Chapter 22

There it was, just as she suspected. Naya's name under the previous owner of the apartment. Her heart felt like it stopped beating and everything started to make sense to her. The way Naya seemed so familiar in the apartment and knew where everything was, from the switch for the fireplace to the cabinets in the kitchen. It made sense that Dianna knew exactly where the light switch was the first time she had been over because it really wasn't the first time she'd been in the apartment. It made sense that she felt so close to Naya the first time she had set foot in the apartment and looked out the window, it had screamed Naya to her but she had no idea then how right she was. Then she remembered the doorman knowing Naya so well and vice versa. What she didn't know was why no one told her.

She stood up from her desk, walked downstairs into her living room and stood by the window. The shock was starting to wear off and being replaced by anger. How could none of them tell her that Naya had owned the apartment before her, not a single one of them even so much as mentioned. She needed to calm down so she reached for her phone on the couch and dialed Ashley's number.

"Hey loser, how was the Hamptons?"

Heather laughed a little. "It was good, a different experience but still good. I need to talk to you about something though."

"Okay what is it?" She could hear the concern in her best friends voice.

"Remember how Naya told you that she used to live near where I am now when you first ran into her?"

"Yeah." Ashley was thankful in that moment that Heather couldn't see her face because she knew exactly where this conversation was going.

"Turns out the apartment I bought was previously owned by one Naya Rivera and everyone has been lying to me about it. What I don't get is why." She wasn't yelling but Ashley knew her friend was pissed off and was about to get a little more so. "Why are you so quiet?" Heather asked as the other end of the line remained silent. "Holy shit! You knew and you didn't tell me?" Ashley couldn't figure out whether the tone she was hearing now was hurt or anger. "Why the hell wouldn't you tell me?"

"It wasn't my place, to be fair I found out from Lea. It wasn't right for me to tell you or them, that's why they didn't and too be honest no one knows why Naya hasn't told you. That's something you're going to have to ask her and I know you're pissed at me right now but please try and understand."

After a half hour or being yelled at and listening to Heather yell in general Ashley finally hung up her phone. She immediately sent a text to Dianna and Lea, letting them know that Heather was on the war path. She only received a one word text from Dianna that pretty much summed it all up. "Shit."

Sure enough a few minutes later Dianna's phone started to ring. "Hello?"

"Hi Di, it's Heather."

"Hey Hemo, what's up?"

Heather started pacing around her room. "Do you know where Naya is I can't get a hold of her."

"No I'm not sure we aren't home yet, I haven't talked to her. Didn't you guys just get home?"

"Yeah about a half hour ago but I forgot something in her car." Heather fibbed, not wanting to get into it with Dianna and Lea just yet.

The second that Dianna got off the phone with Heather she sent Naya a text giving her a heads up. Heather spent the next half hour trying to calm down as she paced her apartment, reading over the email time and time again. She stood at the window, leaning her forehead against it wondering where Naya could be and desperately needing to talk to her and figure out what was going on.

"I always pictured you standing there." Heather jumped slightly not hearing the door open or close. She turned around and came face to face with Naya who was holding her Ipod, she must have left it in Naya's SUV. "It's what originally attracted me to this place, that window let in a burst of light, the burst I was missing with you not being around." Neither moved from where they stood staring at each other.

"Why didn't you tell me?" She sounded hurt but not angry, surprising herself and Naya who was clearly ready for them to fight.

Naya took a deep breath and a step forward, setting Heather's Ipod on the couch. "Because of something stupid Lea said before you moved to town." She looked up and saw Heather's blue eyes asking for more of an answer. "She kept talking about serendipity and fate and all this other crap that I used to believe in but gave up on. Then you brought me home when I hurt my ankle and it was like the wind had got knocked out of me all over again. I wanted to tell you but I didn't know how, I didn't know how to come to terms with the fact you were living in my first New York apartment. That you had made it everything I always thought you would and it brought back this feeling that I didn't know how to deal with. I didn't know what it was, I just knew that you were here and that's all that mattered. For whatever reason you were in New York, you were back and I guess I figured that if I told you it would scare off and I didn't want you to leave. I didn't want to be away from you again." Naya wiped a stray tear off her cheek. "All I knew was that I missed you, I missed my best friend."

"You should have told me the truth." Heather stayed put and leaned back against the window. She watched as Naya nodded her head and stood up and started towards the front door. "Where are you going?"

"I don't want to upset you, I just Dianna called because Ashley told her and I needed to drop this off so I just wanted you to hear it from me first. I've done enough to upset you, I don't need to do anymore." Heather watched as Naya's hand reached for the door handle, she watched as she turned it and started to walk out. "I want to show you something." She's not sure why but her feet started to move towards Naya's outstretched hand. Finally reaching her she grabbed a hold of Naya's hand as they walked out, closing the door behind them.

Heather was expecting them to go outside but instead Naya took her down the hall and around a corner to what Heather always thought was just a fire escape. Naya opened the door to reveal a set of steps going upwards. When Naya opened the door at the top of the steps Heather's mouth dropped open. She followed Naya as the girl let go of her hand. As she got closer to where the other woman was now standing she thought her eyes were deceiving her. She looked past Naya and saw the park then turned around and saw the incredible view of the rest of the city.

"What made you not tell me, what about what Lea said made you not tell me?"

"I didn't want to scare you away. Even for me it was really weird at first, to think that you were living in the apartment that I had literally just moved out of. I wanted it to be your own and not associated with me, I just wanted you in my life somehow and you living in this apartment made me feel closer to you."

Heather nodded as a few tears fell down her cheeks. The warm summer air filled her lungs as she took a deep breath in, closing her eyes. It was all so over whelming that she wasn't quite sure how to feel or what to say. She wanted to be mad at Naya for lying but she understood where the girl was coming from, especially with how they had left things. She watched as Naya walked across the rooftop and stood with her arms folded over her chest as she watched the sun set over the city.

