67 - The Beginning of Forever - Final Chapter

Pam Fields was, without a question, the emotional type when it came to her only daughter. Whenever her baby was having a big day, she willed herself not to cry. Along with her husband, she had raised Emily to be the impeccable human-being she was, and they couldn't be more proud of her.

Except, Pam sarcastically pondered as she shook her head in despair for the hundredth time, for right now.

"Just - come a bit closer..." the woman instructed, "okay, now turn a little to the left..."

Emily, who watched her own mother with an exasperated expression, couldn't help but roll her eyes.

"Mommm," she dragged out the word, receiving an unamused glare from Mrs. Fields, who lowered the camera around her neck to chest-level.

"I'm your mother, Emily. Let me have this," she spoke sternly.

Emily's slightly annoyed face turned to watch as her father entered the room, holding a steaming cup of coffee.

"I can't believe my babygirl is graduating," he expressed with a warm smile, unaware of the tiny argument that occurred less than a minute ago. "She was sixteen just a second ago. And she was six only a second before that." he shook his head, as his brown eyes, that were almost identical to Emily's, remained hopeful and welcoming.

"They grow up so fast, huh," the girl who entered remarked from across the room. She stood with her arms crossed lightly, wearing a small smirk and examining Emily up and down. When she caught the brunette's eyes, she sent a sultry wink her way, which went completely over Pam and Wayne's heads.

Alison chuckled to herself as Emily's cheeks grew warm. Her favorite person was still not immune to her mischievous flirtation. She couldn't believe the effect she still had on the girl, it was incredible.

Alison had arrived at the Fields' house on foot, since Emily was supposed to give her a ride to the ceremony. The day, this day, had finally arrived. All of the pressure and ups and downs along the way were worth it. And as her eyes lay upon the three members of the Fields family, the blonde relished the thought that she didn't feel like she was intruding this family moment, because she was already so close with the three of them that she couldn't remember the time when they weren't there for her.

"Oh, Alison, perfect! Get in there with Emmy, would you?" Pam gushed excitedly.

Alison's eyes brightened at the invitation, "Of course! You don't have to ask me twice."

The blonde advanced towards Emily and gave her a loving hug in greeting once she reached her, feeling the brunette's long arms wrap around her comfortingly. The scent of Emily's supernaturally addicting shampoo was stronger that day, Alison wasn't sure why, but she sure as hell wasn't complaining.

As they faced Pam's intimidatingly large camera, Emily leaned in and whispered to her, "I'm sorry about all of this."

Alison turned to look at her in confusion, "Why sorry? I love taking pictures with you."

"Really?" The brunette smiled softly as she stared into the blonde's crystal blue eyes.

"Of course, Em. It makes me feel like I'm in a museum," she responded nonchalantly, raising her eyebrow, "you know, taking pictures by the artwork."

Emily rolled her eyes playfully, "Do you want some bread for that cheese?"

"Come on, girls, quit jabbering," Pam commanded, now pleased that Alison was there, in order to subtly force Emily to take more pictures. "I want the perfect shot of you two. One to show the grandparents."

Emily sighed, "Mom, you have like, two albums worth of photos of us."

"Hush. Okay, now just a couple more..."

"Mooomm," Emily continued to groan as Alison giggled slightly. She glanced at her father, her one last hope, "Dad, please do something."

"I am doing something, Emmy," he said, sending a reassuring smile towards his wife, "I'm enjoying these wonderful photos."

"We have to get over to Spencer's, she's called three times already," Emily pleaded while Pam continued snapping away.

Pam stepped a bit closer as she squinted one eye, "I just want to adjust the lighting..."

Emily grabbed Alison's hand while shaking her head tiredly, "We're leaving! See you there!"

"Wha-" Pam barely got out.

Alison smiled sadly at the woman as her girlfriend practically dragged her out of the household. "Sorry, Pam. If it were up to me I'd let you take pictures 24/7," she said as she walked past the woman. "Bye guys," The blonde waved to the pair.

"See you out there, honey," Pam replied, somewhat accepting the fact that she was not going to receive any more photos of her daughter. She knew she had plenty already, and she was aware that she had been taking Emily's pictures for the past forty minutes or so, which seemed to be the reason her daughter really wanted to escape. Pam just couldn't help it! It was her babygirl's graduation day, and she loved her so much. She was a mother for Christ's sake, taking endless pictures of her daughter was her right.

The married couple watched as Alison closed the door behind her and Emily. Wayne wrapped his arm around Pam's shoulder and squeezed supportingly, "She's a sweet girl. Perfect for our Emmy."

Pam smiled lovingly in agreement at him and nodded, "She is."

As Emily and Alison walked silently to the brunette's car, holding hands, Alison breathed in the warm summer air and the freshly cut grass. She took a closer look at Emily in her blue graduation gown, one that looked identical to the one she had on, only she couldn't help but think it looked better on the brunette. Not so subtly, she dropped her eyes down to check out Emily's ass through the gown.

Emily spoke, making her snap her gaze up to the side of the brunette's face, "I am again, sorry about my mom."

"Pam sure likes to take a lot of pictures," Alison replied, chuckling.

Emily laughed heartedly. "Jason did the same to you before you left the house, didn't he," she asked rhetorically.

Alison sighed in admission, rolling her eyes. "God, I didn't even know they make memory cards that big! I stopped counting the pics after a zillion."

Emily giggled as she entered her car, taking a sit in the driver's seat, while Alison sat beside her. Emily turned to watch Alison as the blonde buckled her seat belt.

"How are you?" she asked in honesty as she leaned her head back on the headrest and looked at Alison. "I barely got to see you this week. The finals were so stressful."

"I'm good, Em. You know, the finals weren't stressful because of the tests, they were stressful because I didn't see you," Alison spoke charmingly, loving the smile she got in response.

Emily grabbed Alison's hand across the central console. "I'm really excited for next year, Ali." she said with a soft smile.

"So am I, mermaid."

Emily tenderly released her hand with a smile and started the car, reversing out of her driveway.

Once they reached Spencer's house and parked across the street, Aria opened the front door and threw them an enthusiastic smile and a wave, reminding Emily of that day two summers ago, when she had ridden her bike to Alison's house and Aria opened the door for her. It was the day she and Alison first kissed.

Seems like forever ago, Emily reminisced to herself. Time goes by so fast.

"Hey, guys!" Aria called out as she reached both arms to hug the two girls at once. "You two are looking very beautiful today."

"Thanks, Ar," Emily smiled happily. "You look beautiful too," she said, gesturing to Aria's body.

"Oh," Alison exclaimed as she reached into the small purse she carried, pulling out a black eyeliner. "I brought you what you asked for."

"Ugh, you're a life-saver, thank you," Aria smiled in gratitude, accepting the thin tube. "I'll go finish getting ready. Hanna's in the kitchen, raiding Spencer's fridge." she playfully commented as she rolled her eyes.

"Of course she is," Emily shook her head fondly.

The two of them entered the house behind Aria, and as the petite brunette went off to the bathroom, they stepped into Spencer's kitchen, to find Hanna, as promised, with her head stuck inside the fridge.

"Hey, Han," Emily greeted as she put her turquoise clutch bag on the island.

Hanna pulled her head out, giving an exasperated look to the two girls, "Uh, late much? Two more minutes and we were gonna be on the line with 911."

"Sorry," Emily replied innocently with a shrug as Aria re-entered the room.

"Well, you didn't pick up our calls, so at least now we know you turn off your phones when you're doing it," Hanna shrugged in return, looking back at the fridge and giving herself permission to take the only piece of pie left.

