A/N: This story was inspired by the song Yellow Light by Of Monsters and Men (an amazing Icelandic band – if you don't already know them, go listen to the song... and all of their other songs, tbh they're all amazing). In this specific story I decided that Emma knew she loved Julian much sooner than in the book, just so you know. Enjoy :)
Yellow Light
A Blackstairs fanfic, by OTP-addict
As she drifted through darkness, Emma saw a yellow light shining, calling out to her like a familiar voice whispering her name. Amid the pitch black depths of unconsciousness this light was a small, radiant sun. She reached for it. It disappeared like a lamp switched off.
Somewhere in her mind Emma knew she was hurt. She knew that the demon which had attacked her from behind must have caused some serious damage. But she also knew that she wasn't dying. Because she could feel Julian's presence, somewhere above this sea of oblivion. She knew that he had saved her from a horrible fate.
Didn't he always?
The light reappeared. This time Emma thought strategically. She watched the light flickering softly for several minutes. Whenever her gaze diverted from it, it glowed impossibly brighter. Funny, she thought to herself. It reminded her of how she looked at Julian. She always composed her face into a mask of friendly love whenever he or anyone else was watching. But on nights like the ones they'd spend together, falling asleep together, she could look at him sleep with her true feelings unhidden on her face.
Emma slowly inched towards the glowing orb. It sputtered and faded, and she leaped across the remaining distance; in vain. The light was gone.
She was stuck here, it seemed. And with what purpose, she wondered. She wanted to return to the world of the living, to her Julian. Oh, how she wished she could wake up from this dream and embrace him with all of the love that she normally had to hide.
"Emma."
Her name was a fuse suddenly lit, igniting a series of images, memories. Running on the beach, fighting Mantid demons with Mark, training with Drusilla, hugging Tavvy to her chest, making pancakes with Julian, untying sea glass from Church's collar, kissing Julian, touching Julian, talking to Julian, fighting with Julian–Julian, Julian, Julian.
Emma bolted upright with a gasp. For a moment she sat catching her breath; then she noticed tousled brown curls and sea blue-green eyes beside her.
"Are you okay?" Julian asked. His eyes were accompanied by dark circles and sleepiness, but they were wide, concerned.
"No," Emma automatically answered. She really wasn't.
"Are you in pain? Do you need another iratze?" Julian sounded even more worried now.
She shook her head slowly. She was dizzy, lightheaded, but not for the reason that Julian might think.
"Emma?"
She looked up at him. This time without concealing her feelings, without dimming the yellow light in the presence of the culprit of her emotions. "I love you," she said. "Do you know that?"
He looked slightly stunned. "Of course. I–"
"No," she interrupted, "in your studio, when you asked me to tell you that I loved you, you said 'Even if you don't mean it.' Why would I not mean it?"
Julian now looked positively shocked.
"How could you think I didn't feel the same way about you?"
"I…" Julian's words seemed to fail him.
"Yes?" Emma said.
In a second she was in his arms, her lips against his, and she wondered if she had been granted a wish by the yellow light.