A/N: Welcome to the next part of the tale.

This chapter takes place in the evening, the same day as the previous chapter, after Emily takes Naomi to visit a famous gallery.

The POV will switch around, by the way. But for now, we stick with Naomi.

Disclaimer: I do not own skins. Peanut butter makes everything awesome. If you are allergic here are some *sympathy hugs*l

All typos/screw ups are the property if the iPod I typed this on, it has been edited to change POV, but even I'm human and make mistakes, so...)

(Naomi POV)

Emily sat opposite me and took a sip of her drink.

"So, how did you like the Louvre?"

"Oh, it was fantastic! I think I'd need a month just to see everything I wanted to see in there." I replied, before sipping my vodka.

"And how is your drink?" Emily smirked.

"Totally hits the spot after all that walking. What did you like the most, Emily?"

"Hmmm... the sculptures. I have to say, I don't see all the fuss over the Mona Lisa. It's a nice painting and all, but... Honestly? I just don't see the big deal."

"Maybe you had to be Da Vinci to really appreciate it." I laughed. "Don't worry, I'm sure you're not the only person on earth who doesn't get it," I said, raising my glass to my lips once more.

"Glad I'm not alone, then!" Emily drained her drink and put the glass on the table. "Hmm, my glass seems to have sprung a leak. Fancy another?"

"Ok, same again!" I answered, almost having finished my glass. Emily stood up to walk back to the bar, not looking back to see if the I was watching her. Not that she needed to, of course I was. I couldn't drag my eyes from Emily, and spending the day together had only made it harder. The effect the redhead had on me had increased tenfold since breakfast, and it was now dusk, and the queasy feeling of butterflies in my stomach was rampantly fluttering.

I was staring off into space when Emily came back, and didn't notice when she put the drink in front of me. Emily sat down across from me and laid her hand on top of mine.

"You've wandered off again. Not boring you, am I?"

"Hmm? Oh! Sorry, I was miles away..."

"Yeah, I noticed that. Guess I have to stick around for your undivided attention, eh?" she smirked.

I smiled shyly. "Sorry. Believe it or not you have my attention. I'm just... distracted easily."

"Ah. By what, if I might ask?" Emily looked at her curiously.

Naomi gave another shy smile. "Well... You see, it's..."

Emily regarded her carefully. The blonde was blushing, clearly nervous about what she was about to say. "C'mon blondie, out with it!"

"Ok! It's just... I keep thinking about your eyes. They're kindofreallyratherbeautiful..." I trailed off at the end. I looked at the spare coasters on the table, and sort of wished the carpet would swallow me whole.

"Wow. You think so?" Emily said, slightly taken aback. I nodded slowly, before looking into Emily's eyes again. We held each others gaze for a few moments,and Emily absent mindedly ran her thumb over the back of my hand. "Thank you, not many people tell me that."

"I cant imagine why, they should tell you every day."

"You're sweet." Emily smiled.

I took a long sip on her drink. "Have you any plans for your evening?" I asked, placing her glass back on its coaster.

"Hadn't really thought that far ahead. Hoofing it around Paris all day has me a little tired, though. I thought about maybe room service and whatever is on questionable French cable television. Care to join me?"

"I'd love to. How about I put my stuff in my room and meet you at yours in a few?"

Emily pulled a pen out of her camera bag. "Here, give me your hand, gorgeous..." She took my hand and turned it over, writing the number to her room on the back. I almost shivered at the touch, and hoped she didn't feel my fingers shaking. She smiled and said "I'll expect you in 20, or I'm sending out a search party, got it?" I nodded. "See you soon, yeah?"

I took the lift to her floor, and entered my room, placing my backpack by the bed. Looking over pictures from today could wait. I took a few minutes to freshen up, and left the room again. Then I looked at the room number Emily had written on my hand. It was on the same floor, just a few doors down. I chuckled and shook my head, then walked to Emily's door and knocked lightly.

"Christ!" I heard from behind the door. I couldn't help but giggle. The door opened, and there stood Emily. "That was quick! I thought I was going to have to use that search party number..." she joked.

"Mmmm, would you believe we're on the same floor? I'm maybe three doors down from you."

"Why didn't you say in the bar?"

"I didn't notice until I looked at your number before I left my room." I paused. "Are you going to let me in?"

"Huh? OH! Of course, sorry..." she stepped aside to let me into her suite. I entered the room and took a seat at the table in the corner. "Uh, I ordered room service already, hope that's ok?"

I nodded. "Sure." I looked around the room, much the same as mine, really. Different art on the walls, maybe. Emily sat across from her at the table. "Naomi, you have a look of childlike wonder about you. You look like you've not been in a hotel room before." She quirked her eyebrow at the me, and I felt her brown eyes carefully regarding me. I felt a wave of sensation and then felt me cheeks flush. Damn. I cleared my throat.

Nervously, I laughed. "No, I have, but this room is so similar to mine, except for the art."

"So no chance of you getting lost, then?" Emily joked.

"Nope, don't think so." I gave the redhead a shy smile.