"And what makes you think we were 'doing it', Han?" Alison asked, amused as Hanna grabbed a spork and began eating away.

"When are you not doing it?" Hanna replied crudely with her mouth full. The three girls grimaced at the sight. She swallowed her mouthful, "Besides, you barely saw each other for a week, I bet Ali couldn't hold for more than two seconds."

As Alison gaped at her, Aria's face churned even more, "Thanks for that lovely image, Han, real classy."

"Hey, I'm just glad these two had the courtesy of putting on some clothes and joining us," Hanna said with a playful edge.

"Shut up, Hanna," Emily looked away while her cheeks turned unbelievably red. "We were late because my mom was taking pictures of us."

"Ooh, kinky," Hanna smirked, and even Aria released a small chuckle disguised as a cough.

"Hanna! That's my mother," Emily whined miserably as Alison, who was amused by the whole exchange, squeezed her hand comfortingly.

"Yeah, I know, but Pam's cool," Hanna smiled innocently as Emily shook her head at her, wide-eyed.

They heard footsteps approaching, and all eyes turned to Spencer as she descended the stairs.

"Hey, Miss Valedictorian! How are you feeling?" Aria called out with an encouraging smile.

Spencer grinned gratefully at her, nearing the island where the rest of the girls were seated. "I'm happy to inform you that for once, I'm not on the verge of a nervous breakdown," she playfully said.

The girls giggled, even though they knew she wasn't entirely joking. She continued, "I don't need to be. I finally got into the college I wanted, next to Toby," they all caught her smiling dreamily. "And all of you are happy with your choices, too. It's really odd to not have a reason to be on my toes, finally." The tall brunette finished, sharing a smile with Alison, who sat across from her.

"It's weird," Aria said with a wistful smile, "high school gave us a fistful of obstacles, but this amazing group of people - you all practically led me through the dark, and I honestly can't imagine my life without the four of you. And of course, the boys."

"Aww, get over here, you goober," Hanna fondly side-hugged Aria with a loving smile. "I'm going to miss how freakin' tiny you are."

Aria just laughed as she was hugged on her right by Hanna and by Alison on her left, who decided to join the hug.

"I feel the same way, Ar. You guys are the people who made my high school years so memorable. And I can't wait for it to not only be high school," Emily shared with a shy smile.

Alison smiled tenderly at her, her heart swelling in her chest. "Come here," she said softly. She let go of Aria in order to walk around the counter, pulling her girlfriend into a tight embrace.

"Group hug!" Hanna shouted in a manner that Alison and Emily found quite annoying, as she and Aria moved over to join the hug, much to Alison's disdain. Hanna tilted her head playfully at Spencer for her to join as well, and the tall brunette rolled her eyes in a friendly manner before completing the group hug by joining it. They hugged for a long moment, all of them smiling a bit sadly, considering the fact that they were all separating soon. They weren't going to be extremely far away from each other, since they were all going to different states but no one was leaving the borders of the country, yet it was still too far away after spending such memory-filled years together and seeing each other so often.

The doorbell interrupted them and they raised their eyes to the white wooden door of the Hastings house. Spencer disconnected herself from the hug, "I'll get it."

"We should leave soon, you guys," Aria commented as the rest of them fell back into their seats around the island, with the exception of Emily, who was standing behind Alison's chair with her chin on top of the blonde's head, her hands running up and down Alison's arms and creating pleasant chills as on the skin. The girls all nodded in return.

As the door swung open, all they could hear was Spencer expressing through a laugh, "Oh, my God."

Hanna walked up behind Spencer, her eyes lighting up at the sight of Toby at the door, a slick, black limousine in front of the house, with the window rolled down, Caleb's head sticking out of it.

"Holy shit!" she shouted, running up to the limo like a crazy person, with a massive smile.

"You guys came," Spencer said happily, the smile threatening to split her face in half.

Toby smiled back at her, pulling her into a warm hug, "You really thought I would miss your speech?"

Curiosity won over the remaining three girls, and they walked up to the exit of the house, watching the scene in front of them with surprised expressions covering their faces. After finishing his hug with Spencer, Toby smiled at Emily, turning to hug her as well. Alison watched in bemusement as the two of them broke apart to do their old 'handshake', as they so liked to call it. Toby didn't forget to hug Alison and Aria as well, only, Aria broke apart to watch her boyfriend come into view.

"Enter the Ezra-Mobile, ladies," Ezra called out, popping his body through the sunroof.

"Dude, I thought we agreed to call it the Toby-Mobile," Toby asked him in a rather serious manner as he approached the car with his hand in Spencer's, sounding genuinely disappointed.

"You're both huge dorks," Alison remarked playfully as she looked at Hanna entering the vehicle. The bubbly blonde found her boyfriend in a rather dashing suit (one of the only times you would find him wearing one), already filling up glasses of champagne for everyone.

Once they were all inside the car and had excitedly hugged each other, Toby took the reigns on explaining how the three of them had gathered together to watch the girls' graduation.

Getting all of the guys in town for the graduation was tough. After all, they were living in different parts of the country nowadays, since their graduation was last year. The previous summer, they had sold their crib, split the profit, then each of them had headed in their own direction after a rather rough breakup that may or may not involved tears (Caleb insisted there was an onion somewhere around him). Toby had his heart set all along on passing up college and instead, investing himself in a construction company in Connecticut, doing some hands-on work as well as managing. His employer was very impressed with his abilities from the very beginning and had promoted Toby, allowing him to make pretty good money for a 19-year-old. Spencer was accepted into Yale (she was a shoo-in from the beginning) and was very excited to move into Toby's homey apartment in Connecticut.

Caleb was not too keen on enrolling in college either, and instead was working in an Information Security company in New York, using the best of his abilities in cyber and code in order to earn a nice pay-check, for practically a hobby of his. After his graduation, he had applied to several places, and to his pleasant surprise, they all wanted him, except one place (but who wanted to go to Maryland, anyways?). He had chosen the one in New York because he knew that was where his girlfriend was headed. Of course, he began as an intern at the company, but his superior saw the talent in him and took special notice of his abilities, and soon, Caleb found himself actually working for the company. He was renting a studio apartment (after all, New York rent was very expensive), and it had just enough room for Hanna when she graduated.

Lastly, Ezra opted for remaining in Rosewood, staying true to his word about owning a coffee shop/bookstore, all while getting his degree in Hollis. He had stumbled upon some inheritance money from a long-lost uncle and bought The Brew from its owners. He hired some new employees, upgraded the place a bit, but decided to keep the name since it held special value to the town. It didn't take him long to gain the money he spent back, since he didn't need to invest in advertising the place, especially with its new design. Aria and Ezra saw each other almost every day, so it made sense for him to come to the graduation ceremony, but he was also the one who had gathered the two other guys to come. Aria had debated for the longest time whether to go to Boston and start her life over, or to stay in Rosewood with Ezra. After having a long conversation with no-one but herself, she figured she had no say in the matter, because after all, the heart wants what it wants. After graduation, Aria was set to join Ezra in the apartment he now owned above The Brew and begin her English degree at Hollis.

Emily and Alison told them their plans as well - they were moving to California, where they would both be attending Stanford, Emily on a swimming scholarship, and Alison's tuition paid for by her father. The blonde decided she will major in English and perhaps also get a teaching degree, maybe even write a book one day. Around all that hectic chaos surrounding their move, Emily was most excited about her and Alison learning how to surf in California. They both knew from the beginning they didn't want to live in the dorms, and they were still debating over an apartment, but their three best friends had agreed to help them pick. After all, they still had one more summer together before they split for some time. The two girls were going to try and pay the rent of the apartment exclusively by themselves since they saved up some money the last two years working, but they knew that if it wasn't enough, their parents will help.

