"Antonio…my God, Antonio. What has he done to you? What have I done to you?" Gabi cried out as she rushed to his bedside. He looked awful…pale and sickly lying on the grim hospital bed with tubes attached to him and intimidating machines humming out vital stats that could determine whether Antonio was all right or not. Maria walked up behind Gabi and gently placed a reassuring hand on the younger woman's shoulder.

 "He'll be okay, Gabi…you heard Tyus. Antonio will be fine." Maria comforted Gabi. "Don't you want to go see how Ricardo's doing?"

 Ricardo. Maria still didn't know that this was all Ricardo's fault. No one knew except for Gabi…and Antonio, but he was in no condition to speak. And, of course, Ricardo…who was faring even worse than Antonio.

 "No…not right now. I want to stay with Antonio." Gabi insisted, to Maria's disdain. She knew that soon people would start noticing Gabi's abnormally extensive concern for her…brother-in-law. "Can you…give me some time alone with him?"

 "Gabi…are you sure this is a good idea?" Maria had to ask, even though she knew what Gabi's answer would be. Gabi looked at her with a confused expression on her face, and slowly tears began to fall. She looked so helpless to Maria, who couldn't help the sympathy she was feeling.

 "I love him, Maria…" She whispered in a voice almost too low for Maria to hear. "I love him so much…he can't leave me…oh God, I can't live without him. You understand, don't you? Please, you have to understand…I'm not an awful person, I tried not to love him. I tried so hard, but I couldn't, Maria…"

 Gabi broke down into tears and the sobs overtook her words. Maria, who didn't know what to say to her sister in law quietly, left the room. Gabi watched Maria leave, then sat down on the side of Antonio's bed. Taking his unmoving hand in hers, she spoke softly so that she was in no danger of being overheard by anyone. "I am so sorry, Antonio…I should have told you, I know that now. Even though you…you didn't want me, you still deserved the truth…I shouldn't have let Ricardo do this…"

 "Ga…" The pale figure on the bed next to her half moaned, half spoke the syllable, but Gabi understood immediately.

 "Antonio, shh…don't say anything. I'll call the doctor!" She started to get up, but the hand she had been holding squeezed her fingers lightly to stop her.

 "Who…" He tried to say then erupted into a fit of coughs. After a few deep breaths, he tried again. "Who… did…this? Are you…okay?"

 "Antonio, I'm fine! But you're not, and you need to be quiet, rest…you're in the hospital." Gabi said as she reached over to stroke his forehead. "Come on, lay back down…I'll go get the doctor, you just wait here."

 "Gabi…wait…how is…" He fought to catch his breath and held on to her hand to stop her from leaving. "Ricardo…you were talking about him. What happened to Ricardo? Gabi, what happened to me?"

 "Oh…Antonio…I don't know. I haven't seen him yet. You remember what happened don't you?" She asked, still glancing out the door, wanting a doctor to come in and check him out to make sure everything was all right.

 "No…no, Gabi, what happened?" Then he glared at her even harder. "My God…what happened to your hair? Did you cut it?"

 Gabi's heart began to pound in fright. He was acting so strange…why was e acting like this. "Antonio…what…???"

 "Gabi! Antonio is awake…why didn't you tell the nurse to page me." Tyus demanded as he stepped into the room.

 "Tyus…something's not right…he doesn't…" Gabi tried to explain, but upon hearing her first statement, the doctor walked up to his patient.

 "Antonio. How are you feeling? And major pain?" He asked, shining a light into Antonio's eyes that caused him to squint from the harsh glare.

 "A little bruised, but okay. Why am I in the hospital? Tyus, where's my brother? What happened to us? And Gabi-"

 "Hold on Antonio…one more question." Tyus said calmly. Gabi stiffened, sensing the hidden worry in the doctor's voice. "Antonio, can you tell me what year it is?"

 "Of course I can. It's 1998."

 "Oh!" A strangled cry escaped Gabi's throat and Antonio jerked his head around to look at her. Tyus shot her a warning look.

 "Gabi, perhaps it would be better if you were to wait outside." Tyus said in a voice that didn't leave much of a choice. Trembling from fright, she did as he asked.

 A few minutes later, Tyus exited Antonio's room and immediately walked over to Gabi. "Gabi, where are Maria and Mrs. Torres?"

 "With Ricardo…Tyus, what’s wrong with Antonio? Please, you have to tell me…" Gabi pleaded, in tears over the thought of the man she had not even gotten a chance to be with yet hurt.

 "Gabi…" Tyus began, but seemed not to know what to say next. He was facing an awful dilemma; he was not supposed to talk to anyone other than immediate family, but Gabi seemed to be very impatient to find out about Antonio. After a moment's deliberation he decided that sister in law was immediate enough. "Gabi, Antonio has amnesia. Not complete amnesia, he knows who he is and who you are, he just can't remember anything for the past two years."

 Tyus was silent as Gabi digested this. Tears running down her face, she asked softly," Can I go in and see him?"

 "Yes…but only for a few minutes." He said. "If Antonio remembers anything, have the nurse page me. For now, I need to go check on your husband." Gabi flinched at hearing the psychopath who had almost ruined her life called her husband.

 Not wanting to disturb him were Antonio to have fallen back asleep, Gabi stepped into the room as quietly as possible. Antonio was lying on the bed, his eyes open, staring up at the ceiling. When he heard her enter, he immediately tried to sit up, then winced in pain. Gabi rushed to his side. "Lay down, Antonio…don't hurt yourself…"

 "Gabi." He grabbed her arm with urgency. "What's going on? Tyus wouldn't tell me, he wouldn't say anything. Is something wrong with me? Is that why I'm in the hospital? Why can't I remember how I got here?"

 "Antonio…I can't…I don't….Tyus told me-"

 "Gabi, I don't care what the doctor told you, I need to know. Where are Mama and Ricardo? Is he hurt too? Is my brother in the hospital, too?"  Antonio fired off question after question too quickly for Gabi to answer anything.

 "I can't tell you, Antonio…" Gabi was in tears again and seeing her frazzled state, Antonio stopped interrogating her for a moment.

 "Gabi, what's wrong with you? Why do you look so…different?" He said, gazing at her. "Your hair…it's shorter now, and wavy instead of straight. And…you just look different." Antonio said, then noticed the band of gold around her finger. He reached over and picked up her hand. "Gabi…is this a…wedding ring?"

 She began to panic then. She couldn't hide this from Antonio; he was smart, he would quickly find a thousand little details pointing towards the passage of time. She was about to call Tyus again when the door opened. Gabi turned to see whom it was when she saw how Antonio was reaction. His face was pale, he looked like he was seeing a ghost. Glancing at the doorway, Gabi saw that it was Maria. Her heart immediately dropped. Of course… Antonio had no idea his sister was alive. "Antonio-" Maria said, then stopped, looking over at Gabi. She could sense Antonio's disbelief. "Gabi?"

 "M…Maria?" Antonio uttered, in pure shock. He could not believe this; his sister. His sister that had died five years ago…was here. Standing in front of him, looking at Gabi. "Gabi…this isn't my sister, is it?"

 "Antonio, this is Maria. Yes, it is your sister." Gabi said softly, knowing it would be a major shock to Antonio, who thought his sister was dead.

 "Gabi…" Antonio turned to her with disbelief. "What the hell is going on here? Why…everything thing is so different…you're married, your hair is different, my sister is alive…"

 "Oh my god…" Maria exclaimed, then said before Gabi could stop her. "He doesn't remember anything, does he?"

 "Gabi…is that it? Why everything is so different? A…Amnesia?" He was even more disbelieving now. This was all too much for him. Something on one of the machines above him began to whine dangerously. Immediately, a nurse bounded into the room, ordering Maria and Gabi out.

 Once they were outside of the room, Maria turned to Gabi. "What's wrong with him, Gabi? Why doesn't he remember anything?"

 "He does remember things…just not anything in the past two years." Gabi admitted, her eyes beginning to tear up as she collapsed into a chair in the waiting room. "He doesn't remember you being alive, or what Ricardo's done to him or…or…falling in love…with me…"

 "Oh, Gabi, don't cry…" Maria, feeling very helpless, walked over and put a comforting arm around Gabi's slumped shoulders. "I'm sure this is just a temporary side effect to his concussion…he'll remember soon, I just know it." Maria reassured Gabi.

 "No he won't…he doesn't love me now, I saw it in his eyes…he won't ever love me the way he did. I had his love once and I was stupid, I threw it away…now I'll never have it again."

