A/N: Okay, folks... below is my much over-due update for those who are still interested! Thank you for your patience with me. I swear I never intend to take so long to post a new chapter. Your kind feedback is always so encouraging and motivating to me... It truly, truly is, and I cannot thank you enough for your support! I hope this chapter gives you a bit of everything you had in mind and maybe even some you did not. There is a lot of Demily ahead with Charlotte, Victoria, and our recent Hamptons returner, David, sprinkled throughout. :)
Chapter Eleven: Acceptance
In true poetic form, Daniel once said unpredictable moments can change your life, if you're ready for them, having no idea at the time the depth to which they would be carried. This would be one of those moments. The live image displayed on the sonogram screen was so clear, much more than he would have ever expected it to be, and it nearly took his breath away. "Oh wow," Daniel mumbled, unknowingly tightening his grasp on Emily's hand and drawing it closer to his chest. "I didn't realize how much we'd be able to see."
Emily looked up at him with a small smile as he marveled at the wonder before them. Of course, it was not the first time she had been given the opportunity to see the life growing within, and it never ceased to captivate. But right now, she was slightly more captivated by Daniel's reaction. The ultrasound technician was speaking in the background, identifying points of interest, but her was voice was like muffled white noise. Daniel could not really hear anything, only sensed the powerful nearness of Emily next to him as he continued to be mesmerized by the child they had created together.
And it when it came to an end, the lights were turned back on, breaking his trance. Left to themselves a minute later, Daniel released a long breath, forcing himself back to reality – back to the fact he was not sharing this defining moment with Emily Thorne, the woman he had loved insanely from the start. He was sharing it with Amanda Clarke, the one who betrayed him beyond words.
Perceptive to his inner conflict, Emily smiled wistfully with fallen eyes as Daniel slowly let go of her hand. "Thank you for coming today."
Daniel shook his head, processing the brevity of what he had just witnessed, and found it difficult to be angry with her after having just been graced by perfection. "That was... that was amazing."
"It was," Emily agreed and quickly amended, "It is." Her eyes returned to his with purpose. "I'm sorry that I kept this from you," She sincerely whispered, penetrating him. "But I'm really glad... that you're here now... We're going to have a son." Emily nodded to herself with conviction. "This is your son, Daniel."
She hoped he believed her, hoped there was no longer doubt in his mind, in his heart, but she could not blame him if there were. Surprisingly, Daniel's eyes were giving though, tender even. "I know." He nodded, forcing the smallest of smiles. "I know." Relieved, Emily's lips lifted into a modest smile, but finding their gaze too intense, Daniel looked off just a long enough to break the moment. "How did it go with your dad last night?"
"Good... we talked for a long time," Emily fondly reported. "I think I did most of the talking though. There's still so much I don't know." She wet her lips, recollecting. "He told me he was proud of me." Her eyes fell to her lap, thinking of how the very choices eliciting pride from her father, had been at Daniel's expense, and suddenly wondered if he would ever be able to fully accept what she had done.
"I'm proud of you too."
Emily's eyes abruptly rose at his gentle statement to see Daniel's mouth creasing reassuringly in the corner. They still had a long road to go, but it had not taken long at all for Daniel to realize his parents deserved to suffer the consequences for their heinous actions. "We should get going," He suggested, needing air. Every recent encounter with Emily seemed to leave his head spinning, and this was no exception. "I'll walk you out."
Emily expected to find her father when she slipped through the blowing curtain sheers into the beach house, but she was met by the back of a young woman hunched over the kitchen counter, whose lovely brown locks were cascading well beyond her shoulders. "Charlotte?"
Turning around on the counter stool in response, the brunette's expression brightened. "Emily!" Charlotte eagerly began moving towards her former sister in – law, immediately noticing her pregnant form. "Oh my God, look at you! " Charlotte embraced Emily, pulling back a moment later for clarification. "Wait – is Daniel?"
"Yes," Emily breathed, following with a bit of an awkward smile.
Charlotte lowered her chin. "Does he know?"
