Author's Note: I'm finally back to work on all of my stories. This one is nearing the completion and I am beginning work on a new story involving Tommy and my character Nikki. So if you enjoyed this one, maybe you'll like that one as well.
"That's the last of them," Tommy said as he taped up the last box of Nikki's things which were being sent to his home in Reefside.
"I can't believe it's time for us to leave already, I'm going to miss this place," Nikki said as she looked around her apartment which was now totally empty.
"I'd better go and get Abby from Maria's," Tommy said leaving Nikki alone with Bruno.
"I don't know what to say Bruno, we've been through a lot these past few years, you helped me raise my daughter and now I feel as though we're abandoning you," Nikki told him.
"Do not worry about me, I will be fine, I will miss you both terribly but it makes my heart glad to know that you and Abby will finally have your happy ending, Thomas is a fine man and I know that he will take good care of you," Bruno told her as he embraced her in a hug.
"Just promise you'll come and visit us sometime in the States," Nikki replied.
"Of course, I'll probably be there sooner than you think, I wouldn't want to miss your wedding," Bruno said as Tommy entered the room with Abby in tow.
"Bruno, you're here!" Abby exclaimed as she jumped into his arms.
"You don't really think I would let my beautiful butterfly go all the way to America without saying goodbye do you?" Bruno asked as he held Abby in his arms.
"Did you and Maria have a nice sleepover?" Nikki asked once Bruno had put Abby down.
"Yeah but I'm sad Mommy, I'm never going to see Maria again," Abby said as tears welled up in her eyes.
"That's not true Abby, me, you and your daddy will come back to visit, I promise," Nikki said as she gave Abby a hug.
"Your Mommy's right, we can come back to visit anytime you want," Tommy promised his daughter.
"Maybe not anytime, but during the summers would be good," Nikki told him.
"I wish Bruno were coming with us," Abby told her.
"I know but Bruno will come and visit us," Nikki replied.
"Your mama's right I promise to visit you and you can call me, and write me letters and draw me lots of pictures of your new home," Bruno told Abby.
"I still wish you were coming," Abby admitted.
"Abby, I have had the pleasure of taking care of you since you were just a tiny little baby, I love you like you were my own daughter but you have your daddy back now and it's time for you and your mommy and daddy to become a real family," Bruno explained.
"Ok Bruno, but don't forget me," Abby told him.
"I could never forget the most beautiful little butterfly in the world," Bruno said as he took Abby into his arms once again.
"I'm going to miss you," Abby told him.
"I will miss you too Allison," Bruno said as a tear rolled down his cheek.
"Ti amo Bruno," Abby said as she gave him a kiss on the cheek.
"I love you too," he said as he handed her to Tommy.
"Ok, well we better get going to the airport," Nikki said.
"Thanks again for taking care of my family," Tommy said as he shook Bruno's hand.
"It was my pleasure," Bruno replied as Tommy and Abby headed for the door.
"We'll be down in the car," Tommy told Nikki as Abby waved goodbye to Bruno.
"You will keep your promise to her won't you?" Nikki asked as she fought back tears.
"You know I will, now what's with all the tears, you have nothing but happiness to look forward to," Bruno told her.
"I know but this place was our home for so long, what if it's not the same in Reefside," Nikki replied.
"Reefside will be home because that's where Thomas and Abby will be," Bruno stated as he walked Nikki to the door.
"I guess we'll see you at the wedding," Nikki said as she gave him one last hug goodbye.
"I wouldn't miss it for the world," Bruno declared.
Hours later, Nikki, Tommy and Abby were flying back to Reefside on a jet that had been provided to them by Anton Mercer. Abby was beginning to get impatient because of the long flight.
"Hey Abby, come look out the window at our new home," Nikki called to her daughter as the plane descended into Reefside.
"I'm so happy to finally have you home with me," Tommy told Abby as they finally made it to his house.
"What do you think of your daddy's house?" Nikki asked.
"Our house," Tommy quickly corrected her.
"I like it," Abby decided as Tommy helped her out of the car.
"Looks like Hayley decided to welcome us home," Tommy said noticing that her car was out front.
"Surprise!" a chorus of voices said as they stepped inside.
"What are guys doing here?" Tommy asked seeing that Hayley wasn't alone and that his students were with her.
"Hayley called and explained everything to us," Kira told him.
"Yeah thanks for keeping us in the loop, Dr. O," Ethan chided him.
"Sorry, I've just had a lot to deal with lately," Tommy replied.
"I can't believe we leave for the summer and you come home with a fiancée and a daughter," Conner told him.
"Daddy, who are they?" Abby asked speaking for the first time.
"That's Kira, Conner and Ethan, they were students of mine, guys this is Abby," Tommy said making the introductions.
"And I'm Nicole but you can call me Nikki," Nikki added in.
"Is it just me or does Dr. O seem to the best luck at getting hot women," Conner said.
"You'll have to excuse him," Kira said.
"Yeah he doesn't really think before he talks," Ethan agreed.
"Hey, I meant it as a compliment," Conner told them.
"It's ok, Thomas told me all about you," Nikki said with a smile.
"Welcome home Nikki," Hayley said as she hugged her friend.
"Abby, this is one of mommy's best friends, and she's also your godmother," Nikki said.
"I'm Hayley and I'm sure we're going to get to know each other really well," Hayley said as she knelt down to give Abby a hug.
"Well I guess we should get going and let you settle in," Kira decided.
"Yeah we'll stop by and see you again soon," Ethan told them.
"It was nice meeting you," Nikki replied as the three teens left.
"I should go too," Hayley told them.
"You really don't have to do that," Nikki told her.
"I know but you need sometime alone to get settled in and I'm sure Abby's tired from the long flight," Hayley replied.
"I think you're right about that," Tommy said noticing that Abby was beginning to look sleepy.
"Yeah come to think of it, I'm pretty tired myself," Nikki agreed.
"Well I'll let you guys get some rest, I'm really happy your home," Hayley said as she left.
"I'll put Abby down in the room next to ours," Tommy said as he picked their daughter up.
Tommy returned from putting Abby to bed and found Nikki looking around the living room.
"It's not exactly a family place is it?" Tommy asked as he wrapped his arms around her.
"It's a little rough but I think we can make it work," Nikki teased.
"I was thinking tomorrow that we should go and let Abby pick out some things for her room, it might help make the move easier on her," Tommy told her.
"That's a great idea, she'll love it," Nikki said turning around to face him.
"I still can't believe this is real, I never dreamed that finding you would bring so much to my life," Tommy said as he pulled her into a kiss.
"I guess our love was just meant to be, we found our back to each other despite everything that pulled us apart," Nikki replied.
"I love you," Tommy told her.
"I love you too Thomas, now let's go to bed," Nikki said as they headed off to the bedroom.
