The accident had been bad. Her car had been a right-off, and she had been slammed into a tree after a lorry driver lost control of his lorry. Isabella Fitzpatrick was in a coma, and had been so for three weeks. The doctors have been adamant, not saying that she wasn't going to wake up every again, but you could see it plain in their eyes and on their faces that they believed she was destined for death. It was a bad accident, and even though there was always a chance that someone could come out of a coma after years, there wasn't much chance for the young brunette.

However, today, on the 24th of September, it was different. She woke up.

Defying all of the doctors in her bed, Bella's eyes slowly opened, quickly adjusting to the light that was streaming in through a white window. Hang on.. the walls in her bedroom were purple. Blinking slowly, and then sitting up with a massive headache, the woman looked around the room. Okay, a hospital. Definitely a hospital. And her head hurt, so she was probably here, for something to do with her head. Okay, that was a given. Still utterly confused as she couldn't remember anything since the night before, when she had been out with her friends at a night club. Oh, that could be a reason. She probably got a little too drunk, fell over and hit her head. Then, she spotted something else - a blow up mattress.

Hang on.. who had been sleeping in her room?

It was way to early in the morning to be awake on a Saturday but Grego wasn't able to go back to sleep. Once he realized there was no way he would be able to re enter his dreams of his wife awaking, he had gotten up and gone to the coffee vending machine and bought a cup of the strongest stuff. He sighed as the coffee maker slowly poured out the nectar of caffeine. He stifled a yawn as a orderly walked past and gave him a friendly nod. He returned the nod back and she continued on her duties. He contemplated about the fact it wasn't a good thing that he knew most of the staff by first name. He then stifled that thought and returned to watching th coffee slowly drip from the machine.

Invariably his mind turned to work, he thought about Terry's article on the new International-version Kindle and how it will effect Amazon's status as the leader of the paperless office revolution. He was thinking about whther or not he should hire that new kid with only a bachelors degree in Journalism.

The dinging of the coffee machine broke his thought train. He leaned in and pulled the hot paper cup from the recepticle. and calmly walked back into the room. He was looking at how much of a mess he had around his blow up mattress when he walked in. "Guess I should clean up after myself." He mumbled to no one in particular. Then he chanced a glance at his comatose wife and what he saw made him drop his three dollar coffee onto the floor. "Bella! Your awake!"

Drake sat in his office, his guitar on his lap. He held his head in his hands. As a tear began running down his cheek, he rubbed his face, wiping it away. It had been 3 months since Bella had fallen into a tragic coma. He loved Bella, even though she was married to his best friend. He remembered all the good times he shared with Bella, even though it meant betraying his best friend, Bella made it all worth it. He looked up, staring at the clock. It was two in the morning. As picked up the guitar off his lap, Drake got to his feet, walking over to the bed across the room. He layed down, resting his head on his piece of crap pillow that gave him no support. He rested the guitar against the bed, plucking a string gently before he let go of it. The note echoed throughout the silent room, eventually fading away. Drake layed on his bed, staring up at the blank dark ceiling. Drake reached above his head, feeling around on the nightstand for the remote control for the stereo. He found it and grabbed, hitting the play button. He dropped the remote as the heard the grinding of the gears as the the stereo changed disks, his eyes closing slowly as Awake & Alive by Skillet began playing.

In the middle of the night, Drake felt a pressure on his chest that woke him up. His eyes opened, slowing adjusting to the darkness. He moved his hands onto his chest, feeling soft fur. He sighed, knowing that it was his Siberian husky puppy that he got last month, on his chest. He began petting the puppy, a small smile coming across his face. The puppy stuck his head under Drake's hand, wanting Drake to scratch his behind his ears. Drake did, the smile fading as a memory came back. He looked down at the side of his chest that the puppy wasn't on. He missed the way Bella would rest her head there when she was resting. He closed his eyes, trying to think of something more pleasant as he fell back asleep.

"Do I know you?"
This question rocked the core of his world. He had spent every day in the hospital sleeping near her. He also sometimes stayed in her room and worked from his laptop by her side. For three months, he had been waiting for this moment. For three months he hoped against what the doctors had told him and waited for her to wake up. Much like Sleeping Beauty in the fairy tale.

