After our coffee date, Courtney did exactly as she said she would and drove the two of us to Emmy's house. 

As soon as we left the car, I watched as Emmy walked up the path towards the two of us. 

"I'm so glad you two are here!" Emmy told me, as tears filled her eyes. 

"I'm glad we're here too, Ems," I said. 

Emmy looked between Courtney and I with an appreciative expression upon her face. I could see the hurt in her eyes and wished that there was some magical way of erasing it. I had a feeling food, let alone my mother's brownies probably wouldn't do the trick, but I had brought her some cookies from the cafe, either way. 

"I tried to get on with some of my school work," Emmy began to say, as the three of us wandered into the house, "But I couldn't focus. Then Elijah's hamster died, so..." 

"Crap. You guys really have had the worst twenty-four hours," Courtney blurted. 

I gave her a look. 

Courtney straightened up. 

"I mean, I'm really sorry, Emmy. I'm here for you. We're both here for you," she said, as she moved a hand through her blonde hair again. I could tell that temptation to dye it again was setting in, as soon as Courtney frowned down at the locks she had held in her hand. 

"Thank you, Courts. I really do appreciate that. What have you two been up to today?" she asked us both, "I probably look like such a mess, I've been through two boxes of tissues in the past four hours." 

"Well, at least you're keeping the tissue business in check," Courtney said, then her eyes widened slightly at her own words. "What I mean to say is that for someone who has spent the past four hours crying, you're doing a good job. I mean, you look great! My whole face blotches when I cry and-" 

I had a feeling that this was difficult for Courtney but I really was glad that she was doing her best to be there for me and to be there for Emmy, even though this was slightly out of her comfort zone. She had never stayed in a place for more that several months before. Having real friends was a change of pace for her, but I was sure that it was a good one, she simply needed some time to get used to it. 

We walked into Emmy's living room and I offered to get her a coffee but she gave a shake of her head. Emmy was turning down coffee? She really was hurting. I could also tell by the box on the coffee table nearby that she had got through a lot of shortbread in my absence, alone. Shortbread had always been Emmy's number one comfort food and although it wasn't healthy it was damn good. 

"I'm a mess. I'm usually the calm one, the one that has everything together, but now..." Emmy said, "I feel as though I'm clutching at straws." 

"You've had a really hard few hours, Emmy. You can't beat yourself up over this, alright?" I reminded her. 

Emmy thanked me for my kind words but I could tell from the expression on her face that she was still beating herself up over all of this. 

"You have us! You don't have to face this alone," Courtney told her, with a charming smile upon her face. 

"Thank you. I think I want to be out in the garden right now," she stated. 

I gave an understanding nod at her words. I believed that the fresh air would do her some good. It wouldn't fix everything but it would give her a quiet place to think. I only hoped that thinking wouldn't turn into over-thinking. I was going to do as much as I could to take her mind off her worries. 

Our trio wandered out into the garden and sat down upon the grass that was, thankfully, not too damp from the rain. 

"My grandmother always used to come over and sit out here with me. It's good to think of her, you know? She's not ever truly gone, for as long as she exists within my memory. Besides, my nana had a long life. She was happy and she taught me so much and I think it helps to remember those things," Emmy said, as a small smile appeared at her lips. 

I reached out to give her shoulder a gentle squeeze. 

"Could you two stay the night? That might help me out a little," Emmy suggested. 

"I don't have any-" Courtney began to stay. 

"I can lend toothbrushes," Emmy said. From her words I could tell that she was eager to get us to stay with her. It was clear that she didn't want to be alone right now and I understood that. I loved her and it would be the kind thing to do, to stay with her. The three of us could all go to class the next morning together. We were going to be fine. At least, I knew Courtney and I would be. Emmy, I wasn't so sure about. However, I would do all that I could to make her feel better. 

Emmy began to eat the cookies that I had brought her and her eyes seemed to brighten a little. Food always helped. 

"Want one?" she offered, after she had finished her first one. 

"Duh, I want cookies," Courtney said. 

Emmy released a soft laugh, as she passed the two of us some cookies. 

"You know, Courtney, I haven't told anyone this but I really do admire you. I know that we didn't exactly get along at first but Phoebe is so lucky to have someone who cares as much as you do. She is lucky to have someone that she can depend on and someone who is so thoughtful, too," Emmy said. 

"Well, as much as I make out that I dislike people I...I actually really like you two. You have made me feel like I have somewhere to belong for the first time in a very long time," Courtney said. 

I felt my heart warm at her kind words. 

"We're going to be friends for a very long time, deal?" I asked then. 

Courtney and Emmy met each other's gazes for a second, before they returned their attentions to me. 

"Deal," they said in unison.