May 2026
No One's POV
Emily's shift at the hospital didn't start until 8pm and that left her at home, bored out of her mind. Ali left in the morning to bring a fresh manuscript of her next novel to her publishers and wouldn't be home until sometime around 5 later on in the evening.
That left the brunette regretting the decision to wait on getting a dog, because a dog would be perfect to occupy her while she waited for her girlfriend to get home. Now, Emily was bedridden, flipping mindlessly through the channels on their TV, waiting for anything to jump out at her and catch her interest.
"Fuck this," she grumbled and threw the light sheets off of her body, "I'll just call Hanna," she said aloud.
When she finally found her phone she used speed dial number 4 to call her best friend, one through three occupied by Ali and her parents.
It was on the second ring that Hanna picked up, "Yes Em, how may I be of your assistance?"
"Um, hey Han," Emily laughed on her end of the phone, "what a nice way to answer the phone when someone calls."
"Yeah, I'm working on my people skills, I think I got a complaint the other day from one of my co-workers and I bet I know who it is too, that bitch is just jealous that I own my own successful business on the side and I still get to design with Vera Wa-,"
"Woah, hello, I don't need to hear about your workplace drama."
"Then why'd you call? You're my bestfriend, your job is basically to listen to me."
"That's it?"
Emily couldn't see Hanna, but she could practically hear the smirk on her face, "yeah, that's pretty much it."
"Wow, good to know, you know what I'll just call Spencer or something, bye Han."
"Hey, wait Em, you know I'm just kidding, don't be so sensitive."
"Ha ha, but seriously Han, I'm bored out of my mind over here, how about we go out for lunch?"
Hanna smiled and thanked the heavens that this was going all according to plan. Spencer thought it would never work but Hanna and Ali had faith.
"Um, you know what, I'm actually super busy, I'm working on a new line of custom wedding dresses and I'm going to the shop for model fittings."
"Ugh, the new fall line right?"
"Yes fall...and a few summer ones, you know last minute people deciding to get married."
"Fine, I guess, I'll just go put on some Nikes and go for a ru-,"
But Hanna excitedly cut her off, "wait a second, Em, I actually might need you for something."
Rolling her eyes, Emily replied, "I told you I don't want to hear about your workplace drama, hello I work at a hospital, I hear enough drama there to make a new soap opera."
"No not that, but ooo you should share, that sounds like it might be nice to hear, I can come over with some wine and cheese and some-,"
"Focus Hanna!"
Laughing, Hanna took a deep breath and prayed Em would say yes, "okay grumpy pants, I forgot that a few of my models are out sick and I need to find someone to fill in...like yesterday."
"And...," Emily asked slightly nervous, "what are you getting at?"
"How do you feel about playing dress up?"
"Um, in wedding dresses?"
"Yes! And here I thought you were a good listener."
"I am, I am it's just, you know what Han, I do not have the body I used to back in high school and I haven't run in a while, oh and I think I should go get some grocer-,"
"Em, c'mon, we haven't had a girls day together in ages, it'll be fun, just the two of us. And don't make me go over there and beat your ass about your weight. You look amazing and I would never put you in something you feel uncomfortable in, plus you know I design for all sizes Em, I don't have the body I had in high school either."
"Ugh," Em groaned, now feeling somewhat guilty, "you had to do that didn't you?"
"Do what?" But Em could hear the small laughter in her friend's voice.
"You just had to be you, Hanna, you are such a pain sometimes."
"I love you too, now wear something nice and meet me at my shop in an hour."
"Han, wait I never said-,"
"Don't be late! Thanks for doing this for me Em, muah!"
Emily looked at her phone, the image of Hanna waiting there, "yup, she's a pain in my ass."
x-x-x-x
The hour passed and Em was finally making her way across down the sidewalk to walk the rest of teh way to Han's place. Missing her run, she thought it would be nice to walk at least 2 blocks the rest of the way, it gave her some time to think about some things, but that time was soon short lived. Emily walked in to the bridal shop and walked straight towards the counter in the front.
"Hi, welcome to Marin's by Hanna Marin, do you have an appointment?" Emily assumed this was Hanna's new hire and probably wasn't filled in on what Em was doing there so instead of answering straight away, Emily looked around in search of the blonde however, she didn't see her, in fact, the shop looked completely empty.
"Um, hi, no I'm not getting married. I'm actually here for-,"
"Not getting married, wow you could've fooled me, you look like a bride just waiting to be swept-," but Emily cleared her throat to cut the girl off, thankful for the compliment, however creepy it sounded and avoided anymore small talk.
