A night on the town (ZAIN/OPEN)

[ZAIN CARVATOR]

Zain wrapped his arms around her when she leaned against him. He laid the side of his head against the top of her when she buried her face into his neck. He held her silently, quiet thankful he could finally do this again. It had been so long since he had been able to hold her that he desperately wanted to make up the lost time by doing anything and everything she wanted. He did that anyway, of course, but now he wanted to do much more. More than she would be expecting at least. Just to see her happy and smiling. He knew very well, though, that they wouldn't be completely happy until Ashley returns.

He nodded lightly to her question. If she wanted to see them he wouldn't tell her no. Even though he didn't want her more upset than she already was.... he still wanted her to remember. He leaned forward to grab a picture keeping one arm at her back; he didn't want to let her go. He didn't choose this time just randomly picked the first one his eyes landed on. He sat straight again looking at the picture that was from their honeymoon in Oahu, Hawaii. The picture was of them standing in where the waves would brush against their feet. "Our honeymoon in Oahu." He handed her the picture keeping his eyes on her face.

He didn't stray his vision anywhere wanting to see her reactions. He couldn't imagine them being bad, of course. They will always have this pull to one another and not just because of marriage. Holly was his the love of his life and nothing, no body would be able to take that away from him. The bound was so strong between them that he didn't feel the need to worry about her leaving or not wanting to find the truth. "Anything?" He asked in a light tone rubbing her back softly.

[HOLLY CARVATOR]

His touch made everything right in her world even though there was very little that was right in it. She continued trying to keep her breaths even and steady. Was she really ready to see a picture of them together? She wasn’t sure but felt that it would help. She tugged at the necklace and bit the inside of her lip as she watched him. He leaned forward and snatched up a picture from a pile. She made note that he kept one arm around her and against her back. She was thankful of that; his touch was calming to her. Another thing she didn’t understand but was thankful for. She watched him look at the picture remembering for himself where it was from. "Our honeymoon in Oahu." She bit her lip a little more as he said that. She didn’t even remember getting married to him. It made an unknown part of her ache to realize just how much of her life was missing. It wasn’t like she didn’t remember Zain. She did. It was just that her last memories were of them dating, thinking on it the last memories she could think of all had Zain in them.

Hand shaking she reached out and took the picture from him. Her hand made the picture too hard to see so she rested her hand on her leg and closed her eyes. Holly took a few deep breaths trying to stop the tremble that shook her whole body. She could feel Zain’s eyes on her and the pull she felt to him. She wondered if he felt the same pull to her. His hand rubbing her back softly helped to steady her. “Anything?” His voice sounded so hopeful. She breathed out once more feeling the shaking in her body slowly come to a stop. Opening her eyes she looked down at the picture again. A few moments passed as she just stared at it, face blank, taking in the image. The waves brushing against their feet, her long cream colored dress blowing gently with the breeze. As she took in the picture and the details it gave, more of her senses began to remember the time the picture was taken. The soft crash of the waves as they spilled onto the beach. The warm sand under her feet. Her dress was silky and smooth as it brushed softly against her legs. Zain’s hands were warm and strong as they wrapped around her in a hug. Her eyes closed as she began to remember more than what the picture showed her. The air was warm and carried a sweet smell on it. The scent of exotic flowers in bloom. It had been a perfect time. Every moment she had ever spent with Zain was perfect. A smile slipped over her lips as she relived the moment in her mind.

