A house is not always a home.

"Morning sleepyhead," Paige greeted, shaking her girlfriend awake.

Emily opened her eyes and let out a yawn, "Mm morning. What time is it?" She asked when she saw Paige was fully dressed with a coffee flask in her hand.

"8:30. Work called and asked me to go in early since we have meetings planned all day, so I'll probably be home around 6 tonight."

"Oh okay," Emily replied, sitting up in bed and rubbing her eyes. "I'll do dinner an hour later tonight then."

Paige smiled gratefully and leant forward to place a chaste kiss on Emily's forehead, "See you later."

Emily nodded, "Bye." She called out as she watched the brunette gather her bag and head out of the door. When she was out of sight Emily let out a long sigh and shook her head.

This was her life now. Emily had been young when she met Paige, dropping out of Danby after only a few months of dating move to Texas with her at the age of 20, thinking that she'd have the life she'd always dreamed of. She'd always wanted to become a swim coach, but a minor injury to her back meant that she couldn't compete the way she used to but that had never put her off, instead furthering her want to train young, hopeful swimmers just like herself. But Paige had insisted that Emily didn't need a job, she'd promised that she could make enough money for the both of them to live on and she did, however money wasn't what she wanted. Paige didn't even want to consider the possibility of children in their lives until they were 35 and the idea of getting a dog practically induced Paige's allergies towards them.

Everyday was the same, Paige would go to work at 9, sometimes 8:30 if she'd been called into an early meeting and come back for 6 just in time for the dinner that Emily would make. And Emily would spend everyday at the house either cleaning or doing the grocery shopping or sometimes allowing herself to do a bit of baking. But this wasn't the life that she'd wanted, the life that she'd planned. Everything had become so meaningless like one big cycle that would never end.

After dwelling on her thoughts for a while, Emily finally pulled herself out of bed and padded down to the kitchen to make herself a coffee. She grabbed her phone from the kitchen counter and let out a grin when she saw messages from her three best friends in their group chat.

Han: ITS EXACTLY FIVE MONTHS FROM TODAY UNTIL THE JARIA WEDDING.

Spencer: Yeah Han, we're aware. We do own calendars.

Han: Someone hasn't had their morning coffee yet..

Emily laughed at the banter between her two friends before typing her own reply.

Em: Five months and we'll all be reunited again :)

Aria: Is it bad that I'm a little more excited for us to all be together again than getting married?

Han: NO

Spencer: YES just wait until I tell my brother what you've said;)

Aria: You wouldn't..

Spencer: Maybe not. Only because you'll be my sister in law.

Han: Wow lucky u Ar

Spencer: That sarcasm was unnecessary.

Emily shook her head laughing and locked her phone as she put it back on the table. She'd missed her friends so much, moving had been so difficult on her not being able to see them everyday. Since leaving five years ago she'd only seen them twice on her birthdays and once at Christmas as Paige had openly admitted that she couldn't stand the girls and the girls had been less than happy with Paige's behaviour at Christmas dinner, so Emily had been stuck between the two.

After texting some more with her friends Emily had made herself some breakfast before showering and freshening herself up, despite her day being empty. She contemplated doing a few household chores before she found herself making her way up to the attic where she dug out all of her old high school and college photo albums.

Her eyes filled with tears as she fondly flicked through photos of her and her three best friends, her thumb gently tracing over the smile of her 17 year old self. She hadn't looked that happy in years, she could hardly remember the last time she'd smiled like that. When had Paige ever made her smile like that? Maybe in the beginning..
Then she moved on to the college albums, in one photo taken during after one of Emily's swim meets Paige had her arm lovingly wrapped around Emily as she looked down at the brunette with an expression that Emily hadn't seen in years, it was love.

She slammed the album shut before pacing around the room before picking up her phone and calling the one person she knew could help her out.

"Hey Em" Hanna answered cheerfully, the sound of her daughter's laughter could be heard in the background.

Emily suddenly felt a wave of regret, "Did I interrupt something important?"

"Oh no its just Caleb and Liv messing around, but don't worry it doesn't matter. Whats up buttercup?"

"I think I need to break up with Paige."

Hanna let out an excited squeal, "What? Really?!"

"I don't know what to do Han. We live together we have a life together- but I don't think I want it anymore. Its not my life."

Hanna sighed, "Well if you don't want it then leave. You shouldn't have to force yourself to want it either."

"I don't want to hurt Paige though-"

"Yeah but you're also hurting yourself by forcing yourself to stay in a relationship that makes you unhappy. You shouldn't do that to yourself."

"I know," Emily admitted.

"Are you in love with her?"

Emily paused, "I love her."

