"I'm sorry?"

Caroline just stared at the doctor. She must have misheard. Amnesia was only something you heard of in soap operas or bad romance novels. It didn't happen to real people.

"We're not quite sure that is what it is," Trina cut in quickly.

Dr. Becker gave a "how dare you question my medical diagnosis" look and turned back to Caroline.

"The testing I will be performing this afternoon will give us a clearer picture, but based on the notes from the attending physician at the hospital and the symptoms, I can confidently diagnosis this as memory loss due to head trauma."

Caroline blinked a few times trying to process what was going on.

"So he doesn't know who he is?" she asked.

The doctor shook his head. "No, he does. He's fully aware of himself."

"But he doesn't know who other people are?" she asked trying to get clarification.

"No, so far recognition skills have not been in impaired."

Caroline was completely confused.

"So how do you know he has amnesia...memory loss?" She couldn't bring herself to say amnesia, it just seemed so absurd.

Dr. Becker cleared his throat, as Trina's eyes began to well up.

"The trauma your husband has sustained is a little more nuanced than a typical case of amnesia. Rather than not knowing who he is or not recognizing others, he seems to have lost time. I don't feel comfortable making a specific determination until have had some time to speak with him. But it's important that people from his life be present to help fill in the gaps."

Caroline looked at Trina, she was crying now. Silently. Stoically, as Caroline had learned over the years to be a family trait.

She must have still looked confused, because Trina spoke.

"We were hoping that by seeing you, it would trigger his memory. The doctors don't think that this will last for very long. In many cases, the memories come back within a few days. There are many things he remembers, but...after the hit. He asked for you. He thought you were at the game. He thought you would come to the hospital. He doesn't seem to remember…" she trailed off into an uncomfortable silence.

"He doesn't remember that we're not together anymore." Caroline finished. Her voice toneless. For what emotion lacked in her voice, it was gushing through her body tenfold.

He thought they were still together. He'd forgotten what had happened at Christmas? She wondered what he did remember. Things weren't great leading up to the holiday either. Did he think they were happy? And what would change when he saw her? She was just a tool, a resource they could call on to "fix the problem." With no regard for her feelings. Before it was a life that she had accepted and even embraced. It was always about him. Sid had been very good at trying to downplay it as much as possible and when it was just them, she didn't feel it as much. But when his family was around, or his friends, especially the ones from back home, it was The Crosby Show. And it was a one man show. She was gently sidelined as whatever issue, injury or incident took over everyone's attention.

God she sounded bitter.

Her heart hardened. It had taken a long time to get back to normal, or whatever version of life this was that wasn't completely and suffocatingly heart breaking. She hadn't heard a word from Trina since Christmas. And that had hurt. She hadn't expected to hear from her father in law, there was no love lost there. But she and Trina had become close over the years. They'd spent a lot of time together, really formulated a friendship, a bond. Or so Caroline thought. And at Trina's request, Caroline had dropped everything and come here. To help. Even if she'd been excommunicated.

And now she felt betrayed. She felt like a pawn.

And it made her mad.

She wasn't sweet little Caroline anymore. The obedient wife and daughter in law who was dutiful and understanding. Pushing her own well-being to the side while her husband was catered to repeatedly.

No this time they had to figure it out on their own.

"I'm sorry. I can't help," she said standing up quickly.

Dr. Becker and Trina looked at each other, then Caroline, in complete surprise.

"Whatever, his issue is, I'm sure it will be resolved. Like you said, usually it just takes some time for the memories to return. I'm sure in no time Sid will remember that he hates me and all will be well again."

She bit out the words and gathered her things. She didn't look at Trina, but instead focused on the door at the end of the hall.

She charged toward it.

"Please," she heard Trina cry.

Caroline paused, but didn't stop. She rushed out the door and headed towards her car.

But the sound of another car made her pause. Stop, then turn around.

The gate was open and up the driveway came Sid's Tesla. Troy liked to drive it when he was in town and sure enough he was in the driver's seat. She watched as the car pulled up and then looked in the passenger seat. Eyes stared back her. Eyes she hadn't seen in person in nearly a year.

And despite her best efforts her heart gave a lurch.

Caroline was here.

For some strange reason, seeing her, knowing that she was here brought him a sense of relief. As if he wasn't sure. As if somewhere in the back of his head, he'd had doubt. It hadn't made sense, but truthfully his head was still cloudy even a few days after the hit. The doctors had given him the all clear to come home this morning and he had pushed to get a quick release. He couldn't stand to be there.

He hated hospitals.

And he felt like he was crawling out of his own skin. No phones. No television. Screens were off limits as everyone tried to make sure his brain wasn't completely damaged. So instead he'd laid there. Responding to their questions, but getting no answers to his own.

Tests were taken and it seemed like other than the normal protocol, there was nothing too unusual about this concussion. His head hurt. He still had focus issues. A bit of vertigo, but he could deal with those symptoms at home.

