Chapter Fourteen: Come Back, Be Here

He can't believe it's been two weeks, two damn weeks! Waiting for her …she has to wake up. Colleen is worried about him, Aiden only goes home to shower and then he comes back to the hospital…he won't leave Emily's side. Dr. Tara Michaels has assured him every single day that she's stable and strong, that is only a matter of time… "Mr. Mathis, your fiancé will wake when she's ready ok?" She leaves the room and he sighs, "Come back to me Ems…please come back"

Colleen puts her hand on his shoulder, "Aiden, you should sleep" she gives him a coffee, "Sorry, they didn't have tea" She smiles sweetly at him and he looks at her. "Thank you". She leaves, and he stays there…waiting.

~·~

Emily is surrounded by darkness, she tries to move, she tries to open her eyes for him; but her body doesn't aloud it. She hears Aiden's voice calling her, begging her to come back…but she just can't move. "Why?!" She screams, but no one can hear her…or at least that's what she thought.

"Amanda?" The tall figure of David Clarke appears right in front of her, "Amanda, is that you?" He asks again.

Emily fights the tears that are about to come out, "Dad! I…how is this possible?" She looks around, it isn't dark anymore…

David smiles sweetly at her, "I have no idea…but I'm so happy to see you, look at you you're not my little Mandy anymore" He hugs her, "You're a big girl now".

Emily looks down, "Mandy doesn't exist anymore dad, I'm Emily now"

"I refuse to call you like that, I thought you were going to follow my advice" He says, more serious this time.

She takes his hands, "I couldn't…they framed you, they killed you! How was I supposed to forgive?"

David touches her face, "With your heart Amanda, with your heart…the same you use to love your family and friends so fiercely…I mean, I was able to do it and I was the one that spent all those years in jail for a crime that I didn't commit"

She looks down again… "I know, of course I know! But they…they are still out there, living their lives like nothing happened…they don't deserve it; someone has to make them pay"

"Sweetie, look where you are… Do you think it's worth it? All these days, my heart breaks watching Aiden taking care of you… I want to see you in a white dress, I want to see you alive" He finishes softly.

"You know?" She sobs, "Oh dad, I miss you so much"

David holds her, "Of course I know, he's a great guy Amanda… and you can see that ring from miles away!" He jokes, "I miss you too sweetie, every day…but that doesn't mean I want to see you here"

Emily smiles, "I don't want to be here either, I want to be with Aiden"

"Good, then you have to go back…" David smiles, love radiating from him. "But first you have to promise you will keep your word; remember your flight to Seattle?"

… "I was thinking about the future", "And?" He gets serious… "When we finish all this, it's over. No matter what happens, it will be over". Aiden kisses her softly, "We will start our family". They are about to arrive so, they hold hands and Emily puts her head on his shoulder…

"You promised Aiden that no matter what happened here, it would be over…and I want you to promise the same to me" He says serious.

"Dad… I, I still have Victoria…" She doesn't know what to say, she know Victoria is a delicate subject for his father.

David sighs, "Don't you think she has suffer enough? Charlotte left, Daniel doesn't trust her and Conrad is dead…leave her alone, she's already paying for her sins"

Emily takes a deep breath, "Fine…I promise you, it's over. No more revenge" She hugs him, "Good bye dad".

He holds her for a few more minutes, "Good bye Amanda, please…be happy"

"I will dad…I will be so happy" She is crying again.

David takes her hands, "Tell your sister that I love her, tell her the truth" He lets her go, but before she disappears he screams "And I want grandchildren soon!". The last thing he hears is his little girl laughing.

~·~

"Ems, it's been two weeks… it's Monday, and I miss you. I miss you so much" He sobs, "We all do, Nolan, Padma and Colleen have been here with me everyday…I was thinking that after our wedding we should travel around the world. You know, I spoke with Takeda the other day…he's worried about you too, he told me everything is under control, that one of the men that were in the meeting is telling everything, everything! Can you believe it? The nightmare it's finally over…the only thing missing is you. Colleen is making arrangements for the wedding; you should see her…she's stronger every day. She says she will be your maid of honor, and I hope you're okay with that…" He stops when he feels her hand moving, "Ems? Ems…can you open your eyes?" He's holding his breath.

