At the small lunch area, Angie, Brian and Aj were seated. After they ordered, the began to talk about the trip and everything that had been happening.
The subject of Nick and Claire came up and Brian asked what had made her so upset that day. Since Brian was one of Claire's good friends, Angie told him.
"Wow, that is just .. so horrible. So what is happening now?" he asked.
"Well, we called the police and someone is going to be watching her apartment. Also there is a retraining order against him." Angie said.
"Yeah, but I doubt that will stop him." Aj said. Angie nodded, "Yeah I know."
Brian coughed, "Yeah, but I mean, what now? Is she going to have to live the rest of her life hoping he doesn't break the restraining order?" he asked shaking his head, "That's not right."
Angie sighed and wondered to herself, what would happen now?
Back in the park, Claire sat for awhile going through everything that her and Nick had been through together. The first date, the emergency room, the paint fight, every day he picked her up to see her after college, how she became his girlfriend, just everything.
Claire thought back to the night it all happened...
They had been in the middle of watching Casablanca when Claire blurted out, "How come there is no romance or real gentlemen left in the world?"
Nick flicked off the movie and turned on the soft rock channel on his sound system. He put one arm behind his back and extended a hand out to Claire.
"May I have this dance?" he asked politely.
Claire smiled and grabbed his hand, "Yes, you may."
They began swaying back and forth to the music on the radio, and Claire couldn't help but smile.
"Okay, so there are some real gentlemen and romance left in the world." she said.
Nick smiled and held on to her closely. As they danced, Claire knew how lucky she was to have a relationship like she did, with Nick. The song ended and there was a comfortable silence in the room as they kept swaying.
"What can I do to make you mine? Falling so hard, so fast, this time. What did I say? What did you do? How did I fall in love with you..." Nick sang softly into her ear.
Claire smiled and lifted her head to look Nick in the eyes. He looked deeply into her eyes before he leaned down and kissed her gently on the lips.
Claire pulled from the memory and realized that Nick had been there for her and loved her since day one of their friendship. When she realized this, she got up and started running ... to find Nick.
She slowed down when she saw him throwing pebbles into a pond nearby. Claire walked over quietly and when Nick saw her, he stopped throwing pebbles and he brushed his hands off. He stuck them in his pockets and looked out to the misty air of Montana.
"Nick, I am so sorry. And I don't mean for just what happened. I mean for everything. Any fight we have ever had is my fault. I have done so many things wrong." she said.
Nick looked at her, "No you haven't. It takes two people to have a fight. Don't take all the blame."
"But I really am sorry. I don't know why I can't say those three words, but when I try to they catch in my throat. Anytime I have said them before, the person said it back ... but never meant it." she said.
"So do you think I don't love you?" he asked in a soft voice.
"No, no. I know you do. I don't know what it is. It's just hard to forget the past when it keeps arising." she said.
Nick nodded, "It's okay, I understand and I am sorry I haven't been more considerate. But you also have to remember something. This relationship has had a lot of ups and downs lately, because of you being too secretive. As long as you don't act like that again, I guess I will take you back." he said serious until the 'I guess I will take you back' part.
Claire laughed, "So, are you my one and only again?" she said in a corny voice.
"Have I ever not been?" he asked.
Claire laughed and Nick kissed her softly, "We need to stop being so corny." he said.
Claire nodded in agreement and they started walking back towards the main gates to meet up with Brian, Angie and Aj.
