Chapter 69

Rikki's P.O.V

This was agony. Hospitals were the pits. When were they going to let me see him? Why was Zane always the one injured? We had only been here a few months earlier.

"Mrs Bennett?" A nurse called. Cleo squeezed my hand reassuringly.

"Yes?"

"You may see your husband now. We regret to inform you that he is in a coma. It is a miracle that the electrocution did not kill him." My heart sank.

"How long until he wakes up?" I asked. My voice sounded unnaturally small.

"That is undetermined," she said, an apologetic look on her face.

OoOoO

There he was. Asleep in a hospital bed, cords penetrating his skin to keep him alive. How could this happen? I remembered that Alex and Jay had run past giggling. Surely they didn't cause this. But then again, only Fi and myself could've caused it otherwise, but that was a ridiculous theory. Fi had no powers. She had been born human. I couldn't have caused it, could I?

"Zane, honey," I began. I uncharacteristically felt like I was going to cry. "Please come back to us. I don't know what or who caused this, but…I can't live without you." I bit my lip. 'Pull yourself together, Rikki' I thought. I felt a tear slip from my eye. I wiped it away abruptly before gripping Zane's hand tighter. I couldn't hold it together. I was mortified as the floodgates opened. I thanked God that no one else was in the room.

Normal P.O.V

Over the next week, Rikki spent many visiting hours sitting with Zane, talking to him, willing him to come back to the world. The kids did not really understand why Daddy was asleep for so long.

"Is he really tired?" Alex had asked one evening.

"Something like that," Rikki replied weakly.

OoOoO

Two weeks after the accident, Zane's condition had not changed. He was in a stable coma and doctors were unsure as to when he would wake up. Zane had slept through his 34th birthday and the Bennetts had had a mini celebration in the hospital room, for their five kids' sakes.

Rikki had reluctantly pulled herself away from her husband's bedside and was working at the café. Her friends had been amazing at keeping it running while its owners were pre-occupied, stepping in wherever they were needed.

"Rikki?" A voice penetrated her thought process. Rikki turned to the speaker.

"What?" Rikki asked in a dazed tone.

"You were pretty zoned out, honey," Rhonda replied. The employee had been one of the reasons Rikki's Café did not have to close down temporarily.

"I can't take my mind off him…" Rikki trailed off.

"You should go home and rest – you obviously haven't had much sleep in the last few weeks."

"No, I need to be here," Rikki replied stubbornly. Rhonda put her hands up in defeat.

"You're the boss – you can't say I didn't try."

Rikki felt her phone buzzing in her pocket. She put down the tray in her hands and answered. Rhonda looked up from the table she was wiping down. She hoped it was good news. Rhonda was relieved to see a small grin replace the frown that had become nearly permanent. Rikki dashed into the office and retrieved her handbag before coming up to Rhonda, all flustered with excitement.

"Zane?" Rhonda asked. Rikki nodded quickly. Rhonda noted that it was nice to see Rikki being so forthcoming with her emotions for once.

"He is awake!" she exclaimed. She began to run to the door before stopping in her tracks. She opened her mouth to speak.

"I'll hold down the fort," Rhonda said, reading her mind. Rikki gave her a thankful smile before quickly exiting the café.

OoOoO

"Thank you for coming, Mrs Bennett," the doctor began. "Mr Bennett has woken up and is showing signs of recovery..."

"That's great!" Rikki said interrupted enthusiastically.

"However," the doctor continued. "After an MRI scan, we have determined that this electrocution has caused slight damage to the brain – how extensive we cannot be sure. Nevertheless, we believe he has Retrograde Repression of Memory, in…"

"Spit it out in English!" Rikki exclaimed impatiently. Realising her rudeness she added a quiet, "please."

"I was about to explain," the doctor replied patiently. "I am trying to tell you that your husband has amnesia. How long it will last, we are not sure, but we believe it is retrograde – he believes it is the year 2005, that he is a fifteen-year-old boy. He cannot remember anything after that year prior to waking up in hospital this morning." Rikki's mouth was wide open in shock. She felt like someone had just kicked her in the gut. Gone was the excitement – replaced with dread. He would not remember her would he? They met in 2006. She prayed that she would jog his memory.

OoOoO

Rikki walked with the doctor to Zane's room, trying to keep herself together.

"Zane, you have a visitor," the doctor said gently. Zane looked up from his cell phone. The doctor exited discretely.

"I don't know half the people in my phone." He stated. As Rikki approached, he looked over her frame.

"Who are you?" he asked bluntly. "I don't know you. Did Dad send you? Are you his new floozy?"

The string of questions took Rikki by surprise. A tear slipped from her eye. "You don't know who I am…" Rikki said quietly. "Zane, has the doctor told you what happened?"

"He told me that I've been in a coma for two weeks as a result from electrocution. He also told me that I have amnesia. He said that it is 2025 – isn't that crazy? As if I could have forgotten twenty years of my life! I still feel like a teenager." Zane laughed. "He must just be messing around with me."

"This isn't some kind of joke, Zane," Rikki said solemnly. "Have you seen yourself in the mirror?"

"No…why?"

"I think you should see that the doctor wasn't lying…" Rikki reached into her handbag, pulled out a compact mirror, and handed it to the puzzled man. Zane face went pale. He felt his face.

"I'm so old!" he exclaimed, appalled. This revelation seemed to sober him up; gone was the snarky tone in his voice. "How old am I?"

"You are thirty-four."

"Thirty-four," Zane echoed. "Wait, who are you again?"

Rikki took a deep breath but another tear escaped again. She held up her left hand.

"I am your wife." Zane's eyes widened.

"How many years?"

"Over a decade." She whispered.

"You're lying – I swore I'd never get married!"

"You changed your mind," Rikki replied deadpan.

A nurse came into the room.

"Mrs Bennett, Dr Harvey wants to talk to you for a minute," Rikki sighed before following her out of the room.

A/N: Hey everyone! I'm sorry it has been so long since the last update - I have been busy starting the new stage of my life!

I am officially a first year student/ freshman of University. This is my third week of living on campus and my second week of lectures and tutorials. I AM LOVING IT! Best time of my life right now. There are 23 people on my floor and we are already like family -we get along really well. I totally recommend the experience :P

Anyway, because Uni life is hectic, I'm going to find it difficult to update quickly - bear with me and remember this story won't be over until I have told you - so don't worry that there is not going to be another update. Reviews do remind me that I should update soon so...PLEASE REVIEW!

Thanks so so much to:

YaleAceBella12

Quillcox

HybridsRose

Zikki 3

Starlight12 (Thanks so much - that comment means a lot. Unfortunately fanfiction cannot be published without permission from heaps of people)

CrazyHayniac

Acgisme

davidahare

Acgisme and HybridsRose - you are amazing - you reviewed twice! On different days! I hope this chapter was worth it :P You are awesome fans.

Thanks again everyone! I hope you enjoyed it!