Author's Note: I'm sorry this took a while. It needed time to really flow and unveil itself from my mind. I hope I've done this chapter well. THANK YOU SUNNY AND CHRIS for being my Beta readers and highlighting elements in the chapter that I couldn't see for myself. THANK YOU EVERYONE for reading and supporting Before I Fall. Have a beautiful day!
Siophiefandom: Thank you so much for reviewing! I appreciate it so much. I hope you don't find it odd that I looked into your profile and saw that you've written a few Paily stories. I'm hoping to check them out by the end of this week when my time frees up a bit more. :) I'm really touched at you appreciating the characters' emotions for each other. It makes me feel so good as a writer. I hope I get to hear from you again after this chapter.
Guest1: Yes, Paige is A-okay. ;P I love writing scenes with all the girls together just as much as you like reading them. I like the McHastings friendship they've got going on too. I don't know where I'm going with Shana yet, but I hope to turn it into something good. Thanks for reviewing! Hope to know your name and read from you again soon.
Guest2: It's so nice to read reviews from Guests like you that have only nice words to say. It's comforting to read that you think the previous chapter was "amazing." I like scaring the pants off of people sometimes. Haha ;) Just kidding. Maybe. Hope to get to know you better and know your thoughts on this chapter. Cheers!
EUgrl: Haha! With the misspelling, I totally interpreted your comment in a completely opposite way! Thanks for enjoying my version of the McHastings friendship. I hope I can write more of those in the future if my mind allows me to. Have a nice day! Thanks for the review! Have a nice read!
Jedimazzie: Can you share with me why you "sense a big step in their relationship coming up soon"? I would very much like to know the details of this big step. ;) I'm glad Paige is okay too. I don't know where my mind takes me sometimes. I like stories with sad endings, but I hope this is not it, you know? Seeing how the writers made a sad ending for Paily onscreen…for now. Thanks for the review again! Reading nice comments are worthwhile.
BexDubz: I hit hard with the feels in the previous chapter? How? Tell me please! Hahahaha This feels so great! I'm doing something right! I'm writing this fanfiction right it seems. That makes me happy. Lots of emotions rolling around in this story. I'm not very good at writing angst but I hope to accomplish that in the future. Love, love, love, love, loveeeeee your reviews! Thank you! Awaiting your next review now.. :)
Sofiadc66: Hello again! Thanks so much for reviewing for my story. Your support means so much! I'm really into reading your reviews. lol I wanted to leave Maya out for a while to leave the two girls to bond and kiss each other's wounds before real life stuff hits them hard. I'll let you get away with calling Maya a B-word any day, just not sure if the other readers will. Lol I am really stuck on how to write Emily's next chapter because I want to write as much angst as I can into the chapter, and I'm not sure if I'm capable of that. I totally get what you mean about Paily feels superimposing McHastings feels. I honestly don't know how I came up with Coco but I just tried so hard to rack my brain to find a nickname Hanna could call her in the heat of the moment. Well, there was no heat in the moment, but you know what I mean, right? Hahahaha Paily is everythinggggggg. I'm still trying to figure out how I'm going to let Shana's role play out in this story. It will definitely take a few more chapters I think. Do you think I'll write jealousy well? Thanks again for your review! I am excited to hear from you again.
CaliGrlFoLife: CHRIS, YOU ROCK. El fin. :) Thanks so much for being my Beta Reader for this chapter. If you really had tears brimming in your eyes in the previous chapter, my work is now completely done. Lol Bed pan life is the worst life. Not sure if you're going to read this chapter again, but thank you once more for supporting me and reviewing and beta reading this chapter.
Disclaimers: I do not own Pretty Little Liars.
Paige's POV
I rolled over onto my good side and watched the shadows passing by outside by the light underneath the door. The digital clock blaring red lights in the dark room told the time. It was only a little past midnight and for some reason I wasn't able to sleep. Emily left a few hours ago because her parents made her go home and rest after spending over two weeks with me in the hospital. It was hard to watch her go, but I knew it wasn't right to keep her living in my hospital room for as long as she did. I sighed and slowly turned onto my back again as I clutched tighter onto the top of the blanket and pulled it up to my neck when a cold breeze went by. I remembered back to the last two weeks here and instantly felt so comforted by the thought that I had someone like Emily by my side and loved me the way she did. I snapped out of my thoughts when I heard the door opening slowly. The door creaked and I peeked an eye open at the impending intruder. The dark figure moved surreptitiously through the room and I watched their every move until it was only when they got closer that I saw it was only Emily in her tank top and shorts with a duffel bag in hand.
