Emma took a deep, shaky breath for the third time before entering the building. Why had she accepted? This was the last place ever she should be in after what had happened. How could she face Nancy after Alexander's words?

After leaving that apartment, Emma had gone straight to her old one, to try and beg the landlord to give it back. How could she know that when Alexander had said he'd talked to the man, he'd left out the simple fact that he'd punched him? The black eye was way too fresh for any kind of request to be heard, so she'd found herself homeless.

She'd almost called Alexander back, to accept his offer, but every time she'd reminded herself of the odds. For the time being, she would stay at a motel, hopefully, she'd find a new job soon. But maybe it was time to leave New York behind as well.

Maybe, Nancy's invite was a good thing, in the end, Emma thought. She could take the chance to finally come clean, and then say goodbye. Of course, their friendship wouldn't cope, but it was better than living like that, lying to her only friend.

Yes, Emma decided when she knocked on Nancy's door. When the slumber party was over and every guest was gone, she would stay behind, and tell her friend everything. She didn't expect forgiveness, but at least she would be free of the burden, and she could start a new life free.

"Invited where?" Alexander frowned, turning his head for a moment to look at his sister.

"To a slumber party." Delilah shrugged, passing him another plate to dry once she'd washed it. Every time they had their weekly dinner at their Nana's, she made them wash the dishes even though they'd bought her a machine on purpose years ago. Delilah was well aware that it was just the woman's way of still teaching them life lessons – whichever those were.

"She invited you to a slumber party?" Alexander laughed. "You girls seriously do that shit?"

"Well, the way she put it, it was more about wine, gossip and maybe some ... risqué shopping online," his sister shrugged, "but yeah, slumber party."

"And why didn't you go?"

"Well, because ..." Delilah bit on her bottom lip while soaping another plate, "as a second date, a slumber party is kinda ... you know, awkward and lame."

Her brother laughed louder, taking the plate from her hands. "Right ... the second date rule, huh?"

"The what?" She feigned ignorance.

"Don't pretend with me." Alexander grinned, to which she stuck out her tongue, and both laughed. "Your second date rule," he resumed, "Delilah Adams bangs on the second date. One less than a prude, one more than a hoe. Isn't that what you usually say?"

Delilah scoffed, taking off the yellow gloves. "Ok, first of all, gross!" She grimaced. "My brother talking about my sex life is disgusting and gross."

Alexander laughed. "Hey, you told me, I didn't choose to learn." When she tried to slap the back of his head, he dodged it, splashing her with some soapy water.

"Ugh! Sometimes I wish I had a sister!" Delilah groaned, removing the soap from her t-shirt.

"Why? So you could share girls?" He smirked. "I can do that. Just ... keep those out of my sight," he pointed at her breasts, "and that out of my way, or I'll puke." He finished, pointing at her crotch.

Delilah growled. "Ugh! You're so gross! Stop it!" She whined, slapping her brother's arm. "It's not funny! I really like Millie." She sighed. "I just ... I don't know, it felt too intimate for a second date."

"First of all, Millie is a horrible name," Alexander chuckled, once again dodging a light punch from his sister. "Second, how's a slumber party intimate? You're literally surrounded by people you don't know."

Delilah rolled her eyes. "Um ... hello? Grown women doing a slumber party? It's basically a group of sexually frustrated women wearing lingerie and getting wasted."

Her brother laughed, nodding. "Oh, I see ... blue balls situation for my little sis, huh? Or should I say ... blue boobs? Sorry, I'm not familiar with the lingo."

She slapped his arm, scowling. "Would you please stop being such a jerk? I need your help."

"What for? You didn't go to the slumber party. In my book, that's drawing a line."

"Drawling a line?" She asked quizzically.

"Like ... let's not get ahead of ourselves. Tell me, was it her party or a friend's?"

"Uh ... hers, I think. Why?"

He clapped his hands one time. "That's it. She'd basically told you she'd bang you tonight, and you ditched, so ... no cookie for the rookie." Alexander laughed, pinching her cheek.

Delilah scoffed, slapping his hand away. "You don't know that. It's ... it works differently for us."

"Oh, please," he scoffed back, "we fish in the same tank, remember? I probably know women better than you do."

His sister rolled her eyes. "If that's so, then how come you're so blind about Emma?"

Alexander froze at the sole mention of her name, his heart beating faster. "What's Emma got to do with any of this?"

"She's more way more than just a pretty face ..." Delilah mocked, air-quoting him. "Nana told me about your lovesick moment."

"It wasn't a lovesick moment ... I was just helping a friend." He argued weakly.

"In my limited experience as a straight woman before seeing light, I can assure you ... every woman in the world knows, if he goes out of his way to help you, take care of you, he's no friend. He's definitely trying to bone you." She scoffed. "You taught me that, big brother." Delilah taunted. "Anything a guy does for a girl, it's always, always aimed to second purposes. Isn't that your ... hit jackpot theory?"

Alexander rolled his eyes, leaning against the counter after he'd placed on his shoulder the cloth he'd used to dry the dishes. "I didn't help Emma because I wanted to sleep with her."

