Hello beautiful people! Oh my Gosh I have missed writing this story so much! Confession time: I had to reread my own fanfic to make sure all my plot points added up it had been so long (yes unlike the actual show I like to keep my characters in character and not leave gaping holes in my stories).
Guys I feel like I can be real with y'all...it has been one hell of a year. I've always been one of those people who always has their shit together and after I graduated college last May for the first time in my life I didn't have my shit together. Here I was with a stellar GPA from a world renowned institution...and guess what in the real world that didn't really mean shit (sorry for being blunt but it's the truth). This caused me to go in a complete psychological tail spin (I'm really good at masking though and was able to put up a front up to almost everyone). I interviewed with countless companies and always made it to the final round of the process before they kicked my ass aside. In hindsight I needed this to happen because in the back of my mind I always wanted to go to Grad School (but worried that I financially couldn't pull it off) and the reality that I might have to spend years and years working at a job that I hated didn't sit well with me.
Soooo...what's a girl to do? I reached out to my professors and they were like-girl for the shit you want to study and research you get paid by universities to get your advanced degrees. And little oh me was like "what!?" This gave me a new lease on life and after turning my attention to applying to Graduate School (while continuing to work my full time job-I got a new one of those too and it's really rewarding because I get to help the disabled integrate into my community through jobs, volunteering, and education programs) I began to feel a whole lot better.
And I'm proud to announce that this week I officially accepted a graduate fellowship and will be back in my motherfuckin' element in September-I wish it was now because I'm a nerd and miss school so much, but I will survive!
Anywayssss rant time about our beloved Pretty Little Liars:
My feelings on the time jump so far: WHAT THE FUCK!? Have the writers forgotten all of the shit that happened in the previous seasons? Ok first of all I'm still not ok with that Cece who was Charles but now is Charlotte was A crap. Like my God come up with some better shit! And then to kill her like right off the bat makes no damn sense.
Ali...oh my dear Alison who used to be my favorite fucking character-when did you become so weak and boring? And Dr. Rollins-that fool better stay away from Emily's future wife is all I'm saying. I swear he's the new A or Big Bad or whatever the fuck they're calling that shit now. Mark my words guys he's shady as fuck (and no I don't just believe that because I'm a salty Emison fan...although let's face it-that makes me biased as hell)
Spaleb...ugh the name alone just creeps me the fuck out. Like I'm sorry but under no circumstance do you start having sex with and dating your friend's ex. It doesn't matter if y'all crossed paths in Spain or wherever the hell...ya just don't do that to your girl. And honestly Spaleb has like ruined Haleb for me which makes me really sad because after Emison they were my next favorite :(
Ezra's book...can we just not? If you ever needed evidence that teacher/student relationships cause serious psychological damage Aria is your evidence. She's borderline obsessed with Ezra and it's not fucking ok. I've never understood why people support their relationship especially after he knew how much her and the other girls were being tormented and chose to not do anything except write a damn book and exploit them...bye Felicia!
Emison...this beautiful ship and our lovely ladies are the only thing keeping me from writing this show completely off. Ali being there for Em at the clinic had me fangirling so hard and screaming at the TV "My God you too love each other so much why can't you just be together!?" Guys I want them to be endgame so badly, but I fear because the writers on this show are just...yeah don't get me going.
Anywayssss refresher on Guardian Angel because it has been so long:
Ali works for the CIA as a Guardian Angel and Emily is a detective for the Special Crimes Unit in New York City. They were both investigating a string of serial murders that involved four women who were somehow connected to Brittany, Alison's best friend and partner in the CIA. Alison saved Emily after the serial killer went all psycho on her...and they kissed last chapter.
In this story Charles is Jason's twin and was A and our two ladies are madly in love with one another.
After that long ass author's note I hope you enjoy and please tell me what you all think! Thank you for being so patient! You guys are honestly the best!
Guardian Angel: An Emison Story Chapter Six
Love of my Life
CIA New York City Headquarters
Medical Ward
November 12, 2019
8:00 am
When she'd woken up ten minutes ago Alison had been terrified that everything that had happened the night before with Emily had been a dream…it wouldn't have been the first time her mind concocted wonderfully blissful moments with her mermaid in her subconscious only to leave her reeling when she'd woken up. But as she glances down at the still peacefully sleeping brunette who has a strong hold around her toned midsection (looks like Em wasn't letting her go either) Alison knows that it was real and she can't help but grin at the realization.
And Alison isn't stupid…she knows that her and Emily have so much to discuss (and a serial killer to catch), but God just being able to look into those soulful brown eyes again had caused her heart to swell to a capacity that couldn't have been normal. And when Emily had kissed her with so much tenderness and longing…Alison had felt whole. With one kiss Emily Fields had healed her shattered soul. And the blonde knows that doesn't make sense for a vast majority of people. How could one kiss undue almost a decade of pain? It was inconceivable really, but what she and Emily had was just that special.
Alison had feared that Emily would want nothing to do with her (although she never really believed that notion) if they were ever to meet again. After all the blonde had left Rosewood without so much as a second glance after she'd semi recovered from Charles' physical torment seven years ago. She and Emily shared that beautiful moment on her front porch following prom where they finally confessed their love for one another…and then everything had turned to shit less than two hours later.
Rosewood, Pennsylvania
May 25, 2012
It had been five days if Alison's method of keeping track of time hadn't failed yet. Five days since she'd met up with Charles…after that perfect moment with Emily. God, Emily…what was she doing right now? Was she going as crazy as Alison was being away from her? Images of the gorgeous brunette flashing through her mind were the only thing propelling Alison to keep fighting...thoughts of the tanned beauty had sustained her when she'd been living on the streets in New York City for over two years and the same could be said now. Emily was and always will be her light. When her world becomes shrouded in darkness, Emily reminds her that goodness remains.
Charles had vowed that by the end of his torture she was going to be begging for him to take her life…and that he'd gladly grant her request. Leave it to her psychotic brother to make her suffer before granting the girls their freedom. And really Alison would have never regretted sacrificing her life for her friends' freedom. For them to be able to live normal and happy –A free lives. But three words from a certain tanned brunette were making her regret ever going through with this plan. Knowing that Emily Fields loved her in the same way that the blonde absolutely loved the brunette was making the very real possibility that Charles could succeed in killing her that much harder to accept. If the two had never talked, never danced…never kissed her dying in order to save Emily, Spencer, Hanna, and Aria could have been Ali's way of showing them all how much she loved them. But now…death would mean giving up a relationship (and future) with Emily. It didn't seem worth it…and it wasn't fair to either of them.
Alison slightly shifts in her handcuffed position on the cold basement floor and winces because over the past five days Charles had beaten her repeatedly. Her entire body aches in excruciating pain and all she desires now is to find a spot to lay in that would make it dull ever so slightly. She hasn't been successful so far in her mission…no matter how much pressure she alleviates from one area of her body it triggers a flare up somewhere else. Ali knows that she has broken ribs and internal bleeding…the blood she occasionally coughs up being evidence of that. The blonde also suspects that she's suffering from dehydration and food deprivation given that all Charles had given her had been a little bit of water (only to rouse her awake after she'd fallen into a restless sleep) since they'd met up all those nights ago. The only consolation she's had since her torment began is that Charles had rarely left her along, which means he wasn't physically harming the others (the psychological damage was a different story though).
