A/N: Thank you so much for all your kind reviews etc, I hope you like this chapter!

5th November – 134 days until Emily returns

It was now 5 days after Halloween and Alison has since been spending time with Hanna in New York, taking personal time off from work. She's yet to speak to Emily as the brunette is still out on a mission but she was set to return to Bastion within the next few days. But the inevitable has happened as Alison has had to return to Rosewood.

When she arrived back home, she got out of the cab before paying the driver and thanking him sweetly. She placed her suitcase on the floor as she looked up at her house. Their house. As soon as she walks through the front door, she knows her life is going to change and whether that's for better or for worse, right now, she has no idea. It was now 7.00pm and the fall weather made it extremely cold. Zipping her coat further up towards her chin, she grabbed her suitcase and headed inside.

"Adam?" She called out, her voice echoing around their atrium. The house was in complete darkness and not to mention complete silence. She placed her suitcase down, turning on the light and removing her coat. She walked into the kitchen, instantly hit with the smell of stale alcohol and mouldy food. She turned on the light, sighing at the sight in front of her. There were beer bottles scattered all over with pizza boxes piled high on the kitchen island. She forgot, when anything gets too much for Rollins he turns to pizza and beer. She began to clear everything into a bin bag before taking it out to the trash can. When she returned to the kitchen, there was a figure sat at the kitchen island.

"Ali?" His voice was slurred.

"Yeah it's me." She sighed. The last thing she needed was having to baby sit Rollins when she has to be up early for work in the morning.

"I was worried about you," He said, getting up from the stool but falling over onto the counter as his balance was non-existent. "Where did you go?"

"I was with Hanna, let's get you up to bed," She walked over to him, placing her arm around his waist and guided him up the stairs to the guest room. It was a difficult job, him being almost 6ft tall but she managed just fine, her recent trips to the gym after Hanna forced her to sign up have clearly paid off.

"I'm sorry you found out like that Ali," Was all he said before pulling the duvet up over his body as he fell asleep almost instantly.

Ali returned to their master bedroom and got into her pajamas, snuggling up in bed and pulling out her MacBook. She went on Facebook, noticing she had 5 new notifications. She read them one by one: Hanna Marin and 3 others liked a photo you are tagged in, Hanna Marin tagged you in a comment, Hanna Marin liked a photo of you, The Radley has tagged you in 5 photos. She opened up the pictures and the first picture was a group photo of them all. She noticed the picture had 19 likes and when she looked at the names she froze. The only name that was capable of giving her heart palpitations just by looking at it was listed as one of the likers. She looked at the comments, noticing Hanna had tagged her in one, a conversation she and Emily were having in the comments:

Hanna Marin: Awwwwww I love this! New cover photo for sure x

Emily Fields: You guys look great! I love your costumes x

Hanna Marin: Anyone's costume you like in particular? ;)

Emily Fields: I mean Toby's Harry Potter costume is fantastic! Haha

Hanna Marin: Ew em why are you such a geek? Alison Rollins she prefers Toby's costume to yours ;)

Alison read their conversation laughing until she reached the last comment- Hanna's. She posted it 2 hours ago and Emily hadn't replied to it. She tried pushing it away, telling herself it's because Emily didn't want anything to be inappropriate on Facebook but deep down inside she felt a sting of jealousy or heartache or something which indicates that she wanted Emily to reply. And then her heart sank further. Emily had been online for the first time in days and she hadn't bothered to message her. She knows it's selfish, very selfish, as she probably got called out on a mission or someone else needed the computer but she couldn't help feel unwanted. She looked over at the clock as it read 00:03. She needed to be up at 6am so she closed down her laptop before trying to drift off to sleep.

