"So, Rowan, when do I officially get to meet your guy?"

I shifted the phone from my right to my left hand, holding it to my ear, as my eyes flitted to the outstretched figure on the right side of my bed.

Elijah was fast asleep, one arm acting as a cushion underneath his head, with his other hand splayed out on my thigh. His left leg was dangling off the side of the bed, and I reached over, raising onto my knees, as I tugged it back onto the bed. How he had been sleeping like that was beyond me.

I couldn't help my smile as I watched him. The peace was clear. He hadn't had a nightmare in a really long time, and each time that he woke up clear-eyed and happy, my heart soared.

"I don't know, mom. I would have to ask him. He may go down to California to see his mom for Christmas, so I don't know if we can do it before then." I fidgeted with the hem of my Nike shorts as I sat up straighter. She had been asking to meet him for a while, but her work schedule wasn't the easiest to work with.

"Well, go ahead and ask him then, honey. I would like to officially meet the guy who has captured my daughter's heart."

"Mom." I dropped my head into my hands, embarrassed even though I was the only one who heard her.

"What? Don't pretend like it isn't true. Mothers have a sixth sense about these sorts of things. He is special."

"I know," I whispered smiling."

"I saw it when you came by the other day too." She continued with a short pause. "I haven't seen you smile like that since..."

She trailed off, silence lingering in the air. I clutched the phone to my ear, knowing what she was referring to.

"I know, Mom." I nodded, a lump growing in my throat. "I am happy."

"You deserve to be. It's been too long since you actually were."

We sat there not saying anything for a bit, both of us lost in our memories from before dad had passed.

"I will ask him," I said after a minute, clearing my throat.

"Great. Let me know what he says. I can't wait to meet him."

"I will. You know you met him once," I said, my face heating at the gushy tone in her voice.

"Yeah. I know." Her voice was muffled a bit, and I figured she was moving around. Sitting down wasn't something my mom did. Especially since her job called for constant alertness and preparation. "But, I only met him when you guys were friends. Now that you guys are seeing each other it's different."

Elijah shifted slightly, rolling on his side. His hand moved up on my leg slightly and my heart fluttered, as he rubbed his face but didn't wake up.

"Well, Rowan..." I snatched my eyes away from Elijah, feeling as if I had been caught eyeing him, even though she wasn't here. "I just got a message saying a client is in early labor, so I have to go. But I want you to talk to him and see if he would be okay to come by sometime."

"I will."

"Okay, baby. I love you. I will call you when I get off."

"I love you too. Be safe."

"I will Ro. Talk to you soon."

I waited until she hung up the phone before I pulled it away from my ear. Just as I did it buzzed, and I looked at it to see I had another incoming call. There was no contact name, but only a number.

I debated letting the call go to voicemail, figuring that the person would leave a message if it was important. But my curiosity won out and I answered.

"Hello?" I asked curiously when I answered.

"Hi Rowan, it's Doctor Anderson."

"Oh hi," I said. I shifted my feet, tucking them underneath me. " Did you get a new number?"

"Yes, I did. Sorry I probably should have let you know that."

I shook my head. "That's okay. I'm glad I answered."

"Me too." She laughed lightly. "How have you been, Rowan?" I figured she was on her break since her calls were usually just hurried reminders to let me know that I had an upcoming appointment.

"I have been good. Just trying to adapt to changes in life."

"Do those changes have to do with the guy you mentioned the last time you were here?"

"Maybe," I said, my lips tilting up.

"That's great, Rowan." I could practically hear her smiling from the other end of the line. "Well, I won't keep you long, but I just wanted to call to remind you you have an appointment two days from now."

"Yes, I remembered this time. Thank you for the reminder."

"Okay, well I gotta go. My next patient somehow managed to get his head and arms stuck in the bottom half of a stool, so I have to run." She let out a sound of exasperation, as I wondered how the heck somebody had done that. "Wait, before you hang up, did you happen to do the test that we talked about?"

"Oh, yes, I did." I sighed, reaching out and running a hand through Elijah's hair. "We figured nothing new out really, except that I now fully retain all memories that have to do with Elijah now."

