Archive of Our Own ^beta

Chapter Text

Alyssa smiles as she stirs, careful not to wake Emma. 

Strong arms are still holding her around the waist, and she doesn’t mind that she has to stay still, closing her eyes again for a few moments and relaxing into the warmth her girlfriend always seems to have radiating off of her.

She’s about to drift off once more, cuddling back into Emma’s space, when suddenly, she remembers what day it is. Her eyes flip open. 

Decision Day. 

Today, the network will decide whether their show is greenlit after months of working out the concept, of planning all in the hypothetical. 

Of course, they’re going to open up their new place regardless, but it’s been six months since they filmed the last episode of Known Unknown, and it’s impossible not to miss it. 

The whole thing was basically a giant screentest, which both women both passed with flying colors, and in the end, it was Hawkins who had suggested that they start talking about their own show, even if it was just for one season, and if they had any ideas. 

Thus, The Happening was born, a play on Emma and Alyssa’s strengths as restaurateurs combined with their absolutely competitive natures. The show will hopefully follow them as they open up their newest restaurant, a little place near the Indiana Dunes they’d had their eye on for quite a while by the time the owner finally decided to sell. 

Now, all they have to do is flip the place into the next great casual dining spot. 

Every week, the plan is for them to take the final menu items and put their own spin on it with the hope that one will have an inspired idea that can be made into a special. 

Hawkins pitched it. 

And since then, it’s been a waiting game. 

Until today. 

“Baby, get up,” Alyssa whispers, turning in Emma’s grasp to look at her. “It’s the big day!” 

Emma groans dramatically. “Five more minutes.” She tightens her hold around her girlfriend as she cracks an eye open so that they’re nose to nose. 

“We should go.” Brown eyes move over her face adoringly. “What if Hawkins arrives at the restaurant early?”

“But I want to be in bed with my girlfriend,” Emma fake complains, though she does start to push the covers off of herself, laughing before she even hits the punchline of her joke. “Noah runs the first morning service for a reason.” She shifts to roll on top of her girlfriend, smiling when Alyssa giggles beneath her. “I like being able to kiss my girl good morning as many times as I want.”

A pretty flush spreads across Alyssa’s features at the term of endearment, but she fights any temptation to let this get any further.  Today’s the big day, afterall. 

Gently, she flips them, kissing Emma softly one last time.

“You can be in bed with me later once we get our season deal,” Alyssa murmurs, gaze teasingly bright as she sweeps herself away from the woman in one quick move, finally getting out of bed. 

“Is that a promise?” Emma asks. 

Alyssa rolls her eyes. 

“Is it?” her girlfriend presses. 

“You’ll only know if you get out of bed.” 

Immediately, Emma throws the covers aside. 

At that, Alyssa laughs, and Emma can’t help but think that even if they don’t get the contract, she has everything that she needs. 

***

“Hey!” Alyssa calls, high-fiving Kaylee and Shelby as she walks in, pulling her blazer tighter around her. She pins her name-tag to the lapel. 

Greg waves at the bar, and Kevin looks up from where he’s on the phone with a customer who’s undoubtedly trying to book a private room for some special occasion. He’s taken such matters over, along with keeping some of the books with Alyssa, and it’s been a huge help. 

Some of the morning crowd is still lingering, taking their time chatting with their friends over a cup of coffee or sitting back with their significant other. 

Alyssa smiles as she watches them, laughing when Emma suddenly comes up behind her, snaking her arms around her waist and hugging her. 

“Car’s parked around the corner since I couldn’t get a spot,” her girlfriend murmurs, hooking her chin over her shoulder and kissing her cheek. “You’d think a busy restaurant was open around here or something.”

Alyssa grins. “Maybe.” 

“Can you two be gross somewhere else?” Kaylee teases, affectionate glare missing her best friend completely and centering fully on Emma. 

“Why do you always say can you two, but when you really mean can Emma?” the chef jokingly complains back even as she pulls back from her hold around Alyssa and spins her around to kiss her goodbye. She places a gentle peck on her girlfriend’s lips. “She’s right, though. I should go in there before Noah starts bitching about how I’m late again. You’d think he owns the place or something.” 

Kaylee’s eyes fill with glee. “Wait. What was the first part you said just then?”

“Oh God,” Emma mumbles in fake annoyance. She turns to her friend, eyes narrowed playfully. “I have no idea what you’re talking about.”

“No! What was that?” Kaylee practically dances. “You said…” She moves her hand in a go on motion. 

Emma refuses to play along. “I have dishes to prep.”

“You said I was right!” Kaylee calls. “You can’t take it back now!” 

Emma doesn’t even grace her with turning around. 

“I hate you, Klein!”

“No you don’t!”  

***

Around two, Alyssa starts to pace. 

Sheldon-- they acquired an agent at the insistence of Barry and Dee Dee-- said he would call after lunchtime if Hawkins didn’t arrive first, and now, her phone is sitting on the desk in her office almost tauntingly. 

This could change their lives. 

Of course, being one of the first out lesbian couples in a mainstream reality TV series changed their lives already, but their own show is something totally different. 

They’d have money to put away, more press for their restaurants, stability. 

And the more Alyssa thinks about it, that’s exactly what she wants. She wants to have something that’s hers and Emma’s together, something that they can use to build their future. Restaurants come with bills, so many of them, and while it’ll be a lot of work to create good content, the reward of creating something people will love that can reach so many more people is something she’s honestly wanted for as long as this opportunity has existed. 

She’s about to sit down and take a breath when Shelby suddenly opens the door. 

“Someone’s here,” she says with a smile. 

“Does it seem like good news?” Alyssa asks, running a hand through her hair. 

“From the way he has a bunch of paperwork under his arm?” Shelby questions rhetorically. “I’d say yes.”

Alyssa bolts from her chair, hugging her friend quickly as she runs by. 

Shelby laughs. “Congrats, ‘Lys!”

***

“Just sign there.” Hawkins points to the line. “Obviously, we’ve gone over these forms multiple times, but know that I tried to get the best deal for you that I could.” 

“Thank you,” Emma tells him, eyes soft. “We couldn’t have done this without you.”

The man laughs. “Well, if I’m honest, I think my dear fiancée may have been the deciding factor.” He shrugs. “She said something about how heads would roll if you didn’t get the contract.” 

Alyssa and Emma laugh. 

“Then thank her for us,” the former tacks on. 

“Will do.” Hawkins produces some last items from his bag. They’re wrapped. “Now, since you’re officially part of the family, here are some things.” 

Emma and Alyssa look at him. 

“Open them!” he urges with a grin. 

Sounds of crinkling paper fill the room. He smiles when Emma opens hers and looks back up at him. 

“Are you serious?”

He nods, watching, clearly pleased, as Emma pulls out a dark chef’s coat. The front pocket has her name and Unruly Hearts’ Club embroidered beneath the Hawkins Production and Food Network logos. 

Alyssa pulls out a blazer, the same logos and her own name threaded across the chest pocket. 

“This is really nice, sir,” Alyssa tells him. “It must have cost--”

“Don’t worry about the cost.” Hawkins waves her off. “I try to do something nice for all the newbies. Especially kids as nice as you. Oh, one more thing.” He pulls a beanie, the network logo across the top, from his own bag, handing it off to Emma. “Your fans seem to have a thing for you in these.”

Emma laughs, taking it and already tugging it down over her hair. “Thank you.” 

Hawkins smiles. “Of course. Now, you’re active on social media, yes?”

Both women nod. 

“Good. Then, I’ll let you break the news to your followers yourself, as long as you do it tonight.” He claps his hands together as he gathers his things. “I’m going to get going. Congratulations, you two.”

“Thank you, Mr. Hawkins,” Alyssa says. 

“Really, sir,” Emma adds. 

“No, thank you.” The man smiles, waving as he makes his way towards the door. “You have a good night.”

“You too!” Emma and Alyssa call at the same time. 

***

For a moment, they sit in silence once they hear Hawkins’ car depart. 

Their hands have been clasped under the table for the better part of two minutes when Emma finally turns to her girlfriend. 

“Did that really just happen?” She grins, wide and bright. “Do we have our own show?”

Alyssa laughs. “We do, Em.” She leans over until her head is rested on Emma’s shoulder. 

Emma smiles down at her. “This is crazy. We actually did it.”

“And we have the gear to prove it,” Alyssa jokes, tugging the right side of her girlfriend’s beanie down over her ear. 

***

“Rolling!” Kevin calls from where he’s set up Emma’s phone on a tripod. 

All of their friends have gathered around to watch them film the announcement. Alyssa wipes her palms on her pants as she begins, slightly nervous despite the fact that they can hit re-record as many times as they want before they post. 

“Hello interweb,” Emma starts with a laugh. “My name is Emma Nolan, and I’m the chef and co-owner at the Phoenix in Edgewater, Indiana. That fire that made national news because the owner of the place was on a Food Network show? Yeah, that was me.”

“And I’m the girlfriend who helped rebuild,” Alyssa jokes. “Hi, I’m Alyssa Greene. I general manage and co-own the Phoenix with Emma.” 

Emma grins. “It’s been an awesome six months since we opened the place, but before we were able to let people through our doors, we were honestly kind of feeling sorry for ourselves. It was a hard time.” 

Alyssa nods in agreement. “But, we got to talking with some friends of ours, and of course, with the restaurant and all, something good was going to come out of all of the awfulness. Still, it didn’t feel like enough.”

Hayden is smiling softly as she listens, cleaning wine glasses quietly. Kaylee switches to the next cue card, pointing to Emma. 

“We got messages from all over the country,” the blonde continues. “People telling us they felt seen and understood because of us, because of just hearing about our little lives, how we try to make our town better. So, we created a concept after talking with Tom Hawkins, told him about a place that we always wanted to build, a place that welcomed all people, especially those who just love someone in a way the rest of the world can’t understand yet.” 

“And he thought it would make a hell of a story.” Alyssa smiles, soft and pretty at the camera. “We know you all have stories to tell. We’re grateful that you’ve shared them with us. And we’re posting today because we want to tell you that you’re about to hear more of ours.”

She catches sight of Greg who's tangled around Kevin, his eyes a little misty. She nods at him barely. He throws back a thumbs up as he presses his face against his boyfriend’s shoulder. 

“In the next eight weeks, you’re going to follow us as we open up the Unruly Hearts’ Club, a little beach hangout spot near the Indiana Dunes,” Emma informs the fans. “You’ll get a peek into how our restaurant group creates a dining experience, some competitions between Alyssa and I, which I’ll be sure to win.” She grins when Alyssa gapes in fake offense. “And overall, we want to hear from you! Do you think spots like this around the country would be helpful? What’s your story? Let us know as episodes start to air!”

“We want to thank everybody for their support again. We wouldn’t be here without our team, the Saperstein Agency, Hawkins Production, and of course, the network,” Alyssa adds. Her eyes light up at the camera. “We can’t wait to show you what we’re going to build.”

***

Day #187 of Missing The Chef Lesbians @JulietInConverse: OH MY GOD.

Gay Food Network (Once More) @Adohug: *michael scott voice* OH MY GOD. IT’S HAPPENING. EVERYBODY STAY CALM. 

#UnrulyHearts’Club @itsOzzie: STAY FUCKING CALM. 

presentation, taste, and emlyssa @satan: mY USER HAS MEANING AGAIN THANK GOD

Distributor of News (Apparently) @NinjaKTX: god i’m so excited!

Thinking About It [The Phoenix] @ambien-im-on-it: I KNEW IT WAS GOING TO HAPPEN! I KNEW IT. “TALKS” ALMOST ALWAYS MEANS “YES.”

Chapter Text

“Good morning,” Alyssa narrates softly, holding the camera that Trent has been teaching her to operate for the last two weeks. “Happy Day One!” 

The apartment is dark as she moves around, placing it on the counter as she starts to make breakfast, checking the angle before turning on the light. 

“Welcome to the first episode of The Happening.” She starts to peel potatoes as she talks. “Our goal is for you to start every morning with us just like this, so if you haven’t eaten anything, get into the kitchen and let’s cook something together!” She smiles, pulling out a cutting board. “It’s six-thirty for us, and Emma worked late last night, so she’s going to sleep while I do breakfast this morning.” She sweeps around the space, gathering her materials. “I’m going to do a simple hash for today. This is good for breakfast, but if you need a quick and easy dinner, it’s great for that, too.” 

On each step, Alyssa shows the camera what she’s doing, finally turning the pan onto high heat, drizzling some oil onto the cast iron and placing the potatoes in. She smiles when it immediately starts to crackle. 

“That’s what we’re looking for,” she laughs, smiling when she spies Emma coming out of their bedroom, beanie tugged over her ears to undoubtedly hide bedhead, though she did put on a flannel and a pair of jeans. 

“Good morning, pretty lady,” Emma flirts, walking into the frame and hugging Alyssa from behind. 

“People are gonna GIF this,” Alyssa whispers to her, even as she cuddles back into her girlfriend’s embrace. 

“We’re cute; of course they are,” Emma replies quietly, kissing the side of her head before she raises the volume of her voice enough for the camera’s microphone to pick it up. “This smells real good.” 

She grabs the fork that’s lying next to the stove, attempting to stab into one of the potatoes but Alyssa slaps her hand away. “It’s not done yet.”

“But I wanna try,” Emma whines. 

“Make me a cup of coffee or a smoothie or something while you wait,” Alyssa teases. 

Emma looks dead into the camera. “Do you see what I have to deal with?”

***

Day 1 of Welcoming The Chef Lesbians Back @JulietInConverse: GOD THEY’RE SO CUTE. and LORD imagine waking up to alyssa greene cooking you breakfast. i think i’d pass away. 

presentation, taste, and emlyssa @satan: i hope emma nolan knows i love her

Gay Food Network (Once More) @Adohug: big mood lmao 

Distributor of News (Apparently) @NinjaKTX: plus, i bet their kitchen is stocked af

Thinking About It [The Phoenix] @ambien-im-on-it: literally because tell me why i got up to go into my kitchen like i 1) had any of the stuff for the hash and 2) knew how to cook 

#UnrulyHearts’Club @itsOzzie: LMAO. 

***

“We’ve had our eye on this place for a while,” Emma says as she drives, steering hand-over-hand to turn them onto the highway. “It’s a really cute spot in walking distance to the dunes.” 

They’re using the dash cam that Trent had set up, too, so that neither of them had to film while on the road. It’s only an eighteen minute drive, but he’d insisted, saying it’s better to be safe than sorry. 

“It’s virtually empty,” Alyssa continues. “It’s a clean slate! But they have good electricity and gas lines, and a half kitchen is already in place. It just needs a good clean up, right, Em?”

Emma nods, merging into the rightmost lane in the direction of the proper exit. 

“We didn’t buy it for too much, so we have a lot of room to play and figure out what works. Plus, even though Alyssa would never say this on her own, she did graphic design, yearbook and AP Art History in high school with Shelby. We got decor in the bag.”

“Emma!” Alyssa gapes. “You’re making me sound like I was a nerd.”

“Was?” Emma teases. “You still are!” Her girlfriend pouts. The blonde grins back. "A cute nerd, though."

Alyssa smiles. "Better."

***

Trent is already there when they arrive, and Angie is directing people in setting up tents. There's a general busy-ness to the set already, despite the early hour. 

“Angie!” Emma calls, rushing forward to hug her. 

“Hi Emma! How are you doing, honey?”

