Due to traffic, it had taken Emily almost three hours to get back home to Philadelphia. It was already approaching dinner time when she had finally gotten back to her house, deciding for the sake of time just to keep Paige's car rather than switching it out for her own where they had left it at Paige's apartment. No doubt Pam was getting antsy waiting for her, wanting her home for dinner.

She had felt bad, leaving Paige in Delaware. Though Owen was doing okay, and just a drowsy version of his normal silly, loveable self, it didn't mean Emily didn't want to still be there for support. She also would've loved the chance to spend the time with Paige and her brother together. She could already picture them, camped out in the living room, Paige undoubtedly doting on Owen and making sure he kept on his med schedule and had his casted leg elevated at all times, scarfing down pizza and watching sports, teasing each other and laughing late into the night until Brittany would hush them and coax everybody to bed. She pictured Paige waking up early to make nice breakfasts, and cleaning the kitchen top to bottom so they wouldn't need to worry.

Though she was a little bummed she wouldn't be there with them, she was grateful Paige would have a distraction for a few days. While it was true, a good night sleep had calmed her down immensely about her upcoming interview, Emily had a feeling somewhere deep down, Paige might still be harboring some nervousness about the whole ordeal. She knew spending time with Owen would be good for her, and hopefully she'd be coming back to Philly relaxed and loose, ready to blow Courtney Calloway right off her chair.

She had texted Paige upon pulling into the driveway, like she promised, and returned the wave she received from her father where he sat on one of the front deck rocking chairs. He was dressed in simple plaid shorts and a pale blue 'UNC Basketball Dad' t-shirt, the one Emily had sent him for Christmas, and was relaxing with a beer, reading the paper.

"Hi dad," she smiled at him as she made her way up the front steps, leaning down and pressing a kiss to her father's cheek.

"Emmy," he replied. He closed the paper and lay it in his lap, giving his daughter his full attention as she sank in the chair next to him with a tired sigh, "how's Paige's brother?"

"He's okay. Just a broken ankle and some cuts and bruises. They're letting him out tomorrow as long as he gets through the night okay," she explained.

"That's good," he nodded, patting her on the knee, "she let you drive her Jeep all the way back here by yourself?"

"I was careful. Traffic was so bad,"

"Monday afternoon rush hour," he surmised, and she nodded in agreement, "you okay? You look tired,"

"Three hours in a car by myself," she shrugged.

"Better get to bed early tonight then," he suggested, "tough day tomorrow,"

"Yeah,"

"You know I wouldn't go if I didn't have to, Emmy. I'm going to try to get more time off this go around. I want to come see your school again. I haven't seen it since your first tour. Now that you really know the place I'd love to see everything. Where you train, where you study, where you hang out with your friends. Maybe even break away long enough for a swim meet or a basketball game? I'm really going to try, Emmy,"

"Parents' weekend is in October. Maybe if you tell them ahead of time they'll let you come? I can print the flier down from the website. It's really fun. Mom came down for it last year. There's a carnival on campus and tours and a big football game. Mom even let me paint her face blue. Well, I painted a blue football on her cheek. But still," she explained with a chuckle.

"Now that I have to see," he laughed back, "print the flier for me. I'll do everything I can…"

"But no promises," she sighed.

"I'm really sorry, baby. I'll try my best,"

"Maybe you can make it home for Thanksgiving this year? Or my birthday?" she pleaded, an almost desperate look on her face as she scrambled for any hope she could hold onto before her father left again.

"Don't you think you'll be having Thanksgiving with Paige? And surely she'll want to take you out for a nice birthday dinner or something,"

"Daddy, we've only had one date. I mean, I hope so, but I don't know. Her family is all about tradition. It might be too new, I might not be invited for Thanksgiving," Emily shrugged.

"Well you're dating the chef, I have a hard time believing you don't get an invite," he chuckled.

"I guess you're right. It would still be nice if you were home, though. You can't tell me the pumpkin pie down at the base mess hall is as good as mom's," Emily pointed out with a grin.

"Mmm…" he replied, his stomach growling at the thought…"I definitely will be missing your mom's cooking this time tomorrow," he laughed, "now that you found yourself a girl who can cook you know what I mean, huh?"

