A/N- Thanks for the feedback guys, sorry about the little delay with this chapter. Had it written then re-done it because I wasn't totally happy with it.

Taking a seat at the familiar spot on the beach, I run my fingers through the sand and look out into the calming sea. It's peaceful, quiet and the drunken party goers at the strip in the background are almost muted. It's just the way I like it to be when I come here. It's a little before midnight and whilst everyone back at the apartment retired to bed not too long after dinner, I couldn't sleep. I seemed to toss and turn a fair bit before I grabbed my phone and my cigarettes. I slipped on some clothes and ten minutes later I was sat here. In the times I'd been in Cyprus, this part of the beach seemed to be where I'd always end up when I just needed time by myself. To do some thinking by myself. I love it here.

It's been two days since Katie left her threat with me in the lounge of my Mum's apartment. I had been out since then, at this beach, out on the boats, drinking at the strip but much to my relief, I hadn't seen her again. Not that I was looking for her.

I hadn't seen Emily either but that was more my own doing rather than having anything to do with what Katie said to me. I'd avoided her club at all costs, despite Zoe nagging me earlier to go back, suggesting rather obviously that we go there for a couple of drinks before Mum cooked dinner for the evening. I knew she meant well but I stuck firm with my instinct to give Emily the space I was sure she needed. Seeing her and being with her again had managed to fuck with my head so I couldn't even imagine what the other night had done to her.

The vibration of my phone startles me somewhat and as I glance down at the screen, I half expect to see my Mum or Zoe's number flash up, wanting to know where I am. It's neither of them though and I feel myself instantly smiling when I see it's Cook. I quickly slip a cigarette from my packet and light it before pressing the phone to my ear.

"Hey Naomikins,"

"Better late than never," I smile, reminding him that he said he'd call back after he had to cut short our phone call yesterday. I'd pretty much just finished telling him about Emily when he got called back to work.

"Sorry," he apologies and explains some work stuff to me before switching the conversation back to me. "So, how's my favourite blonde? Sorted things out with my favourite red yet?"

"I'm sat alone on the beach with a packet of cigarettes and a half empty bottle of vodka for company, what do you think?"

"What are you doing there?" He asks with a slight pause. "Isn't it like, one in the morning?"

"Almost," I answer, taking a long drag of my smoke.

"Bit late for sandcastle building ain't it?"

"Prick," I laugh down the speaker. "I couldn't sleep,"

"Are you alright?"

"Yeah," I offer, not sure if it was entirely true. I'm not even sure he believes it. "Will take more than Katie Fitch to put me off, you know?"

"Good," he chuckles. "I really think you should make some serious moves with Emilio soon though, yeah? Two days is a lot of time wasted when you only have two weeks,"

"Bit scared she's gonna tell me to fuck off if I'm honest," I take a large swig of vodka from the bottle and screw the cap back on, placing it by my side. "Worse still that she never ever wants to see me again,"

"Nah, that won't happen babe,"

"I'm not sure I would deal with that too well, you know? In fact, I know I wouldn't,"

"Blondie, chill yeah?" he does his best to reassure me. "This is Emilio we're talking about ain't it? She's always thought the sun shines from your arse,"

"It's been a long time since then, Cook. Things change,"

"She ripped your clothes off quick enough, didn't she?" Typical Cook, I roll my eyes as he carries on. "Drunk or not, it's you and Emily, blondie and Emilio, I've never known something to be so right in my whole life,"

"You know Cook, it's a good job I'm the only one that knows you aren't half as bad as you make people believe,"

"Don't tell any my secrets,"

"I won't tell any yours," I finish for him and stop when I hear some movement behind me. I turn my body around just as her figure comes into view properly.

Emily.

Cook's voice is still in my ear but as I pull myself to my feet, I know I'm no longer listening to what he's talking about. I can't focus on him or anything other than the beautiful red head who is still stepping closer to me. She stops, a couple of yards away and smiles, the slightest of smiles which shoots a warm fuzzy feeling in the pit of my stomach. I clench my eyes shut for no more than a second, knowing full well when I ping them back open, the first thing they'll do is rake over every inch of her body. No matter how hard I try to make them not, it'll happen. It does and as my gaze falls on her adorable face, I use every ounce of energy to not be distracted South to where her white blouse is open slightly. Jesus. I was behaving like a sixteen year old boy, suddenly so desperate to eye fuck every inch of her body.

"Naomi? Babe? Are you even listening to me?"

"Uuuhh?" I shook my head clear. "Yeah, of course I am,"

"Sorry," Emily says suddenly from behind me. "I didn't mean to interrupt,"

"Cook, I have to go,"

"Who was that?" He questions, immediately following that question up with a few others. "Is that Emily? It is, isn't it? EMILIOOO,"

"Cook, shut up. Look, I have to go," I turn my back on Emily for a second. "I'll give you a call tomorrow or something, yeah?"

I hung up the phone and spun around again, Emily was standing, looking down at the ground, she kicked some sand from underneath her feet. I closed some of the space between us by stepping forward and that made her avert her gaze from the beach onto me.

"Hey,"

"Hey yourself," I smile back at her typically husky voice.

"I didn't mean to interrupt," she nods towards the phone in my hand. "Sorry,"

"Oh, don't worry," I shrug and slip my phone into my front pocket. "It was just Cook, I can call him back later. What you doing out here?"

