AN: This was one hell of a chapter for me to write, I rewrote it four different times, each with different middles and endings until I wrote this one at 3 in the morning and was content.
I must warn you, this chapter was one of my most "diverse" chapters, I think it has a bit of everything in it. I've been going through a mental slump that I think may have given me writer's block, so I hope you don't hate this chapter. It's sort of face paced bc it's a bridge to Chapter 44 (warning: there is a 99% chance that this is the last chapter before I skip ahead to the future...yep, there's gonna be a time jump...sorry if I didn't mentally prepare you.)
Well, here goes Chapter 43 brought to you by 3am Lina, let me know what you think.
x-x-x-x
No One's POV
"Em," Ali whispered, nudging her girlfriend who slept peacefully beside her.
The brunette didn't stir so Ali upped her approach.
"Em," she cooed and leaned forward placing her lips innocently on Emily's jaw line, "baby, wake up."
Em smiled in her sleep and leaned forward into the touch of Ali's lips on her own.
Ali smirked and kissed Em with a little less innocence, moving to gently straddle the brunette below her and kiss her jaw more forcefully, "Em, c'mon, wake up."
Emily released a half moan and her eyes started to flutter open.
Encouraged, Alison let her full body weight fall onto Emily and she followed her trail of kisses down to the base of Emily's neck, sucking harshly at the hollow there until Emily's hips bucked forward and she gasped awake.
"Ali! What are you doing?"
Alison smiled and evil grin and placed her index finger across Em's lips, "shh, I'm waking you up."
"Emily looked at the bedside clock and palmed her forehead, "Jesus Alison, it's 2 in the morning."
Ali shrugged and traced the outline of her girlfriend's jaw, "I know, it's the perfect time to give you your surprise."
Emily shook her head, "what are you talking about?"
Ali looked down at her body and smirked again, "I can show you better than I can tell you." She winked and Emily fought to keep her hands at her sides.
"Ali, get off me, we're not doing that here." Em made a move to get Ali off, but the blonde didn't budge.
"Em, we both know how much you like when I top you."
Emily swallowed and shook her head, "the girls are here."
"That wasn't exactly a no was it?"
"It wasn't a yes either Ali," Em offered in a hushed tone.
"Em, I know you want to. We haven't had sex in a week. Aren't you dying to know what I have on under my robe?" Ali played with the robe she had put on before climbing back into bed and Em shook her head, "Ali we can't."
Alison rolled her hips and smiled when Emily bit her lip in response, "you know damn well that we can. And we can...over, and over, and over again." Each word Ali rocked her hips and Emily had to finally place her hands over them to stop them.
Ali wiggled down harder and reveled in the feel of Emily's hands digging just barely into her skin. She leaned forward and aggressively attacked Emily, fusing their lips together and Emily kissed back without even thinking. Ali was really persistent tonight, using her tongue to trace the outline of Emily's bottom lip after mere seconds. Emily's hands found their way to Alison's backside and she gripped the covered skin hard enough to make Ali pull away in a gasp.
The blonde quickly reattached her lips in a newfound hunger and Emily granted the entrance she desired anyway, letting their tongues caress each other the way they always did. Emily whimpered softly when Ali pulled away and laughed lightly in her ear, "you were saying something about the girls?"
"Hmm, who are you talking about?" Her brown eyes were closed and she awaited the feel of Ali's lips to return, finally sitting up and opening her eyes when she felt her girlfriend get up to stand at the foot of the bed.
"So can I take that as a yes?" Alison asked.
She fiddled with the tied belt around her waist and Emily's eyes roamed predatorily over the blonde's figure. Em nodded in response and Ali beckoned to her with her finger, "help me get undressed Emily," Ali purred in the sexiest voice Em had ever heard from her. She gulped and threw the covers off, walking toward her girlfriend with trembling hands.
Ali allowed Emily to pull slowly at the tied belt and have the smooth silk fabric fall from her body and pool at her feet. Her exposed chest was facing Emily and Ali smirked, "I had plans to take a little boat across the lake to Lovers' Peak, Em. I wanted to remake the night we first made love there, I wanted to tie you to that bed and fuck you so good you'd never want to leave."
Emily stopped cold and met the piercing blue eyes in front of her, "w-why didn't you?" She gulped and felt her heart beat faster than usual, so fast she thought she might pass out. Her legs were stiff and frozen and Ali took advantage of this.
