A/N: Hello my friends! I'll give you all a minute to recover...

Okay, are you do now? Or have you all died of shock?

As promised, a quick-ish update...sorry, I tried to have it up last week, but real life issues have drug me from Naomilyland to the real world... Hard issues that have to be dealt with :(

Disclaimer: Turns out I do not have a broken shoulder or arm...I'm just old and have severe arthritis :( and I don't own Skins, but if I did and it asked, I'd rub Bengay all over it to make it feel better when it's arthritis kicked in ;D

Chapter 18: A Voice From The Past

Emily rushed through the house, with Katie hot on her heels.

"Ems, what are you doing?"

"I've got to tell Gina and Naomi about this." Emily told her without even turning around.

Katie didn't know if that was such a good idea. "Emily, wait!" She called out, bringing Emily to a stop.

"Why? Katie, they have a right to know." Emily whipped around to glare at her.

"Of course they do, but don't you think you should get a little bit more evidence?"

Emily stared at her sister, never expecting the logic she just spouted. But she knew she needed more info to go on, something more than what was in Gareth's journals and memos. "Katie, you're right, but I need at least Gina's help."

"Fine. But I don't think you should tell Naomi anything yet."

"Why not, Katie? She deserves to know that her father might have been murdered!" Emily protested passionately. "I can't not tell her, Kay, I won't keep this from her."

Katie contemplated her sister in a way she had never done before. She could see that what they had found agitated Emily, but she really couldn't understand why.

"Don't you think it would upset her more if she knew right now? Without knowing all the facts?" Katie asked, pleading with Emily to think things through.

Emily knew she would stand firm against holding out on Naomi. "It's not gonna happen, Kay. They both have a right to know and I'm not gonna keep that from either of them!" She stated again, turning back around and heading toward the last place she saw Gina, leaving Katie to scrambled behind her.

"I hope you know what you're doing, Emily!" Katie shouted after her.

"I do!"

"Why did I have to rush all the way back from the office? What's the hurry?" Naomi asked as she made her way into the lounge, sitting next to Emily. "Hey." She smiled at Emily as if she hadn't seen her in a while, even though they'd had breakfast together just that morning, but noticed that the smile she gave back didn't reach her eyes.

"Hello. I'm sorry to interrupt, but...," Emily trailed off, suddenly unsure of how to go about this.

"Emily dear," Gina called out to the younger twin before she and Naomi decided to make use of Naomi's free time, "why don't you explain why you've called us all together, yeah?"

"Um, yeah...right." Emily stood up and handed Gina and Naomi a copy of the file she and Katie had compiled, and waited as they both looked at it, confusion marring their facial features. "Do either of you know who William Owens is?"

Both Gina and Naomi looked up with a narrowed gaze, but while Naomi shook her head no, Gina grimaced.

"Gina?" Emily glanced at her, raising a delicate eyebrow in question.

"He was one of the biggest gossipers when Naomi's father disappeared." Gina spat out, almost painfully. "He told his tales to anyone who'd listen."

"Who was he?" Naomi was confused and she hated to feel confused. "What does he have to do with my father?"

Emily quickly looked at Katie before taking a deep breath. "He was the doctor who Gareth was "working" with when he disappeared." She looked at mother and daughter before going on. "There was no research project."

"Of course there was, dear." Gina stated emphatically. "Gareth talked about it constantly. His friend Clive was on the research team."

Katie was watching the older woman the whole time, suddenly feeling sorry for her. "You're right, Gina, but Emily's right as well."

Naomi shook her head again, as she tried to follow along with what the twins were saying. "I don't understand...how can there be a research team, but no research project?"

Emily smiled sadly at the blonde, the need to get this over with as quickly as possible was huge. "If you open the file to page three, you'll notice a number of memos back and forth between Gareth and Clive."

Both women took a long while to read the file as Emily and Katie sat and waited.

21, May, 2002

Gareth,

Thanks for taking a moment to go over my notes on the project. As always your thoughts, as well as your funding is appreciated.

