Better

Chapter 17

A week passed and life was good. The four of them lived in Emma's apartment, Emma and Dylan sharing the queen bed, Katherine taking the pull out trundle, Tyler accepting the couch. They ordered take out, eating dinner together every night. They watched movies, played games, and enjoyed each other's company. Things were really good.

Dylan wasn't having any panic attacks and the night terrors had died down to normal nightmares. And when he had them he would wake up, turning to Emma who would take him in her arms, calming him down. Katherine and Tyler seemed to be getting along really well too. As much as Emma tried to deny it, they definitely had a thing for one another.

Emma sniffled, dabbing her nose with the crushed tissue that she had clenched in her hand. "Are you sure you have everything?" she asked, looking over his bags.

"Yes mom, I'm sure I have everything. Now I really have to go" Tyler told her, looking sadly at his sister.

"Yeah, yeah you should get going" Emma replied, looking over his uniform. She straightened the collar, patting down the creases on the chest. Tyler smiled down at her, placing his bag on the ground once more.

"I love you, and I'll see you for Christmas" he grinned, Emma nodding with another sniffle.

"You promise?" Emma asked, dread filling her heart. Tyler nodded, kissing her forehead.

"Promise" he replied, Emma wrapping her arms tightly around her brother's neck, hugging him tightly. He hugged her back, lifting her off the ground as he spun her in a circle.

"Love you" Emma breathed, willing herself not to cry. Or at least, not to cry in front of Tyler. That would only make this harder. Tyler placed her back onto her feet, picking up his bag again. "Good bye" she said with tearful eyes.

"Good bye" Tyler nodded with a warm smile, willing the tears that were brimming in his eyes to go away. He needed to look confident in his return, sure that nothing bad would happen. He needed to act that way, for her. Emma watched as Tyler turned around, walking away. She watched until she could no longer spot him in the crowd of people, leaving her to stand by herself.

She let the tears fall, the crying beginning as a single tear that escaped her, trailing down her cheek. But once she let the one go, the rest followed. A sob escaped her as she covered her face with her hands, fear taking over. That could be the very last time she sees him.

"Hey! Em!" Dylan ran over, slowing as he heard her cries. He wrapped his arms around her, kissing the top of her head. He molded his body to hers, his cheek resting on her head as his hand rubbed her back. "It'll be okay. He'll come back" he told her, praying that he was right. He and Tyler were surprising close now too, and losing him would hurt, a lot.

Emma pressed her face into his chest, letting the tears soak into his shirt. "I don't want him to go" she moaned, wrapping her arms around his back, clenching onto his shirt.

"I know" Dylan soothed, running his hand through her hair. "But we'll get through it, okay?" he asked, Emma just sobbing in response. "C'mon, let's get out of here" he told her, looking around at all the other crying people around him. Emma didn't move, a sad sigh escaping him. He bent over, grabbing her legs as he pulled her up into his arms.

Emma wrapped her arms around his neck and her legs around his torso, pressing her face against his shoulder. He carried her out of the depressing atmosphere, knowing that it wasn't going to make her feel better.

The cold winter air hit them in a wave as they left the warmth of the building. "I feel like I just got him back" Emma whispered, her fingers lightly tracing Dylan's neck.