Thanks for all the favourites, follows and reviews, it makes all the writing worth it. Hopefully everyone will like this chapter too, and just as a note, there won't be anything romantic between Cyrus and Alison, just friendship!
Oh and too all my fellow Emison shippers, don't lose hope, keep the faith. Even if things are bad on the show right now, I'm confident that Ali isn't evil, or 'A'... but until we get some screen time, feel free to drown yourself in fanfiction, I know I do!
Enjoy.
Beautiful Little Secret
Chapter 1
Frantically Ali ran. Her swollen belly made it difficult to move very fast, but when you're afraid for your life, your child's life, you find the strength… somehow.
Moving down along the ally away from A's wrath she ran towards the old abandoned building she was staying at. There was a light dusting of snow on the streets and even in this rundown place the glow of Christmas lights flickered from surrounding businesses.
Stopping at the door she glances over her shoulder and slips into the building. It's dark inside, but slowly, cautiously she moves farther into the room. With difficulty she reaches down and picks up a plug and puts it in the nearest socket.
She'd been lucky to find this old building, the bottom where she was staying used to by an old diner, and because there were still tenets living above it there was electricity.
When the dim string of Christmas lights lit up the space, she glanced around at her improvised home.
She'd managed to scavenge a mattress, some blankets, a little bit of food, an old Christmas tree and with a little of the money she had left she even splurged on a tiny antique, white bassinet she'd found at a nearby thrift store.
Under the tree she had two bags, each containing a few baby items, clothes and diapers mostly.
It was 2 weeks before Christmas and her baby was due any day now, although she's not sure of the actual date.
It isn't much, but she's done what she can to make sure she has a few things for her child.
Slipping off her boots and the red trench coat that's been hiding her baby bump, she rests on the mattress, and pulls out a picture frame containing a photo of herself and Emily.
In these quiet moments in her 'home' she allows herself a few seconds of bliss. Each night she thinks of her friends, and her love, and now her baby too. She dreams of the day she can take her child and return to Rosewood, and in her dreams she imagines that they are welcomed with open arms by the only person she's ever really loved.
Unavoidably her thoughts don't stay blissful though, instead she's reminded of the fact that 'A' is now after Aria, Spencer, Hanna and Emily too. Part of the reason she'd left in the first place was to keep them safe, but now she has the guilt of this weighing her down.
Her heart is heavy and sometimes she just feels like giving up, that is until she feels a little foot or a little hand move, it's enough to remind herself why she keeps going.
Just when she's loosing herself in her thoughts again, there's a noise from outside, startling her. As quickly as she can manage Alison pulls herself to her feet, grabs her red coat and moves over to unplug the lights. Another noise, closer this time, makes her heart race. Tucking herself in the empty space between the wall and the back of the door she waits with bated breath, if there is someone outside she has nowhere to run.
The door beside her rattles harshly, and she almost gasps.
When a tall man shoves the door aside and waltzes inside she can't stop the squeak of terror.
He turns towards her, his dark eyes hard, his blonde hair and clothes dirty, but judging by the roundness of his cheeks he can't be much older than her, 17 or 18 at most.
His eyes find her in the darkness and he looks almost as terrified as she feels.
They stare at each other for a while before he moves towards her with lightning speed.
He attacks her, his fist hitting her jaw before he grabs her shoulders and shoves her into the wall.
"Give me all your money and I'll let you go." The boy growls into her ear.
His hot breath sends a spike of terror through her.
Paralyzed with fear she doesn't speak at first and he slides one hand to her throat, tightening over her windpipe.
She can't manage to speak so with a trembling hand she points towards the mattress where her brown bag is.
He lets her go, shoving her hard to the ground. She catches herself and winces as the rough cement tears into her flesh.
The boy immediately rushes over to her bed and grabs the bag rummaging through it. When he finds the envelope of cash, he shoves it in his coat pocket.
Tears are falling down her face, but she'd rather him just take the money, she still has a bit stashed in Rosewood that Cece can get for her, she just wants this guy gone so he doesn't hurt her or her baby.
Just as he's about to turn and leave he picks the old bag up and flings it over his shoulder. Now a surge of anger runs through her because that bag contains the only things from her old life, two journals, two picture frames, some old postcards and a small stuffed teddy bear Emily had gotten her for Valentine's day the year she'd ran away.
Making a decision she stands and rushes towards the young man. Before he can turn around she lunges for him.
He isn't expecting it, but he is still stronger and bigger than her. Alison pulls helplessly at the bag on his shoulder, using all of her strength to kick and hit him, but as they struggle she realizes that it's useless.
When she's distracted planning her next move the boy takes out and knife from his pocket and shoves blindly into soft flesh.
Ali screams when the blade sinks deep into her thigh.
Realizing what he's done the boy lets go and looks at her in horror. His eyes are wide as he watches the blood run from her wound as she desperately tries to stop it.
Panicking the boy, with the bag still on his shoulder, moves towards the door to make an escape.
Alison is crying now, and in this moment of weakness she doesn't know what to do. If the cut doesn't stop bleeding she'll lose too much blood and her baby could die.
