AN: Just a fair warning to any readers out there, this chapter is rated M.

Twenty

She wasn't sure how much time had passed since she left the venue. It could have been hours and she wouldn't have known. The only thing she did know was what she needed to get away before anyone found her. More importantly, before Coulson found her. She knew full-well that he wouldn't hesitate to throttle McCoy for acting that way if he found out what happened. The last thing she wanted was for him to face punishment for something that was entirely her fault.

She tore off the high heels and threw them away in a nearby trash bin. Bystanders paused for a moment, finding it obvious where she came from that evening when they saw the dress. The blood in her ears were still roaring from their argument, and it took everything she had to maintain control of her emotions.

I almost lost control back there, she thought bitterly.

The thought terrified her more than she would ever admit out loud. Losing control meant that everyone was at risk of being hurt. That was why she had to leave… not because McCoy told her to. Though truthfully, that hurt more than it should have. His words echoed in the back of her mind, leaving another painful reminder of why she shouldn't have trusted him.

Emily let out a sigh of frustration when she finally reached their homes. The lights were still on, telling her that no one expected anyone to come back early. She shook her head at the thought of telling Coulson what happened. He would be furious. More so with McCoy than herself, but she had a feeling he'd be pissed that she placed her trust in someone like him.

I'm not ready to go back, she mentally scolded herself.

She didn't bother going anywhere near their old house. She knew the moment Coulson suspected she was back, he would ask questions. She wasn't sure if she was ready to tell him what happened. The shock of everything was still registering in the back of her mind as it processed what happened that night.

He'd acted as if he cared about her, when in reality, it was all a game. And she was only beginning to realize that maybe love was a foolish notion for someone like her. It wasn't as if random people approached her and said she was beautiful. McCoy was the only one who'd ever told her that, and that was only to appease her. The more she thought about it, the angrier she was with herself for believing him.

Her fists clenched as she finally reached the spot where she normally hid. The lake seemed all the more inviting when she paused. She could still remember the many times when she would come here after a long day of training with Maria. Or whenever she was feeling stressed out. The more Emily thought about it, the more she realized she'd spent a lot of time out here. It was her escape from reality, or when she needed to focus on her powers.

She let out another sigh and sat down on a boulder, wrapping her arms around her legs as she did so. She wasn't in any hurry to go back and face the music, especially in light of recent events. About the only thing she looked forward to the following week was going back to her normal routine. At least at the academy, she had friends to go back to.

Speaking of friends, she glanced at her com to see that Clint had sent a message. Emily nearly rolled her eyes when the archer asked how the night was going. She was tempted to send something back and reassure him that everything was fine. But a small part of her knew he wouldn't believe her. Clint was one of the type of people who could easily read when something was wrong, and he'd immediately know something was wrong if she said something like that.

She was ready to respond when a twig snapped. Almost immediately, stones hovered in the air as a defensive shield. She quickly learned not to let her guard down whenever she was out in the public. Especially given how vulnerable one was with their back turned against their enemies. But the intruder in question happened to be McCoy. Emily just rolled her eyes when he held his hands up, trying to show that he wasn't a threat.

"What are you doing here?" she asked without meeting his eyes.

Instead, she turned back towards the lake, ignoring the look that followed. McCoy let out a sigh of his own and took a few cautious steps forward. Emily knew full-well that he was already on thin ice for everything that happened.

"Look, I know I messed up back there," he started. Emily narrowed her eyes when he stood a couple of steps away from her. "I wasn't thinking when I said all of that."

"But you aren't wrong," she muttered in an accusing tone. She refused to even look at him when he finally sat down beside her. She knew he was probably hoping they could patch things up and pretend everything was normal. But in reality, McCoy was right. It hurt to know that she didn't trust anyone outside the agency, including the people she once considered good friends. "All I've learned over the last couple of months is that trust is something that has to be earned. Pamela and I were never really close, and Nancy just made it worse by hurting you."

