Emmett Bledsoe and Bay Kennish

Emmett Bledsoe and Bay Kennish are characters in the TV Show, Switched At Birth. After helping Bay track down her biological dad they became very close. They have been through so much together especially the fact that Emmett is deaf and Bay can hear. Together or apart they seem to have an unspoken connection and understand each other.

Emmett Bledsoe
Played by Sean Berdy, Emmett is Bay's ex-boyfriend, and the longtime best friend of Daphne. He is deaf and rarely speaks verbally, preferring to communicate through American Sign Language. He rides a motorcycle and drives Daphne to their school, much to the dismay of the Kennishes. Despite their concerns and his being deaf, Emmett is proven to be a good driver. He is very protective of Daphne and has had a long-time crush on her, but doesn't make his feelings known to her. He is the only child in an all-deaf family, and for this reason has grown up having trouble relating to people who hear.

In the first season, despite of the language barrier, Bay and Emmett form a bond after he assists her in finding her father. The two eventually begin a relationship. When they first get together, Daphne realises her feelings for her long-time best friend, culminating in them kissing in a car wash. Emmett, however, reaffirms his loyalty to Bay. He reassures Bay of their relationship by communicating with her verbally for the first time. This relationship, however, runs into a multitude of troubles throughout its course, including Emmett's family troubles and the interference of third parties.

Throughout his relationship with Bay, Emmett faces difficulties at home. He learns that his parents are getting a divorce and that his father has moved in with another woman. Bay, concerned for Emmett's well-being, goes behind his back to confide in his mother about her fears regarding Emmett living with her father. Emmett learns about their discussion and a fight ensues, resulting in Emmett sleeping with Simone, Bay's former friend and Toby's girlfriend. He does not reveal his actions to Bay until the night of prom, after which she promptly breaks up with him and leaves in tears. Emmett, however, is determined to win her back.

Months later, in an effort to win Bay back, Emmett paints their relationship in a timeline on a brick wall. Bay and Emmett meet and Emmett tells Bay that he is deeply sorry about what happened between him and Simone, and that it meant nothing to either him or Simone. However, Bay doesn't think they will ever be the same. Despite this, Emmett tells Bay he's going to keep trying to win her back no matter how long it takes, which is later confirmed by Daphne, who tells Bay that if Emmett has as so much as a sliver of hope, he'll wait forever. After Bay attempts to run away from home, it is Emmett who helps John find her. Bay and Emmett share a moment where he tells her that he will 'always come and find her'. They almost kiss but are interrupted by Bay's father.

At the beginning of the second season, a nervous Bay tells Emmett that she has begun a new relationship with Noah, in response, Emmett kisses her and asks her whether she has really moved on from him before he walking away. Later, Emmett tells Bay about the kiss between Noah and Daphne. He later meets a deaf girl (Ashley Fiolek) who is a fellow motorcycle enthusiast. Daphne, who is eager for Emmett to simply move on from Bay for the sake of his happiness, tells him that the new girl is perfect for him because she's deaf and into motorcycles, but Emmett tells her that he already has found his perfect girl in Bay.

Over the course of the second season, Emmett and Toby reconnect, with Toby even forgiving Emmett for sleeping with Simone. The two renew their friendship and form another band. Emmett even stands as best man at Toby's wedding. At which he makes a toast (appearing to subtly be directed at Bay) saying that he and Bay are meant to be together saying that she is the one he found. In the final episode of season 2, Emmett comforts a crying Bay after finding out about the end of her relationship with Ty.

The third season sees Emmett dealing with the integration of hearing kids into Carlton. He finds himself somewhat of an outcast among his peers after revealing the identity of a friend who had been slashing tires in order to make the new kids look bad.

Emmett asks Bay's help on an astronomy project, where it is revealed that he is dating a new girl, Mandy, whom he met online. Despite responding to Bay's kiss, Emmett soon pulls away. He confesses to Bay that the reason they cannot be together is because she cannot let go of the past and forgive him for sleeping with Simone. Bay, however, apologises and promises not to bring it up again, leaving some hope for a future for the two of them. In a later episode, after seeing Bay struggle to paint with a hand injury, Emmett helps inspire her by taking her to a replica of 1950's Las Vegas built by a millionaire for his dying wife. He also helps her create the project and submit it to her class.

