AN: Hey everybody! Thank you a ton for the reviews! I know it was a bit rushed, sorry bout that!

Oh, and I have noticed that this story is weirdly similar to My Finest Hour, so I will be changing some things so it doesn't turn into some crazy knock-off of that story!

Oh! And sorry for the long wait! I just saw Gwen Stefani in concert last night in Minneapolis, MN (OMG she is SO AMAZING!) and I was in such a good mood that I decided that I'd finally finish Chapter 2! Aren't ya proud? Lol…jk.

R&R and please, no flames!

Hope you like it!

-degrassichick

-x-

Chapter 2

-x-

The month slowly drug on, Emma continuing to be Danni's babysitter, while Jay got even more aggravated with her every time he saw her.

Every time he saw her, he couldn't help but think about the ravine, and what had happened there, and how it had caused Emma to hate him even more than she already did.

On this particular December day, Emma was sitting on the Hogart's plush couch, Danni was asleep on the other side of the couch, her small legs resting against Emma's stomach as she watched a movie on Lifetime about a girl who had a baby at sixteen.

And I thought getting Gonorrhea was bad…Emma thought to herself.

Not that having Gonorrhea wasn't bad too; but at least she was cured of it.

Just then the door swung open and Jay stalked inside, stepping into the living room.

Emma glanced up at him and held her finger in front of her lips, silencing him.

"What's your problem?" he grumbled, kicking off his shoes.

"Your sister is sleeping, so shut up." She snapped in a whisper.

Jay looked down at the couch, where Danni was peacefully sleeping.

"Well I'm here, so you can leave now…" Jay suggested.

Emma rolled her eyes before rolling off the couch and straightening up her outfit, "Okay, then I'll see you um…tomorrow then?"

Jay shrugged, "Sure, I guess."

Emma gave him a small smile before heading towards the door, just as a sleepy Danni awoke.

"Emma!" she squealed.

Emma spun around, combing a strand of her blonde hair behind her ear, "What is it, Dan?"

"Jay and me are going to the winter carnival tonight, you should come too!" she squealed.

Emma shook her head, "No that's okay, I don't want to impose or any-"

"No! I want you too!" Danni squealed.

Emma sighed, "I probably shouldn't, kiddo."

"Jay, tell her you want her to go!" Danni pleaded, getting up from the couch and tugging on her brother's shirt pleadingly, "Please?"

Jay groaned, he wanted anything but to go to that carnival with Green Peace, but whatever Danni wanted, Danni got.

Oh, the joys of being an older brother.

Jay sighed, "Yeah, sure, whatever."

Emma's eyes widened, "Seriously?"

"Don't let it get to your head Green Peace." He mumbled.
Danni giggled, "I like your nickname, Emmy."

Emma shrugged, "Yeah, well that makes one of us."

-x-

"This is so ridiculous. I don't want to spend a night at a carnival with Jay Hogart." Emma whined as she glanced at herself in the mirror.

She was wearing a faded green ringer tee shirt with the Lucky Charms logo on it and a pair of sandblasted jeans with a hole in one knee, her hair was pulled back in a ponytail and she was wearing a pair of white ballet flats with a green bow on the top of either one.

"Well do you want me to meet you there with Craig or something?" Manny questioned.

Emma shook her head, "Nah, you don't have to. I remember the last carnival you two went to together."

Manny began to laugh, remembering the moment from grade eight, "Okay, so that wasn't really the greatest moment in my life but still…if you want me to meet you there to avoid awkwardness, I'll come."

Emma shook her head, "That's okay, but thanks Manny."

Manny shrugged, "Your call."

Emma nodded, "Yep."

"So do you think anything romantic is going to happen between the two of you?" Manny questioned.

Emma stared at her best friend as if she had just sprouted a second head and told her that she was really a man.

Manny laughed, "Should I take that as a no?"

"Take it as a hell no." Emma muttered.

Manny rolled her eyes, "Okay, no need to get snappy."

Emma sighed, "His sister is a cutie though, it's just him I can't stand. He's always there, hovering and whatnot. Like some annoying fly."

"I think he likes you," Manny proclaimed, a grin spreading across her cheeks, showing off her dimples.

"I think you're crazy," Emma replied in the same tone.

Manny laughed, "Well after hearing that, I'm thinking you like him too."

"Manny!" Emma exclaimed, "Never!"

Manny shook her head, "Never say never. Besides, remember the ravine?" she cocked an eyebrow.

Emma threw her head down on her pillow, "Do not remind me of that. That was a mistake, just a big, fat mistake that never should have happened!"

Manny sighed, "So are you going to the carnival or what?"

-x-

Emma walked around the gym of Danni's elementary school where the carnival was being held; Danni had a grip on her hand, hauling her to random booths.

"So where's your brother?" Emma asked, glancing around for Jay, who hadn't been able to give them a ride thus making them take a taxi.

Danni shrugged her shoulders, "He'll be here."

Emma sighed and turned away from her, muttering under her breath, "As if that's a treat."

"Did you say something?" Danni questioned, looking towards her.

Emma shook her head and gave a small smile, "Nope, nada."

"Huh?" Danni asked confusingly.

"I didn't say anything."

Danni smiled, "Oh, okay. Hey, look! A dunking booth!" she squealed and hauled her away.

-x-

Jay climbed out of his Civic and made his way up the front steps of Degrassi Community Elementary School. He swung open the door and stepped inside, music was playing and young kids and their parents were bustling around.

