My Choices

When the restlessness became unbearable, she threw off the blanket, grabbed her old coat, and stepped out into the night. She almost smiled—almost—imagining her mother, miles away, jolting awake with that sixth sense mothers have. The thought of her daughter wandering Boston’s slick cobblestoned streets alone would horrify her. Honestly, if he knew, he’d feel the same way.

But she needed air—needed to breathe—and that was the story she’d stick to. Staying inside those four walls a second longer would have broken her. So she walked, pretending she had no destination. But from the moment her door clicked shut, she knew that was a lie.

Fifteen minutes later, Tobias’s townhouse emerged, the streetlights casting an amber glow across its familiar façade. Once her second home, now a place she hadn’t set foot in for months. So why did it call to her now? Why did she feel pulled to it by a force she couldn’t fight?

She climbed the stairs slowly – rattling off a hundred reasons why she should turn back with each step. She held her breath as her finger hovered over the doorbell for what felt like an eternity. She finally pressed it, and even as the soft chimes echoed inside, it took everything in her not to turn and run away.

Tobias opened the door, rubbing sleep from his eyes, and she froze. He was barefoot, in a ragged gray t-shirt and the worn flannel pants she’d fallen asleep against countless times. Somehow, he looked shocked and unsurprised at once, as if he’d been waiting but never expected her to actually appear.

Silence stretched between them – both in a dreamlike state, when she finally spoke.

“I’m… I’m sorry,” she whispered. “I didn’t... I didn’t know where else to go.”

Her voice pulled him fully awake. Seeing her soaked to the skin, fragile in a way that nearly tore him open, tugged hard at something inside him. Without a word, he stepped aside.

The house was eerily silent as Tobias disappeared down the hall to get her a towel. When he returned, she stood by the window, watching the rain slide down the glass as if it held the answer to a question she couldn’t quite bring herself to ask.

“Are you okay?” he asked gently.

A hollow laugh escaped her. “I don’t know anymore.”

When he handed her the towel, their fingers brushed. She froze; he didn’t—but the flicker in his eyes betrayed him. Yes, he felt it too.

“I’ve tried to forget you,” she murmured, staring at the floor. “I thought I could just… move on... that time and distance would dull the pain...”

Tobias let out a slow, painful breath. “Did it?”

“No,” she whispered, lifting her eyes to meet his. “Did it for you?”

He knew this was where he should lie. He should say yes, it had hurt like hell, but he moved on. He should be smooth, maybe even cruel; it would be kinder in the end. He should protect that fragile distance they’d spent months trying to perfect.

But one look at her, and he became weak. He was quite good at lying to himself, but he could never lie to her.

“No,” he breathed. “But you already knew that, Casey. You know I’ll never get over you.”

Her lips parted, but before she could speak, he pulled her in—and their mouths crashed together, hard, desperate, fueled by a passion that was impossible to contain. They kissed like it could silence every warning, every memory of how this ended before.

But it was unstoppable - his hands found her waist, her face, her hair, and for a moment the world felt right again. Whole. But as the memories—good and bad—surged, Casey pulled back, trembling.

“This isn’t fair,” she whispered.

“I know,” his voice quivered.

“It’s like... I don’t know how to live with you… But I can’t live without you.”

He brushed a strand of hair from her face, his thumb tracing the soft curve of her cheek. She leaned into the touch, that familiar spark racing through her.

“I know,” he murmured. “We drive each other crazy. But how am I supposed to leave you when you’re the only real thing I’ve ever known?”

A tear slipped down her cheek, and for a moment, he braced for her to pull away as she had so many times before, but instead, she leaned into him, her body settling perfectly against his. The warmth, her scent, the familiarity – it felt like a dream.

“I hate how much I still need you,” she whispered.

“And I hate that I’ll take you back every damn time—even when we know how it ends.”

“But does it have to?” she breathed, her voice a plea.

He silently drew her into his arms as the rain tapped softly against the window. The weight of everything they’d broken hung between them. Sometimes love was too much; sometimes it wasn’t enough. And right now, it was both  - both precious and unbearable.

“Do you still love me?” she whispered into his ear.

He hesitated, and the pause nearly killed her. Then, finally, a long, shaking exhale.

“Casey - I’m going to love you until the day I die,” he said softly. “Nothing can ever change that.”

“And I feel the same,” she cried. “So what...what do we do?”

