The rest of the week had thankfully gone successfully smooth for Ruth, much to her relief. She had spent most of her time with Uncle Rickey to avoid anymore run-ins with the jerk of her past, and even made up with Emily the day after their argument. She hadn't wanted to brush Emily off the other night, just like Emily didn't mean to raise her voice at her.

But it didn't matter anymore. Not when Emily was finally flying in that Friday night, and Ruth was practically shaking with excitement as she stood by the car. Her eyes impatiently searched over the people leaving the gate, scanning every face for the most special one. The face of someone she considered her best friend.

She wished Jana and Terry could be with her while she waited, but she appreciated the time they wanted to give them. Though it was only a week of them being apart, it was the longest they've been separated for in almost four years.

So, when Emily's familiar waves of dark hair and fiery dark eyes zeroed in on her over the crowd, Ruth's heart leapt with excitement. Before she knew it, she was racing towards her girlfriend with a wide smile, and flung herself into her open arms with a sweet laugh. Emily's arms come crushing around her body, practically picking her up in flight as she dropped her carry-on bag.

"Bella! Where the hell have you been, L—" Emily tried to joke, but a laughing Ruth quickly interrupted her.

"Don't you dare fucking finish that sentence," she warned, wrapping her hands around Emily's cheeks and planting a solid kiss on her awaiting lips.

The kiss was sweet and warm, and obviously cut short because Emily wasn't big on PDA, but it was enough to satisfy Ruth and remind her that Emily was who she deserved. Sparks or not, stability and having someone want her the way Em did was what she wanted. Isn't that what everyone wants?

Ruth pulled back enough to smile at her as Em put her lightly on her feet. She almost laughed at their difference in clothing wear, considering Ruth was stuck in sweatpants and a sweatshirt while Em wore comfortable designer clothes. Leave it to her to ride on a five-hour plane ride with designer slacks and an Express long-sleeve button up.

"You ready?" Ruth teased, squeezing Em's fingers between hers.

"Been ready," she said, winking. "Let's get some food, I'm starving."

"Didn't you have a meal on the plane?"

Emily wrinkled her nose. "Gross, hell no. And you're my girlfriend how?"

Ruth shrugged, tossing Em's luggage in the trunk she opened just a minute before. "Honestly, I thought the Crocs should have been enough to scare you off."

She fake gagged and Ruth grinned widely. "Please don't remind me," Emily joked, cringing visibly.

Ruth pursed her lips and looked shamelessly down at her feet. "I guess this would be a bad time to tell you I'm—"

"I know what atrocities grace your feet, babe. No need to remind me."

Fighting another giggle, Ruth climbed into the car and drove them away from the airport. Her chest eased now that she had Emily in her presence once more, making Oklahoma that much more bearable. She could breathe again.

"So, how have the girls been? You have a good week so far?" Emily chirped, comfortably resting a palm on Ruth's thigh. It was a natural move for her to make.

Ruth forced a smile upon her lips, her stomach clenching. So much for getting to breathe again.

"It's been great," Ruth partially lied. It was great getting to spend time with her family, but her mind's been a jumbled mess since she saw he-who-must-not-be-mentioned at the garage earlier in the week. If she hadn't seen him, then being back in Oklahoma would have been something out of a dream.

Aside from her great Uncle Rickey's sickness too, of course.

She winced at that.

"We've been taking turns caring for Uncle Rickey throughout the week so it's been nice getting to be around everyone," she added.

Out the corner of Ruth's eye, she saw Emily frown. "He doesn't have a home health nurse?"

Ruth's fingers tightened around the wheel. "Of course not. We can help him on our own."

"Oh, of course! I just thought it would be a little easier on you and your family is all. But I completely understand," Em said, nonchalantly.

"Hmm," Ruth murmured, her tone curt. "That's not a bad idea, it's just not what my family does. When it comes to the elders who took care of us at some point in our lives, we return the favor by helping them when they need it. I don't think outside help is really necessary."

Emily mumbled her agreement. Ruth brushed off her irritation by tucking her fingers over Em's and resting it there while they drove to the apartment. She couldn't fault blame her for not knowing the ways of her family. It was normal to ask a question like that, but having to explain it to someone who still didn't understand afterwards nagged at her.

Fuck, Ruth was just excited to see her not even ten minutes ago, and she was already getting annoyed. She knew her emotions were heightened from being a little on edge at keeping the he-who-shall-not-be-mentioned secret, and now that she was around Emily, she had to be even more careful. It wasn't Emily's fault, and she knew that. She just needed to figure out how to relax and not get so sensitive.

Easier said than done.

When Ruth finally pulled up to the apartment, Jana and Terry had gotten there not long before, as both of their cars were in parking spots. Emily had spoken to the girls on the phone a few times before, but they hadn't truly met her as a girlfriend in person yet. Last time they saw each other, Emily and Ruth had been leaving for New York City as friends. Now they were both reunited as girlfriends, and Ruth wasn't sure what to expect.

They were both going to find out soon enough, however, because Terry wasted no time in swinging open the door opposite of where they both stood, stunned.

"Emily!" Terry greeted with a tipsy stupor, reaching out a hand to wrap it around Em's. Emily's cheeks flushed as Terry drew her into the house and nearly knocked Ruth over in the process.

"H—hi," Emily stammered. Ruth bit back a grin and watched Terry draw Em into a tight hug.

"It's so great to have you here! Jana and Eddie's cooking some food for y'all in the kitchen," Terry continued, gesturing to the kitchen's general vicinity. She wrapped an arm through hers and pulled her into the living room, ignoring the panicked look Em threw over her shoulder to Ruth. Ruth only grinned and followed not far behind them.

Terry easily helped Emily feel right at home while Ruth moved her luggage into a nearby closet and popped into the kitchen to say hello to Jana's fiance. She honestly loved Eddie still, and never held what Raffo told him against him. It wasn't Eddie's fault. For all she knew, Eddie and Raffo weren't even friends anymore.

Well, that was a bit of a stretch. She'd never spoken to Eddie or Jana about Raffo's relationship with them. He and Eddie could still be close for all she knew, but she didn't have the guts to ask such a thing. She decided that she didn't have to know everything at the time, but now that Ruth's current girlfriend was there, she wondered if it would bother Eddie.

"Hey Eddie," Ruth greeted, poking her head inside the kitchen where he and Jana stirred a pot on the stove.

Eddie, with his familiar smile and sweet brown eyes turned around, his gaze lit up with recognition. "Ruth! Heard you were back in town," he said, pulling her into a welcoming hug the moment she walked in.

"Couldn't miss your guys' special time," she teased, squeezing him back.

They hadn't chatted for long at all before Terry came pulling Emily along, her cheeks flushed from whatever wine she had drunken. Eddie and Jana were suddenly a little quiet, obviously stunned by the unexpected entrance. But Terry being Terry with too much liquor, ignored the awkwardness and pushed an overwhelmed Emily forward.

"Jana, Emily. Emily, Jana. Eddie, Emily. Emily, Eddie," Terry drawled, gesturing between the three of them for each introduction. Ruth palmed her face. "We went to junior high together, remember?"

"Oh, yeah. What's up?" Eddie greeted, nodding at Em.

"Hey," Jana offered a small smile, nodding too.

Emily shyly waved back at them. "Hi."

"Thanks for introducing my girlfriend, Terry," Ruth said, rolling her eyes.

Terry shrugged. "No problem. Now are we gonna eat or what?"

Leave it to Terry to make shit awkward, Ruth thought.

And a slightly awkward dinner it was.

*****