So this chapter seriously took on a life of it's own. It's very different from what I had intended and there is some serious out of character moments with Alison and Paige, but hey, it is what it is... Oh and I apologize in advance for the Emily hating party near the end of the chapter, I have a lot of resentment towards her character at the moment, this is how I'm dealing with it (the evil part of me can't help but contemplate a ridiculous OC one-shot of Paige and Alison making nice and skipping off into the sunset leaving Emily behind...) ANYWAYS, now that my rant is over. On with the story. After this there will be one more chapter. Enjoy.

The Precipice
Part VI

When Hanna falls asleep Alison calls Paige.

The brunette picks up on the second ring.

Alison is so startled that Paige actually picked up all she can do is manage to stutter out the words.

Hanna, Hanna's house, come quick.

The line goes dead and Paige takes off. Her clothes askew and her hair still dripping wet from the pool water, she doesn't even think about the fact that she'd let Hanna take her car.

When she gets to the school parking lot she curses but doesn't slow down, instead she takes off running, thankful for her athleticism.

After calling Paige, Alison busies herself finding supplies to bandage Hanna's wounds. For now, she's got her arms wrapped in gauze, but several of the cuts are deep enough that they'll need stitches. Once everything is rounded up she sits down on the bed and gently caresses Hanna's pale face.

When Paige gets to Hanna's she doesn't knock she just shoves the door open and bolts up the stairs, taking them two at a time.

Not knowing what to expect she takes a breath and pushes open the door. Instantly she's hit with the coppery scent of blood mixed with bleach, it's a disgusting combination.

Eyes wide she looks around the room, seeing Hanna's sleeping form in the bed, her head in Alison's lap.

When her enemy looks up there are tear tracks down her cheeks. Momentarily stunned Paige doesn't move, she just watches as Alison slides Hanna's head from her lap and stands. She points towards the door and a whispered, 'I'll wait outside.'

Then she's gone.

Paige sighs but moves over to Hanna's bedside, instantly noticing the bandages wrapped around the girl's wrist. Silently she curses herself for letting the blonde go home alone, god only knows what happened to her.

Leaning in she kisses the girls forehead then leaves the room again.

She finds Alison perched on the steps, still crying, face buried in her hands. When she sits down next to the girl she can't quite bring herself to hate anymore she puts a hand on the girl's back.

It's weird, she should feel pain, anger, hatred for this girl, but she doesn't. Everything with Alison seems like a distant memory because the only thing that matters now is Hanna.

"Do you know what happened?"

The blonde peaks up at her, confusion and pain on her face.

But she nods, sitting up a bit and wiping her eyes.

With a shaky voice the girl answers back.

"I don't know the whole story, I just, I was walking to your house, hoping to check on her again when I saw her on the porch. The others were there too, and things looked off but I couldn't hear them. I was about to show myself but then I saw Hanna run. I wasn't sure what to do so I waited a minute before deciding to follow her. When I got here the door was wide open I thought 'A' got to her…"

Alison's crying again, and Paige pats her back trying to get her to calm down.

"I heard her crying and ran upstairs into her room, but I didn't see her. Then I heard her again from the bathroom. When I walked in she was slumped against the wall and there was blood everywhere. She was unconscious. I almost called an ambulance, but then she woke up enough to look at me. So I bandaged her arms, put her in bed and called you… I'm still not sure I did the right thing, some of those cuts are deep Paige…"

Hearing her name fall from Alison's pink lips is the strangest thing she's ever heard, but she shakes it off.

"No its okay. She's not in a good place and the hospital, everyone finding out would've been too much. You did the right thing... But maybe I should go wake her up to make sure? Do you want to umm, do you want to come too?"

Alison nods.

"Should we call Caleb first?"

Paige shakes her head.

"He doesn't know about the cutting, he knows she isn't in a good place, but I don't think it's our place to tell him…"

"Okay. Let's go then."

Together the old enemies walk upstairs and enter Hanna's room.

Paige kneels down by the bed and wipes Hanna's furrowed brow, she can tell the girl is having a nightmare.

Alison stands a little ways back, not quite sure what to do, so she watches.

She feels her phone vibrate in her pocket and picks it up, afraid it's 'A' but it's an incoming call from Emily. Hitting the silent button she shoves it back it her pocket.