“Casey…” His eyes shut. “I want things to be different. I do. But we’ve tried so many times. And every time, it breaks us. Every time I lose you, I lose a piece of myself. I don’t know if I can survive that again.”

“But we’re different now,” she insisted. “I’m different. I know what I want—and it’s you. I won’t run again, Tobias. I’ll stay. I’ll fight. I swear I will.”

He searched her face, desperate to believe. “You said that before,” he whispered.

“I know. But I mean it now.” She grabbed his hands. “I’ve spent months pretending I’m fine, pretending I don’t miss you every minute of every day.” She swallowed hard. “I thought distance would save me. But all it did was show me that I don’t want a world without you. We were happy once – and we can be again. You’re my person, Tobias. And I’m yours. We belong together.”

His jaw tightened as he tore his gaze away—eyes damp, walls rising. She recognized the shift – she had seen it before.

“Tobias, please. Don’t shut down. Don’t push me away. Talk to me. Yell if you need to. Just don’t push me away again.”

He looked at her—really looked—and she could see the battle in him, and she could see he was losing ground.

“I’m scared,” he said quietly. “What’s to stop it from happening again?”

“We can,” she said, clutching his hand. “We can choose each other - every day, even when it’s hard, especially when it’s hard. We know what life is without each other—and we know we don’t want it.”

Tears streamed down her cheeks. “I can’t promise perfection, but I can promise honesty. And I can promise I’ll stay – I won’t run away. I’ll never run away again.”

He sucked in a ragged breath. Her words were everything he’d ever wanted to hear- but they were coming too late, or maybe... they were right on time.

“If you want me to go,” she whispered, “I’ll go. I’ll walk out and never bother you again. But if you let me stay—if you take me back—I will love you with everything I am, for as long as you’ll let me.”

A single tear slid down his cheek as he cupped her face, resting his forehead against hers.

“Tobias,” she breathed. “Please.”

He didn’t answer—not yet—but he pulled her into his arms, holding her so tightly she gasped. “I love you,” he whispered against her hair.

It wasn’t a decision. Not yet. But it wasn’t goodbye. It was a moment when the darkness began to break, allowing the slightest beam of hope to shine through.

“I love you, too,” she whispered back. “I do.”

They stood trembling in each other’s arms, afraid to speak. Their love had burned them down before, but it was also the only thing that had ever saved them. Maybe it was finally time to do the work. Maybe it was finally time to grow.

Because when they finally stepped back and met each other’s eyes, they knew—without a single word—that they could never let each other go.

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A sharp pain pulsed through his forehead, and his eyelids fluttered once more before he closed them, retreating from the ache of his body and the devastating grief gripping his heart.

And then he felt it. Peace.

The soft press of lips against his forehead. The brush of fingers tracing the line of his cheek. A light touch on the back of his hand before those same fingers intertwined with his.

“I’m here.”

The gentle whisper, so familiar, had him reaching for the surface.

Ethan forced himself to swim upward, breaking through the waves that kept dragging him under. A part of him—the one that could rattle off most drug contraindications without thinking—recognized the sensation for what it was. The fog that follows a morphine dose.

He’d been a doctor long enough to know exactly how it worked on his patients. The sooner they fought their way out of it, the clearer their recall would be.

Mind over matter, he told himself, kicking harder now that the surface glimmered just within reach.

Just one more push, he urged, even as the sun’s sharp rays pricked at his eyelids and waves wrapped around his legs.

The white-hot light he awoke to wasn’t that of the sun but the overhead fluorescent lights. The waves he’d felt were in fact the tangled bedsheets of his hospital bed.

“Welcome back, buddy.”

Carrick.

“Must be hell,” Ethan muttered at the familiar laconic drawl of his long-time friend-slash-rival.

Tobias pressed a button to raise the head of the bed. Ethan blinked up at him, taking in the man standing beside the bed with an electronic chart in hand.

“Depends on your point of view,” Tobias said with a low chuckle. “You’re in Mass Kenmore, so I suppose, for you, it’s all the same.”

Before Ethan could fire off a retort, the door opened and Cassie Valentine stepped inside, phone pressed to her ear. The worried lines furrowing her brow vanished the moment she saw him. She ended the call mid-sentence and rushed toward the bed.

“Thank God you’re okay,” she breathed, leaning over to hug him carefully. “You scared me.”

He slid an arm around her waist and held her there, unwilling to let her pull away. As her familiar scent anchored him to the present, Ethan felt the tension that had followed him all day disappear.

