Jarrod was pulling the truck into Cottages of Lake Green. It had been six weeks since I’d last been home, and the weather had taken a turn for the worse. There was a light coating of snow on the ground. Marie was seated next to me, looking out the window, hoping that something would spark her memory.

Talon had come home weeks ago, and had been staying with Jenny’s mom, Angie. Marie spent a week in the hospital in Florida. There were a few ups and downs, including a seizure that scared the feck out of me. I felt that fear that I was going to lose her all over again. It turned out to be a reaction to a medication, so they switched that one with a different one.

Against my wishes, after the week in the hospital, Marie was moved to a nursing home where she had both physical therapy and occupational therapy. I’d go every day and spend as much time as Marie would allow me to, but I could see how hard it was for her.

I’d look at her hopeful that she'd remember something, and then she wouldn’t. I was trying my best not to give her any expectations. I knew who she was deep down and that we’d be okay, even if she didn't know who she was.

She’d questioned why she couldn't stay with Talon where they had been living. I told her Sue had had to rent it out. It was a small lie, but I didn’t even care. I was afraid of her putting distance between us. I was afraid of losing her. Maybe she felt like she needed to try to be independent, but again, I was selfish. I’d almost lost her, and I wasn't going to do it again.

We pulled up in front of my cottage, and I heard Jarrod curse. “Fuck, I didn't know, Mickey.”

Outside of my place, and most likely inside too, there were tons of Devil’s Crusaders with big Welcome Home signs. Talon was right up front, bundled for the weather and holding a bunch of balloons in her mitten-covered hands.

“Oh,” Marie said. She hadn't been around the entire club. She’d met Jenny and Aubrey at the hospital, but it was strange for her because everyone kept looking at her with hopeful eyes that she would remember. Then she had to watch their faces fall, when they realized she didn’t.

I squeezed Marie’s hand. “It’ll be okay. They don’t expect anything from ye. They’re just happy yer alive. I’m sorry. I didn't know they’d be here. I would’ve liked to have been able to show ye around without everyone here.”

“It’s okay. You don't have to apologize. I’m looking forward to seeing Talon.”

Jarrod parked, and I got out of the truck and asked Marie to wait for me to get out and open her door. She rolled her eyes at me. Every time she did something like that, it reminded me that my sassy girl was in there.

I opened Marie’s door and grabbed her hand while Jarrod grabbed our bags.

“Thanks, man,” I nodded to Jarrod.

“Surprise!” Talon squealed, and then rushed toward Marie

“Stop right there,” Marie said to Talon. Talon froze in her spot unsure of what to do. Her red balloons floated overhead waiting for direction with Talon.

“What is it?” I asked, stopping us.

It seemed everyone was standing around waiting to greet Marie. I stood still waiting to hear why she had halted Talon.

Marie was suddenly uncomfortable with the attention and shook her head, “It was nothing come here,” she beckoned. Talon moved to her hugging her tightly.

They broke apart, and Talon stared at her mom and assessed her wellness.

“Get over here, girl. What am I? Chop Liver?” I grinned at Talon, and she hugged me, “Missed ye, girl.”

Jules greeted me and gave me a chin lift, while other people came over to say hello to Marie, many introducing themselves, even though they’d met her before.

“We won't stay long. The ladies stocked your fridge, and wanted to give her a welcome.”

“Thanks, appreciate it.”

“Hi Marie,” Jenny said, and I noticed that in the six weeks since we’d been gone, her belly had started to show. Serenity was with her, and she reached out for Marie yelling, “Merda Merda.”

Marie quirked her eyebrow and Talon filled her in, “There’s a Disney princess that she thinks looks like you.”

“Did you like princesses?” Marie asked Talon.

“I did. Dad thought they were stupid but...” Suddenly, Talon was quiet.

“It’s okay to bring him up, Talon.”

Talon looked to me for confirmation, and I nodded. “I loved Belle the most.”

Marie smiled, but I wasn't sure if she knew who that was or not. Daws and Aubrey came over, and said hello and that they were glad we were back. After that was Marie’s boss, Jack, who told her if she was ever ready to get her job back that it was hers. Evelyn, a waitress from Benny’s, also threw her arms around Marie. I knew it was awkward for her, but she was handling herself, and I had to trust that she would.

Marie was pulled into more conversations and my eyes connected to Jules who nodded for me to follow him to the back of my property. My boots crunched against the snow, and as we walked closer to the lake, I could see a thin layer of ice starting to form on it. The sky was blue, and a flock of geese flew overhead. Daws must have seen our exchange, because he followed.

