Siophiefandom: Thank you for reviewing! And for reviewing all along! I truly appreciate it and glad you liked the story! BTW…can't wait to read the next chapter of 'Harden My Heart'
Guest1/Warrior29/Guest4: Thank you so much for the reviews! Hope you like the next and last chapter!
EmGarretson22: I guess you are right! I am only left with one option. Let me know what you think!
Guest2/Guest3/Guest5: I'm a Paily fan! Just remember that! I'm not cruel!
Naiel2017: Glad to see you again! Hope everything is good on your end. I love your quote btw. "To live we have to fight". I'm going to use that. Thanks as always for reviewing!
Sofiadc66: Yeahhh, I'm really good at building up the moment when it comes to bad guys…but I can't really find it in me to make him super evil when we do finally get to meet them. SO I'm sorry for that! Hanna will forever be a Paily shipper. There's no doubt about that. I love how you broke down the last chapter and told me how you felt about everything. You do know you kinda pieced together how the story would end right? KINDA! This is definitely a bittersweet moment for me right now since it is my last chapter. But that you as always for the support.
CaliGrlFoLife: I hope you're doing well over there and that anxiety attack is kinda tamed. If not…hope this chapter helps!
GirlfromGermany: Thank you for the review! Emily definitely needs Paige in her in life…and vice versa. Time heals everything. Glad you like the story thus far!
Pailyshark: It broke my heart writing the chapter…but don't you worry! The next chapter is here.
Thecatfromaliceinwonderland: First off, I would like to thank you SO much for all the reviews and PMs (I'll be replying soon!). It makes writing worthwhile. And second, I do have to admit I was a bit disappointed in the outcome of Caminiti and Paige but I really can't write a truly evil badguy. I just know how to do the build-up lol. SO I like your idea for a solution…hehe. Hope the last chapter doesn't disappoint!
A/N: As you all might have noticed, this is the last chapter. I'm so thankful for everyone that has read and reviewed this story! It was my first time writing an action kind of story and wasn't too sure how it would turned out. BUT I do have to admit I loved every week of it. Thank you again! Feel free to PM me anytime! Hope everyone has a great Valentine's Day or Single's Day!
Disclaimer: I do not own Pretty Little Liars or any of its characters
A single tear fell from Paige's right eye as she drifted off thinking about the notion of having to leave Rosewood once again. Wiping it quickly with the back of her left hand, the auburn clenched her jaw to try to hold herself together. Even after everything they've been through, Paige knew she had to leave. She had to keep the girls safe. She had to keep Emily safe. That was the price she had to pay for turning her back on the one person that meant to the most to her so many years ago. People were always going to use the closest people to her against her; she couldn't let that happen again. She refused to.
Closing her eyes to try to relish in the feel of being in her old room again, the tender voice that managed to get embedded into her mind resurfaced behind her. "I'd ask you not to go…but we already know how that turned out"
Parting her lips at the statement, Paige quickly tightened her jaw before turning around slowly; only to find herself face to face with the reason to why the decision was causing her so much heartbreak. "Em"
***8 Years Ago***
"Please don't go" Paige softly heard from behind her.
Swallowing the sudden lump in her throat, Paige froze for a second as she felt the air in the room abruptly disappear. Trying to compose her emotions, the brown eyed girl took in a deep breath before continuing to fold her clothes; placing them in the large plum traveler's suitcase that laid on her bed. "I have to" she simply responded.
"Why?" the brunette asked tearfully as she walked closer to Paige. Kneeling on the corner of the bed when the auburn girl refused to look her in eyes, Emily continued. "Why right now? Take another flight" she asked trying to figure out why the girl was such in a rush to leave.
"It's not going to get any easier" Paige muttered as she turned toward her closet to focus on a few boxes on the top shelf.
