"She didn't remember anything." Nick whispered.

"Nick," Stella started. Nick knew this was either going to be really deep or somehow really shallow information Stella was about to give. "You managed to persuade her she liked you, just by telling her what happened last night. Stop beating yourself up!" Nick smiled, well, a little smile anyway.

"Thanks Stells."

"Now I'm going to give those girls a good talking too!" Stella announced. Joe grabbed her.

"Oh no you don't. Nick, you have to tell them what happened." Nick nodded and cautiously entered Annie's ward.

"Excuse me," He whispered. The girls looked up, their faces hardened. "I just thought you'd like to know what happened and that I tried to help her I really did." Nick felt tears in his eyes but kept them at bay. The three girls were sitting in a line with their backs to the door.

"Do you mind if we listen?" Kevin asked from the door. The girls nodded.

Joe, Kevin and Stella sat opposite Zoe, Tash and Lexi; Annie's three friends. Nick sat at the foot of the bed and explained what happened in as much detail as he had to Annie earlier, adding a little information about the conversation this morning. His eyes didn't tear away from Annie's heaving chest; it was his only way of telling she was still alive.

He did manage to leave out the kiss thought. When he'd finished the room was silent.

"Sorry Nick," Zoe, the lead friend, apologised. "We, I, shouldn't have accused you or blamed you for what happened. We should have kept an eye on her last night."

"NO. I'm fed up or 'I should of'. It was the jerk that attacked us' fault."

"Well said Nick." Joe smiled. Stella was getting a pack of tissues out her bag. Lexi, who was closest to Annie's head, heard a low groaning.

"Lex?" Annie mumbled. "Where's Nick?" He smiled and sat on the edge of the bed by her head, technically behind her.

"I'm here, don't worry." Nick soothed her, brushing her hair out of her eyes.

"I thought you'd left, like my Mom did," Annie trailed off.

"Never." Nick whispered. "We're all here for you, even if she's not."

"All?" Annie tore her eyes away from nick and identified each person; old friends and new.

"I'm Stella, by the way." Stella chipped in.

"Hi Stella." Annie smiled, her eyes meeting Nick's again.

"We'll come back later." Tash whispered. "Leave you two in peace." They all got up and left.

"They hate seeing me." Annie whispered, knowing Nick could hear every word.

"The hate seeing you like this." Nick emphasised.

"As did my Mom, and you."

"I don't like seeing you in pain, but I'm looking forward to seeing your progression back to full health. No matter how gradual."

"But what if,"

"No. You will recover. I can't bear the thought of you not." A tear trickled down Nick's cheek. Annie rested her hand by his ear and wiped the lone tear away with her thumb.

"I hate it when you cry. It just shows that you're thinking of the same outcome I am." But you're so dang cute when you cry! Annie thought.

"Nick put his hand on Annie's waist and pulled her body closer to his, he felt the bandage around her middle under her baggy hospital gown.

"Kiss me." Annie whispered.

"Your wish is my command." Nick answered, his soft lips tenderly brushing Annie's cut ones.

Nick's POV (A/N I know! First POV change, I had to ;])

I hate her pain, I love her presence. But my brothers are here, her friends are here, no school till the day after tomorrow (It's Saturday), I didn't want to change anything right now.

My tongue gently brushed her lips and they parted and let me in; breaking through an only partially existing barrier. Confidence being the emotional barrier. I met her last night… how is this happening? It's happening so quickly.

And I love it.

I love her.

We sat there, kissing, for what felt like nowhere near long enough, but Annie pulled away.

"We're being watched." She whispered. I looked at the door; Joe was standing there, leaning on the door frame and smiling smugly.

"How the hell did you know that?" I asked, she'd had her back to the door. She pointed behind me. I saw a full length mirror; I wasn't sure why there was one in this room though, because Annie can't walk yet…

"That was still kinda freaky though." Joe added. "So you two have got a little further than implied with a nod Nick?"

"Maybe…" I trailed. I didn't want to tell him about the kiss yet but I guess now I don't have to.

"Now Annie," Joe started, placing his large hand on her shoulder. She looked up at him, standing over her he was quite menacing. "If you break his heart, you'll have me and Kevin to answer to you got that?" He said harshly. She nodded quickly. Joe's face broke into a smile. "I'm kidding!" He emphasised.

"He-he." Annie smiled weakly, not quite believing the joke. I laughed that she was 'scared' of my brother. We all sat in a silence, I was still holding Annie close to me, in the vain hope that Joe would take the hint and leave.

"So, I'll leave you two to it."

"That's what you said last time Joe."

"Yeah but I'll stop eavesdropping this time." He shouted over his shoulder on his way out.

"That's better." I whispered. "Now where were we?" I asked.

"I believe we were just…" Annie trailed as she let her lips touch mine, her tongue resuming its place in my mouth as it had been before.

This was indescribable! That kiss was magical, and even that doesn't describe it as it should be.

It's that feeling you get when you know you're with the right person, and you know you'll never feel that way about anyone else.

And you never want to let them go.

Please review xxx