A/N: Sorry this took so long but there's been a lot going on and I wanted to make sure I got this part right. Also, thanks for the feedback and suggestions. I tried to be more detailed in this section, and there is more Cranny though I'm still working towards the major Cranny moments. Ignore the thing about Snake and Spike needing to work overtime, they just are because Spike's shop is booming after she did hair for the movie and Snake is doing summer school and night school to earn extra money. Thanks for that note Devadata.

Chapter 10: A Sinner's Prayer

Emma walked the streets of Toronto alone. It was after midnight and the air was crisp, despite the fact that it was mid-summer. She walked the same route every night. She'd tried so hard not to leave the house, but lying awake in bed was not helping and it seemed as if the night air called out to her. Emma knew her mom and Snake would freak out if they knew she was sneaking out of the house again. She also knew they worried about her everyday and it made it harder on her. Emma couldn't be so upset they'd worry but she couldn't be too normal or they would think she was lying. She couldn't tell them the truth but she had to omit reality. Emma couldn't express to them how her stomach was twisted up in knots and that she couldn't sleep. It was as if something was changing inside of her and she didn't know how or when it was going to come out. Since the movie had wrapped, Emma was feeling more isolated than ever. With Manny babysitting Angie, and her mom and Snake working all day and sometimes in the evenings, Emma was truly alone. And being alone was what she feared most.

"Come on Ange!" Manny called from the bottom of the stairs. "If we leave now I can teach you those flips and we'll have time to play on the swings".

"I can't find my sneaker!" Angie called from her room.

"Ok I'm coming up", Manny replied. Sometimes getting Angie to find anything in her messy room took half the day. She walked up the stairs and made her way down the hall. On the way she paused by Craig's closed door. Tentatively, she raised her hand to knock on the door but decided against it.

"I'm not there anyway" Craig said from behind her. Startled, Manny yelped and turned around.

"I'm sorry" Manny said, contritely. "I just wanted to say hi. So … hi! See you later."

"Wait, Manny" Craig called after her. "I wanted to talk to you." He paused at the look of shock on her face. "About Angie," he clarified.

"Yeah, right. About Angie," Manny said blushing "What do you want to know?"

"I was just wondering how is she doing since Caitlin left, and I…", Craig trailed off.

"She's ok. She misses Caitlin. And Joey hasn't really been around since Caitlin left. She misses all of you."

"Joey and I are right here" Craig said slightly puzzled.

"No you're not. You don't know how to be" Manny said bluntly, "You two are too busy crying over Ashley and Caitlin"

"It's not that simple" Craig protested, "There's other things to –". Craig broke off as Angela came into the hallway.

"I found it" Angie said with a grin.

"Ok, go put on your jacket and we'll leave right now" Manny said urging the younger girl down the stairs. As Angie started down the steps, Manny turned back to Craig. "We'll talk about this later" she said, leaving quickly. Craig wanted to continue. There was so much more to say but he couldn't bring himself to go after her.

Joey walked around the dealership in a daze. Ever since Caitlin had left for L.A., he'd felt dead inside. Despite the conversation he and Craig had had, Joey couldn't help but let the despair take over him. He and Caitlin had so many chances and he was afraid that their last one had just passed him by. Sometimes he still felt guilty. In a way, he deserved this. He'd hurt Caitlin so many times, he wondered if they could ever really be together without the baggage of the past creeping up on them. He wondered if they were truly meant to be.

"Knock, knock." Joey looked up to see Sydney standing at his office door. "Hey, stranger", she said walking into the office.

"Sydney!" Joey exclaimed, "What are you doing here?"

"Heard you might need a friend."

"So you talked to her?" Ellie tried to avoid Craig as she served food at the Dot. Since Spinner was taking classes all day, Ellie had been able to get a job working there and even tough she'd moved back in with her mom, she wasn't going to be dumb enough not to plan for a rainy day.

"I told you Craig, she called me the other night. No, she didn't ask about you. Yes, she's having a good time. No, she hasn't met anyone else. Now if you don't move you're going to make me drop this plate." Ellie moved past him quickly going to pick up the next order.

"Did she say my name? Did she mention any other guys?"

"Craig!" Ellie said suddenly, "You're driving me crazy! Email her."

"She went to England to get away from me, Ellie. I don't think I should start bombarding her with emails. You didn't tell her about what happened did you?"

Ellie finally paused. "I promised you I wouldn't and I won't, but maybe you need to do what Ashley's doing. Let go."

"She's not letting go. She said just needed some space," Craig said following Ellie around the restaurant, "Did she tell you she's letting go?"

"Ok, she's just getting some space, whatever, but either way she's having a better summer than you are right now because you won't just relax and focus on yourself." As Ellie talked she moved around behind the counter hurriedly, already accustomed to the intense atmosphere of the Dot at rush hour. She paused for a second. "Come to a group session with me."

