SOOOO umm maybe I kinda lied… but on a good note it totally benefits you guys, because surprise this isn't the last chapter, there will still be one more. I got into this and there was just so much I wanted to do that I realized it needed to be split in two.

On a second note, a lot of you responded to the Panna vs. Haleb debate, and it as a tough choice to make, but in the end Haleb had a few more votes so I'm gonna do that. (Panna had 16, Haleb had 20.)

Now I'd like to address a few things... First I'd just like to point out that this is still my story, so if you are unhappy with the storyline or a choice I make… Too bad I'm the author, I still have creative liberty to change my mind if I please. If you don't like it, don't read my story. Secondly by multiple requests I have put a little bit of Ali/Paige in here (I've also written a one-shot about them called 'Surrender') if you don't like it, this is your only warning! And lastly, a special thanks to everyone who's still supporting this story. This is for you. Enjoy!


The Precipice
Part VII

"Ouch Ali, that hurts…" Hanna whines.

"I know sweetie but you gotta hold still, I have to clean these again."

Hanna's perched on the edge of the bathtub her arms extended as Alison gently pours antiseptic onto the still healing cuts.

It's been nearly a week and a half since she'd ran into Hanna's bathroom finding the girl unconscious and bleeding severely.

That night she and Paige had stayed at the Marin household, and they'd taken turns ever since, in an effort to prevent any further instances. That night Hanna had broken down, she'd laid all of her demons out of the table, and now she was in recovery.

Tonight was Alison's turn to stay with her, but Paige had decided to come over so they could all watch a movie. She was currently down stairs popping a bag of popcorn and setting up the DVD player.

"There Han, I'm finished. Let's get you wrapped back up and go snuggle in for the movie."

The blonde just nods.

She's been having a hard time adjusting; the alcohol withdrawal is severe, and the voices in her head scream for the sting of the blade but with Alison and Paige to support her she's been resisting. Things with Caleb have been better too, although some days are tougher than others as he suffers through his own alcohol withdrawal. She still hasn't worked up the courage to tell him about the cutting, but it's a work in progress, just like she is.

Two nights ago Paige had walked with her, back out to Devil's ridge. It had been an emotional night. Less than two months ago she'd stood up there ready to end her life, Paige saved her that day, and has been every day since. As they tossed the last of the alcohol and Hanna's remaining razors over the edge it felt like she was finally stepping off the precipice.

Feeling her friend tug at the bandages on her arm she snaps back to reality. The taller blonde hands her a long sleeve shirt. It smells like Alison, and it's soothing.

Recently she's taken to wearing Alison or Paige's shirts, the familiar scents help her get through the day when they can't be there with her, it's silly she knows, but neither of them question it.

Pulling on the shirt she stands up and when she reaches for Alison's hand the girl doesn't hesitate to tangle their fingers together. She honestly can't believe how much the girl has changed, it's almost like she's a different person, and she's eternally grateful for it.

Together they walk downstairs to find Paige sprawled out on the couch, a bowl of popcorn in her lap.

With an exaggerated sigh she tosses her head over the arm of the couch.

"Finally! I thought I was gonna stave waiting for you!"

Hanna giggles and smacks the girl's leg. Alison playfully rolls her eyes.

Sitting up with a laugh Paige settles into the couch, letting Hanna crawl up next to her. Alison plops down in the chair next to them and grabs the remote.

Switching the lamp off, she clicks the play button.

Halfway through the movie the popcorn is gone and Hanna's resting her head against the swimmers chest, her eyes already heavy with sleep.

Alison glances over at the pair, a soft expression on her face.

Never in a million years did she imagine she'd be spending a Friday night with Hanna Marin and Paige McCullers.

Ever since her return things had been hard, but she'd been trying. She was constantly in danger, constantly having to explain herself, constantly trying to prove that she'd changed. And when she'd finally worked up the courage to tell Emily her feelings she'd been pushed away. That's all it had taken for Aria and Spencer to turn on her too.

More alone than ever she was ready to up and leave Rosewood, and never look back; but when she'd found Hanna unconscious and bleeding, that didn't matter anymore. Hanna needed her, and after everything she'd done to the girl in the past, they'd had a moment of reckoning.

Things with Paige were even more complicated. She'd made the girl's life hell before, all because she was jealous, but now, there was nothing to be jealous off. The moment Paige realized Alison was a different person, she'd forgiven her. Now they shared a tense, electrically charged, tentative friendship.

Smiling to herself at the unexpected turn her life had taken she misses the puppy dog eyes Hanna throws her way.

"Ali?"

The uncertain tone of Hanna's voice makes her furrow her brow with worry.

She looks over and sees that the girl is holding up the blanket that's draped over her and Paige.

