A/N: I just wanna let you all know how much I love you... I started this chapter on Monday, because well, Sunday I was just not able to see, much less type...and yes, alcohol may have been involved...and I've been writing this at work, as I'm getting weird looks from my coworkers, and questions about the guy I'm texting... And well, you can see how this could pose a problem...So I present to you all the second part of this gripping chapter...

A quick thank you to everyone reading/favoriting /adding to their alerts... its seriously a pleasure to know you guys enjoy this:)

And I didn't forget to do this last time, but it actually disappeared during uploading (I told you FFN hates my phone...like really, really bad...) but the last chapter and this chapter both go out to Michelle1017...because bribery does work;)

and a shout out to Tiffythetitan...just for being so lovely;)

Typos/errors all mine

***UPDATED AFTER FIRST POSTING***

Disclaimer: I hate weddings, because I hate dressing up, but the receptions always make up for it;) and I don't own Skins.

Chapter 21: Quarterfinals and Second Chances Part 2

Katie swiped the towel across her face and then wiped her hands and racquet off. She stood at the baseline waiting for the ballgirl to toss her a couple of balls.

Forty-five minutes ago, she thought for sure she was going home a loser. But now? Now it was a whole different story, because she was standing there, after winning the second set, serving the first game of the third.

Rob had come out on the court to check her tape, making sure it was still in place, applying a couple of new strips. He asked her how she was doing, if she felt alright, to which she said yes.

"Just checking, love. I don't want you overextend yourself." He told her.

"I know, dad, but really, I'm good." She smiled at him, as he finished up.

"Aye, you're good." He agreed as he stood up, giving her a quick kiss on her forehead and left the court.

Katie knew that winning the second set had been largely in part to Naomi's words. "Play like you wanna win!" They kept swimming around her mind. Naomi was right, Katie hadn't been trying hard enough. So after the medical break, Katie pushed aside the nerves that had been plaguing her, knuckled down and played with everything she had. Because when all the bullshit was swept away, she did want to win.

Katie bounced the ball in her hand a few times, steadying herself, before tossing the ball high. With as much power as she could muster, she propelled herself into the air and smashed the ball across the net. She became a blur of speed and power after that.

Radwańska's game consisted a variety of shots from slices to lobs, making sure to send her opponent all over the court. She was also able to anticipate Katie's next move about eighty percent of the time, which was a little nerve wracking for the older Fitch. That's what the Polish player had done throughout the first set, furthering Katie's nervousness, but not the second set.

Oddly enough, Aga's style of play was close to Naomi's, so once Katie figured that out, she was able to calm down and concentrate.

The one area that Aga failed to dominate was serving and returns. She wasn't powerful, so it was easy for Katie to return her serves.

The third set had basically became a battle of will and was going to come down to who wanted it more, Katie or Aga Radwańska.

"That's my girl!" Cook said, under his breath, as Katie won another point.

He had arrived in the middle of the second set, not being able to get away any sooner. He was worried when he found out about the injury she had gotten, so he watched her carefully. Naomi and Emily had filled him in about the first set, while he asked questions.

"She seems very determined now." James said from beside Cook. "She's playing a lot better than before." He said in admiration.

"Yeah. It's amazing what a few words can do." Emily replied, keeping her eye on the action on court.

"What's that mean?" James asked, curious. He looked over and saw a slight smile on her face. "Emily? What did you say to her? When?"

"I didn't say anything to her."

"But somebody did, didn't they?" Cook asked, looking over at Naomi. "C'mon, Nai, what did you say to her."

"I just told her to play harder." Naomi stated quietly, knowing that they could still get Katie in trouble. "It's no big deal, yeah?"

"Can we get back to the match please?" Emily asked, knowing that Naomi wanted the subject dropped. She could see it in the blonde's eyes.

Cook and James didn't say anything more, as they all turned their attention back to Katie.

"Naoms, we've gotta go soon." Emily told the blonde, who merely nodded.

Both Naomi and Emily were scheduled to play after Katie's match. Naomi was scheduled to play on Centre Court against Flavia Pennetta and Emily was set to play Simona Halep on Court #2.

After watching the match a bit longer, they both left to head to the locker room.

