The next day after Blair's little trip to the park with Mike, she was practically in her own little bubble of happiness. Things were finally looking up in her life as she had her best friends back, well the majority of them, a new boyfriend and then her dad was off playing the famous author and being as happy as he could. Most importantly A was no longer causing havoc in her and the other girls lives, which meant that could once again be carefree teenagers again. Things weren't just looking up for Blair, Spencer had won a prestigious essay writing competition and Hanna's dad had come to Rosewood to visit for the first time since he had left which really excited Hanna as he hadn't seen her since she had lost all the weight. Blair thought that Mr. Marin's visit was down to the incident with Sean's car but nevertheless she was happy that Hanna was seeing her dad as it had almost killed her when he walked out on her and Mrs. Marin.

"Liebling, your food…"

Looking up from her history textbook Blair smiled at Petra as her housekeeper handed her a plate of Leipziger Lerche. They were a German pastry, which Petra had been making for Blair since she was a child. It was pastry or rather a short crust filled with crushed almonds, nuts and a single cherry. Blair adored them and loved eating them, so days like these when she came home to find that her housekeeper had baked a batch for her made Blair's day. "Danke oma…"

"You seem very happy of late." Petra noted and Blair nodded her head as she looked at her plate of Leipziger Lerche before picking one up. Blair knew she had to be careful as she could and would eat an entire plate of these in one sitting.

"I am happy, things have been going pretty well lately and I feel really good Petra. It's been pretty rough because of the whole Alison thing but it seems like everything is going to be okay. I have my old friends back, school is going okay and dad's just about to release his new book and he along with Grandpa John will be here just in time for my birthday." Blair explained.

"And what of this new boy of yours Miss Blair? Is he also a factor in your happiness…" Petra asked.

"New boy? What on earth on you talking about Petra." Blair questioned in between mouthfuls of her pastry, there was no way Petra knew that she was dating Mike. Whilst her housekeeper knew that Blair and Rob had broken up, Blair had gone to a lot of efforts to make sure Petra didn't find out about her and Mike. It wasn't because Blair didn't trust Petra, because she did as the German housekeeper was like her grandmother and the closest thing Blair had ever had to a mother figure in her life. It was just that Blair wanted to keep things quiet with her and Mike for now and the only reasons Hanna knew was because she had seen the two of together and was two dots away from connecting everything together. So Blair kind of hand no choice to tell her. Blair would tell her housekeeper, she just needed time not to mention she figured it would probably be best to tell her once her dad was back in time.

"You know what I'm talking about or rather who Miss Blair, you and Mister Mike. I know he has had feelings for you for a long time and that the two of you kept in touch whilst he was away. I saw you with him that night your friend's body was found and I realized that you have feelings for him too." Petra stated in her thick German accent and Blair had to give her housekeeper credit, the woman was quick as whip and very observant. No wonder why she kept both Blair and her father in line and manage to run their home.

Blair swallowed the pastry currently in her mouth and took a deep breath. "Okay you figured it Oma, Mike is my boyfriend now… I know it's not that long after Rob broke up with me but in my defense he moved on already which means that I can too. And I know that Mike is younger than me but it's not like I'm ten years younger than him, I'm a little over two years…

"He makes you happy, nein?" Petra questioned.

"Very."

"Nice boy?"

"Oma, you know he's a nice boy…" Blair replied not sure where this was going especially when Petra came over to her and placed both her hands on either side of Blair's face.

"I just want you to be happy Liebling, that is all I have ever wanted for you ever since the day you were born. 6lb 9oz, with a tuft of auburn hair and the most beautiful child that your papa could have ever hoped for. I have seen you grow up so wonderfully into a young woman through my own eyes whilst you have watched me grow old through your own eyes. But I do not want any babies yet Miss Blair, I am far too young to be a great grandmother and you will at least graduate college and have a job before you have any children. Is that clear?" Petra stated and at first Blair wasn't sure how to respond, the first part was so loving and she could hear Petra's affection for her. Until she got to the kids parts.

"Crystal clear." Blair replied, picking up another pastry and putting it in her mouth.

"Good girl." Petra said placing a kiss on Blair's cheek before going about cleaning up all the kitchen utensils she had used for baking. Blair watched Petra go about her business whilst she continued to eat until her phone went off. Picking it up from where it was sitting next to her Blair saw that she had received a text from Spencer. SOS.

"Hey Oma, I have to quickly run over to Spencer's I'll be back as soon as I can but if I'm going to be late I'll text you and let you know." Blair said quickly sliding off her stool and all but sprinting out the house, picking up her house and car keys on the way. When Spencer set an SOS message, it was an emergency which required you to drop whatever it was you were doing. Blair knew to go to the Hastings house as Hanna had texted her earlier about being with Spencer after dropping off a drunk Wren at a motel. When Blair arrived at the Hastings house, she went in through the side gate and found the back door to be unlocked not to mention broken. Walking in Blair entered the kitchen and immediately she found a broken plant sitting on the kitchen counter and she started to fear the worst. First the broken door and now the broken plant. "Spencer? Hanna?"

