A/N: And with this epilogue, I wrap up this story. It's kind of on the short side but hopefully you enjoy it anyway.

Endless thanks to all my reviewers, especially the ones that have consistently been there for every chapter. Many of you have thanked me for writing this, but you should really be thanking yourselves. If I hadn't got such a positive response to my previous oneshots, I seriously doubt I would have put in the time and effort to write such a long (for me anyway, haha) and emotionally draining story. I'll apologize one more time for all the tears and whatnot. I'm still torn between feeling like crap for making you cry and feeling amazed that I've managed to move you like that.

Also, thank you to everyone who left theories in their reviews. Some of you had a suspicion something was up with Aria since chapter one; I just never commented on it because I didn't want to spoil anything for the people that didn't think as far ahead. But that doesn't mean I didn't appreciate it! It's both a scary and an awesome feeling to write for readers who pay such close attention.

And lastly, thanks for all the withdrawal remedies! I shall definitely be giving those a try. :)

Epilogue

10 years later…

Spencer looked around the room anxiously, reaching out to straighten the napkin on one of the colorful paper plates resting on the symmetrically set table. Toby moved to stand behind her, his hands instinctively finding the knots in her shoulders.

"Everything looks great, Spence," he murmured. "He's going to love it."

She snorted. "He'd better. Look at this place."

Their eyes darted around the space, following the contours of the Cars themed birthday celebration supplies scattered across the living room of their house. There was a ridiculously expensive cake waiting in the kitchen along with an extensive display of sodas and sugar free juices.

"He's going to end up a spoiled brat if we're not careful," Spencer muttered. "This is all your fault."

Toby laughed, and she too let out an amused sound. "Please," he protested. "I suggested a small, modest gathering. I hate to be the one to tell you this but you totally lost control here."

She turned around his arms and lightly pinched his stomach in punishment. But then her hands came to rest on his chest and her eyes met his in a wistful look.

"I can't believe he's two. Can you?"

Toby shook his head, mirroring his wife's nostalgic smile. It literally seemed like only yesterday that he was holding Spencer's hand, murmuring encouraging words against her temple as her body faced more trauma than it probably ever had before. He would never forget the joy if hearing his son's cries for the first time, and the sense of wonder when suddenly there was another person in the room. A tiny, screaming, red-faced person that was the spitting image of Spencer before she'd had her morning coffee.

Spencer pressed herself closer to him still, her arms wrapping around his neck.

"Thank you," she whispered against is skin.

"For what?" he asked, surprised. He pulled back slightly to look at her face.

"For believing I could do it." Her eyes looked past him, to the stairs where their son was down for a nap on the second floor.

It dawned on him what she meant, and he brushed his lips against her forehead to reaffirm his confidence in her.

Three years ago, Spencer had come to him – visibly nervous – sat him down across from her, handed him coffee and told him she wanted to talk about something important. Awful scenarios sped through his head, but nothing could have prepared him for what came out of her mouth.

She wanted a child.

It was a part of him he had shut the door on a long time ago – permanently. He had accepted that a life with Spencer would be a life without children, for the simple reason that he never expected her to want them after… everything. Although she had made immense progress – she'd finished her degree with flying colors, was working part time and had managed to achieve some semblance of a normal life – she still struggled with staying connected to reality sometimes. Stress and sleep deprivation were factors that went hand in hand with the severity of her episodes, and since babies tended to cause both, he had never even considered the possibility that she would want to add that pressure to her life.

When she noticed his hesitant expression, she continued. "I know you have no reason to believe me… but I just feel like this is right for me. I just have this feeling inside me that…" She shook her head and lowered her eyes. "I know it sounds crazy…"

He flinched at the word, reaching out to cover her hand with his. Her dark eyes lifted to his again, and he was startled at the amount of serenity in her gaze. He realized that this was not a spur of the moment desire. It was something she had been struggling with for quite a while, and she had weighed her options carefully before making a rational decision. To this day he didn't rightfully know what had possessed him to hold onto that look in her eyes and say, "Okay."

They were pregnant sooner than expected, and they had cried and held each other and talked about what their child might look like. They had enjoyed what they both knew would be the calm before the storm.

And a storm it was. Her parents had reacted with bewilderment and outrage, informing them sternly that they were out of their minds to even consider adding a baby to their situation. Peter had even turned on him, shouting that he was irresponsible and a huge disappointment.

