I know I haven't updated my other stories recently and probably shouldn't be starting a new one but this one seeped it's way into my brain. Like all my other stories this one will be Paily, what can I say they belong together. I do not know how the Air Force works so there will be inaccuracies in that part of the story, sorry. If you are going to review please be nice. Disclaimer: I do not own Pretty Little Liars.

Paige looks at the email again resting her head against the wall behind her. Stanford was pulling her scholarship to fund a current swimmer who lost her funding. Paige didn't even know that could happen. This was an incredibly harsh way to learn. Email how informal is that? The least they could have done was emailed asking Paige to come in to see them. At least they were letting her finish the semester. What happens after that Paige has no idea. She can't go back to Rosewood. Her parents are no longer there, they waited for Paige to be enrolled in classes then fled like the area was on fire. Emily sent her a text she needed space minutes after Paige left her at the airport, Paige didn't get it until she landed. Paige tried phoning, texting and emailing Emily to straighten things out but there was no response. So Paige dove into school and swimming, which now she finds wasn't good enough. Is she good enough?

Suddenly an idea washes over Paige, Air Force, Paige had always wanted to fly a plane the Air Force is a perfect outlet. Paige looks up the information she needs to enlist finding she meets the requirements needed. Paige writes down the address getting up and heading to it. Paige is happy to learn she can start after her Stanford semester ends and she can use some of her courses as credits once she gets to the academy after basic training.

The rest of the semester flies by with Paige leaving for basic training in what feels like weeks instead of months, which is how it went. Before going Paige disconnects her cell phone, deletes her email, Facebook, Instagram, Twitter and any thing else that connects her to the outside world. The world didn't want to connect to her so why should she connect with the world.

When it came to processing Paige told the hairdresser to cut off all her hair, at the moment it was just weighing her down. Once it was all gone Paige felt so free. The weeks flew by with Paige overwhelmed with knowledge thankful that she was allowed a journal to write it all down and get it out. Paige watched as the other cadets received and wrote letters to their families. Paige wrote letters, to Emily, never sending them but again it was freeing. Then one day she received a letter from the most unlikely person:

Paige,

Did you seriously think you could enlist and I wouldn't find out? I am in the army Paige. I hear all, especially when a cadet is breaking all kinds of records, like you are. It is good to hear you are excelling you will be good for this country. How are you? Basic Training can be kind of rough I hope you are finding ways to relieve the pressure. I know Emily will want to hear from you. I know you're graduation is coming up, I will definitely be there. This is not me asking if you would like me to be there Paige, this is me telling you I will be. See you soon. Don't worry about answering this I will talk to you soon, I also know how the mail goes chances are I won't get it in time.

Sincerely,

Wayne Fields

Paige gets to work writing a response:

Mr Fields,

I know you told me not write to back, this will not be sent, instead I will give this to you in person. It is nice to hear from you sir. Honestly I didn't think you would find out, you're Army I'm Air. I guess they have to talk to each other, it's how battles are won right? Coordination is key, if all infantries are doing their own things it could get messy fast. I don't know if you know, the fact that you mentioned her in the letter tells me you may not have, Emily and I are no longer together. I am not sure she would want to hear from me, I kind of left her alone when she was going through things she might of needed me around for. I am sorry I hurt her, that was not my intention I swear. I loved, uh, love Emily I guess it just wasn't meant to be, she is to good for me. You and Mrs Fields raised her well. I am doing okay. You are right BT is pretty intense, I am handling it alright. They let you keep a journal so I am writing everything down to get it all out. Thank you for coming to see me, even though you didn't have to. You are a great man, caring for children that aren't yours. Though that is what you do all the time I am no one special, just a cog in a machine that could work with out it. At least now I will help the machine help others. It's getting late I should end this now. Thank you Mr Fields, for everything you have done for Emily, for this country, for me.

Sincerely,

Paige McCullers

Paige hums putting the letter in the envelope and sealing it then sinks into her bed.

Three days later Paige is standing in front of the man moments from graduating "Hello sir. How are you?"

Wayne looks over Paige "Hello Paige. I am good. That uniform looks goods on you."

Paige hands over the letter "Thank you sir. I know you told me not to answer. You deserve a response though. Sorry."

