Two plush couches were the main feature of the living room that always smelled like coconut oil and fresh avocado. Emily Thorne always let her Hampton home have flavor and scent to it because it was what she believed was home even if she was only there every couples of months. She sat on the beige couch and Amanda Clarke, on the love seat that was a shade of pale pink. She herself smelled of sandalwood and cloves but her stature and kinky curls told a different story. Amanda Clarke was at home with her body, you could tell by the daisy dukes she was wearing and the purple halter top that showed off possibly too much skin even though it was nearing summer.

She wasn't actually Amanda Clarke, nor was her name Emily Thorne. Her real name was Rose Baxter and Emily had met her in New York when she was put in foster care when she was thirteen. Rose Baxter was a quick friend and later on in life Emily hired her to play the role of Amanda Clarke, to take on her name and story when she was put in the witness protection program. She needed to work for the CIA to get close to the Grayson family and she couldn't do it as a Clarke. She never did tell Rose why she had to step in as Amanda, only that she needed her to look after the Porter family, especially Jack.

Both women looked at each other as they drank their Long Island Iced teas. Amanda spoke first through grit teeth as she often did, as if she was afraid to unhinge her jaw. "Why did you come back?"

Emily looked into her lap and then at the cubes in the glass she held with a tight grip, tight enough to shatter the glass. "I wanted to check up on you."

Amanda cocked her head, eyes stern. "You mean check in on your babysitter."

"Jack's not a baby," Emily quipped as she sat up, straightening her body.

"Don't talk back to me Emily, I did you a fucking favor," she barked, green/hazel eyes like daggers now.

"Or I did you one. You were nothing when I found you," she said as she set her glass down.

"We found each other," Amanda said through almost a whisper.

Emily nodded, in agreement with her. "Yes, but I was the daughter of a diplomat and you were the daughter of a janitor and a meth addict. You were lackluster before and now you're somebody."

Amanda rolled her eyes, body language changing. "I don't need you to tell me that Emily, I have Jack. He tells me I'm somebody every day."

Emily shrugged. "Too bad you're lying to him."

Amanda began to swallow down her words "For you and that can easily change, so don't push me Emily. I won't be threatened."

Emily leaned forward and cupped Amanda's face. "Nor will I."

Amanda quickly swatted Emily's hand away, her eyes darkening. "Look...it's all good and fine you wanted to come back to check in on your merchandise but we're just fine without you."

"I know, I still wanted to come though. I know you can handle yourself and don't worry Rosie, you're Amanda Clarke for good now."

Amanda nodded, relaxing a bit in her chair. "What did your father do?"

"He didn't do anything which is how I got involved in this whole mess," she said, biting her tongue to keep from ranting.

Amanda doesn't believe her. "Well he must have done something if he was put into prison."

"It was a mistake," Emily said, fingers turning into a fist. "He was an operative for the CIA and friends with the Grayson's, my bosses in Los Angeles. He was recruited as a diplomat when I was four, after my mother passed away. We traveled back and forth mainly to Japan. While we were there...he was accused of a crime he didn't commit."

Amanda was on the edge of her seat. "What did they say he did?"

"They said he raped a string of young girls in hotel rooms throughout Japan but he didn't, he was innocent. He was framed."

Amanda shook her head, hair falling in her face, her palms sweating just from hearing the story. "What ever happened to diplomatic immunity?"

Emily stood up, her heart beating so fast it's about to jump out of her chest. The only other people who knew the story were Nolan, and the Grayson's. "Gone, he was stripped of it. Conrad Grayson found out that Victoria was having an affair with my father before we left The Hamptons."

"An affair, that doesn't explain how he couldn't just come home..." Amanda Clarke said as she crossed her legs, skin rubbing against skin.

"When my father got himself placed in the penal system and went to the courts he told them he was a diplomat and to contact the Grayson's. They claimed they had never heard of him."

Amanda's eyes widened, she had to set her glass down. "What about the documentation saying her worked for them, everything..."

Emily stood by the back door as she watched seagulls tear at a stray piece of bread on the beach "Gone and soon I was too. I was placed into witness protection after he was charged, never to hear from my father again. He came back to the states during the trial, but only briefly in 1997."

Amanda joined Emily near the door, her hand on Emily's shoulder. "I am so sorry. That's shit."

