Note: Finale. The ending was a little ambiguous, and folks keep wanting to know if Paige died, or didn't die. So, I've decided to end the suspense. Emily's POV only with flashback and minor dialogue. This is more like a re-cap and summary of events . No song this time since it would mess with the fic title. And I love my titles. Doesn't follow canon. Anyway, this is after part 2. Enjoy and please give me some feedback! Thanks!

Part 3

Paige's House

As I'm lying down with my head against Paige's chest for our evening cuddling time while watching a movie, I can't help but reminisce. Her heartbeat is so powerful and it makes me think back to when it stopped for moment.

Wow, I can't believe it. Three weeks since my life was changed forever. Three weeks since I nearly lost Paige forever. And I did, for five minutes. Paige was dead for five minutes before the paramedics arrived and brought her back. I thought losing Maya was the worst thing, no losing Paige was even worse. It was the longest five minutes of my life up to that point. I remember the event like it was yesterday.

"Goodbye Emily. I love you, I always will." I hear Paige whisper to me before she takes her last breath in my arms.

"Paige?! Paige! No!" I grab and pull her closer to me. I cradle her, and rock back and forth, with tears pouring down my flushed cheeks like waterfalls. I choke back a sob, and brush a piece of hair from her pale face and just stare at her. Despite the bruises and cuts, I think she's the greatest thing I've ever seen in my life. My beautiful, mesmerizing Paige. The one who would literally go to the ends of the Earth for me, paid the ultimate sacrifice tonight for my mistake.

I hear commotion in the background, reinforcements must've got here. Too bad it's too late. I was too late, and it cost me my soulmate. Someone is calling my name. Spencer? Alison? Aria? Hanna? I don't know who it is, nor do I care. The only thing I care about is the woman in my arms. The woman whose last moments were spent forgiving and loving me despite everything that had happened. Someone grabs me from me behind, and tries to make me leave.

"NO! STAY AWAY FROM US! DON'T TOUCH HER!" I scream at the paramedics. They won't take her from me. If they do, then I'll know this isn't a horrible nightmare, but reality. And I can't do it. I can't handle the sorrow and regret of losing her. I'm an idiot for breaking up and letting her go. Suddenly I feel a gentle hand caressing my shoulder.

"Em, there is a chance they can save her. But, you have to let go and let them help Paige, ok?" Spencer tells me, the sadness evident in her quiet voice. I can tell she's just as shaken about the whole situation, but she still has hope. Just like Paige.

"Ok." I utter before releasing my hold on her. I allow Spencer to help me up and she guides me to where everyone else is gathered nearby. I glance at the police arresting and escorting Melissa and out of the building. I hope they rot in prison for what they've done to us especially Paige and Spencer.

Then, my gaze shifts to the rest of the group. They all look disheveled and exhausted. To put it simply, they look like they've been through the ringer. And they have, some more than others. Hmm, I wonder what I look like? Probably like hell. Anyway, no one is making eye contact. We're all just reeling from shock. We're a mess.

Finally, after a few moments, I turn my attention to the girl lying on the ground. She looks so young, small, and broken. Far from the brave, strong, feisty, charming, funny, protective, caring person I love so much. It's heartbreaking, and I'm praying the paramedics can save her. The whole ordeal of emotional and physical trauma has finally taken its toll on me. The roller coaster ride is over. All the adrenaline is rushing out of my veins, and now I've been rendered temporarily mute and numb. I'm in a catatonic state, not even blinking. Just waiting. Waiting for Paige to come back to me. Nothing else matters to me at this point. Call me selfish or even a bitch, but it's the truth. I feel like a trapped, feral, and angry animal frightened for its mate.

I look down at my clothes and see the splattered blood. I also lift trembling hands and see them covered in blood too. It's still slightly warm and sticky. Paige's blood. She lost so much of it. I'm surprised we had a chance at a conversation. But, she's a tough fighter, and not a coward like me. She's honest, up front, optimistic, and trusting. I always seem to let her slip through my fingers for my own fearful insecurities. I always turn her away when she offers her help, I blow her off and lie to her as well. I'm a stupid idiot. Paige, she was always there for me, even respected my wishes to stay friends.

I promise, if Paige survives this, I'm going to start doing things differently with her. I won't shut her out anymore. She's my comfort and my stability. She's my everything and I'm going to prove it to her. Whatever it takes, without her in my life, I'm nothing. A black hole in my heart that can't be filled without my hope. I'll just a soulless shell of a human being because I firmly believe she is my other half. We're the epitome of yin and yang. We're complete opposites and as Paige once told me a long time ago, "Hey unpredictable can be a good thing, look at us." Then she gave me that trademark grin I have only seen when she talks to me. After this, mending our relationship should be a cakewalk once she wakes up. 'Please, I don't leave me. You're strong and a fighter. Please come back to me. For us.' I silently pray.

Oh God?! What if they can't bring her back? My world crashed at that horrible thought and I collapse to the ground with fists clenched against the cold, hard floor. I grit my teeth in misplaced anger and disappointment. Why can't I be happy? Oh yeah, that's right because I screw up. The A-Team may of contributed to my pitiful existence, but I made plenty of mistakes along the way. So much could've been avoided if we went to the cops from the beginning instead of trying to figure this out for ourselves. We should've stood up to Alison and defended the poor people she bullied including us. Maybe Mona, Lucas, Paige, and hell even Melissa wouldn't have a vendetta against Alison. This began with her, and it will end in the same fashion. I'll personally see to that myself.