PART THREE

 Antonio sat in the small, bare hospital room and thought about what was happening to him. He had amnesia…Gabi and Maria had as much as confirmed that for him. But how much of him memory was gone? He could remember everything…his childhood, growing up in Sunset Beach, Maria's death, becoming a priest. But obviously something was missing. After all…Maria wasn't dead…Gabi was married…and Ricardo…where was Ricardo? Gabi had said something about him. Was he in the hospital, too? Was that why Gabi was so worried? But she had seemed worried about him…not Ricardo. He wondered how long it had been…how much of his memory was gone.

 He reached over and grabbed the remote control for the TV and flipped it on. He changed stations rapidly until he came to a news channel. The announcer was speaking, "And to bring in the new year, many people…" He turned to another station. "Thanks you for watching NBC news in the new millennium…happy 2000 to all of our viewers."

 Millennium. 2000. Two years…the gap of time missing was two years… He turned off the TV and sunk into the pillows, his eyes clenched tightly shut. After a moment, he sensed another presence in the room and looked up. Gabi was standing there, in the doorway, tears running down her face as she gazed at him. There was something different in that look…something that made his heart skip a beat. He felt like he was being drawn to those big black eyes. "Gabi…"

 She tried to smile and wiped her tears away with the back of her hand. "You feel better?"

 "Physically? Yeah, I feel fine…but…Gabi, will you please tell me what's going on? What's happened in the past two years that I can't remember?"

 "Two…Tyus told you how long it's been? What else did he tell you?"

 "I…he didn't tell me what happened. Will you? Please Gabi…I can handle it, just tell me. Where's Ricardo?"

 "He's here. In the hospital." Gabi said, and Antonio reached over and took her hand, grazing her wedding ring with his finger.

 "You're married to him?" He asked. Gabi was at a loss for words…but she knew what she had to do. Tell the truth, for once.

 "Not anymore." She pulled her hand out from underneath his and took off the ring. Laying it down on the table next to his bed, she lowered her head, not meeting his eyes.

 "What happened?" Antonio asked, seeing her pain. She grinned bitterly and wondered what she should say to him.

 "I fell in love…with someone else." Gabi looked fondly over at Antonio, who took her hand back in his, waiting for her to go on. "Both of us are…were close to Ricardo, neither of us wanted to hurt him…but we couldn't deny what we felt. In the end, Ricardo found out and he…he…"

 "Gabi!" Tyus said from the doorway, having heard the last part of the conversation. "May I speak to you outside?"

 "Of course…" She shot Antonio another look and pulled her hand from his grasp and left the room. He felt an empty feeling inside as he watched her walk away. She looked back at him briefly before closing the door. He thought about what she had said…about falling in love with someone else. Something about the look in her eyes when she had said that worried him…she seemed so sad. Like…like her heart was being broken. He felt a momentary pang of anger at whoever was making such a beautiful soul feel that way…
 

 "I'm sorry, Tyus…but he already knew so much." Gabi tried to explain. "And I didn't tell him but a little…just that Ricardo's in the hospital…"

 "Oh, speaking of Ricardo he asked to see you." Tyus said and Gabi's heart jumped. She didn't want to see Ricardo yet; it was too soon…and Antonio needed her.

 "I can't…" Gabi tried to say, but she couldn’t.

 "Yes, Gabi, you can. Your husband is a very sick man and he requested that you come see him." Tyus said. "He's in room 587. Now, I have to go check on Antonio again."

 He left, leaving Gabi to search for Ricardo's room. It didn't take her long to find it; Maria and Carmen, as well as Spence and Ruiz and a few more of SB's finest, were stationed outside. They all knew what had happened now; she could sense it.

 Gabi dipped her head down and tried not to notice the stairs as she pushed open the door. Ricardo was in much worse shape that Antonio that was clear to see. "Hey," He whispered and she jumped slightly at the sound of his defeated voice.

 "Ricardo." She let her gaze wander around the room as he speaks.

 "Gabi…I'm sorry. I know it's too late for that to really mean anything, but I still…I'm sorry…" Gabi remained silent. "How's he doing?" Still, she had no words for this man who had hurt her so much. "Bet he's doing great…has you by his side, after all."

 The silence grew to be unbearable as he waited for her to say something, do something. Finally he gave up. "Gab, I asked you to come in here so we could talk."

 "Fine. Talk." Gabi said in a clipped tone. She might have been able to forgive him for what he had done to her, but she couldn't for what he had done to his brother.

 "Gab, you've got to understand…I did it because I was so damn hurt by you two. But…I know the truth now. I know that it was only once and you both admitted it was a mistake. I know that I'm the one you love, not T, even if you can't forgive me. You were intimidated by what we had going and you ran to him, right?"

 "Wrong!" Gabi shouted. "I do love him, Ricardo, more than I could ever possibly love you. I love him with all of my heart."

 When she said that, Ricardo's eyes flashed with anger. "No, you don't." He said quietly. "You're just saying that now to make me hurt the way I made you hurt. I know it; you love me, Gabi. Me."

 "I don't, Ricardo." Gabi said and ran out of the room. She couldn't face him anymore. She needed to see Antonio.
 

 She burst into his room and was relieved by the sight of him lying there on the bed. Just seeing him made her feel better after the mentally draining confrontation with the man that was sure to be her ex husband soon.

 "You went to see Ricardo?" Antonio correctly assumed. Gabi nodded and took her place in the chair next to his bed. Antonio watched her as an odd feeling washed over him. He reached over and brushed back an errant lock of her, feeling her shiver when his finger grazed over her temple. She looked up at him with surprise. "Don't cry, Gabi…"

 "Sorry," She sniffed away another tear. She hadn't even realized that she was crying until he said something. "I'm just so…"

 "Sad?" Antonio guessed and Gabi laughed wryly and nodded. "Where is he, Gabi? The man that you fell in love with? Why isn't he here with you, where he should be?"

 Gabi looked at him with an expression that he couldn't read as she tried desperately to hold back the rush of sobs that was there, barely suppressed underneath the surface, "He's…where he's supposed to be at, Antonio. Where he has to be…"

 "Don't you want him to come back to you?" He asked her.

 "Yes…very much. More than anything else in the world, I want him back."

 Two days later Gabi sat by Antonio's side again, listening to Tyus explain the terms under which he would be released. "You must take it easy, and not overexert yourself in any way. Do you think you can do that, Antonio?"

 "No problem, Dr. Robinson." Antonio grinned, turning his head and winked. "Sorry Gabi, no surfing lessons this week."

 Gabi couldn't help but grin. She was falling even more in love with this man…he was so different from the tortured soul that had been Antonio Torres the last year. Antonio was funny now, he was witty and cute and sweet and…so nice to her. He held nothing back now because he quite simply had nothing to hold back.

 "Well…there's always next week, right?" She joked back at him with a warm grin. It hurt not to see that special look in his eyes, that loving gaze that he tried not to let her see…but sometimes…sometimes she could swear that it was there, just under the surface. Besides, she was having fun with this new Antonio. He was so friendly, so…so like the old Antonio, the one that Ricardo used to recall fondly, the one that had told Gabi of the surfing priest and that she was be beautiful with long or short hair. The one that wasn't afraid to tell her things like that…

 "And you must have someone around, just in case you start feeling bad. Gabi…I assume that you will…?"

 "Of course, I'll be staying at Surf Central with Antonio." Gabi quickly agreed, glancing over at Antonio, she saw the slightly confused expression on his face "What is it?"

 "Well…I just thought that I'd be going back to the mission." He said, looking curiously over at her. "Why wouldn't I?"

 Gabi looked at Tyus for help. Antonio still had no idea what had taken place recently. "Antonio…we thought it would be best if you were some place a little less…stressful…for the next few days. Would you mind that?"

 "I guess not. Surf Central it is then." He grinned over at Gabi and grabbed his bag. "So lets get going."

 "Just a few more forms to fill out and then you can be on your way." Tyus said, ushering them out of the hospital room and near the nurses' desk.

 "Not leaving without us, are you?" Maria joked as she and Carmen approached them.

 "Maria!" Antonio stepped forward and hugged her tightly. He still wasn't quite used to the idea of his sister being…well, alive but he loved having her back anyway. "Hey Mama."

 "M'ijo…oh, you look so much better, Antonio." Carmen said. "And you are going home, that is muy bueno!"

 "Yeah, it is great, isn't it." He said cheerfully, but Gabi noticed that he was beginning to look a little weary.

 "Hey, why don't we head on over to the house, Antonio? Your mother and your sister can come see you later, when you feel a little more up to the visit." Gabi said and Antonio threw her a grateful look. She knew that he was much too considerate to insist of leaving his family himself, but he wanted to leave.

