A/N: What is this? Is this an update? And it hasn't been a half a month? Thank you so much for sticking with me with this story, but sadly its wrapping up soon. There should be a few more chapters and then an epilogue. Hope you like it!
Alison walked into the front door of her beloved boutique. She hadn't been to work in over two weeks, and she needed to go back. She was tired of feeling bad for herself and wallowing in her own pity. She had come to the conclusion that even if she wanted it to end up differently, everything happens for a reason. And she can't go back in time and make sure anything turned out differently, it was just impossible.
"Ali?" Hanna asked worriedly as she walked through the door. "I didn't know you were coming in today?"
"You've been in charge for too long, Marin." Alison joked. "I was afraid that you might have burned down the place."
Hanna raised her eyebrow and smirked at her friend. She was relieved that Alison was in her teasing mode again, she was on the right track to becoming her old self again. This made the blonde happy.
"Pssh, we've been doing great without you Ali." Hanna teased right back. "Sales have gone up by 4%, I think it was because customers weren't greeted by your ugly mug."
Alison let out a genuine laugh and smiled at her friend. She was so thankful for Hanna, the blonde had no idea what their friendship meant to her.
"How have you been, Han?" Alison asked in a more serious tone. Even though the blonde duo had been living together, they hadn't communicated much in the last two weeks.
"I'm doing okay," Hanna began. "Missing Em a little though."
Alison looked down after Hanna uttered her confession. She knew it was her fault that Emily hadn't been around as much as Hanna wanted her to be. The two of them went from living together, to barely speaking the last two weeks. She knew how much it was killing the blonde, and she wanted to fix it, she needed to fix it. For Hanna, and for herself.
"I'm sorry, Han." Alison apologized. "I'm going to make it right, and soon."
"There's no need to rush into anything you're not ready for." Hanna reminded her gently.
"I know, I'm ready Han." Alison declared. "I'm more than ready."
These past two weeks, Alison had thought more about her relationship with Emily. She had come to the realizations that even though these last months have been nothing but pure hell, she wouldn't want to go through hell with anyone else besides Emily. And she missed her; she missed her warm smile, her sweet laugh, her soft lips and her gentle touch. God, she missed Emily so much that sometimes it drove her insane.
"I hope you're right, Ali." Hanna replied. "Alright, you slacker. You've played hooky enough. Let's get to work." Hanna playfully chastised as she made her way towards the back room of the store. Alison laughed as she followed her friend. She hoped that she was right as well.
"Okay, guys this study guide will tell you all that you need to know for the final." Emily explained as she handed out a packet of papers to her class.
"What if we don't take the final?" A student asked from the back of the classroom.
"Then you can count on retaking this class next year." Emily replied. "But you better study hard, Brian. You've already been with me for two years. I think you're running out of time, don't you think?" This comment earned a snicker from her class.
"I know I won't see you again until test day, but I expect you to know the material. There will be no questions on the day of the test, so if you have any questions ask them now."
"What chapters of the book should we study?"
"That's a great question, chapters 1-7 with an emphasis on the formulas. Anyone else?" As Emily ended her sentence the bell rang and the students started to exit the classroom.
"You can always e-mail me if you have any other questions!" Emily called after them. As the last student exited the building, Emily sat at her desk and pulled out her phone. Her day had been a long one, and she was so grateful that it was over. Christmas break was in three days and she felt even more anxious than her students. She needed a break from Rosewood, she needed to clear her head and make some rational decisions about her life. She knows she told Aria that she wanted to move to Texas, but she was starting to reconsider. Because after everything, Rosewood was still her home and it wouldn't feel right leaving it. She loved her parents and everything, but there was a reason that she didn't follow them to Texas. She had her own life, and her own friends. She couldn't leave them behind. Emily noticed that she had six unread text messages.
Hanna: 10:42 am
Emily, where will you be spending Christmas? I know that Ezra and Aria are going to see her Mom in the city! Text me back, you jerk.
Emily sighed, she wasn't really ignoring Hanna. She just wasn't in the mood to answer all of her best friend's questions.
Aria: 12:22 pm
Hey, Em. I'm sorry I wasn't able to make lunch. I had a doctors appointment. 4 more weeks and this sucker is out! I'll see you at home.
She smiled as she read Aria's message. Aria was due in January, and her mini friend was overwhelmed with nerves and excitement with her due date fast approaching. Emily couldn't wait to meet her little nephew.
Mom: 1 pm
I can't wait until you get here honey! Dad has decorated the house just like you used to do in high school. Are you sure Alison can't make it? I thought you said you two were getting back together? Let me know when your flight is supposed to land, so we can meet you at the airport. Love you!
Emily huffed. Explaining the past two weeks to her mother was going to be so much fun.
Hanna: 1:17 pm
Emily. I know this is your free period text me back.
Spencer: 2:02 pm
How have you been? It feels like I haven't spoken to you in ages. We should get coffee this week? Maybe, if you're up for it.
She didn't know why she hadn't spoken to Spencer in so long, she might have to take her up on that cup of coffee.
