Author's Note: Forgive me, dear PLL fans. I didn't remember until I was almost done with this chapter that Grandma DiLaurentis died earlier on in the show. For the purpose of this story, I'm going to pretend she never died. :P Also-this chapter is rather fluffy, but I promise the drama will pick up again soon. :) Enjoy!

The bumps and turns of the train wake me up from my nap. I yawn and stretch, looking up at Ali, who had let me sleep with my head on her shoulder the whole time. Ali smiles down at me and laces her fingers together with my own. We don't say anything for a while; we simply enjoy each other's presence and the view of the countryside. To be honest, I have no idea where we are or how long I've been asleep. I'm sure we're somewhere between Philly and Georgia, but it's a long train ride and it's so easy to lose track of time when I'm with Ali.

"I have the best surprise for you in Georgia," Alison whispers after a while. I clear my throat so that I can ask about the surprise, but she continues before I can speak up. "I just hope you're not, you know, disappointed, or anything. The lifestyle that we'll be living will be much different than what you're accustomed to."

I smile up at her. "Any lifestyle is fine with me, as long as you're in it. Besides, I knew this wouldn't be easy. I brought my compass and a first aid kit. Oh, and emergency blankets, one for each of us."

Ali chuckles in adoration. "This won't be that kind of adventure, Em. We'll have a home to go to, a bed to sleep in, a kitchen to cook in. We'll be safe and comfortable. And we'll have each other."

"If that's the case, why were you living in a toolshed back in Pennsylvania?" I questioned gently.

Alison hesitates before responding to my question. "I could have lived more comfortably, but that would have meant being far away from you. I wanted to be close by...in case you needed me."

Tears spring to my eyes as I think about the life that Ali lived in order to protect me. Alone in the woods, without heat or a way to cook a nice meal, all because of her love for me. Over the past few days, I've caught myself questioning the legitimacy of Alison's love for me. But now, I have no doubt how genuine she really is. I lean in and give her a long kiss on the lips. When I pull away, I can't help but notice how gentle she looks. One would assume that years on the road would harden a person like Ali up even more, but it seems that her off-grid life has softened her up quite a bit.

"So," I say, trying to lighten the mood. "It seems that you know where we'll be staying. Can you tell me more about it?"

Ali shakes her head mischievously. "Nope! It's a surprise. But," she says with a pause, "I have a feeling you'll enjoy meeting my grandmother."

"I get to meet your grandmother?!" I ask, more loudly than anticipated. An older gentleman across the aisle from us on the train casts me a frustrated glance, and I wince apologetically. I'd rather not let people catch on to the fact that we're a couple of teenage runaways. I lower my voice when I speak up again. "How on Earth am I supposed to meet your grandmother? Will I just barge in and tell her that I'm her dead granddaughter's girlfriend? I'm sure that will go over well."

Alison looks down at her lap, and I'm afraid I've struck a nerve. "Oh, Ali, I'm sorry, I-."

"No," she interrupts with a small smile. "It's not that. I just...I'm really glad you called yourself my girlfriend."

"Oh..." I say, taking in the implications of this conversation. "So, is it accurate, then? Am I...am I your girlfriend?"

"That, my dear, is entirely up to you." Alison's voice cracks, like it often does when she's nervous. "I know I don't deserve to call you my girlfriend, Em, but the truth is, I have spent the past two years wishing you were mine and no one else's. Sometimes I would lie awake at night and pretend that when all of this is over, when A is really gone-I thought I would just come home and tell you that I love you and that those kisses were never just practice for the boys, Em. You were always the real thing for me. But I know it's not that simple."

I close my eyes, soaking up all of the secrets that just spilled from Ali's mouth. I look over at her-she's so scared and avoids making eye contact with me. "You're right, Ali. It's not that simple," I say slowly. I watch her heart sink before I continue. "It's not that simple, but I'm choosing to be with you anyway."

Alison's face lights up as if she's a child on Christmas morning. "Really, Em? You'll be with me?"

