This post contains spoilers for the series finale of Pretty Little Liars.
1. Fans might have convinced showrunner I. Marlene King to make Emison endgame.
Way back in 2015, when news first broke that Alison would marry Archer, some fans got worried that Emison would never find their way back to each other. Marlene took to Twitter to dispel rumors, set people's minds at ease, and confirm that she always took the fans' opinions into account when deciding the couple's fate.
2. Alison carried Emily's babies.
Emily's eggs were harvested and stolen in season 7A. Later, they were fertilized (the father's identity: currently unknown) and implanted into Alison when she was unconscious.
Obviously, Alison wasn't expecting to get pregnant, and she was completely shocked when her pregnancy test turned out to be positive.
"There's two lines on the stick," she told Emily in episode 7x10. "I was waiting for one to disappear but it didn't. At first I thought I was just stressed. I've been late before but it was a false alarm. Oh my god, I can't believe this is happening. I thought we were careful. It's not how I pictured starting a family."
3. Emily was really supportive when she found out Alison was pregnant.
After Alison revealed her pregnancy to Emily, the two shared an emotional kiss.
4. The "Alison is carrying Emily's baby" theory first gained traction on Tumblr in 2016.
"Given that this all seems COMPLETELY INSANE, it's probably true," we wrote last August. Um, yeah!
5. Wren is the father.
According to TV Guide, not only did a blood test reveal that Emily is the mother of the child (duh), but also that Archer Dunhill is not the father! Speculation continues about what will happen next, since following a conversation with Paige, Alison was blatantly questioned about her love for Emily.
In the series finale, it was revealed that Wren is the father — but Emily and Alison don't appear to know that information.
6. Alison considered having an abortion.
In 7x14, Alison made an appointment at a women's clinic to have an abortion. She believed that Archer had gotten her pregnant, and as she explained to Emily, she felt that he was still in control of her body as long as she was carrying his child. She explained that terminating the pregnancy was the right option for her.
But then it was Alison's turn to play A.D.'s vicious board game. She was directed to a baby store, where a clerk gave her a gift bag meant for her "egg donor." She opened the bag and discovered a necklace that spelled out "E-M-I-L-Y," basically confirming that insane fan theory.
Later, Alison had a flashback to her time at the Welby Santarium, in which she remembered getting strapped to a bed against her will, being wheeled into an operating room, and losing consciousness.
By the end of the episode, a shocked Alison canceled her appointment at the women's clinic. She felt she needed more time to make a decision.
7. The stolen eggs/forced pregnancy storyline is controversial.
Everyone deserves the right to control their own body. Everyone deserves the right to give and withhold consent, to choose whether they become parents, to plan their family on their own schedule, and to make their own medical decisions. Alison and Emily might be fictional, but their dilemma points to a hard reality that some women and girls in the real world face every day. This is why it's crucial to have access to birth control and abortion.
8. Alison told Emily she wants to "be a family."
In 7x16, Emison's relationship — which had been fraught with tension for seven straight seasons — reached a major turning point.
Here's how it all went down: Emily finally worked up the courage to ask why Alison had kept pushing her away all these years. Alison's response? "I don't know. But I'm ready to stop. I want to do this — together."
When Emily asked her to clarify, Alison spelled out exactly what she meant. "I want to be a family," she said.
She went on to explain, "Over the years, I've been in so many failed relationships, and I always made excuses why. But I know the reason. Paige tried to get me to say it, but I didn't want to say it to her.... I love you."
Watch the whole emotional scene below:
9. The pregnancy actually brought the two characters closer.
When Marlene exclusively spoke to Entertainment Tonight about the evolution of Emison, she revealed that the pregnancy was actually "a way to bring them closer" as characters in the script.
10. The baby turned out to be TWO babies.
Twins!
11. Their names are Grace and Lily.
So gorgeous.
Hannah Orenstein is the assistant features editor at Seventeen.com. Follow her on Twitter and Instagram!
Willa Bennett is a Fellow at Seventeen.com. Follow her on Instagram!
Hannah Orenstein
Hannah Orenstein is the author of several novels, including Meant to Be Mine (out June 7, 2022), Head Over Heels, Love at First Like, and Playing with Matches. She's also the Deputy Editor of Dating at Elite Daily. She lives in Brooklyn.
