Hello everyone. I am really sorry for the lack of updates. I knew some time had passed since the last update but I did not think it was 2 years. The expression time flies just doesn't cut it right now. For those of you still interested in this story, I do intend on finishing. I've been busy and partially unmotivated and that has been a factor in the verrrrry slow progression of this story. However, I can promise you that the story will reach it's end soon (ish). I would personally like to thank you all for the kind words and messages throughout the years and for your patience. This chapter is intended to be a sort of filler to help spur this brain into action.

Disclaimer: Characters still aren't mine.

Chapter 10

"Make sure he does it right, ya? I can't 'ave any fuck ups wiv this."

He waited while the guy on the other end assured him nothing would go wrong. Cook would have to stay there with Naomi and make sure she stayed sober and away from harm. He would stay quiet though, he needed to know just who exactly Kelly was and what she was up to. Part of him thought he was just being paranoid but he knew Naomi and if there was one thing he was certain of, it was that Naomi did not like making the same mistake twice. Naomi was many things: stubborn and brutally honest but a prolific cheater was not one of them. He saw the toll it took on her after the first time and if there was anything he was certain of, it was that she would not repeat that mistake.

"Alright then. Thanks mate."

He ended the call and sighed, turning around just in time to see Emily sit up on the couch, rubbing the back of her neck. "Mornin' Emilio, rough night eh?"

Emily only glared at him as she slowly rose from the couch and went to the kitchen, heading straight to the cupboards in search of tea. "Who were you talking to Cook?"

Cook tensed a little wondering how much the redhead had heard. "Mate of mine."

Emily looked at him, wondering if the call he was on had anything to do with his comments the night before. She chanced a glance at Naomi, her body curled up in a ball on the couch, her snoring could easily be heard in the open kitchen. Even from where she stood, she could tell Naomi had seen better days. Her hair was in a messy bun and a part of her wanted to sit in front of her on the floor to be the first person she saw. She bit her lip as she thought of how much had happened since the night at the club….

"Does she stay 'ere every night?"

Emily turned and grabbed the kettle, filling the small kettle with enough water for her own cup. "Does who stay here?"

"Kelly."

Emily placed the kettle back in its stand turned it on, the sound of water boiling straight away. "I would imagine since she knows so much about Naomi."

"That her room?" he pointed to the door on the opposite side of the room.

"Yes- why are you asking so many questions Cook? Did you join the police academy and I'm unaware of it?" mildly irritated by his sudden interest in Kelly. Emily was at war in her own mind, battling between wanting to hold Naomi and make sure she was okay and wanting to grb her by the shoulders and yell at her.

Cook just grinned at her and approached the closed door.

"What are you doing Cook?" Emily quickly glanced behind her to make sure she hadn't woken the blonde.

He tried to turn the doorknob and was dismayed to find it locked. He had hoped the door was open so that he could try and discover anything about who the real Kelly was.

"Cook, that's her room. You can't just barge in there."

"Relax Emilio, the door's locked anyways."

Cook had stayed up for most of the night, keeping an eye out for Kelly and both grils. He did not trust Kelly and would do anything to make sure that Emily and Naomi stayed far from harm's way. Except for a brief break to shower, he remained vigilant. Naomi slept through the night occasionally mumbling something in her sleep while Emily tossed back and forth restlessly. It seemed almost comical to him that the two were so alike and compatible, if only he could figure out what was really happening. Naomi claimed not to remember anything and he believed her; even if she were lying, he could tell straightaway. It would take time to get to the truth but he was sure he could do it. He just needed to start with..

"Stay away from Kelly, Emily."

Emily stood in the kitchen, having resumed making her cup of morning tea, she stared at him while she stirred a spoonful of sugar into the mug. She looked at Cook, exhaustion written on her face as her shoulders drooped. He felt partially responsible for how things had panned out. Sometimes he wondered if he should have refused driving Naomi so far and sudden. But Cook knew better than to sit there pondering what would have been. He needed to focus, he needed answers and he needed to get Emily away from Kelly. It had not passed him how Kelly had insulted Naomi and seemed to want the redhead alone to herself. It was something that troubled him. Especially since the girl was living in the same flat as Naomi.

"You should visit Katie this weekend, leave for a little bit while I sort things out wiv Naomi."

"I can't just leave Cook, I have a job and several sessions booked this weekend. I need the extra money," Emily said tiredly. She had several more appointments booked for the week and she would have to do so without any help from the shop owner.

"When's the earliest you can leave Emily?" Cook asked seriously.

Emily narrowed her eyes sensing Cook's mind was somewhere else, plotting something. "I dunno when," she answered truthfully. If Cook planned on pressing the matter, she would start asking her own questions.

Their conversation was momentarily interrupted when Naomi suddenly stretched in her sleep and made a noise Emily recognized as a sigh of discontent to be awake against her will. She gripped the mug as she froze. She had not intended on staying. She meant to leave. She did not want to face Naomi after last night. Part of her wanted to run out the door and the building and hide behind the lens at the studio for the foreseeable future. She watched as Naomi slowly sat up grabbing her head and groaning from the immense headache of last night's activities Emily could only surmise. She held her head gingerly as she leaned forward, her elbows resting on her thighs. Emily could only hold her breath, her heart racing as she was faced with the very real possibility of speaking to Naomi. A hung-over Naomi. She wondered how much the blonde remembered of the night before and whether it would lead to a fight this morning. She felt the world stop when Cook moved towards Naomi, causing her to look towards the kitchen and she nearly dropped her mug when half-asleep, wide blue eyes turned ice cold.

Fuck.

Yes, a two year wait for the world's briefest chapter is an absolutely horrible way to "return" but I will make up for it in the next update...