The blonde knows her friends are probably losing their minds trying to find her. They're too good of people not to do everything in their power to bring her home…unfortunately Ali has a sinking feeling that it won't be enough. The blonde can only imagine the cryptic messages Charles has been sending to the girls (and she suspects the ones Emily's been receiving are far worse given the way the two feel about each other). He's probably sending them to God knows what locations when really he's stashing her in the most obvious place in existence. But when had anything –A related ever made logical sense? The girls are probably analyzing the bread crumbs he leaves for them far too much, when the answer lies right in front of them. If it wasn't such a horrifying situation Alison would have laughed out loud when Charles had brought her to her Aunt Carol's basement to suffer. The house where her mother had buried the not so dead boy…and really bringing her here let Alison know that Charles was indeed rattled by her agreement to let him kill her. That means he was off his game and Ali would be able to strike when given the chance (well if she wasn't dead that is...)
Charles had been gone for almost an hour and Ali was starting to become worried because this was the longest he had left her alone…
As if on cue Alison hears the basement door swing open and she cringes because that means in no time Charles is going to begin her next round of beatings. She can withstand a lot of pain, but damn this was becoming unbearable. Ali vows that if she survives this ordeal she is going to take up boxing and karate lessons so she never feels this helpless again.
"Alison!?" The blonde was expecting Charles' raspy voice to ring down the stairs but instead she was met with the panic filled one of her father's.
Tears spring to her eyes and relief spreads through her bones because someone had found her. God, she loved Kenneth. She survived getting convicted of a murder that never even happened because of the silver foxed stud…and he was coming to her rescue again. And it's not like Alison needed to be rescued every day, but it warmed her heart that Kenneth had become the protective father she always craved while she was growing up. It would have been helpful if this version of her dad had existed when her mother had been raising her to become a manipulative liar, but she'd take it now. Better late than never she muses.
But just as quickly as relief had washed over her upon hearing Kenneth's voice, panic began to seep through her pores as well. If Charles came back and found them there's no telling how he'd react. Ali knows for a fact that neither she nor her father would be making it out of Aunt Carol's basement alive.
"Dad!" Using every ounce of strength she could muster Alison tries to shout for her father while her lungs scream at her in protest. She can feel the broken segments of her ribs stab into her lungs and other organs…shit, that can't be good. But Kenneth must have heard her because she hears his heavy footsteps ramble down the stairs. Her eyes are severely bruised (she suspects she looks like Rocky Balboa following his fight with Apollo Creed when Mickey'd had to slit his eyelids open so the Italian Stallion could even see), but she manages to peer out and take in her father's worried form as he makes it to the bottom of the stairs. Kenneth's steely blue eyes expand to their largest capacity as they settle on Alison's beaten and bruised body. The blonde's clothes are drenched in her own blood and she knows she must look a sight when her father's eyes fill with tears and he rushes to her side.
Kenneth crouches down next to her and lightly brushes her messy blonde hair out of her face. It's the gentlest touch she's felt since Emily had held her in her arms on prom night and Ali wants to cry out, but she knows that'll only make the pain worse.
"Oh, sweetie…" Kenneth struggles to continue because seeing his daughter in such a compromising state is literally tearing him to shreds. But Ali sees the determined flare return to his eyes as he lays down in front of her and gently stokes her cheek as he promises, "I'm gonna get you oughta here, baby. Wayne Fields, Jason, and Toby are minutes away. We're gonna get you out and then we're gonna stop Charles. He'll never hurt you-or your friends-again." Alison wanted desperately to believe her father's words. To believe that him, Jason, Wayne, and Toby (and the blonde loves that her dad has gone behind Lieutenant Tanner's back to find her-and what three better people to assemble than Rosewood's one decent cop, one of the best corporals in the army, and her now overly protective brother?) can save her and stop Charles when he returns from wherever he is. But when has anything ever gone her way?
But she relishes in the idea and melts into her father's comforting touch.
"Hold on for me, Ali. You're so strong angel." Her father's speaking barely above a whisper and Alison finds his loving tone so comforting. She appreciates the moral support Kenneth is giving her-especially since it'd be impossible for him to free her from the chains Charles has securing her to the metal pole in Aunt Carol's basement. They've managed to slice so deeply into her wrists that she's sure bone has become visible…if Kenneth were to try and pry the restraints off without a key there's no telling the irrevocable damage it could cause.
However, just being in his presence is slightly easing her pain. Next to Emily Fields and Pepe, her father had become the most important person in her life since she'd returned to Rosewood. And she's so glad she doesn't have to suffer alone anymore. And she knows that's a selfish thought to have especially since she'd been so willing to sacrifice her life for her friends' mere days ago…but wasn't the saying "misery loves company"? And right now she was miserable and loved the company.
"We gotta get you out of here so you can dance in Emily Fields' arms again." Despite his tears Kenneth is smiling ever so slightly and the sight warms Alison's heart. But…wait? Had her dad seen her and Emily on their front porch five nights ago? She didn't think they were being overly loud…then again when it came to the brunette Alison lost all common sense (and apparently the ability to take in her surroundings).
The blonde feels a blush start to spread to her cheeks-although she doubts it's noticeable given the bruises that adorn her face-before she manages to croak out, "You s-saw?"
"Yeah…" The business man trails off before beaming, "I'm so proud of you sweetie…for finally telling Emily how you feel. I know your mother would be so proud as well."
Even though it'll kill her lungs to form an entire sentence she declares, "I love her s-ooo much, dad." And it feels so good to open up to her father about who makes her heart beat exponentially.
"I know, Ali…I think deep down I've always known. You weren't exactly subtly with how longingly you'd look at her." And Alison slightly chuckles at that because she knows it's the damn truth. She was so madly in love with her mermaid and no matter what she did she couldn't cover up that reality. It was foolish to even try…
"No, she wasn't." Alison feels her blood run cold as Charles' voice echoes throughout the basement. Shit, how long had he been back for? Despite all of the physical pain she was in she had been enjoying the moment with her father. So much apparently that she didn't notice her tormentor returning from wherever in the hell he was.
Once he'd registered Charles' presence, Kenneth had shifted his body so that Alison was completely shielded from the black hoodie clad psychopath who bore an identical resemblance to Jason. It was evident that Kenneth would be damned if anything more happened to his baby girl at the hands of the son he had buried all those years ago.
"It made manipulating her sooo much easier…all I had to do was threaten Emily and little Alison did whatever I commanded." Charles goaded as he took slow steps towards the father and daughter pair. His hauntingly cold blue eyes bore into Alison as he continued, "When I first started watching you I assumed you were just a manipulative bitch. The perfect replica of dear old mother-and let's face it Alison you were…except around one person." Charles uses the 9 mm gun in his right hand as a driving point and Alison can't help but fear that soon her life is going to be over. That not only will Charles kill her but he'll take Kenneth's life as well. Kenneth's gaze hasn't left Charles since the deranged human being had made his presence known. And Alison can't imagine what her father must be feeling. The son he thought was dead long ago turned out to be the one causing her so much pain. Charles was the product of another one of her mother's manipulative ploys and if that knowledge disgusted Alison, the blonde can only imagine what the truth is doing to Kenneth. Even if he wasn't Charles and Jason's biological father (and of course her mother just had to have multiple affairs on top of everything else just to stab her husband in the back a little deeper) Kenneth had loved them like they were his sons.
