[A/N] Hello again! Finally an update, I do apologise for the delay, but it's finally here. Chapter 30 can you believe. Thank you for continually supporting this story, and thank you for all the kind words after I posted the last one it really meant and is greatly appreciated. Anyway without rambling, enjoy this chapter.
"Spence! Thank you so much for coming over." Emily pulled her best friend into an embrace once the brunette entered the apartment, quickly returning her friend's hug.
"No problem, Em. So where's Paige?" Spencer glanced around the room, the girl in question nowhere to be see.
"She's knocked out on the couch, neither of us really got a good night's sleep last night, we got talking about stuff... and it was basically ended up being that long conversation we had to have." Emily shrugged, a smile quirked on her lips as she took in the image of her girlfriend asleep soundly.
"Listen Em, I'm really sorry I didn't tell you about the files and what Paige asked me to do, but I didn't think it was my place. I'm sorry if it came between you and Paige." Spencer very rarely came across as nervous and even fewer times did she apologise, she was very obviously put in a difficult position.
"No, it's fine. Really. I know where Paige was coming from, you don't need to apologise, Spence. This could actually be enough to pull her out of the slump she's been in, and for that I'm truly grateful." Emily smiled timidly. "Coffee?" She questioned earning a nod, busying herself in the kitchen, grabbing two mugs, one for herself and the other for Spencer, who had taken up a seat against the counter.
"So things are finally improving between you guys?" Spencer's hand nimbly curled around the warmed mug before sipping at the contents slowly.
"I hope so, like I said we finally talked some things out last night but it's been less than twenty-four hours, we could still be back to our routine of radio silence or intense shouting battles by tonight. I really hope that's not the case but what more can we do? We're working with what we got." Emily spoke on a heavy held breath, sucking by a tension filled breath as she eyed Paige once more. Asleep, the one place she seemed contented in recent weeks.
"You'll both get through this." Spencer added with a kind smile, her voice honest and hopeful.
"Everyone keeps telling me that."
"You don't believe you will?"
"Actually, I do. Paige and I have grown up a lot over the past five years, if this had happened back then it would have broken us just like the car accident did. We're much stronger people now, I mean with the exception of Maya and a few high school flings Paige was my first real relationship. I was Paige's first girlfriend, her first love. I think the experiences we had when apart were needed, the good and the bad. It's been tough but it's all worth it in the end. I still get to go to bed each night with her beside me, for the first time ever it's something I see myself doing as long as time allows." Emily blushed seeing the glint of happiness shine in Spencer's eye.
"You didn't see yourself with Paige till the end when you two were together before?" Spencer questioned intrigued by the conversation brought up.
"I did, of course I did. No one enters a relationship thinking it's going to end. But this time it's different, it's a stronger sense of security. It's weird I just feel it in my bones that Paige is it for me, maybe it took losing her all those years before to actually realise it. Truly realise it" Emily explained, her face lighting up with passion underlining the rawness, belief and truth beneath her words.
"Well if it's any consolation, we're all rooting for you two." Spencer encouraged sweetly.
A tiresome groan echoed out around the room interrupting the two's conversation. "I smell coffee." The hoarse voice carried soon after, both pairs of eyes setting in on Paige as she slowly adjusted her body into a sitting position, mumbling obscenities to herself as her ribs continued to burn uneasily when she moved after being stuck in one position for so long.
"Should we help?" Spencer stood feeling bad seeing just how much pain the brunette was in as she tried to stand.
"Nope, we're done with all that. She's fine, if she needs help she'll ask." Emily shrugged, taking another sip from her own mug watching her girlfriend intently, secretly proud seeing how far Paige's body had improved since they started swimming more often. After a beat Paige was back on her feet, she stood still for a moment before straightening out her body and walking towards the kitchen area. She approached Emily first, having not yet fully taken in Spencer's presence in the room. She wrapped her long arms around Emily's waist and kissed up along the girl's neck catching the edge of the girl's jaw bone savouring every inch of the girl's skin.
"Mmm you smell nice" Nuzzling her nose into the crook of her girl's neck, distracted only when she heard Spencer awkwardly cough on a sip of her coffee. "Oh hi Spencer." She blushed red embarrassed by her one set mind, as she intimately embraced Emily whilst completely ignoring the other woman's presence in the room.
"It's fine, don't mind me." She waved them off chuckling into her mug. The trio now laughing in unison making light-hearted conversation, the two girlfriend's breaking apart but with Emily missing the intimacy almost instantaneously, she turned to peck at Paige's lips for one last touch, knowing in truth Spencer wasn't bothered by their fleeting moments of PDA. "Good to see you too are actually getting along better." She added.
