The Dawn of Autumn

by Forever without him

Alison DiLaurentis rules her town with a sharp tongue and an even sharper attitude. But she meets her match when Emily Fields, rebel with a cause rolls into town on her motorcycle and captures Alison's attention, and her heart. But there is more to Emily than meets the eye. Her mysterious past begins to bleed into her future, and it invokes Alison to go on the ride of her life.

24. Family Ties

A/N: Thanks for all the feedback regarding updates. I think some went out and others didn't.

Keeping this A/N short and simple, because me...being me...I've presented you with another monster chapter (there was a reason I couldn't split it...the flow depended on it).

Rated...not T.

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Chapter 24:

Family Ties

Alison hated the days when she was stuck at home with her family. She hated listening to her parents snipe at one another. She could hear them arguing downstairs. She put her earbuds in and tried to drown them out. She listened to a few contemporary pieces of music and then a classical set list she'd made years ago that helped naturally calm her down.

She started drawing out musical notes, composing another song for the baby. She liked coming up with lullabies. The baby inspired her in a lot of ways. Emily inspired her. Emily was the reason she'd applied to NYU. Emily was the reason that she'd been able to write her own composition and play it for her highlight reel. Emily was the reason NYU was interested in her.

She couldn't stop thinking about the letter she'd gotten from the school. She hadn't told Emily yet. She didn't want to tell her. She knew what the brunette would say.

"I don't want you giving up your future for us…" and blah, blah, blah.

Her phone buzzed. It was Emily. Alison was relieved to hear from her. She'd been trying to give her space while she was in DC. She'd had to stop herself from picking up her phone about a dozen times the past hour. She was glad the vow of silence was over.

Leaving DC. Should be home in a few hours. Everything ok there?

Alison pulled her earbuds out of her ears and the thunderous voices from downstairs once again filled her room with her family's problems. She grumbled under her breath and rolled her eyes. But when she looked at the screen and saw the little bubble with Emily's picture in her text screen she smiled.

Yes. The parental units are home, so no psycho-murderer dare come within 5 miles of my house. They're screaming at one another. Dad came home smelling like a whore with lipstick on his collar again. At this point I'd probably be safer with the stalker.

She'd take her chances with the sociopath at this point. Her parents bickered all the time, but they were apparently really heated tonight.

Alison looked down at Emily's response.

Go hang out with Hanna?

She had considered it. She really had. But then she'd come to her senses. She and Hanna worked best together in small doses. Besides, it was supposed to snow later and the last thing she wanted was to be trapped somewhere with Hanna Marin and her very handsy boyfriend. They were worse with their PDA than she was with Emily.

You mean...like…willingly?

God, you're stubborn. Be there soon.

Alison smiled. Normally she didn't like it when people nagged her, but when Emily called her out she found it endearing. Love was a strange thing. She glanced outside, watching the wind in the trees. She knew they were supposed to get a little snow, but it wasn't supposed to be a big storm. But she didn't like the idea of Emily out in the midst of it. She was hoping the brunette would be home before it started.

Drive safe. Call me when you get home.

The shouting from downstairs started to increase in volume. She heard her mother scream something about "your whores!" and then there was a crash. Then silence.

Alison climbed out of bed. She cautiously walked towards her door. She cracked it and peered out into the hallway.

The fighting started up again. This time it was her dad yelling. She tip-toed to the edge of the stairs just like she'd done all the time when she was little. She had a lot of memories from when she and Jason had sat on the top step and listened to their parents sling insults at one another.

Before he'd started drinking to numb the pain he'd been a decent big brother. It was around the time that he started bringing home older guys and experimenting with drugs that he turned into a total tool. But sometimes he did surprise her. Like what he'd done with Ian. Ian hadn't been around since the night of the party. Jason had gotten a restraining order against him.

She heard her brother's footsteps approaching just as their father started yelling again.

He was in his boxers. His eyes were red, like he'd just woken up from a weed-nap. His hair was wild and untamed. He yawned, completely oblivious to the fact that he was nearly naked. His boxers were riding so low that his ass was almost hanging out.

"Jesus, do you have an aversion to clothes?" Alison snapped. "Put on some damn pants."

Most of the problems in their house were due to men who couldn't keep their clothes on and guys who couldn't keep their dicks out of other women.

Jason shrugged and scratched his head, jostling his hair. He glanced at her and then looked down the stairs just as their father screamed something about their mother being a "frigid bitch!"

He shook his head.

"He's such a fucking asshole." He rolled his eyes and continued on his path to the bathroom.

"I'm going to go down there…"

"Stay out of it." Jason warned her, slamming the bathroom door behind him.

Alison muttered angrily. She had to do every fucking thing herself in her house. She listened to her parents trade insults as she meandered down the steps.

Her mother was picking up pieces of a wine glass that had shattered somehow. If Alison knew her, she'd probably hurled it at her father's head.

"We have a reputation to uphold in this town!" Her mother screamed. "It reflects poorly on us when you decide to philander around and leave your tiny appendage in other women!"

Alison cringed. She could have gone her entire life without hearing that.

"Would you guys just stop?" Alison growled when she reached the bottom of the steps. "Some of us have to live here, you know."

"Alison, go back upstairs." Her father snapped.

"No." Alison crossed her arms in front of her chest defiantly. "Not until you two stop acting like toddlers."

"Watch your tone." Her dad glared at her. He was so tense that she could see the tendons in his throat popping out.

"Why? You don't."

"What is with this attitude? You know better than to disrespect us…"

"It's that neighbor girl." Her mother rolled her eyes. "Ever since they started hanging out she's become intolerable."

"How would you know? You never see me!" Alison felt a boiling rage curdling in her stomach. Somehow they'd turned the argument on to her. Everything was somehow her fault. That's how it always ended up. "Leave Emily out of this. She's not the one who treats me like shit."

"We did not raise you to be a petulant little brat."

Alison had to laugh at her mother scolding her, because that's exactly who they'd raised her to be. It was only because of Emily that she'd realized there was more to life.

"Maybe she learned it from you, Jessica." Her dad sneered.

"Go troll the playgrounds for your next girlfriend, Kenneth." She snapped back.

Her dad reached out and grabbed her mother's wrist and yanked her forward. He breathed heavily against her face.

Alison didn't think. She just reacted. She leaped forward and grabbed her dad's arm with both hands, yanking her mother's wrist free.

"Stop it!" Alison snarled. "Stop it or I'll call the fucking cops!"

"That is quite enough of your tantruming." Her father snatched her wrist just like he'd grabbed her mother.

Her father curled his lip up at her. Before Alison had a chance to react a shadowy blur whizzed between them and struck her dad in his jaw. He let go of Alison and she spun around and saw Jason standing next to her. He'd put on a pair of sweatpants. She hadn't even heard him come down.

Jason towered over his father. Alison remembered a time when he'd looked tiny in comparison to their dad. But he'd hit a major growth spurt when he was 13. Most of the time he just made snarky comments and hid in his room and smoked weed, but every so often he'd step in when their parents acted like assholes. Their father didn't hit them, but he did get too physical for Jason's liking.

Their dad drew back, clutching his jaw. He rubbed the mark that Jason's fist had left. He sized his son up, taking note of his tension and the way his muscles were bulging. He looked ready for a fight. For a few seconds he looked as though he might challenge the younger boy, but instead he just flew into a rant.

"You two are the most ungrateful ill-mannered brats. This has nothing to do with you…"

"The hell it doesn't." Jason pushed Alison behind him, putting himself between the girls and his father.

"You're being ridiculous." He scoffed.

"You need to get out of here." Jason warned. "Go cool down. The weather's cold enough for it. Why don't you go find yourself a nice cozy whorehouse and fuck it out of your system, old man?"

The older man looked like he was about to explode. He huffed out an angry snarl and then grabbed his wallet and keys while uttering profanities and growling insulting slights at them. He stormed out.

"That man is so predictable." Their mother rolled her eyes as they listened to the roaring engine of his little mid-life crisis car revving as he pulled out of the driveway.

"Why do you stay with him?" Alison asked.

"Oh, sweetie…" Her mother gave her a patronizing look. She put her palm against Alison's cheek, but it was the opposite of motherly. Her fingers were cold and rigid. "You'll understand when you get older."

Alison rolled her eyes. She had a feeling that she understood love better than her parents ever had.

"The next time your father and I tell you to do something, you'd better do it."

"Fine. Next time I won't intervene and I'll just let him punch you in the face." Alison was infuriated.

She was tired of dealing with her mom and dad. She had a taste of normalcy with Emily and her family. The Fields family wasn't perfect, but they were miles better than her family.

"Don't be so dramatic, Ali."

Said the woman who literally threw glass at her husband's face… Alison had several choice words for her mother, but she felt Jason's large palm cupping her shoulder. She glanced at him. He shook his head, advising her not to exacerbate things.

