A/N: Hello, readers. I'm very excited for you to read this story. I am in love with Nicholas Sparks' novels and Dear John is one of my favorites. I really wanted the story to continue and even though I cannot do the great Spark's justice, I will try my best to write something you guys will enjoy reading. This story will be filled with romance, some humor, and quite a bit of drama. I love constructive criticism so please let me know what you think about it. Enjoy.
Lenoir, North Carolina 2008
Savannah POV
The light breeze from the window filled the room as Savannah got dressed. After she pulled on her shorts and t-shirt, she walked over to the mirror and ran a brush through her hair. She could already smell the sweet aroma of cinnamon and strawberries coming from the kitchen. When she was done, she walked downstairs into the kitchen where Tim stood at the stove with an apron on. When he saw her, he smiled and turned the stove off.
"There you are. I thought you'd never get up." He walked over and kissed her softly.
She smiled. "Unlike you, some people don't like to wake up at the crack of dawn. So what is all this?" she asked, gesturing toward the stove. Tim walked over and put some French toast and fresh berries on two plates and grabbed a pitcher of orange juice from the refrigerator. After he sprinkled some powdered sugar on the toast, he grabbed the tray and walked out onto the side porch, where a table was set up. After Savannah followed, he pulled out a chair for her.
"This," he began as he took a seat. "is breakfast." He picked up the pitcher and poured a glass for each of them.
"And, why might I ask, do I deserve this?" he cut a piece of toast and fed it to her.
"Can't I do something nice just because I love and care about you?" he asked innocently.
Savannah nodded. "Sure. It's just that you usually say that when you're guilty." Tim laughed and took a bite. "Well then. I guess my work just isn't appreciated around here."
"The toast could be a little better." She joked. "So where's Alan?"
"At your parent's house. He decided to stay there last night, so I just came home without him."
Savannah took a sip of her juice. "That's why I didn't hear him last night. I thought I was just really tired."
"Yeah, I was a little excited that he didn't come home, until I got here and you were asleep and all." He pretended to pout as he looked on the ground.
"Really?" she asked.
"Yup. We should take very opportunity we get, especially if we want a little one running around." He said. Savannah sighed and looked over the porch to the stables. She could see Midas fussing around in there.
"We already talked about this. You know I want a child just as much as you do. We just need to keep trying and it'll happen when it's meant to happen. In the meantime," she walked around the table and sat on his lap. "We'll just have fun trying, ok?" She kissed his forehead as he rubbed her back.
"Okay then. And if it still doesn't happen, we'll keep trying over and over and over….."
"Ok, maybe not that much, I'm not a machine." She said. He laughed and they finished their breakfast. As they carried the plates inside, Tim's phone rang. He answered it and spoke for a few minutes before turning to Savannah. "That was Jeremy. He has some paperwork we need to go over so he wants me at the office in a few minutes."
After Savannah had received the money from that anonymous donor nearly three years ago, Tim had gone to MD Anderson for a vaccine trial that November. He was treated with biochemotherapy and adjuvant therapy prior to the trial. A little while after, he was informed that the treatment was a major success and miraculously, for the past year and a half, he had been in remission.
For the past few months, he had been feeling better than ever and made tremendous progress. He still stuck to frequent doctor's visits, just to make sure everything was under control. But it was basically as if everything was back to normal. Of course, he didn't want to be bored all day, so he started to work from home. He had gotten in touch with some friends and was even starting a business.
"Okay. I think I'm going to head to the store. We need some things for dinner tonight."
"Okay. I don't know when I'll be back. I'll see you later. I love you" He gave her a small kiss before walking out the door.
"Love you, too." She yelled back.
John POV
John went through every station on the radio, trying to find something he liked. It had become a new game he created for himself. Anytime he got in the car, which was very often, he would try to listen to a different station. Over the past few months, he had heard a lot of new songs and learned about tons of great artists he never knew existed. It somehow kept him in touch with the world.