"We finally talked last night." Paige chuckled, nudging into Emily side before resting her head on the taller girl's shoulder and wrapping her arms around her stomach from behind, seeking warmth as her fingers edged just underneath Emily's shirt. "Who knew communication was such an important aspect of a relationship?" She added jokingly, Emily sighed with pretend annoyance when Paige sought out a mouthful from her girlfriend's cup, after a moment of teasing she reluctantly held the cup up to girlfriend's lips.
"So I have all the information you asked for." Spencer didn't hold back when it came down to business, the three of them had moved to sit at the small four seat dining table. Emily and Paige had only used it twice before, when they went out of their way to cook a fancy meal, and treat the evening as candle lit dinner without having to leave the confines of Paige's apartment.
"Before we get into this can I ask a few more questions?" Her softened brown eyes bounced between Emily and Spencer, security coming when she felt Emily swipe her thumb over the back of her hand, both hers Emily's now securely entwined together.
"Of course Paige, this isn't anything formal. You entitled to any information you want?" Spencer explained.
"What's the likelihood he'll attack again?" Paige swallowed, trying to ease the tickly dry feeling in the depths of her throat.
"From my reading of the information, he won't... I suspect he'll be locked up for at least the next five years and a permanent restraining order put in place, but as of right now you're just as much a stranger to him as he is to you. His only other record is a DUI..." Spencer began briefing Paige on the information she had found out, but stopped when Paige stood grabbing the small pile of files from the coffee table and moving with determination towards the kitchen.
"Paige? Love, are you okay?" Emily asked immediately concerned.
Paige continued pulling out the biggest pot they owned before she threw all the files Spencer brought along into the large metal soup pan and threw in a match, igniting file after file.
"Paige?" Spencer and Emily watched on, both unnerved by the moment.
"I'm sorry Spence, you put a lot into researching this information. But I don't need to know anymore. What happened, happened. But knowing more about this guy isn't going to do me any favours, I have all I need to make me feel safe in this world right here." Paige's eyes reddened with tears as she looked to Emily, her knees almost faltering when she saw the look of strength and support come immediately.
"Em what you said last night made perfect sense. I could choose to know more but I don't think it will help. We live in a city of over eight million people, anything can happen. This man will get what he deserves, I have every faith in your work Spence and the legal system, but knowing more about him will serve me no good. That makes him a person, a real person, I don't want him to be real to me. I just want to move on, the scars will always be there but that will be it. I'm taking power of the situation. I'm done." Paige's tears grew more intense, her breathing laboured as the sobs came from deep in her chest, Emily stood knowing Paige was becoming overwhelmed, running to her side as she placed a lid a top the metal pot to cease the burning flame. Paige stance gave way as she crumbled to the floor, Emily catching her and easing her fall while the emotions won out, holding her sobbing girlfriend tight in her arms as she cried. Everything of the past months catching up with her, Emily knew in her heart this moment was inevitable she almost willed it on, but it pained her seeing the love of life's body shaking, crying from the depths of her chest as she faced her fears, slowing coming to terms that what had happened was just a random senseless act of violence.
Spencer stood too, knowing it was probably the right time to leave, her eye line meeting Emily's, as the pair shared a moment of understanding before she quietly left the apartment.
Paige continued sniffling into Emily shoulder for the next half hour, Emily remained still, just holding her and offering reassurances every few minutes. It was good for Paige, they both knew it the minute she began to cry, this was her finally dealing with what had happened. In a weird way accepting it, something she hadn't yet done letting it steep in the back of her mind creating nothing but unease, anxiety and tension. The breakdown ultimately inevitable and incredibly cathartic for the brunette.
"I'm such a mess, Em. Why you haven't left me yet is a miracle?" Paige whimpered sadly moving closer into her girlfriend's hold once she met her eye line for the briefest of moments before resting her head against Emily's chest, seeking out the soothing sounds of the girl's heartbeat.
"Never." Emily whispered with reassurance, placing a kiss to Paige's forehead. "You are a mess, Paige McCullers, right now at least. Full of tears, drool and snot." She laughed hearing a chuckle emanate from Paige too. "A beautiful mess." She paused for a moment "My beautiful mess." Placing another kiss to her girl's forehead, holding her even tighter.
