"Emma, you can tell me, I can handle it."

And oh no, Sean Cameron, you couldn't of. Emma remembered that moment with him, one of her last, finally telling him she was pregnant when he followed her to school.

She was so mad at him for leaving for the army, she still was.

Why he have to go and die?

Manny had to pick her up from that cold floor Emma seemed to find herself on every night, crying over his death.

Sean had died and was shot down not even 3 months in the army. He did go down with a fight though, Sean Cameron would ofcourse go down with a fight.

And then, another 3 months later, she gave birth to her baby girl Dakota.

That was a wierd year, pregnant with her, trying to finish school, turning out to be the girl no one thought she'd ever be. She hadn't gotten so many stares since that phase with the ravine. Oh and there was another plus, Manny started dating the one and only Jay Hogart.

But.. Emma had to admit, she felt the need of wanting him around, even though he reminded her of Sean. But, he also seemed to understand what she wanted sometimes, like when Manny would keep asking if she was okay, and he'd openly tell her to shut up. That's what Emma liked about their relationship, the two most promiscuous and unfaithful individuals getting together and forming a good relationship, they probably both understood another well.

It made Emma wish so badly she had a guy like that. It's been two years, and she had interest in guys but.. she couldn't let what happened to Sean go and some guys went screaming for the hills when they found out about Dakota. Not one guy liked the fact she had a daughter from another man.

Emma was 19 now, and in college. She was running off the bus as soon as it got to her street.

Oh god, Manny was going to kill her! She told her she only needed two hours of baby sitting and it turned into four.

Emma slammed her door shut and closed her eyes, "I'm sorry, I'm sorry!" she repeated, rounding the corner, "My class-"

She stopped in her tracks seeing Jay there, not Manny. Jay was now 21, had himself a somewhat good career for being expelled from school, he still worked at the Garage with Tony and was a manager now.

Right now though, he looked like a nanny. He had Dakota sleeping on his chest, pretty sure she was drooling on it. Dakota had honey blonde hair, like her mommy, but it was so curly, that was from Sean. Emma had to admit though, she loved Dakota had Sean's eyes, those bright blue eyes.

But now, they weren't showing, she was passed out on Jay and Jay was just as tired. He also held her baby bottle and for still being a bad ass, he looked like a softy.

Emma slowly went over, careful not to wake them, and grabbed Dakota off of him. Dakota made a soft whimper, not wanting to be removied but Emma carried her up the stairs to her bed.

Emma stared lovingly at her baby girl until she closed her bedroom door behind her and went back down the stairs.

The steps seemed to make Jay stir and opened his eyes. He blinked and rubbed his eyes, sitting up a bit and then looked like he just remembered Dakota and frantically looked around until seeing Emma.

"Where's Dakota?" Emma asked, trying to hide her smile as she leaned on the door frame and crossed her arms.

She liked to play around with him, hey, he use to make her life hell remember?

"D-Dakota?" yelled Jay, standing and looking around the couch and then walked around it, head moving back and forth.

He then bit the end of his tounge when Emma started giggling.

Right.

He narrowed his eyes at her, annoyingly. She tried to cover her mouth from the laughter and just shrugged, "I brought her up to her bed, don't worry." She insisted.

He must of been more tired than he thought, ofcourse Emma grabbed her, Dakota stuck to him like glue, they had these naps consistently.

So yes, to answer your question, Emma was late a lot. But it was expected of a young mother. Everyone understood.

"Not funny." He said with a yawn and sat back down, Emma couldn't help but giggle again so he did his famous glare at her, but couldn't help but smirk.

"We're home!" Archie cheered, opening the front door for five year old Jack and Christine.

Suddenly Emma's smile was gone and Jay watched her walk quickly over to her parents.

"How was it, are you okay?" Emma asked Christine.

Her mom, was diagnosed with cancer. They had just started treatment.

Christine smiled softly at Emma, "Em, we won't know for a few weeks." She looks behind and sees Jay, "Hello again, Jay." She greets.

He nodded back in greetment, giving her a bit of a small but..was that a sad smile too?

Emma looked down, hugging herself as Christine kissed Jacks cheeks and whispered to Snake, "I'm just going to go take a nap, I'm tired." She explained.

Emma didn't removed her eyes from the floor as the 3 exited. Jay slowly stood up and quietly walked behind her, putting his hand on her shoulder.

She almost jumped and then sucked in a deep shakey breath and shrugged out of his hold.

He frowned when she turned and ran a hand through her hair, "I'm fine." She lied. She was getting good at lying, almost everyone believed her.

"Sure you are." Confirmed Jay, grabbing his coat, an unreadable look on his face.

Emma eyed him as he walked to the door.

"Your always fine." He tossed over his shoulder and opened the door, walking out of it as Emma came up behind and kept it open, watching him walk all the way to his car and get it.

She shut it and glared at where he once stood.

What the hell did that mean?

"Mommy!" she heard her baby cry and snapped out of it, going up the stairs, "Jay Jay!" she heard Dakota cry again.

Emma stopped halfway on the stairs and suddenly just exploded into tears.

She sat on it and tried to keep quiet so no one would hear her cry. She put her face into her hands and let it all out.

"Dakota," Archie said the next day, he stood at the BBQ near the family dinner table out in the back and the blonde whipped her head toward Snake.

"Yes, Grampaaa?" she practically sang, sitting on Manny's lap.

"Want a hot dog?" he asked, flipping one over and she nodded frantically.

Manny giggled at the silly excited girl and looked to Jay who sat across from them. He was tapping his finger on the beer bottle slowly, watching Dakota with the most protective gaze until he saw Manny looking at him with a smile on that face, dimples showing off.

