And you are?

CHAPTER THREE

"Emma how are you feeling?" a smooth voice asked, the mixed accent came from her right, sounded genuinely worried.

"Emma?" she asked. Her eyes stayed closed and her head hurt like crazy, she raised a hand to her head to massage her temple but that simple movement sent a dull aching pain all through her body.

"Open you're eyes…Don't you remember what happened?"

There it was that voice again, where had she heard it before? She opened her eyes and squinted at the sudden brightness that surrounded her, her eyes began to ache and water, "Turn, turn down the light" she closed her eyes while one of the people in the room did as she bid. "Thank you" she said as soon as the light was dimmed, she opened her eyes fully and it took a moment to register where she was; a bedroom. She didn't recognise the bedroom but it looked comfortable and it had a familiar feel to it, "Where am I? Who are you?"

She saw a look of shock cross their features, the fifty something Italian looked across at a younger man who resembled him slightly.

The younger man knelt down beside the bed she was in "Sis the Doctor said she might forget a few things after the blow you suffered he said you'd remember everything in time though" he squeezed her hand and gave her a reassuring look".

"Who are you?" she asked again.

"Its Sam remember and dad" he nodded to the man behind him.

Emma looked at them both trying to remember them "And I'm Emma?" she tried to get all the information clear in her head "What happened to me?"

"You were helping you're brother look for a relic to bring to the museum and you were attacked…You suffered a heavy blow to the head for your efforts" the man her brother called dad told her.

"Museum?" she questioned.

"The Tristan Dell Private Museum…My museum" don't you remember anything?"

She searched through her memories to find something familiar to her, she saw images of people in her mind but their faces were blurred, the information was there she just couldn't access it, "the name sounds familiar".

Tristan clapped his hands in triumph "At least you remember something that is very good!" he took Sam by the arm and pulled him to the door "Emma needs her rest".

She waited until they were out of the door then Emma got out of bed to explore her home".

* * *

Karen called Sydney's mobile number for the twentieth time that day she'd sent a fax of all the information she could find to the Museum in New York two days ago. Then she'd called to make sure Sydney had got it okay; no one had answered and Karen had shrugged it off thinking she was busy. She'd now lost count of the number of times she'd called in the past two days; Karen had taken the liberty of phoning the museum only to be told Sydney wasn't there by a posh Frenchman. Now the dean was calling every hour to find out where Sydney was, she finally decided to after at a lot of thinking, to call Nigel, if anyone would know where Sydney was it would be him.

"Karen I have no idea where she is I haven't spoken to her in two days!" he sounded distressed upon hearing the sudden news that Sydney had vanished.

Karen was starting to wish she'd never called him.

"I'll go to her house she might have…I don't know she could be there" he was reaching for idea, he was also trying to remain calm. She'd probably got so wrapped up in her latest relic hunt she'd forgot to call in. "I'm sure she'll be fine she's got her new amazing assistant with her after all". He couldn't help but sound bitter.

Karen paused.

"Are you still there?" he asked.

"Uh yeah, Nigel she went alone".

Karen knew she should've held the phone away from her ear as soon as she'd told him that bit of news.

"What!" he practically shouted down the phone "Why wasn't he there to help her!" he insisted upon knowing.

"She fired him Nigel two days ago none of her assistants have lasted more than a fortnight".

He let the information sink in, Nigel snapped out of his deep thoughts and tried to keep his mind on the problem at hand "Well I'll call if I find anything out" he said quietly before hanging up.

* * *

It was completely empty! Nigel stood in front of Sydney's home, a for sale sign stuck out front moving backwards and forwards in the light breeze, he walked up to the window and peered inside into the living room a completely bewildered look on his adorable features. He jumped about six-foot in the air when someone appeared out of nowhere and tapped him on the shoulder.

"I think you can go in if you want to look around" the helpful old neighbour told him.

"When did this place go up for sale?"

"Yesterday" the man said thoughtfully "A removal van just came and took everything" he continued.

"So Sydney Fox was here?" he asked a hopeful tone in his voice.

The neighbour to took a moment to note Nigel's worried look "No she hasn't been here in two days" he stepped back and started to leave "Good luck in finding out what you want to know" he shouted as he waved goodbye.

Nigel took one last look at the deserted house then with a regretful sigh, left.

* * *

Sydney walked down the winding stairs that led downstairs to the museums main floor, her bare feet sunk into the plush red and black patterned carpet. Her hand slid along the varnished wooden banister to steady herself; she took in all the details of her surroundings right down to the red tint of the carved ceiling. Pictures of all styles, shapes and sizes hung from the red panelled walls while graceful figurines in elaborate postures were displayed in crystal cases.

From abstract to still life, Renoir to Van Gogh, statues to rare and glistening jewels the museum had it all.

A man whom she didn't recognise took her gently by the arm and began leading her back up the stairs "My dear Emma you shouldn't be out of bed yet your still too weak" he scolded.

She pulled away from him "Who are you?" she was beginning to tire of asking that question.

He stroked her cheek and smiled warmly his hazel eyes showing understanding "You're father said you might not remember me…We'll have to put off the wedding until you remember" he said softly.

"We're engaged!" she exclaimed stepping back.

He looked at her with a hurt expression on his rugged features "I'd hoped you would remember" a gleam lit up his eyes and he smiled cheekily "My darling Emma, do you remember this?" he swept her up and their lips met in a passionate kiss.

TBC…