"Hey, what are you - " my words got cut off as Emily dropped the bag and climbed into bed and straddled me. She leaned down and kissed me, running her hands through my hair as she kissed me fervently. "Emily..." I moaned before she bit down on my lips and I moved my hands to her hips to hold her. She grinded against me and I felt her hips moving on top of mine for several moments before she swept her hair to one side as she decidedly pulled away and looked at me intensely.
"I missed you so much." Emily breathed as she leaned down and kissed me again. I grabbed her bottom and gave it a slow tantalizing squeeze before gradually trailing my hands up the length of her back and moving down her tone arms.
"I miss you too, baby... Why are you here?" I asked wondering why she didn't stay home.
"I couldn't sleep...so I snuck out." Emily said sadly as she shifted to lie down next to me on my good side. I scooted over to make room for her and let her under the cover. She draped one of her legs over me and I held her as she sighed. "You feel so good." she muttered as I felt her burying her face into my neck.
"I couldn't sleep either." I admitted while sliding my hand up and down her side. Emily moved in closer to me and tried to be careful not to touch my wound as she draped her arm across my middle. We lied in silence enjoying each other's company before I heard the door open again and found my nurse checking in on me, smiling at a cute and shy Emily huddling closer to my side. She did a quick assessment and left after five minutes and Emily sighed again as I felt her exhaling against my neck. I felt her breaths slowing to an even breathing and smiled at my exhausted angel who had been constantly running back and forth between the hospital and her home. I ran my fingers through her long dark tresses and kissed her forehead. Emily's scent of lavender and vanilla was so inviting and I buried my nose in her hair as I felt my eyes drooping to a close. I couldn't imagine a better way to fall asleep. When tomorrow comes, I wouldn't have to wake up from this dream.
Another week has gone by easily with no scuffles with doctors and nurses, and I felt a lot of my pride slip away again when it was time to stitch up the entrance wound. I didn't realize how sensitive and soft the tissues were until the doctor had removed the dressings and injected lidocaine into the skin to dull the nerve that would send pain signals to my brain when the needle went into my skin. I watched on with my face paling at each and every movement the doctor made, even though I knew that this would be the easiest part. I also knew I was in good hands and I couldn't help but hold tighter onto my mother's hand and glanced quickly at Emily through the slit in the curtains waiting in the corner of the room. She had her arms crossed and a worried look on her face. It was a big day. I exhaled in relief when the doctor was done suturing my left upper abdomen and carefully applying incision tapes and a new dressing over the new sutures.
"Alright, Paige. Let me prescribe you some pain medications first to take by the mouth and then let's have your mother book a follow-up appointment in the next 1-2 weeks and we can go ahead with the suture removal." the doctor said as the pen in her hand kept writing on a small square-ish pad. "You may wash the incision daily with soap and water; pat dry gently. Keep your incision clean and dry until all the stitches are removed. Do not apply any cream or ointment to the stitches. The incision tapes will fall off by themselves in 1-2 weeks. After the stitches are removed, and the Steri-Strips have fallen off, the scar will fade and soften over time." the lady doctor smiled and let me pull up my gown. "You may shower as soon as you feel you are able to, but no tub baths for the next month. Also, a balanced diet is important for your general health and healing. Follow a soft, easy-to-digest diet for the first week. Advance to your usual diet as tolerated. You can ask your nurse if you would like additional information about your diet. Lastly, if you have any specific questions about your diet after you leave the hospital, please call me here." the doctor said as she pulled off a card and scribbled a happy face near her direct line. I thought she was about done with her speech and was about to stand up from the rolling chair until she continued again. "After abdominal surgery, it is normal to feel weak and tired for several weeks after you return home. Because each person is unique, the speed of your recovery and your ability to return to normal activities may vary. Take regular walks several times daily. Avoid strenuous exercise such as lifting, carrying, pulling, or moving heavy objects more than 5 pounds until I can assess that it is safe for you and tell you that you can do so. Do not sit for long periods as it may cause swelling of your ankles and feet. Sexual activity may be resumed as tolerated, unless otherwise instructed." she winked as she glanced over to