"I think it's vital to my survival," Emily barked a laugh, "or else I'd either be living off pizza and mac & cheese, or I'd have to depend on mom forever,"

"Yeah. You definitely got my end of the gene pool as far as that goes," he chuckled in response, "but you got your mama's looks and brains, so you made out pretty good,"

"Paige got all three," she sighed dreamily, "looks, brains, she cooks...she's funny and sweet and hard working…"

"She's the whole package huh?" Wayne asked, enjoying the lost look in his daughter's eyes, and feeling comforted at the fact that just the thought of the girl seemed to ease Emily's tension away.

"Yeah," she smiled.

"Good,"

"I should go help mom set the table. What's for dinner?" she asked, standing out of the rocking chair with a yawn.

"Barbecued chicken and salad. Think I saw mom putting a pie in the oven earlier too," he told her with a wink.

"Mmm. Okay. Love you dad. What time is your flight tomorrow?"

"Love you too baby. 11:30," he reminded her, and with a nod and a sad smile, she disappeared into the house.

"How's your soup, honey?" Val asked, watching as her daughter ate ravenously across from her. It had been a long day at the hospital, and while they had all been allowed in Owen's room for a while and they had shared a nice visit, he had quickly tired out and asked his family for some peace and quiet with his wife.

Nick had opted to head back to the hotel room for some shuteye himself, leaving Paige and Val on their own for dinner, with explicit instructions to bring some takeout for him and Brittany to eat when the nursing staff undoubtedly kicked her out for the night.

After a short search around the surrounding area of the hospital, they had settled into a quaint tavern that Paige had suggested after noticing they had clams on special. She had already drained two glasses of white wine, and though she was tempted to order a third, the arch of her mother's eyebrow from across the table had cautioned her to switch to iced tea.

She was slurping at her bowl of French onion soup happily, a platter of steamers in between them, and a few cheeseburgers on the way. Paige was definitely missing Emily, but enjoying her mother's undivided attention for the first time since she could remember.

"It's good," she replied, looking up and licking her lips, watching as her mom shucked a clam from it's shell and dipped it into butter, "clams are good huh?"

"They are very good. Good idea," she smiled at her daughter.

"You and dad heading home tomorrow?" she asked, digging back into her soup.

"We'll see. I want to make sure your brother settles in okay at home. Make sure Brittany doesn't need a hand with the housework at all," Val replied, taking a sip of her drink.

"I'll be here, mom. If you want to go home you should. Dad must be worn out if he'd rather sleep than eat,"

"He'll be fine," she rolled her eyes, "he's probably not even sleeping. He probably wanted to watch baseball for an hour in peace,"

"Yeah maybe," Paige laughed. She could picture him propped up in the hotel bed, a beer balancing on his chest as he provided color commentary on the game to absolutely no one.

"Besides, you shouldn't be lingering down here too long, either. You've got a big week coming up. Owen wouldn't want you unfocused because of him,"

"I guess so. I thought spending time with him and Brit might help me relax," she shrugged.

"Well maybe. Just don't get yourself all rushed and upset," she warned.

"I think I have it figured out. I haven't slept since I found out about all this, until last night in bed with Emily. I was out like a light and slept like a baby," she explained, and Val nodded with a tight smile.

"That's all that went on though? Sleeping?"

"Mom," Paige groaned, rolling her eyes, "Brittany was in the room with us. Besides, it's only been one date,"

"Well, I'm just checking," she defended, "there's a lot of chemistry there. She was there for you in your time of need, that alone could be enough of a spark...but I'm glad. I'm glad, you shouldn't rush these things,"

"I don't rush...that, mom," she groaned. Her cheeks were reddening in embarrassment and she felt herself sinking lower into the wooden booth.

"Oh really? Not even with Kelsey?"

"Kelsey...geeze, mom that was forever ago. And it was different. It's different with Emily. Trust me. I like her so much, I don't want to mess it up. There's still too many nerves there," Paige explained, suddenly a little less embarrassed and a little more lost in thought.

"Hmm. Sounds about right," Val nodded at her youngest child, quite amused as she squirmed in her seat across from her.

"Really?"

"Of course. You always have those first time jitters with someone special. You want to hear about me and your dad's first time?" she asked, and Paige's eyes all but bulged right out of her skull.

"Never ever," Paige insisted, shaking her head side to side rapidly, and Val laughed heartily.

"I didn't mean details, goofball,"

"Mom, you know I totally ship you and dad, but there's just some stuff that'll make my ears bleed, you know?" she replied with a chuckle.

