Merry Christmas everyone. Hope you all had a great day.
This chapter is set two months after the last one. Ali and Emily's relationship has remained challenging over the past few weeks. Things are changing for almost all of the girls. Some are small changes, and some are life changing.
Chapter 3: Unexpected
It was just after 10am on a Friday morning when Hanna unlocked the door of the boutique. She walked inside and flipped the sign on the window from closed to open. She then picked up the mail that was on the floor and tossed it on the counter while humming 'Let it Go' from Frozen. Noah had gotten a Disney DVD collection for his birthday two months before and made sure he brought it with him to Hanna's when her and Caleb were babysitting him last night. They watched Frozen on repeat and as much as she wanted to get the song out of her head, she couldn't.
"Stupid fucking song" she mumbled as she placed her bag behind the counter and took off her black Prada sunglasses.
She continued humming and broke into singing while walking towards the dressing room to retrieve the boxes she had stored in there the night before.
"Conceal don't feel don't let them knowwwwww"
"Well now they knowwwwwwwww"
"Let it goooo, let it gooowaaAAAAAAAHHHHHH" she screamed.
"Jesus Ali, what the fuck. What are u doing here? You could have announced yourself" Hanna paused and took a moment to gather herself. "I was about to go full blown Kung Fu Panda on your ass"
"Sorry...I thought I text you" Ali mumbled in response.
Hanna glared at Ali with her hand firmly placed on her heart. "Well you didn't"
Ali let out a deep sigh in response and ran her hand through her ruffled hair.
"Wait...Did you sleep here?" Hanna asked, eyeing the blonde and waiting for a valid explanation as to why she was laying there with mascara running down her flushed face.
"No...No I just came here early" Ali rasped as she sat upright on the chair. "Emily dropped me on her way to work this morning. I was up early so I said I'd come in and get some work done before opening...but then my head started going places"
"Whats wrong?" Hanna questioned, her face scrunching in disguist when Ali blew her nose into one of the many tissues scattered around her.
"Ugh" Ali sighed, running her hand over her face. She really wasn't in the mood to tell her friend that her marriage was falling apart. "It's nothing Han"
"Ali...your eyes tell a different story, now spill" Hanna demanded, taking a seat on the chair next to Ali
"It's just…...My mind is everywhere"
"Why's that?" Hanna questioned
Ali took a deep breath and and picked on a loose thread on the chair.
"Ali" Hanna called out. "You know you can talk to me right"
Alison looked up at her blonde friend, her icy blue eyes were filled with concern. She knew she wasn't getting out of this easy so it was best to just cut to the chase and tell Hanna. 'Maybe it might be good to talk to someone' Ali thought to herself, seeing as she was getting anywhere when she tried to talk to Emily. Alison blew out air from her cheeks and fiddled with her wedding ring on her finger.
"Me and Emily are in such a bad place right now..." Ali trailed off with a loud sigh. "We're fighting all the time and the issue is never resolved. It usually ends with crying or Emily storming out somewhere" she took a deep breath. "And a few weeks ago she left the house and got hammered, and well...she came home with Paige."
"She what" hanna shouted in disbelief
"Nothing happened, she just…. she gave Emily a ride home, and well.. she..." Ali dropped her head in her hands.
"She what?"
Ali paused for a minute and darted her eyes up to the ceiling, trying to prevent more tears spilling from her eyes. "She mumbled something before she went to sleep and it's...it's just been replaying in my head all the time since"
Hanna rubbed circles along around Alis back to comfort her. "What did she say"
"I was helping her into bed and before she dozed off she mumbled 'I bet Paige would have given me children'...it just broke my heart to hear that you know"
Just telling Hanna how she was feeling, how things were between the married couple and what Emily said that night made the tears she was holding back fall freely down her face. The blonde was feeling so overwhelmed by the whole situation.
"So the fights have been about babies?" Hanna sighed.
"Yeah, most of them" Ali sighed. "Emily wants kids. I don't...Well I do, but I just...I don't know. I'm not cut out for it." Ali took another tissue from the box and wiped her face while Hanna placed a reassuring squeese on her arm. "And I'm waking up at all hours of the night covered in sweat because I dream of Emily leaving me and having babies with someone else, or her turning around In ten years and hating me for not giving her children...Well...that is if we even last 10 years" Ali let out a deep sigh, giving Hanna a moment to take everything in before she continued. "I know at the start of our relationship we talked about children but we just brushed it off until recently and ever since we started talking about it again we're just...Distant, you know? Especially the past few weeks. Our marriage has reached a new now, its crumbling away right before our eyes and we try to act like its okay...but it's not"
Hanna shook her head, trying to process the information that was thrown at her. It broke her heart to see Ali like this. She knew there was tension between Emily and Ali everytime she saw them together but she didn't know it was this bad. She looked at Ali and took her hands in her own. "Ali...What makes you think your not cut out to be a mother? You would be a great mother. I've seen you with Noah, that child adores you….and Emily. Even last night when he was with me and Caleb he was asking to go to your house to play. He loves his aunts Em and Ali" she smiled.
