"Close Protection"

Disclaimer – As usual I own nothing but a large amount of debt, a severe lack of talent, a distinct lack of awesomeness, a heavy case of writers block and a ex I could happily put in the Basement with Naomi right now!

I still nothing to do with Skins, (but then do we care about Skins any more? Well until that Gen 2 Movie appears anyway).

Authors Note: It's Wednesday; and, as I've just been reminded on Twitter, that means CP day. I'm on a writers holiday this week, avoiding work and trying to get some of the things that are in my head down onto my computer. So far it's been going quite badly, I seem to be finding a million other things to do.

A couple of quick shout outs. Hello to my new readers that took a moment to drop me their thoughts, much appreciated! A huge Happy Birthday to my mate Kat for this coming Sunday, no longer a teenager and officially an old fart; and I know she won't read this yet, but a big birthday shout out to S too as I'm pretty sure it's her birthday on Monday. Apparently she managed to come around long enough to roll her eyes at her best mate this week...thank you all for those positive vibes; keep them coming, we're not out of the woods yet!

Has it really been a year since I wrote Ch9 - London Calling? Scary thought!

As always, I hope you enjoy.

Chapter 48 – Goodbye Sunshine, Hello Rain

I woke to the sound of running water and singing from the bathroom; my bleary eyes registering that the bed next to me was empty. With a yawn I rubbed my eyes and pulled back the covers; glancing at the clock as I swung my feet out of bed.

"Half-eight," I muttered to myself, half annoyed it was so late; half annoyed that I hadn't got up earlier, despite our two am bedtime. Feeling a lot stiff and achey I decided to do some stretching before heading for a shower. I'd been neglecting my exercise and I was feeling it now; they always say it's not the day after that the pain comes, but the morning after that…

How right they were.

I did my neck rolls, wincing slightly at the crunching sounds that were coming from my vertebrae, before stretching out my arms and finally bending over to touch my toes.

It was on my third stretch that I had the shock of my life, I had just straightened, rolled out my shoulders and bent forward again when someone slapped me on the arse, the sudden feeling of light pain and the sound of the slap hitting me almost simultaneously.

"Do that again and I'll put you over my knee and spank you Emily Fitch," I said straightening and rolling my shoulders again before bending over once more; ignoring the stinging in my cheek, challenging her to do it again.

"What if I'd like that?" she asked, sounding very perky for someone that was almost comatose last night.

"Then I'd have to tickle you instead," I said feeling her hand press on the raw skin.

"That wouldn't be nice Nomi."

"Neither is slapping my arse love," I replied simply, "that stung."

"Well it was too good an opportunity to resist."

As I straightened once more Emily wrapped her wet arms around me and pressed herself to my back. "Morning baby," she said kissing my tattoo; "how you feeling this morning?"

"Shouldn't I be asking you that? You're the one with the hangover."

"What hangover?" she asked laughing at me. "I don't have a hangover."

"Really?" I asked, surprised, twisting in her arms so I could face her and look into her eyes. "Well that proves that there really isn't any justice in the world," I told her as I saw the usual bright twinkle in her beautiful eyes.

"What does, me not having a hangover?" she said burying her face in my chest, her nose twitching.

"Absolutely, you totally deserve a hangover after the amount you drank last night, beer, mojito's not to mention doing shots with Cook; and especially, "I said jabbing her playfully in the sides, "as I had to carry you to bed again."

"Well at least this time you put me to bed and then joined me," she said biting me gently, reminding me of her cheeky complaint from the morning of our arrival. "So go on then, just how bad was I last night?"

"You don't remember climbing onto the pool table and singing along to 'Friday I'm in love'?"

"I did not climb on the pool table," she said stepping backwards her hands moving to my bare hips; "…did I?"

"No dear you didn't, but only because I stopped you. You were belting that song out to me though…it was quite the serenade, made quite an impact on the guys in the bar."

"Oh Jesus, what I that embarrassing?" she said flushing attractively, the blush reaching right the way down to her chest. "You can't take me anywhere can you, I'm so sorry Nomi, I didn't intend to be a total twat."

"It's ok hun," I told her pulling her back into me and kissing her wet hair, "you said you wanted to let your hair down and you did, nothing wrong with that. Besides, I've seen a lot worse; I saw Whitey attempt a striptease in a bar once…trust me a bit of drunken singing is a nothing compared to that."

"Well as long as you're not pissed off with me," she said looking up at me with her puppy-dog eyes.

