A/N: This is gonna be long and good. Hopefully.

For Emisonxx HAPPY GRADUATION.

And the rest of the fandom who are sad, please don't be sad, have some time travelling Ali trying to fix all her shit... only it won't be that simple or straight forward as clever as Alison is there is a lot she still doesn't know.

She missed music the most. No. Laughter. She missed laughter the most. Soft,gentle, happy laughter not the harsh cackles that echoed off these cold walls. She missed Spencer's disbelieving but amused scoffs, Aria's dainty chuckles, Hanna's uncontrollable fits of joy and Emily. She missed Emily's sweet giggle and the light dusting blush that accompanied it. The way her soulful brown eyes sparkled and lit up when she laughed. Alison missed that the most.

She slumped back on her hard cot, thinking about them now made her sad. A sadness that cut deep to the very core. Locked in a cage, with animals, for something she didn't do, no matter how much she wanted Mona dead she hadn't killed her, was bad enough but now her best friends had been taken by A, if Mr and Mrs Hastings even believed Alison.

She shuddered trying to fight off the chill. They were still her best friends in spite of all they had put each other through. She would always protect them. She just couldn't right now, she had no idea where they were, what horrors A was inflicting upon them because of her. She was the root evil of Rosewood, all paths led back to Alison DiLaurentis. She'd spend her whole life behind bars wondering if she had the chance to go back if it would make a difference.

Just one chance. If she could have that she'd save everyone. Mona, Spencer, Aria, Hanna and oh god, Emily.

Her cheeks were damp as she rolled over, she would do it, if she could, she'd change, be a better person, kind, caring and thoughtful. She wouldn't lie or steal or hurt anyone ever again if she just had one chance. She fell into a fitful sleep thoughts of her lost friends, psychopathic texters and her mermaid swimming through her nightmares.

Alison awoke slowly. She was warm. And comfortable. In sheets that weren't itchy, on an actual mattress, she opened her eyes slowly worried she would startle herself out of this pleasant dream but she wasn't in a cage. She was in her bed. In her room.

She sat up slowly. Looking down she found herself in her pyjamas.

Was it all a horrible dream?

"Alison unless you're deathly ill I suggest you not waste the day in bed," floated through her doorway.

Mom?

Without regard for anything else Alison threw off the bed covers and raced out of the room, she collided in the hallway with the very much alive and somewhat startled Mrs DiLaurentis.

Alison threw her arms around the startled woman's waist and sobbed happily. Her mother was alive. She didn't care how, she didn't care about everything else they had been through, they had another chance and she intended to make the most of this one. The familiar smell, that she had all but forgotten, of her mother's perfume filled her lungs as Alison burrowed her head into her mother's shoulder.

"Alison, what?" her mother startled, she seemed to already be checking her daughter for signs of head trauma.

This was of course very unusual behaviour for Alison, she only ever got cuddly and needy when she was sick, and even then it was grudgingly. It must have been a long time since Jessica DiLaurentis had held her daughter. If only her mother really knew.

Alison pulled herself together eventually and released her mother, she tried to ignore the sting when her mother quickly dropped her arms to her sides awkwardly. Alison tried to smile comfortingly at her mother but the older blonde just stared back in confusion.

"I was just really happy to see you," Alison admitted.

Her mother smiled, though it was stiff and unsure.

"Well that's nice, dear. I thought you made plans with the girls today," Jessica reminded. "It won't do to be late."

Alison nodded as without so much as a good morning and a have a nice day Jessica left her daughter to her own devices and headed to her own bedroom. Alison watched her go before she turned back to her own room. Somethings never changed. No matter how much Alison wished they would.

Once she was in her bedroom Alison began searching for clues as to when she was, if her mother was alive then it had worked. Her wish had worked but if she had any hope of fixing things she needed to know what had happened and what was going to happen.

Flicking through her journals after she hastily dressed Alison found the most recent entry. The blonde felt dread settle heavily in her chest, this was not an easy place to start at, so much had happened already that would be almost impossible to fix and so much was going to happen that would need to be carefully redirected. This had the makings of a huge mess.

Alison needed to order this timeline.

Hastily she pulled out a notepad and began scribbling.

It was Wednesday July 8th 2009, more than two years earlier than where she had come from in the present of 2012.

That meant a lot hadn't happened yet.

Jason's party was only days away but she could be prepared this time, not be in the house, stay with Spencer and Emily, maybe watch some stupid movies. It would be better this time.

She hadn't been to the college party with the fake ids where that girl got hurt, she regretted her part in that accident. Though it was hardly an accident Ian shoving the drunk girl down the stairs and she'd covered for him. She needed to get rid of Ian he was not good for Melissa or Spencer. She needed to figure out a way to heal that relationship or rebuild it rather, perhaps if Spencer, Melissa and Jason knew who they were to each other they could all heal together. Jason's drug problem was going to need to be addressed and Melissa's ill suited men, not to mention their actual connection.

Alison shuddered briefly, she really needed to stop Jason and Melissa from kissing each other. But as she flicked through her journal pages she sighed, that unfortunately had already happened in the previous school year. Not much could be done for that now but damage control really.

In good news though no college party meant Cece wouldn't be expelled. She should probably avoid Cece Alison decided, at this point the older blonde was nothing but trouble and her mother was right they were somewhat toxic. If she could talk to Cece in a truthful way and explain how much she valued the blonde's friendship when they weren't terrorizing others and hooking up with random men maybe they could have something like what they had developed in the height of A's terror. She hoped whatever mess Cece landed herself in with Wilden this coming Summer wouldn't happen with Alison safely in Rosewood. But Cece could look after herself, Alison's priority was her friends.

She would just have to keep the girls in Rosewood. It wouldn't be too hard they didn't really want to go to the college party anyway, she could admit she'd pressured them. It was ironic really how much she'd pressured them into acting older when she wasn't the oldest, Emily was, having been held back starting kindergarten she was almost a good year older than Alison. Maybe thats why she did it, to appear older, to give Emily no reason to ever question why she hung out with a baby.