Katie pushed herself hard. Harder than she'd ever pushed herself before. It wasn't just Naomi's words egging her on now. Now it was her pride. She knew she could win.

She watched as Aga stood at the baseline and got ready to serve. Once she hit the ball, Katie was in motion, determined to win this game, giving her a two game lead over the other girl. Right now Katie led five games to four. She smashed a cross court shot, causing Aga to miscalculate her return shot and she came up short, with the ball dropping inside the net.

"Love-40!"

Katie gave a small fist pump. "Yes!" She whispered, as she brought herself back to the line, knowing that one more point would get her closer.

Again the other girl served the ball to Katie, and for the next three minutes, both of them battled hard, until Aga shot high lob. Katie watched for a few seconds, trying to figure out where the ball would be coming down and thinking of where to place it, when she noticed Aga run to where she had planned on dropping the ball, so as the ball came into striking distance, Katie switched her shot to a top spin managing to send the ball in the opposite direction. Aga had no chance of returning it, as she watched it land on the opposite side of the court.

The crowed erupted into thunderous applause as the chair ump called out. "Game, Miss Fitch."

The players changed ends after a two minute break, and before Katie could let herself worry about the fact that she was possibly serving for the final game of the match, she got right to it and prepared to serve.

Katie became an aggressive, tactical thorn in Radwańska's side. No matter how much the Polish player fought, Katie fought harder. She became unpredictable and fierce, causing Aga to second guess herself and commit more double faults and unforced errors in this game than she had the rest of the match.

Twenty minutes later, they were at their fourth deuce. If at least three points have been scored by each player, making the player's scores equal at forty apiece, the score is called deuce. Every time Katie had the advantage, Radwańska would come along and tie it up again.

Katie stared down her opponent, as they prepared for another serve. Katie had dominated this set and this game, but Aga was determined to win the game.

Katie tossed the ball high, bringing her racquet around to smash the ball toward her opponent, and watched as it hit the service line and zipped past a startled Aga.

"Ace! Advantage, Miss Fitch!"

Another round of applause from the crowd, while Katie smiled to herself, as she switched sides for the next serve. She tried her best to forget the fact that she was playing for her fifth match point, because she didn't want to lose it.

The chair umpire called for silence from the spectators, while Katie did her ball bounce waiting for Aga to get into place. Once everything had calmed down, Katie stepped into her stance and crouched down, knowing that she would need the leverage to jump as high as she could.

Once again, the ball spun in the air, leaving Katie's fingertips while she held her arm up, as her racquet swung around and connected with the ball at its apex. She followed through with the swing, giving it a top spin. Aga jumped to attention and was able to return the ball, pushing Katie to rally for all she was worth.

Katie watched the other girl, keeping a close eye her feet, trying to anticipate her moves, as Aga stayed close to the baseline. So the older twin started to work her way closer toward the net, backing off on the power in her strokes, so that she wouldn't hit the ball out.

Radwańska mirrored Katie's move, slowly working herself up as well, hoping to use Katie's forward motion to win the point. But Katie had already clocked her intentions, and when Aga was about mid-court, she sliced the ball cross-court, forcing Radwańska to propel herself back to the baseline.

Knowing that she wouldn't be able to put much heat on the ball, Aga lobbed it high into the air, hoping to give herself an opening that would allow her to win the point.

Katie backpedaled to mid-court, set her stance to place a drop shot, and waited the split second it took for the ball to come down, catching sight of Radwańska stepping up to the net. 'I've got you now!' She thought to herself, when at the very last moment, she switched angles and smashed the ball, placing it in the very top corner of the court, causing her leg to twist at the motion.

Katie gave a small cry as she went down, hoping to God that the point was good, because the pain was back in her leg and she didn't know if she'd be able to go on.

"Game, set and match, Miss Fitch!" The umpire called out, as Katie lay there, half crying, half laughing.

The applause was deafening, as Katie pulled herself together and stood up. It was hard, and she struggled until one of the ballgirls came over and helped her. Once she was standing, she killed over to where Aga was waiting for her at the net.

"Congratulations, you played an excellent match." Radwańska told her as the two of them shook hands and then hugged.

