Chapter 10

The whole Tanner family seemed to get the word from the hospital: Stephanie was run over by a car. The family was sitting in the waiting room, Danny and Joey sitting there in disbelief, Jesse trying to console a sobbing Becky, and DJ and Michelle just trying to keep their composure, although it was obvious the youngest Tanner girl had cried out all of her tears at home.

"I can't believe this could happen..." Danny shook his head.

"Well, the less said, the better, Dan." Jesse said softly, remembering she used the same words of wisdom on Stephanie before. His eyes were beginning to sting with tears as well.

"I wonder how Nate feels...He must be horrible right now." DJ sobbed.

Coming up to the family was Nate and Gia, both of them very short on words. "Hey, everybody." Nate managed out.

"Hello." The family greeted in unison. Nate looked over at Danny and sighed.

"Sir, I am so sorry...I was supposed to be watching Steph. But I wasn't." He apologized. "I wish that I could just feel the pain that Steph felt." He sighed, not so much referring to the car accident but to Steph having to witness Kaylie forcing herself onto him.

"Its alright, Nate...It wasn't your fault, so don't feel guilty." DJ said softly. Nate took a seat beside her, instantly feeling the oldest Tanner daughter's arm go around his shoulders for comfort. The young man let out a quivering sigh before pressing his head to her shoulder lightly. Gia took a seat beside Michelle and her gaze shifted to her feet.

"Excuse me...Tanner?" A doctor came out and looked to the group.

"Yes, sir?" Danny stood up slowly.

"Your daughter's resting right now. She won't be cleared to be released until tomorrow." The doctor replied, glad that he could tell them that Steph would be okay. "She suffered some cracked ribs and a broken arm, but other than that, no serious injury has been done."

"That's wonderful to know, doctor." Danny nodded. "Can we see her?"

"You can all visit her, if you please." The doctor laid down the rule. "After you all have visited, you all can go home peacefully.

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When DJ was the second to last to see Steph in her hospital room, she went over to Nate. "Alright...It's your turn." She said softly.

"I don't know if I can even face her after..." Nate stopped himself. "I just don't know."

"I'll go with you then." DJ smiled sadly, keeping an arm around him as she lead them into the room. What they saw nearly broke Nate's heart. Steph was laid up in bed, IVs attached to her arms, her forehead bandaged up, stains of blood dried through it, and a cast on her left arm.

"See why I didn't want to come in?" Nate whispered.

"It's okay, Nate...I'll stay with you through this." DJ promised. She lead them to two seats beside Steph's bedside. They both sat beside each other and looked to Steph laid up in bed, trying their best to not burst into tears. "Nate, just be strong okay? I think she'd want that."

"Me too..." He reached over, taking Steph's nearly lifeless hand in his. "But...I just feel so bad."

"Don't be. You know that this wasn't any of your fault..." DJ replied, tilting her head to the side in some confusion.

"No, I meant that...Nevermind." Nate brushed off the thought for a second. "Deej...Could you leave us alone now? I think I can stay with her for a while now." The bright female smiled and nodded, clapping him on the shoulder and then stepping out of the room. This left the heartbroken Nate alone with the one girl he had eyes for.

"Steph, how could I let this happen? To you, of all people?" Nate wondered aloud, feeling guilty about this whole thing. "I can't believe this...The one time we went out to have fun and it ends like this. You always helped me...You brought my confidence back, you've given me my smile...And the one time when I could've helped you and I couldn't." He swallowed hard, hiding his face in his hands. "And you care about me...You brought people into my life that care about me, too." He looked up at the ceiling as if he were looking at God. "Please, don't take Steph away from me. For the first time, I am truly happy...So don't you dare take her from me. I can't live without her."

"Is that so?"

Nate's eyes shot wide open at the sight of Steph coming to. "Steph...you're okay."

"Yeah, I'm just in a little bit of pain, that's all." Steph looked up at her boyfriend and sighed. "Nate, I know what happened at the party earlier..."

"I swear, I never wanted to kiss her...She kissed me." Nate said honestly, gripping her hand in his tightly. "Steph, you know that I only have eyes for you...Kaylie kissed me, I didn't want it."

"I know you didn't...But it did hurt to see." She coughed and sat up slowly, Nate resting a hand on her back to support her.

"Trust me, Steph...I love you." Nate smiled softly, being the first time he said that.

"I...Wait, you just said..."

"I know. I do love you." He repeated, feeling so good to say it a second time.

"That's wonderful. Because I love you too." Steph leaned up a little further to kiss Nate. Supporting her gently, he claimed her lips in a soft kiss. Letting it go for a few seconds, they broke away and exchanged heart warming smiles. "Nate, baby, you better go...I got to get some rest."

"Okay, I'll come by tomorrow to see how you're doing." Nate helped her lay back down and gave her a goodbye kiss on the forehead before watching her drift off to sleep. Quietly, he stood up from his chair and stepped out of the room, a heavy feeling off of his shoulders.

