A/N - Still just passing time until Locum Tenens. Man, that story completes me.
"Hey," Paige greeted Emily shyly as she opened the door to her house. It was one of the few times in the last few years Paige's mom left her at home alone, and she didn't want to waste the opportunity to be alone with Emily.
"Hi," Emily shared her shy smile and walked into the home when Paige opened the door a little wider.
Emily loved that even though she and Paige talked nearly every day for months, she was still shy around the other girl. Paige still made her nervous and anxious, in a really, really good way.
"I'm really happy you could come out tonight. You sure the girls didn't give you a hard time?"
Emily's friends had given her a bit of a hard time, but they knew she wanted to spend more alone time with Paige, so it wasn't too bad.
"It's fine. I'll have lunch with them tomorrow. They'll be okay."
Paige let her smile grow, a little relieved Emily's friends wouldn't be upset with her. She wanted to make them happy as much as she wanted to make Emily happy. She knew Emily's friends were basically family to her, and she wanted to be on their good side.
"Good, good," Paige leaned in slightly and gave Emily a light kiss. Emily marveled that something so chaste as a hello kiss could make her stomach flip. She had it bad. And she didn't mind much.
"You look really pretty today," Paige whispered in Emily's hair as she gave her a hug. Emily nearly chewed through her lip to suppress a moan. It was never the words Paige said that made her feel so much, but the way Paige said them. Her tone. Her voice. Just Paige.
Instead of saying anything else, Emily just hugged Paige tighter, and hoped that conveyed her message.
"So, I have juice or water or tea," Paige said as they pulled apart, motioning to the kitchen. "Thirsty?"
Emily gripped Paige's hand as they walked to the kitchen and shrugged. "Water is fine."
"Can I borrow this for one second? I'll give it back before you know it," Paige said, lifting her hand that was joined with Emily's.
Emily huffed. "I don't want water that bad," she pouted.
"Fine, I can attempt this with one hand, but there is glass involved and it could get ugly."
Emily rolled her eyes with a smile and let go begrudgingly.
Paige quickly grabbed two cups and filled them with the Brita filter in the fridge. She handed one cup to Emily and grabbed her other hand.
"See? Fast."
"You're so cute," Emily said, going in for a quick kiss.
Paige shrugged. "If you think me getting water is cute, just watch me make popcorn. You'll fall in love with me," Paige joked.
Emily gave a half-smile and gripped Paige's hand. She wanted to tell Paige that was basically already a done deal, but didn't know how to do it without scaring her off.
Instead they made their way up to Paige's room with a bowl of popcorn, some waters and some DVDs.
"Comedy, romance or drama?" Paige asked, sorting through the movies.
"Nothing that'll make me think too hard. I'm kind of tired."
Paige nodded in agreement. "We should just Netflix some Friends episodes."
"Yes, please. Season 3 or earlier."
Paige got her laptop set up to the TV as Emily got comfortable in bed. Once it started playing, Paige joined Emily under the covers.
She felt a surge of warmth wash over her as Emily curled up to her immediately. Every part of their body touching in some way. From their feet, to their arms, to their heads. Paige sighed, honestly believing there was never a time she was more content.
Once the first episode had ended and the countdown to the next one started, Emily cleared her throat. "Hanna keeps bringing up the idea of a double date with Caleb."
Paige stroked Emily's hair gently and nodded. "I have hospital stuff every Wednesday and Friday, and therapy Mondays. But we can do it over the weekend, maybe?"
"Really? You'd be okay with that?"
"Of course, why wouldn't I? I like you, and I like Hanna. I've only hung out with Caleb a few times, but we get along. It'll be fun."
Emily grinned and turned her head to face Paige. "You are seriously the best."
Paige's expression went from smiley to serious when she took in Emily's closeness for the first time.
"Would it be okay if I kiss you?"
Emily nodded, arching an eyebrow, "Only if you promise to never ask again and just do it."
"They always ask in the movies."
"Well, this is real life and I just want you to kiss me."
Paige smiled again, inching in closer to Emily, so they were nearly touching. "Noted."
Paige finally leaned in and moved slightly, so she was hovering above Emily. It was an adjustment Emily clearly enjoyed, because she turned up the intensity of the kiss.
