Arie's POV:
I flinched away as the doctor pointed a light into my head once more.
My brother Clint had shown up with my other brother Charlie as soon as I woke up.
"Is there a reason why she can't remember?" Clint asked, staring at me worried.
"It's temporary. From what I could tell in the x-rays it's her temporal lobe, that's the part where the long term memories are stored, is swollen. Though the swelling has gone down, it'll take a while before she can remember everything. In the meantime the best we can do is help her ease into everything slowly." Dr. Reyes explained.
I sighed, clutching at my head as I strained to get my memories back.
"What about her kids? Her husband? Will she remember them?" Charlie asked, concerned.
My head snapped up in their direction. Husband? Kids?
"W-w-wait. I have kids? And a husband? Where are they?" I asked them, shooting off the bed.
"How long will it take for her to remember?" Clint asked, effectively stopping me from standing up.
"From what I could tell. It could be days, weeks, months or hours. It will all depend on her…" The doctor said as they turned to look at me.
My eyes watered, as I struggled to understand.
What happened to me?
Where is my family?
"Woah. Woah. Easy, Arie. I'll call him. And ask to bring them. In the meantime, calm down." Clint said, as he eased me back onto the bed.
Clint took my hand into a sad expression on his face as I stared at them feeling disoriented.
"What about mom and dad?" I asked, concerned, as I peeked through my lashes.
Why hadn't they come to see me after the accident?
"Arie, mom and dad died almost ten years ago…" Charlie said.
Clint turned sharply towards Charlie smacking him upside the head and shaking this head at him.
"What in the hell was that for Clint?" He asked.
"You dumbass! She's supposed to remember! How is she going to remember if you're telling her shit! That could hurt her in the long run!" Clint growled.
I gasped, shaking my head frantically, disbelief and agony hitting me like a punch in the gut.
"H-how did it happen?" I asked, as my eyes brimmed over as I looked at them.
"Clint, go call Barnes… now! Tell him to get his ass over here!" He ordered as I tried to control my breathing.
Barnes?
The name ricocheted around my head, bringing memories of me and a faceless man.
A kiss so deep and passionate that I could feel my insides melt into a puddle.
Who was this Barnes guy? And why was he so important to me and my brothers?
Before I could ask, Clint rushed out of the room, cell phone in hand as he walked out the door.
"They're dead?" I questioned softly, in disbelief as I sat there unable to form any other thought.
Charlie turned back towards me, sighing sadly before nodding. "Before I explain what happened to them… I need you to promise me you won't do anything rash." He said.
"Fuck being rash! What happened to mom and dad, Charlie!" I asked, as I ripped out the intravenous catheter and hopped off the bed.
"Arie, where are you going?" He asked, rushing to my side.
As he did the doors opened, and three guys came rushing in.
Flashes of memories came flooding back as I stared at them.
Friends?
"What the hell did you do, Charlie?" Clint asked as he and the tall, muscular, handsome, blue-eyed man moved towards me.
"Doll, it's me." He murmured, moving towards me.
The sound of his deep voice made my inside warm, and my heart skipped a beat.
Smooth, warm, and husky.
"Who are you?" I asked, as his voice reverberated in my head as another flash of images began to flood my head.
He was the one I was with in those memories.
When he didn't say anything, I reached up to touch his face. The motion screaming familiarity.
"You're— You're the man. The one from my memories…" I whispered, dazed, as my head began to swim.
I could feel myself begin to fall back only to be caught by the man.
I could feel him as he gathered me in a familiar position in his arms before taking me over to the bed, and applying pressure on my arm.
"What's wrong with her?" I heard him ask as he looked at my brothers.
"She was hit on the temporal lobe, it's where all the long term memories are stored." Clint explained.
"So, she doesn't remember anything…?" The other man asked, as Charlie looked into the file.
"She remembers bits and pieces. She remembers us. That we're her brothers but other than that… she hasn't said anything else." Clint explained.
"Doll face…" he whispered, kneeling in front of me.
I frowned at the familiar yet unfamiliar name. Trying hard to remember.
"I feel like I know you…" I whispered, reaching out to touch his face as I felt a dull ache on the side of my head.
"What do you remember, doll?" He asked, taking my hand into his to reveal similar tattoos on our left wrists.
"Bits and pieces. I can remember clClint and Charlie being my brothers… You. Mostly random things about you… but everything else feels so unfamiliar…" I explained, frowning.
"Like what?" He asked, frowning as he enveloped my hand with his large one.
"A cold place. Dark. Really dark… Screaming… Agony. Then… us leaving… Happiness so much happiness... Like the world was finally safe." I whispered confusedly.
He nodded, exchanging looks with everyone in the room. "What about the kids? Do you remember them?" He asked.
I closed my eyes, before opening them, and shaking my head in defeat.
"Do you think it would overwhelm you to see them?" He asked, giving me a doubtful look.
"I am already overwhelmed. I want to see them either way please…." I whispered.
"If you're sure you can handle seeing them then, doll, then alright." He finally said, before standing up. "I'll be back, milaya." He said.
More information swarmed in my head as he spoke. That nickname, the loving endearment that he always calls me that drips with honey and warmth.
My head began to throb painfully as he walked out of the room.
I clutched at my head, squeezing my eyes shut as the new information bounced around in my head, biting back a groan.
"Clint… it hurts…" I groaned, pressing my heels of my hands into my eyes to alleviate some of the pressure I had begun to suddenly feel.
As soon as the blue-eyed man walked back in with what seemed to be our mini carbon copies and a small red headed woman, my pain multiplied, and suddenly it everything went black again.