The eight friends spent the entire ride to the school sharing stories, drinking champagne, and failing miserably at dancing inside the limo to songs playing from the built-in speakers. At one point, Hanna stuck her head out the sunroof, shouting at the top of her lungs, "I'm graduating, bitches!" to which, someone on the street responded with a clear, "Shut up!"

Caleb could only manage to pull Hanna back down, interfering her in the middle of tipsily throwing insults at the man who had shouted back at her.

They arrived at the graduation with an only-slightly grumbled Hanna, who upon seeing her mother, lost her pouty-face and went off to hug her. Each of the girls followed suit, going away in order to find their families. Alison's parents were out of town, each for their own 'business trip' respectfully, and the blonde couldn't say she was surprised. At least they left her flowers, money, and the house to herself, so she wasn't really complaining. When she looked around, she was pleased to find Jason and Cece, the newly engaged couple, and walked over to hug them both.

The graduation ceremony was outside, and the school had set up a big stage on the football field, with rows of chairs in front of it. After Alison received an adorable text from Emily, asking to see her, she went to meet up with the girl slightly before the ceremony began, at the foot of the stage.

"So, did Pam take any more pictures?" Alison asked with a smirk as Emily approached.

"Shut up, I saw Jason pulling out his camera when he thought you weren't looking," Emily responded with a grin of her own, pulling Alison towards her by the waist. Alison giggled when they were forehead to forehead, wrapping her arms around her girlfriend's neck.

The smile slowly disappeared from Emily's face as she quietly said, "I'm gonna miss the girls so much."

"I know, sweetie," Alison replied comfortingly, dropping her arms and instead, taking Emily's hands in her own. "But we have a whole summer with them before we split."

"Don't say the S-word," Emily pouted in a child-like manner.

Alison smiled fondly at her, squeezing her hand. "Hey, think about the surfing lessons," she said, getting Emily to crack a smile. "That's gonna be fun, right? And living together with nobody to tell us what to do?"

"Yeah," the brunette smiled wider. "Thanks for reminding me of that, Ali. You always know what to say," she said before pulling her girlfriend into a tight hug.

"That's what I'm here for, Em," Alison said softly in return. The blonde was not going to lie, she was just scared of moving and starting all over again in a new place with nobody but Emily by her side, and of course, saying goodbye to the girls who had been nothing short of her sisters these past five years. But just seeing Emily fuss out about the details of their move was enough to pull her up from her own funk, and she realized she had to be the optimistic one in the situation. Having the two of them on the end of their string was only going to lead them down a dark road.

But, all too soon, before they got too caught up in their own world, they had to part away from each other as the principal asked all of the families and students to sit down so they could start the ceremony.

"See you on the other side," Alison playfully said, topped off her infamous DiLaurentis wink, then headed to the place where she was supposed to sit. The places were oriented alphabetically, so Alison and Emily found themselves sitting away from each other, but they weren't so far apart either.

For some unknown reason, the principal thought it would be extremely amusing to have "Opposites Day" be the theme of the ceremony, although the only way he managed to show it was incorporating a paragraph from Diary of a Wimpy Kid into his formal speech and reading the names of the students from finish to start instead of otherwise. Emily felt a little embarrassed for him, specifically because the parents were giving him strange looks and the students were straight-up laughing at him. She looked to her left to see that Alison was one of the many people laughing, and the blonde only gave her only a shrug, and then doubled over with laughter when principal panicked over accidentally skipping the entire letter P. Their principal was none-the-wiser though, he was quite pleased with himself at the thought that everybody was laughing with him and not at him.

Thanks to this, Hanna, Aria, and Spencer walked across that stage before Emily and Alison. When Emily's name was called, she took a deep breath and walked along the stage with jitters all over her body. It was when she shook the principal's hand that she heard Alison shouting her name, along with a wolf whistle. The blonde had shouted so loudly, that even the principal turned to look. The brunette finished shaking hands and walked off the stage with her diploma, a wide smile, and blush covering her entire being.

Then, when Alison's name was finally called, all of her friends cheered for her, but her eyes could only focus on Emily as her girlfriend blew her a kiss from where she was now standing on the grass with the rest of the girls. Alison made a move like she 'caught' the kiss and pinned it to her heart. She saw Hanna nudging Emily playfully, and a moment later, the bubbly blonde looked at Alison, pointed at Emily and then pinched Emily's cheeks to indicate that the girl was blushing. Alison laughed as the brunette swatted Hanna away.

"We expect great things from you, Alison. Good luck out there," the principal said respectfully as she shook his hand.

She thanked him, getting off the stage confidently with her diploma.

Emily didn't wait for Alison to get to her, she met her half-way and before Alison could stay anything, Emily hugged her tightly, lifting her off the ground and spinning her. Alison laughed whole-heartedly, her feet finally planting in the ground softly. She leaned up a little to kiss Emily shortly - since they were still very much in public - but sweetly all the same. She parted away only to have Emily shake her head and release a small giggle before pulling her into another kiss.

"Get a freaking room already!" Hanna shouted somewhere in the back. "I swear, I've been saying that for the past two years and they still won't listen," she shook her head as Aria patted her shoulder in amusement.

"I think you can let it slide this one time," the petite brunette joked.

"Yeah, this time, but God help the poor neighbors they'll have in California, I mean, they'll be complaining left and right about the noise," Hanna said in faux-concern.

Spencer and Aria laughed along, before the taller of the two noticed the principal was reaching the end of the letter A. She said to the rest of the girls, "Come on, you have to take your seats again." All of them, including Alison and Emily, went off to take their seats, with the exception of Spencer who had to make her valedictorian speech. They all bid her good luck before the genius boarded the stage, and the principal moved from the podium in order to give her the space.

"Thank you," she smiled politely at him as he walked off to the side of the stage. She found her parents in the crowd, lifting up their cameras and waving at her. Well, they were both on their phones at the same time too, but she was used to the sight of her parents with mobiles tucked between their cheek and shoulder. Then, she transferred her eyes over to Toby, and he nodded to her for her to begin her speech. She smiled softly. "Hello everyone and good afternoon, to those who do not know me, I am Spencer Hastings, the senior class valedictorian." She paused when people clapped for her once more and actually grew shy for a minute. She grew shy. That pretty much never happened to her. They quieted down, allowing her to continue.

"You know," she started wistfully with a smile, as if she hadn't practiced this very speech in front of her mirror and Toby, and as if this wasn't what she had planned on saying from the beginning, "I had debated for about a month on how to start this speech, and when I asked my four best friends, they insisted that I started it with a joke. They said that even the most serious speeches could still have humor in them."

All of the students shifted their eyes between Spencer or the four other girls. They were the most desired and sought-after clique that this school had ever known, and they knew that it was because they were each so unique and their personalities were magnetic. They didn't need the approval of others yet they were always the center of every party, especially these past three years. They were a tightly-sealed group that nobody could dream of interfering.

"...And, well, I trust them with my life." Spencer said, sharing a sentimental smile directly with the four girls who stared at her proudly. "So here it is, my joke; a priest, a horse whisperer and a trapeze artist board a plane..."

X-X-X-X-X

"So what're your plans for later?" Noel asked as he sped up a bit in order to catch up to Alison.

"Mona didn't tell you? Spencer invited you two to her house, they finally finished building the pool in their backyard," she answered.

"Oh... Well, I guess Mona also forgot to answer that we actually already have plans with my family," he chuckled and scratched the back of his head.

"Noel, it's okay. I hope you two have fun." Alison smiled assuringly.

