Author's Note: Thank you so much for all the amazing reviews and for continuing to read this story. I'm so horribly sorry that it's been such a long time since the last update. I was out of the country for quite some time and have only just returned exactly one week ago. I've been working on this chapter since then. I hope you enjoy the update.

As usual, I don't own or have anything to do with Skins. Especially not after Fire, also known as the episodes that should not be discussed...ever.

Chapter 10: Family

The next morning, I woke up without a massive hangover, but with Emily's legs wrapped around me. It was strange and somewhat unexpected. Her arm was thrown over my stomach and she was snoring gently. My head felt as though it was about to split in half but I knew I had to move and get out of bed – mostly because I really had to pee, but also because I wanted to get away from Emily for a moment.

I certainly remembered everything from last night, though I wasn't sure Emily did. I didn't want her to remember all my confessions. I'd been sloppy last night and I'd let her in far more than I'd expected. Between confessing to her about living in foster care to admitting that I cared about her quite deeply, I'd made a complete mess of things. What if Emily didn't want this? What if I didn't want this?

Emily had made absolutely no form of commitment to me, nor I her. So what exactly was keeping us together at this point? Was it the mindblowing sex?

I sighed and pulled myself out of bed and towards the bathroom, leaving Emily in bed for the time being while I sorted my head out. My thoughts were swarming my head and this fear of what I'd done last night kept gnawing away at my insides. Had I fucked everything up?

I know Emily said that she cared about me too last night, but that didn't necessarily mean anything. Emily had been very drunk, very, very drunk, so she wasn't really a reliable source of information. And besides, she could care about me, I think normal people care about people/stuff all the time. But for me, caring about someone goes deeper than that. It means something profound to me, to care about someone.

After finishing up in the bathroom and brushing my teeth, I returned back to bed and just watched Emily as she slept. In a way, I wish she was awake so that I wouldn't be overthinking things right now. I wish she would just wake up and kiss me and fuck me and push all these thoughts out of my head. Except maybe not even fuck me, maybe just kiss me and hold me tight and that would be enough to push all these thoughts out of my head.

But Emily was still snoring and seemingly far from waking up. So, I decided to suck it up and grow a pair of fucking balls and get on with my day.

I grabbed my dirty laundry, which was scattered all over my bedroom, and began to put it in mine and Effy's laundry bags. We absolutely had to do laundry today or I wouldn't even have a pair of clean knickers to wear during my business trip later this week.

I threw on a really old pair of track pants and a baggy t-shirt and popped into the kitchen to make myself a cup of tea. The flat was still completely silent, and for a moment I wondered what the fuck time it was for everybody to still be sleeping. Effy was usually an early morning kind of person, but I suppose we drank enough last night to put anybody out for the count. I fetched my garibaldis from the cupboard and sat in the middle of the living room with my cup of tea and biscuits. I had a mental checklist running in my head of things that Effy and I would need to buy for the flat in the very near future. A couch, a TV, a coffee table, a dinner table, chairs...maybe even a bookshelf or something decorative like a lamp.

Effy swayed out of her bedroom a few moments later, looking calm and composed and also like absolute shit. She motioned for me to get up and make her a cup of tea in a signage that only Effy and I could possibly understand. I suppose that's what happens when you live with someone for years. I didn't say a word and did as Effy requested.

I handed her the cup of tea and passed her the pack of digestive biscuits that she likes. She winced at the sight of food, but kept it near her anyway.

"Laundry day today," I said quietly. Effy sighed and nodded. Laundry shouldn't be too taxing for someone that's hung over, since most of the time is spent sitting around waiting for the clothes to be done washing.

Effy had four more cups of tea before Cook woke up and took a shower, and by the time Cook had finished showering, Emily woke up.

"Did we drink all of London dry last night or something?" She mumbled as she walked into the room clutching her head. She was wearing one of my baggy shirts and was all legs and fuck me she looked hot. Effy caught me perving on Emily and smiled to herself.

"Cuppa?" I asked Emily as she came to sit down next to me. She was maintaining her distance this morning, nothing like last night where she was hanging off me. Or was I hanging off her? Bit difficult to remember actually.

Emily nodded at me and Effy handed her the pack of biscuits. Cook popped out of Effy's bedroom, dressed in clean clothes and all, and asked me to make him a cup of tea as well.

