Finally made it home to give you all another chapter! I hope you all enjoy!

I own nothing, as usual.

We all sat together in the DiLaurentis' living room. No one was talking. I was snuggled into Jason, who was gently rubbing my right arm with his.

Being the impatient one, Hanna spoke up. "Ali?"

Ali lifted her head off of Noel's shoulder to look at her. "Yes, Hanna?"

"Why did you leave?"

Noel moved his hand from around her shoulder to hold her hand. Ali looked at him for a moment before turning to the rest of us.

"I met Ezra down in Cape May through CeCe. They had met a few summers earlier and had been really good friends. He seemed nice enough and invited me out to dinner. We learned we lived failrly close to each other and things started to progress really nicely. Since he was older than I was, I talked CeCe into keeping Jason busy so we could sneak around to different places. We ended up sleeping together. A lot actually." Ali paused. I felt Jason tense up behind me.

Ali took a breath and continued. "Once we had come back home from the summer, we kept on dating. I ended up having a pregnancy scare and I saw his true colors. He slammed me against a wall and yelled at me. I thought he was going to kill me. I decided to stay away from him after that. I started ignoring his calls. Then he started following me and having people follow me. Mona. Jenna. Garrett. CeCe. Even Ian. Eventually, Ian came clean to me about what was going on. We started a secret relationship so Melissa wouldn't find out. I found out I wasn't pregnant. It was just a scare. Melissa assumed about me and Ian and had found out about the false pregnancy from CeCe and told Ezra everything. He started calling even more than he had been and eventually started threatening me. That's why I left for Georgia. He followed me and threatened my friends and almost killed me. Shana and I were so scared. We didn't know what to do. We both knew no one would take me seriously, not when he had so many people helping him. So we devised this whole scheme. Shana came and picked me up. Drove me to a secluded house her parents owned, but never used. I had everything I needed. I still missed my friends. I thought if I knew that you guys were doing just fine without me, I could move on and live happy, so I sent my friend Duncan to watch you. He called me and told me everything. About you being followed. How you guys were being threatened. About Aria dating Ezra. Even that Ezra knew I was alive somewhere. I knew I had to do something to protect you. I've been keeping you safe, or at least trying to. I never thought he would go this far."

"Were you ever planning on coming back?" Jason asked.

Ali turned and looked at him, with tears in her eyes. "I wanted too. I always hoped that Ezra would move on and I would be able too. I planned my homecoming a million different ways. I wanted nothing more than to be back here with you all, but I knew I couldn't until he was gone."

"How long has Ezra been threatening you guys?" Paige asked.

"It's not just Ezra, it's a whole group. They call themselves 'A'." Emily replied.

"We thought it was Ali at first." Hanna added.

We spent the next hour or so telling everyone what 'A' had put us through and what all they had made us do.

When we were done, Jason asked, "Do you know who all is involved in this 'A' team?"

Spencer, Hanna, Emily, and I shared looks with each other.

"We've made a list of quite a few people we suspect, but we only know of four definite members." Spencer replied.

"And two of those four are dead." I remarked.

Jason nodded and leaned his head against mine, holding me closer to him. We were all quiet once more.

Emily spoke next. "Are you able to come out of hiding now?"

Ali shook her head. "Not until Ezra is stopped."

"Where will you stay until then?" I asked.

"Here." Jason said.

"I can't do that Jason?"

"Why not? You'd be safe here."

"You wouldn't be around all the time Jason. None of you can."

We all sat in silence trying to think of something.

"I think I might have a place you can stay." Gabriel spoke up. We all turned to look at him. "I have a loft that I use when I need to concentrate on a case. It's right across the street from the Police Station. It's got great surveliance and only one way into the building. Unless you count windows, but I have alarms on all of those, plus the door."

Ali smiled. "Really?"

"We can get you there tomorrow. After dark." Gabriel finished.

"Tonight we should all stay here." Jason said. We all started getting up.

"We should each take turns keeping a look out for any trouble. In case they come back." Toby said.

"I'll take first watch." Jason volunteered.

"So will I." Toby agreed.

"Every two hours we swap?" Noel asked. They all nodded their heads in agreement.

"What about us?" Ali asked.

"You girls should get some sleep. It's been a long day for you all." Toby spoke.

"It's been a long day for you guys too." I argued.

"It's a masculine thing. Just get some sleep." Noel explained.

I opened my mouth to argue, but Jason beat me to it. "Aria, please?"

I stared at him and then reluctantly nodded. Jason walked over to say goodnight. "Come wake me when you are going to bed?" He sighed. "I just want you to hold me."

He nodded. "Alright." He kissed me. "Get some sleep. I'll be there before you know it."

I nodded and followed Ali up to her room.