Emily was woken by the sound of Alison's alarm. She turned over and watched Alison sit up to turn it off. The fact that they had slept in the same bed last night made Emily feel things she didn't want to, but she tried not to think about it so much.

"Are you sure you want to go to work?" Emily asked. "I'm sure Hackett would understand if you called in."

Alison rubbed her eyes and stared forward. "If I don't I'll just think myself to death, and I don't want that."

Emily just watched her.

Alison faced Emily. "Are you going?"

Emily shrugged. "I don't need to, but if you want me there-"

"No," Alison declined. "You've done enough. Sleep in if you want. Make yourself at home."

Emily flopped down on Alison's queen-sized bed and tried to lighten the mood.

"You know I've already done that," Emily claimed.

Alison couldn't help but smile before she pulled herself to get out of bed. She began to get ready by locking herself in the bathroom and showering. Everything felt harder than ever. Even putting on makeup was a task that exhausted her. How would she make it through the day?

When she exited the bathroom, she realized Emily wasn't in her bed. She smelt the scent of cooking food in the air.

She dressed and joined Emily in the kitchen. Alison watched the brunette fill two plates with toast and eggs and then set a mug of coffee in front of Alison.

"Em, you didn't have to do that," Alison said.

Emily leaned forward. "I think I did."

Alison tried to hide her blushing.

Emily was worried about Alison, more than ever, but didn't want to tell her that. She didn't want to seem overbearing. Alison was a grown woman. She could handle what life threw her way. She always had.

But Emily couldn't help but think this time was different.

Alison had to force herself to eat because she had lost her appetite a few days ago. She knew she needed to go on with her life, but she now had an important decision to make. A decision that would consume her until it was made. She felt the pressure.

Once the women cleaned the kitchen Alison grabbed her stuff. "If you want, I can give you the spare key."

Emily almost didn't know what to say.

"I'm sorry... I shouldn't have done that," Alison addressed Emily's concerned look. "You're seeing Sabrina."

"No, you're right." Emily agreed. "I'd rather stay here than at my mom's. Dodging her questions is exhausting." She stepped forward. "Besides, what does staying here have to do with Sabrina?"

As much as the girls tried to convince themselves there wasn't anything behind the offer and acceptance of the spare key, they knew that was a lie.

Alison handed Emily the key and their fingers touched. They could feel the tension. Like an invisible rubber band had been wrapped around them both and continued to force them together.

Alison sighed. "I'll see you later?"

"Yeah."

Then she left, and Emily stared at the door.

Things seemed to be moving so fast yet not at all. She had just accepted Alison's spare key out of guilt, while she was kind of seeing Sabrina and still had unresolved feelings for Paige. What the hell had possessed her to accept Alison's offer?

But she knew the answer to that question already.

She knew, and it terrified the hell out of her.

* * *

Emily could feel her heart in her head. Her mom, who was in a state of shock, stared at her with a look Emily couldn't read. She was glad they had agreed to have dinner at their house.

"Mom?" Emily started.

Pam snapped out of her daze and looked back to Emily. She half expected to get a good slap for delivering such horrible news, but her mom just sat back in her chair.

"So everything... it was all a lie?"

The pain in her mom's voice was tangible.

Emily took a deep breath. "Yes."

"But the pictures, the care packages..."

Emily nodded. "I should've told you sooner... but when I wanted to you were such a mess..."

"But you should've told me, Emily."

"Mom, you freaked out when I missed a meal. How was I supposed to tell you I was skipping class?" Emily asked.

Emily watched her words resonate with her mom.

"God I'm so sorry," Emily said.

"No, I'm sorry," Pam apologized. "I'm sorry that I made you feel like you couldn't tell me the truth."

Emily gave her mom an encouraging smile. "Good news is, I got the swim coach job at Rosewood and I'll be bartending at Radley. That way I can finish my degree over at Hollis."

Emily could see the forgiveness in her mother's eyes and that's all she really needed. The only thing that was really bothering her was the fact that she felt as if she had disappointed her dad.

She had used all that money he had worked so hard for, and blew through it. She had abused the only thing he had left her with, and that was enough to tear her apart.

Then Emily's phone rang out. It was a text from Spencer.

It read: "Meeting at the barn. Have news on Melissa and Wren."

