Twenty Six

McCoy held back a sigh of frustration as he pulled up to the mansion sprawling before him. He dreaded the moment when he came back to confront Pamela again. The last five years had been incredibly hectic since they parted ways. Not just because of his rekindled relationship with Emily, but because of everything else happening in their lives.

The divorce itself might have been utter hell in the form of Pamela filing for said divorce. Though if he was being honest with himself, he was the one who went to the courthouse after finding out that she had been sleeping around with other men. The worst part of it was the way Pamela tore him apart, both verbally and mentally.

The redhead had been adamant about being the dominant figure in their 'family'. And the more McCoy thought about it, the more he began to realize just how wrong that had been. He had no problem dealing with dominant women in general – hell, Emily played more of a dominant role than anyone he'd ever met. But Pamela had taken that role to a whole different level. He hadn't realized at the time just how controlling Pamela was, both over their finances and the way he dressed or behaved in public.

If there was one thing he learned about their marriage, it was the fact that it worked both ways. He and Emily worked together rather than control each other. Sure, they had their share of arguments, but they were able to compromise or work past them.

He knew at the end of the day that he couldn't change what happened in the past. And he didn't plan on changing said past. After everything that happened between himself and Emily, he realized with a start that their lives had changed for the better. At the end of the day, that was what mattered the most.

Though it did help knowing that he left Emily behind. He had little to no doubt that Emily would have reamed Pamela out the moment they faced one another. She wasn't afraid to run her mouth off when the timing was right. He couldn't shake off the feeling that disaster would follow if they saw one another, especially in light of recent events. No, leaving her behind had been a good idea.

He rose an eyebrow as he studied the mansion itself warily. It reminded him all-too-much of the place he and Pamela had once called home. The only difference was that it was further from where his mother lived, and it was twice the size. He tried pushing off the sinking feeling in the pit of his stomach. He always got that feeling whenever he had to confront this part of the past. Though it was worse now than ever because of what loomed ahead of him.

His last encounter with her husband ended in miserable failure on his part. The only consolation he had now was the fact that Emily wouldn't let him fall into that familiar pit of despair. If it hadn't been for her, he'd either be walling in self–pity or never agreed to date another woman again.

Taking a deep breath to try and soothe his already frayed nerves, McCoy climbed out of the hover-car cautiously.

'Relax, Leonard.' McCoy nearly leaped out of his skin at the sound of Emily's voice in his head. It only took a few seconds for him to register she was using their mental link. 'I can feel your anxiety spiking through the roof, and it's only gonna get worse.'

'I know,' McCoy rolled his eyes in exasperation. 'I just wish there was an easier way around this shit. I know Pam's gonna pull some kind of stunt on me, and it isn't gonna end well for anyone.'

'No, it probably won't,' she replied without missing a beat. McCoy held back another sigh when he heard the brutal honesty in her voice. 'If it makes you feel any better, I can send someone after her without ever knowing who they were.'

McCoy almost laughed at the prospect of seeing the look written across Pamela's face if something like that happened. He knew full-well there were a few people who would gladly go through with said orders. Though he doubted anything good would come out of it.

'Thanks for the offer darlin', but I don't think that's gonna happen,' he warned her.

'Good luck.'

McCoy held back another heavy sigh as he realized how much he would need it. Memories of the divorce from hell were still so fresh that it felt as if it happened yesterday. It still left a bitter taste in his mouth. Considering what led to the divorce, it was a wonder that he hadn't been in worse shape when Emily found him.

Once he reached the main porch and knocked on the door, he tried focusing on what to expect from this confrontation. The only thing he wanted at that point was to get this mess done and over with. The sooner it was finished, the better off everyone was. His confidence nearly drained the moment the door swung open, revealing a face he hadn't seen in person for years.

Pamela hadn't changed a bit since their last encounter. McCoy suddenly crossed his arms and eyed her up and down critically. He was skeptical of why she'd invited him in the first place, especially after everything that happened.

"Leonard," she greeted him with the same curtness she had at the courthouse that one awful afternoon. "I was wondering if you'd be bold enough to show up."

McCoy nearly rolled his eyes at the tone of her voice.

"Wasn't exactly like you gave me much of a choice in the matter," he muttered.

"You always had a choice, Leo," she pointed out with a smug look. "But I'm glad you made the right choice."

It was at that point when McCoy found himself suddenly wishing Emily was there with him. The only reason he left her behind was that he knew she wouldn't hold back. And while she had every right, acting out on sheer impulse wasn't the best idea. He swallowed hard as she led him inside, not missing how elegant looking the place was compared to their old home.