Later that evening while Emily worked rabidly hunched over her computer while tapping away at the keyboard with intent. Paige guessing the woman was working on work reports when she was distracted by her, first. Frankly, she had been distracted through-out the whole afternoon by the beautiful women. The raven haired girl was sat at the kitchen counter her legs curled under body as she worked away with great concentration, oblivious to the sheer amount of torture she was reeking on the brunette's mind. She was wearing one of Paige's football shirts after changing out of her tear stained t-shirt from earlier, it was too big on her, much like it was on Paige too, but it still managed to look good, really good. The white Eagle's shirt acted like a beautiful contrast against her golden brown skin, she was humming away to herself while tapping her pen against the computer screen, the tapping in time with whatever song caught her mind in that moment, whilst she read through previous case reports and referrals.
Paige had her hair tied back and her glasses on, now fresh faced after taking a warm shower washing away the emotional moments from this morning. It did her good though, she felt lighter now, freer. It was nice to regain such a sense of familiarity over her being once again. Her breath disappearing from her lungs as she watched Emily move to rub out the knots in her neck and shoulder, now stiffened while sitting on the hard stood and in one position for so long.
Standing quietly she moved forward, her hand landing on top of her girlfriend's, Emily turned her head slightly with a smile creeping to upturn the corner of her lips. Paige moved closer, sliding her fingers to reveal as much of the olive skin beneath the oversized Eagle's jersey as possible, her eyes roaming over the faint muscles from her swimming days shaping her neck and shoulders. Taking over from Emily she rubbed her fingers across the subtle mounds and dips, before tracing over those same destinations with her lips, teeth and tongue, a breathy gasp slipping through Emily's mouth as her neck rolled backwards feeding into the warm touch of her girlfriend's soft lips. It had been over three weeks since the two had sex, there had been touching and kissing, but unexpected moments like this, what would be considered innocent actions to most couples, evoked fireworks for them. Emily looped her arm around Paige's neck pulling her closer, as the girl's lips and mouth trailed up to her neck, unable to fight the urge to mark her lover. The stinging sensation soothed with a further swipe of Paige's determined tongue.
"Emily Fields, dance with me?" She whispered, another frustrated groan followed by a bashful giggle of excitement alighting her favourite pair of brown eyes with amusement, enough to warm her heart and excite the butterflies in her stomach. Paige wasn't one known for her exceptional dancing skills, but it was something Emily was always incredible good at. It was for that reason Paige had come to love it. Reaching forward they entwined their fingers, Paige encouraging Emily's stiffened body from the stood, before taking out her phone and setting it to the Bluetooth music system, as Frank Sinatra started to billow around the room. Their bodies naturally pulling together, melting into one as Emily lay her head onto Paige's shoulders, her arms wrapping seamlessly around her girlfriend's waist as they waltzed slowly around the limited space on offer. It was a truly beautiful moment, and frankly the most intimate moment the two shared in such a long time, their bodies aligned as their lips sought out the other when the time seemed right, whispered murmurings of 'I love you' and soft flowing lyrics.
"I love you." Paige whispered embracing the taller girl's lips in a passionate kiss as they continued swaying slowly.
"I love you too." Emily words uttered on a breath when they sought out oxygen.
"Thank you for today." They kissed again, this time slower a seal of her appreciation.
"Kinda what I'm here for, Pay." Emily gave a sideways grin, kissing her cheek.
Paige ribs were slowly starting to ache, being on her feet for close to hour was starting to cause a strain. "I know I promised that I would stop telling you what to do, but you should sit, Pay. I can see the pain in your eyes." She placed a gentle kiss to the tip of her girlfriend's nose.
"But I'm enjoying dancing with you too much." Paige spoke quietly, she was enjoying every second of their impromptu dance, she didn't want the moment to end. The sense of closeness and connection, one she had missed dearly.
"And you don't think I'm not? I just don't want you doing further damage to your ribs. In all honesty Paige, it not for your sake, but for mine. You're killing me with all these romantic gestures, dancing around the apartment to Sinatra. Kissing. The way you're holding me. I can feel your racing heart, beating violently in your chest for god sake. For selfish reasons I want your ribs to get better." Emily's voice honing a hoarseness as she spoke about how much she needed Paige to heal.
"I guess you have a point... but what I'm really getting out of this, is that I'm an incredible wooer. I got so much game" Paige smirked with a playful wink, Emily rolling her eyes grinning widely at the brunette's goofiness.
"Yeah, yeah McCullers. Don't go and get too cocky now." Emily smacked the other girl's ass, as she moved to walk towards the couch, Paige's resolve breaking as Emily's logic won.