In the spring finale Emmett goes to meet Mandy for the first time. However, Mandy is revealed to be Matthew, a classmate wanting to get back at Emmett for having him suspended earlier in the season. Bay later finds him and after admitting their love for each other, the two sleep together After some initial apprehension due to the two of them having unprotected sex, Bay reaffirms her commitment to Emmett and promises to break things off with Tank. He also runs into some trouble with Matthew, who is now blackmailing him into staying quiet about the beating.

In 'Oh, Future' Emmett's father surprises his guests at a housewarming party with a wedding and the revelation that Emmett is to become a big brother. Emmett is initially angry with his father, but after some advice from Bay and his mother, he warms up to the idea of a new sibling.

Bay Kennish
Played by Vanessa Marano, Bay Madeline Kennish-Vasquez is the artistic and rebellious legal daughter of John and Kathryn Kennish; and biological daughter of Regina Vasquez and Angelo Sorrento. She is shown to be a talented graffiti artist. In the pilot episode, Bay, upon learning that she does not share the same blood type as either of her parents, visits a geneticist with her parents. It is then that they are informed that there was a mix up with two babies at the hospital, and that John and Kathryn are not her biological parents. The discovery of the switch leads Bay to question her entire upbringing, resulting in her breaking up with her boyfriend, Liam and getting arrested for attempting to buy beer with a fake ID.

She becomes attracted to Ty, an old friend of Daphne and Regina's, and they begin a relationship in the second episode. Upon being caught sneaking around with Ty, her parents invite him around for dinner, during which, Ty accidentally lets slip that he has enlisted in the army. On his last night in town, the two almost sleep together, but Bay refuses and departs in tears.

Curious about her biological father, Bay sets out to search for him with help from Emmett. They are eventually reunited. She grows closer with her biological mother and father, even moving in with the two of them at one point. Bay is the first to find out that Angelo got another woman pregnant and now has another daughter as a result of a one-night stand.

After Ty's departure, Bay begins a relationship with Daphne's deaf best friend, Emmett, after he assists her in her search for Angelo. The two have a turbulent relationship due to their differences, but remain together, even after experiencing a number of setbacks including Bay's past relationship with Ty, Emmett's disapproving mother and the language barrier between them. Toward the end of the first season, Bay breaks up with Emmett after she finds out at prom that he slept with Simone her old friend. Following her break up with Emmett, Bay comes home from her summer trip with a new boyfriend. However, things do not last long between them after it becomes clear that Bay is still not over Emmett. Her feelings become more complicated when she sees a mural Emmett painted depicting their relationship, leading to her breaking it off with Alex.

After her initial break up with Emmett, Bay finds that she is immersing herself more and more in her street art, resulting in an unlikely friendship with a fellow artist by the name of Zarra. This friendship causes Bay to rebel against John and Kathryn to the point of her almost running away with Zarra to Mexico. She is stopped before leaving and brought home by Emmett and John. In the second season, Bay meets Noah, a fellow hearing student at Carlton. A short romance ensues, but Bay breaks up with Noah when she realizes that he has feelings for Daphne.

Ty returns in the second half of season two, resulting in them resuming their relationship. Bay expresses concern for Ty's mental well being following his time serving in Afghanistan. The two eventually reconnect, sleeping together for the first time Bay lose her virginity to Ty. However, in the season two finale, Ty, about to be recalled to the army, lies to Bay about sleeping with someone else after she finds girl's underwear on his bedroom floor, in an effort to save her from further hurt. In season three, Ty is shown to not be responding to any of Bay's effort's to contact him. However, when he finally does message her, Bay, determined to move on, deletes the message without responding. Bay eventually discovers Ty's lie, but remains adamant to move on with her life.

