First Tears
-EMMA-
Of course she had cried before but never like this. She didn't really understand why it had happened but she knew her mama was gone. That is a very hard thing to face, especially when you are not yet three. It had been sudden and brief and shocking. And now Emma was in black again, a color she despised, but this time everyone was paying attention to her as opposed to ignoring her. She decided she liked being ignored much better. Everyone seemed to want to hug her and comfort her but she didn't know half of the people and all she really wanted was her Mama. But her Mama was gone. Like Mr. Knightley's.
So Emma had hidden under the table in the back sitting room and cried until she felt all cried out only to start up again in another few minutes.
"I thought I'd find you here." It was not Miss Taylor as little Emma had expected to come collect her. It was Mr. Knightleys voice, his face that appeared when the tablecloth was pushed aside. "Do you want to come out from under there?"
Emma nodded and reached her small pudgy arms out to him. When he had picked her up and wiped her nose with his handkerchief Emma buried her small face in his neck and let out a small sigh. Just as she had comforted him when he'd lost his mama Emma let her Mr. Knightley comfort her.
"You still have your Papa and Isabella and Miss Taylor."
"And you. You won't leave me will you?" She looked at him with all the seriousness she could muster.
"No. I'll stay here with you."
"Good." And with that she went back to hiding her face in his neck but she didn't start crying again.
-GEORGE-
He wasn't a man who wore his emotions on his sleeve but George never forgot the one time Emma caught him with tears in his eyes (Mostly because she wouldn't let him). But then his only brothers wedding was a fine reason to have a few unshed tears blur his vision. He wasn't averse to change, it was just that he never expected it. So when John mentioned that he meant to ask for Isabella's hand in marriage George had given his blessing in a state of shock. The time flew by until he was standing next to John before the old Vicar. And as he watched them drive away for their trip to France George felt a finger jab him in the side.
"You are getting old. Look at you, misting up like an old matron. I do believe you have gotten soft." Emma, then only 13 years old and still wearing her hair down, poked him again and George couldn't help but snatch her wrist.
"Emma..." He heard himself use his warning tone as she called it.
But Emma smiled and taking her hand from his grasp gently touched his shoulder. "Mr. Knightley, I only am trying to make you smile."
George lost any irritation he felt at her the moment she smiled up at him. "Come on then, let's go comfort your Father. I am certain he will want to see you."