A/N: So, guys. This story is the sequel to How Paige McCullers Saved My Life, my first Paily fic. For whatever reasons, I really fought writing this sequel, and instead of it I wrote other Paily fics first, that some of you might have read, or not.

But the desire to write the sequel was always in my mind, and some of you asked me about it, so... I wanted to give it a try. Even though it's technically a sequel, it can be read by itself, I think. (But it will probably make more sense if you've read HPMCSML).

I have to warn you all, though: this fic will be darker than HPMCSML. There will be some angst... but if you've read my other stories, you already know that I'm a real Paily shipper. And that I love our girls. Keep that in mind! ;)

Anyway, this story takes place about one year after HPMCSML.

As always, a BIG thank you to my betareader siophiefandom, who convinced me that the story was worth posting, and who made a really amazing job at betareading. If it wasn't for her, you wouldn't be reading this new fic.

San Francisco, California - Present day

When Emily Fields started her shift at the Blue Bird Café that Sunday morning, she was expecting the day to be quite pleasant.

On weekends, unlike during the week, customers were usually nice and took their time to enjoy their breakfast or brunch . And the tips were better, too.

Emily had been working at the small café for almost three months. The Blue Bird was located in the North Beach area, one of San Francisco's nicest districts.

Her schedule was perfect: she worked Thursday evenings and Sundays, and the part-time job fit perfectly with her classes and swim practise at Berkeley.

The ride from Berkeley was a little long, but all the cool jobs on campus were already taken by the time she started looking, and finding a job suitable for her busy schedule had been hard enough.

And Emily Fields loved working in San Francisco. She had completely fall in love with the city since her arrival a few months ago, for her freshman year at Cal.

That morning, she was covering the inside shift with another employee, Rebecca, who also was a college student. Most of the patrons had chosen the classic Sunday brunch fare, which made it simplier for the waitresses, but they still had to make frequent trips to the kitchen.

Emily had her apron around her waist, and her hair in a ponytail, exciting the kitchen with a heavy tray in her arms, when she stopped dead in her tracks.

She almost collided with Rebecca, who looked at her, frowning. Emily's eyes were glued to a group of customers who had just entered the café: three boys and two girls, probably students. Two of the boys and one of the girls were wearing Stanford hoodies. They all sat at a table near the window, and started to look at the menus, chatting animatedly.

Emily was still motionless, as if she had just seen a ghost.

"Emily!" Rebecca said. "Are you okay?"

Emily quietly nodded. She was actually gripping the tray so tightly that her fingers ached. Rebecca, concerned, frowned again.

"Is it because these guys are from Stanford? You only serve Berkeley students now?" Rebecca asked jokingly, in an attempt to lighten her coworkers's mood.

"I have to take a break," Emily stammered. "Can... can you take care of them, please?" she pleaded, motioning towards the table occupied by the students.

Without waiting for her colleague's answer, Emily put the tray on the bar and rushed to the back exit. The door led to a small patio, at the back of the café. Emily leaned against the brick wall, her eyes closed, her breathing short.

What she had feared the most since her arrival in San Francisco had just happened. Emily Fields had crossed path with Paige McCullers, again.

The girl she had loved so much, and the one who broke her heart.

Inside the café, at the table where the Stanford students were sitting, the atmosphere was relaxed, but one of the girls wasn't joining in on the conversation.

Paige McCullers, her body stiff, had her eyes fixed on the door which she had just seen the raven-haired waitress barge out of. Her heart was banging in her chest and thoughts were racing in her head.

A name, especially.

Emily. Emily. Emily.

One of the boys suddenly noticed Paige's odd attitude and waved his hand in front of her face. "Hey, McCullers? You still with us? What do you want to order? Heather and Steve can't decide."

"I don't care, whatever," Paige said in a blank tone.

The other students exchanged puzzled looks.

"Everything all right, Paige?" Heather asked.

"I have... I have to go," Paige stammered before quickly grabbing her backback and jumping off her chair. She almost collided with Rebecca in her hurry to get out of the café. The young waitress stared at her, shocked, and Paige mumbled a few words of apology.

Once outside, Paige ran her hand through her hair as she tried to regain her composure. But her heart was still racing widly.

Of all cafés in San Francisco, we have to choose the one where Emily Fields is working. Fantastic.

The California girl sat on the nearest bench and took her head in her hands. She tried to steady her breath, with no success.

She got up and decided to take a few steps. Get a grip, McCullers, Paige told herself while walking around the café.

The main road was busy, but the back of the restaurant abutted a street that looked quiet enough. Paige turned left and quickly reached a small paved courtyard.

Someone was already there. Leaning against the brick wall, her eyes shut, her arms wrapped tightly around her midsection, Emily Fieds was also trying to pull herself together.

Paige stopped dead in her tracks, her eyes glued to the tanned girl. Emily's hair was lighter than she remembered. Probably an effect of the Californian sun, Paige thought. Emily's figure was still slender and toned at the same time.

She's still so beautiful. Maybe even more. California suits her.

Paige took a few steps forward, and Emily opened her eyes. The Rosewood girl was startled when she recognized the person in front of her.

"What are you doing here? Did you follow me?"

Her tone was dry and harsh.

Paige shook her head in denial. "No, I... Emily, I didn't even know that you were working here. Really, I'm sorry."

"Just go away," Emily snapped.

"Emily..."

"I don't want to talk to you! I don't want to see you. I can't even stand to THINK about you!" Emily almost yelled.

Paige dipped her head, feeling distressed. She had expected Emily to be angry, but she was wounded by Emily's words.

What were you thinking, McCullers? Of course she still hates you.

