Title: Letters she Wrote

Author: Bri

Rating: T

Genre: Drama/Romance

Pairing: Emma/Kelly, friendship/later romance Emma/Sean, the subplot contains KC/Claire.

Summary: Emma seems to start out to have a nice Christmas home from college with her boyfriend, Kelly that is until she finds out a dark family secret days before Christmas and turns to someone far away for help.

Authors Note: This is brand new. I finally write something in the present day, not season-three verse, not season four - season eight. I assume Emma goes home on Christmas break and decides to bring Kelly along to meet her parents. I wont give away the details of the secret until you actually read it, you'd be shocked too if you were Emma. My friend Kelsea thought of some ideas and helped me brainstorm out some of this story and it was honestly all because of this video I saw on Youtube for a movie trailer and it had Peter and Emma it. . . And the wheels got a turning when I said something odd. So yeah, this might sound like one of those Lifetime tragedies, but not that dramatic. Enjoy.

Chapter One: The Icing on the Cake

Peter Stone was lost, scared and didn't know where to turn. This year had been off to such a great start, and now his whole world is crashing upside down and inside out. It's bad enough the secret he's got to keep about Riley and the running and living alone has just gotten to him. He went for his yearly doctors appointment, and he found out he has the big C, the icing on the cake. Last week he traveled to Regina to see his mom, and she told him something pretty damaging and told him that the mother he has to see is actually exactly where he came from, in Degrassi. She gave him the address, he honestly didn't put two and two together and being that it was so close to Christmas - all the houses looked pretty much the same in town. Every house had some lights decorating the rooftops; everyone had snow topped houses because of last night's snowfall. He took a deep breath, and an exhale releasing the breath that he could see and shook his head. He was distraught, how could his mom, or his "mom" keep a secret from him like that for the past eighteen years? It hurt him. For once the kid who was rumored to have no heart, no soul hasn't been more at a loss in his entire life, and he never really had a need to know about who the mother was so maybe just made she could have it in her heart to save his life.

Christine Nelson was always happy during the holidays, even as a little girl it was always something she looked forward to. In a few days her mom would be in town again and she'd visit. She was even happier when she found Emma would be returning home and bringing a friend, her roommate from school Kelly. Spike was alarmed to find Kelly and Emma had been seeing each other until when he came over earlier in the afternoon and revealed himself. Kelly was a boy, her little baby rooming with a boy who she had feelings with. She supposed this is what college is really about. She can honestly say she's growing up well, better than she did.

It was dark fall now and Christine, Emma, Spike, Jack and Kelly were all enjoying It's a Wonderful Life on TV. It was a family tradition and this year was no different. Spike had been microwaving the popcorn for everyone until she heard a knock at the door. She also heard the microwave go off, so quickly took a large blue bowl out and poured the contents of the bag of hot popcorn, and went to the front door.

"Hello may I help you?" Spike asked with the bowl in her hand. Peter looked inside and the house was kind of dark, judging by the bowl he had figured they were watching a movie. "You look familiar."

"Ah I go to school in Degrassi?" Peter asked nervously. He really didn't know what to say, his eyes widened and he didn't want to say it, but it just blurted. "Oh my god. You're Emma Nelson's mom!"

She just smiled and laughed, "Would you like to see her, she's home for Christmas break, she's right inside?"

Peter shook his head like a madman. The last person he wanted to talk to was her daughter, who he didn't even think she knew. That would cause tons more damage. It was between him and his would be mother. Now that he was able to look at Spike he saw something, she really didn't know and this would've been damaging for her as well. He opened his mouth, "No ma'am, I wanted to talk to you."

"What is it?" Spike asked.

He stammered nothing coming out, "You're name is Christine."

"Oh quit being a wise guy, is this a prank?" She looked around past me outside and to the sides, nobody. This wasn't a prank.

"No ma'am." he answered politely. "Eighteen years ago you had a son . . ."

She snapped back, "No, I had a daughter. What is with you? She's inside; I insist if you'd like to see her -"

Peter interrupted, "You had a son too."

