Desperate Measures

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"Dr. Ramsey, you have a call on line one," Colleen called out to the tired looking doctor after he’d pulled a double shift at the hospital. He looked up from the pages he’d been reviewing as he nodded in response.

"I’ll take it in the Chief Resident’s office," Chris offered up as he quickly made an exit into closed corridors wondering if perhaps this could be the call he’d been waiting for. Looking around the on call room to make sure that the coast was clear, he set himself down at the desk, a brief flutter of a memory haunting him as his thoughts lingered to Eve. How he missed having her around on a daily basis, how he missed seeing her face, but then again a part of her was always with him and he’d wanted to keep it that way from here on out. Taking a seat at the desk, he noticed the blinking line as he answered the phone.

"Dr. Ramsey speaking," Chris inhaled as he instantly recognized the voice on the other end of the line and he felt his chest tightening, "thank you for calling," Chris managed to get out as the voice on the other end of the line explained the current situation to him, "I understand completely. Absolutely. I’ll give it my utmost attention," Chris noted the time, "how about the morning? That should be the soonest I can get a flight out of Port Charles given that it’s the holiday season and all. Of course. Yes, yes I trust that all is taken care of and I hope you’ve received that advance I had sent your way. Of course, yes thank you for being discreet," Chris finished, "I’ll be there as soon as I can in the morning and remember," he paused, "no one knows about this. Absolutely no one else."

"You have my word, Dr. Ramsey," the voice on the other end of the line agreed as Chris ended the call knowing that life was about to change for him in ways he’d only dreamt about. Suddenly the fierce, frightening future seemed to hold promise that hadn’t been there in quite some time.

Chris looked around his apartment making sure that everything was taken care of during his absence. Granted there might be a few questions about his time off at the hospital, but he’d been fortunate enough to slip through the cracks in Port Charles more often than not. It seemed that as time went on, Chris Ramsey was more of an after thought than anything else. A breath of relief rushed over him as he realized he’d paid the rent on his apartment a couple months in advance should it come to that. He’d left Jack a message on the machine that he was going out of town for a while, but then again given how disinterested Jack had been in his life lately, he didn’t imagine having a sudden feeling to flee out of town would inspire much interest from Jack. Come to think of it, even when Chris had been near death due to the Avatar’s attack on him, Jack hadn’t even bothered to raise an eyebrow.

No matter, Chris shrugged off the thought because Port Charles wouldn’t matter if this meeting went well. He was certain that nothing else in this world would take precedence over what was waiting for him on the other side of the country. Now as Chris looked over his cold, lonely apartment one last time, he promised himself that he’d never feel this emptiness again. Life had thrown him a curve ball and if all went well, he’d have his dreams returning to life very soon.

"So long misery," Chris spoke out to the empty apartment, "that train has left Port Charles and there’s nothing but sunshine ahead," he offered optimistic as he turned to the door leaving the rest of his apartment behind as he had much bigger plans ahead of him.

"Dr. Ramsey," Dr. Winters greeted Chris in the lobby of the small, private hospital he’d worked in, "it’s good to have you here."

"Thanks Eric," Chris offered up extending his hand to the other gentleman, "you told me over the phone you had good news for me. Tell me more."

"I think you’ll be rather pleased to see the progress she’s made," Eric explained simply, "for a while there it was very touch and go especially in the condition she was brought in with, but it would seem that there was an angel on her shoulder smiling down on the both of you."

"Then I take it she’s regained consciousness," Chris half questioned hopefully.

"Not yet, but there are signs indicating that an awakening is not too far away," Eric explained simply leading Chris down the long, narrow corridor.

"And you’re certain this isn’t a false alarm like the last time?" Chris questioned a bit skeptical, "I’d had such hopes…"

"This time there is a distinct pattern leading towards a turn around," Eric offered up stepping in front of the closed door, "I think this time around, she’s just waiting for you to come back to her."

"It’s been too long," Chris sighed, "I should’ve come back during the week like I’d promised you I would."

"You were here last weekend," Eric reminded him, "it must be quite a pinch to travel cross country as frequently as you have especially during the holiday season."

"I’d do it on a daily basis if I could," Chris confessed solemnly, "but the truth is that’s about to change."

"That’s right," Chris nodded, "I’m thinking about relocating out here, to give us both a change of pace on the road to her recovery."

"I think that sounds like an excellent idea," Eric nodded opening the door to allow Chris access, "I trust you don’t need me standing over your shoulder."

"I can take it from here," Chris nodded in response stepping into the room as the sounds of busy machines rose above the otherwise silent room. Instantly his eyes darted towards the hospital bed and a breath caught in his throat as he could see her silhouette through the soft light in the room. A smile swept over his lips as he thought of Eric’s words of hope. Maybe this time would make all the difference. Perhaps this time she would rise up from her slumber, his sleeping beauty so very lost to the world.

Reaching for the bag over his shoulder, Chris stepped towards the bed speaking up gently, "Hey beautiful," he whispered taking a seat beside the bed as he reached for her hand offering up a light squeeze, "miss me?"

She said nothing as Chris placed a kiss over the top of her palm watching her pale, lifeless face remain frozen before him, "You know," he continued as he released her hand and he reached into his bag, "I brought you something this time. You always told me that you loved surprises, so I thought this one would be good for you," he explained simply pulling out a soft, white teddy bear. Watching her for a moment, he placed it in bed beside her as his fingers touched her forehead gently sweeping over her dark tresses, "you know it’s almost Christmas time here," Chris whispered watching her lay motionless before him, "Eric told me that if I was a good boy this year that maybe just maybe you’d surprise me with an early Christmas present. He thought that perhaps you’d be eager to open those pretty brown eyes for me if I played my cards right and the truth is that I have. I’ve been very sure not to do anything that would put me on Santa’s naughty list this year because all I’ve wanted for Christmas was to have you with me--maybe kicking back on a martini or two because it’s been far too long for us," he paused as his eyes traced over her beautiful features inwardly caressing the soft contours of her face with his eyes, "I’ve missed you, you know," he whispered slowly descending towards her as his lips brushed over her forehead, "I’ve missed you so much and I’d give anything to have you open your eyes for me."

Chris swept his lips over her warm skin tenderly feeling an ache inside of him as she remained still beneath him. His fingers brushed against the soft skin of her cheek and he realized that even in this condition she was more beautiful than ever. Time and injury couldn’t take that away from her as she’d healed rather well in so many ways. It was almost as if the accident had never happened, but still there was one very important thing that was missing from all of this. She hadn’t awakened just yet and that was something that caused Chris great concern. Slowly he pulled away from her just watching her for moments after endless moment as he reached for her hand again lacing their fingers together.

