Taking us wayyyy back to season 5, remember that time? When emison was just within reach and then it was snatch away from us...MARLENE. No shade...just lots of sadness.

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"You had no right to nearly out Ali in front of my mother, Han." Emily says clearly annoyed. "I'm not apologising for it. I'm sick to death of watching Ali play victim." Hanna responds just as annoyed. "She's not playing the victim, she is the victim, or have you already forgotten that she was on the run for two years?" I can't help but smile at Emily's valiant effort to defend me. "I haven't forgotten that, but I also haven't forgotten the girl who left two years ago, but you might have." There's a silence between the two girls. "She's changed. She's different now. She's sincere and genuinely vulnerable, Hanna. You would be able to see that if you actually gave her a chance and didn't spend all your time drinking. You're getting out of control." Emily stated, her voice much softer, and I can just imagine the softness in her eyes as she said it. "Don't make this about me. You're falling for her all over again and it scares you because I might be right about her." The silence that follows scares me. Scares me because Hanna might have struck a chord. As much as I want to change, the question is, can someone truly ever change and that is the question I am still asking myself. "You're wrong," is all Emily manages to say. "Am I? Has she really changed or just got better at hiding it?" Hanna contests. "Regardless of what you think Hanna, we all need this story to stay intact or we are all incriminated by it." Emily finally replies.

"You're mom wasn't buying that story, Em. No one is. Everyone is beginning to see through her stories and facade. You're just too far up her ass to see it." Hanna whispered harshly at Emily. I was listening from behind. Hanna had said enough, and what we didn't need right now was the girls falling apart. I peered out from behind Emily, causing Hanna to look up and roll her eyes and head for the door. "Have a nice walk." Emily said coldly as Hanna stormed out. I watched her take a deep breath and lean her head against the door. Everything seemed to be rapidly pulling apart and I needed to do something to hold it together. I walked over to Emily and placed my hands on her shoulders. I hoped it was calming and it had the effect I desired when she sighed out and her muscles relaxed underneath my fingers. "I'm sorry about Hanna, she's just…" She trailed off turning around to face me. I could tell her showdown with Hanna had shaken her up, or at least shaken up her thoughts. I'm sure some of what Hanna said was about how I couldn't be trusted and when everything is pointing against me, I wouldn't blame Emily for believing her. "I just thanked your mom, thanks for having me over, Em," I said picking up my bag. I had done what I had intended to do tonight, persuaded Emily's mother of my innocence, whether she believed me or not was a different story all together. "You don't have to leave because of Hanna," Emily pleaded looking at me, her eyes as honest as ever. "I'm not, but I do have to go." I said bringing her in to a hug. I could get used to this. We were in unmarked territory. We had kissed long into the night the other day, and even after the argument over Mona, Emily was my rock. I don't know where it's headed between us but I'm waiting for Emily to decide to take a chance on me. If I just close my eyes, I can see us, really see us together and I want it so badly. "Are you okay getting home by yourself?" Emily asked as I began to walk out. "Emily, I'll be fine." I said giving her a genuine smile.

Once home, I changed into some dark clothing before heading out again. The girls don't trust me and I know that, but I can't let that ruin the kidnapping story and put us all, especially Aria, in a terrible position. The girls are more worried about if they can trust me and finding out about Bethany, which means I have to be the one in charge of taking an initiative and making sure it doesn't fall apart. So when I head out to meet Noel at the Kahn cabin, I don't let anyone know. The girls don't realise this now, but I'm doing everything to protect them. I always have. I'll be the bad guy today if it means we have the police off our backs. Maybe I still am the same manipulative Alison that left here, but that exact attitude is what kept me alive for over two years on the run. The difference is that I now know that people aren't just there to be toyed with and I can't treat the people I love like I own them. Which is why I don't fill the girls in on the plan to break into Hanna's house. They will see the girl that used people and I don't want that. I can't have Emily see me that way ever again. I know if I tell them they won't agree and I'll do it anyway, leaving me in the same position as ever. It's not like I can ask them for help, apart from sweet Emily, none of them are willing to truly give me a chance. They're waiting for me to trip up and prove them right. Hanna is falling apart with each day that goes by. I see that she's struggling with her identity because of my return and she's being pushed by Caleb and the stress of A. I get it, I do, but there isn't time for that because everything is just a short string from unravelling completely. When I leave Noel's, I have a plan set. That's all I seem to be doing these days, planning for an attack I can't even see which direction it will be coming from.

I return home again, back to the big and empty house that's filled with more ghosts and bad memories than a haunted house. Jason is gone and so is my dad, and I can't shake the feeling someone is watching me. Immediately I dial Emily's number. She's the only person on my side and I honestly just wanted to see her again. "Hello." She answers rather distantly. "I'm worried that A's gonna do something again tonight, can you come over?" I ask, vulnerability evident in my voice. "Fine," is all she responds before putting the phone down. I'm baffled by her reaction, to say the least. I mean, she's been nothing but understanding and her sweet self all day andI can't seem to wrap my head around it.

I don't expect her in my room as quickly as she is, our phone call having been only a few minutes prior. "How did you get here so quickly?" I asked, sitting up on the bed. "We were at Spencer's," she replies unhappiness written across her face. I keep my face neutral, hiding the tiny pang of pain it causes me that the girls exclude me from their meetings. Emily watches me from the doorway carefully dissecting me in her head. Perhaps I was too fast to hope there might be a chance for us. I can tell she still hasn't figured out her feelings for me. Her conversation with Hanna was enough proof. "Spencer saw you leave your house tonight, Ali." Emily finally admits, staring me straight in the eyes. How far she has come from the girl I left behind. She's almost fearless now, having courage to call me out. Honestly, it shocks me and knocks me off kilter. I don't let it show on my face, but take a second to reply. I can't help the smile that comes across my face; both from my happiness at Emily's growth and at the girls'. Of course I would be under tabs by Spencer. "What's funny?" Emily asks moving closer to the bed. "The girls thinking I'm still Ali, the big bad wolf." I say shaking my head. "Did you come here to confront me about where I went tonight, Emily?" I challenge her, tilting my head to the side as she sits on my desk chair. She's silent for a minute as she thinks before she shakes her head, obviously making up in her mind to give me the benefit of the doubt. "No, I came here because you needed me." She says finally relaxing. I can't help the (hopefully) slight blush that I feel flash across my face. "Thank you for sticking up for me with Hanna earlier, you seem to be doing a lot of that lately." I say honestly. Emily finally gives me her beautiful smile, dimples prominent. With each second I spend with her, I'm falling for her more and more, and it scares me because I'm ready to give her my heart. I've never done that before because I know that I'll lose all control over myself. I feel it more and more everyday; that Emily is the one calling the shots, that Emily is the one testing me and pushing me to my limits. It's frightening. Her smile sends my heart into a frenzy and it almost stops when she joins me on the bed. "I'll stay until you fall asleep, okay?" She asks kindly. I nod in fear that my voice won't stay steady. Surprisingly, she gets under the covers with me. The night I had stayed in her room she had strictly sat on top of the blanket while I slept, probably in fear that I would kiss her or she would kiss me when she still wasn't clear on her feelings. If this was Emily taking a step in my direction, I wouldn't push her. So I laid down next to her and only reached for her hand. She didn't resist as I slipped my fingers into hers. And maybe, just maybe, I was one step closer to being with the person who had crept up on me and stolen my heart.

Shout out to amilli0nreasons

For editing my stuff :)