An awkward moment was imposed, as Bandit faced his first great love who was also the one to break his heart so hard that caused him go get depressed for days. Noticing that, Dr. Cooper commented:
"I believe you two already know each other, hein?"
"Yeah, we do…" Emily said, with a slight smile. "Bandit and I go way back… right, Bandit?"
"Right…" he said, gloomily, turning then to Dr. Cooper and going to give him the file. "I just came here to give you my notes and the analyses made to the bones. You'll see they are from the Palaeolithic times, the four remains died around the same time. In my notes you'll also see that we also found evidence of a camp there. Tomorrow, we can start working in recreating it."
"I see…" Dr. Cooper said, receiving the file and starting to look into it. "Very well done. Don't worry, my boy, I will take a look on these."
"Great, so I'll just get the remains out of their containers in the room we got for them and arrange them" Bandit replied, turning and starting to get to the exit.
"Bandit, wait…" Emily said, while trying to touch on his shoulder.
"Don't… even think about it" Bandit said, coldly, while preventing Emily from even touching him.
"I just want to talk, that's all" Emily told.
"You already got that chance… eleven years ago, remember?" Bandit replied. "You didn't take it back then, so why would I let you take it now?"
Having said that, he got out of the office, slamming the door behind him. After he did that, tears came to his eyes, as he remembered all the pain he felt after Emily broke off with him. But he quickly cleaned them and advanced.
"That was… interesting" Dr. Cooper commented. "I've never seen Bandit angry like that. Frustrated, maybe, but never angry. Let me guess, you two were more than just acquainted."
"You can say that…" Emily sighed. "We… used to date, but we got a… bad breakup… and it was because of me."
"I see…" Dr. Cooper said. "Well, I suggest you try to solve things with him, my dear. I'm not saying this because of the project. I know Bandit will always be professional, no matter what. However, that boy is like a son to me and I hate seeing him suffering like that. I've known him ever since he was a pup. I was the one to introduce him to archaeology, the one that mentored him."
"I know, he used to talk a lot about you" Emily told, while taking a seat. "He does have a lot of respect for you."
There was a pause and then Dr. Cooper said:
"I am curious about one thing. You must have known Bandit was in charge of the project. If not before, then after I recruited you for the team and sent you the details."
"When I got to know about Bandit's involvement in the project, I did hesitate, but I thought…" Emily started.
"That maybe you two could solve your problems" Dr. Cooper said.
"I know we can't get what we had, but… at least I wanted to be at peace with him" Emily said.
"Well, I guess you're still in time to do that" Dr. Cooper told.
"I don't know… he seemed very upset…" Emily said.
"Yes, he is, but he can also be understanding and forgiving… even if he is hurt like that" Dr. Cooper said. "Just… talk to him and tell him what you want to say."
Emily smiled, feeling better now that Dr. Cooper told her that.
"Thank you, Dr. Cooper" she said. "Bandit was right… you are very wise."
"Well, you don't get where I got without knowing how to solve conflicts" Dr. Cooper replied.
Meanwhile, Bandit was at room where the exhibit was being built, with a small stage for it at a central position, while having four tables where Bandit was position the bones, each set for one table. Doing that actually calmed Bandit.
It was then that he noticed Emily entering the room and approaching.
"Hi…" she said, nervously.
Bandit just gave her a cold look and the asked, while keeping arranging the bones:
"What do you want?"
"Just talk…" Emily said.
"And why should I talk to you?" Bandit asked. "My opinion seems to have no value to you…"
"Yeah, I think I was asking for that…" Emily said, deciding to get to Bandit through the bones he had found. "Wow, I've heard about the bones you and your team found, but now that I see them at close, I can see how impressive they are. Oh, that skeleton is small. It must be from a child, right? Poor thing… I can only imagine what he…"
"She" Bandit replied. "The child was female."
"Well, you're the specialist on the subject" Emily said. "But even so… it breaks my heart to see something like this."
"I know…" Bandit said. "When I look at these bones, I can only think on my kids."
"You have kids?"
"Two daughters: Bluey and Bingo."
"That's great" Emily replied. "I'm happy for you. I really am. And I bet their mom is very pretty."
"Her name is Chilli… and yes, she is very pretty" Bandit replied.
All that awkward talk between them was not working very much, so Emily decided for a much direct approach.
"Bandit, I know what I did to you is unforgivable" she said. "I haven't forgiven myself for doing it. But you have to believe me when I say I had a good reason for that."
"You don't have to tell me what reason was it" Bandit said with his normal voice, not transmitting any contempt. "It doesn't matter anymore. I've moved on, you've moved on… Actually, to tell you the truth, if it wasn't for you, I wouldn't have the family I have."