"You know, this would be a lot easier on me if I wasn’t having a one way monologue here," Chris offered with a half smile attempting to lighten the ache that engulfed him, "I mean granted I know I do like to hear myself speak, but I’d much rather hear your sexy voice," he let out a tiny laugh, "it did always do something to me especially when I’d toss out a comment or two and you’d yell at me for my sexual innuendos," he paused, "but I guess you’ve just grown so accustomed to my voice that you wouldn’t have it any other way now, huh? You’re just loving my attention to the point that somehow it’s kept you napping," Chris squeezed her hand, "but the thing is you don’t have to sleep anymore. You can open those amazing brown eyes of yours and we can work on getting you out of here. I can take you home and take care of you," he explained his voice cracked with emotion, "I’ve missed you so much and it’s been far too long for us. I know you can hear me and if I was in your shoes, you’d be beating me to stop stalling and to get back to the world of the living," he continued the tears swelling in his eyes as he prayed that the slight changes in her wasn’t just a false indication for hope, "listen to me. I need you back. I want you to come back to me," his voice softened as he touched her cheek again gently, "I can’t make it without you. Please, just open your eyes and come back to me. Please don’t leave me hanging," he urged of her, "I’m so lost without you. Please…." his voice tapered off, "please come back to me. I love you…" he whispered reaching out to embrace her wrapping her up in his arms despite the talk Eric had with him about doing so the last time he’d been there.

"Well since you’re going to play possum again this week, how about we get to your favorite part of my visits and see if somehow that inspires you to open your eyes for me," he urged carefully enveloped her in the warmth of his arms allowing her to rest against his chest as he kissed the top of her head and he began humming a soft tune to her.

"Unforgettable, That's what you are. Unforgettable, Though near or far," he sang out in a soft, soothing voice as he gently rocked her in his arms, "Like a song of love that clings to me. How the thought of you does things to me. Never before has someone been born…"

Chris placed a kiss on the top of her head feeling the warmth of her as he looked to her vitals for a moment seeing that things were looking positive as he continued on with his song, "Unforgettable in every way. And forevermore that's how you'll stay. That's why darling it's incredible that someone so unforgettable thinks that I am unforgettable, too…" he trailed off his voice softening to a barely there whisper as he kissed the top of her head gently, "I love you, Eve."

"Chris…" he heard her whisper as his eyes widened and he turned her a bit in his arms seeing her questioning brown eyes gazing up at him, "Chris, wh-where am I?"

"Eve," he hugged her tighter, "oh Eve, I knew this was going to be the time it happened. I had a feeling about today and now seeing you like this," he couldn’t help the tears building in his eyes as he hugged her in his arms holding her as if he’d never let go, "you’re safe now. I promise you, Eve. You’re safe with me," he confessed knowing that from this moment on things were about to change for the both of them.

"What’s going on in there," Chris questioned trying to get a peek into Eve’s hospital room after her nurse had so rudely booted him out in order to give her a checkup. As if he hadn’t been qualified to do it himself, he scuffed as he paced around the hallway hoping they’d let him back in to see her soon. He looked around the small corridor for a moment before noticing Eric approaching.

"Chris, I haven’t been in there yet," Eric reminded him, "but relax, I’m sure she’s just fine."

"You know how important this is for me," Chris gave him a knowing look before Eric opened his mouth to speak once more. Suddenly the sound of faint ringing from Chris’ jacket pocket interrupted his words, "hold that thought," Chris gave Eric a look before reaching into his pocket once again, "Chris Ramsey here…"

"Chris, it’s Denny," the voice on the other end offered up, "I’m calling about that information you requested before…"

"Denny, tell me you have something for me," Chris urged his eyes drifting back towards Eve’s hospital room as he took in a breath, "tell me that you found what I was looking for."

"I think we hit the jackpot," Denny confessed, "and the stuff on my desk at this very moment is all you need and more."

"No, I want it now," Chris looked to Eric, "do you have a fax machine around here?"

"Give me the number," Chris insisted realizing he needed to know everything before he faced Eve again.

Eric reluctantly complied as Chris repeated the number to Denny hoping that he’d have his hands on exactly what he needed as soon as possible. If this was going to be something to help Eve, he needed to know the truth. Hanging up the phone, Chris looked to Eric before taking in a breath.

"It depends on how she’s feeling," Eric nodded in response, "though I have a feeling that things might be better off than I’d imagined them to be when I called you."

"You have no idea how much that means to hear that," Chris confessed a breath of relief going through him as he looked to the door once again, "why don’t you show me where your office is and then I’ll rejoin you with her once I get my fax?"

"I’d really not get into it, but for what it’s worth, let’s just say it’s something to help Eve," Chris confessed following Eric to his office as Chris vowed to uncover the truth after all this time.

Eve took in a breath as she looked around the strange hospital room wondering how she’d ended up in such a place. Suddenly it felt like life as she’d known it just wasn’t the same. She brought her fingers up through her hair lightly before her gaze shifted to the tiny nurse beside her.

"Things seem to be just fine with you here," the nurse smiled at her, "and when Doctor Winters shows up, I have a very positive feeling about things from here on out. I have a feeling you’ll be headed home very soon."

"Home," Eve repeated sinking back into her pillow as the word vibrated through her mind, "that would be a nice thought, now wouldn’t it?"

"They say being at home is the best medicine," the nurse happily agreed, "especially for the holidays."

"Oh honey it’s almost Christmas time," the nurse explained simply, "which I’m sure will make your coming home all the more merrier for that special man you have waiting for you out there in the hall," she motioned towards the door as Eve took in a soft breath.

"Chris?" Eve half questioned as the door opened and her eyes widened hoping to get another glimpse of him, but much to her dismay she found a doctor standing before her whom she’d never seen before.

"Goody morning Evelyn," he smiled at her, "I’m Doctor Winters and I’m so happy that I’m finally able to talk to one of my favorite patients."

"Favorite?" Eve raised a curious brow, "that wouldn’t be because I was one of the ones who couldn’t talk back, was it?"

"Helen, are you telling my secrets," he winked at the nurse causing her to flush slightly as she scurried around the hospital bed.

"I’d never do that," she offered lightly before looking to Eve once more, "I’ll be back in a bit to finish up after he’s done."

"Okay," Eve smiled back at her, "see you later Helen," she waved before turning her attention back to the new arrival in her room, "So Dr. Winters, tell me how long you and Helen have been seeing each other."

"Sure, sure," Eve gave him a pointed look, "you just make all the nurse’s blush like that every time you’re around huh?"

"I didn’t see her blushing," Eric defended, "and besides this isn’t about my personal life. This is about checking in on you."

"Avoiding the subject," Eve shook her head, "you know I know a few men who are very good at that around here."

"Chris," Eve repeated feeling a warmth spread over her features, "he’s really been here a lot lately, hasn’t he?"