Wayne takes the envelope "That's not a problem Paige. How have you been?"

Paige opens her mouth to speak only to be interrupted by "Paige. Oh it's been a long time. You cut off all your hair."

Paige turns "Hi Mrs Fields. How are you?"

The woman hugs Paige tightly "You know you can call me Pam sweetie. I am good. How are you?"

Paige nods "Alright. You really didn't have to come ma'am."

Pam frowns "Ma'am. Really Paige? I'm all for using manners but ma'am makes me feel old."

Paige winces "Sorry. Ma-ugh Mrs Fields."

Pam's frown deepens as an announcement calls all the cadets to the seating area. Paige points behind her.

Wayne nods "Go Paige. We will talk later."

Paige turns walking away.

Pam looks down at the envelope "What's that?"

Wayne looks down "I wrote Paige a letter this is her response. She just gave it to me."

Wayne tears open the envelope reading it a deep frown appearing on his lips. Pam looks worried until he hands over the letter.

Pam fidgets with the letter looking around "Where are Paige's parents?"

Wayne sighs "Hawaii. They left when Paige was enrolled in Stanford. I called them to fill them in on Paige's whereabouts. They were disappointed to hear she left Stanford asked me to wish her luck and then hung up."

Pam looks at the letter "No wonder Paige feels alone."

Wayne shakes his head "They didn't know Paige was here. They just cut her off. I can't imagine what that feels like."

Pam skims over the part about Emily "Why did she think Emily wanted nothing to do with her? What happened between them?"

Wayne looks to where he saw Paige go "Emily hasn't told you anything?"

Pam shakes her head "No."

Wayne takes his wife's hand "Let's go find a seat."

The two walk to the seating area finding two seats together. Pam pulls out her camera getting it ready to take pictures.

Emily pulls out her phone dialling a number. She had just gotten to California and decided to visit Paige at Stanford. Only Paige wasn't there, she hasn't been for two months. There was only one person that could help her find Paige.

A voice answers "Hello."

Emily takes a breath "Caleb. I need your help."

Emily can hear movement on the other end before "What do you need?"

Emily fills him in "I am in California. Paige isn't at Stanford, she hasn't been for two months."

Caleb concludes "You want me to help find her. Where exactly are you?"

Emily sighs "A hotel near Stanford. I have two weeks before I have to check in for my room at Pepperdine."

Caleb talks to someone, by the voice Emily knows it's Hanna, "We will land in San Francisco International Airport at ten tonight."

Emily purses her lips "I can pick you up then."

Emily hangs up the phone, Where are you Paige?

Emily hears a squeal turning she sees Hanna jumping up and down on the escalator Caleb trying to calm her down. When Hanna is off the escalator she runs to Emily wrapping her arms around her friend.

Emily laughs "Easy Hanna I just saw you last week you're acting like we haven't seen each other in years."

Hanna lets go "I know. I'm just, are you sure you want Paige back? She kind of left you in the lurch. I mean who breaks up with someone through text? I thought she was better then that."

Emily sighs "She needed to get out of Rosewood Hanna. It was wearing her down, it was wearing all of us down."

Caleb interrupts "Let's get this party on the road shall we?"

Emily nods "Do you need to get any bags?"

Hanna groans "No. Caleb told me to take only what could fit in a carry on."

Emily looks at him "Wow. You've got some serious powers of persuasion."

Caleb smiles "Didn't really take much persuading if you know what I mean?"

Emily cringes "Ew. I got it. Let's go."

Back at the hotel Caleb sets up his computer tapping away at the keys. A few minutes later he hisses shaking his head.

Emily looks at the screen "What did you find?"

Caleb informs "Paige got a text from you the night she left for San Francisco. Very harsh." Caleb reads, "You told me you would be there for me for whatever I needed. I needed you here with me. I betrayed Alison for you. I am glad you are three thousand miles away because I need space."

Emily looks over his shoulder "What? I didn't send that."

Caleb hums "Looks like an unknown number piggy backed off your phone. Paige sent you a bunch of texts after that trying to explain the situation. None of them got to you. She never got any of your texts either. She got an email from Stanford telling her they were pulling her scholarship to give it to an established swimmer. Looks like it was actually from Stanford to, there is also the same message in letter form. Then the unknown number piggy backed off of Paige's number to send you an I need space text from her. Paige disconnects her phone and everything else that would connect her with the world and joined the Air Force."

