Author's Note: Thank you all for sticking with the story. I'm trying to keep to a regular writing schedule but it takes me a little linger to finish up a chapter these days. Your continued interest means the world to me.

Also, thank you to all the guest reviewers who I can't reply to directly.

Emily woke feeling groggy and disoriented. The bed she was lying in was was not her own. The surroundings were unfamiliar to dull throbbing in her head and the dry, cottony feeling in her mouth told her she'd been drinking and for one heart stopping moment she worried she'd done something monumentally stupid. And then last night came filtering back to her. Dinner and beers in the backyard with Paige. Conversation and laughter. Crawling into the guest bed when really she wanted to crawl into the bed down the hall. Sighing in relief she rolled over onto her back, moving cautiously so as not to jar anything until she assessed the damage from the night before. When the pounding in her head didn't imcreae and her stomach didn't roil in protest she determined that she wasn't hungover. Still, this was now two nights in a row of drinking. It was not a habit she needed to get back into.

The bright golden light seeping in through the gap in the curtains told her it was early morning. When she squinted at her watch through sleep blurry eyes she confirmed that it was just after seven. The house was still and silent around her, indicating that Paige wasn't up the early hour and how late she had gone to bed Emily knew that she wouldn't be able to fall back asleep. She always had trouble settling in an unfamiliar room.

She slipped from the bed and padded down the hall to the bathroom, then headed out to the kitchen. Initially she'd been seeking coffee, but as she leaned against the counter waiting for the machine her stomach started to growl. After a quick glance around to find that there was nothing easily accessible to grab, no fruit in a bowl or muffins on the counter she decided to cook breakfast. She doubted Paige would mind her rummaging around in her kitchen for something to eat. And really it was only fair that she took care of breakfast after Paige had made dinner.

Emily pushed herself off the counter and shuffled over to the fridge. Unsurprisingly, it was pretty bare. A half empty carton of juice, coffee creamer, a rather sad looking head of lettuce, a few eggs, a couple condiment bottles and a brick of cheese. The freezer wasn't much better. A box of fish sticks, a couple of pizzas and a some bacon. Paige was such a bachelor sometimes. Emily vowed to make sure Paige went grocery shopping today before they parted ways. In the meantime, there was at least enough for her to scrape together a half decent breakfast. She pulled the bacon from the freezer, the eggs and cheese from the fridge and deposited it all on the counter while she went in search of cookware.

She was relieved to discover that Paige had a couple of frying pans. They were both small, for the most part single serve, but she could make do. And, even though it was petty and dumb, Emily couldn't help feeling pleased by the fact that apparently Paige wasn't cooking for anyone but herself these days. Emily doubted Paige had been single all this time. And as much as Emily hated to consider it, there was a chance she wouldn't be single for long. She was a catch and any woman would be lucky to have her. It was Emily's misfortune to be the one who had been stupid enough to let her go. She could only hope that she could find a way to get Paige back before she moved on with someone else.
She knew it was going to take more than cheese omelettes and bacon the achieve that. But it was a start.

Breakfast was almost ready when the shuffling of footsteps in the hallway alerted her to the fact that Paige was awake. She turned in time to see Paige enter the kitchen looking adorably sleep rumpled. She still bore crease marks from her pillow on her cheek. Her hair was coming out of its ponytail, flyaway pieces sticking out in every direction. One pant leg was bunched up around one ankle and her shirt was askew.

"Morning." Emily offered a tentative smile, uncertain as to whether the near kiss last night was going to taint their interactions this morning.

Paige blinked at her, then sleepily rubbed her eyes. "Not so loud," she muttered, shuffling the rest of the way into the room. Emily bit her lip, holding back a laugh as she realized that Paige was hungover. She hadn't thought that Paige had drank that much last night. Though she had always been a lightweight compared to Emily, who admittedly had a lot more experience holding her alcohol.

"There's coffee," Emily said softly, nodding towards the mug on the counter prepared to Paige's liking. Paige hummed softly in contentment as she reached for her cup. She cradled it in her hands for a moment before taking a long sip. "Are you hungry?"

Hungover Paige could be unpredictable. Sometimes she was ravenous, other times she couldn't stomach anything. She hadn't bolted from the room at the scent of food cooking though, so that was a good sign.

"Starved." Paige put the coffee back down on the counter and shuffled closer. "Which is why I'm concerned. Put the spatula down and step away from the stove."

