[A/N] Hello again! Chapter 28 can you believe it? I had a week off work and was able to get the next chapter written. A few people mentioned Jacob and Alex in the reviews so I hope you'll like their inclusion in this chapter. Thanks again for the continued support and I hope you enjoy this chapter.
"Jacob, maybe go a little easy. You have to be extra careful." Emily warned as she eyed the young boy climbing his way up along Paige's hospital bed.
"He's fine, Em. Really." Paige returned, only to earn a pointed look from her girlfriend as if to say; fine, when he accidently bumps into your ribs or hurts your wrist you will get absolutely no sympathy from me. "Uh-oh little man, I think she's mad at us." Paige whispered into young boy's ear, causing him to laugh mischievously, Emily's eyes still challenging Paige but a little more playfully this time.
"Emmy doesn't get mad, silly." Jacob chuckled, his intrigued blue eyes roaming towards Paige's IV line and the beeping machinery around him, mesmerised by the shiny pieces of metal and intricate details engraved into the medical equipment.
"Yes she does. She gets mad at me when I go and do stupid stuff." Paige sounded like a scolded six year old in the moment, pouting exaggeratingly causing the young boy to fall into a fit of giggles before shaking his head to disagree with her once more.
"That's only 'cause she loves you. She's your girlfriend and gets super scared when you get hurted. Duh!" Jake slapped his forehead almost comically so, as he emphasised his point. His off the cuff, breezy response taking Paige aback slightly. The pair hadn't been hiding their flourishing relationship from the four year old but they weren't flaunting it, either. They had never sat down with him and explained anything like they did with their other friends and family.
"What makes you think she's my girlfriend and that she loves me, little man?" the dizzying amounts of medicine racing through her veins making the revelation so much more interesting than it would have, if he had mentioned it somewhere else, or at another time.
"You and Emmy have smiles like the picture 'gain. Those ones in the book at Nana's house in Rosewood" He shrugged his shoulders.
"I know the ones." Paige smiled, her features still laden with astonishment. "You really think Emily and I have those smiles again?"
"mmmhmmm." He nodded extra big in a way only a child could. "That's why Emmy made pancakes when you were gone. When you loves someone you make them happy with their favourite stuff. Like when I'm scared or sad, Mommy or Daddy find me Sharkey that makes me happy 'gain." Paige couldn't believe the complexities such a young boy could explain in the simplest of ways, tears almost fell from her eyes but she fought them back.
Jacob climbed up the bed further, sitting on a small corner on the far side of Paige's pillow, still keeping a safe distance from her biggest injuries, he slowly kneeled forward to play with the bandage around Paige's head. The off-white material becoming his latest fascination. "Do you think it still looks all bloody in there? I bet it looks so awesome and cool." Paige couldn't help but laugh at the way the conversation had changed so swiftly.
"Jacob Rivers, you and your four year old mind continue to amaze me. We can talk about blood and scars in a minute but I want to ask you something first?" She paused, the young boy sitting back trying his best to remain in tune with the conversation but his inquisitive young eyes were easily distracted.
"Okay, ask."
"You know Emily is my girlfriend?" He nodded a yes immediately. "So, is that okay? I mean are you okay with it? " Paige had to fight back a yawn she was getting sleepy again, but almost hated that fact. Strangely enough she was really enjoying this conversation and she wanted to know how he felt, she would hate to have her relationship with Emily make him feel upset or uncomfortable.
"It's okay by me, do you kiss her?" He eyed her cautiously.
"You always ask bout kissing." She laughed before continuing. "We do sometimes." Paige treaded carefully she was currently still high from the morphine and while talking about her relationship with Emily to a four year old, she had to bite her tongue a little. His face coiled up in disgust.
"Bleugh, kissing is rally gross. I just dunno why grown-ups even do that?" He shook his head with fervour, not a second later something new caught his train of thought. "Ohh, please can I sign your hand? I got to sign my friend Laura's when she hurted her leg" he questioned quickly over the subject at hand, his eyes bright and bluer than ever in anticipation.
"Duh, I saved a spot 'specially for my side-kick." Paige winched a little as she turned. Emily, of course, ready to pounce but Paige quickly shot her a look signalling that the pain was no more than a pinch. She really didn't want to make a big deal out of it in case it upset or scared the young boy.
"Awesome, Paigey! Does it hurt?" He question his eyes glistening with curiosity.
"A little, the sorest bit is my ribs. It's too sore to show you now but wait until I feel a bit better and I'll show you the bruises. They're pretty awesome." Her voice drew quieter, mumbling ever so slightly as she felt exhaustion begin to overwhelm her once more and with that came more delirium. "You know, I think you're the best doctor in this place."
"I'm not a doctor, silly." He slid down in the bed playfully slapping his forehead once again.
"You're not? You're an imposter?" Paige feigned shock.
