A/N: Sorry this chapter is pretty short compared to the others but i have spent about 3 hours this week deleting all the spam reviews so that took up a lot of my time. But for those of you sending in proper reviews, thank you so much!

19th December – 94 days until Emily returns

"Ali!? Where do you want the cameras setting up?"

"Ar, you and Lucas are the experts at videographicing or whatever."

"Videography?" Aria smiled, peeking her head from behind the 3 boxes she was carrying. Ali narrowed her eyes playfully before continuing to check off all the jobs on her list.

Today was the day of the Rosewood Nativity Play at Rosewood High. Although it was mainly students involved, other members of the community were heavily involved – including Hanna, Spencer and Aria who were involuntarily volunteered by Ali.

"Ali we've lost a shepherds costume."

"Han, you're in charge of costumes deal with it yourself."

"Urgh you are such a bitch when you're stressed," She said, dramatically flinging her body around and plodding off back towards wardrobe.

"Language Marin! This is a school," She shot back to the other blonde only to be greeted by the middle finger. Although it was only 1pm and the show didn't start until 7.00pm, Ali was well and truly stressed out even though there was no reason to be because everything was coming together nicely and everyone was sticking to their schedule.

"Gingerbread Latte anyone?" A voice called, entering the theater.

"Spencer where the hell have you been? 12.30 I said to meet here not 1.00. If there is one person I thought would be punctual it's you," Ali said, glaring at her from the stage.

"Ali I think you're taking this far too seriously. Cheer up, it's Christmas," She smiled, but there was something about her smile which didn't add up - It was very smug like.

"What is it?"

"Well," She said, placing the coffees down on the stage and reaching into her pocket for something. "I have just bumped into Pam and she had a little present for us all," She got the letter out of her pocket and Ali was instantly off the stage and by her side attempting to grab the letter. 'Hey hey, hands off. It's for all over us."

"ARIA! HANNA! GET HERE NOW!" Ali screamed causing Spencer to back away, slightly startled by the blonde's voice piercing through her right eardrum.

"Jeez, if you're just going to boss me around one more time I swear to G – " Hanna's voice instantly trailed off when she saw the letter in Spencer's hand and the huge grin on both hers and Ali's faces.

"It's from Emily."

"She's replied?" Aria asked, jumping down from the stage to join the other three as they huddled around Spencer and read Emily's letter:

Hey guys!

Sorry I haven't been in touch with you for so long, our internet has been down and still is for about another 2 weeks so I thought I'd write to you all instead. Thank you for your letter and the advent calendar, it made me cry! I don't know what I have done to deserve such amazing friends. I miss you all so much and I think about you all every day. I can't wait to come home and hang out with you all. We definitely need to have a sleep over or something like old times, I don't care if we are adults haha.

I can't wait to see you all. Love and miss you,

Em x

"Awwwww" They all chorused together, both Hanna and Aria wiping away a tear. Ali wanted to be happy that they had all received a letter from Emily but she couldn't help but feel disappointed? Angry? Jealous? Whatever she was feeling because she sent Emily her own letter and she hasn't received a personal one back from the brunette. Did that mean Emily didn't want to be together? Had she made it awkward by telling Emily that she was waiting for her? Had she received the wrong message? She was brought out of her whirlwind train of thoughts by 3 pairs of eyes looking at her.

"Huh?"

"I said, aren't you happy that we now know Em is safe and well?" Hanna said.

"Yeah, ecstatic," She grumbled, before walking back onto the stage and behind the curtain. The other three girls just stood flabbergasted at her actions.

Meanwhile in Germany

Emily had only landed in Berlin 2 hours ago but she has already been checked into a complimentary hotel until her flight to Texas later in the evening. She was laid out on the bed like an angel, contemplating whether or not to ring her mom to tell her she was heading home. As much as she wanted it to be a surprise, she knew she had to tell her. She jumped off the bed before heading over to the phone in her room. The anticipation of hearing her mom's voice after so long was causing her heart to thump out of her chest as the ringing on the phone only just drowning out the sound of her thumping heart.

"Hello, Pam Fields speaking?" Emily smiled at the softness in her mom's voice. It was so calming to the brunette that she had to sit down on the edge of the bed.

"Mom."

"Emily? Is that you?" The surprise in her voice made Emily chuckle slightly.