With that being said, I am writing to you under the gravest of situations.

I've gone to the dean about this, but he chooses to overlook what I'm about to tell you because once you know the truth about William Owens, I'm more than sure you'll cease funding immediately.

Some disturbing info has come to light about "Doctor" Owens, related to me by an informant, and after checking some things out, I believe we've all been lied to, you most of all.

Gareth, we've been friends for a long time now, and I'll uphold your decision in this matter.

We need to meet, face to face and privately.

Clive Burrows

25, May, 2002

Clive,

I will be in Oxford on Wednesday with Gina and Naomi, so I can arrange a little get together at the club.

Gareth Campbell

9, August, 2002

Dear sirs,

I have been in contact with Dr Burrows again and he has brought forth the evidence required to contact the authorities in this matter, but I don't want to take that step as of yet.

I believe that William Owens is in deeper than what we are assuming. Burrows has kept me informed of Owens' every move, but Clive's involvement in our investigation has to be kept at a minimum to ensure his continued safety.

I am in contact personally with Owens about the research project, making sure to dig deeper as I go into his activities, while keeping up the pretense of learning more about the research. But while the project is a very good front, designed to cover up Owens' drug smuggling, it won't produce a viable solution to the overall cancer research that Oxford and Johns Hopkins are collaborating on, so no matter what happens with Owens, the research programme must be dissolved.

I'm flying to Jakarta next week and I've convinced Owens that I'm interested in seeing this plant in the Mêdog County that he's been talking about, so he's chartered a flight to Tibet where we will be making the trek into the Mêdog.

We should never forget under any circumstances that William Owens is very dangerous.

When I return, we will present all out findings to the Metropolitan Police.

Gareth Campbell,

CEO of Campbell Corporation

Gina looked up from the file whilst Naomi continually re-read them all again.

"I don't...how can this be possible?" Gina asked quietly. "He never mentioned a word of this...,"

"What does this mean?" Naomi was confused by the memos in front of her. "Emily?"

Emily went back and sat down next to Naomi, making sure to keep her eyes locked on Naomi's. "There's more to read, there's his private journal, but everything points to this William Owens, who claimed to be a doctor."

"Explain it to me in words I'll be able to understand, Ems." Naomi implored, feeling something stirring inside that she couldn't quite figure out.

Emily took a deep breath and let it out slowly. "According to Clive Burrows, Owens was smuggling drugs into the country, using the research programme as a front. Your father dug deeper into the programme's start, finding out that Owens had approached the dean, claiming to be a doctor from Johns Hopkins University, producing forged documents and letters of recommendations. He worked with the dean to start the programme, claiming that the flora from Indonesia and the Mêdog County could be used to help treat cancer patients. Owens was directed to your father, to ask for funding for the programme. According to your father's journal, Owens was very passionate about his work."

"I don't understand it." Gina said again, a bit flushed. "We interviewed Owens together, Gareth and I did. We both looked over his credentials and they were impeccable. High marks in all of his studies. His background check showed up spotless!" She was getting worked up now, causing the girls to become alarmed.

Katie was the one who stepped over to comfort her. "Gina, for the right person who knows what he's doing, that's easy to fix. Documents, passports, drivers licenses, university degrees...its a piece of cake. William Owens might not even be his real name!"

Gina was angry and Naomi could tell. It didn't happen very often, but when it did, everyone needed to watch out.

"Mum?" Naomi tried to get her attention, but the look in the older woman's eyes was unlike anything Naomi had ever seen before. "Mum!" She called out again, still not getting an answer.

"Gina?" Emily got up and stood right in front of Gina, causing her to jump a little as she was brought out of her head. "What are you thinking?" Emily asked softly after the flash of anger passed through Gina's eyes.

"I'm thinking...," Gina trailed off as she gathered her thoughts, "...that I want someone to pay for this. If what you're saying is true...if this is the reason I went without a husband and Naomi without a father for years...," she looked at all three girls, knowing that she was scaring them but unable to help herself, "then I want justice!"