Charles continues to tauntingly pace back and forth in front of the pair as his long sandy blonde hair occasionally falls over his eyes. The 9 mm gun is tight in his grip and Alison knows that he's just waiting for the perfect moment to strike...And as fucked up as this sounds the blonde is praying that Charles just shoots her-that he spares Kenneth and just takes what he ultimately desires: her. After all she survived getting buried alive by her own mother-how much could a gunshot possibly hurt?
"One person got to see beyond the cold exterior you displayed to the world and…it absolutely baffled me. You see dad, I thought Alison was incapable of feeling love. After all mom conditioned her to be void of all emotion…yet here she was offering Emily Fields stolen glances, gentle touches, and genuine vulnerable. It threw me for such a loop I almost had to change the entire game." Charles laughs as he reminisces about the early –A game days. "It was absolutely hysterical to watch you grabble with your feelings Alison. To see you be in such denial about how you felt towards your best friend-that was priceless. You wanted sooo desperately to maintain your 'queen bee' reputation, but love is a tricky thing isn't it, sis?" The blonde cringes at the way the term of sibling endearment rolls off his tongue and also at the memories of all the times she'd pushed Emily away when they were younger come flooding through her mind. "So you'd give into your desires and then brush them off as if those moments meant nothing to you. I mean that locker room rejection was just ohhh such an Alison move!" Despite how bruised her eyes are Alison can feel tears spring to them as she recounts the moment when she'd broken Emily's heart. "When little innocent Emily finally built up enough courage to act on her feelings towards you…you!…my beautiful sister…in true DiLaurentis form…completely destroyed her. It was beautiful Ali-truly beautiful the way you not only convinced her that nothing the two of you shared meant anything to you, but how absolutely ashamed you made her feel for being gay…I couldn't have done it better myself."
Alison wanted to die right then and there. She was absolutely disgusted with how her younger self had treated Emily. Even if she wasn't ready to accept her out of control romantic feelings for the stunning brunette she should've at least been a better friend…and not made Emily feel so ashamed of who she was.
She wants to say something-anything-to prove to this maniac that she was a changed person. But she could hardly breathe without feeling like she was on the brink of death and she honestly didn't have the energy to explain herself once more.
Besides Emily knew she was a different person-the person the brunette had always known she was deep inside-and that's what mattered. Alison didn't care what anyone else on the planet thought of her-especially not someone who got kicks out of making teenage girls' lives miserable-as long as her mermaid knew the truth.
"Do NOT listen to him sweetie." Alison's gaze drifted from Charles up to her father who was speaking to her in a strong whisper and hovering protectively over her battered body. "Emily knows who you are. I…I know who you are." Kenneth's eyes were swirling with so much love and adoration it was almost too much for Alison to take. "And I love you so much."
In as strong of a voice as she could muster Alison replied to the man who she was eternally grateful for, "I love you too, dad." Kenneth leaned down and placed a gentle kiss on her forehead and for a moment Ali forgot where they were…and who was observing every instance of their precious moment.
"Aww isn't that precious?" Charles' mocking tone echoed throughout Aunt Carol's basement and just as quickly as her father was able to calm her racing heart her psychotic brother surged it back into its panicked pace.
"Too bad it'll be the last conversation you two ever have." Charles stated in such a dark tone Ali felt chills spread from her toes to the ends of her blonde hair. In one quick motion Charles aimed the 9 mm at the pair and Kenneth jumped on top of her, wrapping his arms securely around her.
And Alison knows what's going to happen before Charles even pulls the trigger. She knows her father's about to die protecting her and she starts screaming because she can't be responsible for his death as well. The sound of the bullets exiting the 9 mm chamber rattle around her and it's as if time slows down-like she's Clark Kent living in the super speed realm while the rest of the world just stops. She can see them traveling closer and closer to her father's body, but unlike Superman there's nothing she can do to stop them. She's absolutely powerless.
Her heart breaks as Kenneth's face twists in pain as one bullet after another strikes his body. But no matter how much pain he's in he won't let her go-he won't let any of the bullets from Charles' gun hit her. And all she can do is pray that her father can survive long enough for them to get to the hospital. After all he said that Wayne, Jason, and Toby were only minutes behind him…that had to mean they were going to get there soon, right!?
Her vision is blurry from the tears that are spilling from her swollen eyes and she wants to help her father so desperately because she can see the light fading from his steely blue eyes. She knows in only a matter of minutes he'll be joining her mother as another one of Charles' victims.
But her psychotic brother has other ideas. He crouches down next to the pair and puts the barrel of the gun to the back of Kenneth's head. A sadistic smirk spreading across his face as he hears her panic filled screams,
"NOO! NOOO! PLEASE CHARLES! PLEASE!" She screams with everything she has and thrashes against her chains, but it's to no avail as Charles pulls the trigger and her father's eyes permanently close. NO! NO! He can't be gone! Alison is hyperventilating and her broken ribs are screaming in pain as Kenneth's dead weight lands fully on top of her. But the physical anguish is nothing compared to the emotional damage she will forever suffer seeing the life leave her father's eyes mere inches from her own.
Ali doesn't even know what happens next. She can hear the basement door fly open and hurried feet come rushing down the stairs. She's positive that Charles has been tackled by someone-she doesn't know who. And really she doesn't care because her father is dead. The man who had seen the best in her since she'd returned home and loved her unconditionally would never be able to hug her again, never be able to tell her that he believed in her-even when nobody else did. Charles had ripped him from her life just like he had killed Jessica before their relationship could even begin to heal.
She can hear numerous voices shouting, but she can't make out what they're saying. The blonde can feel herself slipping into unconsciousness as her wailing has completely exhausted her. All of her physical injuries combined with the reality of her father's death propelled her into almost complete blackness.
If it wasn't for a soft hand soothingly stroking her cheek and the faint smell of lavender that filled her nostrils and reminded her of her beautiful mermaid, Alison is positive she would have died right then and there in Aunt Carol's basement.
"Stay with me, Ali." The blonde didn't know if she was hallucinating or not, but Emily's sweet voice reaches her ears and she finds herself reaching into the deepest depths of her soul to survive-to make it back to Emily Fields.
Alison reaches up and wipes the single tear that had fallen from her cerulean eyes as memories of her torment and her father's sacrifice flash before her. That horrible night seven years ago had changed the course of her life forever. After Charles killed Kenneth with no hesitation (and almost ended her life as well), Ali believed she was permanently damaged. That she could never live a life worthy enough for what her father had given up in that basement. Survivor's quilt really is a bitch.
She left Rosewood as soon as she woke up from her coma because she had thought she was beyond repair…but one amazing friendship with Brittany later…and the blonde now knows that her life has meaning (and really it always had). She had just been too broken to recognize it back then.
Yet despite all of the progress she's made and the family she gained after Charles and Rosewood, Ali knew that she would never be complete without Em. And for the first time in forever (since the night of prom really) the blonde dared to dream that the brunette resting against her chest could be a part of her present and-she prayed-her future. There was a reason she found Emily in that abandoned ammunition plant (and saved her life like the badass superhero she now is). Nothing about their relationship had ever been easy. So many forces had always worked against them-whether it was her cold exterior or her psychotic half-brother-something had always gotten between Ali and the love of her life…and ironically now they're in yet another chaotic situation, but this time Alison vows she won't run and she won't hide from what she feels. Doing either would kill her. She'd lived for too many damn years without Emily and even if it broke every rule in the CIA she was going to be a part of the brunette's life as long as the former swimmer would have her. Truly, being a Guardian Angel in the CIA had given her a purpose in life and it was a large part of her identity, but she'd give it all up to be with Emily Fields. She'd sacrifice her career to get her happy ending (Alison hopes to God she never has to make that choice, but if she does…it would take her about one millisecond to choose). That realization is something she's always known (and the blonde suspects Brittany and Reggie have always known it as well), but it is terrifying none the less.
