A/N: Super early update. I have till Chapter Five written, so I just wanted to give you another chapter. I don't want to update too quickly, so that I don't run out updates for you lovely people. I feel awful for all the wait so I'm trying to write as much as I can for this story and Dean Ambrose as well. Just wanted to thank you for the feedback, you guys are amazing. Hope you like the new chapter!
Two
Emerson walked in her kitchen and found her brother and Chace. She waved at them, letting out a yawn as she opened the refrigerator.
It's been two weeks since Emerson moved back to North Carolina and she hasn't ran into the Hardy's since, which was an effort made by Stephen. He didn't need to see the reunion while he was in town. He was leaving this weekend and Emerson would be left with Chace till Vanessa came. She was still finishing some loose ends in Texas before heading back to North Carolina.
Shannon was just down the street so they saw one another often. Jeff has been in Shannon's place much more often than usual and he still didn't run into Emerson. As soon as Stephen would see Jeff's car in Shannon's driveway, he would bring his sister somewhere else, just to assure she wouldn't run into him. It was a valiant effort, but he knew they would run into each other soon, he didn't need to be here for that.
"Good morning," Emerson said as she sat down beside Chace in front of the island counter that doubled as a breakfast bar. "Why are you guys up so early?"
"No reason, just a busy day," Chace replied.
They still had to assemble some furniture and put away a couple of things. The house had an open floor plan, a popular layout nowadays. From the kitchen, the dining room was clearly seen, placed in between the kitchen and the sitting room that overlooked the front yard. Besides the kitchen was another living area where the television was, it was like a lounge. There was a sliding door that led out to the deck connected to the second living area; that had stairs leading down to the pool. Back inside there was a vanity downstairs and a bedroom with an en suite. Upstairs there were four bedrooms. In the basement were a pool table, an office, and a theater room of some sorts. It was a spacious abode that was too big for Emerson, but they felt that she should have a house instead of an apartment.
The basement was done and the main floor. They just had to finish the second floor and the house would be done.
"When is Vanessa getting here?" Chace questioned.
"Isn't she your girlfriend?" Emerson teased making Chace flick her off.
"We have an understanding," Chace smiled.
"How long have you two had an understanding? Three years now?" Emerson continued.
"Is that judgment I hear?"
"No, just saying, you two should have had kids by now."
Chace laughed. "Easier said than done, kid."
"Honestly, you're not that much older," Emerson stuck her tongue out.
"Doesn't matter, I'm still older."
"I mean, you are old, almost as old as Stephen."
"Your sister is a pain in my ass," Chace turned to Stephen.
Stephen laughed and nodded. "Makes the two of us." He stood up and placed his cereal bowl inside the sink. "Melody is coming in an hour to help, Chace and I have a few errands to run, so it'll be nice to have her with you."
Melody was Stephen and Emerson's cousin. She was Emerson's age and was currently living in New York.
"You mean to babysit me?" Emerson rolled her eyes, she appreciated her brother's concern, but at times, she just felt suffocated. She was an adult, yet her brother treated her like a child.
"No one is babysitting you," Stephen turned around and leaned against the counter. "She wanted to visit and help you settle, did you want me to forbid her from doing so? Isn't she your favorite cousin?"
"She is, but I just feel like you're bringing everyone here so someone can watch out for me at all times." Emerson sighed. "You know why I moved back here, are you ever going to let me just figure things out on my own?"
"Listen, I understand you're frustration, I can be overbearing, but you're my younger sister, it's my duty to look out for you." Stephen walked over to Emerson, standing in front of her on the opposite side of the counter. "I'll be out of your hair this weekend, you can do whatever you want then. Just let me hold your hand, okay? Things are complicated right now and I understand why you would want to do things on your own, but sometimes having someone helping you isn't so bad."
"Yeah, it isn't, but you're not letting me make any mistakes."
"Emmy, you've made enough before, if I can prevent you from making mistakes, I will." Stephen sighed when his phone rang. "That's the wife, go get ready Chace."
Stephen walked out of the kitchen, leaving Chace and Emerson.
"You know he's just looking out for you."
"I know, I guess I'm just being too much of a bitch."