Spike looked at Peter like a Precious Moment doll, her eyes wide and the shock had caused to drop her popcorn bowl. She closed her eyes when she noticed the thud and quickly shuffled outside shutting the door. Poorly equipped for the cold without a jacket she put her arms around you, "I'm listening."

"You didn't know?"

"Well. . ." She started.

"Well?"

"An agency called about three years ago asking if I wanted to meet this son I apparently had because he was moving to the area. I-I said it would be best for the boy . . . I never knew I had two until I got the call."

"So you only knew about Emma?"

Spike nodded. "Did you want to meet me or is something wrong?"

"A little bit of both."

"I do remember you, you." She swallowed hard, "told me that Emma had an eating disorder. You were friends, but I saw less of you after her friend returned from another town. . . Peter. You're Daphne Hatzilacos' son, the principal. . Oh my god!"

Peter backed away nervously, "She adopted me and raised me as her own."

"Well I can say she did a fine job." Spike rolled her eyes and she was sarcastic, she then noticed she took her frustration out on the wrong person. "Sorry, our family had an issue with her."

Peter remembered what happened a few years ago at the movie premiere. Now he understood, he remembered when Em finally told him about some of the problems at home, it stemmed from that. He sighed, "Oh . . . right look I'm sorry about her."

"Is this about her?" She asked Peter.

Peter shook his head, "No! It's about me. I have cancer. I thought you'd understand better than anyone. I came to ask you for help but God, Jeez now I'm not even sure if you'd even help me."

Spike them called after him but Peter had already turned around. "Peter wait!" Peter turned around and looked at Spike, she followed him in her slippers down some, "What is it?"

"I need some tissue. . . It's actually how I found out I was adopted. So I went to Regina to visit her because she doesn't even live in Degrassi anymore, and she isn't the principal and I live alone in a loft on Ferguson St. and I'm happy, I really am, but now my world is upside down because I found this out. Trust me Ms. Nelson, this was hard for me, and it's as hard as it is for me as it would be for you please understand this. I'm the one with cancer. I heard your husband had cancer a few years ago, and he survived and I know you're not my mom and all but -"

"Write down your address Peter." Spike told him simply. Spike dug in her pocket taking out a notepad she would keep in her pocket. Peter found a pen in his pocket and he wrote down his address, "and a phone number I can contact you with."

"Thank you." Peter's eyes welled, he was flattered. It was genuine, most would see Peter stone as a stony individual who cared so much about himself and when it came to others he was a schemer, a liar, a person who found joy in others pain and this year has changed him in so many ways, and had tested him as a person. Senior year Peter Stone learned to grow up. What would it cost him to stay alive and swallow his pride? Maybe that thing he must trade is his life. "M-merry Christmas and. . . Bless you."

Spike nodded still obviously in a state of shock, "You too. Enjoy yourself." As she said those words and when through the motions she had suddenly fell into a state of agony. She knew Emma was so fragile to finding out news, and she'll never forget the way she reacted with Shane, and in finding who he was and how her mother never mentioned him again to her ever since the one time they had met when Emma was three. She just didn't have the heart to put Emma through it again; she just simply had to tell Emma the truth. But how? She was so afraid of her reaction, so once again things were problematic. It seemed as if there was always a dark cloud over their family. Spike supposed it was true, through Snake's cancer, the infidelity issues, Snake marrying into a relationship where Emma was a teenager and all the things she was going through and went through, and the unplanned pregnancy of Jack were all contributors.

Peter then backed up and turned around and left Spike outside. Spike backed up to the door not taking her eyes off of the boy who was her son, and seeing him for the first time as. . her son. "What am I going to do?" she silently whispered to herself looking to the sky. The indifferent sky made no change. She took the handle of the door only to see Emma open it instead. Spike stepped inside.

"Mom are you alright?" Emma asked concerned, looking on the ground to find all the popcorn on the floor and the bowl on the ground. "And why were you outside? You're missing the movie."

Spike just softly smiled and nodded to answer her daughter's question looking down at the spilled popcorn. "I just needed a bit of air; I guess I'm not feeling too well."

"You don't have a flu? I heard that's going around, I really hope you don't."

Spike shrugged, "Which is why I might just get to bed and get some rest."

"What about the movie? Tradition? You alright?" Emma asked perplexed at her mom's behavior.

