I own none of the characters of October Road

As Dr. Turner continued to talk about what Eddie should expect over the next six weeks he didn't listen. He knew that his mom would be doing enough listening for the both of them. All he could think about was Janet and his dream. His head was beginning to throb due to the fact that his skull was cut open to but he really wanted to talk to Janet and his family. "Eddie are you in pain?" Dr. Turner asked him.

"I feel like my head is going to…explode."

"I'm going to have a nurse come in and give a pain shot. You'll probably be out for the rest of the night."

"How much longer will I be in this kind of pain?"

"Were you listening to anything I said?" He shook his head. "The pain will lessen everyday as your skull heals."

"Thanks. If you need anything page me." Dr. Turner turned to Eddie's family and Janet. "He's going to need his rest so please just let him rest."

"We will. Thank you doctor." Laura said.

"Janet, sweetheart will you give me a few minutes alone with these guys?" Eddie requested softly. He was scared that she would take it personally but she seemed fine with it.

"Absolutely."

"Can you also do me a favor?" She nodded eagerly. "Can you call the guys and let them know that I'm awake and they can come by tomorrow afternoon?"

"Sure thing." Since they were still clutching hands, he pulled her down to his face and kissed her quickly. He didn't want to embarrass her in front of his family.

"Don't go far." He said when she got to the door.

"I won't." With a sweet smile she disappeared out into the hall.

"Is something wrong?" Katie asked.

"No. Everything is great. Hell, I'm alive, I don't have cancer and I have a great family and a wonderful woman that loves me. It doesn't get much better than that."

"Why did you want Janet to leave?" His dad inquired.

"Cause I don't her to know what I'm going to ask."

"Which is?"

"What day is it?" Eddie's head hurt so bad that he couldn't figure out what day it was.

"Friday." Laura answered.

"Time?" Jack looked at his watch.

"A few minutes after three."

"Good. Mom I need you to go the bank and access my safe deposit box."

"Why?"

"I want grandma's engagement ring. I want you to bring it to me tomorrow."

"Why?" Laura managed to ask.

"Why do you think?"

"You're going to ask Janet to marry you?"

"Very good bug." Eddie said with a grin.

"You guys haven't been together very long; only a few months." Laura stated.

"You have no room…to talk mom." Eddie said with a painful grin, referring to his parent's brief courting period before they were married. "I've known her for years and I knew after our first date I was going to marry her. This tumor… has shown me that life can be cruelly taken away at any point… and I don't want to wait any longer with Janet. I want to be with her for as long… as I can as… her husband." The pain in his head was getting worse.

"Eddie I think that you…" Laura was interrupted by Jack.

"Our boy knows what he wants honey and we need to support him." Laura slowly nodded. She knew that Janet loved Eddie with her whole heart and she knew that her son felt the same.

"Kate?" She rushed to her brother's side.

"I'll need some help tomorrow."

"Anything I can do."

"I'll call you when I get up and tell you my plan."

"I'll be waiting."

"Now go home." Eddie demanded. He saw his mom shake her head and he held out his hand for her to hold. "Mom I know you are worried but I'm fine. You heard the doctor. He said you have to let me rest and that's what I'm going to do. I'll see you in the morning." Laura leaned down and kissed him. "With my ring?"

"With your ring." She confirmed.

"I love you guys. Now send Janet back in."

"Love you too." They all said. After gentle hugs and kisses were given the Latekka family left him alone. He closed his eyes while he waited for Janet to return and he smiled through the pain when he sensed her standing next to his bed. He opened his eyes and his smile became larger when he saw her blue eyes looking at him.

"I called Nick and he is going to call the guys and they will be here tomorrow afternoon. He wanted to come right away but I told him that you were going to be sleeping for the rest of the night so he finally agreed to wait." Janet explained.

"Thank you." He said tenderly. "Will you sit my bed up?" Eddie asked

"Of course." She found the control and slowly raised his bed to a sitting position. As soon as Eddie was sitting up he reached out, pulled her down on the bed next to him, reached out and cupped her face, pulled her to him and kissed her softly until they could no longer breathe.