"Antonio? You want to…to leave? With…with Gabi?" Carmen said, her Spanish lilt causing Gabi's name to come out a few syllables incorrect, which went quite well with the glare that was thrown in the younger woman's direction.

"You know, I am getting a little…tired. But you can come along if you want Mama. I'm sure Gabi wouldn't mind." He glanced cautiously over at Gabi, whose face was creased with worry. She knew that Antonio would go out of his way to make his mother feel better about his health and she didn't want him overdoing it.

"I really think you should get some rest, Antonio." Gabi insisted, much to Carmen's disdain. Luckily Maria stepped in before her mother had a chance to respond.

"Mama! Look, we really should be going. Benji wanted you to come look at the kittens that Franklin and the neighbors' cat had, remember? He wants you to take one home with you. We don't want to be late, right Mama?" Maria said as Gabi let out a little sigh of relief.

"Si…si. But Antonio, you will call me if anything happens?" Carmen said, more of a fact than a question.

"Of course, Mama." Antonio reached over and hugged her, then turned to Maria. "Call me?"

"Of course, little brother! You bet I will." She grinned at him and hugged him.

"See you later, Maria. I'll take care of him." Gabi smiled at her and Maria understood her sister in law's anxiety. Gabi had been through hell in the past week. Ricardo had made sure of that…not only with his plan to frame Gabi and Antonio for his murder, but the fact that after that had failed, he had driven both of them off a cliff in his car! Antonio had barely managed to get Gabi out of harm's way before they had crashed…but he had. And now Gabi was taking it as her own personal mission to see that Antonio got well.

"I know you will, sweetie." Impulsively, she reached over to hug Gabi. "Now, you get him home and in bed."

Gabi turned to Antonio and took his arm, leading him to the elevator. "Come on, you heard your sister. I have to get you in bed." She said, then blushed at the hidden meaning in those words. Antonio grinned slyly at her, seeing her pinkish hue, and winked outrageously. "Antonio!" She exclaimed as they stepped into the elevator.

"Sorry. You're just really beautiful when you're embarrassed." The words slipped from his mouth before he could pull them back, and suddenly he was very aware of her hand resting on his arm and his touching the small of her back. Tremors were surging through his body, and he got the feeling that this had happened before…these awkward silences, the touches that seemed to be so wrong yet felt so…so right. "I…I'm sorry…"

"No, no Antonio, don't apologize." Gabi said, and was about to say more when the elevator door opened on the third floor. Gabi's eyes stayed with Antonio until she saw his expression chance. She turned to see who had entered the elevator and her heart dropped. There, wheeling himself in, was her husband. "Ricardo…"

"Hey, Gabi. Fancy meeting you here. Antonio…" Ricardo regarded his brother curiously. Gabi didn't know if he knew the entire story…that Antonio couldn't remember anything. She hadn't been to see him since that first day, and she hadn't been planning on it. "Couldn't let you leave without saying goodbye, T."

"Ricardo…I…" He was shocked. When Gabi hadn't mentioned Ricardo, Antonio assumed that meant that he was not hurt badly. That Ricardo was not still in the hospital and since it was so obviously a topic that Gabi was wary of, he had refrained from asking too many questions, hoping his memory would come back soon, like Tyus said he would. But he was in a wheelchair, bandaged heavily. "Hi Ricardo…how are you? You feel okay?"

The elevator had begun moving again, so there was no choice but to stay on and face him, much to Gabi's dismay. Ricardo grinned harshly and threw Gabi a mocking look. "He really is out of it, isn't he Gab? Maria wasn't kidding when she said he didn't remember anything. Not a thing at all…"

 Gabi could see how dangerously this conversation was going, and knew that if she didn't stop him soon that Ricardo would say too much. "Ricardo! Please don't-"

 "Don't what, Gab? Don't tell him what you did too us? Don't make him hate you like he should? Like I do?" He leered at her again and continued, despite her cries to stop. "You don't want me to tell Antonio what you did to me and him?" Now he turned to Antonio and began speaking to him. "You know she did this to us, don't you T? She put me back in this damn wheelchair and she made you lose your memory…and now she's taking advantage of you when you're weak. She's doing it now because she knows when you remember everything, you'll hate her."

 "Ric…Ricardo, stop it, please…if you love Antonio, stop doing this…" Gabi pleaded but Ricardo kept on talking, the memory of Gabi's words days before…about not loving him, loving Antonio, fueling his viciousness.

 "Yeah, T, listen to me…I'm your big brother, remember? Three Musketeers and all that crap… so listen to me when I tell you that she's nothing but trash, she's bad for us both. She's a whore, T, worthless trash." He spat the words out and Antonio could take no more. He grabbed Gabi, taking her in his arms as if to protect her from the hateful words and shouted to his brother to stop. He couldn't stand seeing Gabi like this. "Shhh…baby, it's okay, don't cry, Gabi." He held her close to him and she clung to him, drinking in the warmth and strength that he provided her.

 "Aww…look at that. Hmm…too bad there isn't a leveled building nearby. That'd sure bring back some memories, right T?" Ricardo grinned maniacally again and the doors in front of them opened. Antonio, his arms still wrapped around Gabi tightly, led her out of the elevator and away from his brother. He held her close as she sobbed into his shirt, but stopped when they reached the outside of the hospital. He had no idea where she was parked, or even what the car looked like. Glancing around, he saw a shaded area off to the side with a bench on it and moved them over to it, sitting Gabi down then joining her.

 "You okay?" He asked as she tried valiantly to dry her tears, ashamed of having broken down so badly in front of him when it was Antonio who needed her to be strong for him. She nodded and wiped her eyes again as she pulled herself away from him.

 "I…I'm…" She sniffed back another round of tears and tried again. "I'm…f…f…fine, Antonio."

 "Are you sure, Gabi?" He was worried, but also shocked and a little scared by the things that Ricardo had said about Gabi. He didn't believe them, of course, not for one second…but still…for Ricardo, someone who had loved her with all of his heart and soul, to have changed in feelings so drastically…it was overwhelming. What could she have possibly done that was so horrible? He knew that she had cheated on Ricardo…but still, that wouldn't explain Ricardo's contempt for him. Not unless…my God…Antonio thought to himself as he looked down at the sweet, loving, beautiful creature in his arms. I couldn't have…could I?

PART FIVE

 The question scared him, but the answer scared him even more. For the past three days, things had been happening…things he had no idea how to handle. His memory, of course, being the most important…but Gabi was a big part of it too. He felt something, something strange and alien when she was around. It was like the moment she walked into his room a change came over him. He was eager to please her, wanted nothing more than to see her happy. He would have given anything just to see her smile that beautiful smile of hers…and he had no idea why. She was his friend, of course he knew that, his best friend, even. But…more than a friend? Gabi? His brother's girlfriend…no, his brothers wife.

 No, he decided firmly. No, he couldn't be the man that Gabi was in love with. There was no possible way. He looked up at the bare walls in the room at Surf Central. "You asleep?" Her soft voice broke through his thoughts. He sat up on the bed and smiled over at her. She looked like an angel leaning against the doorframe in a white cotton nightgown, the light filtering around her from the hallway sending the impression of a halo around her dark hair.

 "No…" He answered and Gabi's breath caught at the sight of that muscular, tanned chest. A heated blush covered her face as she realized that he slept without a shirt…she hadn't been expecting that. But it was too late to go away now. She walked into the room and sat down next to him on the bed. "What's wrong? You couldn't sleep?" Antonio asked, a look of worried concern flickering across his face. Gabi looked down at the sheet on the bed and nodded.

 "I just…Antonio…what Ricardo said earlier…" She wanted to explain, she needed to. It was eating her alive…and the medical excuses weren't enough. Antonio wasn't stupid; he knew that something important had gone on prior to his memory lapse.

 "Gabi…" He said, and found it very unnerving when she wouldn't look him in the eye. He reached over and took her hand, and only then did she meet his gaze. "Don't worry about it. I can see that what my brother said isn't true. I don't know what happened…but I do know you, Gabi. I know that you would never do anything to purposely hurt me."

 Tears of relief and regret fell from her face, but she managed a shaky smile. He pulled her into his arms and she settled onto the bed next to him, feeling more comfortable in his arms than she had in a long time. Before Antonio knew it she was fast asleep, curled at his side. Struck by how beautiful she was when she was sleeping, Antonio didn't have the heart to wake her. He knew that she hadn't been sleeping well at all lately…and rather than make her get up, he pulled the covers over her and tucked her in beside him.
 
