Late afternoon….

Lunch outside was beautiful, the weather amazing and the wine divine. But he barely enjoyed it as all he could think of was their talk this morning.

"Eric…" Stephanie called him taking him out of his thoughts.

"What" He looked up confused?

"Let's go for a walk" She suggested.

After paying the bill, they went on their walk down the path and towards the lake.

Stephanie could see how distracted he was, and she knew their talk this morning took a toll on him.

They spent the day by the lake and enjoyed it immensely although at times they were both distracted.

They got back to the hotel suite later than planned so they decided to order room service for dinner.

Stephanie took a hot bath and then slipped on casual, comfy clothes as they sat to eat. She noticed how quiet he was and then after how much he was drinking. As she watched him pour yet another glass of brandy she got concerned and placed her hand over the glass preventing him from picking it up.

"At least let me drink" He said not angrily but his voice was…filled with emotion.

"Don't you think you have had enough" She asked gently? She did not want to fight. Not tonight.

"When I can stop thinking then it will be enough" He said as he took the glass and drank it.

Stephanie crossed her arms across her chest as she watched him disapprovingly.

"Tell me what you are thinking" She asked wanting him to open- up?

"How unfair it is" He admitted.

"What is unfair" She asked although she suspected he was talking about her cancer, her dying?

He looked at her confirming her thoughts.

"Eric…that isn't going to help" She said concerned but instantly regretted it as he placed the glass down a bit hard and then walked away from her and towards the door.

"Where are you going" She asked as she followed him?

"To the lobby so I can drink all I want and not be lectured" He spat upset.

"I'm not lecturing. It's the truth and you know it" She replied.

He stopped at the door, his hand on the door- knob.

"If you walk out that door and get drunk. Do not join me in the bed tonight" She threatened although she suspected it would do no good anyway.

"Don't wait up" He replied as he walked out.

Stephanie clenched her fists angrily and stormed off to bed. But after an hour, she threw the covers off and got up, put clothes on and left the room after him.

Eric was sitting at the bar, an untouched glass of brandy in front of him and a young woman sitting beside him.

Stephanie could not get angry though because as she watched him, she noticed he did not seem drunk. He was quiet appearing to be listening to the woman talking excessively, but she suspected he was not. He seemed…sad very, sad. She sighed as she walked over to him.

"You must be the wife" The young woman pointed out with a smile. She seemed drunk. Poor thing.

"I am" Stephanie replied honestly.

"Your husband is so sweet and…well…such a gentleman" She smiled.

"Yes, he is" Stephanie smiled as she looked at him lovingly.

"He showed me pictures. You have such a beautiful family" She continued to ramble.

"Thank you" Stephanie replied as she touched Eric hand with her own. Their rings twinkling.

His eyes took in the sight of the rings right before he looked at her sadly.

"Are you joining us" The young woman asked hopeful?

"No. I…we…I think it's time we go" Stephanie admitted.

"Oh…well…thank you for the company. I hope you both have a lovely night" The young woman said seeming sad that she was being left alone.

Eric got off the stool, leaving the glass of brandy behind as he replied, "the pleasure was mine. Thank you and goodnight."

Stephanie wrote the room number down on the bill which she noticed had been for one brandy and two cosmopolitans as she wished the woman a good night.

They walked out of the lobby in silence. Instead of heading toward the elevator, she took his hand and lead him to a private spot near the window so they could see the ocean in the night. They sat side by side.

"You were right. It is unfair. If I could, I would fight. You know me. But…she shook her head…I would rather be with you and the kids then over medicated or flying across the globe seeking treatments. I do not want to waste any more time. I know I am asking a lot from you. But I…I need you Eric" She confessed.

"For what" He asked honestly? He honestly did not know. When did she ever truly need him? And, as his memories reminded him, when could she ever rely on him?

"What" She asked shocked?

"I do nothing but disappoint you. Don't pretend it isn't true" He challenged her.

"You are not disappointing me. You are trying to make sense of this and…I understand. I've had longer to process this than you have" She admitted. She knew she was wrong keeping it from him for as long as she did.

"I would never be okay with this" He admitted as he looked out the window.

"I know" She replied in understanding.

"You want me to go on and pretend…I can't do that" He said upset.

"I would never ask you to pretend. Never. I just…want us to spend time with our family" She admitted honestly.

"And then you want us to let you go. But you will not tell me where or with who? Where are you going Stephanie" He asked?

"Let us discuss this another time, all right? Not here" She tried to reason with him.

"Who are you going to be with Stephanie" He asked ignoring her response?