"Not really, I don't, but thank you, I'm actually looking for Hanna, I was supposed to-,"
"I'm sorry Miss, but Ms. Marin doesn't see anyone without an appointment."
The lady was starting to irritate the living crap out of Emily, she would have to tell Hanna to start looking for a new hire...again.
"Actually," Emily said slowly as to not let her irritation take the reins here, "Hanna is my best friend, I'm supposed to be modeling some wedding dresses for her fitting for her new line, she said to-,"
"Isabelle, I told you to be expecting my friend, and did you also not remember the picture I showed you of her?"
The woman, who Em knew now was named Isabelle looked between Emily and Hanna and started to apologize profusely, her cheeks turned a bright shade of pink against her pale complexion.
"Oh my gosh, you-you're Emily Fields? I'm so sorry, you look more stunning in person, I had no idea, I am so sorry."
"It's okay," Hanna waved her hand for the woman to calm down, "you probably haven't checked the computers but I cancelled all our other appointments today so you can go home early if you want, Marcie, Karen and Leslie already left, so just turn the sign on your way out okay?"
"Are you sure you don't want someone to answer the phone while you're working?"
Hanna shook her head, "no, it's okay, I set the machine up to take a message."
Isabelle nodded and grabbed her things quickly, still embarrassed that she had not recognized Emily sooner, but before she could leave the store, Hanna called for her, "oh and Isabelle?"
"Yes?"
"It's Mrs. Marin-Rivers, please don't forget again."
"Right, I'm sorry, it won't happen again."
"Okay, good, see you tomorrow, say hello to Alexis for me."
"I will." And with that the employee fled, turning the open sign to closed on her way out.
"Damn, Hanna you don't mess around." Em chuckled.
"I've told her already who to expect, you're supposed to be the only one coming in today, so she doesn't get to see me being nice to her when she messes up like that. And I don't appreciate her behavior, especially since she's seeing someone."
Em knitted her brows as she followed Hanna around back to the main fitting room, "what does that have to do with anything?"
"Em, really? Has being with Alison messed with your ability to sense when someone is checking you out or trying to flirt?"
"What? You're kidding me, that girl was definitely not trying to flirt, she was just trying to be nice...but just talking way too much, I was actually getting pretty annoyed."
"That's it, you're a doctor and you don't even diagnose when you're being blind, that's some scary shit."
"Shutup, I am not blind, I just have eyes for one person and that's it okay?"
"Whatever you say doc, Isabelle was flirting with you."
"She was not...and stop calling me that."
"Oh, stop your whining and go get undressed."
"Um, should I be calling Ali," Emily teased.
"Don't flatter yourself, I wasn't asking for a death wish."
Hanna pushed Emily through these grand white double doors into the main room that had 5 podiums set up on it, all of which facing a wall to wall, ceiling to floor mirror. On the opposite side were the fitting rooms and along the other two sides of the giant room were several of Hanna's wedding dresses. In the middle there were upholstered benches and couches.
Emily had watched Say Yes to the Dress and she knew exactly who would be sitting in those chairs: the entourage.
"Alright Hanna, where's everyone else?" Emily looked around, expecting to see at least a dozen other people there for fitting, zipping, snapping and whatever else she assumed happened at these kinds of things.
Hanna stopped dead in her tracks and looked at the watch on her wrist, "oh they should be here."
"When?"
"Soon. Don't worry about it."
"So you're best friend can't be a second late but the models who work for you can?"
"Um, yeah, today that's how it works."
"Unbelievable."
"Oh shush, your rack of dresses is over here."
"Ugh," Emily rolled her eyes, "I still can't believe I'm doing this for you."
"Oh, it's not for me," Hanna mumbled under her breath.
"What'd you say?"
"Nothing loser, get over here."
Emily followed Hanna to one of the rooms and pulled out a rack with about 5 wedding dresses on it.
"Okay so these are the ones I thought you'd like the best."
"Me? Why would you care which ones I like, I'm just trying them on for you to see how they look on an actual person."
"Well duh, I know that, but you know, you should want to look good in them too right?"
"Um, I guess, but it doesn't matter to me, let's just get this over with."
Hanna smiled and shook her head, "what's gotten into you grumpy butt?"
"Nothing, it's just that Ali's birthday is coming up and I want to surprise her with something nice and I have no idea what I want to do yet."
"That's why you've been on edge? Em, you know she'll love anything you plan for her why are you even worrying?"
