Sorry I didn't get this up sooner, I've been battling the flu. Anyways, enjoy!

Seeing Alison
Part IV- Aria

I feel myself being slowly pulled back to consciousness by the sound of rustling around me. Still groggy from the fever I slowly open my eyes and roll over, unsure of what sight will greet me.

That's when I see her. In my state of semi-awareness I'm unsure who the figure is, at first I think it's Meredith. Irritation shoots through me and I blurt out "What are you doing?"

The figure pauses for a second and just as she starts to turn my waking mind begins to clear. I know that delicate frame, those silky curls of gold and lightly sun-kissed skin, better than I probably should, but I could never make myself forget.

As she turns to face me I sit bolt upright staring at her glowing in the light from my window.

Alison.

She gives me the tiniest of smiles, "I'm taking back what's mine."

"Is this a dream?"

She smiles a little wider, almost smirking at my stupid question, but she takes a few steps toward me and answers anyways.

"No sweetie… I'm more real than I've ever been."

I gaze up at her, taking in her presence before pulling myself up a little more and scooting over to make room for her.

"Tell me what it's like, tell me everything."

Her eyes stay locked on mine as she moves towards the bed and to take a seat.

"I don't know who said that knowledge was king, some old fart probably… But he was right. I see everything now. I missed so much when I was here."

"Do you see 'A'?"

"Everywhere I turn. So do you, you all do. I'm surprised Spencer hasn't figured that out."

She looks down at the doll in her lap but doesn't say more. It takes a few seconds but she pulls out the diary pages and I can't stop myself from asking.

"Did it really happen, what you wrote in those pages? Were you blackmailing my dad?"

She smiles a little and lifts her head. Her cerulean blue orbs lock on mine and her smile morphs into a huge grin.

"Byron's really coming around isn't he? I mean when the chips were down with Ezra's mom…"

I start to feel anxious and I can't handle her indirect statements, so I interrupt her, desperately needing answers.

"Ali. I need to know the truth."

As the words come out a strange expression crosses her face, something like hurt and uncertainty but I can tell by the set of her jaw that she is absolutely determined.

"If I tell you the truth, you don't have to believe it." She says in the most matter-of-fact tone I've ever heard from her.

My resolve nearly crumbles when she bats her eyes at me but I try one more time.

"Please…" I beg her with my eyes.

She shakes her head a little, but I see her determination crack.

"I was desperate for that money."

The honesty in her voice hurts worse than knowing she blackmailed my father. Deep inside I feel my heart ache for her, why was she so desperate? Was that why she was killed? Or if she is here, then maybe why she had to fake dying?

I can't let her see my true anguish though, so I go with the next emotion I can find.

"How could you do that to my family, to me?"

Her eyes are sad, and I can see her silently begging for my forgiveness.

"It was just a threat, I never called your mom."

Her words settle around me and inside me. A single breath passes between us and I ask her the question that's really been weighing on my heart.

"Did my dad kill you?"

I can't read her expression which turns into a sly smirk before I have the chance.

"Do I look dead to you?"

She leans in a little closer, so her face is only a few inches from mine. My heart pounds against my chest and I know she can hear it.

Her smirk grows a little but instead of backing away she surges forward and presses her lips to the side my neck. It's soft and gentle then she moves a little higher kissing my neck again. Her hand comes up to cup my cheek as more kisses are lightly pressed against the hollow of my throat and my neck as she moves towards my ear.

I'm frozen, utterly shocked at how real it feels and how much I'm enjoying it. Without any more thought that than I tilt my head back slightly exposing more skin to her. She smiles against me and begins using her tongue and teeth as well. I let out a little gasp when she sucks on the spot below my ear.

I tangle a hand in her blonde hair and she pushes us down onto the bed so she's hovering above me, her lips never wavering from my flesh.

She nips at me again and this time I'm sure she's left a mark, I groan and she chuckles. Then I feel her warm, sweet breath on my ear.

"Do I feel dead to you?"

She moves over slightly so her lips are directly above mine, only an inch away.

I breathe out softly,

"No."

Instantly her lips descend, delicately caressing mine. Her thumb strokes my cheek tenderly and I tug lightly at her curls, pulling her closer.

Until this moment I'd never realized just how much I wanted to kiss her, how much I wanted Ali back in my life.

Even in the moments when she was a manipulating bitch, she was exactly what I needed. She was a soft caress, a harsh truth, a protective put-down, a flirty smile. Ali always knew what I needed most, even now as her lips dance with mine I feel her aura like it's part of me, keeping me warm, comforting me.

I feel her start to draw lazy patterns on my arms, matching the speed of her soft kisses. After a while she pulls back. Disappointment courses through me but it instantly disappears when she leans in and kisses my nose.

Ali's full lips pull away again and she reaches for my hand. She plants feathery kisses on my fingers and palm, then my arm, shoulder and up to my cheek. It only takes her a second to untangle my other hand from her hair and start to repeat the process.

As soon as she reaches my other cheek her hands move to caress my waist and sides, delicately holding me like she's afraid I'll break.

She's right of course; I am fragile although it's not my body but my heart.

I've never seen or felt her be so gentle before and it sends a pulse of adoration through me.

Ali carefully plants another kiss to my forehead, and then moves her lips to my chest. Carefully she moves my V-neck shirt aside and kisses the skin above my pounding heart.

I close my eyes, trying to live in this moment forever, because I never want it to end, never want to be without her again. She's my rock, the anchor than tethers me here.

I feel her start to pull away.

"I have to go."

My heart lodges in my throat but she leans in for one more kiss before I can protest.

I sigh when she pulls away and stands. A smiles plays at her lips before she turns to leave my room. Just when she makes it to the door I reach for my cup but she turns and looks at me.

"I wouldn't drink that… Meredith is looking for those pages too."

Her words sink in and I set the cup back down, afraid of what reality I'll face when this is over.

I sigh, and feel tears start to well up in my eyes.

"When will this get better?" I whisper more to myself than to her but it gets her attention.

She must see the anguish on my face because she crosses back towards me.

I lay back against my pillow and Ali leans over me, kissing my forehead again before moving her lips back to my ear.

"I'll always be here to make it better Aria."

With one last gentle caress of my face, she leaves and I drift back into un-consciousness.

When I wake again its dark, barely any light in visible through the window. Memories of my dream rush back to me and I feel a pain growing in my chest. I lean over to take the cup but stop myself.

In that second I register that my pulse is beating painfully in my neck. Panic sets in because what if the drink is poison!? I jump out of bed and rush to my mirror, wondering if I will be able to see anything out of place. At first I don't see anything, my neck and throat look just fine.

That's when I see it—the small purple bruise behind my ear, so out of place against my milky skin. My voice sticks in my throat and my heart pounds in my chest, because that little mark can only mean one thing.

Ali's alive.

Well there you have it, Aria's encounter with Ali. Next chapter will be all the girls finally coming clean about their experiences. I'm also considering doing Spencer's second encounter at Radley before the final chapter, opinions? Anyways, thanks for reading!