"Emaya Forever Done Right"

Rated M for Mature Content.

XXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXX

I'm emotionally and physically exhausted unable to stay awake, falling asleep on the couch. I'm in a deep, deep sleep dreaming…

I dream of a warm breeze flowing through the open windows of Maya's room. I dream of lying down next to her on her bed. I dream of kissing her lips softly. I dream of her eyes opening slowly. I dream of her seeing me alive and well. I dream of us smiling and crying and kissing each other over and over and over. I dream of Maya being Maya again. I dream of Maya coming back to me. I dream of our love conquering our lies. I dream of me and Maya. I dream of Emaya…

Chapter 34: Maya Comes Home

California…

It's the next morning at the hospital where the St. Germains are signing the necessary paperwork to discharge their daughter for home care. A nurse will be accompanying them to their house to set up the portable machine and the stationery machine that will monitor Maya's vitals…

Mrs. St. Germain almost loses herself in her emotion when Maya is wheeled out of her room. She is dressed in pajama pants, tee shirt, slippers and a robe. Her head leans to the side staring at presumably nothing, thinking that the love of her life has been taken from her forever. Mrs. St. Germain turns away quickly so Maya can't see her emotional state, even though it wouldn't faze her in the least. Mr. St. Germain hugs his wife as they follow the nurse and the orderlies to the car…

The ride home is pretty much silent with a few coughs and sniffles, but as far as conversation goes, there isn't really much to say. When they arrive at Aunt Maren's, Chelsea is already there with a bouquet of flowers in hand. Mr. St. Germain helps the nurse with Maya, he too, swallowing his emotions as he lifts his baby girl from the car and carries her inside without any kind of reaction whatsoever from his daughter…

"I'll get the door for you Mr. St. Germain," Chelsea calls out.

He nods to her turning his body to carefully fit them both through the door. The nurse follows him into the downstairs bedroom where he delicately places her onto the bed. He holds her upright while the nurse fixes the pillows behind her to put her in a sitting position. When Mr. St. Germain takes a step back, the nurse adjusts Maya's robe and the blankets, covering her legs. She makes sure her head has proper support before she steps away to retrieve the monitors from the car leaving Mr. St. Germain to watch over her like the doting father he wishes he had been…

"Chelsea, what a lovely gesture. I'm sure Maya will love it," Mrs. St. Germain extends a hug to her.

"It's not much but I thought if we could brighten up her room then maybe we could brighten her up too," she says all sugary.

"I think I have the perfect vase for those," Aunt Maren offers. "Why don't you use the scissors in the top kitchen drawer to cut the end of the stems while I get that vase."

She points to the drawer and Chelsea helps herself, "Found them." She cuts the stems releasing a pleasant floral scent. She holds the flowers under her nose and breaths in, "They smell amazing, a nice hint of summer to refresh Maya's senses."

"Here, try this one," Aunt Maren hands her a vase.

"Perfect," she comments as she fills it part way with water.

"I'm going to make us all some tea. Would you like some Chelsea?" Mrs. St. Germain asks politely.

"I'll help you," Aunt Maren insists trying to stay busy.

"Then I'll bring these to Maya and afterwards join you if that's okay," Chelsea wants to make sure her presence is accepted.

"That sounds like a nice idea and it'll give her father a moment to catch his breath about all this," Mrs. St. Germain says matter of fact.

Chelsea knocks softly on the bedroom door, "Mr. St. Germain? I can stay with Maya for a bit if you need a moment?" she suggests so sweetly.

He turns to the sound of the knocking and takes a breath as if he's about to say something but instead he lets it out and thanks her with his eyes as he walks out of the room. Chelsea places the flowers on her dresser while the nurse busies herself setting up the stationery monitor and the portable one...

"Excuse me, can I ask you a question," Chelsea gets the nurse's attention.

"Yes, is there something specific on your mind?" she asks respectfully.

"What's that smaller monitor for?"

"Whenever Maya leaves the house she'll take that with her. She'll need to be set up in her wheelchair and be disconnected from that monitor so she can be connected to this portable one."

"That sounds so easy," she schemes in her head.

"It is. Do you want me to show you how it works?" the nurse asks unknowing Chelsea's motives.

A smile brims on Chelsea's face as the nurse has just given her everything she needs to know to get Maya out of that house and away from her family without any suspicions. She'll take her for a walk. At least that's what she'll tell everyone. She'll make a convincing argument to bring Maya to the cliffs to breathe in the salty ocean air while the mist of the sea sprays lightly against her face. But what Maya doesn't realize and that no one else will realize is it will be the last time she'll ever see the cliffs. It will be the last time she'll ever be dismissed by Maya St. Germain because this time, it's Chelsea who will be dismissing Maya St. Germain!

Rosewood…

"Honey, pacing like that isn't going to get us to California any faster. We'll get there tomorrow night. And when she sees you, well, she'll be Maya again," Mrs. Fields hugs her daughter.

"Mom, I know. It just hurts so much knowing that she's suffering like that. Why does love have to hurt so much?" she cries into her shoulder.

"Because it wouldn't be love if it didn't."

