Carly closed her eyes and laid her head back, smiling up at the sun. Her long black hair hung behind the chair, blowing in the breeze.

"Does that feel good," Steve asked?

He sat across from her as they enjoyed the courtyard on the terrace roof of the hospital. There were a couple of nurses eating lunch at the tables, but other than that they had it all to themselves.

She looked down her nose at him with one eye, "It's bright. I haven't been out in so long."

He took his sunglasses off and leaned across putting them on her. "Better?"

She smiled brightly at him as he adjusted his chair so the sun was at his back now. "Much. Thank you." She sat up at attention, "Do I look like a Navy Seal now too, like you?"

He grinned at her. "Bad ass."

He went to say something and then hesitated, thinking about her last statement. He tilted his head in a questioning manner. "How did you know I was a Navy Seal?" He thought for a second about their time together. "I never told you that. Did someone else?"

She stared at him, thinking about his question, asking herself the same thing. She finally shook her head, "No, I guess I just knew."

She took the sunglasses off and they just stared at each, both realizing at that second that she had retained some of her memory.

"Oh my God!" Carly gasp, "I remembered that!"

His face showed the same enthusiasm as he leaned forward in his chair resting his elbows on his knees, "How long was I a Seal for?"

Carly turned that question over in her head but finally shook her head, "I don't know. Ten years?" She asked, but knew she was just guessing. The disappointment displayed on her face.

"No, six," he corrected, "but that's ok," his excitement remained intact. "You remembered something, Carly. That's great!"

Her smile returned feeling pumped up again. She went to put the sunglasses back on and saw the scar on her arm. She gasped and pointed at him. "You have scars!"

He admired her effort, but all Seals had scars. Still, he amused her, "I do, more than one."

She leaned forward pointing to his left shoulder, "You have one there." She shook her head, "I don't know how you got it, but you have one there." His silence told her she might be wrong once again, but she felt so sure of it. "Do you…have one there?"

This revelation was even better than the first one because it was something physically on his body that she recalled. Whenever she would lie across his back she would always kiss it and tell him it was his good luck scar. He leaned forward and pulled down the collar of his shirt, revealing the two-inch long mark on his left shoulder. "It's my good luck scar."

She could see in his eyes what it meant for her to remember that. "Your good luck scar?" she grinned, looking at the mark on his shoulder, "Why would you name a scar good luck?"

"I didn't," he replied, "you did."

"I did?" she asked curiously. She blushed slightly, wondering if it were an intimate detail about them. "Why did I call it that?"

He explained to her again the details of being pinned down by snipers and how he got of it and how he got the scar, but he left out the part of where they were when he told her, hoping that she might recall the waterfall on Craig's lake all on her own. It had been a place that only the two of them knew of and had held something special for each of them. She had confessed to him that on the ride back from their first time there is when she had first begun to fall back in love with him. He admitted the same to her. The second time he took her there he professed that he would marry her someday, and even though she agreed and didn't remember it, his promise held strong.

She was just as shocked over the story the second time around as she was the first time. Only she was even more impressed by it this time since she really didn't know the extent of his training. She stared at him with her mouth open as he described the ordeal as if it were a walk in the park. When he was finished she was speechless. She couldn't believe the man sitting across from her could ever be apart of a war or a battle that involved killing or that someone would actually want to kill him. The past couple of weeks with him and mostly the last couple of days since they'd finally connected, she saw nothing in him that would allow her to believe it. His physical strength was apparent but the way he carried himself around her was always gentle, considerate and charming. She couldn't even imagine him angry, never once hearing him raise his voice. But as she looked at him, she somehow knew that if she ever needed that fierce, capable soldier that he would stand in front of her like a shield and protect her from anything.

"I understand now why I call it your lucky scar." She took the sunglasses and put them back on his face, "but maybe it was more of my luck than yours."

She was the only person in the world that could turn him completely upside down in the blink of an eye and leave him speechless. She had that power over him. She always had. He was more in love with her now than he ever had been. He was sure of it.

They walked side-by-side back to her room down the long hallway from the elevators. Carly took small steps, feeling the fatigue from being up for so long. She stopped and leaned against the wall.

"Hold on for a minute."

"Are you ok?" Steve took her by the elbow.

It felt better when she stopped moving. "Yes, it just stings when I walk for a long time." She bit her bottom lip through the discomfort, not wanting to seem helpless in front of him. "Dr. Caldwell said it's the muscles around the tissue that are healing. I just need a second."

He waited patiently seeing a bead of sweat form on her temple. She was in more pain than she was letting on. "Carly, let me grab a wheelchair."

"I'm ok now," she said, and started walking again, seeing her room only five more doors down. The pain started again almost instantly.

