A/N: Enjoy! Thank you to those reading and commenting!
Disclaimer - I don't own Skins...
Naomi, Cook and about fifteen others are on the Fitches yacht, a large expanse boat, sailing towards Martha's Vineyard. Naomi and Cook are standing at the stern of the boat, looking out to the ocean. Katie approaches them.
" James, sweetie, I'm making lemonade. Interested?" She smiles, sweetly.
" Sure, sure." He nods. " That'd be great, honey." He smiles back, tightly.
She winks, going off to make him a drink. Cook turns to Naomi.
" Nai, this is against the rules! You've got a wedding and a reception to seal the deal. Period. No overtime!" He informs her, crossed. Naomi rolls her eyes.
" Oh really? No overtime? Need I remind you of the Chung wedding, 2008?" Naomi asks, smugly.
" All right, look..." Cook starts, but the blonde cuts him off.
" We finished the reception. I'm ready to go home. Next thing you know, you're dragging me to watch you and some bird play mah-jongg with her grandmother thirty miles away at a retirement home." Naomi chuckles at the memory, even though at the time she was anything but amused.
" I needed to do that, alright?" He states, looking down.
" You needed to do that... Ha." She repeats, feigning laughter.
" She was into her grandma! You know the drill!" Cook says, getting worked up.
Naomi scoffs.
" It was my first Asian!" He admits, a little bit too loudly.
The people on the boat turn around and look at Cook. Naomi shoots him a look.
" Look, I just need some alone time with her." She sigh.
" She's got a girlfriend." Cook informs, unhelpfully.
" They all have girlfriends. So what?" She asks, getting irritated. Most of the girls she ever been with haven't been single. It's just a bit of a challenge is all.
" Okay. Fine. Get some alone time, seal the deal and let's get the fuck away from these people." He says, looking around.
Claire walks over to them. " Guys. Everything okay?" She asks, kindly.
"Oh yeah. Fine." Naomi feigns cheer.
Claire looks overboard. " Oh wow, will you check that out. A school of bluefish."
Naomi and Cook lean over to take a look.
" You know, these waters use to be flush with bluefish. And then the corporate polluters came in and well, you can guess the rest. After we, and I mean the National Environmental Defense League under my stewardship, got Massachusetts to pass the Bluefish Revival Act..." Claire says, trying to impress them.
" Bluefish Revival Act? They were at Woodstock, right?" Naomi asks.
Claire laughs insincerely. Rob Fitch ambles over, cocktail in hand, and quickly looks overboard.
" My god! Are those bluefish?" He looks back at them. " You know, Claire here is single-handedly responsible for the spurt in the bluefish population." Rob smiles.
Cook is about to crack a wide-ass comment but Naomi elbows him before he has the chance to speak.
" Yes we heard." Naomi smiles, tightly.
" Well, anyway, listen, as soon as we get to the compound we were thinking about a little touch rugby game. Sort of a Fitch family tradition. What do you say?" He asks them, kindly.
" Absolutely." Naomi smiles.
" Great." Cook adds.
" Good!" Rob claps his hand together, walking away.
Naomi and Cook can see the Fitch family compound on Martha's Vineyard as the yacht reaches the shore. It's huge, old beachfront mansion with a large lawn and adirondack chairs strewn about. There's also a dock, housing various sailboats.
Cook turns to Naomi as she looks at the place in awe.
" That's the " little place back on the Vineyard?" Cook quotes Robs earlier words.
Later that afternoon on the Fitches family compound, Naomi and Cook come out the front door, wearing clothes they borrow from the family. Each of them looking like they just walked of a golf tournament with all the plaid.
" I'm not even going to say it." Cook turns to Naomi." But you know I'm upset." He says, calmly.
" I know you are." Naomi says softly, understanding." I think you look good." Naomi says, looking down at his clothes.
Cook begins to walk down the stairs, only turning back to say.
" You know I don't look good." Then continuing down the stairs.
Naomi and Cook line up in a scrimmage with other guest including Emily, Rob, and Claire. James, Emily's younger brother sits in a lawnchair on the sidelines reading.
