Nico

Nico stumbled down to his office and found his assistant, Heather, sitting at his desk, going over the last report that was due in the morning. She shot him a sympathetic look and stood, offering him his chair.

"Jace and Oliver told me about Jenn," Heather said, squishing up her face. Heather always made that face when she had to deal with Jace and Nico was pretty sure his assistant had a thing for the lifeguard, though she'd never admit it. Jace liked to get Heather all worked up and then walk away, leaving her in a grumpy, almost pissed-off state, for days. Nico hated it when Jace would show up at his office, knowing his assistant would be unbearable to work with once his friend left.

"Is she going to be all right?" Heather asked. He wasn't sure how in hell to answer Heather's question. Sure, Toni was going to be fine, but would she ever remember him again was the real question.

"She said her name is Antoinette Bernston. She doesn't remember the last year with me." He ran his hands through his unruly dark hair and tried to clear his thoughts. He wasn't one to usually panic, always staying in control of his emotions. Jenn—fuck—Toni said it was the scientist in him, always looking for practical, logical explanations for everything. She was right, except when it came to loving her. She was like a wild, driving force that blew into his life and turned him upside down. He panicked thinking about what he would do without her. He wasn't sure how he would continue to function without her presence in his life, knocking it slightly off-kilter.

Nico slumped down into his chair and Heather shot him another sympathetic glance. "Give her time, Nic." Heather laid a sympathetic hand on his shoulder, and he nodded. "Maybe find out what the tests say before you worry about whether or not she'll be able to remember this past year." Nico knew Heather was trying to help, but knowing they might get some answers from Toni's test scared him even more. What if she remembered everything from her past but nothing about him? Would he be able to watch her walk away after everything they shared this last year?

"I was going to ask her to marry me this weekend," Nico whispered, pulling the ring box out of his top desk drawer. He had hidden it in there, knowing Toni would snoop around their apartment and find it. She had hinted she was ready to talk marriage and he had to agree that was their next logical step. Hell, he wanted her from the moment he laid eyes on her when Oliver and Jace unloaded her in his bed a year ago after they found her washed up on the beach.

Heather gasped and covered her mouth with her hand. "That is one gorgeous ring, boss. How were you going to pop the question?" She pulled the ring from the box and put it on her right ring finger, admiring it. Nico wanted to bark at her to put it back in the damn box, but he just didn't give a shit anymore. What did it matter if Toni wasn't going to remember him?

"Not that it matters now, but I was going to take her to our favorite little crab shack and fill her full of wine until she agreed to spend the rest of her life with me." He shrugged. "It sounded like a good plan in my head," he whispered. Heather put the ring back in the box and shot him another sad look. He hated the pity he saw in her eyes.

"Stop looking at me like that, Heather. I don't need your pity. I need to figure out a way to fix this, fix her." Nico shook his head, knowing he couldn't fix the fact that she didn't remember him, he might never be able to. Toni might not ever know him and that thought hurt like hell.

"I know you have a new plan, boss. You always have a backup plan, it's who you are, Nico," Heather soothed. He knew she was trying to help, but he felt as though his world was imploding in on him and there was nothing that he could do to stop it.

One of the reasons he loved being a conservational scientist was because he thought he could make small, daily changes that would lead to big changes in the world. He wanted to make the planet a better place, and that meant long hours in his lab and a shit ton of research. He was used to it. Nico's parents were both part of Boston's world of academia and he followed in their footsteps. He was never close with his mother or father, they both put their hearts and souls into their work, leaving little time for him. He was an only child and sometimes, he wished he had a brother or sister to share some of his loneliness with. Nico often made-up imaginary friends to fill his emptiness, hoping that someday his parents would show him some interest. And they eventually did, but not until he graduated Summa Cum Laude with his doctorate in environmental conservation. His mother and father were front row center when he received his diploma and even spared a few hours that night to take him out to dinner. He was hoping for at least a "congratulations" or a "way to go, son" but instead, they wished him well and sent him on his way.

Nico moved to the Isle of Palms when he heard of a research grant that would enable him to study the island's ever-sinking beaches. He fought hard for that grant, and when he got it, he never looked back. He'd get an occasional card for his birthday or Christmas from his parents, reminding him that another year had passed, but that was all. Nico made a few friends on the island, mostly fellow scientists who were there to research the erosion problems on the island, but for the most part, he kept to himself and concentrated on his work. All that changed when Toni washed up on the beach. She moved into his life and became such a fixture in his day-to-day life, that he couldn't remember what his life was like without her. He was afraid he might soon be reminded if she didn't regain her memories of him and their life together.

Nico sighed. "I've got to go up and wake Jenn—fuck—I mean Toni. The doctor said to wake her every hour since she most likely has a concussion." He stood from his chair and Heather jumped up from her spot on the corner of his desk and pulled him in for a hug.

"I know this seems like a strange thing for me to say since I'm your assistant and all, but you are pretty unforgettable, boss." Nico wrapped his arms around Heather, not quite sure what to do or say next. He nodded, and when she pulled free, he headed upstairs to the apartment he and Toni shared.

Nico opened the bedroom door to find her curled up on their bed, still wrapped in the blanket he put over her. Toni looked so peaceful he hated to wake her. For a moment, he allowed himself to hope she would open her eyes and remember him, but the scientist part of him knew that would be darn near impossible. A concussion and amnesia didn't just disappear after only an hour of sleep.

Nico sat down on the bed next to Toni as the mattress dipped with his weight. He couldn't help but gently kiss her cheek, knowing that once she was awake, she'd want him to keep his distance. She stirred and snuggled into his body and there was that damn hope again. He wanted to believe Heather, but he was sure that if given the chance, Toni would leave him. Nico always worried she would regain her memories and decide to return to her old life, whatever it was. He felt like a complete ass that he wished for the woman he loved to never recover her past. What kind of person hoped for something like that? He knew exactly—a selfish one.

Toni rolled into his body, covering his lap with her arm and his cock sprang to life. Apparently, it didn't get the memo that the love of his life didn't remember him. His dick was screaming at him to wake her up and slide into her body, but that couldn't happen now.

"Honey, wake up," Nico whispered. He dipped to kiss her forehead and she smiled in her sleep, not opening her eyes. She took his breath away and a sadness consumed him. How long would she stay? How long would he have with her now that she remembered her past? Would she ever look at him in that same sweet way again—the one that told him she thought he hung the fucking stars.?

"Sweetheart," he crooned. "It's time to wake up."

"Mmm, Nico," she moaned and snuggled closer to him. Nico smiled down at her, he couldn't help it. She remembered his name and now that damn hope was back. If Toni knew him in her dreams, it was only a matter of time before she'd remember him in real life.