where Emily may be behind the curtain. I tried my hardest not to blush and avoided hers and my mother's eyes as they chuckled. "As I've said before, everyone recovers differently. Please check with me about when to return to swimming and when to start driving. Usually, after your first postoperative visit, say ten days to two weeks, I will discuss with you when you will be able to start driving." I nodded as she looked at me and waited for some sign that I understood what she was saying. "I know this sounds long-winded right now but please listen and call me if any of these things occur. If there is an inability to tolerate foods or fluids, persistent nausea or vomiting, signs of surgical site infection: increased redness, increased drainage or swelling, and worsening pain, and if you feel warm or chilled, check your temperature. Call me for a temperature of 101°F/ 38.5°C or above. It is important because these are danger signals, okay Paige?" I nodded again and exhaled at all the information she was pounding into my brain. "Pain from the incision is normal and it will change from day to day and with different activities. It will gradually decrease. Contact my office if your pain medication does not relieve your pain. You may experience cramping, abdominal pain, and bloating, but these symptoms will improve over time. Eat small, frequent meals. If you have severe pain that does not improve or persistent vomiting, call me immediately. You should drink enough fluids to keep your urine a light yellow color. Avoid alcoholic beverages during your recovery. Constipation is a common side effect of pain medication. Here are some tips to prevent constipation: take a stool softener, add fiber to your diet, drink plenty of fluids, and increase your activity level." she laughed as I scrunched my face at the new information. "I think I'm about done here. What about you? Do you have any questions for me, Paige?" she asked as she scribbled something into a folded piece of paper she had in the left pocket of her white coat. I shook my head and smiled as she put a hand on my shoulder. "I hope you heal well and fast but don't push yourself. Again, I am so sorry for what's happened to you, but you are so strong and was able to make it out of this alive. A spleen lost is a spleen… I don't know. Still trying to come up with a wise quote for that one after all these years of removing spleens." she laughed a hearty laugh. It was contagious and my mother and I joined in. "I will tell the nurse to show you how to put on new dressings." she stood up and smiled as she reached a hand out and I took it and shook her hand. "It was very nice meeting and getting to know you and your family and friends over the last couple of weeks, Paige." she said and quickly glanced at my mom and Emily. "I'll see you again in 1-2 weeks, alright?" she smiled so sincerely it made me crack a smile of my own. She turned around and pulled the curtain around the hospital bed to one side and smiled at Emily and waved goodbye before leaving the room. Emily returned to my side immediately and a worried look still etched all over her face.
"Emily, I'm fine. I am very good at healing." I tried to lighten the mood and heard my mother chuckling to my right.
"You better be." Emily smiled nervously and brushed my hair out of the face.
"I'll go sign the papers and get your pain medication, Paige. You be good now." mom teased me as she left the room and pulled my dad with her too as he was about to step into the room.
"Are you in pain? Did it hurt?" Emily asked as she searched my face for answers that I was really okay.
"No. She gave me some anesthetics." I told Emily as she let out a sigh of relief.
"Good. When will they let you go?" Emily said as another nurse stepped into the room and introduce herself to me and told me she was going to check my vitals and then show me how to change my dressings. It was about an hour later when my parents returned and sighed exhaustedly and laughed at each other before they started to pack all of the things in the room while Emily helped me changed in the bathroom. Emily smiled as she helped me brush my hair after assisting me put my clothes on. I smiled back and turned the water on to wash my face and ran a towel over my features, feeling somewhat more refreshed and alive after being in the hospital for a little over three weeks.
"You okay?" Emily asked hesitantly as I lingered at my reflection above the sink.
"Yeah. Just glad I can go home now." I said turning to her and seeing her worry lines again. "Stop worrying, Em. I'm fine. I'm getting out. I can sleep in my own bed again. I can finally socialize with people. Thank god." I started naming all of the things I can now do in the outside world. I hadn't realized how isolated I've been until I was entrapped in my own hospital room and prohibited from socializing with other patients on the same floor as me. It was almost like prison. "Ugh, and the food is just terrible." I said before I heard Emily laugh by my side.
