<footsteps.in.the.east.wing>

Nick opened his eyes but didn't move. The dizziness swept over him like a wave when he was surfing. He tried to talk, but thought otherwise.

"Do you want o sit up?" A voice asked him.

The voice was so sweet, and gentle he thought it had come from one of God's sent angels. He nodded as lightly as he could, trying not to make his condition worse.

Slowly someone helped him up. Finally he saw the voice that had belonged to his so-called Angel. "Sky..." His voice returned. Along with an awkward moment that always passed between the two.

"Where are we?" He asked.

"The east wing. We are safe here, at least until you are well."

He looked around, where was everyone else? He thought. He opened his mouth to speak but Sky put a finger to his lips, the way she use to when she wanted to speak. She smiled but let it linger for a few
moments extra letting to touch of his lips on her finger, be forever memorized.

"They are sleeping, in the next tiny room. We were taking turns watching over you."

Nick didn't know what to say. It was true the feelings he felt for Sky were boiling over his limitation right at that point. He looked at her hair and noticed a smudge of dirt on her cheek. Gently he lifted his hand to her face.

"You have some..."

He couldn't even finish his sentence. He rubbed the pad of his thumb lightly over her skin. She leaned into his hand and lifted her own to hold his.

"Nick I am so sorry about everything." She looked up at him, her eyes filled with tears, making them sparkle even more then they already did.

"I... I am too." He stuttered. What else could he say? He loved her from the moment he saw her, he wanted to die when she started to go out with AJ. That he was happy about... about their baby. He couldn't tell her any of that. He didn't want them to start over, he wanted it to finish.

Sky began to lead towards him and he towards her. If this were a kiss, then the whole thing would just start all over again.

His mind screamed at him. PULL AWAY! DON'T DO THIS! But his heart had a different suggestion. GO FOR IT! KISS HER! YOU KNOW YOU WANT TO!

Unfortunately his heart won.Their lips met in one quick motion. The feeling was still the same... maybe
even better, Nick thought.

Once they pulled away, Nick was out of breath. He looked into her eyes. The truth was going to come out whether he wanted to or not.

"This... us... is never going to end if we don't stop it." He whispered, their faces still centimeters apart.

"What if I don't want it to stop," Sky said breathlessly.

Nick groaned but kissed her again. "This has to stop Sky." He pleaded.

Sky pulled away angrily "Why Nick? Why must this stop? I want this to be so much more."

Nick tried hard to not give in. "Sky, there is so many things unresolved between us." He tried to look for an escape but to no avail he was held captive of her eyes.

"Like what Nick? It was all in the past. Let's just forget the past... and start a future."

Nick was silent. Would could he say to that? It was what he wanted for so long. He leaned toward her and grabbed at her waist pulling her in for a kiss. A kiss that would seal the promise. A kiss that held their future.

This was it...

Nick kissed Sky deeper than he ever had. He felt the softness of her body close to his. She was his for the taking. This was their time together. This was their bond... this was their start of a new beginning. Nick was lost into the night.

The next morning, Nick woke up to see BJ sitting next to him. "Where is Sky?" He asked with a yawn.

"She went to find something to eat."

Nick shot up ignoring the pain in his side. "What! She didn't leave the east wing did she?"

BJ shook her head. "No, she just walked into the back room."

Nick sighed

"Nick, why are you doing this?"

Nick gave his sister a puzzled look. "What?"

"Sky, she isn't right for you, I just have this feeling your going to be hurt again"

Nick had had the same doubts but put them off to enjoy last night. "What makes you think that." He smiled, hoping that it was believable.

"Nick... you're my big brother, I worry about you. And I can tell you right now that she isn't right for you." BJ looked towards an open door to see a hint of Sky's ponytail. Held up by a piece of string, which seemed like a good idea now that BJ noticed the heat.

"BJ don't worry, Last night was our promise." Nick smiled with a dreamy look.

"A promise of what Nick! That she will get pregnant again? That she will sleep with your best friend again? That she will use you again! Well Nick which is it?"

Nick stood up he towered over his sister a good six or seven inches. "None of those BJ, it was a promise of our love for each other."

BJ laughed. "Yeah right! She doesn't love you! All she loves is that thing in your pants! I knew that from day one. When she was dressed as a skank!"

Nick felt embarrassed and angry, how could his own sister behave that way? Nick raised his hand and slapped BJ across the face. He slapped her hard too; she fell to the floor, her hair covering her face.

Nick looked at his hand. His palm was red and was stinging. He was amazed at how he did that. He looked down at his sister. "BJ... I am so sorry... are you okay."

He looked up to see his brother, sisters and Sky watching him. "I didn't mean to, I really didn't" He touched BJ's shoulders, "BJ"

She shrugged him off and stood up. "I hope she hurts you again... worse this time, I hope you stay in the mental home for good." With that she walked away.

Sky walked over and hugged him. "You don't need her." He looked down at her; the truth was slowly shinning through.

BJ was right...

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>>>>>

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