A little love goes a long way. Ella helps Hanna through some hard times and at the same time, she is falling hard for her coffee shop crush. Hanna has a deep, dark secret buried inside her that only Ella is aware of-which threatens to fray her bond with her daughter and her best friend. Hanna's long distance romance with Caleb and her relationships with her mom and her friends are tested as she hides what happened to her that dreadful night. No A, and Alison is dead. AU, Ella/Hanna friendship story (no femslash!)

And then you will see the morning will come
And every day will be bright as the sun
All of your fears cast them on me
I just want you to see

I'll be your cloud up in the sky
I'll be your shoulder when you cry
I hear your voices when you call me
I am your angel

And when all hope is gone, I'm here
No matter how far you are, I'm near
It makes no difference who you are
I am your angel
I'm your angel

It was a typical night in Rosewood. The teenagers were at their school dance, and Ella Montgomery was chaperoning. From finding out about her husband's affair with a woman half her age, to her daughter's romantic relationship with her colleague, it had been a rocky year for her. She wanted to relax and she wished someone would ask her to dance, anyone, but as usual, nobody did. After Byron, she thought she'd be forever alone. There was that cute coffee shop guy, Zack, who flirted with her, but she didn't think there was a chance with him because she was ten years older than him and he would probably want someone who's time wasn't running out. Why else would Byron cheat on her? She enviously watched other couples grind each other and make out. With a roll of her eyes at her boring, pathetic life, she went outside to use the restroom. It was quiet in the hallway, and a little dark. Her footsteps echoed as she passed the closed classroom doors. Someone was on their cell phone, and she saw that it was Hanna Marin, her daughter's best friend.

"I miss you, too, Caleb. When are you coming home? Okay, bye. I love you too."

Even they were a couple and they were in a long-distance relationship.

She shamefully hid her face with her hair and slipped into the women's restroom. As she was finishing up and washing her hands, she heard a loud scream. It wasn't like a delighted one, this one sounded terrified.

Just like that, her dull life just got interesting. She quickly wiped her hands on her jeans while running down the hallway to follow where the screaming was coming from. The sound of a gun going off made Ella go faster. Something crashed, and then she heard a few more bangs. Her heart was pumping so much adrenaline that she was afraid she would stumble in her step. She rushed into the open door and stopped short when she saw a blonde girl curled up, bloody, and naked, with the exception of her shoes. A gun was beside her and the girl was shaking horribly. A ripped dress was hanging off the shoes. Ella looked behind her when she heard a squeal of tires. In an instant, she knew what had just occurred.

The girl looked up and her eyes were red. Tears were streaming down her cheeks. It was Hanna, and Ella was shocked. Wasn't Hanna just talking to Caleb ten minutes ago? "Mrs. Montgomery…I-I'm so…I have to go…but I can't…"

She covered her mouth and slowly walked towards Hanna, so she wouldn't frighten her. "You can call me Ella when you're not in my class during the days." She picked up her soiled dress. Sadly, it was too mangled to be put back on, since the skirt of it was ripped and there was some blood on it. Hurriedly, she took off her coat and placed it around Hanna's shivering body.

"Ella…I-I killed…I think…he's almost…" Hanna gasped sharply and her whole body heaved. Vomit spilled out of her mouth and onto the floor. "He ran off."

"I hope he does die," Ella murmured. "Hanna, I'm very sorry…but your dress is ruined."

"I know! I know, and I can't go back in there! I…can't…face…them…I don't want to."

"You know what? You don't have to."

"What do I…say?"

"Don't worry about that. Should I call your mom to come and pick you up?"

"No!" Hanna's eyes flashed with anger and humiliation, and Ella's heart broke at the girl's pain. "Don't you dare. She doesn't deserve…to know…and you…shouldn't be here. Don't tell her, don't tell anyone, please!" she begged. "It's bad enough that my best friend's mom knows!"

Ella gave Hanna a warm hug. "Okay. It can be a secret between us, for now. We have to call the cops, though."

"It doesn't matter. He's probably dead by now. I…I killed him, and if anyone finds out…I'll be sent to Radley, or a juvenile delinquent center…and I can't go there!"

"It was self defense. I'll figure out what to do."

"Oh, god!" Hanna sobbed in Ella's arms. "Why…fuck!" She grabbed her purse that was laying on the floor a few feet away from her and pulled out her phone.

"Your friends are probably getting worried about you…do you want me to borrow your phone and text them that you were sick and you went home?"

