Hey guys. Two updates in one week, what? I promise it's really me lol. Thank you for the nice reviews on my last chapter, it really means a lot to me. I had quite a stressful week and I needed some fluffiness. And this came out. So I hope you guys like it. Enjoy, and thanks as always.

"Wow, are those jalapenos?" Emily asked, she and Val walking together through Nick's prized vegetable garden in the McCullers' backyard. After their feast, while they had planned to travel with Paige's parents to see her new restaurant, Nick discovered that the Phillies game had gone into extra innings, which led to he and Paige planting themselves on the couch, eyes glued to the television, refusing to get up until the game was over. Ever the attentive host, Val had insisted on taking Emily out back to give her a tour of the garden, carrying along a bag so she could pick some vegetables to take home with her.

"Sure are," Val hummed, running her fingers along some parsley leaves, looking for a good place to trim them, "Nick eats the damn things like apples sometimes. You like spicy food?"

"I love spicy food," Emily smiled, "Paige teases me all the time, cause I cover half my food in hot sauce constantly,"

"Take as many as you like," she offered, "Nick and I, when the kids aren't around, we try to eat real healthy. Whole grains and lots of chicken and fish. The fresh veggies, they make it a little easier. Something about home grown just makes it taste better. And the hot peppers, they help Nick forget, you know?"

"Forget he's eating healthy?" Emily laughed, and plucked a pepper for her bag before moving on to the next plant for another.

"Pretty much," Val chuckled back, "you are talking about a man who ate a meatball sub on our first date and insisted our wedding have a macaroni & cheese bar,"

"Nice," Emily barked a laugh, "that sounds exactly like something Paige would do too,"

"She is very much her father," Val replied through a happy sigh, "ever since she was knee high, if her daddy did it, she wanted to do it too. Cooking, baseball, didn't matter. She is him, through and through,"

"She's the most amazing person I've ever known," Emily smiled, "if any of that came from him I can understand how you fell for him so fast,"

"Thank you. That's very nice to hear. I worry about that girl like you wouldn't believe. It's nice to know she's found someone who makes her happy," she told her, "you two seem to fit together well,"

"I think so. I had no idea I needed her until she was smack dab in front of me. But now I have no idea what I'd do without her. I'm so in love with this world she lives in. Watching her cook, how much she loves it, how much she just wants to be the best she can be. Even when she's completely flustered and ready to give up I think she's marvelous," Emily explained. She watched as Val clipped away at some basil, careful not to damage the leaves as she separated the stems.

"I am familiar with that feeling," Val smiled, "one minute I'm sitting in my new boyfriend's parents' restaurant, having a milkshake and a hamburger, and he's running all around that place, trying to impress me, the next thing you know I've got a ring on my finger, a baby in my belly and we're signing papers to buy the damn place,"

"Sounds like it was the right call though," Emily replied, "I mean my parents loved that place. I never knew it until I met Paige, but my dad hasn't stopped going on about it since we met. And Courtney Calloway, she says everyone she knew loved it there,"

"I wouldn't have traded it for anything. We had a great thing going for a while. But by the time the boys were all out on their own and Paige was finishing high school, we were just tired you know? We wanted to travel a bit, and have some time to just enjoy our time before we got too old. I swear, I don't think our house was silent from the day Jordan was born until the day Paige left for culinary school. We spent the first week probably just sleeping...eating takeout in bed and watching movies," she recalled with a laugh.

"That sounds nice. Still, as tired as it made you, you can really tell how much they all mean to you. Paige is the most compassionate person I've ever met. She definitely gets that from you,"

"Thanks, honey. I adore my kids more than anything. They drove me nuts half the time, but what do you expect, five of them running around, each one with more energy than the last? That's why I love having grandkids. I can spoil them, feed them cookies and ice cream, and send them back home. A little revenge, grandma style, for the Sunday mornings Jordy and Nate insisted on playing laser tag in the house, or when Ryan would stay up all night watching Wrestlemania and practicing the moves by jumping on his bed," she recalled, and they both laughed.

"They were a rowdy bunch huh?"

"Were? You saw them at the barbecue, honey. I had to keep a first aid kit in my purse and one in the car because no matter where we went, one of them was bound to get hurt. Usually Paige. Girl was the most accident prone child you ever saw. And I'm not entirely sure it's gotten better since adulthood," she shook her head with a laugh.

