FA 17

Emma was curled up on her bed with a pillow pressed tightly against her tummy. Nothing had changed in her old home. Her room had never been redecorated the walls were still the same purple colour they had been five years ago, even the stuffed toys that sat on her bed were as she had left them almost as if they had been waiting for her. She didn't want to admit it but she had to face it. She missed Allan. A few men had asked her out since she had come here but she could not remove the thoughts of Allan from her head long enough to say yes. She kept thinking about the time they had spent together and how much he had made her laugh like when he had shoved his butt in the sink to put out the fire on his trousers, or the time when he had put scanning mouse to his own belly. Although she had been angry at his actions at the time she had never remebered something so funny. Emma could hear banging around downstairs in the kitchen. She should get up and help, but she just couldn't make herself do it.

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Robin had not moved from their beds. He watched his son sleep as the machines beeped around he and his mother. He had been thinking about what to do about Stephanie. He didn't want to be with her and apart of him knew she felt the same way, but then there was the baby. But if the baby wasn't his then there was nothing to worry about. He would have to talk to her but only when Aiden and Marian were out of hospital until he did not plan to allow them out of his sight. They were the most important thing in his life at the moment.

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Emma stood with her travel case by her side. Djaq had called her telling her that Marian and Aiden were in hospital so she booked a seat on the first flight home. She knew that this meant that she would have to see Allan again and to be honest she didn't know what she would do or say or how she would react, but she would deal with that when it came to it, for now Marian and Aiden needed her.

RHRHRHRHRHRH

'What are you saying?' The man asked as he sat behind the desk.

'I cannot do this anymore father.' Stephanie said strong and proud although she was breaking like glass on the inside.

'What!' Her father stood and starred at her.

She shivered his gaze penetrating her shield. 'He loves the other woman.'

'Do you think I care? A clue...no' The man bit.

'I tried father but I can't. I won't help you destroy them.'

'At least your brother and sister are not failing me.' He snapped.

'Father I am pregnant with Carter's child you know this and you know how much pressure its putting him under.' Stephanie shouted becoming angry at her father, a man that was supposed to love and protect her.

'Well then I guess I will have to fix that.' Her father murmered as he walked around the table gently grasping the horse whip in his hand.

'Father?' Stephanie whispered as she walked backwards slowly.

'This should take care of your problem.' He shouted as he whipped her in the stomach sending her to the floor. He began repeatedly kicking her as she grapsed her belly and cried out in pain.

RHRHRHRHRHRH

'Robin.' Emma whispered as she walked into the hospital room and found him half asleep, leaning his head on Marian's lap. He moaned and lifted it slowly and turned to look at her. A small and tired smile surfaced on his face.

'Hey.' He mumbled as he stretched his arms.

'How are they?' Emma asked as she walked further into the room and looked at their sleeping bodies.

'Good. The Doctor said that they should be able to get home tomorrow.' Robin smiled as he to looked at them both.

'Thats great.'

'How long are you here for?' Robin asked as he looked at Emma wondering if she also came back for someone other than Aiden and Marian.

'Just the weekend.' Emma smiled, also knowing what he was thinking.

Robin nodded and smiled as they both sat with the sleeping pair watching and waiting for them to awaken.

'Are you planning to see Allan while you are here?' Robin asked.

'Only if seeing him means that he is going to be on the end of my bonet while I am driving at a very fast speed? Then yes.' Emma replied as Robin laughed.

'Well perhaps you should stop by and see what he has become' Robin hinted.

'What do you mean become?' Emma asked not able to hide the fear and worry in her voice like she had hoped to.

'We barely hear or see from him now.' Robin shrugged.

Emma nodded and let thoughts of what could have become of him rake her mind.

