Good morning everyone. Here's a new chapter, and after all the difficult trials, we'll see how our favorite couple is doing. Thank you for giving the story a chance, and thank you for trusting me and for trusting in my writing. It's an important part of what encourages me to keep writing day after day, so my thanks to all of you.

The characters are not mine ...

Idea from Lizcecilia6CECIFILLION

translator: Sorry, it's been terribly long, I know. Sometimes life gets busy, and other things trump fanfiction writing and translation projects. Thank you to all of you who sent messages—I really appreciate the encouragement!


Chapter 49

KATE'S POV

At last, there I was, at his side. Everyone told me I needed to rest, and yes, of course I would rest, but close to him, right beside him.

It had been nearly 48 hours since the operation took place, and I couldn't wait for Rick to finally regain consciousness. I needed to look into his eyes, for him to touch me, to feel his lips on mine. I even needed to hear him speak—talk and talk and talk without shutting up.

I heard the door open, and Dr. Carter appeared, followed by Alex, both smiling.

"Hello," they greeted me.

"Hello."

"We're here to bring him out of sedation. It's the moment of truth."

"Okay. When?"

"We expect him to regain consciousness in an hour or so."

"And if he doesn't?" I asked anxiously.

"Oh Kate! Don't think that way. Be positive, okay? After he does, we have a lot of tests to run over the next few days. And if all goes well—"

"Then what happens, doctor?"

"Then you'll be able to go home under observation. I'll see you on some of the days, and on others Alex will make home visits. We'll schedule a series of office visits for evaluation, and if all goes well, in a year we can declare full remission," he said, and I stood up to hug him. "Okay, let's not declare victory prematurely. Although, I have high hopes for this fighter," he said patting Rick's leg through the sheet.

"I do, too," I responded, taking Rick's hand between mine.

"Well, call me when you see him showing signs of waking up. We'll be monitoring his reactions and vital signs."

"I will," I said with a smile. I was eager to see his bright eyes again, to lose myself those blue pools that made me feel like I was in heaven.

As the minutes passed, I began to worry and make myself nervous. I needed to hear him speak, or something to reassure me that he was okay—that he was with me again.

I sat in my chair, my hand in his. Suddenly, almost undetectably, I felt his hand stroking my hand gently. When I raised my eyes I met his pure gaze on mine and I felt the smile etch itself onto my face.

"I didn't think it was possible, but you're even more beautiful than before," he said softly.

"You're the one who is truly beautiful," I said kissing him gently on the lips before pushing the button to alert the nurses. I could not stop touching him, kissing him all over his face.

"I'll have to have surgery more often, if this is the reception I get," he teased.

"Don't say that, even in jest," I scolded him, but seeing his smile, I could not help but smile back.

At that moment, Alex entered, followed by Martha, James, Lanie, and the boys.

"Oh! Did you all miss me so much?" he remarked in a sleepy voice.

"You gave us such a scare, my darling boy," Martha said hugging him tightly.

"Now—"

"No, really, you can't imagine it," Alex stated firmly.

"Okay, I understand," he repeated, more convinced.

"Look, say whatever you want, think what you want, but no matter what, you are staying with me, and you will never try to leave me again," I snapped, my extreme reaction making everyone chuckle.

Alex was looking at some things and making notes in his chart, and we all stood silent waiting for her to give us some news.

"Looking good so far. We just have to take a few tests, and if all goes well ... you'll be able to leave the ICU, and if you're still looking good after a few days observation, you'll be able to go home."

"Thank you. And how is my little hero?" he asked, referring to Edgar.

"He's resting."

"Oh! When he wakes up, I'd like to see him. In fact," he said looking at James. "I want to talk with everyone, with Alexander, and you, too, James," he said quietly. He had spoken to James by name—that he wanted to talk to him at all was a big step forward.

"Certainly, for my part," his father replied seriously.

"But right now, even though I love you all, I want a moment to talk to my wife alone," he proclaimed, reaching for my waist possessively.

"Let's leave these lovebirds by themselves," Lanie smiled, somehow managing to usher everyone else out the door.

When everyone had left, Rick tugged me down to sit next to him on the bed, his gaze locked on me, as he held my hand.

"What I told you before was true ..."

"What, Babe?"

"What I said about knowing what you were doing."

"Rick?"

"No, I don't know how to explain it, but I could hear you, I could tell you were there, I could tell you were talking to me, kissing me, touching me ... but I couldn't move or even open my eyes, no matter how hard I tried."

"Are you serious?"

"Yes. I wanted to be with you ... I wanted to get up and console you, and I couldn't. I just felt so helpless."

"Now you can move, now you can see me, touch me, and kiss me," I told him, bending to kiss him gently on the lips. "Now we have plenty of time to do that."

"I'm sorry to have put you through all this. I know what you've suffered and I feel so bad about it."

"You'd do the same for me. I love you, Rick, and there's nothing I wouldn't do to keep you here with me."

"Thank you for saving me."

"I ...?"