"Em?" Paige called out, just as Emily had took back up her spot at the kitchen counter.
"Mmmhmm?" She hummed a response.
"It's been awhile but do you feel like heading out for dinner tonight, and we can go see a movie afterwards."
"Paige McCullers are you asking me on a date?" Emily smiled her eyes twinkling with playfulness.
"I guess I am." Paige shrugged her response.
"I would love to go on a date with you, my love." Emily beamed running across the room to plant another kiss to her girlfriend's lips, this too might not have seemed as a big deal to most couples but Paige was willingly offering to go out, no longer scared or hesitant to leave the apartment. It would be the first time they left the apartment hand in hand since Paige got hurt.
"You can get all dressed up, and tease me endlessly with those gorgeous long legs of yours, after our meal we can go get ice cream at that Italian place you like and walk hand in hand to the movie theatre, where we'll choose a seat in one of the darkened corners so we can spend more time making out like teenagers than watching the screen." Paige explained excitedly, her face beaming while her expression could only be described as pure happiness, Emily felt on fire as her heart hammered wickedly in her chest seeing just how free, full of life and light her girlfriend looked. Tears stinging the corners of her eyes, as she stood to run in need of another kiss. Their lips crashing together with such ferocity, Emily pouring everything she had in her into the kiss. "Hey, hey, I didn't mean to make to cry, Em."
"You didn't, well you did, but they're happy tears." Emily offered a watery smile, joining their lips together once more revelling in every second of their physical closeness. "Everything you said sounds perfect, Pay. So perfect."
Paige smiled, unable to say much in awe of the look of love in Emily's eyes, as she dried the girl's tear-stained cheeks with the pads of her thumbs.
"I can't put into words how I feel seeing you happy again, back to your colourful self. You're perfect Paige, don't ever forget that." Emily hummed, her face softening as she found comfort in the warm circling of hands on her face tentatively wiping away her tears. "You're perfect." She whispered once more before joining their lips for one last kiss.
Another week had passed and thankfully this one was a lot different in comparison to the past three. The fighting had reduced significantly, bickering still happened but it was much more playful than before. Paige injuries were improving too, she was going out more on her own, calling to see Caleb and Hanna or visit Spencer, even taking a trip into work to see her colleagues. What had been gentle floating around the pool had now advanced to paddling, thanks to Emily's guidance and persistence with the girl when they got the chance to access the rehabilitation pool in Emily's work.
Since things were finally starting to look up and slowly return to normal. Hanna suggested throwing a conjoined house-warming and baby shower for Aria, in Emily and Paige's new apartment to pick up everyone's spirit. Aria was only six months along but given her quickly advancing pregnancy it was probably safer for her to stay home in Rosewood over the next few coming weeks than travel to city. It wouldn't really be an official house-warming either, given Emily and Paige had set a date for a bigger occasion that weekend, inviting work mates and a wider circle of friends.
"For fuck sake Paige! Why did you have to choose to live in an apartment with impossibly high ceilings, making everything almost impossible to reach when they're placed on impossibly high shelves?" Emily sighed grabbing one of the stools lying next to the kitchen counter, she was searching for one of Paige's old Polaroid cameras knowing it would be great for capturing moments tonight, for both them and Aria who always preferred having a physical copy than a digital photo.
"You could have always asked me to move in with you, Em? Oh wait, I forgot you don't have a house of your own..." Paige remarked dryly, Emily shooting her a warning yet teasing glare. "Plus the apartment not's that big, the best way of gaining storage was going upwards. What are you looking for anyway? Can't you just take a moment to relax with your girlfriend before your friend's get here?"
"OUR FRIENDS!" Emily shouted shaking her head with disbelief, hissing out laughter. "Your right though, I couldn't even afford a room in an apartment similar to this in New York, and this place was just gifted to you for being a talented illustrator or some shit."
"I love when you call me talented. I love it even more when you say I'm right." Paige shot back, a sickly smug grin plastered on her features. "You still never said what you were even looking for?"
"That old polaroid camera you own. I know I saw it up here the other day when I had to go looking for your drawing supplies, because someone couldn't look for them, themselves." Emily eyed the girl further, her mouth curled up with a smirk, laughing when Paige coolly shrugged off her comment.
"Oh how I miss your caring and overprotective side?" Paige shot back just as quickly after a beat. The teasing and flirting aside it didn't stop Paige's anxiety growing from watching the girl standing on her tippy toes stretching upwards, her stance as a result awkward a top the stool. "Is this a good idea? Do we really need it? Be careful up there, Em. We don't need any more injuries."