"Well," Em started and then scratched behind her ear, "I kind of am waiting for after her birthday passes for something else too."
Hanna couldn't tell what the tone in Emily's voice was, but it made her freeze and turn around slowly, "something else?"
Emily nodded and bit her lip, "yeah."
"Emily Fields, you can't say something like that without explaining further, what's going on?"
"I don't know yet Hanna, I'm scared."
"Emily, no offense but I know what you bought her it's just a necklace. Not like you're getting on one knee with it," Hanna laughed jokingly but when she didn't hear anything from Emily, she turned on her heels and practically yelled, "right? You're not planning on proposing are you?"
"Um...," Emily shrugged and smiled nervously, "no? Not yet anyways, I think I want to wait. Why, do think it would be bad idea if I did?"
"No, no of course not, but I mean if you said you were going to wait, what for?" Hanna was feeling slightly nervous about the grand plan that took almost a year for everyone to come up with. This late in the game and she couldn't afford a bump in the road now.
"Next month, when I give her the tickets."
"I thought you said they were concert tickets? That's what you told us." But Hanna was seriously doubting that Emily would try anything that big whilst at a concert...unless she got John Legend to personally, no, that's crazy talk. "Em, I'm waiting."
"Yeah, well I sold those and bought...different tickets. We've been to so many concerts already, I just wanted to make our time off together extra special I think that's when I'd you know, theoretically, want to do something very important."
Hanna was staring with her mouth wide open, stuck because she had no idea what to say or do.
This scared Emily.
"Hanna say something."
Hanna just shook her head and pulled Emily in by the shoulders, "I hate you, you sappy overly sensitive romantic baby."
"What?" Emily tried to pull away and look at her friend but Hanna had to still make sure things went as planned.
"Nothing, you're just so romantic, and I couldn't be happier," the blonde exclaimed excitedly but inside she was freaking out.
"But I never said I was going to do anything, I might end up waiting forever for the right moment."
Hanna didn't want to betray Ali but she found herself telling Em, "Emily, if it's the right person, everyone moment is the right moment, it won't matter to them."
Em was tempted to tease her friend, her friend who never spoke like this about anything, not even with Caleb.
"Hanna have I ever told you how weird you are?"
"Not nearly enough, now let's get you into some of these dresses, my models should be here soon."
Little did Emily know that those models that did show up were trying on older dresses from last season and were paid to come in and as Hanna said, 'act the part'.
x-x-x-x
There was a system set up when the other models finally arrived. One girl would try on the dress and model, while two more were in fitting rooms and the rest were outside to offer feedback.
Emily was in her fitting room, when the second model had just finished and she was looking at the expensive dresses in front of her. Oddly enough she found herself judging which ones she liked the most and ran her fingers over the fabric of them all, finding one particular vintage, capped sleeved lace dress her favorite. Taking another look at the rest she realized Hanna picked out five designs that were creepily really close to what she's only imagine she'd want in a wedding dress.
Taking a deep breath to calm down and remind herself that this was just a favor she was doing for Hanna, she started to slip out of her clothes and into one of the dresses, grunting when she called for another model to come in to help zip her all the way up.
The zipper was up and Emily walked out of the room and in the middle of the floor, instantly greeted with compliments and a few dropped jaws.
She walked gracefully and upon looking in the full-length mirror, was surprised at how well it fit her, it was almost like...it was made for her...but she shook the thought aside, that would be absolutely ridiculous.
When the pictures and feedback were noted, Em spent the rest of the day changing as quickly as she could, moving especially fast out of last dress she had to try on.
x-x-x-x
A few more hours passed, way longer than Em ever expected it to take, and finally everyone was done.
"Alright ladies, you all looked fantastic, thank you for coming in on such short notice, I can't wait to have some of you in my looks for my feature in Threads, have a nice day and I'll see you all next week." Hanna addressed the models and willed them all to go home and enjoy the weekend.
"God, why did that take so long?" Emily was slipping back into the clothes she arrived in and walked out still fixing her hair.
"Em, it takes time, don't act like you didn't have fun."
"It was alright, I guess, but I'm never doing it again."
"Oh yes you are you liar."
"Well not anytime soon anyway."
"We'll see about that."
"Hey don't tell any of the other girls what I said okay, I'm still not sure, I don't want to rush into things or change anything, things are good right now, I still have a lot to think about before I make any big decisions okay?"
"Sure thing Em, whatever you say."
"I mean it Han."
"And I said okay, I won't. Don't get all Bridezilla on me."
