The feel of his thumb softly caressing my cheek woke me. I let my eyes remain closed as he brushed hair away from my eyes and face. While one arm held me close at the waist, his other hand settled at the back of my neck, pulling my upper body to his.

"Nick…" I whispered almost silently, and he took in a deep breath.

I could feel him against me, his hard chest pressed into mine as I molded against him. He kissed up and down my neck delicately; his lips touched my skin so lightly I assumed he thought maybe I would break. I closed my eyes and enjoyed the sensation, the heavy feel of love in the room gently starting to lull me back to sleep. I rested my head on his shoulder, my forehead touching the side of his neck. My eyelids grew heavier as he rubbed my back, and I couldn't help but let out a contented sigh.

"Mmmm…" a slight moan was his thank you, and he breathed a gentle laugh. His lips connected with the side of my head, and I snuggled into his warm body. His fingers played unconsciously with my hair before settling on stroking it in no repetitive movement. I could feel myself inches away from falling back asleep when he whispered something into the darkness.

"You're so beautiful."

It was the first thing he had said to me since we had fallen asleep after our fight.

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I was scared to open my eyes. I knew if I did, this fake euphoria that we had been pretending was reality would break, and I would have to face her, and face the truth of what I had done. I'm sure she thinks I'm…well, I don't know what she thinks but if its anything close to how much I hate myself at this moment, I'm screwed.

"Sara...baby wake up…" I whispered, nuzzling my face into her neck. She moaned softly, and the sound of it stirred the never dying arousal I felt when I was with her. She took my face in her hands as she awoke, and our eyes connected as her thumbs trailed across each cheek.

"I love it when you call me that. Baby, I mean." She said as she looked at me, staring deep into my eyes as she continued.

"It's every girls dream right? To find the man she loves more than anything in the world, and to have him want every one to know that he loves her back. So he calls her a pet name. But you…you call me baby. That's the most…loving one of all. I've never… I've never been anyone's…baby." At this last sentence she looked away, ashamed, as if she had over stepped a boundary. Her hands slid slowly off my face, but I caught them and pressed them, hard, into my upper chest. Her eyes strayed up my chest and locked onto our clasped hands, but she refused to look me in the eye.

"Sara…" I murmured, dipping down to capture her lips. At first she seemed unsure, but slowly and sweetly, she responded. I wiped away a stray tear that had rolled lazily down her cheek, and pulled her into my arms in a gentle, sweeping embrace.

"Sara I…I love you. I want the whole world to know that I am in love with you. When I call you baby, it's…God Sara it's so much more then a pet name! I…I can't describe it…it's like I'm actually calling you my baby. Someone I have to love, nurture and to take care of, when they are sick or well. Someone to feed, clothe, and assume the responsibility that I have their full trust, that they cannot survive without me. I can't survive without you Sara, and that's exactly why you…yes you…are my baby."

She broke down at this confession, and I held her tight. She cried for a long time, and I think I can be quite certain that these tears were not only from what I had just said. Little things and big things alike were pouring out in the form of salty droplets, and it was all I could do to rub her back and soothe her.

"I love you Sara. I always will. Don't ever think different, because I know that whatever happens, I'll never stop loving you." I said, my voice slowly declining to a whisper as I continued, "Feel this Sara? Do you understand where you are? It's where I always need you, right here in my arms…"

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We saw Kayla the next day. She was happy for us; we were happy together.

It was an emotional goodbye for all of us. I could tell very easily that Sara and my sister had bonded on a level I couldn't possibly understand, and I was happy; they were happy together.

Sara leaned especially close to me that day. She held my hand especially close, whispered especially soft, and she was happy; I was happy that we were together.

As I held Sara tight on the flight back home, watching her fluttering eyelids and her chest rise and fall in the midst of sleep, I thought back on all that had happened to us this trip.

Sara had been there when I had found out about Kayla and her accident. She initially comforted me and volunteered herself to go with me. She silently overcame her fear of flying for me. I told her the story about my mother's tee shirts; I took her to see the horses, the second fear she overcame for me. She met my family; she prepared me and comforted me before the first time I went to see my sister. She understood my pain and anguish, and she came to the hospital with me, the third fear she overcame for me.

This first time I held Sara's hand, the first time I felt her lips on mine, all these things happened in Texas. She bonded with my sisters and with Kayla. She told me her secret. The reason she is who she is is now known by me and my sister. I kiss the top of her head for this, a silent thank you for her opening up to me like she did.

She lay in the hammock with me, she forgave me when I forced her into something she didn't want, and she loved me throughout all this.

What more could I ask for?

Sara stirred in her sleep, and I tucked hair behind her ear and kissed her forehead.

"I love you Nicky." She whispered, curling into my shoulder in a sleepy haze.

"And I love you Sar."

I smiled. We would be happy together.

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THE FINAL NOTE!

Okay okay, so kill me for being too lazy to write, and having the last chapter short as a fly's lifespan. I was going to just cut this chapter out however and just call chapter sixteen the finale, so be happy you got something.

Sorry the ending sucked. I didn't have passion for this story anymore, and I just wanted to finish it.

HOWEVER, for all you who now hate me because they wanted more, I have at LEAST one multi chap sequel in the works. I also have an idea for a one shot sequel even AFTER that.

Well, I'll see you guys around. Thanks for sticking with me on this one; I'll keep pumpin out the NS until they figure it out on the show.

Then I'll be so ecstatic I won't be able to write.

----- Notorious -----