However in those months of waiting he never expected this question. He never anticipated his wife having no memory of him. It brought him to tears. He leaned against the nearby wall and lightly hit it with his fist as hot tears rolled down his cheek. He stood there shaking and crying for a few seconds. Then he wiped his face with his sleeve. Took a few steadying breaths. Calm down. Its not hers or my fault after all. It was with this thought he regained his composure.

"Yeah Bella, you should know me." He said with a sad smile, and then pointed to the wedding band on his finger. "We are married after all."

Matthew was up early that morning, for reasons he couldn't explain. He'd just woken up at 5 and hadn't been able to get back to sleep since, which quite frankly, sucked. He hated being up at this time, everywhere was just so darn quiet! As the lean male pulled his body out of bed, he glanced over at Dermot, a smile widening across his face. Boy, did he love his boyfriend. It had to be said, that his life was perfect right now, cute guy, nice flat, brilliant job. Fantastic... Except for one small detail he didn't fail to think about. Bella.

It was 3 months ago that she'd slipped into a coma, and the last words that he'd said to her, were "I hope you get what's coming to you." And she had done. Matt couldn't help but blame himself, despite the fact his partner never refused to tell him that he was wrong in doing so. It was just a coincidence, fate, bad luck. Matthew didn't believe in any of that.

With a saddened sigh, he pulled his body from the duvet and hopped into the warm shower, enjoying the heat that relaxed his stiffened muscles. The weight of his guilt got to much sometimes and he'd crack up, much to the dissatisfaction of those around him. But what else could he do? Grin and bear it? Ha, no way. His feelings were to powerful to do that, so he'd often just lock himself in a room and have a moment before getting over it and trying getting on with life.

Once he was ready for work and dressed in this, Matt quickly placed a kiss on his unconscious boyfriend's cheek before dashing out of the door and hailing a cab. He would have left a note, but despite being up early, he was already late. Or as he liked to put it, everyone else was simply early. Smiling to himself, he hopped into the yellow vehicle before whizzing off with it down to the offices of the magazine he worked for.

"We--We can't be married - this is some joke played on me by Matt and Dermot, isn't it?" His wife said, before opening her eyes and looking at him. "I'm only eighteen, anyway..."

Even though it hurt him to hear her say that their marriage could not have happened it did make sense; the doctors did say that if she woke up amnesia was common when one awakes from a coma. She had forgotten the past four years of her life. This made Grego feel much better and calmed him down. He sat down at the edge of her bed and placed his hand gently on her leg. With another sad smile, he looked into her beautiful eyes.

"Honey, you are twenty-two. You went for a drive and had a wreck. The doctors said you were unlikely to live through it. You have been in a coma for three months now." He rubbed her leg gently with his thumb. "I know this must be a lot to take in, but honest to God its true. I'm not pulling a prank on you." He didn't know why he didn't tell her about the fight they had before she went on her drive. He figured he subconsciously wanted to forget the fight along with her.

Then a nurse came in. She screamed in delight and hugged Grego before heading out to fetch the resident doctor. A few minutes later the doctor showed up with the nurse beside him. The doctor smiled and gave him a pat on the back before asking him to step out into the hall so he could give Bella an examination. Before Grego could protest, he told him to call her friends and family so they could see her too. Grudgingly he left the room.

Grego pulled out his cell and immediately called Drake. He needed him here, to help him deal with her amnesia.

Drake layed on his back, groaning in his sleep as slept. His mind kept replaying the day of Bella's accident, all the pain, the crying, the screaming, the blood, and the loss of hope. It kept replaying in a never ending loop, the pain getting worse every time. He still layed there, not waking up, tears running down his face. Just as he was on the point of waking up, he heard his phone ring. His eyes opened, looking over at his phone on his desk. Drake wiped the tears off his face on his forearm, flipping off the phone and deciding to let the machine get it. "Probably a telemarketer." He heard the beep of his voice mail kicking in. "Hey, this is Drake, I am not here, so say what you need."

