CHAPTER TEN

FLASHBACK

"Hey want to sleep over tonight?" Emily and Matt were in the Lehman's house eating a snack.

"Yeah! Hey maybe we can camp outside. I've got a tent and everything!" An excited Matt replied with a mouth full of food.

"Ew! Don't talk with your mouth full! Didn't your mom teach you any manners?" Emily shook her little finger at her friend. Matt replied by opening his mouth wide and showing Emily a mouth full of partially chewed food.

"Boys!" She sighed to herself.

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Later that night Matt and Emily were sleeping in their tent outside. After much persuasion they finally got both parents' to agree to a camp out. Matt stirred in his sleeping bag.

"Emily!" He pushed her lightly.

"Emily..." Matt shook her harder this time. Emily groaned and rolled over.

"What Matt?"

"You're snoring! Put a cork in it!"

"I do not snore!" Emily insisted defensively.

"Yeah you do!" Matt sat up in his sleeping bag now.

"I do not! Now leave me alone and go back to sleep."

"It's kind of hard to sleep with your snoring. It sounds like a train." Matt grinned. He loved teasing her and would never let her live this one down. Before he knew it she picked up her pillow and chucked it at him.

"Hey!" He yelped before throwing it back at her.

"Ok Ok! Come on. Let's go back to sleep now." Emily said laughing. She watched Matt for a few minutes until his breathing slowed.

"And I do not snore!" She grinned, happy to get the last word in.

END FLASHBACK

"They only booked us two rooms, Lia. You don't mind sharing with me do you?" Emily handed Matt his room key.

"Not at all!" Lia smiled at Emily.

"You sure Lia? Emily's known to snore quite loudly!" Matt ducked as Emily tried to smack him.

"I do not snore!" Emily stood with her hands on her hips glaring at him. Lia laughed at the exchange between the two.

"How long have you guys known each other?"

"Since we were 7." Emily smiled at Matt now.

"Wow. I thought you seemed awfully comfortable with each other for only being partners for 1 week." Lia laughed.

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"Look we don't care who you are! Mr. Webster will pay you whatever you want. He just wants his son back." Matt shouted into the phone.

He felt Emily put a hand on his shoulder to calm him. Matt locked eyes with her conveying a message of anger, fear and exhaustion. 'I know' Emily mouthed to him. She turned around and stopped dead in her tracks. Less than 20 feet away stared the same brown eyes. Emily took a deep breath and walked over to Joe Flannery.

"What are you doing here?" She asked trying not to sound too annoyed.

"I'm here to see Special Agent Flannery." The older man replied slowly, wondering who this lady was.

"I know who you're here to see. I don't think Matt is ready to see you now. Why don't you just go home." Emily didn't even try to hide her disgust. Those eyes haunted her dreams. For months all Emily could think about was that man with her mother.

"Emily?" Mr. Flannery finally realized who he was talking to.

"My how you've grown!" He smiled a huge smile and Emily thought for a second he was going to try and hug her.

"I don't think Matt wants to see you right now." She repeated and put her hands on her hips. Joe Flannery's smile faded as he realized he was probably the last person she wanted to see.

"Look Emily. I know you must still hate me.." Joe was interrupted by an irate Emily.

"You know what? Let's not go there right now. Ok?" Just then Matt walked up behind Emily wondering what was going on. He stopped when he saw his father.

"Dad...What...What are you doing here?" Matt stammered.

"I missed you son. I flew in with Charles and..I just had to see you." Joe's eyes filled with tears at seeing his boy again after 10 years.

"Dad, look I can't do this right now. Please just go home. I...I'll call you when I get back to LA. Ok just please. I can't do this right now." Matt walked away as his own eyes filled with tears. Emily ran after him.

"Hey Matt! Lia's got something!" Emily called out as she ran to catch up to Matt. Matt quickly wiped his eyes before turning to Emily. They had a child to save right now. He'd deal with the rest later.

"What's she got?" Matt asked. Emily studied Matt a moment before answering. She'd talk to him later.

"Lia was able to isolate the background noise. She knows where the boy is being held."

"Well what are we still doing here? Let's go!" Matt took off towards the rental car they'd be given, Emily following right behind him.

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"You two must be exhausted," Lia said as she flopped on the bed in the hotel room her and Emily shared.

