Title: The Choices We Make

By: Kasandra

Rating: K

Pairing: Heather/Jake

Summary: Jake and Emily didn't know they were being watched while at Bailey's. Post episode fic/drabble for "Vox Populi", S1.E.11 with references to "Long Live the Mayor", S.1.E07.

AN: Was I the only one who was upset with the ending? And why haven't we seen Heather? Seriously, what is going on?

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No one had noticed Heather standing in the corner of Bailey's Tavern nursing a beer. Everyone was too busy celebrating Gray's mayoral election and Jonah's exile from Jericho.

Heather had been busy throughout the day, and had been planning to meet with Jake to discuss the possibilities of beginning a relationship with each other. Her stomach fluttered with butterflies as her mind drifted off to the moment where she had impulsively kissed Jake.

He had kissed her back – there was no doubt about it and Heather had relished in the feeling of his lips on hers. Searching his eyes when she pulled away embarrassed, she saw passion as well as the tiniest spark of hope that they stood a chance.

Heather took a swig of her beer and swallowed hard as she watched Jake and Emily together. She willed herself to not cry as tears threatened to spill as the song "Nothing Compares to You" began to play from the jukebox. It was Emily and Jake's song; she recalled Emily slipping out the information as they worked on Halloween decorations – that day seemed so long ago.

So she stood there in the corner, wanting nothing more than for the ground to swallow her whole as she watched Jake hold Emily close.

They spoke quietly to each other and Heather wished she was close enough to hear what they were saying but she knew the topic probably involved her and Emily's fiancée, Roger.

'Did our kiss really mean nothing? Why was I so naïve to believe that Jake would choose me? Of course he wouldn't be interested in me…the minister's daughter, ha! Emily and him have so much chemistry and not to mention history together…' Heather thought to herself.

The urge to cry grew stronger as she watched Jake push Emily's blonde curls from her face. Her heart was already hanging by a thread and she knew it would shatter into a million pieces if she saw them kiss.

Just as she was about to escape from Bailey's, Billy ran in, telling everyone to come outside and Heather watched Jake broke away from Emily as the tavern emptied out. The town was in shock as they watched the refugees stagger in.

"They need help. Take them inside.!" Billy advised. "They've been walking for weeks."

"Must have gone through hell." Jake muttered. Heather knew that the right thing to do would be for her to stay and help, but there are times when people must be selfish in their choices.

And her heart finally broke as she succumbed to the fact that Jake had made his – and it wasn't her.

FIN.