Chapter 3

"Mom," Charlotte shifted from foot to foot, "Are you mad at me for making you tell?"

Jessica looked up, "No, honey," she pat the bed next to her and Charlotte sat down, "You didn't make me tell her. I wanted to too. I'm just a little overwhelmed right now, that's all."

Charlotte nodded.

Jessica smiled at her, putting an arm around her shoulder, "I'm proud of you, sweetheart," she squeezed Charlotte's shoulder, "You're very brave."

Charlotte smiled, "You too," she paused, "Um, can I hug you?"

Jessica pulled her daughter close, "Of course, honey," she rest her cheek in Charlotte's soft hair, "I love you."

"Love you too," Charlotte licked her lips as she withdrew from Jessica's arms.

Jessica rolled her eyes, "Now, now, I know that look."

Charlotte smiled sheepishly, "Sorry," she shrugged.

"Don't you worry, we'll find some time," Jessica murmured, "Just let me your mom for now."

Charlotte nodded into her mom's chest, "Okay, mommy. You know, I'm proud of you too."

Charlotte watched her little sister nervously. Alison looked at her with guarded eyes.

"It's just… a lot to take in," Alison said warily.

Charlotte nodded, "I know… I can't imagine what you're thinking, Ali."

"I can't believe you never told me," Alison sounded hurt, "I mean… I tell you everything. I'd bitch to you about my family… "

"I wanted to be that person for you, Ali," Charlotte tried to explain, "I wanted to be your older sister… without having to tell you…" she trailed off.

Alison nodded, "Yeah, I can see that now," she mused, "You know… I really did love you as Cece. You were my best friend."

Charlotte nodded sadly, "Ali, I'm – "

"I know," Alison interrupted, "I get it, okay? Mom is a master manipulator – "

"No, she was scared," Charlotte jumped to her mom's defence quickly.

Alison watched her sister curiously, "You guys are close, huh?"

Charlotte hesitated before nodding, "Yeah, we're close," she confirmed, "She's the only person to ever love me, really knowing me."

"I would have if you'd given me the chance," Alison pointed out.

Charlotte bit her lip, "So, does this mean it's too late?"

Alison sighed, "No, of course not. It's just funny, you know, the amount of times I've wished you were my big sister… thought of you as my big sister… and now all of a sudden, you are. It's weird."

"Yeah… it's weird for me too. Being honest, finally," Charlotte smiled, "It's a relief."

"I can't believe dad hit mom," Alison frowned, "I mean, I know he can be a dick but I never thought he'd… and I never thought I'd see mom really scared of anything, especially dad."

Charlotte nibbled on her lip, "Yeah, well… he was her security and then he abused that… as much as I didn't like it, the only time I saw fear in her eyes was when his name came up," she sighed, "It wasn't just him she was scared of, she was scared of becoming the person she used to be when he…hurt her. It made her feel weak and powerless…"

Alison watched the emotion on her sisters face, "I guess I can sorta understand that," she sighed, "It's just strange… "

"What is?" Charlotte asked.

"It seems like the child mom was closest to was the one that nobody knew existed…" Alison smiled sadly.

"Are you sure it's okay that I stay here?" Charlotte asked, wide eyed, looking around the guest bedroom of the Dilaurentis house.

Jessica smiled, "Of course. You should have been here all along, sweetheart."

Charlotte smiled and sat on the bed, "It's nice," she said quietly.

Jessica sat next to her, "Is there anything else you need?"

"Not a thing," Charlotte bit her lip, "But I wish I could stay in your room."

Jessica chuckled, "So do I, honey," she sighed, "Did Alison seem very angry?"

Charlotte thought for a moment, "I don't think so, mom. I think she's shocked and a bit hurt that nobody told her the truth… but I think she'll come to terms with it. She just needs some time."

Jessica ran a hand through Charlotte's hair, barely aware she was doing it, "Of course," she said quietly, "That makes sense. I'm glad she has you," she smiled, "I'm glad I have you."

Charlotte wrapped her arms around her mom, "Always," she whispered.

"Alison."

Alison jumped, spotting her mom in the corner.

"Jeez, mom, how long have you just been sitting there?" she asked.

