Are you truly family if your a Ghost? [Emma]

[Matrim Aldon]

The night had been incredible, he had been with Emma after years of being apart. He loved her with all his heart and wouldn't do anything to hurt her ever again. Although, he couldn't even hurt her if he tried for it would be against his very nature.

When he awoke to her nudging him he blinked a few times to have his eyes adjust to the darkness around them he then scooted up on the bed and held her close. She was asking him to tell her about why he hated Micha.

He shook his head and analyzed the question. He remembered speaking to her of it the first day he had met her. He pulled her closer to him and kissed her cheek. "I already told you my love, don't you remember the first day we met? You were there when Luke, and I were 'talking' to Micha. You made it clear that you wanted to know why we had done it out in the hallway." he said softly to her.

"If you want me to repeat it I will, I detest Micha because she spoke lies about me being with another woman when I would do no such thing, the first girl I had opened up too and she spirited her away with my best friend. Granted after I beat her up it lead me to you and your love but still, when I have done nothing wrong to her and she conspired against me that is unforgivable." he said to her looking into her eyes.

"You also remember how I detested manipulation and lies unless they are for fun little games between couples like how we play, all those sweet nothings and physical manipulations make life interesting but to use lies, cheats, steals and manipulation to move up your own agenda is something I won't stand for." he finished looking down at the bed.

[Nurse Emma]

I buried my face into his chest, sad that he couldn't let it go even after all these years. My hands were pressed against his chest as he held on to me tightly and a few tears seeped out. I sniffled a little, not caring whether or not he noticed.

"Mat, how can you say such things? How can you tell me you love me and hate someone else in the same breath? You never know if, perhaps, she knew that you two were never going to last and that you were meant for someone else? Did you ever think that she was doing it for the greater good?

"No, of course you didn't, because you were too busy hating her all these years. She made one perhaps wrong move and you won't let it go. She came to England for me and wasn't going to take the job here until I asked to come with. She was a parent to Elayne for the past five years and an irreplaceable friend to me since our school days. How can you hate her so much?"

I wasn't mad at him. I was just sad that he couldn't forgive her. I didn't understand that part of him. It was one of the few I didn't. I loved him so much, but Micha was like family to me, so why couldn't he at least be a little civil to her? It took a lot of energy to hate someone as much as he hated Micha.

"I guess you wouldn't understand since you weren't there for her or for me."

It was a low blow, but I found it hard to care. I just didn't get why he could hate Micha so much. I twisted inside myself, not understanding why or how. I could understand that he hated manipulation of energy to achieve your own means, but that was the story of just about everyone's life. You climb the ladder to get to the top and sometimes you have to step on a few hands to get there. But still...

Don't make me choose, Mat.

[Matrim Aldon]

He looked at his love and then down to the bed. He felt his heart sink as she spoke and cried. He held her close as she buried her head into his chest not wanting her to go. He stroked her golden hair with a soft hand not bearing to look her in the eyes as he was lost in thought.

To see her cry then would have broken him worse then any form of pain or torture he had ever experienced in his life, and he had taken alot of torture and pain over the years. Thats when he realized the entire conversation was a simple fact. Which was he love more? To love Emma or to hate Micha... He knew what was right but it did not mean he had to like it.

He looked at Emma and spoke softly as to not alert her to the fact that he was about to cry, the darkness hid his face well and he steadied his voice as best he could. "I don't care about the fact that she manipulated me anymore, but you should know by now that I am a man who believes in fate, if the relationship was doomed to fail then it would have failed with or without her help but because she nudged it it threw the balance of fate into a downward spiral. I am however glad Samara left me as it led me to you and your love which honestly Samara's could never compare too..." he said softly.

His minds fog began to clear and knew what he had to do. He then would do two things he hadn't done in a long time, he would swallow his pride which he had only done once before, and would take someone off his shit list before the regulated time. It was clear what he preferred, he loved Emma more then his hatred for Micha.

"But...Because I love you more then anything in the world...I will let it go, only for you and because you asked me, we have not spoken of it since we were students and back then you didn't even care if she lived or died and said she was annoying if I am correct. But I just kept it going as there was no reason not to let it go but because you have asked me to set down the hatred I will. I don't forgive lightly but I will do this only for you.." he said and kissed her forehead holding her still close to him.

He could barely believe what he did. He had never gone against his word. Even if it was to himself, when he said he'd do something he would do it and stay to it for the rest of his life. He then shook his head. I guess its true what they say, love makes you do crazy things... He thought to himself as he held Emma in his arms.