Jessica walked over to her purse and started digging through it. She pulled out a compact mirror and frowned at her reflection.

"Ugh, of course he got me angry enough that I smudged my make-up." She shook her head in disapproval and then walked off to fix her face.

She flippantly dismissed her startled children and walked out of the room like nothing had happened. She didn't even bother to clean up the mess she'd made.

"Un-fucking-believable." Alison snapped the second her mother was gone. She turned to her brother. "Can you believe them?"

"I told you not to come down." Jason shrugged.

Alison glared at him. She wanted to call him a jackass, but then she remembered that he'd come to her defense when he didn't have to. So she let it go. She walked over to the shards of glass and started cleaning up her mom's mess. She was used to it. She'd been doing it for years. Her brother watched her puttering around the living room like a big dumb oaf, never once considering to step in and help her. She wanted to be mad at him, but she knew he just wasn't good with reading signals. That…and he was high as fuck.

When she sat down in the chair next to the fireplace he surprised her by walking over and plopping down on the arm of the chair next to her. He looked down at her, his eyes partially occluded by his shaggy overgrown bangs.

"You good?" He asked.

"Perfect." Alison replied sarcastically. She glanced up at her big brother. "You know, you really need to learn how to read the room."

"Mom and dad are never going to change." Jason glanced at a portrait of their family on the wall. They both hated the picture. It was so fake. "You need to learn to accept it."

"I've been doing that for eighteen years. It's not working for me anymore."

"Look, you're my sister…and I love you. But you pick the wrong battles. All the time."

Jason had no idea the battles that she was fighting. He had no idea that every day felt like a war zone. She only put up with it because of how much she loved Emily.

"They know how to get under your skin. You can't let them do that." Jason stared at the portrait. His gaze was fixed on their parents, who were hiding behind tight smiles that were forced and cheap. "Just ignore them."

"You had to turn to booze and drugs to do that." Alison chastised him. "You really think I could find a healthy coping mechanism if you couldn't?"

He sighed, his shoulders bunching up before he let them drop again.

"I was always hopeless…"

"Jase…" She frowned at him. "You're not hopeless."

"I kind of am," he said. "But you've got something I never had."

"Common sense?" Alison guessed, shoving him with a teasing smile.

He shoved her back.

"That girl from the wrong side of the tracks that mom and dad hate so much." He'd heard what his mother had said about her when he was on his way down the stairs. He could only imagine how much the statement had upset his sister.

"I really wish they wouldn't talk about her like she's some gutter snipe. It pisses me off."

"That's why they do it. They want you to screw it up. They want to mold you to be some trophy wife for some Ken doll in their pathetic WASPy little club." Jason pushed himself to his feet. "Look, this Emily chick…you really love her?"

"More than anything. And you know what that means. You know how stunted we are because of our idiot parents."

"Then just forget about mom and dad. Don't play into their hand." Jason ran his fingers through his hair. "We've been manipulated by them our entire lives. At some point, we have to stop it. So just…do your thing with your little rebel." He shrugged and moved towards the stairs. He glanced back at her. "She's kind of cute. I get what you see in her."

"Eyes off my girlfriend, you perv," she said, a wavering smile on her face. Because she knew he was teasing her.

"I really do like her for you. Always have. Ever since she reamed my ass out I realized she would always put you before anything else. That's more than I can say for anyone in our family, including me."

"You were a kid in a fucked up mess, too. It shouldn't have fallen on you."

"Shouldn't have. But it did. And I fell down on the job. Glad purple-haired Barbie was there to pick you up. I owe her a beer."

"You are not getting my girlfriend drunk…"

"Why? Afraid she'll fall for my charm?" He raised his brows, his blue eyes sparkling with mischief.

"First of all, you have zero charm." Alison laughed. "Second, you're not her type." She made a face at him.

"I'm everyone's type." He gave her a cocky look, shaking his head, which made his bangs sweep across his face.

"You need a haircut!" She said as she watched him walk towards the stairs.

"Don't tell me how to live my life."

He bounded up the stairs. A few minutes later she heard his bedroom door close. She sat in the living room, trying to process everything she was dealing with. It wasn't just the stress of Emily's pregnancy or the stalker after them. She couldn't stop thinking about the fact that she was just months away from getting a diploma, which she'd always seen as her means to branch out away from Rosewood…away from her family.

She glanced at the bookshelf, where every book was in perfect alignment with each other. She'd made sure it stayed that way, because her mother was particular about things looking pristine for when they had company over. But that's not the reason she cared if it looked perfect.

The bookcase had held Alison's secrets over the years. There was a mounted stand beside the shelf that had a hidden slot that no one knew about. It was perfect because no one in her family cared to be literate.

She'd hidden the letter she'd received from NYU nearly a week ago. She'd been surprised to hear back from them so soon. She assumed it was a rejection, but when she held the packet in her hand she realized it was far too heavy to just be a simple, "we regret to inform you…" letter.

She had opened it and read the contents, but before she'd had a chance to process it she'd gotten Emily's text.

"I need you."

That had overridden everything in her mind. She'd quickly popped it into the hiding spot. She hadn't looked at it since.

NYU could be her ticket out of the hellhole that was Rosewood. The only thing keeping her around was Emily. She knew what Emily would say once she found out about it.

She thought about pulling it out and looking at it again. She stood up and slowly moved towards the bookcase.

She was interrupted by a knock at the door. She knew it was too soon for it to be Emily, so she took her time answering it.

She glanced through the peephole and saw Noel Kahn staring back at her. She opened the door with a scowl on her face.

"What are you doing here?" She maneuvered her body into the entryway, crossing her arms over her chest.

"Hello to you, too." Noel scoffed. "Got a few minutes?"

"None that I want to waste on you."

"Don't be like that. I need to talk to you."

"Do you know how creepy it is…showing up here after all the shit you've pulled? You're lucky I don't punch you in the teeth."

"Thought that was Montgomery's job." Noel shot her a cocky smile as he reached up and swiped his thumb against his nose.

"You know, considering how many people have punched you and want to punch you maybe it's time for you to do some self-reflection." The tendons in her wrist started throbbing because she was clenching her fist so tight.

"Come on, drop the attitude for five minutes. I just want to talk…"

"I have nothing to say to you." Alison started to push the door closed.

His hand shot up and pushed back against it. He shoved his foot in front of the door.

"What if I told you that I know what you and your little girlfriend are up to with Kate Spade and Techno Boy?"

Alison's heart seized in her chest. Was this it? Was this the moment that Noel came forward and told her that he was in on everything?

"What are you talking about?" The response came out strained. Her mouth felt like sandpaper.

"Invite me in and find out."

Alison's eyes nervously darted to Noel. She cautiously opened the door. Her brother and her mother were both home. Noel wouldn't be able to get away with anything. All she had to do was scream. She kept her distance as he walked into the foyer. She closed the front door.

"Been a long time since I've been here." Noel looked over at the piano. "Then again, we didn't spend much time in this part of the house, did we? Your room still in the same place?"

"Fuck you, Noel."

"That's no way to talk to your house guest."

"Clearly you've never been an actual house guest in the DiLaurentis house."

"We here alone?" Noel asked, arching his neck back to look up around the vast open space of Alison's house.

"Creepy thing to ask. Why don't you try me and find out?" Alison challenged.

"I didn't come here to fight with you." He turned around to face her. He laughed at the distance between them. "What's the matter, Ali? Afraid of me?"

"Just tell me what you want and then get out." Alison gritted through her teeth.

"Cindy and Mindy said you were sniffing around." He tapped the top of the piano. His fingers made a thunking sound.

"So?"

"So you need to stop digging before you get hurt." He frowned, his brow furrowed in a scowl.

"Is that a threat?"

"No. Consider it a warning. I owe Emily a debt…"

"You're not the fucking Godfather." Alison scoffed.

"I'm serious, Alison. You don't want to go toe-to-toe with Wilden."

"What does he want with us?" Alison inched closer to him. She stopped when she reached the edge of the piano.

"With…you?" He cocked his head in confusion. "You're the ones sneaking around stalking him. I don't know what your endgame is, but if you're not careful this won't end well for you two. Or that little bun Emily has baking…"

"If you or anyone else does anything to hurt them I will rain down fire on your head and watch you burn, you feel me?" Alison moved next to him, a power move to show him she wasn't afraid.

"I am trying to help you." He threw his hands up in frustration. "I don't know what you think you've got on him, but trust me…you don't know the half of it."

"Then enlighten me."

"The twins said you were asking questions about his family." Noel ran his fingers across a picture frame of her family. He picked it up and stared at the photo.

"Yeah, a family they claim to know nothing about."

"Some people have complicated home lives." Noel shrugged as he put the photo down. "You, of all people, should know that."

Everything he said sounded like there was a double-meaning to it, and she didn't like it.

