A/N: Squeaking this one out before the new year. I realize that some places in the world have already seen the start to 2021. I'm still in the eternal 2020s at the moment. Only 5 hours, 27 minutes, and 22 seconds to go (not that I'm counting or anything).

I know I write lots of words and sometimes it drags on. As always, the word count for this chapter got entirely too high, so I had to break it up. I'm surprised no one has thrown a dictionary at my head yet and told me to rip some of the pages out so it won't hurt as much the next time it's thrown at me.

Thank you all for your patience. I started this story in hopes that it might give people something to look forward to in these crazy times. I wanted to keep people going. Turns out, my readers have done the same for me. Thank you all for that. Happy New Year.


Chapter 37:

Endless Love

Alison kept Emily's baby shower low-key, just like she'd promised. It was just the girls and few other people from school.

She'd kept all the details under wraps. She'd taken Emily out for a drive that day. Emily had eagerly jumped at the chance because she was itching to get out of the house. Emily's parents helped the girls set everything up while she was gone.

When they got back Alison made Emily close her eyes and then led her up the porch steps and into the house. When they walked through the front door Alison removed her hand from Emily's eyes, revealing the set up. It took a moment for Emily to take it all in.

Aria and Hanna had strayed from the typical decorations. Instead of decking everything out in pink and putting a pretty bow on it they'd decorated in a fall forest theme. The colors of autumn lit up her living room. Fiery reds, bright oranges, and blended yellows were spread throughout the house. The balloons created a small forest. All the bright colors were overhanging the arches of the house with light brown balloons as a base.

All the guests had scribbled handwritten congratulations on cut out paper leaves, which were scattered throughout the balloons and streamers.

In addition to all the fall decorations they had taken an extra step and added a "biking through the mountains" feel with several motorcycle decorations. It was edgy and cool rather than girly and flowery.

"You did all this for me?" Emily looked around in appreciation.

"It was Alison's vision. We just made it come to life." Hanna rotated a cupcake tray to straighten it out. She fluffed out the tablecloth.

The cupcakes were chocolate with candied leaves on top of swirls of yellow, red, and orange icing. Her mom's recipe, no doubt.

She didn't even to pretend to humor her friends and family. She was thoroughly impressed with what they'd done. She looked into the faces of the people she loved…and she realized how lucky she was...how lucky her baby was. She felt like it had taken the longest time to get to this point in her life.

"Sweets for my sweet?" Alison reached for the tray of cupcakes, picking out an immaculate looking one, which was impressive considering they were all damn near perfect.

She held the treat out towards Emily, keeping her palm underneath it to catch any crumbs, something Emily knew her mother cared about. Pam Fields did not like messes.

"Cupcake?" She offered.

"Yes sweet'ums?" Emily fired back with a grin.

"Ugh, you two are disgustingly cute." Hanna rolled her eyes. "I feel bad for this child. I foresee decades of embarrassment."

Alison would have bit back something sarcastically, but she was somewhat flattered that Hanna thought they would be embarrassing Emily's daughter together for decades.

"So, Em, where do you want to start?" Aria asked. "Food? Gifts?"

"Bathroom." She boasted humorously. "She likes to kick my bladder for sport."

She quickly thanked her guests and then took a little detour before landing in the living room with everyone else.

She settled in next to Alison on the couch. The girls had all gathered around. Even though they had promised her no games they had put together a little activity to play while they ate. They had all brought pictures of themselves as babies and put them in a box. They had to take turns guessing who was who.

Alison's baby picture was easy for Emily to find. It helped that she'd seen baby pictures of Alison before. Emily locked in on her bright blue eyes and devious smile. She looked like a very bossy baby.

She picked through the pictures.

Aria playing with a baby mobile. Her large hazel eyes were wide and sensitive.

Spencer eating solid food for the first time. She was a very clean baby. She seemed determined to get all of the food in her mouth and not on her outfit.

Mona on her belly holding her head up and laughing. She had a full head of dark hair, but it was her dimple that gave her away.

Hanna reaching for the camera with curious intrigue. Her light blonde eyebrows were crinkled, an inquisitive expression on her face. Wisps of blonde hair fell over her face. She had her mother's lipstick in her hands.

The boys had sent photos, too. Toby was chewing on a stuffed football, grinning so wide that she could see his gummy mouth behind the ball. Ezra was mid-clap and laughing. Caleb only had one picture from when he was a baby, which he'd had in his wallet for years. He looked like a thoughtful little boy. He was looking directly at the camera. Aria had slipped in a photo of Mike being potty trained. He was sitting on the toilet completely naked with a huge prideful grin on his wide open mouth. The room was full of laughter for a good solid sixty seconds.

The last picture was of Isaac. She took a few extra minutes to look at his baby photo, trying to decide what features her daughter would inherit.

He was an adorable baby. He had smooth light brown skin and his dark curly hair was coiled on the top of his head. He had the biggest dimples on his chubby little cheeks. His smile was big and wide and his eyes were aglow with bright excitement. They were lighter than they were now. She hadn't realized he'd been born with greyish hazel eyes. It was interesting that his eyes had changed to brown, but that Courtney's were greyish blue.

"He was a cute baby." Alison put her finger against the edge of the picture. "Maybe she'll get those dimples."

Alison had come such a long way from hating him. The blossoming maturity was very attractive to Emily.

Once they finished looking at baby photos Emily's mother told stories about when she was a baby. She was generous and left out the potty training days and the terrible twos.

They ate sweets and reminisced about the school year as Emily opened her presents. She watched everyone in her life in awe. She was surrounded by so much love. She felt lucky.

It was strange to be on the cusp of adulthood. She didn't even know what being an adult would be like. She was days away from meeting her little girl. She was prepared with all of the physical things, but she wasn't sure where she stood emotionally and mentally.

Sometimes she was so overwhelmed she felt like crying. Other times she was so overjoyed she thought she might burst. She was excited, but apprehensive. She was ready, but at the same time, she wasn't ready.

She delicately unlaced a pink bow on a medium-sized package that had white and pink wrapping paper. The present was wrapped to perfection, though Emily didn't expect anything less. Mona did everything with precision, which is exactly why she had gotten into Columbia University. She carefully ripped the wrapping paper, revealing a cute little box. She removed the top and pulled out a wrapped set of blankets. Inside the box there were two little matching lamb stuffies.

"I asked around and then read up one the best swaddle blankets on the market. These had the highest rating." Mona played with the large bow that had been removed from the box. "And the little sheep have a natural soothing scent that is supposed to keep the baby calm for a good night's sleep."

"This is so thoughtful. Thank you." Emily rubbed her palm over the blankets. They were soft and velvety, and she could imagine her daughter all bundled up in one.

She played around with the box and found a few more items. Onesies, bibs, and teething rings.

It seemed like a lot, and Emily was mindful about them spending their money. She also knew that their parents had chipped in to help. She wasn't sure how to feel about it. She didn't want people to consider her a charity case. But she also knew that her friends cared about her, and she loved them for it.

