Infatuation

by Forever without him

Doctor Alison DiLaurentis is sharp, a charming seductress. She is also a killer. Behind her eyes there is a darkness. Beneath her smile there are untold secrets. She thought she had everything figured out. But then Detective Emily Fields came into her life. Emily is hunting Rosewood's most notorious serial killer. She never expected to fall in love with her. DARK AU. M

20. Heart Skips A Beat

A/N: Surprise! Early update! This one comes on the heels of Chapter 19, which I posted mere days ago. So go back read to be sure you didn't miss it. There's some hella important stuff in it.

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Chapter 20:

Heart Skips A Beat

The full moon on the horizon had a strangely gorgeous yellowish brown glow to it. Emily's hands tightened around the steering wheel, though she couldn't pinpoint why she suddenly felt anxious. She'd been planning it all week, so why was she so nervous?

She glanced skyward, blaming it on the moon. There always seemed to be an increase in crime when the moon was full. Many blamed it on lunar activity, something about gravitational forces affecting neurons in the brain.

Emily thought it was simply because the moon offered criminals more light to scurry about and commit their crimes. Unlike in the daytime, the night of a full moon offered darkness and shadows…places to hide to avoid being caught.

The house was dark when Emily pulled up the driveway. She'd been expecting for Alison to be waiting eagerly on the porch, but she didn't see her.

She shut the car off and walked towards the front door. To her surprise, she found it unlocked and open a crack. She gripped the keys in her hand and glanced from side to side, checking the yard.

A soft wind blew a gentle breeze through the leaves in the trees.

She realized it was the only sound she heard.

Not only was the house dark.

It was quiet.

Too quiet.

"Alison?" She slowly opened the door.

She mindlessly reached for her gun only to remember a split second later that it wasn't there.

Stupid fucking dress.

She could have gone back to her car to grab her handgun, but her instincts propelled her forward into the house instead.

She reached to turn on the light, but stopped herself. If something was wrong she wanted the element of surprise on her side.

She listened carefully, but didn't hear the sounds of a struggle. She didn't hear anything except for something that sounded like running water upstairs. She turned towards the noise, hoping that she'd simply just caught Alison while she was in the shower.

She was halfway up the steps when she heard a noise in the kitchen.

Great. The one place in the house where there are sharp instruments of destruction. I should have gone back for my gun.

She tiptoed back down the stairs just in time to hear the back door creep open and then close. She saw a shadow moving in the darkness and then a light switched on.

Emily psyched herself up to run in and bowl the intruder over with a heavy body check, though doing it in a dress was going to be a bit tricky. She looked around for something to use as a weapon. There was an umbrella by the front door, but by the time she reached it the person sleuthing around would have had a chance to grab a butcher knife and a cleaver.

There was the sound of a key sliding into a deadbolt and locking it.

The pipes started to swish with more running water when the kitchen sink was turned on.

Emily caught a glimpse of a bloody hand in the reflection of the stove and her adrenaline started pumping. Fight or flight kicked in and she was ready to fight. She surged forward.

"Emily?"

Emily breathed a sigh of relief when she heard the blonde calling her name.

"I saw your car out front. I'm almost ready!"

Emily rounded the corner and saw a very confused blonde staring back at her.

She was in her fancy red dress, but instead of heels she was wearing a pair of dirty sneakers.

Bloody water circled down the drain. Emily eyed the bright red substance, her heart lurching in alarm.

Alison dried her hands off and then slipped her dirty shoes off on the door mat.

"Alison." Emily took several strides towards her. "You scared the hell out of me. I thought something had happened to you."

"I'm sorry, babe." She put her hands against Emily's collar bone and pecked her lips.

"What's with the blood?" Emily's eyes darted to the sink. "And why was the front door open?" She scowled. There was a murderer out there killing people who looked like the blonde. She didn't like the lax security.

"The neighbor's dog got out. She was pounding on the door, super frantic about it. We must not have shut it before we ran out back. We caught him near the woods. He had a cut on his little foot that needed to be treated." She threaded her newly scrubbed clean fingers through Emily's hair. "I didn't mean to scare you. I've only been gone a few minutes. I thought I'd be right back."

Emily smiled softly.

"Sorry. I didn't mean to be snippy. I've just been a little on edge." She touched Alison's wrist.

The running water upstairs cut off abruptly. Emily realized it had been the toilet tank refilling, which meant that Alison really only had been gone for a minute or two.

"Totally understandable." Alison gently pulled Emily's fingers towards her mouth, pressing her lips against her knuckles. "How about I finish getting ready and we paint this town red?"

For once, not red with blood.

"Sounds good to me." Emily chuckled.

The detective walked through the house to make sure no one had slipped inside while Alison was out. Alison walked with her, admiring her dedication. The blonde could certainly take care of herself, but she liked that Emily went the extra mile for her.

It only took Alison ten minutes to top off her look. She had to freshen her hair up and change into a pair of matching shoes. She touched up her make-up and then they were out the door.

The neighbor across the street waved from her front porch swing. A small shaggy dog with a bright pink bandage around his foot sat in her lap. Alison and Emily waved back.

I think I've been domesticated, Alison thought to herself as Emily opened her car door for her.

But maybe domestication wasn't that bad, especially not if she got to be domestic with the woman she loved.

Emily seemed a bit more relaxed than she had when she dropped off the dress, but there was still something lurking beneath the surface. Alison wanted to push her to open up about it, but she knew Emily would tell her when she wanted to talk.

The blonde stared out the passenger's seat of Emily's car. She had no idea where they were going. Normally she hated letting go of control, but there was excitement in the air.

She looked over at the brunette in the driver's seat. She looked drop-dead gorgeous in royal blue, just like Alison knew she would.

The doctor tried not to focus on the teenager she'd lost on the operating table earlier in the week. She tried not to think about the fact that someone was out there impersonating her…stealing her identity…her signature. She tried to push away the thoughts she was having about strapping her killing twin down on a table and carving an A into their cheek.

The only thing that gave her solace was that she was close to finishing her cycle with the baby killer, Sara Harvey. In a few days the blonde bitch would be begging for her life, something Alison wouldn't grant.

She glanced at Emily.

"You still haven't told me where we're going." Alison's eyes darted from Emily to the window. She took note of every single establishment they drove by, wondering at each one if it was the destination.

"Of course not. That would ruin the surprise." Emily waggled her brows.

Alison loved it when she did that. She was so fun. So carefree.

Emily pulled into a strip mall parking lot. Alison wasn't familiar with it. There was a hot wings joint next to a liquor store.

Neither fit for two women dressed like they're going to an adult prom.

A beauty salon that had all its lights out.

Closed.

A coffee shop.

Hardly a tourist destination for tonight.

A small gym.

No working out in these dresses.

Near the end of it there was a large occupied space. A neon sign above the door said Vandermarin Studios in bold calligraphy. No indication of what kind of studio. Photography? Video?

Ohh, are we making a sex tape?

That would be a trip. Watching herself plow into Emily. Watching Emily's tongue dance against her.

She had to fight the urge to pull her phone out and Google the studio. She hastily pushed open her door in anticipation. Emily walked around the car to meet her. She reached for her hand, which Alison gladly accepted after curling her arm into Emily's.

They walked towards the studio. Emily had a peppy bounce in her step. Alison quite liked it. She liked it when Emily was happy.

The first thing Alison noticed when they walked into the building was that it was much larger on the inside than it appeared outside. The beautifully refinished hardwood floors shone in the bright sparkly lights hanging down from the ceiling. The wall was covered in mirrors, which reflected the light even further. There was a purple haze coming from lamps glowing from the tops of the mirrors.

The place was empty. Their shoes clacked against the ground, echoing in the large open space. Alison caught a glimpse of Emily's reflection as she swiveled her head from side to side. Her dark hair swished across her shoulders. She'd gotten it crimped just right...in waves that Alison could get lost in for days.

Emily didn't see Alison staring at her.

She was looking for someone.

"Hello?" Emily called out, her voice echoing in the silence.

Concern was etched all over her face in little worry-lines on her brow.

"Something wrong?" Alison snaked her fingers down over her shoulder and against her spine.

"A friend of mine is supposed to be here." Emily looked at the little bell on the front desk. She tapped her finger against it, but nothing happened.

"Sign says closed…" Alison pointed towards a sign hanging on the door.

"Not for us." Emily flashed her a smile, though her worry-lines were still visible.

"Oh, are we going on some big trespassing adventure, Officer?" Alison winked.

"Supposed to be something like that." Emily shrugged. "Hello?" She called again.

Still no answer.

"Hang here for just a second. I'll be right back." Emily walked towards the back room.

"Uh, are you sure? This rom-com could turn into a horror movie at any moment…" Alison didn't like the idea of Emily traipsing off on her own, especially given there was a killer who had an interest in them cruising around town.

"I'll just be a second." She reached for the door and cracked it open.

Alison waited impatiently as Emily disappeared into the room, but she didn't have to wait long. Emily reemerged less than twenty seconds later.

"I don't see her." Emily shut the door and looked around the building for signs of life.

"Maybe your friend got the time mixed up or something?" Alison guessed.

"No…" Emily shook her head.

She couldn't tell Alison what she'd been doing the last few weeks yet, but she knew that Hanna wouldn't bail on her.

