Disclaimer: I don't own PLL.

Warnings: This work contains foul language, sex scenes, child abuse, attempted sexual abuse, violence etc. MATURE AUDIENCES ONLY.

Alison had been trying to push thoughts of Mona and their little deal as far from her mind as possible and for the most part she found she could. It was only in the quiet moments when she was by herself that the nagging feeling that everything was about to go horrible wrong would build. She tried hard to ignore it and tell herself she would do what she had to to survive, to keep her friends safe, to keep Emily safe.

After some tense days were the only thing that could really calm Alison's mind was Emily, the girls had a very important day to prepare. It was Aria's fifteenth birthday party. In fact it was Aria's surprise Birthday party that Spencer along with Hanna, Emily and Alison had been planning since they found out Aria's parents wanted to save up for her sweet sixteen and she would not have a party this year.

Alison had managed through Emily to get Toby to come along, their friendship if it could even be called that was terse at best but Alison was making an effort. She had also invited Noel and Sean for Aria and Hanna respectively. She didn't trust Noel all that much but a lot of what he did was because he was pushed and she could admit she'd asked some terrible things of him. She didn't like Sean much either but he was essentially harmless as far as she knew and Hanna was obsessed with him.

"Won't you and Spencer kind of be left out," Hanna whined when Alison explained who else was coming.

Emily titled her head at Hanna in confusion from where she was hanging the birthday banner with Spencer in the backyard.

"How would we be left out?" Spencer murmured as she lifted her side. "Is this straight enough?"

"It's fine," Hanna waved dismissively before turning back to Alison. "Well Sean's coming to see me I hope."

"He is," Alison assured Hanna.

"Great," Hanna jumped a little and then remembered she had point. "Right so Sean and me and Aria likes Noel, and Toby's coming but like for who, cause he likes Em-"

"Just you wait," Alison promised covering Hanna's mouth cause she didn't need to hear anymore about how Toby liked Emily. "I always have a plan, gorgeous. Trust me."

Hanna furrowed her brow but didn't argue.

"Alison I don't trust Hanna is this straight?" Spencer whined.

"Straighter than me," Alison quipped because she could.

Hanna giggled and Emily blushed. Spencer just huffed but finally tacked her side, allowing Emily to do the same. Finally the two of them hoped down and joined Hanna and Alison.

"Is Ben coming?" Hanna asked Emily.

Alison tensed.

"No," Emily softly admitted. "He um he couldn't make it."

"Are you guys ok?" Spencer asked picking up on Emily's hesitance.

"What's this?" Alison demanded Spencer, pointing at the table.

"A table covered in water pistols," Spencer intoned as though Alison's was a small stupid child.

"Right," Alison nodded.

"I got all the ice," Toby muttered as he placed the huge cooler down. All the drinks in it slushed.

"Toby you are a god," Spencer gushed.

Toby smiled shyly and ducked his head under her praise.

"Are these filled up?" Hanna muttered picking up one of the water pistols.

She fiddled with it and then squeezed the trigger. A powerful spray shot straight at Toby soaking him as he spluttered holding up his hands to cover his face.

"Oh my god," Hanna gasped, dropping the pistol and covering her mouth.

"I'm so sorry," Hanna muttered fearfully.

They all stared at Toby.

Toby stood there in mortification dripping wet. His board shorts would dry but his shirt well and truly soaked through sticking to his skin. He shook himself like a dog and all the girls squealed as he flicked water all over them.

"Toby," Emily shrieked laughing.

He smiled at them and then reached for his shirt.

"Whoo Toby take it off," Alison cheered playfully.

The shy boy turned to her worried and frightened but Alison raised an eyebrow at him.

"You going to show these lovely ladies your great pectorals or what?" she smirked, wrapping an arm around Emily's waist and none too subtly sliding her hand into the back of her mermaid's board shorts for a quick squeeze.

