Emily

[sunshine_queen]

Request # ?

for non_horation

Challenge: Emily- faith

 

Arvin has a sort of magic.

Emily remembers thinking this when they first started dating. They had gone to dinner- someplace nice, but inexpensive, and they planned to walk around a bit before taking her home- and stepped outside to find it pouring rain.

"Don't worry," Arvin had reassured her, pressing just above her elbow, "It'll clear up."

And suddenly, as if waiting for his words, the rain had stopped.

There were other instances- their first apartment, charming and in a perfect location, found by accident when Arvin was coming home from work; her engagement ring, an antique with a sparkling diamond set in a twist of gold, just happened to catch the light and Arvin's eye; their home in California, found on an aimless drive. Arvin loved beautiful things, and they called to him. He always made them his.

Arvin could have anything fixed- neighbors with loud parties, faucets that leaked, grass that was dull, untuned pianos. She would come home to find everything was right again, like magic, by simply mentioning it. She never saw anyone actually in the act- it was as though he had elves, or fairies, at his disposal, ready to make her happy.

She developed a faith in this magic, a trust- she had only to keep her faith in Arvin, and things would work out.  When it wasn't as painful, she would think, years and years later, that the death of Jacquelyn was more painful because of this faith, her total belief that Arvin would be able to make things right, as he always had before.

Emily got lymphoma when she was forty-seven. The feeling of hopelessness that she felt in the face of her mortality was fathomless. Arvin took her hand and waited for the doctor to leave.

"Emily," he said to her in the calming voice he had always used, "We will get you well."

And Emily believed him.

Comments

[non-horation.livejournal.com]

THANK YOU SO MUCH.

This is exactly what I wanted, because I love them in a way that is totally impossible to explain. :P

[sunshine-queen.livejournal.com]

See, it's kinda impossible to do anything else with Emily. I mean, even if you had given me something amusing, it still would've had to revolve around her loving Sloane, because that was the bedrock of her character, Loving Arvin Sloane. I has more fun than I thought I would writing it.

[selenak.livejournal.com]

Oh, this is beautiful. With that awareness of tragedy that always is there when one contemplates the two of them.

[sunshine-queen.livejournal.com]

Poor Emily. She loved Arvin so much and... yeah. Not a happy ending.

Glad you liked it, though!

[thalia-seawood.livejournal.com]

Beautiful!
I'm a newcomer to the ALIAS universe and so far have caught up to season II, episode. So I don't know if we will see Emily again - I certainly hope so.

Your story captures Emily's essence: Her love and absolutely faith in Arvin. She appears to be very fragile on the outside, but deep down she's incredibly strong and I think that oddly enough she could forgive Arvin anything.

You also give us a great snapshot of Arvin: His willingness to do anything for Emily. She only has to mention it and he will set the wheels in motion.

These two lines are a wonderful summary of their relationship:
"Emily," he said to her in the calming voice he had always used, "We will get you well."
And Emily believed him.

[sunshine-queen.livejournal.com]

Ooh, new blood!

I absolutely fell in love with Alias right away, so I'm always glad when people join the fandom. Welcome!

I'm glad you liked the fic. I think you're right about Emily- the only time we ever see her is when she's either with Sloane or involved in something related to him, and she seems so fragile- but I really believe that Emily could survive alone- she just loves being with Sloane because she adores him. And he adores her.

Watch more seasons! They're good for you!

[yahtzee63.livejournal.com]

I like this -- the fact that Arvin makes everything better for her, and Emily neverstops and asks how. (Nice touch with her age at the time of the illness, too.)

[sunshine-queen.livejournal.com]

Hey, Arvin has a fleet of minions to do menial things; he might as well make use of them.

And Emily had to have been in her early fifties during season one and two, so I figured I might as well have fun and throw in the magic number. ;-)

Glad you liked it!