Fate

Starting Over

The next week I was allowed out of the hospital. Chase and Brice never left my side. They were afraid that I would run into someone and get mugged or something. I guess with my apparent bad history, that's not such a bad idea. And you can guess who volunteered to go shopping with me when I declared the need for clothes other than hospital gowns.

"What about this?" I asked, holding up a floor length teal dress.

"With these shoes?" Chase asked, holding up a pair of black ballet flats.

"CUTE!" we said at the same time.

I took the clothes up to counter and paid for them. Chase and I milled around the mall a bit longer trying to find some clothes for Brice. Once we were finished we had about 20 bags. Half were mine.

"You girls have fun?" Brice asked when we got back to the apartment.

"Yeah," I heaved, seating my ten bags on the floor.

Chase handed Brice his bags and took hers to her room, and Brice took his to his room. He came back holding the 'I'm with her' t-shirt me Chase had found. I stood next to him, on the side that the arrow was pointing. "Oh, I see. I'm with you- Wait, what?" he asked. 

I smiled and stood on my tiptoes so I could reach his lips. He put his arms around my waist, and I put mine around his neck. I wrapped my legs around his waist has he pulled me closer.

"Does this mean you remember?" Brice asked, out of breath.

"No, but it means I'd like to start over."

He smiled and kissed me again.

"Jace?" I heard someone call from the doorway.

I jerked away from Brice. "Yeah?" I asked, scratching my head.

"Oh no, don't let me interrupt. But do you remember?" Chase asked.

"She doesn't, no," Brice explained.

"Oh, well, Brice! Do you want me to put you clothes away? Or do you want to use your room for something?" Chase ventured.

"Chase!" I yelled.

She threw her hands up, "Sorry, sorry! I'll be in Brice's room if you need me."

As soon as she left Brice looked at me and said, "Now where were we?"

"Right about here," I whispered, leaning in.

Once again I felt the pressure of his arms on my waist lifting me up. He cradled me in his arms as I knotted my fingers in his hair.

"I love you. I always have," Brice murmured.

It all came back then. Everything. Cottonwood, the gang, the bacon, fleeing to Jamaica, everything.

"Brice!" I squealed.

"What?" he asked urgently. He set me gently on the floor.

"I remember!"

A look of pure joy crossed his face. He lifted me in the air and spun me around. He set me back down and settled his lips on mine for a brief kiss before yelling for Chase.

"What is it?" she came rushing in it a pair of wadded up underwear in her hand.

Brice and I laugh. "She remembers!"

"Really?" she asks in amazement.

"Really," I shriek.

"Oh, baby! Come here," she says, opening her arms.

I rush into them headlong. I felt her comforting warmth encircle me while I cry tears of joy. I will always remember today as one of the happiest days of my life.

I will never EVER forget. No matter what happens.