"Yes, we do need it and it's a great idea. We were looking for ways to decorate, we can snap some cute photos, make a collage or something to hang on the wall."
Paige eyes roamed her apartment once again, she really didn't understand Emily's insistence on decorating the place. She like the minimalistic feel.
"Come on we're cute, shouldn't we at least capture that while we're still young and wrinkle less. We only have one photo together in this whole place." Emily laughed as she continued searching through the cupboard of everything and anything.
"Young and wrinkle less? When did you become so vein, Hanna's influence becoming too much? I have hundreds of photos of us and you right here on my phone. Some of those are for my eyes only though." Paige cheeks turned a faint red colour, as she was reminded of the numerous slightly risqué photos Emily had sent her.
"Paige, sweetheart. Focus." Emily tone tinged with a teasing condescending bite.
"Fine, I guess we could use more photos around the place. It just makes things that little more real." Paige voice trailed on, seeing Emily turn to face her even more this time.
"Paige..."
"I know, I know. You're here for the long haul and I can't get rid of you that easy yadda yadda yadda. I best just start accepting that I'm stuck with ya forever more..." Paige mocked, her words cut off when Emily fired a small teddy at Paige from across the room followed by her flipping her off with a cheeky grin, the motion causing the raven-haired girl to nearly fall. "Woah!" Em, easy you going to fall!" Paige warmed, her heart rate slowing once Emily regained her footing.
"I'm like a ninja." She smiled before searching through the cupboard once more.
"No but seriously, Em. You're right, we should have photos. It's just my head gets in the way of these things sometimes and messes with me. I know you're not Alex, and you'd never cheat. I know there's more in this relationship, than there ever has been before, it certainly feels like it's going to last. But then I remember the feeling of taking down the photos when Alex and I broke-up, trying to block out the memories because it rips you apart. Trying to get rid of the photos of you and I all those years ago and you remember everything so clearly, and you wonder how you can go from such love fuelled smiles to broken hearted tears, the pain is unbearable. But yes, we should have photos, because I've been on this new journey with a beautiful woman, and we're both slowly learning that you can't change the awful things that happen, you just have accept them and appreciate the good in life even more so. We should have photos because this is the good, Em. This time it actually feels like forever."
"I could kiss you right now, McCullers." Emily's voice not much louder than a whisper, her heart racing rabidly as she took in the enormity of the other girl's words, she was completely blown away.
"Why don't you?"
"Because my urge to find that stupid fucking camera is greater than ever, after everything you just said." She harrumphed, arms flailing as she continued looking through the cupboard with a new perversity. "Paige how much shit do you own?" She questioned aloud. "Got it." She finally declared proudly, swinging her body to show her girlfriend. The movement too much this time causing the stood to twist under her body off-setting her balance completely. "Shit!"
Paige jumped to her feet and within a flash she was under her girlfriend, arms stretched to catch the taller girl's plummeting body, with a thud their two now entwined bodies crashed to the floor.
"Are you okay?" Paige was a little winded but still concerned for her girlfriend's well-being.
"Paige what the hell was that? You could have..." She paused her eyes searching the brunette, something completely different interrupting her train of thought. "Paige! Ohmigod Paige!" she screeched suddenly overcome with excitement. Paige's searching eyes looked on in confusion and concern, but from the looks of things Emily was unhurt, leaving her even more bemused.
"What?! What Emily?" Paige panicked, her brows knitting together with intensity.
"Your ribs!"
"What about them?" Paige pushed her body back quickly scanning the length of her stomach out of fear she was bleeding or something had happened she was still yet unaware of.
"You basically ran over here, caught me, and your ribs aren't bothering you." Emily beamed with excitement eagerly awaiting the news to hit Paige.
"Shit..." Paige's smile grew, they were sore but not near as sore as they have been since the attack. It was the first time she was capable of doing something of such intensity without the pain overwhelming her. "Your right, Em. Fuck! They're actually healing." Her smile beaming like a child's on Christmas morning.
"I know you've been doing a lot better lately, but Jesus Paige if you'd tried this a week ago we'd be back in the hospital." Emily repeated, their lips crashing together still unable to hold back the smiles and happiness, the embrace a natural reaction as they celebrated the subtle yet thrilling moment. "You sure you didn't hurt yourself?" Emily questioned once more, unable to wait on the brunette's answer as she pulled her back into another heated embrace.