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"Guys, she's perfectly fine." Nate spoke as he approached the Tanner family, who were gathered around outside of the hospital. "I spoke to her for a while and I think she'll be okay in a few days anyways."

"That's good...I'm glad you were able to talk to her." Michelle smiled up at Nate, who couldn't help but return it.

"Thanks, Michelle." He rested his hand on the top of her head and then looked over at Danny. "Mr. Tanner, I'm really sorry still..."

"It's okay, Nate. It wasn't your fault." Danny shook his head and then turned to walk away. Until he began to think...Maybe this was all of his fault. "No...Nate, I don't think so."

"Excuse me, sir?"

"I think this was all of your fault." Danny started angrily.

"Danny..." Becky scolded him, trying to keep her composure.

"Becky, stay out of this." He blew her off before turning his glare back to Nate. "She was your date at that party, you should've been with her. And you know...I really doubt how much you really do care about her."

"Now hold up a minute!" Nate, finally sticking up for himself, got right into his face, DJ resting her hand over his arm to try and make him back off. "How the hell do you know what I'm feeling? How the hell would you know!"

"Nate, stop it!" DJ shouted.

"That's it, I've had enough of you!" Danny snapped. "Stephanie doesn't need somebody like you in her life. I don't want you seeing, talking to, or even going near her again!"

"You can't do that to me..." Nate swallowed hard, his tone softening.

"Well, I just did." Danny replied, taking a deep breath. "I don't want you two seeing each other anymore."

And that just about did it. "Look, Mr. Tanner, you can yell at me all you want, but you can't tell me not to see a person, especially someone I care so much about. I love her." Nate's jaw clenched. "Tell Steph that I'm sorry...I'm out of here." With that, he stormed off in a huff, not willing to look back.

"Wait, hold on...Did you say you...LOVED her?" Danny called back.

Nate stopped in his tracks and nodded. "I did...And I know I do. My feelings for her are real." He turned back around and approached Danny again. "My life, before I met Stephanie, has been nothing but one slap in the face after another. With her, I know where I belong in the world. She gave me my happiness back and nothing could take that way."

"Wow...I guess what she says you are, you are." Danny nodded. "She really does think highly of you and now I can see why." He half smiled. "Nate, I'm sorry about what I said earlier. You deserved better..."

"Think nothing of it." Nate said dismissively. He held his hand out for the older man to shake. "I hope things are okay now." Danny looked down at his hand and a smile curled at the corner of his mouth.

"Yeah...Things are okay." He took Nate's hand in a firm handshake, sealing another friendship.

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"Go Nate! Woohoo!" Steph and the others cheered from the sidelines as the family watched yet another awesome volleyball from the sidelines. The star player, as always, was Nate. But something was different about this particular game...Everyone who Nate cared about came to see him. Each member of the Tanner family was there, but who really caught his eye was his own father, who took time off of work to watch his son play.

"C'mon, son, give it all you got!"

Nate smiled on the inside and took his spot on the court again. When the ball was served to him by the opposing team, he was quick to bump it up and let his teammate, Sammy, hit it back over. When it was brought back over again, Nate jumped up and spiked it back down on the other side, earning a point for his team. The crowd went absolutely wild, the score at an even 3 to 3. Taking a small break, the players went off to do their own things while Nate went over to the Tanners.

"Now this is how you play." He smirked. "What do you guys think?"

"Best game you've played ever." Steph answered simply with a grin. "I know I say that all the time but still."

DJ nodded in agreement and then something caught the corner of her eye. She turned her head and saw Nate's father, Brendan, walk over to him. Nate ran a hand through his hair, wondering what his dad had to say to him.

"What is it, Dad?" He questioned.

"Just...Have fun out there." Brendan smiled, knowing he didn't need to make a speech. "That's all I want."

"Thanks, you know I will." Nate replied. Soon, the whistle sounded for the game to continue. "Wish me luck, guys!" He raced back over to the court and resumed playing. After a whole lot of back and forth action, the score was tied 25-24, Nate's team. One more point and they would win.

"Nate, here..." Sammy tossed the ball over to his friend. "You deserve to make this shot. You've been through a lot, you're the star..."

"You sure?" Nate's eyes narrowed.

"Go for it." Sammy nodded in response. Nate returned the nod and took his spot behind the serving line. He threw it up in the air and smacked it right over the net, the last game going underway. Being taken by surprise by a super fast shot, Nate slid to the ground and bumped it up while it was there, making it go over the net, going for a desperation maneuver. One of the opposite team members accidentally hit it too far and it was hit right out of the out of bounds line. The entire gym burst into cheers, the game won by their school. Nate laid there on the floor, hiding his face in his hands, amazed that he was able to pull a win for the team. He was then helped up by his teammates and they all exchanged high fives and congratulations. Nate grinned, accepting all of this and then shoved them away when he saw Steph race up to him. She leaped right into his arms and the two shared a passionate kiss, which garnered even more cheers. Inside, Nate knew he was lucky...He know was living a good life.

I'm the living the best life any man could live... Nate thought to himself.

THE END