Hey all! You are all the most beautiful creatures to ever grace the earth, and I mean that wholeheartedly! Thank you for all of the reviews/follows/favorites, you are all beautiful people. I'm sorry its taking me so long to crank these chapters out lately but I was getting ready to go back to my last year at my university (packing is a nightmare!) and I've been busy ALL week. I'm thinking that because school is back I'll only be able to update once a week, unless there is a lull in my schoolwork/homework. I'm thinking that maybe sunday might be the regular update day? Maybe friday? Whose to say at this point :P There might be a week were I can get two or even three out but at this point its a waiting game. No matter what, there WILL be a chapter every week, we have many things to cover still. I'm thinking maybe forty chapters? Who really knows, I haven't fully mapped out the whole story, but I do know how it will end hehehe ;)

Alright enough of the rambling, lets see what our little spicy minx Emily Fitch has to say about the events of the last chapter shall we? ;) Also does anyone else find Emily's POV much harder to right in?! Maybe its just me *shrugs*

I don't own skins/buffy but if I did I would sex almost every character ;)

Chapter 17

Emily's POV

What the fuck...?

A slayer? A vampire slayer?! I knew that Naomi had a secret, I knew it was big, but I never imagined that it would be this big! How do you even find something like that out?! I think I would have gone a bit crazy if I was told that vampires and demons were real at only fifteen. I'm sure I would have royally freaked out. But that's the thing about Naomi, she's incredibly brave and caring, there is no way that she would be able to turn her back on a responsibility this big. Stop! You're mad at her, do not give her praise!

I make my way up to my room after getting home with Katie and throw myself head first onto my bed. Thankfully she chose to stay quiet in the car ride home, I'm sure I would have either punched her or broke into tears. I lay my head into my pillow with the sound of Naomi's voice playing over and over in my mind... I didn't know if I could trust you. I hear it over and over, her face, the inflection in her voice, the way her eyebrows rose up realizing what she said... I have it on repeat until it brings me to tears. I cry into my pillow, unable to shake the sadness and sudden darkness looming over my head. I thought I was important to her? I thought we were really getting somewhere, finally getting close to each other and she drops this bombshell! I think... I think I would have come to terms with the slayer thing eventually, fuck... for Naomi I'd come to terms with anything! But to say that she doesn't trust me? How can we start anything important with each other without trust? We'd be doomed from the start. Doesn't she care enough about me?! I lo... I lost someone important to me today. I cry into my pillow until exhaustion takes me over and I pass into a blissful sleep, full of my blue eyed queen.

I wake to find tear tracks on my face and makeup everywhere, obviously from crying myself to sleep the night before. I take off my dirty and bloody clothes and throw them in the trash, not wanting a reminder of that terrifying encounter in the graveyard. If it wasn't for Naomi, Cook, Effy, Giles and that Spike guy, I'm sure Katie and I would be dead right now. I shiver just thinking about it. I jump into the shower quickly before Katie can come and take all of the hot water from me, wanting to scrub off all the events of the previous night. I make my way out of the shower and begin to towel off but I must stay in there for longer than I had expected because soon I hear a banging on the door, followed by the loud cries of my dearest twin.

"Get the fuck out you damn lezza! You've been in there for ages!"

"Would you hold your fucking tits for like five minutes! I had a bit of a shit night Katie!"

"It's not my fault your girlfriend is a fucking freak! You two make a perfect fucking match, I don't see the problem here Emily." I open the door quickly, angry at her words and how right she was... I just didn't want to admit.

"Shut the fuck up. You don't know anything." She scoffs at me.

"I really think I do though little sis. You two are like peanut butter and jelly, peas in a pod and whatever bullshit sappy thing you can think of."

"She doesn't trust me Katie! She didn't tell me this! How can we be together if she doesn't trust me?!" Katie laughs in my face.

"A bit rich coming from you don't you think?"

"What are you talking about?" I frown and pull my eyebrows together.

"Did you tell her about your freaky deaky powers Ems? No? Didn't think so. I can't believe I'm saying this, but maybe you should come down from that high horse and give Campbell some damn credit. She was going to tell you! She had plans to tell you... today for that matter! Have you planned on telling her about your little gift?" I remain silent, realizing that Katie was right... I was hiding something from Naomi and I didn't have any intentions or plans on telling her anytime soon. Fuck.

"Exactly. So why don't you go over on over to Campbell's and have a little talk. It's time to put on your big girl pants Emily." And with that she floated into the bathroom, leaving me with the stark realization that for once, Katie was the logical one.

I lounge around the house, deep within my thoughts, knowing that Katie was right about the situation. I am hiding something from Naomi, I am being a massive hypocrite! I have to go to her house and talk with her. Knowing this and acting upon this are two totally different things. I was still hurt about her comment, still hurt that she feels like she can't trust me. It hurt me and my ego, and a Fitch never responds well to that. By the time night falls, I resound myself to the inevitable, deciding instead to confront this issue head on and to stop putting about. Just fucking do it already. With this motto playing in my head I quickly found myself standing in front of Naomi's door, having gotten the address from Katie.