"Because," she whispered in Emily's ear, walking around the tall brunette's body, "we both know I don't have much patience and I want to take you right here and right now. You want me to stop?"
Emily closed her eyes as Ali's hand snaked around her torso and slipped under her t-shirt to scrape her nails gently over the smooth skin of her stomach.
Emily was shaking and she actually felt like this was their first time.
"Em, are you nervous?"
"Not at all," she replied. It was a lie.
Ali laughed a light laugh and took Emily's hands in her own. She placed them on her covered breasts and threw her head back when Emily started to massage them and roll her nipples between her fingers.
"Jesus Ali, blue lace?" Em looked over Ali's body covered in skimpy blue lace lingerie and groaned louder than she should have.
"I know it's your favorite color baby-FUCK!" Ali whisper-yelled when Emily pinched her particularly hard. Emily moaned at the curse word falling from her lover's lips and rapidly stripped her own clothes off, when she was down to nothing and her breaths were ragged, Ali quirked a single brow, "eager, are you?"
"What can I say? My favorite girl, in my favorite fucking color, how can I resist?"
Ali smiled and took a step closer, "you can't...and I'm your only fucking girl."
"Damn right." She pushed Ali back onto the bed and practically pounced on her, reconnecting their lips messily in a clash of teeth and bitten lips. However, she only managed to stay on top for a few seconds before Alison flipped them over and resumed her position when she first woke Emily up.
She reached behind her and ignored Emily's protests to unclasp her bra, loving the heated gaze she felt as soon as the undergarment was tossed to the ground and forgotten. Emily tried to switch their positions again but Ali pinned her wrists down beside her head.
"Nu uh babe, nice try, but I'm on top," Ali declared with a smirk. Emily could only moan when Ali soon leaned down and began sucking and scraping her teeth over her nipple, rolling her index finger and thumb over the other.
Em's hips canted upward and she bite her bottom lip, "please tell me you aren't going to tease me all night?" Emily asked almost painfully as Ali bit hard at the skin under Emily's now hardened bud.
"I was going to take it easy on you since it's been a while and you didn't really want this right now." Emily shook her head, "no I want this, I want you.'
Alison smiled triumphantly, "then I hope you can handle-"
"I can handle anything." Emily was growing impatient, the coiling her stomach tightening, her center needed more friction were Ali's clothed center sat above hers.
"Ali would you please ju-OH FUCK!" She cried out into her fist when Ali suddenly plunged two fingers inside her. "Oh god."
"Not that's not what I want to hear Emily, did you forget who was making you feel this good?"
Emily shook her head and Ali stopped her motions.
"Ali, Ali, it's you baby, please don't stop." Ali pumped harder, forgetting to give Emily a chance to adjust as she added a third finger and curled them into Emily's spot. Em clutched the sheets so hard, she could've sworn her nails were going to shred straight through the fabric, "Fuck, Ali!"
Ali leaned down, pumping faster and whispered in her ear, "that's much better, sexy," then continued to use her tongue to tease Em's neck and suck at the pulse point, "you close Em, you feel me taking you there? Tell me you want to come baby."
"I'm s-s-so close, so fucking close, I want to come for you Ali." Em's moans were getting louder so Ali reached up and covered Emily's mouth with her hand, leaning forward to bite her earlobe and command, "I don't care who hears you, I want to hear you scream so bad. Come for me Emily."
"A-ALI!" Emily came hard, her back arching high off the bed, her heels dug into the mattress, almost throwing Ali off. The blonde removed her hand and rubbed gentle circles over her girlfriend's swollen clit, letting Emily ride out her orgasm before lifting that hand to her mouth and licking her fingers clean.
Emily waited for Ali to lay beside her and let the favor be returned when she felt the blue-eyed girl shimmy down her sweating body and in between her legs, "wha-what are you doing?"
"What does it look like baby?" Ali's tongue made a quick and forceful swipe up, stroking Emily's overly sensitive bundle of nerves and Emily's eyes closed tight again. She threw her head back down into the pillows and tried not to jerk her hips. But the sharp suction and the combined hand working her inner thighs was too much and she frantically bucked her hips harder and faster into her skilled girlfriend's mouth.
