I realize it's been a while. I took so long to update this because I've recently had a death in the family and then school started back up for me and my college schedule is very tough. The classes I take require a lot of my time and between that, work and family, free time is very rare for me.

I also want to thank the guest who stuck up for me(kisses for you) against the other guest that called me a "WHORE" (sorry kids), I thank you but I'm sure that person didn't really mean it, I hope? Anyways, I just laughed because I know the frustration you must have all gone through just to read this, and again I am truly sorry, but I did have a lot going on, I just hope this was worth the wait. Enjoy.

Chapter 33: Do You PROMise? (Part 2: Prom: A Night In Paris)

Alison's POV

It probably won't matter what day it is, I hate mornings. I rolled out of bed and winced at the sight of the time on my alarm clock. It was already 7:30 and class started at 8. Em was picking me up, so that means I had less than 20 minutes to be dressed and ready for school before she got here. I made my way hurriedly across my room, kicking my bag on the floor along the way.

"Ugh, every freaking time!" I cursed myself for always leaving my bag on the floor. Kicking it had made most of my work come out and as I bent to shuffle them back inside, the unmistakable colors of Em's and my (maybe) college stuck out like a sore thumb compared to the bland colors of the other papers in my bag.

I sat myself on my bed, still dressed in pajama bottoms and a tank when I started looking at all the pictures and info Em and I had printed out in the last few days. She already sent her application in and in the meantime, I had been practicing my essays and personal statements. It was a piece of cake, but a twinge of uncertainty seemed to always settle in the pit of my stomach. Nonetheless, Em and I talked about what it would be like to actually live together for the first time and for once walk around in a town where no one knows about us and our tainted past. I excited over the chance of being the crazy girl in the stands at her meets, cheering her on and when she won, claiming to the nearby spectators that that was my girlfriend. It was such a rush talking about college, and Em and I couldn't wait to tell the girls. We've only waited this long because Em wanted to tell her mom first…tonight, when her flight got back in from California.

It's been a while since I told Em my decision to go to California with her. It was difficult at first, convincing her that I wouldn't be sacrificing anything other than leaving this town to go with her. Sure I still had Jason and my dad, but they were never around and even as I told my dad what I wanted to do, all I got from him was a vacant stare and empty promises that he'd pay, or help pay for my tuition. He hugged me with cold arms and said with no emotion that he was proud of me. Proud of a daughter he barely knew. How? But I couldn't blame him.

He was a changed man since my mother died. If I thought he was quiet before…he's worse now. He's never home, he barely says two words to me and I haven't seen him step one singe foot into his room, my mom's room since she died. I feel like somehow he can't be around me without thinking of her and that hurts him too much. To save any feelings I still have towards him, I force myself to believe that.

When I first got back, it hurt to know that what was left of my family had shunned me, but that pain was child's play compared to the cold shoulder Emily had given me for so long. Now, there were 2 days left until Prom, Emily was my girlfriend, and we'd be going (hopefully) to the same college. Her love was all I needed. To some people I know it would seem heartless to say that I don't care whether my dad or brother ever say 'I love you' to me again, but to me, I only need to hear those three little words from one person, and that person was…knocking on my door to drive me to school with her.

"Ali! Hey, you ready? C'mon, we're already late!" Her fist raped the door the same time her voice cut clear through the walls. I looked down at my clothes, "shit."

I shook my head and laughed to myself, "I'm coming! I'm coming!"

I threw a change of clothes in my bag and brushed my teeth. I didn't care if Em seen me like this, she's seen the worst of me already, but I refused to kiss her with a breath only known as 'morning breath.' She tried to say "but Ali, love means we accept all of each other's flaws and imperfections, and that means morning breath." I have to admit the little feathery kisses along my neck almost did the trick but I told her, "if love is as all-accepting as you say, you're just going to have to accept that I won't kiss you with my morning breath."

I laughed again, almost stumbling down my stairs as I remembered that morning, tucked away in her sheets and it was raining outside. We stayed in all day and watched Netflix and chick flicks and drank hot cocoa…among the other things we did. But that day was near perfection, every time we were together, the memories just got better and better.

"Ali! C'mon!"

I rushed to the door and flung it open, "okay, okay, geez, why didn't you just come in and yell at me?"

Em propped her hand on her waist and a smirk played on her lips, "Ali, I don't know how much you remember, but the last time I came in to get you for school, you were half dressed still finding something to wear…we ended up missing school and the girls were mad we bailed on them."

Oh yeah, the memories of that morning flooded my mind too, and I smiled, "oh yeah, I remember now," I said, my voice sultry as I walked closer, closing the distance between our bodies. Em's breath hitched when my chest was against hers and I leaned closer to her ear, "but I remember being half-naked, don't you?"

I could see the quiver her throat as she swallowed and when I looked at her sides, her hands were mid-air in clenched fists, debating on where she should but her hands. It was torturous and entertaining to watch her face contort, her eyes shut, teeth biting into her lip. I made the choice for her.

I pulled away and locked my door, walking to her car quickly, all before she could open her eyes. I reached the handle when I looked back at her, shaking her head and a look in her eye that screamed both danger and whispered playfulness. "Tease." She called out to me.

"Aha, remember our agreement? No putting out until Prom."

She made her way to the car and when we got in, she huffed, "Ali, I don't think I can go that long."

She gave me the best puppy dog eyes she could manage. It had been hard to resist each other sexually this whole week, but I knew once we finally could have each other, it was going to be amazing. Well, amazing-er. It had been tempting though on several occasions to jump each other's bones: in her room, my room, the bathroom at school, Hanna's bathroom again, Spencer's barn, another fitting room and even the car, but we willed it away, never going farther than a heated make-up and some groping.

I could tell she was reaching the limit, and so was I, I just had a better way of hiding it.

I placed my hand on her thigh as she drove, careful not to make any movements that made the intention less than innocent, "only two more days, Em. I can't wait to walk into Prom with you. It's going to be an amazing night."

She stole a glance in my direction and smiled widely, "Alison, ever since I knew I loved you, or even had feelings for you, I would imagine us doing all the typical things a high school couple would do. I dreamed of crazy dates, movie nights indoors, long drives anywhere and I definitely dreamed of Prom."

"Hmm, then it sounds like I'll have a lot to live up to then?"

"No, I'm telling you this because I don't care if the music is whack, or punch is spilled on my dress by some clutz of a person dancing next to me. As long as I go with you, I know there's no way that anything will be short of perfection."