 
 

 Gabi woke with a well rested yawn the next morning, then slowly became aware of the warm body next to her…the arms securely wrapped around her waist…the soft breath on the back of her next. Her heart began to race, what had happened? What had they done? But she remembered the night before and realized that she must have fallen asleep.

 It felt so good to wake up next to Antonio…she thought about getting up, getting dressed and making breakfast, but the feel of him holding her like this was too precious to voluntarily give up. So she stayed like that, breathing in the scent of him, the closeness of his strong body to hers until he woke up. "Gab…Gabi…?"

 "Morning." She said, reveling in the sweetness of his adorable expression when she turned to face him. "Sleep well?"

 "Yeah…actually, I did. Most of the night, at least. I had a…a dream. Actually, I think it might have been a memory…maybe you can help me with it." He asked, reaching over to brush a lock of hair off her forehead with surprising intimacy.

 "A… a memory?" Her heart clenched, hoping he wasn't beginning to remember what had happened towards the end. She would much rather him recall the good things.

 "I was in a dark, cold place…with you. We were trapped, I think. And we were both scared. I dreamt…well, I remembered…holding you. Like I did last night…did that happen, Gabi? Were we stuck somewhere together?" He asked softly. Gabi turned away, unable to face him as tears swam in her eyes. She nodded almost imperceptibly.

 "Yes…it did. Do…do you remember anything else?"  She said, and Antonio knew that he had struck a nerve. Whatever he had been dreaming about had to be something important. His patience wearing thin, he decided to probe her for more answers.

 "What else is there I should have remembered?" He inquired. Gabi shifted uneasily as she sat up on the bed, preparing to leave.

 "Nothing, I was just asking. You should call Tyus and tell him about your progress. He said let him know immediately if you remembered anything, didn't he?" Gabi reminded him as Antonio stood next to her, shrugging on one of the small, wife-beater's that made Gabi's pulse beat faster. She forced her eyes away from his toned form and headed for the door. "I'll see if Casey's fixed any breakfast, you must be hungry."

 "No, Gabi! Don't walk away from me." He grabbed her arm to stop her from leaving. "Gabi, you have to tell me what happened between us in that place."

 "I can't, Antonio." She fixed her eyes on the floor as she pulled herself out of his grasp. "Tyus said you have to remember these things on your own, remember?"

 He let her go this time. Gabi took off for her room, leaving Antonio standing there alone. He sank down on the bed and buried his face in a pillow. It smelled like Gabi…the thought ran through his head. He loved that smell. A flicker of an image hit him like a ton of bricks. Gabi resting her head on his bare chest. He could remember breathing in that very same scent then. For a few precious seconds, he grasped what had happened…then with the speed of light, the understanding was gone and Antonio was left even more confused than before.
 
 
 

 Hour's later, as the sun was beginning to set outside, Antonio sat in the living room at Surf Central reading the paper carefully, catching up on everything that he was missing.  Maria had come over and spent some time with him.  It was a real adjustment, seeing his sister alive again.  She had explained some of the circumstances around her return and even introduced him to his nephew.  Benji was an adorable kid. Antonio felt sorry from him. According to what Maria had told him, he had been born into a very twisted existence, but Antonio knew that if anyone could show him the love that a real parent should, it would be Maria.

 The phone rang beside him, and Antonio picked it up. "Hello?"

 "T? Antonio, just who I was hoping to talk to." Dread knotted Antonio's stomach as he heard his brother's voice on the other end of the line. "Gabi there?"

 "No…she went out to get something for dinner." He answered cautiously. "But she'll be back soon."

 "Well, we can chat until then. I just wanted to ask how it felt to have Gab back in your bed." Ricardo said casually. "Oh…wait, you and Gabi didn't quite make it to the bed did you? Had to use what was lying around…"

 "What…Ricardo? What are you saying…" Antonio said, scarcely able to believe his own ears. Or his own brother.

 "You mean Gabi hasn't told you about your little rumble in the rocks? I'm not really surprised, though. I mean, who would want to admit that you seduced your husband's brother? And a priest on top of that…well, as fun as this little gab – no pun intended, of course – session has been, the nurse is calling for me. Talk to you later, T." Ricardo hung up the phone, having done what he set out to do.
 
 

 Twenty minutes later, Gabi opened the door to Surf Central. She was trying to juggle two grocery bags and her purse and didn't even notice Antonio sitting in the darkened room until she turned around. Jumping slightly, she said, "Antonio! Why didn't you tell me you where there?"

 "Gabi," He answered softly. "Why didn't you tell me we were lovers?"

PART SIX

“What…Antonio, what do you mean?” Gabi’s heart was in her throat as she looked at him, feigning ignorance. But Antonio was in no mood for these little games of Gabi’s.

 “Don’t pretend that you don’t know what I’m talking about, Gabi.” He stood up and walked over to her, his stern demeanor softening a little as he reached over and took both of her hands in his. “Ricardo called. He told me everything, Gabi…everything.”

 “Oh God…” Gabi moaned, jerking her hands from his grasp and sinking back onto the couch. “Why would he do this? Does he really hate me that much, Antonio?” She looked up at him with scared eyes. “Do you, Antonio? Oh please say you don’t hate me…”

 “Hate you?” He sat down beside her. “Gabi, look at me…why would I hate you? I mean…” He dipped his head shyly and took her hand again. “We were in love, weren’t we? I don’t…I’m not the kind of person who would go for a meaningless affair…and I don’t think you are either…”

 A slow smile formed on Gabi’s lips as she realized that Ricardo obviously hadn’t told him everything. She saw the revealed emotion on his face and…she knew. She knew that he wanted her to say yes… “You’re right, Antonio.” She squeezed his hand tightly and smiled weakly. “We are…were…in love…” She looked down then, trying to keep her voice steady. “But…I don’t expect you to feel that way now.” She turned her head a little, mustering up a few tears for an extra measure. A wave of guilt crashed over her…she shouldn’t be leading Antonio into believing this. But it wasn’t really a lie. They did love each other, and she had never confirmed that they were lovers…just that they loved each other.

 “Hey, don’t cry, Gabi.” Antonio touched his fingers to the side of her face, making her look up at him. “Gabi…I…I do feel something… I thought it couldn’t be this before, but now…I think I do love you.” He caressed her skin softly as Gabi leaned into his palm. “I know I love you.” His breath was less than a whisper as he moved forward. Gabi’s heart was racing as her tongue darted out to moisten her lips only seconds before they collided with his. Gabi was overwhelmed behind the raw emotion behind their kiss; it felt like her body was on fire as he wrapped his arms around her waist and pulled her close to him. Her fingers entwined in the soft hair at the nape of his neck, Gabi smiled into the embrace.
 
 

 A few hours later, Gabi was curled up on the couch in Antonio’s arms. She looked up at him and tilted her head to kiss him softly on the lips. Smiling to himself, Antonio gazed down at her with a warm expression. “Is this what it was like before with us? It feels so…so…right.”

 “Yeah…it is right, Antonio.” She reassured him. They had talked little since the initial revelation…mostly just held each other and kissed.

 “Gabi…am I still a priest?” He asked. Even though he couldn’t deny that he felt like he belonged here with Gabi, he had a hard time believing he would just break his vows without guilt or remorse. Then again, he might have had guilt and remorse for it…he just couldn’t remember; that was the problem.

 “You are.” Gabi said, unable to look him in the eye. “I…Antonio…” She was mere seconds away from telling him the truth…that they hadn’t really been lovers, that it had only been that one time. But…something in his eyes stopped her. He loved her…how could she destroy that? There was no choice but to lie…again. “But…you were going to leave. Soon, so you wouldn’t have to keep breaking your vows. You told me so.”

 “Good.” That had just restored some of Antonio’s faith in himself. He knew that he wouldn’t have just flung all respect for the holy vows he had taken aside. “What about Ricardo, Gabi? What did he do when he found out about us?”

