Chapter 1 – A Dramatic Entrance
Finally, it was Ali's eighteen week baby scan which is due this afternoon. For Em and Alison it has felt like long time waiting, probably because they are so excited to see their baby.
"Em, doesn't it amuse you that after all we have been through in this town, we should have wanted to leave as quickly as possible?" Alison had spoken aloud.
There was no answer from her.
"Em...Emily?"
Emily should've been ready and downstairs in the kitchen with Alison to eat the pancakes that Ali had prepared for her, they were her favourites-blueberry and chocolate chip. See, Emily is so indecisive, she wants to be healthy but she wants something that tastes good. That's what Ali loved about Emily-she wants everything, Emily doesn't settle for second best, and I know what you are thinking 'That's quite an assumption for Alison to make from how Em preferred her pancakes'. But Ali know's her girl like the back of her hand, they were childhood best friends and even when Alison was more than unruly, Emily saw her beauty and knew all her insecurities…she loved her for them.
"Emily, get here now?!" Alison pleaded "Your breakfast is getting cold and we need to g…"
Alison was interrupted by hands over her eyes.
"Emily Fields!?, you are not allowed to play games right now, we are going to be late" Alison whined.
In a giggly tone - "Who said it was Emily, I live here too?".
"Spence? I know we are closer than ever, but this is Emily's territory…she is possessive" Ali said sarcastically. - "Also, can you get your hands from over my eyes, I would like to have my sight back?".
Spencer huffed "Well, no? …Em recruited me to bring you to her".
"With all due respect, I do know my way around MY house, plus, I know since we've gotten pregnant she has gotten much more protective, I'd like to have some freedom to walk around the house unaided".
"Sorry Al, but orders are orders, come on".
Spencer made sure that Ali promised not to open her eyes until they had reached their destination. "Stay there Alison".
"Alright Spence, she isn't a poodle", Emily commented from the master bedroom, she continued. "Okay, come on in".
Spencer unlocks the bedroom door, the orange glow bounces off their newly painted, slightly off- white walls. There was still a hint of paint chemicals lingering in the room. This is the first time Ali has been in her and Em's bedroom since they had moved in 4 months ago. Emily insisted that she was going to decorate the bedroom as a side project, hence why it has taken 4 months. Ali was getting slightly irritated, not only because she was hormonal but she hated being late. Her brow furrowed as her eyes adjusted to the gentle glow of a room full of candles.
"Spence…Spencer" Emily tried to get Spencer's attention, "You can go now, thankyou".
As was Alison, Spencer was in awe of what she set her eyes upon.
"Wow, I'm impressed" Spencer commented.
Alison chimed in, "Well said Spence".
Emily reaches out for Alison's left hand, she could feel the coolness of the metal on Ali's ring finger, it had reminded her that she had landed her first love and that they were about to become a family. Emily pulled Alison close to her body, close enough to feel Ali's small but protruding baby bump against her own stomach. Spencer easily slipped away and left them alone.
"Hey" Emily said with smiling eyes.
"Hey?" Alison replied with slight confusion. "What, what are you doing, what's the special occasion?"
"Well apart from you, it is our 2 year anniversary as a couple" Emily replied with pride.
"Damn! even I forgot and I don't forget anything".
"That's funny, you said that without moving your mouth. I didn't know you had taken up ventriloquism?" Emily sarcastically answered.
Ali called out, "Spencer? Are you eaves dropping on us, I know we are close friends, and now apparently family but we need our space".
"What? No, of course not, I wouldn't invade your personal space…I, I just dropped a pen and it happened to be right outside your door, so I accidentally heard the conversation".
Spencer added, "Uhhm, also you have about 30 minutes before you need to be at the OBGYN".
"We're going to be late, Ali, you hate being late".
"I know that, that is why I was calling you earlier?! - before Spencer kidnapped me and brought me to you" Ali had said with a raised brow.
"Sorry, we'll finish this later - I promise, it'll be worth the wait" Emily says with the insinuation of something more.
Emily extinguishes the candles with a gentle blow over the groups of four and then places a kiss on Alison's cheek, then she swiftly proceeds and brushes past her through the door-way to grab their coats.
"Alison DiLaurentis?" An OB called from the side room.
She had interrupted the game of 'Let's guess the gender of Emison's baby', which was being played by Alison, Emily and Spencer. (I mean come on, you really think Spencer was going to miss out on getting to see her cousin find out the gender of her baby ).
"I'm sorry Alison if the gel is cold" The OB warned.
"Don't worry, I've been through a lot worse" Ali responded trying to make a joke.
The door to the side room slammed open and in burst Hanna and Aria, a few seconds later, in followed Ezra and Caleb looking mortified that their wives just bypassed security.
"Sorry" Hanna mumbled out as she grimaced whilst just realising the amount of chaos they had caused.
Aria butted in "Sorry we're late Ali, but Hanna was deciding on what shoes to wear".
"Hey!?", Hanna dragged out her words. " I refuse to look like a disaster when I'm about to find out if I'm going to be an auntie to a baby boy or girl".
