Oh look who's updating finally? Sorry for such the late update, but I finally got around to writing the second chapter. Thank you for all the positive reviews everyone! :D It means a lot to me to know people actually like my writing. Soo chapter two.

Disclaimer: Sadly, I don't own Josef. But I do own Emerald!

"Did he hit you?" Josef demands, his arms firmly placed on either side of Emerald. She averts her eyes from his, not wishing to explain. His hand softly touches her cheek which causes her to look up slowly. Tears form in her eyes, she can't lie. Especially not to Josef.

"Yes," She covers her face with her hands and begins to sob quietly, "He did." Josef feels the rage burning in his chest, but he pushes it down and reminds himself of the beautiful crying girl in front of him. She leans forward as if hid her face even more so, but Josef embraces her softly.

"Why would someone do this to you? You deserve better, Emerald, and you know it." He mumbles softly as the girl in his arms throws her arms around his neck. She sobs quietly against Josef's shoulder, letting all the tears she had been holding back come out.

After what seems like forever Josef hears Emerald's tears stop and within a couple minutes she's fast asleep in his arms. He can't help but look down at her with a soft smile. He can't imagine the emotional trauma she had gone through since her and Wade had started dating.

"Emmy?" He questions quietly, wondering if she would rouse. No such luck. He might as well take her to his house as he had promised.

He picks her up with ease, one hand around her back and the other at the bend of her knees. After much fumbling around and kicking doors, he finds himself in front of his car. He curses to himself and somehow manages to get the door open. He sets her down in the passenger seat and makes his way to the driver's seat. This hadn't been the day he expected when he woke up this morning.

x - x - x

Emerald rolls over, her arms and legs stretching out. She reaches out for what would usually be her extra pillow, but instead felt empty space. Her eyes open slowly and she bounces up as she realizes where she is. Josef's. She had been here a few times before, but this was the first time she had been in the bedroom.

"Jo?" She calls out quietly. She bites her lip and swings her legs over the edge of the bed. She pulls her hair up into a messy bun and stretches again. Her eyes survey the room, which was extremely nice and well furnished. Which was to be expected by someone in Josef's position. She decides to make her way to the kitchen and attempt to make breakfast, though she doubted there would be much food that she would enjoy. She can make due with what she finds.

As she enters the kitchen, she's surprised to find Josef already there.

"Good morning sleeping beauty." He jokes and leans back on the counter, crossing his ankles. She rolls her eyes at him and sits down on a bench next to the counter, her eyes traveling around the room. The counter tops were cream colored and the tan wood gave it a nice touch. Her eyes then look to the cupboards, which surprisingly look quite full.

"No breakfast?" She decides to ignore his prior comment. "How rude." She gives a mock pout and looks over at him with disappointment.

"I give you my hospitality and this is how you repay me?" He raises an eye brow at her.

"I didn't ask for you to take me home, dumbass." She gives a shrug. He grasps his chest dramatically at her insult.

"That was our arrangement," He tells her with a wag of his index finger. Emerald's cheeks light up instantly at the reminder that she had come to him, in the middle of the night, practically in tears. She had also told him something she had never wanted anyone to know. Her eyes drop to the side and Josef fights the urge to reach out to her. So many words found their way to his tongue, but he held them back. It probably wasn't something she wanted to hear right now anyways. Plus, he still had to tell her what he had done last night.

- FLASH BACK; the previous night -

Josef puts the car in idle and pulls the keys out of the ignition. The fire that ignited when he realized what Wade had done to Emerald returned. He promised himself he would make Wade pay for what he had done and he wasn't about to go back on that. His eyes turn to the quiet apartment complex. He lets out a long breath before exiting the car and heading to the apartment that he had visited numerous times before.

Before he knew it he was face to face to with Emerald's old apartment door.

"Apartment 372." He mutters to himself before lifting a hand to knock. He hears a clank or two and then the door opens revealing a disgruntled, but hopeful, looking Wade.

"You're Emerald's friend.." He looks him over once and scratches the back of his head. "Not to be rude, but what do you want?" Josef's nose crinkles in annoyance. His hands turn to fists at his side, his knuckles turning white.

"Just came to pick up a few things for Emerald." He tells Wade, his voice surprisingly steady for what he was about to do.

"She can't come and get them herself?" Wade looks genuinely confused and insulted.

"Well—"

"Well you tell that bitch that she can—" And that was it for Josef. His fist connects with Wade's nose and he's sent sprawling backwards. He shakes his head and steps over him, going to get what he had come here for.

As he collects Emerald's things he can faintly hear groaning coming from the front of the room. He throws the last thing in the bag and heads back out to the door. He kicks Wade in the side for good measure as he walks out and returns to his car.

- FLASH BACK END -

"But since you asked nicely, I'll make you breakfast."