A/N: So, here's my latest creation. I don't own Pretty Little Liars, and the towns/places are all fictional. I figured you Paily fans can use all the stories you can get since… well, you know. This will be a sappy Paily story with mystery entwined, so I hope you all enjoy. Feel free to review and let me know if you are interested in me continuing!

Paige McCullers yawned loudly as she poured a generous amount of steaming coffee into her Pittsburg Steelers traveler's mug. It was seven in the morning and time for her to head to her research lab at the St. Grace Medical Center, where she conducted research on the different types of leukemias seen in their patients. She also ran results of labs sent from the oncology ward, but usually an assistant did that. She was getting her new assistant that day, a graduate student looking to go into cancer research.

She certainly didn't mind having someone else do the grunt work for her. That was what she had graduated early for. Maybe she was a little bit of an overachiever, but she had a good paying job that she happened to love to show for it.

Her roommate, Toby Cavanaugh, always told her she was the textbook definition of a type A personality. She didn't think that was meant to be a compliment, but she couldn't help it if she was a little tightly wound. Toby would always add insult to injury by telling her she just needed to get laid. He really could be a jerk sometimes.

"You save some for me?" he asked, stumbling into the small kitchen. He was already dressed in his Wallford PD uniform, tightening his tie.

"Mmmph," Paige grunted, screwing the lid on.

"You're drinking that black?" he asked, raising his eyebrows. She sighed, opening the cabinet to pull out the box of Irish crème coffee creamers.

"No. It's just too early."

"Hey, don't you get your new assistant today?"

"Sure do," she replied, tossing the empty creamers into the garbage. She felt inside her bag to make sure she had her phone.

"Maybe she'll be cute."

"Shut up, Toby. How do you even know she's a she?"

"I don't know. That's why I said maybe."

"Oh my God, Toby. I didn't break up with Shana that long ago. Just chill."

"Alright, alright," he replied, holding up his hands. "I'm just saying, maybe-."

"I know, I know, maybe if I had a good fuck I wouldn't be so uptight. Good bye, Toby."

She left the apartment before he could say anything else. She was used to this conversation, and maybe he was right, but her breakup with Shana was just too fresh in her mind. She was twenty-four years old now, and until this past spring, she had been with Shana since her second year of undergraduate school. They had been growing apart over the past year, but then she had cheated on Paige. Not once, but twice. So she had moved out of Shana's house and moved in with Toby, whom she had been best friends with for years. He was a great guy, and he respected the fact that she was into girls and not guys. Overall, she thought she was pretty happy. But that brisk October morning, as she drove to the hospital, she thought maybe it would be nice to feel that thrill of a relationship again.

When she got to the hospital she took the elevator up to the eighth floor, which was where all the research labs were located. She went into the reception office to see if her lab assistant was there, and she stopped short when she saw the young dark haired woman sitting in one of the chairs, picking at her nails. Paige hoped that was her assistant. She was absolutely stunning to look at, with dark brown eyes and copper colored skin. She looked up at Paige, a smile crossing her face.

"Are you Dr. McCullers?" she asked eagerly, quickly standing up. Paige nodded, recovering enough to answer her.

"Yes. You are?"

"Emily Fields," the dark haired beauty replied, reaching out to shake her hand. Paige accepted, immediately drawn to how soft the woman's skin was. She really was incredibly attractive.

"It's nice to meet you, Emily. You already met with Mona?"

"Yes, last week. She said I was all ready to start."

"Perfect," Paige replied, hoping the woman couldn't tell she was checking her out. She cleared her throat, trying to seem like she had it all together. "We can head to the lab. I'll show you around."

She led Emily down the hallway, her cheeks bright red. Why did her lab assistant have to be so attractive? This was a disaster waiting to happen. What happened when this girl turned out to be straight and was creeped out when she found out Paige was into her? She silently cursed her hormones as she unlocked the door.