Emily could feel her eyes tearing up as she watched the only girl she's ever felt connected to turn away from her. "Why are you doing this? You never even mentioned the possibility to me about graduating early" the tanned beauty asked. "Now I hear, not only did your application for graduation get accepted but you're moving to California? Why am I hearing about this from Spencer? Why didn't you just tell me?" Emily continued asking as she watched Paige continue to avoid all eye-contact. "Can you look at me?" she finally exclaimed as she waited for the auburn girl to turn around. "What is going on? The truth Paige"
This was the moment Paige had been waiting for. The moment she had been rehearsing in her head for days. But all thought went out the window the second Emily entered her room. How was she supposed to tell the girl she fell in love with this was merely for school? The thought of just lying to brunette made the heat rise as Paige felt a flush of warmth radiate through her ears and cheeks as they began turning red. Clearing the dryness in her throat, Paige finally began. "I got accepted to Stanford since last year but I kept declining it since I wanted to finish senior year with you guys" she started as she tried to keep her voice strong. "But I realized I'm just pushing off this amazing opportunity for no reason. I could start college early and get my masters or even PhD when the rest of our class finishes with their undergraduate degree" she stated trying to convince the brunette about her sudden perplexed behavior.
"When did you start caring about finishing earlier?" Emily asked confused.
"I don't" Paige answered honestly as she continued placing her clothes in her luggage. "I didn't. I just think maybe then I could start a fellowship at Livermore sooner so my life will finally begin"
"Your life?" Emily angrily stated at the thought of Paige thinking her life in Rosewood wasn't part of her future. "This is your life. Right here. Right now".
"No" Paige frustratingly shouted as she finally looked at Emily. "I'm just stuck in this bubble called Rosewood. I want to see what else is out there. This town. These people can't just be it. There has to be something bigger out there."
Confused of why Paige was thinking like this, Emily looked down at her folded hands as she tried to allow everything to sink in. "When you start thinking like this? How come you didn't tell me how badly you wanted to get out of here" she asked heart brokenly.
"Because I didn't realize how badly I needed to get out here until-" the auburn harshly began before realizing what she was about to tell Emily the truth.
"Until when?" the brunette softly asked as she looked into the same glazed brown eyes she once felt at home with.
Combing back her hair in frustration, Paige thought of the easiest excuse she could come up with. "Until Ms. Russo showed me the potential and experience I could gain by starting early. She handed me a bunch of brochures before but I never looked at them until winter break. California just looked amazing."
Emily licked her bottom lip as she watched how agitated the girl she always thought of as her better half was behaving. Knowing this had to do somewhat with Alison, Emily didn't want to just bluntly ask, but needed to do something to get the girl to stay. "When did you start lying to me?"
"I'm not lying" Paige mumbled.
"I could tell when you're lying Paige. You can't even look at me" Emily stated as she stood up to stand before the girl. "Is this because of Alison?" she finally asked.
Letting out a soft breath, Paige didn't want to think about the blonde. "This is because of me. This is what I want" the auburn shakenly replied as she observed Emily look down in defeat. "Just like I want…you to do the same. You deserve the best of everything. You deserve to follow your heart and want what you want without regretting it" she began as she took a step forward toward the brunette. Just because Paige knew she wasn't right for Emily didn't mean she didn't want the best for her; that she didn't want her to be happy. "You and I have become so close that any change in our relationship affects the other significantly. So I think…this is for the best" she honestly stated. "For us to figure out who we are and what we truly want"
"This isn't fair" Emily tearfully mumbled.
Going in for a tight a hug, Paige wanted to shield the brunette from any hurt she was causing her but knew she had to leave. If she didn't, Paige knew she was the one that would end up getting hurt instead. "Maybe not. But right now this is what's supposed to happen to us" Breaking the hug, Paige lifted her hands to brunette's cheeks as she wipe the girl's eyes before gripping lightly onto the beauty's face. "I love you" she simply stated as she held the girl's gaze. "And it's because I love you I need to walk away"
Emily wasn't entirely sure of what cause the sudden impromptu decision on the auburn girl's behalf. Paige wasn't the type of person who would just up and leave; but Emily needed to respect the girl's decision. "Promise you'll come back to me" Emily whispered as tears continued to fall from her eyes.