"Ali," Emily hissed, though everyone else was preoccupied staring at Toby. Alison just shrugged smiling but she removed her hand, eventually.

Toby blushed under the attention and slowly began to take off his shirt.

"Bad boy's got something to hide," Hanna approved as Toby's impressive abs came into view.

"Leave him alone guys," Spencer jumped in. "Toby you don't have to take your shirt off if you don't want to, they're just teasing like idiots."

Toby half way out of his shirt struggled with indecision for a moment.

"I want to," he said finally smiling shyly.

Spencer nodded at him and waved her hand that he should continue.

Toby chuckled at her and then struggled again in his shirt.

"Ah Em a little help," he called his shirt twisted around his arms.

Emily stepped forward but Alison pulled her back suddenly.

"Emily, Hanna I need you in the kitchen. Now," she called firmly leading Emily away, Hanna trailing obediently behind.

"What about me?" Spencer asked feeling left out.

"You can help Toby," Alison called causally winking at the gaping brunette.

Hanna giggled as Spencer moved over to Toby trying to appear casual and unaffected. In true Spencer style she failed spectacularly.

"Surprise!" Everyone cried and Aria all most had a heart attack.

"You guys," she gushed taking in the decorations in the Hastings backyard.

"Did we get you?" Hanna questioned bouncing on another sugar high.

"Yeah," Aria nodded a little overwhelmed.

"You guys are just full of surprises," Aria turned to look at Alison and something in her eyes was almost aggressive.

Aria turned back to the others like nothing had happened and Alison hoped she was imagining the cold shoulder Aria seemed to be throwing her way as she hugged the other girls. The group heading inside to get food from the kitchen, chatting excitedly about Aria's presents from her parents.

"Ali looking banging," Noel admired as he slid up to her before she could follow the others.

"Wish I could say the same, Noel," Alison snapped back crossing her arms over her bikini clad chest.

"Don't be like that Ali," Noel stepped closer.

"I invited you as a friend, Noel," Alison warned. "If you can't respect that you should go."

Noel huffed and tried to stand up taller. Alison almost laughed in his face was this idiot actually trying to intimidate her.

"Don't be an idiot, Noel," she snapped when he glared daggers at her. "I'll chuck you out myself if I have to."

Noel scoffed. A heavy hand fell on his shoulder.

"Is there a problem here?" Toby intoned looking to Alison.

Alison shook her head.

"No Toby," she smiled sweetly at the boy. "Noel here just remembered he might have somewhere else to be."

Noel glared at her and then shook off Toby's hand.

"No I.. I'm good," he said finally ambling off after Sean.

The others came out the backdoor giggling with a mountain of food and presents and the whole moment was forgotten.

"We're gonna get caught," Emily whispered even as she followed Alison's mouth.

"Then stop kissing me," Alison giggled, digging her fingers on Emily's waist into tan exposed skin, Emily in a bikini was her new favourite outfit, she decided.

"I don't-" Emily gasped as Alison kissed her and pressed her palms flat against the hot skin of Emily's back.

Alison slid her hands higher and pressed into Emily's mouth, her tongue finding Emily's own, as her hands hit Emily's bikini tie. She tugged on it in experimentally and Emily moaned into her mouth.

"Can I?" Alison pulled back to ask in breathy whisper.

Emily nodded crashing their mouths back together as Alison fiddled with the tie, she finally got it undone and moved up for the one around Emily's neck. She pulled back a fraction suddenly frantic as she moved far enough away to slid Emily's bikini off but not far enough that she had to stop kissing Emily.

"Hi," she giggled as she pulled away taking the bikini with her, throwing it behind herself.

"Hey," Emily breathed heavily and Alison finally got a good look at Emily bare and pressed against her.

"You are so beautiful," Alison whispered in awe.

"Ali," Emily whined, tugging for Alison's top.

"In a second," Alison promised. "Can I…"

Alison gestured to Emily's breast and Emily nodded shyly. Alison slowly eased a hand between them and cupped Emily. Emily gasped at the sensation and Alison was hooked.