"Why did you come here? What do you want?"

Noel picked up a snowglobe that was sitting on a shelf, rolling it around in his hand. Alison glowered at him. Emily had given it to her after they'd had their first snow day together. She tensed up, worried that he was going to drop it. But he put it down gently and turned to face her.

"Wilden's bail was paid by an anonymous donor. He had to put up all of his aunt's assets as collateral as well. But when you think about it…who is going to front that kind of cash to an accused pedophile? Who even has that kind of cash?"

"Your family. My family. Half the people in Rosewood."

"He's not hanging out with anyone in Rosewood. Aside from Cindy and Mindy. And they're just peons for his drug circle." Noel sat against the piano bench.

"So he is slinging steroids."

"It's not a big thing. Everyone makes it a bigger deal than it is."

"You were a total monster on them."

"I was a total monster before. You know that. Besides, the drugs isn't even the half of what he's in to. I don't know the full story, but I've seen him with people that don't hang out in our little town." Noel gave Alison a knowing smile.

"Who?"

"I don't know."

"What do they look like?"

"I've only seen them from a distance. They seem to be very good at getting in and out undetected."

"So basically you know nothing?"

"I know that he's up to something with out-of-town interlopers that he probably owes a debt to."

"But why? Who?"

"Whoever it is clearly has money, smarts, and power. Lethal combination. That's why I came here to warn you. You need to let your vendetta go. Don't let your arrogance come back on the people you love." He glanced at Alison's phone. He saw the lockscreen of Emily.

Noel had no idea what kind of hell she and Emily were living through. Someone had already declared war on them. Noel had seen enough to know that. He'd seen what happened at the dance. He'd been there the night the scaffolding fell outside the gym. He knew they were in physical danger.

"We have footage of him meeting up with Cindy and Mindy. It's against his probation." Alison grimaced.

"So then what are you waiting for? Turn it in if you think he's guilty. You never seemed to have a problem singing like a damn canary before."

"It's not if. He is definitely guilty. And you don't get to dictate anything here."

"Whatever you say, DiLaurentis…"

They heard footsteps approaching. Alison breathed a sigh of relief. Her mother's heels slapped loudly against the floor.

Noel stood up to greet her.

"Oh, Noel, dear. It's so nice to see you. How are your parents?" Her mother practically fell all over herself to fawn on him.

The Kahns were a very prominent family in town. And for the very brief period of time that Alison had dated him her mother had tried to push them closer, which only made Alison want to rebel. Her mother was like the matchmaker from hell.

"He was just leaving." Alison nudged him towards the door.

"Me too. What a coincidence. I'll walk you out. Perhaps you can tell me more about the investment your father is looking into this quarter."

Just like always, her mother had managed to make it all about her. She pulled her keys out and slung her purse over her shoulder. She faced Alison.

"You're on your own for tonight. I've got a late night planned with my book club. I'll be staying with Karen and Kathy at Karen's place."

Her "book club" was code for getting drunk with a bunch of other affluent women.

"What are you reading?" Alison asked in a snotty tone, knowing she wouldn't have an answer.

"Oh, nothing you'd be interested in." She glossed over the answer.

She walked out with Noel, but not before he turned around and flashed her a meaningful sincere look.

Alison sat in silence for several seconds, completely unnerved about the whole thing. His visit had unsettled her. She felt like she'd learned a lot of information, but that it was written in some code she didn't understand.

Who would have swooped in to town to take a failed High School Coach under their wing? Maybe there was more to his story. Maybe there was more to his family. Maybe she'd seen someone that looked like Wilden that night. Would that even be possible? Did he have any siblings? It could also explain how the person who set up the dance was able to get hooked up with the dance committee as a volunteer. He easily could have played a role in everything. He'd have the motive.

Alison looked at her phone. She didn't have any new texts. She was irritated that Emily hadn't blown up her phone with updates on her drive home. She was also equally as proud of her for driving safe.

Alison scrolled through until she found Caleb's number. He'd given it to her to keep in contact after she got a brand new tamper-proof phone.

Hey, how are we coming on the DNA tests from the bar?

Fifteen minutes later he responded,

Should have results any day now.

She knew it was a long shot, but maybe someone had seen something. Maybe someone had seen Wilden.

She flipped the piano keyboard cover open. She put her earbuds back in and started working on a new song. But this one wasn't for NYU. She was writing her own composition for Emily and the baby. Because in a mad world, only her family...her chosen family...made sense to her.

o ~ O ~ o

Emily was about halfway home when it started to rain. It gradually built into sleet. Thick sheets of wet mushy snow started to form on the road. It was a reminder to her that she needed to slow down.

Her mind had been whirling constantly at high speed, even more-so since her visit with Maya. She was trying to come to terms with the fact that she'd finally seen her again after losing her. She was also trying to deal with the added pressure of Maya nearly dying.

She felt the baby stirring, followed by several kicks. She took one hand off of the steering wheel and placed it on her stomach to soothe her daughter.

"It's okay. I know it's been a crazy day, but everything is alright. We're going to be okay." She felt another tremor, then another kick.

It reminded Emily of seeing a child flat on their back screaming in a department store while their tired mother just reached down to drag their squalling baby out.

"Having our first tantrum, are we?" A crooked smile tugged against Emily's face. There was another powerful hit. "I know. I know. I understand your frustration. But now is not the time to work on your Kung-fu, okay? Mommy is trying to drive here."

The baby was vibrant and active for the next several miles. Emily kept talking to her while keeping her eyes focused on the road.

"I wish Alison was here to sing you to sleep. I bet you'd like that." There was a pause. The kicking was still there, but it wasn't as sharp. And Emily knew why. There was something about Alison that always calmed her little one. "You love her, don't you?"

There was a thump against Emily's palm. Then another. The movement was starting to settle down.

"You want to know something?" Emily took a deep breath, letting her stomach rise and fall beneath her palm. "I do, too. I love her more than anything."

She hadn't known what to expect when she went to see Maya. She knew why the blonde was afraid of her seeing her ex. She'd been a little bit afraid that old feelings might resurface. But there was nothing. She'd felt nothing. She was happy for Maya and her boyfriend.

"Love is a weird thing." Emily said out loud, knowing very well that it was a strange thing to talk to an unborn child about, but she felt like her little one was always listening…always learning. And she wanted to teach her so many things. "I can't really explain it. Then again, maybe I don't need to. Because it's not something that really needs words. It just is."

She paused thoughtfully.

"Like…I know you love me. I know it in my heart. Because you're the reason my heart is beating. I just feel it. You know when someone loves you. And you know when they love you back. Because you give and you don't expect anything in return. That's love. It's when your heart speaks for you. But it's quiet. It whispers softly. You have to listen closely. But it's there."

The more she spoke, the less the baby squirmed. It's like she'd stopped to listen. It's like she knew what Emily was saying.

"You'll see. You'll see what it's like, sweet girl. You will. Because I'm certain there is nothing on earth that I will ever love more than I love you."

Her daughter wasn't restless anymore, so Emily went back to focusing on the drive.

The weather had deteriorated rapidly by the time she was crossing the Pennsylvania state line. She was ten miles outside of Rosewood when it turned into a full blown winter storm. She slowed the car down to a crawl. The sound of the snow sloshing against the road was eerie. The windshield wipers hummed against the freezing glass.

She'd learned to drive in Texas, which meant she had learned to drive in tornadoes, not in snowstorms. She'd gotten in a little winter driving with her dad during December, but nothing to this extent.

She drove several miles, but then visibility dropped to nearly zero. She couldn't see the road in front of her. She wasn't sure what to do.

She saw a sudden flash of light from the opposite direction. All she could picture was the night she almost crashed her bike. This time, the other car just casually passed her.

But her heart was still jumping in her chest. She pulled the car off to the side of the road to calm down and try to wait it out.

She thought for sure she could make it the last two miles, but when she went to put the car in drive and put her foot on the gas the engine made a strange noise. After a few seconds it sputtered and then died.

"No no no…" Emily grabbed the keys and fiddled with them, trying to get the ignition to turn over. "Come on…stupid piece of…"

The engine choked and then died again. She grumbled in frustration and slammed her palms against the steering wheel.

"This is why cars are trash," she muttered.

This was why she loved her bike. It was more reliable. She'd never had trouble with it. Then again, it was miserable to ride in poor weather.

She reached for her phone only to find that it had no service. There was an emergency alert about the weather and a note that cell towers were jammed because of the storms.

"You have got to be kidding me," she grumbled.

She peered outside at the growing accumulation of snow on the windshield. She thought about her options. She could wait to see if anyone else came by, though the likelihood wasn't high that anyone would be out in this storm. And even if someone did come by they wouldn't know to stop unless she stood outside the car and flagged them down.

"Guess we're going for a hike." Emily peered down at her belly.

