AN: I like this chapter a lot. Maybe it's because its like 6:30 in the morning and I'm stoked for PLL to start today. IDK.

Notinyourlifetimehunny: NO! It has taken every once of will power I have not to watch the first ten minutes. I didn't want to ruin the experience when I watch it on tv. That probably sounds lame. But, Yea.

THANK YOU GUYS SO MUCH FOR ALL THE REVIEWS. HOPE YOU ENJOY.

Disclaimer: I don't own PLL. If I did, Ian Harding sex scenes would be in every episode, because I'm a pervert and like his back. a lot.

P.S I didn't proof read this at all because its light outside and i haven't slept yet. so sorry if it sucks.


The girls circled the blocks around Emilys house three times, debating whether to knock on the door and risk waking Emilys mom if nothing was wrong. After another five minutes of bickering the girls decided to try and sneak up to the house. If anything, maybe they could see Emily sleeping somewhere. Spencer parked her car against the curb and the three girls made their way stealthily towards the house.

"Hanna." Spencer whispered harshly through the darkness. Aria reached out grabbing Hannas arm to stop her progression.

"What?" She questioned turning to look at Aria and Spencer. Trying to call as little attention to themselves as possible both girls pointed to the corner of Emilys porch where a motion light was mounted. Hanna stopped in her tracks, before moving back at a painstakingly slow speed.

"It doesn't matter how slow you move Han, if you're in it's view it turns on." Spencer chided. Pursing her lips was Hannas only response.

"How are we going to get close without turning that light on?" Aria asked no one in particular.

"If I could see what direction the censor was facing I could find a path to sneak up on it." Spencer said, straining her eyes in the dark.

"If we turn it on, what bad can really happen? The two neighbors that are awake see us walking up to a friends house?" Hanna said looking quizzically between Spencer and Aria.

"Walking up and peaking through windows late at night. That seems suspicious. I don't know about you but I've been accused of murder enough for one lifetime." Spencer shot back sarcastically.

Aria agreed with Spencer. "With Mayas brother next door, and the way he hates Emily I wouldn't put it passed him to blow this out of proportion."

"I miss having Emily around, you two are always on the same side." Rolling her eyes Hanna looked at the other two girls and continued to discuss strategy from the safety of the shadows.

"Guys," Spencer and Aria looked at Hanna, "With that kid... painting the A on his jacket. Arias theory is great and all, but we don't know for sure. Is it really safe to be across the street from his house late at night when no one knows where we are?"

"She has a point." Aria agreed, leaving Spencer the last to ponder Hannas statement.

"Lets go to the car and call Emily again. If she doesn't answer we have to find a way to get a hold of her. I'm serious, I have a bad feeling." The girls agreed with Spencer standing and preparing to make their way back to the car. Before they could leave the shadows a near by bush had provided Emilys motion light came on, causing them all to look up in shock.

"Is that..." The sentence Aria didn't have to finish. They all knew what it was and who it was from. The motion light shown bright in the night like it was a spot light calling all attention to the shovel stuck in the ground in the middle of Emilys yard. The handle rose from the ground like a finger of Satan reaching for the innocent. The girls dashed to the car locking the doors when they jumped in. Spencer was jamming her keys into the ignition in a panic and couldn't seem to get the key to fit properly. With both girls yelling various forms of "go" and "hurry" Spencers fear was taking over. Her hands were shaking, only making the simple task harder. Finally, after what felt like a lifetime the key fit and the engine roared to life. Pressing the gas to floor, tires squealed as they drove away. All hopes of their stealthy mission gone. Rounding the corner two blocks away Spencer finally slowed to an acceptable in town speed.

"A was right in front of us and we didn't even see it!" Spencer was yelling.

"Maybe that was there before we just didn't see it." Aria was trying to calm all of their nerves. She glanced in the back to see Hanna visibly shaken but quiet, staring out the window.

"I thought we were done with A." Hanna said in an eerily calm voice. She chucked, "Mona was A. Now, we have another A, and our likely prospects includes Lucas." Spencer and Aria knew that it bothered her to find Mona was A a lot more than she tried to let on. Lucas being part of the A team would only mean more betrayal for Hanna. That was something that neither of them wanted Hanna to have to experience.

Aria turned in her seat reaching back to put a hand on Hannas. "We'll figure it out this time. Soon." She smiled knowing it was the only peace she could offer her friend at the moment.