Because one thing has become exponentially clear to Alison as she's laid with a strong hold on her so…so beautiful and strong willed mermaid: Emily Fields is simultaneously her greatest strength…and her greatest weakness. She'd go to the ends of the earth for her and now that God had brought the detective back into her life she'd fight like hell for her to remain.
Rosewood, Pennsylvania
July 1, 2012
When the hospital called and told her that Alison had woken up from her coma Emily felt her heart stop beating. It's the news she's been desperately waiting for since she'd followed her dad and found Alison lying on the brink of death underneath Kenneth's lifeless body over a month ago in Aunt Carol's basement. Since the moment she'd taken in Alison's battered body Emily had hardly left her side-she couldn't leave her side. It was too painful to be away from the woman who meant everything to her…even if all of the conversations they've had recently had been one-sided. Her mother had had to physical drag her from the blonde's bedside and force her to shower and change her clothes after Ali's first week in the hospital.
Honestly, Emily didn't want to leave Alison's side because she had to make sure that nothing else happened to her. When she'd found out that Charles had kidnapped the blonde and was torturing her Emily felt her heart crack in half. What made it so much more gut wrenching to bear is that Alison had gone willingly with the psychopath. Later she'd found out from Spencer's mom that Ali had made a deal with Charles (at least according to the deranged maniac) to give up her life for the other girls' freedom. This fact had left the brunette utterly speechless-she knew that Alison loved all of them (and her heart flutters thinking back to prom night when the beautiful blonde had finally opened up to her about her feelings. Hearing those three words come from Alison's lips had become her favorite sound in the entire world). But the fact that Alison was going to die for her, Hanna, Spencer, and Aria was just…so selfless. Yet Emily couldn't help but be angry at Alison for choosing to do so. Didn't the blonde understand that the brunette couldn't bear to exist in this world without her? She had already done that for over two years when she thought Alison was dead and for six months while she was in prison (and the fact that she had played a part in sending her there still made Emily sick to her stomach)…she honestly didn't believe her heart could endure anymore separation from the love of her life.
In the beginning of Alison's recovery everyone at the hospital had been hesitant to inform Emily about her prognosis and her slow progress but it became pretty evident to the blonde's doctors and nurses that the brunette wouldn't be deterred. After all with Kenneth dead and Jason falling back into his drinking and drug addiction, Emily and the other girls were literally the only family (besides Pepe of course) that the blonde had left. That fact is why Emily was so pissed at herself for not being by Alison's side when her brilliant blue eyes finally opened. Of course, leave it to Ali to wake up in the wee hours of the morning on the one night that week the brunette had gone home to get some sleep.
She's pretty sure she drove through every stop sign and stop light on her way to the hospital. Luckily it was 4am and there was hardly any traffic on Rosewood's suburban streets. Her tires screeched to a halt as she literally Tokyo drifted it into a parking spot. Emily hadn't even bothered to change-she was clad in her sharks sweatpants and hoodie-but she figured Alison wouldn't care.
Emily sprinted into the hospital's front doors and down the corridor to Alison's room faster than she'd ever run anywhere in her entire life. She was out of breath as she swung the door open, "Alison!"
But she wasn't met with her beautiful blonde; instead Lieutenant Tanner's smug face came into view. What the fuck was going on?
"Ms. Fields why am I not surprised?" The woman who had made Alison's return to Rosewood a living hell mused.
Emily's mind was running a million miles a minute. What the hell was going on? Where was Alison? There's no way she could have left under her own power…her broken ribs weren't completely healed yet.
"What's going on? Where's Alison?" Emily rushed out as she could feel herself begin to panic, "They called and told me she woke up. Where is she?!"
"If she knows what's good for her...on her way out of Rosewood." The out of date perm wearing police officer stated in a non chalant manner. Emily saw red. She could feel her hatred for this woman return. What the fuck had she done to make Alison leave? Emily vowed after Alison had damn near died in her arms on the ambulance ride over to the hospital that'd she'd never let anyone or anything come between her and the blonde again. She'd kill this bitch if she so much as raised her voice at the shattered teenager who had literally lost everything.
"What did you do?" Emily stepped into Tanner's personal bubble and seethed out in such a threatening tone she could see the chills run down the lieutenant's spine-good she should be terrified. Alison's nickname for her used to be 'Killer' and there was a reason for that-especially given her instinctive protectiveness over the blonde.
"I simply told her the truth." Tanner paused and smirked as she looked Emily up and down. "That this town and everyone in it is better off with her gone."
Emily couldn't believe what she was hearing. What the fuck was this woman's problem? Wasn't her damn job to protect the citizens of Rosewood?! Not cast them out when they're their most vulnerable!
Before her rational reasoning can catch up with her body's reaction Emily's fists have clenched around the lieutenant's shirt collar and she's pushed her against the nearest wall. Emily's not thinking about the possibility that she could be arrested for assaulting an officer right now-all she sees is the woman who had told the love of her life to get out of town. She'll kill her; she will literally strangle this scumbag of a human being right here, right now! And it's terrifying how far Emily will go for Alison-she would lose her humanity to protect her, to defend her honor: if that's not eternal love she doesn't know what the fuck is.
"You what!?"
Tanner wraps her own nimble fingers around Emily's hands that have significantly tightened their hold on the lieutenant's collar. Emily doesn't want to know the absolute look of hatred that has taken over her usually doe eyed chocolate orbs. If she had the ability to produce heat vision she can guarantee that Tanner would have been eviscerated by now.
"If I were you Ms. Fields…I'd get your hands off me. We wouldn't want things to get carried away now would we?" And despite how badly she wanted to pummel the woman Emily lets her out of her grasps and takes a small step back. She can't find Alison if she's sitting in a jail cell after all.
"That's better, Emily." Tanner states as she straightens out her ruffled collar. "You know it's really quite…amusing."
Emily gives her a look that conveys how carefully the lieutenant better step with what she's about to say before darkly asking, "What is?"
Tanner softly chuckles at her before replying, "How much you obviously love Alison yet were so quick to turn your back on her. I mean you even planted evidence against her."
Emily feels her blood boil with rage because of the truth behind Tanner's words. She would never be able to forgive herself for what she had done to Alison in the aftermath of Mona's fake murder. But how dare this fuck wad question what she feels for the blonde!
Getting back in Tanner's face but keeping her hands to herself this time Emily growls out in a hushed whisper, "You will never understand what I feel for Alison. I love her with every fiber of my being and if anything-anything!" She makes sure to bore through the lieutenant's soul with her fiery glare in order to add an extra emphasis before continuing, "happens to her, you're gonna wish you never stepped foot in this town. I can promise you that."
With that Emily storms out of the hospital room that had been Alison's home for over a month trying desperately to keep her tears at bay because she won't give Tanner the fucking satisfaction. Yet the inescapable reality was Alison was gone and Emily's heart clenches in her chest because what if she doesn't reach her in time? What if she can't find her and tell her that everything Tanner said was complete bullshit. What if she never got to hold or kiss the blonde again? She couldn't fathom living her life without Alison in it-and she's panicking because there's a very real possibility she might have to do just that.
