A/N: Didn't get to the editing as quickly as I thought (my apologies!). I've been in a weird place lately. Namely the garbage bin where the inner critic dumped me because apparently my inner self thinks that's where I (and everything I create) belong. Being your own worst critic is such a strange thing. Thanks for your patience and kindness.

Chapter 26:

Heated Hearts

After school Emily took Alison to the apartment complex and showed her the unfurnished place. It was small, but cozy. There were several unpacked boxes stacked around in the corners. The lone piece of furniture was a futon by the wall.

After Emily had finished showing her around she turned to face Alison.

"So…what do you think?"

Alison made a face, scrutinizing the place. She didn't like the idea of Emily not being right next door anymore. She was so fixated on Emily moving out that she didn't even consider the fact that the apartment was somewhere they would have a space to themselves.

"I hate it." Alison frowned.

Emily opened her mouth to respond, but her words got caught in her throat. She laughed.

"That was not what I was expecting."

"It's not across the street from me." She pouted.

"It's not like I'll never be there. I still have to finish school. I have to stay in the district for that. And my parents want me around for dinner and family stuff. Plus I still have some packing to do. I haven't even figured out what I'm going to do about furniture yet…" She glanced at the futon in the corner.

The suggestion that she was packing up and leaving only made Alison pout more. Emily thought it was cute.

"Hey, don't look at me like that." Emily touched her arm. She arched her brows and smiled. "You know…once it's fixed up we'll have a little more privacy…" She pecked her lips. "Like the treehouse, but with indoor plumbing and central heating and air. And all the freedom in the world…"

Alison glanced at her, looking as though a lightbulb had gone off in her head.

"Oh." She nodded slowly, meticulously. "Well, when you put it that way…" She reached for Emily's shirt collar and pulled her close. She moved in for a kiss.

Emily took control of the embrace almost immediately. She put her hands against Alison's hips and gently moved her backwards. Alison felt her lower back hit the kitchen counter top. She felt Emily move her fingers up against her ass, and Alison knew exactly what she was doing. Just as Emily started to lift her up she popped up on her tiptoes. Emily picked her up and moved her against the counter.

"We could do this…" Emily pecked her lips, "…all day." Another lingering kiss. "Every day."

She kissed the side of Alison's jaw. Then her neck. She saw the goosebumps rising on Alison's milky white skin.

Alison's legs slid apart, her skirt falling open and riding up against the counter, allowing Emily to get closer. Her stomach melded with the top of Alison's thighs and pressed against her pelvis and lower abdomen.

They fit together like a puzzle. Perfect pieces that created art.

Alison smiled when she felt Emily's warm belly against hers. Ever since she'd felt the baby kick she'd been obsessed with feeling all of Emily.

Sometimes when they were laying in bed cuddling Alison could feel the baby moving. Alison had worried that once the baby started to grow their intimate moments might feel awkward or weird. But it had the opposite effect. It bonded them together as they experienced the life that Emily was carrying.

Alison closed her eyes and imagined a sweet little girl snuggling between them. She had so much respect for Emily. She was sharing her life with her child. She was nurturing her…helping her grow. She was sacrificing sleep and sanity…and regular bathroom habits all so she could bring her baby into the world. It was nothing short of amazing.

Emily pulled back from their encounter to find Alison beaming at her.

"What are you staring at?"

"You." Alison moved her hand to Emily's belly. She pushed her shirt up and slid her palm against her stomach. "You're amazing. You know that?"

Emily's lips twitched. She wrinkled her nose. Something about the way Alison softened when it was just the two of them amused her. Her raging fiery little fighter turned into the mushiest person in the world.

"What?" Alison couldn't read the look on Emily's face. "Why are you looking at me like that?"

"Alison DiLaurentis, you are such a sentimental sap."

"Shut up. I am not." Alison laughed it off. She poked Emily. "Don't tell anyone. The only way I know how to rule is through fear."

"You want to know something interesting I've learned about my daughter?"

My daughter.

Alison couldn't help but smile. Why did those two little words make her feel like melting? Emily had a daughter.

"You don't have to work to get her to love you. You don't need fear. She doesn't respond to fear." She put her hand on top of Alison's, holding her palm firmly over her stomach. "She responds to love. Your love in particular."

Emily took a breath. She felt a tiny fluttering sensation in her stomach. After a few seconds, Alison felt the baby kick her hand.

She couldn't get over how incredible it was to feel Emily's daughter respond to her. She looked up at Emily in amazement.

"She likes me."

"She loves you." Emily leaned forward, pressing a kiss against Alison's forehead. "Just like her mother."

Alison felt tears burning her eyes. She sniffled.

"See…sentimental." Emily laughed.

"I hate it when you're right." Alison laughed through her tears.

She kept her hand against Emily's stomach, trying to soak in the moment. She looked at the brunette, feeling her heart swelling. How was it possible to love someone so much? When she looked into Emily's eyes she felt an urge that was equal parts love and lust.

Part of her wanted to savor the emotional connection they were sharing as a family. The other part of her wanted Emily to undress her, rip her panties off with her teeth, bend her over the counter and fuck her until she couldn't breathe. Her body was sending her some crazy mixed feelings. And she liked it.

Emily saw the wickedly devious glint in her sparkling blue eyes. Alison's hand slowly shifted to Emily's waist. The sentimental moment turned into something a little more nuanced. Emily put her hand against the nape of Alison's neck. Alison shuddered. Emily's touch paralyzed her senses.

"You have no idea the things that you do to me, Em," she uttered, moving to capture her lips again.

She leaned forward and pressed her lips against Emily's collarbone, which was exposed because of her plunging neckline T-shirt. The sleeves of her shirt were nearly falling off of her shoulders. Her chest was full and voluptuous, but Alison knew it was tender so she was always gentle with her. Her skin was hot against Alison's mouth. She kissed her way up her neck, reveling in Emily's hair softly brushing against her face.

She nuzzled her nose against Emily's neck, closing her eyes and inhaling the scent of her perspiration and perfume. She picked up on a pleasurable musty aroma beyond her normal scent. Emily had a distinct smell that drove Alison's hormones out of control. She felt like an animal in the wild, ferocious and hungry for her mate.

She left a trail of kisses against Emily's jaw as she slowly moved towards her lips again. When their mouths collided their lips fell open and their tongues met.

Alison gripped Emily's shirt again and tried to pull her closer. She parted her thighs wider. Emily's hand landed on her knee. Her touch pushed Alison to urge her for more. She purred against Emily's kisses, sending a shooting vibration between their joined bodies.

Emily slowly moved her hand up underneath Alison's skirt, her hot fingertips landing against her inner thigh. Alison felt a rippling pleasure shoot through her body. She groaned into Emily's mouth. She reached out and put her palm against the backside of Emily's thigh, trying to push her closer.

Emily pressed a kiss against the side of her lips and slowly started peppering her jaw with soft pecks. She pushed Alison's hair aside. Alison tilted her head to give her better access. Seconds later she felt Emily's warm tongue against the tendon on the side of her neck. Emily's teeth grazed her skin, marking her.

Alison slid her fingers through the backs of Emily's legs and started moving them back and forth against the crease in her pants. She felt Emily jump and hiss under her breath. Emily curled her fingers into Alison's bare thigh and bucked into her, moaning quietly into the blonde's shoulder.

"Someone's a little sensitive." Alison smirked. "How long before you have to be at work?" She kissed her again.

Emily tried to pull her lips away, but Alison's teeth had lightly latched on to her lip. She scooted closer to the edge of the counter, her skirt riding up even more. When Emily glanced down she realized that Alison wasn't wearing any underwear. A raw animalistic urge shot through her body. She felt her self-control waning. Alison knew exactly what she was doing to her. Emily had noticed that since they'd slept together that Alison had been very frisky.

Alison methodically moved her fingers, putting pressure exactly where the brunette needed it. Emily took a shaky breath. Her instincts were to dive in, but her heart had other plans.

