Hello all, sorry for the late upload, but college life is hectic and I'm really busy nowadays, but I'm super excited for the Halloween Special in a few days, I seriously cannot wait. I also had so much fun writing this chapter and I hope you have fun reading. Anyways I won't waste your time with making you read any longer than you have to, so please get on with the chapter and please revieeeeew. It's one of the few things that make me happy nowadays, I love all of your feedback. So read & tell me what you liked, hated, want more or less of, let me know! Kisses -M

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Chapter 21

Alison's POV

Sunlight beamed in from a crack in the curtains and through to my eyelids, so all I could see was the blinding red light even though my eyes were closed. I moved my body to stretch when I discovered that I wasn't lying in my bed at my house, rather I was tangled in sheets and I wasn't alone either; I was wrapped deliciously in skin – smooth, tanned skin. It was unmistakably my mermaid lying next to me, under me. My body started to warm up all over and it wasn't from the sun. I hadn't realized that I was practically sleeping on top of Em, she just felt so safe and warm, like I always remembered her. My house may have been back in Rosewood, but my home would always be wherever Em was, she is my home now…and hopefully, one day, I would be hers.

I thought of moving, what if she wasn't comfortable? But I couldn't, I was paralyzed by her…not to mention sore. Everywhere. Her naked body was under my own, our legs tangled, her long, slender arms wrapped protectively around me, and my head was nestled against her chest. I could hear her heart beating, steady and soothing in my ear. I paid attention to the sound – like music to my ears – as my head rose and fell softly in tandem with her breathing. I would love nothing more than to go to sleep and wake up to that exact sound. I want to go to bed every night and wake up every morning for the rest of forever exactly this way. And I knew no one's heart beat quite like Em's did. Her heart pumped warm blood through her veins. It continuously pumped love and courage and everything that made Em the best person God could have ever graced to the world with. She had the most caring – and forgiving – heart anyone could know. Her heart was what forgave me, gave me another chance. No matter what, I would always owe her for letting me in, time and time again, regardless of how many times I had tried to slam the door. I knew I had taken advantage of her, even when I knew how she had felt about me. I was too much of a coward to ever admit my feelings for her and she was the one who had to suffer for it. I could never take back those times, but if I could, if. Only if.

I hate that stupid little word. If, if, if. If this, then maybe that…if, if, if! It was a small word, two stupid letters but combine it with 'what' and those two words have the power to haunt me, to haunt anyone, really. What if I had told Emily how I felt that very first summer? What if I wasn't so wrapped up in holding up a reputation that was starting to mean nothing to me? What if Em and I did get together back then but by now we realized we couldn't work and it jeopardized our friendship? I hate 'what if'! What if Em never took me back? What if I was the one who loved her and she didn't love me back? What if this, us, right now, never worked and she moved on? I couldn't imagine all the haunting what if's right now. They started to float in my mind, and sink into my chest. The hope I had for the two of us was waning.

What ifs could be good too, I guess. I'd like to think of those instead. Like what if this did work? What if Em learned to love me back like all those years before? What if we stayed together for a long time, maybe even forever? The sinking feeling in my chest started to lighten and I could feel my mouth curl up into a faint smile as my what if's took on a happier transformation. What if I finally proved to Em that I loved her, I was in love with her, and I would always love her? What if we finally took that trip to Paris together? What ifs had a tricky dynamic to them and I was terrified to find the answers, if there were any, to any of the what ifs. Again, my mind was on a rollercoaster constantly flipping me over, under and sideways about my feelings and if I had it in me to ever be good enough for Em. I was exhausting for me to try and keep convincing myself that I could be.

Before I could let my mind wander any further into convincing me that I still don't and never will deserve her love, I lifted my head and looked at her beautiful face as she slept. She was absolutely breathtaking. It was as if her beauty radiated out from inside and shone through her skin. She was more beautiful than words could ever describe, and even more so because she didn't know it. Emily Fields had power beyond her grasp and if she used it, she would be unstoppable. I hate that she lets her insecurities get her way. I guess part of that would be my fault. I really was a terrible person, so how did I get so lucky as to wake up right here, with Em? In that instant, I made myself another promise (with those damned if's) that if this ever worked, if somehow I had finally found a way to convince Em that I loved her, love her and am in love with her, unconditionally, then I would spend the rest of the days and nights that we had together convincing her of her beauty and strength: things that I would tear apart from her to mask any true feelings I had towards her. I had a lot of making up to do. There are so many wrongs that I have to right.

