A/N

So the last few chapters have been pretty slow paced. I thought I'd make this one more centered on Naomi and Emily again.

Reviews/ Comments/ Criticism/ Suggestions are more than welcome. Thanks for reading! :)

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I woke up in the middle of the night, my arm draped protectively over Naomi as she slept facing me. I turned to glance at the clock, 03:36

"Em-" Naomi muttered and I shifted back over to check on her.

Both her voice and body language confirmed she was in a limbo between sleep and wakefulness. I held the back of my hand to her forehead, it was warm but seemed to match my own temperature. I sighed a breath of relief.

"Em-" She muttered again, her brow furrowing slightly when I didn't respond.

"I'm here," I stroked her hair gently, removing the wisps that lay across her features.

Naomi smiled slightly, her features relaxing as she drifted back into her slumber.

I woke up to the sunlight. It took several moments before I realized Naomi was no longer by my side. I pat the now empty bed where Naomi had lay, cold. I panicked momentarily before I heard quiet singing from downstairs, rolling over to check the time before dragging myself from the sheets. 11:34 am.

"Naomi?" My voice was husky in its morning state, I called once more with no response.

At the end of the bed was a pair of warm looking slipper socks, a pair of tights and a jumper. I assumed Naomi had left them out for me to change into. I smiled as I changed into her clothes, discarding my uniform in it's place. The jumper smelled like her and I inhaled her scent happily.

As I made my way down the staircase the sweet smell of pancakes tempted my appetite and I breathed deeply as I listened to the beautiful vocals. I wondered momentarily if it really was Naomi. Sure enough when I entered the kitchen, Naomi stood, manning the stove top, headphones over her ears as she sang along to the music.

"Morning…" My greeting was hesitant and I huddled into the over sized hoodie, uncertain of my intrusion.

Naomi jumped slightly, removing her headphones before turning to me, her cheeks flushed a deep crimson.

"Good morning," she took in the change of clothes and smiled cheerfully. "Thanks by the way… For taking care of me yesterday, I think I was just exhausted from the exam stress".

"Don't mention it, you did the same for me," I answered, blushing in embarrassment.

There was a momentary silence before Naomi spoke once more.

"Pancakes?" She nodded to the frying pan.

I nodded enthusiastically at the offer as she pulled the last one off the pan and onto a plate which already held a small stack.

"I didn't know you sang so beautifully".

Naomi blushed at the compliment but didn't reply, busying herself with withdrawing utensils and spreads.

"How come I've never heard you sing before?" Though I was curious, the question was tentative.

She shrugged, smiling shyly but avoided eye contact.

"Well…I'd like to hear you sing more often," I smiled encouragingly, laughing shyly, "I think-"

"Just drop it!" Naomi snapped back suddenly, throwing down her utensils which clattered noisily against her plate.

The sound and sudden rage startled me and I visibly jumped. Opening my mouth to speak as Naomi angrily pushed herself from under the counter, leaving the bar stool empty. I was left with a flood of emotions, beyond confused. Naomi had stormed off back to her room, slamming the door loudly behind her. I slid myself from the stool after mulling over the scene for a moment.

Hesitating at her bedroom door, I raised my hand to knock. From within I could hear quiet sobs.

"Nay?" I paused before knocking gently on the door.

I waited, no response. I repeated the action once more with the same outcome.

"Naomi… I'm coming in…" I hesitated several more seconds before entering the room.

Naomi lay face down on her bed, her body shook in silent sobs and I felt a pain in my chest as I watched her in such a state. I sat down carefully beside her, quiet for several seconds.

"Nay…" I held my hand over her head uncertainly before lowering it to stroke her hair gently.

There was no response and I could feel my own tears starting to form.

"…I'm sorry… I don't really know what I did… But I'm really sorry…" My voice cracked slightly as I watched the person I cared so much for crying before me.

This was my fault. I'd somehow upset Naomi and I didn't even know how. I felt the tears begin to well up in my eyes, making their salty trails as they slid down my cheeks.

"I'm sorry…" I said again through sobs of my own.

I hated to see her upset, and knowing it was my own fault made the feeling of pain worse as it muddled with the guilt I felt.

There was silence save for my own sniffling.

"…Cael…" Naomi's voice was no more than a horse whisper, the name did nothing to untangle my jumbled thoughts.

"…His name was Cael…" Naomi turned her face to me.

Though I hadn't seen my own reflection I could tell her red rimmed eyes and tear stained cheeks were a mirror of my own.

