Here is a new chapter for all my fantastic readers out there! Thank you for all the new reviews and follows once again, it always puts a smile on my face when I get those emails! To the review from jhas: your review totally made my day, I am so glad you have ended up liking it and that you think I am "nailing it", I hope I continue to nail it, I will try my best to! This lovely couple deserves so much more time on screen, so does Paige. Hope you guys enjoy this chapter just as much 3

Chapter 12

In the car, Paige checks the text for the hundredth time, 'Rosewood Cemetery 10pm or Emily gets hurt- A'. Her hands shake again but she breathes deeply, to try to calm herself down. She made a promise to Emily, that she would do anything to protect her- she meant it. If anything happened to Emily, she doesn't think she could live with herself. Yesterday in Emily's room, Emily made it clear that 'A', Mona or whoever is serious when it comes to their threats, Paige doesn't want to gamble with those chances.

10:00 flashes on the dashboard of her car, she takes a final deep breath and opens her car door. Heavy footsteps stomp near her car and she spins to see a familiar face, Nate, his eyes dark of determination.

Before she can scream or move, he covers her mouth and nose tightly with a tissue and she struggles against him, kicking and elbowing him repeatedly until she feels herself growing gradually weaker. Eventually, her limbs go limp and her eyes become heavy until they droop closed.

Awhile later, she wakes to find herself being bound in the closet with duct tape around her wrists, ankles and mouth. Her mind is disoriented and scattered. But as her mind begins to wake up, panic starts to consume her when she realizes the possible severity of the situation. Where is she? How long has it been? What has happened to her? Is Emily okay?

The beautiful ring of Emily's voice fills her ears, feeling temporarily relieved that Emily appears to be safe and nearby but Nate's deep voice sends Paige panicking again, this time more for Emily's life as she hears his voice rise with threats to Emily. She tries to squirm and scream but the tape over her mouth muffles any attempts. She had shown up at the cemetery at 10 PM, as the 'A' text ordered her to, yet Emily is still in danger.


Next Day

Paige knocks on the Fields' front door then shoves her hands in her pockets as she waits. Since last night, all she has been able to think about is Emily- the horrible images and sounds forever engraved into her memory. Nate holding the knife to Emily's throat and the piercing gun shot.

"Hi, Paige," Pam greets her with a warm smile that falters slightly, "How are you holding up?"

"I…um…. I'm getting there," her shoulders hunch forward, "Still in shock, mainly. But, I'm more worried about Emily."

"She's been worried about you, too. You can go up and see her. She can use some company, especially from you," she opens the door wider for Paige to step inside.

"Thank, Mrs. Fields, " Paige attempts to force a smile as she walks towards the stairs.

"Paige," The sound of her name slows her step and she turns to face Pam, "Please call me Pam," she pauses briefly, "Let me know if you girls need anything."

The corners of Paige's lips flip into a small, genuine smile this time, "We will, thank you."

Chocolate, brown eyes are peering around the corner when Paige makes it upstairs. "I thought I heard you," Emily mummers against Paige's shoulder when she runs into her arms.

Paige embraces Emily tightly against her as her head falls into the crook of Emily's neck, "I had to see you. I've been worried."

They pull apart and Emily reaches for Paige's hand to guide her into her bedroom. Immediately, she grabs Paige's face to bring their lips together into a kiss then rests their foreheads together, "I am so sorry you had to go through that because of me."

Paige shakes her head, her eyes slowly opening to look at Emily, "Em, it wasn't your fault. You didn't know who he was."

"I was so scared. I was so scared that he was going to hurt you. When I saw you tied up in the closet, I froze. My heart stopped. I didn't know what to do. So, I ran, hoping he would chase me and that I maybe could get cell service and give you a chance," Emily whispers with a cracked voice as tears stream down her face.

Paige tries to wipe away Emily's tears with her shaky thumbs, "I was so terrified, Em. Then…. when I heard the gun shot," Paige pauses as her lip trembles at the horrifying memory, "I thought he got you. My world stopped." Tears are now spilling down Paige's face,

Emily bites her lip and lightly traces Paige's jaw with her finger, "How did he even get to you?"

"I was on my way to the cemetery because I got…" Paige pulls her phone out her pocket and clicks on the message, "This," she hands Emily her phone. "He just got there first, somehow."

Emily's heart falls into her stomach when she reads the message from 'A' then shakes her head, "I shouldn't' have dragged you into this. It's dangerous."

