Remember When

by Joise

Summary: AU She was a woman without a past but that all changed the moment she arrived in Salem, USA and bumped into a man she never knew existed and the child she didn't remember leaving behind.

Disclaimer: I own nothing. Days and the characters belong to Ken Corday and NBC.

Prologue

"Life is funny sometimes, not ha ha ha funny, but an ironic funny. I was living in Chicago for the past five years. And I was happy there. I was the woman without a past and I was building a future. I was happy for the most part. I never really had a relationship, at least I could remember. And it was not for a lack of trying. But ever date I went on, I felt a tug in my heart that told me I wasn't ready for this. My heart was not ready for anyone. I never knew why. But that is beside the point. I work for Basic Black's division in Chicago and a week ago I was told to pack my bags because I was being transferred to the head office to work under Mr. John Black himself. I was so excited to have this privilege. I never officially met the man. I talked to him over the phone and emailed each other often. I guess my work spoke for me. Every time talked to him, he said told me that he enjoyed our conversations that I sounded like someone he once knew. I tried to ask who, but he said someone close to him who died five years ago in a tragic accident and told me he didn't want to talk about it because time has not healed those wounds. I felt like the world's biggest jerk and tried to apologize. He told me not to worry, I didn't know. He was gracious enough to give me three weeks to get to know Salem because my first day working under him and found me an apartment since I only had a week's notice. So here I am reading the sign that says "Welcome to Salem" and I can't help but wonder where life will take me next."

She closed her book and put it in her purse with her bag. Ever since she could remember she was writing down every thought and feeling. It wasn't for reasons one would carry a journal, it was so that she could read her memories if she ever lost them again. She grabbed her travel bag, knowing the rest of her belongings would be waiting for her at her loft. She reached the curb and held up her hand "Taxi!" she yelled, only to watch it pass by her. She continued to try until the fourth taxi pulled up the curb. She got in and gave the driver her new address.

He was walking out of the airport after dropping off his daughter. She was visiting her grandmother in Arizona for the week. She went there every year at this time because this week was the hardest week of the year. It was the week his wife died and the anniversary of her death will forever be known to him as "the dark day." The darkness that surrounds him this week he does not want his daughter to see, he wants to her remember the six years of pleasant memories of her and not what her memory does to him. He is worried about his daughter, she's eleven now, getting closer and closer to being a teenager with questions that only her mother would know the answer. He feels sorry for her; she would need her mother and would only have her bumbling idiot of a father. He was walking to his car when he heard a voice he only hears in home videos.

"Taxi!" she yelled.

He head snapped out and searched for the voice, she shouted for the taxi three more times before he saw the yellow cab stop at the voice he was looking for. He couldn't believe his eyes. "It couldn't be," he whispered, "Could it?" Before he could move a muscle she was in the taxi and closed the door. He watched helplessly as it drove off. "NO!" he screamed running after the cab, "Stop that cab! My wife…" he screamed with tears as he fell on his knees, "My wife….that was my wife." He slowly got up and walked towards his truck, the pain in his heart was too unbearable, "This year will be the hardest," he said to no one, "because I thought I saw her. That couldn't be her, could it?" His thoughts were interrupted with his cell phone. He looked at the caller ID, it was his mother-in-law. He didn't want to speak to her, but knew she was calling to see if his daughter was on her way, "She's on her way," he said, "and I don't want to talk about it." He turned off his phone and put it back in his pocket. This dark day was beginning three days early this year. He wasn't sure if he had the strength to survive this week. But his daughter was alive and well and needed her father. So he lived his life for her and her alone. It was not until about a year ago that he was ready to move on. And even then it was his daughter that pushed him back into the dating world.

"We both know Daddy that she would want you to be happy. I want you to be happy." She told him and it was the pained expression on her face that made him realize that he needed to start living his life if she was ever going to live hers. He was seeing someone for almost a year now. Amy brought life back into their lives, but understood that this week he would be alone and his daughter would be with his grandmother. It was a tradition she was not allowed to be apart of, but being the supportive girlfriend she told him that if he needed her that she was there for him. Shawn thanked her for understanding, but told her that this was his darkest hours, not hers.

Shawn thought this year would be different because Amy was in his life, but now he doesn't know. He was so confused now. Was this woman really his wife? Did she only resemble her? Or was it her ghost sending her a message? And if so, what message?

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Author note: Is this worth pursuing?