3 long weeks later
Bobby stalked from wall to wall in the small hospital room. His stance never changed except for the occasional times he would run his fingers roughly through his hair or slam his fist against something, anything.
"You're going to wear a hole in the floor if you don't stop pacing like that," a quiet voice said and Bobby spun around with wide eyes. He stared at Tara's open eyes for a second before sprinting to her bedside.
He breathed a sigh of disbelief and wrapped his fingers securely around her hand, pulling a chair up behind him by hooking his foot around the leg of the plush seat and sat down.
"Hi Bobby," Tara smiled.
"You're awake." He whispered, still reeling from the sudden shock.
"Mm-hmm." She yawned. "That was quite a nap I got there…I guess I won't be able to sleep in for so long ever again. What a shame, it was refreshing."
Bobby wasn't daunted by her soft attitude. "How do you feel, Tara?"
"Honestly? I've been better. But it could be worse, I mean, I could be dead."
"Don't talk like that. You're not dead and if I have anything at all to say or do about it that's not gonna change, sheila."
Tara gave him a small grin. "It's nice to know someone's willing to fight for me." She suddenly turned serious. "What happened to Don?"
"Dead. Greg's caught, too. Got pulled over for speeding," he chuckled humourlessly to himself.
There was a long silence then finally, "It's really over?"
"Yeah. It's really over. For good." Bobby ran his thumb across her cheek assuringly.
"How's Chloe? Please tell me she's okay."
"She is for the most part. The accident put more strain on her leg and the doctor had to put a cast on it again, but she's more worried about you…so is everyone else."
"When can I see her?"
He hesitated and shifted in his chair.
Tara's eye's bore into his. "Bobby…" she warned.
"I'm just not sure if you're up to it and-"
"Bobby, I want to see Chloe."
He tried to frantically think of a reasonable excuse to change her mind but a voice in his head told him that nothing would sway Tara on a decision she had already made; especially not this one. "Well, can you at least wait a few minutes? I don't want to seem so selfish but right now I don't think I want to share you," Bobby confessed.
She smiled knowingly at him. "You have ten minutes."
"Well, then I'd better make good use of it, eh?" Bobby smirked, and then it faded. "I'd kiss you but I'm afraid that I'm going to break you."
"I won't snap in half or anything, promise." Bobby frowned and looked her over, as if assessing whether she would or not. "Bobby, if you don't kiss me within the next five seconds I will crawl out of this bed and find Chloe myself. Five…four…three…"
"Okay, okay. But if I hurt you, you can't sue me."
"Two…"
Bobby leaned forward carefully, bracing one arm on the far side of the bed holding his body high enough above hers. He brushed a strand of light brown hair away from Tara's face then softly planted his lips on hers; he instantly felt waves of energy fly throughout his body. Bobby pulled back but remained only a few inches away from Tara.
"…One." Tara whispered.
Bobby was staring intently at his sleeping fiancé with his elbows braced on his knees and his chin resting on his fist when he felt a friendly hand on his shoulder. He glanced up to see who it was. "Hi, Sparky."
"Hey, Bobby." Jack pulled up a chair next to him and Bobby went back to gluing his eyes onto Tara. "She's not going to disappear if you blink, you know."
"That's what you think until you do and then she's gone forever."
"But she isn't gone." Jack reminded.
"It was too close, Jack, too close. If anything like that ever happens again-"
"It's done," Jack interrupted. "Don's dead, Greg is in jail, and you can believe me when I say he's going away for a very long time. You have nothing to worry about."
"Hmm," was all that he would commit to.
He squirmed a bit in seat, not sure if he was comfortable with what he was hearing. "I'm not sure what I can say or do."
"I guess there's nothing either of us can do," Bobby muttered, then he turned to face his friend. "But nevertheless, thanks for trying."
"Hey, what are friends for?" Jack smiled as he shrugged and once again placed a hand on Bobby's shoulder.
6 months later
Tara's eyes flew open when the alarm clock buzzer went off and the second she remembered what day it was a broad smile formed on her lips. She whacked the snooze button and flew out of bed. Tara walked over to the large glass doors and was greeted with a beautiful sight.
"Hello Florida." She whispered to herself and stared at the scenery below her. At six stories high in one of the most luxurious hotels on the Florida coast her breath was stolen. A few people already dotted the grand beach in front of her while others lounged by the pool or ate breakfast at the outdoor café. Shallow waves coming from the deep blue ocean hurtled towards the shoreline where they eventually collided with the white sand. The entire bright and heat-radiating sun could be seen in the cloudless and blue sky. "I'm getting married today!" she shouted, even though she was the only one who could hear it.
Tara raced to the phone in the living room – which was actually quite large for being in a hotel room – and jumped onto the leather couch beside the end table which it was sitting on. She dialed the numbers to another room in the hotel. As soon as her first bridesmaids answered Tara screamed, "I'm getting MARRIED today!"
Lucy laughed, "I know, Tare, I'm in the wedding."
"I'll talk to you in half an hour, bye!"
"B-" Lucy was cut of when Tara hung up the phone, then picked it up again and dialed another number.
"Hi, Michelle! Guess what? I'm getting MARRIED today!"
"Good morning to you, too," she laughed.
Tara sighed dreamily, "It really is a good morning, isn't it? Well, I gotta go, see ya!" She hung up the phone and dialed again, not realizing her mistake. As soon as the phone was picked up on the other end she exclaimed, "I'm getting MARRIED today! MARRIED!"
"Really?" an Australian accent filled her ears, "What a surprise? So am I. To a beautiful sheila named Tara. Hey if you see her, could you tell her that I love her? She has these gorgeous hazel eyes that I could drown in-"
"Hi Bobby."
He chuckled. "Hello Tara. Having a good morning?"
"Um-hmm. How about you?"
"Very."
"Well, I've got to go. See you later, Bobby. I love you."
"I love you, too."
Tara hung up the phone, still smiling to herself. "I'M GETTING MARRIED TODAY!" she shouted with all her strength.
An aggravated shout came from under her feet. "We know!"
Tara's grin remained, though. Her mood wasn't going to change for the world. Besides, she was getting married.
A/N: please please please review:)