Hey everyone! Chapter One is told from Sullivan's POV. Kind of like his inner thoughts to himself. Chapter Two will resume normal third person storytelling.

Enjoy!

Chapter One

When I told the Father that I had learned a few things since leaving Kembleford I wasn't lying. I had learned, and let go of a lot of things. Granted, over the course of four years a man was bound to learn a thing or two. I never thought I would be back here. In the years since my abrupt disappearance I had often dreamed of this place. The rolling hills and green pastures...

And her.

I'd like to say that I had no intention of seeing Emma Kennedy, but like I said...I had learned things. One of those things was self awareness. I came to Kembleford to investigate corrupt police. The case had taken me farther than I expected, and I agreed to work with Father Brown again. I had come to realize how immature I had been back then. Full of myself and determined to do things on my own.

I spent four years working undercover and taking down consipirators. It really opened my eyes to a lot of things.

So many things.

We wrapped up the case...together, the Father and I. So, here I was at the end of my assignment about to leave town when I knew there was unfinished business. I wanted to see her, but I was afraid of wht she would say to me. Lord knows I deserved every critisim she could conjure, but in my heart I still wanted to be special to her.

I was brave enough now to admit that to myself. Something that no matter how hard I tried I could never have been four years ago. Whatever happened, I had to see her. I drove past the B&B. It looked exactly the same. The garden was blooming vibrantly. I hoped to catch a glimpse of her through a window. That would eliminate having to see her face to face.

As I circled around the block I realized there was nothing for it. I was going to have to face my fears. I parked the car and slowly made my way up the walk. My gray coat blew in the breeze. It was then I saw a flash of red in the kitchen window. It felt like someone had squeezed my heart in a vise.

Emma.

I knocked on the door and held my breath waiting for her to answer. When she did her eyes were as wide as saucers. Her beautiful jade eyes I was mesmerized by so long ago. Her hair French braided and tucked into a neat bun at the nape of her neck. She was everything I remembered.

"Hello, Emma," I said.

"Tom? Tom..."

She didn't move. I'm not even sure she took a breath.

"What are you doing here?" she asked.

"I was on police business, but...that's finished. I wanted to-"

"To what?" she still stood with her hand on the door.

"To say I'm sorry for everything,"

She stepped aside and let me in. I took my hat off and held it to my chest. Everything looked almost the same as it had before. The kitchen had new appliances, and what looked to be a newer coat of paint. I heard the door close and turned around just in time feel Emma bumping awakwardly into my arms. My hat fell to the floor as she wrapped her arms around my middle. I held her close. I wasn't sure what was happening, but I wasn't going to pass up the chance to feel her again.

"I'm glad you're safe," she whispered.

I closed my eyes and breathed in her scent. Heaven help me, it was so familiar. Too soon she pulled from my arms and looked into my eyes.

"Where did you go?" she asked.

I took a deep breath, "London. Then, I was reassigned. Several times." I leaned against the kitchen counter.

"You're tired,"

She saw through me.

"I am,"

"I know why you left,"

I stared at her. Was it true? Did she know my secret?

"Do you?" I whispered.

She nodded.

"How long have you known?"

"Always,"

I didn't know what to say. She knew my secret. She'd known the whole time.

"Forgive me, Emma." I pleaded.

She came towards me and placed her hand on my cheek, "I forgave you a long, long time ago, Tom. You did what you had to do,"

"I had to protect you,"

"And you did. You did." she let her hand fall away.

"I missed you," I confessed. There was a new transparency between us now that I knew she knew...

"I missed you too." she smiled sweetly.

"Say, you wouldn't happen to have a room available would you?" I asked.

"I do have a vacancy." she smiled at me. "How many nights?"

How many nights? I really didn't know. I wanted to say forever, but I still had a job to do.

"One night,"

Her eyes didn't betray her. If she felt disappointment she didn't show it.

"I think you can find your way to your old room." she chuckled.

I followed her into the foyer where she opened the drawer for the key.

"Don't. I still have mine." I fished my keys from my pocket, "Unless you changed the lock?"

"No, it's the same,"

"I'll bring you some fresh towels later," she said.

I heard the door open and turned to see a man walk in with a brown paper bag. He looked like a delivery man. I walked upstairs and left Emma to recieve her delivery. A few moments later when I came back downstairs to retrieve my bag from the car the man was still there.

He and Emma were in the kitchen, and as I passed by the window outside I saw him lean in for a kiss on her lips. I almost tripped over thin air. How stupid of me. I should have known a woman like Emma would never languish on the vine. A man smarter than myself would pick her up and hold her forever.

But there was no ring.

No ring.

The last time I saw Emma she was still wearing her wedding band. Now her finger was noticeably bare. I pondered on what that could mean while I tried to maintain my composure.

I knew coming back to Kembleford wouldn't be easy.

But I never imagined it would be like this.

What is Tom's secret?!

Emma has a boyfriend?!

What the what.

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