Disclaimer: Yeah, I don't own them. What else is new?

Eh… I don't like this trying to break these chapters up to make them shorter… it totally screws with my flow so I'll just stick to my longer chapters for all future stories from now on.

This chapter was originally longer but I had to cut it off somewhere so this seemed like the logical place.

Thanks as always for reading and reviewing.

Although it only shows up very briefly in this chapter… it's time for "The T-Shirt" to finally make an appearance. ;-)

Enjoy!


The T-Shirt

Chapter 3

Kira turned back and walked into the condo to see Emily sitting on the sofa with her head in her hands, tugging on the long strands of her brunette hair.

"What the heck was that about?" she asked as she shut the door. "Where the heck is Angry Ali going?"

Emily sighed and looked up. "Don't even ask," she said as she leaned back on the sofa.

"That doesn't sound good," Kira said as she sat on the sofa beside the brunette. "What are you two fighting about now?"

"What do you mean now? We don't fight that much."

"No, you don't," Kira agreed. "So when you do it's usually the end of the world as we know it," Kira teased, trying to lighten the moment but Emily just looked at her blandly, not in the mood.

Kira sobered. "Come on, Em. Tell me what's going on."

"It's this stupid guy on my running route," she growled, wishing she'd never even told Alison about Daren in the first place. Then she felt guilty for even thinking that because she didn't lie to Alison.

"The one who keeps asking you out?" Kira asked. Emily had told Kira about last weekend while they were at a UCLA swim meet. Even though they'd graduated six months earlier they still attended the meets sometimes.

"Yeah," Emily nodded her head before she closed he eyes.

"What about him?"

"He asked me out again this morning."

"That's what's got her swirling all around like the Tasmanian Devil? Did you say yes or something?" Kira arched her brow with surprise.

"Kira," Emily looked pointedly at her friend. "Really?"

"So that was Jealous Ali that stormed by me before, not just Angry Ali. I should have known the walk," Kira said more to herself than Emily.

The brunette shook her head, ignoring Kira's use of her nicknames for Alison. The she scowled. "I don't know why she gets jealous of guys."

"Yeah," Kira agreed. "I mean, I can see her getting her panties in a twist if a girl hit on you, but guys aren't even on your radar... or gaydar, if you will." Kira smirked at her own joke.

Emily gave Kira a pointed look, clearly not amused. "I don't understand why she gets jealous at all. I've never looked at anyone else."

"Do you even understand why she does half of what she does?" Kira asked.

"No," Emily huffed, although that wasn't entirely true.

The brunette knew Alison better than anyone and, after all this time, understood her motivations instinctively most of the time. But her unreasonable jealousy sometimes, Emily just didn't get.

"She just won't let this go for some reason. It's ridiculous and I made the mistake of saying that so she stormed out of here."

"Do you two have PMS?" Kira asked curiously.

"No," Emily shook her head.

"Is it that time of the month then? She's always more irrational when the two of you are on the rag."

"I hate that phrase," Emily said as she blanched. "And, no, but that's part of the problem."

"Huh?" Kira looked a little afraid to ask her next question. "Do I even want to know what kinds of kinky things you two are into now?"

"Kira," Emily sighed and shook her head again in exasperation. "You have absolutely no boundaries."

Kira shrugged and smirked. "Ali's rubbed off on me I guess. So if the two of you aren't on your periods," Kira emphasized the word for Emily's sake. "Then why don't you just fuck her senseless. That always calms her right the fuck down."

She and Alison hadn't had sex since that morning Daren had first asked her out. It had been almost two long weeks and neither, she or Alison, did well if they went that long without being intimate.

"Like I said that's part of the problem. We had our periods and then I had my first couple exams of the semester and then she's been barely talking to me for the past three days, so..." Emily trailed off, hoping Kira got the hint.

"What? It's been that long? This is more serious than I thought," Kira said as she bit her lip, but Emily could hear the sarcasm in her tone.

"This isn't funny."

"So that was not only Angry Ali, it was Jealous Ali and Horny Ali? My god, Em, we can't let that Ali be unleashed on the world, we have to get her back here."

"Kira, knock it off," Emily snapped as she scowled.

Kira punched Emily's good shoulder. "Then stop being such a drama queen. Let the girl work off some steam. She's probably going shopping. She'll buy some pretty shoes, and a purse, and a frilly little dress that's too short to be considered decent, just so she can tease you relentlessly when she wears it. Then she'll come back here later and you can defile each other six ways to Sunday."

"That won't solve this, Kira," Emily insisted, although she wished Kira was right.