"He cares a great deal about you," Eric nodded, "he’s wanted you to wake up more than anyone I’ve seen around here. Not that we didn’t want it to happen for you because we did, but he was the one who kept hanging on that one day you’d awaken and keep us on our toes."

"So how am I doing so far?" she questioned as he leaned in towards her with his stethoscope.

"I’d have to say if we don’t get you out of here soon, you’ll be playing love connection with my nurses and me," Eric teased.

"It might be for Chris if you decided to devote all your attentions into me, instead of into your relationship with him," Eric noted.

"My relationship with Chris," Eve repeated with a curious look, "and what might that be again?"

"Of course I remember," Eve covered noticing the way he was looking at her, "Chris is Chris and he…he’s pretty important in my life," she thought it over for a moment or so, "after all, I mean why else would he be by my side through all of this if he wasn’t pretty important to me?"

"That’s what I kept telling the staff around here," he offered changing the subject as Eve let out a soft breath hoping that she wouldn’t slip up again and be forced to stay in this foreign place much longer. Being in this hospital was the last place she wanted to be in especially feeling as she did in this moment. Getting out of here was top on her list of priorities.

Chris watched as page after page spilled out of the fax machine revealing that his suspicions had been right all along about the Saintly Dr. Ian Thornhart. While the photos weren’t of the best quality over the fax machine, there was no denying the proof that lay before him as Chris noticed the vivid images of Ian and Amy together in her hotel room at the time of Eve’s accident. A frown fell over his features as he reached for a page holding it up as his anger burned inside of him. Knowing that Ian was with Amy was enough fuel to the fire burning inside of him. He wouldn’t let Ian hurt Eve again and even if she fought him on it, he’d find a way to keep her safe. As the fax machine continued to spit out page after page, Chris vowed that he wouldn’t let Ian get away with what he’d done. He’d protect Eve at any cost--that much he was certain of.

"So do I get a clean bill of health?" Eve questioned with a bright smile as she looked up at Eric again, "does this mean I can leave now?"

"On your driver," Eric offered as the door opened and Chris stepped into the room.

"Talking about me again," Chris shook his head as he let out a light laugh, "and here I thought you’d stopped spreading gossip about me, Eric."

"Always showing up at the wrong time," Eric chuckled in response as he stepped away from Eve’s hospital bed, "she’s all yours."

"Just the way I want it to be," Chris winked at Eve and he noticed that she seemed to almost be blushing as he stepped in towards her reaching out to her forehead, "are you sure?"

"She’s doing good," Eric nodded, "I can get started on the release papers if you like since I know she’ll be in good hands."

"I think I’d like that," Eve confessed breaking her silence as she gazed up at Chris curiously.

"Then I guess it’s settled," Chris waved at Eric, "you heard the lady. You’d better get started on things."

"As you wish," Eric noted before slipping out of the room to give them some privacy.

"Hey beautiful, so how’s the patient feeling today," Chris questioned sitting beside her on the hospital bed, his smile reaching down deep into her.

"A little tired, but eager to get out of here," Eve confessed as her eyes fell over his hand. Tentatively, she reached out to him taking his fingers in hers, "what about you?"

"Eve, knowing that you’re awake and that I can talk to you again, well, I’d go anywhere with you right about now. I’m just happy to have you with me like this. You have no idea how long I‘ve waited to see you open those beautiful brown eyes of yours. Time after time I sat here hoping that I‘d wake up and find you looking down at me, teasing me about my snoring like you always do, but then for so long, you were so lost to me. I missed you so much and wanted you back and even though there was a time when some thought you wouldn‘t come back to me, I never gave up hope. Never did I let them tell me that you wouldn‘t return to me, because in my heart I knew that somehow you‘d find your way back home--back to me again and it was that day that kept me going. Now that the moment is here, well, it‘s better than I‘d imagined it to be," he squeezed her hand gently.

"So where do we go from here? I mean, now that I‘m awake and all, what happens now?" She questioned reciprocating the gesture as she turned her gaze up to him again, "when do we go home?"

"Well actually, that’s something we do need to talk about," Chris took in a breath, "about going home…"

"Chris, don’t tell me that you want me to stay here. I don’t think I could tolerate being in a hospital much longer," she groaned slightly, "after all this time, I don’t think I could bear a moment more."

"And here I thought you’d grown to love the hospital scene especially after our residency," Chris teased her.

"Residency," she frowned slightly, "you mean we’re…..I’m a …am I a doctor?"

"Oh Eve, that’s a good one," he laughed lightly, "of course you’re a doctor. Don’t start playing that amnesia game here because it won’t work in getting me to take you out and treat you to…" he stopped himself as he saw the confusion growing behind her eyes, "Eve, you do remember, don’t you?"

Tears pooled in her eyes as she opened her mouth to speak coming up empty in that moment.

"Don’t tell me that I’ll have to stay here if I tell you I don’t remember much of anything," she pleaded with him holding him tighter, "I just want to go home again Chris. I want to be in my own home with my own family surrounding me."

"Eve," he squeezed her gently feeling the warmth of her tears over the fabric of his shirt as he slowly pulled away from her, "hey listen to me. We’ll find a way to get your memory back."

"Can we do that?" she questioned shakily, "I mean there are things here and there that I recall, but over all most of my life is a blur before I woke up today. I mean obviously I know my name is Eve and that you’re Chris, but…."

"Eve," he searched her eyes, "when you woke up you called me Chris, so does that mean you remember me?"

"Of course I do," Eve nodded, "I mean given everything I’ve seen since I opened my eyes, it’s obvious that you and I are…well, we’re married, aren’t we? I mean you have to be my husband," she hesitated seeing something wash over his features as her voice softened a bit, "aren’t you?"

"Your husband," Chris repeated easing his hold on her just a little bit as he searched her eyes.

"Well yeah," she nodded, "I mean when Helen was in here before she had some of my things and there was a ring in there," she stopped herself giving him a strange look, "is something wrong?"

"Well, um, I’m not exactly happy to hear that you’ve lost a chunk of your life, but still," Chris turned his attention to the floor suddenly finding it very exciting as he took in another breath, "so, um, about this ring…"

"It’s in a box over there," Eve pointed towards the small dresser in her room, "Helen said she had it tucked away so that no one took it, but at the same time, she was telling me she couldn’t help but take note of the beautiful inscription you’d put on it," Eve smiled lightly, "do you think I could see it? I’d love to read it myself."

"You would," Chris froze for a moment racking his brain to find the right words as Eve nudged him slightly.

"Actually," Chris began nervously as he rose from her bed. He glanced over his shoulder at her seeing that there was something behind her eyes, something behind what she thought him to be as he moved to the dresser pulling out the box that lay within, "you know maybe we shouldn’t get into this right now because you and I really need to talk about a few things."