Naomi couldn't stop from drifting off with her thoughts. If this was all true, then her whole existence for the last thirteen years had been for nothing. Everything she thought she knew was based on a lie and her heart dropped as she thought about her father, something she hadn't allowed herself to do since he left.

'No! Not left...,' she told herself silently, feeling immeasurably saddened, '...was murdered!'

"I don't know how you'd get justice, Mum." Naomi's voice was laced thick with her sorrow. "Owens is probably long gone by now, don't you think?"

Gina glared at her daughter, distraught over this new info. "There's always a way, Naomi! I don't care what it cost!" She turned back to look at the twins. "I don't care what it is you have to do, contact whoever you can...use JJ if you have to! Pull him off whatever he's doing," Gina declared, oblivious to Naomi protest.

"You can't pull him!"

"...I don't care how long it takes you girls to find William Owens, but I want him found!" Gina stood up and made her way toward the door. "Cook and Effy will help as well! I've got some calls to make." Naomi, Emily and Katie watched as Gina turned from a loving, sweet and caring woman into a hurricane of anger as she stormed out of the lounge.

Emily felt sick all of a sudden. She didn't think everything through, like Katie had asked her to do, and now it was Gina, not Naomi, on a rampage. "I'm so sorry, Naoms, I didn't think she'd get so...,"

"Angry?" Naomi raised an eyebrow in question, to which Emily answered with a nod. "She'll calm down...eventually. I just don't like the idea of taking JJ away from finding Mandy."

Katie rolled her eyes at that. "We've come to you and told you that your father may be dead, murdered by a drug runner with ambition, and you're still worried about Emily? Jesus Christ, you've got it bad!" She stood up and left the room as well, leaving Naomi blushing and Emily looking confused.

Emily waited a few more minutes before trying to break the tension that had filled the room. "Uh...Naoms?"

"Yeah?" Naomi glanced up to look at her Emily. She felt her heartbeat speed up, like it always did when she looked into Emily's eyes, and she smiled.

"There was something else." Emily stated.

"What?"

Emily reached into the file on Naomi's lap and pulled out an unsealed envelope, handing it to the blonde. Naomi turned it over and held it in her hands. It had her name on it, but that was all.

Naomi looked up at Emily in confusion. "I don't understand, Ems...what...what is it?"

"Open it and find out." Emily said softly, gripping Naomi's hand in hers, giving it a gentle squeeze. "I'm gonna go back to the office now, yeah? Come find me if you need me." She leant over, placing a kiss on Naomi's cheek and left her alone on the sofa.

Naomi heard the door click behind Emily, indicating that she was alone, and she felt lonely for the first time in months. After years of living in the shadows, of craving time for herself, this sudden sadness over not having Emily by her side was an odd feeling.

She shook her head to dispel the feelings and get her head on the object in her hand. The writing looked familiar, but she couldn't quite place it at first until she slowly pulled out the contents of the envelope.

Naomi choked back a sob as the words of her father jumped off the pages at her, taking her back to when she was little, and made her heart hurt. It was dated September of 2002, a few days before he boarded that flight.

My beautiful Naomi,

I know this is going to sound like a cliché, but if you're reading this, something terrible has happened to me.

I want you to know, my darling girl, that I have always loved you.

The moment your mummy told me she was pregnant, I was scared beyond belief, but she quickly slapped that fear out of me and then proceeded to calm me down. Then she painted a picture of how wonderful our life would turn out with you in it.

And we both know how persuasive your mum can be.

And you know, she was right! The moment the doctor placed you in my arms, you made me a better person. You and your mum made me want to change the world! You both made me happier than any one man had a right to be.

And for that my sweet girl, I will always be grateful.

Now, to get to the reason I'm writing you this letter in the first place...(don't think I don't know that you're rolling your eyes)

A dangerous man has been using our family name and business to smuggle drugs into this country. I know that at this age, you shouldn't know what that means, but since you're my bright angel, I know that you know what that means.

I know I've told you and your mum that I went to Jakarta for some business, but I had to do something else as well.