"Eric…" She tried to calm him as she touched his hand. "Please."

"I deserve to know" He stated as he stood up upset.

Stephanie followed him back to the room as she thought about his words. He was right. He did deserve to know.

Once they were in bed, she looked at him as she thought about what she would say.

He was wide awake staring up at the ceiling in silence.

"Is it Massimo you're going to be with" He asked shocking her?

"No, of course not" She replied once the shock left her, and irritation took over.

"At least I would know you're being taken care of" He said his own irritation taking over.

"You don't have to worry about that...I…" She tried to find the words, but she was scared that he would not understand why she decided to do this.

"How can I not worry? I do not know where you are going. Or who you are going to be with? Stephanie, who and where" He asked again getting more upset?

"Eric…" She tried to get him to stop questioning her, but she knew she would not succeed this time by the look on his face. He was not letting this go.

"Stephanie, tell me" He insisted.

"Alright. It is a hospice clinic. I planned for it when I decided to stop taking the medication" She forced herself to admit although everything in her body begged her not to.

Her words shattered his heart. She could see it clearly in his eyes.

"I'm sorry. I want to be with you all for as long as I can. And I…I do not want to hurt any of you by letting you see me that way. That is not the kind of memories I want all of you to remember. Please tell me you understand why I made this decision" She held her breath hoping that past the hurt and anger he would surely feel that he would also find understanding.

His tears came out making her heart ache. But when he turned his back to her it crushed her.

She wanted to reach out to him and hold him but, she was afraid. Afraid he would reject her.

The next day….

Stephanie woke up with a headache after crying herself to sleep the night before. Watching Eric left a feeling inside of her that she could not shake, and she realized how wrong she had been. She instantly noticed Eric was not in bed. She sighed as she got up and went into the bathroom to freshen up. An hour later, she came out of the bedroom and saw a note on the table. She sighed as she took it and read it.

"I went for a walk. I will bring back breakfast."

She opened the curtain and allowed the sun to shine inside. She sat down and waited for him to return. She did not have to wait long. As promised, he came in with breakfast and coffee/tea. They sat down and ate in silence.

"About last night" She began to talk feeling a bit nervous.

He looked at her sadly.

"You always tell me I treat you like one of the children and you're right. I was wrong for excluding you. I should have asked you what you wanted" She forced herself to say.

"I only want to be with you Stephanie" He admitted honestly.

Her heart squeezed, "Eric…."

"Haven't I shown you that is all I want, cancer and all…." He whispered as he looked at her.

"Yes…yes, you have" She admitted.

"Then let me be there for you" He begged her.

"I don't want to hurt you anymore" She whispered.

"Then don't exclude me" He whispered back.

She found herself nodding her head in agreement although she still wanted to protect him from that. She knew she could not. She also knew if roles were reversed…she suddenly remembered they had been once. He was dying and she forced herself into his life, his marriage with Donna so she could care for him. How wrong she has been all this time excluding him.

"Say the words Stephanie" He pushed gently. He wanted her word that he could be there with her until the end.

She looked into his eyes and forced herself to say, "we will take this honeymoon, go back home and spend time with the family and when it is time…we'll leave together."

"And" He pushed. He wanted her word.

"And we will be together at the clinic until…the end" She forced herself to finish.

"Until the end" He replied as he reached out and took her hand in his.

Late afternoon….

Deciding there had been enough sadness over the last two days Eric and Stephanie ventured out on a day trip with a sightseeing tour bus. They had never done this before as they usually were here for fashion business but, today they were going to be tourists. Stephanie was ready with her hat, sunscreen, sunglasses, comfortable walking shoes and her camera. Eric had on his hat, sunscreen, comfortable walking shoes and sunglasses. He was leaving the picture taking to Stephanie. The bus began to move as the guide began to talk about their destinations for the day. That was when Stephanie noticed the young lady from the lobby bar that Eric had been talking to. She noticed for the first time her wedding ring.

"You alright" Eric asked when he noticed she seemed distracted?

"Yes…sorry" Stephanie smiled as she focused her attention back on the speaker.

After a half hour they arrived at their first destination. They all got off the bus and stood in a circle while the speaker informed them that they could either follow her or venture out on their own, but they must be back at the bus in an hour and a half as they will be leaving to the second destination.

"What do you think" Eric asked wanting her to decide?

Stephanie saw the young woman and a man speaking. She looked flustered and spoke with her hands. They were clearly arguing. The man walked away from her, and she followed him. Feeling uneasy about leaving her alone with the man, Stephanie said, "why don't we go on our own."