"Ali, slow down." Emily cupped her cheek.

"Why? I say we christen this counter." Alison traced her fingertips against Emily's face. "And the floor. And the bathroom sink. And the futon…"

"You deserve better than an old futon on the floor."

"Mmm...no." Alison disagreed. "I don't care where we are. I'd let you ride me on a dingy city bus if it means I'd get to feel you again." She arched her neck and smiled in pleasure, imagining Emily making her feel the way she'd felt their first time.

"You have to pace yourself, babe."

Alison paused and cocked her head. Emily didn't usually call her pet names. She liked it.

"I promise you we'll have our time this weekend." She kissed Alison's forehead. "You deserve to be spoiled and treated like a queen."

Alison leaned close to her ear, her heated breath coming out against her neck. She gently blew against the tip of her ear.

"Maybe I just want you to fuck me," she whispered.

Emily shuddered, tingling chills shooting down her spine. She bit her lip. Alison wasn't making it easy on her.

"So much for you being a romantic." Emily gave her a hard time.

She kissed Alison's shoulder, then started kissing her way down her arm. She lifted Alison's hand and kissed her knuckles, looking up to smile at her. It made her seem so fucking gallant. Alison saw her eyes dart down to her open legs. For a brief second she thought Emily was going to give in to her urges.

But the moment was interrupted. Emily's phone chimed, startling both of them. She picked it up off of the counter to shut off her alarm, frowning at it.

"Work beckons." She helped Alison slide down off of the counter. "To be continued." She kissed her, then winked.

Alison glanced around her apartment before they left, thinking that maybe it wouldn't be such a bad thing. It was nice. Quiet. And most importantly…private. No annoying brothers barging in when they were trying to set a mood. No helicopter parents eyeballing their every move and insisting that doors had to stay open. Just her and Emily. Alone. With no boundaries and all the time in the world to be together.

The tiny hole in the wall suddenly seemed much larger. A cozy little place that could just belong to them.

Her appreciation for the apartment grew an exorbitant amount when she got home and found her parents hosting their stupid soirée. She could hear her brother hooking up with some girl in his room. She was screeching his name at the top of her lungs while the crowd downstairs chatted over the noise and the music.

Alison grabbed her headphones and cranked up some music to drown out the sound of the headboard hitting the wall and the squeals and moans of her brother's latest conquest. Her only hope was that he was smart enough to use protection.

She grumbled under her breath about the fact that it could have been her and Emily shaking the entire house. She hadn't been able to get the night by the fireplace out of her mind. It had changed something in her. It had opened something up. Emily was such an impassioned lover. She was kind, but controlling. She could also be wild and rough. The combination drove her insane, but in a good way.

Alison didn't like the idea of spending the Friday night before Valentine's Day without Emily by her side, but she knew that her girl had responsibilities. And she supported her. She also knew that whatever Emily had planned would make up for the wild sex they could be having. She swallowed a knot in her throat as she thought of how close they'd come to breaking in Emily's new apartment. She could still feel the heat between her legs. She pulled up a picture of Emily on her phone. She bit her lip and closed her eyes with a grin as she slowly moved her fingers down.

o ~ O ~ o

As Alison laid on her bed, fantasizing, Emily was on her bike silently lamenting about the fact that they weren't spending their Friday night doing something crazy romantic. But she couldn't wait until the morning. She was going to spoil the hell out of her girl.

She hadn't been planning on buying anything else, but when she was driving to work something possessed her to stop at a little antiques shop a few miles away from the gym.

She wasn't looking for anything in particular. She liked picking through the one-of-a-kind trinkets, and she thought she might find something cute for Alison.

Her eyes landed on a chain-link charm bracelet that had various different musical notes dangling from it. It was beautiful. Emily thought it would be some crazy exorbitant amount, but it was fairly priced, so she bought it.

As she was on her way out of the store her cell phone chimed. She pulled it out of her pocket and saw Hanna's name and picture on the caller ID. It was a picture of the two of them at The Brew. Hanna had her sunglasses on, looking like a movie star.

"Hey, Han, I'm getting ready to hop on my bike. Can I call you back in a few minutes?"

She was met with the response of heavy breathing and several broken sobs.

"Hanna?" She felt her spine straightening as she snapped to attention. Her heart started pounding. "What's wrong?"

"I'm sorry. I'm being stupid. He's going to be fine. But…" She took a heaving breath, "Caleb is in the hospital."

"What?" Emily exclaimed. "What happened?"

"Some asshole swerved into the bike lane and ran him off the road. He wiped out. The driver didn't even stop. A jogger found him a few minutes later. He was conscious. I'm always on him about wearing a helmet, Thank God. The jogger got him a ride to the hospital. He's back in X-Ray now." She huffed out an irritated, yet worried breath, "Hell of a way to start Valentine's Day."

"Let me see if I can get someone to cover my shift. I can be there in twenty minutes."

"He doesn't want to make a big deal out of it."

Emily understood that, especially given that the exact same thing had happened to her the night Alison had been drugged. She still hadn't told her about it. They'd been through so much already. She didn't want to add to that burden by upsetting her.

She wished she'd gotten a better look at the car that night. The similarities to her accident and Caleb's couldn't be a coincidence. Someone knew that they'd discovered damning evidence. It wasn't an accident. It was a warning.

"Did he get a good look at the car?" Emily questioned.

"No. And it happened on a back road where there are no CCTV cams." Hanna sniffled, trying to get control of her emotions. "He's lucky that jogger came along."

Was he though? What were the odds that someone jogging in February weather would just happen to stumble upon Caleb right after he was nearly run over by a car on a remote back road?

"Did Caleb mention what the jogger looked like?" Emily questioned.

"Uh…no. He was pretty out of it. I think he spent most of the time staring at the ground trying not to puke." Hanna replied.

"Did he see his shoes?"

"His shoes?" Hanna asked in confusion. "Like did Caleb still have his shoes on?"

"No…the jogger's shoes. Did Caleb see what kind of shoes he was wearing?"

"I would imagine jogging shoes."

"Did he see any red paint on them?"

"Oh, hold on, they're bringing him back in the room." She pulled the phone away from her ear. Emily could hear Caleb mumbling something. "How does everything look?"

"Just a few bumps and bruises." Emily heard Caleb's voice on the other end of the phone. "Who are you talking to?"

"Emily wants to come up here and play doctor with you."

"Um…please rephrase that, Hanna." Emily uttered loudly into the phone's receiver. She could hear Caleb laughing. "Just tell him I'm glad he's okay and ask about the shoes."

Hanna relayed the message. There was a muffled conversation on the other end of the receiver, then Hanna came back on.

"He says he doesn't remember, but he thinks that yeah, there might have been traces of red paint on the shoes. That, or blood." There was a catch in her throat, then a pause. "This wasn't an accident, was it?" She put the pieces together.

"No." She sighed. "God, I am so fucking sick of this. Now you two are being attacked…"

She reached into her coat pocket where she had the DNA samples tucked snugly away. She had half a mind to march down to the police station and tell them everything.

"This isn't your fault." Hanna assured her. "Caleb is tough. He's going to be okay."

"This person isn't going to stop."

"They're scared. We've got them on the ropes. That means were close," Hanna said.

"And the closer we get…the more dangerous this gets." Emily bit her lip. "Listen…Han, you two have been so helpful in all of this, but I think it's getting too risky for you. I don't want to wake up one morning and find out that you're in some city morgue because of this psycho. Maybe you and Caleb need to keep your distance from this for a little while. I've got plenty to go on right now."

"You can't do it alone."

"It's the only way I can make sure everyone I love stays safe. I'll figure something out. You and Caleb…you just take care of each other, okay?"

"You're not going to be able to get rid of us that easily." Hanna argued.

"This isn't a negotiation." Emily replied firmly. She couldn't risk it. Not after what had happened to Maya. "We're flying too close to the fire here. And I'm not going to let you get burned. I mean it, Hanna. No arguments."