Emily started to whimper and her legs started to shake, muscles threatening to clamp over Ali's head.
"Damn, Em, are you close again? So soon baby, I've only been working for a few minutes."
"D-don't tease Alison."
"Mm mm," Ali hummed, making Emily want to come right then and there, "if I was teasing you, you'd know." Ali put her mouth back to where Emily needed it, "but if you're going to come again, this time, let's make sure it's in my mouth and not my hand."
And that was all it took. Emily saw the stars behind her closed eyes. Ali's doubly skilled tongue pushed her over the edge, it was too much and she couldn't hold back any longer. She came more forcefully the second time around and her whole body quaked from its intensity.
When her breathing slowed and Ali rolled from her body, Em let out a long sigh and rolled to her side to face her girl.
"Wow." She replied sleepily.
Ali laughed gently and scooted closer, "yeah, I know."
Em nuzzled her nose into Ali's neck and started to lazily kiss along its length, but when she yawned, Ali gently pushed her away, "no, it's okay Em, you can pay me back later."
Emily half smiled and wrapped her arms around Ali's torso, tangling their limbs and holding her close, "I love you Ali."
Alison kissed Emily's lips once more and returned quietly, "I love you too Em."
x-x-x-x
"Yeah, guys I told, they totally did it." Hanna whispered a little too loud.
Spencer pushed her in the shoulder, "be quiet, they'll hear you."
The three friends slowly made their way into Em and Ali's room. One of them, who had the closest room to the happy couple, had trouble getting to bed last night with what they heard, Hanna waking up uncharacteristically early to pull off a prank for interrupting her sleep.
"Han," Ar warned, "what if you're wrong?"
Hanna scroffed, "look over there," she pointed somewhere off the side of the bed at Ali's bra and then over somewhere else the pool of Emily's clothes were.
Ar stopped momentarily and shrugged, "they could've changed you know."
Hanna shook her head and pointed a finger, Ali was staring to move.
Spencer reached behind her and gave Hanna the wooden serving spoon from the kitchen.
"Dammit, I feel like we're twelve again." Aria whined.
"Shutup and give me the pot." Hanna demanded, holding her hand out and sporting an evil grin. "Ready?"
Hanna motioned for Aria to pick her camera up from around her neck.
Spencer held in a laugh and squeezed the side of Aria's arm.
"Three."
"Two."
"ONE!" Hanna jumped in front of the foot of the bed and started banging as loudly as she could on the pot, "WAKE UP WAKE UP WAKE UUUUUUUP UP UP!"
Both Ali and Em sat up quickly from the bed and stood up on opposites sides of the bed.
"Hanna what the fuck is going on?"
"Shit, you were right Hanna." Spencer added before turning her eyes away from her naked friends.
Hanna froze, "Aria, now!"
Aria fumbled before snapping the shot and she and Spencer ran from the room, Hanna laughing and running close behind them, laughing and yelling, "Payback is a bitch!"
Emily looked horrified at herself and Ali. She was stark naked and the same went for Ali, save her blue lace underwear, but those left little to none to the imagination, "shit."
"What do you mean shit, Em? Go get them!"
"What? No, you go get them! I'm the one completely naked."
Ali grunted and moved to find a shirt and her robe, "fine, I will, but if we lose friends today..."
"Ali," Em warned, the red tint in her cheeks barely dimming.
The brunette moved to find some clothes to throw on and she and Ali left the confines of their room to find their friends.
It was eerily quiet and Ali shrugged, "this is your fault babe."
Emily stopped in her tracks, Ali bumping into her back, "oh do explain, how is this my fault?"
Ali smirked and leaned in to Emily's ear, "you scream so loud when I fuck you like that."
Emily felt a certain heat rise to her cheeks, different from the one earlier and she swallowed hard, her voice shaking lightly, "I didn't plan that to happen last night, you started it, so I'd say this is just as much as your fault as it is mine," lowering her voice and tilting her head back, "if not, this is all your fault, I was sleeping just fine before you woke me."
"Oh, so you regret it?" Ali played.
"Of course not, I'm just-,"
"You just nothing Emily."
Em gave up on this one and rolled her eyes playfully, "whatever."
"Ew, how do we embarrass you guys and not even minutes later, you're doing this?" Hanna walked in from the kitchen, Spencer and Aria at her flanks, wearing cautious faces.
