A/N- This update has a small chance of saying it's being updated on a Tuesday. Oops...
Guys, we are in the homestretch! This story will end when the chapter name says "Chapter 25". This is so bittersweet. To Guest: Charlotte will not appear much in this story, as so much in a surprise I will unveil in Chapter 25. One final thing: school for me starts back on August seventh, so if my next three updates are longer apart, you will know why.
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.
Third POV:
Emily and Nolan continue not seeing each other for the next two weeks. Nolan hasn't seen Arrayah in these two weeks in person, but not from the lack of trying. Work has been crazy for him, and Arrayah and Emily's schedules have been everywhere, so he's only video chatted with her a couple of times.
Nolan managed to find out who leaked Emily's story, and he found it was some low reporter who saw Emily shopping one day and started following her around. How he got past Emily's ninja senses was beyond him; she has been more vigilant now than she was before she was held captive. He worked his magic and now the reporter was out of a job, out of money, and the IRS is after him. Before he met Emily, he would've felt guilty, but now, he feels a little warm and fuzzy inside since the guy that put a damper on things between him and Emily was ruined.
Emily Arrayah had let it slip in one of her sessions that it was just Emily and her in the house, so now Emily has a few home studies to look forward to and is now mandated to go to the psychiatrist appointments, and will have an evaluation at the end of the month.
But during these two weeks, Emily, Nolan, and Arrayah's nightmares increased, from stress or the impending trial, or a mixture of both. Emily had found out that they subpoenaed Arrayah's testimony against the Campbells. Emily tried everything in her power to make sure she didn't, but they would arrest Emily with contempt of court if she didn't let her daughter testify. When she told Arrayah, it seemed all the progress they made with her went down the drain. She was even clingier to Emily, would cry when Emily would take her to therapy or the doctor, she stopped putting effort into her school work and drawings, and Emily could see Arrayah falling apart inside. Emily felt infuriatingly helpless as her daughter spiraled downward.
The plan worked, the press believed Emily is in the city, but Emily wonders to what expense this is worth. Would it have been better if they were all pestered by cameras and reporters, or live in some-type of peace, but absolutely miserable. Emily wishes she knew, because she just wants her daughter to be happy again.
One Sunday morning, Emily and Arrayah go to town to run a few errands when her car comes back from the shop; seven years of minimal use didn't help the car's mechanics. She drops off some things that need dry cleaned, gets some fresh produce from the little stand that's been there for decades, and does a little shopping at a few of the boutiques for spring clothes for Arrayah and her. Arrayah is getting closer to an ideal weight and Emily is slowly starting to fill into her body. Her collar-bone and cheek bones aren't as prominent, the little fat she's put on is starting to cover her ribs; she's starting to look more human than skeleton. Emily and Arrayah go practically undetected, due to Emily wearing a head scarf, hat, glasses and a heavy coat
Once a young worker helps put away their bags, Emily takes Arrayah out for lunch at a small restaurant across the square. They are seated inside in a cozy corner booth and are given menus. Once their orders are placed, Emily shows Arrayah how to play a kid version of Hangman; it's the same principle as Hangman, but instead of whoever hangs the man first loses, it's whoever draws a dog first loses. Arrayah's face lightens as they play the little game on a napkin throughout lunch, and is pleased with herself when she only draws a dog once by the time Emily pays the bill. As they cross the square to Emily's car, she feels her back stiffen as a familiar voice calls her name. She doesn't stop, but doesn't pick up the pace, so there isn't any more attention on her. She's hoping that by acting casual he will think he has the wrong person.
"Mommy? That man is calling your name. Shouldn't we stop?" Arrayah pokes at Emily, but Emily doesn't speak up as Arrayah tries to get her mother to answer her. Emily can feel people's eyes on her even more now that Daniel Grayson is calling after her. She's almost to the car when she feels a hand on her shoulder. She tries to pull away, but his grip is strong.
"Emily!" He turns her around and hugs her, planting a kiss in her hair. She's getting the same disgusting, crawling feeling she got when Dwayne decided to "play" with her. She tries to push away, but she's not as strong as she used to be. Daniel pulls away a little, but keeps his hands at her waist. Emily looks him in the eye, and she can see that some things have stayed the same, like his hair style and grin, but other things have changed. His eyes have lost that happy, carefree twinkle and she can see a few grey hairs sprinkled in his hair, and there's just something off about him.