"I love you." He breathed out when they finally broke apart.

"I love you too."

"It seems like so much longer than a week since I last kissed you."

"I was so scared Eddie. I thought that…" He placed a finger over lips to keep from talking.

"Not now. I'm going to be getting my shot soon and I'll be asleep so I don't want to waste that time talking about my tumor okay?" She nodded.

"I've missed you much."

"If I would have been conscious I'm sure that I would have missed you too." His door opened and a nurse walked in. "Can you give me a few minutes please?"

"Sure thing. Just press your call button when you are ready for your shot."

"Eddie you should get your shot."

"I will." He reached out and ran a finger down her face. "You look tired. Are you tired sweetheart?"

"I'm fine."

"Mom said that you never left my side for the entire week that I was in my medicated coma."

"I…I couldn't."

"I think that I knew…that I sensed that you were here." That may explain his dream. He reached up and wiped away the stray tear that had fallen. "Promise me something?"

"Anything."

"Go home." She actually looked hurt. "I don't mean that…in a bad way. You look…tired. Where have you been sleeping?"

"On that chair." She mumbled.

"Please. I'm going to be sleeping…all night. I want you to sleep well tonight in your bed…not damn chair. Promise me?" She nodded and reached over and hit the call button. She couldn't stand watching him in pain anymore.

"I'm staying until you fall asleep."

"Fine." He conceded. "So much to tell you. Tomorrow. I'll tell you everything tomorrow."

"I'm looking forward to it." She whispered as his nurse came in.

"Ready for your shot Mr. Latekka?"

"Please." He looked at Janet. "Tomorrow…four o'clock. Don't come until then."

"All right Mr. Latekka. The medication should be taking effect here shortly." The nurse quickly left the room.

"Why can't I come over in the morning?" She sounded heartbroken.

"Family here then…then my boys…then you. Just you and me. Please Janet. Just me and you. So much to tell you and I…want to be rested."

"I'll wait." She saw his face relaxing.

"Help…lay down." Janet grabbed the bed controller and laid his bed down. He was now struggling to keep his eyes open. It amazed him how quickly the medication took affect. "I love you Janet." He whispered before he fell into a pain free slumber.

"I love you too." Janet leaned down and pressed her lips to his still bandaged head and quietly snuck out of his room.

The hour drive home seemed to take longer than normal because she was so tired, something she didn't realize until she got behind the wheel, but she made it and once Janet got home she ran a bath for herself. She had to admit that she was quite sore from sleeping in that uncomfortable chair that pulled out and reclined so she could actually lay down. As she slid into the tub and the hot water and bubbles covered her body she instantly felt herself relax. She laid her head against the back of the tub and the events of the past few months ran through her mind. Four months ago when Eddie showed up at Sully's first thing in the morning and asked her out on a date she was shocked and happy as hell but she played it off and causally accepted. She, like most girls in The Ridge had dreamed of sleeping with Eddie Latekka but she knew it would never happen. He was Eddie Latekka for crying out loud and she was Janet Meadows, the chubby bartender at everyone's favorite bar, Janet and Eddie would never happen. It wasn't the way of the world but the world seemed to be changing.

Their first date was amazing. She couldn't believe her luck. They both dressed up and he took her to a fancy restaurant. When the bill came she tried to pay for her half, because the restaurant was so expensive, but he grabbed the bill from her and paid it. They stayed at the restaurant, drinking coffee and talking until they were asked to leave. Once they were in his truck he told her that he wasn't ready for this night to end and asked her if it would be okay he drove out to the lake for a little while. She eagerly agreed. She was enjoying this night too much and she wasn't ready for it to end.