"Sure, thanks." Hanna gave the older woman her phone. Ella shot off a message to Aria, Emily, and Spencer.

Came down with a bug and went home, see you later.

"Done."

"Thank you."

"Anytime."

"You're taller than me, so I can't carry you," Ella said apologetically.

"It's okay, that's why I was called Hefty Hanna."

"No, no! If anyone's hefty, it's me. You're built like a supermodel."

Hanna scoffed. "You're not hefty…what are you, like twenty-five?"

Ella smiled. "You're fifteen years off. Come on. Let's get you cleaned up and ready to go home. I just need to call your mom so she can bring an extra change of clothes. I'll meet her out front and tell her you spilled punch on your dress and it caught on something."

"No, no, don't leave…what if he comes back or someone else finds me here? Plus, I look like shit, I have bruises all over me and scratch marks. I'm probably gonna get a black eye soon. I suppose I could just say I had a klutzy moment."

"You've got a point…can you stand up for me? You can lean on me while I help you."

Hanna clutched Ella's hands while Ella put the dress back on Hanna. Ella took Hanna's purse off the floor and led her to her car. The gun and Hanna's destroyed undergarments were disposed in the trash can and Ella drove Hanna home. After the two hugged, Hanna got out of Ella's car and walked to her house. Ella waited until Ashley let her inside and the door closed.

Ella shut her eyes and smoothed her hair back from her forehead like she always did when she was upset or stressed. She started the car and returned to the dance. She checked her face in the mirror and it was blotchy. She'd been holding in the tears for too long. She couldn't imagine that kind of thing happening to her own daughter, let alone her best friend's. Ashley would be devastated if Ella ever told her Hanna got raped.

In the decorated gym, the dance was still going on, as if nothing happened. Nobody heard the gunshots and nobody was aware that Hanna had just gone home except for her friends, and they weren't worried, obviously, because they thought she was just sick. They weren't even paying attention to Ella, either, so they wouldn't have noticed that she disappeared for almost a whole hour. Another chaperone asked Ella where she'd been, and she simply explained that she was on the phone arguing with her ex husband. That was a legit enough excuse. Her daughter would be harder to lie to, though. Aria could see right through her.

"Mom...Mom!" Someone tapped her from behind. It was Aria.

Ella jumped in surprise. "Oh, hey, honey!"

"We're gonna go to Hanna's for a sleepover. She seemed awfully lonely tonight, and we want to cheer her up and keep her company. Besides, she's sick and she wouldn't want to bother her mom. Ashley's got Pastor Ted over."

"Oh," Ella said faintly. "That's nice of you guys. She has great friends."

Aria grinned. "I know. We love her and there isn't anything we wouldn't do for her."

"Okay, well, you girls have fun."

"Thanks. Why don't you go to The Brew? Zack might be there," Aria said teasingly.

Ella blushed. "I can't right now. The dance isn't over yet."

"Mom, you're bored here. Get out of here and have the time of your life!"

"Aria, he doesn't think of me in the way that you're hoping."

"Ella, you can leave if you want to. I'll take over," Mrs. Welch volunteered.

"Oh, great. Thanks!"

Aria waved goodbye to Ella outside the gym's back door and ran to Spencer's car.

"Hi, Mrs. Montgomery," Emily said as Spencer got behind the wheel.

"Hi, Emily, Spencer. Sweetie, wait a second, when are you going to be home?"

"Ummm...I don't know. Noon, tomorrow...I guess. I'll text you when Spence drops me off at your apartment. I can't spend another second with Dad and Meredith." Aria rolled her eyes.

Ella wrinkled her nose at the thought of them together. "Okay. I'm so glad you're safe." She hugged her daughter.

"Of course I am," Aria mumbled. "Mom, you're squeezing the life out of me!"

"I'm sorry, honey." She patted Aria's cheek and kissed her forehead. "Sweetheart, it's normal for teenagers to be expected to tell their parents where they are, okay? I mean, if you drive yourself to and from school, that's fine, but you have to still let me know. I'm a parent. I worry, like you might get into a car accident."

"Well, don't! I'm with my friends. They won't let me get hurt." Aria got into Spencer's backseat and closed the door. "Bye, Mom!"

"I love you."

"I love you, too!"

Ella swallowed hard and patted her chest where her heart was. She went to her own car and got inside of it. She didn't want the girls to surprise Hanna and burst in her room-she wouldn't want that if she was in Hanna's situation. She had Aria's friends' numbers in her phone so she could call them if she couldn't reach Aria. She dialed Hanna's number while she sat behind the wheel.

