Greya's POV...

"Finally! I thought I'd never get a chance to hang out with you again," Ari's sarcasm heard throughout the coffee shop.

We both have the morning off and are glad to have the much needed girl time.

"I ordered a latte for you," I tell her.

"I desperately need the caffeine this morning," she says. She's trying to sit into the booth while braiding her very long hair.

"Are you ever going to think about cutting it?"

"What? No, never! Declan loves having my hair showing up in his clothes and in his food," we both laugh. I get that. Fynn and Chase are always complaining about finding strands of my hair everywhere. It's a girl thing.

Our coffee and bagels arrive and Ari takes a big gulp. "Hmm, I needed this."

"You look stressed, Grey. What's going on? Is everything good with Chase?"

Stressed doesn't feel like the correct word to describe how I'm feeling. I'm more than stressed.

"Chase is good. I hate that we missed a Sunday dinner because we were sick."

"That was one Sunday in the past three years, Grey. We'll all be over this weekend."

I stare at my coffee as I swirl the cup around. Since Becker and Alec died, we haven't missed one Sunday get together. We started the tradition so that our friend group would always have each other, we'd be there for each other no matter what we had going on in our lives. And we'd never forget the bond we all shared and the people we lost. In reality, our Sundays together have been like our therapy. We all shared in the same grief and we all needed that one day each week to remind each other that life goes on and Becker would want us to be happy.

He's back now, but we're still grieving. In a different way. Our Sundays together have a new meaning.

"It's weird you know. I feel like when we're all together, we can't really be honest with each other in front of Loxley," Ari points out. I know exactly how she feels, believe me.

"Declan is having a hard time with this. He doesn't know how to talk to him, feels like his friend is still gone. He's been depressed and moody. I hate seeing him like this," she continues.

"This is difficult for everyone Ari. I'm happy Cohen and Declan are taking him to the Chargers game today though. Maybe they'll have a great time and things will seem less awkward going forward.""

"Maybe," she shrugs. "I don't know how you're handling everything, Greya. I'm worried about you. You're in love with someone who doesn't remember you or what the both of you shared together. That's got to be so hard. On top of that, he now has some major disabilities. I'm sure he needs help with things. I know you love him, but this is a lot for anyone to take on, nevermind a 21 year old college athlete who's also a full time mother?"

She's got a point and I know she's only looking out for me. It's because of how much I love him that I'll keep doing everything I'm doing and more. My friends know the hardships I've endured and they've always been there for me, supporting me, but they don't live in my shoes; it's hard for them to fully understand why I do the things I do.

"I love him Ari. I'm going to do whatever I can not to lose him again."

"I know you are, I'm worried is all. You deserve to be happy."

We're quiet a few minutes while we finish our bagels and coffee.

"I talked to Liam and Cohen about trying to help Loxley remember things without directly telling him about his real life. Like bringing him places or doing things with him that he used to do and maybe that will jog his memory."

Ari looks surprised. "Really? What did Liam and Cohen say? I thought Liam didn't want Lox remembering because it's not safe for them?"

"Well, his dad's in prison but he has connections, so we still need to be careful about keeping their new identities. They will always be Loxley and Liam from now on, but we think it's safe for Lox to remember parts of his life. I feel like we're lying to him, like I'm lying to him every time I'm with him and I can't do that to him, it's not fair to him."

"Okay, so what are we supposed to do? How can I help?" She asks and I smile at her with appreciation.

"I took him to one of the music rooms on campus yesterday and we sat down at the piano together. I didn't know what to expect, what he'd remember. He started playing and a few minutes later he was singing!"

"No shit! Really? How? I mean he remembered how to play? He sang? How did he sing when he can barely speak as it is?"

"He was amazing! Like he never stopped playing. He remembered how to read the music and play the piano like he did before."

"That's great, Grey! So he can sing now too?"

"Neither of us had an explanation about why he's able to sing because when he tried to talk after, his stutter was back. So, when I went with him to therapy yesterday the speech therapist told us that the part of his brain that controls music and singing is different from the part of the brain that controls speech."

Ari pauses to think about that. I know it doesn't make a lot of sense, but that's what the therapist told us.

"The brain is so complex," Ari shakes her head.

"It sure is," I agree.

"So, did he remember anything else? Does he remember his mom teaching him or playing music for you before?"

I frown and tell her he doesn't remember. He only remembers how to read the music and sing the songs.

"We need to do more things like that. Show him some of the things he's good at doing. Bring him to football games like the guys are doing today. I'm hoping he'll begin to remember us."

"Okay, but what will happen when he does remember us? He's going to be pissed! I'd be pissed if my so called friends pretended we didn't have a past life together. What if he hates us for that after?"