When they arrived at the lake he pulled a blanket out of his truck. Janet commented on the tackiness of having a blanket in his truck but Eddie told her he had just put it in there today, hoping that their night would end at the lake and she believed him. They made their way to the dock, took of their shoes, Eddie rolled up his pant legs and they dangled their feet in the water, talking and holding hands until the sun rose. They talked about anything and everything and it just felt right, for both of them. At one point Janet decided to let him know where she stood. This date was going so well and she didn't want to get her hopes up and then have them crushed when he reverted back to his old ways.

"There is something that you need to know Eddie." She began softly, fighting the nervous anxiety in her stomach. What she was going to say could make or break what was starting between them.

"Tell me."

"I don't know what you are expecting from this or me but I am having the most wonderful night that I have ever had."

"So am I Janet so what's the problem? I'm looking forward to many more wonderful nights like this."

"The problem is you and maybe me. I know what you like, what your definition of a relationship is and that's not who I am. I really like you Eddie and I think…no wait, I feel like we have something special here but I need you to know that I will not be one of your bang buddies or another notch on your bedpost. That's not who I am and if that's what you are expecting from me then maybe we should end this night right now." Janet was afraid to even look at Eddie right now but she had to tell him how she felt before her heart got broken. She was staring at the water when she felt his hand under her chin, turning her face to look at him.

"Janet I know that is what you have seen from me in the past through our years of friendship but that was the past. I don't want another bang buddy or another notch on my bedpost. I feel something too Janet, something that I have never felt before and I want to explore what could be between us. Will you give me…give us a chance?" He asked softly.

"Yes Eddie. I want to give us a chance but so help me god if you…" He placed a finger over her lips

"It won't happen. I promise."

Once the sun was up Eddie took her to breakfast and when they were done he took her home and walked her to the door. Janet will never forget their first kiss. He told her how much fun he had, how he has never had a date as amazing and wonderful as this one and then he leaned forward, cupped her face, closed his eyes and kissed her softly. There was no tongue, no slobber, just pure sweetness and it was the perfect first kiss. Neither of them had experienced something so perfect before and at that moment they both knew that they were in the midst of something wonderful.

Over the next four months their romance blossomed. They went on dates and they hung out together at one of their homes, making out, watching television and sports. Eddie loved that she enjoyed getting dressed up and going to nice places just as much as loved relaxing in sweat pants watching a game on TV. The only downer to their budding romance was the increasing headaches that Eddie was getting. He tried to act like they weren't so bad but Janet knew better. She could see the pain in his eyes and she knew that they were bad when a few times he admitted that he was in pain.

The day that they were planning on taking a trip to Rhode Island to see Janet's grandparents and make love for the first time Eddie had to bail on her because his dad needed his help. He felt horrible about not going with her but assured him that his family came before sex. Before she left he told her that he loved her and her heart soared with happiness.

Janet was riding high on his proclamation of love when she got the phone call. Laura sounded very calm on the phone when she told her that Eddie was being taken to a Boston hospital. She didn't tell her why; just that they needed to run more tests and that Eddie wanted her to know but not to worry, like that was possible. She quickly inserted the hospitals address in her GPS and changed directions so she could get to the hospital.

Janet drove as fast as she dared, about five miles over the speed limit keeping in constant contact with Laura but every conversation was vague. She wouldn't give Janet any details, just generalizations, Eddie is having blood work done, Eddie is having an MRI done, and Eddie is waiting on test results. Janet knew that Laura knew more than what she was saying and in a way it irritated Janet that she wasn't telling her what was actually happening but at the same time she was glad that she wasn't telling her everything because she was sure that she wouldn't be able to concentrate on driving if she knew what was really wrong with him. All she knew for sure, what her gut was telling her is that it had to do with his headaches.

When Janet arrived at the hospital Jack was waiting at the main door for her because Laura wouldn't leave her son's side. He rushed her to the elevator in silence. "Jack what's going on?" Janet asked as soon as the doors to the elevator shut.

"They're prepping him for surgery."

"Why?"

"To remove the tumor."

"Where is it?" She whispered although she already knew.

"His brain." Jack answered simply.