"What are you two monkeys talking about?" Hanna approached the bedside, her tone whilst particularly childish was aimed more so at her son, Paige looked offended.
"Hey, I'm not a monkey..." Paige's voice was soft, her words sounding like a disheartened whine causing Hanna and Jake to laugh together.
"Em, I think the pain meds are starting to hit Paige again." Hanna lifted up her son, getting ready to leave.
"Look, Em. Jacob signed my cast." Paige held up her arm, cringing once more when she felt a soaring of pain on her right side, causing her to hiss and cringe. The word 'Jake' scribbled onto the white cast.
"The medicine is definitely working." Emily smirked, she couldn't help but adore Paige's skittishness in the moment.
Em, do you know, that Jacob here knows that you love me...and that you're my girlfriend" Paige's chestnut eyes wide with excitement as she explained the newest revelation to the raven haired girl "... and he's okay with it too."
"Wow, you and Jake sure did a lot of bonding. Didn't you." This time Emily turned to Jacob reaching out to tickle the young boy now squirming in his mother's arms.
"Yep, Paigey loves you this much, Emmy... she didn't tell me. I already knew cause-a-your smiles." He nodded proud as punch, his tone laced with seriousness as he began stretching his little arms out as wide as he possible could to back up his words.
"She does, does she? So how much do you think I love her?" Emily challenged, a teasing twinkle in her eye.
The young boy paused for a minute, holding up his thumb and index finger to signify a much smaller gap. "This much." A mischievous glint sparkled in his azure orbs, much like the one Hanna got when she was winding people up.
"Jake, really?" Paige looked sad "I thought we were bro's?" Hanna and Emily laughed in unison at the pure ridiculousness of the situation and the amount of hurt on Paige's voice, their laughter only intensifying when Paige glared at them for, well, laughing.
"I's just joking, Paigey. She loves you this much too." Stretching his arms out wide once more Paige shot him a proud thumbs up.
"Em?" Paige whined, her words carrying around the room as she stretched out her uninjured hand to tug at Emily's shirt.
"Looks like Paige wants some cuddles, but do you want to know another secret. The doctor said she'll be allowed to go home tomorrow, will you come and see her at home?" Emily suggested appeasing her girlfriend by offering her, her hand to hold for the moment.
"mmmhmmm, can I bring Sharkey?" His blue eyes went wide with excitement, as he nodded with enthusiasm.
"Course you can little man. We can maybe make her a card too?" Hanna smiled reaching forward to hug her friend before taking her son's hand, the pair waving as they exited the room.
Paige awoke after her mid-afternoon nap with Emily, she was now feeling groggy and disorientated. Her body was tense, stiff and sore and her girlfriend was nowhere in sight. She sat up in the bed, perhaps moving a little too fast causing her vision to blur while the pain in her side begins to burn violently and her stomach starts swirling chaotically as she heaves, feeling as if she'd be sick. Emily entered the room just in time, grabbing the sick bowl from Paige's bedside table placing it in front of her, holding back her girlfriends hair as she rubbed comforting circular motions into her back hoping to soothe some of the pain. Paige eventually collapses backwards trying to catch her breath but the task seeming almost impossible with the pain soaring up along her rib cage, unable to take in a deep breath. Sighing angrily she rips out her IV in one quick motion, wincing at the now stinging sensation and the image of blood beading up on the back of her hand, red hot tears rolled from the corner of her eyes and staining the pillow beneath her. Feeling all too ashamed to even look at Emily after such a fallout, she curls up and faces the other way.
She really fucking hated this.
Emily didn't say a word, she knows this kind of frustration all too well. A reminder of the many times she lost her cool whilst trapped in a hospital bed. Remaining as calm as she could, she pressed the button to call for a nurse. She willed Paige to look at her, but knew deep down that girl wouldn't, at least not yet. Without much hesitation the same nurse who tended to Paige's wounds last night entered the room. Her eyes roamed the area to assess the situation, she quickly noticed the sick bowl and Paige's bleeding hand. She goes to speak glancing at Emily who just shakes her head, sadly. Paige was like a completely different person right now, compared to the goofy, playful and giddy Paige she was earlier that day whilst interacting with Jacob.
"Let's get that wound on your hand cleaned up, yeah?" the young nurse's voice was quiet and relaxed as she first approached the dressing cabinet before going to work on Paige's hand. "Think you can do without the drip, Paige?" Paige didn't respond she simple offered a weak nod, once her hand was bandaged up she slowly reached out in search of Emily's. The brunette was still feeling too ashamed of her outburst to look her girlfriend in the eye, but holding hands was an improvement Emily was grateful for. The nurse nodded kindly, acknowledging both girls before heading back out once again.
"I woke up and I panicked. I felt dazed, confused and nauseous. I'm sorry I acted like that." Paige spoke she still wouldn't look up. Emily's heart sinking hearing the raw devastation on her trembling voice, she knew tears rimmed Paige's chestnut eyes without having to see them.