Hanna: 3 pm
I know you're out of class. If I don't get a reply in five minutes, I'm calling you.
Emily looked down at her phone and noticed that it was exactly 3:05. Before she had a chance to reply, her phone vibrated violently, and Hanna's name and contact picture flashed before her eyes.
"Hello?" She answered sheepishly.
"Why have you been ignoring me, Miss Fields." Hanna asked accusingly.
"I'm not, I swear. My phone has been stashed away all day. Finals are coming up and I've been busy with students." Emily assured.
"I miss you." Hanna said quietly after a beat of silence.
"I miss you, too Marin." Emily said affectionately.
"So, answer my question. Where will you be spending Christmas?"
"I'm going to Texas."
"Again?!" Hanna asked in disbelief. "It feels like you just came back."
"Its not like I have anyone here to celebrate it with." Emily retorted bitterly.
A moment passed before the blonde spoke up again.
"You have me. You know that."
"I know, but you have your family. Christmas is where you make memories with your family, especially since Zoe is so young. I wouldn't want to intrude on that." Emily replied.
"You're never an intrusion."
"I know, but I'm still going to Texas Han." Emily answered her response being an end to their argument.
"Well fine," Hanna relented. "Can I at least see you before you go? When do you leave?"
"I leave Friday at 1pm. My flight is at 3pm."
"Who's driving you?"
"Ezra and Aria. They have to pick something up for the baby in Philly, so they're just going to drop me off." Emily answered.
"Then tonight. You and I will have dinner. We have some catching up to do." Hanna declared.
"Okay, I'm in sergeant." Emily joked.
"7pm. The grille. Don't be late." Hanna commanded as she hung up the phone.
Emily chuckled as she tossed her phone into her purse. She grabbed her keys and locked up her classroom. She was going try to get a nap in before she would have to deal with Hanna Marin and her never ending questions.
"Thanks for shopping with us, have a good evening." Alison bid the customer farewell as she finished ringing up their purchase. She had endured a long but entertaining day at the office. She had enjoyed the easy banter with Hanna, and she talked with Sabrina about her studies and how they were coming along. Hanna came out of the back room with her coat and scarf on. She flipped off the neon sign and turned to Alison.
"Are you okay to close? Sabrina's here to help." The shorter blonde asked.
"Yeah, I've got it." Alison replied. "Where are you headed?"
"I'm meeting Em for dinner." Hanna replied shyly. She didn't know Ali would react.
"Is everything okay?" Alison asked slightly worried.
"We're just catching up." Hanna assured. "I'll see you at home."
The smaller blonde wrapped her coat around her body and made her way into the harsh Pennsylvania winter. Alison wondered why Emily had been so distant lately. Sure, she understood that she had said harsh things to her at the hospital, but why was she ignoring Hanna? For as long as she's known the two, they never had to "catch up". They knew absolutely everything about each other. Which is why this dinner was so strange to her. Maybe Emily was breaking some horrible news to her blonde best friend. Maybe she needed advice. Advice about her? What if Emily was going to tell Hanna that she was really done with her? The not knowing was driving her insane.
Emily walked into the grille at 7:05 pm. Hanna was going to kill her. She had taken a nap and over slept just a little bit. But those ten minutes she lost out on proved to be her downfall. She was five minutes late and she knew Hanna would find a way to punish her. She spotted her friend sitting at a secluded booth in the corner of the restaurant.
"Sorry I'm late, Han. You know how I hate driving in the snow." Emily explained as she sat down.
"You've been driving in the snow you're whole life, Em. You would think you'd master that skill by now." Hanna teased.
Emily let out the breath she was holding as she laughed at Hanna's dig. At least she wasn't going to hold it over her head that she was late. Just as Emily finished her thought Hanna spoke up.
"Oh, you're not off the hook for being late, Fields." Hanna reminded her as she took a sip of her water. Emily rolled her eyes. She should've known, Hanna was so very observant.
"So why'd you bring me here?" Emily questioned. "Did you miss my gorgeous face?"
"Yes," Hanna deadpanned. "And I want to know how you're holding up."
Emily took a deep breath before answering Hanna. She didn't know how she was really feeling. She did go through a lot two weeks ago, but was it really her tragedy to grieve?
"I'm okay, Han." Emily replied semi-truthfully. "But I do feel like I need a break."
"From?" Hanna prompted.
"From the emotional rollercoaster that is Alison Dilaurentis." Emily said exasperatedly. "She cheats on me, gets pregnant, loses the baby and then blames it on me." Emily took a deep breath and looked up to meet Hanna's eyes. "I just don't understand why she continues to hurt me so much. I mean, I forgave her for the cheating, but this? Blaming her baby's death on me, I think its too much." She finishes in a much softer, more broken tone.
"She doesn't mean it, Em." Hanna said softly she took the brunette's hand. "She was broken, but she's healing. She's getting better."
"Yeah, but she broke me in the process." Emily replied bitterly.
