A/N: Hello my beautiful peeps! Sorry for the delay in getting this up, but some heavy real life stuff has come my way and it's a bit hard to handle at the moment...Taking things day by day :-/

Anyways, on with the story, shall we?

Disclaimer: I like to mix chocolate and butterscotch pudding together, even though I know in the end it all tastes like chocolate...Oh, and I don't own Skins, but I keep hoping one day...

Chapter 20: The Weight of a Word

Gina had arranged a small, intimate service for Gareth to be held on June 13th, his birthday, for what little family they had and close friends of Gareth's.

After Clive's morning phone call informing Gina of the results, he told her that he was bringing Gareth's ashes to her that day. She thanked him and hung up the phone, turning to Kieran.

"It's him." She told her husband, as he wrapped his arms around her and held on tight.

The tears came fast and they lasted the whole morning, but Kieran didn't mind. He had always known that Gareth was never truly gone from her heart, but one of things he loved most about his wife, was her capacity to love. He had never doubted her love for him, and while it wasn't the same as her love for Gareth, because a love like that just can't be replaced, it was just as powerful. Kieran knew that she deserved this moment to grieve properly.

Gina and Naomi had spent the next few weeks busier than usual. After taking all of Gareth's notes, DVDs, the DNA test results and everything else that Emily, Katie and JJ had found to the authorities, it was only a matter of time before Gareth Campbell was officially declared deceased.

This resulted in Gina and Naomi becoming extremely richer than they already were, because it turned out Gareth had an excellent head for financial matters. He was a silent partner in many businesses, small and large, all across the globe. As long as the business produced products to help the environment or bettered the world in any way at all, Gareth invested in it. And while Gina knew of his investments, she didn't know the full scope of them. So Naomi and Gina watched as the month of May rushed past them, as they dealt with paperwork upon paperwork.

And Emily and Katie watched as the two women scrambled around day after day, each of them offering to help, but a polite "no thank you" came quickly, so they busied themselves helping Effy and Cook.

Every day, Emily noticed Naomi doing a strange dance of getting closer yet holding herself back just a little bit. When she was dealing with everything with Gina and her father, Naomi acted like when they first met before they got closer, shy and unsure of herself, but at night she would take Emily to bed and they would spend hours making love to one another. Naomi treated every night like it was the last time she'd ever be with Emily. It was throwing her off so much that she finally confronted Naomi about it two days before the memorial service.

Emily was sitting in the study, going over some research for the video game that Virginia had sent over earlier that week. She felt it was for the best if she kept busy and out of Naomi's way for the time being. For the first time since the night she ran out on Naomi before they had even got together, Emily felt like she was walking on egg shells around Naomi, and she didn't like it one bit.

She was intently going over the script and matching it against her research notes, so she didn't hear the door open.

"Whatcha doing, Ems?" Naomi asked softly in Emily's ear.

The redhead jumped, her heart racing a million miles a minute and it felt like it was trying to race it's way out of her chest. "Fucking Christ, Naomi!" She yelled, trying to keep the blush off her face. "What the actual fuck are you trying to do, kill me?"

"I'm sorry, Ems," Naomi replied, trying her hardest to not laugh, "I thought you would have heard me come in."

"Well, I didn't, did I?" She snapped at the blonde, turning her eyes back to the pages in front of her, refusing to look at Naomi. "What are you doing here anyway?"

Naomi's smile disappeared as she heard the anger. "What's wrong, Ems?" Naomi asked her hesitantly.

"Nothing. Why do you ask?"

"Uh, because you're acting a bit strange?" Naomi stated, just a little confused by Emily's attitude.

"Oh, I'm acting strange? That's precious, coming from you!" Emily spat out, throwing down the pen she had in her hand, and Naomi watched as it skidded across the desk.

Then it dawned on Naomi as she felt the change in the pulses. "Are you mad at me?" She asked shocked and confused. "What did I do?"

Emily turned to glare at Naomi, feeling angrier by the second. "How about we talk about what you didn't do?"

Naomi shook her head, unable to believe that they were having a fight. A fight over nothing as far as she was concerned. "I have no idea what you're on about, Ems. Maybe, just maybe, you could clue me in here?"

"I've been here everyday, Naomi! Since we got back from Oxford, I've been here, where have you been?"

Naomi watched as Emily pushed herself away from the desk and started pacing around the study. She could almost see the anger radiating off the redhead in waves, but she honestly didn't know what was wrong and that scared her.

"Emily, please. Stop for a minute and talk to me." Naomi pleaded as she rushed over to the pacing redhead, wrapping her arms around Emily from behind. "I don't know what's wrong, but I'm sorry if I've hurt you."

Emily felt Naomi's body press against her back and all her anger faded, turning into tears, and she let them come as the fear that she had had of Naomi distancing herself from Emily became too much.

Naomi held on as the sobs racked Emily's body. "Baby, please tell me what's wrong?" She whispered into Emily's ear, tightening her hold.

"It feels like you're saying goodbye already." Emily said in between sobs.

"What?"

"You stay gone all day and I hardly ever see you...and when we go to bed at night, every time you touch me, it's like...," she stopped to catch her breath, her tears not stopping, "it's like you're saying goodbye with every kiss, every touch, every look!"

Naomi was floored by Emily's words. "Oh my god, Ems...why didn't you say anything before? That's not what...," she turned Emily around so that she could look into those eyes that she loved, making sure that Emily was looking at her, "I don't think I'm capable of saying goodbye to you, Emily."