Instantly the worry melts away and without question she moves over and sits down, sliding up closer to the other girls.

Hanna readjusts her position so her head is in Paige's lap her legs in Alison's lap.

Warmth spreads through Hanna's entire body and settles in her heart. Without these two she wouldn't be here. Her world has changed so much over the last few months.

Before, her entire life consisted of Aria, Spencer and Emily; now, she's taking a break from them, letting her wounds heal, with the help of two unlikely people who have become her entire world.

This thought brings her back to the night Alison found her.

She'd woken up in middle of the night, both girls missing. Pain had filled her chest and she'd called out to them. Instantly Ali responded and within minutes she was by her side.

But she was needy and a little selfish to be honest, so when she'd wanted Paige there too, Alison had dutifully retrieved the girl.

It was only when they both came back to her that she'd been filled in on the story.

Emily had stopped by the Marin household to find Alison and Paige staying with Hanna. She'd freaked out on them, but both girls had defended her, asking the ex-swimmer to back off. That night Hanna received a single text.

"Paige said you need space. I will tell the others. We will respect that, but just know I'm sorry for everything. When you're ready, we'll be waiting. Love you Han. –Emily"

Her eyes had filled with tears when she'd read the message and she was grateful that her friends were being respectful enough to give her the time she needed to heal.

She was brought out of her thoughts once again, this time by Paige stroking her hair.

Smiling softly she lets herself start to drift off. Before she falls asleep she thinks about love.

Love is weird.

Despite everything Aria, Spencer and Emily have done to hurt her, she loves them.

But she loves Paige and Alison too. Yet somehow it's different from how she loves the others.

And there was and would always be Caleb. She loves him too.

With that the world fades away.

Noticing Hanna's even breathing Paige looks over towards Alison and meets soft blue eyes.

In the past week and a half she's discovered the real Alison DiLaurentis, and the girl is nothing like she'd ever thought.

In quiet moments like this she lets her guard down, lets other people in, and the swimmer can't help but be entranced by her.

They'd come together to help Hanna, but through the process they'd spent countless nights lying awake talking about everything and nothing. For whatever reason the blonde had decided to trust her, and it stirred a strange emotion inside of her. Deciding not to overthink it she reaches out with the hand that's not stroking Hanna's hair.

The blonde doesn't think she just does, and reaches out, lacing her fingers with Paige's. Usually she isn't one to act without analyzing every possible angle, but as of late, it's a more frequent occurrence.

And so they stay like that, hands locked together, a sleeping Hanna lying across their laps until the credits roll.


The next morning when Alison wakes up, she turns over expecting to see her blonde friend, but instead she's met with an empty bed.

After the movie ended Paige had scooped Hanna up into her arms and carried the girl to bed and insisted that Alison stay with her and that she'd sleep on the couch.

Knowing that she wouldn't win an argument she just nodded, Paige had smiled widely at this.

Now she stretches and sits up, looking around. Figuring that Hanna has gone downstairs she makes her way out of the bedroom and into the living room.

Paige is still sound asleep on the couch. Observing that the girl has lost her blanket, Ali moves over grabs the blanket and lays it over the brunette before heading into the kitchen.

The first thing she notices is that the back door is slightly ajar. Still on high alert panic rushes through her, thinking of 'A' and black hoodies and tragedy.

Slowly she tip-toes over and peers outside. Instantly she lets out a breath she didn't even realize she was holding.

Opening the door a bit more she slips outside and walks over to where Hanna is perched. Not wanting to startle her she speaks up.

"You scared me sweetie."

Hearing her favourite nickname the girl turns around with a soft smile on her face.

"I couldn't sleep anymore, so I decided to come out here and think."

Taking a seat next to the girl she looks at her with soft eyes.

"What about?"

"About a lot of stuff, but mostly about Caleb… I think I might be ready to tell him."

The confession doesn't really surprise her. She knows how deeply and explicitly Hanna loves the boy, and in turn she's seen the way he looks at her.

Several days ago he'd come over to pick her up for a date. She'd opened the door and let him in, making small talk until Hanna came down the stairs looking even more beautiful than she normally does.

Alison had watched the boy closely, feeling an overly protective streak over Hanna. His eyes twinkled when he looked at her. It was like the entire world just stopped and all that existed to him was her.

She'd never seen such love, such adoration before, not even with Emily. It shocked her.

Pulling back from the memory she puts a hand on the blonde's knee.

"I think you should. He will understand. I've seen the way he looks at you, I think you could tell him you're an alien or a mass murderer and he'd love you just the same."

Hanna blushes and giggles at her attempt at humour.

"No, but seriously, you should, if you're ready."

"I am."

