This morning Emma had woken up in her usual time to get ready for work, she had just stretched her arms to wake her limbs.. when she received a phone call from Jonathon. He told her to not come to office today, she was instead required to meet a client during lunch at one of the top most restaurants of the city. This restaurant was near the beach and the season seemed appropriate for a lunch rendezvous - professional or not.

Emma was already up, again going back to sleep was out of question. So the first thing she did was to make a call to Jenna and tell her not to come today.

Then she decided to have a run, it had been so long since she had worked out. So burning a little fat and getting a little sweaty seemed like a good idea.

She quickly put on a pair of shorts, a gray tank top and her favorite pair of converses. When she was walking out the door after gathering her hair in a high ponytail, Elli strolled out of the kitchen holding her coffee mug with her bed hair pointing terribly at all the different directions.

The moment her eyes fell on Emma, she low whistled. "There goes the hot mommy."

Emma rolled her eyes and yelled back a little loudly before slowly jogging off. "I will be back in an hour, kids are still sleeping so don't make any noise please."

Elli leaned against the door frame and sipped on her coffee before muttering something inaudible.

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Brandan had his favorite pair of black slacks on, he didn't go with any suit today instead settled with only his neat and cream shirt. It wasn't appropriate in professional level the way he dressed but he wanted to care less about that fact.

Rolling up the sleeves to his elbows he was about to open the car door when he heard a voice... a voice that hit straight to his heart and left him petrified with anticipation and statuated with shock.

"I will be back in an hour, kids are still sleeping so don't make any noise please."

It was like he had suddenly touched an electric wire and his body was charged with a thousand bolt of electricity.

How could it be possible! It was so similar to Emma's voice - the slight country accent, that sweet tone he died to listen to... since it seemed like a lifetime. Was he dreaming ? Again ?

His heart had stopped for a second when he turned around to see the backside of a very attractive, hot woman jogging away along the streets. Her figure was so similar to.. to Emma's. Deliberately he took a step forward towards her, those curves on her body in all the right places were like magnet to him, but she was running away too fast.

Those same brownish hair tied up in a high ponytail and was bouncing on her back with each thump of her feet on the ground. All the other sounds around was zoned off to oblivion, it was like everything was happening in a slow motion.. like it happens in the movies.

Highly doubting about his own conscious state Brandan gripped the sleek edge of his car for support.

His Emma was running away from him... but how could it be Emma? But what if the cops and investigators that day had mistaken? What if there was a loophole that none of them could notice.

Desperateness and a terrible ache of the existence of posibilities clutched his guts, with a maddening intake of breath he was about to sprint after her to see her face, to confirm it was her but someone gripped his shoulder from behind, making him want to turn around and break the jaw of that stupid intruder.

When he brushed away that hand and turned around with animosity. Oliver took a scared step back. "Whoaa there buddy, chill ! What's crawled up your a** ?"

Brandan again turned to the direction where he saw that woman to find now no one there, frustratedly he raked a hand through his hair making it messy.

He mumbled in a broken voice. "I thought.. I saw Emma. She was right there."

Brandan was still looking at that direction hoping she would again pop up from no where. Oliver's expressions changed into an understanding one. "You must have imagined her again dude. Brandan you know she is."

"I know." Brandan said quitely.

He didn't let Oliver complete the sentence, it had been six years but still it hurt the same listening that from someone's mouth. It just made it so much real and he wasn't still ready to agree in his heart.

The rest of the day in office passed away in a daze. Brandan was zoned out the most times or when he wasn't he was a very bad company as he was lashing out at each and everyone around.

It was when he noticed his secretary Susan cringe and tremble at his yelling over some minor mistakes, Brandan sighed and dropped his head in his empty hands.

It was again like he had time travelled to six years before. Hoping Emma would come back, searching her like an absolute retard anywhere and everywhere, passing each moment of the day waiting but someone would be always constantly rubbing it in his ear that she was never going to come back. That he had lost her forever, that he was the scumbag who had pushed her to the edge and into the oblivion from where no one returns.

He was suffering in his own prison like a criminal sentenced to be caged for life and he knew he deserved it.

Now when he thought back about the woman he assumed to be Emma, who was wearing this really revealing clothes. Emma would have never worn those shorts or that tank top. The shy, reserved Emma and that woman was a no match. Surely he was mistaken.

He wanted to laugh at his own foolishness but for some strange reason he couldn't even do that.

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To say that Brandan was pissed off would be an understatement, he couldn't believe Oliver had made him to come grocery shopping. Brandan could feel himself slowly reaching to the edge of patience. As he held the cart in his hands Oliver beamed before him holding some packet of wheat.

