1" I want you to come back for me."

The words echoed through Madison's mind.

Had she just made a huge mistake? Did he think that she sounded too desperate?

There were too many unanswered questions. All of it made her head spin.

So, as Madison sat in the Rock Porium after closing, she tried to push the scene out of her mind, if she could.

She pulled the red blanket closer to her. It smelled like spices, a comforting scent. The torn, tattered piece of cloth was a reminder that Nick would come back for her.

" I want you to come back for me."

Everything was finally in it's place.

He had his parents, he had plenty of family, his mother, father, Clare, his adoptive parents, sister.

And Briarwood was full of people who cared about him.

People admired him, trusted him, as a hero of the town. All five of them for that matter.

Yet, all the admiration only mattered coming from a small group of people. His friends, mates as Xander put it, and his family. Though, now they were all like family. It didn't matter if there was blood relation or not.

His adoptive family had always loved him, and they were still family. And now he had the chance to tell the everything.

But for a time, he had to leave behind those that had become his family, including her.

It wasn't that he automatically singled her out, but she was the one that stuck out in his mind. She was the one who would do anything for her friends. She was the one who cared, cared without inhibitions, fear. She just cared.

And she wanted him to come back for her. Even if Briarwood was boring and empty, there was a glint in her eye that made it worthwhile, that gave him the courage to want to try.

To try to be better, to build a reputation to be proud of, and to care about others.

So, he decided he would come back for her.

Because for Nick , everything wasn't completely in its place until he was back home.

And home is with a girl in blue, surrounded by friends.

So, three months later, it was just another day for Maddie. She was sitting in the store, holding onto the red blanket as tightly as ever, while day dreaming.

Nick had called four times in the past three months. It was crazy how she found herself wishing to hear his voice. It's not as if she'd known him for that long, but there was something about him that left her wanting more.

And so, when suddenly, the sound of a motorcycle broke the hum of the summer air, Madison jumped up and ran out the door.

But it wasn't him.

"Looking for someone?" A voice said behind her.

"Nick!"Maddie said, "Don't scare me like that!"

Nick only laughed at her startled reaction.

Soon, she had to laugh to, it was all so ridiculous.

"Yes, I was looking for you.", she said, with a glimmer of hope in her eyes.

"So, is there any particular reason you'd be looking for me?", Nick answered back, a teasing tone in his voice.

"Well, I don't know, you see, there's this guy. And he said he'd come back for me, and I've been waiting a pretty long time, almost three months. I really like him, but he's hardly spoken a word to me since he left. Any advice?"

"Hmmmm. I don't know. Sounds like a pretty tough situation to me.", Nick said humorously. Suddenly, his demeanor changed, " I didn't mean to ignore you all, I just... got caught up in everything, seeing my adoptive parents again, explaining the story to them. I wish I had called more often."

" I think I can forgive you.", she said sweetly.

And then, it all clicked. He was home. Because as Madison leaned up on her tiptoes to kiss him, only one thing crossed his mind, "I had to come back for her."