A/N: Hey there! First things first, I apologize for this long-overdue update. Some things happened in the last months and unfortunately they kept me from devoting any real time to my fics as well as my other hobbies and activities, but that is another story. The point is, I am both sorry for my absence and happy to be back. I missed writing, and I especially missed writing about those two adorable dorks.
Also, I would like to express my sincere gratitude to those of you who has been constantly showing your appreciation for this story and your support and had taken the time to share thoughts, feelings and opinions with me, be it in your reviews or through PM. It really, really meant a lot to me, especially when expressed from fellow and esteemed authors!
That being said, I wish you all a great summer. And please, for those of you who can, enjoy it for me too (a poor college student who will only see the beach from the faculty room's windows)!
Alright, enough with the whining already and on with the story! Here's a long chapter to make it up for the wait. Thank you for reading!
P.S.: The title of this chapter (and the chapter itself) was inspired by the Smith's song 'Please, Please, Please, Let Me Get What I Want'. Figured it was as good an occasion as any for you readers to hear the song again (or to check it out if you didn't know it yet, but let's be honest, who doesn't know The Smiths, right? I mean, c'mon...)
…
Aria let out a small, contented sigh as she awoke late that morning. The mid-morning sun was pouring through the large windows that lined the far end of Spencer's bedroom, and she smiled as she felt the brunette's arm tighten around her waist to keep her from moving away.
As if she would ever want to.
She turned her body into the taller woman's embrace and rested her head onto the chest that had served as her pillow the night before. She brushed her lips back and forth over the silky-soft skin of her collarbone, a delighted smile tweaking her lips as Spencer murmured incoherently beneath her. Amongst the many things she's learnt about the older woman since they began to see each other on a regular basis, one that would never cease to both surprise and amuse her was that Spencer Hastings was not a morning person. At all.
That, and… she was a rather violent sleeper.
She wasn't aware of this fact but in reality she had been pushed off several times by the brunette during the night. But true to her persevering form – even when unconscious - Aria climbed back on top of the woman four times out of the five that she had been pushed off. The fifth time, well, the still soundly sleeping Spencer pulled the girl over and held her close to her chest while dropping a sleepy kiss to the top of her head.
Now Aria smiled contently as she nuzzled happily into the taller woman's neck. Her smile however soon turned devious as her thoughts shifted from tender and adoring to playful and mischievous in an instant. It was just too tempting an opportunity to pass up.
She placed her lips against the inviting skin of Spencer's neck softly, sucking and nibbling lightly before running the tip of her tongue over the bruised surface to soothe any pain. Spencer moaned softly at the sensation, prompting Aria to turn her head to see if the brunette had awoken or not; she was pleased to see that the doctor was still fast asleep. She smirked as she ventured down to capture a covered nipple between her lips, this time biting on it with a little more force, delighting in the soft sighs that fell from the slumbering woman's lips as she played with her breast. She was about to slip a hand beneath her tank top when Spencer began to stir.
The chestnut-haired woman felt a slight weight on top of her and craned her neck to see what it was. Realizing that it was a very familiar vixen and that the girl was very much attached to her, Spencer's cheeks reddened.
"Good morning sleepyhead," sighed Aria, her eyes closed as she returned her head on its previous position onto the woman's chest.
"How'd you know… me…" Yawn. "… awake?" Asked a sleepy, raspy voice.
Aria giggled. Could exist something or someone more adorable? Hardly, she decided. "I didn't, until I saw your blush."
"Mmm." The brunette nodded absentmindedly as she stretched her arms. She reached up with her left hand to run her fingers through dark, silky locks. "Well, please, don't let that fact stop you from doing whatever it was you were doing."
The younger woman let herself relish the blissful feeling of the brunette's fingers combing through her hair, and smiled leisurely. She looked up and leaned in to place a quick kiss and a teasing lick to the underside of her jaw. "You like this, uh?"