I both sat in silence for a short minute. "Christ, Emily, where are your manners? Naomi. Can I get you something to drink?" I was not too sure a drink was a good idea. The way I felt about the redhead complicated her emotions, and even though I had resigned myself to the fact that there was something I felt for Emily, I was cautious. I mentally slapped myself. I came to Paris to get away, to find myself again, I told myself, so why not just throw caution to the wind? Fucking clichés, I thought, as I quickly made her decision.

"Uh sure... Vodka?" Emily nodded and got up, walking to the mini bar and retrieving a large bottle of vodka, and a couple of glasses. She set them down on the table and poured two glasses, sliding one across the table toward me. I picked up the glass, swallowing the clear liquid, and then set it back down on the table. I winced slightly as the alcohol burnt my throat. Emily looked on, amused. "Fancy a mixer?"

"I think I need to relax more than I need a mixer..." I replied, tilting her head backwards, and exhaling. Just then there was a knock on the door.

"Oh, that'll be room service." Emily stood to open the door and babbled on in French to the attendant. I had to fight hard not to blatantly stare open mouthed at her as I was mesmerised at the way her voice spoke the language. My only thought was that Emily could whisper French into my ear and I would melt into a puddle of bliss. He left everything on the table and then made his exit. "I didn't know what you were hungry for, so I figured tapas would do the trick. Cool?"

I nodded, pouring myself another vodka, mentally shaking myself out of my trance as Emily set up the plates between us. "Looks great. Hang on... What on earth is that? It looks like an alien!" I laughed, pointing to the plate.

"Someone has never seen baby octopus before..."

"Nope!"

"Everything once. Try it!" I probably looked skeptical as I grabbed a fork and poked one of the octopus. Octopuses? Octopi? Octopussy? No wait, that was a James Bond film. I looked at it curiously, before shrugging and popping it into my mouth and chewing carefully. Emily grinned, clearly amused. "Well... What do you think?"

"Not bad for seafood flavoured rubber." I smirked, before waving it off, adding "... It's actually not bad. I don't mind it." Emily giggled.

"See, I can tell you are up for new experiences. Alien looking seafood is the least of your worries." Emily replied, finishing her vodka and reaching for the bottle to pour another. "Top-up?"

"You trying to get me drunk, Red?" I asked, relaxed enough now to smile and feel comfortable and less guarded around her. I thought to myself that maybe this wasn't so bad after all, and that maybe I should just see where this led to.

"Not particularly, but loosening you up wouldn't hurt. No need to be so tense, Naomi, I'm not gonna bite.. Well, unless you ask nicely..." Emily laughed.

"In that case, I'll have another." I grinned across the table. Emily reached over and poured me another drink. I sighed. I decided to just leap. "Fuck it." I whispered, before picking up the glass and swallowing the clear liquid quickly and putting the glass back on the table in front of me, and letting my eyes close. Emily reached over and took my hand in hers. My blue eyes opened to meet Emily's brown ones, and for a long moment we simply stared at each other. I swear Emily felt me shiver at her touch, and was bemused by what she saw in my eyes, only because she wasn't sure exactly what she saw. It probably intrigued her. While it was slowly dwindling, it just confused me...

"Say something..." Emily said quietly.

"I'm normally quite shy..." I began. "...but there's something about you that interests me... And I'm not sure how to feel about it." Emily rubbed her thumb softly over the back of my hand, letting me speak. "If we're being completely honest..."

"Please do, Id much rather your honesty over anything."

"...Wait. I can't explain it this way. Do you mind?" I asked Emily, motioning to the sliding door that went out to the balcony. She nodded, and I stood and walked out onto the balcony to briefly collect myself. Emily cautiously followed her out there, for some reason not wanting to be too far from her, and stood by her at the railing, looking across the city at all the lights twinkling.

"Remember when you were a kid, and life was a little simpler? And things were less confusing?"

"Hmmm, not really, did I mention my bitchy twin sister?" Emily laughed.

"This should be simple but it feels so confusing, Emily..."

"What does?"

"The way I feel about you." I turned to look at the redhead.

"Oh."

"Honestly, it's the opposite to anything I've felt before, and it scares me. Granted we don't really know each other well, and literally only met yesterday, but there is something about you that makes me feel like a better person, much happier when I'm around you. I really like you a lot, Emily. I feel comfortable around you, but it makes me so nervous at the same time."

Emily stared at me with her mouth slightly open. "...Really?" she whispered, placing her hand on my shoulder.

I nodded. "Give it long enough and it might be more than that..."

"What d'you mean?" Emily asked, trying to keep her voice from breaking. Her expression was full of anticipation, as though desperately wantingto hear what I had to say.

"I mean...another day with you and I just might find myself falling for you..."

"Wow." Emily said, in a barely audible whisper. My heart felt as though it stopped momentarily, before thudding loudly in my chest, so loud, I thought Emily might hear it herself.

"Not quite what you had in mind when you said "say something", huh?" I said quietly.

"Wasn't my first option... But it's good to know the feeling is mutual..." Emily said, huskily.

"Yeah, well... What?!" I said, stunned.

"Yeah... From the first minute I saw you in the transit lounge in London. Couldn't believe my luck when I boarded the flight. The rest has just been coincidence." Emily smiled.