Naomi hikes the ball to Cook and goes out for a pass. She's being cover by Claire. Naomi fakes like she's doing an " Out " pattern but goes long. Claire is completely fooled. Naomi catches the pass from Cook for a touchdown. Naomi is congratulated by her teammate. Claire fumes.
A few minutes later Naomi hikes the ball to Cook. Claire rushes in, aiming for Naomi. She misses her and completely flattens Cook who manages to get the pass off.
Naomi racing downfield. She reaches out to catch the pass, however Emily intercepts. She does a little pivot dance to get around Naomi. The blonde mimics her wildly, causing Emily to laugh, Naomi takes the opportunity to touch/tag her.
" Not fair! You made me laugh!" The redhead says, feigning being upset.
" No, it's not fair. Yet a lot of things in life aren't fair." She says, mimicking her again, Emily laughs and then looks upfield.
" Hey, is your brother okay? " She asks, seeing Cook lying on the floor.
A few people are dragging Cook's seemingly lifeless body off the field. Naomi runs over.
" I don't know what got into me." Claire says, standing over him.
"I do! Five generations of Lodge family breeding. Hell, your father used to pull the same stunt when we were your age." Rob says, proudly.
Claire and Rob share a laugh. Naomi rushes over to Cook.
" Are you all right? " Naomi asks, worried.
" Oh he's fine!" Rob waves his hand. " Hey, James, why don't you sit out the next play." He looks over at his son." James, come on in." He yells.
James looks up from his book.
" You must be joking." he says.
" It wouldn't kill you to play some competitive sports once in a while, would it?" He asks his son.
James scoffs, rolling his eyes, putting his head back into his book.
" It's okay, it's okay." Cook says, grabbing his side." Perhaps he can donate a kidney instead." he says, only half seriously.
Katie rushes over, hyper-concerned. She leans over him and sticks her tongue into his mouth. Cook jumps up to get away from her.
" Good, good. I'm better now." He says, creating more and more space from Katie. " Second down." He claps his hand.
A minute later, different scrimmage. Naomi is the quarterback. Cook hikes it to her as Claire comes in to rush. Naomi whips the ball quickly to Cook as Emily runs up to tag Naomi. Cook gets pummeled and flattened by Claire again.
" I got you!" Emily says to Naomi.
" No you didn't!" The blonde defends. Emily gasps.
" You're cheating!" She accuses, smiling at Naomi.
" You're cheating!" Naomi throws back, feigning offence. Emily looks over Naomi shoulder.
" Oh my God, your brother, he's down again." The redheads says, eyes wide.
Naomi turns and sighs in disbelief, Cook having yet again ruined a moment between her and Emily.
" What is his deal." She muttered, annoyed, walking over to him.
" I don't know what's gotten into me today, guys" Claire says, smiling.
" Nature versus nurture, Lodge. Nature always wins." Rob states, impressed.
They share another overly-exaggerated chortle.
" What are you doing?" Naomi says as she leans down to Cook." It's a game of touch, every time I look over, your on your arse." She says, narrowing her eyes.
" If I had any air in my lungs, I'd scream at you." Cook said, straining to speak.
" Oh, so now you're blaming me?" She ask, in disbelief. " Because you're not athletic enough to stand on your own two feet." She scoffs at him.
" I hate you." He says, in pain.
" Let take a daiquiri time-out." Rob announces.
Katie and Jenna come rushing to Cooks side again, kneeling down to him.
" Honey, take him in the house and get him fixed up." Jenna says to her daughter.
" Sure, mum." Katie happily agrees.
" Oh, don't baby him, it just makes it worst." Naomi says, as Katie and Jenna help him to his feet. She looks up to see Claire putting her arm around Emily's shoulder walking back towards the house. " Oh great, games over. Satisfied?" She huffs, as she watches Cook get carried away.
Cook is sitting on the edge of the tub in serious pain as Katie applies mercurochrome to his wound.
" Ah man! That stings!" He says, as soon as the tissue touches his wound.
" Ohhh, poor baby." Katie pouts. " Want me to blow...on it?" She smirks.
" It's fine." Cook looks down at the cut.
She get's up on his lap, Randolph, the early 40's Jamaican butler passes by the open bathroom door. They don't see him.
