Hello! So I decided to do a time jump and skip through their college years. I know I'm really sorry, but this story would have been like 45 chapters if I didn't. I was thinking about maybe writing a short, like one or two chapters, of that five year time gap. Would you guys want that? Let me know! :)

I hope you all enjoy this chapter and thank you for being such loyal readers/commenters/followers, it really means a lot. Also I'm working on another short FF right now. It will probably be the last one I write for this year. Sorry!

Also check out other fan fictions written by other authors like, The Girl Next Door, Paily Prompts, Scar Tissue. I really like all your stories btw!

Thanks! Stay cool!

Chapter 28

Five Years Later…

Emily rolled her diploma over and over again with her fingers. Five years of hard work done, six years with an amazing woman, and one amazing job offer that she couldn't refuse. She'd been offered a job to work in Boston at a prestigious physical therapy that worked with the wealthiest and well-known clients. She'd wanted to tell Paige ever since she'd gotten the offer, but she didn't want to distract Paige from this business deal her company was trying to make. Paige had been out of college for a year now and was working a business firm that promotes global efforts for third world countries. Emily had tried to put off accepting the offer, until she had the chance to talk to Paige. Unfortunately, the deadline on the offer was in less than 24 hours.

"Em? You home?" she heard Paige call from the front door.

"Yeah, in here." A few minutes later Paige appeared in the living room of their apartment.

"Hey," she said happily, wrapping her arms around Emily and giving her a gentle kiss. "You looked great out there today! I'm sorry I could you after. "Paige pulled a small box from her jacket pocket and handed it to Paige. "Here I got you something."

"Paige…you didn't have to…" Emily said, looking at the small box.

"I wanted to," Paige said, placing the box in Emily's hand. "It's your big day, remember."

Emily opened the box. A small silver necklace with a leaf pendant. Emily ran her fingers over the shiny metal for a few minutes before looking back at Paige.

"You don't like…"

"What, no, I love it," Emily argued. "I'm sorry, my head's just in an another place right now."

"It's okay," Paige said, taking the box from Emily's hand and setting it on the table. Paige motioned for Emily to take a seat on the couch. "What's going on?" Silence ensued. "You've been out of it for weeks Em. You know you can talk to me about anything…"

"I know…" Emily sighed. She took a deep breath before continuing. "A few weeks ago a private practice, that works with athletes reached out to me and offered me a job working as an intern."

"That's great!" Paige said excitedly. But from the expression on Emily's face, maybe it wasn't great news. "Okay…not great?"

"They gave me time to think about it, but I have to decide by tomorrow morning if I want to the job."

"Okay, well, I think you should take it."

"You don't even know anything about the job."

"Em, you love what you do, and you should do what you love. So what's stopping you from taking it?"

"It's in Boston…"

"Well do you want the job?" From the look on Emily's face, Paige knew that the only thing from Emily taking the job was her. "Take the job, Em."

"What about you? You have a job here, and we have a life here. I don't want to just forget about all of that, and I don't want to leave you. I can find a job around here."

"No, Em. This is a once in a life time offer. Would you really give that up just to stay here?" Emily didn't answer for a minute, but she looked down at her hands.

"Y-yes, I would."

"No, you wouldn't. I know you…"

"But, I can't leave you…"

"Who said you would…" Paige smiled.

"What are you talking about?"

"Emily, I'm a business major, jobs for us are practically everywhere...and my company has a branch in Boston. I can request a transfer."

"Paige, I can't just ask you to uproot your life for me."

"Yes, Em, you can. Look," Paige said, lacing her hand with Emily's. "I…love…you, more than anything in this world. If that means that I have to leave, then I leave. You've worked so hard to get to where you are, so please don't give up this opportunity just because of me."

"What about you, family, Patrick? What 'bout them?"

"There's a perk on having a branch here. I may not see them as often, but it's not like I'm leaving for good. Everyone eventually goes their separate ways."

"Paige, there's time to think about this is you're unsure."

"Emily…I love you, and I'm willing to make the sacrifice if that means that I get to spend more time you."

"Okay…I'll call them tomorrow morning."

"Great, now we have two things to celebrate! Your parents are still coming to dinner right?"

"Yeah."

"Great! My parents are meeting us at the restaurant in 30 minutes."

"Okay. Paige…you're absolutely sure about this? Do you want to talk about it more?"

"Yes, I'm sure, and we can talk about it more after dinner, but right now, let's just enjoy the fact that you've just graduated and already have a job."

"I love you," Emily said, in between kisses.

"I love you more."

The practice was delighted to hear that Emily would be joining her and offered to pay for her flight out to Boston, which Emily gratefully accepted. She and Paige began looking at apartments in the Boston area. Paige knew a few people and was able to get a brownstone near Emily's work for a reasonable price.

"So what did you boss say about your transfer?" Emily asked, on their way to airport.