"He was just at my doctor's appointment with me," Emily softly confirmed with a nod, hearing her father's footsteps descending the wooden staircase. "You wanna see what your nephew looks like right now?" Slipping her hand into her open purse to retrieve the sonogram photo, she then modestly handed it to Charlotte.
"Aww, look at him," Charlotte melted, instantly in love with the precious face captured on the 3D image. "Dad, come see this," She enthusiastically insisted, having heard David's footsteps as well. The two had been introduced by Victoria only a few days prior, but were both eager to make up for lost time with the other.
David complied, stopping beside his youngest daughter, whom he knew was still unaware that the woman standing in her presence was actually her sister. He glanced warily over at Emily before managing a polite smile as to not arouse suspicion, and then focused on the image Charlotte held between her fingertips. It warmed David's heart to see the first glimpse of his grandchild, but he would need to keep his true reaction concealed for the moment. "That's wonderful," He downplayed. "Technology sure has come a long way."
Charlotte seemed oblivious to David's strained response, but of course, they were still getting to know one another. She looked back up at Emily. "Have you picked a name?"
"Not yet."
"I'm sorry," Charlotte gave her head a curious shake, returning the picture to Emily. "How did you know I was here?"
"I didn't, actually. I was just coming to check on the new owner," Emily raised her brow, turning to David. "I just wanted to make sure you were settling in okay."
David nodded, playing along. "It's truly wonderful being home again."
"He was telling me that you deeded the house to him, Emily. That is so generous of you," Charlotte commended with obvious adoration. Emily smiled tightly at the praise.
"Listen, I was actually on my way out," David lied, before the awkward conversation could continue any further. "I'll leave you two to catch up." He kissed Charlotte's head, sharing a final glance with Emily. "Ms. Thorne."
Emily respectfully bowed her chin. "Mr. Clarke." Charlotte watched him leave with a narrowed brow, but quickly brushed it off for the time being. "So, how are you doing, Charlotte... really?" Emily questioned as Charlotte led her to the sitting area.
"I'm guessing you know about my kidnapping that precipitated my father's downfall on live television?"
Emily barely nodded, increasingly remorseful of what she had unleashed on her sister in order to ensure Conrad's demise. Charlotte sighed, taking a seat. "It was horrible... and they've never caught the guy... Although, I swear it was Jack."
Emily's brow folded at this, not realizing Jack had taken the blame in yet another selfless act on her behalf. Why hadn't he said something, or why hadn't Nolan? Nevertheless, it only confirmed what Emily already knew: she needed to tell Charlotte the truth.
"How have you been coping?" Emily probed, avoiding the topic of Jack's involvement. Rather than answering, Charlotte looked away. "Charlotte... have you been taking pills again?"
"No. I haven't." It was the truth. She had resorted to a different escape this time.
"Cocaine is not something to play with," Emily gently warned, making an educated assumption.
Charlotte looked at her incredulously. "You have no idea what it's been like!" She defensively cried, jumping to her feet and beginning to pace. "Being taken against my will, finding out my father... or the man I spent most of my life believing was my father... was an absolute monster -"
Emily remained calmly seated despite the sudden outburst. "I should have been there for you."
"It's not your fault," Charlotte excused with sullen eyes, her body now motionless.
"Yes, it is," Emily countered, pausing to gain her nerve. "I need to tell you something that you're not going to like... because it means I've lied to you."
Perplexed, Charlotte sat down next to her again. "What is it?"
"I'm the one who kidnapped you," Emily admitted, her voice low with shame. Resting her weight against her knees, she clasped her hands and titled her head to the side to meet Charlotte's horrified gaze. "I know I did the wrong thing... but you have to believe I did it for all the right reasons."
"What're you saying?"
"I'm your sister, Charlotte," Emily whispered as tears filled her eyes, finally claiming ownership."I'm Amanda."
Stunned, Charlotte parted her mouth to speak, but was rendered temporarily speechless. Emily's startling revelation sent her reeling. There were so many things that suddenly made sense, and yet, were more confusing than ever before. "All this time... why didn't you tell me?" Charlotte finally asked, finding her voice.
