Chapter Text
It had been more than a year since the liars had met all together in Rosewood. Aria was travelling, capturing the beauty of Europe with her camera since her divorce with Ezra. Hanna was enjoying her life with Caleb and their son, Aidan in Rosewood where she opened a second clothing shop dedicated to kids. Emily and Alison gave themselves another chance after their divorce. The blond woman accepted to come back to Rosewood, but after a few months, the two women decided to move to Chester. The weight of the past was too heavy to bear especially for Alison. Emily stayed as the swimming team coach at Rosewood High, and Alison found a job as an assistant teacher at Hollis College. And for Spencer, the story was very much different. After graduating from Law School, she gave up on the Hastings & Hasting legacy and disappeared. She was sending news here and there without explaining why she gave up the opportunity of a life.
So, when the four other liars received an invitation by Spencer herself to celebrate their 15 years of friendship, the women didn’t think twice, and all jumped on the train. Hanna was the one who offered to meet at the cabin. It used to be Toby’s, but Spencer’s ex-husband offered it to Caleb and Hanna as a wedding gift. They wouldn’t be bothered by anyone and Alison wouldn’t feel oppressed to be in Rosewood centre.
Emily and Spencer arrived first; Alison would be late because of a late-night lecture at Hollis. Hanna volunteered to pick up Aria at the airport. The young author and photographer was coming back from Firenze, where she was supposed to capture the beauty of the Italian Renaissance era.
“Hanna told me that you and Alison were finally settled in Chester. How are the kids?”
“They are with my mother for the weekend. They enjoy their new room and especially the huge garden where they decided to play football with our new neighbours’ kids.”
“Wait? They aren’t too small for that?”
“Oh, they are. But Tyler, our neighbour’s son, is eight and promised us to make sure that the twins become the new Joe Montana. And you, where have you been?” Emily added while preparing the food.
“I needed to travel around. I’ve always been at school or working or hoping for A to give up on me. Now that I’m free from school and A, I needed to explore my freedom.”
“Last time I heard you were in England visiting Aria.”
“It was Ireland, I stayed for a few days before visiting a friend in Paris. I even offered Aria to come with me, but she said that she would only go to Paris when her heart would feel loved again, with the right person. I just came back from Montreal this morning.”
“Hanna and Alison will be so happy to see you. Hanna always mentioned you when we speak on the phone. She always has admired you.”
Spencer felt kind of guilty. She has left her friends and family behind, but she needed to find who Spencer really was. She needed to find her true self away from being Melissa’s sister, the friend of the girl who went missing, the inmate, the straight-A student. She needed to understand who she really was outside all these mirrors she was forced to look into.
Anyone here? Look who I found?” A voice said from the door.
“Aria! Hanna!” Emily screamed happily.
Spencer smiled from the kitchen table where she was still seating. Aria smiled back while Emily was hugging her tight. Hanna invited Spencer to join the group hug. The young Hastings hesitated before accepting the invitation. She had to fight hard to control her tears. She hugged her friends as if they would be no tomorrow.
They decided to have a drink on the couch while waiting for Alison, who sent a message to Emily as soon as she finished her lecture in Hollis. They talked about their life, here and there, but Hanna couldn’t help noticing the silence of Spencer. Usually, the young Hasting was always the one who had stories to tell, but the brunette seemed lost in her thoughts, fidgeting with her bracelets.
“Hey, Spence. Everything ok?”
“Hmm? What?” Spencer mumbled, surprised.
“Hanna asked you if you were ok?” Aria intervened softly.
“Yeah, yeah, just tired. I have a lot going on, but I’m fine. Promise.”
Hanna and Emily took it, but Aria wasn’t blind and knew that something else was going on. Spencer wouldn’t talk about it in front of everyone. She needed to separate her from the group. When she realised that Emily was about to check on the food in the oven, she took her chance.
“I should take my luggage out of your car, Hanna. I don’t think the wine would appreciate to stay out in that cold. Spence, can you give me a hand?” Aria added getting up from the couch.
“Yes, of course.”
