Disclaimer: I only own Emily Elizabeth Shepherd!

Sorry it's been longer than I wanted, junior year is getting pretty hard with SAT's and required PSSA's coming up and teachers deciding to give us a bunch of SAT vocab crap and finish all of the assignments we need to be finished before our PSSA's take over…

OMG, you all floored me with the response from last chapter! 52 reviews! I cannot begin to thank you all enough for that!

Enough talk… here is the REAL moment you have all been waiting for…


Greta Michaels has always loved being a social worker. The child did not always accept what you had to do in the first place, but in the end she knew it was better for them in the long run and eventually they would realize that too.

Things were different with Emily Shepherd.

Because her parents were in Seattle, Greta had been called to be her voice and escort her back home. Not her usual circumstances and not her usual attitude.

Of the twenty years she has done this, the children she has been helping have never been quite like Emily. Since the case was transferred to New York, Greta had followed it. Presumed dead, there was a hunt for her kidnapper and killer; it turns out it was still only kidnapper. For almost 6 months Emily had been living with this man Jason Hartley and not where she belonged with her parents.

"Emily," she sighed, looking at the little girl on the gurney. "I will be right back, okay?" She only gave her a blank look and said nothing. Greta turned around to face her doctors. It was mandatory for her to be checked out at the hospital after she was found. It broke her heart as she looked into the deep emerald eyes, one probably full of life, now dull and confused.

"Miss Shepherd is cleared to go on the plane," the doctor informed her. "Her parents have asked that she be brought as soon as she can. She will be further cared for at the hospital they work at. Barring any emotional trauma, she is strong enough to go to Seattle without further treatment."

"Thank you," Greta nodded, signing the discharge papers and turning back to Emily. The flowered dress she had on was dirty, as if she had worn it for weeks. The day care place that once took care of her said that they had to be closed for two weeks and Emily did not return when it reopened. It was the last outfit they saw her in. The man she was forced to live with had such little respect for her that he would not even change her.

Emily was now curled up in a ball, bruises shown on her arms and legs. You could see her ribs through the dress despite the fact that it was two sizes too big. It was scenes like this that made Greta regret her job. The monster hadn't even fed her.

"Sweetheart," she called gently. "It's time to go home." Emily responded with another blank look as Greta scooped her in her arms and carried her out of the hospital. When they entered the airport, Emily stiffened and buried her face into Greta's shoulder. There was obvious trauma there, and Greta gulped at what might transpire when they were in the air. Surprisingly, Emily was very stoic, almost calm during takeoff, practically distant by the time they were in the air.

The young girl had yet to talk at all since being rescued, which could be problematic. Her parents, the minute they saw her, would want to grab her and hold her; but Greta was not even sure if she remembered them. This was the moment to find out.

"Honey," Greta smiled, reaching out to stroke her cropped, dirty, and greasy hair. "Do you think you could tell me your name?" Emily turned to her. "I won't hurt you."

"Rachel Marie Locke," Emily croaked and Greta's heart sank. That had been their cover. Greta opened her mouth to speak but Emily continued in a tiny voice. "Where is my daddy?" Greta smiled widely.

"You're gonna see your Mommy and Daddy real soon," Greta reassured, reaching for the little girls hand, marveling at the innocence that was lost in all of this.

"But I don't have a Mommy," Emily's head dropped and she went silent again.

"Damnit," Greta hissed under her breath as her suspicions of a severe brain washing were confirmed. Emily only knew of her 'daddy.' The man who beat her, abused her, and hated her. She wouldn't remember the loving man and woman who were anxiously awaiting her arrival after six months separation. After all, the whole world believed that Emily Elizabeth Shepherd was dead while Rachel Marie Locke was very much alive.

Greta Michaels was regretting this reunion now. A time that should have been celebrated, could mean even more trauma for this victimized family.


Meredith shakes uncontrollably, tears blurring her vision at the very thought of seeing her baby girl again. Her Emily, her little girl that she believed was murdered by this bastard had been living in disguise all along. Derek's arms slips around her, very much in shock of what has transpired in a mere two hours.