"Paige, why are you apologising? You reacted badly to the morphine, you got sick and ripped out the IV, which was making you feel that way. It's okay. I'm sorry I wasn't here when you woke up, I just ran out to find a restroom." Emily explained, the air still tense between them. "Will you at least look at me?" Emily felt like she too could cry seeing the distress heavy on Paige's body, with her shoulders slumped and head hung low. If she could she would have taken on the burden of her girlfriend's pain to release her of the stress it was currently having on her body, but unfortunately she couldn't, reassurances and hand holding would have to do.
After a breath she did, Emily shooting her a kind and understanding look as she pulled her girl into a warm comforting embrace. "Can we go for a walk or something? I hate being stuck in this fuckin' bed." Paige sighed desolately into Emily's shoulder after a beat.
"Only if you agree to a wheelchair?"
"I don't have a choice do I." Paige briefly challenged her girlfriend.
"Nope. Let's get you up and dressed first, can't have you showing off your good looks in a hospital gown now can we, god knows how many hot doctors or nurses you'd attract." She rooted through the overnight bag Hanna had brought over, the blonde having packed enough clothes for a week. "Then you really need to brush your teeth, I love you and all, but I am most definitely not kissing your post barf mouth." Paige rolled her eyes and chuckled lightly, she still seemed a little down and extra quiet in herself but Emily considered a smile to be a win.
They must have journeyed all around the hospital, taking a break in a small green area where most of the hospital staff spend their lunches, it was a little far from the main doors so not many patients or visitors were found there. Emily figured Paige would enjoy it, today it was a little chilly and overcast which meant most of the staff must have decided on the canteen leaving the area pretty much secluded. Paige was quickly getting antsy, slyly trying to eye the taller girl behind her every few minutes.
"Paige..." Emily watch her suspiciously.
"I'm getting up to walk around for bit." She spoke determined, leaving no opportunity for Emily to shut her down. Emily raised her eyebrow but didn't stop her, she knew it would be difficult and sore for the girl but nothing Paige couldn't really handle, in fact, it would probably do her injuries some good to get some movement. Sucking the deepest breath she could handle, given just how little pressure she wanted to put on her ribs, she pulled herself up. Her eyes shutting as she adjusted to the level of pain, slowly stretching out her limbs, she felt freer already. Slowly she walked around on the grass, her body humming with aches and pain, but it wasn't unbearable. "Em? Come here, please?" She turned to look at the raven-haired girl sitting on the bench.
"What, are you okay?" Emily quickly rushed to her girlfriend's side, worried it was becoming too much for her.
"I'm fine, I just really wanted to walk with you." She grinned bashfully, Emily blushing slightly with her girl's sweet declaration. They linked arms, Paige finding a little extra support in Emily's hold. Together they talked about everything and nothing as they slowly paced around the green garden admiring the flowers and greenery, until it was time to return back to the room. Paige was tired after the day's events, one full of so many highs and yet still darkened by the lows.
They hadn't talk much when they returned to the room, Paige ate her dreary dinner of potatoes, veg and overcooked salmon while Emily nibbled on a soggy chicken salad sandwich she bought from the shop downstairs. Both mindlessly stared at the television in the corner, Emily tried to engage her girlfriend in conversation every so often, but failed often only receiving one word answers at a time. She put Paige's subdued behaviour down to tiredness, and the new oral painkillers she had to take not releasing her of the pain as much as the morphine did. She knew deep down there was probably something more Paige wasn't saying, but she still wasn't going to force her to talk either. Yawning, she stood pushing the armchair right next to Paige's bed, grabbing the extra woollen blanket Paige wasn't using, to wrap around her body, as she wiggled in the chair to find comfort.
"You should head home tonight." Paige's voice was low, she was beginning to feel guilty for having Emily stay with her. She could see the bluing bags of exhaustion subtly swelling beneath her girlfriend's eyes and the soft sounds of her grumbling stomach, stale sandwiches and snack food from a vending machine not enough to satisfy her hunger. Emily was tired, she'd never say that but Paige could tell.
"Why? I want to stay." Her almond shaped eyes confused and a little hurt by Paige's suggestion.
"I know you do. But you're exhausted, and getting sore from that arm chair. Go back home and relax, treat yourself to some decent food, Em. You can come back tomorrow morning before I get released." Paige encouraged once more, the tension quickly mounting between them when she saw the look of refusal register on Emily's features.
"Paige..."
"No, Emily. Please go." Her voice even more forlorn this time, her brown eyes met with a perplexed, pained and saddened view hidden in the depth of her girlfriend's. Emily did feel tired, sore and exhausted, her body was crying out for a goodnight's sleep but frankly she didn't like the idea of being apart from the brunette, her mind still haunted with images of her girlfriend's unconscious bloody body. She didn't want to leave her side until she was happy enough that Paige got the all clear.
