Thank you for your kind words and thoughts. You truly humble me.
Thanks to my best friend, Jude, for typing this author's note, and the previous one, and for helping me post this story. Without her it would still be sitting on my computer because words and letters get a little jumbled right now.
But I'm still inside here and I WILL fight my way back out.
Disclaimer: I don't own anything PLL. I'm just borrowing the characters for a little while.
Here's the second and final chapter. This was originally envisioned as a one shot but it got way too freaking long. Chapter 2 is a little bit different format than my usual style but it's how it came out of me…. so there you have it.
As always, thanks for reading and if you're so inclined leave a review. Reading them makes me happy.
Enjoy!
Chapter 2
Five Years Later…..
Emily's landing on the deck of the aircraft carrier was smooth and perfect as usual. She grinned as Tony guided her to a stop with his flags.
"Nice flight today, girl," Mac said from his seat behind her. Mac was the weapons systems officer for her EA-18G Growler. Although she'd originally wanted to fly F/A-18F Super Hornets, as she went through flight training, she discovered she liked flying the Growler better.
It was one of the most advanced airborne electronic attack jets in existence, which provided tactical jamming and electronic protection to the other naval strike aircraft. Emily had never been comfortable with the idea of dropping bombs out of her jets and decided she preferred jamming other aircraft's radar over weapon's strikes.
"I think we had a good day overall," Emily agreed as she removed her helmet and climbed out of the jet. "Thanks, Tony," she said as she started walking across the deck.
Mac caught up with her and slung his arm over her shoulders.
"Only another week and we're finally back on dry land. Are you ready for it?"
As much as Emily enjoyed being at sea for a while, she was so ready to be on land again. She shoved his arm off and rolled her eyes. "Of course I'm ready. Aren't you?"
"Eh," he shrugged. "I could spend a few more months out here."
"That's because you don't have a girlfriend giving you a reason to be on land."
He put his hand over his heart dramatically. "Oooh, you wound me, Fields."
Emily shook her head and laughed. Mac was one of those sailors who was happily single so being deployed at sea for months at a time didn't faze him.
"All of us can't be lucky enough to be dating a super model," he teased as they entered the elevator to descend to the pilot ready room below.
Emily's lips curved up at the thought of Alison. She and the blonde had been going on just over five years together and even though they'd spent much of it apart due to Emily's training and two overseas deployments, they were managing to find a way to make it work.
It hadn't been easy at first. They barely had a week together in LA before Emily had to report to flight school. But they both wanted a chance so badly they were willing to do whatever it took. Over the course of her twelve week training Alison flew to Florida multiple times. And she would often take short trips up to Whidbey Island, Washington where Emily was stationed for the next year for her advanced flight training.
Their commitment to making their relationship work surprised both their families and friends, but once they finally admitted their true feelings for each other, there was nothing else they could do. Not being together wasn't an option.
The elevator doors opened into the pilot ready room where their CO was in his office waiting to debrief them on their flight mission.
"You need to stop being jealous of my girlfriend, Mac. It's very unbecoming," Emily replied with a smirk. Secretly Emily loved it but she'd never admit it.
Maggie, another pilot who'd gone through flight training with Emily and her closest friend on the ship, was sitting at one of the desks completing her own flight reports.
"Speaking of Super Star, is she gonna meet you at the pier?" she asked as she looked up, hearing the end of Emily's comment. Maggie loved to tease Emily by calling Alison "Super Star". Normally it would make Emily laugh and smile but at that moment the brunette's lips curved down into a frown.
Alison would be in London for Fashion Week and wouldn't be able to meet the aircraft carrier when it returned to port in San Diego after having been at sea on a WestPAC cruise for almost ten months.
The last time she'd been deployed, Alison met her upon her return, but this time she wasn't able to be there.
Although Emily had been gone for forty weeks, it hadn't been that long since she saw Alison. Over the course of the cruise Emily had been given liberty three times. She had a week in Singapore, a week in the United Arab Emirates, and a week in Sydney, Australia.
Alison flew to each of the countries to meet her and they spent each of those weeks sightseeing a little and in bed, naked, a lot.
Emily didn't care how much money Alison had, but having a rich girlfriend who could fly around the world to visit her, at the drop of a hat, was pretty fantastic. But it had been over eight weeks since she last saw the blonde in Sydney and Emily was dying to see her again.
Emily had been stationed in San Diego since she graduated flight school and, although Alison maintained her primary residence in Los Angeles, the blonde bought a house right on the beach in La Jolla, only about 12 miles north of the naval base. When Emily wasn't living on the ship, she lived with Alison and the blonde spent all of her time in San Diego, except when Emily was deployed or she, herself, was traveling or had to be in Los Angeles for something specific.
At first it was weird to be in oceanfront mansion, especially when Emily was there alone, but it didn't make sense for the brunette to stay in the base housing when Alison lived so close. Now Emily was looking forward to going home even though she would be returning to the empty house because Alison was traveling. Her girlfriend would be home a week after, she returned home, and Emily couldn't wait.
"Ali's going to be in London," Emily said as she sat in the chair beside Maggie and set her helmet on the table.
"You mean I'm not going to get to see my girl crush this time?" Maggie pouted and Emily smacked her on the arm.
Maggie emphasized the words "girl crush" because it was the name of Alison's fragrance for Estee Lauder and the perfume the blonde wore all the time. As it just so happened, Maggie wore the perfume, as well, and would try to tempt and tease Emily with it by pouring it on heavily, especially when the brunette was missing her girlfriend.
"You're such an insensitive bitch sometimes. Why am I friends with you again?"
Maggie grinned. "Because I'm fabulous. And if it wasn't for Super Star, you'd be totally into me."
"Wow, someone thinks a lot of herself," Mac laughed as he returned from shedding his flight suit.
Emily watched as Maggie's eyes changed. Her friend had a long time crush on Mac but his "player" ways kept her from pursuing anything with him. It was disappointing because Emily thought the two of them would make a great couple.
Mac sat down at one of the computer stations and started downloading the information from the jet's computer system as Emily walked into the pilot changing room. She removed her outer flight suit before returning to the pilot ready room to find Mac and Maggie still chatting.
"They're doing the lottery draw tonight," Mac said from his spot at the desk, referring to the lottery among shipmates for the ceremonial "first kiss" held when a vessel returned from deployment. The winner of the lottery was the first shipman to disembark and be greeted by his or her family and loved ones awaiting their return.
"And your point is?" Emily asked as she, too, sat down in front of one of the computers and logged in.
"Just saying." Mac shrugged casually.
"Did you not just hear me say Ali's going to be in London?"
Mac grinned, his boyish grin, and for a split second Emily understood what Maggie saw in him. "Yeah, but if you buy in and win then you can give it to anyone of your choice."
"Why would I even bother wasting the money to buy in?" Emily laughed.
"Because it will give me another chance to win," Mac said with a dramatic nod of his head.
"But again," Emily drawled as she typed. "You don't have a girlfriend to kiss."
"Oh, please. I'd find someone to kiss. I bet I could get Mags to kiss me, right Mags?" Mac said flirtatiously as he turned that grin on the other brunette.
"I don't want your cooties, thank you very much," Maggie scoffed but Emily heard beyond the joking tone of her voice.
"If you three are done gossiping over there?" their CO said from the door of his office. "Can we debrief now?"
He turned around and walked back into his office, leaving the door open, a very clear invitation to follow.
Maggie snickered as Emily saved and closed her report before she stood and followed Mac into their CO's office.
As the door closed, Emily could hear Maggie's snickering die away.
#############
The rest of the week was a blur as the ship prepared for docking in San Diego. Emily didn't buy into the lottery, much to Mac's disappointment, but at least another pilot won.
Emily stood among her fellow officers as she waited to disembark the aircraft carrier. The colors had been shifted and the ships flags changed from "at seas" to "in port."
Emily typed a text to Alison, hoping it wasn't too late in London for a quick call. She hadn't spoken to Alison in over three weeks and she just wanted to hear her girlfriend's voice.
"Hey, Fields."
Emily heard her name but it didn't register so she didn't look up until Maggie elbowed her in the side.