"Okay, I'm leaving," the auburn girl said in a whisper. "I'll leave you alone, Emily."

"Don't even say my name. I don't want you to talk to me anymore. Go! Leave! That's what you do best anyway," Emily snapped.

Paige stepped back, still staring at Emily with teary eyes, before turning back and running away.

Emily let her body slide down the wall and sat on the ground. She took her head in her hands before bursting into tears.

Flashback - California, eight months earlier.

Emily Fields was standing amid the hustle and bustle of the Oakland International Airport, her luggage at her feet. Her plane had landed half an hour late, and she was still feeling a little dizzy. The flight had been uneventful, but there were so many people around her now, so much noise, and even though she hadn't been out of the airport yet, she could already tell that the light was different here. So bright. Almost vibrant.

She checked her phone one more time. Still no calls or text messages from Paige. Her Californian girlfriend had assured her she'd be there to pick her up at the aiport. Emily was beginning to feel a little worried, and disappointed. She was so impatient to see Paige again. The two girls hadn't seen each other for months, since Paige's departure from Rosewood after a two-week stay with her swim team, the Oakland Jets.

Now it was time for the Rosewood Sharks to visit their peers in California. The team and their coach had flown to San Francisco two days before, but Emily had asked to stay in Rosewood a little longer, to spend two more days with her dad, who was home on leave - something that didn't happen very often.

Flying by herself had been a little bit worrisome, but also quite exciting. Emily had never flown without her parents, and she had never been so far away from Rosewood before. The longest plane trip she'd taken was a trip to Florida with her mother and father, several summers before.

Emily had been beyond exited about this trip. She had missed Paige so much. Of course, the two girls had kept in touch, texting almost everyday and Skyping at least once a week, but it wasn't the same as being able to see the girl you loved -being able to hug her, to kiss her... Emily sighed and checked her phone again.

Damn, Paige. Where are you, and what are you doing?

Of course, she could call Paige herself, but Emily didn't want to appear too clingy. Just before leaving Philadephia, she had texted Paige her arrival time, and the auburn girl had assured her she'd be there. Only, she wasn't.

Just when Emily was about to give up and go look for a taxi, she heard a male voice behind her.

"Emily? Emily Fields?"

She turned around quickly to face a tall young man, with curly chestnut hair and green eyes. The man was smiling broadly at her. Emily stared at him, puzzled. She was sure that she had never seen this man before, but his features looked oddly familiar.

Seeing Emily's confused look, the young man quickly said: "I'm Tim. Paige's uncle. I recognized you from the photos. The ones Paige showed me," he explained.

"Oh," Emily said. "I thought that..." she stammered, looking all around her.

"Paige is here too, of course," Tim said, chuckling. "She went to check the arrival gate at the main desk, again. I told her it was useless, but she was so impatient to see you again, she just couldn't remain in one place."

"Oh," Emily said again, the relief obvious in her voice. "I see."

The young man leaned forward and grabbed Emily's bags.

"How was your flight, Emily?" he asked politely.

"It was all right, I mean it was great," Emily said. "I was a little anxious at first, with it being such a long flight and all, but everything went pretty well, I guess."

"Have you ever been to California before?"

"No, never."

"Well, welcome to San Francisco, then. Though technically, we're in Oakland."

"Thank you, Mr. McCullers."

The man burst into laughter. "Oh no, thank god, I'm not a McCullers. I'm Paige's mother's brother. The laid-back side of the family. Quite the opposite of good old Nick," he said with a wink.

Emily smiled, not knowing what to say. Before she could think of an answer, a tornado threw herself into her arms and hugged her so tightly that Emily nearly squeaked.

"Emily," Paige said in that unmistakably husky voice. "Em. You're here, at last."

Emily and Paige were in the backseat, beaming at each other and holding hands. From the driver's seat, Tim peeked at them and smiled.

"So girls," he said. "Do you want me to drive you to Casa McCullers right away, or do you need some time alone?"

"Tim!" Paige protested, blushing furiously.

"Come on Paigey, I'm just kidding," her uncle smirked. "I just wanted to make my niece uncomfortable. That's my job. Sorry for that, by the way, Emily," he added.

Emily smiled nervously. She didn't know what exactly Paige had told her family about her. She didn't even know that Paige had an uncle, not to mention one who seemed to share more than just good looks with his niece: he had that quirky sense of humor, too.

Picking up on her girlfriend's thoughts and discomfort, Paige squeezed Emily's hand and offered her an apologetic smile.

"Don't listen to Tim. He likes to tease me."

"And you like to tease me, too," Tim retorted. "You know Emily, Paigey is like my annoying kid sister."

"Not as annoying as you, Timmy boy," Paige snorted.

"Don't call me Timmy boy!"

"Well, don't call me Paigey."

"Okay, Paige, we'd better stop now. Emily is going to think we California folks are crazy."

"Oh no, it's okay," Emily smiled. She was beginning to enjoy the easy banter between the two. They were really like siblings.

I wonder why Paige never told me about her uncle? Well, to be honest, I don't know much about her family. We never talk about that.

Emily felt Paige's eyes on her. The chestnut-haired girl was studying her carefully. Her big brown eyes were sparkling with joy and excitement.

"Hey, Em," Paige said in a lower voice. "I'm so happy you're finally here. You're even more beautiful than before, if that's possible."

Emily blushed, her heart swelling. "Always the sweet talker, McCullers," she whispered.

Paige grinned widely. "Only for you, Em. Only for you."

A/N: As always... reviews and comments are highly welcome. I'm really, really anxious about this story and as I said before, the writing was a real struggle. Your reviews will keep me going (or not!... but honest feedback is always welcome). Thank you so much for reading!