Oh, I've thought about that a lot lately. I'm sure he'll be angry and hurt. I'm not giving up though. This is the right thing to do even if he hates me for it and I'm going to stick by him afterwards, whether he's angry with me or not.

"We will deal with it when the time comes. Together."

"I sure hope you're right about this Greya. I believe it's what we should do and help him remember, but I don't want to see you get hurt again."

Ari and I hug and part ways. My one and only class of the day flys by along with my five mile run I owe my coach for skipping practice yesterday.

The run was just what I needed to clear my head anyway.

Fynn and Chase are scarfing down a large pizza when I get home. At least there's a large salad to go along with it this time. We may as well invest into opening our own pizza shop at this point.

"Hey Grey! We're having pizza," Chase greets me from the kitchen counter.

"Yes I can see that. Make sure you have some salad with it too, ok?"

"Yes Grey, I will," he sarcastically says.

"Sorry, after we did his homework it was too late to cook," Fynn smiles.

"Sure it was," I roll my eyes.

"Thanks by the way, for helping him with his homework," I tell him.

Seconds later Cohen, Declan, and Loxley come barreling through the front door. They're laughing and joking around which instantly bring a smile to my face.

"How was the game?" Chase asks while getting up from the stool and walking up to Cohen, giving him a hug. Cohen returns the hug and then Chase gives both Declan and Loxley a hug too.

"The game was awesome, the Chargers actually won!"

Lox is smiling as he limps into the living room. He looks happy and tired at the same time. I'm sure the crowd and all the walking around the stadium was a lot for his body. I hope he had a good time.

He takes a seat onto the couch, leaning his cane to the side. The other two are recapping some of the game highlights to Fynn and Chase so I take a seat next to Loxley.

"Did you have a good time?"

"Y...yeah w...we all d...did." He uses his right hand to adjust his left arm up onto the arm of the couch. He's sore, I can tell.

"Liam's o...on h...his way o...over to g...get me."

"Liam! He's coming over!" That kid and his super sonic hearing.

"Go and take a shower first before he gets here," I instruct. Chase hurries to his room without question.

"I need to get going, Ari's making me go to some party tonight. See you Sunday," Declan says to all of us in general without making eye contact with Lox. I see what Ari means, this is a struggle for Declan.

Cohen comes over and him and Lox do a very familiar handshake. One I've seen them do a hundred times in the past. Cohen looks at me and winks. "See you at the game tomorrow, good luck."

"Yeah, you too Cohen. See you tomorrow."

Fynn rounds the corner with his coat and a bag. "I'm leaving too. Staying at Tim's tonight. Text if you need me." He leans down and gives me a hug.

"We'll be fine Fynn. Have fun!"

Suddenly Lox and I are alone and the constant urge I have to hug him and kiss him comes back at me tenfold.

I find myself taking a few slow breaths to give the tingling  I feel throughout my body a chance to calm down, which always proves to be impossible when I'm around Lox.

My eyes drift towards Lox and he's watching me, smirking might I add. I've been caught and I don't mind in the least.

"I'm glad you guys had a good time. Have you been to a game before?"

He smirks again, shaking his head at me. I'm sure I'm still blushing.

"N...never b...been to a Ch...Chargers game b...but I th...think I've b...been t..to a football g...game before," he shrugs.

Okay, so the game didn't necessarily provoke a memory, though being at a game seems familiar to him. That's good.

He reaches down with his right hand, attempting to massage his left leg, looking very uncomfortable and uncoordinated doing it.

He catches me staring and looks away, embarrassed. Crap! That's the last thing I want him to feel around me.

"S...sorry, I n...need to g...get h...home and  t...take this b...brace off." He's rubbing the back of his knee just above the brace.

I instinctively move in front of him and sit on the coffee table so we're level with each other. He watches me pick up his foot from the floor and rest his braced leg onto my lap. He winces slightly when gravity straightens his knee.

"I'm sorry. I don't want to hurt you."

His eyes go blank and his facial features turn into an unreadable expression which lasts roughly 5 seconds before he blinks his eyes and focuses on me again.

I have his lower leg in my hands, removing his brace.

"Y...you don't h...have t...to do th...this," he frowns.

I know he needs the help yet he's ashamed for needing it. He shouldn't feel this way. None of what happened to him is his fault and these things are out of his control. I need to show him he doesn't need to suffer and me helping him doesn't change the way I feel about him. He's still my "B" still brilliant, beautiful, and brave.

"I want to do this Lox, when you're in pain or struggling, I want to help you feel better."

His lips part slightly but he doesn't speak. I remove his shoe and his brace and place them onto the floor and lift his leg to rest onto mine again. I pull off the long sock that protects his skin next, also dropping it to the floor. His physical therapist showed me what to do when his muscles stiffen, so I begin doing what I was taught.

