Okay, after a LONG hiatus of burnout and writer's block on this fic… I am back with a miracle of an update! I'm so sorry for taking so long. Even though I know what I want to write and how I want the fic to go, I just wasn't feeling inspired enough or felt confident I could put out a chapter for you all that I was proud of for that same reason. Since creative writing has always been a source of fun and stress relief for me, I always hate to force myself to write something when I'm just not 'up for it' in what little free time I have these days. But, anyway, we're now back to the content again! :D Before we begin though, I was told by several of you that this fic got a kind shout-out during 'Nemma Week' on Reddit by Redditor Less-Ad-9927. So, if said Redditor for whatever reason sees this, thank you again for your flattering and lovely words on this fic of mine. I was genuinely touched when I saw it, so again… thank you! :) Anyway, this chapter continues immediately after the previous chapter. Hope you all enjoy! :)

(Emma's POV)

Okay, books are ordered, sent another email to my academic advisor, and got my internship secured… now maybe I can study ahead a little for next semester starting in 2 weeks.

I was about to shut off my computer when I saw a notification pop up.

Incoming call: Noah Mathai

Well… maybe studying ahead can wait until a little later, right?

Besides, Noah's been looking for a job and I'm not going to lie to myself that I want to get all the details about everything that's going on for him.

This is the first time Noah is getting work outside of reality shows or gaming tournaments so… I really want to try to be supportive of his goals with starting a career in computers right now.

I immediately put myself together as I tried to smooth my hair down before picking up the call and seeing Noah show up on my laptop. Well, I was really trying to pull myself together anyway when I saw him wearing a button-down shirt and tie plus still seeing him with his beard.

Ugh, he looks so hot.

I tried to snap myself out of my 'Noah Daze' as he smiled at me and started, "Hey Emma, sorry for acting like a weird, stage five clingy boyfriend here for just video calling you without asking if it was cool first, but I saw you were online and just wanted to tell you about some stuff going on right now."

We both let out a laugh at his comment before I shrugged it off and said, "No it's fine, I'm all caught up on everything and I was just going to study ahead for next semester. Why? What's going on?"

He smirked and rubbed the back of his neck before letting out a laugh and saying, "Honestly, and I still don't know how I feel about it, but… I just got a job offer."

My eyes went wide as I started, "Wait, really?! Noah, that's great! But, I mean... wow. That was… fast. You just put in your resume out to a couple of places just recently, right?"

Okay, I know it seems weird that I'm questioning why my boyfriend got a job offer that quickly since I am happy for him, but… I don't know? Usually, companies that offer a job that quickly throws up A LOT of 'red flags'.

But, again, I wanted to know what was going on.

It seemed like Noah was almost reading my mind as he explained, "Don't worry, it's not some shady 'back door' kinda situation that's trying to scam me or knock me out and steal my organs. Pretty sure I have enough 'common sense' to see through that."

I smirked and put my hands up as I backtracked playfully, "Hey, just making sure."

We both laughed a little at that until Noah continued, "But, seriously, I literally just had a video interview with this company an hour ago and I felt like it wasn't so much me 'interviewing' as it was this guy almost 'begging me' to start immediately in their coding department."

I quirked up an eyebrow and it seemed like Noah knew what I was going to say before I even said it as he kept going, "I know, I couldn't believe it either. Honestly, I was waiting for people to think I was a 'joke' at these interviews when they saw I have no prior 'paid computer experience' and just have my reality shows as resume items. But, I guess right before the holidays, one of their best coders dipped out on this big project they needed to complete by the end of January and basically kinda sounded like they were (like my dad always says) 'up shit creek without a paddle' if they didn't find someone who could do the job and do it fast. When I applied for the job they also sent me this demo that they wanted me to complete before the interview to test my speeds. It wasn't even that hard since I've known how to do all that stuff since I was like 6 and ended up being one of the fastest coders they've ever had apply, I guess? The guy even offered me a $5000 sign-on bonus if I could start as soon as next week and is willing to let me work remotely until I get a place in Toronto. And… that's something else I wanted to ask you about?"

My whole mind felt like it just stopped as I processed 'everything' Noah just told me… until my brain took in the last thing he said.

I quirked up an eyebrow before questioning, "Um, ask about what?"

He rubbed the back of his neck a little before saying, "So… I don't think I'm getting an apartment anymore when I move to Toronto."

What?

After a brief pause of trying to figure out what he was getting at right now, I questioned further, "Wait, but… if you're not getting an apartment? Then what are you getting?"

I was confused.