"Not now, Daniel." She whispers, hoping to steel herself from him. She can see the confusion in his eyes.
"But, why? I read the article, I'm so sorry, Emily. I should've been with you that night, but I was with my Dad. I'm sorry, Emily." Daniel stops when Emily pulls away and holds her hand up. She knew where he was; he was the one who spotted her movement in the shadows that night.
"Not here, Daniel. We can talk tonight, at my house." Emily is trying to shake the crawling feeling, trying to be strong in front of her daughter, who is pushing herself against the car, trying to hide herself.
"Okay, yah. Do you need help driving or putting anything away?" He's about to go around to the passenger side when Emily shakes her head.
"I'm fine, Daniel, I promise." Emily opens the passenger door, helps Arrayah in, makes sure she's buckled in correctly, and then closes the door. Daniel opens the driver's door for her; she climbs in, puts her crutches in the passenger seat, and closes the door. Daniel knocks on the window and she rolls it down.
"What time would be a good time for me to come by?" He leans an arm against the door and Emily almost drives off, taking her daughter to the city, to her father's apartment and hiding there until the trial is over, then they all three could restart somewhere, if Nolan still wanted to do that, but she doesn't. She contemplates a time.
"Is eight-thirty okay?" Arrayah should be asleep by then, and shouldn't witness anything.
"Eight-thirty is perfect." Daniel smiles at her and she forces a smile on her face.
"I'll see you then." Emily rolls up her window and drives off. The only thing stopping her from breaking down is her little girl in the back seat. She keeps clearing her throat to keep herself crying.
"Mommy, are you sick? Who was that man?" Arrayah looks in the rear-view mirror to make eye contact.
Emily ponders on how to explain this to her, "His name is Daniel, and I knew him from a while ago."
Arrayah seems to accept what her mother tells her, "Am I going to stay up while he's there?"
Emily shakes her head, and checks the road to make sure it's still clear, "I hope you're still asleep by then. We are going to be talking about things I don't want you to hear." Emily tells her gently, trying to be as gentle as possible.
"Why can't I listen?" Arrayah's mood changes drastically; she doesn't trust her mommy with that man alone, and she'll be there when he's there, "I'm turning seven in July! I'm basically a grown-up!" She's not risking her mommy falling in love with another man, even though she shouldn't worry about that; Emily only has eyes for Nolan. Also, something about Daniel isn't sitting right with her.
Emily hides the small smile that tries to pull her lips up, "Arrayah, we will be talking about things that are not appropriate for even a seven-year old's ears. After dinner, you will do what we have been doing. You will get your bath, play for a bit, and then we'll read to each other before bed." Emily passes a slow car and makes a turn on the road her cottage is on.
Arrayah is silent for a minute, trying to find an argument, "But I don't want to go to bed at eight!"
"Arrayah, you need your sleep, you have school in the morning." Emily retorts, her eyes not leaving the road to look at her daughter. Arrayah is starting to get worried; she has to be there when that man is there, there is something not right with him!
"We can start later! You need to sleep too! We can start at nine-thirty!" Arrayah protests, not backing down.
"Arrayah, my answer is no, and that's final. It's not up for debate." Emily tells her, almost using a strict tone.
Arrayah resorts to something she used to get beat for, "But Mommy!" She hasn't whined in what she thinks is years; she's been too afraid to use it.
"Arrayah, don't whine, you know better." Emily warns, making eye contact through the mirror, "As I said, this is not up for debate." Arrayah sticks out her bottom lip as a final attempt, but Emily shakes her head. The car ride is silent of all noise, but the radio playing some old-timey song that reminds Emily of her late-father. When they get home, they take the bags inside. They put away the groceries and take the clothes to the laundry room to be washed. Emily starts a load of laundry and puts the breakfast dishes in the wash while Arrayah reads on the couch. For the next few hours, Arrayah gives Emily the silent treatment. When she joins her at the dinner table, Emily is exasperated by the silence.
"Arrayah, are you really so mad at me for not letting you stay up that you're giving me the silent treatment? Emily asks after Arrayah takes the first bite of her dinner. Arrayah shrugs her shoulders.
"You don't know?" Emily asks and sees her daughter shake her head, "Then tell me what's going through your head. Maybe I can help you."
Arrayah thinks about how to put her words, but she can't, "I don't like him one bit, Mommy."