Emily pulled her cell phone out of her cleavage.

Strange thing to be turned on by, yet here we are… Alison watched Emily dig around and readjust her boobs.

The brunette dialed a number and seconds later a ringing sound came from the front desk. Emily walked over and picked up Hanna's cell phone. It wasn't like the blonde to leave her phone unattended, especially not since she had kids.

Emily hated to bother Caleb, but she was starting to get worried. She shot him a text, hoping he was near his phone,

Hey Caleb, it's Emily. Have you heard from Hanna lately?

After a few seconds she saw three little bubbles pop up on the screen, followed by a message.

Not for a couple of hours. She dropped the boys off with her mother this afternoon since I'm out of town for the night and she's working late. Why? Is everything okay?

Yeah. All good.

But she wasn't sure that it was. She wasn't sure if she was constantly thinking the worst because the worst was constantly happening or if she was just being paranoid, like she'd been at Alison's place earlier.

She was getting ready to suggest that they drive to Hanna's place a few miles away, but was interrupted by a noise.

A side door opened and someone came shuffling inside carrying a stack of boxes.

All Alison saw was a long pair of legs moving towards the far end of the studio. It was a woman in leopard print leotards with a perky ass. She leaned over behind a large desk and dropped the boxes, ass pert and in the air.

Emily breathed a sigh of relief. She cleared her throat.

The noise echoed in the room, which caught the attention of the girl in the leopard print pants. She shot up, blonde hair falling over her back in waves. She spun around. Her face lit up in delight.

"Hey, Han." Emily cracked a smile at the blonde. Affection radiated off of the brunette's face.

Her greeting was warm.

Too warm.

Who the fuck is this bitch? Alison's eyes narrowed.

"Long time no see, Em." Leopard Girl winked, like they were in on a little secret.

I'm going to scoop her eyes out of her stupid pumpkin head and turn her into a human jack-o-lantern.

"Funny." Emily rolled her eyes.

Is this one of her old fuckbuddies? Alison glared at the two of them bantering.

Hanna's body molded against Emily's as Emily wrapped her arms around the little blonde for a hug.

Alison hated the way this 'Han' girl embraced her girlfriend. She hated seeing her grasp Emily's head and kiss both her cheeks like they were in fucking Italy.

I will rip your intestines out of you and strangle you with them.

Alison smiled and waved at the girl. She saw the closeness of their bodies and had to suppress a scream.

Emily thinks THIS is romance?

Unless…

Her thoughts started reeling.

Holy shit…is she into threesomes?

The idea of some stranger getting naked with them both angered and intimidated her.

I am not letting this cat print spotted mid-life mom-bod anywhere NEAR my woman's body…

Hanna was playing with Emily's hair, and Alison envisioned slicing her fingers off one by one.

Get your fucking hands off of my girl.

"I remember when you went through your punk phase." Hanna laughed. "Electric blue streaks to piss your mom off."

Hmm, not an old fuckbuddy.

Fuckbuddies rarely cared about personal investments in each other's lives. Still, they seemed close, and Alison didn't like that.

Emily wrapped an arm around Alison and pulled her close and Alison couldn't help but smile smugly.

My woman. She's MINE.

"Hanna, this is my girlfriend, Doctor Alison DiLaurentis."

Some of Alison's abrasiveness faded.

She used my full title. She's proud of me.

Her smiled widened into a beam.

"Pleased to meet you." Alison extended her hand. Who the hell are you and why are you so comfortable putting your slutty hands on my girlfriend?

Hanna shoved her hand aside and embraced her in a hug.

Okay. No concept of personal space.

Alison's body went stiff, but if Hanna noticed she didn't give any indication of it.

"It's about damn time we met." Hanna pulled the same kisses on the cheek move that she'd pulled with Emily, but they were air kisses. "Emily has told me so much about you."

Really? She's told me NOTHING about you.

"She's been coming to me for weeks."

She WHAT?

Alison gave Emily the look,

What. The. Fuck?

Emily opened her mouth, but couldn't get a word in edgewise.

"We've known each other for years. We go way back." Hanna pushed Emily playfully.

Then why am I just hearing about you?

Emily turned to Alison, as if reading her mind.

"We were best friends in middle school and high school. Remember I told you how my high school friends and I were trespassing at a water park and had to run from the cops?"

"Oh God, you told her that story?" Hanna buried her face in her hands. She had a flair for the dramatic.

Emily smiled at the woman in the leotard.

Ironically, like a leopard, Alison wanted to shred this Hanna to pieces for touching what belonged to her.

"Hanna got an offer from Julliard her senior year." Emily wore a look of pride on her face for her friend.

"So, what brings you back from the fabulous city life in New York?" And can I make you go back there? Alison didn't like competing for Emily's attention.

"My husband was offered a tech job here." When Hanna mentioned her husband Alison relaxed.

I need to slow my roll.

Jealous Alison is not a good look.

Emily loves me. I can't screw that up.

Emily was the one good thing she had going for herself. Maybe the one thing that could help her transition into a normal life.

"The pay was too good to turn down." Hanna blathered on. God the girl could talk. "I'd been talking about opening my own studio to teach, and a really good friend of mine who lives in town was looking for a good business venture. She's sharp and savvy and everything I'm not in the business world."

Hanna moved her arms around, limbering herself up. Exercising on the go.

"Vandermarin Studios." Alison read the bright blinking lights. "Interesting name."

"My bestie's last name is Vanderwaal." Hanna leaned over, stretching her arm down across her leg.

Alison arched an eyebrow at the name bestie. She sounded like a twelve-year-old.

Stop judging.

She tried to shake off her jealousy. She tried to stop the obsessive thoughts.

"And Marin?" Alison extended the conversation with a friendly question.

"My maiden name." Hanna stood up again. "It was my friend's idea. Like I said, she's super savvy."

"How is Mona doing these days?" Emily questioned. She'd clearly been so busy with work she hadn't kept up with her high school friends. "Another high school friend." She faced Alison, filling her in.

"She stays really busy. She's in New York this week working with this high end client who wants to open a hipster shop in the city."

"As if there isn't enough hipster gear in the city." Alison chuckled politely.

"Isn't New York just fabulous?" Hanna said it with all the enthusiasm that wonderlusters said it, like it was the most magical place in the world and not just another dime-a-dozen crime-riddled city that smelled like piss and shit. "We moved about two years ago. I still miss it. But…" Hanna reached out towards Emily's face, "…it means I get to see this pretty face more often." She grabbed Emily's chin and moved her face side to side like she was a child being pampered by her grandmother.

Emily batted her hands away with a laugh.

"How are Caleb and the boys? Is Aidan still behaving?" Emily questioned.

"Oh, God. They're all driving me crazy. My house is filled with testosterone. Even the dog is a boy." Hanna explained to Alison. "I have so much to fill you in on. We should get together one day. Do dinner."

Alison couldn't think of anything she'd like to do less. She hated small talk. She found it really hard to talk about trivial little things. Of course, she could work her charm, but it was exhausting to have to constantly wear a mask.

"Sounds great." It was painful for Alison to grin. "Emily?"

"Sure. I would love that. You're going to love her boys."

"Aidan and Liam." Hanna reached for her phone to pull up pictures.

Why the hell do people think everyone wants to see pictures of their crotch-fruit?

Alison was starting to get cranky. She had been expecting a romantic night with Emily. She hadn't expected another woman to get between them.

I am so not in the mood to be in a harem.

"Aidan starts kindergarten this fall. And Liam is a walking talking machine of destruction."

Kind of like his mother…

She tried to picture the woman as a mother. She seemed so free-spirited and…covered in spandex. She didn't seem like a mom. Then again Alison didn't seem like a serial killer.

Looks were deceiving.

"I still can't get over how adorable they are." Emily's smile lit up the room. She turned the phone so Alison could see.

Alison was ready to pretend to gush about Hanna's adorable children, but when she saw the photo she didn't have to fake it. Two cute little boys with beaming smiles were staring back at her.

The blonde had never wanted kids. She was so sure she'd fuck them up...or that the world would fuck them up. But she couldn't deny that she liked them. She knew she'd never be able to have a normal life with children, but that didn't mean she couldn't appreciate them.

"They're precious." She had a soft spot for children. The toddler, especially, made her feel what most would consider warm and fuzzy. Babies were so innocent.

She had been innocent once.

As much fun as Alison was having rehashing Emily's high school days - not - she was starting to get impatient about what they were doing there.

Hanna and Emily both seemed to sense what was on Alison's mind.

"I suppose I've made you wait long enough." Emily wrapped her arm around the small curve of Alison's back.

"I'm down for anything." Alison tried to appear eager, but not overly eager.

Please do not ask me to jump in the sack and swap spit with this failed would-be cheerleader…

"Cool, so you told her about the threesome?" Hanna winked at Emily, a joke that Alison didn't know was a joke.

The blonde's body jerked. A stranger? Touching her?

She had to fight to control her breathing. She felt the strange sense of a panic attack closing in around her.

Hands on her body that she didn't want on her body…

"Is this okay?"

Alison felt her stomach curling in on itself.

"You'll feel better if you just relax."

