A/N: Hello all! I'm so sorry it's been awhile since I've last updated, but I have been under enormous stress as of late and, well, let's just say it hasn't been smooth sailing, but here I am, dedicated to this story and working hard to post another chapter!! Yeah!!! So, I hope that you all enjoy this new chapter, and I am begging, pleading, whatever you want to call it for reviews!! So, please, please, please review, so that I can know what you think and what you want to see or else you'll give me the impression that my story is just not worth continuing! So, please review!!!
I actually tried to post before but I wasn't able to log in, and then I got the chapter in document manager, and all my quotation marks turned into a question mark. Geez. It's up, finally!
Stella Maynard: Hello! Should I ask what do you mean by getting a southern accent? Well, being from Texas and all, to get a southern accent: say ya'll a lot. I noticed that people in the south say ya'll A LOT more than other people. Did the ending seem like something from OTH? Hmm...wonder how that happened...Guess what? You get to find out why Nan is here this chapter!! Yeah!! I can't promise if anyone is safe, but for now, no one is in peril danger. I think the football in the Anne series is actually football, and that's what the football in my story is. Gilmore Girls rocks my socks! I just can't get enough. Dean is finally out of the picture. I'm so happy about that. He was great for Rory when they were younger, but it'll never be the same. And Everwood is supposed to be really good this week. Okie dokie. Here's the new chapter...
"Emily Rose! What in the world are you doing out at a time like this?!?! You get inside right now, young lady!" Nan's piercing screams rang loudly through Emily's ears. She had forgotten how assertive her mother could be when necessary. In the corner of her eye, Emily could see the girls sitting on the sofa and her father sitting in the armchair. He didn't look happy either.
"Mother! I can explain, honest. I was at the football game."
"That's enough, Emily! You know better than to be gallivanting off in the middle of the night! Your father and I have been here for hours, wondering where on Earth you could be! I would expect you to have some common sense, but apparently I was wrong!" Nan took a quick breath before continuing, but was cut off by Jerry.
"Who was the boy, Emily?" interrupted Jerry.
"And here I was thinking that you were the mature one in the family! Your brother is leaving for war tomorrow!! And the night before his departure, when a family should be together, you are off doing Lord knows what! Do you know how worried I've been?"
"Who was the boy, Emily?" Jerry chimed in again.
"Your Father and I have been worried sick about you! Once we found out that Will had written a letter to you, your Father and I planned to come up to Charlottetown immediately! How could you possibly be so insensitive to the situation?"
"Well, it's not like I got a notice or anything, Mother. I had no idea you were coming to Charlottetown. And I'm not being insensitive to the situation! It's not like I've been sitting in this house rotting away since I found out! I'm helping Mary and Kimmy with the Junior Red Cross and the newspaper office has been making care packages to send overseas! I've been helping and I resent that you think I've completely ignored Will's service!"
"Nan, Emily has had a long night. Maybe we should just let her rest for the night. There will be plenty of time for explanations tomorrow. Go upstairs to bed, Emily.We'll continue this tomorrow. Girls, thank you for waiting with us." Jerry shooed everyone upstairs and gave Emily a hug before sending her upstairs. Nan sat down quietly and continued her knitting while Jerry opened his book.
Emily tossed and turned all night long. She couldn't fall asleep at all. All she could think about was her mother's angry words and her father's kind, sympathetic ones. Then, she would think about Jeff for a little bit and Will's departure tomorrow, and even of Matt's football game. Emily wanted to count sheep to fall asleep, but she kept getting off track. She wished that morning would come soon, but then she would dread the thought of confronting her parents. Emily just wanted to rest! She finally drifted off, but then Jerry came in and softly brushed her hair.
"Emily, darling. Are you awake?"
"Father? Is it not early?"
"Darling, it's time to get ready. The train leaves early. Did you sleep well?" Jerry opened the curtains to let in some pleasant, golden light into the cozy room.
"Not really. Oh, Father! I'm so sorry! I would never intentionally try to hurt Mother or to be disrespectful of Will's service! Honest! I've just been so worried about everything and it's just been so hard to-to-cope," wailed Emily.
"Oh, Emily, dearest. Your mother and I both know how hard it's been for everyone. Last night, we were just worried about where you were and that's why Mother yelled, but it honestly wasn't as bad as it seemed. You should know better than to be out so late, and I am quite curious to learn about this boy you were off with,"said Jerry in a fatherly tone.
