Disclaimer: Skins doesn't belong to me, anyone fancy kidnapping JB and Bryan Elsley so that I can? ;-)

Author Note: Thank you so much to everyone who has read and reviewed, I hope you've been enjoying this story and I'd love to know your thoughts on the next chapter. Please review and tell me, they really make my day! :-)

It Ends Tonight; Eleven

The shop was quiet, the sun shone persistently through the large window and directly into Naomi's eyes. She continued cleaning the window display, squinting until she admitted defeat and slumped down on a chair behind the counter. She heaved a sigh, staring around the empty shop wishing she'd brought a book with her. She closed her eyes, pictured the lake she'd once gone to with Emily, tried to remember the birds singing and the smell of the flowers blooming. Heaven, she remembered. It was beautiful. When she opened her eyes, a pair of chocolate brown ones were staring back laced with all of the negative emotions under the sun. It took a moment to realise it wasn't just a continuous part of her reverie but Emily Fitch stood in front of her with tears in her eyes.

'Fuck,' she cried out, standing up and staring at her. 'What's wrong?'

'I shouldn't have come,' Emily noted, changing her mind and walking towards the door. Naomi reached out a hand and stopped her, pulled her back towards her until she could wrap her arms around Emily's shaking body.

'We're friends, right?' Naomi asked, realising her bad choice of words when Emily's grip loosened around her waist. She carefully reworded what she wanted to say to avoid upsetting her further. 'Friends first, everything else later.'

'Yeah,' Emily cried, clinging to the sides of her clothes and pushing her face into the crook of Naomi's neck.

The close contact caused Naomi's mind to wander for a few seconds, until she pulled it back and focused on rubbing the space between Emily's shoulder blades. She stroked her hair from her face and held her there until Emily eventually pulled away.

'Are you ready to talk now?' Naomi whispered, wiping a few stray tears from under Emily's eyes. She nodded into her touch, reached out and grasped for Naomi's hand. She gave it her, allowed her to pull it towards her and use it as comfort. Naomi squeezed her fingers around Emily's hand and let her lips curl up briefly. How could she make so many mistakes with the same person? Not just anyone, Emily. The one who deserved the world and everything in it. She shook her head, pushed her doubts and regrets aside the moment Emily started to speak. She needed to be there for her, after everything, she owed her that.

'I went home.'

'The college or,' Naomi began, trailing off as Emily interrupted.

'Home. To my parents.'

A strong sense of foreboding hit Naomi square in the chest until she felt her ability to breath dwindle severely.

'What did they do?'

'Nothing,' Emily mumbled, staring down at her fingers, picking at the cuticles to distract herself. Naomi reached out and took one of Emily's hands, holding it firmly between them. 'Katie was the only one at home.'

'What happened?'

'I got as far as the door, she was about to leave to go to work. I asked her if anyone was in, if I could talk to them and her. She shot me down, she said that, she tried to tell me that I didn't have any right being there. She seems to think that because I blew them off for Mother's Day that I don't have a part of the family anymore.'

A protective instinct kicked in and Naomi clenched her fist. 'I'm going to deck her fucking face in.'

'No,' Emily sobbed, her tears returning in full force. 'She was just being Katie.'

'Yeah, a royal bitch.'

'Naomi.'

The sad eyes drew Naomi into the pain Emily was feeling. Her heart ached for Emily until she couldn't stop herself pulling her into her arms again. She apologised for Katie, told her she'd wish those worries away for her if she could.

'Doesn't work like that, does it?'

'It should. I'm sorry Emily, I'm a complete tit. I've always been a complete fucking tit. Why do you keep hanging around? I only make things worse.'

Emily shook her head, her hands wrapping around Naomi's cheeks. She stared into her eyes, wondering where the innocent Emily eyes had gone that she had once fallen in love with.

'You're the one thing right now that makes everything better.'

Their lips joined, Emily's fingers spread out around Naomi's cheeks. She reached up and pressed her hands on top of Emily's. A couple of tears fell from her eyes and their mouths connected in a brief kiss that said more than either of them had ever found the words for.

'I fucking love you Emily,' Naomi called out, kissing her again before wrapping her whole body around her. A desire to protect her hit Naomi harder until Emily was pulling away and they were kissing again, firmer. Their tongues joining them in a passionate embrace that left Naomi gasping for breath. She stepped back, a smile spread across her face.

