Hey guys! I probably took too long to update, but I was facing a HUGE writing block... so, please, forgive me! Also, in case you're wondering, I had to remove the lyrics on my "Style" one-shot due to copyright issues. Anyways, enjoy the chapter ;)

As soon as they hit the mattress, Emily stumbled back and off Alison awkwardly - "I'm sorry" - And her brown eyes were so drenched in guilt that it made the blonde's heart clench. Alison reached out for her, pulling her down by the neck they kissed, their lips staggering against each other. To Ali, those kisses felt so out of place – they were trembling, careful, as if Emily hesitated to touch her again.

Emily pulled away and looked at Ali, analyzing every feature of her face. The journalist ran her hand through her soft black hair and caressed her face gently, trying to soothe away all the guilt - "It was not your fault, Em"

Ali kissed her, but Em just allowed herself to be kissed - "I failed to protect you. I should have stood up for you. I don't deserve to be here" - And she looked away, even though Ali was keeping her close.

"Don't you dare walk away on me!" - Alison begged in tears and the burden in those sweet brown eyes softened. Then, Emily buried her face on the crook of Ali's neck, her lips ghosting over her pulse point. Her mouth began to move against that marble skin, placing soft kisses here and there until she reached her cheek. Ali pulled her by the hair and crashed their lips together, her tongue swiftly invading Emily's mouth. The need to feel each other was unbearable.

"I need you now" - Ali said the words out loud and saw the fire ignite inside her orbs before Emily kissed her again. This time, the brunette's tongue danced inside her mouth while her hands roamed along the sides of Ali's body, unsure of what to do and where to touch. Unbeknownst to Alison, she'd made Emily self-conscious too when she confessed about my past.

The blonde's hands went down, trying to guide Emily's way, but the vet grabbed her wrists and pushed them back on each side of Ali's head before intertwining their fingers.

"Are you sure?" - She broke the kiss and whispered, her thumbs gently caressing Ali's. The other woman nodded and Emily nuzzled their noses together - "I want to see your scars"

Ali's breath hitched and her heart threatened to panic again, but Emily's eyes were so soft, so loving… Alison just couldn't deny that plea - "On my elbows"

Emily pulled her left arm toward her and kissed the inside of her elbow before inspecting it to find my burn scar. When she did, she traced the mark with her fingertip before kissing it.

"Em" - Her name escaped from Ali's lips as her whole body tingled at that tender gesture. Hearts skipped a beat and eyes watered. Emily couldn't describe what it was like to kiss Ali's scar and Alison couldn't describe what it was like to be kissed in such secretive places.

Emily moved to her other elbow and repeated the same kind gesture - "Where else?"

Alison took in a deep breath before admitting - "On my stomach"

The brunette latched her lips to her neck, placing passionate kisses up to her jawline while her hands tentatively snaked under Ali's shirt and touched her stomach lightly. Emily pulled away just a little, her eyes seeking for permission - "Can I…?"

Ali nodded and lifted her upper body, allowing Emily to undress her. Once that shirt was on the floor, Emily tried to kiss Alison again, but the blonde stopped her. She wanted to feel her lover's skin against her own, she wanted to feel connected in every way again. So, she tore off Emily's shirt, exposing her upper body to her roaming blue eyes. Only then did Alison pull her down by the neck for a kiss, but Emily didn't stay on her lips for much time. Instead, she wandered down her neck, her collarbone, ignoring her naked breasts and finding her scarred stomach.

During their previous lovemaking, Emily would often notice a scratch or two on Ali's stomach but whenever she asked the blonde about it, she shut her down. Now she knew why… and now she would worship that gorgeous body, unscathed even with all those scars. She would worship Alison even though she didn't feel worthy of such a blessing.

Therefore, Emily kissed and scribbled with her tongue every single scratch mark on Ali's stomach (and there might have been about a dozen). Alison tensed and squirmed underneath her with her fingers tightly wrapped in Em's raven black hair.

"Em..." - The journalist whimpered out loud. She couldn't control herself when the brunette was being so gentle.

"Where else?" - Emily kissed all the way up to Ali's lips.

Alison blushed. This was the ugliest scar she had and she was about to expose it to Emily - "M-My lower back"

Emily cupped her face and kissed her deeply, her tongue brushing softly against the blonde's, giving both of them the reassurance needed for this final act - "Turn around" - The vet whispered softly.

