Chapter 7 "What are you talking about?"

"Well.Michael I love you.I barely remember anything but that I am sure of. I know I want to spend the rest of my life with you. I don't think I can wait another year to be your wife."

"Melissa, this is serious stuff you're talking about."

"We would have to be having a wedding in." Michael paused a moment to count days. "In 9 days!"

"Can we do it?" Melissa was hopeful.

"You hardly know who you are!"

"Does that matter?"

Michael wanted this more then he would let on. But he felt guilty about having a wedding when she barely remembered her life. It wasn't fair to either of them. "To most people it would."

"We aren't most people." Melissa knew.

"Well that's a true statement if I ever heard one." Michael remarked.

"So we're going to do this?"

Michael took a deep breath. "I guess I can get a priest and our close friends here in time. But you wanted the wedding to be on top of Pike's Peak."

"We can still do that.can't we?"

"I can try. But they have to close it down for tours during that time so it may be difficult."

"You'll do your best. And if we can't get the mountain, we can do it here at the house."

"That sounds like a wonderful idea." Michael agreed.

"It will work Michael.and it will be perfect. I don't need a big fancy wedding."

"You're right. And I don't have many friends; you have no family, to the best of my knowledge. So we won't be burning too many bridges by running off and doing this quickly."

"I love you Michael." Melissa leaned in to kiss him, for the frist time since they ahd been reunited.

Michael stopped her and stood up. "Hold on...we need to do this right." Michael momentarily left Melissa's side. He went over to the fireplace in the bedroom and took a small box off the mantle. Returning to the bed, he got down on one knee and offered the now open box. "Will you marry me?"

"Of course I will." Melissa was grinning from ear to ear.

Michael took the ring from the box and slipped it on her finger. "Alright, now we can get married." Michael leaned in to kiss her. Melissa took his lips and they remained locked for several moments, both parties relishing the fell of the other, finally reunited.

"It's so beautiful." She said when they parted.

"Greg picked it out. I had about fifteen picked and couldn't decide."

"Why wasn't I wearing it?"

"Dr. Stevens gave it too me. He said you had it in your pocket when you were found."

"That's odd."

"Yes it is.but one of these days you'll remember why it was there."

"You don't mind marrying me when I don't remember?"

"Not at all. You know who you are and what we have.besides.your memory is coming back quickly now.perhaps in nine days it will be fully returned."

"One can only hope."

"Yea One is a pretty cool guy. Sometimes I feel sorry for him. But I figure if you can only do one thing, hoping is a good way to spend your life."

"Haha very funny."

"Hey you used to like that joke."

"Oh I like it." Melissa laughed. "Are you always so witty?"

"I try."

"I think I should try and sleep."

"Would you mind if I join you?"

Melissa blushed with the thought of her next question. "Do we.that is did we."

"We shared a bed.but not in that way. Unlike many young people this day in age, we wanted to wait until we're married."

"We slept together every night and never."

"That's right."

"Are we crazy?"

"There are times I thought it.but now, I doubt it as for the best."

"Well then I see no harm in you napping with me."

After making she Melissa was comfortable, Michael slowly took off his shirt and climbed into bed. "It's good to be home." She said softly, unknowingly moving into his embrace.

Michael led her further into his arms. He kissed her forehead softly. Melissa sighed softly as she sank down into his embrace. ***

A week later, Michael found Melissa outside waiting for him. He had been gone almost all day everyday, working on wedding plans. It was now two days before the wedding and things were actually falling into place quite nicely. "You're out of bed." He greeted.

Melissa scooted over from her seat to make room for Michael to join her. "I figured I had to get up and help you sometime."

"There's no need." Michael assured, taking a seat on the porch steps. "I have everything taken care of."

"I feel terrible. Here I've been sitting in bed for a week and you've been doing all this work."

"Hey don't feel bad. You needed to rest and get your strength back. I said I'd take care of everything and I will."

"I still feel terrible for being so lazy. This was my idea after all."

"You can help by continuing to get well and getting your memory back."

"I keep thinking about little things. Just little bits and pieces of events."

"It's coming back. Just like I said."

"So did you get a lot done today?" Melissa changed the subject.

"I didn't have much more to do. I got almost everything arranged yesterday. Just tied up a few loose ends today."

Melissa marveled at the remarkable man who would soon be her husband. "How did I ever find someone like you?"

"Well you got on a train to Arizona." Michael teased.

"I still can't believe the wedding is so close."

"It's going to be small and simple."

"It's just what I want." Melissa declared. "It will be perfect."

"I haven't even told you about what I've arranged."

"I trust you." She said. "Besides, I'd rather be surprised."

"You? Wanting to be surprised?"

"Yea, what's so strange about that?"

"You never liked surprises before."

Melissa smiled. "Well I think that I will like this one."

"Hey, we never did take that walk."

"No we didn't."

"Now about now?"

"Sounds wonderful."

Michael took her hand and helped her to stand. Melissa placed one arm around his waist and used the other to support her weight on a cane. "Lean on me." Michael told her. Melissa complied and the couple slowly made their way down to the creek. Michael knew she loved to sit there and listen to the water flowing over the rocks that lined the stream. "Why don't we go fishing?" Michael suggested.

"Fishing?"

"Yea why not?"

"We don't have fishing poles."

"We'll use sticks."

"You know how to do that?"

"Sure." Michael insisted. "You go over there and find some sticks. I'll get some worms."

"Worms?"

"Can't fish without worms."

"Alright I'll look." Melissa grabbed her cane and went over to some trees. She scanned the ground, looking around for some sticks. She found a few and bent over to pick them up. When she stood up, she froze. "Michael!" she screamed.

Michael heard her cry and ran towards the sound. When he reached her, she was standing rigid, staring at a tree. He gently approached her and placed his hand on her shoulder. "Melissa.what's wrong?"

"I remember why I left." She said quietly. "I remember it all."

Michael felt her falling under him. He tried to catch her, but they both ended up on the ground. He saw that she was crying, so Michael immediately took her in his arms. "Tell me Melissa."

Through the tears, she managed to say one last thing. "I don't want to remember anymore."