"Okay…" But Hanna didn't seem sold on the idea. It was a tone of voice that told Emily that Hanna would most definitely go behind Emily's back and team up with Alison again if she was given the chance. "But…"

"No buts." Emily cut her off. "I care about you two…"

"We care about you, too."

Emily could practically hear her bottom lip trembling. Hanna wasn't someone who cried very often, so it hurt Emily's heart to hear it.

"Just drop the spy act and focus on taking care of each other right now. Promise me."

"Fine." She mumbled.

"I need to hear it, Han."

"I promise." Hanna finally caved. There was a shuffling noise on the other end of the phone. "The doctor just got here. I'll keep you posted."

"You call me if you need anything, okay?" Emily asked.

"I will."

After she hung up the phone Emily sat on her bike for several minutes contemplating what to do. She took the scenic route to work to clear her mind. She slowed her bike to a crawl when she got to town. She stopped at a stop sign, her eyes tracking between the gym and the police station down the street. She slowly pulled forward and drove towards the building.

Was she desperate enough to bring the police into it? She sat in the parking lot, chewing on her chapped lips, flicking her fingers, and moving back and forth towards the entrance.

She didn't see the person in the coffee shop across the street watching her from a booth in the corner. The coffee shop was mostly empty. Most of the teenagers in town were out frolicking with their lovers. Lust was in the air, and soon enough everyone in town would be filling the air with their desperate thirst and raging hormones.

Watching as Emily fretted over her stupid little friends while sipping on a lukewarm coffee was a perfect prelude to what was coming. It was fun to watch her panic. She deserved everything she was getting. Her friends were just collateral damage. Chasing down Tech Boy had been easy. It hadn't been nearly as fun as almost flattening Emily on her bike though. After what she'd done she deserved far worse.

Emily and Alison weren't going to the dance, so there wouldn't be any more decoration snafus. It could have been a night to remember. A Bloody Valentine's Dance. But nothing could compare to the chainsaw.

There was a sense of pride in knowing that dances had probably been ruined for them because of Halloween. That had been such a perfect set up. The only thing that would have made it more fitting would have been if she had truly lost the baby. It would have been poetic justice. She didn't deserve the baby. She didn't deserve happiness.

The coffee was beginning to taste bitter. Rosewood's brew wasn't the best, but it wasn't the worst either. There was something cozy about it. The little city was starting to feel like a home away from home.

The apartment in town had a nice view of the city. It wasn't as nice as it was back home, but there was something quaint about watching a quiet sleepy little town.

It was surprising that Emily hadn't figured it out yet. Subconsciously she had to know. She'd been there when it happened.

Emily and Alison knew about the connection to Wilden. It was only a matter of time before they figured everything out. The plan was to stall for just a few more months. Just until after the baby was born…just until Emily was served a cold dish of retribution.

The text threatening her daughter had definitely gotten to her. She'd been fired up ever since. The end goal wasn't really to hurt the baby, but if it happened it wouldn't be the end of the world. The real end goal was to hurt Emily.

Toying with the people in Emily's life was child's play compared to making the brunette's life a living hell. The baby was the real center of the brunette's heart. Everyone else was insignificant...tiny little blips on the radar leading to the final destination of Emily's demise. They were plebeians. Nothing more.

Maya had been a tease. Caleb had been a warning. Alison was...unique. Playing with the blonde wasn't quite as fun, though it was satisfying to see the look of terror on Emily's face after she'd nearly been flattened by the scaffolding. It was even more delightful to watch Emily spiral into a panic after Alison had been roofied. It had taken restraint not to do more to the unconscious girl that night. She'd been helpless putty that could have been smashed into a pile of nothingness. But Alison wasn't the endgame. Emily was. She deserved everything that was coming.

The tinkering of bracelets and the sound of shoes tapping against the floor drew attention away from the brunette across the street.

"Can I get you anything else?" Sabrina was standing at the table, holding a freshly brewed pot of coffee.

"No, thank you. I'll take the check though."

"Of course." Sabrina smiled. Her smile lit up the room.

As she walked away the wall bolstering "Employee of the month" shifted into view. There were several pictures of Caleb in the line-up. Tech Boy wouldn't be a problem anymore. Emily would make sure to protect her friends. She would push them away. Because that's what Emily did.

Sabrina came back with the check, pleasant and bubbly and kind. A lot of the people in town were too friendly for their own good. But it was easy to mirror the kind attitude right back at her while taking care of the bill.

After the receipt was signed Sabrina walked back towards the counter, but the blonde coffee girl wasn't the person who had the sole attention.

Emily finally made a choice, climbing back on her bike and driving away from the police station.

"Good girl." Fingers raked across the top of the to-go cup.

Emily peeled out of the parking lot. It was interesting that she was still riding, not only because of the weather, but because she was almost at a point where she wouldn't be able to ride anymore.

The sound of Emily's engine disappeared as she drove down the street. Sliding out of the booth with a coffee in hand, the decision was made to leave a generous tip for the blonde. She was a decent person. And she was going to be shorthanded with Tech Boy out for a few days. Plus…she'd been the one to find Emily that sweet little apartment…away from the safety of her home.

The cool February air blasted through the open door after it was pushed open, but the warmth of the coffee, and the idea of teaching the brunette yet another lesson was all the heat needed to invigorate the soul.

A gloved hand reached for the rental car door. The engine purred and the car pulled out of the parking lot, following Emily's trail.

o ~ O ~ o

Emily was still shaking when she got to work. The game this stranger was playing was getting deadly. Caleb could have been killed. How could she rectify it if someone she loved was murdered because of her? She had enough on her shoulders. She was sick of her friends being attacked. She knew she needed to figure out who was behind everything before it was too late.

She still had the DNA results in her coat pocket. She promptly locked it in her locker.

She had so much swirling through her mind. The fact that Wilden had someone out there that shared his DNA markers. The fact that Upstate New York seemed to be a factor somehow. The fact that Wilden had motive to want to make her life a living hell, but also the fact that the threats had started long before Wilden had come into the picture.

Wilden was involved somehow, though Emily couldn't prove it. But what if he hadn't started the game? What if it was someone else and Wilden had only joined in when Emily pissed him off? What was the link between Emily and the link to Wilden's family?

Clearly there was more than one person involved. Clearly he had help, but what was the connection to the DNA results? Who was this mystery person, and why would they be after her?

The DNA information was clouding her mind, though she tried not to let it cloud her judgment. She was shaky, unnerved and unsettled, but she managed to shift her focus to her job.

She tried to cover the front desk to the best of her ability, but she was antsy so she found a project to keep her occupied. She tidied up around the gym and then started putting the finishing touches on a display for their new monthly membership deal.

"Em!" She heard a familiar voice shouting her name.

She shook herself out of her thoughts and saw Aria walking towards the display rack. As always, she had a book tucked under her arm.

"Hey, Aria."

"Did you hear about Caleb?" Her eyes were large and full of concern.

"Yeah, I talked to Hanna earlier. She says he's going to be okay."

"Thank God." Aria nodded. "It's crazy. I can't believe the driver didn't stop."

I can… Emily thought to herself.

"What kind of sick person just drives off and leaves someone like that?" Aria's face was flushed and angry. She clenched her fists. "Makes me want to hit something."

"Good thing we've got a fix for that." Emily pointed towards the heavy bags.

Aria's tension faded. Emily had a way of making her friends feel more at ease, though she didn't know it. She had a natural easiness about her that was contagious. Her friends felt safe with her.

"That's not a bad idea. Maybe instead of book club Ezra and I should spar and beat the shit out of each other."

Emily laughed.

"What's this week's read?" She pointed to the book under her arm.

"Leah on the Offbeat."

"That's the same author who wrote Simon Versus the Homo Sapiens Agenda, isn't it?"

"Becky Albertalli."