"I haven't really noticed," Emily shrugged, "but I've worked in a few kitchens and injuries just come with the territory. I wouldn't worry. She's tough,"

"That she is. She wears her heart on her sleeve but I've never seen her shed a tear over a skinned knee or broken bone,"

"I love that about her," Emily smiled, "I'm so the opposite. More closed off and private about my feelings. It takes a lot for me to open up,"

"Mmm," Val nodded, "are you a Virgo?"

"I'm sorry?"

"Your star sign. A Virgo?" she repeated, "don't mind me, dear, it's a new hobby of mine. Caught my eye in the paper one morning so now I check them every day. Mine, Nick's, all the kids'. They can be pretty spot on,"

"Oh. No, Scorpio actually,"

"Ah. That makes sense. Scorpios are a little more...private. My Paigey is a textbook Cancer. Sensitive, passionate, loyal. Almost to a fault, loyal, but loyal nonetheless. Unfortunately, full of self doubt sometimes. But from what I read, that makes you a good match. You balance each other out well. Her weaknesses are your strengths. I think that's great," she explained.

"Yeah, cool. I never knew all that,"

"It's just a hobby," she said again, with a shrug, "okay, moving on. Don't let me forget to send Paige home with some blueberries. They're her favorite. How about some tomatoes and carrots?"

"How are they not picking him off? He's leading off by a mile," Paige commented as she watched the game play out on TV with her father. He hummed in agreement as he nursed his beer, Paige following suit with a sip of her lemonade.

"He may as well bury his head in the sand. I don't know what's more frustrating, watching the Phils blow a 7-2 lead or that sad excuse of a powerplay squad the Flyers let ruin their shot at the cup this year,"

"The Flyers are about as close to winning the cup as I am to winning Iron Chef," Paige scoffed, "he's gonna steal third you moron! Turn around!"

"Hey don't talk about my favorite chef like that," Nick grinned at her, "if you went on that show you'd kick ass. You just got handed a restaurant at 25, I say you're doing pretty damn good,"

"It seemed like a fair comparison," Paige laughed, "Fine. The Flyers are as close to winning the cup as...mom is to getting rid of these damn throw pillows," she laughed, picking one up and tossing it at her father.

"Now you're talkin'," he winked, and took another sip, groaning as the game cut to commercial, "another damn commercial. It's extra innings for crying out loud!"

"Mmmhmm," Paige replied, though she had stopped paying attention the second the commercial hit, instead craning her neck to look out the sliding glass door into the backyard, and catch a glimpse of Emily and her mother. Nick, following her eyeline, smiled at this and patted her on the knee.

"They're fine," he assured her, "that girl of yours is pretty special,"

"What do you think they're talking about?" she asked softly.

"Oh you. Most definitely you,"

"Dad…" she whined, and he couldn't help but laugh.

"Well? I highly doubt they're out there talking about the Flyers powerplay. Though if they are, kudos to you, cause then she's really one hell of a gal," he teased, and Paige, still quite unamused, picked up another throw pillow from behind her back and tossed it at her father.

"Hey!" he hollered, "if I get beer on one of these pillows, you're the one who has to explain it to your ma. I ain't taking that heat twice in a lifetime," he told her, though he was grinning ear to ear.

"You know, you should be happy. You're the apple of her eye, and you're finally dating someone who gets that. There's nothing wrong with your mom out there gloating on you, if that's what she's doing. She did it with all your brothers' wives. It's what moms do, Paige,"

"Alright," she sighed, and leaned back against the sofa, "just don't go scaring her off with all your 'break her heart I'll break you' crap," she insisted.

"I don't think I have to," he laughed, "she knows. Besides, her father is an army man. I'm sure she's heard it all already,"

"I think so. I just mean, you don't have to worry. Em came into my life for a reason. She could've gotten a job anywhere this summer. But she ended up at Dontana's cause I needed her and now there's nothing about my life that makes sense without her in it. Do you believe in that kind of stuff? Like the universe knew we needed each other? Cause I've never felt this way before. Everyone else I've been with, it was...it was just easy and it was there you know? But since the moment Em walked into my kitchen everything felt different, and every thing that happened after that has led us to where we are now. And it's gonna be hard, her going to school and all that, but I think we can do it...I think we can do it because when I think about my future, Emily's there. So you guys don't have to worry, cause I know now, I finally know what I want in life, and every single road leads to Emily,"

