for a girl who wears forks for earrings, right?" Aria smiled at her friends.

Hanna went to the next picture.

"Oh, look at this one!" Hanna tilted her head to look at the photo from different angles.

Alison was in the same dress, but the pose was different. She had turned to showcase the back of the dress where cris-crossed lace tied the top portion together. Alison was looking over her shoulder.

"I'm getting 'brooding vampire' from this one." Aria nodded.

"If that's your way of calling me ageless and beautiful I'll take that compliment." Alison smiled.

They scrolled through several more photos, laughing and pointing out their favorites.

After another twenty minutes of playing Project Runway they slowly started to drift back into reality.

Emily sent a text to Alison letting her know she and Spencer were heading back to the condo and that she was picking up food for them.

Alison sent back a kissy-face emoji and two wine glasses clinking. They'd polished off their mimosas. Alison stared at her phone.

"This all seems a little…" Alison sighed, a serious note in her tone.

"Weird?" Hanna finished her thought for her.

"I was going to say inconsequential…" Aria nodded in agreement.

"Ever the wordsmith. I bet you read the dictionary before bed every night." Hanna grinned playfully at Aria.

"Hanna, I write for a living. What else did you expect?" Aria snorted.

"Do you guys want to stop?" Hanna looked at the pile of dresses neatly hung up in a bag and draped over the back of the living room chair.

"No. I'm not saying it's not a breath of fresh air. I don't mean to belittle your work. That's not what this is about." Alison clarified. "It just feels strange knowing what's coming."

"No offense taken. I actually feel the same way." Hanna put her mind at ease. "Considering what's going on right now it's hard to let ourselves be happy. But I think we deserve to find the joy in our lives. If we don't, then she wins." Hanna didn't have to spell out who she was talking about, because they knew. "That's part of the reason I brought all this stuff." She gestured to her baggage. "I just wanted to take everyone's mind off of it, including my own."

"You've successfully done that and more." Aria leaned into the blonde fashion guru. "I mean, you're engaged. That alone is huge!"

Hanna's entire face flushed and she smiled, her eyes aflutter with delight.

"I'm so excited!" She squeaked, daring to let herself feel happy.

"We're excited for you." Alison enthusiastically joined in. "When Spencer and Emily get back we can start planning a party for you."

"I don't think you're supposed to tell me about the party. It's supposed to be a surprise."

"Like you're going to let us plan a celebration without your input?" Aria asked.

Hanna couldn't argue.

"It's very hard for me to give up control." She admitted.

"Me too." Alison understood where Hanna was coming from.

They had all lost control when Mona and Charlotte had started torturing them.

"I guess I went a little overboard." Hanna looked at the remaining dresses.

Her job was something she was in control of. She assumed by creating a distraction she'd be able to hold on to some semblance of where the raging river was taking them this time.

"Not at all." Alison smiled. "This is exactly the kind of therapy I needed. Just fashion, friends, and a good time."

"I was thinking the same thing." Aria tapped her fingernail against her empty mimosa glass.

"Let's take a picture." Hanna grabbed her phone and held it up.

They leaned in close, their cheeks touching. Hanna snapped it and they all smiled. She texted it to Aria and Alison.

"I'm so glad I have you all in my life." Alison smiled at the picture. "Thank you so much for giving me another chance."

She peered at Hanna, their eyes meeting.

Their silent exchange said more than Aria knew.

Alison nodded slightly in Hanna's direction.

Hanna nodded back.

I've got Em. I promise.

Alison looked down at her text from Emily.

We're on our way back. Stopping for food, but we shouldn't be too long.

Alison picked up her phone, spontaneously replying,

I love you.

About a mile away, Emily's phone went off.

She pulled her phone out of her pocket and smiled at the message on her screen. She sent back several heart emojis and was putting her phone away just as Spencer's phone started to ring.

"Is it the girls? I bet they're drunk and the mention of food is making them impatient." Emily chuckled.

"Actually…" Spencer smiled at the screen. "It's Toby. Do you mind?" She slowed her pace. "I've been waiting for him to call me back."

"Sure. Tell him I said hi…and tell him to stop worrying." Emily took the hint and put a little distance between them, stopping to look at some birds hopping around.

She meandered behind Spencer, letting her friend take the lead. She was careful not to eavesdrop. She peered at her phone. Hanna had sent several photos of Alison showcasing her boss's designs. Not one dress looked bad on the blonde.