"I really want to stay, Paige." Emily replied stubbornly, her voice stern and determined.
"Well, I want you to go!" Anger this time, Emily stood up swallowing hard. Disbelief shadowing her features she really didn't want this to turn into a fight.
"Paige, my love..." Emily bit her lip forcing away a quiver and tremble.
"I said, I want you to go. I don't want you here." Paige spat back once more, her glare soaring hot and unfaltering.
"Fine!" With that Emily grabbed her coat and bag and headed out the door, slamming it behind her. Emily had considered today a success up until that very moment, but now she found herself fighting back broken tears as she walked out through the hospital lobby. Afraid if she stopped for a moment she collapsed to the ground into an exhausted, sobbing and whimpering mess.
Paige lay they staring at the ceiling, she was no longer in an overwhelming amount of pain. The pain only intensifying now if she moved wrong, or inhaled too deeply. The pain was still tiring though, always niggling just enough that you couldn't take your mind off it. She thought once she switched the small TV in the corner onto something less interesting it would eventually bore her enough to fall into a numbing sleep, unfortunately it wasn't that easy. She felt lonely and missed Emily, that being one of the main reason she didn't power the TV off, the silence making her feel even worse. She hadn't stopped feeling bad since she got angry and asked her to leave, but she knew Emily needed a goodnight sleep too and a chance to unwind and process what had happened.
A second later the new phone Hanna had brought around for her, beeped. It was approaching two am.
You awake?
Her heart sinking seeing the lack of emotion or frankly love on the words on screen. She took her time typing a number of different responses, numerous different apologies but ended up deleting them all in the end. Before clicking on the FaceTime button, in truth she really did just want to see her girlfriend's face.
"Hi." Emily spoke into the phone, the screen still adjusting before she could meet Paige's eyes.
"Em, I'm sorry about getting angry earlier."
"It's okay, Pay. I'm a little mad that you made me to go home though. This is going to sound incredibly needy and clingy, but I miss you." Emily sighed.
"I miss you, too." Paige returned before continuing "I just couldn't watch you try and sleep in that armchair anymore, I was in even more pain watching you try and get comfortable." she smiled a little.
"Fair enough, I'll give you that one. Getting to bathe and shower was actually kinda nice too." Emily grinned.
"See I'm always right." Paige smirked slyly.
"Don't push your luck, McCullers." Emily teased forcing a warning tone.
"Where are you? Is that my bed?" Paige pulled the phone closer trying to identify the bed clothes.
"Yeah" Emily blushed somewhat embarrassed. "I couldn't sleep in my own bed, so I grabbed some stuff and took a taxi over here." She yawned, pulling the duvet up over her some more, a subtle scent of Paige washing over her making her feel instantly more relaxed.
"You're tired, you should try get some sleep, my love." Paige voice soothed quietly, seeing the growing exhaustion in Emily's eyes.
"You should too, Pay."
"I'm actually okay for now, there's some reality show about farmers in the Midwest on. It's vaguely interesting." She chuckled lightly, momentarily shook with a bout of pain.
"You gon' become a farmer now?" Emily laughed, snuggling further into Paige's pillow. In theory it was hers since she always slept on that side of the bed.
"A farmer in New York City that'd be interesting huh?" Paige sniggered quietly.
"You got a point, but you'd looked super-hot in overalls" her voice raspy and thick with sleep.
"I'll keep that in mind." Paige continued talking into the phone for a little while even after she heard the soft sleeping snores of her girlfriend. Hitting the end call button when her eyes became too heavy and sleep began to win out for her too.
Emily knocks quietly on the door, but no answer came. Her brows furrowed as she tentatively entered the room, a smile growing on the corner of her lips when she saw Paige still fast asleep in the bed. Slowly she approaches her girlfriend, admiring her sleeping form for a moment before brushing the hair back from her face and placing a gentle string of feather light kisses; one on her forehead, one on the tip of her nose before placing a last one to her soft lips. No longer rough and chapped like they had been. Paige reciprocated the loving gesture with a drowsy hum of pleasure as she melted under her girlfriend's touch.
"Good morning sleepy head."
"What time is it?" Her voice rough and raspy.
"Coming up to eleven. I met Dr. Matthews in the corridor, he said he'll be in to examine you before twelve and then he can go about your discharge."
"I can't wait to sleep in my bed again." Paige moved to sit up, it took a few attempts but Emily figured it was best to allow her to do it herself. Far too afraid of being too overprotective which may have an opposite effect on Paige's improvements.
"How's the pain?"
"Still there, and still hurts like a bitch... but I can tell it's getting better." Paige nodded, her breathing still coming in short gasps but even from her appearance you could tell she was doing better.