Emily knew a big part of this was the fact that she and Alison hadn't been intimate in far too long. Intimacy, not just the sex, was a very important aspect of their relationship. The more time they let go by, the more tense and out of sorts they both felt.

Kira rolled her eyes. "Sure it will. It always does."

"No, it doesn't and why do you always use stupid nicknames for Ali anyway?" Emily said temporarily changing the subject.

"I have names for all of Ali's personalities," Kira said as if it was obvious.

"Ali doesn't have multiple personalities, Kira." No it was Emily's turn to roll her eyes.

"Your girlfriend is Sybil, Em. Her personalities have personalities," Kira replied wryly. "There's Crazy Ali and Angry Ali, and Horny Ali and Jealous Ali and Protective Ali and Sappy Ali, which is the Ali we see most of the time. That's the Ali that turns to mush at the sight of you and can't keep her hands off you," Kira explained as Emily shot her a bland look. "Then there's Bitchface Ali, who is my personal favorite, as long as she's not turned on me."

"Those are moods, not personalities, Kira."

Pepe wandered into the room, looking hesitant, but when he saw Kira he loped over for some petting.

"Po-tay-to, Po-tah-to," Kira replied. "The point is your girl has a mood for every occasion. And over the years I've felt the need to name them."

"I don't even have the energy to reply to that."

Kira laughed as she rubbed the dog's ears. "Good. Now, come on. Go get showered and dressed and let's go to the movies."

"I don't feel like going to the movies anymore."

"No, way. You're not ditching me too," Kira complained grumpily as she stood and tugged Emily to her feet. "I ditched Todd today for the two of you." Kira's tone softened as she rubbed Emily's arm. "I've seen the two of you fight for four years now, trust me, I'm an expert. She'll be back when she's calmed down. And you'll make up and all will be right with the world."

Emily hesitated and sighed. "I don't know."

"What are you going to do? Sit around here moping all day? Quit being such a chick, Em. I'm giving you thirty minutes while I hang out with your dog and watch TV, then I'm dragging you out of here whether you're naked or not."

"The movie doesn't start for almost three hours."

"So we'll go hang out in the village while we wait. Come on, now," Kira tapped her watch. "Clock's ticking."

Emily huffed out an exaggerated sigh. "Ali's right. You're really a pain in the ass sometimes."

"Thank you," Kira grinned unrepentantly as she slid to the floor and started rubbing Pepe's belly. "Now, hurry up."

####################

Alison sat, fidgeting, on her shrink's sofa as the woman in question sat across from her, patiently waiting for Alison to speak.

"Thanks for seeing me on a Saturday like this, Marianne," Alison said.

The woman smiled. "I was here catching up on some paperwork and you sounded like you really needed to talk. I told you that you could call me anytime, Alison."

"Yeah, but you shouldn't have to deal with your patients on the weekend."

"You're more to me than just a patient, Alison. You should know that by now." When Alison didn't respond, Marianne continued. "Why don't you tell me what happened that made you feel the need to see me today?"

Alison bit her lip as she looked away. "Em and I had a fight," she said softly and she rubbed her hands over her thighs anxiously.

"Okay," Marianne said slowly. "You've had disagreements with Emily before though and they didn't drive you to seek me out."

"This wasn't just a disagreement," Alison replied as she looked back and met Marianne's eyes. "It was a fight or it was going that way fast. It started to get really bad and I could feel it building up in me."

"You could feel what building up?" Marianne asked.

"That urge to lash out and cut her down. But I don't do that to her. I won't ever do that to her again," Alison said fiercely before sagging in her seat. "So I walked out."

"Well, it's good you recognized it coming and took steps to counteract it. That's progress, Alison," Marianne encouraged the blonde. "You should be proud of yourself."

"Proud?" Alison scoffed. "Sure. Proud that for a brief second I wanted to verbally eviscerate and hurt the girl I love."

"Proud that you didn't," Marianne replied. "Proud that your love for her was greater than your need to feel better about yourself. That's a big step for someone with your disorder."

Alison sighed as she felt tears welling in her eyes.

"What was your fight about?"

"My stupid jealousy," Alison said with distaste.

"What were you jealous of?"

"Some guy hit on her a couple of times." Alison admitted a bit reluctantly because even she knew how absurd it sounded.

"A guy?" Marianne seemed surprised by this and looked up from the notepad she was writing on.

"I didn't say it was rational," Alison scowled.

"Why would you be jealous of a guy, Alison? You've never been before."

Alison shrugged. "Sure I have. I just didn't tell you about it."

Marianne arched a brow at Alison's reply.