"Chris, come on," Eve threw back the blanket that had been covering her and she swung her legs over the side of the bed, "quit stalling. I want to see it."

"Eve, I just don’t know if," he turned around to watch her moving towards him wobbly, "hey, what are you doing?"

"I’m trying to get you to stop stalling," she reached for the box, extending a bit to far as her knees grew wobbly and she toppled forward into his arms with a great big gasp.

"So you did," She turned her eyes up towards his as her fingers threaded over his shirt bunching it up in her fingers as she steadied herself in his arms and she felt his warm breath wash over her, "so are you going to show me what’s in the box, or do I have to beg you for it?"

"I wouldn’t ever make you beg, Eve," Chris whispered seeing a hint of playfulness behind her eyes as his arms wrapped around her waist, "you should know that by now."

"I know you don’t always play fair," she leaned up on her toes with a tiny laugh building inside of her as she stole a quick kiss from him catching him off guard as he nearly stumbled back into the dresser. Feeling her soft lips caress his, he felt his thoughts swirling as his hold on her constricted. He felt her finger tips play over the lapels of his jacket as the kiss expanded, growing with the moment as he held her remembering how long it had been since they’d shared anything even remotely close to this. Slowly they parted from one another and he saw a hint of dark laughter building behind her eyes as she stepped back.

"Clearly being married must’ve given me a few tricks of the trade in getting what I wanted out of you," she laughed lightly as she sat down on the hospital bed with the box in her hands as she eagerly tore into it.

"What?" Eve looked up at him in confusion, "what is it?" she asked as his eyes fell over the token in her hand.

"Eve, it’s just," he instantly recognized the emerald she was holding, "I don’t…I don’t believe it."

"Believe what?" Eve looked to the ring turning it to read the inscription, "always and forever you’ll be in my heart. I love you, Chris," she read aloud as a blush rose over her features, "oh Chris, this is just so…so…."

"Amazing," he finished surprised that she’d managed to have his ring. He hadn’t seen it in so very long and now that she held it, he shook his head, "Eve, how did you…I mean how…"

"How what?" she questioned sliding the ring on her finger and wiggling it around, "it looks perfect, doesn’t it?"

"Yes, it does," he confessed reaching out to her hand and placing his finger over the sparkling stone as he looked to her again feeling a whirlwind of emotions overcome him as she threw her arms around him tightly.

"I know that I’m not the woman I was when I wound up in this hospital bed, but I know with you, that somehow I’ll get it all back, won’t I?" she questioned waiting for his assurances, "you’ll help me remember, won’t you?"

"Chris, just knowing that I have my husband with me, well I’m sure that all the pieces will come together. Just take me home. We can do that, can’t we?" she pleaded with him.

"Of course we can," he nodded squeezing her in his arms once again. "I’ll take you home, Eve. You’re safe now," he whispered vowing that no harm would come her way ever again.

“Tell me that we’re free to go,” Eve pleaded with Chris as she looked to the small bag that lay beside her hospital bed, “tell me that your pal doesn’t have any more last minute things he wants to go over.”

“Not this time,” Chris shook his head as he re-entered Eve’s hospital room. Taking a look around, he noticed how swiftly she’d packed things up to go. Even on her features he could see the eagerness behind her eyes as he thought about what was waiting for them outside these four walls of the hospital. Yesterday he’d been pleasantly surprised when she’d awakened and remembered him, but in her not remembering the rest of her life, it caused him some initial concern. She’d faced a very horrible, almost tragic accident, but now as he looked to her once more, he realized she was back again and he couldn’t imagine not being with her. However, clearly things had changed as he thought back to their conversation the previous evening.

“So tell me more about our lives together,” Eve urged him as she lay in his arms relishing in the feel of him beneath her as they lay on her hospital bed awaiting Eric’s latest set of test results.

“There’s so much to say,” Chris blurted out, “I wouldn’t even know where to begin on this one.”

“Well considering as Dr. Winters plans on keeping me around longer than he promised, I think we have plenty of time to talk about the missing pieces,” she looked up at him, her eyes so full of concern and curiosity all at the same time, “so why don’t you start at the beginning?”

“I wouldn’t have it any other way,” Eve nodded before sinking into his chest as she held the small teddy bear he’d brought for her, “tell me how we met and how we fell in love.”

“You really want to know?” he half questioned thinking about all the things that had happened between them.

“Chris, of course I want to know,” she swatted at his chest, “don’t you think I’d relish in the idea of remembering how I became Mrs. Chris Ramsey?”

“Of course I do, but still,” Chris hesitated, “you know I don’t feel right about not telling Eric the truth about what’s happening.”

“Chris, please don’t,” Eve pulled away from him, “Chris, we both know if you tell him that I can’t remember our past together let alone much more than your name, then he’ll never let us leave this hospital.”

“Chris, listen to me,” she reached out to touch his face, “I know that you feel something in my losing a part of my life with you, but what I do remember is how much I love you…how much I need you in my life…”

“You really remember all that?” Chris questioned a bit unsure as he searched her eyes.

“I know it’s crazy because I can’t remember a thing about us together,” Eve confessed shifting a bit in his arms, “and while I realize when most people in this world wake up losing their past, losing their life, they should be unsure, unclear on everything and everyone around them, but when I opened my eyes and you were there singing to me…I can’t explain it, but I felt something,” Eve trailed off thinking it over, “I couldn’t quite put a finger on what it was at the time, but now I know what it was.”

“I felt safe in your arms,” Eve admitted gently placing her palm over his chest, “like I do right now.”

“Eve, a lot of time has passed and if this feels uncomfortable at all,” Chris began once more as her fingers pressed over the center of his chest.

“That’s just it,” she shook her head, “despite how I’m certain I should be feeling waking up like this, I feel as though this is the place I was meant to be.”

“That’s because you were meant to be here,” Chris kissed the top of her head as she lay against him.

“Somehow that doesn’t surprise me,” Eve couldn’t help but smile as she snuggled into him, “after all I’m in the arms of my husband, the man I love more than life itself. How could anything ever be wrong about this?”

“Will you sing to me again,” she questioned lightly as her eyelids grew heavy, “can you sing that song you were singing when I woke up?”

“Of course I can,” Chris couldn’t help but smile as he squeezed her in his arms, singing her to sleep as he pondered what he was doing to do about what happened outside of the hospital.

Now standing in the center of the hospital room, Chris just prayed his decisions weren’t going to come back to haunt him as he looked to her smiling face.

“So are we splitting from this joint or what?” she couldn’t help but smile at him.

“Of course we are,” Chris nodded in response throwing back a casual grin, “ready to take a trip down memory lane with me?”

