Episode 14 "Prosecution"

Chapter 4

The tension was thick in the Suffolk County Courthouse, and an eerie silence attested to the concentration of all in attendance. Margaux had just concluded her questioning of David Clarke on the stand, and per Emily's insistence he had kept to every word of his deposition. Victoria wore a smirk in her seat the entire duration of his testimony, brimming with satisfaction of how favorably he portrayed her actions. Meanwhile, David remained on the stand as Stevie rose to cross-examine him, while Emily and Nolan looked on from the front row of the audience, their faces still. Jack also was present, seated on the defense side, doing his best to give off impartiality in his expression, all the while aware that his turn was approaching to join David in spinning a tale decidedly different from the truth. The selected jury watched quietly as Stevie approached David on the stand and calmly began her series of questions.

"Mr. Clarke," Stevie addressed him. "You said in your testimony that when Officer Hunter approached yourself, Ms. Thorne, and Mr. Porter, that it became clear that he was 'unstable'." She looked up from the folder that held her notes. "In what way?"

David answered without hesitation. "Well his hands were shaking, he was sweating… he wasn't composed the way an officer would be, when making an arrest. His behavior seemed more… erratic…"

Stevie nodded, thinking it over. "Is it possible the display you saw was an emotional response?"

David half-smiled, shrugging lightly. "I'm not a doctor by far, but… I suppose yes, it's possible."

"And what might you attribute that to-" Stevie continued, interrupting her own question. "You said he was going on about Chief Alvarez, who was later identified by the Hamptons Police Department as dead on the scene. Is it possible his emotions were heightened by having just found the body of his superior?"

"Yes," David conceded, growing nervous. "That's also possible."

"So, in your opinion, Mr. Clarke," Stevie asserted. "Is there a chance that Officer Hunter was intending to make a standard arrest, but was emotionally overwhelmed by the death of the police chief? Hence, giving off the appearance of being unstable?"

"Objection!" Margaux's voice interrupted the questioning, as she rose to her feet. Victoria's eyes narrowed beside her, uncertain of what Stevie was getting at. "Speculation, your honor. The witness is unable to confirm the emotional state of Officer Hunter, and has already testified to his being irrational and unhinged when he drew his weapon."

Before Judge Waters could offer a response, Stevie quickly countered. "I'm merely giving the witness an opportunity to consider other factors that may affect his view of Officer Hunter's actions—"

Judge Waters listened intently. "Sustained," she ruled, turning from Margaux, who took her seat again, to address Stevie. "Counselor, in your questioning, please be mindful of questions previously answered by the witness."

Stevie nodded, pressing her lips together firmly and continued on. Meanwhile, Emily's expression remained tense in the audience and Nolan leaned over after the quick exchange to whisper to her.

"I thought he was sticking to the story?" he questioned under his breath, a bit worried.

"He is," Emily responded in reference to her father, without making eye contact. "Stevie has to keep up the appearance of accusing Victoria or it'll raise suspicion."

"Yeah, well… she's got some pretty solid points," Nolan added, leaning away to refocus on the debate unfolding in front of them.

"…so you're saying Chief Alvarez was the only name that Officer Hunter mentioned when he began to threaten you and Mr. Porter?" Stevie asked, aiming an uncertain look David's way.

"Yes, that's it," he insisted, looking back at her with his own subtle sense of confusion as to why she was pushing further.

"He didn't mention anyone else, perhaps?" Stevie continued, and again Margaux was on her feet, this time in a more relaxed fashion.

"Objection – your honor, leading the witness," Margaux inserted and Judge Waters was already prepared for it.

"Sustained," she replied, and gave Stevie a wary look. "Councilor, please specify where you're going with this."

Stevie took a breath, and then looked back at David again, who stared at her in concern. She was fully aware of the adjustment they had made to how they would proceed now that Margaux held David's trump card, but a part of her was desperate to allow the truth to be heard. Yet she had agreed to follow suit and could not bring herself to compromise the man in front of her.

"Last question," Stevie continued in conclusion, and Margaux looked on suspiciously. "For the record, just before Victoria fired the shots in Officer Hunter – what, in your opinion, was he intending to do?"

David swallowed and took a breath before responding. "He intended to kill me and my—my, son-in-law, Jack Porter…" David paused to look in Emily's direction. "And Ms. Thorne."