After my damnable freak-out on the floor, I pick myself up from the ground. In a fit of ballistic rage, I storm over to Alison and slap her hard across the face. The force and sting of the hit even hurt my own hand.

"That's for all the pain you've put me through these last few years. That's for all the lies and the manipulation. That's for making me weak while Paige made me strong." I seethe in a burning and bitter tone.

"Emily…" Hanna starts.

"Don't!" I snap at her. Everyone looks at me with big eyes. Yeah well, what can I say? I'm pissed off again.

I'm about to continue my rant when I faintly hear "She's back. We've got a weak pulse, bring the board!" One of the EMTs announces. I need to be alone with this and to cool off, so I back-up and walk away to where Mona and Lucas are waiting anxiously by Paige and the paramedics.

When I reach where they are standing they both embrace me in a hug. It's the first contact I've had since Spencer's touch earlier. Oddly, it helps, a bit. More so, I'm relieved Paige is alive.

"Well?" I hopefully ask the two of them.

Lucas shrugs his shoulders and Mona answers.

"She's lost a lot of blood. She was dead for five minutes Emily. It was a close call, too close in fact." From her eyes I can tell she genuinely regrets letting her actions get out of hand. I nod at her explanation, and see them lift Paige onto the backboard complete with bandages to stop the bleeding, a fluid IV, and a neck brace.

"Excuse me ma'am. We don't have much time." The second EMT tells me in a rushed tone.

I grab his arm and whisper, "Thank you both so much for saving her."

"You're welcome, it's part of our job. You can follow us to the hospital." He gives me an optimistic smile, similar to Paige's.

It was such a scary night for all of us. We made it to the ER in record time, and hastily waited for the doctor treating Paige to come out with news. We didn't have to wait long which was a great start.

Turns out Paige was beaten, but that she suffered one knife wound to the side and one in the chest. Luckily, neither injury pierced anything vital. Besides the various superficial wounds on her limbs and head, a minor concussion, a broken arm, and a torn ACL, she made a full recovery.

However, she was on on severe pain killers and remained unconscious for four days. Shortly after she awoke from her slumber, She was stabilized enough to move out of ICU. Paige needed four blood transfusions which surprisingly meant that she needed a donor. The least likely person, Aria was a match for her. Aria instantly, without hesitation volunteered to give some to Paige. She got twenty-four stitches. Nine from the side stabbing, ten from the chest stabbing, three right above her left eye, and two on her lip.

I never left Paige, neither did anyone else including Alison. I don't know if she was really here for her or even or for me. Maybe she only stuck around because she owed Paige her life, as did Spencer. But Spencer's was a product of bad circumstance and wrong place, wrong time. Alison was another problem entirely. Regardless, I was relieved they were all here supporting me and Paige. It was a great feeling, well that and seeing Paige open her soulful, warm, and soft chocolate orbs for the first time in forever.

Anyway, long story short, Paige was released from the hospital two days ago. I helped her home, and the rest is history. Paige and I are happily back together. Its like a dream come true. Now, everyday after school, my first stop is her house. We're taking it slow, re-exploring every aspect of each other. It's actually quite exciting, not that it wasn't before the 'School Smackdown' as the horror was later named by the town.

Oh, I almost forgot, some more good news came out of this ordeal as well. Ezra proposed to Aria and they are now wonderfully engaged. They are waiting until after graduation to tie the knot. With Toby back in town, him and Spencer re-connected and are doing well together. Hanna, with the new arrival of Caleb are working on where their relationship stands at this point. Alison, truly apologized and reformed, and is currently working on her redemption. Her and Paige are like best friends now which is the weirdest thing ever. Lucas confessed his love for Mona and they end up being one of the cutest couples in school.

And best of all? That bitch Melissa and her sadistic father are gone for good, both in prison for attempted murder and kidnapping of a minor without parole. Spencer doesn't like to talk about it, in fact she still to this denies the Hastings legacy. She plans on writing a new one, about the good that can come from the Hastings name. She's taking it one day at a time, as we are all.

Rosewood may be a quiet, quaint town, but it has a troubled dark past laced with lies. But, with all of them exposed and fixed for the most part, we've successfully restored the peace within the town and within ourselves.

While none of us will never forget these last few years full of scars that will haunt us for the rest of our lives, at least I we've moved on and are learning from it all especially me.

Through all the struggle and drama, we not only found ourselves, but we found each other. One big complex, complicated loving family of misfits. Our personalities may clash sometimes, but our hearts are always intertwined.

With faith and hope restored, we can breathe a sigh of relief and continue enjoying our lives together. I have a fantastic girlfriend, amazing friends, and rockstar parents. And for that, I'm extremely grateful. I wouldn't trade the past for anything because the past defines the present.

As the wise Spencer always tells us repeatedly, "Remember the past, live the present, and seek the future." I can hear her saying it now.

Anyway, while some of us may not be blood-related, who says blood is thicker than water?

After all, unpredictable can be good, look at us.

P.S-I really put a lot of heart and effort into this piece overall especially this last installment, so hopefully that viewpoint will come across. Don't forget to leave feedback, please! And thanks again for the continued support. I can't reiterate how much it means to me to have followers and favorites. It keeps me going, oh and feel free to message me with any prompt ideas as well. Thanks!