 Gabi deliberated a moment, then decided it would be best to stay as close to the real truth as possible. “He couldn’t handle it. We were already married, but I knew that was a mistake soon afterwards…I just couldn’t bear to destroy him, and you loved you brother so much…but Ricardo found out about us anyway. He…he had a stroke, Antonio, when he found out. It left him paralyzed for a while…but he got better soon. Much sooner than he let on. He hid his improvement while he…he plotted revenge. On us, both of us. He was going to frame us for his murder…and he almost did. But you and I, we got to him, and we tried to explain...he couldn't take it though. He convinced us that he had forgiven us and we got in his car, he told us that he was going to go back to Sunset Beach with us and tell everyone that we didn’t kill him. But…he didn’t. Oh God Antonio, he was so forgone he didn’t care what he did as long as he got his revenge. He didn’t care if it killed himself in the process… and it almost did. It almost killed both of you.” She was crying by now, Antonio held her tighter, waiting for her to continue. “He drove the car off a cliff, thinking it would kill you both. You…you got me out though. You could have overpowered Ricardo, he was still weak from his stroke…but you didn’t. All you thought about was getting me to safety. I can’t tell you how grateful I am for that, Antonio. I love you so much.” She reached up to kiss him very softly.

 “Oh Gabi…it seems like we had such a hard time being together.” Antonio said, leaning back against the couch and trying to take in all of this newly acquired information. It all seemed to unbelievable…must have really been a soap opera around here while I was…Antonio began to think to himself, then remembered…he was here. He just couldn’t remember any of it. He moaned loudly and Gabi jumped, then grinned. She snuggled up close to him and ran her fingers over his chest…it had been so long since she had felt his hands on her…suddenly she was dying for him to kiss her again. She smiled suggestively and leaned over, about to press her lips to his when Antonio spoke. “I’m tired, Gabi…do you think we could call it a night?”

 Gabi froze. “Sure, sweetie. Whatever you want.” She smiled, trying not to show that she was hurt. Antonio could see it, and he hated hurting Gabi…but as good as it felt to hold her, it was still a little alien. It…it just didn’t feel like was accustomed to doing this. “Your room is the first on the right. I’ll be right next door if you need anything.” All she wanted now was to collapse onto the bed and cry. Antonio thought they were together and he still didn’t want her…she knew all of her chances with him were gone now. He definitely wouldn’t want to be with her when he remembered everything. Before Antonio could say another word to her, Gabi ran up the stairs. She didn’t want him to see her tears…the last thing she needed was pity from the man she loved.

 Antonio watched her run up the stairs and he knew with a gut feeling that she was crying. He felt awful; why had he suggested they go to bed when she was about to kiss him? It wasn’t that he didn’t want to kiss her…even the thought of it seemed too wrong though… Suddenly, that didn’t matter. He had hurt Gabi. He had to fix that…right away. He took the stairs two at a time until he got to the top. Right off the staircase to the right was an empty room…and the door to the one next to it was locked. He knocked lightly. “Gabi? It’s me…can I come in?”

 There was silence for a second, then sounds of movement. Moments later, the door opened. She had tried to wipe away the evidence of her pain, but he could tell she had been crying. He reached over and wordlessly took her in his arms. He held her as she clung to him, sobbing silently. She seemed so vulnerable…the need to protect her was there, bubbling up to the surface. He led her to his room, and closed the door. "I want you in my arms tonight, Gabi.” He said in a strange voice. Gabi looked up at him and smiled softly… “ I need to hold you.”

 She nodded, moving into his embrace again. Maybe she did have a chance after all…they belonged together. She just had to prove it to him before he remembered everything.

Part Six
“Come on, Gabi…you can’t run from me forever…” Antonio called out in a taunting voice as he slowly made his way around the kitchen table. Gabi was directly opposite of him, meeting his movements step for step so that he never got any closer to her.

“Oh yeah? You wanna bet on that?” She challenged playfully, dangling her prize just beyond his reach as he unsuccessfully grasped for it.

“Oh…you are such a bully…” He suddenly lunged forward in the opposite direction, reaching out for his shirt that Gabi had confiscated as she swung it back behind her. She giggled and took off for the living room as he followed her quickly. She raced up the stairs, but Antonio was too fast and caught up with her just as she made her way to the top of the stairs. Laughing, he caught her around the waist, his bare chest pressed into her back as she erupted in a fit of giggles. His fingers attacked her ribcage in payback for her thievery as his lips caressed her neck in a series of soft, butterfly kisses.

“B…Bully?” She managed to gasp between laughter. “I’m the…the…bully?”

Grinning madly, he let her go as she turned around, still in his embrace. “You started it.” He pointed out gleefully.

“Not fair! You’re the one who had to go and hog the bathroom all morning. I had to do something to get you out of there…” She explained as he looked on doubtfully.

“And stealing my shirt was the only way?”

“Yeah, well…” A devilish look in her eyes, Gabi darted out of his arms and down the stairs. Hopping down the steps, she shouted back to him. “Your boxers were too far away!”

“Gab-!” He started down after her. He stopped dead still when he saw his sister standing in the doorway. Maria’s eyes danced between the two, Gabi wearing nothing but Antonio’s T-shirt and Antonio in a pair of khakis.

“Maria…hi.” Gabi looked down at her feet guiltily

“Gabi…Antonio.” Maria said, offering her sister in law a gentle smile to let her know that she understood. “I hope I’m not interrupting anything…”

“No…” Gabi said as Antonio walked over to stand at her side. She glanced up at him, then back at Maria. “We were just…”

“Getting dressed.” Antonio filled in, somehow not managing to feel as guilty as Gabi was. Quite possibly because he didn’t remember enough to feel remorseful, at least not about the things Gabi felt remorse for. Ricardo, and that whole can of worms. He felt a little guilt for the fact that he was breaking his vows, but decided that since Gabi had assured him his brief tenure in the priesthood was all but over that worrying about that was not worth it. He would still devote a large part of himself to his church…but he would just devote an even larger part to Gabi. He loved her, he knew that without a doubt now. As she had slept in his arms the night before, he had thought about her…and his brother…and everything that Gabi had told him. He could feel it with every cell in his body, Gabi was his life and his love now. He was trying with all of his might to push away the lingering doubts, the feelings of discomfort, to try and remember the past three years…he had to remember his past with Gabi, so they could get on with their future.

“Well…I’ll wait down here for you to finish.” Maria said, directing her comment to Gabi. It still felt a little strange to have her brother look at her like she was a stranger. He still couldn’t get used to her being…alive!

“All right.” Gabi answered as Antonio shrugged on his shirt. Seeing his discomfort, Gabi tossed him a reassuring look as she headed for her room.

“Antonio, how do you feel?” Maria asked, sitting down on the couch and gestured for him to sit next to her.

“Better…I won’t feel normal until I get my memory back, but…I do feel better.” He admitted.

“I’m glad…” Maria said, and seemed to be at an uncharacteristic loss for words.

“Gabi’s really helping me.” He said, dipping his head shyly. “She’s an amazing woman…”

“She loves you very much.” Maria whispered, and Antonio raised his head, a surprised look across his face. Gabi had told him that no one had known about them. Then again, this was Maria. She had always been his closest confidante, and he hers. It would make sense that he would come to her with this.

“I know.” He smiled a little, more to himself than her. “I really loved her, didn’t I?”

“Yes…you did, Antonio.” Maria reached over to rest her hand on his. “And from the looks of it, you still do.”

“Yeah…I think I do.” He grinned, remembering how much fun they had had earlier. “I know I do.”

“That’s good, Antonio…you need someone, now especially.” Maria said. She was about to speak again, but something stopped her. “I just…I hope you don’t…”

“Don’t what, Maria?” He turned to look at her. “What do you mean?”

“I hope you don’t end up getting hurt…”

“Gabi wouldn’t hurt me, Maria. She loves me.” He felt uneasy about this conversation for some reason.

“I know she does, but sweetie…sometimes love just isn’t enough. There were a lot of things between you two…a lot of things keeping you apart.”

“I love her Maria. For now, that’s all I need.” Antonio said with certainty.

Gabi stood still at the top of the stairs, the two voices drifting upwards so that she could hear every word they were saying. Her heart was pounding with joy. She knew he loved her, he had told her that, but it still gave her a charge hearing him admit it to someone else. It made it more…real. An unrepressable smile on her face, Gabi walked downstairs. She had changed into a black mini-skirt and a sky blue cropped shirt, one that Antonio had always said she looked beautiful in. “Hi, Maria.”

“Hello, Gabi…” Maria said with a warm smile. Gabi looked better than she had in weeks. Antonio smiled happily at her and made room beside him on the couch. “I just stopped by to say hi…in fact, I should probably leave now…just checking in like a good big sister should.”

“Right.” Antonio smiled, then reached over to hug her. “Thanks for stopping by, Maria.”

“No problem.” Maria said, standing and picking up her purse. “Gabi…would you mind…?” Maria gestured towards the door, and Gabi stood also.

“Sure, Maria.” She gave her a puzzled look, but followed Maria out the door. Once they were outside, Gabi asked, “What…what is it?”