I sighed deeply as my eyes roamed over her face, closing in on all the little details: the way her lips looked so inviting, plump and pink and slightly open, or the way her hair was splayed out around her head like a halo of long, brown tresses all over the white pillow case, and the way the sun had moved slightly so that now it's rays were filtered through her long eyelashes, casting small, faint wispy shadows across her cheeks that had the slightest bit of pink tint to them. My breath hitched at the sight of her and I let out another long sigh, hoping my breath on her skin didn't tickle her. I knew she'd wake up then, and I was enjoying just watching her sleep, so I didn't want that to end yet. Yup, I thought, I'm right, she was definitely breathtaking.

"Ali, what are you doing?" Em's raspy morning voice interrupted my period of admiration, "stop, that tickles." I was right again about the tickling waking her up.

I looked at her as I felt her body squirm under me and I looked down, not only was my breath tickling her neck and bare chest, but I realized that my own hair had fallen forward, the ends tracing across her torso, undoubtedly tickling her chest and midsection.

"Sorry," I replied looking into her eyes "but I couldn't help but notice how incredibly angelic you look while you sleep." Even though I apologized I realized that that was nothing to be sorry about.

Even though she hadn't fully woken, I could see the heat rushing to her cheeks. "Ali -," she started, and I got the idea to kiss those rosy cheeks then, and kiss her mouth before she could object to what I said, but then a low guttural sound came from Em's stomach, interrupting me and we both giggled. The small shaking of our bodies, pressed so close to one another, subdued our innocent giggle into silence and we shared a very, very heated gaze. I became aware of how each of our cores was pressed flush into one another's thighs and I couldn't help the arousal from shooting straight to between my legs. I know Em could tell what I was thinking because her eyes became lidded and she bit the corner of her mouth. I licked my own lips in response, and was rewarded by the heat I felt pressing into my skin.

Emily's POV

I know that Ali and I had had an amazing night last night, actually better than amazing, it was almost perfect. Almost. I was hoping that in the morning we could talk some more. Talk with our clothes on, and hormones somewhat under control to talk about what exactly we were doing. Not the sex, even though I loved it, but what we were, what was our next move?

Well, that was the plan, but laughing had caused our bodies to gently rub and move against one another in a way that I couldn't ignore. I blushed hard as I realized what Ali was probably thinking and looking at her staring at my mouth as I bit my lip immediately made me hot. I know Ali could feel it too. I wanted nothing more than to kiss the smirk that played at her mouth away, but in all honesty, I didn't know if I would have the strength. Last night we had spent hours, up till the moon was shining at its highest and dawn threatened the night sky, pleasuring each other over and over. We started out intense, fighting for dominance and I could feel all the raw emotions being exuberated by each of us. It was after the little argument we had so it was rushed and rough, but after the first time we had both pleased each other, we took it slow. Our movements were more sensual, slow and there was nothing but longing…and love? It was too early to call it that. Wasn't it? We spent the night doing what could only be described as making love, we would just call it sex because it was too early in our 'relationship,' but there was no denying that it meant more than that. I could feel both of our guards being let down and letting the love we had towards one another pour out into every kiss and touch. Our bodies fit into one another perfectly, like we were made for one another, like two pieces of a puzzle finally falling together and I know that Ali sensed it too. The roaming hands…and mouths, we spent the whole night exploring one another and it took a lot out of me, emotionally as well as physically. I looked down at Ali and she didn't look as tired as I was feeling. If we had sex again, right now, at even half of the intensity from last night, well… I just don't know if I can do it. This girl would be the death of me.

"Ali," I started, trying to keep my breathing even and my voice level, "aren't you hungry?"

She looked up at me, her baby blues had turned into orbs of dark blue liquid, and before she responded she slid her body dangerously slow up mine, rocking her hips into me as she did, causing a hitch in my breath and pressed feather light kisses at the base of my neck.

