Disclaimers: I don't own PLL.

This work includes: Violence, Mentions of Child Abuse, Murder, Suicidal Thoughts, Sex Scenes, Coarse Language. PTSD.

Alison stood in the DiLaurentis sitting room looking at all the packed boxes, they littered the hall and covered almost every surface of the room. It was odd to see the place so cluttered only the piano was spared, the rest of the furniture already wrapped for the movers. Alison sighed as she sunk into the stool before the piano, she lifted the lid but didn't dare touch the keys, memories some real and some not were too heavily connected with this instrument, with the whole house really. Ali was glad her father was getting rid of it.

"Knock, knock."

Alison turned to find Spencer peering over boxes as she shuffled into the room.

"The door was open," Spencer shrugged.

Alison nodded.

"The movers are packing up half today and half tomorrow," Alison muttered turning back to the keys.

"So you're really moving?" Spencer asked in disbelief, plopping down next to Alison.

Alison shook her head.

"Dad is," she shrugged. "I can't leave Em."

"You guys have gotten pretty close huh?" Spencer titled her head.

Alison chuckled.

"I love her, Spencer," Alison proudly declared. "And we're dating, yes."

"And living together," Spencer hedged with just a bit of judgement.

"Pam and Wayne are letting me stay with them yes," Alison nodded. "Until we sort out college."

"College?" Spencer shook her head feebly. "How are we even going to finish high school, Alison, you were missing for two years and then in jail and we were kidnapped by-"

"My deranged cousins, I know," Alison closed her eyes painfully.

"I didn't mean-" Spencer tried to apologize.

"I know, Spencer," Alison nodded. "I'm sorry for everything that happened, everything I did."

Spencer looked down at the keys for a moment, before she met Alison's eyes, she looked so incredibly tired to the blonde.

"I'm sorry too, Ali, for everything," Spencer softly uttered.

"Well now that thats out of the way think you can help me move some of my crap to the storage locker I'm renting," Alison stood from the bench.

Spencer ignored her staring at the keys.

"Spencer?" Alison called gently.

"Do you still play?" Spencer nodded to the piano.

"I haven't touched that thing in years," Alison truthful responded.

Spencer looked to the piano her brow furrowing as she thought deeply.

"Spencer," Alison called again.

Spencer looked up, her gaze was distant.

"Do you think its possible for people to change?" Alison asked, unsure of what had sparked her own question. "To become better people."

Spencer thought for a moment.

"I think you're living proof that they can," Spencer answered honestly.

Alison smiled a little at that.

"Was it hard?" Spencer asked, her fingers trailing over the keys but never pressing. "Not knowing where we were for a month?"

"The hardest thing I've ever had to go through," Alison found it hard to breathe remembering the crushing despair she had felt over her friend's disappearance.

"Thats what my parents say," Spencer mumbled. "Toby too."

"They love you, Spencer," Alison stressed. "We all do."

"Even you?" Spencer questioned looking into Ali's eyes.

Alison nodded.

"I had this dream right after you guys were captured, I was in 2009 changing everything that summer," Alison admitted, looking to see how crazy Spencer thought she was.

Spencer titled her head and waited for Alison to continue patiently.

"I know its stupid but I did change everything, even myself, we were a lot closer and you guys you knew how much I loved, love you and you actually cared.." Alison looked down.

"You know they say all dreams have hidden meanings because our subconscious is trying to tell us something," Spencer replied with a deep sigh. "Your dream is pretty obvious, Ali."

"Enlighten me," Alison chuckled darkly.

"You wanted to help and you couldn't do anything from jail so your mind recreated the summer of 2009 so you had something to control, something to fix," Spencer suggested.

It made sense, but it didn't hurt any less to awaken in this world.

"So what am I supposed to take away from my dream, that I'm a control freak," Ali scoffed.

"No I think its a sign that you can change Ali, that you can fix your relationships with the people you care about," Spencer smiled softly. "I think it means you should have hope for the future."

Alison cocked her head.

"If theres one thing I know about Spencer Hastings its that she doesn't believe in hope," Alison accused with no real bite, she liked Spencer's rational it meant she wasn't crazy.

Spencer gave her a coy smile.

"I also don't believe in time travel," Spencer shared as she placed her hands on the keys.

