A/N : Enjoy!
Disclaimer - I don't own Skins...
Naomi and Cook walk through an entrance area and into a large banquet room at the Chatham Beach Club, where the reception is being held. Naomi's holding a gift. Off to the side is a bar area and to the other side is a deck with an ocean view. Everything is decorated beautifully. There are opulent platters of food. A Swing Band is playing. It's like something from Gatsby. A waiter comes by with a tray of lobster canapes. They each take one. Then Cook takes another. The waiter walks off. Cook looks around. He's in heaven. Women and food.
" Sweet, huh? What did I tell you?" Cook says, looking around.
" You said it would be sweet." Naomi smiles, placating Cook.
Naomi sees Emily has arrived and she can't help but smile. She turns to Cook.
" Get us seats near-but not too near- the bridal party. I'll drop the fake present." She says, beginning to walk off.
" Excellent. And if you see any crab cakes, grab me some. Got to have some crab cakes." He shouts, just before she's out of earshot.
Naomi walks off to find the gift table. Cook surveys the room. He looks at the name cards on the plates and pulls out several names cards from his suit pocket. He shuffles through the cards and finds a style match. He takes two other cards from the table.
" Sorry Mr. and Mrs. Burgess. I'm sure we'll find you another lovely table." Cook mutters to himself, putting the name cards that read ' Naomi Ryan' And ' James Ryan' on the table.
Naomi approaches the wedding present table and places the fake gift down. Emily walks up and starts checking out the gifts. She pick up a medium sized box and gives it a little shake. Naomi smiles at the sight.
" Fondue set." She says, confidently to Emily.
Emily looks up at the voice and locks eyes with the most beautiful set she has ever seen, she begins to get nervous as her heart rate picks up and her palms begin to get sweaty. She never felt this way just by looking at someone before, especially a complete stranger. She composes herself a moment later, telling herself to get it together.
" Excuse me?" Emily says, as she's not sure what the blonde was talking about.
" The present you're holding. It's a sterling silver fondue set." Naomi say again, holding out her hand. " Naomi Ryan " She introduces herself.
" Emily Fitch." Emily shakes her hand, trying to ignore the jolt of electricity that travels down her arm at the simple gesture, hopes Naomi doesn't notice how sweaty her hands are. She internally shakes her head. " How do you know?" She asks, referring to the present.
" Sort of a psychic." Naomi says, shrugging.
" Really? " Emily smiles, doesn't want to stop talking to the girl, so she picks up another box. " What's this one, then? " She asked, waiting for the blondes answer.
" Knife set. Very nice. Germen." Naomi nods, feigning being impressed.
Emily picks up another one.
" Cotton linens, Egyptian." She says, then quickly picks up a series of presents naming them all. " Place setting. Candlesticks, Crystal Stemware... Which they'll never use by the way and I have to say, is bad karma." she finishes, smiling.
Emily holds up a small box.
" Massage oils and a book on Tantra. Probably from the wacky Aunt." She says, giggling.
" Oils, huh." Emily said, smiling, looking at the card attached to the small box. " Aunt Millie. Wow. You definitely have a gift." She says, smiling fondly at Naomi.
" Yes. Unfortunately, my powers only apply to useless consumer products." The blonde says, which a lopsided grin. Emily laughs.
"Well, look, if one day the police need someone to find a missing Belgian waffle maker, you're there." She says, jokingly.
Naomi laughs, Emily thinks it her new favorite sound.
" Emily, we need you for pictures." Jenna appears out of nowhere, requesting Emily. " Who's your friend? " She asks, looking Naomi up and down.
" This is Naomi Ryan." She smiles, as she says the name.
" You remember my name. Very good." The blonde jokes.
" I have a gift. " Emily winks, walking away with her mother, Jenna gives Naomi one last look of distaste.
A little while later Naomi enters to the bar area, Cook walks up to her, eating.
" You must try the bacon wrapped scallops. " He moans, chewing happily.
" Will do." Naomi smiles, then notices a woman approaching. She turns to Cook. " Oh shite! Isn't that the chick you picked up at the Byrne Wedding?" She whispers. Cook looks up, sees the women.
"Quick, hide me." He panics, grabbing Naomi.