"Em, I'm fine I assure you." Spike faked a smile. She didn't want Emma to suspect anything, leave it to Emma to try to find the root of all problems, being Little Miss Save the world, she wonders if even her daughter ever got tired of it all. "Meh, I'm not up to it, sweetheart. You and Kelly could put Jackie to bed if Snake does end up falling asleep which I believe he will."

Emma pulled me into a hug. She always knew just what to do, Spike felt. She whispered in her ear, "I hope you feel better mom." Spike felt the crinkle of the popcorn under her slippers and she presumed Emma did too because she laughed, "it's okay mom I'll clean it up."

Moments later they pulled away from the hug. "Thanks Em, see you in the morning."

Emma waved to her mom before turning to go back into the living room to join the rest while Spike walked up the steps to bed.

Claire Edwards was hard at work making cookies with her good friend Allie Bandahari from her class. Connor is having a Christmas party at Mr. Simpson's house tomorrow, Christmas Eve. Claire volunteered to make cookies, and Allie decided she wanted to help. The two girls had developed somewhat of a friendship after they had a few classes together and have been spending lots of time together studying and even goofing off on occasion. The pair couldn't of been more different Claire would pick oxfords and knee-hi's while Allie was more of a denim mini and designer handbag kind of girl, none the less the two despite their difference get along just fine. Claire was happy to find a friend who she could cook with, she enjoyed cooking and she missed her big sis Darcy who would cook Christmas cookies with every year as far back as she could remember. She had Allie, and Allie was a great friend, although sometimes Allie cared more about boys than cooking.

"So I'm thinking of asking that Johnny DiMarco guy to come to the party."

"He isn't in our class." Claire protested as she went on her tiptoes to grab a large mixing bowl from the cabinet way up high in the kitchen while Allie was leaning on the counter using her hand to prop her head up looking up at her friend.

"Connor said we could bring a guest. If you could who would you bring?"

"I probably would bring Darcy."

"No, a boy. If you could invite a boy, who would you invite?"

Claire shrugged, "I don't have time to think about things like boys." It wasn't true though because Claire did. Claire thought quite often about a boy, the one she thought of in particular, his name was K.C Guthrie.

"Please, Claire. You cannot be serious." Allie stepped closer to her as Claire was still up there grabbing the other necessary things for cooking. "I mean there are plenty of boys."

"I know."

"Just pick one. It's not like I'm asking you to ask him, pick up the phone and ask him. If you had the chance who would you bring? Promise it wouldn't leave this room, I cross my-"

"You wouldn't tell if I told you right?" Claire interrupted.

"I'd take it too the grave." Allie said eagerly. "Might I say I know a boy who is quite interested in you."

Claire's eyes narrowed, "Who?"

A grin played on the tan brunette's lips, "K.C Guthrie"

The other girl's eyebrows rose, "Oh really?"

"I kid you not." Allie boasted proudly.

"Do you think he'd show up at the party?"

Allie thought about it, before looking at Claire. "I'm pretty sure. I mean he likes us, enough to sit with us at lunch and he knows you'd probably go, right?"

"I did mention I was going. . . " Claire trailed off.

"Maybe you don't need to tell me at all who it is you'd take."

"What do you mean?"

"Even I could tell it's completely obvious you like K.C. I just wanted to see what you would say." Allie laughed mischievously.

"Hey!" Claire exclaimed, "That isn't fair."

"Still, same rules still apply - I won't tell."

Claire stepped closer to Allie and put her pinkie out, "Pinkie promise."

Allie intertwined pinkies with Clare and shook her head, "I promise, now can we bake before it gets too late?"

The pair looked at the recipe and they started to get all the materials together. Deep down Claire was ecstatic for the party for two reasons. The first reason is to use her family's recipe for the perfect ooey gooey chocolate chip cookies for she wanted to please K.C because they often talked about the food their grandmother's make and he loves chocolate chip cookies. In fact, K.C lives with his grandma so he's always trying her dishes and claims she's the greatest cook in the world. He told Claire he was going to bring her special chicken casserole but only she would remember it. She indeed liked K.C. seeing him at the party would be simply the icing on the cake.