"Oh, I'm hungry Em…I'm starving, just not for food. If you know what I mean?" Her words were laced in full seduction and the raspiness of her own morning voice sent a small shiver down my spine. She looked at me as if she would literally eat me. Of course I knew what she meant, why did she ask?

Alison's POV

I could tell Em was starting to think again, so I made the next move and crashed my lips into hers, sighing as I did so. She immediately let my tongue enter her mouth to play, the two of us fighting for dominance until she gave up. I smiled into the kiss triumphantly, massaging her tongue with my own until I had to break away for air. My lips never left her skin though, they just moved back to her neck. Emily started to run her hands down my bare back until she reached my hips, which at that point until my toes, was covered in the soft white sheet. She didn't let the thin piece of fabric stop her as she dragged them lower, letting her nails scrape my ass gently before giving it a nice squeeze and then used her grip to bring my body down closer into her. My lips released the skin I was sucking and my body complied as I starting to buck my hips into Em who lay beneath me, eyes completely dark, filled with desire. I placed one hand on her cheek, holding her face closer to mine and I put my other on her stomach, her flat, toned stomach that I spent a considerable amount of time running my tongue over last night. The memory that flooded my brain caused a shiver to course through my body and my hips rubbed against Emily's thigh even harder. She answered by picking up a rhythm of her own. Our own nipples rubbed against each other, causing them to turn into hardened little buds. We rocked our bodies in a slow sensual rhythm and I couldn't help but admire Em's perfect breasts with my mouth. I fondled one with my hand, and with my mouth, I gently nipped the other. She pushed her head back into the pillow and slammed her eyes shut and that look alone almost sent me over the edge reeling. And we didn't even touch each other in those extremely sensitive places yet.

Kissing Emily was becoming my second favorite thing to do with her and at this rate, I hoped that we'd be doing my first favorite thing very soon.

Emily's POV

I couldn't hold the moan that escaped my lips as soon as Ali's heart shaped ones came into contact with mine. All thoughts of food escaped me as I became so concentrated at the beautiful blonde that started to melt in my arms. Our bodies matched so well it was as if we had become one person. A few minutes later and the both of us were frantically rocking our bodies in perfect unison with one another, looking for a way to release the sexual tension that was building between us. We continued this way, clawing and sucking at one another until we both decided the foreplay was enough and each of our hands dropped lower to where our hot centers were. My hands were more skilled than Ali's, so I brought her to release within a few minutes, her body convulsing, inner walls tightening around my fingers, as she came down from an ultimate high. She moaned my name loud and completely spent, had fallen fully on top of mine, the weight bringing my arousal higher and her fingers worked faster until I released just as she did, head thrown into the pillow, moaning her name into her mouth. Both of us lay there panting with a thin layer of sweat covering our bodies, glistening in the now brighter sunlight. It was blissful to lay there with her, naked in bed, breathing heavily from what we had just done. I don't care what happened later, all I knew was that I loved when Ali and I made love like that, nothing would ever feel as good.

Time passed with the two of us laying there until Ali finally rolled off of me and onto her side of the bed and I could feel my body drift back into sleep…I was drained.

Alison's POV

I woke up for the second time that morning, if it was even still morning, only this time I made sure not to fall sleep touching too much of Em. Even though I really wanted to, I also really wanted to make her some breakfast and bring it to her in bed before she could wake up. So with that plan in mind, I slowly removed the sheet from my body, instantly missing its warmth, and cast my legs off of the edge of the bed. I feet touched the floor and I stood, knees wobbly and body feeling weak. Em was right about food, we needed food or neither one of us would survive this trip. As I stood completely naked, I basked in the new warmth I felt as I basked in the sunlight coming from that same little crack in the curtains. I reached my arms up high to stretch, only finding that my entire body was sore, especially my legs. I chuckled to myself thinking about the reason why. The "reason" was lying in the bed behind me, looking more like a Greek goddess than anything else. I was tempted to crawl back onto to bed to peck her on the lips but I was afraid if I did that, I would never want to leave and my stomach agreed that we needed to eat something. I lightly padded my way over to the bathroom. I looked in the mirror, bare of any clothing and stared at my face, I looked happy, I felt happy. I guess it's true what they say about having that after-sex glow. I turned around and grabbed the thin silk robe that was hanging from the door and tied it tightly across my waist, not bothering to put anything else on, before making my way, as quietly as I could, over to the kitchen.

