I quickly wiped at my eyes and cheeks, glad that I hadn’t bothered to put any make up on and sat down on the couch, hoping that maybe Tony wouldn’t notice that I just had a minor – okay, possibly major panic attack – and trained my eyes on the television. I heard him shuffling around before I heard his footsteps come down the hall and even though I was expecting it, I still jumped when I heard his voice.

“Rori?” he called, obviously not noticing that the television was on.

“In here,” I responded quietly, cringing when I heard my voice.

“Oh, I didn’t even see you there,” he said with a small chuckle before he came around the couch and took a seat next to me.

“Everything good with Jaxin?” I asked him after clearing my throat and keeping my gaze on the television.

“Yeah, he’s got some sick designs for the new line. We’re all pretty excited.” He said and I could hear the smile in his voice.

“That’s great!” I said, biting my lip when I realized how forced my voice sounded.

“Rori?” Tony questioned and I saw him turning to look at me but I continued to look at the TV.

“Huh?” I muttered, trying to act like I was really interested in the show currently playing.

“Rori,” he repeated, leaning over on the couch. “Are you okay?”

“Just dandy,” I muttered.

“Were you crying?” he asked then, placing his fingers under my chin and turning me to face him.

I looked at him for only a moment, long enough to see the worried concern on his face before I looked down. “No,” I whispered.

“Babe, talk to me,” he pleaded and even though I was still recovering from my panic attack I couldn’t help the way his words caused a riot of butterflies to explode in my stomach.

“Tony I’m fine, just forget about it,” I said and tugged my chin out of his grasp and stood from the couch, beginning to head for the kitchen.

“Rori, wait, please talk to me, did you have another memory?” he said quickly and I couldn’t help but notice the desperation in his voice.

“No, I didn’t, I didn’t have another memory,” I muttered harshly.

“Oh,” was all he said and I closed my eyes as I leaned against the counter, trying to catch my breath which was beginning to hitch in my throat.

When I looked back up I saw Tony standing in the kitchen a few feet away from me but his attention was down on his phone in his hands, his eyebrows furrowing as I noticed a look of anger flash on his face. It wasn’t until he looked back up at me that I realized it wasn’t his phone in his hand; it was mine.

“You saw what they said, didn’t you?” he guessed, placing my phone on the counter. “I don’t know how but somehow word got out that you –“

“Don’t remember you?” I finished brashly.

He sighed. “Rori, just ignore them, please. That was one of the things I always admired about you, how you never let their negative comments affect our relationship.”

“What relationship Tony? I don’t remember anything!” I couldn’t control the way the words were flowing from my mouth, hurtful and unforgiving but he needed to see the truth, he needed to understand, even if it was going to hurt him.

“You will,” he assured me in a low voice but I couldn’t help but notice his frown, his doubts.

“You don’t know that,” I whispered.

We were both silent for a moment before he finally let out a huff of a breath I never even noticed he was holding. “Where is all this coming from Rori? Why are you acting like this?” he questioned, his eyebrows once again furrowing.

“Acting like what Tony? Like someone who doesn’t know a damn thing about her life, who doesn’t remember the man she is supposed to be marrying, starting a family with? I’m sorry, I didn’t realize that there was a manual with instructions on how I should be handing all of this.” My voice echoed in the kitchen as I began to walk around, pacing once again. “Why even bother?” I asked quietly.

“What?” he finally breathed out, his voice coated with shock. “Why bother with what?”

“Me. Why are you here Tony? There’s a chance I may never remember you again yet here you are,” I pointed out, my voice still harsh despite the tears that were slowly starting to form.

“I’m not going to go anywhere Rori, why the hell can’t you realize that? I know what you’ve been doing, pushing me away, not telling me things but I don’t understand any of it. Stop worrying about hurting me, Aurora!” he shouted but surprisingly, his anger didn’t even faze me. “Open your fucking eyes and realize that I am not going anywhere.”

I scoffed. “My eyes are open but apparently I’m the only one who can see! Don’t you get it Tony!? I don’t remember, I don’t fucking remember! I might never remember and what are you going to do then? Huh?”

