#arlex

Title: Imitation is the Sincerest Form of Depravity  Fandom: Pretty Little Liars Characters: Spencer Hastings, Aria Montgomery, Alex Drake, Hanna Marin, Emily Fields, Alison DiLaurentis, Ezra Fitz, etc Paring: Sparia/Arlex, Emison, Hanna/kick in the ass (eventual Vandermarin) Summary: What would happen if Alex Drake was in love with Aria Montgomery? Well, she is. And it’s about goddamn time Alex got what she deserved.

Just wait, you guys..

The only other time Spencer could remember having this severe of a headache was a week after she and the others had been rescued from Charlotte’s twisted dollhouse. At the time, she had thought the worst of this whole fucking ‘A’ fiasco was over, but this? This was more insane than anything she could have come up with in even her most warped dreams. She had just found out she another goddamn sister, no –– an identical twin sister –– and the bitch had kidnapped her.

“Spencer!” Alex’s voice pulled her from her thoughts, and Spencer’s head snapped in her sister’s direction.

“What?” Spencer deadpanned. “What could you possibly want?”

“Well now, there’s no need to be so rude. I thought we were becoming friends,” Alex snickered. Her thick accent made Spencer’s head spin and her stomach twist in anxious knots. “Anyhow…” Alex sat back down in her chair and leaned against the wall, propping her legs up in the same position she’d been in when Spencer had first woken up. “Who’s your best mate?”

“What?” Spencer asked, eyeing Alex warily. She was so tired and her head was throbbing. Surely this was all just a crazy dream, right?

Alex rolled her eyes. “For someone so smart, you’re a bit dull, aren’t you? Your best mate.”  Alex tilted her head back to gaze up at the ceiling. “You got lots of ‘em, you know? There’s the blonde one..”

“Hanna?” Spencer sighed. The knot in her stomach tightened.

“No, no. Not the fat one. The other one.”

Spencer flinched. “Hanna is not fat,” she snapped. “And the other blonde you’re thinking of is Alison, but that is as much as you’re going to talk about my friends. Keep their names out of your mouth.”

Alex grinned at her. “Ah, right. Hanna, Alison, Emily,” she listed each one with a tick off her fingers. “And the little one.”

The knot in Spencer’s stomach coiled, and bile bubbled in her stomach. “Aria,” she all but whispered.

Alex met Spencer’s gaze and her lips curled up into a sly smile. “Aria,” she repeated. “ I rather like her.”

Spencer glared at her. “How long do you plan on keeping me here?”

Alex tilted her chair back and forth before standing up and letting it clatter to the floor behind her. She crossed the room and sat down on Spencer’s bed, delighted when Spencer moved away from her. “For as long as I want,” she said in a uh, duh, tone. “Now if you’ll excuse me, I have somewhere to be. I believe Miss Montgomery is waiting for her fiancé, but…” She exited the small room and hit a button on the wall opposite to Spencer’s room. The mechanic doors slid open with a whoosh, and revealed another person lying on a cot identical to Spencer’s. Only the person passed out on it was..

“Ezra!” Spencer cried out. “What the hell have you done to him?” Ezra was unconscious, and even from a distance Spencer could see the bloody wound on the side of his head. His face and the parts of his hands that she could see were covered in nasty cuts and bruises.

Alex shrugged, looking down at Ezra’s unconsciously form carelessly. “He’s rather annoying,” she simpered.

“Alex,” Spencer spat. “You can’t do this! You can’t kidnap people and hold them against their will!”

“Charlotte did,” Alex scoffed. She hit the buttons on the electronic keyboard to lock Spencer’s door and smirked at her through the air holes. She cleared her throat locked eyes with Spencer. “I think you should wear your hair up for the funeral.”

All the air left Spencer’s lungs and she sprang up so fast she almost fell over. It earned a snicker out of Alex, and Spencer’s eyes narrowed. “Funeral?” her voice came out high-pitched and fast. “A funeral for whom?”

“A funeral for whom,” Alex mocked.

Spencer shivered. Alex sounded just like her.  Even though they were twins, Spencer was hoping for some kind of identifier that would separate the two of them. “No one will believe you,” she called out before she could stop herself. “My friends will never believe you’re me. If you think you can get away with this…”

Alex hummed and ran her fingers through her hair. “Oh, honey.” Her eyes turned cold and her voice sharp. “I already have.”