"Someone has to pay." Emily stated as she looked into Amanda's eyes, and someone would.

Porter's Stowaway hadn't changed much in years except it was now under new ownership. After Jack's father, Carl, had died, it was his turn to take over the family business and he let his brother Declan who was in high school help out. Declan didn't seem all that interested though and Jack couldn't blame him. The one person though who did help out was Amanda Clarke, Jack's childhood friend. The only problem with that was they were living a lie, or rather she was. He didn't know her true identity and he would never know she was Rose Baxter if Emily had anything to do with it.

Jack Porter looked through a newspaper that was a few days old; he hadn't bothered to throw it away. He had a hard time of letting things go without the proper goodbye or without closure. That explained why he pined for Amanda Clarke and wondered what had happened to her until he found her again. She wasn't exactly what he had expected but he loved her nonetheless.

When Emily Thorne had left The Hamptons and Montauk where the Stowaway was she had left everything quiet in her wake. When she was around things felt more spirited and lively, and now she was back.

Miss Thorne or Agent Thorne as Jack liked to call her, just to tease her came into his bar at 2 pm on a Saturday night, closing time. He was busy as a bee, serving drinks and food but now it was time to rest.

He looked up from his paper and eyed her, legitimately surprised to see her since he had not been told she was coming. There were no warning signs.

"Emily?" he asked, eyes looking warm but also quite shocked.

Emily nodded, a little grin plastering all over her face. "Surprised to see me?"

A chuckle escaped his lips. "Hell yes. Come here," he said as he pulled her into a giant bear hug.

"Can hardly breathe," Emily said, as she eased out of his arms. She was always able to feel safe and at home with him. He was from her past and that made her feel comfortable.

"Sorry...just excited to see you. No one told me you were coming."

Emily shrugged. "Why should they?"

"Amanda didn't tell me anything about it. You being her good friend, I figured she would have mentioned it," Jack murmured.

"She's probably got a lot on her mind. You know how crazy she can be," she smirked.

Jack nodded. "Dancing on the bar, kissing girls, drinking me under the table."

Laughter coming from Emily's mouth, she remembered how Jack could really make her laugh. "Well...okay then."

Putting the paper down, realizing it was still in his hands he stood behind the bar, ready to serve her. "So how long are you staying this time?"

"Not the whole summer, I have a week here at most, if I can even take that much," she said as she curled her hair around her finger.

Little bell ringing over the door, the both of them looked up to see Declan Porter carrying his skateboard through the door. He received a look of disdain from his older brother.

"Where have you been?" he asked as he poured Emily her favorite drink.

As she clutched the glass in her hands, she watched the scene between Declan and Jack unfold. She had never talked much with Declan since she didn't grow up with him. They shared hellos and whatnot but most of it was meaningless. Jack was the main prospect. She wondered how he thought about Amanda being in their lives.

Declan cruised by Jack who had a quizzical look on his face. "I was out."

Jack nodded. "Yeah, I got that. Out where?"

"You're not my father," Declan said with a scowl. Emily felt for him, she didn't like being questioned or told what to do either.

Interjecting she turned to them both. "Declan, do you have a girlfriend?"

Declan gave her a blank stare and even Jack did for a moment. Jack even lost interest in asking where Declan had been until two in the morning. "What business is it of yours?... Why you lookin' for a date?"

Emily smirked before walking over to him. "No, but you might be and I think I know just the girl."

Now Declan was interested, she had his full attention. "Who?"

"She's the daughter of my boss," she said with a shoulder shrug.

"Yeah, and?" he asked as he cracked his knuckles, his board leaning on his leg on the ground titled toward him.

"Her name's Charlotte Grayson. You two would make a perfect couple. You'd just have to deal with long distance."

Declan shrugged, getting cocky, "Yeah well wouldn't be long distance for long, the ladies just can't keep their hands off a' me."

This made Emily and Jack both laugh and look at each other, eye contact strong on both ends. Emily crossed her arms, trying to keep her distance through body language. "I'm sure..."

Jack grabbed Declan's skateboard and tossed it in his flannel clad arms. "Where does she live?"

Declan caught the skateboard when Jack threw it back to him and Emily watched them before sitting on a stool. "Los Angeles, but if Romeo says he can change that..."

