Once Upon a December ((Plot people))

[Dixie Holden-Greene]

“Here you go,” Dixie handed Sierra a butterbeer that she had bought at the café downstairs. Sierra took the drink but didn’t sip at it. Dixie didn’t blame her. The butterbeer was disgusting, it would seem that even St. Mungo’s stayed with horrible hospital food. Dixie hadn’t eaten much in the past couple of months except for when she was at Hogwarts and had an appetite. She was with Adam every weekend and even some days into the week. Dixie had probably attended class five times in the past month and even less in the month before that. She was still doing well in her classes, though, because she went and got her assignments. Most of the professors understood her absence and knew she would be able to keep up. Dixie knew that, too, it was Sierra that Dixie was worried about. The younger girl was pretty much on her own, that was evident by the lack of appearance by her and Adam’s parents. They had been there to find out Adam’s condition, have him transferred to St. Mungo’s regardless of his critical condition, and then left again. They hadn’t been heard of since. Good riddance, Dixie thought as she sipped at her stale coffee, her eyes on Adam as he lay in his bed in the blasted coma.

The night was still a vivid memory in her mind, and as she replayed the accident over and over again, she felt loathing in the pit of her stomach for Rae. Dixie closed her eyes, trying to keep the anger and hate from spilling out of her again. The last time it had happened, Rae had received the brutal end of Dixie’s wrath. Rae, like Adam’s parents, had disappeared after that outburst. That was fine, Dixie wasn’t certain she could be civil anyway. Her eyes snapped open when the sound of the door opening reached her ears. The doctor who was overseeing Adam stepped in with a clipboard and quill following behind him. As the door closed behind the doctor, Dixie lifted her eyes as if she were waiting for a miracle. The doctor checked the machines and shook his head. “No change, I’m sorry, Miss Holden. I’ll be back in two hours, perhaps you should go back to school.” He eyed Sierra, “You too, Miss Greene.” Dixie merely nodded, knowing full well that she wouldn’t be leaving and neither would Sierra. No change. None. He was still in the coma, no sign of him waking up. The hope was still there, though, at least in Dixie it was. When she had first been told Adam’s diagnosis, Dixie had called Mack and talked to her, hoping her younger sister could ease her fears. “The doctors said Trevor wouldn’t wake up, and he did. Just keep hoping and talking to him. It really does help.” Mack had made Dixie feel better for awhile, and then she said something that terrified Dixie. “When he wakes up, though, don’t be surprised if he has a hard time remembering things. There are some things that Trevor still has a tough time remembering, it just takes time and patience.”

The idea that Adam mightn’t be able to remember much or anything at all unnerved Dixie. How would she be able to handle that? Adam had been her knight in shining armour, how could she be his? It was all overwhelming, but through the entire ordeal, Dixie had kept her cool and had been strong. And now as she sat in the stiff chair beside Adam’s bed and thought about how long he’d been in a coma, Dixie felt her fortress crumbling. The tears slid down her cheeks as she continued to think about everything. Why did life insist on being so cruel? Why couldn’t it just end happily for once? The positive thinking technique she had learnt in Bethlem was lost on Dixie as her mind went over everything that happened. Since she had first met Adam. All the good times mixed in with the deep conversations they had. Would he remember anything about them when he woke up? They had just established a ‘them’ and now there was a possibility it could be ripped from them. Even as Dixie thought about losing all their memories, she knew she was being selfish. Adam had really only just known Dixie for a year, not even that, so if he forgot her it was very understandable. If he forgot his own sister, though, that was something Dixie knew was a bad thing. She wiped at her tears as she turned to look at Sierra. This was all a big mess and it was entirely Rae’s fault.

“I think I’m going to rest my eyes for a bit, you don’t mind do you?” Dixie asked with a soft smile in Sierra’s direction. The second year shook her head and Dixie leaned her head against the chair. “If you need me, just shake me, I sleep rather lightly.” And with that, she let her eyes close and drifted off into a fitful rest with the Government haunting her nightmare.

[Sierra Greene S6]

Sierra gazed out the window, watching the rain fall to the ground. Her attention was elsewhere though. Lately, it had been. She couldn't for the life of her stop thinking about the past month or so. Ever since she heard of Adam's accident she had been the only family member at the hospital when she had the opportunity. Dixie had been there though, which was nice. Sierra saw now why Adam had been so drawn to Dixie before when he seemed to be with her all the time. It bothered Sierra then, just because it meant Adam didn't have much time for her, but now, it all made sense. Dixie told her about the night of the accident, and how she and Adam had finally established their relationship. It didn't seem fair though. Sierra could see how much it crushed Dixie to have to sit and wonder if it was all just going to be taken away from her that fast.