"Hanna, I'm surprised you're so brave considering I'm going to kill you." Ali narrowed her eyes at Hanna and Hanna started to back away as Ali took small steps towards her.
"Ali, let's be reasonable," she held her hands out and kept her eyes fixed on Alison's, "Em, Em! C'mon, tell her back off."
Emily shrugged, "I don't know Hanna, they're called privates for a reason, I may be with Ali on this one," adding as an afterthought, "well maybe not the killing but you do deserve to be punished."
"Woah, in my defense, I think I was punished enough last night with all the-,"
"Um, yeah, bad enough you involved us, Han, I don't want to relive what you went through." Spencer stopped Hanna before she could say any more.
Aria nodded and walked out from behind Hanna, "well seeing as this has nothing to do with me, I'm, getting some food."
Emily stood in front, blocking her path, "nuh uh, not so fast Ar, or should I call you paparazzi? Where's the camera?"
Aria gulped, "Hanna has it."
You know Ali and I should really-
But Emily was cut off when she heard her phone ringing on the counter next to all their purses.
"Hey, Em," Hanna tried to divert Ali's attention, "you should get that."
Em looked between Ali and the others and dropped her shoulders, "ugh, fine, but only because I forgot to call my mom yesterday."
"Still? Em you're-,"
"Yeah, I know but she knew I didn't know where Ali was taking me, she just wanted me to check in." Emily walked past Aria to her phone and smiled to the others, "I was right, it's her, and I'll be back."
Emily smiled and walked off, picking up the phone on fourth ring, "hey mom, sorry I didn't get to check in last night, the girls and I-," but the excitement in her voice died down and she moved to sit on the couch, "what? What happened? Are you alright? Did they say-"
She strained to process what was happening and hear her mother's voice.
"I'll be there on the next flight. Okay, bye."
Emily dropped the phone in her lap and didn't hear the others laughing in the kitchen, nor did she hear when they came in, laughs dying at the first sight of her.
"Em," Hanna approached but was quickly cut off by Ali, who kneeled in front of her, hands on Emily's shoulders, "Em, babe what's wrong?"
Emily shook her head, silent tears she didn't feel starting to pour out, "I have to go."
Ali looked confused, "go where Em, what's happening?"
The three others looked worriedly at Emily and gently shrugged at one another, they didn't have a clue.
Finally Emily's voice cut through the silence, "my dad is the hospital."
Ali's heart sank and she felt a something inside her break, she knew how hurt Emily would be, and she could finally make sense of the state her girlfriend was in, she didn't want to think the worst, so she had to ask, "is he- is he going to be okay?"
Emily made a hard line with her mouth, "he was in a car accident with my mom. She said, sh-she s-s-said he might be paralyzed."
The girls around her came in to hug Emily tight in their arms when she suddenly broke out into violent sobs.
Ali was right there in the middle, not saying a word, just rubbing at Emily's back, letting the girl cry into her more than willing shoulder.
Emily shook her head and she felt angry and sad at the same time, thinking that she was right, that feeling she had been getting, that things were almost too good, well they were, the universe was just waiting for her to feel happy to take it away. Emily felt hollow inside and thought that she shouldn't have been so surprised; something like this was bound to happen.
x-x-x-x
As soon as Emily told the girls what her mom had told her, they quickly packed their things and headed straight back into town, where the three friends helped Emily and Ali pack their things and drive them safely to the airport.
"Em, I'm so sorry about your dad, call us if you need anything." Spencer held Emily in her arms tight, scared to see her friend leave so distraught.
Em held back her tears as best she could and faked a smile, Ali by her side, "No, don't be sad, I had a great time with all of you, I really missed you guys, and so did Ali. And congratulations on you and Toby, when you set the date, let us know."
Spencer nodded, "of course Em."
Aria was next and she held Emily and Ali in her arms at the same time, "you call us when you land, okay?"
Ali nodded and pulled Aria in for another hug, "thanks Ar."
Hanna was next to say her goodbyes and she was hesitant to meet Emily's eyes. She walked up and met the brown orbs; they were trying so hard to stay strong, when Hanna could see how broken and hurt they were. Hanna hugged Emily's body tight to her own and went on her tiptoes, "Em, you're the strongest person I know, and half of that is from your dad, he's going to pull through and be okay. And I'm gonna visit you in a few days before I head back to LA."
