A/N: Hello, and welcome to chapter two. Cheers for all your reviews, and sorry it's taken me a couple of days to get this up. Had a bit of the old writer's block, nasty thing that it is, though I managed to not write smut to clearance it this time. (I know, such a shock, and I promise to make up for it in the next chapter.)

Naomi gets a little ruffled with Gina teasing her a bit, but Emily smoothes things out a bit.

On with it, then...

Disclaimer: I do not own skins. But I'd make it some lentil and ricotta cannelloni if I could, because it sounds fucking delicious. Any and all typos blah blah blah deal with it...

(Emily POV)

I could tell Naomi was nervous and unsettled, as Gina steered the car through the streets of Bristol, talking animatedly about what Naomi has missed the past few months. I can tell, because of the way my beautiful girl is gripping my hand so tightly, as if to stop her own hands from shaking like leaves. I gently stroked her thumb with mine, trying to soothe her a little. It didn't stop her hands from shaking entirely, but it certainly lessened it.

Once we had made it to Gina's house, we all got out of the car and Gina walked up to the brightly coloured yellow door and went inside, with both Naomi and I following.

"Are you alright, beautiful?" I asked softly, as we walked up the footpath.

Naomi pulled me close to her and wrapped her arms around me. "Not really." She said, nervously.

"Are you scared?"

"No, I... I don't know. It's just nerves." She said.

"Keep calm, take a deep breath." I said. "Your mum seems to be fine... If she's as accepting as you tell me she is, she won't freak out."

"I know that..." She said. "Do you think I'm overreacting...wait, no... Don't answer that."

I leaned up and kissed her softly. "I kind of do, but I understand." I replied. "Just remember I love you, ok?"

Naomi nodded, and then took a deep breath. "Ok, let's go." She said, taking my hand and leading me inside. We walked into the kitchen and both sat down at the table.

"Would you both like some tea?" Gina asked.

"I'd love some, thank you." I said.

"Sure." Naomi replied.

Gina pottered around getting out cups and tea bags. "So, tell me about yourself, Emily." She asked me.

"Not much to tell, really... I work for a marketing company."

"Oh! that must be interesting."

"It is, a lot of the time."

"And how did you two meet?" Gina poured boiling water into the cups.

"I met Naomi while I was out at a club one night with my sister... She'd left early and I was about to leave myself, when I saw her sitting at the bar alone." I smiled.

Gina looked at Naomi. "You actually went out? That's a change!"

"Effy made me. She said she couldn't stand seeing me spend another Friday night in with my nose in a legal document." Naomi replied.

Gina laughed. "That sounds like something Effy would say."

"Yeah, well..." Naomi muttered.

"So, the two of you are together, then?" Gina asked, as Naomi looked a little uncomfortable.

I took her hand in mine, squeezing it gently. "It's ok!" I said, softly.

"Of course it is!" Gina said. "Come on, Naomi, you know me better than that...you know I don't care whether you are gay or straight, so long as you are happy."

"Yeah, I know..." Naomi said.

"Then stop looking like you're facing a firing squad!" Gina smiled. "Honestly, Naomi..."

"Alright...I get the point!" Naomi conceded. "I'm being a twat. Sorry."

"At least now I see why I haven't heard from you in a while." Gina smirked.

Naomi scowled. "I'm taking my tea outside." She said, standing up and walking towards the back door.

Both Gina and I watched as she went outside and slammed the door behind her.

"Sorry about that." I said. "She was a bit nervous coming here."

Gina waved me off. "It's fine, love. I know as well as anybody that Naomi can be a bit sulky at times. You two have been together a while?"

"Probably about as long as she hasn't spoken to you... That could well be my fault!" I laughed. "We're... How should I put it...very much involved with each other."

"Ahhh... You two get together and the rest of the world slips away?"

I nodded. "That's a fairly accurate assessment." I said, with a grin. "Uhm... I'd better go and see if she is ok." I said standing up and taking my tea with me.