Emily is taken aback by Arrayah's reasoning, "You don't like Daniel?" She thinks back to all the times she's heard that sometimes kids have a sixth sense about people. She knows she had it about Victoria when she was not much older than Arrayah. She starts feeling antsy about Daniel coming over tonight.
Arrayah shakes her head, "No, I'm sorry Mommy."
"You have nothing to be sorry for, Ray-bear." Emily pats Arrayah's free hand.
"Does this mean I can stay up with you?" Arrayah looks a little excited to possibly be there to guard her mommy.
"No, Raya, but you can keep a phone and the Nolpad in your room tonight. If we wake you up with yelling, I want you to call Aiden, Daddy, or Amanda."
"But I don't know their numbers." Arrayah tells her.
"That's okay; I'm going to show you how to use speed-dial." Emily gets up and retrieves one of the phones. She tells her that when she presses one, it will call Nolan, two is for Aiden, and three is for Amanda. She has Arrayah repeat it back to her. Emily keeps Arrayah on her schedule and she thinks she may have dropped the subject.
"What if he tries to hurt you? What do I do then?" Arrayah questions as they lay in her bed with a book between them. The Nolpad and one phone sit on her bedside table.
"You make sure to stay out of sight and call the police." Emily wraps her arms around her daughter, trying to reassure her.
"Where will I hide?" Arrayah peers up at Emily. Emily gets up and goes to her closet where Arrayah follows her. She opens the closet and opens up the floor by putting her nails under the hardwood. Underneath the floor is a little room, just big enough for an adult body. "You will hide in here or in that trunk over there." Emily gestures to the little trunk she found at an antique shop and it held a couple of blankets and a few toys.
"What if he finds me?" Arrayah asks, and for the first time in a while, Emily can see the Arrayah that would come down to the cellar to see her. A little girl with broken, scared blue eyes that only wanted to help, but was too little to do anything. They both go back to her bed.
"I don't think he would hurt a little kid, but if he, or anyone else, tries to hurt you, you try to fight back. Scream, kick, punch, anything to get free and away. Maybe tomorrow I can show you some things I learned in Japan. You remember me telling you about Japan, right?" Emily tucks Arrayah back into bed and situates her stuffed animals around her.
"Yah, you trained and learned how to fight." Arrayah gets comfortable, "Mommy, why didn't you ever fight Dwayne?"
Emily feels her stomach churn, "I was worried that he would hurt you or someone else. We'll talk about it when you're older." Emily kisses her forehead, turns on the nightlights Arrayah insisted on, and is about to turn off the lights when Arrayah speaks up.
"Hey Mommy!" She yawns.
"Yes Arrayah?" Emily's fingers hover over the light switch.
"I'm a few seconds older." Arrayah giggles, and then snuggles into her pillows.
Emily laughs, "Good night my angel." She turns off the light and closes the door. She leaves the hall light; it was another thing that started with Arrayah after she made Nolan leave; she had to have the hallway light on along with two nightlights in her room when she went to bed. Emily goes downstairs and cleans the remains of dinner. She wipes the counters and table, and then starts another load of laundry. She's reading the book Nolan left behind, The Count of Monte Cristo. She's made it into a few pages when she hears a knock at the door. She looks at the clock and sees it's five minutes past nine. She looks over the couch and sees Daniel standing at the door with a bouquet of bloody red roses. Emily goes and unlocks the door. She lets him in and she sees his steps are a little unstable. He offers her the roses and she thanks him. She takes the over-paid for flowers and gently puts them in a vase. She sees he's sitting on her couch and she goes to sit across from him in the chair Arrayah typically sits in when she wants to read alone.
"What did you want to discuss with me?" Emily asks, crossing her broken leg over her good leg.
"I want to… get back together Babe." Emily swears he's stumbling over his words, but she dismisses it as her imagination. The Daniel she thinks she knows wouldn't drink before coming over, "I'll help you raise your daughter."
"Daniel, that's very kind, but I'm not looking for a relationship." Emily nearly finishes the sentence "with you", but she stops.
"We don't have… to be serious." He stumbles and pauses while he talks and Emily knows she's not imagining it.
"Daniel, are you drunk?" Emily feels uneasy to be in the same room as a drunk man, and even more nervous with her child upstairs.
"Nah Babe… just a little tipsy." Daniel chuckles, standing up and going over to Emily. When Emily stands up, she loses her balance, but Daniel catches her.