I looked at Em with amazement. Her confidence in us was baffling and not a second went by when I was with her where I didn't feel extremely lucky, "Em," I said softly, barely so she could hear, "how are you so sure? I love you, I do, but I still get the feeling sometimes, not as often, but the feeling is still there that I can mess this up, do something, or say something wrong to you. So how can you be so sure?"

Em stopped the car, we were right in front of the school anyways, so she cut the engine, unbuckled her seat belt and turned her body to me. She wouldn't meet my eyes yet, but I could see the small smile on her face. "You want to know why?" I nodded, silent, even though I knew she couldn't hear me, "Ali I don't care what you might say, or what you might do. If you do something wrong, truly wrong, I'll know. And I know right now that you won't, I'm "so sure" as you put it because," she picked her head up and our eyes met, "of that exact look in your eyes right now. Nothing could ever speak louder or convince more of the way you love me than the look in your eyes right now."

Em's gaze was warm and gripping, I couldn't tear my own eyes away from hers but I was tempted to look in the mirror to see what she was talking about. "Ali, I seen glimpses of the real you when I seen your eyes soften. Yes it hurt like hell when you turned me away with the cruel things you used to say, or the way you would flaunt yourself around boys in front of me to watch as I sat in pain, afraid of stealing any more secret glances at you. But that didn't matter because all it took for me to keep hanging on to the love I had, have and always will have is the look you have in your eyes that tells me where your heart truly belongs." She grabbed my hand and placed it over her chest, above her heart, "with mine."

"I-I, Em, I'm so sorry, I was just," I struggled for the right words to say to the angel of a person sitting next to me.

"It's okay Ali, you don't have to say anything right now."

"But-" I started but was cut off by the sound of the bell.

"Save it for our vows." Em winked and I sat shocked for a few more seconds until she came to my door and helped me out of it, "c'mon, we'll be late, one more and you and I will have detention."

I walked hand in hand with Em through the school's doors and we made our way through emptying halls and shuffling kids, but all I could think about was what Emily just said. Did she just…

Get a grip Ali, its waaaay to soon for that. If 'that' was even a possibility? Oh god, where's Hanna when you need her?

Two Days Later…May 17, Prom Night

No One's POV

The night had finally come: PROM. All the liars readied themselves at their houses, agreeing to meet at Em's house since she'd be driving everyone to the dinner reservation in the Range Rover, Toby and Caleb would drive to meet the girls and Ezra actually called to steal Aria away but was 'convinced' by Hanna that Aria could not leave and he would just have to join them all.

4:30 p.m.

So that's what happened. The girls met in front of Em's house, sitting on her couch waiting for her to come down. Ali was running late so the other three liars sat and waited, each one of them a different kind of perfection, all absolutely beautiful. This was a night they had all looked forward to and just a few years ago, it was a night that they surely thought that they wouldn't even live to see, but they were here, alive and happy and in a couple short weeks they were off to start living their lives, separated for the first time in years. The thought was scary and sad but thrilling and each of them couldn't wait to follow where life would take them.

"How long until Ali gets here Han?"

"Um, not sure Spence, she said she was just putting some last minute touches to her makeup and then she'd be here."

"What color was her dress again?" Aria asked, smoothing the wrinkles of her own dress down. Aria had her hair in a simple up-do, and her dress was green, form fitting with straps and the bottom flared out like a ballerina's dress, it was knee length and she accompanied the look with black heels. She spunked up her emerald green dress with some of the coolest jewelry Rosewood high would see, crazy fashion statements and wild prints had Aria's signature written all over it but tonight she played that style down a bit. After all, the theme called for a bit more elegance than the normal tiger and stripes prints Aria usually worked down the halls at school.

Hanna looked over and her eyes lit up, "her dress is blue. A deep, sexy, navy blue."

Spencer snorted, "seriously, what is up with you and them…how can a color be sexy?"

"Didn't you hear me, Spence, its blue. That's Em's favorite color, so it'll be sexy to her, trust me."

"God, how can they stand to be near you?" Aria teased.

"Well, one because they love me, and two, because they know I'm right."

"Yeah, okay Han…suuuure."

Hanna laughed and looked down, smoothing her palms over the smooth silky fabric of her dress, "but I'm serious, I seen the way Em used to look at Ali, and even know its bigger than before. And I see the way Ali looks at Emily. I know I joke about them all the time, but in all honesty, I might be a little jealous of them. I mean I know we don't know what they have planned for the future college wise, but I'm sure whatever it is, it'll work out for them."

Aria and Spencer sat still, not knowing what to say, or even if they should say anything at all to Hanna. But to be jealous of the love that Em and Ali had? Was it crazy? Aria and Spencer both had their trials and tribulations with Ezra and Toby, but there was still plenty of love between them, how could they compare their love lives? On what scale could they all use?

Hanna continued sharing her insight, "And not to say that we don't all have a love to call our own. Aria, I know what you would do for Ezra and Spence you and Toby always have each other's back and so do me and Caleb, but really when I look at the two of them, even when they're doing anything intentionally romantic, I can feel it. Like something is like coming off of them, like from the inside out or something, Spence, give me a word?"

Spencer stared off into the distance, thinking and understanding exactly what Hanna meant, "It's like their love for each other radiates off of them."

Aria shook her head in agreement.

"Yeah, thanks Spence, that's exactly what I mean. It's like they love each other so much it radiates off them, and I don't know about you guys, but I feel it and it's contagious, I feel better and then I think of Caleb and I think of how much I love him. It's crazy because we're all barely even 18 but they're going to make it guys. They can't live without each other. They have the love that we laugh about in the chick flicks and cry about in the sappy romance books."

And for the first time in a while, Spencer and Aria didn't laugh, Hanna wasn't making a joke.

Spencer huffed, a smile on her face, reminding herself of all the classic books she read that had do deal with love like Romeo & Juliet, Wuthering Heights, etc…"Oh yeah? Well what love is that?"

Hanna looked up just as she heard heels clicking and Em was standing at the top of the stairs, she looked great and before any of the girls could say a word about it, the front door knob turned and Ali walked in, she didn't even see the girls sitting in the couches next to her and her mouth was slightly open, as if she was going to say something but was frozen. Hanna looked at Em and her hand was gripping the handrail, her foot dangling above the next step, eyes locked on Ali's, her body stuck as well.