"Emily is gay. And she loves you. Why would a guy hitting on her make you feel jealous?"

The thing Alison liked about Marianne was she never sounded condescending when she spoke. She was just matter-of-fact and didn't pull any punches. It was what Alison appreciated most about her.

"I'm jealous of everyone who gives her attention like that," Alison replied just as matter-of-factly, before adding. "She's mine."

"Emily isn't a possession."

That wasn't the first time someone made a comment like that to Alison and it made her scowl.

"I know that," she snapped. "But she's still mine. There's a reason my name is tattooed on her body. Why her name is tattooed on mine. It's permanent."

"Tattoos can be removed," Marianne pointed out as she tilted her head thoughtfully.

"Not without leaving a permanent scar in its place," Alison retorted and her scowl deepened. "And why are you being like this? I hate it when you act like this. I thought you were supposed to make me feel better."

Marianne shook her head. "I'm not here to make you feel better, Alison. I'm here to help you cope with your lifelong personality disorder so you can hopefully live a full life with healthy relationships."

"Well, you're doing a pretty crappy job of it, because my relationship is a mess right now."

"The two of you had an argument, Alison; it's not the end of the world."

"It feels like it is," Alison replied peevishly.

"I know you've had Emily sit in on some of our sessions in the past, would you like to set up an appointment for the two of you to come in together?" Marianne suggested.

"No," Alison rejected her suggestion. "I wanted Em in those sessions because I wanted her to be able to understand me better, not because I wanted a mediator."

"Okay, what do you want then?"

Alison growled and slammed her fists down on the cushions beside her thighs.

"I want to stop feeling this way. I want to stop being jealous of stupid stuff. Of guys. Because it's irrational. Even of girls, because I know Emily loves me. I know she does." The tears she'd been valiantly holding back finally slipped from Alison's eyes despite her effort to keep them at bay. "I just don't know why she does, because I'm out of control and crazy. I just want to stop being crazy."

Marianne leaned forward to the coffee table between them and grabbed the box of tissues, handing it to Alison.

"You're not crazy, Alison. You have a mental illness. One that you're working very hard to manage. But management sometimes has its setbacks. That doesn't make you crazy."

"Then why do I feel crazy?" Alison hiccupped softly before her tears started anew.

##################

"Come on, I'll text her to meet us at Pomodoro's," Kira said as she and Emily exited the theater.

"She won't come," Emily said and sighed.

"She can't still be mad. It's been over eight hours." Kira pulled out her phone and brought up Ali's number.

"Have you met Ali?" Emily asked as she shot Kira a look.

"Just leave it to Kira," Kira replied, grinning, as she referred to herself in the third person.

"I think you're wasting your time," Emily said, although she hoped Kira could talk Ali into meeting them. She was worried about the blonde.

Emily had tried texting her twice, asking if she was alright and when she was coming home, but all she got were short, curt replies; a single word "yes" that she was alright and another single word "later," in answer to when she was coming home.

"Let me run to the bathroom real quick," Emily said and Kira nodded absently as she typed.

"Okay, I'll meet you outside."

Kira stepped out into the cool early evening air just as she hit send.

To Ali: Bitch, untwist your panties and meet us for pizza a Pomodoro's

Alison's reply came almost instantly. Short and simple.

From Ali: No!

Kira's eyes narrowed at her phone as she typed her reply.

To Ali: Fine. I'll get your girl drunk and use all my influence to convince her abstinence is the best choice for her entire first semester of med school. You know how impressionable she is when she's drunk on good Italian wine ;P

Kira leaned against the side of the building as she waited for Alison's reply. It came almost as quickly as the first.

From Ali: Bitch, I will murder you in your sleep

Kira barked out a laugh. "There's my girl," she murmured to herself.

To Ali: Then get your ass over there. We'll be there in 15

No reply came this time, so she slipped her phone back into her purse just as Emily walked outside.

"Did you get her?" Emily asked as she slipped her jacket on.

"Oh, yeah," Kira chuckled.

"Is she coming?" Emily looked hopeful.

"Not sure yet."

Emily's hopeful look morphed into a frown and Kira threw her arm over Emily's shoulder.

"Come on Doc, let's just go eat. She'll either come or she won't. And if she doesn't, you'll just have to make her come later."

###############

Emily and Kira slid into their booth at the back of the restaurant as Kira checked her phone again.

"Still no reply?" Emily said as she pursed her lips. "I told you she wouldn't come."

"She might," Kira replied as she put her phone on the table and huffed. "Now she's just getting on my nerves."

"Did she reply at all?" Emily asked as she looked at the menu. She was starting to really worry, now, because Ali had been MIA for over nine hours now.

