Road to Redemption

A/N: Afew reminders: First,as much as I would like to have the esteemed honor of being a writer for Degrassi: I am unfortunately just a fangirl. For if I was a writer for the show: Emma and Spinner would have NEVER even considered getting married. Sean would have come back from basic training and swept Emma off her feet and away from Kelly.

Second: I also in no way own the script and/or plot of Sweet Home Alabama. Does lightening really do that to sand?

That was last night. Now Emma was driving to the airport to board the first morning flight to Toronto. As Emma speed down the freeway, a million and one thoughts were racing through her mind. Mostly, all about the task at hand that she was dreading. She had not seen him in eight years. Emma had to deal with something that she had spent the last eight years running and hiding from: her husband. How on earth was she going to get Sean Cameron; the man that she fell for in grade seven, the man that saved her life, the man she had once thought she could never live without: to give her a divorce. When Emma arrived at the airport, she parked her car, gathered her bags and walked through security. Once she had gotten through security, Emma bought her breve soy chai latte from Starbucks and waited to board. Emma dialed Manny's cell to tell her that she was coming and to ask if Manny could pick her up; which of course she could.

Emma stepped off the plane and searched for her best friend.

Emma spotted a Pilipino woman with black waves and about 5'2" approaching her. Emma dropped her bags and ran to greet her friend.

Manny: "Oh my word! It's Emma Nelson."

The two women embraced.

Emma: "Manuela Santos. Two years is really too long for best friend not to see each other. Speaking of which, whose the lucky guy? Craig, Spinner, Damien, who?"

Manny, realizing that Emma was staring at her ring, spoke up.

Manny: "Em, now don't freak or anything—"

Emma: "Why would I freak?"

Manny drew in her breath.

Manny: "It's Jay."

Emma's eyes almost popped out.

Emma: "Jay Hoggart? As in criminal Jay, your "fake" fiancé?"

Manny rolled her eyes.

Manny: "You do remember that it was his mother's ring and that my father paid for the damages after Jay (behind my back) explained the mix up. AND that we dated for four of the six years that we were at Smithdale?"

Emma: "How could I forget? I was just as shocked then that it lasted that long."

Manny looked at her friend with uneasiness, as if she expected a different reaction. It was hard to explain just how Manny felt. She knew that Emma and Jay were not on the best of terms, but still she hoped that they would learn to get along.

Manny: "So…. you're not mad?"

Emma smiled and shook her head.

Emma: "Manny, what ever my issues are with your fiancé: they're nothing to your happiness."

Manny light up with happiness: "Thanx Em."

Emma: "I only hope that I will have the honor of attending the cerimony."

A wave of guilt rushed over Manny: How and why had she kept this from Emma? How would she react? Manny drew in a breath and found the courage to speak.

Manny: "Oh. Emma, you were going to be my Maid of Honor….but, well, Sean is going to be the best man….I thought it would be awkward."

Emma drew in a breath and tried to hide the hurt in her heart when Manny uttered his name.

Emma: "It will be… but, I can put aside my marriage problems for my best friend."

Manny (with a smile almost as big as when Jay proposed two years ago): "I was hoping you would say that."

Manny gave Emma a big hug.

Manny: "We will have to start on the fitting right away."

Emma laughed at the way her BFF took to planning on the spot.

Emma: "Why? When's the big day?"

Manny nonchalantly said: "Two weeks from today."

Emma: "TWO WEEKS!"

Manny looked at her friend with amusement.

Manny: "Em, chill. We have been engaged for almost two years."

Emma: "Oh…right. So I'm the only thing left to finish right?"

Manny: "Yes."

Manny and Emma left the airport with linked arms.

Manny turned to Emma once they were on the freeway.

Manny: "So where to Miss Nelson?"

Emma looked at her friend with an all too knowing look in her eye.

Manny: "I see you loose no time."

Manny took the exit and drove up to a quant one story light blue house with white trim and dropped Emma off. Manny poked her head out the window to talk after Emma had stepped on to the curb.

Manny: "Call me when you are dune."

Emma rolled her eyes as Manny pulled away and drove off.

Home sweet home…..not…..

Emma signed as she watched her friend drive off in the distance.

EmmaT: Relax. It's only Sean….yeah….ONLY SEAN!

Emma turned toward the porch and walked up the three steps to the front door. A yellow lab came running from inside the house to ward of the approaching stranger.

Sean (from inside the house): "Don't worry. She won't bight you. Em, quiet."

The Labrador retreated behind the side of Sean's leg and peered at Emma with adorable hazel eyes. Emma couldn't help but give out a silent laugh at the sound of the dog's name.

Sean: "What can I do you for?"

Emma cleared her throat, found the courage to speak and began to scold Sean in the way that only she could.

Emma: "Well, for starters, you can get your stubborn ss out here and sign these divorce papers!"

Sean's eyes widened as he reached the porch in hearing the long awaited sound of the voice of his angel.

Sean slowly eased his way closer; slightly limping on his right foot. His appearance was exactly what Emma had imagined and remembered it to be. His shoulder-length dirty blonde hair in untidy waves. His mysterious blue-green eyes reminded Emma of the sea just after a storm. They seemed liked they were attempting to mask the pain and sorrow of his broken heart. Those beautiful eyes of his were trying to hide the pain and suffering that he had witnessed on and off the battle field. Emma looked him up and down, noting the fact that his figure was much the same in build, although perhaps he had acquired a few more muscles through the years.