A/N: Just for future reference, Sean never left Degrassi to spend time in Wasaga beach, therefore Emma/Jay, Emma/Peter, Emma/Damian never happened.

Sean leaves the Army, even though it pays good money, because if he and Emma want to support a family he wants to be there. He also puts aside his dream of owning his own auto repair shop for financial reasons, and decides that going to medical school to become a doctor would be the best decision for him and Emma down the road.

RETROGRADE

Retrograde Amnesia –

1. Loss of memory for events occurring prior to, but not after, the onset of a current disease or trauma.

2. Form of amnesia where subject will be unable to recall events that occurred before the onset of amnesia.

CHAPTER 1

Emma's Point Of View

Boring. Saturday. Afternoon. I lay on the couch, my feet propped up on Sean's lap. Normally, I enjoyed nothing more than bad reality television on a lazy Saturday afternoon, but today I was feeling restless. I lifted my foot and gently tapped the newspaper in front of Sean's face.

"Stop."

I did it again.

"Stop."

I did it again, harder.

The paper slowly lowered to reveal his handsome, annoyed face.

"You really don't want to start something you can't finish." He raised the paper back to his face.

I kicked it.

"That's it," he said and tossed the paper behind the couch. Before I could blink he was on top of me, wearing a deliciously evil grin. He had both of my hands pinned above my head, using only one of his.

"Well, now what are you gonna do?" I asked, not even bothering to fake a struggle. He stared down at me and pretended to contemplate his next move. His thick light brown hair was still wet from the shower and it began to drip on my face.

"Marry me."

"I've already agreed to that," I said, wiggling my ring finger on my still restrained hand.

"No. Today. Tonight."

"What? We can't do that, we can't just-"

"Why?" he asked, his hand still holding both of mine, his blue eyes were shining, challenging me to come up with a good reason.

"Uh, because I have wedding plans in motion, because Manny would kill both of us, because we both would kill our parents, because we don't have a marriage license yet-"

"No. No good. I veto all of those reasons," he said, flippantly.

"You can't veto my reasons!"

"Yes I can."

"What do you wanna do? Go to Vegas and get married by Elvis?" I asked, sarcastically.

"Well…yeah."

He was serious.

"You're serious."

"I am. Look, I've been waiting since high school to marry you. I'm tired of waiting," he shrugged.

"Oh," I said, trying to wrap my mind around his idea.

"If we're doing it anyway, what's the difference?"

"I just gave you a rather lengthy list."

"I'm not marrying you for Manny or our parents or flowers or anything else you said, so none of those counts as a reason not to. Do you want to marry me?"

"Don't be ridiculous. You know there is nothing I've ever wanted more."

"Good. Let's go get married."

My heart began to flutter as I realized that every dream, every fantasy I've ever dared to have was about to come true. I didn't want to wait another seven months, or even seven hours. I suddenly wanted this, badly.

He let my hands free and I instantly wrapped them around his neck and squealed.

"That was the girliest thing you've ever done," he said.

"Cut me some slack, it's my wedding day," I said, planting quick kisses down his throat. "We should get up."

"We should," he murmured into my shoulder. I slid my hands to the button of his jeans.

"I mean, traditionally, we shouldn't be doing this right now," I said, yanking the button open.

"Traditionally," he agreed, pulling my shirt over my head. "But, we've been doing this for years now…not that I'm complaining."

"True," I said, convinced.

He pulled away and looked down at me. He nodded his head slowly.

"I can't believe you're mine," he stated simply.

"Likewise. Can we save the mush for the honeymoon?" I asked pulling his pants down. He smiled crookedly at me.

"Lose the sweatpants, Nelson."

-:-

"Okay," Sean sauntered into the bedroom. "I map-quested from Phoenix to Vegas, we should – there is no way you need all of that," he said, gesturing to my stuffed suitcase with a map in his hand.

"Of course I do," I said, trying to shut my luggage.

"When did you turn into Manny?"

"Haha. Look, I just want to be perfect for you, okay?"

"Emma, nothing in or out of that suitcase could make you any more perfect for me."

"Fine. I want to look pretty in our wedding pictures," I said, holding up a disposable camera. He walked over to me and took a hold of my hips. He moved me three steps over and swiftly and neatly shut the same suitcase I struggled for fifteen minutes with.

I glared at him.

He winked at me.

"Hi honey, we're home!" a big voice boomed from the living room.

"Shit," I whispered. "Go out there-"

Too late.

Sean's friend, Jay, stood in the doorway, his muscular arms reaching up so his hands gripped the archway. Beautiful Liberty, one of my best and oldest friends, was at his side.

"We're bored," he said, looking at us expectantly.