Naomi, just know that I've never lied to you before, but I did this time because I was scared. I was scared for you and your mum. I didn't tell you and your mum what I was planning because I was afraid that this man would find out what I was doing and hurt you both.

So first off, I want to tell you how sorry I am for getting myself into this mess that has taken me away from you. If I haven't returned, it really means I'm gone, Naomi. I haven't popped down to the local pub and I haven't decided that I like the Tibetan countryside and decided to stay.

I'm so sorry, my sweet little girl. I wanted to write this letter to you so that you would know, without a doubt, how much I love you. Because I do. And I feel that I have to do this to protect you somehow from these dangerous things that are so easy to get a hold of in this day and age.

Please don't be angry and don't be sad, Naomi. Just know that I tried to be the best person I could be and that I tried to do the right thing.

Remember, I've loved you from the moment you took your first breath and I'll love you until I take my last.

Love always,

Daddy

Tears flowed freely whilst the letter slipped silently from Naomi's hands, as she curled up on the sofa and finally after these years, grieved for her father.

Gina had a similar letter, but Gareth explained in detail what he had found. She was sitting at her desk reading it for the fifth time, when she heard a knock on her door.

"Come in!" She called out abruptly, eyes glued to the letter in her hands.

"Gina?"

Katie's voice echoed around the room, surprising Gina. "Katie, love...what are you doing here?"

Katie stepped into the room, walking slowly toward Gina. "I just came to see if you're alright?" She told the older woman.

Gina was touched by the concern written all over Katie's face. "Yes dear, I'm fine. I'm just...," she trailed off, looking for the right word, "angry. Yes, that's it! I'm angry that my husband felt he had to do something this idiotic!" She stated holding up the letter.

Katie blinked in surprise. "What's that?" She pointed to Gina's letter.

"Gareth left me a gift, it would seem." Gina told her, noting the confused look. "Didn't you know?"

Katie shook her head before speaking. "No. I only found the memos from your husband and Clive. Emily must have found it." She leant forward, trying to look at the letter. "What does it say?"

Gina passed it over to the older twin. "A lot, actually. Here. Read it...it may help."

Katie took the letter from her, and started reading it. Once she got past the first couple paragraphs, her eyes widened in surprise. Gareth had written down every detail he was able to find out about William Owens, including his real name. She stopped reading when the letter turned personal again and looked up to find Gina watching her.

"Yes." Gina said the simple word, answering Katie's unasked question.

"Seriously?" Katie couldn't believe their luck. "This is brilliant! I'm gonna go...I've gotta show this to Emily." She said as she quickly got up and started to leave until it hit her how insensitive she sounded. "Oh my god, Gina! I am so sorry...I didn't mean...I wasn't think-,"

Gina stopped the girl's panicked rambling. "It's fine, dear. I knew exactly what you meant. It's alright." She smiled at the girl. "Here, take these pages with you."

Her words didn't stop the blush that spread across Katie's face, but they did make her feel a little better as she reached for the papers in Gina's hand. "Right. So I'm gonna go get with Emily about this...," she said waving the papers and making her way to the door again, leaving Gina alone.

Gina nodded absently, content to watch the older twin leave, as she turned her thoughts back to the letter. She knew something had to have happened to him. Gina felt it back then and she felt it now. And her heart had broken back then at the thought of life without Gareth, and even though Kieran had come along and made her believe in love again, she knew just like Kieran knew, that a little bit of her heart would remain broken and still belonging to Gareth.

But now finally, Gina could get the answers to burning questions and make this man pay for what he'd done.

She put the rest of the pages down on the desk and picked up the phone. She dialed the office and waited until it was answered.

"'Ello?"

"Kieran?" She broke down, finally, once she heard her husband's voice.

"Gina, love, what's wrong?" He asked, panicking once he heard the tears in Gina's words.

"I need you, please?"

"I'm on my way."

She hung up the phone and cried over Gareth, hoping that finally it would be for the last time and that she could let him go properly, as she waited for Kieran.