A soft voice answered, "H-hello?"

"Hanna, I just wanted to, um, warn you...that your friends are coming...my daughter told me."

"Oh no! I don't want them to see me like this! My mom has already asked enough questions! I had to actually describe the thing I bumped into. It was hard...but I did it." Her voice cracked.

"I'm sorry, sweetie. I couldn't exactly tell them no...I would have to make up more excuses. They want to hang out with you, so act really surprised to see them. Also, they're planning on sleeping over."

"What if I have nightmares?"

"People can have nightmares of someone attacking them even if it never happened in real life."

"Well...I just wanted to...I wanted to call you...in the night...because you're the only one who knows the truth."

"You may."

"Okay, thank you." Hanna sniffled. "Bye."

"Goodbye."

Ella closed her phone and drove to The Brew while she played soothing music. She parked and then went inside. She looked around for Zack and the sweet aroma of scones and muffins filled her nostrils. She smiled when she saw him. He and her daughter always lifted her spirits.

"Hi, Ella," Zack greeted her. "Pastries are fresh out of the oven, if you want some."

"Oh, no, but thank you anyway. I just came here to relax."

"Rough night?"

She lowered her gaze to a table as she sat down. "No, more like rough year...I feel like my whole life has been a lie...or my adult life, really. I should not have said that, I don't know why I did."

"Ella, you don't need all those treats. Why are you eating this crap?"

"Why shouldn't I, Byron? Are you calling me fat?"

"No, no, but I'm allowed to worry about your health, aren't I? I mean, I see these women older than you and they're in good shape."

"Well, isn't that great for them?"

"You should exercise more and eat chocolate cake less." He grabbed her plate away from her and started chowing down.

"I take hot yoga with Aria, you asshole!" Ella shouted.

"Okay, Jesus, I'm sorry, calm down!"

A wave of nausea came over Ella and she held her head in both her hands. She felt tears building up, but she quickly wiped them away.

"What's the matter?" Zack wanted to know.

"Nothing. My personal issues...I wouldn't expect you to care."

He pulled out a chair for himself and took the spot next to her. "I've got until midnight, when this place closes. That's in four hours. I'm not busy except for if people come in, and right now, this place is pretty empty."

Her heart leapt and she stared at her nails that were sitting on the table. "My life is the exact opposite...full and yet, empty at the same time. I don't know, there's just something missing...I have two teenagers who I love to the ends of the earth, and some best friends...and I've witnessed truly upsetting things. I can't really explain it all right now. It's too confusing. I've had to adjust to many changes." She absentmindedly touched the indent on her ring finger and sighed.

"I think I know what's missing."

"Oh, you do, huh?"

"Yeah. Romance. I haven't had a girlfriend since college."

"Hmm...that was a long time ago."

The cafe's door opened and in walked Byron and Meredith. Ella completely ignored them, but she could feel their judging stares on her back. The blonde whispered in Byron's ear, probably something about how Ella was only coming here to fill up her belly, and Byron laughed, and even though they may not have been talking about Ella at all, she was still degraded.

"More customers," Zack said and got up.

"That's fine. I've gotta go home...and do some stuff. See you."

"Ella, hold on, I never got your number."

"Yeah, me neither." She was about to take her phone out of her purse until Byron ordered four scones for himself and Meredith. She turned on her heel, exited the cafe, and drove to her apartment.

Get the fuck over it already, Ella! He's moved on, so should you! It happened a year ago...well, two years ago, but you found out about it a year ago, she thought to herself angrily. She harshly stomped into her apartment and threw her purse on the couch. She had so many questions. They never regretted either of their choices to marry each other, but why did Byron let his student ruin their marriage? Why did he keep telling Ella he loved her when he really didn't? Why did he ask their daughter to keep it hidden from her for a year? She thought Iceland was all about rekindling their romance, but it was really just her deceitful husband faking his desire for her. If he was bored, why didn't he just break up with her in an honest way?

She wanted to ask him that straight out, but she couldn't bring herself to do it.

She went straight to bed after getting into her pajamas and curled up on one side of her mattress. She extended her arm so her hand laid on the extra pillow she wasn't sleeping on. Sometimes when Aria slept over, she would sleep next to Ella, but most of the time, Ella slept by herself. She didn't miss Byron in the slightest, but she hated being alone. Once she found out about his affair, she had never felt so isolated in a relationship in all her life. She wanted a faithful and loving partner. She wondered if Zack would ever fill that hole in her heart, but she pushed the thought away as soon as it came. The man probably had a million young girls and women flocking to the coffee shop and wanting a little more than just his pastries.