"Do you believe in love, Emily?" I blurted out, before wishing she hadn't. Good one, word vomit. I bit my bottom lip, and my brow furrowed. Did I really want to go with this conversation?

Emily stared at me before laughing softly. "Oh, I believe love is out there for everyone. We all find it at some stage. What about you?"

"I thought I did. If you pour me another drink, I'll see if I can explain." I half smiled before walking back into Emily's room.

We sat at the table, and Emily began to pour me another drink. "Make it a good stiff one..." I said, quietly. I nodded as if to say when, as my glass filled to half full. Wrapping my hand around it, I picked it up and drained it by half, wincing slightly as the vodka warmed my throat. A solemn expression crossed my face. At least, I'm sure it did.

"Emily, do you remember when we talked about what brought us to Paris, and I said I'd been through some personal stuff?" Emily nodded. "And, I told you I was studying journalism but had deferred..."

"Of course."

I took another sip of her vodka. "About a year ago, my mum died," I said, quietly. "And less than a week later, I found my boyfriend in bed with my best friend."

Emily looked at me with a shocked expression. She reached across the table and took my hand in hers. "Whoa. Now that... I was not expecting. I'm sorry about your mother. The boyfriend on the other hand, what a jerk."

"You're not just saying he's a jerk because you fancy me, right?" I questioned, my blue eyes gazing curiously. I shivered slightly, hoping Emily didn't notice.

Emily looked at me with confusion. "N-no. One girl to another, that's a shitty thing to do."

I smiled a wry smile. "Things sort of unravel a bit when you lose your mother, your partner and your best friend in such a short space of time." I paused. "Then, I found out I got into journalism at uni." I ran my fingers through my hair and shook it out, slightly, exhaling. Emily watched me as as I did so. "Great timing, really. But seeing as I couldn't handle both a nervous breakdown AND study, I deferred for a year, mooched around for a bit wallowing in self pity and booze, and then woke up one day last week, deciding I needed a holiday... And here I am in Paris. That's it, really."

"How long were you with him?" Emily asked.

"Four years." I stated, flatly.

Emily gave a low whistle. "Harsh. I'm sorry he did that to you, babe. And with your best friend, no less." Her voice had become almost soothing, and both her hands were wrapped around mine as she spoke. She gently rubbed the back of my hand with her thumb. Damn, why is she so lovely?

"I walked out on him after that."

"I don't blame you one bit."

I felt tears begin to prick her eyes. "Oh, look at me. Sorry, I'm being a little pathetic..." I said, my voice shaking as I blinked and a tear slid down my cheek.

Emily reached for a box of tissues and put them on the table between them, taking one and folding it before sliding it gently down my cheek to soak up the moisture. "Not at all, it's good to get these things out. Think nothing of it. Besides, now I know you're not a robot!" Emily laid her hand on top of mine, stroking her thumb lightly across my skin.

"Ha, you really need to stop being so sweet to me. You are making it very hard for me to not fall for you more..." I looked up at Emily with what I am sure were vulnerable eyes.

"Is that such a bad thing?" the redhead asked, tilting her head as she smiled softly.

I shrugged. "Honestly, Emily, I'm not sure. I've not felt this way before, not even about Matthew." It was the first time in months I had said his name aloud. "I feel some kind of connection with you that can't be explained with words."

Emily got up and then kneeled in front of me. Without saying a word, she leaned forward and wrapped her arms tight around me, holding me close. I couldn't help herself, I breathed in the faint strawberry scent of Emily's hair, and sighed, content. Emily pulled back and planted a soft kiss on my forehead. She looked into my eyes. "I want to kiss you." Emily whispered, in a low voice. I could feel the request more than I could hear it. A shallow breath caught in my throat, as I realised that I wanted Emily to kiss me as well.

"Then ...kiss me..." I barely whispered, in reply. Emily slowly leaned forwards and pressed her lips against mine. Softly at first, then deeper. I inhaled sharply as my hand came up to rest on Emily's cheek. In the same instance as Emily pulled back her lips, I shivered.

"Uhm... I think you'd better do that again, j-just to make sure it was real..." Emily didn't hesitate to bring her lips to mine once more, kissing me deeper and slipping her tongue between my lips. Our arms wrapped tighter around each other as we continued kissing, and I felt a raw warmth pulse through my stomach. No kiss that touched my lips before had ever felt like this. Finally, Emily pulled away, and watched as I attempted to collect myself.

I opened my eyes, no doubt now a more piercing blue than before, darker and staring right into warm brown ones.

"Hmm... Tell me I'm not dreaming and that was real..." I whispered. It made Emily's breath catch in her throat.

"Not dreaming, I promise..." Emily whispered, before leaning forward to softly kiss me once more. "Beautiful..." she mumbled, once their lips separated again.

"Now, you're exaggerating..." I whispered, shyly, gently biting mu bottom lip.

"Absolutely not. I never joke about a beautiful woman. And not when she's in my arms." Emily breathed, leaning her forehead against mine.

A/N#2: Awww... Fluffy towel, anyone?

The next chapter I haven't edited yet, so it'll be up when it's up :)

Reviews welcome, as ever.