A/N-Happy Monday everyone, and happy belated Canada Day and American Independence Day! I hope everyone who took the AP exams is pleased with their results.
Disclaimer- Same as always: I don't own the show or the characters from the show. This does come from my imagination. I don't profit from this. I also have very little knowledge of law, medicine and psychiatry and how certain situations are handled.
Nolan's POV:
I finish spreading out boxes from Emily's house and my storage building and look over my shoulder and see Arrayah still working on her art project: coloring paper Christmas decorations.
"How's it going over there, Ray?" I question, going over to check out her work. I get down carefully to be eye level with her.
"It's going good! Look at the Christmas balls!" She shuffles her paper and finds what she's looking for. She proudly holds the paper up, and I act awe-struck.
"Wow, those are so pretty Ray, I love how each one has two colors!" I take the paper gently to examine it, "I think when these are cut out, and glued to a string, they'll look beautiful on top of the cabinets."
"Really?" Arrayah asks, excitement filling her voice, "Do you think Mommy will like them?"
"I think your Mommy will love them!" I give her paper back, "When you get done coloring, just yell and I'll get you some scissors."
"Okay!" Arrayah goes back to focusing on coloring Christmas trees and I go to my room, leaving the door open. I retrieve Emily's Infinity Box, and festive wrapping paper. I wrap it carefully and tie a bow on it. I take the wrapped gift and place it in under some old blankets in the linen closet. With my mind on Emily, I can't help but think back to this morning. Her psychiatrist and doctors warned me that with everything she's been through, she may decide to end her life so she won't have to deal with the pain of what happened and flashbacks. I had argued that she has Arrayah to look forward to; she loves Arrayah too much to leave her alone again. They agreed, but her psychiatrist thinks she's depressed and withdrawn from the world, since she never talked in her sessions. I wanted to argue that Emily hates psychiatrists, they never helped her, but I held back. I promised I would look after Emily, and when I saw her with the scissors, I thought she was going to slit her wrists, or hurt herself. I felt guilty when she told me what happened; I should've trusted her. I know Emily and I need to talk, have some sort of trust exercise, or something! We need something to get us back to where we used to be: trusting each other with the other's life and being there one-hundred percent of the time for each other. Even if she doesn't want a relationship with me anymore, I still need to be there for her and now Arrayah. I hear a knock on the door and hurry to open it. Behind the door is Emily with a couple of bags in her hands. I take her bags, but tell her to stand there. I place the bags in my room and go back to Emily, who already has Arrayah at her feet. I usher Arrayah back to the living room where the surprise is.
"So, I need you to leave your crutches." I inform her once she's inside. She seems wary of the idea, but gives in. She leans her crutches against the door and I pick her up, which elicits a small gasp from her. She's lighter since the last time I did this, even with her bulky cast on, but I don't notice it, because of the familiar pressure of her body against mine. I tell her to cover her eyes and she does it without questions, but I feel her shaking a little bit in my arms. I hope to God that I'm not bringing back memories from what's happened to her. I bring her in tighter, kiss her forehead and whisper, "I'm sorry for this morning". She nods and I take her to the living room and set her the couch gently.
"Okay Emily, you can open your eyes now." I gently say. She removes her hands from her eyes and she covers her mouth to try to mask her shock. In front of her is a boxed Christmas tree, and surrounding the boxed tree is all of her boxed decorations.
"Nolan, I don't know what to say." She says and Arrayah climbs onto the couch next to her.
"I think it's 'thank you' Mommy." She says sweetly, "He did something, and you always taught me to say thank you for when someone does something nice for you."
Emily laughs and hugs Arrayah, and I feel something pull at me heart-strings. I guess it's yearning for this kind of life, specifically with Emily and Arrayah.
"Thank you, Nolan. This is a very nice surprise." I hear Emily say.
"It's nothing Emily, we both wanted to wait so you could help us decorate the tree." I go get Emily's crutches so she can move around and then pull the parts of the seven-foot tree out of the box. I manage to put it together with minimal problems. Emily is sitting on the floor next to Arrayah, with a box of her decorations and a box of my decorations in front of her. She's explaining each decoration she pulls out to Arrayah and then hands them to her so she can place them on the tree. I get down next to her to listen till she's finally done with her ornament boxes and the tree is only half filled. Emily looks at me and then at one of my boxes in front of us. I clear my throat and begin doing the same thing she did for Arrayah, and by the time we are done, the tree is still not full. I help Emily up and she goes over to the electrical outlet. She ushers me over the takes my hand and places it over hers.
