Chapter 15 - The Reception
Andrea's property was all done up for the reception. There was a large tent set up just outside of her barn, the doors open so that guests could go in between the barn and tent. Rows of lanterns were strung up to light the way to the tent where everyone was gathering. While Andrea, Emma, and several other women cooked up supper, the guests were drinking and dancing to the music the band was playing. The children would stay long enough for supper, and then their parents would send them off or take them home themselves.
Sam and Amy were seated at a table away from the others. Andrea had helped Amy take off her veil and pin up the train of her dress so that she wouldn't trip on it in all of the merriment that evening. Merle, Daryl, and Sam had all rolled their sleeves to the elbow and unbuttoned their shirts a few buttons once they got to the reception and away from Andrea's watchful eyes.
When supper was served, the band took a break and everyone was seated to eat. Emma was seated with Shane, Andrea, and Clarke at one end of one of the three long tables. Merle and Daryl were sitting together at the next table, but at the opposite end. Even though Daryl was starving, he was paying more attention to Emma than he was to his plate of food.
Meanwhile, Emma found herself in the middle of a game being played at her table. Andrea was very clearly trying to make Shane jealous by paying extra attention to Clarke. In return, Shane was fighting fire with fire by turning his attention to Emma.
"Wasn't the wedding beautiful?" Andrea asked with a sigh and a smile.
"It sure was." Clarke agreed as he forked several green beans.
Andrea's eyes flickered in Shane's direction before she set her hand on Clarke's shoulder.
"Wouldn't you just love to have a wedding like that someday?" Andrea asked, slowly sliding her hand across Clarke's shoulders and back.
Clarke nearly choked on his mouthful of food, causing Shane to chuckle.
"Are you all right, honey?" Andrea asked, giving Clarke a gentle pat on the back.
"I-I'm fine...thank you." Clarke stuttered, wiping his mouth with a napkin.
"No offense to Sam or Amy, but I don't think I'd like a wedding like that." Shane said.
"Oh, no?" Andrea asked, lifting an eyebrow with a look of disgust.
"Nah." Shane shook his head. "It was a little too...traditional for me."
"A little too traditional?" Andrea scoffed. "How can something be too traditional?"
Shane set his hand on Emma's shoulder.
"I think Emma here would appreciate what I'm saying." Shane gave Emma's shoulder a squeeze before he let go of her. "I think we're more the...simple sort."
Andrea narrowed her eyes in Emma's direction.
"What do you think, Emma?" Andrea asked.
"I think that I'm not ever getting married." Emma replied with a shrug of her shoulders.
Andrea's expression melted into relaxation as she laughed.
"Not getting married?" Shane asked. "You're just kidding, right?"
Clarke cleared his throat.
"I think I can say on Emma's behalf that she isn't kidding."
Emma realized that her statement may have somehow hurt Clarke's feelings, which had not been her intention. Before she could give Clarke an apologetic look, he was breaking out into a smile. Emma couldn't help but smile back. Just as quickly as Andrea had dissolved into laughter, the laughter ended once she saw Clarke and Emma smiling at each other.
"Well, I intend on being married again." Andrea said, covering Clarke's hand with her own.
Daryl kept his eyes on Emma as she ate and talked. He felt a flicker of jealousy when Shane placed his hand on Emma's bare shoulder. If it weren't for the way Emma stiffened when Shane touched her, that flicker might have become more, but by watching Emma closely, Daryl could tell that she didn't like it when Shane touched her. Knowing that Emma hadn't liked it made Daryl both relieved and angry simultaneously.
"You mind if I eat this since you don't seem to be hungry?" Merle asked, already helping himself to the food on Daryl's plate.
"Sure." Daryl mumbled, keeping his eyes on Emma.
As more and more people were finishing their meals, the band took up their instruments again and began to play. It was a lively tune. Several couples were spinning and tapping all along the dance floor.
"I'm tired of jawing." Shane announced suddenly, interrupting Andrea.
Shane got up from the table and held his hand out to Emma.
"Emma, would you please dance with me?" Shane asked.
