A/N: The reviews! Oh the reviews! *looks up dreamily at the sky* Ladies, you are all too good to me! I am such a lame-o; I get all excited and bashful every time I receive one and it just fuels the fire, you know? Thank Yous to everyone who has reviewed. BIG Thank Yous to the usual suspects: Naomilyloveless, lazyhazy8228, foolishgames, debs182, Blue-Eyed-Blonde90, KairiM, JL10, Stunty, Circ. Crap! I can't name you all...but you know who you are, and you always make me so happy!

6seatertable and Hi Mom Hi Dad Hi Bitches: You already know what I have to say about you too.

HyperFitched...Hypes...you're like...superhuman, right? I thought so. Your secret is safe with me and this one's for you!


Chapter 7

"Thank you for this." Naomi glanced over at Emily as they walked together through the nearly empty streets.

"You're welcome, although I'm not sure what you're thanking me for really." Emily put her hands into the pockets of her leather jacket. It was quite a bit colder now than it had been on their walk to the club.

Naomi shrugged her shoulders. "You didn't have to do any of this. You've wasted your entire night trying to help me remember mine and it's just very nice of you, is all."

Emily smiled to herself as Naomi continued.

"Do you think I'll remember? Is it possible to recover lost memories? I mean, I know that they are there; my brain was functioning on some level last night, albeit, a very low one. I was able to walk and talk and dance."

"Yes, and you did all those things, quite well, I might add." Emily smiled over at the blonde.

"Or so you claim, although I suspect you're just being charitable." Naomi pulled out her pack of cigarettes. "I just...I don't know. First time dealing with a blackout and all." She opened the pack and offered it to Emily.

"Trying to quit, remember?" Emily tried to scowl at Naomi, but she couldn't help but smile at her instead.

Naomi retracted the offer and selected one for herself, placing it between her lips. She looked slightly guilty as she lit it and breathed in the smoke. "Filthy habit. I'm quitting too." She exhaled and looked over at Emily out of the corner of her eye.

"Right." Emily didn't believe her.

"No, really. I am. I've got a plan and everything." Naomi looked straight ahead.

"I'm sure you do, Naomi."

"I'll tell you about it some time." Naomi took another drag and smiled widely. She could feel those brown eyes on her, watching her as they walked along the rows of shops, all closed for the night. "Have you ever been in my situation?"

"Yeah, of course. Although I usually wake up with a stranger, not a tattoo." There was no smile on Emily's face when Naomi whipped her head around to look at her, immediately turning it back again.

"Oh. Yeah, well..." Naomi did not know how to reply to that one and took another drag, leaving the cigarette between her lips.

Emily cracked a smile. Naomi looked over at her and finally caught on to the joke. "Funny Fitch." Naomi tried to poke her in the ribs, but Emily caught her hand and held it firmly. She stopped walking, which made Naomi stop walking.

"What did you just call me?" Emily studied Naomi as she waited for the answer.

Naomi removed her cigarette with her other hand so she could speak clearly. "Fitch." Naomi looked puzzled by Emily's question.

"I didn't tell you my last name today." A sly grin crept across Emily's face.

Naomi grinned back as she realized what she had done. "You're Emily Fitch and your dad is Rob Fitch who's on those advertisements for Fitch Fitness Centers. Don't get fit - Get Fitched!" They said the last part in unison and laughed.

"I guess that answers your question then." Emily resumed their leisurely pace, keeping hold of Naomi's hand. "All the important stuff is still in there."

Naomi looked over at Emily's cheeky grin. She looked down at their joined hands. She's holding my hand. Naomi smiled and took another drag, while Emily repositioned her grip so that their fingers were entwined. Yep, definitely holding my hand.