She thankfully had yet to steal Jason's porn stash, they needed to really rebuild their relationship especially if they're parents intended to be as distant as they were. Hopefully if she didn't aggravate him, the threats of violence would not occur, though she could admit the look in his eyes had terrified her. A lot of it was the drugs. That needed to be fixed. The N.A.T. club as well was high on her list of things to get rid of though she hadn't really formulated much of a plan concerning Ian and Garrett.

As she skimmed the journal she found a distressing piece of news, she'd already met Ezra but perhaps without her disappearance he wouldn't be encouraged to stalk around Rosewood. Though she had no doubt he and Aria were in love, at this point it was never going to be healthy and how did she go about hooking up her almost fifteen year old friend with a twenty two year old who was becoming a teacher, it was, she shuddered, so many levels of wrong. Fate would fix that if it was meant to be, Alison decided.

She hadn't been to Cape May, so beach hottie was out, thank god. She had no intention of going back there.

The girls and herself had already had their time at the lake and Alison's heart sunk as the one thing she had hoped to avoid completely had already happened.

The Jenna Thing.

She'd missed the event itself by four days.

Skimming through the pages Alison could already guess what else had happened. Toby had taken the fall, blackmailed by Alison to cover up her horrible deed.

Alison felt sick.

She'd threatened Toby with the one thing he'd feared people knowing about the most that his step sister, a girl at that had overpowered him and used him against his will.

Alison closed her eyes, everything she had done to everyone was terrible but what she had done to Toby and Jenna was… She didn't know how she could categorize everything, she couldn't list what was worse, leading Emily on, blackmailing Toby about his step sister forcing herself on him, driving Hanna to bulimia, threatening Aria's family with her father's cheating, threatening Spencer with her sister's boyfriend and hiding her pills, and Mona of course terrorizing Mona and Paige and Lucas, god the list didn't end.

Alison slumped against her desk she'd hurt so many people when really she should have been comforting them all.

Helping Emily discover herself, encouraging Hanna's inner beauty rather than modelling a shell the feisty blonde would end up hating, comforting Aria and Spencer through their family struggles, befriending Mona, Paige and Lucas. Fixing her own messed up family. It was too much. How was she suppose to keep this all straight, too much had already happened, there was so much hatred simmering just below the surface.

As she flipped to the next page of her journal something on her desk caught her eye, five different coloured material bags.

The bracelets.

Alison smiled fondly, so thats were she was meeting the girls, the Grille. Where she intended to give her friends their bracelets so they'd be 'friends forever' she'd said it so mockingly that day but she had meant it. A little piece to remember them by and for them to remember her.

She needed to fix this, for all their sakes and there needed to be a priority.

Jenna and Toby.

They needed to be dealt with first, Toby needed to get out of that detention centre. The last time she'd been there to talk to him hadn't happened yet but she knew he wasn't- wait.

Alison checked her phone quickly scrolling through the messages, several from Emily, Hanna and Spencer. Oh god. And ten from A.

She hastily scrawled Mona and A below Jenna and Toby.

Next Hanna, bulimia was life threatening and the sooner they addressed that the sooner they could heal.

Spencer needed support with her family and Ian needed to go. Melissa and Jason were next.

Paige popped into her mind suddenly and Alison skimmed her journal quickly looking for the entry were she had lured Paige with a lovesick note from 'Emily'. She breathed a heavy sigh when she couldn't find it. Paige could wait if she hadn't actively threatened the brute yet.

Lucas, she'd already suggested Hanna stay away from him at the lake, that needed to be fixed but not as immediately as Aria's family problems, her father needed to be dealt with, or rather Aria's mother needed to be made aware of her husband's infidelity. Gently this time. Crap Alison had already blackmailed Byron once to pay off her private eye, this was a mess.

And lastly Emily. Emily's issues were on going and needed to be handled with care and comfort, gentle nudges in the right direction, a little innocent flirting. Alison smiled as she reread the pages of their kiss in the library, the locker room unfortunately had also happened. She needed to fix that, the kissing rock hadn't happened yet but the implications that it could had already been suggested by Alison. Alison pushed away the memory of the same rock digging into her back as Emily kissed her deeply, it was the most forward her mermaid had been well until very recently Alison smirked.

Alison crossed out Emily's name and added it to the top of the list.

That was her goal. Though Emily might not be as immediate as the others she was more important. Call Alison selfish and heartless but she would go to the ends of the earth to fix her mermaid over everyone else. That however didn't mean she couldn't do things simultaneously, she could woo Emily and fix Rosewoods secrets and scandals.

Alison Dilaruentis super woman.

She looked over her list one last time.

Emily

Jenna and Toby

Mona A

Hanna

Spencer

Ian/ N.A.T.

Melissa and Jason

Aria

Lucas

This wasn't going to be easy in fact this was going to be very, very hard.

Alison was startled from her thoughts as her phone buzzed. Twice.

"Where r u?" from her sweet mermaid.

"Your little lambs are all alone, do you think they'll miss you. -A" and one from her favourite stalker.

Game on, Mona. Alison thought as she scooped up the bracelets and headed for the Grille.

Aria, Spencer and Hanna were standing outside the Grille like restless soldiers, unsure of what to do without their leader. Alison observed them for a moment, unseen, not long ago she would have relished their confusion without her. The perfect little puppets who only acted when directed to, but now it just brought her sadness that she had built these people to be so reliant upon her that they couldn't see how great they were without her, in spite of her really. Her disappearance had at least been of some benefit to them.

She gulped as she strode towards them, suddenly nervous and unsure maybe changing the past wouldn't do any good, maybe this was a futile attempt to change herself when really she would always be this monster everyone loved to hate.

