Hanna's POV

The doctors decided to keep Emily at the hospital another night and not release her until Sunday. She forwarded Aria, Spencer, and I A's text on Saturday afternoon and we were all in complete shock. We obviously weren't surprised that A would do that, after all, A ran me over with a car last year, but still. Swimming was everything to Emily and now she was lying to her parents about taking drugs and would have to live the rest of the season in fear of anyone finding out.

Her parents were obviously upset so she suggested that we keep our distance until she was released from the hospital and back home at my house. Thankfully her parents were on a flight back Sunday night, so I wouldn't have to see them much. I wasn't sure if Emily had told them anything, but my guess was that she hadn't given everything else going on.

Sunday afternoon could not come soon enough. I was driving my mom crazy all morning making sure everything in the house was perfect for Emily's return.

Spencer had helped me do some research on stomach ulcers to know what kind of foods Emily should and shouldn't eat. She even went to the grocery store with me to help pick everything out, knowing I could use the company and distraction to kill some time before Emily was released.

The first half of our shopping adventure she kept pretty quiet, making idle chit-chat about school and field hockey, avoiding the big issues. Eventually, after she obviously couldn't take it anymore, she asked me about that night.

"Hanna…the suspense is killing me! What happened with you and Emily the other night? She obviously broke up with Samara…does that mean you are together?!" She blurted out barely remembering to breathe between questions.

"Umm…I don't know." I responded honestly.

"What do you mean you don't know? Didn't you guys talk? Or was it less talking and more physical?" She asked a little too eagerly.

"We didn't really talk. I was about to explain and apologize for everything, but she stopped me. She said that she knew we would have to talk about it eventually, but that she didn't want to then. Instead I just held her…and we kissed a bit." I said, getting a little shy at the end.

"You kissed?! Yay!" Spencer shrieked out as she gave me a huge hug.

"I know, it was incredible. It gave me hope. Seeing Emily in that much pain was so hard and really scary, but being able to be the one to comfort her and hold her all night was amazing."

"Wait…you stayed the night?" Spencer asked incredulously.

"Yeah…and apparently her parents and my mom saw us sleeping that night and I think her dad saw me kiss her the next morning as I was leaving." I answered.

"Wow…did they say anything?" She responded.

"Mr. Fields gave me a look like he knew, but he was smiling so maybe he doesn't think we're a bad match. Her mom didn't react at all, so maybe she didn't notice anything, or maybe she hates me and had her poker face on. But my mom noticed and confronted me about it on the way home from the hospital…" I rambled on as Spencer stared at my intently.

"And…how did that go?" She said pushing me to finish the rest of the story.

"Actually, really great! She loves Emily and she knows how much I care about her. She did ask some uncomfortable questions about whether we have had sex, which we haven't and I'm sure won't for a while, but other than that the conversation went smoothly." I responded, hoping to not have to live through another uncomfortable conversation like that with my mom again.

"That's so great Hanna! I'm glad your mom knows. It means you won't have to hide it anymore. Do you think Emily has told her parents?" Spencer asked tentatively.

"I don't know. I don't think so, but we haven't really talked since I left that morning, so I don't know for sure." I responded.

And as if on cue, my phone beeped from within my purse. Reaching in to check the message, a huge smile crossed my face when I saw it was from Emily. I was so obvious that Spencer didn't even bother to ask who it was from, just what it said.

I miss you… I can't stop thinking about our kiss and being in your arms all night. I can't wait to see you in a few hours! xoxo

After I let Spencer read the text for herself she laughed loudly, "Sure Hanna…I'm sure it'll be a long time before you and Emily have sex considering you live together and will probably sleep in the same bed every night!" she said sarcastically.

"Shut up!" I retorted as I smacked her arm, "I don't want to rush things…I know it'll be hard. Our chemistry has always been there. But we moved too quickly last time and we all know how well that turned out."

"Yeah but things are different now. Neither of you are hiding your feelings anymore and you are clearly willing to have a public relationship. You won't crash and burn this time. Plus if you hurt her again, Aria and I will make you pay." She said jokingly but with an edge of threat.

"I wouldn't ever want to hurt her. And that's another reason we need to go slow. I need her to trust me again. I broke her heart and whether she has forgiven me or not, deep down she may fear that it'll happen again. I want to prove to her that I'm not in this for sex or the play games. I'm doing this because I love her and I want to be with her." I said with pure conviction, but knowing it wasn't Spencer I needed to say this to, it was her.

