Chapter 5
ECHO
The hour drive was a blur as Echo raced to the hospital, to his family. He had kids? He knew that, dumb shit he was. Why had he left?
Echo knew why. He had been shell shocked and just went for a ride.
A ride that changed the course of their lives.
A ride that was likely to cost him everything.
The receptionist directed him to his family. Although, from what Data had told him, being in contact with Frank, the man who had taken care of his Stacy while he was gone, that his children were being prepped for a treatment. Not that both of them required it, but twins and all.
Hitting the elevator button several times did not improve his anxious energy. Stairs it was as the elevator was taking forever.
At the top, he turned and froze. There she was. His Stacy. His wife. The love of his life. Now that he had his memories back. Why the hell had he forgotten about her? How could he have done that?
She was pacing and rambling quietly to herself. Was there a reason she wasn't in the room with the kids? Did she just need a moment?
He inched closer, not wanting to startle her. Echo took his fill of her, soaking up the vision she made.
Echo watched as she shook her arms out and turned. Her body stalled, frozen in time when she spotted him. This was it.
Echo's feet moved of their own accord, taking him to his beautiful wife. His body reacted instantly.
Before any words were said he cupped her cheeks and kissed her. Oh God. It was heaven and coming home. How he missed her.
Her lips opened on a gasp and he took the opportunity, licking inside her mouth. Stacy returned the kiss, her fingers curling in his shirt.
“No!” She pulled back angrily. “Why?” She whined, her eyes cloudy with emotion, and his heart broke.
“I hate you!” Her fingers curled into fists and she beat on his chest. He didn't move. He refused as she continued to pelt him with all she had. “I hate you. I hate you,” she protested, her fists beating a steady rhythm against his aching chest.
“I know, baby,” he brought her lips back to his, interrupting her actions. She hesitated for a brief moment, kissing him, and then shoved him back.
“I hate you,” she cried, her hands slamming on his chest in unison, “how could you?”
“I love you, Stacy. Just let me explain. Please.” He wasn't leaving until he got to explain. Even if he had to beg, on his knees if he had to.
“No, no, no,” Stacy chanted, shook her head, beat on his chest, all while he held her. She could use him as a punching bag all day long, yet he would never let go of her.
Then she did what he never expected. Tears flowed down her cheeks as she cried. Sobbing her heart out, she laid her forehead on his chest as her entire body deflated from the anger she held.
“I've got you, baby. I'm here now,” Echo soothed. His hands went around her arms and back, cradling her to him.
Echo glanced around and noticed a large chair off to the side. He lifted her up, her tears and cries tearing at his heart, and carried her across the room.
Once he had her situated on his lap when he sat, a helpful passer-byer handed him a box of tissues. With thanks, he rubbed Stacy's back as she began to calm down from her breakdown.
“Why are you here?” Stacy sniffed, and grabbed two tissues when he held the box for her.
“I have a lot to make up for, I know,” he started, “please, just let me explain.”
“I guess,” she shrugged as if resigned to her fate.
“I...I was shocked when you showed me the pregnancy test. I feel like it was yesterday,” he ignored her snort, she'd hopefully understand soon enough. “I went for a ride to clear my mind. To think.”
Echo shifted her around and pulled out his phone. Obviously it wasn't the same phone from the accident, that one had been obliterated with nothing left, therefore no photos of Stacy.
He clicked through his photos and found the album from his accident. Holding the phone for her to see, she held it and scrolled through the album as he continued.
“I was in an accident. A bad one,” he squeezed her tighter when she gasped as she saw photos of him. “I had amnesia. Even after two years of getting back on my feet, I didn't remember much from a few years prior to the accident. Even though I'm here now,” he swallowed, not certain how to continue. “I've only just now gained my memory back. Yesterday in fact.”
Her brows furrowed and she squinted up at him, disbelief heavy in her gaze. “How does that even work?”
“I...well, I saw you. At the diner, and it triggered an episode, a massive headache. While at the clinic, Data provided me with information and I blacked out. When I eventually came to, like a few hours ago actually, I remembered everything. I found my memory. I found you again,” he swallowed as emotions threatened to clog his words.
