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i.
It's a little over two months after they've officially started dating that Andy realises there's more to learn about Emily as a girlfriend. Traits she would never have expected, having known her for so many years.
The first time Andy noticed this one particular trait of hers though, she had assumed it was purely accidental. But then it happened again, and then a fifth time, and Andy started to realise that it couldn't possibly be a coincidence.
Emily Charlton is a hugger when they're asleep.
This discovery of hers was rather fascinating, if anything. Andy would wake up to Emily's arms around her body, her front pressed against Andy's back - occasionally of course, the situation is reversed, but Andy is more focused on the fact that Emily doesn't shy away from spooning her over the night.
Tonight is no exception as Andy wakes up on her back randomly in the middle of the night with an arm wrapped firmly around her waist. She blinks sleepily, realising her arm is wound naturally around her girlfriend as she basks in the warm furnace engulfing her entire body. Emily is nestled into Andy's side with her face resting soundly on Andy's upper chest. One of her legs is thrown over Andy's lower body, and Andy could feel the steady breathing of air against her neck.
She carefully lifts her head to peer at the alarm clock on her bedside table, checking the time - it is 3:47am. An ungodly hour to be awake, so Andy tries to fall back to sleep. She attempts to shift in her position though, wanting to face Emily instead, and the movement must have awoken the redhead, for Emily lets out a low groan. "-ndy?"
"Sorry," Andy whispers, barely being awake herself. "Go back to sleep."
She doesn't hear a response from the other woman, so Andy tries to extricate herself from Emily's hold, wanting to create some distance and space between them.
Much to her surprise, Emily groans again. Her eyes are still closed when she grumbles. "What are you doing?"
Andy feels sleep escaping her the longer she stays awake, and she fights the urge to smile. "It's a little warm, Em."
Emily murmurs, still half asleep. "But I like it when you're warm."
Andy fully smiles into the quiet night. "Is that why you're always cuddling me?"
Emily's eyes snap open as she exhales sharply. "What? Who said I was cuddling you?"
Andy fights the urge to laugh, because she isn't all that surprised to hear denial as her first instinct. "Em, you were using me as a human bolster."
"I have no idea what you're talking about." Emily mutters. "Can we please just go back to sleep?"
She doesn't have the strength to argue in the middle of the night, so Andy agrees and tries to fall back to sleep. Emily's breathing eventually evens out again, and they sleep facing each other that night.
But the next morning, when Andy wakes again, the first thing she realises is that Emily has snuggled as close as possible into her again, getting rid of whatever distance she had attempted to put between them just hours ago.
Andy doesn't tease her this time. Instead, she simply smiles and pulls Emily into her chest, locking her in an embrace until their alarm rings an hour after.
ii.
Another thing Andy notices early on in their relationship - and this being something that greatly shocked her - is that Emily always kisses her first when they're alone. A quick peck, mostly, but a kiss nevertheless.
Emily does it as a greeting whenever she comes home from work if the kids are not around. She does it right before they go to bed, and again in the morning once they are showered and ready to leave their bedroom.
Andy of course, has absolutely no reason to complain about this display of affection. If anything, she finds herself craving for more casual kisses in passing, completely aware that she is too far gone in love with her girlfriend.
One evening, curiosity gets into her and she blurts out without any preamble. "You always kiss me first when we are alone."
Emily looks up from her wine glass, expression confused as she gapes at the other woman. "I absolutely do not."
Andy isn't surprised, once again, to hear such a response from her. "You absolutely do!"
Emily shakes her head firmly. "I don't!"
"Then explain this morning before we made breakfast for the kids." Andy pulls out receipts from the day, folding her fingers one after another. "And in the car earlier when I picked you up from your office. And what about in the kitchen when we were doing the dishes while the kids were in their rooms doing their homework?"
Emily opens her mouth to argue, finds no words to counter Andy's statement, and shuts her mouth again. Her cheeks are flushed as she hides behind her glass of wine. "Well. I can't believe you are keeping track, Andrea."
A grin makes its way to Andy's face as she knows that Emily only calls her by her government name when she is flustered or irritated. Which means she might actually be on to something.
Andy continues giddily. "I honestly just wanted you to know that I love it when you kiss me first."
Emily blushes even harder now. "Hm." She merely hums as a response.
"I'm just fascinated, that is all." Andy explains. "I would never have expected you to be so affectionate as a girlfriend. And I absolutely love it. Live for it, in fact."
Emily makes a face and closes her eyes seemingly in irritation. "Bloody hell."
Andy laughs, then takes a sip of wine. She doesn't say anything else, merely observing her girlfriend from the corner of her eyes as her heart swells with affection.
And then, Emily admits softly, so softly that Andy almost misses it.
"Maybe I just enjoy kissing you."