Spencer's gift was next. She'd gotten her a chic black diaper bag, a bunch of diapers, and a nursing pillow. They were very practical, which screamed Spencer Hastings.

"There's more in the bag." Spencer leaned forward with a smile on her face. It looked like she was plotting something.

"Spence, what did you do?" Emily apprehensively reached for the zipper. She'd already given so much. She pulled the tab on the zipper and laughed when she saw what was inside.

"What is it?" Alison hovered over her eagerly, trying to get a sneak peek.

"You trying to get my kid to blow things up?" Emily pulled out a book titled My First Chemistry Book.

The bag was stuffed with a toy chemistry set designed for little kids. There were plush beakers and safety goggles and several baby bottles labeled with different chemical elements. Emily handed Alison one of the bottles.

"This is adorable." Alison chuckled.

"Felt appropriate." Spencer laughed. "I was going to attempt to get her an internship program, but I thought it might be a little early for that."

"Spencer Hastings has jokes. Who knew?" Aria playfully shoved her.

"With her IQ, I don't think that was a joke." Mona laughed.

"You're one to talk, Ms. Valedictorian." Spencer glanced at her.

They'd had a bit of a rivalry about it, but Mona won out in the end. Spencer had accepted it.

Emily sorted through Spencer's gift and then reached for Aria's present. The smile on Aria's face changed to a more timid expression. She nervously fiddled with her fingers as Emily opened her present.

She had put a personal touch on her gift. Everyone else had opted for store bought, but Aria had wanted to try her hand at something homemade.

The first thing Emily opened was a quilt that Aria had sewn with her mother's and brother's help. Every other square had baby animals on it. The pattern rotated colors. The blank slates had written messages on them.

"The notes are steam pressed on from a template I used. They won't come off when you wash it." Aria explained.

Emily's fingers traced a signature from Mike, 'Two moms is better than one.'

"He wanted to write 'two moms is kick ass' but I vetoed it." Aria saw Emily looking at the signature. "I'm surprised he didn't go against me and sneak it in there when he was sewing…"

"Your brother sews?" Mona's jaw dropped with a laugh.

"He'll deny it, but yeah."

"What other secrets is he hiding from me?"

"You've seen him in his full naked glory in a potty training photo. I don't think you guys have secrets anymore." Hanna bit a candied leaf off of a cupcake.

Emily reached Aria's second present which was beneath the quilt. It was a hand drawn portrait. She pulled it out to get a closer look. The background was a fall setting, so it fit perfectly with the baby shower theme. The portrait was of her and Alison. The still-life image had captured every beauty mark and every line on their faces. Somehow Aria had made art look more lifelike than actual life.

Alison reached out and put her fingers against the edge of it, her mouth open in a thoughtful 'o' shape.

"This is beautiful." Alison admired it. She was reminded of the prom design that Aria had drawn.

"Did you draw this?" Emily traced the frame of the photo.

"I know it's not much," Aria bit her lip self-consciously. "But I thought you might want something to hang for the baby to see. I was reading about facial recognition. I know it's not exactly picture perfect…"

"I love it." Emily looked up, tears in her eyes. "Thank you." She leaned over and embraced the smaller brunette in a hug.

She couldn't wait to hang it. She took a moment to appreciate the artwork before she looked up at the rest of her unopened gifts.

"Who's next?" Emily questioned.

"Not me. I don't want to follow that perfect gift." Hanna poked Aria's arm.

Aria's cheeks turned beet red. The girls laughed.

"It's not that perfect." Aria looked away with a sheepish expression on her face.

"I have faith in your gift-giving skills, Han. Gimme…" Emily reached for Hanna's gift.

The blonde's savvy shopping skills did not disappoint Emily. She'd put together several little outfits for the baby. One was a near perfect match to Emily's bike riding attire, complete with tiny little black boots to match her mama. She had also gotten designer crib sheets and several pairs of booties that could be strapped on over the baby's socks.

"My mom said booties are a hot commodity," Hanna said. "She said I was always taking off my socks. I tend to think it's because I didn't like the design."

"She's going to be more well-dressed than most adults I know." Emily chuckled.

"This little leather jacket is the cutest thing I've ever seen." Alison reached for the jacket. It was the tiniest most badass thing she'd ever laid eyes on.

Emily thanked Hanna and then moved on to Alison's gift. She had insisted that Alison didn't need to get her anything, but Alison didn't listen.

She'd been shopping for a few outfits of her own. She had picked out several dresses with bows, as well as two piece outfits, jackets, and shoes.

In addition to the clothes Alison had bought a play mat that would grow with the baby from infancy to toddler-hood. It transitioned for each age.

She had also gotten a book to put together some of her milestones. She'd already put her ultrasound images in it. She had written some of the things that had already happened. The first time they heard her heart. The first time she kicked. The first time Emily felt her roll over.

"I tell you not to go crazy and this is what you do?" Emily gave her a hard time, leaning against her with a smile.

"Hey, you're just lucky I didn't buy her way into college." Alison pushed back. She reached for Emily's hand.

They shared a quiet moment before Alison shoved another gift at her. Emily had been surprised at the sheer volume of presents.

The boys had all chipped in for a baby monitor. Caleb had done the research to find out which had the best range and the best video quality.

Isaac had sent her a BABYBJÖRN baby carrier with a cute note that said, "You carried her this far. The least I could do was get you something to help carry her when she's here."

Emily stopped and marveled at every gift. She felt like the luckiest person in the world.

Her parents had gotten several major things that she needed. A car seat. A stroller. A bassinet. They had gone above and beyond.

She was so overjoyed that she'd smothered her dad in a hug.

"That's not all, kid." He winked. "Bring it in, Ma!"

Emily turned around to see her mom wheeling in a crib with a large bow on it. She pushed it over to where Emily was standing with her father.

"Was this my crib?" Emily gripped the edges.

Her dad smiled with a nod.

"Refurbished. I've been working on it for a few months. Peter Hastings has been letting me use his garage to keep it a surprise."

"It's incredible." She'd seen pictures of herself in it. It looked so much smaller than she remembered. It was a wonder that she'd ever been that tiny. "Thank you so much."

Her eyes wandered between her mom and dad. Their road hadn't been an easy one, but they had come out of it stronger than ever. There had been times in her life when she questioned whether or not her parents loved her, mostly because they had been so cold to her after she came out and after she told them about the pregnancy.

She had been crazy to think that her mom and dad would ever stop loving her. She'd read horror stories about it happening to other kids. She knew it happened to other kids. But her parents had never given any indication that they weren't trying. They didn't handle it perfectly, and things between them were strained, but they had never stopped loving her.

"We've got one more for you, but this one requires participation." Alison reached for a small box.

"Another game?" Emily slowly lifted her brow, shooting a skeptical look towards Alison.

Alison pulled the top off and pulled out a memory book. Like all of the other decorations, it was fall themed.

She laid it in between them, one side of it resting on her thigh and the other resting on Emily's.