When they got closer to the food cart Emily saw Spencer break away and move towards a bench. Emily went to grab food for the others. There was a short line, so she started playing on her phone.

About a minute went by. Then she was interrupted.

"Ms. Fields."

Emily's shoulders tensed. She slowly looked up and made eye contact with the older FBI agent. Emily didn't say anything. She didn't want to be seen as hostile.

Tanner held her palms up in a show that she was there in peace.

"I assure you I am not following you." Tanner glanced at the food stand. "Furey likes this spot, so I'm getting our lunch."

"It's good food." Emily kept it casual. She wanted to call Jerica, but she waited.

"I owe you and the other girls an apology." Tanner admitted. She sounded sincere, but Emily wasn't sure she bought it. "I let my history cloud my judgment and I was too harsh with you this morning. You have every right not to trust law enforcement. And I'm afraid I was a part of that."

Emily kept her mouth shut, just like the lawyer advised.

"I misjudged you when you were younger. And I misjudged you this morning." When Emily didn't respond, Tanner continued. "I won't let the past get in the way in this investigation. My partner and I are serious about protecting you all."

The brunette sized her up.

"Why are you really here?" Emily questioned.

Tanner smiled.

"Furey raves about the burritos here. I wanted to see what the fuss was all about." The older woman responded with a shrug.

"The Carnitas are delicious." Emily glanced at the menu. "I'm more of a Campechano fan. Or Vegan Barbacoa if you don't like meat." Though she knew that Tanner liked a juicy story. "But you can never go wrong here."

"Noted." The line inched forward. "You always were the smart one. I don't think we gave you credit for that back then. But you and Spencer were both very intelligent for your age. I'm certain by the way things went earlier that you two are still very smart…and very much in charge."

Emily didn't react to her statement. She didn't want to give her anything to go on. So she simply waited for Tanner to keep talking.

"It's because of that intelligence that I want you to know this. I understand your hesitation to trust me. But I do want you to know that Furey and I are here for you. I want you to be able to trust us. I don't want you to be afraid to call if you need to, okay?"

Emily nodded.

She wanted to say, "We called you about the ear and that turned into an interrogation very quickly."

But she forced out a smile and then moved forward as the line moved.

"I was out of line this morning." Tanner continued. "I just want you to realize I am aware of that. And I'm going to work on that going forward."

Emily nodded again.

"You're up." Emily pointed to the man behind the cart.

Tanner smiled politely at Emily and then turned towards the man taking orders.

"Two Carnitas and two Campechanos."

The man opened his cart and started looking around. Tanner paid and took her order to go. Emily watched as she walked away.

Emily got a vegan burrito for Aria and then ordered tacos for Alison and Hanna. She walked off with the bag of food, her head on a swivel. She didn't see Tanner anywhere. She wasn't sure if that was a good thing or a bad thing.

A few minutes later she walked over towards Spencer, who was sitting on a bench overlooking a small piece of land where new saplings had been planted to help preserve the forest.

"Yeah, Toby." Spencer smiled softly into the phone. "I will." There was a pause. "I promise." Another pause and her face turned bright red. "Me too."

Spencer told Toby she would call him back later and then they said their goodbyes.

Emily hadn't meant to barge in on her conversation, but Spencer didn't seem bothered. Emily didn't pressure her about what she'd just said, but it certainly sounded like…

"He told me he loved me," Spencer said quietly. "Don't tell the others yet, okay? I'm still…we're trying to figure this out. I want to be with him, but not because of any drama in our lives. I want to be with him without the trauma bonding."

"I get it." Emily put her hand on Spencer's knee. "It took me and Alison a long time to move past that trauma. We had to learn to love each other for who we are now. Not who we were then."

"Look at you getting all Confucius on me." Spencer teased. "When did you become the wise one?"

"I learned from the best." Emily shrugged. She held up the bag of food. "I have hunted and gathered this meal for our children at home, dear."

Spencer laughed.

"Did you remember…"

"Vegan. For Aria. Yes." Emily nodded.

"Just checking." Spencer pushed herself to her feet.

"Guess who I ran into at the food cart?" Emily asked.

"Taylor Swift?" Spencer took a wild guess.

"Hanna would never forgive me if I ran into Taylor Swift and didn't call her immediately." Emily shook her head. "It was Tanner."