RHRHRHRHRHRH

Stephanie sat in her house and cried into the pillow. Her bruised and beaten body hidden by layers of clothes. One hand placed on her tummy. Her now empty tummy. Her father had commited the worst crime. He had killed her baby and now Carter would leave her for sure. Why had he attacked her innocent unborn baby? She had loved it so much only to lose it in the most vile way possible the babies own grandfather had murdered it. She had tried to call Carter but he never answered, she had gone to his house, be he was not in. In one way she was relieved as that meant that she would not have to tell him the heartbreaking news, but in another way she was sad, she needed him now more than ever all she wanted was a cuddle but he could not be found.

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Emma stood outside her once home. She had shared this apartment for a few short months with the man she loved. She had been looking at the white door for almost twenty minutes having a mental battle in her head on whether or not she should enter. One voice said that she should, that it was what she wanted, she wanted him whereas the other told her that the door was better left closed. That when it was closed no harm could come to her anymore but she herself knew that was a lie. She carried a secret and sooner or later she would have to face Allan again. She took a deep breath trying to calm her nerves as her hand touched the familiar door handle and opened it quickly before she changed her mind. The sight before her knocked the breath from her. Her once clean and tidy apartment was dead. This apartment was unrecognisable. Every top was covered with either some form of old moldy food or an empty can of beer. Rubbish bags diseased the floor covering the dark wooden design. The sofa was no longer seeable in the waves of rubbish.

'Allan?' Emma called into the garbage room and watched to see if there was any movement.

The bedroom door opened and a ruff looking Allan appeared wearing only boxers and a shirt.

'Allan what happened to you?' Emma exclaimed as she took in the sight of him and walked into the apartment more.

Allan merely looked at her then continued walking towards the kitchen and presumably the fridge.

'Allan are you going to answer me?' Emma asked placing her hands on her hips and tapping her foot.

'Sure Emma' Whatever you say. You talk for a few moments and then start dancing and stripping just like all the other imaginary Emma's I have seen.' Allan sighed as he opened the fridge and brought out another can of beer.

'Allan I am here and I am real.' Emma shouted becoming more and more annoyed with him.

'Emma.' Allan gasped as he dropped the open can to the floor allowing its contents to spill.

Emma sighed and looked around the ruined and garbage ridden apartment. 'Lets get this place tidied up.' She rolled her eyes and placed her coat on the back of the door and began tidying the apartment as Allan looked at her in shock and astonishment.

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Robin felt something play lightly with his hair as he leaned his head on Marian's lap and dozed. He moaned as their gentle fingers lightly massaged his head. Then his eyes darted open and his head shot up to look into the awake and gorgeous eyes of Marian.

'Hey.' She smiled and mumbled hoarsely.

'Your awake.' Robin grinned as he caressed her cheek with his hand.

'Yep.'

Robins smile suddenly faded as his eyes clouded over. 'You had me worried there Marian.' He sniffed.

'I know. I'm so sorry.' Marian whispered as she tried to sit up more in bed but finding that she couldn't.

'I thought that I had lost you both.' Robin whispered as a lone tear escaped his eye.

'Never.' Marian smiled. 'We will always be here to annoy and pester you.'

'You never annoy or pester me.' Robin chuckled. 'Well...not a lot.'

'Where is Aiden?' Marian asked becoming worried.

Robin smiled and moved aside allowing her to view their son in the bed next to hers. 'The doctors said that you are both fine.' Robin smiled and took her hand in his own and caressing it.

'I am so tired.' Marian yawned.

'Shh. Then go to sleep. I will be here when you wake up.' Robin smiled and kissed her head as she fell back into a peaceful slumber.

'Mr. Locksley.' The doctor spoke softly as he opened the room door.

'Doctor she woke up.' Robin exclaimed with happiness.

'That is great news, but I am afraid that we have some bad.' The doctor informed sadly.

'Bad?' Robin whole body began to shake.

'Can we please step outside?'

Robin nodded and followed the doctor to the hall. 'Whats wrong?'

'I am afraid that the way your wife's spine was damaged has caused some paralyzation in her lower body.' The doctor began to explain.

Robin could not even think about correcting the doctor when he said that Marian was his wife all he could do was listen and take each word in. 'What does this mean?'

