Breathe Again

by MysticalGoddessOfWords

It's been over 6 years since that fateful Christmas Eve. When Alison and Emily come face to face again, will they be able to overcome the past in order to have a future? With Emily back in her life, will Alison finally be able to breathe again? Sequel to Ali's Nightmare Before Christmas. AU as of the end of episode 5x12

7. Chapter 7

Disclaimer: I own nothing PLL.

Yay… I'm back sooner than I thought. This part was in much better shape than I thought so I was able to get through it much quicker, although I did add over 3K words during the edit.

The events of this chapter have been a looooong time coming… just over 88K words long.

Hope it was worth the wait.

Thanks for reading and reviewing and your patience as always. Your support and kind words make my heart happy.

Enjoy!

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Chapter 7

"What the fuck do you want?"

The door in front of her swung open and Emily was faced with one very irate blonde. She knew it was late; she'd just gotten off work and part of her felt like she was actually still drunk from the two bottles of wine she and Marielle consumed the previous night. The two women drank until they got silly and then until they got sad. They shared a good long cry and then slept in each other's arms for the last time.

Emily barely dragged her ass out of bed in time for work and her hangover was the worst she could ever remember having. She burned two desserts before Pierre kicked her out of the kitchen and told her to go the hell home, and part of her wondered if she even had a job to go back to tomorrow.

But Emily couldn't wait another second to see Alison. She hadn't expected a warm welcome after the other night. She expected the need to grovel, at least a little, to get Alison to listen to her, but she also didn't expect this. She probably should have.

"You've got a lot of fucking nerve coming here," Cece spat as she crossed her arms and glared daggers at the brunette.

"Cece, I want to speak to Ali," Emily replied evenly even though she was tempted to snap back. She needed to get by the guard dog if she had any hope of seeing Alison.

"You've said all you need to say to her."

"This is between me and Alison," Emily insisted. "And you need to stay out of it."

"The fuck I do," Cece snapped. "I know I told you to cut her loose if you didn't want her, but did you have to be so fucking brutal about it?"

Emily cringed. She probably deserved that.

"I warned you, Americano-" Cece started but Emily cut her off.

"Cece, don't threaten me. I'm not afraid of you."

Cece's scowl deepened and Emily could have sworn she actually saw Cece's eyes flash. "You need to stay away. Go back to FiFi and let Ali finally get on with her life."

Despite being on the receiving end of her wrath, Emily appreciated Cece's instinct to protect Alison.

"No," Emily said. "Not until I say what I came here to say."

"If you think I'm letting you anywhere near her, you're more delusional than she is."

At that moment Pepe came scampering down the stairs and he slid across the hardwood floor and slammed into Emily's legs. He barked and Emily almost felt he was scolding her as much as Cece was for hurting Alison. Emily noticed he seemed to be moving slower than usual and was actually limping a little. She crouched down and petted him. He head butted her then licked her fingers.

"You're such a fucking traitor," Cece growled at the dog.

"What's wrong with him? Why's he limping?"

"I don't have to tell you fucking anything," Cece replied petulantly.

"Cece, who is it?" Alison's voice floated down the stairs. It was dull and emotionless and it felt like a stab to her heart because Emily knew it was her fault.

"It's me, Ali," Emily called out at the same time Cece said "No one."

Cece growled and turned back to glare down at Emily. For a second Emily wondered if the blonde was going to try to kick her.

"Em?" Alison's voice perked up and she came into view as she walked down the stairs.

Emily stood and looked at Alison and her breath caught in her throat. She was both relieved that Alison sounded like she wanted to see her, yet, horrified by the sight of her.

Alison's normally glorious blonde hair hung limp and messy on her head, like she hadn't washed it for days. She was dressed in raggedy sweatpants and a white tank top that looked like it had seen better days. There were dark circles under the blonde's eyes, her face was splotchy from what looked like tears and all the light had gone out of her eyes.

Emily wanted to weep for what she'd done and she wondered if perhaps it really was too late to make things right with the girl she loved. All Emily wanted to do was go to her and gather the blonde in her arms and whisper words of love and contrition and forgiveness.

The only thing that gave Emily hope, that maybe Alison would forgive her, was the love she saw flickering in the blonde's eyes. Even behind the lack of life and light, there was love shining through.

Why had it taken Emily so long to see and believe it?

"Al, you don't have to see her," Cece started to say, but Alison shot her a quick look as she reached the bottom of the stairs, before her eyes returned to Emily's face.

"You should probably go, Cece," she said quietly and firmly.

Cece's whole body reacted with surprise before she exploded. "There is no fucking way I'm leaving you here with her."

Alison eyes whipped toward Cece again and the blue depths were blazing. It was a little disconcerting to Emily to see how quickly the blonde's eyes could change, but then again her eyes were the most expressive thing about Alison.

"Cece, I'm a grown woman." Alison blinked and her anger was gone but there was still a steely determination in them. "And I love you for your support and attempted protection but you need to get the fuck out of my house now."

"Un-fucking-believable," Cece threw her arms up into the air as she shook her head, clearly not fazed by Alison's reaction. But Emily could see worry in her eyes. She was worried for Alison and, again, Emily could appreciate that. But, of course, it didn't stop her from being Cece.

"I'm done doing this Alison," Cece scoffed. "If you're letting her stay and kicking me out after I've spent the last two days keeping you from slitting your wrists, then don't call me when she breaks your heart again and leaves. Call your brother because I'm done."

The blonde stalked over to the dining room table and grabbed her purse.

"Don't be such a fucking drama queen," Alison scoffed right back as she rolled her eyes.

At Cece's words Emily's eyes whipped to Alison's wrists. They were smooth and unblemished and Emily felt the relief flood her.

"She's just being melodramatic. I've never tried to slit my wrists," Alison said to Emily seeing the momentary panic in her mermaid's eyes.

Cece stomped to the front door and then stopped. Emily stepped aside to let her pass. If she and Alison were going to be together, Emily knew she and Cece were going to have to find a way to coexist. But she refused to be intimidated by the blonde.

She met Cece's gaze evenly and the blonde stared at her for a long moment. Whatever she saw in Emily's eyes made her narrow her own and then her face smoothed over.

"Don't fuck it up, Americano," she said before turning to look at Alison.

"Take a fucking shower. You're starting to reek."

Alison looked so horrified it was almost comical and she turned her head to try to discretely get a whiff of herself.

Cece turned to look at Emily again. "If I show up here in the morning and find her broken again there will be no place you can hide, Emily."

"Get out Cece," Alison growled.

"Later," she said as she walked out the door and down the front porch steps.

Emily closed the door behind her as Pepe started nudging her toward the staircase and Alison.

Emily looked at the blonde again and her heart clenched to see how broken she really looked. She was always so put together, had always been, since she was a girl back in Rosewood; no matter what was happening in her life. To see her any other way was unsettling.

Of course she was still beautiful. To Emily, Alison could never be anything but stunning.

She stepped closer with Pepe's not so subtle urging but Alison stepped back.

"Cece is right," Alison admitted ruefully "I need a quick shower. Can you give me five minutes?"

She was almost afraid to ask, not wanting to give Emily any reason to leave again, but she didn't want Emily to see or smell her like this.

"Sure." Emily nodded, knowing the blonde needed to pull herself together.

Alison turned to ascend the stairs but stopped when Pepe barked from in front of the door. "Damn it. I should have asked Cece to walk him before I kicked her out. I just have to take him out back real quick."

"I'll take him," Emily offered. "Where's his leash?"

Alison's heart melted in an instant.

"Are you sure?" she asked as she walked toward the kitchen to get the leash hanging on the wall beside the garage door.

"Yeah," Emily said from behind her and Alison jumped slightly, not realizing the brunette had followed. "For some reason he likes me so it's the least I can do."

"Pepe's always loved you," Alison said as she turned around to face Emily. "Ever since you took care of him after my mom died," Alison reminded her as she handed Emily the leash. "The waste bags are in the handle."

"Okay," Emily replied but she didn't make a move to walk away. She just stood looking at the blonde in front of her.

"Thank you," Alison said sincerely as she smiled almost shyly. It made Emily want to kiss her. "I'll be done with my shower by the time you get back," the blonde added quietly.

Unable to stop herself Emily leaned forward and pressed her lips against Alison's. The blonde gasped in surprise and then a whimper escaped the back of her throat before she pulled her head back. The intense look in Emily's eyes made Alison's heart thump in her chest. But before she could ask Emily what she was doing, the brunette turned and walked out of the kitchen.

"Come on, Pepe," she called and Pepe barked in response.

Alison stood frozen in her spot, lifting her fingers to her now tingling lips, as she heard the front door close. She had no idea why Emily was back or what she wanted. She was almost terrified to find out. But after that kiss Alison felt a glimmer of hope again that maybe all was not lost with her mermaid.

It was that hope that had her sprinting up the stairs and to the shower.

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

It was the fastest shower Alison had taken in her life. She usually liked to take her time, enjoy the fee of the water cascading over her skin as she left the conditioner in her hair for at least five minutes while she did her other business. But this time she didn't. Her hair and body and face were washed in record time and she was out of the shower in three and a half minutes.

The blonde threw on a comfortable pair of shorts and a t-shirt. She was still horrified Emily saw her, the way she did, but at least Emily didn't seem to notice her old tank top in its battered and ratty shape.

Alison heard the front door open and she quickly brushed her teeth and hair before pulling the long strands up into a ponytail. She pinched her cheeks a little because she looked just too pale, but there was nothing she could do about the dark circles under her eyes. She hadn't slept well at all since Emily left the other night, but none of that mattered now. Her mermaid was here and if Alison didn't get her ass downstairs she'd never know why.

With one last look in the mirror, the blonde turned and walked out of the bathroom and down to see if, for once in her life, she just might get her wish.

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Emily was sitting in the chair next to the fireplace scratching Pepe's ears when Alison descended the stairs. He looked to be in heaven and the blonde was actually jealous of her dog. She couldn't blame him though. She would give anything to have Emily's hands on her. The brunette looked perfect sitting in Alison's living room, petting her dog, just like she belonged there. As far as Alison was concerned she did.

Emily looked up and smiled as she took in the sight of Alison, comfortable and casual, looking infinitely better than she had not ten minutes ago. She looked nervous, more nervous than she'd been a few nights prior. And Emily couldn't blame her. She had no idea how she was even going to start this conversation. She didn't want Alison to think she was only here because Marielle had left her, although it was inevitable it would look like that.