Her parents, they were another issue. For the first time in her life, Sierra felt an emotion toward them that reached beyond her usual apathy. She used to just shrug off the fact that they were lousy parents, but this... this had pushed it too far. Here she was, only twelve years old, and they had left her as the only person to be with Adam. It really showed how little they really did care. She couldn't believe it, the day they had showed up just to finalize the transfer from the muggle hospital. They told her to owl if anything happened, and she hadn't heard from them since. She figured if something did happen, she wouldn't owl anyways. What would they do- just go on living their pathetic lives anyways. A tear glided down her cheek. At least Adam was of age now. If he did wake up from the coma, he could live on his own. For Sierra, it was different. She hated the thought of going back to the place she felt sick calling home. That would have to be sorted out another time though. For now, she was still in school, and Adam was her main concern. If he didn't make it out of the coma, she would be even more alone. The doctors said they would give him another month or so, and if he didn't wake up, the chances were almost impossible.

Jumping at the sound of a voice, Sierra turned her attention from outside to see Dixie with a drink in her hand. "Thanks," Sierra said, taking the butterbeer after wiping her eyes with the sleeve of her shirt. Shortly after Dixie, Adam's doctor entered the room and did his routine check. Sierra frowned when he told Dixie that there was no change. Then, she simply ignored his comment about the two of them returning to school. It was no use. When she was at school, she couldn't focus anyways. Luckily, Dixie had spent a little time helping her with the work she did manage to get from her professors and bring to the hospital to work on. Sierra sipped from the cup. It tasted terrible, but her mouth was dry, so the cool liquid helped to soothe her throat.

When Dixie announced that she was just going to take a small rest, Sierra nodded and then stood from her chair beside the window. She walked over to Adam's bed and sat beside him, looking at his peaceful face. It wasn't fair. He didn't deserve this. Dixie didn't deserve this. Sierra didn't deserve this. But it was real. They were all there, just sitting, and waiting- for what, Sierra wasn't even sure of anymore. A month seemed like years at this point, and slowly, she began to lose hope that he would ever wake up. Another tear fell from her eye as she looked at him. She put her hand on his and whispered softly, "Why can't you just hear me? Why can't you wake up Adam?" She closed her eyes and fell back into her chair, her cheeks wet from tears. Her mind drifted to the same thoughts as before. Eventually, she fell asleep, thinking of times when she and Adam were younger.

Only a few minutes passed, but since she was sleeping, it felt like much longer. Sierra was awakened to a voice. She looked up, expecting to see the doctor again for his normal rounds. However, the room was empty- aside form her Adam and Dixie of course. Dixie was still asleep, or at least her eyes were closed. Confused, Sierra looked to Adam whose eyes were closed as well. Could it be? she thought, starring at him and shaking her head, not wanting to let a false hope just let her down in the end.

[Professor Adam Greene]

What do you think about us... pretty boy... I hate that girl... trust me... my knight in shining armor... ... ...

Adam's eyes flashed open just momentarily: a span of white, covered with little textured indentations. Again, his eye-lids opened for a second, showing the same blank view. His body stirred slightly, and Adam was able to force his eyes open once more- this time for longer than a second. He starred at the blank ceiling above him, not quite sure where he was. Turning his head slowly to get a better view of the room, he saw Sierra sitting to his left. This relieved his anxious mind only slightly. Aside from Sierra, there was only one other person in the room; a girl who seemed vaguely familiar, but he couldn't quite place her. His mind began to race as he tried figuring out what he was doing in the bed. The rest of his body felt fine, but he also had a sensation of being frozen in place. It took so much energy just to make the slightest movements.

Working the energy to finally speak, Adam opened his mouth. Nothing came out. Trying again, he managed a barely audible, "Si..." and that was all that came out. He saw that Sierra had her eyes closed, and he desperately wished he could get her attention. However, just from moving his head slightly and trying to speak, Adam felt an overwhelming state of lethargy. Unable to fight it off, his eyes fell shut again. He was still awake though. He could tell that his mind was working, but he still didn't understand.

A few minutes went by in which Adam, although unable to speak or move, was able to try to process his situation. It was obvious that he was in a hospital of some sort. For what reason, he was unsure. The fact that Sierra was there made sense, but the other girl being there confused him. He searched his mind the best he could, trying to recall ever seeing her before. Then, something sparked his memory. There was a girl in his year at Hogwarts. Her name was Dixie... Dixie Holden. She looked awfully similar to this girl, but why was she there, he thought. Maybe it wasn't even her. They never really talked before that he could remember. In the five years he remembered knowing of her in Hogwarts, he might have said 'hi' once, and that was only a maybe.

