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Chapter 18

Emily's POV

Ali led me up the small path and into the cabin. I couldn't believe my eyes…or my nose. Everything in the cabin was just perfect, it was unbelievable. I stood there for a moment, soaking it all in. I closed my eyes and took in a deep breath through my nose, the whole place smelled warm and like food. It smelled like baked chicken? And was that apple pie? Mmm, my mouth watered just thinking about it. I inhaled the sweet aroma again and I wasn't surprised to smell the same vanilla that I always craved, it was Ali. I walked in further and stood in the middle of the entry way, eyes slowly scanning every corner of the room. To my right, there was a cozy living room, which I walked over to. Everything was wood furnished and I ran my fingers over the soft flannel blankets that hung over the side of the couch and the love seat, picking up and squeezing some of the fluffy pillows. The room was complete with a short round table in the middle and a red brick fire place off on the side of the wall that was burning wood right now. I continued to walk along the living room's walls, running my hands over the polished wood as I went. On some of the walls there were vintage looking pictures of the woods, of a lake, of the moon and even one of the cabin we were in with a small inscription at the bottom that read "Lover's Peak."

I turned around to Ali, who has remained still, watching me since she opened the door for me. "We're at Lover's Peak?" I asked incredulously. I could tell she didn't expect me to ask about the name, so I wasn't surprised when she took a while to respond.

"Y-Yeah, I mean, it's just called Lover's Peak, it doesn't you know mean that- that we…you know," she stopped, face reddening quickly, hoping that I knew what she was going to finish saying so that she didn't have to say it. I thought it'd be fun to tease.

"Know what Ali?" I said as I walked over to her. "What do people who come to Lover's Peak have to be?" I looked down at her face and smiled when she gulped. I grabbed the bottom of her chin and lifted her face so that our eyes locked… "Alison," I whispered gently as my mouth moved towards her ear, "I think it's only appropriate for lovers to come and stay the night at Lover's Peak, don't you?"

I could tell the use of her whole name caused something inside of her to awaken. Unless I was mad or feeling completely aroused, I never used her full name, and I was far from mad right now. I know I had her totally wrapped around my finger as I pulled away to look at her face. Her breathing had quickened and her eyes were shut and she just hummed in response. This was way more fun than I had thought, so I leaned back towards her ear, "Do you want me to be your lover tonight, Alison?" I used the same domineering tone, while placing my hands on her shoulders, running them up and down her arms and could see the slight shiver it had caused down her spine. She was rocking back and forth softly as I continued to rub her arms

With her eyes still shut she hummed again. I laughed softly, "those aren't words Ali, so, tell me. Do you, or do you not, want me to be your lover tonight?" And as I finished, I gently sucked her earlobe into my mouth and smiled as she moaned, "yes."

I pulled away, feeling triumphant and seen that Ali was leaning in towards me for a kiss.

"Uh uh, I still didn't hear you," I lied. "I want you to ask." My own boldness in the past 6 hours or so was still surprising me.

Alison's POV

I was still confused, as Em averted my kiss, but one look at her face and quickly I understood. I could feel the heat rising to my face again. Damn, why was she making me so shy right now? The fear of being rejected also hit as I realized that Em could be playing with me, after all why would she want to be my lover? I know she didn't fully believe me when I said I loved her, I know I've got a lot more to prove, but what if this is her way of revenge, to turn the tables and break me like I did her? What if she only agreed to this so that she could strike when I was most vulnerable? Why did the old me have to teach her this? My face turned impossibly hot as I felt nervous and so scared, scared…of being rejected. I almost didn't want to answer, but if she rejected me, then I deserved to hear it, to feel it. Soon I found the courage and sighing softly I leaned back towards Em and took both of her hands with mine, asking, "Em, I want to be with you tonight, so will you please do me the honors of being my lover tonight?"

She looked at me, eyes searching for any signs that I had been playing her. But I wasn't. I meant it when I asked. I did want to be with Emily, and by God I wanted to be able to call her my lover, but not only for tonight, I wanted the two of us to be lovers forever. She grabbed by the waist and brought me right up against her. We were so close I could feel her heat beating through her chest. I watched her eyes as she leaned in closer, and I closed my eyes, anticipating the sweet feel of her lips on mine. "Oh I'll be your lover tonight Ali," but instead of feeling her lips on mine after that, my eyes flew open when I felt her breath come hot in my ear..."but not until I eat." Oh, what a tease! I swear I'll make her pay, because if there is one thing that I'm still good at, it's revenge. And Emily had no clue, but she'd get hers soon.