"Believe me, I wanted to... every part of me wanted to. But I had to protect you... and I think after everything I'd done, a part of me felt like I didn't deserve you." It was a worthy start at an explanation, but not nearly enough. Emily sighed, expounding further, "After I was taken away... I went from shuffling around foster care, to living on the streets, to juvie -" Emily shut her eyes, pained by the memories. "I was so alone." Charlotte stared sympathetically at her sister as she softly recalled her past, finding it difficult not to be moved emotionally by Emily's words. "I know what you're feeling, Charlotte... but there is always another way to deal with it... a better way."
Charlotte watched curiously as Emily moved to a knelt position on the floor, pulling the area rug back and opening the secret compartment within the wood – planked floor. Having returned her Infinity Box to its original and rightful safe place after showing it to Daniel, she now lifted it upwards and set it on the coffee table in front of Charlotte. "Our father made this for me," Emily quietly explained.
"The journals," Charlotte observed in recognition after opening the lid.
"They gave me the strength to survive... I'm hoping they'll do the same for you... and that maybe you'll understand why I did the things I did."
It truly hit Charlotte then – the truth's Emily had hidden, the lengths she had gone to protect that truth and often at Charlotte's expense. Something suddenly snapped in the younger Clarke, causing her sentimentality to abruptly disintegrate. "You spent three years fighting for a family that was right in front of you... and instead of embracing me... you used me and lied to me."
"Charlotte -"
"Do you hear yourself?" Charlotte shook her head in disgust. "You chose revenge over me."
Emily exhaled, sliding her tongue across her lower lip. "I didn't think I had a choice."
"Well, you did," Charlotte flatly retorted, rising. "And you can't take it back... You think you're going to make some big, emotional plea, hoping that I'll forgive you for all the terrible things you've done to me... over what's in this!" Grabbing the wooden box, she forcefully threw it back down.
Emily flinched as it shattered upon impact, the infamous black journals spilling onto the coffee table in the aftermath. Charlotte was gone a moment later, leaving her to stare at the broken pieces of what she had treasured most.
In an attempt to work from home, Daniel sat behind his father's former desk, one of the last remaining furniture items in the manor which had not been sold. Rather than working though, he found himself lost in deep contemplation over his complicated existence. It had been tumultuous at best, and Daniel wondered if there would ever be a way to escape the wreckage of the past, the consequences of the prior sins committed by his parents, and later, himself.
Emily was woven into all of it of course, carrying her own fair share of damages, though Daniel was certain she felt far less regret than he, governed so often by her own sense of justice. Forfeiting any form of productivity, he closed his laptop in frustration and leaned back in the chair, catching a glimpse from his peripheral of Emily unexpectedly crossing the patio in a rushed manner.
"Emily?" Daniel called loudly enough for her to hear him from the living room, and she swiftly entered the study in response.
"Daniel," She sighed, seeing that he was alone. "I thought Charlotte might be here."
"No, I haven't seen her... Why?"
Slightly distraught, Emily brought a hand to her head and released a burdened breath. "She was so upset."
Her uncharacteristically frazzled state did not go unnoticed by Daniel, who then stood and rounded the corner of the desk, calmly urging, "Em, sit down."
"Daniel, I'm fine." Emily cast a dismissive glance his way, lowering her hand to her side.
"You're pregnant," Daniel countered, raising his brow when she only continued to stare defiantly at him. "Please?" Deciding it was pointless to argue with him, Emily sighed again and conceded, taking the seat he was recently occupying behind the desk. "Thank you," Daniel relented in satisfaction, mildly amused by her incessant stubbornness.
It really was sweet that he cared enough to worry, Emily then thought to herself, her countenance softening as a result. "I'm tougher than I look, you know?"
"I have no doubt," Daniel smirked. There was still so much they needed to discuss, that he needed to learn and understand about her, but it could wait until another time. Their sister clearly was of greater concern at the moment. "You told her... didn't you?" He surmised, sitting on the edge of the desk.
"I wanted her to know the truth now that our dad is back," Emily replied reflectively, swaying her head back and forth in short motions. "I just... I just hope I made the right decision... I knew she'd be angry, but... maybe I've pushed her too far."