"I'm going to call Emily again." Spencer said. She had already looped around to head in the direction of Emilys house again. Aria looked at her questioningly. "If Emily is there, I want to be on the way in case..." she trailed off. No one wanted to hear what could follow that.

"Damn it! Voice mail again." Spencer said, angrily ending her call. Just as she did Arias phone made a chirp. Her expression froze. Spencer closed her eyes for what was probably a second too long considering she was driving, and took a deep breath. Aria slowly reached into her pocket and removed her phone. Its face was down keeping her display from showing immediately. For that she was thankful. She was dreading seeing the inevitable A she knew was coming. As much as she had wanted to deny it before, she knew now that A was back. Flipping her phone over slowly Aria closed her eyes. Pressing read and counting to three in her head she opened them and looked at the screen.

"Maybe she went for a dig... A." The words fell from Arias lips in a whisper. She continued to stare at her phone, fighting a break down. Was there ever an end? Would they ever escape A's games? It didn't look like they would tonight.

After some negotiation and frustrated driving the girls decided to check the grave yard. Hanna had told them how Emily had said earlier that day she wanted to visit Ali before A could begin to intervene in their lives again. It seemed like too much irony for A to pass up.

Pulling into the grave yard, oddly enough all three girls let out a relieved sigh.

"Thats definitely Emily's car." Hanna pointed out. Pulling closer to Emilys car a shrill scream let out through the air, causing everyone to cringe. The scream was undoubtedly Emily. Spencer through her car in park and the girls jumped out, running towards the sound screaming Emilys name.

"There, by Alis grave!" Spencer directed pointing as she ran. The sight they ran up on was not one they had expected. Spencer reached Emily first coming to an immediate stop at what she saw. Emily was still shaking when Aria reached her. She grabbed her friend holding her close as she buried her head in Arias hair crying. When Hannas heals finally permitted her to join the group she let out a shocked cry and clung to Emily who was still letting her horror rake through her chest.

"Who would do this?" Spencer said quietly a tear rolling down her cheek. She lifted her hand to place her arm around the other girls all gaping at the empty grave in front of them.

"Em, what were you doing out here?" Hanna asked when Emilys sobs lessened enough for her to breathe.

"Th- The note. If I- I thought Maya" Emily choked out, "I had- to dig for her... She wasn't there."

"C'mon, Em. Lets get you out of here." Aria coaxed soothingly.

"Wait, Em, did you touch this shovel?" Spencer asked gesturing towards the shovel laying next to the open grave.

Emily nodded her head. "I- I thought I could find her."

Spencer bent to pick up the shovel with an angry look on her face. "No, I'm not letting A win this one. Your prints are on this shovel. There is an open, empty grave, and no other plausible explanations. If we go to the cops, A made it look like Emily did this, and we came to help." Spencer laughed morbidly, "Lets go."

The girls made their way back to Spencers car and helped Emily in.

"Guys," Spencer started, "I don't feel safe going back to my house. No one is there. It would be just us."

Just then Arias phone started ringing causing them all to jump. "It's just Ezra." She said silencing the ring. She wanted more than anything to answer him, and tell him all of the bad so that he could hold her close and make it disappear. But, she knew her friends needed her. This was their problem to handle together.

"If we go to my house my mom is going to ask way to many questions." Hanna said quickly.

"Mine too." Aria said slowly. Her phone let out another chirp, causing another group cringe. "Still just Ezra. I have to call him, he says its important."

The girls provided the silence she needed to call Ezra back.

"Hey! I have some... news." He said unsure.

"Uh.. Hi. Okay?" Aria replied, trying to keep the stress from the night out of her voice.

"Aria, I'm not breaking up with you." He laughed, but Aria didn't find anything at the moment funny. "It's just about work."

"Whats the news?" She asked flatly.

"Actually, I was hoping we could talk about it in person... I need your opinion... Is something wrong. You sound... off." Keeping things from him was always hard. She didn't want her next words to him to be a lie, but she wasn't sure she had a choice.

"Everything's fine. I'm just with the girls." She said trying to sound like he was annoying her. She wasn't sure how else to get him to stop asking questions.

"Oh," Ezra was discouraged. "I forgot that was tonight. I'm sorry I bothered you. We can talk tomorrow."

Guilt washed over Aria. "No." She closed her eyes for a second, knowing she was leaving herself open to questions. "I- It was good to hear your voice."