"Well, it looks like you three are about to become aunties of two". The OB corrected Hanna with a slight heightened tone.
The room fell silent. Ali looked at Em for reassurance. Ali has only ever done this with Emily, Ali rarely shows any 'weaknesses', they only come to light when Emily is present. Aria's hands searched for a familiar touch, she grabbed both Spencer's and Ezra's hands in shock.
Hanna being classic Hanna squealed from excitement "TWINS!".
"Twins? Are, are you sure?" Emily approached with caution.
"Why didn't we know this sooner?" Alison finished Emily's sentence.
Spencer interrupted, "Well it would've been too soon to tell".
The OB confirmed Spencer's claim, "Exactly that, but twin B was hiding behind twin A".
Aria piped up and jokingly expressed "Well, I guess we can say that twin A takes after Alison".
The observation was met by a room full of laughs. Caleb maintained his silence, Hanna was deafened by it. A baby has been a sore topic for Haleb. Hanna believes that it stems from Caleb's poor childhood experiences and that he fears he won't make a good father to his offspring.
"Are you two finding out the gender of your babies or is it a surprise?".
Hanna once again interrupts, "Please, Ali , Em, find out whether we'll be getting nieces, nephews or a niece and a nephew".
"Shall we?" Alison questions Hanna's request.
Ali looks up at Em from the hospital bed. Emily grasps a hold of her girls' hand to offer support.
"Look Ali, I'm happy to find out now or wait till their birth, either way we are being blessed with two babies and an overwhelming amount of love".
Alison responded with some hesitance and uncertainty, "I kind- of-want to find out who we are bringing into the world, before they actually get here".
"So doc, tell us!" Emily interjected.
Hanna, Aria, Spencer and even Ezra held their breath with anxiousness. Caleb simply looked at the floor, wishing he could be anywhere but here, in a room full of friends that have become family and now there is going to be new babies, which is surely going to spark conversations and tension between him and his wife.
"Congratulations, Alison, Emily, aunties and well, I guess…uncles?, the babies are looking like little girls!".
Ali's face slowly melted away the look of uncertainty and her face softened into a smile, after learning that her family was about to grow by two and having more females under one roof. Emily's eyes have a way of transmitting emotion that only Alison had picked up on. Alison knew that Emily was ecstatic and beyond happy. Alison could feel Emily's hand move away from a tight clasp over her hands and to her tummy which was nourishing and protecting their daughters.
Emily exclaimed, "Ewww!, I have that gloop on my hand"
"Well that gloop acts as a coupling agent to help you see your gir…" Spencer was cut short.
Emily continues with her speech to her little princesses, "Hi girls, your mommies are so excited to meet you. You are already so loved and we are going to protect you the best we can, so you two sit tight and we'll see you soon" Emily speaks in a high pitched tone to Ali's stomach.
Ali doesn't feel the need to verbally express herself, her facial expression of a plastered on smile seemed like enough confirmation of how she was feeling.
"Okay, enough hogging all the limelight. Let auntie Hanna introduce herself".
Alison interrupts, "Girls , this is your auntie Hanna…she talks, a lot. You'll learn to ignore some of her ramblings".
"Actually", Emily drags out her words as she is trying to gather her thoughts. "She may be useful in teaching you how to talk".
"Hey!…I mean I'm flattered but also offended". Hanna says with a cautious amount of pride. "You girls may also encourage uncle Caleb to have a baby of his own" Hanna tries to drop a 'subtle' hint. Caleb rolls his eyes and tuts at the remark.
Aria responds to the news, "Aww, Ezra. We should get to work on baby soon, we have been married for a year already".
"Thanks guys!?" Ezra says sarcastically indirectly to Emily and Alison.
Spencer is the last person to make any comment on the revelation of Emison's unborn twin girls. Mainly because her family home was and is dysfunctional, but also, she has acquired a new family; Alison, Emily, the twins and Mary and Alex Drake. It's safe to say that Spencer has mixed emotions about who she has inherited but the Emison twins are an addition she is happy to welcome.
"I'm so happy for you two" Spencer says with a smile and goes over to hug Emily and then leans down to hug Alison who is still on the bed.
Ezria and Haleb had already left to go to their cars, somewhere in the distance. Alison had nipped to the toilet because the ever- growing babies are putting much more stress on her bladder. This gave Emily the perfect opportunity to ask Spencer to make her way back home and re-set up the master bedroom by lighting all 73 candles so Alison and herself can enjoy their two-year anniversary.
"So, you want me to light 73 candles…can I have some help?" Spencer insisted.
"As long as the job is done by 8pm, you have 4hrs. Oh, and make sure everyone is scarce, so go right ahead and employ some minions…you have your keys, right?" Emily asked with some hope.
"Yes. I give you my word Em, we'll be gone". Spencer called out, "Hey, Aria…Hanna, we're going back to Ali's, we've been set a mission".
Sarcastically Hanna responded, "Roger that!"