A/N note; Thanks to everyone still reading & enjoying. Bit of a delay getting this chapter up, sorry about that but had a bit of writers block which wouldn't shift. Still not entirely happy with this part but I want to leave you with something before the next couple of busy weeks.

Enjoy? Then please leave a review, cheers folks.

"What the fuck have you done with Naomi?" Zoe laughs from across the table, pouring the remaining wine from the bottle into both of our half empty glasses. We'd just finished dinner and I'd just finished repeating back to her most of my day at Emily's that she was so eager to hear. She gives me a narrowed eyed look, one I know only too well. "You hate kids,"

"I don't hate them," I respond casually. "I just had no time for them,"

"Yet you've almost chatted non stop about Olivia since we got here,"

"Yeah well, she's different,"

"Because she's Emily's?" She probes and I know it was more of a statement than a question. I didn't need to give my friend an answer, so I don't. Instead, I pull out some money from my purse to pay the small bill we've managed to build up in the short few hours we've been here. I hand the paid bill to the waiter that was lurking around behind us. "So, what's next, babysitting duties?"

"Piss off," I laugh, taking a mouthful of wine. "Baby steps, remember? Anyway, how was your day?"

"Oh you know, peaceful," she shrugged. "I spoke more with your Mum. You're really gonna have to tell her about Emily soon, yeah? I don't think the you meeting up with Katie for coffee excuse is going to work much longer,"

"No, I know. I'll tell her don't worry," I'm surprised that lame excuse has worked so far. "I just wanted some time with her before my Mum completely drowns her in a million and one questions," I laugh gently, Zoe doing the same. She's only just met my Mum and already she knows exactly what I'm talking about. "She'll be so happy to see her again, they got on great before,"

"Which leads me to my question, when do I get to meet Miss Fitch herself?"

"Funny you should ask," I reply, finishing off my wine before the waiter returns, leaving my change on the side. I take out the bigger notes, shoving them back into my purse whilst making sure I left a reasonable tip before turning my attention back to Zoe. "She invited us to the club tonight,"

"Oh great," she beams happily. I laugh at her obvious excitement. She'd make anyone believe Emily Fitch was some kind of high up, well paid celebrity. "Wait, we are going right?"

"Well, I was going to say, we'll only go if you want to but seen as you're suddenly behaving like some overhyped kid on Christmas Eve, I don't think I have to,"

"I just want to see, in the flesh, what all the fuss is about," she winks at me, getting a playful yet warning glare in return. She really does love to wind me up. "I'm joking, Naoms. It would just be nice to meet her at last,"

"Drink up then," I signal towards her glass. "I said we'd be there for ten,"

Of course, as per usual when I'm with Zoe, we arrived at the club in time. Two minutes early to be exact. She was like that, hated to be late for anything. I was always the opposite. She used to joke and say I'd be late for my own funeral. She wouldn't be far wrong.

As soon as we entered the club, I spotted Emily instantly. Hardly surprising. I seemed to always be able to instantly pick her out from the crowd. She was behind the bar, busy serving the queues of people but still took a few seconds to look up and search across the club, I'm sure her gaze fell on me just as quick as mine fell on her. She quickly alerted us to the attention of her bar staff and we found ourselves being led to a different table, one which was reserved.

"VIP table eh?" Zoe grinned knowingly and picked up a drinks menu. "So far, I'm very impressed,"

I just smile back and stick my head in a drinks menu, we were only sat for a number of minutes before I saw Emily approach our table, dodging between some dancing bodies until she reached us. I immediately push my chair back and stand to greet her.

"Hey,"

"Hi," she grins, leaning forward to gently plant a kiss on my right cheek. I'm sure a shiver shoots up my back when my nostrils pick up on her familiar perfume scent. It's the first time I've noticed it's the same as it was many years ago. "I wasn't sure if you were still coming tonight. You must be Zoe," Emily smiles her best smile, extending her arm and offering her hand which my friend accepts and shakes. We all take a seat. "Naomi's told me a lot about you,"

"Likewise," Zoe replies, I gently kick her under the table as if to warn her not to even begin to go there. She pretty much knows everything about my relationship with my favourite red and some of it, I really didn't want spilling out across the table. Emily just continues to wear her grin, glancing to me then back to Zoe as she continues. "It's lovely to finally meet you,"

"Yeah, it's nice to put a face to the name," Once again, that smile. It would send flutters around anyone's stomach, I'm sure. "So, can I get you both a drink? On me, of course. Large white wine for Naomi, I remember that. What about yourself, Zoe?"

"White wine for me as well please,"

"Two large white wines coming up,"

"Will you be able to join us?" I ask before she takes off back to the bar. She turns her head, looking towards the crowd that's forming for drinks. "I guess not, it's getting pretty busy over there,"

"I own the place, remember?" She laughs. "Jen should be in to start her shift in a few minutes then I'll come over, I'll go get those drinks,"

I'm not sure I'm even aware that my eyes follow Emily all the way back to the bar until Zoe waves her hand in front of my face. It immediately snaps me out of my little trance.