"Is it..?" She couldn't bring herself to say it.

"They won't know until they remove it and test it. All they know right now is that there is a baseball size tumor sitting in his brain pressing against his skull and nerves causing him the severe headaches." Janet clamped a hand over her mouth to keep from crying out. The elevator doors opened and Jack ushered her out. "You only have a few minutes. They are ready to take him to surgery but he wanted to see you so the doctors are waiting so you're going to have to make it quick." He stopped in front of a room. He knocked on the door and Laura emerged a few seconds later with red, swollen eyes from crying.

"Go ahead Janet. He is waiting for you." Laura said softly.

When Janet walked in the room she saw Eddie lying on the bed and she could tell he was in obvious pain. Taking a deep breath she walked over to him and grabbed his hand. His eyes immediately opened and he smiled at her. "Sorry about your trip." He whispered.

"Don't be sorry."

"I have a big ass tumor in my head."

"I know."

"It might be cancer."

"I know." Eddie squeezed her hand.

"I'm scared Janet. They are going to cut my skull open and probably remove some of it to get it out. The doctor…" Janet watched as tears began to fall from his eyes. "The doctor said that there is a chance that I may…I might die during the surgery."

"You won't Eddie. You are the strongest man that I know."

"If I die please tell the guys that they are my best friends and I love them."

"I won't have to."

"Mr. Latekka it's time to go." A nurse said.

"One more minute." He requested and the nurse nodded and left them alone. "I love you Janet and these last four months have been the happiest of my life and if I die today I want you to know that." Janet was unable to stop her tears from falling. She leaned down and kissed him softly.

"I love you too Eddie and I promise you that we have more, so many more happy months and even years ahead of us. I'll be right here when you wake up and until you do wake up I won't leave you." She kissed him until the nurse returned to take him to surgery.

"How long will the surgery take?" Janet asked after she, Jack and Laura settled into the surgical waiting room.

"Four hours minimum but it could be longer depending on how hard it is to get the tumor out so basically, we don't know." Jack said miserably.

"He told me that there is a chance that he could die during this surgery." Laura nodded numbly. "How big is the chance?"

"Twenty to thirty percent." Laura answered and Janet couldn't respond. She tried to allow positive thoughts to run through her mind; instead of the twenty to thirty percent chance that he could die she tried to focus on the seventy to eighty percent chance that he would live but it wasn't working. All she could think about was the chance that he could die and it was breaking her heart. She never thought that she would ever fall in love but she did and when she did fell hard and now all that she could think about was losing him and she was overwhelmed with guilt.

"I should have made him go to the doctor. He kept complaining of his headaches. They kept getting worse. I asked him to see his doctor but he refused. I should have forced him to go. If he would have just have gone…before it got to this point then maybe…"Jack reached over and took Janet's hand.

"Don't beat yourself up Janet. You know how stubborn my boy is. His stubbornness is a good thing most of the time, it has made him who he is but sometimes it's a pain in the ass. Dr. Turner said it wouldn't have made any difference if he would have come in a few months ago. When he started getting the pain the tumor was already huge. He probably had it when you two started dating. Even if you had managed to convince him to go to the doctor it wouldn't have changed where we are right now."

"Thanks Jack. I appreciate it. I'm just so worried."

"We all are sweetheart but my boy is a strong one and he will be fine."

"He will." Janet agreed.

Over the next three and a half hours they all sat around, flipping aimlessly through the same magazines over and over, changing the channels on the television over and over even though they found nothing of interest to watch but mostly they paced the waiting room back and forth, trying not to think about the worst case scenario but it wasn't working.

When Katie, who flew in from Atlanta and took a cab to the hospital, walked in her parents embraced her and Janet walked over to the window to give Eddie's family some privacy. Janet was staring out the window and seeing nothing when she felt a hand on her shoulder. She turned around and came face to face with Laura and Katie. "Janet I would like for you to meet my daughter, Eddie's sister Katie. Katie this is your brother's girlfriend Janet."

