A/N: So this is my FIRST fanfiction... ever. I love reading them and sometimes I get random ideas but never actually do anything about it. So here goes nothing. If you like it, I'll continue. If not, then I'll stick to reading. AU, no A, or random deaths...


She walked through the airport to the car rental booth of the small airport, glad that there was no line. After her long flights she just wanted to get to her hotel room and rest. She did not feel like drawing any attention for herself; she never did like it anyway. Instead, she hoped all her transactions went smoothly and quietly. It had been a while since she came back to the town that saw her grow up, and from what she would read and hear from others, this town had not really changed much. She had, however, in many ways.

She smiled politely to the young girl attending while she took off her sunglasses. When the girl looked up and was able to fully see her she was shocked. "Oh my gosh! You're –"

"Shh" She smiled at her again and held a finger to her lips. "I have a reservation. My assistant made it for me and gave me this number." She held out a paper with her reservation number.

"P-p-perfect!" The girl was still quite ecstatic about having a celebrity in her presence. Her nerves radiated off her and she could hardly breathe. Her fingers trembled as she took the paper and had to type in the number a couple of times. "I-I-I've g-got you for a BMW c-c-convertible. You're account i-is set up and w-w-we'll just use the card that was provided over the phone" She stuttered. The attendant unlocked a drawer and took out a set of keys and put them on the counter next to the pen and paper she needed to be signed. "If I could j-just have your autogra- I mean your signature here, please."

"Sure!" She quickly signed it and smiled at the attendant while she handed her the pen. "Thank you. You've been very helpful…" she looked at her name badge, "Lucy."

"W-would you mind if I asked to take a selfie with you? Please? It's against company policy but honestly we never get any famous people around here and my friends would never believe me," the girl continued to ramble causing her to laugh.

"Of course I'd love to! Screw company policy Lucy." She laughed and took Lucy's phone and posed with her taking a few pictures with her.

Lucy's smile was from ear to ear. "Thank you so much! I never thought you'd be so nice. I mean, I know you're from here but people change when they leave such a small town. I guess you are still the sweet girl everyone here talks about."

She returned a wide smile. "I'm pretty sure there's a few other things everyone adds when talking about me. But thank you, I appreciate your compliment." She picked up the keys form the counter and took the handle from her suitcase. "Thanks again Lucy. You have excellent customer service." She started to walk away and she could hear the young girl thanking her and welcoming her "home."

Home. The word caused her a strange feeling. Rosewood hadn't been home in a long time. "7 years," she huffed to herself as she found the car that chirped when she hit the buttons on her keys. She put her suitcase in the back and got into the car. She turned it on and waited for the top to go down before she began to drive. She loved the wind in her hair when she drove. It made her feel free. Almost as free as she felt when she was swimming. It had been a while since she done that as well. "Welcome home, Emily," she said to herself.

Emily left seven years ago right after graduating from high school. She never intended to just run off like she did, no goodbyes or last hang outs. She couldn't spend the entire summer there after what she witnessed. Emily decided to take off, and although her mother attempted to convince her otherwise, she realized her daughter needed to find herself. And she did. She drove to California and got early access to her dorm. Her roommate who was also an athlete on campus, was there early too. Emily began to train with the coaches on the swim team right away and decided she was going to take control of her life and be prepared. That nothing would ever take her by surprise again. She starting reading ahead for the classes she would start in the fall, so she had no excuse to put her swim scholarship on the line. She kept in touch with some of her friends from Rosewood, after giving herself some time to settle she initiated contact with them. She also made new friends and decided she would allow herself to experience new things without being afraid, shy or boring. She decided that nothing or no one was ever going to hold her back ever again. She was determined to start over, despite the fact that her heart was broken.

It was her first semester of her junior year when Emily was scouted to go to the Olympics. All of her hard work had paid off and finally her dream was coming true. She came back with a few gold medals on individual categories and silver in the relay. After that she had so many offers from sponsors that she started to do some commercials and modeling jobs. Many saw her as a natural and fell in love with her charm, that in no time she was getting offers for small roles on TV shows and movies. It was until she landed a leading role in a Sci-fi trilogy, which caused her to really shoot to celebrity status. She stopped swimming after that. With all the work she was doing and still trying to finish school, she found it hard to train. And after coming back from the Olympics she realized that she had achieved her childhood dream, and allowed herself to move on to other things. She liked modeling and acting. She liked to be able to play someone else other than herself. Emily took acting classes after she graduated with her physical therapy degree, with an emphasis in sports. She felt she could always go back to school if acting didn't work out. But for now, she was content.