"Joey's already got me going to see someone. I'm all counseled out. I think if I have anymore sessions my head might explode from overanalyzing."

"Well what does your therapist say about this whole thing with Ashley?"

Craig looked down sheepishly. "That I shouldn't be in a relationship while I'm getting used to my condition"

Ellie looked back at him hard. "I know you're not big on authority and all, but take the advice. At least, for the rest of this summer, focus on you. Pretend you're single." Ellie looked at Craig again. "Actually not too single", she clarified. Craig sighed inwardly. One thing about Ellie never changed, she wasn't about to let him forget about his infidelity. She had a memory as long as an elephant's.

Manny did a single cartwheel landing in a full split. "Ta-da!" she said, extending her hands into the air. Angela clapped happily for her. "Now you try", Manny said as she stood up. Angie began a series of cartwheels on the grass and after only a few tries nailed the stunt.

Manny looked at the long-limbed little girl and shook her head. 'Ah to be young again', she thought admiring Angie's flexibility.

"Having fun?" Emma said. She pushed the stroller up to the grass and stood there with Baby Jack.

"Jack!" Angie said barreling over to them. "Can I play with him Emma?"

"Ok but he's only crawling Angie. No running all over the place". Emma began to take Jack out of the stroller.

"I know, Emma", Angie said in exasperation. Angie lifted the baby into her arms and placed him gently on the grass. While Angie and Jack crawled around on the grass, Emma and Manny went to go sit down on a bench nearby.

"So how's your summer been?" Emma asked Manny. The two of them had barely seen each other even though they were some of the only people still around.

"It's been ok. Mostly hanging out with Angie. Joey and Craig don't really seem to have time for her", Manny looked at the little girl with a hint of sadness, "It's hard when the people you love can't take care of you."

"I know", Emma whispered. Both of them sat in contemplative silence, a feeling of melancholy washing over them.

"So what about you?" Manny asked, attempting to change the mood. "How's your summer going?"

"Same as you. Taking care of Baby Jack. Mom's busy at the salon because 'everyone who's anyone' wants their hair done by a stylist to the stars", Emma said in a mock accent. "And Snake's teaching summer school. He says Spinner's doing well by the way."

"Yeah I know. He's actually doing work. The only time I see him is when he stops by to talk to Craig. They're kind of becoming friends again. A little."

"And you and Spinner?"

"I am officially on break from everything. That includes school, cheerleading and guys", Manny declared. "What about you? You and Chester were looking kind of cozy before the summer started. I'm sure he's been mowing the lawn with no shirt on. Have you offered him some lemonade yet?" Manny's eyebrows were arching up and down suggestively, making Emma laugh.

"Sorry, nothing to tell. Chester and I are just friends. Besides I kind of…" Emma trailed off.

"What Em?" Manny said with concern. Lately, Emma seemed to go from cheery and fun to serious in no time at all.

"I've kind of been thinking about Sean lately", Emma said hurriedly.

"Sean?" Manny said, "Em, Sean's in Wasega Beach and I don't think he's coming back. Ellie sent him his stuff and moved out of the apartment. It's all boarded up." She was about to go on but Emma cut her off.

"I know! I just miss him. I could talk to Sean. He understands me."

"Emma, I know that I haven't been around a lot but you know you can talk to me right?" Manny looked at her questioningly, "I just don't want you holding out for Sean. He might not come back to Degrassi."

"You want me to talk to you? You're not exactly the picture of stability right now either Manny," Emma replied.

"What is that supposed to mean?" she said slowly.

"You're becoming Angela's mom," Emma said harshly, "You're always at Joey's making Angie's meals, taking her out, getting her ready for bed. And let's not forget that Angie is Craig's sister."

"I'm not hanging out with Angie to get closer to Craig. He doesn't even see me that way. He's still hung up on Ashley."

"That doesn't change the fact that you're not Angie's mom, and you can't be Caitlin's replacement," Emma paused, "And Angie can't replace the baby you decided to get rid of."

"You know what Emma?" Manny said, standing up, "I'll be here when you need to talk and I'll be your friend but I'm starting to get sick of this. Any time I mention anything that you don't like, you attack me. I know I'm not perfect but I'm trying to be your friend. I don't want to see you get hurt again." Manny turned away and headed towards the children. "Come on Angie. We need to get dinner started." Emma picked up Baby Jack and held him in her arms as she watched her best friend walk away.

Joey and Sydney were having drinks at a restaurant not too far from the dealership. The two of them had spent an uncomfortable ride over and Sydney decided, in her usual fashion to dive right into the problem. "So how have things been, Joey?" she asked.

"It's been kind of hard", Joey said, thickly, "Caitlin's in LA, working. She's written a couple of times and sent Angie some things."

"How is Angie doing?"