Rosewood, Pennsylvania
September 1, 2012
It had been two months since Alison had woken up from her coma. Two months since the blonde had disappeared from Emily's life again. The reality that Alison had chosen to leave Rosewood without so much as a goodbye still killed the brunette (and probably always would). Spencer reasoned that Alison probably left without seeing Emily because she never would have been able to go had she laid eyes on the former swimmer. One thing all three of her best friends had agreed on since Ali disappeared into the night (and the brunette still doesn't know how Alison managed to do so given her injuries) was that she was probably hurting just as severely being away from Emily as the brunette was being away from her. It was hard to explain but Emily literally felt like she was dying inside. Even though things between her and Alison had been complicated to say the least since the blonde's return, just knowing that she was safe and alive made it so much easier for Emily to just…live. Now she didn't know where the love of her life was. And she had tried to find her-God had she ever tried to find Alison. But if there's one thing her beautiful blonde was a pro at it was vanishing without a trace (well that and completely capturing Emily's heart).
And it was hard for the others to understand but Emily felt like if she quit trying to find Alison then she was giving up on her and after that horrible confrontation outside the blonde's house following Cyrus' ID when she'd told Ali she was done with her, Emily vowed never to do anything to cause that much pain to swirl in Ali's blue eyes again.
Emily's currently sitting on her window seat, gazing up at the moon, trying to make sense of everything that's happened. But that's the thing-nothing that's happened in her life makes any rational sense.
Why would Alison leave right after she woke up from her coma? Even if Tanner told her to (the brunette suspects the lieutenant also threatened the blonde)…Ali had to know that no one else blamed her for anything that had happened with Charles. For God sakes it isn't her fault that her delusional sibling who she didn't even know existed decided it would be a good idea to torture and murder people. Where ever she is Emily prays that Alison can find what she's looking for…that she can find the strength to heal.
And while the brunette's decision to go forward with attending college might give the impression that she was moving on from trying to find her first love, Emily will never stop searching. She's just realized that she can't become completely obsessed with it because that wasn't benefiting her or Alison. She needed something to occupy her mind that was running a million miles a minute all the time and what better way to do that than through school…of course she had also made another decision to help with that.
Emily's dragged from her thoughts as Hanna waltzes into her bedroom-completely invading her privacy and personal space, but then again when has Hanna ever followed those orders of social convention?
"Jeez Hanna you could have knocked at least." Spencer's placating voice rings up the stairs as she and Aria filter in after the blonde.
"Never really been my style Spence." Hanna refutes and Emily can't stop the small smile from spreading across her face. She really wouldn't have survived these last two months (and the years of –A's torment before that) without these three.
Hanna plops down next to Emily on the window seat and offers a coy smirk before completely sprawling herself on top of the athlete.
"Han! What are you doing?" The brunette chuckles while repositioning herself so she can properly hold onto her friend. Spencer rolls her eyes and Aria looks on in adoration as the spunky blonde gets comfortable on top of Emily.
"I need to soak up as many Emily cuddles as I can before we all leave. I mean don't get me wrong I love Caleb and all but you're just so damn comfy Fields."
A loud laugh escapes Emily's mouth at Hanna's blunt response. It feels good to genuinely laugh-she hasn't done that very often in the past two months. As her laughter quiets down she takes in the three beautiful souls who have made themselves at home in her bedroom and she's overcome with love for them. Since Alison had disappeared again (and trust her Emily wants to be furious with the blonde for leaving, but she loves her too damn much to really hold a grudge. Because at the end of the day she just wants Ali back in her life) they've been her rocks. Somehow they all understood how deeply she loved Alison and didn't question why she was so desperate to find her. They had been her shoulder's to cry on and the best friends anyone could ever ask for. It was going to be so insanely hard to be away from them when they all left for college in a few days; Emily couldn't even fathom being more than a few blocks away from any of them (especially Hanna who was always there to make her laugh, offer a supportive hug, or drag her ass out of bed).
The brunette knew they'd all survive anything college (and the changes that came along with it) at them. After all they'd survived a month in Charles' dollhouse; they could handle dorm rooms and snooty professors.
"Han, we won't even be 100 miles away from each other. There's just a Jersey turnpike separating New York and Philly."
"Ugh thank God you decided to go to Temple instead of Pepperdine. I couldn't handle you being all the way in California, Em." Hanna replied while burrowing further into Emily's hold.
The brunette just smiled at the blonde because honestly she could never handle being on the other side of the country away from these girls, her loving parents, and the love of her life. She didn't know why but she had a gut feeling that Alison would remain on the East Coast…and that was reason enough to choose Temple University.
"It's bad enough with artsy fartsy going all Southern on us." Hanna threw a glare in Aria's direction who was seated next to Spencer on Emily's bed.
"Hey! Georgia's a great opportunity for me!" The smaller brunette countered.
Hanna lifted her head off of Emily's chest before throwing back with no bite in her tone, "And what?! You couldn't find artistic opportunities at a college around here?"
Spencer just shook her head before placating the simultaneously fiery and loving blonde, "Hanna! Aria has to follow her heart!"
"Well why does her heart have to take her away from us, Spence?" It was evident that Hanna wasn't actually angry at Aria for choosing to go to school the furthest away-she was just going to miss the tiny brunette and therefore was lashing out.
"I mean first we lose Ali-" A deafening silence encompassed her bedroom and Emily could see Spencer and Aria worriedly glance at one another and then over to her to gauge what her reaction would be to the mention of her lost love's name. The three of them had been desperately trying to avoid bringing anything up regarding the blonde while in Emily's presence, but in their playful banter Hanna had let it slip. Sometimes Emily forgot that she wasn't the only one missing Alison. Even though it had been a slow process Spencer, Aria, and Hanna had just begun to repair their respective relationships with Alison when the blonde decided to sacrifice herself for the girl's freedom. The three of them were suffering as well, but they had Toby, Ezra, and Caleb to help ease their pain…
Hanna's hand had covered her mouth as soon as she'd begun to say Alison's name and she started apologizing immediately, "Oh my God, Em. I'm so sorry. Jesus my freakin' mouth just starts going and it's like it won't shut up-"
"Han!" Emily interrupted the blonde's ramblings because it was unnecessary for everyone to be walking on egg shells around her. She didn't want Hanna, Spencer, or Aria to live in fear that she was going to break at the mere mention of the former queen bee. Yeah it stung like hell to hear Alison's name, but God she wasn't made of glass.
Meeting Hanna's worried gaze Emily softly continued, "It's okay. You're allowed to talk about her…I can handle it." Given from the sympathetic look she got from all three girls she knew they saw through that lie. She wasn't really handling losing Alison she was simply learning how to live with it (begrudgingly she might add).
Hanna let out a relieved sigh before whispering, "Am I allowed to say I miss her?" Emily was taken back by the question. Her mouth went dry and she honestly didn't know what to say.
Luckily Aria came to her rescue, "Of course you can, Han. We all do."
Spencer and Aria moved from her bed over to the window seat and sat down in front of it to show their solidarity with their other two friends. Aria gently grabbed Hanna's hand and implored her to continue voicing her thoughts with her understanding hazel eyes.
"It's just…I find myself wondering how she is. Like is she even okay? Does she have anywhere to stay? Food to eat?...God, she must be so lonely." Hanna trailed off and Emily felt her heart clench in her chest. Imagining Alison somewhere out there suffering with nowhere to turn was just too fucking much.