"But you're not in love with her. There's a difference Em."

"Jeez Han, have you been spending too much time around Spence? Thats probably the wisest thing you've ever told me," Emily teased, she felt herself relax a little as she and Hanna shared a laugh.

"Hey! I am very wisdomous actually," Hanna argued, "But yeah Spence and Aria were round here earlier, Ar had a crisis with the wedding caterers so Spence went all Erin Brockovich on their asses."

Emily sighed, suddenly feeling a pang of sadness as she thought about how much she'd missed out on, "I'm sorry I missed that."

"Then why don't you come back to Rosewood?"

"I don't know.."

"Look I think it'll do you good. At least for a week? You need the time to clear your head and gain a fresh perspective."

The brunette closed her eyes for a moment to stop and think, "Okay."

"Okay?"

"I think you're right," Emily started, laughing when Hanna mumbled, "Tell Spencer that more often."

Emily continued, "I need some time away from here, even if its not permanent.. I need to get away."

"When will you be here?"

"I'll look at flights later. I- I need to pack a bag and oh god, I need to talk to Paige. What do I say? I hope she takes this well.."

Hanna snorted, "Come on this is Paige, the girl overreacts to everything!" She ranted, "Hey, I'll use my airmiles and book you flights for tonight."

"Han, you really don't have to-"

Hanna interrupted, "Of course I don't have to, but you're my best friend and I want to. I'd offer to let you crash on our sofa but with the second baby on the way and my mom is crashing right now because she's renovating her house, there isn't much room."

"Don't worry about it, really you've done more than enough."

"I'll call Ar now and see if her place is available, she's been practically living with Jason so I'm sure she'll let you crash for a while."

Emily smiled, her heart aching a little as her friend offered all of this help, "Thank you, thank you so much."

"Its no problem Em. I'll call you when I've sorted everything out, you focus on packing okay?"

"Okay," Emily promised before hanging up the phone.

Immediately the brunette headed back downstairs to the bedroom, grabbing her photo albums on the way. She pulled out the largest suitcase she could find and began to shove in any of her clothes that she could find. After a good half an hour she felt her phone buzz beside her, answering straight away when she saw Aria's name light up her screen.

"Hey Ar," Emily greeted, trying to sound calm and collected.

"Hey Em, is it true that you're coming back to Rosewood? Hanna just called and she didn't say much but you are more than welcome to stay at mine."

"Yeah its true. Thank you, I'd really appreciate that but only if I'm not imposing."

Aria smiled, "Em you would never be imposing. It'll be great to see you again, but is everything okay?"

"Not really, but I'll fill you and Spence in when I get there. Are you sure this is okay?"

"Yes its fine," Aria reassured, "The only reason I still have this apartment is because my lease isn't up for a couple more months so you are free to have the place to yourself for a while if you need it. Besides I'm sure Ali would appreciate the company."

"Ali?"

"Oh she's my neighbour, she lives in the apartment opposite and we're the only two occupants on the third floor right now so she must get lonely without me there. I'll have to introduce you both when you get here, I think you'll like her."

"Thanks Ar," Emily replied, "I need to get back to packing now, I guess I'll see you tomorrow."

"Bye Em, stay safe."

After spending the majority of her afternoon packing clothes and boxing up her personal items it was now close to 6pm and Emily was completely ready to go, now all she had to do was wait on Paige's return. She felt herself getting increasingly nervous as her eyes shifted between the grandfather clock in the lounge and the front window.

She stood up and began pacing around the room until she heard Paige's keys turning in the door. She stopped in her tracks as her heart rate began to increase, she gripped the edge of the sofa for support as Paige made her way into the room.

"Hey babe," Paige entranced, her grin fell from her face when she saw Emily grabbing onto her suitcase. "Whats going on?"

Emily burst into tears, "I am so sorry."

"You're scaring me, sorry for what?"

"I- I can't do this anymore Paige. I can't be with you. I need to get away from here, and clear my head. I'm sorry," Emily answered as she gripped her suitcase tightly.

Paige ran her hand through her hair looking bewildered, "Sit down, we should at least talk about this first. Maybe- maybe I can change your mind and you can stay. We can work this out."

"No," Emily answered firmly, "There is nothing to talk about. I should've done this sooner. I hate to say this, but- but I'm not in love with you anymore and I haven't been for a long time. I've been miserable here, this isn't what I want anymore."

"But you can't just leave. This is your home Em, your life is here." Paige stated, her voice wobbling.

"Its not, its not my home. This is just a place where I don't feel like I belong. This isn't my life anymore, this is your life and I don't fit into it anymore."

