A/N: And now the sequel to 'Love Is Your Color'. Enjoy!
Dreaming In Color
Chapter 1: The Chase
It was like it was haunting her. Every time Roxie came down the stairs she was greeted with that photo. It was a photo of she and Nick on their wedding day. They were smiling happily. Roxie sighed as she passed it and continued down to the kitchen. She found Sophia sitting in a high chair enjoying the green colored mush that Jillian was feeding her. Roxie sat down silently. She looked at her daughter who was enjoying her meal. Roxie picked up the jar on the table it was mashed peas. She watched her daughter closely. Roxie was grateful that Sophia was so young during all of this and that she wouldn't remember it.
"He called while you were napping." Jillian said looking at Roxie who simply shrugged. "It's been three weeks. You should at least talk to him."
When Roxie left she first went to a hotel and stayed there for a couple days. She knew she wanted to get away, but she didn't know where. The family that had been her adopted family was going through their own thing and had all gone back to Seattle for the time being. She had no one else. The only people she could think of were Nick's parents. They already knew she'd left when she called them desperate for a place to go and even though she'd left their son they still welcomed her with open arms. Roxie knew leaving wasn't forever, but she didn't quite know how to face what had happened. She wanted him to hold her, but at the same time she was still so angry.
Nick groaned as his alarm clock went off. He rolled over and looked to Roxie's side of the bed. It remained empty as it had for 3 weeks. The house was quiet without the laughter of Sophia. He hated every second of them being gone, but he was trying to respect Roxie's wishes, but it was getting hard. He needed his wife and daughter back. He knew he screwed up big time. He never knew that Roxie would just leave like that, but she had. He got out of bed and walked to find his phone. He considered calling into work. Tonight he just didn't feel like it. He hadn't seen the point in all of it. He then put his phone down. He needed to work. It was the only thing that kept him going or at least halfway functioning. He went into the bathroom and looked at himself in the mirror. His facial hair was growing out of control and his eyes were droopy. He shrugged and went to get dressed. He had no interest in anything. He walked into Sophia's room and picked up her blanket. He just sat there in the rocking chair that sat in the corner holding her blanket.
Roxie sat alone in the guest room she and Sophia shared. She just starred off at the wall with tears falling from her eyes. There was a knock on the door. She looked up to see Jillian walking in with a sleeping Sophia. Roxie watched as Jillian put Roxie into the bassinet next to the bed. Jillian then turned to Roxie.
"You really need to talk to him." Jillian said as she sat on the edge of the bed.
"And say what?" Roxie asked.
"That I don't know. I know he screwed up, but you need to forgive him. The two of you took vows." Jillian said.
"I know we did. I just don't know how to face him. It's hard… I just don't know." Roxie said as tears fell down her face. She quickly wiped them away.
"You know you and Sophia can stay here as long as you need to. Just maybe talk to him next time he calls." Jillian said as she stood and left Roxie alone.
Roxie looked over in the bassinet at her sleeping daughter. She didn't know what to do. She was at a complete loss. She picked up her cell phone and dialed a number.
"Hi Roxie!" the voice on the other line answered.
"Hey Finn." Roxie said.
"Hey how are things?" Finn asked.
"About the same." Roxie answered.
"Have you spoken to him at all?" Finn asked.
"No. He calls. I don't answer. He calls his parents and I don't accept the call." Roxie said. She felt guilty for doing him that way, but she didn't know what to say. What was there she could say.
"He's looking bad. I don't think he's shaved since you left. Everyone has been asking him what's up, but he just shrugs it off. You need to talk to him. He is just wasting away." Finn explained. Roxie hated hearing that. She hated hearing that he was taking it the way he was. She wiped away the tears that were falling down her face.
Nick walked into the little café. He looked around until he saw the person he was meeting. He spotted her and made his way through the café and sat down at the table in the empty chair. The woman had brunette hair and wore scrubs. She gave him a kind smile as he sat.
"I didn't expect you to actually accept my coffee invite." She said as she slid a cup of coffee across the table to him.
"I didn't feel like sitting at home." Nick said. "How are you Lauren?"
