Glass

Woodland Conversation

Emma was walking down a familiar track in the woods just opposite the house, she held a big bouquet of roses in her hands as she strode casually along the twisting path. She stopped in a clearing, where there was a small plaque next to a lonely oak tree, Emma walked over to the plaque before kneeling down and dusting off some of the leaves that had fallen on it and was covering up the writing and setting the roses down above it.

"Hope these are okay" she sighed a small smile appeared on her face as she traced the gold painted letters with her finger "I'm sorry I haven't been down in a while it's just...well a lot has happened in the past few months...The Beast is gone and there's a new addition to the family on it's way, I wish you could see them, I know you would have loved them especially Casey, she's a lot like you actually..." Emma paused slightly to swallow back the lump in her throat "You always said the house was too quiet, looks like it's gonna get a little bit noisier now...god I miss you so much, I made some pretty stupid mistakes recently but  I'm gonna get better I promise, I know that's what you would have wanted so I'll do it for you besides I have people to kick my ass if I don't" Emma chuckled as her finger finished tracing the last letter on the plaque she said one last thing before deciding to leave "I hope I've made you proud...I love you" she muttered, kissing her fingers and placing them on the plaque just above her name before standing up to leave reading the words inscribed on the plaque for the thousandth time

Laura Jessica Ennis

Much loved friend and family member

Forever in our hearts  

Emma turned around and saw Dennis walking towards her

"Hey" she called 

"Hi, I wasn't interrupting was I?" Dennis asked

"Hmm, no, no I was ahem, just finishing up" Emma replied looking back at the old oak tree and the roses lying at the base of the trunk.

"It's a nice place to have her" Dennis commented 

"Yeah...she always liked it here it seemed only right to bury her here" Emma sighed before turning to face Dennis "What can I do for you Dennis?" 

Dennis walked a few paces forward before turning on his heels again

"Do you remember anything about your father Emma?" Dennis asked, Emma's face darkened a bit as a frown appeared on her face.

"Not really, I was abandoned when I was still quite young but I would like to think he was a good man, the type that would be kind and caring and wouldn't have given me up unless he really had to...Why, what's brought this up all of a sudden?" Emma asked, Dennis sighed before leaning on one of the thicker tree trunks in the clearing and holding onto a branch.

"I don't know anything about my father really...I remember glimpses but they're brief and not much to go on, I guess what I'm trying to say is that I haven't grown up with a positive relationship with either of my parents, one being absent and the other being you know..." Dennis shivered as he remembered Kevin's mother.

"Your point being" Emma interrupted his thoughts 

"Well what if I fuck it up, what if I become like that...I dunno if I'm cut out for being a parent when I've had such little positive parenting experience myself" Dennis sighed, closing his eyes to fight back the stinging tears.

Emma walked over to him resting a comforting hand on his shoulder before she spoke

"Dennis...I know it must feel terrifying right now becoming a parent is the biggest responsibility for anyone to take on but in a way your lucky"

"How am I lucky?" Dennis asked confused

"Because all that trauma, all that abuse you went through and Casey went through has given you the knowledge on what not to do with your child, you can learn to be a better parent than the ones you had based on your experiences" Emma explained

"Huh I never thought of it that way" Dennis replied

  "Honestly just make sure that the kid has fonder memories of their parents than we do about ours, if you can do that then your doing it right, for what it's worth I think your gonna be a great father Dennis" Emma consoled

"And if I'm not?" Dennis asked some of that fear coming back to him

"Do you love the kid?" Emma asked

"More than anything in the world" he answered 

"Then you should be fine"

"Yeah but what if I'm not?"

"Then I'll be here to kick your ass if your not if Casey doesn't get to you first"

Dennis chuckled at that "Thank you Emma, for everything" he said

"Don't mention it" she said waving the gratitude away with a hand "Oh I've been meaning to give you this for awhile and since...well since there probably won't be a better opportunity...here" Emma said, handing Dennis her house keys.

"Why are you giving these to me?" he asked looking down at the three golden keys that were attached to a silver key ring on a chain.

"I...uh I'm gonna be away for a while, a new lead on Elijah has just come up and I wanna go check it out" Emma said sheepishly

"Emma can't you just let it go?" Dennis sighed

"I wish I could but if I turn a blind eye and he's given time to recuperate, to regain strength... I don't know what he'll do next, you've seen what he's capable of I can't let him wonder about on the streets" Emma defended 

"How long will you be gone?" he asked 

"Dunno, maybe a few months, I'll be back in time for the kid...or at least try to be but I just have to do this" Emma shrugged 

"Good luck I guess" Dennis mumbled and Emma put on a small smile

"Thanks man, it's getting dark we should head back, trust me you don't want to be out here when it's dark, it's way too easy to get lost" she said before walking towards the track she had taken earlier, Dennis closely behind her.

They walked in a comfortable silence the whole way back, Dennis was wrapped up in his thoughts he could see Emma's point for going after Elijah but at the same time he just wished that she could let it go, but then he thought about how much pain and destruction he had caused and if he did come back who would be in danger if he did come back for them, he didn't want to live in fear of someone coming after him or his family and he supposed Emma didn't either which was why she was going after him.

"Well here we are I better get ready, remember what I said Dennis and if you ever get worried or nervous about something you have Casey and I'm only a message away until I get back, but like I said if you use your childhood as a guideline on what not to do then you should be fine" Emma reassured him, Dennis nodded feeling slightly better after their conversation.

"Have you ever wanted to find them again?" Dennis asked curiously

"What my parents?...there was a time when I was a kid I would have this fantasy in my head that they would come running back to take me back again but not anymore" Emma answered

"How come?" 

"Because I have a family of my own to look out for now" Emma smiled before turning and walking into the house, leaving Dennis to stand outside by himself to consider what she said.