Aaron POV
"Aaron!" Charley called out as he stepped forward to greet me.
"Hey" I said quietly as Meredith stepped forward to hug me as well before hugging Brianna, who was still being held by my dad.
I held back a smile as my dad said "That's quite okay Meredith you don't need to hug me as well"
I snuck a glance at Brianna to see how she would handle that comment when I remembered that she wouldn't react since she had amnesia.
"Dad, Charley and I are going to get the bags" I said as Charley followed me over to the luggage area.
"Is there any reason why Brianna didn't even look at you?" Charley finally asked as I sighed "I yelled at her a few moments ago"
"It's been a rough summer for you Aaron. How soon do you think she will regain her memory?"
"Who knows?" I replied as I spotted the luggage and we grabbed them and made our way back to everyone.
"Aaron your car is here, we thought you could show Brianna around town" my mom suggested as Brianna looked over at me, her beautiful hazel green eyes expressionless.
"Sure, if that's okay with you Brianna?"
She nodded and I turned to Charley "let's meet at the batting cages later. I might as well start conditioning before school starts"
"Sounds good, give me a call when you are going to leave"
I nodded before I walked over to Brianna who was quietly speaking to Lisa and Larissa.
Rissa giggled at something she said before launching herself on Bree and giving her a hug as Lisa looked on before joining in the hug as well.
Brianna looked over at me and said "Get over here Brewer, this is a family hug" I held in my laugh as I walked over to them and stepped closer to Bree who leaned back on my chest as I hugged Lisa and Larissa as well.
I heard a snap and quickly looked around to see my mom taking a picture as she smiled at us and then said "let's go before people start to recognize you"
I nodded my head and let go of the twins as Bree took my hand and we started walking towards the door.
I gently squeezed it to get her attention and when she glanced up at me I said "Sorry about earlier" she nodded before turning her attention to the twins.
I held back a sigh as I realized that I would need to come up with a much better apology.
An hour later I pulled into the parking lot of the recording studio and parked the car. As I opened Brianna's door she looked up at me and asked "What are we doing here?"
"I have a track I wanted to lay down. Do you mind? We could get dinner after this"
"Sure that's fine" she replied as I took her hand and led her inside. The past hour had been awkward. She had wanted to see her house, the school, the mall, etc.
She had a million and one questions, so there weren't that many silences. The only negative thing that had happened was when she asked if it would be okay if she didn't wear her ring.
Flashback
"So…my ring?" she began hesitantly as we pulled out of the airport.
"Yes? Do you not like it?"
"No I think it's beautiful"
"Good"
"What exactly is the promise?"
"That I will love you forever"
"Oh" she replied quietly as she tuck a strand of her silky hair behind her ear and cleared her throat.
"Would you rather something bigger?" I asked smiling as she blushed and then replied "No….actually I was thinking that I probably shouldn't wear it until I have regained my memories. I mean it's not like you expect me to be your girlfriend when I don't even remember you right?"
I swallowed nervously and thought about it. I had expected her to be my girlfriend…memory or not I was in love with Brianna Esteban. If we weren't going to date would she want to date other people?
"If you don't want to wear it then you don't have to" I finally said, anger evident in my tone despite trying to stay calm.
"If it's really important to you…to us I'll keep it on." she finally said as I shook my head and replied "No I don't want you to do something you are uncomfortable with. "
I watched as she took the ring off and handed it back to me before turning her head to look out the window.
Two weeks later
Bree POV
The past two weeks went by as I desperately tried to remember who I was and what my role was in the Brewer family.
When we had returned home the builders had began building and I was surprised when Ruthie had informed me that they were building a house for Aaron and me.
From the day I asked Aaron if it would be alright not to wear his ring he began to slowly shut me out. He would spend most days at the batting cages with Charley, which left me spending time with Meredith.
Meredith was beautiful yet she was a bit superficial. I wondered how I could have ever liked her. Martin went back to work and Ruthie stayed home since she was expecting twins.
Lisa, Rissa and I spent a lot of time together and I could see why I had agreed on joint custody. They were both so bright and loving.
Around 5:00 that evening Aaron walked into the family room and stopped when he noticed I was there.
"Hey" I greeted him cheerfully as he looked over at me before saying "hi"
"How was your day?"
"Good…how about you?"
"It was fun. We went for ice cream and then we visited your grandparents"
"That's nice"
"They were asking for you"
"Were they?" he replied as he shifted his foot and didn't look at me. I sighed before saying "Are you angry at me for something?"
"No why would I be?" he asked even though their was a hint of sarcasm evident in his tone.
"You have been shutting me out of your life" I finally said as he snorted and then looked at me, anger in his hazel brown eyes and he stepped further into the room and said "Well excuse me if I have. I don't know how to act around you, you keep ignoring every opportunity that I give you and I'm tired of it"
"I didn't ask to be shot! I didn't ask for amnesia. You spend every day with Charley and your friends, or you are at the studio! How am I suppose to know you, know us if you aren't even around? If you love me then you would be more patient!"