"Righto, I'll get started on dinner." Gina smiled.

I went out the back door and found Naomi sitting down on a bench with her head tilted back against the wall behind her. I went down and sat beside her, placing a soft kiss on her cheek. "You ok?"

Naomi sighed deeply. "Am I a horrible person, Emily?"

"What? No! Of course not... What makes you say that?"

"Because I take things too much to heart." She replied. "And I overreact."

I leaned my head on her shoulder. "I agree, you overreacted. But Gina is ok... She's fine with it."

"I just..." She said, trailing off, before sighing again. "I hate being labelled, yeah? I don't think of myself as gay or straight... I'm just Naomi, and I'm with you. Why isn't that enough for people? Why do I have to fit into a box?"

I took her mug from her hands and placed it next to mine as it sat beside me, taking her hand in mine and kissing the back of it. "You don't, beautiful. Not if you don't want to. It's just society that has that need to place labels on people. But if you don't want to call yourself anything, you don't have to. It doesn't matter. What matters is that you are comfortable, and happy." I said. "Are you comfortable and happy?" I asked, after a short pause.

Naomi squeezed my hand and nodded. "I am." She said, softly.

"Then what other people think shouldn't matter, either. So long as you're comfortable."

"You do have a point." She replied, quietly.

I slid my arm around her shoulders and pulled her close to me. "Don't worry, ok? Your mum is ok. At least she actually cares about you, and not her image." I said.

Naomi sighed. "You're right. I'm sorry, Emily...I'm being an idiot."

"You don't have to apologise, babe." I said, kissing her temple softly. "Come on... I'm interested in seeing the house you grew up in... Why don't you show me around?"

Naomi blushed. "You really want to see that?"

"Of course! I can't wait." I smirked.

"Can I finish my tea first?"

"Oh, yeah...sure." I said, handing Naomi her tea. We sat for a few moments, finishing our tea, and then Naomi stood up.

"Come on, then." She said, holding her hand out to me. "No time like the present." I took her hand and she pulled me up onto my feet, and took me into her arms, hugging me tightly. "Thank you."

"For what, beautiful?"

Naomi kissed my forehead softly. "For being you... For making me feel better."

I smiled. "I'm glad I can, babe."

We went inside, and a delicious aroma met my nose as we went back into the kitchen.

"Something smells good!" I said, as Naomi shut the door behind us.

"I hope you like it, I'm making lentil and ricotta cannelloni."

"Ooh." Naomi said. "One of my favourites."

"Indeed it is, Emily!" Gina smiled.

"Come on, Ems." Naomi said, placing her mug on the sink and wandering out of the kitchen.

"Naomi's going to give me a tour." I said.

"Ah... Well, have fun, I'll call you both when dinner is ready."

I went into the hallway, but it was empty.

"Ems..." I heard Naomi whisper from above me. I looked up to see her at the top of the stairs, beckoning for me to come up. I ascended the stairs, met her at the top, and then followed her to the first door. "Before we go in... Just remember I've not lived here for a long time, yeah?"

"Ok..." I said. She turned and opened the door, stepping aside to let me in. I went inside and looked around. There was a double bed against one wall, on either side of which sat two small square bedside tables. There was a desk in one corner, and a couple of environment related posters tacked up on the wall. I heard the door click shut behind us, and I turned to see Naomi stepping towards me. She pulled me close to her and hugged me tightly. Because she was taller than me, it allowed my head to nestle against her neck, and lately, it was actually one of my favourite places to be. "Are you sure you're ok, beautiful?" I asked, softly.

She kissed me softly. "Yeah... This helps." She said, squeezing me gently in her arms.

"We could always..." I trailed off, looking towards her bed. "Lie down for a bit."

"Uh...my mum is downstairs."

"I know!" I laughed. "I said lie down, didn't I?"

"True." Naomi conceded. "Alright then." She added leading me to her bed. We laid down and faced each other, as she wrapped her arms around me once more. She sighed deeply. "I'm always amazed." She said.