"Is she following us?" Spencer immediately went on the defense. "Let me call Jerica. She'll know what to do."

"She said she was just getting food. I don't think that she stuck around."

"What did she say to you? I want to know every word." Spencer continued scanning the area like she was in the wild and she was expecting a predator to jump out at them.

"She apologized for being so hard on us this morning and she admitted she was wrong. I don't know if she meant it, but if Jerica is right about Furey being an asset then it's likely that he ripped into her for her behavior."

It didn't seem that far-fetched.

"Why did she come here, of all places? Less than a mile from where you live?" Spencer frowned, her brows furrowed.

"Her partner likes the food, or so she says."

"What else did she say?"

"Nothing. And I didn't say anything to her except to recommend food from the menu."

"Good." Spencer nodded firmly. "Smart. She can't come after you about a food order."

"Unless the food is spoiled. Then she'd probably sue me for attempting to end an officer of the law's life." Emily rolled her eyes.

"She would totally be that petty." Spencer nodded in certainty.

"You know what's funny is that I almost believed she was being sincere."

"Em…you can't trust her."

"I know." Emily sighed. "It's just getting harder to carry this on our shoulders. It's not fair."

"Uneasy lies the head that wears a crown." Spencer threw a dramatic look into the distance.

"Really, Spence? More Shakespeare? Is that all you've got?" Emily side-eyed her with a smile.

Spencer seemed surprised by her reaction.

"I'm impressed that you actually got that reference. I wasn't expecting you to know that."

"You underestimate me. King Henry IV was our seventh-grade book report for midterms." Emily remembered, because she was miserable writing hers.

Not only had she been sick with the flu, but she hated Shakespeare. She had tried to like it for Alison's sake, because Alison loved it. And the blonde had just started paying attention to her. It was before they'd all started hanging out, but she noticed the way Alison looked at her in class and in the hall. Her gaze lingered. It made the brunette feel tingly and warm inside. She'd had feelings for girls before, but Alison was the one. She was the one who awakened her sexual urges and desires.

"Yeah. I got an A on that book report. My parents were disappointed." Spencer looked down at her feet, trying to hide the hurt in her eyes.

"Why? You got an A…"

"It wasn't an A-plus. Melissa got a higher grade a few years earlier." Spencer frowned. "I had to live in her shadow my entire life."

"For what it's worth, I'd rather have you in my life than Melissa." Emily shrugged.

"I'd rather have anyone else in my life besides Melissa. She is always so shady." Spencer looked at her phone, as if she was trying to decide on whether or not to tell Emily something.

"Look, I can tell something happened. You've been very…vague…" Emily was trying to word it right. She didn't want to insult Melissa, but she didn't like that Spencer was upset, "…about Melissa since you got here. I'm not going to overstep. When we were talking about her earlier you clearly didn't want to bring me into it. And that's fine. But I know something is going on with you. And I know you're not okay."

Spencer nodded, checking the area again, making sure no one was around.

After a few seconds she grabbed Emily's arm and motioned for her to follow.

Emily didn't say anything. She knew better than to say anything out loud.

They silently walked together. It didn't take Emily long to figure out where they were going. There was an old boathouse that had been remodeled into a small restroom and storage area. Spencer had apparently been eyeing it while she was on the phone with Toby.

Spencer, like Emily, always knew her surroundings. She always looked for the escape route, because danger was constantly lurking around the corner. When they got to the building Spencer pushed the door open and peered inside.

She didn't hear any noises, so she walked forward. Emily followed.

Half of the space was occupied by stalls and a decrepit shower and sinks. The other half had partially deflated rafts and inner-tubes and other equipment that the parks' facilities pulled out in the summer and drove down to the beach.

Despite the fact that they were miles from the ocean, the building had perfectly preserved the smell because of the equipment. It was a mixture of salt, seaweed, and fresh fish.

Emily nodded towards the stalls and broke away from Spencer to sort through the equipment to make sure no one was hiding there. Spencer kicked open every stall to find that they were all empty.

After Emily finished her sweep they moved over towards the sinks.

"What's going on?" Emily asked.

She was used to Spencer being over the top, but something had changed in the last 15 minutes. Something Emily was sure she wasn't going to like.

"Every time I've mentioned Melissa…it hasn't been a coincidence. I wanted to throw her name into the conversation and get a feel for everyone's reaction." Spencer bit her lip and looked in the mirror. "I think Alison noticed, but it's your reaction that interested me the most."