“Boy am I ever and don’t think that because I fell asleep on you last night that I’m not going to be full of questions for you today because I do have a lot on my mind,” Eve confessed a smile sweeping over her features as she extended her arm out towards him, “I’m all yours.”

“Just the way I like it,” Chris wrapped her up in his arms silently praying he wasn’t going to burn in hell for what he was about to do to his best friend. Somehow, he rationalized, in the long run this would be the best for her. He was almost certain of it.

Eve’s eyes widened as she watched Chris pull up to the modest looking beach house just off the coast. Much to her surprise it’s large windows and white exterior left a great deal of wonder to her imagination about what kind of lives they’d lead together. Granted he’d told her they were doctors, but she’d never anticipated finding herself in such lavish surroundings. Now as they entered through the front gate, she could clearly see the setting sun flooding through the windows of the house giving off an assortment of colors as she leaned back further in her seat. Her gaze shifted to Chris as a smile swept over her features.

“You never mentioned we lived in a beach house together,” Eve began in awe of her surroundings as she noticed the fountain before them, “here it is Christmas time and it looks as though it’s just another magical summer night.”

“Breathtaking, isn’t it?” Chris questioned stopping the car in the circular drive as he looked to her again seeing the astonishment behind her eyes. He pulled the keys out of the ignition as he turned to face her, “I would’ve put the top down on the car, but I thought that might be pushing it just a bit much given that it is a little chilly tonight.”

“Hold on a sec,” Chris urged leaping out of the driver’s seat as he rushed around the front of the car opening the door for her and extending his arm, “milady.”

“Thank you,” Eve smiled in response accepting his hand as he helped her out of the car. She took in her surroundings and felt a sense of tranquility wash over her as she looked out onto the gardens, “this place looks like paradise. I could see how I might’ve easily gotten lost around here.”

“Actually,” Chris began after a moment’s hesitation, “this place might seem very new to you and the truth is that well, it will be new.”

“Oh?” Eve turned her eyes up towards him, “you mean I didn’t live here?”

“We lived in another, smaller place back east,” Chris nodded in response, “but after your accident, well, I wanted to be close to you, so I bought this place.”

“No,” Chris shook his head again, “you were in New York the time of your accident, but the specialist out here was the best in the world and I knew in my heart that you needed only the best to bring you back to me.”

“And here I am,” she turned around in his arms, “back with you where I’ve always belonged.”

“Where you’ll always be from here on out,” Chris kissed the top of her head while embracing her, “of course just because we don’t have old memories of this place together doesn’t mean we can’t share in some making of new memories here.”

“I think I’d like that very much,” Eve confessed with a sigh feeling the ocean’s breeze sweep over her as she shivered gently in his arms, “this home is truly beautiful, Chris.”

“I was hoping you’d like it,” Chris admitted thinking about how he’d felt in purchasing this home a few months earlier. At the time he’d thought of it being his escape from Port Charles, his home away from home while he was nearer to Eve, but now as she was beside him, he realized that this could be the place where their dreams of happily ever after could begin at. This time he could show her how wonderful they were together and maybe just maybe she’d find that she never wanted to leave this either.

“So are you going to show me inside,” Eve interrupted his thoughts as she tugged on the lapels of his jacket drawing his attention back to her, “or are we going to stand out here all night catching a chill?”

“Hmm, well keeping out outside, gives me an excuse to wrap my arms around you and hold you just like this,” Chris teased squeezing her closer to him as she lay her head against his chest.

“As inviting as all of this is,” she began placing her palm over the center of his chest, “I was hoping maybe we’d go inside and perhaps get into the feel of things where our home is concerned. You know maybe catch up on some old memories?”

“I think we can do that,” Chris agreed with a hint of a smile, “tell me something, how do you feel about a martini?”

“A martini?” she repeated thinking it over, “I suppose I’m in a position where that means something to me right?”

“It should,” Chris reached for her hand leading her towards the front door, “and if it doesn’t, well I think it’s time I refreshed your memory and showed you what you’ve been missing out on all this time.

“By all means then,” Eve laughed lightly as he guided her towards the house, “lead the way. I await the surprises you have in store for me.”

“You and me both,” Chris muttered under his breath opening the door to his new home as he stepped into a new world with Eve beside him.

“How on Earth could I have forgotten something so sinfully delicious,” Eve questioned leaning back on the sofa as she sipped her martini, “this is divine.”

“But of course,” Chris smiled proudly as he made his way over to the sofa taking a seat beside her, “then I trust you’re pleased with my handiwork.”

“More than pleased,” Eve nodded appreciatively, “I could lose myself for hours with one of these. This is incredible.”

“I do aim to please,” Chris slid in beside her noting the color had returned to her beautiful features as she gazed out onto the ocean, “you do realize that’s what I want for you, right?”

“Of course I do,” Eve smiled over at him, “and so far you’ve done a wonderful job with that.”

“Eve,” Chris reached for her hand seeing something behind her eyes as he brushed his finger tips over hers, “you know if at all you want to talk about what’s going on, about what you’re feeling right now…”

“Eve, come on I know you better than that,” Chris urged further, “I know you’re trying to be brave and put on this optimistic front of me, but I know if I were in your shoes I’d be scared out of my mind. I’d wonder about the things that didn’t come back to me and it would be upsetting.”

“Chris, really, I’m fine,” she shifted on the sofa sipping her martini again, “why wouldn’t I be?”

“Because you lost a part of your life and I know you enough to know that while you might be happy right now, you’re wondering what it is that you can’t remember. Inside I know this is tearing you apart and I want you to know,” he shook his head, “no, I need to you know that you don’t have to pretend with me. If you’re at all wondering about your life or feeling the least bit unsure…”

“Chris, what do you want me to say?” Eve blinked back at him, “that it bothers me that I can’t even remember my life before my accident? That I can’t remember working to become a doctor or falling in love with you? Well, it does bother me. It hurts like hell knowing that I lost a part of myself, but if I sit here and cry about it--if I pretend that it’s tearing me apart, well I’d only be making things worse. Chris, I was in a coma for heaven knows how long and for the first time in months maybe more I wake up and find myself in your arms, with your love calling me to life again and now as I sit here with you, it’s that feeling I have with me. That promise of having you with me that reminds me that there was something special in this world to come back to. Sure, I might not know what lead up to where I was in those moments in time that I lost, but I know where I am in this moment and as I sit here with you,” she brought his hand up to her lips placing a soft, feathery light kiss on the top of it, “I wouldn’t trade this for the world.”

“Neither would I,” Chris confessed closing his eyes as her lips grazed his skin once again, “Eve, I’d give anything to hold you like this, to lock this moment in time away for only us forever.”

“What’s stopping us?” She questioned sliding in closer to him as she lay against his shoulder, “the way I see it, we have the sunset, good company, great martinis and a lot of love to pull us through this. I’d say we pretty much have it all.”