Drake's puppy began barking when he heard Grego's voice on the machine. Drake looked surprised as he rolled over, falling out of bed. He sword silently to himself as he got to his feet, grabbing the phone. "Grego, what is it?"

"Sorry, for waking you mate." Grego said in an unconvincing tone, "But I think its important that you get to the hospital now. She just woke up and has amnesia. Apparently she has forgotten the past four years, she thinks she is eighteen. Anyway I need to call Matt, Dermont, and her family now. So get over here please." Grego wasn't too fond of Matt and Dermont's relationship. Their lifestyle weirded him out. They were cool guys though and he enjoyed hanging out with them, as long as they weren't kissing or anything.

After a few seconds of silence Grego continued "Look I get that this news is shocking but I really do need to call these other people." Then with a hesitant click Grego hung up. Then he looked through his contact list and found Matt. He then hit the call button.

Drake had dropped the phone before Grego had hung up, tearing open his closet and pulling out a clean shirt. He pulled it over his head, not caring that is was backwards. He turned on the lights, blinding himself for a moment while he felt around for a pair of shoes. He eventually found an old pair of converse sneakers and pulled them on, ignoring that they were a little tight. He grabbed his keys and his phone off his desk, running out the door. He crammed his phone in his pocket, locking the door behind him. When the lock clicked, Drake tore the key out, running down the hallway, his footsteps echoing down hallway of his apartment complex. He flew down the stairs, jumping down the last 10 steps.

As he got into his rebuilt 1976 Chevrolet Camero, he stuck the key in the ignition, the engine roaring as he threw it in reverse. The car pulled out, the Drake slammed his foot on the gas pedal, the momentum of the car slammed the open door. He pulled out of the parking lot, his tires peeling out as he turned to take the back roads to the hospital. He wove through the streets, going about 60 miles per hour the entire way.

As the taxi carried Matt through the streets, his thoughts immediately drifted back to Bella. Oh how he wished she'd just wake up! He used to enjoy their shopping trips together, the chats they had, the work gossip. They'd been really good friends before she went all weird and then the crash. Matt shuddered involuntarily, his mind working overtime before the day had even started properly.
He was about to ask the driver to put some music on, when his phone began buzzing in his coat pocket.

He picked the mobile out and flashed a quick glance at the screen. Grego? Quickly flipping it open, he stuck the phone to his ear. "Hey. What's up?" Grego hardly ever called Matt or Dermot these days... Maybe, just maybe Bella had woken up? Could that really be it? Feeling his heartbeat speed up a knotch, Matt started nibbling on his thumb. "Is it Bella? Is she awake?"

"Uh, yeah. She is mate." Grego said, "Only problem is she has forgotten the past four years and she thinks she is eighteen. So if you and Dermont could come out to the hospital today and help convince her that I'm not lying it be great. Oh and could you call Elizabeth for me and let her know? I don't have hers or her boy friends number." Grego then took a glance at the coffee machine. With a silent sigh he walked over to it and started to put in the three dollars for another coffee.

Only to be stopped by one of the nurses walking past. "No, no, Mr. Fitzpatrick. Let me get you some from the break room. That stupid machine always burns the coffee." She whispered conspiratorially before walking back towards the direction she came.

Drake pulled into the parking garage of the hospital, finding the first parking space and taking in, not caring that it was a very tight fit. He bolted as soon as the door locked. He weaved through cars, making his way out of the parking garage and across the street to front door of the hospital. The doors flew open as Drake bolted up to the desk. "Where is Isabella Fitzpatrick's room?"
The woman behind the desk looked at Drake strangely. "What is your relation to this patient?"
"What the hell kind of question is that? One of the most important people in the world to me wakes up from a coma and I come in like I just did and you have the nerve to ask me that question?"
The woman behind the desk just gave Drake an annoyed stare. "What is your relation to the patient? It is hospital policy."
"I am a close personal friend of the family. How else would I know that she just woke up from a coma?"
The woman was obviously growing frustrated with Drake. "Alright, room B7 on the second floor."
"Alright." Drake walked over to the elevator that had just opened and stepped inside, hitting the second floor button as he turned around. As the doors opened, Drake stepped out, looking around, and seeing Bella's room at the end of the hall. He walked down the hall, glancing down a hall spotting Grego. "Grego!" He shouted as he headed over towards him.