" You know, I'm not wearing any knickers." Katie says, flirtatiously.
Randolph's coughs to gain their attention. They look up. Katie jumps off Cook's lap.
"Oh, don't you worry, little Katie. Mum's the word." He says, in a thick Jamaican accent.
" Thank you, Randolph." She smiles.
" A little more discreet though, okay?" He says, shutting the door and shaking his head, before walking away.
" Oh Jesus..." Cook says, softly.
" Don't worry. He won't say anything. Now where were we?" She asks, as she straddles him again. " Oh right, I'm not wearing any knickers." She continues.
" It's like eight hours ago you were a virgin. Now you're not wearing any fucking knickers." He says, in disbelief.
" You do that to me." She purrs, reaching inside his pants.
He pushes her off him a little so he can speak.
" Katie, look.. I'm tired. It's been a long day. Not to mention that your sister's girlfriend made a smoothie with my nards. I'm not exactly in the mood." He says, pleading with her to back off.
" Fine." Katie huffs, pissed off.
She takes a swab of mercurochrome and stabs his wound with it.
" Aaaaaaaargh." He cries out.
" My father warned me about people like you! I'm just another notch on your belt!" She states, angrily.
" No, no, it's not like that!" Cook defends, scared of the girl as she dabs harder and harder on his cut.
" What's it like then, James?!" She asks, in hysteric's. " Huh?! Huh?!.
" It's like..." He starts, coming up blank.
She takes another load of medicine and tortures another wound.
"Aaaaaaaaarrrrrgh!" He screams." Ok, ok. It's like you're, uh, so damn precious that I would...uh...feel like...uh...I'm using you if we took every opportunity to express what we have...In a physical way. It diminishes the poetry of this thing... that we have." He says, nervously, not knowing if it's working to calm her down.
She melts into his arms.
" You're my knight in shining armor." She says, nuzzling into his neck.
" Cool. Good. Good." He says, relieved.
" Don't ever leave me." She says, softly.
" Oh no. Never. Don't you worry..." he trails off, looking around the room.
" Good." After a beat." Because I'd find you." She says, flatly.
They get up. Cook's terrified and stressing. They exit on in to the hallway passing Rob.
" Get him all patched up, love?" He asks Katie.
" I sure did, daddy." She smiles, widely.
" Well good, you go change for dinner." he says to Katie.
She gives Cook a peck on the cheek and walks away, leaving Cook and Rob alone.
" You really seem to make her happy, son." Rob states, looking at his retreating daughter.
" Oh well...yeah." Cook doesn't really know what to say to that.
" Well, she's my little girl and I spoil her a bit... I can only hope you treat her honorably. You know, she's not just another notch on the ol' belt." Rob says, smiling manicly.
" Oh no, no. Of course not, sir." Cook assures.
" Good, good. Because that would make me angry in ways you cannot possibly imagine." Rob loses his smile. " And I'm a very powerful man." He finishes staring Cook right in the eyes. Cook gulp.
" Right...yes, sir." he shifts, nervously.
" Well, see you downstairs for dinner." Rob smiles, walking away leaving Cook horrified.
Later on they're in the Fitches family dining room. An opulent dinner for fifteen is in the process of being served. Rob is at the head of the table. His mother, Grandma Mary, a woman who looks nearly 100, sits next to him. The rest of the family, Claire, and the other guest fill out the table. Randolph, the Jamaican butler, standing nearby.
Naomi and Cook enter the alcove just outside the dining room. Naomi looks at Claire, who's holding court, she's is nauseated by the sight.
" Cookie, you have the eye drops?" She turns to Cook, hand out.
" No! Not the visine, it's too early!" Cook shakes his head.
" I need it, fucksakes. Give it to me." She says, irritated.
" You know the rules." Cook starts. " The visine is a last resort. The visine's a fucking felony." He finishes, she sighs.
" I can't get any alone time with her. That women won't leave her side. I need it." She request again.
" It's too fucking hard-core. A few drops in her drink and she'll spend the next twenty-four hours going down on a toilet seat, puking her guts out." Cook informs.
They both look over at Claire.