"I'm great. Just got off work as you can tell. Pretty slow night." Lauren said sweetly.
"Same here." Nick answered. He reached into his pocket and toyed around with something metal in his pocket. It was his wedding ring. He'd started to keep it in his pocket. After three weeks he was starting to doubt that Roxie would return.
"So you're growing a beard." She mentioned looking at him.
"Yeah. Really think I should shave it. It's getting a little rough." He said with a small laugh. It felt good to not think for a little bit. Thinking was all he seemed to do since Roxie left.
"Yeah maybe a little." Lauren said with a small laugh. She was flirting with him. He was enjoying the attention. He'd met Lauren months prior at the hospital when he'd saved that kid from his crashed car. She was a nurse.
"So umm… how's everything?" Nick asked. He was trying to make conversation. He didn't want to go home. At home all there was just memories of Roxie and Sophia. He then felt his phone vibrate in his pocket. He pulled it out. There was a name on the screen that made him stop breathing for a small moment. "Sorry I need to get this." He said. He then rushed out of the cafe to answer the call, but as soon as he made it outside through the crowds the phone had stopped ringing.
Roxie listened to the sound of his voicemail coming on. She ended the call and just sat there looking at her phone. She'd only hoped he would answer. Was he now doing to her what she'd been doing to him for so long? Had he ignored her call on purpose? She could only hope that wasn't the case. She knew she loved him and wanted him in her life. She inhaled deeply trying to keep her tears from falling.
Nick walked back into the café. He hated how he felt inside. He instantly felt guilty. He felt like just meeting Lauren for coffee was cheating on Roxie. Roxie didn't deserve that. He loved Roxie too much to hurt her in that way. He sat back down at the table and looked at Lauren.
"Lauren… I can't do this." He said at once. Lauren looked confused. "I'm married. Well legally I am. I really don't know where my marriage is right now. My wife… she left weeks ago. I accepted your invite because I wanted to feel something again other than the sadness I've felt since she left."
"Wow I didn't expect that." Lauren said.
"I'm sorry. I should have been truthful with you from the start. I've been screwing up recently." He said with a sigh.
"I'm glad you decided to be honest with me. If you need someone to talk to. I'm here." Lauren said sweetly. Nick was happy that he at least found a new friend in Lauren and that she was trying to understand. He felt like garbage for being out wither and for leading her on.
Nick went home to his cold house. He pulled out his phone and looked through his phonebook for a number. When he found it he dialed it. The line rang until a familiar voice answered.
"This is Catherine." The voice said.
"Hey Catherine it's me Nick. I hope it's not a bad time." He said as he sat on the couch. He picked up Sophia's teddy bear that sat there abandoned just like him.
"Hey Nicky no it's cool. What's up? How's the wife and baby?" she asked.
"Everything is terrible." He answered truthfully. "It's why I called. I need advice. I screwed up and Roxie left. She and Sophia are in Texas with my parents."
"What'd you do?" Catherine asked.
"Well I quit my job out of frustration. I got drunk and got myself arrested then that same night because I was in jail and not at home with my family Sophia was kidnapped. Luckily she was found pretty quickly, but Roxie flipped. She was so mad at me. I know if I'd just gone home things would be different." He explained.
"Wait you quit?" she questioned.
"I did. Things have just been do different since Russell came on and since you left. I was frustrated and pissed. I did it out of anger. I'm back working though, but for a long time I was frustrated and I should have talked to Roxie about it and I didn't. You know how I am. Well in the end I screwed up and I lost my wife. I watched her take her wedding ring off. I don't know if she will ever come back." He was on the verge of tears. He didn't know what to do.
"How long as she been gone?" Catherine then asked.
"Three weeks." He answered.
"Three weeks?! You let her leave for three weeks?" Catherine sounded applauded.
"I wanted to respect her wishes and let her go." He answered.
"What she wanted was for you to chase her." Catherine then said.
"Chase her, but she asked for space?" Nick questioned.
"It's a female thing. We tell the opposite of what we want. She was asking for you to chase her. The moment she left you should have gone after her." Catherine explained.
"Wait so I need to go get her?" Nick asked.