About 6 months earlier, he had left the service. After he left Lenoir, he had spent a little over a year in both Germany and Iraq. The army had become his life. It wasn't that he wanted it to, it's just what happened. Though he liked the distraction it offered him, he knew that he wasn't really living his life. He was doing something good and serving his country, but the satisfaction he used to feel for doing it seemed less rewarding. It wasn't that he didn't like to help; it was just that he very seldom found enjoyment in things now. After he resigned, he had gone down to Atlanta with his friend Tony. After much convincing, he had gotten John to spend a few weeks with him at his house. He felt bad for him and he knew that things had been rough the past couple of months, so he wanted to get him out into the world. After a while, John had grown tired of things, so he gathered up his savings and got on the Harley he had bought when he was in Germany. At first, he didn't know what he was going to do. All he had was some money saved up, his belongings, and his father's house back in Wilmington.
He had spent the first few months just riding around and even got himself a decent truck for a bargain. He drove all around upper Georgia and through South Carolina. He went to different restaurants and stores, occasionally stopping at some motels for the night. Even though he wasn't much of a surfer anymore, he still liked to stop by the beach anytime he could find one. He would go the nearest store, buy a beer, and sit on the sand, watching as the waves rolled in and out.
He had even gone on a couple of dates; meeting girls at restaurants or walking near the pier. Whenever they would ask where he was from, he would just say he was in the army and would be back in Germany in a few weeks. Then he would have a quick fling, hop in his truck or on his Harley, and move on to the next city. It wasn't that he just used them. He hadn't even slept with any of the girls he had dated. He just didn't want to get attached to something that most likely wouldn't last. Even he started to believe that he was going back to base. But of course, he always woke up either in a hotel room or at a friend's house.
He still remembered that fateful day; his first day back from Lenoir. It felt different. Usually after he came back from leave, there would be a level of excitement. Although he would have to be away from Savannah, he still held on to the fact that they would be reunited. But that time was different. They wouldn't be reunited again.
Savannah. It seemed like her presence was all around him, even after so much time. He knew he had to leave in order for her to be happy. With Tim's condition, she was more distraught than ever, and with him in the mix, she would only be more confused. He didn't regret his decision to leave her a few years ago. Of course he still loved her, but he used that love to reassure him that he had made the right decision. If he hadn't let go, she wouldn't be able to live the life she had now.
After he had sold his father's coins and donated the money to Tim's treatment, he had kept in touch with his lawyer, just to know Tim's progress. He was informed that the treatment had gone well and that Tim was in remission. About a month later, his lawyer told him that he was doing even better and was even on his way home. John was happy for them, but requested that he not call him anymore. He figured that as long as Tim was healthy and happy, he had no business knowing how he and Savannah were spending their lives.
John finally settled on an eighties station and turned the volume up. He rolled down his window to let the breeze in. He had been driving for the past two and half hours and was getting hungry. The night before, he had stayed at a nearby hotel. After checking out, he loaded his things into his truck and began driving.
He didn't really know where he was going. He figured he would head to his father's house and figure things out from there. His stomach growled and he turned onto the lane for the nearest exit. He would just stop and get something to eat and be back on his way. As he turned on the street, he saw the familiar Welcome to Lenoir, North Carolina sign.
He turned up the music some more as he drove to a nearby pier. After he parked his truck, he got out and walked up the creaky steps that led to the boardwalk. There was a long line of carts, all selling different kinds of seafood. He walked past each one, some selling crab or lobster salads, others with a wide variety of shrimp. As he got farther, he could smell something frying and he spotted a cart selling fish and chips. He walked over and got in line just as a brunette was tying up a bag of fresh tilapia.
"Thank you so much, Dave." She spoke to the man behind the cart.
"No problem, dear. You know I always leave the best ones for you." John couldn't get over how familiar she sounded, but figured it was just in his head. What are the odds? He thought. The woman paid the man and turned around, nearly knocking John over.
"Sorry-" she began before looking up. John's breath caught in his throat when he saw Savannah. He sighed, feeling stupid. He should have known that no amount of time would let him forget her distinct voice.
"John." She said, at a loss for words.
"Savannah." He said simply. Though he didn't plan on it happening, he had always sort of predicted what he would say if he ever saw her again. But as soon as he looked into her eyes, all words flew from his mind.
"Wow, it's been a while, hasn't it?"
He nodded nervously. She looked even more beautiful than he remembered, if that was even possible. "Yeah, I know."