Our shouting match continued but we weren't angry at each other. Other emotions were taking over, releasing the feelings the both of us had been holding back for so long. We were desperate, angry at the situation we were in but not at each other.

“God dammit Rori! You will remember, maybe if you weren’t being so fucking negative about it, you could see that!”

“No! Tony, why are you fighting so hard against this? You have to –“

“I don’t have to do shit! I’m not giving up on this, on us Rori. I can’t, I can’t fucking lose you, alright? I cannot lose you.” His voice lowered dangerously with emotion. “Rori, I love you, I will always love you, even if I have to make you fall in love with me all over again, I’ll do whatever it takes because I love you.”

“Stop that!” I cried out, the tears still pooling behind my eyes.

“Stop what?” he yelled, his voice loud but coated with exhaustion.

"How can you love me? I don't even know who I am anymore!" I shouted as the tears started to fall.

"I know who you are Rori and believe me, you're not worth forgetting." he responded, his voice stern in his statement.

"I don't even know who you are." I admitted quietly.

"You will, you have to. You loved me too. You have to remember, please, just remember." he pleaded and I could see the tears begin to form in his eyes and I cried harder.

This was the first time in all of this, throughout this whole ordeal since he found me that night on the beach that he asked, no, begged me to remember him. It was always words of encouragement, telling me that it would take time but not once did he ever ask me to remember. I realized in that moment that this was it, there was no going back. Tony had finally reached his breaking point and as I looked up at him with tear filled eyes, seeing his own tears beginning to fall, I lost it as well.

“I can’t Tony! I can’t remember!” I yelled but it was a heart aching cry that came out. “I just want to remember! I can’t remember.” my voice was just a broken whisper now, my hitched breaths echoing in the kitchen.

There was no controlling the sobs, no way of stopping the tears as Tony walked over to me, his face tear stained and filled with sorrow, his eyes looking lifeless and tired. I had never seen him look so broken, so defeated then in that moment. He didn’t stop until he was right in front of me. He brought his hands up, cradling my head like I was porcelain as he leaned down and placed his forehead gently on mine, his ragged breath hitting my face caused more tears to fall as I finally realized just how much he was hurting. Sam was right, he had been hiding his pain so well but I could clearly see it now and if my heart wasn’t already broken with everything else that had happened, looking into his eyes right then would have surely done me in.

“Please,” he gasped out against his tears. “Please baby, please,” he said and I brought my own hands up and placed them over his as both of our bodies shook against the other with our sobs. “I miss you, I need you, please come back to me.”

I couldn’t respond to him, even if I could find the strength to speak in that moment, I wouldn’t know what to say. Instead, I did the only thing I could think of in that moment. I leaned up on my toes and pressed my lips firmly against his. I wanted that to be it, I wanted things to end right there, I wanted a swarm of memories to hit at the moment our lips touched but as we pulled away and I continued to cry, there was nothing.

“I can’t,” I sobbed, barely audible against the violent sobs that were escaping my throat and I pulled away from him completely, watching as his arms fell limp to his sides. “I can’t.” I repeated and was just about to turn away when something stopped me.

I quickly spun as Tony grabbed my arm, twirling me to face him and he crashed his lips down on mine with a passion so strong it would have knocked me on my knees if he hadn’t of pushed me up against the counter, pressing his body against mine. Tony put everything into that kiss, all his feelings, his fears, his doubts, his dreams, his hopes; I could taste it all. I immediately kissed him back, just hoping that my kiss said just as much as his. It was in that kiss, that heated kiss, that I found everything that I had been searching for, everything that had been missing and it was nothing like I was expecting.

His love hit me like a car crash.

And I was blindsided.

***

“What’s your name?” he asked and I turned again to see him now swinging in the other swing, still smiling at me.

“Rori,” I answered, starting to loosen the death grip I had on the chains.

“I’m Tony.” He said and then I watched as he slowed his speed so that we were swinging in unison.

***

I picked the pillow up off the couch and threw it at him and I couldn’t help but laugh as I watched it bounce off of his head.

“Help me build this stupid fort you butthead,” I muttered as he glared at me.

He finally chuckled. “You’re basically already finished you poophead,” he teased.