"Yeah, twice," Kira said as she tapped her fingers on the table. "But nothing since we left the theater."

"What did you text her?"

Kira's lips curved into a smirk that had Emily narrowing her eyes.

"What did you text her, Kira?"

Before Kira could reply, their waiter walked up.

"It's my girls," Marco, their regular waiter greeted as he smiled. As their favorite pizza place, they ate at the Pomodoro several times a month and always asked for Marco.

Marco was in his late twenties and he was an up and coming artist from Milan. But like so many up and coming artists, he had another job to pay the bills, for the time being anyway.

Emily and Alison had bought one of his paintings at one of his shows over the summer. It was a watercolor landscape of the Italian country side and it was hanging in their living room.

Marco and Alison had an ongoing tease fest; one where she teased him relentlessly, by teasing Emily relentlessly, by not keeping her hands or lips off her girl every time Marco came to the table. Like most straight guys they became friends with, Marco was enamored of the beautiful blonde and brunette who only had eyes for each other.

"Hey, Marco," Kira grinned and Emily also smiled at him.

"Hi, Marco."

"Where's my blondie," he asked as he looked around. He always referred to Alison as "my blondie" and he was one of the only people alive she let get away with using both the possessive and her hair color to describe her. "She in the ladies room?"

"She's not here," Emily said and Marco frowned.

"What? Why has blondie forsaken me?" he asked dramatically as he sat down in the booth beside Emily.

"Em got in trouble," Kira offered and Emily glared at her.

"Ahhh," he nodded his head knowingly. He bumped her playfully with his shoulder. "I get in trouble with my girl all the time, so I feel ya."

"I didn't do anything wrong," Emily said. "At least I think I didn't," she added more softly.

"Neither do I," he shot her a sympathetic look. "But that hardly matters, now does it?"

"You're not helping, Marco," Emily said as she scowled.

Marco chuckled as he stood. "Don't worry about my blondie. She'll come around I'm sure. Just flash those big beautiful brown eyes at her and she'll melt. Now do you two want your usual?" he asked.

"Yeah," Kira replied as she handed him the menu. "But I think we should get a bottle of wine though."

"Kira, I told you I'm not getting drunk."

"Who says you have to get drunk. Nothing wrong with getting a little buzzed though. It will be easier to deal with Ali later if you are."

"That's doubtful."

Kira waved her hand dismissively. "Don't listen to her Marco; bring us a bottle of the Merlot."

"You got it." Marco walked away and Emily sighed.

"You're going to be drinking most of that yourself."

"We'll see," Kira replied as she picked up her phone and started typing out a text.

"What are you doing?"

"Texting Ali again."

"Don't harass her Kira. You're only going to make it worse for me later." Emily fiddled with the silverware on the table, just to do something with her hands.

"Now that's where we disagree," Kira said absently as she focused on her phone. "See, if I can get her to transfer her anger to me, then you'll be in the clear. Think of this as me helping you out."

Emily laughed, unable to help herself. "It's frightening how you rationalized that to yourself."

Kira grinned as she continued typing. "Thank you."

Marco came back with two waters, two wine glasses and a bottle of Merlot.

"What are you texting to her?" Emily asked curiously.

"Probably best you don't know," Kira replied with a smirk. "Plausible deniability."

"Don't get her too mad at you because I'm too much in the shithouse to help you out of it."

Kira and Marco laughed as he worked at opening the bottle of wine.

"Marco, I'm using you as an accomplice in my text, is that cool?"

He nodded as he poured a both glasses of wine. "If it gets my blondie down here so I can see her gorgeous face, absolutely."

"You'll probably regret that," Emily murmured as she took a sip of her wine. She didn't intend to drink much but as soon as the liquid hit her tongue she found herself taking another deeper gulp.

To Ali: Marco's helping me get your mermaid drunk. You sure you don't want to come down here? Last chance before you find yourself having to use your own hand to get yourself off for the next few months…

Kira chuckled to herself as she put her phone down.

"I don't like the sound of that chuckle," Emily said as she took yet another sip of her wine.

Kira's phone beeped and she looked down at it.

From Ali: They will never find your body!

Kira laughed out loud. "I love your girl something fierce, Em."

"What did she say?"

Her laughed turned into a sigh. "Something very Ali but unfortunately I don't think she's coming."

Emily tried not to let the disappointment fill her but it consumed her in seconds. If Alison was refusing to meet them then she was clearly still angry.

"I think you might have to grovel a little bit there tonight, Doc." Kira said and she picked up the bottle of Merlot when she noticed Emily's glass already almost empty.