Andy puts down her glass of wine instantly, eyes wide with surprise. But she keeps mum, not wanting Emily to shy away from elaborating her sudden statement.
"I just simply…"
Andy sees Emily struggling to find and say those words, so she leans forward to pat her thighs. "Em, it's okay. You don't have to explain."
Emily opens her eyes, looking at Andy for a long moment. Her expression is a mix of relief and adoration.
"I didn't say all of that expecting you to explain." Andy says with a warm smile. "I was simply…making an observation."
Then she closes the distance between them by pressing her lips against Emily's, and pulling back three seconds after. "There. Let's call it even."
Before Andy can scoot back into her spot though, Emily places her wine glass down on the coffee table, and reaches forward, curling her fingers around Andy's collar and then pulling the woman down into her. She crashes their lips together as Andy lets out a squeak of surprise, but reciprocates the kiss with equal enthusiasm, practically pushing Emily into the couch.
Emily's hand is already in Andy's hair, fingers threading through the soft ends at the nape of her neck. The space between them shrinks, until there is no room for anything but the quiet, loving ache settling in their hearts, the type that comes from having too much feelings for someone.
Their kiss deepens, almost breathless in its intensity. Andy's soft sigh catches at the seam of their lips, her palm resting hot against Emily's cheek. Then Andy draws back to catch a quick breath before leaning down to pepper kisses on Emily's jaw, down across the column of her throat before settling against the curve where her shoulder meets her neck. Knowing it is one of Emily's sensitive spots, Andy pays extra attention to the patch of skin until it elicits a soft moan from her, and—
And then they hear movement from Roark's room, and Emily immediately pushes Andy away with a force that sends her toppling down the couch with a thud. "Ow!"
"Oh my god."
The door opens to reveal a half asleep boy rubbing his eyes. "Mum?"
Emily is up in an instant, already rushing to her son's side. "Yes, darling?"
"I had a nightmare." Roark says with a pout, then spots Andy rubbing her back. "Why is Andy on the floor?"
"Never mind her." Emily says, clearly flustered at nearly being caught making out with her girlfriend, at the same exact time Andy squeaks out. "I'm fine! Just tripped, that's all!"
Andy narrows her eyes at Emily, a little sulky at her dismissive response as the latter throws her a look of apology before turning to her son again. "Let's get you a warm glass of milk, yeah?"
Roark nods, and then goes back into his room. "Night, Andy."
"Night, Ro."
iii.
Andy learns fairly quickly that Emily isn't someone who particularly enjoys watching the television. She doesn't like soap dramas nor sitcoms, doesn't like anything too loud and explosive. Emily claims there's other better things she can make use with her time, such as reading.
Yet somehow, whenever Andy puts something on after the kids have fallen asleep, Emily would appear beside her within ten minutes with a book in hand. At first, she'll sit at the opposite end of the couch - then slowly, she starts scooting closer. Without neither of them really acknowledging it, Emily usually ends up shoulder to shoulder with Andy.
Andy doesn't think too much of it until she realises the recurring pattern in her behaviour. One evening, she feels Emily snuggling against her shoulder comfortably, still reading the same book she's been reading for weeks. Then she shifts, subtly at first, and shifts again, until she is practically curled into Andy's side, with one of her hands resting lightly against Andy's stomach.
Which causes the brunette to glance down in amusement. "Are you comfortable?"
Emily hums, satisfied, and continues reading her book. Andy isn't even paying attention to the television now, finding her attention transfixed on her girlfriend. Her heart swells at this proximity as Andy realises.
"You know," She starts slowly, knowing she is about to chart into dangerous territory. "you could just admit you like cuddling."
Emily moves beside her, pushing her entire body away from Andy's side. "Not this again."
"No, listen! I like being your human pillow." Andy says with a lazy smile.
"It's only because you're…you're conveniently beside me." Emily says weakly, and Andy snorts. "Wow, that's such a romantic thing to say."
"I wasn't attempting to be romantic!" Emily hisses, and scoots to the further end of the couch away from Andy.
"Just admit it, Em." Her girlfriend says in a sing-song voice. "You are clingy."
Emily gasps loudly, snapping her head up from her book. "I am not clingy!"
"Sure you're not." Andy teases. "You surprise me every day in the best ways possible, Emily Charlton."
Her cheeks are heated, and this time, Emily decides not to argue with Andy. Nor does she admit it. Instead, she huffs loudly and buries her face into her book with none of the words on the pages register in her head.
Andy simply laughs.
iv.
Andy goes on a business trip with Miranda to Italy, and suddenly finds herself discovering a new side of Emily she didn't know exist.
On the first day, everything seems normal. She's far too busy to be checking her phone for messages, and there are barely any that needed her immediate attention anyway.
Then comes the second day, and Andy wakes up at 7:30am to a text from Emily.
From: Em(ily)
Morning.