Emma was going to say no, but then she saw the desperation in Shane's eyes. Andrea's plan to make Shane jealous was working. Emma realized that Shane didn't really care for her. He was only trying to make Andrea as jealous as she was making him. With that knowledge in mind, she felt a little bit better about the situation. Although, Emma still didn't appreciate being used as a pawn in Shane's and Andrea's twisted game. Nor did she appreciate Andrea dragging poor Clarke into it.
"Okay." Emma replied, accepting Shane's hand.
Daryl had just begun to nibble on a biscuit when he saw Shane hold his hand out to Emma. The biscuit lay forgotten as Daryl watched Shane lead Emma out onto the dance floor. Daryl was vaguely aware of Merle speaking to him, but he wasn't paying attention as he slowly got up from the table. He slowly circled the tables, trying to stay out of sight as he inched closer to the dance floor. Daryl didn't necessarily want Emma to know just how closely he was keeping an eye on her. He hung back with other guests that were milling around. Finally, he found a place near one of the poles holding up the tent. There, he had a good view of Shane and Emma as they danced. Shane wasn't really dancing with Emma so much as he was swinging her around the floor. He had one hand at her waist, while he held her hand in his other. Emma had one hand on Shane's shoulder. Her other hand was in his. Daryl felt that flicker of jealousy once more. He didn't understand why Emma was dancing with Shane after what had occurred before. In his mind, Daryl was imagining scenarios, but he stopped himself. The last time he had assumed something about Emma, he had made a terrible mistake. He couldn't risk doing it again.
Daryl watched the way Emma looked up at Shane as they danced, which was infrequent. The gaze between them was nothing compared to the way Daryl and Emma held each other's eyes. The way Shane and Emma danced wasn't even the same as when Daryl and Emma danced. As Daryl watched Emma with Shane, he knew he had nothing to worry about. Emma didn't care for Shane.
The song ended. Daryl was about to slip back to the table when he was stopped by Andrea.
"Hey, there." Andrea greeted Daryl with a smile.
"Hello." Daryl replied awkwardly.
Andrea gave Daryl a once over.
"You were right, about your hair." Andrea motioned to Daryl's head. "It looks good like that."
"Oh..." Daryl rubbed the back of his neck. "Thanks."
"Well, aren't you going to ask me to dance?" Andrea asked suddenly as the next song started.
Daryl was taken aback. He couldn't understand why Andrea would want to talk to him. Now, she wanted to dance with him? It didn't make any sense to him.
"Um...well-"
"Come on." Andrea grabbed Daryl's hand with a smile.
Before Daryl could protest, Andrea had pulled him onto the dance floor. Daryl wasn't going to make a scene in the middle of Sam and Amy's wedding reception by saying no to Andrea where everyone could see him do it. So, Daryl pulled Andrea to him with a sigh.
"Looks like she's got her sights set on you, now." Shane muttered to Emma as they stood on the side and watched Daryl and Andrea dancing.
"What?" Emma asked, raising an eyebrow.
"Emma..." Shane started to reply, but then changed his mind with a shake of his head. "Nevermind."
Shane left Emma's side. Emma remained where she was, watching Daryl and Andrea together. She couldn't believe Andrea had agreed to dance with Daryl, although Emma wasn't entirely sure it was Daryl's idea. She couldn't picture Daryl asking anyone to dance. The song started off slow, but became faster as the song progressed. Emma could tell that Andrea was having a hard time keeping up with Daryl. She appeared to be very frustrated as she got lost in all of Daryl's twisting and turning. Emma found it particularly amusing.
"At the risk of embarrassing myself again," Clarke appeared at Emma's side suddenly, "do you want to dance?"
Emma accepted Clarke's hand much sooner than she had Shane's.
"Of course." Emma told Clarke with a smile.
Clarke led Emma onto the floor. With Emma's guidance, they fell into step with the other dancers quickly. Clarke gave Emma a grateful smile, which made her laugh. Emma tried not to move too quickly. She didn't want Clarke to fall and humiliate himself again. Clarke was much more capable than Emma remembered. She wasn't sure if it was because the pace was slower, or if it was something else.