6th November – 133 days until Emily returns

The next morning Ali was woke up by the sound of her ever so annoying alarm practically screaming on the bed side table. She rolled out of bed; even 5 years after high school Alison still wasn't a morning person. In fact she probably shouldn't even be classed as a person in the morning, more a zombie as she monotonously did her morning routine of showering, getting dressed, doing her make-up, her hair then finally breakfast. She had almost completely forgot about the events of last night until she appeared in the kitchen doorway to find Rollins stood making pancakes and coffee for the both of them.

"Saves you going to the brew on your first day back," He smiled, pouring the coffee into a cup.

"Thanks," She said, no hint of emotion in neither her face nor voice.

"Look Ali, I really want to talk to you about this."

"What's there to talk about? You cheated on me. We are married." She emphasized the word married to express her disgust however she knows deep down she is being the biggest hypocrite and at the minute she's putting it down to the lack of sleep she received last night.

"Come on Ali we both know you cheated first."

"Excuse me?" She managed to say, after spitting her coffee back into the mug.

"You and Emily. I know there was something going on between you two." Ali almost laughed at the irony because nothing was going on between her and Emily - until they said goodbye of course.

"There was nothing goes on between me and Emily, trust me."

"Ali come on, I know you are in love with her. When you told me about high school and how saying goodbye was hard but there was one person who was always the hardest but you wouldn't tell me who. It was Emily wasn't it?" Ali was almost shocked by his tone of voice, it wasn't mad and judging like a husband's should be, it was soft and understanding like the voice of Dr Rollins she thought she fell in love with 4 years ago. She didn't respond, just nodded.

"I knew as soon as I saw you and Emily look at each other in the church that she was the one you were talking about and it took me about another 10 seconds to realize that I could never look at you the way she does because she is really in love with you Ali and I know you are in love with her too. You have a picture of her on our bedside table for God sake," He said, laughing slightly which caused her to smile. He walked over to her, taking her left hand and running his fingers along her engagement and wedding ring. "I love you Ali, and I know you love me too but let's face it we aren't in love with each other. You're in love with Emily and I can't - couldn't compete with that. In fact, I don't want to because she makes you so happy and that's all I ever want for you. You have been through so much you deserve to be happy." He removed her rings from her finger, "Get your girl Ali." He smiled. She didn't even realize she had tears streaming down her face until he pulled her into a hug. When they pulled away, she removed his wedding ring before placing it next to her own.

"I'm glad you've found someone who loves you the way you deserve to be loved," She smiled, wiping her tears away.

"I have," He smiled. "But I can't thank you enough for loving me when you did Ali, you really did make my life brighter and I don't want that to go. I still want us to be friends and Mona wants that too."

"Thank you for loving me too, I wouldn't have been able to get through everything if it wasn't for you. But we will still be friends, and Mona too." She smiled.

"Maybe when Emily gets home we can double date," He said playfully, causing her to laugh. "We'll talk about what we are going to do about a divorce and things tonight okay? I need to head to work," He said, putting on his jacket. Ali could only nod her head, the word divorce just makes her feel sick. It's always something you associate with bad things and Ali tries to block them out as much as possible.

It had been almost 10 minutes since Rollins had left and Alison was still sat at the Kitchen Island replaying everything that just happened over and over in her head. Everything he said seemed so genuine but it all seems too good to be true; there must be something amiss somewhere. Glancing at the clock, she shot off the chair and grabbed her things before practically running to her car - not an easy chore in Jimmy Choos.

Arriving at Rosewood high, she hopped out of her car whilst nearly wiping out a group of students.

"Sorry boys," She apologized.