Hanna hadn't meant to poke her in a soft spot, but that's exactly what she'd done. Hanna had no way of knowing about Wilden or about what he'd done to her. She didn't know about Alison's perverted family and the things they'd wanted to do to her.

"This time why don't you give her a little peck on the mouth?" All she could see was her mother holding that fucking camera.

Alison shuddered.

"She's teasing." Emily noticed the distress on her face. Her eyebrows did that thing where they formed a little "v" when she was worried about something. She lowered her voice. "You okay?"

Alison face was pale.

She plastered on a fake smile that she knew Emily would see through.

"The day is catching up with me." She curled her arm around Emily's and gripped her hand.

Her touch alone told Emily that something was up. But the brunette didn't want to call her out in front of Hanna. One thing she'd learned about Alison was that she was very private when it came to her life.

Emily brushed aside her hair and kissed her jaw, letting her lips linger next to her ear as she whispered,

"We can talk later." She pecked her cheek and tucked her hair behind the blonde's ear.

Alison gave her an appreciative smile.

"So, what kind of stress relief are you in the mood for?" Hanna clapped her hands together, a vision of excitement. "Ballroom? Tango? A little salsa?"

Dancing. Alison finally put it all together. Oh my God. DUH!

The lights. The mirrors. The studio.

"She's one of the best dance instructors I know." Emily smiled. "I've been taking lessons…"

"We're…dancing?" Alison's face lit up in delight. Real delight. She enjoyed dancing, but had never done it with a partner.

"Surprised?" Emily asked.

Relieved.

"Let's start with a saucy little number." Hanna walked over to the desk.

She walked behind it and started pressing buttons. A few seconds later the studio was alive with the sounds of upbeat salsa music.

"Alright, ladies," she emphasized the word with a high inflection, "…let's get started!"

She threw her arms above her head and popped her hips as she made her way over to them.

"She's peppy." Alison couldn't help but laugh.

"She's Hanna." Emily shrugged, as if this was how her friend behaved on any normal day.

Emily looked around the room, mirrors of their reflection staring back at them from the glass on the walls.

"Hmm, so many ladies to choose from." Emily tapped her index finger against her chin. "I wonder who I'm going to dance with." She slowly spun around and faced Alison with a handsome smirk on her face.

Alison laughed.

"You're awful." She shook her head with a smile. "Terrible, really."

Emily bowed her head and reached for her hand.

"May I have this dance, mi'lady?" She curtsied. She fucking curtsied.

Alison rolled her eyes at her ridiculous show, but she was completely flattered.

She chuckled and offered Emily her hand.

You are so getting my face between your legs tonight…

"Alison, have you ever salsa'd before?" Hanna was dancing around them.

"My aunt had me in dance classes when I was younger, but it's been a while. I don't remember much." Alison admitted.

"I know a few steps." Emily moved beside Alison as they both faced the mirror in front of them. "Like I said, I've been practicing."

"Oh, so you think you're going to lead, do you?" Alison lifted her brows teasingly.

Hanna talked them through the first identical steps they would be taking. First with the left foot, then back with the right foot.

"Very good." Hanna glanced at Emily. "Remember what we practiced though." She reached for her hips. "Put your hips into it."

Alison was torn between annoyance that Hanna was touching Emily and amusement because Emily certainly knew how to work her hips when they were in bed together.

"You want to put your whole body into it." Hanna turned her attention to Alison. "You're a natural, Doc."

Alison silently counted her blessings that Hanna didn't reach out to touch her. The only person she ever let touch her was Emily.

"One." Hanna counted with the beat of each of their steps, "Two. Three. Hold four." There was a pause, then, "Five. Six. Seven. Hold eight."

After a few minutes of practice they both had it down, so they faced one another.

"Who wants to lead?" Hanna questioned.

Emily knew that Alison had problems with letting go of control, so she bounced the question to her. She was surprised when Alison gave her the wheel.

"You can lead." She could see a soft humility in Emily's eyes as she answered.

The detective was honored at how much the doctor trusted her.

Their hands met near their midsection, their palms touching, fingers linking. Even though Alison was in heels she was still several inches shorter than the brunette. Emily moved her right arm out, gently guiding Alison to follow as their arms closed the gap between them.

The brunette took her other hand and slid her fingers out of Alison's. She slipped her palm underneath Alison's armpit until it was resting against the edge of her shoulder blade. Alison rested her arm on top of Emily's. Emily stepped forward with her left foot and Alison took a step back with her right.

She smiled at her as they started moving to the beat of the music. They started basic, but then Emily started moving her around the dance floor and they were moving side to side instead of front and back. Alison followed Emily's motions, her eyes locked on the brunette's the entire time.

She didn't look at her feet. She didn't look at their reflection. She didn't look at Hanna. She looked at Emily. She let the brunette guide her.

After a few minutes, Emily swung her around and pulled her close, their breasts heaving together as she tightened her hold on Alison's back. Alison locked her arm around Emily's shoulder.

Alison realized that Emily was going to dip her, so she let her left leg go loose and made sure her weight was on her right leg. She arched her back, curling into Emily.

Emily's lower body twisted, her pelvis hitting Alison's. Alison hissed under her breath. They danced the way they made love. Gentle hands. Soft passion. Unyielding heat. Bodies in motion. It took all of Alison's self-control not to push Emily up against one of the mirrored walls and hike her dress up.

She could just imagine seeing the look on the brunette's face being reflected all around the room as she came. Emily was beautiful when she orgasmed. The blonde had seen a lot of ugly orgasm faces over the years, but the brunette was open and wild and free and she just let it overcome her entire soul. It was magnificent.

Emily winked at Alison, like she knew exactly what was on her mind. Emily had her own thoughts of de-robing Alison. When their bodies connected in the most raw and primal manner the blonde looked like she had transcended. Emily was always mesmerized by the calm that washed over Alison when she let go.

Emily rubbed her pelvis against Alison's again and then moved her legs out to steady herself so she could dip Alison backwards.

Alison's hair whipped around behind her as she curled back into Emily's motions. She felt steady in her arms.

The world was upside down. Alison saw her hot pink cheeks in the mirror. Her head was hanging back and she had the widest smile on her face she'd ever seen. She didn't realize she was laughing, but that's what her doppelganger was doing.

She felt a rush of air around her and she was back in Emily's arms again and they were dancing and swaying and she was dizzy with euphoria.

Who knew that dancing was almost as incredible as sex?

They spun around the floor, switching styles as the music changed. Hanna talked them through some of it, but eventually they got the hang of it on their own.

Alison didn't see them exchange a look as Hanna disappeared into a private room, leaving them alone to dance to a slow number.

Hanna winked at Emily as she closed the door.

Emily pulled Alison close. Their sweaty bodies slowly started to cool as they swayed to the instrumental song.

"Are you enjoying yourself?" Emily kissed the top of her head. It was moist from her perspiration.

"This is more than I could have dreamed of." Alison hummed happily, pressing a kiss against Emily's exposed collar bone. She looked up at her. "I didn't mean to come off as curt to your friend. When she mentioned the threesome…" She peered into Emily's eyes. They were a rock. They steadied her.

"I'm so sorry. She doesn't exactly have a filter. We only have to talk about it if you want to. I just wanted to let you know that I could tell you weren't okay. And I'm here to listen." Emily slowly twirled her around.

Alison's dress floated up and then back down as she spun around. The blonde peered at her girlfriend. In her wildest dreams she never would have imagined she could ever let anyone get as close to her as the detective. In her wildest dreams she never would have been so lucky to feel as beautiful inside as she looked on the outside.

Her parents and her grandfather had ruined her sense of self when she was little. Alison didn't even know how to begin to tell Emily about her grandfather's sick club. She wasn't sure she could without implicating herself in the killings.

"I know Hanna was joking." Alison traced a heart-shaped pattern against Emily's arm. "But you know I've had bad experiences with people crossing boundaries."

"I know."

And Alison knew that Emily understood, because of what her ex-boyfriend had tried to do to her in the locker room.

Women in society had to face things every day that men rarely had to worry about. They lived a man's world, and sometimes it was hard to breathe in that world. Alison had unfortunately experienced that world at five years old...the first time her mother had dressed her up like a grown woman with make-up and her father had looked at her like some prize piece of meat that he could auction off.

As much as Jason had tried to protect her from it, it had happened. But that was only the beginning. Things had only gotten worse from there. And she unfortunately remembered everything about what happened when she was older.

"My parents were just the start." She bit her lip. "After…after everything they tried to do to me…"

Could she really do this? Could she tell Emily her darkest secrets? Of course, she'd have to change some details so Emily couldn't connect the murders back to her.

She'd been thinking a lot about Aria, and how brave she'd been telling her truth about the useless sack of shit that had preyed on her.

"I was taught to be so careful." Alison sighed. "My aunt never wanted anything to happen to me like what happened to me when I was a child. But you know, teenage hormones are weird, and you think you know what boundaries should be in place, but sometimes that line gets blurred."

"What do you mean?" Curious brown eyes were carefully studying her face.

"I lied to you before…the first night you stayed with me. About not remembering much about what happened when I was taken advantage of. I…I was drunk, but I do remember it. And something I didn't tell you is that it happened to me when I was in high school."

Middle school.

I was thirteen.