[Nurse Emma]

I smiled slightly, his declaration to quit hating Micha enough to ease my mind. I situated myself again, my body fitting perfectly inside his. I fell asleep in him arms, knowing he had only done it since he loved me so much and wanted to make up the past five years to me. But, somehow, that just wasn't enough. I wanted him to do something because he wanted to, not because he felt obligated.

I slept on, waking up periodically to make sure he was still there and to make the night last longer. Eventually, I realized I couldn't sleep any longer and I got up, being careful not to wake Mat. I got a shower and dressed, the sky just a pale green by the time I was done.

I made myself coffee and some toast and got out Elayne's favorite cereal. I ate in silence, thinking that this was just like every other morning for the past five years. But, it felt so much different. I was actually unsatisfied with the day.

I think I was getting spoiled, wanting more from the wee hours of the morning just because I had a husband again. I couldn't figure it out. I got up when I was done and went back to my Mat's and my own room and sat in a chair, just watching him while he slept. My heart ached to see him again. Why, though? Why did I have this great ache?

I left quickly, crying and stumbling through the kitchen and to the door that connected Micha's apartment to my family's. I knocked impatiently, my words coming out half-strangled and my heart's ache lacing itself through them.

"Micha, can I talk to you?"

[kassune]

The morning was early, and her night had been late. Laying where she was, in just a long pale-blue T-shirt, Micha woke to the sound of an urgent knock on Emma's door. Leaping out of bed, the shirt's hem floating around her knees, she ran to the door and opened it to find Emma standing there, crying just as she choked out the words... "Micha, can I talk to you?"

Instinctively, the red head wrapped her arms around her friend, gently pulling her inside her suite and quitly closing the door behind her. Tenderly she held Emma, whispering reassuringly in her ear. "It's alright Emma, I'm here for you. Whatever's troubling you, your not alone, we're in this together."

Quietly she stood there, holding her crying friend in her comforting arms, her soft body pressed against hers in a warm embrace. It seemed they stood there forever, but in truth Micha couldn't tell how long it had lasted as she held her friend and sister, listening to whatever she had to say in her heartache, a soothing, soft, sweet aroma radiating from her body and hair.


OOC: woke up, let Emma in, and I'm holding her and comforting her. Waiting and letting her tell me whats troubling her.

[Nurse Emma]

I felt like a silly little girl again. I was crying to Micha because it heart. I felt hollow, like I had shortly after Mat was gone. One difference- He was here again.

I didn't understand it. Why would my heart ache when he was there and I was seeing him again? Was it...

Maybe I didn't trust my very eyes.

"Micha, he's back. Mat's back. But, it hurts...it hurts so much."

I held on to her tightly, hoping that I wasn't really dreaming, that what was happening was real. I needed it to be real. Otherwise...I don't know how I'd survive.

If it was a dream, I knew I'd wake up any minute now to find that it was and I was on the plane with Micha and Elayne. And I'd never seen him, I'd never felt my hand hit his face or the feel of his lips after orientation. If I was dreaming, it was a good dream.

"Please tell me this isn't a dream. I don't wanna wake up if it is."

She'd tell me I wasn't dreaming either way. She would if it was a dream and she'd most definitely if it was real. There was no way of knowing, no way at all.

[kassune]

Micha had known Emma for twenty years, and lived with her for five, she knew the woman. A simple 'yes, its real' wouldn't do it for her, something more intense was required. Sliding one of her hands down as he held Emma closely, she pinched her butt, firmly but not too violently, just enough to elicit a mild yelp.

"Listen to me Emma. Its real. I can't say how good a thing it is, considering how he feels about me, but he is back. Just please Emma, be careful." She whispered, tears beggining to stream down her face. "He hurt you so badly once, if he hurts you again I swear to god I'll track him down and kill him. Please be careful sis..." She whispered, squeezing her tighter, the curves of her body pressing into the other woman.

Despite her prior actions and tendancy to be subversive and manipulative, Micha was nothing but completley and totally honest with Emma, and had been ever since they'd become friends. Others may think differently, but the two shared a bond that bypassed all the deceptions. "Whatever you do Emma, just remember, I've always got your back..."

[Matrim Aldon]

He woke up with a groan. His head was hammering now, for some odd reason. Probably because he had boxed in the dreams to keep himself from thrashing about in his sleep. Usually he woke up in cold sweats and stayed up the rest of the night because of those nightmares.

He took a deep breath and looked over to see if Emma was there, she wasn't he shrugged and got up, putting on the same pants and shirt he had on last night and walked out of the room to see if Elayne was up. She herself was just waking up. He smiled and walked over to pick her up holding her in his arms gently. "How did my little angel sleep tonight?" he asked her smiling and poking her stomach softly.