McCoy looked at her in surprise when she brought up the incident revolving around Nancy. He hadn't quite gotten over that mess either. Truthfully, he was always afraid something similar would happen between them. Though he knew in the back of his mind that Emily would never hurt him that way. Not on purpose at least. The more he thought about it, the more he understood why she reacted the way she had when Pamela greeted them.

"Emily, you know I'd never fall for someone like Pamela." When she didn't answer or glance at him, McCoy shifted closer so that their shoulders were almost touching. The feeling of contact sent shivers of electrical shockwaves through her, providing yet another reminder of their close bond. She often found herself wondering if he felt the same electrical shockwaves she felt. She knew it was mostly instinctual, but that didn't stop her from wishing she could share her thoughts with him. "I've always had feelings for you, and that's never gone away."

She finally glanced in his direction, suddenly feeling self-conscious when his eyes met hers. Not for the first time, she found herself doubting whether or not that was true. Everything had gotten so backwards over the last few months, and she couldn't shake off the feeling that those words were just an empty promise.

"How do I know you're telling me the truth?" she asked warily.

It wasn't until he reached for her hand and gave it a light squeeze that she realized why he'd gone out of his way to find her.

"You know, the first mistake with Nancy I made was that I fell in love too quickly," he suddenly admitted. Emily rose an eyebrow in surprise. McCoy wasn't deterred… if anything, he seemed more determined now than ever to prove himself. "That's why I took my time with you. I didn't want to mess anything up… you mean too much to me."

Her heart nearly skipped a beat when he suddenly leaned forward, capturing her lips with his. The moment he did that was when she knew she was a goner. Emily melted into his warm embrace, allowing herself time to feel something other than annoyance for the first time. It was in that moment when she knew he was telling the truth.

She let out a quiet sigh of relief when they reluctantly pulled apart. There were so many times when she wanted to take the next step. To be the one who instigated that next move. But a part of her dreaded the moment it happened, mostly because she was terrified of how McCoy would react. Would he care for her any less if she wanted more out of their relationship?

"I'm sorry she did all of this to you," she whispered.

McCoy gave her a thoughtful look before frowning at the mention of Nancy's mistakes. The other blond had changed schools as a result of what happened. But not without trying to cause further damage to his reputation along with her own. She doubted Nancy would return unless the situation demanded it, but the fact that she'd tried stooping to such levels was what annoyed her the most.

"S'not like you had anythin' to do with what happened," he reassured her with a knowing look. Emily pursed her lips together when he suddenly held her hand once more, gesturing to stand up. "I know it's a bit late for this, but I had a place booked for us after the prom… just in case."

Heat rose to her cheeks when she realized what he was implying. Coulson would've likely throttled him if they returned home together. Or if they'd gone out drinking later that evening. Considering they were underage, she couldn't blame him for reacting that way. Still, she couldn't help but grin a little at the prospect of defying orders.

"Leonard, you know you didn't have to do this," she said as they made their way back.

"First thing Ma taught me was to treat the women with respect," he pointed out without missing a beat. "And you sure as hell earned it."

She couldn't hide the sheepish smile that followed when he handed her an extra pair of shoes. She knew he must have stopped by his place first before finding her. The moment she accepted those shoes and his hand was when she found herself being led down to the main strip of Savannah. Emily rose an eyebrow in surprise when he finally brought her to one of the popular spots where locals went to eat lunch or dinner.

The Sun INN was unlike any building she had ever seen… aside from his home and the place she and Coulson stayed at for years on end. It was an old plantation farm, much like McCoy's place. Mahogany wood decorated most of the exterior and interior, with yellow siding and large windows overlooking the main street. In the back of the mansion was a variety of gardens providing food for the restaurant. The inside of the building was far more elegant looking. Once again, the wood was made out of mahogany and oak, with the dining room off to one side and a reading area to the other.

Emily eyed the place with awe as she realized how expensive it was to spend the night. Coulson had spent a couple of nights in a room before their home was ready for move-in day. What surprised her the most was the fact that they'd kept up with the local history of Savannah. It was rich with colors and atmosphere, providing a rare glimpse of what the twentieth century had been like.

"Leonard, this place must have cost a fortune," she exclaimed after realizing this was his intention.