"I don't think it's a secret that I'm not your sister's biggest fan." Emily leaned against the stall, cocking her head curiously.

"It's more than that." She tugged at the end of her shirt sleeves nervously. "You can't get pissed about this. Not after all that time you pushed the rest of us away and tried to deal with this on your own…"

"Okay…"

"Toby and I just figured something out. That call wasn't just him checking in on me. Though that's always his first priority."

"What did he say?"

"I reached out to him before I flew out here yesterday. Because something odd happened when I got off the phone with you all. I was trying to process everything. I know you and Alison have been worried since Sara outed Wren that maybe my sister is involved, too. At first I didn't think it was possible. And I still don't think she's done anything wrong. But I wanted to follow up. Remember how I told you I hadn't been able to reach Wren about the healthcare aspect of my mom's campaign a few weeks ago?"

"Yeah."

"Well, since he still hasn't called me back I thought I'd see if Melissa has heard from him. She doesn't really get involved in mom's campaign. She's Daddy's Little Lawyer. Followed in his footsteps, minus the bastard child and the cheating." Spencer rolled her eyes. "I called her after I had talked to Jerica and booked the flights. I wanted to make sure I knew everything going in to this. She said I was stupid for getting involved since the cops aren't even seeking me out."

"That sounds about right."

"Here's where it gets weird though. When I brought up the fact that Wren is dodging my calls she got really defensive about him. She even went as far as telling me not to drag him into this."

Emily's brows raised in intrigue.

"You didn't tell her what's been going on, did you?"

"No. But he'd apparently reached out two days prior to me calling. He told her that he felt like someone was following him. He's sure someone is out to get him. He said he wanted to check on her to make sure she was okay. She tried to get more out of him, but he didn't tell her much. He stuck to the basics…that someone was stalking him."

Emily didn't say anything. She had sent Toby as a spy once or twice, but it never yielded any results.

"Melissa went as far as accusing me of having him followed. I told her she was being ridiculous, but she said I would have that kind of pull because of mom. But it's not me. And I know you wouldn't be that obvious about having him followed."

"What about Charlotte?" Emily choked on the name when she asked.

Had they been wrong about Wren the whole time?

"It's funny you should mention that. Demons hunting demons seems to be popular these days." It was a flippant shot at Sara being killed. "But it's not Charlotte this time. Ezra just got into an altercation with someone. Toby just gave me an earful about it. It's the first time they've seen each other since Toby told him to stay away from us when we flew in for your dad's funeral."

Emily shuddered. She could still hear her mother's keening wails.

"Toby remembered something from the day he told Ezra not to come to the funeral. Apparently, Ezra told him he was worried for our safety."

"That's rich." Emily rolled her eyes.

"He promised he'd stay away from us and let you grieve, and that was the takeaway. Toby was so focused on keeping him out of the way that he wrote it off. He thought Ezra was full of shit and just trying to ride in and play the hero so Aria would take him back. Or that he wanted more canon-fodder for a new book."

"Putting aside how disturbing it is that he might be writing another book, maybe Professor Pedo stumbled on to something shady that Wren is doing. Maybe he's the one keeping tabs on Wren. I don't know which predator I want to win this one." Emily felt conflicted.

"Ezra has the technology to spy on people." Spencer pointed out. "The strange thing is that Ezra seemed to drop off the radar after his interaction with Toby back then. He hasn't been around for months."

"Maybe he was hiding in his little lair." Emily shot back with sarcasm.

"Maybe." Spencer dismissed the caustic nature of her comment. "Ezra never sought Toby out after that one instance, so whatever he thought he knew he apparently didn't have any proof of. So maybe he set out to get proof."

"Or he's trying to cover his tracks." Emily muttered. "He's probably looking for good story to sell."

"I don't know what he's been up to, but I do know where he's been. Toby found out that the reason he couldn't find Ezra was because he was spending his winter in Europe. But that's not even the craziest part."

O ~ o ~ O

Toby stared at his phone, his finger hovering over the contact photo of Spencer.

He hadn't changed it in years. It was a candid shot of the two of them that Emily had taken right before the girls left for college.

He had always wanted the best for Spencer. Letting her go was the hardest thing he'd ever had to do, but it was right at the time.

Things were different now. If Emily and Alison had showed him anything it was that when something was meant to be, it would happen. And lately, it certainly felt like it was happening for him and Spencer.