"He's talking to you."
Emily lifted her head and looked over at Maggie before looking ahead of her. The sailors in front of her had made a path and she could see Travis, the pilot who won the lottery, standing beside the officer's brow.
"Officer, get your ass up here," he said and Maggie shoved her forward.
"What the hell, Mags?" Emily said as she stumbled, before righting herself, and walking through the group of sailors, most of whom were grinning like fools. It freaked her out a little bit.
"What's going on? Why aren't you getting off?" Emily asked as she reached Travis.
He gave her the once over with his eyes and Emily would have been offended but she knew Travis was devoted to his wife.
"Why are you looking at me like that?"
His lips curved into a smile. "Apparently a sailor is allowed to give his draw in the lottery to anyone he wishes."
"Okay," Emily said as she looked at him confused.
"I'm giving mine to you," he said plainly.
She looked at him like he had two heads. "What are you talking about? My girlfriend isn't even here, Travis."
"Uh, Em," Maggie said from beside her. "Why don't you stop flapping your gums and look down?"
Emily shot Maggie a look before she turned her head and looked down to at the pier to at her right. She gasped softly when she caught sight of the familiar blonde standing among the other families waiting for their loved ones.
Alison was dressed casually, wearing jeans and a t-shirt, the way she did when she wanted to blend in. But in direct contrast to blending in, she was holding a huge bouquet of sunflowers.
"Someone wanted you to be the first one off the ship pretty badly," Travis said from beside her.
"Travis, I can't," Emily shook her head even though she didn't take her eyes of Alison who was smiling widely. "You won. You should be the first one off."
He shook his head. "Just go Fields, before I change my mind."
"Go," Maggie urged her closer to the brow.
Emily looked at Travis. "Are you sure."
He nodded his head that time and smiled again. "Tell your girl thanks for the all expenses paid trip to Rome and Barcelona."
Emily looked at him with surprise but then realized she shouldn't be shocked. This was Alison, after all. She whispered a quiet "thanks" and started down the brow, confused but so incredibly happy to see her girlfriend there.
The blonde's smile widened as Emily reached the bottom of the stairs. She rocked back and forth on her feet as she watched Emily hike her bag higher on her shoulder as she started across the pier. Her heart was hammering in her chest as she clenched her fingers around the object in her hand.
When Emily was five feet away, Alison took a deep breath and slowly lowered herself down onto one knee. Emily stopped dead in her tracks and she gasped as the blonde lifted her hand in front of her. In her fingers she gripped an unmistakable diamond ring.
"Ali," she breathed, blinking her eyes as she looked at the girl she loved on her knees in front of her. She could see Alison's bright blue depths shining with love and hope.
"Emily Fields," Alison said her name clearly and loudly, even though a hush had overtaken the pier. "Will you marry me?"
It didn't take Emily a second before she dropped her duffle bag onto the concrete and strode forward the last few steps to reach Alison. She reached down and tugged her girlfriend to her feet before she cupped the blonde's face in her palms.
"Yes," Emily breathed against Alison's lips as she kissed her soft and deep.
The sunflowers dropped, forgotten, to the ground as Alison wrapped her arms around Emily, gripping the brunette tight against her as she hiccupped softly into her mouth.
A whimper escaped her lips as she opened for Emily, returning the kiss as fervently as the brunette. She hadn't been that nervous in a very long time, if ever. Not that she doubted Emily's feelings for her. She knew the brunette loved her just as deeply. But Alison wondered if Emily would think it was too soon.
Granted they had officially been together for five years, though they spent much of those years apart. But that didn't matter to Alison because every second she was away from Emily, the blonde ached for her and she knew the brunette felt the same way.
Getting married wasn't going to necessarily change that because both of their jobs required them to travel, sometimes for very long periods of time, in Emily's case. But it only made Alison more positive that she wanted Emily as her wife.
Emily vaguely heard the cheers around them as she lost herself in the feel and taste of her now fiancé.
When Emily pulled her head back and looked Alison in the face again, a minute or so later, the blonde was smiling and blinking back tears.
"How did you?" the brunette started to ask and Alison released a breathy laugh.
"I have my ways," Alison replied, still smiling even though Emily stepped back slightly and dropped her hands from the blonde's face.
Alison grabbed her left hand and slid the emerald cut diamond on Emily's finger. It fit perfect and looked perfect just like Alison knew it would.
Sailors and their families were now all around them, the rest of the ship slowly disembarking. Emily reached up and brushed some of Alison's hair behind her ear.
"How long have you been planning this?" she asked unable to remove the grin from her lips.
"Since I saw you in Sydney." Emily looked surprised and it made the blonde smile. "I was going to ask you there. I had the ring and everything. But when we went out for drinks with your friends that night, and they mentioned the first kiss tradition, I knew I wanted to do it this way. I hope that's okay?"
"It's perfect," Emily said as she kissed Alison softly again. "You're perfect."
"Remember that the next time I piss you off," Alison smirked as she brushed her fingers over the back of Emily's hand.
"But how did you pull it off?"
Alison stepped closer and pressed her soft body against Emily's as she brushed her nose against Emily's cheek.
"I could tell you, baby," she purred. "But then it would take the mystique of it away." The blonde's eyes twinkled. "All you have to know is your Captain is a romantic at heart."
Emily chuckled before she stepped back and reached down to pick up the sunflowers. Alison pouted at the loss of her girl against her but she smiled as Emily stood back up holding the large bouquet in her arms.
"I was going to get roses but I know how much you love sunflowers," Alison said as she watched Emily bury her face in the large sunny blooms.
Emily grabbed Alison's hand and tugged the blonde against her again, kissing her softly once more.
"I thought you said you had to be in London for fashion week?" Emily accused.
Alison laughed as she gripped the sides of Emily's waist and pressed closer.
"Nope."
"You lied to me?" Emily tried to sound offended but it was weak at best.
"Yep," the blonde replied with no remorse in her tone. "And I've never been more grateful that you don't pay attention to shit like that. Fashion week ended last weekend, Em."
""I can't believe you did this, Ali," Emily sighed happily.
"Why?" Alison asked with a little pout but then her face turned serious. "I'd do anything for you."
And Emily knew she would. She rubbed her nose against Alison's gently.
"It's about time you made an honest woman out of me," Emily breathed against Alison's lips before she took them again in another soft kiss.
Five Years Later…..
Emily hit send on the email of the day's flight logs to her CO and then looked up at the clock. It was almost time to go home. It had been one of those days, one of those weeks, actually, and it was only Wednesday. The last three days consisted of endless aerial drills, flight reports, and preparations for the RIMPAC exercises beginning at the end of the month and then the WestPAC cruise that was leaving immediately following.
And all the brunette wanted to do was just get home to her dogs and go for a swim.
As she straightened the papers on her desk, her eyes caught the glinting of her wedding rings and she smiled.
Two months after Alison proposed Emily was told she was being transferred to Pearl Harbor on Oahu, Hawaii. She was given three weeks liberty before she had to report so Alison immediately chartered a private plane and flew them, their families, and a handful of their closest friends to Paris, where they were married at the Eiffel Tower.
It was intimate, romantic and exactly what they both wanted. After the ceremony, Alison took Emily up to the top of the Eiffel Tower and kissed her new wife for the first time while the warm summer breeze whipped their hair around them. They had a brief nine day honeymoon in Paris and the French Riviera before Emily reported for duty at Pearl. Three months later Alison moved to Oahu after purchasing a five bedroom, six bathroom estate in Diamond Head.
The house was incredible, beautiful, and right on the beach. But it was always too big and empty when Alison was away.
Her wife was on a four week trip with shoots and shows in LA, New York, Paris and Rome, so Emily was going home to an empty house, with the exception of their two dogs, Frankie & Johnny. Alison had named the two large German Shepherds after the title of one of her all time favorite Elvis movies, the 1966 film of the same name.
Alison had been devastated when Pepe passed away two years prior after having battled cancer for several months. Her wife had been inconsolable until Emily suggested that perhaps Pepe would want them to find another dog to look out for and protect them.