Spencer grinned. "Who wouldn't? It's a great way to wake up," she answered as she moved her fingers from her scalp down to caress her back.
"Well, I'm always happy to be of help," Aria quipped before capturing her lips in a long, loving kiss.
The sound of a cell phone ringing out in the room interrupted whatever Spencer was going to say, or do, next.
"Is that the song from Star Wars?" Aria laughed as she regretfully pulled back.
Spencer heaved a deep sigh and nodded demurely. "Indeed. The Imperial March, to be exact."
The petite brunette pursed her lips thoughtfully as she listened to the tinny music pouring from the speaker of Spencer's IPhone. "That's the bad guy song. Darth, mmm... What was it again?"
"Darth Vader." The doctor rolled her eyes. "And yes, I guess you could call it that."
Aria grinned wickedly. "And whose ringtone is it?"
Spencer groaned and dropped her head onto her pillow, both of her hands coming up to cover her face. "Melissa's," She replied with a muffled but still clearly exasperated voice.
"Oh." Aria winced sympathetically. "I mean, it does suit her – at least, from what you've told me, I think so. That kinda killed the mood…" she grumbled.
"Yeah, she's rather good at that…" Spencer agreed with a snort as her cell phone stopped ringing. Only to be promptly followed by the ringing of the handheld unit on the brunette's bedside table.
Aria arched an eyebrow. "Seems pretty urgent. Perhaps you should get that? You know, before she decides to send over her goons." She said while running her hands over the brunette's back, her tone exceedingly amused. And annoyingly so.
"Nope." Spencer shook her head vehemently, slightly shuddering while trying to get rid of the somewhat disturbing image of her half-sister dressed like a cosplayer and leading her very own army of Stormtroopers over to her house.
"Whatever this is about, she can leave a message," she replied instead as she tipped her chin up to claim the younger woman's lips in a slow, deep and lingering kiss that she hoped would help them recapture their earlier mood.
Aria responded to the brunette's kiss eagerly, tangling her fingers in her hair and drawing her in closer as she arched into her lover's hand. They were well on their way to achieving Spencer's ultimate goal when the haughty voice of Melissa Hastings cackled through the house.
Now, that definitely and irremediably killed the mood.
"Spencer, this is your sister."
"Heh, no shit!" The brunette muttered as she closed her eyes, trying to drown out her sister's voice as she dipped her head down to suck against Aria's pulse point.
"I spoke with Father and Mother this morning. They informed me of this charity event they will hold next month and requested for the both of us to attend the soiree. They also would like you to come to the house tonight for dinner."
"Sorry folks," Spencer replied, as if Melissa or even her parents could actually hear her. "Can't make it. Too busy here."
"Before you start complaining and making up excuses, no need to dress up for it; we'll keep things casual. They'd just like to see you before they leave for their cruise."
Aria laughed, the happy sound morphing into a growl as Spencer nipped at her collarbone. "Seems like someone has no choice here. Ready to join the dark side, babe?"
"Well, I'll see you later then," the lawyer announced flatly before there was the loud hum of the dial tone and then the machine grew silent.
Spencer growled against the younger woman's neck and pressed a lazy kiss to the hollow of the her throat. "Go on, keep laughing at my expenses. See if I'll bother providing you with caffeine when we get out of here." She murmured between kisses.
Aria's grin only widened at the empty threat. "Oh but that is totally fine with me. You're the only one who can actually drink that awful concoction you insist on calling coffee anyway."
Spencer gasped indignantly. "You clearly didn't mean it."
Aria smirked. "Sorry sweetie, truth can be harsh sometimes." She shrugged, and started laughing maniacally when Spencer suddenly tackled her, pinning her down to the mattress.
"Take it back." The brunette said sternly as she straddled her waist and held onto her wrists tightly but not painfully so; careful as not to hurt her in any way.
"Nuh-uh." Aria replied childishly with a shake of her head, still giggling madly.