Emily sat at her desk and fidgeted through the papers at her fingertips. To say she was nervous was an understatement. And her nerves weren't helped at all by the constant bursts of electricity coursing throughout her body. Electricity that changed every few minutes it seemed like. It was starting to drive her insane.

It had been two hours since she had told Gina and Naomi what her and Katie had found. Two hours since she had given Naomi the letter from her father and told her she'd be here for her.

Two hours since she's seen Naomi at all.

Emily thought for sure Naomi would have asked her to stay, but she fought down the disappointment when she didn't. That was fine, Emily had reasoned with herself, Naomi needed time to process everything. But after the first hour and still no Naomi, the disappointment turned into something that Emily couldn't put a name to. She was doing her best to fight the sinking feeling that was taking over, but with each passing minute, it was harder to do.

She was about to say fuck it and go in search of the blonde, when Katie came rushing back into the room, excitement all over her face.

"Emsy! Look...," she set the pages from Gina down in front of Emily, "Gareth left details!"

Emily stared at the masculine script on the page, quickly reading the words and gasped when the real name of William Owens jumped out at her. "We've got to call JJ!"

"Already done. He'll be here tomorrow." Naomi said from the doorway, causing both Emily and Katie to jump.

Emily took a good look at the blonde, noticing the red rimmed eyes and the tracks from her tears, but it was the pleading look in Naomi's eyes that made her stomach clench. She rushed forward and wrapped her arms around Naomi, holding her tight, almost as if she was afraid of the blonde running away.

When Naomi brought her arms around Emily's waist and held on, hiding her face in the crook of her neck, Emily felt something shift in her chest. "Are you alright, Naoms?" She asked, suddenly feeling stupid. Obviously she wasn't okay! "I'm sorry, that was a stupid question, babes."

"Can we go upstairs?" Naomi asked quietly, her face still buried in Emily's hair.

"Of course, yeah...," Emily turned back to Katie, "I'll catch you later." Katie nodded with a sad smile and Emily led Naomi back out and up to her room.

Once Emily had Naomi settled down on her sofa she cradled the blonde in her arms, as new tears fell from clouded blue eyes, and waited.

"He didn't leave, Ems."

"It looks that way, Naoms." She replied, brushing her lips across Naomi's cheek. "What's running through your mind?"

Naomi chuckled at the question. "Too much to even put into words."

"One thing. Pick one thing and let's talk about it, yeah?" Emily smiled down at her.

"The letter. Where did it come from?"

"The letters to you and Gina were in the centre desk drawer." Emily told her.

Naomi shook her head, disgusted with herself, as she pulled away from Emily. "All this fucking time! For years I've been so...angry at him...I've thought the worst about him! I didn't even consider this possibility, Ems." She explained in despair, standing up quickly, beginning to pace. "What kind of daughter does that make me?"

Naomi was getting worked up. Not only could Emily see it, she could feel it, as she watched her move back and forth. "Naoms, you need to calm down, babes. Come over here and sit back down."

Naomi stopped pacing suddenly, glancing around as if noticing for the first time that she was moving. "Sorry, Ems," she moved back over to the sofa, sitting down, "I'm just so angry with myself. You know, when he didn't come back, I made my mum close that study and I never allowed anyone in there. I know I told you that Mum closed up the room, but it was me that wanted it. I actually threw a tantrum until she agreed!"

"You didn't know, Naomi, it doesn't make you a bad person." Emily told her as she wrapped her arms around Naomi again, rubbing her hands up and down her back to comfort her. "It won't help if you start feeling guilty for it, will it?"

"No."

"Alright then. What did the letter say?"

Naomi pulled it out of her back pocket and handed it to Emily, who opened it up and read it. Once she was finished, she folded it back up and gave it back to Naomi. "He loved you something fierce."

"Yeah, he did." Naomi smiled as she thought back. "I broke my leg falling out of the big tree in the hedge maze, right before my sixth birthday. I was stuck in bed for a couple of months, but I knew that the circus was coming to town and I wanted to go so badly, but Mum kept saying no."