Alison refused at first, unable to fathom having another dog that wasn't her beloved Pepe, but she finally agreed to a trip to the local shelter. And, in true Alison fashion, instead of coming home with one dog, they came home with two rescues.
Both dogs had been former police K-9's that were very attached to one another so they were required to be adopted together. They had been to two homes already but both times they had been returned for aggressive behavior. Like Pepe, Emily and Alison were their last stop because if they were returned again they were going to be put down.
But none of that mattered to Alison because she fell in love with them instantly upon setting eyes on them. And the feelings were one hundred percent mutual. The dogs worshiped the blonde. Not that Emily could blame them because she did as well.
As it turned out they were extremely gentle and playful when provided a loving and safe environment. But no matter how gentle and playful they were with the two of them, the dogs were fierce protectors, which made Emily feel more secure when she was away on deployment. She liked knowing that in addition to the military grade, hi-tech, security system that was installed on their property, the two dogs would protect her wife when she wasn't there.
Not that Alison needed protection. If there was any woman on the planet who could take care of herself, it was Alison DiLaurentis Fields. Though Alison remained a DiLaurentis professionally, she had taken Emily's name personally as soon as they were married. In fact, they both legally changed their names when they were married. Alison took Emily's last name and Emily added Alison's last name to her own by replacing her middle name.
Emily glanced at the photograph on the corner of her desk. It was of the two of them walking on the beach with Frankie and Johnny and had been taken not long after they'd adopted the dogs. The happiness shining in her wife's eyes was unmistakable. It was one of her favorite pictures of her and Alison, second only to their wedding picture, which graced the corner of her desk at home.
Both dogs were missing Alison almost as much as Emily was. It was hard on all three of them when the blonde was away. Emily's hours on the base were often long and unpredictable so she wasn't always able to go home during the day to let them out to do their doggy business. And Alison didn't like them left out all day in the hot Hawaiian sun. They lived on a private estate and because Alison's traveling had started picking up lately with three major campaigns occurring simultaneously, the blonde had a fenced enclosure built off the back patios. She had a doggy door installed through the wall in the family room that allowed them access to the outside but still kept them confined to the backyard of the property.
Like Pepe before them, Frankie and Johnny were spoiled and loved in the way only Alison DiLaurentis could love. And it was the most intense, pure and unconditional love a person or animal could ever hope to be on the receiving end of. And just thinking about her wife and the way she loved Emily made the brunette miss and ache for her even more.
Alison was due home, finally, on Saturday and the weekend couldn't come soon enough as far as Emily was concerned. The base was hosting a fundraising dinner on Saturday night for the local homeless shelters and Emily had been drafted onto the planning committee. It had kept her busy while Alison was away but now she just wanted Saturday to be here and to have her wife home.
The knock on her office door came swiftly interrupting her thoughts.
"Enter," she called and the door opened to reveal Maggie and Liz, a recent graduate from aviator school in Pensacola.
"Hey boss," Maggie said to her as she sat in the chair. "Here are our reports," she added as she placed a small stack of papers on the desk
Emily arched her brow. "Maggie, I've told you not to call me that."
Emily had gotten a promotion three months earlier and was the leader of her own squadron, in which both Maggie and Liz were pilots. Only four percent of naval pilots were women. She and Maggie had known each other since flight school and were fortunate to have served in San Diego and on two deployments together. Three years after Emily was transferred to Pearl Harbor, Maggie was also transferred and Emily hand-picked her old friend to be in her squadron.
Liz, who graduated in the top of her class at Pensacola, was older than most recent graduates. She was a commercial pilot before deciding to enter the Navy at the age of twenty-eight. She may have been a newbie in the Navy but she was a damn good pilot and was assigned to Emily's squadron because of her experience in the cockpit. She'd only been there for a little over a month but she was starting to fit in nicely.
Maggie just grinned at Emily's scolding as both she and Liz took their seats in front of Emily's desk.
"I thought I said I wanted these a half hour ago," Emily said as she picked up the report and started to read it.
"Yeah, the printer in the ready room was acting up again," Liz said as Maggie drummed her fingers against the arms of the chairs.
Emily shot a quick look at Liz, over her glasses, before looking at Maggie again. "You're both dismissed. I'll see you both at oh six hundred."
"We were thinking of going to grab a pizza and beer," Liz said as neither she nor Maggie stood to leave. "Do you want to come along?"
Emily hummed in the negative. "No. Thanks anyway but I've got to get home."
"I thought your wife was out of town," Liz said and Emily looked up surprised.
"How the hell do you know that?" Maggie asked as she narrowed her eyes at the brunette beside her.
Liz shrugged. "I heard the two of you talking a few days ago."
"You know, eavesdropping is not cool, newbie," Maggie said only half joking and Emily chuckled under her breath as she looked back down at the report in front of her.
"I wasn't eavesdropping," Liz defended. "You don't exactly talk softly and I just happened to overhear," she said as she looked at Maggie pointedly, causing Emily to chuckle softly, again, because it was the truth. Maggie was anything but quiet.
Maggie scoffed and shoved Liz's arm. "Relax, I'm just giving you shit. But quit listening to my and the Lieutenant Commander's convos," the brunette warned in a no nonsense tone.
"So why don't you come along?" Liz asked Emily again ignoring Maggie's warning. "We haven't all had a chance to get to know each other outside of here and it might be nice."
"Another time, perhaps," Emily replied as Maggie now gave Liz a once over and chuckled to herself.
"What?" Liz asked.
"You need to stop before you really embarrass yourself, girl. Em isn't interested in you."
Emily's brow furrowed as she flipped the page.
"I just asked if she wanted to come along. I'm not hitting on her," Liz exclaimed defensively.
"And why not? What's wrong with Top Gun?" Maggie asked, using her nickname for Emily. Of course the Navy's Top Gun program was long defunct but Emily was one of the best pilots in the Navy and was recognized as such. She'd received numerous medals for her flying both in reconnaissance and combat. And Maggie just liked to tease Emily because it always made her blush.
"Maggie, stop giving her a hard time," Emily murmured as she flipped to the next page of the report.
"You do realize she's married to a super model, right?" Maggie asked as she looked at Liz.
"Huh?" Liz looked confused.
"I'm not just talking a beautiful woman," Maggie continued as her lips curved into a smirk. "I'm talking a real super model. Like magazine covers, billboards, Paris runway super model."
"Are you serious?" Liz asked with a shocked tone but then she sputtered to try to cover. "I didn't mean that the way it came out."
"I get what you meant," Emily replied with a quirk of her lips. "I think," she added.
"I mean I'm not surprised you'd be with an incredibly beautiful woman, I just didn't realize," Liz paused for a moment before she asked. "Who is she?"
"You ever hear of Alison DiLaurentis?" Maggie asked and her smirk widened as she lifted the picture frame from the corner of Emily's desk and turned it around so Liz could see it.
"Get the fuck out of here," Liz said as her mouth dropped open and she grabbed the frame to get a closer look.
"Don't tell me, you didn't mean that the way it came out either?" Emily said drolly as she rolled her eyes.
"You're married to Alison DiLaurentis?" Liz asked rhetorically, and then murmured to herself. "Damn."
"Damn is right," Maggie said as she grabbed the picture back and returned it to the desk. "So you can just get over your little crush and move on because you will never be able to compete with Super Star."
"Maggie," Emily scolded quietly. "I told you to stop calling her that."
Maggie just laughed but didn't respond.
Emily could feel Liz's eyes on her. "Damn," the brunette said again. "I remember seeing an interview with her once where she said she was married to a female Naval Officer. But she wouldn't say anything more; just that her private life was private."
"We try keep a low profile because of my security clearance," Emily said, not sure why she was even offering that information up.
"What a minute," Liz said as her eyes lit up and she slapped the arm of the chair. "Whoa. Now I know where I saw you before." Emily looked up and she and Maggie shared a look. "That video that went viral a few years ago of Alison DiLaurentis proposing to her girlfriend on the San Diego pier. That was you. Alison DiLaurentis. Fuck!" Liz said as she chuckled. "So much for low profile."