"Thanks, you guys have fun too. If you want, I can announce it for you," he offered and as Alison's eyebrow twitched in confusion, until he suddenly cupped his hands around his mouth and loudly called out, "PARTY AT-"

Alison quickly stopped him, looking around to see a few people flinging confused frowns at them, "No, no, Noel, Spence already said that she wanted this to be close friends only, you know?"

"Oh..." he laughed lightly in embarrassment, "my bad." She chuckled along with him, shaking her head. His phone beeped in his pocket and he opened it to reveal a text from his girlfriend. "Hey, I better get going," he said, his eyes apologetic. He leaned to hug her goodbye. "I'm still seeing you Saturday night for that Die Hard marathon, right?"

Alison smiled, "You know it, Noel."

They broke apart, grinning at each other. Alison couldn't help but marvel at how the both of them had changed in the span of three years. It was a heck of a makeover, going from their old selves to the people they were now, but since they used to have such similar personalities, they had helped one another become better people, all for their significant others. They both knew that you were always yourself with the one person you loved more than anything.

Noel turned to look at the institute they called school for the last four years. "We ruled this school with an iron fist, and left our stamp on it," he said, his voice nostalgic. "It's been good, DiLaurentis," he nodded at her with a soft grin before trotting away.

Alison remained staring at the building for a few moments more. She felt weirdly connected to this place, this town. She was going to miss it here. It had been her home for as long as she could remember, but she knew wherever Emily went, along went her home.

"Yeah," she said to herself with an air of sentimentality, "It's been good."

X-X-X-X-X

"Spence, this pool is huge!" Hanna shouted as soon as her eyes landed on the built-in pool in the Hastings back yard.

"My dad sure made good use of his bonus," Spencer looked on in satisfaction as the inner-pool lights turned on due to the automatic clock her father had set.

Soft music was sounded in the air, a playlist of songs they had all participated in making last year during a summer road trip. Ezra and Aria were already inside the pool in their bathing suits, since they arrived earlier. Spencer went off to help Toby make drinks as the rest of their friends stripped down to their bathing suits.

"Em, did you catch the game last night?" Caleb asked as he followed Hanna to the pool.

"Which one?" Emily replied, knowing there were important games in a few branches of sports.

He shrugged with a sheepish grin, "I dunno, I just wanted to sound cool like you."

Emily shoved him playfully with a chuckle, which nearly ended with him falling face-first into the warm pool.

"Oh, I'll get you back for that, Fields. Just wait until the chicken fights later on," he threatened as they descended into the pool.

"Talk all you want, Ali and I can easily take you and Hanna down," Emily pretended to smack-talk.

"Babe, we might not actually be able to, Han will probably smack a pool noodle in my face just to get me to fall down," Alison whispered in her girlfriend's ear as she climbed onto Emily's back like a piggyback ride.

The brunette chuckled as she held her girlfriend into place, "Don't worry, Ali. I got you." Alison smiled softly. "And by 'got you' I mean we're gonna kick their ass and then you can smack as many pool noodles at Hanna's face as you want, okay?" Emily added quietly.

"Okay. But if Hanna does end up doing that," Alison ducked down until her mouth was directly behind Emily's ear. "I get to decide what compensation you give me," she whispered for the brunette's ears only, making the girl's grip on her thighs loosen a bit, causing Alison's nails to accidentally dig slightly into her shoulder. Emily cursed as she found that it turned her on even more.

The brunette turned her head to look at Alison's smug expression, deciding that maybe they needed to sneak into Alison's empty home for a few minutes soon.

The gang continued to exchange playful banter as Toby and Spencer returned with a tray full of drinks in flute cups. Each of them grabbed one and they kept their arms on the edge of the pool in order to not drown. Well, besides Aria who was happy in her own little bubble on a donut-shaped pool float. Alison got off of Emily's back, much to the brunette's displeasure, and took a seat on the edge of the pool next to Spencer.

"Ar, come here," Alison called out to the girl. "I want to propose a toast."

The small brunette used her free hand to guide herself on the float over to the rest of to them, listening intently.

"Aria, the fact that you can balance the drink while being on a float makes you my hero," Spencer said in all seriousness, making Aria giggle and shake her head.

"I just wanted to say that I love every single one of you so much. And Toby, Caleb and Ezra, I missed you guys a ton," the three of them grew surprisingly sheepish smiles as she continued. "I didn't know how amazing life could be before the seven of you came into it. Well, especially my mermaid, but you all too," Alison smiled softly at Emily, who still, after all these years, managed to blush at the comment. Hanna fake-gagged, causing all three other girls to splash a little bit of water on her in protest. She raised her hands a little in defense.

Alison sighed before going back to what she was saying. "And I just wanted to say thank you. Thank you for the trip to Paris, for the camping trips, for the group dates, for the parties, for making school not so boring," they all chuckled a bit at that one, "and most importantly, for just being there. You were there at my best and worst, which is why I'm glad that I got to do the same for you."

They all smiled at each other, grateful to be one beside another on this warm summer night, all plans for the next year set, nothing left but having fun for the next few months.

"To the future, and to many new beginnings," said Alison, raising her cup as the rest of them followed.

"Cheers!" They all shouted excitedly, clinking their cups.

They each sipped on their drink separately for all of few moments before Hanna felt compelled to speak up.

"So," she began in an innocent voice but her smirk told another story, "when am I getting my precious little Emison babies?"

The group let out a collective groan at Hanna's tactless joke.

"Aaaand moment officially ruined. Ar, you owe me 20 bucks. It only took her eight seconds."

"Damn it, Hanna," Aria grumbled next to a smug-looking Spencer.

X-X-X-X-X

Several years down the line...

"What?" Hanna asked, startled by the sheer volume of her friend's voice. Looking up from her phone, she stared at Aria as if she'd grown a third head. "What'd I do?"

"She's panicking right now, we need to calm her down, not play Parking Mania on our phones," the petite brunette scolded, crossing her arms. Hanna rolled her eyes from her place on the pastel-blue couch, and Aria sighed deeply, "Just come and help, okay?"

"Alright," Hanna gave in, putting her phone back in her purse and standing up, taking three short strides over to Alison, who was trying to take long, calming breaths and failing miserably at it. Spencer stopped rubbing circles on Alison's back and stepped back when her eyes landed on Hanna.

"Ali," Hanna began, slightly startling the other blonde, who frantically, and quite uncharacteristically raised her disorientated eyes to her. Hanna placed both her hands on the blonde's shoulders and looked her in the eyes, "Why are you so nervous? You've been together for eight years! Some people don't even live that far."

Spencer gently face-palmed the other girl in disappointment, "Oh, my God."

"Look, I'm sorry, okay? This is why I'm Emily's bridesmaid, she doesn't get all worked up about things I say because she knows me well enough to not listen to my dumb crap," Hanna reasoned.

"This isn't working, Spence. We're on our own," Aria mumbled to the other brunette, who merely nodded in response. "Okay, Hanna, sweetie, why don't you go check up on Em," Aria used a sweet voice and discreetly directed Hanna by the shoulders towards the door of the well-decorated room.

"Why?" Hanna asked.

"Because you're like, the Queen-of-not-helping," Spencer chimed in exasperation.

"Wha-Okay, fine! At least Em won't be a red hot mess, and will actually laugh at my jokes." Hanna rolled her eyes for the umpteenth time that day, stomping out of the room. The door closed gently behind her and she walked, slightly offended, to the room at the end of the hall, and as per usual, walked in without knocking.