"Fair enough. I'll just say this, don't be too hard on yourself. Don't be one of those girls that sprinkles rose petals all over the room or tries to be someone you're not. When it's right, you know it," she advised and Paige nodded.

"You and dad were pretty much in love right away, right? Like after your first date you weren't thinking about other guys or anything?" Paige asked.

"Not really. Your dad made me laugh. We had fun. It's not like I was dating a lot at the time, anyway. I was working at the pharmacy during the day and the gas station at night. Honestly I almost didn't even go to the game where I met your dad. I wasn't feeling too great that day and almost cancelled but couldn't get anyone to take the ticket and didn't want to waste it, so I went," she explained with a smile.

"How about that for luck," Paige grinned.

"More like fate, I think. Sometimes people show up in your life at exactly the right moment, you know? That's how it was with your dad. I was young and aimless, working really hard to support myself but going nowhere fast. Next thing I knew, I met the guy of my dreams, and a year later I was married with a baby on the way. And it never would've happened if it weren't for the blizzard during that game," she recalled, patting her daughter's hand from across the table.

"So you don't think you and dad would've met eventually? If it weren't for that game and that blizzard?"

"I'm not sure. It's a big city. Maybe we would've met at some point, we'll never know. I needed him then, though, so I like to believe it was fate,"

"Yeah. I like that," Paige nodded, "I know it's early, but I think Emily is that for me too, you know? Stuff has been crazy at the restaurant since New Years. Chrissy is just a nightmare, and everything that was going on with Kelsey...and I was just ignoring it. Just telling myself that that was my life and how it was supposed to be, you know? It's like I just gave up, I settled and stopped wanting more for myself for a while you know? Like I still wanted more...but I was too tired to actually do anything about it, you know? I guess I didn't realize I deserved better until Emily showed up," she explained with a shrug, and her mother nodded intently as she listened.

"It makes me really sad that you felt you had to live that way, honey. You're so young, and so talented. Seems you would've been better off single than with Kelsey," she surmised and Paige shrugged.

"It wasn't bad the whole time. In the beginning it was fun for sure. And we had our good times later on, too. It was just...she really thought she was the boss of me you know? She'd never come out and say that, but in hindsight it was so obvious. I'd come home from a long day, and my back and feet would be killing me. All I'd want to do is take a shower and have some dinner in front of the TV. But she'd always have made plans for us to go out to a bar or have people over for drinks and food...which was okay sometimes. But not all the time. I just got so worn out, you know? She even found a way to get what she wanted out of me, even when she said she was putting me first. Even on my birthday, I'd pay for everything. I don't think she did it on purpose," Paige sighed, and took a sip of her iced tea, "she had a shit childhood. Her mom died right in front of her. Maybe she felt she had to do those things because the people she didn't boss around always walked away from her," she guessed.

"Maybe. She should get help, if that's the case. She'll never have a happy relationship treating people the way she treated you. You're sensitive and loving and you put up with it because you wanted her to be okay. Not everyone is that understanding," Val replied.

"You're probably right. You and dad never had problems like that?" she asked, though the smile she received in response told her everything she needed to know.

"Never. We loved spending time together, but he knew when I needed a break, knew when I just wanted to spend time with my friends, or I just wanted to catch up on some sleep. It wasn't all that often to be honest with you. I think that's part of how I knew he was the one, you know? Because even when I'd call him and ask for some alone time, an hour later I'd end up missing him," she explained.

"Yeah, I get that now. I can't wait to see Emily again. I'm probably going to be a mess when she goes back to school,"

"Well, take it one day at a time. You've got a lot going on to keep your mind off that for now. Emily seems to really be pulling for you with this whole Courtney Calloway thing," Val replied.

"Yeah, she is. She knows how big it is," Paige agreed. A smile came across her face again as she thought of Emily, and she seemed to get lost in it as the waitress came along, sliding a burger and basket of fries to each of them.

"There you are loves," she announced with a smile, and a wink at Paige, "anything else I can get for you right now?"

"Yeah actually, can we get two more of these to go? " Paige smiled back, remembering that they had to bring food back for Brittany and her father.

"Will do. Holler if you need anything else cutie pie," she winked again before heading off to tend to her other tables.

"Looks good," Val said as she cut the large burger in half, "something tells me we're going to be getting a phone number on the back of our check," she laughed, pinning Paige with a look.