"You're much better, Clarke." Emma managed to tell him over the noise.
"I asked Mrs. Hawkins to teach me." Clarke replied loudly. "She gave me a lesson or two."
Emma gave Clarke a soft smile. Over his shoulder, Emma saw Andrea continue to struggle with Daryl. Emma stifled a laugh, but Clarke caught the amusement on her face. He turned his head to see what had her so amused. When Clarke turned back around, he was chuckling and shaking his head.
When the song ended, Clarke and Emma let go of each other. Emma turned to face the band as she clapped. The band continued right into the next song, a much slower one than any of the others they had played that evening. As Emma's hands fell to her sides, one of them was captured in another hand. Emma didn't have to see who it was. She knew those calluses anywhere. Emma slowly turned around. For the second time in her life, Emma was coming face to face with Daryl on a dance floor.
Daryl continued to hold Emma's hand in his even after she turned around to face him. He looked into her green eyes to see if he could tell what she was thinking. He wasn't sure, so he had to take a closer look. As Daryl laid one hand on Emma's waist, he could hear her breath hitch in her throat. Still looking into her eyes, he slowly lifted the hand he was holding and placed it on his shoulder. Daryl reached for Emma's other hand, and in the same moment, he moved his hand from her waist to the small of her back. As Daryl pulled Emma closer, his eyes drifted lower to her neck. With his keen eyesight, he had already easily located her pulse point. The act of Daryl pulling Emma closer to his body raised her heart rate substantially. It gave Daryl the confidence he needed.
Emma felt a violent flutter in the pit of her stomach when Daryl pulled her close. Then, he was slowly leading her along the floor. She was barely aware of the movement. She was looking only into Daryl's eyes as she wondered how he was able to get her into those situations where it was difficult to resist him or put up a fight.
Daryl could tell Emma was thinking because of the creases in her forehead. He wanted to know what was going through her head. Not knowing what she was thinking was making it difficult for him to continue down the path he was traveling on. Each time his confidence started to waver, Daryl would close his eyes for a moment so that he could focus on the sound of Emma's breath or he would watch the way her heart continued to race as they danced. Emma felt the same way as Daryl did, even if she was trying to keep her feelings hidden from him. He needed to continue reminding himself of that fact.
Emma let Daryl spin her in rhythmic circles around the floor as the slow melody continued. She watched Daryl's face the entire time. Occasionally, he would tear his eyes from hers or they would close altogether, but they always found her again. Emma was more confused than ever by Daryl's behavior. Why was he suddenly back to treating her the way he had the previous year? What had changed since December, when he left her in he loft? In Emma's mind, nothing had changed.
The song came to a close just as Daryl gently spun Emma away from his body. He pulled her back in just as the song ended. Even though the song was over, neither Daryl nor Emma moved. They remained standing in each other's arms in the middle of the dance floor. It was as if they were both stuck in that moment. The spell was only broken when the band played a more upbeat tune. Emma let go of Daryl immediately when the new song started. She took a step back.
"Wait." Daryl said, reaching out for Emma.
"What is it?" Emma asked, cursing herself silently when she sounded breathless.
"Will you come with me?" Daryl asked, offering Emma his arm. "I want...I want to talk to you."
"What?" Emma asked, regaining control over her breathing.
Daryl hesitated before closing the distance between himself and Emma.
"Come with me." Daryl murmured.
Emma was unsure about whether or not it was a good idea to go with Daryl, but the conviction in his voice persuaded her to give him a chance. However, she refused his arm. Emma had had enough physical contact with Daryl. She wanted to have her wits about her when they spoke, and seeing as how her body wouldn't behave whenever Daryl was touching her, she thought it best they refrain from being close. Daryl seemed to sense her hesitancy to touch him, so he lowered his arm.
"Lead the way." Emma told Daryl with a clear and level tone.
Daryl nodded and led Emma away from the dance floor.
Merle watched Daryl and Emma leave the tent. He had been keeping an eye on them as they danced together.