"But it's gonna happen, isn't it? We've heard fuck all from Sophia, so there's no way to break the curse." She sobbed again and laid her forehead on Naomi's chest, wrapping her own arms around the blonde, holding on so tight, as if that could keep her there with Emily forever.

"Let's not ta-,"

"But we have to talk about it, don't we?" Emily pulled away from Naomi to look at her. "We can't avoid this forever, Naoms! It's happening so fast and it doesn't feel like...,"

Naomi listened to the emotion in Emily's voice, noticing the way she couldn't seem to look directly at her. "It doesn't feel like what?"

"Nothing. Forget I said anything." Emily tried to pull out of Naomi's embrace, but Naomi refused to let her go just yet.

"Okay, but you want to talk about September, so let's talk." Naomi led her over to one of the plush couches in the middle of the study, setting down and pulling Emily with her, so that she was nestled against Naomi. "For four years plus, all I've done is think about September, Ems. It was a finish line for me, for so long. I told you how I was cursed, but I never exactly told you how I spent that first year, did I?"

Emily shook her head, sniffling as she listened to Naomi's heart beat from where her head rested against her chest.

"Once I was able to get out of bed, I started drinking. Anything I could get my hands...vodka, tequila, whisky...anything, really, just to take my mind off what had happened. I spent hours and minutes hating Sophia for what she had done. I stayed locked up in my room, afraid to leave because I could see the disgust and fear on peoples faces if I went anywhere with Effy and Cook...so, there I was, a scarred up alcoholic, drowning my problems in various bottles of shit!"

Emily shifted a little in Naomi's arms, but stayed silent.

"Mum and Kieran had had enough one morning in March of the second year, when they found me faced down in the fountain out front. Luckily, it had snowed and the water had frozen over, so there was no real threat of me drowning myself, but I had been out there for quite some time." Naomi stopped when Emily gasped in shock.

"Where you trying to...," Emily couldn't even finish the question, the thought of it was horrible.

"No, Ems. I was trying to drown out the voice of Sophia in my head, that's all." Naomi told her. "She would chatter on for hours, it seemed like at the time, but also I wasn't accepting the blame for what had happened. It was Sophia's fault or Ashley's fault, even my father's fault at times...but never mine."

"What changed?" Emily asked, curiosity burning away inside her.

"Well, after my mum had a go at me for being one of the most selfish bitches on the face of the earth, her words by the way, I started to pay more attention to Effy and Cook, ya know? I watched them to see how they were dealing with everything and what I saw was sobering. Once I saw how they had changed, I knew in that moment, that I had to accept the blame for everything. It was all down to me, I was the reason my best mates were different people and not the best part of themselves...," Naomi trailed off as her thoughts drifted back in time.

Emily waited patiently for her to continue, feeling the immense sadness flow from Naomi into her. She understood that this was probably one of the hardest things for Naomi to talk about, so Emily stayed silent giving the blonde time.

"I had stopped drinking to block Sophia's voice and to erase my situation, I started taking uni courses online, getting my degrees in computer sciences and then put that to use building up that side of the business and I vowed to spend the rest of my time setting up charities and trusts. That way, I knew however small it was, I had made an impact. And I'd resigned myself to the fact that I was gonna die...," Emily's tears started again and she was going to say something, but Naomi stopped her by placing a finger against her lips,"...until you."

Emily sat up, wiped her eyes and stared at Naomi. "Whatdya mean, until me?"

"Since you've been here...no, since I've known you," Naomi corrected herself with a smile, "I've wished for more time, Ems, because I know that what we've had and what little time is left won't ever be enough. I hate the fact that I won't be here with you a year from now, I won't be able to see your smile or stare into your eyes." The tears that Naomi had been holding since she broke down at Oxford came rushing out.

Emily twisted around and wrapped her arms around the blonde, adding her own tears to Naomi's.

"I'm sorry if you thought I was pulling away from you, Ems and maybe on some level I was, but it's only because you make me wanna stay." Naomi explained through her tears. "You've made me believe in something I didn't think existed anymore."

Emily pulled away and looked at her, confusion clear on her face. "What are you talking about?"

Naomi stared for a few seconds, examining every feature on Emily's face and committing it all to memory. She had found herself doing that a lot over the last month, memorising everything about Emily, from the way her hair parted to the freckles that were dusted across the bridge of her nose. She wanted to make sure she had enough to take with her when the curse was over.

She blinked when she brought her gaze up to find Emily waiting for an answer and she knew it was time to tell Emily the truth. "Love, Ems. I'm in love with you."

Shock did not even cover how Emily felt at hearing Naomi's confession and she tried multiple times to respond, but she couldn't form words. Naomi could tell she was startled and smiled, because rendering Emily Fitch speechless was a rare occurrence.

"I didn't tell you to put you on the spot, Ems, okay? I just wanted you to understand why I have been sort of giving you space." Naomi leant forward, placing a chaste kiss against Emily's lips. "And if we're being honest, I wasn't gonna say anything at all, but I've been doing a lot of thinking since that day at Oxford and I've realised that I need you to know that."

They both stayed silent for a long time, Naomi just looking at Emily, and Emily trying to fight the fear that had gripped her.

'Does she want me to say it back?' Emily thought to herself, not knowing if she could. 'How do I know? I'm only 19 for fucks sake! Am I even old enough to make a decision like that?' She could feel the icy cold tendrils of fear start to slither throughout her body and the thoughts tangled together in her mind.