Although it tired him to even think, Adam felt like he had saved enough energy to try to open his eyes again. He desperately wanted answers and he needed to get Sierra's attention. With all the strength he had, Adam forced his eyes to open for the fourth time. Luckily, it was easy to keep them open once they were. The hard part would be getting her attention. "Si... Sierra," he forced in a hoarse voice. It hurt his throat to talk, but he didn't know why. It was if his whole body had just forgot how to work, like he hadn't used it for a while or something. Surely his attempt was enough to gain his sister's attention.

[Dixie Holden-Greene]

Now you come back to us. She wasn’t back, she was just… what was she? As Dixie lay in the familiar meadows of Kurr, her eyes darted across the sky from one cloud to another. There was something so peaceful about being back in Kurr, but she wasn’t fully back. She was just there for the time being so she could get away. Stay with us. Dixie turned her head to the right and watched the Government hold out it’s hand as a peace offering. As much as she was tempted to, she couldn’t. She had to go back; she had to be there for Sierra and for Adam. With one last look at the sky, Dixie closed her eyes in Kurr, and reopened them on Earth. It took a moment for her eyes to adjust to the duller colours of Earth and when they did, they watched Adam a moment who appeared to remain unchanged. Her eyes then fell to the tiled flooring and picked out shapes, it was the only thing she could do to keep her mind from wandering to the sadder parts of the year. Everything had spun out of control so suddenly. And it was all Rae’s fault. All of it. Dixie grit her teeth as she fought back the urge to cry. She had cried enough that day. That didn’t meant it wasn’t Rae’s fault.

Dixie muttered under her breath, “It’s all that horrible, good for nothing, mutt…” Her eyes jumped from the tile on the floor to Adam’s bed. Had he just…? Did she just hear him say something…? Dixie unfolded her legs and leaned forward in her chair, wondering if she had actually heard him or if it was just wishful illusions. It couldn’t be that, could it? While it was logical, considering her mental history, Dixie highly doubted it, especially when she had been on a rant about Rae. She took a deep breath and moved her eyes to Adam’s face. His eyes were open. Dixie felt her knees turn to jelly as she stood from her chair. Sierra soon awoke as well, realizing Adam was awake not too long after that. Dixie scratched the back of her neck, unaware of what to say. With a quick glance at Sierra, Dixie let out a sigh, “I’ll… um… go get a doctor.” She slipped her hands into her pockets and left the room in a rush. When she was in the hallway, she leaned against the wall and took three deep breaths. Since when did she run from Adam? Since Christmas Eve, she answered her own question. Adam’s doctor looked up from his clipboard as he passed, “Miss Holden?” Dixie looked up quickly, “Everything okay?” With a shiver and a small smile, she nodded. “Adam’s awake… I was just coming to find you, actually. I had to get some air first though.” The doctor smiled understandably and told her that he would check everything when he returned for his rounds, as long as Adam wasn’t thrashing in his bed. Dixie laughed lightly and opened the door, “See for yourself.” The doctor peered in, sent a smile to Sierra, and then turned to Dixie. She watched him leave and then stepped inside the room again.

“Hey there, stranger, how are you feeling?” She had found her voice, and although it had cracked and she was holding back tears it was far better than she had thought about her first reaction to seeing Adam awake.

[Professor Adam Greene]

To his relief, Adam's attempt to get Sierra's attention had first captured the other girl's attention. Sierra though woke too, both of them standing as if they were surprised to see him alert. That probably wasn't a good thing, he thought, if they were shocked to see that he was regaining his consciousness. It must have been worse than what he thought. Still though, the questions flooded his mind, yet his condition kept him from allowing them all to escape at once. Before he could even talk, the girl had left, commenting that she was getting a doctor. This left Sierra, who had a look of so many different emotions that Adam couldn't begin to figure out what she might be thinking. Her mouth was open, but he didn't hear any words come out.

When he did hear words, they came from the other girl who had reappeared. Stranger? She sure had that part right. Even though she seemed to know him, Adam could only assume that she was the girl he remembered from school, Dixie, or someone that he just forgot that he knew. "I... feel fine," he managed, wanting to find out answers more than talk about how he felt. Then, Sierra finally spoke. "I will be back. I'm going to owl mom and dad." She rushed out of the room, highly emotional and barely able to hold back the tears. She didn't think this was how she would react when he awoke, but it was hard for her to see him awake again for some reason. Part of it might have been because she wondered if he would be the same. She couldn't bear to think that he wouldn't be the Adam she knew from before the accident. Leaving Dixie alone with Adam was not what Sierra intended to do. It had to be hard for her too, but Sierra just needed a moment to catch her breath.

