A/N - Hello! It's been a while :( but this is it...the Season 2 finale! So it isn't exactly following the episode, and I haven't got all the speech right and other things like that. I'm using what I know and remember from this episode (with a little help from PLL Wikia).

THANK YOU ALL FOR 4K FREAKING VIEWS AND THANKS TO EVERYONE WHO FOLLOWED, FAVOURITED AND REVIEWED! I'M LITERALLY DYING BECAUSE SERIOUSLY...42 REVIEWS?! :) *GIVES EVERYONE 1000000 HUGS AND KISSES*

Chapter Fourteen
Coming Home

/'Cause all I know is we said 'hello'
And your eyes looked like coming home\

'We are almost at the end of our one-year running investigation on Alison DiLaurentis.'

As soon as the reporter on the TV said those words, Hanna, Emily, Aria and Spencer turned around, their eyes glued to the screen.

'Alison DiLaurentis went missing one and a half years ago, aged fifteen.' The reporter said. 'Then, a year later, her body was found in the old DiLaurentis' household. Following recent investigations, we have found a man, aged twenty-one. Garrett Reynolds has been arrested for the murder of Alison DiLaurentis.'

The girls gasped. 'Garrett?'

'Garrett was once a member of the Rosewood PD, and we have found out that he was only working as a cop to clear his name by destroying any evidence.'

'I always knew Ian was innocent.'

The girls turned away and looked at Melissa, who was crossing her arms by the door.

'You girls too. I always knew you were innocent.' Melissa took a step forward. 'However, I do know what happened with Jenna Marshall. And if Garrett had a reason to kill Alison, he had a good one.' Melissa then smiled slickly. 'Ooh, mind if I steal that?' Melissa pointed at the bowl in Aria's hands.

'Yeah, sure.'

'Thanks.' Melissa beamed and took a mouthful. 'Mmm, toffee.' She then walked off, leaving four very bewildered girls.

Spencer reached for the remote to turn off the telly. 'Well…'

The doorbell rang, causing Hanna to jump. 'Geez, that stupid bell!'

'I'll get it.' Spencer said, already making her way to the door. When she opened it, she saw a man in a blue cap. Not a second later he had left, and shoved four envelopes in Spencer's hands.

'Who is it, Spence?' asked Emily.

Spencer walked back into the kitchen and passed them each an envelope.

You are cordially invited to the Rosewood Junior Society Masquerade Ball. Eight o'Clock to two o'Clock. Costumes required.

'Whatever is this?' Aria asked, eyeing the invitation suspiciously. 'You don't think it's some sort of trap, is it? We don't have to go...right?'

'No. No, of course not.' Spencer said immediately.

Hanna pouted. 'Why not? It doesn't sound harmful…'

Four phones beeped. They slowly reached for their electronics, exchanging looks.

Be there when the clock strikes twelve.
-A

'O-okay…' Hanna stammered. 'I take that all back.'

'We don't have a choice any more.' Aria said.

'Wait, we're actually going?' Hanna exclaimed. 'No way! Did you just read the text. No way I'm going to be at the ball if A is.'

'But think about it.' Spencer started. 'If A's going to be there-'

'-we can finally find out who A is!' Emily finished. 'We'll corner her…him...whichever and we can finally bring an end to this.'

Hanna was still not convinced. 'Come on, guys, we all know what A's capable of. Surely we don't want it to happen again?'

Aria shrugged. 'Hanna, it's a huge masquerade ball with everyone we know. I'm pretty sure A's not going to risk everything and plant a bomb in the chocolate fondue or something.'

Hanna went slightly green. 'I'm not going near the chocolate fondue.'

Emily rolled her eyes. 'We'll have our dates there too. All this time A's wanted everything except us to tell the ones closest to us. I doubt A's going to blow its cover up now.'

'Well, you never know!' Hanna protested.

The lights of the large sign flickered, causing all the girls to flinch.

'That's seriously freaking me out.' Hanna shivered, brushing off any dirt on her coat, having just fallen over on the muddy ground.