"I think you have to remember that Alison's resourceful, Han. And I mean on top of how smart she is she just has…survival instinct. She survived for two years on the run from Charles and survived six months in prison." Guilt clouds Spencer's brown eyes as she remembers her part in putting Alison in prison-it's a look that Emily wears whenever that part of her past is mentioned as well. Spencer's determined resolve returns as she finishes, "I think Ali can pretty much handle anything."
"Yeah, but…from what we know or at least what Charles gloated about…" And the thought of the masked maniac who had made their lives a living hell causes all four girls to feel a chill roll down their spines. Thank God Charles had gotten the maximum possible sentence for the crimes that could be proven he committed-unless there was a complete fuck up in the system their tormentor would never see the light of day again. But that didn't mean the nightmares of what he had done to them (and the reality of who he had ripped from their lives) didn't leave psychological scars. It was going to take time for all four girls to adjust to living in an –A free world…and the irony isn't lost on Emily that ultimately Alison achieved what she had striven for in agreeing to go with Charles on prom night-the texting psychopath was permanently out of their lives. In a sense they were free…but isn't there a cost to freedom as well? For Emily it meant losing the love of her life.
Hanna's shuddering intake of breath draws Emily back into their conversation-God; it was terrifying how quickly her mind could wander. "Alison had to watch Mr. D die mere inches from her…that has to fuck someone up…witnessing their father die like that."
Emily whispers out in a haunting tone, "He was completely shielding her. His body was riddled with bullets…and his arms were wrapped so tightly around her the paramedics had to pry them off so they could tend to Ali. There was so much blood…" The brunette feels tears spring to her eyes as images of the gory scene she, her father, Toby, and Jason stormed in on flash before her eyes. It looked like something out of a horror film and her Ali was so beaten and bruised…Emily didn't think there was any way she could survive. And she had felt so useless because there was nothing she could do for the blonde-all she could do was talk to her slipping into unconscious form and caress her bruised face. When Spencer, Aria, and Hanna had met her at the hospital she was in a damn near catatonic state after Alison got rushed off to emergency surgery. There was nothing physically wrong with her, yet Emily felt like she was dying. It was as if every blow that Charles had imposed on Ali the athlete was absorbing as well. That's how damn deep their connection was-they ached for each other and that's what made enduring this separation so hard. All she wanted to do was heal Alison with her love-she knew the blonde was physically damaged and probably spiritually broken, but Emily was patient. She could have handled it! God, why did Ali leave? WHY!?
She didn't even realize she was crying until she felt Hanna brushing her tears off with the pads of her thumbs. Spencer and Aria had placed supportive hands on her forearm that was still wrapped around Hanna's back (who was still lying on top of her). Was it an awkward position to be crying in? Yes. But Emily was relishing in it, because she knew in a few days she wouldn't be able to cry over Alison surrounded by her three support systems.
Moving her arm that wasn't wrapped around Hanna, Emily tried desperately to wipe away her cascading tears, "I'm sorry guys."
"Hey you don't have to apologize, Em. I can't even fathom what my reaction would have been if I walked in on a scene like that and Toby was in Ali's state," Spencer soothes.
They all sit in silence as Emily tries to collect herself. After a few moments a smirk begins to spread over Hanna's face.
"Yeah, you can Spence."
Spencer soft brown eyes met Hanna's blue one's swirling with mischief. "I can what?" The inquisitive brainiac asked with an arched brow-obviously anticipating that Hanna was going to drastically change the mood (and direction) of their conversation.
"Imagine what your reaction would be if you found Toby like Emily found Alison." Hanna stated in a know it all manner. Where the hell was the blonde going with this? "News flash genius you already did once and your nut case ass ended up in Radley."
Oh my God Hanna did not just go there! Emily didn't know if it was appropriate to laugh, because let's face it mental illness was nothing to joke about, but damn that was funny. She couldn't gauge Spencer's reaction though and the brunette wasn't about to make fun of her time spent in a mental institution without some indication that it was alright to do so. God –A really had screwed them up she mused if she was contemplating laughing out loud at Spencer's pain in some twisted form of love. It was pretty evident that their lives would never really be normal nor would their reactions to situations given everything Charles had put them through…but wasn't normalcy overrated anyway?
The tension was palpable between Spencer and Hanna with neither girl backing away from their epic stare down. It was evident that Hanna was coming from a loving teasing place…she just hoped Spencer understood that.
A loud snort ripped her attention away from the two girls as her eyes fell on Aria who was desperately trying to muffle her laughter…but the tiny brunette was failing miserably.
"Aria!" Spencer nudged the girl sitting on the floor with her with her shoulder and Aria toppled over in a fit of giggles. And the sight broke Emily's resolve. Jesus, Aria laughing her ass off and Spencer's look of horror sent her over the edge. She joined in Aria's laughter and was met with a playful hit from Spencer.
"You guys mental illness is not something to laugh about! That was a really hard time in my life!" Spencer yelled at the two giggling brunettes but lost all credibility when she started laughing towards the end of her declaration.
The next few minutes consisted of the four girls laughing in fits where one of them would begin to calm down but get roped back in because of a noise someone else made. Emily felt light headed-she hadn't laughed like this in a really really long time…and honestly it felt amazing to have a care free moment with the girls who had gotten her through everything. After they had all semi collected themselves and wiped the tears of joy that were spilling from their eyes Spencer lightly whacked Hanna over the head with a pillow from Emily's bed.
"You're such a bitch for that, Han!"
"Don't even try Hastings! You know you love me!" The spunky blonde countered as she grabbed the pillow from Spencer's hand and shoved it down the side of the window seat closest to the window so she couldn't get hit with it anymore.
"Yeah, you wish Marin!" Spencer sarcastically huffed out.
Her two friends continued to playfully glare at one another and it was clear that they really had nothing but love for the other…even if they occasionally drove each other crazy. Despite all of the shit the four of them have had to endure in their short lives Emily knows that they are all blessed to have a friendship as solid as this between them.
But there was still something that Emily had to tell the three of them…she just hoped that they supported this decision she'd made as readily as they had always supported her throughout the years.
"Guys, there's something I have to tell you." The brunette began and she didn't know why her heart was beating so quickly…they'd always accepted her before-surely they'd do the same now, right?
Three pairs of eyes became directed at her and suddenly the former swimmer felt like she was going to be sick.
"What is it, Em?" The glow of concern that shined through in Hanna's blue eyes as she repositioned herself on top of the athlete so she could get a better look at her gave Emily the courage she needed.
She took a deep breath before explaining, "I won't just be going to Philadelphia for college. I…um have just been really disgusted with our justice system and the way all of us have been treated…the way Ali was treated-especially by Tanner who was supposed to be protecting her!" Emily could feel her blood begin to boil just thinking about the scum bag lieutenant who had told the love of her life to leave town right after she'd woken up from her coma.
"Em…" Aria's soft voice helped draw her out of her tangent and refocus on what she needed to tell the girls.
"I guess you could say I was inspired…or more like really pissed off. Anyways, I just can't help but believe that things would have been different had we been able to trust the police in this town." Jesus was that ever the truth Emily mused. She knows for a fact that Alison (and the rest of them) would have never ended up in prison had the Rosewood Police department been manned by officers who had half a fucking brain.
Emily wanted to be that advocate for victims-to bring justice to the defenseless. Talking to her father had helped solidify her decision and made her see how rewarding a career helping people could really be. She just hoped her three rocks felt the same about what she was going to do (but even if they objected there was no way she was being deterred now).
"And because of that I decided to enroll in the Philadelphia Police Academy."
