Mermaid

by MysticalGoddessOfWords

"My Mermaid couldn't come to me, so I came to her."

9. Epilogue 1

Disclaimer: I don't own any rights to the show or characters of Pretty Little Liars. I'm only borrowing and playing with them. I'll give them back relatively unscathed…. More unscathed than they are after last night's finale.

Hi everyone.

I wanted to get this chapter up before the finale but being back to work after my trip – everything was behind and I've been buried for days and editing has been almost impossible.

This first epilogue is a lot longer than I thought. The other two aren't nearly as long. I considered breaking it into two parts but each epilogue is meant to be read as one independent part so I couldn't.

So, what that means is you need to sit back and get comfortable because you have almost seventeen thousand words to read…..lol

Since I suspect, especially after the finale, that Emison fans aren't going to have a very Merry Christmas this year, here is a little something I hope makes it better.

I laughed out loud when I was watching the finale last night because Hanna said something very close to what Emily says in this chapter – but I wrote this chapter almost a month ago so that line is all mine. And clearly, my story is AU, after last night's episode, especially the part about none of the girls ever being arrested.

Anyway, thanks, as always, for reading and reviewing. And thanks to all the new followers and reviewers. I'm going to miss all your great comments when this over. They make my heart warm and bring a smile to my face.

Enjoy my lovelies.

And for those who have missed her as much as I have - Kira is back!

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Epilogue 1

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4 years later….

The front door opened and Alison looked up from her place in the middle of the living room floor, only to be instantly bowled over by eighty five pounds of fur.

"Pepe," Emily's voice scolded as the door closed, but Alison didn't think it was authoritative enough since the dog didn't even budge and only plopped himself down on top of Alison, trying to lick her face while she attempted to hold him at arm's length.

"Ewww, Pepe, stop," Alison said even as she laughed.

Emily grabbed the dog by his collar and pulled him off the blonde, smiling down at her girlfriend once her face was visible again.

She was scowling now as she sat up. "Why didn't you wake me before you left? I told you I'd run with you today."

"I thought you were joking," Emily said as she walked into the kitchen and grabbed a bottle of water out of the fridge.

Pepe plopped his head on Alison's lap and she rubbed his ears affectionately. "I don't joke about exercise," Alison called through the doorway as she pushed aside the box she'd been looking in. "It happens so rarely, you should take me serious when I offer to participate."

Emily laughed as she walked back into the room. "You can come with me tomorrow morning."

"No," Alison said matter-of-factly. "The opportunity to see me in tight running shorts again has passed you by. Your loss."

"Indeed," Emily said her voice low and laced with regret, as she sat down on the floor in front of the sofa. She looked around the room. "It looks like a Christmas tree exploded in here."

Alison sighed and glanced around at the disaster that was their living room. There were garland and tinsel and Christmas decorations spread all around the floor.

"Yeah. We have to get this place decorated before everyone gets here tomorrow." She bit her lip. "And I can't find our stockings anywhere."

"Could they be in that box over there that says stockings?" Emily asked as she pointed at a box next to the fireplace.

"No, wise ass," Alison glared teasingly. "That was the first box I looked in. You were the one who packed the stuff away last year so I blame you completely."

Emily shrugged and took a long sip of her water.

Alison tilted her head as she looked at her girl. She was dressed in her usual running pants and top, her hair was pulled up in a messy ponytail and sweat was glistening on the skin of her face and neck; and the sight made Alison's abdomen clench in just that way.

She easily pushed Pepe's head off her leg and rose to her knees, slowly crawling toward Emily as the brunette started digging through one of the boxes beside her.

"Which wreath do you want to put on the door?" she asked absently, completely unaware she was being stalked.

When she didn't get an answer, Emily looked up just as Alison reached her.

She squeaked in surprise, but it quickly morphed into a moan as Alison straddled her lap and plopped her ass down on Emily's thighs.

"Morning," Alison murmured against her lips as she slid her arms over Emily's shoulders and covered Emily's mouth with her own.

Emily kissed her back for a moment, unable to resist the temptation of Alison's lips. But then she pulled back.

"Ali," she laughed softly. "I'm all sweaty."

"I know," Alison purred as her lips glided over Emily's cheek and down her throat, her tongue peeking between her lips to lick the salty sweat from Emily's skin. "I love you all sweaty."

"Not like this you don't. Trust me, I need a shower," Emily said as she gripped Alison's hips with her hands, torn between pushing her off and pulling her closer.

Alison lifted her head and grinned as her eyes glinted with desire and anticipation. Emily let out a strangled laugh even as her body flooded with desire. "And it's going to have to be a solo shower if we have any chance of getting all these decorations up today."

"Where's the fun in that." Alison pouted but knew Emily was right. "But I do need one more kiss to hold me over until tonight."

Emily slid her free hand along Alison's throat to cup the back of her neck. She pulled the blonde's mouth to hers and kissed her softly, her tongue sliding along the seam of Alison's lips, requesting entrance. Alison moaned and her mouth fell open and Emily slipped her tongue inside.

The kiss was slow and deep and languid and Alison melted against Emily. By the time their lips parted, both girls were panting and dizzy and it was almost enough to forget all about their impending guests.

Almost.

Alison's groan was full of regret as she moved back to sit on the floor. "Why did we invite our friends here for Christmas again?"

"It was your idea," Emily reminded as she started looking through the box beside her again.

"Oh," Alison said after a minute as she grabbed another box and opened the flaps. "Spencer called and said she's coming now."

Emily looked up. "Was Toby able to get the time off?"

Alison shook her head. "No. She's only coming for 2 days. She's leaving Christmas Eve but apparently Hanna totally guilted her into it."

"How did she do that?" Emily laughed.

"She said she didn't want to be the only single person here."

"Kira is single," Emily said as she crawled over to one of the boxes beside the fireplace and started digging around. "Do we really need all this tinsel? It's just going to make a mess of the place. You know how Pepe gets with it."

"Yes," Alison said as she reached over and grabbed the bag out of Emily's hands. "Anyway, since Spencer is coming now, she and Hanna will have to share a bed, unless one of them wants to sleep on the sofa."

"Don't worry about it Ali, we'll figure out the sleeping arrangements." Emily opened another box. "Oh hey, look what I found?"

Emily pulled two knitted stockings out of the box, one with each of their names, and held them up.

"I looked in that box," Alison grumped.

"Obviously not hard enough," Emily smiled as she tossed the stockings at Alison.

The blonde caught them and smirked.

"What time do you want to go pick out the tree?" Emily asked as she crawled closer to Alison now.

Alison ran her fingers over Emily's name on her stocking.

"Huh?" she said as she looked up, a smile curling her lips as she saw Emily moving closer to her.

Emily smiled, having seen what Alison was doing. "I asked what time are we going to get the tree?"

"This morning. We're never going to get this all done before everyone gets here," Alison sighed.

"Yes we will. Besides it's just our friends, Ali. If everything isn't all done, they're not going to care." Emily stopped in front of Alison, her forearms pressed against her girlfriend's legs.

"I'll care," Ali replied as she rolled her eyes. "You don't invite people to your house for the holiday and not have it decorated. I should have started this last weekend."

"Uh huh," Emily murmured as she plucked the stocking out of Alison's hand and tossed it toward the fireplace.

Alison arched an eyebrow at her but Emily just smiled again. Her eyes darkened as she closed the last of the distance between them.

Alison's breath hitched softly as Emily's mouth closed over hers. Alison grabbed the front of Emily's shirt and pulled her closer as the blonde laid back, pulling her girl over her.

Emily straddled Alison's body as the blonde rested on the Christmas decorations. She pushed Alison's shirt up, exposing her bare breasts. Alison moaned into Emily's mouth as she arched her back, her body shuddering as Emily's fingers rolled one of her nipples softly.

Emily tore her lips away from Alison's mouth and she lowered her head to the blonde's breast.

"Em," Alison whimpered as Emily's lips closed around Alison's other nipple.

"I thought you said you were too sweaty?" Alison breathed as she reached behind Emily's head and slid her fingers into Emily's ponytail, pulling it lose and letting Emily's long dark tresses fan out over her chest. She lifted her head and inhaled deeply, and her stomach clenched again, as her nostrils were filled with the familiar and well loved scent of her mermaid.

Emily smiled around Alison's nipple as she flicked the tip of it with her tongue. She lifted her head, releasing Alison's nipple with a pop. She smiled down at her girlfriend. "Might as well get as sweaty as I can before I shower, huh?"

"God, yes," Alison hissed as she reached up and pulled Emily's mouth back to her breast, aching her back deeper as Emily latched on to the tender nipple once more.

Alison slid her hands down Emily's sides, making the brunette hum around her nipple. "Fuck, Em. I've missed you so much," Alison panted softly. "I hate it when you have finals."

Emily switched breasts now, suckling the other as her fingers gently tweaked the nipple hard and damp from Emily's mouth. Alison's fingers dipped beneath the waistband of Emily's running pants and were slipping lower but Emily stopped her.

"No, this is for you," Emily murmured and she trapped Alison's hand between her knee and Alison's hip as she went back to suckling the blonde's nipple. Alison pouted but it quickly turned into another moan as she felt the sensation of Emily's mouth on her nipple all the way down between her thighs.

Suddenly there were three short, loud, raps on the front door.

"Knock, Knock," Kira said as she pushed the front door open, still rapping her fingers on the wood, as she walked in.

Alison groaned as Emily tore her lips away from Alison's nipple and quickly tugged Alison's shirt down over her chest before Emily let her head drop down in between the blonde's breasts, grumbling softly under her breath. Alison pulled her hand free and ran her fingers through Emily's hair soothingly, even as the disappointment seeped into her.

"Good lord, do the two of you ever stop?" Kira asked as she put the cardboard carrier with three Starbuck's coffees on endtable beside the loveseat.

Pepe lifted his head, but familiar with the visitor, he just put it back down again and closed his eyes.