'I second that.' Emily said.

The liars slowly made their way to the entrance of the Lost Woods Resort. They'd been able to find some key information from Ali's old bag, and they'd found one address on a postcard. One address that could help them with everything.

Spencer led the way and knocked slowly on the door. 'Hello?'

'Visitors!' A creepy man swung the door open and embraced them all. 'Harold Crane, at your service.' The man then bowed.

'Um…' Emily started.

'We were hoping if we could find a room here to stay in. Just for the night.' asked Aria.

'Well, of course!' Harold grinned. 'Come on, then!'

Spencer then suddenly remembered that on the postcard, Ali had stayed in Room One.

'Can we have Room One?' Spencer asked.

Harold turned around. 'This way.'

Spencer smiled at the other girls and they all followed Harold into a large room, with a puke green carpet and scabby walls.

'Thank you.' Emily said. When Harold had left Hanna immediately jumped to the radiator, which, unfortunately, was broken. Emily joined her soon afterwards, leaving Spencer and Aria to investigate the room.

'So Ali stayed in here?' Aria said. 'Wow...I never knew Ali would go to places like this.'

Spencer sighed. 'Han, Em, are you coming with us?'

'I'm cold.' shivered Emily.

Hanna narrowed her eyes at Emily. 'Wait, no, I'm colder than she is!'

'Well, I guess it's just you and me now.' Spencer smiled.

'Okay.' Aria started. 'Ready for anything.'

Spencer grinned. 'You're little, but your big. C'mon, Team Sparia!'

Aria looked up, confused, but followed Spencer out of the room and to the reception.

'What are we doing?' Aria asked the taller girl.

Spencer just smirked as she ducked under the counter. 'Aria, you distract him if he comes, okay?' Aria nodded and walked off. Spencer saw from the bookshelf under one of the drawers that there were several guest books, all for a year. She pulled out the 2009 and flicked through.

There it was.

'Have you found it, Spence?' Aria walked back to where Spencer was. Together, they trailed their fingers down under the page until they saw the very name they were looking for.

Vivian Darkbloom.

Vivian had checked herself in twice in 2009. Alison had stayed at the Lost Woods Resort.

Twice.

Aria looked down at her black and red dress as her, Spencer, Hanna and Emily entered the ball. Lights shone in different directions, and their eyes moved around the room quickly. It was obvious what they were all searching for.

'A could be anyone of them dancing.' Emily said.

'Okay, Em, not helping!' Hanna said loudly. 'Do you think we should just go back?'

'No!' Spencer exclaimed. 'We're here because we're looking for A. Don't you want to bring an end to this?'

'Try getting run over by a car!' Hanna said. 'You'd be as scared as I am.'

Aria rolled her eyes. 'Let's separate. It'll be easier.'

So they did just that, Aria and Emily walking to the right and Hanna and Spencer walking the opposite way.

'It's not midnight yet.' Emily started. 'Do you think A's got here yet?'

'I'm guessing A's been here since last Tuesday waiting to pounce on us…' Aria stopped when she saw Emily's alarmed expression. 'Look, what I'm saying is we have to be careful. A's capable of anything and we know it. We don't know when A's going to pop out…'

'But we don't even know what we're looking for.' Emily said.

Aria frowned. 'You're right.'

'Do you think maybe it really was just a trick? A could lure us here so he...she...it could see how easy we were able to fall for A's plan.' Emily paused. 'Well, I guess Hanna's found something to do worthwhile.' Emily pointed at Hanna, who was dancing with Caleb, being closely watched by Spencer and Mona.

Aria couldn't help but smile. She was happy for Caleb and Hanna. She was happy that with A and everything, they managed to pull through.

Aria then suddenly saw Emily's face lighten up and Aria followed her gaze, seeing a Paige grinning like mad.

'Go, Em.' Aria smiled. 'Go dance with your girl. We can forget about A for now. Go on.'

'Are you sure?' asked Emily.