" Too late. We'll do number ten from the playbook." She states, calmly.
The women reaches them.
" Shlomo?! I thought you were renouncing your possessions and moving to Nepal." She asks, surprised and confused to see him.
Cook looks at her, feigning confusion.
" Shlomo? Don't you remember me?" She asks. Naomi cuts in.
" Oh, God, I'm sorry. You didn't hear, I guess. Shlomo had a bad accident. In the Himalayas. He doesn't remember anyone. Even me, his own sister..." She looks down, seemingly upset." ... I'm just some nice women who helps him out." She smiles, sadly.
" Oh you poor dear. " She says, buying it.
Cook looks at her and then does a fake sign language to Naomi. Naomi looks to the women.
" I'm afraid he can't hear you. Part of the accident. You here for the Fitches Wedding?" She tries to change the subject.
" Yea, but I have to leave. I've got a flight to Madrid." She says, disappointed.
Out of her sight, Cook mouths " Thank god " to Naomi.
" But I could hang out for a few minutes." She say, stroking Cooks arm." Oh, poor Shlomo."
Cook does more fake sign language.
" He wants me to take him to the bathroom. " She fake translate, watching as Cook continues." And he wants some crab cakes." Naomi starts sighing back. " Okay, we'll go to the bathroom first then we'll get the crab cake."
Cook signs angrily. Naomi sighs.
" Fine. We'll get you the crab cakes first." She says to Cook, then turns to the women." Please excuse us."
The women hand Naomi a card.
" Here's my number if there's anything I can do to help." She says, walking away. Cook grabs the card.
" Cool. In a couple of weeks I'll have you call her for me. Guaranteed shag." He nods, putting the card in his pocket." Deaf- mute amnesiac, they love that. I won't even have to buy her dinner." He smiles.
" Charming." Naomi snorts." So what angle are you going to work here? " she asks Cook, who's looking around.
" Uh... I think I will start with a public balloon animal display for the kids and then, when that bird draws near, do the man-haunted-by-noble-past." He smirks.
" Excellent." Naomi says.
" You? " Cook asks.
" No brainer. I'm gonna work the Dad and then dance with the little flower girl. Public policy minded and good with kids." Naomi winks.
" Beautiful." Cook says.
" Let's do it." Naomi says, as they go their separate way.
Cook is making balloon animals for the kids. Presently he's making an elephant. He hands the finished elephant to the kid while all the other kids are impressed. Cook looks around for Katie, the bridesmaid he had " Dibs " on at the ceremony. He find her looking at him from the corner of the room.
" Okay, who's next?" He asks, looking around at the group of excited kids. A bratty kid step in front of the crowd.
" Make me a Bicycle. " He demands, annoyingly. Cook signs.
A little later Naomi is dancing with the Flower girl, who's counting her steps cutely, making the blonde smile sincerely.
" One, two, three, step..One, two, three, step.." The flower repeats, looking down at her feet. Naomi has an idea.
" Tell you what. Why don't you just step on my shoes, and I'll show you a few moves you can bust out on your classmates." She suggests, thanking her lucky stars she wore flats." Would you like that?" She ask, smiling at the sweet little girl.
" Yes, please." The little girl smiles, shyly.
She steps on Naomi's shoes and she moves the Flower Girl around the floor like Gene Kelly. She laughing with Naomi, having the time of her life. Emily notices Naomi and smiles at her. Naomi smiles back and dips the flower girl, who's eating this up. Emily watches them biting her lip.
Cook hands an incredibly elaborate balloon bicycle to the bratty kid, who doesn't even look impressed. Katie walks up and notices the balloon.
" You're good." She say, flirtastily.
" This is nothing. Yesterday I made my gran a new house. Real nice one, too, with a pool." He jokes, Katie giggles.
" Alright than, I'll take a sports car." She plays, along, thinking he's fit as fuck.
" Or how about a dance instead?" he suggested, and she thinks he smooth as well.
" That's what I really wanted." She winks, Cook pulls her out to the dance floor.
Naomi somehow ends up with Secretary Fitch.
" You read my position paper on market expansion in Micronesia? The Secretary asked, impressed. Naomi nods.