On that night, so long ago, she hadn't really gotten time to explore as much as she wanted and she was nervous, Emily being more experienced and knowledgeable in loving a woman had really intimidated Alison though she never would have admitted it. So this was an experience to savour.

She leaned down and gently kissed at Emily's collarbone moving lower as her hand squeezed more forcefully.

"Ali," Emily whined as Alison's lips caressed her skin.

"You ok?" Alison checked and Emily's grasped her head and pushed her against her mermaid's heated skin.

Alison chuckled and then continued her kisses, grazing Emily's nipple with her tongue when she reached it.

The bedroom door flew open suddenly.

"Oh my God!"

Alison was startled from her in depth exploration as she turned she found her three best friends in the doorway in varying levels of shock. Alison turned shielding Emily immediately, the shirtless brunette cowered behind her as Alison stroked her fingers through her ruffled blonde locks. Trying and failing to appear unaffected by her friends, if they'd just waited instead of searching for the pair all of this could have been avoided.

Alison tried to smother her pleased grin as she thought back to how desperate Emily had been, desperate for her.

"I'm speechless, I'm completely speechless," Spencer baffled as she moved further into her own room.

"And yet you're still speaking," Alison snapped. "Stop. Don't come any closer."

Spencer stopped frozen as Alison glared at her, Emily's shaking hand was pressed to Alison's shoulder looking for comfort, stability and guidance this was Emily's nightmare come true Alison realized. Crouched behind Alison's shoulder trying to shield her chest Emily shook more violently under their friends' scrutinizing glares.

"Its ok, Em, its all gonna be ok." Alison tried to sooth over her shoulder without turning to expose Emily to their friends.

"Hanna hand me that top please," Alison directed.

Hanna was frozen staring at the scene before her, her mouth slightly open in a soundless gasp.

"Hanna!" Alison snapped.

The startled blonde jumped a foot in the air.

"The top. Please," Alison pointed again.

"Oh right," Hanna retrieved the bikini top handing it to Emily who slipped it on hastily.

"I know this is a lot to take in-" Alison began.

"You think," Spencer spat, betrayal and fire swimming in her brown eyes.

"But I care about Emily a lot and-"

"Are you playing her?" Hanna snapped aggressively and it took Alison a moment to realize that it wasn't directed at her but rather at Emily.

"Hanna what? No she's not playing me." Alison defended, turning to shield Emily from the angry blonde, even though her mermaid was now covered.

"Really because last time we all talked she had a boyfriend," Hanna accused.

"Exactly. God Em are you using Alison because she's bi?" Spencer sounded disgusted.

"I'm not going to let you hurt my best friend!" Hanna fumed.

Emily gaped at them as Spencer rallied her support for Alison alongside Hanna.

"How do we know Em's playing Ali. What if its the other way around?" Aria butted in.

"Ali wouldn't do that," Hanna defended.

"The new Ali sure but do you remember halloween last year she just likes to mess with us," Aria challenged folding her arms.

Spencer rounded on the smallest brunette and stormed over to her, the Hastings' pointer finger in full force as she jabbed at air around Aria.

"Ali's been through heaps and if you can't see that maybe-" Spencer was seething and Alison could tell she was on the edge of saying something she couldn't take back.

"Guys, stop!" Alison yelled silencing the angry threesome and stopping Spencer in her tracks.

"Emily isn't playing me ok and I'm not playing her. I came onto her, yes when she was with Ben but she dumped him and we're together now ok?" Alison implored, she reached back for Emily's hand. "We're happy."

Looking at each of her friends Alison tried to make them understand how important it was that they accept this, it was so crucial that they not exclude Emily. Alison was beginning to realize that in changing the past she had in fact taken Emily's support system from her, not on purpose but hell she'd taken all the girls' support systems from them. These girls no longer relied on each other as they were still so caught up in her just as they had been right up until she disappeared. She needed to fix that.

