Nico

Nico stilled, holding Toni's limp body against his own, not quite sure if he heard her say those three words that he was so desperate to hear, or if he made them up in his mind. He pushed her to her limits, making her take such a long trip. Toni needed to rest, and he needed to get a handle on what the hell was going on. If his hunch was correct, Bierman was more involved in Toni's first mishap than he admitted to. Nico's only concern was keeping her safe and making sure no one would be able to get to her again. If Zac was a threat to her, he wasn't sure he'd be able to secure Toni's safety.

Nico spent the rest of the day working on his report and video chatting with Heather. She was holding down the fort back on the island and he was happy to hear the reporters scattered when they heard Toni was no longer on the Isle of Palms. He hoped they had snuck away unnoticed, but he was sure that sooner or later, word of their whereabouts would leak out and they would either have to head home or find a new safe place to hide away.

He quietly worked in his old room, not wanting to leave Toni's side while she rested. He wanted to be the first person she saw when she woke up, and honestly, he wanted to have a long discussion with her about those three little words she whispered just before she passed out. But he also knew avoiding his parents, especially during dinnertime, would only lead to more hostility and he didn't want that. Nico knew Toni was picking up on his father's mood and that was exactly what he didn't want.

Nico showered and dressed for dinner, leaving Toni to rest in their room. He decided a private conversation between him, and his parents might be the best way to handle his father's hostility.

"Nico darling," his mother stood from the table to hug him, "how is Toni?"

"She's still resting, thank you for asking," Nico said. He took his seat at the table, feeling his father's heated gaze, and sighed. They were going to have to get things settled sooner or later. He just hoped to be able to eat before having to discuss problems that had been festering for years.

"Let's just get things out in the open before she wakes up," Nico said. He stared his father down, waiting for his anger and judgment.

"I can't believe you would come into my home and expect that we would be all right with you sleeping with some woman. We have rules, Nico. They are in place for a reason." Nico couldn't help his chuckle. His father was sounding downright barbaric.

"What purpose does the rule of no sleeping with the woman I love under your roof serve?" Nico asked. His father turned three shades of red and Nico worried he was having a heart attack. His dad looked about ready to burst.

"This is my house, my rules, and I won't explain my reasoning to you or anyone else," his father shouted.

"Wait, you are in love with Toni?" his mother asked.

Nico chose to ignore his father's outburst, concentrating on his mother's question instead. "Yep," he admitted. "I plan on asking her to marry me," he said. His mother clapped her hands together and smiled. His father seemed less happy about his news, slamming the palms of his hands down on the table with a loud bang, causing his mother to jump.

"You expect us to be happy about your news when you are just bringing this woman here for the first time to meet us? Why haven't we heard of her before now?" His father was full-on screaming from the other end of the table, and Nico worried the commotion would wake Toni.

"Please lower your voice," Nico barked. "Toni is resting, and I don't want her disturbed."

"Too late," Toni said, standing in the corner of the kitchen. Nico worried she had heard their whole argument, and he hated she looked so tired and pale. This argument between him and his father was the last thing Toni needed to worry about. He stood and crossed to where she stood, wrapping her protectively in his arms.

"How are you feeling, honey?" he asked.

Toni shrugged against his body. "My head hurts and I feel like I've been run over by a truck. I guess this concussion isn't finished with me yet." Nico pulled her along with him to the table, helping her into her seat. He wanted her to have something to eat, and then he would see about finding her a doctor to check her out.

"Concussion?" his mother questioned.

"Yes," Nico barked. "Toni had a little accident while swimming a couple of weeks ago. She had a run-in with a piece of driftwood and was knocked unconscious. Our friends pulled her to safety, but she had a concussion," he said.

"And amnesia," Toni helped. Nico felt a wave of panic, not knowing if he wanted his parents to have that bit of information. The last thing he wanted to explain was that she didn't remember him and that he was a virtual stranger to her. It would only add fuel to his father's argument, and he'd never hear the end of it.

"Amnesia?" his father asked.

Toni shot Nico a sheepish grin, realizing her mistake. "Sorry," she mouthed. Nico smiled at her and nodded, not paying attention to his father's question.

"How about we head into town and find a place to stay?" he asked Toni. She nodded and groaned, holding her head.

"Right." He helped her from her seat. "Mom, Dad," he growled, "Toni and I appreciate your offer of letting us stay here, but we are going to get a hotel in town."

"That's not necessary," his mother cried, standing to try to stop them. Nico felt a pang of guilt that his mother was once again stuck in the middle between him and his father. She always seemed to be a casualty of their explosive arguments.

"I promise to call you and let you know where we are, Mom. Maybe we can have lunch in a few days, and you can get to know Toni better. I want to get her checked out and she needs rest." He shot his father another look. "If you can promise to keep your temper in check, you're welcome to join us," Nico barked at his father.

His father stood and slammed his hands on the table again, and Nico took that as his cue to get Toni out of there. She had had enough drama for one night. "I'm going to get Toni settled in the car and I'll run back in for our bags," he said, kissing his mom on her cheek. "We'll see you soon, I promise." His mother nodded and Nico didn't bother looking back to where his father stood. He already knew the hatefulness he would see in his father's eyes, and he didn't need that right now.

"I'm sorry, Nico," Toni whispered as he helped her out to his car.

"Not your fault, honey," he said. He knew returning home was going to be a challenge. Nico had hoped his father would calm down with time, but it seemed it only made him angrier. Right now, his top priority was Toni. He'd worry about what to do about his father's hostility, later.