DISCLAIMER: None of these characters belong to me, with the exception of Mrs. Oliver. Also, some passages are from Emily's Quest, marked with a star. As one wise person said: "you cannot improve upon genius." Thank you as well to all the people who reviewed! You rock!

Emily was in turmoil as she headed up the stairs to her room. Heedlessly, she ran into a stranger and apologized profusely. It was as Teddy's words infused life into her very being that had been in the grave for so long. It seemed as if she came back to life...all because of a man who, she wasn't sure, exactly meant to her.

Was Teddy right? Had Dean lied to her about her writing? Did she even love Dean? No, she knew, she didn't and she never would. She had only promised Dean her friendship and affection. But nothing more than that. But she recalled the passion in his voice: "Now I have you--hold you--wear you on my heart--some day you will give me more than affection,"

And how lightly she dismissed Ilse's fears! "I saw then--how little it really mattered--how many more important things were" she had said then.

But writing had been a part of her life for as long as she could remember. It got her through her father's death, the struggle with Aunt Elizabeth, her Shrewsbury years and given her a reason to live: pure ambition.

And she had destroyed it all when Dean told her in essence she had no talent..why did she not have a better belief in herself? Regret inched its way to her and she felt hollow. What had she done? What would she do about Dean and Teddy? What would the next day bring?

-

"Miss Starr?" A knock on the door brought Emily to full consciousness. The previous night seemed a lifetime ago. "Someone's here to see you,"

"I'll be right down," she called back. "In about a quarter of an hour, is that fine?"

She felt a patter of steps rush down the stairs. It had been a long sleepless night for her. One of her three o'clocks in the morning; despair threatened to overcome her. Fears resurfaced that she struggled to keep supressed.

"In some ways, honey, Dean is just the man for you. He's clever and fascinating and not so horribly conscious of his importance. But you'll belong to him body and soul. Dean can't bear anyone to have any interest outside of him. He must possess exclusively..."

Emily swiftly reassured Ilse then. But was Ilse right? Ilse and now Teddy. But who was she to Teddy anyway? He had spurned her friendship for so long; and had also spurned her love. And now he refused to let her move on.

"He says that'll be fine, Miss Starr," the young boy's voice pierced through the door. At the mention of the word he, Emily had a faint suspicion of who it could be.

Quickly, she brushed her hair and tied it back in a braid, washed her face, and put on a morning gown. She was ushered down the stairs by an errand boy, until she came face-to-face with an uncomfortable-looking Teddy Kent.

"Emily," he came to her.

"Teddy,"

"Emily, I'm sorry. I shouldn't have been so blunt," he shrugged self- consciously. "It's a failing perhaps...or Perry working on me,"

That beautiful smile came over her face, the one Teddy loved. It was a slow smile, but it made her look so different, like the Emily he once knew.

"It's all right," she acknowledged, and he felt a surge of relief. They always said that when a Murray held a grudge, he/she held it forever.

He wouldn't bring it up again, Teddy promised himself.

"I wanted to take you out," he said. "I know from Mrs. Oliver you wanted to purchase something. It'd be faster and easier if we take my car,"

"But Mrs. Oliver promised she send her car for me..." Emily's voice trailed off.

"I've handled all that," Teddy continued cheerfully. "She's a very busy woman, you know. She doesn't have much time and asked me to escort you around town. After all, I've lived here for quite a bit, you know. It'd be like the old times,"

"The old times," Emily echoed and resolved in a moment to be the chum she had always been.

-

It was it they were Teddy of Tansy Path and Emily of New Moon again. Teddy seemed as determined as she to pretend that nothing had happened. They went to the bazaar and bought a tea set, several delightful jugs for the pantry, a crystal goblet to replace Aunt Elizabeth's old one from the incident with Mr. Mark Greaves (how Teddy had laughed!), and paid a visit to the seamstress. Teddy was greeted by several people on the streets, and Emily became aware how famed and popular her old playmate had become.

Emily did not miss the glances of several matrons and coquettes at her ring and at Teddy who seemed stationed always at her side. Several made sly comments about weddings and such but Teddy did not take a hint. He was noticeably cooler to them, and Emily remembered Ilse's one-time description of Teddy: "It was sickening in Montreal...I've seen him accepting tribute - graciously bestowing a smile- a look- a touch as a reward. Saying to everyone what he thought she'd like to hear." A few asked for an introduction and Teddy made it simple: "Emily Starr, from Blair Water."

Perhaps Ilse was wrong. But Emily found it little use to dawdle over it any longer.

As they were browsing through a convenience store that held several items of furniture. As much as Emily loved Dean's "sofa covered with striped silk, Shiraz rugs and jades and ivories from China," she felt it necessary to purchase a dinner table (the mahogany one that Dean had seemed to tremble with age).

Teddy found one made from cherry wood and decorated with a creamy tablecloth and lace centerpiece.

"Oh! That's wonderful!" Emily exclaimed and circled around it in excitement and Teddy's artistic soul responded to her light, graceful motions and almost childish delight. He smiled at her and asked: "But will you have enough room for your house, Emily...after you put everything else in?"

"Of course, Teddy," Emily replied, examining the table for bumps and scratches. "Fred Clifford's house is large enough,"

"Fred Clifford's house?" Teddy said slowly. "The Disappointed House?"

"Yes, Dean bought it recently," Emily said carelessly, not noticing Teddy's reaction. He stuffed his hands moodily in his pockets and the smile faded.

Suddenly, Emily gasped to herself. What had she done?

Once upon a time, Emily and Teddy had broken into the Disappointed House, pledging a troth that they would live together there. She would write and he would paint pictures and of course, they planned silly things that they would do: for instance, have toast and marmalade every morning. She remembered Teddy surmising that they would have to marry and she saying that no, it would probably be too much of an inconvenience. Teddy had whispered to Emily afterwards for weeks on end "toast and marmalade." Ilse and Perry had been wild to find out what they had meant but in vain. The only two that ever knew about the adventure were Teddy and Emily themselves.

"So he bought it?" Teddy tried to retain composure. "You always loved that house Emily. Do you remember how we used to fear that it has ghosts?" He wondered idly if she also remembered that day long ago. But it seemed as if that long-ago childish dream taunted him: Emily would have all that she ever wanted, but not with him.

"Yes," Emily averted her eyes. " I remember. Actually, Dean never knew I liked the house that much, but it all turned out right in the end,"

"That's good to know," Teddy commented. "You must have that shipped," he said. "It would be impossible to take it back with you."

"Yes, yes, of course," Emily whirled around. "Let me see if that clerk is busy...I'll have Cousin Jimmy put it in the house when it arrives. Thank you, Teddy. It's wonderful,"

"You're welcome," Teddy replied as he watched her walk towards the clerk. He noted that she could not look into his eyes.