What The Heart Wants

Chapter 6

Hanna opened the door to her knock. "what now?"

"Hanna, I'm sorry we got into it."

"It's all right," She said flatly. She got the message. It was not all right. It was anything but.

"Listen. Go ahead. Go meet Caleb. Enjoy your last night home." Alison barely got out, still very much annoyed.

Hanna almost smiled. But she was still too pissed at her for that. "Thanks."

Don't stay out too late. Alison closed her mouth over the words. She was an adult after all. She had trouble sometimes remembering that. Hanna had been a sweet little six year old in pigtails with two missing front teeth when Kenneth and Jessica DiLaurentis decided they needed a romantic getaway in Thailand. They got there just in time for the tsunami that killed them both. And Hanna had to grow up without them.

No, Alison wasn't her baby sister's father, but sometimes she felt like it. She liked it when Hanna stayed home - and not only because she helped him out with the kids. She wanted her safe, damn it, wanted all of them safe. Life was too dangerous. Anything could happen. She knew that from hard life experience.

"Have a good time." She pushed the words out of her unwilling mouth.

"I will," She said obediently and then lifter her arms in a limp offer of a hug.

Alison gathered her close, but only for a moment. Hanna pulled free quickly and Alison left her to go offer Emily some help setting up the rest of the white room for her studio.

~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~

By a little after eleven, they had a thread pegboard hung and covered with giant spools. Alison put up some shelves for Emily, once she'd found down in the basement. The shelves used to be in her brother Charles room way before her moved out. Emily had two working tables set up, one for her sketching and one for her sewing machine. There was an easel in the corner and another, smaller table next to it piled with paint and brushes.

"This looks good, Alison. Thank you." Emily smiled at her shyly. Why does she keep doing that?

""What else needs to be done?" Alison asked more then willing to continue to work.

"That's it." Emily hid a yawn behind her hand. "We are finally finished."

"You sure?" Alison's eyes look pleading. Not really knowing what she wanted or needed. She just wasn't ready to leave yet.

Emily pushed in the chair at her sewing table. "Yep."

Alison felt the oddest reluctance to head for her own room.

After Hanna left for her night out, it had been pretty much a no-pressure evening. Alison felt useful helping Emily get the room the way she wanted it. And besides that, it was kind of good just to hang out with her. Kind of a companionable.

Alison hadn't had much of that, of companionship. Not for a very long time. Not for a couple of years at least. Not since she'd found out that Camila was pregnant.

And really, since before that, even. More like five years since about the time Camila started really pushing her to try for a baby of their own.

"Okay, what'd I say?" Emily asked.

"Huh? Nothing. Why?" Alison asked confused.

"You looked... I don't know. Faraway. Unhappy."

Alison tried for a laugh. It came out more of a grunt. "I always look unhappy. Ask anyone who knows me."

"Now, see. I want to say that's not true. But, Alison, it kind of is." Emily teased.

Alison had the urge to start talking about Camila, about how angry she still was at her after all this time, for betting on her life. And losing.

What was the matter with her? To even consider spilling her guts about Camila to Emily, of all people? That would defiantly be a bad idea. Right?

I mean wouldn't it? But why did she have this powerful feeling that Emily would understand?

Didn't matter. She wasn't going there. No way. Yes, that was a bad idea.

And all of a sudden. Alison needed to get out of there. And now.

Alison rubbed the back of her neck. "What can I say? Except, yeah, I'm a gloomy woman. And since you're good to go here, I'll see you in the morning."

Emily didn't reply for several seconds, she just looked at her, kind of thoughtful and sad, both at once. A soft sigh escaped her. "All right then. Goodnight."

"Night - come on Pepe. Let's go." The dog, stretched out by the window, got up and followed Alison from the room.

With Pepe trotting along behind, she went down the stairs to let him out before bed. She walked fast, too, just in case Emily got it in her head to try to stop her. To start asking questions she saw no win in answering.

~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~

Alison got in bed around midnight. She had trouble sleeping until a little after two, when she heard Hanna come in... Relieved that she was home and was safe, she finally could drift off to sleep peacefully.

Alison's head immediately popped up off the pillow, not even 2 hours later. She woke up to the sound of one of the kids crying. Pepe was already out of her dog bed and sniffing at the door. She gave a worried little whine, urging her to hurry up and open the door as she yanked on her pants and a frayed Hollis t-shirt. When she opened the door, he pushed out ahead of her, leading the way along the hallway to the twins' bedroom.

The door stood open, dim light spilling out. Pepe went in first.

Emily was already there, Ellie in her arms. She was pacing the floor in the muted light from the little lamp on the green dresser. She turned when Alison entered, her hands on the back of Ellie's head, stroking gently as Ellie sobbed against her shoulder in pain.

Alison felt that familiar ache in her chest, the one she got when one of her own was hurting. A quick glance at Jake's crib showed her, her boy was still asleep. That miracle wouldn't last long. "Let me take her," she whispered.

Emily kissed Ellie's temple. "Here's your Baba," she murmured, keeping it low, probably hoping Jake wouldn't wake up.

Yeah. Good luck with that.

Alison held out her arms. With a sad little cry, Ellie twisted in Emily's hold and fell towards her. "Ba-ba!" She wailed. Alison caught her and gathered her in gently. Ellie dropped her head immediately against her chest. "Ow. Ow, ow, ow."

Emily moved in closer. Leaning her body against Alison. Not even aware of their closeness as all her attention was on Ellie. The soft sleeve of Emily's flannel pajama top brushing Alison's arm. She then got a faint whiff, as Emily laid her head against her shoulder, looking down, watching her daughter carefully. It was a whiff of sweetness - her shampoo? Her perfume?

God... it smelt delicious.

"Ear infection?" Emily whispered.

Alison's attention was back on her daughter. She felt the back of Ellie's neck as she sobbed against her chest. "She seems kind of hot."

"I thought so, too." Emily said with concern as she continued to lean against Alison and gently rub soothing circles on her daughters back.

"Um- We should take her temperature."

"I'll get the thermometer." The brunette answered hurriedly while exiting towards the door.

"It's the one that says rectal on the case," Alison advised over Ellie's unhappy cries.

Rectal.

It figures, story of Alison's life.

XXXXXXXXXX

Here we go lovelies,

Just FYI, updates may become shorter. My girlfriend and I have a couple DYI projects going on around the house. I think she may murder me in my sleep if I neglect what needs to be done and continue with writing/editing. As it is she very patient with me and this hobby. I won't take too long and I defiantly intend on finishing this story.

With that said. Have a great weekend!

~Andrea