Remember to eat breakfast.
Andy blinks away the haze of sleep, a little confused at first but gradually a smile starts to spread across her face. Over the fact that her girlfriend had just sent her a text reminding her to eat properly before she went to bed.
From: A♡
Morning (or Night to you)! I will. Sleep well, baby.
She is about to put her phone away when she sees the three dots appearing immediately, and Emily's chat status changes to 'online'. Frowning, Andy quirks an eyebrow. Time difference tells her it is about 1:30am in New York, which is past Emily's usual bed time.
From: Em(ily)
I'll try. Did you just wake up?
By the way, just so you know, drinking coffee isn't eating breakfast.
Andy laughs at Emily's latest text, unsurprised that she has had the hunch that coffee is all that she might be taking later. She types her reply hastily, hoping to talk to Emily a little while more before the latter goes to sleep.
From: A♡
Why are you still awake?
OK, OK. I'll eat a bagel or something too.
From: Em(ily)
I can't sleep.
A bagel in Italy?! Are you mad?!
Andy is fully awake now, and she sits up on her hotel bed, already typing a response with a smile on her face.
From: A♡
Em. Seriously. You should be sleeping.
She hesitates but then sends her next reply anyway.
Do you miss me or something?
The three dots appear again, and Andy patiently waits for Emily's reply.
From: Em(ily)
Don't be ridiculous.
It's only been one day.
Andy grins reading her replies, expecting no less from Emily. Deep down though, she is unconvinced by her answer.
From: A♡
You can send me messages anytime, Em.
I might not be able to respond at once, but I will when I can.
For now though, go to sleep.
You need all the rest you can get!
From: Em(ily)
Fine, fine.
I'll talk to you later.
The three dots appear and disappear for several long seconds. When it disappears for the third time, Andy assumes that's the last of Emily's message to her. She starts to crawl out of bed, wanting to wash up when her phone pings again, and Andy looks down in surprise to read one more sentence from her.
Love you.
Andy nearly falls down from her bed, completely taken aback. It's not like this is Emily's first time ever saying those words to her. But it's also not like Emily to give out those words generously. She's the type who holds the L word sacred in her heart, reserving it only for moments that matter.
Andy is filled with a strong urge to call her, just to hear her voice, just to repeat those words to her verbally. But she refrains from doing that, knowing it would only hinder her plan of making sure Emily goes to bed before it gets even more late in New York.
Instead, she sends her reply with warmth bubbling in her chest.
From: A♡
Two more nights and I'll be home, Em. I love you too.
Emily's reply comes 7 hours later. Probably when she's having breakfast with the kids. Andy doesn't read it immediately, as she's busy working. By the end of the day when she heads back to the hotel and finally checks her phone, she is surprised to see more than 20 messages from Emily, all without urgency.
They were just messages telling her about her day.
From: Em(ily)
Wyn says she misses you.
Ro is asking you to buy him that toy he told you about before you left.
Andy, if it's expensive, don't bother with it.
[image attached]
Our breakfast today. Hm. You didn't send me what you had for breakfast.
Better be proper food, Andrea, I swear.
Andy chuckles, noting the end of the first batch of messages from breakfast. Then she scrolls down the chat and continues reading.
[link attached]
Izzy sent me this. Donatella didn't look too thrilled to be photographed with Miranda.
Hm. On a second thought. Neither does Miranda.
Kidding.
Barely spotted you in the background in one of the pictures in this article.
But good job, Andy! So proud.
You're probably busy working, so don't mind me.
Andy clicks into the link and her phone browser opens up an article covering their event from yesterday, where they'd gone to visit Donatella to discuss an upcoming major collaboration. She laughs seeing the questionable picture between her boss and Donatella, and then smiles seeing the other picture with her in the background.
Knowing that Emily has kept a specific eye out for her is enough to make her heart skip a beat. Andy continues to scroll the rest of the messages and a few photographs Emily had sent her hours ago - until she reaches the last two texts.
She stops in her tracks, heart pounding.
I wish you were here.
Andy stares at that sentence longer than necessary.
Not because I miss you. I mean. Obviously.
She grins, and hurries into her hotel. As soon as she reaches her room, Andy calls Emily, unable to resist another minute of not hearing her girlfriend's voice.
And Emily picks up immediately after one right, as if she had been waiting for this moment the entire day too.
v.
Andy finds it extremely endearing how Emily has an excuse for every time she reaches out to hold her hand.
Like, the rain caused the pavement to be slippery. Or her heels were uncomfortable and Andy was walking too fast. Or how there were too many people in the crowd and she didn't want to lose Andy in it. Or how her hands were cold because her office's AC had been freezing.
The point is, there's always a reason for Emily to hold Andy's hand.
Like currently, when Emily juts her hand out and says flatly. "Give me your hand."