Chace laughed. "You and bitch don't coincide Emmy, maybe sometimes, but not at this situation. You're frustration is understandable. Once the weekend is done, you can go exploring without him breathing down your neck."
"Who thought you would be so wise Crawford?"
"Loads of people do, actually. Only you don't have any faith in me."
"I do, I just like giving you a hard time."
"You should be nicer, I can air out dirty secrets."
Emerson laughed. "To who? Between you and me, I'm not the famous one."
"You wouldn't air my dirty secrets."
"No, I wouldn't, my sister would kill me."
"Glad we have an understanding."
Jeff walked in Shannon's home with the grocery bags in his hands. They were planning to have a barbeque in Shannon's place since they haven't gotten together for quite some time. Matt was coming, so was Shane and his wife. Amaya, Matt's wife was supposed to come, but she had to go in and work. She'll be coming a little later. A couple of their other friends were coming by as well and Shannon's employees. Shannon was going to invite Emerson, but Jeff insisted that he could do it in person.
It was an excuse to see Emerson, but he didn't care, he needed an excuse with Stephen hanging around like a guard dog.
He even brought the dog he and Emerson bought together, a Siberian Husky named Ares.
"So, are you gonna go over there and invite her?" Shannon questioned as he watched Jeff unload the grocery bags.
"All in good time," Jeff replied, folding bag once all the times were out. "You think I should bring Ares over?"
"No, just keep him here, she can see him when she comes." Shannon was petting Ares as he sat beside him, watching Jeff move around the kitchen.
"You just want your alone time," Jeff teased.
"I love your dog man, can't wait to get one of my own," Shannon replied, hugging Ares. "His eyes are so fucking blue."
Jeff laughed. "Maybe you see yourself in Ares?"
"I'm not sure if that was an insult, so fuck you."
Jeff laughed once more.
"I have to ask you something," Shannon started. "Don't you think it's a bit weird that Emerson greeted you the way she did?"
It was definitely weird. Emerson was too welcoming, too nice. It was like the break-up never happened. She was welcoming him like an old friend and it didn't make sense. Sure he didn't want to question it when it was happening because he was overjoyed by her return, but something wasn't right.
"It was. I mean I brushed it off because I was just excited to see her." Jeff sighed. "But I agree, it was off."
"I'm not trying to say that she can't forgive and forget, but the way you fucked up on her, it just didn't make sense for her to be so nice." Shannon sat on the counter. "That's not the Emerson we know."
"Thanks for the reminder, Shannon," Jeff mumbled. "But you're right, that's not the Emmy we know."
"What if she was brainwashed?"
Jeff gave him an incredulous look. "Honestly, of all the possibilities, that was what you went with?"
"Hey, you never know!"
"I don't know, whatever it is, I'll get to the bottom of it today." Jeff leaned against the island counter in the middle of the kitchen. "Maybe she's just pretending? You know, making it seem like she's okay, but in reality she isn't. You know her, she hides it well."
"She definitely does, whenever news of you fucking around got to her, I never really saw her react." Shannon shook his head thinking back of all the times that Emerson confided in him about Jeff's infidelity. Not exactly confide, but when Jeff would cheat on her, she would just know. He asked her how she found out and she just shook her head, saying that it didn't matter how she found out. "Can't believe you would do it to her, couldn't believe it then, can't believe it now."
"Honestly, do we have to keep going back to my mistakes? I paid for them, I apologized, I'm sorry I can't erase them, but I'm human, I make mistakes." Jeff was starting to become upset. Every time they spoke about Emerson, Shannon, almost anyone brought up his infidelity. He got it, he was a fuck up, he didn't need a constant reminder of it. Not having her in his life was a reminder he lived with everyday.
"Don't get mad, I'm not trying to piss you off," Shannon held up his hands. "I'm sure you would have done things differently."
"I would, these last few years, it's been difficult man." Jeff crossed his arms over his chest. "I was trying so hard for my life not to fall apart when she left and thankfully it didn't, but everyday I woke up with no good morning text from her or feeling her against me in our bed, it was a harsh reality."
"Well, guess someone is still looking out for you up there because she came back." Shannon gave his best friend a small smile. "Guess you're getting another chance."
"Yeah, thankfully, if only I can get her alone."
"She's alone at the house," Shannon informed him.