"Why do you keep using her full name?" Maggie asked with a frown.
"What do you expect me to call her?" Liz asked.
"You can call her Super Star," Maggie replied matter-of-factly and she grinned again. "Because that's who she is."
"Maggie," Emily warned again as she shot an annoyed look at her friend but Maggie just shrugged and kept grinning.
"Damn," Liz said for a third time. "Will she be at the charity banquet on Saturday?"
Emily flipped to the last page of the report. "Yes," she said absently.
"Get that smirk on your face, girl," Maggie said as she narrowed her eyes again. "Super Star will have even less interest in you than Em. And once she knows you're lusting after her wife the authorities will never find where she stashes your dismembered body."
Emily's lips curved up on the side because she thought it was cute that Maggie was defending her virtue.
"I'm not lusting after my superior officer, Maggie," Liz said before shrugging. "No offense," she added with a look toward Emily.
"You're saying that to me a lot today," Emily murmured as she picked her pen up and signed the last page of the flight report.
"You don't fuck with Alison 'Super Star' DiLaurentis," Maggie warned.
"That's it," Emily said as she put the report on her desk, tired of listening to the two of them chattering. "You can both get out of my office now. Thanks for the invite, Liz, but I'm going to pass. Maybe another time," Emily finished noncommittally.
Liz nodded her head and stood. "I'm going to go get my bag. Where are we going?" She directed her question at Maggie.
"Mike said everyone is meeting at The Barefoot Bar."
"I'll see you there. Night boss," Liz said to Emily before walking out.
"Did she just call you boss?" Maggie said as she choked out a laugh. "Where the fuck does she get off calling you that?"
Emily sat back in her chair and crossed her arms over her chest with a scowl. "Because she hears you call me that all the time, which by the way you need to stop when other people are around."
"I'm allowed to call you that because you love me."
"If Steve hears you we're both going to get chewed out and probably written up," Emily said referring to their commanding officer. "Then you'll be the one who needs to fear my wife."
"Whatever," Maggie rolled her eyes. "Super Star loves me almost as much as you do. But I do think I'm gonna have to school that girl,' Maggie said referring to Liz. "She's starting to get on my last nerve."
"You should lighten up on her a little," Emily said. "She's nice enough and just trying to find her way here."
"I don't give a fuck," Maggie said. "I don't like her creeping on you."
Emily laughed.
"And neither will Super Star," Maggie said once again emphasizing her nick name for Alison.
Emily tossed the report across her desk to Maggie.
"She hates it when you call her that, you know."
Maggie's lips curved into a grin. "I know. That's why I do it."
"You and Liz better not be hung over in the morning. You're going to be in the air all day tomorrow. Now get out of my office. And drop that report off to Steve before you go," Emily said as she pulled her bottom drawer open and grabbed her purse out of it.
"Yes, ma'am," Maggie said as she stood up and tucked her report under her arm. "Are you really not going to come out with us? Please don't make me go alone," the brunette pleaded rather pathetically.
"You couldn't pay me enough," Emily snorted. "I have to go home to my dogs."
"You've become a major killjoy since you got your promotion, you know," Maggie pouted.
Before Emily could respond, her cell phone inside her purse started to ring.
"Tell Super Star I can't wait to see her," Maggie smirked as she turned and walked out of Emily's office, closing the door behind her.
Emily pulled out her phone and saw that, indeed, it was her wife's face smiling at her. Her lips curved upward as she slid her finger across the screen and lifted it to her ear.
"Hi, sweetheart."
##############
Emily sat at a table with Maggie, Liz, Mike and his wife Tina, Colton and his husband Bruce, and Anna and her girlfriend Rosie. The banquet was in full swing and dinner was set to be served in fifteen minutes. Emily glanced at her watch eagerly awaiting the arrival of her wife.
"I hope Alison makes it in time for dinner," Tina said as she rubbed her eight months pregnant belly.
Emily smiled. "Her flight got delayed at LAX during her layover but she landed a few minutes ago."
"Oh, good. She's gonna make it, then?" Colton asked excited, which only made Bruce laugh beside him. Gay men loved Alison, almost more than straight men. Even though he was very happily married to Bruce, Colton openly admitted he had a crush on the blonde, like half the men and women of the world.
But Emily was long used to that.
"Yeah," she nodded as she took a sip of her wine, her smile widening as she was unable to conceal her delight that her wife was only minutes away.
"Why didn't you pick her up at the airport?" Bruce asked as he reached over and ran his fingers through Colton's short hair.
"I couldn't leave," Emily sighed, sorry she'd agreed to be on the planning committee because otherwise she would have been able to pick Alison up.
"Please, Super Star doesn't need Em to pick her up," Maggie tutted teasingly. "She's got a car at her beck and call all the time."
"Maggie," Emily sighed because her friend already had a few drinks and when she did she always got mouthy. Maggie reminded Emily of Hanna that way, and it was one of the reasons she loved Maggie so much, but the brunette had a feeling her wife wasn't going to be in the mood for Maggie's teasing after her long trip.
A flurry of activity erupted near the entrance to the ballroom. Emily didn't need to look over to see what, or rather who, was causing it. When Alison walked into a room, without fail, both men and women stopped to watch her. That was another thing Emily was long used to but she didn't mind. She knew Alison liked the attention, soaked it up like the sun, even though it was just superficial.
But her wife always focused all her attention on her.
Emily looked up and caught Alison's eyes. The blonde was smiling and her eyes were twinkling as she made her way across the room. But despite the attention she was receiving, as always, she only had eyes for Emily.
Alison was wearing a silver ball gown that hugged her in all the right places, falling like a waterfall around her legs. She had diamonds glinting in her ears and around her neck and her hair hung in long blonde ringlets down her back and over her shoulders. As usual, her makeup was perfect for the occasion, just enough but never too much.
She did not look like a woman who just stepped off an airplane after traveling halfway around the world. She was perfection, as always, and Emily felt her body flush with love and desire for her wife, painfully reminded that it had been over four weeks since she'd seen her.
"Whoa," Liz said slowly.
"Tell me about it," Colton drawled from beside her but Emily only vaguely heard them as she focused all her attention on her wife.
Alison walked up to the table and Emily stood up to greet her. Alison's eyes hungrily drank in the sight of her wife. The brunette was dressed in a long black dress with a slit that went halfway up her thigh. For formal occasions, officers had the option to wear formalwear over their Dinner Dress Blues. While her wife looked absolutely stunning in the gown, with her long mahogany hair loose and flowing, part of Alison was disappointed because seeing her wife in her dress uniform always made the blonde want to jump her instantly.
God she had fucking missed her mermaid.
"Hi baby," she murmured softly as she reached for Emily's hand, entwining their fingers as she squeezed gently. What she really wanted to do was hurl herself at her wife and kiss her breathless but this was not the time or the place. The military accepted same sex couples and had for years, but the kind of kiss Alison wanted to give her wife was not appropriate for the venue regardless of who was present.
"Hi love," Emily replied softly as she tugged Alison closer for a quick kiss, sliding their entwined hands behind Alison's back. But before their lips could connect Maggie's voice rang out from beside them.
"Hey Super Star!"
Annoyed by the distraction Alison narrowed her eyes and glared over at Emily's closest friend.
"Maggie, don't make me stab you in front of my wife's superiors," Alison growled but she was too happy to be home with Emily to let Maggie's teasing get to her.
The group around the table laughed, long used to Alison and Maggie's squabbling.
"Is it wrong that it makes me tingle when you threaten me," Maggie teased and Emily shot her friend a look as Alison leaned into her again.
"They'd never find your body, you know," Alison said so casually that anyone who didn't know her might wonder if she was serious or not.
"See, I told you," Maggie laughed as she elbowed Liz beside her, but Emily noticed Liz didn't even flinch she was so mesmerized by the blonde.
"Where's Steve?" Alison asked, inquiring about Emily's CO as she let her nose brush softly against her wife's cheek. She inhaled the familiar and much loved scent of her wife and she had to bite back a moan.
"I think he stepped outside," Emily said as she turned back to look at the blonde.