"Yeah mom it's me."

"Oh honey, I'm so glad you're safe. I've been worried sick these past few weeks."

"Yeah I'm fine don't worry. I actually have something I need to tell you…"

"Please tell me you're not injured."

"No mom, I'm in Germany."

"You're what?!"

"I'm in Germany, I'm flying back to Texas this evening," She said, smiling when she heard her mom gasp at the other end of the phone.

"Why? What happened?"

"I was on a rescue mission with Miller and he ended up getting shot. I had to keep him and an amputee alive by myself. I flew out to Germany this morning with Miller because he's receiving recovery care here."

"Oh sweetheart I'm so proud of you."

"Thank you. I'm coming home for Christmas Mom!"

"Have you told the girls?"

"No, I want to surprise them when I get home."

"Okay, well ring me when you arrive in Texas. I can't wait to see you."

"I can't wait to see you either mom."

"Have a safe flight, I love you."

"I love you too, see you soon."

"Yeah, see you soon honey," Her mom chuckled, the situation still not sinking in. Emily smiled, putting down the phone before falling back onto the bed and smiling at the image of the girls' faces when she turns up in Rosewood for Christmas. Although this would be her first Christmas without her dad, she knew it was going to be one of the best Christmases she's ever had.

Back in Rosewood…

It was close approaching 7.30pm when Pam made it to Rosewood High. She had just got off the phone from Emily when she realized the time.

"Hey Pam, sit with us," Ashley Marin smiled, waving her over to where she and Ted were sat. "How are you?"

"Really good actually, I spoke to Emily today," Pam smiled, taking off her coat and scarf as she got comfy in her seat.

"Oh really, that's good. I'm glad she she's okay," Ashley smiled.

"Yeah, I actually wanted to ask you about something. Emily isn't in Afghanistan anymore, she's in Germany and she is flying back to Texas tonight. Something to do with someone in her team getting injured or something but she is coming home," Pam beamed, unable to hide her excitement.

"Oh Pam that's excellent news," Ashley smiled, pulling her into a hug.

"I know, but Emily doesn't want the girls to know. She wants it to be a surprise so I was wondering what you thought about asking Hanna to get them all together on Christmas Eve so she can surprise them?"

"Yeah of course, I'll see what I can do. In fact, I might ask Jason if we can all go to The Radley for our Christmas dinner so we are all together. All the girls can stay over at my house in the living room like old times or something?"

"Yeah that sounds brilliant, thank you Ashley. It will mean a lot to Emily having all the girls there with it being the first year without Wayne."

"Yeah of course, we are all like one big extended family anyway and I'm sure Veronica and Peter would love to join us as well. I think Ella and Byron are out of town visiting Mike over the holidays." Ashley smiled, before turning back to the stage as the nativity show started.

It wasn't until after the show that Pam got chance to see Alison alone due to her running late earlier on in the evening.

"Alison?" She called, instantly grabbing the blonde's attention.

"Hey Mrs Fields, did you like the show?"

"It was fantastic well done, but Alison how many times call me Pam," She said, causing the blonde to chuckle slightly. "I actually wanted to give you something," She reached into her pocket much like Spencer did earlier on in the day and Alison couldn't help but feel her heart race pick up as if she went from doing a marathon to a sprint. "When I saw it was just to you I knew it was personal so I didn't want to give it to Spencer to pass on, I know what they are all like."

Alison laughed, it was true they were a nosy bunch. "Thank you Pam, it means a lot."

"Well, you mean a lot to my daughter." She smiled the heart-warming Pam Fields smile that could make even the coldest of things melt.

"She means a lot to me too."

"I know sweetie, I hope to see you around but if I don't Merry Christmas," She smiled again, deliberately choosing her words so she didn't give anything away about Emily's surprise.

As soon as Pam turned to leave Alison looked down at the letter in her hand. She knew that whatever was written in this letter had the potential to change her life, for better or for worse. But deep down in her heart she knew it would be for the better but she couldn't wait to get home and find out for sure.

If the letter does say what she hopes it says, there is only one thing left that Alison wants – Emily to be back home.

A/N: The letter that Emily sent was in the last chapter if you forgot and were wondering what it said. But the next chapter will be Christmas Eve when Emily surprises everyone so it will be extra long and extra special to make up for this week. Please continue to review, i love to know what you all think :)