Chapter 16

Aftermath

The blizzard ended that very morning, the morning after Molly had revealed that she was pregnant with Aaron's babies. The power went on around eight in the morning, but Emma didn't even bother to wake up from her slumber. A few couple times that night she would wake up and cried herself to sleep. She was lost. Her perfect world seemed to crumble into pieces yesterday and she didn't know how to fix it or even worse she didn't even know if she wanted to. A few thoughts came to her last night, from the easiest one to the craziest one. One time she considered pleading Aaron not to leave her as he had promised back in Vermont. And yet, another thought or what she would like to call her consciousness, told her to let him go, to not get in a way of a family. Another crazy thought, they could just run away into another country, starting fresh and leave everything behind. She sighed. That was a crazy idea and she was sure they couldn't do it. It was too selfish.

That morning she was waking up by the sound of her phone ringing for probably a millionth times that day. She groaned and turned the phone off. It was Aaron who tried to call her for the entire night. Mostly because he was worried about the blizzard. But she just couldn't deal with him. Not yet. It was too painful. For Aaron, he didn't even know what's going to hit him soon. Emma knew Molly would talk to him that day and she couldn't bear to tell Aaron about the news, she couldn't, it wasn't her place to tell. Half an hour later she reluctantly woke up from her bed to pee, something she eventually needed to do after gulping down a bottle of red wine.

Her head was spinning as she tried to pull herself up from her bed. She took an aspirin located in her nightstand and gulped it down with some water she left beside it. She stumbled a couple times on her way to the bathroom. She hadn't even reached the bathroom yet when a new wave of nauseous hit her hard, she ran to the bathroom and let it all out. Damn it! She muttered and cried. After she was done, she brushed her teeth whilst looking at her reflection in the mirror. She looked like a wreck. Her hair was messy, her eye bags were puffy and blackish, and more importantly she doesn't look well. She quickly washed her face and changed into a clean set of pajamas. She then made her way into the kitchen and poured herself some milk and cereal, not bothering to check whether the milk had gone bad or not. She took a sip and shrugged, it didn't taste weird and she figured it was fine. She was too lazy to pour another bowl of it anyway. She finished her meal and plopped herself on the couch as once again she fell asleep.

There was a loud noise that forced her to wake up from a sweet dream she just had. She blinked once. She blinked twice. She then sighed as she realized it was just a dream. Her dream was so real it hurt. In her dream, she was wearing a gorgeous wedding dress as she walked down the aisle with her father on her hand, looking so happy and proud. A man was waiting for her at the altar, he was wearing a neat black tuxedo from Armani as she believed. It was him. The minister was officiating the wedding as they finished their vows and exchanged their rings. As the minister about to pronounce them as husband and wife the loud bang woke her up.

"Wait a minute!" Emma yelled. She tried her best not to stumble as she made her way into the front door.

It was very dark when she realized she was asleep for the entire day that she didn't have a chance to turn the light on. She switched the light on in the living room before turning the knob open. Her heart was racing as she touched the doorknob, afraid of what was waiting for her outside that door. Afraid of the aftermath.

She gulped as she silently prayed for anyone to be standing outside that door other than the two people she was dreading to meet. She twisted the door knob slowly and it revealed the person who was standing behind that very door. Before she could do anything about it, that same person jumped into her and pulled her into an embrace.

"Wh-what are you doing here?" Emma stammered, still shocked.

"God! We were worried about you! Don't you know how to answer a call?" He said with a hint of anger.

She broke the hug, still looking at him in disbelief.

"Mom was so worried about you, she sent me here." He then noticed Emma's red eyes and he immediately knew she was upset for some reason. "Hey, what's wrong?" He asked as they made their way into the couch.

She took a glance at him before turning her attention back to the floor, "My life is so messed up."

He pulled her into a warm hug and they sat down in the couch next to each other, "What's going on? Maybe this little brother of yours could help."

She smiled faintly, thankful for him, "It's Aaron." She sighed and he put his hand into her and squeezed it, urging her to continue. "You do know that he used to date Molly, right?" She asked and he nodded. "Well, she is pregnant with his child." She said as she waved her hands into the air and chuckled miserably.

Emmery was stunned for a moment as he studied his sister's face. He frowned, feeling sorry for her. "I-.I..uhm... I don't know what to say." He stammered.

She chuckled lightly as she looked into his bewildered face, "Neither do I."

"Uhm, did he know?"

She shook her head and sighed, "I don't know. He tried to call me but I turned off my phone."

"God." He buried his face with his hands. "This is so messed up."

"Exactly what I said."

"So, what are you going to do?" He asked carefully, not wanting to hurt his sister even more.

She shrugged, "I don't know." She paused after pondering a little bit. "But, Em. I don't want to be in the middle of it."

