A/N: Firstly thank you for still reading and reviewing this story.

Hopefully this chapter goes some way to explain why Noami wants to be with Danny as well as Emily. I know a lot of you want it to be just Naomily again, and it will be honest, but bear with me and I promise there will be Naomily action coming up.

Also, I decided to split the beach trip, thought it was better to post as I write but the next chapter will be longer.

Thank you again for the reviews, hope you like it.

Naomi

I sat at the table and sighed, "Effy, where the fuck are you?"

Ok so maybe I was being a bit unfair, it was barely half an hour since I'd texted her asking her to come over but I really needed to talk to her. It was a week after my bowling expedition with Emily and Danny, just seven days since we'd been sitting in her lounge chatting over a glass of wine. Not long since I had a freak out that left me feeling totally confused about my feelings for Emily. Luckily it was only in my own head so Emily didn't notice at first but I think she picked up I was slightly jumpy. She kept giving me slightly strange looks but she didn't say anything. I was hugely grateful for that because I wasn't sure I could explain, even if I wanted to.

Hence the need for Effy.

I exhaled when the doorbell rang, "Thank God for that."

Effy leaned against the doorway with a disinterested look on her face, "What's so important you had to drag my arse out of bed at this ungodly hour?"

I chose my words carefully, "Look Effy, I've tried dealing with this myself, I've really given it my best shot not to bother you, but I just can't do it anymore, sorry."

Effy stared at me, "Why are you sorry? This is what we do."

I let her in, "I know, but you said I was a leech and you couldn't cope with sorting out my feelings sometimes."

Effy looked sheepish as she sat down, "Naomi, I've already apologised for that, I was in a bad place and lashing out at you because I was hurting. You always take care of me when I'm depressed, in return I help you work out what on earth is going on in that mysterious brain of yours. It plays to both our strengths and is typically symbiotic if you think about it."

I sighed, "So you don't mind?"

She shook her head, "But get me a bloody cup of tea first as you're clearly in full on freak out mode."

I did as I was told and thought about where to start, I didn't have a clue. I put the tea down and sat opposite her. I opened my mouth a few times but it always ended up closed again.

"Right, has this got something to do with your love in with Emily last Saturday?" Effy enquired.

I tutted, "Don't bloody call it that, but yes it happened last Saturday night."

"I could tell from how cagey you were about it. You were enthusiastic about the lunch and the bowling but clammed up totally when I asked you about the rest of the evening." Effy said knowingly.

I shrugged, "We were getting on really well, Em had put Danny to bed and we were chatting about the bowling and stuff. We'd been flirting a bit during the day."

Effy coughed, "I heard it was a bit more full on than that."

I blushed slightly, "Maybe, but it still was pretty innocent."

Effy's eyebrow raised. 'So you still find Emily attractive then?"

I nodded, "Of course I do, she's beautiful, I spent half the day thinking about ripping her clothes off."

"In front of her seven year old son? Nice one Naomi." Effy said with a snort.

I scoffed, "I wouldn't have done anything idiot, but that's when it struck me. We were sitting there, acting like a couple, but we aren't are we?"

Effy frowned, "Not yet no, but you will be in time."

"It was the first time we'd been alone. Surely if I was ok with there being an 'us' I'd have kissed her, it was perfect but I couldn't do it." I explained.

"Why not?" Effy asked.

I shrugged, "That's just it, I don't know why."

Effy paused, "Have you told her you love her yet?"

I shook my head, "I can't do that either. I mean I obviously have feelings for her and Emily told me she loved me earlier in the day."

"How did you react?" Effy interrupted.

"I said 'I know' but it made me feel happy when she said it. That's why I'm so confused, I feel totally comfortable with her, we have a great time, Danny's a really good kid, why am I freaking out?" I said in an anguished tone.

"Would you rather not see her anymore?" Effy questioned.

"Christ no!" that idea filled me with dread.

"And you don't freak out when it's the three of you together?" she continued.

I shook my head, "Like I said we were joking around, flirting a lot and finding spurious reasons to touch each other all the time."

"Hmmm." Effy said mysteriously.

"Effy! Help me out here." I whined.

She took a sip of her tea, "I'm thinking."

"Well bloody think faster." I mumbled back.

We sat in silence, I knew there was no point rushing her, she'd only take longer on purpose to wind me up.

Finally she looked up, "You're using Danny as a buffer."

"I am not!" I spluttered back.

Effy snorted, "Do you even know what I'm on about?"

I scowled at her, "Well not exactly, but using someone, especially a child, as anything can't be good."

She stared at me, "It's perfectly understandable Naomi. You're making sure Danny's around because then you won't have to deal with a conversation about where your relationship with Emily is going."

"Jeez Eff, make me feel better by making me sound like a total coward." I said sarcastically.

"Naomi, you were hurt when Emily lied to you. No one expects you to get over that instantly. The reason you can't tell Emily you love her is because while you're obviously well on the way to forgiving her, you're not quite there yet." Effy said gently.

I paused, "Is it really that simple?"

Effy nodded, "I think so and I also think Emily probably realises you need more time which is why I'm guessing she hasn't pushed you or tried to kiss you?"

"No she hasn't, she made sure she sat on the other sofa and I thought she might want to talk about us, you know where things were going? But she kept reinforcing the notion of us getting on well as friends." I confirmed.

