"I take it you told Hanna?" I ask Alison as I set my things down and flop onto the couch next to her.

"Yeah, she called me earlier between classes. She was more surprised than Aria and of course asked a thousand really embarrassing questions. I miss her comic relief though." Ali says not looking up from her work.

"What's for dinner?" I ask. She hold up a half gone bag of oreos.

"Okay I draw the line, you have to eat more than cookies." I laugh. She immediately whines.

"Oh, my bad for loving the two of you enough to care." I pretend to be offended. She sets her computer aside. She grabs my face with tears in her eyes.

"I love you too." She smiles. I realize what I've said and my heart nearly beats out of my chest. I kiss her to hide my red face. Hopefully that will hold her over for now because I feel like my bones may jump right out of my skin.

"Curried lentils and chickpeas sound okay?" I ask, hoping her cravings will match mine because I'd kill for some Indian food right now.

"As long as I get to finish these oreos I don't care." She says seriously. I kiss her again and head to the kitchen to make dinner.

I've got to tell Spencer after dinner. That way she isn't totally blindsided when we announce the pregnancy. I figure I can tell her tonight, we can check up on the baby tomorrow, and assuming all goes well tell them all after that. I'm really excited but nervous to go public with our relationship. So many people know so much of our business that it could be weird. Also, what if Lorenzo freaks out about it? He knows where I live. But at the same time, I want to shout from the rooftops that Alison Dilaurentis is finally mine. I guess I'll let her handle that.

We eat our dinner and she finishes her oreos happily. I already warned her that I'd be telling Spencer tonight so she knows it's coming. I honestly feel nervous as though I'm confessing something bad, or like I'm being sent to the principal's office. I really do just want to get it over with though. Mostly so that Spence and I can get back on regular speaking terms. We may butt heads sometimes with our mile wide competitive streaks but I know that she loves me, possibly more than anyone else. I shoot her a text.

"Are you busy? I'd like to call you." I say. Ten excruciating minutes later she replies

"Yeah, I just got home from the library, Toby is at work, call whenever you're ready." She replies.

I shut myself in our room and dial her number.

"Hey you." She says clearly smiling.

"Hey Spence, how have you been?" I ask trying to calm the nerves gripping my stomach.

"I can't complain. I've been so busy with school and my internship that mom got me, but things are good. What big news do you have? Your voice is all wavery." She says casually.

"Damn it, why do people keep saying that? Anyway, some stuff went down with Alison. Between her and Lorenzo." I say.

"Is she okay? Are you okay?" She starts asking and I can practically hear the gears turning in her head.

"Well, he has been abusive to her for a long time now and ended up hitting her very badly a few weeks ago. She is healing well but has a long road ahead." I say.

"You didn't kill him did you? Because I have a few years before I pass my bar exam and can get you out of shit." She says making it sound like a joke but I know she's at least a little serious.

"Nope, the bastards walking free. But Ali is living here." I say nervously.

"Of course he is, they probably claimed that she was being crazy and attacking him when she was injured didn't they!?" She exclaims knowing the system all too well.

"Essentially." I say. There is a pause.

"So wait, Alison is living there? Living there how?" She asks cautiously.

"We're together now." I say grimacing. I know there is an inevitable lecture coming.

"Wow. This is a lot of news." She says. I laugh to myself. She has no idea.

"I mean, when did you guys hook up?" She asks.

"Well she told me that part of the reason that he reacted so harshly was that he knew she was in love with someone other than him. And we have been together ever since." I explain.

"Em, are you sure that this is a good time for that? She's got to be pretty messed up right now." I try to reply and she interrupts.

"I mean what, a month ago she was in a committed relationship with someone else and then he leaves and suddenly she's ready for you? I don't mean to be a downer but we both know that you've always been her safe place to land, what if she suddenly doesn't need that safety net?" She continues to ramble.

"Spencer!" I finally yell. She stops.

"Do you think that I haven't thought about all of that? That I'm not scared all of the time? It doesn't matter in the end, because she is the only one for me." I say firmly.

"I'm sorry Emily. I don't mean to make things worse you know how I am. I just love you so much and you have always had trouble thinking things through when it comes to Alison. I support and love you both even if I am worried. I'm here for you both. If she has any legal questions she can call me anytime. Well I mean other than Tuesday through Friday. And Saturday after ten. And Sunday before seven. Or Monday before seven." She starts reeling off her schedule and I laugh.

"I'll have her email you." I stop her.

"God I haven't changed much have I?" She says.

"Not at all." I laugh.

"But I love you just the way you are. Thank you for looking out for me." I say genuinely.

"I love you too, sweet pea." She smiles.

"I miss you." I say quietly.

"I miss you too, so much. Could I come visit soon?" She asks urgently.

"I would love that."

"Great. Well, I'm going to go pick up some dinner for Toby and I."

"Ooh, tell him I miss him and to call me soon, I found this new band he'll love!" I exclaim.

"I will, he asks about you all the time. Bye Em."

"Bye, Spence."

It isn't until I set the phone down that I realize that I'm crying. Maybe because I really do miss Spencer and Toby too. Maybe because because she is right, there is a lot of news to take in right now. And maybe it's because as usual Spencer voiced my deepest fears. That Alison only wants me because she knows she can have me. Maybe it's just because she doesn't want to raise this baby alone.

I feel suddenly nauseated like at the police station and have to swallow hard. I won't let it get to me this time. I try to remember Rebecca's kind words. I breathe deeply until the tears stop. I wipe at them angrily. And wait for the redness to go away. I bury all of those fears and doubts into the pit of my stomach.

"How'd it go?" Alison asks eagerly as I exit the room.

"It went well. She was concerned for you of course and was super understanding about the legal side of things and said that if you have any questions to feel free to email her and that she'll do what she can." I tell her. While my words seem to comfort her a bit she looks unsure.

"How bad was the lecture that she gave you?" She asks.

"She's just worried, about both of us. She loves you too Ali." I assure her and take her hand.

"Not the same as with you. She is so protective of you. Even though she can be such a competitive bitch towards you sometimes. Like she can be mean all she wants but Lord help anyone else who's mean to you." She says clearly more frustrated than I thought.

"Ali, I promise it's okay. She even wants to come visit soon. Would that be okay?" I ask as she climbs into my lap like a little kid.

"Fine." She pouts.

"You guys have been through a lot and you always make it through. I know she forgives more easily when she is the one who has been wronged but I know that when she sees how damn happy you make me she won't be able to not support us 100%." I say and she turns and kisses my mouth so hard.

"How do you always know exactly what to say?" She asks.

"Lucky I guess." I say.

After I reheat some leftovers for Alison and make some popcorn for the two of us we sit down to Netflix. After much debate we settle on RENT. Once the snacks are gone she lays on her stomach on top of me. The weight of her pressing on me makes me feel so secure and loved. I smile. All I can imagine is what would happen if I had a time machine and went back and told young Emily that this is where we'd end up. She'd have never been sad again.

"What are you thinking Em?" She asks noticing that I'm looking at her and not the movie.

"Oh, nothing. Just that after everything that I've gone through, I am getting to live the dream." I smile. She smiles back and stretches far up to kiss me.

"So sweet." She says before snuggling even deeper into me.

This really is the dream. My dream come true.