"Are you sure about this, Colleen?" Nathan asked, an arm around his sister's shoulder. "Once you open this door, you won't be able to go back."

"I know," Colleen said, a determined look in her eyes. "But if Steve recognized Allie from her picture, that means his memories are still there. They just have to be unlocked. What if Allie is the key he needs?" She smiled bravely. "Besides, it's time Allie knows her father is still alive. It might be hard for her to understand his condition, but she needs to see him. And he needs to see her."

Nathan nodded. "Alright. Then we'll tell her."

"I'll get her," Colleen said, heading for the back door. Allie was blowing bubbles on the patio, and Nathan could hear Colleen ask her to come inside for a minute.

It had been nearly a week since Steve had recognized the picture of Allie. Nathan and Colleen had visited him every day since with a new picture, and Steve always recognized his little girl, though he still didn't know why he recognized her. Nathan and Colleen had been debating whether or not to let Allie know about her father, and this morning Colleen had resolutely decided that her daughter should know.

Allie came running into the living room, eyes bright. Her hair was tousled from the strong breeze. "Uncle Nathan, you should blow bubbles with me!" she exclaimed, holding up the bottle. "It's so much fun!"

Nathan smiled, putting an arm around his niece. "I'd love to, honey. But first, your mom and I have something we need to talk to you about," he said as Colleen reappeared. Allie sat next to Colleen on the couch, looking between the two of them. She frowned. "You both look serious. This isn't good, is it?"

Colleen put an arm around her daughter. "It's good and bad at the same time, sweetie."

Uncertainty filled Allie's eyes. "This is about Dad, isn't it?"

Colleen simply nodded. Allie blinked, absorbing that information. "You said good and bad?"

Looking at Nathan, Colleen seemed to ask him with her eyes to take over for a moment. "Yes, Allie, it's good and bad," he said gently. "The good news is that he's alive. We found him."

Allie's mouth dropped. "Dad is alive?" she whispered, hope filling her brown eyes. "Where is he?"

"That's the bad news," Colleen said, pulling Allie closer. "He's in a rehab center, Allie. His memory is...not good."

"What do you mean, 'not good'?" Allie asked.

"He has something called amnesia," Nathan said. "It means he doesn't remember who he is, or…" He hesitated, giving his niece a sympathetic look. "Or anyone else."

Tears sprang to Allie's eyes as she realized what Nathan meant. "So he doesn't remember you, or mom, or...me?" she asked, sniffing.

"Not entirely," Colleen said. "We showed him your picture, Allie, and he recognized you. He doesn't know why, but he knows that he knows you. He even said your name." She drew in a deep breath. "Your daddy might never remember everything, honey. He might stay the way he is now forever. But he does know you, and your Uncle Nathan and I thought maybe we should take you to see him. If that's something you would want."

Allie nodded immediately. "I want to see him," she said. "I miss him so much."

Colleen hugged her tightly. "I know, baby. I know."

"When can we go?" Allie asked. "Today?"

"We can go today," Nathan said with a smile. "Just remember, Allie, your dad has had a bad brain injury. So if he says or does anything that you're not used to, it's just because he's not fully himself yet."

"Okay," Allie said.

Colleen brushed Allie's hair back from her forehead. "And you might have to call him William instead of Dad," she said.

Allie's brow wrinkled. "William? Why William? His name is Steve."

"He thinks it's William," Nathan said. "He was called that for a short time as a child, and that's what he remembers."

"Okay," Allie said with a shrug. "But that's weird. I've never called him anything except Dad."

"It'll be an adjustment," Colleen told her. "But we've been praying that your daddy gets his memory back, and we'll just keep praying for that to happen."

Allie thought about that for a moment, then nodded. "So when do we leave?"

Colleen looked at Nathan. "Would half an hour from now work?" she asked.

Nathan nodded. "Yes, it will. Let's get ready to go."


An hour later they pulled into the rehab center parking lot. Allie stared out the window, eyes wide. Nathan knew it was hitting her that she was about to see her father for the first time in months, but he wouldn't be the father she remembered.

"Are you ready, sweetheart?" he asked, looking back at his niece. She nodded, eyes still big.

They all got out of the car, and Allie reached for their hands. Holding on tightly, she smiled bravely, reminding Nathan of Colleen. "I'm ready," she said with a little tremor in her voice. Hand in hand, the three of them walked into the building. They were met by Fiona, who bent down and smiled at Allie.

"You must be Steve's daughter," she said, her voice chipper. "I told him he would have a special visitor today, and he's excited to know who that is."

Allie gave Fiona a tentative smile. Fiona continued. "He's been talking about you a lot this week, Allie. He still doesn't know who you are, but he knows that he remembers you, and he's been talking about 'his little Allie' all week."