“We do,” Chris agreed wrapping his arm around for her, “except for one very vital part of our time together and that’s your memories.”

“Chris, what is it you want me to remember?” she turned her eyes up towards him, “our wedding?”

“I was thinking more along the lines of our history and your history,” Chris offered up with a light smile.

“Alright then,” she snuggled into his chest, “tell me about the first time we met.”

“Well, you were the one pushing for all this memory recovery, so why not fill me in on some of the pieces and see if it comes back to me,” she shrugged slightly, “besides I want to hear our romance brought to life because in my heart I know it’s nothing short of incredible.”

“Knowing what lengths you’ve gone to in order to bring me back to you,” Eve glanced up at him once more, “I have no doubts that your courting me would’ve been any less extravagant.”

“I’d have given you the moon and the stars to make you happy if I could’ve,” Chris confessed lightly tracing her soft features with his index finger, “you mean that much to me you know.”

“I realize that,” Eve smiled up at him, “granted, I can’t name one thing in particular that happened between us that would make me recall it, but my heart feels it and it’s my heart that’s important. It’s how I feel with you right now.”

“Eve, I’ll always love you,” Chris touched her forehead as she reclined on the sofa a bit and she looked up at him with an appreciative grin.

“So tell me Chris,” she urged again, “what was it like the first time we met?”

“Chaotic,” Chris admitted honestly, “the night we met one another well it was a very frightening, terrifying experience,” he winked at her, “and I haven’t even gotten to the part of the hostage situation yet.”

“Hostage situation ?” her eyes widened slightly, “there was a hostage situation?”

“That’s right,” he nodded in response, “a man named Greg Cooper held us along with the others in our intern class hostage at the hospital we worked at. We were all invited to a party at the hospital that we all believed was being held by the Chief of Staff and his wife, but when we got there, Cooper had other plans for us.”

“He was one of the candidates for the intern program that was cut at the last minute. He blamed us all for his not making it into the ranks of intern and he wanted us all to pay,” Chris explained recounting those first moments at Port Charles General Hospital, “he was angry and with his gun toting wild words, we were all in for one hell of a night--a night we weren’t even sure we’d make it through.”

“We did,” Chris nodded, “but not until after the group of us worked together to take him down. I tried to talk him down a few times, but something always backfired and then you stood up to him. He kept trying to hurt you, to intimidate you, but you wouldn’t bend. You weren’t going to let him or any man talk you into submitting to what they wanted for you to be. Cooper tried hard to break you that night just like he did with me and the others, but in the end when you got your hands on his gun and you had the upper hand, you showed him first hand that Eve Lambert wasn’t the kind of woman to be intimidated by any man. You threatened to take off his manhood for the way he‘d taunted you and you were the first person to really make him seem scared that night.”

“I held a gun on a terrorist?” Eve’s eyes widened in surprise, “you’re kidding, right?”

“Hell no,” Chris shook his head firmly, “and it was after that night that I knew one day you and I would wind up together somehow.”

“After I threatened another man’s livelihood?” she questioned a bit confused, “clearly you must be turned on by danger.”

“I think in my own way I can be, but more so I think it was the fact that you had that smart mouth on you and you didn’t take anything from anyone. That’s what drew me in towards you--that and the fact that everyone hated us both.”

Chris nodded, “We weren’t exactly enthusiastic when one of our fellow interns decided to use a power drill on one of the nurse’s who’d been injured in the hostage crisis. He was up for a board review after and you and I both stood our ground about not participating in the event, though you did assist Joe somewhat, but wanted no responsibility for the outcome. I, on the other hand, did nothing in an attempt to save my own ass,” Chris paused momentarily, “I told you I wasn’t the greatest of guys.”

“Well, Joe wound up being cleared of the charges the board had up against him and everyone continued to go on hating us,” Chris shrugged, “it wasn’t one of our finer times in life, but we seemed to make do.”

“So Joe Scanlon was able to practice medicine with the rest of us then and people still hated us?”

“That’s right, Joe..” he stopped himself, “did you just say Joe Scanlon?”

“Eve, I didn’t tell you his last name,” Chris pressed his finger over her cheek, “do you remember something?”

She nodded again, “A little bit. I mean what you just told me seems somewhat familiar, but then when I started to push it, I remember Joe and Karen, Julie, Jake and Mark…no wait…it’s Matt, right?”

“That’s right,” Chris nodded eagerly, “they were all a part of our group of interns at the hospital. We all started off together.”

“I remember that,” Eve continued closing her eyes momentarily, “Karen and Joe were together. She’d gone through some kind of divorce or something and they danced around romance for a while. Jake had this girlfriend--a Barbie doll kind of girl that I used to make fun of, which didn’t win me any brownie points with him. He was always a grumpy sort of guy snapping at me every chance he got.”

“Jake was never one with the personality of the group,” Chris recalled thinking back, “he was more of a loner as time went on.”

“With a horrible attitude,” Eve insisted as a few visions popped into her head, “and then there was Matt who was like the teacher’s pet of the group, yes?”

“He did so many things that got under my skin,” Chris half groaned, “he was such a pain.”

“And you worked so well on making his life miserable,” Eve opened her eyes again seeing the look on his face, “you loved to drive him crazy for the way he made you feel.”

“Oh of course not,” she teased, “because far be it from Chris Ramsey to let anyone get the best of him.”

“Is that so,” she sat up quickly her dark eyes peeking up at his before she seated herself on his lap taking a good, long, hard look at him, “because I have to say that I just don’t buy that for a second.”

“Nope, can’t say I do,” she shook her head again as her fingers tapered off into his hair, “in fact, I’d have to say that the best of you isn’t as much of a mystery as you’d like it to be to the world, now is it?”

“I don’t welcome the idea of sharing the best of me with the world,” Chris confessed in a low whisper as he met her dark, curious eyes, “Present company excluded of course.”

“Oh of course,” she smiled at him, “and with me, I get the very distinct feeling that the best of things is yet to come,” she leaned in towards him, her eyes fixed on his soft lips remembering what it had been like to kiss him earlier. A hint of a smile played over her features as she leaned in towards him, her lips just a fraction of an inch away from his as their breath began to intermingle.

“Eve,” Chris breathed her name closing his eyes as he felt her forward movement towards sealing their lips in a kiss. Suddenly guilt tugged at him as she brushed her mouth over his in the faintest of kisses and he drew back slightly, “Eve wait.”

“Nothing’s wrong,” he began nervously, “I mean there’s so much we still have to talk about that maybe we should put the kissing on hold for a while.”