Two hours ago, they had been picking up the pieces of their lives and trying to put them back together; trying to live without the darling princess. Now, Meredith and Derek were sitting in an airport terminal, awaiting the moment they'd see their little girl very much alive.

"This feels like a dream," Mer whispered. "My Emi is alive."

"It's not a dream Meri, we've got her back," Derek kissed her head.

"It's a miracle," Izzie said from behind them. "Our own little miracle, meant for this family." Meredith turned around to face her family. Izzie, Alex, Mark, Lexie, George, Cristina, and Callie were sitting behind them, waiting for the same moment. Arizona, Bailey, Owen, and the Chief had to wait back at the hospital; no one wanting that many doctors out of the hospital at once.

"I just… can't believe it," Lexie whispered. "My little boy is going to get to meet his older cousin."

"As it should be," Mark nodded, his hand resting on Lexie's growing baby bump.

"Its fate," Callie spoke up. "It has to be… otherwise…"

"Of all people to call that plumbing service," George shook his head.

"We're getting her back Derek," Mer sobbed, turning towards him completely, wrapping her arms around him.

"It's going to be a long road, but we do," Derek whispered into her hair. "We have her forever." The group of doctors fell to a silent, simply in awe at the fact that kidnapped was no longer going to be a word in their vocabulary. Suddenly, Officer White and Martin approached. Seeing Meredith and Derek still caught in an embrace, talked to the rest of the family.

"Did they find him yet?" Alex questioned, his hand balling in a fist.

"Not yet, he somehow managed to escape the tunnel whether by car or foot, and no one was able to catch him after they ensured the custody and protection of Emily," Officer Martin explained.

"Give us the truth," Mark spoke up. "What is she… how is she… did he beat her or…" He can't seem to finish any of what he is trying to say, all of it too painful to say out loud, let alone know if it had been done to his goddaughter.

"You know as much as we do, her initial condition was frightening and shocking, but it may have been the fact that her eyes had swelled because she clawed the contact she was forced to wear out of her eyes, or maybe he had, whatever it is, has gone down; that is all we know, the primary concern has been getting her home," Officer White answered reassuringly. Himself even upset with the fact that this has happened to the girl he has been trying to rescue for all of these months.

"As it should be," George nodded.

"I-" Izzie began but her eyes traveled to the arrivals and departures as the flight from New York City suddenly said Arrived. Meredith and Derek had looked up and none of the family dared to move as their eyes went to the gate.

Would they even recognize her? She was three now, they had only know her as a two year old wishing she was three.

Was the abuse as bad as they imagined?

Would she recognize them?

Would she even remember them?

All thoughts disappeared from their head as the final two passengers walked towards them.

"EMILY!" Meredith sobbed.


Who was Emily?

That is all Rachel Locke can think as she sits in the plane with this strange woman. She only knows one Emily, and she lived in her dream world. She didn't exist.

The woman; however, continued to call her Emily, as if everything Rachel once wished for was actually coming true.

There was one problem with this idea. Emily had two parents, a blond woman and a dark-haired man, two people she forever had etched in her mind, two people she wanted as parents. Rachel only had her daddy.

When they got on the plane, Rachel was so used to being a good girl that she had not made a noise despite how scared she was, how many memories haunted her from being on planes; and she wasn't even sure why.

When they finally landed, she was relieved but very confused as to why she was taken from her home. New York was her home, but when she heard the words Seattle, Rachel remembered that that was where Emily lived.

The woman who has been with her took her hand gently and did not carry her this time.

"You're home Emily," she said and Rachel sighed. She had heard that before, or something like that...

"The airport... we live in Nevada now," Jason said.

"Why?" she asked.

"Because... I already told you why brat!" he hissed and she fell silent. She watched as he pulled up in front of yet another hotel. He watched her crestfallen face with a smile. "We are gonna get a house... just not now..."

The lady led her back in the airport, making Rachel shiver, she hated airports and she wasn't even sure why...