Nathan watched as Allie's face lit up in an angelic smile. A resoluteness seemed to come over her, and she stood up a little straighter. "Then let's go see him," she said. "What's your name?"

"I'm Ms. Miller," Fiona said as she led them to Steve's room. She knocked gently at the door, then opened it. "William? Your friends are here," she said.

Steve looked up from his chair with a smile. "Did the special visitor come with them?"

Fiona nodded. "She sure did." She led Allie into the room, stopping her next to Steve. "Here she is."

Steve's eyes filled with tears, and he reached out to clasp Allie's hand. "Allie," he whispered. "I've missed you."

Allie's eyes were similarly wet, and she impulsively threw herself into her father's arms, forgetting Nathan and Colleen's cautions. "I missed you too, Daddy."

Nathan drew in a sharp breath, wondering how his brother-in-law would respond to Allie's words and embrace. Steve had his arms around Allie, and his eyes were flickering back and forth, as if there was something he was trying hard to remember. The three adults collectively held their breath watching the scene in front of them, wondering what was going to happen next.

Steve leaned back, looking into Allie's eyes. "Daddy," he repeated slowly, wonder on his face. "I'm your daddy."

Allie nodded, tears streaming down her cheeks while she smiled. Steve wiped the tears away and hugged her. "My girl!"

Nathan felt Colleen lean into his side, trying to hide her own emotion. He knew this was a momentous moment, and he wrapped an arm around his sister, lending her support.

Steve looked up, his eyes travelling to Colleen. He reached a hand out to her, and she went to his side, taking his hand and kneeling next to his chair. "Colleen," he said gently, raising her hand to his lips. "We're married."

Colleen gasped, and tears filled her eyes too. She simply nodded, a laugh breaking free.

Fiona smiled as she stood next to Nathan, wiping tears from her own eyes. "These are the kinds of moments that make the job incredibly worthwhile," she said, watching Steve's face light up as he realized he had a family and that they were surrounding him. "He still might not remember a lot, but he's remembered the most important people in his life." She sighed happily. "That's more than a lot of patients with memory loss experience."

Nathan smiled, watching his reunited family. They might still have a long road ahead, but he was happy that Steve had remembered his wife and daughter. For now, that was enough.


"Steve remembered?" Elizabeth asked in awe that evening as she and Nathan worked on their wedding invitations.

Nathan nodded, unable to hide his smile. "You should have seen them, Elizabeth. Steve was so happy, Colleen was crying tears of joy, and Allie was over the moon. He even remembered that his name is Steve. No more William."

"Oh, Nathan!" Elizabeth exclaimed, gazing at him in wonder. "That is incredible!"

"It really is," Nathan agreed, taking her hand in his. He rubbed his thumb back and forth against her fingers for a moment, lost in thought. "They thought they had so much taken from them," he said finally. "And now they're getting it back again. Steve is alive, and he remembers them. There's still so much he needs to remember, but that is the most important."

"Does he remember you?" Elizabeth asked.

Nathan chuckled wryly. "No, not yet," he admitted. "But that's okay. I'm content to let his mind take the time it needs to heal. I'm confident he will remember everything eventually."

"Good," Elizabeth said with a smile. She tilted her head, studying him. "This is some of the best news we've had in a while."

"True," Nathan said, kissing her knuckles before releasing her hand. "Though I still think the best news of all was you agreeing to be my wife." He stared at the invitations spread across the table. "And I'm very impressed that we kept the guest list under fifty!"

Laughing, Elizabeth nodded. "Forty-nine to be exact. And that includes the kids of some of our guests." She glanced at the invitation in front of her. "And my family…"

"Hey," Nathan said, taking her hand once again. Elizabeth knew her face had given away her emotions. "You don't have to invite them if you don't want to, sweetheart." He tipped her chin up with a finger. "I will support whatever decision you make."

A soft smile tugged at Elizabeth's lips. "I know you will, Nathan, and I love that about you. You're always so supportive." She sighed. "I know I should invite them, at the very least to let them know that I'm getting married, but another part of me just wants to keep them out of my life." She toyed with the edges of the invitation. "I do want to invite my sister Julie. She and I always got along. But my parents and Viola, they're another story. None of them were understanding about Jack, and I have a bad feeling they would be even less understanding about you." She let out a huff. "Not that they're even supportive or understanding of me. It was their way or the highway. I chose the highway by coming here."

Nathan smiled, brushing her cheek with his hand. "Have I ever mentioned how glad I am that you took the highway?"

That made her smile. She leaned forward, brushing her lips against his in a kiss. "And have I ever mentioned how much I love you?"