She almost turned back when she finally caught sight of Emily, her luscious hair flowing down her shoulders her face in a worried state as she spoke quickly to the others clutching her phone. It was only as Alison got closer that she realized Emily was worried because Alison hadn't turned up.

"Emily," Alison exclaimed with glee when she was close enough and launched herself at the taller girl.

Emily caught her around the waist at the last second and only just managed to keep them both upright with the force of Alison's cuddle. It wasn't a hug, it was too intimate, too personal, too long lasting.

"Ali what-" her question died in her throat as Alison nuzzled into her.

Alison couldn't help herself being held in Emily's warmth again after so long, she buried herself in deeper trying to hide in Emily's neck. She breathed in deeply, vanilla and the faint lingering smell of chlorine invaded her senses and she relished the comfort flooding into her veins. How had she ever convinced herself this was platonic? She was so far gone in this girl.

"Ah Ali?" Emily was hesitant as though she was sure Alison had finally cracked. "You can let go now."

"I don't wanna," Alison stated petulantly and just borrowed deeper.

Emily seemed ready to argue but then thought better of it and they just stood there, Emily holding Alison, who clung back for dear life. Every now and then Emily's hand would hesitantly drift up her back, Alison wanted it to rub circles on her back like that night when they'd laid side by side not talking but unable to keep their hands to themselves. Emily had stroked her back with pressure but pleasantly, tracing patterns, love hearts and squiggles. Alison had giggled until Emily had kissed her again. And they'd started all over re-exploring each other.

"Whats wrong with Ali?" Aria's concerned voice pulled Alison from her happy place.

"I don't know," Emily answered unsure and a little concerned.

Of course they thought there was something wrong with her to be throwing around affection like this. In public for anyone to see or scrutinize. Alison reluctantly pulled herself out of Emily's arms, she got a tiny thrill as Emily clenched her fists as though to stop herself from pulling Alison back in.

"I'm fine you guys. I just…" Alison tried to think of something to appease them.

Spencer was scrutinizing her with suspicion, Hanna seemed confused and Aria was concerned. Alison looked up into Emily's face, the taller girl mirrored the other three, confusion and concern were at the forefront but the suspicion was there too. So Alison decided she wouldn't lie. Not to Emily.

"I just needed a hug," she admitted softly.

Aria bounced forward pulling Alison into her arms.

"Well why didn't you just say so?" she chirped happily.

Alison let herself be rocked in the hug as Aria bounced on the balls of her feet and while it felt nice it didn't feel as safe as Emily's arms. She pulled back, laughing slightly as Aria's enthusiasm was infectious.

"Thanks Aria," she meant to sound sincere but Spencer's eyebrows knitted together, Alison could see the cogs of her mind turning trying to figure out the puzzle. The hidden message, the game Alison was surely playing.

Alison smiled what she hoped was a non threatening smile, trying to show Spencer she meant no harm, that she was on their side but the brunette looked away as though whatever she had seen in Alison's eyes displeased her.

"What took you so long?" Hanna asked, grumbling somewhat.

"That my beautiful friend is a surprise," Alison shot Hanna a smile when the other blonde blushed at the compliment. "Let's get a table and I'll show you all."

Alison directed them inside but not before catching Emily giving Hanna a glare, she briefly wondered what that was about and gave Emily's shoulder a comforting squeeze as she passed. Emily almost melted into a puddle before her and Alison had to remind herself this was not 2012 Emily this was little Emily, innocent Emily. She smiled gently at the girl as she released her shoulder and they all took their seats at the table.

"So whats everyone getting?" Alison asked cheerfully.

It had been so long since they'd just sat together, enjoying each others company, acting like teenagers rather than private investigators or CSI sleuths. When had their lives become tracking calls and interviewing suspects, finding bodies and avoiding the police?

Alison shook her head of unwelcome thoughts and tried to listen to her friends as they rattled off their brunch orders.

"I'm just going to get a salad," Hanna declared miserably, before she looked at the table suddenly fascinated by the woodwork.

The others shifted uncomfortably but no one said a word.

"Well I'm going to get a milkshake, you wanna share, Han?" Alison asked innocently.

Hanna's head shot up and everyone else froze. Emily's eyes hardened again before the look was replaced by a puzzled frown. Spencer looked ready to butt in but thought better of it and Aria ping-ponged between the two blondes.

"I'm trying to… watch my weight," Hanna muttered.

"So we'll go for a run afterwards," Alison replied easily. "You like running don't you, Spence?"

Spencer spluttered for a moment confused as to why she had been dragged into this situation.

"Yes, I.. for hockey I like to keep fit." Spencer finally answered.

"Great. You, me and Hanna can work off brunch this afternoon, that work for you two?" Alison flipped through the menu trying to appear indifferent to their responses.

Both Hanna and Spencer nodded, exchanging bewildered looks.

"Then its sorted. You have to get a milkshake with me, Han." Alison encouraged as she pointed out various options on the menu to the blonde on her right.

Hanna nodded and smiled, making a face as Alison pointed at a lime milkshake and Alison laughed at the disgusted look Hanna sported.

It was nice to be connecting even if it was over something so small.

"I like to run too," Emily cut in desperately.

Alison passed her menu to Hanna gently, giving Emily her full attention. The tall brunette blushed lightly under the scrutiny and tried to make herself appear smaller.

"Of course, Em. I'm sorry I didn't invite you. You're more than welcome to come running with us," Alison gently spoke reaching out a hand to stroke the inside of Emily's wrist. It was an intimate gesture for sure and their friends watched them curiously.

Emily's eyes darkened as she stared at Alison and Alison smiled encouragingly trying to convey that this was exactly what Emily wanted it to be, this was what they could have.

"You're welcome to come too, Aria." Alison broke the moment, turning to her smallest friend.

"Oh no thats ok, thanks Ali but I'm not much of a runner," Aria waved the suggestion off.

