A/N: Wow, it's been so long since I wrote for but it feels so good to be back! This is my first attempt at a Degrassi fic but I just had to try because I love that show with all my heart. I really hope Jimmy's going to be okay and what's with Teri? There's been no updates. Well anyway, enjoy. Review, but don't flame; constructive criticism, however, is welcome.

Warning: The rating may change.

Chapter One: Uninvited Guests

"Rumor has it, you're going to be alone for Spring Break"

"Are you sure you're going to be able to handle it, because we could stay...we could..."

I smiled, taking the cordless from my mother. This was going to be harder than I thought. "Mom, I'm sure. It's only going to be for Spring Break; exactly one week. I can handle it." I bent over and grabbed the suitcase by her feet. If only I could get them out faster. "You're taking this one, too, right?"

Mom nodded. "Um, yeah." She looked over at Dad nervously who smiled at me before carrying the camcorder equipment out. He and Joey had bet on how long it'd take before she actually felt secure leaving. He'd said an hour but Joey was convinced she needed thirty more minutes to think and rethink about leaving us home alone. Only so far he didn't have to worry, she was probably worrying enough for the both of them.

Even though I'm seventeen now she can still be a little overprotective sometimes.

I heard him chuckle to himself. Honestly, she didn't have anything to be worried about. I'm responsible, I'm a great baby-sitter, and if things happen to get a little rough I have good friends to help.

"Dad, can you please tell her everything's going to be okay?" I followed him outside to the car and handed him the suitcase. "I'm seventeen for crying outloud, why is she so worried? Nothing's going to happen."

"I know, but you know your mom. She's 'Safety Woman'."

"I am not." Mom handed him the last bag. "I just want to be sure..."

"Yes, yes, YES! Please, just get in the car." I opened the passenger seat and made a sweeping motion with my hand. "I mean, honestly, what's the worst that could happen? I can cook so I'm not going to accidently set the kitchen on fire, I know not to talk to strangers, and I'm not going to let Jack out of my sight long enough for him to get in trouble. Just go." Leaning over to seal my argument I and kissed Mom on the cheek and helped her into the car. "I love you."

She sat back in her seat and looked at me, giving me that look. The 'I guess I'll surrender but don't think you've won' look. I closed the door so she could roll down the window. "I love you, too, Emma. Be safe."

I nodded as Dad gave me a hug. "And if you just happen to set the kitchen on fire remember to stop, drop, and roll."

"Archie!"

He kissed the top of my head. "I'm kidding! Please be careful so we can prove to your mother that she has nothing to worry about."

I smiled and watched him get into the car. "Okay. Have fun." I waited until they pulled out of the driveway to wave. "Bring me back a souvenier!"

Mom waved back reluctantly, her hand looking so sad compared to Dad's which waved back excitedly. The car pulled off and I walked back into the house. Finally, I thought. A whole week alone, with the exception of Jack's presence. A whole week to kick back and relax, unsupervised with no rules. A whole week to... I looked around the empty living room, at the couch and loveseat, the coffee table, the T.V., the stereo. If I were any other teenager this would be great. A whole week to party, to make out on both the couch and the loveseat, to have tons of half empty beer cans scattered on the coffee table, to play rental movies on the T.V. during a sleepover, and blast The Ramones on the stereo. But I wasn't any other teenager and the more I actually thought about it, it wasn't great. It was a whole week to stuff myself with Ho-Ho-Ho's and watch reruns of that old cancelled soap opera Mom likes so much. A whole week to bore myself and Jack, to think and rethink about the stupidest things a person could ever think of. Like what life would be like if Rick was still alive.

That was a year ago, and yet I still thought about it every night as if everything had happened yesterday. I sighed. I gotta forget that, forget him, forget everything and anything that has to do with that, I gotta... But I couldn't. No matter how much I told myself, chided myself, it was still too real.

And Sean... I looked down at the cordless. We haven't talked in over a month. Last time he had sounded happy... I guess. He'd sounded different. I still wasn't so sure if him staying in Waseiga was for the best. For him, or Ellie, or...me. After we'd left him there I just couldn't help wondering, couldn't stop asking myself: what if? We could've had something great, greater than him and Ellie, definitely greater than me and Chris. He was my first love.

But things have changed. Feelings have changed. No matter what, we could only be friends now.

"Emwa?" I looked down at the sound of a baby voice straight into Jack's big puppy dog eyes. He was starting to look more and more like Dad, with just his eyes to remind us of Mom. "Me hungwe."

I smiled. Okay, so maybe life wasn't as depressing as I was making it out to be. I mean, on the other hand, there was still Jack, and he could be so fun to be around, to teach new things to, and just look at it. Kids really do say the darnedest things. "Oh, really?" I picked him up and sat him on the counter. In the cabinets there were stacks upon stacks of baby food: chicken and peas, carrots, and mashed potatoes. Mom had made sure to stock up for the week so I wouldn't have to burden myself with grocery shopping.

Jack pointed to the carrots.

"Ew. But if that's what you want..." Even though I'm a health freak I still can't understand his love for carrots. Tomatoes, maybe...even eggplants, just not carrots. I twisted off the lid and watched him open his mouth, prepared. "Open wider." Because he never opened wide enough.

He waited patiently as I spooned a good proportion and made an airplane motion towards his mouth.

"Yummy." Anything that was good was yummy. I remember I'd promised to dedicate some of my free week to broadening his vocabulary.

I was three spoonfuls into it before the phone rang. "Hello?"

A voice boomed back at me. "Emma, what's up?"

I smirked, and held the phone between my ear and left shoulder, continuing to feed Jack. "Hey, J.T."

He cut right to the chase. "Rumor has it, you're going to be alone for Spring Break."

It figured that, that would be a reason for him to call me. "Rumor, huh? Let me guess: Manuela Santos."

His voice smiled as he said, "Her mouth really isn't as big as you think it is."

But she wasn't the only blabber mouth. "Liberty told you?"

"Girls' night, without adult supervision...she was just waiting for an opportunity to let loose."

"J.T..."

"But honestly, why wasn't I invited? No one can get looser than me."

I smiled. "You want to know why honestly?"

"Yes, I honestly do."

"Because there isn't going to be a girls' night. I promised no more than one person at a time."

He laughed. "That's why you, Emma Nelson, shouldn't make promises you can't keep."

I laughed back. Bursting his bubble really was a rewarding experience. "That's where you're wrong, James Tiberius Yorke. It's a promise I will dedicate my life to keep, so don't get any ideas." I scraped up the last spoonful and fed it to Jack before wiping his mouth and setting him on the floor.

"You mean, like this one?"

I was about to prepare to wash dishes when the doorbell rang. "What are you talking about?" But deep down inside I already knew, because bursting my bubble was an even more rewarding experience for J.T. Pulling the phone away from my ear I glanced in the direction of the living room. The doorbell rang again. Oh God... Slowly, I set down the spoon and walked to the door. I was prepared to find J.T. on the other side.

"Surprise!"

Just not J.T., Toby, Manny, Liberty, and, "William?" I barely even knew him.

"Hey, Em. We came to keep you company during Spring Break." Manny kissed me on the cheek but I didn't feel it, nor did I see them as they began to enter the house. My mind wasn't ready to process what was happening.

Oh my God...

Because I couldn't just kick them out.