Paige used one forearm to balance herself on the bed, and the other hand caressed Emily's hair and face. Paige's favorite part about Emily, physically, was her face and the way her long hair framed it. She always looked so perfect and Paige savored the opportunity to touch both.
In the few times they had made out heavily, Paige noticed how Emily's hands almost always went to her hips. She had meant to ask about this, but was always too shy.
If she would have asked, Emily would have told her that Paige's hips were easily the sexiest thing she had ever seen. Running had clearly done Paige well, as her hips were well defined and narrow in a way that pants looked great on her. Emily was pretty much obsessed.
After kicking the covers nearly fully off the bed, Emily managed to shift herself totally under Paige. She wrapped her legs around Paige's hips to help pull them closer together.
Paige moved herself as best she could to accommodate what Emily was asking of her. While she loved kissing Emily's lips, she found it easy to break contact if it meant kissing lower on Emily's neck.
Paige kissed along Emily's jaw, up to her ear, where she spent some time playing with her earlobe, then moved down her neck. Paige loved the smell of Emily, and it smelled so perfect right at her neck. Like clean and citrus and lovely. She kissed and licked along Emily's clavicle. Emily's mind went blank with how good it felt. Not even just physically good, that too, but she felt safe and trusting towards Paige.
As much as she wanted to watch Paige, she felt the strongest urge to close her eyes and just FEEL everything. And as soon as she did, she felt Paige suck slightly on her neck and sooth it over with her tongue.
Without her instruction, or warning, Emily's hips moved up, hoping to find some relief to the pressure building within her. Emily felt slightly embarrassed, and hoped Paige didn't notice. Paige didn't break her stride on her neck, which she took as a good sign. But then Paige's right hand wandered down to Emily's hip. She gripped one of Emily's belt loops on her jeans and pulled a little, arching her hips up again.
Emily didn't have to be told twice, and moved her hips up again, more forcefully. This time, Paige leaned her hips down at the same time and Emily's eyes shot open from the amazing feeling that washed over her.
"That 'kay?" Paige mumbled into her neck.
Emily didn't answer, just moved her hips up again and again, Paige meeting her every time. Emily had no idea she could feel so much, even with her jeans still on. She was so turned on, even the slightest pressure was noticed and felt like magic.
After a few minutes like that, Emily kept rocking her hips, but dragged Paige's head back up to her own so they could kiss properly.
Emily felt herself getting close but felt like she could hold off. That is until Paige slowly massaged her tongue with her own. It was like all the willpower to control her body went out the window, and she gripped the back of Paige's shirt with both fists, pulling the other girl down hard on top of her.
"I'm really close," Emily mumbled.
Paige kissed her deeper and ground her hips in Emily faster and stronger then before, never letting their lips break contact.
Emily's movements went from fluid to ragged and she started moaning Paige's name in between gasps of breath. Paige moved her head back so she come watch Emily come undone and was rewarded with one of the my beautiful sights she had ever seen. Paige thrust her hips a few more times into Emily, who still had her shirt in a vice grip.
"Fuck," Emily breathed out, her hands gliding lower to the top of Paige's butt.
Paige slowly rolled off Emily, still laying close to her on her side, her hand propping up her head.
"Sorry," Emily said blushing, digging her face into the pillow near Paige's head.
"Whoa, why are you sorry?" Paige asked, she swept some of Emily's hair out of her face so she could see her.
"Because I got carried away and I couldn't contain myself."
"You looked really beautiful, I'm not sorry that happened at all."
Emily hid her face deeper in the pillow but Paige moved her chin towards her with her finger. She moved in for a kiss, which Emily responded to immediately.
"You know how you said I don't have to ask to kiss you? Well, you don't have to ask to do THAT. Because it was easily the most beautiful I've seen you look. And I've seen you look really beautiful. So that's a tough list to be part of."
Emily sat up abruptly, and Paige joined her, both girls leaning against the headboard.
"Paige, can we talk?"
Paige bit her lip, wondering if she had said or done something wrong. "Sure."
"You know how we said we were just dating, and it was casual?"
Paige nodded, not ready to look at Emily just yet.
"Well, I'd really like it to be more than that."
Paige turned towards the other girl, relief filling her features. "You mean you want to be my... girlfriend?"