Emily nodded despite the ever growing fear in her stomach and in her heart and pulled away gently, she knew she should tell Hanna she didn't have to visit her or her family, but it would be nice to have her there in addition to her mom and Ali, "thanks Han, I'll keep you all updated."
They all exchanged the very last I love you's and talk to you later's and the announcement for the next flight to Sacremento, CA was announced. Emily's dad was in the ICU at UC Davis, thankful that the airport wasn't too far.
The plane ride felt longer than ever to Emily and Ali sat quietly by her side, their hands staying clasped together. Alison didn't know what to say and she knew by the look in Em's eyes that there was enough going on in her mind that talking wouldn't be a good enough distraction. She sat and would look ever so often over to the girl next to the window seat. Ali knew she wouldn't let go of Emily's hand, but she could somehow feel the brunette slipping away from her.
She sighed and felt just a twinge of relief when Em finally fell asleep. Ali called over a stewardess for a blanket and covered her girl, watching intently over her. She could sleep later.
x-x-x-x
Hours later the plane jostled roughly and Ali woke with a start. She felt a warm hand squeeze hers and she looked up realizing where they were. Emily was barely opening her eyes, sleep seeming to have had no effect on her puffy and reddened eyes, a restless demeanor Ali wished she could wash away.
"Em, hey you alright? I think we're landing."
Emily nodded and slipped her hand out of Ali's to fix up her hair away from her face, "yeah I think so."
Ali sat back in her seat and stretched the tight muscles in her neck. She looked over at Emily and immediately seen the dread in her eyes.
"Hey," Ali said softly, "Em, look at me."
Reluctant brown eyes met blue, "Em, he's going to be fine okay?"
Emily wiped at her eyes, "I'm scared, because what if he's not?"
Ali shook her head in disapproval, "he's in good hands at this facility and we both know how strong and resilient you Fields are, he's going to be okay."
Emily nodded wearily and forced herself to look Alison in the eye, "I'm just scared, what if-,"
"Shhh, no what-if's, you'll go crazy thinking like that. Your dad is going to get through this, and so will you."
Ali rubbed her thumb smoothly over the back of Emily's hand and added, "we'll get through this together."
"Together," Emily repeated weakly.
Ali forced her best smile and interlocked her and Em's pinkies together, kissing them and setting their hands back in her lap.
x-x-x-x
"Alright Em, I think I'm all packed, I just need-," Ali stopped when she seen all of Emily's things still littered throughout the room. They were staying in a hotel just a few blocks from the hospital and planned on leaving in a cab back to school on Sunday night.
"Em, why didn't you pack your things?"
Emily swallowed and sat on the edge of their shared bed, "I'm not going back."
"What? What do you mean?"
"I can't Ali, my dad needs me, my mom needs me."
Ali shook her head, "Em, you heard what the doctor said, your dad will be okay, he just has to stay in a wheelchair and go to physical therapy every day. 9 months and he should be able to walk again."
Emily shook her head, still unable to face her girlfriend, "that's 9 months Ali, my mom can't do that alone."
"She won't have to, they've got only the best here and-,"
"But my dad isn't staying here."
Ali looked confused and sat down next to Emily, reaching for her hand but drawing it away when Emily retreated.
"Em, why not?"
"Our insurance won't cover what he needs, it's too expensive here, we might have to move back home."
"What? That's bullshit, they're a hospital, they're doctors, and their one fucking job is to take care of people, not turn them away. How is your dad supposed to hold up on a flight that long all the way back to Rosewood?"
Emily shrugged, "not now, but once they perform the surgery to get the shrapnel out from near his spine and he gains feeling back in his legs, he's technically clear to go."
"That's makes no fucking sense. When is he going to be okay to travel?" Ali was now getting upset despite her need to stay calm for Emily.
"I'm not entirely sure, the doctors are saying at least a week, if not upward of 11 days."
"Why can't he stay home and have in-home patient care, I'm sure the military pay for that, your dad has been serving for years, that's the least they can do."
"It's not enough, my mom could manage but not alone, and to pay for someone to come to us, it's too much, we have to move back home, there are people in Crescent Creek that's like 25 minutes away that can help with my dad's condition and if my mom gets her old job back at the Police Department full-time, we can manage."