The two women got out of the cabin to Hanna’s car. Once Aria was sure that they weren’t visible from the cabin’s windows, she flung into Spencer’s arms who instinctively hug her back. The smaller woman could feel her friend trembling in their embrace. She didn’t move but tried to show support to Spencer, whispering soft words to her ear. The young Hastings seemed to relax little by little.
“I’m sorry,” Spencer mumbled; her face hidden in Aria’s neck. “I don’t know what happened to me. I…”
“Hey, hey. It’s ok. We talk about this in Ireland already. I’m here for you, no matter what. Remember?” Spencer nodded, and Aria continued her speech. “Good, because you’re the one who invited everyone, and I don’t want you to be the only one who does not enjoy this little adventure. What happened? Do you want to talk about it?”
“I just got scared. Everyone has a stable life and the family they wanted, I… I don’t have any…”
“I stop you right here! You are an accomplished woman who refused to be defined by her last name or the expectations of her family! You went your own way even if it meant losing your parent’s blessing. It’s bold and courageous. You are a model for a lot of people around here.”
“After tonight, I’ll go and talk to my parents. They need to understand that I don’t need them to be happy, but I hope to have them in my life anyway. I think my mother would come around.”
“I’m sure. She misses you a lot even if she pretends otherwise when your father is around.” Aria said with her kindest smile. “Feeling better?”
“A lot.”
The two women were so much in their little bubble that they didn’t realise they had an audience. When Aria slipped from her friend’s role and kissed Spencer softly on the lips, Alison couldn’t help smiling, leaning against her car.
“Once again, I’ll have to keep a secret!” Alison said to announce her presence.
Spencer and Aria jumped back as if they were struck by lightning. The smaller brunette turned bright red while her secret lover tried to formulate an excuse. Alison laughed before hugging them strongly in her arms.
“I won’t say a word. I’m happy for you, girls.” Alison added before dropping a kiss on her friends’ cheek. “Let’s go inside, I don’t trust Emily with my dessert. She almost burned the kitchen the other day.”
The three women returned into the cabin. Aria dropped her luggage in a corner and took back her place on the sofa. Spencer seemed to relax, and Hanna was already attacking her with her last gossip about Rosewood and the surroundings. Alison went and saved her lover with the pecan pie.
“So, what do we do, tonight?”
“Don’t look at me, Hannah!” Emily said, letting herself drop on the couch next to her friend. “I’m not the one who summoned everyone.”
“What? I wanted to see all my friends at the same place without legal cases or funeral. I thought that our fifteenth anniversary would be a good idea.”
“If we are really celebrating an anniversary, we need to play dumb games! With alcohol, it would be…”
“Hanna! Really??” Alison intervened when she saw her friend taking the empty beer bottle abandoned by Emily. “We aren’t horny teenagers, anymore.”
“Talk for yourself. Have you seen my husband? He is hotter than a Californian Summer. I’m horny just by imagining him, here.”
“Eww. Sorry, I’m not interested. I have an incredible woman who pleases my heart and soul.” Answered Emily kissing her lover.
“Same.” Whispered Spencer with a shy smile hidden in her glass of wine.
Four heads surprised turned toward Spencer who pretended to focus on her drink. Alison was smiling, knowing deep down the reason for Spencer’s intervention. Aria was worrying for her friend who minutes ago was scared to reveal her secret. Emily and Hanna were so clueless that it was almost enjoyable to watch for the young Hasting.
“Why are you all looking at me like this?”
“Spencer, you just say “same” to Em’ answer!”
“Yeah. Same! I’m not interested in your husband anymore.” Spencer said with a proud smile. “I tried, wasn’t for me at all.”
“Yeah, hilarious, Hasting! But you’re lying.”
“I’m not! Come on, Han’! Why would I lie to you?”
“Fine. If you are not lying. 1mn of truth then, like in the old-time!” Hanna concluded, sitting on the coffee table in front of Spencer.
Aria tried to find some support in Alison’s eyes without success. Emily didn’t try to stop Hanna. She wanted to know if Spencer was, once again, keeping a secret. Spencer, on the other side, seemed perfectly fine with the challenge imposed by the young Marin. She straightened herself on the couch and stared at her friend.
“Emily, the clock!”
“Hanna, really?”