'I'm taking you out.'

'You are?'

'I am. Friday night, me and you are going out. I'll pick you up from the spare bedroom at seven.'

Emily frowned. 'The spare bedroom?'

Resting her hands on Emily's hips, she rested her forehead against her. 'I don't want you living in that shithole any longer. You Anomaly need to Emily. Not when you know a family that likes to take in waifs and strays.'

'I'm a stray?' Emily laughed.

'Only the best stray! Like the Tramp from Lady and the Tramp.'

'I can't Naomi, it wouldn't be fair on you or Gina.'

'Are you joking Ems? It was Gina's idea. She wants you living with us as much as I do.'

'Okay.'

'Emily?'

'Yes?'

'I want Friday to be about enjoying ourselves. I want everything that's happening for us at the moment and all of our past to piss off. For one night.'

'I'd like that,' Emily smiled weakly.

Naomi didn't take her eyes off Emily's. 'Then on Saturday I want to tell you everything.'

'Oh.'

'I don't want to do this, with you, without you knowing the truth. What I said earlier, it's how I feel Em. I don't want to break your heart. I couldn't forgive myself if I hurt you any more than I already have.'

'Okay.'

*

Friday arrived. Naomi disappeared into her bedroom to get ready, arguing with her mother when Emily had the hairdryer and complaining about the lack of hot water when the shower was free. None of that mattered though when Emily opened the door to the spare room and she was left speechless at Emily's knee length skirt and low cut top. The outfit was simple, nothing too unusual for Emily but it pushed Naomi's sexual appetite from 'it would be nice' to 'need to rip the clothes right off her back'. She chewed on her lip in an attempt to ignore her body fighting her for a chance to quench its desire.

'You look amazing.'

Emily looked at her, her eyes fluttering coyly. 'Thanks. You look great too.'

'You ready?'

Naomi reached for her hand, her body screaming at her when Emily reached over to pick up a jacket giving her a perfect view down her top. She nibbled on the edge of her lip, hoping she wouldn't draw blood from the amount of chewing. They walked out of the house to joking messages from Gina.

'Emily, have her back by eleven. Naomi, maybe you should change into something that doesn't make you look like you want someone to jump you.'

Neither of them responded, or talked until they were a couple of streets away. Naomi stopped walking, forcing Emily to stop to when their hands fell apart.

'Sorry about my mother.' Emily merely laughed, her smile huge and her eyes wandering down Naomi's body. 'Stop perving.'

'Your mother was right, dressing like that really does make people want to jump you.'

'People?'

'One person in particular.'

Forcing her eyes wide, Naomi stared at Emily aghast. Shaking her head. 'I don't know about you, but I don't fuck on a first date.'

'What about kiss?' Emily asked, twirling her fingers through Naomi's and tugging her towards her.

The strength it took for Naomi not to fall for her charms left her gasping for breath. Their lips hovered near enough together until Naomi stepped back with a cheeky grin.

'Not until the end of a first date.'

The lowering of Emily's gaze, her eyes curling downwards like Puss in Boots from Shrek made it even harder. But Naomi persevered. She shook her head, lowering her lips to Emily's nose and pressing a gentle kiss against it. She stalked off down the street passing a 'not a chance' smile back at her as Emily followed with a disappointed smirk.

*

The restaurant was cosy and intimate, just the way Naomi liked it. When she was nine, Gina took her to a big, fancy one for her birthday and halfway through the whole room started to sing 'Happy Birthday' as a waiter brought out a cake. When everyone clapped she ran to the bathroom and didn't move until her mum promised to take her home. Since then she refused to go to any larger restaurants in favour of the smaller ones. When she told Emily the story, she laughed.

'I don't find it funny.'

Emily shook her head. 'It's not that. Katie and I went to a restaurant like that once. I hated every second of it, but Katie used to ask every year if we could go back. Think she liked the attention.'

Talking about her sister made Emily go quiet. Naomi watched her mood travel from excitable to quiet and withdrawn. She reached out a hand and looked deep into Emily's eyes with a smile.

'This place is nice,' Emily commented, clearing her throat and looking down at the menu.

'I've been a few times with mum. They do some really good vegetarian dishes, for when she's having a veggie month.'

'Veggie month? Doesn't that defeat the purpose of being Vegetarian?'