Panic hit her hard as she felt Emily stiffen and then the brunette untangled her fingers from Alison's as she stepped around the blonde.

"I'm gonna go," Emily said softly as she shuffled out of the room and down the stairs, eyes down.

"Em, no please," Alison begged following the brunette. "Look I know you're scared but its ok we just caught them off guard, they're just being protective-"

When they got to living room Emily began searching for her shoes but she looked up as Alison followed her.

"Caught them off guard? Spencer is disgusted, Hanna looks like she wants to slit my throat and Aria is caught in the middle. I don't want this, Alison," Emily rounded on her angrily.

"What? What are you saying, Em?" Alison took a step back trying to retreat from the answer her mermaid couldn't possibly be trying to give.

"I just… if this is how its going to be maybe.."

"No," Alison covered her mouth and shook her head. "No! You can't break up with me over this. I refuse. This is, is.. it's unacceptable." Alison spluttered.

"Alison you can't refuse," Emily argued.

"Well I just did," Alison crossed her arms defiantly. "We are going to work through this, the others are just shocked, they'll come round, please Em you have to believe me."

"I want to, Ali. But they were so mean, I don't want to be… gay… if thats how everyone will treat me."

"Whoa hold up," Hanna barged down the stairs. "That's not what we were doing, Em we don't care if you're gay."

"But you said-"

"We care if you're messing with Ali," Spencer added rushing down.

"But you were so disgusted?"

"Yeah. That you could use Alison's obvious feelings for you against her, thats so many levels of disgusting. Loving her isn't." Spencer clarified.

"I have not been that obvious," Alison muttered recrossing her arms.

Spencer and Hanna exchanged an exasperated look and in perfect sync turned to Alison.

"Yeah right," they chimed together.

"But…" Emily cut in, trying to process everything that was happening, she promptly shut her mouth when everyone stared at her.

Alison could see that Emily was obviously overwhelmed by all of this and gently took her hand.

"They're protective and they got carried away but they don't hate you ok and they're happy for us, I promise," Alison gave Spencer and Hanna a pointed look and the two grumbled an agreement.

Emily tried to smile.

"I'm just really scared of how my parents will react," Emily admitted leaning into Alison's embrace.

Alison ran a comforting hand up and down Emily's back.

"I know, mermaid."

"Aw Em I'm sorry we scared you," Hanna gushed bounding over to the couple.

"I'm sorry too," Spencer assured.

Alison turned back to Aria. But the tiny brunette still had her arms crossed standing on the landing.

"Aria," Alison called.

Aria gave her a menacing glare, but this was little Aria and all it really did was amuse Alison, though she tried to hide her grin. Aria was obviously upset and laughing at her attempt to be intimidating was probably not the best idea.

"You lied to me," Aria stated as she slowly trudged down the stairs.

"About what?" Alison asked, she'd lied a lot Aria was going to have to be more specific.

"You said you wouldn't tell but you did."

"Aria I'm really lost here can-"

"My Mom knows."

"What?" Alison was shocked, there was only one thing that Mrs Montgomery could know that would set Aria off like this.

"She got your letter, they won't stop screaming at each other and-" Aria trailed off with a distraught sob.

Spencer hurried to her side first followed immediately by Hanna, Alison just stared. This was wrong A didn't know about Mr Montgomery's affair until after Alison disappeared when Mona got a hold of all her journals. This was wrong. Alison couldn't even be sure this was Mona since the brunette had suggested she was retiring but Alison could hardly trust the freak.

"Shh sweetie it'll be ok," Spencer promised as Aria cried into her neck. She shot Alison a desperate look over Aria's head and it took Alison a moment to realize it was a plea for Alison to fix this.

"Aria, I didn't I would never," Alison tried, Emily gripped her hand and she tried to draw strength from her brunette. "Its A you have to believe me, I would never betray you like that."