"How do you even know that?"
"Stephen stopped by and said that he was going to run some errands with Chace, so he asked me to check on his sister in an hour or so." Shannon smirked. "Guess who's going to check on her since I'm busy preparing for the barbeque?"
"Have to say, you're wise when you need to be." Jeff walked over to Shannon and Ares. "Should I head over there now?"
"It's been two hours, so yeah, you should."
Jeff shook his head and walked out of the kitchen. Ares followed him, at the front door he turned to his beloved dog and petted him. "I'll be back, just going to get mommy." He was surprised that Emerson didn't take Ares with her. She adored the dog and had always wanted one. Ares loved her as well, the dog was quite upset the first year of Emerson's disappearance. The two had each other when the most important woman in their life walked away.
Jeff got in his car and drove to Emerson's place. Sure enough, Stephen's car wasn't there and the only car in the driveway was Emerson's, at least he assumed it to be hers. Turning the engine off, he slid out of the car and closed the door behind him. He pushed the button to lock his car and walked over to the front door. The butterflies were flying again and he was trying to calm himself. It was just Emerson, he could do this, piece of cake.
He rang the doorbell and waited. The door opened a few seconds later. He opened his mouth to greet her, but it all failed when his eyes landed on the person who opened the door. "Melody?"
"Well, well, well, if it isn't my least favorite Hardy," Melody smiled. "Can't even say I'm surprised to see you. If anything, what took you so long?"
Jeff chuckled. "Been busy," he shrugged. "What are you doing at our neck of the woods? Shouldn't you be in New York with your British boyfriend?"
"Ben is in Los Angeles so I decided to visit my cousin." Melody gestured for him to enter. "She's in the basement."
"No third degree?"
"I think you've received enough from Stephen, I'll turn the other way and pretend I didn't let you in." She winked before going up the stairs.
Jeff shook his head and made his way down the stairs to the basement. He found Emerson hanging a painting on the wall, moving it every once in a while to make sure it was right in the middle. A memory popped up in Jeff's mind of the first time they moved in together. Emerson wanted to hang up one of his paintings in the dining room and he spent a good thirty minutes moving the painting back and forth to get it to the middle of the wall. It was annoying, but Emerson made it worthwhile afterwards when she gave him a massage for her indecisiveness.
"Hey," he greeted.
Emerson turned around and smiled. "Hey Jeff! Long time no see, just got back from the road?"
"Something like that," he walked over to her. "Need some help?"
"No, I'm good," Emerson got down from the chair she was standing on. "What's up?"
"Just wanted to check in on you, I see Melody is here."
"Yes, she's visiting for a couple of days." Emerson put the chair back by the bar, an addition her brother insisted that she had.
Jeff nodded. "How have you been?"
"Good, just finishing up the moving process." Emerson's face scrunched up. "I really hate unpacking."
Jeff had to let out a laugh. He remembered Emerson saying no to moving in with him because of the moving process. He had rolled his eyes and promised that he would help her unpack and he did. Thinking about the past was a fond one for him, yet bittersweet. He realized just how he truly fucked up on Emerson.
"Yeah, unpacking sucks ass, but once it's all done with, it's all worth it."
"Very true," she nodded her head. "Thankfully my brother and Chace were here to help me out."
"When is Vanessa getting here?"
"She isn't exactly moving in here, only for a couple of months then she's moving with Chace to North Dakota." Emerson sat down on the couch patting the seat next to her for Jeff to sit down. "He's going to start filming for a television show, so she's going to go with him."
"Is your sister his assistant?" Jeff questioned as he sat next to her.
"No, his unofficial girlfriend."
Jeff laughed. "What?"
"They're not putting any labels on it, but they're basically together." Emerson shrugged. "People can be complicated at times."
"Cant argue with that," Jeff leaned back. "You happy to be home?"
"Very," Emerson followed Jeff's actions, leaning her head against the top of the couch. "Texas was great, but this is definitely home."
"I missed you," Jeff confessed.
Emerson pursed her lips and remained silent.
And there it was.
Jeff knew what was happening.
The façade was breaking and her anger was finally going to show. He knew it had been four years, but the damage was severe, they haven't been able to duke it out. He figured that it would be better to get the argument out of the way, to get the closure for that chapter and to begin writing the next one.