Out of the corner of his eye, he saw the door close quietly behind Tobias. And then they were alone and he let go.

“I’m sorry,” he whispered, over and over, as her tears dampened his neck.

It wasn’t an apology for his actions today but for everything he’d put her through the last few weeks. In the split-second before the accident, he’d wished he could take it all back.

The universe had given him a second chance, and he wasn’t going to squander it.

-------

A short while later, after poking and prodding from the nursing staff, the room finally quieted. The soft hum of machines and monitors pulsing steady green lines filled the silence.

Cassie sat at Ethan’s bedside, her fingers resting near his on the blanket, lightly touching.

“You scared me,” she whispered.

His throat bobbed. “I scared myself.”

For a moment, they simply breathed. The distance between them—once a hallway, then a storm, then a phone unanswered—narrowed to the inches between their hands.

“Cassie…” Ethan’s voice rasped. “I’m sorry for this morning. I shut you out. I’ve been shutting you out for months.”

She lifted her eyes. For the first time in too long, he let her see him unguarded.

“I thought keeping it in would… protect you,” he admitted. “Or spare you. I didn’t want you to see how much I was unraveling.”

Cassie blinked hard. “It hurt, unbearably, when you slapped my hand away this morning. No matter our disagreements in the past, I always knew we’d be okay from the way you’d hold my hand in yours.”

He reached for her then, as if atoning for his earlier transgression, and laced their fingers together.

“I’m sorry.” His breath shook. “I regretted it the moment it happened. But I didn’t know how to let you in without falling apart.”

“I understand your grief, Ethan,” Cassie said, voice breaking. “And I know I pushed. Maybe too hard. Because I know how complicated your feelings were for Louise. But when you retreat… I feel like I’m losing you. Like I’m inadequate because I’ll never truly know what it’s like to have a parent walk out on you. And it terrified me.”

“We’re hurting each other without meaning to,” he said quietly, finally naming what sat between them.

“And we’re not fixing it by pretending we’re fine.” She drew in a breath. “I want us back. The way we used to talk. The way we trusted each other with everything.”

Ethan’s thumb swept gently over her wedding band, a familiar, steadying motion. “So do I.”

“I want to try counseling,” Cassie said, meeting his gaze head-on. “We need help. Just you and me. No more pretending.”

She saw the flicker of protest in his eyes — instinct, reflex, a lifetime of self-reliance. So she leaned in until their foreheads touched.

“I believe we’re worth fighting for,” she whispered. “Don’t you?”

He squeezed her hand. “Always.”

Cassie rested her head on Ethan’s shoulder as the monitors hummed softly beside them.

Outside the window, the sun finally broke through the storm clouds — weak at first, then slowly gathering strength. And for the first time in months, the future didn’t feel uncertain. Not when they were walking into it side by side, united as ever.

-------------

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“You know I can pass you the parts right? I’m not a complete invalid.” Victoria said as she sat in the chair by the window.

“You could. But that would involve you moving.” Ethan said not looking up from the instructions manual.

“I might swell up. And that really would not be good.” Victoria laughed.

“If you insist, then pass me that plank of wood.” Ethan said.

Victoria made a note of smirking and keeping her eyes on Ethan as she reached for the plank of wood and passed it over to him.

“Thanks.” Ethan said sarcastically.

“Pleasure.” Victoria said just as sarcastically.

The further she got in her pregnancy, the more Victoria’s hormones changed. She had been grumpy a lot more than before and then her mood would change to being happy. She knew she had been driving Ethan mad but he still loved her all the same.

There was something about Ethan’s fixing up their soon to be children’s cots that suddenly made him very attractive. Maybe it was just the hormones talking but there was nothing Victoria would love more than to put the screwdriver down and take Ethan to their bedroom.

“Do you think I’m building these in the wrong places? We did say they would go there.” Ethan pointed to the corner of the room.

“I think a lot of things.” Victoria said trying to stand up in the sexy way she could before she was pregnant. “But do you want to know what I am thinking about?”

Ethan knew what game Victoria was playing and he was more than happy to play along. “No. What are you thinking about?” He smirked.

“I was thinking.” Victoria grinned as she ran her hands down Ethan’s chest. “About how sexy you look building those cots. It’s really doing something for me.”

“Oh is it? Well I guess I should get back to it then since it makes you so happy.” Ethan chuckled.

