[A/N] Yes, I'm still here. I apologies for my lack of posting, life got busy. I also kind of fell out of love of writing Paily for awhile, anything I wrote didn't feel authentic or real to the characters. This story will have a resolution, don't worry, I still working my way towards that goal. It may happen in two chapters or five, I mean I might even have ten more chapters in me (I doubt it, but I want the to happen with ease. No rushing). I can't guarantee when I'll post again, and for the most part they will be shorter than what I'm used to posting. Thanks to everyone who checks in regularly, without you guys I'd have no motivation whatsoever.
Emily's whole being felt stiff and sore when she tried to straighten out her awakening body, but even that was almost impossible given just how trapped she felt. Paige's body was currently wrapped around her, even more so now, than when they had first fallen asleep. She was currently pinned to the back of the couch between a mixture of arms, legs and a blanket strewn loosely over them. The room was still shadowed in darkness only lightened by the dying embers of the fire, still glowing in the background and offering out just enough warmth to keep any chill at bay. The rain had intensified as they slept too. Emily looking up as she heard the raindrops pelting, the sound soothing against the wood clad roof, this time she was grateful for it, it made her little space inside the cabin with Paige feel that bit more sacred.
"Pay..." Emily whispered, gently brushing Paige's hair aside hoping the soft action would be just enough to stir her girlfriend awake.
"Hmmph?" she groaned, "are you okay?" Paige pulled her face back a little, her voice still groggy as her hands gently stroked across the small of her girlfriend's back, squinting her eyes trying to see as much of Emily's face as possible.
"Yeah. I'm more than okay," she smiled lovingly in return, "except I really need the toilet and you have a vice like grip". Emily snickered quietly, now amused by the perplexed expression on her girlfriend's face, kissing her temple when the brunette rested her head back into the couch, she still obviosuly felt exhausted from their earlier escapades.
"What time is it?"
"It's only just after five. Sleep some more, beautiful, I'll only be a minute," Emily kissed Paige once more, slipping out from under the blanket to run to the bathroom. Her naked body awash with goosepimples after being hit with the cooler air, causing her to miss Paige's radiant body heat almost instantaneously.
"Do you want to get into the bed?" Paige questioned sleepily when she heard the tiptoeing of Emily's return. Emily pausing to think for a moment before she threw another handful of logs onto the fire, hoping to keep it burning long enough to last them through 'til morning.
"No, I like that the couch, it's just a little too small for both of us to sleep on, I get to curl right up into you," Emily whispered as she carefully climbed over Paige's body, tucking back in between the other girl's body and the back of the couch. Paige's arms were quick to wrap back around Emily's waist as they shared a brief sleepy kiss.
"I love you," She hummed out, yawning as her head settled and tucked in against Paige's chest, she enjoyed listening to the soft harmonies of her lover's heartbeat and even flows of breathe.
"I love you too, Em".
"And so she finally awakens..." Paige chuckled lightly, finally feeling the ravenhaired beauty stir next to her. Emily dozily rubbed the sleep from the corner of her eyes as she nuzzled closer to Paige for a moment.
"What time it is?" Emily voice sounded harsh, still very much laden with sleep.
"Not even a good morning, Paige..." She giggled in mocking.
"Good morning, Paige... What time is it?" Emily spoke bluntly, which only caused Paige's laugh to intensify.
"It's just gone nine. Why, my dear girlfriend, are you in a hurry to get somewhere?" Paige continued her game of teasing.
"No. What time did you wake again this morning?" Emily leaned back into Paige, enjoying the comfort and closeness. Her ears picking up on the steady thrum of her girlfriend's heartbeat, making her relax even more so.
Her safe place to fall.
"About eight".
Paige's fingers tracing invisible lines of intricate designs the length of her girlfriend's arm. It was the little moments like these that she cherished the most. She got a feeling that Emily felt that way too, the thought reassured as she felt the darker skinned girl's lips ghost gently against her collar bone offering a tentative kiss.
"You didn't have to stay next to me..."