I laugh softly at the absurdity of what she just said. I just ran away from my home, my family, friends, everything I've ever known, just to be with her. "Only if you'll be mine," I say, my lips dangerously close to her own. Instead of responding verbally, she closes the distance between our lips and kisses me hungrily. I gasp as her tongue flicks across my own, and I move my hands to her face, deepening the kiss. A low moan escapes from one or both of us and I can feel Ali playing with the bottom hem of my shirt. I can tell she wants to explore, but I bat her hand away, afraid that we'll catch too much attention if we let this continue any further.

I put my hand on her chest and push her away. After catching my breath for a moment, I smile playfully at her. "So, tell me about your grandmother."

Alison groans. "Way to kill the mood, Emmy. There's no cock-block quite like talking about my Southern Belle grandmother. What do you want to know?"

"Well, for starters, how do you plan to tell her you're alive?"

"She's known all along. I visited her shortly after I left Rosewood. I knew, out of everyone in my family, she would be the most worried. I explained everything to her-well, everything that she needed to know, anyway. And she has helped me survive this long on my own, giving me money or a place to stay when I ask for it. She's so different from all the other DiLaurentises...she's kind and generous, and the only way she knows how to manipulate anyone is with her home-cooked food, which I'm sure you'll love, by the way."

I notice how peaceful Ali looks while speaking of her grandmother and decide right away that I like the woman already, even before tasting her home-cooked food. "I'm sure I'll love her, Ali. How far are we from Georgia?"

"Just a few more hours, Em. You want to sleep some more? I'll wake you when we get to the station."

I shake my head and kiss her on the cheek. "No, I want to be awake with you."

So we spend the next few hours cuddling under a blanket and giggling over stories from our past. Much to the dismay of the gentleman across the aisle, we share quite a few heated make-out sessions as well. But we always stop before we go too far. Ali and I haven't gone "there" yet, and I want to reserve that first time for a special time and place, not on an old train going through the Appalachian mountains. Still, just a single kiss from Alison can get me all riled up and ready for a cold shower. Thankfully, we arrive at the station much more quickly than I expected. As we grab our luggage from the racks above our heads, Ali leans in close.

"I forgot to tell you. Your alias for the time being is Pippi. I hope you don't mind. That's what I told my grandmother."

I raise my eyebrows at her curiously. "Pippi? Longstocking?"

Alison shakes her head and purses her lips. "Pip, from Great Expectations. If you don't like it, we can change-."

"No," I say, cutting her off. "I do like it. Pip gets the girl in the end."

"That he does, my love," Ali says happily. She gazes at me for just a moment before her eyes darken with the slightest hint of worry. "There's only one rule for our adventures, darling. No matter what...Keep your eyes open."

I agree to follow the single rule she's given me and she sighs, obviously pleased. Before I know it, she takes my hand and leads me off the train and onto the platform, where we are greeted by Mrs. DiLaurentis.

"Vivian!" Mrs. DiLaurentis exclaims, obviously accustomed to using Alison's alias. "It's so good to see you, safe and sound."

The two DiLaurentis women exchange a warm hug before Mrs. D takes notice of me and pulls me in for a group hug as well.

"I hope you don't mind, Pippi, but I love hugs!" The older woman exclaims. And I don't mind, as she smelled of peach cobbler and reminded me so much of an older Alison.

"I really don't mind the hugs, Mrs. DiLaurentis," I say politely. "Thank you so much for picking us up here at the train station. It's very kind of you."

Mrs. DiLaurentis looks at me with wide eyes and then turns to Ali. "You weren't kidding when you said she was the polite one out of the bunch." Then to me, she says, "Please, Pippi, dear, call me Grandma D."

We all smile happily. I push thoughts of my parents and the other girls out of my head. For Alison and I, we are simply happy to be in each other's company and away from A. I'm sure Grandma D is overjoyed to have her favorite grandchild back in town. We all grab the luggage and make our way to the car. Grandma D pops the trunk open so that we can put away our bags, and tells me to take the seat in the front. She wants to tell me all of the embarrassing stories she knows about my girlfriend's childhood. Though Ali blushes from pure embarrassment, I smile to myself. I am definitely going to enjoy this.