Paige couldn't promise that. She knew she was still confused about everything she was feeling. The brown eyed girl knew the brunette was only doing what her heart was telling her to do. And now Paige had to do the same. But she could never find it in her to lie to someone who meant as much to her as Emily did.
***Present Day***
"Please, just answer me one thing" Emily begged as she stepped closer toward Paige. "Please tell me…you meant it when you told me you loved me"
"It's because I love you which is why I'm doing this" Paige answered; honestly trying to bestow her actions onto the girl. "What I want would put your life in danger. I care about you more than you know. I want you to be safe-"
"So be with me" the brunette pleaded. "Stay here with me"
"Caminiti was a peach compared to the other men out there Em" the auburn girl stated trying to get the girl to understand why she was doing this. "If I stay, I put your life in danger every day. My enemies would come after you any chance they can get"
"If you leave you put my life in danger as well. That's how Caminiti found us!" Emily retorted. "That's why he went after Aria and my father. You think leaving is going to stop that?"
"The more distance I put between us the more I can try" Paige replied. "And no one is going to touch you, be sure of it. I'll have guards-"
"No" Emily shouted. "I refuse for any more of your watch dogs to be outside my door. I just want you to be with me. I want to wake up every day next to you. I want to come home to you. I want to kiss you whenever I want"
Closing her eyes as the brunette began listing everything she wanted as well, Paige could feel herself shaking. "Em-"
"Why don't you want me? Am I not good enough for you?" Emily asked heartbrokenly as tears began to fall from eyes.
Paige felt livid as Emily asked her a question she thought the brunette knew the answer too. Parting her lips, Paige heatedly wrapped her arms around the brunette's waist as she leaned in and pressed her lips firmly against Emily's as too tell her just how much the girl meant to her. Pressing her body firmly against the tanned girl as she pushed them toward the wall for more leverage, Paige held Emily tightly before she broke apart the kiss and rested her forehead against the brunette's. "I've wanted you before I realized I wanted you" she began honestly. "I love you. I could feel how much I love by just standing next you. The moment I comprehended the fact that I was in love with you, I had to be near you every day or I'd feel like I couldn't breathe" she continued as she held the beauty's gaze. "I thought leaving you in high school would have gotten my mind away from you but it just intensified after that. That's why I kept checking up on you. Then…when I saw you, standing there in your sexy burgundy racer back shirt and army short shorts back at the training grounds, I just wanted to grab you and never let go"
"You should have" Emily whimpered.
"You haven't seen the things I've seen" Paige stated as she leaned back to put some distance between the two. "You haven't experienced the things I've experienced".
"Then let me" Emily begged.
"No" Paige replied angrily. "I don't want to ever have to go through any of that. The mere thought of having Caminiti just touch you drove me to a point where the team was going to ask me to sit this out" the auburn girl revealed. "I can't have that happen. I need to know you're safe. And the only way I could do that is having you here in Rosewood, away from me. Now that your dad is back home, he'll also make sure nothing happens to you"
"I need to be near you" the brunette admitted quietly.
Grazing Emily's lips with her thumb, Paige leaned in once again to place another kiss on the girl's lips. "I need the same. But your safety comes first to me and always will" the brown eye officer honestly stated. "I want you to promise me something"
"First your leaving me and now you want me to promise you something?" Emily retorted.
"I want you to promise me that after getting back to the norm of things. After your friends and you settle back down here…you'll at least try and move on" the auburn girl startlingly asked.
"Paige-" Emily angrily stated before the auburn girl continued.
"That you'll start dating and find someone-" Paige continued before it was Emily's turn to interrupt her.
"No" the brunette screamed as she shoved the auburn girl aside to allow her some room to breathe. "If that's what you want to do then fine. But don't ask me just to do that"
"McCullers, we're needed" a voice from behind the brunette suddenly ordered as the two girls shot the co-lead a glare; forcing him to retreat.
