-Erica-

So still recovering from a broken arm had its perks, like no heavy lifting while helping Emily move into Hanna's. It had been agreed that Em would stay here in Rosewood to finish off mer school year and would be living at our bestie house, while her Mom was in Texas with her Dad.

"I thought you were getting you're own room?" Aria questioned

"That was before the pipes went off behind the wall." Em answered as Hanna handed her coffee

"They have to fix the pipes and put the wall back. So we'e roomies till then." Hanna beams

"It'll be fun." Em smiles

"I know it's gonna be like a sleepover that never ends." she grins.

"Awh, Hanna. If I knew Emily was your favourite, i would have made you a t-shirt." I smirk. The others smile.

"Has Garrett called you about Ian's messenger?" Spencer wonders.

"Guys, we dragged Garrett into this, we just gotta trust him." Aria states

"How could we trust anyone but ourselves with this. I don't know about you guys but it feels like I have raging trust issues to any outsiders." I comment

"Erica's right, we're trusting Garrett with Ian's 10,000 dollars and I could have used some of that to replace Melissa's ring." Spencer sighs looking deflated

"And if they traced Ian's money to you? How would you explain that?" Hanna asks

"I just don't like waiting. If we're too quiet, A will get bored and stir the pot." Spencer replies

"And if we say something A is gonna smack us down. I don't want to walk into another A-stravaganza like that Fashion show."

"The look of Mrs Dilaurentis' face still haunts me." I say shivering a little. Aria leans her head on my shoulder and the doorbell rings. Hanna goes to answer it.

"This isn't just about making us look like bitches anymore, is it?" Aria asks

"No, it's about keeping our mouths shut." I reply

"Why?"

"Because A might be the one that killed Ali. I mean that's what we're all thinking isn't it?" Em replies

"Why else go through the trouble of setting up Ian?" Spencer mutters.

"You guys." Hanna come back in with a gift basket. "Look at the card." she tells us. Emily pulls it out.

"What fun, two little liars under one roof. You're making it so easy -A" Emily read out

"Like you said, staring the pot." I comment

"ugh, it's not even good candy." Hanna complains and chucks it away.

--------

The family was having a little dinner party, which gave me the perfect excuse to dress up.

"It's not that dressy just a couple of people coming over, like we used to do." Mom tells Aria as I walk into her room

"Screw that, I've been looking to slip into one of my new dresses that I bought." I comment bringing in three dresses. Aria and I show Mom our choices.

"You'll look lovely in either." she smiled softly

"You talk like a Mom." we reply. Mike's door slams.

"Mike, breakfast in five minutes." Mom calls

"Gotta go!" he calls back but I ran out, dresses in hand

"Mike Help." he stops and turns turns to me as I hold the dresses up a little to show him.

"Which one?"

"Yellow." he replies and leaves, i walk back into Aria's with a grin.

"I still want to know how you do that." Aria shakes her head in disbelief.

"Does he even eat?" Mom wonders

"At school, I've seen him." I told her.

"The black one." mom smiles coming closer to the dress

"Really?"

"It makes you look grown up." Mom states.

"Byron. Did you catch Mike?" Mom questions as I hold the dress up to me and look in the mirror.

"No, he escaped before I could grab him."

"But he knows we want him here?"

"He knows, I just want to make sure he doesn't blow it off at the last minute " Dad replies. I decide to leave and put the other two dresses away. I came back just in time to here

"I was thinking i would invite Ezra Fitz. He met Elliot, they along well." oooooh i drawled in my head like I just heard the juiciest gossip.

"It's kind of short notice." Mom responds

"Ezra still seems a little lost around campus, he's not the girls teacher anymore  and he's a colleague so no conflict of interest. I can tell him he can invite a date. I cover my mouth as to not let anything slip like a comment or a giggle. Aria busies herself while clearly listening.

"That should be interesting." Mom humms. Oh this should be more than interesting.

"Breakfast?!" I chirp.

--------

School was kind of boring till I needed to ask my Mom something. I blanked on the question entering her classroom

"Mo..." i stopped seeing she was with Jason

"Hey, look who I ran into." she smiled softly

"Ri." he winked at me and I grinned.

"Jase, what are you doing here?" I skipped over to stand next to him, he took my hand and kissed it.

"I just dropped by to see Mr Ellis."

"The guidance councillor?" I questioned

"Jason offered to talk to some of our at risk students." Mom stated moving round her desk, as the two of us still held hands. Jason rubbed my knuckles a little as we continued on with the conversation.

"Stoners in training, like I was."

"Before all the hard work, I remember." I nod

"I'm gonna tell them there is life after high school."