"Katie it's a pleasure meeting you." Janet held out her hand and instead of taking it Katie stretched her arms out and hugged Janet and Laura discreetly walked away, leaving them alone.

"You too Janet. I have heard a lot about you."

"Only the good stuff is true." Janet joked.

'Then everything I have heard is true because my brother has nothing but good things to say about you."

"I'm sure that's not true."

"It is. Trust me. I've never known Eddie to be this happy and I have known him for twenty eight years." Janet smiled, feeling somewhat embarrassed. "Eddie and I talk every morning when I am on my way to work. I'll never forget the morning he called, four months ago I think, and he was furious."

"What? Why?"

"There was this girl who worked at the bar who he was friends with." Katie began with a grin. "He had developed feelings for this friend but he never told her about them."

"Why?" Janet asked, playing along. "Why didn't he tell her?"

"Because he didn't think he was good enough for her. In his words he thought that she was this amazing woman with a heart of gold that was too good for him."

"I'm sure that's not true."

"Well that's what he thought. So he formulated this plan to better himself, he worked really hard to make a successful business so he could shower her with gifts and take her to nice, expensive restaurants, he stopped…dating…I'm not sure if that is the right word but we'll go with it, he stopped dating so she would see that he wasn't the same man who would sleep with just anyone anymore." Janet felt tears fill her eyes because she never realized how many changes he made for her. "One night he was at the bar and he saw this girl he really liked leave on a date with and again I'm using his words, a doofus from the Duf, and he became furious, not with her but with himself. He was furious that he had waited so long and he was terrified that he was too late, that he had lost his only chance to be with her and of course you know my brother, he wasn't going to lose the one girl he really wanted, something that had never happened before so he made a decision to get what he wanted and he usually succeeds in getting what he wants. The very next day he showed up at the beginning of her shift and asked her out for that night and when she said yes, it was the happiest moment of his life." Janet's tears were now falling.

"Really?" She whispered and Katie nodded. Again, she felt like shit because he never told her and she didn't know.

"When we had our daily phone call the next morning he had just left your house and he was so freaking happy. Janet, I swear he actually sounded giddy and everyday since that first date he gets happier. He said he always felt like something was missing from his life and now that you two are together he finally feels complete."

"He has made me just as happy." Suddenly, Janet started to giggle.

"What is so funny?"

"I was just thinking that the catalyst for our relationship was someone else asking me out. If I would have known that I would have said yes to the offers that I had gotten before but the funniest thing is that I didn't have a date that night."

"Huh? He said he saw you leave with that guy."

"I did leave with a guy but it wasn't a date. I would never date a student at The Duf. I am thirty years old and these guys are in their early twenties which equals way to immature. That night, Lance who is a regular locked his keys in his car. Lance is a goof who always locks his keys in his car so he gave me a spare key. That night he came up to me for his spare key and since it was the end of my shift and I had left the spare key in my jeep so we left together. I guess I can see how Eddie thought that it was date and I am so glad that he did." Katie started laughing and the two women embraced.

It was another three hours, three very long hours for Jack, Laura, Katie and Janet before Dr. Turner came into the surgery waiting room. He told them that the surgery was more complicated than he had anticipated but he was able to remove all traces of the tumor successfully. After they all had calmed down from shedding tears of joy Dr. Turner explained to them that there was a lot of swelling in his brain so he was going to keep Eddie in a medicated coma, that if he was conscious he would be in a severe amount of pain and his agitation would make it harder and longer to heal. He wasn't able to tell them how long he would be in his coma, the length of time would depend on the swelling and how long it took to go down but Dr. Turner assured them that the swelling would go down and Eddie would wake up and that's all that mattered to Eddie's family and Janet.