Walking was the hardest thing to do right now. I felt as if at any moment, exhaustion would take over and my knees would buckle on me. I don't know how, but I managed to walk to the kitchen and stand there, making Em's favorite: blueberry pancakes. While in full cooking mode I decided that Em was going to need more than just pancakes to recover from our recent bed activities and if she wanted any energy for the thing I had planned for us today. So I stayed in the kitchen for almost an hour, whisking batter into pancakes, scrambling eggs, cooking up bacon and using the oranges in the fridge to make fresh squeezed orange juice. I had picking at everything I was cooking so by the time I was done, I was already full. I made a plate stacked of food and poured the juice into a glass. Placing everything on a tray I made my way back to the bedroom. I placed the tray on the nightstand beside the side of the bed and made one small adjustment to what I was wearing before grabbing the tray again and softly beckoning Em to wake up.

"Em, oh my sweet Emmy…wake up Em," I called in her direction.

After I few more tries calling her name, she started to stir and moan, "no Ali, I'm tired can't you just-," but she stopped and lifted her nose into the air, with eyes still shut, smelling out what I had in my hands waiting for her. When she stopped her eyes opened, "Is that blueberry pancakes," she exclaimed, "and bacon?!" She darted her eyes to the tray in my hands then her mouth fell open, realizing that the robe I was wearing was no longer closed around me. I had untied to knot in the front and this new alteration gave Em the prefect view of my sex and did little to cover my breasts. She stayed that way, propped on one elbow, facing me, with her mouth agape in my little surprise. I felt my cheeks warm up as she bit her lip, something I don't think I could ever get used to, and raked her eyes across the entire length of my body. I jutted my hip to the side, deciding to play with her.

"What's the matter Em, can't decide which one looks better?"

I looked at her and she just nodded her head in silence. I took the cue and continued, "Or are you having trouble deciding what to eat first," I teased, hoping she would catch the sexual innuendo I threw in there. I got my answer when she gulped and her eyes widened at my boldness. I was enjoying this way too much. "No worries Em, you can eat it all babe, but how's about we start with the food?"

That was it, I couldn't hold back the small laugh anymore as I moved over to wear she was, placing the tray in front of her, "relax Em, I know you need to eat, I'll give you a break….for now," I added. I was rewarded with a small groan from Emily as she looked at me with eyes that said "don't even start."

Emily's POV

Why was Ali teasing me like this? I was so tired and sore and I was seriously starving, yet when she woke me up, standing practically naked with my favorite breakfast, I couldn't stop the heat from rushing between my thighs. And then she decided that the visual wasn't enough of a tease and she said all of those things only Ali would say. Nevertheless, I still found it to be completely hot. When she thought I had had enough, she made her way over the bed and placed the tray of deliciously looking food in front of me, it looked amazing.

"Ali, you did this?" I asked incredulously.

She looked hurt and I knew she was playing when she placed her hand on her chest overdramatically, "wow Em, don't sound so surprised. I'm hurt now. Of course I did."

I looked at her apologetically, "no, Ali I didn't mean to hurt your feelings, it's just you didn't have to all this," I said using my hand to gesture at the vast display of food on the plate. "I would've been fine with some cereal or toast."

She looked at me with an "are you serious" look, "Seriously Em? Cereal? We just spent God knows how many hours having sex and you think you can relinquish your strength with some God damned cereal?!"

Her reaction caught me off guard, so I shrunk back in the pillow and bed rest that I was now propped up against "Yes?" I said, and I don't know why it came out as more of a question than a statement, or why I shrugged my shoulders when I said so.

She looked at me and her expression softened, "no silly, it wouldn't have, trust me, and I wanted to do this."

I looked down into the food, and blushed and before I could look up to say thank you, she carefully moved next to me, careful not to spill the food or orange juice and kissed me fully on the lips. She pulled away after a few brief moments. "Besides, I ate while I was cooking, and you deserve it." With that she pulled away and sat on her 'side' to watch me eat.