"Good," Alison said and she pressed her lips against Emily's and kissed her wife softly, yet firmly.
Emily smiled against her lips and released Alison's fingers, slipping her arm around her waist and pulling her closer. Alison hummed and slid both of her arms around Emily's waist for a quick hug before their kiss broke.
"I fucking missed you," Alison breathed, finally feeling at peace again.
"I missed you too sweetheart," Emily replied as she guided Alison to the chair next to hers. "I'm so glad you're home."
Alison sat down and immediately grabbed Emily's hand underneath the table, entwining their fingers again.
"You haven't met Liz, have you Ali?" Maggie asked, emphasizing Alison's name and Emily reached over and pinched Maggie's thigh in warning.
"Hey," Maggie scowled as she slapped Emily's hand away.
Alison looked over and her lips pursed. Emily had told her about Liz and how Maggie was convinced she had a crush on her wife. Although Alison knew she had nothing to be worried about, she couldn't help the flare of jealousy that spread through her like wildfire.
"Hi Ali," Liz said as she smiled and held out her hand for Alison to shake.
"It's Alison," Alison replied as she looked at Liz's hand then back up at her face.
Emily brushed her thumb soothingly against the back of Alison's other hand which was still in her lap.
"So, you're the new pilot who has a crush on my wife, huh?" Alison said bluntly as she glared at the brunette. Emily choked on sip of wine she'd just taken in response to Alison's question as Liz dropped her hand.
"God I fucking love your wife," Maggie whispered, laughing, as she leaned close to Emily's ear, but she wasn't the least bit quiet about it.
Alison turned her glare on Maggie and Emily sighed wishing once again this night would be over so she could take Alison out of there and welcome her home properly.
#############
Emily stepped out onto the ballroom balcony in search of her wife. The blonde had wandered off after her CO, Steve, had asked her to dance with him. He was completely smitten with Alison, as most men were, but in a fatherly way. He was in his early sixties and set for retirement in three years but he joked he may reconsider staying around as long as it meant he could see Alison on a regular basis.
Emily found Alison, Steve, and his wife, Janet, all laughing as they stood next to the balcony railing. Alison and Janet had taken a liking to each other, when they met three years ago, and kept each other company when Emily and Steve were on deployment.
"Hi beautiful," Alison greeted, smiling, as Emily walked up to them. "We were just talking about you."
"Uh oh, I'm not sure I like the sound of that," Emily said as she slid her arm around Alison's waist. Her wife leaned into her side gently and she felt the blonde relax against her.
"Ali was telling us about your honeymoon," Janet said as she smiled.
"And how she convinced you to go skinny dipping off the yacht you were renting," Steve said as he arched his brow and, for one brief moment, Emily felt like she was being gently scolded by her father.
"Only to have the French maritime police arrest you for indecent exposure," Janet finished as she continued to chuckle.
"I managed to talk them into only giving us a warning," Alison said rather proudly as she grinned.
"If anyone could do it, it's you, dear," Janet said indulgently as she patted Alison's arm.
"You always have to tell people that story," Emily pouted and Alison couldn't resist the urge to kiss the corner of her mouth.
"Awwww, baby, it was funny."
"You're both coming over for dinner on Sunday," Janet said rather than asked because clearly that decision had been made before Emily interrupted. "Not tomorrow because you need some time to catch up, but next week," Janet added as she winked at Emily and Alison saw the faint hint of a blush in her mermaid's cheek.
The blonde felt a rush of love for her wife. Like Alison once said, Emily Fields was sexy in the sheets and shy in the streets.
"Come on, Steve," Janet said as she slid her hand into the crook of his arm and tugged gently. "Let's leave these two girls alone. It's time you danced with your wife."
"Yes, dear," he murmured obediently as he smiled.
"I'll see you on Wednesday for lunch," Janet said to Alison as she patted her arm again. "I want to try the new restaurant at Turtle Bay."
Alison agreed with a smile and Steve and Janet walked away, giving them a little privacy.
"She loves you," Emily said as she smiled.
Alison tilted her face up and pressed against the brunette. "Do you love me?" she breathed as she nuzzled Emily's cheek again.
Emily turned her face and brushed her lips against her wife's ear. "With every breath I take."
Alison's pulled back and her eyes were dark pools of blue. The blonde's eyes could give the ocean a run for its money when it came to fathomless beauty.
"Can we leave yet?" Alison asked as her fingers pressed into Emily's hip.
"Why would you want to leave? You're having so much fun making fun of me," Emily pretended to pout again and it just made Alison laugh.
She nuzzled Emily's cheek again and murmured softly. "All I want to do is get you naked and beneath me."
"God, Ali," Emily moaned as she pulled Alison closer so very glad to have her wife in her arms again.
"It's been long enough, Lieutenant Commander. You need to take your wife home and fuck her until she passes out."
Emily groaned softly at the images Alison's words invoked and she once again cursed herself for agreeing to plan the fundraiser because it meant she had to stay until the end.
############
Two and a half hours later, Alison sat, naked, astride Emily's hips, as she rolled her own in slow circles, grinding and rubbing on her wife's mound exactly the way they both loved.
Emily's fingers pressed into the soft flesh of Alison's hips as she rocked her hips in tandem. Her dark eyes were almost black with desire as she looked up at the woman above her, the woman she loved beyond comprehension.
She watched raptly as Alison smiled seductively down at her, a smile that was Emily's alone. The fingers of one of Alison's hands were cupping and teasing her left breast while the fingers of the other were buried between her thighs, alternating between flicking Emily's clit and her own.
"Em," she moaned long and low and Emily decided she had enough of her wife's teasing. She sat up and wrapped her lips around Alison's neglected nipple. "Baby, yes," Alison's moan got longer and lower. She lifted both of her hands and slid them into Emily's long glorious chocolate locks and arched her back. Her head fell back in surrender as she offered her body up for her wife's pleasure.
Emily slipped her hand between them and pushed Alison's hand away, taking over where the blonde left off. As her fingers brought them both closer to climax, Alison lifted her head. She pulled Emily's mouth away from her breast and brought her wife's lips to her own for a long slow deep kiss.
"I love you," Alison breathed into Emily's mouth as she rocked her hips and pressed down against her wife's fingers. Emily slipped her finger inside her wife, using the pad of her thumb to continue flicking against Alison's clit.
"Come for me, love," Emily murmured against Alison's lips and as it so often did at her wife's command, the blonde's body rolled into a long orgasm. She trembled on top of Emily, panting into her mouth.
When her orgasm subsided, Alison tore her lips away from Emily's and pushed the brunette back onto the mattress. She scooted down her wife's legs and spread her thighs easily as Emily leaned up on her elbows to watch the blonde.
Alison settled on her stomach between Emily's legs and lifted her wife's thigh over her shoulder. She gently sucked the soft skin of her inner thigh letting the scent of Emily's arousal surround her.
She felt Emily's fingertips against her cheek and she turned her face and kissed them before nipping the pad of her middle finger gently.
"Ali," Emily moaned softly and the blonde grinned as she lowered her mouth to her wife's sex. The brunette was swollen and wet and Alison swept her tongue through Emily's arousal, moaning at the familiar salty, sweet and slightly tangy taste.
With a long low moan Alison dove in and devoured her wife as Emily gasped, threading her fingers through her wife's long blonde hair. Alison slid one hand under Emily's ass and tilted her hips up as she slid her tongue lower, fucking the brunette with her tongue before she slipped first one, then a second finger inside her.
Emily bucked her hips gently, panting and moaning as she tugged gently on Alison's hair with one hand, while the other tugged on her own nipple.
Alison wrapped her lips around Emily's clit and sucked hard as she flicked her tongue against the tip. Her fingers continued to pump gently into her wife's depths until she was knuckle deep.
Emily chanted Alison's name as the blonde brought her to a swift and mind blowing orgasm with her tongue and fingers.
Emily arched her back and her eyes rolled back as her climax slammed into her. She tightened her thighs around her wife's head as her body trembled before finally relaxing and settling back on the mattress as her thighs fell open.