"Emilyyyyy," she whined to her best friend, who was busy staring out of the window with a distraught expression. "Just as I suspected, they were being super bitchy. They didn't even let me play on my phone! I think Spencer and Aria are on sync with their periods again. It's like World War III out there, you're honestly lucky to be safe in here."

She earned silence in response, a thing she feared. Hanna took a seat on one of the couches in Emily's separate dressing room, preparing for the worst. Sighing loudly, she waved her hand nonchalantly, "Alright, come out with it. Tell auntie Hanna what's bothering you."

Hanna immediately knew something was wrong when calling herself 'auntie Hanna' didn't conclude in an amused, giggling Emily.

Emily turned, giving Hanna an empty expression. "What if I'm not ready, Han?"

Hanna stared at her with an exasperated expression, "Seriously, you too? What did you both take that you're suddenly acting like two wusses?"

Emily rolled her eyes, returning her gaze to outside where she could see the ocean in the distance, "Stop, Hanna."

"No," the blonde insisted. She walked over to Emily, and when the brunette didn't gaze back at her, she turned to look in the same direction as her. They gazed in silence out the window. The ceremony was bound to be beautiful, the rows of white chairs were lined up on the grass on each side of the white runner-carpet that was used as an aisle. The chairs faced an arch that was decorated with flowers and fairy lights, and underneath it, the officiant would be standing - in this case, it was Aria, who was deeply touched by the couple's desire to have her as an officiant. The arch was a little ways down from the edge of the cliff they were all standing on, high above the blue ocean. The Californian sun was close to setting, and sunset meant ceremony time.

"I'm just," Emily quietly said, "I'm afraid of something going wrong." She met her best friend's eyes for the first time since she walked into the room, "What if fate had been nice to us all along and this is the moment where it all breaks down? I mean, maybe we're not fit to be a married couple."

Hanna watched as Emily exhaled a large breath. It was strange to see the brunette so unsure of something that seemed so rock-stable all these years like her and Alison's relationship. She understood Emily's doubts, of course, everyone had doubts before marriage, even if the person they were marrying was the true love of their life. She would know, she mused as she rolled her silver ring around her finger. She remembered being an absolute mess before the guests arrived at her and Caleb's wedding, and since it was Emily who helped her through her fears and almost-cold-feet that hopeful day last September, it was now her job to take care of Emily's.

"Em," she rested her hand of the brunette's, before guiding her into a hug. She figured that would give the brunette some assurance that she was there for her. Emily hugged back, although it was a little uncomfortable in her white dress that a tinny-tiny bit too tight around the waist.

"It's all going to be okay," Hanna assured in a sympathetic voice. "You and Ali are perfect for one another. Nauseatingly so." She added, causing Emily to chuckle. "You've been talking about getting married since you were fifteen. That's gotta be a record somewhere. And you've already been acting like a married couple for the past few years, I don't see how actually getting married will change that."

Emily smiled slightly as she parted away from Hanna, and the blonde continued. "You're going to go out there, stand in front of people who love and support you, and marry the girl of your dreams, and you know which dreams I'm talking about," she smirked and winked at the brunette who immediately rolled her eyes in return. "And you're going to go on your honeymoon, where you'll relax, see a ton of views and have fun for me while I'll be at the office, working my ass off," Hanna remarked, referring to her job at the New York City office of Elle magazine. "And then, when you'll come home you'll mark Bora Bora in that weird map with the stickers that you have in your bedroom."

"It's not weird. Ali got it for me for my sixteenth birthday." Emily defended. "Hmm. And I'm not sure about the whole 'seeing a ton of views' thing. Maybe in the honeymoon, we won't even leave the room," Emily mumbled to herself with a barely-there smirk.

Hanna's eyes widened as she let out a squeal. "Emily Fields, you sly dog!" she playfully hit Emily's arm as the brunette's smile widened.

"Hey," Hanna began, "she's the one who put that ring on your finger, now you're the one who's going to make her Mrs. Fields."

Emily looked away with a smile as she remembered Ali's proposal nearly eight months ago.

Emily changed into her pajamas the second she and Alison got home from dinner with her parents, who were visiting California. Something was going on with the blonde. Emily had caught Alison and her mother talking about something discreetly, and when she asked about it, both Wayne and Pam shared a nervous gaze with Alison, who used her charming smile to wave it off. But the brunette knew something was up. And she wouldn't rest until she found out.

She found Alison in the living room, folding their laundry. The blonde raised her head and smiled at Emily the second she walked in. Pepe was napping softly on the other side of the room, but that didn't stop the brunette from slightly raising her voice.

"Okay, what's going on?" Emily asked impatiently, crossing her arms. "What were you and my mom talking about?"

"Nothing," Alison answered quickly, looking slightly panicked. She was embarrassed. There was a time when she considered herself to be the queen of lying. She used to be terrific at it. But, well, over the years she realized it only really took one look from Emily's inviting brown eyes for her to cave in almost immediately. Said brunette lifted both eyebrows in suspicion. "Just, you know, life." Alison amended.

"Life?" Emily asked sarcastically. Alison shrugged, trying to get back to folding the laundry in order to seem less suspicious. It didn't work. "Well, why were you all quiet about it? We've talked the entire dinner about life, I'm sure I could've been a part of the conversation." It was safe to say, Emily didn't like being left out.

"Em," Alison sighed and rubbed her forehead, as if to soothe an up and coming headache.

"We're not going to sleep until you tell me," Emily stood her ground, taking the laundry out of Alison's hands. She took hold of one of Alison's hands, looking into her eyes, knowing she would crack any second now. Oh, Emily was very aware of the power she held over her long-time girlfriend.

Alison sighed deeply once again, rolled her eyes, and mumbled, "Remind me to never throw you any surprise parties."

Emily frowned, but her expression changed drastically as soon as Alison pulled out a small velvet box from the purse she had been carrying tonight. Smiling widely at Emily's surprised expression, she said, "Well, this isn't exactly how I wanted to do this, Em, but you've left me no choice."

Emily remained speechless as her teary eyes lifted to Alison's. The blonde took a step closer to Emily, dropping the brunette's hand in order to use both of hers to open the box, exposing a golden princess cut ring that made the first tear leave Emily's eye. "I don't know if I should actually get down on one knee," Alison mumbled, smiling slightly and rolling her eyes at herself. Emily shook her head timidly, biting back an amused grin at the blonde's adorableness. "Emily Fields," Alison spoke softly, the brunette hanging on to her every word, "you've had me since the first day I saw you. You've made me a better person and you continue to do that every day. I love you more than anything and anyone in this world. Will you marry me-"

Emily was kissing her before she could even finish, and they both smiled into the kiss as Alison slipped the ring onto Emily's finger, before hugging her lovingly.

The rest of the night was spent getting drunk off champagne and dancing in the kitchen to Stevie Wonder songs, and Emily wouldn't have it any other way.

Emily was snapped back to the present as she heard Hanna double over in laughter like a crazy person. The blonde lifted Emily's phone to the brunette's face to show her the reason for her laughter, "You call Spence 'Genius of the Century' on your phone?"

Emily snatched the phone away from the bubbly blonde's hands, "She put it there. She thought it was funny."

"Oh, it's funny alright," Hanna pretended to wipe a tear under her eye. "Anyway, she just texted that the guests have started taking their seats."

Emily's eyes widened as she made her way to the window. Just as Spencer had informed, people were beginning to sit down, and the brunette's heart rate doubled.

"Stop spazzing and don't regress on me, Fields. You know you're both ready for this. You have a beautiful wedding out there, and you're both beautiful brides." Hanna said somberly to her friend, who nodded in appreciation. "Huh, I guess it doesn't hurt to be serious once in a while. Wow, I'm pretty much awesome at everything." Hanna shrugged with a pleased expression.