I rolled my eyes. “Then go get the ice cream,” I sighed and waved my hand at him.

He sighed dramatically before he finally got up from the couch and headed for the kitchen. I let out a small laugh before I turned and headed for the television, ducking around the blanket fort I had so skillfully built and picked up the familiar Star Wars case and placed the DVD in the player before I made my way back toward the fort. Tony came back in then, a tub of ice cream and two spoons in his hands and he immediately grinned when he saw the opening credits begin to play. He looked at me then and I saw something flash in his eyes, something that caused me to blush as he continued to look at me.

“What are you staring at?” I chuckled nervously, reaching out and grabbing the ice cream from him.

“Nothing,” he muttered, finally coming out of his trance and looking away, a small smile on his lips.

***

I exited the bathroom to see Sam waiting for me along the wall. She gave me a cheeky, drunk smile and we hooked arms as we started to walk back toward the bar, stumbling of course. I saw Mike first, his tall lanky frame leaning against the bar and I looked around him to see Tony sitting in the stool beside him, but he wasn’t alone. There was a half-naked blonde practically sitting on him as he leaned away, looking uncomfortable as he tried to get Mike’s attention. I picked up my speed, practically dragging Sam along as she fumbled behind me. We came to stop and I all but shoved Sam into Mike’s arms before I turned my attention to the slut that had her hands on Tony’s chest. I grabbed her fake blonde hair and roughly yanked her away from him.

“Ow, what the fuck is your problem,” the bitch yelled, grabbing her head.

“You are.” I snarled, getting in her face. “Touch my boyfriend again and I will fuck you up.” It was the alcohol coursing through my veins that made me sound like a badass but my threat was real. I’ll be damned if I had to worry about girls swooning over Tony when I was right there next to him.

I wasn't sure how or what happened next but the two of us ended up on the ground. She had grabbed a fistful of my hair – a pussy move, might I add – but with the blows I was throwing at her she barely fazed me. I suddenly felt myself being lifted up and pulled away. I felt Mike push me toward Tony and he immediately picked me up, throwing me over his shoulder and then he quickly made his way to the exit.

“What the fuck was that Rori?” Tony yelled, setting me down just outside of the club.

“What? She was a bitch!” I yelled back but I smiled when I saw the smirk on his face. “Why are staring at me like that?”

“That was pretty sexy, but very, very wrong.” He said with another smile and I bit my lip.

I reached out and grabbed his hand and started dragging him toward the small alley just beside the club entrance. I heard him chuckle behind me and I grinned before I pushed him in front of me. I placed my hands on his chest and then shoved him backwards, causing his back to hit the brick wall roughly. A look of shock flashed across his face before he looked down at me with another sexy smirk and I pressed up against him, tugging roughly on his shirt to bring him closer to me.

“You’re mine Tony Perry,” I muttered fiercely before I kissed him, hard. “Mine.” I repeated against his lips and with the way he started to kiss me back, I knew he didn’t have a problem with that at all.

***

“So, what was the point of this dinner?” I asked again as I flicked another piece of bread at his head.

Tony sighed and glared at me. “Can’t I just take my girlfriend out for a nice dinner every now and then?” he muttered, annoyed.

I threw another piece of bread at him. “Nope, not really, just give me a pizza and some beer and I’ll be the happiest girl alive.” I smirked and he flinched as another piece of bread hit him in the face.

“Dammit Rori! Knock it off,” he whispered yelled, scolding me.

I grinned. “It’s kind of hot, seeing you get all hot and bothered.”

He groaned. “Tell me again why I put up with you?” he leaned forward, running his hands across his face and ignoring me as I continued to fling my bread at him.

“Because you love me.” I sang, giving him a cheeky grin.

He just grunted and shook his head, trying to hard to fight the smile that was tugging at his lips.

“You love me,” I whispered, sticking my tongue out at him.

He finally sighed and rolled his eyes before grinning at me. “I do, even if you annoy the shit outta me.”

I let my mouth drop in a dramatic gasp and he winked at me before he placed his hand up, signaling the waiter over to get our check, obviously giving up on our “date night.”

“I love you too, just so you know,” I told him teasingly.

“Oh, I know.” He laughed and then looked at me, his eyes shining.