Hanna smiled and leaned into Spencer and saying only loud enough for Spence and Aria to hear she whispered, "a love that looks like that." She pointed between Em and Ali, "a love that consumes you, all of you and even if for the smallest of moments together, seems to stop time."

From that moment on, Spencer never doubted Hanna's intelligence or questioned her about her insight. This blonde understood more than she had ever let on, and now when Hanna had something to say, Spence would make sure that she's pay just a little more attention.

Aria thought to the books she had read, to the stories she herself had written and she nodded, watching her two friends let the rest of the world slip away from them, her, Hanna and Spencer included, and watch closely as they made their way to each other, eyes never leaving each other and as if Hanna's words wrapped themselves around her, she found herself remembering all the looks of longing she had shared with Ezra and thought that maybe that was all she would need too…just a look.

Emily finished the last details of her hair and make-up, did a last once over of herself in her mirror, grabbed her purse and headed to the foot of the stairs, she readied herself for the many exchanges she'd be giving and receiving to and from her friends about how good they all looked but any line of thoughts dissipated as soon as she took her first step on the stairs, she looked up to greet Han, Aria and Spence, but at that exact moment, her front door opened and her breath caught in her throat.

She'd seen Ali in several dresses before, hell she'd even already seen her in that dress before, but paired with the right shoes and hair and make-up, Alison was absolutely breathtaking. And in blue! Her favorite color never looked so sexy on a person before. Not even Beyonce. And that was a statement, because she thought no one would ever trump the Queen. But looking down at Ali and seeing her just as awestruck as she was, Emily knew there was a new queen sitting on her throne. And not the evil Queen B people used to call Ali when she wasn't around, but the kind of Queen that people envy and everyone adores because she just plain beautiful…inside and out. Ali was a queen for Em for the power the blonde held over her and because Em knew without a doubt that she'd stay loyal to Alison always. Her love would never waiver. Emily felt frozen in that position forever, her foot losing feeling as it dangled mid-air, not yet taking that next step that would bring her closer to Ali because she was completely transfixed. Em was sure Hanna was pointing at them but she couldn't snap out of it. And neither could Ali.

Not until the blonde was forced back into reality and started to move forward. One step at a time. That's when time seemed to wake up and move slowly, until Em found her body on auto-pilot, bringing herself closer to Ali until they met at the foot of her stairs. Em looked over her girlfriend, she was absolutely amazing. And Ali admired Emily, her toned leg peeping out of the long slit of the side of her golden strapless dress. Ali wanted to laugh softly because if there had been explosions behind the halo of brunette hair that hung from the crown of Em's head, she would've sworn her sweet Emily went from her mermaid to the next Bond girl.

Em turned her head to the side, puzzled that Ali was thinking about something and was doing a bad job at hiding her awkward smile. Ali placed her hands in Em's and met her eyes.

"Hey." Ali's voice was a little huskier than usual and Em looked her over. Letting her eyes focus on slightly plunging neckline, how snug the dress fit, hugging her girlfriend's curvaceous body. There were girls who wore dresses all the time, those who wore them for special occasions and then there was Alison, who wore the hell out anything she wanted and if she felt confident enough, would make you believe she was an actress walking her way down the red-carpet, fans screaming, lights from the paparazzi's cameras blinding all the while holding her head high, walking with the certainty as if her steps were automatic, purposeful. And that was Emily loved, that Ali could walk and make everything have a purpose. Em loved that she could bring that out in Alison in the most intimate ways.

"Hi, Ali. You look amazing."

"Hey," Ali tugged on Em's hands until the brunette was forced to take a step forward, her body impossibly close to Ali's, "that's no fair."

Em tried to pull away, to stand up straight, but Ali's grip held tight. "What?" Em answered, her voice hinting at a little strain.

Ali smirked and gave Em a quick peck on the lips, "I wanted to say that first."

Emily smiled and opened her eyes slowly, she closed them immediately at the feel of Ali's lips on her own. "Well," Em sighed, "how about you just say once then and we'll call it a tie since I know we were both thinking the same thing since you opened my door."

Ali smiled again, a huge child-like grin and leaned in closer to Em, "Emily Fields," she said her name slowly, "I'm taking you to Prom as my date and you couldn't possibly look any more beautiful than you do Right. Now."

Em kissed Ali and then pulled away, "couldn't possibly, you say?"

"Stop that, you know what I mean. Don't ruin my compliment okay?"

"Okay, but all I'm saying is this is not the last time you and I will be in a dress together for something."

Ali felt the violent flutter of butterflies erupt in her stomach again and this time she was sure what Emily was talking about. Her heart beat faster and she sighed deeply. "I have no doubt of that." Ali played along, her breath caressing Em's cheek and blowing softly in the tufts of hair that fell in her face as she leaned forward.

Em untangled their hands and placed them on either side of Alison;'s face, locking gazes for a brief moment and stilled her body as Ali placed her hands in Em's hair, holding the back of her neck and careful not to mess up her hair…not too much any way.

Em shivered and the two of them leaned in for another world-melting-away kiss, lost in each other, forgetting who they were, where they were and to their friends' dismay, the fact that they were not alone.

"Um, eh-hem, yes, hello you two, look who else is here!" Spencer said loudly, trying to hold her laugh in as much as she could.

"Aw, Spence stop look at them, they're adorable!" Aria beamed, reminding Ali of an elderly grandmother, who loved to pinch everyone's cheeks, no matter how old they were.

"Hey Spence, can't you tell they were having a moment?" Hanna butted in, throwing an elbow into Spencer's side.

Coughing, Spencer huffed out, "geez Hanna, was that necessary?"

Aria laughed, moving out of the way before she got caught in any friendly fire.

"Yes, it was."

"I was just saying. I mean I think we've all seen enough of them 'having their moments,' I'm never sure about you, or even you sometimes Aria, but I can live happily knowing I can prevent myself from witnessing any more of your moments guys." Turning from Hanna to Aria and then to the girls last, "no offense."

"None taken, Spence. It's okay."

"Yeah," Ali added, besides, Em and I will finally get to have our moment when we get back.

Spencer looked confused but didn't feel the need to delve further. Unfortunately for her, Hanna didn't think the way.

"Oh yeah, huh? I forgot, you two haven't had sex in like what, a week? I don't know how either of you have made it this far, knowing how crazy you can get." Hanna teased and when she was done started a fit of laughter.