"Nah, just disappointed you weren't actually awake when I peeled that outfit off you, it had been giving me bad thoughts all evening."

"Sorry lover," she said looking down and pushing out her bottom lip. "That's one I owe you then, I promise I'll make it up to you real soon."

"I'll hold you to that Emily Fitch," I said lifting her chin with my finger. "Especially as I had to put mother and daughter to bed last night."

"What?" she said shocked, "where is she, is she all right?"

"She's fine," I reassured her with a grin. "She's in your room; she kind of passed out last night, Effy got Cook to wheel her to bed."

"Wheel her?"

"Yeah, wheel her," I explained. "Effy nicked a wheelchair from somewhere in reception, don't ask me how…" I said quickly as Emily made to interrupt, "…she's probably the sort of girl that acquires traffic cones on nights out too. Anyway, she got that, and Cook pushed your mum while I carried you. Once I'd put you down, I put her to bed in your room, she was snoring away when I left her."

"Fuck, she'll be mortified," Emily said looking horrified. "I'd better go and check on her."

She leaned up and kissed my cheek before letting go of me and heading for the door.

"I'll grab a quick shower then," I told her as she walked away. "Though Ems? As much as I like the view, I'd put a robe on before you wake your mum up if I were you."

One warm and refreshing shower later I was feeling less bleary and more awake, I completed the ritual by turning the unit over to cold and blasting my skin with icy cold water. Teeth chattering I got out of the cubicle and towelled myself dry, slipping on the white cotton robe that was hanging on the back of the door.

There was no sign of Emily when I walked out of the steamy bathroom, but I could hear signs of life out in the main room, conversations that were muffled through the heavy door. Wrapping the robe tightly around myself I walked out into the room to see Emily bustling about and a dishevelled looking Jenna sat slumped on the sofa, the make up from last night smeared and plastered to her face.

"Morning Jenna, how's the head this morning?" I asked as she looked up to greet me.

"Don't ask Naomi, really…I'm not used to this kind of thing, I don't usually drink a lot…tell me, how much did I drink last night?"

"I have no idea," I told her smirking at Emily, "you seemed to be trying to keep up with Cook at first, then you got drinking with Emily there. Unfortunately she appears to have recovered better than you."

"She has an annoyingly fast metabolism," Jenna said holding her head in her hands and groaning as Emily bounced around the suite making drinks, looking very pleased with herself. "Emily takes after her father in that way; I on the other hand do not…that's the reason I don't normally drink that much."

"I'm afraid I'm with you Jenna," I sympathised sitting down opposite her as she took a cup of coffee off Emily, sipping at it hungrily. "I used get the most awful hangovers when I was drinking; and I really don't miss those."

"Don't rub it in Naomi please, I really do think I'm going to die."

"Could be worse mum," Emily said happily, "I could have told you that James had to put you to bed last night." Jenna looked thoughtful for a second before replying.

"Yes, I think that would have been even more embarrassing," she groaned in return, "thank you for looking after me Naomi dear; Emily told me that you made sure I wasn't sleeping in a gutter somewhere. I owe you one."

"All part of the service," I replied glibly. "Least I could do given that you totalled your garden to give me a training range; and don't let Emily tease you, I had to carry her to bed last night as well."

"She didn't mention that, did you Emily?" Jenna replied looking slightly less embarrassed at the thought of her daughter being a bit of a mess as well.

"Didn't think it was important mum," Emily said handing me a cup of tea, made just the way I like it. "Unlike some people," she added digging me with her elbow, thankfully after I'd put down my drink.

We chatted for a while, mother and daughter grilling me on their exploits of the night before; groaning and grinning in equal measure as I told them how the evening had gone down.

"I remember you singing Emily dear," Jenna said when we got around to her serenade. I also have a vague memory of you trying to kiss the life out of poor Naomi there."

"Was she complaining?"

"I don't believe she was dear," Jenna said smirking at me, "In fact I seem to remember her seeming quite enthusiastic about the whole thing."

"Well that's all right then," Emily said pushing her arm through mine and laying her head on my shoulder; tucking her feet under herself and leaning on me heavily. "I'll call it a good night all round then."

We chatted for another ten minutes or so, sipping at the drinks, before Jenna finally got up and straightened her crumpled clothes.

"Well this isn't getting me ready to leave to meet my gentleman-friend is it? I'll leave you girls to your day off. Emily, I'll call you before we fly home and we'll do that visit we talked about; unless you want to meet for lunch before you fly out? Colin is dying to meet the famous Naomi Campbell."