He knew now that the only reason Pamela had ever shown interest in him was because of the money. When she couldn't get her hands on his family's funds, she switched to someone who was willing to go all out. Not for the first time, McCoy found himself wondering how he could have been so blinded in the first place. He knew in the back of his mind that anyone would have fallen for a pretty face if they had not taken the time to get to know them. He'd learned from that mistake.

"I'd like to keep this quick and to the point," he deadpanned.

"I'm sure you would, Leo. Considering you're now engaged with the same woman who's always been there at every event. Or that she's the same woman you dated before we started dating. I'm not so blind as to the fact that you and that woman were closer than most friends would be. You've always chosen her over me anytime she paid a visit."

McCoy stiffened at that. He realized with a start that Pamela was right to some extent. Emily had always been somewhere in the picture, regardless of what was going on. He swallowed hard at the thought when guilt suddenly swept through him. Suddenly, Pamela's anger began making sense.

Maybe this could have been avoided had they taken the time to talk things through. Then again, he knew full-well Pamela would have likely gone behind his back regardless of how they handled the situation. Pamela was the type of woman who would take advantage of a vulnerable victim and then play the victim after she grew tired of them. She proved that time and time again when he came home one night and found her cheating on him.

"Look, I don't know what sort of schemes you planned this time, but I'm not putting up with it," he let out an irritated sigh as Pamela turned to face him. The woman rose an eyebrow in surprise at his sudden bravery, and he couldn't help but feel a quick burst of pride at that. "I've got other places to be."

"Well, aren't you the bold one?" she quipped. "I was rather hoping we could discuss some form of payment for all the years you weren't around. Seeing as you've now obtained a sustainable job and reputation, it only seems fair to do your part."

If it wasn't for the fact that her expression never wavered, McCoy would've sworn she was joking. His jaw clenched when he realized she was being deadly serious. He crossed his arms and looked her up and down, only just beginning to notice that maybe she had faced times of hardship since their departure.

Not that it mattered too much to him. After everything that happened, he knew this was Karma's way of getting back at her. Though truthfully, he did feel a little guilty for what happened between them. Maybe if they had sorted out whatever caused the rift in their marriage, none of this would happen.

Yet, he had to remind himself that he and Emily never would have had a chance if that was the case.

McCoy swallowed hard at the thought, realizing with a start that things happened for a reason. He was far happier with Emily than he had ever been with Pamela. As guilty as that made him feel, he knew that was mostly because they had grown up together. Emily had always been his best friend, and nothing would ever change that.

"What is that supposed to mean?" He frowned in confusion as he noticed a 'foreclosure' letter sitting on one of the stands.

"It means that when you're desperate, you'll do just about anything to get your way," she retorted without missing a beat. "My husband went bankrupt a few months ago, and we've been losing money ever since. I think we can both guess where this goes."

For a moment, McCoy wasn't sure what to say as realization dawned on him. He rubbed the back of his neck as guilt swept through him once again. None of this would have happened had he paid closer attention. Then again, he and Emily never would have rekindled their friendship, or their relationship.

He knew in the back of his mind that he was better off with Emily. Emily was the one woman who had always been there for him when he needed a friend the most. Not even Pamela could boast that kind of confidence.

"Look, I'm not exactly sure what it is you're hoping to gain from me, but I sure as hell don't need to agree with anything you say," he snapped through gritted teeth. "The fact that you had the balls to call me and beg for money tells me that we both made the right choice in the end."

It took a few seconds for Pamela to realize what he was implying. He wasn't deterred when her mouth opened and closed a few times. It was clear he had her stumped on what to say next, and for a brief moment, McCoy suddenly felt triumphant. But Pamela quickly recovered from her initial shock and scowled.

"You still owe me for everything that was taken from me," she fired back. "You don't even know what that freak you're engaged with is capable of, and yet you're completely fine with marrying the likes of her. Well, I can tell you this much: She isn't who you think she is."

He just rolled his eyes at the tone of her voice. What surprised him more than anything was how desperate she sounded.

He was fully aware of Emily's history. After reading her profile when Kirk hacked into it, McCoy was dismayed to find out that she killed the men responsible for hurting her so much. Yet a small part of him understood why she went to such lengths. It was at the time he ignored her and pushed her away when she needed a friend the most. And that left him feeling guiltier than ever as he thought of how that mess could have been avoided.

Things hadn't gotten much better when Coulson told him the full story behind Emily's disappearance. The more McCoy thought about it, the more he wished he could take everything back. Leaving her behind was one of the worst choices he could have made, and he would always have to live with that regret.