I must stand there for longer than I had realized because I see a very pleasant older blonde woman open the door and peak out at me. I take a good look at her and realize that it has to be Naomi's mom. If Naomi looks this good older I'd definitely be okay with that...

"You must be Emily." She says, absolutely sure of herself, not an ounce of doubt.

"How did you know that?"

"Well, Naomi's been a right bitch today and you look an awfully lot like Katie. I put two and two together." She continues without taking much of a pause. "Now were you planning on ringing the doorbell tonight or just staring at it? Because I have to say as plans go, that's a pretty bad one."

"Plans for what exactly?"

"Your plan of seeing Naomi of course. Emily dear, I may be old but I'm not senile. Now come on in before you catch a cold. I'll put some tea on." She walks away, leaving the door cracked open, knowing that I will soon follow her inside. I make my way into the house, shaking with every step, thinking that in these next few moments I could once again be with the person that makes me antsy and calm, all at the same time. I'm nervous because I haven't spoken to Naomi at all since last night, she's been calling and texting me all day but I haven't had the desire to speak to her until Katie dragged me back to reality. I make my way around the doorway and into the kitchen, I'd imagine that I looked a bit like a small puppy who was afraid of being reprimanded, with the slump and lowering of my shoulders.

"Sit down and have some tea. And don't worry so much dear, Naomi is still out." I feel a bit of the tension leave my shoulders but I can't help but be a bit on edge still.

"If Naomi's out then why did you invite me in?" Gina smiles warmly at me.

"Well I know my daughter and if she's being this bit of a bitch it's because she screwed up something. And with her good mood lately I figured that something was you. I thought that we could have a bit of a chat."

"You want me to complain to you about your own daughter?"

"Of course dear! Who else but me knows how difficult she can be!? And trust me when I say it but she's a twat!" We both laugh into our mugs, knowing that Naomi has full capabilities of turning into the Ice Queen when necessary. We both take a sip of our teas, taking a moment to brace ourselves for the conversation to follow.

"So what has my charming daughter done this time then?" She asks me, raising one of her eyebrows playfully. So that's were Naomi gets that from. I wonder were the lip biting comes from?! I physically shake my head, not allowing myself to venture down that particular street right now.

"She told me... about being the slayer that is." I leave it at that for now, not sure how much I want to disclose to Naomi's mother just yet.

"Ah. The old slayer card then is it? You have to understand Emily, that Naomi doesn't just tell anyone about this you know. And you can't be mad at her for something that she can't control, believe me I tried it, it didn't work. I wasn't the best receiver of the news. Her coming out was much easier than when she told me about being a vampire slayer! I almost died from shock. But you musn't be angry at her for this. It's part of who she is and always will be." Sometime during her little speech she must have reached over to grab my hand because I found myself squeezing hers for comfort. They reminded me so much of Naomi's hands that they immediately made me feel at peace.

"But that's not what bothering you though is it dear?" She asks, concern laced in her voice.

"How did you know that?" She waves me off with her free hand.

"Please, I raised Naomi. I know how to read someone. We had many a conversation were she didn't want to say anything and I was forced to read her face and body language. Though as she got older she became much better at masking them, almost like she put a wall and would hide behind it."

"Yeah, the ice queen. We've met before." She sends me a sympathetic smile, urging me to continue.

"So then dear, why are you upset with my daughter? And don't leave out any details." She puts her head onto her free hand, resting it there casually, a small smile playing at her lips. I don't know if it was the loving vibes coming from her, her delicious tea or the hand that reminded me so much of Naomi's that made me want to tell her the truth, but I did either way.

"I asked her why she didn't tell me about being the slayer and she said that she had plans to do so... but people can change plans instantly! She could have changed her mind the next day and decided to keep it to herself. She only told us because she had to, because we found out the hard way!" I shake my head a bit, still a bit confused by the entire encounter.

"Go on dear, let it all out."

"She said she didn't know if she could trust me." I look down at the table, feeling the tears threatening to fall over their threshold. I willed myself not to cry in front of Naomi's mom, not wanting to have her first impression of me being a weeping and moody teenager.

"Oh Emily. She does trust you. She trusts you so much I don't even think I can begin to explain it to you." She squeezes my hand and continues on. "Naomi's never been one to let people in and let them know what she's thinking, certainly never to tell people her biggest and darkest secret. It took her much longer to tell Effy about this and you it took a few months! Surely you must see how important you are to her!" I must look unswayed because she quickly chooses another tactic.

"You know Naomi's never had a girlfriend before? She's had flings, probably fucked in every club in London, but never anyone serious... until she met you. I'm pretty sure that last night was her first real date and she took you to a place as dear to her as her home. A place that Cook and Effy haven't even been to with her! She deeply cares for you."

"I know she does and I feel the same way about her but if she doesn't trust me then how could we be together?" Her mother sighs, takes a sip of her tea and I wait in silence knowing that she has something to say.