As she pressed down and her fingers flew across the keys Alison gasped, it was the exact same tune she'd played to Spencer when she was trying to get the brunette to open up.

"How do you know this piece?" Alison asked desperately stepping closer to check it was Spencer's hands playing as if there could be another option.

Spencer smiled warmly as she played.

"I dreamt it, Ali," Spencer admitted.

"What?" Alison shook her head in confusion. "Thats not possible, we-"

"We were playing right here and you told me to just stay in the music, and you coached me through some pretty painful stuff," Spencer sighed.

Spencer withdrew her hands from the keys.

"If your crazy, Ali, I'm right there with you," Spencer promised.

Alison didn't know whether that was a comfort or a concern.

"But how is that possible?" Alison questioned.

Did this make it real? Did Spencer remember everything or only certain things, was she in control, were any of them actually responding to this supposed dream or was it really a dream and they just felt like they had movement and choices? Did Em remember anything?

Alison covered her face, what if Em remembered everything.

"I don't know how but I'm done with answers and I just want to sleep for years," Spencer answered tiredly.

Alison looked to her friend to see Spencer drooping, whatever that other reality was Spencer and her friends were hurting in this one.

"Emily told me what happened, in the dollhouse," Alison admitted softly.

Spencer flinched and hung her head.

"Its not your fault Spencer, it was out of your control, you have to know that," Alison implored.

"Its called Survivors guilt," Spencer hollowly answered. "I looked it up."

Of course she had, Alison smiled but Spencer's face was a dark mask and Ali's smile waned under her friend's obvious distress.

"I sat in that horrible room and I pleaded, begged the others to choose me cause I could take it," tears started to gather in Spencer's eyes. "I thought… I thought they could hear me, or maybe their just stronger than I am because I never felt anything."

Alison sat up.

"You never-"

"Whatever happened to them, the screaming, what I did to them," Spencer wiped furiously at her eyes. "I hurt my friends, Alison because I'm not strong. I'm not strong enough."

"Spencer no," Alison turned Spencer to meet her eyes. "Spencer who did you pick? Whose button?"

Spencer let out a strangled sobbed.

"I didn't want to, Ali," Spencer pleaded with Alison to understand. "I knew she could take it."

"Who Spencer?" Alison pressed, she needed this answer because this was all slowly falling into place.

"Emily," Spencer choked out. "She's stronger than the others I couldn't do that to them."

Alison pulled Spencer to her and rocked the crying girl.

"Spence, you didn't hurt anyone," Alison breathed so very relieved.

"What?" Spencer pulled away. "I hurt them all, Ali, the buttons changed and then they were all screaming and-"

"No, Spence," Alison cut in. "I don't think any of you actually hurt each other at all. Emily said she picked you and you never felt anything."

Spencer stared wide eyed.

"Em didn't feel anything either," Alison hurriedly continued. "It was a game, a terrible, fucked up game. But you didn't hurt them."

"I didn't?" Spencer was still shell shocked and Alison could see she could barely process.

Alison shook her head and Spencer sagged into her.

"I didn't hurt them," Spencer whispered to herself.

"No, sweetie, you didn't," Alison held Spencer tighter as the brunette broke down completely.

Alison needed to get these four in a room to talk this out she could only imagine how Aria and Hanna were handling this given how broken Spencer and Emily were.

"I'm not sure this is going to work," Toby muttered.

Alison pulled the phone from her ear so that she could glare at it as if the boy could see her. She slowly put it back to her ear and tried to smile so her voice didn't drip with acid.

"It'll work, Toby," she assured him.

"Caleb kind of hates you," Toby reminded Alison as if she needed reminding.

"I'm not exactly his biggest fan either but if we have any hope of getting Hanna there Caleb has to bring her, and you have to convince Spencer," Alison argued.

"Easier said than done," Toby muttered.

Alison rubbed her forehead in frustration, Toby was not making life easy and she still hadn't had a chance to talk to Emily about her dream or whatever the hell it was to see if the brunette knew anything. She didn't really know how to begin that conversation and part of her was so scared that Emily wouldn't remember anything, that it would all be written off as Ali just losing it.

"Alison," Toby called.

"Yeah I'm here," Alison snapped harsher than she intended.

"I'm going to talk to Caleb but I can't make any promises," Toby warned.

"Thank you, Toby I really appreciate it," Ali smiled sincerely into the phone.