"Yeah, I like her. Interesting pick. You two usually do classics."

"We usually do." Aria nodded. "This one was actually Alison's suggestion."

Emily's interested was piqued.

"Really?"

"Yeah, the main character is kind of a badass. She's sarcastic and funny. And if I didn't know any better I'd say she reminds Alison a little bit of a certain girl she likes." Aria smiled.

"Guess I'm going to have to find this girl and tell her that Alison is mine." Emily cracked a smile.

"You two are a unique pair." Aria laughed. "Are you guys doing anything fun tomorrow?"

"I have a whole day planned." Emily nodded. "Are you and Ezra doing anything?"

"What do you mean?" Her eyes fluttered nervously. Her cheeks flushed. She couldn't help but smile.

"Come on, Ar, you two practically spend all of your time together. I get that he's two years older, but I'm not going to judge you if you're more than just book buddies. It's Valentine's Day."

She flipped her hair nervously and smiled at Emily. She started chewing on her lip.

"Okay, so it's no big deal. We're not…together or anything…"

Not yet. Emily thought to herself.

"But he did ask me out for dinner. He says he found a nice vegan place close to campus that he really likes."

"About time." Emily chuckled.

"Don't make a thing of it." Aria put her book down. She saw Mike and Mona walking towards them. Mike was sweaty from his workout. "And don't tell Mike. He relentlessly teases the boys that I like. Usually chases them away."

"He likes Ezra though."

"Yeah. That's true."

"Hey, nerd." Mike poked his sister. "Mind sticking around a little longer? I want to get my racquetball on."

"You might want to be nice to her. She can kick your ass without breaking a sweat." Mona scolded him.

Aria turned around and grinned at Emily, a knowing smile that only the two of them were in on.

Emily went to tidy up the weight area a little bit and when she was finished she went back towards the front desk. Toby was standing behind the desk finishing up a phone call. Spencer was leaning against the desk. After he hung up he leaned over the counter and said something to her, flashing a grin at her before moving forward to capture her lips.

"I'll pick you up at 9," Toby said, touching her hand.

He saw Emily approaching. His face was beet red. He looked like a kid who had been caught doing something he shouldn't have been doing.

"There she is. My savior." He grinned nervously.

"Toby says you're covering so he can come out and play tonight." Spencer smiled. "We owe you one."

"Don't mention it."

Spencer's phone jingled. She glanced at it.

"I've got to take this. It's my sister. Thanks again, Em."

They watched her walk away.

"It means a lot that to us that you took tonight's shift. I know you probably wanted to hang out with Alison." Toby gave her an appreciative smile.

"I have all day with her tomorrow." Emily glanced outside where Spencer was talking on her phone. "So…" She smiled at Toby. "Spencer Hastings and Toby Cavanaugh…you're officially official?"

"Mike called us 'Spoby'." Toby made a face. "I called him an idiot." He laughed.

"I think it's cute." She teased.

"Yeah, yeah." Toby brushed it off gruffly. He felt the need to assert his male energy. He didn't like being boxed into a fantasy of puppy love.

"Spencer and Toby sitting in a tree…"

"Knock it off." He laughed.

Toby had a really light air about him since he started hanging out with Spencer. All of her friends seemed so happy and carefree lately. Love was certainly in the air. She really loved love. It was a nice feeling. She put in a lot of effort to make Alison feel loved.

Alison made her feel grounded and weightless at the same time. She was a lifeline to reality, but also the greatest fantasy she could ever get lost in. Just thinking about her made her smile. She felt lighter on her feet as she floated around the gym, letting go of her stress.

It was interesting that so many couples were spending time together sweating it out. Then again, she knew from experience that sometimes a good work out was a prelude to some amazing bedroom action later. Exercise was an aphrodisiac for a lot of people.

She watched the couples around her. Spencer was sitting behind the desk with Toby, laughing and reaching out every so often to touch his arm or his leg. Mike and Mona were trying to out-do one another on the racquetball court. Mona was better than him, but he took it in stride. Ezra and Aria were kickboxing with Jake. Even Noel had some pretty little bimbo cheering him on as he showed off his weightlifting skills.

Emily went to her locker to grab something to drink and to take her prenatal vitamins. She checked her phone and saw a missed message from Alison.

This charity thing has more to do with people loving themselves and their money than putting actual love out in the community. Miss you. Hope work isn't too gross and sweaty.

Emily smiled and replied,

Maybe I like gross and sweaty.

She didn't get a response, so she assumed Alison was being forced by her parents to mingle with the snobs.

She put her phone away and closed her locker. She thought she heard someone else in the locker room with her, but when she investigated she didn't see anyone.

She walked by the steam room and saw that someone had left a mess. The little sauna wasn't used a lot. People preferred the showers, but every so often people would detox in the hybrid sauna-steam room.

Someone had knocked a bunch of the charcoal over and had left several wet towels strewn about. Emily grabbed a pair of gloves and walked in to get to work.

She picked up the charcoal first. Some of it was still warm, so the place had been used recently. When she bent over to pick up the last pieces she heard a slamming noise behind her.

The door had been shut.

She dropped the coal on the ground and rushed towards the door. Normally it could be opened from the inside, but when she pushed on it it wouldn't budge. It felt like it had been blocked with something. She glanced out the little window, but didn't see anything.

She heard a hissing noise. She turned around to see that the coals in the pit had changed from black to red burning embers. The sauna had been turned on from the main room. Steam started pouring in through the vents.

It took a few seconds for the panic to set in. It wasn't the heat or the steam that scared her. It was the fact that it was dangerous for the baby. And no one knew where she was.

"Hey!" She started pounding on the door. "Is anyone out there? Help!"

Her mind started swirling. The longer she was exposed to the heat the more dangerous it was for her daughter.

Time was an agonizing concept. The minutes felt like hours. Her heart started racing. Sweat rolled down her back. Her hands were red and chaffed from beating the door. She threw her shoulder against it, trying to nudge it forward, but it wouldn't budge.

She could feel her clothes starting to stick to her skin. A drizzle of perspiration dripped down her jaw. Her entire face was wet and hot. Her shirt collar rubbed against her throat. It felt like it was shrinking, slowly choking her. Her throat burned. Her eyes watered.

She continued ramming against the door and screaming for help, hoping that someone would walk in.

She was worried because they didn't usually do their final locker room checks until closing time, and that was hours away. There weren't a lot of clients in the gym since it was Valentine's weekend. Most people would probably bolt to get home once their endorphins were high enough. Would anyone even bother coming into the locker room?

She felt a wave of exhaustion and sank down to the floor, her back against the door. She stared at the steam pouring in. She couldn't see anything in the room anymore. Everything was white.

The heat was starting to get to her. She pulled her shirt off, leaving her in her sports bra. She slipped her pants off and threw her head back against the door and groaned. Her entire body was glistening in the sweltering heat.

Her skin was slippery. She watched as beads of sweat dripped off of her body and on to the wooden paneling on the floor. The dark spots left by the perspiration sizzled and evaporated almost instantly.

She looked down at her baby bump. She put her hands underneath her stomach. She could feel the baby moving. It had to be uncomfortable for her, too. She closed her eyes, trying to concentrate on her daughter's motions. When the motions stopped she felt like crying.

She sat there in a daze for what felt like an eternity. Thoughts flooded her mind. What would happen to her daughter if she died? What about Alison? Her parents? Her friends? Everyone she loved?

She silently hoped against hope that if someone found her and it was too late for her that they would do everything humanly possible to make sure her child would live. She needed her baby to survive. The baby would be loved. She knew that much. Her parents and Alison would make sure she was safe. They would make sure her baby knew how much her mother loved her. Alison especially would be able to connect to the infant. Emily could feel it every time Alison touched her stomach. Her daughter knew Alison. She loved Alison. And Alison loved her. At the very least they would have each other.