“I just wanted to make sure…” Maria began, then started over. “I want to make sure that you aren’t doing something that you…both of you…will regret when Antonio gets his memory back.”

“We didn’t sleep together last night, Maria.” Gabi whispered, her head dipping down slightly. “I mean…we slept in the same bed…but we didn’t…”

“It’s okay, Gabi. You don’t have to explain anything to me…I just wanted to say that you need to be careful. He is very confused right now. He probably doesn’t know what to feel…I’m sure he really does love you, but still…”

“You don’t want me to hurt him.” Gabi finished for her. “That’s what you mean, isn’t it?”

“Gabi, I know you wouldn’t purposely try to hurt Antonio…but he is a priest…and he doesn’t remember what happened between you two and Ricardo…”

“Maria, I’m not going to hurt Antonio. He loves me, and he knows it. I know he does! I love him too, we are not going to end up apart, I won’t lose him, Maria! I won’t! Not again, never again. I won’t let anyone take him away from me!” Gabi shouted, and Maria was taken aback by her outburst. Tears streamed down Gabi’s face as she buried her head in her hands.

“I…I believe you, Gabi.” Maria said, her voice lacking conviction but enough to comfort Gabi.

“I’m sorry, Maria…I just…”

“I know, sweetie. Go on back inside…” Maria reached over to hug Gabi, then stepped away. “I’ll be back later, all right?”

“Okay…” Maria walked away and Gabi tried to wipe away her tears, not wanting Antonio to know she had exploded on Maria like that. She was ashamed of it…ashamed Maria had seen her like that, had heard her say that.

“Gabi?” Antonio opened the door, and immediately noticed Gabi’s red rimmed eyes. “Sweetheart, what is it?”

“Nothing…nothing, Antonio.” She stepped up to him and let him wrap her into his embrace. “I’m just being emotional…everything’s fine, really.”

“If you say so, baby.” He kept his arm around her waist and led her inside. “Come on, let’s get some breakfast.”

“Sure, Antonio.” Gabi leaned her head against his chest and let him take her into the kitchen. What she had told Maria had been the truth…she wasn’t going to let Antonio go.
 

Part Seven
 
 

“Well, Antonio, you’re doing fine. All of your tests show that you are almost completely healed.” Tyus smiled broadly as he scanned over the folder that had been delivered to him. Antonio was smiling too as he sat on the metal examination bed. Gabi gave him a  warm, congratulating look and squeezed the hand that was entwined with hers.

It had been almost a week since he had been released from the hospital, and he and Gabi had spent most of their time together since then. “Does that mean that he should be getting his memory back soon?” Gabi asked, chewing on her bottom lip nervously.

“Probably. I won’t make any promises, but it looks good. These things usually go away as stress and tension relieve themselves, so as long as he takes it easy, everything should run it course and he’ll be as good as new soon.” Tyus assured them both. Gabi was full of mixed emotions. She wanted Antonio to be happy and well, but she didn’t want him to remember everything and regret being with her.

“That’s great!” Antonio, on the other hand, was ecstatic. The only thing he wanted was to do was regain his memory so that he could close all of these loose ends. Though he hadn’t said anything to her, he was seriously considering asking Gabi to marry him soon. He was scared that it was too soon, though.

Gabi had dedicated herself to helping him through this, and he could tell it was taking a toll on her. Antonio felt awful that he couldn’t do more to help her. After all, even if she hadn’t been physically injured, she had certainly been damaged by all of this. She was very vulnerable, and he felt like he needed to be there for her and protect her. A knight in shining armor, she had called him the other night. He liked that. He wanted her to need him.

“It certainly is.” Tyus glanced down at his watch. “I have another appointment to get to, Antonio, you’re free to leave.”

“Thanks, Tyus.” He hopped off of the bed and stood next to Gabi as she grabbed her purse.

“Oh, Gabi,” Tyus said, looking up from the chart he was carrying. “This is for you.” He fished around in his pocket for a piece of paper and handed it for her. Gabi gaze him an inquisitive look but the doctor simply turned and left the room.

“What is it?” Antonio asked as Gabi unfolded the note and began to read silently to herself.

Gabi,
I know I’m the last person that you want to talk to right now, but we need to get a few things straight. Come by my hospital room when Antonio’s appointment is over. Please, if you don’t want to do this for me, then do it for the man that I used to be. Do it for the Ricardo Torres that you did love once.
   Ricardo

“Gabi?” Antonio asked as she finished reading the note. “What is it, who’s it from, Gabi?”

Without saying a word, she handed it to him. Antonio read it quickly, his expression changing into an almost unreadable one. “You’re going to see him?” He asked, afraid that she would and that she wouldn’t.

“I have to, Antonio. He’s right. We do need to get some things straight.” Unconsciously, her fingers rubbed across the bare finger where the symbol of her love for Ricardo had once resided. “I’m still his wife…and he’s right about something else too.” Tears were in her eyes as she looked up at Antonio. “I did love him once. I owe it to that man to try and set things straight.”

Antonio was touched by her honesty with him, and glad that she was ready to do this. Seeing Ricardo meant she would have a chance to close things up with him. That could only lead in one direction from there, his and Gabi’s future. “I know you do, Gabi.” He pulled her into his arms and she sighed softly, pressing her face into his neck. He smelled warm and familiar, and that reassured her more than anything else possibly could. No matter what happened, even if Antonio couldn’t be with her when he remembered, she knew that he would still love her. There was no way to erase what they felt, no matter how much they tried. The past few years had proven that if nothing else.

“I have a few things I need to do too, so I’ll see you at Surf Central later?” He smiled gently as she sighed, not wanting to be apart from him even for a few hours.

“Okay…” Gabi said reluctantly, running her hands over his chest as she slowly stepped away. “Surf Central…”

“Your turn to make lunch, you better not skip out on me.” He grinned at her and Gabi couldn’t help but smile back.

“I won’t, I promise.” She tilted her head lightly and looked up at him, smiling very softly as she pressed her lips against his. It was a short kiss, but certainly a treasured one. Every time they kissed like this, Gabi locked away the memory in case she were every to be without his kisses. “I’ll see you later?” She said, moving back. Antonio gently squeezed her hand and nodded.

“Later.” Glancing back over his shoulder to see her once again, Antonio disappeared around the corner of the hall leaving Gabi alone and very scared.

Gabi made her way quickly to the corridor that Ricardo’s room was located in and stood outside his door. Her hands were trembling as she reached for the doorknob. Pushing it open, she stepped inside. There was no one else in the room besides her and a peacefully sleeping Ricardo. Tears burned in her eyes as she looked at him, so innocent and vulnerable. A lock of dark hair had flopped over his forehead carelessly and she felt the urge to reach over and push it out from in front of his eyes. A small smile was playing across his lips as if he were having a good dream. “Gabi…” He moaned softly and her heart nearly stopped. He was dreaming of her. A dozens different emotions flooded into her. Love for this man who had once been her entire life, a feeling that she was intruding on something she shouldn’t be, guilt for destroying him like this…

“Oh…Gab…Gabi.” Ricardo opened his eyes and saw her standing there in the doorway. He sat up, his expression hardening. “What… oh, Tyus gave you my note?”

“Yeah.” Gabi answered, stepping inside the room. “You’re right. We do need to talk.”

“Let me first.” Ricardo took a deep breath and closed his eyes momentarily. As he began speaking, he opened them again. “Gabi, I’m sorry. I know that you have no obligation to forgive, what I did was awful. It was beyond forgiveness. I tried to kill you, and if Antonio hadn’t stopped me, then I probably would have. I deserve prison, or whatever I get.”

“Ricardo-“ Gabi objected softly.

“Don’t- don’t say it Gabi. You know as good as I do that last week, you would have been all for me rotting in hell for all of eternity. What I did to you was horrible, but what I did to T is what’s really…unforgivable. I just…I can’t believe I let myself go that far…oh God, Gabi, what happened to me?” Ricardo’s voice was breaking as he tried to hold back tears. Gabi resisted the urge to comfort him knowing that now pity and sympathy from her would not be welcome. Even if he wanted her forgiveness, he still wasn’t ready to offer his own. “I…I just…I wanted you to know that whatever you want, I’ll give it to you.”

“What are you saying, Ricardo?”

“You want a divorce, fine. An annulment even, I’ll go for that.” Ricardo stared down at the hospital bed, twisting the ring on his finger. He had noticed that she wasn’t wearing hers anymore.

“Thank you, Ricardo. That means a lot to me.” She hesitantly crossed the room and stood next to his hospital bed, placing her hand on top of his. “I did love you once, you know what, don’t you?”

