Dress To Impress

Disclaimer: I own nothing and I gain nothing from writing this story, sans cheap thrills ;)

AN: I think I'm thinking about making another pretty little liar buy an all express ticket aboard the rainbow train…

AN2: Also know that Paige will get hers in all due time…they should know by now that NOBODY messes with Maya's girl. Samara however will be treated differently because #1: she's hot, and #2: I like her character, but I think I can find her a better match.

R&R like always, I can't write unless I know what you guys want! Enjoy! xXx

Twitter Me Bobbie_0

Emily left Hanna's as late as possible, hoping to avoid the disappointed and disgusted stares of her parents when she walked through the door. It seemed however, that nothing was going Emily's way today; the lights were on in the kitchen.

Being as quiet as she could, she tried creeping past the kitchen and up to her room. "Emily." 'Well shit.' The girl couldn't catch a break. With her head down in defeat, she went to the kitchen.

"You're mom made banana cream pie…you want a slice?" Wayne smiled. 'She still won't look at me. Way to go Wayne.' He chastised himself. He put his hands on the counter and just looked at his daughter for a moment. "Take a look at me kiddo." Emily did. Wayne steadied his face, "Do I look any differently from yesterday?" he asked softly.

Emily shook her head soundlessly, too afraid to speak. "That's right, Emmy I'm the same person who was there to see you into this world and who's tried to be here for you and your mother every day since. And you want to know something?"

"What?" she finally spoke.

Wayne kept his face stern. "I love you just as much as I did then, even more because you had the courage to tell me the truth. There has never been one single day since you came on this earth that I have loved you less…only more and that's never going to change. Earlier you said that the picture I keep in my wallet was a different girl, right?"

Emily nodded, tears in her eyes. "Well you were right." Wayne pulled his wallet out and tossed it to her. "So I took it out." A lump formed in her throat, 'This is it, this is when he tells me that I'm no longer his daughter.'

Wayne walked over to his little girl and opened the wallet she'd been staring at. Tucked inside the plastic protector was a new picture of Emily…and Maya. "I hope you don't mind but I kind of liked this one better." Emily's head sprung up to look at her dad. "You see this one shows my little girl…and the girl that makes her happy. I just couldn't find a better picture than that."

"Daddy." Emily cried out, her dad pulling her into a fierce hug, kissing the top of her head as she cried into his shoulder.

"Oh Emmy…I know I messed up today, I should have told you that I loved you and that, that hasn't changed. I'm so sorry." He whispered, a tear slipping from his eye. He pulled her back, grasping her face in his hands. "I'm not saying nothing has changed, because they have, but you're my daughter Emily, and yes I'm struggling a little bit to understand this, but I love you just the same and I have your back no matter what. That will never change."

They embraced once more, holding each other until their tears dried. Finally Wayne pulled away, stuffing his wallet back into his pocket and sitting at the counter. "How about that pie?" he asked scooping a bite into his mouth, wiping his eyes for any stray tears.

Emily wiped her eyes as well, giving a little smirk as she leaned against the counter. "Mom made it?" he nodded with a smile. "You sure it's not poisoned?" Wayne froze, swallowing the bite down stiffly.

"I hope not…" he looked at his plate. "It's my third piece." He quirked a silly smile at her and Emily laughed like she always does. Everything wasn't alright, but her dad loved her and accepted her so maybe, just maybe all wasn't lost.

Things were beyond awkward, and Emily had never felt this uncomfortable in her own home. "I like this sausage. Chicken?" Wayne questioned, trying to ignore the stiff posture of his wife.

"Turkey." Pam responded shortly, plastering a fake smile on her face. "So does your friend have any allergies?"

Emily looked like a deer in headlights. "What?" Wayne smirked.

"Is there anything…Maya can't eat…for dinner tonight?" Pam choked out.

A small quirky smile placed itself on Emily's lips. "Um…seafood, she can't, eat seafood." She was a little thrown; maybe Pam was going to poison her. Pam nodded looking like she was about to puke and left the table with her plate a glass. "Dad." She whispered. "I know this was my idea…but I don't think mom can handle this."

Wayne sipped his coffee. "We're looking forward to it." Emily gave him a disbelieving look making him chuckle, "I'm looking forward to it, you mom made a menu and everything."

"You don't think she'll try and poison her do you?" she joked.

Wayne cracked up, remembering last night. "No it's not your mom's style, she's subtler than that, killer her with kindness maybe." He smirked at his daughter.

Aria was the first to find Emily that morning, "So?" she asked anxiously.

Emily sighed, shouldering her book bag, "My dad was up when I got home last night."

Aria's eyes widen, "How bad was it? Wait, here come Spencer and Hanna. Guys, Emily's dad was waiting for her when she got home." She repeated for Emily as their friends approached.

"Did he make you cry?" Hanna glared.

Spencer nudged her to make her stop, "What happened, Em?"

Emily smiled and rolled her eyes, "He apologized, took my picture out of his wallet…and replaced it with one of me and Maya. She supposed to come over for dinner tonight."

Hanna jumped and clapped her hands, Spencer smiled, and Aria hugged her. "That's so great Em!" they chatted for a few more minutes before Hanna and Spencer were pulled away, Aria walked with Emily to where she's spotted Maya.

"Hey Maya." Emily smiled.

Maya's head popped up and she grinned. "Hey beautiful." She rested a hand on the girl's elbow, unsure of her girlfriend's stance on PDA now that she was out to her parents.

Emily smiled in thanks, "Are you still up for dinner tonight?" she asked anxiously.

"Sure." Maya nodded, grinning a bit, "As long as you want me there…what should I wear?"

"Anything, it doesn't matter." Emily grinned. "A dress." The smile disappeared.