"Suit yourself, these gorgeous girls in tight running gear, your loss." Alison shrugged taking in her friends shocked faces.

She smiled conspiratorially.

"What? We're all super hot, you can't deny it. I just happen to appreciate beauty in all its forms," Alison defended with a playful wink at Hanna.

Hanna covered her blush and giggled shyly as Alison gave her a gentle playful shove. This was working she decided with an easy laugh.

As a waiter appeared to take their orders, Emily's eyes were fixated on Hanna and Alison and it wasn't until the waiter asked for a third time what Emily wanted that the brunette snapped out of her thoughts. Alison watched curiously, something was up with her mermaid and she was determined to find out what.

Brunch was a light easy affair, filled with laughter and jokes and incredibly heightened stories. Emily kept giving Alison uneasy looks whenever Alison joked with Hanna or complimented her beauty. Alison was slowly piecing together what was upsetting Emily but couldn't really bring it up among their other friends especially Hanna. So she tried to assure Emily with gentle touches and warm smiles whenever she could and for a couple of moments Emily would be focused on her and not glaring at her food or Hanna.

As their plates were cleared and Alison let Hanna have the last of their chocolate milkshake Alison pulled the bracelets from her purse.

"I got you guys something," Alison smiled proudly as she handed them all out, making sure everyone got their own individual bag.

"What's the occasion?" Spencer asked with a laugh.

"A girl can't buy her favourite people gifts?" Alison asked with mock hurt.

"Thats not what Spence meant Ali its just the next closest birthday is mine and-" Aria tried to keep the peace.

"I was kidding," Alison cut in none too gently frustrated that they assumed she would bite Spencer's head off for asking a question. "I got you all something to show you how much you mean to me, its just a little something. I promise Aria I have something better planned for your birthday."

The others stared at her in confusion.

"Just open them," Alison giggled getting impatient.

"Ok, ok," Spencer agreed, the moment of tension successfully gone.

"Oh Ali I love it," Aria exclaimed having gotten hers out first.

The others nodded in agreement as they all started putting their own bracelet on.

"Em, can I put yours on?" Alison asked softly as she reached across the table.

Emily nodded wordlessly handing the bracelet to Alison who clipped it on. She gently stroked her finger across Emily's wrist as she pulled away and she just caught Emily's shy smile before the brunette ducked her head.

Alison turned to her side to find Hanna having trouble with her bracelet trying to put it on her dominant hand.

"Let me help, Han," Alison assured the blonde and Hanna relinquished the bracelet with a huff.

Alison huffed right back at her playfully as she attached the bracelet and the two took one long look at each other before they burst into laughter.

"Let me help you with yours," Hanna offered Alison as their laughter subsided.

Alison stole a quick glance at Emily who looked ready to storm out but the brunette made no move to intervene and Alison only slightly disappointed held out her wrist to Hanna.

"This was really nice of you, Ali," Spencer chimed admiring her bracelet and Aria's.

"Is it really that big of a surprise that I would do something nice?" Alison snapped.

Instantly she regretted it, two steps forward ten steps back.

"I'm sorry Spence, I didn't mean that," Alison quickly amended.

Spencer's eyes widened and she looked more taken back by Alison's apology than her earlier snapping. This was what Alison needed to fix, these girls didn't trust her and she really hadn't given them much of a reason too.

She decided that first she needed to be honest. Sometimes she would snap and get angry and frustrated, she was different now for sure but she wasn't a completely new person. She was still hot headed and bitchy and she would have to actively work to not lie and manipulate those around her but if she had these four as her backup, Alison believed she would be able to do it.

"I know," Alison started, this was going to be a bitter pill to swallow, she cleared her throat to buy time.

"I know I haven't been the best friend to you all," she caught each of their eyes separately.

"No. Ali-"

"What are you-"

Emily and Spencer jumped in to defend her quickly.

She held up a hand trying to stop their false reassurances.

"I haven't. I know that and I want to make it up to you, to all of you. To be the kind of friends who have bracelets because we're close not as some kind of membership card to guard our secrets."

The others stared at her in confusion.

"I'm going to tell the police what really happened with the Jenna thing," Alison lowered her voice even as all the other tables were deserted.

"We said we'd never mention that again," Spencer declared hauntingly.

"Ali we could get in lots of trouble," Emily whispered her face terrified.

"Not we, just me. I'm going to tell them that it was just me and I made you all cover for me."

"Why? That won't bring back her sight," Spencer stated, crossing her arms.

"No. But it will get Toby out of the detention centre," Alison replied.

"He was a creep, he was spying on us and-"

"He wasn't, Spence. I made it up. I wanted to plant a stink bomb in Jenna's house because she refused to be my friend and she was a threat to my popularity," Alison almost laughed, she'd never actually said it out loud the reason she had wanted to get back at Jenna and had used Toby to do it. It was so absurd.

Though with a quick glance to Emily's pensive face, Alison could admit to herself that that wasn't the only reason she'd wanted Jenna to pay. Jenna wasn't just a threat to her popularity.

The halloween party were Emily couldn't take her eyes off Jenna was forever burned into Alison's brain, the white hot fires of jealous that boiled in her blood as Jenna danced and Emily watched as though dazed by her beauty. Alison could admit she was petty and jealous and possibly somewhat narcissistic and at the time she had felt that was some kind of justification.

She hadn't unfortunately known that the 'stink bomb' she stole from Jason was a fire cracker and the propane tanks in the Cavanaugh garage were easily ignited. She'd got one good look at those tanks before she ushered the girls away and the garage had exploded within seconds. It was a tragic event, one that could have easily been avoided but now it just needed to be fixed as much as it could. Starting with the truth.

Spencer was the first to break the uneasy silence.

"You could go to juvie for this, Ali."

Alison caught the look of concern on Spencer's face and she nodded, that was a possibility she knew. But Juvie was not a women's correctional facility, as an 18 year old blonde slight girl she'd been an easy target within minutes of arriving. Juvie would be a cake walk.

