Emily was unsure whether she wanted to go to sleep or not. She'd spent the night on the plane back from Boston and although she didn't feel under the weather at that moment she reckoned that by lunchtime the fatigue could be setting in. In the past two hours Emily had stuffed her face with toast much to her mother's worry about crumbs and butter in her bedroom and then proceeded to put all of her clothes back in her wardrobe. It wasn't until moments like those that she realised how much she actually owned. Being out in the rest of the country like she had in the past few months had opened her eyes to much more than the closed off town of Rosewood.

There was more out there than tight, bitchy girls and hunters named after the first letter of the alphabet. Rubbing her hands together she made her way down the staircase and observed her mother' back, momentarily doubled over the dishwasher.

"Mum," Emily voiced softly, her hands travelling down into the back pockets of her jeans. "Do you want a hand with anything?"

"No, it's fine," Pam responded, straightening up to observe her daughter with a gentle smile. "It's so nice to have someone in the house again," She added quickly. Emily nodded and moved closer to the woman, placing a hand on her shoulder.

"It's kind of good to be back as well," The brunette admitted and in some ways she meant it. In others she was lying. Her heart ached to see Spencer, Aria and Hanna but then she didn't truly know the extent to which the aftermath of A had gripped them. Perhaps they weren't even friends with each other anymore, who knew? The world had a funny way of turning and if you didn't spin with it you got left behind.

"Emily, what I said about not having spoken to anyone since you left..." Pam paused and leant out to stroke her daughter's cheek. "It wasn't entirely true. Two months ago I ran into Ella Montgomery. She said Aria had been asking about you so I told her you'd gone travelling," She said gently. Emily nodded and let out a quiet sigh. If she stayed around the house all day she'd probably end up rattling around like her mother and inactivity had never sat particularly well on Emily's part.

"Perhaps I should look for a job," She suggested quietly, moving to the fruit bowl atop the worktop to pluck out an orange. Pam nodded and placed a few more glasses in the dishwasher.

"I think that would be a good idea," She confirmed thoughtfully before eyeing her daughter once more. "Why don't you take your car for a drive round town and see if anywhere's got help wanted signs up? Places will have lost kids to college this year, you may as well go for a look," Pam furthered with a reassuring smile. Emily nodded and broke out in a happy expression of her own. Spending a few minutes looking herself over she decided that in the year she had changed. She looked older and when she pushed her hair back far enough the white scar was visible under her hairline from A's last hit at her. It had nearly been a fatal hit of course but all of the little Liars had nearly run out their own time as well. After she was happy with the way she looked she headed for the door and was just about to open it when her mother's voice made her turn.

"People know what happened Emily, everyone can't believe what you four went through," Pam said, her voice confident. "If you could just have told people, Em, they would have understood," Emily sighed and nodded, smiling tenderly. She couldn't bring to think about the fact that telling people about A would only have got them killed or severely hurt. By now the town looked less sleepy and a couple of middle aged women chatted casually on the pavement across the street. Emily considered waiting to see if they would notice her but she thought better of it and headed for her car.

It had been a tough decision not to take the vehicle with her but she felt the cost of petrol would have been too much and the idea of being unsure where she'd end up next was oddly alluring. She took a few moments to run her hands over the steering wheel of the car before checking the mirror and reversing out onto the road. She decided her best intention would be to just roll onto the main street and check out who was around and what. She may even park up and go to get a coffee from The Brew. She'd liked her job there but she'd been forced to move on. Maybe there was an open spot going for her and she could go back. With those thoughts in mind she put the car into drive and started off down the road, far too distracted with the large white houses and overwhelming hedge rows.

In no time at all her car was trawling down the town's main commercial centre and after spotting a space on the side of the road she pulled into it. Without a further plan of action she just opened the door and stepped out onto the curb, the weak November sun hitting her face. A group of young children and their mother wandered past, one of them holding a cupcake while the other kids licked the remains of their own off the wrapper. It seemed she had only taken a few steps when she came to a halt, stilled as her gaze fell on a recognised figure. Mike Montgomery was sat on the opposite kerb, a bottle of coke held in his hand and another boy Emily didn't recognise sat at his side. Seeming to feel his gaze the unknown boy looked up and instantly planted his elbow into Mike's ribs. As if in slow motion the boys hand rose in a silent wave and for a few moments Emily hesitated before raising her own hand in return. Even Mike had changed drastically in the time Emily had been gone.

"You're back!" He called, as if he too had noticed Emily's absence. She doubted but as ever, news got around Rosewood like wildfire. The brunette nodded shortly. For a moment she wondered if Mike was alone or whether he'd come out with Ella and Aria but then Emily reminded herself the boy would be about eighteen now and would hold no need for motherly or sisterly companionship. "How are you?" He asked, scrambling to his feet. His friend followed and before Emily even realised it the boys were crossing the road toward her. Well, she said boys; they were both some deal taller than her. To say Aria was a little short, Mike had gone the other way.

"I'm fine, thank you," Emily returned with a polite nod. "And yourself?"

"Good," Mike replied, scratching his arm. "Ella's in the store right now, she's driving up to a game after," The boy put in. Emily quirked an eyebrow.

"You don't drive yet?"

"I did and passed too but well, I got my license taken away," He pinkened a little bit but soon recovered. Emily smiled kindly. The conversation was cut short by a shout of Mike's name across the street and the trio observed as the middle aged woman exited the shop, a bag in her left arm.

"Are you ready to-" She began but soon cut short when her eyes fell on her son's companion. "Well Emily, isn't this a surprise!" Ella exclaimed cheerily. Her car was parked right by the curb so she took the moment to deposit the bag inside. Mike and his friend both paid Emily one last look before jogging back across the street and bundling into the car.

"Miss Montgomery, how are you?" Emily asked cheerily. The woman laughed. It must have been odd to be addressed so well when her own children termed her by her first name.

"I'm well, thank you," She replied, resting her hand on the bonnet of the car. She seemed to be thinking. "Do the girls know your back?" The question sounded a lot more awkward than Emily expect it to.

"No, not yet. I only arrived back this morning," Emily waved her hand a little before sliding it into her pocket.

"That's enough time to send a text," Ella responded playfully, put a hand on her hip. "I know they'd like to see you back," Her voice dropped a little after that and her smile tilted down a little. "You'll have to judge for yourself how much things have changed," And with that the woman slid down into the passenger seat and started the engine, giving Emily a cheerful wave as she pulled away. When she turned the corner Emily sighed and brushed her hair back off her face.

She'd once told her mum that not everyone dreamed of making it in Rosewood and that some people dreamed of making it out. Of course the last bit had been under her breath. She'd never admit it to her mum but she had a feeling Pam knew. And now the reasons she'd been able to make it through all those months of A seemed closer to her again but Emily wondered if after all that time and the secrets there had been a price after all.

Pulling her phone out of her pocket she brushed the screen with her thumb. She hadn't had a text from A in just over a year. Selecting the option to create a new message she scrolled down to Aria's name and selected it before composing something small and sweet. A nice greeting to tell her she was back and then, wearing a smile on her face, she sent it. She got a reply in mere moments.


Thanks for all of the awesome reviews, guys. Love the interest this has got already.

In answer to some things raised, I shall be involving all four girls and yes, I shall avoid epic smuttiness to a point.