Emily shakes her head reading the same information Caleb just told her.

Hanna asks "Why would she join the Air Force?"

Emily lets out a puff of air "Paige always wanted to fly a plane. The Air Force could be away for her to do that. She felt alone, like nobody wanted her, the Air Force took her in gave her a purpose."

Caleb interrupts "Then she probably would have felt like that again when they discharged her. Looks like there was a fire in the dorms, Paige pulled out three people. She and the survivors were required to get evaluated by a psychiatrist. She was honourably discharged, when she failed the evaluation. Turns out the fire was set on purpose when a disgruntled graduate from her training squad ended their life and tried to take down a few of the others. Looks like Paige helped the person get through training when they were struggling."

Emily closes her eyes "Was Paige hurt?"

Caleb shakes his head "Nothing major a few minor burns but other then that she was fine. Got an award for her bravery."

Emily sighs "Paige had a moment where she thought about taking her life. Alison was relentlessly bullying her and she felt like there was no other way. She decided ending her life would be letting Alison win and persevered. This could have triggered her, it must have because she failed the psych evaluation. Where is she now?"

Caleb leans back "I have no idea. She hasn't joined the major social media outlets again. There is no cell phone registered to her. Oh this is cool, Paige put an algorithm that sent a virus to anyone who would try to reactivate her accounts. It is quite strong and worked when someone tried to get her Facebook page back up. Knocked them out for a couple months. Didn't you guys stop getting A messages for a couple months? Paige could be why."

Hanna coos "Aw. Paige protected you even when she thought you didn't want her. She is kind of awesome."

Emily mumbles "I will never not want Paige."

Hanna awes again hugging Emily "Caleb you have to find Paige. Emily needs her girl back."

Caleb types away "I'm trying."

Emily drops onto the bed groaning loudly.

Emily is looking at the house decorated for Christmas, empty boxes beside her, flashes of the year Paige was helping her. It had been four months since Caleb had started his search and he hadn't found anything yet. Emily was starting to give up hope. Something in her heart just wasn't ready.

Emily furrows her brow when a car stops in front of her house. Two men in army uniforms walk up to the door, What are they doing here? Is it dad? Cautiously walking up to the door she sees her mom fall to her knees in tears.

Emily runs up to her "Mom. Are you okay? What happened?"

Pam chokes "Your dad he's..."

One of the soldiers frowns handing over some dog tags "I am so sorry."

Emily looks at the dog tags holding her mom tighter, He's not coming home. He was just here celebrating the holidays with us. This can't be happening.

Paige runs through the dense area behind two others in the same uniform. It has been six months since she was discharged from the Air Force. Six months of studying how to fix and fly air planes and helicopters. Now here she is in the middle of nowhere with the Air Force searching for some men that went missing during a top secret mission.

The commander looks at a downed plane "Airman McCullers aren't you studying Aero Engineering? See if you can salvage parts from this. We might find a use for them elsewhere."

Paige looks at the downed plane taking pieces she may be able to use later from it and putting it in her pack. Now the bag is much heavier, luckily Paige kept herself in shape.

Paige backs away "Alright I've got all I can carry without slowing us down."

The commander nods "Great let's get moving."

Paige stops dead looking around, something didn't feel right. Her commander signals for her to move forward. Swallowing Paige does as she is told creeping forward getting surprised by something whizzing past her head, A bullet. Great I'm going to die in this heat. I hate the heat.

A booming "Hold your fire. They're our friends."

A soldier comes out "Sorry about that. Thought you were an enemy."

Paige's commander speaks "We have to tell the Air Force to change the colour of our uniforms if our allies shoot us for looking like the enemy."

The soldier that commanded the cease fire states "We fought off some attackers two nights ago. The sounds around us have us all on edge. He saw a figure and fired thinking you were here to kill."

The commander looks at the helicopter a few feet away "Where are we in terms of safety?"

One of the others soldiers informs "One of our bases is ten miles north. There are enemy bases three miles of us in all directions. We found this bird and took shelter here."