Maya stared, "A dress?" she asked making sure she'd heard right. She laughed; "Is it formal or are my jeans like too butch or something?" she looked to Aria as the girl grinned knowingly.

Emily shook her head, "Don't make jokes like that Maya, not tonight, please." She pleaded.

"Well I'm going to go, have fun tonight." Aria grinned. "FYI though, if you wear jeans, iron them…and Mr. Fields will laugh." Aria smirked at Maya, "And you relax." She squeezed Emily's shoulder in passing and walked away.

"Emily? Baby?" Maya said softly stepping closer to Emily to gain her attention. "Are you sure you want to do this tonight? If you're uncomfortable, then we can do it some other time." She smiled softly,

Emily rolled her eyes at herself. "Of course I want you to come tonight, besides my dad really wants to meet you, officially. It's just…" she trailed.

"Just what, Baby?" Maya tucked a stray strand of hair behind Emily's ear.

"My mom's been acting weird, like whispering and arguing with dad…leaving the room if Ellen's on." Emily explained.

Maya nodded, "Right, enough said. I'll wear the girly-est dress I own…I'll even say I sewed it myself if you think it'll help." She grinned.

"That's not funny." Emily grinned despite herself. "My mom isn't like your mom, she won't laugh." She complained.

Maya stopped walking and stood in front of her girl, her face serious and caring. "Look, I promise to be on my best behavior, or as best as I can be. I know tonight is important Emily, ok? Just try to breath."

"God help me!" Emily groaned into her locker.

"Aria said you were tense." Spencer grinned sympathetically at the girl. "Dinner plans stressing you out?"

Emily closed her locker. "I want my parents to see how great Maya is…I just don't think I want to be there when they do."

Spencer nodded understandingly, "Look, just don't let Maya do all the talking, God knows Pam might just kill her if you do. If she starts digging a hole, take away the shovel."

Emily threw Spencer a look, "If my mom has her way, Maya will be in a real hole by the end of the night." Spencer laughed, knowing just how right Emily was.

"So you'll be stationed in Texas?" Maya asked from the end of the table.

Wayne smiled, "Fort Hood, thankfully I'm not leaving just yet." He winked trying to ease the girl's nerves. Emily gave him a thankful smile just as Pam handed out the plates.

"Thank you." Maya said politely, Pam brushed her off with a cold smile.

"So, what about your parents?" Wayne tried to keep the conversation light.

Maya grinned, "They met at a 'No Nukes' rally." She giggled.

Wayne laughed as well, "Let me guess…Berkley?" he grinned knowingly.

"Yes." Maya laughed, "Such a hippie cliché right? But after having my brother and me, dad decided to ask her to marry him, but instead of buying a ring like normal people, he drew one on her finger with a felt pen."

"No kidding!" Wayne laughed.

"They got married after two kids? How…nice." Pam said in mild disgust, excusing herself from the table.

Emily glared, Wayne just smirked, "Be careful Hunny, our anniversary's coming up! I just might have to invest in some Sharpies." He laughed. Pam turned to give him a sharp smile, catching sight of her daughter playing footsy under the table, bile rose in her throat.

Emily smiled at Maya as her dad and her girl carried on conversation. When Maya's foot touched hers, she relaxed a little, the touch having a calming affected on her body. Maya grinned deviously, trailing her foot higher and higher, only to trail it back down again. Emily chocked on her water.

"Careful Emmy." Her dad chuckled.

Maya reached over and rested a hand over hers on the table, "You ok? You look a little flushed, Baby." Emily and Maya both froze as the word left her lips. 'Fuck.' They stared at each other, then to Mr. Fields and then finally to where Pam stood frozen in the doorway.

Maya refused to move her hand though, not with the way Emily was clinging to it. She just watched as Pam schooled her features and took her seat, pointedly ignoring their hands. Wayne cleared his throat, "Dinner was great, Baby." He said to his wife; Maya and Emily grinned as he winked at them.

They walked out on the porch together, keeping close by each other. "Did I embarrass you? I'm so sorry." Maya started only to be stopped by Emily grasping her hand.

"Stop." She commanded with a soft smile, "Dad was hooked as soon as you stepped through the door and mom…well she liked your dress." They laughed. "It went better than I could have hoped for, and you, you were perfect." She grinned.

"Just wait till she sees the crease in my jeans." Maya joked making Emily laugh; she stepped closer.

Emily sighed happily, "Do you want to change before we go to Hanna's?"

Maya smiled sheepishly, "Would it be okay if I bailed on that? It's just I'm totally exhausted…I didn't get a wink of sleep last night; too nervous." She admitted.

"Really, because at school you seemed completely?" Emily questioned with a smirk.

Maya bit her lip with a grin, "Well one of us had to keep cool, and it so wasn't going to be you." She taped Emily's nose, "You my dear, were one buckle short of a strait jacket." Emily giggled, leaning in and connecting their lips for a short but sweet kiss. Something they both had needed.

Later that night as Emily was coming home early from Hanna's, she found her mom closing up for the night. Pam smiled at her daughter. "How was Hanna's?"

Emily grimaced a bit, "Not really that great."

Pam nodded sympathetically, "It's hard when you're parents split up, even harder when they start seeing other people. It's a shame really."

Emily nodded, "Where's dad?"

"Shower, her got a call from the base in Fort Hood…they want him there by the end of the month." Pam stated.

"But he just got here." Emily protested.

Pam looked at her daughter. "It's not his choice."

'Okay…' Emily cleared her throat nervously, "I just wanted to thank you for tonight, it means a lot that you're accepting Maya." She tried.

Pam stilled. "I'm not, Emily I don't accept this, frankly it disgusts me, but I can't help you if you don't want help." She stormed off, leaving her daughter in the dark.