"Zack...I love you...but if you don't love me back...that's okay, I understand. I know I'm a pathetic forty year old lady with teenage children, one of who is a senior in high school and you would never be interested in me," she said aloud in the dark room. She closed her eyes and let herself sleep.

Hanna called her at about three in the morning. Ella picked up the phone and drowsily answered it.

"I'm in the bathroom. They can't hear me because I'm whispering, and I've locked the door. I had a nightmare and they asked me why I was screaming...I saw him in my nightmare, Ella...he had a pig face for some odd reason...maybe because he is one. Also, I think...I think I should tell you who..." Hanna cried as she spoke the man's name, but she was hard to understand.

"Who? Who was it that raped you?"

"Detective Wilden."

"What?" Ella asked quietly. She sat up straight in bed. She heard what Hanna said, but she barely knew this cop and she thought cops were supposed to save people from this sort of thing, not commit the crime themselves. "I...I don't believe I'm familiar with him."

"My mom is, and that's why I couldn't bear to tell her...if it was anyone else, I may have told her eventually, but she can never know about this, I mean it! She...she offered herself to him so he'd let me off my shoplifting charges...and he obviously took advantage of that...he was harassing me...like always...and then he was just...on top of me!"

Ella got out of bed, but she wished she hadn't, since once her feet touched the ground, she fell and dropped her phone.

"Ella? What's wrong? Are you still there?" Hanna's voice was far away, and Ella crawled toward her phone and picked it up.

"Yes...yes, I am. I guess I'm still in a lot of shock. Why wasn't that slimy cop in jail when he...raped...your mom?"

"He didn't rape her. Yes, she may have not liked the sex...but she consented, that's how much she loves me."

"I see that. Did you ever file harassment charges on him when he bothered you before?"

"No, there's nothing we can do, because he's a cop. My mom called Mrs. Hastings on him, but that doesn't stop him from getting to me in a way that my mom wouldn't know about what he did to me."

"I'll figure out what to tell Barry, Officer Holbrook, and Lieutenant Tanner."

"Thank you. They're like, the only cops I can rely on. The rest...I can't trust them."

"I get you."

"Ella, do me a favor...please."

"Anything."

"Make sure neither my name nor my face gets in the paper. I just want him busted or dead...and if he's dead, there's no use to tell a soul."

"How would we know if he's dead?"

"Well, do you know what he looks like?"

"Yes, he was a part of the Alison DiLaurentis murder case. I've just never interacted with him. You need justice, Hanna. What he did was sickening. I will make sure I hunt him down and kill him if he's not already dead. If he was, it would make the news."

"Yeah...the report would be made by like, tomorrow. I...I apologize for all this trouble." Her voice cracked. "It's my fault, you know. I shoplifted and got myself involved with him...if I had never done it, he would have never..."

"No!" Ella said sharply. "Don't you dare blame yourself for this! It's him. It's him, not you. You shoplifted, yes, but he is a grown man who chose to take advantage of a teenage girl. What he was supposed to do was arrest you and then let you go when your mom bailed you out. He was never supposed to be anything more than a cop. He has interrogated you girls about killing Alison and then this time, he went way too far. He can rot in hell, for all I care!"

"But-"

"No buts! I will handle this. Try to get some sleep and I'll see you on Monday, all right?"

"Yes, ma'am...I mean, Ella."

Ella smiled at Hanna's self-correction. "Can you promise me you'll never call me 'ma'am' again?"

"Yes, I can promise you that. It's just...you sounded strict, and I thought you were angry with me."

"Why would I be angry with you?"

"Well...because...you sounded mad."

"It wasn't directed at you...you have to know that. I hate the situation you're in, and I despise the monster who did this to you."

"Oh...okay. So...bye, I guess."

"Bye. Sweet dreams!"

"Thanks. You too."

Ella hung up, as did Hanna. She shuffled back to bed and slept for a good twelve hours. Aria woke her up. She noticed that she was more tucked in than she had been before. Aria sat on the side of her bed.

"You just got home?"

"No, I arrived at noon. You looked exhausted and cold, so I pulled up your blankets to your chin and kissed your cheek."

"Oh...thank you, baby."