"At what?"

"How right it feels being with you." She replied, as her blue eyes stared into mine. "I guess it's what used to make me nervous, all those months ago. The fact that this just feels right to me. I think it took me a while to properly wake up to it."

I kissed her softly. "Self realisation is an important thing, beautiful."

"I know... I suppose I was in denial for a long time. I mean..." She said, trailing off.

"Go on, babe." I said, softly.

She sighed. "I've always wondered what the fuss was... Being with a girl. But that's not only it... It was you, too." She said. "You were so...confident, persistent... I mean, persistence can be annoying, but it's your confidence that was so different. It's... extremely sexy."

I blushed. "I'll have you know I wasn't always so confident."

"I know, but... I've had guys try and pick me up in a club before... They were always so crude about it."

"Crude, how?"

"Too drunk and suggestive. Not so much 'dance with me' as 'hey babe, how'd you like to sit on my cock?' And then when I would give them a disgusted rebuff, they'd always mutter that I was frigid or gay." Naomi explained.

"Ugh." I mumbled. "Because clearly if you weren't up for it, that was the case."

"Exactly." She replied. "That's why I looked out of place. I felt out of place. Effy had made me go out that night, and had come with me to make sure I didn't just go to a library or just walk all night."

"But, she wasn't with you when I saw you?" I asked.

"No... I'd lost her somewhere along the way. I never did find out how she ended up that night, but she was home when I got back the next morning."

"Oh."

"Anyway... It doesn't matter now." She said, softly.

"You looked so uncomfortable with being there." I said, smiling at the memory.

"Glad my discomfort makes you smile."

I laughed. "It's just the memory, babe. The first time I saw you, I think my heart stopped. I didn't know why at the time, I only figured it out later." I said. "I was drawn to you. I wanted you so much."

"I was so nervous when I met your eyes."

"I know." I said. "What did you feel?"

"Nerves. Lots of nerves. I wasn't sure what I was looking at. I mean... you, obviously. But there was something about you I couldn't put my finger on."

"You were curious, though. I know you were."

"Yes." She admitted. "But it wasn't just my curiosity that made me go home with you. I wanted you, too. I just didn't really know it at the time."

"Hmm." I said, kissing her softly. "I'm curious, though... How have you not introduced me to your mother before today?"

"Uhm..." Naomi started to say.

"You're not ashamed of me, I hope!" I chuckled.

"God, no!" She replied, her eyes widening. "I just..."

"Relax, beautiful. I was joking."

She sighed, softly. "I know." She said. "I don't know why... I guess I've been preoccupied with you, and also lately with study and such... I've honestly not even thought about it because I've been so busy."

I shuffled closer to her and kissed her again, wrapping my arms tighter around her. "It's ok, I'm not mad, beautiful. I understand." I said, as I leaned my forehead against hers. "She's lovely. I want you to know that."

"She's a bit annoying, though." Naomi muttered.

I kissed her again. "I don't think so. I like her." I said. "And I want you to try and be a little more patient with her."

"I can try." She said.

"That's all I ask."

Her hands drifted up under my shirt and she spread her fingers across the skin at the small of my back. Her eyes closed and she sighed again, deeper this time. "You always know how to make me feel better, Ems." She said, quietly. "Sometimes just being near you... It makes me feel calmer."

"Ah... so that's why you lured me up here..." I grinned.

Naomi laughed softly. "Well..." She said, tracing lazy patterns on my skin. "I love you, Emily." Her lips met mine and she kissed me softly. "I feel like I haven't told you enough today."

"Hmm... There was that time very early this morning..."

"Oh?"

"Mmhmm... when you had your head between my legs..." I smirked.

"OH. Then... Yeah."

"And then again when I woke you up this morning..."

Naomi closed her eyes and a dirty grin crossed her lips. "Oh, yeah..." She said, with a dreamy look in her eyes.

"And over the phone." I pointed out.