"What!" Aria exclaimed. "Why did I need to hear this?"

"Really Aria? My question is why is a week so long for you guys? Don't you two do anything else on your free time?"

Everyone seemed to ignore Spencer's question. Em's cheeks brightened and Hanna turned herself towards Aria, "Yeah, they made a deal sometime last week to not put any out until after Prom was over. Guess it looks like we won't be having that sleep over after all!" Hanna started laughing and Ali joined in.

"Oh shutup Hanna. We can always do it another night. We have to have one soon anyways because Em and I have to tell you guys our plan for college." Ali remembered that Em had already broken the news to her mom earlier that day, it was just Ali's turn to talk to Pam Fields, about what she wasn't sure, but she knew she had to.

"Oh yeah, I've been waiting to hear this. Wait, just tell us at dinner in a bit, because then all of us will be there." Aria piped up.

Ali looked at Em for permission to agree or not. Em nodded, "yeah, I don't see why not."

"Good," Hanna sighed, "we've all been dying to know."

"Well," Ali said, "die for an hour more and we'll let you know."

"Okay, but seriously, if you guys are ready know, I'm ready to go and eat and then get my Prom on."

"Han, you can't use 'Prom' as a verb, it's just not - "

"Spencer, for one night, I think I can." The girls laughed and all heading towards Emily's car. Looking like 5 models for the cover of Seventeen Magazine, The Prom Edition.

The girls, still laughing at Han and Spencer and just the fact that they were happy, all slid into Em's car and for the first time, maybe ever, Ali realized she'd be missing something from Rosewood a lot after all: her friends.

Dinner 6:30 p.m.

The girls' reservation was set for 5 and they had gotten there right on time. The boys were already seated, waiting patiently as their girlfriends showed up. The usually compliments were exchanged and once everyone was seated, and food and drinks were ordered, Em and Ali used the time waiting for their food to break the news about their college plans.

No one was too surprised, and they all seemed happy that at least Em and Ali would be together. Ali realized that the hidden undertones in their voices came from the fact that of the five of them, two of them would still be together.

Of course they all also agreed that that didn't mean they wouldn't keep in touch. They made a deal right there and then, with Toby, Caleb and Ezra as witnesses, that they would stay in touch and talk to each other at least once a week. It was agreed as easy as some head nods and 'of-courses' but only time would tell if their friendship that was so strong against psychopaths would endure distance and time apart.

Hanna said that as soon as she got paid, she'd take the first flight out to California to see them and she made them promise that they would learn the coast so she could shop and surf and do all the typical California things.

Aria and Spencer agreed that they'd find a way to visit and Ali and Em promised the girls all the opposite, that one of the bigger holiday breaks in the year, they come back and they'd all have to come and it would be like 'old times.'

It was strange for Alison to hear herself and Emily and Hanna, Aria and Spencer, even the guys, already talking about talking about the 'old times.' They were all still so young and still just sitting in a restaurant eating food and on their way to their senior Prom. It was strange to think and look around, knowing she'd be leaving it all behind soon. You're out of here in the summer, Ali. You and Em and California. A fresh start, a new slate. But with the girl who you love, and who loves you.

Instinctively, Ali placed her hand atop Em's which was rested on the table. Without looking at her, Emily faced her palm up and wrapped her fingers around Ali's the instant their skin touched. Ali smiled and looked around at the other people sitting at the table. This. This was her family. Hanna and her goofy antics, Aria and her concern for everyone around her..Spencer. She'd miss Spencer a lot. Butted heads or not, Spencer was just like the big sister that she often wondered what it would be like if she had one. Spencer had been there for her, maybe not with a smile and warm hugs at first, but Spencer was there when Ali needed her and she wasn't afraid to give Ali a little taste of her own medicine, which in some cases, was the cure.

Ali realized that as much as she would be missing her little family sitting with her right now, she knew that Emily would miss them even more. Ali sat back in her chair and let the noises of their laughter and voices fade away and it was as if she wasn't even there anymore. Time slowed and everyone moved in slow motion. Hanna's hair flipping to the side, whacking Caleb in the face. Spencer and Toby holidng hands under the table and Ezra had his arm wrapped around Aria's petite frame, cradling her in his arm. The moment was perfect but Ali realized that these were the people that Em had known and grew very close to in the years that she was gone. In the years she spent hiding, and running thinking it was to protect these beautiful people in front of them.

Ali smiled weakly and she hoped with every once in her being that believed in hope, that in these next years when Em faced troubles and struggles like she did here, that she would be enough to get her through it. Ali wasn't there when Em's dad left and got called back to duty. She wasn't there when she came out and was having trouble just accepting who she was. Ali felt a twinge of guilt realizing she wasn't there when Em busted her shoulder, or hit her head in the pool, or had a car drive into her living room. Ali wasn't there for a lot of things, but these people were, and they got her through it. In some ways, Ali felt she owed them something and in other ways she felt the pressure to live up to their love and support and the fact that when Ali was hiding away somewhere pretending to be forgotten, Em was leaning on a shoulder that wasn't hers.

But that was going to change. All of it. Ali wouldn't run or hide or push away. Ali was going to be the one who stood up late and held Em while she watched TV and cried when sad dog commercials came on. Ali would be there, always.

"Hanna, how can you possibly be eating dessert?" Spencer sat back in her chair and huffed out, clearly full from dinner.

Aria added, "Yeah, I still have food left from the appetizer plate."

"Well," Hanna answered, "Caleb and I have been running and doing a lot of exercise, so you can say I've built up the appetite. Besides, Prom officially starts at 7 and ends at midnight, we have 5 hours to dance away all these calories, I'll be fine."

Em leaned forward, pushing her own plate forward, "Yeah let's hope dancing for 5 hours will burn off all the calories from that piece of pizza I just ate."

Ali smirked and leaned over Em's back, resting her chin on her shoulder and whispering in her ear, "No worries Em, I have our own "workout" planned for burning plenty of calories as soon as we get home."

Em rolled her neck, bringing her ear closer to Ali's devilish mouth and just as Em was going to turn her head, Ali pulled away and laughed gingerly.

"Emily we came to an Italian restaurant that serves some of the best pastas around and you choose to eat pizza? I can't believe you."

"Shutup Han, it was a good ass piece of pizza. And don't give me any shit, because you took like 3 bites of it."

"Aha," Han laughed, "You would've never noticed if Toby didn't say anything!"

