Emily tossed her damp hair over her shoulder and finished packing her suitcase. She looked around the master bedroom to make sure she wasn't leaving anything. Alison walked out of the bathroom, finishing straightening her hair.

"All packed up?" Alison asked, sitting on the bed waiting for Emily. Emily nodded, "yep, I think I got everything." Emily closed her suitcase and set it on the floor, "ready?" Alison stood up and took Emily's hand, "mhm."

The two girls walked downstairs to join their friends for breakfast. Spencer and Hanna made a quick food trip at a local breakfast restaurant to get food so the girls didn't have to dirty up the kitchen.

Suitcases and bags were dropped by the door, waiting to be carried out to cars on their way out. "It's been so nice to get away from Rosewood for a bit," Aria sighed. "Yeah, now back to reality," Hanna commented.

"Guys, it's summer! Our last summer together before college and a summer without A. Our reality is good," Emily replied cheerfully, trying to lighten the girls moods. Spencer smiled, "you're right, Em. We should be happy. No school work for a few months, no studying or hard tests.."

"And no psycho-path trying to kill us," Alison stated. "Just work, romance, hanging out, days out by the water, and late nights up together," Emily continued. The girls all smiled, enjoying their moment together.

"Thank you for the past few days, Ali," Aria said. "Yeah, it was so nice to invite us here," Spencer commented. "Of course," Alison replied, "you know you guys are welcome here all of the time. I want to spend more weekends and days here with all of us."

"Well I'm down whenever," Hanna responded, "let's plan our next get together now." Aria laughed, "already?" Hanna nodded, "yeah! I mean think about it, we only have two solid months together left guys."

The girls all got quite, truly realizing that this really was going to be the last for sure summer together before they moved off to different cities around the nation. "Let's not get too emotional guys. We know we'll be at each others houses probably tomorrow all hanging out again," Alison chuckled.

Spencer laughed, "I really love you guys, and I couldn't have asked for better friends." The four friends returned a smile to Spencer. The five girls sat together and ate their breakfast.

#######

Alison pulled out of her beach house's driveway. She kept her left hand on the stirring wheel and placed the other hand on Emily's lap, intertwining their fingers.

"I'm going to miss being away," Emily stated, rubbing Alison's hand with her thumb. "Travel the world with me this summer, Em," Alison casually said. Emily looked over at the blonde, "Ali, I have to work this summer, and I can't just ask my parents for thousands of dollars to lay out on beaches and eat pasta in Italy."

Alison laughed, "mm, Italy would be fun for us." Emily smiled, "I'm serious, Alison."

"I know you are, so I would pay for you," Alison replied. Emily shook her head, "no, absolutely not." Alison frowned, "why not?"

"Ali, you're not paying for me. I don't even let you pick me up a dollar pack of chips at a gas station, let alone pay for my hotel rooms and plane tickets," Emily said. "Em, I can afford it. Seriously, it's basically pocket change for my dad."

Emily knew Alison's family was rich. There was a lot of old money in the DiLaurentis family. And within the past year Alison's dad had been promoted to CEO of the company he worked for, which also brought more in than they already had.

Emily just didn't feel right for someone else to pay for her expenses that way. Emily's family had spending money, but it certainly helped that Emilyrecieved a full ride scholarship to UCLA in the fall.

"No, Alison," Emily replied. Alison let out of a sigh of frustration, "whatever."

"You can't seriously be mad at me for not letting you pay for my vacations," Emily said, responding to Alison's sigh. "It's not a problem for my dad to buy it, he wants me to spend this summer how I want to because of all the hell that's happened the past three years, and he wants me to spend it with my friends so I'm happy, and you're not allowing me to do that," Alison said, driving down the road, leaving the island.

Emily started to feel bad. She didn't think about it in that aspect. Alison always had a way of making her feel bad until she gave in, but this time Emily felt like there was a real reason behind Alison's argument.

"Okay, maybe a trip or two, but not a lot, Ali," Emily said more sweetly, showing her guilt for the blonde. Alison grinned knowing that she always got her way, "thank you."

#######

The girls had all left Alison's house after getting back from the beach and Alison invited one of her best friends outside of her clique to come over and see her.

"So, you finally made the moves on her," CeCe Drake replied after hearing Alison explain the past couple of days at the beach. Alison laughed while she was unpacking her clothes from the beach, "I guess."

"You guess? Girl, her head between your legs is a little bit more for just saying 'you guess'," CeCe chuckled. "Shut up," Alison laughed. "So what does this mean for you two? Are you guys like, a lesbian couple now, or just friends with benefits?" CeCe questioned.

"I hate labels, you know that," Alison sternly replied. "She's a girl, you're a girl, and you're fucking. That's lesbian activity, Ali," CeCe said. Alison rolled her eyes, "CeCe."

"I'm just saying! I mean, I don't think you're full on lesbian because of how you've only been into guys and your past having sex with guys, but you can't be straight if you like a girl. It's just the way it is, labels or not," CeCe commented. Alison didn't respond, she just sorted through her clothes.

