AN: Hope you all enjoy :)

"things you said when you thought I was asleep" + one of your PLL ships

Emily/Alison

"I love you."

The line has gone quiet. It's been quiet for at least 10 minutes. Alison looks at the alarm clock on her nightstand, which reads 4:05 am.

1:05 am in Cali, she thinks. Alison had been having trouble falling asleep earlier, after spending the afternoon with Charlotte. She's not sure these visits are helping yet - she's not sure if it's making anything worse.

Making me feel worse, Alison bitterly thinks. But still, she's been going and plans to do so for however long it takes.

It takes to what?, Alison wonders. She doesn't have the answer, which is probably why she needs to keep going.

It doesn't make it any easier though, which is how she found herself picking up her phone about an hour and a half ago and, without thinking about it too much, calling the one person she knew would comfort her.

She made Emily tell her all about her week, as if the daily texts they had been sharing hadn't already allowed Alison to know it all. Still, her voice was the soothing sound Alison needed.

They talk now - more than they ever have. Exchanging emails almost daily.

Emily sends questions, Alison answers.

They're not calling it a relationship, not yet - not with the distance. Still.

Alison called and Emily picked up on the second ring and spoke to her instead of going to sleep as she had been about to do.

The line's been silent for 10 minutes, leading Alison to believe the other girl has fallen asleep. The words felt right, the illusion of the moment - just two girls in a long-distance relationship calling each other despite the brutal time difference to fall asleep to each other's breathing. It's romantic and clichéd and it fills up Alison's heart in a way she's desperate to keep.

So, she repeats it once more.

"I love you."

"I heard you," the quiet, sleepy response comes.

Alison feel the blush cover her cheeks, the smile threatening to overtake her face as she lays on her side on her bed.

"Yeah?"

"Yeah. I guess I was just…" Emily trails off. "You said it differently this time."

"How so?" Alison asks. She's taken stock of every version of love that Emily has ever expressed for her, she shouldn't be surprised the other girl has as well, but here she is.

"Like, like you needed me to hear it."

"I do." A beat passes. "I love you, Emily."

"Am I still awake?" Emily asks.

"If you're not, I'll tell you again when you wake up."

"Promise?"

"Promise."