"But its the right thing to do," Alison assured her friend. "And tomorrow I'm going to go into the police station and explain what happened."

"You lied in an investigation Alison they're not going to let you off the hook lightly," Spencer challenged.

"So what do I do, just pretend it didn't happen and move on? Toby is innocent, Spencer," too late Alison remembered that Toby and Spencer had nothing to do with each other at this point in time.

It saddened her somewhat to think about the fact that this may alter their chances of being close in future. She liked them together. She'd seen in Toby a man who was protective of Spencer who valued her intelligence instead of wanting to stifle it. The same as she'd seen in Caleb, for the brief time she had known him, he was good for Hanna. A little over protective and maybe a touch hostile but he loved Hanna wholeheartedly. She had no idea where he currently was but hopefully fate had plans for those two.

Toby was her priority at the moment.

"You need to talk to my parents," Spencer said after a long moment.

Alison was taken back. Spencer was offering help, her parents were lawyers and she was offering Alison a legal representative, a fighting chance.

"You shouldn't go to the police station without a lawyer," Spencer continued.

"I don't think your parents like me very much," Alison hedged gently.

It was true, all of her friends parents hated her to some degree, expect Mrs Fields. Mrs Fields picked up on how tender Alison could be with Emily, the older woman obviously thought they had a very close friendship and they did, they just had something else too.

"Thats why I'm going to tell them what happened," Spencer declared. "You and I took the stink bomb from Jason as a prank and we threw it in Toby's garage. It exploded and we were scared so we stupidly ran."

"We didn't throw it, Spencer, I did," Alison argued.

"I'm not letting you take the fall for this alone Alison we're a team we stick together," Spencer declared raising an eyebrow to challenge the blonde.

Alison smiled in spite of herself, this was the Spencer she always wanted on side, the caring, loyal and fearlessly protective Hastings genius.

"I'm in," Hanna declared wiping the back of her hand across her face as she finished her milkshake. "We were all there, we're all responsible."

Aria and Emily nodded in agreement.

"We should have stopped you," Emily muttered softly.

"But we didn't and now we face the consequences," Aria declared. "Together."

Alison sat stunned as Spencer nodded at their friends, glad for the back up. As the youngest Hastings detailed the plan to tell her parents Alison couldn't help but tear up a bit, as tragic as Jenna losing her eyesight was and as terrible as she felt for blackmailing Toby to confess, she couldn't help but feel loved by these girls sitting around her. Her friends, her heroes.

Alison tried to keep her breathing under control as she ran, trying to keep up with her much more athletic friends. She'd forgotten when she suggested this little venture that her fifteen year old body was no where near as use to strenuous exercise as her eighteen year old one. Two years on the run did wonders for her stamina.

But now as she struggled along with Hanna, the two blondes trailing further and further behind Spencer and Emily she was beginning to regret this little friendly bonding exercise. Until Hanna began talking.

"I should probably get home, that shake was kind of a lot," Hanna mumbled.

Alison took in a few deep breaths as she tried to push through her fatigue and listen to her friend.

"Thats why we're running it off, all things in moderation, gorgeous," Alison gave Hanna an encouraging smile but the other blonde looked away.

"I just I feel better after I've…" Hanna twirled her hand unwilling to voice her thoughts and Alison came to an abrupt stop, pulling Hanna with her.

"Hanna no," Alison said sharply her concern for her friend's welfare over powering her tact.

Hanna immediately looked scolded and on the brink of tears.

"You don't need to do that. Ever. Its dangerous and unnecessary, please tell me you understand that?" Alison begged.

"But it worked I lost so much weight and now I'm beautiful too," Hanna's lower lip quivered.

She was a scared, hurt fifteen year old girl who'd been pushed by everyone to be this untouchable goddess, Alison knew better than anyone what Hanna was feeling. Alison felt the guilt settle in her stomach like lead. She rubbed her hands up and down Hanna's arms as the tears started, ducking her head to catch the tearful blonde's gaze.

"Listen to me and listen good, ok?" Alison implored her gaze defiant and unwavering.

Hanna nodded sniffling.

"You are gorgeous, my friend. Inside and out. And you were beautiful when you were bigger than you are now and you'll still be beautiful if you gain 100 pounds, but throwing up doesn't make you beautiful, ok. Throwing up is dangerous and I should have never ever showed you how to do that, but everything you've ever felt about yourself I can guarantee I've felt it too," Alison assured trying to keep her tone gentle as Hanna cried.

"But.. your you… you've always been.." Hanna vaguely gestured in Alison's direction.

"How do you think I knew how to do it?"

Hanna nodded sadly in understanding.

"But you're wrong Hanna I could wear the hottest fashion, the greatest shoes, have a million stylists and makeup artists and I still wouldn't be as beautiful as you," Alison declared.

"Wanna know why?" She asked with a conspiring grin.

Hanna answered with a shy little head nod.

"Because your heart is so much more beautiful than mine and you affect people in a positive way, I tear them down and show them the part they hate about themselves the most, but I'm trying to change because of you and Em and Spencer and Aria. Because you four are the most beautiful people I know, with the kindest hearts and the warmest smiles, that anyone can resist you is beyond me," Alison finished.

She couldn't believe she'd said all that, but it was all true and she had felt it so profoundly sitting in that jail cell all alone, that she had lost something irreplaceable.

"You really mean that?" Hanna asked scared and unsure, so uncertain in her own self worth.

"Of course, but Hanna I need you and the girls but you, you don't need me. You're strong and capable ok? You know that."

Alison wiped gently at her friend's cheeks, smiling as Hanna nodded slowly as though she were finally beginning to understand.

"You're wrong though, Ali," Hanna spoke up with a watery smile. "We need you just as much as you need us."