"Seriously Naoms, put your tongue back in,"

"Huh?"

"Perving session or what?" She smirks, knocking my arm. "You were practically drooling,"

"I wasn't," I feel my cheeks flush and I'm thankful the club lights are low so she doesn't notice. She gives me that look again. The one that tells me she knows I'm talking complete shit so I may as well just quit. I chew my bottom lip, hiding the smirk that's tugging at my lips. "Since when was it a crime to look anyway?"

"Knew it," she says smugly then her face softens. "I've never seen you like that with anyone before,"

"Like what?"

"You turned to mush," she points out, rather correctly too. "I've never seen that side of you,"

"Pretty certain I only turn into a pathetic love sick puppy when Emily is around," I chuckle slightly. There once was a time I was so hard faced with her, I never ever thought I'd be where I am now. "Don't tell her that though,"

"Something tells me she may already know,"

I'm through my first glass of wine and into my second when Emily finally rejoins us, sliding along the cushioned seats until she's next to me. I try to ignore the fact that her left leg brushed against my right one for a few seconds but my brain seems to explode even the smallest of details and Zoe notices.

"So, how long have you known Naomi?" Emily asks, bringing the glass of alcohol to her lips.

"Oh a good few years, we met through work,"

"And now you live together?"

"Yep, never been able to get rid of her since. We have a flat in the centre of Bristol, it's close to work, easy to get around,"

"It's not far from my Mum's old place," I cut in. "Cook lives close by,"

"It's nice he's still around, not completely surprising though, he always did like you better than most," her mouth curls and she looks back across the table. "So, is Naomi easy to live with now then? I mean, she cooks & cleans now right?"

"Hey," I feign hurt. "I cooked,"

"I used to call it, attempting to burn the house down but whatever,"

"She's nearly done that to our flat in fairness," Zoe offers, Emily giggles then they both do.

"One time," I insist. "Anyway, what is this, pick on Naomi night?"

"Oh Naomikins,"

"Naomikins?" Emily grins widely at me. "God, I haven't heard that for years,"

"Cook," I say simply, rolling my eyes. I take my cigarette packet from the table and slip out from where I was sitting, squeezing past Emily in the process. "I need a smoke, try not to talk about me whilst I'm gone huh?"

I was joking, of course.

It was nearing midnight and as I lit my cigarette and took the first drag, I perched myself on the wall which ran round the back of the club and slipped my hand into my pocket pulling out my phone, I send a quick text to my Mum to let her know there was every chance we'd be home late. There was a few other messages I replied to whilst I finished my habit then I pushed myself up and headed back into the club. It was only when I stood up, I decided to take a detour into the toilets first, waiting around for a few minutes before a cubicle became available.

The toilets went surprisingly quiet for a few minutes, the latest group of drunken girls leave and I'm left alone with my own thoughts until the music gets louder as the door swings open. I'm about to leave when I hear the voice and giggles.

"Honestly, it was hilarious," Emily's voice filters round. I push myself up against the locked cubicle door and try to listen in a little better. "I'm pretty sure she was adamant her house was gonna catch fire or something,"

"Naomi Campbell's famous cooking skills huh?"

They laugh together. I can't help but smile a little bit.

"Can I ask you something?"

"Sure,"

"How's Naomi been, you know in the last few years?" Emily questions, pausing for a moment in between. "I heard about her last relationship,"

"Eurgh, that train wreck,"

"Lucy, wasn't it?"

"Yeah," Zoe confirmed as I shuffled behind the door quietly. "She was never good enough for Naoms, fucked her around a lot and I know, I know all about her hurting you but she didn't deserve that,"

"No, I know. I hate the thought of her being hurt like that," Typical Emily, I think silently. "Some people would think I'm really fucking stupid for caring,"

"I don't think that,"

"My Sister does, my Mum definitely fucking would," Emily says, I even hear her sigh she does it that loudly. "Naomi isn't very high up on Katie's friend list,"

"I gathered that much," Zoe replies back. I still don't move and I still haven't heard anyone else enter the toilets. "I think it's more your list that matters,"

"It's Naomi," Emily states simply. I rest my head against the door gently and smile as she continues. "She's always been high up on my list,"

"Now can I ask you something?"

"Of course,"

"Why don't you tell her that?"

I seriously consider sticking my fingers in my ears, too scared to hear Emily's response.

"I don't know," Emily offers. "Too much has happened, too much has changed. We're different people now,"

"You really believe that?" Zoe probes somewhat gently. "Tell me to mind my own business by all means but we go home in a few days, don't let her slip away and have regrets,"