McCoy suddenly turned around to face her. The lopsided grin written across his face was enough to remind her of what they'd almost lost. Despite the small group of people staying in the main lobby, he ignored the strange looks passed their way. McCoy and his family were well-known throughout the town, so she wasn't entirely surprised by their curious looks.

"Yeah, I know," he rolled his eyes in amusement as he led the way to the stairs leading to the rooms. Emily couldn't hide the smile that followed when they reached the second floor. She knew he must have looked into this long before prom night. It took months of calculating to make sure one had the right amount of credits to afford something like this. "I wanted to do somethin' special this night, since it's our last prom night as seniors."

Her heart swelled with joy upon hearing those words. Emily surprised them both by capturing his lips with his. Once inside it was easier to lose control. The last thing she wanted was for them to be caught by anyone like Coulson or his parents. Though she had a feeling his mother would have been on the more encouraging side.

"Has anyone ever told you how amazing you are?" she asked.

The moment his hands reached her waist was when shivers of anticipation swept through her. She knew this was the only night they had to be themselves. To lose control and let go of the tension.

"No, but I enjoy hearin' you say it out loud," he said with a cheeky grin. She couldn't hide the sheepish grin that followed as he kissed her once more, this time without hesitation. The feeling of his hands roaming her body was enough to send shivers through her once more. She could feel one hand sliding to her ass, giving it a light squeeze as he felt everything through the dress she'd chosen. She was suddenly grateful she'd taken off the suit Tony designed for her. She wasn't in any hurry for him to realize that she had been hiding all of her scars. It wasn't until he reached the back end of her dress that she felt him hesitate. "I'm still not sure if this is a good idea…"

She merely rolled her eyes and swatted his hand away. She was well aware of the hidden fear behind those curtains.

"Leonard, stop hesitating," she snapped. The moment her eyes met his was when she saw something other than fear sweeping across those hazel orbs. "I love you, not just as my friend but as my partner. Nothing is going to change that."

"But what if I end up hurting you?" he asked warily. It wasn't until his hands left her waist that she noticed how visibly shaken he was. Her heart sank as realization dawned on her. The fear Coulson instilled in them had been drilled too deep. The only way they were going to break through that barrier was by taking the plunge, both figuratively and literally. "I don't wanna rush into anything or—"

Emily cut him off with a sigh of frustration. Before he had the chance to finish, she suddenly took hold of his hand and gave it a light squeeze. She wasn't going to force him into something he wasn't comfortable with. Even if she felt as though they were ready for that step.

"Leonard, be honest with me, are you really ready for something like this? It's going to change how we see each other," she said thoughtfully.

The silence that followed was enough for her heart to sink with realization. Maybe she had been reading him wrong. The more she thought about it, the guiltier she felt for putting him in such an awkward position. She finally let go of his hands, but the moment she did was when his own face fell with realization. It was only when he suddenly reached for her hands that Emily shrank further into herself.

"Of course I want that, Emily," he finally said after giving it some thought. "Hell, I've been waitin' for this moment for as long as we've been dating. I'm just… worried that I'm taking something away from you."

It wasn't until admitting that that Emily found herself gazing into those warm hazel eyes. For a moment, she was taken aback by the fact that he was worried about her wellbeing. Few people if any cared, aside from Coulson and his family. She'd dealt with too many men in the past to consider what something like this would do to their relationship.

"Well, you'd be the first idiot to actually care about taking my virginity," she rolled her eyes in exasperation. She snorted when heat rose to his cheeks. "Leonard, I don't care about that… I care about us. I don't want to force you into anything you're not comfortable with."

McCoy seemed to take her words into consideration. He knew they were risking everything by taking that step. Yet in the back of his mind, he also knew how much he wanted her. He knew he was slowly but surely losing the battle as he continued eyeing her with guilt. Eventually he ignored the lack of confidence within himself and suddenly kissed her again, this time without hesitation.

