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 much prefer my unscathed version of these characters than PLL's ones these days so I'll just pretend they are mine :-)
Hi everyone.
Thanks so much, again, and as always, for all the kind words after the first epilogue. It was so nice to take these girls a little bit into the future.
I'm so glad you all enjoyed it.
If the stars and universe align, I'll have the third and final epilogue up some time on Labor Day (for those in the US) or just Monday for everyone else…. Fingers crossed.
Okay, so this one is almost as long as the last one - almost 13k words. Why the heck did I really think it was shorter...I should know better by now...lol
So... let's jump a little further in time… shall we?
Enjoy!
Epilogue 2
Three and a half years later…
"Oh my god, you're huge," Hanna said as she walked through the door, dropping her suitcases on the floor. Emily followed closely behind and just shook her head as she closed the door behind her.
Alison turned her head and gaped at her blonde friend, still astounded at some of the things that came out of Hanna's mouth after all these years.
"And people always say I'm the tactless one," Alison replied before turning back around. "Don't listen to her, Aria. You look beautiful."
"I didn't say she didn't look beautiful," Hanna said as she walked down into the sunken living room, hugging Spencer, who was standing beside the fish tank, built into the wall. "I just said she looks huge."
"Hanna!"
"Hanna!"
"Hanna!"
Three voices rang out simultaneously. Spencer and Emily's voices joining Alison's now.
"Its fine guys, she's right," Aria said easily from her spot on one of the three sofas in the middle of the large living room. "I am huge. I look like I swallowed a beach ball."
"You're pregnant," Spencer said.
"Hey, Mrs. F," Hanna greeted as she hugged Emily's mother, who stood from the chair she was sitting on, just shaking her head in exasperation, reminiscent of her daughter's habit.
"Hi, Hanna."
"And you're little, Aria" Alison chimed in as she accepted Hanna's hug as she made her way around the room. "You carry weight differently than someone taller, but that doesn't make you any less breathtaking."
Everyone, except Emily and Kira, looked at Alison with slight surprise.
"What?" Alison snapped as she scowled. "Alison DiLaurentis isn't capable of saying something nice to someone? Thanks a lot, guys."
"It just happens so rarely, Ali, it takes us all by surprise," Kira teased from her spot at the bar in the corner and Alison gave her friend her signature glare; the one that had never really affected Kira in the least. "Anyone else up for Margaritas?"
"Kira, it's eleven in the morning," Pam said.
"Perfect time for Margaritas, I say," Kira replied, grinning, as she switched the blender on.
"I'll have one," Spencer replied as she walked over and sat in front of the bar.
Emily walked up to Alison and reached for her hand.
"Hi, baby," Alison said softly as Emily kissed her hello. "How was the traffic?"
"The 405 was a parking lot, so I took Sepulveda. But the 10 was okay."
After Hanna hugged Aria and Kira, she stopped, twirled in a circle and looked around the house.
"Holy shit, this place is fucking fabulous. It's even bigger on the inside than it looks from the outside."
"Hanna, language," Pam scolded Hanna and everyone laughed.
"Sorry, Mrs. F, but this is amazing." Hanna walked over to the floor to ceiling windows that faced the water, at the back of the house. "Holy shit," Hanna said again and then cringed as she looked back at Pam, who was arching her brow at her. Hanna pointed over her shoulder out the window. "Is that really a pool on the other side of that deck? What do you need a pool for if you live right on the beach?"
"Em likes to do laps, and you can't really do them in the ocean," Alison replied as she sat on the sofa opposite Aria and tucked her feet beneath her. Emily sat down beside her and rested her hand on Alison's thigh. Alison linked their fingers and squeezed gently, letting her girl know silently that she'd missed her.
"Well, damn, Alison. I guess making up stories for a living has really paid off for you."
Alison narrowed her eyes at the slight dig, but she expected as much from Hanna. Even though they'd maintained a delicate truce over the years, Hanna still harbored some resentment at Alison. All of them did, but Alison didn't care. The only person she cared about was the person rubbing her thumb gently against the blonde's thigh, making her tingle all over.
"I do okay," Alison said casually and everyone laughed because that was an understatement. Alison's sixth book was about to be published and all previous five had hit number one on the Best Sellers' List.
And although the only people who knew this were Emily and Kira, Alison had recently been approached by a cable network to turn her book series into a television series. She hadn't decided yet if she wanted to do it, but they were offering her a boat load of money, and complete creative control over the show. She was seriously considering it, but she didn't know if she wanted to work in television. She liked the freedom of writing at her own pace and not being beholden to anyone else's time frame but her own.
Kira plopped down on the sofa on the other side of Alison and handed her a margarita.
"I didn't say I wanted a margarita." But she took it anyway.
"Bitch, you always want a margarita," Kira replied as she clinked her glass against Alison's.
"Don't be jealous, Hanna," Spencer said from the bar where she was sipping her own margarita. "It's unbecoming."
"Like you're not jealous, Spence," Hanna scoffed. "How many levels is this place?"
"Three," Emily replied, taking the lead because she could feel Alison stiffening next to her.
"Where's the kitchen?" the blonde asked looking around.
"Second floor," Kira jumped in. "That's the main living area. There are two bedrooms on that floor too, along with Ali's office. The master bedroom and other bedrooms are on the third floor."
"Damn, can I move in here with you guys?" Hanna said, only half joking.
Pepe came down the stairs. He was old enough now that he didn't greet every guest enthusiastically when they arrived. He was only nine years old, but he was starting to move a little slow and he walked over to Emily and put his head on her lap for some petting and she rubbed his head with his free hand.
"So, how does it feel to be a medical school graduate, Em?" Aria asked as she shifted on the soft trying to get comfortable.
"I don't officially graduate until tomorrow, but it feels damn great," Emily said as she grinned.
"So, can you actually practice medicine now?" Spencer asked as she walked over from the bar and sat on the sofa beside Aria.
"Yes," Emily shook her head. "But I technically don't have my license yet. I need a year of residency before I can take the state exam."
"So what is this thing you're doing in Brazil?" Aria asked and she took Spencer's drink and just sniffed. "God, I miss alcohol."
Everyone laughed, even Pam at Aria's pathetic tone.
Pepe pulled his head off Emily's lap and moved to Kira's lap to get his ears scratched. She put her now half empty margarita on the coffee table and vigorously rubbed his ears as she leaned down and rubbed her nose against his.
"My first year of residency I'm practicing family medicine and, through the school, they have a four month exchange program with Doctors Without Borders that allows me to do it in a foreign country."
"It's a really prestigious program," Alison chimed in proudly as she played with Emily's fingers. "She beat out six hundred other doctors to get it."
Emily squeezed Alison's thigh gently. As happy as she knew Alison was for her, her girlfriend was still having some issues with them being separated for four months. They hadn't been apart that long since her freshman year in college and Alison didn't take separation well.
"Wow, congrats, Em," Hanna said as she took Spencer's margarita out of her hand now and took a big gulp.
"I was drinking that, Hanna," Spencer said drolly.
Kira chuckled along with everyone as she stood. "I'll make you another one, Spencer. I need one too."
"Don't you think you girls should slow down," Pam said as she frowned. "Or at least eat something with those."
"Oh, hey, we could have chips and salsa," Kira replied. "I'll be right back."
"I'm not the only doctor going," Emily said, bringing the conversation back on topic as Kira ascended the stairs to the second floor. "Twenty of us were selected but we're almost all going to different places. Only Chad is coming to Brazil with me."
"Still, that's going to be so cool," Aria said.