"He doesn't think that Naomi is…" Emily started to say before being cut off by her mothers grin.

"No dear, he knows exactly who Naomi is, but she is famous; face all over the TV and the papers remember?"

"I remember mum," Emily said pouting, "I have a famous girlfriend, am I likely to forget that?"

"I wish you all would," I interjected before the conversation got out of hand. "Not exactly the highlight of the last couple of months that event."

"I'll never forget it," Emily said seriously squeezing my arm; "never!"

"Nor I Naomi," Jenna said getting up from the sofa. "You'll just have to deal with the fact that, to us, you'll always be famous. Now I think I'd better make use of the bathroom before I go and get showered, I've just seen what I look like in that mirror and 'psychotic clown' isn't my best look."

"You do look a bit like the joker mum," Emily chuckled as she walked away, "Heath Ledger's version that is."

"All the more reason for me to clean this off before I'm seen in public then," Jenna replied holding her head loftily as she opened the door to the bedroom. "I'll see you in a second girls."

"Another cup of tea Nomi?" Ems asked, tilting her head to look up at me.

"Not if it means you moving," I replied winking and leaning down to kiss her.

"You're a soppy shit really aren't you Nomi? You pretend to be this big callous bitch, but you're actually really nice."

"Only with you Ems," I told her, "only with you."

"Bullshit," she said smiling up at me, her eyes wide. "You're nice to my mum and my perverted fucking brother, you're totally loyal to the people around you and by the sounds of things you always have been."

"But.." I tried to say, not getting any further before…

"…and, since we've got together you've been the most perfect girlfriend I could ask for. You're patient and caring and…"

"and?" I asked, shaking my head at her praise.

"and you're really, really good in bed babes. I mean really good, like toe curlingly, heart stoppingly good."

"and that's my cue to leave," I heard Jenna say as the bedroom door opened once more, her face slightly damp but clear of the makeup disaster. "There are some things a mother doesn't want to overhear first thing in the morning; or at any other time of the day in fact. Now come here and give me a hug the pair of you before I go."

I was dragged into another hug, reluctantly climbing off the sofa. Emily showed her mother to the door, sharing one more hug and a whispered conversation as they said their goodbyes.

"So, what's the plan for the day Ems," I said sitting back down onto the sofa as she closed the door, putting my hands behind my head casually. "I do believe we have a day off today, no meetings, no shooting, nothing to do at all."

"Nothing to do at all," she said, climbing onto me, straddling my legs her robe parting slightly, giving me a tantalising peek of bare flesh. "The day is ours to do with as we like."

"Are we going to go down to breakfast?" I asked as she leant forward, her lips invitingly close to mine. "See what happens after that?"

"I think we'll order room service babe," she said her voice low and dangerous, her eyes closed her lips tickling mine. "I've got something much better in mind to start our holiday that sitting in a room full of tourists."

"Really?" I asked, my tongue flicking out to wet my lips, touching hers as it did so.

"Really," she murmured, her hands slipping into my bathrobe pushing it apart as my own hands pulled at hers, dragging it from her shoulders. I heard her gasp as I pulled her to me, our bare flesh pressing together and she drew her arms around my neck.

"Take me to bed Naomi Campbell," she whispered, kissing me longingly. "Carry me to bed again and I promise you a better reward than last night for your troubles."

"Oh you do, do you?" I said, kissing her back; feeling my heart racing away in my chest as I pressed back in, silencing her reply. Reluctantly I rolled her off me, standing up from the sofa before bending down to pick her up; one arm under her back, one hooked in her knees. The cold white robe was discarded to the floor and it was nothing more that her warm bare flesh that pressed against mine as I carried her through to the bedroom, our lips still locked together.

Reverently I laid her on the bed, breaking our kiss momentarily to stand and drop my own robe to the floor. As I looked down at the redhead that was sprawling invitingly on the white cotton sheets she looked up at me with eyes full of lust and licked her lips suggestively.

"Get down here now Nomi," she ordered, her voice thick and low making my stomach flip with desire; "you're disturbingly far away from me."

"As you command Miss Fitch," I teased, climbing onto the bed and lowering myself on to her.

"Not this time Miss Campbell," Emily said twisting under me, flipping me over and straddling me, "this time it's as you command."

o+o+o

I watched in amusement as Emily scoffed down the food that she'd ordered just before we hit the shower. It was like watching a human vacuum cleaner, she didn't seem to eat the food, more inhale it; but then I guess I could forgive her, after all we had just worked up quite the appetite.