"Daniel, this is a bad idea. You should go home, sober up, then we'll meet up." Emily tries move away, but he pulls her in for a bone crushing hug. She hears him inhale and feels him place and a kiss on her head. She puts her arms between them to push him away, but he keeps his grip around her firm.
"I missed you so much, like you wouldn't know. I went crazy looking for you and I felt like my heart broke each time those detectives said they could find you. Then I heard from a few people that you were back, and staying with Nolan of all people. I didn't really worry, since I don't think you're his type." Daniel chuckles at the thought of Emily and Nolan together.
Emily feels a fire ignite in her, no one talks about Nolan in that way in front of her. This new passion summons up all of her energy and she punches Daniel in the side. He loosens his grip and Emily gets away from him. When she sees the look in Daniel's eyes, she knows she's made a really bad mistake. She still has a broken leg and can barely get away. Even if she did get away, her daughter is upstairs and can't defend herself.
"You little shrew!" He yells and Emily flinches, not because of the insult, but because he may wake up Arrayah, "You should be grateful that I came to take you back! Do you know how many women would kill to be in your position?"
"Daniel, leave my house before I call the police!" Emily moves to put space between them. Daniel moves quicker than she remembers he could and before she realizes it, she's on the floor and he's on top of her, "Do you know how much I still love you? I will stay, help you raise your daughter." He stops and kisses her on the lips and she can feel the bile rise up in her throat; she wants to do something, but the world around her is spinning, "You know, I used to think, and still do, about having children together: blond little kids running along the beach, running through Grayson Manor halls, playing in the garden. It can happen now, we can be a family. I will take your little girl in and make her forget about her sorry excuse for a father. She can become our little girl." She can smell the alcohol on his breath and he kisses her again and she sees spots coming into her vison. She tries to fight, but she's weak. She feels him unbutton her shirt, and then she hears a scream.
"Get off my Mommy!" She feels Arrayah's foot go between her and Daniel, with it making more contact with her ribs than Daniel's body. She feels the weight of Daniel's body leave her and she's almost relieved, if only the room would stop spinning and if her vision could clear up.
"Listen Pookie, I'm going to be your new Daddy…" Daniel starts, his words still slurring.
"I don't need a new Daddy, I got one!" Arrayah argues, kicking him in the shin. Emily tries sitting up, but that only makes the world spin faster. She bites her cheek and forces herself up.
"Daniel, get out of my… house!" Emily takes the closest thing off her coffee table and hurls it at his head. She knows her aim is off, but the object, Nolan's book, manages to hit him in the chest. Arrayah starts pushing him and she gets him out of the house. She locks the door like her mommy showed her. She turns around to help her mother, but doesn't see her. Daniel starts banging on the glass of Emily's door.
"Mommy!" Arrayah yells, tears of fear spilling over her eyelids. She runs upstairs and is almost to her room when she hears sobbing coming from her mommy's room. She goes to open the door, but it's locked.
"Mommy, open the door! Please!" Arrayah cries through the door. She hears the sobs on the other side of the door get louder.
"Mommy, it's me! Your angel, your Raya, your Ray-bear!" Arrayah tries kicking at the door, but it doesn't budge. Arrayah can feel her heart-beat increase. She does the only thing she knows how to do. She rushes to her room and closes her door, in case that man gets in. She hits the number one and puts the speaker by her ear. As it rings, she crawls under her bed.
"Emily?" Nolan's drowsy voice fills her ears.
"Daddy! We need you here! There's a man outside, and Mommy's crying in her room! She won't open her door! I'm scared!"
"Ray, I will be there soon, keep me on the phone for as long as you can. Are you in your room? Can he see you?" Nolan panics, what if there are more people out to get Arrayah and Emily?
"I'm in my room laying under my bed." She chokes out. She can hear him banging on the door still.
"Okay, stay there Sweetie, Daddy will be there soon. I'm going to send a text to a few of my friends and they'll be there soon to take care of him." Arrayah stays on the phone and tries to block out the sound of Daniel's fist against the glass and wood. Nolan starts talking to her about the places he's been, and how they'll get to go one day. Eventually, the noise of his fists goes away and Arrayah wonders if he's gone.
"Daddy, I don't hear him anymore." Arrayah interrupts him as he was going into details of his trip across the French countryside.
"I think my friends have him now, Ray, but stay up there. I'm about another forty-five minutes away." Arrayah disobeys Nolan, by getting out and going to Emily's door. She can still hear her crying, but she also hears her crutches against the floor.
