Better

Chapter 18

A few weeks passed. The season shifted into winter, the weather becoming colder, the sun setting earlier. Dylan couldn't help but fall in love with the way Emma got so excited when they set the clocks back or the way she took him Christmas shopping in the first week of December. He loved it.

Emma's sadness for Tyler being gone began to fade as Dylan made a large effort to distract her. He distracted her by taking her to the movies or to dinner. He distracted her with kisses and hugs. He distracted her with breakfast in bed. He just tried to make her as happy as he possibly could.

Emma was always happy around him. She was head over heels in love with him so just his presence could make her smile. She talked to Tyler almost everyday, relieved every time he answered the phone. She even found out him and Katherine had been talking. Things were good. They were really good. Emma and Dylan only saw them getting better.

"You ready?" Emma asked, peeking over the tops of empty cardboard boxes that she balanced in her arms.

Dylan took a deep breath, staring up at the building, his arms also filled with boxes. He glanced down at Emma, a smile coming across his face as her face was hidden behind a chunky wool scarf and large winter hat. He knew this was the right choice, the one that he wanted to make. "Ready" he nodded, stepping forward.

Emma grinned, walking into the building after him. An artificial blast of warmth hit them as the doors shut, the two stepping forward onto the white tile floor. They walked to the desk, smiling down at the woman they considered a friend.

Debra glanced up from her paper work, her eyes going wide. "Oh my goodness!" a large grin came across her face as she stood up, clapping her hands together. "I've missed you two!" she exclaimed, reaching out and squeezing each of their hands. She probably would've hugged them, but they were barricaded by boxes.

"It's really good to see you Deb. You look good, hair cut?" Emma asked, Debra blushing as she tussled her hair.

"I did, thanks for noticing" she beamed, looking at the two of them. "Gosh, I feel like I haven't seen you in ages! How are things?" she asked, leaning on the counter as she studied the two intently.

"Well, Emma and I... we're dating" Dylan announced with a grin, Debra laughing happily.

"I can't say that's a surprise. When did that happen?" she asked, very interested in their lives.

"Thanksgiving, kind of" Emma chuckled. "And everything's been good. Tyler got deployed but he'll be back at the end of this month for Christmas" Emma added, more to reassure herself than to comfort Debra. "Dylan and I have been good. Things have been good" she grinned at him, proud that he was part of her life.

"So, not that I'm not absolutely thrilled to see you, but what are you guys doing here?" Debra asked, pushing her, now bright pink, glasses back up her nose, her long red nails clicking on the counter.

"Well, we're here to officially check Dylan out. You know, do the paper work, move the rest of his stuff out, the works" Emma explained, grinning excitedly. Besides Deb, Emma had always hated everything about this place, as did Dylan. She had been bugging him to officially check out for a while, Dylan's only argument being that he just didn't want to go back there, ever.

"Oh, Dylan, did you get a place?" Debra asked, Dylan looking excitedly to Emma.

"Well, actually, I'm moving in with Em" Dylan smiled, Debra gasping as her eyes went wide.

"No way!" she teased, grinning at the two. She liked to pride herself in setting those two up, seeing as it was her random matching that set them up as partners. "Good for you two! I'm so happy for you!" she laughed, clapping her hands together.