Talking to her child was coming more naturally to her. She felt like she wasn't alone, which helped considering it was dark and cold outside.

She was halfway between a gas station and her house. Either way, it was only two miles. She knew her dad kept an emergency kit in the trunk, so she dug out a coat and gloves and bundled up. She found some plastic bags and used them to cover her shoes so the cold wet snow wouldn't soak through them. She grabbed her phone and the keys and locked the car. Then she started on her trek home.

The cold didn't really hit her until she was half a mile from her neighborhood. Her belly was warm, but her fingers and toes were starting to get numb. Her face felt like ice. Her lips were chapped and her eyes were dry. But she managed to make it to her street. She could see the lights on her front porch.

But she didn't go home first. She went to Alison's house. Her teeth were chattering as she climbed the porch stairs. She'd gotten so used to being hot all the time that she'd forgotten how miserable it was to be cold.

She tried knocking first, but her gloved hands barely made a sound, so she rang the doorbell. A few seconds later the door swung open.

"There you are." Alison smiled warmly.

Emily stepped forward into the porch light and Alison saw her bright red cheeks and her puffy chapped lips. It took a moment for her to register that she was wet and shivering. Alison looked around, but didn't see her parent's car.

"What happened?" Alison's eyes widened.

"Car broke down."

"And you walked in this? What the hell? Are you okay?" Alison reached up to touch her cheek. It felt like a block of ice.

"Uh…a little cold. But I wanted to see you. I needed to see you." After her visit with Maya she had only been able to think about one thing: getting home to the love of her life.

"Jesus, get in here." Alison pulled her off of the porch. "Sit." She grabbed her and pulled her towards the couch. "I'll get a fire going."

"Do you even know how to build a fire?" Emily asked skeptically.

"Shut up. Sit down." She shoved Emily down and pulled the blanket off the back of the couch. She wrapped it around Emily's shoulders.

"I don't want to disturb your parents…" She pulled her gloves off. The heat in the room burned her cold fingers.

"Only person we're disturbing is Jason. And he was already disturbed. My parents aren't home. They stormed out after their fight earlier. Mom is drinking her weight in wine at a friend's place and dad will end up in a motel with someone my age."

"I'm sorry." Emily hated that Alison had to deal with her parents' drama.

"Don't be. I'm better off without them here anyway." She started messing around at the fireplace.

"Is there anything I can do to help?" Emily reached down and pulled the bags off of her shoes.

"You help just by being in my life." Alison reached into the fireplace.

Emily watched her move some things around. She pulled her shoes off. The bags had kept her feet dry.

"Ah ha." Alison made a triumphant noise as she pushed something up inside the chimney. "Got it."

She stood up and pressed a button. The fireplace was mostly automatic. All she had to do was put kindling on and hit the button. She got it started without a problem and then joined Emily on the couch.

Emily could see a mixture of emotions in her eyes. She could tell that Alison was worried, but there was also an inkling of pain on her face. Alison had a habit of pushing her feelings about her family aside.

"Are you okay?" Emily brushed Alison's hair out of her face.

"I'm not the one who just walked through Snowmaggedon." She touched her cheek and frowned in concern. "God, you're freezing."

"I'll be fine." Emily put her hand on Alison's wrist. Her fingertips were cold.

"Sweetie…" Alison put her other hand on top of Emily's shaky hand. "You're shivering."

Emily was never cold.

"So are you." Emily could feel Alison trembling. But she knew it wasn't from the cold. She pulled her closer.

"It's been a weird night." Alison glanced at the snowglobe that Noel had manhandled earlier. "Noel came by."

"For what?" Emily's eyebrows shot up in concern.

Noel hadn't even been a blip on their radar lately. He'd been steering clear of them at school. He never bothered Emily when he was at the gym.

"He says that Wilden's bail was paid by some anonymous donor. He made it sound like he's got…connections of some kind. Like…friends or family in high places."

"I doubt even those friends could get him out of trouble if we sent that video of him and the twins to the cops." Emily suggested.

"It won't be admissible in court. It's too dark to see their features. They can't prove it was him. And you can't really see Cindy or Mindy either. Hanna and I already looked into it."

"Oh." Emily looked down at her feet.

She hadn't been entirely present the past week. Her mind had been so consumed with Maya that she'd missed more than she cared to admit. The pregnancy brain didn't help.

"I didn't want to tell you. I didn't want to overwhelm you. You've had a lot going on…"

"That doesn't mean I'm not here for you, too."

"I know." Alison nodded with a sigh. She played with Emily's fingers. "Noel knows we have the video. He called my bluff. Told me to turn it over to the cops. He seems to think Wilden has people sneaking across the border to help."

"What…like…from Canada or something?" Emily asked in confusion.

"Rosewood's borders." Alison chuckled. She realized she should have clarified. "He doesn't think the people who are helping him live here in town. And I've got to say…after seeing what I saw that day with Hanna, I bet he's right."

"You think this girl in the red coat is real?"

"I don't know. None of it makes any sense." Alison rubbed her temple. She could feel the tension crawling down her spine.

Emily's cool fingers landed on the back of Alison's neck. She pushed her hair aside and started working on the knot that was forming there.

"God, you're so tense. He really upset you, didn't he?" Her nostrils flared in anger. She was going to slip laxatives in Noel's sports drink the next time she saw him at the gym.

"It's not just him." Alison looked up at her sadly.

She didn't have to say anything else for Emily to understand that her parent's argument was weighing heavily on her.

"How bad was the fight?"

"Nothing I haven't seen before." Alison shrugged, trying to turn away.

Alison refused to let others see how much her parents hurt her. Emily understood that, because her parents weren't perfect either.

"You don't have to put on a brave face for me, Ali." She stroked the side of Alison's neck.

Alison shivered because her hands were so cold. Emily started to pull away, but Alison grabbed her fingers.

"It's just hard, you know? They should care." Her lip quivered. "Why don't they care? Why don't they love me like you love your baby?"

"I don't know." Emily sighed. "But they're crazy if they don't care about you."

"Parents suck." Alison pushed her lips out into a pout. She glanced at Emily's stomach and then quickly added, "Except you. You're going to be a great mom."

"I hope. But being a parent is complicated." She put her hand on her stomach. Emily's phone chimed. It was ironic that she was getting service the second she was safe and warm. "Speaking of…." She reached into her pocket. "I need to call my mom and dad. I couldn't get a signal earlier. They're probably worried. Plus their car is by the side of the road two miles away from here."

"Two miles? You walked two miles in these temperatures?"

"I didn't want to wait. I have something important to say to you…" She reached for her hands. Alison cupped her palms around Emily's fingers to try and warm her up. Emily met her gaze. "I love you, Alison."

Alison cocked her head. It was a strange moment to hear it, but she loved hearing it.

"You walked two miles in the snow to tell me that?"

"I said it before," Emily said. "I meant it before. And I'm saying it again. Because I realized something today when I was talking to Maya." She moved their joined hands up to her lips and kissed Alison's knuckles. "It was always you. It's always been you. Ever since we were kids. I don't think I ever would have gotten over you. I fell in love with you when we kissed. And I've felt it every day since then, but I was so worried about saying it too soon or moving too fast that I didn't always say it when I was feeling it."

Her hands were shaking, but Alison couldn't tell if it was from the cold or because of her emotions.

"I think it dawned on me that loving someone and losing them is just…terrifying." She wasn't just thinking about Maya. She was thinking about all the times she could have lost the baby. She was thinking about Alison being drugged. "Knowing you love someone is easy. But admitting it out loud means that you have someone so important…so much a part of you…that losing them would mean that you would never be whole again. Because it's like…you're sharing your heartbeat with them. I feel that with you."

"I feel that, too." Alison said quietly, smiling at Emily through tears of joy.

"After I almost lost you I realized the importance of saying that every time you feel it…every time you say goodbye. Because what we're going through is dangerous. And I worry that every time might be the last time. And I want you to know that. I don't want you to ever doubt that I love you. I am so insanely in love with you that it's a little bit intimidating. And you know I don't scare easy. I just…I needed to tell you that."

Alison wasn't sure how to respond with words, so instead she responded by grabbing Emily's coat and pulling her in for a kiss. Her lips were cool from being outside, but Alison knew she could warm them up.

She put her hand against Emily's side, but all she could feel was the padding from her coat. She felt Emily moving and seconds later she was shrugging out of the heavy garment.

Emily felt Alison's fingertips against her arms as she helped her pull the damp article of clothing off. She could feel Emily trembling, so she pulled her closer as she deepened the kiss.

Alison curled her legs up on to the couch and gently pressed against Emily's shoulder, trying to get her to lie back on the sofa. Normally, Emily resisted being told what to do, but she was too tired to fight her. She pulled her legs up on to the couch. Alison straddled her and leaned over her.