"I'll see you this afternoon," Toby muttered before the dial tone rang in Alison's ear.

After lots of begging and pleading and no shortage of kisses Alison had finally gotten Emily into the Montgomery home, since Aria was still under house arrest Alison had suggested getting all the girls together there. Aria didn't have much of a choice, but Ezra still blocked the stairs just in case and Spencer was pretty much carried in by Toby, while Hanna just glared daggers at Caleb and moved to sulk in one corner of the living room.

It was tense and awkward but Alison DiLaurentis had never let something as trivial as other people's unease stop her. She sat on the couch next to Emily and had to swivel around to see everyone.

"Ok so we brought you all here-"

"Some of us against our will," Spencer cut in sharply.

"Because," Alison stressed ignoring Spencer. "You need to sort this out, your friendship is too special to let what happened ruin it."

"You don't know what we went through," Hanna argued, wiping at her eyes in frustration.

"I know enough," Alison muttered. "If you don't want to talk fine but please just listen."

Alison squeezed Emily's hand and the brunette looked up to her fearfully.

"Em I need you to tell them what happened in that room," Alison smiled warmly as she kept her voice calm and level.

"I can't, Ali," Emily whispered back.

Alison stroked her thumb along Emily's hand.

"I promise I'm right here," Alison assured her girlfriend. "Please Em just try."

Spencer watched them curiously. Aria was focused on the ground and Hanna was glaring daggers at Alison. While the boyfriends hovered uneasily.

Emily took a deep breath and squeezed Alison's hand.

"I.. I sat in the room with the switchers and the voice told me to pick one of you," Emily wiped at her eyes as the tears started, Alison squeezed her hand gently. "I felt like a jolt and then there was all this noise until I picked, I tried to hold on, I did."

"Stop it," Hanna muttered turning into the wall. "Don't make her relive it, you're hurting her."

"Just keep going Em, please," Alison begged.

"I pressed the button and then there was screaming I picked.. Spencer," Emily couldn't meet Spencer or Toby's gaze and instead looked to the floor ashamed.

"I didn't.. Emily," Spencer called through her own tears. "I didn't feel anything I never screamed."

Emily wiped at her eyes Spencer's words finally registering with her.

"What?" Emily looked sharply to Spencer and then Aria. "Did you.. feel anything?"

Aria shook her head, wrapping her arms around herself.

"I knew you guys never picked me, but I.. I hurt you," Aria choked out, Ezra placed a hand to her shoulder gently.

"No Aria don't you see," Spencer stepped forward but Aria shrunk back and Spencer turned to Hanna. "Hanna did you ever feel anything?"

"Only when the voice explained the rules that first jolt," Hanna squeezed her eyes shut. "I picked Em, I'm so sorry, Em please, please forgive me."

Caleb pulled Hanna into his arms as she sobbed.

Spencer rubbed at her temples and then looked to Alison desperately, Ali nodded trying to tell Spencer she was right, she had figured it all out, but Spencer needed to convince the others, needed to lead them. As much as Alison wanted to be she wasn't the leader of this group anymore.

"Listen, just listen," Spencer begged. "None of us felt anything, even though we all picked each other, we weren't playing the game together, it must have been recordings and illusions…"

"We.. I didn't hurt you?" Emily asked softly.

"No, Em," Spencer smiled. "You didn't hurt anyone."

"You're sure?" Hanna asked lifting her head out of Caleb's embrace.

Spencer nodded.

"Spencer I'm so sorry," Aria cried throwing herself at Spencer, the taller brunette caught her and gripped on tightly.

"You didn't do anything, Aria," Spencer mumbled holding the crying girl desperately. "Charles-Bethany whatever wanted to turn us against each other, make us feel guilty for hurting each other."

Alison let go of Emily's hand as her mermaid stood on shaky legs and wrapped her arms around Aria and Spencer.

"I love you guys," Emily cried through her tears.

"We love you too, Em," Aria sniffled pulling Emily into their three person hug.

Alison watched them apprehensively before her eyes settled on Hanna who refused to let go of Caleb.

"Hanna its ok," Caleb instructed, trying to usher Hanna over to the others, but she wouldn't budge.

"Mermaid," Alison called gently.

