Quick Note: Thanks for all the continued support and reviews. They make my day. I'm grateful to read that you think I'm giving adequate voices to these characters and I'm so happy to hear that you're frustrated and pleased at the pacing of the story.

One of my favorite reviews thus far lets me know that this story has just the right amount of grrrr, nooo and awww. Thanks Brokendreams24, I think that is the most eloquent assessment of this story I've ever heard.

Chapter 7: In Dreams

I rest my head against my breathing pillow and nuzzle further into soft hair that smells strongly of chlorine. In my state of half awareness, I smile at the memory of last night – remembering sweet kisses and hesitant caresses; cool water and warm summer air. Emily. I can't believe she came to me like this. It's like a dream, but for once I know it's all real. It's all happening. I feel her chest moving beneath my ear and the warmth of her arms wrapped around my shoulders and waist. She surrounds me and for the first time it isn't an illusion. She'll still be here when I turn around. She isn't going anywhere.

Emily walked along the pool deck with purpose. I gaped slightly and blurted an apology, ignoring her assurances that our last kiss – our drug induced dream of a kiss – wasn't my fault. I tried my best to apologize for the entire occurrence, but I didn't regret it. I couldn't. Emily was there and she wanted me, or wanted to pretend I was someone else. I wanted her so badly it didn't matter at the time, but I hurt her. I took advantage when she needed to be kept safe, but I can't bring myself to ignore how right it had felt to kiss her – to taste her again after so long. I felt rage build within me as I thought of someone drugging her. I wanted to hunt them down, to hurt them, to make sure they could never lay a hand on my girl again. Only she wasn't my girl, only in my wildest dreams.

Emily talked me down from my anger, slowly explaining that what happened that night was an accident. She was drunk and drugged, obviously beyond rational thought, but maybe that was the point. She'd been caught up with life, thinking too much about what was proper and right, that she missed a flashbulb right in front of her. She may not have consciously known that she wanted to be with me, but when all falsities and barriers were stripped away she found herself on my doorstep, waiting for me to let her in again. I couldn't believe my ears and felt them blush and heat with bashfulness. I looked at my feet, trying to comprehend the words she was saying, but her hand upon my neck drew my attention back to her face. She was looking at me with such intensity – such passion – and in that moment it all came together. She wanted me.

Emily Fields wanted me. The ridiculous girl who lets her emotions get the better of her and fucks everything up. The coward who was so afraid to be free that she let this goddess slip away. The girl whose entire life for the past year revolved around making sure she was good enough for Emily Fields. I smiled widely. Maybe, just maybe, all that work paid off and she knows that I'll do anything for her. I can be her everything and I can keep her safe, and loved, and happy.

She pulled me toward her and our lips connected with a fiery familiarity. We'd never kissed with such intensity before and the touch electrified my entire body. I could feel it in the way she brought us together, hands roaming over arms and shoulders, from neck to cheek and back again. This was right. This was the way it always should have been, the way it always should be. I let myself get lost in her soft lips, chasing back into the kiss any time I felt her start to pull away. I kissed her hard and deep, pouring my want for her into every ounce of my being, hoping to convey the depth of my emotion for her with this one brilliant kiss. Finally, as the need for oxygen took over, we pulled apart just enough to breathe. Our foreheads rested together and our arms wrapped tightly around each other's bodies, holding firm and solidifying our need for one another without words. We stood like this for what seemed like forever, reveling in the security of each other's arms. Eventually I felt her shift from my arms and heard her take off her jacket and drape it over the chair at arm's length. My eyes were still closed firmly and I could see flickers of blue light reflecting off the surface of the pool through my eyelids. As I began to open them, Emily pulled me back into another forceful kiss. She ran her fingers through my hair, releasing my ponytail and raking her short nails over my scalp. I shuddered at the contact and leaned further into her body. I felt her warm tongue sweep slowly over my bottom lip, startling me and shaking me from my kiss induced daze. I opened my mouth and pulled her body to mine as tightly as I could manage. Her tongue grazed my lip yet again, sending my body into frenzy. On the third swipe of her tongue, as I tried unsuccessfully to draw her into my body even more, I lost my balance – tripping over our combined feet. The force of my clumsiness sent us both falling into the cool water with a loud splash.

As Emily surfaced, she began to laugh uncontrollably. I was dumbfounded at first, shocked from our intimate moment from the harsh crash into the pool. I looked to Emily's face and saw only pure joy, an expression that had been lacking from her features in recent memory. I began to giggle along with her; her hearty laughter rang out like music to my ears. I approached her quickly, drawing her in for a quick kiss before launching myself toward the other end of the pool. She followed right behind, understanding my intent to slow things down just enough to re-learn each other. We swam for hours, pausing between laps to kiss and talk. We were both cautious to not let things get too heavy before we were ready.

By nights end we had exhausted ourselves, playfully challenging each other in the pool and sorting out the basics of our newly sparked relationship. We were together. We were out. We were exclusive. And we were both happier than we'd been in a very long while.

Upon seeing the late hour as we dried off, I invited Emily to stay over. With a quick clarification to make sure Emily knew I didn't expect anything, she kissed me softly and grabbed my hand, pulling me toward the house. I planted my feet and she looked back curiously when I did not follow her. Instead, I turned around and walked in the opposite direction toward the pool house at the other end of the yard. I opened the French doors leading in from the pool deck and a flash of recognition crossed her features.