“I’m doing great,” she says honestly. She gestures around. “Not much to complain about.” 

Angie chuckles in amusement. “You’d be right about that. A second restaurant! And with such a good message. You’re doing well for yourself, Emma.”

As if to prove her point, a few crew members smile and wave at the chef, a couple of them even seeming a little starstruck. 

“Thanks, Angie.” Emma blushes. “Now, tell me about you! What’s new?”

“Well, I’ve been promoted,” Angie tells her excitedly. “Senior producer!” She puffs out her chest dramatically. “I’m the boss now!”

“I love that,” Emma laughs. “Congratulations.”

“Only took twenty years,” Angie quips under her breath. 

Emma grins up at her. 

***

“So you’re going to stand there and tell me that you don’t already have plans for decor?” Emma teases as soon as they walk in, Trent following behind while one of the other crew members runs sound. 

Alyssa glares at her affectionately. “Fine. I do, okay?”

“Art nerd,” Emma sings quietly. 

“Do you want my ideas or not?” Alyssa grumbles, lips twitching around a barely concealed smile. 

“Yes! Yes, I do,” Emma says quickly.

Alyssa grins at her, then, brilliant and adoring. “Are you sure? Or are you going to call me a nerd again?”

“You know nerd has affectionate in parentheses after it,” Emma laughs. She steps forward quietly, creeping up behind Alyssa and wrapping her arms around her, swaying them back and forth. “Tell me the ideas. I promise I won’t make fun anymore!”

“That’s a big promise,” Alyssa jokes, but she doesn’t dwell. “I’m thinking picnic-style tables and booths in the corners.” She sweeps her hand over the space in the room. “Hardwood floors, a small bar station that serves alcoholic and non-alcoholic beverages, and we could do an accent on the far wall. If we wanna be really gay, we could make it rainbow.” She laughs. 

“I always wanna be really gay with you,” Emma comments softly, voice light. 

Alyssa flushes, swatting her shoulder. “Shut up. Anyway, we could line the wall with the view of the water with windows and pick a color that would bring out the light in the room, I think. And we have space in our budget for a deck outside.”

Emma hums a soft tune at that, so happy, so in love as she watches Alyssa point around the room, creating a vision with just her own narration of what the room could look like. Her hand sweeps across the space, and it feels a lot like planning the next step in their life, almost how Emma imagines it'll be one day when they buy a house together, when they find themselves at the milestones that are almost always on her mind lately. 

Alyssa pulls her from her thoughts with a gentle nudge. "What do you think?"

“Everything you just said sounds perfect.” 

“Really?” Alyssa asks, eyes wide and searching for any signs of doubt. 

“Ye,” Emma replies, lips twitching around a grin. 

It breaks the softness in the room. Alyssa giggles. 

“I hate you.”

“You love me.” 

***

“Alright, now that we’ve shown you what will be the dining space, we’re going to get to the fun part,” Emma tells the camera.

“The fun part for Emma,” Alyssa corrects jokingly. She rolls up the sleeves of her long sleeve t-shirt. 

“Yeah, because I’m going to win,” her girlfriend quips, winking at the camera. 

“Are not!”

“I am!”

“Girls!” A familiar voice carries through the room and interrupts the playful argument. “At least try to be professional, would you?”

“Gran!” Emma laughs. “Hi!” She turns to the camera. “This is my gran, Betsy.”

“The coolest Nolan,” Alyssa adds. 

“Babe!” Emma complains. 

“Well, she’s not wrong,” Betsy agrees. “I am pretty cool. I taught dear Emma everything she knows.” 

Emma’s eyes soften. “That is true.” 

“It’s a damn shame that you have all the Twitter stans then, no?” Betsy asks. “I’m rather disappointed I don’t have any, honestly.” 

“When did you learn the word stan, Gran?” Emma giggles, rolling her eyes. 

“I had to do some research on your following!” her grandmother exclaims. “I found at least twenty Emma Nolan stan accounts, whatever that means.”

“Oh my God,” Alyssa mumbles. 

She and Emma share a look and a thought at the same time. 

Asking Gran onto this project was the right move. 

***

“Aside from making me look bad, Gran is here to help us open the place up,” Emma laughs, leaning on the chopping block as Trent focuses on her and Alyssa. 

Betsy laughs quietly in the background. 

“We’ve trusted her to create a few menu items that will become part of the specials section based on the menu Alyssa and I created first. This is where the competition comes in.” 

Alyssa nods, tying her hair up. “She’s going to give us a theme, much like when we were on Known Unknown, however specific or generic she wants, and then we have to make something! The goal is to create the best menu we can. It just so happens that Emma and I thrive when we’re trying to win against each other.”

“Hell yeah!” Emma agrees. “Now, Gran, what’s our challenge for this week?”

“Well, I was looking at your menu, and there’s one thing I think you’re missing,” Betsy starts. 

Alyssa smiles. “And what is that?”

“A clearly beachy special, of course!” the woman says. “Something you can take on the go or eat in the restaurant! Something with fish and spice and salty-sweet flavors. Make me something I’d want to eat lying on the beach while I get a tan.”

“Nolans only burn,” Emma quips. 

“Shut up, Emma. I’ve kept you in this world. I can take you out of it,” Gran threatens playfully. 

“Yes, ma’am.” Emma laughs under her breath. 

***

“What did you make me, Alyssa?” Gran asks pleasantly, moving the plate in a circle to get a full view. 

“Fish tacos,” Alyssa says. “They’re budget friendly-- I did the math; it’s about twenty bucks for twenty four tacos-- and they really open up the palette if somebody wants them as an appetizer.” 

Betsy nods, picking one up and taking a bite. 

Alyssa waits patiently, pointing to the chips on the side. “These are lime infused. They go with the creamy sauce and the salsa.”

“Show off,” Emma whispers, nudging her with a smile. 

“You wouldn’t have me any other way,” Alyssa answers without missing a beat. 

***

“And you,” Gran begins, glaring at Emma in a playfully accusing way. “What did you make me?” 

“I’ve already lost, haven’t I?” Emma deadpans, trying not to smile. 

“You said it, not me,” Betsy teases, but she breaks into a smile. “No, honey. You know I don’t mean it. Show me what you made.” 

Emma smiles. “It’s a light fish and chips,” she introduces, sliding the basket towards the woman. “There’s three sauces: classic tartar, a play on a spicy mayo, and a homemade ketchup.” 

“Interesting,” her grandmother murmurs, picking up a fry. The crunch on them is so obvious. She grins. “Very good. And now, the fish? What kind is it?”

“Classic cod,” Emma says. “Nothing wrong with doing what’s traditional. Plus, it’s a lot cheaper at markets than some other white fishes.”

Betsy nods. She takes another bite. “This is very good, Emma.”

Emma blushes. “Thanks, Gran.” 

***

“So, after some thoughts, I couldn’t decide on a winner,” Gran laughs. 

“Some judge you are!” Greg teases. He had come by to start dropping kitchen and bar supplies and ending up scoring the leftovers from Emma and Alyssa’s plates. “I’d agree though. These are both bomb.” 

“Hush,” Betsy says, ruffling his hair with a smile. “Anyway, as I was saying, I thought I would propose a combo as the first item on your specials menu.” 

“Oh?” Emma asks, leaning back against the counter and crossing her arms to stretch her back. 

Alyssa nods for her to go on too. 

“Well, you could take Emma’s fried cod and make it an option in the tacos,” Gran begins, grabbing one of the women’s notepads from where it’s sitting on the chopping block. She starts to scrawl out her idea. “And you could make chips and fries a choice option, too. You charge more for the fries and less for the chips.” She turns the notebook around. “I added some thoughts for a coleslaw, too. It won’t cost any more since you’ll definitely have left over cabbage from your taco toppings. What do you think?” 

“I love that.” Alyssa takes the extra pen from her pocket and starts to price out the options. 

“I love it too. But I’d be careful,” Emma tells her grandmother teasingly. “Somebody might think you owned a restaurant once upon a time.” 

Gran laughs. “Me? Never.” 

***

Betsy Nolan Stan @NinjaKTX: I HAVE CHANGED MY NAME. BETSY DESERVES STANS. 

Day 1 of Welcoming The Chef Lesbians Back @JulietInConverse: I LOVE IT. 

Gay Food Network (Once More) @Adohug: BRILLIANT. 

#BetsyNolanFTW @itsOzzie: That woman deserves everything. 

presentation, taste, and emlyssa @satan: SDKGJSDG PERFECTION. 

Thinking About It [The Phoenix] @ambien-im-on-it: I hope Betsy Nolan is having a wonderful day, whatever she’s doing

Chapter Text

“Good morning!” Emma grins into the camera, voice quiet as she speaks. “Friends, it’s a very special day.” She turns on some lights in the kitchen, fumbling slightly with the camera for a moment before she turns it upright again. “It’s nineteen months to the day since I asked Alyssa to be my girlfriend.” 

She places the camera on the counter as she starts to move around the kitchen, taking some pots from where they’re hanging above the kitchen island and some spices from the rack next to the stove. 

“So I’m going to do breakfast in bed for her,” she continues. “Both of us are a little stressed, you know, with starting to figure out how we want the restaurant to look and what we want on the menu and figuring out what we’re doing for renovations, so I want to do something special. If any of you viewers out there have an anniversary coming up and you want to impress your partner, I would give this a shot.”

Emma grins at the camera, then, goofy, a little crooked, and so attractive as she starts to list off and show the items anybody following along will need. “First, get yourself some potatoes, onions, bell peppers, and maybe some chipotle, cherry, or jalapeño peppers if you’re into the spice. Alyssa likes it, so I’m going to brave the fact that it sometimes makes my nose runny and add a bit of all three. For all of these, you just want to slice and dice.”  

She shows off her knife technique, continuing to point out ingredients and substitutes, until everything is sizzling in an oiled pan on high. Emma breathes in the scent with a smile. “You should start to get a bit of a caramelized, almost sugary kind of smell from the onions as they cook down. And that point, you could add a meat of your choice, but I’m not going to since this is just a side for the main dish.” She hums to herself, disrupting the potatoes every few minutes as they brown. “This is something Alyssa and I would make all the time in high school, obviously with less expensive ingredients.” She laughs. “One time, all we had were potatoes and a single bell pepper. It was alright, but you didn’t hear it from me that we both put lots of ketchup on that.” 

Emma drifts a little from reality at the memory, recalling her and Alyssa holding plastic bowls in their laps while some bad Hallmark film played. Ketchup they’d upscaled with some seasoning sat in a sauce dish between them, and it was depleted each time a bite was particularly bland. It’s not as if they didn’t have other food-- quick snacks were always abound in the Greene household, considering Alyssa was involved in enough activities to fully deserve the title of renaissance woman-- but they’d wanted to cook. 

Money was always tight for them both, so they learned how to make do. 

Emma can’t help but smile softly and swallow hard at the thought that they don’t have to do that anymore; she can buy Alyssa anything she wants, make her a fancy anniversary breakfast and not worry. 

She looks down at the pan, suddenly remembering she’s cooking. Sometimes, it feels just as easy as breathing. 

She grabs a fork from the drawer to her right and tastes it. 

She grins. 

Everything is perfect.

“So now, move that onto a cool burner,” Emma narrates, pushing the pan toward the back of the stove. “And we can move onto our main dish: eggs benedict.” 

*** 

“You have to be careful not to break the sauce,” the chef tells the camera. “I recommend having a partner to make this, or if you have a steady blender, it’s possible to make a good hollandaise in that.” Her eyes light up at the camera. “Fun fact: I used to have such a hard time with this before Alyssa showed me how.” She combines egg yolks, lemon juice, dijon, salt and cayenne pepper into the blender. “Alright, folks. Cover your ears.” 

The blender roars to life and Emma winces slightly as it turns up. She begins to pour the butter in slowly, talking but knowing that she’s probably barely heard. She makes a note to ask Angie to add subtitles. 

***

“Good morning,” Emma sings, holding the camera in one hand and a piping hot breakfast plate in the other. 

Alyssa stirs softly, pulling the blankets up over her head. “Is that camera on, love?” she mumbles. 

Emma laughs. “Yes!”

Playfully, Alyssa pulls the covers back at the word slightly, peeking over the top, cracking an eye open. “Hello, world.” 

“You’re adorable,” Emma says. “I made you breakfast! Happy Nineteen Months!” 

Alyssa’s eyes widen. She smiles. “You didn’t have to do that.”

“I wanted to!” Her girlfriend grins at her with that golden-retriever look again, clearly pleased with herself. “I made your favorites.”

She points to the eggs benedict and hash. Alyssa lights up further, making grabby hands at her. 

“Come here, you.”

Emma walks over carefully, placing the plate on the nightstand and the camera too. 

“Kiss?” she asks softly. 

Alyssa nods. “Always. Happy Nineteen Months, my love.”

***

Day 8 of Welcoming The Chef Lesbians Back @JulietInConverse: PLEASE I’M YEARNING.

presentation, taste, and emlyssa @satan: FUCK ME TOO 

Gay Food Network (Once More) @Adohug: i just want the intimacy of somebody making me breakfast. why is that so much to ask?

Thinking About It [The Phoenix] @ambien-im-on-it: ugh. i wanna *make* someone breakfast.

Betsy Nolan Stan @NinjaKTX: that opening just called me lonely in forty five different languages.

#BetsyNolanFTW @itsOzzie: Mood.

***

“Do we like this color or this one?” Alyssa asks, holding up a few swatches of blue. They’re trying to decide what to paint the deck once it's done being built. 

“Lighter would require more cleaning,” Shelby points out, gesturing to the angel blue. “The teal may be better, and I think it fits the vibe.” 

Emma looks between them, a little confused but trying to understand. 

“Maybe we can save the angel for inside, then?” Alyssa says. “The accent wall is going to be on that side.” She jerks her thumb behind her. “And the rest of the walls can be this color. It’ll bring out the light in the room.” 

“I like that,” Shelby agrees. 

“What do you think, babe?” Alyssa asks. 

Emma’s eyes widen, unsure what to say. Sure, she knows a few things about color from food presentation, but it’s not like she’s an expert. “Whatever you want, love.”

Alyssa reaches up to kiss her on the cheek at that, joking, “Right answer, Em.”

Emma grins, happy with herself. 

Shelby rolls her eyes affectionately. 

*** 

“Make me something romantic!” Betsy begins dramatically. “Something for your anniversary!”

“I already made Alyssa breakfast,” Emma tells her, boasting with purposeful pompousness as she rolls up the sleeves of her chef’s coat. 

“As you should every morning,” Gran teases. “Alyssa, does Emma make you breakfast every morning?”

Alyssa grins immediately at the question, tying her hair up to get set to cook. Emma groans before she even begins to speak. 

“I make it some days because Sleeping Beauty can’t get out of bed.”

“Emma.” Gran nudges her playfully. “What kind of girlfriend are you?”

Emma pouts. “I hate it here.” 

“No you don’t,” Betsy and Alyssa say at the same time. 

“I hate it here,” Emma repeats, more emphatically, staring directly into the camera as Trent snorts quietly. 

***

“What are you making, dear?” Betsy asks, winding around Alyssa in the kitchen to take a look at what she’s doing. 

Alyssa turns the heat up slightly on the pot of water she’s melting chocolate over. The sweet aroma wafts up from the glass bowl. 