Emily nodded, grabbing Paige's hands. "I'd really like that. What about you?"
Paige thought for a second then shook her head. "I am trying to be more articulate, but the word 'Duh' is the only one coming to mind."
Emily grinned and moved her hand to cup Paige's face. "You're so pretty."
Paige rolled her eyes a little, but Emily gripped her face a little tighter. "I'm serious, Paige. You're beautiful."
"Then I am very thankful you haven't had your eyes checked in a while," Paige winked and moved in for a kiss, but Emily backed away.
"Are you serious or just joking around? You know you're really gorgeous, right?"
Paige shrugged. "No one but my mom has ever called me beautiful. It's just weird."
"Well, I'll make up for lose time. You're beautiful," Emily said looking her in the eyes and giving her peck on the lips. "Gorgeous," Another peck. "And really, really sexy," Emily moved in for another kiss, this one lingered a little longer.
Emily pulled herself away, a little begrudgingly. She didn't want to start something and get carried away again. Instead, she tucked herself under Paige's arm and laid her head on her chest. She felt Paige yawn above her.
"Tired?" Emily asked, her eyes feeling heavy herself.
Paige nodded, "Yeah. I was up late last night doing bio homework."
"Want to nap then get dinner?"
Paige grinned and hugged Emily a little tighter. "I like the way you think."
Emily turned on an episode of Friends in the background for some noise and Emily turned so her face was buried in Paige's neck. She never would have guessed this would be a comfortable position, but as soon as she closed her eyes, she had fallen asleep.
Emily woke up before Paige and watched her sleep for a few minutes. She couldn't help her wandering hand. Paige was sleeping on her side to accommodate Emily nestled into her. Emily's hand traveled down Paige's shoulder, down her side and rested on her favorite spot, Paige's hip.
Even though she knew she shouldn't, she toyed with the hem of Paige's shirt and ran her fingers up Paige's side. Her eyes closed as her fingers glided over the smooth, soft yet toned skin of Paige's abdomen. If there was any question Emily was gay, this moment just answered it. She was so turned on by just looking at and touching Paige, not even having Paige do anything to her.
Her fingers felt a strange ridge on Paige's stomach that she couldn't place.
Curious, she ran her finger tips over it, finding it to be long.
Paige shifted slightly in her sleep, causing her shirt to ride up – revealing the patch of skin her fingers were touching.
She audibly gasped when she saw the huge scar across Paige's side. Her fingers gently traced over it, and Emily felt some tears escaping down her cheeks. The emotion flooded over her too quickly for her to stop it.
She wanted so badly to talk to Paige more about her illness, but just thinking about it overwhelmed her with emotion. She wanted to be there for Paige during that time. And it broke her heart that Paige went through something so serious and scary alone.
Emily pulled Paige's shirt down and wrapped herself back in Paige's arms. Something that didn't take much effort, as it seemed Paige's unconscious body was waiting for her to come back.
Later – both girls were woken up by the bedroom door opening as Paige's mom entered the room.
"Mom?"
"Sorry, I didn't mean to wake you girls. I just wanted to tell you dinner will be ready in a few."
Emily went to move away from Paige at the sound of the woman's voice, but Paige kept her arm wrapped tight around her.
"Sure, thanks, mom. Um, this is Emily."
Emily finally got up from being embraced by Paige and went to shake the woman's hand.
"Great to meet you, Ms. McCullers."
The older woman offered a genuine smile and gave Emily a warm hug. "You too, sweetie. Hope you're staying for dinner."
Emily was taken aback by Paige's mom familiarness. She wasn't sure if Paige had mentioned their relationship to her mom, let alone her being gay. They hadn't really talked about that.
"Of course, yes, thanks for offering."
"Ok, you girls get cleaned up and I'll have everything done in ten minutes."
As Paige's mom left the room, Emily turned towards her GIRLFRIEND (she liked thinking that).
"Your mom is ok with us sleeping in the same bed?"
Paige shrugged and went up to her mirror to fix her hair, that had gotten in disarray from making out and napping.
"She's happy I'm happy. She's wanted to meet you since I started talking about you. And she trusts me."
"So she knows about... us?"
