Chapter Thirteen: Confusion

Confusion was not a new concept to Emily, but the confusion she was currently experiencing was far different than what she faced when she awakened without any memories the year prior. She now stood dismayed watching her father dote on a bedridden Victoria from the hospital hallway. Not only was Emily unable to understand how he could still exhibit such kindness towards his betrayer, but even more so, how she herself could have been so terribly wrong about him.

A nurse entered the room then to check on Victoria, and after a brief exchange with her, David then joined Emily in the hallway, guiding her towards the vacant nurses' station a few feet away. "The doctor thinks she's going to be fine, but said the next few hours are critical," He reported in a hushed tone, noting the disdain reflecting in his daughter's dark eyes. "I'm sure you wanted otherwise."

Dissatisfied, Emily crossed her arms over her protruding waistline. "What I want is the truth... from you. I would have done anything for the dad I lost, but you're obviously not that man." It pained her very core to think he was responsible at any point for their separation, the thought of it somehow almost too much to bear. Emily's brow narrowed in sorrow. "Those photos prove that you were right there."

"If I was, there is nothing that would have kept me from getting to you," David assured, gently placing his hands on her shoulders. "I did not take those photos."

His words were music to her ears. Relaxing slightly, Emily's eyes lifted with an ounce of hope. "Then who did?"

"Em!" Daniel called out as he made strides towards them, unknowingly interrupting a crucial moment in David and Emily's conversation. "What happened?" He asked in a huff upon reaching them.

"Karma striking back?" She barbed, casting a loathsome glare in Victoria's direction.

"Amanda," David chided under his breath, though she paid no attention. Daniel too, appeared to give little regard to the hateful inference towards his mother, but rather seemed more perplexed by the reasoning behind Victoria's hospitalization. "Daniel, your mother's going to be fine, but... I'm sure she would like to see you," David nudged, immediately sensing Daniel's hesitation at the suggestion.

"I think I've seen enough," Daniel hastily concluded, turning to leave, but David caught his arm.

"She's still your mother," He gently reminded, urging him to concede.

Unconvinced, Daniel cut his eyes to Emily who merely bowed her chin, silently requesting he listen to her father. Certain her reasoning had more to do with her own agenda than the preservation of his relationship with her enemy, Daniel soon decided he could endure a few minutes alone with his mother. Sighing, he left David and Emily to themselves, advancing the few feet to enter Victoria's room. She was resting, completely unaware Daniel had considered leaving the hospital without so much as speaking to her.

Opening her eyes at the sound of his footsteps, her mouth curved into a relieved smile at the sight of her handsome son. "Daniel, you came." Victoria's momentary pleasure quickly dissipated at the forlorn expression he wore. "Daniel, please," She wearily pled, but he only shook his head, overcome with disgust for whom she had proven herself to be time and time again. "I know I owe you an apology."

He laughed through his nose. "An apology? For what, Mom, hmm? Which offense are you referring to?"

"My reaction to Emily's pregnancy," Victoria calmly replied, seemingly impervious to his insults. "If you truly believe it is your child she's carrying, then you have my full support. But I am cautioning you to not allow your apparent weakness for her to cloud your judgment."

"My judgment is not clouded," Daniel insisted, defensively squinting his eyes. "I'm going to be a father."

Despite her misgivings, Victoria's instincts inclined her to believe it to be true as well, no matter how much she loathed the idea of Emily's involvement. Softening, she looked up proudly at him, the thought of Daniel having a child of his own warming her heart. "And you're going to be a great one."

Daniel shook his head to the contrary, not bothering to mask his genuine concern for his paternal abilities. "I don't know about that. Look at the example I had."

"You may share Conrad's blood, but you are nothing like him, Daniel."

"How can you say that? How can you say that after the things I've done?" He retorted, frustrated by his mother's willful ignorance, by the constant way she manipulated the truth to best suite her. "I shot my wife."

"Don't make excuses for her," Victoria warned, stifling a snarl. "She put you through hell."

"No. This goes beyond her," Daniel countered, moving closer to the hospital bed. "It'd be real easy to blame Emily for my mistakes, but this goes further back. Seeing what you're doing to David now, knowing what you were capable of all those years ago..."

