At the hospital

"Is Charlotte alright?" was the first thing Emily said after Jon and Ava had told her about what had happened at the airport.

"Yeah, she's fine," Ava confirmed. "She's back in her room now. You can sure visit her later. But at the moment she needs some rest."

Emily exhaled audibly. "If I think about what could've happened if you…" She looked at Jon. "… hadn't found her." She put her hand to her nervously beating heart. "Do Daniel and Victoria know?"

This time it was Jon who cut in. "No, they know nothing. And we should keep it that way." His mouth twisted a little. "Maybe this could be our little secret? I mean, she did all that only because of me. And I feel bad enough about it already."

"No, it's my fault, Jon," Ava chimed in. She looked at Emily. "I told Charlotte that Jon will go back to Rebun Island," she went into more detail. "After that she acted weird, said some strange things. I should've known she wouldn't give up and look for him."

Emily quickly put a hand on Ava's. "Hey, it's nobody's fault," she said softly. "You're not responsible for what Charlotte does. After all, she's a grown-up."

Ava ignored Emily's words. "She… said that she wishes she was dead," she pushed out, working her clammy hands nervously. "I shouldn't have left her alone after that."

"It doesn't help anything to blame each other now," Jon threw in. "In the end everything went okay. And that's the most important thing."

Emily nodded with a smile. "Right, and that's why I won't tell Daniel and Victoria about it. Okay?"

Jon breathed a sigh of relief. "Thanks!"

"No need to thank me." Emily leaned in and also squeezed his hand. "I just want my sister to be happy."

Ava quickly looked at Jon. "That's why we're here," she said hesitantly. She gently nudged Jon's side. "Come on! Tell Emily what's on your heart!"

He ran a nervous hand through his hair. "Okay, so…," he began haltingly. "… after I decided not to go back to Japan Ava was so nice to offer me a job at the bar."

"That's great!" Emily smiled. "I'm glad you decided to stay. Especially because of Charlotte."

"That's not all, though," he continued hesitantly. He took a deep breath. "I can't stay at the motel forever. That's why Ava suggested…"

"I suggested he stayed at Grayson Manor," Ava finished his sentence. She smiled at Emily sheepishly. "Of course only if you and Daniel don't mind," she hurried to add.

Emily's eyes went back and forth between the two of them. "Of course I don't mind," she then said and smiled widely. "I even like that idea a lot, because Charlotte won't be separated from you anymore." She suddenly laughed. "You can even choose your room, Jon," she gave with a wink. "We sure have a dozen free guest rooms in the villa."

Ava frowned skeptically. "Don't you have to ask Daniel for his approval first?"

"Nah!" Emily made a casual hand gesture. "The villa belongs to both of us equally. Besides, I know he only wants the best for Charlotte, too." She reached out her hand to Jon. "So it's decided, from now you're our new roommate!"

He shook her hand with a smile. "Thanks!" he said once more. "I really appreciate you letting me live with you. Especially given my past," he added hesitantly.

Emily frowned by his comment. "Us former graduates of Takeda's self-defense-class should stick together. Don't you think? Besides, we don't just have a past now but also a future."

"Nicely said." Ava nodded approvingly. "Bummer there's no booze allowed in here. We should drink to that!"

"Later, when I'll be back home," Emily said with a smirk, rubbing the bump showing under the sheets.

Ava gestured to Emily's belly with a grin. "Not long and there's another new roommate in Grayson Manor," she said. "House's starting to fill."

"Speaking of filling… What d'you think, you still gonna celebrate your wedding in the villa?" Emily suddenly changed the topic.

Ava nodded hesitantly. "Yeah, I was gonna, but if you're worried about that…"

"Bullshit!" Emily waved off her concern. "I just wanted to say that it's about time to start the preparations."

"Give me the key to the manor and I'll take care of everything," Ava said, grinning.

"Not without me!" Emily said determinedly. "I told you I wanna help with the preparations."

Jon raised his hand as though he was at school. "I'm here now, too. I can help, too," he offered.

"We'd be far more ahead with everything, if it weren't for the thing with Ray…" Ava trailed off and bit her lips. "Sorry, Emily," she then said. "I didn't mean to remind you of it."

"I'll be reminded of it from time to time." Emily sighed deeply. "Not just because of me but also because of Julia. I'm glad she wasn't harmed too much. But her psyche suffered, too. I only understand now what she's been through because of him all those years."

"I hope the guy gets locked up for the rest of his life!" Jon burst out in rage. "He deserves it more than anything!"

Ava nodded. "Yeah, he does. And I wish Julia will be happy and able to laugh again one day."

The whole talking about Ray had reminded Emily of Daniel. It still wasn't clear how everything would go on with him. Ava seemed to have noticed, too, that she had suddenly fallen silent.

"Em? You okay?" she asked worriedly.

She shook her head. Her eyes had suddenly teared up. "Daniel…," she stammered. "They're gonna arrest him because of shooting Ray."

Ava harshly shook her head. "It was self-defense!" she gave. "They can't arrest him for simply defending himself!"

Emily laughed bitterly. "You think? I don't trust the police. Therefore that little act." She sighed and moved a strand of hair from her forehead. "I asked him to call Julia. Maybe the officers will listen to her if she confirms that Daniel only shot or self-defense and to save her."

Jon nodded. "Yeah, it could work. After all, she knows what her ex is capable of. He couldn't have been calmed down with only words."

"Right," Ava agreed. "If Julia gives testimony, they have to discharge Daniel!"

"He's not been arrested yet," Emily said quietly. "But I hope Julia's testimony will be convincing enough so it won't come to it."

Ava was just about to reply something as the door opened and a nurse entered the room.

"Excuse me, Mrs Grayson, but your visitors have to leave now," she said in a factual tone. "We need to make another CTG now before you'll be released."

Ava rose from her chair she had been sitting on the whole time, and Jon went to the door, too.

"Thanks for coming!" Emily said and smiled. "We'll talk about everything again when I'm back home."

Ava threw her another encouraging look before she left the room with Jon.