Alison complied and changed her position, lying on her stomach now. She instantly regretted it, as she missed Emily's touch and her brown eyes. The brunette seemed to have noticed that because she stripped off her bra and laid back on top of Ali, her nipples brushing against Ali's bare back.

"Emily" - Alison sighed, relieved to feel Emily's warmth crashing down on her.

"Always with you" - Emily promised, brushing away the golden locks on Ali's back to cast a chaste kiss on the back of her neck before traveling down her spine to meet the last scar. After she spotted it, Emily pulled away slowly and traced the damaged skin with her thumb. She felt Ali quiver under her and concluded that this part of Alison's body was more sensitive than the usual.

To test her theory, she leaned and kissed the scar, her tongue lingering a moment longer in that creamy skin than it should. Ali baffled her moan against the pillow and dug hard her fingers in the sheets, wishing it were Emily's skin.

"You're beautiful" - The brunette declared, kissing all the way up to Ali's neck. Her hands, however, stayed behind at the blonde's hips, tentatively playing with the waistband of her pants.

Alison felt a tear stream down her cheek upon those meaningful words. She knew that Emily would never reject her because of her scars; however, hearing that from her girlfriend had the earth-shattering power to make her feel appreciated again - "I… don't want you to stop"

Emily nuzzled the back of her neck in compliance and lowered her pants slowly, dragging her fingernails along Ali's skin. She backed away a little to strip herself of her jeans and her underwear, lying back on top of the journalist as their bodies molded in a most unusual way. Both girls whimpered at the full body contact, but Emily couldn't touch her properly on this position. So, she grabbed Ali's hips firmly and flipped them to the left, making them both lie on their sides, and snaked her arm underneath Ali, keeping their bodies close.

One skilled right hand crawled until it found one small rosy nipple between its fingers. Emily pinched her woman's nipple, smiling as the little bud stiffened between her fingertips. Alison reached behind her and finally dug her hand on Emily's soft hair - "Emily..."

The vet hesitantly ran her hand down Ali's stomach, finding her center currently protected by her slightly closed legs. Emily didn't dare to ask for more space, not after the blonde's heartbreaking confession. Instead, her fingers limited themselves to Ali's clit in slow, circular patterns.

"Ah!" - Alison arched her body against Emily's when the brunette's expert finger caressed her clit. Surprisingly, she found herself getting excited despite all the angst tonight. Maybe it was because she needed to feel her woman next to her, shielding her from anything real or imaginary that could harm her. She needed Emily close… and so desperately more. Em could do wonders on her clit, but tonight, Alison needed her inside of her, so close that it would be impossible to know where one ended and the other began.

But Emily's fingers remained where she didn't need them to be and it became unbearable for Alison, as the circular moves on her clit became more intense - "Emily… Please!" - She panted - "I need you… inside of me!"

Her pleas didn't go unattended: Emily kissed her shoulder and dragged her fingertips to her inner lips, tracing them slowly. Ali shivered and placed her right hand over Em's, inciting her girlfriend to go on. Emily hesitated a little, as she imagined Alison being violated in her most sacred place. How could she have allowed it? Why didn't she protect Ali?

Those questions tormented the brunette, who cried quietly as she dipped her finger inside Ali, feeling her wet again. Emily backed away just a little so the blonde wouldn't notice her tears and began pumping her finger in and out, doing her best to brush her hand against Ali's clit with every move she made.

The journalist sighed contently when she felt a single inside of her, fulfilling her in a way that only Emily could do. She shut her eyes in pleasure and dug her nails on Emily's left arm, who was still underneath her, keeping their bodies close. A loud moan escaped her lips when Emily pushed a second digit inside and curled her fingers, hitting right on that special spot that made her go to heaven. Alison could feel her orgasm building up, but it wasn't enough for her. She missed Emily's breasts brushing against her chest, Emily's eyes watching her as she came and, mostly, Emily's lips on her own.

"Em, let me turn around, please!" - She asked.

"No" - The brunette quietly whimpered behind her.

"I need to see you!" - Alison squealed and turned around, only to find Emily crying. That image broke her heart in a million pieces. It showed just how much Emily cared about her, how much they felt each other's pain.