"Because you already do, don't you?" Delilah smirked smugly. "Come on, it's pretty clear."

He pursed his lips, guilty. "Okay, maybe I have ... a few times. But it's over now, it was just ... it's done."

"Oh, my God!" His sister exclaimed. "That's why you've been in a mood! She dumped you!"

Alexander grimaced. "She didn't dump me, she ... just chose to end our peculiar-uh ... arrangement."

"Yeah, that's the very definition of dumping, Xander."

"I hate that nickname." He grumbled.

"Oh, come on, you hate every nickname I give you!" She whined, pouting. "Alexander's too long for a name."

"Well, it's my name, just use it."

Delilah eyed him. "I still don't understand why can't I just call you Alex. It's the most obvious abbreviation for-"

"Just don't." He snapped.

"But why-"

"Don't. Period." Alexander growled, slamming the cloth onto the counter, only to then storm off. Delilah remained there, flabbergasted. What was so wrong about a nickname?

"It triggers sorrowful memories." Margaret Adams broke through her granddaughter's thoughts as she appeared at the door, a tender smile on her lips. "Memories you would rather not uncover."

Delilah pursed her lips, eyes fixated on the spot where her brother had just disappeared. "I'm his sister," she sighed, "I should know everything that pains him."

"No ..." the old woman walked up to her, and placed a hand over her shoulder. "You were too little to understand what was happening, darling, and your brother has taken advantage of that not to burden you with his scars."

The young doctor sighed, closing her eyes. "I remember, you know ... not details, but just ... some little things. Like how Alexander used to lock me in my room when the yelling started, and when he came back, he always, always had a bruise or two on his face." Delilah thought of how many times she'd asked for an explanation, but never got one.

He'd tripped and fallen, he usually said, claiming he was such a klutz. "I think ... I think the last time I remember being with her was ... I was eight, probably younger." A lump clogged her throat as her eyes welled up. "It's her, isn't it? It's about mom. He hates that nickname because it reminds him of her."

Margaret Adams inhaled deeply, taking her granddaughter in her arms to comfort her. "Your brother has erased every single memory of his father, darling," she said, rubbing Delilah's back while the girl sobbed, "so much so that even the nickname he used for him is too much and it triggers his sense of guilt."

"Sense of guilt?" Delilah repeated, befuddled, pulling back, tears streaming her cheeks.

Margaret cracked a small, bittersweet smile, and placed a soft kiss on her granddaughter's forehead. "It's all in the past now. Let's go get some sleep."

The girl didn't agree. She accompanied her Nana to the bedroom, but instead of going for hers, she went back upstairs, knowing full well where would she find him. "Hey ..." Delilah breathed out once up in the attic.

It was their secret haven, they'd always take refuge up there when things got heavy and they needed a way out. Usually, her brother would play anything with her, to take her mind off of their domestic situation.

Alexander barely flinched – he was way too lost in his thoughts, to pay attention to his surroundings. Sitting on the floor, back against the wall, head shot back, eyes closed, he'd been trying not to let those memories overwhelm him. Maybe, telling Emma had opened a far away box tucked deep inside him, and now every little thing, even a simple nickname, triggered that pain.

"I'm sorry." Delilah said lowly, reaching out for her brother's hand. "I should know how ... how hard it is for you." He squeezed her hand, but didn't say a word. Taking it as encouragement to keep talking, she went on: "You were close to her, much more than I ever could be," she scooped a little closer to him, leaving her head on his shoulder, "I should know how much it pains you, I just ... Alexander, we only have each other. Nana is not going to be there forever. I wish you'd realize you can talk to me."

Alexander squirmed a bit, then slipped out of her grip. "I'm fine, don't worry. Go get some sleep." He stood up.

"Alexander, please ..." Delilah sighed, standing up as well, "don't shut me out again."

"I need to get some fresh air." He grumbled, then stormed outside. He reached his car and got in, even started the engine, only to then shut it down again. He felt restless. He needed to go somewhere, run away from his thoughts, but it was getting harder and harder to outrun them.

He felt as if he were suffocating, past memories smothering him without a single chance of survival. 7 years in prison had taught him one thing: never give in to your mind, never let your thoughts take over.

Having taken out his phone, Alexander dialed a number he knew by heart. "Hey ..." he barely cracked a smile when she picked up, "I know things are kind of awkward between us after ... well, you know ... but-uh ... I was wondering if we could ... maybe ... I don't know, talk for a while?" He sighed heavily. "Just ... two friends having a little chat." He bit his tongue to avoid telling her the whole truth.

That her voice, her company soothed him, that even the darkest thoughts faded when he focused on her. That right now he needed her more than ever, and even though it was scary, even though his heart was betraying him by spelling her name so vividly, he just couldn't say it. "Emma?" Alexander called. She'd remained silent for a few minutes, yet she hadn't hung up.

"Can you be behind the corner in 10 minutes?" Were the first words she pronounced.

"What?"

"I need to get out of here. Right now. Come pick me up, I'm at Nancy's."

"I ... yes, but ... what happened?"

"You just come. I'll wait. Be fast."