"When you reach that point in your life where you must make a decision that changes the rest of your life, you can never know how it will change your life. Whether it be for the better or for the worse..."

-Nichole Mersnick

Nichole stood in her parent's old house. It had been barely a year since she had once called this place home. Now it was a hollow reminder of her loss.

Her parents had died in an accident barely a month ago. All their belongings now where hers, but she didn't want them. She would keep a few sentimental things, such as her mother's favorite books, and her flute, her father's pipe and cane, the bell that they had hung from the ceiling in the living room, which her father once had lifted her up to pull on the bell with her small hands, and a few photos. Most of the rooms had been cleaned out; the last room was her parent's room. She dreaded entering it, but eventually she did.

As soon as she entered she smelled tobacco, and her mother's perfume. The room was especially tidy; her father had always been a bit obsessive about keeping thing tidy, her mother had always said it was because he was in the army for so long. That is until his leg was wounded and he was forced to retire, he could still live a normal life, though he could barely walk without his cane.

She walked over to her mother's desk, scanning over the little knickknacks. She straightened the cloth on the table, checked the jewelry box, and then she noticed a letter.

Nichole picked it up to see it was already open.

She pulled out the letter, and began to read.

Albert Mersnick, I don't suppose you would remember me, but I remember you. I have decided to abandon this corrupt world before it destroys itself. Before the parasites stole your father's business and fortune you had great potential, and what you have now you scrapped together with your own hands through your career in the US military. I remember that you and I shared many beliefs, and I would like for you to join me and would be a perfect addition to my Utopia.

On the 1st of November a boat will be ready in New York to take you and your family to a place where mankind will reach its fullest potential. Where the parasites of religion, and government will not restrain the great. I look forward to meeting with you there.

Andrew Ryan.

Andrew Ryan? What in the world?

Nichole folded the letter and slipped it into her purse, collected the last few possessions, then left the house for good.

That night Nichole couldn't sleep, she kept thinking about the letter, and her parents. He wanted them to go to some sort of Utopia... a place where they would be free of 'parasites'. Nichole remembered her mother telling her that her father's family took his father's company from him. Her father never talked about it. If he saw Andrew Ryan's letter, he would have jumped at the chance to leave.

Nichole thought about it. What would she do? Did she want to go to some Utopia where mankind would reach it's 'true potential'?

It's not like I have any reason to stay...

Nichole went to her phone and dialed. She waited... and no answer, again!

She slammed the phone down. "Dammit Joey!"

Why? Why won't he answer my calls! Ever since he found out...

She sat down, letting out a small sob. She cooked some dinner for herself and ate alone again. She had tried to reach Joey for days. But he wouldn't answer her calls. Had she done something wrong? Was it something she said? What was she going to do?

Nichole scanned the letter again. According to the letter she still had a week to decide. But it would take two days to make it to New York, so five days to choose.

She could start a new life. In a place far kinder than this one. One where there were no regrets, no dead parents, no back-stabbing fiancée...

Maybe it's a good idea, she could do it! But... she still had to try to settle things with Joey. Maybe if things worked out, they could go together.

Joey felt lower then dirt, but he couldn't face her. He couldn't. He didn't deserve her in the first place, and now... what did he know about being a parent?

He didn't know how to be a dad, or a provider. Even more so he refused to be like his good-for-nothing father. He couldn't go see her until he was the man she deserved. But how the hell was he supposed to do that?

Joey rolled around in his bed, unable to sleep, when he was called up.

"Yeah?"

"Hey Joey, the lights are out on a few room on the second floor, need you to check the wires for me."

He groaned, pushing himself out of bed. "Right, sir."

Joey worked as the mechanic at a half ass motel, the pay was shit, but it was better then being out of work.

Joey made his way to the second floor and spent the half hour listening to the ungrateful bastard bitch about the lights. He was more than happy to finish up and leave his room. When he was heading back for his room, some at the front desk called out to him. "Hey Joey! Your lady's been trying to reach you all day."

Shit...

The short middle aged bastard smirked at Joey, "Aw what's wrong have a little 'fallin' out' with her? In that case I might just go bye and give her some REAL action!"

Joey's whole body grew tense; he slowly walked over to the man, snickering with his friends, when Joey punched him so hard he flew back and over the reception desk, blood shooting out of his nose. Joey's fist was stinging, but not as much as that assholes face. Joey smirked at that thought.