Kira came back down the stairs almost immediately.
"I got booted," she said petulantly as she walked back over to the bar.
Alison snickered as she leaned over and put her untouched margarita on the table, shoving it carefully toward Spencer. "Here, take mine," she said. "I'm not in the mood today."
"So even though you don't technically have your own license, can I still call you Dr. Fields?" Hanna asked grinning.
Emily laughed. "Yes, you can. I am a doctor, but I'm just practicing under the supervision of a licensed physician for my first year."
A short Italian woman in her mid forties walked down the stairs, carrying a tray with chips and salsa on it. She placed it on the coffee table.
"You keep her out of my kitchen," she said easily with a thick Italian accent as she pointed to Kira.
"Hey, I take offense to that," Kira replied just as easily.
"Everything is set up there," Rosa said as she looked at Alison and smiled. "I'll be back in the morning."
"Thanks, Rosa," Alison said sincerely.
"You're welcome, mia cara," Rosa said. "Emily, don't let her burn my beautiful dinner."
Emily laughed as Alison scowled. "I won't, Rosa. Thanks for helping out today."
"Of course, bella mia. Are you sure you don't want me to stay?"
"No, go see Milo's soccer game. Tell him we're rooting for him."
"I will. Make sure she follows the instructions I left on the counter. I don't want to have to have the kitchen repainted a second time if she starts a kitchen fire again."
"Don't worry, Rosa, Em and I will protect your kitchen," Kira chimed in as she plopped back down next to Alison and elbowed her in the side.
"She's sitting right here, you know," Alison grumbled as she elbowed Kira hard, before standing. "Let me walk you out, Rosa, and you can lecture me on how not to start a kitchen fire," Alison said sarcastically as she narrowed her eyes at the smaller woman, who only laughed and tucked her arm through Alison's.
"Oh, mia cara, don't pout. You are much too bellissima to frown like that," the older woman said affectionately as she and Alison walked out the front door.
"Who was that? Do you have a cook now?" Hanna asked.
"No, she's the housekeeper," Emily replied. "But she does cooking sometimes, too, especially when we have company."
"You and Ali have a housekeeper?" Spencer asked now.
"Yeah, and she's the bomb," Kira said before Emily could respond. "She puts Ali in her place all the time and it's fucking brilliant."
"Is Alison really testy today, well more testy than usual, or is it me? Hanna asked as she stood and walked over to the windows again to look out over the beach.
"No," Emily said as her brow furrowed. "She's fine. She's just nervous about tomorrow."
"Why is she nervous? You're the one graduating." Aria asked as she pushed on her hands to try to stand. She struggled and Spencer helped her up.
"It's not really about tomorrow actually," Emily replied as she sighed. "But graduation means that in less than seventy two hours I'll be leaving."
"Ahhh," Spencer said knowingly. "Ali's a novelist. She can work anywhere. Why doesn't she just go with you?"
"Her new book tour starts next month so she has to be here."
"Well if she's going to be on a book tour anyway, what's the big deal?" Hanna asked as she turned around and walked to the bar to pour herself a margarita.
"When she goes on these tours she can still come home between signings," Emily replied as she reached down to pet Pepe, who had made the rounds around the room, getting scratched by every, but was now back to her. "They usually only happen on weekends, so she flies back during the week a lot of the time. But, she won't be able to fly to Brazil – it's too far."
"How often does she fly back?" Aria asked curiously as she twisted from side to side, stretching her back.
"Usually every week," Kira replied, even though the question wasn't directed at her.
"Damn, that must get expensive," Spencer said.
"It's her money." Emily waved her hand and then pointed at herself. "Broke med student over here."
"She's happy for you, Emily," Pam said encouragingly from her spot in the chair. "You'll both be just fine."
Emily smiled at her mom, grateful for her words, even though Emily already knew this. But it was nice that someone else said it because Emily knew their old friends, even after all these years, still sometimes questioned Alison's motives when it came to Emily.
"I know she is. She knows how much I wanted this internship, but it's hard, you know."
"She'll be okay, Em. I'll look out for her." Kira said as she leaned over and put her head on Emily's shoulder. "We'll go gay bar hopping. She can drown her sorrows missing you and I can get my lesbian fix."
"I wonder what Brian will think about that." Emily said referring to Kira's husband of six months.
Kira grinned, an evil grin she'd picked up from Alison over the years. "He'll think it's totally hot. He's still hoping you'll let Ali and me make out sometime, just so he can watch."
Emily closed her eyes and shook her head as she waited for her mother's voice.
"Kira, have you always been this obnoxious?" Pam asked exasperated, even as she smiled. "Or have I just missed it?"
"Ooops, sorry, Pam," Kira tried to look repentant but failed. Then she whispered in Emily's ear. "Fuck! I totally forgot your mom was sitting over there."
"Clearly," Emily replied laughing.
"What is with all of you? I don't remember you using all these vulgarities when you were younger."
"Awww, Pam, you just never heard us," Kira said as she grinned at Emily's mother. "We would always censor ourselves around you. Now we just don't bother."
"Well, maybe you should," Pam deadpanned and Kira laughed.
"I love you so much, mama Fields."
"Where is Brian anyway," Spencer asked curiously.
"He's out of town at a work conference."
"Aww, that's too bad," Aria said sympathetically.
"He finally comes home Monday night."
"Yeah, thank god he's coming back, too, because her bitch meter is on overdrive. She needs to get laid something fierce," Alison said, smirking, as she walked back in the front door.
Pepe loped over to her and nudged her thigh for petting. Alison sat down on the step at the edge of the entryway and hugged Pepe around the neck.
"Bitch, please," Kira replied without a beat. "Let's see how you are a month from now. I bet it won't even take you a month to turn into Medusa."
"Girls," Pam admonished again, exasperated, shaking her head as everyone laughed.
Everyone except Emily and Alison.
###################
Emily found Alison sitting on the balcony off their bedroom. She was curled up on one of the long lounge chairs, looking out over the water as the moon bathed the balcony and it's inhabitant in soft muted light.
Alison had excused herself not long after dinner, after a blow up with Hanna over something stupid, saying she was tired. But Emily knew better.
She walked over and silently touched Alison's shoulder, urging her girlfriend to scoot forward so Emily could slip behind her. Emily pulled Alison into her arms and the blonde leaned back into her chest as she put her hands over Emily's, where they rested on her abdomen, and entwined their fingers together.
Emily bent her head and kissed Alison's bare shoulder next to the strap of her tank.
"Sorry I blew up at Hanna like that. I don't know what came over me. She's just been grating on my nerves all day with her passive aggressive bullshit about us."
"It's okay. She's been grating on my nerves too. I had a talk with her after you came up and told her to knock it off."
"It isn't okay," Alison said vehemently. "I'm not really mad at her." Alison sighed. "I'm not mad at anyone."
"You're mad at me because I'm leaving," Emily said, her voice full of understanding.
Alison turned slightly so she could look Emily in the eye. "No, I'm not, Em. I want you to go. It's going to be an incredible experience and I can't wait for you to have it."
"But?" Emily urged her, knowing Ali needed to talk, although they'd had this conversation a few times in the last few weeks.
Alison sighed again. "But I'm just going to miss you so fucking much and I just wish I could go with you."
"I wish you could too." Emily lifted her hand and caressed Alison's cheek softly. "And I'm going to miss you so fucking much too," Emily said, reiterating Alison's words, even though Emily hardly ever swore.
Alison held Emily's palm against her and sighed.
"Kira feels bad about her Medusa comment earlier. She wanted to come up and apologize but I told her it was best to just leave you alone tonight."