Spencer, Aria, and Hanna all shared some surprised glances but nothing in their facial expressions indicated that they were upset. Phew, looks like she could breathe a sigh of relief.
"Wow…" Spencer being the most rational of the group began and then inquired, "How will that work? I mean with like your schedule and everything."
Spencer's attention to detail made the future officer smile as she explained, "I'll go to the academy during the day and take classes in the evening at Temple."
"Won't that be a lot to juggle? I mean I just don't want you stretching yourself too thin, Em." Aria's natural compassion poured out and for the millionth time in the past few years she finds herself so grateful for the three women sitting in front of her (or in Hanna's case sprawled out on top of her).
"It'll keep me constantly preoccupied…which is honestly what I need right now." And it was true-she did need to keep her mind constantly focused on something, because when she didn't it always veered to one person. And constantly thinking about Alison was breaking her heart.
Hanna gave her midsection a tight squeeze before proclaiming, "Well, I think it's great! If anyone can kick mega ass as a cop it's you Emily."
"Thanks, Han."
"Plus you'll look really fucking hot." And there Hanna goes ruining their sweet moment with her always blunt mouth.
"Hanna!" Spencer chastised the spunky blonde. "God do you have no filter?"
"None what so ever!" Hanna threw back at the tall brunette. They all shared a laugh again and it felt amazing to have her friend's support.
Emily noticed Aria kept looking like she wanted to say more but always stopped herself before she could actually get the words out.
Reaching her hand out Emily gently took Aria's in her own, "What is it Aria?"
"It's nothing." Aria tried to reason but they all knew each other so well that everyone could see through her weak lie.
Emily gave her friend an expectant look which made the tiny brunette sigh before she continued.
"I was just gonna say that I think Ali would be really proud of you…for wanting to do something so meaningful."
Emily's heart swelled at that possibility. It wasn't like she was making the decision to become a police officer because she thought Alison would approve, but it would be an added bonus…then again would she ever even see the blonde again?
"Yeah you'll totally sweep her off her feet with your cop bravado when you two meet again!" Hanna excitedly shouted.
"You really think we'll find our way back to each other?" Emily's insecurities about her possibly not having Alison in her future began to shine through.
"Duh! You two are soulmates-you won't be complete until you come together again, which means yes Emily Fields you will find your way back to Alison DiLaurentis because it's just written that you're meant to be together."
"You really believe that?" Emily wanted to desperately take Hanna's reasoning for canon but everything that happened in her life prior to this moment left her hope in doubt.
"I have to Em. I mean look at Caleb and I. He goes off to Ravenswood and encounters supernatural forces or whatever, but still found his way back into my orbit. The universe couldn't stand us being apart. The same will happen for you and Ali…I just soooo know it!"
Emily didn't have the heart to question Hanna's optimism about love. After all it had worked out for her and Caleb-maybe the same would happen for her.
New York City CIA Headquarters
Medical Ward
November 12, 2019
9:00am
But as the weeks turned into months which turned into years Emily began to doubt that she'd ever be reunited with Alison. Never once had she stopped loving the blonde or keeping an eye out for her, but it just became easier to live without Alison. It helped that she found remarkable purpose in her job and was promoted to detective after she graduated from Temple. Being a detective offered her very little life outside of work which for her aching soul was a complete blessing.
Despite her limited time for a social life, Emily wasn't blind. She had to witness her three best friends fall more and more in love with their significant others, while she was desperately left to yearn for her's. And while she was so incredibly happy for them (especially Hanna and Caleb because their relationship was just remarkable in every sense), it still killed her.
When Hanna had given birth to Chloe four years ago (her and Caleb had never been good about keeping their hands off one another and after they got married following Hanna's freshman year at FIT their desire for each other had just exponentially increased…which meant that it was only a matter of time before the two created a child) the hole that Alison left in Emily's heart slowly began to fill (not completely of course, but still Chloe made up for that void in her life). Emily's goddaughter had really been her salvation in every sense. When her work became too horrifying Chloe's smiling face reminded her that there was beauty in the world. And when she slipped into bouts of sadness over Alison, Chloe's hugs never ceased to bring her back to life.
But despite all the love she got from the Hanna mini-me…nothing could make up for Alison being out of her life. Yes, it became easier to function without the blonde-especially with the loving support of her parents and her three best friends-but it was still unbearable at times. She'd catch herself being reminded of Alison because of the littlest things…like every time someone ordered chamomile tea in a coffee shop while she was there or she saw a flash of blonde hair or heard people speaking French...
Everything reminded her of Ali and secretly Emily was glad that her love remained so reverently etched in her memory. It was against her wishes that she was physically separated from Alison-she could at least be reminded of her in her thoughts and in her dreams.
And the brunette was so confused…her head was throbbing. Did Ali really save her from that abandoned ammunition plant? Did she really wake up in her arms last night? Did they really kiss?
She feared it was all a trick…that if she opened her eyes she'd find herself alone in her bedroom in her apartment and not in Alison DiLaurentis' surprisingly strong arms. That would be the cruelest ruse her mind could ever play on her-but it had happened oh so many times before.
But Emily could still feel Alison's lips on her own. It had been so long since she'd felt that complete. How could one kiss make you feel whole again? How could a moment filled with longing passion and tender love make up for seven years of being away from your soulmate? It was inconceivable really, but hadn't she and Alison always been other worldly in a sense?
Emily was terrified of opening her eyes (and possibly facing the harsh reality) but she remembered Alison promising to never let her go, so she put her faith in the woman who she would follow to the ends of the earth and allowed her eyes to flutter open.
Groaning because damn her head was bashed in with a crowbar and she was undoubtedly suffering the effects of a concussion, Emily shifted and winced again as her bruised ribs yelled at her in protest for her movement. But her pain was instantly taken away as she took in the breath taking sight before her.
Sitting in a chair a few feet away from her hospital bed-wait...seriously where the fuck was she? God she hoped this all got explained somehow…-was her effortlessly beautiful guardian angel. Alison had always been mesmerizing while they were growing up, but damn she was just WOW now!
And it was remarkable really given the physically (and emotionally) broken state the blonde had left Rosewood in that she was now so strong and so poised. Ali looked like she had freshly showered and she was adorned in jeans and a loose fitting long sleeved shirt that hung ever so diligently off her one shoulder…what Emily wouldn't give to kiss that temptingly bare skin…Jesus Emily control yourself the brunette internally scolded. For God sakes she and Ali hadn't even had a proper conversation about well…anything really. All they'd established the night before was how much they had missed one another…and well that kiss communicated more than words ever could, but still…
Emily had so many questions swirling around in her head. Like what the hell had Alison been up to in the past seven years? How was she connected to the Johnson family? Was she hunting the same serial killer that Emily was? And if that was the case then who did she work for?
One of the bad things about being a detective is she rarely took things for face value and analyzed the shit out of every situation…and despite her never faltering feelings for Alison she was still left with wanting answers.
Alison looked to be deep in thought as she was staring at a picture on the wall and playing with her fingers (a nervous habit it appears she never really outgrew, which makes Emily swoon because despite everything that's changed in their lives some of the innocence from their early teenage years had remained).
"God, you're beautiful." The words slipped from her mouth before Emily even had a chance to realize what she doing.
Alison's brilliantly blue eyes met her's and Emily was taken back by how much love was swirling in their depths. It was like they were having a silent conversation conveying everything they felt (and had always felt) for one another in that moment. Effortlessly Ali stood from the chair and made it over to the hospital bed.