"Come on, tiger. Let's get you out of here." she winked as she opened the door and let me walk out by myself. I watch her put my gown on the messy hospital bed and picked up a water bottle from the bedside. She grabbed her bag from the chair that she's been sleeping on for the past three weeks and made her way back to my side and grabbing my hand. Our fingers intertwined and I looked up to find my parents smiling at us as they carried my things and led the way out into the hallway. Ah. Freedom at last. It was a wonderful feeling. We stepped into the elevator and my parents talked about getting takeouts for dinner and Emily and I discussed making a healthy chicken salad instead. We were just stepping outside of the hospital and I breathed in the air that smelled nothing like that of the hospital. It was so clean and smelled normal for once. I barely got to enjoy the outside air before I heard a blaring horn not too far away. I saw Spencer's Toyota Highlander parking in front of the hospital with the emergency signal on and Hanna hollering for us to come over. We took our time walking to not irritate my new stitches and we waved at Spencer behind the wheel, Hanna in the passenger seat, and Aria in the back of the car. They rolled their windows down and Hanna was the first to talk.
"Hop in! We're grabbing dinner." the blonde said before her blue eyes found my parents standing behind Emily and me. "That is...if Mr. and Mrs. McCullers are totally cool with it." Hanna gave her most sickeningly sweet pout and my parents chuckled.
"Fine. Go as you wish, but I want them both home no later than 10PM, alright girls?" I heard the smile in my dad's voice.
"Yes, sir!" Hanna dorkily saluted and made both my parents laugh. I watched as my mom kissed Emily goodbye on the cheek and then came over to me.
"Don't get into any trouble now." she said as she kissed my cheek and then rubbed up and down on my upper arms. "We'll bring your things home." she said before kissing the top of my head and leaving with my dad as he winked my way.
Aria unbuckled her seatbelt and scooted to the other side of the car and Emily opened the car door and handed her bag to Aria. Emily helped me up into the car and let me sit in the middle between her and Aria. The petite girl patted my knee and smiled as we all relaxed into the seats and buckled our seatbelts. After giving Spencer a thumbs up, Aria went on her phone and mapped out the directions for Spencer, and gave her instructions as her "little human navigator" as Spencer had called her. We were still about a fifteen minutes drive from the Apple Rose Grille.
"So Emily, are you sleeping over at Paige's tonight?" Hanna nosed her way into our business.
"Yes, Hanna." Emily said irritatingly even though I saw her smile when I turned to look at her. She had a nice sparkle in her eyes. I wasn't able to tell what it was yet.
"And both your parents are okay with that?" Aria asked curiously. We both shrugged and laughed together.
"Yeah." I answered smiling as I felt Emily's other hand clasp on top of our already intertwined hands.
"You mean, like, in the same bed?" Hanna questioned further.
"Yes, Hanna." we both answered at the same time and looked at each other in amusement.
"Huh. I thought they would try to split you up." Hanna wondered aloud.
"Hanna!" I saw Spencer slap Hanna's left thigh and the blonde yelped.
"What?" the oblivious girl said pretending to nurse her wound. "That hurt, Spencer." Hanna said while trying to glare at the brunette behind the wheel.
"I see why you would think that. My parents knew it wasn't Emily's fault that Maya shot me. They just think she's really...out of her mind." I tried to put the description of my parents' opinions about Maya in careful words around Emily.
"No. Ugh, you don't get what I'm saying." Hanna said exasperatedly as she tried to turn around in her passenger seat and look at us. "I meant they would try to split you up from getting your freak on while Paige is recovering. God, you guys are so slow." Hanna said before Spencer and Aria bursted out laughing in the car.
"Oh my god, we are so not having this conversation right now in this car." Emily said as lightly smacked Hanna upside the head from behind the seat.
"Ow! Why is everyone hitting me?" Hanna said as she curled into a fetal position and tried to defend herself. I saw Spencer look down at the blonde in the seat next to hers and smirked.
"Because you're proving that you deserve it by the minute." Aria poke fun at the girl curled into a ball in the front seat.
"We're here, everyone. Let's pile out and leave Hanna in the car." Spencer joked as she put the car in park and turned off the engine.
"Hey!" Hanna responded immediately and tried to unbuckle her seatbelt quickly and get out in lightning speed.
"Nice one." I chuckled and high-five Spencer. As I was moving to get out of the car after Emily, I saw her roll her brown eyes at us in good humor as she tried to help me down. I closed the car the door behind us before turning to meet Emily's eyes.
"You're just as bad as she is." Emily teased as she leaned in to kiss my cheek.
"Yes, but you still love me." I countered and smirked.