But Emily knew she was destined to end up here again. Everything Marielle said to her was right. And even though it hurt to let Mari go, Emily knew this was where she belonged, where she'd always wanted to be; with the girl, now woman, she'd always loved. She just hoped she wasn't too late.

When neither one of them spoke Pepe barked and loped over to Alison to get a pat on the head.

"Hi baby," she murmured as she stroked him lovingly.

"I noticed he's limping," Emily observed.

Alison frowned softly. "Yeah, he's starting to do that. The vet said he's getting arthritis in his old age." The blonde swallowed as she said the words.

Even just the thought of Pepe getting older and not being around was almost as debilitating as the thought of Emily not being in her life. It wasn't something she was willing to entertain, so she once again shut it out and crouched down to hug him.

"I give him an anti-inflammatory when he's really stiff and she said he's got to get some of the weight off." Alison scratched down his back and then back up again. "Fucking Cece calling him fat," the blonde grumbled. "I hate it when she's right."

"He's not fat," Emily reiterated what she'd said to Alison at the skate park all those weeks ago. "There's nothing wrong with him having some meat on him, but he is a little chunky. Do you still jog with him?"

Alison arched her brow skeptically and Emily laughed in response.

"I guess that answers my question."

"Running is not really my thing. I only do it every once in a while like that day we saw you." Alison adjusted Pepe's collar, gently pulling out some of his fur that had gotten caught in the metal clasp. "Besides I worry about what it would do to his joints."

"If you take it slow it shouldn't be too jarring for him."

Alison shrugged, not really sure why they were talking about Pepe and not why Emily was there. But she couldn't help but fall a little more in love with the woman in front of her because of her concern for Alison's dog.

At that same moment, Emily felt like she was falling more in love with Alison as she watched the loving, nurturing, caring side of the blonde she always knew existed come out.

"Do you know they have yoga for dogs?" Alison asked casually because even though she was dying to know what Emily wanted to say to her, she couldn't bring herself to ask yet. But she didn't want to stop talking either, didn't want to stop hearing Emily talk. If fact she wanted to spend the rest of her life talking to the brunette.

"You're kidding, right?" Emily chuckled but then stopped when she saw that Alison wasn't chuckling with her. But she was smiling and Emily was, once again, struck by how incredibly beautiful Alison was when she smiled.

"Nope," Alison replied as she stood up. "It's called 'Doga' and we take a class twice a week now."

"Is that so?" Emily said with an amused tilt of her head.

"You think I'm crazy, don't you?" Alison asked as she nibbled on her bottom lip.

Emily shook her head, seriously, but her eyes were soft and gentle and filled with understanding. "No. You obviously love him a lot. He's a lucky dog."

"He's a spoiled dog," Alison murmured as she reached down to stroke his head again as he sat patiently waiting for more affection, which he knew, from experience, would come from the blonde.

"Maybe I can take him jogging with me sometime," Emily offered casually. "I don't tend to run fast or far. I just like to stretch my legs a bit. I'll go easy on him."

And there Alison went falling yet even more in love with her mermaid again. "I bet he'd love that."

After a few more strokes Pepe decided it was time to leave and he loped up the stairs and was gone.

Alison knew he was just an animal and therefore could in no way comprehend the importance of what she hoped was happening with Emily, but sometimes it just seemed like he instinctively knew exactly what she needed. He seemed to know when she needed his company and his snuggling and when she needed her space from him. After what happened the other night, she wondered why he would leave her alone with Emily, but dog's had instincts that humans couldn't comprehend and he probably knew Alison was safe with the brunette.

The blonde just hoped he was right.

Emily stood up from the chair after Pepe disappeared up the stairs.

"Thanks for waiting," Alison said in an attempt to fill the silence that had fallen over them again. "I'm sure I looked like Medusa."

Emily shook her head. "You're always beautiful to me, Ali."

Alison felt her body tremble in response to Emily's heartfelt words. She wanted to hurl herself at the brunette and kiss every inch of her beautiful face.

Instead she asked, "What are you doing here, Em?"

Emily steeled herself for what she knew was not going to be an easy conversation. Nothing between them was easy, but Emily wanted it to be, so badly. She wanted all this tension and awkwardness to just go away so they could have a genuine shot at something real together.

It was what they both wanted so why was it so hard getting there?

Emily licked her lips nervously before she said, "I wanted to say I'm sorry for the other night."

That wasn't what Alison was expecting.

"What for? Breaking my heart?"

Alison wanted to cut her tongue out. Sometimes that old part of her would just slip out; the defensive, sarcastic one that attacked first and thought later. She was so good at keeping that side of her at bay, now, but the truer the sentiment the harder it was to keep it from coming out. "I didn't mean to say that," she added contritely as she nibbled on her bottom lip again.

"It's okay," Emily said and Alison looked at her with surprise. "And yes, I'm sorry for breaking your heart, Ali. If it's any consolation, I broke my own too."

"At one time in my life, it would have been," Alison admitted honestly. "But not anymore."

The blonde wrung her fingers together but she stepped a little closer. The sofa was still between them but Alison thought maybe that was best for the moment.

"I accept your apology, Em," Alison said. "But I still don't understand why you're here. You made it pretty clear the other night you didn't want to see me again."

So there was going to no gradual segue into this conversation. Emily should have figured as much so she decided to just get it out there.

"Mari and I broke up."

Emily held her breath as Alison looked at her like she was speaking a foreign language. And not one either of them knew.

"What happened?" the blonde asked once her brain caught up with her ears. She tried not to let the squeal that was building inside her come out because that would have been insensitive. But Alison felt like the vise that was around her heart was starting to loosen.

"She just got back from Paris and she's moving into her own apartment."

Alison walked around the sofa now and Emily took a step closer as well. "Wait a minute, she's been in Paris?" Alison asked as her forehead wrinkled in confusion.

Emily nodded, wondering where Alison was going with this.

Then Alison's eyes flashed with annoyance. "That's why you agreed to come over here the other night? Because she was out of town?"

"Mari doesn't…. didn't…. tell me what I can and can't do." Emily stuttered and shook her head feeling they were getting off track. "Anyway that doesn't matter. That's not the point."

"What is the point?" Alison asked tetchily as she continued to pin Emily with a narrow look.

"The point is I'm telling you we ended things last night. We're no longer together."

"What happened to 'I'm going to make this work with her, Alison'?"

The blonde tried to keep the bite out of her tone but she failed.

This was it. Emily had to be honest. If she and Alison were going to have a chance, there had to be no more lies between them. Ever.

"I was going to," she admitted with an internal cringe. "I had every intention to. And if she hadn't already made her decision before she even walked in the door, I would probably be there with her right now."

Alison's eyes flashed with anguish and betrayal now. "If you're trying to hurt me after everything I've done to you, then guess what, you've succeeded, Em." Alison's voice sounded tired and resigned but then it got some of its fire back. "Why are you even here? Didn't you crush me enough the other night?"

"I'm not trying to hurt you Alison. I never want to hurt you."

"You are," Alison snapped as she wrapped her arms around her stomach and hugged herself. Emily took a chance and reached out. She pulled the blonde's hands away, gripping them in her own.

"The other night you said you would never lie to me again. Well, I'm never going to lie to you again either. Our only hope of survival is to be completely honest with each other."

"As much as I want this, want you," Alison emphasized as she pulled her hands away from Emily's. "I don't want you here because Marielle walked out on you. I won't be anyone's second choice, Em. Not even yours," the blonde hissed as she stepped back and almost tumbled backward over the coffee table.

Emily reached out to her but Alison just slapped her hands away as she steadied herself.

"Don't touch me."

Emily sighed and retracted her hand. "You could never be a second choice, Ali. You've always been the first."

Alison wanted to believe her. God, she wanted to believe.

"But the other night you told me you were committed to staying with her."

"Guilt and obligation are not a reason for two people to stay together," Emily reiterated Marielle's words from the night before. "Mari said that to me and I realized she was right." The ache of letting Marielle go was lessening every second she was with Alison and Emily knew she was exactly where she was destined to be. "As much as I care for Marielle, the truth of it is you can't be with one person when you're in love with someone else," Emily admitted what Alison had tried to get her to the other night.

Alison choked out a soft gasp and her hands started to shake.

Emily stepped closer. "I never stopped loving you Alison. God help me I tried." Emily looked to the heavens for a moment before meeting Alison's eyes again as she shook her head. "But I just couldn't do it. It didn't matter how long it was, or how far apart we were or who I was with. You were always with me." Emily reached for Alison's hand again and lifted it to her chest to rest over her heart. "Right here."

Alison flexed her fingers and pressed them into Emily's soft pliant flesh. She didn't dare speak because she feared she would sob if she tried.

"Marielle knew it," Emily continued as she lifted Alison's hand to her lips now, kissing her palm softly. "So when she asked me I couldn't lie anymore. I was only hurting all of us by trying to deny it."

"What does this mean?" Alison barely got the words past her lips.

Emily gripped Alison's hips and pulled her closer as the blonde held her breath in anticipation.

"It means I love you Alison DiLaurentis Fields," Emily replied honestly and then she chuckled softly. "That is still really strange for me to wrap my head around; us having the same last name I mean."

"Don't get distracted," Alison pleaded because she needed Emily to finish before she dared try to really breathe again.

"I guess it doesn't matter," Emily murmured to herself. "You would have had it someday anyway."

"Emily," Alison squeaked as she gripped the brunette's waist now. "Focus!" she commanded impatiently as her breathing sped up. She'd been waiting for this moment for what felt like forever.

Emily chuckled again, not at all offended by Alison's demand. The look in the blonde's eyes and the feel of her trembling beneath Emily's finger gave her the confidence to continue.

"I love you, Ali," Emily said again and, god, it felt so damn good to say. "I want to be with you. I want us to be together. That is if you still do?" Emily finished feeling pretty confident she knew Alison's answer already by the way the blonde was vibrating beneath her fingertips. But she knew Alison needed the words from her.

As Alison searched Emily's eyes, she saw everything she needed. The girl she loved, loved her back. And, all at once, her past, her present and her future fell into place. So she gave in and did exactly what she was dying to do.

She hurled herself at Emily and kissed her, fusing her lips to the brunette's as she slid her arms completely around Emily's waist.

Emily stumbled backward but she caught Alison and attempted to balance them. But the blonde's momentum was too strong and they both went tumbling back onto the oversized easy chair behind Emily. The brunette barely had time to be grateful for the small favor, of the chair being in such close proximity, when Alison straddled and climbed on top of her again. Emily had a feeling this was something Alison liked and would be doing to her a lot.

She didn't mind in the least.

