Bless the Broken Road.

- Five Years Later -

"Emmett." she breathed after opening the front door to her brand new apartment. After five years of searching, Emmett had finally found his best friend and the love of his life. Of course he had a lot of help from Damon and Teddy who Google searched every possible Taylor Peterson and recent relocations of a Taylor Peterson. Emmett stood at the door in complete shock. Opening the door wider to let him in, Taylor moved out of the way. Emmett entered the apartment and looked about him. He saw many photos of Taylor. Some of the photos were of her alone or with colleagues or old college friends. Some were of Taylor with a baby. Then her with a toddler. Emmett's eyes widened. "Mommy." a tiny voice interrupted and confirmed his thoughts. Turning towards the sound, Emmett saw a small boy of five running towards Taylor. Emmett looked at Taylor in shock and walked towards her. "Is he yours and Chris's?" Emmett finally said after an awkward silence. Taylor nodded and told him that she couldn't bring herself to give her son up even thought what happened to her and between Chris. She also mentioned how she told the police about what Chris had done and he had been arrested once he landed back in Los Angeles. She had a great few days throwing all memories of him and all his possessions out of the window or into the skip. "He's serving life imprisonment for what he did." Taylor finished as her son ran off towards the lounge and turned on the television. Emmett took a moment to process all what had happened in the past five years until he finally managed to ask, "What's his name?" Taylor remained silent. "Taylor, what is his name?" Taylor sighed and waited until she heard the faint sound of The Suite Life of Zach and Cody was playing before answering with, "Emmett Harry Peterson." Emmett's eyes widened again. "You- you named him after me?! Why?" Emmett breathed.
"Because you were always there. From the first bruises to the wedding."
"That's because you are my best friend."
"Anyways how's Frances?"
Shit. Emmett hesitated for a while before speaking up, "Uhm we didn't get married. I went after you after you told me you were pregnant with- uhm- Emmett."
"Oh. I'm sorry." Taylor mumbled, embarrassed.
"No, don't be. I fell out of love with her." Emmett replied sheepishly. It was awkward talking about his ex-fiancée whom he left, not even at the altar. "She's married some other guy, William Cooper, I think she said."
"Oh," Taylor repeated, "how's Lucy? Teddy? Damon?"
"Lucy and Teddy married three weeks after the failure of my one. They've now got two kids. Annabeth and Connor. Twins. Damon is the same old Damon, but now he is acting godfather to the twins whilst Amelia's daughter, Leila, is godmother." The two continued to talk even after going into the kitchen for some coffee. Catching up with each other.

Riiiing Riiiiing

Emmett's iPhone started to scream from his pocket and he smiled as he saw the caller ID. "Damon." He chuckled as he answered.
"Have you found her?" the muffled sound of Damon's voice came through the mobile. Emmett looked lovingly at Taylor who by then was sat on the chair opposite him with Emmett Harry on her lap. She was smiling as she hugged her son and kissed the top of his head. Emmett Harry giggled and was almost immediately hushed by his mother. Taylor looked at Emmett, who hadn't yet answered the question. "Emmett? You there?" Damon's voice came through again.
"Uh yeah- I found her." Emmett breathed as he turned away and focused on his conversation. Taylor held out her hand and Emmett handed her the phone.  "Hey Damon. Missed me?" Taylor whispered. The sound of Taylor's voice in his ears made Damon start weeping over the phone and rambled on about how she has been. "I'm fine." Taylor sighed as Emmett Harry slid off her lap and went over to Emmett.

Pulling the elder away, Emmett Harry took him towards the lounge and asked in his small, innocent voice, "Do you love my mommy?"
"Yes. Very much."
"She loves you too. I can tell."
"Oh really? How?"
"She always used to say how she fell in love with her best friend." The little boy said as he held onto the elder's hand. Emmett crouched down to the little boy and hugged him. He pulled back and looked at the boy. "Can I tell you a secret?" He whispered. The boy smiled and nodded his head. "I did too."

~~~~~~•••~~~~~~

After the reunion of Taylor and Emmett something magical happened. They fell back in love. Months went by and Emmett came back to visit. Whilst on a walk through a play park with Emmett Harry when Emmett stopped Taylor from running after her son when he suddenly knelt down on one knee. Taylor gasped and squealed her answer. Soon after the proposal, Taylor and Emmett were married in St. Thomas's Church with Frances, William, Teddy, Lucy and Damon as witnesses.

A year after the wedding of Emmett and Taylor, they received a gorgeous gift. A little surprise. Baby Charlotte was born on Taylor's birthday. She was the perfect gift Taylor would later say.

The years went by and Emmett Harry and Charlotte soon grew up and flew the nest. Taylor became a loving mother and grandmother. She also became ever more famous for her book, I Fell in Love With My Best Friend which was semi autobiographical. Emmett- well he never left Taylor's side. He moved from Tennessee to Los Angeles which was a real change and went to medical school and became a doctor at St. Anne's Hospital. Ms Gilbert sadly passed away before Charlotte was born but her memory lives on. Teddy and Lucy became parents a third time when their children; Annabeth and Connor had grown up. Frances and William had the wedding of their dreams. Damon, well Damon did meet someone, although he was very tight lipped about who he was seeing. They got married secretly in Las Vagas last year. We still don't know his partner's name.

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[ * That's it guys — that's the end **sniff sniff** and I really hope you enjoyed reading it as I did writing. For the song; you can definitely imagine Taylor dedicating this song to Emmett. See you soon guys. L, Hannié. * ]