CHAPTER FIFTY ONE.

Emily didn't return home with her father, Naomi knew though it looked like she was sleeping. Rob switched off all the lights bar the one in the kitchen, and went on to bed, and Naomi waited, perhaps Emily was just coming in now? She waited for twenty minutes, listening for the key in the lock, but nothing. She checked her phone, but there was nothing from her, no explanation. She started to panic, which was irrational because if something bad had happened to her, Rob would tell her. At the very least Rob would be less calm about his nightly routine.

She contemplated texting Emily, but had no idea what to write. She thought about texting Katie, but didn't want to be ridiculed. The only answer Naomi could come up with was Emily had hit the town. Maybe Emily was picking up. They weren't together any longer; she could do so if she wanted. With her new sexual confidence, she could pick up whomever she wanted. She was a fucking stunning woman, after all.

The very idea made Naomi ill. The thought of someone else touching her, whispering sweet terms in her ear, hearing her moan as she stroked her body ... No, she had to stop thinking about it. It would only paint her as a possessive ex-partner who can't stick to what she says, and she wanted to desperately show Emily she was serious about things.

Fuck. She knew she wouldn't bring someone back here, so she might not ever know if Emily had the touch of another on skin Naomi still longed to map out. Would Emily tell her? Did she need to tell her?

She was dozing off when her phone beeped, startling the hell out of her. A message from Katie which read: 'Ems out wit me. Drunk.' Well what the fuck could she do about that stuck in this fucking flat in a place she had no fucking idea where shit was?

Another message arrived before Naomi could reply. Again, from Katie: 'Taking her hme.'

Thank god. Naomi made a snap decision, grabbing her crutches and phone she began rummaging through the cupboards. She was going to fucking cook something for Emily and she was going to let Emily know she didn't want them seeing anyone else. It might not work, but she needed to say it. She needed to be assertive, preserve her connection with the redhead even if the cost was Emily telling her to get to fuck.


Emily was a reasonably quiet drunk, Naomi thought. Katie was putting on the kettle, grabbing a bottle of water first for her sister while just Emily sat at the table, humming some tune, smiling at everyone but saying nothing.

"Ems? Here," Katie handed over some headache tablets which Emily took immediately.

"I've made stuff," Naomi pulled out three plates. "Katie?"

"I'm famished."

Naomi nodded, pulling out the three battered fish tenders and putting one on each plate. She then pulled apart some of the salad she had had for dinner and served it out, cutting up a lemon for the side of the plate. Fucking domesticated Campbell, cooking for twins. What the fuck was her life?

"I'm not hungry," Emily pushed her plate away.

"Fucking eat," Katie pushed the plate back. "At least have some fucking salad."

Naomi smiled as the sisters fought.

Emily ate, the more she put in her mouth, the hungrier she realised she was. Dinner had been a dry affair at some swank restaurant but because she did a lot of the talking, she didn't eat too much. When Katie called her and asked if she wanted to go out, she jumped at the chance to be out. No inhibitions. Unfortunately, she had drunk too much to really enjoy the night.

Naomi pushed her own plate of food over, which both sisters began to pick at like starved animals. She was tired, and unless either of them needed her for something, she was going to lie down.

"Hey, where you going?" A drunken Emily asked, grabbing for Naomi's hand.

"Back to bed," Naomi didn't want to be brisk with her, but she didn't want to show Emily and Katie just how upset she was, irrational or not.

"Come to be with me, I'm pretty hot ya know. I could fuck your brains out like no one else. You know I can do that thing with my … Ouch!" Emily felt her sister hit her, frowning.

"I'm leaving," Katie got up, signaling for Naomi to walk her to the door.

"She doesn't drink a lot, so she'll really be feeling this when she wakes. You'll have to make sure our dad doesn't find out." Katie warned. Emily was always so responsible; always the one he could count on.

"How?"

"Think of something," Katie ordered. "I'm going back to the club."

Naomi closed the door, taking Emily's keys which had been hanging in the lock. Returning to the kitchen, Naomi watched as Emily tried to get up from the table, only to sit back down quickly.

"Here, have some more water," Naomi poured a glass for her, handing it over carefully.

"I need to go to the toilet," Emily whined.

"I'll take you," Naomi said, helping a swaying Emily to her feet.

"I can fucking do it myself," Emily tried pushing Naomi away, but Naomi held on.

