Part Two: Going Home: One Year Later
Includes the song: Garth Brooks "Learning To Live Again"
Chapter One
Inside the Australian Physiatrist Clinic
Emily's last day at the clinic…
"What would you like to talk about today? You'll be going home soon. Are you afraid?"
"No. Not really. My brother Jason is getting married at the end of the week."
"Yes. We've talked about how Jason is a big part of your life. Are you happy for him?"
"Very much, although I haven't met her. Jason deserves to be happy."
"Its good your looking forward to going home. Are you excited to see anyone else?"
"Grandmother. Grandfather. My parents."
"Any friends?"
"I guess…Lucky, for one."
"I remember. You told me he was your first friend when you moved to Port Charles. Why do you think his name popped in your mind first?"
"Because he knows how to make me laugh. He also knows how to figure out when you get to town, no matter if he knew where in the world you were or not."
"Is there anyone else? What about the friend who paints?"
"Liz? Yes, I suppose. Movie nights, chili with her and Lucky at Ruby's, sundaes at Kelly's, but…"
After a long silence, the therapist prompted the young woman. "Yes…Emily, are you scared of something there?"
"Nikolas. Everyone. I don't know where I stand with everyone, but especially Nikolas."
"Why? Did you push him away? I know this is what you don't want to talk about, but if we could just try…"
"Because he's been like a surrogate big brother and before I left…something happened. He changed."
"Did he start to care?"
"Yes." A single tear dropped down Emily's cheek, and she silently whispered so the therapist had to lean in to hear, "…I didn't deserve his love."
The therapist simply whispered, "But have you learned to now? . . ." and then raised her voice to end the session. "Good luck with going home, Emily."
One week later, Emily arrives at Sonny's penthouse from the airport…
"Hi Max" Emily said to the man at the door, stepping out of the elevator.
"Miss Quartermaine? Is that really you?" Max was shocked, he hadn't seen Jason's sister around for a long time. The last time any of them had seen her was the day before the night she disappeared…she came tearing in, crying hysterically, looking for Jason, who was out of the country that night.
"Yes, it's really me. Is Jason here, no one answered down the hall."
"Yes," Max replied, opening the door a little and peeking his head in.
"Yes Max?" Sonny replied, looking up from his spot on the couch.
"A Miss Quartermaine here to see you." With that, Max let her in.
Jason turned around from his chair facing the fireplace, "Em! I knew you'd make it." Jason said, embracing his sister.
"Hi Sonny." Emily said, as soon as Jason released her.
"Hi, el pequeño." Sonny said.
Emily reached over and lightly punched Sonny in the shoulder. "I'm not a little one any more!"
"She's got that right." Carly said, coming down the stairs.
"Hey Carly. How's the baby?" Emily asked.
"Kicking all the time!" Carly glanced at Sonny, then to Jason. "You two get out of here, you can work later."
"Carly's right, you have a lot to catch up on." Sonny agreed.
"Alright."
"See you all tomorrow." And with that, they left the building.
"Jase?"
"Yeah Em," Jason replied, turning around to face her. "Are you alright? We've you been?"
"I'm fine. Nowhere and everywhere. I took a little break."
"You want to get some air and go to Kelly's? I'll treat you to a sundae, and we can talk."
"That sounds great. I haven't seen anyone else in town yet."
"Well, where are you staying?"
"Not sure yet." Emily replied, walking into Kelly's with Jason holding the door and following her in.
"Not wanting to go to the Q mansion wars?"
"How did you guess? Am I that easy to read?"
"Mostly." Jason smiled. "You could always stay with me."
"No" A husky voice said from a table around the corner. "I think the brat should stay with me."
Jason turned around, Emily did not. "Spencer," she grinned, finally turning around.
Lucky returned her smile with his own unique one. "How did you know it was me?"
"You're the only one who has ever called me brat, my whole life that nickname has stuck between us."
"Lets get down to business. I'll share mine. Liz got her own gallery, Nik's still in Greece, and my dads been trying to follow my mother. How are things? We've ya been causing trouble?"
"No where. Just took a break from everything."
"Well, it makes you look a whole lot healthier. Reminds me of the time we went to Arizona. You went away looking like hell, and you came back looking like an angel."
Emily's eyes fell, but her face showed no emotion. Jason didn't catch it, but Lucky did.
"Gosh, Em. I'm sorry."
"No, its alright. Just brings back memories long forgotten, that's all."
Flashback
After a long silence of staring at the fire, the boy stared at the girl, willing her to speak what was on her mind.
"I can't stand this, Lucky. We should go back." A young Emily said to her best friend.
"C'mon Em. We're all the way out here, in the middle of the desert, just like you wanted. And now you want to go back? You were so set on leaving, I just don't get it."
"But I've realized that I have to stay with them. My mom wanted it that way. I'm just prolonging living with them…and letting her go."
"Oh, Em," Lucky began, laying a hand across her shoulders in support. "No one expects you to just forget about her. They don't want that, they just want to make the grief easier for you so you don't dwell on it. They want to help you go on, and Mrs. Q's never had a daughter so she doesn't know how to act. But they do care about you."
"And I care about Mrs. Q to…but my mom…"
"Your mom would've wanted you to help each other through your grief. I haven't known you that long, Em, but I know you would do anything to help people."
"I know. I'm willing to do anything, it's just hard."
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