A barely noticeable inflection of color washed over Emily's face while he spoke, as she immediately felt remorse for her father, having to alter the truth in favor of Victoria. It seemed so ironic that his honest admissions years ago would lead to his framing and imprisonment, and then send Emily on a journey to avenge him, whilst seemingly ending the same vendetta by telling a lie. While a part of her could not be sure just how intent Ben was on threatening their lives, she knew deep down inside that he was only making the arrest he had spent the entire year dreaming about. And despite Victoria's evil nature, her actions had saved her father from being crucified for a murder that nearly half of the Hamptons would have committed, had they had the opportunity. It was sheer irony how the entire outworking of events had transpired.

Stevie nodded at David's reply, closing her eyes momentarily as if to digest his final words. "No further questions, your honor," she concluded, returning to her place on the prosecution council, and awaiting for dictation of the next witness.

"Thank you counselor," Judge Waters motioned for the bailiff to approach. "Mr. Clarke you may leave the stand," she ordered, as he was escorted away. She returned her attention to the defense and spoke directly to Margaux. "Defense, call your next witness."

Margaux rose to her feet again, a hint of arrogance in her tone as she announced, "Defense calls Jack Porter."

Jack looked around nervously, as he feared the repercussions of the moment that had finally arrived, but Judge Waters interrupted. "Thank you, counselor – I believe we are concluded for the day. Proceedings for Mr. Porter's testimony will begin when this court reconvenes in one week's time at 9 am. Court is adjourned," she slammed her gavel down once and exited promptly to the left, followed by the jury who dissembled behind her.

Emily breathed a sigh of relief at the Judge's decision to postpone Jack's testimony. It bought them the time they needed to confer on their next approach, which she still had yet to fully think through. Nolan echoed her sentiments beside her as they both rose to their feet and gave each other knowing looks while the courtroom began to empty out. Emily paused to glimpse in Victoria's direction as she was taken out but she had eyes only for David, fixated on him as he approached Margaux to shake her hand.

"Your testimony is appreciated," Margaux thanked him, a devilish look in her eye. "Things always go so much smoother when the record is set straight." David squinted up cautiously, catching the allusion she was making to knowledge he now was aware she possessed about his sins. But rather than provoke her any further, he maintained his role.

"Like I said before," he commented. "I just want to see justice served." He turned and caught sight of Jack and tapped him on the shoulder briefly before moving past him towards the rear of the courtroom, without looking Nolan or Emily's way so as not to arouse suspicion.

Jack began to follow him out but Margaux stopped him before he could leave. "Oh, Jack," she called out. "I expect you'll be prepared for when you take the stand a week from today?"

"Yea, why wouldn't I be?" Jack replied with an innocent yet guarded smile.

"Just making sure," Margaux reassured him, withholding. "I know as a single parent it can be difficult to balance your responsibilities… I would hope that despite the brief delay, nothing would interfere with your presence here?" Her clever way of hinting at the obvious never failed to irritate Jack, having seen her do it countless times before, even more so with David. He glowered a bit at her reference to being a single parent, perceiving that her own situation would not put her far off in the category.

"If you're worried about me skipping town, I can assure I'll be here," Jack retorted flatly, growing exasperated. "And I have a close friend that can look after Carl. It's taken care of."

"Good," Margaux assessed, glancing over at Emily and Nolan who were holed up by Stevie, speaking in confidence. "Let's hope your new friend does not have the same fortune as some of your old ones, no?" She smirked curtly at Jack and gathered her items before turning to leave. "Au revoir."

Jack rolled his eyes once she was gone and stepped away to approach where his mother, Emily and Nolan were standing, now that the courtroom had all but emptied out. "Well, she obviously thinks she's already won," he greeted them quietly.

Emily turned to listen intently. "What did she say?"

Jack shrugged, resting his hands in his pockets in cavalier acceptance of the domineering women he seemed to be surrounded by. "Only that I better not get any ideas about leaving town to get out of testifying…It's obvious she knows we figured out the secret she's holding over our heads."

"Good," Emily assured him. "That's exactly what we want for now. As long as it appears that we're complying, she'll do the same." She turned her attention to Stevie questioningly. "Although today it seemed as if we started to go off track?"

Before Stevie could respond, David approached, looking around to make sure they were the only ones left in the room. "That's my actually my fault," he interjected, to which Emily looked over in confusion. He came close so he could speak in confidence with the remaining four. "I was the one who told Stevie I was prepared for the consequences if I had to tell the truth."

"Dad, what were you thinking?" Emily objected.

"Emily—" Stevie began, but David continued to respond.