She didn't know how to react when he finally pried at her dress. Her eyes widened in surprise as everything moved quickly after that. Her dress fell into a pool of silver and blue around her, revealing her undergarments for the first time since they had been dating. Though he had seen her undergarments before, it was never anything like this. Emily rose an eyebrow in amusement when she caught him staring at her slim, yet muscular figure.

"Damn… I knew you had muscles but I didn't realize you were this well-built," he remarked after closing the distance between them.

"Let that be a warning for the next time you try and piss me off," she snorted with laughter.

He just rolled his eyes in amusement, though he knew she meant the threat. Without a second thought his lips met hers. The feeling of her warm, bare skin rubbing against his hands was almost too much. She could already see the tent forming in his pants; she'd seen him turned on before, but he was usually quick to retreat before they took things to the next level. This was something entirely different… it was electrifying.

"You do realize the suit is going to take longer to pull off, right?" she suddenly quipped when his hands reached for her breasts.

She smirked in amusement when McCoy made a face at the mention of his suit. The tux he'd picked out only fueled the flames. She would never admit out loud how handsome he really looked in that tux. Though she had a feeling he would need to hear it sooner or later. McCoy wasted no time in prying the suit off moments later, though not without some trouble. Emily merely rolled her eyes in amusement as she helped him unbutton the suit itself. His undershirt was quick to follow, soon by his pants.

The moment she saw his bare chest for the first time was when she wished she had gotten him out of his shirt sooner. Emily chewed the bottom of her lip as he closed the distance between them, resuming their kiss. His tongue sought entrance, and she obliged willingly. They'd kissed enough times to know how to respond to each subtle movement. The feeling of his tongue fighting for dominance only fueled the fire, along with his hands unclasping her bra. Once her breasts were freed from their restraints, McCoy wasted little time in attacking them. Her nipples were already hard from their previous activity and from being exposed to the cooler air. But as his rough hands reached her skin, shivers of anticipation swept through her. It didn't take long for her heart to begin racing for a whole different reason as he squeezed each breast, fondling them as if they were toys to be played with.

It didn't take long for them to move to the bed. McCoy was still fondling with her breasts, and she suddenly found the scene of him hovering above her far more alluring than it should have been. She eyed him thoughtfully as her hands ran through his hair, pulling and tugging every now and then as his warm breath tickled her skin. She couldn't hide the broad smile that followed when their eyes met.

"You're beautiful, Emily," he reminded her with a pointed look. Her heart swooned upon hearing those words. McCoy began sucking on a particular spot along her neck that he seemed to enjoy. Her body quivered from the sudden feeling of lips along her bare skin. It was unlike anything she had ever felt before, and she didn't want it to end. He paused for a brief moment, resting his warm hand along her pelvis. She realized with a start that he was trying to help her relax. She knew the first time would hurt like hell… she'd heard enough horror stories to know that some men were forceful on their partners. But she was also aware that McCoy wasn't like other men. His reluctance to move on because of fear only proved that. "This is gonna hurt."

His gaze was dark as he hovered over her, kicking off his underwear in the process. Hers had been thrown off minutes ago, landing in a pile of clothing beside the bed. Emily swallowed hard as she saw his cock for the first time. She'd seen pictures – sex ed and other non-explicit sites had proven useful in that notion – but nothing could have prepared her for seeing the real thing in person. It was bigger than expected, and it seemed to have a mind of its own as it twitched with anticipation. It only took her a split second to register that his finger had reached her moist entrance. Another shiver swept through her, this one purely out of anticipation.

"I know it is," she bit back a gasp of surprise when he inserted his finger carefully. She knew he was preparing her for the pain that would follow. After strapping on a condom and making sure she was protected – neither of them were in any hurry to face those consequences – McCoy moved carefully to ensure she felt comfortable enough. "But I want this… now more than ever."

It wasn't until admitting that out loud when McCoy's eyes met hers. She knew this was what he wanted. His thoughts were loud and clear this time around. She almost smirked at the realization of how much he wanted her. Though she dared not say it out loud as his finger scissored across her folds, fondling with her clit before entering her fully. She had to bite back a gasp of surprise at the sudden intrusion. It took everything she had not to push him away out of sheer instinct. She knew this was only just his finger; the real pain wouldn't come until he entered her fully.