"Emmy, I'm sorry, for what happened between us, I truly apologize. I shouldn't have done what I did and for the rest of our lives I will regret my actions. But I just wanted to let you know how sorry I am for hurting you the way I did." Jeff sat up, moving his body to face her. "Can you forgive me?"
Emerson sat up as well and placed a hand on his. "Sure, you're forgiven," she smiled.
Jeff was taken back. It couldn't be that easy. It wasn't like Emerson was a vindictive person, but she wouldn't forgive him that easily. She would want to talk it out, to discuss what he did that really broke her. He felt like she was brushing the break-up off like it was nothing, like it didn't matter as much as he thought it did. Unless, she wasn't sure what he was apologizing for, which would be ridiculous since their last meeting didn't exactly end well.
"Emerson, do you know what I'm apologizing for?" Jeff questioned, searching her face for an answer, but to his surprise he wasn't able to read her. Well he was, but that couldn't be her reaction, she was nervous. He should be nervous not her.
"Um, it was so long ago Jeff, could be anything, I'm sure whatever you did, you didn't mean," Emerson shrugged it off.
And that's the red flag.
Emerson wouldn't brush off his infidelity like that. She wouldn't brush off their relationship like that. What the fuck was going on?
Jeff took his hand back from Emerson and stood up. "Emerson, you don't remember what I did?" He wasn't sure if she was messing with him. Or she was trying to avoid the confrontation. She hated confrontation, that was something he knew, but this was bullshit. This was their relationship, a relationship he cherished contrary to popular belief.
Taking a deep breath, he tried not to let his temper get the best of him. Shouting at Emerson wouldn't get anywhere, even if she were playing dumb, he wasn't going to be baited. She might use this against him.
He looked over at her and saw the panic written all over her face.
"Are you free? Shannon is having a barbeque, he wants you to come." Changing the subject would be the best thing to do, he wasn't sure how to handle this situation. He had to talk to Shannon. Was it possible she lost her memory? But that couldn't be. No one told him she got into a car accident or anything. They would tell him, they wouldn't leave him out in the cold like that. Stephen was heartless, but not that heartless.
"Sure, Melody and I just need to finish a couple of things, should I bring something? I can bake a cake?" And the old Emerson showed up. It was her thing. She baked for every party.
"No, it's fine, we just want you to relax, do you girls need help with anything?" Jeff questioned. "I'll just wait for you guys."
"We're just putting the beddings in," Emerson stood up and began to make her way to the stairs to go to the main floor. "Are you okay, Jeff? I feel like I upset you." She bit her lip, watching him.
He shook his head. "No, I'm fine," he gave her a small smile. "I'm just surprised you forgot why I'm apologizing."
"You're a good guy, I'm sure whatever it is you are truly apologetic." She turned back and gave him a smile.
Jeff walked after her, unsure how to reply. She was too forgiving. Was she dying? Is that why she came back home? No, she couldn't. They haven't spent their life together she couldn't die.
"Are you sick?" Jeff spoke up, surprising Emerson.
She looked back at him as they reached the main floor. "What?"
"Are you sick? Like is there something wrong? Is that why you came back?"
"No," Emerson slightly laughed. "I just wanted to come home, is that hard to believe?"
"It's not, but something is off." There it was again, the panic. Was he missing something?
"Everything is fine, believe me." She turned to the stairs leading up the stairs. "Mel! Are you done?"
"Yes, coming down," Melody appeared at the top of the stairs. "Ah, Hardy, you're still here."
"Of course," Jeff replied. "So, Shannon is having a barbeque, wondering if you wanted to go? Emerson said yes."
"Well, if she said yes, I have no choice," Melody teased. "Feels weird, doesn't it?"
"A little," Jeff looked over at Emerson. "You two ready to go?"
"Sure, let's go." Emerson got her cell phone and keys from the kitchen counter before following Melody and Jeff to his car. She made her way toward the front passenger seat and opened the door. "Your truck is high, thank God I'm tall." Sliding in the car, she closed the door once she was inside.