Alison slid her arms over Emily's shoulders as she kissed her like their lives depended on it. She moaned into Emily's mouth when the brunette opened hers with a moan of her own. Alison slipped her tongue between Emily's lips as she rocked gently on the brunette's lap.

"I love you, Em," Alison practically choked into Emily's mouth. "So much."

Emily responded by sliding one hand up Alison's back. She tugged on the blonde's ponytail and freed her still damp hair as her other hand slid along Alison's bare thigh until her fingertips burrowed just beneath the hem of her shorts. Emily gripped the soft flesh and Alison groaned as she pressed closer, shifting on Emily's lap so she could grind on the brunette's thigh as her knees pressed into the cushion on either side of her.

Alison tore her lips away and buried her face in Emily's neck, panting harshly as she rocked her hips gently over the brunette. Emily nuzzled just below Alison's ear as her hand slid out of the blonde's hair and down her back again before sliding around her body and cupping the blonde's breast. This was reminiscent of their previous encounter and Alison, even through her lust addled brain, knew where this was quickly headed.

"Em, stop it," she pleaded hoarsely as she lifted her head and tried to fight off the brunette's wandering hands. "I can't think when you do that."

"Good," Emily murmured as she lowered her lips to Alison's throat, swirling her tongue over the hollow. "I don't want you to think. I just want you to feel."

Emily gripped Alison's hips and pushed her down on her thigh as she rolled it from side to side. She could feel the heat of the blonde even through her pants.

"Em," Alison moaned helplessly even as she forced herself to scoot back a little on Emily's lap. "Stop."

"What?" Emily groaned as she pulled away. Her entire body was on fire and all she could think about was how desperately she wanted more than just her thigh between Alison's.

The blonde gripped Emily's hands and held them between their bodies. "As much as I want this, we have to stop."

"Why?" Emily looked at her incredulously.

Alison slowed her breathing trying to clear her lust addled brain. "Because before I take you to my bed," Alison replied as she lifted her fingers to Emily's face and caressed it gently. "I want to take you on a date."

Emily's eyes lost a little bit of their heat, softening slightly and Alison knew this was the absolute right decision; even though her body was screaming for her to just say 'fuck it' to everything else and just fuck Emily. But just fucking Emily wasn't an option.

Because the brunette was everything.

Alison forced herself to stand up on shaky legs, needing some distance from her mermaid.

"I want to take you on a proper date," she said as she held her hands out to help Emily stand too. Alison's lips curved into what felt the first genuine smile she'd had in years. "Where the whole world can see me and think damn that blonde is one lucky girl to have that goddess on her arm."

Emily smiled and stood up.

"I think it will probably be the other way around," Emily said as she reached up and caressed Alison's cheek. The blonde's eyes fluttered closed and she sighed softly. "And I'd love to go on a proper date with you, Ali," Emily added honestly.

Alison's eyes fluttered open again and she stepped back just enough so they could no longer touch.

"Good," she sighed. "But you have to stop touching me until then or I'll never last."

"I don't have a night off until Thursday," Emily said with a small frown. That was still three days away.

"I can wait," Alison said more confidently than she felt.

"I hope I can," Emily muttered under her breath because, right now, three days felt like a lifetime.

Alison flushed with delight at Emily's soft words. The knowledge that Emily wanted her as much as she wanted the brunette was enough to make waiting a few more days bearable.

"You probably should go, though," Alison said even though it was the last thing she wanted. "I definitely won't be able to hold out if you're around."

"Are you serious?" Emily choked out a short laugh.

Alison nodded. "It's only a few days, Em, and then you'll be lucky if I let you out of bed to go to work."

Emily swallowed at the images Alison's words evoked. "I guess I should go then."

Alison nodded again in agreement.

Emily stepped closer and started to lift her hand to Alison's face again, but the blonde stepped back causing the brunette to pout; a sight that made Alison's heart flutter in her chest.

"What time should I pick you up?" Emily asked as she clenched her fingers at her sides, fighting the desire to pull Alison to her. She started edging toward the front door, while never taking her eyes off the blonde.

Alison shook her head even as she smiled. "You aren't. I'll pick you up at seven."

"Okay," Emily agreed as she reached behind her and opened the door. "Can I kiss you goodnight?"

Alison looked a little panicked as she shook her head rapidly. "No."

"Ali, now you're just being ridiculous," Emily huffed with disappointment. "We're adults and we can control ourselves."

"Really?" Alison challenged as she grabbed Emily's hand and tugged the brunette against her. The second their bodies and lips touched, Emily turned and pushed Alison against the door, causing it to slam hard into the wall. But neither woman noticed or cared.

As their tongues and lips and teeth clashed frantically, Emily's hands gripped Alison's ass and lifted her against the door. The blond wrapped her legs around Emily's waist and bucked as Emily ground her pelvis against her. Alison felt the rush of arousal soak her panties and she groaned softly into Emily's mouth.

Emily's hands slid down beneath Alison's ass and her fingers brushed between Alison's thighs. She could feel the heat emanating from the blonde and Emily's entire body shuddered with desire.

The kiss lengthened and deepened and Emily pressed Alison's body harder into the door. Still neither of them noticed nor cared that they were essentially putting on a show in Alison's open front doorway; on display for the entire world to see.

All that mattered was how desperately they wanted and needed and craved each other.

When the need for air became too much, Emily tore her lips away.

"Okay," she panted harshly as she rested her forehead against Alison's. "You made your point."

Alison giggled breathlessly, her breasts heaving as she tried to catch her breath. Slowly she lowered her legs and stood as Emily stepped back.

"Fuck," Alison said as she exhaled a long breath and stepped away from the door.

Emily took Alison's hand and lifted it to her lips, kissing the palm softly now.

"I love you," she said and it felt so incredibly good to feel it and say it and see the joy in Alison's eyes as she did.

"I love you," the blonde breathed in response as she did the same with Emily's hand. "Now please go" she pleaded as she reached for the door handle. "Before I change my mind."

As she pulled on the door, Alison realized the handle on the other side was embedded in her living room wall.

"What the hell?" she said as it took two tugs to release it. She and Emily looked around the door to see a handle shaped hole in the wall beside the front window.

"Ooops," Emily said sheepishly and then they both burst out laughing. "I'll help you repair that," the brunette offered but Alison just shook her head.

"It was totally worth it," the blonde said as her fingers brushed over the edges of the hole. "I might just keep it as a reminder of the best kiss of my life."

Emily smiled and didn't question or tease the blonde for her sentiment, but then her brow furrowed as she remembered she had to leave and not see Alison again for three whole days.

"I'll see you on Thursday then."

"Thursday," Alison repeated as she turned her attention from the hole back to Emily.

"Can I call you tomorrow at least?" Emily smiled as she started backing out the door.

"You better," Alison said returning the brunette's smile. But then her lips curved down. "Are you sure about this Em?"

"What?" Emily stopped and looked alarmed by the question.

Alison looked worried. "Are you sure this is what you want? I'm not gonna be easy," the blond admitted, almost reluctantly, but she needed Emily to be sure. If the brunette changed her mind it would destroy her.

Emily's eyes softened again and the love that shone through was unmistakable. "You're all I ever wanted."

Alison's entire body relaxed for what felt like the first time in over a decade.

Her lips curved into a bright smile. "I'll pick you up at seven."

"Where are we going?" Emily asked as she stopped at the edge of the porch.

"It's a surprise," Alison and refused to elaborate any further.

"How will I know what to wear then?" Emily asked, teasing and trying to prolong the moment.

Alison smiled indulgently, knowing exactly what Emily was doing because she herself wanted to do it too.

"Dressy casual, but not too casual," Alison said figuring that would cover it because she wasn't sure where she was going to take Emily yet. "Something easy to get out of later," she added with a sultry purr and Emily felt her abdomen clench in response.

"Goodnight," Emily murmured with one last look at the blonde.

As she turned to walk away she heard Alison's soft "goodnight, Em" behind her.

And the words made Emily to infinitely happy because they were finally just saying goodnight to each other, instead of goodbye.

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

Alison ripped the eleventh dress over her head and tossed it onto the pile already in the middle of her bed, or rather, on top of Pepe, who was in the middle of the bed. The poor dog was being buried under a mountain of Alison's clothes as she desperately tried to find something to wear on her date with Emily tonight.

Cece, who was sprawled on the chaise lounge in the corner of the bedroom, snickered as she typed on her phone.

"Would you stop sexting my brother please? It's gross. And besides you're supposed to be here helping me get ready."

Cece clucked her tongue. "Bitch, please, you're not interested in my opinion of what you should wear. You just want me to say you look smoking hot and Americano isn't going to be able to keep her hands off you."

Alison flushed with warm anticipation. That is exactly what she was hoping would happen.

"This is important, Cece. I want to look good."

"Who cares what you wear," Cece replied absently as she continued typing. "It's not like you're going to have it on long anyway."

"Don't make me come over there and pinch you on the tit," Alison growled in response.

Cece looked up and narrowed her eyes. "Hey now, threatening the girls is totally not cool."

"Then help me here," Alison screeched now as her anxiety level was quickly reaching DEFCON One.

Pepe poked his head out from beneath a black dress that was draped over him to make sure Alison was okay.

"Jeez, fucking keep the decibel level down please," Cece retorted as she tossed her phone to the side and stood. She walked over to the blonde who was now standing in front of her mirror wearing only a pair of white silk panties and matching bra.

"You need to breathe, grasshopper," she said as she walked up behind Alison and rested her chin on her shoulder. "This is Emily. She's going to love whatever you're wearing."

"That's just it, Cece," Alison sighed heavily. "This. Is. Emily. Tonight has to be perfect. I have to be perfect."

"If she thinks you are anything but then you need to kick her to the curb right the fuck now," Cece said frankly.

"Cece, that's not funny."

"I'm not trying to be funny. I'm dead serious, Ali." Cece stepped over to Alison's closet and started rooting around inside. "As pissed as I still am at her for what she did to you last weekend, I know you love her and I believe she loves you."

"I know she does," Alison replied softly.

And Alison did. She didn't doubt Emily's feelings for her but she knew the brunette still also had feelings for her ex. And that left what felt like a lead weight in her stomach most of the time.

"Then get the fuck over yourself and put that first sundress back on, the peach one with the blue flowers. It's feminine with a hint of innocence, but is still subtly sultry. And the way it fits on you is going to make Emily want to wo-manhandle you."

Alison rolled her eyes at Cece's bad attempt at being humorous and sexist. "You don't think it's too informal though? I told her casual dressy so most of these other dresses are just too nightclub kind of vibe."

Cece walked over and dug around on the bed and found the sundress. She held it out to Alison.