"Mommy!" Arrayah calls quietly, putting the phone on her shoulder like she's seen Emily do before. The tears don't stop, but the door opens. She almost doesn't recognize her mother; her shirt is unbuttoned down to her bellybutton, her hair is a mess, and her face is all red and puffy. Emily goes over to her bed and motions for Arrayah to come closer. Arrayah is unsure and realizes she's still on the phone; she can hear Nolan yelling through the phone.
"I gotta go, Daddy. Mommy's opened the door." Arrayah hangs up the phone and goes over to Emily. Emily picks her up and Arrayah kicks off the floor to help her. Emily sets her in her lap and pulls her close, rocking both of them.
"Mommy?" Arrayah looks up, but Emily only looks at the open door.
"Mommy, do you hear me?" Emily still doesn't respond, so Arrayah just sits there and enjoys being close to her mother. After sitting with her mommy for a while, she hears a door open.
"Arrayah! Where are you?" Nolan calls through the house. Arrayah jumps down from Emily's lap and goes to the stairs.
"We're up here, Daddy!" Arrayah calls down the stairs. She sees her daddy, still in his t-shirt and sweat pants, come running up the stairs. His hair is sticking up like a porcupine and he looks even more tired than the last time she saw him. He scoops her up and kisses her forehead and cheeks.
"Are you okay?" He asks, holding her out from him to expect her quickly.
"I'm fine, Daddy. I think Mommy's hurt. She's not talking at all!" Arrayah down and leads him to Emily's room.
"Hey, Aiden is on the porch with a reward for you for being so brave tonight." Nolan tells her as they get to Emily's doorway. He can see the confliction in her eyes, so Nolan reassures her that he is there to help her mommy. She takes slow steps down the stairs, looking back every so often. Once he hears to door open and close, he goes into the room and closes the door. He feels his anger seethe from every pore in his body. Emily is sitting motionless on the bed, her blouse is unbuttoned down to her naval, exposing her plain bra, her hair makes it look like she just took a frolic in bed, and he can tell she's been crying her soul out by the look of the puffiness of her eyes and redness of her cheeks.
"Emily, Sweetheart, it's Nolan. What happened?" Nolan carefully takes her cheeks in both of her hands. He can see the defeated look in her eyes, and he feels like he's have déjà vu.
"I invited him to talk. He's drunk." Emily tells him, and the tone she's using makes him wonder if she's really there.
"Daniel? He did this to you?" Nolan asks. He had seen Daniel outside with his "buddies": brawly motorcyclists he met at bars and helped a few times in the past and were willing to help him out anytime he needed it. He had texted one of the leaders about a guy outside Emily's house that needed restrained, but not hurt in any provable way.
"He's angry that I wouldn't take him back. He pushed me onto the floor. I thought…" He sees Emily start to really realize what happened, "I thought it was going to happen again. Arrayah screamed and it stopped him." Emily snaps out of her trance and looks around, "Where is she? Is she okay? Did he…" Her voice cracks and she coughs into her hand to cover a sob.
"Arrayah is just shaken up I think. She's outside with Aiden drinking hot chocolate and probably arguing to come back up here." Nolan starts rebuttoning her blouse.
"Nolan, I made a mistake." She tells him flatly.
"About what?" He looks up at her.
"I shouldn't have made you leave. It hurt Arrayah more than I thought it would. It hurt me more than I thought it would. Arrayah hasn't been the same since you haven't been here, and I think that since they are making her testify hasn't helped." Emily explains as he stands up.
"They are making her testify? She can't get out of it?"
"There is no way for her to get out of it. I think they are going to video tape her response and testimony and present it to the jury." Nolan nods at what she says.
"She's brave; she can get through this, just like her mom." Nolan takes her hand and kisses her palm and each fingertip, "You stay here while I go clear out the crowd in your yard." He kisses her forehead and leaves. She gets up, takes off her blouse and slips on a shirt Nolan left behind and a pair of fleece pants. She sits back on the bed and can hear footsteps clomping their way upstairs. Arrayah doesn't slow down when she reaches Emily's room, and flings her full weight at her mommy.
"Are you okay, now?"