Paige lightly shakes Hanna, calling her name softly.

After a few tries the blonde starts to stir. When she opens her eyes they land on concerned hazel orbs.

"Hey…"

Hanna frowns and lets out a little whimper.

"It hurts."

Stroking the girl's hair she tries to soothe her.

"I know sweetie, but it's gonna be okay. I need you to try and sit up though."

Hanna just nods and tries to push herself up.

With Paige's help she manages to sit up, her eyes landing on Alison.

Confusion ripples through her, but then she remembers brilliant blue eyes filled with tears.

"Ali…"

The whisper is soft and sweet, and the sound fills Alison's chest with a warmth she hasn't felt since the night Emily kissed her.

Without a word she rushes over and in seconds the girls are embracing, hugging each other tightly, tears falling from their eyes.

It's minutes before they pull away.

Hanna's eyes lock on Alison's.

"I'm so sorry Hanna, I'm sorry if any of this is my fault, I never wanted this, I wanted to be better, I tried. I'm sorry…"

Hanna moves a bandaged arm and wipes Alison's tears.

"It's okay."

"No it isn't Hanna. You're hurting, you could've died! And I was so scared! I've almost lost you too many times and I…"

She chokes on her own emotion remembering how scared she'd been seeing Hanna in the hospital when Mona ran her over.

"Please forgive me Han, I'll do whatever to prove that I care…"

Hanna puts her hand on Alison's.

"Stop. I think you've made it more than clear, how much you care… and I care too you know?"

They share a small smile and it's only then that they remember Paige.

Hanna turns to Paige and this time it's her turn to apologize.

"I'm sorry… I tried… they cornered me again and I… I wasn't strong enough. I'm sorry I'm so weak."

Paige leans over and wipes at the tears.

"Never apologize for that Hanna."

Paige moves her gaze away from Hanna to Alison.

"Thank you. Thank you for apologizing to me, for caring about Hanna, for trying to be a better person, for being here for her when I wasn't."

A weird emotion overtakes Alison, and in the most abnormal gesture of her life she leans over and takes Paige's hand, squeezing it tightly. The brunette just stares wide eyed then squeezes back.

Hanna sighs and looks down at the bandages on her arms, interrupting the strange moment between the former enemies.

"I hate to break up this moment but I need to know, how bad is it?"

Her question is directed at the other blonde, who looks apprehensive.

"It's bad, some of them need stiches Han, I almost took you to the hospital… but I…"

Squeezing her eyes shut Hanna whimpers in pain.

"I don't want to go to the hospital, then everyone will know…"

Instantly she starts to panic, the fear invading her chest and swallowing her whole.

"Hanna! Hanna! Breathe damn it!"

Paige's voice is harsh but the constant sound brings Hanna back to reality.

"If you trust me Han, I can stitch them up…"

Both other girls look up and stare into blue eyes with confusion and curiousity.

"It's not like I could go to a doctor when I was running… I had to learn to fend for myself. Remember that scar on my thigh?"

Hanna nods.

"After I was stabbed I stitched it up… but don't worry, that was my first one, I've gotten a lot better after the other four times… see? This was the last one I did."

Shrugging off her jacket she points to a thin scar on her lower bicep that's about 5 inches long.

"You can barely even see it and that was with 22 stitches!"

Paige feels her stomach turn. When Alison had returned she was so angry and upset that she hasn't even considered what the girl had went through, but knowing that she'd been stabbed, more than once, sent a chill through her.

Hanna's eyes are pained as she looks up at her friend. She, like Paige, had never taken the time to consider what horrors Alison had been through. But pushing the sickening feeling aside she looks up into hopeful blue eyes.

"I can do this Han… let me help you?"

Hanna just nods.

Carefully the three of them remove the bandages. Her right arm only has three cuts, none of which are severe, they mix with several old scars and two still healing cuts.

Her left arm is a different story. There are nine different wounds, and three of them are pretty deep.

Carefully Alison sets about cleaning the wounds, sterilizing a needle and stitching up her friend.

When Paige excuses herself, not able to listen to Hanna's whimpers of pain any longer she walks down the hall pulling out her phone.

She notices a missed text from Caleb and four missed calls from Emily.