"No problem miss," They all smiled in unison. Alison was very aware that all the boys (and girls) had the hots for her. And if they didn't, they still loved her anyway. She strutted her way down the familiar corridors of Rosewood high, smiling as she passes the row of lockers her, Emily, Hanna, Aria and Spencer used to own. She released a sigh of relief as she reached her classroom, dumping her bag and several marked books on her desk. After practically doing an Olympic sprint to school, she now had 10 minutes until her lesson started so she decided to check her phone and social media, having not done it as soon as she woke up like she usually does. She noticed she had one notification from a Facebook message. Of course, it was from the one person she pined to hear from every day. She opened the message, smiling before she even ready it. 'Hey Ali, sorry I didn't message you earlier I was called out on a mission. I just want to say I hope you enjoyed Halloween, you looked absolutely beautiful :) x' the message was sent at 6.04am and she cursed under her breath because she could have had the opportunity to actually have a conversation with her if she had got up on time. Despite the disappointment, she couldn't help the huge grin on her face as she's gone from hanging from cloud one to floating on cloud nine. She hadn't even had the opportunity to fully check Facebook when students began pouring into the classroom, several of them rushing over to her desk pretty similar to the scene in Jingle All The Way.

"Miss, I couldn't do the homework." "Mrs Rollins I wasn't here so I didn't do the essay." "I lost the book I couldn't do it." "I forgot, I'll do it tonight I promise."

Ali hadn't even asked about homework when excuses had already started flying at her.

"Guys, sit down and we will all discuss homework when everyone gets in." She smiled, getting up from her chair and walking around to the front of the desk, perching herself against it as she talked with two students, Megan and Lucy, about a recent Taylor Swift concert they went to.

"Right, now everyone's here let's have the dreaded homework talk," She said, watching several students faces drop as they have forgot. As she was in such a god mood, it only made her laugh. "Has anyone actually done it?" She asked, not surprised when only 3 students raised their hands. "Okay, you 3 people who have done the homework, you can have a free period. Go up to the library and get on with some work or feel free to read ahead as long as you don't spoil it for anyone," She smiled, watching as the 3 students thanked her before running out of the classroom to the library.

"Everyone else, we are going to catch up what you should have done at home," She said, reaching behind for her copy of Great Expectations. "So turn to chapter 29." When flicking through the pages it almost automatically falls on this chapter due to the sheer number of times that she has re-read it. To be honest, that's the only reason she is happy to do it with the class. When the class had finished reading the chapter together, she set them off doing an essay so she retreated back to her desk. She stroked the words on the page, 'I loved her against reason, against promise, against peace, against hope, against happiness, against all discouragement that could be.' In the past, she read over this quote believing that it was a coincidence that it kind of resembled her feelings for Emily however right now, this quote could not be any more suited. Despite being married, promising her loyalty and forever to Rollins, despite being discouraged from waiting for her to return, despite being in a happy place she still loves her. She is in love with her.

The bell knocks her out of her day dream and within 5 minutes the classrooms and corridors have emptied as Alison finds herself wandering down the corridors as everyone else is off enjoying recess.

"Alison?" A voice calls from behind her. She turns around to be greeted by Mona giving her a weak smile. "Look, Ali-"

"It's fine Mona, honestly. It was meant to happen and if he makes you happy and vice versa then I'm happy for you."

"I guess now you and Emily can be together."

"Huh?" Ali said, furrowing her eyebrows which caused Mona to laugh a little.

"Ali we all know you and Emily are head over heels in love with each other. I think after everything you both deserve to be happy and together…finally," She added, causing Ali to smile at the mention of how much Emily loves her.

"I just wish everything wasn't so hard. I mean we haven't even been married 3 months and we are already getting a divorce? What will people say-"

"Ali, it doesn't matter what other people think. Screw them. All that matters is that you and Adam are both happy and end things on a happy note," She smiled, reaching out her arm to Ali's.

"That scares me though. Ending it, making it official. He said about getting a divorce and moving out this morning and it just… it made my head spin," She said, and Mona could tell she was getting herself worked up so she guided her into her office she uses when she comes in to do counselling and fetches her a glass of water.

"You don't have to rush into anything you're not comfortable with. Adam still loves you Ali and he wants you to be happy. He will always be there for you no matter what, you know that."

"I know, it's just he's going to move out to live with you and you will all be happy and together and I will be alone in that huge house, the person I love a million miles away and I don't even know if she wants to be with me or if she will even make it back."

