RULE 8: DON'T WASTE TIME

ROSEWOOD HAWKS

TOP-SECRET ALERT: CIA OPERATIVES SPOTTED IN ROSEWOOD FOR MYSTERIOUS MISSION!

Hold onto your hats, Rosewood residents, because the plot thickens with an unexpected twist straight out of a spy thriller! Multiple sources have confirmed sightings of CIA agents operating incognito right here in our charming suburban town. What could possibly be brewing beneath the surface?

With the CIA on the scene, speculation is running wild as to the nature of this covert mission. Is Rosewood harboring long-buried secrets that have caught the attention of the world's most famous intelligence agency? Or perhaps our picturesque streets hold clues to a mystery that could shake our community to its core!

As whispers of intrigue echo through Rosewood, residents are left wondering: is it too soon to panic? What secrets lie beneath the facade of our seemingly idyllic town? Buckle up, because this is one gossip story that's guaranteed to keep us all on the edge of our seats! Stay tuned for more updates as the mystery unfolds right before our eyes! #RosewoodSecrets #CIAinTown


"Ali!"

She heard Spencer break their characters and yell as her body was pushed back. The bulletproof vest she wore underneath her red coat served its purpose, shielding her chest from what could've been a fatal wound. Nevertheless, it still hurt a lot and she knew the wound was going to bruise.

Two gunshots echoed in the room. Alison was relieved to know that neither came in her direction this time. Then, she heard a yelp and the sound of a body dropping to the floor.

She was pretty sure Archer Dunhill was dead by then, much to her relief.

"Alex, stay with Vivian and call for help! We're gonna search the room for evidence," Lorenzo ordered.

Spencer rushed to her side as Alison tried to lift her body.

"No, no, no, you're staying on the ground, miss!" Spencer said as she pushed Alison back down again.

"Alex, I'm fine!"

"No, you're not! You have a gunshot wound on your arm and you better stay still!"

Spencer tore a stripe from her shirt and pressed it against Ali's wounded arm to stop the bleeding. Alison had completely forgotten about the bullet she took in her arm, but now it was all she could feel. The scent of blood invaded her nostrils and she could barely move her arm, but she knew she was going to be okay.

"I'm not gonna die, Alex," Alison snorted.

"You would've been dead by now if Archer Dunhill had a great aim."

It was true. Alison could still remember the sound of the first bullet buzzing right next to her ear. One wrong step to the side and she would've been killed. Lucky for her, Archer wasn't good with a gun and she had been wearing protection underneath her coat.

"That's what bulletproof vests are for," Alison mused.

"Seriously, Vivian, shut the fuck up!" Spencer said as she angrily opened up Ali's coat and vest to check on the wound that the vest had absorbed. There was probably a bruise right now. "We're taking you to the hospital."

Alison had half the mind to argue with Spencer and say she was going to be okay. However, she knew from previous experiences that gunshot wounds could be problematic. The bruise on her chest was likely minor, but she'd still need to be checked for broken bones. A projectile didn't lose all its power just because its target was wearing a vest. In fact, the protection meant that Alison's body took all the kinetic impact in exchange for protecting her vital organs.

As for the wound on her arm, it was likely non-fatal. Alison knew she'd be bleeding to death had Archer hit an artery, but that wasn't the case. Still, it would need to be checked. And she'd probably need to take some antibiotics.

Spencer was still right beside her in the ambulance ride. She was beside herself with anger, though Alison knew it was the frustration of not having been able to see what Archer was up to. Adding to that, Spencer was worried about her.

"What were you thinking?! How could you miss the guy when he was right in your face?!" Spencer went off as she held Ali's hand. Typical Spencer to go off on her about something while showing support to her at the same time.

Alison didn't reply. She just squeezed Spencer's hand to let her know it was going to be okay. Instead of focusing on Spencer, she thought about Emily. Alison had been so close to not being able to ever make a grand gesture for her. She promised to herself that she would come up with something huge as soon as she was out of the hospital.

She couldn't afford to waste time anymore.