“Lava cake,” she says, working the silicone spatula through the mixture of butter and semi-sweet chocolate. “As far as time and budget conscious goes, this recipe is fun, easy, and super good to share with your partner.” She smiles, biting her lip. “Except when said partner is notorious for making messes of almost any food that has the potential to spill.”

“Hey!” Emma calls from the other end of the kitchen. “That happened one time.” 

“It still happened,” Alyssa teases. “And I still love you.” She kills the fire, dipping two spoons into the chocolate, handing one to Betsy and walking over to give one to Emma. 

Emma’s eyes light up, taking the utensil and sticking it in her mouth, humming at the taste. “I love you too.”

***

“Welcome back to The Happening,” Gran tells the camera, lips curled in a soft smile. “I just asked Alyssa what she’s making, and now I’m going to check out Emma’s station. Emma? What are you cooking for me?”

Emma laughs, whisking together eggs, pecorino, and parmesan. “You know you aren’t the host, right, Gran?”

“You’ve given me lots of power already, Emma,” Betsy laughs. “Why not add to my duties?”

“Fair enough.” Her granddaughter’s eyes fill with amusement. 

“So, tell me what you’re making.”

Emma smiles. “Spaghetti carbonara.” She shows her grandmother the ingredients she’s currently mixing together. “I never got to share my recipe, which, yes, is based on yours, I know,” she adds when Betsy goes to say so. “But I made my own guanciale, and I have a few other tricks. Besides, I wooed Alyssa with this dish. It’s why she fell in love with me, aside from my dashingly good looks.” 

“That’s true,” the woman in question calls from the other end of the kitchen. “It’s quite good.” 

***

“Can I have some?” Alyssa pouts, wrapping her arms around Emma as she twirls some pasta into a bowl for Betsy to taste. The chocolate cake is sitting on the stove to stay warm.

Emma smiles. “Of course.” She grabs another bowl from the rack, putting a generous portion into it and handing it off. 

“Thank you,” Alyssa says quietly, kissing Emma’s shoulder before letting go of her and going to sit beside Betsy to eat. 

“You know you two are, like, grossly in love?” Shelby asks where she’s holding her own plate. 

“It’s our anniversary. Leave me alone,” Alyssa laughs. “I can be as grossly in love as I want today.” She takes a bite of pasta off her fork at that, savoring the flavor on her tongue and shutting her eyes. “Emma, this is to die for!” she calls. 

“Yeah, I think you’ve been replaced,” Shelby jokes. 

“What do you think, Marcus?” Betsy asks, turning to the man. He’s the newest addition to their staff, someone to run the kitchen when Emma and Alyssa are running between restaurants when the place actually opens. 

“Brilliant,” Marcus says around a bite with a smile. He swallows. “You could do a special with Alyssa’s chocolate lava cake and this, no? Two for just a little bit less. It might entice customers.”

Alyssa’s eyes brighten. “I knew I liked you!”

He blushes. “It makes perfect financial sense.”

Alyssa gapes slightly, turning to Shelby. “Where did you find him?”

Her friend laughs. “I went to Winnie’s bakery to get some coffee and pastries for Kaylee and I. He was there carting in flour and eggs, listening to some food industry podcast.”

“You delivered supplies?” Alyssa asks in surprise; there’s no judgement to it, just wonder.

Marcus nods. “I’m attending some classes at IU, and it was the only job around that I could kind of do what I love. People don’t exactly hire college age kids, usually. I’m actually not from around here, but the restaurant scene here is picking up. I’m grateful for y’all giving me a chance!”

“Everybody deserves a chance,” Emma answers fondly, cutting off a bit of cake with her fork to take a bite, smearing chocolate on her bottom lip as she does. 

“She’s right. We’re all about chances here.” Alyssa nods in agreement before she reaches forward and wipes the sweetness from her girlfriend’s mouth. “There you go again, getting it all over you.” 

The crow’s feet by Emma’s eyes crinkle. “Thanks, baby.” 

***

Gay Food Network (Once More) @Adohug: oh to be marcus… getting the chance of a lifetime

Day 8 of Welcoming The Chef Lesbians Back @JulietInConverse: GOD LITERALLY. I’M HAPPY FOR HIM BUT ALSO SO WISH THAT WERE ME

presentation, taste, and emlyssa @satan: LMAOO 

Thinking About It [The Phoenix] @ambien-im-on-it: tbh i just wanna try that pasta

#BetsyNolanFTW @itsOzzie: YES! It looked so good. 

Betsy Nolan Stan @NinjaKTX: well we have the recipe now

Thinking About It [The Phoenix] @ambien-im-on-it: again, *cannot* cook lmao however much i wish i could

***

Emma films an outro in their bedroom while Alyssa scrolls through her phone at their tiny kitchen table. She’s in one of Emma’s hoodies and a pair of sweatpants, face makeup free after a long day of shooting, cooking, and planning. 

She smiles softly when she hears gentle footsteps coming her way, but there’s a worriedness about the tension in her shoulders. 

“What is it?” Emma asks softly, sitting down across from her. 

“I’m on Twitter,” Alyssa answers, as if that explains everything. “A lot of people sure have… thoughts about you and I.” She tries to keep her voice light, but her leg is bouncing like it always does under the table when she’s nervous. 

Emma looks at her in concern. “Don’t listen to whatever they say.”

“Some of these aren’t great,” Alyssa tells her, starting to read one. “ @BeverlyInEdgewater: This show does not represent the values of Indiana. Somebody should put a stop to it. Not okay with me!” 

Swallowing hard, Emma reaches across the table and touches her girlfriend’s wrist gently. “Hey. No more of that. Isn’t one of the first rules to like… not read what people say?”

Alyssa shrugs with a quiet, unsure laugh, allowing the phone to fall against the table without much care. “I don’t know what to think, Em. We’re in the spotlight. What if this ends up doing more harm than good?” 

Emma shakes her head, taking Alyssa’s hands in both of hers now that they’re free. “We can’t think like that. Whatever comes, we’ll deal with it, okay?” She squeezes gently, smiling softly. “Us against the world, right?” 

Alyssa nods in agreement. “Right.” She looks away, suddenly overwhelmed. 

“‘Lys,” Emma murmurs, maneuvering until she’s in line with the woman’s gaze again and forcing their eyes to meet. “I’m right here. I love you.” 

Alyssa nods again, gnawing on her bottom lip a little. She’s never been one to care about what people think, but now, this is their life, their business, their relationship being seen by people all over the world. It makes a coolness take hold in her chest, worries about what sort of action people may actually take suddenly rushing through her. The last thing they need is an intentional tragedy. They barely survived the last one, and it was an accident. 

“Say you love me back,” Emma teases gently, attempting to pull Alyssa from her spiral. 

Alyssa cracks a smile. “I love you too, Emma.” 

“Good.” Emma leans across the table and kisses her forehead. Alyssa leans into the touch. “Now, why don’t you go take a shower, yeah? I’ll make us something to eat.” 

“Okay,” Alyssa agrees, taking a deep breath. “I think I’ll feel better after that.”

She stands up, and Emma does the same, stepping forward and pulling her girlfriend into a hug. Alyssa trembles slightly, the weight of the immediate-feedback nature of social media, the tiny fears that have always sat in the back of her head since she decided to come out, work, and stay in Indiana despite its conservative nature suddenly coming to head. 

“I’ve got you,” Emma whispers, kissing the top of her head. “You’re okay. I’m okay. We’re okay.” 

Alyssa breathes her in. 

They’re okay. 

***

Emma Nolan @emmacooks: hi y’all friendly reminder for anyone feeling any kind of hate tonight: instead of putting it online for all of us to see, maybe you should make yourself something good to eat, turn your phone off, and watch a movie :) 

Chapter Text

“Good morning!” Emma says around a bit of her breakfast burrito, eyes bright as she looks directly into the dash cam. 

“Yes! Good morning,” Alyssa laughs next to her before taking a bite of her own. They’re waiting outside the Lowe’s for the camera crew, Kevin, and Shelby to arrive. Everybody else is running morning service at the Phoenix. “Today, we’re going to buy our paint and furniture for the restaurant!” 

“You got to see a few of the things we, meaning Alyssa and Shelby, picked out last time,” Emma tells the camera with a smile. “But some of it is going to be kept under wraps until the final reveal. As for this week’s recipe-” she gestures to the burrito in her hand- “Marcus is going to show you how to make this later in the show! It’s something Alyssa and I have been making together for years, so there was really no point to Gran’s competition and she agreed as soon as she told it to us.” Both Emma and Alyssa laugh before the former continues. “So instead, right now, you get to sit in on our morning breakfast date and get to know us a little better!”

Alyssa nods, placing her burrito in the middle cup holder for a moment to pull out her phone. “We just had Angie search our names and send us the best questions and tweets from you guys,” she says, smiling when she scrolls to the first screenshot. “Okay. You ready, Em?”

Emma holds up her hand in the universal wait symbol, chewing on one last bite of burrito before she places the other half next to Alyssa’s to be eaten later. “Yep. Now I’m ready.” 

“Alright,” Alyssa laughs, shifting in her seat so she can get comfortable. “The first person, @itsOzzie, wants to know how we met.”  

Hazel eyes light up at the question, and Emma smiles at the camera. “Well, Alyssa and I met in the fourth grade. Gran told me to bring extra cookies to school on the first day, and Alyssa and I both had Mr. Bell!” 

“Shoutout Mr. Bell!” Alyssa chimes in. Her eyes glow with soft mirth. 

Emma points at her girlfriend in agreement. “Who knows where we’d be without him. He was the only teacher who allowed food in his classroom.” 

Alyssa hums. “Fourth grade was a good year,” she jokes. She walks her hand across the distance between them to take Emma’s in hers. 

“Hell yeah it was,” Emma laughs, squeezing. “I gave you the tupperware, and the rest is history. Nine year old me had moves!” 

Rolling her eyes with soft affection, Alyssa nudges her softly. “Shut up. You had cookies for everyone and you know it.”

“But I gave you the first one,” Emma replies pointedly, flashing a grin at the camera. “You were pretty! And I thought you were nice!” 

Playful electricity crackles through the car as they both raise their eyebrows at each other. Despite the fact that the camera is there, it feels so natural that it’s almost like they’re alone. 

“Are you saying you fell in love with me in the fourth grade?” Alyssa teases. “Because I was pretty and nice to you?”

“I don’t know!” Emma laughs. “But you’re the one holding my hand right now.” Emma lifts their hands to show the camera. “So whenever it happened, and whatever I did, you’re stuck with me now. And you love me.” She leans over to gently nuzzle Alyssa’s cheek. “Right?”

Alyssa smiles. “Yes. I love you.” 

“Good,” Emma murmurs, relaxing into the woman’s touch when she kisses the top of her head before she pulls back. “Okay. Should I ask you one of my questions now?”

Blindly, she searches for her phone, typing in the passcode automatically and clicking into her text messages with Angie. 

“Yes.” Alyssa nods. “Hit me with that hard hitting journalism, Nolan,” she jokes. “Sure taking a long time to get your questions up.”

“Give me a minute, woman!” Emma playfully demands, swiping away on the screen until she finds the first question for Alyssa. “Okay.” Her eyes widen when she reads the question before she busts out into laughter. 

“What?” Alyssa asks, trying to peer over to see what the phone says, but Emma doesn’t let her. 

The blonde’s lips twitch. “Somebody wants to know who tops.” 

Alyssa gapes for a single moment, looking over at Emma with a silent we’re not answering that.

“I don’t know why you’re acting like that’s a tough question,” her girlfriend begins, leaving Alyssa completely speechless. “I’d just be happy to have a bunk bed at all.”

Immediately, Alyssa slaps a hand over her face and groans. “I hate you.” 

“I’m serious!” Emma practically cackles before she gathers herself enough to send a barely perceptible wink at the camera. “It’s nice to have the option of both.” 

Alyssa reaches out her free hand to smack her in faux-annoyance, and Emma especially doesn’t take any offense to it when she sees the way the woman is biting her lip around a smile and a blush is forming on her cheeks. 

Unlocking her phone, Alyssa clears her throat. “Anyway--”

Emma cuts her off with a louder laugh. “You’re so cute.” 

Alyssa rolls her eyes, pursing her lips so the corners don’t pull up. “Shut up. Let me give you a question.”

“So bossy,” Emma grumbles.

Quicker than lightning, the brunette comes back with a reply before she can think better of it. “Don’t pretend like you don’t love it.” 

This time, it’s Emma who freezes, eyes wide with residual amusement from flustering Alyssa and now her own surprise showing in them too. She lets out an incredulous laugh, silently thanking the fact that they have an editor. “You’re the worst.”

“You love me,” Alyssa answers automatically. “Now. The next question…” She trails off, gaze softening when she takes in the words. Her lips curl into a soft smile. “Oh.” 

“What?” Emma asks. 

“@NinjaKTX asks: What would your dream wedding be like?” 

“Oh.” Emma smiles back at her, then, biting her lip a little. “Well, I mean, I wouldn’t mind something small. Just us.” It makes her heart speed, knowing she has these plans so clearly in her head, seeing the way Alyssa’s eyes are on her, dark, searching, and sure. She continues carefully: “Our friends and the family that want to be there would be all I need. A quiet, private day together would be nice, I think. Maybe outside?” 

Alyssa takes her hand out of sight of the camera once more, squeezing three times. I love you. 

“I couldn’t agree more.” Alyssa looks at the camera, gaze gentle. “Though I will void the beach if you propose that,” she teases. 

“You know I hate sand,” Emma replies with a smile. 

“Perfect.” 

They continue to answer the questions, the banter and rhythm between them easy as ever even though they’re aware of the camera. About halfway through, they retake up the quest of finishing their burritos in time for the crew, Shelby, and Kevin to arrive, talking more casually over the remaining tweets. 

When they’re about to wind up, a link that Angie sent beneath the screenshots catches Alyssa’s eye. She smiles when she clicks on it, setting a reminder to interact with it when this episode airs. 

***

Gay Food Network (Once More) @Adohug: OMG THEY ANSWERED MY QUESTION

Betsy Nolan Stan @NinjaKTX: MINE TOO!

#BetsyNolanFTW @itsOzzie: Can we talk about the bunkbed bit?? 

Day 15 of Welcoming The Chef Lesbians Back @JulietInConverse: oKAY I WANT TO BUT FIRST Y’ALL Y’ALL Y’ALL LOOK AT THIS [Screen Shot at 09.03.03 PM.jpeg]

[ ID: A screenshot of a tweet from a week ago: 

♥ alyssa greene liked
Day 10 of Welcoming The Chef Lesbians Back @JulietInConverse: emma nolan is the hottest human being on this earth. i do not take criticism on this. ] 

Day 15 of Welcoming The Chef Lesbians Back @JulietInConverse: ALYSSA FUCKING LIKED IT I’M YELLING

presentation, taste, and emlyssa @satan: OH MY GOD. SKDGJSD 

Thinking About It [The Phoenix] @ambien-im-on-it: AS SHE SHOULD. 

***

“So, here’s our list,” Shelby begins, handing one to each of her friends. “I thought it might go faster if we split stuff up, including Emma and Alyssa.”

“Hey!” Both women protest at the same time. 

“You’re right,” Kevin agrees. “C’mon, Em. You come with me; Shelby, you can have Alyssa.”

Emma groans. “This isn’t fair.”

Alyssa laughs and waves. “Bye baby.” 