Moving behind her friend she wrapped her arms around her waist and pulled her in for a hug. It clearly startled the girl but she soon relaxed and embraced it. "I used to come up here when I was feeling alone. As much as I had Lea and Jenna it was hard being away from my family, from you. I wanted to call you so many times but I never did because I didn't want to bother you and more than that I didn't know what to say. Wait you aren't mad?" Naya asked as she turned around and looked at Heather.

"I was when I first found out but I guess I understand. Don't get me wrong, I'm not entirely happy about it but I just don't see the point in being angry over something like this. Live and let live right?" Naya nodded.

"At least I showed you my secret place." Heather smiled as Naya wiggled out of her arms. "Come on, lets go grab dinner, try and put this behind us oh and don't worry I'll teach you how to use the fireplace later." She winked lightening the mood.

"New York suits really suits you."

Naya laughed a little as they started to walk down the steps. "How so?"

"I don't know how to explain it but it's a good thing."

A half-hour later Naya and Heather sat in the corner of a small bar and grill with a plate of chicken wings and fries in front of them. "I probably shouldn't be eating this and beer but whatever, I'm on vacation until tomorrow."

"Where you off to now jet setter?" Heather asked as she finished another chicken wing.

"LA for two weeks, try to put the finishing touches on this album, or at least that's the plan." There it was, life's way of pointing and laughing at them. As if the past few years hadn't happened they found themselves in the exact same place. Naya noticed the look on Heather's face and offered her a smile. "I have to come back my dog is here and my job."

Heather laughed as she took a drink of beer. Naya had always been able to make her laugh, that whole hearted, abs hurting, bursting with joy laugh that didn't come around everyday. Even though Naya leaving for two weeks sucked and reminded her of a time when it hurt to badly to even hear someone speak the other woman's name she hoped this time would be different. Especially with the leaps and bounds they had made in the last little while.

"Besides you have to come back and help me get this movie going, you are it's star."

Naya blushed slightly. "I don't know about that but I promise to come back and help you. Ready to get out of here, I need to head home and take Maurice out."

Heather nodded and stood up as Naya paid for the bill before she could even reach for her wallet. "You need to stop doing that."

"What? It was like 15 dollars, I don't think its going to break the bank."

"Always such a gentleman Rivera."

Naya rolled her eyes. "Ya, ya let's go Morris."

When they got to the corner of 5th and King they went their separate ways. "Heather?" Naya called out as she watched Heather walk away.

"Yeah?"

"What no hug?"

Laughing Heather walked back towards her and wrapped her arms around the shorter girls waist lifting her a little. She heard her giggle slightly as she put her down and raised an eyebrow. "What is it?"

Naya looked up at her with those beautiful brown eyes a slightly shy smile on her face. "Your heart is beating out of your chest." Heather hadn't noticed that it was until Naya pointed it out. She had gotten so accustomed to the feeling that Naya gave her it was second nature to her now.

"Maybe you shouldn't be so beautiful then."

Naya blushed and shook her head. "Smooth, thanks for not being too pissed about the apartment and for coming away this weekend, it was nice to have you up there. Sometimes that high life is too much for me to handle."

"Anytime." With that they went their separate ways, grins from ear to ear on both their faces.

As Heather made her way up to her apartment she couldn't help but notice a single picture on her mantle. The one she had of the entire cast their last day of filming. Picking up the frame she sat on the edge of her couch and looked at it carefully. Everyone was smiling and laughing trying to look at the camera but Naya was looking at her. Her smile was radiant and even thinking about that moment brought a smile to Heather's face and gave her butterflies. It felt like the room got a few degrees warmer and she couldn't figure out why she didn't see it then. The love in Naya's eyes was apparent and that's when it hit her like a tractor trailer. The other girl really did love her and she had done everything to show her that without over stepping any boundaries but this time she knew it was her turn to step up and take charge. Setting the picture back on the mantle she grabbed her keys and ran out the door.

Day had turned to night as the streetlights were now on. She ran the entire way through the park since there had been no cabs in sight when she stepped outside. She just hoped that she wasn't too late and that Naya hadn't gone to bed yet. She ran as fast as she could without any regard for anything else. She could see Naya's house from where she stood in the park and that gave her the extra spark she needed to push herself even faster. Her sights were so focused on Naya's front door that she hadn't realized she had just run someone over until she nearly tripped.

"Heather? Woah slow down before you take our Maurice next." Turning around she saw Naya, dog leash in hand, eyeing her like she was some sort of crazy person.

"I, I, I," She tried but the words wouldn't come out.

"Breathe, then talk." Naya said as Heather bent forward and tried to suck in as much as she could.

"I didn't get married because it didn't feel right, he wasn't you and it took me so long to see that. Longer than it should have and I just wanted you, no I needed you to know that I always loved you too I just could admit it to myself. I was scared of how you felt, I was scared what life would be like without Taylor, we had been together for so long I just, I was scared and you deserved better. I need you to know that you always meant the world to me and that day that I got your RSVP in the mail I knew that no matter what something would always bring me back to you. In my heart I think I always knew I wasn't ready to get married, the minute I realized that I couldn't have both it wasn't worth it to me anymore, I just didn't know how to face it and I'm sorry."

Across the street Lea had pointed to the pair standing just on the other side of the road. Dianna's face lit up with excitement as they saw Heather take Naya's hands in her own before Naya leaned in for a hug. "We need to go call Jenna. I'm pretty sure phase 4 is starting."

"Lea I'm pretty sure phase 4 started awhile ago, I just don't think Naya knows it yet." They high fived as they made their way into Dianna's house before Naya and Heather saw them spying.

To be continued…