Things start moving quickly for Paige and Hanna in their new relationship.

A/N: Time for this story to start earning its M rating...

PS I should mention that the reason I've been updating so frequently is that I had a little bit of a backlog when I started this account. I've written 12 parts so far, so after that updates will be a little slower.

This was nice. Hanna was definitely enjoying herself.

She had no idea how long they'd been kissing, but she didn't want it to stop. She and Paige were still on the couch, their arms around each other, their lips together, their tongues lazily rubbing up against each other. They had a nice rhythm going, and Hanna felt she could do this all night.

Paige just tasted so good. She had some sort of lip balm on, maybe strawberry, and her lips were soft. Maybe this was a girl thing. Maybe girls were just nicer to kiss. Paige was certainly less aggressive than any of the guys she'd kissed. Or maybe it was Paige. Maybe Paige was just a really sweet kisser.

After all the tension leading up to the moment when they kissed, it all seemed so relaxed now. Hanna was still excited, damn excited, and she'd been looking forward to this moment for a long time now. She'd been literally dreaming about it. But she was excited in a kind of mellow way. Like, she was stoked and chill at the same time.

Paige was so fricken hot, too. Like, she was gorgeous. But it was more than that. This was a big moment for Hanna, but she felt totally safe with this girl. Over the last few weeks Paige had shown that she would always be there for Hanna, care about her, protect her, and now that they had both found the courage to share their feelings for each other, Hanna had no doubts.

But most of all it felt wonderful. The tingling sensation spreading from her mouth all over her body, and the buzz from where she touched Paige, and Paige touched her. And that it was Paige. That was the really cool part. Paige was awesome.

They kept kissing. It felt like they were just getting started.

It was later that night, and Hanna couldn't stop giggling.

"Are you getting bashful on me?" Paige asked.

Hanna shook her head, but just giggled more.

They were sitting at the kitchen table now, Paige having made them both a mug of hot chocolate. It was great, but all Hanna could think about was their epic make out session.

"Was that a first for you?" Paige asked.

"Yeah," Hanna replied, nodding.

"Did you like it?" Paige asked.

"Fuck yeah!" Hanna replied. "I mean, yeah."

Now they were both giggling.

"I hope I'm not scaring you here, but I've been feeling this way about you for a while," Paige said.

Hanna reached out and took Paige's hand.

"Me too," Hanna said.

"I just didn't know if I should say anything, especially with all the things you've been going through," Paige added. "I wanted to make sure I could be there as your friend most of all. You deserved that. Then if it grew to more, that would be… well, it's wonderful."

"You've been the best," Hanna said. "Thank you."

They finished their hot chocolates in silence, basically just gazing at each other. Hanna was admiring Paige's eyes, her smile, and how radiant her face looked right now. Hanna hadn't been this happy in a long time.

Once they'd finished, Paige took the mugs and rinsed them out in the sink. Before she could turn around, Hanna hugged her from behind and started kissing the other girl's neck. She felt Paige shiver a little, and let out a seemingly involuntary giggle, but she didn't complain. Hanna kissed her again in the same spot, and it happened again.

Hmm. This was useful information.

Hanna kept kissing Paige, and Paige's giggle almost turned into a purr. Hanna softy brushed aside Paige's hair and kissed the back of Paige's neck. Paige tilted her head back and little, and started breathing slowly and deeply. Hanna's other hand wandered down to Paige's cute butt, which she started stroking firmly. Paige braced her hands against the sink as Hanna ran the tip of her tongue along the top of Paige's spine, from collar of her t-shirt to just below her hair.

Paige turned to face Hanna and kissed her, forcefully this time, their mouths pressed together and their tongues swiftly meeting and caressing each other. Hanna's hand instinctively move to Paige's breast, while she could feel Paige's hand squeezing her thigh, and moving around to her ass. It felt so good.

