Disclaimer: I don't own PLL.

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

"Hey Hanna you know how you look eerily like me, well theres a really good reason, surprise we're sisters," Alison grumbled at her reflection.

How was she supposed to do this? This was a nightmare, she'd gone over and over in her head trying to prepare herself to tell Hanna the truth but she just couldn't figure out how to do it.

She'd woken up early the morning after her father's confession and invited Hanna over to her house, since her Dad was at work and her mother was chairing one of her stupid charity meetings Alison figured they'd have privacy. Jason had been MIA since his fight with Kenneth the night before and Alison had no doubt she wouldn't see him even when he did get back.

So it made perfect sense to have Hanna over to unlock this family secret, only Hanna hadn't realized it was an invite only kind of gathering and by the time Alison had showered the other girls had all confirmed they were coming too.

Which was just perfect, because who didn't love an audience when they got told something that would potentially ruin their life. And since when had Alison become the host of some badly written reality show like 'Surprise here's your new half sibling', this was getting ridiculous.

Not only were the men of Rosewood creepy but apparently all the adults liked to interchange their partners. Hanna was going to flip.

Alison grumbled into the mirror some more and decided she had stalled long enough, she made her way into her room where the others were all spread out. Hanna was raking through her closet, trying on clothes and modelling for Aria. Spencer and Emily were sitting on the floor discussing something to do with sports and Alison felt like she was about to break such a peaceful moment.

She stepped further into the room and Emily snagged her hand as she passed.

"Ali," she asked with concern obviously noting something was off with her girlfriend.

Alison squeezed Emily's hand thankful for the concern and leaned down to give her girl a quick kiss. Emily kisses always calmed the blonde and she happily sighed against Emily's lips as the brunette pulled away.

"You two are adorable," Hanna muttered with only a hint of jealous.

Emily's eyes narrowed into a glare at the other blonde and Emily snaked a hand around Alison's waist in ownership. Knowing what she knew now Emily's jealous over Hanna was almost comical to Alison.

"Hanna I-"

The doorbell rang cutting her off and Alison was beyond thankful for the intrusion.

She smiled at her friends and carefully untangled herself from Emily as she headed out the door, Emily snagged her hand again and pulled her back pouting up at her.

Alison smiled leaning down to cup Emily's cheek and kissed the brunette deeply, just because she could. When she pulled back Alison smirked at Emily's dopey smile and almost kissed the brunette again but the doorbell rang in quick succession whoever was down there was being an impatient jerk.

Alison hopped out of the room quickly and flew down the stairs. Expecting a delivery man or sales person, Alison almost fell over when the door opened to reveal her newest guest.

"Surprise, bitch," Cece raised her sunglasses smirking. "I haven't heard from you in forever I thought you dropped off the face of the earth. Little did I know you've been stuck in backwater Rosewood."

"Cece?" Alison choked, this was bad.

"The one and only. Now tell me babe why the radio silence," Cece cocked her head.

"You can't be here. You have to go," Alison closed the front door gently behind herself.

Cece looked at her like she'd grown three heads.

"It was lovely to see you I'll call you,we'll catch up, coffee, my treat. I swear just not now."

Alison ushered Cece back to her car.

"What, Ali?"

"You have to go. Now," Alison cried desperately constantly checking that the front door was still closed.

"Alison who are you talking to?" Spencer called from Alison's window.

"No one," Alison called back, she turned to Cece whispering sharply. "Please, Ce, go."

Cece crossed her arms and held her ground raising an eyebrow. Alison threw her hands up in the air as Aria, Hanna, Emily and Spencer all came down the stairs and through the front door their expressions ranged from curiosity to concern as they took in the newcomer.

"Your formidable posse," Cece laughed. "I have heard so much about you guys."

Spencer looked Cece over wearily.

"Thats funny cause I have no idea who you are," Spencer looked to Alison sharply for an explanation.

"Cece Drake," Cece held out her hand, Spencer cautiously shook it. "I'm an old friend of Alison's."

Hanna gasped and then tried to cover it with a delayed cough.

"I was in the neighbourhood thought I'd stop by for a visit," Cece nudged Alison playfully.

"How do you know Alison?" Aria asked curiously.