“Oh no. No I think you deserve a long hard break after all your hard work. And I would like to help you with that.” Victoria winked as she took his hand.

When she gave him that look, Ethan could never say no. He was completely under her control, he followed her with his lovesick eyes to enjoy what Victoria had in store for him.

“Well that was exactly what I wanted to happen.” Ethan said breathlessly as he laid back on the pillow.

Victoria grabbed her pregnancy pillow before turning on her side and smiled at Ethan. “I always aim to please.”

“That you certainly do. I should get back to making those cots though.”

“I’m sure it can wait another day. We can just leave the room how it is.”

“Can you still believe that we’re going to become parents? Sometimes I have to pinch myself.” Ethan said.

“I mean when I constantly get kicked I am reminded.” Victoria laughed a little. “But I get what you mean. I didn’t think either of us would end up here.”

“What on our backs?” Ethan joked.

Victoria rolled her eyes. “Very funny. You know it doesn’t take much for you to get me on my back. Especially when you do something as hot as assemble our babies cots.”

“It doesn’t take much to get you going does it.” Ethan chuckled.

“Nope. And I hope you know Mr Ramsey that that will be the case for the rest of our lives.” Victoria laughed.

“Then I cannot wait Mrs Ramsey.” Ethan smiled pressing a kiss to her forehead.

If life looked like this going forward then it was certainly going to be a good life indeed.

Victoria should get Ethan to assemble things more often.

Also a little smutty? Idk you make your minds up lol

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"Did you see that?"

"See what?"

Mal turned and spun back around, craning his neck down the passage they had just come. He shook his head, relaxing his shoulders. "Uh— nothing... just checking your observation skills."

"Okay..." Daenarya gave him a sideways glance, her brow raised in challenge.

"As I was saying—" Mal continued down the dim passageway, illuminated only by flickering flames of torches strategically placed on the walls. "The trick to stealth is to be prepared for everything, see the danger lurking before it strikes, don't let anything startle you. Be prepared, Kit, like me. Nerves of steel, ya know?" He boasted, winking her direction, focusing more on impressing her than the passage in front of him.

"Is that so?" She questioned with wide eyes, nodding in agreement with his words. Her eyes caught a glimpse of a translucent, misty form floating ahead of them. "I have so much to learn." Her fingers danced along his forearm, keeping him distracted. "What do you do if you see a potential threat... of the magical variety?" She batted her eyelashes as she drew closer.

"Well, see this here?" He gestured to the series of daggers on his hip and thighs. He shifted slightly, letting the light from the nearest flame glisten against the cool metal blades. 

"Wow!" 

"You see, with me, Kit, you're safer than safe. There's nothing I can't handle."

"Mmhmm." She bit her lip to hold back her amusement. She held her hand out in front of her, gesturing him forward. "I feel very safe with you by my side." 

"As anyone should." He puffed up his chest, feeling confident and sure. As quick as the bravado rose, it deflated into an ear-piercing shriek. The color drained from his face as he leaped into her arms.

"Did the great Mal the Magnificent just scream?" She chuckled as she held him close. 

"Ghosts are not something we mess with. And that one! Did you see the evil in its eyes? They were RED!" 

"I think you might need to reevaluate your observation skills..." She dropped him to the ground, he landed with a thud.

Mal brushed the dust off his pants, sneaking a glimpse at the floating figure. "Oh, it's waving." He breathed easier. "See? I knew there was nothing to worry about."

"So you were pretending to be scared to lower its guard to make sure it was friendly?"

"Uh... yes... exactly. I totally meant to test its friendliness like that… for you." He straightened his jacket. "All part of the plan! Strategy, Kit. You'll get the hang of it one day."

"Is he always like this?" The ghostly figure questioned. Although it had no discernible mouth, its words were understood, and its friendly demeanor was conveyed in its eyes. 

She dipped her head to the sides, weighing the question. "Yeah, but he grows on you. He's really kind of cute when you give him a chance, dramatic but cute."

"Humans are a peculiar species, I suppose..." the ghost pondered as it drifted forward. "Excuse me, please."

"Of course." Daenarya moved to the side, letting the entity pass.

Mal ran his fingers through his hair, leaning back against the wall. “Cute, dramatic… and apparently approved by ghosts. Not a bad resume, if I say so myself.”

Daenarya shook her head, laughing. "Impossible... with a big head too! Almost forgot that part!"

"You know you love it," he flashed a rougish grin.