"Em, how are you feeling?" The blonde asked with such tenderness that Emily was rendered speechless. How had she lived without this woman for seven years again?
She must have been wearing a confused expression because Alison slowly continued, "Your head?" Ali's nimble fingers brushed over the wound that the crowbar had left on her forehead and Emily felt herself instantly relax at the skin to skin contact. The smell of Ali's vanilla body wash was destroying every ounce of pain that she should be feeling at the moment. "Your ribs?" Alison sat beside her on the bed and the brunette couldn't help but inch closer.
Emily waited a moment to reply as the tension continued to build between them. Their relationship had always been charged, but it blew the detective away just how electric they really were. Turing her head so she could kiss Alison's palm Emily breathed out, "With you here I forget I'm injured."
It was such a profound statement to make, but it was the honest truth. She could be suffering from a gunshot wound and the mere sight of Alison would have her believing she was fine.
"Em…" Ali did that adorable head duck thing that she did whenever she was shy and Emily could feel herself falling even more in love. She had never stood a chance against Alison's charm (especially when the blonde wasn't trying to be charming she was just being genuine).
"It's true, Ali." Using her free hand she cupped Alison's face and made the blonde meet her gaze, "I just…can't believe you found me."
"I can't believe it either." Alison stated in a reverent tone a little above a whisper. She was looking at Emily like she was the most miraculous thing she had ever seen and the detective was completely captivated. Why had she spent so much time during senior year pushing this phenomenal human being away? Why had it taken prison and a dollhouse and almost dying for her to trust Alison with her heart? It was evident now that Alison would cherish it with her life.
"After Rosewood I always held out hope that we'd come together again, but I didn't even know if you were still alive…" Her voice is laced with so much emotion and she sees sorrow overtake Alison's pools of ocean blues-almost like a silent apology for leaving seven years ago. And she doesn't want to start crying but God this was just so amazing. She had spent years concocting different scenarios of when she'd meet Ali again and never in her wildest dreams could she have envisioned this being how they were reunited. It was fitting given that Alison had always been her savior, but still. Life really was amazing-you never knew what the hell it was going to throw your way. Ali popping up in her serial killer investigation was a curve ball she was definitely ill prepared for…but one she would gladly catch any fucking day of the week.
Emily hadn't even realized tears were cascading down her cheeks until she felt Ali whipping them with the pads of her thumbs. "I'm so sorry for the way I left Emily. This is going to sound ridiculous, but…I never meant to hurt you. I was just…I was just so dead inside…after Charles killed my dad."
The detective feels her heart clench in her chest at the mention of Kenneth. From all the physical evidence collected in Aunt Carol's basement it became apparent that the man had died protecting his daughter from Charles' reign of terror. Given how close Alison and her father had become after she returned to Rosewood, Emily couldn't even fathom what that was like for Alison to endure witnessing him sacrifice himself for her. The quilt that must have overtaken the blonde's soul must have been unbearable. Emily knows that witnessing her mother or father die in such a manner would surly destroy her…that reality was why the brunette couldn't really hold it against Alison that the blonde had disappeared from Rosewood without a trace.
Moving her hand that was on Alison's cheek to the back of the blonde's neck she guides Alison's forehead so her lips can place a soothing kiss (much like the blonde had done the night before when she'd been slipping into unconsciousness) on it. Her lips linger for a good thirty seconds before she brings their foreheads together and declares what she knows Alison desperately needed to hear, "I forgave you a long time ago, Alison."
Her love lets out a long sigh of relief and Emily can't help but relish in the feel of having Alison so close to her again. And the brunette curses that her ribs are bruised because she wants nothing more than to pull Ali to her chest and run her fingers through her glorious blonde hair. She settles for making room on the surprisingly comfortable bed so Ali can lie beside her. Emily finds it all sorts of adorable how Alison rests her head on her shoulder and curls into her body the best she can without causing any pain to the detective.
They laid in comfortable silence just staring into each other's eyes for a few minutes…and my God it had been ages since the brunette had felt this content. How could Alison simultaneously cause her heart rate to quicken and demeanor to calm?
Not wanting to disturb the intimacy of the moment but being driven by her natural curiosity Emily tentatively asks, "Ali…wh-what made you come alive again?"
She hopes Alison isn't offended by the question, but Emily was a detective after all. She couldn't help but wonder what had happened to the love of her life since she'd last seen her. Alison had said she was dead inside after Kenneth's murder, which is why she left Rosewood, but it was clear now that she was healthy and strong. What had happened over the past seven years for her to grow into this incredible human being?
Or maybe the better question was who had happened to the blonde?
Ali offered her a soft smile before replying, "It's a long story."
Emily was about to interject and say she didn't care…that she was all ears when Alison continued, "But it's one you deserve to hear. I want you to understand who I am now Emily."
The reality that Alison wanted to be vulnerable and bear her scars for Emily to see truly warmed the former swimmer's heart. And the fact that Ali didn't seem nervous at all about expressing her emotions showed Emily just how much she had grown.
"I know who you are." The brunette declared.
"What?" Alison's eyebrows furrowed in confusion and Emily grinned at her because she was seriously too damn cute.
"You're Alison DiLaurentis-the love of my life."
Alison let out a breathy laugh as Emily finished her declaration making sure to emphasize the truth behind her words, "You may be a lot of other things now, but that will never change." Grasping Ali's hands in her own Emily implored, "I love you with every fiber of my being. You're my soulmate, Ali…and I can't live another day without you."
"You won't have to, I promise." A coy smile spread across Alison's beautiful face, "Remember I'm never letting you go?"
Emily chuckled at Alison's reference to their conversation from the night before. She had been pretty loopy from the pure oxygen pouring through her body through her nasal cannula, but she had definitely remembered her angel's promise.
"I love you so much Emily Fields." Emily felt like she'd died and gone to heaven. Hearing Alison say those marvelous three words to her would never grow old.
She kissed Alison's heart shaped lips and it was the absolute best feeling in the world when Ali kissed her back with just as much tenderness and love as she was giving to the blonde. Emily knew that they both had so many things to figure out. So many questions to answer…but right now the pair relished in their bodies being so close and their souls being reunited.
Whatever came next they could handle because they had each other…and damn Emily had been waiting for that to be her reality since the hospital called and told her Alison had woken up from her coma over seven years ago in Rosewood.
They had both changed and grown so much since then…healing themselves and longing for the other half of their being.
And now that they had finally found each other-nothing and the detective means absolutely fucking nothing was going to tear them apart.
Ugh I love Emison so much!
I hope you all enjoyed! Again I apologize for the loooonnnggg wait, but I was in such a shitty head space for so long you wouldn't have wanted me to try and write for this story!
Lol I wrote that scene between Tanner and Emily before she popped back up on the show and I just love how snarky she is-she's like an older version of Mona. She's so annoying yet so good (such conflict I tell ya).
Also I love my version of Kenneth so much more than the one on the show. I based mine off of season 5A Kenneth...if you couldn't tell.
I'd love to tell you all that I can just write this story all day every day and update frequently, but that just isn't the case.
I do have a full time job and a mom, brother, dog, cat, and friends who I spend time with...But I promise to always keep a file open on my laptop because honestly working on this story will help these next 6 months fly by before I'm in Grad School!
Here's to hoping we can survive Rollins and Ali...I swear to God Emison better rise in the finale and into season 7 or I might just have to grab my girls and roll up in the PLL studios with Eiffel Towers and kissing rocks!