Emma pouts one last time before Kevin drags her off by her sleeve, pushing the cart with his other hand. He flashes a smile at the camera Trent had fit onto the far end of it, finally letting go of his friend’s sleeve. 

“What the hell is angel blue?” he asks, scanning Shelby’s list which is written in perfectly neat script. “And do you think this is the brand?” He points to a few words in parentheses. 

Emma shrugs helplessly. “I just told Alyssa whatever you want. I wasn’t really paying attention.”

Kevin rolls his eyes affectionately, shoving her. “You’re the worst shopping partner.” He groans, reading over what items they’re supposed to find once more. “Why’d we get all the hard stuff while the girls get to pick furniture?”

“Because last time they let us pick furniture we bought a foosball table,” Emma supplies easily. 

Her best friend pauses, contemplating the statement as he rounds the corner in the direction of what he hopes is the paint section. 

“Is that what happened?”

Emma laughs. “Yeah. Though, you were the one who said we could convince Alyssa it was a worthwhile purchase.” 

“It is still a worthwhile purchase!” Kevin replies emphatically, about to go on a tangent when suddenly another cart crashes into theirs. “Hey! Watch where you’re going!” he snaps. 

“Then your little lady friend should watch what she’s doing to Indiana!” the guy who bumped into them replies angrily. 

Kevin steps out from behind the cart, taking a few strides forward, ears reddening by the second. Emma reaches for his arm, but he shakes her off. 

“What did you just say?” His voice is chillingly calm now. He raises himself to his full height, easily a few inches taller than the nameless man who stupidly doesn’t seem to know that backing down is an option. 

“You’re gaying up Indiana!” he cries. The man seems oddly familiar, but Emma can’t place where she knows him from. “You’re making this into one of those wishy-washy liberal towns!”

At that, Emma makes a move forward until she’s almost in line with Kevin. “Well maybe that’s a good thing! Acceptance would really make this town an even better place.”

She stares the man down, gaze cold and impenetrable until he finally shrinks under it, rolling his eyes in a vain attempt to act as though he has any sort of leg to stand on. 

“Get out of my way,” he finally snaps, yanking his cart forward. “Just know this isn’t over. There are people everywhere who agree with me.”

He begins to walk away, his boots heavy on the linoleum. 

“Oh, shut up!” Kevin calls over his shoulder, leading Emma away with their heads held high. “The world is changing!” He runs a hand through his hair, mumbling quietly: “Note to self: people suck in Indiana.”

The man doesn’t even reply, the sound of his cart echoing through the aisle. Emma listens for his recession, suddenly realizing what just happened. It makes her heart leap into her throat. She remembers what Alyssa said last night: what if this does more harm than good? 

Then, one of her girlfriend’s constant reminders rings through her: walk away from people like that. 

They hadn’t walked away. They’d stood up. 

What if this does more harm than good? 

Emma loves what she does. It’s the complete truth to say so, but right now, she’s more than a little worried. He’d said it isn’t over. Emma swallows hard, chest suddenly tight. This is all so much, much more than she ever anticipated. 

What if this does more harm than good? 

***

“You’re awfully quiet,” Alyssa observes as Emma finally buckles herself into the driver’s side of the car. 

Emma shrugs, closing her eyes for a moment. She looks down at her hands in her lap. 

“Kev and I had a run-in with an unhappy citizen of Edgewater,” she says quietly, trying to keep her voice light. “He said we’re gaying up Indiana.” 

Alyssa tilts her head to the side slightly, knowing that isn’t the full story. “And?”

Emma hesitates, wringing her hands. She takes a breath; her knee bounces. “Kevin and I… fought back a little. And he said this isn’t over.” She swallows, pressing her lips together. “It made me think of what you said. You know, about maybe this causing more harm than good.”

Brown eyes widen with worry. Alyssa reaches across the space between them. “Hey. That was my anxiety talking--” 

“But you might be right!” Emma bursts suddenly. “We have no idea who that guy is! He could do something, and we have no idea! People do things when they’re upset. I didn’t walk away like you always say to, and now I can’t help but think the worst!”

Alyssa shushes her, reaching over and making a move to push Emma against the seat and fits herself in her lap, reaching down blindly to push the seat back so she has enough space. She presses her weight over Emma’s chest, thighs bracketing her girlfriend’s. 

“Don’t think like that,” she murmurs, relaxing a little when she feels arms wrap around her middle and a nose tuck into her shoulder. 

A shaky breath is let out against her shoulder. Emma trembles slightly, and Alyssa wraps her arms around her neck at that, one hand rubbing at the base of her scalp, keeping her close. 

Hold onto me if you’re scared. 

Emma’s voice rings through her once more, and Alyssa finds herself shocked that this time, it isn’t her clutching on for an anchor. She remembers how firm her girlfriend always felt in the moments she needed that; she tries to replicate it. 

“I’ve got you,” she murmurs.

Emma nods gently. “I was a bit of a hypocrite earlier,” she admits, sounding a little more relaxed.

Alyssa kisses the top of her head. “How so?”

Emma lets out a barely humorous giggle, even as a few tears escape her eyes and soak into her girlfriend’s t-shirt. “I went on Twitter.”

Pulling back slightly, Alyssa looks down at Emma. She wipes her tears away, doing her best to smile. “Well, Chef Nolan, that is quite hypocritical of you.”

It makes Emma laugh. 

Alyssa’s heart lifts the tiniest bit. 

“I did read a few tweets that called me hot when I first searched by name,” Emma mumbles first, lips twitching. “Those were nice.” 

Brown eyes light up slightly, but the woman doesn’t let her off that easy. “But then?”

Emma stalls for a moment once more before she looks up at Alyssa, unsure and small, suddenly so glad that they’re in this position because the camera that’s still running on the dash can’t see her face, can’t see much of anything but Alyssa’s back. 

Quietly, she admits, “Some of them are really bad, ‘Lys.” 

“Didn’t you say not to read?” Alyssa asks softly, brushing some of Emma’s hair out of her eyes. “Besides, for every bad one, there are a thousand good ones.” To make a point, she reaches for her phone in her back pocket, searching their names in the bar. “Here, listen to this: my parents were worried i wouldn’t be successful if i was out as a part of the lgbtq+ community. here’s to them seeing it’s possible because of shows like @thehappeningfoodnetwork.”

Emma’s lips turn up at the words, and she nods softly. “This is doing good.” 

Alyssa nods, kissing her forehead. “This is doing good.” 

“Even showing the ugly parts,” Emma whispers. 

“Even showing the ugly parts,” Alyssa agrees. “But we don’t have to keep this part in if you don’t want.” She gestures between them, to the way they’re tangled up in the most intimate way they’ve ever let the camera see. 

“We should keep it in,” the blonde says quietly. “Like I said, every part is important.”

“Okay,” Alyssa says quietly. She leans in to peck Emma’s lips softly. “Do you think we should start heading back--” 

They both jump as Emma’s phone rings. Alyssa gets out of her lap as quickly as possible so that the device can be retrieved from her girlfriend’s back pocket. 

When Emma finally gets it out, she stares at it for a moment. “It’s Nick.”

Alyssa’s brow furrows. “Nick who?”

“Nick Boomer?” Emma says. “I don’t think he’s called me in forever.”

The ringtone continues to go off. 

“Well answer it!” Alyssa urges. 

Emma nods, hitting the green button. Immediately, there’s garbled speech on the other end of the line. 

“Nick? Is that you?” Emma pauses. “Yes! This is Emma. What’s going on?” She stops again. There’s more words Alyssa can’t make out. “Oh my God. Okay. Okay. And you’re there now?” The blonde begins to start the car, trapping her phone between her ear and her shoulder. “Okay. Okay. We’re on our way. Ten minutes tops. See you then. Is Kev there?” Alyssa thinks she heard an affirmative, but impossible to really tell. She looks at Emma questioningly, but her girlfriend just holds up a finger for her to wait. “Okay. Okay. See you in ten.” Carefully, Emma starts to back up out of the spot. “And Nick? Thank you.”

Emma tosses her phone into the cupholder as soon as the line goes dead, speeding out of the Lowe’s parking lot and in the direction of the dunes. 

“What did he say?” Alyssa asks. 

“There was a plan to vandalize the club,” Emma informs her, voice eerily calm. “Nick caught wind of it. He got there in time to stop the worst of it.” 

“Was it--” Alyssa starts. 

“The guy from the paint aisle?” Emma laughs humorlessly. “Yeah. He works at the Boomer sandwich joint.” She stops herself and actually manages a smile. “Well, not anymore. Nick fired him.”

“Wow,” Alyssa says quietly. She reaches across the space to where Emma’s fingers are tapping anxiously against the cupholder, taking Emma’s hand in hers. “I never thought Nick the type.”

Emma snorts. “Me neither. But we should be glad he is.” 

Alyssa squeezes her hand. “You can say that again.”

***

Emma Nolan @emmacooks: We’re so sorry we had to end right there. We really do only get an hour of runtime. Just know that all of us are okay. We love you! We hope you understand why we elected to share this part of the story with you.

Betsy Nolan Stan @NinjaKTX: i literally have no words

Gay Food Network (Once More) @Adohug: that was… wild

Nick Rights! @JulietInConverse: i must know who this nick is, now. he deserves a hug. 

presentation, taste, and emlyssa @satan: ^^ NICK BOOMER RIGHTS!

#BetsyNolanFTW @itsOzzie: I’m just glad it didn’t become another UHB&G situation. That would have been heartbreaking. Nobody deserves that to happen once, let alone twice if the second time was intentional. 

↱ ↲ Nick Rights!, presentation, taste, and emlyssa, and 3 others
Thinking About It [The Phoenix] @ambien-im-on-it: agreed. idk not to get totally serious for a second, but this proves like hell that stories like this still matter. i hope everybody working on this show knows they’re doing a lot of good.

Chapter Text

Emma turns off the highway, fingers tangled with Alyssa’s, and immediately, she’s floored at the commotion outside the club. There are several cop cars parked at the curb, their lights flashing, and a few crew members are filming. Kevin and Nick stand in the middle of all of it, and despite the fact that there’s so much happening, all she can process is a steady buzzing, an almost silence. 

This reminds her of a time just like this months ago, of the fire trucks, of the smell of smoke. Alyssa squeezes her hand. 

“We’re okay,” she murmurs. 

Emma manages a nod, surveying the damage as she pulls in. Thankfully, there doesn’t seem to be too much; the parking lot has been graffitied with the words get out of town written across a few of the reserved spots, and the far wall has aimless lines sprayed along it, too, but that seems to be all. Nothing that a little soap and water can’t scrub away. 

Emma’s heart settles in her chest. They can fix this. It isn’t like last time. 

This isn’t permanent. In fact, should they open on time, it will be the perfect fuck you to whoever did this. 

The thought is what gives her the strength to get out of the car. 

She turns off the engine, gently pulling herself free from the grip Alyssa has on her hand, and pushing the door open. With purpose, she makes her way over to where Nick and Kevin are talking to the police, both nursing bruised knuckles and heavy creases between their brows. 

“It’s blatant discriminatory behavior,” Nick says to the officer as she walks up, straining her ears to listen. “I’ve already fired them. I don’t tolerate it.” 

The officer in front of him nods, taking notes. “And you, sir?” He turns to Kevin. 

“I work here,” Kevin supplies easily. “We have a plan to open this place in a few weeks time. I got a notification on my phone that a few things might be delivered, so I drove over in case.” He pinches the bridge of his nose with his uninjured hand. “I hate to bring this up, too, but if you need video evidence, obviously, this is a site of a television show, so the camera was set up.”

The officer nods. “I may request it.” He hesitates for a moment before he lowers his voice. “You know how this town is.” 

Kevin and Nick hum in sad agreement before they both catch sight of Emma. 

“Em!” the former calls, waving her over. 

“Hi,” Emma answers awkwardly, shoving her hands in her pockets. Her eyes flicker to the cop. “Do I need to give you a statement?”

“Yes, ma’am. If you wouldn't mind?”

***

Alyssa is watching Emma, Kevin, and Nick talk to the police when Angie pulls her aside. The action feels eerily familiar to the night of the fire. 

“I know the drill,” she tries to laugh, but it’s clearly strangled. “I’ll do it.”

“Are you sure?” Angie asks. “You don’t have to. I can get someone else--”

“I’ll do it,” Alyssa repeats. “Lead the way.” 

The woman nods, gesturing for her to follow until they’re out of sight on the back deck. There’s only a single cameraman, and it isn’t Trent, since he’s directing the crew on what they should and shouldn’t film out front. Alyssa watches as Angie sits down across from her.

“I’m not going to ask you any questions,” Angie tells her gently, eyes soft. “Just say what you think needs to be said.”

Alyssa takes a deep breath, collecting her thoughts. She can hear the sound of a few cars starting up, meaning that the police hopefully got everything they need to make a real case out of this. From her law classes, she knows it could set a precedent, and for that, she’s already grateful. She swallows, squeezing her eyes shut for a moment before she remembers the camera is on her. 

It’s easy to forget; Angie always makes the set a safe space for her and Emma. 

“Sorry,” she chuckles without any humor, soft and nervous. Angie shakes her head as if to say no problem; whenever you’re ready. Alyssa smiles at her as best she can. “I want to start by thanking Nick and Kevin. Who knows what would have happened if they weren’t here?” She pauses for a moment. “And I guess the main thing I want to say is that this is real life, folks. And this shows how many problems there are. I wish we could all understand each other. What’s stopping us?” Allowing the question to sit in the stillness for a moment, Alyssa suddenly feels tears welling in her eyes. “I can’t imagine what this would be like for people who don’t have the protections we do, the privileges of telling our story like this.” She scrubs over her face. “Fuck,” she says quietly, uncaring for once that she’s speaking to the camera. “I wish I could say I wasn’t angry. I wish I could say more about unity. But God, I’m so fucking angry.” She drops her head into her hands. “Sorry.” She rubs her eyes. “I can’t say any more. I need to--” she tries to get out of her chair and trips a little, decidedly sitting back down. 

“We’ll go,” Angie murmurs, reaching forward and squeezing her shoulder. “It’s okay.” 

Alyssa nods. “Thank you.” She listens for their footsteps to recede, waiting until they’re completely out of sight before she allows the stuttered gasp she was hiding in her chest to fall from her lips, lets the tears that have been threatening to spill past her eyes streak down her cheeks. 

In a rush, she suddenly understands the way Emma couldn’t breathe after the fire, understands the sinking she described in her gut in the moments where she thought the accident might have been purposeful. This time, Alyssa knows for sure that this was done to them, and somehow, it makes it hurt more. 

When they were in high school, people made comments about her queerness, but nothing ever escalated as far as this. 

They can fix this; she knows that. Still, it’s impossible for her to get out of her head the way Emma turned pale on the phone when Nick called, impossible for her to get her breathing under control. 

They’re okay. They are. 

Everyone is okay, aside from Kevin and Nick’s bruised knuckles which a part of her is able to laugh at, since she knows they’ll both be proudly showing their partners their battle scars. 

And yet, as she stares out at the dunes, Alyssa can hear Emma’s anxieties from the car ringing in her ears, her own worries from the last few weeks welling up--

“Alyssa?” 

Alyssa lifts her head from where it was buried in her hands, Emma’s voice pulling her from her spiral. She still doesn’t know if she can speak, doesn’t know what exactly she’s feeling besides overwhelming anger and fear. 