"Do I, though?" she teased, brushing past him as she continued down the passage, leading the way.

Thank you so much for reading. I had such a fun time writing this. It was like a weight lifting off my chest getting to see them again and to share a piece of their story. I appreciate you reading this and supporting Mal and Daenarya and all their silly little adventures ❤️

Your smile bright as day as you wrapped your scarf around my neck.

It was ridiculously long.

But you knew that even before I noted its disproportionate length to its purpose.

Though its purpose was more than I knew— your purpose, as with all, was to draw me nearer you.

It was ridiculously long,

as you wrapped it around my neck the golden leaves showering us in their delicate display.

The crisp air, cool and refreshing— I wasn't cold,

until that ridiculously long scarf wrapped around me.

But it wasn't the shelter from the cool breeze that the scarf brought,

it was you. Your warmth. Your care. Your love.

You, my Alex. A love like I'd never known and never could again.

Sighing in the darkened bedroom, Ethan tossed and turned in the king-sized bed, unable to get comfortable or shake the vague feeling lurking in his heart.

He stared at the shadows dancing on the ceiling, pondered the city lights twinkling in the distance, and blinked as the minutes slowly turned on the clock display.

None of it helped as random thoughts crowded his brain.

Absently running his hand over the empty pillow beside him, he wondered if this was what loneliness felt like.

It had been ages since he’d woken up beside a woman, or snuggled with one in the middle of the night. He missed the closeness of two bodies tangled in heated sheets, the scent of her hair tickling his senses, the weight of her head on his shoulder.

He and Harper Emery had called it quits almost a year ago. Since then, he hadn’t exactly been a monk, but he rarely invited company to spend the night. He realized he wasn’t ready for the kind of commitment intimate mornings signaled.

Shaking off the strange mood, he closed his eyes and willed his mind to shut off.

With a new crop of interns starting residency tomorrow—today, technically—he needed to be on high alert for the usual shenanigans.

II.

There was so much left unspoken in the poignant silence of a warm Miami night, with the sound of waves lapping against the white sands below.

But there was also so much he wished to say—if only he were brave enough to grab the pocketful of stars that sparkled against the inky sky above the Atlantic Ocean.

Only a few hours ago, he’d reached for the sun and been burned, just like Icarus. Crashing back to earth, cognizant of his own folly in forgetting that he and Cassie Valentine were impossible, Ethan did the right thing.

He walked away, closing the door between them with the finality of someone who knew what it was like to dare to wish for more, but remain grounded regardless.

Folding his arm beneath his head, he stared out at the balcony—now full of dark shadows except for hints of moonlight—where everything had changed.

There are some things that are worth any risk.

And with those words, he’d sealed his fate.

When before he had only wondered how Cassie’s lips might taste or how she would feel in his arms, now he knew the answers intimately. Like heaven. Every curve made to fit his hands perfectly.

If it weren’t for his strong moral code, she’d be nestled against him right now—her sunny tresses contrasting with his darker ones, their breaths mingling in the darkness, anticipation making the wait that much sweeter.

If, if, if…

He’d be waking up beside her on the comfortable bed on the other side of the wall, instead of trying to find an angle that didn’t have his long legs falling halfway off the pullout couch.

Just two and a half years to go, he consoled himself.

Once her residency ended and they were equals—peers—then he’d break down the insurmountable wall between them. Ask her out on a proper date and see where this attraction took them.

Until then, he’d draw upon the control he’d relied on most of his life to get him through hardships and impossibilities, and keep his distance from temptation.

III.

One could tell a lot about someone from the state of their bedroom.

As he looked around Cassie’s inner sanctum in the dusky light of an approaching dawn, he took in the classy art prints adorning the walls and the books—medical and otherwise—lined neatly in the bookcase under the window.

Photographs of smiling faces in colorful picture frames stared back at him from the bedside table. Ethan could see the family resemblance and realized he didn’t know much about the woman who’d crashed through his carefully constructed barriers.

Oh, sure, he knew she had the potential to be an amazing doctor. She was fiercely loyal to her friends and got along well with everyone, from the nursing staff to patients. She liked dogs, was a coffee aficionado—maybe even more than him—and was one half of a twin.

Once upon a time, he’d seen her reliance on relationships—her need for a support network—as a weakness, a trait at odds with the grueling competitiveness of medical residency. But she wasn’t one to give up easily; her stubbornness made up for a lack of killer instinct.

