Author's Note: Sorry this update took so long. Technical difficulties and writers block kept me away. A huge thank you to all of you for your reviews and PM's and all the kind word and encouragement. It really means a lot to me.

Chapter 16

Emily must have fallen asleep, because the next thing she knew she was stirring awake to find her head on Paige's chest and Paige's arm wrapped securely around her waist. She smiled softly and burrowed in. Paige's arm tightened around her, her fingers tracing idle patterns against Emily's hip. Raising her head from Paige's chest she glanced up to find Paige was wide awake, stretched out beneath her, awkwardly playing a game one handed her phone.

Sensing movement, Paige glanced down, a smile gracing her features. "Hey, there sleeping beauty."

"How long was I out for?" She craned her neck, trying to see past Paige to the clock on the wall.

"A little over an hour."

As much as she enjoyed waking in Paige's arms, she felt bad for having kept her trapped on the couch for so long, making her feel like she couldn't move or disturb Emily.

"I'm sorry. I didn't mean to pass out on you. You should have woken me."

Emily shifted, trying to move off Paige, but the arm around her waist only tightened it's grip, holding her in place.

"It's fine." Paige cleared her throat. "I mean, it was nice. Lying here. I uh..."

Paige didn't have to finish her sentence for Emily to know what she was saying. Her heart fluttered and a warmth spread through her.

"Yeah. I've missed it too," she said softly, hoping that the admission wouldn't be too much.

There was still a lot about this whole starting over thing that they would have to sort through. While they weren't pretending the past had never happened or trying to forget about it, she didn't know how much was too much when it came to referencing it. Or if there were any aspects that were off limits for the time being.

Paige didn't seem bothered by the comment though. Just the opposite actually, she hummed softly and tightened her grip, pulling Emily closer.

"So, what do you want to do today?"

"I'm good with just doing this."

Emily propped her chin up on her hands so she could meet Paige's gaze. "Come on, I know you didn't come over here to just lay on my couch all day."

"What if I did?"

Emily huffed a soft laugh. If she had, it'd be a real role reversal. When they had been together it had been Paige trying get Emily to do something, a hike, a bike ride, a trip down the coast, and Emily who had been content to just laze around all day, watching movies and eating junk food and making out.

When Paige didn't even crack a smile, Emily realized she might actually be serious. She studied Paige's face carefully, looking for signs that she might be putting her on. Paige held her gaze steadily, nothing in her expression indicating she was anything but sincere.

As unusual as the request struck her, Emily wasn't going to fight her on it. Spending the day holed up with Paige, having her all to herself and able to kiss or cuddle her whenever her heart desired, it was pretty much a dream come true.

However as much as she relished being able to lay like this with her, Emily was liable to fall asleep if she didn't get up and do something. And as wonderful as it was to fall asleep and wake up in Paige's arms, she didn't want to waste this golden opportunity passed out cold.

"I'm all for a day in," Emily said. "But do you think we could maybe do something besides just lay here. If we do, I'm going to fall asleep again." Her jaw popped as she yawned, underscoring her words.

"Something to keep you awake huh?" Paige's hand drifted slowly across her hip. "I can think of a few things." Her touch slipped into a caress, her tone turned suggestive.

"I bet you could," Emily said, with a chuckle. "But I was thinking more along the lines of Poker-"

"Strip Poker."

"Or Scrabble-"

"Strip Scrabble."

"Or Chess."

"Strip Chess."

"Someone's got a one track mind today." Emily teased, but otherwise refused to react to Paige's interruptions.

Emily had to admit, she was half tempted to take her up on her suggestions. She knew that if it came down to it, Paige would be the one shedding her clothes.
For all her competitive spirit and athletic prowess, Paige was kind of hopeless when it came to games. Call it skill, or luck, whatever it was, Paige didn't seem to have any when it came to playing off the field.