"Thank you, so did you." Katie replied, pulling away from her, then they both turned to the chair umpire, and she watched as Aga reached up first to shake hands with the woman, and then it was her turn.

While the other girl grabbed her stuff and headed off court, a couple of staff members came over to Katie with tennis balls to sign. Once she did that, she grabbed her racquet, heading out to the middle of the court again and hit them into the crowd.

With her leg protesting every step, she gathered her stuff and walked off the court as well, signing autographs along the way, until she saw Cook and her dad waiting for her. She kept the tears of pain at bay until they got inside, making their way to the locker room.

"C'mon, Katie, I've got ya." Cook wrapped her up in his arms as he helped her. "You played great, babe."

"Thanks, James." The fatigue and pain evident in her voice. "I could really use a nap right about now."

Rob and Cook couldn't help but laugh, as they led her to the training room. Rob wanted to check on her leg before she did anything else. "Just a bit more, love and then we'll let you take that nap."

Katie sighed, knowing it wouldn't be so easy. Although, she was still trying to process that she was now in the Semifinals at Wimbledon.

Now that was gonna take some time to get used to.

Naomi was tired, as she realised now that staying up late last night might not have been the wisest idea. That and the altercation this morning with the paparazzi and Rob? Lets just say, it would have been better for Naomi if her and Emily had just slept. But that was a hard thing to do when she was faced with a naked Emily.

Thoughts of a naked Emily and the way she would touch her started rushing through Naomi's mind. And fuck if it wasn't at the wrong time! She quickly shook her head, as if that would dispel those thoughts and she put the game first.

Naomi waited in her crouching position as Flavia got ready to serve. She wondered briefly how Emily was doing, before she pushed herself back into the game.

Emily had started sooner than Naomi had because Serena won her match in an hour and a half, while Katie's match lasted almost two.

She bounced the ball in her hand as she looked across the net at her opponent, Simona Halep. The Romanian player was a very aggressive and defensive player, and somewhat of a challenge for Emily. A challenge she was finding very satisfying.

Oddly enough, at four games all in the first set, Emily was dominating this match so far, even though Simona was a tactical player, anticipating every move Emily made, serving and returning as if her life depended on it, Emily was holding her own, keeping in mind everything Gina and Kieran had been teaching her over the past few weeks. The percentages were almost equal between both players, and they seemed to push each other.

That's what was on her mind as she served the ball and her opponent started toward it to send it back. For the next fifteen minutes, the ball flew back and forth between the two players, as they rallied to win each point. When Emily won the first set, her confidence was sky high. She didn't get cocky, because she knew that was a sure fire way to lose, but she was feeling as if she could win this match and move on.

As they switched ends, to start the next set, Emily wondered how Naomi was playing. Once Simona stood at the baseline though, Emily turned her thoughts back to the game, praying that Naomi won her match.

Naomi sat with a towel on her head, unable to fathom how she had managed to get this far. She won the first set 6-3, lost the second set 5-7 and now she was ahead by three games to her opponent's two.

She was a total wreck. She wasn't concentrating, not properly anyway. Her percentage for unforced errors was embarrassing, and if it wasn't for the fact that Flavia Pennetta's win-loss record was spotty, Naomi was certain she would've been done by now. She was having a hard time getting Emily out of her head. Naomi kept thinking about this morning, and even though they had talked about what had happened, she still wondered if Emily was having doubts about them.

Naomi gave herself a mental slap, 'Get your head in the fucking game, Campbell!' She told herself, as she stood up and grabbed her racquet. She was determined to win and she couldn't do that with Emily Fitch swimming around in her brain.

She glanced up into her players box, noticing the stern look on Jenna's face, and a confused look on her mum's.

"Come on, Naomi!" James yelled out, with a smile.

Naomi smiled back at him, the cheeky little shit, but oddly enough he cheered her up a little.

'Right, Campbell, stop fucking around!' She admonished herself, as she stepped onto the baseline, prepared to end this match.

Emily reached the ball just as it was about to fly right by her and she sent back to Simona.

'Fuck, she's got some power!' Emily thought, for the thousandth time since the match started, as she watched Halep stand on the baseline and keep firing shots at her, but she would not let the other girl have this game.