"You blame me," Victoria surmised. Physically depleted, she inched her body upwards against the pillows with the shred of strength she could muster. "You think you really know what happened? Well, here it is-" She drew a shaky breath, though her eyes were unwavering. "Your father's business practices forced me to make a despicable choice. It was either my lover's life or my son... and I sacrificed David and chose you... Daniel, I will always choose you."

It sounded so beautifully tragic – a mother's sacrificial love surpassing her own desires. There was a time he would have fallen for her guile's, but Daniel knew better now. "No, no...this is what you do," He dismissed, becoming agitated. "This is exactly what I'm talking about. There is always an explanation for how you love and why... because you are terrified of being alone." He shrugged, almost taking pity on her – helpless in a hospital bed, grasping at any ounce of sympathy she could evoke. "Look at you now, you're alone."

"You're wrong. I'm not alone," Victoria quietly maintained. "I have David... even after he reunited with Emily. I keep waiting for blow-back, but it hasn't happened."

Though he was fairly certain Emily had yet to decide how she was going to proceed, Daniel was also certain she would sooner destroy his mother than allow Victoria to hurt her father again. He looked off ominously. "Not yet."

"It won't," Victoria glossed, confident. "I think... perhaps... pending motherhood has stirred compassion within her. She was the one who called for the ambulance earlier. Did you know that?" Intrigued, Daniel's eyes returned to her, flickering in mild surprise. "I'd apparently stopped breathing and David gave me CPR. The first voice I heard was Emily's – on the phone with 911." Victoria released a short breath at the irony. If she hadn't heard it with her own ears, she would not have believed it. "I love David, Daniel. And I'm willing to do anything to make him happy... even if it means accepting his daughter."

Daniel shook his head again as he dug his hands in the pockets of his jacket. "You're just trying to control the situation because you've realized you actually have a grandchild on the way."

Clearly stung, Victoria slowly slid her tongue across her lower lip. "That is not true, and I resent you saying that."

"So what, Mother... we'll just be one big, happy family?" Daniel barbed, belittling the notion. "Oh, I know – we can celebrate Christmas at the beach house and you can make the ham. It sounds perfect."

In true form, Victoria stoically chose to ignore his sarcasm and continue with her plight. "If that's what it takes," She softly declared. "I almost died, Daniel, and I'm sick of being miserable. I want peace and a new life with David."

"I'm telling you right now, what you have with David can't last," Daniel predicted, not out of spite, but in an attempt to awaken Victoria from her proverbial state of denial. A part of him wanted to scream at the top of his lungs that David was fully aware of her role in his betrayal, but Daniel bit his tongue. He'd chosen his side in this war and his mother did not deserve any advantages. "Your whole relationship is built on lies, and trust me, they'll come out. And he'll choose Emily." He began backing away then, wondering if anything he said had resonated with her.

"Just like you have," Victoria wistfully concluded, casting a defeated gaze across the room to where Daniel was now standing in the doorway. "Your relationship was built on lies too, Daniel. Don't forget that."

"Those photos – who took them... and how did you have them?" Emily questioned her father again after leading him to a vacant hospital room where they could speak privately.

"How did you have them?" David defensively countered, pausing to piece it together. "You stole them from my safety deposit box," He assumed, waiting for her to deny it, but Emily only dropped her eyes to the floor. "Why were you looking through my things?"

"Because I don't think you're telling me the whole story."

"So you waited until I wasn't home and stole it from me?"

"No," Emily countered, looking at him pointedly. "I went to the beach house to warn you about what I discovered this morning, but you weren't home."

David gave his head a shake, perplexed. "What are you talking about?"

"Someone made Charlotte their mark in order to get to you. It's a long story." Emily sighed, feeling fatigued from the events of the long day. "She's fine, but she called me for help. The guy was clearly targeting you, Dad... And I think you know why... and I want you to tell me."

David made a sudden about face toward the windows, contemplating his thoughts. "Amanda... it's not that simple."

"Of course it is," Emily insisted, not understanding his resistance. "You just need to tell me the truth."

"What I need, is for you to stay out of it."

"So you admit there is a threat?" She prodded, growing impatient.

"Yes, dammit – there's a threat!" David nearly exploded, turning on his heels. "And I'm not willing to put your life or the life of my grandchild at risk."

"I can take care of myself and my baby," Emily assured, lowering her voice. "You have no idea what I'm capable of, Dad."