For the first time in her love life, Emily actually felt the urge to talk to her mum. She needed someone, who stood outside of her little bubble, to talk to about what she was feeling.

When minutes had passed in silence, Naomi smiled sadly at the distant look on Emily face. "Ems, I'm gonna go and see what Effy and Cook are up to...," Naomi said, getting no reaction, "...Ems?"

"Uh? Oh, yeah...you should do that...actually," Emily was jolted out of her thoughts, "would it be alright if Cook went somewhere with me?"

Naomi was thrown off by the request and tried to let the fact that she was hurt, because Emily wanted Cook to go with her, not show on her face. "I'll send him to find you." She replied as she stood and walked toward the door.

Emily watched as Naomi walked away, her feelings all over the place, when she saw Naomi stop and turn back to her.

"I promise you, Emily, I'm not looking for anything more than what you're willing to let me have, okay? I get that you're still young and you've got your whole life ahead of you, so I understand that you may not be willing to give your heart to someone who won't be next to you after September, so if all you want is what we've got right now, that's more than fine. As always, there's no pressure for more." Naomi stated quietly before opening the door, sending the redhead one last look, and left the room.

Emily didn't remember anything after the click of the door closing until Cook arrived. She had asked if he'd drive her to her house. Cook looked at her strangely but agreed and led her out of the house.

Jenna was enjoying a quiet moment away from the office, having so few days off. But something was missing and it had been since December. She missed her girls. Even though spending the weekends at the Campbell home didn't quite erase that, it helped a bit. To be honest, she felt guilty. If she hadn't of pushed Emily and Mandy together, this wouldn't have happened.

She was deep in thought as she sat at the six-seater oak dining table, sipping a cup of coffee.

"MUM?"

Jenna jumped as Emily's voice called out for her, scaring her a bit. "Emily? In here, love."

Jenna watched as Emily and Cook stepped into the kitchen.

"Afternoon, Mrs Fitch." Cook greeted her with a smile.

Jenna narrowed her eyes at him, earning a smirk from Emily. "Mr Cook, how many times have I asked you to call me Jenna?"

Cook's smile fell as he squirmed under the the glare and at being called Mr Cook. "At least twenty?"

"So let's try that greeting again, shall we?" Jenna requested as Emily giggled.

"Afternoon, Jenna...you're looking particularly lovely today!" Cook told her, earning a deep laugh from both of the Fitches in the room.

"That's better, young man." Jenna told him as she got up from the table and came around to hug Emily. "What brings you home today, Emily?"

Emily felt the weight of Naomi's words come crashing back down on her and she sighed loudly.

"Excuse me, Jenna, but is Jamie here?" Cook asked, knowing that Emily had something on her mind and it was obvious that she wanted to speak privately with her mum.

"Yes, he's up in his room." Jenna indicated with a flick of her head. "Upstairs and all the way down, last door on your left." Cook smiled and nodded at them before he left the room, leaving the two women alone. "So, Emily, what's wrong?"

"What makes you think something's wrong?" Emily deflected, but knew it didn't work when she saw her mum raise an eyebrow at her. She couldn't help the sigh that came out. "Fine...," she huffed, crossing her arms across her chest, "when did you know that you were in love with Dad?"

Jenna's eyes widened in surprise at the unexpected question, and not just because Emily had never once come to her with a question like this, although that was surprising enough. No, what really surprised her, was the fact that there was a reason Emily felt the need to ask.

She picked up the coffee mug in front of her, sipping from it, taking the moment to poise herself. "What brought this on?"

"I'm just curious, is all." Emily replied with a blush. "How old were you?"

"I was fifteen." Jenna said with a smile.

"What? Is that even possible?" Emily asked her, doubt evident on her face.

Jenna rolled her eyes at her daughter. "Of course it's possible, love, why wouldn't it be?"

"Weren't you too young to know?"

"How do you think people fall in love, Emily? It's not something you plan and it doesn't wait until you're ready." Jenna smiled at Emily. "Now, that's not to say that your father fell in love with me when I was fifteen and actually, he probably didn't even know I was alive." She snorted out a chuckle, as she remembered the first time she had seen Rob Fitch.

"Oh, now I'm intrigued, Mum...," Emily grinned at her, "continue?"

Jenna laughed. "When your father was sixteen, your grandfather felt he needed to experience what hard work could accomplish, so he started spending summers in Crieff, working on his uncle's farm. He came into my father's store for supplies and I was working the counter...when I laid eyes on him, it felt like I had been kicked in the chest...I couldn't breathe, my knees buckled, I started to sweat...it was bloody horrifying!" She exclaimed, making Emily laugh. "Thankfully, he was too busy listening to his uncle natter on about the difference between dairy and beef cattle to pay any attention to me."

"And you fell in love with him at that moment?" Emily was still a bit sceptical, she couldn't help it.

Jenna gave it a moment of thought before looking at her doubting daughter with a smile. "I did and I must say, Emily, that was the absolute worst summer of my life!"

"Why?"

"Because every time he would come into the store, it would happen again! I would get so tongue-tied that your grandmother would have to take over at the counter!" Emily laughed again, so Jenna went on. "And then by the end of the summer, he came in one last time. I stayed close to your grandfather whilst Rob told him how he wouldn't be back as he was leaving for home the next day.

I thought my heart was going to break right then and there, because I was so sure I'd never see him again, so I tried to say something, anything really, so that he would notice me but all that came out was a stuttered "see you around" and school girl giggles! I'd never been so embarrassed but then he looked at me, smiled and called me a funny kid!"