She pressed her lips to mine and kissed me slowly, her tongue caressing mine. "Point made." She said. "But I'll tell you again... I love you. You mean so much to me, and I feel like I can't say it enough, because I need you to know it."

"I do know it." I replied, nestling my head into her shoulder. She kissed the top of my head softly and I closed my eyes as she stroked her fingertips through my fringe.

Gina had called us for dinner about an hour later, waking the two of us up after we had fallen asleep. I was the first to hear her, as I'd only been dozing, seeing as I had slept on the train. I nudged Naomi awake, and she looked at me, bleary eyed.

"What is it?" She mumbled.

"Your mum is calling us for dinner, babe." I said.

"Oh. Ok." She said, sitting up and rubbing the sleep from her eyes. "Wow, I'm tired."

I watched her, and it was really quite adorable, as she looked a little clueless.

"COME ON, YOU TWO...STOP SHAGGING AND COME AND EAT DINNER!" Came Gina's voice from downstairs.

"Oh Christ." Naomi muttered, as I giggled.

"Do you need a minute?" I asked.

"Uhm..."

I kissed her cheek softly. "I'll tell her you'll be down in a minute, ok?"

Naomi nodded, and I got up off the bed and opened the door, going downstairs to the kitchen.

"Hi... Sorry, we fell asleep." I said, as Gina looked up and smiled. "Naomi will be down in a minute."

"Oh, that's alright, love. I hope I didn't embarrass you!" She laughed.

"Oh, no... not at all." I smiled in reply. "Naomi, on the other hand..." I smirked.

"Ah, she'll be fine. She's always been a bit grumpy after waking up."

"Not always, mum." Naomi said, coming through the doorway.

"Ah, there you are!" Gina said. "Alright, you two... Sit down and I'll dish up."

I took a seat at the table, and Naomi sat next to me, and there was cutlery set out in front of us.

"Now, how hungry are you both?"

"Erm...we sort of skipped lunch." I smirked.

"Right, so extra hungry then!" Gina beamed. "Not to worry, I cooked loads." She said, turning back to a baking dish that smelled very delicious indeed.

"It smells amazing, Gina." I said.

"I hope you like it, it's one of my favourites to prepare!" She replied, as she dished out two decent sized helpings onto three white plates, and set one each in front of myself and Naomi, and the other on the opposite side of the table. She sat down opposite us, and poured us each a glass of wine. "Go on then, tuck in!"

We began to eat, and I don't think I'd ever had pasta that tasted that good. Gina was pleased when I complimented her on her cooking.

"Seriously, I think this is the best home cooked meal I've ever had." I said.

"I'm really glad you like it, Emily!" Gina replied.

Naomi was silent for most of the meal as Gina and I chatted away, she was rather curious about what I did in marketing, and was quite surprised when I told her that I actually owned the company.

"You're a very successful young woman, love!" She said.

"Thank you, I try my best." I smiled in reply.

"What about you, Naomi?" Gina asked.

"Hmm?" She said, poking some of her cannelloni around the plate.

"Pay attention, dear." Gina laughed. "You still haven't told me what happened with your job at Dewey."

"Oh...uh... Well..." Naomi stuttered, before clearing her throat. "I realised it wasn't for me in the end. I kept getting the clients no one else wanted."

"The un-defendable." I added.

"Un-defendable?" Gina asked.

"The clearly guilty." Naomi said. "Because I was more or less a junior employee, the majority of my clients were low lifes. Guilty thieves and sex offenders. It was making me a bit miserable, to tell you the truth."

"Oh." Gina said. "I'm sorry to hear that, love. But you know what I say, there's always someone who needs defending-"

"I know that, mum..." Naomi said, cutting her off quietly. "But it was against my principles to defend someone who had raped a woman, whose alibi didn't check out. If I'd stayed there any longer I might have given up entirely. It was making me bitter. I wasn't happy with it."

"Did you at least have a job to go?" Gina asked.