She only went back to Rosewood for a homecoming parade her town had for her after the Olympics. Her stay there was so brief that she was only able to see Hanna for a couple hours before she had to fly back to New York for interviews. She hardly counted that as a visit. It was more for show than anything.

Emily had seen her parents as they flew out to visit her and she even bought them a condo in California near her house so they could come and go as they pleased and have their own space. Rosewood was still their home though. Spencer, Aria and Hanna had flown out to visit her a few times. Hanna was actually her personal stylist. They had always been best friends and Emily would do anything to help her start up her career. So she lived with Emily for a while until she was able to land a job in New York for Dolce & Gabbana. She enjoys getting to fly to Milan almost every season to gather ideas from headquarters. Spencer was living in D.C. No shocker to anyone there. That girl was determined to be in politics someway, somehow. And when a Hastings puts their mind to do something, they would not stop until it was achieved. Aria toured Los Angeles frequently as she was trying to get known for her photography of different landscapes and architecture around the world. She started her own studio in Rosewood, which she still has and is there when she's not busy traveling.

The only "friend" Emily did not bother to keep in touch with was Alison. She never asked her friends about her or would entertain a conversation when they made attempts to bring her up. She couldn't. After what she saw, she just could not bring herself to want Alison to have any part in her life. After the first 2 months of getting daily calls from Alison that she would never answer, Emily decided to change her number without telling the blonde. She began to feel that she could break any minute and give in and answer, and she would not allow herself to fall into that temptation.

But now she was back. Home. The wind hit her hair as she drove. She saw the time was only 1:52pm. Her mom was probably doing some volunteer work at the station and her dad at the JROTC program. Her parents couldn't just be homebodies. She understood them though because she was just like them. The check in time at the hotel was at 3, so she had some time to spare. She text Aria to let her know she was in town, and decided to stop at the brew and asked her to join her. She parked the car, threw on her sunglasses and put her hair up. She was dressed casually and figured she probably wouldn't stand out much.

She walked into the brew and noticed it had changed since she worked there. It was a little more hipster-chic. "I'll be right with you." She heard a female voice come from who ever was bent down on the other side of the counter. When the girl stood up Emily was paralyzed. Out of all the people who would work at the brew, the last one she expected to run into was standing right in front of her: Alison.

She was just as shocked as Emily. She couldn't move or breathe for that matter. 'Gosh, this is awkward,' she thought. Alison never knew what she would do or say to Emily if she ever got a chance. Seven years ago she probably would have yelled and cussed her out for leaving her like she did and ignoring her all those years. Time has passed and maybe she hasn't truly healed, but she has been able to mature and take things for what they are: nothing. Finally, Alison pulled the strand of hair on her face behind her ear and said something. "Hello. Welcome, what can I get started for you?"

Emily was dumbfounded. 'After all these years that was going to be the first thing Alison said to her? Well, what did I really expect?' Emily thought. I wanted her out of my life, and that's what I got. "Hey, you work here now?"

'So she wants to make small talk after seven years of silence? Good one Emily.' Alison thought as she took a deep breath. "Actually, I'm the owner now. I bought out Ezra a few years ago. But anyways, what can I get you?" Alison didn't know why she offered that much information now. Emily probably didn't care. She hadn't cared to even return a call once before, and now that she was all famous and wanted she probably cared a whole lot less. Alison looked at Emily as the brunette finally took her sunglasses off and decided to look up at the menu. She was gorgeous. Alison always thought Emily was the most beautiful girl she had ever seen, and on TV she looked all kinds of sexy, but here in the flesh was beyond words can describe.

Emily fought hard with herself to look at the menu and not down at Alison. She couldn't believe Ali still could make her feel so, weightless. Ali. Could she even call her that anymore? No. Ali was in the past, and any forms of endearment towards her were with that past. She heard her phone buzz and looked down to see who it was. Aria finally replied. "The Brew? Emily maybe we can meet somewhere else. There's something you don't know…"

Emily rolled her eyes dramatically and replied to Aria's text. "You're a little late. I'm already in here and figured out what I didn't know."

