Author's Note: Okay guys, this is the last of the planned parts. I'm toying with continuing this, but I start my Freshman year of college this Friday. I'm not sure how much time I'll have to write on this, or how much inspiration I'll have. Updates may be sporadic, if they come at all. This could stand by itself, but I'm so addicted to the Bemmett pairing!
Anyway, thanks to everyone who reviewed, alerted, or faved! I love you guys, you're amazing and the reason I keep going! I hope you like this part. The response to this has been fantastic!
Disclaimer: I don't own Switched at Birth! If I did, they would be back on air next Monday!
Bay sat in her art studio, her eyes trained on the canvas in front of her.
It was five in the morning, but inspiration had struck so hard that it woke her from a deep sleep. She immediately got dressed, threw on some combat boots, and raced down to the garage where all her supplies were kept. Her mother was in the kitchen when she ran through, so shocked to see her daughter up before noon on a Sunday that she nearly spilled her coffee.
By the time Bay got set up, picked out the colors she'd imagined using, and had the outline ready in her mind, the buzz of excitement in her stomach was beginning to crescendo. It felt like something big, something that would top almost every other work she'd completed over the years. Even though the picture was still in her mind's eye, she couldn't wait to show Emmett.
She worked for hours, stopping only to get a glass of orange juice and accept one of the biscuits her mother brought out to her. The color flowed from her brush like an extension of her, forming lines and curves and waves until she saw in front of her what she'd seen in her head.
The pure burst of creativity had taken everything out of her, but she knew it was worth it. By the time lunch rolled around, she was covered in paint and reclining happily in one of the chairs set up in the middle of the room. Every bit of her was satisfied, reveling in the pleasure of finishing a great painting that she had been unable to forget.
She let her eyes rove over the different pieces of the work: the texture of the blues, worked up like a whirling Van Gogh painting; the harsh slashes of the reds and oranges that made up the most dynamic bit; the sweeping melodrama of the greens and purples. Oh, she wanted to dive into the canvas and never resurface.
Just as she was preparing for another round of back-patting, she heard The Thing pull into the driveway, trailer jostling and engine rumbling. Her heart sped up, an entirely different kind of anticipation lighting her up from the inside. Emmett had been gone for two days, and she'd missed him more than she thought she would.
Bay went to the door, leaning against the frame as she watched the guys unload all their equipment. She wondered if everything had paid off, or if Toby regretted lugging all that stuff four hours across the state for a fifteen minute gig.
Before Bay could make a move to greet the trio, Daphne bounded down the guesthouse stairs and launched herself into Emmett's arms. The only consolation was the look of shock and slight confusion on Emmett's face, and the fact that he pushed her away in about five seconds.
"I'm glad you're back!" Daphne said, hands flying. "It's been weird without you around."
Bay rolled her eyes. It was the weekend, it's not like she missed him at school for two days. At least Bay had a normal routine she could revert to without Emmett to hang around with.
She saw Emmett hand over a wristband of some sort, which Daphne exclaimed over like it was a Dalmatian puppy. Not that Bay was analyzing her actions or anything.
Finally deciding to make her presence known, Bay strode out of the garage with a smile.
"Toby, Wilke! You didn't kill my boyfriend, how kind of you." She smirked, roughing up her brother's hair as she passed him on her way to Emmett.
"We had to reel him back from all the groupies," Toby joked, picking up an amp and lugging it toward his garage.
"Ha ha, very funny." Bay stopped near Emmett and Daphne, waiting until they finished their conversation before waving to get their attention.
"Hey!" Emmett smiled, reaching over to grab her into a hug.
Bay hugged him back, resting her face against his shoulder. With his arms around her, she could ignore the glare Daphne was probably sending her. She could also ignore the comedic stylings of Dumb and Dumber as they finished unloading the trailer, joking the whole time.
When they parted, he held out a dark blue t-shirt. She opened it up, grinning as the East-West Fest logo was revealed, along with dates. It was the coolest thing a guy had ever gotten her, and she applauded his taste and size choice.
"Thank you, it's great," she said, kissing him quickly. "I want to show you something."
Emmett waved to Daphne, signing that he would see her later, and followed Bay into her studio. Her hands were covered with paint, which gave away one part of her secret. He loved the way she always had colors up to her elbows when she was working really hard on a painting.
"I just did this today," she said, standing next to an explosion of vibrant colors. "What do you think?"
"It's amazing," he signed absently, too busy looking at every inch of the canvas to actually pay attention to what he was saying.
Bay grinned, watching him study her work. It was nice to finally have someone to share this with; someone who didn't think her use of color was too loud or squint their eyes and turn their head like they were missing something. Emmett got her, and he got her paintings.
After a few minutes, she waved to get his attention and stepped closer.
"I missed you." She leaned up, wrapping her arms around his neck, and waited.
Emmett caught on quickly, closing the rest of the distance between them and capturing her lips. He'd missed this, the feeling of complete rightness. It was so different with Bay, so much more than he'd ever imagined. He thought this was how it would be when he finally kissed Daphne, but instead he felt this way about a hearing girl. His life was totally backwards.
And he liked it.
Bay smirked into the kiss, glad to have her boyfriend back and not have to share him with Daphne for at least a few minutes. His hands curled around her back, sending a tremor up her spine, and their knees brushed gently. She dragged her fingers through the hair at the nape of his neck, nails eliciting a small grunt from him.
The entire time he was gone, she replayed the sound of his voice over and over. It still gave her the chills, in a good way. Although she would give anything to hear it again, she wasn't going to push him. She knew it had taken everything he had to muster up those four words, and it meant the world to her that he'd done it for her.
Just as Bay tightened her grip and moved even closer, she heard footsteps at the door. Breaking away, she looked over Emmett's shoulder and saw Daphne standing there with her arms folded.
Again? This girl is insane, Bay thought sighing into Emmett's shirt in frustration.
"Hey, what's up?" she asked, stepping out from behind him to face her sort-of sister.
"I need to talk to Emmett," Daphne replied, raising her eyebrows and gesturing to the boy in question. Emmett frowned, still irritated at the interruption.
"Go ahead," Bay told him, smiling tightly. "I'll be here."
He kissed her on the cheek, and then followed Daphne out to the driveway. There was no telling what she wanted, but he assumed it wasn't good since she'd come in while he and Bay were kissing.
"Okay, you needed to talk?" He tried not to adopt a defensive posture, settling instead on hooking his thumbs in his pockets.
"I'm still not okay with you and Bay," she said, cutting straight to the point. "Did you even tell her we kissed?"
"No, and I don't want you to, either." Emmett glanced back at the garage, hoping Bay wasn't watching them. "I'll tell her when I'm ready."
"Didn't it mean anything to you?" Daphne reached out, like she was going to kiss him again.
"Not what it meant to you," he replied, backing up a few steps. "Look, I already told you: I'm with Bay. You and I had our chance, eight years' worth, but now it's too late."
"Emmett—wait, please?"
"We'll talk later, when you get over whatever this is."
Emmett headed back to Bay's garage, feeling significantly worse than he had a mere five minutes ago. Why did Daphne have to throw a wrench in his life at the precise moment he'd gotten everything together?
And why was she so intent on getting him away from Bay?
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