AN: Just a fair warning to any viewers, this chapter is rated MA

Twenty Four

They'd taken full advantage of the next two weeks they had left before classes started for McCoy. Emily found herself wrapped in his arms as they stared at the holoscreen with a movie playing in the background. Popcorn had been placed to the side along with drinks. Coulson had reluctantly given them some much needed time alone during said vacation, something for which she was grateful for. So with it being the two of them, she and McCoy took full advantage of their time alone. It wasn't a hard choice to figure out which movie they wanted, as McCoy's were usually the western classics. She didn't really have a favorite, so that made it easier.

Earlier that day Tony had sent a congratulations message. She was more than surprised with the gesture, especially since it was likely aimed towards McCoy. She almost smirked at the revelation that everyone she cared about seemed to be getting along. She never imagined this was what her life would have turned out to be. It felt good knowing that there were people out there who cared about her, and that the feelings were entirely mutual.

"It's hard to believe I'll be starting med school in a couple of weeks," he admitted after allowing his lips to feather kisses down her neck. She stifled a fit of giggles as she relished the warmth he provided. Though it wasn't needed since it was technically summer, the house itself was cool and comfortable. "I think I'll miss this the most."

"You're going to make your roommate or classmates incredibly jealous, Leonard," she remarked with a sheepish grin.

McCoy merely returned the gesture with a lopsided grin of his own. It was clear that was exactly what he had been planning. Emily nearly rolled her eyes in mock amusement as he wrapped his arms around her waist, holding her close against his chest as they talked. The way he toyed with her was enough of a reminder that they'd spent more nights together than she would admit out loud. She could already imagine what Coulson would say… his mother had been surprisingly encouraging towards their relationship, if not cautious over what could happen if she ended up getting pregnant.

"Well, I do have a gorgeous girlfriend," he reminded her. By now, Emily was struggling not to laugh as he continued feathering kisses along her neck, going further and further until reaching her chest. "I really am lucky to have ya by my side."

Her heart nearly skipped a beat when he added that last part. She knew that wasn't entirely true. There was still a chance that her job could easily put his life at risk. But McCoy had already reassured her that he didn't care. He was more than happy knowing that she would be there for him whenever he needed someone, and he'd happily returned the gesture.

She realized with a start that that attitude was what made McCoy so unique. He was willing to go out of his way just to make her happy or do things that most people wouldn't put up with. And she always went out of her way to return the favor. That was one of the reasons their relationship had lasted for as long as it did. Though Emily suspected it ran deeper than that. She didn't want to admit out loud that maybe her powers also had something to do with the bond they'd formed.

"And I'm lucky you've put up with me for all this time," she whispered back.

It wasn't until saying that when she caught the gleam across his face. She couldn't hide the grin that followed when he captured her lips with his, this time with a deeper passion. The feeling of his hands roaming her body sent shivers of anticipation through her. He'd already memorized her favorite spots, mapping her flesh with ease. This moment was no different as he reached for her breasts. She stifled a moan of anticipation, at least until his tongue sought entrance. She happily obliged, willing to fight for dominance within the next few minutes. She wasn't going to lie when she admitted to loving these moments.

The feeling of his hands roaming her body left sensations she'd never felt before. McCoy had become so much more confident over the years they'd been together, and she was only just beginning to realize how much she enjoyed seeing this change. Though that didn't stop her from fighting for dominance, determined to prove herself regardless of what was said or done.

"God I want you," he groaned when they reluctantly pulled apart for air.

Emily tugged at the hem of his shirt, ignoring the scowl that followed when she began toying with him. She knew she was pushing him beyond what they were used to. That night at Stark's mansion was just another reminder of how close they were. Sex was something she had finally gotten used to. She realized with a start that McCoy went out of his way to make sure she was always comfortable before taking things too far. It was an aspect of him that she found herself appreciating now more than ever.

"Then why not take me?" she quipped in a voice full of amusement. Her eyes danced with their usual mischief, and McCoy struggled not to roll his eyes at her remark. "We're alone, after all."

He seemed to take that into consideration. Her smirk never faded as she suddenly got up and led the way. McCoy wasted no time in trailing after her, movie and popcorn forgotten. As they made their way up the stairs, McCoy continued attacking her with further kisses. She couldn't hide the sheepish grin that followed as she led the way into the bedroom, never dropping her smirk when McCoy's hand slipped past her shirt once more.

She hadn't bothered changing into a bra that evening after deciding take charge. She was tired of people treating her as if she wasn't a full-grown adult. Though they technically weren't adults by normal standards, they'd practically been raised around adults. She especially knew how to act in the real world, having grown up on a Starship for the first four years of her life. That was why she wanted to let loose these next few days.

"You haven't been wearing a bra, have you?" he suddenly asked in a tone filled with lust. Her grin widened into a look of pure mischief as she caught the way his eyes seemed to glow. "How did I not notice earlier?"

"Because you were too busy teasing me down further," she replied without missing a beat.