"Put the fucking dress on. Trust me on this."

Alison took the dress from her and held it up in front of her again as she looked in the mirror. It was a beautiful dress. And the color looked good on her. She imagined Emily peeling it off of her later and she shivered in anticipation.

"Don't fucking do that," Cece said as she stepped away.

"Do what?" Alison looked at Cece in the mirror questioningly.

"Get all aroused thinking about her." Cece shuddered. "Wait until I leave because I don't need to smell you like a bitch in heat."

Alison laughed and slipped the dress down over her head. "Will you zip me please," she asked as she turned her back to Cece.

The blonde reached out, exaggeratedly keeping her distance, and slid the zipper up.

"Why are you wearing that underwear anyway?" Cece asked as she noticed the strap of Alison's bra for the first time.

"What's wrong with it?" Alison asked as she adjusted the dress on her frame.

"It's white and boring," Cece replied with obvious sarcasm.

"It's sheer and practically see-through," Alison replied as she shook her head in exasperation.

"So what. It's white," Cece scoffed in response. "You're planning to get laid tonight. You should be wearing a sexy color like black or hooker red."

Alison rolled her eyes. "There is no such color as hooker red lingerie."

"There's hooker read nail polish," Cece retorted as she stuck out her tongue playfully.

"Figures you'd know that," Alison shot back as her lips quirked. She really loved Cece sometimes.

"In fact I'm wearing it right now," Cece said as she held up and wiggled her fingers with her deep red nails.

Alison ignored her and scrutinized herself in the mirror. It was summertime and a sundress, even at night, was appropriate for the warm weather. And the dress did look lovely on her. Even though it had a relatively simple floral pattern, Cece was right; there was something subtly sultry and sexy about it. Alison fluffed her hair and settled it over her shoulders in long waves, letting some strands fall over her breasts in the front.

Cece whistled as she walked up behind her again.

"I'd totally do ya. Oh wait, I have," she teased and Alison scowled. She and Cece had hooked up a few times in the past. The first couple of times were back when they were teenagers; back just before she went missing.

It was when Alison was confused about what was happening to her. Her feelings for Emily were starting to come to the surface, and she didn't know what it all meant and why she was attracted to the girl she considered her best friend. Was it just Emily or was she attracted to girls in general?

She'd always been attracted to boys and had slept with her share of them once she realized the power she could wield over them with her body. But the strange breathless, tingling feelings she started having around Emily frightened her. So she confided in Cece, who was the only person she felt wouldn't judge her.

Cece explained that it was a normal part of a girl's path to maturity to develop a passing crush on a female friend. It was like a rite of passage. But the only way she'd know if it was more than that was if she explored it. So that's what they did.

The two of them did some exploration under the sheets and Alison realized that she liked sex with a girls and boys. In a lot of ways she liked sex with girls more because it was more about touching and foreplay than trying to get to a finish line like with a guy. But she was still scared the feelings she was developing for Emily would ruin their friendship. Even after she discovered Emily had feelings for her.

So instead she acted cruelly to the one person, the girl, who held her heart the most. And that girl, now woman, held every part of her heart and body and soul. And she always would.

The second time she and Cece hooked up was when they were both so freaking drunk they didn't know what the hell they were doing. Alison had just gotten back from going to see Emily in Paris and she was a complete mess. Cece and Jason hadn't gotten together yet, were still dancing around their reawakened feelings for each other, so Cece wasn't in a very good spot either. So the two of them decided to get wasted and the next morning woke up naked in Alison's bed and it was pretty clear from the scratch and bite marks what they'd done the night before.

After that they swore off drinking together for a very long time. It was for the best though because Cece and Jason got together not long after that and he'd been clean and sober since before Alison had come home senior year. He didn't need his sister and his girlfriend indulging regularly in his vice.

Jason later found out what happened between them, but one thing Jason had learned to do over the years, better than Alison could, was leave the past in the past.

As Alison looked at Cece in the mirror she questioned how Emily was going to react when she found out. There was nothing between her and Cece. They were sisters in their hearts, but Alison wondered how Emily would feel about having Cece around on an almost daily basis for the rest of their lives. Alison had no doubt that Jason and Cece would get married someday. And Alison tried not to, but couldn't help hoping it would be the same for her and Emily.

But she wasn't going to lie or keep secrets from Emily ever again so it was going to have to come out. The question was did Emily love her enough to, like Jason, leave the past in the past.

"Where the fuck did you go?" Cece asked as she stood beside Alison now.

"I was just thinking about what Emily's gonna think about you and me."

"If she can't deal with it then fuck her," Cece said plainly and Alison just shook her head.

"Don't talk about her like that Cece," Alison scolded her friend. "She's everything to me."

"Then I hope she's a good lay. It would really suck if she wasn't."

Alison narrowed her eyes as she reached out and pinched Cece on the right boob.

"Fucking hell, Ali," Cece yelped as she jumped back.

"You deserved that for what you said."

"That's the last time I help you get ready for a date." Rubbing her boob with one hand, Cece stomped over to the chaise to get her phone. "I'm out of here and I'm taking my bruised tit with me. I'm telling your brother by the way."

"Oh grow up," Alison scoffed and then it turned into a laugh as Cece stomped out of her room muttering under her breath about her boob.

Pepe looked up at her and she could feel him judging her.

"What," she scowled at him. "It's not like she's never done it to me, you know."

Pepe opened his mouth like he was going to bark again but then he closed it before putting his head back down on his paws. Alison laughed as the dog closed his eyes.

"That shut you up, didn't it?" she teased as she patted him. "I better get this cleaned up," she added, under her breath to herself, as she started gathering the clothes off the bed.

Because when they returned from their date later, Alison wanted nothing in the way of her and Emily and her bed.

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

Alison approached Emily's door carrying a bouquet of tulips and she suddenly had flashbacks of a night two years ago. Only this time she knew the woman behind the door was waiting for her to arrive. The woman behind the door loved her back and Alison let the feelings of happiness and gratitude, that had been a constant for the last three days, rush through her again.

She'd been beside herself, impatiently waiting for this night with bated breath.

Just the thought of Emily sent nervous butterflies fluttering around the blonde's stomach, but as she reached the door and stopped, a feeling of calm settled over her. This was Emily. There was no reason to be nervous with the brunette because Emily was her safe harbor.

Alison lifted her hand and knocked on the door. As she waited she buried her face in the fragrant flowers in her hands.

The door opened and Emily stood in front of her, beautiful and perfect and Alison's lips curved upward into a dazzling smile.

"Hi," Emily returned the smile, her eyes shining happily at the sight of the blonde.

"Hi," Alison replied as she held the flowers out to Emily. "These are for you."

God that sounded so lame. She was so inexperienced at this. In fact it was the first date she had ever initiated with anyone. She was always on the receiving end of invitations but she actually liked being the instigator in this. And she had every intention of asking and taking her girl out a lot.

Emily took the flowers from her and buried her face in them the same way Alison had done a minute before.

"I love tulips," she said as she breathed in the sweet scent of the flowers.

"I know," Alison replied with a small smile.

"Thank you, Ali, they're gorgeous." Emily stepped forward and pecked Alison softly on the lips.

"So are you," Alison replied truthfully as she sighed happily.

Emily looked down at her casual cotton dress. It was midnight blue but it looked almost black so it appeared a little more dressy than casual. It was sleeveless with a v-neck in the front and gathered at the waist with a chain loop belt. She opted for a lower heel since Alison was slightly shorter than her and because she wanted to be comfortable tonight.

She'd waited to go on a date with Alison since she was fourteen and part of her wondered if this was a dream. If it was she never wanted to wake up.

"I hope this is okay for where we're going."

"It's perfect," Alison replied and she felt herself flush as Emily's eyes now raked over her.

"You look beautiful, Alison."

Even after almost changing one last time, Alison decided to keep on the peach colored, floral print, sundress. Like Emily's, it was sleeveless but it had a crew neckline. It also gathered at the waist, only with internal elastic, not a belt, but it flared out around her hips and thighs, unlike Emily's, which fell straight. The blonde wore three inch heels and both women's choice in shoes made it so they were both basically the same height.

"Let me just put these in water and I'm ready," Emily said as she turned and walked into the kitchen.

Alison tentatively stepped into the apartment, really not wanting to be in the place Emily had lived with Marielle. She hadn't thought about that when she told Emily she would pick her up for their date. She should have just let Emily come to her house because Alison intended for them to spend the night there.

The entire night.

As Emily rooted around in the kitchen looking for a vase to put the flowers in

Alison looked around the small apartment. It was almost completely empty.

Emily saw Alison's subtle appraisal of the space and decided to address the elephant in the room.

"Mari took most of the furniture. The only things I bought were the bed and the dining room table. Everything else was hers."

In that instant Alison knew she would never sleep in that bed. In fact she had the urge to burn it.

"It is a little sparse," Alison said just for the sake of saying something.

Emily filled the vase she finally found with water and slipped the tulips into it.

"Are you alright being here?" Emily asked as she dried her hands and walked back toward Alison.

"I'm not sure," she admitted as she looked over at the brunette. "Are you okay still being here now?"

Emily nodded thoughtfully as she glanced around. She did need to get at least a sofa and probably a TV.

"It'll be okay. And it's only been a day, really. Mari just got the last of her stuff moved out of here yesterday."

"Well are you ready?" Alison asked a little too quickly and brightly so Emily took her hand.

"I don't want this to be awkward, Ali," she implored the blonde. "Mari lived here but she doesn't anymore. I'm with you and I'm exactly where I want to be."

"But it has to be weird right?" Alison asked with uncertainty lacing her voice.

Emily led Alison to the front door, grabbing her purse from the table on her way. "It's empty but I was the one who rented it originally so there was a short time at the beginning I was here alone." Emily opened the door and held her hand out so Alison would step out before her. "I'll get furniture little by little and it will be fine. Now where are you taking me?" she asked effectively putting an end to the topic of her ex.

"Gladstones," Alison answered as Emily locked her front door.

"Oh," Emily said with a surprised smile as she took Alison's hand again. "In Malibu?"

"Yeah," Alison replied as she gently squeezed Emily's fingers. "Have you eaten there?"

Emily shook her head but Alison could tell she'd done well. Emily loved seafood so Alison hoped it would be the perfect choice. Emily's reaction told her all she needed to know.

"I've wanted to. I've heard great things about their food."

"My options were limited with a food snob like you," Alison teased as they walked down the hallway to the elevator.

"I'm not a food snob," Emily scoffed good-naturedly. "I'm a patisserie and chocolate snob."