Alison was rushed to the emergency room as soon as she arrived in the hospital. Everything was such a blur that all she could remember was a team of doctors checking the hole in her arm. She thought she had spotted Wren among her doctors, but she couldn't be sure.

They led her through a battery of exams and checked on her wounds. The one in her chest had bruised, but there were no broken bones, so one could say Alison got lucky. The gunshot wound on her arm offered a little more complication. She'd have to go through surgery to have her torn bicep repaired and then Alison would need a blood transfusion for the blood loss.

The doctors gave her anesthesia and Alison was out of it.


THE ROSEWOOD OBSERVER

OLYMPIC SWIMMER PAIGE MCCULLERS TAKES MENTAL HEALTH BREAK

In a surprising turn of events, Olympic swimmer Paige McCullers has opted to temporarily step away from her illustrious sports career to prioritize her mental well-being. While the exact catalyst for this decision remains undisclosed, media circles are abuzz with speculation linking McCullers' hiatus to the possibility of her engagement to fellow swimmer Emily Fields coming to an end.

McCullers' management team has refrained from commenting on these swirling rumors, adding a layer of mystery to the situation. As fans and supporters await further clarity, the focus remains on McCullers' health and her journey towards inner balance and resilience.

Throughout her impressive athletic tenure, McCullers has been a beacon of strength and determination, making waves in the competitive swimming scene. Now, as she navigates this personal chapter, the swimming community rallies behind her, offering unwavering support during this time of introspection and healing.

ROSEWOOD HAWKS

PAIGE MCCULLERS TAKES MENTAL HEALTH BREAK AMIDST RUMORED HEARTBREAK!

Hold onto your goggles, because the waters are churning with emotional turmoil in the world of competitive swimming! Olympic sensation Paige McCullers has shocked fans by announcing a hiatus from her career to prioritize her mental health, but whispers suggest there's more to the story than meets the eye.

In a candid social media post, McCullers revealed her decision to step back from the pool, citing personal reasons. However, our sources hint at a deeper narrative—one tied to the recent end of her engagement to Emily Fields, America's Mermaid.

"McCullers just needs some time away to recover from the end of her engagement to Emily Fields," a trusted insider disclosed, speaking under the veil of anonymity. Could this heart-wrenching breakup be the real reason behind McCullers' sudden departure from the sport?

As speculation swirls about Fields' reported romance with blonde bombshell Alison DiLaurentis, it seems McCullers has found herself caught in the undertow of emotional fallout. Will she emerge stronger from this challenging chapter, or is this just the beginning of a new wave of drama in Rosewood's swimming circles?

Stay tuned for more updates as the currents of love, loss, and resilience continue to shape the lives of our favorite athletes! #PaigeMcCullers #RosewoodDrama


Emily had been oblivious to the things happening in Rosewood, partly because she was so lost in the hurricane inside her mind. She still had to sort out her apartment situation with Paige. Their relationship was over, but the place that used to be their home was still legally owned by both of them.

To be honest, Emily didn't mind selling her part of their apartment back to Paige. She could use the money to buy a new apartment for herself. Conversely, she wouldn't mind buying back Paige's part too. She just wanted to get it over with.

However, Paige had gone off the radar ever since their breakup. Obviously, Emily didn't expect them to be talking over text like two best friends, but she had expected Paige to at least be there for the mundane things.

All she heard from her was that the fellow swimmer had gone on a mental health break and then she was nowhere to be seen. It did make her worry because lately she's been having this feeling that Paige wasn't the most mentally stable person in the room.

Her thoughts were interrupted by Hanna bursting into the guest room she was now sleeping in.

"Em, I think you should see this!"

Hanna showed her another article from the blog Rosewood Hawks in her phone:

ROSEWOOD HAWKS

ALISON DILAURENTIS TARGETED IN ARMED ROBBERY!

Hold onto your seats, Rosewood, because the drama continues to unfold with jaw-dropping intensity! Reports have surfaced suggesting that none other than CEO extraordinaire, Alison DiLaurentis, found herself at the center of a harrowing armed robbery incident.