Ali listened closely and moments later it hit her, "we? Why do you keep saying we?"
Emily bit her lip and stared hard at the floor, "that's why I didn't pack Ali, I'm going back to Rosewood too."
Ali felt her body sink lower into the mattress of the hotel bed when her heart dropped, "okay, for how long Em, you just said there are people that can help, your mom can help, why-"
"That's my dad Alison! That's why, there doesn't need to be an explanation beyond that, okay?"
Alison shrunk back, not seeing this rare and angry side of Emily since she first tried to win her over.
"Okay, but what about school? We can't just take nine months off-,"
"We? There's no we here Alison, I'm not asking you to come back with me, I can't and I won't let you do that."
"What? Then-,"
"Look, I'm going to enroll in night classes at Hollis and take some general ed courses for a year, I've been talking to Accounts and Financial Aid at school, and people take a year off and come back all the time, no difference here, but I have to do this."
"Your mom was okay with this?"
"She doesn't approve, but she knows money will be tight and taking care of my dad will be hard if she works full-time. Ali, I just have to do this and I don't want you coming back with me."
"Why not Em, your family has been more of a family to me than my own blood, I want to be there for you."
"And you will be, just from a couple of hundreds of miles away."
"You want to have a long distance relationship?"
"Yes, no, why do you think we should just break up?" Emily asked, nut not seriously.
"Not funny Em. Just tell me what you want."
Emily shrugged and looked uncomfortable, "I really don't know Ali! You should go back to school without me, and we'll the rest out as we go, it's what seems like the best choice, I just don't see any other option."
Alison grabbed Emily's hand, "let me come back with you."
"Don't be unrealistic, why would you do that?"
"Because Em, why wouldn't I?"
"Because you've always dreamt of moving far away and doing whatever you wanted."
"Yeah I know. I thought my dream was to go far away and be a writer, or an actress but I can still do those things whenever I want. I also know that what I can't do is get back any time spent away from you. Em, I don't care if it's nine months, weeks... hell I don't care if it's nine days, all of it is too long to be apart."
Emily shook her head; this was something she would have to deal with, alone.
As if reading her mind, Ali continued, "you do not have to do this alone; I'm not missing anything by leaving college. College will always just be more school, and California will always be there too, I just want to be where you are."
"Ali I can't ask you to do that, you can't. We wanted to leave Rosewood for a reason remember?"
"Yes I do, but I have an even better reason to go back."
Emily smiled and she felt the stress build, how could Ali be so willing to give it all up: the college experience, being far, far away from Rosewood, and pursuing one of her dreams.
"Ali-"
"Stop, this isn't your decision to make, there's nothing you can do or say that is going to make me change my mind."
"Really? Just like that?" Emily was shaking her head, saying no over and over, "you're being stupid, you can't waste this-"
"Yes, just like that because I am not wasting anything. I don't have to think that long when it comes to you, I know immediately I want to be where you are; I want to be there for you every day, no matter what it's for."
"Alison, this is a big decision that took me days to make, how can you make this in a matter of minutes?"
"Em," Ali sighed, "but I didn't make the decision right now."
The brunette stared, confused, waiting for an answer.
"I didn't choose to be with you and to love you just now; I made that decision years ago, when I finally realized that I really I loved you. I made up my mind before any of this; you never had to ask me."
Emily stared into Ali's eyes; they showed a comforting warmth to them, and emitted more love than Emily could have ever imagined seeing in a pair of eyes.
"Ali-" Em didn't know why, but emotions over took her and she started to cry.
"Shhh, shh, it's okay Em, I know you're scared, but I'm not going anywhere. You've been at my side through my darkest and most trying trials; I'm not leaving you during one of yours. Not now, not tomorrow, not for as long as you'll keep me. And that is final."
They shared a hug and lay back into the bed, Emily, resting her head in Ali's chest, no strength of energy left for her to argue. She allowed herself to feel the stress, and fear of the unknown, the sadness from leaving college, her friends, and new team, Em felt the relief that she made up her mind, and all the love that she felt from her girlfriend, who would sacrifice so much to be with her.
"Ali, what if this doesn't work out, what if I'm too much? You'll have given up everything to be with me and for what?"