" Of course, read it while I was sailing my boat to Bermuda." She lies, about the sailing, not the book. Rob smiles.
" Ah, a sailor. Good lass. Hey, you didn't happen to catch my speech on the Paraguayan Debt and money Supply issue, did you?" He ask, curiously.
" Are you kidding me? It was brilliant. Now if only Congress weren't so short-sighted." She shakes her head.
Secretary Fitch is thrilled by Naomi's praise.
" Yes, yes! So short sighted." He puts his arm around the blonde." Naomi, what do you say you and I head out to the deck and light up a couple of cigars?" he smiles, toothily, enjoying his new friend.
" Nothing would make me happier, Sir." Naomi says, happy that she'd impressed her idol.
Back on the dance floor, Cook and Katie are slow dancing.
" And you saved his life? " Katie asks, knowing damn well this bloke was full of shit, but he was well fit and she wanted a new boyfriend, so she went along.
" Yeah, some others weren't so lucky. It still shakes me up to talk about it." He says, looking away.
" I'm sorry." Katie feigned feeling bad.
" It's okay, it's just... we lost some really good man." He says, sadly.
Cook stopped dancing and look down, deep in thought.
"If you'll excuse me. I think I need to get some fresh air." He shakes her hand. " It was nice meeting you." He walks off, leaving Katie confused, maybe he wasn't as full of shit as she thought, she thinks going after him.
Cook is walking off towards the ocean, when Katie calls.
" James! wait up."
Over Cook's shoulder, Katie is running to catch up to him. Cook smile to himself. He's got her.
Naomi and Rob are out on the deck, smoking cigars, and looking out into the ocean.
" Naomi, you seem like an astute women." Sec. Fitch said, honestly.
" Thank you, sir." Naomi smiled.
" Maybe you can help explain something to me." he nods toward the corner of the deck." See that young man over there.
Naomi looks to see a young man, about 22, she knows it to be Robs son, James Fitch. He changed since the wedding, now wearing a flowery dress, looking with binoculars over at the party guest.
" That's my son, James. Twenty-two years old. The whole world in front of him. Every advantage in life. Advantages I never had. So here's my question : why does he have to be so odd for?
" I don't know sir. Maybe he hasn't found anything to believe in yet." Naomi states, unsure of what to say.
" Maybe." He shrugs, he turns his attention to the waiter as he walks pass holding up his drink. " Um, Franklin, my daiquiri's at half mast." the waiter grabs the glass.
" Right away, sir." he nods.
" I'm sure he's, you know, just trying finding his way, I mean you cast a big shadow" she adds.
" Perhaps I should take it easier on him?" He asks.
" Perhaps." Naomi shrugs.
Sometime later Naomi and Rob are laughing happily, still chatting easily when Emily sees them together, she walks up to them.
" Oh so you're hiding, I see." She says to her father, smiling. But the two are too busy laughing to hear her at first. Rob looks to his right and sees her, still laughing a bit. He puts his arm around her shoulder.
" Emily." Rob says, kindly. Happy to see his daughter.
" Sorry to interrupt." Emily apologizes, smiling sweetly at Naomi, surprised to see she's talking with her father. She tears her eyes away from Naomi's - which is a bit harder than she thought it should be - and turns to her dad. " Panda wants to talk to you." She says.
" Funs over, I guess." Naomi says, causing Rob to point at Naomi and laugh as if she the most amusing person he's ever met. Emily shake her head and smiles at Naomi.
" Funny." He mumbles, still giggle to himself. Emily smiles nodding as he walks off.
" What a great guy." Naomi says, watching him walk away. Emily smiles, squinting her eyes Naomi.
" You are a big hit at this Wedding." She points out, still smiling.
" Well, everyone's so nice, it easy." The blonde responds, with causes the redhead to look down, shaking her head and laugh slightly. She walks a little closer to Naomi and leans in.
" They're all full of shit." She whisper, smirking slightly.
" What?" Naomi asks, not sure she's heard her correctly.
" Half these people are here because of my dad." She states, looking out at the mass of people." They're all suckling at the power-teat." She finishes.
"Yeah. Well, I'm here for the crab cakes and power-teat. When is the suckling, by the way? After the first dance." Naomi asks, jokingly.