Emily's POV

I loved the look on Ali's face when I got done messing with her. She seemed flustered and I couldn't help but think about how much hotter she looked to me. She took us here to spend the night and regardless of my confused feelings, I was going to make the most of. I wanted to make this work, I wanted us to work.

Ali walked off to the kitchen, without saying a word to me. And if I didn't know better, I'd say that those wheels of hers were turning in her head again. It looked as though she had gone off somewhere in her mind and was planning something, something big. I grew nervous as I hope it wasn't my revenge. Ali never gets even; she always finds a way to one up those who challenge her. I pushed the thoughts away as I walked in to see Ali went over in front of the oven, pulling out a small casserole. I know that I was so hungry for food but right now, but looking at her from where I stood as her skirt had risen up the back of her thighs towards her core, had me craving something completely different. "Mmm, looks good."

Ali turned to look at me, I didn't bother hiding the sexual innuendo in my voice and she heard it. She started to smile but it faded into a small smirk. "Sit down if you're hungry Em. Dinner is ready."

Hmm, that was weird, just a second ago she would've said something just as sexually charged, what changed? "Okay, what'd you make?"

She replied flatly, "Baked chicken breasts, vegetables and mashed potatoes."

Okay, now I know I had to do something about this if I wanted us both to enjoy dinner. So I went up to her and did the only thing I could think of, I kissed her. This was no normal kiss, I kissed her passionately and intensely, letting my hands roam all over her body, to her neck, down her back, around her waist. I even squeezed her ass, which I'm sure she enjoyed just as me. She kissed me back and I felt the anger melt away, so I pushed her up against the fridge, bodies flush as I guided a jean clad thigh in between hers. It shocked me that I could feel her through my black jeans, she was so hot down there, doing what I thought was impossible: turning me on more. I knew I had to have her so I moved my hands to the hem of her shirt and placed them underneath, moaning into her mouth at the smooth creamy skin I found there. I started to creep my hands up further but was gently pushed an arm's length away.

Breathlessly, Ali explained, "I made this food for you, so you and I will sit down like civil people and enjoy eating it."

I laughed as she finished with a smile, neither one of us could stay mad at each other for long.

Alison's POV

After the whole heated kiss Em and I had shared, I mustered up all my willpower to get her to sit and eat with me. I needed her to know how serious I was. I needed her to be serious with me too. I knew the reason she was acting one way this minute and totally different the next was because she was confused about her feelings, and more than anything else, I wanted those feelings to be out in the open if we were ever going to have a meaningful weekend, if we were ever going to become a 'we' in the first place. We needed to talk because I wanted to leave this place not just as Ali and Em…but as an 'us'. I served her a portion of everything and we sat facing each other on the small table by the window, mostly eating in silence, looking up every so often, stealing looks and exchanging smiles. When Em had started to finish I decided that I had to do it now.

"Em?"

"Yeah, Ali?"

"Can we talk?"

She looked at me, tilting her head to the side, indicating that she didn't really know what I meant. "By talk to you mean..." she started but I had to interrupt.

"No Em, I'm being serious, we need to talk."

She pushed her plate away and crossed her arms across her chest, sitting back in the chair while scrunching her eyebrows together, making that eyebrow dimple of hers form. She didn't look mad but the way she pulled away and covered her chest, made me think about the motions as her protecting herself not only emotionally, but physically as well. The table in the kitchen was small and we were barely three feet from one another, but she felt farther. She bite the inside of her lip, as she was beginning to realize what was going to happen as I remained silenced, for now. "Okay, Ali, let's talk."

This was it, I could do this, I would because I needed to, I wanted to.

"Okay Em, I don't know how to start, you know I haven't always been the best when it comes to talking um, about my feelings."

"So what's changed? Why are you telling me this now?" There was no compassion in her voice as she spoke, eyes boring into me, through me, waiting to call me on my bullshit. But she wouldn't be able to this time.