"Kira, you totally suck," Alison growled, her disappointment apparent in her tone. "I was just about to get freaking lucky for the first time in two weeks."

"Bitch, please," Kira scoffed as she sat on the loveseat. "There is no way you went two weeks without sex."

"Why couldn't you be late like you always are?" Alison growled again as she ignored Kira's friendly barb.

"You threatened me with bodily harm if I was late, remember?"

"Hey, Kira," Emily greeted as she lifted her head from Alison's chest.

"Hey, Doc," she teased Emily, using her new nickname for her since she'd started med school.

Alison gave Emily a rueful smile and groaned with regret again.

"And this, right here, is why I don't live with the two of you anymore," Kira waved her hand to the two of them all disheveled.

"You haven't lived with us for two years," Alison replied. "We've learned to control our urges as we've matured."

Kira shot her a "yeah, right," look. "And yet I still found the two of you here half naked in the middle of the living room floor."

"If you had come ten minutes later we would have been totally naked," Alison smirked, her voice seductive, but still filled with regret.

"Why did you even invite me over here this morning, Ali, if you were planning to just defile all your Christmas decorations first?" She grinned as she grabbed one of the coffees out of the Starbuck's carrier to read the name on the side. "You know I'd never touch them after that."

Emily started to move away from Alison, but the blonde hooked her leg around the back of Emily's thigh.

"No, don't go," she pouted.

Emily laughed and unhooked her leg and moved back.

"Why are you here at eight a.m. on a Wednesday?" Emily asked curiously. "Don't you have school today?"

"Nope," Kira grinned. "Christmas vacation started today. I don't have to deal with any first graders until January second. Thank God. And Ali drafted me to help decorate today."

Emily stood and held her hand out to Alison. The blonde eyed it a minute, debating whether to pull her girl back down on top of her. But Kira's current presence and their other friends' impending presence killed the mood. Alison reached up and Emily pulled her to stand.

"You have tinsel stuck to your ass," Kira said to Alison as she handed Emily her coffee.

"Well stop checking out my ass," Alison replied as she took her coffee from Kira.

Kira scoffed. "That's like telling my little brother to stop watching porn."

Emily sat on the coffee table and pulled her hair back up into a ponytail. Pepe stood and stretched before coming over and nudging Alison's ass. Emily pulled the dog away before reaching over and grabbing Alison by the waist of her sleep shorts.

"Come here," she murmured as Alison looked down at her. Alison stepped closer and Emily peeled the long strands of tinsel off her ass.

"Em, don't touch my ass in front of Kira. You're gonna make her jealous."

"Bitch, please," Kira replied again, smirking. "Okay, so what am I doing here?" Kira asked.

Alison took a sip of her coffee and looked around before pointing back and forth between the both of them. "You two are going to pick up the tree and I'll get this stuff organized."

"Wait, why aren't you coming?" Emily asked.

"Because I have to get this stuff out of the way so we can move the tree in when you get back," Alison replied in a tone as if it should be obvious.

"Uh uh," Emily said as she shook her head. "You're coming. Because I'll get one you don't like and then you'll make me take it back and get another."

Emily had learned her lesson once, their first Christmas in California sophomore year, and she would never do that ever again. The tree guy looked at both of them like they were lunatics for bringing the tree back, but after Alison brought out, what Emily referred to as her Alison DiLaurentis personality, the guy was practically cowering in the corner and agreed to swap the tree out.

"I already picked it out," Alison said as she bent down to pet Pepe, who was now nudging her thigh. "It should be tied and ready when you get there."

Emily looked over at Kira, who just shrugged. "When did you do that?" Emily asked.

"On Monday when you were studying. Just ask for Mr. Bedrosian. He's the guy who runs the tree lot."

"Making friends with help, Ali?" Kira teased and Alison slid her hand under Pepe's chin.

"Go bite Kira, Pepe. She's being mean to mommy."

The dog loped over to Kira and plopped his head on her lap, looking for more petting.

"Traitor," Alison grumped, not at all amused by her dog's betrayal, as both Emily and Kira laughed. "I paid for the tree already and it should fit on the roof of the jeep."

Should?" Kira asked as her eyebrow shot up.

"How tall is this tree Ali?" Emily asked at the same time, her eyes narrowing.

Alison scowled at both of them.

"We're no longer in that small, crappy apartment my father rented for us sophomore year. We finally have twelve foot ceilings in this condo, Em. We can't have a short, stubby tree in here. It will look ridiculous."

"Ali," Emily sighed her name.

"He even said he'll tie it to the top of the car for you," Alison offered as a means to get Emily to do her bidding.

"Not to rain on your Christmas tree parade here, Ali," Kira said from her spot on the loveseat. "But if this thing is so freaking big, are you sure the three of us will be able to get it in here? You two aren't exactly the most butch lesbians on the block."

Emily shot Kira a pointed look and she just held up her hands in surrender.

"The two guys who just moved into 2C said they'd help us. So take that naysayer," Alison said as she put her hand on her hip.

"When did you meet the guys in 2C?" Emily asked, wondering just when Alison had time to meet their new neighbors, who only moved in the previous weekend.

"Over the weekend when you were studying," Alison said to her girl patiently. Emily really was oblivious of everything around her when she was in study mode.

"Have you done anything else but study lately?" Kira asked.

Emily rolled her eyes. "You do remember what finals are like, right?"

"Oh," Kira said slowly and knowingly. "So that's why Ali is so horny."

Alison reached down and grabbed her stocking and threw it at Kira, but Emily caught it and put it on the table beside her.

"Thank god you guys live on the first floor," Kira said casually. "So what are they like? Your new neighbors, I mean," she asked curiously.

"They're nice enough. And hot too," Alison said as she wiggled her eyebrows and grinned. "And they're single," she added. "There's one, Brian is his name, and I think you'll like him, Kira. He's just your type. Big, dumb and stupid."

"Fuck you, bitch."

Alison smirked. "Seriously though, I invited them to our little soiree on Christmas Eve and they said they'd stop by," Alison said casually and Emily narrowed her eyes.

Pepe whimpered by the front door.

"He has to go to the bathroom," Alison said to no one in particular, as she put her coffee on the table and started to untangle strands of lights.

Kira stood up. "I'll take your dog to piss. Em, just throw a sweatshirt on over that skimpy little t-shirt and let's go do this."

Kira grabbed Pepe's leash off the hanger by the door and walked out. Emily continued to eye Alison curiously as she busied herself arranging tree lights on the sofa.

"Ali, are you playing matchmaker with Kira?"

Alison didn't answer. She just unrolled another string of lights.

"Alison DiLaurentis, do not ignore me."

"What?" Alison snapped as she turned to glare at her girl. "She hasn't dated anyone since Todd dumped her."

Emily met Alison's eyes from where she still sat on the coffee table. "They were together for almost two years, Ali. She was heartbroken."

Alison's eyes flashed. "I get that, Em. But he was a dick and she's better off with him gone."

Emily's eyes softened, loving Alison more, in that moment, than she ever had. This was a side of herself the blonde only showed to Emily. The fiercely loyal side that loved, the very few people she loved, harder than anyone Emily had ever met. "I agree, but it's only been three months. Give her some time."

"She needs to get back up on the horse. And believe me, this guy is one," Alison smirked and the moment passed.

"Ali," Emily warned as she shook her head.

"And he seems really nice," Alison implored Emily to understand. "You know me, Em; I don't tend to like people, at all. Never mind right away. And there is just something about this guy I liked instantly. I really think she'll like him."

Emily stood and took two strides over to stand in front of Alison. She reached up and cupped her girlfriends face in her hands, pressing her mouth, without a word, to capture the blonde's lips in a deep kiss.

Alison sighed softly as she opened her mouth, feeling Emily's tongue sweep inside. Alison wrapped her arms around Emily's waist and pulled the brunette's body flush with her own. She wanted to crawl inside her girl and her fingers pressed deep into Emily's lower back, clutching her as close as she could. Emily slid her hands into Alison's hair and held her captive against her mouth.

The kiss was long and deep, their tongues dueling for dominance before Alison finally yielded and whimpered in the back of her throat as her head fell back.

The kiss softened then, gentling as their lips parted briefly, before going back for more, this time softer, until it was just a tender sipping of lips.

Their lips parted and Alison's eyes fluttered open as she struggled to focus.

"What was that for?"

Emily's eyes opened and she smiled softly. "For being exactly who you are."

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"What. The. Fuck." Kira said and Emily just sighed as the two girls took in the ten foot Balsam Fir with Alison's name on the tag. It was tied up and leaning against the wall of the brick building.

"Is there something seriously wrong with her?" Kira asked as she looked over at Emily. "There has to be something seriously wrong with her."

"She likes big Christmas trees," Emily said as an explanation, but she wasn't entirely sure Kira wasn't right and there was something seriously wrong with her girlfriend.

Emily's eyes slid over to Alison's Jeep Grand Cherokee, wondering if the tree was really going to fit, when a short Armenian man walked over.

"You must be Emily," he said as he greeted the brunette with a smile. Of course he knew her name. "Alison said you would be here today to pick up the tree."

And of course he said Alison's name with a familiarity that made Emily wonder just how much time Alison had spent at the tree lot while she was studying.

"Yes," Emily replied as she nodded. "I don't know if it's going to fit on our roof though."

Emily pointed to the jeep and Mr. Bedrosian looked over. "Oh, no need to worry, dear. Alison and I measured the roof the other day. It will fit. And it will be nice and secure."

"Okay," Emily said, not quite convinced, but he was the Christmas tree man after all.

"So what do you need from us?" Kira asked.

"You just go over there and have some warm apple cider,' he said as he pointed to the drink stand at the end of the lot. "My wife makes it with cinnamon and it's the best in the city." He waved his hand at the large tree in front of them. "I've got this. Is the car unlocked? I'll have to roll down the windows to be able to tie it properly."

Emily nodded and handed him the keys. "She told me you were very pretty," he said as he titled his head and smiled at her. "Both such pretty girls," he said to himself as he walked toward the car.