She knew that the next couple of points would determine who was going on to the next round, and damn it, Emily wanted to win. They both had battled hard, with Emily winning the first set and Simona winning the second, neither one of them winning by much, and now they were into the third set.

Simona had even double faulted a couple of times, compared to the eight that Emily racked up, but that was good. Simona was almost flawless when it came to double faults and errors, so this proved to Emily that the girl was human. She did make mistakes and she wasn't perfect, which was a huge relief to Emily.

Emily and Simona rallied back and forth, using every shot they had against each other, backhands, forehands, ground strokes, volleys, a lob or two thrown in for good measure. Halep was unable to break Emily, and you could see that it was starting to get to her just a bit.

Emily saw the Romanian step toward the net, and she knew that the other girl was going for a drop shot, so she waited until the very last second to run full tilt at the net, smashing the ball cross court, landing behind Halep.

"30-40!"

'Holy fuck!' Emily thought as she won the point. She couldn't help herself as she started to shake in excitement.

For the first time ever in her career, Emily Fitch was one point away from a Grand Slam Semifinal.

Naomi stood at the net waiting for Flavia, and she was tired.

Pennetta put up one hell of a fight, and Naomi knew how close she had come to losing this match. She knew she had a lot to think about tonight, after she got home, but all that would have to wait until things were finished here.

Both girls shook hands and then in turn, shook the hand of the chair umpire, before being able to leave the court. Once that was done, Naomi sat in her chair and asked for a few minutes to rest.

She was disappointed in herself for her level of play today, and she knew that Jenna was bound to have more than a few words for her, which she was not looking forward to, but it was unavoidable.

'The next match will be better.' She told herself, as she stood up when a staffer arrived.

Naomi went through the motions, hitting the balls into the crowd, then grabbed her stuff and walked off the court, signing autographs along the way, but she didn't feel her best. Naomi didn't feel as if she deserved to win and that thought was bugging her to no end.

But for the life of her, she didn't know why she felt like that.

Katie was sitting in the press room with Cook and watched as Naomi answered questions left and right. She had just been in here a couple hours ago, after her dad retaped her leg. She was sitting with Tony and Effy, and talking quietly when Emily stepped into the room.

Naomi was up there with Jenna, while Gina escorted Emily. Katie watched them both lock eyes on each other, and thought about this morning. A couple of those same photogs were here, but no one questioned Naomi about the incident.

"Is something wrong with Naomi and Emily?" Effy asked quietly, not wanting to draw attention to them. "Naomi seems a bit...off."

Cook shrugged. "Not sure, they seemed fine earlier, but yeah, now that you mention it, Naomi does look a bit impatient to leave." He replied, as he watched her up there. "Katie?"

"What?"

"Do you know what's going on with 'em?" Cook prodded.

Katie shook her head, not wanting to get in the middle of her sister and her friend on this. "I think whatever it is, it's between them, yeah?" she told them as she watched Naomi lean over and whisper to her mum.

Jenna stood up. "That's all for now, everyone." She declared as the blonde stood up and made her way to where Cook and Katie were sitting.

Effy, Katie and Cook noticed that she didn't say anything to Emily as she passed her, but none of them mentioned it as Gina escorted Emily to the place Naomi had just vacated.

The four of them sat there during Emily's press conference, and Naomi could tell she'd had a really good match. And while she was happy for her, a little bit of her was angry. And she seriously couldn't figure out why. It's not like Emily was responsible for the way she played today. No, that all fell on Naomi's shoulders. But now she was feeling like shit because she hadn't said anything to Emily as she walked by her. No congrats...no great job...nothing! And Naomi saw the brief flash of hurt in Emily's eyes, but she didn't want to draw attention to them.

Naomi's head was all over the place and she knew she needed to get it sorted before the Semifinals. She knew she couldn't fuck that up, because she'd be up against Serena.

Later, they all went out to dinner. Rob and Kieran wanted to treat everyone for going on to the next round, with Cook set to play his quarterfinal match the next day, but also to go over the schedule for tomorrow night, as it was the night of the charity event that the FFSC was putting on.