"Good luck, kid." Merle muttered to himself. "Don't screw it up."
Daryl and Emma walked up to Andrea's house. The front porch was lit up with several lanterns. Daryl and Emma walked up the steps so that they could stand beneath the light. Daryl stood on one side of the porch, giving Emma the space he sensed that she needed. Emma was appreciative of the distance between them. She leaned against the banister, waiting for Daryl to speak.
"I..." Daryl began, but he stopped.
Emma waited patiently, even though she was anxious to hear what Daryl had to say.
"The thing is..." Daryl started a second time, but he shook his head and rubbed the back of his neck.
It was nearly sunset. The sky was already beginning to change colors as the day came to a close. Sam and Amy would be staying at the inn on their wedding night. Then, they would be returning to the reverend's house so that they could begin packing up Amy's belongings. Emma began thinking of different ways she could help the couple, whether it be encouragement for Amy, who was surely nervous about leaving home for a new life in the mountains, or money to help get the couple started.
"When I..." Daryl struggled once again to begin.
"Daryl, just spit it out." Emma finally spoke up as she grew more anxious.
"I will, just..." Daryl snapped at Emma, but quickly lowered his voice and took a deep breath. "Just...give me a minute."
Emma remained silent as she waited for Daryl to gather himself. He took another deep breath.
"I'm...sorry..." Daryl finally found his footing, or if not, he was pretending. "I'm sorry...for what I said to you in April. It wasn't right...what I said..."
Emma was surprised by Daryl's apology, but she didn't show it. She was relieved that an apology was all Daryl wanted to speak with her about. She was truly grateful for said apology. What Daryl had said to her that day was perhaps the worst thing any person had ever said to her before. It wasn't because of the words he had used or the tone of his voice. It was because the person who had uttered those words had been Daryl.
"Thank you." Emma replied softly, looking up from the porch. "I accept your apology."
As Emma leaned away from the banister, Daryl took a step forward with his arm outstretched.
"That isn't all." Daryl spoke quickly to stop Emma from leaving before he was finished.
Emma remained on the porch as the relief that had so quickly come to her fluttered away.
Daryl looked down at the floor. He remembered his conversation with Sam, the way Merle and Sam had treated him after Emma left both times, and the things he had taken notice of that day while in Emma's company. Daryl took courage and confidence from those memories and tried to find the words to express all he wanted to say to Emma.
"The reason...that I left in December is because..." Daryl cleared his throat. "I found a letter in your belongings. It mentioned Clarke's proposal to you. I thought..."
Emma thought back to the letter Daryl was referring to. She remembered the reverend mentioning that Clarke had proposed to her. Emma realized that the reason Daryl had left in the winter is because he thought Emma was engaged. Suddenly, she became angry. It took hold of her so quickly that it surprised even herself, but she allowed it to grip her as she took two swift steps towards Daryl. The sound of her steps got Daryl's attention. He looked up from the porch.
"You thought I was engaged to another man, but..." Emma couldn't even speak the words. "You thought so little of me...that I was nothing but a liar and a whore?"
"No." Daryl shook his head and took a step towards Emma.
"Don't." Emma snapped, taking a step back.
Daryl remained where he stood.
"That first week you were gone..." Emma looked out into the field. "I thought of all sorts of reasons you could have left. I won't share them with you...but my character? I never thought you had gone because you thought little of me as a person. We fought sometimes, but I thought...I thought there was a mutual respect between us-"
"There is." Daryl interrupted Emma passionately as the words suddenly came to him. "At first, I couldn't stand you, but...Emma, it was me who carried you to bed that night you fell asleep at the table."
Emma looked at Daryl as her brow furrowed in confusion and disbelief.
"It wasn't Sam." Daryl placed a hand on his chest. "It was me."
"Why-"
"I finally began to understand you that night." Daryl continued, despite the fact that Emma had started to speak. "I saw you as the woman that you are, the woman that you are where Sam or those kids you take care of are concerned."
Daryl took a slow step towards Emma.