"We're in my bedroom." Spencer yelled and Blair walked through the kitchen into the living room and ran up the stairs two at a time, down the hallway and into Spencer's room. At first she didn't noticed anything wrong except for Hanna and Spencer just standing there like they were frozen.

"What's the SOS?" Blair asked and neither of them replied, instead Hanna just pointed to something and following what Hanna was pointing to Blair saw that someone had written a message on Spencer's mirror with lipstick; It won't be that easy bitches – A. "Oh my god…"

"Our sentiments exactly." Hanna finally said.

"How? When?"

"Probably when we were taking Wren back to his motel, it was the only time I wasn't here and the back door was already broken thanks to Wren." Spencer wearily said and Blair could feel this bad feeling gnawing at her stomach. The text messages and that creepy poster was one thing, but A breaking into their homes was just something else? Their homes were supposed to be the place that they felt safe yet now there was nowhere safe for them.

"Spencer, you here?" A voice called out and Blair recognized it to be Aria's and she barely noticed Spencer leaving the room as her eyes were just fixated on the mirror as were Hanna's. The only time when Blair was distracted was when Spencer had returned with Emily and Aria in tow and the five of them just stood there.

"Is that jungle red?" Hanna asked as she took a couple of steps towards the mirror and the rest of them followed suit.

"Alison's colour." Emily grimly said.

"I'll say it again, oh my god…" Blair added before taking a deep breath, she didn't want to say what she was about to but Blair knew she had to. They had tried blocking out A and she still got to them in even worse ways and now they had some serious damage control to do. "You know what this means…"

"We have to let A back in." Aria quietly said.

"It was a good idea doing what we did but we should have known that A would have a back plan of some sort, she's always been two steps ahead of us. The text messages and notes were one thing but she's broken into your house now Spencer. I don't know about you guys but I'd rather be in fear of getting another text from A then being scared to go home and find out she's done something." Hanna stated.

"I agree." Spencer said after a moment. "I don't mean to sound like a massive wimp but do you guys mind staying over? It's just with my family out of town and A playing her mirror games in my house, I just don't want to be alone tonight."

"Of course." Aria assured Spencer.

To say the night's sleep was an easy one filled with sweet dreams would be to lie as Blair was pretty freaked out by the fact that A found it so easy to break into Spencer's house and leave them that creepy message. It her made and no doubt the other girls feel vulnerable and exposed and Blair didn't like that at all, not in their own homes. Due to their nerves and fear all five of the girls woke up early and sat having breakfast in the Hastings kitchen before they would have to go home and get ready for school. And as Blair sat an the Hastings breakfast bar with Hanna and Emily, Aria came into the room brandishing a letter.

"What's with the letter?" Blair asked.

"I have to tell you guys something." Aria wearily began. "The year before last, not too long before I left for Iceland I discovered that my dad was having an affair with this woman called Meredith, who was a student of his at Hollis."

"Aria…" Emily began.

"It gets worse. I confronted my dad about it and he said that he was going to end it and made me promise not to tell my mom and I didn't. I kept the entire thing secret for a year. I didn't want to hurt my mom and my dad kept telling me he was sorry and I thought if I kept quiet then nothing would change and we'd all be fine. Up until last night, my mom received this letter and it told her all about the affair and how I knew about it. A sent this letter to my mom…" Aria said looking over at the infamous letter as she sat on the Hastings couch.

"Aria you know this was not your fault, there is nothing for you to be feel guilty about. You were just trying to protect your mom and your family, if anything your dad is to blame. This affair is his mistake and he should be the one to bare that not you." Blair said.

"Totally." Emily added.

"It is my fault…" Aria quietly said.

"You did not hook up with her and ask your kid to cover for you." Spencer said in a firm but reassuring tone of voice as she handed Blair another bagel to eat which she so graciously took.

"Ali said I should have told my mom right after it happened." Aria said and at the mere mention of Alison's name, Blair turned around on her stool. Blair shouldn't have been surprised as she seemed to know all their secrets, she knew about Blair and Mike so why shouldn't she have known about Mr. Montgomery's affair.

"Ali? Alison knew?" Emily questioned.

"Yeah, she was with me." Aria replied and Blair accepted it as that as she went back to putting some cream cheese on her bagel.

"So Alison saw this Meredith person then?" Blair asked before taking a mouthful of her bagel and she saw from the corner of her eyes, Hanna rolling her eyes at the mention of Meredith's name.

"Meredith? Her name is Meredith? Ew… That's not even a cute girl name, I'm seeing big pores and mousy roots." Hanna casually said and Blair wasn't expecting to hear that and so when she started to laugh, she also began to choke on her food and Emily had to pat her on the back several times before the bagel went down her throat.

"Thanks." Blair hoarsely said as she reach for her glass or orange juice. "Han, I think it's a bit too soon to judge and all…"

"I'm sorry but if your going to cheat then you might as well make sure it's with someone who deeps conditions their hair occasionally." Hanna replied and Blair made sure to wait until Hanna had finished speaking to continue eating.