Alison's POV

It felt good to watch Em take that first bite and to hear her moan into the fork, although I was slightly jealous when she did. "Wow Em, I don't even think you moaned like that for me last night."

That caught her attention as her fork was midair, inches from her face, egg hanging from the end. She stopped and stared at me…"you know damn well how I was moaning for you last night, and it was way sexier than me moaning over these pancakes. But if you're jealous, I'll have you know they don't taste even remotely as good as you do."

It was my turn to blush at Em's sexually charged teasing. I was going to open my mouth to say something clever back but she continued. "But, I have to admit, these pancakes are smelling better than you do right now."

I whipped my head in her direction, taken by full surprise at her dirty little comment. She wouldn't meet my eyes, but let her lips curl into a devilish smirk. Em may have gotten me on that one, but two could play at this game

I leaned into her as she was finishing her last few bites and whispered into her ear, "I'll shower for you babe, but the reason I smell like this is because I had your sweet sex juices all over my body last night, and I loved it." I flicked my tongue out across her earlobe on the "L" in loved and she held her breath and froze. "And don't forget that you were covered in me last night too, Em. You don't exactly smell like a bed of roses yourself hun." I dragged my lips across her ear again, causing her body to stiffen next to me.

Then Em made an unexpected move. She threw the plate and tray and cup on the floor, letting it fall with a dull thud and lunged her body at me. With half a second, she had grabbed me and pinned my body under hers. She attacked my lips hungrily and I was starting to love this more dominant and aggressive Emily, it was sexy as hell. Her completely naked body rubbed against mine and she ran her hands around my breasts and down to my waist, pulling my robe open to get more of our bodies touching. I was just starting to get into the kiss when she pulled away abruptly, but not before dragging her breasts down my body, leaving my body completely when she got to the foot of the bed and started to walk towards the bathroom with her back to me, giving me the perfect view as her long brown hair fall across her back, almost to her ass, oh and then her sweet rounded ass, perfectly firm like an athletes, but soft and smooth and sexy, and I couldn't forget her long toned swimmer's legs. Those legs ran on forever and I quickly remembered the first time I had ever seen Em in heels…amazing.

"Tease," I called to her.

She turned her head around, "Oh come on Ali, like you weren't teasing me earlier? Or like you don't always tease me? Besides, I can tell you're enjoying the view." She played as she pointed to my face then rubbed her own lips. I looked at her with a cocked eyebrow in confusion. "You're drooling babe," she answered laughing at me. I felt embarrassed realizing that she probably saw me gawking at her ass.

I decided to change the subject so I would feel less awkward about getting caught staring at her, "You gonna shower," as asked her.

"Yeah, care to join me?"

I bit my lip, contemplating whether or not I should. However, according to everything else that happened in the last 24 hours, I thought it was probably best to shower separate, especially if I still wanted to get Em out of this cabin, let alone this bedroom.

"No, I'm going to have to pass; I have things planned for us today, and if I go in that bathroom to shower with you, I don't think we'll leave this room."

She simply responded with a shrug and said, "Okay Ali, your loss." And she sauntered into the bathroom. Before she closed the door, I called to hear, "maybe later?"

She smiled mischievously and I hoped I didn't sound too desperate, but she just smiled at me and said "maybe, we'll see," before she turned giving me one last view of her backside and closed the door, obstructing my view. I was starting to regret making Em know how beautiful she was. Mainly because I was the one who did the teasing and I don't know if I could handle it if the roles were reversed and I was the one being embarrassed and constantly blushing, desperately wanting Em to touch me.

As sound as I heard the shower get turned on, I got up, slowly because now my legs literally felt like jelly and I went to get my phone from my purse. I had several messages from the girls, well mostly just Hanna and then one from my dad. I quickly texted Hanna back, not wanting Em to catch me with my phone. Hanna was the only one who knew what I was up to; I called her and told her everything as soon as I pulled into the long driveway. We agreed to tell Aria and Spencer that I had just convinced Em to come on a short road trip with me, and I added that we just needed time alone together to talk. Aria seemed to buy it, but Spencer still looked at me with those eyes. Out of the five of us, Spencer and I were tied for stubbornness and we shared the same never-back-down quality. Neither of us feared one another and over the years this had led to many arguments. We occasionally butted heads, but I loved that girl.

