I don't know how long this story is going to be or exactly at what pace. But I'm sure it will be a somewhat slow pace.

This IS a Paily fanfic, but it also revolves around the other PLLs. Also there's A. But at some point I might just get rid of A. I'm not sure I have the imagination to come up with all the awesome things A does. Plus she/he/them is too big of a role and I don't want to distract from the plot. So if I ever do get rid of A in a less than believable graceful way, let's all pretend I did it right.

Also, I want to thank (even though she'll probably never see this) theaugustrain. 1. For inadvertently inspiring me. I had been wanting to write something for PLL for quite a while, but I couldn't find the idea or words. After reading 'Your Hand In Mine', the words that had been eluding me just came pouring out. 2. For writing such an awesome fanfic. It is the best Paily fanfic I've read. (Now I will cross my fingers and pray to the gods of the internet and fanfics that she continues it and finishes it. I suggest you join my efforts. Also go read it and review it and PM her begging her to continue it. And also hope she's alright).

It's K so far but I'm gonna make it T anyway just in case.

(Btw this is my first fanfic)

I do not own anything but this story.

Sorry for the long AN. Here goes.

The girls sat on one of the picnic tables. Spencer sat on the table while Aria, to her right, sat on the seat as did Emily and Hanna, to her left. They were all currently submerged in their own thoughts. Spencer looked down at the ugly orange jumpsuit and lightly groaned. Then she thought of Toby. She felt terrible for what she had done. The look on his face of hurt and confusion still haunted her. It was as if she had punched him in the stomach with great force, which is exactly what she did, metaphorically. She also felt for him because he had once experienced this; being incarcerated for something he didn't do. Spencer felt worse by the fact that it had partly been their fault. As she shifted her gaze Emily came into her line of view. She wondered if Emily was thinking about Maya. Maya had also been in this situation. She wondered if Emily felt about Maya the same way she felt about Toby. At least in Emily's case it hadn't been her fault that Maya had been sent away to juvie. Although knowing Emily, it was possible that a part of her, deep down, thought it was her fault. If at least partially. Then she looked at Hanna. Both Emily and Hanna had been quiet for most of this ordeal. It was unusual for Hanna. She hadn't quipped in with her usually inappropriate comments. She hadn't even complained about the unbecoming orange jumpsuit or the fact that she would have to go without makeup for two whole days.

"At least we're safe from A," Aria thought out loud. She had been thinking about Ezra and how she couldn't text or call him. It had occur to her that A couldn't bother them with messages.

Spencer scoffed. They weren't safe from A anywhere. Her/his reach seemed limitless. Spencer glanced around. It wouldn't surprise her if this was all A's doing. If everyone here was in on it. It was a somewhat paranoid thought, but with everything that had happened and everything A had proved to be capable of, it was a possible thought. Even if they went to hide in the core of the earth A would probably find them and torture them there.

"A has no boundaries, Aria," said Spencer, looking around suspiciously. "We're more like sitting ducks," she said.

Aria just looked at her. She was right. But she rather look on the brighter side of things. She'd rather try to feel safe in this confined place where someone kept a watch on them. Where no one could come in or out without detection. Where A's text couldn't taunt them. It seemed to her that if A wanted to make contact she /he would have to come down and do it in person. Despite Spencer's words she still felt relieved at that thought.

At this moment Emily didn't care about A, she just wanted to be with her loving family and to see Maya. She hadn't spoken to her since this mess started. She had only been allowed her one call and that had been to her parents. But in small towns news flew fast, so she was sure Maya would have heard by now. But there was still that chance that she hadn't. And she hadn't told her parents about Maya's return, so they wouldn't know to call her. As if on cue one of the guards came over to Emily.

"You have a visitor," he informed her.

She looked surprised, then smiled. She hoped it was Maya. She turned to look at the other girls who in turn looked at her questioningly. She gave them a small shrug indicating she didn't know who it was. She looked back at the guard and got up to follow him. She was expecting her parents. Or Maya. As she walked toward the visiting area she saw her visitor sitting at one of the tables. She stopped in her tracks, surprised. Paige smiled and waved shyly. This made Emily move. She walked over to the table Paige was sitting at and sat in front of her.

"Hi." Paige said, still shyly.

"Hi," Emily responded, puzzled. "What are you doing here?" she asked, before Paige had a change to say anything.

Paige chuckled. "Straight to the point," She noted. Shrugging she said, "I heard what happened. . . I just. . . Wanted to see you. Um, make sure you were okay." Emily smiled at that.

"I'm sorry, " Paige added.

Emily furrowed her eyebrows. "For what?" she asked.

"For you being here. Having to go through this," Paige answered.

"That's not your fault," Emily said smiling, a hint of teasing in her voice.

"I know," Paige responded. "But it seems insane that anyone would think you capable of such a horrible thing."

Emily smiled ruefully at that. An awkward silence set in.

"I heard Maya's back," Paige blurted out. Regretting it as soon as the words came out. This wasn't the time or place.

Before she could apologize Emily nodded. "Yeah, she is."

She didn't seem bothered by the inappropriate topic, Paige observed. So she ventured on, "So, are you two an item?" She knew she shouldn't ask, but she had already opened the door and Emily didn't seem to mind.

Emily opened her mouth, then closed it. She opened it again and said, "I don't know."

Paige nodded. Silence fell again. Paige felt extremely awkward. "Well. . ." she started, "I should get going."

She hesitated then reached for Emily's hand. Emily didn't move it away. She smiled at Emily and Emily returned it. Paige gave her hand a light squeeze. She saw that one of the guards noticed her grabbing Emily's hand and the guard moving toward them, so Paige let go of Emily's hand.

"Be safe," she said. She got up and with a smirk on her face added, "Don't drop the soap."

Emily laughed. She stood up as Paige was starting to leave. "Paige," she called. Paige turned. "Thanks," Emily said sincerely, smiling at her. Paige smiled back and nodded.

Emily walked back to the girls.

"That was fast," Spencer noted.

"Who was it?" asked Aria curiously.

"Umm," Emily couldn't lie to them under the circumstance. "Paige," she admitted.

"What?" said all three girls in unison.

Emily stayed quiet, staring at them.

"Paige McCullers?" Hanna asked, really speaking for the first time, beating Spencer and Aria to the punch. Emily sighed. She hadn't told them about Paige out of respect for her. But now she couldn't avoid it and this was as good a time as any to tell them about her and Paige. She finally nodded in response.

"Paige and I," Emily started. "We dated."

This time they just looked at her in disbelief. "She tried to drown you," said Spencer, emphasizing every word.

"She didn't try to drown me," Emily defended. "I know how she seems. But she's actually a good and sweet person." Both Aria and Spencer looked at her doubtfully. "She was just scared," She added.

"Scared of what?" Spencer asked, somewhat rhetorically.

Emily sighed. "You guys don't know her. And I think by now we all would have learned to not judge a book by its cover," Emily said.

Spencer sighed. She was right. She had judge Toby quickly and harshly and she had been very wrong. "Alright," Spencer relented. "You're right."

Emily smiled. Emily had half expected Spencer to accuse Paige of being A. After how Paige had behaved and showing up here for no apparent reason. She had thought Spencer would assume she came to gloat; that A, meaning Paige, would come to rub it in their face that she had finally beat them.

"What did she want?" Aria asked innocently.

Emily shrugged. "I don't know. Make sure I was alright I guess," she responded.

Aria nodded. Emily was glad to have finally told them about Paige. She was also glad that it hadn't been a full blown confrontation, like she had expected. She figured part of the reason they'd gone easy on her was because she was no longer with Paige.