They pulled each other closer, and soon their legs were intertwined. With the rhythm of their movements, Hanna was rubbing against Paige's thigh. She could feel herself getting more and more aroused, despite being fully clothed. Hanna was straddling Paige's leg now, Paige's hand gripping Hanna's ass, roughly pulling her in. They kissed harder.

God this was so fucking hot.

She broke this kiss.

"Paige, please," she gasped.

"Is this OK?" Paige asked. "It's not too fast? We can…"

"Paige, please, fuck me," Hanna begged.

She'd barely spoken the words when Paige started tearing Hanna's clothes off. In an instant Hanna found herself naked, propping herself up on the kitchen table, her legs spread apart and Paige eagerly working her with her hand, a look of determination on her face.

Hanna could hear herself screaming with pleasure. This was heaven.

Paige became aware of the daylight coming through the window.

"Shit," she said. "Shit, shit, shit."

She looked over to the clock. It was only just after 5:30. Still time to make it.

"Hanna, wake up," she said.

"Mmmmm," Hanna quietly responded, smiling in her sleep.

They were curled up together on the couch, naked. They had fallen asleep there after the nights… activities. Hanna's head was resting on Paige's chest, a look of blissful contentment on her face.

"No, really," Paige insisted. "I've got to get to practice before class. I'm meeting some of the others there."

Hanna slowly opened her eyes.

"What? Where am I?" she asked.

Paige just kissed her.

"Oh yeah," Hanna said, a lazy smile appearing on her face as she remembered everything.

"I'm really sorry," Paige said. "I've got to get ready."

"I think you got a damn good workout last night," Hanna responded. "You sure gave me one."

"I'm not sure I could tell the coach that," Paige pointed out. "You can have a shower here too if you like."

"Nah, that's cool," Hanna replied sleepily. "I'd better get home."

Hanna slowly got up. As she did, Paige was momentarily distracted by the girl's amazing beauty. She stood for a moment, still only half awake, looking stunning. She noticed Paige staring and gave her a grin. Paige just smiled back.

They both gathered their clothes, which were scattered around the downstairs area of the house, and Hanna got dressed.

"I'm sorry," Paige said.

"You said that before," Hanna reminded her. "It's OK, If I go now I can make it before mom gets up."

Paige put her arms around Hanna and kissed her again.

"Last night was wonderful," she said.

"It was," Hanna agreed. "We should do it again some time."

"How about I take you out somewhere," Paige suggested.

"What were you thinking?" Hanna asked.

"I was thinking dinner and a movie," Paige replied. "Are you free tomorrow night?"

"I am," Hanna confirmed.

"It's a date then," Paige said.

"It is," Hanna agreed, beaming with happiness.

Paige arrived early for practice, but someone else was already in the pool swimming laps. As she watched, she realized the stroke looked familiar.

At the end of the lap, the girl in the pool stopped, and soon noticed Paige standing there. She waved, and Paige waved back.

The girl took her goggles off. It was her.

Paige walked over as Emily pulled herself out of the pool.

"Em!" Paige exclaimed. "You're swimming again."

"Yes," Emily replied. "The doctor says I'm good to go. I am so far behind, but I'm going to keep working on it. I think I've still got a chance for Danby, but right now I'm just enjoying being in the water again."

"That's fantastic," Paige said. "I am so happy for you."

"Thanks," Emily responded.

For a moment they just stood in silence. It had been so long since Emily had been swimming. The two if them were still together when she had to stop because of her injury. It had always seemed wrong for Emily to not be able to swim, like a waste of an amazing natural talent. Seeing her here again made the world seem a little more right.

"You must be excited," Paige observed.

"I am," Emily agreed. "And I have to say, you're looking positively glowing."

Paige felt embarrassed. Was it that obvious?

"Really?" Paige asked. She didn't quite know what to say.

"Yes," Emily replied. "Any particular reason?"

"Maybe," Paige responded coyly.

"This wouldn't have anything to do with Hanna would it?" Emily asked.

It was no use. Paige knew her grin was giving her away.

"It does," Paige confirmed. "We're… dating, I guess."