"So, Emily, you want to go into cancer research?" she asked, hoping if she made small talk it would distract her from thinking anything inappropriate.

"Yeah," Emily replied brightly. "At first I was thinking of going to medical school to become an oncologist, but I tried volunteering in the oncology ward and it was just too hard for me to see, you know? I don't think I have the backbone."

Paige nodded, turning to face the beauty again. Maybe it was just her hormones, but Emily definitely seemed like a sweet, sensitive woman, and she couldn't see her in such a heartbreaking field. Her friend Spencer Hastings, on the other hand, was a pediatric oncologist at the hospital, and she often came by the lab to talk to Paige personally about lab results. Spencer was purely business, and Paige always thought she had a good personality to be dealing with death on a fairly regular basis. Not that Spencer was cold, but she was good at distancing herself from work and the rest of her life. Paige had seen her lose a patient and then go out to dinner with people from work in the same night, and she really admired her for it. She was pretty sure that if she had Spencer's job, she would spend her nights crying with a bottle of wine.

"I understand. You'll probably get to meet Dr. Hastings, one of the pediatric oncologists here. She might seem kind of aloof, but she's actually really nice when you get to know her. Don't let her hard exterior fool you." Paige paused a moment, realizing that she was saying about Spencer what people always said about her. A lot of people who knew her thought she liked to put on a tough front, when in reality, she was pretty sensitive. She didn't want Emily to know that, though. "So, Emily, let me show you around."

The day passed by remarkably fast. Emily was very chatty, and Paige was more than happy to listen to her talk about herself. She kept having to remind herself not to stare, but tearing her eyes away from the beauty in front of her was not by any means easy.

Emily seemed smart, too. She picked up on what they were doing quickly, and she cheerfully greeted everyone who came into the lab. Paige couldn't wait to tell Toby about her later.

"…..my ex-girlfriend Maya-."

"What?" Paige asked, snapping to attention immediately. "Ex-girlfriend?"

"Yeah," Emily replied. "I'm a lesbian. Is that okay?"

"Yes! I mean, of course," Paige replied, her cheeks turning bright red. Emily looked at her, waiting for her to continue. "I am too, actually."

"Really?" Emily asked. Maybe it was her imagination, but Paige thought she sat up a little straighter. "What are the chances?"

"I know," Paige chuckled. "I'm not used to girls I… I'm not used to girls I meet not being straight."

A grin crossed Emily's face. Paige wondered if her face could get any redder, but she forced herself to keep looking at Emily, as much as she wanted to duck her head.

"You're cute when you're embarrassed," Emily told her, and Paige almost dropped the test tube she was holding.

"Um, uh… thanks," she replied, wanting to burst with joy. Emily was definitely flirting with her. "Uh…. can you hold this, please?"

"Sure," Emily replied, the same shit eating grin staying on her face. "I think I'm really going to like it here."

"I hope you do," Paige told her. Her cheeks still felt like they were on fire. She hadn't even known Emily for a day, but the effect she had on her was amazing. Toby was right. She really needed to get laid.

"McCullers!" a voice shouted as the door flew open. A young, tall brunette stood in the doorway, dressed all in black with a white lab coat. "Sorry to do this to you, but….. oh. Who's this?"

"Spencer, this is my new lab assistant, Emily," Paige answered, grateful for the interruption. "She's a graduate student. Emily, this is Dr. Spencer Hastings. She was the oncologist I was telling you about."

"Nice to meet you, Emily," Spencer told her, reaching out to shake her hand. "I can only imagine what she told you. I'm glad you're here. McCullers works a little slow sometimes."

"Only when you swamp me," Paige retorted.

"It's nice to meet you," Emily told her. "Don't worry, Paige said all good things about you."

Spencer grinned at Paige. Paige rolled her eyes.

"What were you saying when you came in?"

"Oh. Sorry to do this to you, because I know you normally leave soon, but I've got a few samples coming up soon. We have two possible new admissions."

"No worries. It's what I'm here for," Paige replied.

