Hey! So I have returned! Happy new year!

This year, I hope to get this fic and Stockholm Syndrome DONE! Enjoy!


"Rocky! Rocky! Love, wake up!"

The voice calling me is so distant. It's garbled and distorted, to the point where I'm not sure it's even there at first. I'm vaguely aware of a callused hand gently tapping my cheek repeatedly. My body feels numb. I want so bad to respond to the voice calling my name, but my half-brain is forgetting what speech is. Hell, I can't even get my eyelids to open! My whole conscious mind is swirling in a vast abyss of clouded darkness. The voice and hand are so far from me.

My mind begins to wander the abyss. As I go further, I become aware of the pain. It slowly increases, getting more and more prevalent and painful. My head is absolutely killing me! It feels like someone whacked me with a metal shovel square in the back of the head!

"Rocky! Come on, darling, don't do this to me!" The voice is closer now.

Brad. It's Brad's voice. His voice is always so wonderful to hear. I only wish I could tell him I'm okay!

I feel my body being lifted slightly; it feels like I'm floating. I can feel arms enclosing around me. He's hugging me now, still calling my name. I can tell his voice is breaking. He's scared- scared that he's lost me. Pressed against his chest, amid his half-sobbing, half-speaking, I can hear his heart beat.

The numbness in my body slowly begins to fade to a weird tingling sensation, the same as when my leg falls asleep and I have to walk off the "pins and needles feeling". The abyss is fading. I can hear much more clearly now. Brad is fully sobbing. I hear that in one ear, the other, being pressed against his chest, allowing me to hear the soothing sound of his heartbeat.

Then, as if my eyelids just decided to start working, my eyes shoot open and I take deep gasping breaths. My god, why do my lungs feel so deprived of oxygen?

Brad gasps and pulls me away from the sound of his heart beat. He looks down at me, his eyes shimmering with unshed tears. "Rocky!"

I look up at him. His eyes are glistening with tears. Eventually my voice returns to me. "…Brad…"

"What the hell happened? Are you alright?"

I look around, noticing where I am. I had been lying on the couch. The TV was on, tuned to the channel that my favorite show comes on. Right now it's droning with some odd commercial.

But if I'm here, why do I remember being in the bedroom last, after the power went out?

I turn back to Brad. He's still staring intently at me, fear and panic etched in his features. "Rocky…fall asleep?"

"You were in a damn deep sleep!" He sits next to me and begins feeling my head, pressing on certain points. "Did you fall and hit your head at some point?" I pause. If I truly was asleep on the couch, and the TV was working, did that mean I dreamt that whole thing? In that case, I wouldn't have fainted in real life.

"N-no…" is all I can stammer out. He finishes inspecting my head, but doesn't stop looking at me.

"Are you sure that's all that happened, Rocky?" I nod. He sighs and gets up, walking into the kitchen. He opens the fridge and grabs two cans of soda. I love soda, and I have since Brad first let me taste it. It was far better than that weird drink my creator had us drink the night of my birth (Brad told me it was called wine. He drinks it every now and then if we're out to dinner on a special occasion, but I hate the bitter taste.) Since Brad feels soda isn't good for me, I don't get to drink it often.

He comes over and hands me one of the cans. I immediately open it and start guzzling it down.

He sits next to me and I suddenly feel that things are a tad uncomfortable. He normally doesn't allow me to drink from the can, and if I drink too fast, he'll tell me to slow down. But he's not doing either of those things now, and it's making me nervous.

"Brad?" I ask. "You okay?"

He sighs and opens his can, taking a sip. "Rocky, I feel like there's some stuff going on lately that you're not telling me. Well, it's not just lately, it's been this way from the start." He takes another sip and pauses, savoring the sugary taste. "I don't think you've really been able to move past what…what happened last year."

I cringe at the mention of it and go to sip my soda again. But then, as if a bolt of lightning struck me, I see a flash memory of that smile in the darkness of the bedroom! Instantly I gasp and then begin to choke on the small sip I'd taken. Brad immediately takes the can from me and whacks me on the back a few times as I try to stop choking. When I do stop, I take a few breaths and look at him. The concern is back in his eyes.

"Rocky…please…talk to me." Brad begs. I look down, thinking. I know he's not stupid and can tell something's wrong. But I really don't want to make him worry about me. Things have been going so well this past year. Why should I let my stupid fears and memories ruin it for him?

"Rocky f-fine." I say. I stand up. "Going to bed." I ignore his mentioning of how early it is before I walk into our room, slamming the door behind me. I walk to our bed, stripping off my clothes and then get into it, sinking deep under the covers, pulling them over my head.

I hear the door open a minute later. He stands in the doorway and I could feel his gaze towards me lying on the bed before he sighs and comes over. I feel the bed sink as he sits on the edge.

"Darling…I know the anniversary of…" he pauses and swallows. "…that night… is coming up fast, but you can't live the rest of your life in fear."