Living in the city is pretty expensive and even apartments (which are also still kind of expensive even for a mediocre one), are basically the only 'living option' for people our age.

So… what could be possibly be getting at?

I was kinda surprised to see him let out a sign before he started, "Actually, and as much as I still don't fully believe it, my dad told me that he and my mom would help me with a down payment on a condo in Toronto."

My reaction was almost immediate as my eyes went wide in shock at what he just said.

And Noah immediately picked up on it as he said, "Yeah, I did the exact same thing when he said that too. But, I guess he did that for all my siblings when they moved out and not complaining, but… yeah, I was definitely not seeing any of that coming from my dad. Honestly, I was more expecting him to ask when I was moving out so that he and my mom could figure out when to plan a 'going away party' for me after I already left. But, hey, guess I can't turn down an offer to help with a mortgage to have my own place, right?"

I felt like I was still 'processing' what Noah just told me until I eventually got out, still sorting through my thoughts, "Noah, that's… that's great! I-I don't know what to say."

"That you can technically come over to 'my place' now without my mom walking in on us or telling us to 'keep doors open' like last time?" He added in knowingly yet also just messing around with me to 'make light' of a certain situation that happened at his parents' house.

I was internally trying to keep my cool, even though I do remember his mom coming by to 'nicely break things up' while Noah and I were making out in his room and then proceeded to pretty much 'escort me to my room' for the night.

Yeah, I know I said I wouldn't care if either of his parents walked in on us making out at the time, but… look, it was extremely awkward and incredibly embarrassing still, okay?

I mean, I know my parents also have similar rules but nothing like that ever happened whenever Kitty had a boy over.

But, then when Noah and I were waiting to board at the airport, he kinda told me why his parents (especially his mom) were like that.

I guess back when his sister Sarah was 18, she was working as the office manager/reception scheduler for Noah's dad's company around the same time when Noah's brother-in-law Paul (who was 19 at the time) was hired by Noah's dad since Paul was the son of a family friend of theirs, well before he became Noah's brother-in-law.

Considering Noah alluded that Sarah and Paul started 'getting closer' in the office when they thought no one else was around and… long story short, Sarah eventually found out she was pregnant and so did Noah's parents... as well finding out about the fact that they were 'hooking up' at the office when they thought no one would notice.

Or, more specifically, Noah's dad found out and gave Paul a new 'business proposition' that resulted in Sarah and Paul getting married very soon after.

Which to me is pretty unsurprising considering I can see Noah's dad being pretty scary if he found out one of his employees was 'fooling around' at work with one of his daughters… and also being understandably upset with Noah's sister for not 'keeping things professional' at work.

Although honestly, I wouldn't have even guessed that Sarah and Paul even had a 'shotgun/hasty wedding' situation until Noah told me since they seemed to look pretty happy together when I met them in the sea of humanity at Noah's family's Christmas party.

Not to mention Paul is still working for Noah's dad as a foreman, so… I'm guessing now there was 'no hard feelings'?

And at least from what Noah said, his mom practically passed out after she first found out about all that with Sarah and Paul and made his mom even more 'paranoid' with Hannah, Luke, and Christina (and now Noah) when they were still living at home at the time.

Which I know both of Noah's parents are pretty 'traditional' (especially his mom with her 'premarital shenanigans' comment to us) and even my parents are like that, but even my parents don't go that far with it.

But, honestly, and if my conversation with Noah's dad meant anything, I almost feel like we probably would've gotten a 'free pass' from him if he walked in on Noah and I doing anything.

But... ugh, c'mon?

Even then, it's not like I would've had sex with Noah in his room at his parents' house even if I did want to.

One is because I want to make sure our first time is nothing short of 'planned out' and 'perfectly timed' when it does finally happen.

And two... not to mention having privacy to make sure no one can ruin the moment.

Like I'd want to chance either sets of our parents or any of our siblings interrupting anything. That's just poor and stupid planning honestly. Even though there were a lot of times I wanted to go further with Noah, I'm really trying to hold myself back and wait for the right time.

Noah means a lot to me and I want our first time when it happens to mean a lot and be as perfect as it can be.

I felt myself being a hair away from a Noah Daze until I 'got it together' before smirking and responding to his previous comment with a shrug, "I mean, I guess it's nice to want something, right?"

We both smirked at each other before we each let out a slight laugh.

Once we got back on track, I asked, "Have you started looking at any listings yet?"

I know it's a little stupid for me to be almost too internally excited right now, but I'm really proud of Noah. Even though I still feel like crap about my dad 'gunning for him' during that one dinner, but… what else can I say?