"Shall we tap dance for you?" Sean asked dryly.

"Not you, but Emma could," Jay grinned.

"Do you guys want to go to a movie or something?" Liberty asked, ignoring Jay.

Sean and I looked at each other.

"Uh, no, we're tired and-"

"We have Manny with us, so you're wasting your breath," Liberty said.

Just then, Manny appeared, slipping her body in between Jay and Liberty. She opened her mouth to say something, then snapped it shut.

Shit.

She slowly looked around the room, her eyes lingering on the suitcase on the bed. Her hands went to her hips, her eyes back and forth between me and Sean.

"You guys didn't mention you were going anywhere," she said suspiciously.

"We're not." I said.

"It's spur of the moment." Sean mentioned at the same time.

"Well, which is it?" Manny asked.

"Busted," Jay sang from the doorway.

"No big deal, Manny. We'll be back by tomorrow night. You won't even miss us," I said, trying to sound nonchalant.

"Where are you guys going?" Liberty asked.

"Oh, you know, road trip," I said, glancing to Sean for help.

"For less than 24 hours? And you packed a suitcase full of clothes? Emma, you don't go through that many clothes in a week!" Manny said, pointing at me accusingly.

She had me there.

"We're going to Vegas," Sean said.

"YES!" Jay said from the doorway.

"No," Manny moaned.

Sean looked at Jay.

"Emma and I are going to Vegas," he said pointedly.

"Nobody's going to Vegas without me," he said.

"Nobody's going to Vegas, period," Manny said.

Sean rolled his eyes and took my hand.

"Ready, baby?" he asked.

"Yep."

"Stop. I know what this is," Manny said slowly, her eyes narrowing. "You're getting married." The way her voice burned with accusation, you'd have thought we killed her dog.

"Really?" Liberty was ecstatic. "We're definitely coming, now!"

Outside in the driveway a horn honked.

"Toby's waiting in the car," Jay said, unaffected by Manny's revelation.

"Please go get him," Manny said. "We're not going anywhere any time soon." She flopped on the bed.

"Fine, you stay. We're leaving," I said.

"What about med school?" Manny blurted out. "You graduate in six months Sean! Why not wait?"

"Well, mom, I will graduate in six months. We'll be back before Monday morning. I won't even miss one day of school."

"But…the calla lilies…they're ordered…and, and the menu is all set…I wrote a speech, and Emma's dress- MY DRESS and…" she suddenly let out a short squeak and pointed to the disposable camera next to her like it was a snake. "Photographer," she whimpered.

"Come with us," I said reluctantly. She was my best friend and heartbroken. Besides, she put more work into this wedding than me and Sean combined, we owed it to her.

Manny jumped from the bed and hurled herself at me.

"Really?" she screeched. "Can I give my speech? Can I wear my dress? It needs a few alterations but – oh, fuck it, I wanna wear it-"

"Me, too," Liberty yelled from the doorway. "And I want a bouquet!"

"I still get to be the best man!" Jay said, returning with Toby.

"I'm still stuck being head usher," he chimed in, faking enthusiasm.

I looked at Sean, defeated. He smiled and shrugged his shoulders. Around us, our friends talked excitedly and made plans. I remembered what he said. None of it mattered, only us. I was surprised to find I was glad our friends would be there, to share this. God knows we've shared everything else. It was only right they would be there. They were a part of our history and definitely a part of our future. They were our family.

An hour later we were cramped in Jay's jeep.

"I ain't reading that," Jay said from the driver's seat. He crumpled up the paper and threw it behind his shoulder to the backseat.

"The best man is reading it," Manny said. "I'm sure Toby would be happy to read it if you want to step down. Emma picked it out for her wedding and so help me God I will salvage whatever is left of it," Manny ranted, her voice becoming high pitched. She was still mourning the lilies.

"Fine, give it back," Jay said.

"No. I don't like your attitude."

"Give it back, Manny."

"No, Jay."

He reached behind himself and blindly grabbed for Manny.

"Knock it off, Jay," Liberty said, smoothly and evenly.

He did.

"Ha," Manny said, but she leaned up and tossed the paper on Jay's lap.

"I can't believe you're actually going to be married," Toby mused.

"There's still time, Sean. I can pull over and leave the old ball and chain on the side of the road."

"Oh, please, Jay. You'd miss me," I said.

"I really don't think it'll be that big of a change," Liberty said. "You guys have been practically married since high school."

It was true. I was already his wife as he was my husband, this ceremony only made the rest of the world recognize it.

"Yeah, but once she has him legally, it'll cost him a lot more to get out," Jay antagonized.

Sean leaned up and cracked Jay on the back of his head.