She glanced at Emily and pointed towards it, urging her to open it up. Emily grasped the edge with her fingertips, which felt swollen and bloated…like the rest of her body.

She flipped open the cover and was surprised to see a cutout of a leaf that was identical to the decorations lining the walls.

At the top of the page written in large bold letters was the phrase,

"Your mom taught me…"

Below it the leaf had the same script, only a little bit smaller. On the bottom of the page there was a "guess who said it?" section.

Emily rubbed her thumb against the pages, flipping them to preview them, seeing several different answers.

"I thought it might be something she'd like when she gets older." Alison's cheeks flushed with color.

She was clearly insecure about it, but Emily squashed her fears.

"This is amazing. And you say you don't do any scrapbooking except for digital." Emily pressed her index finger in between Alison's ribs, causing her to jump and huff out a laugh.

The book was filled with different messages. It was a guessing game. She'd said no games, but she didn't mind this one. It was thoughtful. And she wanted her child to be thoughtful.

She read through each message, silently banking her guesses for later. She was pretty sure she was going to get them all right.

They were all preempted with, "Your mom taught me…"

How to be brave and let go and jump over that cliff…to take that leap…to go to places that you've been a million times before, but to take a whole new path to get there.

The words nearly ran out of room, but the message fit on the leaf. She knew it was from Alison, not only because of the memory of the day they'd hiked out to the kissing rock, but because she would recognize Alison's literary prose anywhere.

She scanned the next leaf.

How to go easy on ourselves. She recognized Spencer's chicken scratch from the Trig notes that Spencer had been giving her all year. She knew that Spencer was her own worst critic. She had been that way since childhood.

That some little girls prefer to wear motocross gear instead of "stupid pink tutus". There was a tiny drawing of a tutu with a giant red X over it where her father had really driven home the point about her hatred of pink frilly clothes when she was little.

The next one was also in his handwriting,

the day she was born I knew I'd never love anyone more.

She felt a growing mass in her throat. Her emotions were on a razor thin edge because of the hormones.

She looked up at her dad and mouthed a silent, "I love you."

He winked and nodded. A secret 'dad' code for "I love you, too."

Emily read through several other messages, picking out who they were from almost immediately. She wasn't a verified handwriting analyst, but she knew her friends and family, and she recognized a lot of the handwriting.

That it's okay to forgive ourselves. Caleb. She thought about the conversation she'd had with him about Maya Angelou.

Not to jab when you should use a left hook. She snickered. Jake. She'd cleaned his clock with a punch one day when he forgot to block her.

How to take chances in life…and in love. She almost didn't recognize Aria's writing, but she saw a little drawing of a book next to the message.

How to ride a bike. Spencer again.

How to toss a freethrow. Toby. She'd never let him live it down, and he loved her for it.

How to be a badass bitch. Hanna. Emily had to hold back a laugh because she could picture her mother cringing at the foul language.

Emily glanced at Hanna. She had a grin on her face. She was very proud of herself.

She looked at the leaves again, continuing to read them.

That even nerds can be cool. PS: Your Uncle Mike is the coolest dude you will ever meet. Mike hadn't even tried to be subtle, which was pretty spot on for him.

To be kind. Aria had drawn hearts around the leaf.

How to love. The o's had been turned into little hearts that she recognized from love notes that Alison wrote to her.

That forgiveness is powerful, and sometimes courage is letting go of the past and embracing the future. Mona's cursive was distinct and precise, just like Mona.

That the ride of your life isn't about where you go. It's who you're with. Toby had switched gears from humorous to serious.

Hanna's next one had taken on the same sentimental tone,

That you'll spend the rest of your life trying to get past your childhood, and you can only do that with good friends by your side.

That friendships are just as good as relationships. The handwriting stunned her, because it was Isaac's.

Alison had called Isaac, and what's more...he had taken the time to fill out the leaf and mail it back to her.

He had a second leaf next to his first one,

That when your mother loves she loves with all of her heart. And that makes you the luckiest little girl in the world.

The knot in her throat started to wobble again. She traced her fingers over Isaac's words, making a mental note to tell him how much his kindness meant to her.

She moved to the next one.

To believe in wishes. Alison. Again. The wishing well and wishing on stars had brought them together. Alison was a cynic about a lot of things, but she believed in the magic of love.

She stole a look at the blonde, smiling.

She turned to the last page. She recognized the handwriting on the last leaf, but she had to read it a few times to let it sink in.

That love is love. And you will have plenty of it, sweetheart, because your mother has more love in her heart than anyone I have ever met. Her mother.

She glanced at the older woman. The tears dribbled down her cheeks. She didn't care that she was crying in front of everyone.

She stood up without saying a word and walked over to her mother, who met her with open arms. They embraced. They had come such a long way.

"I love you, mom." She mumbled into her shoulder as she hugged her tightly.

"I love you, too, Emmy." When they pulled back her mom wiped away her tears, as mothers often did.

It was astounding to Emily that soon she would be wiping her own daughter's tears. Looking into her mother's eyes she saw a glimpse of her future. She wouldn't make the mistakes that her mom made, but she was bound to make her own mistakes.

Everyone in the room let them have their moment. After a few minutes her parents excused themselves, letting the girls have some time alone.

Emily took her place next to Alison on the couch. She wrapped her arm around her and pulled her close.

"You outdid yourself." She cupped her cheek, leaning forward to peck her lips.

"It was a group effort." Alison glanced at their friends.

"Thank you." Emily put her hand against the momento with all the sweet messages for the baby. "This means the world to me."

"You're going to have the luckiest kid in the world." Aria smiled.

"No doubt about that. She's going to have the best aunts on the planet. She hit the jackpot with us." Hanna chimed in proudly. The large joking grin on her face slowly transitioned into a softer expression, "We're really happy for you two. Seriously. We can't wait to meet her."

"I can't either." Emily looked down, cupping her belly.

The girls chatted for an hour before Spencer called attention to the fact that they had to leave. She was in charge of keeping them organized for graduation and they had graduation rehearsal they had to get to. They had planned the baby shower before they knew that the school was going to switch dates on them.

Spencer glanced at her watch. She made a face.

"We need to get going. Rehearsal starts in an hour."

"I can't believe they want us to practice walking, of all things." Hanna scoffed. "We just spent 13 years of our lives getting an education on how complex chemicals work and learning math equations we'll never use, but walking is going to be too hard for us to comprehend? I've been doing that for years, most of the time in heels." Hanna reached out to straighten a crinkle she saw in Emily's shirt. "You're lucky you don't have to endure this dress rehearsal."

"Yes, active labor is going to be a lot more fun," Emily said dryly. "She'll probably slide out of me as I'm crossing the stage."

"Don't you dare." Alison addressed Emily's belly. "Your mommy only has one graduation. And we already did prom your way. Let her have this."

The room went silent. Emily was used to Alison talking to the baby, but the girls weren't. Mona and Spencer exchanged a look. At first Alison thought it made them uncomfortable, though she didn't care if it did because she wasn't going to stop talking to Emily's daughter.