Back in the room, Adam looked at the only person who was there to answer his questions. Although he wasn't even sure who she was or why she was there, she was his only chance for answers. "What happened?" he asked, keeping his words to a minimum. His throat was still raw, but getting better with each time he spoke. The rest of his body started to feel more alert as well. It was as if he was waking up for the first time. "Who are you?" he asked next. One at a time, he asked the things he wanted to know so badly. However, before he could ask another, the girl spoke.

[Dixie Holden-Greene]

Dixie chewed on her bottom lip as Sierra rushed out saying she was going to owl Mr. and Mrs. Greene. This left Dixie and Adam alone. As she stood still, her hand flew to her hair and she tucked some of it behind her ear. There was a silence and it was in that moment, Dixie knew Adam didn’t remember. His questions seemed to help her realize that even more, though, and what little doubt she had was banished when he asked her who she was. She stared at him a moment, and tried to contain the rush of emotion that was building up inside her. “I…” she stuttered as she moved to the side of the bed where the water jug was set. She poured him a glass of water with trembling fingers and set a bendy straw in it. With a quick wave of her wand, the cup floated over to Adam and Dixie was able to sit down in the seat. “You don’t remember anything? Not even who I am?” She finally mustered up the courage to ask the two questions that seemed to shock her most, although she knew that it was probable he wouldn’t remember much – it was still frightening to know he didn’t remember her at all.

“Well, for your first question. You were in a car accident, a rather bad one, on Christmas Eve. Actually, then, we were in a car accident. You were driving and you got the worst of the injuries out of the three passengers, me, you, and Rae; who isn’t that important. Something happened to your head, some brain injury, and…” Dixie looked down at her hands, “… you were in a coma for about a month and a half. I don’t know what exactly your injuries were, but they were bad enough to have Sierra and I in here every day, even when we weren’t supposed to be.” She wondered if she was speaking to fast or if she was making any sense. The last thing she wanted to do was confuse Adam even more than he already was. Dixie lifted her gaze again, now came the hard part.

“The second question… heh… I’m Dixie,” it felt so weird to have to reintroduce herself again, but she knew she had to, “we’ve been in the same house for seven years. I’m yo-“ Dixie bit her lip as tears welled in her eyes, “You really don’t remember anything?”

[Professor Adam Greene]

Adam strained his mind to listen to what she had to say. First off, it seemed that she was disappointed that he didn't know who she was. However, he couldn't understand why. He simply had no concrete recollection of her. Then, the explanation he wanted so badly finally came. But it was like smashing head on into solid rock. It shocked Adam, to say the least. He didn't have anything to even say at first. All he could do what think. A car accident... he was the driver. Who the heck is Rae? He had been in a coma for over a month! This girl and Sierra were both with him every day, even though he still hadn't found out how he knew her for sure. It was like a storm in his mind- all of the things he was thinking in circles that went around faster than he could comprehend.

Then, her next answer stopped his thinking for a few moments. Dixie. He realized that he at least had the right girl in mind, but that still didn't explain why a random girl he only knew slightly from school would be there. Her next statement confused him even more. Enough so to make him ask a question of clarification. "But I'm only in my fifth year. How is that possible, that you say we've been in the same house for seven years? I mean, I remember you now- Dixie... Holden," he said, searching his memory for the last name. "I don't remember the accident, but I remember everything before the accident," he said, quite sure that he hadn't lost his memory. He remembered Hogwarts, his family, and all of his childhood. Why did Dixie seem to think that he didn't remember anything. "I'm sorry," he said, his voice dying down again as his energy began to deplete again. "I still am not sure why you would be here. I mean, I appreciate your company and all, and your trying to help me with my questions. But I barely know you, aside from seeing you in the common room or classes on occasion." Adam looked at the girl with pleading eyes. He just wanted to understand everything. She seemed to be equally distraught herself over the whole situation, but he couldn't figure out why. It started to add up, but something was missing. Adam's eyes drooped as his body felt tired once again. Straining to keep them open, he asked another question. "Are my parents here?" He had an idea of the answer. Another thing he knew he remembered was that they were usually never there when he needed them. Why would now be any different? Still, he felt like he needed to know.

