Chapter 2: Catching Up

As the girls sat around the fire, they exchanged silent glances with one another, but with good reason, their eyes focused on Emily, whom though present seemed to be elsewhere. "Em? You okay?" She turned her head towards Aria, whom held a rather unplaced expression. "Yeah, fine." Hannah took a few sips of her drink, giving Spencer a shrug whom seemed just as speechless as Emily. Rolling her eyes she sat down her drink "Alright, fine I'll ask. Emily, whats with you? Your like...all far gone and zoning out" "Nice Hannah, real nice" Spencer commented, while taking a few drinks of her own.

Emily sighed placing her empty cup to the side, only to refill it moments later before shaking her head

"I don't know...I just...I just don't want to be home" Aria gave a look of shock before speaking "Your kidding right? God Emily, why would you say that? I mean we don't know what happened to you over there, but we all know your not yourself" Emily took a long drink before standing up "Yeah, people change it's what happens...but I just meant...I don't know...part of me feels like it got left behind over there..you know?"

Spencer reached her hand up to squeeze Emily's in a comforting manner "It's okay Em, you don't have to talk about it if you don't want to, we're just worried" Emily gave a smile, squeezing her hand back before letting go. Inhaling deeply she then sat back down "Enough about me, what have you three been up too? I must of missed a lot" The others laughed in unison before Aria smiled "I got engaged to Liam, but we haven't set a date for the wedding yet, considering both of us pretty much write full time" Emily laughed "I remember you sending me a picture of him, I see you upgraded, he's pretty cute" Aria's cheeks tinted a shade of red before taking a few drinks and looking towards Spencer.

"Oh, my turn?" Hannah could only grin "Duh, I'm going last, you know my life is chaos" Spencer sighed before looking towards Emily "Well, Caleb and I have been helping my mother with the campaign so as you know, I still live here, in Rosewood" "Yeah but you have Caleb for a bed warmer, wait...oh my god how did Toby react?! And what about you Hannah? I'm surprised your claws aren't out right now" Emily stated in a rather bold manner. Aria couldn't help but laugh, while Spencer just seemed to try and hide into her chair further. Hannah rolled her eyes "First of all Caleb and I were over when he left to go to Ravens wood, secondly Jordan and I are just...we work together, and he makes me happy. So no, I'm not upset that Caleb is with Spencer,"

Emily ran a hand through her hair and just sighed "God, I really did miss a lot, I mean I knew bits and pieces from the letters you guys sent me, but wow" Hannah then leaned forward "So what about you Em, any secret girlfriends we should know about? Wait, isn't that like forbidden or something? Like, cant ask, or tell, or, whatever?" "Hannah!" Aria and Spencer said in unison "What!? I'm just curious" Emily couldn't help but laugh as she then shook her head "It's don't ask don't tell Hannah. And no it's not forbidden. That policy was lifted before I went in" "Don't see why it was such a big deal in the first place" Aria stated. "Because people think being Gay in the military will some how effect results of order and discipline, but at the same time the policy was to prevent harassment against gays in the military"

"So anyways you didn't answer my question who are you dating?" Emily shook her head towards Hannah "Since Paige...nobody" Aria gave a sympathetic look "You miss her, don't you?" Taking the last few drinks in her glass Emily had nodded. "Of course I do...I have ever since I left" Spencer felt a pang of pain in her chest "Then why didn't you tell her that when you saw her earlier?" Emily gave a faint chuckle "There would be no point...I mean...we kept in contact ever since I was shipped off, but, I doubt...she still loves me" Hannah squeezed her friends hand in a comforting manner "Like you love her?" Emily gave a silent nod.

Spencer had bit her lower lip before speaking "Well you will be able to tell her soon enough" Aria and Hannah gave a questionable look towards Spencer, and Emily stood up, a bit of panic rising in her chest. "What do you mean by that Spencer?" Spencer rubbed the back of her head "I...told Paige you would be here" "You what!? Why! Spencer I haven't seen her in six years! Hell I haven't even talked to her in a month! Why would you do that!?" Shit, now Spencer felt more guilty than before "Em, I was only trying to help...I know how much you two meant to one another"

She felt like she couldn't catch her breath, what would she even say to Paige? Would Paige even look at her the same way? "I'm not mad I just...I'm afraid...when is she supposed to come?" Emily had asked, trying to mentally prepare herself. But before Spencer could answer, a soft voice was heard, before Emily felt a chill run down her spine "Emily...your back" Slowly, she turned around to face Paige, whom walked over and hugged her tightly. Spencer nodded towards the barn, Aria and Hannah following suite before the three went inside Spencer's house to give Emily and Paige privacy.

Leaning back just enough from Emily, Paige had stared into those hazel eyes she adored so much and could only smile. Her hand rest against Emily's cheek, allowing her thumb to brush across it gently "Paige...I...I'm sorry" Emily's voice just above a whisper as she looked away from the woman she truly did still love. Shaking her head Paige carefully guided Emily's face back, so their gaze would meet once more. "Don't be...Emily, I know how you still feel, and you should know I still love you too" Emily pushed away Paige's hand softly

"You shouldn't, it's not right" Paige frowned and followed Emily across the yard before gripping her wrist lightly "Why, why is wrong?" Emily grit her teeth before turning to face Paige, though, the welled tears dare not fall. "Because you waited for me! You should of found someone else Paige, someone who could actually hold you everyday! Someone who can comfort you with more than just letters!"

Paige pulled Emily closer towards her before giving a serious expression "Your right, I should have found someone, someone who could be here right next to me, but I didn't and I never could" Emily inhaled before trying to pull away from Paige but just melted further into her embrace "Why...why not?" Emily mumbled. Paige had then lifted Emily's face up, silence filling the air as the two exchanged silent glances. "Because I will always want you Emily" Without saying another word, Paige's lips met Emily's, the kiss slow and deep but filled with more passion than Emily thought possible. A few moments passed before the two parted for air, and Paige motioned for Emily to follow her, which took little convincing.

Spencer's Barn

"And...there they go" Hannah stated, peeking out from behind the curtains of the window, both Aria and Spencer laughed before shaking their heads "Come on Hannah, let them have their moment, I'm sure Emily will be back later" Sighing Hannah left the window and sat across from the two before raising a brow at Spencer. "What? Oh come on, it's not like you two wouldn't of done the same thing" Spencer said in a defensive tone. "We wouldn't have too, you've always been the meddler" Hannah said with a smirk. "What..? I have not, Aria, do you think I'm meddling?" Aria sipped at her drink silently before giggling.

Setting her cup to the side she nodded "You did meddle but it was for a good reason...actually, every time you did butt in was for good reason" "Told you" Hannah said, Spencer narrowed her eyes before throwing a pillow right at Hannah. "Hey!" Hannah shouted, chucking it back, soon the three of them hitting one another with pillows. Of course they were a lot older now, but hey, mix alcohol and best friends whom came together for one? Well, that's just one hell of a good time.