Andy looks at her in amusement and decides she'll make her work for it today. "Why?"
Emily's expression falls so quickly Andy immediately retracts wanting to tease her. She takes her hand two seconds after with a laugh, and watches how Emily interlocks their fingers together. "Gosh, you really like holding my hand, huh?"
Emily hums, and doesn't say anything. They're walking to their dinner spot near her office, given that the kids are with Frank for the week. Even after reaching the restaurant while they are in queue, Emily still doesn't let Andy's hand go.
Andy looks at their intertwined hands and hears the roar of her heart racing in her ears. "Em. Are you planning on ever letting go?"
"No, shan't." Emily's reply is curt and so confident it nearly sends Andy clutching her stomach in laughter.
"And you said you weren't clingy." She teases her girlfriend and receives an almost murderous glare in return.
Emily loosens her grip, ready to deny everything, but Andy only tightens her hand around hers, giving it a firm squeeze. "Nuh uh. I like this. I'll hold your hand the entire day if I could."
"That would be rather uncomfortable I'd think. And impractical." Emily snorts, rolling her eyes playfully.
"I think you'd secretly like it." Andy winks then leans in to whisper into Emily's ear. "Just like how we always do in bed."
Andy draws back with a smug look as she watches how Emily's cheeks turn a scarlet red at the implication. "Why I never." She finally says, looking away with a shy huff.
Andy doesn't tease her anymore for the rest of the night. Not even after dinner is over and they're walking back, and Emily slides her hand down Andy's arm, slipping her hand into hers naturally. This is something Andy learns she is greatly fond of, being able to be at the receiving end of Emily as her lover. Seeing her in the softest light and gentlest way only she is privy to experiencing.
Then Andy lifts Emily's hand to her lips, and because it is a rather chilly night, she slips both of their interlocked hands into her coat pocket after that.
They hold hands all the way home.
+1
It is an ordinary evening just like any other, with the television playing quietly in the background. Emily's thumb is absentmindedly tracing over Andy's knuckles, and the latter tells her playfully. "You're being clingy again."
"And?" Emily returns easily.
"Nothing." Andy shrugs while smiling. She has expected Emily to deny it again, why of course. Instead, Emily looks down at their joined hands and her expression changes into something softer, gentler.
"I suppose I am."
Andy does a double take. "Huh?"
"Being clingy." Emily repeats, unable to look at Andy. She's blushing furiously, a sight Andy is used to seeing by now - which is another fact she has learned about Emily in the capacity as lovers and not just friends. She blushes easily. So, so easily.
"The truth is…It's been a while since I've properly allowed myself to love and be loved. Frank was the last and I don't know if he counts, honestly, but…I don't know how to do this." Emily confesses, her voice small and measured.
Andy feels all air leave her lungs. "What do you mean?"
Emily gestures vaguely between them. "This. Us. Being a proper girlfriend. A needy one, maybe."
Andy squeezes her hand and shakes her head once. "You're not needy."
"Are you sure? Because I keep finding reasons to touch you. I sleep better when you're here with me. And I miss you tremendously when you're gone even for just a day."
Andy smiles, understanding every single reference Emily had made. "I've noticed, yes."
Emily gives her an irritated look. "You're enjoying the heck out of this, aren't you?"
"A little." The brunette admits with a soft laugh.
"You're terrible." Emily says, but doesn't mean it, and Andy nods in agreement. "Maybe I am. I'm sorry."
Emily turns quiet for a moment, and when she speaks again, her voice is barely above a whisper. "I just like being close to you, Andy. I like…needing you."
Andy's heart melts, and her face crumples into that of being clearly touched by Emily's words, knowing how hard it probably is for the redhead to admit something like this out loud. "Em…"
Emily realises the weight of her own honesty and instantly looks horrified. She groans and hides her face against Andy's neck. "Maybe forget I just said that, please."
"Absolutely not." Andy kisses the top of Emily's head, then wraps both arms around her. Emily simply melts into her embrace and doesn't protest any further. "I just thought you should know that you're doing great, Em. As a girlfriend. A lover. My partner and confidant. More than great, actually." Andy pauses. "Perfect, in fact."
"Oh, stop." Emily grimaces at the shower of compliments, but doesn't pull away from Andy. "Maybe it's just because you are so easy to love."
"And you aren't?" Andy taps her thigh so that Emily would look at her. "Because trust me when I say it's incredibly easy to love you too, Em."
Emily shrugs, her expression sheepish. But at least she doesn't argue. Andy plants a chaste kiss on her lips to make her point. "You can be clingy all you want to me, and I will love every second of it. Can't get enough of it, actually."
"Okay, okay." Emily concedes with a low chuckle. "I will stop denying everything if you'll stop talking."
Andy laughs and nods. Then she tells her after another kiss.
"Deal."