Hey, all. I appreciate you reading and reviewing. Seriously. The whole idea has been to update more and I think I've been good with that? Anyway, I hope you enjoy this chapter. Thank you to my friend Heather for allowing me to bounce ideas off of her.
Disclosure: I don't own Skins.
Enjoy!
…
8:00 am
Naomi awoke before Emily and watched her girlfriend sleep next to her. She smiled to herself, it'd been so long since she'd been able to see Emily like this. She shifted carefully to touch Emily's hair lightly.
"You're being pervie," whispered Emily with a smirk, her eyes still closed.
"Happy Christmas, Emily Fitch," Naomi whispered back, tracing the outline of Emily's jaw line. She knew it was their wedding day and it was bad luck and all, but she was grateful the nurses had allowed Emily to stay the night. She wouldn't trade anything for waking up to Emily like this.
Emily leaned into Naomi's touch, smiling appreciatively before letting her eyes open slowly. "Happy Christmas, Naoms," replied Emily, lazily hugging Naomi closer to her. Naomi grimaced but was thankful Emily didn't seem to notice. She didn't want anything to ruin this moment.
They stayed like that for at least another half hour, falling back in and out of sleep. Naomi wasn't quite ready to start the day but she knew Katie would be at the hospital soon to collect Emily before the wedding.
"My nurse will be here soon to check on me. Why don't you go and get some coffee? Have a cup for me, yeah?" Naomi suggested, lightly nudging Emily who shook her head.
"I want to stay here with you," Emily pouted. "Can't we just stay like this for a bit longer?"
Naomi bit her lip, "Yeah, for a bit."
…
Katie awoke at James' flat to the smell of her mother cooking breakfast and speaking with the twins' father. Katie stayed silent, still unsure of how her mother was receiving the news about the wedding. They'd arrived late on Christmas Eve with Naomi's mother and stepfather. Gina and Kieran had opted to stay in a lodge, unwilling to impose on James more than was necessary.
"I just don't understand why," Jenna moaned to Rob. Katie stayed out of sight, wanting to listen before letting on that she was within earshot.
"Love, don't be like that," Rob pleaded. "The girl's sick, yeah? Our daughter loves her, has for longer than we may know. Just give the two their day, Jenna."
"I always knew that girl would ruin Emily's day, I mean, a wedding in a hospital, Rob!" Katie moved and caught her father's eye. Jenna's back was to her daughter and Rob shook his head slowly at Katie as if to say, Wait, just wait.
Jenna stood at the stove for a moment, facing the wall. Jenna's breath grew shallow.
"You're crying," Katie said without realizing. Jenna turned to her daughter sadly and Katie moved to hug her mother. "Mum, it's not that bad. Emily's in love, yeah? We've always known this was going to happen sooner or later. Naomi asked Dad about it ages ago, but Emily's internship delayed things a bit."
"Oh, Katie, I know all that," Jenna fussed. "That's just the point. I wanted Emily and Naomi to have something as special as their love has grown to be."
Katie looked at her mother, astonished. "You're serious? You're not mortified that Ems is marrying a girl and all?"
"Katie, really, you've been in Spain too long," Jenna said kindly. Rob drew the two women into a tight hug.
"What's going on then?" James asked, walking into his kitchen sleepily.
"Come on, son," Rob motioned aggressively. James groaned, yet with a smile, as his father pulled him into the Fitch family hug. "Let's go get a Fitch hitched!"
"Seriously, Dad, you've gotta stop saying that," James teased, wrestling away from his father's grip. Rob looked at Katie and Jenna for support but the mother and daughter were stifling their laughter.
9:00 am
Emily sat in the small café at Addenbrooke's with her coffee and laptop. Naomi had, for some reason, insisted being checked by her doctor alone. Emily wondered if Naoms was hiding something but pushed the thought from her mind. How much could've changed since London? Her phone buzzed and she answered quickly.
"Happy Christmas, Katie," Emily said.
"Enjoying your coffee?" Katie asked. Emily looked up and spotted her sister across the café with her parents. Her heart began to race as she bit her lip. She hadn't told her parents anything about Naomi, or that she was back from New York.
Rob got to Emily first and gathered his daughter into a hug. "Your sister's told us everything, love. How are you holding up? How's Naomi? Are you both getting on well here with the staff?"
"Give the girl some room, Rob," demanded Jenna, smiling at her daughter. Emily eyed her mother suspiciously before looking to Katie.
Katie shrugged, "It's Christmas, Ems. I couldn't help it."
Emily shrugged and invited her mother and sister to sit as Rob went to fetch coffee. "Naomi is with her doctor. She seems to be in good spirits, but I'm not sure why she wanted me to leave."