Kira looked over and chuckled. "Okay," she drawled. "Does Ali just go around and tell total strangers how pretty you are?"

Emily shrugged as she laughed.

"You're in love with a total freak, you know that right?"

"Be nice, Kira." Emily smiled because she knew Kira's words were said with her own love for Alison. "She's trying to set you up with this Brian guy you know, I'm just warning you."

"I kinda got that impression, yeah," Kira laughed as they walked up to the drink stand. "Hey, if he's hot, I'm open. You want a cider?"

"No," Emily replied as she shook her head. "Oh," Emily said a second later as a look of concern came over her face. "Should we go help him?"

Kira looked over to see Mr. Bedrosian struggling to push the tree up onto the roof of the jeep.

"Maybe," Kira said as she took her drink from the woman behind the stand, but then two young guys came up and started helping Mr. Bedrosian. "Maybe not."

Emily cringed as she watched Mr. Bedrosian and the two guys slide the tree over the roof rack. "They're totally going to scrape the paint."

"I don't think we're going to get that in your front door," Kira said casually as she sipped her cider.

"I was just thinking the same thing. What the hell was she thinking," Emily asked herself.

"Almost everything your girl does is over the top, Emily. This should be no surprise."

Emily elbowed Kira. "She wants our first Christmas in the new condo to be special," Emily defended.

Kira laughed as she humphed. "Oh, I get it. And your friends are coming, and it's the first time you're all going to be together since you left high school. I know I've met all of them separately over the years, but it's going to be freaking epic to see all of you together at once."

Emily shot Kira a pointed look, but her friend just grinned. "Ali is going to be in rare form, you know that right?" she added as she laughed. "I'm just going to sit back and watch it all unfold."

Emily sighed. "I know."

But she couldn't keep her lips from curving into a soft smile because she wouldn't have Alison any other way.

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Alison padded into the kitchen, tying her hair, wet from her shower, into a messy knot on top of her head. Emily stood in front of the stove, sautéing what smelled like garlic in a pan.

It was barely eight o'clock and, while Alison was barely awake, her mermaid had already been up for hours, having taken her run with Pepe, showered, and was now slaving away in front of a hot stove.

Alison smiled softly to herself as she watched, her eyes taking in Emily's long, lean frame, with just the hint of curves at her waist, her hair up in a ponytail again, exposing the nape of her neck and it made Alison ache to clamp her lips on it and suck until Emily's knees gave out.

Emily really was the most beautiful girl, well woman now, Alison had ever seen. She had no idea just how gorgeous she was and Alison thought it was both a blessing and a curse.

Alison pushed off the doorjamb and stretched softly. She ached, but it was that good kind of ache; the kind of ache that came from having spent most of the night making love with her girlfriend.

They had both been so busy the last several weeks with Emily studying for the finals from her first semester in medical school and Alison busy in the last editing stages of her second book.

In what had come as really no surprise to anyone, Alison had a gift for storytelling, and she excelled in her creative writing classes at UCLA. It became her means of making things up and telling lies in a non-destructive way. And during the summer, following her sophomore year, she wrote a full length novel, titled Beautiful Secrets and Lies.

It was a story about a group of five college friends, four of whom were trying to solve the murder of one of their own, only to find out that the girl who they all thought they knew so well, had led a very secret, double life. At the same time, the remaining girls discovered they all had secrets of their own, all of which contributed in their own way to the terrible fate that befell their friend. While it was very loosely based on their group, the story became a means for Alison to purge many of her demons.

She decided to self-publish the book and it soon skyrocketed to the top of many indie book sites, breaking records on Amazon, until finally Random House had approached her a year ago, wanting to publish it traditionally, and contract the right to publish any future novels Alison wrote.

The book was finally published over the summer and, due to the indie popularity of it, it debuted at number five on the NY Times Best Sellers' list. It had since risen to number one and had been there for over a month now.

She had been working on a sequel since the summer and was putting the final touches on it with her editor because she had a deadline with her publisher on January fifth.

So she and Emily had barely any time together in the last two weeks, aside from Alison being able to give Emily a few quick orgasms, to take the edge off, so she could go back to focusing on her studying.

Needless to say, when they finally got their hands, and mouths, on each other last night, it was hours before either one of them had their fill of the other. It had been the early morning hours before they curled up, both falling into an utterly exhausted sleep in each others' arms.

Then Alison had woken up alone a half hour ago, as Emily snuck out of their bedroom after her shower. If they didn't have their friends arriving today for the holiday, Alison would drag her mermaid back to bed for at least another day or two, but alas, it would have to wait until after their friends left.

Alison glided up behind Emily, announcing herself so the brunette didn't jump and burn herself.

"Whatcha cooking there?" she asked and Emily turned her head and smiled as she saw Alison.

Alison pressed her lips to Emily's before she could answer, her lips lingering for almost a minute, before walking around her and grabbing the coffee pot to pour a cup.

"Lasagna," Emily replied as she licked her lips, tasting the mint of Alison's toothpaste. "I'm cooking it now so all I have to do is put it in the oven later when everyone's here."

Alison peeked around Emily's arm to see her browning sausage and ground beef in the skillet with onion and garlic.

"You do remember that Aria doesn't eat meat, right?"

Emily nodded and laughed. "Yeah. I'm making two, one with meat sauce and one with just marinara."

"Why do you have to make the sauce from scratch? It would be so much easier to just used sauce from a jar."

"And it would taste like crap," Emily replied and Alison shrugged as she jumped up to sit on the counter beside the stove.

"Be careful, don't burn yourself," Emily murmured as she looked at Alison sipping her coffee.

Alison met her eyes over her coffee cup and Emily caught her breath at the hunger she saw in them. And that hunger wasn't for food.

It had taken all of Emily's will power to get out of bed this morning, instead of kissing her way down Alison's naked body and showing her girlfriend once again how much she'd missed her these past weeks.

Sure, they lived together, had seen each other quite a bit because they were both in the same house, had slept beside each other each night, but it was the intimacy they normally shared that had made Emily miss and ache for Alison so acutely the pain was almost physical.

She swallowed as she felt the familiar tug in her abdomen and the familiar pulsing between her thighs at the sight of Alison sitting casually on the counter, dressed in shorts and a tank top. Emily's eyes dropped and she realized Alison wasn't wearing a bra and she licked her lips unconsciously.

"My eyes are up here, Em," Alison chuckled, but it was low and throaty, and almost choked.

Grease splattered out of the pan and hit Emily's hand and she hissed softly.

"Are you okay?" Alison asked, her voice laced with concern.

"Yeah," Emily laughed and shook her head as she realized, yet again, just how strong Alison's pull on her was.

"Are you sure?" Alison asked as she grabbed Emily's hand and wiped the grease off with her thumb.

"Yeah," Emily said as she squeezed Alison's hand gently before pulling back.

"So," Alison said casually. "Kira and Brian seemed to hit if off yesterday."

Emily looked at Alison again and saw the blonde smirking smugly.

"I guess," Emily replied, not giving Alison much because the jury was still out on Brian, as far as she was concerned. He seemed nice enough, but was apparently just off a recent breakup himself and Emily worried that Kira would be hurt if it turned out she was only a rebound for him.

"I told you he was nice," Alison said.

"I guess," Emily replied and Alison scowled.

"Is that all you're going to say?"

"What do you want me to say?"

"I want you to acknowledge that he's not a bad guy. So what if he just broke up with his girlfriend a few weeks ago," Alison said acknowledging what she knew was going through Emily's mind. "I'm not saying they should get married or anything, but what's so bad about a little casual hook up? Kira needs to get laid something fierce or that girl's head is going to pop off soon."

"Ali," Emily said as she poured the whole peeled tomatoes into the pan, stirring as it sizzled. "What if she doesn't want that?"

"And what if she does?" Alison challenged. "Have you even asked her Em?"

"No," Emily admitted.

"Well I did. And she is totally ripe for some good sex with a hot guy, with no strings attached. Sometimes a girl just needs to get fucked, Em," Alison said so matter-of-factly that it made Emily laugh and shake her head.

Alison grinned; glad she could make Emily laugh. She loved the sound of Emily's laugh, almost as much as the sound of her moans.

"I just don't want him to hurt her," Emily said as she sighed. She worried about Kira because she'd been devastated after her breakup with Todd. She spent almost an entire week in bed, only getting up when Ali had physically dragged her out, before pushing her into the shower, clothes and all.

She sputtered and spit like a wet cat, but Alison wouldn't budge until Kira got showered and dressed and then Alison took her out drinking, telling Emily it was best if she stayed home that night. Some methods were just too harsh for Emily's tender sensibilities. Since she had a huge test the next morning, Emily reluctantly agreed, but, in the end, it was Emily who had to rescue both of them from the results of their drunken escapades.

"If he does, I'll skin him alive," Alison said with no inflection in her voice and it made Emily shiver for a second. She knew that tone and it was one Alison used when she was telling the absolute truth, regardless of how ugly it was.

"And you have to admit," Alison added, her voice back to her usual tone. "He did get that tree in here yesterday. That has to count for something."

"He did have to cut an inch off the bottom though," Emily said, not giving in completely.

"But it does look fabulous in our living room," Alison said almost dreamily.

Emily smiled and reached out to squeeze Alison's knee gently. "Yes it does," she conceded. "You picked out a beautiful tree, Ali."

Alison grinned as she flushed with delight.

Alison put her coffee cup on the counter and jumped down before walking up behind Emily. She slid her arms around the brunette's waist, pressing against her back and sighing softly as she finally, really, touched her mermaid. She felt Emily sigh and press back against her and she knew Emily was as relieved for them to finally be touching again.

Alison pressed a soft kiss to Emily's ear. "What can I do to help you?" she asked as she laid her head against Emily's back, listening to her heart.

"Nothing here," Emily said as she reached back and gripped Alison's hip. "But we have to make up the futons in our offices. You can do that."