Paige turned towards Emily with a dorky smile. "Well, there's only really been an 'us' for about 2 hours. But she knows we are dating, yes. Should she not?"
Emily's face broke into a grin as she walked over to Paige. "You are amazing," she said. "Everything you do is right. How is that possible?"
"I guess you just bring out the best in me?" Paige asked.
Emily smile and gripped the sides of Paige's shirt and pulled her in for a long kiss before they headed down to dinner.
"I liked your hair better before. I could tell we had been making out."
Paige laughed and ran her hand unconsciously through her hair. "Thanks, I'll keep that in mind on mornings I don't feel like brushing it."
Paige and Emily both sat down at the dining room table. Paige barely waited for them to sit down before she grabbed Emily's hand under the table, squeezing it every so often during conversation with her mom.
Paige excused herself to the bathroom and Emily used it to try and make small talk with Paige's mom to get to know her better.
"Thanks for asking me to stay for dinner, everything was delicious," Emily said genuinely, motioning to her empty plate. She had eaten everything.
"That's so nice of you, sweetie. You're welcome here anytime."
"It's great that you're okay with Paige dating me too. I know my mom had a tough time in the beginning with my coming out. But you don't seem phased at all."
Nicole thought about her answer, looking at the bathroom door where Paige had disappeared into.
"Almost losing Paige twice has given me a whole new understanding about what's really important. She can be a doctor, or a fast food worker. She can date a millionaire man or a homeless woman. As long as she is happy and healthy, that is all I care about."
Emily smiled then it faltered when she processed what Paige's mom had said.
"What do you mean you almost lost her?"
"With her illness. She was... she was very, very sick. Before the transplant, earlier this summer. God she looked..." the older woman choked on her words. "She looked like the ghost of herself," the woman wiped a stray tear fast, hoping Emily wouldn't see. "But she's so much healthier now, and that's all that matters."
Emily had to try her hardest to give the woman a small smile, but it was a chore. She felt like she had been sucker punched in the gut.
Paige emerged from the bathroom like nothing had happened, a big smile on her face.
"Dessert?" she asked.
"Already getting some ice cream," her mom said from the kitchen.
"It's a good night in the McCullers home when there's ice cream," Paige said to Emily.
Emily tried to smile again, but Paige knew instantly something was wrong. "What's up?" she asked softly.
Emily gave Paige a gentle kiss and smiled. "I just wish I had known you for longer."
The next day, at brunch with the girls, Emily could barely contain her glee as she joined the table.
"Someone's coffee kicked in already," Spencer said in reference to Emily's good mood.
"Yeah, you look like you took whatever Hanna takes," Aria added.
Emily shrugged and sat down.
"Paige and I are official," Emily's grin was huge and she didn't care.
Hanna clapped her hands in excitement. "Yes, that's great babe. But weren't you official like weeks ago?"
"Well we've been 'dating' but we just decided to label it last night."
"Did you do it yet?" Hanna asked, scanning the menu.
"You aren't big on subtlety are you?" Spencer asked.
"Subtlety is a waste of everyone's time," Hanna said honestly.
Emily's grin didn't subside and Hanna took this as an answer. "They totally did it, look at her face."
"Let's just say I am not complaining at the progress we are making."
"They did it," Aria said to Hanna.
"Totally did it," Hanna agreed.
As their meal was wrapping up, the four teens were getting their stuff together when Emily accidentally knocked her full mug of coffee onto Hanna's purse.
"Shit, Han, I am so sorry!"
Hanna scoffed trying to dry off her wallet and phone. "This was payback for saying you and Paige did it, huh?" Emily knew her friend well enough to know she was joking, but she still felt bad.
After most of her stuff was dry, it was clear the bag itself was totaled. Stained and dripping, there was no saving it.
"I really need a purse today. Caleb and I are going to the movies and we like to sneak in snacks."
Emily's guilt got the better of her.
"Here, take mine," she replied, taking out her essentials, like her wallet and make up bag. "It's huge, you can fit at least 3 boxes of candy and two sodas."
Hanna took the bag and shoved her stuff inside. "Thanks, Em, you're the best."
At that exact moment, at a nearby courthouse, a jury was finished deliberating in the death of Officer Wayne Fields. They had reached their verdict.