[Dixie Holden-Greene]

“Fifth year?” Dixie asked in her normal voice, she sighed and leaned back in her chair, “That explains it. Adam, you aren’t in your fifth year. You’re in your seventh. It’s the year 1999.” She watched him, hoping he would remember, hoping that he would suddenly smile and say that he remembered everything from their first conversation in the common room to now. But she knew the possibility of that was very small. Her heart was suddenly breaking. The only person she had ever cared about had completely forgotten that he cared for her or that she cared for him. It was all too much for Dixie to take and she had the temptation to jump up from the chair and leave. She wanted to escape, run away. The only place she could run to, she knew, was Kurr and running there was out of the question. She shook her head when Adam apologized. What was she going to tell him?

“I’m here because you are the only person I’ve ever cared about. You’re the person who helped me realize the real me and helped me become a better person. You’re the one who understands me and makes me laugh even when I don’t feel like laughing.” She shook her head again, “I’m not making any sense, am I?” How was she supposed to make sense when she felt like she was in the room with a complete stranger even though she was in the room with the one guy she loved? Dixie smiled. She loved him. It was that simple. For some reason, she figured that telling Adam that in his current condition wouldn’t be a good idea. “I’m here because I’m a really good friend and this is what really good friends do for each other when one gets hurt.”

His next question, thankfully, was easier to answer and before she could stop herself, Dixie scoffed and rolled her eyes; “Are you kidding? Have your parents ever been there when you needed them?” The moment she said it, her eyes widened, “Sorry. Just a reaction, but they aren’t here, no.”

[Professor Adam Greene]

No. That couldn't be possible. If he was in his seventh year, Adam realized he had no recollection of anything from his fifth year on. There had to be a misunderstanding. Or maybe this was all just a dream. There was no way he had lost a whole two years of memories... right? Watching Dixie closely, he gazed at her with a pleading expression, hoping that her next words would cause everything to make sense. She had just been mistaken or something, she had to be. It only got worse though as she went on. Instead of making it easier to swallow, Dixie's explanation just made everything more complicated.

Adam was hearing Dixie talk about him, but it all felt so unrealistic. It was almost as if even though she was saying things about himself, it felt like she was talking about a different person. Adam couldn't wrap his mind around the idea that he had apparently known Dixie very well. She mentioned that he was the only person that she cared about and how he helped her to be a better person, understand her, and even make her laugh. It all sounded so wonderful, if it only had been able to be presented in a more positive situation. Adam felt a deep sense of sadness, thinking that Dixie had been such a relevant part of his life at some point during these past two years, yet he couldn't remember a single thing about it.

Instantly, his mind told him just not to believe what she was saying. That would be the easiest way, right? Maybe, but he had no reason not to believe her. Dixie was genuinely distraught, and Adam knew that it all seemed to add up. He obviously had been in some sort of accident, and everything Dixie had explained seemed logical. But it was just the part of accepting it that Adam could not deal with. If it were all true, that meant that not only his life had been turned upside down, but now Dixie's as well. It wasn't like they could just go on and pretend like nothing ever happened. Without the memories, Adam knew that it wouldn't be real. Sure, he had nothing against Dixie, but from what he could remember, he barely knew anything about her. All he had was her word, but it was a start, wasn't it?

Adam shut his eyes tight, searching for some simple way to just make this all less complex. It was no use though. Even more exhausted than before, Adam wasn't quite sure how much more of this he would be able to take. It was all rather draining in his condition. "I'm sorry Dixie. I'm sorry I can't remember." Adam's voice was quiet, and he held back tears that seemed inevitable. "I... I just have so many questions. I mean, if what you say is true, then I have two years of my life missing. Somewhere in my mind that I might not be able to find. I need to know what happened in those two years Dixie. I need to know more. What about us? From what I remember, there was no us. But now, we are good friends? Or what would you even say that it was?" Adam's questions poured, one after another, his voice slowly dying along with his energy. "I'm so sorry Dixie," he said again, this time a tear slid down his cheek, leaving a wet trail on his face. Adam gave in to his body and let his eyes close. Even his mind was slowing at this point. After a few moments of rest he opened them again. Looking at Dixie, he left out a sigh. He couldn't expect her to do this. It had to have been hard. But at this point, he didn't know what else to do. Dixie was all he had right now in this moment of confusion and frustration. As she said, his parents weren't able to be counted on. And Sierra had not yet returned. Even as she seemed a stranger to him, Adam knew he had to trust what she said was part of his past. If they had been friends before the accident, why wouldn't they be friends now. Obviously Dixie cared enough about him to be there, and that was something he appreciated without needing memories to prove it.