According to our sources, the blonde bombshell fought off would-be thieves attempting to steal her car, bravely standing her ground in the face of danger. However, in the midst of the struggle, DiLaurentis reportedly suffered a gunshot wound to the arm.

Details surrounding this shocking event remain shrouded in mystery, with the Carissimi Group—DiLaurentis' business empire—remaining tight-lipped amidst inquiries for comment. As our hearts go out to Ms. DiLaurentis during this difficult time, we can only hope for a swift and complete recovery for the fearless CEO!

With the CIA sightings and now this chilling robbery attempt, Rosewood's tranquility seems to be hanging by a thread. #AlisonDiLaurentis #RosewoodDrama

Emily panicked. Alison had been shot. Leave it to the fiery blonde to pick up a fight with armed robbers. It was stupid and oh so Alison. Honestly, how could she get shot for something so stupid like that?

Emily was mad, but she was also mad worried about Alison. She needed to make sure that Alison was okay or else she was going to lose it. Her hands shook as she scrolled down Hanna's phone, trying to find any information on that article that could lead them to where Alison was, but there was none (obviously).

"Oh God, where is she?!" Emily frantically asked.

"I don't know! I assume they must've taken her to the Rosewood Hospital because it's the closest hospital nearby," Hanna guessed and Emily judged that it was worth the try.

"I'm going there!" Emily rises from her bed and begins to look for her purse, her wallet, and her phone.

"Em, you don't even know if she's there! And maybe her family is taking up her time or—" Hanna tried to reason with her, but Emily cut it off immediately.

"Hanna, I just need to make sure she's alive and well. Damn, she got shot!"

Her blonde best friend jumped back and raised both of her hands, as if trying to placate Emily.

"Okay, okay, let me drive you," she offered instead. Hanna had seen Emily's hands shaking and she knew how reckless Emily could be when something affected her so deeply.

"Hanna, I can't put you into this…."

"Emily, you're obviously in shock and in no condition to drive. I'll take you to the hospital," Hanna said, picking up her car keys. "Now, come on, Ali is waiting for you."


"There you go," Wren said as he finished the last stitch on Alison's arm. The surgery had gone extremely well and there had been no complications. Alison would have to wear a sling for the following days and then work with an occupational therapist in order to fully recover.

But that was a small price to pay. Alison knew she had gotten lucky and that next time she probably wouldn't be. Casualties happened all the time in that line of work.

"Thanks, Wren.".

"You're welcome. Seriously, though, Ali, are you okay? You're usually not the one who ends up in a hospital."

"Doesn't Spence always say I have a tendency to jump right into danger?" She raised an eyebrow at him.

"Yes, she tells me you're stupid. But not careless," he pointed out.

Alison didn't know what to answer. It's not like she couldn't trust Wren, but lately she felt everyone around her was getting a piece of the mess that took place inside her head and it didn't help her sort it out. She hoped that seeing Emily would do the trick somehow.

"If your mind was somewhere else, then you'd better not be on the field at all," Wren suggested, bringing her back to their conversation. "I mean it, Ali. I don't want to be with you in the operating room because you had a bullet in your heart or worse, in your brain."

She suddenly remembered that bullet buzzing just right beside her ear again. It had been so close, just so close. Alison had been hurt before on her missions, but never that close to a fatal injury.

For a moment, she wondered what she would leave behind. Her company was doing great and she had no doubt that Charlotte, Jason, and aunt Mary could keep the ship afloat. But they would be devastated about her death, especially Seth. Her nephew was just too young to process the brutal death of someone from his family. And Spencer would be angry and curse all over her grave, but she would miss her a lot and even blame herself.

And what about Emily? How would she react to Alison dying? Suddenly, the blonde felt suffocated by the thought of leaving this world without showing the brunette how she really felt. Those feelings scared her. And Alison would regret not really having tried to have a relationship with Emily.

She found herself longing for the things she had once believed she could live without. Alison wanted to wake up beside Emily and make breakfast with her in the kitchen. She wanted to cheer for her in the stands and run into her arms whenever Emily won a swim competition. She wanted to take Emily out for fancy dinners. She wanted to give Emily the best her money could give, not because Alison wanted to flex, but because she needed Emily to know she could have everything she ever wanted.