"Don't you dare call him that," Spencer spoke quietly from behind him, a hidden rage present in her voice. "This was my idea, I wanted this. Toby is just being supportive like always."

Her friends had equal reservations, but were a little more mild-mannered about it – even Hanna. They offered their unwavering assistance, offering to stay with Spencer and the baby while Toby was at work, like the thought of her being alone with the infant was an option not even worth entertaining.

"Don't worry, Spence," they said. "It'll be okay. We're here for you, and we'll help you figure it out."

That night, she had busted up in tears while they were getting ready for bed.

"Why is everyone acting like this was an accident?" she cried. "Like I'm just some stupid teenager who got knocked up by their low-life boyfriend. We're married, I love you and I want to have your baby. Why is that so hard for them to understand?"

He shook his head helplessly, wrapping his arms around her and pressing kisses into her hair. He knew her friends and family were just concerned, even if they went about it the wrong way. He hated that they had upset her, but he couldn't really fault them for being worried, or for wanting the best for Spencer and the baby. He wanted that, too.

And he couldn't deny that he, too, was scared sometimes. When she had a particularly heinous episode when she was seven months pregnant, he had briefly kicked himself, wondering what the hell he had been thinking. He barely slept that night, watching his sleeping wife and her protruding belly, wondering how he could possibly protect them both.

But then he was born. Aaron Tobias Cavanaugh. Toby's world changed forever, and he couldn't bring himself to regret any of it.

Especially when he took notice of how Spencer thrived from being so wholly responsible for another life. It was as if sinking away into her own mind was simply not an option anymore. Her son needed her, and she wouldn't let anything draw her away from him – physically or mentally.

Toby didn't dare be too hopeful at first, but as weeks and then months of incident-free days went by, his confidence grew. He didn't know how, but she had been right all those months ago when she told him she was meant to be a mother. She still didn't like loud noises, and there were still days were she went quieter and shakier than usual – but she hadn't had a single episode since she first cradled her child in her arms two years ago today.

"You've made my life, Toby Cavanaugh," she murmured against him now. "I hope you know that."

He responded by kissing her deeply, stroking her tongue with his in the way that he knew she loved. It always made him emotional when she talked like that. He had given up trying to explain it to other people, but it still felt kind of amazing to him that she would choose him as the man she wanted to share her life with. He couldn't believe it when they were kids, when she'd turned around at the Founders' Festival and walked into his arms without the slightest bit of hesitation; and now – twelve years later – he still couldn't. It was as if she turned around to him over and over, every day of their life together.

When they broke apart after a few nice, long moments, she framed his face in her hands. Her eyes flickered back and forth across his, and he sensed some sort of internal conflict on her part.

"What is it?" he asked, partly amused and partly worried.

She hesitated. "I was going to wait till tonight to tell you but…" Her eyes never leaving his face, she reached for his hands and slowly guided them under her shirt to the bare skin of her abdomen.

He stared at her in wonder. It was as if his brain was working in slow motion. "Are you…?"

She nodded happily, tears glistening in her eyes.

"You're…?"

Again, she nodded, laughing a little at the adorable expression on his face.

He lifted her up in his arms and turned in circles with her, their lips meeting repeatedly in lingering, affectionate kisses.

"We're having another baby," she finally confirmed, before their mouths collided again.

Happiness coursed through his entire body, so intensely it nearly left him breathless. Another child. Another miracle. Another chance for Spencer to grow even further away from her pain. And this time, no one would doubt her.

"Let's not tell anyone yet, okay?" she requested softly, after he set her back down on her feet.

Her parents were coming over today for Aaron's birthday party. They had come around after first laying eyes on their grandson. Toby wasn't surprised. It was impossible to look into Aaron's little face and feel anything but grateful that he was here.

Hanna and Emily would also be arriving shortly with their families, and Jason was bringing his new girlfriend. If someone had told Toby twelve years ago that he would still be in Rosewood when he was going on thirty, he would have laughed in their face. But this was his family now. Spencer enjoyed being close to them, and everyone adored Aaron to the point of suffocation.

"It'll be our secret," he promised.

The doorbell put an abrupt stop to their moment, and they both internally cursed their guests for their horrible timing.

"Someone's early," Spencer declared with a quick glance at her watch. "Probably my parents." She rolled her eyes and he smiled at her.

"Probably."

She made to move away from him but he held her back, stealing one last passionate kiss. She laughed, shoving him gently in the direction of the doorway.

"You get the door. I'll go see if Aaron's up yet."

He saluted her in agreement.