"Take it back. Now." Spencer commanded playfully from her hovering position.
"Never." She insisted stubbornly, a devilish look on her face as she started wriggling slightly just to see how likely it would be for her to be able to manoeuvre her way out of the grasp.
"Last warning, midget." The doctor spluttered out, running her hands up the girl's sides, knowing how much she hated to be tickled. That made the smile vanish from Aria's face.
"You wouldn't dare," She said while squirming slightly under the touch, perfectly aware that Spencer oh-so-defiantly would.
"You brought it upon yourself. Remember those words Aria."
"AAH! Spence!" Aria's surprised squeal quickly turned into gales of giggles as the brunette began to tickle her, causing her to collapse against the bed while relentless fingers found all her most sensitive places. It was music to Spencer's ears, as she listened to the wild free laughter that flowed forth from Aria. Interspersed with gasps of her name, but the girl wasn't begging for her to stop yet. Spencer grinned, as she tried to avoid Aria's hands that were desperately trying to hold her at bay.
Aria squirmed, trying to push the taller woman away, as she shook with uncontrollable laughter. Forcing her eyes open to try and see what was going on to better stop it, she looked into mischievous chocolate eyes, and despite being caught in a merciless tickle attack, she still felt a surge of warmth and affection for the extremely goofy surgeon.
Gasping for breath, she tried to see where Spencer planned to aim next. Detecting a slight loosening of her hold when the brunette tried to reach her side better, Aria ducked and managed to escape. Not that she got far.
"Spence! Ha ha ha, n-no, ha ha ha, not there! Please!" Aria cracked, and began to beg. "N-not the… ha ha ha… not the belly! Ha ha ha, you're so mean!"
An evil smile had found its way onto the doctor's face, as she crept a hand up and poked at the spot Aria was trying to hide away. A burst of laughter erupted from the woman in her arms, as she tried to jerk away, still laughing and batting at Spencer's hands.
She didn't relent though, and continued to poke and tickle the petite woman's sides, her neck, everywhere. But when Aria let out a ragged gasp, she paused for a moment, worried that something was wrong, that she might've gone too far. And before she realized what was going on, she was desperately trying to fend off a tickle attack of her own.
"Whoa!" The expression of surprise fell from Spencer's lips, before she started to gasp with laughter, as Aria somehow found the strength to fight back.
Sounds of laughter echoed throughout the house, as the tickle fight continued. At last, they collapsed together onto the bed once more, tired out but still chuckling.
Spencer blew a stray hair out of her face, only for it to flop back down over her eyes. A warm sound, somewhere between a chuckle and a sigh, came from above her, and she looked up to meet gleeful hazel eyes. A hand reached up to brush the errant hair out of the dark haired woman's face, coming around to rest on her cheek. Aria turned her head and pressed her lips into the soft skin of the doctor's palm, before bending down to kiss her chastely on the lips. Their foreheads resting together, pressed against one another, Spencer gave her own happy sigh while closing her eyes contentedly.
"I love the sound of your laugh."
The quiet statement, so matter-of-factly murmured, made Aria beam. She could still feel the flush on her cheeks from their wild game moments ago. Leaning down once again, she brushed her lips against Spencer's, feeling the smile that emerged there.
Spencer buried her face in the crook of Aria's neck and frowned pensively, the merriment of their little moment vanishing as she thought back to her sister's phone call. She had been looking forward to spent some time alone with the beautiful woman in her arms. Alone, being the key word. But, her parents were leaving for their vacation next week, and she had to admit that she should probably go and pay them a visit before then.
"What are you thinking about?" Aria asked softly, sensing the sudden shift in her lover's mood.
"Will you go with me? Tonight, I mean."
Aria's eyes widened with surprise. "You want me to meet your family?"