Even though I couldn't see her, I knew she was nodding. "Okay, I mean that is a type of progress in itself. We can talk more about it when you come in for your appointment."

"Okay. That sounds good," I said. Doctor Anderson said a quick goodbye, telling me that her break was ending, and I hung the phone up.

I jumped when I looked down to see hazel eyes trained on me softly, and my hand stilled. I began to remove it, a little embarrassed at being caught, but he shook his head in protest. I smiled inwardly at how cute the gesture was, running my hand through soft hair again.

"Hey," I whispered. "You scared me."

"Hi," he replied, his voice deeper than usual from having just woken up. He reached his arms out, and I grinned, scooting towards him, and curling up against his side.

"Have you been awake long?"

He pressed a kiss to my forehead. "No. I just woke up."

"Did you sleep okay?" I brushed a curl that fell into his face away,

He nodded sleepily. "I caught the last bit of that conversation. Are you going somewhere later?"

I shook my head. " Not today. That was my doctor. She was reminding me I have an appointment on Saturday."

"Saturday." His arm tightened around me. "What time is it at?"

I lifted my chin. "Sometime in the afternoon, I think. I have to double-check though."

"Do you want me to come with you?"

I glanced at him, the question catching me off guard, and my finger momentarily stilling from where they had been tracing his jawline. Not only had I not been expecting him to ask, but I wasn't sure of a suitable answer to give him.

I shook my head slowly, fidgeting. "No. You don't have to come if you don't want to."

"I want to."

"I think it might be better if I go alone," I whispered.

He watched me, not saying anything despite the question evident in his eyes. It made me feel bad to know it seemed like I didn't want him there, but that couldn't have been more wrong.

"It's not you. It's just..." I trailed off, fiddling with my lower lip. I didn't know how to explain it. Mom hadn't understood when I had first told her I wanted to go to my appointments alone, and I wasn't sure if he would either.

He sat up slightly. Propping his head up with his hand.

"If you don't want me there, that is okay. I just want you to know that when you are ready, I want to be there for you."

"No, I do want you there," I said truthfully.

The thought of him going with me didn't sound that bad. I guess all the years of seeing the disappointment on my mom's face every time that the doctors told her there was no progress, just worried me that I would be a letdown for him too. I sighed.

"I just..."

I sighed.

Elijah shook his head, saving me from my struggle. "It's okay. You don't have to explain. I don't have to go. Don't stress." I glanced at him, awed by his understanding. He didn't seem the least bit mad.

Maybe it was time to turn a new page.

I chewed on my lip, debating with myself. I stilled when Elijah he reached out, his thumb brushing my lip, and tugging it from between my teeth.

"I mean it, Love. I understand."

He lifted my chin, bringing his lips to mine. When he leaned back his arm still held me close.

I curled into his side, wondering how I had landed someone so patient and understanding. I was aware that his mouth was moving, but I wasn't really hearing what he was saying, too busy admiring all of his qualities. Elijah paused, glancing down at me.

"What's wrong?"

I didn't answer, picking up my phone, as my heart nearly beat out of my chest. I scrolled through my reminders until I found the one that I had set for the appointment.

"Will you be free around four?" I asked, nervously. Surprise flashed in his eyes before it morphed into a different expression.

"It doesn't matter if I am or not. If you want me to be somewhere, I will make it happen."

I nodded, biting my lip again, and cleared my throat as I laid back down. "Then yes. I would like for you to come."

He watched me skeptically, leaning against the headboard of my bed. "Rowan, I don't have to come if you are not comfortable-"

I shook my head, and he stopped talking. "I want you to come."

He searched my eyes as if looking for something before nodding slowly. "Okay, I will be there then."

I hid my face in his side as I grinned. I knew I had made the right choice. I couldn't hide from disappointment any longer. It was a part of life, and I would just have to deal with it.

I was really doing this. We were really doing this.

"Rowan, what are you doing?"

"Nothing." My response was muffled as I spoke into his shirt. Vibrations ran through me when I felt him laugh.

"Then can you bring your head up, please?"

"I prefer to stay right here. It is quite cozy."

