Hey everyone! I have to be honest. While writing this [yes I may be extremely dramatic] but I actually cried 😭😭 that is all.
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I nearly fell to my knees. 

"Hero?"

As I dropped my purse to the ground, I saw that he wasn't the only person in the room.

 That damned woman- Emma- was sitting on one of my beds politely, with several papers surrounding her.

She wasn't dressed like a homeless woman now that I saw her. She looked clean, dressed in a jacket and a pair of leggings. 

It had only been a few hours since I'd seen Hero, but my body still came alive at the sight of him. His hair was a mussed mess, but it only made him hotter. 

He wore a white shirt, which was out of character for him, that allowed me to see each and every tattoo etched underneath.

How I wanted to run a finger over them-

No. I couldn't think like this. I was still mad at him. 

"What are you doing here?" I shouted, uncomfortable with the situation.

"I had to come to see you." Hero answered honestly. 

"Yes," I snapped, "I figured that. I meant, how did you get in? I have the key."

Hero sighed. "My mother knows a few people."

I folded my arms, glaring at the sight of Emma once more. 

"Care to explain why you brought her here? I made it clear that I wanted nothing to do with her!"

Here he was, yet again, making me do something I didn't want to do. 

"Would you just hear her out?" Hero begged, making me go soft in the knees. "Do you think I would let anyone live if they were lying about this?"

My face went blank. He did have a point.

Hero grabbed my arm, dragging me to a corner of the room. 

"I saw it," He whispered, "Every document. She has it all."

I stared into his eyes. This was a man I couldn't dare to look away from. Even though he did fuck up, I wanted this moment to last between us forever.

"Okay," I replied, "I'll agree to be cordial."

Emma clasped her hands together as I swiveled around to face her. She brushed her hands over her leggings as she stood.

"I won't ask you to trust me," She said, "As far as you're concerned, I'm some freak- I'm sure if it wasn't for Hero, here, you would have called the front desk. All I'm asking is for you to look at these documents. It says a lot more than I can."

Emma stepped away as I made my way over to the bed. It was somehow more intense with the only available light coming from my lamps.

The first pieces I set my hands on were two photos of what looked like Emma around my age now, holding a baby in a hospital bed. 

Then, next to the photos were a few wristbands. 

One read:

Dr. Malcolm.

Community Medical Hospital.

DOB: Jan. 15. 2002.

Kristina Wright.

I knew that none of this really meant anything, but I couldn't help but feel the swell of emotion within me. I would have been lying if I said I wasn't hoping that everything Emma said was true.

Wright. Now that wasn't a name that fit me very well. At all.

Despite all this, I continued on. 

While I sifted through the rest of the pile, I came across many other credible documents that even I couldn't ignore. 

There was a birth certificate, a consular report of birth abroad, a hair sample test, and many more things. I finally did sink to my knees, burying my head in the hotel sheets. I gripped all the papers, feeling like this was some faraway dream. 

How could this have been my reality?
 
I wanted to convince myself that even if Emma had been my real mother that I could accept this. That even if my parents were deceitful, untrustworthy individuals... I could possibly make it work. 

Oh, how wrong I was. 

I couldn't handle this. It was too much, too soon. 

No, I couldn't handle this. At least... Not alone.

I immediately stood to my feet, eyeing the woman that was undoubtedly my mother. Without much explanation, I rushed forward, crushing myself to her chest. 

Much to my relief, she accepted me, despite all my harsh words, holding me close, unwilling to let go. 

Her touch was much different than Elouise's. It was softer. More loving.
She took a hand, running it through my Auburn strands. 

"Oh, my sweety," She spoke against my hair, "How I wished to be able to hold you like this in my arms. I thought I'd never see you again."

"I'm sorry I didn't believe you," I whispered, "I knew, deep in my heart, I never fit in with my family."

Emma still held me tight as I shook.

"Well, you're home now. Nothing can harm you. I'm never leaving you out of my sight again."

After a long minute, Hero cleared his throat. Looking up, I saw that he was thrusting a thumb towards the door to the suite.

"I'll give you two a minute. I'm going to ask if I can get something to eat."

As soon as he left, Emma and I separated, standing in silence, staring down at the documents. 

"How could the cops not believe you?" I asked incredulously. 

Emma shrugged. "You didn't."

I frowned. "I know. I mean, I've only known one life."

I paused.

"I know Elouise and Charlie are pretty influential people. What will they do when they find out that you've contacted me? They're actually going through their own issues right now."

I remembered how unhinged Charlie had been the last time we'd spoken.

"I don't know," Emma answered honestly, "Anything I suppose. I don't think my issue with the law was being taken for my word. I think they may have been paid hush money over the years."

I huffed. "Well, I trust you. I know the truth, it's right in front of my eyes."

"Exactly. Hush money can only go so far. If we can win a court ruling..." Emma trailed off, caressing my cheek. "Maybe we can put them away for good."

I lifted my eyes. "How did it happen? You know... The kidnapping?"

Emma pursed her lips, obviously uncomfortable with the reminder. 

"Oh, I remember it well. I had just given birth and been resting after they'd sewn me up. There was so much chaos in that building, no one knew what was happening. It all happened so fast. They had taken you right out of your bed and out those doors. Times were different back then. It was easy to walk out."

"No one noticed?" I gasped. "Surely the doctor would have."

"It was strange," Emma said, "It was as if everything had been switched. On accident, I had been given the wrong baby. I was in such hysterics, the doctor swore I was some looney, that had been convinced she'd given birth. I was deemed not fit enough to be a parent. The justice system had screwed me over."

I took a minute to think about some logical points. 

"How did you get the documents?"

Emma's eyes widened. "Oh, yes. I spent every day of the last eighteen years hiring as many private investigators as I could with all my jobs so I had the proof I needed. Could barely break even in the end."

I smiled at this. The fact that she had tried so hard to prove her love for me meant so much.

"That's the past," I said, "I know you're not crazy. We can do this together."

As I stared at Emma some more, I knew that she was no longer a stranger to me. 

"I know this is sudden, but do you want to stay with me? I've only just realized who you are."

At my response, Emma raised an eyebrow. 

"What, here?"

I nodded. "This is a company-based motel. I'm sure I can work something out."

Emma shook her head, resting a hand on my shoulder. 

"I don't think so, hun. At least not yet. That boyfriend of yours set me up in a home of my own. He's such a giver."

I scrunched my brows together. Hero? A giver to others? 

"He's not my boyfriend," I stated harshly.

"Oh, that right," Emma laughed. "I forgot. I can't imagine why. That man loves you so much."

I folded my arms. "You wouldn't really understand. He hurt me in so many ways."

Emma nodded in deep thought. "I understand more than you think. Love is complicated. People say and do things they wish they could take back. The thing you need to ask yourself is: is it worth losing them for the rest of your life? People change, times don't."

This fact hit my heart. I never thought about things that way. 

"Let me go fetch Hero," Emma said, "I do need a ride back. Oh, and Kristina?"

I stepped forward, worried I'd lose my mother once again. 

"Yes?"

"Do your best to steer clear of Elouise and Charlie. We need to play our cards right."

I think Emma just might be a better role model 💗💗

Just a warning, there's going to be some smut soon 🥵

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