"You're walking so slowly," Aria noted, dragging her girlfriend through the halls.

Emily sighed, "Sorry."

Aria frowned, "What's up, Em? Is it about Ali's visit to Hanna?"

"Oh, no it's not that," Emily shrugged, "Maybe I just don't want to go to lunch," she paused, pulling Aria into an empty classroom, "Maybe I just want you all to myself."

Aria studied her girlfriend's face, "Maybe you're a wuss."

"What?" Emily frowned.

"You're scared of Spencer," Aria said knowingly before sighing, "Em, she'll be happy for us."

Emily looked at the ground, "She's barely spoke two words to me since we broke up..."

Aria squeezed Emily's hand, "So what's the plan, you're going to avoid forever? That could be kind of hard you know."

Emily shrugged, "I just feel so good about being with you and I don't want anyone to make me feel bad about it," the words tumbled out in a rush.

Aria smiled as her hand found Emily's cheek, "I feel good about being with you too. And Spencer is our friend, if we feel good then she'll be fine with it."

"She's always so protective of you," Emily mumbled.

"I know," Aria nodded, "But she wants me to be happy. You make me happy. End of story."

Emily nodded, "Okay, okay."

Aria kissed her lips quickly, "Plus I'm hungry so can we please go to lunch now?"

Emily chuckled, "You're only hungry because – "

"Oh, shut up," Aria swatted her girlfriends arm, "Vegetarian diets are just as filling as your carnivorous ways. That argument is not valid."

Emily giggled, "Whatever you say," she followed Aria out of the classroom, "I'm hungry too," she admitted.

"Ah, well that's because you don't eat enough veggies," Aria poked her tongue out.

"I eat plenty of veggies, thank you very much," Emily pouted, "And I am not a wuss by the way!"

Aria laughed loudly, "You are but that's okay because you're also adorable."

Emily kissed Aria's cheek as they approached Hanna and Spencer and sat down.

"Hey guys," Aria chirped as she unwrapped her lunch.

"Hey, we thought you weren't coming," Hanna smiled, "Did you sneak off to make out somewhere?" she bounced her eyebrows.

Emily blushed, "No! We were just talking," she shrugged.

"Talking, uh-huh," Hanna coughed.

"Is everything okay?" Spencer asked concernedly.

"Everything is perfect," Aria smiled widely.

"Good," Spencer smiled, "Hey are you guys doing anything tonight? I was thinking Friday night slumber party in the barn."

"Yes!" Aria exclaimed loudly.

"Well, that was enthusiastic," Spencer laughed.

Emily laughed, "Our parents are kind of limiting the sleep over's at the moment," she explained, "But they say group sleep overs are fine. And so I echo… yes!" she kissed Aria quickly.

Hanna rolled her eyes, "Sounds good, Spence. Isn't your dad coming back to town this weekend Em?"

"Yeah but not until tomorrow," Emily said, "We're having dinner with him then."

"Does he know about you guys?" Hanna asked, "It's been a while since he's been in town."

Emily nodded, "I've spoken to him. He's fine, I think. He says Aria's a very sweet girl," she smiled at her girlfriend, "But it will be nice for him to see us as a couple."

"And the other girls are going to be there?"

Aria rolled her eyes, "Yes mum, that's why it's at Spencer's barn."

"Okay, okay," Ella put her hands up, "I do have to be a parent sometimes, you know."

"I know," Aria smiled.

"Speaking of which," Ella said slowly, "Are you and Emily…"

Aria frowned, confused for a moment before it hit, "Oh my god," she blushed furiously, "Mum," she groaned.

"What? I'm your mother, if you need the sex talk…"

"It's not like I'm going to get pregnant," Aria pointed out, "And Emily hasn't been with anyone so none of that std stuff either."

"So you are – "

"No!" Aria exclaimed, "We haven't…no."

"Okay," Ella smiled, "Well just take your time, don't grow up too quickly, okay?"

"Okay mum," Aria replied, hoping by just agreeing she could shut her mum up.

"I mean it, Aria, there's no rush for these things. You want to be really sure before you take that step, even if you've known Emily for a long time. It's different going from friends to partners, especially where sex is involved."

Aria nodded continuously, feeling awkward as hell, "Uh-huh," she said every time her mum paused.

"And never let anyone pressure you into anything," Ella finished.

"Emily would never do that," Aria protested.

Ella smiled, "I'm sure she wouldn't, but just in case. You have to know your right to say no, under any circumstance. You are allowed to change your mind and you don't owe anyone anything."

"Uh-huh," Aria nodded, "Um, can I go to Spencer's now?"

Hanna laughed loudly earning a glare from Aria.

"Shut up, Han, it was so awkward," Aria put her face in her hands.

Emily entered the barn and sat next to her girlfriend, "What was awkward, babe?"

"Nothing," Aria said quickly.

Emily tilted her head, "You said something was awkward."

Aria sighed, "Mum decided to give me the sex talk," her cheeks turned red.

"Oh!" Emily bit her lip, "Well that's…" she looked at Hanna who was still cackling and threw a pillow at her, "Shut up, Hanna. Wait until it's your turn."

"Why, has your mum had that conversation with you?" Spencer asked incredulously, it was hard to imagine Mrs Fields talking about sex.

"No way," Emily shook her head, "Jeez, they're just getting to grips with me being gay and having a girlfriend, I don't think they want to even think about me having sex…" she trailed off.

Aria fidgeted in her seat, "Anyway, are we gonna pick a movie or what?"

"Em, are you awake?" Aria whispered to the girl next to her.

Emily's eyes opened, "Yeah, I'm awake," she smiled sleepily.

"Oh," Aria said.

Emily's brow furrowed, "Are you okay?" she whispered, checking that the others were still asleep.

Aria held Emily's hand, "Um. I don't think I'm ready to… you know."

Realisation crossed Emily's face, "Sex?" she asked, louder than she meant to, lowering her voice she continued, "Neither am I! Did you think I wanted…"

"Ugh, mum just made me paranoid going on about not letting anyone pressure me into stuff and all that," Aria sounded disgruntled with herself.

"Well, that's true," Emily said slowly, "And I would never pressure you. But I'm not ready either. I just like being with you right now. We can talk about that when we both feel ready…"

Aria nodded and kissed Emily's lips, "Okay," she whispered and paused, "Em?"

Emily smiled, "Yeah?"

"We could do… other stuff, though… I mean, if you wanted," Aria mumbled.

Emily blinked quickly, "Um… I mean, um, only if you wanted."

Aria bit her lip, "No, only if you wanted because you wanted not because I wanted…" she frowned, not even understanding herself.

"Well, I don't want you to only want to - "

"Oh my god," Hanna groaned, "Can you stop saying want? Clearly you both want to, can you just not do it next to me please?"

Aria and Emily looked at each blushing furiously. Then they burst into a fit of giggles and Hanna pulled her pillow over her head with another groan.