Alison felt her own eyes fill with tears and she nodded as she pulled Hanna into a deep hug. The other blonde melted into her and she cradled Hanna to her. It was so different from the hug they'd shared when she found Hanna binging, that hug had been a taunt, a set trap. This one was comfort and reconciliation. Alison wasn't delusional enough to believe this would solve all their problems but it was a really nice step in the right direction.

She rubbed Hanna's back soothingly as the blonde let go of her own fears, in the safety of Alison's embrace.

"Whats the hold up?" Spencer called from further down the street.

Emily stood beside Spencer her arms crossed and a frown upon her face as she watched the two blondes break from their embrace.

"You wanna keep going?" Alison asked Hanna still rubbing her hands up and down the blonde's arms.

Hanna sniffled and nodded.

"Thanks Ali."

"Anytime, gorgeous."

Just before they took off to catch the other two, Hanna darted forward and placed a quick kiss to Alison's cheek. Alison couldn't stop the blush that flew up her neck. Not because she harboured any sort of romantic feelings towards Hanna but rather that the other blonde was so happy to share such physical signs of affection with her. It was a kiss of friendship, of gratitude and it felt wonderful.

Alison beamed as she and Hanna jogged to catch up to Spencer and Emily and it was only as they approached and Emily took off at a sprint that the smile fell from Alison's face.

"Em what the hell?" Spencer yelled after the retreating brunette.

"Yeah she's not coming back," Spencer muttered as Emily still hadn't remerged from where she had turned the corner some ten minutes earlier.

"Do you still want to run?" Hanna asked.

Alison was vaguely aware of their conversation as it flowed around her and she knew it was happening but it was as though she were a great distance from her friends. Emily's cold brown eyes were still haunting the blonde. The look of betrayal Emily had sported before she all but run off like A was chasing her wasn't going to leave Alison anytime soon. This was not going to plan at all.

"Ali? Earth to Alison…" Spencer gave her a not so gentle nudge and Alison caught herself using Hanna for support.

"Ouch, Spence, what the hell?" Alison huffed straightening herself up.

"You've been staring off into space forever, we want to know if you want to keep running?" Spencer clarified.

"Sure if you guys do, just maybe not so fast, Spence," Alison smiled trying to push Emily's hurt from her mind.

Hanna and Spencer nodded and they all took off at a light jog. As her friends exchanged easy banter Alison felt her mind drift back to Emily, obviously she was jealous, the hostility she had started directing at Hanna was pretty telling, but Emily's concerns didn't make sense to Alison. Why would Emily care so much if Alison was finally being nice to all their friends, should that not have made her mermaid happy? The blonde decided she needed to talk to Emily as soon as possible and-

Derailed from her thoughts Alison felt her foot catch on a lose piece of gravel, twisting her ankle sharply as she fell. She braced her hands trying to stop her face from smashing into the concrete and scrunched her eyes as she hit the road.

"Ali!"

"Alison!"

Hanna and Spencer were at her side in seconds crouching down to help her roll over.

"Ali can you hear me?" Spencer asked.

Alison nodded trying to sit up.

"I'm fine I just fell and-"

Spencer cut her off with a gentle hand to her shoulder.

"Just lie still for a second, you may go into shock if you've broken anything," Spencer warned as she ran her hands over Alison's form inspecting her for cuts or broken bones.

This was all a complete over reaction on Spencer's part Alison was sure, but she let the brunette fuss knowing it was futile to argue with Spencer when she was in her know it all mood.

"I know we're friends, Spence but at least buy me dinner first," Alison joked as Spencer pressed on her chest firmly.

"Ha ha, Ali," Spencer sarcastically replied but carried on with her thorough investigation. "I'm the only one thats knows first aid and from the looks of things you're fine, a part from a couple of scrapes on your hands so we should get you home and get those cleaned."

Hanna stood up first holding out a hand to Alison and the injured blonde smiled grateful as she used Hanna's strength to pull herself up. It was only as she tried to right her ankle flat on the concrete that Alison screamed.

She fell back again, Hanna and Spencer bracing her as they lowered her back to the concrete.

"Great first aid job, Spencer," Hanna lashed out her face creased in worry for Alison's well being.

Spencer ignored Hanna and ran her hands over Alison's injured ankle.

"Tell me if this hurts ok?" Spencer instructed as she squeezed the tender limb.

"Ow, ow yes god stop," Alison whined as Spencer finally released her ankle.

"Its only a sprain if it was broken she would have tried to murder me for touching it and it would hurt without being touched. We need to get you home. Hanna call Aria to come get us with her car and-"

"I can carry her."

Alison looked across the road shielding her eyes against the sun's harsh glare as Emily came into view. Despite being somewhat confused by her mermaid's behaviour and a little hurt Alison couldn't help but swoon as Emily sweaty from her jog came closer. Her mermaid always looked best glistening.

"Em you came back, why did you…" Hanna trailed off as Emily shot her a hard glare.

"Whoa what did I ever do to you?" Hanna asked crossing her arms defensively.

Spencer sensing an oncoming fight looked to Alison for direction.

"Is it ok if Emily carries you, Ali? She's definitely the strongest," Spencer asked with a smile.

Alison didn't trust her voice and just nodded.

"It'll be easier if you're on my back," Emily assured as Hanna and Spencer helped Alison stand carefully not applying any pressure to her ankle.

Emily crouched down in front of the blonde facing away as Alison slowly climbed onto her back. Wrapping her legs around Emily's middle and her arms loosely over Emily's shoulders, Alison perched over her mermaid's back as the brunette lifted Alison's legs and stood.

Alison had never had an Emily piggy back at least not one that she could recall and as the four of them started down the street Alison decided she definitely hadn't had an Emily piggy back because this was all kinds of nice.

She tucked her head over Emily's shoulder so she could get a look at her mermaid. Emily seemed unfazed by the added weight on her back and her brown eyes shifted to take in Alison observing her.

"What?" She asked quizzically.

"You're the best you know that," Alison responded with a dazed smile.