Emily pulled back and looked at her mom. "I've gotta go. But thank you, for not ripping my head off."

Pam tucked a strand of hair behind her daughter's ear. "I could never do that, Em."

Emily said her goodbyes and rushed out the door. She was nervous, but the faster they figured out how to appease this new -A with what they wanted, there would be no rest. Plus, she really needed to stay off the police's radar now that she had a high school job.

No telling what else this new -A had on them.

She joined Aria, Spencer and Hanna in the barn and closed the door. They all sat in the den with looks of dread on their faces. For a moment, Emily realized her friends had no idea Alison was pregnant. And it would only get worse once Alison decided to tell them. If she even decided to keep the baby.

"Em," Spencer said, which pulled her out of her thoughts.

"Hey, sorry." Emily joined them on the couch. "What's going on?"

"The police called Hanna in today for an ID," Spencer said. "The guy kept quiet."

Emily nodded. "Well that's good news, right?"

"Yeah, unless this new -A gives up that hard drive," Hanna panicked. "Then they'll know I lied and assume I paid this guy to keep quiet."

"Well it wouldn't really be an assumption," Aria included.

Hanna side-glanced the petite brunette.

"Sorry," Aria apologized.

"At least it bought us some time," Spencer said.

"But how much time are we talking?" Emily wondered. "I mean, I'm sure this -A has a sense of urgency when it comes to something they want."

The four women looked around at each other before they realized they had no idea.

"Has anyone gotten any new texts?" Hanna asked.

"No," everyone answered in unison.

Aria looked at Spencer. "So what did you get out of Melissa?"

"Only that her and Wren never saw that show in Philly," Spencer confessed. "Apparently, they bought tickets for this show called Feed and I had seen an early screening in D.C." Spencer leaned into her couch. "I caught her in a lie and she freaked."

"So if they weren't in Philly that night, where we they?"

"And why lie about it?"

"I don't know," Spencer said. "But I doubt if Melissa will tell me anything else after today."

"I'm surprised she didn't get on a plane and leave for London again," Hanna jabbed.

Spencer played with her fingers. "Well, if the police find out their alibi is a lie, leaving town wouldn't look good at all."

So Spencer had exposed Melissa and Wren's false alibi. Emily wanted to believe this could mean something, but why would Melissa or Wren kill both Elliot and Charlotte? Why not just Charlotte? And what kind of motive would be strong enough to justify that?

"How's Alison?" Hanna asked, and Emily realized the question was directed towards her.

"Um she's... Alison," Emily answered. "Trying to be strong when she has every right not to be."

"Have you guys thought about what could've happened if we hadn't testified for Charlotte to get out of Welby?" Spencer asked.

"Well, she'd probably still be alive," Hanna answered.

"Yeah, but what about Alison?"

Emily saw what Spencer was saying.

"If we hadn't helped Charlotte get out, what would've been their plan B?" Spencer asked.

Emily forced herself not to think about the 'what ifs'.

Then her phone buzzed in her pocket. For only a moment did she think it was another message from -A. Yet, it was only Paige.

"How are things with Sabrina?" Hanna wondered.

Emily put her phone face down. "Great. She's just in New York right now."

Once the attention was off of her, Emily she checked the message from Paige.

It read: "Hey, was wondering if you wanted to join in on the committee meeting tonight. It's supposed to be me, Alison and Mrs. Horowitz, but I thought you'd be interested. Meeting is at 4."

Emily found herself worried at the pairing of Alison and Paige on the same committee. Maybe she should go, to act as a buffer if things got too... heated.

She responded: "Sure. I'll be there."

* * *

Alison wasn't looking forward to this committee meeting one bit. It's not that she didn't like it, it was more along the lines of Paige stepping in on something she's been running since she's started at Rosewood.

This was her thing, and Paige was stepping all over it.

She walked into the faculty lounge and spotted Mrs. Horowitz, Paige, and to her surprise, Emily.

Okay, maybe the meeting wouldn't be that bad.

Alison sat next to Emily. "I didn't know you were on the committee."

"Paige invited me," Emily said.

"Oh." Alison found herself displeased again.

"So what Mrs. Horowitz explained to me was that, we need to make it easier for the parents to interact with the teachers," Paige said. "Emily and I were talking about how we can use social media."

And they had started without her. Alison immediately entered defense mode.