"The transfer takes an about a month to go through, but I told them that I'd work until the end of the year, then transfer to the Boston office at the start of January. It was easier that way will all the paperwork and what not." Paige gave Emily's hand a gentle squeeze. "Hey it's only four months."

"I know. I just hate leaving you."

"It hasn't gotten any easier for me either," Paige said, with a weak smile.

"Thank you for everything. You have no idea how much it means to me." They pulled up in front of the drop off zone a few minutes later.

"Call me when you land, okay?"

"I will."

"I love you…"

"I love you too," Emily said kissing Paige.

"Be safe, okay?"

"Okay."

Paige watched Emily walk away from her once again. The growing ache in her heart began to get stronger and stronger. She'd hadn't felt that ache in years.

The following months were brutal for Paige. She'd wake up to a cold bed, go to work, come home, and go back to bed. She was mentally counting down the days until she would be in Boston with Emily.

As December rolled around she began sending her things to their apartment in Boston. She'd add little things that Emily liked, like chocolate cover blueberries, movies, or wine. She paid the final rent on the apartment, before moving the rest of her things out of the apartment.

She spent the last two weeks of December with her family, enjoying the time that she was given before moving out to Boston. Patrick had gotten engaged to his longtime girlfriend from college, Erin.

"So when are you and Emily going to put a ring on it?" Patrick joked.

"Well. I was going to try, but I figure one child engaged at a time," Paige laughed.

"I see, I see," Patrick laughed. "Well, I do hope she's the one. I like her."

"Oh, I see. You don't have to worry about that."

"Good! So…Boston…I think you'll like it out there."

"I think I will too. It'll be a nice change, you know."

"And Emily…how's she liking her new job?"

"She loves it! She sent me a picture the other day of her with Patrice Bergeron. I just glad that she took the job."

"Wow. Well I'm glad. And you? Do you like your job?"

"Yeah. I do. It's a great company doing great things, for people in need. Not to mention the staff is wonderful. I just hope that Boston will live up to California, work wise."

"I'm sure it will, and if not, there are plenty of jobs out there for business women like you. With the experience you have, practically anyone will want you."

"Thanks, Pat. It means a lot."

"And it would mean even more if you and Emily would be able to make it to the wedding."

"Of course we will! We wouldn't miss it for anything!"

"Good!" I expect you to get me lavish gifts from Boston."

"We'll see," Paige laughed. "I'll get you a tea cozy."

"Oh now that just hurts…"

"Oh…big baby," Paige cooed.

"Enjoy Boston Paige, and tell Em Erin and I say 'hi'."

"I will, and I'll see you for the wedding."

On December 30th, Paige found self on an airplane to Boston. She'd planned on flying out the 1st, but she'd managed to leave a few days earlier to surprise Emily. It was around 7pm, when Paige arrived at Logan. She hailed a taxi to the apartment. Emily hadn't given her a key to apartment yet, but the lights were on when she arrived at the door.

She knocked on the door a few times before she heard footsteps approaching. The sound of the deadbolts unlocked, before the door opened slowly.

"Hey, Em," Paige smiled as soon as Emily appeared in the doorway.

"PAIGE!" Emily shouted, leaping into Paige's arms. "Oh my god! You're here!"

"Yes I am," Paige chuckled, giving Emily a gentle kiss.

"I thought we weren't supposed to get here until the 1st."

"Ah, I took a few vacation days, thought I'd surprise you."

"Well, aren't I the lucky girl! Come in. It's freezing out there," Emily said, taking Paige's bags from her. Paige followed Emily upstairs to the bedroom. It was bigger than their room back in California.

"Wow, the house looks amazing, Em."

"I've had a lot of free time. Here, I want to show you your office."

"I have an office?"

"Of course you do! This apartment has too many rooms, I had to do something with them."

Emily guided Paige to a room opposite the kitchen. It was a small room, but Emily had put a desk and a chair, along with some file cabinets and bookshelves. She'd hung up a few pictures of the two of them and then some scenic pictures

"Wow. I love it," Paige said, walking around the room. "Where'd you get all these pictures?"

"Aria. She runs a photo business on the side. I sent her a few pictures and she framed them and sent them back. I hope you like them."

"Are you kidding me. These are amazing. Is this one from Big Sur?" Emily nodded, smiling. "Wow. I can't believe that was four years ago."

"I know. I was thinking that we should go back there."

"Well, now that you mentioned it. My brother's wedding is gonna be there in May. I figured we could go?"

"Of course. I wouldn't miss a McCullers's wedding."

"Great, because I already told him we were coming."

"God…it's good to finally have you hear. I was really getting tired of sleeping alone." Paige smiled and wrapped her arms around Emily's neck.

"I could say the same thing."

"You know…There's this nice little restaurant around the corner. I heard they have amazing salmon."

"Oh…" Paige smiled. "You know I love salmon."