"Feel like a visitor?" I asked softly as I entered Adam's lavish bedroom at his father's home.

Adam smiled from his double bed, surrounded by machines and tubes. "Of course."

I smiled and sat down beside him, careful not to sit on anything important. I leant over and kissed his lips softly. "How does it feel to be home?"

"Good." He reached for my hand and held it. "It feels better now you're here."

I looked at the machine next to Adam's side. "Do you know what any of this is?"

He nodded. "I've been so bored I actually started listening to the doctors when they were talking to me."

I laughed. "Ok smart guy. What's it for?"

Adam shifted and pointed to the screen. "This is to monitor my vitals. This is respiratory rate, pulse oximetry, heart rate. And this one is blood pressure. Diastolic and systolic."

"Not bad, smarty pants," I told him, getting comfortable next to him.

"I have a lot of spare time on my hands."

"How was the chemo?"

He shrugged. "Not great, but not bad. The doctors seem to think that if anything is going to work, it's going to be the chemo."

"Adam, do you think you can make it through this?"

He paused. "Yes. I do. It's a thin hope, but it's all I have."

I broke his gaze and looked around his room. I'd spent so many good times in this room, there were years of memories encapsulated in the walls. There were photos hanging from the walls, a blown up portrait of Adam and I from our senior prom, smiling happily.

"Penny for your thoughts."

"I was just thinking about all the time we'd spent here together."

Adam smiled. "Remember 3 weeks before graduation?"

I laughed. "How could I forget?"

"Adam, I'm disappointed that you'd be so frivolous."

My face burned and I hung my head.

"And Dakota. I understand you're teenagers, but what about the sacred bounds of marriage? Your virginity is a gift you give to your husband or wife."

I couldn't look Mr. Banks in the eye. "I'm sorry, sir."

I didn't really understand what all the fuss was about. Adam and I loved each other, so we made love. What was so wrong about that?

"Adam, your room, now please."

Adam squeezed my hand under the ornate dining room table and left the room.

"Dakota, you can go home."

I nodded and excused myself quietly, leaving the house quickly. I walked down the front walk until the front door was closed before darting to the left and rounding the house.

"Psst!" I hissed up at Adam's open window.

He stuck his head out. "Get up here."

I grinned and began to climb the drainpipe, careful not to snag my dress.

"Hey there," I greeted as I stepped into Adam's room.

He crossed the room to his doors and flipped the lock into place before coming back to me and wrapping his arms around my waist.

I kissed him hard on the lips, the lecture we'd just received slipping out of my head as Adam lifted my dress up over my head...

"I'm going to miss you."

Adam stroked my face. "Don't talk like that. We'll always be together. In here." He pointed to my chest. "And if we're lucky enough, I'll make it through this. I did when I was first diagnosed."

"Marry me."

Adam frowned. "I beg your pardon?"

I clasped his hand between mine. "Adam, marry me."

He frowned again. "Have you been watching A Walk To Remember?"

"I'm serious," I told him, my eyes pleading with his. "Marry me, and then we'll always be together."

"Dakota, I can't have you do that. You can't marry me when I'm so sick..."

"I don't want to be with anyone else."

Adam sighed. "Maybe not now, but in 10 years, who knows?"

Tears built up behind my eyes. "Adam Banks. I've known you for 15 years, and for 6 of those years, I've loved you. I will never want anyone else as my husband."

"Dakota, do you know what you're doing? Do you understand I might not be around to give you children, to love you for the rest of your life?"

My bottom lip quivered. "Please..."

He didn't say anything, just stared into my eyes. "Ask me again."

"Adam Banks. Will you marry me?"

He paused. "Yes. I'll marry you."

"Do you know what time it is?"

"Fulton!" I hissed, swatting him with my bag. "You scared the shit outta me!"

He chuckled and flicked on my bedroom light. "So, where were you."

I slid off my shoes. "At Adam's. He got home today."

Fulton nodded. "I know. But why so late?"

I frowned. "Why so interested?"

He shrugged and flopped down onto my bed. "Because I can't sleep and I need something to stimulate me."

"Then why don't you lock yourself in the bathroom with a magazine?"

"Ha ha," Fulton said sarcastically. "Dish."

"What makes you think there's something to dish?" I asked, running my brush through my hair.