“I thought maybe a kiss could be a good reward for my remembering something,” she teased with a hint of a smile as Chris could see the anticipatory thrill of the moment building behind her eyes. Oh, how he’d wanted so much to lose himself to the moment, to kiss her again and again and never let go of her, but if he did that. Shaking the thought he placed his hands on her shoulders putting a bit of a distance between them.

“Eve, hey I just want you to feel that you’re ready to jump back into everything before you and I get moving on picking up where we left off,” Chris began seeing the disappointment behind her eyes as he kept her in his arms, “I’m not trying to rush you.”

“Chris, I can clearly see that, but you and I both know that in this remembering things that the best way to do it is for you to show me what my mind has shut out,” Eve reminded him with a look, “you gave me the talk about our first meeting and look what came to me. Think of what a kiss could do for me.”

“Eve,” Chris started once again finding it increasingly difficult to refuse her, “as much as kissing you would inspire and arouse a great many things between us, I think this is sidetracking from where we started with this conversation.”

“Fine, then give me one kiss and I swear I’ll let you off the hook about this for a little while,” Eve offered up with a hint of a smile, “what do you say?”

“I say that you’re as dangerous as ever,” Chris couldn’t help but smile in response to her attempts at persuasion.

“And you just told me that you were attracted to danger,” she reminded him threading her fingers through his hair as her mouth captured his in a deliciously wicked kiss.

Chris kissed her in response feeling the boldness in her touch as he held her close to him. So many nights he’d imagined having her back again, just like this, but then again so many nights he’d spent regretting letting her walk out of his life. Now as he held her his dreams were slowly becoming more and more of a reality as he wanted nothing more than to reveal his heart to her, to share his love that he’d hidden, but as the warning signals went off in his head, he refrained drawing back from the kiss.

“It felt like we were working on it,” she began leaning in for another kiss once again before he shook his head preventing her from reaching her goal.

“Now we agreed one kiss to spark some memories,” Chris reminded her hoping she’d ease up just a bit before the nice guy inside of him forgot the situation they’d wound up in with one another.

“Alright, but you owe me more later,” Eve agreed snuggling back into his lap, “so where were we? Ah yes, going from being hostages to being hated to what comes next?”

“Well, what can you tell me?” Chris urged holding her close to him, “does anything else ring familiar to you?”

“You know maybe we’ve done enough digging into the past tonight,” Chris began uneasily, “perhaps we should call it a night and get you into bed.”

“Chris, I’ve been asleep for too long already,” Eve insisted firmly, “I want to make up for the lost time. I don’t want to miss a thing. We’ve already wasted too much time together.”

“Then let’s not waste another moment,” Eve decided leaping up off of his lap as she looked to the water beyond their home, “let’s go outside.”

“Right this instant,” she tugged on his arm pulling him off the sofa, “come on, Chris. Let’s make the most of tonight.”

“Alright, but maybe we should get you a jacket before…” Chris started again as Eve lead him towards the back door.

“No buts,” she lead him out onto the back porch as the breeze from the water swept over them.

“Eve, you’re going to freeze out here,” Chris began again as she kicked her shoes off and made her way towards the beach.

“Oh shoosh, it beats a New York winter any day,” Eve insisted pulling him out onto the sand as he caught pieces of her words.

“Chris, forget about remembering the past,” Eve shouted back at him, “let’s start with the memories of right here and now.”

“Eve, I want to do that, but….” Chris felt her pull away from him as he watched her rush towards the tide, “Eve, hold on a second..”

“Come on Chris,” Eve tugged her sweater up over her head tossing it aside as Chris stood frozen in place unable to get a word out as the moon and the stars above gave off a creamy, white luminance over her body. While she’d been in the hospital for so very long and the accident had done some damage to her, she looked as beautiful and perfect as ever as he finally gained the strength to march out after her.

“Eve, what are you doing?” he shouted out to her as she tossed her hair over her shoulder throwing him a flirty smile before unclasping her slacks and letting them fall to the ground to join her sweater.

“I’ve never swam in the ocean this close to Christmas,” Eve replied with a confident grin, “that much I’m sure of and I’m in the mood to take a midnight dip.”

“Eve, wait a second,” Chris watched her dive into the water sinking beneath the surface as he rushed towards the edge of the sand just in time to see her explode up from beneath the surface a squeal rushing over her as she raced out of the water into his arms.

“Chris, it’s cold…it’s so cold in there,” she rubbed up against him trying to get warm as he wrapped his arms around her tightly.

“I was trying to explain that to you, but you weren’t in the mood to listen,” Chris started a hint of laughter bubbling inside of him until he realized that now he too was soaked from her impromptu swim.

“You could’ve told me a little sooner,” Eve turned her eyes up towards him, “a little warning might’ve been nice.”

“Like I said you were too fast for me,” Chris hugged her in his arms, “but rest assured that I won’t let you make the same mistake again.”

“Gee, thanks for the support,” she half groaned as her shivers swept over her, “it was like ice in there.”

“That’s because it’s night time and it is the middle of winter,” Chris pointed out, “while there might not be snow, it’s not always the smartest move to dive into the ocean this close to Christmas.”

“Thanks for the warning,” she swatted at his chest feeling the damp fabric slosh beneath her touch as her gaze drifted up towards his again.

“How about we collect your things and get working on some hot chocolate?” Chris suggested feeling the wind whip up around them capturing every one of Eve’s curves as he held her closer.

“I th-think…th-th-that…is probably a good idea….” she nodded eagerly realizing that perhaps maybe the next time around she’d think for at least a moment before taking her next big leap.

Once inside the beach house once again, Chris stood before the stove boiling some water for the hot chocolate as Eve went to the bathroom to change. Luckily he’d brought a few of her things over for her during his many transits out West in the hopes of finding use for them again should she awaken. Thinking back to their little experience on the beach, Chris couldn’t help but laugh at the look on her face as she emerged from the water screaming from the chill. It was one of those moments he was certain to keep with him for a long time after tonight as he could still feel her unmasked displeasure in the air. Laughing to himself he reached into the refrigerator pulling out a can of whipped cream for the hot chocolate when he heard Eve call out to him.

“Oh Chris,” Eve whispered his name in a low, sultry tone as he spun around to find her standing directly behind him wearing one of his blue, cotton robes. His eyes widened as he realized she’d loosely tied the robe around her waist leaving a long trail of her soft skin open to his hungry gaze.

Standing upright Chris felt his throat tighten as her index finger pressed in over his chest tracing it lightly.

“Eve, hey I thought…I thought you were getting dressed,” Chris began his voice a bit shaken as she smiled up at him.

“I was, but then I realized I liked this,” she motioned down to his robe, “how does it look on me?”

“It looks great,” Chris blurted out, “you look sensational, but,” he reached out to the lapels of the robe closing it up a bit before kissing her forehead gently, “you were already drenched tonight. I don’t want you catching a cold this early on.”