Finally last night his mother had told him where Caroline was. She'd gone home for a few days because her mom had gotten sick. She knew what had happened to him and would be at the house when he came home. Trina had been reassuring, but something seemed off. But seeing Caroline now, standing there with concern etched on her face, he felt the wave of relief wash over him.

As soon as the car was in park, he jumped out.

She looked startled as he walked purposefully towards her.

"Care," he said hoarsely when he reached her. Then without a second thought his head ducked down, his lips brushed lightly against hers.

It was only for a moment, just a brief touch, but something seemed different.

And Caroline, she looked like she'd seen a ghost.

"H-hi," she said with a tinge of disbelief in her voice.

"How's your mom?" he asked, oblivious to his dad getting out of the car. "My mom said food poisoning?"

Caroline's eyes flickered behind him to the sound of the door closing.

"Hello, Caroline," Troy's voice was loud behind him.

She looked back at Sid. "Um, yeah," she brushed back her hair and gave a weak smile. "Bad clams."

Then her face cleared and concern blossomed, "How are you?" She gave him a once over, looking him up and down as if inspecting him for marks of the injury.

"Eh, feeling a little foggy. But better. Missed you like crazy though." Despite his father coming closer, he snaked an arm around her waist and pulled her close. His nose nuzzled briefly at her neck, where the collar of her sweater met the soft skin of collar bone.

He heard her breath hitch, then the uncomfortable clearing of his father's throat.

He pulled away and noticed her face was remarkably red. He couldn't remember the last time she had blushed like that when he showed affection.

But in all honesty, he couldn't remember a whole lot anyway.

"We should get inside," Troy said gruffly. Caroline nodded quickly and did an about face and walked back towards the house.

"Hey, where's your car?"

Sid's voice was curious and she turned to see him looking at the older Subaru with the Ohio license plates in the driveway.

Her car was gone, traded in. She'd bought this one with a fraction of the money her Mercedes had gotten her.

But he didn't know that.

"Oh, um, the engine light came on and my dad was concerned about me driving back, so I took my mom's car. We're going to switch sometime next week." she looked away, nauseated by how easily the lies came.

Sid seemed to accept that answer and put his arm around her waist as he guided them into the house.

And this was strange.

So strange.

His lips on hers, the touches, the nearness. It threw her for a loop.

She'd been so sure that she'd play no part in any of this charade. This deceit wrapped up in a bow of good intentions.

But seeing him. Like this.

It was like before. Before the separation. Before the lies. Before the heartbreak.

And she missed it. God, she missed it so much. Just breathing him in, it made her frosty heart thaw just a bit.

Even after everything, her brain still got fuzzy in his presence. The effect he had on her hadn't changed from the moment she sat in that trainer's kitchen all those years ago. And now they would go inside, he would meet with the doctor. He would find out what had happened and eventually he would remember.

He would remember how bad it had gotten. He would remember why they weren't together anymore. And she could only hope she was far away when it happened. Because she wouldn't go through it again.

She didn't think she could survive it.

"It feels good to be home," Sid said with a contented relief as he unlocked the door and stepped into the Sewickley home. Turning to his new bride, he scooped her up, ignoring the surprised cry of protest and focusing on the feeling of her arms looping around his neck. Caroline's scent filled his nostrils, his favorite smell. Despite standing in the foyer of his home, breathing her in was the scent that made him think of home.

"Are you planning on doing this every time?" she asked playfully, her hold firm, although she felt like nothing in his arms. In all fairness she had a bit of a point. There had been the hotel room. And then the lake house. They would be going to her place tomorrow to start the moving process and he'd probably do it there too.

"Maybe," he teased.

It was one of those funny traditions about newlyweds that he liked. It was one of those things that made this seem official. And the rise he got out of Caroline didn't hurt.

She was his wife.

For as long as they both shall live.

A light brush of her lips against his brought him back to earth.

"I don't mind it," she said softly, her eyes going soft, a small smile playing at her lips.

"Especially the part that comes next," her voice a bit husky, her fingertips running up and down his neck, causing a shiver to run down his back.

"Oh yeah?" he asked, his gaze setting on hers.

She bit at her lip and nodded.

"Oh yeah." With a kick of her foot, the door closed behind them and Sid bee lined it straight for the stairs.

Some hours later they were brought back to earth. Freshly showered and making dinner in the kitchen they went over the master schedule. And it was a doozy. Game days, travel dates, practices, PR stuff, sponsorship commitments, appointments and appearances. It was all laid out on a wall calendar. Caroline pulled out a set of highlighters and started color coding in hopes to figure it out. Her schedule was changing too. It may not be the same frenzied pace as Sid's but it had its own challenges. One evening, a week or so after the engagement, she'd had long phone conversation with Veronique. It had started off with just catching up and filling her friend in on the wedding plans, but then it turned into a more advanced class on life at a WAG, the emphasis now on the W. Vero had a great perspective on it all. It didn't hurt that she'd been with her husband way before he'd made it to the professional level. For Caroline and Sid, it was much different. The conversation had been enlightening and Caroline hadn't wavered in her confidence that she could do this. That she wanted to do this. She'd talked it over with Sid and decided that she would go part-time at school. Rather than have her own class, she would go in for a few hours throughout the week. She'd work one on one with the students on their reading. It was a schedule that was conducive to Sid's. It would allow her to have mornings with him and also go to games and work on the various projects and events the WAGs coordinated. "You're queen WAG now" Veronique had teased, but only half kidding. It was true. This was the big time. And she knew that. And she was ready. It wasn't cockiness, but Caroline felt this confidence, this sureness of who she was. Life was about balance, and this life especially required a lot of give and take.

