"The Neighbors"
Hi, I know you're anxious for updates, I'm doing my best. I'm flattered that so many of you have stayed with me and want me to keep writing.
I've kept Emaya going for you. I've given you Emaya hope. Now it's up to the PLL writers to make it happen for you for real, not in a dream or a flashback…
In the meantime, I'll keep updating stories and completing stories when I can ;)
Rated M for Mature Content.
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Maya grabs Emily, "No, I want her here. I need her here. Please doctor, I want her to stay."
"Are you sure?"
"Yes."
"Maya, you had quite the traumatic experience and so has your body. We're doing everything we can to bring you back to health but it takes time to do that."
"Doctor, I feel fine. What about our baby?"
"Mrs. Grayson, Maya, your baby…"
A nurse brushes quickly passed Ryan pushing open Maya's door interrupting the doctor before he can finish,
"Dr. Beckett, Code Blue! It's Mr. Grayson!"
Chapter 26: Code Blue
The doctor runs out leaving Maya without any information about her baby. Ryan enters Maya's room. He walks over to her bed placing one arm around Emily and the other reaches for Maya. He takes her hand securing it in his and says,
"Maya, your baby is a fighter just like you. Your love, Emily's love will protect your baby. And I will protect all of you."
Tears fall from Maya's face upon hearing the warmth and love in his words even with the knowledge that Emily has chosen her over him.
"Thank you so much Ryan. This can't be easy for you."
He squeezes her hand and releases it. Emily turns to him and hugs him. He hugs her back.
"Ryan, I don't know why you're doing this for us and I don't even know what to say."
She leans back looking at her husband. He moves her hair behind her ear.
"I love you Emily. I didn't see this coming but I'm not going to create a violent or fearful situation. I'm hurt, deeply hurt. But Emily, there's a baby that needs her mother to get healthy. That baby has so much love surrounding her that I know she's going to be okay, I just know it."
"Ryan, I love you too but…"
"I know Emily. Maya has your heart. I don't know how. I don't know why. But I do know that. I'm going to leave the two of you and see if I can find out anything more about Josh."
He gently moves Emily aside so he can be closer to Maya.
He kisses her cheek, "You will have the family you were meant to have. I promise you that."
He then walks out of the room.
"Ryan is a good man. A really good man," Maya says all choked up.
Emily sits on her bed, her hands over Maya's, "I really did have a good man didn't I. I know he and I have more to say to each other but now isn't the time. Maya, everything is going to work out." It has to…
Hours pass before the doctor finally emerges from surgery. He sees Ryan who is already approaching him.
"Doctor, is Josh going to be okay?"
"Only time will tell and right now I have to talk to his wife. Maybe you should be there in case some of what I say doesn't register with her."
"If you think I can be of help."
"I do."
The doctor knocks on Maya's door and walks in. Emily is lying beside her with Maya in her arms, the doctor clears his throat.
"Doctor," Maya reacts by sitting up with Emily doing the same. "Is he…"
"He's in recovery. The surgery went as expected."
"So he's okay?"
"We'll know more when he wakes up. Maya, I want to apologize for before, I didn't get a chance to tell you about your baby."
"Is she okay?" she asks nervously clutching onto Emily.
"Your baby experienced more trauma than one would like at this stage of your pregnancy. With that said I think if you rest and your baby rests for a few more days then we can take another look and if all goes well we can send you home."
Maya leans back into Emily smiling tears of relief.
"What about Josh?" Emily asks.
"Josh had luck on his side when he went through that windshield. It was cracked from most likely rocks flying up when the car hit the gravel and it bulged when it made impact. Josh had to have seen it coming because his shoulder took the majority of the impact. But when he hit the ground, he definitely hit his head causing his brain to move against his skull like when you get a concussion."
"What does that mean as far as Josh's recovery?" Maya asks.
"His brain needs to settle and the swelling needs to go down. We went in and removed a clot but he still has a ways to go. We're not sure what part of his brain was affected. We won't know that until he wakes up."
"You mean he could have memory loss or paralysis?" Ryan asks trying to help Maya understand the gravity of the situation.
"Yes. He's also going to need care. He's going to need support. He's going to need his wife."
Maya looks at Emily then back at the doctor.
"Is something wrong?" the doctor asks.
"No. No, I'm his wife and I'll be there for him," she says with feelings of guilt.
Emily looks at her wondering what she could possibly be thinking.
"He will have to stay at the hospital until his brain settles and the swelling is gone. I would say a couple of weeks. Then I'm assuming you would want him to be closer to home. There's an excellent rehabilitation facility in New York City. It's there that they will decide when he can be sent home. At that time a nurse and the appropriate therapists would make daily visits to your house to assist with his care."