Steve followed next to her, holding her elbow as she shuffled along. He looked at her face and could see the strain. It was too much for him. "For Christ sake Carly." He bent over and scooped her up, carrying easily the rest of the way to her room.

As he passed the nurses station three of the regular nurses applauded. One called out, "What do you do for an encore?"

Steve laughed modestly, shaking his head at them as Carly squeezed his bicep, "Sorry, but that's the end of the gun show ladies." She waved over his shoulder as they entered her room.

He carefully set her down on the bed, "Why didn't you tell me you were in so much pain?"

"If I would have known you were going to bring the big guns out I would have told you on the roof." She smiled knowing she was embarrassing him, and loved every minute of it.

He leaned over bracing his hand on the opposite railing so he could look straight at her. "You like using that 'guns' phrase. You think you're pretty cute don't ya?"

She shrugged, "Yes, in a sickly, stick figure sort of way."

His eyes scanned her body, "Not true." He pushed off, standing up and reaching for his things on the table next to her bed, "You'll always be incredibly beautiful Carly, no matter what."

He didn't say it as if he were trying to compliment or boost her ego; he said it as if it were an actual statement of fact, which in turn was more of a compliment.

She was beginning to understand the pressure for her to form a relationship with him. He was special, and she could feel the benefits of that more and more every day. She liked being with him but dreaded the next couple of days. They were releasing her. She was well enough to go home and eventually her parents would be going home as well. She could go with them back to the mainland, or she could stay with him. The decision she had to make was the most difficult one yet.

Just the thought of being away from her Mother and Father right now was frightening. They were stability in a time when she felt so unstable. They were her strength. But, the last thing she wanted to do was hurt him again. She knew she could stay with Steve; it's what he wanted. He didn't say it verbally, but she knew. The decision she leaned toward gave her the most peace of mind or maybe it just felt safer and less complicated. Either way she couldn't shake the dreaded feeling that she would miss him.

Steve sat on the edge of the recliner in his living room across from Jason and Mary who sat on the couch next to each other.

"She's remembering more everyday," he said to them. "They're releasing her from the hospital day after tomorrow. I'd like to know what your plans are?"

Jason and Mary looked at each other, but it was Jason that spoke up. "We talked to Carly about this earlier this afternoon." He took Mary's hand as she bent her head.

Steve didn't like the look of either of those gestures.

"I know things between you and Carly have been going really well the past week, but…"

He held his breath over that one, sensing bad news.

"She wants to come back home with us." He felt bad, knowing what the impact of that statement would do to him; he could see it already. "I'm sorry son."

Steve shook his head, not giving up so easily. "This is her home." He pointed to the floor. "She belongs here."

"She doesn't remember this place," Jason reminded him.

"Yes she does!" he raised his voice in panic and then calmed, "She remembers my house. It was the only thing she really remembered when she woke up."

"The house maybe, but she doesn't remember it as her home."

"Then give her a chance to!"

"It's not our decision, Steve. It's hers."

"Yes it is!" he stood up and began to pace back and forth in front of the coffee table. "She was happy here! She'll be happy here again," he demanded. "Just give me a chance with her, that's all I ask." He stood in front of them pleading, "Please, she'll listen to you."

Jason shook his head as Mary remained silent, continuing to look down at her hand that gripped his.

"I don't know Steve. She's still so fragile and…"

"Please," he begged, sitting back down on the edge of the chair as his knees became weak. "Please don't take her." He felt his throat close. "If she leaves the island, she'll never come back."

"You don't know that," Jason argued.

"Yes I do, Jason," he argued, "and so do you." He felt tears stinging his eyes, imploring to the only other person who still had refused to look at him, "Mary," his voice weakening, "please."

She finally looked up with tears streaming down her face. "She's so vulnerable right now."

He put his hand on his chest, "You don't think I know that? Do you think I would ever do anything to hurt her?"

"No Steven, but…"

"Please Mary," he came out of the chair, kneeling in front of the coffee table, speaking to both of them, "You of all people. You know about the baby. We were going to be a family. Please don't take her. Two weeks, that's all I ask. If after two weeks she still wants to leave," he panted, "then I'll put her on a plane and bring her home myself." He pushed off the table standing up, "I deserve this chance with her. She does too."

Jason had to remind himself that it was Steve that saved her life twice, and now he was fighting as if to save his own. He deserved it, he was right. "Ok," he agreed, squeezing Mary's hand as she looked over at him. "He's right honey. This was her home and she was happy here. We owe it to both of them to give that life back to her." He looked up at Steve, "We'll talk to her, but I can't guarantee anything."

Mary wiped her face with the tissue and nodded her agreement.