"I'm sure she's just in shock... Give her some time."
"Did you know she's using again?" Emily looked up, instantly confirming from the alarm in Daniel's eyes that this was news to him. "Cocaine this time."
"She told you this?"
"She didn't have to." Emily briefly closed her eyes, plagued with guilt. "Daniel, she needs help... and I've just made things worse. You have to talk to her."
"How did not I notice?" He released a heavy breath, shaking his head. "I'm a terrible brother."
"You've been a much better brother to her than I've ever been a sister," Emily sadly reminded, catching his eyes. They fell softly on her in acknowledgment despite each of them being acutely aware it was Emily's own fault.
"I would say this is an unexpected sight, but then again... why would I?" Victoria sneered from the doorway, interrupting them.
Daniel looked over his shoulder at the sound of her bitter voice. "Mother," He flatly acknowledged, standing and turning to face her. "What are you doing here?"
"Well, this house does still belong to me, last I checked... no thanks to your ex-wife." Victoria shifted her attention to Emily. "I thought you would be off reminiscing with your father... Amanda," She icily addressed, her mouth forming a patronizing smile. "Did you really think I wouldn't figure it out eventually?"
Much to Victoria's disappointment, her intended bombshell did not seem to rattle its recipient whatsoever though. Instead, Emily only returned a smug smile, and when Victoria looked pointedly at Daniel, she found him lacking any indication of surprise as well. "I take it from your expression that this is not news to you?" She presumed. "How long have you known?"
"Since the night before I brought David the deed to the beach house."
"And yet here you sit," Victoria reverted to Emily, almost marveling. "Continuing to spin your web of deceit." Her porcelain features hardened into a prim scowl. "My son may be perpetually blinded when it comes to you, but I am not. This is still my home, and you're not welcome here."
"Fine. I'll leave then," Emily quietly conceded, rising from her seat and cutting her eyes to Daniel at her side. "Daniel, I'll talk to you later." He gave a nod of acceptance, both averting to watch as Victoria's eyes flickered in startled realization, having naturally traveled down Emily's figure to land on the sizable bump at her midriff. "Oh, and by the way," Emily coyly added, pausing momentarily in Victoria's personal space. "You're going to be a grandmother, Victoria."
Victoria glared at her adversary as she left before returning her attention to Daniel across the room. "I suppose you're going to tell me you're the father?"
An arrogant smile of satisfaction grazed his lips. "Hence your pending grand-motherhood."
"You two separated well over eight months ago, Daniel," She condescendingly rebutted. "I know you're better at math than that."
"Not that it's any of your business, but Emily came to see me right before she left town... seven months ago."
Victoria rolled her eyes, muttering, "I see you have about as much impulse control as your father."
Incensed by the reference, Daniel began coldly closing the distance between them. "And excuse me if I didn't take any precautionary measures, but I didn't think any were necessary since you told me I had sterilized her!" He bellowed, bringing his hands to his waist. "How sick and twisted can you be, Mother?" Slightly ashamed, Victoria turned from his scrutiny, biting the interior of her mouth. "Now... I can comprehend why you would do that to Emily, but how could you do that to me?" Daniel questioned, genuinely hurt. "Do you have any idea the guilt I've carried all these months?"
Victoria squared her head in his direction, her stoicism returning. "Guilt Emily could have eased by telling you the truth sooner."
"We are not talking about her right now!" Daniel argued. While Emily was certainly not blameless, her betrayal was a separate issue to him at the present time. "We're talking about you and what you've done."
"I was trying to protect you."
"Protect me?"
"Yes, protect you, Daniel," Victoria emphatically repeated. "Emily put you through hell and was only going to continue to do so... Speaking of which, have you even gotten a paternity test?"
Daniel sighed. "Emily offered, but... it's not necessary."
"Not necessary?" She scoffed in disbelief. "Daniel, what makes you think she's not lying to you about this? She's lied about everything else!"