Hanna mouthed something that looked like "now?" and Mona nodded.

She saw Hanna reach for something that she'd missed. A present that had been hidden. Her attention shifted away from Emily and towards the girls.

"Did we miss one?" Alison asked.

"This one isn't for Emily." Hanna extended the present towards her.

Alison saw her name etched on the gift tag in cursive.

Alison stared at the gift in shock. She looked at Emily, who didn't look surprised at the new development.

The brunette smiled at Alison. She'd had a trick up her sleeve the entire time. The girls had come to her and asked her about doing it. They had wanted an idea of something to give to Alison to make her feel included. Emily had immediately thought of all the photos she'd found in her phone of Alison connecting with the baby.

Alison opened the gift to find a photo of her cradling Emily's belly. She had a serene smile on her face. Her eyes were closed, her lips pursed against Emily's skin. The frame had Alison and Emily's initials on the top and an empty slate near the bottom where the baby's name would go.

Alison put her fingers against where her lips were touching Emily's stomach. Her heart did several flips in her chest. Her eyes started to water. She tightened her jaw and tried to keep the tears from spilling down her cheeks. She didn't want the others to see her cry.

The image was beautiful. It sparked something in her.

She was in love. She knew what it meant to love. It was the most beautiful feeling in the world. How could she be so crazy about someone she hadn't even met yet?

It took her right back to the moment she'd seen her heart beating for the first time. The baby's heart had brought her heart to life. It wasn't something that anyone could explain. It just was. The baby's existence made Alison feel like she existed.

She felt like she understood something she'd failed to understand her entire life. She had been blessed since birth with all the money in the world, but she'd throw it all away for the feeling of joy she had every time she felt the baby move.

There was something powerful about the image. She had never seen herself connecting to Emily's daughter. She'd never even thought about what it must be like for Emily to see her talk to her and sing to her and love her. She'd always been in the moment when she was connecting with Emily and the baby. She'd never seen it captured on film.

It was raw and real and perfect.

She was seeing herself through Emily's eyes. She could see the love in her eyes that she felt in her heart. It was a rare instance to be able to experience the purity of the love in the moment.

The unconditional love in her heart made her feel like the wealthiest person in the world. She was rich in love and friendship, and soon she'd be rich in motherhood.

She knew it wouldn't be easy. She knew they were going to face challenges. Parenthood was an uphill battle. There would be a lot of emotions and a lot of sleepless nights, but she was ready. She'd found her family, and she would fight like hell to keep it.

She had never had a purpose. Emily and the baby gave her one.

"Ali?" It was Emily's voice that softly brought her back into reality.

"We wanted her to see how much you've loved her. If there's one thing I've learned from my dad walking out on me it's how precious it is to be loved by a parent…"

Alison silently reached out and threw her arms around Hanna. Hanna was stiff at first, but then she relaxed into the embrace, hugging her back. They reached out to pull Aria into it because she was the closest one to them. Mona and Spencer looked at each other for a few seconds, but then they joined in.

"Thank you so much," she said quietly. "Not only for this." She pulled back and looked at the beautiful picture. "For everything. For giving me a second chance after everything I did to you all. I know I didn't deserve it…"

"Would you stop it with that?" Hanna scoffed. "Save the apologies. We're past that."

"We are?" Alison sniffled.

"Yeah. We rode into battle against two twin dragons. We're sisters in arms. Wouldn't fight Cindy and Mindy with anyone else." Hanna nodded.

Alison laughed.

"I wasn't expecting this." Her voice had a warble in it. "Any of this." She looked up at their friends. She hadn't expected the girls to rally around them, least of all her.

"Nothing about any of this has been expected." Emily took Alison's hand in hers. Her eyes met Alison's. "But sometimes unexpected things are the best. I didn't expect to fall in love with the mother of my child, but here we are."

Alison pawed at her wet eyes. Droplets dribbled over her eyelids and slid down her cheeks.

She surged forward and pressed her lips against Emily's. Emily melted into the kiss as she reached up to touch the blonde's cheek, her fingertips grazing her face softly. One of Alison's hands naturally fell against Emily's baby bump. The other gripped the nape of her neck.

"Okay, okay, let's break it up. If we don't stay PG you might get even more pregnant." Hanna chuckled.

"Not how it works, Han." Spencer's face was a mixture of intrigue and confusion.

Alison and Emily laughed as they pulled apart.

They walked them out, talking about their graduation. Somehow, they had made it. They were officially going to be adults. And none of them had killed one another, despite their tumultuous road.

After their friends left they settled in Emily's room.

Emily's back had been killing her because of the bed rest. Every muscle in her body ached. She was bloated and felt like she was going to burst at any minute. She imagined the pressure she felt was what John Hurt's character in Alien felt when the baby face-hugger exploded out of his chest.

It was hard to find a comfortable position, but Alison was distracting her. She was kneeling on her knees facing Emily, straddling against her legs. She'd pulled out the cocoa butter because Emily mentioned the discomfort of her skin being pulled taut on her stomach.

She rubbed the slippery velvety substance against her growing bulge, a sweet tropical aroma filling her senses. Emily's scent made it smell even more appealing to her. She enjoyed the smooth feel of Emily's soft skin beneath her fingertips.

She splayed her fingers out and massaged her stomach. She looked up at her through hooded eyes, her lips curved into a smirk.

"How about one last gift?" Alison leaned forward and kissed her stomach.

The salt from her sweat and the sweet flavor of the cocoa butter tingled against her lips. She moved to kiss lower, her lips smacking loudly.

Emily felt her body responding. Alison hadn't even touched her and she was ready to grip the sheets and sing more than just praises.

Alison's fingers were still slick from the cocoa butter. They slid effortlessly towards the band of her maternity pants, but a loud clattering noise from downstairs filled the air.

Alison jerked so hard that she nearly fell off the bed. Emily grabbed her before she could topple over the edge.

The blonde fell next to her, giggling. She had forgotten they weren't alone. They'd been able to sneak around a few times. It was a challenge for Alison to stay quiet. Emily loved to push her until she made noise. Emily was a little more controlled.

Alison lowered her cheek against Emily's shoulder, sighing happily against her.

It had gotten harder for them to snuggle because of Emily's belly, but they did find their ways.

Emily propped herself up against a bunch of pillows. Alison wormed her way next to her. She laid her head against Emily's chest. She'd gotten in the habit of feeling Emily's heart against her face. It amazed her. It was astonishing that Emily's heart was beating for two.

She curled against her and trailed her fingers against Emily's stomach, extending her fingertips out and laying her palm flat.

The baby was sleeping for once.

Resting up for her big day. Alison thought.

"Today was amazing." Emily stroked Alison's arm.

"I know, right? Am I the best…or am I the best?"

"You're something." Emily kissed the top of Alison's head. "You outdid yourself. Your gifts were very thoughtful. You really didn't have to get me all those things. You've already given her the best gift of all."

"I got her a Barbie Dreamhouse?"