Feeling resentment towards the dark haired beauty she deletes the calls and opens the message.

October 15, 2014 6:29pm
From: Caleb Rivers
Have you heard from Hanna? She was going to meet me at the grille in half and hour but she hasn't answered my texts since about four.

Furrowing her brow she sends him a message.

October 15, 2014 6:54pm
To: Caleb Rivers
I'm with her now. She's not doing well again, she had another run in with the girls, but she's talking to Alison now, they are making amends, it seems to be making her feel a bit better. I will have her text you in a while.

October 15, 2014 6:55pm
From: Caleb Rivers
Okay, as long as she's not alone. Tell her I love her.

October 15, 2014 6:55pm
To: Caleb Rivers
I will. Talk to you soon.

Paige just sighs and heads back into the bedroom. When she walks in she sees Hanna resting against Ali's chest, her arm bandaged and her eyes closed.

Unfortunately the girl's room isn't the cleanest and she trips over a pile of shoes making a loud noise.

Hanna mumbles something and opens one eye.

"You're noisy."

Alison chuckles and Paige looks away a little guiltily.

"Sorry Han, but while you're awake I wanted you to know I talked to Caleb. I didn't tell him what happened just that you and Alison were making up. He said to text him later. Oh and to tell you that he loves you."

Hanna feels her heart expand. Laying with Alison, Paige looking at her with affection, Caleb telling her he loves her. It feels like maybe her life is starting to get better, that maybe she'll make it after all. Looking into hazel eyes she lets out a silent promise not to cut again, for Paige, for Caleb, for Alison, for herself.

Two hours later, Hanna is fast asleep in her bed, Paige is dozing off next to her, Alison sitting on the porch outside.

She hadn't been staying at the Marin household the last few days because she knew Hanna needed space, but after the events of the day she couldn't bring herself to leave, didn't think she'd ever be able to leave the blonde again, too scared and guilty and worried.

Not really sure if she was still welcome she'd called Mrs. Marin and asked if she could stay the night again. The older woman had assured her that was fine, that it would be good because she was staying in Philly because of some extra paperwork. She asked about Hanna, and Alison had told her that she'd had a long day and was asleep in her bed. Not knowing what exactly was going on with Hanna and Paige she left that part out.

Alison let her thoughts wander slightly because she could see that Paige and Hanna had something special, but then again she'd heard Hanna's heart race when Paige had mentioned Caleb.

Knowing from experience that love and sexual identity were not black and white she decided that it wasn't any of her business, as long as Hanna was safe.

Just then she heard a noise near the street. Instantly on alert she looked up and gazed out into the darkness.

"Hello? Is anyone there?"

Instantly a voice responded.

"It's just me."

Recognizing Emily's voice Ali relaxed, but only slightly. Earlier Hanna had told her that she'd been cutting because of how the others were treating her, and even though she was in love with Emily, her protective mode kicked in immediately.

"What are you doing here?"

Emily stepped a bit closer, standing at the edge of the sidewalk.

"I could ask you the same thing?"

Ever since the incident with Mona things had been tense between them. And Alison had been dealing with her own demons, and accepting the fact that she was too tainted, and that Emily would never be hers.

"I'm here for Hanna, Emily. She needed me."

Instantly jumping to the conclusion that Alison is lying she scoffs.

"Yeah right. She can hardly stand being around you…"

Feeling a bitter taste in her mouth Alison can't stop the insult on her lips.

"At least she's not afraid of me."

The words hit Emily deep, and she remembers that it[s her Hanna's afraid of, not Alison.

"Honestly I think it might be best if you leave, I think you've done enough today."

Emily doesn't know what to say to that. She can feel the hurt and accusation in Alison's voice and that cuts almost as deep as the thought of hurting Hanna.

The blonde stands up and crosses her arms, not backing down; it makes Emily desperate to explain herself.

Just as she's about to clarify another voice comes from inside.

"Alison, is everything okay?"

Instantly the brunette recognizes the voice. She stands frozen in complete and utter shock, not really believing what she's heard until the girl appears in the doorway.

Paige's ponytail is a little mussed; her shirt wrinkly and her eyes still a little heavy with sleep.

"I woke up and you were gone, then I heard voices…"

Stopping dead in her tracks the girl locks eyes with Emily. Paige's stare is hard and accusing, Alison's full of sadness, Emily's still full of shock.