After closing the door, Naomi waited out in the hall until Emily opened the door and came back out. Taking her to her bedroom, Naomi sat Emily down and began taking off her business suit. She was too busy worrying about getting the redhead to bed and trying to think of a reason why she was so hung over tomorrow that she paid very little attention to the naked flesh being exposed. Dressed in knickers and a t-shirt, Naomi encouraged Emily to drink some more water from the bottle she had put in the sweatband of her borrowed tracksuit pants before laying her down.

Emily sighed as her head hit the pillow, though the room seemed to be spinning. Calling out Naomi's name softly, she waited until the blonde was closer before saying goodnight. Naomi's smile was the last thing she remembered before she fell asleep.


Naomi woke with a start. She was sitting in the cane chair in Emily's room, having promised to sit there for just a while until she was sure Emily was okay, but must have dozed off. But now she was awake to the sounds of a very sick redhead in the bathroom. Getting up, Naomi turned on the light, not familiar with the flats layout enough to go in blind, and hobbled to the bathroom. Knocking softly on the door, Naomi heard a groan and more vomiting and she knew poor Emily was not doing so well. Heading back to grab the bottle of water from Emily's room, Naomi chanced the handle, the bathroom was unlocked.

"Oh hun," Naomi couldn't help but feel sorry for her. She had been there before; she knew what it all felt like. Grabbing a hair tie from the cabinet, Naomi tied Emily's hair back into a messy bun, rubbing her back between the times Emily was hugging the bowl.

"I hurt," Emily's strangled sob broke Naomi's heart, but all she could do was hand over the water. Emily took a bit, swishing it in her mouth and spitting it into the bowl. Naomi looked for a washer or something, but only found a pair of socks hanging across the bath – as well as a few other things, all Rob's she assumed from the boxers – on a flimsy string line. Ascertaining they were in fact, clean, Naomi soaked them lightly in the sink and pressed it against Emily's burning flesh on her neck and forehead.

Emily's vomiting had subsided after a few more hugs of the bowl, but she was now shivering. Naomi knew the combination of the cold floor and the physical exhaustion of such an act was catching up with her but she wasn't sure if Emily was ready to move. Pulling off her long-sleeve shirt, she wrapped it around Emily, pulling her onto of her body as best she could. She felt her ankle protest, but she ignored it, focused on getting Emily off the cold floor.

"I need to clean," Emily muttered.

"Huh?" Naomi had heard of drunken people doing some weird things, but cleaning?

"Teeth," Emily clarified.

"Oh. I'll get it," Naomi smiled, putting a towel on the floor before putting Emily down. Grabbing what she hoped was her toothbrush; Naomi put a light smattering of toothpaste on and handed it to Emily.

It took quite a while for Emily to be satisfied the taste of vomit was gone, and once she handed over her brush, Naomi threw it straight into the bin. No one needed to use the same brush they had in their mouth at a moment like this, ever again.

"Can you get up?" Naomi asked gently. A small nod was all Naomi got, but it was enough. Pulling her up very slowly, Naomi helped Emily back to bed. Taking off the shirt that was now a little dirty, Naomi picked another one out and dressed Emily for the second time that night.

"I'll be back in a minute," Naomi promised. Flushing the toilet, washing her hands and getting some more water, Naomi returned as fast as she could move. Emily was still sitting on her bed, her doona wrapped around her.

"Do you want to lie down?" Naomi asked.

"No."

"Okay." Naomi encouraged Emily to drink more water.

"Television," Emily managed to get out slowly.

"Sure, okay. Come on, I'll help you," Naomi led Emily to the couch slowly. Emily stopped a few times, obviously warring with her stomach, but there was no mad dash to the bathroom, thankfully. Once Emily was sitting on the couch, Naomi pulled her doona up, tucking the seated woman in.

"I'll just go use your bed if that's okay?" Naomi asked.

"Stay," Emily begged.

"Um. Okay," Naomi sat at the opposite end, pulling her thin doona over her. She was now only in a tank, and the air was mighty cold. After settling on a station, though she was sure Emily wasn't really watching, Naomi found herself beginning to drop off.

"Naomi?"

Naomi was alert instantly, wondering if Emily needed something.

"Ems?"

"Can I have some more water?"

Naomi smiled, pleased at the question. Dropping her doona on the floor, she headed into the kitchen. Returning, she couldn't help but smile. Emily had fallen asleep, falling right where the blonde had been sitting. Pulling her doona up, Naomi kissed Emily's head and sat in the one-seater. It was going to be a bitch on her muscles, but she wanted to stay near Emily.


TBC ...

Thank you to, well, everyone!