The two women were chatting as normal, laughing and joking when they heard a quiet rattle on the door, before it opened with obvious hesitation.
"What are you doing here, get the fuck out!" Emily jumped up, her voice viciously sharp as she challenged the piercing green eyes before her. She was ready to charge but she felt Paige's hand tighten around her wrist. "Alex, fucking leave before I call security."
"I just want to talk!" She held her hands up, Paige still rendered speechless. "Please, Paige." Her eyes falling to Paige's, only fuelling Emily's anger as she inched herself almost impossible closer feeling that bit more protective and possessive over her girlfriend.
"Do you realise Paige could have been killed because of what happened. You've already messed her life up enough, you cheated and broke her heart." Emily spat out furiously.
"Like you don't have experience breaking her heart!" Alex returned just as quickly, Emily's jaw dropping at the girl's words. Of course they were true, and Emily knew that but having them spat back at her like vitriol was like taking a powerful punch to the gut.
"Stop, just fucking stop." Paige winced her voice rasping like coarse gravel, echoing around the room, stilling the other two women into shocked silence. Both sets of eyes immediately wearing in on Paige, the pair momentarily concerned that she had hurt herself, knowing that wasn't the case seeing her frustrated, exasperated and irritated eye roll. Blowing out a heavy held breath, her body seemed to shrink in size. "Are you okay after the other night?" She sighed, her question relucant, but she had to ask. She still wanted to know that her ex-girlfriend was okay. Emily looked at her with sheer disbelief influenced by a fleeting feeling of annoyance, it quickly faded when she met her girlfriend's sad eyes. The question was such a Paige thing to do.
"I-I'm fine, a little shaken still. They discharged me yesterday morning." Alex replied blankly, visibly uncomfortable talking about the incident.
"That's good, I'm glad, Alex. But why are you here now?" Paige voice mirrored that of the petite girl's; blank, stern and holding little emotion.
"I wanted to explain, I felt like I owed you... and Emily an apology." Emily was still glaring viciously at her, Paige holding back a grin, forcing it inward as she felt Emily's clutch on her hand grow protectively tighter. She secretly loved the jealous streak her girlfriend possessed. "When I returned to England, things with Sam didn't work out... she decided that she wanted to umm." Alex awkwardly paused, coughing to clear her throat before continuing. "She wanted to stay with her husband in the end."
"You know what they say about karma." Emily whispered under her breath but made sure her voice was still just loud enough for everyone to hear. Paige shot her a pointed look, but Emily simply shrugged her shoulders like it was nothing. Chuckling quietly to herself like a proud young teenager would have done if they got an impressive one up in argument.
"I quit my job because I couldn't be around her, my parents refused to talk to me after giving up such a powerful position, my life turned into a crumbling piece of shit. I figured I might be able to win you back and we could start over. I saw the advertisements for Hanna's charity birthday, it would be the perfect opportunity to run into you... I guess you both know how the story progresses from there."
"What made you think you stood a chance?" Paige questioned a little offended by Alex presumptions about her character, the way she expected Paige would take her back so easily.
"Honestly? I was sure Emily would do something to screw things up... I was betting on it. I could just somehow swoop in and make amends all over again." A vein, smug and sly grin on her lips that quickly pushed Emily over the edge, her blood boiling with anger.
"Fuck you, Alex." Emily stood, her eyes darkened with an intense fury, a look Paige hadn't seen in a very, very long time.
"Em..." Paige tried calming her down, but to no avail.
"No Paige! I screwed up big time in the past, you're right, Alex. I will never forgive myself for breaking Paige's heart the way I did. I was in a bad place, I believed she deserved better. The only way I knew she would leave is if I broke her heart. I hurt her, I pushed her away, I ripped her heart from her chest and stood on it, it was cruel and completely vicious." Emily paused her heart pummelling in her chest, her cheeks now red, quietening her voice she continued; "You know I never once thought she'd come back me, but she did. I didn't just assume I could win her back, I didn't even want to try because it wasn't my place. It had to be Paige. I knew what my heart said, I loved her, being around her again I was falling harder every day but if Paige didn't want a relationship, if she could no longer trust me I was going to accept that. I had to, I was the one who originally put those restraints on our relationship."
Emily moved even closer to the petite girl, her eyes staring with fiery intent "Alex, you and I are never going to like each other. I can fully respect that you were there for Paige when she needed someone. I can respect that you can't be too bad of a person if Paige fell in love with you once. But the fact that you think you can so easily swoop in unabated and just take her back after all the hurt you caused her, all of the sadness and the way you so cruelly brought up fragile insecurities when you know about her past, is where you've gone completely wrong. I love Paige, I think I always have but in no way could I be so vein or ego driven that I would think of Paige as a mere possession, to think that I'm worthy of her love now after all the hurt I caused is completely incomprehensibly but somehow she makes me feel worthy. I hate that you think so little of Paige and the relationship you once had, in that you believe she would take back a liar and cheater just because I somehow messed up and she feels hurt and broken hearted again. You can't just assume these things, Alex. You can't feel entitled to her love, just because you want it. When you hurt Paige, you placed all the power, control and agency into her hands, you no longer have a say especially now, after you've cause so much turmoil for that person. We're the unworthy ones, Alex. Not Paige."