"I don't even know what I'm groveling for."

"Sure you do," Kira said as she poured Emily more wine and Emily looked at her confused.

"Kira, I'm gay," Emily said louder than she realized and several people around them looked over.

"You want to say that a little louder?" Kira choked on her wine as she chuckled. "I don't think they heard you at the front of the restaurant."

Emily looked around and a blush crept up her cheeks.

"And not that I don't love when you let gay flag fly, Em, but are you trying to make a point?"

"Her being jealous about this is asinine." Emily said as she took another swig from her newly refilled glass.

Emily knew she shouldn't be drinking, especially since she knew she and Alison were going to have to talk when she got home, but the wine tasted too good and was finally loosening the knot she'd had in her shoulders all day.

Kira looked at her friend patiently. "Not to put heterosexual stereotypes on to the two of you, but you really are the guy in your relationship aren't you?"

Emily put her glass down on the table and glared. "What the hell is that supposed to mean?"

Completely unfazed, Kira smiled sardonically. "It means sometimes you are so freaking clueless, it even amazes me. I can't believe you don't get it."

"Get what?" Emily asked as she sat back, starting to feel warm from the wine.

"What she's upset about," Kira said in an obvious tone.

"She's upset that a guy hit on me."

Kira shook her head. "No, she's not. Your cluelessness is sometimes really cute, Em. But sometimes you just really need a swift kick in the ass."

"What the hell, Kira?" Emily hissed as she leaned forward. "Whose side are you on anyway?"

Kira laughed at Emily's affronted tone. "You know I usually take yours, even if, for no other reason, just to piss Ali off. But this time I'm on your girl's side."

"I feel like I'm in the Twilight Zone," Emily sighed as she sat back again.

Kira grinned. "I love it when you use cross-generational references. It's the teacher in me."

"Kira, focus," Emily growled. "What am I being clueless about right now?"

Kira slid her fingertip around the mouth of her wineglass as she debated what to say.

"Do you know how she looks when you introduce her as your girlfriend? Or when you just even talk about her and she overhears you talking to other people and telling them about her?"

"I don't even know what you're talking about?" Emily said, Kira's point clearly lost on her somewhat fuzzy brain.

"She lights up like a Christmas tree," Kira continued as if Emily hadn't said anything. "There is nothing more in the world that makes your girl happy than for the world to know she's yours."

"What are you saying, Kira. My brain is on overload right now."

Kira tilted her head as she spoke again. "This isn't about her being jealous of a guy, who hit on you. Yeah, she gets a little crazy when anyone hits on you, male or female. That's just Ali, but she knows it means nothing to you, especially if it's a guy."

"So what is the problem then?" Emily asked exasperated.

Kira shook her head. "I can't believe I have to explain the inner workings of your girlfriend's mind to you. Although her mind isn't what's upset right now."

"Kira, will you focus please. I'm beginning to think you have ADD."

"My mother always thought that when I was a kid too."

"Kira," Emily growled.

"You've hurt her feelings, Em, plain and simple." Emily blinked in surprise at Kira's words but her friend just kept going. "And she's lashing out in her Crazy Ali way because you don't realize it and she doesn't want to tell you because she's knows deep down how irrational she's being. But, she feels like you're denying her. By not telling this guy that you're gay and you have a girlfriend, you're not telling the world who she is to you."

"She's everything," Emily said softly, still trying to process Kira's words because she had absolutely no idea she'd hurt Alison.

"Then what's the problem?" Kira asked. "Why haven't you told him about her?"

"Because he means nothing. I've spoken to him exactly three times for a total of four minutes, and I have no desire to exchange conversation with him ever again."

"But she's supposed to mean everything," Kira said, throwing Emily's words back at her, but not maliciously. "She tells people who you are to her; who don't even want to know who you are to her." Kira stopped and thought about her sentence to make sure it made sense. When she decided it did, she continued. "And you do it too, usually."

Emily felt her stomach drop and she swore she was going to throw up all of a sudden. "Has she talked to you about this?"

Kira tilted her head as she looked at Emily across the table.

"No, but I get Crazy Ali. Sometimes better than you."

##################

Alison looked up from the Cosmo magazine as she heard the front door open. She looked over at the clock. It was after nine but she wasn't surprised.

Pepe got up from his dog bed in the corner and walked out of the bedroom as Alison shifted slightly and tugged the long shirt she was wearing down over her thighs. It didn't go very low, but enough so that it made it look like it was just another sleep shirt.

She heard Emily greet Pepe in the hallway and by the tone of her voice and the slight slur of her words, Alison could tell Kira did as she threatened and got her girl drunk, although she didn't sound too bad.