Just then my phone started ringing, I picked it up immediately, so there was no chance at Em hearing and I answered before knowing who was on the other line.

"Hello?"

"OMG Ali, give me the deets, well not all the details, you guys are my friends, so I don't want to not be able to look at you both while we're all out in public."

I sighed into the phone, only Hanna. "Hanna! What the hell? I told you to text me only if you had to, so what are you doing calling me?!" I was starting to get a little irritated that Hanna was trying to interrupt my time with Em.

"What do you mean Ali? You expect me to be okay with just a text that says 'ok' when I ask you how things are going? Now spill, please, I'm dying to know more about the likes of Emison."

Emison? What the hell was this girl talking about now? "Emi-what?! Hanna, are you on crack?"

The other blonde simply laughed into the phone before answering me, "Haha no Ali. And I said Emison, you know, like when celebrity couples get together and you combine their names…oh, like Brangelina and…"

I had to cut her off before she rambled on forever, "alright Han, I get it. Geez, why are you so excited to hear about us, don't you have a Caleb to get to?"

"Yeah but Haleb isn't as exciting as Emison…c'mon Ali, I'm dying."

Haleb? Haha Hanna was too much, and I loved her even more for giving Em and I a couples nickname. I could hear Hanna breathing in the phone, waiting anxiously to give her something.

"Well? Ali, hellooo, I know you're still there. Please? If not, I'll call you every hour on the hour until…"

"Gosh, okay Han! I'll tell you…and I thought me and Spencer where the stubborn ones. Okay, so we talked last night and she sort of yelled at me and I kind of yelled back. We basically spent a while talking about our feelings and then we made up." I finished and was surprised that Hanna didn't say anything in response. "Hanna?"

"Oh, I'm sorry…you're done? That's it?! Seriously Ali, you've been fixing up that place for a week, planning it for practically ever and all you guys did was talk and make up? I don't buy it."

How could Hanna not believe me? I guess all the girls had become better at seeing through my lies these past few years. "yeah, Han, that's basically what happened, well all you need to know."

Damnit, I cursed myself for saying that, now she'd asked a million and one more questions.

"What did you mean basically and all I needed to know? Ali, what aren't you telling me? I'm the biggest Emison shipper there is so fess up."

"Nothing Han, that's it."

"Liar again! When you said you guys made up, does that mean you kissed her or…." She let her thoughts trail and I could guess the rest of the question in my head. I guess I couldn't lie to her anymore…after all didn't she say that she was our biggest shipper?

"Well, yeah, there was some kissing," I was going for it, "and other things that we may have done."

I finished and then cringed waiting to hear-

"Ohmygodohmygodohmygod! I knew it! Hah! I so called it, you totally had sex with her!" Hanna exclaimed on the other end of the phone and I couldn't help but roll my eyes at her.

"Yes, yes, Hanna, we had sex, now keep it your pants."

"Haha no Ali, I think you and Em need to keep it in your pants. Oh my god two of my best friends totally had sex with each other, god Emison is the greatest. Wait, does that mean you asked her to-"

"No Hanna, I really have time to last night with, well…"

"Haha yeah its okay Ali, you don't gotta explain. Not this time anyway. I bet Em had you up all last night, right? It's that athletes stamina…man one time I went Em's house in the morning and I seen Paige get into her car, only thing was she was wearing what she had the night before when we all went to the Brew together, only thing was, she was walking kinda funny and-"

I had to cut Hanna off before I threw up. "Hanna," I said flatly, "shut up."

"Oh, yeah sorry, I didn't mean to bring Em's ex in the convo…but ok change of subject, how was it?"

There she did it again, changed the subject and got me to smile at her. "Great Hanna."

"Oh, c'mon Ali."

But I couldn't respond because I heard the water in the bathroom being shut off; Em was getting out of the shower.
"Hanna," I said in a hushed half whisper, "I gotta go, Em's getting out the shower-"

"Aw man Ali, just one-"

"But if you really want to know, Em rocked my world last night…at last Paige could walk. Now goodbye Hanna, don't call again."

I hung up, laughing as I heard her objections. I went to throw my phone back into my purse and my phone lit up.