"You want the truth, you deserve the truth and I promise from this moment on I will never lie to you. But what's changed is you."

"Me? How have I changed?" I didn't want her to think I was blaming her for anything so I continued.

"You have changed Emily; you aren't the same girl I met a few years ago. I thought you were weak because you showed how much you cared so much, I thought you were a fool especially for admitting your feelings for me, when I was such an awful person. But I don't see the shy and timid girl I used to. You are by far the strongest most beautiful person I know and your love is the greatest thing anyone you love in this world will ever see. I never deserved you-any of you- as friends and I certainly didn't deserve your love or to be a part of your life. But like I said before, I rejected you because I was confused, I was scared, Em. Opening my heart made me feel vulnerable and that scared the shit out me. I knew loving you would leave me powerless, out of control. All this time you thought I had this hold over you, but you were wrong, you had the biggest hold on me ever. I was enchanted by you and everything you did; your love had me under its spell but I couldn't explain my feelings for you no matter how hard I thought I was trying, because I was always someone different when I was with you, someone better, and at the time I didn't know what version of Ali I really was, the girl you always seen or the awful person that roamed the halls of Rosewood high. I realized too late that I was both but I just wanted to be who I was when I was with you. That was the true me, and still is. Then I got that first message from A. They threatened to take you all away from me and I was selfish at first, I was going to take you with me, but I just couldn't, so I ran, I ran and never told you because I thought it would keep you all safe. I see now that it didn't."

I looked at Em, taking a break from the invisible circles I was drawing on the table with my finger. She was looking away, but only slightly, I could still see her eyes. The light of the living room fire she was looking towards reflected across the tears that hung dangerously from her eyes. I continued, she needed to here it all.

"Em, I have no clue how to prove how much I've changed, or earn your trust back other than to just say that I have changed, and I want you to see, to know that. I'm willing to do whatever to get you to trust me again. When I left I thought I could forget about you, but I couldn't. No matter what you were always on my mind, you haunted me. I would hear your voice calling after me, you sounded so worried, and I just wanted to come home and hold you. I hate that it took years of A torturing us for me to realize how badly I needed you in my life. I would sleep and dream that we were at a sleepover, you arm draped over me, holding me lightly light you used to, but instead, I'd wake up cold and alone, crying. Every day I thought of you and how strong you were…you were the only thing that kept me fighting for so long. You're responsible for me being alive. I could've given up and died in a hole somewhere and no one would've missed me because everyone already thought I was dead, but one night, you were drunk and by my 'grave,' I seen you. I didn't know what I was doing there but I certainly didn't expect to see you there. I couldn't appear in front of you while you were drunk because I know you would've told someone and would've looked insane, so instead I stayed hidden but close enough to watch you. You looked so torn, so hurt and in pain. I willed myself to stay still even though I just wanted to go out and hold you, take you with me so we could both run off to wherever we wanted, together.

"You just sat there in cross of the headstone will my name on it and then you threw your bottle at the ground and started sobbing, each sob created a fissure in my heart, the cracks deepened the longer I watched. Then, you started yelling. You yelled at me for not saying good bye, for breaking your heart. I watched as you slammed your fists on top, and you yelled that I've got to be alive, that I was playing a game, because it wasn't fair for me to leave you. It wasn't fair that I didn't take you. You cried some more and said that you knew I was out there, you knew I was alive because you felt it in your heart."

I stole a glance at Em and she was now in tears, a steady stream flowing from her brown eyes, down her cheeks, spilling on to her shirt and arms that were still crossed in front of her chest. She still wouldn't meet my eyes, and cried in silence. My own tears spilled from my eyes as I talked.

"That's when I knew, that's when I really knew that I loved you, and that I was in love with you. It broke me to watch you like that. I would've gone out for you, but that's when the girls found you. So I left, but I planned on coming back for you, just liked you asked, I wanted to come back and tell you how much you loved me, but I came back, I was across the street from your house but I seen Paige's car in the driveway, and I swear Emily, I could feel my heart sink to the pit of my stomach. Suddenly I was filled with pain and jealously and rage. I could see into your window as she sat in your window seat, with her arms wrapped around you. I couldn't- I knew I couldn't come back to you now. You had moved on and all it took was the smile she caused to make me realize that I didn't stand a chance. You had moved on and found happiness, and I had to accept that it wasn't with me so I left you again, but this time I left my heart with you too. You deserved to be happy and I couldn't rip that from you then. But now, now-"

"Now what? What, Ali, tell me!?" it surprised me that her voice had come out so controlled.

