Author's note: This was a hard chapter to write for me, mostly because I've been anticipating it for awhile now so please be kind in your reviews because I really did try to give it my best.
CoolDiva: I added Trini in just for you! Thanks so much I want so much for the relationship between Tommy and Nikki to be realistic I just hope I don't ruin that with this chapter.
GracefulCrane: Well he didn't actually kiss her but almost. Thanks, I knew you'd love seeing Jason and Kim together in that last chapter.
Chylea3784: Oh they're not so far away.
welleg: I think you'll be happy with this chapter then.
GinaStar: Thanks!
general-joseph-dickson: Thanks!
moonlite-n-roses: Nikki might have stopped him that time but Tommy doesn't give up so easily.
t-horse: I love getting new reviewers!!
gfdgfdgd: Interesting choice of name but thanks for reviewing.
Tommy pulled on the tiny T-Rex statue in his living room and waited for the panel in the wall to open up. He walked down the stairs and found Nikki sitting at her easel working on another painting.
"I'm sorry to interrupt your work," Tommy spoke causing Nikki to jump slightly at the sound of his voice.
"Is it Emma, is everything ok?" Nikki asked with a look of concern.
"No, Emma's fine," he answered trying to hold back the frustration he felt.
It had been like this for weeks since they had returned from their trip to Angel Grove. Nikki rarely spoke to him unless it had something to do with Emma and she spent most of her time working on her paintings as a way to avoid having contact with him. It was like they were back to square one just two strangers sharing a house.
"Tommy, what did you come down here to tell me," she spoke bringing him back to reality.
"Oh just that Hayley called and said she had a big surprise for Emma, she should be here soon," Tommy told her.
"Ok, thanks for letting me know, I'll be up in a second," Nikki replied turning back to her artwork.
"You can't keep doing this you know," Tommy finally said.
"Doing what?" she questioned.
"Avoiding me, ever since I almost kissed you back in Angel Grove you've been walking around here like you're afraid to be alone with me, I'm not going to jump you if that's what you're worried about," Tommy replied.
"I'm sorry for the way I've been acting, I know it's childish, it's just that kissing you would have complicated things more than I was ready for," Nikki told him.
"So are you saying that if you were ready you would have kissed me back?" Tommy inquired.
"Maybe, do we really have to get into this now, Hayley's on her way and I would really like to get cleaned up before she gets here," Nikki answered.
"Ok, I'll just keep Emma preoccupied until you're done," he said with a smile as he turned around and headed back upstairs.
"Is anyone home?" Hayley called out as she walked into the house.
"We're in the kitchen," Tommy called back.
Hayley walked into the kitchen holding a bag and Tommy was surprised to see that she had a little girl with her.
"Hi guys, Tommy, Emma, this is Claire, she's four just like you," Hayley said introducing them.
"Hi," the two girls said at the same time.
"It's nice to meet you Claire," Tommy told her.
"Claire's mom is in town doing a research project with Anton and Claire was getting pretty bored with no one to play with so I told her that my niece Emma was in town and I thought it would be great if we had a slumber party," Hayley informed him.
"Hi Hayley who's your friend," Nikki said coming into the kitchen.
"Mommy, this is Claire we're going to have a slumber party," Emma said excitedly.
"You are, are you, Emma why don't you take Claire upstairs and show her your room," Nikki told her.
"Go ahead, I'll be right up," Hayley told Claire.
"A slumber party, you've got to be kidding me, do you know how risky it was bringing that little girl here," Nikki said.
"I just thought it might be nice if Emma had someone her own age to play with and don't worry Claire and her mother will be leaving tomorrow so you don't have to worry about her mother seeing you and realizing who you are," Hayley said.
"But Hayley, we're not prepared for this, and what about Tommy, its bad enough he has one little girl in the house and now there's two," Nikki told her.
"You and Tommy don't have to worry about a thing, I brought movies, food and games, I'll take total responsibility for the girls I'll stay up with in Emma's room and you'll never even know we're here," Hayley replied.
"I think it's a great idea, and if Hayley's willing to do all the work it's even better," Tommy said.
"Then it's settled, I'm going to take this stuff upstairs, it'll be fine don't worry," Hayley said.
"Well if Emma's taken care of I guess I'll go back to my work," Nikki said.
"Oh no, you don't, you're coming with me," Tommy said taking her hand and leading her outside to the backyard.
"Where are you taking me?" she asked.
"Come and see," he said.
