Christian got off his bike and stepped up onto the porch, waiting until he was hidden behind the lattice garden before he shifted his features back to his old self.
He breathed a sigh of relief and shook himself out. Being a shifter was hard work at the best of times.
He double checked the address, having recognised the house regardless, before reaching up to knock on the door. He actually found himself a little nervous when he heard her footsteps.
Once the door opened, he smiled.
"Oh my gosh… Chris?!"
Emily practically leapt into his arms, almost knocking him over. He chuckled a little as he hugged her back, then took a deep breath and kissed her cheek.
"How are you?" he asked.
"Amazing, now," she replied, unable to wipe the dorky smile from her face, "I can't believe you came. I heard you went to rehab…"
"Right. I should probably thank Anita for getting the message through," Chris remembered as she slid from his arms and stepped back a little.
"Thanks for sending it. So they let you out?"
"I'm a free man, so to speak," Chris shrugged.
"I never thought those words could come out of your mouth," Emily shook her head.
"You're telling me," Christian's eyebrows rose, "but maybe we should take this inside?"
He made to step past her, and she put a hand on his chest to stop him.
"What?" he frowned, "don't want your boyfriend to see me?"
"No boyfriend," Emily shook her head, biting her lip somewhat nervously.
Chris gave her a curious look, clearly hearing a second person in the kitchen of the small house.
"It's my daughter," Emily said softly, eyes somewhat sternly planted on his.
"You… have a daughter?" Chris looked confused, "when did that happen?"
"October 2005," Emily said softly, not moving her hand.
"While I was in rehab?" Chris shook his head, "well… wow. And the guy split?"
Emily shook her head.
"Then you've lost me," Chris shrugged, "you don't have a boyfriend, but the father of your kid didn't…"
He trailed off, his face losing colour.
"No way."
"Chris, I'm sorry," Emily said purposely, "but really, I had no way of telling you. I couldn't even find out if you'd actually be okay with it. But I was fine at the time, and financially sound, so I saw no reason not to-"
"How could you bring a child into this?" Christian shook his head, moving his sunglasses into his hair.
"Excuse me?"
"The Guffrey Twelve are a dwindling few. What could you possibly…? What if he found out? What if he came after her?!"
"That's my problem, not yours," Emily insisted, "you didn't know. I take full responsibility."
"Does Steel know?" Christian's eyes narrowed.
"Of course. He was supposed to contact me when you got out."
"He doesn't know where I've been," Christian stepped aside a little, his eye on the nearby window.
"Evidently. No one has. Or they would have said something."
Christian paused, rubbing his face with his hand as he struggled to think. There was suddenly a lot to consider.
Emily watched him for a time, before stepping forward and putting a hand on his shoulder.
"Would you like to meet her?" she offered cautiously.
"In what capacity?" Chris frowned.
"Well. How about we start off as `friends'?" she suggested.
"What do you even tell her about… about her father?" Chris looked to her.
"That he's a strong, courageous man, who means a great deal to me," Emily replied straight away, "and who'll always be there one way or another for us."
"So you lie to her."
"It's the truth as far as I'm concerned."
She stepped closer and wrapped her arms around his waist tentatively. He didn't stop her.
"You've always meant a lot to me, Chris," she said softly, "I mean, not on the same level as Darcy of course. But you are literally the reason that I even have a life now. And now you're the reason I have someone – a little girl – who is so amazing, to share it with. The thanks I have for you could never finish being said if I started right now."
"She's going to be in danger," Christian's voice was soft.
"We're doing okay, Chris," Emily insisted, keeping her eyes on his, "of course there's always going to be danger from Guffrey's angle. But that's never going to change. Here's a part of my life that he doesn't have a say in, okay? And so far so good. We're taking it day by day here."
"Then I can't stay here," Chris shook his head, "the three of us… if he ever caught wind…"
"I understand that," Emily nodded, "and as I said, this is my responsibility. I take full credit. I'm the one who chose to have her. I'm fully aware of the possibly consequences. I've made peace with the entire situation."
She smirked a little.
"Not to say that it wasn't a rough couple of years since you left."
Christian rolled his eyes.
"Come on," Emily let him go, then reached down to take his hand, "come and meet her."
"What's her name?" Christian felt odd asking.
"Darcy," Emily replied with a smile, "Darcy Stephanie. Watters."
"Darcy," Christian couldn't help but smile, "fitting."
"I thought so," Emily pulled him through the front door.