They'd been talking a lot more, not just about Charlotte and her minions.

He'd had to sit through one of Spencer's lectures when they told her the truth about what had been happening with Alison and Emily.

He couldn't help but stare stupidly at the screen as she scolded him for not telling her everything sooner.

He loved her.

That's why he was so concerned about her flying out to Malibu when the shit hit the fan. He didn't want her to get hurt.

He had gone as far as looking at plane tickets, but Spencer asked him to stay there, even though she knew Emily had already asked him. She was asking again for Emily, and he knew it.

Pam Fields, Ashley Marin, and Ella Montgomery were all indirectly targets because Charlotte knew they were close.

Someone needed to protect them.

Toby had no problem being that person. But it still bothered him that the girls were alone.

"Not alone." He'd pulled his finger away from the photo of Spencer. "They have each other."

He put his phone down and grabbed the to-go cup of coffee he'd treated himself to after his morning rounds. He'd driven around his old neighborhood, making sure Pam and the other moms were okay. He'd even gone by the DiLaurentis house to make sure there were signs of life and that Alison's asshole brother wasn't dead. Charlotte was likely to turn on him, too. And while Toby didn't give two shits about the older boy, he knew it would crush Alison if she lost Jason, too.

He tapped his steering wheel, listening to his music. He was parked in a small business jurisdiction. He enjoyed watching the place come to life.

It wasn't a particularly nice morning. It was cold and the snow on the roads had melted into an ugly brown slush from all the traffic traveling through.

He listened to his music and sipped his coffee, keeping a watchful eye on his little town.

Five minutes later he saw him.

It had been four months since they'd last spoken. And the words hadn't been pleasant.

He'd run into him in a flower shop looking over arrangements. It took Toby all of one guess to figure out who the flowers were for.

"Don't." He'd walked up behind Ezra, folding his arms across his chest. He knew if he didn't control himself he was going to punch him directly into the peonies he was admiring.

"Toby." Ezra seemed shocked to see him.

They had done well avoiding each other since the girls left town. The interaction was something unexpected that knocked him off-balance.

"She doesn't need your fake sympathy." Toby had glared at him.

Emily was broken. That much he knew. She was shattered beyond belief. Her father had been her best friend. He knew how she felt. Losing his mother had changed him, too. Emily would never be the same again.

And now the same man who had used Emily's love for her father…and for her girlfriend and friends and everyone else in her life to gain her trust and preen her…was picking out flowers for her father's funeral.

"Excuse me?" Ezra had rebuffed.

"No one wants your stupid flowers. No one wants you there at all. Least of all Emily. And if you even go near Aria I swear…"

"I was just getting something to pay my respects." The older man had glared angrily at Toby.

"Your 'respects'? That's a fucking joke." His arms had started shaking. Everything in his body was telling him to break his nose. "You used those girls. All of them. You used their trust for you. You groomed Aria…" He'd made sure to raise his voice.

It got the reaction he expected.

"Keep it down, please. I don't want to cause a scene." A look of panic had washed across Ezra's face.

"Don't buy those flowers. And don't you dare show your mousy little face at the funeral. It's for family and friends only."

Ezra had hesitated and looked around, wondering if it was worth a fight.

"I went to jail once...and I don't have a problem going back, Ezra. So don't test me."

"Is that a threat?"

"It is. It absolutely is."

"Look…" He'd taken a step back, putting some distance between them. "I just wanted to make sure they were okay. I'm worried about them being back."

"Why? Afraid Aria is going to march into the police precinct and turn you in?" His words had struck a nerve, but Ezra kept his temper in check.

"You don't understand. They could be in danger."

"I'm pretty sure you ARE the danger. Stay away from them."

There had been an intense stare-down between them, but Ezra had relented.

"Fine. Message received." He threw his hands up in frustration and walked towards the shop's exit.

A few moments later the owner of the shop walked in talking about an arrangement, looking around in confusion when she didn't see her customer.

"Excuse me, sir, did you happen to see a gentleman in a blazer when you came in?"

"No. I didn't see any gentlemen, ma'am." Which was the truth, because Ezra was no gentleman. "I'm just here to check on an order for Pam Fields."

The florist nodded sadly. She had known Wayne.

"Everything has been taken care of."

"Thank you." Toby had seen Ezra fuming in his car when he walked out.