"HANNA!"
"What," Hanna laughed, "I'm kidding, I just wanted to see the look on your face, it was a good one by the way."
"Whatever, can we just go get something to eat, you're paying me back for going through all of this."
"You didn't hate it Em."
"I did too."
"Did not. And I know because I seen the way you looked in the mirror at yourself in dress #5."
"What are you even talking about? You didn't see anything, I tried them on, you took a few pics and then I changed, you saw nothing. I was just mad that there were seven dresses and not five like you said."
"Uh huh, is that why you took forever taking it off to put on the next two dresses I gave you?"
"Again, you're being delusional, I was just upset because I thought I was done plus everyone else was preoccupied, I couldn't get out of it on my own, that's a flaw in your design."
Hanna grabbed her own chest, "don't insult my designs just because I'm right and you're wrong"
"Hanna, I was not insul-,"
"Em," Hanna said more seriously and grabbing her best friend's wrist, "I seen your face okay, and I know. I've seen it plenty of times in here. And I seen the way you wiped your face and practically ran back into the fitting room, I barely got one shot of you in it before you were gone, it's okay."
Emily swallowed and she closed her eyes for a moment, seeing herself in that dress again, and shuddering. It was half scary and half exciting to imagine that someday she would be wearing a dress like that, looking at her special girl in another dress and be vowing their love to one another. It was scary because she never thought things would work out they way they have and scarier still to think that there might never be a 'right time.'
"Hanna, I-,"
"Secret is safe with me."
"Thanks, I don't know what's gotten into me lately, I really don't. I just feel like I'm still 16 and I'm waiting to wake up from everything."
"Em, you are awake, this isn't a dream."
Emily thought to herself of course it was but aloud she nudged the blonde, "buy me some pizza and stop making things awkward."
"Who's the ass now?"
"Last time I checked it was you?"
x-x-x-x
"So where are the new tickets for?" Hanna had been pestering Emily with questions since they hailed the cab.
"I can't tell you."
"Why, I'm your best friend."
"You've also got a big mouth."
"Whatever, you both already live in New York and have traveled for her book and part of your residency, you're running out of dreams to make reality so I bet I can guess."
"I bet you can, but how about you just wait until after I give them to her to tell me what you think?"
"And when's that?"
"Hmm, what was it you told me earlier? Oh right, 'soon.'" Emily laughed patted Hanna's shoulder, "aw don't be sad, it's okay."
"Congrats, you are now the official ass."
"Takes one to know one."
x-x-x-x
"Ugh, thanks for lunch Han, that was the best pizza I've ever had."
"Emily you are so full of shit, ever since we've moved to New York, every slice of pizza you've had has been the best."
"It's New York, what do you expect? You want me to hate it?"
"No, just stop praising everything."
"Why?"
"Because then, I'm going to stop thinking your compliments are so genuine all the time."
"Touché."
"Thank you."
"But that was really the best pizza I've ever had."
"Ew, how does Ali put up with you?"
Emily smirked and decided to get back at all the times Hanna had made a remark about her and Ali before, "that's easy, Ali is really good at shutting me up."
"Okay, now I need to barf."
And that was the way their friendship worked, they had serious talks, they did each favors, they joked around, they were always there for each other, and when asked they told the truth...except for the one secret Hanna had to keep from Emily.
"Hanna?" Emily asked after the slid into the backseat of a hailed cab.
"Yeah?"
"Um, theoretically speaking, if I were to oh, I don't know, buy a ring to give to Ali, for you know...why you buy a ring..."
"Yeeees?"
"And if I wanted to theoretically give it to her sometime in July...do you think, and I'm only being theoretical here, do you think that would theoretically be too soon?"
"Theoretically speaking, um...," Hanna started in a mocking voice that Em was oblivious to watching comically as Emily scooted closer and held her breath as she awaited an answer.
"NO, you nut job! That would not be too soon."
Em was startled back into the seat and she laughed, relieved of the answer she got.
"Okay, thanks...theoretically."
"You're welcome you weirdo."
When the cab finally stopped outside of Emily and Ali's house, Hanna rolled down the back window and shouted, "theoretically speaking, what time are we all coming over for Ali's birthday?"
Em turned, with her house key halfway into the key hole and shouted back, "for Ali's theoretical birthday dinner? No later than 6."
"Alright we'll be there. Thanks for modeling for me hot stuff."
Em shook her head and waved Hanna away as the blonde disappeared back into the yellow cab and sped down the street.