Emily rolled her eyes and ignored the command. "Go sit down."
She gave Paige's shoulder a gentle shove when the other woman tried to peek around her to see what was cooking.

Grumbling softly under her breath, Paige grabbed her coffee and made her way over to the table.

Emily plated their meals and carried them over to the table. Paige eyed her eggs suspiciously, even going so far as to poke them with her fork.

Emily ignored her antics as she went to the fridge to grab the juice, and again for the ketchup, bringing it to the table last because she knew how much Paige liked it to be cold when she put it on her food. She slid into her seat and started on her own meal. She was three bites in before she realized Paige was still playing with her food.

"Just eat your breakfast."

The jokes about Emily's cooking abilities were getting old. It had been college. Everyone had been living off take out and microwave dinners. And its not like Paige had been a master chef herself. She'd prepared her share of burnt or oddly paired meals as well.

Paige's gaze snapped up at Emily's tone, which was maybe a little harsher than she had intended.

"I promise they're not going to hurt you," she said, softening her words.

"Sorry."

Paige readjusted her fork in her hand and took a tentative stab at her food. Emily rolled her eyes at the slow progress of her fork to her mouth and the slight twist of her lips just before she took a bite.

"Mmm. Hey. These are really good," Paige dug her fork into her meal with a little more enthusiasm for her second bite.
Emily chose not to comment on how surprised she sounded and just accept the compliment.

"We need to go grocery shopping," she said instead of answering with the "I told you so" that was on the tip of her tongue. "Your fridge is pathetic."

"I know." Paige offered up a sheepish smile. "I've been meaning to get around to it, but I've just been so busy getting the house settled and...things."

Emily knew that "things" meant her. She'd been a distraction for Paige since they'd run into each other. And not entirely in the best of ways. Paige was just polite enough not to say that to her face. But she accepted the explanation without pressing.

Instead she steered the conversation towards the list of things Paige would. The two of them making it through the rest of the meal in relative ease.

When they had finished Emily stood and began cleaning the table, only to be waved off by Paige.

"I got this. You cooked. I'll clean up."

It was a fair enough division of labour, one they had fallen into plenty of times when they'd been living together. But now Emily just felt bad about making a mess in Paige's house and leaving it for her to clean up.

"Its only a few dishes. I'll be finished in no time." Paige gently pried the plate and glass from her hand. "Why don't you shower and get ready while I do this."

"You wash, I'll dry?"

"No need. I'll put them in the strainer, let them air dry."

Emily considered insisting for a moment before giving in. It wasn't until she was in Paige's room, standing in front of her closet rifling through it for something to wear that she realized how domestic the whole scene had been.
It felt like so many mornings when they had been living together. The two of them having breakfast and planning their day. Discussing things like grocery lists and to-do lists and who's turn it was to clean the kitchen. It was almost unnerving how easily they fell into a routine. Emily had to remind herself that no matter what it might feel like in this moment that they weren't together. And they were a very long way from being so.

It was a tough truth to take but Emily kept reminding herself of it as she showered in Paige's bathroom and as she got dressed, pulling on Paige's clothes for the second day in a row.

Paige was in her room, presumably getting ready, when Emily stepped out of the bathroom. She busied herself making the bed in the guest bed and tidying up while she waited. When she ran out of minor tasks to keep her busy she took her phone into the living room and settled on the couch. She had a few missed calls and a handful of texts. Most of them from Hannah. Most of them insinuating. She ignored those in favour of actual conversation with the other people who had texted her. Mainly Aria and Spencer, but also a few from new friends she'd made at her orientation at Hollis and her mother.

She was in the middle of sorting out dinner plans with her mom later in the week when Paige strode into the room looking much more put together than she had first thing that morning. Her hair was smooth and tangle free and her jeans and t-shirt molded snugly to her frame.

"Perfect timing. My mom wants you to come to dinner."

Paige pulled up short. "She what now?" Her eyes widened in surprise. "Why?"

"Come on, you know my mom loves you. She misses you."

One of the hardest parts of the breakup was that she hadn't just lost Paige. She'd lost her family too. Ann and Nick had become like a second set of parents to Emily. Her own parents were both only children so Emily didn't have any aunts or uncles or cousins but Paige came from a big family. She had aunts and uncles on both sides and a whole brood of cousins that had embraced Emily with open arms. She had spent a number of years getting to known them on holidays, birthdays and get togethers. She had doted on the little ones and made friends with the ones closer to her own age. And then they were gone.