"I know I made them sound rather… scary," Spencer chuckled at the obvious apprehensiveness in the younger woman's voice. "But actually they're not that bad. Although I understand if you're not comfortable with the idea…" she replied just as softly as she looked up to let her eyes show Aria that she meant it. "It's just… I had been hoping to spend my entire time off with you this week…"
Aria pressed a finger to her lips, effectively silencing her. "Me too." She immediately reassured her. "And it's not that I'm uncomfortable with the idea of meeting your parents. I wouldn't mind meeting them, eventually. But right now… it just seems too soon, don't you think?"
"Yeah…" Spencer conceded. Aria made it a very valid point after all. "You're right. Sorry."
"Hey," The younger woman cooed, stroking her cheek tenderly. "Look at me. There's no need to apologize, you didn't do anything wrong." She punctuated the statement with a long, loving kiss.
"You go have dinner with your family tonight. Fake a smile if you have to, make polite conversation. Stock up on the caviar and champagne or whatever ridiculously expensive food you rich folks enjoy stuffing yourself with; then say goodbye and rush back to my place. Does that sound viable to you?"
"I guess I can do that." Spencer sighed dramatically, then leaned in to kiss Aria hungrily. "Seriously shorty, you blow me away sometimes…" she muttered between kisses.
…
The shimmering night lights illuminated the small town of Weston and triggered a familiar reaction in the driver. She could still remember vividly feeling reluctant about following her father and new family as they moved from a rather big city like Philadelphia to this godforsaken place in the countryside; only to fall in love with the small but vibrant town and its quiet atmosphere upon setting foot there for the first time. She had spent the last part of her childhood and all her teenage years there, and she harboured those bittersweet memories.
Spencer braked outside the ornate gates and turned off the engine. She gazed at her reflection in the rearview mirror and reapplied her lipstick. Jungle Red, Alison's personal favorite shade – also, the blonde's courtesy that time, years ago, when her father surreptitiously set her up on a date with one of his business associate's son. Just another fiasco to add on the list.
A dry chuckle escaped her throat as she looked up and her eyes took into little, barely noticeable wrinkles on her forehead – most certainly due to the ever-present frown etched onto her otherwise immaculate face. Now, it was exactly at times like this that she missed her bangs – they surely came in handy when in need to cover up those little imperfections, as her mother once pointed out. But then she remembered why she had gotten rid of them in the first place: they were just the result of Wren's incessant beseeching when they were still together and her own – deplorable – desire to indulge his every whims. The worst of all was, she couldn't even blame it on the naïveté of a young woman in love for the first time. Not really.
Thank God she got to learn from past mistakes.
She glanced towards the large mansion. The facing-bricked structure stood proudly in the impressive grounds of the vast property. Spencer started the engine and her black Porsche Cayenne Turbo rolled forward, while the security cameras trained on the license plate. The gates of the Hastings' elegant Georgian manor opened and Spencer followed the long, paved driveway; the colorful flowerbed and the manicured lawns almost invisible in the gloom.
Three other cars occupied the ample parking ground outside the mansion, and Spencer manouvred the vehicle towards them. As she stepped out of her car, the chilly air of the November night prompted her to put on her leather jacket, even if only for the short while it took to reach the front porch.
She left two knocks on the tall and solid door before opening it and walking inside. She could hear the child's giggles coming from down the hall and she smiled widely as she made her way towards the beautiful noise.
"You know, it's no use having security cameras and a bloodthirsty Rottweiler outside if you leave your front door unlocked," Spencer said with a smirk as she stared at the man and little boy in front of her.
"Auntie!" Taylor yelled as he leapt from his father's arms and ran into his favorite person's awaiting arms.
"Hey buddy," she smiled, ruffling his perfectly combed brownish hair.
"Pick me up!" the three-year-old squealed, jumping up and down, arms outstretched.
"Now don't start pester your aunt so soon, little man. She's just arrived." Wren chuckled in his British accent, thick as ever, even after all those years living on the other side of the Atlantic Ocean. He grabbed his son around the waist and pulled him towards him. Spencer took a step further into the room before sitting among all the toys on the floor. "It's good to see you Spencer."