Alison's warm hands were all over her body. It didn't take long before their body heat started to bring Emily's temperature back to normal. Alison nuzzled up against her, kissing the side of her neck and squirming in between the couch and Emily's side.

"You're not cold anymore." Alison whispered against her ear, eliciting a smile from her girlfriend.

Alison curled up as close as she could get to her and pulled the blanket down around them. The fire crackled beside them. The heat from the flames warmed them. Alison laid next to her silently. She was so comfortable that she started to drift off to sleep.

Emily stayed awake. She mindlessly ran her fingers through Alison's hair. She kissed the top of her head and moved her chin up against her skull. She'd watched Alison sleep before, but something about this time felt different. Because she realized that being with her made her feel whole.

o ~ O ~ o

Emily drifted in and out of a dreamlike state. The baby had been really active, which kept waking her up. Every time she opened her eyes the first thing she saw was Alison's face against her shoulder. Her lips were slightly parted. Her shallow breaths tickled Emily's neck. She looked perfectly content.

Alison's body heat felt like a breath of fresh air. She was rattled from Maya's near death experience and she was worried about what the psycho behind the scenes was going to do next. But the world felt calm and safe when she had Alison in her arms.

"Emily…" Alison mumbled.

Emily looked down at her. Her eyes were still closed.

"Yeah?"

Alison didn't respond. She just smiled. Then she mumbled something under her breath. She nuzzled against Emily and sighed.

"You're so warm." Her eyelids twitched. Emily realized she was still asleep. "So beautiful…" She muttered. "My mermaid…"

Emily smiled in amusement. It was one of the most adorable things she'd ever seen. She listened as Alison murmured incoherent things for a few minutes.

"I wished for you."

Emily smiled when she thought about that day at the wishing well. It was one of the first times she'd seen Alison let her guard down. She'd seen the real girl underneath the false bravado she put on for everyone else.

"You got me," Emily whispered back.

"Mmm." Alison curled her fingers into Emily's shirt, gripping the fabric.

Emily tightened her grip on the blonde. She had to readjust their position. She shifted her body weight. Alison stirred in her unconscious state and moved closer to her.

Alison sleepily lifted her head, her eyes heavy. She glanced over and saw Emily studying her face.

"What?" Alison asked. "Did I drool or something?" She reached up to wipe her mouth, but it was bone dry.

"No." Emily smiled, a crinkle in her brow. "You were talking in your sleep."

"Well, now that you know about the murder I'm covering up you're an accomplice. Can I count on you to keep quiet?" Alison's dimples topped off the cheeky smile on her face.

"Of course. Ride or die, remember?"

Alison snickered and then buried her face into Emily's body. She kissed her neck.

"What time is it?" Alison asked.

Emily reached for her phone.

"Ten."

"Oh, wow. Did I keep you up or did you get a nap in?"

"I got a little rest, but I kept waking up." Emily moved her hand to the front of her stomach. "She's been kicking like crazy."

"She has?" Alison's face softened.

"Mmhmm."

Alison smiled and laid her palm against Emily's stomach. She didn't feel anything at first, but she waited patiently. Moments later she felt a flutter against her palm. Alison smiled. The baby had a direct line to her heart.

"Hey there, little girl." Alison spoke softly. "You need to let your mommy get some rest. She's had a rough week."

Emily felt her bladder spasm. Her child was a stubborn little jokester.

"She's using my bladder as a beanbag chair."

Emily sat up, moving Alison with her. She didn't want to leave their embrace.

They heard a loud honk out front. It sounded like it was right in front of Alison's house. Seconds later, Jason came bounding down the stairs, taking them two at a time. He was bundled up in a bunch of winter gear. He looked more like a little boy getting ready to go out and throw snowballs than he looked like a grown man who was supposed to be a college graduate in a few months.

He saw the flames dancing in the fireplace.

"Hey, you got the fire going without blowing the house up." Jason smiled.

"It may surprise your primitive little brain, but women are capable of many things you cave-person."

"I'm just saying…you and fire don't mix."

Emily glanced at Alison curiously.

"I may have had a couple of incidents at a luau my parents threw a few years ago," Alison explained. "A tablecloth may have been a casualty. And the neighbor's cat was a little singed. It was fine. It was no big deal."

Jason angled his brows down and gave her a cynical look.

"She pushed me into a bonfire last year."

"You jumped out of the shadows and scared the shit out of me!" Alison grumbled in defense.

The horn from outside started blaring again.

"Where are you going?" Alison questioned.

"Got a buddy stuck in the snow a few miles away from campus. Garrett and I are taking his truck to bail him out…" Of course his friends overcompensated with their big toys. "And then we're going to crash in the dorms. Apparently no one is watching campus, because school is cancelled tomorrow. We're going to make some giant snow dicks outside of the Admin building and the Dean's office."

"Charming." Alison rolled her eyes.

Jason lifted one of his brows and grinned. He glanced at Emily, who was wrapping the blanket around herself to try and subtly keep her stomach hidden.

"I hope your intentions with my baby sister are nothing but honorable, Harley Quinn."

"Says the guy going to erect giant phalluses outside an educational structure." Emily retorted.

Jason snorted.

"Erect…" He muttered under his breath with a dumb chuckle.

"Oh my God, go away." Alison groaned, her face flushing in embarrassment.

"You two crazy kids have fun." He smiled, but then his smile faded and he tried to look serious. "But not too much fun."

He slung the front door open just as the horn blared again.

"I'LL GIVE YOU SOMETHING TO HONK AT, ASSHOLE!" He grabbed his crotch and gyrated his hips forward in a lewd manner.

He stuck his tongue out with a grin and bit down. The honk turned into little subtle repetitive beeps of approval. There was a howl and then a whistle.

"GET YOUR PRETTY ASS OUT HERE, DILAURENTIS!" Garrett yelled out his truck window.

"I'M COMING DICKWAD!" He slammed the door behind him.

"Ugh, he is so vile." Alison complained.

"You could have worse." Emily swung her legs out. Her bare feet hit the floor.

"I guess." Alison leaned back to stretch. "He's a big oaf, but at least he kind of loves me. Though sometimes I wish I was an only child."

"It's not all it's cracked up to be." Emily arched her back. She had been starting to feel the extra weight lately. "Sometimes I wonder if things would have been easier for me if I had a sibling to talk to."

"If it makes you feel any better most siblings don't talk. We throw things at each other and fight, and in my brother's case…fart into my face."

"Delightful." Emily chuckled sarcastically. "Yet, despite all that I still wonder…" She made a face. "Maybe things would have been different. Maybe I wouldn't have been so worried about what my parents would think of me."

"But then we'd never be here." She put her hands against Emily's sides.

"I am thankful for that." Emily nodded.

"Did you ever get lonely?" Alison touched her hand.

"Sometimes. Kind of. But not terribly lonely. I found things that made me happy. I've always believed that happiness comes from within. I found my peace in riding. I found my endurance in boxing. And I found my center in swimming."

"And now you can't do any of those things regularly." Alison frowned in sympathy.

"True." Emily glanced at Alison. She grasped her hand. "But I'm also not alone anymore."

"If you really want a brother I'll give you Jason for free. As a matter-of-fact, I'd pay you to take him. God, could you imagine him as an uncle?"

"Maybe we don't leave the baby in his care unless we want to come home and find her with a fake mustache and tattoos drawn on her in sharpie."

Alison almost swooned. We. She'd said we. She knew it was strange to latch on to that part of Emily's statement, but any time Emily talked about them as a family she felt complete.

"She'd look real cute in a Harley Davidson get-up. Little doo-rag on her head..."

"Mommy's little badass." Emily laughed.

"She is." Alison kissed her. "And you are, too. Jason is afraid of you."

"No, he's not." Emily brushed it off.

"He is!" Alison insisted. "And rightfully so. I know you could kick his ass. All he ever did for me was draw on my face with his magic markers." She rolled her eyes. "I maintain that you were lucky to be an only child."

"I guess. I mean, I know that having brothers and sisters isn't always a love-fest. I saw it in action with Isaac and Courtney."

Alison's face tightened at the mention of Emily's nemesis. That psycho had hurt her girl. Her cheeks filled with patchy red blotches. Her eyes were twitching. Every time she thought about Courtney she felt like hopping on a plane to Texas and delivering justice.

"She's thousands of miles away, Alison." Emily put her hand on Alison's shoulder to calm her down. She was like a raging bull, snorting heat out of her nose.

"What if it's her?" Alison questioned. "What if she's red coat?"

Originally, Emily thought it was out of the question, but after her talk with Maya she wasn't so sure.

"Maya told me that she's been getting texts, too," Emily said.

"Really?"

"Yeah. Not as many and not as aggressive, but she showed them to me. They sound like the same person."

"So…it could be Courtney?"

Everything fit. There was a giant red arrow pointing directly to the demented blonde, but Emily just couldn't make sense of it.

