Emily could feel herself coming to as the anesthesia finally began to wear off. Her eyes were heavy as she tried to force them open. When she did, she realized Alison was there. Her head was resting on Emily's lap while their hands were intertwined as Ali slept peacefully, waiting for her to wake up.

Emily tried not to move too much because she didn't want to wake Alison, but failed when she moved her left arm.

"Ah!" she exclaimed in pain.

The sudden noise woke Alison.

When the two women looked at each other, time seemed to stand still. Alison could feel the emotions running wild within her chest. It was pure relief knowing that Emily was okay and alive.

"How long...?" Emily asked.

"A few hours," Alison answered. "I must've just fallen asleep."

"How's Melissa? Where's Wren? Did you call my mom-?"

"Melissa's stable and Wren is being processed right now." Alison squeezed Emily's hand. "Your mom is talking to the doctor. Everything is okay."

Emily just studied Alison. She remembered the loud bang of the gun and the pain that had spread through her arm, causing her to nearly blackout.

"What happened?" she asked.

"The bullet went completely through Melissa and hit you," Alison said. "It was lodged in your shoulder, but the doctors were able to retrieve it."

Now that the anesthesia had almost completely worn off, Emily was beginning to piece together what had happened. Wren was gone. Melissa was alive. Her mom was right outside. And Alison... she was here, and she was refusing to let Emily go, even for a minute.

The room fell quiet, other than the humming of the electrical equipment in the hospital room. Alison couldn't bring herself to let go of Emily's hand, but figured her friend didn't mind.

"Emily..." Alison started. She could feel her throat tighten. "I thought I was gonna lose you..."

Emily squeezed Alison's hand, but didn't really know what to say.

Alison wondered if this would be a good time to just tell Emily the truth. To tell her everything she had told Paige the night before or if she should wait until Emily was in a more stable and comfortable environment.

Then Pam Fields entered the room.

"Mom," Emily said.

"Emily..." Her mother rushed to her side. "God I'm so glad you're okay."

Emily shifted in her bed. "What did the doctor have to say?"

"The bullet never hit any major arteries, so they're confident in your recovery." Pam smiled. "They told me you could be discharged by tonight."

Alison squeezed Emily's hand in response. The past twelve hours had been complete hell, but this was the light at the end of the tunnel.

"Alison, you're welcome to stay with Emily tonight," Pam offered.

Emily looked at Alison and realized that's exactly what she wanted. And it seemed as if that's what Alison wanted too.

"I will," Alison accepted. "If that's what Emily wants?"

Emily nodded. "I do."

The rest of the day passed slowly as Alison hung around with Emily in her hospital room. Hanna and Aria also visited, along with Spencer and Toby. Things seemed good on Melissa's end, which was a relief to everyone.

It wasn't until all six of them were crowded in Emily's room that breaking news flashed on the TV screen.

"An arrest was made late last night for the ongoing DiLaurentis-Rollins murder case," the reporter said. "Wren Kingston, who had been a doctor at Radley and Welby Sanitarium, was found guilty after confessing to the double homicide..."

Spencer turned the TV's volume down. "Looks like -A got what they wanted."

"Now let's see if they give us what we want," Hanna included.

That's when five ringers went off in the hospital room. Alison felt her pulse race as she pulled out her cell to check the message.

It was from -A.

"Congratulations, Liars. You'll receive compensation for your loyalty, soon. -A"

Everyone looked up from their phones.

"What does that even mean?" Aria asked.

"I don't know," Spencer said. "But at least it wasn't another threat."

Emily looked at Alison. "It's finally over."

Alison felt relief takeover. There was no more Wren. No more -A. No more threats and secrets and drama. Everything would be normal from now on.

Or as normal as Rosewood could get, Alison figured.

* * *

Emily had been released later that evening and Alison had agreed to meet her at her house once she grabbed a change of clothes. But the anticipation of being alone with Ali made her nervous.

Ever since Emily had woken up in the hospital, Alison hadn't left her side. She figured the shooting had scared Alison into believing Emily would die, but Ali had clung onto her for dear life.

But the most shocking thing of all was Alison agreeing to spend the night with her.

Emily was laying in bed when Alison showed. She had debated on whether she should take her painkillers before her friend got here, but inevitably waited since she knew they would make her sleepy.

Alison quietly closed the door. "Hey..." She set her bag down. "How are you feeling?"

Emily shrugged. "Sore. But I was about to take a painkiller."

Alison sat at the foot of Emily's bed. She couldn't wait anymore. She had so much to get off of her chest, and if Emily took her medicine now, she would be out within minutes.

"This may sound selfish," Alison started. "But could you hold off on the meds? Just for a moment."

Emily didn't know Alison's reasoning, but she gave her a nod.