“Alyssa, hey,” Emma murmurs, steps pounding against the wood of the deck as she makes her way over quicker. She kneels down, reaching a hand out gently and placing it on her leg. “Look at me?” 

Brown eyes lift to meet hazel, and Alyssa feels some tightness leaving her chest as Emma rubs soothing circles against her knee. 

“I’m scared, Emma,” she mumbles, wiping at her eyes and sniffling. “Maybe I was right about more harm than good after all.” Her lips twitch as she tries to make a joke: “I’m always right.”

Emma glares at her playfully. “You aren’t right,” she protests. “This is an important story! And maybe… maybe this will effect change, right? If people see what happened, you know?”

“Maybe,” Alyssa agrees. “I just…” she trails off, unsure if she should continue. Emma tilts her head questioningly, silently asking her to. She takes a breath in, leaning gently into her girlfriend’s touch when Emma rises from her knees slightly to press their foreheads together. 

“Tell me,” she whispers. “Whatever’s on your mind? I want to know.”

Alyssa nods, finding safety in the breath ghosting over her lips, the familiar warmth of Emma so close. WIth nothing much else to do, her eyes meet Emma’s, and she willfully drowns in their perfect hue, in the soft, gentle home that immediately envelops her. She swallows hard. 

“I guess I just wonder what would have happened if Nick hadn’t heard what was going to happen?” she admits quietly. “Or if Kevin hadn’t been here.”

Emma presses her lips together, clearly having had the same thought. She nods carefully, still keeping them close as she lifts one of her palms from where it’s rested on Alyssa’s knee and carefully moves until she’s cupping the woman’s neck with her right hand. 

“We can’t think like that,” she murmurs, bearing more of Alyssa’s weight as she trembles against her. “I know it’s easy to, but we can’t. Everyone’s okay. The restaurant is okay. And by the end of this, we’ll be able to say fuck you to all of the people who refuse to understand.”

A fresh wave of tears spills from Alyssa’s eyes at that, and she bites her lip around a gasp. Emma is right, but that time feels so far away, any time where they could simply be in love and not care what other people think. 

She needs a reminder, needs to feel what they share again. All that flickers in her head is the words written across her parking space: get out of town. She lives here, for God’s sake. She was born here. She pulled JMHS’ student body out of a hole with her bare hands, got the school to give the soccer team new uniforms, turned fundraisers into money pots that funded arts programs that would have otherwise gone cut. 

She helped build Edgewater’s newest adult generation into what it is. 

This is her town. Emma’s town. Her mother’s town. Kevin and Nick’s. Kaylee and Shelby’s.

Suddenly, a fire roars to life in her gut. She’s no longer afraid. She’s just angry. And ready to get to work. 

But first-- 

She sniffles on her last few tears, wipes at her eyes. Emma looks up into her with a sort of understanding that there’s been a shift, with a sort of pride. 

“Kiss me?” she asks softly. 

Emma smiles. “I thought you’d never ask.” 

***

Emma emerges from behind the restaurant with Alyssa’s hand tightly in hers, both of them clearly shaken but better. 

Everybody waves at them, eyes soft as they exchange looks. Emma nods at a few of the crewmembers, searching specifically for one man. 

She catches sight of him walking towards his truck. 

That won’t do. 

“Nick!” Emma calls. 

He turns around in surprise, unsure when he sees Emma and Alyssa wave for him to come over, but he nods, heading back over in their direction. 

“What’s up?” he asks, a sympathetic, grim smile on his lips. 

Emma reaches out her hand for a shake. “We wanted to properly thank you.” 

Nick’s eyes widen, but he reaches out to take her hand in a firm hold. “I just did what anyone should do,” he says quickly. “I’m just sorry that it turned out this way.” He gestures to the restaurant and parking lot. 

“It could have been much worse without you,” Alyssa chimes in. “We’re really grateful for what you did.”

Nick shrugs, a little regretful. “Think of it as me paying my dues,” he tells them. “I was kind of a jerk back in high school.”

Emma and Alyssa both laugh wetly at that, the former gently taking her hand back as the man does the same. 

“We’ll consider this character development,” Kevin teases as he walks up. He forgoes any sort of propriety and fully embraces his friend. “Thank you, Nick.”

“Teammates for life, right?” Nick laughs, patting him on the back before he pulls away. “Now, I should probably get home before the missus really has my head. She wanted to go out to have dinner.” 

“Tell her to come here,” Emma blurts out before she really knows what she’s saying, though she’s sure that she means it. “Stay for dinner. We’ll cook you something.” 

“You don’t have to do that,” Nick says quickly. “You realize you just went through something minorly traumatic?” His brow furrows in concern. 

“This will help me feel better,” Emma insists, looking to Alyssa who nods in agreement. “It would make us feel better.”

The man adjusts his hat on his head before he nods. “Okay. I’ll call Maya.” 

Emma nods. “Okay. We’ll be inside. Come join us when you’re ready.” 

She smiles at him softly. He throws her a thumbs up. 

And just like that, as Alyssa watches somebody she knows Emma once used to avoid in the hallways at all costs during school be completely changed before her eyes, it’s possible to believe everything is going to be okay. 

***

↱ ↲ Betsy Nolan Stan, Gay Food Network (Once More), and 3 others

Nick Rights! @JulietInConverse: i’m gutted.

Chapter Text

Dramatically, Emma pulls the covers back, popping out. “Good morning!” she says to the camera that’s sitting on the nightstand, grinning. 

Alyssa laughs, snuggling further against her girlfriend’s side, pressing her nose into Emma’s neck. “This is the best recovery method: cuddles and kisses,” she mumbles. She tangles their legs together, humming softly when she feels nails gently scratching over her scalp. 

Emma brushes her lips over her forehead. “I agree.” 

They’d spent the last day lying around, ordering nobody to go to the restaurant and do work aside to check security from time to time. After the day they had, everyone deserved to take a day to spend it with whoever they were closest to and recover. Almost all of the restaurateurs had ended up crying at one point or another, each one enveloped in a hug when it was their turn. 

“I don’t wanna get up,” Alyssa complains softly. 

“Then let's not,” Emma replies easily, forcing the comforter back over them and waving at the camera. “See you in a bit!” 

Muffled, her girlfriend’s voice reaches the microphone. “Dork.”

“Your dork.” 

***

Nick Rights! @JulietInConverse: PLEASE THEY’RE SO CUTE

presentation, taste, and emlyssa @satan: i’m fucking yearning

Gay Food Network (Once More) @Adohug: now i want cuddles :pleading_face:

Betsy Nolan Stan @NinjaKTX: lmao y’all soft

#NickFTW @itsOzzie: CAN YOU BLAME US?!

Thinking About It [The Unruly Hearts’ Club] @ambien-im-on-it: is it so much to ask that i have a girl in my arms??

***

“Try two!” Emma exclaims, tossing the covers back, making Alyssa laugh once more. “Time to get back to work, ‘Lys!” She nudges her girlfriend. 

Alyssa presses a kiss to her shoulder before she nods. “Alright. Alright.” She flops to the side to grab Emma’s hoodie that’s her favorite to steal. “Today’s going to be hard,” she muses quietly. 

“And we’ll handle it,” Emma replies automatically. “Besides, at least this time we just needed some soap and water.” Her lips twitch. “You can’t exactly clean off fire.”

Alyssa gapes for a moment, mouth opening and closing before she manages to exclaim, “Emma!”

Emma laughs. “I’m right!” She swings herself out of bed, smiling softly, mouthing I’m right once more at the camera, before her gaze flickers back to her girlfriend. “It’ll just be a little more cleaning up today, and the place will be good as new! 

The woman nods. “And then we can get back to what matters.”

“The food,” Emma chimes in. 

“The food,” the brunette agrees. “Speaking of food, you want me to take breakfast duty?”

“I could, if you don’t want to,” Emma says honestly. 

“Or I could make breakfast tacos,” Alyssa practically sings, looking at her with bright eyes. 

Emma grins, gaze glittering with excitement. “Or you could make breakfast tacos!”

***

“Emma likes bacon, egg, cheese, and pico de gallo in hers,” Alyssa tells the camera. “And then potatoes and guac on the side.” 

She sweeps around the kitchen, smiling as she hears her girlfriend singing in the shower. She listens to the song— she’s pretty sure it’s Dream A Little Dream of Me— heart swelling in her chest at the familiarity of this moment, at the easiness that is making Emma breakfast in the apartment that they own and pay for together after waking up from falling back asleep in each other’s arms. 

She begins to break up bacon in one bowl for Emma and breakfast sausage in the other for her. “Since it’s tacos, you want to do this beforehand. Using leftovers is even better,” she advises the audience. “You also don’t want to make an omelette, especially if you’re using mini tortillas like us.” She shows the bag of corn tortillas to the audience. “And the hash is something I’ve shown before, so add whatever else you’d like to it as a side!”

Easily, she ties her hair up, brightening when she hears Emma’s footsteps behind her before arms wrap around her waist. “This smells nice.” 

“Thank you, love,” she whispers. 

She holds in a laugh when she feels her girlfriend lean against her further and turn to the camera. “And it really smells good. I’m not just saying that because she’s pretty.”

“You think I’m pretty, Nolan?” she teases. 

“A little.” Emma whispers it like she’s admitting it for the first time. “I think I might… you know…” she jokes back. 

“Might what?” Alyssa bites her lip around a smile, still not turning around, aware that the camera is still on them. 

“I think I like you,” the blonde says softly, coyly, a little flirtatiously. 

Despite having heard it thousands of times, Alyssa’s heart flutters. It’s the simplest of things, but she likes listening to those words fall off of Emma’s lips, likes being reminded from time to time of the fact that Emma not only loves her but also likes her. Part of her thinks it’s stupid; of course her girlfriend likes her, and yet, every time her stomach flips over and her heart runs around her ribcage as if it’s the first time those words have ever been spoken. 

“I like you too,” Alyssa whispers back. 

Emma noses at her neck. “Good.” 

“They’re gonna GIF this,” Alyssa murmurs again, even as she reaches back to gently tangle her fingers in Emma’s hair and hold her close as the woman tightens her grip around her and they sway gently to non-existent music. 

“Let them,” Emma whispers, hooking her chin over her girlfriend’s shoulder and taking a look at the food. “Can I have some?” 

“It’s not done,” Alyssa admonishes, slapping her hand away playfully when Emma reaches for the spoon. 

***

The parking lot is already scrubbed clean when Emma and Alyssa pull up to the club. Kevin and Greg are unplugging the powerwasher they bought, and they both wave when they catch sight of the truck. 

“You didn’t have to do that!” Emma calls as she rolls down the window. 

“It was bothering us,” Kevin yells back genuinely. “Thought we’d get ahead of the curve!” 

Greg smiles. “Go inside and cook, Em. And Alyssa, I think furniture and art for the walls arrived!” 

“Thank you, Greg!” Alyssa throws him a thumbs up, leaning over Emma still buckled into her seatbelt. “I’ll take a look.” 

He nods. “Gran has a competition for y’all too. Be ready!”

“Oh God,” Emma mumbles under her breath jokingly. 

Alyssa nudges an elbow in her side. “It’ll be good for us. Something fun!” 

“Yeah. Yeah,” Emma laughs. “If you say so.”

“Simp!” Kevin calls. 

“And you don’t simp for my cousin?” she teases, sticking her tongue out. 

He stops for a moment, eyes narrowing. “Fair enough.” 

Emma grins back at him, waving before she shuts the window so she can pull into her parking spot. 

***

Alyssa smiles when she sees Kaylee wound around her girlfriend at one of the booths as Shelby tries to check off items that have come in. 

“Take a break,” Alyssa hears the former murmur, and it makes her soften. The two are due for an engagement anytime soon. 

“Yeah, take a break,” she agrees as she closes the door behind her. Both women look up at her, still as tangled in each other even as Alyssa gets closer. “I’m here to put some art the boy said arrived up.” She spies something out of the corner of her gaze, eyes wide when she sees the accent wall is done. “Woah.”

“Looks great, right?” Kaylee laughs. “The painters heard what happened two days ago, and since they had a key, they finished it up for us ahead of schedule. They left a note.” She reaches into her pocket to produce a neatly folded piece of paper. 

Alyssa takes it from her, chest tight in the best way as she begins to scan the page.

Dear Emma, Alyssa, Betsy, Greg, and Marcus (and the rest we haven’t met yet!),

We heard and saw what happened. We’re so sorry. Consider this as us trying to do our part! We love your mission and what you’re trying to create. We’d love to come to opening night if you’d let us. 

- Fox & V (Painting Polycule™)

fox&[email protected]

P.S. Turn this over! 

The sweetness of the note makes Alyssa’s heart clench, makes her throat a little salty as she pulls her phone out and snaps a picture of the note to send to Emma. 

[Alyssa, now]: let’s remember to save them a table! 

Then, following what the postscript asked, she turns over the page, eyes growing even wider as she takes in the color and art on the page. It’s a heart, imperfect in its lining slightly and outlined in gentle pencil and silhouetted in rainbow. Within it, The Unruly Hearts’ Club is scripted in, complete with little flourishes on the end of each word. 

I noticed you didn’t have a logo yet. I thought I’d try my hand! -F

Tears well up inside Alyssa at the gesture. They’d been looking to hire somebody for a preliminary design, but the cost hadn’t looked great. She looks on the page to see if there’s any sign of price, lips twitching when she sees free of charge ;) scribbled in neat handwriting that she knows belongs to the other owner of the business. 

She takes another photo, sending it along to her girlfriend. 

Emma replies in an instant. 

[Em, now]: i love it <3 

[Em, now]: come over with that and show gran! she has the competition ready if you wanna shoot that too. trent is here and ready to go. besides, it’s been like a half hour and i miss ur face  

Alyssa can’t help but smile at that, typing away that she’ll be right there when a voice interrupts. 

“Ooh,” Shelby teases. “Gay.” 

Alyssa rolls her eyes. “Emma just asked me to come over to show Gran the logo.” She holds it up again for her two best friends to see. Kaylee looks up from where she was playing with Shelby’s hair when Alyssa begins speaking again. “I can’t believe they just did this for the hell of it. It looks great.”

“Those two are so talented,” Shelby agrees, eyes bright.

“Shelbs and I were talking, and we thought those would make great stickers, or even t-shirts,” Kaylee adds. “We’d obviously separate out royalties for them, and we could give the majority of the rest of the profits every month to the queer youth organizations cropping up around here. The rest would just be a good boost for us!”

“Anyone ever tell you two that you’re brilliant?” Alyssa asks, affection bleeding from her voice.

Both women smile at her. 

***

“Make me a pasta dish,” Betsy tells the two women. “Something that feels good to eat.”

“Is that the only requirement?” Emma asks curiously, rolling up her sleeves. 

“Well, it would be great if you could be budget friendly,” Kevin chimes in from where he’s calculating shipment in the pantry. 

“I concur,” Alyssa laughs. 

“Alright, then.” Gran snorts. “Something that feels good to eat and is budget friendly.” She pauses for a moment before continuing. “Remember that this is our last faceoff between you two, and it’ll be the last thing for the specials menu. Whoever wins will get real bragging rights.”

“As if they don’t literally try to one-up each other at every chance,” Greg chimes in from behind his grandmother. 

“Well then they’ll be given the grandma blessing to do so,” Betsy jokes. 

“Ah, I see.” He grins back at her. 

