Chapter Text
Ray's feet padded against the cool floor. The house was dark, and a cool light shined in from the moon, making it a pleasant trip to get a cup of water from the kitchen. He was thirsty when he woke up, had a dream he couldn't recall. He barely remembers what it was about, he was just glad it wasn't a darn nightmare for once.
He sighed through his nose and took another sip of the frosty water. Summer was coming, so the house was warm at night, he often woke up wanting water or just dealt with his sweat until he passed out again, which was, well, kind of gross. But Ray liked the warmth. He loved not having to worry about being too cold. He couldn't seem to think well in the cold either.
"What a surprise." An unmistakable voice said, barely whispering. He turned around to see the red haired girl grinning at him from the couch. "Thirsty?"
"Yeah." Ray said, matching her tone. "I got too hot in there. All the sheets are warm."
"Did you try flipping your pillow over to the cool side?" Emma asked, lifting her eyebrows.
He shook his head with a deadpan look. "Yeah, tried that too. Both sides are warm. I think someone cursed me."
Emma stifled a laugh. "You think someone cursed both sides to be warm?"
Ray took another sip of water, then nodded. "I would wish that on someone I hated too."
"So mean." Emma said, shaking her head. "I wouldn't wish that on anyone. Even my worse enemy."
Ray lifted a brow. "Well, yeah, that's because you're Emma."
"And what does that mean?" Emma asked, seemingly offended. Ray laughed.
It had been a year and a half since everyone started living together again since they finally found Emma, but they recently just now became a little bit closer again. Ray wasn't entirely sure why, but he was glad none the less. Her time here had been nice, and obviously a relief on everyone.
That didn't ease his pains as to all her memories being gone of him and their family, but hey, at least she's alive. She's alive, healthy, doing good and keeping herself happy. That was good enough for Ray.
He did miss her old self, though. The one that was raised with him and treated him like an equal, the one that showed him how to love the right way and be kinder to others. And it feels like she missed so much in only two years, too. She gave him a purpose and drove him to be better in himself. He missed that Emma.
He knew, that this Emma was the same person. But they didn't share all those moments together, so she didn't know how to joke with him sometimes, or how to talk with him, or how to read his face like she used to. It was strange to try and get used to that. They used to be so in sync. Like best friends, had each others backs. They did so much stuff he couldn't even explain all of it, it was just a 'you had to be there' kind of thing. She wouldn't understand now. Ray really missed that, the conversations they had, little things they understood about each other that others didn't.
"Ray?" Emma asked, her voice was softer. He turned to look at her. She looked into his eyes with a gentle look.
"Yeah?"
"Listen... I know this is sudden, but, were we, anything? Before I lost my memories?" She asked, her eyes averted now, the color jade was such a pretty color. Even in the dim light of the moon he could see the sparkle she had in her eyes. He was captivated by her until she looked back up at him shyly.
Her question was odd to Ray, he didn't quite understand. "Anything? What do you mean?"
She got a bit flustered and avoided his gaze yet again, turning the other way. "Like, dating or..."
"O-oh." Ray stuttered. "Um...."
"You, uh, you... don't have to answer if you aren't comfortable. But I mean, if we were closer, I just wanted to know." Emma flushed red, he could see the tinge in her cheeks. So odd to see her like this. "Sorry, it's just... I keep getting these sudden flashes. I don't really get what they mean, but I see things that I don't remember happening. And when I saw this flash of you, I felt... comfy, and safe. But also like I was drawn to you."
Ray took a look at her for a moment, interested. "What do you mean? Like, your memories?"
"'I-I don't know..." Emma looked perplexed. "Maybe?"
"What are they?" He questioned. "What did you see?"
Emma was silent for a minute. "When I saw you for the first time, I saw something. I kissed you on the cheek and it was raining."
Ray thought about it for a minute, before remembering exactly what she was talking about. It happened, and Ray remembered that exact rush he got when she had kissed him on the cheek. His heart pounded in his chest but he didn't understand what it meant. He thought she was so pretty at the moment, with the rain in her hair, droplets dripped down from her hair onto his face when she got closer. But they were warm. "I remember that."
"You do? So it actually happened?" Emma questioned. Ray nodded.
"We were in the woods, a while after escaping the Farm House, and I had done some stuff to almost get myself hurt again, you told me you were glad I was okay, and kissed me on the cheek."
Emma blinked in surprise. "Wow..." she said. Ray understood why this was so shocking, she finally realized her little flashes were actual memories. He wondered, why was she remembering certain things? Was this allowed, just to tease her? Or make things easier? He wasn't sure the point of this. He's glad she at least got to remember some things, though. But, he had an aching suspicion that it might not be as good as it seems. Unless that was just him not trusting things that are actually good.
"But, the question you asked earlier," Ray began. "I feel like we were always closer. Closer than this, at least."
It was true, completely. When Ray was 13, he had a crush on Emma that didn't seem to fade. Even after he tried ignoring it, he never really had a chance to sit and think about his feelings, though. He never got free time to think about her in any romantic way. They were so busy saving their family, and doing everything else. Plus he was a bit young, and didn't understand the amazing feeling of love. He wasn't raised to even think of love as an option, either. He read some books on it once, but it was so lame to him, he stopped reading it.