I want so badly to say that it's more than just the memories. But how can I tell him what was really going on if he can barely talk about that horrible night? How could he stomach the possibility of one of those horrible people returning?

When I was silent, he continued. "Rocky, it's over. It's in the past. We have to go on living." My stomach churns with the guilt of hiding the truth. Now I feel a push to let it out. I start to think that maybe it's best I tell him.

I pull the blanket down and look up at him. He stares down at me and forces a smile. I can see the pain behind his forced smile. He just wants the past to go away and to not have his life fall apart again.

In an instant, I lose my nerve to tell him. Instead I sit up and slowly put my arms around him. He hugs me back.

"It…it hard to move on…" I say quietly. He nods.

"I know, Rocky…I know…"

We sit there awhile, just holding each other in the silence. The only noise I can hear is his steady heartbeat, again pounding in my ears as I lean against his chest. Any guilt or tension I feel melts away with each beat of his heart. It's a reminder that he's here, he's with me. We're alive and well.

After a little while of just sitting in each other's arms, my mind again drifts, thinking over the events of the day. To avoid freaking myself out again, I try to focus on the normal things. There aren't many, but I try to tune out the weird stuff- I walked to the store where I bought groceries, I watched TV, I saw Jeanette-

Oh yeah! Jeanette!

"Brad," I speak up.

"Hmm?" he responds, obviously having been lost in his own thoughts.

"Mrs. Vatello want…have dinner soon." Brad pats my shoulder twice before letting go of me.

"Sounds good to me! I should go give her a ring and set it up!" He stands up and leaves the room. I stay for a moment, just feeling like I should stay where I am for now. I'm still trying to not think about this horrible day. But no matter what, I can't get over it- she was here! In this room! I could hear her, see her…smell her even! They can't be back! If they are though, Brad can't know.

"And he never will know…" I vowed out loud to myself, my voice a harsh whisper.

A moment later, Brad pokes his head back into the room. "By the way, Rocky, you forgot to pick up fresh batteries for the flashlight today!"

Batteries! I KNEW I had forgotten something at the store!

But wait, what good would they do? The flashlight was missing!

"Where flashlight?" I ask. Brad looks confused.

"Same place it's always been. Top left draw in the kitchen. Remember- the left side is closest to the fridge."

I don't reply. I know I screw up my left and right still, but I checked that drawer! I checked them all! As Brad leaves the room to go call Jeanette, I get up. It has to not be there. I felt around like mad in those drawers!

My legs are wobbly as I walk to the kitchen. Brad's at the wall phone, dialing the Vatellos' apartment. He doesn't acknowledge me.

I come to drawer on the left and put my hand on it's handle.

"Hi, Liam! It's Brad Majors…"

My hand is gripping the hand so tightly, my knuckles are white. I'm trying to mentally prepare myself for what could be in the drawer.

Brad continues on the phone. "We've been alright. It's been quite a storm today…"

My fingers are numb. It's now or never.

"Yes, I completely agree! Listen, Rocky said Jeanette wanted to have dinner soon?…"

Taking a deep breath, I yank it open. In it lies the small, yellow flashlight. Same as it's always been. I'm stunned. I know it wasn't there before! Why was it there now?

"Rocky?" My head snaps up at the sound of my name. Brad has his hand over the mouth piece of the phone, and is looking at me. "Would you be okay having dinner with the Vatellos tomorrow night?"

I pause before I close the drawer and nod. Brad smiles and takes his hand from the mouth piece. "We'd be delighted to come tomorrow!"

I continue to stare at the closed drawer. It just seems so…wrong. Like how I know I fainted in the bedroom, yet Brad found me on the couch.

Feeling dizzy, I wandered to the couch and sat down. There was just too much to think about. Why, oh why did it all have to happen now, when things were going perfect?


"No, darling, let me help you out." says Brad as he reaches for the buttons on my shirt. I've mismatched them- again.

With ease, he buttons up my powder-blue dress shirt and tucks it into my khaki pants. He adjusts my collar and gives me a smile. I don't return it. I still feel as uneasy as I did yesterday.

His smile drops. "Hey. Come on, love. Cheer up!" I stare at the floor before he places a gentle hand on my chin and lifts my head so I was looking into his eyes. "We're going to have a great time tonight, right?"

I pause before replying. "Right."

"Things are going to be fine. I know they will be."

"They'll be fine."

He smiles once more and nods. "There we go!" He turns to the mirror and cheeks his reflection, adjusting his bow tie. "Now come, let's get going!"

I take his hand and we head to the apartment door. After we make our way into the hallway, as Brad is locking our door, an older man comes by with a grocery bag in hand. As he walks past us, he glares at us. I meet his gaze- it's full of contempt and disgust. I still don't understand why people hate us so much if they've never met us.