Her walls began contracting around his finger just as he inserted a second one. She was tight, though that was to be expected. The pressure was starting to build up, this time stronger than she'd ever anticipated. It took everything she had not to moan from the intense pleasure bubbling over. She'd known it would feel good after she adjusted to the pain. But if that was how it felt when he used just his fingers, she could only imagine how good it would feel next.

"Are you sure about this?" he asked when he carefully pulled his fingers back. Her walls were still contracting from the sudden intrusion and the fact that something had left. She nearly rolled her eyes when he finally hovered just inches above her; his cock was pressed between her thigh and her entrance as if waiting for permission. "Last thing I want is to hurt ya."

"Would you shut up and take me already?" she finally snapped.

McCoy rose an eyebrow in amusement at her sudden annoyance. Though when he finally pushed into her, her teeth ground together as pain swept through her. McCoy was quick to try and distract her from the pain with a kiss as he pushed himself further. It was only until he was met with a wall of resistance that he paused. He knew he would have to force himself into her, and that was where the pain came from. Eventually he pulled out and finally thrust deeper into her, earning a cry of pain in the process.

Emily struggled to free herself from her restraints, but McCoy held her down before she could make it worse. Everything felt as though it was on fire. McCoy didn't stop until he was fully inside of her. Once there, he waited for her to adjust. She let out a few quick gasps as she struggled to maintain control over her emotions. McCoy leaned forward and kissed her once more, knowing full-well this was anything but easy.

"Worst is over," he reassured her.

As if to prove his point, he carefully pulled out and thrust back into her. This time pleasure bubbled within her, stronger than when his fingers dug into her. It didn't take long for her gasps to turn into quiet moans of pleasure. Her arms wrapped around his neck as she struggled to compose words from the intensity of such emotions. She'd known it would feel good, but she hadn't realized how good it would feel.

"Fuck!" she finally moaned out as she came for the first time that night. McCoy just smirked in amusement at the colorful language that followed. "Faster! Harder!"

She was on the verge of reaching her second climax when he reached her G-spot. By then she was howling his name, relishing the way he seemed to fit her perfectly. The triumph sweeping across his face was enough to send her over the edge a second time that night. McCoy captured her lips with ease, this time holding her down as he came moments later.

For a while, neither of them moved. McCoy rested atop of her, suddenly exhausted and pressed. It only took a few seconds for him to recover and pull out of her carefully. Emily let out a quiet sigh as they shifted into a cuddle, wrapping his arm around her torso. The feeling of her warm breath tickling his chest was enough for his eyes to close, and for sleep to easily overcome him.

.

.

It was early in the morning when she was awoken by the sunlight filtering through the curtains. Emily blinked warily a few times, barely registering where she was for a brief moment. The room looked familiar, but she couldn't quite understand why. She was also barely able to register the sudden pain between her legs. At least until she felt warm breath tickling her skin.

Her heart nearly skipped a beat when she realized she was snuggled into McCoy's bare chest. He had one arm wrapped around her torso, holding her close against him. She couldn't hide the sheepish smile that followed as memories of the other night suddenly came rushing back. That explained the pain from earlier. It also explained why they were in an unfamiliar room, because she knew if Coulson found them, there would be hell to pay.

She let out a sigh of contentment as she allowed the warmth McCoy provided to wrap over her like a protective blanket. That night had been a whirlwind of emotions. From devastation when she found out McCoy and Pamela had rekindled their friendship to the moment he found her sitting alone by their favorite spot. Finally, McCoy brought her to the same INN where she and Coulson had stayed before moving to their new home. Their night had ended in a sweet union, something of which she would never forget.

He had far more patience than she remembered. The fact that he hadn't pushed her into anything she wasn't comfortable with was something she admired the most. But in the moment their bodies had melded into one, she knew she wouldn't have wanted anything different. He was more than just a friend. The more she thought about it, the more her heart yearned for something deeper.