She knew Paige was just joking. They had both agreed that sex was off the table right now. But it was nice to see that she wasn't shying away from the subject. It was a marked shift from the first time they were dating, when Paige was an eager participant but much too timid to make any moves herself. And from the final months of their relationship when they were merely existing in the same space, but had long since ceased being together.

"Maybe Lucas has some board games. He's a nerd right? Doesn't that mean he should have some?"

Paige chuckled. "Right. But probably not the kind you're thinking of. Unless you want to play Dungeons and Dragons or-"

"Yeah. No thanks," Emily interrupted her quickly. She'd made that mistake once before in college, she'd agreed to play with Paige and some of her friends. It was one Sunday afternoon of her life she would never get back.

Paige chuckled softly, but wisely refrained from commenting. "It looks like he's got a good gaming system," she said instead, nodding towards the TV and the rather impressive entertainment system.

She didn't have to finish her thought for Emily to know what she was thinking. Without another word they were both up and moving. Paige went for the remote, a complicated device that of the two of them, she would be the most likely to be able to figure it out. Emily began going through the massive collection of games, certain that the one she was looking for had to be there. Paige had just gotten the TV set up when Emily spotted the familiar logo in the bottom of the third row. She snatched it out and held it up triumphantly. She popped the game in as Paige unravelled the chords from the controllers.

"Are you sure you're up to this, Fields?" Paige asked as she handed Emily one of the controllers and they moved back to the couch.

"I'm not the who should be worried. You're going down, McCullers."

Paige scoffed. "Care to put your money where your mouth is?"

"What are your terms?"

"Winner gets bragging rights-"

"Lame." Emily jostled Paige's elbow, only to be jostled right back.

"And gets to plan the next date. No complaints."

Emily knew that meant if Paige won she would make her go mini-golfing or to a baseball game. But it also meant that if Emily won she could make Paige go to the classic horror film marathon running next weekend and she'd have to do it.

"You're on." Emily stuck her hand out to shake. Paige stretched out to meet her, only to pull back at the last minute with a snicker.

"You're such a dork." Emily shook her head, trying to look disapproving but unable to suppress the smile playing at her lips.

"Are we doing this or what?" Emily poised herself over her controler, overcome with an uncharacteristic competitiveness that only Paige seemed able to bring out in her.

It had always been like that, even before they had gotten together, back in the days when they were simply teammates.

While she had started out swimming for fun, having Paige hot on her heels, challenging her times and routinely beating her had made Emily realize she liked to win. It had made her train harder, push herself farther than she thought possible. And she had loved every minute of it. The burn of her muscles as she strove for just one more stroke, the sting of chlorine in her nose, the ache in her chest as her lungs yearned for air. The exhilaration as her hand slapped the wall and she popped her head up and looked around to discover that she was a fraction of a second faster than everyone else. Even the frustration in finding that Paige had bested her, once again.

More than that, she had enjoyed the friendly rivalry. The taunting, the teasing, it had served as an excuse to get closer to Paige, the enigmatic beauty who sat one row over and two seats up in history class and glowered out the window, but lit up when her feet hit the pool deck. The power house on the field hockey pitch who had a penalty named after her, but was quick with a kind word or a quip when one of her teammates was down. Emily was both intrigued and intimidated by her. She would've been too tongue tied and timid to approach her if not for the common interest they shared, but swimming had bridged the gap and allowed her to feel comfortable enough to open up and come out of her shell.

The more they'd gotten to know each other the more that competitive spirit had seeped into other aspects of their friendship. They could make a wager out of anything, from test scores and essay grades to bike races and video games.

There was a comfort in knowing that some things hadn't changed. That they could slip so easily into familiar patterns in the face of so much upheaval and uncertainty. It felt nice to be sitting on a couch with Paige once again, laughing and trash talking like no time had passed at all.