"I'm thinking that I'm tired of telling lies, Amanda," he replied with a stern look, and her expression softened. "Especially when this all began from me telling the truth. Is that what this has come to? Do we have to become the people we hated to defeat them?"

Nolan slipped Emily a look of agreement and whispered, "Can't say he doesn't have a point, Ems." Naturally, Emily wasn't easily deferred.

"Look, I'm sorry it has to be this way," she admitted. "But trust me, we stick to the plan and this won't go on much longer—"

"I kept my silence today," David interrupted her, peacefully. "And I'll continue to cooperate. But this needs to end," he asserted. "And if we don't take the first step, it never will." He stared at Emily for a look of acknowledgment, but her face was still hardened. She looked down momentarily in silence until David accepted that she had nothing more to say.

He looked around at the rest of them and took his leave. "I'll see you later on," he said, placing a gentle hand on Emily's shoulder before exiting the courtroom.

She shook off the brief interchange and looked over to Stevie, who wore a sorrowful expression at the conflict she might have just caused. "Emily, my questions today were not intended to cause any problems—" she began, to which she was interrupted again.

"It's fine," Emily assured her, her mind brewing. "But I need to talk to you about something else," she requested, and Stevie nodded as they both made their way towards the exit, leaving just Jack and Nolan behind.

"Well… that was… awkward," Nolan assessed, turning to lean against the wooden gate that separated the audience from the rest of the court. He looked over at Jack who seemed a bit weathered by it all but ultimately un-phased. "You seem like you're holding up ok?"

Jack smiled softly. "Well my evening went well so I'm probably a little more relaxed than I should be," he offered.

"Oh that's right," Nolan grinned, realizing. "How did things go with Louise? Come to think of it…She wasn't even awake this morning when I got up – don't tell me she had a love hangover?"

"Nice try," Jack shook his head, laughing a bit. "No, we just had a nice walk on the beach; she told me a little about her family…it was…" He searched for a word to describe it that didn't overindulge Nolan's intrigue. "…Pleasant," he settled on.

"Alright, that's a start. I'm glad to hear it," Nolan tried to be cool for Jack's sake. "So when are you seeing each other again?"

"Today, actually," Jack responded, quick to correct the implication. "Not like that – she left her scarf at the club I'm just bringing it back to her." He reached in his pocket, producing the delicate item in his hand.

"Oh… well, I can, pass that along to the Missus if you want me to?" Nolan prodded in mock seriousness, hoping it would get Jack to object. "Unless of course, you want to…deliver it yourself?"

Jack was ready for his taunts. "I have to stop by anyway, Nolan. She volunteered to watch Carl today so I'm headed over there to get him."

"So that's why she was sleeping in… getting in a few extra z's before playing 'Mommy' later on," Nolan feigned an adorable look of endearment as he started towards the door, with Jack walking in step with him.

"Yeah-yeah," Jack ignored him. "I can always count on you to make things weird."

"It's my specialty," Nolan grinned, as they exited, the door swinging behind them.

SCENE

Daniel took a break from writing to rest his elbows on the desk in what used to be his old study in the Manor. Emily had redecorated but continued to procure that room as one for business, and that being said, he gravitated there not only to get some writing done but also to work on finding a buyer for the house. He had spent all day researching a particular lead that had been holding his interest since his conversation with Emily, taking only one break to write down a few thoughts that came to mind for his memoirs. All in all it was productive, and he could at least report positive progress to Emily when she returned from the courthouse. His mind had only wandered to that topic momentarily, as he was certain he did not want to know the details of the proceedings. He resisted the urge to read about it on social media, although he could imagine what the public was saying. It was easier just to ignore it, and besides, it would give him and Emily something to talk about when she came in.

His thoughts were interrupted by the ring of the house phone, and after examining the number he answered, certain it was the buyer he was hoping to reach the entire day. "Hello?" he answered.

"Yes, this is he," he replied, grateful that he took the agent's advice at listing the number for the Manor for any interested buyers. It was so much more productive without having to enumerate exactly who he was and answer additional questions. He listened as the woman speaking on the other line detailed her availability.

"Certainly, that's fine," he agreed, as she requested to visit no sooner than the following week. "The owner has specified that the closing not occur for a couple of months, so that shouldn't be a problem."

He waited patiently as she consulted her schedule and agreed on a date and time for a viewing. "That sounds good," he complied, making brief notes. As the call came to an end something caught his attention. "Listen if you don't mind my asking, what accent is that?" He smiled when she answered, already expecting her response.