"I could ask you the same thing?"

"I couldn't sleep," I explain, reaching down for my pack of cigarettes, I slide them into my pocket alongside my phone. "I just like to come here sometimes when it's quiet. I get to clear my head, you know, admire the view,"

"Yeah, it's nice," she agrees, momentarily looking out towards the water. "It's peaceful,"

"So, is that why you're out here at this time?" I probe. "For some peace and quiet?"

"I wish," she laughs lightly. "It's been a busy night at the club. I was just catching a few minutes of fresh air when I saw you coming out here,"

"So you followed me?" Obviously. I ask anyway.

"I think we need to talk," she says, suddenly sitting down on the beach, crossing her legs over as she waits for me to do the same. "Actually, I think we should talk, don't you?"

"Okay," I merely nod, reaching my hand into my front pocket for my cigarettes. I offer one to Emily.

"No thanks, I quit years ago," she declines, so I place the fag between my lips.

"I tried," I sigh, taking a drag, eventually sitting next to her. "I failed,"

"Was easy for me, I stopped when I was pregnant and after Olivia, I had no real interest in taking it up again," she pauses and as I continue to smoke away, I feel her watching me. Usually when I sense someone's eyes on me, it makes me nervous, uncomfortable but Emily's eyes have always been a different story. "I'm sorry I left before, you know, after we,"

"It's alright, you don't have to explain to me,"

"Katie was bringing Olivia back early from her place, so I had to be home,"

"Emily," I smile at her because despite me telling her she doesn't have to explain, she did so anyway. "It really is alright, you had to go. I understand. Nice to know being with me again didn't make you run a mile though,"

"Yeah," she muses, tracing shapes in the sand with her finger.

"What?"

"It was a mistake," she doesn't look up for a few moments, instead deciding to focus so much on the shapes she'd drawn just seconds before. I smoke some more, ignoring the lump that's already appeared in my throat. "The vodka went straight to my head,"

"Right," I snap between drags of my cigarette, eventually deciding to flick it in front of me.

"I can't let it happen again,"

"Okay,"

"Is that it?"

"Well what else do you want me to say, Emily? You've obviously made your mind up and made it early on seen as you left me in your office,"

"Thought we'd try role reversal, I seem to remember you leaving me in your bed a number of times, even invited someone else in once,"

"That ain't fucking fair," I hit back sternly, pushing myself up to my feet. Emily mirrored my movement. "It isn't true either,"

"I need to go,"

"Please don't walk away from me,"

"I have to,"

"Why?"

"Because I'm scared of what will happen if I don't," she answers truthfully and turns away from me. I reach out and gently take her arm.

"I'm scared of what will happen if I let you walk off this beach," my honesty makes her turn around, I drop my hand from her arm and let out a sigh as I bite my bottom lip. "I let you walk away so easily before, it ruined me Emily. I never thought I'd ever see you again, yet here I am, with you. I can't let you walk away again,"

"What is it you want from me, Naomi?"

"A chance," I answer simply. "Just a chance to get back something from what we used to be,"

"We're a long way off from what we used to be," her reply is quiet but I hear it enough to know how much it's laced with hurt. "Maybe Katie's right, maybe we can never get even close to how we were before,"

"Don't you even want to try?" I ask, afraid of the answer which doesn't follow straight away. "Forget what Katie says. She came round a few days ago, you know? Proper warned me off you,"

"What?"

"She didn't tell you? Fuck. Of course she didn't," my eyes roll. "If she knew you were here now, she'd freak. She doesn't want me anywhere near you,"

"Well that's not up to her," she says simply, my mouth almost curves into the tiniest of smiles. "I can make my own decisions,"

"And?"

"Well, I'm still here aren't I?" Her shoulders shrug, this time my mouth does curve into a smile, one that I don't even try and hide. "One thing I have missed is that stupid goofy grin of yours,"

"Excuse me, goofy?" I chuckle. "I'll let you have that one for free,"

"So kind," she pokes her tongue out at me and for a moment, a mere split second, it's like how we were. "I really should be getting back, I said I'd only be a few minutes,"

"Can I walk you back?"

"It's only across the beach," she laughs and quickly follows. "But you can if you like,"

I walked back with her in silence, not an uncomfortable one by any means. It was nice even though it only took a few minutes to reach her club. We stopped outside, a group of young English lads wolf whistling at us as they exited the club and passed us. It made us laugh.

"I've been meaning to ask you something," I nod towards the bright colourful lit up sign above the club. "Ekon? What does it mean?"

"It was my idea," she spoke, glancing up at the letters before focusing her gaze back on me. "It's our initials. Mine, Katie's, Olivia's and... Well... Yours,"

"Mine?"

"Katie went fucking mental of course," She giggles, in that infectious, heart stopping way I always remembered. I wasn't sure I could adore her more than I did but I've just proved myself wrong. "But it's my club and despite everything you made me feel, everything you did, you're a part of my life I don't want to forget,"

"I don't know what to say,"

"Gotta be a first," her smile flashes across her lips.

"You always could leave me speechless,"

"Come to the club tomorrow, I've got deliveries in the morning but we could have coffee afterwards?"

"I'd love to,"

"Great," she grins broadly, matching mine. "I'll see you about midday then?"

"I'll be there,"