Emily didn't realised she had started crying, a wave of embarrassment washing over her when realisation hit. The reality of what she just said was terrifying she was far too afraid to even look at Paige, after that. Petrified of what her facial features might tell her. Wipes her face, trying to rid her skin of tear stains, she choked out a weak sentence; "I'll be back in bit." Her whole body running hard into Spencer when she exited the room, the brunette tried to grab her but she was already gone darting down the hallway.
"Emily!" She heard Paige's voice echoing behind her, the faintest hints of a distancing conversation brewing as she moved closer to the stairwell, she so desperately needed a breath of fresh air. She knew without hearing the words that Spencer was quickly trying to understand the situation.
About twenty minutes later Emily decided to return. Taking the few minutes to relax and settle herself seemed to pay off, her eyes still red and sore from crying and she still didn't even fully understand why she got so upset. She entered the room her head hung low, shooting up when she heard a familiar voice still there. "Why are you still here?" She sighed, her voice defeated this time, while Paige continually tried her best to get her girlfriend's attention but unfortunately to no avail.
"Em maybe hear her out?" Spencer spoke this time, Emily eyes shooting up in confusion before her whole demeanour stooped once more.
"I don't think I can, I can't even look at her without images of Paige's broken and bruised body lying unconscious on the damp sidewalk, rain pouring uneasily over her sickly pale and bleeding skin, running through my mind. I can't help but feel sick to my stomach, that I may have lost Paige because of something you did. It makes me so blindingly angry."
"You're right when you said that we were never going to like each other. We're always going to look at the other as the one who hurt Paige." Alex uttered sadly. "But I guess that doesn't matter anyway, you won't have to see me anymore after today." Her voice low. "I should probably get going, my flight back to the UK leaves at four." Her eyes still held a challenging look towards Emily, whose glare didn't yet falter when it came to the petite girl.
"I-I don't know what to say." Paige stuttered, her mind left frazzled and racing with the day's events.
"There's really nothing more to say, but goodbye." Alex shrugged. Paige moved up in the bed encouraging a hug, Emily clenched her teeth, eyes burning with envy but she knew Paige was one of the most forgiving people on this earth. Even she might not have stood a chance of re-entering a relationship, if Paige didn't find it within herself to forgive her. Spencer quickly picked up on the tension painted on her friend's clenched jaw, grinding her teeth together, hoping to ease some of it she grabbed a hold of her hand whispering out her name, trying to get the darker girl to calm down. "Goodbye, Paige." Alex whispered, just loud enough for Paige to hear.
"Goodbye." Paige murmured a response, a single tear shedding. It felt like re-living a break-up all over again. She didn't feel anything for Alexandra anymore, but it was still the end of an era, an important part of her life and it was for that reason alone that a tear was shed.
"Spencer will you keep in touch until everything is sorted out?" Alex looked at the other girl, before grabbing her coat and bag, and moving towards the door.
"I'll walk you out." Spencer added, their interaction causing Emily further confusion but she didn't feel up to questioning it right now.
"Paige..." Emily began as soon as she heard the hospital door click shut.
"Come here." Paige interrupted, her voice stern. Emily still unable to look at her. "Come here." Paige instructed once more seeing her girlfriend's reluctance. After a beat Emily inched closer, Paige now forcing back a wince pulled herself to sit upright in the bed, her long legs hanging over the edge. Once Emily was within reaching distance she grabbed the collar of her leather jacket, joining their lips in a flash of a moment, a sigh falling from Emily's lips as she finally relaxed under her girlfriends soothing touch. Their lips moving together in slow, loving caresses before Paige pulled back rubbing their noses together before whispering "I love you." Her dark eyes roaming Emily's features, still haunted by unsureness and fragility, she wanted to meet her eyes but instead Emily held them closed, allowing herself to be swallowed up in the moment of closeness.
"I love you, too." Emily's voice faint.
"You always tell me to look at you, but you're won't look at me now." Paige let her hands roam across her girlfriend's shoulders before wrapping around her. Eventually their foreheads connected and Emily's eyes slowly opened to meet her eyeline. "There's those beautiful browns." Paige smiled, a flutter of butterflies as she saw the tiniest hint of a smile on Emily's lips now too.
"You're amazing, Paige McCullers." Emily initiated their kiss this time. "I'm sorry about earlier, I can explain..."
"How about we talk about that later, the doctor will be in in any minute and I'll actually get to leave this god awful place."