The week that Eddie spent in his medically induced coma was one of the longest weeks of Janet's life. She promised Eddie that she would be there for him and she took her promise to heart, she never left his room for more than thirty minutes. Jack and Laura begged her to come to the hotel with them and get a room at night so she could sleep but she politely refused and slept on a pull out chair next to his bed and Laura thought that it was wonderful that Janet loved her son so much that she didn't argue with her, she knew it would have been pointless anyway. Janet and Katie also grew closer during that week. They were only two years apart and they each thought the world of each other and they spent a lot of time talking about Eddie, their lives, how they grew up and how their lives were now and by the end of the week they both felt extremely close.

Suddenly, Janet realized that her bath water had grown cold and she was very tired. She got out of the tub, dried off and slipped on one of Eddie's shirts that he had left at her place one night when his head hurt too bad to drive home. She brushed her teeth and fell into the soft bed and almost immediately fell asleep. As she drifted off to sleep she had the image of Eddie, awake from his coma, cancer free, smiling at her in her mind and for the first time in a week Janet had a good night sleep.

"Katie thanks so much for helping me out with this." Eddie told his sister. She was setting up a card table for him and Janet to have a special, romantic dinner, well as romantic as it could be in a hospital.

"No problem. I would do anything for you. How are you feeling?"

"Tired but better. I have only had one pain shot today and I was knocked out for a few hours and for the rest of the time I have just been taking pain pills and I've been okay."

"Did mom remember to bring you grandma's ring?"

"Yeah she did. She even got it cleaned. It looks really good." Katie put the finishing touches on the table by adding some candles.

"There. All done. Your food should be delivered in about twenty minutes. Is there anything else you need?"

"Yeah. I would like for you to sit here with me so I can talk to you." Katie gave her brother a weird look but Eddie smiled, patted the empty spot on his bed and she joined him. She never could say no to her big brother.

"What's up?"

"Are you happy bug?" Katie looked at the floor and nodded. She could never lie to Eddie while looking in his eyes. "You're lying to me."

"Did Janet tell you?" Katie had opened up to Janet about her life in Atlanta, thinking that she would keep her secret.

"What? You told Janet about what was going on and not me?"

"You were unconscious."

"Oh right. And by the way Janet didn't say anything to me. I only talked to her for a few minutes and trust me bug, you weren't the topic of conversation." Eddie said with a grin. "What's going on Kate? You can talk to me."

"I'm miserable." She admitted softly. She lifted her head and Eddie saw tears streaming down her face. He reached out and pulled her to his chest and held her for a few minutes. "I should have listened to you Eddie. You knew Joel was an ass. You told me but I didn't listen."

"Some things, even if the big brother is right, we have to learn on our own. You inherited the Latekka stubbornness so it's innate that you wouldn't listen. Do you want to tell me what's going on?"

"He changed when we moved. He started drinking…a lot, not coming home at night but I just blew it off, telling myself that he was just working hard and then these other women started calling the apartment and I knew he was sleeping with them. He of course denied it but I knew, in my heart or maybe it was my womanly intuition but I knew he was lying."

"He hasn't…" The thought of that asshole hitting his baby sister made him sick. "He hasn't hit you has he?"

"No Eddie he hasn't. I may be stupid enough to stay with a guy who is cheating on me but I would never stay with a man who hits me."

"Why are staying bug? You don't need that, you are so much better than that. Come home."

"I can't."

"Why the hell not?"

"Because if I have to come home then it means that I failed."

"That's such bullshit Katie. It just means that things didn't work out with a true asshole."

"Come on Eddie. What kind of girl can't keep a guy in her bed? I've got a degree in photography and I'm taking pictures in a department store which fired me when I left to come here to be with you. Yeah, that sounds real successful."

"Aww bug. You can't think like that. Everyone has a detour from their ultimate life plan. Look at me, I was supposed to start a business with my best friend years ago but I had to take a detour, a ten year and failed business detour but now I've got my business with Nicky that is very successful and I've got a great girl. Come home Katie. I know that all of your dreams of love and taking pictures are here in The Ridge."

"You can't know that Eddie."

"I had a dream while I was in my coma and it was so real. In my dream you moved back home and everything you wanted you found here." Katie snorted.

