"R-Rachel?" Nick repeated, still not believing his eyes.
The girl looked at him strangely. "How do you know my name?" she asked, curious about what he was going to say.
"So, is it really you?"
"Well, my name is Rachel" she joked, smiling at him.
Nick rose up from his chair and stood in front of her. He put his hand on hers and got closer.
"What do you think you're doing?" Rachel asked, getting nervous about his immediate reaction.
"Rach? Don't you recognize me? I'm Nick" he finally said, his blue eyes still looking at hers.
"I don't know any Nicks...so, please just leave me alone... we're late" she said, looking at her daughter who was still grinning to Nick. She started turning around to leave when Nick grabbed her by the arm. He looked at her left hand immediately and saw that she still had her wedding ring on.
"Look at this" Nick pleaded, showing the wedding ring to her. "I gave you this... you're married to me"
"W-what?" she asked, confused. "My mother gave me this... it was her wedding ring"
"No, you got it all wrong... sweetie, you're married to me...we have Colin, our kid...you were in a car accident...how come you don't remember me?"
Nick started getting desperate with the fact that she didn't remember a thing. Amy was so stunned that she didn't say a word during their whole conversation.
"No, you're confusing me with somebody else... I have Alyssa, my daughter. I'm a single mother and I still live with my parents..."
"It can't be true" Nick thought. "She looks just like Rachel... it can't be true"
"Rachel, let's go... we're going to be late" somebody said behind her. Rachel turned around and saw her mother waiting for her.
"I have to go" she said to Nick and turned away to leave.
Nick started following her out of the restaurant and stopped dead on his tracks when he saw that Rachel's parents were there too.
"Joe? Maria?" Nick uttered in disbelief. How come they did know that Rachel was alive and didn't pick up a phone and tell him?
"Why did he know their names?" Rachel thought.
Rachel's parents acted as if they never knew him and headed towards their car.
Nick went straight to Maria, Rachel's mother and stopped her. "I can't believe you! why didn't you tell me that she was alive?" he hissed.
Maria took Nick aside. "I don't want you near my daughter again. You understand that? I don't want her to go through what she went through when she was with you. So, please, forget that she even exists and leave her alone" she answered calmly.
Nick stared at her in awe and narrowed his eyes. "I love that woman with all my heart and you come here and tell me that I can't see her again just because you don't want to? Well, guess what? I'll win her back anyway, with or without your help. I'm sorry that you didn't give me the chance to show you how much I cared for Rachel and I'm sorry that you didn't even see how much I loved her but that doesn't give you the right to do what you're doing!" he replied.
"I really don't care if you love her or not Nick... we know what's best for her... and right now you can't help her a lot either"
"Oh, and why is that?"
"She has amnesia Nick. She doesn't remember anything about her past. Therefore, she doesn't remember you"
With that, Maria stepped back and went towards the car, where Rachel, her father and Alyssa were waiting.
Nick stood there, trying to figure out what was he going to do. At that moment, he felt someone putting a hand on his back. When he turned around, he saw Amy just as wide-eyed as he was.
"We'll figure something out" she whispered.
"I lost her, again" he mumbled.
Nick stepped back, and ran his hands through his silky blond hair, thinking about something that he could do. Suddenly, he took Amy's hand and ran into his car and ended up in front of Rachel's parents' house.
"What the hell are you doing here, Nick?" Amy asked.
"I'm here to see Rachel" he said simply, getting out of the car and going to the doorstep. Lucky for him, Rachel answered. As soon as she recognized him, she was about to close the door but he didn't let her.
"Let me talk to you, please" Nick begged.
"Why don't you leave me alone? I don't know who you are" Rachel replied.
"You're married to me Rach...don't you remember?"
"I'm not married to anyone"
"Rachel, look at your left hand"
"I already told you it was my mom's-"
"Shhh" he cut her off. "Take the ring off" he instructed.
She did as she was told and looked at him strangely.
"Don't be afraid" Nick reassured. He also took his wedding ring off and showed the little inscription that both rings had inside. It said "I love you forever".
"I-It must be a coincidence" Rachel stuttered.
He got out his wallet and extended it to her. "Look at the pictures inside"
She opened his wallet, still feeling a little uneasy with him. There, she took a look of every picture. One picture was of herself and Nick cuddling at the beach, the other one was of a little boy she had never seen before. Her eyes scanned every picture, closely looking at each and everyone of the faces. She saw another picture of her and Nick, holding a little blond boy.
"That's our son, Colin" he whispered.
She looked at his crystal blue eyes and back at the picture without saying a word.
"...and this..." he pointed at one of the pictures "this is your best friend Amy, who's at the car" Rachel looked up and to the car and saw the same girl that she saw in the picture.
"I'm so confused now" she mumbled softly.
"I know sweetie... but you gotta know the truth"
At that moment, Rachel's mother came out the door and looked at Nick.
"What the hell are you doing here???" she practically yelled.
"I'm here to see Rachel" he answered in a cold tone.
"Mom, why didn't you tell me that I was married and had one kid?" Rachel inquired.
"Because you're not" her mother replied.
"Liar" Nick mumbled.
"I am mom... this guy showed me a lot of pictures and he showed me his wedding band... it's the same as mine"
"He's just trying to brainwash you to believe it!"
"No mom, I want to know the truth!" Rachel demanded angrily.
Maria sighed. "We just want what's best for you, sweetie"
"The truth, I want to know the truth" Rachel repeated.
"You are married sweetie" a voice said behind Maria. It was Joe, Rachel's father.
Rachel put a hand on her mouth. "Oh my God"
"I told you" Nick whispered.
Rachel closed her eyes. "I want to see my kid"
"We'll bring Alyssa to you" Joe answered.
"No... I want to see Colin... my baby boy"
Maria's eyes shut down in anger as she stormed into the house.
Nick smiled. "You can go with me if you want".
Rachel nodded. "That would be nice. Dad, can you bring Alyssa to me too?"
"Sure" he went inside and handed the little girl to her.
"Thanks dad" she smiled and looked at Nick. "I'm ready to go"
Nick grinned happily and put his arm around her. "Let's go then"
On the way home, Nick started explaining everything to Rachel; what she went through, their problems, the car accident... everything, but she didn't remember a thing. Her frustration took the best of her and she started to cry. Amy, who was now sitting in the back of the car next to Alyssa's car seat, tried to soothe her and tell her everything was going to be alright. When they finally got to the house, Nick opened Rachel's door and led her inside the house. Brian opened the door and his jaw dropped open.
"Holy shit! It's you" Brian said.
"Brian... Rachel has amnesia... she doesn't remember anything... so, I'm starting everything from the beginning" Nick informed. Then, he turned to Rachel and introduced her to Brian.
"Nice to meet you" Rachel said shyly, extending his hand towards him.
"It's great to see you again, Rach" he said, still not believing a thing.
Colin started walking towards his dad, demanding him to pick him up. Rachel stared at the little guy with confusion but also with love. It was her child after all. She started stroking his hair and tears started to fall from her eyes.
"Why are you crying?" Nick asked Rachel.
"I'm just so frustrated that I don't remember anything... but somehow I know that this is my boy... my little baby"
Nick put his arm around her, brought her in a hug and kissed her forehead gently.
"Everything is going to be okay... I promise"
"You promise?"
"Cross my heart" he answered with a smile.