A/N: Thanks so, so much for all the reviews! The more you guys review, the more inspired I am to write!
Much thanks to BeAuTiFuLlIfE for beta reading this chapter for me!
This chapter is a little shorter than the last one, and though I would've liked to do two parts to this chapter like the previous ones--one part dealing with Will and Emma while the other part focuses on the kids-- it didn't quite work out with the next chapter I have planned. If all goes as planned, you should be meeting the new guidance counselor and new Cheerio coach next chapter :P So what sort of teachers do you think will take over Sue and Emma's jobs?
I do have a busy week ahead of me, so I don't know when I'll be able to update next. I'll try to get at least one more chapter up before the weekend!
Thanks again, and enjoy!
Will woke to the faint beams of sunlight streaming through the window as he lay contently on Emma's couch. He smiled—it had been so long since he had woken up to sunshine, and he hadn't realized he had missed it.
The plastic covering on the couch squeaked as he rose from his makeshift bed. Last night, Emma had offered to take the plastic off the couch before he slept on it, but Will had insisted that it was fine. He figured the surface of the couch had not touched the outside air since it had been delivered from the furniture store, and no matter how much Emma insisted it would be fine to take the plastic off, Will knew that it would cause her unnecessary anxiety.
Will quietly slipped down the hallway into the immaculate bathroom to change back into his wrinkled outfit. After using the toilet and washing his hands, he checked to see if anything looked out of place. Living with Emma was definitely going to be a wake up call to any careless or sloppy habits he had, but it was a sacrifice that would be well worth it.
When he emerged from the bathroom, he found Emma in the kitchen, already fully dressed.
"Why are you up so early?" Will asked, greeting her with a smile as she prepared herself a piece of toast.
"Job hunting," she answered. "Which has turned out to be more difficult than I thought. The only school around here that is in need of a guidance counselor is McKinley High, so it looks like I'm going to have to settle for something a little more inferior. Would you like a piece of toast?"
"I would love a piece of toast," he told her, though he rarely took the time to eat breakfast. But eating breakfast with Emma changed his view entirely. "Good luck with the job search, and if you'd like, I can help you come up with a few places to apply to when I get home tonight."
Will couldn't help but to smile as he said the words. It was so wonderful to finally have a place to call home, and a lovely woman to come home to. It dawned on him how much the two seemed like a married couple this morning, and it was ridiculous how much that idea made him grin.
"I'd really appreciate that, Will," Emma told him, a genuine note in her voice. The toast popped out of the toaster a moment later, and Emma reached to pull out her piece. "Do you mind if I touch your piece, or would you rather me use gloves, or you could even come get it your—"
Will cut her off. "It's fine if you touch it." He couldn't help but to chuckle after he said the words.
Emma blushed feverishly as she brought the toast over to the table. "I'm sorry. It's just been so long since I've lived with anyone, and—"
"Emma, you don't have to do this. I'm fine living at the school until I can find my own place," Will reassured her, hating to see her in such an apprehensive state due to his presence.
"No, I want to do this," Emma took in deep breath as she caught Will's gaze. "I just want everything to be perfect for you."
Will's heart melted as she said the words. "Emma, anything you do will be perfect for me."
Emma seemed to relax slightly at his reassurance, but she still seemed slightly frazzled as she looked over at the kitchen. The bread bag hadn't been restored to bread box yet, and the cabinet from which she had grabbed the plates was still open.
"Emma, come over here," Will told her, and Emma tore her eyes from the slight imperfection of the kitchen over to Will's perfect face.
Will beckoned her with his eyes, and hesitantly, Emma left the disarray of the kitchen. Will opened his arms as Emma approached him, and he pulled her gently into his lap.
"Relax," he told her, whispering softly, lightly rubbing the small of her back. He felt her muscles give in slightly. "Close your eyes." His breath hit the back of her neck. Emma's eyelids fluttered shut. Gently, he continued to massage her back, all the way up her spine until he reached her shoulders. "All better?" he breathed, his lips brushing the nape of her neck.
She nodded, a part of her wishing he hadn't stopped so soon. "Thanks, Will."
Slowly, Emma rose from Will's lap. She restored the kitchen to its immaculate state and then grabbed some knives and jam as she joined Will back at the table.
Will looked in disbelief at the tiny restaurant sized jam packets. "Wouldn't it be easier to buy a big jar?"
Emma blushed once again as she opened the small container and began to precisely spread the strawberry jam. "I have a problem with letting already opened containers sit around in my kitchen. It feels much fresher to do it this way—I do it with all my condiments, even peanut butter."
There was no limit to Emma's mysophobic tendencies, Will decided, but instead of annoying him, he found her more and more adorable as he discovered each one of her quirks.
"That reminds me," Emma added. "Would you like me to make you a peanut butter sandwich for your lunch today?"
"But you already made me breakfast." Will could not hide his surprise. Terri had hardly ever offered to make him lunch.
"I thought it'd be a nice change from the awful cafeteria lunches, and before you protest, I wouldn't mind at all," Emma told him with a smile. She stacked their two empty plates, carrying them into the kitchen and scrubbing them thoroughly before placing them into the dishwasher. She took out the loaf of bread and two small packets of peanut butter, humming softly as worked.
Will only watched her with his chin resting contently in his hand. God, she was beautiful…
"I'll give you some grapes, too," she added, startling Will out of his trance. She crisply creased the top of the brown paper lunch bag, and then handed it to him. "You'd better head out or else you're going to be late."
Will glanced at the clock, regretting that he had to go already. He would spend his day walking past Emma's empty office and wondering what exactly he was going to do about his failing Glee Club. But at least he had the hope of coming home to Emma's warm smile.
"Bye, Emma," he told her, their fingers brushing slightly as she handed him the brown bag. "And thanks. Thanks for everything."
Emma only smiled. "I'll see you later tonight."
As Will slipped out the door, he turned to catch one last glimpse of Emma. She was intently scrubbing the kitchen table, humming the same nameless tune as before.