"Oh my God" Rachel whispered as she put a hand on her mouth. "I remember now… I-I remember…"
Nick eyes went from her hand to her face as he cupped it in between his hands and kissed her passionately. She hugged him tight with a smile on her face. Finally… finally she could be completely happy again.
"I’m so happy baby" Nick said kissing her lips, then her forehead, then her nose, then her cheeks.
"Sweetie.. Wait a second" she said in between giggles.
"I soooo want to make love to you right now" he grinned.
"Nick, right now? In a hospital bed?" she smiled. He nodded eagerly. "Right now"
"Baby… the doctor is going to come in that door every minute… I would love to do it with you… but baby… it’s a lot of risk"
"Damn" he cursed.
All that Rachel did was laugh at his comment. "But who says that we can’t make out?" she grinned.
"See? I’m up to that as well" he grinned back as he kissed her. Several hours later, they fell asleep in each others’ arms.
A couple of days later, Rachel was out of the hospital ready to start a new, more complete life with her husband and kids. She now remembered the kind of woman that she was, what she loved about her husband, her life and her family. She remembered everything that she went through. The only thing that she seemed not to recall was the whole accident, which she didn’t want to bring to mind anyway.
She also remembered the whole AJ and Patricia story. AJ liked her so he kissed her that day at the restaurant where she was a waitress. After that, kiss and an almost one night stand their relationship turned really cold and distant between them and Nick started becoming her shoulder to cry on plus her best friends. Things started surfacing between them and soon they were very much in love. A year later, they got married. Two years into the marriage, Nick and Rachel started experiencing some problems as a couple and she started going back to AJ for advice and for comfort. Soon after that, they started kissing several times but Rachel knew in her heart that she loved Nick. Nothing else happened between Rachel and AJ after that. Then, the accident happened and two years later she couldn’t believe that she was with Nick again. Thank God that he forgave her for what she did with AJ. She was extremely thankful to Nick because of that.
As of Patricia, she understood what Nick did and in the situation that he was in. She forgave him for that. A couple of days after that, they found out that Patricia had lied about the baby that she was having plus the timing didn't match as well. Nick wasn't the father of the baby and everything was proved to be her lie.
Now, when Rachel was at the hospital, her parents, Maria and Joe came and apologized to her and to Nick about everything that they had done. Maria was more than eager to try and work things out with Nick for her daughter’s sake and mostly for her own sake. Rachel was more than happy to hear that. She was ready to give her everything to everybody. She felt that she completely fulfilled herself. She wanted to be the best mother, wife, friend, and woman that she could be.
"Nicky! We have to pick the kids from your mom’s house! Hurry up!" Rachel shouted to Nick who was upstairs changing his clothes. He had been there for over half an hour.
"I’m coming!" he said. A couple of minutes later he came down and they went to pick up their kids at Jane’s house.
"Hey bro! Hey bitch!" Aaron shouted when he opened the door to their house.
"Yeah… right!" she laughed.
"Hey! Leave my woman alone" Nick warned his brother. Then, Rachel turned around.
"Since when am I your woman?" she asked with a smile.
"Since I looked at you for the first time… I knew you were the one" he answered, kissing her cheek.
"AWWWW… cheesy!!" Aaron shouted as he went inside the house.
Nick and Rachel laughed as they entered too.
"Momma! Daddy!" Colin shouted as he saw them enter.
"Hey buddy!" Nick greeted as he took them in his arms and kissed his forehead.
"Hi daddy!" he replied cheerfully.
"Where’s your sister baby?" Rachel asked Colin.
"Right there" he said, pointing to the stairs.
"I’m going to go look for her" she said to Nick as she went upstairs.
When she entered the room, she saw that Jane was giving milk to Alyssa, who was falling asleep but when she saw her mommy her eyes shot open.
"Hey sweetie" Rachel cooed as she took her from Jane’s arms. "How are you, Jane?" she smiled.
"Pretty good… your daughter didn’t want to fall asleep"
"Don’t worry… I’ll get her to sleep now. Can I have the bottle?"
"Sure" Jane replied, extending the half full bottle of milk to Rachel. "Um… Rach… I wanted to talk to you about something"
"Yeah sure… what’s up?" she said, sitting down with Alyssa still on her arms.
"I know that you and Nick are fine and all… but I really have to ask you if you love him enough, or if you are still playing games with him with AJ? I’m really sorry of the bluntness of the question but I feel that I have to know once and for all" Jane said, sitting down next to her and looking at Rachel straight in the eye.
Rachel sighed and looked at Alyssa, then at Jane. "Look Jane… I don’t know if you’ll believe me or not but I’m going to tell you something that Nick and I kept from everybody because of your sake and our sake" Rachel answered as she started telling Jane the whole story about Patricia, her relationship with AJ and everything that happened before her accident, which she now remembered.
At first, Jane was very closed about the whole situation but then she opened up and tried to understand.