Emily watched as her mum smiled at the memory, completely in awe at seeing this side of her. "What happened then?"

"Well, I spent the next nine months pining for some bloke I would never see again! Until he walked through the door the following spring. I promised myself right then and there that I would not stutter around him...he was just a boy after all!"

"And did it work?" Emily wondered, momentarily forgetting her own problems.

Jenna smiled at her daughter and thought, not for the first time, what a beautiful young woman she had turned out to be. "We're married, aren't we?" Jenna asked with a raised eyebrow, earning a nod and smile from Emily. "So now, how about you tell me what's on your mind and let's not deflect this time."

Emily finally told her mum about her and Naomi, how close they've gotten and how they've taken the next step in their relationship.

"So what's the problem? You obviously care about Naomi or else you wouldn't have given yourself to her." Jenna inquired, knowing that her Emily had a kind heart and principles.

"Of course I care about her, Mum, it's just...," she paused, trying to think of the right words, "...she told me that she loves me...that she's in love with me! And I'm not sure how to handle that! I mean, I'm too young for that, right?" She looked to her mum, seeking agreement.

"I don't think so, but that's just me, Emily. But is that the only issue?" Jenna asked. "Why are you in such a panic over how young you are?"

"Because...it...just feels like I'm being rushed!" Emily exclaimed, frustration filling her voice, as she stood up to pace in front of Jenna. "Did she mean it? Or did she just say it because her time is running out? September is a couple months away, so she could be resorting to drastic tactics! Because what happens to me when I admit that I maybe, possibly, probably am in love with her and then she's gone! Because there's no way to break the fucking curse and that scares me more than anything right now!"

Emily's rant drew red flags in Jenna's brain, causing her to question herself on whether she had heard Emily right.

"STOP!" Jenna's authoritative voice broke through Emily's scattered thoughts. "Sit down and explain this curse to me, right now!"

Emily felt like a deer caught in the headlights, because her mum knew nothing about Naomi and her curse and now Emily felt stupid for shooting her mouth off about it. Katie and Emily had agreed months ago, the day after they found out about it, that they would keep that bit of info from their parents, and judging by the look on Jenna's face, Emily knew it was for a good reason.

"Now, Emily!" Jenna insisted when she hesitated.

Emily sighed in disgust at herself, but sat back down and started to tell her mother everything. When Jenna scoffed in disbelief, Emily called Cook down to help her convince her mum.

Three hours later, after countless questions from Jenna and James, who had come down with Cook, Jenna knew everything, including Emily's fear which had forced her to seek out her mum in the first place.

"I can see your point, Emily." Jenna stated quietly, giving the whole matter a lot of thought. "I can see why you would question Naomi's declaration-,"

"What declaration?" Cook asked curiously, cocking his head in confusion.

Emily sighed again loudly and threw her head down on the table. This day was just getting better and better! She had been trying not to let Cook in on the reason she was so freaked out.

Her mother however didn't see a reason to keep quiet. "Apparently, Naomi told Emily she was in love with her."

Jenna's news dropped like a bomb, as James' laughter pealed throughout the kitchen and Cook grinned. "Blonde finally told ya, did she?" He had asked, while Emily blushed, but nodded and Jenna smirked at the whole situation. "I honestly didn't believe she would."

"James!" Emily shouted out as she saw her baby brother pull out his mobile and started to text someone.

"What?" He jumped when Emily snapped at him, dropping the mobile on the table.

Cook reach over and picked it up, glancing at the screen. "Who's Pussy MacPherson!"

"Fuck no!" Emily shouted as she grabbed the phone out of Cook's hand, reading the text message that he had started to write. With a quick swipe of her finger she deleted it and glared at her brother. "Jamie, you can't tell anyone about this! No one!"

James looked crestfallen. "But he's my best mate! We tell each other everything!" He whined and pouted.

"Not this time, mate." Cook told him quietly, knowing that if Naomi's secret got out, she would shut down emotionally. "You have to promise us that you won't say a word about this to anyone."

James stayed quiet under the glare of his mum and sister, but he could see the look of fear in Emily's eyes so he promised not to say anything.

Emily and Cook stayed for a little bit longer before deciding to head out. Jenna surprised Emily when she gave Cook a hug, thanking him for bringing Emily to see her and when she turned to Emily, Jenna gave her a Fitch hug before whispering into her ear.

"I don't think you should overthink things, Emily. I know how you get, but I'm more than positive that Naomi was telling you the truth when she said she loved you." Emily blushed at the words, and then kissed her mother goodbye.

Cook and Emily stayed quiet on the ride back to the Campbell residence, because Emily was deep in thought and Cook wanted to give her space to think about things. Plus, he didn't want her to think he was putting any more pressure on her than she was feeling at the moment.

But still, just the fact that Naomi told her...something about that made Cook extremely happy. So the grin that had plastered itself on his face at the Fitch house stayed on his face as he drove home.

"I can not believe you would go to your grandmother for anything at all, let alone a spell like that, Sophia Marie!"

Sophia sat with her head laid on her mum's kitchen table, ashamed and guilty, as her mother went about chastising her. She felt like she was twelve all over again! She was just grateful that the rest of the family wasn't at home to witness her shame.

"I know, Mum, can we just...please, focus on the problem at hand?" She pleaded with Alicia Moore. "I was angry okay? I'm sorry."

"Did it bring back Ashely?" Alicia asked, making sure to get her point across.