In the second season finale, upon learning that Ty had cheated on her, Bay turns to Emmett for comfort and support. In the third season, Emmett asks Bay's help on an astronomy project, where it is revealed that he is dating a new girl, Mandy, whom he met online. Despite responding to Bay's kiss, Emmett soon pulls away. He confesses to Bay that the reason they cannot be together is because she cannot let go of the past and forgive him for sleeping with Simone. Bay, however, apologises and promises not to bring it up again, leaving some hope for the future.

In the third season premiere, Bay starts her senior year and her first day at a new college art class. She makes a new friend named Tank. During a class assignment in which they have to draw a partner, Bay, in search of Tank, finds herself going to a frat party. In an effort to forget about Ty, she winds up heavily intoxicated. In her drunk state, she and Tank have a heart to heart regarding her broken heart and about why Ty cheated on her. Later on, Toby and Daphne pick up Bay from the party. After noticing the hockey sticks in the back seat, Toby informs Bay that she will be joining the Carlton field hockey team.

Bay begins dating frat boy and college football player, Tank, in the episode 'The Scream', despite having only having thought of him as a friend in the past. After Mary-Beth reveals to Bay that Ty had lied to her about cheating, she begins to question her relationship with Tank. Tank becomes even more irritated when he learns that Bay turned to Emmett for advice before consulting him. Things later take a turn for the worse when Bay accidentally reveals that Tank was the one who blew the whistle on a frat event, leading him to be blackballed from the fraternity.

Later in the season, Bay faces a number of challenges. She injures her hand at a party and is later revealed to have snapped a tendon in her hand. This leaves her unable to paint or sign during her months of recovery. As a result she is moody and takes it out on everyone in her family.

In the spring finale, Bay researches online after having suspicions about Emmett's new girlfriend, Mandy. Despite her warnings, Emmett chooses to meet with her anyway. Mandy is shown to be nothing more than a fake profile designed to set up by Matthew, a classmate wanting to get back at Emmett. Emmett is subsequently beaten up. Realizing this, Bay rushes to find Emmett. After a heartfelt conversation, Bay and Emmett finally admit that they still love each other before sharing a kiss and proceeding to sleep together. After some initial apprehensions due to the two of them having unprotected sex, Bay reaffirms her commitment to Emmett and breaks things off with Tank.

Later, Bay experiences the loss of Angelo, her biological father and expresses regret that she did not spend more time with him. After Angelo's cause of death is discovered, it is feared that she may share the same biological trait that lead to Angelo's brain aneurysm.

Ending season 3, and starting season 4, Bay is on probation after taking the fall for Daphne when she vandalized her mom's (Regina Vasquez) worksite out of anger. Due to this, Bay and Emmett's plan to move to L.A. has been postponed. While Emmett leaves for L.A. Bay starts her community service. However, after giving a convicted criminal on probation a sandwich that had heroine in it, she is given another 90 days and house arrest.

Emmett and Bay
First Meeting
The two first see each other when Emmett picks up Daphne to go get lunch. Emmett notices Bay and they look at each other for a moment before he asks Daphne who she is. Daphne tells Emmett that Bay is 'Me. In another life.' Emmett smiles at Bay before putting on his helmet. After they leave, Bay smiles to herself.

The two first officially meet when Emmett appears on the Kennish lawn to escort Daphne to Carlton on the back of his motorcycle. This clearly appeals to Bay's adventurous side and she jealously confronts her parents about letting their biological daughter ride on the back of a stranger's bike while she (Bay) is on restriction following an arrest for underage drinking.

First Kiss
Bay asks Emmett to help her edit a photo that may have clues to where her Dad is. He continues to help Bay find her father, and the two become closer. Eventually, Daphne confronts Emmett and demands to know what is going on with him and Bay. He insists that nothing was going on, but at the end of the episode, he meets Bay at her school. He signs "I like you" before sharing a kiss with her and walking away. Bay is shown to be clearly stunned, but also happy.