"Me and Ali go way back," Cece winked at the uncomfortable blonde. "We've had some wild nights haven't we, sweetie?"

Cece laughed as Alison smiled uneasily. Emily crossed her arms and was scowling at the older blonde while Hanna was practically vibrating with curiosity. Aria and Spencer both looked puzzled but Alison could see Spencer's mind working double time to size this new person up, in true Hastings form she'd already decided Cece was a threat.

"So aren't you going to introduce me to your little playmates, Ali," Cece prompted.

"These are my friends Spencer, Aria, Hanna and…" Alison gulped. "Emily."

Cece's eyes landed on Emily before the older blonde smirked.

"Emily," Cece smiled amused and Alison knew that look only ever spelt trouble. "You didn't tell me she was so gorgeous, Ali."

Alison couldn't really remember how much she had told Cece by this point, that one of her friends had a crush on her and it was as adorable as it was pathetic or something along those lines. Alison wondered briefly who she was trying to kid when she'd told Cece about Emily.

"You know what, I just remembered we need to go and it seems you guys have a lot of catching up to do," Spencer awkwardly spluttered.

"Aw don't go," Cece fake pouted.

"But we must," Spencer shot back with a fake polite Hastings' smile.

The brainy brunette gave Alison a sharp look before she ushered the others away.

"Em," Ali called when Emily went to leave with the others, no doubt headed to the Hastings' lounge.

She always got a kiss good bye and Alison smiled pleadingly at her mermaid. Emily looked to Cece and then back to Alison.

"Never coming back huh," Emily shook her head in disappointment storming off.

"What crawled up her ass?" Cece chuckled.

"She's my girlfriend, Ce," Alison stated still staring off where Emily had disappeared. "And I'm pretty sure she thinks you and I were or are a thing."

"Oh please," Cece waved as though the very notion was ridiculous. "As if you could afford me, bitch."

Alison turned back to her long time friend.

"I have missed you, crazy," Alison smiled fondly.

"I've missed you too, Ali and obviously missed a lot, since when have you been riding the pussy wagon?" Cece laughed.

"Can you blame me?" Alison asked smirking with a challenging eyebrow raise.

Cece smiled a genuine happy smile and nodded almost impressed, Alison assumed.

"No," she agreed. "You look happy Alison."

"I am Ce, she makes me so happy."

Cece had been a wealth of information as always, hooked into to every piece of gossip anyone could want about anyone. If Alison lived and breathed secrets Cece was the queen of the scandal, half her stories either made up or fabricated beyond belief but enough were real to make her an asset to a younger, power hungry Alison DiLaurentis. A mentor with all the right connections and stories, she was Alison's favourite partner in crime. But now, well now Alison just wanted out of the drama her life had dissolved into.

"And then Parker was all over Suzie like you couldn't separate them with a crow bar and-"

"Cece," Alison droned. "Why are you here? Because I could care less about your college parties and the idiots that go to them."

"Something happened to you," Cece sighed frustratedly cocking her head as she observed Alison. "You're different."

"I've done a lot of soul searching-"

"Oh blah," Cece waved dismissively. "Just cause you're licking pussy does not give you permission to become some hippie freak. I forbid it."

"I'm not," Alison chuckled. "I promise. I just… some things are more important than others now."

Cece studied her for a long moment.

"Alright I'll give you reevaluating your life, but cut the soul searching bullshit, people like you and me don't have souls, sweetie," Cece shared wisely. "Thats what makes us untouchable."

Alison narrowed her eyes, her brow furrowing.

"No," Alison shook her head. "I don't know who convinced you you're soul less Cece but you're not."

Cece flinched noticeable and stiffened.

"No one convinced me of anything," Cece bit off dangerously. "You're sounding a little preachy for my liking Ali, I think you've been stuck in your little kingdom for too long and you've forgot how the world really works."

"I haven't forgotten anything," Alison assured the other blonde with a raise of her eyebrow.

They stared each other down for a long moment.

"Something definitely happened to you," Cece muttered. "I don't know if I like it or not."

"Well when you figure it out let me know," Alison airily replied.

"I was gonna tell you some really juicy stuff but if you're above all of this now then I guess I should get out of your hair," Cece sighed standing. "The last thing I want is Jessica DiLaurentis catching me in this house."

Alison nodded standing as well.

