VIII

"We should send a pic of the trophy to Sue" Mercedes suggested with a laugh as Will nodded in agreement and Emma giggled.

"True, true…" Kurt said smiling, "But we`re risking to be thrown in to a cliff full of cheerleaders… I don`t know, Mercedes, I`d rather expose the trophy in own choir room…"

"Chicken" Artie teased him.

It wasn`t a conventional celebration. They were standing near the table where the food was as Santana, Quinn and Sam were choosing the music.

"Thanks for the Frappuccinos, Mrs. P" Finn told her walking towards her, "it was really nice and you definitively proclaimed yourself as our official lucky charm with that". Emma smiled at him as Will muttered at her with a grin

"Told you, Em", she looked at him with wide eyes, and sentenced with a huge smile

"You all have to stop that!"

The evening was all laughter and teasing. The kids were having a fantastic time and suddenly Emma notice all the empty bottles on the table and shelfs. She only had a glass of wine and so did Will, which meant the kids were taking "the toast" more serious than they. In a moment, Quinn asked Emma if she could bring something from the kitchen, as she was busy carrying a pile of plates. And didn`t realized Will was a step back, following her.

"Having a nice time?" He asked her from behind, his breath near her ear made her jump.

"Oh, Will you scare me… " He smiled at her as she turned around, "I think I'm gonna be leaving now… not that I`m not enjoying myself! But this is on its way to become a major party… I mean, when I had the first toast with them they were on their 10th…"

Will laughed as he nodded, "Yeah I was gonna ask you if you wanted to share a cab… my car is in the school parking lot, and so it`s yours… Besides, I don`t think we should be here if they start to drink… Really drink…" Emma looked at him a little horrified, "let`s pretend they`re having a healthy party….they deserve to misbehave a little".

"Uhm, ok… after all, they were good kids back in NY…" So they called their cab and said good night to the kids.

When they got the parking lot, Will payed the cab ("Will, let me pay!", "C´mon, Em, stop that") and they both walked to the cars, which were one next to the other one.

"I had a nice time, thanks for inviting me, Will", she told him joyfully.

"That sounds like something you´d tell on a first date, Em", He teased her not knowing the effect those words could have. She froze when she heard him, "Just kidding…" he told her, as he realize she didn`t take that as good as he thought she would. She just stood there, looking at her shoes, because deep inside her she wish she could say those words to Will sometime. But she was also scared, very scared of being hurt again. "Em…?" Will called her as he saw she wasn`t moving. He went gave some steps to her, looking for her eyes, "I was kidding…" when he was close enough from her he took her chin and lifted it so her eyes meet his. "I was kidding" he repeated. Emma locked her eyes on his, trying to control herself; to control the voice that was telling her to continue, to go for him. And then he saw something in her eyes, she was looking him that way. The way she used to look at him before everything was complicated. Without even thinking it, he cup her cheeks and brought her face closer to his and he softly brushed his lips on her mouth. The kiss was tender and sweet and as he wanted to take her in his arms and kiss her desperately, he didn't. When he pulled away, he met Emma´s big eyes, looking at him with surprise, as she was catch unaware.

She breathed deeply, trying not to rememorize the first time he kissed her, how good she felt how much she wanted it… She licked her lips, looking at him with all those mixed feelings in her eyes.

"Em, I…"

"I…" she cut him before he could continue, "I don`t know if I this is ok, Will…" He stared at her, sadly, as he pulled himself back, "uhm, after all what happened… Maybe, uhm, maybe the best for us is to be friends".

She said it. She said the most painful word she could say; and both of them knew that. Emma knew how he took it the last time she asked him that, but he went for it, he`d rather have her a friend that not having her at all. But his time, Will reacted very different as she expected him

"I`m sorry, Emma" He just called her, Emma? "I couldn`t do that. History has taught me I can´t just be your friend. Because there`s no one single moment I'm not thinking about you; and when I see you I'm looking for a reason to touch you, to speak to you" He seemed to be embarrassed, but he wanted to say those things to her for so long, "And I thought you wanted this to happen too… the way you look at me sometimes made me believe that.."

