Her world was falling in around her, Alex had never just left her crying, he had always been her rock. Usually his "Badly Done, Emma" was followed by him talking to her in his gentle voice, making her see that she had been wrong, she had grown used to their relationship. Her earliest memories all contained him, by her side through everything, now she felt...broken. Another round of sobs, broke free as she heard him leave the building, she slammed the door to her office. Gone was the polished and refined Emma Woodhouse, in her place was the woman who had just lost the man she loved...her head flew up at that thought, her eyes falling on the camera placed on her desk. She loved him, so much for being a great matchmaker, she didn't even know when she was in love. Pulling her laptop off the desk, she settled on the couch pulling her throw over her lap, she replayed the footage from her cameras and saw him see her feed Frank some of Maddie's jam from her fingertip. There was a strange look on his face, she paused it to watch him, he seemed like he wanted to interrupt and walked away instead. Suddenly his behavior at Boxx made sense, her mind playing that night over again.

She sighed in relief as everyone was finally seated, her eyes looking up at Alex who was not smiling at her anymore, she leaned into him.

"Hey." She whispered as dinner was served to the guests,

"Emma." His voice was distant, she didn't like that, he was Snarky Knightley not Distant Knightley.

"What did I do?" She asked, trying to recall if she had messed something up since she had seen him earlier today.

"Come with me." He left the room and she took a nervous glance at the guests before following him, he was outside on the terrace facing away from her.

"What is going on? Are you ok?!" Her voice panicked at the thought that he could be ill or hurt. He didn't turn around, so she moved in between him and the railing, forcing him to look at her.

"Alex." She asked softly, his eyes locked on hers and he suddenly looked sad.

"I don't think Frank is good for you."

"He's harmless." She defended quickly, unhappy that he wanted to discuss Frank again.

"I don't like him, you deserve better, I wish you could see that."

"Alex...what are you talking about?" She asked him, just as the railing behind her gave out and fell, his arms wrapped around her pressing her to him. She felt her heart speed up, his eyes were filled with something she wasn't familiar with. He didn't release her, just holding her in his arms, she laid her head on his chest. They stood in silence, neither speaking until she could hear Maddie calling for them...

She groaned at the memory, she was a horrible person, Maddie was the kindest woman she knew. Had done everything she could do to help her when her mother had died, offering her everything she could find to amuse a brokenhearted five year old. Her heart hurt, she hadn't meant to hurt anyone, she loved Maddie. Frank...she couldn't believe she had agreed with him, Maddie's jams were exotic and locally made, just what they had aimed for. She had been so proud of those jams, putting herself out there and ending up hurt by someone she cared about. She would go visit Maddie in the morning, after she made a stop at Boxx to insist they use Maddie's jams, they owed her for making the opening a hit. Jane's words hit her then, reminding her that she had a list of people to apologize to, starting with Maddie. She closed her laptop setting it next to her on the chair she had next to the couch, Annie was next followed by Jane and Alex. Her eyes closed from exhaustion, she felt empty and drained, a little rest would be the only thing that helped. She felt more tears roll from under her eyelids as she discovered the blanket smelled like Alex, her fingers fumbling for her phone and dialing his number from memory. Four rings later... she heard his voice.

"You've reached Alex, I can't come to the phone right now, so leave a message."She could hear her voice in the background, laughing at his message.

"Alex...I'm sorry. Please, I can do better..." She broke off crying again and hung up, she never let anyone else see her crying, it wasn't the part of her the world saw. She turned away from the door curling into herself, she needed him to tell her it would be ok, instead she had chased him away from her. She passed out from exhaustion, not hearing him return to the office...

He cursed himself inwardly as he entered the building after telling her he wasn't coming back, hearing her broken sobs had changed his mind and he was there to comfort her. Seeing her with Frank had hurt, knowing she didn't return his feelings, he had hoped that night at Boxx she was going to tell him she loved him. Instead she had humiliated Maddie alongside Frank, to everyone's horror and then didn't apologize to her. He opened the door, seeing her curled up tightly on the couch, her face puffy along with her eyes. She was sleeping, fitfully and he couldn't resist the urge to press a kiss to her forehead. The moment his lips met her skin, she relaxed a small smile on her lips,

"Alex..." She mumbled, before nuzzling into her blanket like a cat.

"Sleep sweetheart, I'm here." He whispered to her, she smiled brightly in her sleep.

"I can't do this without you, I love you Alex." Her sleepy words sent a jolt through him, she had just admitted to loving him, but in what way? Like the boring brother-in-law? Or someone she could be with, allowing him to hold her and kiss her.

"I wish you could tell me that to my face, so I could see those beautiful brown eyes of yours and know you really love me." He admitted softly, tucking the blanket around her, there was a shuffle behind him, Harriet smiled at him.

"She was a mess."

"I wasn't here, I need time away from here." He told her, she nodded understandingly, her eyes on Emma's sleeping form.

"I will take care of her." She promised,

"Thank You." He squeezed her shoulder before leaving again, he could go to the cabin and take a step back to reevaluate their situation, give Emma time to make amends. He just has to leave, he can't see her with Frank again, feeding him jam off her fingertips. She was his Emma...the girl he had fallen in love with and he couldn't believe that she could have fallen for Frank's fake charms. He pulled off onto the highway and drove past the city limits, feeling his chest squeeze tightly as he put more distance between them.

(That last episode broke my heart...Alex come back! Emma needs her Snarky Knightley, to tell her he loves her, and give her a chance to admit that she loves him back. Maybe more to come...after this next episode airs.)