"What?" she said, her voice muffled as she shovelled in a large butter croissant covered with jam; obviously I'd been staring for a moment or two too long.

"Nothing," I said diving hurriedly back into the omelette I'd ordered.

"No, come on what's so funny babe? You've been smirking at me for the last five minutes."

Busted! She'd obviously been paying more attention to me than I thought; I would have sworn an oath that she'd been so focussed on her food I could have snuck up and de-bagged her without her noticing or indeed caring. Not that she had anything on underneath that robe she was wearing though, just one more reason for me to be staring at her; and stare at her I did.

I actually liked looking at the diminutive red-head that had, despite all my attempts at resistance, wheedled her way into my life. I remembered, many years ago, looking at Amy strutting around that hotel pool, making sure that people noticed her; Emily was nothing like that, almost totally the opposite in fact. Emily made you look at her by being almost invisible. Where Amy was a show-off, and extrovert; Emily was comfortable in her own head, more or less and it came across in how they acted. They were both filled with their own insecurities and neuroses, but Emily was probably the most stable of the two; the least needy. Unlike Amy, Emily was affectionate without being clingy; and unlike Amy, Emily seemed more than happy to just let me be me.

That's not to say she hadn't tried to change me, but where Amy had tried to turn me into someone she wanted to be with, someone she could show off; Emily seemed content to just help me become a better version of me.

"Oi, stop ignoring me you," I heard Emily said as I was staring into her robe looking for the delights I knew lay inside, and I felt a soft impact as something hit me in the face. I blinked and looked down to see a piece of ripped off croissant on my plate; casually I reached down and picked it up, popping it into my mouth.

"I'm not ignoring you," I said pointedly craning my head to look into the open top of her robe. "I'm doing anything but ignoring you.

"Fuck off," she said good naturedly, pulling her robe together tightly to block my view. "No more peeking for you Miss Campbell, not until you tell me what you're smiling at."

She scowled at me across the small table we were eating off, her eyes glinting with amusement.

"Miss Fitch you know what I'm amused by; and it's not like you've even got being nervous as an excuse."

"Oh shut up, I'm hungry…I need food to mop up all that alcohol you let me drink."

"I let you drink?" I replied, pushing away my plate. "I did tell you that you should take it easy babe, but you wanted to do shots with Cook."

"I can't believe I did that," she said blushing adorably, "I'm not actually that bad you know. I just never really get the chance to do something like that you know?"

"What get drunk?" I asked winking at her. "At least you drunkenly kissing me wasn't a surprise this time."

"No, not that I do get drunk a lot as well you know," she said reaching over to prod my arm as she spoke. "I mean let my hair down with friends, it's usually all family meals, or works events or shit like that; I think that's the first time in years I've been able to just have a blow out with people I want to be with."

"That's a shame Ems," I told her sadly, thinking of the times when I'd been out with the boys, or even with Amy, and just let go. I'd even managed to do it last night, though the lack of booze made it slightly less messy than usual.

"That's life Nomi, that's just how it is."

"You should do what you want to do hun," I told her munching on the last piece of my toast. "You shouldn't let things like that get in the way of you enjoying yourself."

"I'm so glad you think that way babe," she said brightening at my words; "because I know what I want us to do today, and we're really going to enjoy ourselves doing it."

"What's that?" I asked a sinking feeling in my stomach.

"We're going to do something very American, you and I are going to the nearest Mall and we're going to spend money, eat junk food and have a really good time."

"Oh Jesus," I groaned dramatically at her words, "not more shopping Ems?"

"More shopping babe; and I'm going to treat you to something while we're there, so no complaining."

"Yes dear."

'Bollocks.'

o+o+o

I slumped back into the plush, business class, seat and closed my eyes. Next to me Emily was already dozing away, her head cushioned by the head rest. We were taking a late afternoon flight out of New York, so we could be back in London before midnight. We nearly didn't make our gate; after what was supposed to be a brief stopover to meet up for her mother and the infamous Colin for lunch turned into a longer event that expected.

Colin turned out to be a really nice guy, and his, and Jenna's, openness surprised me; he was also very comfortable with Emily and I got the impression that she liked him.

So lunch turned into lunch and drinks, and I was forced to almost drag her away so we could make our flight; even their farewells taking a worrying amount of time. We made it to our check in with about a minute to spare and, after the usual security palaver and the endless waiting around we had made it onto the plane and I could finally relax.