"It takes a lot more than words to break you Emily Fields." Hanna replied confidently. "You're stronger than you give yourself credit for." She finished as she gave Emily a reassuring smile. Emily returned the gesture gratefully. She was so thankful for her best friend. She loved Spencer and Aria with her whole heart, but Hanna just connected with her on a deeper level.
"Thanks, Han." Emily smiled. "So, how's life in the Rivers-Marin household?" Hanna laughed as she started telling Emily about how angry she was when she found Caleb and Zoe in the kitchen doing "science experiments" together in her kitchen. Emily laughed at the tale, and realized that this was why she couldn't leave Rosewood. Her family was here.
Emily sat in the back seat of Ezra's Honda Civic. She was on her way to the airport after three days of stressful finals. She was pretty confident that her student did well on the exam. She had practically spoon fed them the answers with that study guide. She just hoped that they were smart enough to actually use it.
"So, Emily," Ezra starts awkwardly. "Are you excited to see your parents?" Emily smiles at his attempt to start a conversation.
"Its always nice to see my parents." Emily replies. "But I spent Thanksgiving with them, so its not going to be such a dramatic reunion."
"Em, we can stay in Rosewood if you want." Aria replied hurriedly. "My mom can come down and see us; you don't have to go to Texas." With Aria's due date being so close, her hormones were running rampant and she had mini breakdowns frequently.
"I just don't want you to move." Aria cried. "I'm going to be a Mom soon, and I need my best friends with me. All of them."
"I'll be there when Jr.'s born, Ar." Emily assured trying to console her petite friend.
"But I want you to be there his whole life!" Aria exclaimed. "You can't do that in Texas."
"Aria, I promise that I'll be in your baby's life." Emily said gently. "I'm just going for Christmas; I promise I won't make any rash decisions until I talk to you first, okay?"
Aria nodded in response at Emily's words. She had contemplated on telling Aria that she wasn't going to move, but she decided that her hormonal friend couldn't take much more emotional turmoil.
"Are you okay?" Emily asked as they pulled up to the airport.
"Yeah," Aria answered quietly.
"I'll talk to you soon," Emily promised as she exited the vehicle with her luggage. She dropped it on the curb and made her way to the passenger side. "I love you, Ar."
"I love you, too Em." Aria responded with a watery smile. "Call me when you land."
"Will do." Emily agreed as she hugged her friend. She stepped back and claimed her bags as she headed towards her gate.
Alison sat in the brew with her three best friends. They had just gone to the mall and did some last minute Christmas shopping. The holiday was two days away, and they all missed the fifth member of their group profoundly.
"Has anyone heard from Em?" Alison asked casually. The brunette had been in Texas for two days and she had absolutely no updates on her well being. She supposed that she didn't really deserve an update. But it was driving her crazy not knowing.
"She sent a picture of her and her parents ice skating this morning." Spencer replied as she took out her phone to show the blonde. Alison grasped the phone and stared at the picture and a small smile rose to her face. The gorgeous brunette was holding the phone with her out stretched hand while her parents stood closely behind her. The tanned family all shared similar smiles and rosy cheeks as they enjoyed their day on the ice.
"It looks like they're having fun," Ali commented as she gave the phone back to Spencer. If the circumstances were different, Alison would have been in that picture, her slightly smaller body would have curled perfectly against Emily's as she took the picture. If only.
"Yeah," Aria muttered. "Probably a little too much fun."
"What do you mean, Aria?" Hanna questioned.
"I mean Emily's having too much fun in Texas." Aria said lowly, clearly upset about the topic.
"Let her have fun," Spencer began "She rarely gets to see her parents."
"Well she's gonna see them more very soon." Aria said dryly.
"What are you trying to say?" Spencer asked, confused.
"I'm trying to say that Emily is going to move to Texas!" The pregnant brunette exclaimed. "She's not just down there for Christmas; she's going to look for an apartment and a new job while she's there."
The other women at the table were in complete shock. Alison felt like she couldn't breathe. Emily was going to move. To Texas. Which was 2,000 miles away. Emily couldn't move; she just couldn't. She was in love with her. She couldn't live without her.
"How do you know this, Aria?" Spencer asked the first to recover from the shock.
"She told me two weeks ago." Aria answered her voice thick with emotion. "She said she needed a break from Rosewood."
"She is not moving." Hanna declared after a beat. "She would've told me. She tells me everything."
"She didn't tell you this, Han. She was afraid of your reaction." Aria said quietly.
Alison felt as if her world was caving in around her. Emily was leaving. She was leaving because she needed a break from her and it made her sick. She couldn't breathe.
"We have to do something." Alison finally choked out. "She can't leave, Emily can't move. She just can't. Her whole life is here, her job, her friends." Alison trailed off as she wiped away a tear that made its way down her face. "I'm here."
"I have to call her." Hanna declared as she pulled out her phone.
"Wait." Ali said as she reached out and grabbed her wrist. "I have a better idea."
A/N: Oh, Aria and your raging hormones. What have you done? Haha Tell me what you think!?