"I think we all are." Emily sighed as she sat down next to Matt on the couch. Matt didn't think it was possible for a woman to be any more beautiful than Emily was tonight. The way she handled his father showing up announced really touched him. Matt felt his eyes well up with tears again. As much as he hated his father, he didn't realize how much he also missed him. Matt blinked his eyes rapidly willing away the tears. Fortunately Emily had her eyes closed, relaxing. Matt looked over at the bed and smiled. Lia had passed out. Matt nudged Emily.

"Look at Lia," He whispered. Emily smiled. Lia had turned out to be an amazing person. Full of spunk and personality. Emily knew they'd soon become best friends.

"I'm starving. How bout we go to your room and order some room service?" Emily looked at Matt and immediately regretted asking that. 'Yeah great idea Emily! Let's go the room of the guy you can barely keep your hands off of!' She silently yelled at herself. Matt saw the look on her face but held back his laughter, not wanting to wake up Lia.

"It's no problem. I'm starving myself. It's been a really long day." Matt stood up and made his way back to his room, knowing Emily was right behind him.

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"That was the best room service I've ever had!" Matt pat his stomach and then stretched. Emily laughed.

"It was good but not the best. I think you were so hungry McDonalds would've been the best thing you've ever tasted!" Emily cleared away the trash and wheeled the room service cart by the door. She sat on the bed and propped herself against the headboard. Matt climbed on the other side and did the same. He turned to look at Emily.

"Thanks for tonight by the way."

"What are you talking about?" Emily was genuinely confused.

"For..for my dad. I know it was hard for you to see him. I hate him for what he did to your family as well as mine. But I gotta admit I never realized how much I missed him." Matt dropped his head and looked down at the bed.

"Matt, it's ok to miss your dad. I don't hate him...I just..I don't understand why either of our parents did what they did. And I really don't understand the reason for them forbidding us to see one another. But that's all in the past. Honestly it made me realize how much I miss my own parents. I forgive my mom for what she did. It's still hard but I do forgive her..." Emily and Matt let themselves be lost in their thoughts for a few more minutes.

"So..." Matt trailed off. He suddenly realized how close he was to Emily. 24 hours ago he had almost kissed her. Matt found himself wanting to kiss her again. It took every ounce of restraint he had in him to not attack her right there.

Emily knew the struggle Matt was having as the same thoughts bombarded her. Their hips were just barely touching but Emily felt her body start to respond. Emily tried to take deep breaths without being too obvious. Emily started to wonder how she was going to be able to work with Matt if every time he was around she felt like a teenager again! 'Our job requires many overnight trips...Is it gonna be like this every time?'

"Matt, I don't think I can do this!" Emily blurted out before she lost her courage.

"What are talking about?" It was Matt's turn to be confused.

"This...I don't know what happened Matt, but..." Emily blushed but forced herself to continue.

"You were always my best friend growing up. We did everything together. Seeing you again after all these years has been great but...Matt I'm attracted to you...Just looking at you brings out these feelings I never thought I'd have." Emily finally shifted on the bed and looked at Matt. To her amazement he was smiling at her!

"Are you smiling?" Emily asked Matt, not believing what she was seeing. Matt couldn't help it though. His face refused to drop the goofy grin.

"There is nothing funny about this! Matt I'm serious. This is too hard. I'm going to do something I regret and we're going to.." Emily was cut off by Matt's lips suddenly crashing into hers. It took her about two seconds to realize what was happening and another millisecond to decide the h with it. She wrapped her arms around Matt's neck and pulled him closer to her. Matt wrapped his arms around Emily's waist and pulled her close, needing to feel every part of her. They shared the most breaktaking kiss either one had ever experienced. Matt pulled away first suddenly remembering his need for air. They held each other close not wanting to part. Matt trailed his hand lightly over Emily's side and rested his hand on her hip. Emily felt butterflies in her stomach. Matt tilted her chin up so he could look into her eyes.

"The moment I saw you in Cheryl's office I couldn't stop thinking about you. I always thought you were pretty. For a geek." Matt grinned.

"Seriously though, Em, I couldn't take my eyes off of you. I never thought I'd see you again and when I did I couldn't believe the feelings I was having. You were so gorgeous and every time I see you, it seems you're even more beautiful then the last time."

This time Emily initiated the kiss and blew Matt away. Their bodies molded together each getting more desperate. Emily broke the kiss and straddled Matt, then leaned back in for more. Matt smiled to himself knowing this evening would be one to remember.