And boy did I need to relax.

o+o+o

Saturday's shopping trip had been hell; more than hell in fact. I have no idea how so many people can fit into one building and manage to stay sane, it felt like it was pushing me to my very limits of patience and tolerence. Emily, however, had gotten a little giddy at the thought of so many shops; looking about herself with excited eyes and acting like a little girl. Personally I didn't get the attraction, it was a shopping centre; you've seen one, you've seen them all. The only thing this one had over the other complexes I'd been to was it's sheer size…

…and the people…

…the lots of people…

…the lots and lots of really fucking annoying, loud, brash and ignorant people.

"I hate shopping, have I mentioned that?" I'd said grumpily as we walked hand in hand down one of the 'streets', weaving our way in and out of pushchairs, gangs of kids and people on their mobile phones who weren't looking where they were going at all.

"You may have mentioned it, two or three hundred times today babe yes," Emily had replied squeezing my fingers and ignoring my complaint. For some reason I'd become the pack horse for the expedition, bags slung over my shoulder. After replenishing her energy with lunch Emily had become a shopping whirlwind, heading in and out of the various shops like a forced entry team, seemingly knowing exactly what her objective was before she entered the doorway. I'd trailed along in her wake, half amused, half fed up; that had changed slightly when she spotted a store in the distance that piqued her interest.

"Cool, there's a VS here, we have to go in there," she'd said excitedly tugging at my hand.

"A what?" I'd replied looking into the distance.

"Victoria's Secrets, duh," she'd replied frowning at my ignorance of her abbreviations, "even you'll like this shop."

I had as well, watching Emily wandering around picking up various items that had my brain functioning with but two words, 'small' and 'lacy'. As she teased me all the way around the shop, I'd suddenly felt as if I was acting like one of the blokes that were in here with their partners; and started trying to pay attention to what she was actually saying about the various garments.

Disappointingly, from my point of view, this apparently wasn't the reaction Emily was looking for, and she soon shooed me away, insisting she wanted to 'pick up a few things to surprise me with'. Reluctantly I'd let her be, making sure I kept that shock of red hair in my eyeline at all times just in case; by the time she'd met up with me again she had a bag tucked firmly under her arm and a cheeky grin on her face. I, however, had kept my purchases hidden away in one of the other bags, well there was no point ruining a surprise was there?

I thought about what happened next as the drone of the engines lulled me into a light doze. I had a very good memory of our last night in that hotel, one that was pretty much burned into my mind. After we'd returned Emily had pretty much fallen asleep on the sofa and, after carrying her to bed for the third time in two days, I'd locked the door behind me and headed down to the pool.

The water was as good as ever as I forced my way through length after length. It was only a tiny pool, but it was still a refuge, somewhere to work away the stresses of yet another shopping trip. I guess it is one of those things, one of those sacrifices that you just have to make in a relationship. I had to admit that I preferred going shopping with Emily, to hanging around with the toffee-nosed snobs that Amy called 'our friends'. Relationships were often about doing things you didn't like doing, and as I swam, I wondered what it was that I did that Emily didn't enjoy.

With the comforting touch of the cool water I resolved to take the initiative when I got back to the room. I'd brought a couple of the items I'd bought earlier down with me and I planned to have a shower, and slip them on under my robe, just to give Ems a nice surprise when I woke her; my own payback for the mornings treat. When I'd got back to the room, however, feeling pretty damn sexy in the black corset that was squeezing me into what I thought was a pretty impressive shape and an even more impressive cleavage; Emily had beaten me to the punch.

"Naomi, is that you," she'd called out from the bedroom as I shut the door behind me. "Anyone with you?" she shouted as I confirmed that it was me.

"No, just me," I'd said my hand on the bedroom door, ready to walk in and slip off the robe, revealing the outfit I'd chosen just for her.

"Good, take a seat on the sofa, I've got something to show you."

Sighing, I sat down on the sofa, slipping off the black stiletto heels that I'd bought; hiding them away and tucking my legs underneath me, covering them with my robe just in case. I'd only just managed to hide myself away when the door opened and Emily strode in, looking as pleased as punch in a tiny little white two piece ensemble that left very little to the imagination.

"What do you think?" she asked, redundantly as she showed off some of that dancing prowess she had told me about, executing a dainty pirouette that made my mouth go dry.

"Nice," I'd managed to reply somehow, "very nice indeed."