When everyone was in, Jeff started the car and backed out of the driveway, making his way to Shannon. He was excited for Emerson to see Ares once again, it would surely make her happy. He parked beside Matt's car and turned the engine off. They got out of the car and walked inside the house without even knocking, but they were invited, it was fine.
As soon as they walked in, Ares was already at the door, greeting him.
"Ares, look who's here," Jeff pointed at Emerson.
Ares looked over at Emerson and immediately went over, standing up on his hind legs and licking her. He was excitedly jumping around and whining, greeting Emerson. She laughed and petted the dog, kneeling down to get on his level. He licked her once more and Emerson laughed harder.
"What an adorable dog! He's so friendly, is this your dog?" Emerson questioned. "I've always wanted a husky."
Jeff's heart dropped. She wasn't faking it. There was a reason she was so nice to him, so welcoming. There was a reason why she forgave him so easily, merely brushing off their break-up. She didn't forgive him, she forgot him.
Melody watched the realization come upon Jeff's face. She wasn't sure what to do. They could walk home, she should get Emerson out of this situation. She wasn't ready to face the questions.
"Jeff," Melody called out, blocking his way to Emerson. "We need to talk."
"No, you can wait," Jeff's replied, his tone hard, closed off. His eyes were trained on Emerson as she played with Ares.
"Jeff, please," Melody pleaded.
Jeff's eyes drifted to Melody, seeing the urgency. He wasn't sure he was ready to listen to her family. They obviously decided as a whole to shut him out of her life and that was some bullshit. But he and Melody were always in good terms, even though she failed to mention her cousin had amnesia, he'll give her his time.
He led her to Shannon's basement and it was thankfully deserted.
"Jeff, I know you're angry, but please, listen to me." Melody looked around, keeping her voice at a minimum. "She got into a car accident four years ago, it was pretty bad and she miraculously came out with some injuries, the most severe was her memory loss."
He fucking knew it. How could they keep this from him? He could have helped her, anything. When she needed him most, he wasn't there for her. But it wasn't his fault. This was all on her siblings. They fucked up. They chose not to tell him. That's why he couldn't find her, why she didn't reply to his messages, because they deliberately erased him from her life.
Melody studied his reaction and he had a blank stare, but the fury was clearly seen. "For the record, I told Stephen to tell you because you deserve to know," she continued. "But he was adamant that everything happened for a reason, that you didn't deserve to be a part of her new life."
"Vanessa wanted to call you, but Stephen convinced her not to tell you. I should have told you, I should have said something, but I didn't and I'm sorry. No matter how shitty you treated her, you don't deserve to be erased from Emerson's life when you were such an important part of it." Melody sighed. "Please don't fault Emerson, she remembers you guys, but nothing that happened pass a month after her graduation. For the first two years, she didn't really remember anything and she's still not doing well. So she asked to come back here and her doctor suggested it as well, that coming home might trigger her memories."
"Why is she pretending then?" Jeff managed to ask her without any hint of emotion that he was trying to control.
"She just didn't want to disappoint you guys, she's met people that she met just a few years back and she doesn't remember them, it's frustrating for her because they just look at her with pity." Melody crossed her arms over her chest. "She just didn't want questions, she didn't really think this one through."
"No, she fucking didn't." Jeff growled out.
"Jeff, I know you're frustrated but now is not the time to be angry." Melody sighed. "She has a form of amnesia, retrograde I believe, she doesn't even remember her mother died."
Doesn't remember beyond eighteen? So he wasn't completely wiped out, she remembered them, she just didn't remember their friendship or their relationship. That was fantastic, just what he needed.
"Does she remember him?"
Melody pursed her lips and nodded her head.
Alexander Danvers. Emerson's unrequited love. They had met at the age of ten becoming fast friends. At the age of thirteen, Alex moved to Europe, his father was in the military and he was placed in Germany. By sixteen, Alex was back in Emerson's life, their friendship never fading since the two kept in touch. Then at eighteen, Alex left once again to move to California for college. Emerson was heartbroken when he left. She never told Alex that she was in love with him, that he was her world. Then a few months later, her mother passed away. Jeff was the one who found her when she everything became too much for her.
