Cut The Tension

Disclaimer: I own nothing

An: I know, I know it's long overdue and shorter than usual, but hey at least it's something. I think I might have found a bit of inspiration ;)

Dinner was awkward to say the least and Emily was sure that if Maya had not held her hand the entire time she wouldn't have been able to keep it together. Even if she did hold Emily's hand on top of the table and in plain view of the parents…Pam specifically. And the way Maya's thumb rubbed soothing little circles atop her hand and played with her fingers...she couldn't even find it within her to be mad at her girlfriend.

When they sat down to dinner at the Rosewood Grill, Emily had been more than nervous. Mr. and Mrs. St. Germaine weren't the problem, they fully supported, and celebrated, her relationship with Maya. Her mother though...well Pam was trying, Emily wouldn't take that away from her. In fact, Emily was almost completely positive that Mrs. St. Germaine had talked a little sense into Pam while sitting together at her meet earlier. The wink Raina had sent her way only reinforced her suspicion.

But it wasn't awful. Sure it was awkward and a little stiff, but Emily didn't fail to notice that her mother never grimaced or shied away as Maya held her hand or kissed her cheek. Pam had been polite and was actually interested in the things all three St. Germaine's had to say.

Driving home with her mother now, Emily couldn't help but to smile at the effort her mother was putting forth. Pam noticed of course and gave her a curious smile of her own. "What are you smiling about?"

Emily's smile widened just a bit. "I just…thank you for tonight Mom...it really meant a lot to me."

Pam cleared her throat as she parked the car in the driveway. After a moment she looked to her daughter. "I said I would try Emily and I meant that." Pam sighed, "Besides, I like the St. Germaine's, they're good people, good parents. And I suppose I let my own...beliefs get in the way of getting to know their daughter before judging her." Pam shook her head and looked out the windshield as she spoke. "Maya makes you happy, I see that now...you trust her and I can see that she takes care of you, which makes things easier."

With that said Pam left the car, waiting for her daughter to follow as they enter the house and go their separate ways. Emily watches after her, smiling to herself. 'Now if only she'd agree to sleepovers...' Emily snickered to herself. 'I'm starting to sound like Hanna...and that perverted girlfriend of mine.'

Aria's House...

"Hanna said casual..." Spencer smirked as Aria huffed and returned to her closet yet again to pick out yet another outfit to wear on her blind date. "You guys are going to 'The Brew' right?"

Aria glimpse over her shoulder and nodded. "Yeah. All Hanna said was that they'd be there at eleven, so I have...an hour!"

Spencer laughed as panic set in her friend. She stood and grasped her friend's shoulders, making Aria look at her. "Aria, relax. You got this. Now," Spencer released her, grabbing a pair of red skinny jeans, a black off the shoulders long sleeve with a low neck line and had small cuts up the sides to reveal the red tank top underneath and Aria's black suede 3-inch booties. "There…Wear your hair up in a cute messy ponytail, put on those red skull dangling earrings and you'll be good to go."

Aria smiled and hugged her friend. "Team Sparia strikes again. Thanks Spence."

Meanwhile...

"Alright just remember she might be hesitant, so ease her into it." Hanna warned yet again.

The blind date laughed, "I'm not going to jump her Hanna...it's just a coffee date. Relax, I've got this. Now, you should go, because I doubt she'll appreciate you being here when she shows up." the date smiled.

Hanna could only manage a half smile in return. 'Aria's going to kill me.' the blonde sighed, "Yeah you're right, I'm going."

11:00am The Brew...

A very nervous Aria Montgomery walked into the brew, looking around for her blind date...if only she knew what the guy looked like. She gets in line, orders a coffee and goes about texting Hanna.

To Hanna: How am I supposed to find my date?

She takes her coffee and steps from the line, Hanna responds immediately.

From Hanna: blonde cute smile...white tank w/black vest.

Aria frowned. 'What kind of guy wears a vest with a tank top?' she questioned herself, searching the coffee shop. Spotting a blonde in the back with said tank top and vest combo. 'Wait...No...Hanna wouldn't.' she looked back to her phone and then back to the pretty blonde girl at the back of the shop. 'Blonde. Check. Cute smile. Check. White tank top and black vest...Check. I'm gonna kill Hanna.'

Debating her options and sighing as the blonde caught her gaze, Aria walked over a bit hesitantly. As she reached the table the blonde stood and offered her hand. "Hanna's friend?" she smiled cutely and Aria fought the blush from her face.

"Uh yea, yes," she cleared her throat and took the girl's hand. "Aria Montgomery."

"Samara Cook." the blonde grinned brightly, releasing Aria's hand and offering the seat across from her. "I love your outfit...very rebel chic." the girl offered genuinely.

Aria blushed and smiled shyly, touched that she noticed. 'Though she is a she after all...just because she's a lesbian doesn't mean she's a guy. That kind of defeats the propose Aria.' she chided herself. "Thanks." she finally mumbled.

Samara shrugged, noticing the shy uncomfortable way Aria shifted in her seat. "You're prettier than Hanna said, I mean, she didn't do you justice." Aria about choked on her coffee. She looked around and bit her lip, collecting herself. "I'm sorry. I didn't mean to make you uncomfortable...just trying to lighten the mood a bit." Samara offered quickly.

"No, no it isn't that. You haven't made me uncomfortable. It's just..." she trailed unsure of how to finish.

Samara smiled kindly, "It's just what?" she asked patiently.

Aria smiled and shook her head. "Hanna didn't tell me that you were...well, that you were you." She paused, "Does that make any sense?" she frowned.