"Okay." Emily smiled, going to sit back down only for Paige to grab her hand.
"Doesn't mean I want to leave kissing you till later."
"Such a dork, McCullers." Emily laughed re-joining their lips. Just as the kiss began they heard a knock on the door.
"Fuck!" Paige sighed, dropping her head to Emily's shoulder a low chuckle rumbling like a distant thunderstorm between them.
"Paige, where are going now?" Emily huffed, eyeing her girlfriend as she walked in the opposite direction of the elevator.
"I can take the stairs, Em." She spoke determined, Emily instantly rolling her eyes.
"Paige stop being stubborn, just take the lift." Emily forced herself to remain calm, she knew this was going to be a challenge from the moment Paige point blanked refused the wheelchair she was offered. The brunette had been feeling stronger all morning, the tense encounter between Alex and Emily most like the biggest culprit, coming in the form of a distraction. She felt the pinch intensify in her side as the morning edged into afternoon, another pain killer not due for two more hours. But she felt like she could handle the stairs, she wasn't weak, she could put up with a little extra pain. She didn't want Emily to coddle her any more than she already was, taking the stairs she could show and be proud of her healing body.
"Em, if you want to take the elevator. By all means, I always take the stairs." Paige stood unmoved her back slightly arched as it was still a little difficult to stand up straight, but the look on her face told Emily all she needed to know.
"Paige, it's three fuckin' flights up to your apartment." The girlfriend's faced off.
"And?" Paige rolled her eyes, not afraid of the warning look in Emily's eye.
"Fine, after you!" Emily gave up pointing towards the stairwell.
Paige did a pretty good job at hiding her struggles on the way up, Emily still saw through it though, but thought better of making a sly remark. A sweat glistened against her forehead by the time she was making her way up to the third level. Emily opened the apartment door, Paige didn't say anything more once she too entered, her frustrated sighs and disapproving grunts a tell-tale sign that Paige was disappointed. Emily moved to the kitchen, sorting through Paige's medication and carefully placing them into an organiser. Paige disappeared into her bedroom, picking up the overnight bag Emily had carried up the stairs for her with her good hand, as she continued trying to prove that she felt well enough to do things for herself. At this point she didn't know who she was trying to prove wrong, herself or Emily, she wanted her body to be healthy enough to undergo such simply tasks, but giving how much pain and exhaustion she was in now told a different story. Moving towards the bed, her body aching and her ribs burning in irritable spasms, she finally concluded that maybe Emily was right. Slowly laying down on the bed, she willed her body to relax. Emily expected Paige to reappear from the bedroom and when she didn't after twenty minutes, she decided to go looking for her.
Her face growing into a heartfelt smile when she saw her girlfriend passed out asleep on the bed. Grabbing the blanket from the back of the couch in the living area she carefully placed it over Paige's body. Slowly she straightened Paige's body out placing a pillow under her right side to support her ribs as the doctor had suggested for sleeping. Paige mumbled nonsense in her sleep, but never once stirred, Emily then removed her girlfriend's shoes and went about making them some food for later.
"And so she awakes." Emily voiced as soon as she feels Paige stirring next to her, she was fast asleep for over an hour. Emily choosing to join her on the bed about ten minutes ago once she had finished making the food.
"I'm sorry, I'm a stubborn ass sometimes." Paige hummed entwining her finger's with Emily's.
"You're lucky I love you, McCullers." Emily teased kissing her girlfriend's forehead. "I cooked us some dinner if you're hungry?"
"Starving, I don't miss hospital food one bit." Paige tentatively stretched her body and with Emily's help she moved to sit up. Leaning forward she cupped Emily's cheek, languidly pulling her face closer, she sought out Emily's lips with her own. A low moan dancing in the confines of Emily's chest, as she revealed in the soft yet intense exploration of Paige's tongue, eventually seeking out hers. They had kissed at the hospital, but nothing to this extent out of fear of being caught, they rarely had any alone time. If it wasn't for doctors or nurses doing the rounds, it was their friends showing up or their worried parents on the phone. "I am so lucky." Both breathless, as their eyes met after that kiss.
Emily didn't say anything in reply, she moved forward this time attaching their lips once more in a heated embrace.
"We need to stop, because my body's not able for sex, and if we keep going the way we are it's going to drive me insane." Paige pulled away resting her forehead against Emily's, whose eyes remained shut, her jaw clenched as she too looked visibly frustrated. Usually Paige was the one who got overwhelmingly turned on first, but in this case it was Emily.
"I know." She whispered as she fell back into the pillow. "We should probably talk about earlier too." Emily fingers tracing the lines engraved in her girlfriend's palm, as if she was trying to engrave them to memory. "I really shouldn't have got upset or angry."
"I'm glad you did." Paige whispered, a small smile edging on her lips as she remembered everything Emily had to say.