"I'm already aware of her past and what she's done," he stated in a tone that implied he wasn't in the mood for this conversation. McCoy suddenly held his hand up when Pamela was ready to argue, "And the fact that you're trying to use her past as leverage is what really pisses me off." Here, he paused to let that sink in. He knew Pamela wouldn't really care one way or another, but it felt good to vent off his growing frustration. "And for another thing, she's a hell of a lot more than just someone with a past. She's one of the best friends I could've asked for, despite everything we've been through."

Before Pamela could argue, he suddenly turned to leave, knowing full-well he couldn't stand being there much longer. He didn't trust himself at that point not to lash out. After getting his ass handed to him at the bar all those years ago, then being thrown into prison, he wasn't in any hurry to face that again. Not when he finally had his future ahead of him.

.

.

"I'll admit, I am grateful that we were able to get back together," Hannah remarked as they went through older photos. Emily couldn't hide the sheepish smile that followed while they sat side-by-side. It hadn't taken long for them to decide to look through older photos and memories. She hadn't realized until then how good it felt to look over such memories with his mother, especially in light of recent events. "It may not be like it was in the past, but sometimes that's a good thing."

"I'm not gonna argue with those words," Emily nodded in agreement without hesitation. She knew it hadn't been easy for Hannah to go through what she went through. Between losing her husband and her son through Pamela and the divorce, it couldn't have been easy. There were times when she wished she could have spent more time with her after the funeral. "I only wish Papa and David were here to see this."

Hannah hardly looked surprised with that notion. After everything that happened between them, it felt wrong not to have their fathers with them. Leonard's father had always found some way of keeping the family close. It was only until he fell ill that things began to fall apart. Then Coulson's death hit her hard. Hannah had been the first to reach out to her after finding out about his death, and it touched her to know that she cared so much.

"I know," Hannah let out a sigh of her own and looked down at a photo of all of them together. "David always went out of his way to help people… in a lot of ways, he and his son are alike in those aspects. I am grateful that he and your father were such close friends."

Emily held back a sigh of her own as she realized what Hannah was implying. She realized with a start that none of this would have been possible if Coulson and his father never met. Or if they hadn't struck that deal.

"Did you know that he helped out with the agency?" she asked curiously.

"I always knew," Hannah replied without missing a beat. She offered a wry smile and glanced at Emily with a hint of amusement sweeping across her eyes. "There were no secrets between us. I was never happy with the idea of him working for the agency or alongside them, but Phil helped change my mind. Especially after he told me about you."

Her heart nearly skipped a beat as realization dawned on her. She'd always known about the deal that Coulson struck with Leonard's father. The last thing she expected was for his mother to also know about said agency.

"So you're saying the whole honesty thing actually worked for you?" she asked in surprise. "I mean, I know a SHIELD agent who's technically married to an outsider and they tell each other everything, but—"

"Emily, relax," Hannah cut her off with a knowing look. Emily stiffened when she saw the understanding and sympathy sweeping across her gaze. "I know that Leonard can be a bit hardheaded at times, and he needs to work on his bedside manner. But he does love you. That's never stopped as far as I can see."

She couldn't hide the sheepish smile that followed upon hearing those words. She desperately wanted to tell Leonard the truth about her past. But a small part of her was terrified of what he would say if he knew the truth. Would he look at her the same if he knew she killed those men?

"Well, the feelings were always mutual," she murmured quietly.

Hannah merely offered a warm smile at that. She was ready to say something else when the door suddenly swung open. Both women exchanged knowing looks, having already guessed who was there. Since Leonard had chosen to finally confront Pamela, Emily knew that he would be busy all morning. She admired him for being brave enough to face his past, even after everything Pamela had done to him. But when she glanced over her shoulder, she didn't miss how wary he looked upon his return.

She could tell from his emotions that Pamela had done something to rile him up. He kept those emotions guarded though, along with whatever was said between them.

"She wasn't too rough on you, was she?" Hannah asked.

Leonard rubbed the back of his neck and let out a tired sigh. Chewing the bottom of her lip, Emily thought back to how he looked when she found him in that prison cell all those years ago. He looked far worse than he did now, though she knew the confrontation couldn't have been easy. One thing she had quickly learned about Leonard though was that he had more of a backbone than most people realized. Pamela just never got to see that side of him after she tore him apart.

"Only thing she was after was the money and the fame," he rolled his eyes after closing the distance between them. Emily could only guess what he meant by that. She always suspected that was what Pamela had been after, though she dare not say anything out loud for his sake. "Barely got inside without her hassling me over it."

"She can have the fame if she's that desperate for it," Emily scoffed with a glare. "I could care less about being harassed by reporters all the time. Though she'd have to look out for any mistakes she makes along the way; they won't hold back on her."