"I understand." He simply said.

"You know what I mean, right?" He shook his head and she sighed."See.. Imagine if there was a woman between mom and dad that got in the way of them getting back together. Then they might never end up together. Thus, there will be no you and Ella. Do you understand that? I am that woman." She explained as tears streamed down from her face.

He pulled her into a hug as he gently stroked her back, "It's not the same."

She pulled out so she could see his face. She was puzzled by his statement, "How come?"

"Because mom and dad were and still in love with each other. Meanwhile, according to your story, it was you and Aaron who are in love with each other, not Molly."

She pondered her brother's words for a moment. He was right, Aaron didn't even love Molly anymore, at least it was according to what he had said to her. Maybe she had a chance after all. She then shook her head. But Molly was now carrying his babies in her stomach, who knows his old feeling would resurface? It would change his life entirely after all. After he found out he would be a dad of two.

"God!I don't know what to do!" She groaned and rested her back into the couch as she buried her face.

"I know and I'm sorry I couldn't help." He said as he joined her, resting his back into the couch and stared into the ceilings.

She nudged him, "You helped a lot actually, by being here. Thank you." She finished with a smile.

He smiled back, "That's what a brother for."

"Gosh, I wish you were a girl." She joked.

He raised his eyebrows, "What?"

She giggled, "I mean no offense, but I wish I had a sister that big enough for me to give me advice. Don't get me wrong, I know we have Ella, but she's too little to understand this."

He laughed, "I know. Hmmm.. In that case, I will be your 'sister' for the next few hours. You can tell me everything." She smiled. "But, never. Like ever. Tell this to any soul." He finished with a warning.

She giggled and nodded, "Sure. Come on." She said as she stood up.

He raised his eyebrows, curious on what she was planning, "What?"

"You just said you want to be my sister for the night."

"So?"

"So.. Let's do this properly. Let's have a pajamas party!"

He groaned, "No way!"

"Come on!" She whined.

He sighed, defeated, "Okay, but there better be some beer around, because I will need it."

She smiled and nodded, "Of course, go help yourself. Beers are on the fridge, snacks are on the second cabinet on the left. I'll go take a shower first."

"Okay."

The two siblings spent the rest of the night talking, drinking, and eating in front of the couch. Sometimes it amazed her on how little she knew about his younger brother. They shared the stories that happened in their childhood, recalling some fun family trips they went to, the stories of how they spent their life for the past few years, where they lived apart. It was a fun night for both of them. That night Emma forgot about her big problems lying in front of her. Emmery smiled as he saw his big sister laughing about the story he had told her. He was happy he could help. Her sister deserved to be happy, he thought. That night, Emmery ended up staying and sleeping at the couch because of the amount of alcohol he had drunk. He left the next morning, much to Emma's disappointment. He had to meet his girlfriend, he had abandoned yesterday and Emma understood. They however promised to do more of these in the future.

...

The next morning Emma felt a little bit better after spending the day with her little brother. She decided to turn her phone on and faced her demons. She took a deep breath before reading her texts one by one. As she expected most of it was from Aaron. She sighed as she read his last message that said one simple sentence, "We need to talk."

"So he knew." She mumbled to herself.

It's now or never, she thought. She mustered up her courage and gave him a call. He answered almost immediately.

"Hey.." She started.

"Hey.." He said weakly. She frowned at the thought of how torn he must've felt.

She sighed, "You're right. We need to talk."

He paused for a few seconds, "I'll come by to your apartment in half an hour."

"Okay."

"Okay. Bye."

"Bye."

The conversation was short and almost hostile. She hated that feeling. Just a few days ago they were spending the time of their life. That time the whole world didn't matter, it was only them.

About half an hour later there was a knock in her door. She knew it was him. She braced herself and opened the door.

He looked awful and so does she.

She smiled faintly, "Hey.."

He reciprocated her smile, "Hey.."

He then pulled her into a warm hug and kissed her forehead before he whispered to her ears, "I've missed you."

She let out a soft sigh as she tightened their hug, "I've missed you too."

They then broke their hug with their hands still intertwined with each other as they locked their gaze and smiled at each other. He brushed a strand of her hair aside and gave her the sweetest kiss.

"Come on in." After sharing the kiss, she led him into the couch.

"How are you feeling?" He asked.

"I've been better. You?" She finished with a weak smile.

"I-I..Uhm." He paused. "Honestly?" He asked and she squeezed his hand, letting him know it was okay to continue. "I'm confused." She nodded in agreement. "I mean, I don't know what to do." He sighed.

"What did she say?" She asked, knowing that probably Molly had asked him to marry her.

He hung his head, somewhat feeling ashamed to face her, "She wants me to marry her." He said barely audible.