"Exactly that Em. You already said it...to be with you, that's for what, I don't need anything else."
"What if you do?"
"I won't. Are you going to stop eating pizza?"
"No, never, why in the hell would I-"
"There's your answer, I love you too much to give you up."
"Wow, so I'm like a piece of pizza to you?"
"Not just any pizza, you're extra hot."
Emily shook her head and quickly sat up, legs criss-crossed. Ali watched humorously but followed suit.
"How do we do this?"
Ali tilted her head, now being the one confused, "do what?"
"This, how did we go from where I feel like we were going to break up or at least spilt up for a while, to laughing about pizza? Shouldn't we have fought and argued, and I don't know, throw things?"
Ali laughed and handed Emily a pillow, "well if you're getting the urge, here."
Emily tossed it aside, "Ali I'm serious, aren't we supposed to I don't know, isn't this supposed to be hard?"
"Do you want it to be?"
"No, of course not, but I feel like ever since we got together, things have been too easy."
"And? What's wrong with that?"
Emily sat and started at her knees, "nothing I guess, I just keep waiting for something to happen that changes everything, and I thought for sure it would be this with my dad."
"Em stop waiting for something 'big' to happen. When it does, it will. And it won't be bad, okay. Nothing is ever bad, it's just sucks at being something good, the silver linings are always hard to see. But when the big something that you're waiting for happens, well, then it was always bound to happen. But right now, focus on...well right now!"
They locked eyes and Emily understood that Ali was in this for the long haul, and so was she. The exchanged short playful banter that was still heavy in its meaning.
"We'll get through this, right?"
"Yes, definitely."
"Together."
"I would have it no other way." Ali said smiling widely.
"And my dad will get better." It was the first time Emily said it definitively and not laced with doubt and questioning.
"Of course he will."
"And we're going to graduate college."
"More than likely. And eventually." Ali replied with a slight laugh.
"We're going to be successful and happy and more importantly in love."
"I have no doubt in my mind."
"I'm going to marry you one day." Emily spurted before she could actually think, let alone process what she had said. After each answer the excitement and volume of their voices rose, and now it slowly fell silent.
Both girls stopped, their faces expressionless. But in mere seconds, they broke into wide smiles, hearts warmed by the images of marrying the woman in front of them. Emily's cheeks reddened, and Ali felt the butterflies she knew would never leave.
"Not if I marry you first."
Em's cheeks hurt from how big the grin on her face was and her eyes lit up at Ali's response. The conditions weren't ideal, but in that moment, she was the happiest she could remember being in a long time. "Alison DiLaurentis, I love you, and I don't think I could ever stop."
Ali wore the same face-eating grin and felt the giddiness bubble within her, "Emily Fields, I love you too, and I don't ever want to stop." The playfulness faded away and the serious of their faces returned. The love and desire burned in both sets of eyes. Their heats beating inexplicably loud and their lips yearning for the feel of the other's, skin burning for the sensation of each other's touch.
"I'm going to kiss you now." Emily whispered.
Ali answered just as soft, "please do."
Emily lunged forward and pushing her girlfriend into the mattress and kissed Alison with all the love she could, keeping the rhythm soft and slow. Tongues danced and explored each other's mouths. Soft declarations of love were muttered and Emily managed to get her hands wrapped gently around the back of Ali's neck and around her waist.
"Don't ever leave me."
"I wouldn't dare."
"Good, because I wouldn't let you anyways."
"You're stuck with me."
"And you're stuck with me."
Ali smiled and put her eloquence with words to use, "if being this in love with you is how it feels to be stuck, please don't ever free my heart."
Emily beamed and re-connected their lips in a breath stealing kiss.
x-x-x-x
After that night, there was no denying that their love was stronger than ever. Both girls realized it was impenetrable; there was nothing life could throw at them that they couldn't get through together.
So that was how they did it all: together.
As for Emily's list, all that she said had come true...all but one that is.
Not yet.
But, each girl knew in their minds as much as in their hearts, that that one thing, well...it surely was bound to happen.
x-x-x-x
AN: are you breathing alright? My poor keyboard, I get overly excited when I write and well, things suffer as a consequence. I know none of you were expecting this, so let me know what you thought?
Only 7 more chapters to go! I'm not crying, really I'm not.
'Til next time loves, Lina