Alison smiled as she soothed Emily's tender flesh with gentle sweeps of her tongue. The brunette continued to pant gently as she caught her breath and Alison slowly kissed her way up her wife's glorious body, finally settling on top of her.
Emily opened her eyes to find her wife grinning triumphantly down at her before the blonde lowered her lips and kissed the brunette long and soft and deep.
Emily wrapped her arms and legs around Alison as the kiss ended and the blonde buried her face in the brunette's neck.
"I hate being away from you," Alison murmured softly against Emily's skin.
Emily involuntarily flinched as she replied. "Me too, sweetheart."
Alison lifted her head and looked down at Emily questioningly. "Why are you flinching when you say that?"
She could see the remorse in her wife's eyes and Alison knew, instantly, what Emily was going to say.
She was being shipped out.
"When?" she asked with a frown.
"Three weeks."
"Three weeks?" Alison screeched as she pushed up and settled on her knees between Emily's thighs.
"The orders just came in last week."
"You've known for a week?" Alison eyes flashed angrily, the high from bringing her wife to orgasm long gone now. "Why didn't you tell me?"
"I didn't want to tell you over the phone," Emily admitted honestly as she pushed on her hands and sat up.
"How long?" Alison asked, not taking her eyes off Emily's face.
"Six months," Emily replied as she cringed internally.
"Six months?" Alison screeched again as she scooted backwards and stood up, reaching for her silk kimono hanging on the bedpost. "Wait a minute, I though RIMPAC only lasted six weeks?"
Held every two years, RIMPAC was the world's largest multinational maritime exercise that took place in and around the Hawaiian Islands. Twenty-two nations, forty-nine surface ships, six submarines, more than two hundred aircraft and twenty-five thousand personnel participated in the unique training exercise that helped participants foster and sustain the cooperative relationships that were critical to ensuring the safety of sea lanes and security on the world's oceans.
"It does," Emily replied as she slid to the edge of the mattress and reached for Alison's hand. "Once RIMPAC is over, we'll immediately leave for another WestPAC cruise."
"Motherfucker," Alison spat angrily as she tugged her hand out of Emily's and started pacing beside the bed. "Where are they sending you?"
"The gulf." Emily stood up. "Ali," she started to say.
"Don't," Alison replied as she held up her hand. "I knew what I was getting in to when I married you. Being a navy wife really sucks sometimes."
"Being married to a super model sucks sometimes too," Emily reminded gently because Alison traveled much more often than she did. Her trips were usually only a few weeks, at a time, but they were much more frequent.
Alison sighed and looked at her wife. "I guess I should tell Marco I can do his new campaign. I was going to turn him down so I could stay home for a while but I'll get to spend a couple of those months in Europe, I guess."
"I'm sorry, love," Emily said although they both knew the apology was not because she had to go, it was her job after all, but because she never wanted to be away from her wife.
"I know," Alison said softly. "Me too."
Emily walked over to the dresser and pulled out a pair of sleep shorts and tank top.
"Em?" Alison said from behind her.
"Yeah." Emily tugged her tank top over her head and turned around. She found her wife gently biting her bottom lip.
"After this tour do you think they'll keep you on land for a while?"
Emily stepped closer and slid her arms around Alison's waist, tugging her wife against her gently. "There's no guarantee, but probably. Steve said he didn't even want to let me go on this one but they need someone with my intelligence experience."
"Good," Alison said as she slid her arms around Emily and pressed her face into the brunette's neck, sighing. Emily smiled and pressed a soft kiss to Alison's forehead. "Because I think I'm going to retire," Alison murmured against Emily's skin and the brunette's body stilled as her wife's words sunk in.
"Retire?"
Alison nodded.
"Why?" Emily asked and Alison lifted her head to look in her wife's eyes.
"Because I want to have your baby."
Five Years Later…..
Emily heard the high pitched squeal from the beach just as she stepped onto the back deck. Aden was splashing at the water's edge, with Frankie and Johnny, while Alison sat under a wide umbrella only a few feet away. Emily smiled because her wife was so predictable. He skin was so fair, the blonde could only stay in the sun for short periods of time or she would burn. But she loved the beach and the ocean so she had permanent, oversized umbrellas installed into the sand of the private beach in their backyard.
Fortunately Aden got Emily's complexion so he tanned easily just like the brunette, although because he was a toddler his skin was still too delicate to spend much time in the sun. But he inherited both of his mothers' love for the ocean so Emily found her wife and son under those umbrellas more days than not.
To say that Emily was shocked when Alison had told her she wanted to have her baby would not have been near adequate to describe how she felt. She and Alison had discussed children in very abstract terms and Emily always thought she wanted them more than the blonde did. But Emily should have known better because when her wife made up her mind, not even an act of God could deter her.
Alison didn't want to have her own biological children. The memory and the knowledge of the extent of Charles's mental illness were too frightening to contemplate, though both Jason and Alison were fine. But the blonde wanted to feel like their children were both of theirs so she proposed being the surrogate. Emily readily agreed, willing to give Alison anything within her power, as long as it meant they had family together.
While Emily was on her WestPAC cruise Alison researched and found a donor who met her very strict specifications. Physically he was Alison in male form and his immediate family had no history of mental illness for at least two generations.
Alison agreed to Marco's campaign and then retired from modeling. Everyone told her she was crazy because she was only thirty-three but she didn't care. She'd earned more money than she could spend in two lifetimes and she was tired of all the traveling and being away from Emily, who it looked like would be stationed at Pearl Harbor for the foreseeable future since she'd earned another promotion once she returned from deployment.
It took two attempts but she became pregnant only a few months after Emily came home. Unfortunately she suffered a miscarriage early in her first trimester. When it was safe, she was inseminated again and became pregnant immediately.
When she was almost six months along, Donna Karan, who Alison had done a handful of campaigns with over the years, was launching a new maternity line. She ran into the blonde and Emily at a charity event on Oahu and she begged Alison to come out of retirement and be the face of it.
Alison politely declined. But they offered her an obscene amount of money and agreed to hold all the photo shoots for the campaign on Oahu so Alison didn't have to travel. She was only required to make three appearances, New York, London and Paris fashion weeks, and they fell late in her sixth month so she was back home in more than enough time to give birth.
Now that almost eighteen months old child was running around wet and happy as his mother called after him.
"Aden, come back over and sit with mama. Don't you want to finish our sandcastle?"
"No!" Aden said before he went back to splashing in the water and Emily held back a chuckle. He was hitting the terrible twos and he'd just started openly defying Alison.
In everything.
Even if he wanted something he said no just for the sake of saying no. Although Alison had been handling it well, all things considered, her patience was starting to wear thin lately. But that was to be expected.
Emily slipped her shoes and socks off and then released her hair from the knot behind her head, shaking the long strands loose. She walked off the deck and across the small area of grass behind the house before the yard was taken over by sand. Emily loved that they had their own private beach, and though they had a pool, Emily swam in the ocean almost every morning before heading to the base, preferring the salt water over the chlorine.
Aden looked over at Alison as she called him again. "Aden, I'm going to decorate the castle in polka dots if you don't come back here and help me," the blonde said with a slightly petulant tone.
Aden's "no" rang out again and this time Emily's chuckle slipped out. Aden hated anything with polka dots. It was the weirdest thing. One day Alison wore a polka dot sundress and Aden cried and refused to go to her even to breast feed. When she tried to hold him he squirmed and kicked and wriggled out of her arms. Only when she changed out of the dress did he stop crying. By then he was extremely hungry but he retaliated by suckling Alison hard, pinching her breast as he did so.
When Emily got home from the base, Alison had told her what happened. But when Emily doubted her, she showed her wife her bruised breasts and then put the dress back on, causing Aden to flip out again. Needless to say Alison quickly donated the few items of clothing she owned that had anything resembling polka dots.
Both Alison and Aden looked over when they heard Emily's familiar laugh. Frankie and Johnny started barking and ran over to greet her, weaving their wet furry bodies around her legs. She reached down and patted the dogs before they ran off again to the edge of the water.
"Mama, mama," Aden called as he toddled over to greet Emily, wrapping his arms around her now drenched legs as she stepped up beside Alison.