A few tears slipped down Sophia's cheeks as the mention of Ashley made her heart clench. "No." She replied quietly.

Sophia knew that this was the last thing she could try, having swallowed her pride and felt the shame grow, telling her mum the whole truth about what she had done to Naomi.

Alicia watched as her daughter struggled to control her emotions. "So you've gone back to Grams and she laughed in your face, didn't she? " Sophia nodded, causing Alicia to curse under her breath. "I should let you deal with this yourself!" She snapped, angry at Sophia and even angrier at her mother. "Why exactly would you have done this? Did this Naomi physically hurt Ashley?"

"No, bu-,"

"No buts, Sophia, answer the question!" Alicia demanded, losing what little patience she had left. "Did she personally physically harm Ashley? Did this Naomi pick up that blade?"

Sophia started crying fully at her mum's questioning. "No, but Ashley wouldn't have done it if Naomi hadn't of used her!" She argued through her tears.

Alicia sighed loudly as she watch her daughter finally break down after all these years. She remembered, clearly, the day Sophia had come home and informed her of Ashley's death. She worried because Sophia was calm and stoic, but Alicia knew she should have been an absolute mess and the fact that she wasn't, well that scared Alicia more than a bit.

But now, finally, after five years, Alicia watched as those tears broke through and spilled on her kitchen table. Now it was time for Alicia to tell Sophia what she knew about Ashley.

"That's not true, Soph...," Alicia came around and wrapped her arms around her daughter, comforting her now the way she had wanted to back then, "she was sick, baby. She'd always been sick."

"That's not true!" Sophia cried out, trying to pull away from Alicia, but found herself firmly in her mother's embrace. "It's not true! Naomi pushed her into it!" She protested, but it was weak from the emotions whirling through her. She was tired of holding this grudge. She had been for a while now, but it was who she had been for the last few years and it was extremely hard to completely let go of the hate that had eaten her up the first three years after Ashley's death.

"No honey, she didn't...Ashley was mentally unstable." Alicia knew the truth, having had more than a few conversation with Ashley's mum about it. "Her mum told me when you two were still young. She had come to me to see if I could help, but by then Ashley's mind was too broken, Sophia."

"It's not true, Mum! She was fine! She was happy!"

"No she wasn't, honey...it was the herbal medicine we had her on, I promise you." Alicia explained, now realising that it had been a mistake not to tell Sophia about Ashley years ago. "Do you remember that summer Ashley went with her parents to Cyprus? She was gone for four months, yeah?"

Sophia remembered it well. She hadn't been able to contact Ashley at all whilst she was gone and she remembered how Ashley's mum wouldn't really talk much to her. It was shortly after her and Ashley had taken their friendship farther and Sophia felt like she couldn't breath without Ashley.

Alicia saw Sophia nod her head, took a deep breath and finished telling what she knew. "Ashley had taken some pills, love...she took a lot of pills and had to go to hospital. She tri-,"

Sophia pulled away from her mum and looked at her in pure shock. "SHE DID NOT!" She shouted at Alicia, who remained seated and calm.

"She did, Soph, her mum didn't want you to know. Ashley spent a month in facility that catered to teenagers with mental issues and after she was released, they went to Cyprus."

"Why wouldn't she want me to know? Ashley was my girlfriend, Mum! I had a right to know if my girlfriend had tried to kill herself! Why would she keep that from me?" Sophia pleaded for an answer.

"Because Ashley didn't want you to know, love." Alicia replied quietly. "She didn't want you to think any less of her, she didn't want you to think she was a freak...she said she loved you too much and didn't want you to be worried about her all the time."

Sophia felt like running. Running so far and never coming back. If what her mother said was true, then it wasn't really Naomi's fault, was it? Not that she helped it any, unless...

A horrible thought flitted through her mind and she realised that she had to know the answer right this moment. Sophia ignored the look on her mother's face, as she sat up straight in her chair and called out loud.

"NAOMI!"

"For fucks sake, Sophia! How many times have I asked you not to do that?" Naomi's response sounded in her mind. Any other time this would have caused Sophia to giggle at Naomi's distress, but not this time.

"Did you know that Ashley was sick?"

"What? What are you talking about?" Naomi answered the question with a question.

"Did you know during the time you were with Ashley that she was mentally unwell? Because I swear to the Goddess that if you knew...," Sophia was simmering with rage at the mere chance that Naomi knew and exploited Ashley's illness.

"What? Fuck no! Sophia, I swear I had no idea whatsoever! I know I was twisted back then, but even I stayed away from ones that even looked remotely bent." Naomi pleaded her innocence where Ashley was concerned, and Sophia could hear the sincerity and shock in Naomi's voice. "Sophia, what's going on?"

"It looks like I was wrong, all this time I was wrong, and you were not the one to blame for Ashley." Sophia told Naomi, as her mother wrapped her arms back around her and comforted her. "I'm so fucking sorry, Naomi...I ruined everything!"

"Tell her you'll talk to her later, love." Alicia whispered to her sobbing daughter and after Sophia stopped talking to Naomi, with a promise that she would contact her again, Alicia led her upstairs to her old room and put her to bed. "Shush...it'll be okay, Soph."

"W-will...you...h-help me, Mum?" Sophia asked in between sobs. "P-please? I...can't let...her die! She can't b-break it on her own, I n-need...,"

"I'll do what I can, love. We'll convene the coven, Soph...we'll try and fix this." Alicia told her soothingly, feeling her heart break for her daughter.