"I…I don't know. It's just not practical. It can't be…right?"

"When people fall off of the deep end they'll go to the ends of the earth to get what they want." Alison's eyes traced Emily's body. "Believe me, I know. And you said her boyfriend lives in New York. And she was in town when I did my campus tour with Aria."

"But the girl in the red coat you tackled was a complete stranger." Emily reached for her phone. She pulled up her photo gallery, searching for a particular picture.

"Courtney is a stranger to me." Alison reminded her.

"Ali, you studied her photo for like two days before you took that trip. And you stalked Bethany Young online for two weeks. There was no connection."

"I'm telling you…" Alison grimaced, "…something is off here. Do you ever get that feeling needling you…and you just know your inner voice is trying to tell you something?"

"Every single day." Emily sighed.

She kept scrolling through her pictures until she found the one she was looking for. It was a picture of her with Isaac, Courtney, and Nick. Her parents had insisted on taking a picture of the four of them one day at church, just weeks before Emily had broken things off with Isaac.

Emily zoomed in on Courtney. It was a pristine image of her. Then again, Courtney was a pristine person. She wasn't sure why she hadn't deleted the photo.

Isaac was in his Sunday best. His parents always insisted on dress pants and a flashy shirt with a sports coat. He tied it all together with a hat.

Courtney was in a fiery dress that should have never been seen in the likes of church, but Emily imagined she'd thrown a tantrum until she'd gotten her way.

Nick wasn't dressed for the occasion. He really only showed up to church for Courtney. He was sporting an emo hairstyle where his bangs were falling into his eyes. He had a shaggy beard and goatee, courtesy of his father's very hairy genes.

"Besides Maya, they were my only friends back in Texas." Emily stared at the photo. "I mean, I guess it's possible someone else did some digging and was able to find some things out about me that way…"

She thought back to the day she'd had her first showdown with Wilden, and how he'd seemed to know things about her from her "transcript" that didn't seem typical.

"Maya and I did piss off an entire frat house. It's not out of the question that someone there or someone who knows the boys who got in trouble are seeking revenge. But other than that it was just us…"

She showed Alison the photo.

At first, all Alison saw was Emily. Her little rebel was wearing a leather jacket. At a fucking church function. Her hair had been freshly dyed.

Alison took her phone from her.

"I bet your parents were pissed at you…"

"I'd ridden my bike to church that day. They just had to deal with it. I think my mother said about a dozen prayers for me."

Alison carefully scanned Isaac's face. She'd only seen him one other time. She stopped when her eyes landed on Courtney. Her upper lip flinched. She hated the bitch with a passion. But that wasn't the only reason for her reaction.

"That…" Alison tilted the photo. Flashes of the night at the bar came back to her. "I swear that was her that night at the bar."

"I thought you said you were with a guy…"

"Yeah, the college preppy. But I also ran into some chick in the bathroom. I remember thinking she looked like Courtney. But her face was puffier and she had brown eyes…"

"Courtney's eyes are blue. Almost grey, actually…" Emily considered something in thought. "Was this before or after you were drugged?"

"I don't know. I was really hammered at that point. But I'd like to think I'd recognize Courtney. Like you said, I studied her."

"What would she have been doing at a bar outside of Rosewood on a random weekend?"

"The girl said something about her cheating boyfriend. Mentioned something about keying his car. That's all I remember."

"Are you sure her eyes were brown?"

"Positive. That's the one feature I remember, because that's the thing that stopped me from freaking out about seeing someone who looked like her." Alison rubbed her face with a frown. "God, I'm seeing her everywhere." She pinched the phone and zoomed in on the photo. "Who's the grunge rocker?" She looked at Nick.

"Courtney's boyfriend, Nick."

"He looks like an illegitimate member of Panic! At the Disco. Like…Harry Styles and a hobo Brendon Urie had a baby."

"Yeah, I don't know what was going on with him. His personal hygiene wasn't exactly his first priority those days. His home life was kind of shitty."

"Join the club." Alison scoffed. She looked closer at the photo. Isaac and Courtney were next to each other, but there seemed to be a world of distance between them. "Isaac looks really sad."

"Courtney had destroyed one of his football trophies that morning. She was so terrible to him. She used to torture him all the time."

"You know, I used to think I'd win the category of worst sister in the world, but then you told me about her." Alison glared at the blonde.

"Isaac really did get screwed in the family department. He was stuck with her his whole life. And now…" Emily slid her hand across her stomach. She blinked, a blank look on her face. "God, I took away a part of his family. I'm just as messed up as Courtney…"

"Emily, don't." Alison pinched her brows, a mixture of concern and determination. She knew how much Emily beat herself up for not telling Isaac the truth. "His sister is a psycho bitch. And if he knew about the baby and…and if he wanted to be involved…even if you guys are friendly…your baby would still be exposed to her."

Emily cringed thinking about it. Having Courtney near her child was her biggest nightmare. Having her baby anywhere near Isaac's family terrified her. But did that mean that she had to completely shut him out?

"That doesn't make it right."

Alison touched Emily's cheek, forcing her to look at her.

"Hey, I know you. Everything that you do…you do for her." She put her hand on Emily's stomach. "I have never met anyone more qualified to be a mother. You are the bravest…kindest person I have ever known."

Emily smiled, a strange bashful look on her face. She was never coy. It was one of the hottest things Alison had ever seen.

"You really think so?"

"I know so." Alison smiled sweetly at her.

"How can you be so sure?"

"I just am. Don't question my methods."

"I guess the queen has spoken." Emily pressed her lips against Alison's forehead.

"The only queen here is you." Alison gushed.

"Yes, well, this queen needs to sit upon a certain throne before Her Majesty's bladder explodes."

She let her hand fall away from Emily's so the brunette could break away. Emily stood up. She pulled Alison to her feet. Alison stood on her tiptoes to kiss her. When she pulled away Alison had a soft look on her face.

"You want some cocoa?" Alison questioned.

"Sure. Just give me a few minutes. I've got to call my mom and dad."

Alison walked into the kitchen to heat up some cocoa. After she was done she walked back into the living room with both mugs. She put them down next to the fireplace and then set up a little cot next to the fire.

She pulled out the fire poker to stoke the flames. When she pulled the wall-mounted stand forward a slip of white slid up towards the top of the slit between the wall and the bookshelf. She stared at the NYU logo before carefully tucking the envelope away again. She moved the stand back in place and tidied up a few books on the shelf.

She could hear the smooth murmurs of Emily's voice in the other room. She had no idea what she was saying to her parents, but Emily could convince anyone to let her do anything. She was also really good at eluding the tough questions. She probably had her parents believing that Alison's family was home in the storm. They probably didn't know they were alone.

She drifted over to the front window and glanced outside. The snow showed no signs of slowing down. It would be beautiful in the morning. She smiled, thinking about what their lives might look like in a few years.

She could picture a sweet little girl with Emily's smile…and her curious nature. She could see that sweet child giggling and twirling around on her feet with her head tilted back and her mouth open wide trying to catch a snowflake on her tongue.

She could see her dancing. She would probably be nimble on her feel like her mother. She imagined her swirling around and laughing and then stopping to look across the yard at her mommy, who would be squatting down with her arms wide open.

Emily's baby girl would sprint towards her and kick up snow all around her as her little boots crunched beneath her. She could hear her excitedly shouting, "Mama!"

She imagined she would be a few paces behind Emily watching it all unfold. She would walk over to her girls and gently put her hand on Emily's back. Emily would turn around and smile at her, and then their baby would reach for her. And Alison would take her in her arms and kiss Emily. She could see herself standing there…and loving her family.

She heard Emily walking up behind her, but she was so mesmerized by the white cloud covering the trees. Snow was a beautiful thing. And so was the idea of a future with the girl she loved.

"It's really coming down out there." When Alison spoke her breath fogged up the window.

"Yeah." Emily leaned over her shoulder and looked outside. "Yeah, I'm lucky I got home when I did."

She peered at Alison's reflection in the window. Her lips were pursed. She was staring out at the yard intently, like she was watching something. Something that Emily couldn't see.

Emily slid her palms against Alison's arms and wrapped her body behind Alison's.

"What are you thinking about?" Emily asked.

"I used to love playing in the snow." At least up until she'd turned seven. She'd reached a point where it was uncool and she'd declared she hated it and that it was for babies. But Emily had awoken the sleeping child in her. "Kids love it."

"They do."

"Do you ever think about what she'll be like?" Alison asked.

"All the time." Emily smiled. She leaned over Alison's shoulder to look outside. She wrapped her arms around her neck and leaned forward to kiss her cheek.

"What about us?" Alison looked at her. "Do you ever think about where we'll be?"

"With each other hopefully." Emily laid her chin against Alison's shoulder.

"Do you think about our future?"