"Who's going to be my maid of honor?" She asks weakly…

He can't believe what he's hearing…"Emily! You're awake…oh my god you're awake! I love you so much" He kisses her forehead and presses a button to call the nurse.

Emily, now fully awake, smiles at him "I love you too…and I want Colleen to be my maid of honor" She starts laughing but the pain radiates across her belly and makes her stop, "Ouch…"

The nurse enters the room and smiles, "Welcome back Miss Thorne, we're so glad you're awake. I will page doctor Michaels immediately"

"Thank you" Aiden says, "Do you want something Ems?" He asks happy.

A new body would be perfect, she thinks but since that's impossible "I want water" he quickly gives her a tiny glass of water, and she looks at him puzzled… "Why is so tiny?"

Aiden shrugs, "Maybe because you can't drink that much? I really don't know".

The doctor sees her and smiles too, "Welcome back Emily!...Aiden would you give us a minute so I can examine her?" Aiden nods, "I will tell the others that you're here". When he leaves, she continues "So, my name's Tara…I'm your surgeon. How do you feel?" She touches Emily's belly.

Emily winces when the doctor touches her, "I ache everywhere…it's like I have an elephant or something over me" She laughs a little and the doctor too.

"Don't worry, that's normal…so, we took the bullet out of your belly. You were lucky, it could've been a lot worse" Emily's eyes widen, "Don't worry, we have the best plastic surgeon in our staff…you won't have any scar, like nothing happened" She sighs, it's not a big deal but it's nice to know her skin will be the same. "Do you feel dizzy or confused?" Emily shakes her head, "Ok, that's good. We will move you downstairs to a nice room and keep you in observation for the rest of the week". "Thank you doctor" Emily says, and Tara takes her hand… "Please call me Tara, you know all of us were praying for you, watching Aiden here every day broke our hearts, and he never leave your side…well, I have to go, it seems like you have visits" Tara leaves the room, and Nolan, Padma and Colleen rush inside.

Nolan runs to her side and hugs her tight, "Oh Ems, I'm so glad you're ok!" Emily smiles, "I'm glad too, but could you please… it hurts" She moves a little and he understands, "Right, sorry" She takes his hands and whispers, "I need to tell you something later" Nolan nods…

"Come on Nolan, I want to hug my sister!" Colleen shouts from the back of the room, "You're awake!" She sits on her bed carefully, "We missed you, specially my brother" she points Aiden and Emily smiles sweetly at him, "He never left your side", "I know…and thanks for starting with my wedding plans, maid of honor" Emily says and Colleen radiates excitement, "Yaaaaay! I knew it" She hugs Emily.

Padma looks down, she doesn't think Emily wants to see her right now…after all, she's here because of her. "Padma? What's going on? Come here" Emily calls her, "I..I thought you would be mad at me" She sits on the bed and Emily takes her hand, "Why I wouldn't want to see my other maid of honor? What happened there isn't your fault… forget about it ok?" Padma's eyes light up with excitement, "Are you serious?" Emily nods, "Of course I am!...by the way, did you find your father?" She asks, and when everyone in the room look down, she regrets it. Padma's eyes cloud and her previous smile disappears, "They killed him, but…I will find his body" Emily pulls her closer, "I know how it feels to lose your father, I'm so sorry" Padma sobs, and stands… Everyone watch her exits the room, and Nolan goes behind her. "See you tomorrow Ems" He winks, and she smiles. Colleen squeezes her hand, "I'm going to the hotel, please make him rest".

Aiden sits by her side again, "Alone again…" He kisses her deeply. "I missed this" She says, "When I was sleeping I…saw my father" He looks at her, obviously confused. "He said he likes you" She smiles, "and made me promise that this was the end" Aiden radiates happiness, "Tell me more…"

~E&A~

Two more and then, the end… Kisses!