Toby threw his hands up in defense, "hey don't be mad at me, I keep my hands to my own plate!"

Ali laughed at the exchange between Hanna and Em because it was always comical between them.

"Em, you wouldn't have noticed anyway, I promise, they were small."

Ali laughed and had to interject before anyone else did, "Actually Han, consider yourself lucky, because Em hardly ever willingly gives me a bite of her pizza. It's either I have my own piece or none at all."

"Damn, like that Em?" Hanna kept laughing and Em was slightly embarrassed, but Ali kissed her reddening cheeks, "I'm only playing babe."

The table laughed and when Hanna finished her dessert and the bills were paid for she was the first to stand in her heels and announce, "like Spencer said earlier guys, let's get our Prom on!"

Ali, Han and Aria laughed following behind the blonde while Spencer rolled her eyes, laughed and shook her head. "Okay, but just because we only go to Prom once, let's go and get our Prom on!"

The Arrival 7:15

Emily pulled up to the front of the school. Prom had just officially started, so there was hardly any traffic. All of the girls got out in time to see the boys walking towards them. Everyone looked magnificent. The sun was set, the moon was making the climb to its rightful spot in the sky and the lights outside of the school provided enough light that the sheer and jewels that adorns some of the liars' dresses glinted with just the right movement.

Ali stayed in the car with Em to park after all the girls got out.

"Ali and I will be there right now, let me just go park the car," Emily leaned over the console to shout at the girls. They nodded and made their way in the building.

Em found a parking spot just a little down the street from the school and when the car was parked and the engine was cut, Em placed her hands in her lap and took a long and audible sigh.

"Em, are you okay?" Ali turned to look at Em and even in the dim light of the street lamps, Ali could tell that Emily was thinking. But in that same light, her eyelashes casted long billowy shadows over her cheekbones and Ali knew that she was the most beautiful girl she would ever know.

Em rubbed her palms along the length of her thighs and smiled a huge smile. Ali's moment of worry disappeared and the happiness and nervous excitement they were feeling was so intense it was almost palpable in the air between them.

"Yeah Ali," Em turned to face Alison's blue eyes, "I'm fine. No, better than fine. I'm just realizing how incredibly lucky I am."

Ali shook her head, if only Em knew that she wasn't the lucky one. "No Em, I am the lucky one. I'm going to be walking in there with the most beautiful girl as my date, my girlfriend."

Emily beamed and her smile reached her eyes, "No Ali, this was a dream of mine, to go to Prom with you. And now it's coming true. Everyone is going to be extremely jealous of me, don't you see that?"

Ali couldn't possibly love Emily more. Every fiber of her being, every inch of skin and bone, every depth of her soul loved this Emily Fields and she would do the impossible in years to come and make even more of herself love this girl sitting across from her.

"Emily, no they won't."

Em looked up when Ali reached across the distance between them and grabbed her hands, holding them tight enough to not slip away but loose enough that she could move them in the cradle that was Alison's hands.

"Emily Fields, if people are going to be jealous, it will be of me. I promise. It amazes me that you can never see how undeniably beautiful you are. You don't even have to try, it's natural and when they see that I am with you, because it is me that is coming her with you, they will know that I'm either the luckiest girl in the world or you are a fool because you could have anyone you want, yet you chose me."

Em's heart skipped a beat and took a deep breath. "Ali, of course I chose you. My skin chose you, to never deprive myself of your touch. My heart chose you, to never miss a single ounce of your love. I chose you the moment I seen you and I will always choose you, always. That will never change."

Ali couldn't answer Em with words. Words were inadequate after what Emily had just said, so she leaned forward and brought their lips together and the kiss they shared was pure love: slow, languid, and purposeful. With such a passion everything but the feel of each other's lips was forgotten. Melting away, slipping away in such a manner it reminded Ali of the way rain would roll down a window, slowly at first and the longer it rolled away, the faster it went, the bigger the path it left in its wake until you could catch a clear glimpse through the window of what was on the other side. That's what these kisses were like. Ali could feel them rolling, sliding deeper into one another until she caught a glimpse of Emily's heart.

When the girls finally pulled away, slowly and with eyes closed Em, leaned forward until her forehead was resting against Ali's. "Ali," she breathed, "when we go in there," and then she quickly added, "when you and I go anywhere, let's agree that people will be jealous of not you, or me…but of us. Okay?"

Ali opened her eyes then, pulling away slightly to watch as Em opened her eyes, "Okay." It was that simple. Ali and Em had a way with their words, they spent a long time fighting with them and making up with them and proving that they loved each other, so the simplicity in saying 'okay' went beyond simply saying it, because that 'okay' held more weight than a mere 4 letters ever could.

"Okay," Emily repeated with a smile, "then let's go 'get our Prom on.'"

Ali laughed and shook her head at the image of Hanna probably dragging Caleb right now onto the sance floor.

And for what wouldn't be the last time that night, Ali shrugged and said again, "okay." This time the smile in her voice was heard by Em just as much as she felt it on her own face.

Inside the main gym, where Prom was held, Hanna and the others were waiting for Em and Ali to arrive. They were seated around a small round table watching emptily as a few couples attempted to dance on the dance floor; it was still early so the fun that was Prom hadn't exactly started yet. Spencer was ready to call either one of them to get hear faster when Aria started squealing and grabbing at Hanna's dress, "Oh look guys, here they come."

Ali and Em walked through the swinging double doors with their arms linked at the elbows and all the girls turned. All the girls plus Caleb, Toby and Ezra and even all the 50 other people in the gym seemed to have stopped the offbeat hip thrusts, the slurping of watered down punch and turned to watch as the two beauties made their way over to their friends. Their dresses looked amazing and as they walked in front of the Parisian themed backdrop, Hanna patted herself on the back for picking them out.

"Aw you guys," and despite her tall heels, Hanna jumped up a few time like a child, "you two look gorgeous, like red carpet fab! Now didn't I pick the best dresses? Ugh when I seen you guys over there by the Eiffel Tower picture, ugh you have to get married in Paris. HAVE. TO."

Em rolled her eyes to ward off delving into the topic further, but at the mention of marriage again, Em's grip on Ali tightened and in response, Alison allowed herself to squeeze Em's arm just a little tighter.

"Technically you just found the dresses Han, Em and I were the ones to pick them out."

Hanna huffed and took her turn rolling her eyes, "Uh huh, sure. More like picking them off."