"Okay. But I do have one condition Han…"

She looks over at Alison with a questioning look.

"Have him come here, that way Paige and I can be close, I don't like being too far away from you. Okay?"

She nods, her heart filling with affection for the girl, a girl she'd adored, then tried to replace, then hated… A girl who has changed so completely, who would do anything for her.


It's almost seven o'clock when the doorbell rings. Paige answers it with a cheerful grin.

"Hey Paige!"

Caleb just smiles at his best friend, leaning in to give her a hug.

When they pull back she notices the bouquet of roses.

He notices her gaze and starts to get nervous.

"Too much? I knew it was too much I'll just…"

"Stop. They're perfect Caleb, she's gonna love them. She's upstairs in her room, why don't you head up there? Ali and I are gonna watch a movie."

He nods and steps into the house, eyes landing on the blonde perched on the couch. He waves at her and she just gives him a little nod pointing to the stairs.

Ready to see Hanna he climbs the stairs two at a time stopping in front of her door.

She hears his heavy footsteps and swings the door open just as he's about to knock.

Their eyes meet and he smiles shyly at her before thrusting the bouquet of roses into her hands.

"These are for you Han."

Feeling warmth spread through her she leans in and kisses him softly before taking his hand and pulling him into her room.

She settles herself on the bed, sitting criss-cross gesturing for Caleb to sit opposite of her.

He does without question.

They stare into each other's eyes for a long time, and her heart pounds erratically in her chest, her nerves getting the best of her.

It takes her a few tries to speak but eventually she manages to push the words out. And once she starts, she can't stop.

She tells him about the night on the bridge, about Paige, about the cutting and the drinking and about the hurt. She tells him about feeling lost and abandoned by her friends, tells him about them turning their backs on her, she tells him about Alison, and that brutal night a few weeks ago.

And he doesn't say anything, doesn't interrupt, doesn't get angry or upset, he just listens.

When she starts to cry he desperately wants to hold her because he hates seeing her hurt. His heart aches for her, because he'd known things were bad, but the thought of almost losing her makes him sick.

Swallowing the lump in his throat he realizes that she's stopped talking, and it staring at him wide eyed. He understands that she's expecting to be rejected, because that's what she'd been through, people she'd loved rejecting her.

Without speaking he just moves closer and pulls her against his chest, stroking her hair and her face.

"I love you Hanna."


After several long tear-filled hours Hanna pulls back from a hug and Caleb reaches up wiping a stray tear.

"Nothing could make me love you any less Hanna."

"I know, I was just scared and insecure, I was in such a bad place. And even when you came back you weren't the same and the drinking was just making it worse. I'm sorry I didn't come to you sooner I was just so lost."

"You don't need to apologize Hanna, I understand. And I'm glad you have Paige… and Alison, even if I'm still kind of in shock over that…"

"I'm still pretty shocked too, but she really is a different person now, everything she went through changed her, and in a way I'm glad. Having her as this huge part of my life means so much to me."

"I'm so glad. And on that note, I'm just wondering what's gonna happen with the others. Are you going to tell them?"

Sighing she lets out a nod.

"Yes. They deserve the truth, and I need to get it out to move on… I don't know where we'll stand after that, but I'm hoping we can all be friend again."

"Have I ever mentioned how much I love you?"

She smiles at him.

"Maybe once or twice…. I love you too ya know?"

"I just can't get over how amazing you are, after everything, you still love with your whole heart, that's my favourite part about you."

He leans in and kisses her softly.

"As much as I'd like to stay here with you forever, I need to get going, I'm supposed to call my mom tonight."

"Okay, I'll walk you out."

Hand in hand the couple walks down the stairs pausing at the landing. Expecting to hear Paige or Alison's voice she looks towards the living room.

Her eyes instantly land on the couch.

Still gripping Caleb's hand she tugs him into the room, her curiosity getting the better of her.

When they're close enough to see the pair she lets out a little giggle.

Paige is partially laying down her head propped up against the arm rest, Alison's laying on top of her blonde hair splayed across her Paige's chest.

The blonde has her arm across the brunette's torso, the brunette's arm is holding her tightly as they sleep.

Her heart melts because it's just so cute, and as weird as it is, she isn't really surprised.

On the other hand Caleb stares opened mouthed at the pair.

He and Paige are best friends, and he knows that despite years of hating Alison, she'd reconciled with the girl. He didn't, however, know that it was like this.

"When did that happen?"

Hanna chuckles at the stunned look on his face and tugs him back towards the door, his mouth still hanging open.


Okay so next chapter will really be the last one. It's gonna focus on Hanna telling the other girls. But there will be a little Haleb and a little more Ali/Paige. If you liked this chapter or have constructive criticism I'd love to hear your thoughts!