"I'm proud of you." I squeeze his hand a little

"Well I better get going. Oh and thanks again for the note you sent my Mom. It really meant a lot to her."Jason tells her sincerely.

"Really? I'm glad."

"So can I bring anything tomorrow?" he wonders, tomorrow?"

"No, just yourself."

"Have I missed something?" I ask

"i invited Jason to dinner." I gasp

"Really?" I tried not to squeal so much in excitement. She nodded

"I'll see you both tomorrow." he gives me a hug and leaves. I then squeal and run over to Mom's side to hug her

"Thank you, thank you, thank you." she chuckles  rubbing my back "Dad agreed to this?"

"I haven't told him yet." she informs me and my smile drops "But don't worry, he will have to put up with it. Just be careful okay, no overly romantic gestures or comments."

"I promise, I will be cool as a cucumber. You have no idea how happy this makes me. I need to tell Aria." I gave her a quick kiss and ran off.

"Aria! Aria! Aria! Oh you're all here great. Come." I haul them into the music room and close the door.

"I just had the best news ever!"

----------

The next day at school. I was talking with Emily, I wanted to know how it was going over being at Hnna's even though best friends they weren't exactly the same.

"So, you enjoying it at Hanna's?" I wonder. She slams her locker shut.

"Every night's a sleepover. Even school nights." she retorts

"Uh-oh."

"No, uh-oh' I mean I'm lucky it worked out the way it did, very lucky." I gave her a disbelieving look "Seriously." she confirmed.

"Morning." Spencer joins us with Aria.

"Morning." I smile

"Did you talk to Garrettt, yet." Spencer launches at Emily

"Not yet. I've been slammed with practice and the new workout." Em answers apologetically.

"Okay, do you want me to try?" Spencer offers

"Yes. You're better at getting people to talk."

"I am."

"You are." Aria nodded

"Yeah, and in the blue corner for wearing people down. Spencer Hastings!" I joke lowering my voice "Hastings is the winner, the crowd goes wild" I imitate cheering. The other chuckle

"Tag up later okay?" Em says before leaving

"Okay, bye"

"Will you come with me to talk to Garrett?" Spencer asks us

"We can't. We told our Mom we'd go home and help her with dinner." Aria answers

"Oh that's right. It's guess whose coming to dinner night." Spencer relies as we start to walk. I chuckle

"that is so not helping." Aria breathes

"No it's gonna go better than you think. Trust me, Mr Fitz and Jason will knock them dead."

"Thank you." we smile and head to class

---------

We helped Mom cook when we got home and then we got ready. I was taking a little longer than expected. Some of the guests were already here. The doorbell rang again as I finally came back down stairs. It was Ezra.

"Hello. So glad you could make it." Mom greeted

"Thank you for inviting me. These are for you." He handed her a bunch of flowers.

"Thank you."

"Hello Aria, Erica."

"Hello, Ezra." we smile. I take my leave to join the others.

"Erica, you look amazing. I love that dress." Mrs Partha commented

"Thank you. It's from that boutique on main street, they were having this sale, 50% off." I tell her sitting down next to her

"Wow. It looks amazing."

"You have to go in there sometime. You would not believe the gems they have. Not just for women but they have these adorable baby and toddler stuff." I coo

"My daughter the social butterfly." Dad comments placing his hands on my shoulders for a moment "Ezra, hey." Dad goes to shake hands with our former teacher

"Byron. A gift for the host." Ezra replies

"Whoa this is serious scotch." Dad comments

"Well, always works for me." Mom calls for help in the kitchen. Dad leaves. Aria glances over at me and I wink at her.

"This is Nancy Partha. This is Ezra." Aria introduces

"Hi, Ezra Fitz." Ezra nods shaking hands with Mrs Partha.

"Nice to meet you."

"Good to see you Elliot." the doorbell rings, I jump up

"I will get that." I move away and open the door. Just as I expected, it was Jason. He stood there with flowers and a smile to boot

"Hello Mr Dilaurentis." i smirk

"Miss Montgomery." I stood aside

"Come in." he does and hands me the bouquet of flowers he was holding. They were daffodils, my favourite, which of course he knew.

"For you. You look stunning."

"Why thank you."

"I'm sorry I'm late, by the way."

"No, you're fine."

"Jason, Hi." Aria comes over smiling slightly. "How are you?"

"Hello, Aria. I'm doing okay." their exchange was a little awkward. It was to be expected but it wasn't going to ruin the night.

"Aria, will you take Jase, while I put these flowers in water." she nodded and i went into the kitchen

"Jason's here." I beam

-3rd Person-

"Great."  Byron replied unenthusiastically.

"He brought me flowers, isn't that sweet?" Erica grabbed a vase and filled it with water then putting the flowers in.

