It was getting dark by the time they arrived at the Angel Grove Park. For a moment, Tanya's mind was filled with more memories from the past; brightly colored streaks and adrenaline rushes, the clinking of metal and the exhilaration of jumping up and down in triumph.

Adam held her hand as they moved into the clearing and her thoughts changed to other glimpses from another life; private lessons by the lake, picnics in the grass, stolen kisses in the moonlight.

"Gosh, you're beautiful," he murmured with a dreamy look on his face.

She blushed, trying to hide her wide smile as she looked down at their conjoined hands. It was easy to fall into step beside him as they walked slowly, a slight breeze cool on her face, his fingers comfortably entwined with hers.

"It's nice tonight," she commented.

He smiled. "Where were you, just now?"

She sighed. "Just thinking about the last time we were here. Alone."

He grinned. "Ah, the good old days. When it was easier to impress a girl with a date in the park for a poor sap who couldn't hold an after school job because he was off saving the world somewhere."

She laughed lightly. "Hey, those dates were always lots of fun!"

He smiled wistfully. "They sure were."

"Adam, why did we break up?" she asked suddenly, her voice almost a whisper as she looked up at him.

He stopped walking, still held her hand. "I don't know," he said softly, running his fingers over her knuckles. "I don't think we did. I guess we just drifted apart."

She was silent for a moment, processing his answer and thinking that it had to be an accurate one, seeing as how she couldn't remember a specific reason herself.

"Well, if we didn't officially break up, then I guess that means that technically I'm still your girl," she joked to break the awkward silence.

"You'll always be my girl, Tanya," he said quietly.

She looked up at him with wide eyes, and swallowed thickly, her heart suddenly beating fast. "So I guess we should talk about last night, huh?"

"Probably," he murmured, brushing his fingers through her hair and tucking a strand behind her ear. He let his hand trail down her shoulder, his fingers idly stroking her arm.

She closed her eyes, still unsure what to say.

"What's wrong?" He asked.

She shook her head. "I can't concentrate with you touching me like that," she whispered, letting go of his hand.

"Why's that?"

She didn't say anything.

He moved a few steps closer, closing the distance between them and wrapping his arms around her, pulling her into his chest. "How do you feel?" he whispered, a little huskily, his lips ghosting against the shell of her ear.

"I feel safe," she murmured, leaning into him.

"You are safe," he said.

"I feel like I just want to hold onto you for as long as I can," she said quietly.

He ducked his face into the crook of her neck. "So do it."

"Oh, Sweetie…." She whispered, tightening her hold on him.

"Sweetie…" He smiled wistfully. "You haven't called me that in a really long time."

She sighed. "I guess I haven't even called you in a really long time."

He pulled away long enough to look her in the eyes. "That's going to change now, right?"

She nodded.

"Good." He took her hand again, slowly leading her along the lake.

They walked in silence for a few moments and it felt so good just to hold his hand that she didn't feel the need to say anything else.

"Hey, Tanya," he said slowly. "I've been thinking about something."

"What is it?" she asked, cocking an eyebrow.

He took a deep breath. "What if I came back to Nashville with you?"

Her eyes widened. "But… but what about your class? Aren't you supposed to be teaching this semester? And the dojo—and-" She stopped when she realized his eyes were sincere.

"Adam… Actually… I was thinking that I might…. spend some time here. In Angel Grove."

He nodded, taking in her words. "Is that what you really want to do?"

Her eyes teared up and she sniffed softly.

"Aw, shoot, Tanya, don't cry," he said, wrapping his arms around her. "Come here."

The tears spilled down her cheeks and she ducked her head into his chest, trying to swallow her shaky sobs.

"Ssshhhhh, it's okay," he murmured, lightly stroking her hair. "We'll figure it out."

"I want to stay here, I really do," she cried. "But I'm so confused. How can I just pick up my life and start over?"

"I'll help you," he promised. "You rocked it the first time."

She gave him a half smile, wiping the tears from her face with the back of her hand. "That was before. I had no real obligations. What about my apartment in Tennessee, all my stuff? My career? Everything? How can I just come back, what am I going to do here?"

"I don't know, Tanya. You can do anything. You can ask Tommy about some admin stuff at the university, or help out me and Rocky at the dojo, go back and see if anything's available at the radio station, or heck, why don't you just move your singing career back here?"

She sniffled, taking in a shaky breath.

"I'm going to help you. Rocky, Tommy, we'll all help you. You're only twenty-three, Tanya. You're not eighty-three. You can start over. And you don't have to decide all that stuff right now."

"You make it sound so simple," she said.

"It doesn't have to be hard," he replied. "What are you so afraid of? Is it me? What, do you have a boyfriend back in Nashville I don't know about?"

"No!" She insisted. "No, Adam….. there hasn't been anyone else," she whispered. "It's always been you."

"Then what is it?" He asked, leaning down to kiss her. "Is it this?"

She kissed him back, closing her eyes as their lips touched softly.

"What do you want, Tanya?" He asked hoarsely, looking into her eyes, his forehead against hers.

"I want you," she breathed, gazing up at him pleadingly. "I just want you."

"I want this," he whispered, closing his mouth over hers again.

"Me too," she said into his mouth.

They kissed for a few long moments, their hands in each other's hair.

"It's going to be okay," he promised when she pulled away, his arms still around her.

"I know." She smiled sheepishly. "I promise I won't get so emotional every time we do that," she said.

"You mean, we're going to do that again?" He asked, wiggling his eyebrows.

She grinned, punching him playfully in the arm.

"Hey, I got you to smile," he pointed out.

"You always do," she said.

He kissed her forehead softly. "I'll tell you what. You help me move into my new place in a couple of weeks, and I'll come back to Nashville with you to get your stuff."

She nodded. "I just have to figure out what I'm going to do in the meantime. I can't exactly stay at Kat's parents' house without her there."

"Stay with me. I bet Rocky would let you leave some things at his place until we find you an apartment. We'll figure it out."

"Okay," she whispered.

His eyes brightened and he smiled wide, hugging her so close he was swinging her. "Yesssssss." He kissed her again.

"How is this going to work?" she asked.

"Come back to my place and I'll show you," he murmured.

"I mean…. What about when I go on tour in November?"

He shrugged. "I'll come with you."

"But what about teaching your class?"

"So, I'll just spend the holidays on tour with you. The rest of the time, we'll just make it work. Facetime and stuff."

She threw her arms around him, her eyes sparkling. "You're incredible, you know that?"

He caught her easily with a laugh. "Feel better?"

"Mmmm-hmmmm," she murmured, leaning in for another kiss.

He deepend the kiss, his hands sliding to her waist and she tightened her arms around his neck, sighing softly as she pressed into him.

"So…. my place?" He asked, kissing along her neck.

"Mmmm-hmmmm," she said again.