Her amusement never faded when McCoy rolled his eyes in exasperation. Though that didn't stop him from prying her shirt off and tossing it to the floor. Once her breasts were in full few, McCoy hungrily drank in the sight. Emily wasn't going to lie when she admitted to loving the attention he provided. He was her first and as far as she was concerned, her only partner.

"Well, I'm certainly not above teasing you," he remarked after dragging her into the bedroom. Once inside, he quickly pulled down her pants along with her undergarment, making quick work of what little protection she had. "God, you're beautiful."

"I never get tired of hearing you say that," she murmured when he reached her.

Once she was in his arms, she relaxed almost immediately. It was almost as if a spell was cast over her the moment they were together. And she relished every minute of it. She suspected McCoy enjoyed the moment as well, because she didn't react that way around other men. He merely grinned in response, knowing full-well what she was implying. She could already see the tent formed in his pants, and she suddenly found herself wondering how he could stand the restraint they formed. She knew how sensitive it was, especially after experiencing sex for the first time.

Yet, that didn't stop him pushing her onto the bed and explore her body. This had become part of their routine. Even when sex wasn't involved, he would trace her body as if to memorize it. Not that she didn't mind the added attention. The sensation of his fingers trailing her bare skin was enough to send shivers of pleasure through her, along with other unexplained feelings.

"It isn't quite fair that I'm already naked and you're still fully clothed," she suddenly reminded him.

"Well, I was enjoying the view," he quipped with a smirk of amusement. Emily just rolled her eyes and instinctively wrapped her legs around his waist. Her own grin widened when he let out a sharp intake of air as her legs hit one spot in particular. She knew his most sensitive areas, and he hated it when she used that against him. Though McCoy wasn't much better when it came to attacking her in the most intrusive ways. "Alright, fine! You win."

She couldn't hide the cheeky grin that followed when he kissed her once more. His lips brushed her breasts with ease, ignoring the fact that she was scowling at him. Then he leaned back and pried off his shirt and pants, soon followed by his boxers. Clothing fell into piles on the floor nearby, neither bothering to pick it up until morning. She wasn't surprised to see how hard his erection was the moment it was exposed to the air. Once it was freed from its restraints, she smirked in amusement as he leaned forward to capture her lips once more.

The moment he thrust into her entrance was when she let out a groan of anticipation. Though the first time had hurt like hell, he'd been patient enough to give her time to adjust. Now, lust drove her on to a whole new level. Still, he was careful not to push her too far as he thrust into her at a pace they were both comfortable with. Emily buried her face into the crook of his neck as he slid into her with ease.

"God, you're tight," McCoy groaned as he continued pounding into her.

She simply moaned in response, unable to comprehend words at that point. Her walls were already clenching around him as she reached her first climax. The fire from earlier suddenly came rushing back as a familiar pressure began to build. As if he sensed it, McCoy slowed down his pace.

"Leonard!" she hissed through clenched teeth.

"I know, darlin'," he cooed in response.

Emily squeezed her eyes shut when he pushed into her without hesitation. She finally reached her climax, letting out an embarrassingly loud groan in the process. It didn't take McCoy long to reach his own climax. Both were gasping for air as they recovered from their initial pleasure. By the time Emily finally recovered, McCoy carefully pulled out and stripped the condom off, tossing it into a nearby trash bin.

"Next time I want to try it without the condom," she suddenly admitted when they shifted into a cuddle. McCoy threw her an incredulous look when he realized what she was implying. "Come on, Leonard. What fun is it trying to be cautious?"

"For one thing, I don't wanna get you pregnant," he pointed out. A shiver of unease swept through her at the thought of going through something like that. At her age, she knew it was possible. But she also knew that she wasn't the most normal human being in the universe… if she was human at all. The tests hadn't exactly proven whether she was human or not. "At least not until after I'm done with med school." It was her turn to glance at him in surprise. "Never said I didn't want to start a family, did I?"

"No," she replied, chewing the bottom of her lip as doubt suddenly swept through her. "But you might be right… between med school and my job at the agency, I don't know if raising a baby would be possible."

McCoy gave a nod of understanding, but not before kissing her firmly on the lips. She let out a sigh at the feeling of his lips pressed against hers. She had a feeling that even if she was pregnant, Coulson would likely kill McCoy. The last thing she wanted was to give him another reason to go after McCoy when all was said and done.

"What about contraceptives?" he suddenly suggested. Emily rose an eyebrow in surprise when his eyes met hers. "Might be a good alternative for now… at least until we're ready to take that step."

It was in that moment when her heart nearly swelled with joy. Without warning, she suddenly kissed him back with deeper passion.

The fact that he was willing to take those risks was what she admired the most. There weren't many outside the agency who were willing to do so. McCoy had always put up with her since they moved to Georgia, and she wouldn't want things any different.

.

.

"Your Pa is gonna kill me if he finds out what we did," McCoy grumbled as they got up the following morning.