"Well they have a mile high chocolate cake there," Alison offered casually but Emily wasn't fooled.

"Is that so?" she chuckled as she pressed the button for the elevator because, of course, Alison would pick a restaurant with chocolate on the dessert menu.

"It's not anywhere as good as the one you made at Field's House," Alison admitted. "But it was the best one I'd had until yours."

"We'll have to get it then."

The elevator door opened and they stepped inside.

"Yours is the best I've ever had," Alison said truthfully, not realizing her double entendre. But Emily caught it instantly.

"Oh, I intend it to be," the brunette murmured, adding her own double entendre, as she slipped her arm around Alison's waist and brushed her lips against the blonde's ear.

Alison was about to turn and push her mermaid against the wall of the elevator when it stopped and the doors opened. Alison growled with disappointment.

Emily chuckled and took her hand again as they stepped into the lobby.

"You're a tease," Alison grumbled but Emily just kept chuckling as they made their way out of the lobby of the apartment building. She had every intention of teasing the blonde mercilessly all night.

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

Alison leaned back in her chair and took in the sight of the moonlight reflecting on the ocean as she sipped the last vestiges of her wine. They were seated on Gladstones' back deck, having enjoyed watching the sunset as they were eating. Now that the sun had vanished below the horizon, they were just letting their food settle as they finished the bottle of wine they'd ordered with dinner. But Emily had excused herself to the bathroom a few minutes ago, once they'd ordered dessert, so it gave Alison a few moments to herself to reflect on how their first date was going.

Both the drive to and dinner itself had been full of comfortable conversation, pleasantly surprising them both. Neither one of them really knew what to expect because they had a lot of years of pain, anger and hurt to move beyond. But then again she and Emily had always been able to fall into an easy camaraderie together. It was what always made their friendship so special and different from all the others they had.

Out of the few friends Alison had in her life, even including Cece, Emily was the one who meant the most. Emily was the only one she'd ever called her best friend and meant it. Well except for Pepe. But he was different because he was a dog. Although sometimes Alison was convinced he was part human.

They kept the topics over dinner casual and light, with Emily telling Alison about her time studying at ecole chocolat and Alison telling Emily more about how Field's House came to fruition after she finally settled in LA. Only a few times did either of them mention such mutually off limits topics as Marielle and Holbrook. Alison knew Emily didn't understand exactly why the blonde still had contact with him. And she could tell the brunette wanted ask but refrained so as not to ruin their date. Alison knew she would eventually need to tell Emily the rest of that story, but tonight was not the night.

Alison lifted her wine glass to her lips and took the last sip just as Emily returned to the table.

"I was beginning to think you'd made a break for it," Alison teased softly as the brunette sat down beside her. They'd elected to sit next to each other so they could both have a view of the sunset. And in all honesty they both just wanted to be closer.

Emily smiled. "There was a line. You know how girls like to congregate in the bathroom." Then she looked around the table. "The chocolate cake hasn't gotten here yet? They must not have a very good pastry chef if it takes him this long to get out an already prepared dessert."

Alison laughed at Emily's scandalized tone. "You're too cute. You need to stop or I'm going to be forced to kiss you right here at this table."

Emily felt her cheeks heat. She'd been dying to kiss Alison again all night but they were in the middle of a restaurant, after all. Not that she was embarrassed or opposed to public displays of affection as long as they weren't obnoxious. But she was trying not to rush things and she had no idea how Alison felt about that kind of thing and she didn't want to spook the blonde.

Emily had no doubt how and where this night was going to end, but part of her wanted to savor the build up while the other part of her was scared shitless because there was so much at stake.

Emily knew putting that kind of pressure on their already delicate foundation wasn't wise. But she couldn't help it because she'd loved and wanted the woman beside her for going on almost ten years now.

"Hey, where did you go?" Alison's voice and the feel of the blonde's hand on hers broke through Emily's thoughts and she shook her head.

"Nowhere."

Alison arched her brow and that was all she needed to do to get Emily to cave because, really, Emily wanted to tell her anyway.

"I was just thinking about how much I've wanted to kiss you all night." Emily watched as Alison flushed with delight, even going so far as to wiggle slightly in her seat. "But I didn't know how you'd feel about that," she finished honestly.

Alison's eyes went from twinkling to soft and then to heated as she reached up and cupped the back of Emily's neck, leaning forward as she gently pulled the brunette toward her.

"I've been dying for you to kiss me," she breathed against Emily's lips before closing the distance in a soft but decidedly chaste kiss. Emily moaned softly as her hand dropped to Alison's thigh and she pressed her fingers into the soft flesh in an effort to keep from grabbing at the blonde and tugging her over onto her lap. Their lips lingered, just barely touching, for a few seconds once the kiss was over, neither one of them wanting the moment to end.

"Oh," Alison heard from beside them and she reluctantly pulled away and looked over at the waitress who was standing beside the table with their dessert. "Sorry for interrupting," she said as she smiled shyly.

Alison fought the urge to pout but instead smiled when she saw her mermaid blush profusely.

A naughty and playful smirk curved Alison's lips in response. "That's okay. We had to do something to keep our mouths busy until the chocolate got here."

Emily blinked in surprise at Alison's words and the waitress laughed softly. She set the towering slice of chocolate cake on the table between them.

"Well enjoy," she said before she walked away.

Alison felt Emily's eyes on her so she turned her face to look at the brunette.

"What?"

"I just," Emily started before she paused to gather her thoughts. "I guess I just-" Emily paused again and Alison tilted her head as she waited for Emily to get the words out. "I just didn't know how you'd feel about-"

"Kissing you in public?"Alison finally took pity on the struggling brunette and finished for her. Emily was obviously a strong and confident woman now, so it was endearing to see her timidity. But Alison knew she had a lot to prove to Emily about how much she'd changed, so it didn't offend her and she actually looked forward to blowing the brunette's mind from time to time.

"Or should I say kissing a girl in public?" Alison added as an afterthought.

Emily shrugged. "I wasn't sure."

Alison reached up and caressed her cheek. "I have no intention of hiding my feelings for you or who you are to me. And I plan to kiss you a lot, in private and in public, so I hope that's okay with you."

Overwhelmed with love for the woman beside her, Emily leaned forward and kissed Alison again, this time a little longer and little more firmly.

"Does that answer your question?" she asked as she sat back and watched Alison's eyes open and slowly clear. But the heat in them didn't fade and Emily felt the look Alison gave her shoot straight between her thighs.

"We better eat this cake before it gets cold," Alison said thickly and Emily reached for the fork beside the plate.

She broke off a piece of the moist dessert and lifted the fork to Alison's lips. The blonde obediently opened her mouth then closed it around the cake.

The moan escaped of its own volition and her eyes closed as the sweet chocolate hit her taste buds.

Emily's lips curved up in a sultry smile as she watched Alison's reaction. She was going to have a lot of fun showing the blonde all the things she could do with chocolate.

Alison slowly swallowed her bite as Emily took a small bite of her own and then the blonde laughed out loud as she saw the reaction on the brunette's face.

"So what does the chocolate snob think of it?"

"The chocolate's a little bitter and watered down and the ganache is gritty like they like they didn't heat it up to the proper temperature or stir it long enough."

Emily realized the critique she gave was probably way more than Alison wanted to know so she looked a bit sheepish as she met the blonde's eyes. She gasped when she saw the blue depths were dark and swirling with desire.

"It is so fucking sexy when you talk about chocolate like that," Alison said with a soft moan.

"Chocolate is all about sweetness and temperature," Emily replied breathlessly as she reached up and brushed a few crumbs from Alison's bottom lip. The blonde's tongue peeked out and brushed against the pad of Emily's thumb and now it was Emily's turn to moan softly.

"We need to get out of here right the hell now," Alison said as she raised her hand to catch the waitresses attention.

Not ten minutes later Emily stood in front of the restaurant waiting for one of the valet attendants to bring Alison's car around while the blonde made a quick stop at the bathroom. Emily felt like her entire body was humming with both desire and anticipation. All she wanted was to get Alison home and finally, finally, make love to the woman she'd loved almost half her life.

Another valet attendant, who was standing behind the podium to her left, said something but she missed it because she was lost in thoughts of Alison.

"I'm sorry, could you say that again?"

"I asked if you enjoyed your dinner?" he smiled at her and she nodded.

"Yes, it was delicious," she replied and they started chatting as Emily waited for Alison and the car.

Alison walked out the front door of the restaurant to find Emily casually chatting away with the valet attendant. She sighed at the sight of her mermaid, once again overcome with how incredibly beautiful the brunette was.

Emily laughed at something the guy said and Alison narrowed her eyes as she looked a little closer. The guy was flirting with her girl. And it wasn't lost on Alison that she'd already started thinking of Emily as hers. But she was. The exotic, beautiful, extraordinary woman was hers and she wanted to revel in that.

And it was time Alison staked her claim on her.

She knew she had no reason to be jealous of a guy. But she couldn't help it. She was protective and possessive of the people she loved and, even though she tried very hard to fight that instinct, it reared its ugly green head from time to time despite her best efforts to contain it.

But when Emily's smile brightened as Alison walked up, the blonde's heart fluttered and she realized how silly she was being. She slipped her hand into Emily's just as the valet asked Emily for her number.

Alison shot him one of her trademark glares. "Back off, pal, you're not her type."

"How do you know I'm not her type?" he asked as he flashed his boyish smile toward her now, oblivious to her annoyance.

"Because I'm her type," Alison replied with a triumphant grin just as her car pulled up.

Emily squeezed her hand and chuckled under her breath. Clearly Alison was serious when she said she had no intention of hiding their relationship.

Alison's eyes whipped toward the brunette and she felt relief flood her that Emily wasn't angry. The brunette's eyes were soft and crinkled in the corners as she smiled.

The valet recovered admirably, Alison had to give him that. "Alrighty then. You two ladies have a good night."

"Oh we intend to," Alison purred and shot him a sultry smile as she walked around the car to get into the driver's seat, handing the driver a tip as she did.

As they settled into the car and fastened their seatbelts, Emily turned to look at Alison with a smile. "Did you enjoy your fun?"

Alison attempted to look innocent but failed miserably. "I don't know what you're talking about."

"Uh huh," Emily murmured as she lifted Alison's hand to her lips. "Is our date over? Are you taking me home now?"

Alison expelled a long breath as she fought the urge to climb over the middle console and violate Emily in ten different ways right there in the middle of the parking lot. She bet Mr. Valet would get a little thrill out of it.

"Tonight is just getting started so you're coming home with me," Alison replied before throwing the car into drive.

