Wow, great responses to the last chapter.

And people are like threatening me to get this chapter up, so let's not keep you waiting, eh?

Enjoy!


Chad woke up to an overall soreness. He squinted his eyes shut and groaned from a sharp pain in his side.

He felt the warmth of a hand on top of his. Chad groaned again as the pain shot through his ribcage.

"Shh," a soothing voice whispered.

"Emster?" he blinked his eyes open.

"Yeah, it's me."

He tried to sit up, but his immense pain prevented him from moving. He screamed in agony.

"Shh, lay down. Just relax, baby," she said gently.

"What happened? Where am I?" he managed once he settled himself again.

"You're in the hospital. Daniel found you at my house. When he punched me, you ran to him and started beating him. He finally got you off, and started kicking you until you were out cold."

Chad looked at her. Her forehead had a bandage on it and she had a small bruise on her cheek. "You're hurt."

"I'm fine. You're the one that's hurt," she traced circles on his palm with her thumb.

"How bad is it?"

"A couple of broken ribs and you've been drifting in and out of consciousness," she maintained her gentle tone.

That's when Chad noticed the tear stains down Emily's face. "How long has it been?"

"Almost a week," her voice faltered for a moment.

He caressed her cheek, despite the throbbing in his ribcage. A tear silently slid down her face as she looked at him.

"Don't worry about me," Chad said quietly.

"Too late," she sniffed and smiled slightly through her tears.

He smiled at her. Oh God, had she missed that smile.

"I love you so much."

"I love you, too, Emster," his thumb stroked her cheek gently.

Emily leaned down and gave him a tender kiss on the lips. He gratefully returned it, happy she was okay and that she was safe.

Another stabbing pain hit crashed into him hard. He grimaced.

"Sorry," Emily looked down.

"It's not your fault. It's Daniel's. I swear, I'm going to kill him when I get…"

Emily put a finger over his lips to quiet him. "No, you won't. He's in jail, Chad. This is all over."

Chad felt like a million pounds had been lifted from his back. His burdens were gone. That nagging feeling wasn't tugging at the back of his mind anymore. He was at peace.

Well, as much peace as you could get with three broken ribs.

He gave a deep sigh of relief and rested his head on Emily's shoulder. His eyelids became heavy.

"Get some rest, baby," Emily's calm tone whispered in his ear.

Chad relaxed against her and fell asleep almost instantly.


"Home sweet home," Chad said sadly as he hobbled over to the Boltons' couch.

Chad's mother had yet to be located, so he was staying with the Boltons until then.

"Chad, I feel horrible," Jack said sympathetically.

"Coach, not your fault you weren't home," Chad shrugged.

"Well, who makes last minute trips to the grocery store?"

"Um…everyone."

"Daddy, stop blaming yourself," Emily laughed gently.

Chad settled himself on the couch as Emily made a big fuss over him.

"You sure you don't want anything?"

"Positive, Emster," he smiled weakly.

"You need something to drink? Or eat? Oh who am I kidding you always want something to eat," she rambled.

"Emster," he laughed gently, "I'm fine."

She placed a pillow behind his head and covered him with a small throw blanket. Then, she sat on the edge of the couch. "You're not fine. You just came home from the hospital."

"Please don't remind me," Chad rolled his eyes.

Emily sighed, "I'm sorry."

"Don't worry about it," he grabbed her hand.

"Do you count as an 'it'?"

"Don't worry about me, either."

"Aww, do I have to?" she said in a whiny voice.

"Yes."

"Shoot. Wait…since when have I listened to you?"

"Emily, don't make a big fuss over me. I hate it."

"Since when have you hated attention?" she raised an eyebrow at him.

"Since I got it due to the fact that I've been beaten," Chad said quietly.

Emily looked down. She knew this wasn't going to be a smooth week, or month, possibly months. Chad's mom hadn't left a number or even the name of where she was going. They couldn't get in touch with her. Until they heard from Valerie, Chad was stuck in the Bolton house.

Sure, Chad considered it his second home. But he loved his mom, and not knowing if she was okay was killing him.

"I love you," he said.

Emily looked up and saw his eyes filled with sadness.

"And I love you," she kissed his forehead.


Chad sat on the back porch, watching the sunrise (Yes, you read correct: sunrise).

He hadn't been able to sleep due to the pain in his side and decided he'd shuffle outside.