He hoped for the better she wasn't trying to signal him something, like they were ready. It's only been a year. He didn't think he'd ever be ready, besides.. he had stuff to figure out, and she had a lot on her plate too, plus he had to watch over Dakota.

"It's not your kid!" Spinner bittered at Jay, inside the Nelson household when they went inside to grab beers.

Jay shrugged, "I already told Emma I'd watch her for the weekend." He confirms.

"Emma?" Spinner asked, eyeing Jay, "When did we start calling her Emma? Well, you at least."

Jay clenched his jaw and Spinner knew that was a warning sign.

Spinner sighed, "I'm just saying, don't think you have to go raising Dakota just because Sean is gone. He probably respects everything you've done but you have your own life." He confirmed.

Silence

Spinner added on a bit quietly, "You also have Manny..." he drifts, looking around before adding again, "Soon enough, your obsession with Dakota isn't going to be so cute to Manny, Manny will want one of her own, and you can't take care of two let alone one now can you?"

Jay was lost in thought after that, his eyes read nothing but he looked ever so serious. Everyone let him be as he leaned on the wall outside having his cigarette.

There was tons of kids over in the pool, Dakotas day care friends, Emma's parents in the pool watching over them.

Mia had even come with his friend Luke, they brought Izzy who was a year younger than Jack and they were even playing.

'soon enough, your obsession with Dakota isn't going ot be so cute.'

What Spinner said kept repeating in his head over and over as Jay's eyes found his way to Emma. She was laughing at whatever Spinner was saying to her now, Mia was laughing beside her.

At least it was a real laugh this time, Emma didn't have a lot of those.

She looked tired, Jay noticed, she should go for a nap. He snapped his eyes off and flicked his cigarette away, shaking his head trying not to think.

"Emma, you want another beer?" Mia asked Emma, who nodded and she went to go get one.

Spinner was left with Emma and he eyed her. Emma was great, she was, and what he said to Jay had nothing to do with her, even he liked helping out, if only Dakota took him seriously. He was more the comic relief uncle where Jay seemed to be the over protective almost father figure type of uncle.

"Hey Emma?" Spinner says and Emma stops watching Dakota in the pool to look over at him and smile a little.

"Yeah?" she asked.

A bit of silence, and Emma tilted her head at Spinner curiously until he softly confessed, "Your doing amazing."

Emma's heart seemed to jump at that, that was the most amazing thing anyones ever said since she gave birth to Dakota.. she wasn't sure if she was or not. She felt like a complete screw up.

"Thanks Spinner." Emma seriously said, giving him her bright white smiles that could catch any fish in the water.

And she caught him, without even trying, that smile had him hypnotized and he found himself almost blushing.

He tried to hide his grin as he sipped his beer.

"Jay, Jay!" Dakota squeeled, soaking wet as she climbed out of the pool. Jay was walking by and stopped as she clung to his leg, soaking his jeans.

"Are you a fish or something?" Jay asked, trying to grab Dakatos waist to lift her off and she squeeled louder, trying to hold on to his leg, "Your getting me all wet Dakota!" he finally grabbed her and tossed her up, she giggled uncontrollably as his strong arms lifted her over his head so her face was over his and she lovingly put her hands on his hat, only he let her touch it.

She grabbed it off and he held her on his left side, only his left arm holding her.

Emma was still next to Spinner, and Jay seemed to eye them for a bit until he stood with them. Emma gave a second glance at Jay and Dakota for her heart to sink. Sometimes it either made her really happy or really sad to see how close Dakota was with Jay. Which one should it be?

"Hey Em." A voice cut off Emma and Jay's look when they connected eyes and Emma looked to see Darcy.

She was a bit in shock but greeted, "Oh, hey Darc. Haven't seen you in ever!"

"Work has been hectic!" Darcy said, looking at Dakota, strangely looking at Jay, he looked like a big softy right now.

Emma frowned deeply, work.. her friends were a year a head of her since her few months of falling back.

She wish she could work somewhere big and nice in an office like Darcy.

Her school wasn't so bad though, Ellie Nash had gotten her a journalist job, so she could write about the enviroment. Probably only did it because of the Sean thing though, but they got along well, nothing too awkward. Their boss Jesse was pretty nice too, he use to date Ellie but he was very open with people and Emma about how she was too immature for what he needed.

Whatever that meaned.

Emma would love to be immature again, going to parties.. but.. Dakota was her life now.

"Spinner, getting fat I see." Darcy taunted her ex playfully, he wasn't bad at all.

"Ha ha." He gave a fake laugh.

"Oh, Darcy.. Hi." Mia greeted as she came back with beers. These two were never okay since the Izzy thing back in highschool, thats why Emma was so nervous with old friends around Dakota. Dakota was not a mistake and if anyone said it near her, Emma wasn't afraid to go bat shit crazy on them.

But Darcy seemed to be fine now.

"Hey Mia.." Darcy awkwardly greeted, knowing the girl wasnt' a fan of her and then she smiled to everyone, "We should all go out! Now that I'm back in town. My treat?"

Everyone shared looks as Manny jumped on in, "If your buying, I'm in!"

Darcy laughed, sharing a hug with Manny. Emma looked away when they did that. Emma wasn't sure herself if she was jealous of their partying friendship, where they'd go out for martinie's and blah blah blah... or was she jealous that she didn't feel the thrill of that anymore?

Going out, meeting guys, drinking loads.. it just didn't tickle her fancy anymore.

Emma looked up to catch Jay's eyes right on her. She looked away quickly and plastered on a fake smile.

"I'm in." She lied, but hey.. like she said.

She was getting good at it.