"I just wanna say how great it is that Paige is really... pitching in on this. Really taking the lead," Alison included.

Emily heard the sarcasm right off the bat.

"Thanks Alison," Paige accepted. "So-"

"Seriously though, it's such a step forward for you." Alison couldn't stop herself. "I mean, usually people that are new, they go for something safer, like a pep rally but... you're really pushing your personal comfort zone."

Emily gave a wary smile, but knew Paige was catching on to Alison's antics. She just hoped it didn't escalate.

Emily watched Paige falter.

"It's not that big a deal," Paige defended.

"Oh, don't be modest," Alison pushed. "Some of us here remember what you used to be like. Don't we, Emily?"

Emily found herself completely silent under the spotlight.

Alison not only couldn't stop. She didn't want to.

"I mean, Mae, you remember when she was a student?" Alison asked Mrs. Horowitz. "I always wondered where all that aggression came from. Stuff that made her such a great competitor..."

The tension in the room was suffocating at this point.

"I remember she had a lot of team spirit," Mrs. Horowitz said.

"Yeah but, it was more than that..." Ali eyed Paige. "Right, Emily?"

Emily honestly wished Alison would stop trying to include her in this horrible conversation.

Finally, Alison's antics paid off.

"I bet Mrs. Horowitz remembers how you were too, Alison," Paige countered. "You're pretty unforgettable."

Alison smirked. "Thank you."

"It wasn't a compliment," Paige said.

Emily and Mrs. Horowitz looked at each other uncomfortably.

"How about we take a five-minute break?" Horowitz suggested.

"Sure," Alison agreed. "If Paige thinks she needs a break. I understand her feeling a little overwhelmed-"

"Stop it!" Emily demanded. She couldn't take it anymore.

Alison found herself annoyed with the fact Emily had stepped in. Alison could no longer control people the way she used to be able to. Including Emily.

"Okay, um let's shelve this discussion and move onto the bake sale," Mrs. Horowitz ordered.

The rest of the meeting Alison stayed to herself, but she knew she had already won when it came to hurting Paige's ego. Ali just didn't want her thinking she could just waltz back into Rosewood, take over Alison's position on the committee and steal Emily from her.

When the meeting ended, Ali left in a hurry before Emily could catch her. Emily knew she had done that on purpose. But Alison must've forgotten that she had given Emily a spare key, and you can damn well bet she would use it now.

She made it to Alison's and found her in the kitchen.

"You left in a hurry," Emily accused.

"I had things to do," Alison said.

"What was that all about?"

"What was what all about?"

"We were in the teachers lounge, not the cafeteria before homeroom," Emily stated. "I mean what is it? Are you afraid of Paige or did you just feel like punching a familiar face?"

"I'm taking it you and Sabrina aren't official?" Alison countered.

"See, this is the part of you that I hate," Emily jabbed. "When someone gets close it makes you itch, so you swat people away like they're bugs."

"Please." Alison turned around. "Just, go away."

"That's what you want me to do," Emily said with a scoff. "God Ali, why do we have to keep showing you that we love you?"

"I keep getting mail addressed to Elliot Rollins." Alison threw his mail onto the counter. "That's what he left me with. Sports catalogs and a baby." She faced Emily again. "My life is a steaming hot mess."

"Everyone's life is a hot mess."

"Em, you and Paige... You're not together now but you were," Alison said. "You have real memories. None of my memories are real. They're all lies!"

So what? Was Ali trying to push Emily away... or keep her close? Right now she was pushing her away, but the whole spare key thing... that was Ali trying to keep Emily around.

Emily knew she couldn't keep doing this.

Emily revealed the key. "You gave me this... Was it because you wanted to? Or because you don't want me to leave?"

Alison wanted to tell Emily she gave her the key because she needed her. That she gave her the key with hopes that Emily would see what Ali wanted without her having to spell it out. But saying it out loud would make it real, and she wasn't sure if she was ready.

"I don't know," Alison forced through choked up vocal chords.

"Then here." Emily handed the key back to Alison. "Don't offer it to me again. Not until you know."

Then Emily left because she couldn't keep reinforcing Alison's erratic behavior. She needed her to see it wasn't okay, and that it was time to grow up, regardless of her situation. The hormones and stress of everything was getting to her, but she couldn't use and abuse Emily like they were still teenagers.

Not anymore.