Alison shook her head and chuckled ruefully. "It didn't really bother me. And she's right. I will be Medusa in less than a month. I don't think I'm going to even want to be around me."
Emily's fingertips fluttered softly over Alison's cheek and down over her jaw, making the blonde tremble. "There's always phone sex," Emily teased, her voice soft.
"Mmmmm," Alison hummed in the back of her throat as Emily's fingertips moved to the blonde's lips, gently caressing them. "Oh, we'll definitely be doing that, but it's not the same."
"Ali," Emily breathed and the deep, low sound of her voice shot straight through Alison's entire body.
"Em," Alison moaned softly as she licked her lips, her tongue gently brushing against the tips of Emily's fingers, her blue eyes darkening with desire. "How am I ever going to survive four months without your touch?"
"I'm going to ache every second I can't touch you," Emily admitted as her breath hitched. She slid her hand along Alison's cheek and buried her fingers into the soft strands of Alison's hair. She leaned forward and lowered her mouth to the blonde's, sighing softly as their lips touched.
Alison reached up and gripped Emily's head gently as she opened her mouth. Emily's tongue swept inside her mouth and Alison moaned at the familiar sweet taste that was her mermaid. She would never tire of this. She would never get enough of it. She would never be able to live without this.
Even after almost nine years together, Alison DiLaurentis ached for Emily Fields like the very air she breathed.
Their lips broke apart and they both panted breathlessly.
"Take me to bed, Em," Alison breathed.
Emily shook her head as she gripped Alison's waist and urged her to turn around to face her. Alison looked confused for a moment but got to her knees and straddled Emily's thighs as the brunette brought her legs together.
Emily pulled Alison's lips back to hers before gripping Alison's hips and yanking her forward so their breasts pressed against each other's. Alison thrust her fingers into Emily's hair and whimpered as she kissed the living daylights out of her girl.
Emily lifted one hand to Alison's breast and brushed her nipple over the fabric of her tank top. The nipple pebbled and hardened beneath Emily's expert touch and Emily gently squeezed the soft round flesh of Alison's breast with her fingers.
Alison panted into Emily's mouth as she rocked her hips gently against Emily's lap.
Emily's other hand slid up Alison's thigh and dipped beneath her sleep shorts, her fingers circling softly as they moved closer to Alison's center.
"Em," Alison tore her lips away and choked out a strangled breath. "What are you doing?"
Emily smiled as she moved her hand beneath Alison's tank top now, rolling Alison's nipple between her thumb and forefinger.
"I would think it's obvious," Emily teased as she dipped her head to suck softly on the hollow of Alison's throat.
Emily's fingers finally brushed against Alison's sex through her panties and the blonde shuddered on top of her. "We can't out here," she groaned softly as Emily's fingers dipped beneath the elastic of her panties and speared into Alison's heat.
"We make love out here all the time," Emily murmured as she lifted her head, her lips fusing with Alison's again and she swallowed the blonde's gasp as she slipped a finger deep inside her.
Alison's body tensed for a second before she started rocking her hips again, instinctively, against Emily's hand, the brunette's probing fingers hitting all the right spots inside her.
"Not when your mother is one floor below us and can possibly hear us if she has her window open," Alison managed to choke out against Emily's lips, making the brunette laugh in amazement that Alison could form such a coherent sentence when Emily had her finger buried deep inside her.
"You'll just have to be quiet, then," Emily chucked softly as she slipped her finger deeper, adding a second one and the blonde squeaked softly as she grasped Emily's face in her hands, covering her mouth hungrily.
Alison devoured Emily as she rocked her hips even harder, pressing down on Emily's fingers, the feel of the brunette's thumb pressing against her clit sending shock waves throughout her body.
Emily pushed Alison's tank top up and bent her head to latch on to Alison's nipple. Alison tore her shirt off and tossed it away before slipping her fingers into Emily's hair again, holding her girl against her, arching her back as Emily suckled her hard.
Alison had no doubt Emily was going to mark her tonight and for once she didn't care. She wanted it. She craved it. She wanted to be able to see it once Emily was gone.
"Baby," Alison whimpered as her head fell back, her eyes rolling back in her head as she felt her orgasm starting low and deep. It never took long when Alison was this desperate, this worked up. Her thighs trembled around Emily's legs and her orgasm slammed into her hard and fast.
Emily felt Alison's body clenching around her fingers and she lifted her head and pulled Alison's lips to hers again as she swallowed the blonde's choking cries. She wiggled her fingers, pressing deeper, urging Alison to keep rocking on her hand as her girlfriend rode out her orgasm.
Alison continued to whimper and moan softly into Emily's mouth as her hips slowed and Emily's fingers stilled.
"I'm so fucking in love with you," Alison gasped and Emily smiled as their kisses softened.
Emily leaned her head back and she looked at Alison. The blonde's eyes fluttered open, still blurry and stormy.
"Now I'm taking you to bed," Emily said her voice deep and rough with lust. Alison nodded her head in agreement, her eyes never leaving Emily's as the brunette slipped her fingers out of her and gripped her hips to urge her to stand.
At that moment, as she stood on shaky legs, the remnants of her orgasm still pulsing softly through her, Alison would have agreed to anything.
############################
Emily made her way through the crowd, trying to find her family and friends. The first person she saw in the distance was Spencer. The brunette's tall form could be seen over the sea of shorter bodies.
But Spencer wasn't the person she was looking for.
Emily continued to walk forward, as she was jostled by other graduates and their families as they were congratulated.
Her eyes finally fell on the beautiful blonde, who was her destination. It was the back of her head but it was a head Emily would recognize anywhere.
Almost as if she could sense Emily's presence getting closer, the blonde turned around, her smile widening as blue eyes met brown.
Everything else around her fell into the background as Emily strode forward, with purpose, her only thought to reach the most important person in her world.
She was almost there. Only a few more strides and she'd have Alison in her arms. But her momentum was abruptly halted when her mother threw her arms around her, hugging her and crying onto her shoulder.
"Oh, Emily, I'm so proud of you," Pam cried happily and Emily watched as Alison chuckled softly, her eyes shining with love and filled with pride. The blonde was practically vibrating where she stood and Emily knew she was only holding herself back to allow Emily's mother to congratulate her.
"Thanks, mom," Emily said as she gasped. "Can you loosen your grip a little though?"
Pam laughed and released her. Emily tore her eyes away from Alison's briefly as she looked down into her mother's face.
"Oh, I'm sorry sweetheart." Pam laughed at herself as she stepped back. "I wish your dad was here today. He's so proud of you and he wanted to be here so much."
"I know, mom. I wish he was here too." She missed her dad's presence but understood he had responsibilities. But the most important person was here and that was all that mattered.
Emily's eyes lifted to Alison's again and she couldn't wait anymore. "Mom, give me a minute?" she requested, not taking her eyes off Alison.
Pam smiled and stepped aside. "Of course, sweetie. Go to her," Pam said softly even as Emily was already walking away.
Alison hurled herself at Emily, wrapping her arms around Emily's neck and Emily caught her, pulling her close, laughing at Alison's dramatics. Emily's arms slid around Alison's waist and clutched her close.
Emily felt Alison's body soften, even as her own relaxed, as they were finally in each other's arms.
Alison pressed her lips to Emily's ear. "Congratulations, baby. I'm so proud of you, Em," she choked, her voice wobbly as she took in a shuddering breath.
Emily buried her face in Alison's neck as she clutched the blonde against her.
"Thank you, Ali," Emily whispered, her voice wobbly as well.