Her entire being was radiating with darkened confidence, the unspoken declaration yielding a new-found fear within him. It both saddened and scared David to witness glimpses of how life had hardened Amanda from the sweet little girl he'd been forced to leave behind, and yet, he was so very proud of her strength and survival. He stepped back, shaking his head again. "This is not the life I wanted or want for you."

"I was never going to have a normal life!" Emily burst in exasperation. "And I am not going to stand by now and watch you get hurt. I've devoted nearly my entire life to you, which is why I punished your enemies – why I cleared your name!"

"I never asked for your help!" David spat under his breath, catching her off guard. It was obvious he instantly regretted his cutting response, but it was too late. The damage was immediate and sent Emily reeling. Wounded, she heaved to retain composure, staring incredulously at her father. "Amanda -"

But Emily only shook her head and stormed out of the room, the crumpled wad of paper she held in her hand falling to the floor in the process. Crouching down, David curiously retrieved it, soon discovering it was a picture taken of the two of them shortly before his arrest – when life seemed much simpler and peaceful.

"I'm having a distinct case of deja vu," Daniel murmured while climbing the porch steps from the night. Wiping the stray tear from her cheek, Emily blankly looked over at him in acknowledgment of his presence as he gingerly approached her on the swing. "When your dad told me you'd left the hospital, I had a feeling you would be here."

Emily cast her eyes to the ocean in the distance. "Am I that predictable?"

A laugh caught in his throat. "Predictable would not be an adjective I would choose to describe you." He paused to observe her profile, watching with pleasure as the corner of her mouth began to pucker in mild amusement.

"I'm sorry I left the hospital without telling you. I was upset."

"Wait – are you crying because my mother survived?" Daniel playfully nudged her shoulder. "I'll admit it is disappointing."

Emily emitted a heavy breath that resembled a laugh, giving her head a shake. "It's not that."

"What then?"

"It's my dad. We had a fight, I -" She closed her eyes, pained by the recent recollection. "I've spent over a decade avenging a father I barely knew, and it turns out – he didn't even want my help." Repeating it to Daniel now was almost embarrassing, especially considering the hell she'd put him through for her cause. But she only found sympathy when she met his eyes as fresh tears formed in her own. "All this time, I've been telling myself I was righting wrongs, but really... I was the one who was wrong."

"Hey," Daniel whispered, consolingly draping his arm around her. "I'm sure you're not as wrong as you think -"

"Daniel -" Emily interrupted, wetting her lips. "You've experienced firsthand the consequences of my actions. I'm just thankful you're willing to give me another chance... But Charlotte... I may never be able to repair the damage I've caused, and what's more... Amanda died because of me." Her brow knitted together in anguish. "And she's never coming back," Emily gasped as the pooled tears spilled onto her cheeks.

Daniel did not think he had ever seen her this distraught, this defeated, before and it nearly rendered him speechless. Raging hormones or not, it was unlike Emily to display such emotion. He knew better than anyone she was an expert at faking tears, but these were no doubt real, and it troubled his heart to see her hurting, though many could argue she deserved it.

"Emily... she died because my father saw to it that, what he viewed as a threat of being exposed, was extinguished," Daniel reasoned, stroking her upper arm with his fingertips. "Which is why... the more I've thought about all of this, the more I respect the fact you're the reason he's behind bars today." It was rather satisfying to think of Conrad Grayson sitting alone in a jail cell with no hope of parole, and Emily couldn't help smirking a twinge at Daniel's approval. Catching it, he smirked in return before his eyes fell. "And as far as me being willing to give you another chance... let's not forget the fact that I nearly killed you on our wedding night."

Emily mildly shrugged against his arm. "We've both made mistakes."

"Well, that's one way of putting it." Daniel grinned wistfully, starting to become accustomed to her nonchalance towards the matter. "So what, one fight with your dad and you're giving up?"

"Not giving up – just... re-evaluating." She sighed, looking out into the night again. "No matter what he says, he's in danger."

"You still thinking about those photos we found with Charlotte?"

"Yes, and the ones I found in his safety deposit box." Daniel furrowed his brow as Emily revealed the evidence concealed under leg, having retrieved the photos from living room floor earlier. "I thought my dad had taken them, but... he says he didn't."

