Sad, bloodshot blue met surprised wide-eyed brown and for a moment Nick thought he had gone through with it and was already dead.


"Nick what are you doing ? No !" Kelly yelled as she leapt toward him on the floor to see how much damage he'd done.


There was blood running down his hands and arms and it was difficult to see where the skin was actually broken but Nick could have cared less. Kelly had grabbed a towel and wet it and was slowly wiping his arms and hands while he stared at her open-mouthed. He still hadn't said a word.


"You're gonna be ok, you hear me baby ? I'll make sure you're alrightcome here, let me see your other hand". Her voice was soft and caring as she tended to him and he still couldn't believe what he was seeing. He had seen her in the hospital bed, connected to so many machines he couldn't even count them. He had been there when her heart had given out and the monitor had flatlined. He had picked out her casket and watched as she was buried in it. She was dead and as far as he could tell, he wasn't. This couldn't be happening.


"Thank goodness." Kelly whispered with a sigh as she finished cleaning him up and realized the blood had come mostly from the slashes on his fingers. She pressed the towel against the cuts, checking every few minutes to see if the flow of blood had stopped. Her eyes were fixed on the task, she hadn't looked at him yet.


They were still in their same positions ten minutes later with Nick sitting numbly on the hard tile floor and Kelly kneeling before him tending to his cuts. He let her take care of him much like a mother would her child and his eyes were focused on what she was doing, only occasionally looking up to her face in wonder.


She diligently finished her task by tightly wrapping a band-aid around each finger. When she was done she simply stared down at his huge hand in her small ones.


"Why would you do this Nick ?" Her voice was so quiet and hurt that his recently dry eyes began to burn again.


He couldn't manage anything but a strained, "I don't know".


Her hand squeezed his and her eyes shut tight at the thought of the pain he must have been feeling. This was unfair. It was so unfair.


"Baby ?" his voice cracked slightly. She hadn't looked him in the eye yet and he needed her to. He needed to see that it was really her kneeling before him. "Babygirl ?"


What seemed like a long moment passed before she looked up at him but when she did there was no doubt in his mind. The depth of love in her eyes was there like it always had been and her gaze steadily met his with the familiar warmth he had grown to depend on.


A strangled gasp left Nick's lips as he abruptly leaned forward and pulled her into his arms.


"I thought you were gone." He choked out. "That I'd never see you againGod, I was so scared baby…You left me, I was so alone."


As much as Kelly wanted to cry, she couldn't. She had to be strong for him and help him get through this. She had to help him move on.


"Shhh, Nickyit's ok babyI'm here now, it's ok." Her voice was quiet and caring as she held him close and rhythmically stroked his unruly hair. Slowly, his sobs subsided until all that could be heard was an occasional sniffle and it was then that his body tensed in her arms. He pulled his head away in order to look her in the eyes. His favorite thing to doto get lost inside her warm, loving gaze. Somehow he couldn't hide his confusion when he saw a hint of sadness there.


Kelly didn't say anything as she watched the play of emotions on his face. She knew he was stumped by what he was experiencing. That made two of them.


"You're herereally here" Nick whispered as the tips of his long fingers grazed the side of her face.


"Yeah, I am."


"Wha ? I saw you Kel" he looked so lost as he stuttered. "Iit was you lying thereI saw you. I'm not going crazy, am I ?"


She sighed, "No baby, you're not."


"Well then" He stared at her waiting for a response.


Kelly looked away briefly before meeting his eyes again. A sad smile tinged her lips as she stood up and held her hand down to him. "Not now."


That statement really confused Nick but he didn't say a word as he took her hand and let her hoist him to his feet. She pulled him into the bedroom and stood facing him for a long, quiet moment. Her eyes followed her fingertips as they slid from his hairline, down to his lips, and led a delicate path down his chest to the hem of his t-shirt. This was a bit surreal for her too and she wanted to memorize every bit of him while she still could.


His scrawny chin stubble, his slight double chin, his soft and unchiseled mid-section. He had always been perfect in her eyesimperfections and all.


She played with the fabric for a second before sliding her hands underneath to touch his skin and pull his shirt upwards. Nick lifted his arms and let her remove the blood-splattered material, smirking suggestively when she finally had it off. Kelly just shook her head with a smilea one track mind, he'd never change.


Without a word she dressed him in a clean shirt and tangled her fingers through his again in order to lead him downstairs and outside. Nick squinted when the bright afternoon sun washed over them and Kelly just closed her eyes and faced the warmth for a minute. He moved closer to her and she felt his hand drop hers just before feeling his arms wrap around her waist from behind. He kissed the top of her head and then settled his cheek against her hair. That very innocent gesture made her heart soar.


That was all she had ever really needed, she knew that now. To feel the warmth of the Florida sun on her face and the warmth of Nick's body against her back. It was funny how things seem so simple all of a sudden.


Simple? Who was she kidding?


With a silent sigh of regret, Kelly opened her eyes and pulled away from Nick's body with a smile, holding out her hand much as she had done before. Without question Nick took it and proceeded to follow her again, this time down to the sand. He knew where she was taking them now so he picked up the pace and walked beside her, slightly swinging their joined hands back and forth out of sheer happiness.


She was walking right next to him. Kelly was by his side again.