The idea of leaving a grieving Alison behind was almost too much to bear. She felt something slip down her cheek, but she wasn't sure if it was sweat or a tear. Would Alison know how much she loved her?

Her head started to feel like it was floating. She was certain she was going to pass out. Her eyes were on fire. Her mouth was parched. But just as she started to lose consciousness she felt something stir in her stomach.

Her daughter hadn't given up. And she wouldn't either.

She pulled herself to her feet, wiping the condensation from the small window. She started pounding on the door again and screaming as loud as she could. She could barely breathe.

Just when she was about to lose all hope she saw a blur of motion. She couldn't see who it was through all the fog, but she heard something being dragged away from the door. She shoved it open just as her hero pulled it forward.

She collapsed into Toby's arms, wheezing and coughing. She didn't care that she was half naked. She didn't care that she heard other people rushing up behind Toby. She wasn't even thinking about the fact that her pregnant belly was exposed. She was just grateful to be alive.

Her skin was scorching hot. Toby could feel it. He put his palm against her forehead. She groaned.

"Oh my God. Em..." Aria cried in concern.

"Is she okay?" Mona gasped.

"Holy shit. Is she pregnant?" Mike had sidled up next to Toby. Toby was on one side and Mike was on the other. "Jesus, she's burning up. They're both in trouble here..."

"We need to cool her down." Toby brushed her sweat-soaked hair out of her face. "We've got you, Em. We've got you."

Emily looked up at him, but she couldn't see him. She couldn't respond. She took heaving breaths, biting at the cool air, trying to get the oxygen she desperately needed. Her vision was going black. Her legs felt like jelly. She held on to Toby and Mike so she wouldn't fall and hurt the baby.

"Just breathe. You're going to be okay." Toby held her up. He looked over his shoulder. "Grab a towel."

Aria rushed to grab a clean towel. She ran it underneath the cool tap water in the sink. She ran over and draped it over her shoulders. The cool cloth felt good against her sweltering skin.

"I'll go get her some water." Mona rushed off.

"Showers," Toby said, leading her forward towards the showering area.

"On it." Aria was ahead of the guys. She flipped the shower handles and played with the temperature, trying to get it to a lukewarm setting so it wouldn't be a shock to her system. They didn't want to cool her down too quickly.

Emily faded in and out for several minutes, but she was cognizant enough to realize that the boys were holding her up underneath the cool water. At some point Mona returned with a chilled bottle of water.

Emily took it and started swigging it down. Her body slowly started to feel normal again. Her awareness started to return to normal.

She wasn't sure how much time had passed, but when she looked up she saw all of her friends eyeing her. She was sitting on a bench wearing a pair of Mike's joggers and an oversized T-shirt. Aria and Mona were sitting next to her on the bench. Mike had plopped down on the floor next to his sister. Toby was standing in front of her, his arms folded in front of his chest. He'd been pacing the floor like a worried father.

"Not exactly the hot Valentine's Day strip tease you were all expecting, was it?" Emily tried to break the ice.

No one knew what to say. Except Mike.

"Well, at least now we know she doesn't have brain damage."

Emily smiled at him. Sometimes she was grateful for his inability to read the room.

"How are you feeling?" Aria asked.

"I'm feeling the burn." Emily tried to force a smile on to her face.

"Yep, she's definitely still Emily." Mike nodded.

"What happened?" Mona questioned.

Emily looked over at the steam room and felt a chill rolling down her spine. It could have been much worse. She looked at the weight bar that had been slipped through the door handles, locking her in.

"I went in to clean a mess that was left behind and someone shut the door on me."

"Who would do that? That's not even practical joke funny. That's just fucked up." Mike scowled.

"I don't know." Emily rubbed her throat. It still felt raw from the heat. "I'm just glad you guys showed up. How did you know I was in here?"

"Noel said he thought he heard crying coming from in here. We went with Toby to get the keycard and we heard you screaming." Aria cringed. "It must have been intense. Do you think you need to go to the hospital?" She touched Emily's hand, her eyes drifting down to her stomach.

"I don't think so. I can feel her moving. I think she's okay." It came out naturally, though she realized that it was probably a shock to everyone sitting with her.

"Her, huh?" Mike questioned curiously. "How far along are you?"

"Mike." Aria frowned at her brother. She didn't want to push Emily to talk if she wasn't ready.

"It's fine." Emily offered a half-smile. "I was going to have to tell you sooner or later."

"You don't have to talk about it if you don't want to." Mona offered her a comforting touch, her fingers gently landing on her knee.

Toby was oddly quiet. Emily looked up at him, trying to discern the look on his face. He reached up and rubbed the back of his neck. His face was twisted in a blend of different emotions. His eyes kept drifting to her stomach. All Emily could think about was the day she'd filled out the job application. She'd lied to his face that day.

"I'm sorry, Toby. I should have told you." Emily winced.

Toby inhaled and then let out a heavy breath. He glanced at the floor and then looked back up at Emily. It wasn't until she made eye contact with him that she realized the look on his face wasn't confusion. It was resignation and curiosity.

"I knew," Toby said.

"You did?" Emily questioned in surprise.

"Yeah. Why do you think Jake and I have been the one picking up the stray weights lately? Jake suspected it a few weeks ago at your sparring session. No one wears sweats that long while boxing." Toby had a look on his face that screamed "duh!"

"That's why you were totally covered up!" Mike snapped his fingers like he'd had some big revelation.

Toby walked over to the bench. Mona slid over to make room for him, letting him take a seat next to Emily.

She felt like a child sitting next to him. He was so much taller and bulkier than he'd been when they were kids. He put his hand on top of hers and looked at her sadly. The fact that she thought she had to hide it upset him.

"You could have told me." Toby glanced up at her. "None of us would have thought any less of you."

"I know." Emily smiled wearily.

"Were you afraid you were going to get fired?" he asked.

Emily had more reason than that to be afraid, but telling them was risky.

"No. I just needed to be able to tell people on my own terms." She looked at the steam room door and laughed cynically. "Not fall flat out on my face with it…"

"If it would make you feel better we could pretend that we don't know and then when you do finally tell us with your glam baby photoshoot we could act all shocked." Mike offered.

Emily smiled at him. The kid had a good heart.

"There's just a lot that's associated with teen pregnancy, you know?" And even more with her pregnancy.

"It's all typical double standard bullshit." Mona agreed.

"Exactly." Emily nodded. "Every girl that gets pregnant is automatically branded a whore, but the guys get high fives and locker room victory cheers." Emily rubbed her forehead. "And it's even more complicated in my life. Because…hello…lesbian." She waved her hands in front of her face.

"So…was it like…immaculate conception or…"

"Oh, my God, Mike, shut up." Aria shook her head, slapping the back of his head.

But Emily wasn't offended. She knew he wasn't trying to be malicious. She knew the difference between hate and curiosity.

"It's the classic 'gay girl has to keep up appearances and sleeps with her beard' story."

She told them an abbreviated version. She hadn't been intending on telling them her entire history, but now that the pregnancy was out she knew she had a lot of curious eyes on her. And it's not like they were strangers. They were her friends.

She had held it in for as long as she could. Part of it was because she didn't want people to look at her differently, but deep down she knew it was her guilt that kept her from saying anything.

It felt wrong telling people before Isaac. In a way, she was punishing herself for lying to him. She was punishing herself for taking his parents' hush money and for not telling him the truth.

It was cathartic being able to talk about it to the people in her life. Her friends were supportive, just as she expected they would be.

Mike offered his solidarity in his typical Mike way.

"You know…" He seemed to be pondering something in thought. "Uncle Mike has a ring to it." He scratched his chin. He glanced at his sister. "Always thought that I wouldn't be an uncle until this one…" He prodded his sister, "…got together with Fitz and got married."

"You know?" Aria's head snapped towards her brother.

"Dude, you've only been following him around like a puppy for like…ever."

Mike Montgomery had done the unachievable. He had broken the ice after an attempted murderer had nearly killed Emily and outed her pregnancy. He had made everyone laugh.