"We have to get to that future first. Right now I'm more interested in our present." She pressed her lips together. "With everything going on…" She trailed off. She didn't know what to say.

Alison had been drugged because of her. Maya had nearly died because of her. What if her baby was next?

Alison could read the look on her face. She could see that protective mothering instinct in her eyes.

"I know…" Alison rubbed her arm. "I worry about it, too."

"It would be different if it was just me." Emily sighed. Alison frowned. She hated it when Emily put her self-worth last. "I think about what this person did to you…and I just…I have never felt so much rage in my life. The idea of someone…manipulating you and using you…I could have lost you that night. And I can't…" She couldn't reconcile that. She couldn't come to terms with it. "I want you to know that will never happen again. I won't let them hurt you, Ali." She held her close. "Never again."

Feeling Emily's arms around her always made her feel so soft. So secure. Not much could tear down her barriers, but when her girlfriend was so close…so intimate…she let go of her tension and she let go of her desire to have control and she gave into her sensual needs to be touched…to be held.

Alison tilted her chin up to meet Emily's lips. It was soft and innocent. And when she pulled back she was smiling. A sweet subtle smile that she shared with Emily, and Emily only. It showcased her vulnerability. She wasn't the bitch who had terrorized half of Rosewood. She was the girl who Emily saw. The beautiful version of herself she'd always wanted to be.

She was the girl who threw quarters into a wishing well and closed her eyes and pictured a shooting star and its magic. She was the girl who laid outside in her treehouse and stared at the sky and dreamed impossible dreams.

She was the girl who still had a trace of innocence left, something she never let anyone see. But she let Emily see. She wanted Emily to see. She wanted to let her in completely.

The way Emily looked at her made her feel like she was someone worth loving. Emily's kind eyes made her soft. It made her feel things she'd never felt before.

Her body was reacting in ways it had never reacted before. She felt the blood rushing into her cheeks, down her neck. She felt it in her chest. She felt it in her stomach…in between her legs.

Her cheeks were flushed. Her lips were trembling. Emily noticed. And she smiled. She smiled so sweetly that it made Alison feel like collapsing on to the floor. It took her a few seconds to remember she was still seated. She twisted around, trying to meet Emily's body with hers.

"You're so beautiful." Emily brushed her knuckles against Alison's cheek.

Emily's touch was so powerful that Alison could feel it in the tips of her toes. Her entire body quivered. She let out a shaky breath and shivered.

"You cold?" Emily asked.

"The opposite."

She felt like she was burning from the inside. Her veins felt like molten lava slowly rolling over her entire body. She was so wrapped up in bathing in the warmth that she didn't realize that the look in Emily's eyes had changed. Her face was red, her lips puffy from their kisses. Her expression was oozing with desire.

Alison moved to her feet. They leaned in for another kiss, this time more impassioned. There was a subtle needy desperation in the encounter, but there was also a paced patience in it. No rush. No control. Just the two of them…connecting. No expectations. Just need.

Something came over them. It wasn't that they were alone or that they had the chance or that were always thinking about it. Because in the moment, they weren't thinking. They weren't planning. They were just acting.

They yearned for it. Everything about it felt right. They knew it was time. They just knew. They didn't have to ask each other. Their bodies did the talking. The moment was theirs.

Emily put the palm of her hand on the side of her neck and kissed her. Alison reached up and tugged on the curtain rope, letting the heavy cloth shades fall closed as she pressed her body against Emily, a muffled noise coming out of her mouth.

Emily slid her hands up the back of Alison's silky red top. Alison laid her palms against Emily's chest. The kiss was filled with a new kind of passion. Emily moved them effortlessly. Alison felt light on her feet as she gently guided them towards the fireplace.

Alison moved her hands underneath Emily's shirt to pull her top off. Emily reached for the buttons on Alison's night shirt, slowly popping them open at first and then growing impatient and tugging on it, ripping several of the remaining buttons. Two buttons detached from the shirt and fell against the floor.

Alison was too preoccupied to notice. She slid her hand against Emily's back, reaching for the clasp on her bra. Seconds later, their garments were on the ground next to the cot.

Emily cupped Alison's face. The blonde turned and gripped Emily's hand, kissing her palm. Her skin was soft and tasted like a sweet nectar. She kissed her way towards Emily's wrist, down her arm and then moved to her chest, placing a trail of kisses from her collar bone down to her stomach.

She paused when she reached Emily's protruding bellybutton, letting her kiss linger there. She could feel a beautiful kind of love radiating there. She slowly trailed her tongue against Emily's body, moving up until she found her lips again.

She felt Emily's hand in her pajama bottoms. She threw her head back when she felt her touching her. She was ready. She was beyond ready. She slid her fingers into Emily's elastic pants.

In a matter of minutes, their clothing was in a pile next to the couch. They took a moment to peer at one another…at every bare inch of skin. Every scar. Every blemish. Every perfect imperfection.

Emily had a tattoo that Alison had never seen down in the crevice of her pelvis. It was high enough that it was hidden when she wore bathing suits and panties, but low enough that it nearly encroached her delicate area. It looked like one of the most painful places to get a tattoo.

They'd never been fully bare in front of one another before. Alison had gotten close to her before, but never close enough to see it. It was easy to miss.

It was small and modest. A tiny little outline of a maple leaf. Of course...her fall girl would have a beautiful leafy tattoo.

The tattoo itself was little, but it was also bold in a way. Alison traced her fingers over the outline of it. She saw a letter in the middle of the leaf weaved in cursive. It looked like an A.

"A for autumn?" Alison guessed.

Emily's cheeks flushed. She smiled. That had been what Maya and Isaac believed. But the truth was that the day she went to the tattoo parlor she'd only had one thing on her mind.

"A for Alison." She ran her fingers through Alison's hair.

Something in Alison's chest started to swell. Tears burned her eyes.

"Em…" Alison had no idea what to say.

"I told you…" She leaned in and trailed kisses against Alison's jaw. "It was always you, Ali."

Emily buried her face into Alison's neck, her hot breath leaving little patches of heated desire against Alison's skin. They moved in, their bodies touching for the very first time with no barriers. They both shuddered at the contact.

Alison gently pulled Emily down by the fireplace. She draped the blanket over her shoulders and laid against Emily's body, holding herself above her as their hands explored each other. Emily's baby bump was getting bigger, but it wasn't so big that their bodies couldn't meld together.

The world around them seemed so small. They were both insanely aware of every little detail. About each other. About the room. The fire roaring in front of them. Their hot sweaty bodies entwined. The sounds of their own harsh pants echoing throughout the house.

There was a determined need to get closer despite the fact that their bodies were joined as one. They were content just getting used to the feel of each other. It was slow…thoughtful.

Alison's fingers were concentrated and concise. She moved in a perfect rhythm as she watched the pleasure on Emily's face. She started off gentle. Almost too gentle. Emily cupped the back of her neck and peered into her eyes, staring at the beautiful blonde above her. She moved her hips with Alison's motions.

"I need more." Emily's voice came out a hushed whisper.

"I don't want to hurt her." Alison bit her lip, glancing at Emily's stomach.

"You won't." She panted.

Alison complied. She gave Emily everything she wanted, and Emily returned the favor. She gently rolled them over, their bodies still connected, giving Alison a new angle to work with.

Alison watched as Emily's back curved. She threw her head back and her chest heaved. Then she moved down to capture Alison's lips again.

Their kisses became frenzied. They kept their lips parted as their tongues dipped in and out of each other's mouths. Their gurgled mewls and groans were nearly swallowed by the sound of the crackling fire.

Alison felt Emily stiffen and her body start to shake. She looked over and saw Emily's trembling bicep next to her face. She looked like she was about to collapse on top of her, but she was controlled in a way that amazed Alison.

Emily took a breath as she moved against Alison's motions. She moved her fingers down between their joined bodies. Emily paused, waiting on her consent. She got it in the form of Alison bucking against her pleadingly.

Emily captured her lips and whispered against them,

"You're sure?"

Alison nodded through her unsteady breaths, unable to speak because Emily was already doing things to her that were rendering her speechless.

Emily was careful. She knew it was Alison's first real experience with anything like it. She knew that Alison had never let anyone else in before, not in this way. She was in uncharted waters, and Alison was pulling her towards the current.

She could see the trust in Alison's eyes, guiding her, encouraging her. Emily could see the instant that it connected for her. She could see the pleasure in her face when she felt her. Alison closed her eyes and arched her head back as she let Emily take control.

And then they were in sync, moving with one another. Alison felt something in her stomach twitch. It started to grow into a roaring fire with a heat more intense than the flames smoldering next to them. Her stomach started seizing. Her thighs pulsed as something hot washed over her.

She had never felt anything like it before. She saw Emily looking at her…seeing her. Emily had opened the window to her soul, and she was in awe of it. Emily loved her. She loved her soul. It was the first time that Alison felt like she had a soul.