"Well I guess some things will never change."
x-x-x-x
June 2026, Ali's Birthday
Two weeks had passed since Emily went dress fitting for Hanna and since then Em had a lot of time to think about her next moves, the immediate one was happening now.
It was almost time for Ali to come home and Emily had everything ready for her surprise dinner at their house, she surprised herself that she was able to keep it from Ali successfully, and more than that it surprised her that Hanna hadn't spilled the beans yet either.
"Okay guys, thanks for coming over, Ali should be here in just a few minutes."
"Em, I still can't believe you manage to pull off a surprise party last minute, you're lucky Hanna didn't spill the beans," Spencer jested at Hanna.
"Hey, I think it's safe to say we all know how to keep a secret." Hanna wiggled her eyebrows suggestively which caused Emily to look between her friends.
Checking her watch and deciding she had enough time before Ali got home, she walked up to her three friends and crossed her arms across her chest, "okay spit it out. You three have been up to something behind my back, I need to know what it is."
Aria looked between Spencer and Hanna, the ladder both doing the same, all three wearing confused expressions on their face.
"Em what are you talking about?"
Emily narrowed her eyes at Hanna, "Hanna, did you tell them?"
It took Han a few seconds to realize what Emily was talking about and her eyes widened as she shook her head, "no, of course not."
"Tell us what," Spencer quipped.
"Yeah, if you don't like secrets Em, why don't you tell us what you're hiding first?" Aria countered.
"Oh," Em smiled victoriously, "so you admit that you guys are hiding something?"
Aria's smile fell and she lifted her chin, "I never said that."
"And you also didn't just deny it, you guys are so busted and if you don't tell me what's going on and what's got you all acting so weird...then...," but she stopped when she heard the front door jostling open.
"Threaten us later Em, we'll go hide in the kitchen."
Rolling her eyes, Em groaned and shook her head in agreement, "this isn't over," she whisper-yelled as she walked up to the door to greet her girlfriend.
"Ali, Happy Birthday baby." Emily smiled and as soon as the front door was closed she wrapped her arms around the blonde and Eskimo kissed her.
"Em, stop you big goof," Ali laughed, trying her best to avoid being nudged in the nose again.
"What," Emily pulled away with her hands still firmly placed on Alison's waist, "I can't greet the birthday girl at the door with a little love?"
Ali tilted her head, "you're too good to me, you know that?"
"No such thing as too good for you." Emily shook her head but in the back of her mind she had a clear inkling about where this was heading.
"Emily, I told you I didn't want any presents for my birthday this year."
"And I listened."
Ali chuckled and shook her head, "are you sure? Because I received things at the office today that I'm sure would classify as presents."
"Oh," Em faked, "you mean...those old things? Those were nothing, and they definetly not birthday presents."
"Really," Ali asked sarcastically, "well let's see, today is my birthday, you sent me these 'things' like hmm...let's see, flowers, chocolate, lunch from Antionne's and this box that was wrapped up real nice...yeah I think those were birthday presents."
"Ali, Ali, you've got it all wrong babe, I send you stuff like that all the time though."
"Then why didn't you wait for tomorrow," she argued.
"How about those were early Christmas gifts. You know how much I love Christmas, and I just couldn't wait."
"Em," Ali laughed, "give it up."
"Mmm, no?"
Ali shook her head in disbelief and pulled a card from her pocket, and after clearing her throat dramatically, she read, "my love, happy birthday, I can't wait until you come home, Em. There, you see, you even wrote happy birthday on the damn card."
"So what? It could've meant Jesus' birthday."
Ali crossed her arms, "you lost this one Em," she chuckled.
"Okay fine, fine but Ali, c'mon. What's so wrong with me wanting to give my girl some nice gifts, you left so early this morning, we didn't even get a chance to fool around a little bit." But Em only said this to get back at everyone else at the table, laughing as she said it, not serious about the statement.
"You horndog, what's wrong with you?" Ali was surprised because years of being together yet Em was still rarely the one to say things like that.
"Nothing," Emily laughed, now not being able to contain herself, "now stop being rude, I made you dinner too."
"Em, I said I was fine with eating some-,"
"Alison, shut up and get in here."
Ali rolled her eyes and groaned like a teenager walking into the dark kitchen, more like dragged by the wrist against her will, "Em why aren't the lights-," but she stopped in her tracks when her three friends popped up from behind the counter at the same time that she turned the lights on.
"Surprise! Happy Birthday Ali!"