"Let me tell you a little story. There was once someone very special to Naomi, someone very special to the entire group, and to me as well. See Naomi had never told anyone but me about being a slayer before, never thought that she could trust anyone with her secret, that she would endanger them if anyone knew about it. One day she decided to tell him what she really was, let them all know who she was and they took to it like bees to honey. They wanted to know everything, they wanted to be able to help and make her job easier, no one more so than this one precious soul. One day something happened... and we lost him. Naomi's never been the same, none of them have." She takes a deep and a sip of her tea, this not being a very comfortable or happy subject for her. "Naomi has nightmares, wakes up screaming in the middle of the night, the only only person who can calm her down is Effy. I think deep down she blames herself for his death. And she thinks that maybe if she never told anyone again that they wouldn't get hurt. She thinks her trust is what killed him so she hasn't let anyone in since then, except for you. Do you see? Naomi is deeply afraid that telling you was going to hurt you, that maybe it would sign your death? Don't you see how vulnerable this all makes her?"

"Why would she think that? That makes no sense!"

"Of course it doesn't sweetie but to someone weighed down by grief, covered in darkness to have their only ray of sunshine to come into danger?! Know that is something that I would protect with my whole heart and body." I nod at her, finally understanding some of Naomi's fears because ultimately she is the ray of sunshine for me as well. That one pocket of happiness that will keep me warm and protected from the darkness.

"I need to speak with her." She smiles and nods.

"I know you do. That's why I texted Cook and told him to come over so that he can take you to her. She's with Effy at their favorite spot and she would kill me if she knew that I sent you out at night all alone."

"But wouldn't she be afraid of Cook coming here all alone?" I ask, curious as to why it would be any different for him expect that he's a man and I'm not. She laughs at me, throws her head back and almost cackles.

"Oh no dear, it would be very different. Cook's a werewolf." Silence descends upon the kitchen.

"Well, that makes a lot of sense actually." We both laugh lightly until we hear the front door open and the sound of Cook calling Gina's name.

"In the kitchen James." Cook rounds the corner and gives us both a big smile.

"So then little red, wanna go see our Naomikins?"

We take the Northern Line to Mill Hill East and walk a bit of ways up a hill. Eventually the hill opens up to some beautiful countryside, which is where I can see Naomi and Effy sitting on a blanket trying, and probably failing, to see the stars. Cook and I walk loudly over to them, not wanting to give them a fright.

"How are my two favorite muff munchers doing?" Cook turns to me "No offense to you of course red."

Naomi practically jumps off the ground, her mouth hanging open and her eyes wide, full of shock and awe.

"Emily? Wh- What are you doing here?"

"I needed to talk to you and your mom said Cook would take me here, didn't want me going out alone." She nods, accepting the explanation.

"Right, I know when I'm not wanted. Come on Cook, let's get out of here." Effy turns to give me a warning look but still directs her voice to Naomi. "And call me if you need me." Naomi nods as we both watch Cook and Effy walk away and over the hill. Naomi sits back down on the blanket and gestures to the spot next to her. We sat in silence for a bit just taking in the scenery.

"Look Emily, I'm so sorry. I didn't really mean that! I just... when it comes to letting people in it's hard for me. I have to be really careful an- and I didn't want you to get hurt because of who I am."

"That's why you were so hot and cold in the beginning? Because you are the slayer?" She nods.

"I knew that once I had a taste of you I would lose myself. I knew I wouldn't care about anything else... and I didn't for a few moments and I paid for that. After we kissed that first time I knew I had to keep you safe and to do that I had to keep you away from me, so I acted like a bitch."

"Why didn't you just tell me on our date?" She looks at me shyly, biting her bottom lip.

"Because... because I wanted one perfect memory with you. I needed that memory with you because the next day I was going to tell you and if you told me to fuck off I needed to have that happy memory where we could just be... us."

"I believe you." We smile at each other and lay down on the blanket, our heads close, and our hands intertwined. I knew that now would be the perfect moment to tell Naomi my secret, to tell her what I'm hiding... but I'm to afraid. Afraid of what will happen when I do and afraid of ruining this peace that we now have between us. We had just made up and I didn't want to throw another wrench into the plans. So instead of telling her the truth, I talked about the stars.

"Can't really see the stars in London can you? Even out here."

"Do you want to? See the stars that is?"

"Yes, I really do." Naomi turns her head and looks at me, a twinkle in her eyes.

"I have the perfect idea then."

"For what?" She sits up, pulls me with her, brushes the grass off of me and picks up the blanket.

"For our second date." And with that she drags up and over the hill with only my imagination as to what will happen next.

The next one will be a good one I believe. Also I will get to all your reviews tomorrow! I always like to respond to them and I've been swamped and super busy. So some time tomorrow look in your message boxes! :)

Reviews? Thoughts? Favorite Band? Hows the weather where your live? It's pretty fucking hot here right now.