[Dixie Holden-Greene]

This is what happens when you place trust in people on Earth, they let you down in anyway you can imagine. This is why you belong in Kurr… Dixie drove the voice of the Government out of her head by focusing on the window that was past Adam’s bed. This all was a nightmare, a horrible nightmare that Dixie wasn’t ever going to wake up from. She could feel Adam’s eyes on her and reluctantly she tore her gaze from the window to him. Immediately, she regretted it. The pleading in his eyes almost made Dixie start crying again, she wished there was so much she could do to help him remember and understand, but she couldn’t. The hard reality was painful and Dixie hated it. Letting a sigh escape her lips, Dixie tugged at the bracelet on her wrist nervously. “Adam, I…” But he was already talking. She listened, and stopped fidgeting with her bracelet. He looked so worn out, which was completely understandable considering he had just woken up from a coma. When he was finished, she closed her eyes, keeping those tears that were still threatening to come from actually coming. Dixie couldn’t afford to cry, Adam needed her to be strong and that was what was important. Even if he didn’t remember anything about what they had talked about, Dixie knew she had to be there for him.

“I know you have a lot of questions, I can only imagine how confused you are right now,” Actually, I can do much more than imagine. Dixie chewed on her bottom lip as she opened her eyes and watched Adam, “I want to help you as much as I can, I want to do what I can to help you remember, but there is only so much I can do. You see, we only just started talking in beginning of this year. I don’t much about what memories you would have from last year.” She looked down at her hands, wondering how hard the questions she was able to answer were going to be. She was still confused about all that herself, and now she had to tell Adam what they were. What were they? “There are a few questions I can answer, and I’m willing to tell you everything that we’ve talked about or the significant conversations and moments we’ve had… but I don’t want to tell you something and have you just think you remember it but really not.” Dixie looked back up and sent him a small smile. Her small smile brightened into a comforting one and she leaned forward, resting her elbows on her knees. “So let’s tackle those questions, shall we?” Maybe she could be optimistic, would that help? It was worth a shot.
“And for the record, Adam, you don’t have to be sorry. It’s not your fault. Don’t apologize for something that can’t be helped. We’ll deal with it and get through it as best we can, and we can’t ever lose hope.”

She had to control the urge to hug him when she saw the tear roll down his cheek, knowing that might be odd for him. It was so hard for her to be in this position. She had to figure out how she was going to deal with it and from there she would go on. “First question. Us. See, that’s a slightly harder question for me to answer. We’re really good friends, and you helped me through a rough patch and were the only person I trusted. I don’t want to go into that whole detail right now, but I can tell you all about that if you want later. It might be too much for you to grasp and you look pretty warn out.” A concerned smile crossed her face before she continued, “It was Christmas Eve, the night of the accident, that I think we admitted that we liked each other. We’ve… we’ve kissed, and I know there were feelings there but we hadn’t made anything official.” Dixie thought about how she was saying this and then smiled brightly, “I sound more insane than I really am. The easiest way to explain this would be to tell you that we were just establishing an ‘us.’ Before we had been friends who were really close, and then something just happened.”

“Adam, maybe you should get some rest. Which is quite ironic if you think about it, but I don’t want you to use too much energy at once.” Dixie stood and grabbed the floating cup, setting it down on the counter. “Unless you want to talk to Sierra, she might be able to help you with a lot more things than I can concerning home life and such.” She crossed her arms and looked down at her fingernails. “Adam, if anyone should be sorry, it’s me. Hopefully someday you’ll remember why. I can’t believe this is happening…” The last bit wasn’t addressed to anyone, but she hadn’t done anything to make it unheard. After a moment of silence and a small tear rolling down her cheek, she looked up, “Should I get Sierra?” she asked as she wiped the tear away.

[Professor Adam Greene]

Dixie was very helpful and willing to answer his questions the best he could. Even though he was weak and having a hard time comprehending everything that she was saying, he could tell that it was very hard for her to do this. When she explained to him that the two of them had only just begun a relationship, he closed his eyes in disbelief. He believed everything that Dixie said, but what was he supposed to do about having no recollection of any of it. It wasn't fair to Dixie that she knew everything that had happened between them, but for him, it was gone- all of it, somewhere beyond his ability to remember. Would it ever come back? Did it matter if it came back? Would he and Dixie ever be the same again? Did he even feel the same about her as he had before? These were all questions that he asked himself, unable to even begin figuring them out. The more he thought about it all, the more hopeless it seemed. Part of Adam just wanted to drift back into the coma and never wake up. Maybe it would just be easier that way. His eyes still closed, he heard Dixie mention Sierra and suggest that maybe he talk to her. He shook his head. "No," he managed, opening his eyes. "I need to know more." His voice was still weak, but he pushed himself to talk. Never had he felt more confused or frustrated in his life, and he wanted to try his best to sort this all out.