"She works for tips, mom. She probably flirts like that with everyone," Paige chuckled back, not bothering to cut her burger, opting instead to just take a big, messy bite.

"Whatever you say, cutie pie,"

After dinner, Paige had bid goodnight to her parents across the hall and had settled into bed, a bottle of wine she had sent up from room service already half drained, the small television tuned into the cooking channel, and a notepad in her lap.

Truth was, she'd probably be cooking up a storm if she wasn't stuck in a hotel room, but for now she had settled on scribbling her menu down on the small pad provided on the hotel night stand, writing so fast her brain could hardly keep up. After spending the day with family, and the talk she had with Emily that morning, she had full confidence in her plan, deciding that rather than cooking to impress someone she didn't know, she'd try to cook things she'd hope to see on a menu if she were the one sitting in the dining room.

It was risky. She knew that. Some food writers were stuck up, pretentious and just plain old mean. There was definitely a chance, given that Courtney Calloway and Christina were friends, that their taste in food was similar, and their personalities as well. This worried Paige, but she would've rather gone down swinging than cook like a fraud.

It wasn't long before Paige heard a keycard slide into the door slot, and the door swing open, Brittany entering the room.

"Hey," she greeted Paige tiredly, throwing down her bag and dropping down onto the empty bed dramatically.

"Hi. Owen good?" she asked, without looking up from her notes.

"Yup. Sleeping. What are you writing?"

"Menu,"

"Cool. You figured it out? Can I see?" she asked, her head perking up.

"Not yet. Once we get Owen home and settled, I'm going to run out to the market, and you guys are getting the first official dry run. If that's okay," she explained, finally looking up from the pad and over at Brittany.

"Of course it's okay! We get to taste test the meal that's going to make you famous!" Brittany exclaimed, "okay, even talking about it I'm starving. I was going to pick off Owen's dinner tray but they had chicken fingers tonight. He inhaled them," she explained with a laugh.

"It's cool," Paige replied, pointing to the paper bag on the tv stand, "picked you up a burger and fries from a place down the street,"

"Nice! Thanks Paigey!" she replied, hopping off the bed and planting a kiss to Paige's cheek before grabbing her bag and falling right back into bed.

"You got it," Paige chuckled, wiping at her cheek with her hand and getting back to work.

"Emily get home okay?" Brittany wondered as she tore into her food.

"Yeah. We've been texting a little. She's having a tough night," Paige explained through a frown.

"It must be really hard," Brittany replied, "I can't even imagine. But I guess if that's all she's ever known?"

"Still hard, though. I'd lose it. I don't even like when my dad goes deep sea fishing. She's lived most of her life with her dad away from her, working around guns and bombs, learning how to defend himself against people that want to kill him. Geeze," Paige rambled.

"At least he's not going back overseas right? Emily told me he runs a training base or something in Texas?"

"Yeah, so that's good. He did two tours in Afghanistan, though, when she was a kid. He's a really cool guy. Real sweet and friendly. Emily's his whole world. It's probably just as tough for him," she shrugged.

"At least you met him before he went back, though yeah? Probably made him feel good to know she has someone here with her when he can't be,"

"Hopefully. Hopefully he knows I won't screw that up," Paige replied.

"Maybe he doesn't know that yet. That's okay, you just have to show him," she shrugged, "I'm sure if he didn't trust you he would've let you know it. Your father definitely would've," she explained with a laugh.

"Ain't that the truth," Paige chuckled in reply, "my mom too. They're both super chill with Emily,"

"Maybe that's a good sign?" Brittany replied, "Val definitely gets her hackles up when someone new comes sniffing around her pups. Especially you,"

"Tell me about it," Paige laughed.

"Are we drinking?" Brittany asked, gesturing toward the bottle of wine on the night stand.

"Just to help me sleep," Paige shrugged, "you can finish it off,"

"Don't mind if I do," she grinned, leaning over and washing down her last bite with a few gulps right out of the bottle.

"Damn. Greasy cheeseburgers in bed and ripcording Pinot Grigio right out of the bottle with my parents across the hall. Feels like high school again," Paige declared and Brittany laughed.

"Think they knew I'd sneak into Owen's room after they fell asleep?"

"Val knew all, Brit. We called her the warden for a reason," Paige laughed. She finally set her pad and pen on the nightstand and settled under the covers.