She had to age the story up a bit. She had to make her assault seem like it occurred after Wilden was already dead. It had to be vague with as little detail as possible.

"He was…" in college, but she changed it to, "…a college professor."

Emily's feet stopped moving. The look in her eyes was one of sheer devastation. And compassion. And love. How did she convey such depth without saying a word?

Maybe it was just that Alison had gotten that good at reading people, especially Emily.

"Who is he?" Her tone was calm, but beneath her exterior Alison could tell she was ready to roll up to this man's house and destroy him.

Already taken care of, my dear.

"I don't remember his name." She couldn't give any specific information, because Emily would damn sure look into it. "He was here on some retreat with a bunch of other professors. They do it like four times a year. I liked to watch the older crowd, wondering what I'd be like when I was their age."

A serial killer who saves lives on the side.

"I was really wasted."

He gave me beer.

He made me feel special.

"I just remember being so unsure." She remembered thinking, Did I want to do that? "It's like…he…he was doing things to me and making me feel like I wanted to do them. Like I was in charge, but I really wasn't. I never said no…"

Emily finally interrupted her with a huge gust of hot air,

"You shouldn't have had to, Ali. You were a child." Strong loving arms wrapped around her. "You couldn't consent to that."

"I know." Her voice was soft, and it made Emily's tense stance loosen a bit. "I've never told anyone the truth. And I want you to promise me you won't ever tell anyone what I'm about to tell you."

"All of your secrets are safe with me."

My girl. A steel trap.

Alison got the feeling that even if Emily was a prisoner of war being tortured to tell her secrets she wouldn't say a word.

"He got me pregnant." She watched as the color drained from Emily's face. Horror. Shock. Irrational anger. All things Alison had felt when she found out.

Thirteen and pregnant.

"I didn't have the baby, of course. I had an abortion. Took a cab out of the city. Went somewhere that no one knew me. I had a fake ID and everything. I was…ashamed. And scared."

"I could fucking kill this guy," Her reaction was strong. Alison knew it would be. She'd seen Emily's temper in the hospital after Tim Roland attacked her. Alison watched as the fire in her eyes turned tepid and calm. "I'm so sorry you went through that. You know it wasn't your fault, right? Please tell me you that you know that." Emily gripped Alison's hand.

The blonde was shaking. She didn't realize that she was trembling until Emily wrapped her up in her arms again.

"I know that now." I'm angry. I should cry. This should make me cry. Why can't I cry? She felt numb. It was hard to let it in. She was afraid if she let it in she would never be able to claw her way back from it. "But it shaped a part of me when I was younger. It made me distrustful. Fearful. I wasn't the nicest person to be around growing up." Alison laid her head against Emily's shoulder. "I was awful in school. I hung out with the mean girls. Never said anything when they bullied people. I pushed people away. I ignored them…"

Hurt them before they have the chance to hurt you.

She'd done it to protect others as much as she was protecting herself. She had been so wildly angry at Wilden.

Killing him had granted her some relief, but she still carried that anger with her. Part of it helped drive her killing instincts. She was afraid one day those instincts would drive her to do something that was out of her control. She was afraid that one day she'd hurt someone innocent. Sometimes her friends Riley and Naomi made her mad enough to strangle them. She was glad after they graduated and they all went their separate ways.

"I just wanted you to know…I wanted you to know that it wasn't anything you or Hanna said or did. It's my burden to bear…"

"I can help you shoulder it." Emily kissed her forehead. "I can carry some of your darkness if it lightens your load."

"You already are." Something about telling her felt freeing.

She nuzzled against her. She was completely content in her arms, smelling her aroma, feeling her skin.

Would you be willing to carry dead bodies if it lightened my load?

Probably.

But that wasn't nearly as important as the safe place Emily had given her to land. The emotional impact of her childhood was not easy to face. It's why she'd shut down at seven years old. It was going to take a lot of deprogramming for her to learn typical human behavior. She'd faked it for years. Maybe she could let it in for real if she tried.

Alison smiled sweetly at her kind detective. Saving her life was the best thing that had ever happened to her. She swept some of her dark messy hair aside and leaned in, pressing her lips against Emily's.

She really would shoulder my pain. She would carry it all if she could.

"I didn't mean to be a downer tonight. This is lovely." She murmured against her mouth.

"You're not." Emily rubbed her back. Having Alison open up to her was the point of dating. It was the point of love. "And yes, it really has been quite the night."

"I needed it so much. Thank you."

The brunette always knew what she needed. A detective who detected her every need.

The only thing she'd yet to detect was Alison's secret habit. And perhaps Alison wouldn't have to worry about that much longer. She'd been more preoccupied with Emily than killing lately. Perhaps Emily was her new addiction. But addictions could be good right? Exercise was a good addiction. Love seemed like a better addiction than murder.

Emily twirled her around as another slow song started. She pulled the blonde close, their sweaty bodies melding into one. Alison kissed her shoulder and then peered up at her girlfriend.

She hadn't forgotten that Emily had been jittery earlier. It wasn't just the date. They'd been on plenty of date nights, though none quite so fancy. Emily had promised to tell her what was on her mind, but all they'd done was dance and talk about her past.

It was the brunette's turn.

"So…I've shared." Alison slowly spun around again. "Do you want to tell me what's been bothering you?"

Emily's arms tightened around her with a little more pressure than Alison was expecting, meaning she'd hit a nerve.

"Right." To her credit, Emily didn't avoid it. She nodded. "It seems so stupid in comparison to what you've been through…"

"Nothing about what you feel is stupid." Alison stroked Emily's cheek with her knuckles.

The paradox of the words were not lost on the blonde. She knew how ironic it was for her, of all people, to talk about feelings.

"I don't even know where to start." Emily curled her arm around the small of Alison's back as they started swaying again.

"Anywhere. Everywhere."

"Well, first of all…dancing with Hanna has been a hard secret to keep. I wanted tonight to be special, and I'm super rusty when it comes to dance. It was so weird to see her and not tell you anything about it. I hate lying to you. I felt like I was cheating on you or something."

"You would never." Alison smiled warmly.

"I made questionable choices in my past. I'm not perfect. I guess maybe I'm a little insecure about my previous relationships. But I swear to you, none of them have been like…" She looked directly into Alison's eyes. "Like us. What we have…it doesn't compare to anything else I've ever had in my life."

If she doesn't stop saying romantic things I'm going to fuck her against the spandex leopard woman's front desk…

"I feel the same." Alison slid her fingers into Emily's, linking them together as they danced to the quiet beat. "You have no idea the ways you've changed my life."

Perhaps you even saved it…

"You are so good to me. But I never want you to put my well-being above your own. I know you've been holding back. You've been internalizing. And I don't like it." Alison's gaze was one that a strict mother might direct towards her child. "Your little secret dancing rendezvous is not the only thing bothering you…"

"Have I ever told you that you'd make a hell of a detective?" Emily chuckled to try and lighten the mood.

"What's wrong, Em?" Who is bothering you? I'll sharpen my blades the second we get done fucking tonight.

"I'm struggling with a lot, Ali. The job…the pressure that comes with the high profile case…"

The blonde flinched. The fact that Emily was suffering over her kills was enough for her to want to shout from the mountaintop, "It's me! I'm the one you're looking for!" just to ease her pain.

"What I do…" She paused, a thoughtful expression on her face, "…I've never been able to check it at the door when I got home. And I used to be okay with that. But there is so much about this case that bothers me. The biggest being that I don't like it that you're in danger."

I AM the danger, sweetie.

"And honestly, some of the work that goes along with it is starting to get to me. Sometimes when we're reviewing some of the particularly brutal aspects of the case it gets overwhelming. The murders are gruesome, but some of the other stuff…"

She slowly trailed off.

Alison slowly pieced together that she wasn't talking about her kills. She was talking about her kills' victims.

Of course. She has to look at victimology. She has to subject herself to the pain that people like Wilden and Ian inflicted on their victims.

"Today I had this…this moment." Emily glanced over Alison's shoulder, catching a glimpse of her reflection. Her only thought was thank God for concealer because the bags under her eyes were more like luggage at this point. "I hit a weird breaking point. We were reviewing some evidence and it drudged up memories."

"Maya?" Alison guessed.

Emily shook her head.

"Maya…she's always there, in my head. But I'm talking about further back."

Someone else she knows was murdered?

"I have a track record of people I've dated ending up dead."

It took a moment for Alison to connect the dots.

That horrible ex-boyfriend of hers…

Emily never talked about him, but she did mention he'd hung himself in his cell.

"That creep that you dated before Maya." Alison nodded in understanding.

"It's not that I care that he's dead." The sharpness of her tone not only intrigued Alison. It turned her on. "It's not even about him. I think…" She paused. "I think it's about control. I feel like I'm losing my grip on it. And when I lose control, bad things happen."

Bad things like you running for the bottle...just like I run for the knives.

"I understand that." More than you'll ever know.

The only difference was that when she slipped up and had a bad day someone lost their life.

Not that her kills didn't deserve it.

"I'm just trying to find a way to stay balanced." Emily looked down at the floor, and for the first time since they'd started dating Alison was able to see the weight on the detective's shoulder.

She caressed Emily's neck and Emily's slowly lifted her chin until her eyes met Alison's.