"I know that's my child, okay? I just... know," Daniel resolved, further settling it within his core. "Now," He deflected, exhaling. "I suggest you focus your energies on more pressing matters... like say for instance... righting your wrongs with David Clarke."
"There you go – extra brown grilled cheese sandwich, just like you always liked it." Having been lost in thought, Emily looked up with her father at this, jarred back to the present. David was lightly smiling down at her, taking great pleasure in being able to care for his daughter again. He set the plate of food on the coffee table and then took a seat beside her on the sofa.
Emily managed a small smile in return, already drifting in thought again. "Thanks."
"You need to eat something, Amanda," David coaxed when she made no attempt towards the food in front of her.
"I know." She hunched over to rest her forehead against her palm. "I'm just so worried about Charlotte."
"It's going to take her some time to process everything."
"I was so foolish to... to think that I could tell her my real identity, show her the journals... and that we'd just move forward."
"Just because this box was my salvation and yours... doesn't mean it will do the same for Charlotte."
"I'm sorry she broke it," Emily whispered, staring at the broken pieces still laying on the coffee table.
"It can be repaired," David assured, not worried about an inanimate object, no matter its significance.
Emily turned her head towards him, somewhat defeated. "What if I can't repair the damage I've done, Dad?"
David paused to stare at Emily, unsure what to say. So instead, he slipped a comforting arm around her. Emily relaxed against him, secretly wishing the peace she felt with her father would permeate into the rest of her life. Her mind trailed to Daniel, someone else she hoped would reach a point of deeper understanding and acceptance towards the choices she had made and why she had made them. "This damage you speak of," David began, breaking their lapse of silence. "I know you did it all for me. You've sacrificed so much more than any daughter ever should... than anyone ever should."
Emily lifted her head from his shoulder. "I would do anything for you."
"And I would do anything for you, Amanda. I promise I'm going to do everything in my power to make this right for you and Charlotte... I want a relationship with both my daughters." They had been robbed of enough as it was.
Emily studied him for a moment. Her father's genuineness was clear, but much remained unknown between them, and there was one question in particular that had been nagging at her since his return. "Then I need you to tell me the truth." David raised a questioning brow, wary of where this was leading. Emily drew a sizable breath. "Where have you been the last ten years?"
Over the past week, Emily afforded Daniel the time and space to think she promised. In fact, she had taken it a little too literally for his liking, though he would never be willing admit it. Currently wrestling with what was to be his final night at Grayson Manor, he opened all the patio doors, allowing the familiar ocean air to infiltrate the vast space of the mostly empty home.
Without thought, he moved to the study where the liquor cabinet was still housed, a half-empty bottle of whiskey being all that remained. Picking it up, Daniel stared at the label encasing the thick glass, finding the brazen liquid lacking its typical mind-numbing appeal tonight. The doorbell rang before he could consider it any further, and though Daniel considered ignoring his late evening visitor, he suspected he might regret doing so.
When he opened the door to find Emily waiting patiently under the porch light, he was secretly thankful he hadn't acted on his initial instinct. For despite his conflicted state, Daniel was more intrigued than ever by his illusive former wife.
A soft smile touched Emily's mouth. "Hi."
"Hey," Daniel breathed, stepping aside to invite her into the foyer. Emily appreciatively dropped her chin, entering and walking a few strides beyond him. Daniel admiringly observed her descending figure while shutting the front door, noting her condition was not detectable from behind. However, it was quite apparent when Emily turned back around to face him, and though it was expected at this point, managed to stir his heart yet again. Daniel cleared his throat, uncomfortable with his perpetual weakness towards the woman he knew he should not trust. "What brings you by?"
"I heard you're planning to move out of here tomorrow."
"Yeah, we got a cash offer and escrow closed today. I have until tomorrow to be out."
Emily slowly nodded, sensing Daniel found the pending departure bittersweet. "You okay?"
"It's just a house," Daniel shrugged, his eyes inadvertently scanning their surroundings. "Although... it will be strange to say goodbye to it. For all the horrible things this house represents... it's the only real home I've known."
Emily nodded again, not surprised by his answer. In a way, she was counting on it. "Where we love is home. Home that our feet may leave, but not our hearts."
