Disclaimer: I don't own Skins, I don't own Naomily and I don't own supermarkets...such is life.

Author Note: I had a great time in London, thank you to those who asked. This is for all you fantastic people reading this story who have reviewed and for those who have just read, I'd love to hear from you too if you feel like saying hi.

There's a place I'm trying to get to right now and with this chapter I feel like I'm filling a little, but hopefully the next one will kick start the Naomily world even more.

In This Life

Chapter Ten

A duck waddled across the path towards the little girl, her small hand outstretched to the bird's beak, a piece of bread too large for the duck clutched by chubby fingers. Naomi rushed forwards, pulled her daughter, her daughter, away from the animal, warning her about the dangers of getting too close. The exchange was brief, though long enough a snapshot to show the level of feeling Naomi had for the child. Not that there was any doubt she wouldn't love her daughter. Emily perched on the edge of a bench, watching, waiting. She wasn't sure what she was waiting for anymore. Naomi was a mother, a parent and though the concept of someone her age having a child wasn't a strange one, she had never seen any sign that Naomi was tied up in any way with anyone, least not someone as significant as a person's flesh and blood. Questions floated into her mind, then back out again without having reached her lips; was Cook Erin's father? How did it happen when Naomi liked girls? Though she knew full well there was more to life than liking girls, there were ways and means a person could sleep with a man without caring for them and even with. Why didn't Naomi talk about her before? What happened to get Naomi into the position she was in? Why hadn't she told her before? Why wasn't it the first thing that came out of her mouth? 'Hi, I'm Naomi and I have a four year old daughter.' No, that wasn't Naomi. Even after such a short time Emily understood Naomi's need for independence. She liked to shop in the evening, alone, for one. Then again, the evening was the only time she probably wasn't spending with her daughter or working.

'You're struggling with it.'

Four words spoken with more pain and sorrow than Emily could even muster. She glanced up into those blue eyes and stared deep into them. The pain and sorrow was there too, more so than just the need for Emily to accept this part of her life. The past, it clouded the entrance to her soul and as Emily stared deeper she felt the fog lift and a new level of trust formed in the silence.

'Let's go to the playground,' Naomi suggested, breaking the eye contact. Emily nodded and followed the two person family down the path towards a playground. As they got closer the little girl reached out for Emily's hand, putting her own trust in the new person in her life when she asked to be swung. A nod of approval from Naomi and they swung her along until they reached the slides. Erin, her blonde ponytail bouncing behind her, ran off towards the ladder.

'Emily?'

A hand came down to Emily's side, interlinking their fingers and pulling her towards another bench. The urgency in Naomi's voice caused Emily's heart to beat faster, wrenching up in fear. She thought of every possibility; of Naomi informing her that things weren't going to work out between them; of Naomi wrapping her arms tightly around her and whispering how much she loved her and always had. Though she doubted the latter would happen.

'I have a past.'

'We all have a past.'

'I know,' Naomi sighed, frustrated. Then she shook her head and muttered an apology. 'A lot has happened to me since we left college, my daughter is the most important person in the world to me. Do you understand that?'

'Of course.'

What was there to understand? Children were meant to be loved, to be cherished. They were supposed to be the most important person in a mother's life and loved unconditionally; at least when they were children. Jenna Fitch filled Emily's thoughts, which she brushed aside, her own misfortunes fighting to surface.

'I can't tell you everything, not right now. But I will, as long as you're around. I'll tell you everything in time.'

Long slender fingers covered her face and she looked away. Emily reached out her own hand and pulled back Naomi's shelter. She wasn't afraid, she wasn't ready to run. She was in shock and everything would take some time to process, but she wasn't going anywhere. She leant towards Naomi's wet cheek and kissed away the tears that had fallen.

'Take your time, I'm here.'

xxx

They parted ways before they got to the high street. Naomi wanted to go by Stoned on the way home and Emily quickly remembered her meeting with Jonah. She wanted to kiss her goodbye; she wanted it so much that a lump formed in her throat causing a startling pain. She loathed her secret life, hiding behind her fear of the truth was no better than living without anyone. Except that when she left, allowed Naomi's fingers to slip from her grip, she felt an immense bond, a growing love and trust that she'd never had before. Not with anyone. She watched Naomi depart, waited until two blonde heads of hair disappeared out of sight before she allowed herself to continue towards the bus stop. Her car was now in a garage somewhere looking for a new owner, she couldn't afford it, not without a job. She had very little saved up in the bank and what she did have was being swindled away on the flat. It was becoming customary to have just one proper meal a day, no fresh produce and too much sugar. Life was, in every other capacity, a horrible existence she neither asked for nor wanted. The only thing making it better was the thought of Naomi waiting for her, expecting her to be at the supermarket at the end of the week. She didn't have the heart or confidence to tell her that she had nothing to buy and little to buy it with.

