AN: So this is the year mark from starting this story, my goal after the rapidly declining reviews was to finish the story up and post it for the few loyal readers. However it turns out, I lose focus without posting. So I'll just start that up again. Sorry for the delay to those who were so great about posting.

-o-

"Amanda," Daniel softly spoke her name as he followed her into their room, closing the door behind him.

She shook her head as she stripped out of her clothing walking towards her dresser.

"You know Jack-"

"Don't," she paused as she opened the drawer. "Victoria won. I lost." Emily shrugged then pulled out a shirt. "You can go, it's over," Emily spoke without emotion as she pulled on the shirt.

"No it isn't. I know it feels that way."

"You have no idea what it feels like," the anger returned to her eyes.

"You're right, I don't. I have no idea what it must feel like to have one of my parents actually sacrifice something for my well-being.

"Just go Daniel," the emotion was once more gone.

"No way in hell."

"She left with him," Emily filled in the words Nolan and Jack hadn't said. "I took you, she took him." Emily shrugged. "Point is she's gone."

"Think that means she isn't watching?" Daniel's brow lifted, Patrick and Louise guaranteed his mother had full access to the Hamptons' activities.

"Just go," Emily shook her head.

"You know it's crazy. Two months ago exposing you was my blackmail to stay."

She said nothing.

"You're not exposing yourself," he warned her.

"Only thing I'm doing is going back to bed," she went to walk past him.

"You do it and you take me out with you," Daniel pointed out.

"You want to keep fucking me Daniel just say so," Emily announced with a sudden burst of anger. "Come on," she pulled off her shirt. "Right here, right now?"

"Don't," Daniel said holding onto her hands as she'd gone to the waist of his sweatpants. "I'm not your enemy."

"Really," her head tilted, "because you are the guy that shot me and left me to die. What does that make you?"

"The guy that was in love with you," he said holding her gaze. "The guy that had just found out that it was all a lie and he was your pawn."

"And now you're," her head knocked to the side in continued anger, the anger she could handle, the anger she had always been able to handle. "Hero, blackmailer, stepbrother?"

"Friend Amanda. I am your friend. Nolan, Jack-"

"Don't say his name," Emily cut him off.

"Jack-"

"You want to be my friend, Daniel. Drive this morning out of my head," her body eased into his.

"That isn't going to make this better."

"Nothing is going to make this better Daniel, but I don't know how to handle losing my father again and because of someone I trusted."

"You haven't lost him," Daniel tried to comfort her.

"Stop," she ordered him.

"No," he said holding her to him, "you stop. This doesn't only effect you, so you don't get to be the only one who decides things."

She pulled her arms out of his grasp easily.

He pulled her back to him and set their legs on the path to the bed, "You don't want to hear this Amanda, but it doesn't mean you don't need to."

"Just fuck me."

He didn't flinch at the word or her attitude. It felt cathartic. Another barrier wiped away. Just because the anger no longer overwhelmed his life didn't mean it had evaporated. "Trust me, I'm going to." His clothing was off in seconds, a mutual effort on their part.

As she was pushed onto the bed she recognized that he was in control, she didn't notice it was an attempt at maintaining the facade that he had some control over his life. She was just aware it was the only place she couldn't stand the thought of being.

"Hate to break it to you, Manda. This isn't your show anymore."

"Stop talking," she tried to order him as he teased her body.

He did for a few moments before he resumed speaking, "You were judge, jury and executioner. You made all the choices."

"I gave you a choice," she eventually responded.

"You knew I believed a lie. You knew the truth."

"Stop trying to rewrite history Daniel," she spoke with her eyes closed.

"You decided who I was. That I couldn't be trusted."

"Can you blame me?" Emily asked looking deep into his eyes.

"Where am I?" Daniel questioned as he let her know exactly where he was.

Her eyes closed.

"Do you have any idea how much I loved you?"

Her eyes opened despite herself to see the pain and anger in his eyes.

"But you knew everything. You couldn't trust me."

"Daniel," she spoke his name softly.

"You decided and you were wrong. The reign of Emily is over."

-o-

She had expected to be discarded as their breathing slowed. She expected Daniel to leap out of bed and shower. Instead he tucked her into his side, "He's going to come back."

"You don't know that."

"I know my mother. This isn't over."

Emily didn't close her eyes. Realizing the pain upon waking would be even greater than now. To wake up and recall all she has done and the damage it has wrecked.

-o-

Daniel walked into the kitchen with a smile on his face. "Good morning Anne."