Drunk Emily was a really handsy Emily and usually Alison loved that, offering her body up for Emily's pleasure and exploration, but she had some things to say to her girl tonight and having Emily's wandering hands distracting her was not going to help keep the blonde focused.

Emily leaned against the doorframe and looked at Alison sitting with her back against the headboard, feet out in front of her, with an issue of Cosmo on her lap. She knew her girlfriend well enough to know she wasn't reading, just flipping the pages absently as she waited for Emily to speak.

The bottle of wine she and Kira had split over dinner was just enough to take the edge off what had been a pretty shitty day. She was feeling warm and loose but, at that moment, as she looked at Alison, her tongue was anything but. Sometimes the very sight of the blonde still left Emily tongue tied and almost always left her breathless.

She had so many things she wanted to say to Alison, especially after her and Kira's talk at dinner. So many things she wanted to apologize for and so many words of love and reassurance she wanted to express.

But more than anything, at that very moment, Emily just wanted to fall into Alison's arms, bury her face in her girl's neck and just breathe her in.

"Hi," she managed to say quietly after a minute of just looking at the blonde.

"Hi," Alison replied just as softly, still not looking up. "Did you and Kira have a nice dinner?"

"It would have been better if you'd come," Emily replied as she walked carefully toward the bed, trying to gauge her girlfriend's mood.

So far, so good, but Emily didn't want to make a mistake and get into more trouble.

"No it wouldn't have," Alison said as she finally looked up.

"Marco missed you," Emily said as sat down on the end of the bed. "I missed you," she added honestly as she looked in Alison's eyes. The blonde's eyes were soft and a little sad, but they crinkled slight in the corners as her lips curved up just slightly.

Alison couldn't keep her lips from curling up as she looked at her girl. Emily was so cute when she was drunk, her facial features always so soft and playful and her eyes glassy and mischievous. She was a fun drunk, most of the time, and she was horny drunk, hornier than even Alison, and that was saying something.

Alison was still a little mad at her mermaid, still a little hurt, but not as much as she'd been earlier. Her talk with Marianne made her realize that she was probably being a little too hard on her girl.

Emily would never deliberately hurt the blonde and she knew that. The brunette was too sweet and kind and loving to do anything so intentional, but the fact that she didn't realize what it was doing to Alison is probably what bothered the blonde the most.

Granted, as Marianne pointed out, Alison had never told Emily how her avoidance, of telling the flower watering predator that she had a girlfriend, was making the blonde feel. And, although Emily knew Alison better than anyone and was very good as interpreting her crazy most of the time, she wasn't a mind reader and couldn't be expected to be one.

Emily reached a hand out and placed it gently on Alison's foot, just needing to touch her.

"You got a pedicure?" she observed as her lips quirked in a drunken little smile.

Alison wiggled her toes. "Yep."

Emily brushed her fingers gently over the top of Alison's foot and down over her toes, making the blonde shudder and sigh softly. "Pretty color," she commented softly.

"It's called Hooker Red," Alison said as she smirked and Emily grinned as she looked back up at her.

Emily's smile slipped away and she titled her head as she noticed what Alison was wearing.

"Ali, what does your shirt say?" she asked curiously as her fingers, of their own volition, moved higher, caressing up over Alison's ankle.

Drunk, handsy Emily was already on the move.

Alison smirked and tossed her magazine aside as she sat up straighter, tugging the fabric of her shirt down so the words, over her breasts, smoothed out.

"I bought you an early birthday present today."

"You bought that for me?" Emily arched her brow and because of the alcohol in her system, it looked more comical than skeptical.

Alison nodded, hoping that Emily would realize that the shirt really was a peace offering and not a slap in the face. The idea had come to her from something Marianne had said this afternoon and she immediately headed downtown to the fashion district to get the shirt made. The fashion district had much better quality clothing than the places in Hollywood that put personalized messages on shirts.

"And is there a reason you thought I'd want a shirt that said 'Lesbian and proud of it?'" Emily murmured, as she read the shirt, before looking down again as her hand moved slowly up Alison's calf, gently massaging the warm skin.

To distract herself from Emily's teasing touch, Alison shifted and tried to move her leg away but Emily's hand just followed, her fingertips brushing softly just below Alison's knee.

"Well I figured if you didn't want to tell your new friend about your sexual orientation, all you had to do was wear this and problem solved."

The fact that Alison could joke about this, at least she hoped the shirt was a joke, made the lead that was sitting in Emily's stomach recede just a little.