If she never set foot in Emily's apartment again it would be too soon.

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

The two women tumbled through Alison's front door, a flurry of desperate hands and lips.

Alison flung her purse across the room as Emily dropped hers to the floor beside the door before kicking it closed with her foot.

Pepe came bounding down the stairs barking enthusiastically at their arrival.

"Go away, Pepe," Alison growled softly at the dog as she pulled her lips away from Emily's. But she couldn't bear to not have the brunette's taste on her tongue for more than a moment, so she dove back in and covered Emily's lips again.

Alison hands fumbled with the belt around Emily's waist, finally pulling it apart and letting it drop on the floor beside them, the metal clanging on the hardwood. Emily's fingers bunched in the hem of Alison's dress and she slid it up the blonde's legs, her fingertips caressing the soft skin on the backs of her thighs. Alison trembled and moaned into Emily's mouth, her tongue seeking and tangling desperately with her mermaid's, the need for air completely forgotten.

Alison wanted to slow down, she in no way wanted to rush this, but the desperation they both so obviously felt took control. She stepped out of her heels and Emily did the same as she walked the blonde backward toward the sofa.

Pepe barked again clearly annoyed at being ignored but neither woman paid him any attention. After a minute or so of listening to the soft, yet increasing in intensity, moans of the two women, Pepe slunk off and up the stairs to sulk. In the far recesses of her mind, Alison knew she would have to make it up to him, but right now all the mattered was she woman whose hands were gripping her ass beneath her dress and whose teeth were sinking gently into her tongue.

Alison's slid her arms over Emily's shoulders and pressed closer, gasping into the brunette's mouth as she felt the back of her legs hit the arm of the sofa. Before she could even register what was happening, Emily was leaning her over and pressing her back onto the couch, settling on top of and in between the blonde's thighs.

"Em," Alison tore her lips away with a long low moan.

Emily pressed her hands into the cushions beside Alison's head as she kissed a hot wet path down over Alison's chin until she reached the hollow of her throat. She swirled her tongue over the pulse point, just above the neckline of her dress, and the brunette moaned as Alison lifted her leg and pressed the heel of her foot into the back of Emily's thigh.

"Baby," Alison whimpered as her hand slipped between them and squeezed the soft flesh of Emily's breast. Emily sucked gently at the base of Alison's throat as she pressed down against her, feeling the heat of the blonde's arousal through her panties. The brunette rocked her hips and Alison's hips instinctively rocked with her desperate to keep their mounds rubbing.

"Em, wait," Alison pleaded with a strangled moan, amazed that she even had the ability to speak.

"No," Emily murmured as she released Alison's skin from her lips, blowing softly on the red mark she left behind before swirling her tongue over it gently.

"Please," Alison said again. "Just stop for a minute."

Emily's shook her head, denying the blonde's request again as her lips slowly brushed up Alison's neck so she could press them against her ear.

"I can't, sweetheart," Emily breathed and Alison trembled at the term of endearment the brunette used. Emily's tongue traced the shell of Alison's ear. "I want you so much."

Alison turned her face and pressed her lips into Emily's hair. "I want you, too, baby. But we can't do this here."

Emily groaned and buried her face in Alison's neck before lifting her head and looking down at the blonde. Her hair fell around them and Alison's eyes fluttered as the ends of the soft strands caressed her face.

"Why are you stopping me?" Emily tried not to sound whiney but she felt like she would absolutely explode if Alison denied them again tonight.

Alison could see the frustration in Emily's dilated eyes and she reached up and curled Emily's hair behind her ear.

"I've waited a decade for this moment," Alison whispered thickly. "And I'm not going to let our first time together be on an uncomfortable sofa."

Emily's relief was palpable and she took a minute to get control of her raging hormones before she retorted teasingly.

"This is a pretty comfortable sofa." Emily wiggled gently on top of Alison causing the blonde to moan. "I have to say I'm quite comfortable where I am."

"You're missing the point, Em," Alison growled but it quickly turned into a chuckle as she pushed Emily off her. She stood before tugging the now pouting brunette to her feet. "Our first time isn't going to be anywhere except my bed."

Alison slid her fingers through Emily's and led her toward the stairs.

"Technically we've been together before," Emily reminded her with a smile as she allowed Alison to guide her upstairs to the second floor.

For one brief second her indiscretion with Courtney flashed into her mind but she forced it away just as quickly. She would forever have to live with that mistake but she refused to let it ruin any part this night or her future with Alison.

"That was different," Alison argued, and if she remembered Emily's transgression, she didn't give any indication because she immediately brought up the night in Alison's room right after she came back to Rosewood instead. "We just made out and you touched my boobs."

"Which was an absolute dream come true for me by the way." Emily said casually just to tease the blonde as they reached the landing.

Alison smirked over her shoulder. "But we didn't have sex that night, Em."

"Well not technically,' Emily conceded as she pressed against Alison's back and wrapped her arms around the blonde's waist from behind. "But there was quite a lot of boobie action if I remember correctly."

Alison laughed at Emily's choice of words as they walked in tandem down the hallway. "Yes I believe boobie action was definitely on the menu that night."

"I've been obsessed with your boobs for as long as I can remember," Emily admitted with absolutely no shame as she lowered her lips to Alison's neck. She brushed them softly against her skin as she lifted her hands and cupped both of the blonde's breasts.

"I'm going to enjoy these so much," she murmured as she squeezed the flesh gently.

Alison inhaled a shuddering breath as her head fell back against Emily's shoulder. "I'm going to enjoy your enjoyment."

Emily chuckled softly and her fingers began circling Alison's nipples.

Alison choked out another moan but was suddenly distracted by the sight of Pepe sprawled on his side of the bed as they walked into the room.

"Someone looks comfortable," Emily murmured as she continued to tease Alison's quickly hardening nipples.

"Oh hell no," Alison said as she reluctantly pulled out of Emily's arms and walked over to the bed. "Sorry, baby," she said as she nudged the dog and urged him off the bed. "You have to find somewhere else to sleep tonight."

"Does he usually sleep there?" Emily asked with a smile.

"Only when I'm alone," Alison replied without thought but then her eyes whipped to Emily to find the brunette looking at her curiously. "Which is ninety nine point nine percent of the time," Alison added quickly as she finally maneuvered the stubborn dog off the bed.

"Nice save," Emily replied drolly and she reached up and caressed Alison's face as she and Pepe walked by her.

Alison stopped and closed her eyes, sighing softly as she pressed her cheek into Emily's hand.

"He bit or peed on the three people I ever brought into this room."

Emily choked out a laugh, even as she wondered who those three people were, and she looked down at the dog who was trying to wiggle his collar out of Alison's grasp.

"Should I be worried then? Is that why you're kicking him out?" she asked jokingly.

"Pepe loves you, as much as me," Alison breathed as she nuzzled Emily's palm.

"Pepe hasn't seen me in over six years," Emily replied as she slid her hand behind Alison's neck.

Alison's eyes fluttered as she felt Emily's fingertips caressing the back of her neck. "He's never forgotten how good you were to us when we needed you," Alison said softly, her eyes shining with adoration. "He'll love you forever for that."

Emily brushed her lips softly against Alison's and the blonde hummed in response.

Pepe finally barked his displeasure at being held against his will and Alison reluctantly pulled her lips away from her mermaid's.

Pepe growled softly as he was herded out of the bedroom but Alison would not be deterred. Nothing and no one was going to come between her and Emily tonight.

"You've got a perfectly good bed downstairs, baby. Go sleep in it," she said as she patted his head and then closed the door before he could try to sneak back in.

Pepe immediately barked from the other side but Alison knew he'd go away. She turned around and saw Emily standing in front of her nightstand with the framed photo of the two of them in her hand.

"I remember this picture," Emily said as she looked over at Alison. "Where did you get it?"

"I asked your mom for a copy of it." Alison replied as she approached the brunette.

"When?"

"That night," Alison admitted softly.

"And you still keep it by your bed?" Emily asked as she put the frame back on the nightstand and pulled the blonde against her.

"Always," Alison breathed as she shuddered at the feel of Emily's body against her own.

"Some people might find that a little creepy," Emily teased but the soft curve of her lips and the look in her eyes told Alison she wasn't one of them.

"If you think that's creepy, you should see the tank top of yours I still wear to bed," Alison murmured as Emily brushed her nose gently against the blonde's cheek.

"Wait, what tank top?" Emily stopped and pulled her head back.

"The one I had on the other night when you came by," Alison said as she slipped her arms around Emily and reached for the zipper on the back of her dress.

Emily's face registered recognition and she laughed. "I thought something about that was familiar."

"It's the one you wore that night in my room," Alison replied referring to the boobie action night. "I snatched it the next morning when you were in the shower.

Emily chuckled again as she followed Alison's lead and tugged the blonde's zipper down. "I wondered what happened to it. That was my favorite one."

Alison wiggled as she let her dress fall to the ground, leaving her in nothing but her matching set of white lace lingerie. "I know. That's why I took it."

"That's even a little creepier than the picture, I have to admit," Emily teased even as she almost swallowed her tongue at the sight of Alison's almost naked form.

Alison felt a shiver come over her from head to toe as she watched Emily's eyes darken as they looked at her in her virtually peek-a-boo lingerie.

"Will you just shut up and kiss me before I spontaneously combust?" Alison asked exasperated as she tugged Emily's dress down her body and let it pool at her feet.

Emily lifted her hands and cupped Alison's face. "With pleasure," she whispered as she lowered her lips to the blonde's.

Alison's head fell back in surrender as she opened her mouth. This kiss was slower and less desperate than the ones downstairs. It was soft and full of love. A gentle meeting of tongues and lips and Alison savored the sweet taste of the woman who was finally hers. She wrapped her arms around Emily and pulled her closer to the bed before sitting down and scooting back onto the mattress.

Emily didn't release her lips; just followed, climbing over and straddling Alison as the blonde settled on her back in the center.

Emily pulled her lips away and kissed a soft, wet path down Alison's body, burying her face between Alison's breasts, still ensconced in her bra. She inhaled deeply letting the scent surround her. She wiggled her face playfully causing Alison to giggle before Emily brushed her lips and her nose between the soft swells of flesh. In response Alison's giggling morphed into wriggling and writhing and whimpering beneath the brunette.

Emily had dreamed of lavishing Alison's breasts with attention and she intended to spend a lot of time in this exact spot. But right now she needed more so she flicked the catch in the center and released Alison's breasts from their confines. She swept the cups aside and immediately wrapped her lips around one of the blonde's nipples.