She sat up slowly, pulling her knees to her chest.

"…He was… My brother…" She continued, the tears creeping slowly along her smooth skin.

Though I didn't yet understand what she was trying to say, I felt it was something which I shouldn't interrupt. There was a long pause before she spoke again.

"… He would play guitar for me… He taught me to play you know…" Naomi laughed through a sob, wiping a sleeve over her eyes.

Even in her current state, Naomi was beautiful. But her words did nothing to lessen my confusion.

"…He was- … He passed away seven years ago…"

With the final statement my eyes grew wide in horror. I had no knowledge of Naomi having any siblings. My face displayed the shock I felt on the inside and my mouth formed a slack jawed 'oh'.

Naomi looked to me, her blue eyes displaying the torture she felt within. Before I could think my body reacted, crushing itself into her own as I grasped her in a tight embrace. It took several moments before Naomi returned the embrace, sobbing into my shoulder.

I don't know how long we stayed in each others' arms. Seconds, minutes.

"I'm so sorry… I had no idea," I finally broke the silence, loosening my grip around Naomi.

"No… I'm sorry…" Naomi replied after a brief pause, "I… I didn't mean to go off on you like that… It's just-"

"You don't need an excuse," I cut her off, holding myself back at arms length to look into her eyes.

She smiled slightly before leaning in to plant a kiss on my cheek.

"Thank you," she whispered, resting her head upon my shoulder.

"I'm here to talk… If you ever want…" I added cautiously.

She smiled but said no more.

The event had sapped us of all strength and we'd fallen asleep once more. The buzzing of my phone woke me in the late afternoon. I knew it would be my father checking up on me. Sure enough the caller I.D. displayed, confirmed my suspicions and the phone lit up with the name 'Dad'.

"Hello?" Naomi was still asleep and I whispered the greeting as I dragged myself gently from under the covers, careful not to rouse her.

"Em?"

"Hey dad, could you just hold up one second?" I stepped lightly toward the bedroom door.

"Is everything okay?" He sounded audibly concerned.

"No, I mean yes, everything's fine just hold on," I hurried to reassure him, closing the bedroom door as gently as I could behind me.

"Okay sorry," I breathed a sigh of relief, raising my voice from the whisper slightly.

"Are you still with Naomi?"

"Yes, I'm still at her house,"

"Is she still feeling ill? Is her mother okay with you being there?"

"Uhm… She's in fact feeling a lot better but she's, a little upset… Her mum is actually on a business trip still but Naomi said it would be fine," I bit my lip, hoping my dad wouldn't get angry I'd left that piece of information out last night.

"I see…" There was a long pause before he spoke again, "She's not upset because of something you did..."

It wasn't a question but rather a hopeful statement.

"Uhh… Yes and no… Well it wasn't really something I knew about and-" I cut myself off. Was it really my place to tell others of Naomi's past?

"Anyway maybe it's better if I don't talk about it anymore," I finished.

"…Okay…" He sounded confused for a moment before he spoke again.

"Are you coming home soon?"

I hesitated, biting my lip nervously before speaking.

"Actually I was hoping I could stay the night again… Just to make sure she's okay…"

There was a long pause and I wondered if we got disconnected before he spoke again.

"…Okay… But Em, be on your best behavior it's not your house…"

"Okay Dad-"

"And Em... Don't, don't do anything you're not ready for…"

I blushed a deep crimson, taking several seconds to regain control of my speech.

"Dad-" I could feel my ears burn hot in embarrassment.

"I know Em. I'm just… Worried for you is all," His voice was hesitant and I could tell he too was embarrassed.

"I know…"

"Okay. Well have fun and don't hesitate to call me if you feel uncomfortable".

I smiled, at least, unlike mum he didn't linger on awkward topics.

"Sure, thanks dad, I love you," I waited for his response.

"Love you more," I smiled at his words before hanging up.

"Your dad?"

I jumped at the unexpected voice, turning to see Naomi leaning against her bedrooms' threshold.

"Yeah, sorry for waking you," I gave a shy smile, briefly wondering how much of the conversation she had heard.

"I'm a light sleeper, it's not your fault," she returned a smile before continuing, "are you hungry?"

I didn't notice until she mentioned it but we hadn't eaten anything since breakfast and it was now just past 6pm. My stomach growled at the prospect of food, answering the question for me. Naomi smirked, chuckling slightly.

"Well I'd cook but it's a little late to start now…" She paused in thought. "Lets go to that restaurant down the road, I've never been".