"Nerves is all," Jenna said, and Emily looked at her confused. Katie shot her mother a glare. "You know, I'm sure she's just nervous about tomorrow."
Katie rolled her eyes. "We'll go and see her in a bit, yeah? Let's catch up first. Let Naomi rest before we barge in and Mum and Dad interrogate her."
"What'd I miss, then?" Rob asked, settling into a seat by his wife after passing fresh coffee around to everyone.
"Katie thinks we're going to interrogate Naomi," Jenna complained.
"Girl's got enough on her mind," Rob told Katie. He looked at Jenna nervously before looking to Emily. "Your mother and I know things aren't exactly short term for you here in Cambridge, love."
"Dad," Emily started, not wanting a lecture or pity party. "She's going to pull through. I know how it looks, or I guess how it must look if Katie told you everything, but she's strong. She's Naomi."
Jenna nodded and smiled, "Emily, your father and I know it's not a proper Christmas gift, but we'd like to help you rent a flat here. When you're ready, darling. Katie says you've been staying with Naomi most nights but if she's as strong you say—as I know she is, she won't be stuck here for long. But she'll need to be near by."
"Mum?" Emily questioned, looking first at Jenna and then Katie before at last landing on her father's eyes. There were tears in Rob's eyes and Emily couldn't help but tear up herself.
"Well, there's no sense in staying with your brother, is there?" Jenna said simply. Emily swiftly stood and gathered her parents into a hug.
"Right," Rob breathed, regaining his composure. "I'd like to go in and see Naomi. Why don't you three talk?"
"How about brunch, girls? It's tradition, just the Fitch girls," Jenna suggested. Emily bit her lip and looked at Katie. Emily really wanted to get back to Naomi.
"Course, Mum. Go girls, right, Ems?" Katie asked, raising a single brow expectantly. Emily glared at Katie and nodded in agreement reluctantly. "Come on, Naomi is fine. We'll be just down the street. Dad will ring if Naomi needs you."
10:00 am
Rob knocked softly on the door to Naomi's hospital room and Naomi smiled as the man entered. He was right on time, just as Naomi had expected. "Hello, Rob. Doing well?"
"Happy Christmas, my love," Rob said, quickly crossing the room and placing a soft kiss on Naomi's forehead. "I'm so sorry for this. Not much an old gym instructor can do, is there? Don't think I can't get you to do a round on the naughty bar."
"Raincheck," Naomi laughed. Rob moved one of the two chairs in the small room toward Naomi's bed and took the blonde's hand in his, cupping it warmly.
A silence fell between the two and Rob waited for Naomi to speak first. He knew what he was there for but he didn't want to rush the girl. After a few moments, Naomi whispered, "I love her, Rob."
"I know," Rob replied, smiling.
"Please," Naomi breathed, "Please tell me I still have your blessing. I know it's all planned, but I want to be sure you and Jenna approve. It's not like I can give her—"
"You'll give her you, and your love, Naomi," stated Rob, squeezing Naomi's hand. "Her mother and I know that and it's all we've ever wanted for our daughter. You just concentrate on loving Emily and the rest will fall in place. I know that much is true."
"You've always been so kind to me," Naomi said. She pursed her lips, willing herself not to cry. "I don't know why, I haven't always been kind to Emily. But I'm grateful that you're here. I just, I wanted you to know."
"Love, there isn't anywhere else I'd be, yeah?" Rob assured her. Naomi nodded. There was a knock on Naomi's door and Rob smiled. "I expect that's your first Christmas gift."
Naomi's eyes widened in surprise as James entered with Naomi's mother and stepfather. She hadn't imagined that they'd be able to come to Cambridge. She made a mental note to add this to the list of things Katie deserved thanks for after today.
"Well, don't you look like shit," Kieran teased, kissing his stepdaughter on the forehead.
"You do need sprucing, love," Gina told her daughter, setting a bag down near Naomi's bed. "Especially on your wedding day."
"Thanks, Mum," grumbled Naomi.
"Now, you two men run along. I've got to get my daughter ready for this Christmas wedding."
Rob and Kieran helped themselves out and Gina smiled at her daughter. "Stop staring," Naomi muttered. "I know what you're thinking."
"Oh, I doubt that," smirked Gina.
Naomi took a deep ragged breath, "Indulge me then?"
"You're really fucking wonderful, have I told you?" Gina started, expecting Naomi's eye roll. "You're stronger than when I saw you in London, love. You didn't tell me about your surgery, and I know it's because you're scared."
"Mum."
"Naomi," answered Gina. "I raised you, I think I know you a fair bit by now. But I also know how you've grown since you fell in love with that girl. What's her name again?"
"Mum!" Naomi laughed.