"HANNA!" Emily felt like reaching out and smacking her friend on the arm for good measure.

"What Em, oh cut the innocent girl act, we all know you're a total sex goddess or something in bed."

Em looked shocked and slowly Ezra grabbed Aria and Spencer took Toby to the dance floor, "we're going to see if we can get this party started, you all play nice now." Spencer walked away in her long vintage maroon dress laughing and leaving the trio plus Caleb a smile.

"Um, Han, I think this is one of those situations where I use 'let me go and get us some punch' as an excuse to leave?" Hanna nodded and Caleb quickly vanished into the growing sea of swaying bodies.

Em whipped her head to Ali, her cheeks blazing, "Ali," she said between teeth, "you talk to Hanna about what we…"

"Woah, oh god no!" Hanna couldn't contain her laughter as it bubbled rapidly in her chest. "But now I know I was right! Ali doesn't spill her beans, no matter how hard I ask!"

"Yeah, Em, what I do to you is my business and vice versa, I don't need Hanna to know that, she makes her own assumptions…that I neither deny nor acknowledge." Ali's own giggles started in her chest and when Hanna found her breath again she stood straight and said to the girls, "Em, Ali doesn't tell me anything, but if she comes to school the next day, you can bet your ass I can tell what you did the night before by the way she looks in the morning."

"What?" Emily felt like laughing when she wanted to add, well Ali doesn't come to school naked…although that would be interesting…nope never mind, Em would want to gouge the eyes that fell on her Ali.

"Oh c'mon Em. Ali looks happier, she usually has a grin that would scare the Chesire cat away plastered on her face and she's in a way better mood."

Ali looked at Em and shrugged her shoulders, "guilty as charged babe, I can't help it."

Emily was ready to drop the whole thing and take her girlfriend to dance when Hanna quickly reminded her, "oh and don't think you don't have any tells either, Em. You're not exactly subtle at hiding it either."

Em opened her mouth to object and stopped when she tried to play back the way she looked or acted after some of her and Ali's many nights together.

"Uh huh, that's right, you can't even argue can you? Em, I can tell because you usually never pay attention in class, you sigh waaaay too much and you're less tense. Those are some of the days where you walk into class beaming, and I'm sure that you swam a whole lot better at that not-so-secret secret practice right?"

Em her bottom lip and started laughing, "okay, okay, I get it. But can you blame us, we're good at making love, so what if it puts us in a better mood, I guess that's why Ali always begs for more, isn't that right Ali?"

Ali was taken by surprise at the way Em had spoken to Hanna, but when Em started laughing, the two blondes couldn't help but join in. Hanna shook her head, knowing the conversation was over and as she found her way to Caleb, Em turned to Ali and held out her hand, "Alison Lauren DiLaurentis, may I please have this dance?"

Ali smiled, "don't ask me a question with my whole name like that again."

Em wrapped her arm around Ali's waist and pulled hard until their bodies met. She leaned forward and bumped her nose playfully on Ali's, "but one day, I will ask a question like that again, and you better say what I want you to say." There was a twinkle in Em's eye and she couldn't place where it was coming from. Ali decide it wasn't from the overhead lights, but from some happiness inside of Em that warmed Ali's insides. "Now, Ali, are you going to get you're Prom on with me, or not?"

Ali laughed, "yes I will, Emily Catherine Fields."

So for four hours, that's what they did, all five of them spent Prom together dancing and laughing and getting lost in the music and being in each other's company for what would be one of the last times they'd remember and hold onto while they were in college.

"Em, this is about to be over, you ready for the last dance."

Em smirked, "It's called the couples' dance, and last time I checked, we are a couple…"

Ali laughed, "you know what I mean, smartass."

"Aha yes Ali, you and I aren't leaving until we dance."

Ali couldn't contain her grin, "okay then, stay here, I'll be right back."

"Shouldn't I come with you?"

"No it's okay, I'm just going to the bathroom."

Em nodded and joined the rest of the group who was drinking some water and the infamous watered down punch.

Hanna huffed and put her hands on her waist, "wow, Prom already. And it's almost over. Just this couples dance and then the only left on our high school to do list is graduate. It's crazy."

Spencer nodded, and started laughing, "aha yeah, but do you remember freshman year we all came with Ali to formal and we were like the only freshmen here?"

Aria snorted, "yeah, and remember what we wore? Ali was the only one who blended in, the rest of us all looked like little kids still."

Emily laughed, remembering that she went in a dress and her Converse. "Yeah, we weren't all that fashionable a couple of years ago.

Hanna agreed, "well, look at us now."

Ali walked fast to the bathroom pushing the door open hard until it stopped and she heard a loud, "oomph, god dammit, who opens a door like-"

Then the words were cut off and Ali looked up at none other than Paige.

"Paige." Ali tried to keep her voice level because she no longer had anything against Paige McCullers, but that didn't mean that Paige was so easy to let go of all the grudges she had against her.

"Alison., you look nice." There was a little strain in her voice and Ali tried to remember what Em had said about their break-up. Em had said it went well, that they agreed to be friends…but what if Em was lying, what if Paige didn't take it as good as Em had thought. Ali's fists clenched at her sides, bracing herself of any retaliation that might come her way.

"Thanks, and so do you. Have you seen Emily?" Dammit, Alison, she thought, why did you say that?

Paige bit the inside of her cheek, was this Ali's way of throwing it in my face that Emily chose her again over me? No, don't show any emotion. "Yeah, I did. I seen you all, and you all look amazing."

Yeah, nice cover Paige, Ali thought to herself, again cursing herself for letting her thoughts get even the slightest bit of dark.

Paige cleared her throat, "listen, I should probably get back out there." Paige made a move to get through the doorway, but Ali swallowed and grabbed Paige's wrist, but not too hard as to alarm her. "Paige wait. Please."

Paige stopped mid step and instead of ripping her arm away like she wanted to, she took a deep breath and stepped back into the bathroom. "What do you want, to rub it in some more, than Emily chose you? Listen, I told Em I would just be her friend again, okay? You don't have to worry Alison."

It was comical really for Paige to think Ali was worried about Paige wanting Emily back, if only she knew she didn't stand a chance. Ali just supposed it was something Paige needed to say so she kept her mouth shut for the most part.

"Listen, Paige, I have a lot I need to apologize for, to a lot of people, especially you. But I didn't ask you to stay in here with me for that." Paige rolled her eyes, of course not. "Just hear me out okay?"