"I'm not worried, kiddo," he smiled back at his daughter, "I worry about ya every day. I worry about you slicing your fingers off with a paring knife or steam burns or broken bones. I worry about you in that city by yourself. But I don't worry about Emily. You smile about a billion watts when you look at her. She drove you from Philly to Delaware when your brother had his accident, just so you wouldn't be alone. She tried every single thing your mom shoveled onto her plate before, and now she's out there chatting it up with her so that you could watch the game with your old man. Tell me Kelsey would've done any of that for you,"

"Probably not," Paige shook her head, "dad, you know it's not her fault the way she is. Kelsey and I weren't meant to be but I can't hold that against her,"

"I know, kiddo. I'm not saying she's a bad girl, just that, Emily is so much more invested in being a couple and you can tell it by spending five minutes with you two. So we worry about a lot of stuff, but we aren't worried about Emily. I'm pretty sure your mom already started collecting stuff to mail her a care package, actually," he laughed.

"Yeah that sounds like mom," Paige chuckled back, "don't let her send Tide pods like she did when I was in college? Em's not a slacker on her laundry and stuff like I am,"

"I have no say in it," he held his hands up with a smile, "besides, you know she means no harm. I think she did stuff like that more so she didn't have to worry about you spending your money on those kind of things. It all comes from a good place, Paige. Your mom's got a heart of gold, just like you,"

"I know," she agreed, and turned her attention back to the game as is came back on, her father following suit.

"I hate the Mets," Nick grumbled, Paige nodding her head emphatically in agreement.

"Me too,"

A few moments later, they heard the sliding door open, Emily and Val laughing at something as they stepped back into the house together, both with bags full of veggies and herbs fresh from the garden.

"Is that damn game still going on?" Val asked as she stood behind the couch, dropping a kiss to the top of her daughter's head, placing the bag of things she had picked for her in her lap and hugging her from behind.

"They can't get it together," Paige mumbled awkwardly, the angle at which her mother was now cradling her head making it tough to move her jaw.

"Mmm," Val replied, and with another kiss to Paige's temple pulled back, and pointed to the bag in her daughter's lap, "there's some blueberries in there for you. Just let me pack you up some ziti and chicken for you and then we can hit the road. I can't wait to see your new place,"

"That makes two of us," Nick agreed, standing up from his spot on the couch with a stretch, "you're gonna have to drive, dear," he called after his wife, "that beer caught up with me in a hurry,"

"I was already planning on it, dear,"

"I'll go make sure there's gas in the car. These damn Phils are gonna blow it any second anyway," he grumbled.

"Yeah they are," Paige laughed, and stood from the couch to greet Emily properly, dropping a kiss to her lips, "did you get some good stuff?"

"Yeah, lots. Tomatoes and carrots, string beans and jalapenos. I've already decided you're making me a nice veggie omelette for breakfast in the morning,"

"Oh have you?" Paige laughed, "maybe I wanted to go out for breakfast,"

"Well then you shouldn't have become a chef," Emily teased, and pulled her girlfriend in for another kiss.

"You and these damn hickies," Paige giggled as Emily nibbled at her neck from behind, "I am not wearing a turtleneck in August, I refuse!"

"I don't want you to wear a turtleneck," Emily mumbled, "I want everyone to know you're taken. I'm marking my territory,"

"How very primal of you," Paige laughed, "I think I've created a monster,"

The visit to her new restaurant with her parents had gone well, Nick giving her some tips for menu ideas and even agreeing to swing by a few times a week to help her get the place cleaned and help her set up the new equipment she would be ordering in the days to come. Val had even offered to help get the bar up and running, and come up with a few signature cocktails for Paige's opening night. Then, tired and ready to call it a night, they had headed back to New Jersey, leaving Paige and Emily to lock up and head back to Paige's apartment. After putting away the multiple containers of leftovers Val had sent them back with, ziti and chicken for each of them, along with a big bowl of pasta salad and half a peach pie she had made that morning, they had decided to top their night off with a nice bubble bath, and now Paige sat between Emily's legs, enjoying the lavishing attention Emily was paying her body as they relaxed in the hot water, a glass of wine each resting on the edge of the tub, a few candles flickering about the small bathroom.

