Nick was the next one to awaken a few hours later. He too was disoriented, not expecting to find someone in bed with him. He felt for her hand and realized when he felt her ring that it was Kathy laying next to him. At the same moment his memories of Kathy flooded back into his brain. How she had been so thoughtful, patient and kind to him for so long, how she had helped him get adjusted to being blind. How they had been venturing into a possible relationship. Nick ran his hand along her arm slowly, drawing it up to her face. He planted soft kisses all along her cheeks, before brushing his lips across hers. Kathy smiled and stirred. "Stop it Mikey!" She batted her hands around, the dogs were cute, but annoying at times like this. She froze when she felt her hand hit Nick’s shoulder. "Nick?" Her eyes flew open and she saw his face, so close to hers, unshed tears glistening in his eyes. "I remember Kathy. I remember you and all you’ve done for me." He kissed her again. "How can I ever thank you?" She threaded her arm around his back. "You don’t have to Nick. I know you are grateful, you’ve said it many times." She brushed the droplets of water away from his eyes. "Don’t cry." "I forgot you." Kathy pulled him close. "It’s alright Nick, it was nothing you could control. None of it was your fault."

They lay together in silence for a few moments. "Do you still want to try?" Kathy looked up at Nick’s emotionless face. "Try what?" "A relationship. We were getting close, weren’t we?" Nick turned his head so he was facing her. "We were starting." Kathy admitted, hesitantly. "I just don’t know if..." She remembered how she felt when he had collapsed at AJ’s party. How she had felt when Alexa told them he was in a coma. She had felt like someone had told her the world had ended. That an important part of her life would be missing. She had definite feelings for Nick, she couldn’t deny them. "If what?" Nick asked softly. "Nothing. Never mind." Kathy kissed him gently on the cheek and placed her hand over the spot. "I care about you Nick. I have since you were in the Bahamas." Nick hugged her tight and returned her kiss. "I care about you to, Kathy. You’ve been everything to me."

They relaxed into each other and let their hands explore. Kathy moaned when Nick brushed his hand against her breasts through her shirt. He moved his hands up and tangled them in her hair, pulling her face close to him. His lips were soft and Kathy found herself tenderly nibbling on his bottom lip and then running her tongue over the red marks she left behind. Nick groaned and let his tongue slip into her mouth, wanting to taste this amazing woman. They both were totally oblivious to any outside noises or movement, they were so wrapped up in each other. They both yelped in surprise when the pugs ambushed them, jumping right on their heads. Kathy couldn’t help but laugh out loud. "Damn dogs!" Nick muttered. "I guess they thought we were getting too close!" Kathy giggled as she hopped out of the bed. "C’mon puppies, do you need to go outside?" The dogs gathered around her, jumping and yapping excitedly. "Damn dogs!" Nick repeated, swinging his legs out of the bed. "Always getting in the way." He continued to mutter under his breath as he followed Kathy down the hall to the patio doors. He sat down at the table while Kathy located her shoes at the front door. The dogs hopped on his lap and took turns licking his face. "I should bop you guys." Nick tried to sound menacing. "Daddy was just about to get some and you wrecked it." Kathy tapped him on the shoulder. "Get some what?" She smiled down at him as he pouted. "Ah, nothing." he said, sheepishly. "All in good time, Nick, all in good time." She kissed his forehead and ushered the dogs outside.

After the dogs had their morning romp outside and Kathy and Nick had both changed from the clothes they slept in, Kathy finished the cleaning up job from the night before. Nick helped her compile a list of items they needed to report to the insurance company. Then the couple gathered around the kitchen table for some more of Nick’s education. Kathy hooked up the new phones and showed Nick the numbers system in braille. They then used the new remote controls, Nick’s new watch and the wall clock in the kitchen until Nick was getting the hang of the numbers. They pulled the books out again and Nick did some reading for her. "Nick you have really picked this up quickly! You are amazing!" Kathy praised him. Nick smiled and blushed a little. "I want to be good at it, I want to know how to do it." Kathy assured him he was doing well at it. "We need to get you some more books, you are way past these ones now." They talked about books and magazines for awhile, Kathy was surprised with how book hungry Nick was, wanting to know all about what was out that was current for him to read. She cooked a small lunch for the two of them and joked how she would have to teach him his way around the kitchen. "I didn’t know my way around it too well when I could see!" Nick laughed. "Maybe I’ll do better now!"

After lunch they decided to take a break to watch and listen to some TV. Nick proudly took control of the remote and picked a channel to watch. They snuggled together, the dogs laying contentedly on their laps. A few moments after the show started, a knock sounded at the door. "Are you expecting someone?" Kathy asked. Nick shrugged and they both turned at the sound of the door opening. "Well, don’t you guys look cozy?" AJ flopped himself down on the chair opposite them and Kevin, Howie and Brian followed into the room behind him. "Hey guys!" Nick beamed. "What brings you here?" "We just wanted to see how you were doin’, little bro." Kevin said, smiling at Kathy. "I’m great. We had a small bit of a thing here yesterday, but everything is fine now." "You look really great, man!" Brian clapped his hand on Nick’s shoulder. "I am, I’m great! I’m happy and everything is great!" Kevin looked over to Kathy again. "That is so good to hear, Nick. Best news I’ve had in a long time!" AJ started teasing Nick about sitting so close to Kathy and, with a smile, she gracefully excused herself to get their guests some drinks.

"So how is he really?" Kathy jumped at the sound of the deep voice. "Oh, Kevin! You scared me!" Kathy handed him a glass of juice and finished getting the others ready. "He’s great Kevin. Really. He is making a wonderful recovery." "What happened last night?" Kathy recounted the details of the break-in to him, sitting across the table from him. "We can’t prove anything, so the most we can do is report it to the insurance agency and get some money back for what he lost." Kevin frowned. "It sounds like something she would do, she’s a little bitch on wheels. Kathy nodded her head in agreement. "Nick played me some of the new songs last night." she said, trying to change the subject. "You look like something is troubling you." Kathy studied Kevin’s face for a moment. "What’s up?" Kevin sighed. "The record company wants to get the album out. They are tired of the delays and they figure if Nick is home and healthy he can sing." "I was wondering how long it would take for them to start pestering him." Kathy stood and started putting the glasses on a tray. Kevin ran his hands through his long, dark hair. "Can he do it? Or is it too soon?" he asked. "He can do it." Kathy assured him. "Nick can do anything he puts his mind to. I just don’t want him stressed." Kevin quietly murmured his promises that Nick would not be pushed to do anything. "And, he may want to work with a vocal coach. I think the quality of his voice is a concern to him. He hasn’t sung in so long." Kevin nodded. "I think we can get him some time to work with someone." Kathy sat across from him again and took his hands in hers. "Let me talk to him about it tonight, alright?" Kevin smiled. "Sounds good!" He picked up the tray to carry it out to the living room for her. "I’ll let you know in the morning, what he says." "Great!" They started out and Kevin tipped his head towards her. "You guys make a great couple, you know that?" Kathy stared at his back in surprise as Kevin walked away from her.