One of the comments asked if the Roman in the story was Wayne's Roman or Drake's Roman. The answer is that it's Drake's Roman. This story actually spans the period when Wayne returned in the show's timing, though the story has departed from canon so things will not go exactly how they went on the show.
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Kayla had just finished giving Stephanie her bath when she heard Steve return home. She breathed a sigh of relief and momentarily wondered if she would ever stop worrying about him whenever he left their home. She knew it was irrational, but, every time he left, she was reminded of their last goodbye at the farewell party at Wings. And the same fear she had felt then would wash over her until he returned safely.
She heard Steve walk into Stephanie's bedroom. Kayla looked up as he said, "There's my girls." He walked over, gave Kayla a quick kiss, and then picked up the clean and squirming Stephanie, swinging her over his head. Stephanie's giggles filled the room and Kayla smiled, loving the sound and sight of her husband and daughter together. Kayla knew that she would never tire of either one.
Smiling at Steve, Kayla said, "Now that you've got her all riled up, you can figure out how to get her to sleep." Walking over to the dresser, she picked up the pink music box that had been her savior so many times before when Stephanie had been reluctant to go to sleep. "This usually works, if nothing else does."
Steve took the music box from Kayla and examined it. "Nice," he said. "Looks expensive." Then he opened the box, listened to the tune for a moment, and closed it. He set it back on the dresser and grinned. "Don't worry, Sweetness. I've got the magic touch."
Kayla laughed, leaned over and kissed her daughter. "Okay, 'Mr. Magic Touch.' I'll let you get to work." She kissed Stephanie again, then left the room.
Kayla walked into the kitchen and began cleaning the dishes from dinner. Since their argument a few days ago, she and Steve had settled into a tentative peace. She still hated that he would not share his memories with her, but she was also trying to accept his explanation. She knew his fears of hurting her again were real to him, and she knew that it would kill him if something like that happened again. He had made her promise to get out of the bed and stay away from him whenever he woke her with a nightmare. So far, she had tried to keep that promise - for his sake.
When he would finally wake up, Kayla would crawl back into bed and ask him if he wanted to talk about it. Inevitably, he would say no but she would never stop asking and would always hope his answer would change. After he had settled down again, she would hold him in her arms until he fell asleep again. Steve had said that having her there helped him, so she would continue to do what she could until he could finally open up to her. She had to believe that would happen someday.
After finishing the dishes, Kayla began wiping down the counters. She heard the familiar sound of Steve's harmonica and smiled softly as she listened. He really did have the magic touch with Stephanie.
As much as she tried to focus on the music, her mind kept turning to the hearing scheduled in the morning. Kayla wanted to believe that, once the board understood the full story, they would reinstate her. But she also knew that there were no guarantees.
Lost in her thoughts, she did not realize the music had stopped and did not hear Steve come into the kitchen. She jumped when he touched her shoulder.
"Sorry, baby," he said softly. "I didn't mean to scare you."
"It's okay," Kayla replied. "I didn't hear you come in."
"You looked like you were a million miles away." Steve softly stroked her cheek. "Are you worried about the hearing tomorrow?"
Kalya looked down. "Not really. . . . I'm sure it's going to be fine."
"Come here, Sweetness." Steve pulled Kayla into his arms and held her tight. When they separated, he silently led her into the living room and they sat down on the couch together. Kayla leaned against him and he, once again, wrapped his arms around her.
They sat together in silence, each lost in their own thoughts and taking comfort from their closeness. Kayla felt Steve's fingers brush through her hair as he began to speak. "I know you are trying to be strong, Sweetness. But I also know you're scared. You don't have to be strong all the time, baby. So why don't you tell me what you're really feeling?"
Kayla sighed softly, but did not speak. It had been so long since she had been able to truly lean on somebody else. Over the last 10 months, she had grown accustomed to having to rely on herself. Shane had been there, of course, and had always been supportive, but even with him, Kayla had never been able to let herself really depend on him, to really let him support her when things got tough.