"Oh, can you take these to Ezra and Jason." Ella hands her a glass of wine and a water then rejoins the guests that were invited over.

"Of course." She gave her parents a very happy smile before rejoining the others.

"Ella why?" he questioned her

"Because whether we like it or not, he makes her happy." she sighs " Come here." she pulled Byron to peak round the corner.

"Watch. See how she enters and  he relaxes." Jason did as Erica handed the glass to him "His smile is clearly soft and attentive. Now see there, his body language shifts to protective. He noticed her rubbing the arm she broke." Erica winces slightly as her arm gives her trouble

"There how she smiles and is happily conversing with the others, he smiles too." they pull back "Now tell me what kind of monster has micro reactions like that. We don't have to like it but even I can see that this is different. You should have seen her yesterday, when she knew i had invited him. It was like I had given her the world."

"But..." he went to protest

"No buts, if we don't want to loose her for good then we play nice. I mean it, we back her into a corner she will fight back and even I can tell we'll lose." Ella warns him

--------

Aria's phone rang and she stood aside to take it. She then looked me and went upstairs. i furrowed my eyebrows.

"Erica, where's your sister?" Mom asks

"Upstairs on the phone." I answer turning back to my conversation. Mom calls for her.

"So have the police found out who cut the brake fluid?" Mrs Partha wondered

"No, not yet. Apparently they're still looking into it." I answer.

"Ri, we need to talk." Aria says taking my arm

"Sure, excuse me." she takes me to one side

"Do you remember when Ali asked to borrow the Hastings cocky stick?" She asks me and my eyebrows scrunched in confusion.

"vaguely  why?"

"Well Spencer just called. Toby found half of it buried in the back yard of the Hastings Garden." my jaw slackened in shock.

"Seriously. No way."

"Yeah, Spencer seems to think it could have been a murder weapon and..." she trailed off. I had a bad feeling

"What?"

"Well you remember what happened after right? Between Jason and Ali." I stood straighter

"no, no. Not this again."

"It can't be a coincidence right. broken stick and a boyfriend blackout."

"Aria, I told you that in confidence. Not so that you and Spencer could put 2 and 2 together to make 5. Make sure, Spencer get's her facts straight and has solid proof before she even thinks about going after him." I point at her then turn  to head back.

"I was either going to Japan or Europe. Ended up biking through condor Pass on my way to Kerry." Ezra said as I stood next to Jason. He linked his little finger to mine in silent comfort. Dad came in with scotch handing one to Ezra.

"So why'd you pick Ireland?" Dad questions

"I love Joyce and Beckett. I wanted to see where they started." Ezra answered

"You know, I've got a bike in my garage. Every morning it mocks me." Mr Partha jokes, I smile slightly.

"Ah, you'll get back on it. You'll just have to add a baby seat." Jason says

"You cycle?" Ezra asks my boyfriend

"Yeah some. When I first took off from College, I did the Kona coast." Jase answered

"That's where they do the triathlon right." Dad questioned

"Yeah, I wanted to clear my head, before coming back here. Riding those lava fields is like being on the moon, you know?"

"That's intense." Ezra comments

"Yeah, it's what I needed. But there is only so high you can fly before you want your anchor again." I look up at him and smile which he returns. The doorbell rings, weird seen as we're not expecting anyone else. Aria answers the door.

"Mom! Dad!" Barry comes in and i go to join my sister

"Hi Barry." mom greets as Dad joins us as well

"Sorry to interrupt, but, uh, it's about Mike. He's okay but we have a situation." I grip onto Aria's hand

"What kind of situation."

"Looks like he broke into a house." I look at Aria then cover my face.

"He what?"

"Over on Marston."

"There's gotta be some kind of mistake." I glance up at Jason and bit my lip in anxiety.

"There's not. It's Mike. he thought the place was empty. Homeowner grabbed him, called us. He's at the station now, if i can get you to come down there." Both of them went to go get him

"Girls, Girls please stay here." mom stated and we nodded, they left.

----------

I came back downstairs after slipping into some flats, my feet were starting to kill. The Partha's had left and i went to grab some coffee.

"I need this." i groan pouring myself a cup. "I'm gonna ask Jason if he wants more." I tell my sister.

"Do you want some more?"

"Sure a little. How are you doing?" he asked me as I poured him some coffee.

"Mike, promised us he wouldn't do it anymore. He's been doing so well or like a month now." I answered

"He probably meant it when he said it." I shake my head. "Come, sit down." he took the coffee pot and sat me down "Take a breath."

"I feel like a terrible sister, this is all my fault." I take in a staggered breath trying not to cry.

"It's not your fault."