"Good morning Daniel. Still want those pancakes?"

"You read my mind, I'm starving."

"No run this morning?" Anne asked as she went to the fridge for the batter she had prepared earlier.

"Emily and I got good news and have decided to have a lazy day."

"Anything you'd like to share?" Anne questioned.

"My mother has left town," he looked around and gave Anne a smirk, "I feel like trumpets should be playing."

Anne laughed softly.

"Are you going to the store today?" Daniel questioned as he watched her cook the pancakes.

"I am. We seem to have run out of a few things last night."

Daniel chuckled knowing the food was left out and their clothing left on the floor. "We forgot to clean up. I'm sorry."

"It's why we're here."

"Thank you."

"You're quite welcome. You and Emily are a refreshing change in the Hamptons."

"I feel like people leaving their clothing on the floor and food out would be pretty common," Daniel's lips twitched up in another smile.

Anne laughed, "Yes, but you actually seem to enjoy doing it together."

-o-o-o-

"Good morning," Emily smiled walking into the kitchen the next morning and seeing Anne. They had spent the previous day in bed, watching tv, eating and sleeping.

"Good morning Emily. Would you like me to prepare you breakfast?"

"I can get it," she shook her head and went to the fridge.

"Do you know if Daniel would?"

"He had an early morning meeting," Emily said pulling the lid off her yogurt.

"I heard the good news."

Emily's brows lifted.

"About your mother in law being gone."

"Good riddance," Emily said as she spooned the yogurt into the bowl.

"Good reason to spend yesterday celebrating."

Daniel had mentioned that to her yesterday, why them spending the day locked inside their bedroom wouldn't look peculiar to the staff. Emily smiled, "It might take a few months to stop locking our bedroom door."

Anne laughed. "Miss Ellis stopped by yesterday, she left that envelope for you."

"Right," Emily said leaving the museli resting on top of her yogurt, "Daniel mentioned that." She also knew they were only pictures because he had looked at them. She pulled them out of the envelope.

"Oh how sweet," Anne paused by Emily looking over at the photos. Louise had included several photos, one had contained the four of them, one was of Emily and Louise and another of Emily and Nolan. The rest were of her and Daniel. "You look so happy there."

"We were," Emily said looking at the picture from the crab boil. They were both laughing in the photo, their bodies close to each other. Moments like that had always been her downfall with Daniel.

"You should get frames," Anne smiled at her, "these should be on display."

"You're right." Emily paused and let her head tilt. "You know all of our things are still packed away. I brought them from the cottage, but Daniel and I-" Emily shrugged.

"Secure enough in your future that you're ready to face the past?"

Emily smiled over at her, "Exactly. It's time to put Daniel and I back on display. We're together and everyone that doesn't like it can-"

"Move away?" Anne chimed in.

Emily laughed, "Exactly."

-o-

"Would you like to talk about what was in your father's letter?" Daniel questioned as he placed the dinner Anne had prepared into the oven to reheat.

"Not particularly," Emily said tossing the salad.

"You shouldn't keep this stuff inside," he closed the oven door as he kept his eyes on her.

"We still aren't a couple," Emily put the tongs down.

"No," Daniel shook his head as he pulled out plates, "of course not. Where do you want to eat?"

"Outside while it's still nice."

"Yea," he said loading utensils onto the plates, "it's going to be a barren wasteland soon."

Emily rolled her eyes as she grabbed the seltzer waiting on the island, "Seriously, what do you have against a tray?"

"Where's the fun in that," Daniel said trying to shift everything to one hand to open the door.

Emily sighed.

"So come on Amanda," he said as he walked outside, "the letter."

She gave him a look as she placed the salad and seltzer down and went to free the goblets Daniel had hooked in between his fingers under the plates.

"You're going to tell me eventually. You can choose to tell me before I drive you insane or not," Daniel said as he sat down.

"It's what people say in a letter that he loves me and wants me to be happy."

"He give you any direction on how to do that?" Daniel taking the salad tongs.

Emily lifted her plate, "He thinks without Victoria, it will be easier for us to be happy."

"Aside from dating my mother, he's an incredibly smart man."

"He believes we're this thing," Emily made no move to pick up her fork and distracted herself by opening the seltzer.

"No one will believe us Daniel," Daniel lightly mocked her words from earlier in the summer.

"He saw us the other night in the pool."

Daniel froze.

"You're still alive," Emily pointed out that her father hadn't seen them that far into their night.

Daniel let out a light laugh.