She kissed Emily harshly, begging for her to kiss back with just as much force. Emily did, but then she tensed up and tossed her head back. Alison saw a beauty in her that she'd never seen before.

Emily laid her forehead against Alison's as she breathed heavily into her face. Alison buried her head against Emily's shoulder, placing gentle kisses against her skin. She got lost in her. She could smell her arousal. She could taste her sweat. She could feel her everywhere.

It hit her all at once. She cried out and dug her fingers into Emily's back. It was stronger than all the other times. Emily had been the first one to ever make her feel it. It was more intense than every other time she'd had combined. Her body thrashed out of control. She felt a crushing weight pulling her down. She couldn't move her arms and legs.

"Oh God…I can't…" Alison groaned. "I can't breathe."

"It's okay." Emily kissed the soft skin in front of her earlobe. "I've got you."

Alison felt Emily's lips against hers, her breath hot and heavy. It's like Emily was breathing with her…for her.

Alison's stomach clenched, hard. The relief came with a release from her entire body. Her head felt light and airy. It was like she was disappearing. She felt like the fire burning next to them was inside of her.

Letting go was always hard for her. She was so tightly wound. The loss of control scared her. But she wasn't afraid with Emily in control.

Emily saw her holding her breath. She held her as her body trembled.

"Hey…" Emily kissed her. "Breathe, Ali."

"I…I can't. I…" She stopped when she realized she was talking. Her chest tightened, but in the best way possible. "Oh…"

And then she laughed. She giggled because she felt giddy. She felt high. She laughed at the absurdity of it all. She felt like none of it could possibly be real, because nothing felt this good.

Emily was still looking at her, her eyes boring into her. She pecked her lips and waited for Alison's breathing to steady.

Alison closed her eyes and smiled in bliss. Emily continued to leave innocent kisses against her cheek, against her forehead, against her nose. When Alison opened her eyes she saw Emily peering at her with a smirk on her face.

"I'm going to try something, okay?" She leaned down and placed a kiss against her collar bone, letting it linger.

Alison didn't object, so Emily kissed lower. She moved down and kissed her stomach. Then she went lower, kissing her pelvis, and then the inside of her thighs.

Her tongue was a warm welcome surprise that Alison hadn't been expecting. She was still sensitive from Emily's touch, so she jumped and gasped. Her hands automatically shot down to grasp Emily's head.

"Is it too much?" Emily questioned, pressing a kiss against her inner thigh.

"No…" She huffed breathlessly. "Just…give me a minute…" She felt her breath hitching in her throat. She was on fire. She felt shooting pangs in between her legs. She knew there was no way she was going to last. "God, you're…" She said. "That's…"

She'd had several other partners go down on her, but none as slow and methodical as Emily. She felt her tongue…and her firm supple lips...

Alison was done for. She was completely and utterly in Emily's debt and gratitude for the rest of her life. She was hers forever. She'd be anything Emily wanted. Her slut. Her slave. Her bitch. Anything.

When they were finished Emily crawled up next to her and pulled the trembling blonde into her arms. She could feel the sweat rolling down Alison's body. She kissed her shoulder, letting her lips linger.

Alison couldn't say anything, but she looked at Emily and she realized…she didn't need to say anything.

Afterwards they held one another by the heat and light of the fire. Alison was curled against her body, bathing in the afterglow. Emily was softly stroking her fingers though Alison's messy damp hair. Her sweat smelled like a sweet fruit, a byproduct of her shampoo.

Alison laid beside her quietly. Normally she was sassy and playful when they were together, but this was different. It felt different. She was struck by the serenity…the stillness of it all. Emily was like a sturdy beacon in the middle of a wild ocean. Waves were crashing all around them, but they were safe in the storm.

Emily traced her finger against Alison's jaw.

"Penny for your thoughts." She gently tilted Alison's head towards her so she could see her face.

Alison couldn't speak. She had never been so open with anyone in her life. She was overjoyed and overwhelmed. She looked at the beautiful brunette glowing in the bask of the fire. She saw the way she was looking back at her and she felt a flood of emotions. Tears burned her eyes.

Emily noticed her watery gaze.

"Hey…what's wrong?" Emily asked in concern. "I didn't…I didn't hurt you, did I? Was it too much?"

Alison shook her head. She scooted closer to Emily. She moved up to capture her lips. She was trying to let her actions speak for her. She grasped the side of her neck.

She was so grateful to have Emily in her life. She was so grateful that she knew what it felt like to love someone.

When she pulled back she was shaking. Emily put a comforting arm against the small of her back. She touched her cheek with her other hand.

"Talk to me, Alison…" She breathed softly.

"I…um…" How could she put it into words? How could she explain how she felt? The girl had walked two miles in the snow just to tell her she loved her. "I feel so lucky. I am so glad I have you, Emily. So glad. I can't…"

Her throat was burning. She didn't know why she was crying. The tears started flowing down her face. She couldn't stop them. She didn't care to stop them, because for the first time in her life she understood what it meant to be in love. And she understood that she wasn't crying out of sorrow. It was joy. She knew what joy was.

"I love you," she said, nearly whimpering. She pecked her lips. "God, I love you so much." She put her palm against Emily's belly. She held her gaze. "I love you both more than I could ever put into words."

Emily felt a surge of emotions. She could feel Alison's heart.

"I love you, too."

"I…" Alison's eyes darted down to her bare stomach. "I want to be something to you…"

"You are."

"I mean…I want to be something to you and her. Emily, I want…I want to be in this with you…all in. I want to be a family. Your family. I want to be something to this child."

Emily felt a knot in her throat. Alison had said it to her once before. The night she'd been drugged. Alison didn't remember it, but Emily hadn't forgotten. She had felt so overjoyed at the thought of it. But she'd also felt terrified, because it was such a huge commitment.

"Ali…" There was an uncertain waver in her tone.

"I know what you're going to say. You're going to say that we're too young and that you don't want me to compromise my future or that we…"

"I don't know what to do about the future," Emily said softly. "I'm…actually…I'm afraid for her. I don't know if I can protect her."

She'd seen the damage that her stalker could do. She saw the lengths they were going to in order to hurt her. She didn't want her child involved in that.

She was trembling, but it wasn't because she was cold or because of the sex. It was because she had let herself fall in love…with Alison. With the baby. With the idea of becoming a family.

And she had someone out there who wanted to destroy that. She had someone out there who would stop at nothing to hurt the ones she loved the most.

Could she really bring her baby into that mess?

What if they didn't figure it out?

She didn't want to look over her shoulder every second of her life. The idea of something happening to her daughter was one of the most gutwrenching things she could possibly imagine.

"If we can't figure out who is trying to hurt us…" She swallowed, "…I don't know."

"Hey, we're going to figure it out." Alison drew patterns along Emily's bare arm. Her skin was almost translucent by the fire.

"I'm starting to worry that we won't." Emily rolled towards her. She kissed the top of her head. "I don't know how far this person is willing to go. I don't know if they will get bored. Or…" She shuddered. Nightmares plagued her about the worst case scenario. "…or if they're after her."

It was a thought that made Alison's blood run cold.

"I swear to God if anyone hurts this child I will tear them to pieces with my bare hands." Alison growled under her breath. "I can't believe there is someone out there willing to stoop so low…to hurt someone so innocent…to try and hurt you. The thought of losing both of you is just…" she shuddered.

"I won't let that happen," Emily said, caressing her cheek, kissing her forehead. "We've come too far for us to lose what we have. Everything will be okay."

"I half believe you when you say it." Alison smiled.

"C'mere." Emily wrapped her arms around Alison's warm slick body. Alison's skin felt so good against hers. "There are a lot of things I'm not sure about in life, but there is one thing I am sure of."

"What?"

"You. Us."

Alison weaved her fingers into Emily's, pressing their palms together. The blanket was wrapped around their bodies. The fire crackled next to them. Emily lazily laid her hand against Alison's hip and pulled her closer. Alison appreciated the feel of her body.

Alison ran her fingertips against Emily's arm. She leaned forward and kissed the front of her shoulder. She felt Emily's fingers threading through her hair. She was surprised by how peaceful she felt. The tranquility of being next to her was almost better than the sex itself. It had always been the little moments that followed their passion that Alison was most affected by.

She moved up and pressed a kiss against Emily's lips. She was certain she'd never been happier in her life. And she would do everything in her power to protect that happiness.

She would shake Noel Kahn down. She would send Wilden to prison. She would find Courtney and beat the shit out of her. She would find out who was trying to hurt her girl. And she didn't care who she burned in the process. Because Emily Fields was her girl, and she would do anything for her. Anyone who got too close to her was going to get burned by the flame.

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A/N: This one was slow moving, but necessary. We're jumping ahead a little bit next chapter. You have some Valentine's Day shenanigans to look forward to. And maybe some terror, too. You know how I do.