Way to go you little shit," he exclaimed throwing the lollipop down the hall. She whimpered just before he slapped her in the face, hard. She started crying. "SHUT UP!" She couldn't stop crying so Jason had a firm grip on her shoulders and bent down to her eye level. "If you do anything to make anyone suspicious I will kill you and all of your old family. I am not kidding around... I have killed before..." She nodded fearfully.

"Y-yes daddy," she whispered and allowed him to take her hand.

Rachel felt the lady squeeze her hand and suddenly let go. When she looked up at her, the lady smiled and nodded in front of her.

"EMILY!" someone sobbed. Rachel gasped, it was them, it was the woman and man from her dreams...

"It's September 17th Emily… it's your birthday… happy birthday baby… Mommy and Daddy love you."

Mommy and Daddy...

MOMMY!" she squealed and ran towards her mother, jumping into her arms.

"Hey princess," Meredith said kissing her cheek. "How was day care today?"

"It fun," Emily babbled. "We pway wit bwocks and me make you a piture!"

She was there princess...

"Me not like that," she said still pouting. "Me want to be fwee now."

"That's not something I like to see," a new voice said. Emily's eyes lit up.

"DADDY!" she squealed and turned around to see Derek walking towards them. Emily held her arms out for him and as soon as he got close enough, wiggled out of Mark's grasp and hurled herself into his arms. Derek wrapped his arms around her little body as Emily started to examine Derek's pocket and name tag with her tiny fingers.

"Hey princess," Derek said nodding hello to his friends. "How was day care today?"

"It fun," Emily babbled. "Me colored and cas and bwocks."

She had a family that loved her...

Mommy," Emily called. "You pway wit me now?" There was no answer and Emily pouted, holding Beary close. "Mommy! Mom-" Just then she heard her mother.

"EMILY-" Her eyes lit up and she ran towards her mother's voice. She expected to see her mommy standing in the living room, but instead there was a strange man holding a gun. He was standing over her mother's limp form on the floor.

"Emily," he called. Emily shrunk back behind the wall. She was scared.

"It's okay. Emily, come out," he said with a creepy smile. He started to walk towards the play room so she ran and hid behind her toy box. Emily watched silently as the man came into the room and looked around. Dissatisfied with not finding her, he turned around and started to walk towards the kitchen. Now that he was out of sight Emily came out and went to her mother's body.

"Mommy," she whimpered fearfully touching her mom's arm. "Mommy. Mommy wake up." Meredith didn't move. "Mommy..." Emily was about to cry out when she heard him again. She whimpered and ran towards the stairs and began climbing them.

"There you are," he said with a smile while coming out of the kitchen.

"MOMMY!" she cried and tried to climb faster.

"Get back here kid," the man hissed and Emily started crying. Immediately she ran towards her room before he got to the top of the stairs. As quietly as she could while hugging Beary close to her, Emily opened up her closet door, climbed inside, and tucked her legs in.

"Mommy," she whimpered and tried to stop crying knowing he could hear her. She heard him walking outside of her room.

"Emily!" he screamed. "Emily get out here!" How did he know her name? Emily tried to push herself further back into her closet but she ended up knocking half her outfits off, creating a loud crash. Emily cried out, hugged Beary tight, and closed her eyes hoping that her Mommy would wake up...

Her name wasn't Rachel Marie Locke, it was Emily Elizabeth Shepherd. Her daddy wasn't her real daddy. He took her from her big house in the woods, the one that overlooked the cliff.

"MOMMY! DADDY!" she cried and sped off towards them, as fast as her little legs could carry her. Suddenly her Mommy ran towards her too, tears streaming down both of their faces. When she was close enough, Emily leapt into her arms. "MOMMY!"

"Emily," Meredith sobbed. "Oh my Emi girl, you're home, you're home baby. I've got you."

"I love you Mommy!"


I know you were all worried that Em wouldn't remember them, but I am guessing that the dreams helped! This story has come this far, but it is far from over as well. You all went through Em's journey, but Meredith, Derek, and her family didn't… so let's watch as they help her overcome this terrible trauma…

BUT… SHE'S BACK HOME! (insert even more happy screaming than last chapter!)

Please R&R!