"Mmmm...that sounds about right." Emily said as she took a step towards me. She reached up and cupped my face with her right hand and sighed as she leaned her forehead against mine.
"That's right." I whispered victoriously as I finally dipped my head and caught her soft lips between mine.
"Hey! You two! Come on, we're hungry!" I pulled away from Emily's lips when Hanna's voice beckoned for us to go into the restaurant. I pulled onto Emily's hand and dragged her along at my slow pace. I watched her plaid shirt flying up a little from being tied to her waist. She was wearing a tank top, ripped loose fitted jeans, and a pair of white converse. The plaid shirt hanging around her hips and tied in a knot under her stomach was of red and black colors. She looked breathtaking in the sunset's light. The sky was getting darker and we walked towards the impatient blonde holding the door wide open for us. Emily and I both thanked her and she walked in after and raced past us. Emily shook her head at our friend and held me close as we walked together to the table in the back. A guy was rushing past us and brushed my good side a little. I winced at having to dodge him quickly. Spencer saw and demanded his apology immediately. I felt bad for the guy and went on to our table ignoring Spencer's scolding at the young waiter, and Emily looked at me with worried eyes.
"Are you sure you're okay?" Emily asked as she looked around my middle to see if my wound was agitated at all.
"Really. I'm fine, Em. It was just the dodging that made me hurt a bit. No big deal." I said calmly as I started to look at the menu. "I think I'm still going with that chicken salad." I mentioned in passing as Spencer sat down with a huff.
"I told the manager to change servers. I don't want him waiting on us." Spencer said sharply as we all looked at each other quietly. Spencer picked up the menu and started muttering to herself about the importance of not running in a restaurant and how ill-mannered and inconsiderate that was. Our new requested server came by and left some bread and drinks for us. Hanna looked like she wanted to give in and have bread, but she was fighting it as she held tightly onto the restaurant's menu. After the waiter came by again and took our orders, I felt Emily scooting closer to me and circling my arm with hers. She was indeed cuddly tonight. I prefer it.
"Ugh, no carbs, no carbs, no carbs!" Hanna repeated over and over again like a mantra.
"You sure about that?" I teased as I threw a big piece in the air and tried to catch it in my mouth and succeed.
"I hate you." Hanna's eyes turned into slits as she glared my way.
"You love me." I said while chewing and smiled innocently while ripping another piece of bread to throw in the air. Spencer and Aria laughed at our banter, and Emily was still cuddling into my good side and started leaning her head on my right shoulder.
"Ugh! You're so lucky I don't mess with a girlfriend who got shot in the stomach." Hanna exclaimed in frustration and downed a whole glass of water. I turned to kiss the side of Emily's head and moved my arm so that I could wrap it around her. She smelled so wonderful. I could drink this scent in all day every day. I smiled into her hair and sighed from exhaustion. It's been a long three weeks and I really couldn't wait to get home and sleep in my own bed again. Our food came about ten minutes after and we all dug in and ate while chatting with several conversations going on at the table. The restaurant dimmed the lights and soft music started playing and the tea candles around the restaurant glimmered and faded at each flicker of the lights. A hum to my right made my head turn and I saw that Emily was humming and drumming her fingers lightly with the beat as she did so.
"Time stands still
Beauty in all she is
I will be brave
I will not let anything take away
What's standing in front of me
Every breath
Every hour has come to this
One step closer…"
The words drifted away into the background again as I watched Emily sang quietly to the song. This song. It had come to mean so much to me. I was surprised I hadn't recognize it when it came on. But Emily did. Emily remembers.
"I love you." the words escaped me. Emily looked at me suddenly and smiled in surprise.
"I love you too, Paige." she said as she bit her bottom lip. "I'll love you for a thousand more…" she sang softly to the song at the most perfect moment, and the light from the candles reflected a beautiful in her eyes that I had a hard time putting into words. I put my hand to the side of her face and caressed her cheek attentively, not caring that the others were looking at us now. She turned and kissed the inside of my hand, and her eyes never left my gaze as she did so. Emily leaned in and I did too, and when our lips met, I couldn't imagine anything else happening to me at this moment, at this time, at this place, but with Emily in the world. When she slowly pulled back and reopened those beautiful brown eyes, I swear, I felt like I was lost in them.
"Ahem! Check please!" I heard Hanna clear her throat loudly and holler at somebody nearby.