After being fed a delicious meal and two helpings of peach cobbler, Ali and I cuddle up next to each other on her grandmother's couch. I wonder how long we'll stay here, where our next stop will be, what we will call home. But for now, I am perfectly content on this couch with my girlfriend. Alison dozes off quickly next to me. After sixteen hours on a train, we are exhausted. I pull a blanket up over her and make my way to the bathroom to freshen up.

Above the sink in the bathroom, there are several pictures of Alison as a child. I smile to myself and admire the spunk and charisma she obviously possessed at such a young age. One photo in particular catches my eye-a photo of Alison, Jason, and another young blonde girl. I figure it must be a neighborhood friend from here in Georgia.

I head back to the family room, where I find Grandma D sitting in a rocking chair, admiring Alison while she sleeps. I take my place next to Ali once again and make sure she's still covered up well with the blanket.

"I'm really glad you're here with her," Grandma D says fondly. "I worry so much about her when she's on her own. I'm sure I'll still worry now, about both of you...but at least you have each other, and at least you'll be nearby."

"Wait-we'll be nearby?" I ask quietly, afraid to wake Ali up if I speak too loudly.

"Was I not supposed to mention that? Oh, I'm sorry. Viv will tell you all about it, dear," she says. I'm surprised to hear her use the alias in the privacy of her own home, but perhaps it's easier to remain consistent.

I nod, choosing to let it go until Ali can tell me herself. "How much do you know about what she's gone through, Grandma D?"

Grandma D purses her lips, afraid to say too much. "I know only what she chooses to tell me. I could ask questions, dig up answers, but I honestly don't want to find more things to worry about. Vivian is a tough cookie. I hate what she's gone through, and I hate knowing how terrible our family has been to her...This might sound terrible, but seeing her running away from that, especially when she has you by her side...well, it's a much better life for her than living in that house in Rosewood. My son and his wife and Jason-they are the exact opposite of what she needs."

I agree with everything she says, but I don't know what to say. Before I can think of anything, Grandma D speaks up again. "But you, my little Pippi Longstocking...You are what she needs. She needs someone who loves her with honesty, doesn't manipulate or use her. She needs someone who reminds her of how good she can be, how wonderful her spirit is. And that's what you are to her. I can tell, because any time she visited me, whether it was before the Labor Day incident or after, she always cheered up when she spoke of you. She was a kinder, more lovely person to be around when she shared stories about her adventures with you. When the memory of a person can do that to her, obviously that person is special."

I am completely shocked at Grandma D's speech about the impact that I've had on Ali over the years. I had no clue that anyone picked up on all of that, especially a person who is only meeting me today for the first time. "Th-thank you," I manage to say.

After a comfortable silence, I speak up and attempt to change the subject. "What do you do for a living, Grandma D?"

"Well, dear, I'm retired now, thank God. But once upon a time, I owned my own hair salon. It's actually still standing, right beside the house. I still mess around with the shears and clippers whenever I get a willing victim," she jokes.

"I'll be a victim," I say, and then shake my head at my choice of words. "I mean, I'll let you cut my hair-if you want to, obviously. I've been wanting a completely new look, and I think now is the best time for that."

Grandma D grins from ear to ear at my offer. "Let's go over to the salon! We'll do it right now while Ali-I mean, Vivian is asleep. We'll get you a nice new 'do to surprise your lady."

I'm surprised by our sudden decision, but follow her outside anyway. The salon, a modest building, is literally twenty yards from Grandma D's lovely home. Although it's obviously been a little while since anyone has used her services, it's clear that Grandma D was a successful hair stylist, with all the best equipment and decor in her shop. I take a seat and relax as she starts to run her fingers through my hair. I've been growing it out for so long, but now...I'm ready for a major change.