"...So when I picked up the little sea otter and wiped the oil off him from the tanker spill, I swear he...smiled. It was a little...otter smile. You know, all teeth, the whiskers kind of pert..." Claire telling a noble story about one of her rescues, while the room eats it up.
Cook reaches into his pocket.
" Okay, here's the visine." Cook hands it over, realizing she's going to need it.
Naomi and Cook enter the dining room, Emily looks up and smiles warmly at Naomi.
" Here they are!" Rob annonces.
They sit down near the head of the table. Katie has saved a seat for Cook right next to her.
"Heavenly Father.." The priest from the wedding begins to say grace. Everyone bows their head. Naomi quickly squirts the visine into Claire's wine.
" We thank you for the bounty on this table and ask you bless our family and friends here assembled. In the name of the father, the son, and the holy spirit. Amen." the priest finishes.
They all make the sign of the cross. Cook is preoccupied doesn't, until Naomi nudges him. Randolph walks over with a platter and sets it on the table.
" Oh, these scallops look fantastic." Rob says, looking down on his plate.
" I bought them from an organic scallop farm right off the coast of Nauggesett." Claire informs the table.
" Yeah, Claire talked the Governor into subsidizing part of the project." Emily says, proudly.
"Yep. Now, it's the state's only self-sustaining scallop farm." Claire explains.
" Say that five times fast." Naomi jokes.
Emily laughs, then stops herself, but continues to smile at Naomi sweetly.
" I bet they're tasty. Maybe I'll try them when my jaws heal, from the football game earlier." Cook says, to the group but pointedly to Claire.
" Again, I'm sorry James. It's that damn competitive streak. I'm seeing a Buddhist about it." Claire says, looking around the table.
" Oh, not just any Buddhist. His Holiness the Dalai Lama. He's a friend." Rob informs the group. Jenna rolls her eyes.
" Really? Because when I get back in town, I'm going to be seeing an orthopedist. Not just any orthopedist. Dr Epstein... " Cook starts, smartly.
" Enough, okay? " She says to Cook, cutting him off. Then she turns to Claire. " He's just fooling around. So how long have you and Emily been together, Claire?" She asks, curiously.
" What's it been, Honey?" Claire turns to Emily." A couple of years?" She smiles.
" Three and a half." Emily informs, then turns to Naomi." We started dating while doing Habitat for Humanity." She says. Claire smiles.
" Sure." Naomi nods, taking a sip of her wine.
"Pretty soon we'll be getting married." Claire says, looking over at Rob, who smiles.
Naomi notices Emily looking down, playing with her food, she looks back up with a fake smile.
" Well not too soon." Emily laughs, unconformably." We still have a lot of thing we wanna accomplish. " She says, looking into Naomi's eyes, losing her smile.
" Anyway, once Emily and Claire tie the knot, two of the great British family's, The Fitches and the Lodge's, will finally united." Rob says, proudly.
Naomi notices once again that Emily doesn't look happy, a contrast to Claire who's smiling widely.
" And then of course you can challenge the cling-ons in stellar domination, right?" Naomi jokes, looking around the table.
The only person who does laughs is Emily, looking right at Naomi with beaming smile afterwards.
" Anyway, Naomi, tell me how you guys are connected to the family again?" Claire says, seemingly out of nowhere.
" Uncle Ned's kids." Naomi answer, confidently.
Claire narrows her eyes , in thought.
" You know, Uncle Ned? The brother of Aunt Liz?" Cook jumps in.
Naomi and Cook bow their heads and make the sign of the cross.
" Uh-huh..." Claire says, suspicious.
Katie reaches her hand under the table and grabs Cook's crotch, his eyes bug out. He tries to push her arm away, as her arms hidden by the tablecloth, she begins to furiously masturbate Cook.
" So, Naomi and her brother here are venture capitalist." Rob changes the subject.
" That's right!" Cook squeaks.
Naomi looks at him strangely, then looks down. She sees what's happening and give Cook a shocked look.
" That's great. The venture capitalist. The backbone of the system. The new pioneer." Rob states, happily.
Emily looks up at Naomi with an unreadable expression on her face.
" So is it just about the money? " She asks the blonde.
" Oh...no, no! Not at all. It's about, you know, investing in projects that are both ethically and morally defensible." Naomi says.
