"Kati, please. Listen to what you're asking me to do. I can't do this. I can't. I love you."

Nick placed his hands gently on her shoulders as he quietly argued with her.

"Please Nick, just do it! I can't take it anymore!"

"No. I can't. I need you, I love you!" He was trying hard not to raise his voice, but why couldn't she see reason?

"Nick, darling, I hurt so much. I'm in pain all the time. Even lying in this bed hurts. I thought about this all last night. I'm sure about this. I'm positive. I want to go and I need you to help me. Please! Do you want to see me in pain?"

"That's not fair." Nick gazed down at his wife as she pleaded with him. Even in her weakened state, Kati was the most beautiful girl he had ever seen. He took her small hand tenderly in his and squeezed it. "How am I supposed to go on without you?"

"Pretend you're the one in the bed, Nick, imagine what I'm feeling. What would you be asking me?"

Nick quieted, deep in thought. "Just give me a few minutes okay, just a few?"

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

***3 Years Earlier***

"I knew you couldn't run forever!"

Nick glanced up at the triumphant voice. The petite, good looking brunette that had been chasing him since he left the zoo jogged up to where he rested, hands on his knees, trying to catch his breath. She offered him a smile and sat down at his feet, grabbing his hand and pulling him down with her.

"You look winded?"

"I am. Why the hell were you chasing me? I would have given you an autograph if you just asked!"

"An autograph? What ever for?" The brunette laughed. A musical laugh, Nick thought. You always hear about people having a "musical" laugh and this girl truly did.

"Because I...never mind...why were you chasing me then?"

"You dropped this."

She held out a leather wallet, stuffed to the brim with papers, photographs and money.

"I didn't look in it, I swear. I saw it fall right out of your pocket when you were watching the seals. I was behind you. I love watching sea creatures." she admitted.

"Thank you. Thank you very much." Nick took the wallet and stuffed it into his coat pocket. "I'll try to hold onto it this time."

"Sounds like a plan." The girl grinned at him and stood up, pausing to brush the dirt off the seat of her pants. "Well, I should get back, my friends... " She paused as if waiting for him to say something more. "Nice to have met you!" She waved and then started back the way they had ran.

"Wait!" Nick stood as well and called out to her. "What's your name?"

"Kati." The brunette stopped, laughed, and turned around again. "What's yours?"

Nick told her and then called out once more, not wanting her to leave just yet. "Would you like to go out to dinner with me tonight? In thanks for finding my wallet?"

Kati stood staring back at him with her hands crossed over her chest.

"How do I know you're not some psycho?"

"If I am, it's only for girls as pretty as you."

Kati laughed again. "Great! A psycho with weird taste in women, just my luck!"

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But Kati had agreed to dinner. And many dinners after that. Nick had been enchanted by the fact that she had no idea who he was. Kati was smitten by his boyish charm. Nick admired the fact that she refused to leave her job just to be with him and Kati was delighted that Nick offered to leave his job just to be with her, not that she would let him.

They spent as much time together as their careers allowed. Any free time they had was usually spent on or by the water. Kati and Nick both loved the ocean, were mesmerized by it and the creatures surrounding it. Nick credited the seals for bringing them together and Kati often teased him about it.

Late one summer evening, Nick and Kati walked arm in arm slowly back to the house. Taking their time and enjoying the warm air.

"Kati, do you like my house?"

Kati stopped to stare at Nick. "What a silly question! I love your house if you're in it." She reached to pat his cheek, but Nick knelt down in the sand suddenly. "What?" Kati asked. "What's wrong."

"Nothing." Nick stood back up. "I just found this." He held a perfect shell out to her.

Kati took it from him and admired the shell, its fine lines and blended colours. "It's gorgeous Nick." Kati tucked it carefully in her pocket.

"I asked about the house for a reason." Nick blurted out, his face turning a light shade of pink.

Kati wrapped her arms around him and turned her face up to his, giving him a bemused smile. "You did?"

"I'm hoping..." Nick paused to take a deep breath. Kati tried not to laugh and ruin the moment. She leaned her head to his shoulder, burying her face in the curve of his neck so he wouldn't see her smiling. "I was hoping you would want to live there. With me." Nick took another breath. Kati could feel him trembling and she rubbed his back slightly to calm him. "As my wife."

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Before they could even think of planning a wedding, Nick had some business commitments with his next CD and Kati had to arrange time off. After several months, when things kept popping up that needed to be done, they gave up. Kati and Nick both took a two week leave and flew to Australia to get married by a minister out by the ocean, on a white sandy beach. Both sets of parents had been a bit upset about not being informed until after the fact, but soon quieted when they saw how much in love the couple was.

Since they had honeymooned in Australia before returning home, normal life intruded almost as soon as they stepped on American soil. Nick resumed his solo tour of America and Kati prepared Nick's house, now their house for married life and their life together.