AN: I am so sorry for how long it took me to get this chapter out but school has been so incredibly hectic but I will try my hardest to update it every week or two weeks depending on my workload.

Enjoy (:

The faint sound of beeping filled Emily's ears as she struggled to find its location. She struggled and struggled but it was to no avail, everything remained black and she was unable to move her body.

That was when the fear started to seep in, at first it was a slow mist but then its tendrils reached out and captured every bit of her being. She could hear the beeps getting louder and faster.

A hand squeezed her's and just like that light broke through the darkness as her eyes opened and tried to make sense of her surroundings. She appeared to be in a dimly lit hospital room but she couldn't remember why. There was a shadowy figure to her left with long brown hair and smelled like vanilla.

The figure slowly leaned down until her lips met Emily's forehead where they pressed a light kiss and then it was over as soon as it had begun. Emily almost whimpered at the loss of contact but she was still enough of herself to throw up her walls and remain silent.

"Emily?" a soft voice asked, "are you awake?"

Emily wanted to respond to the voice, it was such a nice voice, but she was too tired and moving any part of her body seemed impossible. Without her consent her eyes closed, sending her back into unconsciousness.

When she woke up for the second time her eyes didn't struggle to see the figure next to her or his brightly coloured red suit.

"Nolan," she smiled, hoping he didn't catch the shakiness of her voice.

"Ems!" he responded, his face was alive with glee but his eyes held another story. Worry.

Nolan then went into a ten minute lecture about road safety and to look both ways before crossing the road before Emily finally had enough and interrupted him.

"Who else is here?"

"Your dad just stepped out to get something to eat. Amanda and Jack stopped by, both were extremely worried that you were going to die. Oh, Mrs. Grayson is here, she's been here this entire time, I think she was the one to find you. She even got into a huge argument with her husband over the phone."

Emily's mind blanked. Victoria was here. Was she the figure who had kissed her earlier? That was probably a long shot.

"How long have I been out?"

"Thirty-three hours since they found you. I don't know how long it was since the actual incident itself."

Her father was her next visitor after Nolan had alerted him that his daughter had woken up. He asked her many questions regarding the accident and how she was feeling. He was met with mostly one word answers and seemed to be getting more stressed after each one. Eventually he reached for her hand and held it in his.

"Emily, if this accident has told me anything it's that life is short and it's time to repair this relationship. Let's learn how to stop this war and be at peace with one another. Let's get back to what we used to be."

"Show. Don't tell," she replied.

A sad smile crept upon David's face, Emily felt awful when she saw the hope in his eyes. It was the hope of a child who didn't know better.

"I've taken a week off work to stay with you. The boss isn't pleased, we had big big plans that have to be pushed back now but its worth his wrath to be with you."

"Your boss being Conrad Grayson?"

David nodded before turning his attention to the door. Victoria was leaning against the door frame looking visibly disheveled. Her hair hung limply and there were visible dark circles under her eyes and her black bra strap had fallen off her shoulder. A sharp contrast against her pale skin.

David glanced down at his watch before releasing Emily's hand. "If you'll excuse me I have an important call to make."

He exited as Victoria made her way to his now unoccupied chair, but kept her hands to herself.

"You've been here this whole time?" Emily asked.

"Yes. Mr. Ross makes better company than one might expect."

Emily tried to sit up but winced when her ribs squealed in pain. Victoria was at her side instantly, her face contorted in worry.

"You almost died Emily, if we had come only a few minutes later you wouldn't be here."

Emily wanted to reach out and comfort Victoria, she looked like she wanted to cry and due to her bloodshot eyes it wouldn't be the first time that day. Emily was surprised she had that effect on her, she knew they had grown close and had well come really close to doing something illegal but still. In the few weeks she had known her she had never seen Victoria look at another student the way she looked at her. She couldn't just be another student her either, not after that night.

Victoria pushed a strand of sweaty blonde hair away from Emily's face. Her fingertips cool against Emily's warm face.

"You were calling out for me in your sleep," Victoria said, she wasn't sure why she said it. She knew she shouldn't feel what she felt and she shouldn't hope that Emily felt the same.

Emily could feel a blush colour her cheeks as she tried to come up with a good explanation.

"You were the one to save me, it's only natural I would be calling out for my guardian angel."

"Angel is hardly a word used to describe me."

"We need to talk," Emily said suddenly.

"About what?" Victoria asked, fearing the answer.

"About what happened during the storm."

This was it, time for Victoria to make her choice.

"Emily, it was late. Emotions were running high, it shouldn't have gotten that far. I mean I'm married and it didn't mean anything to me."

Victoria was fumbling for an answer and they both knew it.

"Why are you here if I don't mean anything to you?" Emily's tone was meant to be nonchalant but it came out whiny.

"Emily, I never said that."

Emily wasn't listening though, " Why did you kiss me earlier then, If I don't mean anything to you? Go back to the husband I know you don't love. Get out."

Victoria's eyes blazed with anger, "Careful Miss Clarke, no matter your feelings for me you would do well to remember that I am still your superior."

"Get out," Emily said though this time there was no emotion in her voice.

Victoria exited the room without looking back and Emily's heart shattered into a million pieces as she tried not to cry.

Nolan appeared in the doorway, "that was intense."

Nolan had snuck in two cartons of ice-cream. He had spent most of the night trying to get the truth out of her but she stayed silent, until he brought her ice-cream however and that was finally what broke her.

Emily took a deep breath before telling him the whole story, unable to look at Nolan when she finished, her cheeks flushed in shame.

"Ems."

"I know you're disgusted with me. I know, I know. Please don't leave me, I can't handle that too."

"Oh Ems, you know I'll be with you forever. As for this situation, well, love occurs in weird and awkward ways and if you can meet on equal footing, like in a year when you're no longer her student then maybe something could possibly bloom. You just need to understand that if Victoria leaved Conrad for you and you decide to go public with your relationship the media will go insane and if they find out that she taught you then there may or there may not be some serious repercussions."

Emily just sat there for moment, drinking in everything he had just said. He was right, any relationship she could ever have with Victoria would never see the light of day.

"What do I do now?" she asked hopelessly.

"I have a plan."

AN: Don't kill me. Things always get worse before they get better and they will I promise!

Mwah!

-Abbie