Brad puts the key in his pocket and we start down the hall to the elevator. There is an uncomfortable silence between us and his eyes nervously shift from side to side, scanning the closed doors. He always seems nervous when we're out in public together, as if someone's going to attack us any moment. We don't say a word until we get downstairs to the Vatellos' apartment.

Brad clears his throat and knocks on the door. A moment later, the door opens. There stands Jeanette in a simple blouse and skirt. "Hello, boys!" She eyes our clothing quickly. "Oh, you guys didn't have to dress up so much!

"Well…" Brad blushes slightly before clearing his throat once again. "It's nice to see you, Jeanette.

Behind her, little Tanya crawls towards the doorway, babbling her baby talk. Jeanette reaches down and picks her up. "Come on in! Liam had to run out and get some more milk- we didn't realize we were almost out, but he should be hope any minute. The meat should be ready in about fifteen minutes!" She puts Tanya in her play pen and makes her way to the kitchen.

I felt Brad tense up beside me at the word, "meat". That's a weird word that I've only heard once or twice. Brad's told me that "meat" is a food a lot of people eat, but shouldn't be. We are what are known as, "vegetarians." He almost never has mentioned meat this whole year.

His unease doesn't go unnoticed. Jeanette cocks her head to side and asks, "Are you alright, Brad?"

He forces a smile. "Yes. I'm fine. Just a…little gas!"

She chuckles and shakes her head. "You certainly are a weird one, Brad Majors!"

About twenty minutes later, Liam has returned with the milk and we are all seated at their kitchen table. Tanya is sitting in her highchair, eating her cut-up food with her hands.

Brad is picking at his food, mostly cutting it up more and more. He's trying to keep constant conversation with Liam to hide the fact that he isn't eating. They talk on and on about their jobs. Brad sheepishly talks only a little about his "dead-end jobs" and how he's looking for work elsewhere. Liam talks about the university he's a professor at.

I look down at my plate, containing mashed potatoes, green beans, and of course the meat. I think they referred to it as "veal." It's a strange, brown-and-pinkish food. I'll tell you one thing- it smells really good! I can't imagine why Brad would hate this stuff!

I pick up my fork and try to imitate Liam and Jeanette when I cut a piece. Jeanette notices I'm having difficulty and helps me out. After she does, I eat the slice. It tastes just as amazing as it smells! But…now I'm confused. The taste is familiar…too familiar. Have I eaten this before and just not known it?

I pick up my knife again and this time manage to rip off another piece. I pop it in my mouth, trying to figure out what this tastes like, and out of the corner of my eye, I see Brad look at me, his expression says he's trying to not be sick.

I lower my fork and look at him. His expression seems so familiar, just like this food.

A knot is forming in my stomach. These things that are familiar are causing this uneasy feeling.

A high pitched scream, seeming to come from the other side of the apartment, behind a closed door, makes me jump. That scream. That girl. It suddenly hits me where I've tasted something similar…

"Rocky, are you okay?" Jeanette asks. I look at her, and then at Brad and Liam. No one else seems to have heard the scream. Even Tanya, who's happily shoving mashed potatoes into her mouth, isn't acting like anything's wrong.

"Uh…bathroom?" I quickly cover up before slowly standing. "Excuse…" I walk out of the kitchen and try not to run to the bathroom. Their apartment isn't built much differently than ours, so it's easy to find. I'm about to go into it and splash water on my face, when I glance at the closet at the end of the hallway. This is the furthest place from the kitchen, and the only closed door.

I stare at it for awhile, my heart pounding louder and louder with each passing second. She's not in there, is she? I hope she isn't!

Almost robotically I reach out for the door knob. Slowly I grasp it.

No! I jerk my hand away from it. I can't let these wild thoughts control me! I force myself to turn away and go back to the kitchen without confirming what's in that closet.

My legs shake as I return to the table. Brad forces another smile when he sees me.

"Hello, darling!" he says. "Everything alright?"

I force-smile back at him and chuckle, "Gas?", using his excuse from earlier. He laughs a little, obviously nervous.

"So, Rocky, we were just discussing the idea of heading to a Broadway show at some point soon!"

"Show?" I look at him, suddenly feeling excited. We've seen a couple of shows before, and they're always so amazing! It's like a picture show, but acted out before you on a stage.

"Yes, Rocky." says Liam before looking at Jeanette. "I know you've been hoping to see that one they just brought back…oh, what was it called? The one Sinatra was in when they made it a movie?"

"Guys and Dolls!" she exclaims. "Oh, it's just a wonderful musical! Would you all be interested in going?"

"Sure!" I say.

"I don't see why not." replies Brad.

"I've listened to you play the soundtrack so often, I likely know the show already…" mumbles Liam. "So when is good? I'm off tomorrow because it's the day before exams. I suppose if we go later in the afternoon, I'll have had time to get everything in order."

My heart races again, this time with excitement. A night of something "normal" seemed perfect! Maybe, for at least one evening, I could get my mind off what happened a year ago.


Please review! I hope to update soon!