Hanna - Yes! I knew it! #TeamEmison Go get her girl! ;)

Only Hanna. She was crazy.

"Ali?" A small but sweet voice interrupted my thoughts of our blonde friend.

"Yeah Em?" I called towards the still shut door.

"I um, need a towel?"

I laughed again. I had seen Em fully naked already, so why didn't she just come out here like that? I amazed me, but I was right all those years ago, Em really was shy on the streets and sexy in the sheets. I thought of telling just that but decided we had teased each other enough for the time being. "Ok Em, let me get one on out of the closet."

I grabbed a plush white towel from the room's small toiletries closet and went to open the bathroom door but found it locked. "Em, here."

She opened the door, only slightly, using the door to cover her body, but that didn't stop me from seeing the swell of her breast pressed into the door. God, would I ever get enough of her?

"You had better hurry up and cover up," I demanded, "or else I'll have to come in there and make sure you know what my name is," I winked at her, handed her the towel and retreated back to the bed. She flushed and quickly snatched the towel from my hands. I was hoping for more of the sexual banter we had earlier but none happened.

When Em was done toweling off, she stepped out in nothing but the white towel, that was too small for her taller frame. It barely covered her ass, and although that didn't bother me one bit, she still walked slow and awkward stopping in the middle of the room as something – realization – hit her.

"Ali?"

"Mm, yeah Em?"

"Um I know I agreed to come here with you, but I didn't know where here was, or how long we were staying and well I didn't plan accordingly."

She stopped and even though I said that we had enough teasing, I lied. I pretended to not know what she was trying to say, turning my head to the side and pinching my eyebrows together.

"Ali," she said in more of a mother scolding her child kind of way, gesturing to her cute short towel make shift dress, "I don't have anything to wear."

I raised an eyebrow at her and smirked, "who said we're gonna be needing clothes anymore?"

She looked at me shocked and then back to the floor, staring at her feet. I could tell she felt awkward standing in the middle of the room, helpless to the teasing. But then she spoke up, "I'm serious Ali, and I can't really but on what I had yesterday."

Okay Ali, I told myself, that's enough. "Em, I'm only kidding, check the dresser there," I told her pointing one of the dressers that adorned the wall by the bathroom door, "that one is yours."

"Mine?" She asked before turning and walking towards the dresser. She opened the first drawer, "Ali, these aren't my clothes. These are too nice to me anything of mine and – oh my god, they still have tags on them! Ali, where did you get these?"

"Calm down Killer, I didn't steal them, I bought them. They're for you. I couldn't exactly sneak into your room a week ago and steal your clothes without you knowing, you woul-"

"A week ago? Ali, how long ago did you plan on taking me here?"

Oops, busted. "I- I-well about a week or two? I bought this place with my dad's money and I," well I might as well tell her the whole truth, "wait, can you put some clothes on, I can't think when you're half naked. I managed to get a hold of some of your sweats if you're absolutely against the stuff I bought you."

She complied, throwing on the sweats and I white-T I had thrown in there to accompany the lazy pants.

"You too then." She pointed at my still open robe and I quickly tied up the front again. "Okay," when I was done, "you were saying?" She came to sit beside me on the bed.

"Okay so like I said, I used my dad's money to but this place. And don't question me about that, he said he owed me so I made him buy me this place," I gestured with both my hands at the room, "then the week that I was 'missing' I hired some guys to help me fix the place up. We got all new fixtures and appliances and I practically designed everything…well the living room and this one. And before I got back to Rosewood, I used the rest of the money I had to buy you some clothes for when you came."

She just sat there thinking and finally met my eyes. "That was pretty risky to do Ali, especially since how I felt about you one to two weeks ago, don't you think? What if I had said no?"

I small shot of pain shot to straight to my chest. I wasn't kidding when I said I hated 'what if,' and hearing it from Em made it worse.

"It was a risk I was more than willing to take, Em. I wouldn't have taken no for an answer anyways. I mean it too; I'm going to fight more this Em, and I don't care what I have to do to prove to you that I mean it. I don't care what anyone else thinks, your opinion is the only one I care about."