"But I want to see those beautiful eyes."

My face heated and before I could move, Elijah shifted so that my head was lying on his arm, and we were facing each other. He wrapped his free arm around my waist, drawing me closer, his legs entangling with mine.

"There they are."

"You are so full of it," I laughed, and his grin grew.

"No, you are just that beautiful."

I snorted.

"Very cute."

I sent him a toothy smile, moving, so I was closer to him; one leg was thrown over his, and my arms tucked under his.

"Are you going down to your Mom's for Christmas?" I asked, deciding that now was a good time to pop the question. Since it was less than a week away, I knew I needed to just ask.

"No. I usually go down to visit, but she said that she was thinking of visiting someone for the holiday. I think she is seeing someone. She offered to let me come, but I didn't want to intrude if that is the case." He rubbed circles into the small of my back, a thoughtful expression crossing his features. "I am pretty sure that she is. I noticed a few men's dress shirts in the guest bedroom last time I went down."

I glanced at him, relieved to see a content expression in his eyes. I knew that his parents were divorced since he had mentioned it before, but I knew that it could be weird to see your parent with another person.

"How do you feel about that?"

Elijah smiled, and it was filled with genuinity. "I am happy that she has found someone. I believe that she deserves to be happy again. Just because things between her and my dad didn't work out, doesn't mean she doesn't deserve a second chance at finding love."

I nodded in understanding, before I sucked in a breath, knowing that what I was about to ask him could end up going either way.

"Would you maybe want to spend Christmas with me and my mom?" I closed my eyes as the words left my mouth. Even though we were dating, it was all new, and I didn't want to rush him into something that he didn't want to do. "I mean if you don't want to that is fine. My mom just wants to meet you officially, so I think we should go over there sometime. It doesn't have to be on Christmas," I rambled, my nervousness only growing. He didn't respond, and I sucked in a breath. "Please say something. I'm sorry if it is too soon for that sort of stuff."

He tugged me closer, as he laughed lightly. "Sorry, I would have said something sooner but you being nervous is really adorable." I huffed at him, and he chuckled again. "I would love to come. There is never a time that is too soon. You can open your eyes now."

Smiling, I peeked an eye open, looking up into his amused eyes. "You would like to spend Christmas with us or you are just willing to meet her?"

"Both. I would love to meet your mom. And I want to spend Christmas with you." I grinned, happiness flooding through me, and causing my chest to tighten, as he looked down at me. I brushed my hand across his cheek, my hand stilling at the nape of his neck.

"Okay, I will call her then."

He smirked. "You should do that."

"I will right now," I said, not moving, my eyes not leaving his. He arched an eyebrow and I wet my lips, and he followed the movement with his eyes.

The atmosphere of the air changed as the intensity of his gaze caused the temperature to rise. His hand trailed down my arm slowly, ending when he hooked our little fingers together. A rush of different emotions washed over me, passion mixing with deep admiration, and something much stronger. I wasn't sure I was ready to admit what it was yet.

"On second thought, maybe you should do it later."

Elijah placed his arm beside my head so that he was hovering over me, bringing his mouth down to mine again. The kiss was invigorating and I leaned into him, my body already reacting to his proximity. He pulled back briefly, to pull my phone from my fingers, gently.

"Yeah. That call is going to have to wait."

---------

"So what you are saying is that you aren't sure if you remembered that you had to pick up an extra shift because you and Elijah talked about it, or because you just still remembered agreeing to do it?"

I nodded my head. Doctor Anderson typed down my response into her laptop, frowning slightly. I looked down when I felt a finger rub across the back of my hand. My eyes locked with Elijah's and he smiled reassuringly. Even though I was sitting on the examination table, and he was in a chair, he hadn't let go of my hand since we had gotten there.

I smiled back, taking him in. His hair was longer than he usually kept it, the curly locks not necessarily styled, but still becoming in their own unique and messy way. He was also growing out a bit of facial hair, a look that I had decided I loved. Elijah raised an eyebrow when I didn't look away, a smirk slowly engulfing his features.