Paige finally met Ali's eyes and nodded, "Okay, what is it?"

Ali played with her hands in front of her and then suddenly blurted out, "Thank you." All in one long, hard breath.

Paige's eyes opened in shock and all that left her mouth was, "what?"

Ali nodded and took another deep breath, "Paige, one day, hopefully sooner than later, I want to really apologize for the nasty bitch I was to you. You didn't deserve that, I know that now and I hope you see that I have changed. I also know you don't deserved to be apologized to in the bathroom at our high school, so for now, I can allow myself to say thank you."

"Oh. Okay, I understand, but why are you thanking me?"

Ali laughed a little, "one, for not punching, slapping or maiming me in any way."

Paige didn't laugh. "Okay the look in your eyes tells me that that might still be a possibility. So the real thing I'm thanking you for is Emily. And when you let me buy you lunch and really apologize to you, I'll also give you a better thank you. But for now, I guess I'm saying thanks for taking care of her when I was gone, I wish I would have been her to help her through a lot of things and I guess Em is alright because of you. And again, for California. I know it was one of Em's biggest dreams and after she was injured, Hanna said that that dream started to fade, so thank you for that."

Paige stood in shock and was speechless.

"And you don't have to accept any of this, I understand if you don't I just, wanted you to know."

"Why Alison? Why now?"

Ali thought about whether or not she should be the one to tell Paige that she would be moving to Cali with Em or if that was something Em wanted to do.

"To be honest-"

"Yes please, that would be nice."

Ali nodded and started again, "Paige, to be honest, I think Em might want to be the one to tell you. I know she told you she accepted Pacific's offer and you two will be on the team together. I want to make things right with you because I feel terrible about it and since I'm moving with Em, I want us to maybe even be able to be in the same room together without this tension and maybe even have a normal conversation."

Paige figured Ali was too insecure to let Emily go and enjoy herself in California but looking at the blonde, hearing the sincerity in her voice, a single brick that held up Paige's own walls that she had up against Ali started to crumble and like an idiot she found herself smiling weakly.

"Okay."

Ali piped and was surprised that Paige didn't greet her with an open palm to the side of her face. "Okay?"

Paige shook her head and made her way to the door, "Can I leave now Ali?"

Ali noted that Paige called her Ali instead of Alison and unblocked the door, "yeah, of course."

Paige was mostly out of the doorway when she turned around and said to Ali, "And just so we're clear, I didn't 'take care of Em for you,' I did it because I wanted to, because I needed her to be okay, because she needed me and because, if we're going to be 'honest' because…I loved her."

Ali nodded, knowing that Paige didn't mean to say it to hurt Ali, Paige said it so that she herself knew that her intentions for taking care of Em were out of the love they did have for one another. She said it so she could hear herself. Alison wouldn't take that away from her: that she had been there to piece the once so broken Emily together…well at least part of her.

Ali met Paige's eyes, "of course Paige, and that's why it worked. That's why you helped her…and that's why I thanked you and will always be thankful."

Paige didn't want to leave the conversation heavy and awkward so before she took that final step out the door she looked over her shoulder and reminded Alison, "Oh and Ali, I'm taking you up on that lunch offer…only, I get to choose where we eat."

Ali allowed herself to laugh and genuinely laugh with Paige, "Haha, okay Paige, lunch is on me, but the choice is yours."

Paige nodded and as the door swung closed she shouted, "see ya later DiLaurentis!"

Ali shugged and shook her head, later, McCullers.

Through the speakers all the girls could hear, "Alrighty ladies and gents, I'm calling all couples to the dance floor, this is the last dance people, so grab your dates and haul yourselves out here."

Em turned just in time to see Ali making her way towards her. Ali held her hand out and in an attempt to mock Em earlier, "May I have this dance?"

Em laughed, "of course you may."

The DJ played a total of 3 slow songs but on the second one, Ali pulled Em outside through the patio.

"Ali, what are you doing?"

Ali continued to pull until they were out of view from everyone else, "I'm just giving us something better to remember than dancing the last slow dance song in a stuffy gym filled with a whole bunch of people we don't know. I just want when you remember the best part of Prom, years from now when we're older, you'll remember this moment."

Emily smiled and let Ali take the lead. Ali grabbed Em's hands and pulled their bodies close, wrapping her hands around Em's waist and Em followed, bring their bodies as close as they could get so she could hug Ali's torso closer to her own.

Each girl sighed and Ali slipped one hand into her clutch to press play on her phone, and soon all the girls could hear was the slight rustle of the May wind in trees and the soft romantic music coming from Ali's phone. Ali returned her hand to Em's waist and looked up smiling.

"What's that look for?" Em grabbed Ali's hand and spun her slowly, Ali rolling back into Em until her back was against her body. Ali giggled, spun herself out and went back to their starting position.

"I'm smiling because I'm here with you right now, there's nice music playing and we're dancing under that light of the moon…I have every reason to smile right now."

Ali and Em's body swayed in perfect unison, on beat with the music, but more importantly on beat with each other. Nothing was sexual about their movements, it was just pure love between them and anyone looking in on them would know that, they would feel it.

Ali rested her head on Em's chest and sighed with content. Emily leaned forward, kissed the top of Ali's head and rested her cheek on her hair. She inhaled deeply, filling her lungs with the scent, the aroma that was unmistakably Ali.

Neither girl paid attention to the fact that Ali's phone was already in the third song and maybe that the girls were wondering where they were. But with each of the other girls having their boyfriends to ride home with, Em and Ali didn't worry. When Hanna, Aria and Spencer went to look for the two of them, they did find them, but they watched for a moment and decided to let them finish Prom the way they wanted, the way each of them deserved. Hanna sent Em a text that neither her or Ali heard, and when Ali felt as if she might fall asleep from how peaceful everything was she pulled away and looked Em who had the ghost of a smile left on her face and her eyes shut softly.

"Em," she said gently.

Em kept her eyes shut, "Hmm?"

With a smile that she used to think was so rare, Ali slid her hands into Em's hair, undid the pin holding it together and massaged Emily's scalp, Em leaning her head back and moaning gently. Ali continued to run her hands through Em's hair like she had in the shower and Ali relished in the new view of Emily looking completely sated, her hair now tresses that fell in more natural waves over her shoulder.

"What was that for?"