"My poor Naomi." Emily cooed, kissing Naomi's forehead. "How did you get over the disappointment of not going to the circus?"

"I didn't have to, Ems...," Naomi looked up into Emily's eyes and grinned, "my father arranged to have the circus come here. For three days their vans and tents were all over the grounds, animal cages set up every where. We invited kids from my school and their parents...," she lost herself in the memory for a few seconds, "it was brilliant, Ems. I loved him so much."

"We'll figure this out, Naomi. I won't stop until I find out what exactly happened to your father, yeah?" Emily promised the girl in her arms. "You'll see...once JJ's on it, he'll ferret out every bit of information he can."

"But what if he can't? What if try and find this guy, but we come up empty handed, Ems?" Naomi questioned, her doubt and fear palpable.

"How about we try first, okay? Listen Naoms, we're not gonna know anything more until we look for it, so relax and trust me." Emily answered, doing her best to calm Naomi down. "How about we put it aside for now and go somewhere?"

"Where?" Naomi asked curiously, picking her head up from where it was resting on Emily chest to look at her.

"Anywhere."

Naomi agreed and soon they found themselves at Michelle's café, enjoying a quiet afternoon tea. They talked about work, Emily brought up the subject of Katie and Effy, to which Naomi agreed that yes, she too had noticed something going on. Naomi brought up how much Cook and James were alike, telling Emily about Cook's little brother Paddy, and how he lived in New York with their mum. They talked about anything except Gareth Campbell.

After they finished, they drove into Bath and spent the rest of the day walking around, stopping at the Royal Victoria Park to watch the sunset. They made out like teenagers as they sat on a bench overlooking the Fish Pond, oblivious to anyone else around them.

And when they returned to the house later on, Emily led Naomi upstairs, bypassing her own door coming to a stop in front of Naomi's.

"I had a great time, Ems." Naomi told her, feeling relaxed. "Do you wanna come in?"

Emily smirked up at her, pretending to think about it. "I don't know, Naoms...I've got a full day tomorrow...I should get some sleep." Her smirk turned in to a full blown smile when Naomi rolled her eyes.

"You do know that we work at the same place, right?" Naomi asked with a touch of sarcasm. "Besides, aren't I your boss?"

Emily laughed at that. "I'm such a bad girl, shagging the boss and all...alright, Miss Campbell, lead the way." She replied as sultrily as she could.

Naomi rolled her eyes again, trying to cover up the fact that she was turned on by the huskiness of Emily's voice. "C'mon, bitch." She responded playfully, as she grabbed the collar of Emily's shirt and yanked her close enough to kiss and gently pushed Emily into the room, closing the door and locking it behind her.

"Oh!" Emily exclaimed as she came up for air. Every snarky reply that Emily had on the tip of her tongue disappeared as she saw the look in Naomi's eyes.

"What's the matter, Ems?" Now it was Naomi's turn to smirk. "Cat got your tongue?"

"Um...no...it's just...," she couldn't think properly with Naomi this close to her and the pulses rippling through her. Something was telling her that this very moment was huge, but she didn't understand why.

Naomi smiled at Emily, finding her the most adorable thing she had ever seen. And as she watched her stand there, Naomi felt a massive shift in the pulses causing her heart to speed up. "Ems?" Naomi saw Emily's eyes glaze over and suddenly became concerned. "What's wrong?"

"Do you feel them?"

Naomi cocked her head in confusion, waiting for Emily to explain. When she didn't answer, Naomi became worried. "Ems, what's going on?" She asked again, giving Emily a slight shake.

"The pulses? Do you feel them?" Emily questioned her again, but this time, her eyes focused back in on Naomi. "Or is it just me? Am I going crazy, because they change on me, like right now it feels like I'm holding a live wire and someone's flipped a switch...,"

"No, baby...you're not crazy." Naomi told her as she wrapped her arms back around her. "I feel them too."

Emily sighed in relief. "How long have you know about them? What are they?"

Naomi stopped mentally undressing Emily and led her over to the sofa, finding it funny that hours ago, they had been in opposite positions, as Naomi sat them down with her arms still around Emily.