Emily smiled and shook her head.

"You." The best thing she could have asked for was someone to love her daughter as much as she did. "You're all she could ever want and more. And I should know, because I have you and I still couldn't want you more."

Alison felt her face getting hot again. She'd been overwhelmed and humbled by how much everyone included her. She felt like part of the family. She'd never had that before.

Emily played with Alison's fingers. She wanted to play with so much more of her, but she knew her parents were right down the hall. And Alison wasn't quiet. It was the one downside to them being there instead of Emily's apartment.

"I can't believe she's almost here." Alison marveled at Emily's pregnancy glow, which mostly consisted of sweat. "Just think about how amazing it's going to be to meet her. Can you imagine what it's going to be like when she's here?"

"I think about it every day." Emily laid her palm on her stomach next to Alison's. "I feel like I've been waiting my entire life to meet her."

It had been the longest wait of her life.

They laid in silence for several minutes. Alison drew little patterns against the crease in Emily's elbow, moving down her forearm and tracing nonsensical shapes against her skin.

She was pure and beautiful. Her fingertip slid against a small raised blemish, a scar she'd gotten at some point in her life.

Her thoughts turned bitter as she wondered if Courtney had given it to her.

"Have you heard from Stalker, Texas Danger?" Her face went from calm to rigid with anger.

Emily laughed so hard that she snorted.

"That's a new one." She felt her bladder spasm and she held her breath, hoping that she didn't accidentally pee her pants. "And no, I haven't. Not since the day at the science lab." She looked down at Alison pensively. She'd almost lost her that day. "I don't know what to think about the silence. I don't like it. It's making me antsy."

"Silence means plotting." Alison shifted in unease. She didn't like the calm before the storm either, especially not with the baby's due date being days away.

"Exactly." Emily nodded. She pressed her lips together and mulled in thought. "Or maybe they got hit by a bus."

"We can hope." Alison sighed, linking her fingers in Emily's. "You ever think about running away?"

"We talked about this once. In the treehouse. Remember?"

"It could be an adventure. We could start in the south of France. Dancing through sunflower fields. Lounging around in our bikinis in the French Riviera. You'd look so good on top of the Eiffel Tower…wind in your hair…"

"Of course I remember." Alison smiled. "Paris."

Emily had her feet planted firmly in reality. She'd been worried about the expense and traveling with baby.

"I'm not running away from a bully." She'd been running for far too long. "The last thing I'm going to do is run from a fight."

"What if it's the only way to protect her?" Alison glanced at Emily's stomach.

"Running away is a nice dream. It's a fun fantasy. But it's not going to solve anything. These problems followed me halfway across the country. Who is to say they won't follow me across the world?"

Emily looked down at their joined hands. They had been through so much. A lifetime of events in such a short period of time. But they'd survived it together.

"This has to end, one way or another. Besides, what about my parents? Our friends? What if they become the targets?" Emily pushed herself up on her elbows. "I'm not willing to risk that, especially not after almost losing Maya and my dad."

"So…we're just going to keep going around in this toxic game of spin the merry-go-round? Where does it end? Us in an old folks home getting mowed down by a runaway wheelchair?" She could just see someone trying to kill them on the shuffleboard court. "Someone shoving us overboard on one of those old people cruises?"

"You are thinking way too far ahead. Let's just make it through graduation first. Then we can worry about the bounty on our heads." Emily shifted against the pillows again.

"How do you still have it so together?" Alison put her thumb against her mouth and started gnawing on her nail.

Emily pulled Alison's hand away from her lips.

"Because we have each other." She kissed her knuckles. "We have a support system here. We have great friends."

She felt more than blessed to have such wonderful friends. It had been a hell of a year. She had only gotten through it because of them.

"We really do," Alison replied softly, her eyes drifting to the gift that the girls had gotten her. It was on Emily's dresser. It was a beautiful photo. "I spent so much time thinking that I was one of the cool kids, but the day you walked into that school and sat down with them I realized I wasn't nearly as cool as I thought I was. I wish I would have seen how amazing they are earlier."

"The important thing is that you saw the light."

"Yeah. You're the light." Alison lifted her head and peered at Emily.

"Look at you getting all sentimental." Emily teased. Alison rolled her eyes. Emily poked her with a laugh. "I still remember that big bad bravado you were putting on that day, but I saw you." She pulled Alison closer. "The real you. I remember the look in your eyes. I knew there was more there."

"I'm glad you came into my life…" Alison reached up to play with the purple streaks in her hair. She'd stayed on top of keeping her punky edge, "…with your indigo hair…"

"Violet." Emily smiled.

There was something playful about her smile. It was like she knew something that Alison didn't know. A secret. Or perhaps she was being smug about the color.

"Whatever it is it's going to go great with our graduation robes." Alison curled the tip of one of Emily's purple streaks behind her ear.

"I look like a large trash bag in mine, but continue…"

"You look great in everything." Alison argued.

"You're my girlfriend. You have to say that no matter how bloated I am." Emily lifted her hand and looked at her fingers. They looked like sausage links. No one had told her how much she would swell up at end of her pregnancy. It was almost painful.

"I'm not kidding. I would do you right here and right now if I could." Alison wasn't deterred. In fact, her swollen fingers made her more enticing.

"You're such a romantic." Emily snickered, pulling her in for a kiss.

"You don't realize just how sexy you look to me." Alison touched the side of Emily's neck with her palm. Her skin felt like it was on fire. "You are carrying a life inside of you, Em. You're the most beautiful person I've ever laid eyes on."

"That's…more romantic." Emily tightened her grip on the blonde.

"You've done all of this with such grace. You are graduating despite baby brain and obstacles with your school work. You have earned this. I can't wait to see you walk across that stage."

"You mean waddle?" Emily asked. She saw Alison crack a smile. She loved her pregnancy walk. "I just hope I can make it across the stage without my water breaking." Emily ran her palm over the smooth skin on her stomach.

She could just see a chaotic scene playing out like a clichéd movie. Walking over to accept her diploma and then going into labor in front of the thousands of people watching. A comical scene where the school janitor suddenly knows how to deliver a baby.

She had dreamed about her graduation for years. She certainly hadn't pictured being pregnant as she accepted her diploma.

So much was happening that graduation didn't even feel like it was real. She was certain no one else in their class had to clear getting their diploma with their doctor. She'd had to double check and make sure it was okay for her to get up and walk across the stage with everyone else. Fortunately, everything had been progressing like it was supposed to with her bed rest. Her doctor had given her the all-clear.

It was the little things that Emily appreciated. They laid in bed that night talking about their future.

They had survived high school. Now they just had to survive everything else.

o ~ O ~ o

Two days later she proudly wobbled across the stage with her friends to get her high school diploma.

As Emily watched Mona speak she thought about how different things might have been had she not escaped Texas. She was better off. Her baby was better off.

She hadn't expected the shadows of Texas to follow her.

She didn't see the familiar face blending in with the crowd.

Long gone were the days of the red coat that Alison had been chasing. Emily was getting too close to the truth.