"Will… I`m, i`m sorry" She lied to him, as her heart broke into a million pieces

"But you had feelings for me!" he exclaimed looking at her for some signal, "that`s why your marriage ended… that`s… " he didn`t say anything more. He just looked at her, he was about to burst into tears, "maybe I just read the whole thing completely wrong…" her voice sounded defeated, unwilling, "You… have a good night" and he walked away from her.

She couldn`t do that to him, she didn`t want to see him like that and she wanted him to kiss her again.

"You didn`t" Emma told him as he walked away causing him to stop. "You didn`t"

"I didn`t what…?" Will asked him, with no emotion; he was containing himself not to cry himself out

"You didn`t read anything wrong. You… you were right when you thought I was looking you in certain way… ", he turned around to face Emma. Her eyes were shinny and she was about to break and he started to walk towards her. "I´m… I'm just scared… I don`t want to be hur…". She couldn´t finish as Will´s lips crushed on hers with passion as he embraced her body tightly with his arms. She immediately kissed him back as he lips danced along his and her hands rested on his chest.

"I´d never hurt you again, Em" he whispered between kisses as her fingers mixed with her hair. She let out a small whimper and Will broke the kiss. "Em, please, don`t cry" he begged her, resting his forehead against hers. "I know I`ve made mistakes, we both did, but I'm willing to make that up to you. Let me show you you`re not making a mistake for taking me back"

"How..?"

"Go out with me; let me show you I'm the same as before… the same man you felt in love with". She looked at him deeply, feeling his breath on her mouth, his hands on her skin; and yet, the fear… "Please…" he begged her and Emma knew she had the chance of making him happy, and she trusted him, because she could only see truth and love on his eyes. So, she kissed him again, and this time she showed him this was all she got left, she was giving him everything and more; and when they pull back, Will muttered against her lips, "I promise, Em… I won`t do it again…".

-xx-

"I feel relief now… It was like I was holding something back inside me…."

"But….?" Dr. Begler asked her as she sensed Emma wasn`t saying averything

"But I`m scared… i`m tired of being scared, Dr… I really am. I wish I could be braver"

"Don`t you think you were? By kissing him back, by telling him the truth?"

"I guess so…" Emma replied thoughtfully, "I have to take this slow… the last time we.. we took everything too fast and we ended up ruining it"

-xx-

"Em…." Will called her name from the distance. She was having her usual lunch outside and he was coming to her, "Hi…" He leaned down and placed a soft kiss on her cheek.

"Hi, Will" she replied shyly. The truth she felt a huge relief now and she loved when he was loving and tender to her. "Join me, right?"

"Of course, now you´ll have me here every day…" she chuckled as she grabbed one sandwich and gave it to him.

"I knew you`d come, here"

"Oh, PB&J…!" he exclaimed with desire as Emma laughed, "thank you" he added looking at her tenderly as he placed another kiss on her cheek. After some minutes of eating in silence, will purposed, "would you go out with me?"

"Yes" Emma replied smiling shyly

"I promised I`ll show you this is right, Em… ", he took her hand and caressed her fingers and her palm softly. She nodded as she let him touch her hand and travelled to her wrist. "Can I pick you up at 6.45?"

"I´ll be waiting" she grinned at him.

-xx-

6.50 the bell rang and Emma opened the door to find Will looking very handsome, smiling to her.

"Hi, Will.. do you wanna come in?"

"Hey, Em… As much I`d love to, we better be going… I don`t want to delay as tomorrow we have classes…"

"Oh, ok! Let me grab my purse", she did and then she when she closes the door behind her as he whispered on ear,

"You look beautiful" she blushed profoundly and he took her hand and guided her to the car. "We`re going to some pretty place uptown" he told her once he got inside, "I hope you like it"

They got to the restaurant 10 minutes before. The place was discreet and silence, and it wasn`t too crowded.

"Hi, we have reservations for two for Mr. Schuester"

"Sure, Mr. Schuester, please follow me" the waiter asked them politely. He guided them to a table in the corner of the room. It was a private area with candles and background music. They sat next to another contemplating the place.