"I told you, there is nothing I wouldn't do to protect you. I want to be with you, Emily. Even if that means I have to deal with 'A'. It's all worth it." For the first time that morning, Paige's voice is confident and strong because that is the only thing she is completely sure of, that she wants to be with Emily no matter what.

Her heart swells in her chest at the confidence in Paige's words then leans against her for support. The sensation of Paige's fingers drawing light circles on her back soothes her. For a moment, she closes her eyes as she listens to Paige's steady heartbeat; her tears begin to slow down. But, the constant buzzing on her bed, makes her groan and break away from the comfort of Paige's arms.

"Its Spencer, I better get it," Emily grunts quietly. She sniffles and wipes at her damp cheeks with the end of her long sleeve shirt.

Paige nods her head, understandingly, then takes a seat next to Emily on her bed.

"Hey, Spence," Emily picks up the phone.

"Hey…" Spencer starts with a gentle tone, "I just wanted to see how you were doing today."

"I'm doing…" her voice trails off slightly then she looks at Paige with a small smile, "Better, Paige is here right now, which helps," Emily reaches over and puts her hand on top of Paige's.

There is a hesitant pause on the other side of the phone, "How is she doing?"

Her thumb brushes over the back Paige's hand as they hold each other's gaze, "She's doing okay. We're both still shaken up."

"Do you think we can stop by or you guys can stop by here? We would really like to apologize to Paige," a new sincerity rings in Spencer's voice and Emily can hear Spencer making coffee on the other hand.

Emily's smile starts to grow, "Yeah I think that can be arranged. I'll let you know, okay?"

"Okay, yeah. Just text me."

Emily hangs up and turns her body to fully face Paige, "They want to apologize to you."

Her eyes widen with surprise, "They do?"

"Only if you're up to it though," Emily assures her by moving her hand to Paige's thigh and rubbing it gently.

Page sighs, gazing into Emily's chocolate eyes, "Of course. As long as you're there beside me."

Emily smiles with relief that they can start putting this behind them, especially after a traumatic night, "I'll be right there the whole time. I'm going to text Spencer that we are going over there."

After sending the text, Emily puts her phone on her nightstand, "I'm just going to change before we head out," she pecks Paige's lips before heading to her closet.

Paige leans back into Emily's pillows and keeps her eyes fixated on Emily's closet door, "So, we are sure this isn't one of their tricks to trap me as 'A', right?"

Emily can hear the smirk and teasing in Paige's voice as she pulls jeans and a shirt on. "I promise," she smiles as she walks out of the closet, "Are you ready?"

Paige nods then closes the gap between them in a couple of steps to kiss Emily softly, whose eyes flutter close at the sudden contact. When Paige pulls away, Emily beams at her until she breaks out into a blush and dips her head with a shy grin.

"Come on," she whispers as she takes Paige's hand to pull her behind her.

"Where are you girls off to?" Her mom asks from the living room.

"We are just going to Spencer's for a bit," Emily slows down by the living room to answer her mom.

A small, relived smile forms on Pam's face, "That'll be good, for both of you to be out and be with the other girls. Just be careful and call if you need anything. That goes for you too, Paige."

"We will," Emily assures her mom as Paige nods silently beside her.

"It was good to see you, Paige. I'm glad to see you're holding up."

"It was great to see you too," Paige gets out of her mouth before Emily yanks her out the door.

As the Hastings house comes into view, Paige absentmindedly plays with her fingers as her anxiety starts to pick up. Out of the corner of her eye, Emily can see Paige fidgeting nervously; when she parks the car she places a hand on her thigh, "It's going to be okay, I promise." She gently rubs Paige's thigh, trying to ease her nerves.

Paige sighs as Emily cuts the engine then quietly mumbles, "I know," her anxiety already starting to dissipate with Emily's comforting touch. Before opening her car door, Emily leans over and places a quick peck on Paige's cheek.

"Hey Em! Hi Paige…" Spencer greets them as she opens her side door for the girls.

Paige forces a weak smile at Spencer before following Emily to the couch on one side of the room. On the opposite side of the Hastings' living room, Spencer takes a seat in between Hanna and Aria.

An awkward silence falls between the girls as they exchange glances with each other, trying to figure out where to start. Emily slips her hand into Paige's when she notices her nervously fidgeting with her hands once again, giving her a gentle squeeze to remind Paige that she's here for her.