"I have to get back. Have fun," Spencer told her, winking at her before disappearing into the hallway. Paige felt her cheeks turn pink for about the ten billionth time that day. Emily gave her a sweet smile, and she gulped. She couldn't help it. She was already falling hard.

Emily was in high spirits when she left the hospital, and it had very little to do with the fact that everyone she met had been nice and she knew she was going to like working in the lab. No, the main reason she was so happy was who she was working with. She couldn't stop thinking about Paige McCullers, and how adorably dorky she was. The woman had spent half the day blushing, and Emily was already getting her hopes after hearing she was a lesbian. She definitely thought she liked her based on how embarrassed she was, especially when Emily had boldly told her she was cute (she wasn't sure where that had come from). She wasn't sure if Paige would make the first move or if she would have to, but if necessary she was definitely willing. She had taken a gamble by bringing up Maya based on the way Paige had looked at her when they had first met, and it had paid off. So as she headed to another hospital a few towns over, Rosewood Memorial Hospital, she was in a surprisingly good mood.

She walked up to the front desk, smiling sweetly at the receptionist. She wasn't sure how they didn't already know who she was.

"I'm here for Wayne Fields."

"Room 602," the woman replied, handing her a visitor's pass. She nodded. She knew all too well.

Her father was in heart failure, and he had been in the hospital for the past two weeks. He had been undergoing countless tests to determine if he should have open heart surgery. The idea terrified Emily, but if it was going to make him better, then it would be worth it.

She and her mother had spent a great deal of time by his bedside. She was there almost every day, but she had work and classes to deal with as well. Pam Fields, however, was always there.

"Hey, Dad," she said softly as she stood in the doorway. His face lit up as she walked into the room. Her heart broke a little every time she saw him. He just looked so frail.

"Emmy," he greeted her in his deep, teddy bear voice. He opened his arms and she sat down on the bed to hug him. She fought back tears, like she always did when she came to visit. She loved her mother of course, but she had always been a daddy's girl. She was his princess, and he was her hero.

"How are you feeling?"

"I'm fine, now that you're here," he replied, smiling at her. "How was your first day at the lab?"

"It was amazing. The woman I'm working with, Paige-."

"Woman?" he asked with a sly grin.

"Yes," Emily replied, blushing. "She's really cute. Nice, too. She showed me around and she told me a lot about her research. She's gay, too."

"Is she?" he asked, raising his eyebrows. "Well, how about that."

"I know. It's a not a good idea to get involved with someone you work with, I know, but there's just something about her I'm really drawn to."

"I understand," he assured her. "You deserve to be happy, Emmy. Just follow your heart."

She nodded, smiling as she thought of Paige. She couldn't wait to see her again tomorrow.

"I really do like the job," she told him. "It's great experience while I'm finishing school. Everyone seems very nice so far."

"Good. Very good."

"How about you?" she asked, her smile fading. "Any new news from the doctor?"

"Not yet," he replied, smiling. But his smile seemed forced. "Don't worry, Emmy. They know what they're doing."

She stayed over an hour before finally telling him she loved him and kissing him good bye. Hanna, her roommate, was probably home, and she needed to get back and make dinner. Hanna and a stove wasn't exactly something she wanted to risk.

She got into the elevator, sighing. She could feel the tension of her father's health on her shoulders. Her day with Paige would have been even better if she knew he was going to be okay.

There was nothing she could do but visit him and make sure he knew how much she loved him. And in the mean time, Paige would be a nice distraction. She deserved something good after Maya, and considering the fact that Paige was a lesbian too, she didn't think that was an opportunity she should pass up.

She walked outside into the chilly October air, shivering as she wrapped her coat tighter around her. Maybe getting involved with a coworker wasn't the best idea, but there wasn't even a guarantee it would turn out that way. But she decided that if given the chance to have something with the incredible woman she had met that day, she would. Her father was right. She was going to follow her heart.