"First, I owe you an apology," Alison admitted. "You were right, about me pushing you away. It was never fair to you, and I'm sorry." Alison took a shaky breath. "Because you've always protected me. And ever since I met you, I knew I could count on you."

"So why did you?" Emily whispered. "Why did you always push me away?"

Alison hesitated. Her heart felt as if it was about to beat right out of her chest. Her hands were clammy. She forced her eyes to meet Emily's.

"I don't know..." Alison said. "But I'm ready to stop."

Emily was frozen in place as she studied Ali at the end of her bed. Alison gave her a small smile before she moved right beside her. That's when Alison felt safest. When she was close to Emily.

"I wanna do this," Alison confessed. "I wanna be with you."

Emily could feel her insides shaking. Was this really happening? Or was she just dreaming?

"I..." Emily mumbled. She was at a loss for words.

"Over the years, I've been in so many failed relationships." Alison looked down. "And I always made excuses why... But I know the reason."

Emily couldn't pull her eyes off Alison as she watched her friend struggle to find words. But what was coming out of Alison's mouth made her heart scream in joy. It was almost surreal hearing the confession.

"Paige tried to get me to say it, but I didn't want to say it to her," Alison admitted.

Emily was confused. "What did Paige-?"

"I love you."

When the sentence left Alison's mouth it was almost as if she had said a new word. She had never felt so alive and warm, and the look on Emily's face made it worth it.

Emily on the other hand was stunned. Completely caught off guard.

Alison found a small smirk growing on her lips as she moved closer to Emily.

"You told me not to do this until I was ready..." Alison said.

Emily's hands shook in her lap.

"Do what?" she whispered.

Alison reached up and tucked a strand of Emily's dark hair behind her ear. Her fingers grazed the tanned cheek as Alison watched Emily gasp from her touch.

Alison smiled. "This."

She moved in and met Emily's lips with her own. It felt warm and perfect. Like all her life she had been searching for something that had been right there beside her all along. As if a part of her had finally been found after years and years of searching.

Emily didn't reciprocate the kiss at first out of pure shock, but when she felt Alison's hand holding her face, she realized what was happening. That's when both of Emily's hands cupped Alison's cheeks and held her close. Like if she let go too soon, she would likely die.

But Emily never had to let go again, because Alison would hold onto her until the end.

* * *

Alison woke at the sound of someone coming up the stairs. She figured it was probably just Emily's mom coming to check on them, but things were just fine from Ali's end.

Emily rested sitting up, between Ali's arm and body. But she didn't mind the uncomfortable position considering the situation.

That's when Pam emerged at the door.

"Hey," she said. "Is Emily still asleep?"

Emily stirred in Alison's arms.

"Not anymore..." Emily groaned.

"Sorry honey," Pam apologized. "I'm making lunch right now, but it looks like someone left you a card in the mail."

Emily sat up and accepted the letter from her mother. Pam then turned around and left the two women alone. They studied the envelope, but the only thing written on it was Emily's name.

"Are you gonna open it?" Alison asked.

Emily glanced at Alison before carefully removing the letter that sat inside.

She read aloud:

"Dear Emily,

The Loyal One.

This may come as a surprise, but I've known about you and your friends for longer than I led you to believe. I hope that after you read this letter, after you read the truth, things will make more sense.

Five years ago, I found Charlotte, or more accurately, Charlotte found me. She claimed to have been looking for years, and when we met for the first time, I could tell she had inherited a lot from my side. Most of which was my mental illnesses. I tried my best to convince her to find help outside of Radley, but she refused. I, of all people, know how Radley can change a person.

And then she met Archer – Elliot Rollins – and something inside of her seemed to changed.

Charlotte told me everything. She told me about The Game, about how she planned on finally ending it and leaving for Paris... but I couldn't let her go. For I had finally been reunited with my daughter. So, the night Charlotte was supposed to leave, the night you and your friends were in New York, I asked Archer to convince her to stay.

What I didn't know was that Charlotte was sicker than I realized. And that night was the last night I heard from her, until a few weeks before her recent death.

It wasn't until after I began searching through Archer's stuff that I discovered what Charlotte did to you not long after her disappearance. I learned about The Dollhouse, and I was mortified.

She put you all through hell and in return, you all testified for her release from Welby.

When I learned that Charlotte had been murdered, I knew it couldn't have been you and your friends. She had told me so many stories, about how you all had never once betrayed one another. How you were committed to finding the truth. So, I made use of your skills.

I apologize for the threatening messages, but now that Charlotte and Archer's killer has been brought to justice, I can move on. I hope my little gift to each of you can help you do the same.

Charlotte had left me an abundance of good fortune, courtesy of the Carissimi Fund, but you all deserve it more than I do.

214 Providence Avenue

Rosewood, Philadelphia

Best wishes,

Mary DrAke"