Declan skated around the bar much to Jack's dismay. "A challenge. Well Emily, challenge accepted."

Throwing a dirty rag at his brother, Jack smirked. "Go to your room heathen."

The younger man smirked and did as he was told, for once. It was late and he was tired. Now he needed to shower and search for Charlotte Grayson on Facebook. The both of them watched Declan go upstairs and remained quiet until the bell dinged again. Both of them expected to see Amanda come through the door but they were sorely mistaken. It was Nolan Ross who was wearing a powder blue suit with a yellow striped shirt underneath, and a bright pink handkerchief in the breast pocket. He gave a fake toast to them both. "Cheers."

Jack's eyes widened."Did you come here with Emily?" he asked.

Nolan ducked his head at Emily as he spotted the disapproval on her face. Jack moved toward him and hugged his friend. "And why does no one understand that the bar is closed?"

Nolan laughed. "Because when you have as much money as I do, the bar is always open. Kaching..." he said as he stole a sip of Emily's drink and then making a face because it was far too strong for him. He could tell Emily wanted to talk, she was holding something inside and it was just bursting to get out.

Jack stepped over to the front door and locked the door, putting up the CLOSED sign. "How are you my Gilligan?"

Nolan cocked his head. "Thought I was your professor?"

Jack shrugged, body language chill and relaxed. "It changes from day to day."

Emily cleared her throat before glaring at Agent Ross, eyes like daggers. "Well Nolan, we really should be letting Jack get his sleep."

The colorful man frowned and Jack almost pouted back at him before reluctantly agreeing with Emily. "Yeah man, she's right. Another day, another miraculous adventure."

Nolan nodded, patting Jack on the back. "Miraculous is my middle name," he purred before saluting Jack. "Goodnight Captain Jack."

"I guess I'll be seeing the two of you," he said putting the glass in the sink. He'd wash it tomorrow when he felt more up to it and awake, or he'd make Amanda wash it as punishment for staying out all night doing god knows what.

Emily smiled, as she linked her arm with Nolan's, the two of them walking outside. Once out in the night breeze they walked along the docks and for a second Nolan swore she was going to toss him into the ocean like a dead body wrapped in a heap of plastic.

"What the hell are you doing here?" she asked with fury being very much portrayed in her gaze.

Nolan shrugged her off, playing it cool which was a mistake. "Oh you know..."

Emily gripped the lapels of his shirt. "No, I don't know...so why don't you tell it to me."

Hearing a voice, Emily and Nolan both turned to face Amanda Clarke. "Jesus Em, no need to get so rough with the boy, unless there is reason."

Emily rolled her eyes and released Nolan from her serpent like grasp. "Stay out of this Amanda."

Amanda Clarke put her hands up as if she was about to surrender. "Hey now, no need to get snarky. I'm just looking out for the good people of this town. I'm like a super hero around here."

Emily put her hands on her hips, not looking pleased "You should do your best to stay out of the spotlight."

Amanda smirked as she began to walk up to Jack's place. "Mmm I'll keep that in mind."

Both Nolan and Emily watched her head inside before speaking again. "Come on Nolan, let's go home."

"Home?" Nolan asked with a pleased look on his young looking face.

"Well I assume you're going to want to talk, so you might as well come over to my place. I imagine you've already installed your whale cameras all over my place in preparation for my arrival."

Faking a gasp Nolan placed his hand over his heart as they began to walk. "What do you peg me for?"

Emily scowled, arms crossed as she hugged herself to keep warm, the breeze picking up. "A huge pain in my ass."

Nolan took off his jacket and placed it over her shoulders, the two walking a while in silence until she would get to where she parked her rental car. Emily looked up at him, her dark eyes against his blue. "Why did you really come?"

Nolan scoffed. "Well you know me. I didn't want to miss any of the good stuff."

As she placed her hand over the car door and one hand into her jean pocket she sighed "My life isn't exactly made of "good stuff" Nolan," she murmured.

He opened the car door for her and let her get inside before he leaned his head in, just to talk a bit closer, everything more calm and reserved "Things can change Ems, I promised your father I'd look after you, so let me do my job and quit being such a fun sucker party pooper."

With an eye roll she almost slammed the door on his face before she watched him get into the passenger's side. Putting the key in the ignition she turned it and listened to the engine all but roar. "Thank you Nolan."