Emily toed off her shoes and shifted on the mattress, getting to her knees beside Alison's foot. "Ali, I don't want to fight about this anymore," she said honestly and Alison could hear the defeat in her girl's voice; and the blonde's heart broke just a little knowing she was the reason for it.

Maybe this shirt wasn't such a good idea after all.

"What do you want, Em?" Alison asked softly.

"You," Emily answered softly, and her eyes darkened with desire, as she leaned down and pressed a soft kiss to the top of Alison's foot, before sliding softly over to her ankle.

"Em," Alison breathed as Emily's lips slowly traveled up the blonde's calf, her fingertips gently fluttering up the outsides of Alison's legs.

Emily tugged gently, pulling Alison lower on the bed and she straddled her, one knee between Alison's calves, as her tongue swirled over Alison's knee to her thigh.

Alison's body trembled and she knew she should stop her girl, knew she should resist, because they needed to talk. But she convinced herself that having a serious conversation when Emily was half drunk was probably not the best idea.

Emily's pressed soft kisses over Alison's thighs and she pushed them further apart with her hands as the blonde whimpered her name and reached down to caress the brunette's soft hair.

"Always, you," Emily whispered as she pushed Alison's t-shirt up and nuzzled Alison's mound over her panties, inhaling, and moaning softly as the scent of the blonde's arousal surrounded her.

Surrendering, Alison fell back onto the pillow, moaning long and low, spreading her thighs a little more, but she kept her fingers in her girl's hair.

"Baby," she whispered as she tugged gently on the long strands as Emily continued kissing up her body, pushing her shirt higher, exposing first her stomach and then her breasts.

Emily's fingertips fluttered up and down the insides of Alison's thighs and her nose brushed over Alison's nipple, causing the blonde's back to arch.

She pressed a gentle kiss on both of Alison's nipples before she moved higher, over the shirt that wouldn't go any higher, finally reaching her girl's neck.

Emily buried her face in the crook of Alison's neck and inhaled deeply, brushing her nose up the column of the blonde's throat, finally, exactly, where she'd wanted to be since she walked in the door.

Alison thrust her fingers into Emily's hair now and she turned her face to nuzzle Emily's cheek.

The blonde took a deep shuddering breath as Emily's lips softly caressed her ear, and the brunette breathed softly. "Only you."

Alison exhaled a soft moan and she gripped her girl's face and pulled Emily's lips to hers. Both girls whimpered and Emily lowered her body down on top of Alison, as their lips met in a soft, deep kiss, which soothed both girls' frazzled nerves.

The kiss was long and languid and Alison wrapped her arms around Emily and tugged on the back of her shirt. The brunette tore her lips away briefly and with Alison's help, her shirt was removed and she was left in only her satin bra.

Emily shifted to the side and settled half on the mattress and still half on top of Alison, both girls sighing at the feel of their skin touching. The brunette's fingers, more swiftly and surely than either girl would have expected considering Emily's impaired condition, reached down again and tugged the elastic of Alison's panties to the side and she slipped her fingers over the blonde's wet flesh.

Handsy Emily was now winning this battle and Alison tore her lips away from Emily's this time and she moaned as her eyes fluttered and rolled back. She reached down and gripped her girl's wrist. Emily, not a woman willing to be deterred by Alison breaking their kiss, lowered her mouth to Alison's breast and wrapped her lips around her girl's nipple.

"Em, baby," Alison moaned as the brunette's fingertips circled around her swollen, throbbing clit, while her tongue swirled around one of the blonde's nipples. "We should talk first," Alison choked out even as she arched her back, desperate to give in.

"I need this first," Emily murmured around the blonde's nipple before gently biting down on the tip.

Alison's body jerked and her hips bucked against Emily's hand and the brunette smiled before suckling her hard, the pad of her tongue lapping at the nipple inside her mouth.

Unable to do anything else, Alison gave in and released Emily's wrist, wrapping her arms around her girl again. Emily's fingers slipped lower and speared through Alison's swollen lips, slipping deep inside the blonde's body.

Alison tilted her hips and her thighs trembled as she grasped Emily's head and pulled her away from her breast, pulling her face up so she could kiss her mermaid again.

"Kiss me," she pleaded and Emily obliged her as her fingers thrust steadily in and out of the blonde's heat as her thumb rubbed her clit.

This kiss was sloppy and messy, yet still soft and tender at the same time. Alison knew this wasn't going to solve anything, but she needed this. They both needed this.

She needed this connection with her girl, a reaffirmation of their unyielding love for one another, despite the hurt and anger and disappointment both were inevitably still feeling over their fight.