The redhead let's out a beautiful laugh, Naomi smiles at the sound.
" I don't know. Everyone's walking around trying to act like they care. It's awful." She says, shaking her head." Plus the place is rife with lawyer's. A gazillion lawyers." She finishes.
" Not big on lawyers?" The blonde asks.
" Hate 'em." Looks up a Naomi in a panic." I mean..You're not one are you? " She asks, nervously. Figures if she is, than that means Emily likes at least one lawyer in this world.
" Oh God, no. But just out of curiosity, what have you got against them." The blonde asks.
" Lawyers are by nature liars." She looks Naomi right in the eyes. " And I hate liars." she says, and Naomi gulps.
In the distance Emily and Naomi see a few people slap Sec. Fitch on the back and share a laugh with him. Emily turns back to Naomi.
" See? Suckling." She smiles at the blonde.
Naomi laughs, can't help but find her completely adorable.
" Maybe, but I think most people come to weddings, even this one, because they want to believe they're in the presence of true love, that true love is possible." She says, then adds," Even the lawyers, and the sucklers."
Emily just looks at her.
" True love, huh? And what is ' true love ', Naomi Ryan?" She stares intently at the blonde.
" Well... true love is your soul's recognition of its counterpoint in another." Naomi say, simply.
This obviously moves Emily deeply, but she tries to wave it off.
" Well, that's a little cheesy." she tries to compose herself. " But I like it." she says, softly.
" Well I saw it on a bumper sticker once." Naomi shrugs Emily looks down and laughs. " So are you giving a toast?" She asks Emily, changing the subject.
" Yes." Emily answers quickly.
" You nervous?" Naomi asks, it's clear she is.
" A little bit."
" What are you gonna say?"
"Would you.." Emily pulls a small folder paper out of her dress, handing it to Naomi.
" You keep it in your cleavage?" Naomi opens the paper.
" No where else to put it." Emily laughs, while Naomi scan over the speech. " Normally I'm terrible at these things, but I think this one's pretty good."
Naomi keeps reading shaking her head.
" I had to fight the urge to be completely honest. What do you think?" Emily asks.
" I think the urge won." Naomi eyes still on paper, not seeing Emily narrowing her eyebrows.
" What are you talking about?!" She asks, confused.
" You can't say this." Naomi laughs.
"Why not? " Emily raised her voice a little.
" "I never thought my best friend would find someone who cared about what people thought as much as she did, until I met Thomas." " Naomi quotes.
" What?! It's funny. Funny because it's true." Emily points at Naomi. "People like funny."
" No, see, the funny-because-it's-true bit only works if the truth is a small thing like "" Tim's a little frugal"" or "" We all know Jennifer likes to shop. ha ha."" Naomi informs." I mean, people are here for a wedding, not to see Don Rickles at the sand." Naomi jokes." I'd give it fifteen, maybe twenty percent chance of a laugh. Not worth it. See, people want something from the heart, honestly, that's you're best bet" Naomi finish.
" Well I think people are going to love it." Emily says, a little perturbed.
" Nope, you're gonna get dead silence. Crickets." She warns.
" You're wrong." Emily grabs the paper back. " I'm going to stick with it."
" Fine. I'll be in the back of the room waiting to tell you I told you so." Naomi says, playfully.
Emily tries to look mad, but can't help the smile on her face as she walks away.
The best man is finishing up his toast, back in the banquet room.
" But I think Bruce Springsteen said it best when he said , "" Someday baby, I don't know when we're gonna find that place where we walk in the sun."' And I just want to say how happy I am am that my best friend and the women he loves have found that place. It's truly inspiring to us all." He finishes, taking a sip of his wine.
An Audible "Aww" comes from the guests. They clink their glasses. Naomi's standing in the back of the room, she makes eye contact with Emily. Naomi makes a gag sign, Emily smiles, then stands up to make her speech.
" I never thought my best friend would find someone who cared about what people thought as much as she did. Until I met Thomas." She starts
Not a laugh in the place. In fact people are dismayed.
" As you all know both Panda and Thomas are lawyers at big firms in London. But that's not the only thing they have in common. You see, they both have the same favorite color. Green. " She pauses. " Uh...like...Money? You know?