Emma, though, was not lame. And he could read her like a book any day. He felt love towards her, now almost seventeen years old he finally gets it. Why people fall in love, why it's a weakness and how it can make someone better, or worse. Ray loved her, he really did. Everything about her, but she didn't remember that. She sees him now as some stranger. Not as a best friend, not even as a friend at all when they met for the second time.
Emma whipped towards him, confusion on her face. "Closer how?"
"I mean, I think we liked each other."
Emma blinked at him. "But... did you like me then?"
Ray looked down, away from her burning gaze. It was his turn to get flustered. "Didn't everyone have a crush on you, Emma?"
"Norman probably didn't." She said. Ray snorted.
"What? He totally liked you when we were kids." Ray laughed at how crazy she was not to realize this. If only she remembered, she would've laughed at that too.
Emma shook her head, her orange tuffs swinging. "He doesn't act that way now, does he? So how would I know?"
That's because he knows I'm in love with you, idiot.
Ray sighed. "I guess you wouldn't know."
It was quiet for a few minutes. It wasn't uncomfortable. Ray has always liked her presence. It was calming, that's one of the reasons he liked her. She could be loud or annoying, but she was caring and understood when he needed some time to think. Even though she had lost her memories, she was still Emma. In small ways, he would see some of the things old Emma would do.
"So, do you still feel that way?" Emma asked shyly, her voice quiet.
Ray wanted nothing more than to leave, honestly. Forget what he just thought. He did not want to sit here and confess he was in love with her,
"Ray?" She asked, leaning in. He could feel the shift in the couch and stiffened as she got closer to him. He looked at her face and realized how close they were now that he had chosen face her. Their noses were so close, he could smell her shampoo. It was sweet, but he couldn't care less what it was. It was just good, smelled like Emma.
"Yeah..." He replied. "I still feel like that."
Emma looked surprised. Her lips were parted as if to say something else, but nothing came out. Drawing his eyes to them. He really didn't know why, but he wanted to kiss her. Didn't care if she didn't remember him. Didn't care that he was trying not to admit anything. It was too late, anyway. She already knew. And she would've found out by someone else other than him eventually. He'd rather it be him to tell her.
Suddenly, a noise came from behind the couch and Ray swore Emma jumped 3 feet in the air. Her face was flushed, red as her hair.
"Shit!" Ray exclaimed. It was his water, spilled all over the floor when it fell from off the table behind the couch. Ray and Emma got up, she found a towel nearby and helped him mop it up with it.
"I'm sorry, Ray." She didn't look at him.
"Why're you sorry?" He asked, picking up the glass and inspecting it to make sure nothing was broken. He really didn't want to step on this tomorrow morning. "You didn't even do anything."
Emma was quiet. Which was weird. Another thing that happened a lot more was Emma would hold in how she was feeling. She never used to do that before. He gave her a look, setting down the glass.
"Listen, it's okay." He said, moving closer to her. "You should go get some rest, alright? I'll walk you to your room."
"Alright." She agreed. After she tossed the towel to the laundry bin, they began walking down the hallway. He would have to get some more water later, he doubt he could sleep after that. His pulse was still beating hard in his veins. He couldn't get that image of her out of his head. Her breath fanning his face, so close.
They got to her room, Emma opened it, looked back at Ray with something in her eyes he couldn't recognize. "Can you stay?"
"Stay where?" He asked dumbly.
"With me? I've been having trouble sleeping lately. I don't know if it's insomnia or what... but you make me feel better...so..." He could tell she was trying her best not to sound weird, or make things awkward. But all he thought now was he's gonna be in a bed with the girl he is in love with, and has to somehow magically pass out next to her, while she's in short pajamas and a T-shirt? He didn't answer for a good minute. Pondering over which way he'd rather die.
"Really? Are you sure?" Ray asked., sighing as Emma nodded. "I'll go back to my room once you fall asleep, then?"
"Deal." Emma said, smile on her face. She opened the door for him and they stepped inside.
Her room was nice, it was smaller but also cute and obviously Emma's room. Little cute stuffed toys in her closet pooled out, her green eyes matched her bedsheets. He thought it fit her pretty well.
Emma took the hair tie off her wrist, and slipped under the covers, she patted the side next to her. Ray joined her. The mattress was comfy.
Ray was glad that the room was dark. His cheeks were slightly tinged red, he could feel sweat on his hands and he tried to calm his heart. This is fine. Totally fine.
The girl next to him, pulled up the covers and snuggled into them, embracing their warmth. Ray looked over at her. She looked so comfortable.
"Ray..."
Emma looked over at him, he caught her eye. "Yeah?"
"Do you think... that I'll ever remember?" she asked.
Ray went silent, staring at the dull ceiling above him. He didn't think she would, he wished he could say yes, but that'd be a lie. "I don't know."
Emma didn't reply to that. She just closed her eyes.
After a few minutes he thought she had fallen asleep, until she spoke up again. "Thanks for being here, Ray."
"I'll always be here for you."
"I know."