The blonde couldn't stand seeing her look so defeated. If anyone deserved a win, it was Emily.

I can't do this anymore. I can't let her suffer because of me. She's killing herself over the things I've done…

But was it worth losing her?

"Emily, I…" It was on the tip if her tongue. She almost spilled it all.

But then doubt started to creep into her mind.

What if she's repulsed by me?

What if it drives her over the edge?

Even worse…what if I put her in a position to have to choose between me and her job? That's not fair to her.

But if I keep lying...this is only going to eat away at both of us.

Unless…

She'd been teetering back and forth between her urges and the love she had for the woman standing in front of her. She'd seriously been considering the idea of giving up her murderous vice.

If I stop...then all this stops.

But what about the other psycho out there?

Maybe she could focus all her energy on the copycat. Once she solved that problem they could move forward. Maybe she could even find a way to make sure the detectives on the case could put the case to rest.

She could make sure everything pointed to the fake killer in the shadows. Though sharing credit for her work was a painful idea, especially with someone as disorganized as her sloppy seconds. The person replicating her work was a nobody in comparison to her. It irked her to think of letting this person shine in the spotlight with her hard-earned title.

She'd also have to find a way to make sure the copycat died, because dead people told no tales. All the evidence would point to a dead person who couldn't expose her lies.

"Ali? You okay?" Emily brushed the back of her knuckles against Alison's sweaty cheeks.

Alison looked directly at Emily, knowing exactly what to say.

"You know I would do anything for you, right?" is what came out instead of "I'm the killer."

Because "doing anything" meant letting Emily cling to her sanity. Alison wasn't sure what it would do to Emily if she found out who she was, but she knew it wouldn't be good.

"Me too." Emily smiled back at her. "You know, I…uh…I had more planned for tonight, but if you'd like to cut it short we can leave. We could go somewhere and talk or something." Emily started swaying with Alison in her arms again.

"There's more?" Alison lifted an incredulous brow. "Oh, I have to see what you could possibly do to top this." This night is going to end with me topping you, honey.

Emily lifted their joined hands up above them and started twirling Alison around. It was like some kind of fairytale.

Like a motherfucking princess…

Alison swallowed a knot in her throat. Her parents had dolled her up like a princess when she was just a little girl. But their version of a fairytales was more like a twisted Brothers Grimm nightmare.

That's not what this is.

All she had to do was look at Emily and her past disappeared under murky water, drowning in an unforgiving sea in her mind.

They danced a few more numbers before Hanna reappeared. She had a huge smile on her face. Her eyes darted to Emily. They shared some kind of unspoken exchange.

"What are you up to, Detective?" The blonde walked her fingers up Emily's arm. There was a sheen of sweat on her skin.

Emily winked at her, but she didn't say a word.

"Date Night: The Sequel awaits." Hanna bounced on her arches. Her natural dancer's feet kept her steady.

"Just let me freshen up in the ladies room." Alison was sure her sweat was streaking her make-up.

"Do what you've got to do," Emily brushed her fingers through her hair, "but I think you look stunning as you are now."

"You flirt." Alison poked her chest.

"My boobs thank you for that action."

Alison quickly made a beeline for the restroom.

"Looks like it's going well." Hanna smiled. "You talk to her or are you still procrastinating that assignment?"

"Yes, Mrs. Rivers, I did my homework." Emily replied with a dry wit.

"Good." She playfully smacked Emily on the cheek. "I was worried about'cha."

"Thanks for setting me straight, but you don't need to worry about me." Emily assured her.

"Can't help it. It's the mother in me." Hanna shrugged. "Next thing you know I'll be telling you to eat your veggies."

I'll be eating something else appetizing instead, thank you very much.

Hanna saw the look on her face and she smirked.

"Emily Fields, you dirty-minded little freak."

"What?" Emily asked innocently. "I was thinking about broccoli."

"Sure you were." Hanna scoffed.

She walked over to turn the music off. Emily followed her.

She'd been trying to stow work for the evening, but she always had that itchy detective's finger…the urge that made her want to keep her finger on the pulse. Her brain never stopped spinning.

She'd been meaning to talk to Hanna about Talia. None of the strippers knew her, but maybe other local dance instructors did. She should have considered it earlier, but her mind was a mess. Emily wanted to know how Talia's name had ended up on Tim Roland's dark website.

"Hey, Han…can I ask you something?" Emily questioned.

"Special time alone with that gorgeous girlfriend of yours? Sure. The keys are in the second drawer in the desk. Just lock up when you leave." She winked.

"No, it's not about that. It's about a case I'm working on." Emily leaned up against the desk.

"The same case that's got you spinning out?" Hanna lifted a brow in suspicion.

"I'm not spinning…" She paused and then flummoxed, "I mean, maybe a little. Sure. But that's just because I wasn't dealing with my emotions. I'm dealing now."

"I can't even imagine doing what you do. I'd drive myself crazy." She sounded exasperated just thinking about it.

Something I do daily, Emily thought, but didn't express.

"Does the name Talia Standival mean anything to you?" Emily questioned.

"Should it?"

"She was a dance instructor. Taught children. She was an exotic dancer turned philanthropist teacher. I was just curious, given your dancing history. You ever cross paths?"

"You got a picture of her?" Hanna questioned.

Emily pulled her cell phone out of her padded bra…

She fucking hated dresses.

She'd put her phone on silent for the evening, but she was still connected to the case. She carried it with her everywhere she went. She pulled up some of her case files from the station. After a few seconds she found the picture she was looking for.

Talia, beaming in front of the camera in a black leather outfit. She turned it around to show Hanna.

Hanna studied the picture with intensity. She knew that Emily's job meant the world to her. She wanted to help her.

"She looks kind of familiar, but I don't recognize her." Hanna raised her head and looked at her friend. "What's this about?"

"You don't follow the news?"

Hanna laughed and then scoffed.

"I'm a full time working mother with two little boys that run me ragged daily. The only thing on my radar is the weather." Hanna cocked her head and took a second look. "I feel like I've seen her though."

"Probably." Emily nodded. "She was killed by the Scarlet Letter Killer."

"Oh." Hanna's spine stiffened. She knew about the case. She knew about the brutal slayings.

"She was the first victim in the newest cycle of kills. And I'm trying to find her connection to some of the other victims." She scrolled through until she found a picture of Talia with her class. Most of the little girls were smiling. Most.

"She was local?" Hanna zoomed in on her face.

"Born and bred."

"I don't recognize her, but it may be due to the fact that I don't have my finger on the pulse here anymore. I can check with Mona. See if it rings a bell."

"I'd really appreciate it."

Hanna stared at the woman who had been brutally murdered by the SLK.

"I can't say for sure, but something seems…off about her." Hanna frowned at the image. "It's in her eyes. As an artist…" She referred to dancing as an art, and Emily was not going to challenge that. Art came in different forms, "…she seems kind of dark...in a bad way. Disconnected." The blonde started scrolling through news content about the deceased. "I mean, look at this picture of her class here…" She pulled up an image that Emily had never seen.

It was Talia, beaming with pride with her youngsters. Most of them were buzzing with excitement, but a few were looking away from the camera.

Distracted.

Sad.

She wouldn't notice until days later who had taken the photo.

"Listen, I'm the first person to say that I believe in second chances…" Hanna studied the photo, "…but sometimes a snake is and always will be a snake."

"You think…"

"I can't speculate." Hanna shook her head and held her hand up. "It would be terrible for your investigation." Emily knew she was right. What would it look like if one live dance instructor spoke ill of a dead one? "I'd suggest talking to her previous employers and the parents…"

"We've already done that."

"Off the books. And when you talk to the adults pay very close attention to the kids." Hanna clarified. "Little Mrs. Thing was hiding something."

Perhaps the same something that had gotten Ian and Garrett killed.

"I guarantee if you talk to some of the parents again you'll get a better idea of how the kids feel. Start with the ones who are detached in this photo."

"You would have made an excellent cop." Emily took her phone back.

Hanna guffawed at that, nearly choking on her snorts.

"I would have been a terrible cop. My temper would not mix well with a weapon. I prefer to dance it out." She clapped her hands together three times, like it was some kind of magic number.

Alison came back into the studio, looking as perfect as ever.

"You really bagged a hottie, Em. And a doctor, too? I'm jealous." She nudged her with her shoulder.

"I'm lucky." Emily smiled, pushing herself off of the desk to greet her girlfriend.

Hanna handed Emily a key to the room they'd slipped into earlier. It's where Hanna had gone as soon as Emily and Alison found their groove.

"Have fun." She smiled.

Alison was starting to like Hanna. She was quirky. Bubbly. Fun. And most of all, Emily cared about her. She needed to learn how to care about people in Emily's life if she wanted their love to last.

Emily led Alison along. Alison kept looking between Emily and the door. She was fascinated by Emily's sense of adventure.

When they walked inside they found an intimate private ballroom, but other than a stack of blue mats off in the corner it looked nothing like a dance studio.

The lighting was low. There was a glowing blue-ish black hue with shooting stars on a disco ball aimed at the ceiling, creating the illusion of a night sky. There was a large screen with an image of the Eiffel Tower at the back of the room. The tower reflected off of the mirrors around them, surrounding them with the central heart of France.