Samara laughed, understanding flashing across her features as well as a small smirk. "She didn't tell you I was a girl, did she." Aria shook her head, a small laugh falling from her lips. The blonde nodded, leaning forward into the table. "Well listen, we can finish our coffee and just call this a purely friend coffee date then go our separate ways, if you want?"

Aria frowned once again. "You're not mad at her?"

Samara shrugged. "I've known Hanna for a while now...and I know she has a habit of doing things her own way and without thinking things through...but that doesn't mean she wasn't trying to do a good thing." the blonde smiled. "I think she honestly thought that this was a good idea and it kind of explains why she was so antsy over it. I mean I can't even count the number of times she told me to be gentle like I was going to jump you at first sight."

Aria laughed along with Samara at Hanna's antics. 'Hanna was right, she does have a cute smile...what do I have to lose?' she watched the girl as the waitress refilled Samara's coffee. Aria smirked, "So what are you saying...you wouldn't jump me?" she flirted.

Samara's eyes widen in shock making Aria's smirk turn into a smug grin. Catching on to the girl teasing her, Samara smirked. "Well...let's not totally dismiss the idea." And cue the sexual tension and loaded stares.

Aria grinned to herself. 'Maybe Hanna got this one right...maybe...'

Maya stood there as she helped Hanna and Aria set up the pillows and blankets around the Hastings' fireplace, watching as Spencer and Emily picked up the leftover pizza. Something was different about the girl she had fallen so deeply for, and she couldn't say that it was a bad change either.

Half listening to Aria simultaneously thanking and berating Hanna for setting her up with Samara, she watched Emily as she laughed to something Spencer said, head thrown back, body completely relaxed. The old tee shirt Emily wore was so big it fell off one shoulder and covered the tiny boxers her girlfriend was currently sporting, leaving long legs and a tanned shoulder on display. Maya couldn't really complain.

This was beside the point; she was getting distracted by Emily's body…yet again. Every now and then she'd catch her girlfriend's eye and Maya would smile as Emily ducked her head and grin softly to herself before returning Maya's never wavering gaze.

It was smoldering there, beneath the surface of those brown eyes Maya so loved. Through the time they'd known each other, in the beginning especially, Emily was never 100% comfortable within her own skin, but tonight…tonight Maya could see it. 'She's glowing.' Maya thought in sheer awe of her girlfriend.

She didn't know whether it was because Pam was finally coming around or if it was because Paige seemed to finally take a hint…or maybe, maybe it was something else entirely. Whatever the reason, it was clear something had happened that had allowed Emily to settle fully within her own skin and it was on full display tonight. Maya grinned as she caught Emily's eye once more, she grinned as her girl blushed and mouthed a sweet 'I love you.' Emily returned the sentiment immediately.

"God, I so cannot wait to find a love like yours and Emily's." Hanna grinned, bumping Maya's shoulder and bringing her attention to the blonde.

Aria smiled sweetly, looking back to Emily and then to Maya. "Seriously, you two are perfect…it's sweet in a sickening kind of way." She teased gently, keeping their voices low to not draw the attention of the two brunettes in the kitchen.

Maya grinned unabashedly, "What about Caleb?" though her tone was light; the other two girls caught the threat within her eyes.

Hanna laughed, "No he's…he's definitely interesting." She gave an amused side-glance. "It's just too soon to tell I think…but…" she hesitated smiling down into her hands.

"But?" Maya and Aria pry as the same time.

"I think he just might be a keeper, maybe." Hanna smiled, a light blush coating her fair cheeks.

"Awww!" Maya cooed, resulting in a gentle shove by the blonde. Aria just laughed, but then Maya turned to her. "What about you?"

Aria licked her lips nervously, "What about me?"

Hanna and Maya rolled their eyes. "Will there be another date with Samara?"

"Are you going for another adventure in lady loving land?" came the two responses, this time Aria rolled her eyes.

"They're going to the Film Festival in Philadelphia next weekend." Spencer cut in as she and Emily rejoined the group, drinks in hand. Emily curls up within her girlfriend's open legs, Maya circling her arms around Emily's waist and pulling her in closer, after sharing a sweet kiss and handing her a drink.

"Thanks Spence. So much for team Sparia." Aria sarcastically, giving the brunette a withering glare.

"What?" Spencer complains as she shrugs, "Sharing is caring Aria."

The girls laugh, "Yeah and since sharing is caring…" Hanna smirks turning her attention to Spencer as the brunette's eyes widen in realization. "How are things with Toby?" she teases.

Maya smirked as Spencer tried to hide her blush as she spoke. "Things are fine. Good. Great. So you know, good." Maya chuckled as the two girls started teasing Spencer.

She was quickly distracted by gentle, hot breathes brushing against her ear. Turning her head in closer to Emily's lips, she waited to hear the voice that literally made her heart race. She hadn't wait long as Emily's rich whisper hit her. "I love you." The words washed over her, faire licking at every nerve ending as Emily reached her hand up to cup the opposite side of her neck, pulling her in even closer.

Maya's own hand came up to gently trace her fingers down smooth skin, kissing the exposed skin of the shoulder her chin was resting on. Maya turned her head, rubbing her nose purposely along the shoulder and up the neck, kissing the spot where she felt Emily's jumping pulse. "As I love you." She whispers into the skin of her girlfriend's jaw.

Emily needn't respond, she just hummed in contentment and leaned back more fully into her girlfriend's embrace, allowing Maya to cradle her body. They enjoy the rest of their night like this, within each other's arms, Maya covering her skin with sincere kisses and Emily painting Maya's skin with light touches that settled deeply within both their hearts.

They savored the moment of pure satisfaction. It was just them, their love for each other and their love for each of their friends that surrounded them, kept them safe from the dangers outside their bubble. They weren't worrying about the next possible storm, but savoring the warmth that surrounded them, the love.