To Be or Not To Be…

Emily's jaw still hung open and it took her several seconds to realize that she was standing rather like a small child in front of a candy shop – mouth agape, arms limp at her sides. "O-of course!" she sputtered, inviting her very unexpected guest into her home. "Um … Would you like…" He interrupted her, wanting to get straight to the point. It wouldn't do either of them any good to make the situation more uncomfortable by waiting. "Em, I …. I came to talk."

That was all it took for her to bring him to her living room, which was furnished with several antique pieces that had been handed down through her family for several generations, as well as some more modern pieces that set off the eclectic feel quite nicely. "Well… Do what you came here to do, Patrick."

The man in question sighed deeply and clasped his hands together. "Today was a … memorable day in more than one way," he began, deepness in his eyes that Emily had not seen in a very long time. "Emily, not only did we find Cibola, but … I think we found ourselves." His cheeks reddened slightly and he realized his words could have been taken negatively. "I mean … Well …. We found our connection again." He smiled over at his ex-wife, hoping she felt the same things he had during the past hours of the day.

Gently, his hands found hers and he was extremely grateful that she did not pull away. "I'm sure we can make things work out. We only separated because of …" Pat dared not finish his sentence. They both knew that his treasure hunting had come first during their final days of marriage, and to this day he regretted never pushing it aside for ten minutes and lavishing his wife with the affection she deserved.

The silence in the room ate away at the both of them. Emily wanted to scream at her ex-husband for saying such things to her; for wooing her again, but at the same time she wanted to kiss him and tell him that he was absolutely right. Struggling to choose between her thoughts, the older woman barely noticed when Patrick stood and moved to the fireplace adjacent to her sofa. "I completely understand if you're furious with me, Emma," he whispered. "I would be, too. I mean, it's not exactly polite of me to spring all of this on you right now, but …" He turned to her, tears glistening in his deep brown eyes. "I didn't want to wait, because I was so afraid I would loose you again."

That did it for Emily. His eyes had always been her weakness, but she could tell, beneath the tears and confusion and nervousness he meant every word he said and truly did want her back. Silently, she stood and made her way across the room, glad he had turned back toward the fireplace. Her arms gingerly snuck around his broad chest, locking tightly around his form. "Thank you," she breathed her voice thick with emotion.

Pat's eyebrow arched and he turned in her embrace, his own arms wrapping around her body. "Whatever for?" he asked, quite unsure as to what she meant.

"You came back for me," she muttered her voice barely audible as her salty demons spilled over her porcelain cheeks and dripped down her chin. "After all these years, you still …." Her voice broke. "You came back."

Author's Note: Why, you may ask, am I staggering these chapters this way? Answer – I'll NEVER finish this story if I don't! Reviewwwwsss Please!!