"What do you mean?" Emily asked.
"When you broke up with me, I got into a deep depression" Bandit told. "I barely would get out of my room. But my brothers and Pat took me in a trip… and during it I met Chilli. So, in a way, you are the one that moulded my happiness."
That caused Emily to express a small smile and then say:
"You know, you also moulded my happiness… in more ways you can't even imagine."
There was a pause, when Bandit also expressed a smile to Emily. It was strange for him to have a moment like that with Emily, but without having the same feelings he once had for her. However, he couldn't help but noticed that it felt good to finally reconnect with someone as important in his life as Emily.
It was then Bandit noticed his phone buzzing. Taking it, he saw he got a message from Chilli asking him when he would get back.
"Sorry, Emily, but I need to go" he said. "I need to have dinner with my family… I haven't been with them for many days and I can't wait to sit at the table with them… and I didn't bring my car, so…"
"Of course" Emily replied. "But, Bandit, can you at least tell me one thing? Are things between us okay? I mean, we don't have to be exactly friends, but… Could I at least not have your hate?"
"I don't hate you, Emily" Bandit told. "I never did. I was just… hurt. But, answering to your question, yes, we can be friends."
"Thank you…" she said. "You don't know how much that means to me. And… since we're friends, I wouldn't mind driving you home. I've rented a car for the time I'm here."
"I don't know…" Bandit said. "You do remember that in Australia we drive on the left side, right?"
Emily laughed, having missed Bandit's jokes and teases.
"I think I can manage" she replied, as they started heading towards the exit of the room. "Where do you live?"
"My parents gave me and Chilli their house when we got married" Bandit replied. "You still know where it is?"
"Of course" she replied. "How could have I forgotten?"
Emily drove Bandit home and, when they stopped, he said, while unbuckling the seat belt:
"Thank you for the drive, Emily."
"Anytime" she said. "You know, I hope I can get to meet your family, while I'm in Brisbane."
"I also hope that… you'll love to meet them" Bandit said. "And they will also love to meet you."
Bandit then got out of the car and waved Emily goodbye, a gesture she reciprocated, before driving away.
Bandit enjoyed the dinner with his family very much, especially since Chilli made his favourite dish. After that, he played with his daughters for some time, before being their bedtime. He and Chilli helped Bluey and Bingo to prepare them for bed and, once they got in bed to sleep, they went to their room, where Bandit didn't waste any time to lay down on his bed, while exclaiming:
"It feels so great to lie down on my own bed… especially when I have the best company ever!"
"I missed you too, Bandit" Chilli replied, while getting on the bed, beside her husband and giving him a kiss.
After a moment, Bandit knew he should tell Chilli about Emily.
"Chilli, there's something I need to tell you" he said, while sitting up.
"Oh boy… when you get like this, it's because it's something serious" Chilli commented.
"Today, I met the facial reconstructionist that will work with me on my project" Bandit told. "Dr. Cooper said her resume was very impressive."
"That's great!" Chilli told. "But why are you so serious about her? Don't you like her?"
"It's… not that" Bandit said. "I already know her. It's… Emily."
"Emily?" Chilli asked. "What Emily?"
"There's only one Emily in my life" Bandit replied.
Chilli then realized who he was talking about.
"You mean the Emily that was your first love, the one that broke your heart before you met me?" she asked.
"Yes" Bandit confirmed. "But, Chilli, you have to know that I no longer feel for her what I used to feel eleven years ago. My love is now for you and only you."
"I know that, but I am concern about you" Chilli replied, placing the back of one of her hands on her husband's face. "Are you sure you will be able to work with Emily after… well, what happened between you two?"
"You don't have to worry about that" Bandit said. "We've already talked and we solved our problems."
"I'm glad" Chilli replied. "Does that mean you got to know why she left you?"
"No…" Bandit told. "But, honestly… I don't want to know… unless she wants to tell me. I don't think it will change anything."
Emily was at her hotel room speaking with someone at the phone, while sitting on the feet of the bed.
"Thank you for staying up late to talk to me, Adam. How is he? Yeah, I miss him too. I have to thank you for staying with him while I'm in Brisbane. No… I don't know how long I'll stay here, but I'll warn you when I'm to get back. Okay… Good night."
She ended the call, all while remembering her encounter with Bandit. She wished she could have gathered the courage to tell him the reason why she left, but the fear of his reaction and the consequences that could result of it prevented her from doing it. However, she had decided she would tell him during the time she would work with him…