My boyfriend just got his first real job and wants to get a condo near me just to be closer to me.

How can I possibly complain about that?!

I couldn't stop myself from smiling a little as he said, "Actually… that's the 'real' reason why I called you. Since you know more about Toronto than me, have any decent areas in mind that I could get my own place?"

Almost on reflex I smirked slightly as I asked, "Now when we're defining 'decent'... are we still using your criteria of 'not getting mugged'?"

He quirked up an eyebrow and smirked back as he replied in his usual dry tone, "It's almost like you know me too well."

I kept my current expression as I teased/playfully rebutted almost, "Well, considering we've been together for almost 6 months now, I'd like to think I know some things about my own boyfriend."

We both laughed at that for a second until I heard knocking on my door.

Both Noah and I stopped as I gave my door a look, trying to figure out who could possibly be there.

At first, I thought it was mom since she usually gets off work early today as I called out, "Yeah? Come in."

My door started opening and my eyes went wide a little when I saw Kitty standing there and looking in, giving me an almost hesitant look as I just gave her a similar look right back at her.

This was the first time we actually made eye contact after the Owen thing yesterday.

But, I didn't really know what was going on as we kept looking at each other.

"Uh, Emma?..."

I looked down and saw Noah giving me a 'weirded out' look, probably trying to figure out what was even happening since I completely stopped talking and was just 'staring off into space' as far as he knew.

But, I just slowly looked back up and saw Kitty about to leave and I immediately reached up and gestured for her to 'stop'.

Okay, I can't believe I'm about to say this, but…

"Uh… Noah? I'm going to have to call you back." I explained vaguely, hardly looking at my laptop as I hung up and kept looking at my sister.

Mostly I was still just trying to figure out why she was even here after she barely said anything to me for almost a full 24 hours. Or since she hardly left her room all day yesterday, which is not like my sister.

I mean, for me to be stuck in my room all day is kind of a given since I've always been a total introvert (as my sister has always commented on about me). Considering Kitty has always been the polar opposite of me and even mom and dad as the 'family extrovert' and 'wild child'.

Even all the way back when we were kids and all I wanted to do was stay in my room and read when I wasn't doing any of my extracurriculars, Kitty has always been the first to keep dragging me out of my room to or 'go out and hang somewhere' once we were in high school.

Because I apparently needed to 'loosen up a little' and 'put myself out there' and couldn't just sit and read in my room all day or work out by myself in the basement if it were up to me.

So for Kitty to be the one shutting herself out for the past day… yeah, so not like her.

We just kept staring at each other until she finally started walking in and looking at the floor.

I quirked up an eyebrow as she sat at the foot of my bed on the opposite side and I proceeded to keep giving her a weirded-out look as she just kept sitting there.

Well, at least until I jumped a little when she reached over, grabbed one of my throw pillows on my bed, put it against her face, and then immediately threw herself back on my bed as she groaned into the pillow and exasperated, sounding muffled despite sound like she was screaming at the top of her lungs into the pillow, "UGH! YOU WERE RIGHT!"

Wait, did she just admit that "I'm right"?

I mean, I'm usually right and not that I'm necessarily complaining that my kid sister just admitted I was right about something.

But, I decided to complete my thought process out loud as I gave her the most confused look I had and asked in a tone that matched, "Uh… great. But… what am I 'right about' exactly?"

Kitty didn't even take the pillow off her face as she groaned into it again in response, "Because you were right about me. I AM 'Devin'."

Okay, originally I was going to cover the entirety of Emma and Kitty's interaction in this chapter as well, but then it ended up being close to 11 pages in word processing, and… yeah, I didn't want to have a chapter THAT long and wanted to make something more 'digestible' reading wise. That and I wanted to make you guys mildly upset with me for leaving things on a cliffhanger. Apologies, friends… but also not really. Lol. XD But, for real, I do genuinely hope you enjoyed this installment with seeing Emma and Noah at the start of this next chapter in their lives and relationship. But, as they say, when one door closes… another one opens. And right now, it looks like Emma's got some 'big-sistering' to make up for now that Kitty seems to have come to her for a talk and maybe even some advice. Next chapter we'll see what Emma and Kitty's 'talk' has in store! Again, I want to thank each and every one of you for hanging with this fic for almost 3 YEARS! Just thank you a million times! Seriously! :) Anyway, thank you all for reading, and constructive feedback is always appreciated if you can spare it! Have a wonderful day and Happy Easter if you celebrate it!

Stay Classy!

Dexter1995