" Like what, for example?" Claire asks.
" Like what? Oh , you know, we've got company that, uh, takes the wool from sheep and uh, and turns it into thread or the homeless people to sew...into cloths and then make, you know shirts and pants to sell at a profit." Naomi says, making it up as she goes along. " Everyone wins." She finishes, unsure.
" People helping people." Cook adds, softly, gripping on to the table as Katie continues to rub.
" That's very admirable." Emily nod, smiling at Naomi.
" Thank you." Naomi says, smiling back. " Although, don't make me out to be a saint just yet, we do turn a small profit." She looks around the table." After all someone has to pay for the lap dances for the big guy." She pats Cook on the shoulder, amused at what going on under the table.
Everyone laughs, include Cook, his not being all that sincere.
" She's joking, ha ha." Shutting his eyes." It feels so good when she jokes." he grips the table harder.
"What's this company called." Claire asks, leaning forward.
Cook is near his climax.
" Holy sh..." he starts
" Holy Shirts and Pants." Naomi cut him off.
The group nods approvingly.
" That's a hell of a good project. Let me mention something to the Commerce secretary." Rob smiles.
Claire gives him a strange look while taking a sip of her wine, feeling threatened by the pair.
" Great, great." Naomi smiles.
" Isn't my Robbie doing a wonderful job as Secretary ?" Grandma Mary asks Naomi.
" Oh yes, ma'am." Naomi says, smiling.
" Oh mum..." Rob says, blushing.
Cook takes a sip of water being spent after Katie's little stunt.
" You know, Robbie's predecessor was a jew." Granny says.
Cook sips out his water.
" Mum, let's not go there. Saul Rothstein was a good man." Rob puts his hand on his mother's arm.
" Maybe so, for a jew." She says.
" Grandma, you can't talk that way. You can't feel that way. It's not right!." Emily says, softly to her grandma.
" Mum's a little old- fashioned." Rob says, to the table.
" Yeah. Like Hitler. " Cook says to Naomi.
Claire's stomach grumbles as she starts to feel a bit ill.
" What did you say his name was again, Robbie? Hymie Bergstein? I always forget his name. But my god, did he have a nose on him." Grandma Mary says.
Cook's aghast. It's likes he's eating with the Gestapo.
"Grandma!." Emily gasps.
Claire turns to Emily, looking a little green.
" You know, I think I'm gonna go to bed." She says, getting up.
" Are you okay?" The redhead asks Claire.
"Yeah, I'm fine. I'm just a bit tired." Claire assures, kissing Emily on the forehead as she stands.
" Okay." Emily says.
" You alright?" Rob asks, concerned.
" Yeah, yeah, course." She smiles.
Claire walks out of the room quickly.
" I hope she's okay." Rob says, once she's left the room.
" Well, there's a lot of flu going around." Naomi says.
" But her eyes are sure clear." Cook adds, smartly.
Naomi elbows him, then passes a platter to Todd.
" Oh, I don't eat meat or fish." He states.
" He's an idiot." Grandma Mary says, meanly.
" Grandma!" Emily yells.
" What? He can't help it. They say it's genetic." Indicating Jenna. " From her side of the family."
James head sinks, Naomi gives him a sympathetic pat on the arm. James looks at the blonde lovingly, smiling softly.
" Actually, James is an amazing painter. He's going to the Rhode Island School of design." Emily says, proudly, defending her little brother.
" Wow, that's very impressive." Naomi smiles at James.
James blushes at her praise.
" Still an idiot." Grandma Mary's says.
" Oh for heaven sake, Rob put her to bed already." Jenna states, fed up.
Rob motions over to Randolph, who helps grandma Mary up.
" I can do it myself, arsehole." She shakes him off.
James pissed off, storms out of the room, Grandma Mary leaves soon after. Emily stands, clearly upset.
" You know, I think I'm going to get some air." Emily says, looking over at Naomi.
" Oh, I'll get some air if you want some company?" Naomi asks.
" Sure." Emily says, softly, smiling shyly at the blonde.
" Alright let me just change my shoes." Naomi says, leaving the room.
" Okay, I'll be waiting outside." She smiles.