He smiled sadly at the reference, descending the two entry steps as well and sealing the remaining gap between them. Now only inches apart, Daniel was tempted to touch Emily as she stood doe-eyed, reminiscent of their first date. "And here I thought I was the poet."
Unable to resist, Daniel gently brushed her cheek with the back of his fingers before moving past her towards the living room. Emily briefly frozen in place, struck by the underlying pain of Daniel's sentiment. Recovering, she soon followed him into the living room, somewhat uncertain whether or not she was actually welcome. Daniel did not speak, but rather opted to light a fire in the hearth in hopes of counteracting the cool night air circulating the room. More so, it gave him something to do with his hands – something to keep him from touching Emily again.
Emily watched in silence from the lone sofa as Daniel struck a long, wooden match, crouching down to hold it under the furbished logs and simultaneously turning the corresponding gas key to ignite the flames. He then joined her, careful to keep a safe distance of space between them on the cushions. "Do you ever think about it?" Emily asked, his comment in the foyer still lingering in her mind.
"What's that?"
"Writing again."
Daniel tipped his chin in understanding, subsequently looking away. "Sometimes I actually do write when I can't sleep... which seems to be more often lately."
Emily paused, knowing full well she was the source of his restless nights and decided it was best to change the subject. "Where are you planning to go?"
"There's a hotel in the City I've always liked," Daniel replied. "I'm going to stay there until the baby comes... then maybe find some place closer to here -" He cast his eyes questioningly at her. "- assuming you're staying in the Hamptons, that is."
"I'm not going anywhere," Emily softly confirmed, her mouth curving upwards.
"Good," Daniel exhaled. "Because I want to be a part of his life." Though Emily remained silent, it was clear she found the idea touching, and so he gingerly continued, "I'd like to be there when he's born... if that's okay with you."
"Of course," Emily whispered, nodding indistinctly. "I want you to be."
Daniel gazed at her for a moment, suddenly unable to speak. It was overpowering at times, the emotional pull he still felt in her presence. He supposed it was never going to change. Maybe he did not want it to. "And I was hoping that you'd stay here instead," She added, puzzling him.
"What do you mean?"
Emily drew a breath. "I'm the one who bought Grayson Manor, Daniel."
"What?"
"I was the buyer," Emily repeated, warily waiting as he digested her news.
He narrowed his brow, shifting his head to the side. "Why – because you want to get back at my family?"
"No," She breathed, shaking her head. "Not this time. I did it for you."
"Some LLC bought this place," Daniel prodded, suspecting Emily created the entity with the sole intent of purchasing the manor.
"I didn't think you would agree to the sale, if you saw my name on the contract," Emily admitted without defense. "I wasn't trying to keep something else from you, Daniel. I just..." She closed her eyes. "I know I can't erase the lies I told you, but...I'm trying to at least make some of it up to you."
Daniel understood how it felt – trying to atone for something of which there seemed to be no true atonement. Perhaps, it was because of this knowledge, this particular empathy, that Emily's tactic did not evoke anger or aggravation within him. After all, Daniel attempted to offer monetary recompense in their divorce settlement due to a far graver error, one that had almost taken Emily's life. "You didn't need to do that."
"I wanted to," Emily tenderly explained. "You said yourself... this is the only home you've known."
"That doesn't mean you needed to buy it." Now Daniel was the one to close his eyes, heaving a burdened sigh. "I don't want you trying to be nice to me because you feel guilty... As angry as I've been with you... I'm far from innocent myself."
Emily swallowed, pondering his words. There was no denying Daniel was right in his assessment, and yet, Emily found herself unable to muster the contempt she once felt towards him. Instead, she only felt the guilt which Daniel had pointedly identified. Maybe she was blinded by it, but all she could see was the man he was now, the one whose heart she had broken. "What are you saying?" She lightly treaded. "Do you think you might be able to forgive me?"
"Can you?" Daniel countered, always somewhat baffled by her ability to gloss over his sins. "I shot you, Emily. How can you pretend it didn't happen?"