"Hey, don't talk that. Emily will jump at any chance she has of being with you. Tell her about you and Adam, see what she says and go from there. If she knows she is coming back to her happy ending with you, I promise you she won't die. She'll resurrect or something," She said playfully, nudging Ali and succeeding in causing her to crack a slight smile. "And Adam has already said he's going to stay with you until Emily comes back. He doesn't want to just end things and leave you to it. He really cares about you. And I do too, I don't want you to feel like that either," She pulled Ali into a hug as the slight smile turned into a tear falling down her cheek.

"How did you and Adam get together?"

"Don't freak out, but it was actually Charlotte. The night we were having a party to celebrate the Mind Hospital opening I got drunk and ended up spilling my secrets to your sister and one of them was that I thought Adam was cute but I didn't intent to act upon it I promise. And then the next day she pulled me up on it and she said that you and Adam were going to call it quits and that you both didn't love each other and the wedding was an impromptu lust thing. When I found out she lied I felt awful Ali I swear."

"It's okay." She said, squeezing her hand. "I guess I should go speak to Charlotte." She sighed, getting up and walking to the door. "Thanks Mona. Not just for now, but for making Adam happy." She smiled, earning a genuine smile from Mona.

The rest of the day seemed to drag but soon enough the end of the day arrived and Alison made her way towards The Rollins Mind Hospital to see Charlotte. As she approached the reception of the hospital, she saw Rollins stood talking to a doctor of some sort.

"Hey, what are you doing here?" He smiled, heading over to her.

"I'm here to see Charlotte," She smiled, but it was the fakest smile she has ever had to pull off. Something inside her still feels a hint of sadness and panic because even though she has no idea if they are still together or where they stand, Rollins didn't kiss her or hug her when he came over and that in itself highlights how much things have already changed. That and the fact that both of them are both ringless.

"Okay, well I want to talk to you when you've finished so come down to my office. I need to take you somewhere," He said, handing her a visitor's pass and allowing her through into the hospital.

When she finally made her way up to Charlotte's private floor she knocked gently before letting herself in.

"Hello?" She called quietly. She saw Charlotte sat at her desk working away at doing some calculations to work out her dividend payments for her shares on the stock market or something similar. "Hello," She said again, this time with a raised voice so it caught the attention of her sister.

"Ali you're back!" She jumped up from her chair and instantly brought her sister into a hug.

"Yeah but I need to ask you something."

"Okay, sit down," She said, all of a sudden weary of Ali's serious tone.

"Why did you tell Mona that me and Rollins didn't love each other and encouraged them to be together?" Although the question caught her off guard, Charlotte sighed because she knew this was coming.

"Ali, I'm not blind and neither is everyone else. I've known since forever that you love Emily and when she came back for her dad's funeral I knew she loved you too. I knew you were in love with each other. Everyone could see it, even Jenna probably."

"That's low."

"It's true though… I did it for you Ali. I knew how scared you were of being the one to break Rollins' heart but I just thought if you both do the dirty on each other then you're both to blame," She shrugged.

"Charlotte! I do not need you dictating my relationships and controlling them like that, I've put up with enough of that crap and that's what drove Emily and I away in the first place!" Her voice was now substantially raised and she didn't even know why. Even Charlotte looked slightly gobsmacked but it wasn't until Ali realized what she said and how insensitive it was towards her sister that her voice softened and she apologized. "I'm sorry, I didn't mean that it's just I'm not dealing with this whole thing well."

"Ali, I did it for you. All I want in life is for you to be happy and I know as well as everyone else that you are at your happiest with Emily and I know she is the exact same. This is your opportunity to be with Emily Ali and it might be your last one, so take it. Follow your heart."

"I will, I need to tell her in person or face to face. I just need to see her. I can't deal with all of this." Ali sat back down, her vision now blurry from the build-up of unshed tears. Within seconds Charlotte was sit right next to her, pulling her into her arms.