"It hurts but no more than it does when I get up in morning and move about for the first time." Paige explained when she wasn't being bombarded with kisses and wide-eyed glances of intrigue, excitement and pure happiness. The kisses once buzzing with electricity now slowed to more meaningful, languid caresses. Tongues meeting as they settled in the realisation that things were really starting to look up for them. A desire fuelled moan rumbled between them, both unsure of who the perpetrator was, but it didn't matter, they were so caught up in the soft combines of lips admiring lips, teeth pulling, gnawing and nipping teasingly as tongues harmonised in such a sensual sway. Emily taking the brief moment apart when they both sought oxygen to replenish their racing hearts to climb onto her knees. Crawling forward she cupped Paige's cheek with a hand while the other held her steady just above her girlfriend. Paige's back was now pressed against the wall, the same one they had spent hours painting together all those months ago, her breathing turned ragged and disorientated as she revelled in her girlfriend's touch. Emily's lips kissed a trail up along the slight mound of her cheek, down the girl's defined jaw bone to pay attention to her pummelling pulse point. Paige's hands sliding under Emily's shirt, roaming across the girl's abs before fingering the edges of Emily's lace bra.
"Fuck, Em. I've missed this." Paige hummed, a vibration rolled deep in her chest while her eyes started rolling skyward as she felt Emily suck at the column of her neck the warmth of lover's mouth on her skin simply intoxicating, sadly just as the declaration of lust was spoken the moment came crashing to halt when a loud knock rang out.
"Can't we just host this thing some other time?" Emily's head fell with dismay onto Paige's shoulder who was left just as disappointed.
"Maybe if we're quite enough they'll disappear?" Paige whispered, re-joining her lips to Emily's quickly invoking the sense of fervour, heat and neediness as seconds before.
"Emily Fields, Paige McCullers. I know you're in there. Did you forget I have a key? So you can open the door, or I can? I'll give you two minutes. Don't forget there's a pregnant lady out here." Hanna's voice boomed from the other side, Paige and Emily laughing when they could just about make out the voices of Spencer and Aria, chastising the blonde for her brashness.
"I'm going to kill Caleb." Paige whispered under her breath, she had given him a key for safety reasons but obviously that happened to fall into the hands of his wife.
"Kiss me?" Emily uttered, her eyes dark and stared into the depths of Paige's. "Kiss me once more like you did just moments ago."
Paige didn't have to be told twice, slowly she pushed back the taller girl's loose strands of hair, her left hand cupped the girl's cheek before she encouraged her forward. Their lips connecting although barely touching at first, as one pair of lips ghosted over the other, before the finally joined with more intent, soaking up every ounce of the other person's soul.
The kiss didn't last long, but it was enough to create the biggest sense of breathlessness and love. Paige's eyes remained shut, Emily couldn't help the adoring grin from trickling onto her still tingling lips, upturning one side of her mouth as she took in the image of her beautiful girlfriend before her.
Her heart swelled.
"Come on, we can have fun with them for a few hours." Emily stood up first, reaching a hand to help Paige up too. Appeasing her with one final, lasting kiss before she brushed out both their hair to try and make them look at least a little bit more presentable.
"See told you they were having sex." Hanna declared the moment she walked into the room.
"No, we actually weren't, Han." Emily shot down her friend, rolling her eyes.
'No we weren't, but we could be on the way to sex right now though if you didn't have to barge in.' Paige muttered under her breath, Emily the only one in earshot, kissed her temple before they separated. Paige immediately went about helping Aria find a comfortable spot to sit while Emily got things ready in the kitchen.
[A/N] So as you may have noticed this chapter's a little shorter than the previous few, I had more written but I didn't think it was worthy of posting, so instead I'm going to work on it some more. That being said I probably won't be updating until the 24th of next month, a chapter to celebrate the two anniversary of this story, crazy right? Just with work becoming more hectic and other life things that have to be dealt with, I'll struggle to find the time to write in the coming weeks.
Being completely honest, I wasn't overly happy with this chapter and that's where I need your help. Maybe it's just because I enjoy writing drama and angst that bit more, that I then find chapters like this a little insignificant and banal, I know when I'm reading fluff in other's writing I enjoy it a lot, but when it comes to writing it myself I struggle. Being as critical as possible what's your thoughts on this chapter, anything you would have liked to seen. What did like and dislike, what could I have improved on? I'm stuck at the minute and I think hearing your comments both positive and negative may help me out of this little rut.
Thanks again for reading, reviewing and supporting me and this story, it means so much. Until next time -KTF