"Here, put something in your mouth besides your foot." Spencer stated handing Hanna a bagel on a plate who turned in her seat to face Aria.

"I'm sorry Aria, all I'm saying is that when my dad left laughing sometimes helped, so did crying." Hanna pointed out and Blair couldn't help but nod in agreement, her dad just so happened to do that every time he broke up with his current boyfriend. Not so much the crying bit but the laughing bit always came along with eating raw cookie dough.

"My dad hasn't left you guys, this happened over a year ago…" Aria said as she got up off the couch and joined them at the breakfast bar. No of them said anything in response but sometimes actions spoke louder than words. "Wait… You think he's going to leave?"

"Aria we don't that, we don't know anything for certain but whatever happen we're here for you." Blair said covering her mouth as she spoke with a mouthful with bagel and cream cheese before getting up from her seat. "I should really hit the road, I've got to check in with Petra and I also have to take Milo for a walk before school."

"Thank you guys for staying here, I couldn't be here alone." Spencer wearily said changing the subject.

"When's your family getting back?" Hanna asked.

"This afternoon."

"Aren't you going to clean up the mirror before they get back?" Blair asked as if Spencer's parents, specifically Spencer's mother saw the message A left for them on the mirror they would be in some serious trouble and answering a lot of questions. Spencer gave Blair a weary look about the entire thing. "If we do it now I can come with you."

"Sure." Spencer replied.

"We should all go." Aria added and pretty soon they were all getting up from their seat and walking away from the breakfast bar, all except for Hanna.

"Um… You know what? It doesn't take five of us to clean a mirror so why don't you four go and I'll just wait here?" Hanna suggested and Blair couldn't help but roll her eyes. Typical Hanna behaviour.

"Fine, okay… You stay down here. Alone, but make sure you lock the door…" Aria warned as she followed Spencer, Blair and Emily who were already by the foot of the Hastings staircase.

"Great, you spray and I'll wipe…" Hanna said sliding off her stool and hurrying over to the rest of the girls and moments after she joined them her phone went off revealing a message from A. Ever wonder what's going on when your back is turned?. "Great, the creature is back… You know we should have never unblocked our phones."

"And what? Continued to receive creepy radio shout outs and even more creepy messages on mirrors?" Blair retorted as the way she saw it, they had no choice in the matter. They had to unblock their phones otherwise risk a lifetime more of A breaking into their homes.

"Open the attachment." Emily prompted.

The attachment proved to be the next creepy thing as it was a video of them all, when they were standing in front of the mirror and they realized the person who filmed them could have only have done it from inside Spencer's closest. The five of them checked it out but all they could find was a tube of lipstick that just so happened to match the writing on the mirror. All of that just freaked Blair out even more, so after they finished cleaning the mirror she went home and got herself together. As freaked out as she was by the last twelve hours, Blair had school to focus on not to mention a quiz in French and a yearbook committee meeting to deal with as well.

"Hey Blair…"

"Mike…" Blair replied with a smile as she peered out of her locker to look at a boyfriend and she had expected to see a happy looking kind of boyfriend. But Mike actually looked the furthest from it, he had this worried expression on his face. "Hey, what's wrong?"

Mike rubbed the back of his head. "I don't know really, I think there's something going on with my parents as their acting really weird at the moment and I keep picking up on this weird vibe. And the two of them are being extra friendly to me but acting weird with each other and I don't know really Blair. I hear raised voices occasionally but every time I go downstairs to see what's up they pretend everything is fine."

"Look Mike parents argue, it's just one of those things that just happen to every families…." Blair lightly said as she thought about what Aria had told them all this morning, about the affair. There was no way Blair could tell Mike as it was clear he was in the dark about the entire thing. Aria had told her in confidence and even though Mike was her boyfriend, Aria trusted her to keep this secret. Not to mention it was a family matter. It was going to kill Blair to play dumb and act like she didn't know why Mr. and Mrs. Montgomery were playing the arguing with smiles game and pretending like everything was fine around Mike. But she had to.

"How would you know?" Mike questioned and Blair was stunned to hear him say that, so much actually that she thought she was hearing things at first.

"Ouch." Blair said after a moment.

"Blair, I didn't mean it…"

"I may be the kid without the mother as my dad went about the unconventional ways of having a kid. But I know what it's like having people you love, the people who've raised you argue and you don't know why. I may have the gay dad and the German housekeeper but I do understand Mike." Blair quietly replied.

"I'm so sorry Blair, I didn't mean to say that. It just came out and I didn't mean to imply that you wouldn't understand because of your dad. You understand everything or just attempt to, it's one of the reasons I like you so much Blair. I really didn't mean what I said Blair…" Mike said and without drawing too much attention to herself Blair brushed her fingers against Mike's.

"I know you didn't mean it Mike, you're just worried about your family and that's understandable. I don't know why your parents may or may not be arguing, but what I do know is that you can always call me or even come round if you need to distract yourself from it."

"I may have to take you up on that…"