"It's like every time you say something meaningful, you cross over it with a sharpie, and then it's just gone. Erased by next dumb thing you say." Emily mumbled in disbelief as she shook her head at Hanna.

"Whatever, Em. Joke's on you, you have to spend the rest of your life with Ali," Hanna joked.

"The thought of that is actually the only thing calming me down right now," Emily said quietly. Hanna's smirk dispersed slowly as the brunette caught her eye. "The thought that she's behind that door, and that she wants this just as much as I do, that... that is what puts my mind to rest."

"Wow," Hanna nodded in understanding. She frowned, "I wish you would've told me that before you had that big ass meltdown."

"There you go again, that's exactly what I was talking about," Emily pointed accusingly at her best friend, who merely shrugged.

A knock was sounded at the door and Hanna walked over to open it. "Caleb, sweetie-pie! What are you doing here?" The blonde asked excitedly, making Emily raise her eyebrows in amusement.

"Just wanted to say that Alison's ready to step out there, whenever you are, Em. Everybody's already seated and the sun is starting to set," he said hurriedly, before reaching his fingers to the earpiece that both girls had only just noticed was there. "The eagle has landed. I repeat, the eagle has landed, over."

Both girls shared a dramatic eye roll at the guys' antics. Emily couldn't believe Caleb, Toby and Ezra had been serious about wearing earpieces and Secret Service-ing the hell out of her wedding. She had only assumed that since Alison and her exploded with laughter at the ludicrous idea, they had backed off from it.

I stand corrected, she mused.

"Thanks, Caleb, I'll be out in a few minutes," Emily answered distractedly.

The boy nodded and closed the door.

"Sweetie-pie? Really?" Emily asked, barely concealed smirk on her lips. Hanna scoffed and rolled her eyes. "Oh, you are never going to be able to make fun of me and Ali again," she chuckled in shrill pleasure.

She walked over to her vanity for her veil, walking by Hanna and muttering, "Sweetie-pie," before bursting into laughter and skillfully dodging Hanna's hand as the blonde tried to smack her shoulder.

Outside the room stood Alison in her own dress and veil. She had no idea how Spencer and Aria managed to calm her bubbling nerves down but she was grateful nonetheless. Aria had already left them to go prepare for what she had to read in the ceremony. Spencer stood beside her in a lilac bridesmaid dress along with Mona and a few of Alison's friends from Stanford. She waited patiently for Emily to open her door. The two of them had agreed to get dressed in separate rooms, after Alison insisted that they couldn't see each other before the ceremony, bad luck and all. At the time, she didn't realize just how hard it was for her to fall asleep without Emily after all these years.

The previous night, Spencer, Aria, Hanna and the rest of her friends took her to a private spa for her bachelorette party. She had to say, it was quite the perfect idea. They swam, got massages and sat in the sauna, but most importantly - drank mimosas and margaritas extensively. They all shared stories of Emily and Alison while getting beauty treatments, and it worked perfectly because her old friends shared older stories and her new friends shared newer ones.

Emily was on her mind all night. The only thing that helped her fall asleep was Emily's old Rosewood Sharks t-shirt that the blonde wore as pajamas. And also, she couldn't stand the thought of having dark circles under her eyes in her wedding photos, in case makeup couldn't cover it up.

By the time Alison went to sleep, Emily was still very much awake. She wanted her bachelorette party to be only with her boys, just the six of them. Sure, she had friends from school too, but she knew she would have the most fun with Toby, Caleb, Ezra, Jason, and Noel. The guys rented a Vegas-themed club for the night - it had pool tables, poker, and gambling machines, and honestly, she couldn't have asked for a better night. Ezra, Caleb, and Toby had picked her up in a white convertible, which they let her drive, and as soon as they reached the club and met up with Jason and Noel, they began drinking at the open bar and eating. She kicked their asses at poker, and at first, she assumed they were letting her win, but when she later returned from the bathroom and walked in on a game of the five of them alone, she realized she was just better at it than them. By the end of the night, they found themselves on leather chairs, exchanging stories and experiences, both from high school and from the past few years. She had missed them a whole lot.

Come morning light, both Alison and Emily were hungover, but Spencer, being the responsible maid of honor that she was, gave Alison her good ol' cure, and made sure to pass by Emily's hotel room to do the same. Spencer later admitted to Alison that she had found the brunette cuddling up to the teddy bear Alison had given her two years ago, when they had to spend a month away from each other because of Emily's swimming delegation to Germany. The blonde had sprayed the teddy bear top to bottom in her perfume, upon the brunette's request, so that Emily could close her eyes and feel like she was there with her.

As soon as Emily's door opened, the blonde watched as her future wife stepped out with Hanna behind her. They caught each other's eyes as Emily stepped closer, and the smiles that covered both their faces were shy, yet they were both glowing. They marveled at each other's beauty as their eyes raked the other's body. They both looked stunning.

Emily stared at the gorgeous blonde she was about to marry and felt a sense of pride directed at herself. She was marrying Alison DiLaurentis, for Christ's sake! How the hell did that come to be? If you told young Emily about this day, she would've thought you were delusional. Especially the shy little girl on the first day of eighth grade, who sat alone in the cafeteria and watched as a certain blonde was practically radiating like an angel as she worked the room and people crowded around her. The same girl who later on went to become her best friend, then her girlfriend, and most recently, fiancée.

"Spence, are you crying?" Hanna asked in amusement as Emily came to a stop in front of Alison.

"No," Spencer covered quickly, snuffling. Hanna's raised an eyebrow confirmed that she wasn't convinced. "Okay, fine! I'm just so happy for you guys," she chuckled softly at the two girls she had known for many years.

"So am I," Hanna joined, putting a hand on Emily's shoulder. "Emison's still my number 1. Well, maybe after Sparia."

"That was one time!" Spencer whispered heatedly as she eyed her surroundings in a panicked manner.

Alison, Emily and Hanna traded knowing smiles.

"Okay, let's do this!" They heard Ezra shout excitedly and clap. He was standing by the door that opened to the area of the ceremony.

Spencer, Hanna, Mona, and the rest of the girls' bridesmaids turned to walk out the door, standing in two orderly lines and waiting for Emily to get behind them.

Emily turned to Alison, who smirked and said quietly, "Last chance to back out, Fields. I won't be mad, just disappointed."

The brunette laughed softly, whispering, "You're such an idiot," before putting both her hands on Alison's cheeks and pulling her into a kiss. They parted away after a moment and Emily watched Alison with tilted lips and heart-eyes, then walked away slowly towards the girls.

Alison loved their playful little moments. They would be boring without them. Perhaps sometimes they took it a little too far though, Alison mused as she recalled the night Hanna had invited them to her company's charity event in New York City.

"Okay, so you leave first and I'll be right behind you."

"No. You leave first and I'll be right behind you."

"I'm not going out there first, Emily."

"You weren't the one screaming, Alison. You go out there first!"

The newly-engaged couple had been visiting Hanna and Caleb in NYC when the bubbly blonde had mentioned the posh charity event that Elle Magazine was organizing. Many big shots were attending, and it was Hanna's work duty to attend, though she was hardly complaining. Hanna had extended her invitation to both girls, and they had casually agreed. They got dressed to the nines, Hanna had insisted on taking them shopping but Alison had merely told her that 'she knew what she was doing'. And she sure did. The four long-time friends had looked glorious when they had entered the ball. Hanna had introduced them to her bosses and colleagues, and slowly, almost everyone in the room knew the names of Alison DiLaurentis and Emily Fields.