"Good," she'd said with a prim smile, "wait there I'll go try the next one."

"Next," I'd spluttered wondering how I'd be able to cope, that outfit had made me want to slam her against a wall, let alone something else.

"Oh yes, I bought a few things babe and I want your opinion on all of them; sit back and relax, call it your very own catwalk show."

She hadn't been kidding either, for the next twenty minutes my ardour was aroused by outfit after outfit, blacks and whites and pinks. Some practical, some downright raunchy; I was treated to a vision of loveliness parading around, showing herself off for me. Finally I'd had more than enough, she walked out into the suite in a red bra and thong, a red that matched her hair almost exactly and looked stunning on her. I could tell, almost instantly that she'd worked out just how far she'd pushed me; the smile on her face bordering between pleased and smug as she'd winked at me and walked away, wiggling her arse invitingly behind her.

I'd made my decision right then and there, this time it was my turn. Uncurling myself from the sofa, I slipped my stockinged feet into the shiny black shoes and followed her into the bedroom. As I'd been expecting I found her lounging provocatively on the bed waiting for me, a look of pure mischief on her face. I'd removed that look with a shrug of the shoulders, dropping my robe to the floor. I'd taken a tip from Amy, framing myself in the doorway as I stepped out of the white cloth, placing a hand on the frame and adjusting the weight on my legs to change my shape to best effect. I'd spent a couple of minutes perfecting the pose in my cubicle in the pool, using the confined space and the full length mirror to check it for effect.

Judging my Emily's face I'd got it bang on, she looked shell shocked and I allowed myself my own little smug grin as a reward for a job well done.

"What do you think?" I'd asked her as she looking me up and down, her eyes tracking from the tip of my heel, up the sheer stockings, past the g-string and lingering on my tits, squeezed as they were by the corset.

"Come here and I'll tell you," she'd replied throatily, holding out her hand towards me.

"Not yet love," I'd replied with a smile, "you've not seen the back view yet." Carefully I turned around on those precipitous heels and I could feel Emily's eyes boring into me as the laces, string and seams came into view.

"Naomi, if you don't get here right now I won't be able to control myself," she'd murmured as I completed my turn, only nearly falling over the once.

"Well then, "I'd replied in my best, low and sultry voice leaning again on the doorframe; "that sounds like exactly the reaction I'd hoped for."

"Get here now Miss Campbell," she'd ordered; her eyes filled with desire, her tongue darting across her lips, leaving a faint sheen of moisture where it had been.

"Patience Miss Fitch," I'd replied as I strutted across to her, suddenly feeling confident and powerful, that confidence making it's way into my movements. I pushed Emily down onto the bed once more and towered above her, running my hand across her stomach as I held her down, my little finger stretching out to trace the seam of that red lace thong.

"Remember what you said this morning?" I said, reaching down to run my finger underneath that enticing seam, "that means I'm in charge."

o+o+o

"What you thinking of love?" Emily asked, as I opened my eyes from my light doze, never really achieving proper sleep; my new found fear of flying surfacing again the second we sat down.

"Yesterday," I admitted as she rested her head on my shoulder, "and not the shopping part."

"Well we did need the shopping for the post shopping entertainment babe, and I didn't hear you complaining while I was trying on my stuff."

"I was complaining inside Ems," I said truthfully, "that g-string was properly cutting in while I was sat on that sofa."

"I wish you'd said earlier babe, I would have helped you remove it sooner than I did; I hate to see you in pain."

"So thoughtful Ems, that's really noble of you," I teased as Ems pressed the service button above her head. "You really are the best girlfriend ever."

"Of course I am," she replied, before smiling at the stewardess and ordering drinks. "It's all going to change now though isn't it?" she added sadly as we were left alone again.

"What's going to change?" I asked easing my arm forward to take her hand, being careful not to disturb her head.

"This, us, everything," she replied cryptically, sighing into me.. "It's going to have to change isn't it? We're not on holiday any more."

"We haven't been on holiday Ems," I reminded her, resting my head on hers. "We've been working from the moment we landed."

"It felt like a holiday Nomi, despite all that stress I've been really happy. It's been nice being around you."

"You make it sound like I'm going somewhere Ems," I said nudging her gently. "You planning on firing me?"

"You wish," she said lifting our hands and kissing my fingers. "No, it's more that we'll be back to Miss fucking Fitch again, you'll be being all professional again and I'll be back to being a bitch all the time."