“What? I want to know! I thought we said, no more lies, no more secret, last time we saw each other. So…”
“Top!”
“Did you lie about why you said “same”?”
“No, I didn’t. How did you get Kristen Stewart on your last runaway?”
“Caleb’s mother. She knew someone who knew someone. Plus, she loved my new collection, so it wasn’t hard. So, did you fall in love with someone who isn’t Toby Cavanaugh?”
“Yes!”
“Who?”
“Nope, my turn. Where did you really lose Caleb’s grandmother wedding ring? And don’t say it was while paragliding with Caleb in New Zealand, last year? We know it’s not.”
“Fine. After paragliding while being super drunk on a beach in New Zealand. Don’t tell Caleb I told you, guys. His mother wasn’t really fond of the news.” Hannah grunted, looking at her hand. “How dare you?”
“Is that your question? I’m daring anything that’s the game, honey.”
“Spencer!”
“What? It wasn’t your question? Ok! Ok! fine. I’m listening, what is your question?”
“Who is the person you fell in love with?”
“Times up!”
“No, no, no! Emily you…”
“Sorry, Han’. Time’s up.” Emily answered, showing her the time on her phone.
Alison was about to offer a second round of the game. She wanted to play against Aria. The young DiLaurentis promised the girls to never tell their secret, but they never said anything about asking questions about it. She was about the play when Spencer stopped her. She seemed determined to say something. She asked Hanna to move from the coffee table so she could be in front of Aria.
“Is there a problem, Spence?”
“Not at all,” Spencer whispered softly, taking Aria’s hand in hers. “Ari, I know what you said in Ireland and again tonight, but I can’t keep it secret. I can’t hide it any longer. I’m so ready for all of this. I love you so much that I want to scream it on every roof of every country we had, and we will visit together. I want the world to know how lucky I am to have you in my life. How lucky I am to have a place in your heart and life. I know that our lives are kind of wild and fucked up most of the time. But I want to believe in our future. I want to believe that this year we had together is only the beginning of a long and beautiful adventure. So, Aria Montgomery, would you make me the happiest and luckiest woman of the world by becoming my wife?”
The silence invaded the room. Spencer could look away from Aria who was holding back a sob with her hand on her mouth. Her eyes were filled with tears. She was enabled to say a word, surprised and shocked by the situation. The only answer that she was able to give was a shy but firm nod. Their friends were shocked. Was it tears in Alison’s eyes? (the legend says: It was allergies.) Spencer was smiling shyly, but deep down she was starting to think that Aria wasn’t on the same page, she was searching for the strength to get up and leave when a soft and familiar pair of lips crashed against hers.
“Yes, a thousand times, yes!” Aria sobbed, crying in Spencer’s arms.
The young Hasting let her lover snuggled against her. She did her best to comfort her, whispering soft words in her ear. Aria was smiling like a kid on Christmas through her tears. She never felt so happy in her life. The most important people in her life were gathered and had witnessed her real and honest happiness for the first time in a very long time.
Spencer took her hand and slowly put the ring where it belonged. The young Montgomery was staring at her new ring, forgetting the world around. It was discreet and sparkling, sophisticated and wild, soft and strong, just like her.
“Wait, I feel like I missed a complete season of Rosewood: Team Sparia – The Show! Since when you are together? I mean together enough to get married. I thought you were in love with someone, Spence.”
“Oh, Hanna. I am in love with someone. I’m in love with Aria. I dropped my pretended life for my honest and passionate adventure around the world with her.”
“Wait you went to Europe for Aria?” Emily intervened, shocked. “I thought it was because of Toby’s return. Because you couldn’t stand working with your parents in…”
“Coincidences. I just couldn’t live away from Aria. When she left for Europe, I couldn’t forget our goodbyes when we brought her to the airport. I couldn’t live, work, or even think. I needed to know, so…”
“You dropped everything, crossed the world without even knowing if she would love you back,” Hanna asked afraid to not understand again.
“Exactly.”
“So, what happened?” Alison said with a happy smile.
“You want to tell them?” Spencer asked, looking at Aria as if she had hung all the stars in the sky.
TO BE CONTINUED