Then, the door burst open, waking Alison from her daydreams. A heaving Charlotte walked into her room unceremoniously and jumped into her bed, crushing Alison in between her arms.

"Oh my God, Ali, are you okay?!"

Of fucking course Lorenzo and Spencer would tell Charlotte about her getting shot on their mission. It's not like they had any choice though. Charlotte, Jason, and Mary were her only relatives still living. Still, Alison wasn't mad at them. Charlotte was her big sister, the one who better understood. And, after everything that happened, Alison reveled in the sense of security Charlotte provided.

"CeCe, she's just woken up from surgery," Wren pointed out gently, not really wanting to disturb their moment, but concerned about Ali's stitches.

"Oops, sorry!"

Charlotte released Alison from her embrace and eyed her from head to toe, making sure that her baby sister was still in one piece. Her eyes stopped on the stitches on Ali's left arm.

"What happened?!"

"I got distracted and Archer ambushed me. He shot me three times and then I think Lorenzo took him down."

Charlotte looked disheveled at the thought of her baby sister getting shot. Alison had done so much for her when they were younger and Charlotte still felt like she had to pay it back. To be fair, she didn't like the idea of having both her husband and her sister working in such a dangerous field, but she respected their choices.

"Ali, for fuck's sake, you never get distracted!" She reprimanded.

"I'm sorry, it was a mistake. It will never happen again," Alison cowered a little under her big sister's gaze, feeling slightly guilty for her distraction.

"It better! I don't ever want to get a call from Lorenzo telling me that you're lying dead somewhere!"

"You won't, I promise," Alison swore and decided to change the subject to avoid another earful from her sister. "At least our PR team is happy that they got away from the swimsuit drama."

"Oh, please, you have me to thank for," Charlotte bragged. "I told Rosewood Hawks that you got shot in an armed robbery attempt."

"CeCe, you didn't!" Alison complained. "How am I going to explain that to the cops when they find that all of my cars are totally fine?!"

Or worse: what if they found the hidden firearm Alison kept inside one of her cars? She really didn't want to face perjury charges and then let it become public that she's a secret agent. It would become a shitshow that would make her PR team long for the days when would criticize her company's swimsuits at press conferences.

Not to mention the damage it would cause to her relationship with Emily. God, Alison didn't even want to consider Emily finding out about her little CIA side job. She knows she will have to tell her eventually, but she wants to drag it on for now.

"Lorenzo is pulling some CIA cards to make sure they won't investigate that. We couldn't have them finding out about you here and linking that to the CIA mission here. That's why I took control of the narrative."

"It's perjury," Alison pointed out.

"Not when it comes to protecting the identity of a secret agent," Charlotte rolled her eyes. "Seriously, Ali, it's all taken care for. I doubt the police will even investigate."

Alison would argue further on, but a nurse knocked on her bedroom door. She looked disheveled for a reason. Alison hoped it had nothing to do with her wounds.

"Dr. Kingston, there's someone trying to visit Ms. DiLaurentis, but she's not in the authorized list. She's very stubborn, though, claiming she is a famous swimmer."

As a public person and a secret CIA agent, Alison's room in the Rosewood Hospital was a very classified information. Basically, the only people who had access to her were her immediate family, Spencer, and Lorenzo. Also, Wren was to oversee any treatment she went through. It was a very unconventional arrangement and Alison knew she was privileged for that. Perks of being an undercover agent and a CEO.

But upon hearing the description of her mystery visitor, Alison widened her eyes in surprise as her heartbeat began to race. She knew it was Emily at the reception trying to visit her. And the effect that knowledge had on her was very noticeable to everyone in the room because Alison was wired to a heart monitor. When her heartbeat went up, the machine started to beep faster. It embarrassed her.

Charlotte and Wren just exchanged glances and chuckled at how obvious Ali's crush was at that point.

"I'm going out so I can let Emily Fields in," Charlotte announced. "I think we can move her to the authorized list, Wren."