"I can't thank you enough for being here Dixie. From what you say, I'm sure that what we had was amazing. I mean, just from what I am seeing of you now, I can see why I would have been drawn to you. But I just need to know something. What if the memories never come back? What happens to us then? It's got to be more difficult for you, having all of those memories with nobody to share them with. And then for me, am I just supposed to go on knowing and trusting that the feelings were once there and still remain? It's just all so hard Dixie. What are we supposed to do?" Adam was desperate now. He wasn't even sure how Dixie would respond. Maybe she couldn't take it anymore either, and he wouldn't have blamed her for just leaving him there to sort it all out on his own. His questions must have put her through enough already, but she was the only thing he had at this point to hold on to. Sure, he had Sierra, but he was certain that Sierra couldn't help explain Dixie. Since Dixie seemed to be the most important thing in his life just before the accident, that was where he needed to begin. Sierra would be there later to help him with the rest. For now, he just needed to understand. And for that, he just needed Dixie to help him understand. Remembering would come later, hopefully. At this point, he just wanted to know why and how everything would work.

[Dixie Holden-Greene]

“No?” Dixie repeated with a confused look on her face. “Right. Okay.” She sank back into the chair and watched Adam, “I still think you should get some rest.” She knew it wouldn’t do any good, even if Adam had lost two years of his memory he would want to know everything that he had lost. The only problem was that Dixie couldn’t help with everything. She could help with most things, even though the way she remembered things might be different than the way Adam remembered them. It was worth a shot though, and Dixie was willing to help. Especially if Adam wanted it. As she chewed on her bottom lip some more, Dixie tucked her hair behind her ear. It was all so difficult and Dixie never did well with difficult. She liked to do things the easy way, but this couldn’t be done in any easy way. There was nothing easy about helping someone remember. Not even magic could fix this. It would be ten times easier if it could. She listened to Adam talk and with each question he posed, she felt like the wind was knocked out of her. They were all questions she had asked herself and they were all questions she couldn’t answer. What was she going to tell him? What would happen between them if he never remembered again? Dixie looked down at her hands as she thought about how she would answer them. The reason why she couldn’t answer them before was because she wouldn’t. She wanted to deal with him waking up first, and now that he had woken up… she had to deal with the pressing matters at hand.

With a small smile, “You don’t have to thank me, Adam. There isn’t anywhere else in the world that I’d rather be than right here.” Another tuck of hair behind her ear, and Dixie let out a sigh. “Um… we did… but it was as if it was doomed from the beginning, quite literally.” Now came the harder part. Answering his questions was something that Dixie was not looking forward to, mainly because she didn’t know how to answer them herself. “Adam, if the memories don’t come back the feelings are still there, aren’t they? I mean… I’ve never lost my memory or anything, though I’ve wished I had, but if there was a feeling so strong in someone it would still be there, wouldn’t it? It would just have to be found somehow.” She wondered how much of that was true. What if he didn’t feel anything toward her besides gratitude for being there? Dixie would worry about that later, right now what she was worrying about most was answering his questions. One step at a time, Dix, one step at a time. “I’m not going to leave, Adam, not right now. I’m going somewhere over the summer, but that gives us a lot of time to do what we can to help you remember as much as you can. I’m not going to leave when you need me the most…” She meant every word she was saying, and she probably wouldn’t even go to Paris if he needed her still.

“As far as ‘us’ is concerned, let’s just deal with everything now. We’ll work that over when we come to it. Yeah, it’s hard but I’m willing to deal with it all if it means helping you to get better as much as you can.” She smiled softly and shrugged before casting her eyes down to her hands again. “I’m afraid only you can decide what to do about your feelings or the lack of them toward me. You can decide whether or not to trust them or the idea that they were there, but I don’t think that will be too hard for you. You’re a rather trusting person, that’s half the reason why I care so much.” She laughed lightly and looked back up, pain apparent in her eyes. Dixie hated this, she hated all that was happening. It was all too hard and usually Dixie was able to steer away from the harder things. Not this. She could just as easily run from it, but she didn’t want to. She cared about Adam way too much to do that to him. “It’s not going to be easy, it’s actually going to be quite difficult. But I’m game if you are and if we’re both game, then we’ll make sure we work our tails off to make everything the way it was before.”