“We’re right here,” Emma grumbles. 

Alyssa laughs and leans against her. 

***

“I’m feeling particularly sacrilegious this Sunday,” Emma tells the camera with as much seriousness as she can. 

She snaps on a pair of gloves to handmix the bowl in front of her. 

“All you did was add store bought breadcrumbs to your meatball mix,” her girlfriend calls from the other end of the kitchen. 

“Sacrilege,” Emma says darkly, but she continues to move the bowl in a circle. “It should taste pretty good, though. And I used a lot of the leftover material in the fridge.”

Tilting the bowl, she shows Trent. 

“It’s not sacrilege, Em,” Alyssa sighs affectionately as she walks by toward the fridge. “Nevermind particularly.” She pats Emma’s cheek. 

Hazel eyes glare at her playfully, a sparkle of mirth in them. “I’ll show you particularly sacrilegious later, then,” she whispers, grinning a little when Alyssa freezes, turning back to look at her with her lip caught between her teeth, intrigued and clearly wanting to know more. 

“This is a family show, Emma,” Betsy interrupts, her lips twitching while everybody else howls with laughter in the background. 

“Can’t even flirt in peace,” Emma grumbles to herself but she’s smiling too, feels that sort of relief that everything really is going to be okay. 

She feels safe here, still, in this kitchen, surrounded by people just like her, only a single breath’s distance from her girlfriend. She feels safe to laugh, to joke, knows for sure this is still the quiet kind of sanctuary they’d always planned for it to be, that it will be for whoever walks through the doors once they open and makes themselves at home in the booths, find their own kind of comfort in the food they serve that’s meant to heal. 

Emma can’t wait to help their customers— who she’s almost certain will become family as well with time— heal, too.  

***

Gay Food Network (Once More) @Adohug: it’s so nice to see them happy 

Nick Rights! @JulietInConverse: ^^ i hope that it sticks. i can’t imagine what they’re going through.

presentation, taste, and emlyssa @satan: i really hope they take breaks if they need :/

Betsy Nolan Stan @NinjaKTX: i mean, it’s like they said: sometimes all you can do is keep going

#NickFTW @itsOzzie: True that.

Thinking About It [The Unruly Hearts’ Club] @ambien-im-on-it:
no one:
no one:
gays: :pinched_fingers: it’s about the found family

Chapter Text

Alyssa stirs beside Emma, smiling to herself when she realizes what the day marks. 

It’s the final week before opening. 

Reading over Emma, she grabs the camcorder from the bedside table, flipping the screen open and around. 

“Good morning,” she whispers, snuggling closer to the woman who’s curled up in a ball with her nose pressed into Alyssa’s neck, pretending to just be stirring and refusing to open her eyes. 

“Mmph,” Emma groans, pulling the covers up over her head. 

“Baby,” Alyssa half-sings, laughing. “We have to get up! It’s the big week! You have a lot of prep to do, don’t you?”

Emma whines exaggeratedly again, burying her face in her girlfriend’s hoodie. 

“Don’t remind me,” she complains. She snakes an arm around Alyssa’s waist under the covers, pulling her closer until she giggles. “Let’s stay in bed.” 

“We have to get up,” Alyssa murmurs, forcing the covers back, forgetting about the camera and placing it at the foot of the bed so that it only really has a good view of her gently leaning over her girlfriend and nothing more. She kisses the top of Emma’s head, pushing the duvet down further until she can brush her lips down the shell of her ear and then press another soft kiss to her cheek. “Come on, Em,” she coaxes. 

“Will you let me make breakfast this morning if I get up?” Emma cracks an eye open. 

“I thought you were dreading cooking today,” Alyssa teases. 

“I never dread cooking for you,” Emma flirts, and she sits up, playfully shoving her girlfriend half-off of her. “Besides, you know it’s just the prep that annoys me. Once the actual cooking and line gets going, I have the best time.”

“You’re so weird,” Alyssa jokes. “You know most people are absolute messes during the dinner rush.”

“I grew up on the meal rush,” Emma reminds, feeling around for her glasses, smiling gratefully when she feels her favorite pair placed into her free hand, familiar fingertips brushing over her inner wrist in a silent extra good morning. She flips open the hinges and shoves them onto her face. “It’s like… the most exciting part.”

“And this is why I love you,” Alyssa says without thinking. It’s only one of the reasons, but she truly can’t fathom something that makes Emma more Emma than her work ethic, than the care she puts into every single day once she’s arrived at the restaurant, all the dishes she cooks, the little personalizations she puts on to birthday and holiday desserts. 

“Why because being in the middle of the kitchen when all of the orders come rushing in and everything is different and none of them are simple and all have different cooking times and must arrive at the customers' tables at exactly the same time, hot and perfect, isn’t appealing to you?” Emma pokes a finger against her cheek softly. 

“You have that memorized just to tease me?” Alyssa rolls her eyes, wrapping her hand around her girlfriend’s wrist and shoving it away playfully. 

“Yes, actually,” the blonde confirms, her dimples clear and present as she grins. “And you still love me.”

Alyssa groans without any bite and nods. “I do. I love you.”

***

presentation, taste, and emlyssa @satan: *them*

#NickFTW @itsOzzie: The fact that this is *real* domesticity that could exist. Eugh. Where’s the love of my life? Lmao. 

Gay Food Network (Once More) @Adohug: :pinched_fingers: it’s about the softness 

Nick Rights! @JulietInConverse: The Happening with Emma Nolan and Alyssa Greene (or, you thought you were lonely before?)

Thinking About It [The Unruly Hearts’ Club] @ambien-im-on-it: The Happening with Emma Nolan and Alyssa Greene (or, WOMEN.) 

Betsy Nolan Stan @NinjaKTX: dskgjsdg y’all are so dramatic

***

“Talk to me,” Alyssa says when she sees Kaylee and Shelby crowded around the computer. She smiles when she hears something similar from her girlfriend’s mouth directed at Marcus in the kitchen. 

“We’re designing the final menu right now,” Shelby tells her, turning the laptop in her direction. “We digitized the logo, color matched, and now we’re just waiting on a few last descriptions and things from Mrs. Nolan and Marcus.”

“You know you can call her Gran, right?” Alyssa laughs, peeking at the design. It looks clean but also fun, filled out with color where appropriate to separate each section. 

“You can,” Kaylee says pointedly. “Since you and Emma are basically married. But us?” She gestures between herself and her girlfriend. “It just feels wrong.”

Alyssa’s cheeks pink at the first part of the comment; she rolls her eyes to mask some of her blush. “You two are so weird.”

“It’s, like, disrespectful,” Shelby tries to explain. “She’s not our gran! She’s Emma’s gran! And yours by extension, y’know?”

“I can’t pretend to get it,” Alyssa answers playfully, waving them off. “It’s not important, though. We can discuss this another time.” She points to the laptop. “Show me the back?”

Kaylee nods, flipping into the other Illustrator tab, pressing a few keys to put it into present mode before she begins to draw attention to certain aspects of the design. “It’s specials and desserts as well as merch.” Her finger sweeps over a line. “This line will be a gradient of some kind, but it’s up to you and Emma if you want to make it the extra gay rainbow default or something more subtle.”

Alyssa laughs. “Em’s gonna vote extra gay rainbow.”

“That’s why we’re asking you,” Shelby quips back. 

***

Alyssa holds a sample copy of the menu, looking around the restaurant at the same time. She finds it to be a little silly— though Emma always insists that it’s not, since she always ends up designing something beautiful— but she likes to check the relationship and color balance between the restaurant as a whole and the paper with all of their food on it. In a way, they complete each other, as an establishment like theirs isn’t just about the food, or the space, but rather an entanglement of both meant to make their customers feel safe. 

Her eyes skate over the crown moulding on the tops of the double doors leading onto the deck, the soft blue of the walls that matches the waves of the dunes, the cushions on the booths that alternate colors along the walls. 

The camera stays focused on her face, keeping the rest of the design a secret until the big reveal planned for next episode, and it captures the surprised glee on her face when she suddenly feels arms around her middle. 

“Hi,” Emma murmurs, tucking against her neck. “Everything looks great.”

“You’re not even looking,” Alyssa teases, but she leans back into her girlfriend’s embrace anyway, the corners of her lips curling up.

“I just know it looks great,” Emma promises. “I like the menu. It’s pretty.”

“We’re just waiting on last minute descriptions from Marcus and Gran,” Alyssa tells her, pulling free from Emma slightly to show her the back of the paper. “This part is just lorem ipsum right now.”

“Gran is insistent it all be perfect,” the blonde laughs, running a hand through her hair. “I keep telling her that what she has is great. I’ll ask Marcus where the dessert stuff is.”

“Sounds good,” Alyssa says softly, pressing back against Emma and swaying a little. “People will like it, right?”

As if on cue— perhaps it’s perfect direction by Angie, though neither Emma nor Alyssa will ever know— familiar faces suddenly appear, the woman at the front sporting a pair of Louboutins that Alyssa is sure may be the only pair to ever walk the streets and stores of Edgewater, Indiana. 

“Chef Allen!” Alyssa waves, tapping Emma softly. 

Emma looks up and grins too, seeing who’s behind her. “Barry!” 

The man waves, and behind him, follow Mrs. Greene and Mr. Hawkins. “We just wanted to see what you built,” he explains, gaping as he takes in exactly what he’s seeing. “And I am not at all disappointed. In fact, I’m floored.” Actively, he transitions from friend mode to host mode. “My lord, ladies. And this was an empty place when you began?”

Emma and Alyssa both nod, but the former fills in some of the blanks that her girlfriend would never. “Alyssa did most of the preliminary design,” she says honestly. “And then, of course, Shelby and Kaylee have been a huge help, and the boys have been helping to do some of the heavy lifting.”

“Well, it looks brilliant,” Dee Dee agrees wholeheartedly, which makes Emma nudge Alyssa proudly. An open and honest compliment from Chef Dee Dee Allen is rather rare to come by. 

“This is so much more than I ever expected,” Hawkins adds. “When you came to me with this idea, I was ready to take it on because it’s you two. But this… wow. Everything down to the paint? You’ve outdone yourselves.” 

The camera soft focuses on the group, avoiding the wider picture of the restaurant. Carefully, Trent moves around them, winking playfully at Emma when she meets his gaze with a smile. Without him, without Angie, without everybody in this room, none of this would be possible. Pride and gratitude fills her immeasurably. She tightens her grip around Alyssa. “Look what we made,” she whispers, marveling. “Look.”

“I’m looking,” Alyssa laughs affectionately, but she does move her eyes around the room again. There is something special about the place, something indescribably them, something that feels so supremely safe and also risky, joyous and theirs. 

“I can’t wait for everyone to see it,” Emma murmurs. 

Alyssa smiles, nodding in agreement. “Me neither.”

Chapter Text

Emma jolts up in bed at the crack of dawn. Alyssa is still asleep beside her. She smiles, pulling the covers back over her girlfriend before she swings herself into a sitting position. 

There’s no going back to sleep for Emma Nolan, not now that she’s seen the calendar that sits above the dresser. The day is circled: Opening! 

But, little does Alyssa know that Emma has another plan for today. One that will change their lives. Hopefully. 

Running a hand through her hair, Emma takes a deep breath, pulling open her nightstand. She stares down at its contents: an extra pair of glasses, a sewing kit, and—

A box. A velvet one. It’s been sitting in her drawer for the better part of three weeks; she thought about doing it before, but things didn’t go according to plan, graffitied parking lot and all. Today’s the day, though. 

The big day. The one that’s theirs. 

Carefully, she pulls the box from the drawer, sure to shut it quietly after shoving it into her sweatshirt pocket. Nerves take hold in her chest as she stands up and moves towards the bathroom to take a shower, but she quiets them. 

Alyssa will say yes. They’re meant for each other. 

When she went to Veronica for her blessing— not her permission; Alyssa wouldn’t stand for such a thing— the woman had agreed, too. Heaving in a breath, Emma looks at herself in the mirror, schooling her expression, practicing hiding her excitement. Alyssa can read her so easily. 

It needs to be a surprise. 

***

By the time Emma gets out of the shower, Alyssa is making breakfast, doing her usual intro. 

“It’s the big day!” she tells them, excitement written clearly across her face. “We’re just doing a simple breakfast this morning, but I thought maybe you’d like to eat with us.” 

She sweeps around the kitchen, preparing some eggs and putting some bread into the toaster oven.

“It’s not every day that you open a restaurant,” she laughs, comfortably talking to the viewers with ease. The camera has almost become a second nature companion; much of the original tension she felt has burned away. “So it’s nice to savor every moment. And not to fill your stomach too much, just in case your excitement turns to nerves.” She winks, clearly joking. 

“Very good advice,” Emma agrees, running a hand through her hair before she pulls her favorite black beanie over her head. She plants a kiss on Alyssa’s cheek before smiling at the camera. “Good morning!”

“Stop being cute,” Alyssa complains, pushing her girlfriend away gently. “Your toast will burn if you distract me.”

“I don’t mind,” the blonde breathes, continuing to press close to her. She feels the weight of the box in the pocket of her puffy jacket, the softness of this moment pushing her towards being even more sure that she made the right decision. 

“At least be helpful and set the table,” the woman teases, hip checking her away. 

Emma laughs. “Fine. Fine,” she drops another kiss onto her shoulder.

Alyssa smiles at her. “I love you,” she half-sings. 

Nuzzling against her neck for a moment, Emma grins back, too happy to contain herself. “I love you too.”

***

presentation, taste, and emlyssa @satan: is it just me or did they seem even more gay today

#NickFTW @itsOzzie: Emma, definitely.

Gay Food Network (Once More) @Adohug: i didn’t know such things were possible sdgksg

Nick Rights! @JulietInConverse: can y’all believe this is for opening day i feel like we were watching them pretend to not be dating literally yesterday

Thinking About It [The Unruly Hearts’ Club] @ambien-im-on-it: i wish they’d just get married already

Betsy Nolan Stan @NinjaKTX: fjgfkgdfg mood 

***

Eight hours to opening. 9am. 

Emma turns onto the highway, her hand clasped in her girlfriend’s. She’s practically buzzing with excitement, and she knows that the woman can feel it. 

“You ready for tonight?” Alyssa teases gently. 

Laughing, Emma nods. “So ready.” It’s easy, having mornings with Alyssa like this: driving to work together, having a routine. It’s nice, having something she can count on. “It’s going to be a good day.” I’m crossing my fingers. I really am, are the words she doesn’t say.

Alyssa smiles. “It is. It’s going to be such a good day.” 

“You seem quite sure of yourself, Ms. Greene,” the blonde jokes. 

“What can I say?” Alyssa laughs. “I just have a good feeling about today.”

Emma grins at her. “Me too.” She hopes the feeling lasts, hopes that it can carry into the night long enough for her to execute her plan. Carefully, she extracts her hand from Alyssa’s so she can turn the wheel more effectively, making the sharp right turn towards the club. “Now, what do we have to get done before five, again?” 

This question is more for the benefit of post-production, a new term that she’s learned since entering the TV world. Angie always likes to have questions like this where she can cut to different things, and Emma and Alyssa are nothing if not accommodating. 

“Well I have to set spots, set up the register, approve a few social media posts, and then put on my new dress,” Alyssa lists off, smiling at the last point. 

“New dress?” Emma asks, intrigued. “Can I see it?”

“No, babe,” Alyssa laughs. “It’s new. A surprise.” 