Jules lit a cigarette. “She’s going to kill ye, if she sees ye,” I laughed knowing how much Jenny hated it.

“I’m quitting after this one,” he laughed, the sound bouncing off the barren trees.

I laughed too, because it was a sentiment I’d heard before. Daws stopped next to us. “How’s she doing?”

“Good days and bad days. We’ll get there, though.” I kept telling myself this even though sometimes I failed to believe it. Like Marie, I had good days and bad days.

“Maura call you?” Daws asked.

“Yeah, Corbin had something she needed to be there for.” Daws nodded. Jules flicked his half-smoked cigarette into the water.

“You were right about Tiny. It didn't take long for him to crack.”

“Did ye leave him for me?”

“Nah, brother. You got enough to deal with.” Daws was right. As angry as I was for a brother betraying me, my focus needed to on my family, and I trusted these guys to handle it.

I nodded, “Ye leave me anything to drink in the house? I think I could use one.”

Daws slapped me on the shoulder and grinned, “Jack good?”

“Yes, yes it is.”

***

EVERYONE HAD LEFT, and I finally had the chance to show Marie around. My cottage wasn't big, but it was nice. I’d had Talon’s bedroom set moved here, and Jenny and Aubrey helped Tal decorate her new room. Talon was excited about living here. I think even though she knew her dad was gone and that The Raiders had no interest in her without Drake around she was still afraid.

“This is cute,” Marie offered looking around.

“I know it’s not much, but it’s home.”

“There are only two bedrooms.”

“Yep,” I answered.

She looked nervous and bit her lip. The sight of that lip made an image of her in this very room with that lip wrapped around me flash through my mind.

“I’m not ready for anything,” she whispered nervously.

“I know. Please sit,” I motioned to the couch, “let’s talk.”

I couldn't help, but follow her arse as she moved to the couch. It had been so long. I didn't expect anything from her, but man, did my body crave her. She waited for me to talk.

“I’d like to date ye. I want ye in my bed, but I won't touch ye until ye invite me to. I know ye don't remember me, and it has to be strange; a man loving ye and ye not knowing much about him. So, let’s take it as slow as ye need.”

Marie began to talk, then stopped like she needed to gather her thoughts. “When we got here, an image of a young girl holding a balloon came to my mind. It was clear as day that it was Talon. It was my first memory. I don’t know you. I don't know me, but at the same time, I kind of do know you. I feel like that red balloon was the first glimmer of hope that I’d remember you. I’m a bit nervous about sleeping next to you, but I know that you’d never hurt me.”

“I’d never hurt you,” I reaffirmed, enunciating you to make a point.

My heart was beating hard in my chest. There was a part of me that wasn't sure if she’d be open to us dating, and I was afraid, but she was willing.

“Alright, tomorrow after occupational therapy, can I take ye out?”

She nodded, “I’d like that, Mickey.”

Talon came out of her room and hugged Marie – again. Marie told her about the balloon, and Talon excitedly ran to her room and took out a photo album, that had a picture of her with a red balloon. We spent the rest of the night eating pizza and watching movies, until Marie fell asleep on the couch. I effortlessly swooped her up and brought her to bed. I held her tightly. The feeling of having her back in my arms was everything. It was closure to a world of wrongs. Drake, who took Maura’s mom from me, who almost killed Marie, and who hurt my club, was gone, so was the feeling of anger and revenge. I had her in my arms, and that’s all that mattered. We’d get through this and in the end, I had no doubt, we’d be stronger because of it.

***

I KNOCKED ON MY DOOR. I know it was strange to knock on my own door, but I wanted it to feel like a date. I wanted Marie to feel like she was being courted.

A minute-too-long later, because I was anxious, the door opened. Marie’s hair was cut into layers. It was long, but somehow looked fuller. It seemed to mask the part of her hair that was only now starting to grow back. She had make-up on, and I’d never really seen her with much on before. She wore a green sweater that I also had never seen before, and I had a suspicion that she and Talon and had gone shopping.

“You knocked,” she laughed.

“I did. Ye look lovely.” I handed her five single flowers that were all wrapped individually. There was a daisy, a rose, a carnation, a wildflower, and a lily. She raised an eyebrow at me, as she opened the door for me to come inside.

“The flowers?” she questioned.

“I wanted ye to have choices; to be able to choose which one ye liked the most.”

She studied the flowers. “I like them all, but I think I like this one the best.” She chose the wildflower which made me smile. She’d mentioned to me in the past that she loved wildflowers. She was still the same.

“Dinner and a movie? I asked.

“Okay, yeah. Let me grab my coat.”