"He came up to talk to me and then-" Emily shrugged.

"He left without letting you-"

"Convince him to stay."

"Like I said, he's smart. You're good at that," Daniel nodded.

"He wants me to be happy," Emily finally picked up her fork and focused on the salad on her plate.

"Ah," Daniel nodded, "someone in an unguarded, unscripted moment saw you being happy with me."

Emily gave him a look just as his lips couldn't help, but lift up in a smirk.

"Despite your best efforts. We are going to enjoy our lives," Daniel warned her.

She let out a light laugh.

-o-o-o-

"Nolan," Emily smiled up the next day as Nolan approached her table at the country club as she was having lunch with a 'friend.'

"You two look like you're up to no good," Nolan smiled down at them. "Elizabeth are you corrupting Emily?"

Elizabeth's eyebrows raised in mock innocence.

"What are you two devious ladies up to?" Nolan inquired.

Emily answered, "Planning a celebratory Victoria Grayson's reign is finally fully over gala."

"This might restart the season," Elizabeth's blue eyes sparkled.

"Embracing life without Mommy Dearest?" Nolan questioned.

"Can you blame me?"

"Can't believe Victoria finally let her baby boy go," Elizabeth commented.

"It's a whole new beginning for Daniel and I," Emily smiled and raised her glass of wine.

"Ready to be the new queen?" Elizabeth laughed slightly.

"I think I will leave that to Louise Ellis."

"Speaking of which," Nolan turned his attention to Elizabeth, "would you mind plotting on your own for a few minutes? Small matter to be discussed."

"Patrick, Louise or both?" Elizabeth smiled.

"Come to think of it, this might take more than a few minutes," Nolan gave a pained grin.

"You can have her for five. While I search through my calendar for the best weekend."

-o-

"What is going on Ems?" Nolan asked the moment he got her in private. "Your dad leaves and you're planning a party?"

"My meddling mother-in-law is gone. How else would I be reacting to that?"

"You're divorced."

"Just a word. Like friendship and loyalty."

"Ems, you know-"

"Trust me Nolan, Daniel has already tried everything to explain this. Doesn't change that this is the world now. Daniel and Emily, the socialite couple. Going about our lives as normal and normal means a party to celebrate this wonderful event."

"Emily-"

"Excuse me, I have to get back to my life."

Nolan sighed, "If there's going to be a party to celebrate Vicky being gone, even if it is just for the time being, you can be damn sure I'm going to be a part of it."

-o-

Nolan watched Emily suddenly smile as they sat making lists and plans for the party. He knew instantly who had entered the room. He told himself it was an act. He reminded himself of his vow to end this quickly as Daniel and Emily kissed hello.

-o-o-o-

Saturday Night:

"I feel old," Marc said putting his feet up on the coffee table as he was leaning back in an arm chair with a beer.

"That my dear is because we are," Becca laughed at him from her seat at the end of the sofa.

"I love being old," Daniel said from the other end of the sofa eating a skittle from the bag, "are you just going to stay over there?" Daniel looked next to him at Emily in the middle, closer to Becca than him.

"As long as she has the popcorn, hell yea," Emily answered taking more from the bowl on Becca's laugh.

"She's mine," Becca said tossing an arm around Emily, "you boys can have each other."

"I think I'll stick with the Skittles."

-o-o-o-

"Ambushed," Emily rolled her eyes walking into Nolan's living room, "what a great start to the week."

"Emily," Jack began.

"I get it," Emily smiled at them. "This is it."

"Just for the time being Ems," Nolan quickly added.

"It's not just us in Black's crosshairs. There's Carl to-"

Emily stopped Jack, "I would never let anything happen to Carl."

"Yea Emily and how long do you think it was going to take Black to notice the guard watching Carl."

"We move the guard from outside to in...Free baby care," Nolan smiled.

"I got it. We go about our lives as normal," Emily smiled at them.

"Ems-"

"Trust me Nolan. Daniel has already given me every single argument I'm sure you two have."

"Leave it to a Grayson to manipulate-"

"Let's just put it all out at this point. You know what we should have done weeks ago when you started plotting removing my father for my life for a second time."

"This should be interesting," Nolan leaning.

"I fucked up. I destroyed everyone lives…and my dad wasn't even dead. I thought I knew best and..." Emily shrugged.

"Emily," Jack softly spoke, ready to comfort her.

"It isn't just me anymore. It never was. So if this is what you all agree upon." Emily nodded. "I can handle being Emily in public and Amanda in private."