"Ali what's this really about?"

"It's November and I'm not going to see her until March. I have to wait that long to touch her, cuddle her, kiss her. I don't think I can do it, not now that I know we can be together. I don't want to be here alone and her over there when we should be here together. I can't do that every single year for the rest of my life. What if we have kids? She'll miss everything."

"Woah, slow down there. Kids, Ali are you serious? You aren't even together yet and you're already worried about kids? One step at a time baby sis," She laughed, causing Ali to sniffle a slight giggle against her shoulder. "Just focus on getting through your separation with Rollins and telling Emily. Once you tell her, it will be a huge weight lifted off your shoulder. Who knows you might even have phone sex."

"Okay and I think that's my cue to leave," Ali laughed, lifting her head off Charlotte's shoulder and wiping her tears.

"I love you Ali, I'm always here for you."

"I love you too," Ali said, pulling her into a hug before saying their goodbyes. Now she just had to find out what Rollins wanted.

It didn't take long for her to find him working away in his office. She knocked gently before waiting for him to let her in.

"Come in," He said, standing up from his desk and putting his jacket on. "I want to take you somewhere." He exited his office leaving Ali confused in the doorway. "Come on," He smiled, leading the way out of the hospital. They walked for around 5 minutes to the perimeter of the hospital. At the perimeter was a small woodland area and deep in the middle was a large pond.

"What are we doing here?" Surprise clearly evident in Ali's voice. This was the exact place that he had proposed to her.

"Well, it's our special place right? And I wanted to do something to show that we will always be a part of each other's lives. I know this is a strange situation we are in, I think it's strange too, but we can get through this – together – it might be best if I move out though but it's just one little step we have to take. I want to be a part of your life Ali and I want to make sure you're okay, especially until Emily come back so I'll keep coming to visit and things."

"Thank you. This is just so strange, I didn't expect us to end like this."

"Did you think it would be better or worse?"

"Worse," She laughed. Her laugh soon faded when she noticed him get their wedding rings out of his pocket.

"I want us to throw them in the pond. That way, there will always be a sentimental value on what we had – still have – because this isn't the end Ali, it's just the beginning." He smiled, taking her hand and placing her rings in the palm of her hand.

"I like that idea," She said as he took his free hand in hers and they faced out towards the pond.

"Here's to all the special memories we have shared in the past, let them never be forgotten. And here's to our future lives, full of happiness, love, prosperity, family and hopefully still each other as close friends." He said, squeezing her hand gently.

"To us, and the future." She said, as the pair threw the rings into the pond. They watched them disappear, like the end scene on Titanic when Rose throws the necklace into the ocean. It was a very bittersweet moment but Ali knows that this is for the best but now it's official. With no rings there is no sign of marriage, except -

"When we get divorced, I want you to keep my name. Until you become a Fields of course," He smiled, causing her to smile too as it was like he read her mind. "I know how much you have grown from your old DiLaurentis reputation."

"Thank you." She said, still overwhelmed by the day's events. It is fair to say that this has been one of the weirdest days she has and will ever experience in her life.

"I'm going to stay at Mona's for a few days, give us time to process what's happening and then we can sort out getting a divorce?" He smiled, he knows how much that word freaks her out so he tried to avoid the conversation but they both know it was inevitable. "I can't wait to find out Emily's reaction, you'll have to tell me what she says," He laughs as he buttons up his jacket.

"I will."

"See you around Ali," He smiled, walking off back in the direction of the hospital. Ali just let out a deep breath, looking out over the pond. Very bittersweet indeed, she thought.

A/N: Soooo Ali needs to now tell Emily the news but something may just happen which brings Emily back to Rosewood a lot sooner than she expected ;) Therefore next chapter will be based around Emily. Keep reviewing etc I'd love to know what you thought of the chapter :)