Jeff was walking his dogs, home from the road for a couple of days. It was always relaxing for him to be able to take out his boys and just take some time for himself. He loved his job, extremely thankful for the opportunity he was given, but the traveling could be a bit much at times. Walking to the familiar path between his home and Matt's he noticed a figure sitting on Matt's back porch. He cautiously made his way to Matt's house and as he got closer, the figure became more recognizable, it was Stephen's younger sister, Emerson.
His dogs ran to Emerson, startling the young girl. She looked up and their eyes met, her striking hazel eyes always captured him. It was weird for him to feel that way, but whenever their eyes met, even when she was younger, he was always stuck in her eyes.
"Hey, you alright?" He questioned as he got closer to her.
"Yeah, sorry," she wiped her face, standing up after she pet his dogs. "Matt's doing laundry," she bit her lip, trying to prevent herself from crying again. Taking a deep breath, she wiped the tears that escaped and spoke. "Matt lets me come here when I need some time alone, my family can be overbearing at times."
Jeff nodded. "Understandable, you can stay, I was just wondering who was here," he sat down and patted the spot next to him. "I know we're not close, but maybe I can help out?"
Emerson's bottom lip quivered before she let out a sob and the tears just came running down. Jeff froze, unsure of what to do. He'd been around women who cried before, but this was different. It was Emerson. He'd never seen her cry before, but then again he rarely spent that much time with her. He moved closer to her, wrapping an arm around her shoulders, pulling her in. She slightly moved her position and she faced him, wrapping her arms around his body, burying her face on his chest. He heard her sobs as she continued to cry. He rubbed her back soothingly, letting her just cry it out.
Jeff's dogs lied on the porch, watching Emerson and Jeff. He placed his cheek on the top of her head, wrapping her in his arms.
Once the tears stopped, she took a deep breath and slightly laughed. "I'm so sorry, your jacket is wet."
"Don't worry about it," he brushed it off. "You want to talk about it?"
"My mom died," she bit her lip, trying to compose herself. "It feels surreal, I was just talking to her and then the next thing I know she's dead." Emerson let out a few more tears. "I just can't believe she's gone."
Jeff knew the feeling. It was how he felt when his mother passed away. He could relate to Emerson.
"I know how you feel, same thing I felt when my mom passed away," Jeff wiped a tear from her cheek. It stung, seeing Emerson cry. He wasn't even sure why it did, she was just Stephen's sister. Sure he spoke to her a few times and he would consider her a friend, but there was just never anything between them until now. "It's going to be hard, but just know you're not alone."
"Yeah," she nodded. "Alex is gone too."
Alex, the same sounded familiar. Stephen always spoke about Alex and Emerson. It was like you couldn't mention one without the other. They were attached to the hip and as fat as he knew, Alex disappeared from Emerson's life as often as he's in it. Sure, they keep the friendship in tact, but it was still strained to some extent.
"And you just feel like everyone is leaving you?" Jeff questioned.
Emerson nodded her head, unable to speak as her tears came back.
"I understand why you feel that way, but you still have your siblings and the rest of your family. I know they're not a substitute for the people you're missing, but you have people around you who care about you," Jeff reminded her. "You have Shannon, Shane, my dad, Matt, Amy and I as well."
"Thanks Jeff, that means a lot." Emerson gave him a small smile. "Sorry to bother you with this."
"Don't even worry about it," Jeff kissed her forehead. "If you need me, I'm here for you."
And that's how their friendship began.
The tragedies in Emerson's life brought them closer together.
"Where is he?" Jeff questioned.
"Still in California, but he visits Emerson often." Melody replied.
Jeff bit his inner cheek, looking up at the ceiling. He shook his head and sighed. "This is fucking fantastic, she lost her memory and Alexander is back, this day couldn't get any better."
"Look, I know you're upset, but dwelling on the fact Alexander is back isn't going to help matters." Melody told him. "Emerson is the biggest concern here, she's the one who we have to help, who gives a shit about Alexander?"
"I do, I can't have him hanging around Emerson, he'll just swoop in for the kill." Jeff replied.
"Wait, Jeff, you want to get back with Emerson?" Melody questioned. "Besides, Alex is married."
"I have no idea why that seems like a surprising concept to you, but yes I do." Jeff replied. "Doesn't mean anything, I know he has feelings for your cousin, maybe he settled cause he knew Emerson and I were together."