Daniel retracted his arm in order to use both hands to sort through the 8x10 sized images. "Well, if he didn't, then who did?"

"I don't know. He still hasn't answered me." Emily paused, her mind transitioning to Victoria. "How did it go with your mom?"

Daniel rolled his eyes, setting the pictures down. "She was her typical manipulative self... but she did say you were the one who called for the ambulance."

Emily sighed, forcing a small smile. "It was a moment of weakness."

Daniel smiled back, proud of her. "Thank you. As much as I hate her... I don't want to see her harmed."

"I know." Emily gazed admiringly at him. "That's why I called for the ambulance."

She was continually surprising him, whether it be with her forethought, skillful abilities, or even in this moment, consideration. Daniel released a short breath through his nose, shutting his eyes as he leaned forward to place an appreciative peck against Emily's lips. When he pulled back ever so slightly to share a contented smile with her, he was taken by the genuine adoration staring back at him. Though Victoria's parting words lingered in his mind, Daniel made the conscious decision right then to defy them. Emily was and would always be his true love, and all that mattered to him was how right, how honest, it felt between them now.

"Hey," He breathed, shifting thoughts. "Is our little guy moving around tonight?"

Emily's eyes dropped fondly to her rounded stomach at the mention as Daniel rubbed his palm against it. "He was a little while ago. I think he's asleep right now," She supposed through a soft smile.

"We should probably start talking about ideas for names," Daniel suggested, attempting to lighten the mood. "Or do you already have one picked out?"

Emily drew a deep breath, pinning it with a smile for his endearing motives. "When I found out the baby was a boy, I... I thought I would name him David, but that was before I learned my father was alive..." She trailed, tipping her chin. "Were you hoping for Daniel, Jr.?"

Daniel chuckled softly at the sentiment. "No." Their temporary smiles faded into peaceful silence, both reveling in the reality that was to be – they were going to be parents together, linked for life. "So... are you saying you're okay with him having the Grayson name?" He asked, catching the underlying inference in Emily's benevolent questioning.

The thought of her child carrying on the seemingly cursed name normally made Emily cringe, and it had been one of the many reasons she'd chosen to keep her pregnancy a secret for so many months. But when she thought of it solely attached to Daniel instead of his abhorred family, it somehow shed new light, warming her heart and endearing her further to the man that sat before her now.

Daniel was waiting warily for her to answer, clearly uncertain of the outcome. Something deep within Emily was compelling her to grant him this, a gift for the gift he had given her. Perhaps, she felt she owed it to him, or perhaps, it was simply because she loved him. "He's your son, Daniel," Emily whispered with loving eyes, lifting her fingers to his beard.

Moved, Daniel's brow pinched together as he drew her close for another kiss. "You'd do that for me?"

Emily's mouth curved into a gentle smile. She might be sifting through the sorted emotions rendered from a draining day, but her weariness only served as an aid in lowering her guard, allowing her to focus on what she still knew to be true, the way she'd grown to feel for him. "I'd do anything for you," Emily softly proclaimed, drawing a sizable breath. "Including spare your mother... if that's what you want."

"When I said I didn't want to see her hurt, I meant physically," Daniel clarified, reaching up to lightly play with her hair. "That doesn't mean I don't want to see her pay for what she's done... But just the fact you offered... means more to me than you'll ever know."

Emily nodded, finding satisfaction in knowing she pleased him. Sensing they finally understood one another, Daniel nodded as well, thankful to be on the same page with her. "Come on," He breathed, rising and holding out his hands to offer support. "Let's go home."

Restless, Daniel tossed and turned in the bed, further stirring when his arm fell against the vacant space beside him. Despite their many months apart, even his subconscious somehow remained linked to Emily, signaling him to awaken when sensing her absence. Feeling the cooled sheets beneath his skin, Daniel forced his eyes open, his mind registering it must be the middle of the night. He rolled over to haphazardly reach for his phone on the floor to confirm the time, and soon discovered he was not only correct in his assumption, but that Emily was nowhere to be found.

Thinking it best to check on her given the circumstances, Daniel groggily wandered out of the master suite, noticing the door to the nearest guestroom was wide open. He found Emily inside as suspected, positioned in the corner of the window seat. Captivated by the way the moonlight was illuminating her striking profile covered only by a white cotton gown as she sat staring longingly into the night, Daniel could not help smiling to himself. It was moments like these that reminded him why he was going against his better judgment to be with her, to believe her when she said she wanted to build an honest relationship with him.