This was the best day of her life so far and having Alison here with her was what made it absolute perfection, even without her dad's presence. Emily's accomplishment today was as much Alison's as hers.
Alison pulled back so she could look into Emily's face, but Emily wouldn't release her. Alison pressed her forehead to Emily's so she could look into her eyes and she lifted her hands to the brunette's face, caressing her fingers softly against Emily's cheeks.
Emily's eyes fluttered in response, before meeting Alison's. The bright blue depths were shining with unshed tears as Alison tried to blink them away.
"I've been waiting for this day for so long," Alison admitted honestly and Emily chuckled softly.
"I never would have made it without you."
"Yes, you would have," Alison insisted. "But I'm so glad you didn't because this is too glorious to miss. You're too glorious."
"Ali," Emily whispered the blonde's name softly. "I love you."
Alison's smile widened and her eyes softened. "I love you so much," Alison replied with so much conviction it made Emily's breath hitch.
Emily leaned forward and kissed Alison softly. The blonde hiccupped and then hummed softly as she returned the kiss, As much as she wanted to devour her mermaid whole right now, this wasn't the time for it. So this kiss remained soft, a gentle sipping of lips as Emily lifted her hands to Alison's face too.
Finally Emily pulled back slightly, just barely a breath away now, and Alison rubbed her nose against the brunette's, making them both smile.
"I know you're dying to get your hands on her, Hanna, but give them a minute," Kira's voice barely penetrated Emily's consciousness. "Trust me; you don't interrupt them when they're like this."
Alison's eyes crinkled in the corners as she chuckled softly, having heard Kira too.
"I think I'm monopolizing you," Alison said, the tone of her voice indicating she couldn't care less.
Emily leaned forward to kiss Alison again, as she whispered against her lips. "I don't care."
Alison giggled into the kiss and Emily pulled back and arched an eyebrow at her.
"They're dying to congratulate you, baby. We'll finish this later."
Emily sighed even as she smiled and she kissed Alison once more before releasing her, stepping back reluctantly.
She turned and was congratulated by her oldest friends and her newest, as Alison looked on.
Kira stepped up beside her and threw her arm over Alison's shoulder. Alison knew Kira saw the unshed tears in her eyes and that was why she came over.
Alison looked over and she saw Kira smirking.
"So I guess all that playing doctor with you finally paid off for her, huh?"
################
Emily tugged the sheet lower, revealing Alison's bare back as the sun streamed through the balcony door, illuminating the blonde's flawless skin in the early morning light.
She brushed her fingers softly down Alison's spine to the tattoo at the base of her back. She traced her name with her finger like she'd done hundreds of times since Alison got it.
Alison moaned and wiggled sleepily, burying her face deeper into the pillow beneath her head.
Emily smiled and got to her knees and started brushing her lips over Alison's back, kissing and swirling her tongue over Alison's soft pale skin. Even though they lived on the beach, Alison didn't spend much time in the sun. She was so fair skinned, she really did burn easily, unlike Emily who just turned a deeper shade of bronze. So Alison tended to stay under a large umbrella when the two of them decided to spend time on the beach. But Emily didn't mind. She loved the contrast between them.
"Em," Alison moaned softly as her eyes fluttered open. The combination of Emily's lips, and fingers, and the soft strands of her hair tickling the blonde's skin were bringing every nerve ending in her body awake and alive.
Emily's fingers, which had been caressing Alison's tattoo, slid lower, over the blonde's ass to dip between her thighs.
Alison released a shuddering breath as she shifted, widening her legs slightly as Emily's fingertips brushed over her sex. Alison turned her face and looked over her shoulder
"Baby," Alison whimpered and Emily lifted her head to look at her girlfriend, with her sleepy eyes, her tousled hair, and sultry smile.
"Good morning, beautiful," Emily greeted as she shifted to lay back down next to Alison, keeping her fingers against Alison's wet heat. She leaned forward and pressed her lips against Alison's and the blonde moaned deeper and longer into Emily's mouth.
"Morning, my goddess," Alison murmured as their lips parted.
"Did you sleep well?" Emily asked as her fingers continued to tease Alison.
Alison smiled and her eyes fluttered at the feel of Emily's fingers caressing her.
"Like a baby once you let me sleep," Alison teased as she rolled her hips in circles, unable to help herself.
Emily kissed her again even as she removed her fingers from Alison's sex and she dragged her wet fingertips up Alison's back.
Alison pouted against her lips, even as she turned on her side to face Emily.
"Tease," Alison said as she opened her eyes to look at her girl.
She slipped her arm from beneath the pillow and reached out to caress Emily's face.
But Emily gasped and grabbed her forearm before Alison's hand could reach her face.
"Ali," she choked softly and Alison looked down at her arm, where there were red welts and bruises around her wrist.
Alison pulled her other hand from beneath the pillow and sure enough the other wrist was identical.
"Ooops. I guess I was pulling against those restraints harder than I thought last night," Alison's said, her eyes twinkling.
"Ali, why didn't you tell me they were hurting?" Emily murmured as she gently caressed the battered skin with her thumb.
"I didn't even feel it, Em. Its okay, baby. They don't really hurt."
"I was too rough with you last night," Emily frowned as she pressed her lips against the welts, closing her eyes against the sight of Alison's marred skin.
"Hey," Alison said firmly and Emily opened her eyes. "You were not too rough. It's my fault for tugging too hard against them." Alison finally caressed Emily's cheek gently. "I just really wanted to touch you so bad and I hated not being able to."
Emily smiled sadly as she sighed. "I hate that I hurt you."
"You didn't," Alison insisted before her voice dropped an octave and she purred. "I didn't feel this because you were giving me so much pleasure I couldn't feel anything but that."
"I should have paid more attention when you were crying out."
"Baby, those cries weren't ones of pain, I assure you of that."
Emily laughed softly as Alison wiggled her eyebrows suggestively.
"You were a little loud actually," Emily said.
"Do you think anybody heard us?" Alison giggled.
Both women jumped when the double doors to their bedroom suddenly flew open and Kira walked in.
"Yes, everybody freaking heard you," she said dramatically. "Even one floor down, we freaking heard you."
"Kira," Emily cried as she and Alison scrambled to tug the sheets up.
"What the fuck, Kira?" Alison snapped. "Get out of here."
Kira was grinning as she stood in the doorway, her hands covering her eyes.
"Didn't you lock the door?" Emily asked Alison in an accusatory tone.
Alison arched her brow. "Didn't you?" she retorted.
"Are the two of you decent yet?" Kira asked impatiently.
"Yes," Emily sighed as she tugged the sheet up to her chin. Alison laughed, leaning back on the pillow with the sheet loosely around her. She slid her hand under Emily's ass and pinched.
"Ali, stop it," she growled, just making the blonde laugh. Her mermaid was such a prude sometimes.
Kira removed her hands from her eyes slowly and she looked around tentatively.
"Oh, good," she grinned wider. She walked deeper into the room. Her nose wrinkled. "You need to open a window. It reeks of sex in here."
"Kira, what the hell do you want?" Alison asked, the aggravation of being interrupted starting to really seep in. She only had Emily for another forty eight hours and she didn't take kindly to their private time being interrupted.
Kira walked over to the balcony doors and threw them open. She took an exaggerated breath. "Ahh, that's better."
She turned around and looked at the sleepy naked couple tangled in white sheets
"Did you really hear us last night?" Emily asked, dreading the answer.
Kira smirked as she nodded. "Oh, yeah. Or should I say 'yes, Em, yes, yes, yes'," Kira chanted out in a breathy tone before she started laughing.