"I know. But I figured some reading with a beautiful woman sleeping peacefully and curled up next to me wouldn't be a bad way to spend my Saturday morning." Paige nuzzled into the mess of hair atop Emily's head, soaking in the subtle waft of raspberry scented shampoo.
"Where is this sleeping beauty you speak of?" Emily looked up, her face now alight with playfulness as she leaned her chin on Paige's chest. Now that she was feeling more awake and coherent, her eyes were glistening with a cheeky playfulness to match her girlfriends.
"She's not sleeping anymore, but still appears just as beautiful," Paige whispered, before connecting her lips to Emily's. The kiss sweet and soft.
"With god awful lines like that, I'm beginning to think you're trying to get into my pants or something, McCullers..." Emily piqued an eyebrow, teasingly biting at her lower lip.
"If you were actually wearing any, why yes, I would be. Did my 'god awful line', happen to work?" Paige smirked, Emily tackling her into a bruising kiss not a second later. Paige's book once again left tumbling to the floor, this time at least, a few pages had been read.
When Paige awoke for the third time that morning, Emily was nowhere to be found. Stretching out her tired and pleasantly sore muscles she tottered into the bedroom, their bed still untouched except for their two bags lying open on either side. Grabbing some sweat pants, and having searched around in her own bag for a while, she eventually decided on the sweater Emily had worn on the journey to Philly. She found it hanging precariously over the back of a chair, Emily must have thrown it there, once they arrived yesterday afternoon.
Rubbing at her eyes she headed for the kitchen, her stomach now ravished with hunger as she took notice of the small digital clock over the oven. It was now just after noon.
Making herself a fresh cup of coffee, her mind wandered to the whereabouts of her girlfriend. She was expecting to find Emily in the kitchen, yet she was nowhere to be found. After a moment's thought she went with her next guess. Paige suspected that the girl was out lounging on the deck, the sun was now shining and the air pleasantly warm after the unexpected rain storm overnight, it was spectacular for the time of year. Paige secretly loved summer time or to be even more specific she loved the muddled time between summer and spring. Being completely honest with herself she just really enjoyed anytime Emily would go to the effort of sunbathing, when her girlfriend's skin darkened from a milky coffee colour to a gorgeous glowing bronze. Paige was always completely enamoured by the subtle changes to her lover's skin tone all thanks to the strengthening sun. In all honestly, she loved Emily's skin regardless, but there was something magical about the shade of brown it would change too, perhaps it was because her own turned pink in winter and only a little tan in summer, if she was lucky. Emily did however, seem to have a fondness for the handful of freckles that appeared around her nose after a bout of strong sunshine, she blamed her Celtic heritage for that imprint on her features.
The weather today made her think of California, the two were in northern California when they lived there, but still got their fair share of sunshine. On the odd weekend they ventured down south taking lazy hand-holding strolls along Malibu beach, sometimes in roller-skates if Paige felt particularly confident, she hadn't quiet mastered the skill of rollerblading like Emily had done so easily. The food trek they'd take around the LA food market and the whale watching they did on odd trip to San Diego.
"Em?" She called out making sure her girlfriend wasn't anywhere to be found in the cabin. No answer came.
Giving her newest literary fascination, Paige grabbed the book she was reading earlier this morning and headed outside. The sound of subtle splashing becoming apparent the closer she moved towards the deck. She couldn't help an enchanted smile from creeping onto her lips, the moment she saw Emily swimming back and forth across the lake. There would always be a special place in her heart for Emily and the water, it only grew fonder watching the girl and swimming re-connect in recent weeks.
"Hello stranger. I thought you ran away and left me for a hot minute," Paige laughed, leaning against the doorway, her eyes kept amused by Emily's smooth, fluid movement as she cut the water with ease.
"You know I promised to never leave ever again". Paige could just about make out the sincere smile on the girl's face. "But you're finally awake, bout time sleepyhead. I must have really wore you out that time", Emily sniggered with a wink, threading the water.