A beeping sound emanated from Naomi's back pocket. She placed her fag between her lips and reached for her phone. She wasn't about to let go of Emily. She flipped it open, one new message from Cook:

Fuck me! how could
i forget the redhead?!
proper mint that one.
give Effy a kiss for me
yeah? with tongue.
unless you've got it
down red's throat
again. x

Fucking Cook. Naomi couldn't help but smile as she WHAT THE FUCK?! Naomi stopped walking, cigarette hanging off her lip, as she processed the information in Cook's message.

"Is everything okay?" Emily looked up at Naomi who was staring wide-eyed at the screen of her phone.

"Yeah. Fine." Naomi snapped her phone shut and shoved it back into her pocket. She continued walking, at a brisk pace, practically dragging Emily behind her. Shit. Shit. Shit. Shit.

Emily had to walk twice as fast to catch up to her. "You're sure you're okay? You're walking pretty fast."

"Oh, sorry." Naomi slowed her steps a bit and took a long drag off her cigarette. "I'm fine, I just," Naomi struggled not to look over at Emily; afraid she'd see right through her. "Cook is a fucking cunt." She was angry and it was evident in her voice. That fucking liar! He remembered. How could he have not told me?

"I'm surprised he's not here, actually. Last night he said he was staying the whole weekend." Emily looked over at Naomi, trying to read her expression.

"Yeah, well, he fucked off this morning and left me alone to sort all this shit out by myself." Naomi angrily flicked the butt of her cigarette into the street. He remembered Effy. He remembered Effy and didn't fucking tell me! Naomi knew that wasn't the real reason she was shaken.

"This is all his fucking fault. I don't know why I even bother with him anymore." Naomi dropped Emily's hand and reached for another cigarette. Her hands were shaking a bit and she fumbled trying to open the pack.

Emily gently placed her hands over Naomi's as she stepped in front of her. Naomi stood with her head down. Emily took the pack of cigarettes out of her hand and put them in the pocket of her jacket. Her other hand remained holding onto Naomi's.

"Whatever he said or whatever he did...I'm sure he had a good reason for it. He wouldn't hurt you on purpose."

Naomi pulled her hand away and folded her arms across her chest. She finally looked up at Emily, her eyes were mean. "You don't even know him, Emily. How could you possibly know that?"

Naomi had managed to throw a spectacular bitch-face directly at Emily, but the redhead only saw the tears that were welling up in her eyes, threatening to fall. "He's your best friend and you're clever. You wouldn't keep him around if he was no good."

Emily smiled at Naomi who couldn't help but return the smile, causing a single tear to slide down her cheek. How does she do it?

Emily reached up and brushed the tear away with her thumb without hesitation. She let her hand linger on Naomi's cheek before quickly pulling it away. "Well then. We should keep going. I'm sure you're properly freezing by now." Emily turned and waited for Naomi to fall into step beside her.

"Yeah, I need some more Jack to warm me up." Naomi rubbed her hands up and down over her arms.

"Here, take my jacket." Emily unzipped her jacket.

"No. That's-" Naomi turned to look at her. Emily started to pull her jacket off, but Naomi grabbed a hold of it and held it in place. "Emily, you're in sleeveless, don't be ridiculous."

"But you're cold."

"I'm fine."

Emily tried to wriggle out of the other arm, but Naomi grabbed a hold of that side too.

"Emily." Naomi used her leverage to hold the tiny redhead in place. They stood face to face. Naomi looked down into her soft brown eyes. We kissed. We were kissing just last night and I can't remember. Cook fucking remembers. You remember, but you won't tell me. You've been sparing me the embarrassment all evening. I'm such a fucking fool.

"I'm fine." Naomi released her grip on Emily's jacket and put her hands into the pockets of her jeans. She stepped away and they continued walking again. "We're almost there anyway."

Emily tucked her hands back into her own pockets and felt Naomi's cigarettes there. She wrapped her fingers around the pack and held it tight.

They didn't speak the rest of the walk back. Naomi had been completely in her head, working through the anger, shock, and embarrassment that Cook's message ignited inside her and Emily picked up on it and gave her some quiet time to sort it out.

