"Mommy, come help!"

Paige smiled at the five-year-old's enthusiasm. Halloween was days away and Olivia, who was just like Emily in every way, couldn't wait. She had promised her kids a jack-o-lantern and she had barely been able to walk through the door without Olivia pouncing on her.

"Give me a second, honey," she replied, grinning at her wife. Emily was standing in the doorway, holding two-year-old Bella. She had Paige's features and personality, so she was much shier than her sister.

"Olivia, put a coat on," Emily called as the girl bolted for the door. She frowned.

"But Mama-."

"No buts. It's windy out there," Paige told her. She turned to Emily. "Are you helping?"

"Do you want to help Mommy and Olivia?" she asked the little brunette girl in her arms. The toddler considered carefully.

"I watch."

"Okay," Emily chuckled. "Let's get your coat."

The four of them paraded outside, sitting at the picnic table they had in the back yard. Olivia messily drew on the pumpkin where she wanted Paige to carve while Bella observed quietly from Emily's lap, gripping her jacket with her tiny fist.

"This is going to be the scariest jack-lo-lantern ever," Olivia declared proudly, stumbling over the words.

"Not too scary," Emily reminded her.

"But I don't get scared," Olivia argued. "I'm a big girl."

"Big girls get scared sometimes," Paige replied. She remembered all too well spending her entire senior year of high school afraid, both for herself and Emily. Her wife seemed to know what she was talking about, and she reassuringly placed a hand on Paige's shoulder. That had been a rough year and their love had been tested multiple times, but they had always come back stronger than before.

"What are you afraid of, Mommy?"

"Clowns," Paige answered promptly.

"The dark," Emily added, grinning. Olivia gasped while Bella giggled.

"You're afraid of the dark?"

"Mommy's a baby!" Bella added. Paige glared at Emily.

"Thanks, Em."

But Emily smiled so sweetly at her she couldn't be mad. Emily's smile had managed to charm her out of a lot of trouble over the years.

"I'm going to get you back for that," Paige told her softly. Emily grinned.

"I hope so."

Paige felt a bolt of arousal run through her at her wife's response. They had a healthy sex life, and even after seven years of marriage that hadn't changed. Every time she looked at Emily it felt like the first, and at the age of twenty-seven her wife was still like the insatiable teenager she had been when they had first gotten together. Not that Paige was complaining.

Once they were finished they began their normal evening routine. Emily and Paige made dinner while the girls played in the living room. After they ate, Emily brought the girls upstairs. Paige promised to put a candle in the jack-o-lantern so they could see it when they were done, so she went outside to do just that. Olivia was impressed, but Bella didn't comment.

Once the kids were in bed, the two women went to their room. Paige watched as her wife pulled off her blouse, reaching for her pajama shirt. Emily noticed the eyes on her and glanced at the woman across the room, smirking.

"What are you looking at so intently, my love?"

"Someone beautiful."

Emily smiled at the response. Paige was so good to her.

"You're so cheesy," she replied, sliding under the covers and reaching for her book on the night stand. Paige slid into bed next to her, cuddling up against her. Emily smiled, reaching out to run her fingers through Paige's hair. Through all the hardship, Paige had been her rock.

"But you love it."

"I love you." Emily pulled her in for a kiss, their lips lingering.

"I love you, too." They kissed again, more passionately this time, Emily's book forgotten. It wasn't long before Paige was on top of her, caressing every inch of her perfect body. "You're so beautiful, Em."

"Paige," she whimpered. "I need you."

Paige didn't waste time. She went right to work, kissing and teasing all the right places. She knew Emily's body as well as her own. She never failed to leave her gasping in satisfaction.

Emily moaned softly, pulling Paige closer to her. There were times when she was still afraid; times when she thought about how happy she was and then the fear something would happen to take that away rearing its ugly head. She loved Paige and she loved her kids more than words could say and the memory of seeing Maya wheeled away from her was fresh in her mind even after all this time. She lived in fear of that happening again, but somehow Paige had the ability to make her feel safe anyway. If it hadn't been for Paige, Emily was convinced she would have gone crazy and ended up in Radley for life right alongside Alison.

"Wait," Emily told her breathlessly. Paige looked at her, surprised.

"Em? Baby, what is it?"

"You know how much I love you, right?"

"Yes," Paige replied nervously. "But?"

"No, no. It's nothing like that," she assured her, rubbing her arm. "But answer me. Do you?"

"Of course."

"Good. I just needed to know."

"Is there something I should know?"

Emily shook her head. Paige was so beautiful, and when she made that concerned face she looked the same as she did back in high school. The same girl Emily had fallen hopelessly in love with.

"No, Paige," she replied gently. "It's just… after all that's happened to me I thought I would never be allowed to be happy. And now I have a beautiful wife and wonderful kids and I just need you to know how much it means to me. How much you mean to me."

Paige smiled, kissing Emily softly. She knew.

"I know, babe. I always have."

"Even when I did stupid things?"

"Even when you did stupid things."

"Good."

"Now, what do you say we get back to where we left off?"

"I like that idea."

They went back to kissing, Paige fondling Emily's breasts. Emily groaned, nipping Paige's ear as she fumbled to turn the light off. That reminded Paige of their conversation from earlier and she pulled away, grinning down at her wife.

"Oh, one more thing."

"What?" Emily asked, smiling at the teasing look on her wife's face.

"I am not afraid of the dark."

"Yeah, okay."

"Em," she whined.

"Paige, you made us sleep with the lights on for a week after we saw The Conjuring."

"That was so you wouldn't be scared."

Emily laughed, touching Paige's cheek. Personally she thought it was cute, but she knew Paige was embarrassed by it. She probably shouldn't have mentioned it to the kids, but she wasn't going to admit that. She would rather Paige "punish" her.

"That's very sweet of you."

"You're mocking me," Paige decided, her voice husky. "That's it. You'll definitely have to pay."

"Fine with me," Emily replied, and she closed her eyes as she felt Paige thrust her fingers inside of her.

A/N: If there's an interest in the story, I'm thinking of maybe continuing it. Let me know what you think and if you would be interested. Thanks for reading!