"I'm not pretending," Emily insisted, unfazed by the brevity of the topic. "But I recognize I drove you to it." She pursed her lips, formulating. "And I was hoping... we might could just call this whole mess even."
Daniel wanted to laugh at the absurdity of her proposal, at how they were acting as though such devastating betrayals were mere mishaps. "You're serious?" This time he did laugh, a low chuckle that caught in his throat. Emily remained solemn though, unwavering in her plight. Daniel's sardonic smile soon faded, a somewhat skeptical expression taking its place. "Why? Why do you want to?"
Granted, exhibiting emotion was not her strong suit, but had she not made it clear to him by now, Emily inwardly wondered? She cocked her head. "Because I love you."
Emily had offered the same explanation before, once when she was trying to convince Daniel of her reason for wanting to marry him after marring his name in the press. He recalled it well, though looking back, Emily's seemingly genuine words at the time somehow lacked sincerity by comparison now. Even so, Daniel struggled to ascertain whether this recent difference was due to something he simply wanted to find in her eyes, or if the special glimmer reflecting in her chocolate pools was, in fact, real.
Daniel closed his eyes again in attempt to block out the confusion the sight of Emily seemed to cause. "I need to ask you something, and I want the truth... Not just what you think I want to hear... or a modified version of it, okay?"
Emily nodded for her own benefit, finding it a reasonable request. "Okay."
"The other day... you told me it wasn't all a lie... at least not with me." Daniel re-opened his eyes, not wanting to miss the opportunity to gauge her reaction. "But you went to great lying lengths to keep me around... so I want to know, truly know... was any of it real?"
"Yes."
"And I'm not talking about after the amnesia," Daniel clarified.
"I'm not either," Emily whispered, her eyes falling in somber recollection. "The truth is...you were part of my plan from the start... an expedient way to get to your family. I actively taught myself not to trust people, not to... feel emotion, but you -" She smiled wistfully at the memory of him, her eyes rising to meet his. "You were so kind and disarming. I wasn't prepared for that... It may have started out as a lie, but... there was a time... when the feelings were real, and... I think we had a chance at a real relationship."
Daniel was not sure if this confirmation made him feel better or worse. If Emily truly loved him in the past, then he obviously had lost her along the way. Because as much as Daniel had not wanted to admit it at the time, the woman he married did not love him. He would have felt it if she had, would have felt what he did sitting with her now, such indescribable warmth. "What changed?" Daniel lifted his chin, his brow furrowing at her pending reply.
"The moment you aligned yourself with your father... it was all over," Emily gently replied, not wishing to dwell on it.
He should have known, Daniel thought, should have known his distinctly poor choice was the beginning of the end for them. And he had no one but himself to blame. "We spent a lot of time together after that day, Emily," Daniel reminded, mildly disgusted by how many moments she must have feigned in order to continue her quest.
"I've always cared about you, Daniel. That never stopped."
"No... but you cared about your revenge more."
Emily paused thoughtfully. He sounded like Charlotte, another fence she was desperately trying to mend. "Nothing has meant more to me than avenging my father."
Daniel nodded slowly, the cold truth expected, but still harsh to his ears. "And you did. You cleared his name and put my father behind bars."
"It didn't come without a price... But I don't regret it, Daniel," Emily softly admitted. "I can't change the past, but... I can promise you that from now on, no more secrets... for your sake... for our son's sake."
"Then answer me one thing," Daniel challenged, licking his lower lip. "What are you going to do to my mother?"
"I don't know yet," Emily honestly answered, giving her head a shake. "But... I'm not going to stand by and allow her to hurt my dad again."
This did not come as a surprise to him, and Daniel couldn't blame Emily for vowing to protect her father from the future harm his mother would inevitably inflict. Though he had only spent a short amount of time with David, it was enough to prove he was worth the fight. "That makes two of us," Daniel assured, causing Emily's mouth to curl in pleasant surprise. "Your dad's suffered enough." Reaching over, he gently gripped her knee, gazing at her with purpose. "So have you."