Emily tried to hide her blush and instead looked straight ahead, clearing her throat and readjusting Alison on her back. Amused Alison gave the ear closest to her a gentle kiss.

"My hero," she whispered just so Emily could hear.

Emily stumbled slightly and Alison gripped at her jacket in fear.

"Jesus Emily!" Hanna scolded catching the brunette as she ended up stumbling into the blonde.

"We're fine," Alison assured, she didn't need to see Emily's face to know she was glaring at Hanna again.

Hanna huffed but didn't argue and they made the rest of the trip in silence. Alison playing with Emily's hair gently, running the soft strands through her fingers as Emily carried her.

When they finally made it to the DiLaurentis house everyone was tired, expect Alison but she was injured and that had to count for something she decided.

Emily set Alison down on the couch and Alison had to force herself to release her hold on the brunette, she'd felt so safe being carried by Emily and was reluctant to let that connection go. Spencer came from next door with a first aid kit and took great pleasure in doctoring Alison as she wrapped her ankle. Hanna fetched an icepack from the freezer upon Spencer's instructions.

"Here, Ali," Hanna said tenderly as she placed the ice pack on Alison's raised foot. "There were like twenty icepacks in there."

Alison smiled as her friends took such good care of her. It was nice to be fussed over.

"Oh yeah we've had heaps since I was a little kid," Alison replied stiffly. "We were really accident prone."

The others didn't say anything more but Alison could tell by their expressions that they wanted to ask questions.

"Well I think we should let the patient rest," Spencer declared taping Alison's leg gently as she stood. "I'm going to butter up my parents before we tell them tonight. If we're still doing that?"

Alison caught Spencer's gaze as the brunette studied her, trying to see if Alison would be true to her word. Alison nodded.

"Yes, thank you Spencer, we'll talk to them tonight," Alison assured.

"Alright," Spencer agreed. "Stay off that ankle," she warned.

"I will and thanks for helping me, Spence I really appreciate it," Alison said sincerely.

Spencer was stunned and Alison held out her arms for a hug. Slowly the brunette lowered herself into Alison's embrace.

"I mean it. Thank you."

Spencer pulled back unsure of what was going on, her mind obviously unable to process a grateful and appreciative Alison but she eventually nodded.

"You're welcome, I'll see you all tonight."

A chorus of see yous drifted from the other two as Spencer left.

"I should probably get going too, I need to tell my mum where I'll be tonight," Hanna stated.

Alison nodded.

"Don't forget what I said before ok," Alison warned with a smile.

Hanna returned it brightly.

"I won't, Ali."

Hanna leaned down for a hug and the blondes wrapped their arms around each other.

"You're one of the most beautiful people I know, Hanna Marin," Alison whispered softly.

Hanna tried to hide her blush in Alison's neck and Alison squeezed her tighter. When they finally broke apart, Emily had her arms folded and a frown upon her face. The brunette had never been good at hiding her feelings, Alison knew.

"I'll see you two later," Hanna said but a quick glance at Emily made it clear she wasn't going to get a hug from the brunette.

Hanna Marin in 2012 wouldn't stand for the cold shoulder Emily was trying to present but Alison had to remind herself this was 2009 Hanna, and the blonde merely looked wounded and left with a small wave to Alison.

As the door closed behind Hanna, Alison turned to the sulking brunette.

"Are you going to tell me what's wrong?"

Emily recrossed her arms as she lowered herself into an arm chair.

"You know the silent treatment is pretty immature, Em," Alison goaded, she was going for playful but when Emily directed her wounded puppy dog eyes on the blonde Alison decided she would need a different approach.

"Ok you don't have to talk but will you at least give me a hug?" Alison asked opening her arms.

Emily just stared.

"Please, Em, I need some cuddles I hurt myself," Alison stuck out her lower lip trying to play to Emily's sympathy.

With a frustrated huff that seemed more directed at herself than Alison Emily made her way over to her friend. Helping the blonde sit up Emily slid onto the couch, sitting upright as Alison lay her head in the brunette's lap.

"Thanks, Em," Alison smiled up at her mermaid.

Alison handed the remote to Emily as she rolled slightly to face the tv as it flickered to life. She snuggled into Emily's thigh as they settled on a friends rerun.

"This is nice isn't it?" Alison said after a while.

"Mmm," Emily agreed.

"Just the two of us. Alone," Alison hedged gently, tracing a delicate nail across Emily's exposed thigh, her running shorts just a little too short, not that Alison was complaining. At all.

Emily gulped loudly.

"What cha thinking about, Em?" Alison asked, playful and flirty, the seduction thick.

She had always wanted to have Emily like this, to be free and open about her intentions to wind Emily up and leave her hanging on the edge just long enough to make sure she knew Alison was the only one who could save her. It wasn't about the control really it was about the thrill of holding Emily's pleasure in the palm of her hand, Alison wanted to make her mermaid feel good for sure but she was definitely going to make her squirm for it. Alison tried to smother her pleased grin as her nail traced a thoughtless pattern across tanned skin.

"Hanna," Emily finally answered.

Alison's grin fell. And she retracted her hand as though burned.

"What?" she asked sharply turning over to see her mermaid's face.

Surprisingly Emily was staring down at her, her brown eyes angry and hurt, the arousal from Alison's earlier attention all but gone.

"Do you do this with her?" Emily spat as she lifted Alison's head from her lap and stood angrily.

"Em wait!" Alison tried to sit up but fell back as she put pressure on her injured ankle.

Emily hovered nearby unwilling to help but she also wouldn't leave, Alison locked her eyes on her angry brunette as she pulled herself gently into a sitting position.

"Are you jealous of Hanna?" Alison asked watching Emily intently.

"Should I be?" Emily seethed.