We went to the diner in town. It wasn't fancy. I wasn’t fancy. I was a burger kind of guy. She never seemed to mind before, so I was hoping that was still the same too.

Our waitress came by. “What will you be having tonight?”

“I’m torn between a Reuben and a French Melt.”

“Go with the Reuben,” I answered, “Ye always like that the best.”

“I’ll have the Reuben, then,” she told the waitress. I gave my order as well.

“I liked Reubens before?”

“Yes, and wildflowers. I think yer the same. Ye just have to trust that.”

“I like that.”

“How was occupational therapy?”

“Good, frustrating. I wish more memories were there. The occupational therapist suggested that I see a psychiatrist, as well.”

“I think that’s smart. Before everything, you were going to survivor meetings at the women’s shelter. Aubrey helps run it.”

“She does?”

“Jenny and she both have their own stories, but those are theirs to tell.”

“I like that you respect their privacy.” I smiled. then Marie began to ask me about my accent and what it was like growing up in Ireland.

We had a good dinner. Our conversation remained light.

After, we went to see a stupid slapstick comedy, which I knew Marie wouldn't care for, but I let her choose. I wanted her to discover her likes and dislikes. At the end of the evening, I came inside and let Marie get ready for bed. Once she was tucked into bed, and the lights were low, I crawled in bed, and pulled her close to me, and held her.

This became somewhat of a norm for us. We’d go out and enjoy getting to know each other, and then we’d come home.

***

“COME ON. I WANT TO show ye something.”

“Mickey, wait up.”

I was practically dragging her. I was excited.

We’d been dating for months now. We hadn’t had sex yet, but she’d been kissing me lately, and that was huge.

It was interesting watching her grow and heal. Not long after she’d been home I noticed a lightness to her that wasn't there before. I reckoned that without the bad memories of what she’d been through that she was actually happier, overall. She has had some memories return, mostly of Talon growing up, and none of Drake.

The weather finally broke, and we took our first bike ride. She loved it. She rode like she’d been doing it all her life. I wanted to show her the lookout over Lake Green. I knew it would be something she’d enjoy, and it was fun seeing her experience things for the first time all over again.

I was almost to the clearing with her and she was a foot or two behind me, when she stopped suddenly and said, “Mickey.”

The tone of the way she said my name had me freezing in my steps and turning towards her.

“Do ye remember something?” I hated to ask her this question because I felt like I disappointed her, but it was the way she’d said my name that made me feel like she did.

“Just up ahead, there’s a clearing that overlooks the lake. There’s a small bench. The leaves were colored like it was fall. You were here with me. You were holding me. Laughing at something I said.”

“Yes,” I nodded, and grabbed her hands. “Go on.”

“We’d been on the bike. You kissed me.”

“I did more than kiss ye, love.” I watched her cheeks turn that beautiful shade of crimson.

“You did.”

Suddenly, her breath came out in a pant. I realized that she was turned on. Maybe the images of us together were flashing through her mind? I hoped.

I couldn't take it; the rise and fall of her breasts as she stared at me with lust pooling in her eyes. I moved to her, cupped each side of her face and kissed the ever-loving shite out of her. I’d been gentle; afraid of where things would go, fearful of pushing her too fast, too soon. My hellion kissed me back just as hard. It was the best kiss we’d ever shared. Better than our first kiss, more explosive in a way that shocked me. I felt a thrill through my entire body, and I could sense that she did too.

I broke away, wanting her to see the view. Maybe it would spark more? I wasn't sure.

We reached the overlook. Spring was everywhere. The warm sun was on us. The lake and all of the newly budded trees reflected on the water making it look a lighter shade of green. I held her hand, and brought her to a bench.

“I took ye here.”

I moved my hands between her legs and stroked her pussy through her jeans. She was still panting.

“You slid inside of me.”

I had to do it. I unbuttoned her jeans and slid my hands inside of her panties then found her delicious cunt and sunk my finger inside.

She gasped, remembering. “Your dick,” she panted as I pushed my fingers in and out, “Oh God, it’s pierced. It’s big.”

“Yes, love. It misses ye. It loves yer tight little pussy.” I added another finger and stared at her as her head fell backward and she began to feel a feeling that I was hoping she remembered as well. I moved my hand faster and then my thumb moved to her clit.

“Loves the way ye grip it. Loves the way ye suck it. Loves the way yer tits bounce when yer about to come.”

She looked down and saw her breasts bouncing slightly as my fingers pumped in and out of her, then she was coming all over my hand, and it was the sexiest thing I’d ever seen.