"Who's sleeping where?"

"Aria and Ezra will sleep in my office and Hanna and Spencer can share the one in yours.

"Are you sure they want to sleep together?" Alison let go of Emily reluctantly and stepped back. "I've always suspected that Hanna is bi-curious, but I doubt Spencer is."

Emily laughed. "We've all been sharing beds since we were twelve, Ali. I think they'll be fine."

"Not the way you and I share a bed, though," Alison teased as she smacked Emily playfully on the ass. "But you're the boss. I'll go make them up."

She turned to walk out of the kitchen but stopped and turned back as she got to the doorway. "What time do we have to head to the airport to pick them up?"

Oh, we don't," Emily said as she turned the heat lower under the pan so the sauce could simmer. "Hanna called while you were in the shower and her flight is delayed in Chicago. But Spencer texted and said hers is on time and Aria texted too. She and Ezra are on time too so that means they'll all be arriving within thirty minutes of each other."

"Okay; and that means what exactly?" Alison arched her brow inquisitively.

"Aria and Ezra are going to wait for Spencer and Hanna and they'll just drive them here."

Alison smiled widely. "Great. You know how much I hate LAX."

Emily laughed. "I thought you'd say that. Oh, and my mom called," Emily said as an afterthought as she turned and started chopping vegetables for the vegetarian sauce on the center island counter. "She arrived in Germany and said she and my dad will call on Christmas morning."

Alison nodded and started to turn again to walk out of the kitchen, but then her lips curved and a sultry smile appeared. She sauntered back over to Emily. She pressed her breasts against Emily's arm as she slowly slid her tongue along Emily's ear.

"You know what this means, right?"

Emily couldn't stop the moan from escaping and she turned her heated gaze to look at Alison. "What?" she said as she swallowed, pretty sure she knew what her girlfriend was going to say.

"This means we have a little more time alone before everyone gets here." Alison whispered against Emily's ear before biting down on her lobe gently. She slid her hand beneath Emily's tank top and rubbed her fingertips around Emily's belly button, before dipping her fingers lower into the waistband of Emily's pants.

Before Emily could respond, Pepe started barking from the other room and then they heard the front door open.

"Okay, bitches, I'm here," Kira shouted from the entryway. "What else do you need me to do? Hey Pepe."

Alison's head dropped onto Emily's shoulder and she sighed with a small little growl. "Why did we ever give her a key?"

Emily laughed and kissed the top of Alison's head.

"Tonight," she whispered against Alison's blond locks as Kira walked in into the kitchen with Pepe in tow.

Alison lifted her head off Emily's shoulder and stepped back, sliding her hand out from beneath Emily's pants, and glaring in Kira's direction.

"Oh, man, don't tell me I interrupted you getting busy on the counter. I'm never going to eat here again."

In response, Alison picked up and threw a zucchini at Kira's head.

######################

The front door swung open and five slightly inebriated girls stumbled in, followed by two very sober designated drivers.

"That club was so cool," Spencer said as she and Aria stumbled over toward the sofa against the far wall.

"Thanks for staying sober with me tonight," Ezra said as he stepped through the door.

Alison smirked at him before looking over at Emily hanging onto Hanna as they sang the latest Beyonce song, very off key.

"Em needed a night to just go a little crazy after her killer finals."

Alison's eyes softened at the sight of her girlfriend's flushed face, her eyes glassy, and her lips curved into a beautiful grin as if she didn't have a care in the world.

"I could have fit you all in the car though; you could have drunk too, if you wanted."

"And let you try to wrangle all these drunk girls on your own, Ezra? Contrary to popular belief, I'm not that cruel."

Pepe barked from his spot near the door, where he'd been completely ignored by everyone arriving home.

"Pepe, come here, baby," Emily cooed from where she was now sitting on the arm of the sofa.

Pepe trotted over and Emily scratched him behind his ears, making his tail wag.

"I have to take him for a quick walk," Alison said to Ezra. "Will you?" she twirled her hand to silently indicate getting the drunk girls settled.

He laughed. "How about I take him for a walk instead?" he offered.

Alison shook her head. "No, it's okay. I won't be long. Come here, Pepe," Alison called and the dog abandoned Emily.

The brunette pouted but it turned into a smile as she watched Alison rub Pepe's head affectionately as he poked her with his nose.

Kira grabbed the remote off the coffee table and turned on the stereo system. "Ali, is your IPod hooked into this right now?

Alison looked over. "It should be. But you'll have to get it out of the docking station in our bedroom."

Kira took off down the hall in the direction of the bedrooms.

Alison walked back over to the door and Pepe followed.

"Do you want me to come with you, at least?" Ezra asked. "It's kind of late. Are you sure you should go alone at this time of night?"

"He'll protect me if I need it," Alison replied as she hooked Pepe's leash to his collar.

"Ali, where are you going?" Hanna called after her as she opened the door.

"Taking the dog to go to the bathroom. I'll be right back."

"Em and I just decided we're gonna all change into our pajamas and play drinking games. I call truth or dare."

"Oh hell, no," Alison said under her breath. She needed to be drunk to even contemplate playing truth or dare with her friends. Then again she should probably keep her wits about her in that situation.

"I'll come with you," Emily said to Alison as she sashayed over, but the blonde just shook her head.

"I've got him, baby," Alison said as she smiled. "You just relax."

Emily grabbed Alison's face and pressed her lips to her girlfriend's, surprising both the blonde and all their friends.

"Whoo hooo, you go Em," Hanna and Aria's voices rang out as Kira, who had returned to the room with Alison's IPod, interjected drolly.

"Oh, they do that all the damn time."

Alison laughed as she pulled her lips away, grasping Emily's hands in her own as she pulled them away from her face.

"What was that for?" Alison asked as her eyes twinkled happily. She loved when Emily went all cave woman on her.

Emily smiled and pointed above their heads to the mistletoe that hung from the ceiling.

"Hold that thought, beautiful. You just stay put and I won't be long."

Emily pouted and Alison wanted to jump on her, but instead she just looked over at Ezra.

"You wanna help me here?"

Ezra just looked at her like a deer in the headlights.

Emily fingered the belt Alison was wearing around her hips, trying to slip her fingers beneath it, and Alison had to bat her hands away.

"I want to go with you," Emily said softly as Pepe barked again, tired of waiting.

"See, Pepe wants me to go with you too. Don't you Pepe?" Emily cooed at the dog, who barked again.

"Pepe just needs to pee," Alison said patiently even as she sighed.

Ezra stepped forward and took the leash from Alison's hands.

"Just let me walk him. You need to do this," Ezra imitated Alison's earlier hand twirl, indicating the drunk girl wrangling.

Aria got up from where she'd plopped down on the sofa. "I'll come with you. I'm not as drunk as they are."

"Hey, I take offense to that," Spencer said as she poked her head around the kitchen wall. "Do you have vodka, Ali, I want to make Cosmos."

"In the cabinet beside the fridge," Alison replied as she fought off Emily's wandering hands as the brunette started bunching up Alison's skirt on the side, exposing her thigh. "Em, stop it," she scolded with little heat to her tone as she pushed her skirt back down. "The bags are in plastic handle of his leash in case you need to pick anything up. Hopefully he only needs to pee," she said to Ezra and Aria as they walked out the door.

"We do have a dog of our own, Ali. We know how to do this," Aria laughed as the door closed.

As soon as the door was closed, Alison huffed, "Emily Fields, behave yourself," but her scolding was half-hearted as she grabbed her girlfriend's hands.

The blender turned on in the kitchen. "Why is there a blender on?" Alison asked.

"You don't use a blender to make Cosmos," Kira said from her spot perched on the arm of the loveseat.

"Oh, hey, I don't think that's supposed to happen." Spencer's voice rang out from the kitchen again.

"Be careful in there, Spencer. They have sex on that counter," Kira called into the kitchen.

"Fuck me," Alison sighed as she moved around Emily and headed toward the kitchen.

It was going to be a long night.

###########################

Spencer, Aria and Kira had pushed as much of the living room furniture as they could out of the way, making a makeshift circle in the center with pillows.

Ezra had elected to go to bed instead of being part of what was sure to be a total train wreck of drunk girl drinking games.

By the time they settled on the floor, their buzz had lessened, but Spencer, with Alison's help, had made three pitchers of Cosmos to get them going again. Emily sat, leaning against the front of the loveseat as she sipped one. She'd changed into shorts and a tank top, her usual sleeping attire when she wore any at all.

The other girls had all changed into their pajamas too. Kira, who decided to also spend the night, had borrowed something of Emily's. She was perched on the sofa, resting her head on Pepe, while Hanna and Spencer were on the floor in front of it. Aria was lying on her stomach on the floor in front of the Christmas tree.

They were all waiting for Alison who had gone to change into her sleep clothes after she cleaned up the disaster that Spencer had made in the kitchen.

"Okay, so I think we should start with Truth or Dare," Hanna said as she poured herself another drink.

"I want to play, 'I Never'," Aria chimed in.

"I can't believe this is the first time we've all been together in over four years," Spencer said as she let her head fall on Hanna's shoulder. "I've missed you guys so much."

"I know," Aria said. "We can't let this much time go by again. Em, you and Ali need to move back to the east coast. At least you'll be closer and we'll have a better chance to all get together."

"No," Alison replied before Emily could, as she walked into the room. "This is our home now. You need to all move out here."

Emily smiled as Alison came over and sat down on the floor beside her, tucking her feet beneath her as she leaned against her girl.

"What the hell does your shirt say?" Hanna choked on her drink.

Alison smirked as she looked down at her shirt. "Lesbian and proud of it," Alison replied even though everyone could clearly read the pink writing across her breasts.

"Wait a minute?" Spencer interjected. "I thought you had this whole thing about not labeling yourself?"

"It's my shirt," Emily answered as she linked her fingers with Alison. "Ali bought it for me as a joke for my birthday."

"It wasn't a joke," Alison replied. "Why don't you tell them the story,' Alison added as she grabbed a glass and poured herself a drink.