She squeezed her eyes shut for a brief moment, wanting nothing more than to sleep for a few more seconds. But it seemed that wasn't going to happen when she felt McCoy stir. She finally glanced at him, not missing the fact that his eyes were lazily watching hers. Not for the first time, she offered a small smile when she realized this was truly a life-changing moment. She'd known going into this that their lives would likely change forever once they took things that far. The last thing she expected was to feel a sense of euphoria even after sleeping it off.

"Mornin'," he finally cut through the awkward silence.

"Good morning yourself," she greeted him with a laugh.

McCoy blinked away the sleep from his eyes, realizing with a start where they were and what they had done the other night.

"How are you feeling?" he asked when they shifted so they were facing each other.

It was going to take some getting used to. She tried to hide the heat from rising to her cheeks when she realized they were both naked. The awkward moment didn't last long though when she noticed McCoy held no shame in that aspect. She knew this was something that any long-lasting couple would experience sooner or later. Still… that didn't stop the surprise from sweeping through her when she realized he didn't seem to mind.

"My legs are a little sore from last night, but I suppose that's only natural," she replied with a shrug. Her eyes met his, and for a brief moment, she saw panic sweep across them. "Relax, Leonard. I would've personally flayed you if the pain was any worse."

He just rolled his eyes at the prospect, though that didn't stop him from letting out a sigh of relief. Emily couldn't hide the sheepish grin that followed. She knew this was new territory for both of them. It was incredibly awkward to think about, even now when she'd spent the night with him. She had a feeling that it wouldn't be their last night together either.

"Your Pa is gonna kill me when he finds out," he groaned after realizing he wasn't out of the woods yet.

It was her turn to roll her eyes. Though in his defense, he had a good reason for being terrified of Coulson's wrath. Though he didn't show it often, Coulson was the type of person she didn't want to piss off unless the situation demanded it. She let out a sigh and suddenly kissed him, ignoring the incredulous look that followed.

"Relax, cowboy," she reassured him with a knowing smirk. "Papa won't find out, and if he does, then I'll have a say in the matter. Last night was one of the best nights I've had in years, and that's saying something."

His face morphed into a lopsided grin when he realized what she was implying. She almost laughed again when she realized this would only fuel his already huge ego. Though she didn't bother pointing that out loud when he suddenly captured her lips with his, this time deeper than before. She allowed the moment to last a little longer than it should have, neither willing to get up.

"So I was that good, huh?" he asked when they reluctantly climbed out of bed.

"Don't go getting too big of a head, Leonard," she rolled her eyes in amusement. "I'm only suggesting that Nancy made a mistake in what she did."

McCoy rose an eyebrow at the mention of Nancy. Memories of that incident were still fresh in his mind, though he didn't allow that fallout to push him down. If anything, it only served to fuel his fire.

"When do you have to go back to the academy?" he asked when they changed into fresh clothing.

She knew there would be questions as to why they hadn't returned the other night. Or why they were in different clothes. Maria was the one who approved of whatever they did, but she doubted Coulson would feel that way. Emily suddenly chewed the bottom of her lips at the prospect of going back home.

"In a couple of days," she admitted. McCoy didn't bother hiding the disappointment written across his face. "But I promise I'll be there for graduation."

He simply offered a smile in return, realizing with a start that she was going out of her way just to be there for him. As they went down to the main lobby after making sure their clothing was packed and ready, they were greeted with the usual breakfast condiments the INN had to offer. Emily took a seat across from him after grabbing a freshly made egg and cheese sandwich, with him ordering a bigger meal.

"I still can't believe that's a few weeks from now," he said with a heavy sigh. "Pa said he's got the paperwork filled out for med school, which means I'll be startin' that in the fall."

Emily didn't miss the worry in his voice. She glanced at him self-consciously when she noticed that the stress had been eating away at him. He had a lot riding on his shoulders for someone who was only just graduating from high school.

"Well, you know you're more than welcome to call me whenever you need company," she reassured him. "And I'll stop by for a visit whenever I can."

His heart nearly soared with joy upon hearing those words. Nothing could prepare them for what the future had in store for them. But at least they had each other. And that was what mattered the most.