"Please… please don't go, my baby... please."
Her voice is filled with pain and sorrow, she's pleading now.
"Please, you can keep the money just… please my baby."
Feeling guilt pooling in his stomach the young man turns around to look at the blonde girl he'd just stabbed.
She's slumped against a wall, her hands wrapped around the wound, trying to stop the bleeding. And for the first time he gets a good look at her because the light from a nearby window illuminates her figure. The red coat she's wearing hangs open over her belly, and he can see that she's with child.
His heart clenches. He'd never meant to hurt her, and if he'd known she was pregnant he would've stayed away. He'd just needed the money so badly.
Deciding that even if he was a no good thief, a runaway and a street kid, he had to do the right thing.
Tossing the bag down he moves towards the girl slowly.
Her eyes widen when she sees him coming closer, fear gripping at her heart wondering if he's going to kill her.
Instead he drops to his knees in front of her, and cautiously moves her hands away from the wound.
Her jeans are soaked through, but the cut isn't very long, just deep, he presumes. Taking off his jacket he balls it up and puts it on top of the cut, applying pressure trying to stop the bleeding.
He looks up into eyes that are so brilliantly blue it startles him.
Not knowing what to say he averts his eyes again, but she doesn't.
She watches him carefully, intrigued by his sudden change in demeanour. But knowing she needs help she decides not to question him just yet, instead she just whispers, "Thank you."
Surprised by her voice the young man looks up again, "We need to bandage this up or it will get infected. Do you have any medical supplies?"
Nodding, she points towards an old diner table in the corner.
With swift movements he retrieves the little cardboard box and sits down beside her again.
"Ummm, you're going to have to get rid of those…" He awkwardly motions to her jeans.
Blushing slightly she moves to stand. Seeing her struggle he helps her to her feet and turns away as she discards the garment.
Sitting back down, this time on the mattress, she pulls a blanket over her lap, covering herself but leaving the wound exposed.
It's gross, and she can't even stomach looking at it, blood always makes her queasy.
"Okay you can turn around… I'm Ali by the way."
He turns around and meets her gaze, "I'm Cyrus."
She gives him a half smile, but then winces in pain.
Kneeling next to her for a third time Cyrus rummages through the box of miscellaneous bandages and ointments.
Taking out a small bottle of rum he pours the alcohol over the stab wound, she tenses up as the liquor burns.
With a clean square of gauze he wipes away the remaining blood, which has finally stopped oozing from the cut.
Using an old piece of rag and some tape he tightly wraps up her leg.
"There that's about as good as it's going to get. At least it won't bleed anymore, and if you keep it clean it shouldn't get infected."
She just nods at him.
They stay in silence for a few minutes before he gets up and starts to head for the door.
"Wait…"
Ali's voice calls after him.
"Are you hungry?"
He turns back to look at her and nods.
She points to the grocery bag near the mattress. Cyrus reaches in and grabs two granola bars before moving back over and sitting on the floor in front of the girl.
He hands her one of the bars which she takes.
They start to eat in silence until Alison pipes up again.
"Even if you did break into my space, and attack me, it's kind of nice having some company."
Cyrus looks up at her with a bashful look.
"Yeah I'm sorry about that… I really wasn't trying to hurt anybody… it's just living on the street…"
Before he can finish she interrupts him.
"I get it. It's hard out here. You can't be all bad though because you did stay and help me."
"I really am sorry." He motions to her leg.
"As long as my baby is fine, I'll be fine."
The conversation dies off for several minutes while they finish eating, but as Cyrus takes another bite he can't help but blurt out something he's been wondering.
"Why did you try and stop me when I took that bag? I mean, you were just gonna let me leave when I'd only taken the money, what's so special about it?"
Alison lets out a breath thinking of Emily and her friends.
"It's a long story."
He gives her an incredulous look.
"Okay, so how about this one. How is it a pretty girl like you, a pretty girl that's about to be a mother, ended up out on the street?"
This time she chuckles.
"That's an even longer story."
He shakes his head at her laughing.
"I've got time."
Looking into his eyes she wonders about him too. Because he is clearly a decent person, unlike her… but like her, life must've dealt him a rough hand. For a second she ponders his offer. It could be nice, having someone to talk to for once, maybe even a friend. It'd been over a year since she's had one of those… But in the back of her mind she can't stop the nagging feeling because what if he's working for 'A', what if he exposes her? She can't take that chance. Just as she's about to ask him to leave, her baby pushes his or her hand up against her.
For some reason it feels like a sign.
Deciding to trust someone for once in her life she throws caution to the wind.
"I'm not kidding when I say it's a long story, are you sure you're up for it?"
"Well, it's not like I have any place to be… if you don't mind me staying."
"I actually wouldn't mind the company; peanut isn't exactly a chatterbox…" She motions to her belly and he laughs.
"But there is one condition…"
"And what's that?"
"When I'm finished with my story, you tell me yours."
Giving her a small smile and sticking out his hand with a raised eyebrow, she shakes his hand with a smile.
"Deal."
And so with a deep breath she starts to tell her tale.