Ezra smiled to himself, but he couldn't shake the feeling she was keeping something from him. He didn't know if it was all of Ellas worried paranoia, or his own fear for her that fueled it, either way it bothered him. He shook his head and sighed. "Aria, if something is up, I'm here for you. I hope you don't forget that."

She knew she had said too much and tipped him off. An "I love you, goodbye." would have sufficed, but her guilt had got the best of her. An idea was forming in her head. She knew it wasn't smart but, she longed for Ezras reassurance. She glanced at the girls, all staring in various directions, then at the road. They were circling Spencers neighborhood, but Aria could see her reluctance to take them there at night, alone. They had been home alone with A before, but this seemed to be a hole new set of rules, and they were all tired of playing games.

"Remember when you said I was always safe there?" Aria asked slowly. Spencer, shot a look at Aria looking confused.

"Yea?" Ezra replied. Knowing she was with her friends made him equally confused.


A knock came to Ezras door and he jumped to open it. Aria hadn't explained anything to him on the phone, just that she was coming to ask him something.

"Hey." He said opening the door to a panicky looking Aria.

"Hi." She looked to the side just long enough for Ezra to wonder what she was looking at before she pushed him inside.

"Whats up?" He asked looking at her worried.

"Okay, no one is at Spencers house and we were all going to stay there. With all these fake A notes, we're probably being paranoid but, we're scared to go there. I know that sounds stupid." Aria was shaking her head in what Ezra took as embarrassment. Really, she was kicking herself for not coming up with a better story. She was doing all she could not to lie to him anymore but, she wasn't sure if the truth was safe for him. It was a endless circle, and they were back in it again.

"Aria, that doesn't sound stupid." He said softly taking her face in his hands. "You guys went through a traumatic experience. Fear is normal."

He was feeling sympathy for her and she was keeping things from him. It made her sick.

[Flashback]

"Aria, no more lies. Don't keep things from me. I want to know when things are wrong in your life. I need to be there to protect you, that's my job. I'm failing if I don't know there is a problem." Ezra said still griping Arias hands tight in his own. His face made Aria see how important this was to him.

"I just wanted to protect you." She said quietly, not able to meet his eyes.

"Aria," He sighed closing his eyes for a minute to collect his thoughts. He couldn't believe she was worried about keeping him safe after all the things she had gone through. When he opened his eyes Aria could see the tears fighting there way forward, but refusing to unleashed. He couldn't believe he had let them get as far as they had, but the thought of Aria being hurt somewhere by a stalker he knew nothing about horrified him. Part of him never wanted to let her leave his apartment for fear of what might happen to her.

"I might be an English teacher, but I can take care of myself." He rolled his eyes trying to lighten the mood. She moved one hand to cup his cheek. He grabbed her hand lacing his fingers through hers, and holding it against his lips. "I want you to promise, you're not going to keep things like this from me anymore. If something happened to you..." He trailed off not knowing what words would actually capture the devastated feelings he would have.

"I promise." She said as he leaned in to kiss her fiercely.

[End Flashback]

When she had promised that, she had thought the A threats were over. There wouldn't be a reason to break her promise.

"Can we stay with you? If we stay at our houses our parents will ask questions, they already watch us like we are going to go insane any minute." She wasn't sure how he would feel about this, that's why she asked the girls to wait outside while she asked him in person.

"Aria... I-" He was shaking his head but it wasn't a no, she knew he was just thinking it over. He really wanted to do anything he could to help Arias friends. He refused to turn Aria away, if she was scared to be elsewhere she would stay with him. He wouldn't have it any other way. But, he knew she wouldn't send her friends away, and he wouldn't ask her to. The situation of having four ex students stay in his apartment was not only awkward, but he felt like the repercussions if their parents found out would be monumental.

"Are they outside?" He asked almost frustrated.

"Yes, but if you say no its completely fine. We understand." She said reassuringly.

Ezra let out a sigh. He was realizing he long ago should have begun to worry about the illogical thing this girl could make him do. "They have to be quiet and make it inconspicuous. I don't want this getting out or my neighbors noticing. It could be seriously dangerous if it does, Aria." He looked at her seriously as he spoke.

"Ezra, for almost a year a teenage girl has come to your apartment and even argued in the hall with you over having a secret relationship and your neighbors have never noticed. I think you're safe tonight." Aria said with a small laugh. She turned back to Ezra on her way towards the door. "Oh, and, Emily hasn't had a good night. But, don't call attention to it."