All three women stand, unsure of what to say, long minutes pass before the trance is finally shattered by a tiny, broken voice floating through the air.

"Paige? Ali?"

Instantly, as if by magnetism the blonde and the brunette turn towards the sound then towards each other.

"I've got it."

Without another glace at Emily she turns.

"I'm coming sweetie."

Paige almost smiles. Earlier Hanna had told them both (through grateful, tear filled eyes) that she liked it when they called her sweetie, after Paige had let the nickname slip. She said it made her feel a tiny bit better. And true to her word Alison was doing whatever Hanna wanted, whatever she needed. Paige is still astonished that Alison's acting this way, that they've managed to put their differences aside. In the beginning it had been about Hanna. But when the girl had fallen asleep and Alison had once again looked into her eyes and apologized, she felt the sincerity of it all.

Now standing here with Emily she knew the girl was in shock too. Wasn't it just a week ago when she'd tried to get them to reconcile?

"What is going on Paige?"

The raven haired girl's voice is accusatory, but she just sighs.

"If you're here to pick a fight you're wasting your time. I'm too tired to fight with you anymore."

Emily's eyes soften just a tiny bit.

"I'm not here to fight. I'm here for answers. I got a text from 'A' last night, well more like a few… You were right, we did hurt her, I just, I've been such a bitch and I wanted to apologize today. But when she saw me and Aria and Spencer she got that scared look in her eyes and bolted. You need to tell me what's going on Paige? And why are you in the middle of this? And now Ali too?"

Inhaling deeply Paige lets the words settle in her mind, trying to decide if they are the truth.

"Look Emily, you hurt her. No, you broke her. She was already hurting, already spiralling out of control and when you turned your back on her she thought she was completely alone. And this time, an 'I'm sorry' isn't going to fix it. The wounds are too deep. I know what she's going through, and like I said before I care about her, she needs me, and I need her."

"And Alison? Do you need her now too?"

Emily's voice is bitter again and Paige almost thinks she detects a hint of jealously, although she's not really sure who it's directed at.

"As much as I hate to admit this, I was wrong about her. She's not the same person she was, and when she came to me the other day asking about Hanna, I realized that she does have a heart after all… if it wasn't for her Hanna would be…"

The words die in her throat, and the thought of losing the blonde hurts Paige to the core. She's grown to care about the girl so much over the past weeks.

Emily's heart grows heavy in her chest again. She's at a loss for words, was Paige really insinuating what she thought, but that couldn't be.

"Look, I get that you want to make amends, but she needs time to heal. Give her time and space. And when she's ready she'll come to you, because if there is one thing I'm more sure of than anything else, it's that she loves you. All of you, and that's why this cut her so deep."

Dejectedly Emily nods, wiping away a stray tear. As she's about to ask Paige another question, Alison appears in the doorway again.

"Hanna's asking for you. I can take it from here."

Paige nods and looks at Emily again.

"Give her time okay?"

Emily just nods.

When Paige is gone Alison stares at Emily before the taller girl speaks up.

"Is it true? Did you apologize to her again?"

She just nods.

"I used to hate her so badly. Looking back I realize I was just jealous at the idea of someone else wanting you the way I did, the way I do. I owed her an apology and I don't deserve her understanding…. But I can see what you see in her. She's got a good heart."

Unable to say anything because she barely even recognizes the girl in front of her, she just nods.

Not knowing what else to say Alison just stands there staring at the ground. It feels strange being so honest and open like this, but seeing one of her best friends the way she saw Hanna changes something inside of a person.

"I should head back inside, Hanna might need me."

Emily just nods, numbly.

"Em?"

"Yeah?"

"I know things are messed up still, but we're all gonna get through this okay?"

The taller girl she nods, a tear falling down her cheek. Her heart hurts, hurts for her best friend, hurts because she can't even handle this new dynamic between Alison and Paige, hurts because what the hell is wrong with her? When did she become this person?

Sighing she watches Alison turn and walk back into the house, towards Hanna and Paige, and away from her.

One last note... The next chapter will be the last, and originally I had a Haleb romance ending in store, is that what everyone wants to see or would you prefer a Panna romantic ending? I'd love some feedback...