"Ready?" She asks, happiness swimming in her eyes. I nod and we both turn on the tree. Arrayah squeals with glee and runs over to hug both of us.
"It's so pretty!" She squeals. Emily smiles and I can tell she wants to pick up her daughter, but crutches and a broken leg stop her. I do what I know Emily wants and pick Arrayah up. Emily smiles face to face with Arrayah and kisses her cheek. Arrayah giggles and does the same thing to her mother and then turns around and kisses my cheek. If I've learned anything about Arrayah staying with me is that when she's comfortable with someone, she is a very affectionate girl. Our night continues pleasantly, with cheesy Christmas movies and hot chocolate. When Arrayah goes to bed, Emily comes out with the bags she brought home.
"Do you need help wrapping?" I ask, and she nods her head. She sits next to me and we wrap the gifts in silence. When we are done with the bags, she pulls an envelope out of a bag.
Third POV:
Emily holds the envelope and releases a breath she didn't realize she was holding.
"I went to the station today, it was quick and easy, just my statement and basic questions." Emily begins, leaving out the fact she will probably have to take the stand against Dwayne, "And Detective Green helped me out with my bags. She carried this bag and when I got in the cab, I noticed the envelope."
"Do you have any clue what's in it?" Nolan quietly asks. Emily nods and turns the envelope in her hands. How does something so simple feel like something so big?
"I have an idea. She came to my room once in the hospital. It may surprise you to know that Detective Green actually studied with me in Japan. So she knows who I really am." Emily begins, trying to gauge his reaction, "She told me that some evidence was found that would exonerate my father and implicate the Grayson's for the crimes he was framed for." Emily releases a shaky breath and Nolan wraps his arms around her. She doesn't reject his affection and leans into him. "I want you to be here when I open this, you deserve to see it too." Emily doesn't mention that she needs him to be her there for support if she breaks or can't look at it.
"Well, okay then. Let's take a look at this." He encourages. Emily stays leaned into him and opens the envelope. She lifts the crisp paper from the seal and puts her hand inside. Instead of a letter, or paper for the matter, her hand meets a small hard casing. She pulls it out to discover it's a USB drive. Nolan realizes it before she processes it and brings over a laptop.
"Wait, aren't you afraid it will release something that could make you look guilty of something?" Emily asks. She has some trust in Sonya, but then again, her father trusted Victoria, and he reaped in the consequences of that. She would hate for Nolan to have a similar fate.
"Yes, that's why this laptop can't be traced to me or this location. If anyone manages to get through my security or tries to trace me with this laptop, it will register to some non-existent man in some untraceable place in the Middle East." Nolan explains and gently takes the USB drive from Emily. He plugs it into the slot and waits for it to load. Once the files are brought up, he runs a scan for any bugs. He finds that there are no bugs, tracers or anything of the like. He sets part of the laptop on his thigh and half on her thigh. Emily points to the first file with the name "D.C." He opens it and inside are pictures of the evidence and notes explaining what each one is. By the time they are done going through the files, Emily is releasing tiny sobs into Nolan's shoulder. He doesn't say anything, and lets her cry. He wraps his arms around her and sits there. He doesn't realize she's stopped until he hears slow even breathing. He knows carrying her would wake her up, and she needs her sleep, so he leans back against the armrest, with Emily tucked under his arm. He pulls the throw blanket off his couch and covers them up. He uses his Nolpad to turn off the lights. He looks down at Emily, her soft features are highlighted by the subtle glow from the Christmas tree's lights. He doesn't resist his feelings anymore and places a gentle kiss on each cheek, her nose, and finally her forehead. He sees her smile in her sleep, the sweet one, not the revengenda smile, and she pulls him closer, laying her head on his chest. Nolan does the same thing by wrapping his arms tighter around her. He manages to fall asleep, with a schoolboy grin plastered to his face, their two bodies illuminated by the Christmas tree's lights.
The next few days are mostly smooth sailing. Emily continues looking for the perfect gift for Nolan, but nothing seems right. She gets him simple things, like a new car charger since he's always losing his, a couple of sweaters. When Nolan is gone with Arrayah one day, Emily goes to meet someone. She leaves a note incase they get home first and takes a cab to a park. She sits at a park bench they agreed to meet at. When they sit next to her, Emily begins the conversation.
"Thanks for the gift." She says, puffs of air appear in front of her. She wishes she had added an extra scarf since it's so cold.
"It was nothing Emily, but I know our little meeting isn't about that." Sonya chuckles.