"So what are you doing here?" she asked.
"Just in the neighborhood. On my way to Wilmington. Thought I'd grab something to eat. You?"
"Getting some food for dinner. They always have the freshest seafood here." She gestured to her bag. John nodded. He hated this. The fact that they had to resort to meaningless small talk after everything they had gone through.
Being Savannah, she probably thought the same thing and spoke up. "What are we doing?" she asked.
"We're talking."
"No, John. We're not." She sighed and looked down on the ground. "Listen, I know that you left so that I could focus on my marriage, but…it still hurt, John." He could hear her voice crack at the end as she started to get emotional.
"Savannah, I'm sorry." He clenched his teeth as he tried to stay firm. "I know that, but I just don't think it's best for us to talk."
She cleared her throat. "I know. I just needed you to hear that." She reached into her bag and pulled out a small piece of paper before scribbling a number on it. "I'm hoping we can talk about it. If you want to." She held out the piece of paper. John stared at it for a long time, contemplating it. "Please?" she added quietly. He took the paper and stuffed it in his pocket.
"I'll think about it."
She gave a weak smile and started to walk away. "Thank you, John. It was nice seeing you." She turned around and walked down the pier. John looked back at her. "You, too." He whispered.
Savannah POV
Savannah picked the pails up off the ground and hung them on the fence. She called over a few of the horses and they eagerly came trotting down the stable. While they ate, Savannah sat up on the fence and looked over the ranch. It was already pretty late, so the moon was out. She love being out there at night, when the moonlight was shining on the green pastures. It gave her a sense of peace, even when she felt anything but that.
She wasn't that surprised that she saw John. Even though he said they probably wouldn't see each other again, she never really believed it. She felt that he would turn up in her life again eventually, she just didn't know when. What shocked her was his reaction towards her. When John left, he had made it very clear that he wasn't willing to come in between her and Tim and she understood that. But she always thought that when they met up again, he would maybe not feel that way anymore. Of course she knew he wouldn't be willing to ruin her marriage, but she at least thought he'd want to talk to her. With all the emotions and mixed feelings around, they were probably a long way from being friends, but for some reason, she was worried that John would really not be in her life. In no way whatsoever.
She still loved him, that was for sure. Her feelings towards him hadn't changed. It took her a while to come to terms with what he'd done for her, and when she did realize what he had done, she loved him even more. It was something she hated herself for. It wasn't that she didn't love Tim. He was one of the most important people in her life. She just couldn't get over the fact that she still loved another man that wasn't her husband.
She gave a nervous laugh. At twenty nine, she felt like she was no wiser than she had been years before. Over the years, there had been many times when she thought she couldn't be with Tim. He was such a good man and she didn't deserve him. There was always a sense of guilt over her head. It got harder as time progressed.
She had always wanted a family and so did Tim. They had been trying over the past year, but nothing happened. She wanted to blame it on biology, but that wasn't the only issue. When the topic was brought up, she felt a little hesitant. Not really about having children, but mostly about having children with Tim. As a wife, it was the worst thing she could have thought and she hated herself for even letting it cross her mind, but it did. As happy as he made her at times, she always felt like there was something in the way and John's face immediately flashed into her mind.
Savannah sighed and tried to clear her thoughts. She jumped off the fence and pulled the empty pails down before sitting on a stool next to Midas. She rubbed his nose and ran her hand down his neck.
"What do you think, huh? You think we should have a baby?" she asked softly. Midas lowered his head and she rubbed it. "I guess you don't know the answer either." They sat there for a while until she got up and locked up the fence. "Good night, Midas." She whispered as she walked slowly back to the house. When she got inside, she looked at her phone on the counter and sighed, wondering if John would call.
A/N: Thank you for reading. This was sort of just a follow up chapter to know where the characters are. There will be a lot more happening in the following chapters, so please stay tuned. If you like this story so far, I also have another Nicholas Sparks fanfiction for The last song. I mostly stick to the romance/family/humor/drama genres. If you want to check it out, the URL is below. Anyway, please leave a review and let me know what you think. Thanks.
Love that lasts
.net/s/6310190/1/Love_that_lasts