Still, so much of who Cassie was as a person remained a mystery waiting to be solved. And he wanted to be the one to uncover the woman behind the intern.

Ethan sneaked a glance at her, still wondering how she lay beside him—finally—as he’d slowly woken up after a night when their passion had known no boundaries.

He drew in a slow breath, her scent—soft, elusive, utterly hers—making him lightheaded. Her head rested on his shoulder, her warm breath teasing the fine hairs on his chest. His arm curled around her, holding her close, his touch feather-light so as not to wake her.

He wanted to linger in this quiet intimacy, his mind replaying the moments of last night when, for once, he’d let himself believe what he’d dared to wish for could be real. It had been surreal, like watching snow fall on a winter beach.

For one night, they were two people free to be with each other, without worry or care for rules or power imbalances. Just Ethan and Cassie.

In a few hours, they would walk through the doors of Edenbrook Hospital—separately—and reality would have no choice but to intrude. They’d be attending and intern again. But not now.

Now was for believing it wasn’t the last time he’d wake up beside her, watching the morning sunlight gilding her hair.

He didn’t believe in fate, not really, but a few months ago, even the idea of last night had seemed impossible.

So maybe, just for today, for one singular heady moment, he’d let himself believe they were meant to find each other after all.

-----------------

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During a lull in the ED, she slipped away to her office on the seventh floor, grabbing a snack from the attendants’ lounge on the way.

Cassie checked her phone, hoping Ethan had replied to any one of her messages. She didn’t like the way they’d left things earlier. It wasn’t like them, and unease had followed her around all morning.

Her face fell at the empty screen. Worse, he hadn’t even left her on read. Just silence.

She jolted when the phone in her hand chimed an incoming call. For a moment, disappointment flickered—not Ethan—before she schooled her features into a smile and hit accept.

“Hello, my darlings,” she gushed as the nanny FaceTimed the twins in for a quick chat.

It was usually one of the favorite parts of her day.

“Mama, look! We do saulting!” they chorused, tumbling across the floor in what was more crawl than somersault.

Cassie laughed and applauded as if they’d just performed in the Olympics. Smiles and giggles filled the screen as the camera zoomed in on their faces glowing with pride.

Knowing her role, she praised them until they were both pink-cheeked and beaming.

“Daddy?” Eloise asked, peering into the screen and slapping her palm against the phone so hard that Cassie’s view jostled.

“Daddy’s not here, honey,” Cassie said gently. “He’ll call you as soon as he’s free.”

“Want Daddy!” Sophie whined, resting her head against her sister, their innocent faces covering her entire screen.

Cassie’s heart ached; the stubborn curve of their lips was all Ethan.

Sensing a tantrum brewing, Cassie sighed in relief when the nanny announced it was time for a snack. She blew them kisses and ended the call.

Before she could talk herself out of it, she dialed Ethan’s number, cursing in frustration when it went straight to voicemail.

She tried her father-in-law next. Ethan had left hours ago; even with the bad weather and traffic he should’ve arrived in Providence by now.

“Cassie!” Alan’s warm voice boomed on the other end. “How’s my favorite daughter-in-law?”

She smiled at the familiar endearment—Ethan was an only child, after all.

“I’m well,” she replied, quickly exchanging a few pleasantries before getting to the reason for her call. “Is Ethan there? He’s not answering his phone.”

“Uh, no,” Alan said, confusion threading through his voice. “With the storm, I thought he’d decided to cancel. In fact, I called him earlier but never heard back.”

Cassie felt her own confusion sharpen into worry, and realized from Alan’s silence that he was concerned now, too.

Promising to let him know as soon as she found out anything, she ended the call and tried to think.

Then she remembered the app they used to share their locations. Ethan hated it—called it Big Brother every chance he got—but even he had to admit it came in handy sometimes.

Before she could, her pager buzzed; an urgent message summoning her to the ED.

Instead of a patient, Cassie was surprised to find Tobias Carrick waiting for her. A few months earlier, he’d transferred back to Mass Kenmore on an interim basis, splitting his time between the two hospitals.

“Hey,” she greeted, smiling despite the tension in the air. “What are you doing here?”

His expression was uncharacteristically grave, no hint of the arrogant smirk she’d come to appreciate after years of working together.

“Ethan’s been in an accident. He’s okay!” Tobias added quickly as her heart plummeted. Cassie gripped the edge of the nurses’ station to steady herself.