"He's actually probably waiting for me. We were supposed to meet across the street for a snack…"

"Mmmhm, let me guess...he's the snack." Mike eyeballed his sister.

"I think Emily nearly being killed takes precedence over that right now." Aria looked at Emily. Emily could see the wheels turning in her head, "First Caleb. Now you…" She pinched her brows in thought. "Is there some secret serial killer in town?"

"I…" Emily almost told them. Almost. But it was the day before Valentine's Day, and the last thing she wanted to do was ruin their weekend. "I don't know. Did you say Noel is the one who got your attention?"

"He was apparently in the boy's locker room taking a shower. Said he kept hearing strange noises. Then when he came out he told us he heard someone shouting for help."

Emily pressed her lips together and furrowed her brow. What was the likelihood that he'd just coincidentally heard her calling for help? She wanted to believe the best in him. She wanted to believe that what he was telling her was true, but until they had answers he was still a suspect.

"Is he messing with you? Do I need to put him in his place?" Toby rubbed his knuckles.

"I can very much still knock Noel Kahn on his ass." Emily assured him.

"Was he the one harassing you when you got back to town? That…fortune cookie thing?"

Emily couldn't believe that Toby even remembered that.

"Oh, yeah. And then there was that night with the scaffolding." Aria looked like she was putting something together in her head.

"And the Halloween Dance." Mona added. She cocked her head curiously. "None of this is just a fluke, is it?" She looked worried. "Is someone out to get you?"

"No. It's…" Emily was flustered. She had to keep them out of it. "It's complicated. I don't feel like getting into it."

"Why? What's going on? We'll help you." Aria put her hand on Emily's arm. "Any way that we can."

Emily knew that Aria was being sincere. But the investigation had already landed Maya and Caleb in the hospital. It had nearly gotten her and Alison killed more than once.

"I appreciate it. But I'm handling it. It's nothing. Really."

"It doesn't seem like nothing. And if Noel is behind it then I'll take care of it." Toby's nostrils flared.

"It's not…he's not…" She shook her head in frustration. "Look, this isn't what it looks like. I'm fine." Emily assured them.

She managed to talk them down without spilling any information. She convinced them that she was fine, though she could tell by the looks on Toby's and Mona's faces that she hadn't sold it completely.

Toby offered to let her go home and cancel his date, but Emily insisted that he go to the concert. She knew that Spencer was looking forward to it.

She tried to shake off her residual nerves. She went back to work like a total trooper. She spent the remainder of her night at the gym making sure everything was ready for the scavenger hunt she'd planned for Alison. It kept her busy.

It wasn't until she left that evening that she saw the text.

Happy V-Day. You're a HOT date. Next time you think about bringing the heat into this you're going to get burned.

She grabbed her coat and frantically unzipped the pocket where she'd put the DNA results. They were gone. She threw her coat back into the locker and groaned. She tilted her head back and sighed. She didn't have the energy to get angry. She was too exhausted.

The drive home cooled her off. She knew she could get more copies of the DNA profile. That wasn't what bothered her. What bothered her was that someone had put her child in danger. Again. And on top of it they had invaded her privacy and had stolen something from her. The theft seemed trivial compared to everything else this person had done, but it was unsettling to think about.

When she got home she called Alison. She thought it was going to go to voicemail, but Alison picked up.

"Hey, there's my sexy lady." Her voice was warm and sensual with a hint of slur.

Emily picked up on it immediately.

"How many martinis did you sneak tonight?" Emily asked.

"I just needed a little something to take the edge off. My parents are insufferable. I'm not like wasted wasted. I could walk a straight line and recite the alphabet and all that. Want to hear it?"

"You don't have to…"

"It starts with U and ends with I." She hummed happily. "U and I." She sang a bar of an old Lady Gaga song.

"Smooth." Emily laughed.

"How was work?" She had a drunken smile on her face that Emily could practically hear through the phone.

"Well…" Emily trailed off. "It's been…a day."

"Hanna texted me about Caleb. She told me that you told them to lie low?" She sounded confused.

"It's getting too heated." Literally. "Did she tell you about the DNA match?"

"No. She seemed really frazzled about Caleb. What did you find out?"

"Caleb figured out that the person Wilden ran a DNA profile on was at the bar the night you were drugged."

Alison almost dropped the phone.

"Who is it?"

"I don't know. Whoever it is isn't in any databases. I don't have a copy of it anymore either. Someone locked me in the steam room and broke into my locker to steal the hard copy. Caleb has backups though."

"Someone locked you in a steam room?" Alison shot up in her bed. "Jesus, Em, way to bury the lead. Are you okay?"

"I'm fine. Toby, Mona, Mike, and Aria got me out. But…" She chewed on her lip. "They know about the baby now."

There was a period of dead silence on the line. Then Alison heaved into the phone.

"I'm coming over."

"No!" Emily huffed out quickly. She knew it would ruin her Valentine's Day plans if Alison came over. She didn't want to spoil the surprise. "No, my parents are kind of crazy tonight." She lied. "They're leaving first thing in the morning, so it's chaotic here. I promised my mom I'd help her finish up a few last minute things before they go. She's actually calling for me now…"

"Em…"

"Everything is okay, Alison. I promise. I'll talk to you in the morning, okay?"

"But I…"

"Just take it easy tonight. Rest up, Uptown Girl. I love you."

Alison's lips twitched. She smiled. Emily always knew exactly what to say to make everything better.

They said their "I love yous" and then Emily hurried off of the phone. She had a lot of work to do for their big day. The project took hours, but Emily used it as an escape from the real world. Sometimes fantasies and dreams were the only things that kept her sane. Love was all they had. And for the moment, it was enough.

o ~ O ~ o

The next morning after her parents left and after she had everything set up she texted Alison.

Come over. I have a surprise for you.

Alison was on her front porch five minutes later. She was still in her pajamas, which Emily thought was adorable. The blonde looked eager, like a kid on Christmas.

Emily led Alison into the kitchen, where she revealed that she'd made heart-shaped French toast sprinkled with powdered sugar and strawberries. She had also baked cookies in the shape of letters to spell out "I Love You".

"You did all this for me?" Alison gawked at the set up.

Emily had decorated the kitchen with a banner and set up a centerpiece of roses in the middle of the table.

"We're just getting started." Emily smiled as she pulled her chair out for her and motioned for her to sit down.

The entire time she was eating breakfast Alison couldn't stop thinking about how much Emily had done for her. She had gotten Emily a present, but she felt like it paled in comparison. Emily had been spoiling her all week and she fell into the comfort of it. She wanted to reciprocate, but she wasn't sure how. She'd done little things like giving her massages to help with her tension and her swollen feet. She'd sent Emily a few candygrams, but she knew that wasn't really her style.

Alison tried to enjoy her breakfast, but she was so nervous about the fact that her gift might not be enough.

By the time they'd finished Emily had put her mind at ease, as she always did. She kissed Alison on the cheek and started to clean up. She told her to go home and get changed into something warm.

"Can I just use you as my something warm?" Alison walked up as Emily was putting a dish in the sink. She wrapped her arm around her lower abdomen and kissed the side of her neck.

"You need a coat. But maybe later we can start a fire." Emily winked at her.

Alison wanted to see what else Emily had in store so she ran across the street to put on some winter clothes. It wasn't too cold out. It was supposed to warm up to 50, but it was also supposed to rain later, which would make it chilly.

After she got changed into her favorite stylish outdoor gear…that she'd worn almost never…she glanced at a little box that was sitting on her dresser. The tiny felt case had something special Alison had picked out for her girl. But it was a money-gift. It wasn't a well-planned thoughtful act of love. Emily had done so much for her. How was something store-bought supposed to compare?

She shoved the gift in her pocket and then double checked her make-up. Just as she was getting ready to stroll out the door her phone chimed. It was a message from Emily.