He then walked out to the kitchen and set her down on her chair from last night. He smiled and kissed the top of her head and told her he would be right back to make her breakfast, something continental and good for her. Probably bacon, eggs with ham and cheese on it with some buttered toast and some OJ if they had it. He liked the American foods he had learned and ate during his years at 253.

He then looked around the suite to see if Emma was there but she wasn't he thought she might have gone out for a moment or gone to see Micha. He thought about going there to see her but didn't trust what might happen so he went back to make Elayne her breakfast. He opened the fridge and bread cupboard and found they did have OJ. Good deal. He then began making breakfast. "Hope you like it Elayne, daddy hasn't cooked something like this in a long, long time." he said with a grin.

[Nurse Emma]

"Bloody!" I yelped, Micha having pinched my rump rather hard. Not cool. But, effective. It was real. Either that, or someone was pinching my butt as I slept. But, I'm pretty sure it was real.

I smiled slightly, in spite of myself. Micha didn't get it. Mat didn't hurt me. Mat was taken from me. The people that took him hurt me. I nodded at her, wiping away the tears and stepping back.

"Of course. I'm just...I'm just being stupid, that's all. Sorry to wake you." I gave her another hug and went back to my apartment.

Mat stood, working on breakfast for Elayne, myself, and him. That guy... I crept behind him and stuck my hands on my shoulders, lifting myself up on my tip-toes to give him a swift kiss.

"Good morning, stranger. You wouldn't happen to know where my husband is, would you?" I smiled lightly, trying to hide the fact that I'd been crying mere minutes ago. Elayne would probably figure it out, but I doubted she would say anything. Hopefully.

I wrapped my arms around Mat's neck and grinned. I loved the guy so much. I just never wanted him out of my sight again.

[Matrim Aldon]

He looked back at Elayne as he started scrambling the eggs and adding the cheese and ham. The toast had popped up but he'd wait a moment or two as not to burn the eggs. Once the eggs were done and smelled heavenly he let them fall onto a plate, Elayne's plate and set the toast and the OJ and sprinkled salt and pepper onto the eggs, the bacon had been done and he took a few strips and put them onto her plate.

Just as he started the second plate, one for his love Emma someone came up behind him and gave him a swift kiss. He would have turned around to confront them but he heard the voice and smiled. So he was a stranger now huh? And she doesn't know where her husband is? Oh he would get her for that.

He gave her a sly look back as he continued to make breakfast. "I don't know Miss, but I'm here for good, so how about you leave your husband for me?" he said with a grin as she wrapped her arms around his neck. He switched hands to stir the pan and had his right one lift her wrist and hand lightly up to kiss it softly.

He soon finished her food and spun slowly and took both plates and put one on the bend in his elbow and another in his left hand as he picked Emma up with a muscular arm by the waist. He walked over to Elayne and set the one on his elbow in front of her and sat in the chair next to her with Emma in his lap and handed her a plate of food wrapping his arms around Emma's waist and kissing her arm. "So, is it alright if that happens Miss?" he said with a grin.

[Nurse Emma]

My smile grew. He had asked if I would leave my husband for him since he would be here. I gave his neck little kisses as he proceeded to finish breakfast.

I gave a squeal as he picked me up and set Elayne's plate down and sat me in his lap. I took the plate and nibbled on it a little, as if I was seriously considering his question.

"I don't know. After all, my husband is quite the jealous type." I said, grinning. "And, I don't even know your name."

Elayne gave a little laugh as she dug into her American style breakfast and watched us as if we were some sort of drama. She had some things to interject, I knew, but she held her toungue in favor of keeping the entertainment going.

I kissed Mat's nose lightly, laughing as well. "Such is the manner of our games, correct? I do believe that my skills have gotten rusty since you dis- since you've been gone." I saved myself quickly, wishing to not kill our light little mood. "And I have had no one to practice on, you know."

Turning to Elayne, who was trying to cover up the fact that she was watching us by stuffing her face, I gave a little smile and pulled myself a little closer to Mat.

"And you, young lady, have to get dressed as soon as you finish. I'm taking you to school and staying until lunch, okay?" She nodded, still giggling as she chewed. I turned back to Mat. "You have a big day too, don't you? First day of keeping those students in line? I'm glad I'm not going to be here."

[Matrim Aldon]

He looked at his wife as they had been playing their little games. They always had been fun and never made a moment together dull. She had given him a soft kiss on the nose that he returned with another kiss and a pinch to her rump. Yeah, there was never a dull moment with Emma, ever since they had been together. Light, even their first meeting with each other had been exciting as it was when he had beaten Micha to a pulp.