“I cannot even begin to imagine what you must think of me. It took me years to even walk again, and I had this huge chunk of memory missing. I always felt off, strange, weird. Like I was missing a piece of me, and I was. You , baby. I was missing you.”
Echo waited for it to sink in. He knew it wasn't a fix all, especially given the circumstances. But he hoped it at least might be a bridge between them.
“Stacy, talk to me?”
STACY
Echo was here. He hadn't forgotten her, on purpose that was. She couldn't begin to even think about the implications of amnesia and all that went with it.
As she flitted through the photos of his accident: the bike mess, his injuries, and even his therapy milestones, Stacy felt her heart crack and heal.
Yes, he had left, but he hadn't left. Yet he had. Had he told but one person about her, she wouldn't have been alone.
Holding onto that newfound anger, she stood off of his lap. If he kissed her or held her any longer she would most likely cave and melt and forgive him completely.
“You never told anyone about me,” she accused. “Not once was I introduced to your family. When you left, you left. Yes, this explains the timeline now,” she waved his phone at him and handed it back, “but it doesn't excuse the fact I was left alone.
“Now, our son,” Stacy choked, threw an arm out in the direction of Harry's door, sniffed and tried to reign in her emotions, “our son is sick. And I'm betting the only reason you're here is because Frank had his friend search for you.”
Stacy held his gaze as they stared at each other. So much emotion was held in his depths. So much emotion swirled within her.
“Yes. I'm here because Frank contacted Data and he found me. Wasn't hard when Data is a club brother. I'm also here because now that I remember everything, I am where I want to be. Where I'm meant to be. I'm here because as soon as I remembered you and learned of our son and his illness, and our daughter. I hopped on my bike as fast as I was able and booked my ass here to be with you.”
Those soft loving eyes burned brighter and fierce the more he spoke. “I love you, Stacy. And until you say otherwise, you are my wife and I will make you mine again. We have a lot to traverse, yes. A lot to muddle through, and we'll have help doing it. But I promise you right now, I am never going anywhere without a word again. I made that mistake once and fucked shit up. I get it. This is on me. But right now, in this moment, I need you and you need me, and our children,” he stumbled over the word, gulped another swallow and tried again, his eyes glistening with unshed tears, “our children need us.”
He was right. As much as she wanted to hate him, they needed to be a united front. Even if she wasn't one hundred percent certain of the entire situation.
“Mrs. Dickson,” a nurse called from the other end of the open area. “Your children are ready and waiting.”
“Thank you, I'll be right there,” Stacy confirmed, then looked back to Travis who was now standing. “Let's go.”
Before she could move he kissed her. His lips were meant for her, always had been. His hands, strong around her, she felt safe wrapped up in him.
“No,” she pushed his chest. “That's not fair. You can't just kiss me and make everything better.”
Travis’ trademark smirk was present. A smirk Stacy had once loved. Still did if she were to admit it to herself. “I didn't play fair the first time winning you over. I'm not going to now either. I love you, Stacy. Now, let's go meet the kids.”
He was right on both accounts, she knew. Shaking her head with a small smile, she turned and heard him following close behind her. Inside the private room, an accomodation specifically for the twins, Stacy was greeted with cheers and smiles from both Harry and Helen.
“Oh, my babies,” she rushed to them. They were situated on the same bed, and she briefly wondered why and if Harry had issues with the needles. Stacy had wanted to stay in with them, but Harry and Helen both said they were big kids and wanted to do it. She had conceded, knowing she had needed a moment to gather her emotions.
After hugging and kissing each twin, she leaned back and looked at both of them. “I have a surprise for you,” and tilted her head towards the door as she shifted to lean her hip against the bed.
Harry noticed Travis first, gasping in joy, hands and arms raised, “Daddy!” Helen followed close behind and Stacy felt her heart stop as she watched Travis freeze for a moment.
She shouldn't have worried much as Travis quickly made his way to the other side of the bed and wrapped his arms around both kids as best as he could. He was most likely overwhelmed by all of it.
“I wished for you to come,” Harry said through tears.
“I'm so sorry,” Travis mumbled, and Stacy saw him kiss each kids’ heads over and over. “I'm so sorry. I'm here now. I'm not going anywhere. I love you two so much.”
Stacy swiped at a stray tear or two as she watched him meet, hug, and love his children for the first time.