"Now? Em, don't you see, I'm telling you now. I'm sorry. I'm sorry. I'm so sorry for everything. Everything and I mean that. I don't else what to say to convince you. Tell me what to do, Em. Tell what I have to do to get you back, I need you. I need you Em like the air I breathe, I need you like the sky needs the sun and the stars, I need you more than anything. And I want to be with you, I want to be yours, I want you to be mine, I want to wake up tomorrow with you lying next to me."

"How can I trust you again Ali, you broke me. And I didn't handle it very well. I thought you loved me then, but you tricked me, so how do I know that this," it was the first time she looked up at me and raised her arms out wide, gesturing at the whole cabin, "is all real?"

"Just give me another chance Em, give us a chance and I won't let you down." I was crying hard and my voice was shaking with emotion. "I can't live if you still hate me, but you can never love me again, I'll leave and never come back this time, you won't ever have to see or hear from me again. I promise, I just want another chance."

"Leaving would be the easy way out for you. You think I'd want that? For you to just up and leave?"

"I-I don't know…isn't it?"

"No. No, I would never want you to leave, but you need to tell me, tell me right now that you won't ever leave me again, Ali. Say you love me to my face, I need that more than anything, my heart has been getting torn from all your mistakes but I have always loved you and I love you more than anything else that this world can give me, but I can't just forgive you, it's not that simple…But, I'm willing to give you one, just one more chance and that is it."

"That's all I'm asking Em," I said breathlessly. "If it wasn't for you, I'd be alone; I'd be on my own. All I'm asking Em, don't wait until I do something wrong to run from me, I will never stop fighting for you. You won my heart without a question."

"Listen Ali, I don't want to fall in love, if you don't want to try, but all that I've been thinking of, all that has been consuming me, is maybe that you might. And don't give me time, Ali, that's not the same. Because I want this to work too, I love you and I want to be happy with you, but if you blow this one, if you mess things up and break my heart one more time, you can't just walk away like the times before. I couldn't just sit and watch you walk away from me. If you mess this up, mess us up, I am the one who gets to walk away. I'll be the one to pack up and leave, so you would have to watch me walk away from you this time."

"Em," I whispered. Her words had thrown a hammer at my heart, and every heat beat felt like it was hitting against my ribcage. Every thump threatened to break right through my chest. The pain was so much I was almost numbed by it. I had to tell Em what she needed to hear. I got up from my seat and walked until I was right in front of her and I kneeled. I grabbed the back of her chair and turned it towards me, surprised by my own strength.

"Look at me," I commanded and she hesitated before obliging. I let more tears fall as I looked at her completely vulnerable face. I placed both of my hands on the side of her face, rubbing my thumbs into her cheeks, erasing the tears as I stared into her eyes, "Em, I am begging you to please give me another chance, let me take care of you. I want to make you happy, and if you let me, I promise I will spend the rest of my life making up for all the pain and suffering I have caused you. I want this to work; I want to be it for you, the one, because I know that you're the one for me, the only one. I don't want anyone else. I need you. And I promise, I promise that I, will never, ever, leave you again. I love you Emily Fields, give me one more chance to prove it."

Emily's POV

I looked down at Ali, who was kneeling in between my legs, crying and begging for another chance with me and that was it, the confusion I had had before went away, and it was gone for good. I thought that maybe I should've yelled at her some more but I was tired of pushing her away, I didn't want to anymore, I just wanted to forgive her and give her another chance, I wanted to be happy with her. I decided then that I would because I loved her, and if I was wrong, at least I could have this moment. So I reached down and rubbed my thumbs across the tears on her face, returning the gesture until we paused, frozen in each other's eyes, waiting for someone to say something, or do something. I did, I pulled her face gently towards mine until she was inches from my face, eyes still locked. "I love you too, Ali and I forgive you."