He looked to Elayne who was still eating trying to ignore the fun her parents were having. He then had an idea to tease both of them. "Aww, but I wanted Elayne to go to my class for today so she could see what would happen when her daddy teaches." he said with a grin and a subtle wink to Elayne.

He then looked back to his love and nuzzled her neck with is nose giving her soft and light kisses. He knew she knew he was joking but still he hoped this wouldn't make her cross with him. He had just found his family again and wanted to be with them, too bad it had been right before the first day of school.

He then thought of something that made his green eyes sparkle. "Oh and Elayne honey, if anyone ever gives you ANY trouble whatsoever just call your daddy and he will make sure everything is alright ok?" he said with a smile.

He then picked Emma up by the waist with one arm until he could make a little prop for her with his forearms letting her sit there and kissed her passionately. Like the kiss he had given her when her parents had first met him....ever. That had been a rather...dramatic day but worth the pain that it later caused since he would marry her and now have a daughter with the one girl he really cared about. "I love you" he said barely above a whisper to her and kissed the tip of her nose grinning lightly.

[Nurse Emma]

I grinned as he took the affection up a notch. He teased us both on Elayne playing hooky with him. My smile fell, though, as he kept his intent on playing a game. He couldn't do that! Not with Elayne around!

"EW! I'm done, I'm done!" Elayne ran back to her room, shouting back at us. "And I'll have to keep that in mind!"

I looked to her, but fell into Mat's embrace and kiss. He pulled away just as I was about to, whispering the very thing I loved hearing. But, somehow, I barely felt the same joy I usually did when he said it. I pulled away, looking down at the same time.

"Mat," I said, not looking at him, but instead at my discarded breakfast made by him, "we can't play these games anymore. Not in front of Elayne. Let's face it, I'm a mother and you're a father and we can't let our daughter think that it's normal to play those games all the time.

"The reason why I haven't played those games in so long," I paused, letting the rest hang in the air for a moment, "is because I don't want her to see that stuff. I love you dearly, but this can't happen with her around."

I got up placing the meal on the table, completely untouched except for the toast. I went to Elayne's door, pausing as I reached it.

"I'm not going to do that." I knocked on the door, acting as if nothing had happened. "Elayne, are you getting your uniform on all right?"

"Yeah." She opened the door to reveal her in a sailor top and skirt with knee socks and loafers to boot. She looked so cute I couldn't help but to smile. We walked back to the kitchen and I went to grab my purse, telling her to give Mat a hug good-bye.

"Bye Daddy." She said, hugging him tightly and grinning. "Love you!"

"Yeah, bye Mat."

I walked out, Elayne following me. We had quite the day. We had also left my husband and her father alone in our apartment. I was faking my smile. I was glad he was there too, but I couldn't just let that happen again. I needed to make a point. I needed to raise Elayne right.

[Matrim Aldon]

Mat looked at her mournfully as she turned away from him. She had told him they were couldn't play the games anymore, at least in front of Elayne. He agreed to that, since well its what Emma wanted and she knew more about the welfare of Elayne then he did.

He gave her a nodded in understanding. "Alright Emma, we won't do it anymore as long as she is around." he said to her softly and gave her a quick kiss to the cheek before she got up to go get Elayne for school.

Elayne had come out in a little sailor top with matching skirt and knee high socks. She looked adorable in it and he could only grin and hold her close when she hugged him. He felt tears well up in his eyes, his first hug from his daughter and she said she loved him. She didn't even know him and she was already saying she loved him.

Thats when he felt the pain in his heart over it all. But he stayed firm as they left and right before Emma closed the door he looked at her and gave a soft smile. It was nothing and she would think of it as nothing more then Mat being Mat.

But, in reality it was more then that, he had a family that loved him and he loved them. He felt like crying, like breaking down, he wasn't the same as he used to be, he was just...a shell... Traumatic stress had robbed him of most of his sanity and he was an insomniac now, so his mentality would only go farther down the hole.

He waited five minutes until he knew they were out of the building and looked at the table and finally let it all out. He cried, and cried, and cried. He had broken down, the wave upon wave of images dashed before his eyes as everything hit him like a wrecking ball. Those years of torture...Those years of pain and misery...Were nothing like the pain he felt for losing his family for that long. Sometimes he even wondered if now he was alive...or just in another sick twisted fantasy created by those scientists in the facility. He hoped he was alive and this was all real but if it wasn't he'd rather die then live another day like this.

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