Chapter Eight: Reunion

Two Years Later…

Emily did in fact pull through the hard times, but the process took the better part of a year and most of that time was spent away from Antarctica. She returned home to California to live with her mother and younger brother, Brockton, who had just graduated from high school. During that time, she wrote frequently to Katie and almost as often to those at Victoria. She also visited her father's grave often to sit and think. To her surprise, she found these visits to be healing and soothing rather than painful as she reconciled herself to her father's death and found that he wasn't really gone.

On her twenty-fifth birthday, she invited Katie, Jerry, Cooper, and the dogs over to her home for a barbeque. It was late August – nearly time to go back down to Antarctica for the summer season. Naturally, the conversation turned to the topic and Katie watched her friend carefully, ready to stop Jerry and Cooper if Emily showed any signs of discomfort, but there were none. The redhead waited patiently for a lull in the conversation, her fingers running absently through Shadow's fur as he lay beside her. When there was one, she said quietly, "I'm coming back."

Jerry's blue eyes widened in pleased surprise. "What?"

"I'm coming back with you to Antarctica this season."

"As a pilot?" Cooper asked bluntly, then yelped as Jerry smacked him for being tactless.

Emily smiled. "Yes, Coope, as a pilot. I've been away long enough."

"I'll say," Jerry said as Katie nodded in agreement. Their eyes met before darting aside to focus on other things, something that did not escape Emily's notice.

Mrs. Hawkins joined them, carrying a silver tray with Emily's choice of dessert on it. "Would you all care for some cheesecake?" she asked. Her eyes narrowed slightly at the sight of Jerry sitting next to her daughter and coolly skipped over him, leaving him the last and smallest piece.

Annoyed by the gesture, Emily glared at her mother, then removed the plate from Jerry's hands and placed her own – much larger – piece in his lap, eating the small one herself. Katie noticed the exchange and caught the flash of anger in Mrs. Hawkins' eyes. The older woman turned without a word and returned to the house.

Later that night, after Jerry and Cooper had left with the dogs and Katie – who would be staying with Emily until their departure – was showering, Emily confronted her mother. "What was the big idea? Slighting Jerry in front of everyone? I know you're mad about what he did eight years ago, but that's no excuse to behave so rudely."

"Watch your tongue, Emily Nicole; I'm still your mother, no matter how old you are," Mrs. Hawkins scolded as she put food away.

"That doesn't excuse you," Emily retorted, bristling.

Mrs. Hawkins set down the salad she was putting into a plastic container and turned to face her daughter. "I just can't believe you would be so reckless with your heart. Did it not occur to you that he might do it again? I can't trust him, Emily, you know that," she sighed as she turned back to the salad.

"Mom, do you really think that I would have specifically invited him if he hadn't changed? Yes, it has occurred to me that he might be the same immature boy he used to be, but I've gotten very close to him and I can tell you that he is a very different man now. I trust him with my life. Don't you think that if I've forgiven him, then maybe you should?"

"Em?" Katie called, coming down the stairs. "Oh." She stopped when she saw Mrs. Hawkins staring at her daughter and Emily leaning back against the counter with her arms folded tightly across her chest – a sign that she was annoyed. "I'm sorry, I didn't mean to intrude."

"It's okay, Kate," Emily said, dropping her arms to her side and joining her friend on the stairs. "The conversation was over anyway."

Despite the confrontation, Emily left her mother on good terms and, as Brockton drove them to the airport, she finally told Katie about the reason for their argument, to which Katie nodded. "I'd thought it might have been about Jerry. She still doesn't like him, then?"

Rolling her eyes, Emily said, "Of course not. She was furious that he'd even dared to set foot on our doorstep."

"She should be," Brockton muttered coldly from the driver's seat, "After all, he's been a real –"

"Brockton," Emily cut in sharply. "That's enough. Chances are he won't come around again, so you and Mom won't have to worry about it."

"Just as long as he behaves. If he lays one finger on you, I'll personally come down there and wring his neck."

"Brockton!" Emily reprimanded, her eyes flashing indignantly, "Enough!"

"Fine," he said irritably, shifting the transmission into park as he stopped in front of the airport. Emily leaned over and kissed his cheek – which he returned – before climbing out and gathering her things, Katie at her side.

"They're touchy about this, aren't they?" Katie observed dryly.

Rolling her eyes, Emily responded, "You have no idea."

Katie grinned and slung an arm around Emily's shoulder. "Well, you can forget about it. Let's go catch our flight out of here."

Author's Note: Well? Tell me what you people think! Reviews make me happy. Otherwise, I might take a little longer than last time to update. >:)