A/N: Just wanted to say a massive thank you to everyone for reading and reviewing. The comments are awesome and I'm really glad you guys are enjoying this story so thank you, thank you, thank you!

Chapter Nine

Wincing at the brightness of the room Emily squeezed her eyes tightly shut hoping she could ignore the fact she was awake and will herself back to sleep. Unfortunately for her, a ragging hangover had other ideas and the combination of a pounding headache and nausea forced her to accept reality. Dragging herself out of the warm security of the bed she yawned stumbling to the bathroom to get a glass of water.

Staring at her reflection in the mirror she bared recognised the girl looking back. Same red hair, same smooth complexion but Emily knew something had changed and unable to look herself in the eye any longer she settled for trying to wipe off some of last nights make up that had ventured down her cheek. Raising her hand to her face she cringed, seeing the swollen mess that was her hand reminded her of all the events that had led her to be standing alone in a hotel bathroom, cold and hung-over with an overwhelming urge to crawl back into bed and hide there until someone came looking for her. Unwilling to take this welcoming but submissive option Emily drank the last of her water and decided on a shower, shedding her pyjamas she put the shower on full blast and let the warm water wash her.

Concentrating on the jets of water soothing her tired body Emily found her mind wandering. She thought of Effy and Freddie and hoped the brunette had finally managed to be as honest with him as she had been last night, she thought about Katie and wondered if her twin would ever be able to accept her for who she was, she thought about her parents and whether her home would ever be her home again. She thought about Thomas and Pandora, smiling as she remembered how happy they had been at the party. Of course, mostly she tried not to think about Naomi but no matter how hard she tried images of the blonde kept racing through her mind and she couldn't help but close her eyes as she recalled the night she had said goodbye. Switching off the shower and grabbing a towel she pushed the memory to the back of her mind determined to focus on the present.

A while later she stood dressed and ready to face the world, stepping out of the hotel she smiled at the receptionist and exchanged a few pleasantries with the friend face she had grow strangely accustom to seeing each day. She didn't really have much of a plan for the day in fact the only thing she was sure of was that she needed to keep herself busy and out of the small room for as long as possible. With the sun shining down on her she headed for the centre of town for some retail therapy, although the first stop would defiantly be a chemist as the throbbing pain in her hand continued to torment her.

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Browsing the shelves Emily let out an irritated grunt at the assortment of medicines in front of her, not really knowing what she was looking for she settled for some cheap painkillers and a bandage then made her way to the cashier. Trying to dig her purse from her oversized bag the redhead didn't see the other girl until it was to late, walking straight into the back of her Emily managed to trip knocking everything from the hands of both parties as well as drop her open bag on the floor. Bending down to retrieve her things as they spread across the shop floor she didn't even look up as she began to apologise.

'Jesus, I'm so sorry I didn't see you…' she began only to be cut off.

'Emily?'

Stunned the redhead looked up only to be met with an identical expression of confusion, completely identical in fact.

'Katie?'

The older twin rolled her eyes as she bent down the help her sister 'Clumsy much?'

Not replying she chose to quickly gather her things, reaching out for her phone the redhead jumped as Katie grabbed her wrist 'What the fuck is this?'

'It's nothing I just…caught it in a door' Emily stated shaking her head as she stood and tried to wrestle her hand away, wishing she had a better and more convince lie.

Hearing the terrible excuse Katie glared at her sister 'Caught it in a door, what do you think I am fucking stupid?'

Opening her mouth Emily decided against a sarcastic retort remembering the parting words of her twin the last time they had spoken she couldn't help but snap 'I thought I was the stupid one…what do you care anyway?'

Pushing past Katie she headed for the cashier and dumping her things on the counter she tried to ignore the strange look she was given. Struggling with her bag again Emily cursed as she fought to get to her money.

'Jesus Ems' Katie said as she dug a note from her pocket and passed it to the cashier.

Accepting the bag and her change from the cashier Katie led a bewildered Emily from the shop. They walked in silence towards the park and taking a seat on the grass Emily couldn't help but wonder what her sister was up to now.

'Gimme you're hand' Katie demanded as she popped a couple of the painkillers and passed them to her sister.

Emily obliged and swallowing down the pills watched her sister begin to carefully bandage her tender hand, enjoying seeing the protective side of her sister she smiled 'Thanks'

Finishing with the bandage Katie returned the smile before looking down again and watching the emotions play out on her sisters' face. Emily knew the other girl was desperately trying to gather her thoughts. She also knew she should be angry with Katie, and she was, but something about the vulnerable look on her twins face softened the anger she had been holding on to.

'I'm sorry'

Blinking at the admission Emily found herself speechless as her twin fidgeted uncomfortably.

'I know that's really not good enough but I just kinda freaked out, it's always been us y'know. The Fitch twins, and then I find out there's this whole other side to you that I didn't know about and it's like…you just changed and suddenly you weren't my Emily anymore'

'I'm still me'

Katie nodded 'I know that but…you never told me and it's like this huge part of your life and you're sharing it with someone else and you don't talk to me, and I just wanted it to stop, for you to be my sister again. I thought if I did what I did, I could stop everything changing but it just made me see how much it sucks to not have you with me. I can't…I can't lose you'

Shocked Emily watched her sister as tears began to fall down her cheeks, reaching over she pulled her into a tight hug 'You will never lose me'

'I'm already losing you though…we never talk anymore, not like we used to. It's like I'm just watching you turn into this new person with this whole new world and I don't know if I have a place there'

'You will always have a place in my life' Emily began as the two moved apart and she brushed away the tears which continued to fall 'You just have to understand Katie, I'm not you. I can't be your shadow any more but that doesn't mean I don't want to be in your life, I do, I wanna be little old ladies together holding up the queue in the supermarket and…tricking the grandkids into thinking we're each other'

Laughing Katie looked at her sister 'Promise?'

'I promise'

Caught of guard Emily found herself falling backwards as her sister pulling her into a fierce hug, knocking them to the ground. Giggling she felt Katie move to lie beside her.

'But I need you to know this isn't a phase and I'm not doing it for attention. I am gay Katie, with or without Naomi'

The other girl was quiet for a moment and nervously Emily wondered if she was about to regret her honesty.

'I know' the response was quiet but sincere

Rolling on to her side to look at her sister she noticed a serious look cloud her expression 'What?'

'I just need you to know that…' Katie paused here she too rolled to face her twin You're really, really gay Ems' as 'Like super-gay…'

Katie burst into laughter as her twin playfully slapped her arm pretending to be insulted before giggling. Lying back down the two were quiet for a moment as they watched the clouds, their arms linked together as they enjoyed the comfortable peace.

'Love you Ems'

'Love you too Katie'