"Then, I heard you telling Sam all about your past...the things you went through..." Daryl kept looking at Emma even though her eyes darted between his and the darkening field. "I put it all together. I figured out who you were. You're strong and stubborn and spunky...and you work hard because you've had to your whole life...but you're also soft and kind...but sometimes you just have to look harder to see those qualities."
Daryl took a second step.
"We're alike...you and me." Daryl motioned to himself and then to Emma. "We're cut from the same damn cloth...which is why this has all been so damn hard..."
Emma couldn't believe all that Daryl was telling her. She was in so much disbelief that she couldn't speak. She could barely be bothered to think or to breathe.
"I ain't a perfect man." Daryl now stood opposite Emma at the top of the stairs. "I've made all kinds of mistakes in my life...but...leaving you last year was the biggest one I ever made."
Daryl took another step closer to Emma, practically closing the distance between them.
"I was just...so...scared that I had...put myself out there..." Daryl closed his eyes. "The thought of you belonging to another man..."
"How do you think I felt?" Emma blurted out, suddenly discovering speech again. "You don't think I wasn't scared to be vulnerable?"
Daryl closed the distance between himself and Emma.
"I know." Daryl lowered his voice and softened his tone.
Daryl reached for one of Emma's hands. He curled his fingers around her hand and held it tightly even though she refused to hold his hand back.
"I know I don't deserve it...but I want you to give me a second chance."
Daryl slowly lifted a quivering hand to Emma's face. She didn't move away, but her face didn't change either.
"I want you to come with me." Daryl's voice had suddenly become quite husky with emotion. "I want you to come home...where you belong."
Emma watched as Daryl slowly leaned down to kiss her. She knew that was what he was doing. His palms had become damp against her cheek and in her hand. Emma wanted to believe what Daryl was saying, but how could she? She had given himself to her, a piece of herself she had never given to anyone, and he had left her right afterward. If he did that once before, what would stop him from doing it again? Emma couldn't trust Daryl.
Daryl's lips were just inches away from Emma's when she moved her head back.
"Stop." Emma whispered urgently, wrenching her hand from his.
Before Daryl could speak or try to kiss Emma again, she had walked backwards down the steps.
"I can't." Emma murmured, unsure if Daryl could hear or not.
Then, Emma was running across the field in the direction of town.
"Emma!" Daryl called after Emma as she ran.
Daryl started to run down the steps and after Emma, but he stopped at the base of the stairs. He couldn't force Emma to give him another chance. He had done all he could do, which was to apologize, explain himself, and ask Emma to come back with him.
Daryl lost sight of Emma quickly in the growing darkness. It wasn't because his eyesight failed him, but because there were tears welled up in his eyes. Daryl threw himself down on Andrea's porch and buried his face in his hands. His brother and Sam had been right all along. He had made a huge mistake.
0o0o0
Shane had just finished shaving when a frantic knock came at the front door.
"Shane!" It was Rick's voice on the other side of the door. "Shane, it's Rick!"
Shane heard the urgency in Rick's voice, so he quickly answered the door.
"What is it?" Shane asked, stepping aside to let Rick inside. "What's wrong? Is it the kids?"
"No." Rick shook his head. "It's Emma."
"Emma?" Shane asked. "What happened to Emma?"
Rick reached into his pocket and pulled out a folded up piece of paper.
"Emma left this for me in the room me and the kids are sharing at the inn." Rick replied, handing the note over to Shane. "It says she's sorry, but that she needs some time to be alone. She says she's not sure when she'll be back, that she's safe, and that I shouldn't worry."
Shane looked over the note, then back up at Rick.
"What's the problem?" Shane asked, his brow furrowing in confusion.
Rick's eyes widened.
"What do you mean?" Rick asked, throwing his arms out. "Something had to have happened to Emma to make her want to leave."
"Emma said not to worry." Shane replied, holding the note out for Rick.
"Well, I am worried." Rick retorted harshly, snatching the note from Shane.
"Hold up, Rick." Shane held up his hands when he saw how upset Rick was. "Let's just hold on a second. Okay?"