For half a second Toby considered walking over to him and yelling at him some more. But instead he'd climbed in his truck to cool off.

Ezra had not spoken to him since then. He hadn't even been around.

So when Toby saw the older guy yanking luggage out of his car the morning after the girls had flown out to Malibu he was surprised to see him.

He wasn't sure he was looking at the same man at first. Ezra's hair had grown long and shaggy. It was wildly unkempt. His beard had grown out and he was in sweat pants instead of the typical jacket and blazer.

He slammed all of his doors and the trunk of his car like he was mad at it.

He was in the middle of gathering all his things together when a car rounded the corner going a little too fast. It skipped and hydroplaned into the air, and Toby was certain it was going to flatten Ezra. He wouldn't have hated watching him fly through the air.

But at the last second he jumped away from his car and the other car regained control, skidding to stop a few feet from him, covering him with the polluted slush from the ground.

He looked like a giant piece of shit, which was fitting.

"What the fuck was that, asshole!?" Ezra lunged towards the passenger's side window, banging on it fruitlessly with his hands. "People live around here! You could have killed someone!"

The driver of the other car sat there, letting it idle. Smoke from the exhaust filled the air.

"I'm talking to you! Kids ride their bikes right where I'm standing!" He tried in vain to get the mud off of his sweatpants.

"Of course he sits up in his apartment watching kids. Perv." Toby put his coffee down.

He wanted the other driver to step out of the car looking like The Hulk and throw Ezra around like a ragdoll.

"So you're just going to ignore the fact that you almost killed me?" He screamed as the driver rolled the passenger's side window down.

All at once, Ezra's expression changed.

If he had been angry before, he was downright explosive when he saw the driver.

"You motherfucker." He kicked the car door. "Get out of the car right now! GET OUT OF THE CAR!" He sounded like a washed-up police chief trying to catch a bad guy.

"But you're the bad guy here, Ezra." Toby shrugged to himself.

He hadn't been able to catch a glimpse of the driver yet, because the windows were tinted. He looked for a license plate, but it seemed like it was a rental.

The driver yelled something back at him.

Toby couldn't hear what the person said.

Ezra certainly did.

He yelled back,

"You are out of your mind if you think that!"

There was another exchange. Then Ezra yelled again.

"I haven't even been here!"

The driver shouted back again, something that sounded like "leave me alone!"

"You're the one who almost mowed me down with a car!"

Ezra kicked and screamed like a child throwing a tantrum. He was in the middle of a profanity-filled rant when the driver of the car revved the engine and peeled away from the street, splashing Ezra with the mucky snow again before speeding off.

Ezra stood on the side of the road for a few beats, staring off into the distance in disbelief.

It was only when he scanned the area that he saw Toby looking right at him.

Instead of acknowledging him, Ezra scooped up his luggage and tried to get inside his place.

Toby shoved his door open and called out his name, but the man ignored him. He was walking off in a huff.

Toby chased after him.

Ezra made it halfway to the building before he turned around in exasperation.

"What the fuck do you want, Cavanaugh? I didn't break your stupid little rules. I've stayed away. I'm having a shitty morning, as you can tell. And I don't feel like dealing with you swinging your dick around like you own the place."

Toby was surprised by his outburst. Ezra had always been subdued, even when he was angry.

"What the hell was that about?" Toby gestured to the road.

"What does it look like?" Ezra pointed to his clothes and his bags, which were also casualties of the dirty snow. "That jackass needs to learn how to drive."

"You going to report it? You clearly know who was driving."

"Why do you care?" Ezra reached into his pockets, digging around for his keys. "Look, I don't have time for whatever little Hardy Boys errands you're on these days. I just got off of a long flight, and my seat-mate was an overly-chatty drunk who didn't let me get one second of sleep. The last thing I feel like doing right now is talking about bad drivers on the road."

"It's a shame that he missed." Toby rolled his eyes.

"What the hell did you just say to me?" Ezra stepped closer, an angry fire in his eyes.

"Get out of my face." Toby's fists started shaking.

Ezra noticed. He started to laugh.

"What was it you said to me the last time we spoke? You're not afraid of going back to jail?" He shoved Toby.

"What is wrong with you?"

Toby took the bait, but he was careful about his reaction. He grabbed Ezra's jacket and swung him into a small alley between the buildings they were in front of.

When they were out of view and shielded by the two buildings Toby let loose.