Snapping her head back toward the auburn girl, Emily refused to allow the girl to leave in the middle of their discussion. "You can't just leave our conversation like this"
"Em" was all the auburn girl was able to say as her eyes were pleading with the brunette.
Wiping her eyes dry, Emily licked her lips before taking in a deep breath. "Fine, just go"
"Em-" Paige began as she watched the walk to the far corner of her room.
"Just go" Emily shouted as she folded her arms to keep herself from falling.
Clenching her jaw as she saw how broken Emily was, Paige had to tell herself this was for the best. Slowly making her way toward the doorway, the auburn girl turned around one last time. "I really do love you"
Skylar watched in complete heartbreak as Paige focused her attention outside the plane window, ready to defend their next mission; but she easily saw how fragile the girl was. Taking a seat near the auburn girl, the hazel eye officer wanted to make sure her comrade was ok. "You okay?
"Yeah" Paige simply answered as she kept her attention outside.
"P, it's me" Skylar pushed.
"I got that" Paige harshly stated as she glared at the smaller girl.
The team tech was hardly one to back down of any situation. After endless nights of being right by Paige's side, Skylar knew the girl better than anyone. "If you love her that much, you should fight for her"
"Just stop talking" Paige bitterly responded.
"We know you love her" Skylar continued. "We could feel how much you love her. That look you get when she's around. Or your body stance. Your priorities"
"Just stop" the auburn girl pleaded.
Seeing Paige's wall come down a bit, Skylar knew she was finally getting through to her. "I know you're trying to protect her, but you can't just sacrifice your happiness for the sake of a job"
"It's for the sake of her safety" Paige retorted as she shifted her glance back toward Skylar.
"Wouldn't you rather protect her if she's closer rather than far away?" Skylar refuted.
"I can't just ask her to uplift her entire life to be with me" Paige countered.
"Why not?" Skylar simply asked.
Furrowing her eye brows toward the hazel eyed beauty, the auburn girl didn't understand why the girl was so confused by her actions. "You want me to ask her to leave her home. Her family. Her job. Her friends all just to be with me?"
"Yes" Skylar simply answered.
"No" Paige replied. "That's as selfish as you can get"
"And what you're doing isn't selfish?" Skylar asked as she noticed Paige's eyes widen in surprise. "You avoiding her and denying her of actually happiness. Isn't that selfish? Why are you so scared of being happy?"
"Because every time I think I'm happy it's ripped away from me okay?" the auburn girl revealed. "Every time I think I know what I want I realize I can't have it" she stated more calmly. "So I don't want anything. I just want to be, okay? Now how about you shut up and get the hell off this plane?" she stated as she opened the large metal doors for their jump.
Paige looked out into the still water of the Olympic size pool as she always did after most of her missions. Yet this time, it wasn't a deleterious memory that gravitated her toward the pool arena of her building; it was smell of chlorine that brought back vivid images of the brunette. Something she greatly needed. Ever since she decided to leave Emily back in Rosewood after everything they had been through, Paige felt a piece of herself dying every day. The auburn girl didn't know how she managed to already go through 3 weeks without seeing or hearing from Emily. Paige felt as though she living purely for the sake of her job. That was the only thing she was able to get up in the morning for.
Right after she left her old house for the case they were assigned to immediately, Paige wanted to just hurry back to headquarters to hear of any news concerning Emily. The case this time around managed to take only a few days. At first, Paige forced herself to try to let the brunette go. Refusing to look at any information given to her, Paige couldn't help but allow her imagination to take over. They were only a day into the mission when Paige just wanted to get back safely for the sake of seeing a picture of Emily.
Every day she had to tell herself she was making the right decision, but every day she felt as though she was lying to herself. Hearing the arena doors open behind her, Paige nodded her head as she always did knowing one of her team members were probably there to get her.