Unfortunately for Joey his boss fired him the next day, saying he can't afford all these outbursts from him. Which happened too frequently as far as his boss was concerned.

Great, fucking great Joey! You've lost your job, how the hell are you gonna last now! Damn you're just like him. A selfish, lazy, good-for-nothing bastard!

Joey heard the phone ring in his apartment as he was packing up. He WANTED to answer it, but he just... he couldn't.

I'm sorry Nichole. Please just be patient for me...

Nichole hung up and let out a deep sigh. She'd stop by tomorrow. Everything will be fine, just like before.

The next day around four Nichole headed for Joey's work. She had spent three hours trying to find a dress that fit her now. She could still hide it but... she kept getting bigger, and now most of her good dresses didn't fit her anymore. She called a taxi and went to the motel where Joey worked. She gave the driver his money. "Please could you wait here for five minutes, I'll be right back."

The driver looked annoyed, but nodded, "All right, but in five minutes I'm gone."

Nichole quickly entered the motel and walked up to the reception desk. "Um excuse me could you call Joey for me?"

The man standing there just shook his head. "He don't work here no more."

Nichole stared at him for a moment. "Wh-what?"

He nodded. "Yeah, left this mornin'."

Nichole turned away and bit her thumbnail, then turned back to the man. "Did he leave you a number?"

He shook his head. "No he didn't leave a number. Now unless you're planning on rentin' out a place, you better leave. I got customers to attend to."

Nichole left the motel, and got back in the cab, confused and now feeling more alone, and betrayed then any time in the weeks that he had started to ignore her. Now he just... left.

No number, no nothing... he left her.

She desperately tried to hold her tears until they reached her house. When they did finally get there? She quickly passed the money to the driver, too her receipt, and ran into her home, fell on her bad and started to sob uncontrollably.

It was a few hours later that she decided. She was going to New York. And with no time to spare she started to pack.

Five Days Later

Nichole looked back at her old home; she gave one last look around the house, then pulled out the letter. She stared at it for a good minute, before crumpling it up and throwing it against the wall, then stormed out of her house.

She walked down to the cab, and went to the airport. She decided in the end to take a plane to New York, it would get her there faster and allow her a day or two of rest before heading out on the boat. For a second she thought about Joey, but then completely dismissed him. She was leaving THIS life; it was time to start over...

Around six the same day Joey came to see Nichole, he was confused when he saw the house was dark. Reluctantly he knocked, but, nothing. He pulled out his key and entered the house, and was devastated to find it empty. There was nothing.

"Nichole? NIKKI! NIKKI!... Nichole..." What had he done..?

That's when he saw it, a crumpled piece of paper on the floor, he read the letter with complete disbelief, but if that was where Nichole went...

He HAD to go. He couldn't just watch her go.

Joey ran to the bank and pulled out all the money he could and got on the first train he could to New York, he had two days to get there, he'd be cuttin' it close...

The next two days for Joey were a blur of stress and effort; he did everything he could to get to New York on time, when he ran out of money he snuck onto the train with some animals for the entire day. Needless to say those days were the worst in his life... so far.

For Nichole, however time went by at a crawl, and gave her some time to really calm down and think. After all this was a HUGE decision. But most of her thoughts were about Joey, and how much she missed him. How much she would miss him...

Nichole reached the docks and spotted the boat she'd be taking to her new home, she took her suitcase to some men who brought it on board, she was about to climb the stairs when she heard a car horn blaring. She turned to see an old car speed over to the docks, and stop. Out of it came Joey.

She stood on the docks completely blown away. "Joey?"

Joey ran up to her and began to ramble. "Nichole, I'm sorry! I didn't mean to make you feel like I was avoiding' you, I was just scared, I-I wasn't sure how to handle myself, and how I thought I could be n' how I wanted to be, b-but I love you Nikki, and I want to-"

Tears were streaming down Nichole's face, she ran to him and hugged him, then kissed him, never wanting to let go.

"S-so, what now Joey?"

Joey gave her a thoughtful look, and then glanced at the boat. "Well, we didn't come all this way 'fer nothin'." He smiled at her. "Let's go."

"You think we should?"

He nodded. "I got no family worth speakin' of here, and I just got fired, and blew my life savin's. Think startin' in a new place doesn't sound so bad."

She smiled. "All right."

Then hand in hand they walked onto the ship, and headed for their future, in Rapture...