The sun rose slowly in Rosewood that morning, working its way desperately through the November clouds drifting in the sky. A cat padded along the pavement, its paws lifting as if it owned the concrete. A rottweiler across the street raised its head and growled at the feline, its hackles drawing past its strong teeth but the little cat paid it no attention and continued to strut. Tree and shrubs fluttered in the gentle breeze and an old man dressed in a bathrobe hobbled out onto his porch to collect his daily edition of the Rosewood Observer. On the other side of the road Pam Fields turned her car into her driveway and cut the engine. The sleepy town had not seemed to have woken yet but one woman felt more awake than she had in a while. Emily Fields smiled gently as she turned her head and gazed at her mother across the seat.

"Welcome back, sweetheart," She muttered before leaning across and encasing the brunette in her arms. Emily returned the hug by wrapping her arms around her mother and placing her face in the crook of her neck. On the way into town Emily had taken in every building like she'd not seen it in years and in truth it had been eleven months since she'd laid her eyes on what many considered the perfect town but in reality it hadn't been, not for the past few years of Emily's life anyway. She'd lost a girl who'd she'd considered her friend what seemed years ago now and she wondered if, finally, the memory of Alison DiLaurentis had ceased. Something deep in her being doubted it would ever leave Rosewood. It was a subject too bitter to forget ever since her murderer had been discovered the previous year and the whole of the town had stood with their fists in their mouths, unwilling to believe that the secrets that had eaten Ali inside had eventually led to her demise.

The A team itself had been found out and Mona as well as Jenna had both been sent into care. However the whole thing had just been a pure escalation out of control. Toby had his name cleared from the offenders after the truth behind his reason for joining the A team became clear but Emily had seen in her eyes that Spencer had not looked at him the same after that. Aria's relationship with Ezra had also encountered friction when it was resolved Ezra's part in some of the events had become more than heavy but he'd done so out of sheer need for stability, much like the other Liars had followed through with A's demands: for their own good. Emily had not been innocent in some of the dealings she'd done and neither had anyone. It seemed in a small town like Rosewood one could not keep any secrets and the four girls had learnt that the hardest of ways. Her mother had tried to catch her up with all the details she could on the drive back from the airport and Emily had learnt of Officer Wilden's dismissal from the force, Jason DiLaurentis' substance abuse return and many other people who had come and gone from the sleepy town.

"And how about my friends?" Emily asked softly as she rose from the car and lay a sweater covered arm on the roof. Pam observed her for a few moments before shutting the
driver door and locking the vehicle.

"I couldn't tell you, Emily. After you chose to leave I figured it was best if things were kept to a minimum like they were after Ali disappeared," There was a shake in Pam's voice and Emily didn't even consider correcting her mother on the fact dead and murdered had never meant disappeared. The young woman couldn't find a way to disagree and after hauling her bag up onto her shoulder she made for the porch, Pam on her tail. She'd not set foot in the house for over a year and for a few moments she felt the rush of familiarity it could give but in the window she caught a reflection of the house where too much had happened. The home that had once been Ali's, then Maya's and now held nothing to Emily but memories.

The sound of a door clicking alerted Emily to the fact her mother was stepping inside and she didn't waste any more time in stepping after her. The house smelt different to how she remembered it and the only thought that came to mind was of her mother moving around in here alone, occupying herself day after day. As sad as she was to think about that, Emily had needed the year away from everything to adjust her mind. After the whole thing about Alison's murder and the A team had come out at their High School graduation, Emily had fled just weeks after and now she was back from her travels to well, it seemed absolutely nowhere. She'd just wanted distance. She'd not wanted to leave her friends or break Paige's heart but it had happened. She'd not lost contact but it had been distant. Paige was off at school and had moved on much to Emily's happiness.

She'd loved the brunette with all her being at one time but after everything that had happened, Paige had been too attached to all that happened to A. Sliding her hands into the pockets of her hoodie she walked toward the staircase and without further words ascended it, making her way as if in a dream toward her bedroom. Her last memory of Rosewood before that moment had been of herself sat alone in her window box. A figure had appeared on her path and she'd jumped, thinking thoughts of blackmail and evil. However there had been the flash of blonde hair that had told her of a very different kind of visitor. Hanna hadn't even knocked as she'd entered the house and moments later the brunette had been walking toward her bedroom door at just the same time the blonde opened it.

For what seemed like hours they had just hugged, Hanna sobbing quietly into Emily's shoulder about how Caleb would not come back to her. A's damage on both of their partners had been too much. Paige's mind had been broken and Caleb's emotions had been severed from Hanna completely. It was an irreversible change. That night Hanna had not gone home. The pair had laid side by side in silence until long past midnight saying nothing. The weight of years of taunting seemed to seep away and they were no longer 'hefty Hanna' turned skinny or pushover Emily turned into a completely different person. Hanna had been the last person Emily had seen before she'd left Rosewood apart from her mother and she'd missed the girl dearly, she'd missed all of her friends but the time away to explore her opportunities had been more important. Leaning down she ran her fingers over the soft quilt of the bed and let her eyes stray over the pictures assorted about the room.

"Emily? Could you unpack your bag so I can wash the stuff that needs cleaning," Her mother called up the stairs and Emily nearly laughed at how domestic it all sounded.

Rosewood had done many good and bad things to Emily but now she was back she'd just have to find if it had anything left to offer.

Thank you for reading. This fic is a T for now but will most likely become an M as it progresses.

Review if you so like.

I'm such a die hard Hemily shipped so if anyone fancies a roleplay? :D