"Have you seen this abusive side, Emma? Maybe you oughtta rethink this."

"What does Snake say?" Manny asked, ignoring Jay the way only she could.

"Well…nothing. We didn't tell him. I'm sure he won't be too upset, it saves him from having to stand up in front of half the town."

"Well what does your mom think?" Toby asked.

Sean and I were silent.

"You did tell your mom, right?" Manny asked.

"No…and we didn't eat all of our vegetables, either," Sean answered.

"Oh, you joke, tough guy, but if you thought my reaction was bad…"

"Spike's gonna hit the roof," Liberty finished.

"She'll get over it," I said, confidently.

"Right. You are SO dead when they find this out," Jay grinned and turned up the radio.

-:-

Our vows had been simple and timeless, the same sweet words that millions before us uttered. The chapel was…well, a Vegas chapel. It could have been a pig sty for all I cared. What mattered was we were bound to each other for eternity, no matter what. During the ceremony, Sean spoke softly to me. There was a peaceful confidence about him that soothed any nerves I had. The way he looked at me made my chest ache for him, he was so beautiful and good…and all mine.

Toby was smiling quietly, his arm linked with Liberty's, who was softly crying and occasionally blubbering something about polyester flowers. Manny beamed with pride as Jay stepped forward to read the excerpt I had chosen. He cleared his throat and straightened his tie. I prayed he wouldn't fuck it up.

Surprisingly, he looked humbled and happy. He looked at Sean and mouthed something I couldn't quite make out, but Sean smiled and nodded his head. Then Jay began.

"An excerpt from the poem, "Because She Would Ask Me Why I Love Her", by Christopher Brennan.

Then seek not, sweet,

The if and why.

I love you now

'Til the day I die

For I must live

Because I live

And life in me

Is what you give.

It was so perfect and true, especially for me and Sean.

-:-

The next morning I stared in disbelief at the bags and packages piled on top of Manny and Jay's hotel bed.

"How- I mean when did you have time to do this?" I stammered.

"Well…everyone fell asleep! I was bored and well…the shops in Vegas don't close and…come on! Who didn't see this coming?" Manny defended herself.

"Well, there's no way it'll all fit," Jay sighed.

"Well, there's no way I'm taking any of it back," Manny said.

"It's you or the clothes, Manny," Jay said, irritated and hung over.

"Wait," Sean said. "Emma and I can take the train."

"A train?" I asked flatly.

"Yeah, it'll be fun."

Manny looked at me hopeful.

"Why don't you take the train? It's your fault," I said.

"Why don't you all get on the damn train?" Jay spat, rubbing his head. It wouldn't be a fun ride home with Jay. How bad could the train be? I looked at Sean and shrugged.

"Why not?"

-:-

"You were right. This is kinda fun," I said.

"Am I ever wrong?" Sean asked.

"Don't push it."

"Ah, but I can now, I've got you," he winked and flashed his ring in my face.

"You always had me."

"Well, what are we going to tell everybody?"

"According to the train schedule, Manny is going to beat us home by an hour. That's more than enough time for her to call…everybody. We won't have to say a word."

"She wouldn't."

"She will," I said.

"Saves us the trouble, I guess."

"I am Mrs. Cameron," I declared abruptly.

"Yes," Sean said, smirking.

"Say it," I said.

"Mrs. Cameron," he said, humoring me.

"Now say Mrs. Sean Cameron."

"Mrs. Sean Cameron."

"Now say Emma Cameron."

"Emma Cameron."

"I love it. Hand me my purse, I want to get a pen."

He looked at me puzzled, but tossed the purse in my lap anyway. I dug out and old receipt and a pen and carefully signed my new name.

"It looks perfect," I said.

"It does," he agreed, amused by my handiwork. I wrote Mr. and Mrs. S. J. Cameron. He laughed at me.

"What?" I asked.

"You used to write the same thing all over your notebooks at school."

"You saw that?"

"Yep,"

"Well…it's real now," I said and he kissed me.

"When did you know you were going to marry me?" I asked, enjoying my school girl antics.

"High School. Freshman year. Winter dance. Last song." He answered without hesitating. I stared at him.

"No, be serious."

"I am. You were wearing that hideous purple dress-"

"You didn't like that dress?"

"No. Anyway, you stepped all over my toes and it hurt like hell and there was something stuck in your braces –,"

"There was not!"

"There was…and the only thing I could think was 'I love this girl'. Then I knew."

"I love you, Sean."

"I love you, Mrs. S. J. Cameron," He flashed me his gorgeous smile.

There was an unusually loud smack of metal, and Sean and I were both lurched to the side. Then everything went black.