Gina smiled, "You're doing what I raised you to do, Naomi."
Naomi took a deep breath and coughed a little, "And what's that?"
"The right thing, love. The scary thing that you know is right, that you know in your heart is what you want more than anything."
"You got something wrong, you know?" a voice called from the door and Gina and Naomi looked toward the figure.
"Effy?" Naomi said, knitting her brows. Effy moved toward the bed and took Naomi's hand, resting the other on Gina's shoulder. "How?"
"You said you were lying to Emily because you loved her more than the truth. This, the hospital, the cancer, that isn't your truth, Naoms. Emily is, she's your love and truth."
Naomi smiled, both sad and happy at the same time. Leave it to Effy to show up with a pensive statement hitting right at home. "Well, go on," Naomi said shyly.
11:00
"Seriously, Katie, I think we should get back," Emily begged as they arrived at James' flat after brunch. She hated spending this much time away from Naomi. She'd told her girlfriend she was just going for coffee and she'd foolishly left her mobile by Naomi's bed.
"Freshen up, first, Ems. Put that dress on I bought you. Mum and Dad want to go to the chapel service at the hospital and somehow Dad's gotten Naomi to agree to go."
"How? I mean, Katie, should she be away from her room?"
"Well, she's not an invalid, is she, babes? Not my job to figure that out, I just know she's agreed and the nurses approved. So get ready. It's Christmas, it should be special, or traditional or whatever."
Emily stared at her sister for a moment. "No," Emily said defiantly. "I'll just call a cab. I don't need a fancy dress or bullshit chapel service. I need to be with her, she's the reason I'm here. Katie, I love you. Look, I know it's Christmas, but for fuck's sake, she's alone in that room. I am alone when I'm not with her. I'm going."
Katie grabbed Emily's wrist just as her sister started to move. "No to you. For this once, please understand that I'm doing what's best, Emsie. Yeah?" Katie's eyes pleaded with her twin's and Emily sighed and rolled her eyes.
"Fine, but we'll leave soon, yeah? I can't stand this," Emily responded. "But, I am not wearing that dress you bought me yesterday. Katie, it's freezing."
"You'll borrow my new blue sweater I bought, it's fine. You'll look proper fit, Naoms will love it," Katie answered quickly before darting toward the bathroom to see how Jenna was getting along. Emily sighed, resigning herself to the fact that the sooner she obliged Katie, the quicker she could return to Naomi.
11:45
Naomi waited anxiously outside of the chapel. Everything was setup inside, save Emily, Jenna, and Katie. "She'll be here," Naomi's nurse said, touching Naomi's shoulder lightly. Naomi smiled, thankful for the gesture. She and the nurse perked up at the sound of footsteps and Naomi smiled even brighter when she saw Emily.
"Naoms, I am so sorry," Emily cried, rushing to Naomi and kneeling by her girlfriend's wheelchair. She barely noticed Katie and Jenna duck into the chapel with Naomi's nurse. "I tried to get away. I had no idea Mum and Dad were coming. Katie surprised me with them, and Naoms—"
"You look beautiful," interrupted Naomi, taking Emily's hand.
"Naoms, you're shaking," Emily stood up, looking for the nurse but Naomi squeezed the red head's hand, making her focus.
"Emily Fitch," Naomi breathed, looking at the floor and then back up at Emily. "I love you. I've always loved you, don't you know that?"
"Naoms? What's going on? Did something happen with your doctor?"
"Christ, let me talk while I can, yeah?" Naomi urged. "I can't kneel, you'd have to hold me up. But I can give you this." Naomi reached into the pocket of the simple white dress Katie had bought her. It looked more like a nightdress than anything else, but Naomi couldn't fault Katie for that. Naomi opened her hand and looked to Emily, holding the silver engagement ring in her palm.
"Naoms," Emily said cautiously. "What's, Naoms, what's going on?" Emily looked at the closed chapel doors anxiously. She took the ring and looked at Naomi with tears in her eyes.
"No more cat flaps, yeah?" Naomi teased with a timid smile.
"No more cat flaps," Emily answered quickly, allowing Naomi to slip the ring on her finger before kissing her girlfriend's chapped lips. "Is this?"
"Let's go, yeah? Can't be late for our own wedding."
Emily bit her lip and smiled before opening the door to the chapel, moving behind Naomi's wheelchair and pushing toward the center of the chapel. The alter. The truth. Naomily.
…
Right, then. That happened. So here's where I need feedback, and I'm being earnest. Are you all cool with this or would you like me to continue? I can, for sure. I actually have more mapped out but this chapter took a natural ending I didn't expect. Please let me know in the reviews. I really, really, appreciate you in advance.