"But how did A know?" Aria stuttered through her subsiding sobs.

"I don't know," Alison admitted though she was determined to find out.

"What does A know?" Spencer asked looking between Aria and Alison.

"Now isn't the time for this," Alison argued. "We have people here, we'll talk about this tonight when the boys are gone alright."

Alison steered the girls outside and back to the oblivious boys. Noel and Sean appeared to be behaving themselves and were happily laughing, Alison was pleased to note Toby was laughing along too.

The afternoon was filled with shrieking water fights as the every one chased each other around Spencer's backyard with hoses and water pistols in very set teams. Noel and Sean got into some water balloons and suddenly it was every man for himself but once Emily got a hold of the hose and used it to strategically guard the tap she was well and truly in charge and wouldn't even spare her own girlfriend from her tyranny. Alison declared that she would not kiss her mermaid for the rest of the day in punishment but gave in after ten minutes, relishing the fact that she could now do this feely around their friends.

"So you've known since Halloween your Dad was having an affair?" Spencer whispered.

Aria nodded from her spot on Spencer's couch, the boys had finally gone home and the girls were winding down for their sleepover, when Aria had decided now was a good time to tell the others what A had sent her. She had finished the whole story to a speechless audience and Alison could see the petite brunette was trying to be brave.

"And you kept it from your Mom?" Hanna questioned. "This whole time?"

Aria sobbed but nodded and Spencer pulled the girl into her arms, rubbing her back.

Emily and Alison glared at Hanna who held up her hands in surrender realizing she had upset Aria by trying to get clarification.

"And A sent my Mom a.. note, telling her," Aria stuttered into Spencer's neck as she cried. "And now they just scream at each other."

"Happy Birthday," Hanna mumbled.

Alison kicked at her quickly and Hanna fell silent again, rubbing at her knee.

"But how did A know?" Spencer challenged looking to Alison for answers.

Alison shrugged.

"Honestly I have no clue," Alison promised. "I haven't told anyone, Aria, I swear."

"I believe you, Ali," Aria wiped at her cheeks and offered a small smile to Alison from she where was snuggled into Spencer's neck. "I just really want to forget about it for tonight, please."

Alison could understand that but she couldn't help but feel like this was her fault somehow, had she goaded Mona into some quick revenge or was this the work of the mysterious other party? Mona said she was out of the game but really Alison couldn't trust her at all. Alison would just have to see what she could get out of the little freak when she fulfilled their deal.

"Lets talk about something else," Alison smoothly steered the conversation away from Aria.

"You and-"

"Try again," Alison cut in dangerously, they'd already scared Emily enough for one day.

"How about Spencer and Toby?" Hanna gushed.

"There is no Spencer and Toby," Spencer grumbled fighting a blush as Aria sat up.

"You're blushing," Hanna squealed. "Spencer likes a boy."

"Shut up," Spencer cried throwing a pillow at the bubbly blonde.

"I think its adorable, Spence," Aria complimented before she also dissolved into giggles.

"I like Toby, he's nice," Emily said finally and Spencer smiled at her gratefully.

"What about you, Ali?" Spencer asked apprehensively.

Alison studied her friend for a long moment as Spencer began to shift nervously.

"I think I'm the real genius of this group," Alison cackled. "You guys are perfect together. Mrs Spencer Cavanaugh."

"Oh thats so what I'm going to call you from now on," Hanna laughed uproariously.

Spencer hid her face in a pillow but she was laughing through her embarrassment.

"Seriously, Spencey, you guys are good together, he's one of the good ones," Alison solemnly promised.

The others dissolved into quizzing Spencer on what she liked about Toby, when they were going out and who got to be her maid of honour at the wedding. Alison sat back and watched them all giggle and joke, happy for their friends new romance and Alison smiled pleased she could get something right this time around. Emily leaned into her side shyly and Alison curled her arm around her mermaid. Make that two things right.