Parental Response
Melody disapproves of Emmett's relationship with Bay, insisting that Deaf/hearing relationships cannot work out and saying that Bay is a bad influence on him. She also disapproves because she believes Bay will never get to know him the way a Deaf girl would. Later in the episode she finds a shirt of Emmett's with a blood stain on it in the trash. She then gets mad at Emmett demanding to know what happened. Emmett lies about what he and Bay were doing the other night (illegal street art) and says that he cut himself on a sprinkler playing football at his friends house. Then, when Melody and Emmett go to Bay and Daphne's birthday party, she notices that Bay's badly cut hand making her realize Emmett got hurt spending time with her. She gets frustrated at Emmett for lying to her and demands that he tell her the truth. Emmett says he won't because he knows how his mom feels about Bay because she is hearing. Melody continues to disapprove of Bay. But after Bay tells Melody about Emmett planning to drop out of school, Melody finally realizes that Bay cares for him and gives her approval. In contrast, both Emmett's father Cameron and Cameron's girlfriend Olivia (in season 1) seem to have taken a shine to the relationship even from the very beginning. but her (Olivia's) openness about sex makes Bay feel uncomfortable. Bay thinks that Olivia is a bad influence on Emmett (after she gives him alcohol) and explains this to Cameron causing him to give custody to Melody.

Bay's parents (John and Kathryn) were originally scared of Emmett believing he is a "bad boy", and doesn't want Bay or Daphne around him. After getting to know him a bit better as he and Bay are dating they begin to like him. As Daphne's mom, Regina thinks very highly of Emmett and trusts him completely with both girls. Though, Regina confided with John and Kathryn that during her alcoholism, she was very reluctant to letting Daphne ride on his motorcycle. And even after allowing it, she still secretly followed him. After a while, however, she saw that Emmett is a good driver.

When Emmett tells Melody that he cheated on Bay she tells him he'll have to live with what he did but it was up to him whether he told Bay or not.

Memorable Talks
Daphne's admission to liking Emmett causes problems for the couple, but Emmett begins to realize that there would be complications to the relationship with or without Daphne's interference. He realizes he would never feel comfortable around Bay's hearing friends and family, which leads to them having a huge fight. Later, Emmett comes to Buckner Hall and tells her that she was never Deaf or hearing to him she was "just Bay" and while it would be easier if she were Deaf, but he tells her he doesn't want Deaf Bay he speaks to her for the first time, saying, "I just want you."

Bay is still learning all of the do's and don'ts with the deaf and mistakenly uses being deaf as a weakness. As Emmett is ordering food the person working asks him what he wants and Emmett doesn't understand him, so Bay orders for him. Plus later in the episode an angry guy approaches Emmett and starts yelling at him, and Bay tells the guy that Emmett is deaf (making him seem weak). They later have a talk about Bay's actions (which has to be interpreted by Daphne) and Emmett explains that signing is the way he sees the world and if others have to adjust to that so be it. He's different and it's ok.

Emmett is furious that he has to sell his bike in order to pay for the fine he got putting Bay's art on a billboard for her birthday. He begins distancing himself from Bay, which worries her. She convinces him to come with her to the school. Bay asks Emmett who he is mad at and he explains that, sometimes he really hates hearing people. Bay responds with "But listen, nobody is better at hating the world than I am. I've had 16 years of practice at it. It's a lot more fun being angry at it together than alone."

Emmett's father's new girlfriend Olivia mentions that Bay is allowed to stay over anytime which brings up the topic of sex with Bay and Emmett. Bay tells Emmett she's a "vegetable" (mis-signing virgin) to which Emmett reveals he is not but he won't "peel and tell". This kinda scares Bay a bit. Later Bay asks Emmett to come to dinner to meet Angelo but Emmett can't. But Emmett invites Bay to stay over that night. Bay asks if he means "stay over, stay over". Emmett replies that he wants to if she does, and they makes plans. When Bay comes over after dinner she is really mad at her parents for being mean to Angelo and Emmett takes her parents' side. After they argue Emmett says that he doesn't want to fight and Bay responds that if he thinks they are sleeping together tonight, then he is higher than his dad.

Bay becomes very worried about Emmett when he starts talking about dropping out of high school and getting his G.E.D. believing that this has to do with Olivia's influence. This starts a major battle between Emmett's parents.