"Absolutely," he agreed with a smirk.

"It's not like that," Alison huffed. She would not have those two gang up on her to make fun of her love life. But she didn't really have it on herself to deny her crush on Emily anymore. And it wasn't like she could, not with a monitor.

"The beeping machine attached to your finger says otherwise, honey," Charlotte gave Alison one of her signature winks. "Now, be a good girl while I let your girlfriend in."

Alison scowled, but Charlotte was long gone by then.


The hospital's reception was a mess when Charlotte arrived to pick up Emily. The swimmer was straight-up arguing with everyone who was trying to block her from finding Alison in there.

"Listen, I am Emily Fields! You probably read at the Hawks that me and Ali have been together. We're family! I need to check on her!" Charlotte chuckled as she saw Emily try to use that snitch from Rosewood Hawks as an argument to get past through hospital protocols.

Charlotte thought that Emily must've been desperate at this point. Everyone with a brain in Rosewood hated the Hawks and their infamous blog because they published information without fact-checking, which was irresponsible, even if they were accurate at times.

"Yes, and I am the Queen of England!" The receptionist yelled back. "Listen here, young lady, if you don't walk out right now, I'm calling security!"

Charlotte decided it was a good time to intervene before Emily left the hospital in handcuffs and TMZ published a headline that went like "Olympic swimmer Emily Fields arrested after threatening a receptionist at the hospital" or something.

"Oh no, there won't be no need for that," she said, approaching the scene and reveling at how surprised Emily looked as she stared at her. Charlotte knew she and Alison were strikingly similar. Alison took a lot after her, not only in looks and style, but in the way they behaved around other people. They both had a powerful aura that made other people cower to them.

That's what happened to the hospital staff under Charlotte's gaze.

"Ms. DiLaurentis! We were just dealing with the situation—"

"It won't be needed. It was our mistake. This woman is indeed Emily Fields and she was supposed to be on the authorized list to Ali's bedroom," Charlotte lied charmingly. "I apologize for the fuss. You can let her in now."

The hospital staff shared some concerned glances among themselves, but eventually shrugged it off. Charlotte DiLaurentis was authorizing this woman. Who were they to put on a struggle?

"We apologize for the situation, Ms. Fields," the receptionist said to the swimmer, though they were definitely in the right to begin with.

Emily just nodded and allowed herself to be dragged away by Charlotte, flinching when the older woman grabbed her arm to guide her through a maze of halls and elevators.

"Thanks, I guess," she whispered, suddenly feeling shy. That was so not how she expected to meet Alison's sister. To make matters worse, Charlotte looked a lot like Alison, so much that Emily could swear that they were twins.

"Don't mention it. I know Ali wants you to be here in the first place. That's why I let you in," Charlotte just shrugged it off.

"You're her older sister," Emily noted.

Charlotte winked, "The one and only."

"I'm sorry for showing up unannounced like this, but I just wanted to see how she is," Emily said. The last thing she wanted was for Alison's sister to believe she was some kind of lovestruck creep who was trying to stalk her in hospital rooms.

"Don't worry, honey. I wouldn't have let you in if I wasn't sure about what Ali wanted. I know she takes her privacy seriously."

"Still, I should've called her first. But I saw the news and I was just so worried that my first thought was to come here and check on her."

"Well, she went through surgery to repair her biceps and will have to go to OT for some time, but she will be fine," Charlotte told her. "Ali has always been one to jump into danger, not away from it. She ran away from home when she was 11 to support me, did you know that?"

Emily shook her head. She did know that through what Hanna had told her, but that story felt very private and she didn't want Charlotte — Ali's sister — to think she had looked onto their family history.

"Well, I guess she helped me in her own foot-in-the-mouth way," Charlotte mused. "Ali has always been brave and stubborn and I've always admired that in her. But, at times, it could be dangerous to her."

Emily found herself agreeing. She's been inspired by Ali's courage and bravery a number of times, but never took a moment to consider that those very qualities could play against Alison in the wrong scenarios, such as an armed robbery attempt.

