A/N: For those who need a recap; last chapter Will stopped Emma from cutting any further which proceeded in her finding his scars; both where he cut and where his father hit him. She kissed him and they finally started dating.

"I think the idea is that every person has to live for his or her own life and then make the choice to share it with other people. Maybe that is what makes people "participate." - Stephen Chbosky

The chorus of Will's summers prior to the first he spent with Emma was limited to loud crickets and the roar of the air conditioner. Those two summers he spent with her near him at all times, were some of the most important months of his life and he wouldn't trade them for the world.

"Will, you have to rest." Emma pushed him on his bed, straightening her clothes as she lay next to him. She blushed indefinitely as she noticed her bra across the room on the floor next to his computer desk.

"But I need you…" He whined in her neck as he tried to pull him on her again. "Sweetie," He pushed himself into her side and pulled her closer. Since the first time they met, he learned a lot about sexual actions. He was still a virgin. He was waiting for the right person. It was overly prideful of her to think she was the right one, it was not a false thought.

"Honey, you need to rest." She faced him and cupped his jaw upon seeing his bottom lip stuck out in protest. "You have me. I'm not going anywhere." She reached up to wipe sweat from his forehead and ran her hand his curls, knowing how the action soothed him. She sang his favorite slow songs in a perfect low timbre. He had difficultly falling asleep due to his flu. He closed his eyes, desperate for rest, but staying up just to hear her sing.

He shot up quickly as soon as he woke up, and threw the blankets off his bed. Emma woke up hastily and tightened her arm around him. He fought her grip but he was too weakened for any resolve to come about. He knew so but still fought against her, possibly delirious from his 102.8 fever.

"Emma, I'm going to skinny dip in the damn river." He told her with determination that could only be matched to those who changed the world. He lifted his arms to relive the sweat that built up in his armpit.

"No you're not." She argued calmly and sleepily, not realizing how much she loved sleeping with him. She yawned and lay down, trying to bring him with her.

"Try and stop me." He turned to her as he ripped off all his clothes, spare his boxers. Filled with rage at the sweat that filled every crease of his body and the heat that coursed in him making him sensitive to touch and extremely jumpy with a coldness that could not be rid of. "Em, I'm so hot I don't know what to do."

"Take a shower." She requested it so simply, as if it was the most obvious thing in the world.

The tone of his voice immediately changed; now desperate and longing. "Come with me?" He snuggled against her and peered at her with hopeful eyes. They never saw each other naked at the same time.

"Um…Are you sure?" She was never nervous about being naked with a boy. This wasn't just a boy. This was Will. Sweet, precious, lovingly, virgin Will.

"Yes." His voice broke but he went on as if it didn't. "I need you near me. I would never get out if you don't pull me. Please." He once again looked at her pleadingly and she dragged him to the bathroom.

She undressed quickly, only stopping to thank God her mother took her to a spa as a 'gift' for the beginning of the summer. Her heart went out to Will as she saw his face scrunch uncomfortably when he pulled his boxers down his legs and the fabric seemed to cut along his skin as if he had rose thorns in every pore of his legs.

Her mother told her lukewarm water was good for treating fevers. She smiled shyly at him and took his hand, dragging him under the water. She placed him directly under the spray and took the moment to soak his presence in. She knew his torso like the back of her hand, every freckle, birthmark, and the creases of his abs. It was very obvious he wasn't eating a lot as his ribs stuck out more than they already did. Following his v-line downward she felt her heart race. Will was literally perfect.

She would've given him anything he wanted. She knew he wouldn't want her to at this moment, because of how crappy he felt. And then she believed she understood the meaning of true love. Waiting for something you both want until both parties are ready. And she would wait for him however longer he needed. She would do whatever he wanted her to.

Emma Pillsbury was truly, deeply, one hundred percent, head over heels, in love.

"Thank you." Will said as she put his clothes on and kissed his cheek.

"Of course." She breathed deeply and pulled him closer, her bare chest grazing his as he leaned down to hide his head in her neck. She shivered from their closeness and her eyes welt up as she remembered the realization she came to in the shower.

He brought her back to his room and entrapped her in his arms. He began placing a hickey in the center of her neck, lightly tickling her side as he did so. "Will," She giggled and hung her head, looking at his hands on her waist. "Sweetie I have to put clothes on." Emma scooted away.

"What if I take mine off?" He tried to negotiate with her, desperate just to be with her.

"What if Sophie came in?" She said, full of concern because she would do anything he wanted her to.

"She's at a friend's house for the weekend. Remember?" He pulled her closer and smiled at the reminder of the heavy petting they did after dropping his sister off a day before he got sick. "And even if she was here, she thinks I have cooties." Emma brushed his chest hair and peered at him with a wicked smile.

"And Donna?"

"She's getting hammered in Texas." He took a deep breath and ran his hands across her sides. "Something about a big gambling convention. She'll be back in two weeks. She left this morning." Emma slept over since they came back from the trip to Coney Island at the beginning of the summer.

"Well, I guess I don't have to put clothes on then..." She smiled wickedly again and he cheered. "But you need to keep yours on." He whined lowly and turned over. "Honey, listen to me." She climbed over him and picked up his face. "My mom is a doctor…I know what to do for you, but I can't help you if you don't listen okay?" He nodded and hugged the stuffed animal she brought him to his chest tightly.

"Now sweetheart," Her hand slipped down his face before twirling a curl around her finger and kissing the underside of his jaw. "You have to keep your clothes on and under the blankets to regulate your temperature as much as we can. I know you'll wake up in hot sweats and you can kick the blankets off then, but not for too long. And look honey, I will be here with you long after you feel better but until then I can cool you off with a wet rag and we'll take as many showers as you need." She kissed him gently as he nodded and he snuggled her under his arm.