Alison's fingers unsnapped Emily's bra and she slid her hands between their bodies so she could slide her hands under the fabric and cup her mermaid's breasts in her palms. She squeezed the soft flesh as her fingers rolled the hard nipples. Alison felt her girl tremble on top of her and the brunette's fingers faltered in their ministrations for a brief second before she began thrusting them again, deeper and steadier, with more purpose.

Emily gently bit Alison's top lip, before soothing it with her tongue and the blonde whimpered as her hips bucked harder against Emily's hand.

Alison slid one hand down her girl's stomach and tugged on the snap of Emily's jeans.

Emily shook her head and mumbled, "No," into Alison's mouth but the blonde ignored her as she struggled to lower her girl's zipper.

"Please, Em," Alison pleaded softly as she pulled her lips away. "I need to touch you too."

Emily captured Alison's lips again but she shifted and pulled her hips back, giving Alison just enough room to tug her zipper down and shove her hand down inside Emily's panties.

"Ali," she groaned as she felt Alison's fingers skip right over her clit and thrust lower, sliding into her. Emily's arousal allowed the blonde's two fingers to smoothly slip deep, as the palm of her hand pressed against the brunette's clit.

Emily rocked her hips as she groaned again, into Alison's mouth, as the blonde matched Emily's rhythm, her fingers plunging and retreating as she pressed the palm harder against her girl's clit.

Emily tore her lips away from Alison's and buried her face in the blonde's neck again, her entire body shuddering on top of her.

"Mine," the brunette whispered against Alison's soft skin and the word made Alison's breath hitch. She knew her girl felt the same way but she'd needed that one word more than she'd realized.

Alison turned her face and pressed her lips to Emily's ear, gently biting down on the soft lobe.

"Mine," she breathed, reiterating her mermaid's words, and she felt Emily tremble in her arms.

Alison couldn't hold it back any longer and she tightened her thighs around Emily's hand as her orgasm rolled through her. She cried out softly against her girl's ear, the soft sound of her mermaid's name slipping past her lips as her entire body convulsed.

"Yes," Emily hissed against Alison's neck, feeling the blonde's body tighten around her fingers, clamping down and squeezing the invading digits.

Alison's fingers faltered only slightly as she came, but then she began her assault on her girl's warm, wet flesh again.

Emily slipped her fingers out of Alison and lifted her wet fingers to the blonde's breast, where she circled her nipple, leaving a wet trail around the blonde's areola.

Alison placed her foot flat on the mattress and pushed up on one hand as she rolled them so she was now lying on her girl. She used her free hand to pull Emily's bra from between them, while the fingers of her other hand sped up inside her.

Alison broke the kiss, much to the brunette's disappointment, but it was short lived, when Alison clamped her mouth down on Emily's breast, immediately teasing the hard aching nipple in the center.

Emily reached down and shoved her jeans down to give Alison easier access to her as her hips rocked against the blonde's hand. With her hand less constricted, Alison was able to slip her fingers all the way to her knuckles and her thumb was now able to flick over her girl's clit.

Emily slid her fingers into Alison's hair and she massaged the blonde's scalp gently as Alison suckled her hard, alternating between both breasts, teasing and sucking and swirling her tongue.

"Ali, love," Emily moaned as her orgasm slammed into her hard. Alison groaned as Emily's walls gripped her fingers hard, squeezing and releasing rhythmically.

Alison lifted her lips to Emily's and kissed her girl, swallowing her cries of pleasure as the brunette's body shuddered and quaked on the mattress.

The brunette quickly flipped them again so Alison was beneath her again, eliciting a gasp of surprise from the blonde. Emily softened the kiss as Alison purred against her lips.

Emily released Alison's lips and sat up. She reached down and tugged her panties up before pushing her jeans down her legs and off, kicking them to the floor. Alison tugged her shirt down over her breasts and smirked when Emily turned and pouted as the blonde's breasts disappeared from view.

Emily lay down again, resting her head on Alison's breasts. She was feeling a little lightheaded and, even though making love with Alison often made her feel like that, she knew it was the alcohol in her system doing it now. She closed her eyes and nuzzled the side of the Alison's breast as the blonde caressed the side of her face gently.

Alison looked up at the ceiling as she caught her breath, holding Emily against her breasts, as she fluttered the fingers of her other hand up and down her girl's naked back.

God, she'd needed that.

But now that it was over, she felt drained. She felt Emily's hand reach for hers. Her girl linked their fingers and the brunette pulled the blonde's hand to her lips.

And Alison wasn't surprised when her mermaid spoke softly. "We need to talk about this now, Ali."