"This is very nice, Will… I never came here before"

"Neither did I… Shannon recommended it"

"I like it…" she smiled at him, as the waitress said goodnight and gave them the menus. "Thanks" She said as she read the menu and furrowed her brows, in thinking gesture. Will chuckled while she was trying to decide what to order but then he took away her menu, "Will… what?" she asked him in shock

"Do you mind?" Emma shook her head as he called the waitress back, "so, we´d like two orders of Ravioles with the creamy sauce and a bottle of Sauvignon Blanc…"

When the waitress left, Emma told him a little surprised, "I didn`t know you knew about wines!"

"My mum… she kinda enjoys drinking so I´ve learned from her".

"and what`s that you ordered? Raveolinis…?" she tried to pronounce it but she didn`t even remember the name

"It`s Ravioles" he laughed, "It`s an Italian meal. Pasta stuffed with vegetables"

"That sounds delicious... but there`s no need of mocking me, Will!" she teased him, "you know i`m terrible with Spanish"

"You didn`t do it so bad with "Looking for Paradise", you know?"

"Oh stop it" she pushed him softly while the waitress came with the bottle of wine and filled the glasses.

"Cheers!" said Will raising his glass. Emma smiled at him and raised her glass too.

Minutes later the meal arrived and they enjoyed it together. They had a wonderful talk; Will told her all the details about Nationals and NY and she was enchanted to listen. "I told you before I`d have liked if you came, but i`m glad to see how much progress you´ve made, Em… you look so relaxed"

"Therapy has been great, Will… really great. I wasn`t very comfortable at first. But then I started talking a lot, and she has said all the right words in the right time… I just had to make the decisions…"

"Like wearing pants…?" he teased her with a grin

"Like wearing pants… and going out with you tonight" she declared shyly, looking at her glass.

"Can I ask you…" he said hesitantly, "what made you said yes?"

"Remember when I told you I was focusing on myself?" he nodded, "Well, I never knew that was going to lead me to you eventually. I was feeling more confidence and as time passed I felt closer to you. But still I was afraid of exposing myself again to be hurt… I know you didn´t mean it…" she added quickly, "but I felt broken as I risked myself for something that then left me with nothing."

"Em, I'm so sorry about that, about everything…"

"But then," she continued, "I saw something in your eyes that night, I saw your heart breaking the minute I said we should be friends. And I realized I didn´t wanted you to go through that and I didn´t want to be just your friend. As much as it scared me, scares me… "

"It scares me too… because I have in my hands the power of making you happy, and I'm afraid I'm not be able to do that…" she locked her eyes on his and she saw genuine regret for the past and hopes and expectations for the future, "Emma, I will try. I´ll do whatever I have to do to make you trust me again." Will took his and kissed it tenderly. And Emma sighed when she felt Will`s lips on her skin.

"it`s a deal then... you´ll have the chance" she smiled at him and kissed his cheek with sweetness.

"You think we should be going? It`s almost eleven…"

"So late already?" Emma couldn`t believe it, "Yes, we should get going, Will"

On their way home, they laughed about the drunken couple trying to pay with one dollar bills. "And then they when the waiter got frustrated and leave them, they started making out madly"

"What?" Emma laughed uncontrollably.

When Will pulled the car in front of Emma`s apartment, the tension could be cut with a knife.

"Did you…" he asked him trying to break that tension, "Did you have a nice time?"

"Oh, yes, Will… I did. It was very nice. And I'm glad we could talk too."

"Me too" he reassured her, smiling. "Let me, let me get your door", he went off the car and opened Emma´s door as he offered his hand so she could get out. When she did, her dress went up, revealing the skin of her white leg causing Will to gulp.

"Thanks, Will, for a lovely evening" she said looking at him. They stood there, for a while. He didn't know if he should kiss her goodnight, even when every fiber of his body was screaming for a kiss. Emma looked down embarrassed as the guessed what was going on through Will´s mind. He caught that as a good signal and when she raised her head again he met her beautiful brown eyes and couldn`t contain himself of leading his mouth against hers. Will cup her cheeks in his hands and kissed her smoothly, trying to memorize the taste of her lips. Emma broke the kiss after some seconds as she placed her hands on his wrists, smiling. "Good night, Will"