"So moving day is tomorrow," Sid said, digging into the salmon Caroline had prepared.

She nodded. "It won't be much. I'm keeping the all the furniture there. My family will use it when they come to visit and Neil's talked about coming out here when he graduates. So mostly the rest of my clothes and odds and ends."

"I'll come by after practice to help," Sid offered, then paused looking as if he was going to say more. He then stood and Caroline watched him walk over to the kitchen nook they held all the incoming mail. He dug through the mountain of mail before pulling out a number of glossy books. He brought them back to the table and set them down between him and Caroline. "So, I ordered these," he began.

Caroline looked at the catalogs, taking in the images of beautifully decorated living rooms and bedrooms.

"I thought if you'd like we could do some redecorating." He gestured around the space. "I know the stuff here is a little...masculine. I thought, we could go through these and make this place more...like it ours. It could use a woman's touch and I want this home, well, I want it to be yours, just as much as it is mine. I thought this might be a fun project we could do together. I mean, if you want to."

He was starting to ramble and felt strangely nervous. It wasn't lost on him how much was changing for her. Him too, but Caroline was completely immersing herself in this new world. He didn't want her to feel like this wasn't hers too.

Caroline grinned at her husband, her heart melting at how flustered he seemed. It touched her that he was offering this endeavor, but she wasn't surprised. He knew how to make her feel special, included, in every way he could.

She also knew getting to misty eyed over this would make him even more flustered. So instead her grin turned into a smile and she leaned forward pressing her lips to his.

"I want to," she said simply when she pulled back. Her eyes focused on his, hoping he would know everything she was feeling about this gesture. "Thank you."

He smiled a small smile and Caroline extended out her foot, gently rubbing it up and down his calf. It was solid and scratchy and it tickled the bottom of her foot. "You know you're pretty good at this husband stuff so far," she said teasingly. He grinned, the nervousness gone, the lines of confidence etched on his handsome face.

He leaned over his plate, angling his mouth over hers, kissing her sweetly and softly. "Well when you're passionate about something, you put everything you can into it." He said sounding a little bit like a sound bite.

"And you're passionate about the institute of marriage?" she asked, his lips traveling down her neck.

Sid pulled back, his gaze intense. "I'm passionate about you. The married part is an added bonus."

She held his face in her hands and kissed him soundly, her lips drinking him in, her tongue slipping out to find his in the recess of his mouth. After a few moments she pulled back and asked, "So are you going to take me upstairs or what?"

Sid smiled wide, "Too much work." And with that he pulled her out of her chair and spun her, until her back hit the edge, with ease he lifted her onto the marble surface and pulled off her t-shirt in one easy motion. "By the way, you're no slouch in the wife department either." He growled, his mouth diving into her neck, his tongue and teeth teasing the soft skin.

"Such a romantic," she teased, her arms wrapping around him and pulling him into her.

"I love you Mrs. Crosby," he replied softly.

Caroline let the gooey feeling wash over her. "I love you too."

The ensuing weeks flew by. The move went smoothly and Caroline was enjoying her new role at school and life as "queen WAG" was definitely a full time job. She was able to attend games and sign up for fundraisers. New players, meant new WAG members and while most of these women were not the type Caroline would have ever pictured befriending either growing up or now, there was a bond. The understanding that they all were going through the same thing. It was a strange world, but Caroline continued to find her place. She helped new players' families feel more welcome by inviting them over for dinner and arranging activities with the new WAGS like shopping or pedicures. In some ways it was very shallow, but in other ways it helped her and the newcomers feel some sort of normalcy and belonging. It seemed with each passing day, her to do list got longer rather than shorter. There were visits to the DMV and the doctor's office, now that she had new health insurance. She picked up Sid's dry cleaning twice a week and insisted on doing the grocery shopping. She kept the house tidy and Eliot the cat was home now after spending the summer at Sara's. It was funny how full her days were. The speed of this life could be overwhelming. It seemed like there was never any time to just stand still and take it all in. But she wouldn't want it any other way. Life as Caroline Crosby, as her driver's license now said, was not the life she had envisioned, but it was more than she could have ever hoped for.

***Author's note: Ughhhhhhh, Im so sorry. Life has literally been insane the past few months. If you're reading this, thanks for sticking with me. Back into a groove and hoping to move along quicker with this...actions speak louder than words, so here's hoping! Feedback is always appreciated. Go Pens!***