'It wasn't all my fault!'

Naomi was sitting in her room, concerned about her brief conversation with Sophia, and she couldn't help but be stunned at the realisation that Ashley had been sick. Naomi never entertained that possibility because Ashley had always been so open and seemingly carefree.

'Maybe she was doing better till I came along.' Naomi's thoughts twisted and turned on her. "No...it was most definitely my fault!" She exclaimed out loud to herself.

"What's your fault?"

Katie's voice drifted through the quiet room, making Naomi jump in her seat, much like Emily did earlier. "Fuck!" Naomi exclaimed, placing her hand on her chest to feel her heartbeat racing.

Katie giggled at her as she sat next to the blonde. "Sorry." She said with laughter. "I did knock."

"No, it's alright...I was just...," Naomi paused, trying to process everything that had happened that day, "it's been a bit crazy, that's all. I was lost in my head." She explained, before looking quizzically at the older twin. "What are you doing in my neck of the woods? Aren't you usually glued to Effy's side these days?"

Naomi watched in fascination, as Katie squirmed in her seat and her face turned pink. "Yeah, well...that's actually why I wanted to talk to you. Can I work with you and Ems?" She asked quietly.

"May I ask why?" Naomi inquired with a raised eyebrow and a slight smile.

"It's just...well...I think I need some...space for a bit." Katie practically mumbled under her breath.

"Katie, what's going on with you and Effy?" Naomi asked shifting herself on the sofa to look directly at her.

"I-I...d-don't have...any idea w-what you mean!" Katie spluttered out, on the verge of making a bigger fool of herself than she already had.

Naomi laughed. In the few months that she'd known Katie, she had never witnessed the older twin looking so miserable, certainly never known her to stutter. "Cut the crap, Fitch! Why don't you just tell me what's going on, yeah? It'll be so much easier than trying to pry it out of you."

"Why don't you tell me why Emily left here a few hours ago with Cook and hasn't been back yet!" Katie wasn't going down without a fight, trying to hold on to her secret for that much longer.

At the mention of Emily, Naomi's smile changed from a merry one to a sad one, making Katie regret her words.

"I told her I'm in love with her."

Katie's jaw dropped at Naomi's openness. "Fuck! Shit...I'm sorry, Nai."

"It's fine, because I do, I just wish she'd believe that." Naomi stated sadly.

"What do you mean by that?" Katie asked her suspiciously.

Naomi shrugged, ducking her head down as she contemplated her words. "I want her to know that I didn't just say it, thinking that somehow it'll break this fucking curse...I didn't think she was ready to hear it, I mean, why would she be?"

Katie cocked her head in minor disbelief. This didn't sound at all like Emily. "Of course she would! Emily usually eats that shit up." Katie told Naomi, who looked shocked. "She's been looking for that all-consuming love ever since she came out!" Katie explained.

"Then it must be only me." Naomi declared sadly, feeling her stomach clench at the thought that Emily didn't feel the same. "I don't know why I expected her to feel something...,"

"Uh, how about the fact that she's all dopey-eyed around you?" Katie scoffed, rolling her eyes. "Or it could be the fact that she almost always has to be in your general vicinity...usually a ten foot radius is acceptable, but she prefers a three millimetre distance," Katie smirked at a wide eyed Naomi before going on, "or, and here's the biggest clue of all, the fact that she slept with you at all?"

"What?" Naomi whispered, feeling herself blush.

Katie narrowed her gaze at Naomi, as she took measure of the woman in front of her. "Emily doesn't sleep around, Nai. I think she's slept with two other girls. And it took her almost a year before she felt comfortable sleeping with them. She's picky, our Ems is."

This was news to Naomi, who had always assumed that Emily had to beat girls off with a stick, not seeming like the kind of girl who didn't know how to have a bit of fun.

"You thought she had slagged it up a bit, didn't you?" Again with the damn eyebrow raised from the older twin. Naomi cringed when she heard the question "It's okay...I think she projects that image for looks, but trust me, she's only slept with two girls...well...three now."

Katie laughed because Naomi still looked stunned and confused.

"Then why did she freak out when I told her?" Naomi questioned.

Katie shrugged. "Who knows? Emily is a bit strange sometimes, Naomi. Maybe she's scared?"

"Of me?" Naomi queried, trying to understand.

"Not of you, per se...maybe the fact that in a couple of months...,"

"I'm gonna die?" Naomi finished the sentence when Katie realised what she was about to say.

"Maybe."

Naomi suddenly didn't want to think too much about it anymore, determined to prove to Emily that she did love her, and turned her attention back to Katie. "Now tell me, what is going on between you and Effy?"

"Nosy cow!" Katie mumbled under her breath, but Naomi heard her and started laughing from the gut.

"C'mon, Katiekins, it can't be that bad!" Naomi said as she tried to contain her laughter.

"It's nothing."

Naomi shook her head, not believing a word she was saying. "Nothing my ass, Kay! It was something enough to make you come in here and ask me to let you work with me and Ems!" Naomi pointed out, cornering Katie until she had to talk. "So, out with it."

"I kissed Effy, alright!" Katie looked so miserable at that very moment that Naomi didn't have the heart to tease her about what she had just said.

"When?"

"That night we played hide and seek in the hedge maze." Katie replied sullenly.

Naomi wasn't sure how to ask the question that was on the tip of her tongue, so she decided on straight forward bluntness. "Katie, do you like Effy?"