This is where the fun begins…

There was a pause with three little ellipses. Then,

The morning has started, with our love open-hearted. The hunt is on early this dawn. Time to scavenge around until I've been found. I'm not at home. I've decided to roam. It's your task to find me. Don't let time make you pine me. It starts with something innocent and fair. A kiss, our first time, so high in the air. A place where we first made a connection. And now it's a place our minds hold with nostalgic affection.

Alison glanced at the phone. Something about the game intrigued and excited her. She'd never had anyone go to enough trouble to make a scavenger hunt for her. And if that hunt ended with Emily completely naked somewhere she would roam all over the damn city to find her.

She ran out the door, her heart beating in her chest. The first clue was an easy one.

The treehouse. Their first kiss.

She climbed up the ladder. When she popped into the treehouse she saw that it had been decorated with red and pink balloons. There were pictures of the two of them on the wall, which was a new addition. She moved over towards the cot, which was neatly made up. In the center of it was a heart shaped envelope. Alison opened it and saw Emily's handwriting,

Here I told you my secrets and you gave me your heart. We were children in love, but we were driven apart. Distance and time were a part of our lives. But forever together is where my heart lies. Then came our kisses and star-gazing, but that's not where it picked up. It was elsewhere that you saw me and your heart ticked up. So go on and give it a whirl. Where did you first call me 'Indigo Girl'?

The first time Alison had seen Emily on her bike they'd argued about what color her hair was. They had been in front of the gym. Alison spun around and took several pictures of the treehouse before quickly rushing back down the ladder and out to her car.

It didn't take her long to reach the gym. She rushed in through the front door, nearly bowling over some beefed up dude trying to walk out. She scanned the entire gym, but didn't see Emily. She saw Toby at the front desk. She paced over to him.

"Hey, have you seen…"

Before she could finish her statement Toby hit a button his phone and Uptown Girl started playing through the speakers. He smiled at Alison and handed her a small basket filled with sweets and a teddy bear. In the middle of it there was a snowglobe with a photo of the two of them. There was a motorcycle in the center of it and letters that spelled out AD & EF 4EVER. Alison picked through the basket with tears in her eyes. Emily had handpicked a bunch of things that represented their relationship. An image of A Starry Night. A beautiful fall foliage painting. A little bronze piano figurine.

In the middle of the basket she found another heart-shaped envelope. She ripped it open, eager for the next adventure.

We've poured out our hearts and have laid our scars bare. We've promised one another to always be there. We've eaten dinner by the cove and laid out under the stars. We've kissed in the dark and made out on top of your car (fun times!). We've gone on adventures and hiked many great trails. We've bared our souls and dreamed of setting our sails. We've wished many a wish for our love through and through. But it all started with one place where your wishes came true.

Alison had to think about it for a few minutes, because she'd done a lot of wishing. She'd wished on stars. She'd wished on eyelashes. She'd wished every time the clock struck 11:11. But the one place where she'd wished, actively wished, for Emily was in the middle of the woods next to an old well.

Toby saw the look on her face. He pulled something out of his pocket and handed it to her. It was a quarter that had a heart painted on it in red nail polish.

"Happy Valentine's Day, Alison," Toby said with a sincere smile. "You're lucky as hell to have her."

"I really am."

She thanked him and then rushed out the door. She drove to the park, which was the closest place she could get to in town that would cut through to get to the wishing well. She could have driven home, but she was too impatient. She wanted to find her girlfriend. She couldn't wait to be in her arms.

She tore through the trees, her boots crunching against the dead leaves and twigs on the ground. She didn't feel the cool February air. In fact, she was starting to feel warm. She knew part of it was all the running around. But the other part of it was her heart.

When she got to the wishing well she saw a bunch of paper hearts taped to the old structure, covering many of the crumbling bricks. When she got closer she saw little declarations of love on them.

"I love the way your nose twitches in your sleep."

"I love your determined spirit."

"You have a kind heart."

"Your beauty amazes me daily."

"You have a great ass."

Alison laughed out loud when she read the one about her ass. She plucked it off of the well and folded it up and put it in her pocket right next to Emily's gift. She reached for the heart-shaped envelope Emily had left for her.

Make a wish my sweet girl, and I hope it comes true. On the day you were wishing for me I was wishing for you. You captured my heart and I captured your spirit. We shouted from the clifftops for the whole town to hear it. I pulled you out of your comfort zone and took you on a ride. And you showed me there is no reason to hide. The spot in the woods is the perfect place for a kiss. And to enjoy the beautiful autumn foliage that we dare not miss. Your stars and my autumn. The wishes are ours, because we've caught'em.

Alison smiled. She knew exactly where she was going. She started to walk away, but she paused and then slowly turned around. She dug the quarter Toby had given her out of her pocket. She peered at it. There wasn't any harm in wishing for more. It had worked the last time.

She closed her eyes and made a wish and then tossed the coin in.

She heard it plop into the icy water in the bottom below.

She trekked out to the kissing rock, avoiding the rocky cliff along the way. She took the long way around because she didn't like hiking out in the woods without Emily. Emily seemed to know she'd take the safer path, because there were little hearts plastered to trees on the trail.

When she walked into the clearing leading to the kissing rock she saw hundreds of rose petals scattered in the shape of a heart. There were candles outlining the heart. Emily was standing in the middle of it holding a single rose.

Alison stopped and took a moment to stare at her. All the beautiful words that she had written…all the elaborate planning she'd done…it was incredible. The brunette had never looked more attractive than she did in that very moment.

Alison wanted to run over and leap into her arms, but she stayed walking at a steady pace, drinking in the love that she'd been showered in.

She stepped over the rose petals and into Emily's awaiting arms. Emily had a confident look in her eyes, a cocky grin on her face.

"I told you I was going to make it unforgettable."

"Emily. Violet. Fields." She stared at her in disbelief.

"Still not my middle name," Emily said with a teasing smile.

"How?" Alison looked at the set-up.

She thought about how much Emily had done for her. She felt the little gift she'd gotten her burning a hole in her pocket. She felt like kicking herself for not doing more. She should have rented a hot air balloon. She should have hired sky-writers. She should have bought them tickets to Paris. She should have done more.

"My dad helped me with some of it last night. And I did the rest this morning. I've been up since four."

"Em…" Alison said softly, her voice breaking. "This is…" She looked around, "…it's the sweetest thing anyone has ever done for me."

"You deserve spontaneity and romance and love."

"All I need is you." Alison gripped her hands and kissed her. Her lips were warm and soft despite the cool wind blowing. "But all of this other stuff is nice." She smiled.

"Close your eyes." Emily reached up to cup her cheek.

Alison felt her sweet breath against her face. She licked her lips, suddenly realizing how chapped they were. She slowly closed her eyes, waiting for Emily's lips to meet hers, worrying about the fact that her lips were dry…worrying about the fact that she wasn't going to be able to even come close to topping what Emily had done for her. She was so busy getting lost in her head that she was confused when she didn't feel Emily's lips against hers.

She felt Emily's fingers gliding against her wrist. Something cool slipped over her fingers and slid down over the back of her hand. A bracelet.

Before she could open her eyes to look she felt Emily's smooth silky lips against hers. Alison automatically kissed her back. She felt Emily's forehead against hers. She opened her eyes and peered into her girlfriend's loving eyes.

"Happy Valentine's Day, Alison." She smiled sweetly.

She curled the tips of her fingers into Alison's fingers and lifted her hand to show her the charm bracelet. Alison's face softened. She ran her fingertips over the little musical notes.

"Because you're my good luck charm." Emily explained. "And your music is transcendent. It's like it has a line of communication directly to my soul." And to her child.

Alison was speechless. She felt tears in her eyes. She wished she'd done more for Emily…she wished she'd planned more. That was the difference between her and Emily. Emily gave with her heart. Alison gave with her money.

"It's so beautiful." Alison gave her a watery smile. "This entire thing has been…" She couldn't find the words. "You are amazing."