Answering questions with a question was a very 2012 Emily move, Alison decided as she observed Emily start to pace, angrily. Obviously her mermaid was more worked up than Alison anticipated to be standing up to the blonde so brazenly. But then again Alison had been flirty all day, trying to give Emily hope that they could be something and then the blonde tried to multi task switching her attentions to Hanna. Alison finally saw the whole picture clearly as Emily wiped angrily at her eyes. Em thought she was being replaced.

"Do you kiss her for practise too?" Emily choked.

"Em please sit down," Alison gently directed.

"No. Just tell me is she-" Emily covered her mouth turning away.

"She's my friend, Emily. I don't kiss my friends for practise or at all, not like with you."

"But you said in the locker room…" Emily trailed off uncertain.

"I know what I said and what I made you think but I was stupid, those kisses weren't for practise and I've never done that with Hanna or any of the other girls, ok?"

Emily nodded silently.

"Will you sit down please so we can talk?" Alison scooted over on the couch to make space for Emily and the brunette wordlessly sat.

"You were jealous today at brunch and when we went on our run? Jealous of Hanna?" Alison asked delicately.

Emily nodded her bottom lip quivering.

"Mermaid you have nothing to be jealous about," Alison soothed gently tucking a stray hair behind Emily's ear, she curved her hand trailing the tips of her fingers over the brunette's ear lightly.

Emily shifted somewhat but didn't pull away.

"But she kissed you," Emily whined even as she leaned into Alison's gentle petting.

"She did but it was on the cheek, a kiss between friends nothing more," Alison assured keeping her voice low and soothing as she passed her hand back through Emily's hair.

"But we've kissed and… we're friends," Emily hedged, afraid and hesitant.

Alison couldn't help but note how young and fragile Emily was at fifteen, so unsure and so easily assuming the worst. Not that Alison could blame her by this time, the summer of 2009, Alison had her claws well and truly buried in the brunette.

She briefly wondered if the letter had been written yet. She'd never read it herself but when she had returned to Rosewood for good Aria had pulled her aside and made damn sure she knew how much she had hurt Emily. It hadn't worked of course, too many lies, secrets and a truth that would always remain hidden separated them, but Alison at least knew there was a hurt letter Emily had penned the summer of 2009. She hoped this time her mermaid wouldn't need to vent her frustrations, but rather Alison would make all her dreams come true, it brought a soft smile to the blonde's face.

She continued one more sweep down Emily's hair and then cupped her mermaid's jaw. She held Emily tenderly her thumb moving just enough to stroke the brunette's cheek as Alison focused on Emily's frightened gaze.

"We've always been more than friends, Em," Alison assured and with gentle tenderness she brought their lips together.

This is what she had been missing, Emily's sweet addictive kisses. It was soft and tender and there was no rush of getting caught, no need to be hurried, no outside pressure. Just the two of them languidly exploring. Emily was hesitant and Alison could feel the brunette's hands restlessly clenching and unclenching in Emily's lap unsure of what to do with them. Alison's other hand reached into Emily's lap stilling the fidgeting as the blonde pulled away from the chaste kiss gently. She waited for Emily to open her eyes. When she finally did Alison smiled at the dazed look Emily had.

"You can touch me you know," Alison assured taking one of Emily's hands and placing it on her waist.

Emily flexed her fingers experimentally on new found ground and grinned when Alison giggled. Alison rewarded the grin with another kiss. This time Emily met her more forcefully and while not nearly as skilled as her older counterpart Emily was definitely just as enthusiastic.

Alison pushed into the kiss deeper as she crept her free hand up Emily's side unwilling to remove the hand on Emily's jaw that could tilt her mermaid's lips to her own as she pleased. When her hand skimmed Emily's breast the brunette pulled away.

"I'm not… I… what does this mean, Ali?" Emily asked desperately.

Alison was startled by the question and took a moment to gather herself, on the tip of her tongue was what she wanted to say. It means your gay, Emily and you're in love with me and we should be together forever and run away to Paris where A can never find us. All you have to do is trust me.

It would be so easy to just tell Emily what this meant, to spell it out clearly for the brunette who she was, what she wanted and how it was all going to go. But Alison wasn't that person anymore. She didn't want to control Emily she wanted to love her and part of that was letting Emily discover herself no matter how painful that journey may be.

"Whatever you want it to mean, I really like you, Em," Alison admitted. "Like like, I really want to date you actually and-"

"I'm with Ben."

Alison felt her blood run cold. Ben. She'd completely forgotten about Ben. Emily had a boyfriend. Granted one she didn't really like but she had one none the less. Emily had a boyfriend and Alison was supposed to know this.

"I know that," Alison shrugged it off like Ben hadn't suddenly become an obstacle. "But Em, do you even like him?"

Emily shrugged pulling further away from Alison.

"What's not to like, he's on the swim team, he's muscly, he's nice," Emily shrugged again.

Alison felt sick in some weird twisted way Emily sounded like she was parroting the old Alison, the blonde half expected Emily to toss her hair dismissively.

"Yeah but when you kiss him does it feel good? Alison have never felt so awkward.

"Sure, I guess."

Alison crossed her arms suddenly feeling stupid.

"Well then I guess you should go make out with your boyfriend or whatever," it was embarrassing how quickly she fell back on old patterns, push them away before they push you away.

Alison shook her head in frustration not at Emily but at herself. Emily looked so confused and lost. This was not what Alison was here for, she wasn't here to taunt Emily and go right back to being her bitchy self.

She sighed as Emily tried to sooth her. Emily was so familiar with Alison retreating when she didn't get her way, of Alison lashing out when she was denied. It was depressing what Emily had grown to consider normal from Ali. Not this time, Alison vowed.

"Ali-"

"No. You want to be with Ben go right ahead but this," Alison gestured between the two of them. "Isn't something that comes along everyday and I will fight for this, Emily."

Emily took in a sharp breath.

"Fight?"

"Yes, Emily. Fight. Pip gets Estella in the end and I refuse to let some meathead ruin my happy ending and-"