"Nick, it's so, perfect." I glanced at the appearance before my eyes and blinked. Was what I thought I saw, really there?

We actually had never gone anywhere. Apparently, Nick had driven around the block many times, and eventually ended back at his house. We were in his backyard.

I saw Nick's boat waiting by with candles lit on it. It looked very romantic.

"Nick, I can't believe you would do this. For me."

"Yeah, I know. I can't either. Here you go." Nick brought his hands from behind his back and presented a single rose to me.

"Awww, thank you so much Nick." I pulled my face close to his and gave him a peck on the cheek.

"Come on, let's go." I felt Nick's gentle hands touch mine and lead me to the boat. I was so surprised, this wasn't Nick. The old Nick was shy and bashful, he wouldn't have done this type of thing, for any girl. And here he was now, showing me my birthday gift from him. Wow.

"Watch your step." He helped me onto the boat carefully and fall free this time.

"Nick..."

"Sssshhhh. Wanna dance?"

"But there's no music."

"Yes there is." Nick turned around and pushed play to a small boombox sitting on the boat. Out came a melody I recognized. Nick pulled me closer and wrapped his arms around my waist. He soon began singing a song I had heard only once before from him. "Heaven in Your Eyes".

"Open up, your heart to me, and say what's on your mind. I know that we have been through so much pain. But I still need you in my life, this time. I need you tonight, I need you right now, I know deep within my heart, it doesn't matter if it's wrong or right, 'cuse I see heaven in your eyes. I figured out, what to say to you, but sometimes the words come out so wrong. And I know at times that you will understand me, and what we have is so right this time. And I need you tonight, I need you right now, I know deep within my heart, it doesn't matter if it's wrong or right, 'cuse I see heaven in your eyes," Nick sang incredibly. He sang it slower than last time, and with the piano playing on the tape, it was perfect. "All those ti..." Nick suddenly stopped.

"What's wrong?" I whispered in his ear while smiling. "Did Nicky get a little stage fright?"

"No, I just lost it."

"It's okay Nick, it's hard. I understand." I smiled and continued slow dancing with him, but I felt his body stop swaying.

"No it's not that. You don't understand."

"Nick, what's wrong?" I pulled away and glanced at Nick's face. His chin was quivering, and I had rarely seen him cry, I didn't want him to start now.

"I...I can't anymore Amanda."

"You can't what?"

"I don't know what I'm doing." Nick sat down and I stared at him until I decided to take a seat opposite of him.

"What Nick? Anything, you can tell me."

"Nothing," he muttered.

"Nick, it isn't nothing. One minute you were fine, then all of a sudden you start acting this way. What's wrong?" I said, my voice raising a little bit.

"I...I don't know what to say. I can't take it anymore, I have to say it," he said struggling.

"Say what Nick? Say what?" I pleaded for him to go on.

"I...I...I....." Nick stopped to help clear his voice and release all sobs that were escaping his mouth.

"I love you," he said slowly and unsure if what he was doing was the right thing. "I've been feeling this way since the first day we met. You're just it for me, no one else. You've changed my life. Somehow you got me thinking about things in such a different way, ways I never knew existed! And...And I can't take it anymore!" Nick stood up to express his emotions better.

"I can't look at you without hurting so much, feeling so much for you, I could cry on end about it, but I won't let myself do it! You have to know now. Gosh, you're everything I've ever dreamed of, everything I've made up my dream girl to be in my head! And when I met you, you possessed it all, you were the last missing puzzle piece in my heart. And if only we could be together, we could show everyone just how right it fits." Nick grabbed my right hand slowly and joined it with his, showing our puzzle was completed.

I turned away from Nick and covered my face with my one free hand. I chewed on my lower lip as I felt tears escape my eyes, slowly and gently.

"Amanda...I'm so..." he choked. "I'm sorry. I'll take you home." I felt Nick slowly unclasp our hands, but I tugged on his index finger to stop him.

"Nick...Nick!" I stood up and walked towards his figure. "I can't believe you just said that. You have a way with words, to make the girl that loves you, cry. Nick, I..." I closed my eyes and brought my hands to his and brought them up to my heart. "I've been waiting for this moment for the past 16 years. I love you. I love you too Nick." I slowly opened my eyes and brought my lips to his. We belonged together, and now we finally were. We were together, and free to cry together, under the light of the moonlight and the flickering candles beside our figures. We were finally both happy.