"So, dear, what shall we do for you today?" Grandma D makes eye contact with me through the mirror.

"I...I want it all off. A pixie cut, I guess. I want it short and edgy and different. Can you do that?" I say all at once, looking up at the woman with pleading eyes. I'm not afraid of the change. A haircut is nothing compared to what I've gone through in the past twenty-four hours.

Grandma D doesn't argue. She doesn't tell me I'm wasting such beautiful hair. She doesn't suggest a more subtle change. She just smiles softly and nods in agreement.

Just as Grandma D finishes up my hair and sprays it with a bit of hairspray, a very worried Alison comes barging in the door. The expression on her face changes from fearful to relieved when she see me, and then quickly changes to show her surprise at my new hairstyle.

"I was so worried when I woke up and neither of you were around!" Alison exclaims. "But then I figured Grandma D had lured you back here to the salon. Your hair is so-oh, Emmy. It looks so wonderful!"

I shyly look up at her. "You really like it? I know it's a big change..."

"Believe me. It's the epitome of sexy," Alison says with a smirk.

Grandma D clears her throat, as if to remind us of her presence in the room. I blush but Alison just laughs, apparently not at all embarrassed.

"I believe I'm about to go settle in for my afternoon nap. Will you girls be alright on your own?" Grandma D asks, though she knows the answer to that question already.

"Actually Grandma D," Alison begins. "I think I'm going to take Pippi home. We've had a long trip and I'd really like to get settled in before nightfall. Is that okay?"

Grandma D smiles knowingly. "Sure, doll. Your set of keys are on the table in the foyer. Don't forget the boxes you stored in your old room!"

"Thanks, Gram," Ali says genuinely. I thank the older woman as well, and then wish her a good nap.

When Ali and I are left alone, she nearly jumps me, leaving kisses all over my face. "You. Are. So. Sexy," she says between kisses.

I giggle and return the kiss. "You think so?"

"I know so," she nearly growls. "Let's go grab our things from the house. I'm ready to get you home."

I follow her in to the house, wanting desperately to ask her where "home" is...but I know better. Ali is the queen of surprises, and it's best to just let her enjoy herself. We grab the boxes from Ali's old room, along with a set of keys from the foyer. When we open up the garage door, I realize there is a second car in here that I didn't notice earlier. Beside Grandma D's Lincoln Towncar, there is a bright red Jeep Wrangler.

"Is that yours...?" I ask quietly. I wasn't even aware that Ali could drive.

"No, dear," Ali says, opening the passenger door for me to climb in. "It's ours."

I laugh at what I assume to be silliness. "Don't be goofy. Did Grandma D give you this Jeep?"

"No, Em," she says, starting the car. "I worked a lot over the past two years and saved up what I could. I bought the Jeep. For us. Everything that's mine is yours too, now. I couldn't just pull you out of your home and your school, away from your family and friends, and leave you with nothing, could I?" Ali scoffs at the thought as she shifts into gear and pulls out of the driveway.

"I don't know what to say, Ali..." I trail off.

"Don't say anything just yet. Wait until you get home," she says, winking at me.

Ali grabs my hand and doesn't let go until we pull into a driveway, half an hour later. We've been in a more rural area for a little while. Surrounded by peach trees and wildflowers, I suddenly feel overwhelmed by the beauty of it. And then, as we drive further up the winding driveway, I gasp. I can hear Alison smile beside me-that's how well I know her, I can hear her smiles.

"Now," Ali says, "I bought the Jeep, but Grandma D did help me with the cottage. It was her parents' vacation home before they passed, years ago. I really hope you like it."

Right in front of my eyes is the cottage that was in the photo that Ali sent to me a few days ago. Only this house is better than the photograph, because it's real, and it's ours.

Author's Note 2: Hey everyone, I hope you enjoyed this chapter! I'm starting to work on the next few chapters and I want to know everyone's opinion on something. I'd really like to write about some Rated M sexy times between Ali and Emily in at least one chapter, but if no one is interested in reading that, I can leave it out. Just let me know!