"Sorry, you have to forgive me, I've been a New Yorker all my life," he apologized lightly, echoing laughter from the other line. "Alright so we're all set, I'll see you then." He ended the phone call, grinning to himself. It had been a while since the promise of a deal had given him a slight thrill of excitement, and in this case he had even more reason to be hopeful, as he knew the good it could do for the potential buyer.

He thought to himself, perhaps Emily was right all along – helping out the innocent with whatever you're able does give you a sense of peace. A bit motivated, he suddenly had the urge to celebrate, and after closing his book and leaving it resting on the desk, he was up and out in a hurry, with a few errands in mind.

SCENE

"Oh I could just eat him up!" Louise gushed, lifting Carl into her arms as Jack entered the living area at her and Nolan's house. A few of Carl's toys were sprawled out onto the floor and he had one in hand, keeping him occupied while Louise nuzzled at his cheeks with her nose.

Jack smiled, watching her. "Thanks again so much for looking after him," he looked around at the room. "Sorry about the mess, he has more stuff than I do."

Louise laughed lightly. "Oh don't be silly, he can leave all that here," she assured him, making a smushed face at Carl. "He is welcome whenever he wants," she emphasized, saying the last few words in her own version of exaggerated baby talk. She finally put him down so he could walk over to his father, and Jack crouched on the ground to give him a kiss on the forehead before taking him by the hand.

"I almost forgot," he realized, letting go of Carl momentarily to reach into his pocket. "You left your scarf at the club." He extended said item to her, and she accepted in surprise.

"Oh aren't you the sweetest – thank you," she shook her head, setting it down on the chair beside her. "I am notorious for forgettin' things, I'd leave my head at home if it weren't screwed on." She smiled broadly and Jack laughed, shaking his head.

"I really had a nice time last night," he added, feeling more at ease each time he was in her company.

"Me too," she agreed enthusiastically, folding one hand over her heart. "You know, it really meant a lot to me what you said about my family… how I should let any resentment go? I think I got it into my head that I have to set things even between us, but in the end… I just want to move on with my life. I know that now."

Jack nodded; happy his words of encouragement were up building to her. "Good. I think you'll be happier that way."

"I think so too," she agreed, batting her long eyelashes. "Although I can't say it'll be easy not to get in a few digs of my own. It's hard when you live with a fellow 1-percenter who can take down just about anyone."

Jack looked upwards knowingly. "Yeah, I agree with you on that… our environment doesn't exactly lend itself towards turning the other cheek." He laughed to himself, knowing that he stood before her a hypocrite, helping Emily and David finish exacting their revenge on the Graysons while he encouraged Louise to fight the urge to seek her own. But as much as he loved his friends dearly for their stubbornness, it was nice to give that kind of noble advice to someone who would listen, for a change.

His inner sense urged him to check on Carl and he glanced quickly towards where his son was toddling back towards the play area. "I think he wants to stay here," Jack observed.

Louise turned to follow his eyesight. "Oh he can, if he wants to! Do you have somewhere you need to be?"

"No, but we should get going anyway," Jack insisted, thankful for her offer. "I need to soak up all the time with him I have, who knows how long I'll be in court for next week." He paused to jingle his truck keys in hand and then looked back up at Louise. "But thank you again for doing this…you're a good friend, Louise."

"Oh, honey… you are too," she echoed, looking at him with soft eyes.

"Alright, buddy, let's go," he called out to his son, gathering his bag over one shoulder and guiding him out towards the door with the other hand. Louise saw him out, watching from the front door as he put his son in the car seat and tickled him to get a quick squeal of laughter. She smiled to herself, admiring so much about the family before her. She began to let the door close and when it caught on something, she looked down, realizing the toy Carl had in his hand was left behind. Grabbing it, she dashed quickly outside, the fabric of her long maxi dress blowing back in the wind.

"Hold on there!" she called out, and Jack stepped back from the driver's side door where he was about to get in. She made her away around to his side and handed him Carl's toy. "Little guy is just like me I guess, he forgot this."

"Thanks," Jack laughed, tossing the toy into the front seat. "He leaves a trail wherever he goes." He shook his head and then turned back to Louise who seemed to be lingering a bit.

"I-um," she began and looked into his eyes, as if searching for approval. "I forgot something too."