"Yeah, yeah whatever you want to believe, Fields. Is the water cold?".
"Nah, it's really not too bad. It's fresh, probably from all the rain last night, but the suns slowly warming it. It's nice, you should join me?", Emily swam towards the little wooden pier at the end of the deck.
"I think I'll pass for now, my muscles got enough of a work-out earlier, I don't want to overdo it and jeopardise my recovery, plus I got my book to read. You keep swimming, and we can maybe head into Rosewood for breakfast... or I should probably say lunch?", Paige offered, pulling a seat out further onto the deck so she could lie under the unusually warm May sunshine that made it seem more like a day in mid-July.
Paige was so enamoured with the book, she didn't even notice Emily approaching her until she felt a few cold drops of water fall on her shoulder, almost exactly like how the rain had started last night.
"Wanna join me in the shower?" Emily hummed, her wrinkled fingers playing with Paige's right hand, hoping to encourage her girlfriend up. Paige stomach rumbled causing the two to chuckle. "I promise, no funny business. We'll be in Rosewood in the next hour, and get some food in that impatient tummy of yours".
Paige didn't respond she simply followed her girlfriend to the washroom, she knew she too had to shower before they left, it might as well be spent with her girlfriend, whether or not they could actually keep their hands to themselves would be another matter completely. Hey, at least they were saving time... and water.
"Emily Fields and Paige McCullers... I thought it was two of my past swimming stars when I saw you walk in", A women spoke, momentarily interrupting Paige and Emily, the two girls caught up in conversation as they walked into the diner.
"Ohmigod, Coach! It's been so long. How are you?", Paige leaped forward, wrapping the smaller woman up in her arms. She always had such a strong sense of admiration for the older woman. Coach Fulton had aged a little since they last saw her, yet, she still radiated that same sense of warmth, openness and air of encouragement. Emily quickly followed, hugging their old coach.
"You're still working in Rosewood?"
"Yeah, we had a practice meet this morning, the seasons over so I figured I'd treat them to some breakfast, they deserved it. You should say hello, I'm sure they will all recognise you guys from the photos in the school's hallway."
"Yeah, we could? I promised I'd feed Paige first though, so maybe after we have breakfast?" Emily chuckled amicably, poking her girlfriend in the stomach.
"So not to overstep, but I didn't know you two were still together? I thought after everything..." Coach Fulton spoke reluctantly, she had heard about the awful break-up much like most of Rosewood did, but seeing them together now it was apparent they were much more than friends.
"Ummm yeah, well we did break up. We're actually only back together five almost six months now." Emily offered, her hand slipping into Paige's. The break-up still very much a tricky subject for both of them.
"Well you can't deny the connection you two always had, I danced in my office when I saw you two making out in the locker room. You were both trying to be sneaky, but I knew you two always had a thing." Coach Fulton laughed.
"You saw us?" Paige's eyes went wide, a blush rising with embarrassment. Emily couldn't help but laugh, her hand still firmly in Paige's, squeezing it gently offering a sign of support to ease her girlfriend's sense of shame. "Ohmygod, kill me now."
"Paige, it's fine. We're all adults now. Plus, I've run in on a lot worse in my locker rooms. I was just glad that one of you were finally brave enough to make a move, neither of you were very good at hiding your feelings. Honestly though, I'm just glad you two ended up back in each other's lives. Anymore swimming?" Coach Fulton enquired with intrigue.
"Not really, we both kind of fell out of love with the sport after the crash. But we are both slowly getting back into it, the water is still pretty important to us." Emily smiled kindly.
"Anyway, I'll let you two ladies enjoy your lunch in peace. I know how on edge McCullers can be with an empty stomach"
"'On edge', that's putting it nicely." Emily added, laughing with her former coach.
"What's that suppose to mean?" Paige mocking hurt, as a result of the teasing.
"See you two, later." Coach Fulton began walking away laughing to herself.
"Seeya, coach." Paige waved.