Emily had her eyes peeled on her girlfriend, but someone else had their eyes peeled on Emily.

Alison and Emily smiled at one another as Mona closed out her speech. Her words resonated with the brunette.

"It's only just beginning." Mona looked out at the graduating class. "Tough times don't last. Tough people do."

Emily cheered along with everyone else when Mona finished.

Walking across the stage felt like a huge accomplishment. She'd wavered through a pregnancy, an old relationship, a new relationship, and an endless barrage of torture the past year. She felt pretty damn accomplished.

She felt different. She'd heard that growing up didn't happen all at once, but that it was subtle moments that ushered people into adulthood. She felt like she was getting there.

She reached for Alison's hand. Alison squeezed it gently.

They had done it. Together.

They'd come a long way, from a bitchy girl in an uptown world and a rebel with a cause to two thoughtful and mature women. They'd been forced to grow up, but they weren't bitter about it. They still had shades of their former personalities, but they'd grown a tremendous amount. Alison was less sharp. Emily was more open, and more understanding. They'd become a family unit that worked well.

When the ceremony was over they didn't notice one shuffling person in the crowd. A pair of angry eyes watched as they shared a kiss.

Emily was due any day. In fact, she was overdue. The baby had held on so her mother could graduate. But the baby didn't know her mother's dirty little secret. The infant growing inside of Emily didn't know about the day her mother had thought about getting rid of her.

Some people didn't appreciate what they were blessed with. Emily certainly didn't. She hadn't even wanted the baby in the first place.

Seeing her go into that devil place where babies went to die showed exactly what kind of mother she would be. Emily hadn't gone through with the abortion, but the fact that she had even considered it made her a vile person.

Emily had once told Alison about the experience, but she'd missed one major detail.

"I went to Planned Parenthood. I just wanted to talk to someone about my options. There was this group of people shouting at everyone who walked in, spitting on people. I got called a sinner and a killer and a whore and had fake blood slung on me. Just for going there to talk to someone. It was really fucked up."

Emily hadn't seen through the crowd of angry protesters that day, just like she wasn't seeing through the crowd now.

The deep anger and resentment only grew. A seething look. An impulse to scream at her. To hit her. To hold her down and punish her.

Emily had no idea how many women she insulted just by visiting that place. She had no idea what she would be giving up.

No, Emily didn't deserve her child.

The ironic thing is that Emily had almost lost her baby during the scare that put her on bed rest. It was poetic in a way. She'd been so helpless on the bathroom floor that day, writhing in her own blood.

It could have served as justice, but it was more complicated in the end. Emily was broken. She would have gotten what she deserved. But the baby didn't deserve it.

There would be no satisfaction in seeing Emily die, seeing her child die. Losing the baby would have changed Emily. That's what it did to women. It twisted them into strange versions of themselves. Mothers suffering the loss of their children were altered forever. Emily would have been no different.

Yet, that's what Emily had wanted to do back at the clinic.

It was confusing. And infuriating.

The chants about infanticide and murder slowly transitioned into cheers of support and encouragement for the graduating class.

It was sickening.

The voices were getting louder. The crowd was starting to close in on the graduates.

Getting out would be easy. Coming had been a risk, but the day of the birth was getting closer. It called for a watchful eye.

Everyone was looking at their loved ones. No one was looking at the one person trying to slither out unnoticed.

Irritation clawed its way to the surface every time someone got too close. One excited college frat bro got so close that they rammed shoulders.

"I'm so sorry." Frat bro offered an immediate apology. "I got a little carried away. It's not every day that your little sister graduates high school."

He had Alison's eyes. Of course he did. Siblings were supposed to look alike. It was unnerving to share DNA with someone.

Of all the people to run into, it had to be her stupid older brother. He was a buffoon. Quick to turn on the charm, but never one to take responsibility for his actions.

Jason DiLaurentis moved along without another word.

He might have noticed the resemblance had it not been for the wig and colored contacts. Being a chameleon among humans was easy with the right tools.

The change of appearance worked wonders in the crowd, just like it had the night at the bar with Alison. The blonde had been such easy prey that night. She was a total lush.

As expected, Emily had come running to her rescue that night. She always did. The brunette had a real hero complex. She loved being the knight in shining armor.

It was fun to watch the aftermath on video. In fact it had become somewhat of an obsession. Watching them had started out as part of something different. But there was something deeper. Something exciting.

The recording from that night had incriminated Wilden, along with all of his other videos damning him to his fate. He'd crossed the line in New York. He'd disobeyed direct orders. And he'd been punished appropriately.

The noise of the crowd became a low murmur as the familiarity of the shadows engulfed the surrounding area.

Emily was due any minute now. That brought up an interesting deliberation. The results were going to be polarizing. Things were fracturing…falling apart.

The thing about sleuthing in the dark was the fact that often the darkness had hidden dangers of its own.

There were things that even monsters feared.

There were things at play that were going to collide in a cataclysmic way. Because when darkness met dangerous no one was safe, least of all an innocent child who couldn't protect herself, a child who would be coming into the world very soon.

o ~ O ~ o

The first contraction Emily felt was at 2:12 in the morning. It was two days after graduation. The pain was similar to what she'd experienced the night of prom, but not nearly as intense. It scared her at first. She had woken up out of a dead sleep to the sharp sensation. All she could think about was what had happened the last time she'd had contractions…how close she'd come to losing her.

The first thing she did was call her doctor, who told her that as long as there was no bleeding and if she was feeling okay she just needed to relax at home. It was recommended that she wait until the contractions were close enough together to warrant coming in, otherwise they'd just send her home to wait it out.

She stared at her parent's bedroom door, trying to decide if she wanted to wake them up. After a few seconds she decided to wait. She knew that once she woke them up they weren't going to sleep again until after the baby was born, and she wanted them well-rested.

She wanted to call Alison, but she didn't want to wake her so early, especially since she knew it wasn't time to go to the hospital yet. She had hours to go.

She quietly walked downstairs and paced the floor, trying to take her mind off of the awful cramping.

The house was strangely quiet. There was something comforting about it. It gave her the opportunity to be alone with her baby. There was a sense of serenity in having that time, just mother and baby. She knew she was mere hours away from holding her for the first time. That helped eclipse the pain.

Thoughts flooded her mind. She could see her future. She could see holding her newborn in her arms. She could see her smiling for the first time. Giggling. Saying her first word. Taking her first steps. In a flash, she watched the story of her life unfolding. In days. Weeks. Months. Years.

The connection to her daughter was just beginning. They were starting a new life together. It was the moment everything changed. It was a powerful moment between the two of them. She could feel her heart growing for her.

The contractions started off intermittently. They would start and stop. She'd get through one bout, wait nearly thirty minutes and then another would start.

She counted the timing of them, just like her doctor told her to do. She sat down on the couch and put her hand against her stomach.

She had the urge to sing. That's what Alison would be doing. She'd be singing to calm the baby down. So she started humming quietly through her pain. She tried to focus on her breathing. Her hands were trembling against either side of her stomach.