She suspected she was going to need it to get through the rest of the night.

"What happened?" Aria asked, intrigued, and Kira chuckled from her spot on the sofa. "Do you know?" Aria asked and Kira nodded her head.

"So what was it?" Hanna asked.

"There's this guy on the route I jog every morning. He has a house a couple streets over and he's usually out watering his flowers at the time Pepe and I run."

Alison scoffed and rolled her eyes. "Who the hell waters their flowers at six in the morning?"

Emily shot her a look before she continued. "Anyway, one morning I had slowed down to a walk because I had a cramp in my thigh. He said hi to me, so I did the polite thing and said hello back."

Alison rolled her eyes even more dramatically even as she snuggled a little closer to Emily. Emily lifted her arm and put it over Alison's shoulder and her fingertips slipped up the back of the blonde's head and massaged her scalp softly.

Alison hummed softly as Emily continued. "Well he asked me if I wanted to have dinner with him. I told him no thanks and that was it."

"Exactly," Alison said as she huffed. "All she said was 'no thanks I'm not interested,' not 'I have a girlfriend.' Basically leaving it open for him to ask her again."

"That's not true, Ali."

Alison glared at Emily teasingly. "Did he or did he not ask you out again not two weeks later?"

"Yes," Emily reluctantly admitted. "And I declined again."

"Once again, not telling him you had a girlfriend or even that you weren't into guys at all," Alison argued, but it was without heat. "So I got her the shirt so she wouldn't have to tell him no again."

"Did it work?"

Alison smirked and she pinched Emily's side gently. "It wasn't a pretty argument but I finally convinced her to wear the shirt on her next run and sure enough, predator man, as I call him, was in his yard. Of course, I decided to run with her that day."

"Oh, shit," Spencer said, clearly knowing what was coming.

"Yeah, he got the hint when Alison unzipped my sweatshirt, shoved me at him and told him to read my tits," Emily said and all the girls burst out laughing.

"And he hasn't bothered you since, has he, baby?" Alison asked as she kissed Emily's cheek.

"Not once," Emily said as she brought Alison's palm to her lips and kissed it softly.

"But she refused to wear it again," Alison bemoaned. "So I wear it to bed. I'm not going to let my brilliant shirt go to waste."

"Okay, let's get to the drinking games," Hanna said eagerly. "We're gonna play truth or dare first, then 'I never' because Aria insists. But everyone can have one opportunity to ask someone to elaborate on their answer and you have to do it. You can only do it once though, but you can ask more than one follow up question if needed to get the full answer. Agreed?"

"Hanna, where did you get these rules?" Alison asked.

"I made them up," Hanna grinned proudly.

"Of course you did," Spencer replied as she rolled her eyes.

Alison grumbled but everyone else agreed so she was outvoted. She poured herself another drink.

"Yay," Hanna clapped her hand excitedly. "I'll start. Ali, truth or dare?"

Alison blinked. "Why are you starting with me?"

"Because you're the hostess. You should be put in the hot seat first."

"Em is the hostess too," Alison scowled. She hadn't had enough to drink for this yet.

"My game, so I get to start. And I want to start with you," Hanna insisted. "So truth or dare?"

"Truth," Alison replied slowly after taking a big gulp of her drink. Emily squeezed her hand gently and Ali let the warmth of her touch seep into her. Her mermaid knew this game would be hard for her and Ali squeezed her hand back in silent gratitude.

"Wow, I figured you would have picked dare," Spencer said with surprise lacing her voice.

"I don't do dares. Besides you should all probably be celebrating because I'm willing to tell the truth."

"Yeah, dares and Alison don't mix," Kira barked out a laugh. "The last time Ali took a dare, Emily had to bail us both out of jail."

Alison threw a pillow at her. "Shut up, bitch."

"Whoa, wait a minute," Spencer choked on her drink. "What do you mean bail you out of jail?"

"Never mind" Alison replied a little shortly. "Now just ask your question Hanna."

Hanna grinned. "Okay, so tell us Ali, what did you and Kira get arrested for?"

"Hanna," Emily warned but Alison interrupted her.

"That question is off limits now because Kira skewed the game. Try again."

"No, she didn't. And nothing is off limits in truth or dare," Hanna insisted.

"This is," Alison said firmly.

"Ask another question, Hanna," Emily said, her tone broaching no room for argument. She was going to kick Kira's ass later.

"Damn, okay," Hanna conceded before she asked. "In the honor of your fabulous shirt, are you a lesbian or not?"

"I'm wearing the shirt aren't I?" Alison said nonchalantly.

"That doesn't answer my question, so let me rephrase it."

"Hey, is that fair?" Kira asked as she lifted her head off Pepe's back.

"Shut it, jailbird," Hanna said.

"So my rephrased question is... if Emily never existed-"

"What do you mean if she never existed?" Alison interrupted as she shot Hanna an odd look.

"I mean if she never existed, like George Bailey in 'It's a Wonderful Life, would you still-"

"Wait, Hanna, what does Emily existing or not have to do with Alison being a lesbian?" Aria jumped in and Hanna growled as she banged her head back on the sofa, hitting Kira's knee."

"Ow," Kira said as she rubbed her knee. 'Your head is freaking hard."

Alison shot a quick look at Emily out of the corner of her eye; this conversation was starting to become very reminiscent of one, years ago. But Emily just winked at her, letting her know not to worry and Alison sighed silently.

"You guys are missing the point of my question," Hanna huffed.

"Then why don't you make it already," Spencer replied.

"Well if you'll all shut the hell up, I will. Okay, Emily exists but let's say she gets hit by a bus tomorrow-"

"Hold on," Emily sputtered as she choked on her drink. Alison reached around and rapped her on the back. "Now you've got me getting hit by a bus?"

"Hanna, will you get to the point already," Aria scolded.

"Jeez, I'm trying to. Ali, yes or no, if you weren't with Emily, would you still be in to girls?"

"Hanna," Emily warned but Alison just shushed her with a hand on her thigh.

"It took all that to ask that question?" Spencer asked incredulously.

"Wow," Kira murmured. "And I thought I was the only one who asked you obnoxious questions."

"I have a headache now," Aria said as she pressed her forehead to the pillow in front of her.

Alison looked at Hanna for a long time. She knew Hanna had been dying to ask her this for years, but never had the guts. She knew all of them probably wanted to know, but it wasn't any of their business."

"Maybe," Alison replied and left it at that.

Hanna's mouth opened. "You can't answer like that. You have to answer yes or no."

"This game isn't 'yes or no,' Hanna." Alison rolled her eyes. "It's truth or dare. And the answer I gave you is the truth. Now it's my turn, right?"

"Wait, I want you to elaborate on that," Hanna said quickly, before Ali could ask anyone a question.

Alison's eyes narrowed. She knew that stupid rule was going to bite her in the ass.

"Really, Han? You want to waste your extra questions on that? This early in the game?" Emily, jumping in to defend Alison, challenged her.

Hanna thought for a minute. "Damn," Hanna slammed her fist on the floor. "Fine."

Alison smirked now. "So is it my turn?"

She looked around the room. "Okay, Aria." Aria lifted her head off the floor. "Did you know Ezra was going to propose before he did it?"

"That was a tame question," Spencer said.

"Do all the questions have to be obnoxious? I guess I didn't hear that rule among the ten others Hanna made," Ali retorted. "Anyway, Aria?"

Aria smiled softly. "I suspected because he was acting all weird. Well weirder than usual. But I didn't know for sure until he did it. And I had no idea he was going to do it in the middle of Rockefeller Center."

"Awww," Emily and Hanna teased.

"Okay, my turn," Aria said as she looked around the room. "Kira," she said as she sat up. Kira lifted her head from Pepe's body again. "Have you ever walked in on Alison and Emily having sex?"

"Really, Aria?" Emily looked at her friend like she'd deliberately run over Pepe.

"More times than I count," Kira laughed out loud. "I'll even elaborate without being asked. The last time was yesterday morning."

"We weren't having sex," Alison scoffed. "We didn't get that far because you freaking showed up."

"Ewww, did you at least wipe the counter down?" Spencer asked.

"We didn't have sex on the counter yesterday," Alison replied but stopped short of saying they never had.

Kira sat up now and rubbed her hands together. "Okay, who should I ask?" she asked herself. She grinned over at Emily, who shot her a "don't you freaking dare" look.

"Hanna," she finally said. "Why are you so obsessed with Alison's sexuality? Do you girl crush on her like I do?"

"Kira, I'm going to freaking murder you in your sleep," Alison growled as she leaned over Emily and smacked Kira on the foot because that was the only part of her she could reach.

Emily hooked her arm around Alison's waist and shifted them so the blonde was sitting in front of her, cradled between her thighs. Alison sighed softly and leaned back against her girl, tilting her head back and kissing the side of Emily's jaw.

Hanna just shrugged, but pointed at Emily and Alison. "That's why."

Emily and Alison turned their heads with looks of confusion on their faces, while all the other girls looked at them. "What are you blathering on about Hanna?" Alison asked.

Hanna shrugged. "I just watch you two and I'm in awe of what I see. Even after all this time, and after everything, the two of you are so in love with each other and can't stop touching each other. I just wonder-"

"Wonder what Han?" Emily asked as her fingers caressed Alison's stomach.

"If it's a girl thing," Alison answered for her knowingly. Hanna's eyes whipped up and met Alison's and a silent understanding passed between them; an understanding that was a long time coming.

"I totally think it's a girl thing," Kira said. "I've never seen the kind of tenderness they show each other or the kind of yearning they have for each other between any of my heterosexual friends."

The room was quiet. "Then again, they could just be nymphos," Kira added sarcastically and she winked at Emily, who smiled. She kissed Alison's temple softly, which only made her smile wider as she realized she did it, unconsciously.

"Your turn Hanna." Kira shifted as she leaned forward on the other end of the sofa, sliding her feet underneath Pepe now.