It was the limit.

"Seriously Oliver.. you are the managing director of Rozarios', not a freaking housewife. What is wrong with you... ?" Annoyedly Brandan said.

The impact of his words was Oliver's immediate scowl directed towards him. After putting the packets of wheat in the cart Brandan was holding... Oliver replied, "You clearly know that I cant live without home made foods, it's you who can't manage a cook... and what the hell happened to the maid you were about to appoint... ?"

Brandan pushed the cart forward. "They wont be able to sent one in the next two weeks, it'll take time.. since we are new here and not planning on living permanently either."

"See.. so where does that leave me ?? I am your managing director and your maid too... why don't you pay me double ??"

Brandan sighed, right now bringing Oliver with him seemed like a bad idea. He was even arguing and demanding like those clingy spouses.

Somehow Brandan parted ways with Oliver and they both went to separate directions of the mall. Brandan had been wearing flip flops and he couldn't be more thankful for his wise decision. It was too much humidity in the air outside and the running away, buying household things and groceries... flip flops seemed to be the perfect choice.

A well filled stock of noodles and pastas could be helpful while Oliver kept up his eccentric ways, Brandan thought and walked to the shelves of numerous kinds of pastas and noodles, at the opposite side there were chips and uncooked popcorn... all of those seemed needed to Brandan. As he threw a few packets of noodles in the cart and lifted his hand up to grab some popcorn, something soft pushed against his shoulder making it to fall down. Before he could turn around to see who the blind person was... a meek and embarrassed sorry reached his ears.

Stunned again his heart missed a beat just like earlier this morning. The woman must be in a hurry, so when he swung around .. she was already dashing away towards the exit without caring a glance back.

This time the changing in the air around and his crazy heart's calling made him not to freeze, he quickly half jogged half walked after her...

"Hey.. listen.. you... miss.. hello..."

He called after her hoping for her to at least a glance back, he had a creepy feeling that if this woman turned around... his life would never be the same again.

But unfortunately the woman didn't turn around, Brandan noticed.. she was busy in a phone conversation as she was zooming away. That same brownish hair, that same voice... what the hell was happening ?? If this was an imagination - him hallucinating of Emma... then he must be going crazy, because it all seemed so real. And his heart was screaming out that it was Emma.

"Owww... f*** !" Brandan hissed as he suddenly stumbled at an obstacle, he tried to move past it but couldn't. He looked down to see a shopping cart and as he looked sideways - Oliver grinned from ear to ear.

"I am done buddy... let's go home." He announced to Brandan with enthusiasm.

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Emma picked up all the bags full of grocery items, making her way to the exit of the mall Emma searched for her phone in her purse while trying to handle all the bags in her hands. Right at the moment she pressed the receive button and was about to press the phone against her ear.. slightly bending down her head, her shoulder bumped into someone standing by the shelves.

"Sorry...", she said and was about to turn around to look at the person but Savanah's frantic voice came from the other side of the phone " He.. hello... Emma...".

At that moment Emma knew something was seriously wrong.

Elli was off to new jersy this afternoon in a business trip for two days. So when Emma saw the kitchen cabinets are almost empty.. she was only left to curse herself for not checking that out earlier. She had no choice but to ask Savanah to stay for a while at her home and keep an eye on the children... while she went to the nearby mall to buy some emergency groceries.

"Emma, you need to come home now... Sarah..." Savanah seemed freaked out.

Emma's breath hitched for a moment at Sarah's name but her feet didn't stop, she was already almost running out the mall. She could sense by her voice.. Sarah was in danger... her baby was in danger. If she had wings she would have flew back home.

She heard someone yelling from behind but she didn't have the time to pay any attention to that.

"Wh.. what .. what happened to Sarah... ? where's Sammy ?" Emma asked to Savanah, a bad feeling building up inside... as her voice came out shaken.

She had just brought her secondhand SUV back from the garage this evening. Throwing all the bags in the backseat while still pressing the phone in between her ear and shoulder she tried to control the tremble of fear errupting from deep within.

"Sammy's fine he's with me. Sarah was inside the guest room, she locked the door accidentally and it seemed to get stuck then, we are all outside the door... please come soon... there's..." Savanah paused letting the unfinished sentence hang in the air.

"What !! Tell me she's alright..." Emma begged. She could hear the panicked voice of Sammy.

Savanah ignored her question. "Just hurry Emma..." She said instead.

Not wasting a second she disconnected the call. Emma prayed with all her being that Sarah was alright.

Igniting the engine Emma stormed her car to the streets, it was too difficult to handle the steering wheel with her slightly trembling hands..

