Emerson hugged the jacket to her body. Its crisp leather was comforting in the cold. The corridor was tense. She glanced between her old friend and the numerous guns trained on her. She hadn't intended to cause such a disruption but apparently Division 3 was quite well-guarded.

"Em?" Cary looked at her with shock. Emerson smiled weakly at his voice. She felt nostalgic suddenly as she took in his navy sweater-vest and navy tie. He hadn't changed.

Cary was frozen behind some rather small looking guards who were standing with their guns aimed at her. His hands were up defensively, and a hint of fear stung his eyes.

"Cary, it's great to see you," Emerson bit her chapped lips and ran a shaking hand through her ratty hair. "It's been a long time Cary… Where's Kerry?" She was sure she wasn't looking her best.

"Em, what are you doing here?" Cary asked stunned. Kerry appeared behind him smoothly.

"I-I wanted to meet you again under better circumstances but… "Emerson started but groaned as her hand went underneath her jacket. "I'm in a bit of trouble." The guards flinched, and she signalled with her other hand that she wasn't reaching for a gun.

She produced her pale hand which was covered in blood. She pulled off her jacket with a groan of pain. A bandage was tied firmly around the cinch of her waist. It was drenched in blood. Emerson looked up from her hand and met Cary's gaze. She smiled weakly and went to speak but fell forward.

Cary gasped, and Kerry pushed past the guards to grab hold of Emerson as she fell to her knees.

"Em," Cary whispered as Kerry tried to shoulder all of Emerson's weight. He took her other arm and helped Kerry support her fully.

"Cary, we need to get her help," Kerry ordered. He nodded solemnly. Worry was all over his face. They dragged the unconscious Emerson towards the medical unit.

….

Emerson's eyes flickered open to find a concerned Cary looking down at her. She could feel his hand on hers.

"Cary," She whispered. 'I'm sorry,' her thought pushed into his mind and he thankfully smiled.

"Em," His face wrinkled with concern but covered it with a smile. "What happened to you? It's been a long time…"

"Cary, I just got on the wrong side of a very powerful man," Emerson tried to chuckle but ended up coughing. "I-I'm sorry… I just couldn't risk it…"

Cary got up from his chair to help her sit up.

"Em, you need to tell me what's happened – we can't protect you otherwise," Cary whispered. He leaned on the hospital bed to consider her fully.

"I know," Emerson stated. "I will tell you… but can it wait? I've not seen you in 10 years, I don't want our first conversation in so long to be about how I've fucked up my life."

Cary sighed and pushed back to watch her, "How did you find us? Did you go to Summerland?"

Emerson sat up but gave him a knowing look, "You know how… I looked for you and Kerry… then I was here."

"Really?" Cary stood up. "If it was that simple, why didn't you reach out before now? I was so worried about you Em."

"I couldn't, and you know why," Emerson moved to get out of bed then realised she was tethered to the bed.

"It took you ten years to get your gifts under control?" Cary asked as he grabbed the end of the bed to lean forward. He looked angry.

"Yes," Emerson confirmed.

She folded her arms to cradle herself. "I couldn't keep buying a new bed when I burned my bedroom down." She smirked and flicked her eyes up to see Cary struggling to fight a smile.

Cary sat back down and grasped her hand again. He squeezed it gently. "I have missed you."

"I've missed you," Emerson replied with a small smile.

"I thought you might have come back for the new telepath, but it's been a while since he appeared on the scene," Cary said. "Surely you sensed him?"

Emerson sat up and crossed her arms. "Yes, I did."

Cary looked away. "But you didn't come back?"

"If I couldn't come back for you, I wasn't going to come back for some omega mutant," Emerson whispered. She felt his eyes on her, but she looked fiercely ahead at the door.

"Em," He moved forward onto the bed and slid an arm around her shoulders. Emerson leaned into the embrace.

"I am sorry Cary, I didn't mean to be gone that long," Emerson mumbled. He squeezed her slightly and placed a kiss on the top of her head.

"I know why you left," Cary whispered against her hair. "You needed to leave – Kerry and I understand that. At first, I was angry… so angry, but I can't resent you for needing to remove yourself from the situation at Summerland."

"Cary, I thought of you every day," Emerson said. "I dreamed of you constantly. I would see you and Kerry going about your daily business and I would miss you so badly…"

"What do you mean you saw us? Were you watching us?" Cary started but Emerson held up a hand for him to stop. She reached a hand out to caress his cheek and smiled as he closed his eyes and leaned into her touch comfortably.

"Melanie is coming," Emerson sighed. "You better get out of here." Emerson smiled at Cary gently. She took his hand and placed a kiss on it. Cary stood to leave and gave her look that made butterflies erupt in her stomach.

"We can catch up later," Cary leaned forward and kissed her forehead. Emerson exhaled as his lips made her relax.

The door burst open and there stood Melanie Bird who looked like if she could, she would burn down the whole of Division 3.

Cary shot Emerson a look and mumbled some excuses as he slipped around Melanie.

"Emerson," Melanie closed the door behind her after Cary.

"Mother," Emerson replied.

"I think you have some explaining to do," Melanie strode forward and glowered at her only daughter who she had not seen in 11 years.

"Mom," Emerson sighed. "I couldn't stay. You know that."

"You know what's happened," Melanie snapped. "You could have helped. Your father has been taken! You could have helped!"

Emerson stayed silent as Melanie leaned on the end of the bed frame.

"You left us, Emerson! You left me and you left your father!" Melanie shouted. "We needed you!"

Emerson stayed silent. Melanie shook her head and turned away. Seething, she struggled to regain control of her breath.

"When you left, I was so worried," Melanie whispered. "I knew you were going to be okay, but when the shadow king took your father I thought for sure you would feel it and come back… but you didn't."

Emerson sighed and tried to move but groaned in pain, "I don't expect you to forgive me… I can't explain my actions… I needed to leave not just for myself but for everyone at Summerland. I wasn't in control."

Melanie spun around to grasp the bedframe again. Her knuckles went white.

"Bullshit," Melanie hissed. "You left because you were acting like a child! You couldn't have what you wanted so you left and because of your childishness I was left alone with your father."

"Mom stop," Emerson rubbed her forehead as she tried to concentrate. "I couldn't control myself. I needed to leave."

"And you left Cary! I didn't approve of your relationship, but he cares about you… When you left you crushed a part of him," Melanie continued to shout.

"Mom calm down," Emerson groaned. "You are just upset Oliver is gone. I couldn't have stopped the shadow king. Not if David couldn't do it."

"What are you talking about?" Melanie sneered. "You know you could have helped. Don't you dare for one minute say you would have been useless!"

"Mom, it's too late now," Emerson sighed with her eyes closed. "I can't go back. We can't go back."

"Don't you dare!" Melanie rebuked. She threw her hands up in the air, but she sighed.

Emerson sat in silence with her eyes closed. Melanie watched her child with a plain expression.

"I will let you rest," Melanie whispered before she turned to leave.

She wrapped her hand around the door handle before she froze.

'Mom, I love you,' Emerson whispered into her mother's mind.

Melanie said nothing and closed the door on her daughter.