#ashstairs

Emma tossed him his beach towel and the couple walked a few feet away from the waterline, spreading out far away from the ocean.  Emma watched the waves with a mixture of apprehension and awe; Cameron watched Emma with an expression that was much the same.  “You okay?” He asked, noticing how Emma had sobered when he had mentioned Julian, Emma’s best-friend-slash-parabatai.

Emma’s brown eyes shifted slightly, becoming darker and more solemn.  “I’m fine.” She said, picking at the scab on her hand.  Cameron fought the urge to cover her hand in his.  “I’m just worried about him. His nightmares are getting bad again and…” Her expression was helpless.

Cameron rested a calloused hand on Emma’s back.  “It’ll be okay, Em.  Julian’s got you to take care of him.”

Emma laughed in the back of her throat, a low sound that sounded almost like a growl.  “Decent job I’m doing of that,” she grumbled, taking a handful of sand and running it through her fingers.  She looked up at Cameron, forcing happiness into her tired eyes.  “I’m sorry; you came out here for a date, not to listen to me worry about my parabatai.”

Cameron smiled at her, pressing a light kiss to the top of her head.  “Emma, I care about you and I care about your family.  Even if Julian doesn’t like me,” Cameron joked.

Emma felt her gut twist at those words.  She didn’t dare tell Cameron the truth, especially now.  “Yeah, I know that you’re in love with me and I really like spending time with you but I’m hung up on my parabatai (who is illegal to date) so I can’t put any effort into this relationship that wouldn’t be a lie.”  Sure, that would go over really well.

The killer was that Cameron was a sweet guy.  He was earnest and kind and respectful and sweet.  Plus, he was a great hunter and was terribly sexy.  The problem was that he wasn’t Julian.  Emma knew that if she told Cameron all of this, his heart would be broken, but he’d probably keep dating her for appearances’ sake.  Who knows, maybe Emma would grow to like him?  

(She really did want to like him if only to erase the illicit feelings she’d harbored for Julian for what seems like forever.)

“You sure you don’t want to go in?” Cameron asked, his eyes trained on the sea.  Emma shook her head wordlessly.  “I could hold your hand if you wanted.” He teased, winking at the blonde.

“Only if you wanted to lose yours,” Emma retorted, resting a hand on Cortana, which was laying sheathed at her side.

“Touché,” Cameron laughed.  “I forget what a terrifying Shadowhunter I’m dating.”

Emma wiggled her eyebrows, forcing herself to stop thinking of Julian and to just enjoy the day with her boyfriend.  “I think I’m scarier than you are.”

“Oh, really?” Cameron reached behind him and pulled out his knife.  “Blade-to-blade, Carstairs.  Let’s go!”

Emma stood to her feet, drawing Cortana while looking around to ensure that no mundanes were roaming this part of the normally uninhabited beach.  “It’s on!”

Their duel was short-lived; between the wind blowing sand in their eyes and the unsure footing, neither Shadowhunter lasted very long.  However, Emma managed to prevail when she tackled Cameron to the ground, straddling him and half-sitting on his torso.  “Good duel,” she murmured, leaning down to kiss him.  His hands lifted to her hips as their lips melded again and again; eventually Emma ended up underneath Cameron, still kissing him for all he was worth, thanking the Angel that he was still shirtless - it was much more fun that way.

Before things could escalate too quickly, Emma broke off their kiss with a gentle, “let’s not go too far.”  Cameron obediently relented, reaching for his shirt and shivering in the cold sea breeze.

“A storm’s rolling in,” he noted with surprise, looking up at the sky.  Emma followed his gaze - indeed, the clouds over the ocean were rolling and black, the kind of thunderheads that meant a catastrophic storm was approaching.

“I should get you home.” Cameron gave her a quick kiss and gathered their things while Emma dusted sand off of Cortana and sheathed it.  The teenagers ran to Emma’s car amidst the blowing wind and Emma spent the drive back to the Institute calling Julian to tell him that they were okay and she was on her way home.

“Do you want to come in?” She asked Cameron as she disembarked from the car.  Cameron shook his head; Emma’s brow furrowed with worry.  “Be safe, okay?”

“I will.” Cameron smiled.  “Love you.”