"As much as I would love to let you check me out some more babe, Doctor Anderson asked you a question." He lowered his voice, leaning towards me. "Plus, you shouldn't look at me like that. We are in a clinic for goodness sakes."

I blushed as the words left his lips.

"You are terrible." He just shrugged placing a kiss on the back of my hand, and I rolled my eyes, as he laughed. I noted the way that Doctor Anderson was eying me amusedly, when I turned to her, my embarrassment only growing. "I'm sorry, can you repeat the question? I didn't hear what you said."

She grinned. "I can tell." She stood up, removing her stethoscope from around her neck, and placing it right above where my heart would be. "Although, I don't blame you. If I had someone who looked like that, holding my hand, I wouldn't be able to focus either," she whispered.

I could tell that she had spoken so that only I could hear, but when I peeked over her shoulder at him, the wink he sent me showed me he had heard what she had said.

I wished that the floor would swallow me whole. It was his fault. If only he wasn't so gosh damn attractive, I wouldn't be sitting here, feeling like a schoolgirl with a crush. No, a schoolgirl with a crush, who was also doing crack.

"I was trying to get you to explain, what makes you think you aren't sure if remember your boss asking you to take an extra shift."

I jerked my eyes away from him again, my face heating. Her eyes twinkled, and although her face was serious, there was laughter in her eyes. I rolled my eyes slightly, a smile on my lips as I opened my mouth to speak.

"Well, I knew when I woke up that I had to pick up another shift. But, I didn't exactly remember having been asked to personally I guess. Just that Elijah and I had talked about it."

She nodded, taking my pulse, and my blood pressure, before she sat back down in her chair.

My eyes shifted to the left, when Elijah scooted his chair closer towards me, his hand latching back onto mine.

"Okay, Rowan. From what it sounds like, the only clear answer that came from your experiment is finding out that you permanently remember Elijah."

I looked up at her, shocked. "You said permanent. Did you figure something out?" I asked.

She grinned. "Yes, I was going to tell you when I called the other day, but I figured you would want to hear this in person." She shut her laptop and faced me. "Based on your files, the other doctors, assigned on your case and I, have concluded that the memories you have now should be permanent. You haven't lost those memories in years, so there is no reason why you should forget them now."

To say that I was happy to hear her say that was an understatement. If what she was saying was true, then I didn't have to walk around worrying that I would forget Elijah. Or Hayden and Skye. Tears pricked my eyes, I tried to keep from turning into a complete emotional wreck, failing miserably.

"Are you sure?"

She nodded, holding up her finger and opening her laptop. She typed into her computer, before turning it to me and showing me what looked to be two MRI scans of a brain.

"This is your brain a few weeks after your crash," she said pointing to the picture on the left, her finger landing on a specific part. "If you look right here, you can see the area that makes up your hippocampus, is slightly disfigured. This is because of the contusion you suffered, and it never quite healed all the way. "

My gaze then followed the trajectory of her finger as she pointed at the other picture. "This is the MRI that we took last month. Even though the change is small, somehow the damage has reversed, but only slightly. We have figured this reversal of sorts is why you have been able to hold onto some memories."

"Wow," I said, staring at the images unblinking, as my eyes started to fill. It did look different. "Sorry," I said, my voice cracking as I wiped my eyes. "That's just great to hear."

She smiled warmly. "I get it, Rowan. You have been waiting for this news for a while." I nodded, my face breaking as my eyes blurred, Elijah stood up, coming behind me and wrapping an arm around my shoulders.

"These are happy tears," I told him.

He smiled down at me softly. "I know, baby."

"One more thing Rowan," Dr. Anderson said, pointing to the screen again. "After your last appointment, I pulled all of your scans from the past years, and compared them with this most recent one, as well as what a normal functioning brain should look like."

She paused taking a deep breath, as I waited expectantly. Elijah tensed behind me, and I placed my hand over the one he had on my shoulder.

"From looking at them, I also noticed that your amygdala, the part of your brain that functions in emotional activity, as well as memory storage, was never damaged."

"So, what does that mean?" I asked as she shut her laptop, and leaned against the counter, as she shoved her hands in the coat of her white coat.