Emily turned her head to meet Alison's gaze and Alison nodded towards Hanna in the corner. Emily stepped out of Aria and Spencer's embrace.

"Han?" Emily called softly as she approached Hanna.

Hanna turned her head to look at Emily but didn't step out of Caleb's embrace. Caleb smiled weakly at Emily and the brunette nodded in sympathy. Alison watched them cautiously from the couch.

"Han, we all pressed the button," Emily whispered. "You didn't do anything wrong."

Hanna shook her head and looked to the floor.

"Please Hanna I love you," Emily continued. "We all love you."

"You shouldn't," Hanna muttered, still focused on her shoes.

"Don't say that," Caleb started but Emily shook her head at him softly.

Caleb swallowed his anger and followed Emily's directions.

"Han you didn't do anything wrong," Emily assured her best friend.

Hanna finally looked up into Emily's warm brown eyes and Alison could see the other blonde was slowly coming around, her mermaid had that affect on people.

"I didn't even try.. the noise was so loud and I just.." Hanna sniffled.

"I know," Emily soothed. "And thats ok, Hanna, no one blames you."

"How is it ok?" Hanna shouted suddenly. "How is any of this ok?!"

Everyone jumped but Emily who held her ground.

"Its ok because we're alive and we're in this together, no matter what," Emily promised her voice not wavering once. "All of us."

Hanna looked past Emily to Alison.

"Even her?" Hanna asked.

Emily looked back to see Alison watching and Emily gave a small smile before she focused on Hanna again.

"Especially her," Emily affirmed.

Hanna took a deep shuddering breath and let Caleb pass her to Emily, she squeezed the brunette tightly and buried her head in Emily's neck as the brunette rocked her. They whispered to each other for a while before Emily finally managed to coerce Hanna across the room and into Spencer and Aria's arms. They made a weird foursome pile and cuddled around each other. Alison smiled softly watching them and caught Toby giving her a subtle head nod, the closest to thanks she figured she was going to get but it was more than worth it to see these girls reconnecting again.

Sometime later when the tears had subsided and the apologies were all accepted the eight of them sat in Aria's living room reconnecting.

"So we're suing?" Hanna asked around a mouthful of pizza, Caleb wiped at her mouth with a laugh when sauce dribbled down the side.

Spencer shook her head affectionately at Hanna.

"Yes, my parents think we have a really good case and they're hoping that it will get the DA to plead out for Aria," Spencer nodded at Aria who tensed somewhat at the mention of her upcoming trial. "I doubt they want any more media attention."

"Well god knows those bastards are incompetent," Alison breezed, Emily chuckled from behind Alison the blonde laying against her. "Shouldn't be hard to sue them."

"Oh theres no doubt you'll win," Toby nodded, having been suspended for his part in catching A without going through the legal channels.

"Rosewood PD are pretty shit," Caleb agreed.

"I'm going to be so glad to get out of this town," Hanna nodded.

Alison felt a sharp pang in her stomach, the thought of the girls leaving, moving on with their lives was distressing, of course she intended to stay with Emily for as long as the brunette would have her but her other friends were important too. Though she doubted she was as important to them.

"Ali," Aria called, snapping Alison out of her thoughts.

"Yes?" Alison looked over to her friend.

"I said have we thanked you for what you did for us?" Aria asked, watching Alison carefully.

"Oh it was-"

"I'm sure Em thanked her enough for all of us," Spencer sniggered.

Emily flushed and ducked her head behind Alison's back.

"I'm impressed, Hastings, that was definitely something I would have said," Hanna praised. "If anyone had told me."

Hanna gave Emily a pointed look for not being included. Alison pulled Emily's hand around her stomach and laced their fingers together.

"You don't have to thank me Aria I would do anything for you guys," Alison smiled at Aria.

"Still it was very brave," Aria commented patting Ezra's shoulder. "Of all of you."

"Who thought we'd have such heroic boyfriends," Hanna pressed her nose to Caleb's and smiled at him, she turned to see Emily holding Alison tightly. "And girlfriends."

Alison looked to Hanna in disbelief Hanna smiled gently but her eyes still held the threat that if Ali hurt Em she was dead. Emily oblivious to the silent blonde stare off lay her chin on Ali's shoulder cuddling into her girlfriend.

"They're the best," Emily whispered into Ali's ear.