"Jane, I love Nick with all my heart… I love him. What can I do? I constantly fought with my family because of it ‘cause they didn’t accept him. I didn’t want to have to do anything with AJ. Try to understand that in a moment of desperation and hopelessness you are willing to do anything and everything. That is why I left. That is why I left Nick and that is why I had my accident. I was completely blocked at that time but one thing I knew from the bottom of my heart and that was that I loved your son and I still do love him. I’m up to do anything for him or for the kids. They are my life and my soul. And I wouldn’t do anything to get either of them away from me. I really hope you understand my purposes now…" Rachel looked down at Alyssa as tears started running down her cheeks.
"Sweetie, I understand, but at the time, Nick really worried me. He loves you Rachel… he adores you and if you do anything to him, he would be miserable… I just don’t want anything to happen to my son"
"And nothing will happen Jane… I love Nick… and I love you guys with all my heart… you’re my family and you will always be… and…" Rachel looked up to her. "thank you so much for everything you’ve done for Nick and for the kids in the time that I disappeared. I didn’t have the time to thank you earlier… I am really blessed to have people like you in my life"
"Aw, sweetie… you don’t have to thank me for that. You know I would do it anyway" Jane smiled and hugged Rachel.
"Hey, what’s up here?" Nick said, entering the room and approaching Rachel.
"Is something wrong, sweetie?" Nick asked, concerned when he saw that Rachel was crying.
Rachel smiled and looked at Jane who smiled back. "It’s nothing baby… don’t worry"
He shrugged as he rubbed her back. "Okay".
She smiled at Nick as she put Alyssa on her crib and stroked her hair until she fell completely asleep. Then, they went back to the living room where Aaron sat, watching a movie. Nick and Rachel sat on the couch across from Aaron, Nick with Colin on his lap, while Jane started preparing some dinner for the family.
Hours later, Nick and Rachel were headed towards their house, when they found AJ’s car parked there.
"Okay, what is he doing here?" Nick asked, looking over at Rachel.
"I have no idea… I haven’t talked to him in a while" Rachel shrugged, grasping Nick’s hand tighter. "One way to know right?" she asked as she went out of the car walking towards AJ’s car.
When she came near it, she saw that there was a girl that she didn’t know and that AJ was talking to her. She then, tapped on his window and waved, motioning for them to come into the house. Minutes later, they were all sitting at the couch, Rachel and Nick in one couch and AJ and his girl
friend in the other.
"So, what’s been up with your life AJ?" Nick started talking, putting his arm around Rachel’s shoulders.
AJ shrugged "Nothing much"
"Then what are you doing here?" Nick snapped. Rachel hit him in the stomach and looked at him.
"Rach, can I talk to you for a sec?" AJ asked looking at Rachel, completely ignoring Nick’s comment.
Rachel nodded. "Yeah sure… alone?"
"Preferably" he answered, glaring at Nick for a moment and then following Rachel towards the patio, next to the pool.
"What’s up?" Rachel started, sitting down in one of the beach chairs and looking at AJ.
"I just wanted to apologize for all the time that I was away and didn’t contact either you or Nick"
Rachel shrugged. "It’s okay… everything is forgotten"
"No, Rach… you don’t understand… I fell in love with you once again… and I didn’t want to ruin what you and Nick had…or still have"
"AJ… everything is forgotten… consider yourself forgiven… I love Nick with all my heart and I recovered my memory… everything is going to be fine"
"Y-You recovered your memory?"
Rachel nodded and smiled. "I remember everything now"
"That’s great" AJ replied, getting up from his seat and hugging Rachel tight.
"Do you think we can be best friends?" Rachel smiled.
A grin appeared on AJ’s face. "Of course!" he replied hugging her again. "Oh… and Rach… thank you for everything you did for me… and thank you for being the way you are… now I know why Nick loves you so much"
Rachel grinned. "I love you too…and don’t worry about the past… everything is going to be forgotten from now on"
"Thank you so much… shall we go back inside?… I want you to meet someone" AJ said, leading her inside the house.
"OHH that girl you’re with, right?"
"Yup, my girlfriend, Stacy"
"Girlfriend? Nice" Rachel said, messing up his hair.
"Yup"
As they entered, laughing and joking, Nick and Stacy looked back at them with strange look. AJ went over to Nick.
"Nick, man… I’m sorry for everything I did… and I’m sorry I disappeared for so long. Can we start with a clean slate from now on?"
At first, Nick was serious but then, a smile crept from his face. "Of course man… and I’m sorry for what I said earlier" he said as he shook his hand and gave him a hug.
"Don’t worry about it"
After that, the group stayed talking a couple of hours more, catching up on their lives and relationships. Everyone seemed genuinely interested in maintaining the best friendship that they could. The mistakes and problems of the past were immediately forgotten and soon they were talking as old friends who appeared as if they didn’t have any conflict between them.
