Not the best chapter, but needed to get stuff over with

My immediate impulse is to rush over and kiss her, hug her, tell her that everything is fine. But I can't. We've never fixed the underlying problem in our relationship, not during any of our fights. And it needs to be fixed. I've always just melted and given into Naomi's sweet words. I know that what she says is always sincere, always representative of her inner feelings, but that changes nothing.

Maybe things will be different at work after this little chat, at least for a while.

But eventually we'll slide back in our old habits. It might not be tomorrow, or next week, or next month, but it will happen. She'll start treating me like nothing, I'll start resenting her authority and need for control.

It's all become so fucked up now..I don't see how any of it can work.

"Please." I hear Naomi say pitifully, her voice barely audible even in the tense silence permeating through Katie and Effy's kitchen. "Just say...something."

Katie and Effy are staring at me nervously, while Naomi is suddenly focused on the wall to the right of my head, looking like she might throw up. My eyes dart between the three figures, pressure rapidly bearing down on me.

"Em?" Katie asks softly, "Are you...uh, there?"

"Yes," I hear myself saying, even though I stil

l feel very disconnected and far away. "I just..this is all too much. I-I can't do it. This, this can't work. There are fundamental problems, irreconcilable differences here."

A sense of finality weighs down on the room.

Then it's Effy who puts a hand on my shoulder, squeezing gently, and asking if I want to lay down. I feel her pulling me up, leading my into the bedroom. It's only adding to the rising sense of surreality when I see Katie giving Naomi a hug, Naomi's face buried against her neck.

"No!" I yell, finally finding my voice, mind clear. I see what has to be done, what should have been done months ago. "I don't...I don't mean everything." They look confused. "I mean, what I'm trying to say that it's only part of this whole situation that can't work."

Three pairs of eyes study me curiously. Effy's piercing blue eyes, bereft of the usual layers of mystery, are full of emotion as she flickers her view between Naomi and me. Katie stares me down, confusion and maybe a hint of anger playing over her features. And Naomi, unshed tears gleaming in the beautiful blue orbs I've grown to love so much.

"Naomi, I love you. You know that I do. All of the things you said, about living in dumpsters or working in fast food, I would do for you, too. But the crux of our relationship trouble, of all the drama, has always been work. And I don't see that changing—I don't think it can change. So that is why I am resigning from the company...even though you already terminated my position last night."

"You're resigning?" Effy asks, sounding a bit confused. "But we can work this all out. There is no need for you to do that. It will just take some small changes on both of your parts."

I scoff, "There is quite obviously a need for me to do that. I can't work under my girlfriend. And Naomi made me realize something-I care so much more about our relationship than I do about some stupid job."

Naomi, who until now had been slumped over the table, head facing down, looks up at me. "But what about all this 'my job is important to me' and 'what I do matters' stuff you were going on about yesterday?"

I don't think she has any room to talk here. But I tap into my voice of reason and decide to treat her with kid gloves.

"It wasn't the actual job or the work, Naomi. It was the equality and balance. That employer-employee relationship was never going to work as long as there was a romantic relationship involved. You didn't mean to make it unfair, it just happened. But I don't want to keep fucking up our relationship. So I'm choosing us over my job. Simple decision."

Naomi meets my gaze evenly for the first time all morning. I can see the hope there, the happiness, and the reason. For the first time, she seems to get it. "Of course, Emily. I will accept your resignation, and write you a lovely recommendation."

We share a look, both of us breaking into goofy grins.

"Okay!" Katie says cheerily, "Problem solved! Are you lezzers gonna kiss or what?"

Effy looks at Katie with a satisfied smirk, "Kiss, Katie? Oh, I think they'll be doing far more than that."

"Sod off," Naomi says affectionately, before crossing the distance between us and pressing her lips against mine.

"Aw," Katie says, arms wrapped her wife, "You are such a good negotiator, babe."

Naomi and I find our way back to our flat soon enough, kissing and hugging along the way. Reveling in the newfound freedom we have as lovers and lovers only, I think we both feel a weight lifted off of our shoulders. The simplicity of the solution makes it seem so obvious in retrospect. I suppose I hadn't wanted to go down this path because it would only heighten the inequality. But it doesn't, and I have the giddy happiness that someone in love should have.

"So," Naomi says, pouring us both a glass of wine, "We really should talk about what to do now."

"Yeah," I agree, not ready to let the happy mood go away. "I'll start looking for a job soon..I'm sure that I can find something soon, even if it's in fast food."

Naomi grins at this, putting her arms around me. "Nope. You have a great set of skills, Em, and I've got connections. If you'll let me, I can give you a head-start."

I ponder this for a second. "I don't wanna get a job because of you..."

"I get it. It'll be very discreet, no one will know about us. Or not. Whatever you want."

Nodding, I say, with a great deal of embarrassment, "So I can still move in, right? I don't really have rent money now."

"Of course! And I meant what I said, I'll cancel the Asia trip. I just want to focus on us right now."

"What a turnaround from just last night," I say slowly, trying to think logically, not driven by my emotions.

"Well I thought I might lose you for good, changed my mind a bit."

"Hmm. Well, for the sake of all our friends and your career, I think you should make the trip. We can call, email, skype, whatever. It'll be difficult, but you'll be back before you know it."

"Yeah," Naomi agrees, looking at my lips.

"Are you listening?"

She smiles and shakes her head before kissing me, propelling my body towards the bedroom.

"Talk later."

I know this is a bit weak, but I got bored with this storyline lol

In future chapters, which will come more regularly, we will meet Naomi's new assistant...attractive, young, smart. Hmmm.