Keep Me Safe

Chapter 99

Avery Olivia Fitz was delivered by C-section on July 3 at 8:11 p.m. Spencer was the first one to hold her niece, and didn't feel the jealousy she expected to. Things had gotten exponentially better in the past month. She graduated from college after a gruelling week of exams, Toby had gotten the job in Kenosha resulting in a large pay raise, and the two of them were finally happy. She still felt the constant sadness, but it wasn't as debilitating as before. And she had Toby.

Looking into her niece's eyes, Spencer suddenly wondered what Abby's would've looked like. Would they have been Toby's ocean blue ones, the ones she would never get tired of gazing into, or would've she had the trademark Hasting's brown ones that had gotten passed down from her ancestors? Somehow, Avery had inherited the green from her mother's irises, but they were brighter, and less brown. The newborn's beauty shocked Spencer. How had she been on the earth for less than an hour but be one of the most precious things in existence?

She didn't realize she was crying until Aria gasped.

"Spencer, are you okay?" Aria asked worriedly. "Do you need me to take her?"

Spencer laughed and wiped her eyes, handing Aria her daughter. The room was empty except for the two of them. No one had come in the room since Aria was moved from the OR, Spencer was only there upon her friend's request. Ezra was getting Joshua and Ada Lynn to introduce them to their sister. It was because of this reason that Spencer could be honest.

"If I could steal her I would," she laughed. "She's just so perfect."

Aria smiled. "I'm so in love with her already," she sighed happily. "I feel awful, but I'm just so happy."

"Well," Spencer started. "You did just get cut open."

Aria moved aside to allow Spencer to sit on the bed. "Not as bad as the twins. Forty hours for Ada Lynn and then I remembered there was another one."

Spencer grimaced at the thought. "I was in labor for an hour. I was pretty much in and out of the hospital."

"I don't think I ever told you how sorry I was about that. Honestly, how are you?"

"Honestly? It hurt so much. It was the single most difficult thing I've ever gone through. But I'm getting better. I've come to accept the fact that things like that happen. And I went to the doctor a few weeks ago."

Aria's eyebrows crinkled together. "And what?"

"Well, if everything heals up the way it's supposed to, I can try to get pregnant again in November."

"Spence, that's great!" Aria beamed.

"Yeah, I just hope I'm ready by then. Sex is honestly the last thing on my mind. What if Toby and I can't get back to that place?" She didn't feel awkward in the least talking to Aria about this. They were always the most likely to talk about the private aspects of relationships. After all, Aria was the first to know that Spencer had lost her virginity all those years ago.

It happened in the least expected way. It had honestly just slipped out of her mouth. They were in the middle of some lighthearted conversation and there it was.

"Toby and I had sex the other day."

"You're kidding, right? Spencer!"

Spencer was taken aback by her response. Wasn't this supposed to be a celebrated thing in the land of teenage girls?

"Yeah, on the day that Emily..." she trailed off.

Suddenly, Aria lunged across the bed at the taller friend and embraced her.

"I'm so proud!" She giggled. Her face quickly turned serious. "Wait, where?"

"Here..." Spencer said slowly.

"Ew! So this is your sacred ground?" Aria's expression turned to that of pure disgust. "I can't believe it."

"Yeah, sorry about that," Spencer groaned as Aria repositioned herself on the floor.

Looking at Spencer intently, Aria asked, "How was it?"

Spencer blushed before replying. "It was perfect!"

Spencer was so wrapped up in her memory that she didn't even notice that Aria was talking.

"That's what I thought, too. You know, after the twins were born," she was saying. Spencer knew. Aria had experienced severe postpartum depression, which led to her and Ezra's relationship crumbling. Much like her and Toby's was.

"But just give it time. You'll be back in the bed in no time," Aria added with a wink.

Before Spencer could laugh or thank her petite friend for her reassurance, the door creaked open.

People immediately flooded the room. Ezra, the twins, Toby, Hanna, Mike, Emily, and Paige filtered in and found seats either on the ground or in one of the uncomfortable armchairs. In Spencer's case, she found her place on Toby's lap in a seat across from Aria's bed.

She watched with amusement as Joshua and Ada Lynn met their newborn sister. They were enchanted by her mere presence, not seeming jealous or apprehensive in the slightest.

The group chatted for awhile after that, topics ranging from work, vacations, Paige and Emily's wedding, and even Hanna had something extraordinary to say.

"Well, since Aria had her baby, I can say it now. I'm pregnant!"

The room burst into applause. Everyone was offering their congratulations, when Aria butted in.

"Little brother! You got my best friend pregnant!" She shrieked.

"Well, we are married," Mike argued. "I thought it was a pretty natural thing to do."

This earned more laughs from the friends. Spencer turned to Toby, bowing her head into the crook of his neck. He smoothed down her hair and laid a kiss on the top of her head.

Surrounded by all the people she loved and in the close proximity of her husband, Spencer felt happier than she had in a long time.

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Sorry I haven't updated in so long! School's out so I'll try to be more active. Hope you guys liked all the Sparia in the chapter. Please comment some recommendations for future story lines; things you do and don't want to happen. How did you feel about this one? Love you guys!