"Of course," Ezra said nodding. "Wait! Before they come in." He made his way to Aria pulling her close to him. "This is probably going to be an awkward night and kisses will probably be followed by more uncomfortable silence." He leaned down and gave Aria a sweet kiss, then released her to bring everyone else in.


"Thank you Mr. Fitz." Spencer said after Ezra had offered them refreshments they respectfully declined. The other girls nodded their heads in agreement.

"Please, call me Ezra." He said awkwardly. He knew the night was sure to be uncomfortable, but he felt like the girls were all a little distraught. It gave Ezra a nagging feeling that Aria was keeping things from him again, but he tried to push the though aside. "So... You guys can watch TV, or a movie or whatever you want to do... It's fine with me." He looked at Aria seated next to the other girls on the couch for help.

"Actually, I think we're all pretty tired." Aria said, giving him a half smile.

"Right." He put his hands on his hips looking at the limited space in his apartment. "Sleeping... Uhh..." He wasn't sure how they were going to manage all sleeping tonight. He didn't want them to be cramped and he thought it better if he slept far away from all of them. "That couch pulls into a king size bed, a couple of you can sleep in my bed and a couple on the couch... and ill use those cushions to make a bed over here." He gestured to the floor on the other side of the living room.

The girls could all see how uncomfortable this situation was, and although they felt bad and appreciated him, they found it slightly funny and cracked smiles at each other.

"Ezra, the couch will be fine. You can sleep in your bed." Aria said smiling at his nervous behavior.

"Are you sure?" Ezra asked sincerely. " I don't want you guys to be crowded and uncomfortable."

"Well, if it gets crowded I can always sleep with you. If that's okay." Aria said carefully raising one eyebrow playfully.

Ezra felt utterly exposed at that moment. It was all they had wanted to be able to be public about their relationship, but at this moment Ezra was vary nervous about their audience. Even though he wasn't their teacher anymore, he still viewed the other girls from an authoritative position. He wasn't sure how he was supposed to feel about his girlfriend flirting with him in front of his past students. A small laugh came from Arias lips and then the other girls followed in vary small giggles and smiles, looking up at him. Ezra shook his head laughing slightly. He realized how stupid his thoughts really where considering his girlfriend was his ex student as well, even if he didn't think of her that way. Being comfortable in front of Arias friends was something he was going to have to get used to if they were ever going to have a public functioning relationship.

"Of course that's okay." He smirked at her before moving to get some blankets from the closet for the girls.

"Thank you, for letting this happen. I really appreciate it." Aria told Ezra a little late that night when she met him in the bathroom to ask for a Tshirt to wear.

Ezra smiled and leaned in to kiss her quickly before looking up to see who was watching them, then realizing they were in the confines of his bathroom. He handed her a shirt then looked at it nervously. "Are they all going to need one too?" He asked motioning to the living room full of girls with his eyes.

Aria crinkled her nose at Ezra shaking her head. "They'll be fine." She reached up for one last kiss before changing into Ezra shirt and sweatpants and moving to his bed. On her way she saw Emily was already asleep, Hanna was almost there, and Spencer was staring out the window. She was glad Emily had fallen asleep so quickly and frankly it didn't surprise her. Ezra met her in bed a few minutes later.

"Do you think this is really a good idea? Given the situation, I really don't mind sleeping on the floor. If this is going to bite us in the ass later..." Ezra started to ramble.

"Ezra, it going to be fine." Aria said rolling close to him. He pulled her in tight to his chest. "Relax" She told him sliding her hand up his shirt to trace designs on his chest. After a minute of silence she spoke again. "I like it better when you sleep shirtless."

Ezra let out a laugh and leaned over and whispered in her ear, "I like it better when you sleep over friendless."

She sighed, "Touche."


Ezra was jolted awake by a sudden scream. His first reaction was to brace Aria tightly beneath him while his eyes adjusted looking for the threat. In the next instant Arias hand was on his cheek and her face was burring itself in his chest. "It's just Emily. I'll get it. I'm sorry."

Ezra let out a revealed breath. "Actually, I think I hear Spencer talking to her now." He rolled onto his back letting himself calm down from the shock of being awaken so suddenly.

"I still think I should go." Aria said sitting up slowly.

Ezra wrapped his arms around her waste and pulled her flush against him, putting his lips against her ear kissing. "Will you come back to me?"

"I will, but remember your lack of a bedroom door."

"That's okay." He laughed, "I like just having you in my arms."