Charlotte finally stopped by room 214 under the tag "Holly Varjak".

"She's in here."

Emily hesitated, "Wait, isn't that Holly Varjak's room?"

Charlotte chuckled at her innocence, "You don't think we'd keep her in a room under her own name, do you? Last time we tried that, a bunch of crazy admirers flooded her room with teddy bears and roses. It was a mess."

Emily winced, both at the thought of being suffocated in a sea of roses and plushies and at the thought of Alison having thousands of secret admirers.

"It makes sense," she conceded.

Charlotte turned around to leave, but stopped on her heels.

"Emily?"

"Yes?"

"Don't hurt her. Alison might be a bombshell out in the world, but she's still my baby sister."

Emily smiled softly and nodded. It was heart-warming to see how much Charlotte and Alison loved and protected each other. And Charlotte smiled right back at her before finally leaving her to knock on Ali's door.


Alison was talking to Wren when Emily came through the door. He had just given her some painkillers to get her through the night. When Emily stepped into the room, she didn't like that he was sitting too close to Alison to be just an acquaintance. Maybe Alison had charmed that doctor and maybe they were having something and maybe she should've just listened to Hanna when she mentioned Ali's reputation and—

"Seems like you've got a visit!" Wren jerked up from the bed and held the door open.

"I didn't mean to intrude—"

"It's fine. Ms. DiLaurentis needs someone to chat her up a little bit before her meds kick in. Doctor's orders," he winked charmingly and left. Alison rolled her eyes at his antics and Emily carefully moved to Ali's bed.

"Don't mind him. He's British, so he's got a weird sense of humor."

Emily stepped closer tentatively, "I really didn't mean to interrupt anything."

"What did you think was going on, Em? He's my doctor!"

"Nothing."

Emily's curt reply had Alison thinking that maybe, just maybe, she was jealous. Well, it's not like Alison could blame her for feeling that way. They hadn't defined their relationship, she was known for having a reputation, and she hadn't introduced Wren properly to Emily.

"And he's married to Spencer, I have to add," she quipped. "They're both pains in my ass."

"He's Wren?!" Emily asked, finally connecting the dots. Of course Alison wouldn't put her health in the hands of some random doctor. She was a CEO who had connections. Wren was probably on her speed dial for situations like that.

"Yes," she laughed upon seeing how relieved Emily was. "But I don't believe you made such a fuss at the reception to talk about him."

"Ugh, I'm sorry about that. Charlotte let me in."

"She told me she would," Alison huffed, refusing to add that Charlotte had pegged Emily as her girlfriend.

"I can leave if you want to. I wasn't sure if you wanted me to be here in the first place," Emily prodded gently. She didn't mean to impose and she knew that Alison liked to keep her private life to herself. She just didn't know how much the blonde would want to share with her, considering that they didn't put a label on their relationship. "Though Charlotte mentioned that you did and that she wouldn't have let me in if she wasn't sure."

"Of course I want you here," Alison reached for Emily's hand and squeezed it. "I'm sorry I didn't call before. They just rushed me to surgery and I woke up like two hours ago."

"Hanna showed me that article on Rosewood Hawks and drove me here. I was so worried about you," Emily confessed, letting one tear slip down her cheek. The thought of Alison dying in that robbery was too scary. It was even scarier to think about the grip that Alison already had on heart.

"Hey, don't cry," Alison caught that tear with her thumb and caressed Emily's face, memorizing the edge of her cheekbone. Emily was so gorgeous and Alison had come just so close to not letting her know. "God, you're so beautiful."

Her comment made Emily snap.

"Ali, please don't do that again! Don't try to fight off an armed robber!" Emily ignored her remark and ranted. "Your life is so much more important than anything they could steal from you!"

Alison laughed, her heart filling with an emotion she couldn't put into words. It warmed up her chest and made her tingle. But Emily mistook that emotion as Alison simply laughing at her advice.

"Ali, this is not a joke! I'm serious!"

