Author Note: Thank you for the reviews, you know I enjoy reading them. ^_^ Also a massive thank you to everyone who reviewed the final chapter of Through The Dark, you beat my previous record of number of reviews and I really do appreciate that so, so much.
Disclaimer: I don't own Skins, but I did write this story.
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The clouds took a while to clear and the pain, though still present, was getting easier to manage. Katie stood in the kitchen making a drink, mulling over her thoughts. She hated being sad, she hated being anything but happy. She could handle fights and feeling annoyed. But she couldn't stand feeling sorry for herself. It had been two weeks of wallowing, two weeks of lying on the sofa barely moving. At first it was what she needed, but eventually it became tiresome. Howard entered the kitchen in his shirt and tie.
"Are you going to work?" she asked, her voice sounding weird from lack of hearing it.
"I've taken too much time off," he muttered. He knew that wasn't the whole truth; his manager had insisted he take as long as Katie needed him, but he couldn't stand being cooped up in that house any longer.
"Okay," Katie whispered.
It must have been hard on him, she thought. They were usually very touchy feely when they were together; hands, legs, mouths. But neither of them had felt very passionate lately. She didn't want him to go. It was a selfish thought, but she wanted to curl up in his arms and fall asleep watching some rubbish film.
"Howie?" she asked, her voice small and tight.
"Yes?" he responded, looking up into her eyes.
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It felt good to see her eyes again, to really look into them, to explore the thoughts that lay beneath. It was too much, her eyes were sad, shielding pain from the outside world, but they were opening their doors and letting him enter. He stepped forwards, his arms sliding neatly around her body. She shook, the side of his shirt grew damp, but he didn't care. She was finally letting him into her pain, finally allowing him to be her husband and comfort her.
"I don't want to feel this way," she sobbed, "It's well bad,"
He tried to smile as he wiped her tears, mopped up the sorrow that was falling from her eyes.
He struggled to keep his composure, "Were going to get through this,"
Katie nodded, pushing her face into the side of his neck, breathing in every inch of his skin. Skin that she loved, skin that she missed. Her hands rested on his chest, sliding across his neck as she reached up and kissed him softly. It was intense; a moment of passion that they'd not shared in too long, the feeling of fire running through them, warming their bodies, heating them up after weeks of being out in the cold.
When she pulled away, Katie had a question on her mind. It hurt to think about it, but she had to ask, "Can you handle not having a baby of our own?"
Howard's lips curled into a slight smile, "I love you Katie, that's all that I need."
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Its was a lazy morning. Emily lay in bed, enjoying the peace and quiet of being alone. The bed was never as warm without Naomi in it, but she spread herself out and breathed in Naomi's scent which still lingered in the room. She was happy. Her life was good and she didn't have very much to complain about. Except for her sister. She'd thought about the situation several times, let it run through her mind as she tried to find ways to help Katie feel better. She kept going over them, but her mind always came back to one thing. The front door of the house opened and banged shut, pulling Emily from her thoughts.
"Emly, Emly," a tiny voice shouted, feet stamping their way up the stairs. Followed by bigger feet, louder stamps and Naomi's voice.
"Hold up Lexie,"
There was silence, then Naomi popped her head around the door.
"Are you decent?"
Emily shook her head, slipping out of the covers and into her clothes from the night before which were still balled up on the floor. The door opened fully as she pulled her t-shirt round her waist.
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"Emly!" that tiny voice shouted as Naomi's little sister bound through the door, her blonde hair flying around. Emily grinned and scooped her into her arms.
"Hello Little L!"
"I gots a new toy to show you," she called out as her feet hit the ground and she was off out of the room again.
"I missed you when I woke," Emily sighed, resting her fingers around the edge of Naomi's top,
"Sorry, I was going to wake you but I was already running late to pick little missy up and you looked so peaceful,"
Naomi grinned as Emily's fingers slid up her back. "Do we know how Katie is?"
Naomi watched her shake her head, her eyes looking everywhere but into her own. They were always honest about their feelings, after everything they'd been through they chose to fight and make up over hiding their thoughts.
"What is it?" she asked, trying her best to search Emily's eyes for an answer.
The red head lifted her head, a smile on her face. "It's nothing, I'm just worried about her, no change there really."
"No," Naomi sighed, kissing her lightly on the lips. "You'd best get some shoes on or Lexie will be dragging you out barefoot."
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Emily did as she was told and followed Naomi and Lexie out to the front of the house where a small yellow and red bike sat. The little girl sat down on the seat, gripping the handlebars tightly.
"Help me ride Emly," she grinned,
It was easy to push the little bike along, making sure Lexie didn't fall off as she pushed down on the pedals. Emily couldn't help think about the happy times she'd shared with Naomi and her sister and how special it was to be part of a child's life. Whilst she played with Lexie, she made a decision. It had taken a lot of thought, the more she thought about it, the easier it was to make, but she knew that it would change everything.
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Author Note: The next chapter might not be up for a couple of days, but it is going to be a huge one (not length wise, dunno how long it'll be) but storyline wise, so keep your eyes peeled. As Emily said it will change everything...these two chapters have just been an introduction really with a bit of backstory on the recent events. If you've read this chapter, please, please, please review. ^_^