"Can you give a time frame of how long it will be before Josh can go home?" Ryan jumps in.
"I'm guessing six weeks once he's regained consciousness. But it could be less. It could be more. It's hard to say until I can take more extensive tests."
"Then he would be released into my care?" Maya asks.
"Yes and the Rehabilitation Facility would help you with deciding on what specialists would be necessary to assist you with his daily care."
Maya looks exhausted from the news.
"Thank you doctor. Thank you for everything," Emily expresses their gratitude.
As the doctor turns to leave, Maya calls to him, "Doctor?"
"Yes Maya?"
"Is my baby a girl?"
"Are you sure you want to know?"
"Yes, please doctor, I want to know."
She needs this.
She looks at Emily who holds her close. Ryan watches in the background.
"Maya, you're having a girl," he smiles and leaves her room.
Maya looks up at Emily, "We're having a girl."
Emily giggles and smiles, "We're having a girl."
Emily forgets for a moment what Maya told the doctor about fulfilling her wifely duties as she kisses Maya once, twice, three times while tears of joy and relief and love flow from their eyes…
Ryan clears his throat.
"It's a girl. You're having a girl." Ryan looks down, "I'm happy for you. I'm happy for you both."
He leaves the room and Emily goes after him.
"Are you?" she accuses.
"Emily, it's not as cut and dry as you think," he says hands on his head grabbing his hair in his fists.
"What do you mean?"
"There's always going to be Josh, Emily."
"Josh?" she asks not sure what he means.
"Maya feels guilty about him being in this situation because she wasn't honest with him about you. She caused his anger to make his decisions for him. But I don't think she's thought this through. If his memory is fine then I fear he's going to manipulate Maya."
"Manipulate?"
"I mean, he's going to make sure she chooses him."
"How?"
"I don't know. I just have a feeling."
"Damn it Josh. What do we do?"
"We wait."
"Wait?"
"There's nothing we can do until he's transferred."
"So, what do we do until then?"
"You're going to stay here with Maya until she's ready to go home. I'm going to drive your mom's car back to Pennsylvania and take the train to the house. I'll shower and pack my things. I'm staying in the city Emily. I'll only come back when Josh is sent home."
"Ryan…"
"Emily, it has to be done. And I need to be alone for a while. You two will be safe. I'll call the housekeeping agency and have them send someone over to get the guest room ready for Maya."
"For Maya?" Emily asks not sure if she's following his train of thought.
"She's staying with us, with you. It's not just about Maya and you anymore; it's about her baby too."
"You would do that?"
"Do I have a choice?"
"Ryan…"
"Emily, it's been decided. I'll be in the city. When Josh is sent home, then I'll move to the downstairs guest room. You can have our room."
"Ryan…"
"Emily, I don't want you two in that house alone at night if he's going to be next door."
"You think he's that much of a threat?"
"I don't know but I'm not willing to take that chance."
"Ryan, I don't know how to thank you."
He smiles knowing how happy he just made her but feeling sadness overwhelm him, "So, do you want to tell Maya that she's moving in?"
"Yeah, yeah I do."
"We'll talk later."
"Ryan, we do need to talk. We didn't really get to say much before..."
"I know. One thing at a time."
Ryan turns to leave but Emily stops him.
"I love you Ryan and thank you."
He smiles leaving her to tell Maya the news…
Maya's Hospital Room…
Emily waits for Maya to wake up and when she does Emily's eyes light up making Maya look at her curiously.
"What's going on? Em, you look so happy."
"That's because I am. Listen, we're going home in a few days and when we do you're moving in with me," she says waiting for her words to register with Maya.
"What?" Maya asks wondering if she heard right.
Emily leans towards Maya saying each word slowly, "You are moving in with me."
She reaches for Emily hugging her, kissing her sweetly.
"Ryan agreed to this?"
"Ummm, he suggested it."
"He did?"
"He's staying in the city for a while. It's what he wants. He even said you could have the guest room. Oh and I'm going to stay in mine and Ryan's room."
"I doubt that," she smiles.
Emily can't contain that smile only Maya can make her smile, "Maya, I'm going to stay at the hospital with you until you're well enough to leave. Then," she lies down next to her leaning on her elbow, "we're going home," she kisses her lips. "You and I are going to get a chance to live under the same roof for a little while. We get to practice being a family."
"Oh baby," she kisses Emily, "I want that I what that so much..."
"Maya?"
"Yeah?"
"Did I hear you right? Did you really say you were going to take care of Josh when he's cleared to go home? Is it because you feel guilty about his injuries?" she asks needing to know for certain why she said that.