Nikki followed Tommy into the backyard where there was a picnic set up on the grass.
"I set up this picnic for me, you and Emma, before I knew that Hayley was coming, we had so much fun the last time we did it and I was hoping it'd be a way to break the ice between us again," Tommy told her.
"Tommy, this is very sweet but I really should get back to my painting before I lose the inspiration," she said.
"You're not really going to make me sit out here all alone are you?" he asked.
"You're trying to guilt me into this," she responded.
"Is it working?" he asked.
"Well I do have to eat," she said taking a seat on the blanket.
"Thank you for not making me eat alone," he said sitting beside her.
"Tommy, I'm really sorry for the way I've been acting, it's just that we've known each other for like what four months now and I never expected to have these kinds of feelings and I guess it just scared me," Nikki told him.
"After what you've been through, I think you're more than entitled to be scared but I'm not Tim, I would never do anything to hurt you," Tommy replied.
"I know you wouldn't but Tim took so much from me and I can't just forget about that," she explained.
"Yeah and you've gained a lot back," he said.
"Because of you," she told him.
"You are so beautiful, sometimes I don't think you realize that, but you are the most beautiful person inside and out, it's no wonder I started falling in love with you," he replied.
"Oh Tommy, I wish I felt beautiful but all I feel is ugly inside because I stayed with such an evil man and I brought a daughter into that, how could you love someone who would do that," she said as she started to cry.
"No, you are not the ugly one here, Tim is, you gave him the most precious gift any woman could give a man and he treated you like you were nothing, I swear I will kill that guy if he ever comes near you or Emma again," Tommy told her as he wrapped his arms around her and held her as she cried.
"I'm sorry, I'm getting your shirt all wet," she said wiping her eyes.
"It's ok, I'll hold you for as long as you need me to," he said looking into her eyes.
Nikki met his gaze and this time she didn't do anything to spoil the moment. Words seemed beside the point now and when he leaned in to kiss her she didn't pull away. She felt herself lay back on the blanket and felt Tommy come with her as they continued to kiss. She held her arm between them, her hand on his chest, and they both knew that she was ready to push him away—she was always ready to push someone away.
"We should stop this before it goes too far, I don't want to push you into something you're not ready for," Tommy said finally forcing himself to pull away from her.
"I want to be ready, I need to be ready," she admitted.
"Nikki, we don't have to rush things, I want to be with you when you decide the time is right," he told her.
"This is the first time in years that I've had the power to make a decision like this and I don't want to run from my feelings for you anymore," she said.
They got up from the blanket and walked in silence back inside the house and then upstairs to Tommy's bedroom. Once inside, he closed the door and then put his arms around her. They held each other for a long time and then Nikki tilted her head back and let him kiss her mouth. He was hungry, insistent, but she was even more so.
"Are you sure about this?" he asked searching her eyes for the answer.
They undressed each other. Her heart was going so fast, she thought she might faint. Every inch of her skin was tingling as he took off her shirt and then unzipped her pants. She thought of Tim and how he had never been so gentle. He hadn't been kind or patient; he had just taken what he wanted without a second thought to what she wanted.
"I want you, Nikki," Tommy said embracing her. And she knew then, by the way he legs went weak, by the way she leaned back to kiss him, that she wanted him too. They led each other over to the bed, and they lay down. He rolled her on her back, holding her hands in his, climbing on top and looking straight into her eyes. His expression was full of fire, and as their eyes met, something in her chest began to let go.
"Nikki, you're safe now, forget everything else, you're starting over now," he said.
"Forget, I can't," she said.
"Anyone who ever hurt you, any loss Nikki, forget it, I'll never hurt you," he promised.
He held her and rocked her, even when she cried, letting go of everything old and cold and frozen, and even when she trembled and cried again, afterwards, because she hadn't realized that she could still feel and still love. They fell asleep together, holding each other tight. Nikki woke up some time later and tired to get out of bed without waking him.
"Hi," he said smiling as he looked up at her.
"Hi yourself, this was wonderful, better than I could have imagined," she told him.
"I agree, so why are you leaving," he responded.
"I should go to my room now, I don't want Emma to come looking for me and not be able to find me," she said when his eyes opened.
"Hayley will take care of her, stay with me," he said.
Nikki gave in and she laid back down into Tommy's waiting arms. She felt her eyes flicker as sleep overtook her again and she fell asleep knowing she was with Tommy and knowing that Emma was safe.