"Okay, Ali," Hanna started.

"Hey, why me again?"

"Because I can. Hmmm, let me see. Okay, I got it. Would you ever get a tattoo?"

Alison bit her lip as she looked over her shoulder at Emily, who chuckled softly into her glass as she took another sip.

"Yes," Alison smirked softly as she replied.

"Okay, why does that answer seem like you already have one?" Spencer asked suspiciously.

Alison shrugged. "Is it my turn?"

"No, wait, I want to use this one as my elaboration questions."

"Are you sure?" Alison asked.

"Yes," Hanna replied. "Do you already have one?"

"Yes," Alison answered.

Kira buried her face in the sofa cushion and her body shook with laughter.

"I'm really going to murder her," Alison murmured softly so only Emily could hear her.

"What and where is it?" Hanna asked now.

"That's none of your business."

"No way, you have to answer. Those are the rules."

Alison looked at Emily again, her eyes asking her question silently. Emily smiled. "It's your tattoo, Ali. It's up to you."

Alison looked back at Hanna and narrowed her eyes. She was going to get the blonde back for this.

Alison rose to her knees and turned around to face Emily, looking down into her girl's eyes. She lifted her shirt in the back. At the same time, Emily reached around her and pushed her sleep shorts down slightly so that the top half of the blonde's ass was exposed.

There at the very base of Alison's spine, just below her panty line, but above her ass, was Emily's name, written in fancy script, in the center of a heart.

"Whoa," Aria breathed as she scooted to her knees and moved closer to Alison, so she could see better. Spencer and Hanna did the same.

"You had Emily's name tattooed on your ass?"

Alison looked over her shoulder and smirked. "I wanted to put 'Emily's Bitch' but Kira wouldn't let me." Alison joked. "I was a little drunk at the time so I guess it was good she was there with me. Who knows what I would have come home with?"

"When did you do that?" Spencer asked.

"My twenty first birthday. It was my present to myself." Alison replied as she caressed Emily's face softly. "And to, Em."

"And it's not her ass," Emily insisted as Alison turned back around, still on her knees. "Technically it's her lower back."

Emily gently brushed her fingers over her name before Alison's pulled her shirt back down. Alison shivered softly in response and she reached for Emily's hand, linking their fingers and pulling the brunette's arms around her again.

"It was low enough to be her ass," Spencer replied laughing. "Hey, do you have one too, Em?"

Emily's face flushed and the girls all laughed at her obvious reaction.

"You can't ask her that. Besides it's not your turn. It's mine," Alison insisted, trying to protect her girl's virtue.

"Oh, come on, show us, Em," Hanna begged.

"Spencer, truth or dare?" Alison said trying to change the subject.

"Dare," Spencer replied.

"I dare you to kiss Aria, full on the mouth, and you have to use tongue."

Kira laughed. "Leave it to Ali to get girls kissing each other.

"Good thing Fitz is asleep," Hanna laughed.

Spencer got to her knees. She took Aria's face in her hands and kissed the brunette, her tongue sweeping into her mouth as Aria instinctively opened for her. After a minute passed and they were still kissing, and Alison smirked at Emily as Hanna interjected.

"Hello over there? You're not Emily and Ali, break it up will ya?"

"Awww, come on, Hanna," Kira laughed as she pushed on Hanna's shoulder playfully. "Isn't it totally hot watching chicks make out?"

Spencer pulled her lips away and Aria blinked a few times as she opened her eyes.

"Damn, Spence," she laughed. "No wonder you have Toby so whipped."

Spencer smirked. "I've been totally dying to do that for years," she joked.

"I know," Ali said cryptically. "That's why I did it."

"Shut it Ali," Spencer warned but Ali didn't look the least bit apologetic. "Okay, Emily truth or dare?" Spencer asked.

"Dare,' Emily said smirking, knowing Spencer wanted her to pick truth so they could ask about her tattoo.

"Crap," Spencer said and she thought for a moment, then her lips curved into a dangerous smile. "I dare you to show us your tattoo."

Emily's mouth dropped open and the girls all howled with laughter. Everyone but Alison, who scowled at Spencer.

"She didn't say she had a tattoo," Alison snapped.

"She didn't say she didn't either," Spencer snapped right back. "If she doesn't then no problem. But if she does, she has to show it."

"No, she doesn't," Alison insisted.

"Those are the rules, Ali," Hanna said.

"Fuck the rules," Alison said firmly.

"I can't," Emily said honestly as her fingers caressed Alison's to try to calm her.

"Why not?" Hanna demanded.

"Because her tattoo is in a place only I see, Hanna," Alison snapped again. "Let it go."

"Well, tell us what it is at least," Spencer said. "Is it Ali's name like she has yours?" Aria asked.

"Yes," Emily replied honestly, not at all ashamed even though she wouldn't show it to them.

"I love that the two of you did that," Aria said honestly.

"I know," Spencer agreed. "It's so freaking hot."

"Okay, I'm tired of truth or dare. Let's play 'I Never' now," Aria said.

"We need more Cosmos for this," Spencer said as she moved to stand.

Alison pulled out of Emily's arms quickly.

"Oh, no you don't, Spence. I'll make them. I don't want to have to clean cranberry juice off my ceiling again."

"Hey, that wasn't my fault."

"Sure it wasn't," Ali replied as she grabbed the empty pitchers and walked into the kitchen.

Ten minutes later she returned with three more pitchers of Cosmos.

"Next time I think we should make Mojitos," Alison said as she set them on the coffee table.

She settled back into Emily's arms, wiggling slightly to get comfortable.

"Okay, Aria, this is your game. You start," Emily said as she gripped Alison's hips to hold her still.

"Okay, I've never been in jail." Aria grinned as she looked back and forth between Alison and Kira.

"Yes, you have," Alison insisted. "All of you have."

"No we haven't," Spencer replied in her usual no nonsense tone. "We were questioned but never actually arrested so we weren't in jail."

"Drink up, baby," Emily whispered not so softly to Alison as she laughed.

Alison glared at Kira for spilling the beans and the two of them were the only ones to drink.

They went around the circle a couple of times, each girl trying to be more outrageous than the last.

"I've never been pregnant," Spencer said when it was her turn.

Emily felt Alison stiffen in her arms and then Alison and Aria both drank as silence fell over the room.

"Awkward," Kira said under her breath, but her drunken whisper was almost as loud as her normal voice.

"I've never had sex with a girl," Hanna said next.

Emily and Alison both gulped their drinks dramatically while the other girls laughed.

Kira also drank, although she tried to be discreet, but of course Hanna saw her.

"Hold on, Kira, did you just drink?"

Emily looked over at her roommate surprised.

Kira shrugged and shot a look at Alison, who tried to keep her face neutral. "I was curious what it was like."

"When?" Emily asked her. "And why didn't I know this?"

Kira's eyes slid to Alison again and they were both just drunk enough to let a look pass between them

Emily looked back and forth between her girlfriend and her former roommate.

"Is there something the two of you want to tell me?" Emily asked and the silence in the room was deafening.

Three sets of eyes watched with rapt attention as Emily shifted so she could see Alison's face better.

Alison's eyes met Emily's and Emily knew instantly what happened.

"You took her to Girl Bar, didn't you?" Emily asked as she laughed and Alison smirked.

"When?" Emily asked.

Alison looked at Kira again and she just waved her hand. "You tell the story, Ali. I'm too tired."

"Remember that weekend you were studying for the MCATS?" Emily nodded. "We went out drinking so I'd stay out of your hair."

"More like out of her pants," Kira snickered but neither Alison nor Emily denied it.

"We'd been at Mickie's and after three Grande margaritas, this one," Alison motioned to Kira. "Starts going on and on about how she wants to know what it's like to have sex with a girl. At first I thought she was dropping hints that she wanted me to sate her curiosity."

"Bitch, please," Kira scoffed as she sat up.

Alison smirked. "So I took her to Girl Bar and let her loose on the lesbians. Girlfriend got a lot of attention."

All the girls laughed as Kira mocked bowing in her seat.

"I figured she went home with someone because I drove home alone after she told me to get lost."

"Why didn't you tell me?" Emily asked a little hurt that Alison hadn't told her about it.

"It wasn't my story to tell," Alison said honestly, her eyes imploring her mermaid to understand. "I wasn't even completely sure it happened. Kira never brought it up again so I didn't either. But now I know girlfriend, here, is a little bit of a tramp. I'm so proud of you, Kira. You're all grown up now."

"So, did you like it?" Hanna asked curiously.

"It wasn't bad," she admitted. "Not my thing though." She wiggled her eyebrows lewdly. "Although I totally get it now."

"So I have a question, totally off topic." Hanna said out of nowhere. "Well, not really off topic, I guess."

"Are we done playing the game?" Spencer asked and everyone nodded.

"Yeah, I'm getting tired," Aria admitted.

"Me, too," Emily said as she yawned.

"So, my question," Hanna reminded everyone.

"What is it Hanna?" Emily laughed as she brushed Alison's hair aside and rested her chin on Alison's shoulder.

"So, tell us, because we've always wanted to know, all of us," she added insistently. "Even though none of them will admit it."

"I don't like where this is going," Alison said with a frown.

"Which one of you is the top?"

"You did not just really ask us that?" Emily shook her head.

"Oh, hell yes I did,' Hanna smirked. "I totally see you on the top, Em, but with Ali's controlling personality I can kinda see her taking the lead."

"Why do we have to be one or the other?" Alison asked casually. "Didn't you and Caleb ever mix it up when you were together? I can totally see you on top Hanna."

Hanna scowled at the mention of her ex, but it shut her up.

"Do they really have sex on the counters?" Spencer asked Kira curiously, out of the blue.

Kira guffawed. "Oh hell yeah."

"Kira, stop making shit up," Alison growled. "We eat on those counters."

"Exactly," Kira grinned and Aria and Hanna chuckled while Spencer eyed the kitchen entry with some trepidation.