"I just can't imagine myself being a good mom you know? My mother definitely wasn't any good at it" Ali paused, taking a moment to gather herself. "I really want children with Emily, I do...but I won't put a child through that. And it hurts me so much to do this to Emily but I refuse to become Jessica Dilaurentis."
Hanna laughed at the blondes words and moved her hands to her friends shoulders. "Ali you're nothing like your mother. Your Alison Dilaurentis. Your you, your not her. I mean you've come so far since high school, your such a kind, genuine and loving person. What makes you think that's all going to change when you have a baby?"
"I never thought of it that way" Ali sniffled. "I've been so tempted to tell Emily I want babies with her but every time I go to do it I hear my mums voice, laughing at me telling me I would be a terrible mother, that I would be just like her and that bringing children into a failing relationship is the worst thing I could do to them"
"Ali, that's all in your head. If you want to become a mother then become a mother. Don't let your conscience control your life. It's as simple as that. Having a baby doesn't mean you'll automatically become Jessica Dilaurentis. I mean just because me and Caleb are having a baby doesn't mean Caleb's going to leave like his dad did...well atleast I hope he doesn't" Hanna trailed off with a soft chuckle. "He's almost as excited as I am. I know he has a good relationship with his dad now but he didn't have that when he was younger. Caleb even said that it would inspire him to be a great father, and he always told me before I got pregnant that he would be a father his father wasn't. So Ali...you go be a mother your mother wasn't."
"Hold on" Ali held her hands out infront of Hanna. "Your pregnant?."
"Shit" Hanna smiled. "I promised Caleb I wouldn't say anything, we only found out a few weeks ago"
"HANNA. Oh My God I'm so happy for you" Ali beamed, placing her hand on the blondes non visible bump. "My lips are sealed"
Hanna smiled, pulling her blonde friend and businesspartner in for a hug. "Now you get your ass moving and make me some Dilaurentis-Fields baby's to spoil"
The two blondes were interrupted from their moment when a shocked looking Aria waddled towards them with bagels and coffee in her hands.
The petite brunette cleared her throat. "Sorry to interrupt...whatever's going on here but I decided to bring you some lunch...and" She looked down to her bump. "...And then my water broke...on your floor, yep right over there by the counter"
The two blondes shot up from their spot of the sofa with wide eyes and immediately jumped into action.
"Fuck, Hanna you drive" Ali shouted.
"Oh god...I'm not delivering a baby in this store. Where are my keys?" Hanna screamed
"I'll call Ezra on the way" Ali blurted as the two women helped the very pregnant brunette out to Hanna's car, locking the shop door behind them.
"Soooo, I want you to finish questions 10-18 and start reading the next two chapters for Monday. And remember your portfolios are due before summer break so get moving with them, I want no excuses okay...No portfolio no grade simple as" the chemistry teacher trailed off as the bell rang. "Okay have a nice weekend" she finished as the students began filing out of her classroom.
"Coach" a students voice called as she entered the room.
"Oh Amber, Hi. What can i do for you?" Emily asked while packing her things into her bag.
"I wanted to ask if you would consider letting me swim the last leg of the relay next weekend?"
"Well...Kyra has already asked me but...maybe I'll let you two battle it out in the pool at swim practice Monday. Winner gets to swim the last leg."
"Sounds fair" the student smiled "Thanks Mrs D-Fields."
"Your welcome Amber. Have a nice half day."
Since it was a half day and Emily had a few hours before Ali came home from work, she planned to cook her wife a nice dinner. She planned to head straight to the store and get all the ingredients she needed, as well as a boquet of roses and some candles for the table. They really needed to relight that spark in their relationship and actually talk, have a real conversation without fighting. The brunette was sick of watching her relationship fall apart.
Emily threw her bag over her shoulder and picked up her phone from her desk. When she pressed the home button on her phone she saw she had two missed calls and a text from Ali.
Hey babe, At the hospital with Aria and Hanna. Aria came into the shop with lunch for us and her water broke. This baby's coming fast so hurry. Love you xx -Ali
Emily eyes widened with excitement when she read the text. She got her things and rushed out of her classroom trying to avoid eye contact with everyone in the hall so none of them would stop her for a conversation while she made her way to her car. The brunette was so excited to have another niece or nephew to spoil. It was the least she could do since it didn't seem like she and Ali were ever going to have children of their own.