“They’re treating him at Mass Kenmore,” he continued. “I hitched a ride on the inter-hospital transport—didn’t want you to hear about this through the grapevine. It’s heading back in five, so grab your coat. We’ll go together.”

“No time,” she said, already moving. “Just take me to him.”

The ride felt agonizingly slow, even with the sirens clearing their path. Huddled in the back of the rocking vehicle, Cassie was grateful for the hoodie one of the paramedics had handed her.

“He was unconscious when they brought him in. Concussion from where he hit his head,” Tobias said, giving her a quick rundown of what he knew.

“The paramedics said he’d been treating others on the side of the road when they arrived, so they didn’t think it was serious. The ER team found multiple contusions across his chest from the seatbelt. One rib was bruised badly enough to cause a pneumothorax.”

Cassie nodded to show she was listening, and he continued. “You can guess what happened next. They were about to perform a thoracotomy when I left to come get you.”

“You know better than anyone it’s a standard procedure, and safe,” he said as the ambulance began to slow. “They would’ve paged me if anything had changed.”

Through the windshield, Cassie caught sight of the imposing ambulance bay of Mass Kenmore Hospital coming into view.

Flashing lights reflected off the glass doors to the emergency department as the vehicle rolled to a stop. Cassie’s pulse quickened.

She braced herself, stepping down from the back of the vehicle, and closed her eyes to whisper a silent prayer.

“Please, God, let him be okay.”

Ethan was agnostic, but she had plenty of faith for both of them. She had to believe it was enough.

---------------

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“All right,” he shrugged. “That’ll be seventy-five dollars.”

As they followed the dirt path toward the waiting wagon, Ethan leaned close, lowering his voice so Emma wouldn’t hear. “Kaycee... what do you think he meant by that? Do you think this ride is scary?”

“Scary?” Kaycee scoffed. “The only scary thing about it is the price. Seventy-five dollars?”

Ethan had to laugh. “Usually I’d be the one griping about that. Your role is to say, as long as we make family memories and get great pictures, it’s worth it.”

“And I’d be right,” she smirked. “There’s nothing better than pumpkin season! And I assure you – this is won’t be scary!”

A half hour later, she was eating those words.

The wagon jolted forward through a tunnel of barren trees draped in cobwebs.

“It’s all right,” Kaycee insisted. “They’re fake – it’s not like real spiders spun them.”

But as they rolled beneath the branches, dozens of rubber spiders dropped from above, prompting a chorus of shrieks.

“Great,” Ethan deadpanned, draping a protective arm around his daughter. “Perfectly wholesome family fare.”

Moments later, a bloodcurdling scream emerged through a thicket of trees, and Emma’s head shot up. “Was that part of the ride?” she asked, eyes wide.

“Probably?” He replied, though his voice was laced with uncertainty.

Before he could elaborate, a cloaked figure lunged from the trees, chainsaw roaring. The wagon erupted in screams, and Kaycee nearly launched herself into Ethan’s lap.

“Oh my God!” she cried, clutching his sleeve. "Why would they do this?" she cried. "It's a hayride!"

"I think you missed the word haunted in the description," Ethan grumbled, before carrying on about researching before we book an outing, but he stopped cold when he heard Emma’s delighted laugh breaking through.

“That was awesome!” The pig-tailed girl beamed.

Ethan's jaw dropped. “Awesome?”

“Yeah, awesome!” Emma confirmed, sticking her tongue out at a scary monster.

“You’re... you’re not scared?” Kaycee asked, breathless.

“No, Mommy!” Emma giggled. “It’s just pretend!”

Another shriek echoed as a headless horseman charged past them in the fog. Kaycee gasped – Ethan jerked so fast his glasses flew into a nearby hay bale. But Emma? Emma’s laughter only grew louder.

“Daddy, did you see that? He didn’t even have a head!”

“Yeah,” Ethan managed, forcing a smile. “I caught that.”

As they moved deeper into the woods, skeletons swung from branches, a mummy rose from a coffin, and a zombie clown stumbled toward them with a ghoulish grin. Kaycee’s heart was racing. Ethan shut his eyes. But with each new creature that jumped out at them, Emma’s exuberance only grew.

When the wagon finally pulled away from the trees, Ethan’s shoulders sagged in relief. Kaycee exhaled, half laughing, half trembling, while Emma beamed like she had conquered the world.

“Again! Again!” She screamed as Ethan helped her off the wagon. “Can we do it again?”