In the center of the room there was a table with two glowing candles, a red and blue checkered table cloth, and a dinner set up. Soft Parisian music was playing.

A little slice of Paris.

Emily had been working on the idea with Hanna all week. They'd put most of it together earlier after Emily's dance lesson.

Alison looked closer at the items on the table. A bowl of cherries. Camembert. And wine. The very same brand that Alison had the first night they went out.

Emily had recreated their first date. The attention to detail was incredible.

Alison spun around. She wasn't used to being treated like royalty. Most people in her life had treated her like shit, with the exception of her brother and her aunt.

"This is incredible. How did you manage to pull this off?" Alison ran her fingers along the tablecloth.

"I have my ways." She said it with a hint of mystery in her tone, a very much 'if I told you, I'd have to kill you' kind of wink and a nod.

It sent a little shiver down the blonde's spine.

"You got me wine?" She ran her fingers down the chilled bottle. It was in a metal basin with ice in it.

"Good legs." Emily squinted her eyes like she was searching for a memory. "I think that's what you said…"

"On our first date." Alison was breathless, and it wasn't from all the dancing they'd been doing. "Why…" She turned to face her only to realize Emily had moved closer. Their faces were inches apart. "Why would you do this for me?"

"You had a bad week," Emily said with a shrug, like it had been easy to put all of this together. "I've had them, too. I wanted to cheer you up."

"You…" Alison took stock of the wonderful brunette in her gorgeous blue dress. I knew royal blue was your color, darling. "You are too sweet."

Emily pecked her lips and smiled at her before pulling out her chair and gesturing for her to have a seat.

The blonde sat down and then Emily took her seat across from her.

"My motives are purely selfish." Emily picked up Alison's wine glass. "I wanted you to remember this week for our first I love you and not what happened at the hospital afterwards."

The kid…

She hadn't even thought about him once on the dance floor. The family…that little girl…

"Hey…" Emily touched her face. Alison didn't realize Emily's hand was against her chin until she blinked and saw the brunette reaching across the table, "…don't dwell. Just let me take care of you tonight, okay?"

The detective's warm hand moved up against Alison's cheek. It lingered for a few seconds before she lowered it and reached for the wine. She popped the cork and then poured Alison a glass before putting it down on the table.

Alison smiled, reaching for the glass. She swiveled the beverage around and then took a sip.

"Still have good legs?" Emily reached for a cherry.

"Yours are better," Alison said point blank with a sultry wink.

She had no problem telling Emily what was on her mind anymore. She didn't have to hide her raunchy thoughts.

"Why, Doctor DiLaurentis, you flatter me." Emily fanned herself playfully. "Cherry?"

She reached out and offered the treat to the blonde. Alison leaned forward, locking her lips around Emily's fingers and the cherry. She loved the salty mixture of Emily's sweat and the sweet silky sensation of the cherry. She held Emily's fingers in her mouth for a moment and then pulled back, tying the stem in a knot.

"You're so talented." Emily lifted her brows with a smile.

"Tying knots is what I do." Alison brushed it off, but she was secretly proud she knew how to do it.

"Yeah, but I bet these kinds of knots weren't taught in medical school." She reached across the table to pull the twisted stem out of Alison's mouth.

"Are you kidding? Cherry knots were all the rage at med school parties." Alison observed her work in Emily's hand.

"Did you go to a lot of those parties?" She'd never quite seen Alison let loose around anyone.

The blonde only seemed comfortable around her. Outwardly she was very composed.

"I wish I could say something cool here, but I was a total lab geek. My aunt was so proud when I got in. I didn't want to let her down, especially when she got sick." Alison's tone softened. "I know my baggage seems like nothing but terrible things, but I promise you I'm not as dark as I seem."

I'm darker.

Emily simply shrugged.

"I'm not afraid of the dark."

You continue to surprise me, Emily Fields.

"I wanted my aunt to live to see my graduation. She did. Barely. She was so proud. She deteriorated so fast. But she never once gave up hope in me. I think that's what keeps me going." Alison smiled. "I want to make her proud."

"She would be very proud of you." Emily reached underneath the table and moved her leg towards Alison's foot. She remembered the blonde playing footsie with her on their first date. There was something sweet and innocent about it, but also daring and seductive.

Don't know how proud she'd be to discover I cut people up for fun.

No, not for fun.

She did it for a purpose.

She didn't kill innocent people.

"I don't think I've ever asked about your schooling. Did you go to the academy after you dropped out of college?" Alison reached for a sopping piece of cheesy bread.

"I actually went straight from my first AA meeting to auditing a class on advanced criminology."

"Wow. Big jump."

"I needed a direction. After talking to Toby that's where I wanted to land. I decided I wanted my Associate's Degree to be in Criminal Justice and Law Enforcement reform. I studied a lot of older cases in my classes."

She left out the part about Alison's family being one of those cases, though the names had been anonymous.

"After I got my Associate's I worked the field. Did my stint on the beat and worked Vice. Took some CE credits, learned the ins and outs of Homicide. It was my passion."

"Because of…" Alison regretted what she was about to say, but it was too late to stop Emily from picking up what she was putting down.

"Maya was a huge part of it." Emily took a hefty bite of her dinner. She wasn't shy around food. "I'd be lying if I said her murder wasn't the main contributing factor. But I did it for myself and for my dad, too. He was so excited and so happy to see me get my shield." The beaming pride on her face slowly dissipated. "It…was…it was one of the last times I saw him. He was deployed right afterwards. But he hugged me so tight that night."

"I'm sure you miss him." It had only been a year since her father died. Still fresh in her mind.

Alison still had her aunt's death that she was contending with. Somehow, helping Emily through her grief was helping her.

She touched the brunette's hand and they made eye contact.

"Would it be presumptuous to say that your father and Maya would be proud of you?" Alison lightly lifted her brows.

"No. That's sweet. I think they'd both like you very much."

Alison almost choked on her tongue. Maya certainly wouldn't. And her dad sounded like a by-the-books guy. He'd be repulsed by her true self.

"You always get dodgy when I compliment you. Why is that?" Emily tilted her head and took in the expression on Alison's face.

"I just shudder thinking about the things I've done in my past." And semi-present.

"We've all done things we're not proud of. You think I like to relive waking up in a hospital after nearly dying of alcohol poisoning?" Emily kicked back and gulped a sip of her water.

"Wait, you almost died? You never told me that! I didn't realize your drinking was that bad." She felt ashamed holding her fancy wine glass. She tried to push the wine bottle aside, but Emily's fingers landed on top of hers, stopping her motions.

"It hasn't been. Not since then." Emily nodded towards the wine. "I can be around it. I can resist it. Thinking about drinking it makes me nauseous. I'm done with it." Except the bottle of bourbon in my kitchen that taunts me every damn day… She didn't say out loud. "The point is I royally fucked up. We all do. I don't care that you messed up. I don't care what you were like when you were younger. I care who you are now."

She moved her hand away from the wine bottle and took Alison's hand in her own.

"You are a kind compassionate doctor, a good person…"

Not so sure about that.

"I see who you are...what you've been through. And to me, all that matters is your heart."

Alison wondered how much the detective would love her if she let her mask slip and revealed the monster inside.

Emily stared at her. Alison felt like she was reading her mind.

"You are a good person, Alison. Truly."

My God, I have her so fooled.

Or maybe…maybe Emily was right. Maybe she was just like everyone else, a good person who did bad things. That didn't make her a bad person.

"Besides…" Emily rubbed circles against her palm, "I'm pretty much smitten with you. You could mow someone down with your car…" Emily didn't see Alison's other hand twitch as she thought about crushing Jackie Molena with a car, "…and I'd still love you."

Love. There was that word again.

We'll see if that holds true…

"I'm going to hold you to that." Alison smiled.

"Why? You planning on chasing people down with your car?" Emily looked at her like the idea of her killing people was absurd.

"No, of course not." Alison tossed her wrist back with a laugh.

Not with a car. With a knife.

"Though there were a few people I felt like beating to death in high school." Alison reached for her fork. Like Alex Drake. "Tell me, Little Miss Flirt, what were you like as a teenager?"

Emily took a thoughtful breath.

"Well, like you, I was a bit reserved after what happened with my ex-boyfriend…"

The dead ex-boyfriend Alison wanted to exhume from his grave.

I want to piss on his bones before turning them into sawdust.

Emily sipped on her lemon water before taking a healthy bite of her dinner.

Alison waited patiently.

"It wasn't easy," Emily finally said, "Recovering from what he did to me and hiding who I was from my parents. Maya was the only one I could confide in. I was kind of shy and quiet before I came out."

A shy Emily Fields?

"I can't even imagine." Alison's lip curled in amusement.

The same girl who was talking about her ass before surgery was a meek little baby deer?

"Even after I came out I had some reservations. I was timid. Unsure of things. I took some risks, like the water park with Hanna. But I still hid within myself quite a bit."

"What changed?"

Emily stared at her glass, uncertain that she wanted to answer. Alison knew immediately what she was going to say, so she understood why Emily broke eye contact and wiped some condensation away from her glass.

"Maya." It was clear Emily felt awkward addressing her old girlfriend with her new one.

It would be so much more awkward if she knew what had happened the night Maya died.