"You're welcome. After all that time with Zack, you must have had way too much fun! What, did you stay there all night long?"

Ella giggled halfheartedly. "You wish. I know you want me to find love because your father has...but the truth is, I can't. Zack and I have barely said two words to each other."

"Your cheeks went red when you said 'Zack and I.' I'm not telling you to jump in bed with him or anything, but if you really want him, you should go for it!"

"I need to do this carefully...like wading into the ocean. I...I haven't done this in a while. Dating when you're forty is so different than dating when you're seventeen."

"You're a hot mama. You totally have a chance with him!"

Ella chuckled softly at her daughter's enthusiasm. "Aria...let me get some breakfast."

"I already made some!" She served Ella a plate of pancakes with strawberries and whipped cream. After that, they went shopping and linked arms as they walked around the stores.

When Monday came around, Ella taught her classes with ease. It was only the one that her daughter and her friends were in that was the hardest. With a heavy heart, she watched Hanna sit down with the most troubled look on her face. She overheard the conversation.

"Still feeling sick? I'm sure my mom will give you a pass to go home," Aria said.

"No. I'm fine."

"Then why the long face?" Spencer asked.

"Did Caleb break up with you or something?" Emily wondered aloud.

"No...I guess...senioritis is really getting to me."

"You can always talk to us," Aria told her.

"I...I know that." Hanna caught Ella's eye as she passed out quizzes for the reading assignment. The poor girl looked absolutely distraught. "Mrs. Montgomery...I'm afraid I didn't...I forgot about the chapter...in the book."

"Do you want to read it in a different room? I can give you your test later after school."

"Sure. That would be fine. Thanks."

"I'm gonna pass the test cuz I really raped that chapter!" one of the boys bragged. The girls stared at him in disgust and Ella banged her hand on his desk.

"Hey! That is not appropriate language in my classroom! Would you like an F on the test, young man?"

"N-no, ma'am. I'm sorry."

"No! Excuse me, but that's not enough of an apology."

"What...what do you want me to do? Rip open your jacket and blouse and-"

"No!" Ella shouted. "Leave my classroom and I expect to see a five page essay on how rape is a serious issue...due tomorrow!"

The boy left the classroom reluctantly while a few students laughed until Ella glared at them. "That should be a warning to the rest of you."

Hanna looked like she was about to cry. She got up and tore out of the room with her books close to her chest. Ella followed her and met her at the end of the hallway. Hanna was breathing heavily and sobbing while collapsing down the wall and onto the floor. "I can't do this, Ella! It's only Monday, and I'm already having a breakdown. I can't come here all the time and have teachers...like Meredith Sorenson...yell at me for being lazy and expect to keep a straight face...I can't do any homework or projects or tests...boys look at me lustfully and all I can think of is...him...touching me...help!" she squeaked, and Ella pulled her in for a hug. They went further out of the school and Hanna ran someplace. "I need to show you a special place. It's nice and quiet and it reminds me of Caleb...it's our swing. I want to talk and it's the perfect spot."

"Hanna, I can't just leave my class to run wild. I'm sorry."

"Then...can I...read...the chapter...with you? Can you read it to me? I want to call my boyfriend and miss school for the rest of the day...except for lunch."

"Of course," Ella allowed. "You'll be okay out here?"

"Yes." Hanna set aside her books and wrapped her arms around her knees. She plucked her phone out of her bag and dialed Caleb. Ella returned to her classroom and got the students back to business.

"I gave you all different tests so you don't cheat off each other."

Collective groans spread out through the room as she sat down at her desk. Some students erased whatever answers they had circled. She graded everyone's papers from the week before and then when the students finished their tests, the bell rang. They all left and Ella waited for her next class. She wanted to give that home wrecking bitch a piece of her mind, both for destroying her and Byron's marriage and for calling out Hanna for being too upset to concentrate on schoolwork, but her politeness and maturity held her back.

"I will not crumble," she told herself. "I will be strong for Hanna...my second daughter that I never had."

She did, anyway. Fresh tears crawled out of her eyes and splashed onto her desk. She put her head down on her folded arms and cried...for Aria, who was used to protect Byron's secret, for Hanna, who was sexually abused by a deranged cop, and for herself, who wasn't at all worthy of being loved by another man.

so this is my new (and first) Pretty Little Liars story...I posted it today in honor of the premiere of Pretty Little Liars! Hope you enjoy! I'll try to update it every Tuesday!