Jack tilted his head in interest, and Louise seized her chance. She delicately placed both hands around his face, and leaned in to give him a brief but tender kiss. Jack's eyebrows rose slightly in surprise at the gesture but he did not resist, and as she pulled away he felt himself taking quick breaths, feeling a slight rush at the moment.

"Thanks again, Jack," Louise added once they separated, giving him one last smile before turning away, clutching her wrist as she walked back towards the house in hope that she had not overestimated his reception.

But on the contrary, Jack was only slightly stunned as he entered his car and sat for a moment before starting the engine. Instead, he had enjoyed the surprise affection, the idea having crossed his mind a few times while they were walking on the beach the night before. Carl made a noise behind him and he glanced up at the rear view mirror to see his son wearing a large smile on his face, slapping his stubby arms on his seat.

"You like her, huh, buddy?" Jack asked him rhetorically. He spoke his own response aloud before pulling away.

"Yeah, me too."

SCENE

When Emily entered her home late in the evening she barely noticed how dimmed the lights were. Exasperated from a lengthy day in court and her subsequent conversations with Stevie around their next approach, her first instinct was to remove her heels and disable the alarm, giving her little time to notice the difference in the foyer. When she finally turned to proceed through her house, she stopped short in her tracks. The entire house was dark, leave for a flicker of light coming from the living room. Her eyes narrowed in suspicion, and she walked slowly towards the source of light, her senses ever on guard to what might await her.

But once she entered the room, her fears immediately faded to surprise and delight. Before her, only a few feet from the French doors to the outside, was Daniel, seated at a candlelit table, set with two wine glasses and covered plates. Once she entered he rose from his seat, a soft grin crossing his face, and she noticed in hand he held his journal from the day before along with a single, long stemmed rose.

"What is all this?" she asked, despite suspecting the answer. She took her time walking towards him, pausing to take in the ambience, noticing more nuances as she did. Not only was the table adorned with candles and dinner settings, there was also an old photo of them stationed in the center, along with rose petals on the floor, primarily on her side. It was clear he had put attention to detail into everything and while it was easily romantically charged, something about it seemed to hold specific significance.

Daniel waited to reply, and instead extended the rose to Emily, setting his journal down on the table. "Be careful… it still has thorns," he added with a smirk, and Emily allowed herself a half smile of amusement at his play on words. She looked up again at him for an explanation but before she could ask he gestured with his eyes to where Emily had paused in step towards him. "Look at where you're standing."

She looked down and immediately made sense of it. "This is where…?"

"Yeah, I thought it would be poetic," Daniel answered her, coming around to where she stood to pull out her seat.

"Ah…thank you…I guess?" she responded, a bit awkwardly, setting down her rose on the left side of her place setting and her heels and bag on the other side of the floor. She glanced at the table, her eyes falling on the picture of them again, and fought the urge to come out and ask him what was up his sleeve. She watched as Daniel opened a bottle of champagne and poured a glass for each of them, starting with hers first. After thanking him with her eyes, she tried another question. "What exactly are we celebrating?"

Daniel smiled to himself, enjoying the suspense of making her wonder what was going on. He took his seat and arranged his dinner napkin on his lap, deciding to let her in on the secret in tandem. "Well, first – the sale of Grayson Manor, or excuse me, should I say – Chez Thorne?"

Emily laughed through her nose and shook her head at the euphemism. "You found a buyer?" she asked, taking a sip of her glass. Ordinarily she would not plow so quickly into a romantic dinner with her former husband-turned-friend but the day had exhausted her beyond normal and a relaxing moment was more than tempting.

"I did," Daniel confirmed. "And quite the deserving one. She's coming to view the property in a week or two, and if all goes well she's fine to move in within a month." He grinned happily at his achievement, taking a sip from his own glass.

"Well done," Emily admitted. "Although that reduces your deadline for your memoirs?"

Daniel nodded at her observation "Ah, well I don't think that will be a problem. You see, I've found my motivation," he reached over to hand her the journal beside them on the table and Emily opened to the first page.

"Amends & Closure," she read, announcing the title, and her eyes flickered up to his. "This is your book?"

"Selling this house is just the first of the things I plan to do," he replied in agreement. "It's inspired me to do more. It's still going to be my memoir – but for every memory that I regret, I'm going to find someone I can help… someone who may have been hurt in the same way." He raised a finger to gesture towards the journal still in Emily's hands. "It's my way of seeking penance for everything… and it's all going into that book."