Ali jumped in shock and then laughed as she bent over and clenched at her heart, ripping her arm from Em's grip to do so, "Geez, you guys scared the shit out of me!"
But her complaints were swallowed in a group hug and laughter, "you should've seen the look on your face," Hanna teased.
"The one time I don't bring my camera," Aria moaned.
"You are all asses, I said I didn't want to do anything for my birthday this year."
"Oh come on Ali," Aria whined, "you already made us swear not to get you any gifts, this was the least."
"No, the least would've been to not make this a big deal."
Hanna pushed Ali in the shoulder gently, "years of friendship, going though hell and back and we're all miraculously in New York and you want us to leave, after everything, and I mean everything we have been doing for you too?"
Ali squinted her eyes at Hanna in a warning look, thinking that Hanna was saying this loudly and in front of Emily on purpose.
"Ali, what is she talking about?" It was Em, a questioning look on her face.
"What? Nothing Em, you know Hanna, she's so delusional, what did you do, give her alcohol before I even got here?"
"Um, no, but listen I have been noticing that these weirdos have been well, acting weird for lack of better word. I know there has been something going on with-,"
"HEY, whose hungry c'mon Em, I'll help you get the food out of the oven."
Emily was pulled deeper into the kitchen by an overly enthusiastic Aria and had to momentarily forget about the way the girls were acting around her lately.
x-x-x-x
"So, Ali," Spencer started with her fork just inches from her plate, "when's the new book come out?"
Ali looked up from her crusted parmesan chicken and shook her head, "I can't tell you that."
"Really, why not?" Spencer set her fork now full with food down and waited a response.
Emily waved her hands to interrupt, mouth semi-filled with food, "this one is a surprise, I don't even know what this book is about but apparently, it's 'different' from anything else she's ever written."
"Okay, and? That means you can't tell your friends? I mean not even Emily knows? I thought you hated surprises?"
"I never said I hated them."
"Um, I'm pretty sure you-,"
"Hanna, I don't hate surprises, I actually like surprises. I just don't like them when I say I don't want one on a certain day, that's all," Ali shot Em a look and Emily swallowed her food a little loudly.
"I hear you loud and clear babe. Buuuut, you honestly didn't think I could resist did you?"
"I had faith in you this year."
"Sorry to let you down," Em pouted and Ali scrunched her nose, "I can't believe it, I fell in love with a child," and right before she was going to lean in to kiss Em, Spencer cleared her throat.
"Okay, changing the subject back to your book Ali," Spencer guided, "why don't you just give us the title?"
"No can do, I'm not telling any of you anything."
Hanna leaned across the table and whispered so everyone could hear, "Ali, I'll give you half this chicken if you tell me and you know how much I love Em's food."
"Wow, as tempting as that is Hanna, I think I'll pass."
"C'mon seriously, have you tried this?"
"Yes Han, in fact I don't know if you knew this, but I live here...with Emily."
"Damn, I didn't think this through, did I?"
"No," everyone answered while Hanna just shrugged her shoulders, "eh, it was worth a shot."
"Aria, how do you do it?" Emily asked referring to Ezra when he got into the writer's mode, something the two of them came up for the behavior of Ezra and Ali when it came to it.
"I still wonder that myself from time to time Em, but if I come up with an answer I'll let you know."
"Same," Em laughed, leaning to her right to kiss Alison a little sloppily on the cheek.
"Barf," Hanna said, covering her eyes like a kid.
"Hanna, maybe I should've brought the boys after all," Spencer started, "you know, so you could entertain them at the kiddy table."
"Haha Spence."
x-x-x-x
"Alright, thanks guys, thank you for coming, text us when you get home," Ali called from her doorway, watching as all three other women slid into the back of a hailed cab to head home together.
"Okay mom, we will, talk to you later," Hanna waved and slammed the yellow door shut.
When the cab out of her view, Ali retreated back into the house and found Emily humming to herself in the kitchen, standing over the sink with soap and bubbles generously filling up the sink.
"Em, you don't have to do that, you cooked, I'll clean up."
Emily shook her head and scoffed, "don't be ridiculous, I don't want you to lift a finger, it's your birthday."
"Em, it's just a day like any other."
"Not true, you were brought into this world on this day and inadvertently into my life because of this day and that in itself is something I will always want to celebrate, so let me wash the dishes."
"You're impossible, but this is it, no more gifts okay."
Em looked up straight ahead and bit her lip softly.
"Em," Ali warned, "tell me this is the last gift."
"Um, I would but see," she shrugged, "we're not supposed to lie to each other."