"Might I inquire what about this changed in your outlook?" Nolan questioned thrown off by her abrupt switch and the use of her real name.

"Daniel forced me to confront some hard truths this week. Speaking of Daniel, I should get home, we're heading into the city."

"What truth?" Jack questioned as she picked up her purse.

"The only place he's been since he found out the truth has been by my side," Emily gave a small shrug, "turns out I don't know what's best for everyone."

-o-

Nolan let out a loud breath as Emily left the house. "Subvert anger." Nolan nodded, "She just needs time. Of course we're fucked if in that time Daniel actually convinces her-"

"It's not like she wasn't telling the truth."

"She did that to hurt you. You and Emily-"

"Amanda," Jack said her name curtly. "Her name is Amanda and Daniel has been the only one that's actually been acknowledging that."

"That's because you have a past with Amanda."

"Yea," Jack nodded, "I have a past with an eight year old girl. That I idealized."

"You were eight. I probably would have-"

"I hated her," Jack cut him off. "She came back and she lied to me for years. I hated her when I found out. I hated that everything I believed was true was a lie. With Daniel, Em…Amanda. He forces her to be Amanda when we just let her hide."

"It's Jack and Amanda-"

"How many times?"

"As many as it takes. Em-Amanda might actually be able to make it to happy this time if we can figure out how to stop Black."

-o-o-o-

Daniel's face switched to a concerned frown as he heard his caller was from Voulez. "Is everything-"

Emily paused unpacking the groceries they had just picked up from the market that morning since her New York apartment had been stripped bare of all perishables some time ago.

"A story?"

Emily pulled her empty hand out of the bag.

"Where did you-" Daniel's eyes closed and he grimaced as they opened once more he noticed Emily's anxious eyes and he shook away her concern as he continued to listen to the caller. "Yes I do have a comment, you can tell Margaux that if this is something she wants to talk about, she can talk about it with me and not have a lackey call me. Actually you know what, I'll tell her that in person."

"What happened?" Emily asked as soon as he took the phone away from his ear.

"My guess would be my mother, a parting gift. Apparently the deposit you made to my account after I moved in was leaked."

Her repayment for the party she had thrown with his credit card last summer, "And-"

"You're paying me to be in this relationship."

Emily snorted.

He laughed at her.

"An article in your ex's mag-"

"Page Six, online, it's up already."

"The Post is-"

"Yea," Daniel once more grimaced.

"So much for getting us out of the spotlight."

"Yea Black, my clients-"

"Margaux," Emily pointed out.

Daniel groaned and sat on a stool.

"What do you want to do?"

Her question stopped his frown and he looked up at her with a small smile.

"What?" Emily shot him a confused look.

"You just asked someone's opinion."

Emily rolled her eyes.

"Are we going to have a discussion about how we should treat this?"

"Are you going to go to Margaux and tell her The Post got it right and beg her to take you back?"

"No," he gave a quick shake of his head, "I am going to go see her. Try to undo my mom's corrupting influence and stop her from giving the story any more credibility. Sound good?"

Emily smiled at him, "Not as good as mine. So should we pack this up and head back?"

"I promised you pancakes," Daniel smiled and started to unpack the bag once more.

"We could be having Anne's in an hour and a half, we'll be against traffic."

Daniel laughed, "Come on. I'm developing life skills. Considering the fact that my professional life is probably going to tank again, I should be able to feed myself. No more hundred dollar brunches," Daniel smirked.

"You're not supposed to smile when you say that," Emily laughed and went to start the coffee.

"Is it odd that being broke seems to be when I like my life the most?"

She laughed, "Yes."

-o-

The annoyance was clear on Margaux's face as she told her assistant to leave them after Daniel barged into her office.

"If you want to talk about something with me Margaux. I would appreciate if you picked up the phone instead of having a lackey do it."

"I run a magazine Daniel. I'm hardly going to ignore a story that the rest of the nation is going to report on rather than make you uncomfortable."

"Yes," Daniel nodded, "because this is just a story."

"It is," she smiled at him, "a good one in fact since your wedding was our exclusive cover story."

Daniel scoffed, let his head drop in exhaustion before looking back up at her, "I am sorry Margaux. I know that those words are never going to be enough, but they're all I have."

"That and a very healthy bank account once more."

"Yea well Emily was a little pissed at me last year and used my money to pay for her Casino Night. She paid me back, down to the last cent."

"Of course," Margaux nodded.

"Would financial records help?"