'There you are,' Jonah stood up from the front step of the apartment block, his face taut and his fingers moving between his hands nervously. He stared at her for longer than was socially acceptable before stepping aside to allow her to open the door.

'Sit down, do you want any water?' Emily offered when they reached the flat.

'What about the mango juice?' Jonah asked, his eyes narrowing harshly.

'I'm sorry; I've had a lot on my mind.'

'Oh, okay.'

Tears seemed to build in Emily's eyes; she pushed them closed with the hope of warding off the teary warning. The day had taken its toll, no matter how much she wanted to tell herself that everything was okay. Naomi had a child and though it didn't bother her outright, it still had an impact. How could it not? Nothing would ever be the same again, she would never be Naomi's only priority and a part of Emily actually felt ashamed at how jealous she felt over losing that place she'd barely even gained. No, things weren't the same, would never be fairytales and pretty flowers. They never would have been, but at least before she had the option to pretend that things were perfect.

'So dinner,' Jonah whispered, forcing Emily's attention to return to the young man sat across from her. She smiled at him, a forced smile to make him think everything was okay, despite the truth being something deeper.

'Are you sure you don't mind coming? I'm sure I can sort something else out.'

'It's fine,' Jonah smiled. 'But maybe this time you could make sure there's some mango juice.'

xxx

Naomi didn't really look up when Emily approached her; she let her bike chain drop against the wall securely, then reached for Emily's hand and pulled her along the side of the building. Emily's heart raced ahead of her, the last few days had been no easier than the one before. Naomi was a mother, a mother with a child who relied on her for every little thing. She didn't mind, she didn't care that there was this little helpless person demanding Naomi's attention and getting it without fail. Well, she cared a little. Her brain overthought the situation, continued to replay the afternoon at the park; swinging the little girl along the path, watching her run up the ladders and travel down the metal slide. They acted like it was the most natural thing in the world, it felt like it too. Emily found Naomi's daughter to be a very funny and smart little girl who seemed to like her back. Even so, that didn't push away the worries she had, the awkwardness she now felt chasing after Naomi.

'Where are we going?' Emily gasped.

There was no time for a reply; the wall collided with Emily's back, scraping roughly against the material of her clothes until she felt it pressing harshly against her skin. It hurt, but only for a moment. The pain quickly replaced by that of Naomi's teeth gently nibbling on her bottom lip. Their lips moving fast against each other, tongues and saliva being shared between their two mouths; and Naomi's hand pushing higher and higher across Emily's stomach towards her bra.

'Fuck.'

Urgent movements, Naomi's body pressed firmly against her and the hand wandering ever so hastily down her skirt sent warning signs through Emily's lustful body. She wanted Naomi, wanted to kiss her more than anything. She just wasn't sure she was ready, ready to have Naomi act in such a forceful way, ready to have sex in public, ready to have sex full stop.

'I want you so fucking much,' Naomi sighed into her ear, as her hand slid further under Emily's waistband.

A car alarm went off in the distance pulling Naomi away from Emily's side; she wished she could thank someone for breaking them apart. Instead she stared up into Naomi's passion filled eyes, tried to find the love she herself was beginning to feel, only to witness the saddest look she'd ever seen. Emily's heart melted.

'You don't want this.'

'Yes, I do, I fucking need this,' Naomi cried out, reaching out to kiss her again, instead Emily pushed her back, holding her at a distance.

'No, Naomi.'

They stood facing each other, distance between them. Emily let each breath slowly fill her lungs before forcing the breath out even slower. Her heart sped along causing her body to want to continue at such speed, but she couldn't handle it anymore. She reached out and pulled Naomi's hand towards her, pulling her closer until the hand was sandwiched between them.

'Tell me the truth.'

Naomi's eyes filled with tears, her face creasing up with anguish and betrayal. Emily's free hand moved across her cheek, wiping away the sliding droplets of salty liquid that kept coming. She wished she knew what was going on inside Naomi's head, what was causing the tears, the breakdown of the person she always thought was stronger than herself, but she didn't want to rush her. She couldn't forgive herself if she pushed her away. Instead she pulled her into her arms and held her there, stroking her back and kissing the side of her head as tiny sobs left Naomi's throat, followed by three very small, very broken words.

'Don't leave me.'

Author Note: This probably seems a bit out of character for Naomi, but please have faith that things will be good...I must say, I'm loving writing Naomi in this.

Lots of tears...make me happy and send me a smile!