"Now there, is a beautiful sight," He admired from the doorway to which Emily responsively tilted her head in his direction, fondly watching him advance towards her. "Guess I'll never get used to your mysterious exits," Daniel supposed with an impish grin as he slipped into the opposite corner of the window seat.

Emily pursed her lips at the reference, shifting slightly against the wall. "Sorry, I couldn't sleep."

"Are you uncomfortable?" Daniel worried, noticing the subtle adjustment. It suddenly occurred to him then that he had never given much thought to the effects caused by the physical changes to her body. Of course, Emily always had a way of making everything appear easy, effortless somehow, and it did not help that Daniel had already missed much of her pregnancy, making it all the more difficult to gauge her now.

"A little," Emily openly admitted, looking out the window again. "But mainly just too much on my mind."

Daniel nodded understandingly, empathizing with the sentiment. "I know you're worried about your dad, but you really need to get some rest in order to help him."

"I know," Emily sighed, returning his gaze. She paused in observance, noting Daniel looked rather tired as well. But shining through his wearied eyes was the caring glint he seemed to reserve especially for her, the one she could recall making her stomach flip the prior summer when she was without any memories, and receiving any form of love from the man she knew to be her husband held the most importance.

But the beautiful thing was that even now with all her memories having been long restored, Daniel could still make her stomach flip, and Emily's mouth puckered into the briefest of smiles at this latest revelation. "I was thinking maybe we could make this room the nursery," She commented a moment later, her eyes scanning the empty space surrounding them.

"That's a great idea," Daniel softly agreed, liking the idea.

"I haven't even bought anything for the baby yet." This thought made her frown with guilt. Emily had been so preoccupied with her father's return and her own return to the Hampton's, she had not begun making the necessary preparations.

"Hey -" Daniel leaned forward to place a consoling hand on her leg. "We still have time to do that."

Emily nodded, appreciative of his kind assurances. Motherhood was a more daunting feat than she cared to admit, and as independent as she was, she was secretly thankful to not be alone in this, to have Daniel by her side on the brink of such a momentous event. "You know," Emily diverted, pushing her fears out of her mind for the moment. "We should probably start refurnishing the rest of the house too... starting with the master bedroom."

He narrowed his brow, intrigued. "What did you have in mind?"

"I don't really care as long as it involves getting the mattresses off the floor."

Daniel emitted a breathy laugh at her jovially defeated expression. "I thought it reminded you of Japan?"

"Yeah, but honestly... I'm kind of having a hard time getting up and down." Emily playfully winced in feigned embarrassment, which seemed to amuse Daniel further. She had no idea how cute her behavior was to him right now, how much he was enjoying seeing this different side to her, if only for a season of time.

By the following afternoon, Emily had made little progress when it came to her latest mission. Though David sincerely apologized for their harsh exchange, he continued to insist it was best to keep her in the dark as well as stay by Victoria's bedside, neither of which Emily could understand. She left the hospital even more frustrated than when she entered and headed directly to the Stowaway to pay Jack a visit to update him on the latest events, if Nolan had not already done so. Besides, maybe seeing her childhood friend would provide some much needed clarity when it came to her father.

The wood blinds clanked against the door as she entered the worn tavern, the light noise catching Jack's attention where he stood behind the bar and also interrupting what appeared to be a flirtatious exchange with the sassy brunette sitting on the other side. The young woman ducked her large green eyes with a mischievous smirk as she brought the beer bottle to her lips. "Emily – hey," Jack fumbled, forcing an awkward smile.

"Hi." Eying the duo knowingly, Emily slipped her hands in her back pockets. "Sorry to interrupt."

"Nah, Agent Taylor here was just trying to recruit me," Jack explained, still mildly amused by his acquaintance's forwardness.

"Agent Taylor?" Emily raised her brow, turning to the culprit with a bit of a false smile. "Did the Feds send in the big guns to solve a case?"

"Something like that." Shifting on the bar stool, she extended her hand to Emily. "Kate Taylor."