"Umm hell yes! I don't know why you are wasting time on the phone with me. Get your ass to Texas and get your wife." Catherine said.
"Thanks." Nick said quickly before ending the call. He was going to get Roxie back. He needed Roxie back more than he needed air.
Roxie sat alone. This had become her new favorite place during her time away. Nick's parents had kept the wooden arch made for the wedding. Roxie found herself in the middle of the field where they married sitting under the arch. She'd found herself there every single day. It was her place to get away and to think. She grabbed her ring that she kept on her necklace. She closed her eyes as she sat there holding her ring. She just wanted to go back, back to that day. The day Nick put that ring on her finger and pledged his love for all eternity. Roxie opened her eyes to tears falling. Where had things gotten so screwed up? She felt guilty for leaving, but at the same time she felt like it was for the best. This was one of those times where she knew she needed her mom. She hated that she'd lost her mom during such an important time in her life. With a sigh Roxie stood and started to walk back to the house. When she arrived at the house there was a car she didn't recognize. She guessed maybe his parents had a guest. Roxie walked into the house. She could hear Sophia giggling, she smiled at the sound of her daughter's laughter. Walking towards the sound of the laughter she arrived in the living room and she couldn't believe her eyes. There was Nick playing on the floor with Sophia. He looked up and his eyes met hers.
"Hi." Roxie said as she walked into the room.
"Come here Sophia. Let's give mommy and daddy a minute." Jillian said as she picked up Sophia from the floor and she swiftly left the room. Roxie sat down on the couch. She watched as he stood from the floor and then joined her on the couch.
"I wanted to see how you were. You don't answer my calls." Nick said looking at her. She looked good. He was happy about that.
"I haven't known what to say." Roxie said. "I did try to call you."
"Yeah I was out with someone and I tried to answer it, but I missed it." Nick said.
"Out with someone?" Roxie questioned. "Who?"
"A friend. She and I were having coffee." Nick said truthfully. Roxie just nodded. She didn't have anything to add.
"You look… rough." Roxie said looking at him. He looked as terrible as Finn described.
"A bit." Nick said as he took Roxie's hand into his. "Rainbow. I'm sorry. All I can do is apologize. I screwed up big time. I just want you back home. Please I can't live without you."
"I'm so hurt. The whole situation hurt me so much. I never thought I could hurt that bad. Sophia was taken from us and I was so lost. You'd already shut me out for so long. I felt like our connection was shortening out. I felt like you felt that you couldn't depend on me as your wife. I felt alone in our marriage and that's not why I married you. I didn't marry you to feel alone." Roxie said. She had tears falling from her eyes.
"I know. I was wrong for shutting you out. Please come home Roxie and I promise I will never shut you out." Nick said. He placed a hand on her cheek. Roxie leaned onto his hand.
"I don't know if I'm ready." Roxie said truthfully.
"Rainbow please." He begged. Roxie was in tears. She didn't know what to say. "I chased you here. I came here to bring you home."
"I'm sorry." Roxie said as she stood. She went to leave the room. Nick grabbed her by her wrist and pulled her close.
"Roxanne… please. I need you." He said. Roxie could see the tears in his eyes. "I love you. Don't you love me too?"
"Honestly…" Roxie said looking at him. "I… I… don't know." She lied as she pulled away and ran upstairs.
She locked herself in the bedroom. She lied down on the bed and curled into a ball. These last three weeks had changed the two of them so much. Her heart was beating quickly and hard. Could she risk losing him forever? She hated that she lied to him. Truthfully she loved him with everything inside of her, but she was so afraid. She was afraid of getting hurt again. This fear took over her better judgment.
"I'm out of here." Nick said as he walked into the kitchen where Jillian was with Sophia. He bent down and kissed Sophia on the head.
"Oh no… I'm guessing things didn't go well." Jillian said.
"Less that not well. I think it's over." Nick said. He looked at his mother and broke down into tears. He just sat on the floor. He was a mess. He felt like everything he'd ever loved was gone. Roxie was done with him. He'd started to Dream in Color just like her, but in this moment everything went back to black and white and all the vibrant and beautiful colors were gone. He was left with nothing.