The brunette felt like she was dreaming. Having this woman spread wide beneath her was a dream come true, so she must have been dreaming or she'd died and gone to heaven.

"Em," Alison whimpered her name and arched her back as Emily suckled softly at first, swirling and flicking her tongue around the now hardened bud in the center.

Emily used the fingers of her other hand to roll Alison's other nipple causing the blonde to buck gently beneath her.

"Baby, please," Alison moaned as she felt a rush of fresh arousal soak her panties, filling the air around them with her scent.

Emily released Alison's nipple with a soft pop and blew on it before switching breasts and lavishing the other one with the same attention.

Alison reached around Emily and unsnapped her bra, letting her breasts fall free before Alison took them in her hands.

Emily whimpered around her nipple before she pulled her lips away and sat up. She tossed her bra aside and looked down at Alison, flushed and beautiful beneath her.

Alison smiled softly up at her as her fingertips traced the waistband of Emily's panties, a silent invitation Emily gladly took.

She pushed off the bed and stood, slipping her panties down her legs. She reached for Alison's panties and tugged them down her legs and tossed them aside as the blonde let her thighs fall open.

Emily swallowed thickly as she looked upon Alison fully naked for the first time. She had waited for this moment for so long it was almost as if her brain stopped functioning and all she could do was stare. Her eyes lingered taking in every inch, memorizing what she'd only imagined up until now.

The blonde was breathtaking. Her body was trim and toned, but curved and ample and soft in all the right places. She was slender but had just enough flesh on her bones to make Emily's fingers itch and flex. The brunette loved having soft, supple and generous flesh to sink her fingers into when she was making love to a woman.

Finally having a full view of them, Emily discovered Alison's breasts were magnificent, just as the brunette always knew they would be. To say Alison was any man or woman's wet dream was an understatement.

Emily, herself, was very lean and long and slim but her hips and waist curved enough, and her breasts were plentiful enough, for her to be viewed as unmistakably feminine. But Alison's body far exceeded feminine. It was what Emily would call womanly, and the sight of her shot frissons of desire straight between Emily's thighs.

Although covered sparsely with light freckles, the majority of Alison's skin was unblemished, except for two spots. The jagged knife scar beneath her right breast from when Courtney stabbed her as a child was faded but still noticeable. It was larger than Emily thought it would be and it still amazed her that she never noticed it all those years ago in the locker room.

The other scar Alison had was above her left breast where Courtney had burned her with the cattle prod on Christmas Eve. It was a raised and textured burn scar, that wasn't very large. But what was on top of it, basically concealing it, was what stunned Emily the most about it; her name written in small dark script surrounded by a heart.

Alison's blue eyes had darkened as she watched Emily peruse her body. Initially it had been with desire as she watched Emily lick her lips as she took her in. But then she saw Emily look at her scars and they clouded with sorrow. Alison wasn't embarrassed by her scars. They were a part of who she was. But the one on the top of her breast, particularly, was a reminder of the torture they both suffered at her sister's hands. She had covered it the only way she knew how and she hoped Emily understood.

"Ali," Emily said questioningly as she lifted her eyes to look at Alison's face once again.

"Not now, Em," Alison said simply and thankfully, after a long moment, Emily nodded, accepting it without question for now.

"You're the most beautiful woman I've ever seen," the brunette breathed and despite her blemishes, Alison felt the truth of those words all the way down to her toes.

She tore her eyes away from Emily's and raked them over her mermaid's body slowly, taking in every last inch of her. She was everything Alison imagined and dreamed and the blonde intended to spend the rest of her life worshiping the woman standing over her.

"You're a goddess," Alison whispered as she held out her hand.

Emily took her hand and climbed onto the bed, straddling Alison's body once again. She sat, this time, settling her weight on the blonde's thighs gently. Alison arched her back and moaned softly as she felt the warm, wet heat of Emily's sex against her skin.

"I need to touch you," Emily whispered and reached a hand toward Alison's left breast, softly fluttering her fingertips over the skin of the underside.

"Em," the blonde whimpered softly as she arched her back deeper. Emily's eyes darkened to almost black as she raised her other hand to Alison's right breast. She gently cupped both of them, now, and brushed her thumbs over the nipples, her hands shaking slightly.

Alison's eyes rolled back in her head and she felt another rush of fresh arousal between her thighs as Emily's fingers teased and taunted her.

"I knew you'd be perfect," Emily breathed as she rolled Alison's nipples between her fingers and thumbs before lowering her left hand to brush over the scar beneath Alison's breast.

He fingers faltered slightly as she felt the rough skin beneath them and her lips curved down into a soft frown. Alison saw the pain in her mermaid's eyes and she placed her hand over Emily's, threading their fingers together.

Emily lifted her eyes to meet Alison's and the heat and desire that had been in the blonde's blue depths had softened.

"It's alright, Em." Alison gently guided Emily's hand up over her breast again and squeezed her fingers, encouraging the brunette to take her pleasure of her soft flesh again. "My scars make me the person I am and I'm okay with that."

Emily flexed her fingers again before leaning down and ghosting her lips over Alison's silky skin. She inhaled deeply as her lips and nose brushed over both breasts and her sternum in between. He inhaled deeply, letting the scent of Alison surround again her before letting her lips travel up over the left breast and press a soft kiss against the small tattoo with her name.

Alison threaded her fingers into Emily's hair and rocked her hips gently, pressing her thigh against the brunette's drenched core.

Emily moaned as she wrapped her lips around one of Alison's nipples and suckled gently, then more strongly, before releasing it and blowing on it softly, causing the blonde to moan long and low.

She could spend hours, uninterrupted, doing exactly what she was doing but she was interrupted by the sound of Alison's hoarse pleading.

"Em, please, don't tease me," Alison begged. "I need you."

Emily just smiled against Alison's skin before she slowly slid her lips over and lavished the same attention on her other breast.

"God," Alison groaned. "You're such a fucking tease."

Emily's lips curved into an even wider smile as she lifted her head and sat up again. "I told you I planned to enjoy those."

Emily's hands continued to stroke and caress Alison from her navel to her neck, keeping her on edge and almost painfully aroused.

"Are you obsessed with all boobs or just mine?" Alison asked as her body shuddered, every cell in her body on sensory overload, and she pressed her fingers into the front of Emily's thighs.

Emily arched a brow and her lips quirked. "Is that a trick question?"

Despite her body's trembling Alison smirked in response. "Nice evasion technique, mermaid."

"That story was really about me, huh?" Emily asked as her fingertips circled Alison's belly button, causing the blonde to giggle softly before her smirk turned soft, into a genuine loving smile.

"Of course it was. That's what I call you, you know? To myself anyway."

"What's that?" Emily asked quietly as she felt the quivering of the muscles beneath the skin of Alison's stomach.

"My mermaid," Alison breathed out a long shuddering breath before she growled lowly. "Now stop teasing and fuck me already."

"It's about time," Emily chuckled softly at Alison's demand as she shifted and settled entire body on top of Alison's. "You lasted longer than I expected."

Alison wrapped her arms and legs around Emily, tightening her thighs around the brunette's hips as her hands slid down and gripped her ass.

"Finally," Alison moaned long and low.

Emily matched her moan as their bodies came together, their breasts melding, as if their bodies were meant for each others. Alison's nipples ached and throbbed against Emily's and the brunette rolled her mound against the blonde's as she took Alison's lips in a long deep kiss.

Alison moaned at the feel of Emily's weight on her and she tightened her legs around her, rolling her hips in tandem with Emily's.

Their kisses were long and languid and deep, a slow savoring that, combined with their bodies moving against one another, drove both of their arousals and desire to skyrocket.

Emily arched her lower body up slightly and slid one hand between them. Her fingers fluttered down Alison's stomach and over her mound. When her fingertips reached Alison throbbing, engorged clit, the blonde bucked beneath her and cried out softly into Emily's mouth.

Emily smiled against Alison's lips and swallowed the blonde's whimper as her fingers teased the little bud, swirling and circling and flicking against the tip. She dipped her fingers lower and gathered Alison's arousal on her fingertips before caressing and stroking the blonde's clit again. Alison's hips rocked and she panted into Emily's mouth as her fingers gripped Emily's ass hard.

Alison's panting quickly morphed into soft chants of Emily's name as the brunette's fingers brought her closer to climax. Emily slid her fingers lower again and buried first one, then a second finger inside Alison. She pumped the digits as her thumb flicked and rubbed her clit, keeping the stimulation constant as she fucked Alison with her fingers.

Alison's hands lifted and gripped the sides of Emily's face before sliding into her long hair. Her panting sped up and their kisses became more frantic as Alison's body drew closer and closer to climax.

Alison slammed her hands down beside her on the mattress, she fisted the duvet in her fingers and she tore her lips away and cried out as her walls clamped down on Emily's invading fingers. Her orgasm rolled over her in long waves as her entire body bucked and rolled beneath Emily's.

"That's it sweetheart, come for me," Emily whispered as she watched Alison's face with a feeling of triumph and awe.

Alison's orgasm lasted longer than Emily was used to but she savored every second of it, determined to draw the blonde's pleasure out as long as she could. She slowed her fingers and took her thumb away from Alison's tender clit, but she continued to pump gently as her thumb circled the outside of her clit until Alison's body finally slowed and calmed and she caught her breath.

Emily nuzzled the side of Alison's face and whispered. "I love you, Ali."

"Oh god, say it again," Alison whimpered breathlessly.

Emily smiled against the skin of Alison's cheek. "I love you," she murmured a second time and she felt Alison tremble beneath her.

"Again," Alison begged as she turned her face and buried it in Emily's glorious hair. "Please tell me again."

Emily pressed her lips to Alison's ear. "I love you."

Alison cupped Emily's face in her hands and pulled her head back so she could look in her girl's eyes.

"You're the love of my life, Emily Fields."

Emily's breath caught in her throat and Alison smiled at her reaction.

Emily pulled her fingers out of Alison and slid them slowly up her body, leaving a wet trail on the blonde's side as Emily brought them to her lips.

Alison almost choked as she watched Emily lick her fingers and close her eyes as she savored the taste of the blonde.

It was too much for her so Alison pulled Emily's lips to her own and moaned at her taste on Emily's lips. Emily moaned and sank into the kiss and Alison used Emily's distraction to roll them over so she could straddle her mermaid.

She pressed her still tender flesh against Emily's thigh before rising to her knees and pulling her lips away.

