Hi Everyone OTH is finally finished. I apologize for not having it completed sooner, but better late than never right? Anyway please review and tell me what you think. Thanks to all those who stuck with this story for their time and patience and a very Happy New Year to all!

XOXO

SJ

Chapter Six

Things continued in such a way for close to a month. Slowly Emma and Nathan began to grow closer and closer. Ashley had made an astounding recovery, she'd even returned to school and was moving on with her life happily. Emma still felt and empty ache within her heart, though. Nate was an excellent friend, he'd been supportive when she'd needed it and made her see that life did not begin and end with Sean, but she still had moments where she was sure that it did. In the night when all the world was asleep Emma knew that Sean was the only person who would ever be right for her. He was the only one she wanted. Sean, for his part, gave no sign that anything was bothering him. If one were to look closely, though, they would notice that his fists and jaw would clench whenever he saw Nathan, and his eyes, which had seemed dimmer since his return from Erie, would light up just a little when he saw Emma. He had drawn the line though, he'd told Emma he didn't want her. Did he really expect her to not move on with her life?

Yes. Some part of him had hoped that she would pine for him in the same way that he pined for her. He wanted her to be hung up on him, but he wanted her to be happy. Of course he wanted her to be happy with him, but most importantly he wanted her to be happy. If Nathan was the one for her then who was he to stop it?

Emma felt completely drained of energy. She'd spent the last four hours alternating between taking care of baby Jack and working on a science report she'd been neglecting. Spike and Snake had gone out for an anniversary dinner, one Emma had demanded they go on. Now, as she cleaned the dishes from her own dinner she wished they would come home soon. She never used to care whether she was home alone or not, but tonight she wanted to be with someone. A sleeping Jack didn't count. A sound from the baby monitor drew her away from the sink to his room. She was expecting to find his wide eyes open and searching for a face he knew, but he was still asleep. She sighed again and sat down in the rocking chair next to his crib.

"You're a guy, Jack. So, tell me what to do about this whole mess. I love Sean, I'll always love him, but he told me he didn't want me. Nathan, on the other hand, is showing major interest. It's not like Nate isn't a good guy, Jack. He's kind and sweet and all those things a girl could ever want, but he just isn't the same as Sean." Emma looked down at her baby brother. She wished her life was as simple as his. Jack's only worries were that he got fed, that he was warm, and that those who held him and rocked him to sleep were familiar. Emma wasn't sure how long she sat next to his crib just watching him breathe, but the next thing she knew the doorbell was ringing. Not wanting the caller to wake Jack she moved quickly down the stairs to the front door before they could ring again. She was slightly surprised to find Nathan on her doorstep.

"Hey, Nate, what's up?"

"Can I come in?" He sounded like he was off in his own world. Emma took a minute to study him. Emma was tall, but Nate dwarfed her by a good foot. His dark hair had been shaved in the summer and was beginning to grow back but was still short which made his sea blue eyes even more brilliant. His hands were shaking.

"What's going on, Nate?" Emma pressed. He was pacing back and forth in the hallway, running his hands through his hair, a nervous habit.

"I'm losing my mind here, Em." That wasn't what Emma had been expecting.

"What are you talking about, Nate?"

"I like you, Emma, I like you a lot. We have a good time together, you know? But I don't know what is going on in your head. Sometimes I'm sure you feel the same way I do, other times I wonder if we're even on the same page. I gotta know, Emma. I have to know." The last few words mumbled to himself as he moved closer to her. Before she could even draw her next breath he was there, filling her space, and then his lips were on hers. His kisses were gentle, just the barest of touches against her lips, but she knew. They were enough to tell her the truth. She loved Nate, but that love would never surpass a brotherly love. Her doubts were gone, she knew there would never be any one else out there for her except Sean. He was the only one she wanted. The kiss ended and Emma took a step back, her spine pressing into the wood of the door.

"Nate, I like you. You're a great guy, you really are, but I can't be with you in the way that you want." He smiled a little, a sad, quiet smile.

"I think I always knew that. Sorry about the. . . you know." He broke off with a few gestures meant to explain away the kiss.

"Don't worry about it."

"I guess I better get going. I'll see you tomorrow, Emma."

"See you tomorrow, Nate." She replied as she opened the door. Nate stopped before she could close it the whole way though.

"You should tell him, Emma. Whoever he is, you should tell him." He was gone a minute later. Emma frowned to herself.

Tell Sean. Tell Sean that he's been all I can think about since I got back from Erie. Would it change anything? Part of her said it wouldn't while another part said it could. She decided to leave the matter undecided upon for the night.

By morning Emma knew. She had to know why Sean had pulled away from her. He had to know that she still loved him and that nothing was going to change that. She left early, hoping to catch him before he made it to school. Emma was in luck, she caught Sean just as he was coming out of his front door.

"Sean, I need to talk to you." He looked surprised, stunned even.

"Uh, can it wait?" He asked, hoping to postpone what he knew was coming until later.

"No, it can't wait, Sean." He took a breath. This wasn't going to be an easy thing for him to listen to, he hadn't wanted to leave her in the first place.

"I've thought about it and I want you to know that I don't believe you. I don't believe that you don't still have feelings for me. Whatever made you tell me that, some warped desire to keep me safe, is way off base. I went to Erie because I wanted to, it's the kind of person I am. What happened to me while I was there had nothing to do with you, Sean!" She cried. His frustration was building. Why couldn't she have just left things as they were?

"It does, Emma! You wouldn't have gotten hurt if I had just stayed here!" Emma frowned.

"Don't you get it, Sean? It wasn't your fault that a crazy man kidnapped me. I don't blame you, Sean, I couldn't. I love you." She decided to be bold and took a lesson from Nathan. Cupping Sean's face she moved in and pressed her lips against his. She kissed him slowly, alternating the firmness of her kisses as her hands travel from the sides of his face to his arms and found their resting place on his sides.

For the longest moment Sean did not move. It was as if Emma was kissing a stone statue, but without warning he groaned and Emma realized she'd gotten through to him. Sean moved his hands to Emma's face, drawing her closer, but it seemed an unsatisfactory amount of contact and Emma found herself crushed against his chest, the kiss growing more passionate. It ended only when the teens ran out of air.

"I don't want to hurt you, Emma. I don't want to be the reason you're unhappy." He confessed softly, his forehead pressed against her own.

"You won't be, Sean. You won't be."

"I love you, Emma." Sean whispered as he pulled her into a tight embrace. Emma smiled against his shoulder. Her world, which hadn't been right since that day in the hospital, was finally right again and she was right where she belonged. Everything was going to be alright.

"I love you too, Sean."