There was only one person to whom she had ever fully surrendered herself. One of the reasons she had fallen in love with Steve was that he could make her feel like the only person in the world who mattered. No matter what the situation, he had somehow always known when she needed his love and support, and had always made sure she was taken care of, even when she was busy taking care of everyone else.
Leaning into Steve's chest, Kayla softly listened to Steve's steady heartbeat and even breathing. His fingers continued to stroke her hair as he said, "Baby? Talk to me, please."
Kayla remained silent, unsure of why she was having such a hard time telling Steve what she was really feeling. No, that was not quite true. She knew why. It was fear. She had surrendered her whole heart - her whole life - to Steve, and, when she had lost him, she had lost so much of herself. It had taken months to even get part of that back again. Now Steve was here and she knew she did not have to hold her fears and emotions inside anymore. She could not let her fear hold her back anymore.
"Did I ever tell you when I decided to become a nurse?" Kayla asked quietly.
Steve was silent for a moment. "You said it was when you broke your leg in girl scout camp and figured out you couldn't be a ballerina anymore."
Kayla smiled, surprised that he remembered. "Yes. That was when all my career plans changed. But looking back, I think maybe I was always meant to be a nurse. My brothers used to tease me because I was always trying to save some lost pet or wounded bird."
"Or free the lobsters," Steve added.
Kayla giggled. "Or free the lobsters in my Pop's fish market." She grew more serious. "One of the proudest days of my life was when I graduated with my nursing degree. And, then, when I was given the opportunity to start the Riverfront Emergency Clinic, I felt like I had found the work I was always supposed to do."
"You did a great job with the emergency center, Sweetness," Steve said. "You should be proud of it."
"I was . . . I am," she replied. "I felt the same way about the immunology lab. It was something I could put a part of myself into, and it was something to focus on after I lost you. But now. . . ." Her voice trailed off.
"But now you're afraid that you are going to lose all of that." Steve finished her unspoken thought.
"Yes," Kayla said, finally giving voice to her fears. "I'm afraid that the board might not understand, or, even if they understand, they might not care. I'm afraid that I'm never going to be able to help people the way I know I can." She paused, sitting up to face Steve. "I know that sounds selfish. I mean I have you back and we have Stephanie. I should be happy with that. I am happy."
"Baby, you don't have to feel bad for being scared about what might happen with your nursing career," Steve said. "It's not selfish. I know how much your work means to you. It's part of who you are." He smiled and caressed her cheek. "I believe with all of my heart that this is going to work out and you're going to get your job back. And I want you to believe that too. But even if the worst happens, you will always find a way to help people. Because that is a part of you, also."
Steve leaned down and softly kissed Kayla. "I think it's the part of you I fell in love with first. And job or no job, that part of you will never change."
Kayla felt the tears in her eyes as she looked at Steve. His eye shone with love and faith. She pulled his head down and kissed him deeply, pouring all the love she felt for him into that kiss. When they separated, she looked at him. Softly, she said, "Thank you. You'll never know how much it means to me to have you in my corner."
"I'll always be in your corner, Sweetness," Steve replied. "When you are in that hearing tomorrow, you just remember that no matter what happens, I'll be there. You have so many friends and family that will be there too."
"I know," Kayla said. Her eyes shining, she looked up at Steve. "I don't want to talk about the hearing anymore." She pulled him down for another deep, lingering kiss.
When the kiss ended, Steve asked, "What do you want to talk about?"
As Steve's fingers gently traced her lips, Kayla closed her eyes. Opening them again, she stood up and held out her hand. "How about we don't talk at all?"
Steve's eye darkened as he took her hand and stood up beside her. Without a word, he bent down, scooped her into his arms, and headed for their bedroom. Kayla closed her eyes and buried her face in Steve's chest. Tonight would be about showing Steve how much she loved him. Tomorrow would take care of itself.