My fingers try digging into his calf muscle but it's like trying to soften a solid rock the size of a baseball. The muscles in his shins and ankle are just as firm... no wonder he's in pain. He's wincing again and I would be too if this was what my leg did after a long day. Does he usually try to massage and stretch his leg on his own with only one hand when he's at home?

"Am I causing you more pain doing this?"

He shakes his head. "N...no y...you're h...helping, b...believe me."

I start to believe him when I feel his muscles give into my hands and Lox sits back against the couch and leans his head back with his eyes closed.

For the next five minutes I massage his lower leg muscles, ankle and foot. I bend and flex his ankle around after until his foot is basically limp in my hands. This obviously isn't normal either, hence why he needs the brace, but hopefully I relieved most of the pain.

I pull his sock on over his foot and up his calf, though I leave the brace on the floor thinking he probably needs a break from wearing it.

"Y...you w..want me t...to stay h...here on th...this couch f...for the n...night d...don't y...you?" He smiles, eyes still closed, head resting.

I chuckle. "Maybe I do."

He lifts his head, opens his eyes, that amazing smile of his remains and all I want to do is kiss those perfect lips.

My fingers have a mind of their own when my hand reaches towards him and I softly cup his cheek, my thumb lightly tracing his dimple.

For a second he freezes up, eyes staring into mine but he doesn't actually see me and another second later he inhales a sharp breath while blinking his eye lids a few times.

"Are you okay?" I'm concerned about these weird episodes he has.

He nods and then I feel his fingers brush a piece of my hair behind my ear. He smiles at me and then his hand moves to the back of my neck and gently pulls us closer together.

His cool lips hover over mine for just a moment, his warm breath sending a wave of heat throughout my entire body. He knows he's teasing me by the way his mouth curls up on one side right before his soft lips connect with mine.

I've wanted to feel his lips on mine since the first day he strolled back into my life. Nothing has prepared me for this actual moment though. All the memories, and emotions I remember while kissing Becker have come flooding back in 100 times stronger than before, that I do everything I can not to start crying... from happiness.

The kiss is light and perfect and everything I've missed...and short!

He pulls away...way too soon.

He smiles again and chuckles, probably because of the expression on my face.

"I w...want to k...kiss y...you more t...too and f...for m...much longer. Only a...after I t...take y...you on a p...proper d...date."

"That better be very soon," I tease back.

"It w...will b...be I p...promise." He lifts my hand and kisses the back of my knuckles.

"You enjoy teasing me don't you?" I get up and move away from him, smiling so he knows I can play this game too.

"Hey th...that's n...not f...fair when I c...can't get u...up and ch...chase y...you," he points to his brace lying on the floor. "Y...you're in t...trouble w...when I get th...this th..thing back o...on." He reaches for the brace and his left hand pushes against it while his other hand attaches the straps.

I'm happy he's comfortable joking around with me. His old personality beginning to show and I suddenly want to cry again. Gosh I'm emotional!

"Liam's here!" Chase exclaims while running to the door.

"H...how d...does he know?"

"I've stopped trying to figure that out. He's a mystery that kid."

Chase opens the door for Liam and immediately grabs his hand and yanks him inside. Lox and I both laugh as Chase goes on chatting about anything and everything.

"He's not here to stay Chase, you'll see him on Sunday, right?" I look towards Lox for confirmation.

"Yes, we'll be here," Liam confirms.

"I h...have a n...neurology appointment t...tomorrow, so h...how about a d...date on S...Saturday?"

He quickly notices I'm concerned. Why does he have an appointment? Is he having more seizures? Is that why he's been staring off a lot lately?

He grabs my hand and links our fingers together. "I'm f...fine a ch...check up th...that's all," he smiles .

Okay, yes, that makes sense.

"If you're going on a date Saturday, can I stay with Liam since Fynn will be with Tim?" Chase reminds me Fynn has plans that I forgot about.

"I can come over here while you two go out," Liam says.

"Are you sure? Because if you have your own plans, we can go out another night."

"Nonsense!" Liam says. Chase is ecstatic.

"Okay. Thanks Liam."

I turn to Lox. "Please call me after your appointment and tell me how it went?"

"Awe, y...you w...worried about m...me?" He smirks, teasing me again.

Of course I'm worried, though I like the banter between us, reminds me of "us".

"Hmm, I'm not worried at all. I'm curious about neurology is all," I cross my arms pretending I don't care.

"If y...you s...say s...so," he chuckles.

On a more serious note, I get up onto my toes and kiss his cheek. "Talk to you tomorrow."

He slowly pulls his hand away from mine, holds onto his cane and blesses me with one last smile for the night.

Chase goes back to his room and I sit back onto the couch remembering our 2nd first kiss.