"Em!" Ali laughed incredulously.
"What, this one is a gift for the both of us I guess. So think of it like that."
"Oh," Ali was intrigued, "for us both you say," she asked whilst raising a suggestive brow.
"Oh look who's the horndog now, not like that."
"Wow," Ali managed with quickly reddening cheeks, "now I feel embarrassed."
"Don't be, I know I'm irresistible."
"Oh don't gloat; it doesn't look good on you."
"Honey, everything looks good on me," Emily batted her eyes and made a grand gesture with her hand.
Scoffing and rolling her eyes, Ali replied, "neither does arrogance."
"Oh you love when I'm arrogant."
"I think you're confusing that with dominant." Ali laughed nervously.
"Well," Em said tossing the dish towel aside after drying her hands, "I think that can be arranged."
"Em wha-," But Ali's words were lost in a gust of air leaving her lungs as Emily charged her and scooped her into her arms bridal style, ignoring the squeals of protest coming from the blonde.
"Em, put me down!"
"Nope, there's a few more things we have to do for your birthday before the night is over."
x-x-x-x
It was soon after Emily finished the dishes and carried Alison upstairs to their room that the two women found themselves in bed, tangled in the sheets and in each other's limbs. Alison's head rest against Emily's chest and she honed in on the way the brunette's heart was beating, steadily, lulling her to sleep.
Sensing this, Emily shifted and ran her hands through her Ali's hair, "Ali, are you falling asleep?" Emily laughed softly and Alison's head bobbed on Em's chest.
"Yes, why do you sound surprised, shush and let me sleep."
"Wait," Em coaxed, starting to move her body from under her sleepy girlfriend's.
"Wait? Em, no, seriously you have work in an hour."
"Not for that silly, and I called in sick, so don't worry." Emily dragged a finger along Ali's jaw and lifted her chin to kiss her nose, "wait here."
"Okay, but be quick, I need my pillow," Alison yawned and her eyelids fluttered, while Em jumped up and grabbed a robe, "just a minute."
The brunette hopped from the bed, smiled at a nearly sleeping Ali and made her way into their walk in closet where she kept Alison's last birthday gift tucked away in her favorite sweater pocket. It was risk since it coincidently also became Ali's favorite but it was June and Emily didn't see a reason for Alison to put it on anytime soon.
She grabbed the wide flat box and walked slowly back into her bedroom, "Ali, you awake babe?"
"Mhm, barely." Alison didn't even move and Emily knew she had but a few minutes before her girlfriend succumbed to the sleep she was so desperately fighting.
Em scooted onto the bed and waited for Ali to look at her, "sit up Ali, I need you to open this."
With heavily lidded eyes, Alison groaned, "you do it babe, I want to sleep."
"Ali, c'mon, it'll be quick, then you can sleep all you want."
"You promise Em?"
"Of course."
"Do it." Ali rubbed her face into the pillow and without opening her eyes or moving anything else, she raised her hand, one single pinky held up in the air.
Emily smiled that bright smile and tilted her head, not hesitating to wrap her pinky around that finger and bring them to her lips for a quick kiss, "done, now get up real quick will you? I've been waiting to give this to you for a while."
Yawning an impossibly big yawn, Ali grabbed the sheets, covered her chest with it and slowly started to sit up, rubbing her eyes with the backs of her hands, "okay you crazy lady, what is it?"
"Ugh," Em pushed Ali's shoulder lightly, "don't be so rude."
"I'm sorry, but I'm tired."
Emily laughed softly and smiled, reaching behind her to put the square blue box in Ali's lap to see.
The blonde's big blue eyes bugged out wide and it seemed the trances of sleep left her face instantaneously, "Emily! What is this?! I told you I didn't want anything at all and you do all this." Alison held the box in her hand tightly for emphasis but Em just chuckled.
"Would you calm down and just open it please?"
"Fine, but if I think it's too much, you have to take it back."
"That's never going to happen."
Alison met serious brown eyes and decided this was a battle she was not going to win, "ugh, okay fine." She took a deep breath and slowly lifted the lid until the necklace Emily had picked out for her a few months ago was sitting neatly in the pillow in the box.
"Oh my gosh, Em," Ali gasped, "I can't...this is so gorgeous. You shouldn't have spent so much on it."
"Who said I spent a lot?"
"Em, you ass."
"I'm just kidding, but Ali you know I don't care about the price tag."
"It really is gorgeous,"Ali beamed.
"Let me put in on you."