Her eyes opened again as something sparkled in the fading sun in her memory. Blinking a few times she looked back down at the picture and traced her finger down to her hand in it. There on her finger was the ring she wore around her neck. Setting the picture on her leg she bit at the inside of her cheek as she reached up and lifted the chain from around her neck. The chain pooled into her hand around the ring as she stared at it. So the ring wasn’t her mother’s but hers. The trembling came back as she began to realize and remember things. The ring was all it took. Holly squeezed her eyes shut tight as memories flooded back to her. Most were good. There were the few bad ones, like learning about her parents death and her sisters going missing and the crash that had started this whole ordeal for her. The memories were too much to take in all at once though. She opened her eyes slowly to look into Zain’s face as her vision began to get spotty. She reached up and traced her fingertips over his cheek before her vision went black and she slumped over against him.

~~~

It was a few hours later when she awoke. Holly sat straight up, eyes wide and scared looking. “Zain!?” She called a little franticly into the dim light. Her eyes were still adjusting to having just woken up from the black out and she couldn’t tell exactly where she was at.

[ZAIN CARVATOR]

Zain focused all his attention on her. It had been like that since he saw her in the pub though. Only now he was focused on comforting her and trying to help her get her memory back. He saw a smile form across her lips which gave him hope that she remembered that day. He would hate if she needed pictures to remember days because he didn't have pictures for every day of being together. After Ashley, more pictures flooded into their household. He sighed softly, leaning forward to place a light kiss on her cheek. He wanted her to know he would be there for her no matter what would happen. He had the feeling she would now that though. There was something there that was stronger than marriage between them that the marriage brought on. They will be forever connected, bonded.

Hollys fingers reached his cheek and he looked into her eyes. Her eyes were like they were before the terrible separation happened. A strong hope of all her memories returning stuck him. There was something else showing in her eyes as well. He knew the look to be a drained look. A look that shouted 'I'm passing out'. He quickly reacted and held her as she blacked out against him. "It'll be okay, Holly." He whispered softly into her ear. Zain become highly worried she was hurt but after going through so much it was an expected reaction. He lifted her a little to lay her on the bed.

It wasn't needed because they don't go cold easily, but he covered her with the blanket. The pictures were moved to the end table so he could lay with her without accidentally bending the photos. He wanted to be there for when she awakes. Another soft kiss was placed on her cheek before he laid next to her.

He didn't bother sleeping. Not that he could, however. A little over an hour passed before more worry set in. She had been out for a while... much longer than he thought she would be. To help his worry, he went to take a quick shower. Reluctant to leave her but he knew a nice hot shower would help him relax. Now in new, fresh clothes he looked over to Holly who was still asleep. He wondered if she would be hungry or want a shower. He knew hot water wasn't a problem. The problem would be getting her food without having to leave the room. There was an area for food here and coffee as well but they would have to leave the room to get something. They don't deliver to the rooms.

He shook his hair out with his fingers then quietly climbed back into the bed. He had almost feel asleep but Holly all the sudden sat straight up calling his name. He immediately sat up and pulled her into his arms. "I'm right here." He told her laying his hand gently on her cheek. "Are you okay? I've been worried." He said breathing in deeply once. "Do you need something? A glass of water?" Zain caressed her cheek with his thumb looking into her eyes. He wouldn't rest until he knew for sure she was okay. The fact he wasn't even wondering if her memories had returned was quiet enough to know he was very worried. It was then his inner feline kicked in and he rubbed his cheek against hers in an affectionate way before moving to look into her eyes again.

[HOLLY CARVATOR]

As she lay passed out memories both good and bad flowed through her mind. She remembered everything, well, almost everything. She knew her life again, the nearly ten years she had lost. But the memories of who took her, what they did to her, they were there, yes, but they were so hazy. She tried hard to clear them but to no avail. It was in those memories that she had hoped to find some clue of where Ashley and Zain’s brother were. In lying there, she felt something, or someone warm lay with her. A gentle touch to her cheek and her mind pulled back the wonderful memories of Zain and Ashley playing together at their home.

She didn’t know how long she laid there, her world swirling around her. Her breath was even and her eyes remained shut. She tried to wake herself but her mind refused. She longed to see Zain’s face again; she wished it was all just a dream. That she would wake up and Zain would be there next to her, with Ashley cuddled up to his side. The warmth left her side and she knew Zain had moved away from her. She feared what he was thinking. She knew the care and worry he could have over her. They were bonded by more than just their marriage and daughter. She would forever be his and he would forever be hers. Her ears picked up the sound of the shower turning on and her body relaxed again. He wouldn’t leave her, she knew that. Her mind became flooded with memories again.

Almost another hour later she sat up and called for him. Zain pulled her into his arms and she instantly grabbed onto him and held him tight. The last memory to have crossed her mind before she had awoken had been the accident. “I’m right here.” She breathed out and calmed herself with those words. He would always be at her side. She nuzzled her cheek against the hand he placed there and nodded at his worry. “I’m okay. I’m sorry I worried you.” She looked up at him and smiled softly. “Just you.” She stared back into his eyes, so glad to remember him, to know he was still alive, to know that he was still hers. She laughed a little as he rubbed his cheek against hers and she rubbed his back. She grinned up at him and pulled him against her in a hug. Holly’s chin rested softly on his shoulder, next to his ear. “I remember.” She whispered. “I remember everything….well….almost everything. I can’t remember what happen to me when we were separated.” She sighed softly and laid her cheek on his shoulder and kissed his neck softly. Laughing lightly she pulled away and looked up at him with a gentle smile. “I’d almost forgotten how tall you are.”