"Hanna, you're ruining their moment." Aria yelled at her. I smiled at Emily and leaned in for one more kiss before letting my hand slide away from her face. I could see Emily's small pout and playful expression adorning her glorious features, but I didn't comment. I felt thousands of years away from this moment if that seemed possible. It was. We've done this dance so many times, so how could it not?
"You're staring." Emily teased as I watched her run a hand through her long locks and stuck her tongue out a bit to lick her lips.
"How can I not?" I asked as I stared at her lips with more fervor than intended. "You're beautiful." I professed as she did a little head dip and tuck a few strands of her hair behind her ear. "And shy." I tilted my head as I admired my pretty girlfriend.
"Stop." Emily said embarrassed as she nudged me a little in my right side and looked away. I moved my arm across her shoulders again and pulled her into me as much as my strength allowed me to. She didn't resist and I was so caught up in Emily that I wasn't prepared when I heard the girls say that it was time to leave. I looked at the table and saw that they had already boxed all the leftovers and were ready to go. Emily and I thanked Hanna for paying for dinner, and soon we were all quiet on the way home. Well, it was mostly quiet until a song or two came on the radio that had Hanna belting the lyrics at the top of her lungs. She must have had really good lungs. The way she chanted the words to the songs proved as much. Spencer drove Emily and me to my home first, and we bade the girls good night before stepping out of the car. Emily walked closely behind me until we got to the door. I was about to ring the bell when Emily started to put a key into the front door's key hole and opened the door for us. I looked at her confusingly and she just shrugged and smiled as she let me walk into my home first.
"Your mom gave me a key. She thought it'd be easier if I had one since I dropped by almost every day to drop off food for your parents when they're at work." Emily sat down at the small chair near the door and began untying her shoelaces. " My mom has been doing a lot of cooking and wanted to share with them. I think she wanted to help in some way and saw that nobody's had time to cook at home since you've been admitted into the hospital." Emily explained and I nodded. She got up and led us to the bottom of the stairs.
"Girls? Are you home?" my dad's voice echoed from his office. We walked together to his room and found him with glasses on and reading some papers he had in his hands. He was squinting even with the reading glasses. He looked up as he felt our presence in his private room. He took off the spectacles and looked at us amusingly. "Had a good night I presume?" he smiled genuinely at Emily as he said this.
"Yes, Mr. McCullers. We had a nice light dinner." she responded politely.
"Good… Good." dad nodded as he glanced from us to the clock that was hanging right above our heads. "Emily, why don't you head upstairs? Can I have a minute with Paige please?" he asked nicely. I gave him an odd look and turned to see Emily with a curious expression.
"Yeah. No problem. I'll go get ready for bed first." Emily said as she moved to place a hand on my upper arm before leaving the room. She stopped and turned around. "Good night, Mr. McCullers."
"Good night, Emily. Sweet dreams." he said nicely and I watched Emily turned around the corner for the stairs leading up to my bedroom.
"What is it, Dad?" I asked almost instantly when I saw that Emily was gone.
"Come, sit down." he gestured to the seats before him. I took a seat in the one to the left and sat patiently waiting for him to speak. "I got a call from Anne Sullivan the other day. She was wondering if you were up for a session this Thursday. 3PM. I didn't want to give her an answer without discussing it with you first. Normally, you both would go over the time and details for this." my dad reminded me.
"Right. Dr. Sullivan… I'll give her a call." I simply responded.
"Okay. Don't push yourself, Paige. You're still in recovery." he gave me a stern look.
"I know, Dad. Stop worrying. I'll be fine in two weeks tops." I sent him the brightest smile that I could.
"Alright, alright." he said and sighed while leaning back into his armchair. "Actually, I wanted to talk to you about that St. Germain girl. The one who fired at you." his expression turned serious again as he spoke. "Her parents came and spoke with me. They want me to drop the charges. They said a lot of things...but I want to hear it from my own daughter. So tell me, Paige, why did this girl have to resort to gunfire? Why was she trying to hurt my baby?" my dad's eyes teared up a little and I rested my hand on top of his dad was clutching onto his specs tightly.
"I don't know, Dad. I think she's just really hurt. I don't know what to do. She was Emily ex-girlfriend. I don't know how it would make me feel if I was the one to put her away." I sighed looking away.