"Paige…," Spencer finally starts and stares at the ground in front of her, " We are so sorry for how we acted and have treated you lately. I have this horrible habit at jumping to conclusions without having all the information…"

Hanna and Aria nod in agreement as Spencer finishes her apology and they both sincerely apologize to Paige before Spence continues. "I know Emily has filled you in on a lot of stuff about 'A'. It's been hard for us to trust anyone and when Cece told me about your past with Alison, I just jumped at it. Something I tend to do a lot…"

"Yeah that is true…you do, do that," Hanna mutters with her normal sassiness and Aria reaches across Spencer to gently smack Hanna's leg and Spencer glares at Hanna through narrow eyes.

"Anyways…I convinced these two," she motions at Hanna and Aria, "when we found that earring in your purse at the trunk show."

Paige glances between Emily and Spencer, her brow crinkling in confusion, "What earring?"

Spencer's eyes widen, feeling as though she has dropped a bomb on Paige but Emily nods at her, signaling she wants to explain to Paige, "You remember how I told you about the night Alison's grave was dug up and 'A' as evidence to make us all look guilty."

"Yeah," Paige answers softly, not knowing where this is headed.

"Before they buried Alison, Mrs. DiLaurentis asked each of us to bury a keepsake in her coffin. Ever since that night her grave was dug up, we have been getting our keepsakes back piece by piece, randomly. Aria had put earrings in that coffin and had one put in her locker and they had found the other in your purse at the trunk show…"

Paige's eyes go wide, she turns to the other girls, "I swear I had no idea…"

Aria cuts her off and puts her hand up, "We know, we have all been there and we should've known that 'A' did that."

Spencer nods faintly, her lips still turned down into a serious expression, " 'A' has a way of planting things to make people look guilty. I fell for the trick…again. I'm sorry, Paige."

"It's okay, really, " Paige assures them with a genuine smile.

"At least 'A' didn't prick you to get your blood or give you a necklace full of teeth like they gave to Emily," Hanna shivers at the memories and subconsciously rubs her index finger.

" 'A' gave you a necklace full of teeth?" Paige shrieks, looking at Emily with her mouth open.

"We still aren't sure if they were real, Hanna, " Spencer tries to argue with Hanna, again.

"Everything else has been real, Spence. Plus, I worked at the dentist. I have told you those are real teeth!"

"Hanna, you worked in the office for like a week! What do you know?" Aria rolls her eyes as Hanna and Spencer start bickering over a beaten topic.

"When did that happen?" Paige whispers to Emily, pulling on her hand to get her full attention as the other three girls are distracted by the argument between Hanna and Spencer.

"One of the first days of school this year. I kind of freaked out during Mrs. Montgomery's class and ran out."

Paige remembers that day clearly when Noel and Ben were making fun of her, "Oh yeah…I heard about that."

Emily immediately starts to blush, realizing she must have been the talk of the school that day, something she has grown accustomed to over the last couple of years, "People must think I'm such a freak."

Paige shakes her head and pulls Emily's hand into her lap, "They don't know you. They don't know what's really going on in your life. You have been through a lot."

When she thinks the other girls aren't paying attention, Emily tilts her head to brush her lips against Paige's but is stop by Hanna shrieking, "Are you two going to make out now right here in front of us?"

Paige turns away, her face bright red, Emily shifts to see the girls with giant grins on their faces. As Hanna opens her mouth, Emily playfully throws a pillow at her from Spencer's couch. Aria and Spencer giggle at Hanna's widened expression, "I didn't even say anything!"

"You were going to!" Emily smirks playfully then re-laces her hand with Paige's.

"I don't know about you guys, but I'm starved. I'm thinking lunch at The Grille?" Aria glances around the room with questioning eyes.

"Yes! I am starved," Hanna throws her head back in relief, "I could go for those cheese fries right now!"

"So you don't steal them from me this time?" Spencer crosses her arms and raises her eyebrows at Hanna.

"I had a really rough night, I deserve my own cheese fries this time," Hanna rolls her eyes with a slight shake to her head.

Before agreeing, Emily turns her attention back to Paige, "Is that okay with you?"

"Cheese fries do sound delicious," Paige nods her head in Hanna's direction.

An enormous smile breaks across Emily's face; "Paige and I will meet you over there."

The other three girls are packing their purses as Emily and Paige stand to leave, " Okay, we will see you in a few minutes then, " Spencer glances up from her purse.