"I felt like I was slipping away ... like my heart stopped beating. It was super weird, like I was seeing it from outside. To see you in such a bad situation ... to feel that you were crying ... so torn apart, it made me realize what I loved, and how much it was worth it to fight for it. For a moment I had given up—to stop suffering, to stop feeling bad, to ... stop being tied to this damaged body—but your warmth, your passion, made me realize that it was all worth it. I had to overcome, defeat this bodily pain—in order to have a long and full life with you. You made me realize that I'm worth it and you're worth it ... and you deserve it. You saved me again, Kate."

"You saved me. You've taught me to love ... you've taught me to be happy. Thanks to you, I've begun to live."

"Well, let's live this wonderful dream together." He kissed me softly, and I felt the tears begin to fall, but this time tears of complete happiness, at having him back again … at feeling alive and whole again with him.

"I love you so much."

"Not as much as I do," he returned, smiling at me. "I really want to get out of here. So we can go live our lives together … see our baby's little face."

"That's still a long way away," I laughed.

"Not that far," he replied and leaned over to kiss me.

"I've been so ... frightened."

"I know. But now I'm here, and it looks like everything's going well … and I have no intention of leaving you ever again."

"Hello," Alex said as she came in. "Sorry to interrupt, but I have to take him for testing."

"Well, okay, just for a few minutes," he said, giving me a look that made me laugh.

"Be good. And don't stay out too late," I said, giving him a couple more lingering kisses on his sweet lips.

"I love you," he said with an adorable pout.

"And I love you," I smiled like a lovesick lunatic.

I plopped down on the couch, trying to wrap my head around the turn of events. Only a few hours ago I thought my life was over, and now … I felt like I couldn't possibly be happier … couldn't possibly feel more vibrant. Just having him near me made me feel better, special, happy, made me smile all the time. No one and nothing could remove the smile from my face when he was with me—well, whole, and happy.

"Hello there."

"Oh! Hello," I said startling. It was James who was leaning through the doorway now.

"How's my son?"

"He's well, James. Very well."

"I'm glad. Do you think—?"

"I think all of this has made him think ... and I do believe that things between you two will go better. You have a chance, but you must not fail him again."

"I know, and I have no intention of failing again. All of this has made me realize that sometimes doing nothing causes more harm than any action would. So I plan to be here for him, until he's back to good health."

"Everything's going to be fine. Alexander and the children will help him. I know that it will be fine."

"I've just come from visiting Edgar, and he's looking forward to seeing his favorite uncle," he said making us laugh. "He's fallen completely under his spell."

"That's easy to do."

"Yes, Martha raised a remarkable man."

"Yes, she did."

"I hope ... I hope to talk to him later."

"Yes, but give him some time. He'll let you know when he's ready, I know he will."

"I'll wait as long as it takes."

"That's right, James."

"Hello?" called another voice, and she poked her head through the doorframe. Luckily this was the ICU, and visitation was restricted, otherwise...

"Hello Lanie."

"Am I interrupting?" she said, dividing her glare between James and me, a broad enough hint that we should finish up.

"Yes, I'm already on my way," he said, taking his leave after allotting me such a smile ... one that closely resembled the one his son always had ready for me.

"All good?"

"All good."

"And Rick?"

"He's perfect. Now it feels like these last few days have just been a nightmare."

"Don't—"

"I know that we can't declare victory yet, but ... he looks good ... and that makes me happy. I need to have a little hope."

"I know."

"I love him so much, that it hurts me even now, not to have him close by. I must be crazy. Did I really just see him only two minutes ago?"

"That's to be expected."

"It is?"

"Yes, you're in love—and what's more, you're pregnant."

"I am. The truth is that I am. I don't deny it, just because I'm not shouting it out to the whole world. He makes me happy ... just to see him, just to have him smile at me, talk to me, kiss me, makes me feel over the moon."

"I'm very happy for you both, and I'm hoping you'll get out of here soon. Then let's have a big party celebrating the happiness of my best friend," she laughed. "I have a mad desire to see you completely happy, living life to the fullest like never I've never seen before."

"Well, when this is all over we'll have cause for a real celebration."

"If you could go back, would you marry him again?"

"A thousand times yes."

"Well then, you should do it again."

"What?"

"You should do it, then. The first time around, your motivations for marrying him were not so clear. Now they're very clear."

"Well, I'd like to. Really. If this all goes well—well, then, I want you to do me a favor, Lanie," I smiled.

TO BE CONTINUED…


Soon, we'll see how those tests go, and find out if he can go home. The final chapter will be on Saturday. Three chapters coming before the end, and I hope you like them. This week also I'll be posting the first chapter of my new story. I'm still not quite sure which day, Thursday or Friday, but on Wednesday I'll post the summary of it, so you can see what you think. For now the title is Escondidos (Hidden). I hope you'll give it a chance, and also follow me to the end of this story. I've learned so much writing this, so I'm happy I did it.

Thank you all and see you Wednesday XXOO

Twitter: tamyalways.

translator: Three more chapters to go, folks. No promises on when I can get them translated, but I'm going to try to do it before I get too caught up with teaching and summer camps. Hopefully soon. Thanks for your reviews and encouraging words.