Sometime along the night, Alison's hands began wandering. Nobody could blame her, Emily looked exquisite. And of course, Emily couldn't blame her either, albeit for a different reason. Both of them had been so busy with their college graduation and finals that they barely had a chance for intimacy in weeks. They were feeling deprived, or more so, sexually frustrated. They figured they could catch up in their hotel room in New York, make up for stolen time, but Hanna had insisted that they stayed with her and Caleb, at the argument that she wanted to show off the new, spacious apartment they had moved into.

Alison was having enough of Emily's eyes darkening at her in the middle of a crowded room every time they touched with nothing she could do about it, so the two of them had snuck into the bathroom where they could relieve the throbbing ache between their thighs. Only problem was, Emily was surprisingly louder than usual as her fiancée took her right then and there on the wall of the bathroom stall. Alison figured it was the new trick she had learned while reading Cosmo last week.

Emily being loud wouldn't have been a problem if it were up to Alison. In fact, it would've been accepted with open arms. That being said, when Emily had climaxed, shouting out uncharacteristic cuss words, a trait of Emily that Alison adored, two women walked into the bathroom, gossiping about their fellow elites in the ball. And that, was how they found themselves stuck in a bathroom stall of the high-end venue, bickering about who should face the music and go out there first, dealing with the embarrassment of confronting those two women, who had heard them have sex and were still there, exchanging juicy gossip.

"This is humiliating and I'm not going out there!"

"Fine, we'll just stay in here for hours on end because these people aren't leaving anytime soon," Emily replied nonchalantly. Alison's eyes narrowed as she stared determinedly at her fiancée inside the bathroom stall. Emily's arms were folded against her chest with an air of false indifference on her face.

"Fine." Alison responded with a shrug and crossed her arms. They continued to only stare at one another until the sounds of the two women still in the bathroom starting gossiping softly.

"This is ridiculous, Ali!" Emily whispered heatedly. "Go out there and spare me from seeing the expressions on those women!"

"And why should I be the one to do it?" Alison whispered back in a hiss.

"Because, you're the past Queen Bee and the one that brought me to a screaming orgasm and - oh, don't look so smug, Alison DiLaurentis! Now go out there and steer those women back outside so I can finally get out of here!" Alison didn't look amused, so Emily quickly revised her plan. "And..."

Alison's eyebrow quirked dramatically as Emily sauntered closer to her, a smirk on her lips as she batted her lashes at her fiancée. "The faster we escape, the faster we can be back at the apartment before Hanna and Caleb. And that's where more screaming orgasms can take place."

Their eyes met in a silent war as the air snapped and crackled around them. Both their chests were heaving as the mental images flashed through their heads and the space between them appeared to vanish. Emily found herself being cornered between the bathroom wall and Alison as her fiancée looked at her hungrily. "Tell me again," Alison whispered in a purr.

Emily was breathless and she felt her throat tighten as Alison pressed her body against hers. "Tell you-heh hem-tell you what again?" Emily whimpered back in a raspy voice. Her throat felt coarse and raw from screaming.

Alison leaned closer and ran her nose up the length of Emily's neck until her lips were beside Emily's ear. "Tell me again what I did to you."

As Alison's hands went to the small of Emily's back, Emily unknowingly was raking her nails through her fiancée's hair to keep Alison's lips close to her neck. "Brought me to a screaming orgasm?" Emily husked out desperately.

"Mmhm. That's right, Em. I did. And if you want me to do it again, I suggest you go out there first."

Alison's back was suddenly slammed against the opposite wall, and she stared at Emily in a daze as her fiancée peered at her with determination and lust. "If you ever want the opportunity to make love to me, I suggest you go out there first. Protect your best friend and fiancée, Ali!"

Alison was suddenly trying to keep up with Emily's frantic pace; kissing her fiancée with renewed passion that made flashes of their very first kiss race through her mind.

But, somehow, that did the trick. Not the idea of Emily withholding sex - Alison knew that Emily wouldn't be able to make good on that threat - and not the kiss. Nor were the words 'best friend'. But 'fiancée'. Alison felt the shift in her as she pulled away from Emily's lips and leaned in until their noses were touching.

Emily smiled widely as she gazed at Alison. She was so going to break.

"You better find a way to pay me back," Alison muttered.

Emily smiled innocently as she stared at her steely fiancée. "I'll get started on it immediately."

"You bet you will." Alison mumbled as she stood up straight. She took a deep cleansing breath and rolled her shoulders as she felt herself already blushing and went to unlatch the door.

"Good luck!" Emily chipped behind her. Alison rolled her eyes at her fiancée over her shoulder before opening the stall door to confront the two women by the red basin sinks. Their eyes found Alison's in the mirror before exchanging intrigued glances with matching smirks.

Alison did her best to appear unaffected by their persistent gossiping as she approached a vacant sink. She cleared her throat and began washing her hands with an air of superiority she had perfected in high school. And it worked. Until she noticed the women's expressions.

Bitchy she could handle. Disgust, fine. A struggle of dominance, not a problem. What Alison wasn't expecting, was how the women took turns smiling and batting their eyelashes her way in, what Alison assumed, was a flirty nature.

Alison's eyes narrowed as she returned her gaze back on her own reflection, completely confused. "Ms. DiLaurentis. The name's Alexandra Rhodes. Pleasure to meet you." Alison stared down at the offered manicured hand blankly before she finally accepted it.

"Charmed." Alison offered in a clipped tone as her eyes flicked to the other woman and she stood to her full height. They were both bottle blondes and exactly who you'd expect to attend a grand New York benefit.

"Francesca Caswell." The other simpered as she limply held out her hand. Alison had an inch or two on both women due to her heels, and she stared down at them in bewilderment.

Why are they staring at me like that?, she wondered.

But Alison got her bearings quickly and responded. "A Pleasure."

"I was just telling Francesca that I wanted to meet you. We saw you out there and wondered if we could meet you in the... flesh?" Alexandra flirted as she ran a finger down Alison's forearm. Alison's blue eyes were threatening to bulge, but she kept it together and allowed the two women to encroach further on her personal space. She did not like that.

"Now, Alexandra," Francesca reproached as she flicked her friend's hand away from Alison's arm. "You're embarrassing the girl."

"I'm not embarrassing you, am I, sweetie?" Alison offered the woman a placating smile that held the warmth of an iceberg. It was the best she could do to silently show the women she wasn't interested. Internally, however, Alison was freaking the fuck out, and she was pretty sure she was blushing beautifully. It was one thing for perverted high school boys to fawn over you. Or gross business men who dated women their daughter's age. It was quite another to stumble upon two cougars in the bathroom at a benefit where you just got down and dirty with your fiancée. Emily's advances she could appreciate, but she had never been so obviously flirted with by another woman, never mind two at the same time.

But the names Rhodes and Caswell rang loud bells in Alison's head, and she was pretty sure that they were the wives of two prominent members on the board of Hanna's company. The direct supervisors of Hanna's bosses, in fact.

Fucking shit, she freaked as she began having a heated argument with herself.

How the hell do you be bitchy to women hitting on you without being bitchy?

Ew, how the hell do you leave the house wearing those tacky clothes?

Focus, DiLaurentis. What is wrong with you? Why aren't you stomping on these two women with your vicious words? Damn, Emily has gotten you too soft.

No! It's because I can't be a huge bitch to Hanna's bosses' wives!

Francesca's gaze was directed to the stall Alison had just exited out of before smirking back at Alison. "Trouble in paradise?"

"I'm sorry?" Alison questioned with more than a hint of attitude.

"Francesca's just asking whether or not you needed a minute away from the miss?"