He wanted to thank them, but he was too breathless to even say another word. His heart rate slowed as he began to calm down. He walked out of the room and into the kitchen, stopping once he was out of sight and leaned against the wall running his shaky hands over his hair until he cupped the back of his neck. He didn't know that Carly wanted to leave Hawaii. He didn't know why he assumed she would stay. He just considered this her home and thought she did too, but why would she, he thought? Jason was right; she really didn't know this place anymore than she knew him. He wondered if she would see this ploy from them as just another form of pressure on her to be with him. He hoped it wouldn't backfire like it did last time.

Steve carefully closed the door behind him and walked to his truck. It was almost two thirty in the morning and after that discussion with Jason and Mary he felt that need to get as much time in with her as possible, knowing he may not have very much of it left.

The nurse's station was empty as he slipped quietly into her room. It was quiet now that all the machines had been turned off. She was in much better health and only remained in the hospital those last couple of days so they could monitor her physical therapy and counsel her on her memory condition. Dr. Caldwell mentioned patients falling into a deep depression and some attempting suicide at the loss of their identity. He felt confident that Carly was coping well though.

Steve lifted the chair and set it next to the bed and sat down. The rail bars were gone so she could get in and out more frequently. He studied her face as usual, loving the free time when he could just sit and stare. He thought again of the argument from earlier, that uncertainty coursing through him. Were they doing the right thing? God he hoped so. He felt the night catching up with him and looked at his watch. He put his arm on the bed and laid his head down looking at her. Just a couple more minutes, he told himself, and then I'll go.

Carly sat on the beach with her legs stretched out and her heels dug into the warm sand. She sat back on her hands and looked out at the crystal blue water as the waves gently crashed on the shore. There was no wind and no clouds. The clear sky disappeared over the horizon, blue on top of blue.

She watched them come out of the water and laughed at the little girl as Steve ran toward them holding the child as if she were flying. She squealed with enjoyment. Her jet-black hair-dripping ocean water and her tiny pink bathing suit riding up in the back over her diaper. Carly looked up as they stopped in front of her. He held her just above her face.

"Give mommy a kiss," he said, bringing her in close enough.

Carly reached her lips up and felt the tiny ones connect on hers. It was perfect. He lifted the child up into in his arms and sat down next to her.

"I love you," she said, turning to them, but there was no one there. She turned quickly in the other direction; but they were gone. "Steve!" she screamed.

She opened her eyes, wide-awake in seconds. Her heart pounded and as she went to sit up, she saw him.

She stared at him as he lay with his head on his arm, his eyes closed. She relaxed back on the bed, carefully rolling on her side so she could see him better, but not wanting to wake him. It was surreal to see him there after the dream she just had.

He hadn't come in the middle of the night for a while. She wondered why tonight? She didn't care though, she was glad he had. His expression was peaceful and she wondered how long he'd been sitting there or how deep of a sleep he was in. She watched him closely for the first time, studying his face that was partially hid behind whiskers. She'd never seen him this bearded before. She imagined he had to shave everyday or his beard would be full in no time. His long black eyelashes lay still against each other, covering the blue eyes that she pictured smiling from her dream as he played with the child. She slowly reached out and touched his hair that curled at the ends, rubbing it between her fingers. The back of her hand brushed against his cheek and she could feel the abrasiveness of his five o'clock shadow. He was so beautiful lying there and from out of nowhere she was overcome by that wonderful serene feeling as he sat down next to her in the sand. In her dream she loved them both, she felt it as if it were real.

Maybe she was being too hasty in leaving. 'Maybe,' she thought, still admiring him, 'maybe I'll stay just a while.' She touched his face again, enjoying the feel of it when he opened his eyes.

He lifted his head, both surprised that he had fallen asleep and that she was awake. He didn't say anything, not sure how she felt about him sneaking into her room like that.

Carly smiled at his sleepiness, putting her hand on his arm that rested on the bed. "I was thinking," she whispered, even though there was no one around, "would it be ok if I stayed for just a little bit after my parents go home?"

He could hardly contain his pleasure over that, mainly because it was her decision. They wouldn't have had a chance to speak with her yet.

"Yes," he whispered back, "Of course you can."

"I don't know for how long," she said, not wanting to make any promises.

He shrugged, "We'll just play it day by day. No pressure."

Those beautiful eyes never lied. She wanted to tell him about the dreams she'd had, but thought it was still too soon to divulge such intimate details. She did like him though; she liked him very much and was glad she had changed her mind. "You like kids, don't you?"

He showed off his impeccable smile over that out of the blue question. She never ceased to amaze him. "Yes. I like kids."

She nodded knowingly, "I thought so."

Yes, she liked him very much.