"Oh, god," Emily said as she turned onto her stomach and buried her face in the pillow.
"I think we heard one of you calling that out last night too," Kira snickered. "Your mother can't even look anyone in the eyes this morning. It's fucking epic."
Alison turned on her side and rubbed her hand over Emily's back soothingly. "It's okay, baby. She knows we have sex." Alison tried to keep the mirth out of her voice, but it was a losing battle and she started chucking as she leaned down and pressed a kiss to Emily's shoulder.
"Ali, this isn't funny." Emily turned and glared at the blonde, but the she could only smile at the soft look Alison gave her. There was no embarrassment in Alison, ever, when it came to their intimacy. She didn't care what anyone knew or thought.
"Are you kidding me?" Kira replied. "It's freaking hilarious. I live for sleepovers at your house so much."
Kira's eyes widened as something on the bedside table caught her eye. "Oh my God, are those handcuffs?" she asked rather loudly as she pointed.
"Handcuffs?" came Pam's strangled voice from the deck two stories below the open balcony doors.
"Wait a minute, did she just say handcuffs?" Spencer's voice floated up from below as Hanna and Aria could be heard laughing.
"Ooops," Kira mouthed as she realized everyone below had heard her.
"I'm going to kill you, Kira," Alison growled, but now Emily laughed because maybe Alison did care a little bit. Alison looked over at her alarmed as Emily buried her face in Alison's bare shoulder and her body shook with laughter so hard that she started snorting involuntarily.
"Do you see what you've done, Kira?" Alison snapped. "You've driven her over the edge."
Kira shrugged and walked closer, as she pointed to the foot of the bed. "Is this small corner of your bed safe for me to sit down?"
"What do you mean safe?" Alison asked as Emily continued to laugh, trying to catch her breath.
Kira shot her a look.
"There is nowhere on our bed that's safe. Sorry," Alison said in a clearly unrepentant tone. "Baby, breathe or you're gonna pass out," Alison chided Emily gently, not sure just what Emily found so freaking funny.
Sure, Pam knew the two of them had sex, and Alison couldn't care less about that. But she really didn't need to know in what ways Alison defiled her daughter or how truly depraved the two of them were sometimes.
Kira looked around the room. "How about that chair?" She pointed to a fabric lounge that sat in the corner.
"Huh?" Alison looked back at Kira.
"Is the chair safe for me to sit on?"
Alison shook her head and smirked.
"The window seat?" Kira asked hopefully.
Alison's smirk widened and she shook her head again.
"Jesus Christ, you two. What about the floor? Is the floor safe?"
"Not much of it. Maybe that small little corner over there," Alison laughed as she pointed to the far corner beside bureau. "But the bureau is tainted so don't rub against it."
Emily, who had finally stopped laughing and caught her breath, just shook her head. Alison was having way too much fun teasing Kira.
Kira rolled her eyes dramatically and dropped down to sit at the foot of the bed anyway. "Fuck it," she said and Alison kicked her gently in the ass from beneath the sheet.
"I'm never going to be able to face my mother again." Emily bemoaned.
"If I can, you can."Alison slid her fingers through Emily's hair and massaged her scalp gently. "Don't worry, baby, it will be fine." Then she turned to glare at Kira. "Is there a reason why you barged into our bedroom uninvited this morning?" Alison asked.
"Yeah, I came to say goodbye. I have to get to school."
"What time is it anyway?" Emily asked as she sat up, tucking the sheet around her.
"Almost seven thirty. My homeroom starts at nine so I have to get the hell out of here or I'm never going to make it and my first graders will declare all out war on me."
"At least you work with people who are on the same emotional level as you are," Alison teased and Kira just stuck her tongue out at her, causing Alison to bark out a laugh. "And she proves my point."
"Won't I see you again before you leave?" Emily asked.
Kira shook her head. "Probably not, Doc. Brian comes home from his trip tonight."
"Kira," Emily said, her breath catching in her throat.
Alison touched Emily's bare hip, knowing that leaving Kira was almost as hard as leaving her. Kira was the closest person to Emily aside from Alison. She was the closest person to both of them.
"I talked to him this morning and he said for me to tell you to have a safe trip, cure lots of orphan babies and come back safe." Kira smiled softly at the brunette. "Now get up and put something on so I can hug you properly before I go.
Kira stood and turned around, covering her eyes even though she didn't need to because she was facing the other way.
Emily got out of bed and grabbed her shorts and tank top off the floor, slipping them on quickly. Alison stayed tucked, naked, under the covers.
Emily reached out to Kira and touched her shoulder. "You can turn around now."
Kira turned and pulled Emily into her arms, hugging her tight, so tight Emily squeaked. "I love you so fucking hard, Doc. I'm gonna miss you."
Emily hugged her back. "I'm gonna miss too, friend. But I'll be back before you know it."
Alison watched her girl and her friend saying goodbye and she bit her lip. She promised herself she wasn't going to cry, wasn't going to do that to Emily. But her throat clogged and she closed her eyes for a minute, blinking back her tears once again.
God, what was wrong with her? It was only four months, but right now it felt like a lifetime. Being separated from Emily for those two long years, and then Emily's first semester at college was long enough for one lifetime.
Kira's nose wrinkled again and she pulled away. "Okay, you really need to take a shower before you go downstairs. You really do reek like pussy."
Alison choked out at laugh because Kira had gotten over her aversion to that word over the years, just like Alison had gotten over her aversion to the word lesbian. Alison still considered herself bisexual, not lesbian, but none of that really mattered because she would never be with anyone besides Emily until the day she took her last breath. If Alison was sure of anything in her life, it was that.
Alison's lips curled into an impish grin. "That's because she's covered head to toe with it."
"Ali, stop it," Emily laughed as Kira wiggled and cringed dramatically.
"Okay, now I have to go take another shower."
Alison scowled. "Kira, get out of our house. You're no longer welcome here."
"Bitch, please. There is no getting rid of me. I know your security code."
Emily laughed. "Thanks for staying over this weekend. I know all the other girls loved it too."
"Like I said, I love sleepovers at your house. I get my lesbian fix and I get to join in when your friends harass Ali. It's a win win," Kira smirked over at Alison while Emily slapped her arm.
"Goodbye, Kira,' Alison said, her tone broaching no room for argument.
"Bye nudie." Kira saluted Alison and Alison just smirked in return. "I'll see you at my house for dinner on Friday night. Don't you even freaking think about standing me up because I will hunt you down." She turned to face Emily again. "Walk me out?"
Emily nodded. "I'll be right back," she said to Alison. "Don't move."
Alison's lips curved into a sultry smile as she stretched her arms over her head. "Yes, ma'am."
Emily and Kira stepped into the hallway and Emily pulled the doors closed behind them.
"So, you'll be there on Wednesday?" Emily whispered.
Kira nodded her head. "Don't worry, Em. As soon as you clear security and she turns to walk back to her car, I'll be standing there to catch her. Brian's gong to drop me at LAX on his way to work and I'll drive her home."
"She's going to be a wreck," Emily warned, frowning, knowing Ali was going to try to appear to be strong in front of her. But she knew Alison well enough to know that as soon as Emily was gone and she was alone, Ali was going to crumble.
"She can't see you ahead of time. It will piss her off."
Kira laughed knowingly. "Oh, I have no doubt. Don't worry I can be totally stealth when I need to be."
Emily sighed heavily and Kira reached for Emily's hand. "She won't be alone. You need to just go and do your saving lives thing. I'm more worried about you, than I am her."