“I know, Gab. I loved you, too…still do. But…not like he does, right?” Ricardo smiled bitterly, but Gabi knew that he was offering as close to a blessing as he would ever be able to.

“I’m sorry that this all had to happen this way. I really am, Ricardo. Thank you…for agreeing to end this marriage. I…I’ll talk to my lawyer tomorrow.”

“Sure.” Ricardo pulled his hand away and turned, signaling that the conversation was over. She turned to leave the room, but just before she walked out, he called her name.

“What is it, Ricardo?”

“I’m sorry it had to happen this way too.” There were tears in his eyes as Gabi smiled with regret. She nodded and walked away, knowing that something important in her life had ended just now, but that it only meant more important things were to come.
 
 
 

Antonio stood outside the church, his heart racing with nervousness. This was where he had lived, there were bound to be things inside that would clear up all of these questions that he didn’t want to have to ask her. Steeling himself for the discoveries he would hopefully make, Antonio pushed open the thick wooden doors. The smell of candles burning somewhere and dust and a thousand other things that he couldn’t name came rushing back to him, along with a distinct feeling of belonging, of being where he had meant to be finally. A smile of pure happiness crossed his face as he took it all in. Instinct guiding him, Antonio made his way confidently down the hallways that he didn’t quite remember clearly but certainly knew. After only a few moments, he was standing in his office. He recalled it, of course, from the short while that he did remember being in Sunset Beach. But it was still very different, to know that two years had passed since his last memory of being in here, of looking up at that statue of the mother of God, that cross that lay on his desk…the one Archbishop Damien had given him. Briefly, he wondered where the Archbishop was…why hadn’t he called to see how Antonio was doing?

All of those other thoughts vanished though as he sat down in the chair behind the desk. His fingers danced over the creases in the arm, over the polished wood of his desk. The stack of stationary papers had Father Antonio Torres written across them, all of the mail that had piled up was addressed to him…but somehow it felt that this person had been a different man. His mind wandered to Gabi. She certainly had enough impact on him to change him…but exactly how had he changed in the missing two years?

He stood up from the desk and walked out of the room. Once again relying on memories that he didn’t have, Antonio made his way to the room that he had resided in here at St. Joseph’s. It was a small, barren room. The only decoration seemed to be the cross hanging above his bed and the two framed pictures on his dresser. One was of Maria, Carmen, and Ricardo. The other was Gabi and himself. He studied the picture, taken not long ago he supposed. They both looked a little distracted, but otherwise happy.

Antonio set about what he had come to do. Finding his journal. He had kept one since he had been a child, and he certainly hadn’t given up the habit in the past two years, he hoped.

He was right. After ten minutes of searching the room, he came across the black leather bound book that was beside his Bible. Picking it up and settling down on the bed, Antonio flipped it open and began to read.

March 1, 1999

 I still can’t believe what Gabi and I did last week during when we were trapped together. How could I do that to my own brother, my flesh and blood? And I’m a priest, the worst kind…the kind who breaks his vows and doesn’t even repent, because given the chance, he would do it again. I just wish that Gabi would let me tell Ricardo what happened. Even the chance of him hating me seems worth it not to have to keep these lies. I hate myself for doing this to him. And to her. I know that Gabi loves him. Why else would she have accepted his proposal? And right in front of me. She was right, what happened was a mistake. We both have to move on. But how can I move on when this lie keeps shoving us together? How can I move on when I’m still in love with her?

Intrigued, Antonio flipped over a few pages and kept reading. The entries got more and more confusing, as the Antonio that had lived through this became more and more caught up in the lies that he and Gabi had to keep. Why hadn’t she told him all of this? She hadn’t mentioned Francesca Vargas, the fact that she had come back to Sunset Beach, or her being murdered…or the tape that had been made. And nowhere in the journal did it say that the affair continued. Gabi had told him that they kept it from everyone, but why would he have felt the need to lie about it in his own journal.

Almost an hour later, he was halfway through the book. He glanced down at his watch and saw that it was almost time to meet Gabi back at Surf Central for lunch. That was good…he certainly had a few things to ask her about now. Like why she had lied to him about their whole affair.

Part Eight
 

Thunder crashed outside the tall house as Antonio sat inside, a disbelieving expression on his face. These things he wrote about in his journal…they were the truth. He knew it without a doubt. That meant that everything Gabi had told him, all of the warm promises that they had been going to be together…lies. All of it. She had deceived him in the worst way possible. He was dreading having to confront her. This was going to be so hard…he loved her so much.

“Antonio? Are you- Antonio?” Gabi asked as she walked through the door, a few minutes late for lunch because of the horrible weather outside. She had expected him to have something prepared, but when she found him he was sitting on the couch at Surf Central, engrossed in a book. “What are you reading, Antonio?”

He looked up with a grim expression on his face. Wordlessly, he handed her the book. Gabi’s heart sank the moment she saw the word Journal engraved in the leather cover. Antonio knew. She could see from the hurt expression on his face that he knew everything. “Why, Gabi? Why did you lie to me?”

“I didn’t…I didn’t lie…”

“Yes, you did.” He insisted, holding up the book. “We were never having an affair. It only happened once… you lied.”

“Maybe we only made love once, but I didn’t lie about how we felt about each other.” Gabi said, tears burning in her throat. “I love you Antonio, you have to know that that isn’t a lie.”

“I don’t have to know anything. I don’t know anything.” He stood up to look at her in the eye. “How much of what you told me was a lie, Gabi?”

“What…what do you mean, Antonio?” She whispered, her soul aching for him to stop looking at her with such coldness in his eyes.

“I was never going to leave the priesthood for you, was I? And you weren’t planning on divorcing Ricardo.” He accused her with anger, that awful cold rage in his eyes. “You lied to me. God, Gabi, how can you say that you love me when you would deceive me like this? I…I…love…I loved you, Gabi…but you lied. Where you never going to tell me the truth? Were you hoping that I wouldn’t regain my memory?” He voice became louder and more enraged with each word, the coldness slipping away to reveal powerful anger… almost… almost hatred.

“That’s not true! Antonio- I love you-“

“No! Gabi, don’t even lie to me like that any more!” He shouted, grabbing her arm. Tears broke through and ran down her face.

“I’m not lying Antonio! Please, I love you…the only reason I didn’t tell you was-

“I don’t even want to hear your excuses!” He grabbed her by the shoulders, and Gabi whimpered from fright. She had never seen Antonio like this, he was always such a calm man but now it seemed like something had exploded inside of his as he gripped her slender arms so tightly she was sure there would be bruises. “Antonio- no-“

Realizing that her words stemmed from physical pain, Antonio quickly let go of her. Backing away, he shook his head. “I can’t do this, I can’t even look at you.” He spat out the words with a disgusted look on his face. It killed Gabi inside to see those raging, negative emotions in a man like Antonio.

“I’m sorry, Antonio, you’ll never know how sorry-“

“Gabi, I don’t care how sorry you are. I don’t want to hear it, any of the lies or the…the excuses. You did this because you didn’t want me to remember; I doubt you even love me! God, Ricardo was right about you.” He said with fury, and realizing that soon he would do something he was going to regret, Antonio walked out of the house, the door slamming shut behind him.

“No…no, Antonio…I love you…” Gabi collapsed onto the couch, the words flowing from her mouth in an unintelligible blur. “I’m not bad…I didn’t want to hurt you…I’m so sorry…I love you…Antonio, don’t leave me… I’m sorry…”
 
 
 

Antonio was blinded by betrayal and by the rain pouring down in sheets as he started the car. He couldn’t believe that Gabi had done this…God, why hadn’t he listened to his brother? Ricardo had never lied to him before, but Gabi…she had a very concrete history of this kind of deception. Ricardo was his brother, his own flesh and blood brother and Gabi…she was just some whore who had tried to ruin his and Ricardo’s lives. No, something deep inside Antonio shouted out, demanding to be heard over the emotions raging inside of him. Gabi isn’t a whore, you wouldn’t love her so much if she were. And you do love her, whether you want to admit it or not.

 “No… no, there’s no way I could love someone like that.” Antonio tried to convince himself, but that nagging little voice that sounded mysteriously like his sister continued on. You wouldn’t be this hurt if you didn’t love her, Antonio. Don’t deny it. You can be angry with her, you have every right to be, but you can’t hate her. You love her to much. Sooner or later, you’ll want to hear her side of it. When the anger goes away, you’ll want to understand. “NO! I don’t love Gabi!” He shouted, slamming his fist against  the steering wheel. His anger distracted him to much that he never saw the car swerving madly in front of him…until it was too late…
 
 
 
 
 

 Gabi was sobbing on the couch of Surf Central when Casey and Sara arrived home from that afternoon.