"Okay, that's it," Alison pushed to her feet. "I'm done. Are you coming to bed, sleeping beauty?" she asked as she held her hand out to Emily.

Emily nodded her head and grasped Alison's hand as she stood.

"You need anything?" Alison asked Kira as she pointed at her on the sofa, where Kira was still laying on her stomach with Pepe resting on her feet.

Kira shook her head against the cushion she was laying on. "Nope."

"Let me help you make up the sofa," Emily offered.

"Nope," Kira replied. "I'm fine just the way I am. I'm not moving a freaking muscle until morning."

"Come on, Pepe," Alison called the dog and he just lifted his head and looked at her for a minute, before laying his head back down on Kira's ankles.

Alison quirked an eyebrow at him and Emily laughed.

"Leave him," Kira murmured. 'He's keeping my feet warm."

"You three all good?" Alison asked as she gripped Emily's hips and guided her toward the hallway.

"Yeah," they all nodded.

"Good. Night," she said as she led Emily down the hallway.

################

Alison and Emily stepped into the dimly lit room and Alison closed and locked the door behind her. Emily turned around and smiled sleepily at her and Alison debated for a second to just let Emily get some sleep. But the heat she saw in those sleepy dark orbs changed her mind.

Emily tugged Alison into her arms and buried her face in the blonde's neck, brushing her lips softly over Alison's soft skin.

Alison slid her hands up under the front of Emily's tank top, nibbling gently on Emily's' jaw.

"So, tell me, baby," she purred as her thumbs brushed over Emily's nipples, making her mermaid tremble softly. "Who do you want to be tonight?"

Emily lifted her head and looked at Alison curiously.

"Top or bottom?" Alison grinned playfully and Emily laughed.

Her laughter didn't last long though because Alison gave her a couple little shoves until she fell back to sit on the edge of their bed.

Alison stepped closer and slid her hands into Emily's hair, tilting her face up. She leaned down and rubbed her nose against Emily's softly before kissing her again. "I think I'll be the top tonight," Alison murmured against her lips.

Emily pulled away, smiling, and gripped Alison's hips. Alison looked at her with confusion but allowed herself t rotate when Emily urged her to turn around and face away from her.

Emily lifted Alison's shirt and the blonde took the hint, grasping the hem and lifting it up and over her head. Emily slid her hands underneath the waist of Alison's sleep pants and pushed them down her hips, exposing her tattoo. Alison shimmied her pants the rest of the way down and kicked them off, now standing completely naked in front of her girl.

Emily reached for Alison's hips again and pulled her back, closer, and Alison shivered softly as she felt Emily's fingers brush over her tattoo, tracing the letters of her name.

"I love that you have my name permanently on your body," she murmured breathlessly.

"You're permanently in my heart," Alison murmured back and then her breath hitched as she felt Emily brush her lips against the tattoo.

"Em," Alison moaned softly.

Emily's fingers pressed into Alison's hips, holding her in place when the blonde tried to turn around.

"Mine," Emily whispered against Alison's skin and Ali thought she would come right then and there at her girl's possessive tone.

"Em, let me turn around," she pleaded as she squeezed Emily's fingers gently. Emily loosened them and Alison turned.

She tugged on Emily's tank top, urging the brunette to lift her arms, and then she slowly slid the shirt up and over Emily's head.

She tangled her fingers into Emily's hair and tilted her head back as she leaned down and captured Emily's lips in a soft kiss.

She urged Emily to lay back and she bent over her, resting her knee on the mattress between Emily's thighs. Emily cupped Alison's breasts in her hands and circled her nipples with her thumbs.

Alison tore her lips away and moaned long and low, burying her face in Emily's neck, kissing a path down the column of her throat.

Emily lifted her hands and slid them into Alison's blonde locks, wrapping them around her fingers. Alison's mouth drifted lower and Emily lifted her head and looked down, holding Alison's hair up, as she watched Alison press open mouthed kisses on Emily's breasts. It took all her strength to keep her eyes open when Alison wrapped her lips around her nipple.

Emily arched her back, holding Alison's head to her breasts, her moans turning to whimpers as Alison's suckled her. Alison tugged on Emily's shorts and pushed them down her over her hips before her fingers slid down her stomach. Her fingers caressed the familiar spot just beside Emily's mound and then Alison slid them lower. Her fingertips pressed against Emily's clit, tickling the little bud, and the brunette whimpered louder.

But as much as she was enjoying what Alison was doing to her, Emily couldn't get something from earlier out of her mind. She gathered all of Alison's hair in one hand and caressed her cheek with the other, while closing her thighs around Alison's hand.

"Ali," she said with a strangled moan as Alison bit down gently on the tip of her nipple. "Wait,' she pleaded softly and reached down to grasp Alison's wrist, tugging the blonde's hand from between her thighs.

Alison lifted her head and her eyes were dark with lust and confusion. "Em, what's wrong?"

Emily took a deep breath and pushed up on her hands. Alison leaned back and looked at her curiously.

"I need to ask you something."

"Now?"

Emily nodded and sat up. Alison slipped her knee off the bed as she sat down beside Emily.

"What's the matter?" she asked as she took Emily's hand in hers.

"Nothing's wrong," Emily assured her. "It's just…. can I ask you something?"

"You know you can ask me anything."

"It was something Cece said to me years ago."

"Cece never learned to keep her mouth shut. What did she say?"

"She said you thought you were pregnant that Labor Day weekend before you went missing." Alison sighed softly as Emily continued. "It was just earlier when we were playing "I never' you drank and I know I never asked you this before…"

"Em, just spit it out. You can ask me anything and I'll always tell you the truth now."

"Were you pregnant?"

Alison nodded. "Yes."

"Was it Wilden's?" Emily asked although she was pretty sure of the answer.

"Yes."

"What happened to the baby?"

"I had an abortion," Alison said matter-of-factly.

Emily blinked in shock and Alison's lips curved down sadly.

"Em, I was fifteen, alone and living on the streets, running from someone who had just tried to kill me. That was no place for a baby. Besides can you imagine me as a mother? With the kind of mother I had? And my issues? My DNA should not be passed down."

"You don't want to have kids?" Emily asked cautiously.

"I didn't say that," Alison smiled softly as she brushed her thumb gently over the back of Emily's hand. "I just don't think passing my DNA on to an unsuspecting child is a fair thing to do."

"So you do want children, of some sort, someday, right?"

"Yes." Alison smiled and Emily's relief was palpable. "You're going to make the most amazing mother someday."

Silence settled over them, and then Alison continued a little more softly than before.

"I guess when we have kids you'll have to carry them."

Emily's eyes widened slightly and Alison could have sworn she saw hope flash in the dark depths.

"We'll just have to get a light skinned, blonde, blue eyed donor so I'm not the only one in the family who gets sunburned when they go to the beach," she added as she fluttered her fingers over Emily's face. She leaned forward and brushed her lips gently against Emily's. "Am I freaking you out yet? Are you ready to run?" Alison asked hesitantly as she pulled back, dropping her hands to her lap, her blue eyes vulnerable.

"No," Emily breathed honestly, pressing her forehead against Alison's. She pulled Alison's hands back to her face and she mimicked the pose by taking Alison's face in her hands. "Not even close," she murmured as she pressed her lips to Alison's again, fusing their mouth's together.

Alison lunged at Emily then, and Emily caught her girlfriend in her arms, as they almost tumbled off the bed from the force of Ali's momentum; but Emily managed to catch them and rolled them back toward the center of the mattress. She gripped Alison's hair with her fingers and yanked her head back as she deepened the kiss, moaning as she felt Alison's thigh slip between her own and press intimately against her.

Emily started kissing down Alison's neck, sucking softly and swirling her tongue over Ali's pulse point.

"Em," Alison moaned long and low, sending waves of desire straight down between Emily's thighs.

Alison arched her back and bucked her hips, causing her to press harder against Emily. She could feel Emily's heat against her thigh, only the thin fabric of her sleep pants and panties separating their flesh. Alison slipped her hand between them and her fingers slid past the elastic and into Emily, finding her hot and wet and tight.

Emily's hand gripped the outside of Alison's thigh as she started rocking her hips against Alison's hand.

"God, you're so wet, Em," Alison moaned and Emily lifted her head and looked down into Alison's eyes. The normally bright blue depths were dark and filled with more lust than Emily had ever seen from the blonde.

"Kiss me," Alison begged and Emily complied immediately, sinking into Alison's lips.

Emily slid her hand down Alison's stomach and buried her fingers inside the blonde before moaning into her mouth.

Alison whimpered against her lips, panting into her mouth as their bodies rocked against each other while their fingers explored and caressed.

Alison tore her lips away and Emily groaned in protest. She pushed Emily onto her back, sat back and tugged her fingers out of her girl before backing down the bed, tugging Emily's shorts and panties down her legs.

Emily lifted up on her elbows and looked down at Alison, her eyes hooded, as her thighs fell open.

Alison moved back off the bed and tugged on Emily's calf, pulling her to the edge of the mattress. Alison dropped to her knees and grinned up at Emily from the floor. "You have to be quiet, baby, or everyone will hear us."

Emily licked her lips, missing the taste of Alison's, but she felt her entire body shudder in anticipation as she watched Alison lower her head.

Alison brushed her lips over Emily's stomach making her muscles clench. Her fingers fluttered over the inside of Emily's thighs as she pressed soft kisses against the brunette's skin. He lips glided lower and she nuzzled Emily gently before her tongue slipped between her lips and swirled over the skin just to the right of Emily's mound.

"Mine," Alison repeated Emily's words as she ran her tongue over the tattoo of her name that adorned Emily's tan skin.

The tattoo was smaller than Alison's but it was identical, Alison's name in fancy script inside a heart.

Emily gasped as she felt Alison's tongue swirling over her skin. She lifted her head again and looked down.

"You know," Emily said with a strangled moan. "Technically, that can probably be seen by anyone if I was in bathing suit."

Alison smiled against her skin. "Only if it was a really skimpy one."