Alison simply nodded and let Emily take the long silver necklace from her hands. It had a thin simple silver chain and hanging from it was a silver and diamond studded key about an inch long and in the center was a blue stone, just like Ali's eyes, Emily's favorite color.
Emily waited until Ali turned around slightly before she brushed the long blonde tresses aside and clasped the necklace behind her, leaning forward to kiss the skin there, not once, not even twice, just repeatedly, bringing the soft pink skin of her lips to ghost over the pale skin that set her on fire inside whenever she touched it, all while running her hands along the sides of Ali's arms.
"Em," Ali started, "what's gotten into you?"
"What do you mean? I can't kiss you?"
"No, I mean yes you can, just not like that, please."
"Well," Em giggled, "if not like this," she kissed the side of Ali's neck, "then tell me how."
"Not how, just when."
Emily's brows furrowed and Alison turned around, amused at the look on her girlfriend's face, the infamous dimple between her eyes, "later Em, please, as much as I'd like to, I'm really tired."
Em just smiled softly and nodded, moving quick to take her position on her side of the bed, holding her arm out for Ali to use as a pillow.
Ali cuddled into her rightful position, her back flush into Em's front, Emily's arm wrapped warmly across her stomach with her arm right over it, intertwining their hands at the end.
Emily closed her eyes and tried to imagine a moment that she was happier than she was right in that moment, not able to find one when Ali started to trace over Emily's left hand, running her fingers tips over the smooth tanned skin of each finger, "Em?"
Em was falling asleep but she was up enough to have a small conversation, "yeah Ali?"
"What's the key for?"
Emily was actually shocked Ali didn't ask before and had noticed that she hadn't until now.
"What if i told you it was a surprise?"
"Emily, seriously, no more surprises," Ali laughed and whined and Emily nuzzled her nose into Ali's hair, her mouth finding its way to Ali's ear, "you don't know yourself?"
"I might," Ali said suggestively, "but I want you to tell me."
Em squeezed the hand that was holding Ali's and sighed, "Ali, you're my girl, you always have been and always will be, so there was no better gift I could think of to give you than the literal key to my heart."
"You mean I didn't already have it?"
"You did, put now the rest of the world can know I'm yours."
Ali smiled and kissed Em's hand, neither one having to see each other's face to know what they looked like, "you sure you weren't meant to be the next Sparks or something? I can quit and you can come write while I stay home and do the cooking and cleaning."
"Oh no, leave the cooking to me."
"Hey, no fair, I try okay."
"I know babe, but c'mon, you can make a mean sandwich, just stay away from my stove..and oven...and toaster."
"The toaster?! What did I do with the toaster?"
"Ask the fire department that."
Both women laughed when Ali cussed aloud, remembering when the toaster caught fire on their marble counter while Em was away on residency. Ali called hysterical, thinking practically burned the whole house down.
"Okay, fine, I'll stick to the fridge and the pantry."
"I love you. Now go to bed, I'm waiting till you fall asleep so I can watch my hospital show."
"Ugh, I'd watch but after Grey's Anatomy ended, what's the point?"
"Ali, these are a little more real and don't have that much drama."
"You love drama."
"Of course I do, I love you don't I? And you're a drama queen."
Ali swatted Em's arm and then bit her lightly, "you ass, I'm going to bed so I don't have to be insulted anymore."
"That's okay, I'll just do it while you sleep."
"Yup you're an ass, but you're my ass."
Emily chuckled, "that's right, you own this ass."
"That's not what you said the key was for."
"It's a master key babe, don't worry, it's like an all access pass."
Em could feel Ali's body shake with soft laughter and her chest rise in a long yawn, silence falling soon after.
After a while, Ali's raspy voice whispered sleepily, "Em?"
"Yeah?"
"I'm yours too."
Emily just smiled wide and kissed the back of Ali's head, knowing that her girlfriend was sleeping now, leaving her thinking that she couldn't wait until the day they made it permanent.
Maybe that day was sooner than either girl really believed.
x-x-x-x
AN: I must sound like a broken record apologizing all the time for the late uploads, I will admit writer's block officially became a thing for me last month. That, and college finals, and the fact that I've just recently been suffering from brain aneurysms, but don't worry, I'll be fine. I love writing too much to let anything stop me, so I hope you enjoy this one! More soon to come! Please, vote review and share what you think. Love, Lina
(Also i never had the chance to thank those of you who are leaving me such positive feedback when you get through one of my chapters of stories or what not, it means a lot to me, so thank you all, really:))