"Yes, mum. I wasn't that stupid."

"So...where do you work now?"

"Uhm..." Naomi said, again pausing.

I decided to step in. "My company was having a bit of legal trouble. I asked Naomi to help with it, because what was left of my legal team unexpectedly quit." I explained.

"But you don't do corporate law?" Gina said with curiosity, looking at Naomi.

"I told Emily I would assist so long as she also hired someone with corporate law experience. But this was while I still worked at Dewey." She explained. "I was seconded to Fitch Holdings."

"Fitch Holdings? Emily's company?"

"Yes." Naomi said.

"She was brilliant, Gina." I grinned.

"I was just-"

"Babe if I hear you say you were 'just doing your job' once more..."

"Ok, ok..." Naomi conceded.

"Anyway... She won the case for us, so... I offered her a permanent job." I said, looking across at Naomi, who was blushing adorably.

"I see. And how does that work... I mean, you two are..."

"Involved personally?" I offered.

"Well, yes." Gina replied.

"It actually works better than you'd think. I've always kept business and personal separate, and we have agreed to not let what happens at work interfere with our personal relationship." I explained.

"It's ok, mum. I've also gone back to uni part time to learn corporate law." Naomi added. "Plus the work I do at Emily's company helps me get experience, and learn things on-the-job."

"And...you're not taking on too much? Juggling work, and study, and a relationship?" Gina asked.

"Not at all." Naomi replied. "I find it much more interesting than criminal law, and... Emily knows when I need time to study."

I took Naomi's hand in mine. "Because you know I want you to do well, babe." I said, kissing the back of her hand softly.

"So long as you have it all in hand, love." Gina said. "You know I worry, that's all."

"I know, mum. I'm sorry for not keeping you in the loop... I just got sidetracked with a lot of stuff."

"I can understand... No wonder you both took a nap, I can imagine you keep each other up at night!" Gina laughed.

"Mum!" Naomi exclaimed, her cheeks turning pink from embarrassment.

"Oh, love, Emily knows I'm only teasing!" Gina grinned.

"Of course I do." I smiled. "Dinner was lovely, by the way."

"Thank you! Would you like some more?" Gina asked.

"Oh, no... Thank you. I'm stuffed. Two helpings was quite enough!" I laughed. "But it was truly delicious. Up there with the best thing I've eaten all day." I added, cheekily.

Naomi spat her wine across the table, just missing Gina. "Ems!"

Gina and I both went into hysterics as Naomi sat red faced, folding her arms. Gina stood up to clear the dishes and I leaned over and kissed Naomi's shoulder. "Sorry, beautiful...I couldn't resist." I whispered softly.

"I'll get you back for that later." Naomi said, her voice low as she turned to look me in the eyes. I could see a devious glint in her eyes, and it made my stomach flip upside down. I raised my eyebrow and she smirked at me.

"I made a peach tart... Would either of you like some?" Gina asked.

"No, thanks anyway, Gina. Maybe a little later, though?" I said.

"Tell you what, it'll be in the fridge, and there's ice cream in the freezer. You can both help yourselves later if you like!" Gina replied. "Now... I'm off to watch David Attenborough, I'm sure you can both keep yourselves amused?" She smirked.

"I'm sure we can think of something..." Naomi muttered.

"Splendid!" Gina beamed, as she went into the sitting room.

"Cheeky." Naomi said.

"Gina?" I asked.

"No... You." She replied.

"Ah, well..." I smirked. "Remember, though... you did warn me against packing some things..."

"Yes, I know..." Naomi said. "But you also taught me...to improvise." Her eyebrow raised as she finished her sentence.

I swallowed thickly, then cleared my throat. "I think you need to take me upstairs..."

"I think you're right..." Naomi replied, standing and taking my hand in hers, leading me out of the kitchen.

A/N#2: I could give a clue as to what comes next, but I think that might be obvious, no?

:-P

More soon... Reviews are welcome...as ever.

Until next time...

~GN~ xo