"Paige, my beautiful, wonderful girlfriend. Why is your attention anywhere but on me, right now?" Emily teased, purposely wanting to sound like an overly clingy girlfriend knowing Paige wasn't listening to anything she had to say in that moment, carefully she eyed the brunette whose focus was completely on another table across the room.
"Hmmm? Sorry Em what were you saying?" Emily laughed, when Paige shook her head to focus on her this time.
"Oh nothing, just well, I thought we could spend lunch staring lovingly into each other's eyes and talk about all the things we love about the other," she continued with her game.
"Oh right, okay?" Paige's brows creased, suddenly confused but held Emily's stare none-the-less.
"I'm joking, Paige. What's got you so intrigued?" Emily grinned at the lovable idiot sat opposite her.
"Kiss me?" Paige demanded her eyes scanning the room again.
"Are you trying to make someone jealous because...". Emily's words cut off when Paige closed the gap between their lips, kissing her intimately but not so much to draw the attention of the other customers.
"Okay Paige, what the hell is going on?" Emily asked, her frustration reaching breaking point. Finally she gave in, looking over her shoulder irritated not knowing why her girlfriend was acting so weird.
"See the young black haired girl down the opposite end to coach, she keeps making stupid jokes about you and me to the girl's around her. She hasn't stopped looking over here since coach came over to say hello".
"So, who cares, Pay? She's what, fifteen? It's sad, but some people still have horrible views." Emily's eyebrows pursed together not fully knowing why Paige was so bothered. But before Paige got the chance to explain, Coach Fulton wrapped up the girls to say hi for a moment. Some saying they admired their times and hoped to beat them one day, others even stating the pair were a cute couple. A little blonde handed them a napkin trailing behind the group as they left, before shuffling off shyly, her cheeks blazing in beet red. The young black haired girl now nowhere to be seen having disappeared to the toilet as the group got up to leave.
"Ohmigod, Pay. Look at this." Emily passed the napkin to her girlfriend, her eyes wide with amazement, her heart warmed with pride.
Thanks for giving me the courage to come out. –M
"Yes! It all makes sense now". Paige smiled smugly to herself, having finally put the mystery together.
"What is going on with you? Your brain still a little fried from last night", Emily eyed her further, laughing at her own joke, yet a little annoyed when Paige didn't react.
"Hey shark, can you come here for a second?" Paige called out to the gawky looking black haired girl from earlier, as she tried her best to pass them without much interruption.
"Ummm hi", she stood awkwardly. Her limbs long and gangly perfect for swimming, not so much in tense social setting when you didn't know what to do with them.
"You a good swimmer?"
"I'm back-up for our anchor, Gaby", she mumbled shyly.
"That's cool. Keep working on it, you'll get there eventually. You seem pretty popular with the team, must be good to have their support?" Paige continued, Emily eventually given up sat back in her chair and watched the interaction.
"Yeah, I mean I guess. We're not really friends outside of swimming. But they're cool" She shrugged, nervously.
"What about the cute blonde girl?" Paige asked, her smile kind and open. Emily's heart warming as the interaction went on, she was slowly beginning to realise what Paige had picked up on a while ago.
"That's Mack. Mackenzie. I don't know her that well, she kinda keeps to herself but she's funny, kind and nice. She a really good swimmer, too." She looked out the window seeing the blonde, smiling bashfully to herself as she saw the blonde laughing with a group of fellow swimmers.
"It's okay for you to like her", Paige offered, her tone reassuring and calm.
"How did you know I was... I mean, how did you know I'm...", she mumbled, tears staining her emerald green eyes unable to say the word aloud.
"Hey, it's okay, you know. I know what it's like...", Paige began, her voice sympathetic and understanding.
"God, Mackenzie came out and it seemed like nothing. Nobody even blinked an eye. I can't even look my parents in the eyes without feeling like they know and they hate me for it", her voice weak, trembling with fear.