[Professor Adam Greene]

"Yeah," was about all that Adam could manage after Dixie gave such encouraging words. They were helpful and he appreciated them, but he was at the point where he really didn't know what else to say about it. He decided that they had pretty much come to the conclusion that a lot of what the future held would depend on if he ever got his memory back. He had only been out of the coma now for not even an hour, so he couldn't expect anything amazing to happen so soon. It would take time, he knew that. It just scared him though. Obviously, Dixie being there helped to at least prove how strong the bond between them was. As much as he recognized that, it just wasn't the same when he couldn't back it up with memories. He wanted to, but part of him felt like Dixie was still a stranger to him, no matter how close she felt.

"I will work hard," he said quietly, wanting Dixie to know that he wasn't just going to give up that easily. "And, if the memories don't seem to come back, I'm willing to try whatever. I mean, for me, it's like starting all over. So, if you don't mind backtracking a bit, maybe we can give 'us' another try once I'm out of the hospital. Who knows, maybe there is more hope that we think. Speaking of hope, it'd be nice if a doctor actually would show up and at least explain this whole thing." Adam looked down at the bottom of the bed where his feet were. The lethargy that he had been fighting was slowly winning him over. "I know you said that I don't have to thank you, but I still want to Dixie. I must have been lucky to have you," he said with a small smile- the first he had given since he woke from his coma. "Well, I still am," he added, realizing that Dixie hadn't left and that she was still there for him even if he didn't remember their relationship at all. As she said, he was very trusting, and that was one thing he was relying on at this point. Without Dixie, he'd have had nothing and nobody aside from Sierra. Adam yawned and then looked back at Dixie. "I don't know how much longer I can fight off my body's lack of energy. Will you be here when I wake up?" he asked. For some reason, just her presence was comforting to him. As his eyes shut and his mind drifted away from the world, he hoped deep down that something, anything, would bring back the memories of a time he yearned to remember.

[Dixie Holden-Greene]

She smiled softly at Adam, wondering what the future had in store. Thoughts whirled around in her head. She had to remain optimistic for him and she would try her best to do just that. It was going to be hard, though, and Dixie knew that. Everything was going to be hard about this, though, and Dixie was more than willing to get through it all. Especially because it was Adam. Had it been anyone else, Dixie would simply offer her sympathies and move on. But this was Adam and he meant more than everything to her. She tucked a strand of hair behind her ear as she watched Adam. All she wanted was to hug him and have everything go back to the way it was before Rae, before the accident. That was impossible, though, and Dixie had to live up to it. There wasn’t anything she could do but hope and pray each day. Would that do any good though? Too bad if it didn’t because that was all that was capable of being done. Dixie smiled again, as she shifted her gaze from Adam to the window behind him. The sky hadn’t changed colour at all, and that disappointed Dixie because she had expected a bright sun when Adam first woke up. She had also been expecting he would remember at least a little… that didn’t happen, so why should the bright sunlight?

Her eyes flew back to Adam when he spoke. She laughed lightly when he sort of asked if she minded backtracking. “It would be too far of a backtrack… though I would have to tell you about everything in my past again and that’ll take some time. Especially since the first time I told you was completely because of… well… I don’t know what. I must’ve been possessed or something.” Her eyes told him she was joking completely and that if the memories never did come back to him, she would like to try again. She knew it would be different, and she didn’t know how she would be able to deal with it all. But she would. Dixie smiled at him, “Don’t worry, they’ll come back. They just have to.” Her smile never faltered, but there was a flicker of doubt in her stomach. When Adam said something about a doctor, Dixie cast a look at her watch, “He won’t be in for another twenty minutes. Doctors,” she rolled her eyes, “Trevor’s wanted to pull his life support, but Mack wouldn’t let him.” There she went again. Talking to him as if he knew who she was talking about. Dixie smiled awkwardly and looked down at her hands, trying to shift the embarrassment and the awkwardness from herself to the empty space in the air. Though, that probably wouldn’t do much good.

I still am… Dixie looked up to see a small smile on his face, and that made her smile an actual smile; not a timid one or an awkward one. A smile that said she had hope and was at least a little happy. “In that case, you’re very much welcome. And the best part? I’m a free support system, just… don’t ask me to cheer using those weird pom pom things because that won’t happen.” Her smile remained on her face, even as Adam yawned. She had been waiting for him to say something about being tired. Honestly, Dixie hadn’t any idea how Trevor had woken up from a 6 month coma and gone straight to picking up where he had left off, smart remarks and everything. Adam asked if she would be there when he woke up, and Dixie held his gaze, “As long as you promise to wake up…” She whispered as his eyes closed. Dixie sat there a moment and then leaned back into the chair, closing her own eyes. Maybe she’d be able to rest without the Government chasing after her.