"Well hello there, Captain Fields," Alison purred as she smiled up at her wife.
"Hello wife," Emily greeted warmly as she leaned down and lifted Aden into her arms.
Alison's smile turned into an annoyed smirk because Emily knew she hated it when the brunette called her that.
"How's my baby boy?" Emily asked as she blew raspberries on the little boy's tummy making him giggle.
"You're home early," Alison said as she shifted to the edge of the lounger and stood up.
"The jets needed to go in for scheduled maintenance so Steve kicked me out a few hours early."
Alison stepped closer to her wife, feeling a familiar tingling low in her abdomen.
"I love your boss so much sometimes," she murmured as she pressed her mouth to Emily's.
Emily smiled against her lips and returned the kiss as Aden reached up and slapped both of their cheeks.
"No," he said but Alison reached up and grabbed one of his hands.
"You don't hit, Aden," Alison scolded as Emily gave the little boy a stern look.
"No," he whined as he attempted to pull his hand away before burying his face in Emily's neck and started to fuss.
"Did he take his nap this afternoon?"
Alison shook her head but refrained from using the "no" word as she ran her fingers through her son's light brown hair gently, attempting to sooth him.
"Why not?' Emily asked as she shifted him to her other arm so she could slide her hand along Alison's hip and pull her a little closer.
Alison instantly purred in response to her wife's touch. "Because I was experimenting."
"With what? Children don't do well with changes to their routine, Ali. No wonder he's so cranky."
Aden continued to fuss as he stuck his thumb in his mouth, resting his head on Emily's shoulder.
Alison ignored her wife's gentle scolding; instead she nuzzled Emily's cheek softly. "I want him to be able to stay up for the fireworks tomorrow night so I thought if I pushed his nap time until late afternoon then he'd be okay until about nine or ten." Alison pulled her head back and looked at Emily, her eyes dark and flashing with heat. "But now all I want is for him to go to sleep so you can fuck me," she breathed.
Emily chuckled at the throaty, sultry tone of Alison's voice and she placed her hand on Alison's swollen stomach. Her wife was four months pregnant and pregnancy made the blonde twice as horny as normal and that was saying something.
"How are you both feeling?" the brunette asked as she felt Alison shudder in response to the gentle caresses of her fingers.
"I stopped puking about a half hour after you left this morning," she admitted with a shrug.
"I'm sorry you're having such a bad time with morning sickness this time, love," Emily said as she reached up and brushed some hair behind Alison's ear.
"It's not much worse than it was with Aden. It's just lasting longer for some reason."
"Are you sure you're up for having guests this weekend?" Emily gently rocked her body as Aden's fussing lessened and she could tell he was starting to fall asleep.
"It's a little late to change our minds, isn't it?" Alison laughed. "Hanna, Aria and Spencer and their crews are going to be landing at the airport in five hours."
"We can make other arrangements for them," Emily said and she shuddered gently as Alison's fingers fiddled with the buttons on her work shirt.
"Where? It's the fourth of July, Em," Alison smirked as she felt her wife tremble so she slipped first one button through the hole before tugging on the snap of Emily's pants. "Every hotel on the island is booked."
"I'm sure we can find a place," Emily replied softly as she reached down and stopped her wife's wandering hands. She was still holding their son and she could now hear his even breathing, indicating that he'd fallen asleep.
"Emily," Alison said patiently and just as softly, having seen her baby boy drift off to sleep. She loved her wife for being worried for her but now she was just being silly. "We have six bedrooms and way more than enough room for all of them. They'll be sleeping in the other wing anyway."
Emily pressed her lips to Alison's temple and the blonde moaned softly.
"Can we go inside now and put him in his room before you take me to ours and strip me naked?"
"I can't believe you want to put our son down for a nap so-"
"You can fuck me before our friends get here?" Alison breathed the words. "Yes I do and if that makes me a bad mother, I don't care."
Emily chuckled because she knew Alison wasn't serious. In fact, being a good mother was something Alison worked very hard at.
"Fuck," Aden murmured softly, letting them both know he wasn't exactly asleep yet, and he lifted his head from Emily's shoulder.
"No, baby," Alison said as she reached up again and ran her fingers through his hair gently. "That's a bad word."
Emily shook her head. "He's going to say that in front of the wrong person one day and then you'll finally be more careful."
"Shut up and take me to bed, Captain," Alison said unrepentantly before she grasped her wife's wrist and slid the brunette's fingers right into her bikini bottoms.
Emily moaned softly at the hot and wet feel of her wife against her fingers.
"Come on, Aden," Emily said as she pulled her hand back and turned to carry her sleepy son into the house. "Let's take a nap, baby boy."
Alison smirked. She always knew exactly what to do to get her wife to do her bidding.
#############
Alison sat on the deck of the sixty five foot yacht anchored in Māmala Bay. They'd attended the 4th of July festivities at Ward Field but had returned to the boat for dinner and to relax and wait for the fireworks display that the Pearl Harbor base set off every year.
Alison swirled the liquid inside her wine glass as she watched Emily through the sliding glass doors of the salon, reading to Aden and Maddie, who was Hanna and Caleb's five year old daughter. The blonde was only drinking decaffeinated iced tea but she still insisted on drinking it out of a wine glass. She could at least pretend she could drink like the others.
The sun had just dropped below the horizon and the fireworks over Waikiki Beach, which they could see from their mooring, would be starting soon.
Hanna dropped down in the chair beside her, clinking her glass against Alison's gently.
"I gotta say, Ali, you and Em sure know how to throw a 4th of July bash."
Alison just smirked and took another sip of her tea, disappointed that some of Hanna's wine hadn't jumped over into her glass.
"This monstrosity is one of your best purchases, I have to say," Hanna said as she took a sip of her wine.
"Try to convince Em of that. She's still pissed at me for it."
"How can a sailor not want a yacht for her birthday?" the blonde asked with a roll of her eyes.
"Probably because, for the past fifteen years, she's lived on a ship for six to ten months every couple of years."
Hanna shrugged. "I guess. I can't believe you named her The Flying Mermaid," the blonde snickered.
Now Alison shrugged as she grinned. "I thought it was cute. Em…eh…not so much."
"Well it's fab. Screw her."
Alison chuckled but the thought of doing just that sounded pretty damn good about now. Her pregnant hormones were wreaking havoc with her body and even though Emily made her come twice in the shower less than six hours ago, the blonde was aching for her wife's touch again. She shook her head before those thoughts went too far and she dragged Emily down below deck to fuck her.
"When she retires, I think she'll be glad we have it," Alison said just as a girl in her early twenties walked up to them.
"Excuse me Mrs. Fields, the captain says the fireworks will be starting in ten minutes."
"Thanks, Lilia," Alison replied before looking back over at Emily in the salon. Her wife looked so content with the two children sitting on either side of her while she read to them. It was moments like these that Alison fell in love with her wife all over again. "Please tell Emily so she doesn't miss them."
Lilia nodded before she walked away.
"How big of a crew does this boat have?" Hanna asked and Alison looked over at her.
"Six plus the captain," Alison said as she looked up to where she could hear the rest of their families and friends talking and laughing. Aria and Ezra and their three kids, Spencer and Toby and their daughter, Caleb, with his and Hanna's son, and Maggie and her fiancé, Dan, were convened on the upper deck waiting for the fireworks.
"Nice," Hanna nodded her head appreciatively. "I think you should let me and Caleb borrow it sometime."
"It's Em's yacht, Hanna; you'll have to ask her."
"Oh, I will, you can count on that," Hanna said as she took another sip of her wine. "So, speaking of Em retiring, she tells me that you've been talking about it."
Alison nodded slowly. "She's been in the navy for twenty years. She qualifies for retirement now but I'm not sure she's ready yet. She loves flying but she doesn't have much of an opportunity anymore. She supervises more training now."
"She said she has to give them an answer by the end of the summer," Hanna said casually before waving up at her son who was excitedly waving down at her.
Alison sighed. "Yeah, because they're talking about sending her TAD to the South Pacific."
"But you've got a baby coming in five months?"