"Yeah, I bet." The brunette sighed as Taylor squirmed out of his father's hold and crawled into her lap, careful not to jostle her too much. Spencer could see the hurt etched across the other doctor's face as soon as the toddler fled out of his grasp. Unfortunately, his job – their job – more often than not didn't allow him to devote much time to his family, and of course this was greatly affecting his relationship, or lack of thereof, with his very own child.
In spite of the old grudges, Spencer couldn't help but feel a surge of sympathy for him; for the boy she once knew, the boy that had meant the world to her.
"He'll get it one day," she murmured quietly, looking over at her sullen ex.
"You know, it's funny…" Wren began, his eyes suddenly showing a vulnerability she wasn't used anymore to see. "Everything about him reminds me of you," he whispered. "The way he looks, the way he smells, the way he laughs, even the way he has to do something over and over again until it works. He's strong willed, curious and stubborn, just like you."
"Wren, I…" Spencer paused, not really knowing what to say. What could she possibly say to the man who broke her trusting heart so easily, so unhesitatingly? She'd already done everything, gone out of her way, to keep as much a civilized relationship as possible with her sister's husband and father of her niece; all for the sake of her dignified family. After all, what a scandal it would have been at the time, had their socialite friends found out that the eldest of the Hastings' sisters - a well-respected young woman who just so conveniently happened to be appointed to her father's seat in the Hospital board - seduced her little sister's boyfriend – a neurosurgeon, more ambitious than talented, at the beginning of his career – and ended up getting pregnant soon after starting their affair.
"I know." Wren suddenly said, glancing over at his son; his and Melissa's son, who coincidentally resembled Spencer, the only woman he had ever truly loved, in so many ways. The oblivious toddler was still happily playing with his multitude of trucks and Hot Wheels cars on the floor. "In some twisted way, I think of him as a part of you. Especially when I'm on the receiving end of his glares – another thing you two have in common." He chuckled ruefully. "No matter what happens, I don't think I'll ever be able to stop loving you," he said as he stood up and then bent down slightly to place a light kiss on Spencer's cheek. "We should head to the dining room, dinner's about to be served."
He stopped once again before walking out of the parlor. "Don't make the same mistake, Spence. When you find the one person that you can't live without, the one that you love as much as they love you, don't ever let them go. You deserve to be happy."
A single tear slid down the woman's face as she watched the miserable man walk away.
…
It was already late in the night when Spencer parked outside of Aria's house, only to find the brunette sitting on the porch swing, two beers in hand. "You know, for someone who owns a Porsche, you sure do drive slowly," the younger woman laughed as she stood up and walked to the porch steps. "Want one?"
Spencer eyed the bottles with a deep frown. "You're not supposed to be drinking in your condition."
"I'm not." Aria defended, a perfectly manicured brow arched in challenge. "Mine's alcohol-free. See?"
The doctor embarrassedly nodded and, without a word, took the offered drink in her hand. She leaned against the porch railing and took a long sip. "I definitely think that's new," she said after a while, motioning with her head to the porch swing.
"Then that just shows how long it's been since you've been here." Aria looked sideways at her lover, showing off one of her signature smiles and adding a quick wink. For some reason she felt more confident and in control here at her home. "I had it put up not too long ago, after my first sonogram." Aria explained. "My father assembled one back then, when I was still a kid. I remember we used to sit out as a family and gaze at the stars. However, my brother Mike has never been much for sitting still and preferred rolling around in the grass singing 'Twinkle, Twinkle Little Star' rather than relaxing there with us. I guess that's what I want for this little one, too…" She added, her hand caressing the scarcely noticeable baby bump.