"Of course I like Effy!" The older twin snapped back at her.

"No, I mean do you like Effy the way I like Emily?"

"Oh." Came the unhelpful response, as Katie stayed silent.

"Katie?" Naomi prompted her.

"I don't know, okay!" Katie was exasperated now and it showed. "I just... I don't know, alright? I'm the straight twin, aren't I? How can I suddenly like a girl? It can't just happen, can it?"

Naomi saw the look on Katie's face. She looked sad and bewildered and Naomi wasn't sure what to say to her at that point, but she knew she had to say something.

"It's not about liking a girl, Katie...not really." Naomi told her, softly. "It's about liking the person, ya know?"

"What does that even mean?" Katie asked, throwing her hands up in frustration. "Of course it's about liking a girl! I've never liked a girl before, so what makes Effy different? "

Katie realised what she had just admitted, when Naomi's eyes went wide.

"You like Effy! Oh my god, that's huge!" Naomi said causing Katie to start crying. "Katie, what's wrong?" Naomi asked as she scooted closer and wrapped her arms around Katie, trying to comfort her.

"Why couldn't I like Cook instead? Liking a guy is less complicated, isn't it?"

"Katie, I meant what I said before...it really is the person you fall for, not the gender." Naomi told her. "How does Effy feel about you?"

"I don't know...I mean, I think I know, but I don't know for sure." Katie said, giving it some thought. "Yes...I think she does."

Naomi suddenly felt sad for her best mate. "Have you talked to her about how you feel?" Naomi could feel Katie shaking her head no, and she sighed. "Katie...you can't leave her hanging this way. Effy doesn't just doesn't go around feeling things for everyone, you know? She's delicate and fragile underneath all the mysterious shit she shows everyone else...," Naomi told her, remembering the conversation she had with her friend months back, "she won't show it but it's true. And you know it's not right to not talk to her about it, about how you feel, she'll understand if you're scared."

"What if I can't do it?" Katie asked, sounding so small. "What if I tell her the truth and then I freak out? What if I can't put aside the fact that she's a girl?"

"What if you do tell her and you don't freak out and you end up with a love so great it won't be able to be contained?" Naomi asked a question of her own as Katie pulled out of her embrace to look at her. "What if you remember that you're Katie Fitch, badass bitch of Bristol?"

Katie giggled, setting Naomi off as well and they both ended up laughing.

"Look, Katie...Effy won't ask for more than what you can give, yeah? But you have to believe in yourself and be open to the possibility of what you two can give each other." Naomi told her. "And besides, it would ease my mind knowing that Effy will have someone to lean on after I'm gone."

"Don't say that, you cow!"

"It's true and you know it. So please, promise me that you'll be there for her, no matter what happens between you two?" Naomi pleaded with her eyes and Katie knew she couldn't ignore the request.

"Fine! Whatever...but you're gonna feel silly when September comes and goes and you're still here." She promised huffily, crossing her arms in font of her.

Naomi let go of the breath she had been holding, feeling relieved and happy. But a thought hit her and she smirked at the older twin. "Oh and you might want to be thankful that you didn't fall for Cookie."

Katie was suspicious about the look in Naomi's eyes but decided humour the blonde. "Yeah, why's that?"

"Because he's got the most horrendous tattoo on his dick...," Naomi faked a shudder, "it's not pretty."

She couldn't help the laugh that came out after she described in full detail, Cook's tattooed lady giving him head. The look of horror on Katie's face was priceless.

"Fucking ugh!" Katie made gagging sounds and stood up. "And on that note...I guess I should go."

Naomi watched her walk toward the door and smiled.

"Naomi?"

"Yeah?"

Katie shuffled her feet, and her cheeks turned pink. "Thanks for the talk, yeah?"

"Anytime, Katie." Naomi replied with a bigger smile. "What are you gonna do?"

"I'm gonna go find Effy and have a talk with her." Katie replied with a cheeky smile and left the room.

'I'd love to be there for that conversation.' Naomi thought to herself with a smirk.

Emily walked down the hall toward Naomi's room, still deep in thought, but she knew she wanted to see Naomi. Plus, she did feel like shit for basically running after Naomi's declaration.

She came to a stop in front of Naomi's door and knocked. Softly at first but when she didn't get a response, she knocked harder.

"Come in." Emily heard quietly through the door, so she twisted the knob and stepped into the room. "Naoms?" She called out as she shut the door.

"Ems?" Naomi's surprised voice came from the ensuite. "When did you get home?" She asked as if she didn't know. Naomi knew the moment she left with Cook as the pulses faded and she knew as soon as Emily drove back onto the grounds because those pulse flared up like a surge of pure electricity.

Emily smiled at the question, because she did think of this as home now, but also because she knew Naomi would know when she had returned. "Just now. I think I interrupted a serious conversation between Katie and Effy in the lounge." She said stepping into the door and finding Naomi dressing her wounds.

Naomi was dying to know where she went, but she didn't want to sound like an insecure girlfriend, so she bit her tongue. "Oh yeah? What makes you think that?" She asked, creating small talk.

"Because Effy had a deep blush on her face and Katie snapped at me when I asked where you were...," Naomi chuckled at that and went back to applying the salve and bandages. "Would you like some help?"

Naomi looked up to see Emily smiling at her. "You don't mind?"

"Never. You should know that." Emily replied taking the roll of gauze from her. She started rolling it around Naomi's torso, glancing up every now and then, into Naomi's eyes. "I'm sorry."