She shut her eyes, bracing herself for the worst scenario, "Aaron.."

He shook his head and looked her straight into her eyes, "I can't. I can't marry her. I-I mean. I mean. I don't even love her anymore." He paused. "I know it is my responsibility, but I don't think I can do this. I can help her with the babies of course. That I'm more than happy to help. But marrying her?" He shook his head at that thought. "I just can't do that. What should I do? I'm afraid her family wouldn't let me see my kids if I didn't marry her."

She frowned at his last sentences. Knowing Molly's family, it would likely happen if Aaron refused to marry her. That thought alone sent chills down to her spine. How could someone even try to separate kids from their father? That very moment she understood how broken he must've felt. More than she could ever imagine. He was crying shortly after. It was the first time she had seen him cry. Her heart broke at the sight of it.

She pulled him into a hug, resting her head into his chest as she gently stroked his back. She took a deep breath as she was about to say this, "Look at me." She said and he did. "Don't worry about me. I'll be fine. What matters now is how you would like to face this. Do whatever your heart tells you. I'll try my best to support you, no matter what." She paused."Even though it means you have to let me go." She said weakly.

He sighed. He didn't want to lose her, not after he had experienced so much happiness by being with her more than anything he ever had. He was so happy the past month it scared him at the fact that he could lose it. Losing one great thing happening into his life, losing her. But in the end he couldn't even begin to imagine not being a part of his children's life. He was about to have children, something he still found it hard to believe and yet honestly he felt happy about that thought. He only wished it was Emma who carried his child, instead of his ex-girlfriend that he was sure he had her heart broken.

Giving up on his children wasn't even an option. Yet, marriage doesn't seem like a good idea too. I mean, what would a marriage without love bring? Eventually it would only bring problems and he realized that. It was true that Molly probably still love him despite the whole thing, but what about his feelings? Did he need to swallow his feelings and marry his ex-girlfriend just for the sake of it? He then stared at the beautiful woman in front of him. He frowned at the sight of her, he was sick of himself for letting things got this messed up in the first place. Whatever the decision he made, there would be casualties at the end of it. It could hurt them and his children nevertheless. Or maybe. Maybe he could convince Molly not to marry him. But then Molly had to find out the truth about the woman he had left her for. Emma. They couldn't hide that any longer, not when now his life would be forever entangled with Molly by the kids they've made. He couldn't hurt them, especially Emma any longer.

He smiled faintly at her as he brushed her hair aside. He needed to let her go, to let her be happy. Away from his messed up life. Away from him. He took a deep breath as he came into a decision.

He smiled apologetically, "I love you so much. You know that, right?" Emma nodded and sighed, she had a hunch on what was about to come. "I want you to be happy, but I couldn't abandon my kids." He shook his head. "Not when I knew I'm their father."

She smiled as tears streamed down her face and then she squeezed his hand, "It's okay."

He tried to smile despite tears streaming down his face. He then wiped her tears away, "You're so beautiful and you have a kind heart. You out of all people deserved to be happy." He paused. "And to let it happen, I have to let you go." He looked down shamefully. "I'm so sorry I broke my promise. But I had to try. I'll talk to her family soon to see my option, but if marriage is the only solution. T-then.. Then.." He couldn't finish those sentences.

She pulled him into a hug as she gently brushed his hair, "Ssss.. I know.. I know.. It's okay."

She then broke the hug just enough for their eyes to meet, "I'm going to be okay. I will miss you terribly." She chuckled a little and he smiled. "But it's the right thing to do, right?"

"I hope so." He replied softly.

"Hey, for what it's worth. I think you will be a great father." She said and smiled.

He chuckled, "Thank you. You will be a great mother too one day. And to whoever you will marry, that bastard is the luckiest guy in the world."

She smiled though she felt hurt by the thought of ending things with him. But it has to be done in the right way. And the right way, at least for what they thought was right, was to let him be with his children for whatever the price was. Even an unhappy marriage. She felt bad for the circumstances even after everything. She couldn't even imagine herself marrying someone who didn't even love her back. So, no matter how upset she was at his decision, she would try to be happy for them, wishing them a great marriage. All for the sake of him and her best friend. The three of them deserved a happy ending. That's what she thought.

"I'm gonna miss you so much." He murmured as the gap between them started to tighten.

"I know.." She whispered back.

Soon enough they caught into a kiss. A kiss that both of them knew probably would be the last one they would share. A kiss so sweet yet so sorrowful in a way of saying how much they meant to each other. A way to say their good bye.

Emma closed her eyes shut and savored the moment. If it's meant to be, the universe would find a way to bring them together again. It was something she would like to believe for now. She sighed as she realized she may lose him forever. This is for the best. She tried to convince herself.