Take me back into the arms I love Need me like you did before Touch me once again And remember when There was no one that you wanted more...
...I'll be waiting for you Here inside my heart I'm the one who wants to love you more You will see I can give you Everything you need Let me be the one to love you more
See me as if you never knew Hold me so you can't let go Just believe in me I will make you see All the things that your heart needs to know...
...And some way All the love that we had Can be saved Whatever it takes We'll find a way
Believe in me I will make you see All the things that your heart Needs to know...
-To Love You More, by Celine Dion (CD: Let's Talk About Love)
Nick sat in his living room, staring out the large picture window, the glare of the sun not bothering him. He couldn't believe he'd let her leave again. It had taken him six months to find her, and he'd just let her walk out again! He couldn't believe it... he felt like such an idiot.
He pondered the thought of going to her house - after all, he now knew where she lived. But what would he say? And what would happen if Peter answered the door? Maybe he was being cowardly though, maybe it didn't matter if Peter answered the door. Nick could take him, anyway. But did he really want to? Why cause even more pain for Natalie?
Nick sighed as he stood and headed into the kitchen to make something to eat. He just wanted another chance at being the love of her life.
~ * ~
...Once we were one mind Drifting in one time And ever true We were friends But something has gone from my Picture of this life
If we could only see Like we did before We became imprisoned Can I reopen the door
You say it doesn't matter Then tell me what does And why that isn't what You've been thinking of You say it's never easy Then tell me what was Is it never worth the pain Could you believe it was When life keeps living That's what life keeps giving To us...
-Us, by Celine Dion (CD: Let's Talk About Love)
Nick stopped stirring the chicken noodle soup when there was a knock at the door. He wondered who it could be at midnight. Walking through the living room and into the entryway, Nick opened the door and came face to face with Natalie again. His breath stopped in his throat. What was she doing here? She was supposed to be with Peter. Peter wasn't supposed to let her go walking outside at midnight, by herself. Nick couldn't help but think how much of a prick Peter really was.
"Nat," Nick croaked, opening the door farther and letting her in. He felt like a preadolescent boy again. He felt like a schoolboy with a little crush. He felt silly... and he felt confused. Why was Nat standing in his living room again?
"Nick, can we talk?" Natalie's eyes grew wet with tears as she lowered in head in embarrassment.
Nick reached out and took her cold hand in his, "Of course," he led her down to the den and sat down with her on the warm couch.
"I just..." her face contorted with emotion again, and Nick prayed she wouldn't cry... but she did. "I just wanted to apologize for what happened between us last night. I'm sorry. I shouldn't have done what I'd done, I was just caught up in old emotion, and it was wrong of me..."
...Livin' might be takin' chances But they're worth takin' Lovin' might be a mistake But it's worth makin'...
-I Hope You Dance, Lee Ann Womack
"Old emotion? Nat... I..." he paused, catching his tongue. "...don't know what to say."
Nat whimpered as she bent her head and rested it on her knees, her arms shielding it. Nick sighed and ran his hand up and down her back, trying, in some small way, to soothe an ounce of her pain.
"Just say something..." Nat urged, looking up at him again. "Just don't make me think that I've hurt you. Please, I couldn't handle that."
Nick didn't know how to answer. He was hurt. How could she sleep with him, make him feel hope again, and then just take them from him all over again?? He shook his head, indicating that there was no way to answer her. Natalie stood to leave and gasped quietly when she felt Nick's hand grab her arm. He gently pulled her back to the couch.
"Don't go, Nat... I can't tell you that you didn't hurt me, I'd be lying. But I can beg you not to do this again! Please... don't leave," he spoke slowly, deliberately, firmly.
Now she was rendered speechless. How do you answer to that? She had to go back home to Peter... didn't she? Or maybe she didn't. Maybe she could just stay here, say 'screw this' to the way she was living now, to Peter... and live happily ever after with Nick. She almost laughed out loud... was she fooling herself or what?
