Leave The Past Behind You And Embrace The Happy Ending

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An: A character is only as dimensional as you make them…Read and Review

Alison paused, her head falling down to hide the tears clouding her vision, but she was too late and Emily saw it all. Emily looked down on the blonde girl she had once loved so much. A girl who was her best friend and her worst enemy, but Emily had a vital flaw, something that had gotten her into trouble more than once and something Maya believed would always get her into trouble. Emily tried to see the best in people and she was too willing to forgive. As she looked at the blonde that stood before her now she could fell those tugs on her heartstrings and it wasn't out of vestigial love, but…pity. She pitied Alison DiLaurentis.

"Ok. Let's talk."

Did Emily feel comfortable sharing the same breathing air with her ex? No, definitely not. Did she think it wise to invite the girl into her kitchen to talk? No…but did she think it necessary? Absolutely. This didn't change the fact that Emily could feel her insides twisting uncomfortably as she watched the blonde standing awkwardly at the other side of the breakfast bar.

Emily waited, staring down at the glass of water in her fidgety hands, watching the condensation runs down and around her fingertips. This was awkward, no bound that, this was painstaking torture on her nerves. Finally, unable to cope with the tension, she cleared her throat. Alison's head shot up, gazing at her with startled blue eyes. "You wanted to talk…so talk." She led not unkindly but stern.

"I just, I don't know where to start." Alison mumbled, and because Emily knew her so well, something she cursed herself for, Emily could hear the self-deprecating tone in the blonde's voice; it was a tone Emily knew stemmed from Alison's own mother.

"Why did you come back to Rosewood? There's nothing for you here." Emily pushed.

Alison cringed; it's not like she didn't know that, she just hated to hear it out loud. "You're here."

Emily was shocked. Did Alison really think so little of Emily that she'd think Emily would be waiting for her? Or did she think that highly of herself? "You must be joking." Emily's laugh was anything but humorous. "How could you possibly think that I feel anything for you?" She stopped the next words at the tip of her tongue…pausing to see if she actually meant the harsh words. She was shocked when the answer was yes. "You don't mean anything to me, Alison."

The blonde physically flinched at the words. She didn't know what hurt worst, the fact that Emily actually said them or that there wasn't even anger let alone love in her voice when she spoke them. "Look, I know you're angry and hurt-"

"You don't get it." Emily sighed. "I was angry and I was hurt, but I'm not anymore. What we had…" Emily rolled her eyes at the thought. "All of it's in the past, and yeah, it took me some time to get over things, over you, but I did." Emily looked on as Alison tried to wipe her tears away before they fell. "The truth is I've been over you for a long time now. I've moved on Alison, and I think it's about time you did to. You need to let me go."

Emily watched, unsurprised, as the girl slowly pulled herself together; that icy mask Emily was so used to slid into place representing every wrong thing Alison ever was and again Emily was shocked by the sheer amount of pity she felt for the girl. "Well, I guess that's that then. Everyone gets a second chance, a happy ending except for me huh?" The words were cold, spiteful.

Emily shrugged, no longer affected by the venom falling from the blonde's lips. "That's up to you Alison. You have to find your own happiness, and I think you'll find it once you stop looking in the past." The lack of emotional response visibly deflated Alison, she had nothing to fuel her own anger, her own despise that she felt for herself. She needed Emily to hate her, but she didn't…Emily was just too good…she was always too good and Alison knew she never deserved her, especially now.

With nothing else to say Emily walked to the door, Alison following close behind. They paused, on opposite sides of the doorway, and Alison attempted a small sort of smile. "Maybe in another life huh?" She gave a small defeated laugh.

Emily shook her head, "We'd never work out, no matter what universe." She smiled gently to ease the blow.

Alison's responding laugh was full and bright as she walked a few paces backward. "Only because you're so big on happy endings." She smirked a little, shaking her head at herself.

Emily shrugged, "It's a flaw."

For a moment they smiled at each other, letting all of Alison's could've been's and should have been's live and die in the space between them, and then…it was over. "Goodbye Emily."

"Have a nice life Alison." Emily watched as Alison climbed into her car and drove away till she was out of sight. And when she closed the door and felt the calmness surrounding her, she allowed herself another moment, sealing the goodbye with a sigh before walking away.

It was done. She survived.

"What do you see when you look into the future?" Emily sighed as she reclined on her elbows in front of the fireplace, red cup resting against her lips.

"I'm going to be the best damn designer around. You'll be seeing all the top stars wearing my line on the red carpet and the runways will be filed with my name." Hanna grinned wistfully.

Aria laughed, "Which means she'll be styling me during every one of my book tours and press conferences." Hanna squealed and high fived her friend.

Spencer smirked, "So I guess that means I'll be handling both of your contracts making sure you're properly represented by the best damn lawyer money can buy, that's after of course I've opened my own practice." Again Hanna squealed, Aria laughing in the back ground.

"What about you Em? What do you see?" Hanna smiled down at her friend.

Emily smiled into her cup, a dozen scenes flashing behind her eyes, all of them full of smiles and laughter and nights just like these. Images of her getting a scholarship to the best college for swimming, graduating with a degree in marketing and public relations, Maya proposing at dinner the night of the ceremony. Working alongside her friends to further each other's career. Hanna through a bachelorette party. A wedding. A honeymoon. Her and her friends being successful. Kids. Growing old with Maya. Everything flashed by in an instant.

Emily smiled a secret little smile as she gazed at her friends. "I see…a happy ending, for all of us."

AN2: Yes that is it. I didn't plan on this being the end but something about it seemed complete and I couldn't make myself change it. However, I'm thinking a sequel or a new story might be in order. Let me know what you think! It's been a great ride...Love Always -B.