Emily blushed. She wasn't ready to tell anyone,even Father, about Jeff yet. She wanted it to be her sweet secret for just a bit longer; but somehow, she found the courage to put her feelings into words. "Well, his name is Jeffrey McCallister. I met him through a few classes we have together and he's on the newspaper with me. He also plays football with Matt. I-uh-don't really know what else to say, Father."
"Do you have a romantic interest in this young man? Or does he have one in you?"
"I'm not sure. We've just become friends, Father."
"Well, that's how all the best ones start out. Now, get up. Put on a cheery face for your brother and Alex today. We'll meet you downstairs."
Emily dressed quickly to find a somewhat empty home. The girls left early, probably to give the family some privacy, but left a sweet, comforting note for Emily. Mary even cooked breakfast for Mother and Father and left some for Emily. Mother was quite impressed with Mary's culinary skills. Harry, Matt, Melanie, and Madison were also in the parlor. The girls' melancholy faces were the first that Emily had ever seen from them. Harry was Harry. Emily could tell he was trying to suppress some excitement for everyone's sake, but was actually quite enthusiastic about Will's departure. Matt was quiet, as usual, although there was a certain sadness upon his face also. Mother and Father tried their best to look proud, and they almost had Emily fooled. Not that they weren't proud, it's just that they were sad and troubled about everything else too.
Emily sat down on the sofa in between Matt and Madison. Matt squeezed Emily's small palm to try to cheer her up. Mother spoke first. "We're waiting for Will. He said he would come after going to the post office."
The next few minutes must have been the longest few minutes in Emily's entire life. Her stomach was knotted up and she felt like she was going to collapse any second.
Stay calm, Emily. Put on a calm face for Will & Alex.
Will came up the steps slowly. Emily's heart melted when he walked into the room. He was decked in khaki from head to toe. Oh, how grown-up he looked! Emily could hardly believe this was her brother of days gone by. Days that were once filled with laughter and happiness. Now, everything just seemed glum and hopeless.
"Uncle Jem and Aunt Faith are going to meet us at the station with Alex. Lindsay and Sarah are here too." Will spoke softly, as if afraid to disturb the intense silence.
"Good. I suppose we should go now. Are your bags in the car, Will?" Will nodded. "Then, let's go. No arguing over seats, now." Jerry spoke as calmly and light-heartedly as ever. Emily almost resented him for being so composed, while she was so ruffled. Will slowly walked by Emily's side. He didn't speak much except to exchange a few words here and there. Emily just stared down at her feet. The ride to the station was even worse than Emily expected it to be. She had never known how piercing silence could be until now. She wanted to speak to break the intensity, but words failed her now.
The station was filled with boys in khaki and families trying to send them off proudly. Emily walked into the crowd ahead of everyone else. She soon spotted Uncle Jem and Aunt Faith. Uncle Jem looked full of pride and Aunt Faith's eyes seemed like empty pools of hazel. Lindsay had grown even more beautiful than the last time Emily saw her. Time had truly changed her into a woman. Sarah's flowing brown hair was neatly tied and her entire demeanor was disheartening to Emily, but no one else seemed to notice. And Alex, like Will, was dressed in full khaki. He looked like a man too. Emily smiled gently when she approached them.
"Emily, sweetheart, you look so grown up," commented Aunt Faith. Emily hated growing up. She hated the look in Lindsay's eyes that time had put in them. She hated the way growing up was taking Will and Alex far from their families. She hated everything about being "grown-up".
"Thank you," she smiled.
"Is Will coming along soon, Emily?" Alex seemed eager to find Will. After all, they were embarking on this new chapter of their lives together.
"Oh, yes. He was checking his belongings with Father.
"How have you been lately, dear? Good, I hope. I remember Queen's. It was all too long ago, but I remember it well. I was so nervous and excited about everything." Uncle Jem looked as normal as ever. He spoke softly and coolly to Emily while waiting for the rest of her family. Emily was surprised at how everyone seemed so cool with the boys leaving when she was tearing up inside. She wanted everything to be over soon, so that she could go home and wallow.
"Will!!! Will!!! Over here!!!"Alex seemed like a schoolboy again.
"Oh, there you are! Faith, darling, you look not a day over twenty! Emily just took off into the crowd. She blends in so well. Must be this dress, I suppose," said Nan. "How have you been, Alex? Will said you and Megan were getting along quite well."
In all the years Emily had known Alex, she couldn't remember if she had ever seen him blush before. "Oh, well. Megan is a sweet girl."