"Oh yeah!" Paige tossed her controller aside and thrust her hands up in the air as the screen flashed Game Over in red, flashing letters. Emily groaned and let her own controller fall to the side. Paige jumped from the couch and did an odd little victory dance that involved a lot of hip shaking and finger pointing as she rubbed her win in Emily's face.

"Best two out three?" She knew it was a long shot but she had to try.

"No way. A bet's a bet. I beat you Em. I am the champion," she crowed, sidling closer. "And to the victor goes the spoils." She dropped down into Emily's lap with a grin. "And I think I'm going to like my prize."

"I'm not some damn trophy to be won." Emily crossed her arms over her chest trying to sound stern. But she couldn't quite keep the laughter out of her voice or the smile off her face as Paige's eyes travelled over her appreciatively. Her hands slid up Emily's arms and she let out a soft hum.

"Yeah. I'm definitely going to enjoy my prize," she said as her lips descended onto Emily's.

Emily melted into the kiss, her lips parting under Paige's gentle plying. She unwound her arms and wrapped them around Paige's neck, her fingers finding their way into Paige's hair.

Paige's tongue slid slowly against her own, coaxing her deeper into the kiss as her hands slid down Emily's chest, coming to rest on her breasts.
Emily's snickered, and Paige bit her bottom lip lightly in rebuke, but didn't move her hands away or slow her gentle massage. It was Paige who chuckled a moment later when Emily let out a low moan and arched her back, pressing herself more firmly into Paige's hands.

Her lungs burned at the lack of oxygen. The quick, ragged breaths every time their lips parted no longer enough to sustain her. Reluctantly she pulled back and took a deep, full breath before delving back in.

Arousal began to simmer low in her belly, a pleasant, pervasive heat. Which only flared hotter when Paige's hips began to rock subtly in Emily's lap.

"Oh for Christ's sake. Put a sock on the door or something at least."

It took a moment for Hannah's voice to break through the fog of arousal. And another for the words to sink in.

"Don't make me get the hose."

Paige growled lowly and muttered curses as she pulled away. Emily blinked, trying to clear her vision, trying to clear her head. As awareness came back to her she noticed that her friends were hovering just inside the apartment. Hannah and Caleb a few feet across the threshold while Spencer, Toby and Aria hung back by the door. Caleb and Tobly looked uncomfortable, Caleb shifting in place and rubbing the back of his neck with one hand, Toby gripping tightly to a large takeout bag as if were some kind of lifeline that would take him away from this moment. Spencer and Aria seemed caught between amusement and apologetic, small, somewhat sympathetic smiles on their faces. Hannah however was grinning at them in obvious delight at having caught them in a compromising position.

Emily was torn between annoyance at being interrupted and amusement at Paige's clear irritation. She didn't even try to hide it as she sighed heavily and slowly swung herself off Emily's lap. It was a marked difference from how she'd jump away, red faced in embarrassment if someone walked in on them in an intimate moment back when they were dating the first time.

Paige pushed herself to her feet and tugged at her clothes, trying to make them appear less rumpled, then raked her fingers through her hair to smooth it.

Emily squirmed in place, rubbing her thighs together in an attempt to quell the arousal still thrumming through her.

"So, I'm gonna get a beer. Anyone else want a beer?" Caleb's voice was too bright, too cheery as he finally unrooted himself from his spot and moved further into the loft. The others trailed in slowly behind him.

"I'll take one. Em, you want anything?" Paige asked, offering up a wry smile and a shrug as she accepted their friend's intrusion.

Emily rolled her eyes, but asked for a beer. As Paige crossed the room towards the kitchen the girls approached. They dropped down onto the couch, Hannah next to Emily and the others beside her, as Paige reached where Caleb and Toby were standing by the fridge. Emily couldn't help but chuckle as she watched Paige punch them in the arm, hard enough to make Caleb wince and mutter something. She thought she caught the phrase "cock blocker" before they turned away and the strains of their conversation was lost.