"Ah yes, the ever-present reporters who were bombarding you with questions after the incident in San Francisco," Hannah gave a dry chuckle as she recalled the recent articles. "That press conference went better than I expected, by the way."

"Considering I had Em keeping me in line, you shouldn't be so surprised," Leonard gave a rather loud snort, earning a hard nudge from Emily.

Still, she couldn't stop herself from chuckling a little as she recalled how annoyed he had been with the reporters asking questions about the divorce. Reporters were always trying to find information on the people they were so interested in. She was hardly surprised that they had been interested in Leonard and his history, given how they were engaged and had been dating long before the engagement itself.

He hadn't been happy about being placed on the spotlight. Though, Leonard knew what he was getting himself into when they agreed to make a formal announcement about their engagement. Because she associated herself with people like Tony and Steve, the press got a kick out of finding any information regarding her personal history as well.

The situation didn't get much better when everyone found out she was a princess from Narla. And the last of her kind. Then to make matters worse, one of the reporters had the nerve to ask whether or not they planned on starting a family. A shiver of unease swept through her at the thought. She knew such an occurrence was unlikely, especially given everything she put herself through.

They always talked about starting a family even before the mess with Pamela. There were times when she found herself longing for that kind of life. After seeing how well Laura and Clint got along, she knew that was the kind of life she always envied. The more she thought about it, the guiltier she felt for taking that away from Leonard as well.

"You handled that reporter like a pro, Leonard," she reassured him with a kiss on the cheek.

The look written across his face was priceless. He handled that reporter better than she anticipated. The conference was only cut short when the reporters started asking questions revolving around their family life. She'd known going into that conference that such a question would be asked. What she hadn't anticipated was the emotions that followed.

It was hard enough dealing with the fact that he was a divorcee, and that they dated in the past. She knew how much he hated talking about his ex–wife in front of the past, especially since Pamela would try and use that to her advantage.

"The good news is, that's all under the water now," Hannah brushed it off after getting up herself. "I hope you were able to at least knock some sense back into that woman's head."

Emily didn't miss the look written across Leonard's face when Hannah brought that up. She knew confronting Pamela couldn't have been easy for him. She frowned after noticing how guilty he looked, and Emily let out a quiet sigh as she led him out to the back porch overlooking the ranch. She could feel the guilt rolling off of him in waves, telling her that something happened to cause such guilt. She of all people knew what it was like to live with it on a daily basis, though she did a better job at hiding it than most.

"Do you wanna talk about it?" she asked once they were out of earshot.

"Pamela tried using your past as leverage," he admitted with another guilty look. Emily's heart nearly skipped a beat at that. She quickly withdrew her hand, realization dawning on her. Few people if any knew about that part of her past, or why she was so desperate to make a name for herself nowadays. Hell, not even Leonard knew what she had been up to before they met up again for his father's funeral. "I never caved or mentioned anything of it, but… she knows something's up with your history."

She swallowed hard as realization dawned on her. If Pamela had found out about that part of her past, she doubted she was safe from the public eye. Leonard knew what happened during their time apart. The only reason he knew the truth behind that part of her past was because Jim hacked into her profile with SHIELD. She was suddenly grateful that he did know… the last thing she wanted was to lie to him once again.

"I highly doubt that she knows about that part of my past," she muttered crossly. "But even if she did, there's no way to prove it without knowing about the agency. And that would put her freedom at risk."

Leonard nodded in agreement before pulling her into a warm embrace. Emily couldn't help but look at him self-consciously as she noticed his demeanor soften. Despite her earlier misgivings, Leonard had been willing to accept that she had done terrible things in the past. It amazed her that he was able to overlook what she did.

"Darlin', if I hadn't ignored you none of that would've happened," he reminded her with a pointed look. That didn't make her feel any better. If anything, it left her feeling guiltier for knowing she'd changed so drastically just because he'd ignored her. "Like you've been saying, we've all made mistakes we're not proud of. It's high-time we looked past them and moved on."

It wasn't until hearing that out loud when Emily finally looked at him in surprise. She had been telling him that for years now. Yet it seemed as though she wasn't able to look past what had happened in the past. Emily let out a heavy sigh and buried her face into his broad chest, letting his warmth wrap around her like a protective blanket.

She knew he was right. A small part of her wanted to move on and forget any of that happened. But another part of her knew it was impossible to ignore that part of her past. Sooner or later it would catch up with her. Once word of what she'd done escaped into public eyes and ears, it wouldn't be long before they convicted her for her crimes. And something told her that would only be the beginning of the hell that would follow.