*Yes, I am indeed alive. You see, what had happened was...
After seeing the final season of the show on Netflix back in April, I lost all motivation for this story with how disappointed I was. However, after re-watching the earlier seasons and some inspiring conversations, I am back. Now for the moment you all have been waiting for.

And, here... we... GO!"

Daphne stepped sideways and motioned for Emmett to come in. He stepped into her apartment while looking at the floor. Daphne set down the pan she was holding and took a deep breath. He stood awkwardly waiting for her to begin signing. Daphne stood at the table waiting for him to begin the conversation. After a couple of minutes, Emmett finally looked up.

"Thanks for letting me come talk to you," he began. "I'm sorry that I left Ty's funeral like I did. I don't have any excuses. I should not have done that."

"Well, I am glad you're here. I was going to make myself lunch and then text you."

He nervously chuckled. "I guess I have good timing." There was another awkward silence and Emmett began again. "I'm here because I know we need to talk. So how are we going to work this out?"

Daphne sighed before meeting his gaze. "I'm not sure yet. I'm still coming to grips with the fact that so much is going to change and I am not ready for it."

"I'm not ready for it either, Daphne. Like it or not, it's happening in seven months," Emmett replied. "We need to work something out what we're doing soon."

Daphne sat down on her couch and Emmett sat across from her on the arm of her recliner. It took another minute before she would look at him. Emmett couldn't help the next question.

"Daphne, do you regret this happened?"

It was another minute before she answered. "I do not know how to feel about it, Emmett. I just found out a couple of weeks ago," she answered and sighed. "I mean, I am starting get used to the idea of having a baby around and holding it. I was thinking about it the last few days what it would be like when it develops more and I can feel it moving."

Emmett sighed. "Do you regret that it was... with me?"

Daphne took a deep breath. "I'm sorry, Emmett. I don not have an answer for you right now. Us having sex was not at all something I ever imagined us doing. I have never thought of you like that. If you are worried that I plan to raise the baby without you, that will not happen. I did not have my father around and I promised I would not do that to my own children."

Emmett smiled knowing she would not keep him from his raising his baby but took a deep breath with his next revelation to her. "I promised to always be honest with you."

Her look turned to one of concern. "I know. What's up?"

He exhaled. "I do not regret what we did, Daphne. I thought hard about it that night. When we were watching Night Of The Living Deaf. When I realized I had my arm around you, I realized we tend to act like a couple but we are not together. Brothers and sisters do not put their arms around each other like that. I realized how I have felt about you the last couple of years. I never said anything because I did not want to ruin a lifetime of friendship."

Daphne's eyes grew wide at his admission. She couldn't look away from him but had no idea how to respond. She asked the first question to come to her mind.

"What are you trying to say, Emmett?"

He stood up and stepped closer to her but not too close. There was still a cushion between them. "I finally admitted to myself that I have feelings for you. When you and Mingo took that break and we went to Canada. Just us. We grew a lot closer and opened more than usual. I thought there was something there but denied it because of my relationship with Bay. When I kissed you, I felt it... I... I love you, Daphne. Even if you do not feel the same, I want to be here for you every step of the way and I want to be here for the baby. No matter what."

When Daphne just stared at him and did not respond, he continued. "If you want to know how serious I am, I sold my motorcycle this morning. Tank is coming to pick it up on Monday. I'm using that money to get a car."

Daphne remained taken aback. Emmett waited patiently for her to gather a response. It took her a few more minutes to process what he just revealed. It was information she never expected to hear in a million years. When she formed the sentence in her mind, she raised her shaky hands to start signing to Emmett again.

"That is amazing that you are so serious about this and I am glad to know you are. I do not know if I love you. I am not even sure I have those kinds feelings for you. For now I can only say with certainty that the baby will have both of us as parents. I need time to process all of this."

Defeated, Emmett nodded and kissed her on the cheek. "Take your time. I'm not going anywhere. Just home."

He left the room. As soon as the door closed, Daphne fell back onto the couch trying not to cry again. Everything was becoming over complicated now. To make it even better, she was expected at her parents for dinner. She felt her phone vibrate and there were two text messages. The first was from Bay.
[Hey, Daph. Before you go inside can we talk over by Toby and Lilly's?]

the other text was from Travis.
[Hey. I need you to have my back tonight. Im telling John that I am not renewing my contract with the current team so I can go to the minors here. Please)

She grabbed the nearest pillow, held it against her face and let out a frustrated scream into it.