"I'm not saying the label is important, because you know I could not careless," CeCe started, "but I do think you need to prepare yourself for people to think of you as a lesbian."

"I don't care what people think," Alison quickly responded. CeCe sarcastically laughed, "right, and you're not Alison DiLaurentis."

Alison tucked a strand of hair behind her ear, "I really like her." CeCe sat up from laying on Alison's bed so that she could look at Alison more directly in the eyes, "I know you do, Ali. I've known this for years. I think sometimes you forget that I know you better than you know yourself."

"So what should I do?" Alison asked her older best friend. CeCe had always been a type of role model to Alison, even if it wasn't all good examples to follow. Alison and CeCe were like sisters, they had a special friendship that many didn't understand, but the two girls didn't care. CeCe was like the bigger sister Alison always wished that she had.

"You do what makes you happy," CeCe easily responded. Alison smiled, "I'm so glad that I have you." CeCe laughed, "let's not get too emotional here…but I'm pretty glad I have you too, kiddo."

Alison playfully nudged CeCe and went back to sorting through her laundry on her bed. "Oh! Cute shirt," CeCe commented, picking up a tank top on Alison's bed. "Wait, let me see that," Alison said, reaching out for the shirt. CeCe tossed the clothing to Alison.

"That's not mine, it's Emily's. Want to run over with me to her house to take it back really quick?" Alison questioned. CeCe stood up, "you'll do anything just to see her, won't you?" Alison smiled and grabbed her keys on her dresser, "c'mon."

#######

Emily finished putting away her luggage from the beach and plopped down her bed. The brunette closed her eyes and felt her phone buzz. Her eyes flew back open and Emily unlocked her phone to read a text message.

Hey, I'm outside, come downstairs.

A confused expression displayed on Emily's face. Emily threw herself off of her bed and walked downstairs to her front door. The brunette opened the door and looked at the girl in front of her, "hey," Emily said, sounding more like a question than a greeting.

"I'm back," Paige McCullers chimed, throwing her body on Emily's, hugging the brunette. Emily wasn't ready for the embrace and fell backwards a bit. Paige squeezed Emily's body tight and brought her hands to Emily's face, cupping it. Paige looked in Emily's eyes and smiled, "can I come in?" Emily's lips pressed together and then parted, "uh, yeah, sure."

Emily backed out Paige's hands and opened the door more for them to walk in. "How have you been? I haven't seen you in so long," Paige asked Emily, sitting on the couch in the Fields' living room.

"Um, fine. I've been good. How are you?" Emily responded, trying not to sound awkward. Emily hadn't seen Paige in months, much less heard from her ex. Emily was shocked. "Pretty good. I'm back in Rosewood for the summer. My parents heard about A being dead and thought it was safe to come back," Paige beamed. Emily smiled, half-way genuine and halfway forceful, "welcome home."

Paige didn't say anything, she just smiled back at Emily. "Paige, why did you come here?" Emily asked softly so she didn't offend her ex-girlfriend. Emily couldn't believe Paige was standing in front of her. This was the last thing that the brunette expected. "I miss you," Paige started, "I haven't seen you in months and I've thought about you everyday. Leaving you was the hardest thing I've ever done. I really miss you, Emily."

Emily's eyes widened, she didn't know what to say. The last time she saw Paige was when Emily was crying, begging Paige to stay in Rosewood with her. Paige hurt Emily when she got on the plane to move to California. But a lot had changed since Paige had been gone. Emily, unofficially, saw a few girls on and off, and now was back reconnected with Alison.

"Emily?" Paige stated. Emily shifted on the chair she was sitting in, "yeah, sorry. I'm just-,it's just…this is a lot to take in right now." Emily rubbed her temples, she didn't know what to do. Emily knew she loved Paige. Paige helped to heal Emily when Alison went missing. Emily truly believed Alison was dead and eventually decided it was in her best interest to move on. Paige was the first girl that Emily truly let into her heart because Alison never gave her the opportunity until now.

"What's wrong?" Paige asked. Emily shook her head, "I'm overwhelmed, Paige." Paige frowned, "I thought you'd be happy to see me again." Emily looked at Paige, "it's not that, I am. Believe me, it really is nice to see you but I'm just so.. surprised."

Paige stood up off of the couch and knelt beside Emily. Paige took Emily's hand, "I love you, and I want to spend this summer making it all up to you."

#######

Alison parked her car on Emily's street. "Of course Emily would have already went biking and she just got back. Your girl is such a workout freak," CeCe laughed. Alison laughed along with her and looked over to see a bike leaning up against a tree in Emily's front yard.

Alison's smile quickly faded, her eyes darkening. "Whoa, what's wrong?" CeCe asked, noticing Alison's quick change of demeanor. "That's not Emily's bike," Alison sharply stated. CeCe looked back at the bike and then back at Alison, "then who's is it?"

"Paige's."