We both leaned into one another and felt the electricity course through our bodies at the touch. We kissed each other desperately, full of raw emotion; filled with sorrow, pain, forgiveness, need and want, desire. She quickly rose and I followed suit, walking until her back hit a wall, her mouth opened in slight pain and I seized the opportunity to slip my tongue in her warm, needy mouth, receiving a deep moan from her as I did. I moved my hands to her waist, pushing her harder into the wall while pressing my body into hers hard. So hard that I slipped my thigh between her legs again and I could feel our chests touching. I felt as her breasts hardened against mine at the contact. I slid my thigh up higher into her core, moaning as I felt the unmistakable heat of desire burn through my pants. She moaned into my mouth and wrapped her hands in my hair. I moved my hands from her waist up along her body, bringing her shirt up with it. Ali released the hold she had in my hair to bring her hands up over her head, throwing her shirt onto the floor beside my feet, leaving her in only a black lace bra and her skirt.

I couldn't think straight, all I could see and feel was Ali. I wanted to feel her everywhere. I grabbed her ass in my hands and lifted her up so she was suspended in the air, held up by my hands, and her legs, as they wrapped tightly around my center. This caused her skirt to rise dangerously high, so high that her hot core was now pressed up against my stomach. Her moves were getting frantic as she started to grind her hips into me, harder than the time before with each thrust. These thrusts only made my own lust for her intensify and I knew I had to lay her down soon and show her a few of my own tricks.

I broke the kiss that we held for minutes to breathed out in a few short hard breaths "Mmm, the bed, Ali, where's the bed?"

She looked upset that I broke the contact so she through her blonde locks to the side and flipped her head to kiss roughly down my neck.

"Ali," I groaned this time, "I'll gladly make love to you right here right now, but I'm sure you'll be more comfortable in a bed."

She just continued to suck at my neck "then do it." Her voice was raspy and it sent a flood of heat straight between my legs.

"Ali, please, I want to do this right."

She pulled back and sighed into my neck and just pointed her arm straight behind her. I walked with my hands under her ass and her legs still folded tight around my waist and her hot center rubbing deliciously against my stomach. I reached the door at the end of the hallway she pointed down and kicked it open. It was completely dark except for the fifty candles that scattered the dressers and windowsill. Ahead of me was a huge mahogany four poster bed, covered in an all white bedspread, from the sheets to the blankets to the pillows. To the side were two glass doors, revealing a patio that overlooked a lake. The moon light was softly beaming in and this romantic scene made me want Ali so much more. That she could be completely sexy yet still this romantic and thoughtful blew my mind.

This was the moment, the one I had been waiting and dreaming about, fantasizing about for years, the night I'd finally make love to Alison DiLaurentis, the only girl I had ever loved.

Alison's POV

I jumped down from Em's waist and walked backwards with my hand wrapped in a fist around her shirt until I felt the back of my knees hit the edge of the bed. Her eyes were dark, burning with desire and I stood in front of her, in only my bra and black leather skirt, challenging her to come closer. I didn't have to wait long before she closed the distance between us and pushed me back until I fell on the bed. She stood at the foot of the bed eyes raking over my body possessively, I squirmed because I needed release soon, or else I'd explode. She started to place her hands on the bad and crawl towards me, but I scooted further back on the bed, "take it off," I said while pointing at her white T-shirt that she's had own for way too long. She got off all fours and rose up to her knees on the bed and dragged her hands up the entire length of her torso before lifting her shirt all the way up and over her head, discarding the article of clothing on the side of the bed. I bit my lip as it was my turn to appreciate her body. Her swimmer's body was more toned than mine; her stomach was flat and muscular, revealing a slight six-pack that I wanted to rake my teeth and drag my tongue over.

But she didn't just stop at her shirt; she reached her arms behind her back and took her bra off too, slowly sliding each strap down until she was poised over me, topless. I was panting in anticipation staring at her perfectly round breasts and then she lunged her body towards me and captured my mouth greedily with hers.

"Are you sure, Ali? We don't have to-"

I cut her off, "No, Em, I – I do, I want this. I want you."

That's all the encouragement Em needed.