'It means that she may not be able to use her legs again. However, the x rays that we have seen we believe that with a lot of work and physio therapy she will be able to regain her muscle and walk once more.' The Doctor nodded and looked at Robin who had tears pouring down his face.

Robin turned his head and looked through the glass window at the sleeping form of Marian. How was he going to tell her?

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Emma smiled happily at the now familiar apartment. She could remember everything now. She had even managed to get Allan in a shower and put some fresh clothes on. Although the old Allan had quickly reappeared trying to talk and drag her into the shower with him and if it weren't for a certain physical feature she would have happily obligied.

'Don't go.'

She turned to see Allan emerging from their...his bedroom.

'I have to.' Emma said strongly even though it was the last thing that she wanted to do.

'Please.'

'No Allan.' Emma moaned.

'It will go back to the way it was before. I promise.' Allan begged as he walked towards her.

'The way it was before?' Emma asked raising her eyebrow.

'Yeah. We'll fuck like bunnies.' Allan smirked.

Emma chuckled and lowered her head as she shook it. 'Where's Lauren?'

'She's gone.' Allan stated.

'You hurt me Allan.' Emma sniffed as tears formed but she was adiment not to let them fall.

'I know. But I promise I will never do it again.' Allan pleaded as he took her hand in his own.

'Its still to sore Allan. I keep seeing you two always together and you walking away from me.' Emma sobbed.

'Yeah but now shes not here theres no reason for me to walk away from you now.' Allan thought that those words would comfort her.

'Not now. But how long before another ex shows up or before some other girl catches your eye?'

'Emma I may look but I would ever touch again. Some may catch my eye but they can never catch my heart because you have that, its yours.' Allan stressed as he begged for her to return.

'Exactly Allan. You will look, and you cannot promise that you can't touch, and I may have your heart and you do have mine but the difference is that I keep your safe whereas you broke mine.' Emma cried as she let go of Allan's hand and ran to the door.

'Marry me Emma.' Allan shouted out.

Emma froze as she opened the door and his words reached her ears. Her heart broke as he spoke those words. She loved him and she always would she knew this and to marry would be amazing if only he hadn't hurt her and only if she could.

'Please Allan...don't ask that again.' Emma whispered painfully as she closed her eyes.

'I will ask it until I get the answer I am looking for.' Allan saoid softly.

'Allan I cannot marry you.' Emma said as she turned to see him her tears flowing free as she saw him down on one knee.

'Yes you can. You love me Emma I know you do or else you would not have come and done all this.' Allan explained motioning to the apartment that was now clean.

'Allan I owed you this much.' Emma sighed.

'Marry me?' He asked again determined.

'NO! I cannot' Emma shouted running her hand through her hair.

'Marry me?' Allan continued to ask.

'Allan I can not marry you because I am already married!!' Emma shouted at the top of her voice before falling to her knee's and sobbing hysterically as Allan looked at her stunned.

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Guy walked in and smiled at his sister. She was always so weak. Dad had told him what he had done and he must say he was thrilled that the baby was now dead. Children were a nusiance. He looked to his sister as she sat on the chair her face soaked with spilled tears.

'What do you want Guy?' Stephanie asked without looking at him.

'Just wondering how you were?' Guy spoke almost like he meant it.

'You came to gloat and mock so begin when you feel free the sooner you start the sooner you can leave.' Stephanie snapped.

'There would be no enjoyment in it if I were rushed.' Guy smirked darkly.

'Well you can take pleasure in knowing that I will be heartbroken when Carter finds out and leaves me.' Stephanie sniffed.

'Did you not know?' Guy asked loving the fact that he would be the one to tell her.

'What? Stephanie sighed.

'Carter's body was found in Nottingham lake the morning.' Guy smirked.

'What?' Stephanie gasped I shock and hurt as she once more began to sob. They had killed not only her baby but the man she loved. 'You bastard!' She shouted and charged at Guy from the seat only to be thrown against the wall and left unconcious.