"Ali..." - Emily cried even more, as she was ashamed of being caught like that by the blonde.

"Don't cry" - Alison begged and cupped her face - "Please, don't..." - And she broke down herself, the tension in the air being filled with salty tears. Ali pulled Emily in for a kiss… the most bittersweet kiss they ever had, as their taste mixed up with the saline droplets coming from their eyes.

"I love you, only you" - Ali broke the kiss and declared, burying her face on the crook of Emily's neck, adjusting their position. She wrapped one arm around Emily and the other snaked underneath Emily's neck, digging her fingers on those soft tresses. The vet moved her arm too, placing her hand on the back of Ali's neck, locking their humid eyes together.

"I love you too" - Emily began to pump her fingers again, slower this time, trying to feel Alison all over again. The blonde sighed on her lips and their tears subsided as the brunette scooted over to kiss her cheek.

"Emily" - Ali breathed out as she draped her leg over the brunette's waist, making her fingers reach deeper inside of her.

"Ali..." - Emily whimpered too. She was too trapped in her woman's embrace to remember of the guilty consuming her. She wanted to love Alison, to hold her tight against her chest and to never let go of her. A new fire ignited in her and her fingers began to move more precisely, never too fast, but always curling her fingers on that one spot that made Alison crumble in her arms while her palm brushed against her clit.

Alison broke the kiss to pant on her lips as their eyes met once again - "God… I missed your eyes… Em" - This was exactly what she wanted… what she needed. It was incredible how Emily could make her come undone just by looking at her in awe and admiration, just like she did right now. Alison would give her life just to make those brown jewels shine.

"You're beautiful" - Emily couldn't help but stare in fascination as the blonde goddess in her arms panted and writhed against her lips. Her fingers thrust harder and Ali let out a high pitched moan. Emily smiled: she knew the blonde was trying to hold on just a little longer to make this moment last.

"Baby" - The journalist let her head rest on the brunette's shoulder as her arm pulled her girlfriend impossibly closer. Alison wanted to feel Emily's warmth all over her, protecting her from anything. It didn't cross her mind that this was actually the first time that they called each other by a term of endearment this week.

"Come for me, love" - Emily shackled her in her embrace and pressed against her sweet spot, making Ali come undone for her in the most delicious way, her name escaping those heart-shaped lips countless times.

In case you're wondering, yes, they will use the handcuffs on another opportunity :P

Reviews:

Guest 1: Thanks! Poor baby Ali :(

Drea82851: Yes, that scene was very difficult to write. Alison doesn't blame Emily because she blames herself: she believes that none of this would've happened had she not given Emily and the girls reasons to mistrut her. And her PTSD manifested through some quirks (always having the lights on, not wearing swimsuits or revealing clothes, not being comfortable with her body...). But Emily will experience some guilt too.

Guest 2: Thanks! But in my humble opinion, this award should go to MysticalGoddessofWords and her fantastic writing.

hunter Blair: Thanks! I'm flattered now, :P. I almost cried writing that scene, though. I don't think I deserve a Nobel, but if I did I'd be the first Brazilian to ever win a Nobel Prize :)

Guest 3: Thanks! Please please please please please forgive me for my writing block lol

emisonendgame33: Thanks! :)

Guest 4: Thanks! :)

Guest 5: Thanks! :) It's really an honor to be classified as a must-read Emison story :)

Tns729: Thanks!

mcmeli: That scene was hard to write too! And you're right: being honest will help them rebuild their relationship. Baby steps! 2x

hazeldawn91: Emily is oblivious to things sometimes, lol. And Emily's guilty trip will be worked on next chapter *givingoutsomespoilers*. And Ali will have her spark back, don't worry ;). I'll give a hint: Emily feels like she's not worthy of Alison.

Reviews from Style:

Guest 1: x2 If we could have those things...

perez9077: Style rules, lmao

Guest 2: Haha, thanks! Even though I love Style, my favorite is still Out of the Woods - I have a special connection to that song.

leon7272: Thanks! :)

emisonendgame33: Thanks! :)

mcmeli: They jumped. No one dares to face Hanna's wrath, not even badass Alison.

Drea82851: Thanks! I would be thoroughly scared of Hanna too, lol

I could ship that: Thanks! :)

gleegirl16: Haha, thanks! :)