"It's been two years Jeff, we all thought you moved on." It was true, they all thought he moved on. The calls from Jeff stopped coming so they just assumed he moved on. "Alex isn't like that, if he really did have feelings for her, he would have been divorced by now."
"Well you thought wrong," Jeff scoffed. "I've been waiting for her and now that she's back I have no plans of letting her out of my sight."
"Jeff, you might have to face facts that she might not remember, it's been years and she hasn't remember anything." Melody crossed her arms over her chest. "I just think you need to accept whatever you can get from her."
"I think ya'll been selfish with her for far too long, it's my turn now." Jeff walked up the stairs and into the living room. There he was met with Ares and Emerson sitting on the couch, Ares had his head on Emerson's lap as she watched television. Her hand was stroking his head, just like old times. Seeing that made him feel like there was hope to bring back their old relationship that they could make it. He didn't give a shit what anyone had to say, he'll bring the old Emerson back and if he couldn't it were still them against the world.
Jeff sat beside Emerson, softly nudging her. "I think you're in love with my dog."
"Oh, I am, I'm stealing him from you," Emerson joked, resting her arm against Ares' stomach. "He's such a friendly dog."
"You've met him before," Jeff lowly told her. "I know, Emerson."
Emerson turned her head to look at him and she gave him a sheepish smile. Looking around before her eyes landed on him once again, she sighed. "I'm sorry, I remember you guys to some extent, I just don't remember anything after I graduated high school, well a month after."
"You know it's okay right? We wouldn't have been offended if you had told us."
"It wasn't that, I just didn't want the looks of pity or the looks of hurt that everyone would get when I say I don't remember them." Emerson looked at the television once again. "Relationships I've build all over the years lost because of an accident. It's frustrating because I want to remember you and everyone else. But it's not happening right now. Hopefully moving back home will help out."
"Hey, you don't remember this, but I've told you before, I'll always be here for you." Jeff placed his hand over hers and softly squeezed it. "It'll happen gradually, just for now, readjust and we'll be here to help out."
Emerson just felt a calm come over her. Having Jeff on her side felt amazing. She wasn't even sure why that was, Jeff and her were never really closed, but the way he spoke to her, the comfort she felt, they might have gotten closer over the years.
"Can you help me tell them?" Emerson questioned.
Jeff smiled. "Of course, Emmy, anything for you." He stood up and called over Matt, Shannon, and Shane. Melody had joined Emerson while he was out to get the three men. Thankfully the rest of Shannon's guest weren't there yet.
"What's going on?" Matt questioned. "You alright Emmy?"
"Yeah, I'm fine, I just had something to tell you guys." Emerson looked at Jeff who gave her an encouraging smile and nodded his head. "I have amnesia and I don't remember anything pass a month after my high school graduation."
The three men stood frozen and looked at Jeff for confirmation. He nodded his head and their eyes traveled back to Emerson.
"That's why you were so welcoming towards Jeff." Shannon said, receiving an elbow from Shane.
Emerson gave him a questioning look, but Matt spoke up to avert her attention. "Emmy, why didn't you tell us? How long has it been?"
Matt had more questions, but these questions weren't for Emerson, it was for Stephen. He conveniently hid his younger sister when she needed them the most. It wasn't a cool move and he had to talk to him about it.
"Around three years now?" She sighed. "I'm sorry, I wanted to pretend that I can fit in, like there was no trouble, but that was obviously a bad idea." Her tears began to form in her eyes. "I just didn't want the looks of pity or for you guys to be hurt. I didn't really think it through."
Shane walked over to her and enveloped her into his arms. She wrapped her arms around him. He pulled away and kissed her cheek. "We're here for you, whatever you need. Just because you lost your memory, it doesn't change a thing between all of us."
"I agree," Shannon made his way over as well, hugging her. "We love you and I'm sure you remember that."
"I do," Emerson wiped the tears that fell from her eyes. "Can I still come over your back porch if I need space?"
"You can live in my house if you want to," Matt wrapped his arms around her. "We're gonna make it through this, Emmy, you're going to be just fine, with or without your memories. We can always make new ones."
Emerson smiled and nodded her head. "Thank you." She turned to Jeff. "Thanks."
"Of course, anytime."