"Ow. Hey. What was that for?" Emily rubbed her arm where Hannah had pinched her, and turned to glare at friend.

Hannah rolled her eyes.

"So, last night went well I take it?" Spencer asked.

Hannah scoffed. "I'll say it did," she said before Emily had a chance to respond. "Paige was here at the ass-crack of dawn this morning. We walk in on them making out like it's going out of style. And now Em's mooning at her from across the room. Just like old times."

"Eight thirty in the morning is hardly the ass-crack of dawn."

Hannah elbowed her in the side. "Come on, you know what I'm saying."

Emily nodded. She knew what Hannah meant and her friend was right, but she was also wrong. Things had gone well the might before. Their date had been sweet and wonderful and all kinds of amazing, and this morning they had slipped seamlessly back into a place of comfort and familiarity. But it wasn't just like old times. Their relationship was different this time around. They were different. They were older, more sure of themselves and what they wanted. Paige especially. Emily felt more at home in her own skin than she ever had when they were dating the first time around. She wasn't a scared teenager just out of the closet, still dealing with the fallout of coming out. Not to mention everything else she'd gone through in high school. Nor was she an aimless college kid playing at being a grown up, with her shoe box apartment and crappy bartending job, drifting through classes that didn't interest her with no real ambition. She might not have everything in her life sorted out but she had goals, and she had plans to get there

The changes in Paige were even more evident. She was more confident, more self-asssured than Emily had ever seen her. Sure, she had always been brash, a little cocky, but it had been mostly bravado. Underneath she'd been insecure, uncertain. She'd grown into herself in their years apart. Her confidence was deeply rooted.

Most noticeably, she didn't defer to Emily the way she once had. She still looked at her with the same affection, still treated her like she was precious. But she didn't just accept whatever Emily was willing to offer. She stood up for herself. She asked for what she needed out of their relationship.

It had been difficult at first, accepting the new terms of their friendship, but Emily saw now that it was for the best. It had put their burgeoning relationship on a more even keel. And what they were building now would be even stronger for it.

"Yeah," she said in answer to Hannah's comment. "Things are going great so far."

"So, what was the big date last night?" Aria asked, leaning around the other two.

Emily couldn't keep the grin off her face as she told them every glorious detail. From walking hand in hand to the fair to Paige winning her a stuffed animal to the kiss on her doorstep. The giddy excitement she'd felt all evening bubbling back up as she relived it.

She had just finished filling them in when Paige and the guys made their way over, them loaded down with beer bottles and plates piled high with Chinese takeout. From the faint blush on Paige's cheeks and the lingering smile on her lips, Emily had a feeling she and the guys had been having a similar conversation over in the kitchen.

It was nice to see Paige rekindling her other friendships, settling back into life in Rosewood outside of her relationship with Emily. It had to have been lonely these past few years feeling like she couldn't reach out to her old friends because thinking they'd taken Emily's side in things.

There was some shuffling and jostling as the plates and drinks were passed around and then everyone settled. Paige handed one of the beers and a plate to Emily then, even though there really wasn't enough room squeezed in on Emily's other side, angling herself sideways and draping one arm over the back of the couch, her hand coming to rest against Emily's shoulder. The guys took seats in the adjacent chairs with their own meals.

"A toast." Hannah held her beer bottle out. The rest of them held theirs up as well.

"What are we toasting?" Caleb asked a moment later, when Hannah still had not said anything.

She opened her mouth and then snapped it shut again. Emily could think of a few things. Old friends. Second chances. From the way Paige squeezed her shoulder, Emily guessed she could too. But before either of them could voice their thoughts Hannah laughed lightly and shrugged.

"Whatever. Cheers."

They all leaned in to clink their bottles together before settling back with their meals. Silence followed for a few minutes as they took their first few bites, and then conversation slowly started up. Soon, Emily was laughing so much she could hardly chew and it really did feel like old times, her friends around her, Paige by her side.