"That's for Aria." He socked him in the face. Then he punched him twice in the gut. "And that's for Spencer. Emily." He went to town. He'd been wanting to beat his ass for years. "Hanna. Alison." He swung several more times before he slammed him against the brick wall.

"Satisfied yet?" Ezra made no attempt to fight back.

"Have you completely lost it?" Toby let go of his shirt collar.

Ezra reached up to cup his bloody nose.

"This was going to happen sooner or later. I got tired of waiting." Ezra shrugged.

"What the hell happened to you?"

"I left Rosewood. And I should have stayed gone."

"Why? Was the driver of the car some guy trying to kill you for some other girl you groomed here?"

"I'm not that guy anymore, Cavanaugh." Ezra wiped some blood away from his lips. "You told me to stay away. I did that. I come back, you beat my ass anyway."

He walked past the younger boy. Toby rubbed his knuckles. It felt good to get it out of his system, but he was still pissed off.

"Where are you coming back from?" Toby asked, following him.

"Europe."

"Bullshit." Toby scoffed.

If Ezra was traveling he could have been anywhere. He could have been in the Poconos setting Alison and Emily on fire. He could have been in Malibu…plotting to ruin Emily and Alison's Valentine's Day. He could have been Charlotte's little minion.

"See for yourself." Ezra gestured to his luggage, which still had the destination attached to it. He reached into his pocket and pulled out his phone and a ticket.

The ticket showed the departure from Heathrow Airport. There had been a layover, and then the destination was Pennsylvania.

"What sent you packing overseas? Am I that intimidating?" Toby asked.

"I'll let my face answer that question." It was already bruising from where Toby had hit him.

"Why did you bolt?"

"I wanted a change of scenery."

Toby narrowed his eyes, trying to get a read on him.

"Why?"

"Why the sudden interest in my life?"

"What did you mean back in the flower shop?" Toby asked, remembering the look of fear on Ezra's face.

At the time he'd assumed Ezra was just worried that Aria would turn him in.

"What are you talking about?" Ezra asked.

"You said it wasn't safe for the girls to come home."

"Oh, that." He waved it off. He reached into his bag and pulled out a washcloth. He wiped his face, trying to get rid of some of the blood. "I misspoke. I was paranoid about Aria's safety."

"How charming." The words came out venomous.

Had it been anyone else who was worried it would be a valiant thought. But Ezra had destroyed Aria. He had stolen her childhood. He didn't get to be worried about her. He was part of the problem.

"I was afraid Charlotte would find out they were coming back and would find some way to hurt them. I kept waiting for something bad to happen after the funeral. When it didn't I realized I was being ridiculous. I let this town get the best of me."

"I don't buy it. Why leave the country? What were you really up to?"

"I already told you, I needed somewhere fresh to regroup." He gritted his teeth. It was a miracle that they were all still intact after his beating. He stared at Toby in disbelief. "You still don't believe me? Jesus. Fine. Here."

He shoved his phone at Toby and pulled open his photo gallery.

He scrolled through several photos of his time in Europe.

"These could be photo-shopped." Toby handed the phone back to him.

"This place has a wild way of making people paranoid. Keep drinking that poison, Toby. It'll eventually get to you, too."

"What is that supposed to mean?" Toby's arms bulged at his side. He was ready to throw another punch.

"It means that this town is a heaping trashcan on fire. And if you stay here long enough it will rot your brain."

"How hard did I hit you? You have a concussion?"

"Just leave me alone."

"Who was driving that car?"

"If I tell you, will you back the hell off?"

"I can't promise anything." Toby shrugged.

There was a beat of silence.

"It was my brother."

"Seriously? Why is your brother trying to kill you? Little Fitz find out you're a perv? You corrupt him and start a little pedo club? Cute little family business?" Toby was seething. "How quaint."

Ezra opened his mouth to reply, but then looked as if he changed his mind at the last moment.

"You know what? Believe what you want. I don't care. But don't lump me in with that psychopath." He strained, his neck muscles pulsing.

'Psychopath' seemed like a strong word for his little brother, who seemed like more of a scamp than a creepy predator.

"What were you two fighting about?"

"The Eagles game." Ezra retorted sarcastically. "I suggest you leave, Toby. Before I change my mind and call the cops on you and have you arrested for assault."

"Why is your own brother trying to hurt you?"

"Why did you bash my face in? I'm not exactly the most loved person in this town. Now get out of my way." He reached for his luggage.