"Congratulations," Emily said. "It looks like we both have good news. You know, I've got a good feeling about this."

"It's still early days yet," Paige reminded her.

"True, but… I can see you two working really well as a couple," Emily explained. "You're both kind and caring people."

"Thanks," Paige responded. She didn't know what else to say. Emily was probably over compensating a little, but she was also sincere.

Emily picked up her bag and they both headed over to the change rooms.

"Can I ask…" Paige said. "Do you know where Ali is yet?"

Emily nodded. She looked uncomfortable now.

"We do, and she's OK," Emily replied.

"Where has she been?" Paige asked.

"I…" Emily began, then paused, concentrating intensely. "I can't really tell anyone yet. You'll know soon, but right now things are delicate and it has to be secret. She's trying to put things right, though. She really wants to do the right thing."

This was all very cryptic, but Paige knew better than to press for details. She was still worried about Emily though.

"Em, can you look me in the eye and tell me that Alison has really changed?" Paige asked.

"Yes, I can," Emily replied, and Paige could see Emily was making a point of holding her gaze. "She's not perfect, and she's still got work to do, but she's genuine, Paige. I understand that it may not look that way, and sometimes she slips back into old Ali when she's afraid, but it's all bluster. She's really trying, I promise."

Paige paused for a moment to consider this. She still thought that Emily was probably kidding herself, but she knew that she had to let go. Emily would make her own choices, and that was that. Paige couldn't stop herself from caring though.

"Em, can you just promise me one thing?" Paige asked. "I want to know that you're in love with Alison, not just doing this because you feel you have to protect her."

"I am," Emily replied. "I'm in love with her."

Emily looked as though she wanted to say more, but thought the better of it. She and Paige had reached an understanding, but there would always be limits, places the other couldn't go.

Hanna snuck in just in time. She was in the shower when her mom emerged from her room, so she could casually come downstairs as if she'd been there all night.

"I didn't hear you come in last night," Ashley noted.

"It was a bit late, sorry," Hanna responded. "You were already asleep and I didn't want to wake you."

Ashley looked at Hanna suspiciously, but Hanna had spent a lot of time perfecting her innocent look. She proceeded to make herself breakfast.

"Anything interesting at school today?" Ashley asked.

"Not really," Hanna replied. "It's school, what's there to be interesting?"

"OK then, are you doing anything this weekend?" Ashley asked. It was just mom small talk, but this morning things were different.

"Um, yeah," Hanna replied. Here goes, she thought. "Paige and I are going out."

She paused for a moment, waiting for her mother's response.

"What are you thinking of doing?" Ashley asked.

"We're going out for dinner," Hanna replied. "Um, together… then, like, seeing a movie."

Ashley looked at Hanna, her mouth slowly turning to a smile.

"Dinner and a movie," she repeated.

"Yeah," Hanna confirmed. "Like… on a date."

Hanna knew her mom was cool, but she was still nervous saying it.

"That's nice," Ashley said.

"I mean, not so much 'like' as… a real date," Hanna explained. "Paige asked me out and we're going on a date."

Hanna told herself she wasn't lying. The circumstances in which Paige asked her out weren't something her mother needed to know.

Ashley just smiled reassuringly.

"Uh huh," was all she said.

"And you're cool with that?" Hanna asked.

"Of course," Ashley replied. "Paige is a lovely girl."

"I mean, about me," Hanna clarified.

"Yes I am," Ashley assured her. "And thank you for trusting me."

It occurred to Hanna that she hadn't really thought about what it all meant, she had just fallen for Paige.

"Does this make me bi?" Hanna asked.

"That's up to you," Ashley replied. "Whatever you feel comfortable with, or if you don't want to label…"

"I think I'm bi," Hanna interrupted. "Yeah, I'm bi."

Hanna liked the sound of that.

"Well, if that's what you feel you are, then that's what you are," Ashley agreed. "I just want you to know that I'm proud of you."

Hanna gave her mom a hug. She was a pretty good mom sometimes.