"I gotta go home, Nick," Nat whispered apologetically... she didn't know if she was sorry for Nick for having to leave him again, or if she was sorry for herself for having to leave him again... she figured it was both. How could she leave this man that she was still so deeply in love with? How could she go back to the man that had practically killed her, so many times before? But more importantly, how could she go back to the man who had killed her emotionally, spiritually, mentally? What was so odd to her was the fact that Nick, the man she was in love with, had done just the same a year ago. But a year ago suddenly didn't matter to her. What mattered to her was the here, the now... the present. The fact that, in all actuality, her life was in danger! And she had a way of escaping that... of finding refuge... that way was Nick. Her whole life future could be determined with the answer to just one question. "Nick, what makes you think you can give me any more than what Peter can give?"
Nick's eyebrows rose slowly. He didn't exactly know what she meant. See... Nick wasn't the richest man in the world. In fact, he'd been having a very hard time paying for the house, that Natalie and him had shared, lately. He'd been thinking of selling it... of moving into an apartment. Peter, on the other hand, was well off, with a nicely sized house, a beautiful sports car, and a nice paying job. Material-wise, Nick couldn't give much at all to Natalie, compared to what Peter had to offer. But he could love her more than life itself. He'd had so much love built up inside of him, for Natalie, since she'd left... and he just wanted to show her that. He wanted the opportunity to give her that gift.
"I don't have much, Nat," tears welled in Nick's eyes as he spoke. "I'm not even financially stable right now. I can't buy you a new car, or even a 2 carrot diamond ring for an anniversary... but I want to love you, I do love you, I want to show you that. That's what I can give that Peter can't... and I know that doesn't seem like much, and I'm so sorry, because if I could I would give you the world. You have to believe me when I tell you that. I would give you everything money could buy, and then some. I'm so sorry tha-"
"Nick," Natalie's eyes were wide, and slowly a smile formed on her mouth. "Your first sentence was good enough... because you might not 'have much'... but Peter has nothing. Especially compared to you."
Nick's eyes filled with tears as he pulled Natalie into his arms and held her there, never wanting to let go. And he didn't intend to any time soon.
Ohh, no...
I hope the man upstairs isn't mad at me 'Cause I have one of his angels And she's here with me Each time I see her precious smile And she spreads her wings It takes me to a place where love meets eternity
Oh no (Oh no) I'm not letting go (Letting go) I don't want to be alone in this crazy world (Oh...) Oh no (Oh no) I love her so (I love her so) And I'll sacrifice it all to have her in my life...
I found my girl I'll tell the world That heaven is missing an angel
My dreams came true (Came true, came true) When I found you Yes, heaven (heaven) is missing (missing yeah) an angel (angel...)
Not a day goes by that I don't thank God for you He blessed me with my angel though I don't deserve you Before I met you, girl, lonely was my best friend Now that you are in my life I am stronger within I can't wait to kiss my angel late at night And watch her go to sleep until I see her eyes...
I found my girl I'll tell the world (Ohh, baby) That heaven is missing an angel (Missing an angel)
My dreams came true (My dreams came true, ohh) When I found you Yes, heaven (heaven) is missing (is missing) an angel (an angel)
All that I do is for you Me without you, girl, just won't do (Oh, no no) You're love's all I wanna know Angel, don't you ever go Life won't be the same without you you you you you...
I found my girl (Oh oh, yeah!) I'll tell the world (Ohh, yeah) That heaven (heaven) is missing (is missing) an angel (an angel)
My dreams came true (Ohhh, yeah) When I found you (I found my love in you) Yes, heaven (yeah) is missing (woah) an angel (baby, yeah)
I found my girl (And ohhh no) I'll tell the world (I love her so) That heaven is missing an angel (I don't wanna be alone in this crazy world)
My dreams came true (And ohhh no) When I found you (I'm not letting go, no) Yes, heaven (I'll sacrifice...) is missing (...everything) an angel (don't take her away... ohhh yeah)
-Heaven Is Missing An Angel, by 98 Degrees