Aria: "oh gosh. I'll be there in 5. On my way don't leave!"

"Ahem," Alison cleared her throat still waiting for Emily's order. "If you need more time or are undecided I can always give you a sample to try." 'What the hell was that Alison? We don't do samples, especially to people who obviously don't want me in their life.' Alison scolded herself mentally.

"No, that's fine. I'll have an Americano." Emily replied.

"Of course, the usual." Alison answered before her eyes grew wide realizing she had said that out loud and not in her head. 'Idiot! Just move away.' She reprimanded herself again mentally.

Emily smiled slightly, and reached out and took money out from her wallet to pay for her coffee. She placed it on the counter when she heard someone walk in. She turned around hoping to see Aria, but only saw a teen boy rush in and walk towards the back of the counter where Alison was.

"I'm so sorry boss! I got detention for the dumbest thing in school today and couldn't make it out early. Please don't fire me! I promise it won't happen again."

Alison gave the boy a cold stare as she listened to his explanations. Emily was very familiar with that look and for a minute she allowed herself to go down memory lane when Ali would stare people down that they'd eventually bow at her feet. The teen finally looked over to his side and saw Emily.

"Oh my gosh! You're Emily Fields! Thee Emily Fields! Boss do you know who this is?" He yelled. Alison shot him another look and then looked apologetically to Emily.

"Anthony, first you're late and then you scare our customers. This is you're last warning, next time don't bother coming back. Now, go get your apron in the back and come right back. I can't cover your entire shift here." Anthony blinked his shocked look away only for it to be replaced by a scared one. He scurried to the back as ordered. "I'm sorry Emily. He's just a stupid teenager and he's star struck."

Emily laughed at the whole interaction that just occurred. "It's fine, don't worry. I'm just going to sit over there. Thanks."

Alison watched her walk away and go to sit on a table. She heard her laugh. Alison never realized she missed that sound so much. She almost didn't recognize it. She felt her anger rise suddenly. How come she had to have missed it for so long? How can Emily just walk in here and act like they are complete strangers? Has the fame really gone to her head? Could it have changed her that much that she can act like she didn't just leave her in that stupid town with no good bye or explanation to why she was leaving so suddenly? Alison was about to march herself over there and demand answers from Emily when she saw Aria walk in. Aria looked flustered and was out of breath. She figured Aria must have run over here from her shop when Emily told her she was here. Maybe that is who Emily was texting a couple minutes ago. Another question came to Alison's head: Why did Emily keep in touch with the others and not with her?

"Hey Ali!" Aria said once she caught her breath. "Umm, how's it going?"

"Hey Ar, Emily is sitting over there. I guess she's waiting for you." Alison replied without really looking at her. "You want your usual? I'll have Anthony bring it over to you guys in a second."

"Yea, thanks Ali." Aria responded. "Ali? Did you two, you know talk?"

Alison rolled her eyes and finally brought her head up to look at Aria. "I took her order and she told me she would be sitting over there. There's nothing to talk about. I guess fame really does get some and they forget about the little people." Alison put the rag she was squeezing in her hand down. "It's okay Aria. I'm sorry. I'll talk to you later. I have to go. I'm late for a linner date." She gave Aria a half smile and whispered to her. "She's still gorgeous, the bitch has got that."

Aria laughed and put her hand on Alison's arm affectionately. "I'll call you later. Maybe we can double this weekend? Ezra is going to be home, he's taking a break from his book tour."

"That would be fun. If you're free, I'm pretty sure we'll be up for it. But please – no paparazzi." Alison joked and Aria rolled her eyes playfully. Alison looked at Emily for a few seconds. 'Gosh she's beautiful.'

Aria watched Alison head towards the back and thought about the plan she had just made. Hopefully, Emily would be busy this weekend. She didn't want to be the one to have to tell her about Alison's significant other. 'Oh my this is totally going to be awkward!' Aria thought. She took a deep breath and walked over to the table Emily was sitting at…


A/N: Ok so should I continue?