"God you would have loved to see her face when she caught me at Radley," Cece smirked as Alison lead her to the front door. "That bitch looked like she was going to pass out."

Alison stopped her hand out stretched holding the door open, she froze mid action.

"What?"

"Oh so now you're interested in me," Cece cackled.

Alison grabbed the blonde and dragged her back to the sitting room.

"Ali I'm flattered but you're really not my type," Cece joked retching her arm free of Alison's grip.

"My mother was at Radley?"

"Yeah I just fucking said that.."

"Why?" Alison snapped. "Why was she at Radley?"

"How should I know she's your fucking Mother?"

"Cece," Alison warned dangerously.

"Fine she's on the board," Cece crossed her arms. "I was there 'visiting' and she didn't seem happy to see me at all like she was caught you know."

"Why were you visiting Radley?"

"I'm not gonna prank the place without a legit understanding of how to get out," Cece tossed her blonde hair over her shoulder as if pranking an insane asylum was an everyday activity.

"Don't," Alison warned. "That thing we said about pretending to be each other at Radley don't do it."

"What? Ali now you're really scaring me," Cece almost looked concerned. "What has happened to you?"

"A lot, please Cece promise me you won't," Alison begged.

"Fine," Cece droned. "I even figured out how to get out of that place though."

"What?"

"Yeah one of the chicks there, totally messed up individual by the way, but she showed me how to sneak out," Cece squealed excitedly.

"A Radley patient knows how to escape," Alison gasped.

"Oh boo you're so boring now, Ali," Cece muttered. "I'm going to go."

"Yeah sure," Alison waved half heartedly lost in her own thoughts.

Cece huffed heading for the door.

"Wait Cece," Alison called. "What was her name, the patient?"

"You want me to sell out my new friend thats asking a lot, Ali," Cece smirked.

"Please Cece what's her name?"

"Bethany something and your mom did not like me talking to her," Cece twiddled her fingers. "Ciao Ali hit me up if you're ever in my neck of the woods."

"Thank you for everything," Alison sincerely smiled.

Cece looked her over for a long moment again.

"I like it," Cece said finally with a determined nod of approval.

Alison stared back in confusion.

"The new you, I like it," Cece smirked and disappeared through the door.

Alison stared at the empty doorway, Bethany, Radley and her mother were connected but how exactly. Alison was worried to fit all these pieces together, worried about what the final puzzle may just reveal. She needed to get in touch with Radley's staff, if she could stop Bethany from escaping or being lured into Alison's backyard maybe she could prevent a senseless death.

The others had been stand offish since Cece's unexpected appearance, not that Alison blamed them but she'd headed over to the Hastings' house after Cece left and they'd all hurried to appear as casual as possible. It made her uncomfortable but she brushed it off as her friends just being weird and prayed it wasn't A related. Her heart had dropped to find that Emily had already gone home. And that night Alison's usual good night text to her mermaid had gone unanswered.

She'd tried to talk to the Radley staff but got nothing but the run around when she expressed concern that a patient may be able to leave, apparently the staff didn't like such questions being raised and she was hung up on before she could get assurance that the situation would be handled.

Today she'd decided to seek out Hanna to have the talk they desperately needed to have, even if it broke their friendship. Hanna had answered her door cagey and vague and told Alison she had to wait, which was weird in and of itself but eventually Hanna let the blonde in.

They sat in the kitchen since Alison had been in desperate need of water to get through this and Hanna was waiting none to patiently for her friend to spill.

"I have to tell you something, Han," Alison began shakily. "And I'm really not sure how to say this-"

"It's her isn't it?" Hanna asked suddenly.

Alison cocked her head in confusion.

"Cece, she's your older woman right?"

"No," Alison shook her head. "No, Hanna she's just a friend."

"Well now yeah, cause you have Emily but…" Hanna waggled her eyebrows saucily and Alison couldn't help but giggle at the ridiculous display.

"No I promise, Cece and I are just friends," Alison assured the blonde.

"Well then what did you want to tell me?" Hanna puzzled.

"I found out… something and it's pretty big," Alison mumbled.

"Well what is it?" Hanna prompted.

"Hanna are you home?" Mrs Marin called as she opened the front door.

"We're in the kitchen, Mom," Hanna called back.