"I promise. I won't do anything stupid anymore," Alison swore, hoping it wouldn't come back to bite her on the tongue. She was a CIA secret agent after all. Shit happened, whether they liked it or not. Alison knew she technically couldn't promise Emily she would stay out of trouble, but she wanted to appease her heart. "Do you know what flashed in my mind when I was in the ambulance?"

"That you're reckless and stupid?!"

"That I really should ask you out on a date."

Emily jumped back a little, surprised at Ali's suggestion. She could feel that Alison was drawn to her in ways that went beyond sexual attraction, but the blonde had yet to make a move. Emily didn't expect she would do it so soon, especially not when she was still fresh out of her break up with Paige.

Then, she chuckled in disbelief, "Wow, they really did give you strong meds."

"Well, it was not a morphine dream, Em. I really want to give it a shot with you. I know I don't have the greatest history when it comes to dating and that I've never been in a real relationship, but I wanna try it. With you."

And then Emily felt it too. The warmth spread through her chest, gathering in a light blush on her cheeks.

"Ali, I'm just coming out of a broken engagement."

"I understand. I can wait until you're ready. We don't have to put a tag on what we have right now. But being with you just feels right."

Emily could do that. She finally nodded and leaned in to press a gentle kiss to Ali's lips. Alison got lost in the taste she might have never felt again. So, she grabbed Emily by the neck and pulled her closer, deepening the kiss. Her desire startled the swimmer a bit, but she didn't pull away; instead, Emily kissed her back just as hard until they ran out of air.

Ali's heartbeats went up and her monitor showed it. That made the blonde blush in embarrassment. Emily knew she was being genuine.

"How is Paige, by the way?" Alison asked just to change the subject and make sure Paige hadn't been stalking Emily.

"I really don't wanna talk about my ex right now," the swimmer quipped.

"Just checking if she's not hounding you."

If she was, Alison would find a way to get out of the hospital to kick Paige's ass. She meant it.

"She isn't. Actually, she's on a mental health break right now. It would've been bigger news if not for what happened to you and the CIA coming here," Emily mentioned. "We haven't even discussed what we will do with the place we used to live in."

Poor Paige, always losing her spotlight to Alison, even in their defeats. Alison pushed that thought away and focused instead on how Emily knew the CIA had been around. It was a miracle that Emily hadn't put two and two together. What were the odds of two exceptional things happening at the same time in a town as small as Rosewood? It was a good thing that Emily had too much on her plate right now to put two and two together.

"Also, seems like Dr. Rollins took a leave of absence too," Emily said. "They're still trying to find doctors to help me with my shoulder."

The information about Archer Dunhill hadn't leaked, which was a good thing, Alison noted. That meant the CIA would control the narrative once it hit the press. A leak would create buzz and panic all over Rosewood, but she wouldn't put it past those bloggers from Rosewood Hawks.

But the good thing was that Archer was gone for good. He would never inject weird stuff into Emily's shoulder again. Which reminds Alison to talk to Spencer about whether the CIA was able to figure out what drugs Archer was using when he posed as a doctor.

"Maybe that's a good thing. Maybe now you'll get the right treatment for your shoulder," Alison rubbed Emily's injured shoulder gently so as to not hurt her.

Emily chuckled, "I don't understand what you have against Rollins. Weren't you the one literally flirting with him?"

Yes, I was flirting with him to get information on whatever the fuck he was injecting into your shoulder. And I got shot for it. So, that means I got shot for you. How romantic.

Alison wished she could voice that thought, but settled for something else instead:

"Em, that wasn't a lot of flirting. It's a good thing to play the field sometimes."

"And when you say you want to take me out on a date, you mean that you won't be playing the field anymore?" Emily asked, just to make sure they were both on the same page. She wasn't going to have Alison date other people while they were together. Emily was a woman who knew what she wanted.

"Exactly."

If Alison told her past self that she would be settling for exclusivity with someone, she would've never believed in herself. But Emily deserved her all and she hadn't felt the need to be with other people ever since Emily got into her radar.

Still, her commitment left Emily a little bewildered.

"I don't understand it," she shrugged it off. "I'm not anything special."

"Says the Olympic champion here. Literally."