The commander leading Paige looks at her "McCullers see if you can get that bird in the air. Even if it stays in the air five minutes it will get us closer to the good guys."

Paige walks towards the helicopter noticing a Fields name tag on one of the soldiers she walked by. Paige works on it for two days defending the camp against attackers four times before she is done. Paige hops behind the controls flicking some switches and watching the lights come on.

Paige turns to the others "Let's get out of here."

Getting out she helps the injured into the helicopter then turns the engine over listening to it roar to life. Paige gets the helicopter in the air flying towards safety. Seconds after being in the air alarms go off and the helicopter jerks violently. The control stick shaking in Paige's hands.

Paige mumbles "I know baby just a little further please. We are almost there."

The helicopter starts to lose altitude safety in sight Paige grunts from the fight with the controls. The helicopter drops ten feet from their base the enemy closing in.

Paige groans "That's all she's got."

Her commander looks past Paige "It's okay. That's our base there."

Paige helps get the injured listening as the enemy gets closer, Paige turns to the six men standing "Get them to safety. It's time to give this bird a final farewell."

Fields looks at Paige "What are you going to do?"

Paige looks at him "Give you time to get away. Go now."

One of the uninjured soldiers grabs Fields dragging him away as he argues pleading with Paige not to do whatever she was planning. Paige cuts a few wires watching fluid pour from them. Backing up a few feet she waits until the enemy is nearly on top of her. Pointing at the helicopter she fires her gun. The helicopter explodes the blast sending her flying backwards away from the flames. Her vision begins to blur as she sees an enemy stalk over to her. Paige pulls herself away until a shot rings through her ears. Paige feels a sting in her side before the world goes black.

Emily jolts awake a cold sweat drenching her body. Throwing her blankets off her she runs her hands along her legs finding no injuries. A sharp pain grips her side making her grab at it groaning in pain.

Emily whispers "Paige," standing to get to her computer only to fall back into her bed. What's going on? Why can't I stand?

Her bedroom door opens "Emily are you okay?"

Emily looks at her mom "Something's wrong. I had this horrible dream. I was in a war zone fixing a helicopter. I was terrified someone would come to kill me but content at what I was doing. It was weird. I got the helicopter working and I flew the people I was with out, dad was there. The helicopter stopped working but we were closer to safety. To save the others I blew up the helicopter when the enemies were practically on top of me. One of the enemies survived and came for me. Then I woke up. When I woke up the first person I thought of was Paige. I think something is wrong with her."

Pam sits beside her daughter "Whatever it is your dad is there to make sure she makes it out okay. He always did want you happy. Now he is protecting it."

It had been three months since they heard of Wayne's passing. Three months since their world stood still.

The phone starts ringing, Pam stands "Who could that be at this time of night?"

Pam heads to the phone only to be greeted by a dial tone. Luckily the phone starts ringing again seconds later.

Pam answers "Hello."

A voice Pam never thought she'd hear again hits her ears "Hi."

Pam sinks to the floor "Wayne? I thought...They said you were dead."

The man sighs "I got a little lost in a danger zone. A friend brought me back. I just needed to hear your voice."

Tears flow down Pam's cheeks as she is overcome with sobs she manages to choke out "I thought I would never hear yours again."

Emily comes downstairs "Mom are you okay? Who is it?"

Pam hands Emily the phone "Hello."

A soft "Hi Emmy."

Emily chokes "Dad? You're alive?"

The man assures "I am. I am so sorry I scared you and your mother."

Emily asks "When are you coming home?"

Wayne sighs "There are a few things I have to take care of. Someone I have to make sure is okay and gets home okay. I know when I do get home I am never leaving again."

Pam croaks "That's good to hear. Please come home soon. I need to know this isn't a dream."

Wayne takes a breath "This isn't a dream. It is so good to hear your voice again. I will come home as soon as I can. I have to go. I will call again soon. I promise. I love you both so much."

The two ladies nod "I love you too."

Emily hangs up the phone hugging her mother tightly "He's alive."

Pam whimpers "Yes he is."

Wayne puts the phone back on it's cradle standing at the foot of an unconscious Paige's bed "I am not going home without you kid."