"I need a paternity test, against Nolan and Arrayah. I don't want to tell him, because it may get his hopes up." Emily replies, her cheeks red from the cold wind hitting her cheeks, not embarrassment.
"Besides the obvious look-a-like factor, what makes you doubt Dwayne's her father."
"Well, Nolan and I did a few things before, and when Dwayne had taken me, I was late. I dismissed it as stress. When I was late for a second month, and Dwayne had already…" Emily pinches the bridge of her nose; she refuses to break again, "had his way with me. I convinced him I was pregnant. He got a test and it proved it. I played it off that Arrayah was his, trying to keep both of us alive. He made me have a home birth and thought she was a month and a half early." Emily stops when she notices she's rambling, "I think Arrayah is Nolan's, but I need proof."
"Well, I can help with that. When do you have your next doctor's appointment?" Sonya questions.
Emily thinks back to her calendar that now hangs on the fridge, "I think the day after tomorrow, at the hospital."
"Okay, take Arrayah and Nolan with you. Don't ask any questions." Sonya tells her, pats Emily's good knee, and leaves. Emily is left confused but will follow through.
Emily manages to keep her word and brings Nolan and Arrayah with her. They are the only ones in the waiting room when a nurse comes over with three tubes. She wears a surgical mask, and she wears scrubs with a matching cap.
"Flu season is hitting early, would you like a swab?" She asks with a thick French accent. She looks at Emily and even with colored contacts in, Emily knows it's Sonya.
"I think I would, and I would like my daughter to have one also." Emily tells her. Arrayah's attention snaps from the book she was reading to meet Emily's gaze, "Nolan, would you like to get one, just to be safe?"
"Mommy, is it gonna hurt?" Arrayah asks, her voice quivering.
"No, sweetie, they are just going to swab your cheek and throat." Emily soothes, trying to get this over as soon as possible.
"Can I watch you get it first?" Arrayah asks, setting her book down.
"Of course." Emily opens her mouth while Sonya swabs her throat, "See no pain."
"Okay, Uncle Nolan, your turn." Arrayah shies away from the nurse.
"I don't know Ray, I think I'm feeling fine." Nolan won't admit that he is skittish of swabs; it always felt like he was being choked
"Come on, Uncle Nolan, show Raya that it doesn't hurt." Emily says, lightly squeezes Nolan's hand for encouragement.
"Well, okay then…" Nolan tentatively opens his mouth and Sonya quickly swabs.
"See, Raya, neither one of us got hurt." Emily coaxes. Arrayah finally gives in and opens her mouth. Sonya quickly swabs it to eliminate any discomfort to the young girl.
"Alright, your results should be done in a few hours." Sonya nods. She disappears behind the door and Emily can feel excitement coursing through her veins, then dread. She's soon going to know if Nolan is Arrayah's father, or if Dwayne is. She'll love Arrayah no matter the outcome, but she hopes Nolan is her biological father. Emily is called back to her room where the doctor evaluates her health and weight. Her doctor is pleased with her progress and then another doctor comes in to cut her cast off. Her orthopedist looks at her leg and orders X-Rays. When the X-Rays come in, she informs Emily that her leg is healing and she should be out of a cast by February. The orthopedic technician replaces her cast and she is about to leave when Sonya, still in her nurses disguise, catches her.
"Your family is flu-free, you are lucky." She informs the trio.
"Okay, thank you." Emily gives her a questioning look and leaves the hospital. When they make it back to Nolan's apartment, Emily excuses herself to the bathroom. She sits down on the toilet seat cover and thinks, when Sonya would give her the results. She looks in her purse and finds nothing, and then starts patting her coat pockets. She hears a crinkle of paper and almost hyperventilates. She pulls the folded paper out quietly and opens it carefully. On it in Sonya's scribbled in Japanese is be on the lookout 3-10 days. Emily wants to scream out, it will take longer than she expected. She does deep breathing exercises to calm down and starts a mental list:
Nolan and Arrayah will be here tomorrow.
There is no urgency.
This isn't life or death.
I love them both no matter what.
She hears a knock at the door and didn't realize how long she's been in here.
"You okay, Ems?" Nolan calls from behind the door. Emily stuffs the note in her back pocket and flushes to toilet to make it believable. She turns the water on to wash her hands and to splash water on her face. She walks out with a gentle smile.
"I'm okay, Nolan."
A/N- So, I bet a lot of you see where this may go. I'm kinda sad that the end is coming up, in about 8 chapters. Thanks for reading so far and don't forget to vote!