Disclaimer: I own nothing.
Author's note: This came to me when I found out that Sean joined the military. I hope you all enjoy it.
There had been innocence and youth. Sticky fingers laced together, as melting ice cream dripped down their hands on hot summer days. Quickly stolen kisses as crimson blushes rose on their flushed cheeks. Wake up midnight calls when memories of his absentee parents came at night and it was just all too much. Sneaking glances in class when neither thought the other was looking and small, sheepish smiles when they were caught. Bubbling laughter when they simply let themselves act like the children they'd been. Signed petitions that he didn't really care about, but did it for her anyways. The raised eyebrows of their friends when they saw them together for the first time, the bad boy and the good girl.
There were long stares, chocolate eyes melting further and further into troubled sea-green. Forgotten curfews as they were too wrapped up in each other to notice the rest of the world. Double-cheese pizza ordered as they watched sappy romance movies that always made her cry as he rolled his eyes at the main characters, but secretly loved every one of the movies she made him watch.
A furious shove that sent her sprawling on green grass and the fear that had risen within her. Guilt rising within when he thought he was no better than his alcoholic father. Hard glares as he tried to talk to her, tried to apologize for something he'd never meant to do. Raging temper as he punched a hole through his wall when months later she still wouldn't spare him a single word. Fevered kisses with another girl as she was in the next room. Watching with sorrowful eyes as tears fell like rain from her eyes and she buried her face into Toby's shoulder.
Frizzy, permed hair that stuck out on all ends as she stood breathless in front of him. Words spilling from her lips of messing up and butting in to other people's business, but he knew she only did it because she cared more than most. Hard words that he spoke to protect himself, but she simply apologized and re-invited him to the wedding. The look of "don't go there" when he'd asked her about her hair.
The moment she saw him standing against the lone tree, staring at her from a distance. Shoes held in her hands as she walked barefoot towards him, youthful hope rising inside of her. Fumbled words and clumsy hands reaching out to dance, mindful only of themselves. A kiss that lit her insides on fire like molten lava and the belief that nothing would ever go wrong again.
Protective arms holding her small frame when she found out the truth about her long-absentee father. Calloused finger-tips brushing away the tears that coated her face. Strong fear and sadness held inside of her as she tried to remain strong, but he could always see the truth behind her masked features. Refusal to let him see her weakness when she struggled to hold it all together when her step-father got sick. Baby-sitting and hospital rooms as he sat at home desperately trying to get a hold of her by telephone. Angry words spit out from resentment after another day of being left on the sidelines as she played the role of nurse, babysitter, environmental crusader, but never just his girlfriend.
Standing by as his friends tore her to shreds. Angry stares and hard glares as they passed each other in the hallway. Tear-filled mocha eyes when she witnessed him making out with his skanky girlfriend in the back of the classroom. Psycho revenge days. Detention she'd help him get that introduced him to a pale redhead with scars on her arms. Refusal to admit that she'd never gotten over him, would never get over him as she watched him every day with smiles on his face, fingers laced with another girl. Losing herself to empty popularity and forgotten causes. Crusading against Rick with the older kids, the popular crowd that she'd never cared about before. Finding herself again when his eyes had looked on her with disdain as he realized she wasn't the same person he'd known.
A gun pointed at her face, his hand protectively gripping her arm as he tried to reason with her assailant. A whir or sound and movement as her feet stayed planted to the ground in fear. Panic rising within when she'd thought that he'd been shot and relief when she heard him speak and stand. Shaking as he ran to her, arms holding her tight whispering in her ear that everything was okay now. Laying her head on his shoulder and smelling in the sweetness of stale tobacco and cologne that she'd missed so much.
Forgiveness when he'd apologized for the cruelness he'd directed at her. Hope that he realized she was the one he wanted. Anger and understanding when he'd stayed with his parents. Numb when she knew he wouldn't be coming back. Lonely nights crying for him, missing him. Longing to hear his voice, needing to be held by him. Sneaking out to the ravine to be with the only person that reminded her of him. Regret at what she'd done. Fear that he would somehow find out. Fear that he wouldn't care if he did.
Reaching out for a hand to hold, but meeting only air. Struggling to hold on to the image of who she was and failing miserably. Needing him. He's not there. Hating him. Wishing he'd call. Loving him. Trying desperately to forget him. Impossible.
Shock and sadness when she saw him again, mixed with happiness and hope. Forgetful of a boyfriend she had standing beside her. Wishing the boyfriend would vanish into thin air. Building a wall around herself, fearful to let him back in to her heart. Scared of the hurt and pain he'd caused her before, knowing he'd cause it again. Walls crumbling as she realized she couldn't forget him, couldn't keep him out of her heart because he'd never truly left. Racing from school to visit him in jail, always thinking that an hour a week would never be enough time. Praying he wouldn't slip from her grasp this time.
Not so sticky fingers laced together once more. Laughter and life shining in her eyes again for the first time in years. Love lost, but found once more. Never letting go again. Late night talks and getting to know each other again. Realizing both had changed, but would always stay the same as well. A lost little boy and sad little girl finding happiness as the man and woman they were becoming together. SeanandEmma. EmmaandSean. Always. Forever.
Her fingers gripped the photograph tightly as she stood on the hard pavement. The promise ring he'd given her glinting in the harsh sunlight. Trying to remember that he'd said they would always be together. He'd come back for her. Tears fell on the glossy paper as she watched his bus drive away, one last glimpse of his face in the window. She stared down once more at the picture she held, taken the day of their first date, and sighed. It was slightly frayed and crinkled from when she crushed it and thrown it against the wall. But she'd kept it. The only one she'd kept from those early days.
They say a picture says a 1,000 words, this one said more.