Her girlfriend pouts. “I hate it here.”

“You’re so dramatic.” She rolls her eyes affectionately, pushing the conversation along. “And you have to finish your prep, make the ice cream for later, start the service, and then get into your nice clothes.”

Emma groans playfully. “You’re really putting me to work, huh, Greene?”

Alyssa’s lips twitch. “What kind of girlfriend would I be if I didn’t?”

***

Seven hours to opening. 10am. 

“How are things, Marcus?” Emma asks, sweeping into the kitchen. 

“Good!” he calls, waving. “I put the chocolate on a double-boiler for the ice cream on the menu tonight, and now I’m just chopping the vegetables for the sauce.”

“Sounds good.” Emma pulls her beanie further down over her head, slipping her arms into her chef’s coat. “I’ll get to work on the other ingredients for the ice cream, and we should put the chicken in the oven to slow cook soon.”

“You got it.” Marcus throws her a thumbs up before he gets back to chopping. “Did you see the Pacers game last night?” 

Emma smiles to herself. “I don’t watch sports,” she admits, racking her brain for the right term and purposefully messing it up just to see the boy’s reaction. She tosses a wink to the camera. “But did we score a goal?” 

Marcus gapes. “They’re called baskets! It’s basketball!” HIs offense is clearly lacking bite, but his enthusiasm is anything but dampened. 

“My mistake,” Emma replies playfully, grinning wide. 

“You did that on purpose.” He pouts. 

***

Six hours to opening. 11am. 

“Anything we can do to help?” 

Alyssa looks up as she recognizes the voice in front of her. “Barry? Chef Allen? You’re still here?”

They both laugh. 

“You didn’t think we’d miss your opening night?” the man asks. “When else would I get to wear my nice silver tux?”

“I suppose this is the perfect time,” Alyssa agrees with a smile. “I don’t think we need much help out here.” She looks to Kaylee and Shelby who both shake their heads, waving brightly at Dee Dee and Barry. “And the twins are helping out in the kitchen since they got here.” She looks to Greg. “You need any help over there?” 

Greg shrugs. “I mean, if anybody is up for drink testing…?”

“I’m always up for that,” Dee Dee assures with a mischievous grin, wandering over to the bar. 

Greg laughs. “Hi Chef Allen.”

“Hello, Gregory,” she replies, reaching over to pat him on the shoulder. “Good to see you!”

“Good to see you too.”

***

Five hours to opening. 12pm. 

“‘Lys?” Emma calls from the doorway to the kitchen. 

Alyssa looks up, sliding her glasses onto the top of her head. “Em,” she replies, biting her lip around a smile. 

Emma laughs. “Come taste?” Her grin is perfectly wide, dimples on full display, and Alyssa swears that she falls in love a little deeper, feels her heart turn over in her chest when her girlfriend makes grabby hands at her. “I’ll give you a kiss.” 

“You two can handle this, right?” she asks, pointing to the last few details of the seating chart. 

“Whore,” Kaylee hisses, covering her mic, affectionate teasing in her tone. 

Alyssa shoves her gently, pointing to Shelby who Kaylee has been making heart-eyes at for the last five minutes. “You’re one to talk.”

***

Four hours to opening. 1pm. 

“Buttermilk yellow and sunrise yellow look the same,” Kevin and Emma both say at the same time, much to the chagrin of their partners. 

“They’re not at all the same,” Alyssa begins. 

“One’s brighter!” Greg finishes. 

“But why does it matter on this particular post?” Emma asks, head cocking to the side as she reads over the instagram story that Greg painstakingly wrote out with drink and food items that will be placed as specials tonight for opening. 

“Which one’s more eye-catching?” Alyssa asks, nudging her. “Which one would make it so you stopped scrolling?”

“I always read all my posts,” the woman answers brightly. “People put time into them! Why wouldn’t I?”

Alyssa’s lips twitch at that, affection in every breath as she leans against her girlfriend. “You’re too nice for this job.” She pats her on the shoulder before she turns to the table next to her. “Kaylee?”

“I hate what that insinuates,” the woman in question stage-whispers to herself humorously, clearly not actually upset. She holds out her hand. “Give it here.” She taps away at the screen, tossing it back into her friend’s lap after barely a minute. “There.”

Filtered photos and lines have replaced some of Greg’s more clunky boxes, and the yellow called sunrise is now outlining the words, which are written in a gentle blue, so that they pop. 

“How’d you do that?” Greg asks, eyes wide. 

Kaylee grins, flipping her hair. “Magic.” 

“She practices that shit,” Shelby chimes in at the same time. 

Her girlfriend pouts. “Babe.” 

***

Three hours to opening. 2pm. 

Everyone is all over the place trying to get everything done. Hayden and Kevin are pushing the last few tables into place; Greg is answering last minute PR questions; Marcus is prepping last minute items, and Emma and Alyssa—

They’re on the deck, filming B-Roll and sitting together, talking with their mics off while Trent gets last minute shots that Angie asked for. 

It’s giving them plenty of time to think. Maybe too much time. 

“This is gonna be good, right?” Alyssa asks, staring out at the water, rubbing her palms over her jeans. 

Emma wraps an arm around her shoulders. “It’s going to be great,” she assures. Again, she feels the ring in her pocket burning a hole through her jacket, and a tiny voice tells her to do it now, to throw caution to the wind. She refuses to listen to it. Not yet. Not until they’ve done what they set out to do. She squeezes Alyssa against her. “This is going to be the best night. I promise. I’ll make it so.” 

Alyssa nods carefully. “There’s going to be a lot of people,” she mumbles. It’s unlike her to get so shy, but there’s something different about this opening; it isn’t a soft one. It’s a go-big-or-go-home opening. 

“There will be, and we’ll handle it,” Emma whispers. “And a lot of people is good. That means that they support us.” 

Leaning against her, Alyssa breathes her in, and Emma swears she can feel her heartbeat. It makes her flush a little, even after all this time, even after everything. Alyssa never fails to make her feel this way, to make her heart turn over in her chest and make her whole body shiver. “You always know what to say. How’s that?” 

Emma smiles, kissing the top of her head. “Maybe I’m just an expert in all things Alyssa Greene.” 

Her girlfriend nuzzles against her neck. “That must be it.” 

***

Two hours to opening. 3pm. 

“Let’s turn everything on!” Alyssa calls, pointing to the lights. 

Kaylee and Greg, along with their servers, all scramble to the various switches that are for certain fixtures, flipping them on just in time for Trent to come in with the camera and starting doing main shots of the restaurant’s interior. 

The tables are perfectly ordered, resembling picnic benches, they’re all sanded down and stained dark, the wood smooth to touch and practically shining. Communal buckets of utensils are placed uniformly on the ends of each, and custom coasters that read Unruly Hearts’ Club are stacked neatly for use. 

In another corner, is a group of blue-cushioned couches, meant for idle hanging out and snacking, a less formal spot for those who just came in from the beach. Their color is a darker shade of the walls, which are crown-moulded on both floor and ceiling with white. 

Alyssa watches with pride as everyone stares around, a little awestruck. Despite having been there for the build, it’s different to see it all together. 

The deck, though, is the part that she loves the most. A built in fire pit— up to code, of course— sits in the middle, and coals are to be placed in it just before they actually open their doors. There’s limited seating, but on the right side, there’s a staircase that leads directly down to the beach for easy access, so that any customers who wish to hang out where they’ve set up a few volleyball nets and ping pong tables while they way for their food can do so. 

Her heart flips over in her chest when familiar hands walk along her hips and arms wrap around her waist. 

“It’s beautiful, ‘Lys,” Emma whispers; she’s said it so many times since the build finished, but it never gets old. 

Alyssa smiles, biting her lip around a larger grin. “No you.” 

“I love you.” Emma’s nose against her pulse makes Alyssa heat up in every way that causes her stomach to turn over and heart to flip. 

Somehow, though she doesn’t know why, there’s more weight behind it than ever. Alyssa didn’t know it was possible for Emma to love her even more, but she feels it, feels even more cared for, seen, known than she ever has. 

Which is saying something, considering that Emma pretty much taught her heart to beat, taught her lungs to breathe for real. She presses further back into her space, takes in the woman’s familiar scent before she opens her mouth to speak. 

“I love you too, Emma,” she mumbles. “I love you so much.” 

***

One hour to opening. 4pm. 

“You ready?” Emma asks, knocking on the door. 

Alyssa checks herself in the mirror, flattening out a final wrinkle in the skirt of her dress. It’s lavender, the straps crossing over her back, and she would be lying if she said she didn’t feel pretty. 

“Just a second!” she calls back, touching up her mascara before she wanders over to the door, pulling it open with a smile, which morphs first into a smug look when she sees the way Emma’s eyes fall on her and into a blush a moment later when she takes in her girlfriend’s outfit. 

She’s always known that Emma cleans up nice, but something about this outfit, about the gentle confidence of her expression, the few curls falling out from under the knit fabric of her beanie that makes Alyssa feel like her insides are melting. Emma’s wearing her nicest pair of suspenders, a navy set that Alyssa herself had bought her a few months ago, over a light blue button up that’s tucked into dark slacks. 

Needless to say, if Alyssa Greene wasn’t completely certain that she’s absolutely 100% gay before this moment, she sure as hell is now. 

“You look pretty,” Emma finally manages, eyes darting down and back up her frame. 

Alyssa flushes harder. “And you look—“ She searches for the right word before settling on: “I am incredibly gay.” 

“Me too,” Emma laughs, breath hitching when Alyssa suddenly hooks her fingers in the front of her suspenders and pulls her close. 

“Hi,” she whispers, brushing their noses together. 

“Hi.” Emma presses forward for a kiss, only for Kaylee to walk around the corner. 

“It’s like you two are a couple of teenagers!” she groans. “Haven’t you seen each other in various states of dress for almost two years now?”

“Yup,” Emma replies smartly. “Our chemistry is just stronger than ever. We’re like copper and tellurium! Cute!” 

“Did you just make a chemistry joke?” Greg calls from somewhere nearby Kaylee. 

“Sure did!” his cousin calls back. 

“I hate it here,” Shelby grumbles with little bite. 

Alyssa rolls her eyes, gaze returning to flickering over Emma’s face, still just a breath apart from her, hand still around the navy fabric. “Am I gonna get that kiss or not?” she whispers. 

Emma smiles. “Of course.” 

At that, Alyssa reaches up onto her toes, pressing their lips together. Her heart flips like it always does when she feels Emma grin, and her lack of balance due to her heels is the only reason she doesn’t pull the woman even closer. 

“I love you,” she says instead, butterflies, as cliche as it is, flying around in her stomach. 

“I love you too,” Emma answers. 

“Get a room!” Kevin calls, and it makes everyone laugh. 

***

Opening. 5pm. 

“Welcome to the Unruly Hearts’ Club!” Alyssa laughs, resulting in a big cheer from the line waiting outside. 

“We’re so glad to have you!” Emma adds, able to clock a few familiar faces in the crowd along with a few queer kids in town that she’s mentored over the years at the high school. “We’re not going to take up too much of your time, since we all know that we’re here for the food and the night to follow, but thank you so much for being here.” 

Alyssa nods in agreement. “It’s been a more difficult road to get here than we planned, and we’re so grateful for everybody’s support and love. Now, let’s get to it, shall we?” 

Another cheer. 

Kaylee takes that as her cue to slip out from behind the door. “If you have a reservation, please come speak with me! If you’re a walk in, you can speak with Kevin on the left!” 

“Over here!” Kevin waves, holding up his clipboard. 

The line splits in two at that, and Emma marvels at the crowd they’ve managed to gather. She smiles when Alyssa’s hand slips into hers. 

“We did it,” the woman whispers, clearly as in awe as her. “We’ve done a good thing.” 

Emma smiles at the words, at the way that they no longer feel as though Alyssa is trying to convince them both of such a fact. They sound sure, sound right in this air of celebration and hope. 

“We’ve done a good thing,” she agrees. 

*** 

Four hours after opening. 12am. 

The last stragglers of the night are filing out, now, and all Emma can do to contain her excitement is pinch herself. 

She’s on the deck, sat beside her friends, their feet dangling. 

“I love you guys,” she says quietly, looking down the line. Shelby is leaning against Kaylee, and Greg and Kevin are barely keeping their eyes open, both couples having spent most of the night running around from table to table whole Hayden and Emma ran kitchen service and Alyssa checked in with just about every guest. 

Their group is a well oiled machine by now, practically able to read each other’s minds. 

“We love you too, Em,” Greg answers for the group. 

Emma smiles, not sure what else to say as she waits for Alyssa, who’s locking up. The night is winding down, and there’s only so much time left for her final act to cap off a brilliant night. 

“I’m going to go down to the sand,” she finally declares. “Tell Alyssa to meet me there?” 

“Will do,” Hayden calls for the lot; all of them are slightly confused; as far as they know, Emma Nolan hates sand. 

Emma nods her thanks, though, despite the fact, bounding down the steps. They have a few cameras set up for B-Roll down near the volleyball nets, and that’s exactly what she’s counting on. 

She takes off her shoes, leaving them on the last stair before strolling out, not looking back for fear she may chicken out completely if she doesn’t strand herself for the moment in the middle of the little park they built. 

Waves crash slightly further away, and they help to steady her heartbeat slightly. 

Still, nothing can stop her from jumping when she feels arms around her waist. 

“Hayden said you were waiting for me,” Alyssa murmurs in her ear. 

“I was,” Emma replies. “Wanted a moment alone with you.” 

“Well now you have me,” her girlfriend says sweetly, kissing her shoulder. 

Emma nods, her pulse racing. 

Alyssa stops, pulling back slightly. “What’s wrong?” 

“Nothing,” Emma rushes out, turning in her grasp, eyes soft as she tries to communicate the truth of the statement. 

“You sure?” Alyssa asks nervously. 

Emma nods again. “Just let me look at you for a second.” Before everything changes. 

Alyssa blushes. “Okay.” She reaches out, taking Emma’s hand and squeezing. “Look as long as you like,” she teases, pretty and shy. 

Emma’s pulse trips over itself as she registers once more how beautiful this woman in front of her is, how absolutely brilliant she is. 

It’s all Emma can think, all that her brain wants to notice. She’s so in love with Alyssa it’s almost ridiculous, almost laughable. She’s loved her for so long that any thought of not just doesn’t make sense, not anymore. 

“I wanna look at you forever,” she manages, swallowing hard to force her heart to slow down. “God, I—“ 

She looks away. 

“Emma?” Alyssa murmurs. 

A shiver passes through her at the way Alyssa says her name, exhales it with some kind of unknown wonder. “I’m going to say something, and you’re not going to interrupt me, not till I’m done,” she starts, meeting brown eyes with her own that reply a silent okay. “Here it goes,” she murmurs to herself, shoving her hand into her pocket to make sure the ring is there, fiddling with it. “Alyssa, I love you. I’ve loved you pretty much since I knew what it really was.” 

Alyssa’s eyes soften, her head tilting to the side in gentle curiosity. 

At the sight, Emma fumbles for words she’s practiced over and over, her brain empty at the gravity of this moment. Suddenly, a voice echoes in her head, one she thought had left her. 

From the heart, her grandfather whispers. All of the best things come from the heart, Emmy. 

She nods to nobody in particular at that, steeling her emotions before she drowns in them; the last thing she can do right now is cry, however full her heart is, however the permanency of this moment makes her feel. 