Again, not a laugh. The guest are starting to shift in their seats, becoming uncomfortable.
" Look, I'm sorry. I'm not really good at this sort of thing." She says, nervously.
She looks to Naomi, who points to her heart.
" But I will tell you this. I've heard it said that true love is the soul's recognition of its counterpoint in another. " Emily starts, staring at the blonde as she speaks" That's a very rare thing in this world and it's something to be valued. And I'm just really happy that my best friend found it." She finished, looking at the newlyweds.
The guest all say " Aww." The bride starts to cry, rushing up and hugging Emily. The guest applaud. Emily looks over at Naomi who motions for her to meet her at the bar.
Back on the beach, Cook and Katie are under a blanket after just having sex.
" That was so amazing." Katie breathe out, he really knows what he's doing, Katie thinks.
" Yeah, great." Cook says, boredly. " What do you say we head back."
" I always know my first time would be on the beach. I'm just so happy it was you." Katie says, kissing him on the cheek.
Cook gulps in fear.
" Wait a minute." He pauses, looking at her panicked. " That was your first?" she nods.
" You were a virgin?" He asks, shaking his head.
" Mm-hmm. We're gonna be so good together, James. Two fit people like us, we're perfect for each other." She says, hugging him. Cooks face is one of total panic.
Naomi waited by the bar area for only a few moments before Emily was walking up to her.
" You totally saved me." she smiles, warmly at the blonde.
" Now you know never to doubt me." Naomi jokes.
" Thank you.." Emily smiles, shyly.
She then leans in to hug the blonde but before she can, a women, who's a quite pretty brunette, rushes up to her. Ivy League, rich, works for nobles causes type women. The kind of women Naomi hates.
" Emily, you were awesome! " she kisses Emily, leaving Naomi dumbstruck.
Emily pulls away from the kiss, looking at Naomi.
" Naomi, this is my girlfriend, Claire." Emily introduces, staring at the blonde intently.
Naomi shakes Claire's hands.
" Nice to meet you. " Naomi says, half heartedly.
"Nice to me you too." Claire says, looking back a Emily. " Listen we have to go meet the Reynolds?" She says, before Emily can even respond, Claire is dragging her away.
Emily turn to Naomi quickly.
" It was nice meeting you." She smiles, and then whispers. " Thank you. " She waves goodbye.
Naomi nods, waving back, defeated. She takes a big slug of her drink, Cook rushes up to her.
" Babes, we've got to get out of here. ASAP. I've got a stage five clinger." He states, panicky, looking around.
" I need more time." Naomi says, softly. Looking at Emily as she hugs a little girl sweetly as Claire talks to some people.
" You're not hearing me. She's a stage five! A virgin clinger! I'll start the car." He says, looking at Naomi.
Naomi is still looking at Emily and Claire. Cook notices.
" Give it up already. Her sister told me she has a girlfriend. Tough luck. We all have our bad days. I need us to leave right now!" He says, getting irritated by Naomi lack of movement.
Secretary Fitch approaches with Katie and his wife Jenna.
" There you two are." Rob says, looking between the two.
" Actually... we're about to leave, It's been a lovely wedding." He turns to Katie." I'll call you. It's a promise." He lies.
Rob ignores him all together.
" Well, look, we always hate to see the wedding end so we keep the party going back at our little place on the Vineyard. It's sort of a Fitch family tradition. And, well, since we've all taken a shine to you, we'd love you to be our guests for the weekend. What do you say?" He looks over at Naomi.
Katie smiles hopefully, Jenna seem disinterested. Emily and Claire approach the group. Naomi looks at Emily.
" We'd love to." She smiles.
" What?!" Cook panics. " We don't have any other clothes!" He tries.
" Oh, we have everything you need out on the island." Rob cuts in, helpfully.
" But I promised our gran I'd take her to the park." Cook said, grasping at straws.
" And I'm sure daddy can hire somebody to take your granny to the parks." Katie smirked.
" Not a problem." Rob says.
" Great! Done." Naomi shouts, happily.
Naomi smiles. Cook starts to say something but Naomi steps on his foot to shut him up. Rob slaps Naomi on the back.