Melody asks Bay to speak on her behalf during the custody hearing, which Emmett wants Bay to stay away from. He explains to Bay that she is his island in a sea of divorce and he needs her to stay out of it. She promises she will, but after she discovers that Olivia is selling weed from Cameron's garage, she changes her mind. She goes to see Cameron behind his back and convinces him that living with him is not in the best interest for Emmett. When Emmett finds out, he is livid. Bay tells Emmett that she did it because she cares for him. However, Emmett doesn't listen and ends up having meaningless sex with Toby's girlfriend, Simone.

Emmett returns and apologizes for yelling at Bay. He says he doesn't want to lose Bay and asks that for his birthday that it just be a mellow evening with each other. Bay is puzzled by his sudden change in behavior, but makes none of it. She and Daphne decide that for Emmett's birthday they create a movie. Emmett and Bay have a lot of fun until Simone arrives. Bay notices something is up when they are making out and one minute Emmett is there and the next he isn't. He lies and says it's nothing. Bay tells him that they got through the deaf-hearing thing, the Ty thing and the custody battle, and said that they love each other. What else is there left to get through? And to just tell her, she can handle it but they can't keep going back and forth anymore. Are they together or not? He says that he is with her.

At Prom, Daphne finds out that Emmett cheated on Bay and confronts him, to which he denies that he did. He then decides its time to come clean and tell Bay. He pulls her outside and tells her the truth and that it didn't mean anything. Heartbroken, Bay breaks up with Emmett and leaves.

Bay returns home from her trip still heartbroken. While Bay was gone, Emmett created a mural of all of the important thing that happened in their relationship and created a map for Bay to find it. After Bay sees the mural, she breaks up with her current boyfriend, Alex Rainford, and texts Emmett to meet her at their spot. Emmett arrives hoping that this would get their relationship back on track. Bay tells Emmett that he ruined them and any relationship they are ever going to have. Emmett believes that they are bigger than his one mistake. He is deeply sorry about his mistake. Bay then tells him that she knows that he is sorry, but he can't simply fix it with words. He tells her he will wait until he knows how to fix this.

Emmett is worried about Bay and tells John that he thinks Bay might run away. John and him go and find Bay. Once he gets there Bay says that she's glad he found her to which Emmett responds that he will always come find her.

Emmett really wants to be with Bay again and asks her why they aren't together anymore. Bay has been going through so much with going to a new school and everything else that she just needs a friend right now. Emmett doesn't want to be friends, he wants more which she can't give him, so he walks away.

During Emmett's best man speech he mentions that when you find that person hold on tight or they might slip away (meaning Bay and his relationship). Later that night Bay shows up at Emmett's house and asks her why people cheat. Sex means something and she just doesn't get it. Emmett tells her "however bad she is feeling right now, Ty is going to feel way worse once he figures out what he's lost". They hug.

Bay and Emmett return to school. Bay apologizes to Emmett for coming to him about Ty's cheating. She says 'I cant keep coming to you crying about other guys, its not cool." To which he brushes off, saying 'its not like that.'

Bay asks Emmett to help her take pictures of her art for art school applications. Emmett, in return asks that she comes to a lunar meteor shower with him for a school project. Later in the day Emmett comes over to take the pictures and Bay learns hes dating a girl (Mandy) over the internet. At the lunar meteor shower, she gets too jealous and kisses him making Emmett enraged. She makes up for it by getting him NASA quality pictures of the stars.

After finding out that Ty didn't cheat on her she begins to question her relationship with Tank. Emmett tells her that because Ty is gone he can be however she imagines him to be, Tank may not be perfect but he is here.

Bay begins to worry about Emmett's new girlfriend Mandy. She voices her concerns with Emmett and he gets really mad at her. She does some digging into Mandy and finds out that she doesn't exist (it's actually Matthew). She goes looking for Emmett and finds him beat up in the woods. Emmett is embarrassed that he couldn't have seen this sooner. He is worried that Matthew is going to tell everyone about this and ruin him. Bay tells Emmett that everyone loves him. He asks her, "You too?". Bay then mentions that he came here for some other girl. Emmett tells Bay that he was trying to create what they had and feel for each other but that he won't find that feeling with anyone else. She tells him that he knows she loves him and never stopped.

