Nick's lips were soft against her breast as he lazily rubbed them across her skin. His hair was damp and his cheeks were still flushed from his recent exertions.

Kelly had never seen him look more beautiful.

Their lovemaking today had been different than ever before. Maybe it was because they both knew it was their goodbye but it had been slow and sweet, passionate and breathtaking all at once. They had taken their time and thoroughly enjoyed every second of being together, on top of each other, inside each otherand now, as they lay basking in the afterglow of the most awe-inspiring sex either of them had ever imagined, there were no words to describe what they were feeling.

So none were said.

It wasn't until well after dusk that Nick began to feel the clock ticking away against their favor and he began to nervously expect her departure at any time. His arms were wrapped around her, one behind her neck, the other thrown across her stomach and as he was hit with the force of his realization, he tightened his grasp and pulled her closer to him.

"So what happens now to you I mean do you like go to heaven and wait for me or what ?"

He had a small smile on his face because he knew he made it sound so simple but for the first time he wasn't thinking about himself, he was worried about what would happen to her.

Kelly smiled back at him. "Something like that, yeah."

They were quiet for a moment before she continued, feeling that he was finally ready to hear what she had to say and understand it.

"I'll actually wait until it's time for me to come back".

At that, Nick raised his head and propped himself on an elbow. She could see the confusion in his wrinkled brow.

"Since it wasn't my time, my soul will come back--be put in another body."

Nick's eyes widened at her words but she didn't want to give him false hopes.

"But I won't remember this life, baby. I won't have any memory of it. They're going to wipe all of these beautiful memories away. I won't remember you." Her voice had become quiet with regret at having to tell him how cruel a hand they had been dealt.

"You won't remember me ?"

Nick's voice cracked with sadness as he spoke and Kelly had to look away as she shook her head.

"Try to understand NickI'll be somebody else, with a different life and different friends. I'll look different and act different. Even if I was standing in front of you, you wouldn't know it was me."

Silence.

"I would know."

Kelly looked up into his eyes at the sound of his strained voice, almost expecting to see him on the verge of tears but what she saw instead was a serious gaze, set with determination.

"You think you would but you wouldn'tand neither would I. Don't get your hopes up Nick, because it's not going to happen baby" her fingers brushed a stray hair off his forehead and he looked down, away from the deep captivating gaze he loved so much.

He shook his head slightly. "You mean to tell me that if I was standing in front of you, you wouldn't feel this ? What we have ?" His pointed his index finger back and forth between them. "Your heart wouldn't start beating all fast and your stomach wouldn't become one big nervous knot ?"

He brought his eyes back up to hers. "I know I would feel it Kel. I don't care what you looked likeI would know. I just know I would."

Kelly couldn't help but smile at his optimism and overwhelming confidence in the bond between them. Yes, her heart rate doubled whenever he was around, sometimes even before she knew he was there but this was different and she just couldn't be as sure as he was.

She sighed slightly and smiled while her eyes watched her fingers gently rub his pouting bottom lip. There was no point in arguing, why ruin the moment.

"I love you Nick."

"Me too babygirl." He tilted his head down so his forehead rested on hers. "Me too."

Nick closed his eyes to control the emotions he was feeling. His mind was confused yet his heart was at ease. He knew she had to leave but she had promised him forever and he knew she wouldn't break that promise. He knew her better, she wouldn't have made it if she couldn't keep it. Now all he had to do was go on, always knowing that she'd be waiting for him. He was losing her now but even when she left he'd have something to look forward tothe day when she'd come back.

"Let's go to the rocks." Kelly quietly announced. "I want to watch the sunrise with you. Can we ?"

Nick's eyes opened and raised to hers which were only inches away. "Anything you want babygirl. I'm all yours."

He kissed her tenderly and felt her smile against his lips. He loved making her smile, it meant he made her happy and he couldn't help but smile himself at the thought.

They were quiet as they threw on some clothes only smiling at each other when one happened to catch the other's eye and Nick was still tugging a black wifebeater down around him as he held out his hand and they left the room.

The sound of the waves greeted them as he slid the door open, then closed it behind them. Kelly stopped and looked momentarily up at the dark sky, full of twinkling lights. She closed her eyes and took a deep breath. Nick just admired her with a soft smile on his face, she looked beautiful in the muted light, especially with the pink flush on her cheeks that he had put there and her soft hair blowing in the warm ocean breeze.

Nick was still studying her features in the dim reflection of the moon when he felt the wind pick up and become chilly. Kelly opened her eyes and stared out into the water. Her look had changed, become serious, and Nick immediately felt uneasy.

"What is it baby, you ok ?" He squinted toward the ocean trying to find what had her so captivated but couldn't focus on anything out of the ordinary. He walked up to her and just before touching her skin, she snapped out of her trance.

"Maybe I should go to the rocks alone."

Nick's heart sank. What was she saying ? She had just asked him to go with her, why would she want to go alone anyway ?

"What ? No, I'll come with you baby come on, let's go."

He nervously grabbed her hand and started making his way down the steps but stopped short when his arm jerked back. She hadn't moved from her spot and he suddenly realized what was wrong. His head slowly dropped down as his eyes closed.

Kelly's smile was sad yet sweet. "No Nicky, I should go alone."

It took a moment for him to figure out what it was he was feeling. There were so many jumbled emotions running through his head that he wasn't quite sure whether to smile at the time they had been able to spend together or cry at the thought of her departure so he did what he knew would calm him enough to be able to handle it all. He opened his eyes and found hers.

Her calm overtook him and, without ever breaking eye contact, he turned, walked up the two steps to where she stood and gently grazed his long fingers against her hairline. He smoothed back the rebellious strands that were being swept in her face and brought his lips to hers in a painfully slow way. They stayed that way, with their eyes closed tight and their lips pressed together for a long moment and when he finally pulled away he wrapped her in a huge hug and kissed her forehead.

"I love you." His voice was barely a whisper but Kelly heard him loud and clear.

"Forever."

He pulled his face back at the whispered reminder of her promise and saw it in her eyes. It was going to be alright. He would miss her like crazy but in the end it would be ok.

Her eyes never lied, they would be together again.

With soft matching smiles on their faces, she slowly walked away from him, keeping their eyes fixed on each other to memorize every last detail. When she reached the sand her smile grew. She slowly raised her hand to her mouth and brushed the inside of her fingers with her lips in a kiss to him. She then turned her hand and silently waved.

Nick fought every muscle in his body to keep from running to her as he watched her turn and begin walking out into the dark of the night, but he couldn't fight the burn behind his eyes or the ball in his throat.

The breeze had stopped.

She was gone again.