"I- I- I don't know what to say Ali…"

I could see her struggling to find the words to say to me. "Em, it's okay. You don't have to say anything, not if you don't want to. I'm the one who has to do the talking anyway, just promise me that you'll listen when I do? I know this isn't easy for either one of us but I think it's even harder for me because I've never loved anyone before. Not the way I love you and the way I want to love you. I know I make all these sexual jokes, but this morning, waking up next to you – twice – was the happiest day of my life so far. Yeah I had an amazing night with you, but I nothing compares to way I hold my breath when you touch me or the way butterflies flutter in my stomach when you say sweet things to me, not to mention how incredibly safe I feel when your arms are wrapped around me."

I looked at Emily's face. Her eyes were becoming glossy at the truth I had begun to say. I didn't plan on bring it up now but when I was with her, her eyes bore into my soul, not seeing me, or through me, but into me. It made me feel vulnerable and I was scared, but there was nothing left to hide from her. All the cards were on the table and this time I was showing nothing but hearts.

Emily's POV

Alison started to talk about our trip and soon began confessing more of her feelings towards me and us. Although it's what I wanted to talk to her about this morning anyway, I still felt my nerves go off all over my body and as she continued I felt the tears forming in my eyes. Now was as good a time as ever to ask her what I had wanted.

"Ali, what does this make us?"

"What do you mean Em?

"I mean what is it that you want after this," I gestured stretching my arms out wide at my sides, "when all of it, is over? I love you too Ali, more than anything I'll ever love. You were my first love and always will be, but I just don't know how I'm supposed to take all of this in. I loved you for so long, but you can't possibly ever know how bad it hurt me for so long knowing my love for you was unrequited. Like I said last night, you have so much to prove to me and I'm willing to try if you are. But tell me, when we leave this place, and these doors close, what will we be then? What does this mean to you, what do I mean to you? Behind closed doors, we do this and I love it, I'd do it every day with you but I won't feel ashamed of loving someone again. So when you and I are alone or with other people, in public what are we then? Don't you dare make me pretend that this means nothing out in the open, because I'll leave the second that happens and I'll cut you off, maybe permanently this time too. I won't forgive as easily, if I do at all."

I could tell that she was surprised by my bluntness, but it's what needed to be said, and what she needed to hear.

"Em, I won't give up on this. On us. I love you and I won't make you feel ashamed of your feelings, not this time, and not ever again. I want this to work. I hope that years from now you and I are still together, maybe we get a place together here in Rosewood to stay closer to our friends, or maybe we move to California to always be close to the beaches. I don't know yet where exactly I want this to go, all I know is that every day of my life starting today, I want to spend with you. I want to be by your side, supporting you through whatever life has in store for you and if that includes me, you can bet that I'll be there, imperfections and all. I want to be your friend first and your lover second because I think I could survive living without you loving me in that way, it'd be hard and painful, but if we ever stopped being friends too, I just couldn't. I couldn't, so I won't give you a reason to doubt me, I promise. And when we leave this cabin, if you still feel like you can love me again, I won't hide either. I want the whole world to know that I've fallen on my ass, hard, and head over heels for you. I admit that you and myself right now and I'll gladly shout it at the top of my lungs wherever I am that I love you Emily Fields, and I want to hold your hand while we walk places, I want to kiss you in the halls at school between passing period. I want to post cuties pictures of where we go on dates together all over social media and hang them on my walls in my room. You are so worried about me loving you but I'm worried too. I'm afraid you'll realize that I can never be enough for you and you'll leave. I'm not saying that we have to handcuff our wrists together, but I want to be yours, I am yours, and I want the whole world to know, if you want, that you are mine. You, Emily. My mermaid. My killer. And…and…we can take it slow, but please Em, will you- will you," why after all this time I spent rambling on couldn't I get the words out? Jesus you are Alison DiLau- freaking- rentis. Suck it up and ask this gorgeous brunette, your best friend, and the love of your life to be your god damned girlfriend already! "Emily," and this time I looked in those warm brown eyes, "will you be my girlfriend?"

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Sorry about the cliffhanger ladies, but it seemed appropriate. I have the next chapter almost ready to put up but please please, REVIEEEEWWW! :) it doesn't take that long for you but it'll make me happy for a very long time! I'll put up chapter 22 when I hit 50 reviews. :)