His eyes gazed at the gorgeous sunrise before him as he sat deep in thought. Sure, he loved staying at the Boltons' and being near Emily all the time, especially after recent events. But, the burden of his mother weighed him down. Deep down he knew she was okay, then a flash of Daniel would overcome him, and the thought buried itself deeper down.

'How could I have been so stupid? Letting her go like that. I should have at least gone with her! But then, Emily would be the one sitting here worrying about me. Although, it's not like she's not doing that now.'

Emily meant well, but she constantly fussed over him. It was cute at first, but for the past day, his thoughts had taken over and he kept quiet. This just made Emily be more persistent with her questions of 'Are you okay?'

He sighed and propped his chin in his hand.

"There you are," a groggy voice called across the porch.

Chad turned around to see Emily in her pajamas leaning against the doorway.

"What are you doing up?" he asked her.

"I couldn't sleep, so I went to check on you, but you weren't on the couch."

That seemed all she did nowadays: check on him. He grinned and patted the seat next to his on the swing.

Emily sat down and curled up next to him, placing her head on his shoulder. He gingerly wrapped his arm around her.

"It's beautiful," Emily said breathlessly as she stared at the sunrise.

"Just like you."

"Corny much?" Emily smirked.

"I thought you liked corny!" Chad laughed.

Emily laughed tiredly and snuggled up closer to him. Chad looked down and noticed she was still wearing the promise ring he gave her almost three years ago. He smiled and kissed her forehead.

"Emster, do you think we'll get married one day?"

"I hope so."

"Really?"

"Chad, do you think if I didn't love you that I'd be doing all this stuff for you?"

"Just because you love me doesn't mean you will want to marry me."

"Well, I do," she looked at him.

He smiled and tightened his grip on her. The two sat and watched the rest of the sunrise together.

"Hey, Emily?"

"Hmm?"

"I know I haven't acted like it, but I really appreciate you looking after me," Chad said quietly.

"I know," she yawned.

"I love you," Chad whispered, only to find Emily asleep. Chad placed his head gently on top of hers and drifted to sleep as well.


"FOUND THEM!"

Emily and Chad jumped awake to see Troy standing there with a big grin on his face.

"Hi," he said shortly.

"Go ruin someone else's life," Emily grumbled and rubbed her eyes.

"Now, is waking you up really ruining your life?"

"Oh who asked you?"

"YOU!"

"STOP WITH THE YELLING!"

"How did I get stuck in the middle of another brother/sister fight?" Chad laughed gently.

"Because I found you two out here asleep. We've been looking for you guys, like, forever!"

"Who is 'we'?" Emily asked.

"Gabriella and I."

"Hello there, sleepy heads," Gabriella laughed as she walked out onto the back porch.

"You were part of this evil scheme as well?" Emily glared.

"Well…maybe," she grinned.

"And I wanted you two to get back together because…?"

"Let's think back to the 'Daylie Days'," Troy said.

"Dangit, Troy. I was trying to suppress those memories!"

The group laughed at Emily's remark. Out of the corner of his eye, Chad saw someone coming up to them. He nudged Emily gently.

Emily, still laughing slightly, turned to look at the figure approaching them. She immediately stopped laughing.

It was Natalie.


"What are you doing here?" Emily hissed after she yanked Natalie into the house.

"How is he?"

"How is he? HOW IS HE? Natalie, his step-dad abused him and we don't know where his mom is and you're asking me how he is?!"

"He's my friend, too, Em!"

"MAYBE IF YOU WERE AROUND YOU WOULD ALREADY KNOW!"

"I AM AROUND!"

"No, you're not. You're always with Ryan. I'm your best friend, dammit!"

"You don't understand…"

"You're right, Nat. I don't understand. So why don't you explain it to me…"

"I CAN'T LOSE HIM."

"What?" Emily looked at her confused.

"I refuse to end up like my mother. I am not going to lose him, Em. That's why I'm spending a lot of time with him. Because I know I won't lose you."

"Who said you wouldn't lose me?"

"Em, don't be this way."

"You think that you can just push our friendship aside and it can stay the same? Well, you've got another thing coming, Nat."

"Em…"

"Don't. Just go, Nat."

Natalie closed her eyes and tears streamed down her face. Then, she quietly left the Bolton house.

Natalie turned onto the sidewalk, making her way to Ryan's house. "Please don't let it be over…"


Hope you enjoyed the chapter!

Please review!

I'd love you forever and ever.

Why aren't you reviewing yet? What, do you not want my love? Sheesh. So mean.

Just kidding! Just kidding!