Alison ducked her head to hide her blush and smiled squeezing Emily's hands on her stomach.

"Gah they're gonna be one of those couples," Spencer cringed still smiling as Toby slung an arm over her shoulders.

"I think they're cute," Aria giggled.

Alison turned and kissed Emily's cheek gently.

"Alright they're kind of cute," Spencer grumbled.

"They can hear you," Alison groused turning to face everyone.

"Aw little Ali doesn't like being the centre of attention anymore," Hanna laughed and everyone joined in at Alison's expense.

Alison grumbled and pressed back into Emily who tried not to giggle too much at her girlfriend's sullen look.

As the laughter subsided and everyone continued eating, Aria broke the pleasant silence again.

"I think we do owe you an apology though, Alison," Aria spoke up.

"No-" Alison tried to wave her off, there had been enough crying and apologies today.

"We do," Spencer cut her off with a sharp look.

Alison sighed and finally nodded to let them continue.

"I, we're all sorry Ali that we didn't believe you and for what we did, what we were going to do with the police and Mona," Aria rubbed at her face. "I can't believe we were so stupid."

Emily dropped her head on Ali's shoulder, in shame and Alison gripped her mermaid's hand tighter when the brunette tried to pull away.

"I gave you all reasons to doubt me and Andrew and Bethany fed on that," Alison told them all squeezing Emily's fingers. "I forgive you all but you need to forgive me too for a lot of shit I did before I disappeared and after…"

Alison locked her gaze to Hanna in particular and the other blonde stiffened.

"You don't have to forgive me today," Alison hurriedly continued. "Or ever but just know that I am sorry and I would change it all if I could."

Spencer quirked an eyebrow but Alison subtly shook her head this wasn't the time to see if the others knew anything about the dream or past or whatever it had been, this was about their future. A future Alison hoped she was included in.

Hanna jabbed at Caleb's stomach and he nodded clearing his throat.

"I'm sorry too Alison I shouldn't have yelled at you-" Caleb started looking ashamed.

"I understand Caleb everyone was tense and I was an easy target," Alison assured him, soothing Emily with another squeeze as the brunette tensed behind her.

"Still that doesn't make it right," Caleb argued.

"No-" Alison agreed before Hanna sighed in frustration.

"Caleb just apologize and just accept the damn apology, Alison," Hanna snapped. "We'll be here till we're ninety with you two."

Caleb smiled at his girlfriend before he shrugged at Alison.

"I am sorry, Alison," Caleb dutifully responded.

"I accept your apology, Caleb," Alison smiled at him.

"See easy," Hanna nodded to them.

They were never going to be best friends but given how close their girlfriends were Alison hoped she and Caleb could be more than polite acquaintances.

"I can't believe Lucas was on the A Team the whole time," Hanna muttered when there was another lull in conversation.

"Lots of people betrayed us," Spencer grumbled no doubt thinking of Melissa and Wren.

"Em, how are you holding up?" Aria asked softly.

"I just can't believe she did it, I really cared about her," Emily confessed.

Alison squeezed Emily's fingers trying to convey that she understood.

"I just can't believe she was alive the whole time," Spencer shook her head still trying to wrap her head around the mystery. "And then she tried to kill Ali."

Alison stiffened as she realized Spencer was talking about Maya and not Paige. Though both of Emily's exes had tried to kill Alison at different times, it was only Maya who faked her death. How many people did that in this town? How terrible was the coroners office that there was so much mistaken identity. Alison wondered if anyone else was actually alive.

"Ali," Emily whispered to her girlfriend. "We don't have to talk about this."

Alison shook her head and looked up to find everyone staring at her.

"No I.. like I told Em I always feel terrible for what happened-"

"You did what you had to do, Alison," Aria stressed. "Em and I have both been there."

"I know," Alison nodded hollowly. "I just… does it get better?"

Emily nodded behind her and kissed her neck gently.

"I don't think it ever goes away, Ali," Aria admitted sadly. "At least it hasn't for me, but.. you accept it I guess and try to move on."

Ezra pulled Aria into his arms and she cuddled into him.

"Helps to have a support system," Aria smiled curling up with Ezra. "I think Em has that covered."

Emily smiled into Ali's neck.

"She's perfect," Alison gushed.

"God they're adorable," Hanna rolled her eyes in exasperation and everyone giggled.