***

“Rori?” Tony whispered in my ear, pulling me out of my thoughts and I looked over at him to see him staring at me, a small smile on his lips as he leaned toward me.

“Yeah?” I questioned, shifting in my seat, leaning back against the metal bars behind me.

“I’m going down the slide,” he said seriously and then flicked his thumb over his shoulder toward the slide entrance that was right next to us as he leaned back.

I laughed. “Go for it.”

“Meet me at the bottom?” he asked, raising his eyebrows hopefully.

I sighed and rolled my eyes playfully. “I guess so.”

He grinned and then leaned toward me again, placing a quick kiss on my lips before he pulled away and ducked down the slide, going head first like usual. I laughed as I heard him swear and then I got up from my spot, positioning myself in the entrance – feet first of course because I wasn’t a knobhead like Tony – and I waited for him to give me the all clear before I pushed myself up and curled my legs in as I started to slide down, twisting around the slide and giggling as I cursed against the metal bolts that shocked me.

When I came to a stop at the end of the slide I just laid there, my feet touching the ground as I laughed. I heard Tony chuckle in front of me and I sighed as I slowly sat up, remaining seated on the end of the slide. I paused momentarily when I saw Tony kneeling down on the ground in front of me but I didn’t think much of it until I saw the small box in his hands. I froze then, my eyes widening as he grinned at me though I could clearly see the nervousness in his eyes.

“You look so shocked,” he said, scooting a little closer to me as he remained down on one knee.

“What the hell are you doing?” I gasped out, finally sitting up all the way.

He laughed. “Isn’t is obvious?” he asked then, his anxiousness peeking out in his voice.

“Tony,” I said softly and started to smile.

“Aurora Rose Hayes. You are an absolute pain in my ass but there is not a single day that goes by when I don’t want to be with you. You are my everything, my world. I love you with all of my heart and even though I never have any intentions of letting you leave me, I still thought it was fair to ask .Rori, I love and I want to spend the rest of my life with you. You are the Princess Leia to my Han Solo so please, spend forever with me. Rori, will you marry me?”

He bit his lip nervously, popping open the small box to reveal a beautiful diamond ring. I let out a surprised huff as I started to nod my head, searching for my voice as I felt tears forming in my eyes.

“Of course I will, you dummy.” I finally got out and he grinned, laughing as he shook his head.

“Really? You’re going to ruin the moment with your hurtful words?” he asked feigning hurt as he plucked the ring from the box and balanced it in between his fingers.

“I can’t believe you just proposed to me with a fucking Star Wars reference,” I responded, shaking my own head.

“Shut up, you loved it,” he teased as he reached out and grabbed my left hand.

“Well, you’re just lucky I love you,” I said quickly and I couldn’t help but let out a small gasp as he slid the ring onto my finger.

“I tell myself that every day,” he murmured and glanced down at my hand, admiring the way the ring looked on my finger before he looked up at me, a smile on his lips.

I smiled down at him, still clearly in shock before I let out a small laugh and then I pounced on him, tackling him to the ground as we fell backwards, landing down in the woodchips but neither one of us seemed to care.

“I love you so much, you don’t even know,” Tony said softly, pulling me up on his chest and bringing my face closer to his.

“I think I have a pretty good idea,” I whispered, leaning down toward him. “Because I love you just as much.”

And with that I leaned down, connecting our lips in a kiss that explained everything else that our words couldn’t in that moment. I loved him, with all my heart and I would always love him and as he kissed me back, I knew he felt the same.

Tony Perry was my person, my soul mate, my “one true love” and I was never going to let him go.

***

“Tony!” I pulled away from our kiss with a gasp, my breathing still ragged though no longer from my tears.

“What?” he asked, looking down at me with worry.

I let out a small, surprised laugh, getting lost in his brown eyes as I felt another set of fresh tears begin to form.

“Tony, I remember.”

“Remember what?” he breathed out, his eyes widening, the hope in them clear as day.

“Everything.”

Notes

AHHHHHHHHHHHH!

Okay, I seriously need to stop making myself cry with my writing....

and

I really should be sleeping right now, it's 4 o'clock in the morning, dammit.