She arrived at the hospital less than twenty minutes later to be met by Alison standing at the entrance.
"Hey" Emily smiled as she ran breathlessly towards the blonde. "How's the mum-to-be?"
"I imagine she's in a LOT of pain" Ali chuckled, placing a kiss on her wifes lips. A kiss Emily gratefully accepted. "This baby isn't wasting any time Em, The labour came on so fast. Baby fitz is already nearly here"
"Poor Aria" Emily chuckled. "Where are the others?"
"Hannas in the waiting room and Spencer's on her way. I just needed some air...Everything happened so fast, I mean, one minute me and Hanna were talking and the next thing I'm in a delivery room getting my hand squeezed off, listening to Aria AND Hanna screaming. Hanna decided to scream along because apparently it seemed to be helping Aria. Although I think it was Helping Hanna more" Ali trailed off with a soft chuckle. "And then Aria was shouting at everyone that touched her because Ezra wasn't there."
"Did he come in time" Emily asked.
"Just in time. Arias Doctor was getting ready to deliver and he ran through the door. Thank god he did because Me and Hanna would have had to step in and I don't think I could have handled that, never mind Hanna." Alison laughed.
The blonde held Emily's hand and smiled at her. She looked into those brown orbs and for the first time in weeks she felt peace of mind. She had to admit, a baby right now would be great for them because it would would add a ray of sunshine to their relationship, it would give them a reason to sort their problems and it would be something to make them happy again.
"Come on" she smiled to the brunette. "let's go upstairs"
The two walked up to the waiting room hand in hand through comfortable silence. The first time in weeks that the silence between them felt right.
"What's wrong with you?" Ali asked with furrowed brows when she saw Hanna wiping tears from her eyes with kleenex from the box that the nurse had placed infront of her.
"Oh nothing" she sniffled. "You know just the miracle of life. We're all finally becoming parents and it's just so overwhelming"
"Hormones" Ali mouthed to her friend from behind Emilys back.
"What do you mean were all becoming parents" Emily chuckled. "There's only two babies between the five of us Han"
Hanna stared blankly at the two in front of her, hoping she hadn't given away any of her and Ali's conversation from earlier in the day. Ali looked at her with folded arms and a smirk, waiting to see what excuse she would come up with.
Hanna tried to save herself. "Well we all are at some stage" But while doing so just made the situation more uncomfortable
Emily breathed in deeply through her nose and wiped non existent dirt from her shirt. This conversation had suddenly swerved in a direction that was ruining the good mood. She didn't even catch onto the fact that Hanna just let it slip that she was pregnant, and that Ali had some news of her own to share with her wife once they got home.
The girls sat in the waiting room for what felt like hours. Ali hadn't gotten a proper night sleep in a while so, with her mind finally at ease, the exhausted blonde dozed off on her wifes laps.
Hanna was sitting across from the two reading a vogue magazine while Emily sat running her fingers through the blondes hair eagerly waiting to find out if she had a new niece or a nephew.
"Who's watching the store?" Emily asked.
"Closed for the day" hanna answered.
"Didn't you two just hire someone two weeks ago, why not ask her to work?"
"No point" Hanna rolled her eyes. "She'll probably just give me some stupid excuse like she always does. Me and Ali are going to get rid of her and hire someone else, she's useless" the blonde trailed off with a loud sigh. "Fridays are usually quiet anyway"
Spencer arrived mid conversation and ran over to her friends, buzzing with excitement just like them.
"Spence I delivered the baby in the stockroom" Hanna joked as she stood up and hugged her friend.
"Oh I'm sure you did Dr Rivers" Spencer grinned as she handed the three girls the coffes she got them on the way over.
The commotion woke Ali up and her and Hanna told Spencer and Emily about the ordeal they had with Aria who refused to push out the baby without Ezra being there.
"Where's Noah?" Hanna asked before sipping her iced tea, which she tried to imagine was an iced mocha. Her caffeine withdrawals were coming on strong since she stopped drinking coffee a few weeks ago.
"Melissa came home from London last night. Her and Wren are watching him. They brought him and Theo to the movies to see the new Spiderman movie"
"How old is Theo now? I haven't seen him in so long?" Ali questioned, holding her vanilla latte firmly in her hands.
"He's six, he's such a cutie with his little british accent, and he is Wrens double" Spencer smiled. "You should see him, it's like looking at a mini Wren"
Hanna widened her eyes. "I suppose it's better than looking at a Mini melissa"
The group broke into laughter and conversation continued between them as they sipped on their drinks and eagerly awaited news on their new niece or nephew.