She was cheating on you, Emily.

"Well, I suppose I have her to thank for that." Alison lifted her glass, gesturing for Emily to do the same. "As unorthodox as it might be," She tipped her glass and bumped it against Emily's, "To Maya."

Emily fought back her appreciative tears,

"To Maya."

"I really enjoy these moments. I can't tell you how refreshing it is to be with someone so open." Alison sipped on her wine. "I have really loved getting to know you, Emily Fields."

"Likewise, Alison DiLaurentis."

"I mean it. The way you truly listen…" She looked at the beautiful dinner in front of them. The fact that she cared enough to remember the fine details, "…the way you speak so freely about everything…"

"I spent so much time in my youth worrying about what to say and what not to say. I finally hit a point where I just decided to free my mind and cut off the part of me that censors things."

"That certainly came out when we first met." Alison gave her a sly smile and a wink. "Can I ask, what was it about me that you were attracted to?" Alison questioned, polishing off her wine. "Besides my great ass." She winked.

Emily chuckled.

"I know you thought it was the meds and the shock talking, but the truth was that it was all me. I thought I was on the verge of death, so why not shoot my shot?"

"Your aim is impeccable." Alison finished the last piece of food on her plate.

"It was your eyes." Emily admitted. "They were so kind. So compassionate."

Only if you're not a murderer or pedophile.

Her kills saw an entirely different version of her. A version Alison hoped Emily would never see.

"You were looking at me the whole time. I remember, because it was a distraction from the pain," Emily said.

Alison let out a sad shaky sigh. She hated that it had taken Emily getting injured for them to meet. But at the same time…

She bears a mark on her chest. My mark.

Different than her victims. It wasn't a mark showcasing her guilt. It was a mark of her innocence. Emily's only sin was loving the devil in disguise. Though, from what Alison had read of the scripture she'd learned that even God had loved the devil before the devil was cast out of Heaven.

She didn't want to be cast out of her version of Heaven.

"I found it intriguing that after things started to heat up between us that you couldn't look me in the eyes. You'd done it so effortlessly when I was a patient." Emily scooted closer, moving around the table towards her. "I sensed it on our first date. You were beautiful and charming and every bit as flirtatious as you'd been in the hospital, but I felt that disconnect…"

I was afraid. I was afraid to let you in.

"You were afraid to let me in." Emily echoed her thoughts. "And I was desperate to make sure I did everything just right. Had you been any other girl I would have ripped your dress off in the back of the car that night we went out. I wouldn't have even made it home."

Emily's eyes ravished Alison's body. Alison's core throbbed. She could still feel the way Emily's fingers felt against her flesh that night. She had been so desperate for her.

"But you weren't just another girl to me. And when I saw you looking away from me in the middle of the alley I realized you weren't ready. I decided I would wait until we knew each other a little better." Her hand grazed the blonde's cheek.

She'd done the right thing, no matter how disappointed Alison had been that night. They'd connected in other ways.

Important ways.

They had talked all night. She'd never done that with anyone else.

"I had no idea intimacy would be as hard for you as it was for me. But once I realized why, it made sense, especially since I have my own set of issues." Emily touched her thigh.

"Had." Alison corrected her.

They had no problem staring into each other's eyes now.

"Had." Emily smiled, leaning forward, her lips grazing Alison's.

They tasted of sweet wine, just as they had the first night they kissed.

Alison hummed against Emily's lips, and she saw all the brightness in the world.

I can do this. I can do this for her. I want to be good enough. I want to be GOOD.

She was going to stop. She had to stop. For the love of the good detective. She just had one more kill she needed to finish.

Sara Harvey.

Then she'd find the copycat, mow them down with a car or something and then make sure all the evidence was discovered to pin everything on them.

But that was tomorrow's worry.

Tonight belonged to her girl.

"Emily?" She lowered her voice as she moved her lips towards her jaw.

"Yes?"

"Take me home," she whispered in the brunette's ear. "I want to ravish you."

"Why wait?" Emily gripped her hands and pulled her to her feet, almost too quickly.

Alison fell a bit off-balance, tipping her heel back and lifting her leg, falling against Emily's chest.

Emily grabbed her hips to steady her and they resumed their kiss.

The room seemed to be moving around them. At first Alison thought it was the wine, but then she realized they were moving towards the corner with the thick blue mats stacked as high as a bedframe.

"What about Hanna?" Alison pecked her lips between the words.

"Trust me, Hanna knows not to walk in on me with the doors closed." She had a mischievous look on her face.

"Just how many women have you seduced here, Detective?" A crooked wanting grin.

She laid her palms against Emily's shoulders and slowly led her back towards the mats.

"Just one." Emily pressed her lips against Alison's as her backside hit the mats.

The brunette gripped the edge of the mats as she gently sat down, pulling Alison with her, beckoning her into her lap.

Alison had other plans.

She ran her palms along the curves of Emily's body, her fingertips sliding against the silky material of her dress. Her palms stopped when they reached the edge of the hem, right near her thighs. She grinned at Emily as she slipped her fingers underneath the edges, her hot hands landing against the detective's sweaty thighs. She moved Emily closer to the edge of the mats and bunched her dress up over her legs, exposing a pair of black lacy panties.

She knew this was how the night would end. Alison thought as she rubbed her fingers against the material. She planned it. Fuck me, that's hot.

The doctor splayed her experienced hands out against the brunette's inner thighs, gently prying them apart. She watched the curious look on Emily's face morph into something darker, a lusting look of wanton need.

Alison rubbed her fingers against a slick spot on Emily's underwear and the brunette nearly bucked up off of the mats.

Alison smirked at her as she moved her fingers back and forth, teasing her.

She loved teasing her.

Emily's head fell back and she let out a cry of satisfaction. She righted her neck and watched as Alison slid her panties down her legs, letting them fall to the floor. Alison lowered herself to her knees and gripped Emily's thighs, grinning up at her as she pushed them apart.

She wanted to show Emily how much the evening had meant to her. She wanted to show her just how much she appreciated her.

She kissed her inner thighs, a messy slick of wetness from their sweaty night of dancing and the heat that had pooled between her legs coated her lips.

The taste was a perfect blend of salty and sweet. She kissed her way down to Emily's scar…the one Ben had left on her. She aggressively pressed her lips against it, thinking about all the terrible things she would have done to the prick if he was still alive.

She blew cool breaths against her skin as she kissed her way up to her center. She felt Emily's thighs tense up as she started working between her thighs with her tongue.

She thought about a cheeky remark about saving room for dessert, but it sounded too ridiculous in her head. Instead, she just savored her girlfriend, who tasted better than any delectable soufflé or cheesecake or pastry she could have had.

At the angle she was kneeling she could see all of Emily, and what she was doing to her. The mirrors captured everything.

Alison had never realized that mirrors were such a turn on. There was something powerful about watching herself please someone she loved. It was even more powerful to see every angle of Emily's face as she nipped, licked, sucked, and flicked her tongue against her.

Emily's knuckles turned white from gripping the mats and she huffed out her name, her toes pointedly against the ground, her head back in ecstasy.

Alison smiled, watching her come undone all around her, in every mirror. She slowly lifted herself up and settled her body in between Emily's legs as she reached forward to cup her cheeks, holding her as she shivered from her heights of pleasure.

When Emily opened her eyes they were large and dark. Her body relaxed and she let out a heavy breath. Alison licked her lips with a wink and then leaned forward and pressed a kiss against Emily's mouth so the brunette could taste what she tasted.

Emily gripped the sides of her neck, her body still shaken from little aftershocks of her orgasm.

"God, you have an insatiable appetite." Emily heaved, her chest nearly spilling out of her dress as she pressed forward, letting her dress fall slack, semi-pushing herself to her feet, though her legs felt like jello.

She gently moved Alison around until she was against the mats. She lowered herself down between Alison's knees to return the favor.

Emily kissed the outside of her knee, then the inside. She repeated the process on her other knee, slowly kissing her way up until she reached her scar.

The first time Emily had seen it…had touched it, Alison had shied away, but this time she watched as the brunette pressed her lips against it.

She let her kiss linger, thinking about the scars that Alison had bared to her today. Her parents. The professor. The pregnancy.

A soft palm landed against her cheek, and when she looked up, Alison reached down to cup her face, pulling her up towards her lips, motioning for her, needing to feel the heat of her body.

It was a rarity that she pulled Emily on top of her. She didn't like the sensation that came with it…being trapped. But over the past several months she had learned to trust Emily.

Her eyes conveyed what she was feeling.

I trust you.

She trusted her implicitly, so as Emily slowly climbed against her and laid her back against the soft mats Alison let go of the control.

The detective's palm slid up underneath her dress against the side of her leg. Their lips melded together as Emily gently played with her, her fingers dancing in between her thighs.

Alison hadn't worn underwear, so her thighs were already sticky, dripping with the lust she'd felt building up as she'd been rolling her tongue into Emily.

Emily gently held her weight above her as she slipped three fingers into her. Alison moaned into their kiss as she slowly started moving.

Alison's body found a natural rhythm. It didn't take her long to reach her height. She panted Emily's name against the base of her ear as she came.

The soft sounds of Parisian music became a symphony in her mind. The images of the Eiffel Tower and reflections of Emily curled against her, holding her, were all around the room.