"Yes, I'm okay. I'm so sorry you had to see that, Raya. I'm so proud of how you reacted though." Emily pulls Arrayah up and hugs her tight. Arrayah doesn't say anything else, and they just sit there. She notices that Arrayah's breathing evens out and she's fallen into a deep sleep. She lays her down on her bed and covers her with a little throw blanket she's kept on the foot of her bed. She goes downstairs to see Nolan sitting on the couch. She eases herself next to him and he throws his arm around her.
"I'm sorry Nolan, for everything. I don't think I've ever apologized to you." Emily says quietly.
"That's not true, you've apologized once." Nolan jokes, trying to lighten the mood. Emily looks up and glares at him.
"I mean it, Nolan. I'm sorry for everything I've put you through, made you do, said to you, everything. I don't think there's enough time in the world for me to apologize for everything."
"Emily, I've forgiven you a long time ago. When I thought I lost you, I kept kicking myself for the last words I said to you, that if you died, the last thing you would remember about me is our fight." Nolan looks Emily in the eyes and can see every ounce of sincerity. He leans in to kiss her and they both savor it. When the need for oxygen overpowers their need of connection, they break apart. They sit in silence for a few moments until the question that's been bothering him the past couple of weeks spills out.
"How've you been? How have you really been?"
Emily cracks a sad smile, "We've been going. The days are good, but the nights are worst, for the both of us. The nighttime is where all vulnerability is laid out; the nightmares know exactly where they are, and there's not much we can do."
"How's Arrayah doing? How is she dealing with the nightmares?"
"She's got her good days, some days are bad days, but they've been mostly bad for her. The one thing that can bring me out of the nightmares is hearing Arrayah. I'm in her room before I realize it; I make it a point to reassure her that I'm never leaving her."
"Ems, there's something that's bothering you; you're chewing on you cheek." Nolan points out and takes her hand to reassure her.
"I'm...worried." She admits, not wanting for him to worry too.
"About?" He prompts
"The social workers and psychiatrists know I'm living alone, so I've got more studies and appointments. If home studies or the psychologist evaluations find anything wrong, they'll take Arrayah, put me away somewhere. She couldn't handle it and I couldn't handle it."
"Emily, I would never let them put Arrayah anywhere. You need to remember that I'm here to help you. I can come back to live with you, that may help."
"What if it's not enough? What if they say I'm not caring for her properly or that I'm incompetent?"
"Prove them wrong, Emily! I know you're a good mother and Arrayah knows you're the best mommy in the world. She understands that you've been hurt, and she accepts it." Nolan's voice is powerful and she can feel her spirit be uplifted a little, "If they were to find something wrong with you, I would swing in before they could think of placing her somewhere."
"Nolan, I need you to promise."
"I, Sir Nolan Leslie Ross hereby decree that if something were to happen to Lady Emily, I shall take care of the sun."
"She told you the story?"
"She told me several stories. Her face would light up as she remembered you, Ems." Nolan smiles and squeezes her hand.
"I needed to tell her about everything, without Dwayne finding out. He had surveillance cameras and microphones in that room. Telling her stories was about the only way to give her my history, out history, everything."
"Those stories helped her, Emily." He pulls Emily into a hug. He feels her relax and lean into his chest, her hands curled up under her chin.
"Daddy? Mommy?" They hear a small voice coming from the stairs.
"Hey, Ray-bear. Did we wake you up?" Emily asks and stands up, but Nolan rushes to her daughter and picks her up to be eye level with the both of them.
"No, I had a bad dream, and I wanted you to lay with me. I followed the voices. I'm sorry mommy." Arrayah snuggles into her daddy's neck.
"How would you feel if Daddy came to lay with the both of us?" Emily asks, rubbing her daughter's back up and down to soothe her back to sleep. Arrayah nods, so Nolan carries Arrayah up the stairs while Emily follows them. Nolan pulls the cream blankets back, puts Arrayah in the middle of the bed and waits for Emily to get on the other side of the bed.
"I like that shirt, Emily. I've been looking for it." He whispers. Emily blushes and looks down. She sits on the bed, puts her crutches on the floor, and lies down. Nolan lies on the other side of their daughter.
"Goodnight. I love both of you." Arrayah yawns and snuggles into the warmth of the bed.
"I love you too." Emily and Nolan say together and make eye contact. Nolan throws his arm around Arrayah, and so does Emily, cocooning their little girl with warmth and love.
A/N- I promise to go back and fix any spelling/grammar/consistency issues later. Thanks for reading and don't forget to vote! Next chapter will start the trial, so prepare yourselves!