Spencer was right. Our hormones would probably get the best of us. I didn't want to get too deep in before really explaining things to Emily. I needed to talk to her about this tonight, whether she wanted to or not.

Emily's POV

Saturday and Sunday morning were torture. I love my parents, but the combination of their guilt and disappointment in me, made them more suffocating than usual. Being an only child I am used to a lot of attention from my parents, but this was more than I could handle at times.

My mother kept wanting to talk to me about my feelings and what she could do to take the pressure of me. My dad would try to sneak in questions about my friends, hinting at Hanna without ever specifically calling her out, anytime my mom wasn't paying attention or oblivious to the meaning behind his questions.

He definitely suspecting something was going on, and normally I would have been honest with him. After all, I originally came out to him and he was far more supportive than my mother. But, my dad was very protective. And if I told him about Hanna and I, I would have to tell him everything and I didn't know how he would react to our fall out. I didn't want him to hold a grudge against Hanna for something that happened years ago. I had found a way to forgive her, even though I didn't know the whole truth, but I wasn't sure if he could.

Suddenly I realized that maybe I didn't want to know the whole truth. I didn't want to relive that time or pain. Hanna wasn't that person anymore. Maybe we could just move past it without having to rehash every missed call or ignored text. Knowing Hanna, that was doubtful, but the conversation would be hard for her too, so maybe I could convince her.

With everything up in the air between the two of us, it was impossible not to think about her the whole weekend. I could not wait to see her and be in her arms again. Surrounded in her embrace was the only place that felt like home anymore and I needed her the same way I needed oxygen.

Finally, it was Sunday afternoon! As my parents talked to the doctors one last time and filled out my release paperwork, I got a minute alone to check my phone. I had a few texts from the girls saying they missed me and that they hoped I felt better. They were all very considerate of my text asking them not to visit. I didn't need my parents getting a different story than what I told them.

I saw I had a voicemail from Hanna that she left Saturday after leaving the hospital. I had to listen to it twice to believe it was real and to keep myself from laughing at her nervous rambling.

"Hi Em…I miss you so much…I hope things are okay with your parents. Let me know if you need anything…Last night was amazing…I can't stop thinking about you…By the way my mom knows about us…not that there is an 'us'…I mean I hope there is an 'us' but that's up to you and I know we haven't talked about it…umm…well either way, she took it well….we can't wait for you to come back home. Love you!"

Knowing that Mrs. Marin knew was going to change a few things at 'home' but I was okay with that. I'm glad that we didn't have to hide from her. She had always told me that I could be myself and that I was just as much of a part of her family as Hanna. I'm hoping none of that changes when she actually sees us together though.

Before allowing myself to worry about that, my parents walked back in the room with my doctor. The doctor went through the list of things I should avoid and things that will help me heal. I was bummed to hear that I couldn't swim for at least a month, but relieved a little as well, hoping any HGH would be out of my system by then in case A told the coach and they drug tested me.

Leaving the hospital the doctors wanted to cart me out in a wheelchair. I was still weak, but the thought of seeing Hanna made me want to spring the whole way home. I could tell that my father sensed my frustration because he lobbied with them on my behalf to let me walk. Convincing them it would be a good way for them to tell if I was really strong enough to leave today.

While my mom had brought the car around so it was right in front of the hospital, it seemed miles away. My stomach was burning in pain with each step, but I didn't say anything, afraid they would make me stay longer. Once I finally got into the car, I tried to relax and ignore the stabbing pain ripping my body in half. It wasn't anything compared to the hallway, so I knew I could handle it if I concentrated on my breathing and on Hanna.

We finally pulled up in front of the Marin house. Getting out of the car and walking in should have hurt, but I couldn't feel anything except excitement and anticipation. As we got closer, Hanna swung the door open and rushed over to me.

She put her arm under mine, as if trying to hold me up, but I knew it was just so that she could have contact with me that would go unnoticed by our parents. As she helped me up the few steps to the door, she leaned in towards me.

"Hi beautiful, I missed you." She whispered in my ear, letting her mouth linger before pulling away.

The sensation of her breath tickling my neck and the love in her words started a whole new throbbing, only this time it was between my legs.