"What do mean?" Emily turned now fully facing the girl beside her.
Paige bit down on her lip before thinking out her response; "You fought for me, Em. You exposed some of your rawest insecurities to stand up for me, to prove a point to Alex. You've never really fought for me like that when we were together all those years before."
"I should've fought for you those times too." Emily spoke sadly, nuzzling her head into Paige neck before connecting her lips with the slice of skin flowing from her neck into her collarbone. "When I pushed you away, when you disappeared I learned some very tough lessons. I told you I don't want to lose you, again, Pay. You gave me that second chance, I'm not going to give up on it so easily."
"I should have fought harder for you after the crash." Paige clear her throat, her brows knitted with guilt.
"Don't say that, I would've found a way to hurt you in the end. I was too far gone, I hated myself and my broken body. I hated you for still loving me. There was no way you could have fought any harder." Emily sat up eyes locked with Paige, as she gentle trailed her finger over the girl's cupid bow before cupping her soft cheek her thumb ghosting the skin there as she spoke, she wanted the sincerity on her words to hit home. Their eyes telling another story, Paige kissing the tip of the bronzed coloured thumb when she felt it roll over her quivering lips once more, replaced seconds later with emboldened lips.
"What went on when I left the room, why are Spencer and Alex keeping in contact?" Emily lay back down.
"Jealous huh?" Paige smirked knowingly.
"I'm not jealous, I just want to know."
"Yesterday after being released, Alex went to the police station and identified our attacker. She made a strong enough statement that apart from the statement I gave yesterday morning, I won't have to get involved. She talked about this with Spencer and Spencer agreed to help her, she wanted to make sure he sees through a deserved sentencing. It was a nice thing of her to do." Paige explained.
"Of course she did that, probably thought she could win you back with that move." Emily rolled her eyes, sighing distastefully as Paige laughed.
"You are so jealous."
"I am not" She whined.
"It's okay, I think jealous Emily is hot." Paige teased further, only to be silenced with Emily's lips on hers once more, a mixture or passion, laughter and love.
"Are you comfy enough?" Emily questioned eyeing the brunette beside her, the pair had returned to bed not long after dinner. Paige far too exhausted to think of doing much more than cuddling up to her girlfriend in bed for the night.
"Mhhhmm. Now come here, I actually get to sleep next to you again. Move closer." She encouraged.
"I don't want to hurt you, Pay."
"You're not going too. They still hurt like eff, but they honestly don't feel as bad. The pain is more of an annoyance now, a dull pain. The soaring burning pain every time I moved is slowly fading or maybe I'm just getting used to it. But I mean laughing still evokes tears and I daren't sneeze but aside from that I really believe they're healing slowly but surely."
"I missed this..." Emily hummed.
"Missed what?"
"Going to sleep with you curled up next to me. I know it's literally only been three days but it's one of my favourite things in the whole world, getting to sleep next to you... and waking up together." Emily smiled feeling Paige's hold momentarily tighten.
"Move in." The words coming off as more than question.
"What?" She rolled around to face her girlfriend.
"I mean, umm..." Paige tripped over her words.
"Paige, relax for a minute." She smiled seeing the wave of panic in the brunette's eyes as she brushed back her hair. "Ask again."
"Move in?" Paige blushed, before continuing "Honestly, it's been in the back of my mind since the moment I gave you that key, Em. I know it still soon, and I know I was the one who asked that we take things slow. But to be fair we're not like most couples, where the moving in stage can make or break a relationship, we did it before when we eighteen years old for two whole years. Of course, we had our ups and downs but they were just petty arguments, every couple has. I'm not saying I want to re-capture what we had all those years ago, because we're different people now. Our relationship is different. It's up to you, Em. But you should know getting to fall asleep and wake up next to you every morning and night. is one of my favourite things in the world too."
"Paige you better not be saying these things as a result of your pain meds you took just before coming to bed? Because if you forget we had this conversation, I swear to god, I'll be so mad. It wouldn't be fair to get my hopes up and knock me back on my ass."
"I promise you, I'm completely with it. I want this, Em." Paige side grinned, her heart racing seeing the sheer delight in Emily's eyes.
"Of course, I'd love to move in with you. I really want this too." Paige captured the end of Emily's words in her mouth as they kissed once more.
[A/N] Thanks for reading. In terms of Alex, writing this chapter I just kept thinking 'this is someone Paige McCullers fell in love with once', I mean she was going to propose to her. I couldn't make her out to be all bad, but I didn't want to redeem her character too much either. She is still a bitch in my eyes but I felt like I needed to soften her up a little. I'm looking forward to writing Paige and Emily as roommates again, what do you think about them moving in together once again? Finally THANK YOU ALL for continuing to favourite and follow this story. Please review, I really love hearing your thoughts, they really do help this story to grow. Thanks again and until next time -KTF