She scooted to the edge of the couch to ride out the contraction, spreading her legs and lowering the top half of her body, letting her stomach drop between her legs. She gripped her knees tightly. She groaned and took several quick breaths. She clenched down on her jaw and let it pass before sitting up. She let out a heavy breath.

Her heart hammered wildly against her chest. She could feel each beat, and with each thump she counted down the seconds until she would be able to meet her daughter. Perspiration was leaving trails all along her body. Beads of sweat were dripping down her forehead. The slick mess slowly turned tepid against her skin.

She stepped outside on to her front porch to get some cool air. While she was walking the length of her porch she called the on-call nurse to make sure she was doing everything right. The nurse kindly calmed her fears.

It was too dark out for her to see the black sedan down the street.

It was too dark for her to know she was being watched.

When she walked back inside she settled on the couch again. She touched her belly and let out a breath.

"I feel you in there practicing your kickboxing, baby, but I'm going to need you to settle down. This is going to be a long day. Let's try to do this whole thing nice and smooth. I want you to feel safe and loved." She rubbed her stomach. "I can't wait to see your little face. I want you to know how much I love you."

She scrolled through her mp3 player that Alison had filled with music and packed in her 'Hospital Bag Prep kit". Music had been Alison's suggestion. She thought it would offer a good focal point for when she was in labor.

Emily picked a song that had meaning to her, hoping that one day it would have meaning to her child, too.

Her mom had always been into blues. Ella Fitzgerald. Pam had sang Emily to sleep multiple times with the ballad "Always".

The instrumental version of the song came through the speakers of the little media player and the tune came flying back into her memory.

"I'll be loving you always…" She lowered her face and softly crooned to her baby, "With a love that's true…always." She kissed the top of her bulging belly. "When the things you've planned need a helping hand I will understand, always."

She felt another cramp coming on. She took a moment to breathe through it. She laid back and took several shallow breaths before continuing,

"Days may not be fair, always. That's when I'll be there. Always. Not for just an hour, not for just a day, not for just a year. But always." She caressed her stomach delicately.

She laid on the living room couch for the next hour. She looked through pictures of Alison and pictures of the two of them together. It served as another focal point for her.

The contractions started getting closer together and more intense, which meant she had to force herself to concentrate.

The discomfort in her back was growing stronger. The pulsing sensations were so tight that she let out a strangled cry.

She had to get up and move again. Even though she had been looking at the time consistently to track her contractions she had lost track of the time.

At 4 am her mother walked into the living room, dazed and rubbing sleep from her tired eyes. She pressed her fingers against her silky nightgown.

Within seconds she knew exactly what was going on. She could see the twisted flicker of pain on Emily's face.

She rushed over to her, touching her face and wiping away the sweat that had accumulated on her skin.

"Baby, why didn't you wake me up?" She cupped her cheek.

Emily didn't know how to explain that she'd wanted the first moments alone with her daughter. She didn't even understand the urge herself. She just needed some time to be alone with her.

"My water hasn't even broken yet. I talked to a nurse." Emily put her hand against her stomach.

"How far apart are the contractions?" Pam reached down and rubbed circles against her back.

She remembered what it felt like to be in labor. There were stories that made women believe that they forgot the pain of childbirth after they met their baby. The stories weren't true. She remembered every second of it.

"Fifteen minutes. They said to come in to the hospital when they're five minutes apart and lasting more than a minute."

"How long have you been up?" Her mother was oozing with concern.

"Since around 2." Emily felt a familiar tension in her stomach.

Pam saw her face and grabbed her hand. She threaded her fingers through Emily's hair as she gently squeezed her fingers.

"Breathe through it." She coached her.

Emily nodded. She squeezed her mom's hand so hard that her knuckles popped. She took several quick breaths. She groaned under her breath. It was painful, but in a way it was a pain that was worthwhile.

Once the wave of pain was over she leaned back and loosened her grip on her mom's hand.

"You're doing great, honey."

Emily appreciated her encouragement, but she knew the labor was just beginning.

"What did it feel like when you held me for the first time?" She turned to face her mom.

She needed something to get her through the pain. She needed to hold on to a glimpse of the beauty. She needed a preview of her future to get her through it.

She saw a smile wash across her mom's face. Her eyes danced with an affection that was reserved only for her child. When her mother looked at her, Emily could tell she was looking at her just like she'd looked at her the moment she was placed in her arms.

"It was the single best moment of my life. It was like you were my reason for living." There was a glint in her eye that looked suspiciously like a tear. "My heart was yours, and you were mine. I looked at you and knew that I would to anything in the world for you." She brushed her fingers against Emily's arm.

It was just the incentive that Emily needed to hear to motivate her. She smiled at her mom.

The moment was interrupted by a thumping noise upstairs. They heard heavy footsteps rustling around. Her father was many things, but he was not light on his feet when he was groggy.

Minutes later he was thudding down the hallway. He made his way into the living room wearing sweatpants and tightly-fitted white T-shirt.

"What's going on down here? Midnight ice cream cravings?" He let out a loud exaggerated noise as he yawned widely.

"Our grandbaby has decided to grace us with her presence." Pam peered over her shoulder at her husband.

He nearly tripped over his feet to get to his daughter's side. He was immediately asking what he could do, how he could help, how bad the pain was. He was a very tough man, but when it came to his little girl he would always be a softie.

Usually, her father was the resounding calm in the storm, but he puttered around the house nervously trying to get everything together to go to the hospital.

It was her mother who offered the composure and comfort that she needed. She patiently sat with her as the contractions slowly started to get worse.

Two hours later Emily knew it was time to call Alison. She walked outside on to her front porch to get some fresh air. She hit Alison's number on her speed dial.

When Alison's phone went off it startled her awake. She hadn't been sleeping well. She'd been tossing and turning all night. Little did she know that Emily had been awake, too. Even though she didn't know Emily was in labor, it's almost as if she could subconsciously feel it.

Alison fumbled around in the dark. The only light she could see was the screen of her phone. It was blinding. She reached for it and answered.

"Emily?" She didn't even look at the caller ID. She just knew.

The line was quiet at first. Emily had just gotten through a rough contraction. Hearing Alison's voice helped.

"Hey." Her tone was soft, tired. "Guess who has decided to make her stage debut?"

"What? Oh my God." Okay, stay calm. She tried to convince herself not to freak out, but she was already leaping out of bed and rushing to her closet so she could change out of her pajamas. "Are you okay? Did your water break? How bad are the contractions? You're not at the hospital without me, are you?"

Emily could hear the frantic panic in her tone.

"Alison, take a breath." Emily chuckled.

"You're so calm. How are you so calm?" Alison ripped an outfit from a hanger in her closet.

"I've had a lot of time to think." Emily exhaled a breath into the phone. Her contractions had been pretty consistent, so she knew that she had about seven and a half minutes to get Alison calm before her next one came on. "The contractions started at 2 this morning, but they're not close enough together to go to the hospital just yet. I've been hanging out with my mom and dad…"

"You've been in labor for five hours and you didn't call me?" Alison nagged angrily as she pulled her nightshirt off.