“We’ve talked this over dozens of times, but it’ll always be the truth: you’re the best part of my life,” she says quietly, her hand still in Alyssa’s, who squeezes gently once more. “And I never want to lose that.” 

Alyssa’s lips part, as if to say, you won’t, before she remembers that she agreed not to speak a word until Emma is done. 

The blonde smiles at her gratefully, glasses slipping down her nose a little, sweat collecting from nerves and excitement. 

“Which is why, right now, despite the fact that I hate sand—“ she jokes, eyes growing slightly watery at the way Alyssa laughs, the way she wants to make her laugh like that forever— “I’m going to ask you to spend the rest of your life with me.” She gets down on a knee, smiling at the way Alyssa gasps, at the cheers from the deck as she pulls the little velvet box from her pocket. Taking a deep breath, she pops it open. “Alyssa Greene, will you marry me?” 

Alyssa’s hands cover her mouth, as if this is some movie, as if this is some fairytale where it’s all been planned, though both women know how untrue that is, how much they’ve struggled to get here, right now. 

“Alyssa?” Emma whispers shyly, hazel irises bright with hopeful emotion. 

She nods. “Yes,” she breathes, a few tears collecting, unsure how she’s even able to speak. “Yes. I will marry you.” 

“Thank God,” Emma mumbles, and it makes Alyssa burst into a relieved laugh and grab her by the collar of her shirt until she’s forced to rise to her feet, bringing them nose-to-nose.

“Kiss her!” Kevin, Kaylee, and Shelby, calls from the bleachers, hands cupped around their mouths. 

“There’s no backing out after a kiss, just a warning,” Emma teases, nuzzling her cheek. 

“Warning taken,” Alyssa laughs, tears falling freely now as she forces her forward, pressing their lips together in a messy, brilliant kiss. 

It’s a little salty— both of them are crying— but it doesn’t matter as Emma lifts Alyssa off the ground, spinning her around, a hand cupping the back of her head to keep her close. They both smile into it, twirling until they’re dizzy with love and future plans. 

The world rights itself on its axis, stands straight up so quickly in honor of their engagement that they fall to the ground— at least, that’s how Emma will explain it later, along with boasting that she in fact proved chivalry is not dead since she cushioned her fiancée’s fall— and they both grin.  

“I love you,” Emma murmurs, her beanie slipping off of her head as she lays back on the sand, looking up at Alyssa. 

Alyssa’s heart turns over at the sight as she rests an arm beside Emma’s head and leans down for another kiss. “I love you too.” 

This one is slower, more deliberate, filled with heat and a slight passion that can never be replicated outside of this little stretch of sand. It’s as easy as breathing, as simple as being, kissing like this, giving voice to silent affirmation, taking each other in and forcing any memories of hurt from their lives. 

“Don’t fuck on the beach!” Greg advises from yards away. 

Alyssa giggles at that, pulling back from the kiss and pressing her face into Emma’s neck. “This is the best day of my life,” she whispers, looking down at the ring. 

“And it’s the best day of mine,” Emma murmurs, brushing lips over her forehead. “Here’s to more of them?” She reaches out her pinky to link with Alyssa’s.

“Here’s to more of them,” she agrees, locking her finger around Emma’s. 

***

“Here’s to More of Them.” @JulietInConverse: IM SCREAMING. OH MY GOD. 

Betsy Nolan Stan @NinjaKTX: i love them 

presentation, taste, and emlyssa @satan: HAJSHDJDF 

Gay Food Network (Once More) @Adohug: NOW IM YEARNING 

#NickFTW @itsOzzie: Bro. I’m soft. 

Thinking About It [The Unruly Hearts’ Club] @ambien-im-on-it: :pleading_face:

Chapter Text

Alyssa stirs, a smile already coming to her face when she feels Emma’s arms around her waist, warmth filling every empty space in their bedroom. 

“Good morning, fiancée,” she whispers, turning slightly to look backwards, heart flipping over at the way Emma’s lips twitch at the word. 

“Good morning,” she replies, kissing Alyssa’s shoulder. “I like hearing that. Fiancée.” She marvels for a moment. 

“I like saying it,” Alyssa replies, shifting fully in her grasp so that they’re nose-to-nose. She blinks her eyes open, unable to stop herself from grinning harder when she sees hazel eyes staring back at her, soft and pretty.

It’s her favorite sight of all: Emma Nolan cast in gold, the morning glow gentle across her face. She reaches forward, thumbing over her cheek, brushing a lock of hair behind her ear.

Emma leans into the touch, kissing the inside of her wrist, ghosting her lips against the familiar pulse she finds there. “I love you.” 

“I love you too,” Alyssa whispers, pressing forward for a kiss until Emma is on her back, heart racing in her chest when she feels fingers skim under her top and against the base of her spine. It’s a motion that often lulls her to sleep, but now, it only serves to send gentle, happy shivers through her. 

The perfection of the moment only mounts when, as she reaches forward to cup Emma’s jaw with her left hand, she catches sight of the ring. 

They’d been so exhausted last night— the kind of tired that comes from joy— that they’d barely even taken off their dress clothes before falling into bed. Alyssa couldn’t bear to take it off, some part of her unable to believe it wasn’t a dream. 

Now, in the light of a new day, she can be sure that this is real life, her life. 

“Do you like it?” Emma asks shyly, eyes soft.  

Alyssa nods carefully, watching as the diamonds glitter under the sun peeking through the window by their bed. “I love it, Emma. How could I not?” 

Emma smiles, then, dimples as adorable as ever as Alyssa studies her face. “I’m glad. I don’t know a lot about jewelry, but I thought it was nice.” She presses a kiss to Alyssa’s jaw. 

“It’s the best thing ever,” her fiancée corrects, still staring at the ring. “Though I am honestly impressed that you were able to keep it a secret.” Her gaze is teasing as she meets Emma’s, gentle and so in love that it almost makes both of their chests ache. 

“And I’m proud that you didn’t see it coming,” Emma counters. “I was worried you might see it coming.”

Alyssa tilts her head to the side curiously. “And why’s that?”

“Your mom said that when I have enough money, I should ask you to marry me,” Emma explains. “I thought you may have heard that, when she said that, I mean. But, she didn’t need to tell me that. That was my plan all along.” She looks away, pressing her face into her fianceée’s shoulder. “God, I’ve been wanting to marry you for as long as I’ve loved you, ‘Lyssa. Is that crazy to say?” Reddening, she rushes to equivocate in some way, just in case it was too much, just in case her words are received as presumptuous, though she knows that Alyssa could never think that of her. “Yeah, that sounds—”

Alyssa cuts her off with a kiss. “Emma,” she murmurs. “You have no idea how good that makes me feel.” It makes me feel worth something, more than anything I ever thought I was made of before. 

“Really?” Emma asks softly. 

Alyssa bites her lip around a smile. “Really.” 

***

“Should we get up?” Alyssa murmurs, face pressed into Emma’s neck, still cuddling against her. 

“It’s the final episode today,” Emma replies, kissing the side of her head. “And, y’know, they can’t really do the show without us.” 

The comment makes Alyssa giggle. “You’re right. They can’t.” She ghosts her lips over Emma’s pulse. “So maybe we should just stay in bed to see what happens—”

“Who are you and what have you done with Alyssa Greene?” the blonde jokes. 

“You proposed to her,” Alyssa quips in reply, but there’s no bite to it; instead, warmth courses veins at the fingers that are still locked over the small of her back. It’s clear she doesn’t want to get up either. If she could, she’d probably stay in bed with Alyssa forever. These are the moments she loves, the quiet and the peace that only exists in the spaces between them in a world that always feels just a little too loud. 

She snuggles close again, dozing for a moment before a chuckle in Emma’s chest rumbles and nudges her awake again. 

“‘Lys, let’s get up,” she whispers. “I wasn’t kidding. They can’t do the show without us.”

“I’m so warm, though,” Alyssa whines, but she shrieks with laughter, suddenly, when Emma sweeps one arm under her legs and secures the other under her back, lifting her and carrying her out of bed, standing up without much trouble. 

“If you’re not gonna get up, I’ll make you,” Emma teases, spinning around while Alyssa clings to her neck.

“Em!” Alyssa cries, giggling when she’s carried out the door of their bedroom, softening when Emma places her on the counter gently and unplugs the camera behind her. 

“Here. I’ll make you breakfast,” Emma promises, standing between her legs and pressing a gentle kiss to her lips. “Just stay there and look pretty in the intro, hm?” 

“You wanted me to get out of bed just so you could make breakfast for me?” Alyssa laughs. 

“Yes, because you’re my fiancée now,” Emma explains, flipping a wooden spoon in her hand and pointing it at the woman. “It needs to be an awesome breakfast!” 

Alyssa smiles again at the word fiancée, at the care Emma is taking today to make this day special. 

***

Emma zooms in the camera carefully, grinning as Alyssa looks up from her phone to come face-to-face with the lens. 

“Oh!” she laughs. “Hi! Good morning! Thank you so much for tuning in to our final episode.” She smiles, pretty and soft as she continues. “As you know, Emma proposed to me, which was a complete and total surprise.” She waves her hand in the air, showing the audience her ring. “So this week is going to be a super easy final look at what we’ve got going on. It has been so great taking this journey with you.” 

“We’re really so grateful,” Emma agrees, craning her neck around the camera while still holding it. “Who knows how different our lives would be without all of you.” Her eyes light up. “Who knows if I’d even have proposed.” 

“Maybe I’d have beat her to it,” Alyssa jokes. “I did have a plan, but it was about a month away.” 

Emma’s features soften as she turns to look at her fiancée. “You had a plan?” 

“Not now,” Alyssa chides quietly, pressing a kiss to the side of the woman’s head. 

“Later?” the blonde whispers. 

“I’ll tell you later,” Alyssa agrees. 

***

“Here’s to More of Them.” @JulietInConverse: alyssa had a plan :pleading_face:

presentation, taste, and emlyssa @satan: :pleading_face: a plan

Yearning. @itsOzzie: Ugh. So soft. 

Betsy Nolan Stan @NinjaKTX: I kinda wanna know the plan...

Gay Food Network (Once More) @Adohug: god imagine being them

Thinking About It [The Unruly Hearts’ Club] @ambien-im-on-it: :pleading_face:

***

“We open at 9am on weekdays,” Emma tells the camera, holding the door open behind her as Trent trails behind. 

“Crowds start to trickle in around lunch, though, and everybody else is coming in for merch or a snack,” Alyssa chimes in from where she’s counting the bills in the register. 

“So, plenty of time for prep,” Marcus finishes from where he’s drinking his coffee and talking with Kevin. 

Emma nods. “Exactly.”

Only for a second, quiet descends over the group, as if they’ve suddenly realized how far they’ve come. Suddenly, there’s peace. 

It seems to hit them all between the ribs; there’s a breathless sort of air filling the room. 

“For now,” Kaylee starts, staring around at her friends, basking in the easiness that continues to sit between them for a moment after Emma’s agreement, as they just marvel at what they’ve built, at the very place they’re standing in. “Why don’t we just take a break? Alyssa, show us your ring!”

Everyone smiles at that, and it breaks the gentle stillness, chatter erupting throughout the room as people vy for a first look. 

***

The rest of the day runs smoothly; the crew mostly leaves the staff be aside from corner shots for B-Roll and a few requests for something to drink. 

Most of the attention for the remaining hours is aimed at the two owners. Angie’s been pulling the others of the group periodically, and now, as the dinner service starts to pick up, Emma and Alyssa have been taken onto the beach for their final interview. 

The restaurant inside is bustling, pleasant voices talking away about their days and what fun they’ve had, many of them evidently knowledgeable of the place’s mission, that they’ll be welcome, while others are just looking for a good bite. 

Laughter carries across the sand, down to where the owners are watching with a sort of pride, a kind of awe. 

Softly, Angie tilts her head to the side, her eyes filled with their own sort of passion and purpose, their own kind of secondhand joy watching the two women in front of her, holding hands, engaged, stealing a moment together to take in what they’ve built. 

“Can you tell me how this feels?” she asks gently, allowing the silence to hold, sweet and tension free. 

“Perfect,” Emma breathes, not sure what else to say. “The greatest.” 

Alyssa nods. “Indescribable beyond that.” She squeezes her fiancée’s hand. “And a lot of that has to do with all of you.” She gestures to the crew behind Angie, the cameras, the production assistants. 

Angie’s brow furrows in slight confusion as she looks around. “Us?” 

“You captured our lives,” Emma supplies. “Helped us find ourselves, parts of ourselves that we didn’t even know existed.” 

“It’s the kind of thing we’ll be able to watch back one day,” Alyssa continues. “However little it seemed in the moment, however much it seemed like just work, that’s something wildly…” She searches for the word, before settling on, “Breathtaking.”

“Imagine that, one day,” Emma laughs, a little emotional, wavering in her strength slightly. “Going back, seeing yourself, the mistakes you made. You change. You fall in love.” She smiles at Alyssa. “You propose. You see all the mistakes and stupid things you cared about, watch as you grow up. And you get to view that again, like it’s a story, like it isn’t your life, so just maybe, maybe, you can understand yourself a little better, so whoever else in your life can, too. Imagine that, one day.” 

She looks down, wiping at her eyes, softening when she feels a gentle hand pull her beanie down over her ears as they start to grow red. She smiles at Alyssa, a little speechless and eternally grateful when the woman ends her thought without any consultation, as if she already knows what’s going on in her head. 

“You gave us that,” she fills in. There’s an earnestness about her voice. “It’s a brilliant gift. The kind of thing that could never be repaid.” 

“Just invite us to the wedding,” Angie quips, trying to break some of the emotion before it overflows, but her eyes are wet too. “And be happy. Really happy. We’ll come back and check on you from time to time. That’s a promise. If you’ll have us.” 

Emma and Alyssa look between each other with gentle gazes before they nod. 

“Of course we’ll have you,” the former says, taking a deep breath. “We’ll have anybody who’d like to come, whether you be in our community or not, however you identify, wherever you’re from—” she points at and looks over her shoulder at the restaurant, grinning once more— “We promise there’s a spot for you. Come have a bite with us. And if you’ve not got a family, we’ll be yours.” 

Alyssa smiles in agreement, leaning her head on the woman’s shoulder. “We can’t wait to meet you.” 

There’s a little sniffling in the background, and it breaks some of the tension when it causes gentle laughter to cascade through the production members. 

Suddenly, it becomes clear that the show is really over, that they’ll have to part ways. There’s a simultaneous freedom and suffocation about it, about realizing that their lives will be different once more, but as they look around at each other, as Alyssa snuggles her head further against Emma’s shoulder, there’s also a newness, and this is the perfect celebration of what they built together. 

Finally, Angie breaks the quiet. 

“Cut,” she breathes, clapping her hands together and gesturing around. “That’s a wrap, folks.” She leans forward slightly, fixing a look on the couple in front of her. “I love you two. Thank you.” 

Alyssa smiles at her. “Thank you, Angie. And for the record, we love you too.” 

***

Yearning. @itsOzzie: God. I feel so fuzzy. 

Gay Food Network (Once More) @Adohug: gonna miss the happening being on my tv every week </3

↱ ↲ Yearning., Gay Food Network (Once More), and 3 More

“Here’s to More of Them.” @JulietInConverse: my heart <3. no other words. thank you @thehappeningfoodnetwork