"Who are you trying to convince Daniel?"

"We were friends Margaux and we're-"

"Going to have a baby together," she almost rolled her eyes for that.

"What do you want me to say or do? Give me any idea Margaux."

"The truth Daniel, the one thing you have been incapable of giving."

"I'm not being paid to be in this relationship," he laid that small part on the table.

"Then why are you in it?!" Margaux's voice spiked.

"Do you really think this is what I wanted? What I expected?" Daniel's voice raised as well.

"Then why?"

He shrugged, suddenly defeated, "Because I can't walk away. I've tried. I know everything would be easier, but I can't."

"Why?" Margaux repeated.

"I should have been different. I should have been better. I have made every wrong choice," he admitted.

"You think you've made the right one now?" The bitterness leached out of her words.

"I regret hurting you."

"But not going back to Emily," Margaux slowly drawled.

"That night when I was on the beach and I heard her being attacked. It was the first thing in a long time I did with no doubts."

"You almost died," Margaux pointed out.

"I couldn't have lived with myself otherwise."

"You're pathetic," her head tilted as she addressed him, "without her you might have actually had to become someone." He gave a superficial flinch. "That was just too hard wasn't it?"

His head shook slowly once before it came to settle upon her, "Believe what you want. Print what you want." Daniel shrugged, "They're your child support payments, you want them to be from a bartender, your choice."

-o-o-o-

"So how do you want to do this?" Emily questioned as they approached the yacht club the next night. The media assault on their relationship was already going strong.

"It's already over," he gave a miniscule shrug of his shoulders, his eyes staying focused on the road, "two clients gone, another barely holding on. Fuck them."

"And what does that mean?"

"Do you want to have to sell offended and hurt?"

Her eyebrows raised.

"Let's just go in. Fuck them."

"What about-"

"Fuck it," his head shook, "you're supporting Charlotte for the rest of her life."

-o-

"Why are we even here?" Emily questioned with her arm looped through Daniel's as they walked through the sparsely populated club.

"Because we play Scrabble way too much for people our age?" Daniel smiled at the lone person who was brave enough to smile at them and not divert her eyes.

"We could have gone to a movie or had dinner somewhere-"

Daniel chuckled, "With good food?"

"This new chef is just not getting better," Emily grimaced.

"Shame Nolan couldn't buy out the country club."

"Elizabeth said they're doing an amazing beet salad," Emily commented as she settled onto a bar stool, their typical spot since it was most convenient for Nolan.

"I'll see if I can get a tee time this week, we'll check it out."

"We could do an easy game of tennis tomorrow," Emily remarked eager to be occupied.

"You don't know the meaning of the word easy," Daniel said with a smirk on his lips before turning his attention to the bartender, "two seltzers," he turned back to Emily.

"That rosé from North Fork?"

"The Macari," Daniel nodded.

"That's it," Emily smiled at the bartender and exchanged a few pleasantries as he filled their glasses.

"Maybe we should drive over this weekend," Daniel nodded at her wine.

"Are you taking up drinking again?"

"They have food, it'll be nice this time of year," Daniel took a sip of his seltzer. "Maybe Marc and Becca."

"I told them we'd go to their place."

Daniel's eyes lit up with the thought of an activity, "Barbeque, movie?"

"That tree in their front yard, there's a branch too close to their living room."

"I don't think I like what you're suggesting. You call people for that."

"They did, their friends. They just bought a house."

"Is this like a honey do list for rich people? You still want to torture me, you know I would just pay someone if it was at our place."

"You know laundry isn't that hard," Emily lifted her brows.

"Come on," he laughed throwing his head back, then as he turned fully towards her, the smile remained on his lips, his eyes crinkled at the corners, "It's like cardio in that house, you want to move to the city, I will go back to doing laundry."

Emily rolled her eyes.

"I was shot, I had sepsis, I was in a car accident. You really expected me to carry twenty pounds of laundry across the house and up and down stairs?"

"Just saying if you did, maybe you'd be watching a movie this weekend instead of cutting down a tree."

-o-

"So Danny boy," Nolan smiled from behind the bar at the couple that now had Patrick and Louise next to them, leading Nolan to believe they had been sitting on her yacht with binoculars. "I think it's time we stop pussyfooting around the subject. I wish I had known you were for sale years ago."

Daniel mentally braced himself. Louise chuckled, Patrick let out a forced laugh.

"How much for you to leave Emily, name your number."

Daniel leaned forward with a smug smile, "I'm family, I'm here forever."