When silence continued to take over, Paige turned her head slightly to the left only freeze at the sudden sight of the last person she thought she'd be seeing there. "What…what are you doing here?" she stuttered out. "Did something happen?"
"Nope" the brunette simply answered as she continued walking around the pool to the other end.
"Uh, okay" Paige replied confused. "Did your dad call you here?"
"Nope. But maybe you should get back to your conference. I saw your team still going over a few side notes for your next mission" Emily stated as she kept her focus on a vanilla folder in hand. "Plus, I need this area to focus a bit"
"Focus?" Paige repeated.
"Yeah" Emily answered. "I heard new recruits could be a bit juvenile despite their age"
"New recruits?" the auburn girl reiterated again.
Closing her folder as Paige was obviously confused; Emily stopped walking and turned toward the auburn girl. "Are you going to repeat everything I say?"
"Probably since I think I'm missing something" Paige replied as she found herself slowly gravitating toward the brunette; craving a feel of the girl's olive skin.
"I'm the new officer in charge of training new recruits. I thought your team would have told you" the brunette revealed as she watched Paige's eyes widen in disbelief. "Based on your expression, I think I just broke the news to you." Clearing her throat to explain herself, Emily swallowed before continuing. "I uh, apparently impressed the senior officers while we were learning self-defense tactics. They liked the fact that I was dedicated to learning more than I should despite the time limitation. They were also impressed by how I was able to maneuver out of Caminiti's handcuffs. So, when we got back to headquarters and were waiting for your team to come back, they gave me this random question which turned out to be-" Emily tried explaining before Paige interrupted her.
"The test" Paige finished as couldn't help but feel somewhat elated.
"Yes. I'm not a field officer like yourself. But...they had offered me a position to train the new recruits given my swimming background. I also have to continue taking self-defense classes as part of the agreement" Emily revealed with a smile. "Everything was planned out when we came back from Georgia"
"Why didn't you tell me?" Paige asked seemingly out of breath.
"I was going too. But then you had a whole speech about why we couldn't be together and blah blah blah. Then you were called away" the brunette continued to reveal. "That's why I needed to know if you really loved me. Because I knew I loved you. I didn't want you to regret being with me. Of course there's a risk about our enemies. But there's no reward without risks. You can't just put your life on hold because you're scared. I rather be next to you if I'm ever attacked than faraway"
Paige could feel her heart pounding through her chest. Emily Fields was standing before her; telling her not only was she going to be working in her office building but wanted to be together. "So you've been here this entire time?"
"I stayed in Rosewood for a bit when you left to gather my things and to say my goodbyes to everyone" Emily admitted.
"You moved?" Paige asked with a smile as she began walking closer to the brunette.
"Yes" Emily confirmed.
"So you work here now" the auburn girl asked just to make sure.
"Yes" Emily confirmed with a smile.
"But your home, your family-" Paige started before hearing Emily say one word to stop her.
"You" the brunette interrupted.
"What?" Paige asked.
"You're my home" Emily stated as she began walking closer to the stunned brown eyed officer. "You're my family. You're just everything to me. Don't you get it yet?" she asked as looped her fingers around the girl's belt hoops to bring her closer. "You're my calm. You give me motivation to strive for the best. You challenge me. If you think your keeping me safe by staying away from me, I plan on proving you wrong. I work in the middle of a building full of the world's top trained officers and will be consistently trained myself. I don't care if you go out for missions because I'll be right here wai-"
Paige couldn't wait any longer. Dipping her head eagerly to grab the girl's lips between her, the auburn girl slowly pressed her lips against the brunette's soft mount as though she was memorizing every inch of the girl's mouth. Taking in a deep breath as she rested her head against the Emily's forehead, Paige looked into the brunette's eyes as she held the girl's waist. "I'm sorry. I'm sorry I just keep running away. I'm sorry for-"
Just as the auburn began apologizing, Emily didn't care. Pulling the girl closer toward her, Emily got her stop talking as she placed her own lips against the girl's. "It's okay. I know why you did it. I'm not going to lie and say that it didn't hurt to see you walk away from me again. But I'm not going to lie that it won't hurt to see you go on dangerous missions. That I want you safe and not jumping from planes. But I know" she stated as she gave the auburn girl another peck on the lips. "And I'll be here every day you come back. And every time you get a mission like Ms. Claire Caminiti, I'll make sure you damn well won't forget-"
"That will be impossible" the auburn girl interrupted as she reveled in the feel of having Emily in her hands.