"It's not like there was anything anyone could do. My water still hasn't broken. My contractions are about nine minutes apart. The way it's been going we're probably going to leave for the hospital in about an hour." Emily replied.

"I'll be over in five minutes." Alison swiped on some deodorant. "Do you need anything?"

"A chili cheese dog and a side of fries."

There was a beat of silence. Alison stopped rushing around her room.

"What – wait, really?"

"No." Emily laughed. "I just need you."

"If I'm not there in thirty seconds or less the delivery girl is free." Alison pulled her shirt over her head.

Her response got a laugh out of Emily.

After they hung up she pulled on a pair of pants and grabbed her bookbag and stuffed it with a few things she knew she'd need. Her cell phone charger. Her Ipad. A few books on the birthing process. A change of clothes.

Across the street Emily was walking the length of the porch. She glanced at Alison's house then walked back inside.

She still didn't see the black sedan parked in the darkness.

Her mother was waiting with a hot water bottle. She waved for Emily to join her on the couch.

"This helped with my contractions." She laid the warm compress against her back.

"Thanks." Emily smiled, putting her phone down on the arm of the couch next to her. "Where's dad?"

"He's making some soup." She had a look of bemusement on her face. "He doesn't know what else to do. He didn't when I was in labor with you." She shook her head with a quiet laugh. "The man has seen action overseas, but uteruses scare him." They both laughed. "Did you get ahold of Alison?"

"She's on her way over." Emily swallowed a nervous ball of tension in her throat. Part of it was all the back and forth of the labor. The other part of it was anxiety.

"I assume she'll be riding to the hospital with us?"

"Yeah." Emily replied quietly. She shifted the hot water bottle to the front of her body to help soothe some of the pain. Her eyes slowly sought out her mother's eyes. "Mom, I really love her."

"I know." Her mom rubbed her arm.

"When…" Why was it that parents still made their grown children feel like little kids again? "…when it comes time for me to go back in the delivery room they only want one person…" She hadn't even thought to tell her parents that she'd asked Alison to be that one person.

Her mom kissed her forehead.

"I know you want Alison there with you." She smiled. "I understand."

They shared a quiet exchange. Emily couldn't believe just how far they had come since Texas.

A building pressure mounted in her pelvis. She gripped her mom's hand and gritted her teeth and readied herself for the next wave of pain.

The roaring pain in her stomach was so intense that she moved to stand up. It was as if her brain was telling her to run from it, but she knew it wasn't possible.

"Just remember your breathing." Her mother scrambled to her feet after her.

Emily nodded. She walked the length of the couch twice before she felt it hit her. When the pressure intensified she gripped the back of the couch and leaned forward. She felt her mom's hands against her lower back, rubbing, trying to alleviate the pain.

She was in the midst of the contraction when there was a frantic knock at the front door. Emily was surprised Alison didn't just burst through it to get to her.

Wayne's hearty footsteps padded through the foyer. Emily heard the door open and she heard a quick exchange between Alison and her dad.

Emily felt the pain receding. She let out a breath she'd been holding and straightened her back. She turned around just as Alison was rushing into the living room. She was wearing one of Emily's long sleeved shirts and a pair of sweatpants. She had a bag that she'd packed for both of them. She dropped it near the edge of the entryway.

"Hey." Emily said through several deep breaths. She looked weary, but she had a smile on her face.

Alison wasn't surprised to see her smile. They had both been looking forward to meeting the little girl for months.

Her face was a deep shade of cherry. Her eyes were watery from all the straining and shallow breathing.

"How are you doing?" Alison quickly moved towards her.

"Oh, you know…a little tickle in my throat. And a very large child about to come out of my body. So…normal day." Emily forced out an exhausted smile.

Alison danced on her feet nervously, her eyes darting between Emily and her mother. She had gotten increasingly more self-conscious around Emily's parents.

"I'll go ahead and put your bag in the car." Pam offered. She knew that Emily wanted some time with Alison. And she had to make sure that Emily was all packed as well. "Em, is your bag ready?"

"In the floor of my closet." Emily nodded, moving in front of the couch to sit down.

Alison sank into the cushion next to her. They listened to Pam's footsteps softly treading out of the room.

Emily turned towards Alison, exhaling a breath. The blonde looked frazzled. Emily knew she would never admit it, but she was scared.

"You look worried." Emily reached for her hand.

"You look so tired." Alison frowned, reaching up to touch Emily's face. She knew the brunette had a long way to go.

It was hard for her to see Emily so worn down. She was one of the strongest people she knew. She seldom saw her struggling.

It made her feel helpless that she couldn't do anything to ease her suffering. She knew the pain that Emily was feeling was going to result in a labor of love, but it was still difficult to see her brave motorcycle mama in pain. The last time she had seen her so drained had been prom night, which brought back memories of sheer terror.

"I tried to get some sleep, but I'm too wired. I don't want to tire myself out. Everything I've read says I need to save my energy." Emily leaned her head back, resting it against the back of the couch.

"Are you okay? Does it hurt right now?" Alison asked, delicately reaching out to touch her stomach, but stopping at the last minute, afraid she might make the pain worse.

Emily turned her cheek, scanning the apprehension on Alison's face.

"It comes and goes." She smiled softly at Alison. She moved Alison's hand to her stomach, letting her know it was okay to touch her. "Don't worry. This is a good thing. She's worth every second of it."

She knew she wouldn't be saying that when active labor started, but she was trying to focus on the positive.

"What do you need me to do?" Alison scooched closer and reached for her hand.

"I told you...I only need you." She threaded her warm fingers through Alison's. "Just be here with me."

"I can do that." Alison nodded confidently.

After several minutes Emily felt the familiar pressure building again. She squeezed Alison's hand and told her she felt it coming.

Alison had no idea what to expect. The first contraction she witnessed was brutal. She hated it. She hated that Emily was in agony. But the brunette sucked it up and powered through it, just like she did with everything else in life.

Alison sat with her for the next hour, alternating between quietly encouraging her and softly talking to the baby, pleading with the little girl to make it easy on her mom.

After a while Alison could tell when Emily was getting ready to have a contraction. She could see her entire body tensing, bracing for it. Emily didn't say anything as it was happening, but that didn't stop Alison from squeezing her hand every single time.

They timed the contractions and when they got closer together they piled into the car to go to the hospital.

They were all focused on Emily.

No one saw the black sedan pulling out behind them.


A/N: From baby shower to "Oh, baby!"

I quite enjoyed writing the sentimental saps being soft. They have all come full circle their senior year, complete with graduation. They're chugging along quite nicely. Let's just hope that the wheels aren't ripped off and they don't crash into a fiery pit of doom. What kind of writer would EVER do that to these smol beans?

*readers hold up mirror to me and glare*

Oh. Right. Heh.

See you next year with the next part of my long-winded drama.