Emily knew that she might not have had a large extended family for Paige to enter into, but Paige had bonded with her parents. She and Pam had gotten very close. And when Wayne had died, Paige had grieved as if she had lost her own father. And Emily had pushed her away.

She didn't know why Paige seemed so stunned that her mom would want to see her. Pam adored Paige, and had never quite forgiven Emily for letting her go. Chances were she would've tracked Paige down on her own once she learned she was in town even if she and Emily weren't reconnecting.

"Did she say when? I'll have to check my schedule."

Emily refrained from rolling her eyes. She knew very well that Paige didn't have a hopping social calendar. Her family was all out on the west coast and she hadn't been in town long enough to reconnect with her old friends.

"She says whenever is good for you." Emily knew she was putting Paige on the spot but she didn't really care. She knew once Paige was over there and realized that Pam didn't blame her for the breakup she'd relax and have a good time. Plus maybe it would get Emily's mom off her back if she saw they were working things out.

"How about Wednesday? I'll tell her Wednesday." Emily typed her response before Paige had the chance to argue. She knew it was slightly selfish, but getting together was a good idea and she knew Paige would avoid it without a little nudge.

Paige opened her mouth and then shut it again with a soft sigh.

"Mom agrees to Wednesday. Details to follow." Emily ended the conversation with her mother and pushed herself to her feet. "Ready to go?"

Paige looked like she was going to refuse for a moment before nodding and ushering Emily ahead of her towards the door. She helped Emily into the same jacket as yesterday and then shrugged on her own.
Before they could head out, Paige's cell phone rang. She fished it from her jacket pocket and checked the screen.

"Sorry. I have to take this," she said before answering.

Emily shifted in place and let her eyes wander around the living room, assessing what more needed to be done in terms of decorating. She tried not to eavesdrop, but it was hard not to overhear. Not that Paige's end of the conversation gave away much. A lot of yesses and no's with no real context or substance. It was a brief conversation. Paige ended it by confirming that she would see whoever it was she was talking to at eight.

Her heart dropped as she considered she might have been wrong about Paige's single status. Maybe she was dating. It didn't help her worry any that Paige was suddenly fidgeting with her phone and couldn't meet her eye.

"That was Principal Hackett," she told her shoes. "I got the coaching job."

It took a moment for Paige's words to process. The rush of relief that washed over her once they had actually made her knees go weak.

"Paige, that's amazing." She reached out and squeezed Paige's arm to congratulate her as well as steady herself.

Paige raised her gaze slowly. "You're not mad?"

"What? No. Of course not. I'm happy for you. I promise."

Paige's fearful expression relaxed, though she remained sceptical, "You're really not upset?"

"Would I have liked the job? Sure. Does it bother me that I didn't get it? No." Emily shrugged. "Maybe if I had lost out to someone other than you. But you're going to be an amazing coach. Those kids are lucky to have you."

Paige dipped her head, but not before Emily caught sight of the blush on her cheeks and the grin on her face. The familiar mannerism was just as adorable now as it had been when they were sixteen. It took everything in Emily's power not to cup her cheek and tip her head up so she could kiss her, the way she had so many times in the past. She actually had to tuck her hands into the pockets of her jeans to curb the desire.

"Come on, Coach McCullers let me buy you a coffee to celebrate."

Paige gestured her out the door ahead of her and was just locking up when Emily's phone rang. A glance at the caller ID screen informed her that it was Emily's call from the high school to let her down easy. She would've rather ignored it, but knew they would just keep calling until they got ahold of her. Better to answer it and get it over with. Rolling her eyes at Paige she accepted the call.

Paige's conversation with Principal Hackett had been brief, but Emily was not so lucky. He kept her on the phone after breaking the news that she had not been hired, explaining to her that they had gone "in a different direction," apparently trying to soften what he assumed to be a blow. It was a nice enough gesture. Certainly it was more than a lot of previous prospective employers had offered in the past. Emily might have appreciated the effort more if Paige hadn't been standing two feet away, studying her face carefully for any indication that she was upset. As it was, Emily just wanted to get off the phone. She was relieved when Hackett finally bid her goodbye.

"Are you sure you're okay with this?" Paige asked as Emily tucked her phone back into her pocket.

"I'm fine. You earned the job, Paige. You deserve it."
Emily had known the job was a long shot. She hasn't swum competitively in years and her coaching experience was limited to a semester in high school. Paige was way more qualified. Over qualified, in Emily's opinion but if taking the position kept her in Rosewood she wasn't going to complain.