'Never been surer.' Aria laughed. When Emily ran to her girlfriend, Aria had suddenly felt a pang of jealousy. Her and Jason had been going strong, but they hadn't seen each other for almost a week now,

'You look beautiful.'

Aria whipped her head around and beamed when she saw Jason standing, his hands in his pocket.

'Jason!' Aria exclaimed, hugging him tightly.

'Hey, Ar.' Jason said, before moving down to capture her lips.

'I didn't think you'd be coming.' Aria said.

'Yeah, neither did I.' Jason admitted. 'But Mona told me you'd want me here. And then Caleb insisted I'd come here.' Jason's face then turned sour. 'I had to go shopping with Mona and Caleb. Jesus, that was absolutely horrible. I mean, I can't even go to Target without wanting to die.'

Aria processed what Jason had told her. 'Mona really did that?'

Jason nodded. 'Anyway, care to dance, Princess?'

Aria laughed, letting herself get pulled by Jason. 'Whatever.'

Aria wrapped her arms around his neck, and he did the same, tugging his arms around her waist. Aria smiled up at her boyfriend.

'This is nice.' she murmured.

'Mhmm…' Jason mumbled.

'Jason?' Aria started.

'Yeah?'

'Could you ever imagine us here...when Ali was still here?' Aria asked.

Jason laughed. 'You mean, when I was full of pot and you're hair was pink? Well, I guess not. You were Ali's best friend. I was Ali's sister. It wouldn't work.'

Aria blushed slightly. 'But when we were friends.'

Jason laughed again. 'I always thought you were cute.'

Aria blushed even more and her cheeks felt hot. 'If Ali ever heard that, I'm pretty sure she'd cut your ears off in your sleep.'

Jason tucked a piece of Aria's stray hair behind her ear. He kissed her again, softly.

'I love you.'

'I love you too.'

Years ago, the idea of the two would have been completely absurd and out of the picture. But now...nothing felt more perfect.

It was Mona.

The Mona who had once been the loser of the school, continuously harassed and tortured by Alison, the Mona who had then befriended Hanna and moved up to be the it-girl of Rosewood High, the Mona who had briefly helped Aria, Emily, Hanna and Spencer in order to bring out A…was A herself.

But Mona looked so helpless in the room she was out in. Her face emotionless, with make-up and blood splotched on it.

Why did she have to do this to herself? Why be A? What was the point? What on earth happened to her?

Despite all the horrible, horrible things Mona had done to put the girls in fear, Aria felt bad for her. Mona wasn't crazy.

When they'd left the police station, they were all in tears. A was gone. But so was Mona.

Hanna stayed silent for the rest of the work and trailed behind her four best friends. She was confused. She was hurt. She thought Mona was her best friend.

The four girls walked on, when they heard a faint siren, and red lights everywhere. In the far-off distance, they saw an ambulance parked in front of Emily's house.

'Oh my god.' Emily said. She ran ahead of the others, who followed closely. Emily's mom walked up to her.

'Emily…' Pam slowly said. 'They found a body. They think…they think it's...they think it's M-Maya.'

Emily froze. For a second, she felt nothing, and that was when the pain started. A loud sob escaped her and rattled through her body.

'Em…' Spencer exclaimed, trying to calm her down.

Aria and Hanna ran to her as well, and Aria grabbed Emily's dress, trying to stop her from running under the police lines. Hanna held onto her tightly as well, making sure she didn't escape.

'Em…' Aria started. 'Please, Emily…'

Just like Alison, Maya was gone.

It was all over. But then why did they all feel the fear and pain creep up again? Why did it feel like A had somehow managed to come back?

Why was it that when they thought they'd come home happy and full of love, the worst struck?

Why did life have to be so unfair?

Three hours later, they all lay on Emily's bed. They might have lost Maya and Mona, but in the end, they hadn't lost each other.

A was gone. It was over.

A/N - I can't believe we've reached the end of Season 2! Thank you for all your support :) I really really REALLY appreciate it! You guys are the reason I keep going! I think I'll update within a week, seeing as my school's already broken up. I love you guys SO much 3

Much love,

Ali x