"Cook, since when did you start keeping clean clothes here?" I asked curiously as I eyed his rather smart looking ensemble. "And why are you dressed so nice?"

"Well it's mostly my work clothes I keep 'ere. Been doin' it ever since Eff and I started shaggin' on the regular, right Eff?" Cook replied. Effy shrugged.

"I didn't really notice to be honest," She said.

"Oh," I replied while my brain processed the information that Effy and Cook were shagging. Bit odd, but not surprising in general. They were both actually quite well suited for each other.

I handed Cook his cup of tea and handed Emily her cup of tea. Effy got up and went to grab her dirty laundry.

"I need pants," Emily said as she glanced down at her bare legs.

"You sure?" Cook asked. "Cause personally, I think you're fine without them. Better than fine really. In fact, I'm not certain you ever need pants."

"I concur," I replied.

"Well I definitely need a pair of knickers if I'm going without pants," Emily replied with a smirk in my direction. Cook's eyes nearly bulged out his head and I caught him trying to steal a glance between Emily's legs.

"Oi, you! Don't even think about it!" I scolded. I turned to Emily and smiled. "In my opinion, knickers are also optional...for whenever Cook isn't around."

Emily smiled and headed into the kitchen to tidy up a bit. I shot Cook a warning glare and he shrugged at me.

"Can't blame a man for trying," He said.

"I can and I will! Emily is off limits to you, Cook," I whispered as harshly as I possibly could.

Cook nodded and Emily walked back into the living room and stood next to me.

"So about those pants..." She said with a smile. We went back into the bedroom and I dug around my closet in search of a pair of pants that would fit Emily.

I settled on some old jeans from when I was about 15 and roughly the same height as Emily. I handed them to her and she smiled. I tidied up my room and made the bed as she put them on.

"Naomi, what's that old looking box in the corner there?"

I froze.

"Uhhh...nothing really, just old bits and bobs. Stuff I kept like, uh, you know, old train stubs from when I first, uh, moved to London. Just old crap," I lied.

"Oh...didn't really take you for a sentimental type."

"Mmm," I replied.

Let it drop, let it drop, please, Emily, just let it drop.

I decided to change the subject quickly before Emily could ask if she could see what was in the box or something weird like that. I don't bloody know what she would ask, but I was scared she would make me lie more and I'm not a good liar really. I'm good at keeping secrets, but not so good at lying about them.

"Do you, you know, remember what we talked about last night?" I ventured. Yes, Naomi, that's it, distract her by bringing up the huge motherfucking elephant in the room. This is definitely more comfortable than explaining what's in the bloody box, you twat.

Emily shifted uncomfortably as she did up the zip on the jeans.

"Yeah, I remember it all. You?"

"Yeah, I do, too...does this change anything?" I asked, biting my lip hesitantly. I wasn't sure if I wanted the truth here, especially if it meant that the answer would be 'yes'.

"I don't know. Not really, I suppose. I've cared about you for a while now," Emily replied nonchalantly. Like all of this was so easy for her. It just made it more obvious to me how fucked up it was that this was actually difficult for me.

"Okay. I just don't want to lose what we've got...whatever that is," I said. Emily smiled at me and walked towards me. She wrapped her arms around my waist and looked up at me, her eyes searching mine.

"We won't. Do you want to hang out tonight?"

I smiled and nodded at her.

"Okay, sounds good. I'll even be able to put clean sheets on the bed tonight."

"Ooh, fancy!" Emily smiled before leaning up to kiss me gently. "I'll see you later."

And with that, Emily left the flat and presumedly headed back to hers.

I was so thankful to have Emily in my life at that moment. She didn't freak out or pressure me into a relationship or leave me, all of which were things I'd thought could happen after last night. But no, instead Emily just goes with the flow and lets things be.

It's at that moment that a thought enters my mind for the first, but not the last, time.

Emily Fitch is perfect.

Later that morning, Effy and I finally made it to the laundromat. We got change for the machines and loaded up two machines each. Effy had popped to a corner shop to get some trashy magazines for us to read while we were waiting and I'd gone out to have a quick cigarette. When we regrouped and sat down in our chairs, surprisingly, neither one of us opted for the magazines.