“You didn’t think it was too scary?” he asked.

“Nah!” she said proudly. “I’m brave. Just like you, Daddy.”

“Just like, Daddy!” Kaycee exclaimed. “What are you talking about? Daddy was shaking like a leaf!”

Ethan cleared his throat. “You’re right, Emma – you’re exactly like me!”

Kaycee straightened Emma’s scarf with a laugh, then looped her arm through Ethan’s.

“Just like you,” she whispered as they walked toward the cider stand, boots crunching over fallen leaves. “You screamed before me.”  

“I was startled,” he said, solemnly. “Not scared – there’s a difference.”

“There’s no difference,” Kaycee laughed. “You jumped higher than Anthony Edwards – but nowhere near as graceful.”

“Maybe next year, we should stick to apple picking,” he sighed, pulling her closer.

“Agreed! No masks. No chainsaws. Just apples.”

But Emma had different ideas. “Uh-uh!” She sang, hands on her hips. “We’re doing this again next year! But next time – can we sit closer to the front?”

Ethan groaned as Kaycee laughed. “Who does she get this from?”

“Beats me,” he said. “But next year, we’re sending her with Uncle Bryce and Uncle Tobias.”

“Would we warn them?” Kaycee smirked.

Ethan’s eyes twinkled with delight. "Now, where would the fun be in that?"

“You know, maybe we should’ve gone with an activity that was on land.” Victoria said looking nervously down into the water.

“There’s no backing out now.” Ethan laughed. “And what kind of activities can be done on land?”

“Polishing the surfboards?”

“Well that’s just boring.” Ethan said.

“I kinda forgot how big the ocean is. What if I get bitten by a shark?” Victoria said.

“You’ve been bitten by a child before remember? That was an eventful shift.”

“I still can’t believe the Mom thought I was responsible for that.” Victoria laughed a little.

“Well he kept saying it hurt.” Ethan shrugged.

“Don’t take his side! I think I still have the scar.” Victoria examined her arm.

“Well while you’re examine the bite, I’ll see you in there.” Ethan said.

Without hesitation, he jumped in and Victoria saw him go further below the surface. Sometimes Ethan surprised her. He would often turn his nose up at things but when it came to planning the honeymoon, he was more open than Victoria thought he would be. Maybe she shouldn’t have doubted him so much. People had often said she had changed him for the better.

Sometimes she still hesitated in life. It was natural given what she had been through but there were times where she never felt like holding back. She knew she had to cherish every moment she got. It was more than Danny got.

Without thinking about it a second longer, Victoria jumped in. She never knew why she worried. The minute she was in the ocean she felt at ease. She could see Ethan ahead of her, exploring everything around him.

Victoria took in her surroundings. The ocean was a beautiful place. There was so much wildlife around her. The water was more blue than she could ever have imagined. Hawaii really was a magical place.

For their allocated time, Ethan and Victoria spent time exploring the water, it was definitely something they will never forget.

“That wasn’t so bad was it.” Ethan said as they dried off.

“No it wasn’t. I’m glad I did it. Now we can try the paragliding.” Victoria laughed.

“Now that will still take some persuading.”

Whilst she had a say in the activities, Ethan had a say in the food. He hadn’t let Victoria down just yet but she was skeptical when he said they would be staying in tonight for food. He had told her he would like it so she was going to take his word.

“Are you going to tell me what the surprise is?” Victoria asked.

“No. That would be giving too much away.”

“You know I’m impatient.” Victoria rolled her eyes.

“Yes. Which is why I’m not telling you.” Ethan laughed.

“But I will like it?”

“Well I hope so otherwise I would’ve gone to all this effort for nothing.”

“Never the case. Although I do hope there is cake.”

Victoria didn’t have to wait long. The food was soon in their room and Victoria was impressed with how much effort Ethan had gone to. All of her favourite foods plus the ones she had planned to try whilst out in Hawaii were currently sat in front of her.

“How did you manage all this?” Victoria said.

“I have my ways.”

“You definitely do. I didn’t realise one room service tray could hold so much.” Victoria laughed.

“I think it was more than one.” Ethan said grabbing a champagne bottle. “Shall I do the honours?”

“As always.” Victoria smiled holding up her glass.

The honeymoon was just the beginning. The toast was to new things and new adventures.

Victoria and Ethan couldn’t wait to see what was next for them.

Food is the way to Victoria’s heart lol