"Do you really wanna know?" Naomi asked.

"I really need to know, Naoms." Emily pleaded.

"I felt them the first time we met, at the charity ball. I feel them around you, Katie and to be honest, James." Naomi explained.

"Really?" Emily was shocked by this. "Why?"

Naomi shrugged. "I don't know. I thought it had something to do with the curse, but now that we know what we know, that theory seems shot, doesn't it. I only really notice it when I'm with you these days."

"Hm."

"What?" Naomi wonder what she was thinking about. "What's on your mind?"

Emily blinked, brought out of her thoughts by the question, but shook her head. "No...nothing. It's silly."

"I doubt that, Ems. C'mon...out with it." Naomi demanded playfully.

"You're going to laugh at me." Emily said with a pout.

"Probably, but tell me anyway."

"Ugh, fine!" Emily stated in exaggerated annoyance. "I was just thinking what if it had been Katie? Or James even?"

"Come again?"

"What if it had been Katie who you had been drawn to? Instead of me?" Emily looked up at Naomi through her eyelashes, afraid to see Naomi's face. "If it was the pulses, I mean. Do you think that's what drew us together?"

Naomi scoffed loudly before the laughter hit.

"Naomi! I'm being serious!"

She tried to stop laughing, she truly did. But every time she would look at Emily's face, and how serious indeed she was, Naomi couldn't help herself.

"Really fucking mature, Naoms." Emily growled out, really annoyed this time, because it didn't look like Naomi was going to stop anytime soon. She slid away from the blonde and scooted to the other end of the sofa, crossing her arms in front her and intended to wait.

Naomi followed her though, and tried harder to control her laughter. "I'm sorry, Ems, I really am, but...Katie?"

"Yes, Katie!" Emily snapped at her.

"Babe, c'mon...be realistic!" Naomi said with a smile. "I'm not even dignify the James thing with a response, but what would I ever see in Katie? Not that she's not a great girl, but what would we even talk about? And let's be honest here, shall we? As much as I like hanging out with her from time to time, I'd rather be sitting next to you. Even if we didn't do anything and just looked at each other, I'd be happy."

Emily felt herself start to melt at Naomi's words and when Naomi slid closer and closed the remaining distance between them, wrapping her arms around her waist, Emily's anger disappeared altogether.

"Tell me something about you that nobody else knows?" Emily asked quietly, running her fingers through blonde hair, whilst Naomi buried her face in the crook of her neck.

"Something no one else knows...," Naomi thought about it for a split second, "when I die, when this is all over, I'll die happy, because you've made me very happy, Ems."

Emily's heart tripped up, as the words hit her, sadness filling her. "Don't talk like that, Naoms." Emily hadn't been able to hide the tears, couldn't keep them out of her voice.

"Ems, don't cry. I'm just saying, that you're the best thing that's ever happened to me and if I had one wish right now, it would be to go back in time and meet you first before Chelsea, because I'm pretty sure I would have known back then that you would be the one to make me happy." Naomi told her, cupping Emily's face in her hands so that she could look into her eyes.

"I don't wanna think about that right now though." Emily said, sniffing back her tears.

"I know you don't, babe, but we're going to have to at some point." Naomi told her, her voice soft. "We can't avoid it forever."

"Not tonight. Can you just take me to bed please?" Emily whispered.

Naomi didn't say a word as they stood up and she led Emily to her bed. She took her time undressing Emily, cherishing ever in of skin she came across and made sure to show it.

But, as they both lay awake in each other's arms and Emily kept up her habit of kissing Naomi's scars, it didn't go unnoticed that Naomi had less open wounds and more scars.

A/N: how's that for a sweet moment?

ARE YOU NOT ENTERTAINED?

well, I'm off to enjoy a spot of Assassins Creed III, but I've already got the next chapter started and halfway done, so I'm thinking in another week or so...but don't quote me on that because like I said, real life issues and all...plus my older sister is getting remarried and she's asked me to perform at her wedding...so, until next time:)