"I think I do."
"Maya you should be going to the police."
"No. No police. I cheated on my husband with a woman. He didn't handle it like Ryan did. They're both hurt but Josh..."
"But Josh got angry. And he could get angry again. I won't let him hurt you," Emily gets very protective.
"Emily. Josh is in no condition to hurt anyone. I'm going to help him get better so he can prove that he is the same man I married, someone who would never hurt a woman or our daughter," she is adamant to prove he is a good man like Ryan.
Days pass and Maya is cleared to leave the hospital while Josh will remain closely monitored. The injuries he sustained from the accident and the surgery have taken their toll and Josh is in and out of consciousness. The doctors are hopeful concerning his recovery based on his vital signs and convince Maya that her baby is her priority and going home to rest is what she needs to do to get stronger and healthier. The hospital will inform her of any changes in his condition…
Two Weeks after the Accident…
It's a brisk fall evening when Maya descends the staircase of the Sullivan's home wearing pajama bottoms and a tank top. She makes her way over to the couch where Emily is typing her novel, something she started doing again while Maya rested...
"Hey baby, are you ready for bed?" she asks sitting down next to her.
Emily closes her laptop, "Yeah I think I am. I'm kind of tired anyway."
"Really, that's too bad," Maya rubs Emily's back tenderly.
"Why?" She looks up at Maya taking off her reading glasses.
"Because I want to be with you," she nuzzles under her earlobe.
Emily feels herself stimulated by just that gentle touch but pulls away, "Maya, did the doctor say you could?"
"Yeah, we just need to be careful."
"Maya, how can we? What about Josh?"
"Emily, he's where he needs to be to heal and so am I," she slides her hand across her cheek so Emily will look at her. "I won't abandon him. But right now I can't help him. Right now I need to be with you."
Maya kisses Emily assuring her that she is well enough to love her and that tonight she needs to show her.
She pulls away from the kiss looking down shaking her head, "Don't get me wrong Emily, I love falling asleep in your arms. I love how you've been taking care of me for the past few weeks at the hospital and now here." She tilts her head up with a smile, "But I can't waste another second not being with you because of my guilt. I can't unchange what happened between you and me and I don't want to. I'll be there for Josh but now I need to be there for us. I need to make love with you…"
Meanwhile in Josh's Hospital Room…
Josh is connected to a heart monitor and an IV and whatever else he needs to help the doctor's keep track of his recovery. It's quiet in Josh's room until he begins to stir. His brain is sending him images of Maya causing his eyes to move rapidly behind his closed lids. He sees when he and Maya first met. He sees when he asked her to marry him. He sees her in her wedding dress. He sees them on their honeymoon. He sees them moving into their house. He sees her swimming her morning laps. He sees her painting. He sees them making love…
His eyes move more rapidly as he sees images of Maya with Emily. He sees Maya helping their new neighbor, Emily, unpack boxes in her kitchen. He sees Emily in the hot tub with Maya. He sees the Art Gallery program. He sees the club where the two of them went after the Gallery show. He sees Maya and Emily walking into the Sullivan home laughing and holding hands. He sees how his wife looks at Emily. He sees himself shake Maya. He sees Maya in the hospital. He sees the doctor telling them Maya's pregnant. He sees how happy he is. He sees how unhappy Maya is at home. He sees the truth…
His eyes slow behind his lids. He sees himself sneaking Maya away in the night. He sees the accident. He doesn't see Maya...
His eyes stop moving...
Two nurses enter his room talking about Maya.
"Well, he's lucky to be alive."
"So is his wife. I'm so glad their baby is going to be okay."
"Yeah but I'm guessing their marriage isn't."
"What do you mean?"
"I walked in on her a couple of times sleeping in the arms of a beautiful Asian woman."
"No way!"
"They looked like a couple in love."
"Do you think that's what caused the accident?"
"Maybe."
"Hmmm. Did the doctor say anything about his condition?"
"He said he could have lost all or part of his memory. He could be paralyzed. They just don't know."
"They seriously don't know anything?"
"They don't but I do."
"What do you know?"
"I know he's going to be all alone when he wakes up. And he has no idea."
The nurses check the monitors showing Josh's vitals and are satisfied that everything is working properly. They walk out of the room shutting the lights off as they leave…
Darkness looms over Josh, darkness from the lights being out and darkness from within him. With his eyes still closed he sees the image of his pregnant wife lying peacefully in Emily's arms playing over and over again in his mind. His eyes start moving behind his lids but even more rapidly than before until suddenly they just stop.
Josh opens his eyes…
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To Be Continued…