"I have a feeling."

I sighed. "Adam and I are engaged."

Fulton's eyes dilated. "Whoa...are you sure that's a good idea?"

I frowned. "What are you talking about? I love him, he loves me."

"Dakota...Adam's got cancer."

"Geez, thanks Mr. Reality. It's not like I've forgotten."

"Dee..."

"If you're gonna tell me it's a bad idea, or you think it's stupid, I don't want to hear it, Fulton."

He shrugged and got up off my bed. "I just want you to be happy."

"How do you feel?"

Adam smiled and squeezed my hand as we walked through the mall. "Good. But for a while there, I didn't think mom would let me out of the house."

I smiled. "I'm glad you feel ok today to be able to shop with me."

"It's our wedding. Even if I was unconscious I'd be shopping with you today."

I dodged a woman with a pram as we stopped at a bench. "All we have to do is double check the flower order," I told Adam as he sat down. "And they're we're all set for the wedding on the weekend."

He smiled up at me. "How did I get so lucky?"

I sat down beside him. "I was thinking the same thing."

He leaned over and brushed his lips lightly against mine. "I love you more than life."

"Hey, me too," I told him, squeezing his hand.

"I'm sorry this has been such a crazy week," Adam said, pushing a stray hair out of my eye.

"I understand," I told him. "At least the chemo seems to be working."

Adam nodded. "I feel drowsy, but that's expected."

I looked around me at all the people shopping crazily, and wondered how I got to be here. Three weeks ago I got home from college, and now I was engaged, planning my wedding, dealing with my fiancé's cancer and trying to stay sane.

It seemed unreal.

The man I was marrying might die soon.

"Hey you two!"

I forced my thoughts out of my head and smiled up at Charlie and Averman.

"Hey," Adam greeted.

"You're lookin' healthy," Charlie commented to Adam, who nodded.

"And you look lovely," Averman told me, holding out a hand for me to take so I could stand.

I did so. "Thank you Mr. Averman."

He bowed. "You're most welcome, soon to be Mrs. Banks."

I smiled and watched as Adam stood, and began to sway.

"Whoa, watch out buddy," Charlie said, reaching out for Adam and steadied him.

"Dizzy spell. Damn chemo," Adam muttered and got his balance. He smiled at me. "I'm fine."

I narrowed my eyes. "If you say so."

He smiled and wrapped his arms around me, hugging me to his chest. I lay my head against him and listened to the rhythmic beating of his heart.

"Ok, it's great and all you're back together, but you're verging on sickening," Averman commented and I reluctantly let go of Adam.

Charlie wrapped an arm around Adam's shoulder and walked away with him.

"How are you doing?" Averman asked me as we sat down on the bench.

I smiled. "Good. Every day's a new day."

He nodded. "And Adam? How's he going?"

"Good. The chemo is knocking him about, but he's able to get out of bed everyday."

"You know Dakota, if there's anything I can do for you, you know, if you're too busy, just let me know."

I looked over at Adam and Charlie, talking amongst themselves in front of Dunkin' Donuts and I smiled. "I think we're gonna be ok."

"Are you scared?"

I looked at Connie and nodded. "I'm scared that he won't be with me for very long."

She nodded and smoothed her hands down over the soft fabric of the pale green bridesmaid dress I'd chosen. "What about the wedding?"

I shook my head. "I can't wait. I just want to be married."

I looked at myself critically in the full-length mirror set up in the Banks' conference room, turned dressing room for the dress rehearsals.

"Do I look ok?" I asked Connie, brushing a piece of lint from my simple dress.

"Ok?" Connie echoed. "You look like royalty."

I smiled. "I hope Adam likes it."

"Only a day away."

I drew in a shaky breath. "Am I doing the right thing? I mean, what if I lose him next week?"

Connie took my hand. "Even if Adam passes away, you'll never lose him, Dakota."

"I'm so scared that I will..."

Connie pulled me into a hug. "You could never lose him. He wouldn't let that happen."

I took a deep breath and let her go. "You're right."

"Of course I am," she smiled. "And now that we've determined we both look incredibly beautiful, we should get you home and into bed for a full night's rest before the big day tomorrow."

I smiled. "Thank you. For everything."

"You never have to thank me Dakota."