Bay is very upset with the fact that she cheated on Tank (the one thing she swore she'd never do) and Emmett should understand that. After looking at old pictures of their relationship she texts Emmett to meet her. They talk about how much of a mess they are both in but that what happened was amazing and right. They don't know what's ahead but will figure it out together.

After going to Emmett's dad housewarming party (which his dad got married and Emmett found out his step-mother is pregnant) Emmett asks Bay what he should do. Bay tells him that he need to tell his dad how he feels. Emmett tells Bay that things would be a lot harder without her. She tells him that he will always have her. He responds that seeing and being with her is the best part of everyday.

Emmett helps Bay look for Angelo's mother's phone number and he instead finds Angelo's will. He and Bay go through it and it states that in this situation he wants them to pull the plug. Bay is horrified and tells Emmett to put it back where he found it and not tell anyone. Emmett tells her they can't do that. Bay gets mad because she loves Angelo and can't lose him. Emmett tells Bay that sometimes love means doing what the other person wants, even if it's not what you want.

Bay begins to worry about her health considering what happened to Angelo and her aunt. Emmett tells Bay that he got into film school which makes her worry even more. She freaks out on him and tells him that he needs to move away and meet new people without her, when Emmett tries to stop her, she tells him to let her go. She goes to see Emmett the next night and tells him she wants him to go to film school and she will come with him. She just wants to be with him and doesn't want to wait. Since she has no plan for next year his dream will be hers.

First "I Love You"s
In the beginning of episode 1x17, Emmett became jealous when he finds out Ty and Bay were serious. She told him that he knew she still had feelings for Ty when Emmett kissed her, but insisted that nothing happened; she was still a virgin. Emmett shrugs it off, but it still seems to bother him.

Later when Emmett seems bothered, Bay confronts him. He talks about how his parents used to be in love, and now they aren't. He confesses to her that he is afraid he and Bay will eventually fall out of love too. Bay asks if he was implying that they were in love. He says that he is, and she agrees, signing "me too". Then they kiss.

First Time
In Love Seduces Innocence, Pleasure Entraps, and Remorse Follows (3x11), Emmett learns that his online girlfriend, Mandy, is actually a catfish architected by Matthew. Bay finds a beat up Emmett sitting alone in the park, where he tells her that he fears he could never find a girl who makes him feel like Bay had. Bay tells Emmett than she has never stopped loving him and the two kiss for the first time since the first season. The episode closes with Bay and Emmett undressing. Presumably, they have sex. Also later on in episode 3.12 and 3.13 her dad finds out she took the "morning after" pill (the pill you take after having unprotected sex) and assumes its from Tank. He confronts Tank about this. Tank insists that he didn't do it, but John doesn't believe him. Later, Tank asks Bay who it was, and she admitted that it was Emmett. Then later on in the episode, Bay tells John that it wasn't Tank, it was Emmett. She felt guilty for cheating on Tank and she truly cares for him, but her heart belongs to Emmett. John tells Bay that sometimes love makes you do stupid things.

Relationships
First Relationship:

  • Start Up: Pandora's Box (1x08)
  • Break Up: The Homecoming (1x10)
  • Reason: Emmett felt that they could never really understand each other because Bay was hearing whereas he is Deaf and saw the world differently because of this. But Bay believed he broke up with her because Daphne had told Emmett that she liked him, and she couldn't compete with Daphne. They get back together later in the episode.
Second Relationship:
  • Start Up: The Homecoming (1x10)
  • Break Up: Venus, Cupid, Folly, and Time (1x22)
  • Reason: Emmett told Bay he slept with Simone.
Third Relationship:
  • Start Up: Love Seduces Innocence, Pleasure Entraps, and Remorse Follows (3x11)
  • Break Up: There is My Heart (4x10)
  • Reason: Emmett felt they had been disconnected for months and that he needed to focus on school and she would only distract him. Emmett had also not gotten over Bay's one-night stand with Tank and still thought she cheated on him with Tank.

Sources: Wikipedia - Emmett Bledsoe, Wikipedia - Bay Kennish and Wikia - Emmett and Bay