"It certainly adds to the white-picket-fence deal you have going…" Spencer considered aloud, taking in her surroundings for the first time with real attention: Aria's slate blue house with the signature red door, the stone walkway leading up to the steps, the mulch and flowers trailing along the wrap-around porch... It all screamed 'suburbia' and the only things missing were the 2.5 kids, and the doting husband. Then, on the other hand, there she was: a compartmentalizing woman with some serious and unresolved affective disorders who lived in a high-rise condo in Beacon Hills and who only had pictures by famous artists hanging on the otherwise bare walls. She watched as the younger woman took the final drag from her root beer before carefully lifting herself up to sit on the porch railing.
The dark haired woman's hair floated freely, carried by the chilly breeze of the night, and the delicious scent of Aria, a perfect mixture of fruity and floral, tickled Spencer's nose. She wanted this life with her, but was she cut for it? There were so many complications and obstacles: her demanding job and its long hours, her wearisome family, a baby on the way… To be honest, she was fucking terrified. She'd spent her entire life running from this, running from feelings, and all that running had led her here; right into the arms of the beautiful Aria Marie Montgomery.
Time seemed to stand quite still when, less than an hour later, the pair found themselves sitting down on the porch's wooden floor. A blanket was draped over the both of them as they sat opposite each other, their feet resting gently in the middle. Almost a month into their 'relationship' and there were still little traces of hesitance in their words and gestures, neither of them being really sure what direction this tentative dance around boundaries was leading them to.
The silence was not uncomfortable, but it had been stretching for far too long for Aria's liking and the petite brunette wanted so badly to break it; but for once, the aspirant writer was at a loss for words. Instead, she rotated her body so that she was settled between the brunette's legs, her back pressing into Spencer's chest. She relaxed all her weight into her as the older woman coiled a few strands of dark hair between her fingers.
"What is this, Ar?" The taller woman asked as she looped her arms around Aria's tiny frame.
"What is what?"
"This. Us."
"This," Aria replied as she laced Spencer's long, slender fingers in her own, "is perfect." She placed a soft kiss on the back of the brunette's hand before studying their entwined fingers closely. "I think that your hand was made to fit exactly with mine. See, look!" The younger one giggled as she held their hands up for the doctor to see.
"Anybody's hand can fit with anyone else's."
"Ugh, Spence!" Aria groaned. The older woman could be so damn exasperating at times. "Quit being so logical all the time. Stop thinking with your head."
"What am I supposed to think with?" Spencer questioned with raised eyebrows.
"Your heart," Aria said before turning slightly to place her ear where she knew the surgeon's heart would be.
"What if I don't know how?" She whispered into the smaller woman's silky hair.
Aria smiled softly into Spencer's chest as she whispered back, "Then I'll just have to teach you."
For the second time that night, Spencer didn't know how to respond, though this time she decided to go through with the thoughts that had been formulating in her mind. Taking a deep breath, she grasped gently Aria's chin in her hand, her other hand laced through the girl's soft hair, and pulled her in for a slow, deep kiss. This one wasn't like the others they used to share. It wasn't hurried or animalistic. Instead, it was filled with hope and sorrow, passion and yearning. It was everything Spencer had ever wanted a kiss to be and she wished that it would never end.
Aria was the first to pull away and the dark-haired doctor groaned at the loss of contact, eliciting the younger woman's giggles. Spencer gazed at her fondly, warm chocolate orbs full of adoration.
"Go away with me," she husked.
"What? Where? When?" Pointless words tumbled out of a startled Aria's mouth as her lust-filled hazel eyes stared up at the chestnut haired woman.
Spencer let out a light-hearted chuckle. "Go away with me," she repeated. "This weekend. Tomorrow. There're so many places I want to take you to… So many things I want to show you... So, what do you say? Will you come with me?"
All it took was a brief glance into hopeful brown eyes, wide as saucers, for Aria's barely there resolve to inevitably crumble. "Of course I'll come with you, Spence." She replied without a hint of hesitation, beaming like only a woman falling in love could. "I'd go anywhere with you."