When she finally reached home and dashed up the stairs to the guest room... at the furthest end of the house, her heart had almost reached up to her throat. All the while she was praying for her baby's safety.

She saw Savanah thumping the door with her hands calling Sarah's name, she looked at Emma and moved away a bit.

Sammy looked scared shitless as he held the door frame with his tiny hands. He had gone pale, Emma knew that she was also looking exactly the same like him.

Emma smelled a faint smell of smoke, she didn't know from where it was coming. She pounced on the door before speaking loudly in a soothing tone, "Sarah! Honey... mommy's here now. Are you alright in there? Baby..."

She heard Sarah choke loudly from inside making her know that Sarah was crying, she was scared alone in there... Emma's own eyes filled with tears.

"Mommy.. get me out here mommy, this no good. Open the door mommy..."

Emma wiped at a tear that escaped her eye, she forced herself to stay calm. She guessed the lock was jammed. She needed to call for help quickly.

Sarah croaked again helplessly. "Mommy I not want to stay here, too much smoke mommy..."

Emma heard Sarah coughing roughly and then she was again sobbing loudly.

Smoke! What was going on? Was it fire or ...

Emma snatched at her own hair in fear, frustration and helplessness. "I'm going in there through the window... call 911."

Savanah didn't know what to say as she gripped the phone Emma handed her, she held the door handle - her face ghostly white with fear.

While Emma ran out of the house to go to the backyard... she heard footsteps running behind her, she turned her head back to see Sammy had also come out. She stopped for a second and faced Sammy, she bent down a little and held his shoulders, Sammy stared up at her with sheer panic.

"Listen big boy... you have to call someone. Any neighbor or someone for help... understand?"

Sammy nodded his head, his eyes widening more and filled with moistness... realising the amount of danger.

Emma repeated, "Ask someone to help Sammy... can you do that.. ??"

Sammy tried to make his face as tough as he could while trying to hold back a sob. "Yes.. mommy..."

Emma didn't waste a second to reach to the window of the guest room.. in the backyard. There was a pipe which she could use to climb up, she hadn't done this before but she had to do it now... she couldn't let anything happen to Sarah...

It seemed like ages but actually might be only a few minutes after which Emma jumped inside the room through the window. Climbing the pipe was difficult but thinking of what might happen to her baby is she couldn't reach her in time was absolutely unbearable.

Right after she entered... white smoke engulfed her making it difficult to see where Sarah was as her eyes weren't adjusted to the less light and foggyness inside the room. So she cried for Sarah instead...

"Sarahhh... baby.. where are you.. mommy's here... Sarah..."

In her peripheral vision she noticed a small movement from the side of the bed emerging from under it. Sarah had been so scared that she hid under the bed.

"Mommyy..."

The next moment she grabbed Sarah in a bone crushing hug as her little precious angel ran into her arms. "My baby... Oh God... Oh dear God !!

She instinctively caressed her hand all over sarah's face and had a look on her whole body searching for any possible wound or bruise but thankfully there was none.

"You're alright... you're alright." It was as if she was consoling herself.

She thought fast... she had to get her out of here. She stood up carrying Sarah still clutching her in that fierce hug when she finally saw the vicious flames of fire through the open bathroom door. It might be a damaged wire, short circuit or something that had caused this fire but Emma hadn't the time to think about the reasons of the fire. She had to save Sarah.

Bad thing was that the bathroom was right beside the window, Emma's mouth fell open in disbelieve as the curtains caught on fire now.

Holding Sarah in a death grip she ran to the door but it wouldn't open also, she shook the handle.. pushed and banged on the door... but nothing helped. Her eyes had gone puffy and red, the smoke was making it difficult to keep her eyes open. She felt Sarah shaking violently... sobbing while tucking her head in her shoulder, her little hands around Emma's neck.

"Keep your eyes closed baby." Emma said between a fit of coughs, right at that moment she felt cornered and at the end of all her wits. She gripped the back of Sarah's head and with other hand patted her back. She could hear sirens... she hoped they would come soon enough.

Then suddenly she heard a crash from the direction of the window. Emma tried to see through the heavy smoke. She could figure out a silhoutte of someone tall approaching, she could decipher that it was a male figure.. a very strong and muscly built one.

Coughing she wiped her eyes vigorously to clear the hazy view caused by the stinging tears, the male figure now slowly became clearer as he neared her.. one step after another...

And finally after one more step she saw his face clearly - properly and she couldn't believe it. Was it a dream? Or a nightmare? Or was she just hallucinating and imagining things when stuck in this terrible situation?

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Whoophhhh !! Finally it's time and I'm damn excited, are you ? Do let me know ;)

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