Emily's smile grew graciously as she reciprocated, taking Kate's hand. "Emily Thorne." Her chin dropped in punctuation, already suspicious of the woman before her. She had an instinct about such things, and Kate Taylor was simply a little too sure of herself.

Jack observed the two women exchange obligatory pleasantries with his own suspicions aroused. He certainly knew Emily well enough by now to deduce when she was being genuine and when her protective facade was in tact, the latter of which was most definitely the case at the present time. "Did you need something, Em?" He questioned, curious as to the reasoning behind her unexpected visit.

Emily looked over at him with a parted mouth, quickly deciding now was not the right time. "You know what?" She smiled it off, curling her fingers around her purse strap. "It's not important. I'll call you later." Jack squinted his eyes, but played along with a warm curvature of his lips. "It was nice to meet you, Kate." Emily bid before walking the short distance to the door.

"You too." Kate lifted her hand for flippant wave as Emily exited the premises, noticing Jack's obvious preoccupation as he watched the pregnant blonde walk away. "Old lover?" She pointedly assumed, rendering Jack's attention.

"Uhh, no. Old friend," He clarified, trying to clear his head from the lingering effects of Emily's recent presence.

"So, you're not the father, I take it?"

"No," Jack confirmed, thinking momentarily of his proposal to Emily. "I do have a son though."

"I didn't realize you were married?"

Jack laughed under his breath, slightly bashful. "I'm not."

Kate brought the beer bottle to her lips again for another swig. "Even better."

David strained to view the wrinkled picture cupped in his hand for the dim lighting in Victoria's hospital room where he sat dutifully in a chair at the foot of the bed. The sun had long ago set as she continued to sleep from the sedatives administered for her recovery, leaving him to reflect over the younger version of himself posed next to a nine year-old Amanda. Consumed with his troubled thoughts, David did not even hear two male nurses entering the room until one of them began addressing him. "Mr. Clarke? Will you be spending the night?"

David looked up, his voice lagging behind. "Yeah, Dr. Robert's said it'd be fine," He replied, shifting his weight to tuck the picture in his pocket.

"It is," The nurse confirmed, holding out a clipboard. "We just need you to fill out some forms." Still preoccupied, David did not take the time to process the fact he'd not been asked to sign forms when he remained at the hospital the night prior. Instead, he compliantly reached for the extended clipboard and almost instantly felt his wrists being bound together. "You're going with us."

David's eyes jolted upwards in alarm. "What're you doing?" They were both coming at him now in a rushed haze, but his protective instincts were activated at the onset of their threats to overpower him. He thrust his attackers backwards with adrenaline-fueled force, and as he furiously fought against one, the other swiftly moved to Victoria's I.V. drip, uncapping it.

"Stop, or she's dead," He warned, prepared to lethally inject the tube.

"Okay, okay," David panted through the current choke-hold being enforced, holding up his bound hands in surrender. "Don't hurt her."

And just when David was certain his captivity was imminent, a fourth party appeared from practically nowhere. His lean form slid under the hospital bed with agile ease, forcefully plunging the first opponent against the bed railing and then to the floor. Springing to his feet, the man then promptly secured Victoria's I.V.

Stunned, David stood almost frozen, watching him throw several additional punches at the man who remained on the floor and then moving to the one still restraining him. David broke free during their scuffle, and quickly pressed the emergency button on the wall. Both attackers instantly fled out the window in response to the resounding alarm, while the mysterious rescuer freed David's wrists. "Who are you?" He questioned, aghast.

"A friend of your daughter's," Aiden vaguely replied, a bit awed to be standing in the presence of the inspiration for Emily's revenge, though he did not let on. "And I was never here."

A/N: Thanks for your enduring patience, my friends! It is most hope that I still have some interested followers of this story even after its hiatus and that you found this chapter both enjoyable and satisfying. I attempted to incorporate several real elements from the show, modifying them of course, to fit the present circumstances. So, I have to ask... do you like the idea of Aiden being back for a bit, or you can't wait for him to leave again? I know we all love that scene when Ems was a badass yet again and rescued her dad, but being that she is well into her third trimester at this point in the story, I had to come up with an alternative approach. :) Please share all your thoughts with me, if you feel so inclined! Your comments really are so very motivating and give me that extra boost to keep writing.

Much love,

Only Hope - 7 xoxo