 “Gabi? My God, what’s wrong? Did something happen, is it Antonio?” Sara was immediately by her side.

 “Yeah, Gabi…did he have a relapse or something?” Casey sounded equally concerned as he stood by the couch.

 She managed to shake her head, but more tears choked back her words when she tried to speak.

 “Something much have happened…oh, you’re a mess, sweetie, Casey, hand me a tissue.” Sara said, taking Gabi into her arms. “Come on, Gabi, it’s okay. Just tell us what’s wrong, all right?”

 “An…Antonio…knows…” She managed to gasp. Gabi took the tissue from Sara and tried to wipe her tears away, but they were falling too fast.

 “Antonio knows…? What does he know, Gabi? You mean he remembers? His memory’s back?”

 “No…” She said, her shoulders trembling with a new round of tears. “He…he knows…what I…did…I lied…”

 “Come on, Gabi, what did you lie about? Take your time, it’s okay.” Sara said, touching her shoulder.

 “I lied-“ The phone ringing cut her off.

 “I’ll get it,” Casey said. “Surf Central.” There was a pause, while whoever was on the other line spoke. “Uh, Gabi? Yeah, she’s here…but it’s not a good time to talk. Can you call-“ Another pause. “An accident? What…yeah, yeah sure…she’ll be there soon, thanks.”

 He set the phone down and turned to the two women, who were staring at him. The word ‘accident’ had not slipped past either of them. “What it is, Casey?” Sara asked. “Who was in an accident?”

 He looked over at Gabi. She knew, had known from the moment she heard her name, who it was.

“Antonio.”

Part Nine
 

Antonio’s head swam with a lifetime of newly recovered memories as he groaned. Consciousness was just within grasp, but he wasn’t sure if he even wanted to wake up. Something wasn’t right, there was some reason…some reason he had wanted to let go…

“Antonio?” He heard the voice whispering to him, a sliver of light gleaming through the dark abyss that he had been lost in. He groaned, feeling the warmth skin touching skin and the voice came again. “Antonio? Are you awake?”

She sounded sad…Gabi…it was Gabi. The knowledge came to him forcefully. It took strength beyond his abilities to pry his eyelids open, but he did it so that he could see her. She looked like an angel, albeit a tragic one. Tears had formed damp trails down her pale skin and red rings surrounded her eyes. “Ga…” He tried to say, but his throat was painfully dry and it hurt to talk.

“Shh…don’t say anything, sweetie, let me get Tyus.” She smiled at him with fresh tears in her eyes and walked away. He moaned again, not wanting her to leave. He shook his head. “It’s okay, I’ll be right back. I promise, Antonio.”

He took the time while she was gone to try and gather his thoughts. Everything was a blur, he could barely remember his own name. He knew something important had happened…he knew he had been here before, in the hospital, and recently. He knew…he knew something was wrong with him. Or maybe something had been wrong…

“Antonio? Antonio, can you look at me?”” A deep voice said and he was forced to make the tiring effort once again and open his eyes. Tyus. The name filtered into his mind. “Antonio, I need you to tell me…do you remember anything about how you got here?”

The question brought a thousand thought into his mind as things began to come back at a dizzying speed. His family…the priesthood…. Maria… Ricardo…the cave-in…Gabi…the tape…Ricardo’s stroke…marrying them…the cabin…being arrested…finding Ricardo…the accident…not remembering… what Gabi had done.

 ““Good.” Tyus made a note on the paper in front of him.

He nodded to let the doctor know that he did remember. “Tyus…” He managed to say. “Am…I…okay?”

 “Don’t worry, Antonio. You’re going to be fine, you were lucky. You’re car was totaled, but you managed to make it out with nothing more than a nasty bump on the head. Once the painkillers you were given wear off, you’ll be released to go home.”

“How long…have I been here?” His voice grew stronger with each word. Gabi was lingering in the doorway, her emotions torn between fear that he hated her now and worry that he wouldn’t be okay. Not even Tyus’ words could reassure her, not until she saw Antonio for herself.

“You were brought in around 8 hours ago.” Tyus explained, and was about to continue when his beeper let out a shrill whine. “I’m sorry, I have to go…Gabi, you’ll stay here with him.”

“Of course.” Gabi said softly. She could feel Antonio’s eyes on her. “Thank you, Tyus.”

“Just doing my job.” He said and left the room.

The tension between them was palpable as she refused to meet his eyes. “Why, Gabi?” He asked finally, breaking the silence.

“Why what?” She looked up, staring at the back of the chair beside his bed as she picked at a loose thread on the back of it.

“Look at me Gabi.” Antonio ordered and she finally raised her eyes. “Why did you lie to me when I couldn’t remember anything?”

“You mean…you do remember now?” She said, smiling. Despite what he had accused her of earlier, she really did want him to be better.

“Yes. Everything…I remember what Ricardo did to us, and why he did it. But I still don’t understand why you felt like you had to lie about our relationship to get me to be with you.” His gaze was gently, but probing as he continued, relentless in his quest to extract an answer from her.

“I…” Tears filled her eyes again as she looked down, unshed sobs racking her shoulders. “I…I don’t…”

“It’s okay, Gabi. Don’t be afraid. I know you are, I can see it in your eyes. I just don’t know what you’re scared of.”

“That you won’t love me anymore.” Her voice came out a shallow whisper.

 It hit Antonio like a sledgehammer, the reason that Gabi had thought she had to lie. She had never had anyone love her unconditionally, like Antonio did. Every relationship that she had gone through had ended with something happening to destroy it, and most of the time she blamed herself. No, all of the time. Whether it was her fault or not, Gabi always assumed she had done something wrong.

“Come here.” Antonio said, his voice rough with emotion. Gabi was hesitant, but she did as he asked and sat down on the bed next to him. Antonio sat up and took her hand. “I want you to promise me something.”

“What?” Gabi said, looking directly into his eyes for the first time.

“That you will never doubt what I feel for you again. Gabi, I love you. Nothing you, or anyone, could do will ever change that. I love you.”

Gabi smiled shakily as she tightened her grip on his hand. “I love you to.” She was crying and Antonio pulled her into his arms. Burying her face in his neck, Gabi whispered. “I was so scared that I had destroyed your love for me when you found out…I’m so sorry, Antonio. I know what I did was stupid…I-“

“Shh…don’t, Gabi. Don’t say anything. Just let me hold you. I know it’s hard for you to believe, but I do love you and part of that love is being able to forgive. I can do that Gabi, as long as you can too.” He spoke into her hair as she continued to shed her tears. His hand stroked her back soothingly and he kissed her shoulder.

“What- who do I have…to forgive?” Gabi asked, pulling back for a second to look at him again.

“Me. You have to for me for being so stupid that I didn’t see what was right in front of me for so long. Before the accident, even before Ricardo found out, I should have known that what we felt was too strong to deny. I should have had the courage to face up to my feelings…and I’m going to correct that mistake.” He suddenly smiled bashfully. “I mean…if you want…”

“Of course I want to be with you, Antonio!” Gabi threw her arms around his neck again in a tight hug. Her smile lit up his heart as he cupped her face in his hands.

“I love you, Gabi.” Their lips met briefly, in a tender kiss. Then she pulled away.

“You should get some rest…” She had a maternal look on her face and Antonio was struck by the vision of them together, with a family…she would be a perfect mother. Antonio nodded, but trapped her in his arms as he leaned back, Gabi reclining on his chest.

“I will. But only if you’ll stay here with me.” He made her promise, and then drifted off to let the medicine finish its work. Gabi would lay there, content, until he woke up. Then, they would start to plan the rest of their lives.
 
 
 
 
 

Carmen Torres watched from outside the window as Gabi and Antonio lay there in pure bliss holding each other. She was shaking her head, a regretful look on her face. She knew what they could not. She knew that trials lay before them, things harder even than this latest test of their love. But, she also knew that nothing would tear them apart. She looked down at the deck of cards in her hands. “You did not lie to me. You simply mislead.” She spoke in a hushed whisper. The powers guiding her tarot had told her from the very beginning that her sons happiness lay with this dark headed woman. But at the same time, they had told her that her son’s life would be better without her in it. She had been confused…until she realized that the cards spoke of not one, but both of her sons.

“Nada lata lágrima aparte los amar esta dos acción.  Su agrado acabado fuera vida voluntad ser asegurar.”
 
 
 
 

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