Emily had filled the silence by replying to text messages and sending new ones from her phone, but mostly she replayed the events from earlier that day in her head:

She had woken up that morning feeling pretty fucking happy. It had been a long time since she had woken up feeling that way, let alone with the feelings of excitement and anticipation coursing through her veins.

On a typical Saturday morning, she would have been feeling the remnants of the previous night's drugs and alcohol meandering through her blood stream, but this...this was something very different.

She had laid in bed, enjoying the feel of her cool sheets on her bare skin, and thought about Naomi. Naomi: Tall, blonde, sexy, great rack, nice hands. Her eyes, those gorgeous blue eyes. Even prettier than...

In her still sleepy state, she couldn't prevent it. Her mind had drifted to another set of blue eyes that had left their lasting impression on her...Effy's. But she had quickly pushed them away. She hadn't wanted to think about those eyes, she only wanted thoughts of Naomi's sparkling, blue ones. The way they had gazed at her, the intensity they held while their bodies were pressed together on the dance floor.

Fuck. A hot rush of desire had washed over her and struck her to her very core as she lay under the sheets and thought about those eyes on her, those hands on her, her own hand finding its way...

Emily's cheeks flushed and she stopped herself from reminiscing any further. She looked over at Naomi who was walking just a slight step ahead of her, lost in her own thoughts. Why do you have to be so beautiful?

She was now just as distracted as the blonde next to her and almost kept walking when they arrived back at the shop. Naomi stopped at the front stoop. Emily took about three paces too many before realizing where she was and then took three paces back. Naomi grinned as Emily turned to face her. "So, back to the scene of the crime."

"Seems that way." Naomi folded her arms in front of her.

They heard laughing and shouting from inside the tattoo shop. Music started playing on the stereo and they both glanced over at the door.

"Seems the after-party is under way as well." Emily raised her eyebrows as she decided how to proceed. "We can go in or just go upstairs."

"I should go." Naomi spoke over Emily's suggestion.

"Oh." Emily was caught off guard a bit by the blonde's sudden desire to leave.

"I'm sorry, I just have a lot to do tomorrow and it's late." Naomi knew the excuse was flimsy and that Emily wasn't going to buy it.

"What did Cook's message say?" Emily was concerned.

"No, it's not that. I just-" Naomi looked around, searching for a really great escape route. "I just...I don't know what I'm doing here."

The concern dropped from Emily's face and was replaced with sad realization. "You haven't wanted to be here tonight. I just dragged you along without asking. I'm sorry, I didn't-" Emily looked down at her feet.

"Christ! No! I've had a wonderful time tonight! This is the best date I've ever been on!"

Emily looked up at Naomi with just her eyes, her head remained bowed. She flashed a half smile at the blonde that held the power of the sun. Naomi melted instantly.

"I'm sorry, I didn't mean date, I just meant-" Naomi didn't get a chance to finish her explanation. There were only a few steps between them and Emily took those steps quickly, reaching up and grabbing Naomi's face with her hands. Their lips connected. It was a soft kiss, a sweet kiss, but fuck, it was passionate.

Emily broke the kiss first and stepped back. Naomi held her eyes closed for just a moment longer. When she opened them, Emily was smiling up at her. "What were we talking about?"

Emily grabbed her hand and pulled her towards the shop's front door. "You were saying something about needing another drink to warm you up."

Naomi narrowed her eyes as she let Emily pull her up the front steps. "No...that can't be it. I'm feeling quite warm at the moment."

Emily pushed through the front door with a laugh, Naomi close behind her. The jingle of the bell rang out as they joined the party, hand in hand.

Emily Fitch! Is it possible to love that girl anymore? I mean, I get to the point of thinking there's no way she could be cuter or sexier than she already is and then she grabs my face and kisses me on the street! *pauses* Naomi. Naomi. She grabs Naomi's face and kisses her on the street. *blushes*

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