Naomi shrugged. 'She likes to eat meat sometimes I guess. She doesn't do things like normal people.'

'Oh,' Emily gasped, looking a little closer at the menu.

'What's wrong?'

'This isn't the cheapest restaurant.'

'Don't worry about that,' Naomi smiled. 'I asked you out. I'm paying.'

'But,'

'I have a job, I saved a bit and mum gave me some too,' Naomi assured her. The way Emily's eyes darted about in worry made Naomi want to kiss her. It was cute. Yet at the same time it made her want to cry. 'Please don't worry. I wouldn't bring you somewhere expensive and make you pay.'

By the time the food had arrived, the two girls were deep in conversation, laughing and joking about Naomi's job and their lives as a whole. Naomi watched Emily telling her a story about the late night visits she would make to her house, enjoying the animation on Emily's face.

'You and mum really get along, don't you?'

Emily nodded. 'You're quite hard on her sometimes but really Naomi, she's amazing.'

'I know,' Naomi sighed, looking down at her empty plate. 'I just, struggle to talk, to anyone.'

A hand came down over her own, she smiled up at Emily, content by her comforting touch. She squeezed her fingers around Emily's hand and they sat staring into each other's eyes.

'Fuck,' Naomi snapped, taking her hand back and retrieving her noisy phone from her pocket. 'Should have turn,'

The tiny screen lit up brandishing her speechless when the name she least expected flashed up. Her heart jumped into her mouth, the contents of her stomach shifting uncomfortably. She pressed the red button, chewing on her lip whilst she slipped the phone back into her pocket.

'Withheld,' she smiled back at Emily, but the phone only rang again. 'Sorry, it's not. It's my fucking ex-girlfriend.'

Naomi watched for Emily's reaction, conscious of hurting her with the news that it wasn't just a stranger. Thankfully Emily only smiled back.

'What the fuck do you want Abi?'

Never once taking her eyes off Emily, Naomi listened to the girl on the other end talk. She rolled her eyes all too often and heaved a sigh. Emily frowned at her curiously.

'You're where?' Naomi gasped, muttering a farewell and standing up. 'We have to go.'

'Oh,' Emily looked disappointed, her sad face bringing Naomi back down to earth with a loud crash.

She reached out to Emily's hand and held it up to her mouth to kiss her knuckles. 'I'm so sorry. I don't want to do this. Abi says she's sat outside my house.'

'In London?'

'No. Here. I have to go, you can stay if you want.'

'I don't want. I want to stay with you.'

They walked towards the door, stopping by the pay point on the way out. Naomi cherished the comforting touch of Emily's fingers linked with her own between them. The comfort made her feel better and the walk home a lot more relaxed with Emily there trying to distract her with whisperings in her ear. Eventually, as they reached her road, Emily pulled her to a stop.

'What should I expect when we get back?'

'What do you mean?'

Emily raised an eyebrow and cleared her throat. 'Will she be expecting you to be alone?'

'No, Emily, don't feel like you can't continue to hold my hand just because she's there. But,' Naomi trailed off, staring down at the pavement. She chewed on her lip, wondering where the perfect night had fizzled off to. Eventually she lifted her gaze again. 'She sounded off her face. You shouldn't have to deal with that, so when we get there I'll take her into the kitchen, make her a drink and you should just go to bed or something.'

'Okay.'

The house came into view. Naomi's grip on Emily's hand tightened and she sent a wary smile at her. They reached the driveway and a brunette stumbled towards them. Naomi consciously let go of Emily's hand, stepping towards her ex.

'Naomi,' the girl gasped, reaching her arms out and gripping Naomi's shoulders.

'Get the fuck off me,' Naomi snapped, pushing her away, her hand returning to Emily's. Her eyes trained on Abi's, watching her notice the closeness between them. The wild eyes of her ex-girlfriend were darting between their intertwined fingers and their faces. Naomi clenched Emily's hand tighter; a need for comfort, support and someone to assure her that everything was going to be alright, her top priority.

Abi charged at them, her face contorted with anger and frustration. 'You fucking bitch, she's my fucking girlfriend!'

The speed of her movement broke them apart. Naomi let go of Emily's hand, took several wobbly steps backwards until her body hit the rusted old card that belonged to her mother. She righted herself, made sure she could stand unsupported before turning back to Emily just in time to watch Abi grapple at Emily's head and smack her across the face.