Lucky Thirteen

Second Chances

"Hanna, are you ready to go home now?" asked Dr. Sullivan.

"Yes! Finally!" Hanna exclaimed as she jumped off of her place on the loveseat.

Dr. Sullivan and Ashley both chuckled.

"But before you go anywhere, there's something else I need to say," interjected Charlotte.

Hanna inwardly groaned and sat back down on the loveseat. She just wanted to go home already.

"I know this probably won't do any good, but I'm sorry... for everything. "Mom, I'm sorry I pinned Detective Wilden's murder on you. I killed him because (1) he was a crooked cop, and (2) because of the way he treated you and Hanna. And most importantly, I'd like to apologize for all the pain and suffering I've caused you and your friends, Hanna. I didn't mean to take it as far as I did. Like I said earlier, the game was like a drug and I was addicted to it. I had no one to turn to for help, so I kept playing. You and Mom have both apologized to me, and I don't know why. You don't even have anything to apologize for, and if you did, I don't deserve your forgiveness. I know simply saying 'I'm sorry' won't make up for all the horrible things I did, but I need to know what I can do for you to forgive me," Charlotte said sincerely.

"Look Charlotte, Mona was my best friend, and she tortured me as 'A' too... and I (eventually) forgave her. When she came here for our session and (really) explained her motive for being 'A,' I understood where she was coming from. She just wanted friends. Sure, she could have just told me what she was feeling instead of threatening me and running me over with a car but, hey, Mona being 'A' actually brought me, Emily, Spencer, and Aria closer together, so there was some good that came with all of that. And some good came with you being 'A' too," said Hanna.

"Like what?" asked Charlotte with eyebrows furrowed.

"I mean, I would've lived my whole life never knowing the truth about my family. Like you being my twin sister, Ted being our father, my dad not being my dad, Grunwald being our grandma, Mrs. DiLaurentis being our aunt and Ali being our cousin," answered Hanna.

"So, what are you saying?" Charlotte asked with hopefulness.

"I'm saying that I've heard your story and I understand," Hanna paused. "I forgive you, Charlotte."

"Really?" Charlotte asked emotionally.

Hanna smiled and nodded.

"Thank you, Hanna! I don't know what I did to deserve a sister as great as you," Charlotte said as she got up to hug Hanna. Charlotte then walked over and stood in front of Ashley. "Mom, do you forgive me?" she asked shyly.

Ashley looked up at Charlotte, glanced at Hanna and then returned her attention to Charlotte. "If Hanna has decided to give you a second chance after all the things you've done to her, then I guess I will too. I forgive you, Charlotte," she said as she got up to hug Charlotte. "But if you ever try to hurt Hanna again or if she ever gets another message from 'A,' I'm sending you back here. Do you understand me, Charlotte?" Ashley said seriously.

"Yes. I understand, Mom. I don't want to spend another day in this place or go to jail. I'll do whatever it takes to earn your trust. I'll take my medication, and I'll go to therapy. Anything that will keep me in your good graces" answered Charlotte.

Ashley smiled and stood up. Hanna followed suit. "Good. Let's go home, shall we?" asked Ashley to both her daughters.

Both girls nodded feverishly.

***

No one said anything on the ride back home. Ashley decided to break that silence: "Girls, Ted asked me to marry him!" she said happily from the driver's seat.