Hey guys, here's the first part of my new story. For this story everything is canon before, after and inbetween chapters. The only thing that's AU is what happens in the chapters (hopefully that makes sense.) Oh, and I don't own the characters, only the story and some of the dialogue.

Anyways on with the story

Seeing Alison
Part I- Hanna

"Did you miss me?" she says in a sweet voice.

Ali stands at the foot of my hospital bed smiling, is this real? I freeze for a moment not sure what to say but finally I find some words.

"Ali, I thought you were dead." Smooth Hanna, real smooth.

"Yeah, I heard that too. But here I am…"

I can't register what is happening, I feel disbelief rush through me at the possibility of Alison being alive, being right with me.

"What happened?" I can't stop the question from rushing out.

She just chuckles, "It's complicated Hanna, really complicated. Worse than algebra."

I blink at her, still unsure and frustrated at her lack of answers.

"What happened when you left the barn? We all want to know."

"You already do, the four of you combined. You remember more about that night than you think you do."

Her words come out firm, like she's trying to get me to see reason, even though Ali's never been one for reason. So I ask her the only thing I can think of.

"Where'd you go? To meet a boy? Noel?"

"Noel…Please," she says with a sarcastic grin.

"Please just tell me the truth"

Her lips curl up into a small, sad smile.

"It won't make a difference darling"

She looks at me and I see something usual in her eyes, something like regret.

"How can you say that?"

"Because I know. You think the truth is some big shiny disco ball of purity? Go ahead and try it. Be honest, see where it gets you. Telling the truth to the wrong person at the wrong time is how I ended up where I am. Take it from me, you're always better off with a really good lie."

Her words bounce around the room as I try to absorb what she is telling me but soon I feel my eyes getting heavy again. Ali pauses to check her watch before she looks up at me, her eyes like sparkling sapphires.

"Gotta go."

My heart aches at her words; I don't want her to leave. I just want her to stay here with me, to comfort me, to hold me like she used to.

Sure Ali used to have her bad days, days where she tore everyone down with her vicious words… But then, sometimes she was different— sweet and caring. And even on her worst days she was always fiercely protective of me and the other girls.

My hearts starts racing faster as all the moments I'd spent with her flash by in my mind.

"Where?" I blurt out ungracefully, my voice full of desperation.

In answer she moves closer to the bed until she is right next to me reaching for my hand. Her warm fingers lock with mine and I can't help but let out a small sigh. She sit on the edge of the bed, rubbing her thumb along the back of my hand carefully avoiding the IV.

"I was so scared that you were going to die, that's why I came back. I don't care how dangerous it was I had to see you."

Her voice and expression are both pained and even in my state of grogginess I just want to pull her to me because my own hurt is nothing compared to how the pain in her eyes makes me feel.

Before I have time to think about anything else Alison is leaning in towards me, her lips only inches from mine. She stops and meets my eyes, our hands still locked.

I swallow hard, trying to remember to breath. Confusion and longing twist inside of me the two emotions colliding and conflicting. Neither of us moves for a long moment, I can tell she wants to lean in closer, but I'm stuck.

My heart is screaming at me to close the distance and kiss her, but my head is trying to make sense of her being here, of her wanting to kiss me and most of all, me wanting to kiss her back.

Seeing the level of uncertainty in my eyes she starts to pull away, this snaps me back and I reach for her face with my free hand, cupping her check gently.

Without another hesitation I pull her down until our lips meet.

Ali sighs into my mouth on first contact which sends a shiver down my back. She kisses me delicately like I'm a beautiful flower that needs only the gentlest of hands. Her lips feel like sunshine against mine and I can't help wanting more.

Cautiously I open my mouth and run my tongue along her bottom lip asking for entrance which she grants. The tip of her tongue touches mine and I let out a little gasp, causing Ali to smirk against my lips.

Our lips start to move in synch, moving together with ease, her lips melding perfectly against my own.

Several long minutes go by and we continue to share slow, open-mouthed kisses as I wrap my arms around her to pull her close.

In this moment I let myself realize how much I've missed her, how much I've needed her no matter how hostile I've felt at times. Now I see that I've only been angry because she left me… left all of us.

When we finally break apart we both gasp for air and she gives me a big smile before reaching down to caress my check.

"You really are beautiful Hanna. You always were, but now that you've reached your full potential… Wow."

A massive grin stretches across my face at her compliment; I've wanted to hear those words from her for so long.

"Hanna, I have to go now. I don't want to leave you but I can't stay, it isn't safe for me or for you and I won't put you in that kind of danger, you have it bad enough with "A" on your back."

I look up her in surprise at the mention of "A" because I don't understand how she knows about that.

Wordlessly Ali kisses me one last time and moves towards the exit. I try to protest but she doesn't stop until she is all the way at the end of the hall. My eyes are getting heavier and I can't make out her face anymore. Before I fall into oblivion I hear a whisper shatter the silence.

"I will always be here for you Hanna. Always."

With that the medicine overtakes me and I fall into oblivion.

When I wake the next morning my brain is still foggy, my leg is throbbing and my heart is pounding against my chest.

Images of Alison flood into my mind, everything from earlier comes rushing back to me and I let out a loud gasp.

"Did that really happen?" I ask myself aloud in the empty hospital room.

The room seems to echo my words and I shiver, trying to make sense of it all.

I sit there still as a statue for almost an hour with no luck. I can't tell if it was a dream or not, but it has to be a dream doesn't it? What else could it be.

It's that moment that I look down to see a single words scribbled in purple ink on my cast.

"Always."

My voice escapes me and I can't help the tingling sensation in my lips.

Ali must have been here, but how?

Questions swarm my brain, overloading my drugged scenes, so I let my mind reply the wonderful kiss and slowly nod off into sleep.

To be continued...