Alison was still confused. Both women smiled at her with expressions of haughtiness. "It's fine, Alison. We understand." They chuckled to each other before eyeing Alison as though she were fresh meat. Neither woman thought for a second that Alison's fiancée was who she had just managed to pleasure so spectacularly in the bathroom stall. Alison guessed that at big New York benefits, it wasn't a rare occurrence to see two people slip away from the crowd to get to know one another in a more private setting. They were never with the person they had arrived with. But considering the fact that the blonde couldn't keep her hands off of Emily all night, they should have known that it was her inside that stall.

But no. They were far more interested in the past Queen Bee. The fact that she had just brought her female counterpart to screams of euphoria was just the icing on the cake; and they both wanted a piece.

"We know how to keep a secret." Alexandra promised as she moved closer to Alison, who thought this whole dialog was mighty ironic. "Your secret is safe with us. And perhaps I could take you out for dinner one night and tell you about some other secrets I like to keep?"

At the sound of a loud bang, all three women jumped before whipping their necks in the direction of the last bathroom stall. Emily Fields, head high, chin held in deviance, casually stalked toward the sink farthest away from Alison and her cougars and began silently washing her hands.

No one spoke as they watched Emily's progress - she was thoroughly washing her hands, taking her time to draw out the dramatics.

Just as Alison became less high-strung and snotty since high school, Emily too had taken a page out of Alison's book. She learned to become cold and strategically demeaning when she had to be.

What those presumptuous cougars didn't know, was that Emily had been introduced earlier to both their husbands, and that she and the two men had actually quite bonded over their shared love for the same sports teams and having a relative in the army. The two men had seemed to take quite a liking to her, and Hanna had thanked her plenty for the impressed looks the two men exchanged upon hearing that Emily was Hanna's best friend.

"Please tell Tom I said hi, Francesca," Emily mentioned as she carefully checked her make up, slightly hovering over the sink to inspect herself in the mirror.

Down the long row of red sinks in the overly bright bathroom, Francesca stuttered softly at hearing her husband's name as she traded a stunned look with Alexandra.

"And Alexandra," Emily mumbled before leaning back from the mirror and facing the three other women. "Do have Bill call me. It was his idea to invite Alison and I with our two friends out to dinner. Wasn't it, babe?"

Alison licked her lips to cover up her smirk at the possessive pet name escaping from Emily's lips before she cleared her throat. "I believe it was," she affirmed.

"Sure." Alexandra answered back sedately.

"Thank you so much," Emily said with a false smile to the women as she crumbled up the paper towel in her hands and blindly tossed it into the trash. Alison was very impressed that she actually made it in. "It was a pleasure seeing you both," the brunette said with another wide, fake smile.

Alison was still struggling to hide her smile as she turned from the women and held out her hand for Emily to take. But just as Emily approached her fiancée, she slowly turned to appraise the two women. "And it's soon to be Mrs. Fields. Just so you know." She corrected before following Alison out of the bathroom.

As the pair walked down the long hallway that led to the ballroom area, they were silent in their contemplation. Emily couldn't believe the nerve those two toads in the bathroom had. When she heard them flirting with Alison, it didn't even cross her mind not to intervene... well, as soon as her anger bated to blinding rage. If she had left the stall as soon as they began hitting on Alison, well... it was better she had taken the cleansing breaths first to calm her down from her uncharacteristic aggressiveness.

She held Alison's hand a little tighter within her own. "You're never allowed to be alone ever again." Emily grumbled as they walked.

"Agreed." Alison shivered, still traumatized. "That was ridiculously disturbing. Thank you for rescuing me," the blonde smirked.

"You can find another way to thank me, Mrs. Fields." Emily winked mischievously at Alison and the blonde felt like a gush of wind had just swooped her off her feet. She was so, so ridiculously in love with this beautiful woman.

Alison's eyes traveled back to Emily. The brunette was hugging her father at the doorway, not noticing him wiping slightly at his eye. The sight made Alison's heart swell. The thought of Wayne becoming her own father as well very soon was so assuring.

Alison was glad the two of them had figured out a solution to the technical problems of their wedding. You see, one of the difficulties of being in a lesbian wedding was not knowing who would be standing at the impromptu alter and waiting for the other to be walked across the aisle and handed over by her father, but the two women knew from the beginning how they wanted it to be; Wayne will walk Emily out, then the brunette will be standing under the arch and wait for Alison to be handed over, not by her father, but by Jason.

Alison had sat her father down months ago and explained her wish to be accompanied by her brother. The man had begrudgingly agreed with little to no interest. For once in her life, she had been glad her father was so distant and uncaring.

Alison's eyes trailed the movements of her and Emily's bridesmaids as they exited the doors of the threshold, Emily and her father following a little further behind. Her own mother and Pam were sitting on opposite sides of the aisle, both on the chairs that were the closest to the flower arch. Of course, they were both crying, but that goes without saying. Her father was sitting next to her mother, finally raising his eyes from his phone upon hearing his wife shout at him that his daughter's wedding was starting. Toby, Caleb and Ezra sat next to Pam in the front row and many other guests sat behind them. Alas, all Alison could do was keep her eyes focused on the woman she had known from the young age of thirteen. The way she sauntered over to her rightful place under the arch, her father's arm laced around her own as he led her along. Her genuine smile alone could make Alison's heartbeat fasten as though she was running a marathon.

"It's your turn, Al," Jason appeared by her side. His suit was navy blue and he smelled like the expensive cologne Alison assumed Cece had bought him. In the blonde's eyes, he looked a little different now that he was a father - a little more tired but in a good way, a way which showed that he was busy nowadays taking care of his wife and little girl - the same little girl who was now the flower girl at Alison's wedding.

"I'm ready," Alison replied, fixing her veil a bit as she caught sight of Emily standing in the archway, the most extraordinary sunset the blonde has ever seen behind her.

"Can't believe my baby sister is getting hitched," he uttered, getting Alison to smile at him strangely.

"I'm hardly a baby anymore, Jas. I'm almost 24," she rolled her eyes while smiling, allowing her dimples to pop.

"You'll always be the little baby who spilled an entire bowl of pasta sauce on her head to me," he said in faux seriousness, putting his hand on her shoulder.

"Whatever," she muttered, shaking his hand off. She gazed at his profile, "Hey, thanks for agreeing to walk me out there. I can't stand the thought of dad walking me down the aisle with the only thing on his mind being the monthly financial profit of his company."

"Of course, Ali. Don't forget, anything you or Em need, I'm right here for you."

Alison smiled back at him. He held his arm for her and the two of them walked slowly towards the doors. The breeze coming from the sea was magnificent and the smell of the lavender perfume that the venue employees had subtly spread around graced her nose as she took soft, calming breaths.

"So," she said with a slight smile as they were about to step out of the doors, "how drunk did Em get last night?"

"Ali, she was wasted. Your wife is a total lightweight," he answered, causing them both to chuckle.

Alison smiled fondly as they exited the doors. All eyes turned to them, but Alison was only interested in one pair of chestnut brown eyes that gleamed in the aura of the fairy lights behind them. A small gust of wind blew through her hair and her stomach was crazy with butterflies. And when her eyes finally met Emily's, the spark that ignited within her felt just like the first time, and she just knew;

This was the beginning of forever.

The End.

_________________________________________

A/n: And just like that, this is it. Thank you so much for reading this story and making it to the end. I've really enjoyed your comments. I can't express how much it all means to me.

Scroll down to the next chapter for an update on my newer (and complete!) Emison fanfic :)

Till next time..... XO

A little update: I have written a newer, much better version of Crazier and it's uploaded to my AO3 account (JennasSunglasses) so you're welcome to check it out.