The kids wanted to go to the beach first. It was warm and sunny and just what they needed. Daryl and Nikki slathered the kids with sunscreen and off they went with Carl. Carl was probably more overprotective than anyone, so Nikki and Daryl weren't worried.
"Let's go sit where the waves roll up to our feet," Daryl suggested.
"Are you sure that sitting in the sand won't hurt you?" Nikki figured she would always be worried about him being in pain.
"Nah. It'll be therapeutic." That was one of Pete's words that drove him mad when he first started therapy. But, he got it now.
Nikki held her arm around his waist and his arm was over her shoulder. He stumbled a few times, but recovered quickly each time. Nikki bit her tongue because she knew how important it was for him to see improvement rather than continued weakness. He sat down on his own, albeit with a groan.
"You're getting stronger, baby. You did so good!"
"I'm tryin', sweetheart. I know it's gonna take time, but I feel really good. C'mere. I need to put some sunscreen on your shoulders before ya burn."
Nikki stayed sitting in front of him and they watched the kids splash and squeal and laugh. She missed her baby, but the hurt was getting easier to bear. She had to live a good and happy life for the little one she never got to know. That baby lived with her in her heart and would get to live on through her, so it was important to Nikki to give it her all and live the best life possible.
"Whatcha thinkin' about, sweet girl?" Daryl had an idea. He and Nikki could almost read one another's mind by now.
"Just how happy I am. There was a time that I never thought I'd have this. I kind of wish I could go back and tell that broken girl just how good things are going to turn out. To just stay strong and keep fighting because it's all worth it."
"I can't wait for our ceremony. I want the world to know that you're my everything. Which reminds me," Daryl dug around in the little pocket in his swim trunks. He pulled out a ring and slipped it on her left ring finger. "I know we ain't doin' the traditional wedding stuff, but it didn't feel right for ya not to have a ring. I thought that being at the beach was kinda romantic, even with the kids. I love ya, Nik. I can't wait to spend the rest of my life with ya."
Nikki gazed at the ring it was just beautiful
"Oh my Daryl it's just beautiful" Nikki sobbed
"Magna helped I can't take all the credit , the woman in the shop told me it represents 2 souls becoming one , it's um damn my memory is still terrible bare with me" Daryl sighed as he reached into his jacket pocket that was lying next to him
Memory issues was another side effect from the coma , it was also the only side effect that seemed to bother Daryl he could cope with the wheelchair issues and the partial hearing loss , but he had always pride himself with how good his memory use to be .
Nikki could see he was getting upset as he read the paper .
"Hey baby it's ok" she soothed
"Just um yea wanted it to be romantic"
Nikki grabbed his hand
"Daryl this is just perfect it really is , now read the note to me I love you so much and I wanna know what it said"
Daryl brushed away his tears and read the paper
"It's 18ct white gold with a black heart diamond in the middle , representing our souls together"
Nikki leant over and pulled him into a passionate kiss
"I love this so much and I love you"
An hour later they were snuggled up on the beach, watching the kids play with dog when RJ ran over
"We hungry can we get food" he pleaded
Nikki stood up
"Shall I get us some burgers"
"Yes , yes" RJ squealed
Daryl passed her his wallet
"Take Carl with ya I'll keep an eye on the kids"
"You sure your gonna be ok" Nikki asked him
Daryl squeezed her hand
"I won't move from this spot can't anyway , Judith and RJ will be ok and dog is here with us, we're gonna be absolutely fine"
Nikki beckoned Carl over and they headed off to get the burgers
Whilst they were away Judith and RJ sat with there uncle they didn't want to leave him alone, just in case .
"Um uncle Daryl I don't want to upset you but can I ask you a question" Judith asked
Daryl wrapped his arm around her
"Ya can never upset me"
"Um ok so you know the wheelchair how long um are you um" she then stopped and started to cry
"Hey Judi listen don't get upset ,I'm ok"
"But mom and dad they said when you were taken they did nasty things to you they gave you these drugs that made your body sick, well they didn't tell me I overheard them I just what if you Um never walk again" she then broke into heart breaking tears
RJ Also started to cry , Daryl wrapped his other arm around him
When they had pacified a little Daryl pulled them both into him
"Hey I get it's scary for ya , but I'm here, I'm alive with ya I get to sit and watch ya play on the beach have fun with dog, we get to eat burgers together and have so much fun, ma back is practically healed, it's just ma coordination is a lil loopy"
"What coord thingy" RJ asked
"So coordination is the thing that helps ya balance at the moment mine doesn't work like it should when I try and walk I feel like I'm gonna fall , but Pete he's doing these exercises with me helping me to get stronger so one day I may walk again , but I want ya both to know something"
They both looked at Daryl and nodded
"No matter what happens I'm still ya uncle Daryl , I still love ya so damn much and if I have to use a wheelchair forever we can still have fun just have to find other ways to do it , but don't ya worry about me ok, I could of died but I didn't I fought through it and I'm gonna become ya auntie Nikki's soulmate for life , life is good we just have to embrace the good times and fight our way through the bad"
Judith and RJ leant into Daryl again and gave him the biggest cuddle ever
"We love you uncke Daryl" they whispered
"Love ya both two more than ya could know" Daryl whispered back.