Alison's fingertips brushed against Emily's clit and Emily choked out a moan.

"Ali, please," she begged and Alison took pity on her and moved her mouth lower, hiking Emily's thighs over her shoulders.

The first feel of Alison's tongue on her clit had Emily's eyes rolling back in her head. She dropped onto her back, arching it as she tilted her hips. She reached down and wound the long strands of Alison's hair around her fingers as she pulled her closer.

Alison moaned into Emily's wet flesh, the scent, and the sweet and slightly salty taste of her mermaid's arousal filling her senses. She plunged and licked and swirled and nibbled and flicked her tongue until Emily was crying out above her.

She pulled her mouth away and crawled up over Emily, pressing her wet lips to Emily's to silence her.

"Shhhh," she chuckled as she pulled back. "I'll have to stop if you can't keep quiet."

Emily licked Alison's lips, panting as Alison slipped first one, then a second finger inside her. Emily's hips bucked in response

Alison kissed her way down Emily's body again, settling on her knees again on the rug. She pressed open mouthed kisses on Emily's thighs before slipping her tongue inside Emily again. She held Emily's hips down as she devoured her girl. Emily tightened her thighs around Alison's head as she lifted her hips off the bed. Her fingers plunged into Alison's hair and she held the blonde's face against her as she came in long slow waves of ecstasy.

Alison continued to lick her, teasing and plunging her tongue deep as Emily rode out her orgasm on Alison's tongue, choking Alison's name almost incoherently.

Finally, Alison gripped Emily's thighs and pried them away from her head and she gasped for air. Emily sagged on the mattress, panting and whimpering.

Alison kissed her thighs softly before she slowly kissed her way up Emily's body again, stopping briefly to lavish gentle attention on her tattoo again.

As she climbed over Emily, Alison gripped her hips and urged her higher onto the bed. She crawled up her girl's body, smiling and her eyes shining smugly.

"God, I love driving you so wild you nearly suffocate me," she murmured against Emily's lips as she reached them.

Emily pushed on her shoulders, sitting up and flipping them over so Alison was now on the mattress. She swallowed Alison's delighted gasp of surprise even as it morphed into a moan. Emily pressed her body down on Alison's, settling between her thighs, as she grasped Alison's hands and pinned them above her head.

Alison arched her back, pressing her breasts against Emily's as she wrapped her legs around Emily's hips. Emily moaned at the feel of Alison's heat against her and she transferred both of Alison's wrists to one hand, keeping them pinned against the mattress, while her other hand slid down between them.

All the way down her body until her fingers disappeared inside Alison.

It was Emily's turn to shush her girlfriend as the blonde's body bucked and writhed in pleasure as Emily's fingers brought her to orgasm twice before she let up, all the while swallowing Alison's cries of pleasure.

When they finally collapsed and Emily pulled the covers around them, neither one knew how long it had been or if anyone had heard them.

Neither of them cared.

#####################

Alison stood in the kitchen mixing another pitcher of Mojitos when Ezra walked into the room.

"Is there any more beer?" he asked as he tossed his empty bottle into the recycling bin.

Alison looked up. "In the fridge," she said as she poured more vodka into the tall clear pitcher. "Help yourself," she waved in the direction of the refrigerator.

Christmas music wafted in from the living room and Alison smiled to herself as she hummed it under her breath.

"So I guess I never said congratulations," Ezra said as he popped the top of the beer and leaned against the counter. "That's quite a feat, getting your first book at number one of the best sellers list."

"Thanks," she said sincerely, before she added, because she couldn't help herself. "Does it make you a little bitter than I got my story about me on the best sellers list, rather than you?"

"No," Ezra answered shaking his head. "Alison, I wouldn't have touched your story again for anything. Not that my true crime story was anything like what you wrote."

She smirked. "I guess I didn't say congratulations to you either."

Ezra arched his brow as he took a sip of his beer.

"On your engagement. I said it to Aria when she told us but I didn't actually say it to you. It took you long enough," she said as an afterthought.

"It took Aria a while to finally completely forgive me for what I did."

"I'm glad she did, Ezra," Alison said honestly.

"Me too."

"I'm glad you both came for the holiday," Alison added. "We haven't seen Aria in almost two years and it made Em really happy. She's missed Aria a lot."

"What about you, Alison?" he asked curiously. "Does it make you happy?"

"Making Emily happy makes me happy," she replied honestly.

He just looked at her expectantly and she narrowed her eyes. "And, yes, I missed Aria, too," she admitted.

He shook his head. "It's always so hard for you to admit what you're really feeling, isn't it?"

"Ezra, don't try to analyze me. We both know I'm far too twisted for your brain to try to figure out."

"I'll leave that to Emily."

"Leave what to Emily?" the brunette in question asked as she walked into the kitchen.

"Figuring me out," Alison said honestly and Ezra quirked an eyebrow like he was surprised she told the truth.

"You're not so tough to figure out, Ali," Emily said as she stepped closer and put her hand on Alison's hip.

Alison smiled softly and nudged Emily with her hip, glad to have her girl's attention for a few minutes. The party turned out to be more of a success than either of them anticipated, but Emily was having a blast introducing their old friend's to their new ones. As a result, Alison and her mermaid had barely seen each other all night.

"Don't you have a fiancé you should go be with?" Alison said casually to Ezra, but her meaning was clear. Leave me with my girl.

He got the hint immediately and chuckled as he excused himself and walked back into the living room.

"That was kind of rude, Ali," Emily scolded gently, although she was glad to have Ezra gone too.

Alison shrugged. "He'll get over it." Her eyes softened as she looked over at Emily. "I've missed you tonight."

Emily pressed her lips to Alison's temple. "I've missed you too."

"Can you grab another bottle of vodka?"

Emily walked over and grabbed a bottle out of the cabinet. "Okay, I'll concede and say you're probably right," Emily said smiling as she walked back and handed the bottle to Alison.

Alison looked up. "I know I'm usually right, but what am I right about now?"

Emily smirked. "About Kira and Brian. They've been huddled in the corner by the tree for at least an hour."

Alison vibrated happily and smiled smugly at Emily. She reached out and grasped Emily's fingers. "Not to rub it in, but I told you."

Emily laughed. "I'm so glad gloating isn't in your nature."

Alison fluttered her eyes and Emily gave in to temptation and leaned forward to kiss Alison softly.

"Mmmmm," Alison hummed softly.

"Are you having fun, baby?" Alison asked once their lips parted. "Our first Christmas where we didn't have to go somewhere else or be apart because of our families."

"You are my family, Ali," Emily said honestly and Alison grabbed her hips and pushed her back against the counter. She pressed her body against her mermaid as she reached up and cupped Emily's face in her hands. Emily's arms came around her, clutching her closer.

"Do you have any idea how many times a day I fall in love with you all over again, especially when you say stuff like that to me?" Alison breathed against Emily's lips.

"Ali," Emily whispered breathlessly.

"Kiss me, again," Alison whispered and Emily did just that.

"There's not even any mistletoe around and they can't keep their lips off each other," Aria laughed as she walked into the kitchen with Hanna and Kira.

Emily and Alison both groaned as they pulled away from each other.

"I told you they have sex on that counter," Kira said laughing. "No one ever believes me."

Alison scowled at her friend. "Shut up, Kira, or I'll tell Brian about your trip to girl country."

Kira just shrugged as she grinned. "From what I can tell so far, he'd probably think it was hot."

"Why are you in here?" Alison asked.

"I needed a drink and Ezra refused to come back in here," Aria said as she ignored Alison's rude tone. "Now I know why."

Emily laughed as Alison smirked.

"Here," Alison handed Hanna two pitchers of Mojitos. "Do me a favor and take those to the dining room and put them on the hutch."

"This is what I'm talking about," she said as she headed out of the kitchen. "Come on Aria, let's drink."

Aria followed her chuckling.

Kira remained, leaning against the counter as Alison started cleaning up.

"So, you and Brian seem to be getting along," Emily said casually as she helped Alison.

"He's okay," she said noncommittally, but the grin on her face spoke volumes.

Alison looked over at Emily. "I give them two days."

"Two days for what?" Kira asked.

Alison quirked an eyebrow.

"I'm not going to jump into bed with him, Ali," Kira scoffed. "Some of us have self control, you know."

"Whatever, I still give you two days."

The distant sound of Pepe barking from the master bedroom drowned out the Christmas music.

"He needs to be taken for a walk," Emily said as she looked at the clock on the wall. "He's been in there too long."

"He better not pee on the rug," Alison said to herself. "Go back to the party, Em. I'll take him."

"No, I'll take him," Kira offered. "I need some fresh air."

"Maybe Brian will go with you," Emily said innocently.

"Don't you start with me, too. You're supposed to be on my side."

"She's always on my side," Alison said and Emily smiled softly because those words were truer than any others. Emily lifted Alison's hand to her lips and kissed her fingertips softly.

"Oh, for Christ's sakes. You two stay here and defile more flat surfaces while I go walk your dog."

She pushed off the counter and walked over to Emily and Alison. She put her arms around both of them and gave them both smacking kisses on the cheeks.

"What the hell was that for?" Alison asked horrified.

"Because I love you bitches."

Emily and Alison laughed as Kira released them and walked out of the room.

"I think she really likes him."

"Told ya," Alison gloated again but her eyes twinkled playfully.

"Come here," Emily said as she tugged on Alison's hand. She pulled her over to the stand beneath the mistletoe that hung in front of the door that led to the patio.

"Now, no one can complain that we're kissing," she said grinning with delight at her idea.

Alison pressed closer, always wanting to be closer to her girl and it was almost never close enough. She wrapped her arms around Emily's waist, clutching at her desperately, and this time Emily's hands came up to cradle Alison's face.

"Merry Christmas, my love," Emily said sincerely as she brushed her nose against Alison's gently.

"Merry Christmas, baby," Alison whispered as her head fell back and she surrendered to her mermaid as their lips met in a slow sweet kiss.