Toby moved aside. He tried to get Ezra to say more, but the man had clearly had enough. He ended up slamming the door in Toby's face.

"What the hell was that?" He uttered under his breath as he walked back to his truck.

He sat there for a while, waiting for Ezra to re-emerge, but he never did. He drove back to Pam's place and did another round of security. He ended up at the Montgomery household. He parked with Ella's house in view and then reached for his phone.

He didn't like the idea of an unhinged Ezra Fitz living so close to Aria's mother. And he was trying to figure out why Ezra and his brother had gone at each other's throats.

Spencer had mentioned that Melissa told her Wren thought someone was following him. Was it Ezra? But what did that have to do with Wes? Why was Ezra's brother threatening him? Over Wren? Over something else?

He tapped his finger against the screen. He knew he'd get an answer right away.

"What's up?"

"Hey, Caleb. How are you at hacking airline databases?"

"Why? Hanna says everyone's flights got in fine last night." Caleb had a wary expression in his tone.

"It's not the girls I want to look into. I just had the weirdest run-in with Ezra Fitz. And when we're done with him I want to verify someone who rented a car." He wanted to make sure Ezra was telling the truth.

"What do you need?" Caleb didn't hesitate.

After his call with Caleb, he did another sweep of the neighborhood.

When he was satisfied he called Spencer to make sure everything was okay. He got her up to speed on everything.

She was already forming a plan as they were wrapping up the call.

"I'm going to tell Emily and we'll figure it out."

"Let me know what I can do to help. And be careful."

"Yeah, Toby. I will."

"Promise?"

"I promise."

"Hey, Spence?" He'd been wanting to say it for a long time, but the timing never seemed right. There was no time like the present. "I love you."

"Me too." Despite her tension he could tell that she was smiling.

O ~ o ~ O

Emily was leaning next to Spencer, staring at their reflection in the bathroom mirror. The brunette tried to take it all in. Toby's encounter with Ezra at the flower shop. His run-in that morning. His brother being the driver of the car.

"He said Wes was driving the car that almost hit him?" Emily peered at Spencer in confusion. "That kid was basically a giant puppy in human form."

"Toby is skeptical of everything Ezra said. Caleb is going to verify his itinerary to make sure he really was overseas and verify that his brother was actually driving the car."

"I'm surprised Toby isn't behind bars for punching his lights out." Emily knew her friend, and she knew his patience had a hairline trigger. "Unless his call to you was his one call from the jail."

"Ezra is probably worried about retaliation. All it takes is one phone call and he'd be behind bars, too. And you know what they do to men like him in prison."

"Am I a bad person for wishing he was going to prison?"

"No. If I had my way he would be there already." Spencer leaned against the sink.

"Do we believe him?" Emily asked.

"Do we believe a pathological liar who groomed our best friend? Absolutely not." Spencer scoffed.

"So what should we do with this information? Tell Jerica? Turn it over to Tanner?"

"No." She straightened up, her back stiff. Emily was surprised by her resistance. "Toby could get in trouble. Because this is all speculation. If the cops figure out Toby's involvement then they'll figure out that Caleb has been involved and has…bent a few laws. We can't let them go down for this. I know Caleb has covered his tracks, but if he's caught they could lose everything."

"So what do we do?" Emily was at a loss.

"I never thought I would say this, but…we need to know what Ezra knows. And we need to keep his involvement a secret from Hanna and Aria."

The last thing they needed to do was bring Aria's past into it.

"Ugh…more secrets." Emily groaned.

"You see how happy Aria is. Even with all of this going down. She's finally happy. I can't ruin that."

"Neither can I." Emily swallowed a knot in her throat.

"Keeping this from Hanna and Aria gives them plausible deniability." Spencer said quietly.

Emily knew she was right. They couldn't tell Aria because it would destroy her. And they couldn't tell Hanna because she would freak out.

"Spencer, tell me this is the right thing to do." Emily huffed out an uncertain breath.

"I don't know if it's right or not." She admitted. "But it's what we have to do."

---

A/N: A lot to take in. The first being...what is Tanner's angle? And of course...what is happening in Rosewood? Men up in that town just stay fighting (though, let's be honest...Toby vs Ezra was entertaining).

All drama aside, it's been nice writing the girls spending time together. A little Spemily for the soul...and some Hanna/Alison bonding.