She holds her for a little while longer trying to calm her deepest fear…that Maya won't ever be hers the way she was meant to be…

California…

Chelsea stays most of the day with the St. Germains and Maya, discreetly reminding her about how sad she must be upon hearing the news about Emily, needing her to stay in this state a bit longer. But as dinner approaches she excuses herself to set her plan in motion unbeknownst to anyone there. She immediately calls Noel to meet her at her house to go over his part in all this. All Noel has to do is get him to agree to see Maya and all the pieces will be set in place. And just when she arrives home, her cell phone vibrates indicating a text message. She puts the car in park and checks her phone…

Reinforcements are coming.

Set the plan in motion.

Tomorrow night it all comes to an end.

-A

Just as Chelsea puts her phone away, Noel pulls in next to her. He steps out of his car and slams the door hard. He's trapped and that slam is his way of showing his anger. He fucked up and he knows it and now he has to go through with this plan or else Chelsea will tell Maya what he did when she's well agains and –A will tell everything else…

"Hey Noel, what's your deal?" she politely closes her door.

"Nothing. It's fine. He'll be there."

"Are you serious?" she asks elated.

"When I told him she could be healed with a traumatic memory, he reluctantly agreed. So there you have it. Chelsea gets her way once again," he says smugly.

"Once again? Noel, I'm due to get my way and you're right, I will get it too. Let's go inside so I can tell you when and where to bring him. Everything has to be perfect Noel and I'm counting on you and so is Maya," she says casually as she lets them into her house.

Noel closes the door, "What do you mean Maya's counting on me?"

She plops herself on the couch and Noel follows after her, "Your friendship Noel. You want to keep it don't you?" she smiles like they're best friends, fake best friends.

"You know I do! I saw her! I saw her in that hospital room! She didn't deserve that! No one deserves that!" his fingers tangle in his hair pulling it at the roots feeling frustrated but more so feeling cowardly.

"Noel! Get yourself together! If you want to save your friendship then we have to try to save Maya!"

"What are you talking about? You don't want to save her!" he stands up over her making her flinch.

"Yes I do! That's why he has to be there! That's why we need to bring her to the cliffs! Emily's gone Noel! And I'm the only one who cares enough to make her better! Me, Noel! Me! Just like last time!" she collapses back into the couch surprised by all of her emotions. Tears well up in her eyes, tears she's not willing to shed, not for Maya, not for anyone!

Noel sees the conflict within her but lets it go. He's thinking. He's thinking that maybe she's right. He's thinking maybe she is doing this to help Maya because there is no one else now that Emily's gone…

She fills him in on the details and he nods his understanding…

He leaves Chelsea and her plan on the couch and walks with his head down out the door. He closes it falling back into it with his shoulder slowly sliding against it to his knees. He covers his razor stubble face blocking his own tears. His back shakes full of emotion. He looks up into the dark night wiping his face as his eyes become mesmerized by a star illuminating the sky. He leans against the door using it to leverage him to his feet…

He takes a deep breath and says, "Maya."

Aunt Maren's…

After Maya is has been helped into the bathroom by her parents, they help her back into bed lying her down on her back. Mr. St. Germain says his goodnights leaving Mrs. St. Germain sitting on the edge of Maya's bed telling her the news about Emily…

"Maya, I have great news for you," she sweeps her daughter's hair from her forehead. "It's Emily. She's okay. She wasn't on that plane. Your Aunt Maren spoke to her mom. They're both fine. Maya, did you hear me? Emily is alive."

But Maya doesn't respond. She keeps looking up at the ceiling unmoving, unfeeling, unMaya. Mrs. St. Germain drops her head. She gets up, takes Maya's hand and kisses her on the cheek needing so desperately for her little girl to return to her.

"I love you Maya."

She leaves the room hoping the news about Emily will somehow reach her daughter. She turns down the lights leaving the door partially open. She slowly walks up the stairs to her husband needing his arms around her, comforting her until the morning…

Rosewood…

It's close to three in the morning and Emily is tossing and turning. Her dreams are so fast and ever changing that her body can't keep still. She dreams of seeing Maya. She dreams of Maya closing her eyes. She dreams of Maya opening them. She dreams of her recognizing her. She dreams of Maya loving her again…

She wakes in a start. Her chest is heaving. Her eyes are unfocused, full of tears, because she doesn't know if she'll get a happy ending. Emily's negative thoughts consume her emotions, "Forget –A. Forget Chelsea. They are nothing!"

If Maya doesn't respond to her, she fears vengeance will…

Aunt Maren's…

The faded lights cast a shadow over Maya whose eyes are finally closed. She sleeps. She dreams…

I'm walking alone along the cliffs having lost everything. There's no one to turn to, it's just me and the ocean breeze. It's a loneliness that only someone who has loved and lost can feel. I stand high above the dark waters watching the waves crashing below me. The air blows against my white satin robe, forcing it open revealing my white satin nightgown. My long dark tresses flow wildly behind me as the wind tries pushing me back but fails time after time. Why is this happening? Why can't I ever be happy? Why is everyone that I've ever loved being taken from me? Is it because I'm not worthy of love? I take a step closer, the sand shuffling with my stride, loosening the earth beneath me, causing the rocks to tumble over the edge, plunging into the blackness of the ocean…

She lies still, eyes closed, immersed in her dreams, when the first sign of emotion suddenly appears…

A tear falls ever so slowly and ever so gently from the corner of her eye…

XXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXX

To Be Continued…