Naomi looked at her in confusion. "For what, Ems?"

"For leaving earlier. I shouldn't have taken off like that...it was terribly rude, especially after...well, you know."

"Don't be, yeah? How about we just worry about the next couple of days and then go on about life?" Naomi suggested, not wanting to make her feel guilty. "Just so you know that I do love you, it's all good with me."

"That's right...you've got family and friends coming in tomorrow. I had forgotten about that." Emily said sadly, feeling sad for Naomi.

"Yeah, cousins and a couple of aunts and uncles from parts unknown." Naomi explained with a smirk. "It should be fun."

"How long has it been since you've seen them?"

"Since before the curse." Naomi replied with a shrug. "They were at the charity ball the night Sophia cursed me. I just stopped visiting any of them and forbid mum from inviting them to the house...eventually, they all just buggered off."

"Well...this should be an interesting couple of days, yeah?" Emily asked as she finished wrapping Naomi's stomach.

"Yeah...it should be...," Naomi replied distantly as if she was thinking of something unpleasant.

"What's wrong?" Emily asked suddenly as she felt the pulse between her and Naomi shift and slow down.

"I don't know." Naomi said quietly. "I think I'm a little scared, to be honest. The day after the funeral is the reading of the will."

"Yeah, I know. Gina wanted me to clear your calendar for the next three days." Emily explained when Naomi shot her a curious look.

"Would you...," Naomi started to say something but she felt herself choke up. She cleared her throat and tried again. "Would you go with me to that?"

"If that's what you want, yes." She replied and saw Naomi let out the breath she must have been holding in. "C'mon, lets rest before dinner."

Emily took her hand and led her to the bed. "So what did you do whilst I was gone today?" Emily asked after they had settled into comfortable positions, which oddly enough was Naomi laying on her side as Emily spooned her from behind and wrapped an arm around Naomi's waist.

"Just hung with Katie for a bit. And a strange conversation with Sophia." Naomi told her. "Nothing much."

Emily had tensed up at the mention of Sophia. "What did she say?"

"It was genuinely odd." Naomi said. "She asked if I knew Ashley was sick and when I said I didn't, she told me it wasn't my fault...I think she was crying."

"What else did she say?" Emily asked, curious about it.

"Just that she'd talk to me later."

"That's it?"

"Yeah...like I said, it was a strange conversation." Naomi said, rolling her eyes. "I tried calling out to her, but I got nothing."

Emily let the thought of Sophia drift to the back of her mind when Naomi yawned and she cuddled in closer, feeling Naomi's heartbeat under her hand. "Alright, go to sleep...we'll deal with her later." She said placing a kiss on Naomi's temple and settled down again.

They both drifted off into a peaceful sleep, as both of them thought about what Naomi had told Emily earlier.

'I really love this girl.' Were Naomi's happy thoughts, while Emily's were more along the line of 'Holy fuck, this girl loves me!'

Now she just had to figure out how she truly felt for Naomi.

The next day, Mandy had decided to head into Bristol. She was tired of hanging around the Campbell residence, after having watched the place for the last month. It was boring out in the country. When she wasn't watching the comings and goings of Campbell's driver, she was holed up in her rented room.

Mandy needed the city around her.

So she had driven her third stolen car to the outskirts of Bristol, and looked for a newer ride. Once she found what she was looking for, she wiped down the inside of the rusted Fiat she had been driving for the last week and a half and left it sitting in a Lidl car park.

She took a chance and headed to Redland Green School, hoping that she could sneak up on James, hopefully to some type of information. He had a big mouth and Mandy knew if she played her cards right, she might find out something useful.

Mandy sat in the stolen car for about twenty minutes and was about to give up when she caught sight of James and another boy his age, strolling down the pavement toward the school. She rolled the window down and scooted lower into the seat.

"I'm telling you, Jamie boy, you're talking absolute bollocks!"

"Fuck you, Gordon! Emily doesn't lie!" James stated heatedly. "She told me and mum yesterday, I swear it!"

Gordon stopped walking right by the boot of Mandy's car, and glared at James. "Right, tell me again?"

"Okay, so Naomi...that's Emily's girlfriend...," James smack Gordon upside the head as his eyes glazed over at the thought of lesbians, "OI, that's my sister! Pay attention!"

"What? Oh, yeah...sorry, mate."

"So, Naomi killed a girl years ago and the girls girlfriend put a curse on Naomi." James told his friend again, feeling like a genius next to Gordon.

"Bullshit! You're making that up."

"I'm not, I swear. Cook even said it's true." James told him.

"Well, goody for Cook...whoever the fuck that is, but I still say you're talking a load of bollocks!"

James was about to reply when they could hear the first warning bell for class. Both boys looked at each other and then took off running the rest of the way.

Once they were completely out of sight, Mandy sat back up and smiled for the first time in two weeks. This could be good news.

This could be very good news indeed.

A/N: Another chapter down...And what will Emily do, now that she knows the full depth of Naomi's feelings? What will become of Katie and Effy? When will James learn not to share everything with Gordon MacPherson? And what will Mandy do with this info now that she's got it?

Burning questions!

That will have to wait, I'm afraid until next time or the time after that...

In the mean time, how about a quick review? Let me know what you think...it's always appreciated:)

On a totally unrelated note: Remember to always tell the ones you love that you love them everyday, because they may not be around the next time you think to say it in an offhanded manner...Make sure that they know, because they might not know it... :(

I really do appreciate you all...all the readers and reviewers and authors...

Marci