Rick took a deep breath to calm himself down and nodded in agreement.
"All right...if you're really worried about Emma, let's start asking around town." Shane suggested. "Why don't you hit the inn since you're staying there for the next couple of days? I'll head over to the reverend's house and I'll go and see Clarke."
"Okay." Rick nodded again. "That's a start."
0o0o0
Merle and Daryl were getting the carriage ready when Rick suddenly rode upon them.
"Where's the rush, Sheriff?" Merle asked with a grin as Rick got down from his horse.
"Have either of you seen Emma since last night?" Rick asked.
"Emma?" Daryl asked concernedly, abandoning Jim.
"She's gone." Rick replied. "She-"
Daryl reached out and snatched Rick by the collar of his shirt. Rick held his hands out to shove Daryl off of him, but Daryl yanked Rick to him.
"What do you mean she's gone?" Daryl barked.
"Take it easy, brother." Merle told Daryl as he pried his little brother's fingers off of Rick's shirt.
Rick straightened out his shirt with a frown.
"Go ahead, Sheriff." Merle said to Rick, keeping one hand on Daryl's shoulder to keep him in check.
"Emma left a note for me saying that she went somewhere to be alone for a while." Rick explained. "She said she doesn't know when she'll be back."
Daryl's heart was racing at the thought of not knowing where Emma was. He didn't even know where to begin searching for her, but he was going to scour every inch of the town and its outlying areas looking for her, and he wouldn't end his search until he found her.
0o0o0
Shane went to see the reverend, but he hadn't seen or heard from Emma since the reception. Reverend Horvath was concerned for Emma's well being. He volunteered to begin asking around town while Shane visited Clarke. Even though Shane insisted that it wasn't necessary, the reverend set out to question anyone who had attended the wedding and reception.
Meanwhile, Shane went to see Clarke, who hadn't seen Emma since they danced together at the reception. Clarke expressed great concern over Emma's disappearance. He abandoned his work immediately to assist Shane.
0o0o0
Rick's next stop was Sam and Amy. He felt momentarily guilty about interrupting what was probably a blissful state for the both of them, but considering the circumstances, the guilt subsided quickly. Luckily for Rick, Sam and Amy were having breakfast with the Peletiers' and Rick's children when Rick entered the inn.
"Good morning, Rick." Carol greeted Rick with a warm smile when he entered. "Care for some breakfast?"
"No, thank you, Carol." Rick declined politely. "I have to ask all of you...have any of you seen Emma?"
"No." Carol shook her head. "Have any of you seen Emma?"
"I haven't seen her since last night." Amy replied.
"When?" Rick asked.
"At the reception." Amy answered slowly. "Is something wrong?"
"Has something happened to Emma?" Sam asked worriedly, rising from the table.
Rick looked down at Carl, who was gazing up at him with wide eyes.
"Carl, why don't you and Sophia take Judith outside?" Rick asked.
"Yes." Carol got up from the table and started ushering the kids out of their seats while she scooped up the baby. "Let's go for a walk to the general store. I'll get everybody a piece of candy."
With the kids gone, Rick felt that he could speak frankly.
"I don't know where Emma is." Rick admitted, rubbing his forehead. "She left me a note stating that she needed to be alone and that she didn't know when she would be back."
"What?" Amy asked, her voice becoming shrill.
"What are we doing about it?" Sam asked, lending his hand to Amy for her to hold.
"Shane is meeting me here after he speaks with a few people who may know where Emma is." Rick explained. "We'll go from there."
"Emma..." Amy murmured, staring down at her lap.
Sam sat down beside his new wife and did his best to comfort her while they waited for Shane.
"Dance All Night" - Ryan Adams & The Cardinals [The reception/Daryl watches Shane and Emma dance]
"Stubborn Love" - The Lumineers [Daryl dances with Andrea, Emma dances with Clarke]
"Shall We Go On" - The White Buffalo [Daryl and Emma dance]
"Apologies" - Grace Potter & The Nocturnals [Daryl tries to kiss Emma, Emma leaves the reception]