He knew Danni wouldn't be there alone; Emma would for sure be there with her.

Jay stepped into the gym and looked at the various booths, searching for two blonde heads.

He eventually found Danni hurling balls at a bright red target, sending her principal straight into a tub of water.

"Good aim." He heard Emma say with approval.

A grin spread across Danni's face, "Jay used to be a pitcher on a little league team, I watched some of his old games on tape and learned from him. That's why I'm joining the co-ed little league team this summer." Danni turned her head and saw Jay, "Hey Jay!" she squealed and hurried towards him, he held out his arms and she jumped into them, giving him a hug, "I missed you." She muffled into his neck.

Jay laughed, "Missed you too, kiddo." He stated before sitting her back on her feet and watching as Emma walked towards them.

"So, where have you been?" Emma questioned.

Jay shrugged, "Taking mom and dad to the airport."

Danni stared up at him in shock, "What? Why?"

"Business trip." Jay stated sadly.

"Oh," Danni murmured in a near whisper, turning away from her brother. Tears began to twinkle in her eyes.

Emma sighed and leaned down towards Danni, "What do you say we get out of here?" she suggested.

Danni glanced up at her with teary eyes and smiled, "Okay."

Emma grinned and picked her up, Danni' arms thrown around her shoulders and her legs wrapped around her hips as the three walked out of the gym.

-x-

"I want…a double chocolate mint cone with extra chocolate sprinkles and chocolate chip cookie dough on top." Danni said to the waitress at the I-Scream Ice Cream café, where the three had decided to go after the carnival.

Emma stared at the girl in shock.

"She has a thing about chocolate." Jay mumbled towards her.

Emma nodded in understanding before the waitress turned to them, "And what would you like?" she asked towards Emma.

"A banana split." She and Jay both wound up saying in unison.

Jay gulped, "Oh, were you uh, talking to her?"

The waitress nodded, "But I'm going to guess that that's what you each want?"

The two both nodded.

She smiled before jotting it down on her notepad and walking off.

"Well that was awkward." Emma murmured under her breath.

-x-

"Thanks for the ice cream, Emma…and for taking me to the carnival." Danni said with a smile as they pulled up Emma's driveway.

Emma shrugged and smiled, "No problem."

"So, I guess I'll see you tomorrow?" Danni questioned.

Emma nodded.

"You don't have to. It's a Saturday and I'll be home." Jay proclaimed.

Emma shrugged, "I'm taking her Christmas shopping."

"Oh…"

"Mommy and daddy aren't going to be home, are they?" Danni asked.

Jay shook his head sadly, "Not for a few days, sweets."

Danni nodded, "Okay. Well I'll see you tomorrow Emma." She said with a grin and pulled her into a hug.

Emma smiled softly and hugged her back, "I'll see you too. I'll be there around noon, okay?"

Danni grinned, "Okay, see you at noon!" she said with a smile before hopping back into the Civic.

Jay turned to Danni, "Sit here for a second, okay? I need to talk to Emma." Jay stated.

Danni nodded her head animatedly, "Okay, Jay."

What now? Emma whined to herself.

Jay walked towards Emma, "You don't have to do all of this, you know."

Emma glanced over at Danni sadly, "But I want to, Danni's a real sweet kid."

Jay nodded, "Yeah, I know. And I like how you're treating her."

Then what's the point in this conversation?

Emma gave a slight smirk, "Thanks."

Jay shoved his hands into his pockets, "Yeah. I think she likes having you around."

Emma smiled, "Well I like being around her."

Jay nodded, "Okay…well I guess I'll see you tomorrow, or something."

Emma nodded, "Yeah, I'll see you around, Jay."

Jay lifted his hand in a slight wave, "Later."

"Bye." Emma smiled slightly before turning to Danni, "Bye Dan!"

"Bye Emmy!" Danni squealed and waved her hand around, a smile beaming on her face.

Emma smiled before turning and jogging up her front steps and across her porch, watching as Jay pulled his Civic out of the driveway and the two drove off down the street.

Emma sighed before swinging open the door and stepping inside, "I'm home!" she called out, but simply noticed a note taped on the wall by the stairs:

Emma, we went out to Montreal. Jack got sick. We tried to call you but your phone was off and nobody answered at the Hogart's.

We'll be back at the soonest, sorry baby!

Love, Mom and Dad

P.S. Zac called, he just got back into town and was looking for you.

Emma frowned at what her parents had written, but she was quite used to it by now. But she did smile when she read that Zac had called.

Zac had been her boyfriend since October and he had gone out of town with his parents to the states to see his grandmother who lived in California.

She was glad he was back; she had missed having him around.

She sighed happily and walked off towards the phone.

-x-

"So, what do you think of Emma?" Jay questioned Danni as they pulled into their driveway.

Danni grinned and undid her seatbelt, hopping out of the car as soon as it was parked, "I love her! She's so nice; it's like having a big sister around!" Danni squealed.

Jay smiled slightly, "Good to know."

Danni nodded, "Yup. You know how cool it would be if you two got married!"

Jay gulped, "What?"

Danni grinned, "Seriously, Jay! She'd be my permanent sister!"

Jay scoffed to himself, like that'll happen.

Jay shook his head, "I don't think so sweets."

Danni shrugged before glancing over at them, "You should consider it."

-x-

Ta-da! Another chapter complete! And it only took…like 17 days! He-he…

Well thanks for all the reviews!

R&R and please, no flames!

Lotsa love, degrassichick