Jessica sighed as she stood up and crossed the room to her daughter, "It's just we haven't really spoken since… everything."

Alison put her handbag down and sat down on the nearest couch, "I know. It's just been overwhelming."

"I can't even imagine," Jessica said quietly, "what you must be thinking…. Of Charlotte, of me, of everything. I just want you to know I really am sorry."

Alison had never seen her mom so vulnerable, "I guess I can see that, it's just going to take some getting used to that's all."

"I understand," Jessica nodded, "Just please don't blame Charlotte for any of this. It was all my doing. She wanted to tell you – "

"But she didn't," Alison interrupted.

"No, she didn't," Jessica agreed, "But she adores you, Alison. Every time I visit her, the first thing she says is how's Alison, is she okay? Every time."

Alison's eyes widened, "Really?"

"She loves you more than anything, Ali," Jessica smiled.

Alison tilted her head slightly, "I don't know about that… the way she is with you, it's different. I've never seen her like that with anyone. She usually keeps everyone at such a distance."

"She wants to let you in, Alison," Jessica insisted, "It's just the only way she's been able to is through Cece. But things can be different now. At least I hope they can be, for you two."

Alison nodded, "Sure, it's just… not going to happen overnight."

"It's okay, Ali's gone to some party with the girls," Charlotte kissed her mom's neck gently.

Jessica leant her head back, unable to resist, "Okay, okay," she stood up, "Let's at least get to the bedroom, okay?"

Charlotte nodded and let her mom take her hand and pull her into the bedroom.

"You smell so pretty," Charlotte murmured between kisses.

"Thank you," Jessica pushed Charlotte's hair from her face, "You're so sweet."

Charlotte bit her lip, "You deserve a thousand compliments every day," she mumbled.

Jessica smiled fondly at the embarrassed younger woman, "A thousand, huh?" she teased gently.

"Yup!" Charlotte nodded, "You're amazing, mom. I think you're the most beautiful woman I've ever seen."

"I don't know about that, don't you ever look in a mirror?," Jessica pressed her lips to Charlotte's, "I love you."

"I love you too," Charlotte smiled.

Jessica ran her fingers over Charlotte's cheek, "Precious girl," she murmured before pressing her lips to Charlotte's.

She nipped Charlotte's bottom lip gently and smiled when Charlotte opened her mouth quickly. Their tongues met in the middle before Charlotte moved them into Jessica's mouth, dominating the kiss. Jessica's hand tickled behind Charlotte's ear gently, making the younger woman moan and hand over control. She rolled onto her back as Jessica hovered over her.

Charlotte hummed absently as she read her book. She lay on her back, her book raised in the air above her. There was a knock on the door. She rolled onto her stomach as Alison came in.

"Hey," she stood at the door, a little awkwardly.

"Hey," Charlotte smiled nervously, "What's up?"

Alison shrugged, taking a few more steps into the room, "Nothing, I was just wondering… you wanna watch something on Netflix or something?"

Charlotte smiled as she sat up, "Sure! Netflix and chill?"

Alison grinned, "Cool, but I'm picking the movie."

"Wouldn't have it any other way!" Charlotte beamed as Alison jumped onto the bed and picked up the remote, beginning to flick through the movies, "Ali…"

Alison looked at her friend, her sister, and sighed, "It's okay, Charlotte. I know."

Charlotte nodded, "First time you've called me Charlotte."

"It's what you prefer, right?" Alison asked.

"Yeah, it is," Charlotte smiled, "Thanks, Ali."

Alison saw the tears shining in Charlotte's wide eyes and threw her arms around her older sister. Charlotte was caught off guard but returned the hug happily.

"I love you, Ali," Charlotte whispered.

"I love you too," Alison wiped her eyes, "Now enough with the mush, I just wanna hang out with my big sister and watch some scary movies. No more tears, alright?"

Charlotte grinned, "You're so bossy."

"Learnt from the best," Alison shot back as she settled on the bed and picked a movie.

"You're too kind," Charlotte feigned modesty.

"Shush," Alison pointed to the screen.

Charlotte laughed, but it was a good few minutes before she switched her happy gaze from Alison to the screen.