Alison couldn't believe Mrs Marin's timing, this was just not possible.

"Alison," Mrs Marin greeted as she entered the kitchen. "I didn't know you'd be over."

Now that she had context Alison could identify that look Mrs Marin had always given her, originally Alison thought it had to do with how the blonde treated Hanna but now, now it appeared that Mrs Marin was always trying to figure out just how much Alison knew.

She raised her eyebrow questioning the older woman and tried to convey with her eyes that yes she damn well knew now and it was time to tell the truth.

"I do that sometimes just pop over, it almost feels like a second home over here," Alison warmly replied without a hint of malice or sarcasm.

Mrs Marin's face shifted into a tight lipped smile, she'd gotten the message Alison could tell.

"Ali's gonna tell me something good Mom," Hanna whined. "So shoo."

"No, Han I think your Mom should be here," Alison locked her eyes on Mrs Marin.

"What why?" Hanna asked panicking slightly. "Is something wrong?"

"Nothings wrong, sweetie," Mrs Marin soothed her daughter gently. "Alison just needs to share something with you."

Alison nodded and barrelled along with permission.

"I only found out last night," Alison told them both.

"Its alright, dear," Mrs Marin nodded. "You should tell her."

"Tell me what?" Hanna impatiently demanded.

"Hanna we're half sisters," Alison cautiously confided.

"What?" Hanna shrieked looking to her mom for confirmation.

Mrs Marin barely nodded.

"Dad had another affair," Hanna barked. "Are you even my real mom!"

Mrs Marin burst into tears at her daughter's hateful tone and Alison grabbed for the blonde before she could bolt from the room.

"Hanna we share the same Dad," Alison stressed.

Hanna crossed her arms her blue eyes stormy and distrusting.

"My Dad, Kenneth," Alison clarified.

"Is that true?" Hanna asked her mother.

Mrs Marin wiped at her eyes and sniffled.

"I.. your father… Tom and I were not in a good place," Mrs Marin admitted.

"I don't want hear this," Hanna cried trying to pull free of Alison.

"I know," Alison sympathized. "I couldn't believe it either but Hanna we're sisters."

"Does that make Jason.. and Spencer…"

"No," Alison explained gently. "Jason has a different Dad to me and you're only connected to me through my Dad. It gets confusing with Spencer thrown in but basically you and I are related but not to Spencer."

Hanna nodded trying to process and sat back in her chair heavily, Alison finally let her go but the blonde flung herself at Alison wrapping her up in a tight hug.

"I love you, Ali," Hanna breathed against Alison's neck as she burrowed down.

"I love you too, Hanna," Alison held the blonde to her, catching Mrs Marin's eyes over Hanna's shoulder she gestured with her head for the older woman to come closer.

When Mrs Marin was close enough Alison pulled away from the hug.

"I think you're Mom needs a hug too, gorgeous," Alison reminded Hanna gently as she wiped at the blonde's eyes.

Hanna collapsed into her mother's embrace and Alison watched them a part of her longing for that connection. A bigger part knowing she would never get it from her own parents.

"Come here," Mrs Marin called through her tears pulling Alison into her other side so they were in a huddle.

Hanna giggled as Alison stumbled slightly into the group hug, obviously not used to such displays of affection.

"I can't believe were sisters," Hanna gushed happily, the earlier drama seeming to have warn off.

"Me neither," Alison grinned back.

"I'm going to have my hands full with you two now aren't I," Mrs Marin muttered playfully and the girls giggled.

"Hanna… and Alison," Mrs Marin called seriously. "I know we should have told you both the truth sooner but I hope you can understand why we didn't."

Both girls nodded. Alison understood she didn't like it but she understood.

"Thank you for not denying it, Mrs Marin," Alison replied.

"I think you should probably call me Ashley, Alison, given the circumstances," Ashley kindly instructed, she cupped Alison's cheek softly and then Hanna's with her other hand smiling at them both.

"You may not be my child Alison but you are my daughter's sister," Ashley vowed. "I want that to mean something to you."

"It does, Mrs.. Ashley," Alison nodded. "More than you know."

Hanna squealed and flung herself around Alison once again chanting that she had a sister excitedly and Alison let herself get lost in Hanna's enthusiasm.