"So you and Cook then?" I ventured. Effy nodded.

"Nothing serious," She replied. I knew that that was the extent of what I would get out of her on that subject. When Effy doesn't want to talk about something she makes it quite well known by her short responses.

"What about you and Emily then?"

"I dunno, things are fine. Nothing serious yet. We're not even really dating. I think we're still at the 'just shagging each other' stage. But I'm not fucking anybody else and I don't think she is. I don't know."

"Maybe you two should talk about that."

"Nah," I replied. "She's cool with it, I'm cool with it. Why change everything?"

"Things always change, Naomi," Effy replied. "You should get used to that."

While Effy had a point, certainly, I chose not to listen. Things with Emily and I can just stay where they are for the moment, thank you very much. I'm already freaking out enough with things the way they are. I dread to see what I'd be like if we declared ourselves "exclusive" or "girlfriends".

"You've not been down to Bristol in a while," Effy said quietly.

"Not today, Eff," I warned, fiddling with my packet of cigarettes and my lighter.

"I'm not letting it drop, Naoms," Effy replied firmly. "You need to go and see her."

The machines buzzed just then, much to my delight. I got up to take care of my laundry and Effy did the same.

"They phoned the other day on my cell. Said they couldn't reach you on yours. And that you hadn't been by in a long time and that she wants to see you. She asks about yo-"

"Effy!" I shouted as my heart raced so quickly that I could feel the pressure of it in my head. "Enough."

My hands were shaking as I tossed my wet clothes into two tumble dryers. I finished quickly though, faster than Effy, and went outside for a cigarette as soon as I started the dryers up. My hands were still shaking as I lifted the cigarette up to my lips and inhaled. They didn't stop shaking after the first cigarette, so I lit another. And another. And I smoked until I heard my machines buzz again. My throat hurt and my hands were still shaking and I reeked of smoke. I knew that when I would start to fold my nice, clean clothes, that they would surely end up smelling of smoke just like I did. And then all this washing, this entire fucking day, would be a complete waste.

I walked back into the laundromat and was about to get my clothes when Effy stopped me.

"Leave it. I'll do it," She said simply. It was her version of an apology. And I accepted and appreciated it.

Because after all, Effy had a point earlier on.

So I went home and locked myself in my room for a while. I went to my closet, and grabbed my box, and sat on my bed, which was completely stripped of sheets. I went through each thing I kept in that box, before finally getting to what I wanted.

I held the photo in my hand. A faded photograph, with creases and torn edges. But a photograph nonetheless. A blonde haired woman, with shoulder length hair that was curled slightly, sat in a rocking chair, holding a baby who was nuzzled in a pink blanket. I flipped it over and traced my fingers over the writing on the back.

Naomi and Mummy

It was one of three photos I had of my mum. They were the only three I could find when the police officers took me back to my house to gather all my things. They were the only ones I could reach when I was five years old, and I didn't know where mummy kept all the photo albums. I knew there were albums, big albums with photos of mum and me. Only the two of us because dad was always the one taking the photos.

I carefully put everything back into my box, keeping everything in its exact order and place while I fought off the tears at the thought of my mum. Effy was right earlier...

I was so deep in my own thoughts that I didn't hear Emily walk in to my room. I was just putting the photo of my mum back into the box when Emily announced herself.

"Hey, Naoms, I brought Chinese food," She said with a smile. I quickly whipped my head around to look at her and closed the box. Emily didn't seem suspicious at all, but instead was happy and smiling.

"Going through those old knick knacks?" She asked. I laughed nervously and smiled.

"Yeah, you got me thinking about them earlier," I replied as I walked towards the closet to put my box away.

"Well come on then, the food will get cold. I also brought some DVDs..." Emily trailed off as she walked out of my bedroom and back into the kitchen.

I sighed, relieved that I hadn't been caught. I pulled myself together and walked into the kitchen, noticing that Effy had dropped off my piles of clean laundry by my bedroom door. Emily handed me my usual order of chow mein, egg fried rice, and spicy orange chicken.

"You memorized my order," I said with a smile. Emily blushed.

"Maybe I did."

I smiled to myself as I ate my food. Because Emily was now one of only two people in the world who has memorized what my chinese takeaway order is.

The other person is Gina.

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