About two hours later Ezra strolled down the corridor, a smile from ear to ear. The four jumped up from their seats and were already standing when Ezra reached them.
"So… would you like to come and meet your niece" he beamed
"Niece" Emily breathed.
"A tiny baby Aria" Spencer smiled with her hand to her heart.
The girls followed Ezra into the room to see Aria sitting there staring at the beautiful baby girl in her arms. She greeted the girls with a smile and Ezra walked over and kissed her forehead.
"We'd like you to meet...Jane Ella Fitz" Aria announced, smiling down at her and her husbands green-eyed bundle of joy.
"Jane...oh my god I love it" Hanna announced with her hand to her heart.
"It suits her" Emily smiled down to the baby in Arias arms.
"Hello sweet girl" Spencer whispered after she accepted the baby girl from Arias arms. She held the baby for a few minutes, admiring her beautiful little features as the rest talked around her, asking Aria how the labour was and of course, Hanna asking if she pooped on the table.
"Your cousin Noah is so excited to meet you" Spencer smiled before handing the baby over to Hanna. "She's beautiful guys" she smiled at Aria and walked over to give the brunette a hug.
"You little beaut, look at you, I can already tell you'll be a heartbreaker" Hanna smiled while fighting back tears. "I'm your aunt Hanna and I'm going to spoil you rotten baby girl, yess I am"
Hanna admired the baby's green eyes and little specks of brunette hair. She reluctantly handed the her over to Emily and then looked up at Aria and Ezra. "I'm so proud of u babe" she called out to the petite brunette while walking over and pulling the two proud parents in for a hug.
Aria and Ezra were beaming with excitement and started to talk to the girls about their choice of name. They had decided to name their daughter after the famous author, Jane Austen.
"I figured you guys would use a cute literary name" Spencer smirked from her position on the bed next to Aria. "You know, having parents who are both authors and English majors"
"Who's Jane Austen?" Hanna questioned, her brows knitted in confusion.
"Jeez Hanna" Ezra laughed. "Didn't I teach you anything when I was your teacher"
Ali and Emily both looked at their niece while conversation continued between the others.
"She's beautiful" Emily rasped with a smile as the tears brimming in her eyes were becomming impossible to hold in.
"Aww babe don't cry" Ali chuckled, wiping a stray tear from Emily's cheek before she rested her head on her wifes shoulder.
In this moment, Ali knew this is what she wanted. She wanted Emily and she wanted a baby. Her relationship may be rocky right now but her life was perfect with Emily in it and a baby with the love of her life would just top it all off. She couldn't wait to get home and tell Emily she was ready...ready to start their little family.
Hanna looked over at Ali and the two shared a knowing smile.
Emily placed a gentle kiss on Janes head and handed her to her wife.
"Well aren't you a cutie, Wow you look just like your mommy." The bkmde grinned as she cradled the newborn in her arms.
Ali couldn't help the tears that ran down her cheeks. She didn't know what she was thinking refusing to have a baby with Emily because right now a baby is all that she wanted.
"Look whos crying now" Emily chuckled as she wiped the blondes tears and kissed her forehead.
Ali gently rubbed Janes head with her thumb and after a few minutes of mezmorizing the baby, handed her to her daddy.
After about an hour with the proud new parents and their little niece Jane, the girls decided to leave and let Aria and Ezra spend some alone time with their new baby.
"I think we should go somewhere for the summer" Ali suggested on the car drive home. "We really need to reconnect, relight that spark in our relationship and I think Paris would be the best place to do it"
Emily looked to her wife and smiled before putting her eyes back on the road. "That's weird...I was only thinking the same thing in class today."
"We might as well...Enjoy the last of our freedom while we can" she hinted as a huge smile broke out on her face.
"What do you mean the last of our freedom" Emily questioned, confused at her wife's statement.
"Oh nothing" Ali smiled, placing her hand on Emily's knee and giving it a gentle squeeze. "Nothing" she chuckled softly and shook her head.
The two women stopped at the traffic light which gave Emily to opportunity to look over at her wife in the passenger's seat.
"You know I can't figure you out" she smiled, reaching over and pushing a strand of hair behind Ali's ear.
The two girls got caught in each other's loving gaze. Emily's eyes widened and smile dropped when the headlights of a car coming towards them caught her attention. The driver of the car had lost control and was coming straight towards them, towards her wife who was completely unaware of what was about to happen. Ali looked at her distracted wife questionably but before she could come to the realisation about what was about to happen, it was too late...