"I'll be okay," Emily said but her voice wavered a little. Leaving Alison was killing her but Emily usually hid it well, not wanting to make Alison feel any worse.
"She'll have my awesome presence to keep her company," Kira teased but she quickly sobered again. "I wish you had someone with you."
"I'm going to be working hundred hour weeks, Kira. When I'm not working I'll be sleeping. I'll be fine."
"Well, just make sure you text me pictures of all the orphan babies you cure and call your girl every day. You two can burn up the phone lines having phone sex and four months will pass in no time."
"Thank you," Emily said fiercely and Kira squeezed her hand.
"It's nothing, Doc. I'd do the same for her, if it was you. She and Pepe are in good hands. But I really have to go."
"See you in a few months," Emily said casually, more casually than she really felt.
"See ya, Doc," Kira said just as casually but the look in her eyes said differently.
Emily watched Kira descend the stairs before she turned and opened the door and entered the bedroom.
Alison way still lying on the bed, the sheet pushed down to her waist and she was smiling softly as Emily entered.
"Shut and lock the door," Alison purred and Emily felt that purr all the way down to her toes.
Emily smiled, her eyes heating, and did as instructed, even as she said, "Everyone knows we're awake."
"So, we'll make it a quickie,' Alison smiled softly, knowing Emily was right. But she needed her girl first.
Fuck the rest of the world.
"Strip," Alison commanded softly as she pushed the sheet off her waist, exposing her nude body to Emily's eyes.
Emily swallowed as she lifted her tank top over her head. Then she pushed her shorts down her legs and stood naked and glorious in the morning light coming in the balcony doors. She walked over and closed the door silently.
"Probably best not to let them hear this," she murmured softly and Alison smiled in agreement.
"Probably," Alison agreed as she placed her feet on the mattress and let her thighs fall open. "Come here, baby."
"Ali," Emily groaned softly as she walked toward the bed slowly. She knelt at the foot of the bed and slowly crawled up the mattress, her body moving over and in between Alison's open thighs.
"I want your weight on me," Alison moaned softly as she reached for Emily's hips, pulling her mermaid down on her, only moaning louder when she felt Emily's body against hers.
Emily moaned in response as she settled on top of Alison. Their breasts pressed together. Their mounds pressed together. Emily could feel Alison's heat and she buried her face in Alison's neck.
Alison wrapped her arms and legs around Emily arching her back as she felt Emily pressing open mouthed kisses on her neck.
She never wanted to let her go. She wanted to stay just like this for the rest of her life. But in less than forty eight hours, her mermaid was leaving her. And while she was so fucking proud of and happy for Emily, it didn't stop her heart from breaking.
###################
"Thanks for coming with me to drop my mom off at the airport, Hanna," Emily said as they weaved slowly in and out of the people heading in the opposite direction as they walked along the first floor of the Westside Pavilion.
Hanna scoffed good-naturedly. "Are you kidding? You know I need my Emily time. And after this morning, when I thought your mom was going to pass out when Kira screamed that the two of you had handcuffs in your bedroom, I had to be there if she was going to say anything to you." Hanna pouted now. "But she didn't."
"Oh, she did," Emily assured in a low voice. "Before we left the house."
Hanna laughed. "Oh, shit. What happened?"
"Let's just say she completely blames Ali for corrupting me."
Hanna shrugged. "Well, she's right."
"I'm the one who bought the handcuffs, Hanna," Emily said as she scowled.
Everyone always assumed Alison was the bad influence and it pissed Emily off. Granted, Ali could be trouble when she wanted to be, and she was certainly adventurous in the bedroom, but Emily had proven over the years that she was just as wanton, if not more so. But Alison was the only one who knew that.
"No freaking way. Did you tell your mom that or did you totally throw Ali under the bus?"
"I told her. Ali tried to take the blame but I wouldn't let her."
"Poor Pam. I think you totally scarred her for life," Hanna laughed again.
"She's not the only one," Emily agreed and shuddered as snippets of the conversation this morning flashed through her mind. "And thanks for stopping with me here on the way back too. I just have to pick something up."
"Are you kidding me?" Hanna replied as she hooked her arm through Emily's. "Emily and shopping is almost orgasmic it's so good. You know I'll never pass up shopping with you."
Emily smiled. "So, do you think Spencer and Toby will work things out? I can't believe they've been separated for five months and Ali and I didn't even know it."
"I don't know," Hanna shook her head. "Things were bad for months before he moved out."
Emily frowned. "I hope they do. They love each other too much not to."
"Loving someone isn't always enough," Hanna said softly.
"It's all there is, Hanna," Emily replied honestly.
Hanna tilted her head and smiled. "You're such a hopeless romantic, Em. No wonder Alison is so gaga over you." Emily chuckled. "So, what are we here to get?"
"Just a little something," Emily said carefully. "It will only take a few minutes, I promise."
"Okay," Hanna said but didn't push, for which Emily was grateful.
"So you never did say why Caleb didn't come with you?"
"We're taking a break."
Emily look surprised. "Why?"
Hanna shook her head sadly. "I don't know if we should have gotten back together, Em. He's such a total mess. I love him. I mean full on, head over heels, love him, but I can't deal with his crazy anymore."
Emily's brow furrowed. "What do you mean?"
Hanna sighed. "He still has nightmares about Ravenswood even after all this time. And when he does, he falls off the wagon and drinks himself into a stupor for weeks on end. I just can't deal with it anymore, you know."
"Wow, I'm sorry, Han. I didn't know that either. I feel like we're so out of the loop out here sometimes."
"You were finishing medical school and I didn't want to bother you with it."
"But you're my friend. And so is Spencer. I should have known what was going on with you."
"Well, you do now." Hanna smiled.
"How are you holding up?"
"I'm okay most days. Then I see him and I'm not okay. Then I don't see him and I'm a little better again. Then I see him again and we fall back into bed and it's just this vicious cycle we can't seem to stop."
"Oh, Hanna," Emily sighed sadly. "And now I feel bad."
"Why?"
"Because I asked you to come with me for this," Emily replied honestly as she stopped walking.
"For what?"
"This." Emily looked to her right. Hanna followed her gaze and her eyes widened as she looked into the store they were in front of.
"Oh my god!" Hanna squealed loudly as she practically jumped up and down. "Are you going to propose to Ali?"
Emily smiled softly as she nodded. "I've been wanting to for a while now."
Hanna grinned as she tilted her head. "I kinda thought you two were already married."
Emily blinked. "What? Why would you think that?"
Hanna shrugged. "I don't know. I just kinda thought maybe the two of you ran off to Vegas and eloped and just didn't want to share."
"Hanna, we wouldn't get married without telling all of you."
"The two of you like to keep the details of your relationship private. I get it. I don't like it, but I get it," the blonde admitted honestly.
"Well we're not secretly married, Hanna," Emily replied as they walked into the store.
"Do you want me to help you pick something out?" Hanna asked eagerly.
Emily shook her head. "No, I already bought it. I've been paying for it for almost a year."
"Whoa, a year? Why the fuck haven't you said anything, Em?"
"I'm just making the last payment today, right now, when I'm picking it up."
Emily smiled at the older man behind the counter. He grinned as she saw her.
"Hi, Emily."
"Hi, Jack. This is my friend Hanna."
"Hi Hanna," he greeted as he shook her hand.
"Hi."
"Are you here to pick it up?" he asked knowingly.
Emily nodded. "Yep."
"Let me go get it in the back."
"You're on a first name basis with the jeweler?" Hanna asked as she laughed.
"I've been coming in here every week for almost a year, Hanna."