Ali looked up and pointed at the moon, "I like the way the moon shines in your hair, it's like when the sun shines through some strands making it lighter, but here the moonlight falls in your hair and you look more like a dream like that. The light is softer and when there's all these little shadows cast on your face," Ali slid one hand down to hold Em's face, "they aren't formed with hard lines like the from sun, under the moon they're soft, almost like glowing. Like you're glowing. A halo around you, not just your head."

Emily's heart skipped a beat. "Ali, you're the only person who makes my heart beat slower and faster at the same time, I don't know you do it and I'd love to spend every night dancing, holding you to my body, under the moon like this, but I'm not the only one that glows. The moon, the sun, the stars, they were all meant to shine on you. The way it lights up your hair, it makes you have a halo. They shine bright, but I promise they all pale in comparison to the way your eyes shine, especially when you smile, or when I see you in the morning, the way they light up when you're laughing puts them all to shame. Don't even get me started on how they shame the ocean. Drop me in the middle of the Pacific, the Atlantic anywhere and I still wouldn't get as lost as I do when I look into your eyes sometimes. They're the only thing I want to drown in, don't you ever forget that."

Ali could feel her heart swell, contracting and pounding wildly in her chest and Emily's raced and beat and skipped to a thousand different patterns and when each girl slowly, slowly leaned forward, eyes never wavering, they knew…they knew that no one had a love this intense, this passionate, this consuming and they knew that would be the cause of anyone's real envy, not their looks or future success or anything else would make anyone this jealous, and maybe no one would even be able to earn or find a love that burned as deep as theirs, but as Emily and Alison's lips melded together, moving in perfect rhythm and exchanging vows of love, they knew that people would never truly be jealous of the surface level things because those are things you someone could buy. But the girls knew that no one could buy this kind of love. No one could buy a love that dug its way this deep into their hearts and souls and cut this deep into the very things that made who they are. A love like theirs was priceless.

When Em and Ali got into the car, Em drove to Ali's house. They drove in silence and that was okay, they shared a conversation in the way their fingers played in each other's palm and along one another's arm and upper thigh.

Once inside, each girl knew where the night was headed so there was no need to rush anything. They undressed and changed into comfy pajamas, less than sexy but to each other, they were as beautiful as they would ever be. They lay in bed, Ali cradled in the span of Emily's arm and as they traced circles and wiggly lines into each other's uncovered skin, Emily started the conversation, "Ali, tonight was amazing. Everything was almost perfect."

Ali sat up a little bit, "Almost?" Ali didn't want to disappoint Em.

Em smirked, "Yeah, almost. It would've been perfect but the theme was bugging me."

Ali thought back to the giant banner that was hanging above the school doors when they arrived. It was written in navy blue and gold which made her laugh because Em and Ali matched it perfectly, and in cursive and glittery outlines were the words 'Rosewood High Prom: A Night In Paris."

Ali thought immediately to the conversation that she and Em had about going to Paris one day while they 'studied' after school in French.

"What was wrong with it Em?" Ali had hoped it didn't bring any painful memories up; when she said that to Em, Em was still slightly in love but a lot under the impression that Ali was playing her.

Em smiled and grabbed Ali's shoulders, easer her back into her arms, "nothing was wrong, I just wished that we had just spent an actual 'Night in Paris,' that's what would have made it perfect, and seeing all the French decorations, taking our pictures in front of that Eiffel Tower back drop…," Em pointed to the pictures that were printed on site of their entire group of friends and then of just the two of them standing in front of the backdrop, "…it just reminded me of something we talked about when we were younger, do you remember?"

Ali should have been offended but she knew Em didn't mean anything other than to simply ask.

"Yeah Em, of course I remember. And I meant it."

Ali could feel the change in Emily's muscles behind her, "you did?"

"Yes Emily. I meant it then and I still mean it now." Ali kept tracing the patterns into Em's skin, and Emily leaned forward into Ali's ear, repeating the question that had started it all, "Ali, are you planning a trip?"

Without looking at Emily yet, Ali smiled, nodded and repeated the words she had said to her mermaid those years ago, "You and me in sweet Paris, how does that sound?"

Emily laughed silently, the movement making Ali warm inside, "maybe we should learn how to parle francais before we go."

Ali smiled remembered word for word what she said that day, she often played it all back in head over and over when she was gone, hanging on to the possibility that one day she would actually go to France with Em. "Well, we could start in the south of France, dancing through sunflower fields, lounging around in our bikinis in the French Riviera..." Emily closed her eyes, letting the words sink in around her, listening to Ali's voice was like listening to her tell her a story, "…you'd look so good on top of the Eiffel Tower, wind in your hair." Ali moved her hand searching for Em's. She turned her body to face her, meeting her eyes as their fingers intertwined.

Emily sighed and looked hard into Ali's eyes, already imagining the two of them in the middle of a sunflower field, like they had been just a few months ago, "how long are we going away for?" Emily couldn't stop the crack in her voice and the tears in her eye that began to form a thin blurry film over her warm brown eyes.

Ali's very own blue eyes got misty, "how about forever?" And Em's wasn't the only one whose voice cracked. Emily smiled and remembered that she never said anything back, but this time she did. "Do you promise? Promise me that we'll go someday Ali, maybe for a few days, a week and year, maybe we do go forever, put promise me that we will go one day, some day."

Ali knew nothing in this world was promised, not next year or next week, not tomorrow, not even her next breath was promised, but she had it in her to promise Em Paris, if not the world and not only her love, Ali would promise her Paris. "I do, Em. I promise. I promise you that one day, even if it's only for one day, that we'll go to Paris. One day will be forever enough for me."

Emily smiled a huge smile and let out a shaky laugh, happy tears sliding down her face. Ali grabbed the sides of Emily's face, giving her first a chaste kiss and then a slower and deeper one that lead to the removal of their clothes and their names being called into the night. All throughout the love they made, Ali would kiss Emily's smooth skin, pulling away to whisper, "I promise, I promise." Another reign of kisses along her jaw, "I promise," kisses over Em's stomach, "I promise."

Emily lost herself in Ali and she fell asleep knowing Ali made her a promise that she would not break. Ali had just vowed to give Em their forever in 'some day.'

Thoughts anyone, loved it? Hated it? Please let me know. Your reviews make all my shitty days bearable. And again, sorry for taking so long, I love that you all push me to update, thank you.

Kisses, Lina xoxo

Chapter 34: Turning a New "Paige"