Was Daniel extending a peace offering or was it more than that? Was this his way of letting her know he was willing to accept her proposition? Either way, it was a start. Emily's lips puckered into another small smile of appreciation to which Daniel returned, sensing they had reached an understanding of sorts. But she then winced slightly, exhaling a sharp breath.
Instantly concerned, Daniel leaned forward. "What is it?"
"Nothing," Emily laughed it off, looking downward. "I think he may just be running out of room."
Daniel automatically inched closer in response, placing his hand against her rounded stomach to soon feel the tiny movements beneath his palm. He chuckled, smiling at the sensation. "He really is moving around a lot in there, isn't he?"
"Mm-hhmm," Emily murmured, sitting contently while Daniel continued to enjoy the happiness their baby had already brought to her all these months. For a small moment, he appeared free of burden, transferred rather to a blissful state where the past suddenly did not seem to matter as much. Emily looked fondly over him, waiting for Daniel to lift his eyes to hers. And when he did, they danced back and forth together, not in familiar lust, but in love. Pure and unrelenting love in spite of their tainted history and confusing present.
Daniel cautiously lifted his hand to Emily's cheek, wondering if he were about to make another mistake. But there was something about being in such close proximity to her, bonding over the unborn life they had created together, that made it nearly impossible for him to deny his desires. He still wanted her, still wanted her to belong to him and him to her. And so Daniel gently pulled Emily's face to his until their lips met, meshing slowly at first, each tentative of the other, but growing deeper and longer in strides until their smooth motions escalated to heated passion.
Daniel framed Emily's face with his hands, groaning as he barely retracted. "How would you feel about me taking you to the bedroom?" Between him understandably grappling with her betrayal, not to mention her substantially encumbered state, Emily was a tad surprised by Daniel's suggestion. Her eyes fell in hesitation, causing his brow to knit together. "It is too soon, or... too much? Do you not feel up to it?" He worried, trying his best to read her.
"No, it's uh..." She looked back up at him with a slightly contorted expression. "I mean... you're sure you want to?"
Daniel laughed under his breath, shutting his eyes and kissing her once more. "Yes, I'm sure," He affirmed, stroking her hair as he tried to determine the root of her apprehension. He caught it then, the rarest hint of bashfulness flitting in her eyes. "Do you have any idea... how beautiful you are?" Daniel asked in a convicted whisper, holding her face in his hands again. He lifted his shoulders, shrugging at the unexplainable gravitational pull he had been unable to escape since he first laid eyes on her three years prior. "I built that fire earlier... just to keep me from touching you."
Emily smiled through her eyes, it never having occurred to her that was the cause for his previous diversion. "I don't know where the hell we're supposed to go from here, Em," Daniel admitted. "But I do know that I want to try and figure it out."
"I just don't want you to feel obligated to me in any way because of the baby," Emily resolved, emitting quiet strength. "I'm not going to keep him from you. I won't do that to you," She lovingly promised, slipping her hand around his wrist.
"I don't believe in much of anything anymore, but... I do believe that," He softly assured, running his hands down her arms until they reached her stomach. Daniel gently pressed his palms to it again, staring at his hands for a time, but more so, at what was underneath. "And I don't feel obligated," He eventually continued, raising his eyes to find Emily waiting in patient expectation. "I just want to be with you... Amanda."
Another A/N: Well, there it is... as I often to say, for better or worse! Questions regarding what happened with Charlotte, David and Victoria during the week Emily gave Daniel to think, will be addressed in the next chapter, and I will be sure to incorporate Nolan as well because I missed writing him. I hope Demily did not seem too rushed in this chapter, or might I say, even too mushy. Then again, I rarely get a complaint regarding too many Demily feels, hehe. Anyway, I really vacilated with how I wanted to handle their final scene of the chapter. Frankly, I just am not wanting to drag it out for their characters. They have enough to face as it is, and I genuinely believe that it would not take Daniel long to soften towards her, given the circumstances... especially with their added back story in previous chapters. BUT that's just me, so please let me know your thoughts about ALL of it, if you would be so kind. :)
Many thanks and much love,
Only Hope – 7 xoxo