"Damn, that must be some ring to take that long to pay off."
"I think she'll like it," Emily sighed a little nervously. "I hope she will."
"She'll love it, Em. No matter what it is, she'll love it because it's from you." Emily smiled gratefully. "So, when are you going to propose?"
"Tomorrow night."
Hanna moaned. "Oh, why can't you do it while we're here?"
Emily laughed, "Hanna, it's kind of a private moment."
"Fuck private," Hanna complained.
"Hanna," Emily said as she looked around because the blonde wasn't exactly speaking quietly.
"Fine," Hanna huffed just as Jack returned with a small black box and some paperwork.
Emily reached into her purse and took out her wallet. She pulled out several hundred dollar bills and handed them to Jack.
"That's the last of it."
Jack took the money and set it aside before he opened the box and held it out to Emily.
She reached out, her hand shaking and she lifted the ring out of the velvet sleeve it sat in.
Hanna gasped beside her. "Oh, Em, it's beautiful."
Emily held the ring up; looking at it again for the first time since she'd picked it out the previous summer.
It was an emerald cut, three stone diamond engagement ring, one carat in the center, with two matching quarter carat emerald cut diamonds on either side. The platinum band was adorned with smaller brilliant cut diamonds all the way around.
When Emily first saw it, she knew instantly how it would look on Alison's finger and she looked no further. It cost twice as much as Emily originally thought she'd spend but it was worth every penny. After all, she hoped it would sit on Alison's finger for the rest of her life.
"Wow," Hanna said again breathlessly. "If she turns you down, I'll totally marry you just for that ring."
Emily smiled and shook her head. "Thanks, Han. Good to know."
Suddenly Hanna threw her arms around Emily. "I'm so happy for you, Em."
"She hasn't said yes yet," Emily laughed as she hugged Hanna back.
Hanna pulled back and looked Emily in the eye and it was the first time Emily had seen real joy in Hanna's eyes when it came to her relationship with Alison.
"She will," Hanna said confidently and Emily let that confidence seep into her as she put the ring back in the small velvet box where it would sit until tomorrow night.
#################
Alison, Spencer and Aria walked along the edge of the water, as Pepe splashed around in the shallow surf. Alison had let him off his leash and he was currently behaving by staying close.
"I've got to say, Ali, you have really done well for yourself," Spencer said, reiterating Hanna's words from the other day.
Alison smiled but didn't say anything.
"You've published five books and you have a kick ass house right on the beach. That really must have cost a fortune."
"Em loves the water," she replied.
"So you bought a water front house because your girlfriend loves the water. You could have just gotten a pool for that, you know," Spencer smirked.
"They have a pool too, just steps from the beach," Aria chimed in as she pressed on her lower back as they walked. "Are we far from the house, I can't tell. They all look the same from here."
Alison pointed to the three story house with floor to ceiling windows that was about a dozen houses away.
"Are you okay?" Alison asked.
"Yeah, just getting a little tired. I think I might take a nap when we get back."
"So Em's got herself her very own sugar mama, who lets her live in her beach house. I've got to get me one of those," Spencer teased but Alison didn't find it funny at all.
"Don't be a bitch, Spencer," Alison snapped. "You sound like Hanna. And it isn't just my house. Emily owns it with me."
Spencer's eyes widened. "You both got the mortgage for that behemoth? How could she with all her student loan debt?"
"I didn't say she was on the mortgage," Alison replied shortly.
"Then how?" Aria asked curiously.
"She's on the deed," Spencer surmised. "Hmmm. She never mentioned that."
Alison gave Spencer a pointed look. "Why would she?"
Pepe ran around them, shaking his body and spraying them all with water.
"Pepe, stop it," Alison scolded the dog gently.
Spencer shrugged. "Em used to be a lot more open. She's almost as tight lipped as you are these days."
"Spencer, we all have our own lives now. We don't have to share every little detail with each other."
"Does she even know she's on the deed?" Spencer asked.
"What's that supposed to mean?"
"I mean, I wouldn't put it past you to put her on there and not tell her."
Alison scoffed. "Why would I do that?"
"To avoid a fight. Emily is pretty proud and probably wouldn't feel right being put on something that she didn't contribute to."
Alison stopped walking and put her hands on her hips. "Why do you think she doesn't contribute? Are you accusing Emily of being a freeloader?"
"No," Spencer replied. "But that house had to have cost millions, Alison. This section of the beach isn't called million dollar row for no reason."
"How do you know what it's called?" Alison's eyes narrowed.
Spencer just looked at her over her sunglasses.
"Oh, right, I forgot. Spencer Cavanaugh has to know everything."
Spencer just shrugged but didn't deny it.
Alison started walking again. "I make a lot of money, Spencer. And I have a really good financial advisor. You don't have to worry; Emily won't be homeless any time soon."
"So why did you do it?" Spencer asked curiously.
"Do what?"
"Put her on the deed?"
"Why are you so freaking nosy?" Alison snapped again.
"I'm a divorce lawyer," Spencer replied matter-of-factly. "Who just happens to be going through a divorce herself. I know California is a common law state. So, after so many years together she'd automatically get half of what's yours anyway. But putting Emily on the deed to your home, especially when you're not legally married, is a risk."
"Spencer, I've already told you, it's our home. Besides, don't you trust Em? Do you think she's going to take me for all my money? Trust me, there's no risk at all because none of it means anything without her."
Spencer looked skeptical.
"And just for the record, Emily does know she's on the deed. It was a fight of epic proportions, I can tell you that, but there are some things I just won't budge on."
"Kind of like your 'lesbian and proud of it' t-shirt years ago," Aria said trying to diffuse the tension a little bit.
It worked and Alison laughed. "Something like that. And I still have that shirt. I always pull it out and wear it when I want to rub in that I'm right about something."
"That's real mature."
Alison shrugged.
"So I have another question."
Alison rolled her eyes and sighed. "Of course you do. Since its grill Alison day, you might as well ask it."
"If you make so much money, why does Emily have over one hundred thousand dollars in student loan debt?"
"She doesn't," Alison replied honestly.
"She doesn't?" Spencer's voice was full of surprise.
"She doesn't know it yet, but her student loans are paid off."
"That's not going to go over too well, I bet," Spencer snickered, just imagining Emily's reaction.
"Yeah, it won't go over well with my mermaid at all," Alison admitted as she cringed just slightly. "But that's okay. Like I said I've dealt with her wrath before."
"Why would you do that? It's not like you had to. You're not married."
Alison scowled. "What the fuck is with you today, Spencer? I know you're going through a tough time right now and I'm trying to be patient, but you're being a mega bitch. And we are married in every way except legally."
"So why don't you get married?" Aria asked. "Same sex marriage has been legal a long time."
Alison shrugged. "I don't need a piece of paper to prove my commitment to Em."
"Says the woman who just put Emily on the deed to her house."
"That's different. And for the last time it's OUR house," Alison growled.
"Do you want to marry Em?" Aria asked.
Alison smiled softly. "Someday, yes. But we're not in any hurry. She still has her residency and fellowship to complete. That's the priority. Everything else will fall in place when it's meant to," Alison sounded confident.
"Hmmm," Spencer said.
"It really grates on my nerves when you do that," Alison said as she gritted her teeth.
"Do what?"
"Make that judgmental little hum."
"I'm just surprised, that's all."
"Why?" Alison asked as Pepe barked at some seagulls. "After all these years, do you still doubt my feelings for Emily?"
"No," Spencer answered honestly.
