A Revengeless Life

After the Honeymoon

I laughed as Jack picked me up and carried me across the threshold into the bar. We had just gotten back from our honeymoon, and everyone inside was yelling and cheering at our arrival home. 

"Welcome back, you guys!" My dad said, hugging us as we walked back in. 

"Hey, Dad!" I said happily.

"I really need to talk to you," he said. 

"Can Jack come?" I asked. 

"Maybe he should stay and keep the guests entertained," my dad said, looking at Jack with a warning not to follow.

"Fine. I'll be right back," I said, kissing Jack and walking up the stairs to the apartment with my dad. 

"Amanda, Victoria's not dead," my dad said.

"I thought her heart was the one that was donated," I said. 

"Who told you that?" He asked. 

"I had a dream," I said sheepishly. 

"Well, it's not her heart. And Daniel's alive too, for that matter," my dad said. 

"What the hell happened while we were on our honeymoon?" I shrieked. 

"I'm not quite sure of all the details myself. He says he woke up in the morgue, not sure of who he was. He escaped, without their knowledge. That's why we thought his body was stolen," my dad said. 

"We buried his body," I said. 

"No. We buried an empty casket. Victoria didn't want to wait for the body," my dad said. 

"Do  you know how screwed up this is?" I asked my dad. 

"Well, just play nice with Daniel and Margo. They're both here. I wouldn't be surprised if Victoria made an appearance as well. She's been acting like my new best friend since she got back from the dead," my dad said. 

"Alright. I'll play nice. It's the least I can do, considering we used Daniel's good reputation to cover our asses," I said. 

"And Victoria? Margo?" My dad asked. 

"Victoria tried to frame me for her murder. And then kill me. Margo was dead set on uncovering all my dirty little secrets. She also told Victoria that I pushed her in front of the car. Victoria believed I was responsible for her not having a grandchild. I can't play nice with them," i said. 

"Well, then put on a good show, For tonight at least. We don't need any drama," my dad said, walking back down the stairs into the bar. I followed him, plastering a smile on my face, scanning the room for Daniel, Margo, and Victoria. I ran into Jack first.

"What was that about?" He asked. He was holding Carl. Carl motioned for me to hold him, and I took him in my arms. I was happily surprised at how easily he had adapted to me being his step-mother. 

"Victoria's alive. So is Daniel. And they're both supposedly here tonight. Along with Margo," I said, rolling my eyes, keeping the smile on my face. I saw cameras in the corner of the room, and didn't want to risk them capturing any drama on camera. 

"What?" Jack asked, not as good at keeping his face neutral. I saw a camera swing and capture a picture. 

"Jack, you need to pretend like everything's alright," I said, raising my eyebrows at him. He quickly laughed nervously and smiled. 

"Why wouldn't everything be alright? Did the honeymoon not go smoothly, Emily?" Victoria said, from behind me. 

"Everything was just fine on the honeymoon. And then we had to come back," I said. 

"Reality does tend to bite you in the ass, doesn't it," Victoria said, smiling. 

"I would appreciate it if you would keep the language to a minimum around Carl," I said. 

"He's growing up in a bar, what do you expect?" Victoria said, sipping her wine. 

"This is a clean bar, Victoria. How the hell are you alive?" Jack asked her. Her mouth twitched a bit, showing a weakness, but her face quickly returned to normal. 

"I'm alive by sheer luck. You don't seem so happy. Do you seriously hold such a grudge that you can't be happy a life was saved?" Victoria said. 

"You tried to frame my wife for your murder. And then kill her," Jack said. 

"Can we not do this here? I don't care about Victoria, but I would really not like bad press for either of us so soon after the wedding," I said, smiling at Jack, then glancing at the nearest reporter. 

"Of course. It was nice seeing you again, Victoria," Jack said, woodenly. 

"The pleasure was all mine. Emily. Jack," Victoria said, as she walked by us. I scanned the room for Daniel again, but only saw my father and Nolan chatting about who knows what. Then I felt a tap on my shoulder. 

"Looking for me?" Daniel asked. 

"I wasn't...Not...Alright, I was. I didn't really believe my father," I said. 

"Well, here I am. By the way, thanks for dragging me through the mud. I sincerely remember saving you from a psychopath, not being the psychopath," he said. 

"Daniel, I'm sorry. If I had the choice, I would have. My father decided to try the cover up. We were all in danger, your mother included. I would have come up with something else. I know you were trying to save me," I said. 

"I know. No hard feelings. I mean, I don't like your dad much, but I've forgiven you. For everything," Daniel said. 

"I'm glad to hear it. Where's Margo?" I asked. 

"We had another fight again. Just before the party. I'm done this time. We're toxic. She just doesn't work for me," Daniel said. 

"And I did?" I said, trying to laugh about our past. 

"You truly did. Even if it was all just an act," Daniel said, his face remaining serious. 

"I feel like you're hitting on my wife," Jack said, breaking his silence streak. 

"I'm really not. Just letting her know that I'm not truly over her. I think that may be why Margo and I didn't work," Daniel said. 

"Did you know that you were pregnant?" I asked quietly. 

"I did. And then I also heard she was hit by a car. There are rumors that you pushed her into the car. I want to hear it from you. Did you really?" Daniel said. 

"No, I swear I didn't. Margo wasn't watching where she was going. I did not push her," I said. 

"So it was her fault I'm not having a kid," Daniel said. 

"She's just as upset as you are," I said. 

"You know, I've thought I was going to be a father twice now. One with you, and one with her. I think maybe I'll just adopt. As a single parent," he said. 

"Well, for what it's worth, I think you'd be a great father. You've really changed," I said. 

"Thanks, Ems. That means the world to me. I'll see you later. Friends?" He said. 

"Friends," I said, raising my champagne glass and drinking to my new revengeless life.