Naomi was in a mood, she knew she was, and she opted not to go with Emily when the red head decided to head home to change. So now Naomi was sitting at the table, in-between Gina on her left and Katie on her right, pouting because Emily hadn't arrived yet.

"Where the hell is she?" Naomi huffed, as she leaned toward Katie. "I thought she said she wouldn't be long?"

"Fucks sake, Nai! You should have just gone with her, if you're so bloody worried!" Katie spat at her, not sure if she was liking this side of Naomi at all. "Jesus, try being a little bit more happy, you daft cow! You're acting like you lost today."

Naomi was about to bite back, but then thought better of it. If she let loose on Katie, Cook would step in, and she didn't really want to be angry either of them. Naomi knew she should just go home and brood alone, but she didn't want that. She wanted to be with Emily, and she wanted to figure out what was wrong with her.

"I'll be in the bar." Naomi stated as she stood up and made her way over there.

She was nursing her pint when Emily stormed over to were she was, coming to stop next to her.

"What the fuck was that today?"

"Hello to you to, Ems." Naomi replied dryly, taking another drink from her glass.

Emily could see that something was wrong with her, but she had no idea what and that worried her. All the hurt and anger she had felt at Naomi's indifference to her earlier, vanished as she looked at Naomi.

"Naoms, what's wrong?" Emily asked softly, as she stepped a bit closer to the blonde.

Naomi broke right then. That question coming from Emily, delivered in that soft, husky voice...with so much concern, broke Naomi. The exhaustion she was feeling felt like a lead weight on top of her, and she couldn't handle the pressure alone.

Emily was a little stunned when Naomi fell into her arms and started crying. "Naomi, you're scaring me, babe. Please tell me what's wrong." She pleaded, wrapping her arms tighter around the blonde.

"I don't know, Ems! I don't know what's wrong with me." The words were muffled, because Naomi had buried her face in the crook of Emily's neck, breathing in the scent of the red head, and feeling the tension in her body start to leave her slowly. "I shouldn't have won today."

"What?" Emily didn't catch what Naomi had said, it was said so quietly.

Naomi pulled away reluctantly, wiping her eyes. "I shouldn't have won today, Ems. I was playing like shit, my serve was all over the place. I was tired...so fucking tired, Ems."

Emily saw it now. The black circles under her eyes, the slump in her shoulders...Naomi looked wore out. "Naoms, why don't we go back to your place, yeah? You need to get some rest."

"We can't, Ems. Our dads would be upset, and we have to go over things for tomorrow." Naomi told her, her voice sounding weary. "I'm sorry...it's just...can we just go have dinner, now that you're here?"

Emily wasn't convinced, but she didn't want to push her. "Yeah, come on. But as soon as we can, we're leaving and you're going to get some rest, you got it? No staying up to find my ticklish spots."

"Fine, yes...rest would be lovely, you funsponge." Naomi smiled for the first time since before her match and she let Emily lead her back to their table, feeling marginally better.

There was just something about Emily that seemed to calm her down, and fuck if Naomi wasn't addicted to her. Now if Naomi could work out how to keep her for as long as possible, that'd be fucking mint!

"You've reached the Fitch Fitness Sports Complex. We're sorry that we are unable to take your call at this time, but if you'd please, leave your name, number and the reason for your call after the tone and we will get back to as soon as possible."

***Beep***

"Hello. I've received this number from a very determined Welshman. I'm trying to reach Jenna Blair, or I guess it's Jenna Fitch now...well, this is a lot harder than I thought it would be...my name is Catriona Fraser, and well, my number is 912-232-9115...I would really, really...love to hear from her. Thank you." The voice broke up towards the end, just before the click ending the call.

A/N: okay, I'm not gonna lie...I'm a tad bit nervous about this one, to be honest... So seriously, please review to let me know about this one...

also, I need to apologize because as I was looking back through my previous chapters for this, I noticed that in the beginning chapters I sent Jenna to her mother's to get away from things, but then during chapter 17, Emily stated that Jenna's mother was no longer around...that's an error that's gonna bother me, so if I can figure out how to correct it, I will...

thanks again for reading:-)

Marci