"Good," Alison snapped, tired of this conversation. "She's the love of my life, Spencer. And all of you need to just deal with the fact that as long as she wants me, I'm hers, and that will never change. I'd still be hers even if she didn't want me anymore."
"You're her entire life, Alison," Aria said softly.
Alison smiled gratefully at Aria, who, really, was the only one of all their friends, who truly believed the changes in Alison all those years ago were genuine.
"And she's mine."
#############
Emily walked into the kitchen to find Alison standing in front of the island making lunch, while Spencer sat in the breakfast nook reading. Hanna trudged in behind her carrying several bags from Nordstrom's and several more from Macy's.
"Hi, baby," Alison greeted as she smiled.
"Hi, love," Emily said softly as she pressed a soft kiss to Alison's lips once she reached her.
Alison hummed softly, loving it when Emily called her that. Then she laughed as she noticed Hanna.
"Jeez, Hanna. What the heck did you buy?"
"Just some necessities," Hanna replied as she plopped down in the chair next to Spencer.
"I was wondering what was taking you so long," Alison titled her head to look at Emily.
Emily shrugged noncommittally. "Hanna wanted to stop at the mall."
Hanna raised an eyebrow behind Alison's back but Emily ignored her and kissed Alison softly again. "I got you a surprise."
Alison stopped cutting the cherry tomatoes and grinned. "You know how much I love surprises from you."
Emily laughed as she lifted the small Victoria's Secret bag so Alison could see it.
"Lingerie," she said, feigning shock. "What kind of girl do you think I am?"
"Easy," Spencer snickered from the table as Hanna started taking her purchases out of the bags to show the brunette.
"Shut it, Spencer," Alison said as she lifted her face to peek over the top of the bag.
"What's this for?" Alison asked softly as she took the bag and lifted the matching sheer, midnight blue panties and bra set out of the bag. Emily loved her in blue because it matched her eyes.
"I thought you might want to wear that tomorrow night when we go to dinner." Emily brushed her lips gently against Alison's ear as she spoke softly so the others across the room wouldn't hear.
Alison lowered her voice and she glanced quickly at Hanna and Spencer. They were occupied looking at a new skirt Hanna had bought. "Why do we have to even go out to dinner tomorrow? Why can't we just stay in and be naked all night?"
Emily chuckled. "Because I want to take you out to dinner before I leave. And being naked kinda defeats the purpose of my buying that for you."
Alison's blue eyes flashed and darkened with desire. She hooked her finger in the belt loop of Emily's shorts, tugging her closer, as she brushed her nose against Emily's ear now. "I'll wear it and you can peel it off me with your teeth, then I'll be naked."
"God, will the two of you stop," Spencer gagged teasingly. "We can hear you, you know. I'm beginning to think Kira doesn't exaggerate."
Alison turned her head and glared at Spencer, who was smirking along with Hanna. Truth be told, Hanna's smirk looked a little manic.
Emily stepped back and Alison pouted, glaring at Spencer again. Then she sighed.
Emily laughed and kissed Alison's temple. "Where's Aria?"
"She's taking a nap. We took Pepe for a walk on the beach and it wore her out." Emily nodded as she plucked a tomato out of the salad Alison was making. "We should wake her up though. She should eat."
"Spencer and I will go wake her," Hanna said quickly as she stood and grabbed Spencer's arm, pulling the brunette to her feet.
"Hanna, what the hell?" Spencer asked surprised as Hanna tugged her along. "We don't both need to go wake her."
"Yes, we do, Spence," Hanna insisted as she dragged Spencer out of the kitchen.
"What was that about?" Alison asked curiously.
Emily just shook her head and sighed. "I have no idea. It's Hanna. Does there need to be a reason?"
Alison laughed as she stepped closer to Emily, where she was leaning against the counter now. She pressed her body against Emily's as she purred. "Now, where were we?"
Emily gripped Alison's hips and held her close as she gently brushed her lips against the blonde's.
"You were trying to convince me of the merits of being naked all night in lieu of dinner."
Alison sighed softly as she inhaled the scent of her girl. God, even after all this time, just the scent of Emily Fields could make Alison DiLaurentis melt. "I can't believe I have to convince you of the merits of being naked."
"Oh, you don't," Emily smiled. "And I do plan to keep your naked body occupied all night, until I have to get up to shower for my flight, but I want to take you to dinner and dance with you under the moonlight, first, so I have something to remember while I'm in Brazil."
Alison's eyes softened. "Baby, we can do all of that here, naked."
Emily laughed. "You have a one track mind, Alison."
"Yes, and it's always on you."
"Please indulge me," Emily said as she caressed Alison's cheek. Alison's eyes fluttered closed.
"Okay," she breathed as Emily kissed her once again.
"So, where are we going tomorrow night?"
"It's a surprise. We have reservations at seven. I have to meet with the hospital administrator at three to pick up my paperwork that I'll need for Brazil. So I'll drop the girls off at the airport and then go do that, then meet you back here?"
"Do you want me to come with you?" Alison asked.
"Then you'll have to wait while I'm in my meeting. It will probably be a couple of hours though so you don't want to have to wait."
"Oh," Ali said, her voice laced with disappointment. "Do you want me to take them to the airport then, so you can just focus on getting done what you need to do before you leave?"
"It's okay, Ali. I'll have plenty of time. I'm already packed. You just be ready to leave for dinner when I get back."
Alison smiled softly. "Okay, but what should I wear?"
"Dress fancy," Emily said and Alison squealed a little as she wiggled her body against Emily's and pressed soft kisses all over her face. Emily knew she loved it when the two of them would dress up and go out because she loved showing off her mermaid.
Emily laughed and hugged Alison close, moaning softly at the feel the blonde's body rubbing against her as her soft lips tickled her face.
"Okay, you two, break it up," Spencer's no nonsense voice rang out as the three women entered the kitchen, grinning like fools.
"Why are the three of you grinning like lunatics?" Alison asked as she pulled out of Emily's arms.
"No reason," Hanna said quickly and Emily cursed under her breath.
She really was going to kill Hanna one of these days.
##############
"Ali?" Emily called through the dark and silent house, wondering where Alison could be. She'd tried calling the house numerous times from the car but Alison never picked up. "I'm sorry I'm late. My meeting ran long and traffic was a bitch getting back here."
Emily dropped her purse on the table beside the door. Then she thought better of it because Alison's ring was in there. Emily had chosen to keep it with her just to be safe. She didn't think Alison ever went through her personal things, but, with Emily's luck, this would be the one time she did. Emily opened the coat closet door and dropped her purse on the floor for the moment before closing it.
She headed up the stairs, jogging up the two flights to the third floor where the master bedroom was.
"Ali?" she called out, again, confused. Where the heck could her girlfriend be? "Give me thirty minutes to shower and change. We'll still make our reservations."
Emily opened the bedroom door and she stopped, her mouth falling open slightly as she took in the sight in front of her.
There were candles everywhere and every surface she could see, from the floor to the bed to the window seat, were covered in rose petals.
In the middle of it all was Alison, on her knee in front of the bed, wearing nothing but the lingerie Emily had bought for her, smiling, her blue eyes glinting in the candlelight.
Now this certainly wasn't the first time Emily had seen Alison on her knees in front of her.
But it was the only time she was holding a diamond ring in the fingers of her right hand.
Emily stepped closer as she held her breath. She could see everything in the blue depths of Alison's eyes.
Love.
Confidence.
Trust.
Fear.
But most of all love.
"Ali," Emily breathed as she stepped closer to the blonde, blue eyed woman who held her heart, had held it since she was thirteen, and the woman who would hold it forever.
"Emily Fields, will you marry me?"