"Well guys…" AJ started as he took Stacy’s hand in his. "We really have to go now, but tomorrow is still standing right?"
"Of course!" Nick said with a grin, referring at the get together that they were going to prepare for the whole family at Nick’s house.
"Then, I’ll see you guys tomorrow" he replied, shaking Nick’s hand and giving Rachel a hug and a kiss on the cheek.
"Bye AJ!" Rachel responded as she closed the door behind them and looked at Nick. "Finally… we’re alone!" she said with a giggle.
"Finally…" Nick replied taking Rachel in his arms and kissing her deeply. The kiss would have progressed but Colin came running down the stairs.
"Mommy, daddy! I wanna play!" he said enthusiastically.
Nick closed his eyes and shook his head as Rachel laughed. "Why does somebody have to interrupt us when we are in the middle of something??"
Rachel laughed. "Come here sweetie" she said, referring to Colin. In a matter of seconds, her son was in her arms ready to play whatever. "He’s going to sleep pretty soon" she whispered in Nick’s ear.
"I’m going to check on Alyssa" he said, leaving Rachel alone with Colin while he went upstairs with her daughter.
15 minutes later, Rachel was out of breath running behind Colin who was running nonstop around the house.
"Okay Colin… come here baby" Rachel said, flopping down on the couch as she grabbed Colin and sat him on her lap.
"What momma?"
"We got to go to sleep now… mommy and daddy are going to sleep and you are too"
"But momma!" Colin whined as he started rubbing his eyes and put his thumb in his mouth.
"Come on baby…" she said, carrying him upstairs and going into his room.
A couple of minutes later, Colin was finally asleep. Rachel sighed and went to Alyssa’s room where Nick was singing her to sleep. She stood in the doorway listening to him sing to their daughter. This was definitely the one for her. She had no doubt in her mind now. Everything was going great between them and around them. She couldn’t ask for more. She was happy. Happier than ever. She watched Nick as he, carefully put a strand of hair behind his daughter’s ear and kissed her on the forehead before turning around to get out of the room. Rachel extended her arms to him and hugged him for what seemed like an eternity. Then, they went back inside their room.
As they closed the door, Nick wrapped his arms around Rachel and kissed her passionately, savoring each and every second of the kiss.
"I love you" Rachel whispered, still with her eyes closed and with a smile on her face.
Nick smiled and kissed her again. "I. Love. You. Too." he said in between kisses.
Rachel grinned. "You better love me too"
Nick picked her up and threw her over his shoulder. "Oh really? I’d better?"
Seconds later, he sighed and pretended he was going to put her down but ended up not doing it.
"Hey! Aren’t you going to put me down?"
Nick grinned, still having a strong hold of her. "Why?"
"Because I told you!" she shouted.
"SHHH… you’re going to wake the kids up… we don’t want that, right?" he said in a husky voice.
"I’m sorry… Put me down Nickolas"
Nick pouted and sat her down on the bed. He flopped down beside her.
"Now you’re angry with me?" Rachel smiled.
"No… I’m trying to pout to see if it gets me anywhere" Nick smiled back, taking her hand.
"Take you somewhere? Ha! Don’t think so" she shrugged.
Nick pouted at her and laid back in her lap.
"This is not going to take you anywhere… I’m not giving up"
"If I kiss you, will it get me anywhere?"
She shook her head and smiled.
"Can I try?"
She shook her head again.
Nick kissed her without her consent and Rachel found herself responding eagerly to the kiss.
"Hey! I didn’t tell you to kiss me" Rachel said, stroking Nick’s hair.
Nick grinned and leaned in to kiss her again
"Okay I give up… what are we doing now?"
Nick shrugged. "I could deal with just kissing you"
Rachel smiled and kissed his neck, still having a hold of his hand. "I love you…thank you for helping me and for loving me the way you have"
"I love you too, baby… always… and it‘s no science to love you… You let yourself be loved… so there‘s no problem there" Nick grinned, stroking her hair.
She couldn’t ask for anything else. She had her kids and her husband beside her and that’s all that mattered. As long as they were okay, she was okay. She looked at Nick one more time. She admired him for being the kind of person he was and she honestly didn’t mind waking up to him for the rest of her life. She loved him and she would always love him. She loved everything about him; his eyes, his hair, his body, his sense of humor… everything that he had that he had to offer. She couldn’t believe that in a few months they were celebrating their fifth anniversary. Five years of problems but also five years of happiness. He was her husband, her best friend and companion for the rest of her life… and for that she was tremendously grateful.
They laid down on the bed in each others arms and thought about everything that happened in those past years: the tears and the happiness they shared. Everything was well worth it.
"I don’t want this to end" Rachel whispered to Nick, looking at him straight into his blue eyes.
"Don’t you worry… this…" he said pointing at them and also referring to the kids "… this is going to be the beginning of the rest of our lives".