"Now it's my turn," she murmured as she began a slow descent down Emily's body. Emily stretched and arched her back in pleasure as Alison's lips slowly trailed over her highly sensitized skin. Alison's fingers slipped between Emily's thighs to find the brunette warm and wet. She teased her gently, never giving her direct stimulation on her clit while her tongue and lips covered every inch of Emily's breasts. She suckled and nipped and swirled her tongue around Emily's nipples until the brunette was panting and whimpering.

Only then did she move lower, scooting her body down the mattress as her lips kissed a wet path down Emily's stomach. She dipped her tongue into Emily's belly button and she smiled when she both heard and felt the brunette giggle softly. She continued to use her fingers to arouse and tease Emily, just barely dipping her fingertips between Emily's lips before sliding back out and then around her clit again.

Emily let out a sound that was a combination of a growl and a whimper and it drove Alison's mouth lower, until she finally settled on her stomach between the brunette's thighs.

Her warm breath blew over Emily's swollen and wet flesh and Alison inhaled deeply, the scent of her mermaid's arousal invaded her senses. The sight of the pink wet flesh made her mouth water. But as she was about to dive in, she felt Emily's fingers against her cheek.

Alison lifted her eyes and saw that Emily had lifted her head and was looking down at her. The love and trust she saw took her breath away.

"I don't last long this way," Emily admitted and it just made Alison's lips curve into a sultry smile.

"You don't need to," Alison replied as she kissed the inside of Emily's thigh while never taking her eyes off the brunette. "But I won't stop until I'm done so I hope you're a woman who enjoys multiple orgasms."

Emily's eyes rolled back and she let her head fall back as she whimpered rather than respond with words. Alison took that as agreement and took her first lick of her mermaid.

As the taste of Emily hit her tongue Alison thought her head would explode. The slick arousal coated her tongue and Alison lapped it up hungrily. Emily's taste was exquisite and addictive and Alison knew she would happily spend the rest of her life exactly where she was.

She pushed Emily's thighs further apart and flicked and swirled her tongue over and around Emily's swollen clit before slipping her tongue lower and thrusting it inside Emily. She felt Emily's thighs shaking around her head and she smiled as the brunette's hips started rocking gently.

Alison used her fingers to spread Emily wider and she wrapped her lips around the brunette's clit. She sucked and flicked taking long sips of the hard bud as she slipped one finger into Emily's body. Almost instantly she felt Emily's walls tighten and clench around her finger.

Her mermaid was telling the truth, she did come fast. And that knowledge just drove the blonde on, further determined to make Emily come as many times as she possibly could.

"Ali," Emily's voice cried out as the blonde pumped her finger and sucked her clit until Emily was begging her for mercy.

But Alison didn't relent. She pulled her fingers from inside Emily but she just replaced them with her tongue. She rolled her head so her nose brushed against Emily's clit as she fucked the brunette as deep as she could with her tongue.

Over and over Alison brought Emily to orgasm with her tongue and her teeth and her fingers until finally Emily clamped her thighs around Alison's head so tight the blonde thought she might lose consciousness from lack of oxygen.

Then, and only then, did Alison relent.

She softened her tongue and soothed Emily's throbbing and aching flesh gently.

"Ali," Emily murmured because that was all she had the energy to do.

Alison slowly kissed her way back up until she settled her body on top of Emily's.

Emily smiled and turned her face so Alison could kiss her. Alison obliged her with soft sips of her lips.

"Have I died and gone to heaven?" Emily joked between kisses.

"Nope, you're still here on earth with me," Alison smiled and leaned down to press her lips to Emily's ear. "But you taste like it."

Emily turned and urged Alison onto the bed beside her. She wrapped her arms around the blonde and pulled her close, hiking Alison's thigh up over her hip.

"Thank god we both do," Emily teased as she kissed Alison again. "It would really suck if after all this we found out we weren't compatible sexually."

Alison laughed because of both Cece's comment earlier. Boy was she ever fucking wrong. But she also laughed because the old Emily she knew would never make jokes about sex but just as Alison had once teased her, Emily Fields was oh so very sexy in the sheets.

Grateful and happy, Alison wiggled closer and pressed a kiss to Emily's throat.

"Compatibility will never be an issue for us, but maybe stamina. I hope you can keep up with me," the blonde purred as she teased back.

Emily choked out another laugh and then she rolled Alison onto her back and crawled over her again, settling down and brushing her nose between Alison's breasts. "You better hope you can keep up with me."

Emily nuzzled the inside of Alison's breast, gently brushing her lips against the soft swell of flesh. Alison smiled as her fingers combed through Emily's long chestnut hair and she lifted her head and buried her nose into the silky locks.

"Em," she murmured through a soft sigh. "Maybe we should take a little break though to recharge."

She felt Emily's lips curve into a smile against her skin and her body trembled beneath her mermaid's again. Alison tightened her thighs around Emily's hips as she arched her back, releasing a shuddering breath as Emily's lips just barely caressed her skin.

Slowly Emily's lips moved up to softly brush over the small tattoo adorning the top swell of Alison's left breast. The brunette swirled her tongue gently over the slightly raised skin before pressing a soft kiss against it.

Emily lifted her head and looked into Alison's eyes as the fingers of her right hand traced her name and the heart around it. "I can understand you wanting to cover it but why my name?"

"If I was putting anything permanent on my body, it was your name."

Emily's eyes softened and she brushed a few strands of hair off Alison's forehead. She swallowed back the lump that formed in her throat at Alison's words before she leaned up and kissed the blonde softly. Alison opened her mouth and whimpered as she felt Emily's tongue sweep inside and meet her own.

Alison lifted her legs and wrapped them around Emily as she rolled her hips, pressing their mounds together again. Emily moaned into her mouth and Alison slid her hands down Emily's back, gripping the brunette's ass before sliding one hand around between them. The blonde slid her fingers lower, over Emily's wet and warm flesh.

"Ali," Emily tore her lips away and buried her face in Alison's neck. Alison's fingers circled the brunette's still slightly tender clit, massaging and tickling the little bud as Emily's body trembled on top of her.

Emily swirled her tongue over the soft skin of Alison's throat, unable to form any coherent words as Alison's fingers once again pleasured her.

Alison turned her head and pressed her lips to Emily's ear. "You feel so perfect against my fingers." The blonde sunk her teeth gently into Emily's lobe as her fingers sped up slightly. "Better than I ever imagined."

Emily rocked her hips between Alison's thighs; pressing down against her fingers as the blonde slipped them lower, sliding first one, then a second inside her. Like Emily had done to her, Alison plunged her fingers slowly several times as her thumb pressed against Emily's clit.

Emily panted harshly against Alison's neck as small whimpering sounds escaped her lips, causing Alison to smile triumphantly. There was nothing more she wanted than to draw those sounds from Emily's lips for the rest of her life.

"Roll with me, baby," Alison whispered as she lowered one leg and used her foot for leverage as she rolled them over.

The brunette gasped and chuckled, which came out as more of a breathy moan, at the sudden movement. She settled back onto the mattress as Alison slipped her fingers out of her. "You're pretty good at that," Emily raised an eyebrow as Alison settled on her knees between the brunette's thighs.

"I'm good at a lot of things." Alison grinned down at her as she pushed Emily's thighs wider. "Why don't you let me show you," the blonde purred as she started to lean down, intending to cover Emily's sex with her mouth again, but the brunette stopped her.

Emily shook her head, her eyes black once again, and she sat up, pushing Alison backward on the bed.

The blonde looked up at her curiously as her body settled into the mattress again, her head at the foot of the bed now. Emily pushed Alison's thighs apart and crawled down her body, settling on her stomach between them, hiking the blonde's leg over her shoulder. She turned her face and kissed the soft skin of the inside of Alison's thigh before sucking gently.

The scent of Alison surrounded her and she felt almost drunk on it. She looked up to see Alison's head raised off the mattress as she looked down at her.

"It's my turn," Emily murmured as her tongue slipped between her lips and swept over the warm, wet, pink flesh between Alison's thighs.

"Oh, fuck."

The words and sound that escaped the blonde's lips was almost inhuman but it spurred Emily on and she returned the favor, using her lips and tongue and teeth to bring her love to orgasm over and over until it was her turn to beg for mercy.

When the two women finally fell into an exhausted sleep in the wee hours of the morning, amidst soft "I love you's," Alison finally felt like she was truly home for the first time in her life.

---

Second Author's Note:

The next update won't be for a few weeks at least. My mother-in-law is coming to visit (need I say more…lol), then I have two back to back work trips…. so needless to say I'm barely going to have time to breath for the next few weeks… but I'll be back when I can.

In the interim… I'll leave you with a short little snippet from the next chapter. Now that these girls have finally gotten together it's time to deal with the aftermath of their choice… This is the unedited scene so please excuse any typos.

Enjoy and see you in a few weeks.

---

Hanna's hand swung out and connected with Alison's cheek before anyone else in the room could register what was happening.

"Hanna," Emily gasped horrified and angry as she instinctively stepped in front of her girlfriend protectively, glaring at one of her oldest and best friends.

"Hanna!"

"Hanna!"

"Damn, Hanna!"

"Hey, bitch!"

Also all rang out in unison from Aria, Jason, Spencer and Cece respectively.

"What?" Hanna scoffed as she crossed her arms, looking completely unapologetic. "She deserved it and you all know it."

Alison held her stinging cheek with one hand. That was the second time, in recent history, she'd been slapped by a woman who loved Emily. And she was getting damn tired of it.

"You have no right-" Emily started but Alison put her other hand on her girl's arm.

"It's okay, Em," she soothed her irate mermaid softly.

Emily's head whipped around and she looked at Alison with shock.

"No it isn't, Alison. She has no right to lay a hand on you."

Alison felt a rush of love so fierce for her girl she wanted to tackle her, but, instead, she just smiled warmly and squeezed Emily's forearm because no one in this room wanted or needed to see how she planned to thank her mermaid later for defending and protecting her.

"Damn fucking right she has no right," Cece growled as Spencer cut in and tried to be the voice of reason.

"Everyone needs to just calm down. Han, you're way out of line right now."

Emily lifted her hand to softly caress Alison's quickly reddening cheek, causing the blonde to sigh softly. Her girl's touch always made everything better.

"You're just pussying out now that we're here," Hanna retorted. "You're as pissed at her as I am."

Alison's eyes slid from Emily's over to meet Hanna's and the warmth in them changed to steely cold.

She stepped around Emily and closer to Hanna, who stood straighter and held her ground.

"Oh shit, here it comes," Cece murmured from where she was standing beside Jason by the dining room table.

The two blonde's faced off as the silence in the room became deafening.

Finally Alison spoke.

"That's the one and only free pass you get, Hanna. The next time I hit back."