Emily swallowed, taking in his touching gesture in amazement, and finally closed the journal and returned it to him. "This is amazing, Daniel," she remarked, truly in awe of his selfless idea. "You've really found a way to purge your soul." Curiosity got the better of her and she couldn't stop from asking. "So tell me… is this dinner part of one of your amends?"

Daniel smiled at her perception. "Something like that," he agreed, and then leaned over to take hold of the framed photo of them that sat in the center of the table, tilting it so Emily could see. "This is one of the first pictures we ever took together."

"I remember," Emily nodded, looking on as he began to remove it from the frame and take out the single photo by itself.

"You're probably wondering why I set it here… what this is all about?" Daniel confirmed his notion with a curious look from Emily. "Well the truth is… ever since you asked if we could start over as friends, I've been trying to find a way to do that - a way to truly make amends. Because, as much as I care about you as a friend… I can't deny the fact that I want more than that."

Daniel paused, waiting to see if Emily would object but instead she only listened, reserving her thoughts for when he was done. He looked down again at the photo in his hands. "But of course, it's not that easy for us, considering our past. And that's when I realized… I've been trying to think of a way for the 'old' us to make it work." He held up the photo. "You know the old Danny, and the old Emily?"

Emily watched in shock as Daniel extended the corner of the photo over towards the rim of the small candle in the center of the table, allowing it to ignite while he continued speaking. "But that's not really possible… Because that Emily Thorne no longer exists," he finished, removing the photo once the flame reached up to the other corner, and tossing it into a tin pail that Emily noticed he had already placed beside them. The flame died down as the picture crumpled and turned black and charred.

"Daniel," she breathed, incredulous.

"Neither does Daniel Grayson," he continued, silencing her plea. "Oh, I may have the same name as I used to," He got up from his seat to fetch a candle topper to put out the dwindling flame in the pail, kneeling beside her until it was burnt out. He looked back up at her and finished, "But in reality the old Daniel died right here in your arms… months ago," he looked downwards to where the rose petals were scattered on the floor beside them. Still kneeling, he looked back up into Emily's eyes and completed what he yearned to say most. "And ever since then, I've been a different person… a new man. One that's in love… with Amanda Clarke."

Emily took a breath, parting her lips, but again Daniel found a way to keep her from speaking, placing a single finger to her mouth. "I don't want you to think about what this means… or what happened today on the trial… or what the future holds. I just want you to give this a chance." He peered into her eyes, bringing his face closer to hers. "One chance? I've had weeks to find out who you really are and all I can see is that no matter what your identity is…you're still the person that makes me better. And I'm still in love with you, Em."

Emily stared back at Daniel's face, warmly shadowed from the flickering candlelight, but completely sincere. His gentle eyes stared back at her with longing and despite having just renounced himself from the person he formerly was, all she could see was the man she met four years ago – the boy that was still trying to find himself. Yet to her, that was one of his most endearing qualities – a youthfulness that made him seem so pure, so innocent and so special amongst a lineage of ruthlessness. And even in the face of temptation to follow their course, Daniel had proven himself to be different, and had even found a way to look past all of her flaws, seeing her for who she truly was and loving her nonetheless.

A tear welled up in her eye as she took hold of him by the nape of his neck and pressed her lips to his, and the rush of blood thundered in her ears. With Emily it was always actions before words, but Daniel could feel by the thirst in her kiss, the fervor in her touch, and the swiftness to which she stood to her feet, pulling him to his, that she loved him too. Feeling their rapture unrelenting, Daniel pressed his legs to Emily's in order to walk her to the room beside them without separating, as she fumbled to remove his shirt before they sank to the floor. The impact of laying horizontal broke them apart momentarily, to which Daniel used it as a second chance to ensure Emily was at ease, as if waiting for her to suddenly stop without warning. But when she looked back at him there was no doubt in her eyes; instead they were lurid, reflecting the flame from the candlelight, seducing Daniel only to get closer. When he graced her neck with his lips, Emily tilted her head back in passionate release, finally letting go of her inhibitions and giving in to a desire that had been nurtured since the moment she had nearly thought she'd lost him in her arms…

END OF CHAPTER

Author's Note: So my comments will be brief… cuz it's getting hot up in here! Whew! How did you like Daniel & Emily's BIG reunion? Thoughts on the courtroom drama? And love is in the air for our new Jack/Louise pairing! Please please tell me your thoughts, I know the Demily moment has been a long time coming! Your reviews mean a lot, thank you so much for your continued support… there is MORE to come! ~Much Love and Reven8e~ MothToANewFlame