Cupping the brown eyed officer's cheeks, Emily pulled the girl down for another kiss as heard the girl moan the instant she parted her lips to allow her tongue to slip through. "Where's your phone?" the tanned beauty asked breathlessly.
Paige didn't bother ask for an explanation as she handed her android over without a question; only to watch Emily gently toss it on one of the benches before feeling the girl gently push her; falling immediately into the water. Resurfacing in complete shock, Paige watched as Emily entered the pool as well.
"I thought you had to prepare for your recruits" Paige asked breathlessly as she could observe in a complete daze as the brunette slowly began taking off her shirt to reveal her black lace bra.
"Nope" Emily answered with a smile. "Just needed you to ask the right questions so I could finally tell you that I'm here"
"Nice" the auburn girl whispered as she continued watching in a daze as Emily slowly swam closer to her; forcing her slowly shift backwards at the sudden tension that aroused around her.
"I think so" the brunette agreed as she couldn't help but smile as she watched Paige suddenly become shy at their proximity. Feeling her breathing become ragged at the lustful stare Paige was giving her, Emily placed her arms around the auburn girl's neck as she lifted herself ever so lightly to wrap her legs around the girl's waist before leaning in to finally devour the girl's lips.
Turning them around, Paige held Emily against the wall of the pool before shifting her kisses to the brunette's neck; then back up to the girl's lips. Lustfully gazing at the brunette, Paige turned the girl around to face the wall before shifting her hands under the Emily's black laced panties and gradually shifted three fingers directly into the girl's soaking opening. Upon impact, Emily let out a deep moan at how forward the auburn girl was and how much she needed to feel the girl in her.
Slowly at first, Paige began pumping as hard as she could as she resisted the urge of placing yet another finger into the tanned beauty's opening despite clearly seeing how wet she was even though they were in the pool. Increasing their tempo, the auburn girl felt as though she was going to burst with pure ecstasy the instant she heard Emily cry out her name in profound pleasure. Paige knew the right movements to allow the brunette's orgasm to last for more than just a few seconds. As she was done, the auburn girl turned them back around to lean against the pool wall as Emily situated herself right between Paige's legs.
"You're shaking" Paige whispered as she placed a small kiss on the nape of the girl's neck; pulling the brunette's body closer toward her as she wrapped her arms tighter around the girl.
Emily could help but smile as she felt the warmth of Paige's body against her back as the auburn arms were wrapped securely around her; still feeling her body involuntarily flinch with ecstasy. "I can't stop by body from reacting to how good this feels" Standing silently against the corner of the pool wall, the girls relished in the feel of their bodies finally connecting with another. "I need you to talk to me okay?" Emily suddenly whispered. "If something is bothering you, don't just walk away from me. Just talk to me okay?" she stated as she turned around to look the girl in her eyes. "Don't break me again. I don't think I could take it. This is more than just physical for me. I really do love you"
"I promise you…I won't just walk away" Paige promised as she allowed her eyes to do the most of the promising. "I'll fight for you no matter what"
"Good" Emily accepted as she gave the girl a quick kiss. "So am I ever going to see your place?"
Smiling as she watched Emily swim proudly as their clothes remained on the pool floor, Paige licked her lips as she began treading water to catch up. "Are you doing anything for the rest of the day?"
"Nope" Emily answered as she began floating on her back. "Classes start tomorrow"
"Let's go" Paige simply stated as she didn't want to waste another minute without the brunette in her arms.