"What can I say? I'm pretty sure I'm addicted to you," she laughed against Paige's skin. Her hands slid from Paige's knees, coming up to cup her breasts under the water, giving them a gentle squeeze, one that was rewarded with a gasp from Paige's lips.

"I'm not complaining," she sighed, "especially since two weeks from now we'll both be celibate,"

"Don't remind me," Emily groaned, "I'm not looking forward to the sex embargo, and we've only been having sex for two days,"

"I know. Makes me want to keep you all to myself these next two weeks. Just you and me, doing it in every room of this apartment until you leave," she chuckled.

"Don't tempt me,"

"I know, I know. You have to spend time with your mom before you go. And Hanna, cause, I'll be stuck here in Philly with her and she'll kill me," she laughed, "I'm gonna come visit more than you think. Not enough to break your focus but enough that we'll be okay. You just have to tell your roommate to find another place to be when I visit,"

"I'll try," Emily barked a laugh.

"Just tell her the truth. Tell her your girlfriend is unbelievably sexy and that you are going to take her out for a nice dinner while she's in town, and get her drunk on white wine so you can bring her back to your room and have your way with her," she laughed back.

"Mmhmm, that's what I'll do, miss innocent. Don't make me out to be the insatiable one, I saw you checking out my butt half the day today," Emily teased.

"Well, it's a very nice butt," she shrugged, "and you have no one to blame but yourself for that one. I heard Hanna tell Angie that she helped you pick out jeans specifically for that reason, so I would check you out,"

"Yeah, yeah," Emily mumbled, going back to pressing kisses across her neck, "what else could I do? I wasn't so good with the words when we first met, I had to direct your attention to other things to keep your interest,"

"Since the second we met you had my interest. Though I gotta say I don't mind hearing the animalistic mating rituals of Emily Fields," she laughed, "so intent on getting in my pants you had to make sure I paid attention to yours,"

"Ha ha. You know," she purred, and took Paige's earlobe between her teeth, biting it gently before pressing her lips directly to her ear, "I think I'm ready for dessert," she whispered.

"Oh yeah?" Paige grinned, and squirmed out of Emily's arms, hopping excitedly out of the tub, careful not to knock over their wine glasses, "me too,"

"Now who's the insatiable one?" she laughed, though not all that convincingly as her eyes raked over Paige's body, licking her lips at the thought of licking the water droplets from her stomach, of kissing every inch of her, of loving her, devouring her over and over, for the next few hours. It made her mouth water, her belly tighten, the way she craved Paige, craved the taste of her, craved the feeling of her nipples hardening under her palms, craved Paige's fingers tied into her hair, her nails digging into the backs of her shoulders. She craved the moment after, while they caught their breath, and Paige would look at her, her eyes full of love and something so incredibly magical Emily hadn't been able to quite put her finger on it yet. She was addicted alright, addicted to Paige and her body and everything that she was and could dream to be. She was addicted to loving someone so much, so deeply, that she felt like she could drown in it, loving someone whose kiss burned her lips in the best possible way, the kind of way she had never known before, that just left her wanting it to go on forever. She was addicted to Paige, and sex with Paige for sure, but mostly what it meant for her, to be so awakened at how powerful these things she felt for the girl before her were. To love someone so much, that the idea of your bodies being separated was almost too much to bare, that her heart may literally give out if not pressed closely to Paige's while they made love. It was something she could never put into words if someone had asked, and something she was grateful to have found in Paige. It wasn't just sex and it wasn't just about physical satisfaction anymore. Sex with Paige had, in the span of only 24 hours, become something as craved as guiding air into her lungs. She didn't have to think about it, she just knew she needed it.

"I'm gonna go with you, still," Paige chuckled.

"You should never, ever put clothes on," Emily purred, and after tossing the remainder of her wine down in one gulp, stood from the tub and sauntered over to Paige. She was stalking her prey, and never in Paige's life before this had she been more thrilled to be looked at in such a way.

"I think the health department frowns on naked chefs," she joked as Emily tied her arms around her waist, and pressed their foreheads together.

"I love you," she whispered, "and I hope you're not tired. Because I'm going to spend the next few hours loving you over…" she pecked her lips, "and over...and over again," she repeated, and with a gulp Paige pulled her in for a proper kiss, sliding her arms under Emily and lifting her up into her arms, Emily instinctively wrapping her legs around Paige's midsection, moaning excitedly into their kiss.

"I'm totally not tired," Paige grinned, "and I love you too,"