"it is though. This mess with Ian, Mom and Dad finding out about the both of us, Mom and Dad in general. If it weren't for me he would have got more attention from our parents."

"No, trust me. You're not the reason Mike is doing this." he assures me

"How do you know that?"

"Because I know a lot about misplaced guilt. Look the amount of trouble Mike's in depends on how many times he's done this. Do you know how many places he's broken into?"

"I only know of..." I counted out how many I had known for sure Emily's, Spencers, Emiy's neighbour, Jason.

"3 definite then the attempt on yours." there was silence

"This is the first time he's ever broken a promise between us." I comment "He brakes them all the time with others. He used to say I was the exception to the rule. Guess that's over."

"Rica." Aria sits on the chair arm "You okay." i sigh straightening myself up

"I should be asking you that. Not the night you planned was it." I lightly hinted to the baby step she was taking with Ezra.

"No." she shook her head and I had a thought.

"Excuse us." I say and take my sister upstairs.

"What are we doing?"

"Searching our brothers room. I'm done, with not knowing what's wrong. Pick a place to search." she went near his wardrobe I went near his bead, we began looking and it wasn't that long before we found something.

"Erica." Aria called me over to the wardrobe. There were at least two duffle bags of stuff. Wow he had been busy. Camera, camping gear, tools.

"What's this." Aria mumbles taking something from a cloth. "No way." she looked at some sort of pottery then turned it up 'JM'

"Jenna Marshall. She made this."

"He stole from a blind girl?!" my jaw dropped "That's it I'm done. I'm done, this one is yours Aria." I stood up. Aria followed grabbing the bags of stolen goods and putting it into her room.

"We should deal with our boyfriends." Aria says we head downstairs

"We think you should go now." Aria says

"Both of us?" Ezra questioned standing up.

"Yep." I nod

"Are you sure?" Jason adds. I go over to him and grab his hand

"Absolutely. Our parents are gonna be home with Mike and it's probably a good idea if he doesn't have to deal with anyone but family. Aria, door." I say. She opens up.

"Do you want us to help finishing clearing up?" Ezra wondered

"No, we're good. Really."

"Erica, I can..." Jason starts

"Honestly it's fine. I will speak with you tomorrow okay." he hesitates "Please."

"Okay, let me know how it goes." he kisses my head and leaves. Ezra nods his head to me and says goodbye to Aria. Aria closed the door and we jogged up stairs.

"Night, Aria." I go into my room then close and lock the door

-3RD Person-

Aria dumped the bag of things at Mike's feet , when they were upstairs and their parents were talking downstairs.

"You promised." Aria folds her arms

"Stay out of my room." he retorts going to pick up the bag but Aria stops him. You took things from Emily. You broke into Spencer's house, you assaulted your sister and you stole from a blind girl?" Aria held up the candle thing that Jenna made

"No, I didn't." he defends

"You stole this from Jenna Marshall, she makes these things." Aria replies

"I don't care what she makes. I didn't break into that house. That candle thing comes from an apartment over a garage, on Whilloghby" Mike admits

"Whose apartment?"

"Officer McFriendly." Mike states "Garrett Reynolds? I was looking for a gun or something I could use to get away from here. He's a cop and he's got crap like that in his place." Aria shook her head

"No, you're wrong."

"I thought it might be worth a couple of bucks so I took it and a camera and a GPS."

"This has to be from Jenna Marshall's"

"I know what I stole and I know where I stole it from. I got that from Garrett Reynolds' apartment."

"Where's Erica? Is she with Jason?" Mike wonders. Aria's thought shifted to her twin sister, she put down the candle thing and crossed her arms.

"No, she's locked up in her room. Congrats you actually broke our sister." Mike bravado dropped, suddenly he wasn't so cocky anymore

"She knows."

"What you think she would be too caught up with her boyfriend not to notice you broke your promise?!"

"If it was just me we wouldn't be having this conversation but it's not. Ever since, you knew what promises were Mike, not once did you brake one with her. Not even when you knew she was dating someone older or when she told you it was Jason. She has always been there for you and that's probably why you favour her over anyone living here.  But you swore to her you wouldn't do it again. Breaking and entering, getting caught is one thing but breaking a promise to her...." she trailed off shaking her head

"You know she blames herself right? She thinks that if Mom and Dad hadn't been concentrating on us or her relationship with Jason you wouldn't have felt the need to do this." she grabbed the bag and shoved it against his chest

"So you can take this and be as cocky as you want to but just take a moment to think about that." Aria went to her dresser and began taking her earrings out. Mike left the room and stopped outside Erica's. He knocked

"Ri!" he called, no answer "Erica!" nothing , he sighed and went to his room. While inside Erica cried silently.