By the time Alex had arrived at the altar, worry over Ezra’s disappearance had gone full swing. The guests were restless, whispering amongst themselves as their fingers flying over their phone screen’s keyboards –– obviously posting about what a tragedy it was that the groom had seemingly stood up the bride –– and Alex thought it was hilarious. She breezed past the anxious guests and slipped through the back door to the lobby where she knew she would find Aria and the others.

“Spencer, there you are! Where have you been?” Hanna was at her side in an instant, her expression a mixture of confusion and annoyance. “One of your best friends is going through an existential crisis, and you decide to pull a Houdini?”

Alex sighed. “Sorry,” she said. “The law firm called. I had to take a call.” She rushed over to a crying Aria and crouched down next to her, putting a comforting hand on her knee. “Are you OK? I can’t believe Ezra would do this..” “Maybe he’s hurt? I’m sure he wouldn’t intentionally do this to you, Aria. He loves you.” Emily offered weakly. She and Alison stood side by side, each bouncing one of their daughters on their hips.

Alex rubbed Aria’s knee in a comforting gesture and stood up, arms outstretched. “Can I hold her? You look like you could use a break.”

Emily smiled gratefully and passed her daughter off to her friend. “Thanks, Spence. That’s Lily. I’ll be right back. I just need to use the bathroom.”

Alex cradled Lily in her arms, cooing down at her. Merlin, she looks just Wren. And to think that ungrateful bitch carried around these poor dears. Her eyes flitted up to Alison, and she shot her a soft smile, which was returned immediately. Bloody idiot. Baby Lily grasped at her finger and Alex grinned. It really as a shame poor Wren would never meet his daughters, but that was the price he paid for going against her.

“What if he’s really hurt?” Aria’s broken voice tore through her. “What if he’s dead?”

Alex fought the urge to snort. She shifted Lily to her other hip and ran her fingers through the baby’s thin hair.

“Spencer?” A hand touched her shoulder, and Alex jumped, whirling around.

“Whoa!” Emily held up her hands mockingly in self-defense. “Can I have Lily? Ali and I are going to take the girls for a walk around outside to try to get them down for a nap. We don’t know when…” she trailed off and glanced in the direction of Aria. “You know..”

“Sure, Em. I’d be happy to take them on their walk if you want?” Alex offered, her tone hopeful yet casual.

Emily shook her head. “It’s fine, really. They can get pretty restless when they’re tired.”  She walked over to the girls’ stroller and strapped Lily in a seat. Alison followed suit with Grace.

“Hanna? Wanna come with us?” Emily asked.

“No,” Hanna grumbled sourly.

“We’d like it if you came with us,” Alison added, with a pointed look.

“Fine…”

As soon as they were alone, Alex plopped down next to Aria. Aria’s eyes were red and puffy; her cheeks stained with old and fresh tears. “Hey, it’s okay. Look, Ezra will show up eventually. He’s probably just got cold feet. It’s very common for men to doubt the marriage on the day of more than women. That or he got lost in a bookstore,” she joked.

A small laugh escaped Aria and she sniffled, resting her head on Spencer’s shoulder. The two interlaced fingers automatically, and she felt Spencer squeeze her hand affectionately. “I’m so stupid,” she mumbled. “To actually believe I could have a happy ending..”

A flash of annoyance shot through Alex. Obviously Aria had every right to be upset, but she was trying to create a moment here, and the Aria could only focus on Humbert Humbert’s younger brother. “You’re not stupid,” she said softly. “Aria, you are one of the smartest people I’ve ever known. It’s Ezra who is the stupid one. He’s an idiot.”

Aria lifted her head up, surprised. She knew Spencer wasn’t the biggest fan of their relationship, but she had never been so blunt before; that job usually fell upon Hanna. “What?”

Alex swallowed. Shit. “I mean, he’s an idiot for leaving you like this,” she back-peddled.  “You don’t deserve this.”

Aria opened her mouth to argue, but snapped it shut. She knew Spencer was right. “Yeah, I know,” she muttered quietly. “I just…maybe he changed his mind, and he decided he really can’t stay with a barren woman.”