"She's good. Manny's been at the house, helping out with her." Sydney frowned at this but let him continue. "Craig's okay. He misses Ashley a lot. But he's going to counseling and staying on his meds."

"Joe, I'm worried about you. The day-to-day stuff. Getting Angie out, making sure her and Craig are eating. Grocery shopping, doctor's appointments, how are those things being accomplished?"

"I told you Manny's helping out."

"Manny's a child, too," Sydney said, "She's only 15 herself."

"I can't." Joey's voice broke as he spoke. "I can't think about this right now."

"But you need to. I know Caitlin left and I know it's hard, but Angie and Craig need you, not some little girl who takes Angie to the park and picks up around the house."

"Syd, I need some time. Things will be back to normal when school starts."

"I can come by and help out any time you need me to," Sydney said, sliding her hand in his.

"That would be nice," Joey said with relief.

"Hey!" Craig said as Manny and Angie walked in the door. He was standing behind the kitchen counter with an apron on that said 'Kiss the Cook' and some vegetables in his hands.

"Hey, Craig!" Angie said running over. She stopped short when she realized what he was doing. "You're cooking?"

"Yeah I thought I'd get dinner started. Go wash your hands Ang, and come help me slice tomatoes."

"Okay!" Angie said starting up the stairs.

"I guess I'll see you tomorrow Angie" Manny said, heading towards the door.

"No!" Craig said quickly. Manny turned around and looked at him. "I mean, you should stay for dinner too. Besides I need help."

"Okay", Manny said slipping off her jacket. She walked over to the kitchen sink and rinsed off the tomatoes and peppers. "What are you making?"

"Craig's Spaghetti Surprise!" he announced happily.

"What's the surprise?" Manny said with a smile.

"A chef never reveals his secrets," Craig replied mysteriously. Manny picked a can out of the trash.

"Ragu©?" she said. "Your secret is Ragu©?"

(A/N: I don't own Ragu©. This story is no way an endorsement of Ragu©; though their Robusto Super Chunky Mushroom© is da bomb!)

Manny wanted to laugh at him but she held it in. At least he was trying. Just then, Angie came down the stairs and kissed Craig on the cheek before settling down to slice tomatoes.

"What was that for, Ang?" Craig asked.

"Your shirt", Angie said matter-of-factly. Craig had forgotten the writing on his apron. He shrugged his shoulders and continued slicing peppers but Angie's next words stopped him short. "Now it's your turn Manny. Whenever Daddy wears that apron me and Caitlin both have to give him a kiss."

Craig and Manny looked at each other uncomfortably. Craig felt rooted to the ground. His first inclination was to run away. Not because the thought of kissing Manny was repulsive but because it was almost too enticing. He shifted his weight unsure of what to do but Manny solved the dilemma for him. She walked over and calmly placed a kiss on his cheek. "There", she said. "Let's finish dinner." Her breath lingered on his skin as did the feeling of her lips but Craig pushed it out of his mind and went back to cooking. Like Ellie had said, he wasn't single, yet.

Joey came in the house an hour later to find Craig, Manny and Angie eating sitting around the dinner table laughing as Angie and Manny attempted to throw spaghetti noodles in Craig's mouth. He stood in the doorway and watched the three of them playing around. Angie threw back her head with laughter as a spaghetti noodle tangled itself in Craig's hair. Craig made a silly face sending both girls into fits of laughter, before they attempted to throw another noodle at his open mouth. Joey watched the scene with a mixture of sadness and amusement. It'll be okay, he thought, though he still wasn't sure if he believed it. "Hey you guys. Stop playing with your food," Joey said with a smile as he entered the room. He settled down to the table, to have a meal with his family.

Emma walked the darkened streets alone, again. This time with a vague since of purpose. She didn't want to go there but something was drawing her closer. Though she'd walked the streets alone, night after night, Emma's feet had avoided the spot she swore she'd never go to… to Rick's grave. Tonight she stood in front of the headstone and saw it, studied it for the first time. Rick Murray, Beloved Son, 1988-2004. Emma felt the irrational urge to deface those words. To tell the world that Rick was a psycho, a horrible hate-filled person who left pain and death and destruction in his wake. She wanted to leave his grave unmarked and unknown, so no one could ever be touched by his anger again.

Instead, all she could do as cry. Emma stood there a wept for a boy who was dead and shouldn't be. She wept for every bad thing she'd said to him and every phony, fake gesture she'd done to make it up. Emma cried for the part of her that was forever lost that day in the halls Degrassi. The part of her she wished she could get back. Her innocent self that believed she could change the world just by being in it. Emma cried until her vision swam before her and she prayed to the universe to fill the void in her that had appeared with the shot of Rick's gun. She almost didn't feel the hand slip inside of hers.

"It's okay Emma" a voice said beside her. Emma looked up and her breath caught in her throat.

"Sean?" she said. Her prayers had been answered.