"Ugh. Alex, you've gotten soft. Don?t tell me she'll have you quitting football next," said Sarah, bitterly. Emily noticed the strain that Sarah put on everyone around her.
"Don't be silly, Sarah. I don't think even Megan could do that to Alex." Will always knew how to break the tension. "Well, the train will be leaving in awhile. Emily, why don't you come with me to check the schedule."
Emily quietly followed Will. They had to push through the large crowds and find an open space big enough for the two of them. Emily looked up at the board.
"The train leaves in twenty minutes."
"I know. That's not why I asked you to come with me. I wanted to talk to you about something."
"Go ahead."
"Well, I just wanted to see where you are about everything. I know this can't be easy for you and I did spring it on you. You know that you're always welcome to write or talk to me, right? Because lately you've been a little distant. Mum and Dad are worried, Emily. You haven't kept in touch or you haven't been yourself around anyone. Uncle Carl said that he hasn't seen you around since the beginning of the school year. You've been so distant lately. I don't know what to do or say to you because I don't know what's going on, Emily. And I should have come to you before now, but you have twenty minutes to tell me because you might not have another chance."
"WILL! How can you say something like that?!?! Of course you'll come back and everything will be the same again."
"Emily, that's not what I meant. When Alex and I come back from war, nothing will be the same. Time will change us. War will change us. It'll change you too. What if I come back to find a beautiful, cosmopolitan lady, but also a complete stranger to everything I remember? I want us to be honest to each other before any drastic changes occur. Anything you want to say, I want to know right now so that I can forever remember my darling little sister in that way."
There was a moral conflict going on in Emily's soul. She wanted to tell Will everything that was on her mind, but she just couldn't bring herself around to it. "Oh. I don't know what to tell you except that I'm going to miss you everyday and that I hope, and will pray, everyday that you'll be safe along with our other boys. And it won't be the same without you."
Will looked straight into Emily's eyes."That's it? Nothing else you want to tell me? No beaus or gentlemen friends I need to know about?"
"No, of course not," lied Emily, but then she had a sudden urge to be completely honest with Will. "Actually, there is a beau in the picture now."
Will raised his eyebrow and looked intrigued. "Really? Does his name happen to be Jeff McCallister?"
"How did you know!?!!? Did Matt tell you? I told him not to."
"Yes. Don't tell Matt though. I wouldn't want him to think of me as a squealer. Well, I'm sure Mother wants to get in some last big hugs before I leave. We said all the serious goodbyes last night. She can't stop staring at me since I've gotten the uniform.?
"Well, you do look quite handsome and mature."
"Why thank you, fair lady." Will led Emily back out to the platform. It was less crowded now that most of the boys were on the train. The Mothers seemed like couldn't handle anymore smiling. Alex was irritated because he was afraid Will would miss the train.
"Will, hurry up. We're going to be late!!!"
"Hold your horses, Alex. Goodbye, Mother. I love you. Father, I promise I'll be safe. Harry, Matt, you two behave now. I don't want any letters telling me you've been naughty. Melanie, Madison, you girls stay strong. Take care. Don't let the boys break your hearts now. Farewell, Emily. You're such a brick. Keep smiling and never lose faith, understand?"
Emily nodded. Nan looked like she was going to start weeping any second. Jerry looked proud and everyone else was managing to get through relatively well. Everyone squeezed in a couple more hugs before Will had to leave. Alex also bid his goodbyes. They walked onto the train, turned back, and waved one last time.
The skies were grey and cloudy, and the air was cold and biting. Slowly, the train started to move and all the boys put their heads outside the windows to wave. The families waved frantically to get one last glimpse of their sons or brothers or beaus. Emily waved silently to Will, who winked back at her. The boys were going. Will's figure traveled down the platform away from her.
She noticed that Sarah was unusually quiet and there were tears slowly falling down the sides of her pale cheeks. Suddenly, Sarah started to run parallel to the train and tried to catch up with Alex. She caught up to him and yelled that she would miss him too. And he smiled back as the train steadily made its way down the tracks into the sunrise.
A/N: Wow. How was that for a goodbye? Sorry it's been sooooo long. So, will you soon learn of Harry's future as the next oldest son? Will Una or Will get hurt? Will tragedy plague the Meredith clan? When will Jeff or Emily finally confess their feelings? You'll learn soon enough, but under one condition, that's right, just one: PLEASE REVIEW!!!!