Emily seemed to forget just how amazing she was sometimes. But Alison would be there to remind her every day.

Emily rolls her eyes, "Ali, you know what I meant."

"You're special to me, Em. And it took me getting shot to find the courage to ask you for a chance to show that I can be everything you deserve."

Alison knows that it's more complicated than that, she doesn't deserve that chance. But she's always been selfish and now she wants Emily all to herself. And she's keeping her, if Emily agrees to stay by her side.

"Those meds are really kicking in," Emily joked and Alison wanted to retort, but ended up yawning instead. They both laughed. "You don't have to prove anything to me, Ali. You already got that chance."

Emily pressed their foreheads together and Alison pulled her by the lapels of her plaid shirt so she could lie by her side.

"Stay," she asked, cuddling against the swimmer and pressing a kiss to her clothed collarbone.

"For as long as you want me to."

Then, Emily ran her fingers through Ali's hair, lulling her back to sleep.


ROSEWOOD HAWKS

EMILY FIELDS MAKES HOSPITAL VISIT TO INJURED ALISON DILAURENTIS AMIDST RUMORS OF ROMANCE!

Grab your popcorn, Rosewood, because the latest development in our town's real-life soap opera is nothing short of jaw-dropping! It's been reported by multiple sources that our beloved Mermaid, Emily Fields, was spotted at Rosewood Hospital, paying a special visit to none other than the injured Carisssimi Group CEO herself, Alison DiLaurentis.

In case you missed it, DiLaurentis recently made headlines after bravely facing an armed robbery attempt that left her hospitalized. Now, amidst whispers of a lackluster police investigation, Fields' unexpected appearance at the hospital has tongues wagging with speculation!

But here's where it gets even juicier: witnesses claim that nothing could deter Ms. Fields from her mission to see her DiLaurentis, with the determined Olympic swimmer reportedly causing a stir at the reception until she was granted access to DiLaurentis' bedside. Could this reunion hint at a romantic relationship between the two leading ladies?

Adding fuel to the fire, rumors are swirling that Fields may have recently parted ways with her fiancée, Paige McCullers, who has been notably absent from the public eye following her mental health break.

Stay tuned for more scandalous updates as the drama continues to unfold! #Emison


The days went by as Alison recovered in the hospital. She and Emily had been caught cuddling together by Jason and Seth. Of course Seth went a little overboard with his "aunt Ali" dating the "greatest Mermaid to ever exist" while Jason just smirked at him and told her, good job, kid!

Emily left in a hurry, both because she was embarrassed at being caught by Ali's brother and nephew and because she had practice the following morning. However, she always came back to visit Alison and spend the night with her. Even the hospital staff was getting used to her presence there.

Ali's recovery went without complication and, five days later, she was already allowed to go home. Spencer was the one going to drive her because she had updates she needed to share with Alison on Archer's case.

"Are you good to go?" Spencer asked as she finished helping Alison pack up her things. The blonde still had her left arm in a sling.

"Yep, I think I am. Let's drop this stuff at my house and then we'll go to the CIA."

Alison knew she was technically off duty, but she really wanted to know from who Archer bought his drugs, what he was injecting into Emily and whatever other secrets he may have kept. She could handle a little pain if it meant that case would be solved for good.

"Ali, you should really take it easy," Spencer advised. "Getting shot sucks and you still got OT to do."

"I know, Spence, but we've got a case to solve. And it's not over just because Archer is dead," Alison noted. "He might be good at selling drugs, but I don't think he was good at making them. Doesn't fit his profile."

"About that…" Spencer hesitated. "We've found some files on his computer and Mona managed to crack them. He was indeed giving drugs to the national swim team."

"Oh fuck."

Alison knew what it meant. The CIA would be on the swim team's tail for now. Which meant they would have to go after Emily at some point. Alison didn't really want to think about the possibility of questioning the swimmer. She knew there would be ethical complications (and maybe even implications) in her involvement in the case.

Then, Spencer said what Alison feared would happen:

"I'm sorry, Ali. We'll have to bring in Emily for questioning."