"Is it because I'm working too much?" Paige questioned, her voice laced with desperation, "Because I can cut my hours down- and I'll spend more time with you and-"

Emily sighed, "No its not just that. I'm just not feeling happy here. I need some time alone and away from you, I'm going back to Rosewood at least for a little while. I really hope you understand and I am so sorry."

"You're just going to leave me?"

Tears started to roll down Emily's face as she nodded, "I'm so sorry." She turned one last time to look at Paige before wheeling her suitcase towards the front door, "I've boxed up the rest of my things, I didn't know what to do with them so I'll call you later. Once I've had the space I need I will call and we'll talk things over."

She turned away again and pulled her case out of the front door, her cab was already waiting in front of their drive. After she'd piled her bags into the car she quickly got into the passenger seat. She pulled out her phone and typed a quick message to Hanna before shoving her phone in her bag as the driver pulled away, she never once looked back.

The next morning Emily found herself at the arrivals at Philadelphia airport where she was immediately greeted by the sound of Hanna's excited squeal and the familiar faces of her three best friends.

"Hey Em, over here!" Hanna exclaimed loudly, her arms waving frantically in the air.

Spencer rolled her eyes, "Because she would never have found us on her own."

Emily let out a wide grin as she heard her friends bicker between them, once she was in close proximity they all pulled her into one big hug, "Its so good to see you again. I can't believe I'm here," Emily admitted, enjoying the warmth of her friends' hugs.

"We're glad to have you back," Spencer replied, holding out her arm to take Emily's bag for her.

Hanna linked her arm through Emily's, "It is so good to have the girls back together. Ugh I am so excited, there is so much we all have to do together I have so many plans!"

Spencer, Aria and Emily all shook their head at the blonde, "I think we should let Em settle in first," Aria suggested, Emily shot her a grateful look.

"I know I know. I'm just giving her something to look forward to."

Emily smiled, "Thanks Han, I appreciate it."

The group all made their way outside to Spencer's car where they all piled in and headed towards Rosewood. The journey flew by as Hanna continuously rambled about everything that had happened in Rosewood over the last five years, most of it Emily knew after staying in contact with the girls but she decided to humour Hanna anyway and let the blonde continue.

Eventually they made it to Aria's apartment complex, the apartment itself was quaint and cosy which made Emily feel at ease right away. After Spencer had made the girls some tea and Hanna had continued to update Emily on all of Rosewood's juiciest gossip, the two girls had eventually left to return to their usual lives allowing Emily to settle in.

"I've emptied out most of my closet so theres room for you to unpack all of your things and I've restocked the fridge so you won't have to go out and buy anything for a while but if theres anything else that you need or if you just want some company I won't be far. I've written down Jason's address if you want to come and visit at any time but I'll come by tomorrow to make sure that you're okay."

Emily pulled the short brunette into a hug, "Thank you, for all of this. I don't know what I'd do without you."

Aria smiled, "Its no problem, just take care of yourself Em."

"I will," Emily promised, "I'll see you tomorrow."

Aria pulled away from her friend, grabbed her bag and handed Emily the front door key, "Remember I'm just a phone call away and so are Spence and Hanna. Please get comfy and make yourself at home."

With that she left Emily to herself again. After taking a few moments to take in her surroundings she finally moved from the sofa and headed into the bedroom where she tackled the task of unpacking to allow herself to feel more comfortable.

Not long after she was soon interrupted by a soft knock on the door, frowning she quickly padded over to the door and began to unlock it feeling puzzled at who her mystery guest could be.

Her heart almost stopped as she opened the door to reveal a beautiful blonde on the other side, "Hi?"

The blonde frowned a little as her bright blue orbs met Emily's own chocolate brown eyes, "Hi, uhm- is Aria here? I thought I heard her voice and I wanted to come say hello."

Emily offered her a polite smile, "Oh no she's not here right now. I'm her friend, she's letting me crash here for a while."

Alison blinked a little, trying not to let herself be captivated by this mystery brunette, instead she gave off a teasing smile. "So I guess you're my new neighbour then?"

Emily felt her heart skip a beat and her own smile formed, "I guess so."

"So new neighbour, do you have a name?"

Emily blushed and inwardly cursed at her awkwardness "Yes uhm- my name.. My name is Emily, Emily Fields."

"Its nice to meet you Emily," Alison stated, offering out her hand. "I'm Alison DiLaurentis."

AN: I really hope you enjoy this story, please leave a review and let me know what you think and if I should continue!:) Sorry for any errors its currently 3am but this idea came to my head and I couldn't help but have to type it up. For now I'll rate it as a strong T but it may change to an M rating later on.