Empty mattress.

Nick's eyes shot open and his heart sped up in his chest as he awoke and realized he was in bed alone.

"Kel ? Baby ?"

He was out of bed in an instant, slinging only a loose pair of running pants onto his hips as he walked out of the room.

"Kel ? Kelly ?"

Silence.

No, not yet. She couldn't be gone yet. There were still so many things he wanted to do and say. His legs picked up their pace as he flew down the stairs.

"KELLY !"

Nothing. All that he could hear was the sound of his heavy breathing in his own ears.

She wouldn't leave like that. Without saying goodbye ?

No, he knew her better. His head snapped from side to side as he continued his frantic walk through the house, his pant legs threatening to trip him.

"Come on babywhere are you ?" he mumbled to himself as he went, "come on come on".

He was rapidly losing all hope of ever seeing her again when he stopped short in the living room just inside the sliding glass doors. There on the deck, she stood with a complete aura of calm that even made Nick relax a little despite the distance. She leaned against the railing with her face looking up at the sun, her eyes closed and a small smile on her lips. She looked like the angel she was.

Nick leaned his forehead against the cool glass in whispered prayer. "Oh God, thank you."

He didn't waste anymore time and stepped outside to be with her. He accepted the fact she would have to leave but he'd be damned if he didn't spend every moment she had left there by her side.

At the sound of the glass doors sliding open, Kelly turned to face him. He looked beautiful with his hair all tousled and a slight pink glow over his tanned cheeks. Their previous day of lovemaking in the sun had done him a world of good and she couldn't help but smile as he squinted into the bright light.

"Your pants are falling."

It was a silly observation, of course he knew they were falling, but she felt like being silly at that moment. The last thing she wanted to do was sound depressing.

Nick looked down his bare chest and smirked when he saw the elastic revealing the beginnings of dark blonde hair which led downward to his most private areas. His pants really were threatening to fall off.

"I thought you'd like that. Less effort for you to take em off". His voice was playful as he sauntered closer and pressed his body close against hers.

He kissed her sweetly on the lips, making sure to take his time and savor the taste of herfirst her bottom lip, then the top one. His hands slid slowly down her back and pressed her even closer to him as they gently massaged her rear while his tongue delicately licked at her lips between kisses.

Kelly could feel him growing by the second and once again felt the need to be silly.

"Ow, what'd the hell did you do that for ?" Nick complained as he sucked in his bottom lip which she had just bitten.

"You have such a one track mind, babydo you ever think about anything else ?"

That caused a pout.

"What's wrong with a one track mind ?" he practically purred, "One track minds can be very good, don't ya think ?"

Kelly couldn't help but giggle at how far out he could push his bottom lip.

"Kiss da boo-boo ?"

She all out laughed at his impersonation of a five year old.

"Come here my baby." She cooed. "Let me kiss and make it better."

Nick's grin seemed to radiate even more than the sun at having her attentions but Kelly didn't let him get too carried away. When their kisses became more intense, she pulled back.

"Come. Walk with me." She suggested while tugging on his hand.

"Do we have to ?" he whined, not really bothered in the least by her suggestion. If he was lucky, maybe they'd spend the day making love on their rocky alcove again. At any rate it didn't matter, he'd happily walk around in circles with her if she wanted. They made their way to the sand.

Nick had sloppily rolled up his pants as they walked along the shoreline, their feet sloshing in the shallow waves. The weather was perfect and there wasn't a cloud to be seen in the sky. They kicked water at each other and threw shells into the blue-green expanse before them. They chased each other and played like children until they were out of breath and tired from the strong midday sun. They both laughed at their childish antics but the entire morning had been a reflection of their time together. It was full of genuine happiness and smiles.

They were walking back toward the house just staring down at the sand, hand in hand, when Kelly broke their content silence.

"I have to go soon."

Nick let out a heavy sigh, "I know."

While the thought saddened him deeply, he didn't seem quite so distraught anymore. Somehow having her there beside him, talking about her departure so calmly, made the burden a bit easier to bear. He looked up at her with big sad eyes.

"When ?"

"Soon."

They had reached the house but stopped on the sand to face each other. Nick brought his hand up to smooth back the strands of hair that were being blown in her face by the breeze.

His voice was very quiet and cracked with emotion. "I don't want you to leave me."

"I won't." Kelly smiled at him confidently and he couldn't help but smile back.

"How can you say that liar." He teased but with a hint of sadness.

Kelly shook her head as her smile remained on her lips. She gazed into his unhappy eyes and shared her most recent revelation with him.

"I may have to go but that doesn't mean I'm leaving you, baby. I love youI made a promise to love you forever and I won't break it." It was her turn to graze her fingertips across his flawless cheek. "I'll always be yours"

"Forever ?"

"Forever."

Under normal circumstances his hug could have suffocated her but at that moment she didn't mind. She wanted to memorize the feel of his strong arms around her. She wanted to memorize all of him if possible. Every last detail so she could take the memory of him with her vividly. And apparently he was doing the same. His hands were slowly dragging up and down her spine as he pressed her close to his body, making sure he could feel every last inch of her against him.

"Nick ?"

"Yeah baby ?"

He pulled his face back to look at her and saw her eyes were dark and playful. He knew what that mischievous look meant.

"What's on your mind ?" her voice was as teasingly innocent as her smile.

Nick couldn't contain his sideways smirk. "Guess."

"Race you." She took off running towards the house before even getting the words out.