"I know, honey. She's scheduled for arraignment next Monday, that is if you want to pursue this case. I will tell you that I think you should, and being the Nick McCullers that I am, I would be more than relieved to see her behind bars. I can't think of any other way to protect my child. I don't want that girl running loose and going after you once more. I just...won't let that happen." he said while sitting up straighter.
"So...basically you're telling me I have a choice to send her away but I don't…?" I questioned. Dad chuckled and shook his head.
"I'm saying you do. I just want you to know my standing on this. It's not acceptable. What she did was in no way tolerable or justifiable. I wouldn't want to risk her going after...Emily the next time either. She has her mind set on destroying that girl. Seeing her blather on and on about such nonsense and how out of control in front of her parents made me feel even more sure with this decision." Dad said disapprovingly.
"Honestly, Dad… I think it'd be best if you handle this for me." I confessed while looking him straight in the eyes. "You are more capable than I am. I...can't make this decision while I am Emily's girlfriend. I just...can't. So please, help me." I pleaded.
"Alright then. We will proceed. I will need you to show up on Monday in court, Paige. Afterwards, I will take care of everything, okay love?" he asked carefully. I nodded and looked down where my gunshot wound had been. "I'm sorry it had to be like this, Paige." I heard my father say.
"I'm sorry too." I said sadly. "I wish that things could be different. I know that this is going to be just as hard or beyond that for Emily." I shared with my dad. I looked up and saw him staring blankly at the computer screen.
"Emily Fields. Hmph. That girl is something, isn't she?" my dad glanced at me for a reaction.
"She's more than that, Dad. I think I'm going to marry her someday." I let out a breath of disbelief. "No… I know I'm going to marry her someday." I looked up and smiled proudly at the courage I had to say that out loud.
"Good. I like her." my dad said approvingly and with a hint of pride himself.
"I like her more." I heard my mom's voice from behind. She walked over to sit to my right and smiled at the both of us bonding. Dad chuckled from his seat and twirled in it before putting both his arms down. He let out a breath and looked at us both.
"I wish Anne was here to hear that." he said with a soft expression. "She would've been really happy." my dad spoke of my biological mother for the second time since he's told me about my predisposed genetic condition. I looked to my mother and saw her smiling sadly.
"It's okay. I have you." I looked at the both of them.
"It's getting late. You should go get ready for bed. Off you go." my father tried to shoo me away to have alone time with mom.
"Fine. I'll go. Don't do anything I wouldn't do." I joked as I kissed my mom goodnight. My dad's laughed echoed loudly in the hallway. "Love you." I said to the both of them before setting off to get to bed. I stopped at the stairs. This was going to be painful. I grunted as I took the first step. It took all of my energy and willpower not to fall.
"Paige? Are you down there?" I heard Emily's voice from the top of the stairs.
"Yes. A little help please?" I begged. Emily nearly sprinted down the stairs and was at my side right away. "Thanks, Em." I said as she helped me up the steps. I was breathing a little hard by the time we got to the top and Emily surprisingly moved and carried me to my bedroom.
"You're my hero." I said to her as she smiled and dipped her head down to give me one of the most briefest kisses.
"I'm more than that." she replied.
"That...you are." I could only say back as she leaned in and kissed me again. I closed my eyes and reveled in the feeling of her soft lips. They were soft and smooth and smelled like cherry almost. Her hands ran up and down my upper arms before I felt her shift to straddle me. God, I really enjoyed it when she was sitting on top of me. Emily continued to kiss me sensuously and slowly as I felt her hips move on top of mine. I could feel myself getting aroused and blushed as she trailed a hand down to my breast. I could feel myself pulsating down there and let out a breath I'd been holding in. "Emily…" I groaned as she cupped my breast completely.
"Yes, yes, I know. Doctor's orders." Emily rolled her eyes and backed away, misinterpreting what I meant when I called out her name. It wasn't to stop her. But I suppose we should stop. I smiled up at her as she sighed and moved carefully to my right side and laid beside me.
"Can you brush my teeth for me?" I asked as I stared up at the popcorn ceiling. Emily's musical laugh rang like a bell and was pretty much flawless to my small ears. "And help me take off my clothes?" I continued.
"That...I can do. You can brush your own teeth." Emily said as she kissed my cheek and got up to get some new clothes from the dresser. I sighed and decided to get up slowly by myself.
This is definitely going to be a long week, I thought to myself.