With Christmas rearing its head around the corner again, Aria had to decide whether she and Abigail were going to go down to Rosewood or stay in New York. Her decision was made for her on a particularly cold November morning when she received a call from Emily. At the time she was in the kitchen of her apartment helping Abigail make pancakes when the phone rang.

"Okay, don't cook them yet. Wait until I get off the phone." Aria told the little girl who nodded and hurried off into her room. "Hello?" She picked up the phone, resting it between her shoulder and ear so she could start cleaning up the kitchen a little.

"Aria? It's Emily."

"Oh, hey Emily. How are you?"

"I'm great. I'm actually calling to ask you a favour."

"Sure. Ask away."

"Well, you know Maya and I adopted a little boy a couple months ago."

"Yeah."

"We were wondering, would it be okay if we spent Christmas in New York with you guys?"

"Uh, sure. I don't think we'd have room for you guys to stay here but you're welcome to crash with us on Christmas Day."

"That's okay. Actually, we're thinking about leaving LA eventually."

"Really? But isn't that where the best swim team is?" There was a moment of silence on Emily's end of the line. "Em?"

"Yeah, I uh, I kinda hurt my shoulder a few weeks ago and the doctors don't think it'll heal in time for the next big comp. And let's face it, I'm getting too old to be swimming competitively now anyway."

"Seriously? Isn't there people on the team that are, like, thirty or something?"

"Yeah but they've done their time too. They don't get the world records anymore. I mean, I was breaking records in high school already. My body is tired and I can't keep it up much longer."

"Oh. Well, we're still proud of you and we'll support you in whatever you decide to do next."

"You sound like my parents."

"Sorry."

"It's cool. So anyway, as I was saying, we're thinking of leaving LA and moving a bit closer to Rosewood. And since you're in New York, we thought 'why not check it out?'"

"Sounds good to me."

"Mommy, I'm hungry." Abigail reappeared and pouted at her mother.

"Is that Abby?" Emily asked, having heard.

"Yeah. Do you want to say hi?"

"Sure." Aria passed the phone over to Abigail.

"Abby, it's my friend Emily, you remember her?" She said as Abigail took the phone and the little girl nodded

"Hello Emily….I'm good. Mommy and I are going shopping this afternoon…uh-huh. She says I can help choose what we're having for dinner tomorrow…okay…bye Emily." Abigail smiled and gave the phone back to Aria.

"I'm back."

"She's so cute Aria."

"I know. I just hope she stays that way."

"She will. Look, I've got to go but I'll call again in a few days to talk about what we're doing."

"Okay. Talk to you then."

"Bye." Aria hung up the phone and turned back to Abigail.

"Well, are you ready for pancakes?"

"Yes mommy." Abigail clapped her hands and skipped over to the frying pan, giggling in anticipation.

Later that day, after their shopping trip they sat in the living room watching TV when Abigail turned to Aria.

"Mommy, when are we going to see your friend again?"

"Which one, sweetie?"

"The one you kissed outside our building."

"I'm not sure."

"Oh."

"Why?"

"I like him. He tells good stories."

"Well, I like him too. And I hope we do get to see him again soon." A sudden knock at the door interrupted their conversation and Aria got up to answer it. What she didn't expect was who she saw standing in the hallway outside their apartment.

"Aria, thank-god I found you, I need your help."

A/N: Okay, who do you think is at the door? Here's a clue: It's a familiar character from the show who hasn't been in this story yet...let me know who you think it might be :) Also, I'm stuck with what to call Emily and Maya's little boy. Normally I find it really easy to name characters but I'm stuck here. Suggestions welcome :)