"There you go then, there's nothing to worry about, carry on spending time with her and Danny. Emily will be waiting when you want to move things on again, she was really patient with you before wasn't she?" Effy continued.

I smiled, "Yeah, it was one of the reasons I fell in love with her, she never pressured me into anything."

Effy smiled back, "So you're ok?"

I nodded, "I think so. Do I need to tell Emily?"

Effy rolled her eyes, "Do you ever listen? She already understands so act normally and see how it goes. Don't make a bigger deal out of than you need to, it'll just make things awkward."

We were interrupted by my phone ringing, "Speak of the devil. Hey you."

"Is that Naomi?" the puzzled voice came back.

"Oh hi Danny, I thought it was your Mum." I said more normally as Effy smirked across the table.

"Why was your voice all funny?" Danny asked.

I coughed, "I think I might be getting a cold, that's why it might have sounded a little husky."

Effy snorted into her tea.

"Oh ok, that's probably it." he replied accepting the explanation straight away.

"So what can I do for you?" I asked moving the conversation on.

"Well, we're going to the seaside today with Auntie Katie and Cook, Mummy said I could ask you if you wanted to come too, but I can't be disappointed if you're busy." Danny said hopefully.

I tutted, "Sorry Dan, but I promised to spend the day with my friend Effy, so I can't."

"Oh." came the little voice back, "She can come too if you like. Why don't you ask?"

I smiled at the thought of Effy Stonem voluntarily choosing to spend the day at the seaside with a child. I could imagine the look on her face when I asked but thought I'd do it anyway just for the entertainment value.

I covered the microphone and whispered, "I think I can probably already guess your response but there's a seven year old on the other end so keep it clean. Do you want to go to the seaside with Emily, Danny, Katie and Cook?"

I waited for the derision but to my surprise she shrugged, "It's a nice day, why not."

My face contorted in shock, "Really?"

She nodded, "You wouldn't want to disappoint the kid, I don't mind."

I turned back to the phone, "Danny, thanks, we'd love to come."

"Cool, Mummy said she can pick you up." Danny replied.

Emily driving, hmmm, put Effy in life threatening peril and then force her to endure a day with a child, I'm not sure our friendship would survive.

"We won't all fit in the car now Effy's coming too." Bloody genius Campbell.

There was a pause, "That's true. MUMMY, THERE ISN'T ENOUGH SPACE."

I held the phone away from my ear as Effy's eyes widened, "Jesus, even I heard that, is he always that loud?"

I shook my head and moved the phone back with trepidation, "Hello?"

"Hi." said the husky voice, causing my stomach to flutter.

"Emily, how are you?" I asked desperately hoping she wouldn't notice the slight tremble.

"All the better for hearing from you." she replied.

I panicked and Effy rolled her eyes before she hissed, "Act normal."

I took a deep breath, "Yeah, sorry I've been a bit AWOL, as usual Mandy thinks I have no life outside work."

A sigh, "Oh right, I thought you, er, well I thought you might have been avoiding me."

I sensed the uncertainty, "Don't be daft, I've just been tied up with work. So a trip to the seaside, where are we going?"

"Weston-super-mare of course, where else?" Emily said excitedly.

"Really? Weston-super-mud? Isn't it a bit tacky?" I countered.

Even over the phone I could sense the eye roll, "Naomi, when was the last time you went?"

I shrugged before I realised she couldn't see me, "Dunno, not since I was a kid, all I remember is walking for miles to the sea but it never seemed to get any closer."

"Oh well things have changed a lot since then, there's a brand new pier, a big wheel and there's even a tacky mini golf course." Emily explained.

"What are you, the Weston tourist information office?" I paused, "hang on did you say mini golf?"

She laughed, "Thought that might get your attention."

"I love mini golf." I said as Effy smirked beside me.

"I remember you saying, so more excited now?" Emily asked.

"Hell yeah, prepare to get your ass whipped Fitch." I exclaimed.

There was a throaty chuckle, "We'll have to see if we can fit that in somewhere, but the day's already very crowded Naomi."

I felt the blush creep up my cheeks, those bloody mental images were back again. Stop it Naomi, banish the bad thoughts. Actually, what I meant was get rid of the pretty good but given the conversation I'd just had with Effy, totally inappropriate thoughts, not quite so catchy that.

I coughed, "So we'll meet you at Temple Meads in about an hour?"

"Sounds like a plan, see you later." Emily confirmed as she put the phone down.

I hung up and exhaled loudly, "We're going to meet them at the station in an hour."

"So I heard, I'm looking forward to today." Effy said in an amused tone.

The realisation dawned, "Don't you fucking dare Effy."

"Don't what?" she replied innocently.

My eyes narrowed, "Spend all day watching me around them just so you can take the piss."

Her hand flew dramatically to her chest, "I'm offended you'd even think that."

I snorted, "So why else did you so readily agree?"

She smirked at me, "I want to see first hand the other way you use Danny as a buffer."

I scowled, "What other way?"

She burst out laughing, "No matter how much you want to, it's not really possible to jump Emily's bones when he's around is it?"

"Effy! I do not want to 'jump Emily's bones' as you disgustingly put it. How can you say that after what we've just been talking about?" I stated indignantly.

"Pfft," she snorted, "that was emotionally Naoms, physically, you need that buffer."

I stared at her and tutted but I did wonder why I found it easier to believe her second buffer theory than her first.