I hesitated, looking over the relaxed clothes I wore.

"You can borrow something off me if you'd like to change clothes," Naomi noted my hesitation.

I blushed, she always seemed to be able to read my thoughts. Naomi smiled encouragingly, waiting patiently for my response.

"Oh… Will it be okay?" I questioned.

Naomi and I had been together for just over three months now but I still felt shy when it came to her doing things for me.

"Of course," Naomi rolled her eyes in mock exasperation.

Naomi took my hand in hers as we walked down the road to the restaurant. We received looks from several passersby all of which Naomi seemed oblivious to. I on the other hand grew ever more uncomfortable with the unfamiliar attention.

"Ignore it," Naomi squeezed my hand gently, smiling encouragingly to me and my eyes snapped up to meet hers.

Yet again she'd managed to read my thoughts and body language. I returned a forced smile.

"They're just not used to it… Just like you're not used to the attention," she winked as she said it.

I relaxed somewhat, taking a deep breath in determination before tightening my grip around Naomi's hand. We arrived at the restaurant shortly after and Naomi asked for a table for two. The restaurant was busy, though not packed to full capacity, after all it was a Wednesday night and the majority of the time the restaurant only filled up on weekends.

"What would you like for an entrée?" Naomi questioned when I mimicked her action of opening the menu.

"I don't mind, whatever-"

I abruptly paused my speech when Naomi stopped a passing waiter. The boy looked close to our age, no more than twenty at best.

"Hi," Naomi smiled sweetly to the boy who glanced between Naomi and myself awkwardly, visibly blushing, "so sorry to disturb you… I was wondering what you would recommend from the menu as an entrée."

The waiter held a tray of dirty dishes and almost tipped it over in nervousness when Naomi flipped her lengthy blonde hair away from her face.

"I uhm, I'm…Would..." She waited patiently as the boy struggled to form a coherent sentence.

"Calamari, it's good. Is Good. I heard it's good," the boy stumbled over his words, avoiding eye contact.

I held myself from laughing as I watched the scene unfold.

"That sounds lovely, thank you," her smile broadened and she turned back to me allowing the smitten waiter time to escape.

I snorted, rolling my eyes. Naomi looked to me perplexed.

"…What?..." She shook her head in question.

"What, what?" It was my turn to look confused, "as if you didn't notice how nervous that poor waiter was because of you".

Naomi cocked her head to one side, a puzzled smile touched her lips in a silent question.

"Not that I can blame him…" I watched as he re-emerged from the kitchen.

"Oh please… You don't think he was nervous because of me do you?" Naomi mimicked my previous action, rolling her eyes in exasperation.

"Have you looked in a mirror?" The words came out more aggressive than I'd meant and I immediately regretted it, pouting my lip in irritation.

There was a pause before Naomi replied and I filled the silence by skimming the menu.

"…Have you?" She waited for me to look up, "Em, you always say and act like you're 'Nothing special' or 'A little rounded around the edges' and I hate that".

Naomi sighed in frustration.

"You're beautiful Emily. No. You're perfect the way you are. I wish you could see that…It's a shame you refuse to," she shook her head in disappointment and I cringed inwardly at the unintended criticism.

I averted my eyes, returning them to the menu which lay open before me.

"Hi there, I'll be your waiter this evening, have we decided what we'd like to order," a waitress interrupted the mounting silence and Naomi quickly sent them on their way with the entrée of choice before turning her attention back to me.

"I'm sorry, Em… I just. It's so frustrating when I keep hearing you say these things, seeing the way you judge yourself, when, you really are a masterpiece".

I blushed at her words, looking up to see Naomi wearing a sad smile. There was a brief silence before I spoke.

"…You think I'm a masterpiece?" I smirked teasingly.

"I'll say it as many times as you like... You're the most beautiful person I've ever seen Emily, I just wish I could prove it to you." Naomi returned the jest playfully.

"So try," I grinned cheekily.

Naomi was taken aback by the reply momentarily and a tension grew between us.

"...I love you".

My heart skipped a beat. It was the first time either one of us had said it. My expression grew from one of surprise to happiness within a moment. Naomi held a passive gaze, judging my reaction. I fidgeted with a ring I wore, biting my lip to rein my emotions.

"I... Guess that worked," I mentally kicked myself for not replying with the same words.

Naomi smiled but I could sense she expected more than what I had replied with. I took a breath to arrange my thoughts.

"I love you too..."

There was a moment of silence and I could feel my anxiousness growing before Naomi looked back to me and beamed.