That Summer

Do You Know That I Love You Now...

A/N: CW for a quick mention of alcoholism and complicated family stuff. Kind of a filler chapter, but felt it was necessary context before getting to the rest... 

Stevie laid on the couch, playing with Emma's hair as she rested between her legs. They were watching some random movie on the television; Stevie was too in her own head to even know what was playing.

She couldn't stop thinking about their walk earlier. She felt so happy, so in love. She didn't want this to end when Karen came back. She also started wondering if she should hire another assistant to finish out the summer – preferably a gay man so that none of this would happen again. She wanted Emma to just be her girlfriend, not also her assistant.

She felt slimy paying her while loving her. She could easily find her a job with someone else... but then everyone would know something was up with them.

The credits started to roll on the screen, snapping Stevie out of her inner-crisis. Emma was asleep on her chest, and Stevie had basically made little braids all over her entire head without realizing. She laughed softly looking down at her, completely enamored by this young girl who managed to steal her heart in just a few short weeks – really in just a couple of days.

She couldn't believe she once had been so cruel toward her, that she was a total diva and expected her to do so much without really teaching her. She cringed remembering their first week together. But she realized part of it must've been Stevie fighting the instant attraction she felt, wanting to ensure that this was nothing more than an employee/boss relationship and that Stevie only was interested in men.

She turned off the television and slowly kissed Emma's forehead in an attempt to wake her. Though Stevie could usually fall asleep on the couch, she knew it wasn't good for her back, and the sunlight from the giant windows would surely wake her way too early in the morning.

Emma wiggled around, signaling she was awakening. Stevie kept running her fingers through her hair, trying to untangle the accidental braids she made.

"Hi, baby..." Stevie whispered, "let's go upstairs. Do you need anything from the kitchen? You want a snack?"

"Maybe some tea..." Emma yawned, nuzzling her head back against Stevie's chest and pulling the blanket up over them, still clearly tired and half asleep.

"Okay...we'll get up in a couple minutes then." Stevie responded, still trying to comb out her brown locks.

After some time, Stevie nudged Emma off of her, taking her hand and leading her into the kitchen. Emma sat on one of the barstools while Stevie filled the kettle and opened up the tea bag box. "What kind?" Stevie asked.

"I'll do the chamomile." Emma answered, leaning her head against her propped up hand. Emma stared at Stevie while she so gently made their two mugs of tea, admiring how even the simplest tasks she did were so beautiful. 

She couldn't believe that this was her life; she couldn't believe that she finally found someone who truly took care of her and loved her and actually wanted to be with her all the time. She'd never had that, especially in her family.

"Stevie?" Emma started. Stevie looked up as she drizzled honey into the tea.

"What? No honey?" Stevie asked. Emma smiled. "No, I like honey," Stevie pushed the mug toward her, "thank you. No, I just wanted to..." Stevie looked at her quizzically as she sipped her tea, placing her elbows on the counter to listen.

"What, baby? What's going on?" Stevie asked.

"Nothing! I mean, nothing with you... it's just, remember when you asked if we should tell my family what was going on with me and I said no?" Stevie nodded, remembering quite clearly how suspicious it was that Emma didn't think her parents would care and quickly changed the subject on her.

"Well, having you take such good care of me this last week, feeling how much you really love me and enjoy my company... I've never had that before. I'm not close with my parents...at all. I have a sister, but she's a lot younger, like she's in second grade."

Stevie walked around and sat next to Emma on the other barstool, resting her hand on Emma's thigh and the other clutching her mug while looking intently in her eyes.

"My parents had me when they were teenagers. They always kind of resented me and just weren't super involved in my life since they were still kids themselves. I spent a lot of time with my grandparents when I was growing up, and being at home with my parents just made me always feel like a nuisance." Emma tried to hold back tears as she continued.

"My dad's an alcoholic and got sober like 10 years ago. But I kept quiet, I kept to myself. I went away to college in California, as far away as I could get, and a year in, they had my sister. They kind of started over without me, trying to be more conventional parents. I'm not really involved in my sister's life because I'm so much older and live far away. But I guess I'm telling you all of this because you really are the first person who's made me truly feel loved. And I really love you..." She bit her lip, amazed that she was able to let all of that out considering how closed off she usually was. "So much that it kind of scares me."

Stevie set her mug down and pulled Emma into her chest, hugging her tightly and kissing the top of her head. She couldn't believe this story; it made a lot of sense as to why Emma was so guarded and why she apologized so much in the beginning.

It also made Stevie question whether Emma loved her like a lover or like a mother. Was Stevie filling both void of her absent parents as well as her lack of romance? She decided not to think about it right now; for now, all she knew was that Emma loved her, and she loved Emma.

"Em, baby... I'm so sorry. I – I can't begin to understand, but I'm glad you told me. We don't have to bring up your family if you don't want to..."

"No, it's not that I don't want to... I just can't see myself introducing you to them or telling them that I'm working for you. And I don't think they'd care that I had surgery because that will only be a damper on their summer plans. They also weren't too thrilled when I got let go from the New York job. They feel like I'm fucking up my life by not having a real career, as if it was my doing."

Stevie grabbed her face with her hand, "Listen to me... you are young, you are beautiful, you are brilliant. You will have the career of your dreams, it just might take time. The economy sucks, but you're a catch. We will find something, I promise." Stevie reassured her.

Emma leaned in to kiss her, resting her hands on Stevie's thighs. She came up from the kiss, looking right into Stevie's eyes, "I mean it when I say I love you." Emma whispered.

Stevie lightly kissed her back, "I know you do." She whispered back, staring right into her blue eyes. "It scares me, too, how quickly I fell - and how much I love you. But I guess we'll overcome that together." She held Emma in her embrace a little longer, running her fingers through her hair. 

Emma lifted her head up after a couple of minutes and softly kissed her pillowy lips. Stevie reciprocated, gently sucking on Emma's lip as she pulled away. 

She gave Emma a furtive smile, "I think it's time for bed." Emma smiled back and grabbed Stevie's extended hand, letting her lead her upstairs. 

They brushed their teeth next to each other; Emma watched as Stevie did her skincare routine, wrapping her arms around her waist from the back and leaning her head on Stevie's soft shoulder.

Stevie finished her regimen and took Emma's hand. She helped her into bed, as she was still being careful of her stitches. Stevie hopped up after her and rolled over to the other side. They both got under the fluffy duvet and wrapped themselves around each other in the middle of the bed, as they did every night.

Emma could smell the light rose scent of Stevie's lotion; Stevie could feel the warmth emanating from Emma's body. For both of them, this was the best part of the day. This was what they looked forward to most. Knowing that they were content and safe in each other's embrace; they were loved.

"Goodnight, angel." Stevie whispered, planting a kiss on Emma's forehead. She felt Emma give her a squeeze and footsie in response.

Stevie began stroking Emma's hair – as always, lulling both of them off to sweet sleep, excited for what tomorrow would bring.