"I know that, Hanna," Alison snapped. "We both do."
Hanna didn't flinch at Alison's tone. They'd known each other too long.
"She said she doesn't want to go away any more. She missed too much of Aden's first year."
Alison smiled sadly. "I don't think she'll ever forgive herself for missing it."
"She had no choice," Hanna said in her wife's defense and if Alison wasn't so anxious about the whole thing she would have reacted more calmly.
Instead she replied abruptly. "That still doesn't assuage the guilt, Hanna."
"She also said there's a charter company she's met with."
"Are you going to give me a play by play of your conversation with her?" Alison huffed with annoyance. "I don't need to know everything you two talk about, you know."
"Retract your claws, kitty cat. I'm just making conversation."
Alison sighed. She knew Hanna didn't deserve to be snapped at but just talking about this was putting her in a foul mood. She and Emily had been discussing it for weeks and were still no closer to figuring out what to do. Alison wanted Emily to be happy and the brunette loved the Navy. But they were both fed up with being separated, especially now that they had a second child on the way.
"I'm sorry, Han. Blame my mood swings on her," Alison said as she pointed to her stomach.
Hanna laughed. "Leave it to you to throw your unborn daughter under the bus."
"Fuck you!" Alison said but there was no real heat behind it and Hanna just laughed harder.
"So, this charter company? What's the deal?" Hanna asked.
"Didn't Em tell you?"
Hanna shook her head. "We got interrupted by Aden and Maddie wanting their story."
Alison smiled because her wife was a sucker for their son.
"The airline does flights between the islands. She'd be able to fly again, which I know she really wants, and would still be home every night with us."
"What do you want her to do?" Hanna asked curiously.
"What do you think?" Alison shot her a look. "But it has to be her decision. The Navy is her life and has been for twenty years."
"You and Aden and this baby are her life, Ali," Hanna said gently as she reached over and put her hand on Alison's where it rested on the arm of the chair.
"I know," Alison said as she sighed again. And Alison did. She didn't want Emily to go away on deployment ever again but as long as the brunette remained in the Navy it would be inevitable. "But so is the Navy," she added because it was also the truth.
"Hey, do you still have your pilot's license?" Hanna asked, momentarily changing the subject.
Alison's lips curved. "Yep."
Hanna's eyes lit up. "Have the two of you ever flown together?"
"Yep," Alison said again.
Hanna's lips curved into a smirk. "Please don't tell me you fucked her when you were in the air. I might just have to be mortified and awed at the same time."
Alison laughed out loud. "Hanna, who would be flying the plane if we were fucking?"
"I have no doubt you'd find a way to violate Emily while she's sitting in the cockpit."
Now Alison's lips curved into a smirk but she refrained from either confirming or denying Hanna's words. And Hanna didn't need her to.
Hanna took the last sip of her wine and set the glass on the table in front of them. "So why didn't you get her a plane for her birthday instead of a boat?"
"We've owned a plane for years," Alison replied casually and Hanna snorted.
"You have way too much fucking money, Ali."
"I know," Alison murmured again. She didn't agree to be vain or rub it in Hanna's face. It was just a fact.
Alison reached over and put her hand on Hanna's now. Hanna looked at her questioningly.
"I've never said thank you."
"Damn right you haven't, bitch," Hanna replied jokingly, but then she looked a little baffled. "Wait never said thank you for what?"
Alison laughed softly before her face became serious again. "For inviting me to your wedding."
"Huh?" Hanna looked confused.
"If you hadn't I wouldn't have this life," Alison said honestly
"What the hell are you talking about? You're not drinking are you?"
Hanna pulled her hand out from under Alison's and plucked the glass of tea out of the blonde's other hand and proceeded to sniff it dramatically.
"Stop being a fucking pain in the ass, Hanna. I'm trying to be sincere here," Alison scowled as she grabbed the glass back from the blonde. "None of this means anything without her. Or Aden. Or this baby. None of it. And I wouldn't have them if it wasn't for you. So fucking thank you!" Alison's voice had raised an octave with each sentence she spoke so by the time she was finished she was practically yelling.
Maggie walked up and plopped down in the chair on the other side of Alison.
"Hey Super Star. Why are you yelling at blondie? Ow!" Maggie yelped when Alison reached out and pinched her arm hard. "What the fuck was that for?"
"I told you to stop fucking calling me that," Alison growled. She could feel eyes on her and knew everyone from the upper deck was looking down at her. Her eyes slid toward the direction of the salon and she saw Emily looking at her worriedly as she closed the book and started to gather Aden and Maddie up.
"Damn. I can't even use a term of endearment with you without you becoming violent," Maggie complained as she shook her arm.
"I'm over you fucking mocking me," Alison growled.
"Ali," Hanna said softly and Alison turned her head. All her aggravation and anger was gone now. That's just how her mood swings were these days.
But just for good measure she snapped. "What?"
"You're welcome," Hanna said as she smiled warmly and Alison's lips curved into a grateful smile.
Emily walked out of the salon carrying Aden and leading Madison by the hand. The little girl ran over to her mother and climbed on Hanna's lap.
Emily looked back and forth between the two blondes.
"Is everything alright here?" she asked and both Alison and Hanna nodded their heads as Maggie snorted out a short laugh.
"You never told me Super Star was violent." Maggie jumped out of her seat before Alison could reach for her again but Alison just scoffed as she rolled her eyes.
"Stop being such a pussy, I didn't pinch you that hard."
"I'm going back to my man. Control your woman, Em," Maggie smirked and walked away after blowing Alison a kiss, which the blonde responded to by flipping the brunette off.
"One of these days I'm going to push her overboard," Alison murmured to herself but Hanna heard her and laughed.
"Mama," Aden called to Alison as he wriggled in Emily's arms trying to get down.
Alison stood up and held her arms out. Emily handed Aden over and the little boy hugged Alison around the neck as she followed Emily to the love seat.
Alison pressed her nose into Aden's neck and inhaled the sweet baby scent of her little boy and she was filled with so much love for him it almost made her stagger. At one time, Alison never imagined she could love anyone more than she loved Emily. But the love she had for the boy in her arms was nothing like she ever imagined could exist.
Emily helped her to sit down and then sat beside her as Aden buried his face in Alison's neck the same way he did to Emily the previous day. The blonde settled him on her laps and ran her fingers through his hair again. She loved the feel of the baby's soft strands between her fingers.
"He's not going to make it, is he?" she murmured softly.
"I think the sound will wake him up again but he's pretty much down for the count," Emily agreed as she pulled her wife and son into her arms. Alison leaned against her and hummed softly as Emily kissed her ear.
"So much for my idea," the blonde lamented. "I took him off his schedule and tortured us all for no reason."
"Why were you yelling at Hanna?" Emily asked as she slid her hand up Alison's back to massage the back of her neck gently.
"Because she was pissing me off," Alison said as her eyes fluttered softly at her wife's gentle touch.
"Why?"
Alison looked over to see their friend pointing into the sky counting stars with her daughter. "Because I was trying to be sincere and thank her and she just kept being defiant."
"What were you thanking her for?" Emily asked as she gently rubbed Aden's calf as he fought to keep his eyes open.
"You," Alison looked the brunette and smiled at the confused look she had on her face.
"Huh?"
Alison's eyes softened as she looked at her wife. "I was thanking her for you," she said softly. "Well for inviting me to her wedding, which brought me back to you."
"She brought us back to each other," Emily said as she leaned forward and brushed her lips gently against her wife's.
Alison reached up and caressed her mermaid's cheek with her fingertips as she hummed into the kiss.
"I love you, Ali," Emily brushed her nose gently against Alison's as the kiss ended.
Alison held Emily's gaze as she smiled softly. "I love you and I love our life."
Emily pressed her lips to her wife's again, murmuring her agreement. The life she and Alison built together was beyond anything Emily ever imagined her life could be.
And there was nothing about them she would change.
Not their past because it made them both who they were.
Not their present because Emily had everything she ever wanted in her arms… her wife, her son and soon to be daughter.
And not their future because the best time of their lives was just beginning.
The End.
Thanks again for reading!