"Maybe a time or two," Nathan said, grinning. "But it never hurts to hear it again."

"How about I show you instead?" Elizabeth asked with a flirty smile. She brought her lips to his once again, and they shared a deep kiss that made Elizabeth glad she was sitting. Her legs wouldn't have held her up if they'd been standing.

A cry from the next room made them break apart reluctantly. "I'll get him," Nathan said, getting up from his chair.

"He probably needs a diaper change," Elizabeth said. "Are you sure you want to take care of that?"

Nathan lifted a brow. "I've changed many a diaper in my lifetime, Ms. Thatcher. I think I can handle this one."

"Oh, a man who can change a baby. I'm impressed!" Elizabeth called after him as he disappeared into the bedroom where baby Lucas had been sleeping. Nathan called back, "I learned a lot when Allie was a baby!"

Elizabeth chuckled to herself, continuing to address the invitations until Nathan came out of the room with Lucas in his arms. "I think he might be hungry," he said. "Where's the bottle?"

"In the fridge."

Nathan searched the fridge, finding the bottle. He filled a pot with water and put it on the stove with the bottle inside, setting it to a simmer. Elizabeth watched him as he worked, Lucas in one arm, using the other to get the bottle ready. Her heart melted completely as she took in the big, strong man taking care of a little baby.

She got up from her spot and walked over to him, wrapping her arms around his waist. Nathan looked down at her in surprise. "What's this?" he asked, a teasing smile on his lips.

Elizabeth placed one hand on Lucas's back as the baby looked over his shoulder at her, brown eyes wide. She smiled up at Nathan. "There's something very attractive about watching you with a baby," she said.

Nathan laughed. "Is that so? Maybe I should hold Lucas more often."

"Maybe. And maybe someday in the not too distant future, we'll have one of our own," Elizabeth said softly.

That rendered Nathan speechless for an entire minute. He leaned down to kiss her again, then murmured against her lips, "I would love nothing more."

Lucas squawked, objecting to being squished between the two adults. Nathan and Elizabeth laughed, and Elizabeth let her arms drop to her side. She tickled Lucas's chin. "You don't want to be a Lucas sandwich?" she cooed, prompting hearty giggles from the little boy. She plucked him from Nathan's arms, cuddling him close. Nathan pulled the bottle from the pot, wiping it dry with a dish towel. He handed the bottle to Elizabeth, and they both sat down again while Elizabeth set about feeding Lucas.

"You were right, he's definitely hungry," Elizabeth observed as Lucas sucked down the milk. "Lee and Rosemary should be back with the twins within the hour. Jesse and Clara are probably getting tired right about now after having been at the beach all day."

"I would imagine so," Nathan said. He started placing invitations in their envelopes, sealing them tightly. After a moment, he sat back, eyes trained on Elizabeth. She felt a little blush rise as his gaze intensified. "What?" she asked.

He smiled. "I'm just imagining you holding our baby someday," he said. "You will be such a good mother."

Her blush deepened, but his words brought a smile to her face. "Thank you." She looked down at Lucas, a thought springing to mind. "You know, we've never talked about how many children we want."

Nathan shrugged. "I'm open to however many we get," he said. "I've never had an ideal number in mind." He smiled. "For the longest time I thought I would never have kids, so this is a wonderful new concept." Tilting his head, brows raised, he asked, "How many do you want?"

Elizabeth smiled. "I've always thought five would be a good number." She searched his eyes. "Would that be too many for you?"

He shook his head. "Five would be fine with me." He leaned forward. "But I meant what I said, Elizabeth. I would be happy with whatever number of children we end up with. Whether it's one or ten makes no difference to me. Just as long as we're raising them together, I will be happy."

"Ten?!" Elizabeth exclaimed with a surprised laugh. "That's not happening!" She smiled at him tenderly. "But I feel the same way. Regardless of how many we have, I just want to raise them with you. I can't wait to see you as a father."

"And I can't wait to see you as a mother." Nathan grinned at her, then looked at all the invitations spread over the table. "But first things first. We need to finish planning this wedding!" He spent the next several minutes finishing sealing the invitations in their envelopes. When he came to the last three, he looked at Elizabeth. "These are the ones for your family," he said softly. "Do you want to wait and think about this some more?"

Elizabeth hesitated, then shook her head. "No more waiting. Let's send them. My family will know sooner or later. This will give them a chance to respond or ignore without me needing to talk to them."

Nathan reached out and cupped her cheek. "It will all work out, sweetheart. No matter what their response is, we still have each other."

Elizabeth smiled, pressing her cheek against his hand. "And that's all that matters."