“Beep…beep…beep..”

Dr. Tinoil turned off the heart monitor so they could no longer hear the beep. Bob put his arm around Jane and led her and a sobbing Meggie towards the door. Bob gave Brian a reassuring pat on the back, as they left. Brian looked around the room once more, before looking Dr. Tinoil straight into the eyes.

“I... uh... just wanted to say thank you... for all you did for Nick.”

“He was a great kid, and he didn’t deserve what he received,” The doctor said sadly.

Brian nodded. He picked up his windbreaker from the plastic, blue chair he had previously occupied for the past few days. He turned to walk out of the room, but looked back once more, to get a final look at his friend.

“Nick…I’ll miss-“ Brian was interrupted by the movement of Nick’s hand. His index finger had moved. He blinked, and then looked again, making sure it wasn’t an illusion. Sure enough, his finger moved again.

”Did you see that??” He asked Dr. Tinoil.

”I’m sorry Brian, but it’s just the nerves in his body. They’ll continue to move until his heart gives out totally.”

Sadly, Brian bowed his head. More tears fell from his face, as his last hope had vanished.

“Meggie,” He heard someone whisper as he neared the door. He turned around, thinking the doctor had called out, but Dr. Tinoil’s mouth had dropped open. Brian looked at Nick, who’s mouth was moving ever so slightly.

“Holy sh*t,” Brian said. He ran to Nick’s bedside, just in time to see Nick’s eyes opening.

”Bri?” He whispered. “What happened?”

”You were… supposed to die,” Brian cried.

“But I didn’t?”

”No… you’re alive!”

”And Meggie said ‘I do’?”

”Yes,”

“Where’s Meg?”

“I’ll get her… hold on,”

Brian hesitated, but then left the room, in search of Meggie and his family. He found them in the waiting room, waiting for the news from Dr. Tinoil that Nick had died.

“He’s awake!” Brian exclaimed happily as he entered.

“What?” Jane asked.

“Nick’s awake! He woke up… and he’s asking for you, Meggie.”

Meggie leapt from her seat and ran down the hallway to Nick's room. Upon her entrance, a wide smile filled Nick's face.

"Ohmygod," She gasped, nearing the bed.

"You'll marry me?" Nick asked.

"Yes! A hundred times, yes!"

"I waited for you…" He said softly.

"Yes…"

Dr. Tinoil interrupted them, a confused look on his face.

"Nick… I just don't understand. One minute, your organs are failing and you cannot breathe on your own… the next… you're almost wide awake, and breathing by yourself."

“You and Bri must be Miracle Brats,” Meg teased through her tears.

~ Three Weeks Later ~

“Done. I’m free!” Nick cheered as he finished signing his release papers.

”Finally leave us?” Jane, the nurse, asked as she came in. “In that case… I guess I’ll get you a wheelchair,”

”Don’t bother… I’ll walk,”

”Hospital policy,”

Nick groaned as she returned with a wheelchair. He stood up, but fell back onto the bed.

”Still a little off balance?” Brian chuckled, standing up to help him. He took Nick’s arm and helped him walk over to the chair. Nick sat down as Meggie put a large stuffed bear and flowers in his lap.

”The bear is from your siblings, and the flowers from the nurses,” Meggie said.

“Thank you,” Nick said looking around at everyone. Meggie pushed him to the elevator, and Brian got in after them.

Brian pushed the button and the elevator closed. Meggie leaned up against the wall, holding onto Nick's wheelchair. The elevator doors opened.

"I'll go get the car." Brian said, walking to the car while digging his keys out of his pocket.

Meggie sat down on the bench next to Nick and looked him. Nick looked back at Meggie and smiled. She smiled back and leaned over and kissed him.

Brian pulled up in front of Nick and Meggie. Meggie helped Nick stand up and get into the car. She then got into the backseat and Brian pulled away from the curb. Soon, they arrived home. As they entered the house, Meggie helped Nick over to the couch.

"Lets go out back." He said softly.

"Hey, I'm gonna use your phone ok?" Brian asked.

Nick nodded his head, as he and Meggie walked into the backyard. They sat down looking out over the ocean.

"You ok?" Meggie asked.

"I am now." Nick said looking at the ocean.

Meggie kept her eyes on Nick. Nick slowly turned his head and looked at her. Her eyes started to tear up. Nick placed his hand on her cheek.

"What's wrong?" He said in a whisper.

"I was so scared I was going to loose you." She said.

"But you didn't." He said and leaned in and kissed her. She kissed him back. He pulled her into a tight hug and she hugged him back. "I love you." he whispered into her ear.

Meggie smiled. "I love you too."

They both let go and kissed again. Brian came out onto the porch.

"A pizza is on its way."

"What kind?" Nick asked.

“Extra cheese,”

"Right on!"

"Oh that's just what he needs, cheese!" Meggie said laughing. She stood up. "I’m going to go upstairs for a little while ok?" She bent down and kissed him.

"All right.. I love you." Nick said.

"Love you too" she said walking into the house.

Brian slowly sat down next to his best friend, who resumed his place looking at the ocean.

“You alright?”

”Yeah, I’m fine,”

“So… you two are finally getting married?”

”Yup,” Nick said, a smile crossing his face at the thought.

”That’s awesome… I’m so happy for you two,”

”Thank you… hey… would… you be my best man?”

“I’d be honored.”

“Thank you… for that… and for being there for both Meggie and I for the past few weeks. I don’t think I would have made it without you.”

”I would have rather been no place else, but with you, Nick. And Meggie, of course.” Brian said.

A fine layer of mist covered Nick’s eyes, as Brian pulled him into a friendly hug.

The door behind them opened, and Meggie appeared.

”Am I interrupting something?” She asked, her eyes twinkling.

“Just having a softy-moment,” Nick laughed.

Suddenly, the doorbell rang.

”Pizza! I’ll get it,” Brian said, jumping up and entering the house, leaving Meggie and Nick alone.

”May I kiss you?” Nick asked, standing up slowly.

”You may,”

He walked over to her, and pulled small body tightly against his.

“Kiss me,” Meggie ordered, jokingly.

”Yes ma’am,” Nick obeyed, pressing his lips against hers. As they got more into the kiss, Brian appeared holding a pizza box.

“Who won?” He asked, setting the pizza down on the counter inside.

”Won what?” Meggie asked, searching for clean plates.

”The little game of tonsil hockey you two had going,”

”There was an interference,” Nick said, diving for the cheesiest piece of pizza.

“Save some cheese for me,” Brian complained, as he watched Nick practically pull the top layer of cheese off the dough.

“Not my fault,” Nick replied guiltily, sitting down at the dining room table.

“So… now… about this wedding…” Brian started once they were all settled.

”What about it?” Meggie asked.

”Date? Time? Colors? Guests? Reception?”

Meggie dropped her pizza onto the plate and let her head fall to the table, banging it a few times.

“Give me three years… and I might possibly have thought all of that through,” Meggie complained.

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