And yet…

"I need more." She growled the word, ready for round two. Her urges were driving her crazy. "I need you in bed. I need you with a strap." She leaned closer. "I need you to make me scream your name."

Emily wanted to swoop her into her arms and race out the door with her, throw her in the car, and speed to Alison's house.

Instead, she calmly took the time to fix her dress, to fix Alison's dress, and help her up. Still high from their love-making they took a few moments to compose themselves, though they couldn't hide the afterglow.

Turns out, they didn't have to worry about hiding anything. Hanna had left the keys for Emily to lock up with. There was a note underneath the key ring. Emily picked it up, grinning as she read it.

"Em, so happy I could help get you laid. Just clean up after yourself…ya freak. Let me know when you want to get together for dinner. Love you, Hanna."

"What does it say?" Alison was giggling, giddy.

Is this what happiness is?

"Just Hanna being Hanna." Emily laughed, putting the note in her purse. "I just need a few minutes to clean up here." She pecked Alison's cheek.

Alison was in a rush, so she helped Emily clean, eager to get home and finish what they'd started. She couldn't get enough of Emily's body. And Emily clearly couldn't get enough of her either.

Once they were finished in the studio they rushed to Alison's house, the desire between them still lingering in the air.

Just as they were pushing their way through Alison's front door Emily's phone buzzed.

Alison shoved her back up against the door and gave her a crushing kiss.

"Don't you dare get that." Alison bit down on her lip, tugging it into her mouth.

Emily groaned, but not for a good reason.

"Have to. I'm on call." She'd been hoping for a quiet night. She hadn't been expecting to get interrupted. "Damn it." She grumbled, shifting out from underneath Alison's weight. She pulled her phone out and glanced at the screen. "Motherfuck. Ah…" Emily grimaced. "I am so sorry…"

Nonono…we're supposed to be in bed fucking all night…

"I'm going to have to take a raincheck." She glared at the phone as if though she wanted to murder it.

"Everything okay?" Someone better be fucking dead… Which, they probably were considering Emily was a homicide detective.

"No. We've got another body." Emily was too busy angrily texting to see Alison stiffen in shock.

What? How?

"Is it the Scarlet Letter Killer?" Please say no. Please say no…

"Yeah." Emily's answer made Alison's heart sink. "The vic is someone named…" She read the screen again, "Sara Harvey….found dead in her bathtub basin underneath her showerhead."

What. The. Actual. Fuck?

That was supposed to be her kill. Those were her plans…right down to drowning her in the tub like the bitch had done to her son.

"This fucker is genuinely starting to get on my nerves." Emily grumbled, glaring at her phone with a blazing hatred.

Mine too. Ruining our night...out there slandering my name with their sloppy work.

"I'm sorry, Ali." She kissed her forehead. "I'll make it up to you. I promise."

Emily didn't know it, but she would do her one better. She would get her closer to the person imitating her. So she could put a stop to it.

In theory, she could let this person keep killing and let the cops go in that direction, far away from her. But this copycat seemed to know intimate things about her, about her thought processes, about her kills. If they were caught, what would keep them from telling the truth about her identity?

Alison put on her "sweet girlfriend" smile and pecked her lips.

"I understand. If it was a surgery I'd be in the same position."

"I really wanted tonight to be perfect." The brunette sighed.

"It was. Because I was with you." Who AM I? Alison hadn't even hesitated in her response.

"I'm so lucky I have you." Emily laid her forehead against Alison's. The tips of their noses brushed together, which brought a smile to both of their faces. "Thank you for understanding."

An idea appealed to Alison as she followed Emily up the stairs. Normally, Alison would talk her way into the autopsy with Aria or read her notes, but this couldn't wait.

Alison tried to appear nonchalant as she unzipped the back of Emily's dress. She'd been hoping to take it off of her in a different manner.

"Sara Harvey…" She slid the zipper down. "Why does that name sound so familiar?"

Emily wriggled out of her dress. She was wearing the same black bra she'd worn when she came into the hospital to get her stitches out.

Our FIRST first date.

Now Alison was even more pissed off.

"Uh…" Emily reached in Alison's closet for a sensible blouse and slipped it on. She grabbed her phone. "She was all over the news a few years ago after her son drowned."

"Oh, yeah. I remember that story. The hospital staff was devastated. We talked about it for weeks there." She reached for her phone and pulled up the Sara Harvey story. "Um…Em…do you remember what she looked like?"

"No. Why?"

Alison aimed her screen at Emily so she could see it.

"Another blue-eyed blonde." She tried to play on Emily's fear.

If it's one thing she knew about Emily it was that her loyalty to protect her would override anything else in the world.

Emily grabbed her phone, a grave look on her face.

Alison watched her try to process it. She touched her arm, knowing the brunette couldn't ignore her touch.

When Emily looked at her girlfriend she saw a twisted expression of alarm, an expression that Alison had been perfecting over the years.

"The last victims were a man who tried to rape me and a woman who looked exactly like me. They were found at my cabin. And now…this? Is this a message?"

For a moment Emily faltered, looking between her phone and Alison's phone, unsure of what to say. She knew she couldn't just say no.

Alison had to play it just right. If she was too scared or if she frightened Emily too much it could backfire. She'd end up with another police detail, something that had made her feel murderous the first time around.

"I…" There was a mixture of tension and anger on Emily's face. Fear that something would happen to Alison. Anger that someone was targeting her. "I won't know anything until I get to the scene."

"Can I go with you?" She pleaded with her eyes.

"Toby will have a shit-fit if I bring you to another crime scene. Not to mention if Alex Drake gets wind of it…" Emily rubbed her forehead. "I could see if dispatch will send a cruiser to stay here until I get back."

That's what Alison didn't want. If Emily wouldn't take her to the scene she had a Plan B.

"No, your resources are needed elsewhere." She sighed. "I'll just make sure all the windows and doors are locked and wait until you get back."

She was getting tired of playing the victim, but it was the only way she knew how to appeal to Emily's feelings.

"You're sure?" Emily gripped her hands, and Alison nodded. "Okay. I want you to text me every fifteen minutes just so I know you're okay."

"You do the same. If this person is escalating who knows what they might try to pull with you out in the open. Be careful." Alison realized she meant those words with all of her heart as she leaned forward to capture Emily's lips. "Can you unzip me?"

Emily grunted.

"I wanted tonight to be so different." She reached for the back of Alison's dress, pulling the zipper down.

Emily pulled her pants on, clearly irritated that their evening had been interrupted. She'd known it was a possibility, but it was so slim.

What was it Mom used to say? Make plans and God just laughs at you. Emily shook her head.

As she was hustling out of the room, she stopped to peer back at her girlfriend to make sure she was truly okay.

"Hey, Ali?" A soft calm expression in her eyes.

"Hmm?"

Emily flashed her a smile,

"I love you."

Alison sank down on to the mattress, a goofy look on her face.

Love felt so strange.

"I love you, too."

She watched as Emily grabbed her things and rushed outside.

Once Emily was out of the house Alison hastily kicked her shoes off and pulled her dress off.

Fucking copycat. Emily should be the one ripping this off of me…

She changed into a dark pair of sweatpants. She grabbed some of her gear she kept in a hidden compartment in her closet.

Sara's house was only fifteen miles away. Alison knew her way already. She'd done recon for her kill. She had been planning for weeks.

How dare you take her away from me? She spoke silently to whatever horrible person was behind this.

She wasn't sure if the her in question was Emily or Sara.

Sara Harvey was MINE.

Emily is MINE.

It grated her nerves that someone had taken such a pleasant evening and had derailed it. While they had been out dancing someone had been killing her last target.

Someone had definitely been following her. And what's worse…

It wasn't just that the target had been Sara Harvey. It was the manner in which she was killed. It's the exact same way that she was going to do it.

You're in my head.

And she didn't like it. She didn't like it one bit. What else did this person know about her? Was Emily in danger?

A terrifying thought crossed her mind.

What if I'm not the target?

Iris and Sara looked exactly like her. It was unnerving for her, but it was torture for Emily. Because when the detective saw those women she saw her.

What if the message wasn't for Emily? What if the message was for her? What if Emily was the actual target?

Her evil twin was out there torturing her girlfriend...playing with her like a cat toying with a mouse, dangling her love for Alison over her head.

An intense wave of emotions washed over the blonde. White hot blinding rage. Uncontrollable fear. A desire to rip this person apart.

Not Emily.

Not MY Emily.

You'll get to her over my dead body.

They were playing a dangerous game, and the consequences would be deadly. Lives were at stake, and gambling at such high risks would eventually paint a gruesome end. Everything would come full circle, and that meant that the only thing waiting for them once it hit a head was a bloody massacre.

Alison had been told by a therapist once that no one could escape their childhood...that it was something people spent the rest of their lives trying to overcome. The blonde would soon find out that she couldn't outrun her demons no matter how hard she tried. And they weren't just her demons anymore.

They were after Emily, too.

---

A/N: Me to me: Take out the sex scene. People gotta be tired of their sex drive by now. Also me: Or...hear me out... *dramatic pause* ...clamjam, clitorference, and DRAMA.

Hopefully the dancing and wining and dining make up for the torture I put you through.