Naomi's just finishing tying up her shoes in the guest bedroom, when she hears the door open, Jenna entering.
" Mrs Fitch, what are you.." Naomi starts but Jenna cuts her off.
" I know what you're doing." Jenna says, eyeing Naomi.
" Sorry?" Naomi says a bit panicked not sure what she is referring to.
" You have a thing for my daughter, it's plain to see." She states, matter a factly.
" No, I don-" the blonde is cut off once again.
" Respect me enough not to lie to me, Naomi." Jenna says.
Naomi keeps her mouth shut, proving Jenna's theory to be right.
" Listen Naomi, you seem like a nice girl and all, but what you must understand is that Claire is much better suited for Emily, like Rob said earlier, Fitches and Lodges together, it just makes sense." Jenna explains.
" I saw Emily's face when marriage between them was mentioned, she didn't seem all that happy about it." Naomi says, remembering back.
" That's beside the point." Jenna says, waving her hand dismissively. " Emily will do what's right for the family." She finishes looking at Naomi challengingly.
" And you don't care that she's unhappy." Naomi says, in disbelief, that her own mother would choose family standing over her own daughter's happiness.
" Just stay away from her, Naomi. I don't want you putting thoughts in her head." She finishes, exiting out of the room in a huff.
Naomi sat there for a moment longer, shaking her head, then remembers Emily is waiting for her and goes to meet her.
In the hall Naomi runs in the Cook, who's looking completely spent.
" What's wrong?" Cook asks Naomi.
" Nothing. I'm just trying to get outside to meet Emily." She responds.
" You've got a weird look on your face." Cook notices.
" Emily's mum just cornered me in my room, and told me to stay away from her daughter." Naomi says softly.
" Maybe you should." Cook says, seriously.
Naomi stares at him for a good while.
" What's wrong with you?" She asks.
" I just think all this is not worth it, I mean this Katie bird is a fucking lunatic." Cook says, in a harsh whisper. " I mean, you saw what she did, who the fuck does that?" Cook asks. " I wanna get as far away from her as I can, and because you wanna give it to the redhead so much, I'm stuck fending this chick off." Cook finishes.
" Shut up!" Naomi says, walking away.
" You go enjoy yourself, I'm just gonna go spit up some blood and ice down my balls." He spits, walking up the steps.
Naomi steps outside to meet Emily who's waiting for her.
" Hey, what took you so long?" She smiles, sweetly.
" I'm sorry I just...I was just.." Naomi trails off.
" Are you okay?" Emily asks, concerned.
" I'm fine, I just got... held up." Naomi smiles, half heartedly, looking into the distance.
" My family's a little strange, huh? " Emily says.
" A little, yeah." Naomi chuckles. " But you know what?" She asks, Emily turns to face her and smiles.
" What?" She asks.
" I love it!" Naomi says, goofily.
Emily laughs, beaming.
" You do?" she asks, happily surprised.
" I do." Naomi confirms, smiling.
Emily smile slowly fades as she stares into Naomi's eyes, she feels like she's drowning in the icy blues of them. She feels drawn to them somehow she can't explain, she never wants to look away. All too soon though the moment is broken when her father comes through the door.
" Emsy, love?" Rob calls out, walking outside.
" Yes?" Emily says, softly, pulling her eyes away from Naomi's reluctantly.
" Have you check on Claire, I think she pretty sick." He informs her.
" Oh really?" Emily asks, surprised. " Alright, yeah, I'll be right in." She tells her father, as he goes back into the house.
Emily turns back to Naomi with a frown, the blondes disappointed at the turn of events, unaware that the redhead is just as upset.
" I should go check on her.." She smiles sadly at the blonde.
" Yeah, course." Naomi says, half heartedly. " We'll take a walk some other time." She says, a little more upbeat.
Emily get's up and starts walking towards the door.
" Emily?" Naomi call after her just before she reaches the door.
Emily turns around, a hopeful look in her eyes. Naomi chickens out.
" Oh...I'll a...I'll talk to you later..." She says, can't help but notice Emily looks disappointed.
" Okay." Emily smiles, half heartedly, walking inside.
Naomi sighs, turning to look out into the distance again.