"If I love you, that's rich considering that you handed me back my ring"
"You told me that I could. You said it was okay"
"Well I LIED" he roared as I blinked in confusion.
This was the most emotion I had seen out of him since I left the hospital. He continued on "How would you feel to see the person you love the most shot in front of you? To see the blood oozing out everywhere and not even get a glimpse of the jerk that did it? To not know if the person was going to live or die and when they are okay have amnesia! On top of that do you know how I felt when you handed me back my ring? The only time my ring hasn't been on your finger was when we broke up"
"We broke up?" I asked alarmed as he took a deep breath and then ran his fingers through his hair before quietly replying "yes for about six months"
I nodded as I bit my lip trying to figure out what to say. "Brianna" he said quietly as I looked over at him "I'm sorry that I blew up like that. I don't know what to do. I want to spend time with you but I'm afraid"
"Afraid of what?" I asked as I stepped closer.
"That you are never going to remember me or our relationship. That you are eventually going to start dating other people and we'll go to separate colleges and you'll marry someone else"
I walked over to him and gave him a hug as I quietly said "I'm sorry that you feel that way. I wish I could offer you reassurance but I can't."
"So where do we go from here?" he finally asked me as I thought about it. I didn't want him to be in pain and yet I wasn't sure if I wanted a boyfriend. Our relationship seemed a little serious for us.
"Maybe we should take a break?" I finally suggested as I felt him take a sharp intake of breath before he grabbed my hand and led me downstairs to what seemed like a recording studio.
"Sit there" he said brusquely and grabbed his guitar
A strangled smile fell from your face
It kills me that I hurt you this way
The worst part is that I didn't even know
Now there's a million reasons for you to go
But if you can find a reason to stay
I'll do whatever it takes
To turn this around
I know what's at stake
I know that I've let you down
And if you give me a chance
Believe that I can change
I'll keep us together
Whatever it takes
She said if we're gonna make this work
You gotta let me inside even though it hurts
Don't hide the broken parts that I need to see
She said like it or not it's the way it's gotta be
You gotta love yourself if you can ever love me
I watched in silence as he continued playing. He really was talented. I had read some of the articles that were lying around the house and though he was seen as some sort of teen sex symbol he really had a skill.
I just had so many questions that no one could seem to answer. Where was my mother? According to my diary she had told me at my sixteenth birthday that she didn't want me. Was she really that cruel?
Why would my dad move to Milan and leave me with strangers, strangers that I had no problem calling mom and dad.
I wasn't stupid I saw the way Martin's face dropped every time I called him Martin as well as Ruthie's. I looked over at Aaron and blushed when I realized he was staring intently at me.
I still couldn't get over the fact how much he seemed to adore me. I knew I was beautiful but Aaron seemed to love every aspect of me, inside and out. I don't ever remember feeling as loved as I do when I am around him.
I'll do whatever it takes
To turn this around
I know what's at stake
I know that I've let you down
And if you give me a chance
And give me a break
I'll keep us together
I know you deserve much better
Remember the time I told you the way that I felt
And that I'd be lost without you and never find myself
Let's hold onto each other above everything else
Start over, start over
So why was I telling him I wanted to break up? Wouldn't it be easier to regain my memories by being around Aaron and looking at pictures and…..making out with him? I had to admit I was secretly dying to make out with him.
I'll do whatever it takes
To turn this around
I know what's at stake
I know that I've let you down
And if you give me a chance
Believe that I can change
I'll keep us together
Whatever it takes
Aaron POV
I looked over at Brianna after I put my guitar away. She looked adorable as she stared into space. I probably will never get tired just looking at her.
The past two weeks being away from her was horrible but I didn't know what else to do.
I knew I had to give her some space because she was confused and couldn't remember anything but at times it was so hard not to grab her and kiss her, especially when she did something that was so 'Bree like' it made me forget that she had amnesia.
I dreaded going to sleep at nights because it was lonely without Bree talking or making cute little cooing noises in her sleep.
"Aaron?" Bree said as I jumped in surprise and noticed she was standing right in front of me.
"Yes?" I replied as I looked down at her. I hid a smirk as I noticed her toes were painted a bright pink.
"What are you smirking at?" she asked as I replied "I guess Meredith talked you into cotton candy again"
"Yes she did and I don't know how….how did you know that?"
"Because she begs you every time and you give in. It's tradition"
Bree giggled and then asked "Are we really good friends? Sometimes she gives me a headache"
"She gives everyone a headache if you spend a lot of time with her"
"She has an unhealthy obsession with your dad" Bree said as she wrinkled her nose and I laughed before agreeing "I know. It's absolutely crazy"
"Aaron?"
"Yes?"
"May I have my ring back?"
"Seriously?" I asked smiling a little as she returned the smile before blushing and said "Well maybe I'll regain my memories faster being around you"
I noticed the whine in her voice before I saw the pout form on her full cheery lips as I hugged her and said "It's in my bedroom"
"Good but before you get the ring will you do something for me?"
"Anything" I replied a bit breathlessly when she stood on her tiptoes and whispered in my ears "Take a shower, you stink" and with that ran up the stairs giggling.