"Just like the last week love," I reminded her again. "Look, we were doing ok before we left England, what makes you think it'll be different when we get back?"

"Because I'll be stuck at work and you'll be going straight from dropping me off to Joanna's again and then back to your flat."

"That's pretty much the size of things Ems, but we managed to make time to see each other outside of work before. It's not as if I need an excuse to be with you when you go somewhere is it? Twenty-four-seven protection and all that."

"Yeah," Ems replied thoughtfully, "It's just that I keep thinking that I'm going to be so busy over the next few months that we won't get to see each other properly, not outside of work and weekends anyway; and I do like having you around you know, I really don't want to go back to sleeping alone. I like curling up with you, I like waking up with you next to me."

"You soppy bastard," I said grinning, shifting on my seat to wrap my arm around her, pushing down the blind on the window as I reached around.

"You love it, it makes me the same as you, we've already established that."

"That's what you think, but it doesn't change the fact that you're still a soppy bastard," I told her getting a light elbow for my troubles as our drinks arrived; Ems sitting up, but for some reason not letting me have my arm back, pinning it around her shoulders by sitting back.

"Nomi, how are we going to play this," she asked after she took a drink of the wonderful smelling hot chocolate she'd ordered; "when we get home that is?"

"We carry on as we did before I guess; I take it we're going to carry on being discrete?"

"Well I don't want daddy dearest to find out about us if that's what you mean. I don't think that would be a good idea."

"Well yeah, but I thought in general as well; I assumed you'd want us to go back to being a secret, like we were before."

"Secret love eh Nomi?"

"Secret love Ems, if that's what you want."

"I think it's the way its going to have to be babe; are you ok with that?"

She looked up at me, her eyes almost pleading with me to say yes. She didn't have to worry though, I had an honest answer for her…the same one I'd given her the last time she's asked.

"Whatever you need Ems, "I said leaning down to kiss her hair, inhaling the smell of her expensive perfume. "I'm pretty sure I've told you this before, I'm not about the big couple thing, we are what we are. If all the world can see is you and your CPO then I'm happy with that."

"Really? You don't mind being my 'dirty little secret'."

"Actually Ems, I really quite like the idea of being your 'dirty little secret'. It gives things a bit of extra spice you know? We'll just have to be more careful, no more of this sort of thing in public, just in case."

"Does that mean I have to make the most of all this public affection?" She said reaching up and stroking the arm I had wrapped around her. "You know, before we get home and we have to be all careful again."

"Well we do have the entire flight back, that's another seven uninterrupted hours of public affection," I teased grabbing her hand as it tickled my palm.

"Perhaps I should ask the stewardess for some blankets," she said snuggling down again.

"You won't sleep when you get home if you sleep through the flight again Ems," I told her trying to be sensible. "You said you've got an early start on Monday."

"I wasn't thinking about using the blankets to sleep under babe," she said looking up and waggling her eyebrows suggestively; "and please, don't ruin the time we have left by wishing Monday on us already."

"One day at a time Ems?"

"Yeah," she replied her voice sounding thoughtful once more, "one day at a time Nomi, let's just enjoy this moment while we can."

o+o+o

"Home again Nomi," she said as the plane taxied to a halt.

"Home again Ems," I agreed. We were back, and for me playtime was now over. Our little 'holiday' in the States had now officially ended; and it was time to get serious once again. We were back in the danger zone, and despite the promises of taking things one day at a time I knew things would have to subtly change again between us to make allowances for both of our relationships; the professional one and the personal one. I think Emily knew it as well, she'd been quiet for quite a bit on the plane, barely talking as we 'watched' the movie we'd agreed upon. She'd obviously had things on her mind, but I knew that when she was ready she'd tell me about them.

Customs and baggage claim were surprisingly quiet for late Sunday evening, I was expecting it to be full of people returning to the drudgery of work from holidays in the sun; in fact there was barely a soul. There was also no-one to greet us as we walked out into arrivals; much to Emily's annoyance. Before we'd left she had arranged for Darren to pick us up, the guy agreeing to work despite it being Sunday; but we'd walked out of baggage claim to find no sign of him.