“Chris, I’m not going to catch a cold,” she shook her head in amusement as he circled around the kitchen making his way over to the now boiling water. She leaned up against the counter watching him, “in fact if I didn’t know better, I’d say you were nervous around me right about now.”

“I’m not nervous,” Chris argued trying to keep his breathing even as he forced himself to focus on the hot chocolate, “I don’t want you to freeze. That’s all.”

“I can think of a few ways to warm us both up,” she began stepping in behind him wrapping her arms around his waist as she placed her chin on his shoulder as her lips grazed the back of his neck.

“Your hot chocolate is ready Eve,” Chris spit out spinning around to face her again putting some distance between them as he held the mug out to her, “this should warm you up.”

“I suppose it could be a start,” Eve’s eyes traveled over him appreciatively, “but I was thinking about something just a bit stronger to do the trick.”

“Eve, hey you know….” he started uneasily before an idea popped in his head, “I forgot the whipped cream. You always did love whipped cream with your hot chocolate,” he reached for the can fumbling with it nervously until he finally managed to pop the top of it spraying some whipped cream around the kitchen aimlessly as Eve let out a tiny laugh.

“Chris, just relax,” she reached out to him stilling his shaking hands as he managed to keep the canister steady enough to spray a thick layer of foam over her mug.

“I guess I’m just a bit shaky tonight after your spill in the ocean,” Chris offered turning to set the canister down on the counter before he faced her again watching her immerse her slender index finger into the mug, circling over the foam before scooping a bit of it out and up towards her lips. Her eyes met his with a playful air about them before she dipped her finger into her mouth carefully licking off the creamy confection.

“Mmm….” Eve purred against her finger before repeating the motion with her mug once again, “this is good.”

“I’m glad you’re enjoying it,” Chris forced a tight smile as he reached out for his own mug of hot chocolate trying to distract himself as he reached for the canister as her palm pressed in over his. He closed his eyes feeling her lean against his back pressing her soft form against his already tense spine.

“Allow me,” she whispered in his ear reaching for the small canister as she sprayed a small amount into his mug. A smile curling over her features, she reached out to him urging him to face her again as she held the canister closer to her. Her eyes spoke of mischief that Chris hadn’t seen in quite some time as she motioned towards him, “I have a better idea.”

“You do?” Chris gulped as her hungry eyes devoured him in ways he’d only dreamt about.

“I do,” she nodded hugging the canister closer to her, “take your shirt off.”

“What?” he blinked back in shock as she stared at him for a long moment sizing up his hesitation.

“Come on Chris,” Eve couldn’t help but laugh as the color rose in his features, “we’re married. I’m sure it’s not like I’ve never seen you naked before. I’m sure this isn’t anything new for us, but if it makes you feel better,” her fingers reached down over the knot on the robe tie and she began to open it slowly.

“Eve, what are you doing?” Chris questioned with another gulp feeling the temperature in the room raise a few degrees as his throat tightened.

“Chris, would you just relax,” she freed open the robe tie as his hands instantly clasped over hers.

“Don’t do that,” he begged of her keeping her from opening the robe as a panic set in over him.

“Because Dr. Winters warned us not to get into any strenuous activity too soon, that’s why,” Chris blurted out searching for an answer that would pacify her.

“Then I promise I’ll be as gentle as possible, if you’re afraid of breaking me,” Eve slipped out of his grasp as she began to remove the robe again.

“Eve, come on here,” Chris reached out to her once again, “think about this for a moment. With you and me, it’s been a while and wouldn’t you rather we took the time to relearn all about one another again? You know maybe take it day by day and ease ourselves up to this? If we make love right now before you remember everything about us, it will kind of feel like we were cheated out of this moment somehow.”

“Why do I get the distinct feeling you’re trying to blow me off here?” Eve frowned slightly, “Chris, I know there is a lot that I have to remember, but I can’t see how making love would be a bad thing. I mean sure I might not have all of the pieces of the puzzle of my past in place, but I thought we could work on making brand new memories between us,” she pouted again as she stepped in towards him, “you do still want me, don’t you?”

“God yes,” Chris let out a harsh breath as she hugged her body against his, “but Eve, I want this to be perfect. I want everything between us to be right before I make you feel my love again.”

“Chris, I realize what you’re trying to do, but it’s not necessary. Do you have any idea how long it’s been?”

“Eve, believe me I do,” Chris took in a breath once again, “but Eve, last time I did some things the wrong way. I was there for you, but at the same time there were things I wanted to do for us, things I wanted to share with you….”

“Oh Chris,” Eve couldn’t help but smile seeing the look behind his features, “you’re trying to be romantic, aren’t you?”

“That’s right,” he nodded in response, “I want to show you a world of romance that you’ve never known before in your life and I want you to know from the top of your beautiful head to the tips of your sexy toes that you’re loved completely--that every inch of you is so very important to me, starting with your heart,” he reached for her hand placing it over his chest to help her feel the steady, solid feel of his heart pounding, “I love you so much that I don’t want to make any mistakes this time around.”

Eve watched him for a moment before letting out a sigh as she sank into his arms, “I think I understand and for what it’s worth, I love you all the more for what you’re doing here.”

“Eve, I promise you,” he held her closer, “when the time is right, I’ll show you everything that I’ve held back on all these years. I’ll show you a world that you’ve never known before.”

“I eagerly anticipate that happening,” she leaned up on her tip toes to kiss him gently, “but right now, maybe I should get some rest. Since you keep pushing for it, maybe I should do that so that tomorrow we can spend the day exploring your world of romance together.”

“I promise you won’t be disappointed,” Chris squeezed her hand lightly feeling her step back as she smiled at him. Slowly she made her way down the hallway heading towards the bedroom as Chris took in a shallow breath. How he’d found the strength to push her away when he’d wanted her--needed her more than the air he breathed was beyond him, but now as she headed towards the bedroom, he worked on cleaning up the kitchen. Quickly he pulled things together before it suddenly dawned in on him that Eve would be waiting for him inside the bedroom sleeping in the bed beside him offering up the most intoxicating form of temptation known to man. Suddenly the idea of going to be with her seemed like more than dangerous territory as his eyes fell out upon the darkened yard behind him. The moon hung overhead as Chris thought of how it would feel to spend the night laying next to Eve, having her within arm’s reach while all he could think about was holding her--making love to her. With that thought in mind, he tossed his sweater over his head, grabbed his keys just in case he wound up locked out of the house and he headed out into the yard deciding that perhaps Eve’s midnight swim in the ocean would do him some good right about now. After all when being worried about freezing after a quick dip in the ocean, one couldn’t find the strength or the energy to think about seducing their best friend and making love to them, could they? Either way, Chris wasn’t about to risk it as he leapt into the icy water hoping to banish his wayward thoughts.