Thanks to everyone who reviewed the last chapter :) much appreciated. Enjoy! xxxJilly
Emma heard the front door click closed and she exhaled deeply. It had been two weeks since her engagement to Matt and one week since her wedding and when the honeymoon began. Two weeks in the company of Matt and only Matt. Jetting out to Tobago and taking herself some well-earned annual leave she thought it would have been perfect. The white sands were, the turquoise sea, the food, the villa, the shops. Everything had been perfect…everything except the man she was with. He was the same as ever only Emma had had a taste of something more, somebody who gave her butterflies whenever she caught a glimpse of him, who made her feel like the most beautiful girl in the world, who she found herself picturing every time Matt kissed her, hugged her, made love to her.
She'd left perfection at home, in the form of Will Fletcher.
Now she was in fact at home she thought things might improve. She'd get used to a new routine with Matt as the centre of her day and her as his but this hadn't really been the case. She still fantasised about running away with Will, her every waking moment was consumed with thoughts about him, she'd never wanted anything so badly. And yet now she was preparing for her first day back at work she couldn't help but feel nervous. She'd given him the elbow when she'd last seen him and now…two weeks on without any contact she was supposed to tell him that she was 'happily' married.
Running a hand across her forehead Emma groaned. Why was her life always so messed up? Couldn't thing go easy just for one stupid day?
Seeing the counter on the VCR change to 6.45am she reluctantly pulled herself to her feet and yanked on a jacket and shoes before she made her way outside to the car, stepping into it and instantly regretting it as the temperature was practically sub zero. Shivering she put the key in the ignition and made her way towards Sun Hill Station, glad for once that Matt was due in court for what would most likely be a very long case.
Stepping out of the locker room she walked quickly down to Gina's office, rapping softly on the door before she slipped inside. "Emma! I forgot you were due back today. So how did your holiday suit you? Feeling refreshed?" Gina asked, getting to her feet and welcoming Emma back.
"Err yeah…you could say that." Emma replied nervously as she twisted her engagement and wedding rings around her finger.
"Emma…is that what I…Emma you got engaged? And married?!" Gina exclaimed as she reached for Emma's shaking hand. "Two weeks ago you were in here sobbing your heart out because you'd been having an affair with Will and now…you took time off and…and got married to Matt!" She continued in disbelief.
"Um it seemed a good idea at the time." Emma muttered shyly as she felt a blush rise on her cheeks.
"Well congratulations Emma…I suppose you'd better get back to work. The pairings sheet is out on the notice board, I haven't had a chance to look at it yet Smithy made it up for me." Gina called after her as she left the room feeling slightly better now she'd gotten some things off her chest.
Standing in front of the pairings sheet however Emma's heart plummeted so far down that she was sure it would be lurking somewhere in the depths of her big black boots. Gulping she drew her finger across from her name to the other side of the sheet where Will's was listed. Trust her luck to draw Will on her first day back. Turning round she bashed right into a whirlwind of black and white, stumbling as it caught her before she sprawled on the ground.
"Emma?" A familiar voice asked as he righted her on her feet again.
"Um…hi Will." Emma whispered not even daring to raise her gaze to meet his.
"Where have you been? What's been happening? Gina just told me you'd taken leave and that she didn't know any more." He quizzed her as they began to walk down the corridor.
"I um I had to take some time to clear my head. So err what are we doing today?" She asked, carefully sidestepping the subject.
"Property lists." Will groaned as he pushed hard on the door in front of him so that the contents of what was essentially just a very large cupboard were made visible. "We're cataloguing everything here and we're gonna be paired and doing it until the whole place is done according to Nikki. She says its been ages since it was last done and we're the unsuspecting victims and we'd better not complain or she'll have my nuts in a jar…dunno what she's gonna do to you if you moan but you can test it if you like." Will grinned cheekily as he continued to hold the door so Emma could slip into the room under his arm.
"Yeah might be a plan…then I can get out of doing this 'cause I'll be in hospital." Emma muttered dryly as she made her way towards the back of the store.
"Am I that bad company?" Will asked, a hint of resentment drawing out through his words.
"No…no I just…oh never mind. I knew this would be difficult." She replied, as she faced away from him pulling several large boxes down from a shelf.
"What would be difficult?" His voice grew softer as he noticed how tense she was.
"Us…working together…being in each other's company after…after what happened." She whispered closing her eyes as she felt Will's breath tickle the back of her neck.
"After us sleeping together?" Will said tilting his head. "After you ditched me?"
Emma winced as she heard his last question. "I didn't…I didn't mean…no I mean…oh I don't know. I never meant to hurt you…I never meant to hurt anyone. I just…I just…I just." Emma cried as she sank to the floor at Will's feet, turning round as she fell so for the first time he could see her crumpled expression and woeful eyes.
Taking her hand in his Will crouched next to her, his fingertips rubbing gentle over her knuckles in a soothing manner until they brushed her rings and he paused, looking down. "Em…uh Em…that's not a wedding ring is it?" He asked cautiously as he fingered it. Nodding Emma let out a fresh burst of tears, her head sinking into Will's shoulder. "Em sweetie…you seem a little confused. Maybe you should take some more time off and I don't know…realise what you've done."
"I know what I've done." Emma retorted indignantly as she swiped her hands over her eyes to dry the tears still falling. "I married the man that I…that I love and I'm happy I just didn't know how to tell you. I thought that you might be angry and I'm sorry." She rushed, turning away from Will and wedging herself in a corner behind some boxes as she pretended to file lost property.
"I'm not angry. I'm surprised…and a little upset that you didn't tell me but I'm not angry…never angry." Will murmured as he stood with his forearms resting against a shelf which he looked through to see Emma visibly relax. "I hope you and Matt are happy together. You deserve someone who makes you happy." He added as he too turned away, pretending to busy himself so that she wouldn't see the disappointment on his face.
He'd only got through the past two weeks by telling himself that after a little holiday maybe Emma would have changed her mind, calmed down and realised that she wanted him instead of Matt. When they were together he'd been convinced that they'd had a special spark, something he didn't see when Matt and Emma were together. Clearly, he'd been mistaken…
Reviews please...? Oh and another thing :P if you go onto my profile page then you can vote on the main pairing of my next fic :) fic ideas for that fic will be available to vote on once I get the results of the pairing poll :D would be grateful xxx