"You live in the pool house?" I nodded, not wanting to explain everything right now. I kept our hands joined and led her to the bedroom. I pulled out sweatpants and tank tops for us both before directing Emily to the bathroom to change. When she returned, we climbed in my queen sized bed and settled in facing each other, making sure to keep a respectable distance between our bodies. Our hands found each other in the space between us and we both drifted to sleep quickly.

I awoke to find that we had drifted into one another as we slept. My head rested heavily on Emily's shoulder, and her arms wrapped around my body. I was surrounded by Emily and I felt an overwhelming sense of love and contentment shooting through every nerve ending in my body. I knew it was too soon to declare my love for her, but I knew that soon I'd spill my heart to Emily and make sure she knew how deeply I felt for her. I pledged in that moment of waking to protect and love Emily Fields with everything I have.

As though waking from a dream within a dream, the edges of my vision begin to shift for a second time. Though the physical sensations I'm feeling stay the same, the image changes dramatically and I am temporarily unaware of where I am. I am not curled up with Emily in my bed at home. She does not smell like chlorine, cool mint, and lavender. The sounds I hear beyond her breath are not of leaves rustling in the wind and crickets chirping loudly in the early morning. My senses are overwhelmed by blunt forces. I smell antiseptic and bleach. I hear the beeping and humming of machines and people talking in hushed tones. But I still feel Emily. I feel safe and loved and protected in a way only Emily can provide.

Then it hits me. The hospital. I'm in the hospital. Everything with Nate and Emily and the lighthouse cabin was real and we're still here, working things through. I shift in my bed and a dull ache spreads over my entire body. I feel the strong arms around me shift position to allow me to move, but remain firmly holding me as I reposition my body. With my eyes still closed I try to focus on Emily and the way she's comforting me just by being here with me. Emily's arm is holding me to her chest as I rest my head against her. My body is on its side, uninjured hand curled up against my chest as my cast-laden arm rests across Emily's lower stomach. My weight rests on my right side, avoiding putting too much pressure on the injuries which are largely confined to my left. I feel Emily run her fingers through my hair before planting a kiss on my head. At the touch of her lips I open my eyes slowly and find her beautiful brown eyes staring right back into mine. I hold her gaze for as long as I can, but the brightness of the room causes me to squint and bury my face into Emily's chest again. I feel the rumble of her voice in her chest as she asks someone to close the blinds on the windows. I hear the rattle of the aluminum blinds clatter and sense the darkening of the room. I look up in time to catch a small smile from Spencer as she exits the room, closing the door behind her.

My gaze shifts back to Emily's face. I take in her soft expression, noticing the small cut on her bottom lip and the slight bruising on her cheek bone. Her warm hand moves up my arm to cup my cheek as she stares at me in awe, searching my eyes for any sign of hurt or pain, but finding none. After a minute or so I notice Emily's eyes have begun to water, and I stare helplessly as large, wet tears make their way down her cheek and chin before splashing onto her shirt. Am I hurting her? Oh god, I need to move, I'm hurting her. I shift my body again and start to pull away, but she grips me tightly and pulls me closer than before.

I'm worried and afraid. I'm unsure of what's happening and I need to comfort Emily, find out why she's crying like this. Did I do something? How could I, I've been asleep? I'm so confused and I look back up into Emily's crying eyes. She's wearing the warmest expression I've ever seen, and her tears are falling through glistening, smiling eyes. She pulls me tightly to her and dips her head down, kissing me gently but fiercely. Her words are clear and sharp as she pulls away.

"Paige. Oh my god, darling, I thought I lost you. I thought when I woke up and you weren't there that I'd lost you forever. And then my mom – and Spence had your blood on her clothes – your blood! And I've never been happier to see that confused look on your face in all my life." She's kissing me all over my face and head, arms pulsing around me – pulling me to her and pushing me back to look over my body, then back again. "Paige. I need you to listen to me for just a minute, ok? Just for a minute. Just hear me out." I nod gently, concern building once more. What kind of news am I waking up to this time? Is everyone else ok? I haven't really heard about Caleb or the girls. Is she upset with me about Nate? I knew she'd probably grow to resent me for all of that, but I never thought it'd be so soon. As my mind begins to play ever worsening scenarios, Emily begins to speak softly.

"I thought I lost you. I'm so sorry for everything- for leaving you in the cabin, for not seeing how hurt you were, and mostly for leaving your side when you needed me most. I swear to you that I will be everything you need me to be and more. I'll never let you hurt like that, or get hurt like that ever again. I hope you can trust me when I say that you are my biggest priority and I'd be lost without you. I love you, Paige, and I can't imagine my life without you. I'm not letting you go. I'm not leaving you ever again."

I stiffen in the bed, half on top of Emily. "What did you say?"

"I'm not going anywhere. I'm yours for as long as you'll have me. I love you."

"You love me?" I ask, baffled by her unexpected confession.

"Yes. I love you." She leans down and kisses my lips with reverence. "I love you, I love you, I love you…" She punctuates each declaration with a kiss.