"I've been there. I've been through all the hate, and the desperately wanting to be... normal. You'll work things out, I promise. Just give it some time. Practice saying it out loud. Then maybe you can tell Mackenzie, or better yet tell your parents, they might be angry and say things they don't mean, but if you think it's safe enough to tell them, then you should. Tell one of your friends when you're ready, that doesn't have to be right now it could be five years down the line. You could tell coach, she's honestly one of the most supportive people I know. Then go get your girl, it's not really fair to pull her back into the closet, I learned that the hard way", Paige spoke softly.
"Mackenzie would never go for someone like me...", she sighed sadly, looking to the blonde once more. "She's so smart and funny and such a good swimmer, and has like the nicest smile..."
"You never know." Emily spoke this time, briefly interrupting the younger girl. "The girl in Paige's story said yes, and never looked back. Well it's a little more complicated than that but for the most part. Some risks don't pay off, but some do".
"Promise me you'll stop hating yourself for being you", Paige spoke, offering out her pinky finger to make a pinky promise. "Wait do kids still do pinky promises or am I getting old?"
"It's still a thing and I promise." The younger girl sighed a breath of relief, as she linked her finger with Paige.
"Come on Sierra, sweetheart. We want to get back to the natatorium at some stage today. I have to give out my end of year awards." Coach approached the table, wrapping an arm around the girl.
"Two seconds, Coach. Actually, Coach can I talk to you after everyone leaves later today?" She smiled nervously, her hands playing awkward with fabric of her pockets.
"Of course, sweetheart. Now don't be too long", She warned, a smile on her face as she winked at Paige.
She knew, of course she knew. Coach always knew.
"Can I give you a hug before I go".
"Oh look at you already charming us ladies". Paige joked, making Sierra blush.
"Paige, don't embarrass the girl". Emily stood pulling the girl into an embrace.
"What she's got game already, Em, Mackenzie is going to fall for this charm so hard". Paige stood laughing kindly, Sierra laughing too as Paige hugged her.
"Thank you both so much."
"Oh and Sierra if things ever get too much, this is my e-mail and number, just in case you need some advice or just want to talk or things don't work out the way you had hoped", Paige pulled out her business card with her details on it before scribbling down Emily's e-mail address too.
"Thank you", She waved again running off to meet the rest of the group, Emily and Paige watched on as Sierra approached Mackenzie, the two quick to fall into easy conversation. Emily and Paige could only imagine what kind of the future, whether together or apart, those two young girls would have.
"Who knew a once self-hating teenage Paige would grow up to be an incredibly beautiful, brave and intelligent woman, offering advice to a fifteen year old in that exact same position, ten years later?" Emily's heart soared, a smile lighting up her face reflecting that feeling, as she grabbed a hold of the brunette's hand kissing it softly.
"I just told her what I needed to hear when I was her age", Paige shrugged, like it was nothing at all.
"Well, I don't think I can put into words just how happy I am that young Paige McCullers was brave enough to go after the girl".
"I am too, Em". Paige smiled with pride, Emily's words enough to reassure her that she did a good thing.
"Do you wanna get outta here? I hear Gino's calling our names... there's so much ice cream going uneaten", Paige joked, standing to kiss her girlfriend on the cheek.
"Sounds like a brilliant plan", Emily added. "Hi, sorry can we get the bill, please?" Emily asked a passing waiter.
"It's all settled up, the woman who was in here with the group of girls, she looked after it."
Emily and Paige looked at each other knowingly, shaking their heads before the pair spoke.
"Coach."
[A/N]: Thanks for reading. Seriously thanks for sticking around, and supporting this little story (That's not so little anymore). Leave me a review, if you so wish. I am eternally grateful for them. Thanks again for reading, until next time. (Hopefully it'll be sooner than this update) -KTF.
Fun little fact: The second half of this story is actually inspired by a head cannon of mine. Which is, Emily and Paige have a daughter in years to come and she's come out, after struggling with it, in a very similar way to Paige did. Their daughter isn't obviously scared what her parents will think, but about her friends/school and ultimately being worried she'll never land the girl of her dreams. Paige ends up offering the most amazing advice and support, and Emily swoons over her wife all over again etc. etc. etc.