Alex’s nostrils flared. “Then he is a goddamn moron, Aria! If you think he would leave you because of an unforeseen, biological anomaly, then he really fucking doesn’t deserve you. Any man who would leave his girlfriend or wife just because she can’t bear his lonely sperm deserves to be strung up and hanged.” The words flew out of her mouth before Alex could stop herself, and she smacked her lips together.

Aria’s eyes widened. She wasn’t used to hearing Spencer swear so much. Alison was actually the most vulgar of their group. “Wow..”

Alex winced. “I-I’m sorry,” she croaked. “I’m just…angry. I’m so angry that he would do this to you. I didn’t think he actually had the balls..”

There was a brief moment of silence before Aria burst into giggles. She leaned against Spencer and wrapped her arms around her waist. “I can always count on you, Spence. You always know how to make a girl feel better.”

Alex’s heart slammed against her chest and she lifted Aria’s chin so their eyes locked. Aria’s eyes were wet with tears, but still shone bright. “I will always be here for you, Aria. We’re Team Sparia, remember?” The word felt weird leaving her tongue, like was a nasty phrase one should never say. No doubt Spencer came up with this stupid gem…

“Always,” Aria hooked her pinky through Spencer’s. “I love Team Sparia.”

“And I love you,” Alex murmured against Aria’s ear.

For some reason the comment made Aria shiver. Spencer’s breath was warm on her skin. “I love you, too, Spence.” The phrase didn’t hit Alex like she thought it would. Instead it kind of stung. Of course, Aria thought she was talking to Spencer. She was about to answer when Hanna, Alison and Emily returned with the girls, who were asleep in their stroller.

Alex glanced at the wall on the clock. Bullocks. I suppose I should go feed the little bastards. Can’t have ‘em dying on me. “Is anyone hungry? I’m going on a coffee run. Does anyone want their usual?”

“I’ll come with you.” Hanna grabbed her purse and headed for the door.

“No!” Alex said, much too quickly. Eight pairs of eyes fell on her. “I mean,” she swallowed, “it’s fine, Han. You should stay here, okay? It’s just easier if one of us leaves. People might start to get more antsy than they already off if they see the bridesmaids leaving in pairs..”

Disappointment flashed across Hanna’s face, but she sighed and settled into a chair. “You’re right. I don’t want everyone to freak out. Half of them probably think Ezra is dead in a ditch anyway.”

“Hanna!” Emily and Alison hissed in unison.

A smirk tugged at Alex’s lips. Maybe she’s not such an idiot after all.. “I’ll be back as soon as I can,” she promised. Before anyone could say anything else, Alex scampered off.

When she arrived back at her hideout, Ezra was still unconscious and Spencer was sitting on her bed, just staring at the wall. She let herself in Spencer’s cell. Spencer barely glanced up at her.

“Aw, come now. Don’t I get a greeting?” Alex asked slipping back into her accent. “Are all Americans this rude?”

Spencer snorted. “I don’t think you have any room to gripe about politeness when you’re holding two people against their will. I’ve been to London, so I know it’s not common treatment. You just must be a bitch.”

Alex smirked. “Oh, love. I know you’ve been to London.” She sauntered over to Spencer and bent down so the two were eye level. “If I were you I would be more gracious to your host. Did you know the human body can go three weeks without food, but only three days without water?” She ruffled Spencer’s hair. “Think about that while I get your food, yeah?”

Spencer blinked. “What?” she gasped. “How the hell do you know I’ve been to London?”

Alex was already halfway out the door, but she paused and looked back at Spencer over her shoulder. She tapped her fingers lightly against the frame of the doorway and sighed almost blissfully, like she was recalling a wonderful memory.

“How do you think the vials of blood got in your bag? Not much of a thinker, are ya?”

Spencer’s face turned ashen. “T-that was you?”

“Brilliant move, wasn’t it?”  Alex shrugged and pursed her lips. “It was rather a delight to watch. I even have your reaction on camera. Would you like to see?”

Spencer sat there, mouth agape. She exhaled and pressed her fingers to her temples. “You’re truly unbelievable..”

“I’ll take that as a compliment.” Alex winked at Spencer and punched in the code on the keypad. And then she was gone, and Spencer was left staring at the space where Alex had just stood, her heart pounding and her hope for freedom slowly dissipating.