"A dream Eddie? Really?"

"I'm telling you Kate it was so damn real. I think it was a glimpse of what the future holds for me, Janet, my friends and you and I'm telling you Kate everything you want is here."

"So in this dream I met a guy and fell in love." Eddie nodded. "Who is it?"

"I'm not telling you. You have to find him on your own. Will you come home?"

"I don't have anywhere to stay."

"You can always stay with mom and dad or with Janet. I'm sure that she wouldn't mind."

"Oh no. I would much rather stay with mom and dad then with Janet."

"Why? I thought that you liked her."

"I do. I like her a lot but what I don't like is sleeping in the next room listening to you have sex. I have done that once before and that is one thing I do not to repeat."

"Umm you have never had to listen to me have sex. I haven't ever brought a girl home. Mom and dad would kill me."

"Liar. You were eighteen, just graduated from high school and mom and dad were out of town. You brought some chick home and all I heard was her yelling "Oh Eddie…Oh yes…please" and the headboard banging up against the wall." Katie said grinning.

"I had forgotten about that. Sorry." He said.

"You should be."

"So are you coming home?"

"Yeah Eddie. I'm coming home." Eddie hugged her tightly.

"I am so glad."

"Me too." She mumbled into his chest.

Janet walked down the now familiar hall of the fifth floor of the Boston hospital. The nurses noticed that she looked so much more rested than she had been over the past week and that had a lot to do with the good night's sleep she got the night before and they relaxing day she spent lounging around her hotel room with Hannah who rode up with Nick and the guys. Janet was surprised when she got to his room and saw that the door was closed. Thinking that maybe his parents or maybe even Katie was still there visiting and not wanting to interrupt them she knocked instead of just walking in.

"Come in." Eddie called. Janet pushed open the door and was confused to find the blinds closed and the room was dark. She got even more confused when her eyes traveled to his hospital bed and found that it was empty. "Over here." Janet turned her head and gasped in surprise when she saw him sitting at a little card table filled with food and bathed in candlelight.

"What's going on?" She whispered.

"I believe that I owe you a fancy dinner." He had promised her a nice, fancy dinner during their trip to Rhode Island.

"Well I think that I'm a tad under dressed for this fanciness." She was wearing jeans and a casual shirt.

"What the hell are you talking about? Look at me. I'm wearing this hospital gown with bandages on my head. You are dressed perfectly. Now sit your ass down."

"Yes sir." Smiling Janet pulled out the folding chair across from Eddie.

"I'm sorry that I can't get up to pull out your chair. I get too dizzy when I move and it takes away from the point of me pulling out your chair if you have to help me back to my seat." He smiled tiredly at her.

"Don't worry about it. This is perfect, exactly how it is." Eddie dished out the food he ordered onto their plates. "Eat up." He ordered. For the next thirty minutes they ate with comfortable conversation while they held hands throughout the entire meal.

"I have some dessert for us but I was hoping that we could talk while our stomachs' digested. Is that okay?" Janet suddenly felt very nervous.

"I...is something wrong? Did I do something wrong?" She asked tearfully. Eddie reached across the table and held out his other hand until she joined hers with his.

"No sweetheart. You didn't do anything wrong and everything is wonderful, well expect for being in the hospital with staples holding my skull together. You and I are together and I'm alive. Everything is fine."

"Then what is going on?"

"I want to tell you about a dream I had."

"Last night?"

"No while I was in my coma and I want to tell you about it."

"It must have been some dream."

"It really was. Do you want to hear about?" She nodded. "Before I tell you I want you to know how very much I love you and that is something that I knew before I had my surgery and went into my coma. I need you to know that. Do you know that Janet?"

"Yes I Eddie I do and honestly you're scaring me."

"Don't be scared sweetheart."

"So don't keep me hanging. Start talking so the butterflies will disappear."

"Well my dream began with Dr. Turner coming into my hospital room telling me that I had brain cancer." Eddie began.