I pushed our luggage trolley over to a nearby bench seat so that Emily could dig in her bag and find her phone; fuming slightly at the delay as she waited for it to turn on for the first time in a week. Finally connected, she dialled the number to the office, walking around the arrivals hall while she waited for someone to answer. I watched her carefully as she paced up and down, muttering into her phone the whole time; as her paces turned into stomps, her face turned darker and darker. Whatever she was hearing, I could tell that it wasn't making her happy; and I braced myself for her fury

"Darren's not coming," Emily spat angrily as she sat down on the hard bench next to me. "Apparently he was sent to Edinburgh on an urgent job by Katie yesterday, and he's not due in until Monday," she continued obviously annoyed; "and 'unfortunately' no-one else was assigned to come and get us. Fucking convenient that, don't you think? I swear the bitch did it deliberately to get back at us for not inviting her to come out with us on Friday."

"I'm sure it's just a simple misunderstanding hun," I said soothingly, not sure of anything of the sort. "But it's ok, we can just get a cab can't we. I'll claim it back on expenses, that way I make tweak it so that Katie's department will get the bill."

"Yeah of course we can, but it's not the point is it? She knew we were coming back late tonight and she knew that I specifically arranged for Darren to come and pick us up from the airport. She's just being a bitch again, she doesn't want me to be happy, I'm sure of it."

"Well, let's not allow it to ruin things Ems," I said grabbing my bag and one of hers. "Come on, let's go find ourselves a cab."

I wasn't convinced by Emily's complaints about her sister, though I did agree that this was more than convenient; I made a note in my head to have a little chat with Mrs Fitch-Brace on her return to the UK, at the very least what she had done was potentially fucking dangerous, and I put myself on alert just in case.

As we walked out of the terminal doors and around the corner, searching for a taxi to take us back to St John's Wood, I felt something hit my face. Within seconds the familiar sound of rain splattering on the pavement was all around us, as the heavens opened.

"Fuck, we're going to get soaked," Emily said grumpily, looking around to find some cover and finding none.

"Here get under this with me," I replied as I pulled off my coat and threw it over us, huddling close to get as much of us under the thin material as we could. Happily for Emily's thin summer dress, if not for my dirty little mind, the bright orange lamp of a hackney cab turned the corner in front of us and pulled in at the sign of my outstretched, dripping wet arm; the grizzled driver hunched over as he got out of his door to open the boot for our bags.

"Wet night love," he said as between us we threw the bags into the back, Emily safely ensconced in the back of the cab out of the rain. "You been somewhere nice and sunny?"

"States," I said as he closed the boot and ran around to his door, climbing into the back and sitting down next to a shivering Emily. "It was just a bit hotter than here while we were there, and a lot fucking drier too."

"Yeah, welcome home to the good old English summer, it's been like this all week; now, where can I take you to ladies?"

"St John's Wood for a drop off first mate," I said trying to plan the journey in my head, "and then to Richmond if that's ok?"

"Richmond first please," Emily corrected me, "then onto St John's Wood."

"Why we going to my place first Ems?" I asked confused. "I'm not letting you travel home on your own. We're back in England now remember? We can't afford to relax anymore."

"We're going to your place to pick up some of your gear and then we're going to the flat; you're moving in with me remember? Personal protective service…twenty four seven by my side," she said linking our arms and snuggling into me, laying her head on my shoulder. "I was thinking it through on the plane, I know you didn't think it was a good idea, but things have changed a little between us. Besides, mum thinks it's a good idea, I think it's a good idea and it's exactly what daddy ordered us to do; and as I see it Nomi, there's no time like the present to make it happen."

"You want me to move into yours tonight?" I said trying to process what she was saying.

"No, I want you to move some of your stuff from that apartment you're borrowing into ours; you can get the rest later"

"Ours?" I asked frowning at her.

"Yes," she said firmly, "ours!"

"I'm not sure about that Ems," I said, "I still don't think it's a great idea."

"Look, Nomi, you can have your own room if that's what you need, we can make this work somehow, but it's the perfect solution for us, trust me."

I was about to reply when the frustrated voice of the taxi driver came over the little speaker. "Look ladies, as fascinating as this it you're on a meter; where do you want me to take you."

"Richmond, and then St Johns Wood mate," Emily said quickly, stopping me from speaking with the gentle press of her finger against my lips; "one quick pickup if it's ok with you and then we're going home."

.

.

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Authors Note – Hmmm, well...I think that's quite enough of that sort of thing for this story thank you very much. I believe that we are approaching what I am going to "all pretentiously" call the 'Transition Chapters' of this story now; time to step things along and tie up a few floating bits that people have asked me about so we can move onto the next part of this sorry little tale.

Long way to go yet though, as Crazy2592 alluded to a couple of weeks ago, we really are only just starting...

...I think I've created a monster!