"Only the best for my girl."

"I have some surprises in store for you, too." Alison glanced at her new bracelet nervously.

She was going to have to think on her feet. The jewelry in her pocket suddenly didn't seem like enough. Emily deserved the world and more. She deserved to be courted and wooed and pampered. She deserved to live the life of a queen.

The wheels in her head were spinning out of control as she tried to plan the best day that she could think of while they walked the trails near the kissing rock together.

The spontaneity began with last minute reservations for a couple's mani-pedi. Then she took her to a French café thirty miles outside of town that was difficult to get into on a regular day, much less Valentine's Day. She'd thrown the DiLaurentis name out and they'd immediately penciled her in. Being the daughter of two socialites was helpful in some cases.

After lunch Alison treated her to a movie of her choice. They took a carriage ride around the city before heading back to Rosewood. When they got back to town Alison took her for ice cream.

They strolled around the park as dusk settled in. The warmth of the sun was slowly fading. It was starting to get chilly outside. They stopped at a bench for Emily to rest her weary feet. She was still too stubborn to admit when she was tired, but Alison could always tell.

She snuggled against her for warmth.

"This day has been amazing." Emily leaned back, wrapping her arm around Alison's shoulders.

Alison smiled at her. She slipped her hand into her pocket, her fingertips grazing the felt box that held Emily's present. She pulled it out of her pocket.

"I've got one more thing for you…" Alison moved the box in between them. She flipped the lid up and held it out for Emily to see.

Emily stared in awe. She reached for the gift. Alison's mouth felt dry as she watched Emily observe at the necklace. The silver chain link band was connected to two hearts that were linked together. One silver heart was larger than the other. Inside the larger one was Emily's birthstone. Inside the smaller one was the baby's birthstone…or at least according to her due date.

"Alison, this is beautiful." Emily felt her breath hitch in her throat. She ran her fingers over the green stone inside the smaller heart. "Is this…"

"Yeah. Her birthstone. It's interchangeable though in case she decides to come early or late. I just thought…you said you were keeping her. I…" She saw tears in Emily's eyes and she got nervous, "…I hope it's not too forward."

Emily looked up at her. Alison felt the weight of the world, because Emily had spent weeks planning and putting a beautiful day together, and she had just flashed a credit card and bought something shiny.

"I…I know it's not much considering what you've done for me. I'm sorry." Alison bit her lip. "I've never done this before. I've never been in a real relationship. I…I wasn't sure what to do. I feel like it's not enough…"

"Ali…" Emily smiled, gently grasping her cheeks. "You don't have to do anything to prove how much you love me. You've been taking care of me…of us…" She touched her stomach, "...for months. I want this weekend to be all about you."

She glanced at the necklace. She was touched at Alison's heartfelt gesture. Alison had not only considered her, but she'd thought about the baby. She always did.

"This is perfect. I love it." Emily touched the necklace.

Alison felt a flood of relief.

Emily pulled the jewelry out of the box. Alison helped her put it on. She left her fingertips lingering against the back of Emily's neck. They leaned in for a kiss. Emily put her hand against Alison's waist.

They barely noticed the tiny droplets of rain sprinkling around them as their lips smacked together. Alison felt a drop hit her eyelash. They looked up and saw that she sky was starting to darken. It started with a light drizzle, but then the rain got heavier. They got to their feet and were halfway to the car by the time the downpour hit.

Emily pulled her coat up over Alison to try and keep her dry. They were both giggling, despite the cold dreary weather.

They took cover under an awning. Water was dripping down Alison's cheeks, but she was mostly dry. Emily, on the other hand, had taken the brunt of the sudden storm. Her clothes were drenched. Her hair was a beautiful tangled mess.

"So much for an epic Valentine's Day." Alison laughed.

"It's still pretty epic." Emily cupped her cheeks.

She moved in for a kiss as the rain padded the ground around them heavily. Alison wrapped her arms around Emily's neck and mewled into the kiss. The heat from their bodies created a sticky moisture between them. Despite the warmth Alison felt Emily shudder.

Alison pulled back and trailed her knuckles against Emily's damp cheek.

"You need to get out of these wet clothes." Alison frowned.

"I was thinking the exact same thing." Emily lifted her brows flirtatiously.

Alison smiled.

"We'll have plenty of time for that, but you're shivering, baby. You need a hot shower." She was worried about her getting too cold. "You want to go to your apartment or do you want to go to your parent's place?"

"The hot water still isn't on at the apartment. Let's go back to my parent's place. We can just do something low key. My favorite thing in the world is just chilling with you."

"That sounds like the perfect end to a perfect day." Just her girl and a lot of snuggling.

Alison suggested they order Thai for dinner, so they called it in when they were on their way home.

They drove back to Emily's place. Alison went home to slip into something a little more comfortable. She picked through her drawers searching for some lingerie she'd picked out specifically for the special occasion. She slipped on the lacy red matching bra and panties and then got dressed and walked over to Emily's place.

The shower was still running. She heard Emily shout down the stairs that she would be done in five minutes. Alison briefly considered joining her, but she wanted Emily to have the joy of discovering the lingerie on her own.

She went to the kitchen to make her a pot of tea. She'd learned that Emily's mother's home brew was the best thing for Emily's nausea. She took the tea into the living room and then scrolled through a list of movies to try and find the perfect one. She landed on Love, Actually.

She heard the water cut off and then thumping around as Emily got dressed. She was finishing up just as the doorbell rang.

"Dinner!" Alison called out to her.

"Be right there!" Emily called down the stairs.

"Don't forget your vitamins!" Alison called back as she reached for the door knob.

She opened the door. A young guy was staring back at her. He looked like he was about her age. Sometimes Alison forgot that teenagers actually worked. She'd never had to work a day in her life. She glanced at the boy's empty hands.

"Do you have the food?" Alison asked in confusion.

"Um…is this not the Fields' place?" He seemed confused.

"Yeah…"

"Is Emily here?"

"Why?" Alison's eyes narrowed. She didn't like the idea of some strange boy trying to find her girlfriend, especially not with some psycho after her. "What do you want with Emily?"

"That's my business." He wasn't rude, but he was curt.

"Who the hell are you?" Alison frowned.

"What's with all these questions? Who the hell are you?"

Before he had a chance to answer she heard a shocked gasp from behind her, followed by the sound of a glass hitting the floor.

The noise that came out of Emily's mouth triggered something in Alison. She looked into the boy's eyes and she realized something. She'd seen him before. In photos. He looked different standing in front of her. Taller. More muscular. His hair had grown out, too.

"Isaac?" Emily's voice was shaking.

Alison saw his eyes widen. She turned around and realized that Emily was in a tank top. It didn't hide her belly at all. It was glaringly obvious. She saw the pale look on Emily's face, and then she turned back around and saw the shocked look on Isaac's face.

Alison's eyes darted back and forth between the two of them. Emily's past was standing in front of them staring them directly in the eyes. It was like a living nightmare. The dreams of hearts and flowers and love was shattered in an instant. Everything they'd planned was crashing down around them. Alison feared that it was an ominous dark cloud of things to come. Emily had enough going on in her life. She didn't need the added complication of her ex. Her life was already stressful.

She had been hoping that their romantic weekend together would take Emily's mind off of everything. She didn't want her to focus on the past. She wanted her to look towards the future. Their future. But as Alison looked between her girlfriend and her ex-boyfriend she realized that the short-lived dream was tail-spinning into a disaster. The plane they were on was crashing and there was nothing she could do to get control of it.

The fantasy was over.

Reality hit like a bitch.

A/N: *hums "My Funny Valentine" but with the lyrics "My Bloody Valentine"* The heat has quite literally been turned up. And now the cat is out of the bag. I present to you my favorite line of the chapter, "Mike called us Spoby. I called him an idiot" to help lessen the blow that I've once again left you dangling on a cliff...