"Damn. Here I thought I was being all sneaky,"

"You could've just waited until morning to see him," Paige replied.

"I couldn't," she shook her head adamantly through a smile, "that boy was like crack to me. He still is,"

"Ay yi yi," Paige rubbed at her eyes with a chuckle, "two sips of wine and you're a hot mess,"

"Yeah, yeah. It's been a long day," she replied, taking another long pull on the bottle.

"Mmhmm. At least we get to bring him home tomorrow," Paige reminded her, and was interrupted by her phone buzzing. She picked it up from where it was charging on the nightstand, noticing it was a Facetime request from Emily.

"Emily wants to Facetime," she announced, not really waiting for an answer from Brittany when she accepted the call.

"Hey," she greeted her, Emily propped up in bed just like Paige was. She couldn't help but smile at the sight.

"Hi. How are you?"

"I'm good. Just been working on my menu and hanging out with Brit. How about you?"

"I'm...drained. Dad and I talked for a while. He's really leaving tomorrow you know?" she frowned, and Paige frowned back.

"Yeah. Yeah I know,"

"I miss you," Emily pouted, "you look so cute. I was in that bed with you last night,"

"Yeah. I miss you too. I'll be back before you know it," she promised.

"I know. Did you eat dinner?" Emily asked.

"Yup. Mom and I went to this little tavern. Had clams and a burger. The waitress was flirting with me. You should've seen my mom's face," she told her with a laugh.

"Do I have to come back down there?" Emily asked, though she was grinning.

"No. But I love that you want to," she replied.

"I want to be the only waitress flirting with you," she joked, "I know that's a lot to ask of the cutest chef in the whole world,"

"Don't worry. The cutest chef in the whole world only has eyes for you," Paige grinned, and Emily practically melted, returning the smile.

"Call Hanna when you get a free moment okay? She's been really worried about you. I told her you're doing okay but she wants to hear your voice," Emily requested.

"I'll call her tomorrow," she agreed.

"You are doing okay right? You look good, you look relaxed," Emily observed.

"I am good. I wish you were here but I'm relaxed. I had some wine, and dinner with my mom was really nice. We talked a lot. Got a lot off my shoulders," she explained, and Emily smiled.

"Good. The Phillies are winning. 4-1," she replied and Paige couldn't help but giggle.

"That's so hot," she replied, "my girl who didn't know squat about baseball a few months ago, calling me up and telling me the score,"

"I can't help it. I like the sound of it now, having baseball on in the background. I can't watch a whole game on TV but having it on for the noise is nice. Reminds me of you in that cute jersey. How happy you were eating those hot dogs. How excited you were when we got that foul ball," Emily recalled.

"You got that foul ball," Paige replied happily.

"It was your lucky glove," Emily shrugged.

"Being there with you was the best part of that day. I'd love to go again if you're up for it. Just you and I this time. Or we could double with Owen and Brittany? Whatever you want,"

"I'd love to," Emily smiled.

"Cool. I'm really starting to feel this wine. Mind if I call it a night?"

"Not at all. I just wanted to call and say goodnight. I'm going to sleep too,"

"Okay. I'll be up early so just call me if you need. Seriously. I want to be here for you tomorrow, anyway I can. I am here for you, you know that right?" Paige pleaded.

"I know. Don't worry. I'm sure I'll be calling you a crying, hot mess by lunch time,"

"It'll be okay. I promise," Paige told her, and somehow even though people had said that to her for her entire life, every time her father left, this was the first time she believed it.

"I know. Okay...get some sleep okay? I'll call you tomorrow,"

"Okay. Sweet dreams,"

"You too, Paige. Goodnight," she smiled, and with that she disappeared from the screen.

"Well aren't you two cute?" Brittany gushed from beside her, "I'm going to take a shower. I'm ready for bed too. Thanks for dinner,"

"You're welcome," she answered, plugging her phone back into the charger and settling down with her head on the pillows, "I'll probably be passed out when you get done, so goodnight,"

"Night Paigey," she replied, and on her way to the shower flicked off the light. Paige was out in minutes.

Hi again guys! I'm on my last day of vacation and wanted to get one more chapter up while I was in the zone. Hopefully you guys like. I really have fun writing Paige's family, so let me know if that's something you guys enjoy too!

xoxoxoxoxo