An alarm clock had sounded shortly after Emily woke up that morning. She'd been snuggled into his bare chest, relishing the way his warm breath tickled her back as he spoon fed her. She didn't want to get up early that morning, especially when she noticed that he had morning wood. Still, she'd been careful not to cause him to stir as she got up to use the bathroom. It would take some getting used to feeling the pain between her legs the morning after. She knew that was just part of the package, and she hadn't had the heart to tell McCoy about said pain.

Once she returned to the bed, she enjoyed the next few minutes she had to herself. Unfortunately, time was against them at the moment. They'd already planned to see his family before she went off to the academy once more. Not to mention McCoy had promised that he would stop by for a visit as well. Ever since her own training had begun, he'd been curious as to what sort of trouble she got herself into. Not to mention she'd promised he and Clint would finally meet again, under less strenuous circumstances.

"The good news is, Papa will never know what we're up to when we're alone," she reassured him with a knowing smirk. "He's got cameras installed in all of the homes the agency owns, but I've already knocked these cameras out."

McCoy rose an eyebrow in amusement when he realized what she was implying. He of all people knew just how strict the agency was when it came to security. Luckily he'd already gone through all the paperwork and everything else to avoid getting arrested. She had no doubt that Coulson would have jumped at the opportunity had he known what they were up to.

A shiver of unease swept through her at the thought of how pissed off he would be had he found out the truth. Though, Emily had a feeling that Coulson was already aware of what they did behind closed doors. It wasn't as if he hadn't been warned by any other parents. She knew in the back of her mind that it was only natural for teenagers to get curious and explore that world.

"Sometimes I think you enjoy pissing people off," he remarked dryly.

Her smirk only confirmed his accusation, "It is fun watching Papa squirm. I think he was particularly uncomfortable when we kissed during your graduation ceremony."

As if he wasn't blushing now, his cheeks turned an even darker shade of red at that moment. She couldn't hide the bubble of laughter that followed when she changed into fresh clothing. After showering and making sure that she was suitable enough to be seen out in public, she gathered her old clothing and threw it into the duffel bag she'd brought with her.

Once that was settled, they headed downstairs to meet with his mother in the kitchen. The one good thing about being within walking distance was that it didn't take long to get from one place to the other. McCoy's house was about a block from their place. That made visiting him much easier whenever she was in the area.

"Do the two of you have plans for this summer?" Hannah asked when they reached the kitchen.

She didn't seem all that surprised to see them arrive together. Emily rose an eyebrow in amusement when she caught McCoy nearly rolling his eyes. He tried not to let it show though as they set the table for breakfast. She did her best to help around, though she wasn't all that good around the stove. The last time she tried cooking had ended in miserable failure.

"I have to go back to work once this week is over," she admitted guiltily. "But I'll stop by again when I have time off."

"You better stop by," Hannah warned her with a look of amusement, "I think the horses have gotten used to seein' you visit."

Emily couldn't hide the sheepish smirk that followed when McCoy rolled his eyes. Ever since she started training under Maria's supervision, she'd gotten stronger as a result. She and Hannah had reached an agreement to muck out the stables every evening after running laps around the farm. That agreement had earned more than a few questions from McCoy a couple of years ago.

"I'll be visiting you before classes start," McCoy said after they took their seats.

It was at that point when heat rose to her cheeks, especially when Hannah threw them a sly look. His mother must have guessed what they were really up to when they were alone. Though in her defense, they'd only had sex twice since they started dating. And the more she experienced her time with McCoy, the more she wanted to be with him.

He's certainly proven himself a valuable partner, she reminded herself silently.

"I'm surprised Phil allowed it," she mused thoughtfully, taking a seat across from them.

She shared a knowing look with McCoy, not missing the worry clouding his eyes.

"Papa only knows that we're visiting each other as friends," she informed the older woman.

Hannah merely hummed in response, "I'll believe that load of hogwash when I see it." By now, Emily was struggling not to laugh as she realized what the older woman was implying. McCoy just looked downright uncomfortable at the thought of being put on the spotlight. "I hope you're at least using protection. While I'm more than happy finding out I'm a grandmother, I want you to go through med school first."

If he wasn't blushing furiously before, McCoy certainly was now. Emily gave him a sympathetic look when she realized this was a conversation he'd been hoping to avoid. Then her own cheeks flushed at the implication in Hannah's voice. She seemed so sure that they would be together well after he was finished with med school. And all at once, she suddenly found herself wishing she had her confidence.

"I'm pretty sure your Pa would sooner kill me than allow that to happen," McCoy snorted as if he'd read her mind.

"Which is why I'm going on birth control," she countered. "Believe me, I wouldn't let Papa anywhere near you even if it came to that."

It was then that Hannah let out a burst of laughter. By now, McCoy's cheeks looked as if they'd burned in the sun. Emily was struggling not to laugh at his expense. She knew how difficult it was for anyone to have this conversation, let alone in front of his mother of all people. But at least Hannah was willing to accept that they were only human. She had a feeling that Coulson wouldn't be so forgiving, especially once he found out what they had been up to while they were alone. The only thing she could do for now was hope and pray her overprotective father didn't find out the truth. Otherwise, there would be hell to pay.