"Oh my holy god!" Matt gave a bit of a gay gasp and his hand flung up to cover his mouth. Bella was alive! Awake! He wanted to scream, leap out of the taxi, run a few laps around the street and get back in to drive to the hospital. But of course he didn't. Instead, he discreetly covered the mouth piece of his phone and looked at the cab driver. "There's been a development. To the hospital please," Matt grinned and then directed his attention back to Grego on the phone.

"Oh no.." he murmured in response to the story his friend was telling him. "You tell her to behave herself until I get there," he gushed the words with a half-hearted chuckle before glancing out the window as the streets past by. "I'll see you in a while Grego." And with that, he hung up before fumbling for Elizabeth's number. He dialled it, before sighing as voicemail picked it up. "Get your ass down to the hospital. BELLA'S AWAKE!" He grinned again at the thought before leaving the same message for Dermot and handing the taxi driver a few notes and then rushing out of the car, black coat billowing as he ran for the doors.

Assured that everyone would soon know about Bella's awakening Grego shut the phone. He then saw the nurse carrying a cup of coffee. "Thank you Francie." He said warmly as he took a gulp of the piping hot black cup of Joe. She smiled, "Its the least I could do for a man who would stay with his wife the whole time she is in the hospital. Hell, wish my good fer'nuthin husband would just come say hi to me every now n'then." She said while walking off.

Stifling a small chuckle at her deeply southern accent Grego turned towards the door. Before he could reach the door, He heard a familiar voice ring out his name. He knew it was Drake before he had even turned around. "Cross, man it took you long enough!" Grego said with a smile. He then nodded towards the door. "Ready to help me convince her I'm telling the truth?"

"Sorry, I came as fast as I could, but the stupid nurse downstairs was giving me a hard time about telling me which room Bella was in." Drake held his side, breathing heavily from all the running he had done and because of how much he was out of shape. He stood there, breathing heavily for a moment, acting like he needed to catch his breath but he was really mentally preparing himself for whatever Bella was going to do in there. After a moment of preparing himself, he looked at Grego and nodded, walking towards Bella's room. Drake was surprised how calm he was, since he was terrified on the inside and just wanted to be anywhere but here.

He stood outside Bella's room, his legs not wanting him to go in but his heart wanting nothing more than to see Bella. He glanced over at Grego, waiting for him to go in first so Drake wouldn't be noticed as much. Drake considered making an excuse, he had to go to the bathroom, his head hurt and he need medicine, anything, but nothing he knew would work and he wouldn't be able to live with himself if he even tried. He waited anxiously for Grego to go in so he could follow him.

Bella sighed, having nothing to do in this empty room that she was staying in. She was so confused right now - and bored at the same time. What a crappy situation to be locked in, mhm? Running a hand through her hair, the woman tried to remember what she had missed in her life, but nothing instantly came back to her. She flopped back down on to her pillow, looking up at the bright ceiling that was above her.

Okay, so she was married to Gregory - that was one thing that she knew. Her last name was now Fitzpatrick, something else. However, that was it. Nothing else came back to her, and she was blank from that moment on. She remembered her friends, Matt, Dermot and Elizabeth, but she could remember nothing else from that. "Dammit!" She exclaimed loudly - this was frustrating.

[Trying to get this up again ^^]

Grego smiled at his friend. Who appeared to be very nervous about seeing his wife. It was odd, because Grego wasn't nervous. In fact he was elated. Why wasn't Drake? Could he be hiding something? No, Drake would hide stuff from me. I'm his best mate after all. Then he heard a loud curse coming from Bella, which broke his thought train.

So Grego opened the door to her room and sat beside her. "You ok honey? What happened?" He said worriedly While looking up and down her body trying to see anything that could still be hurting her. Seeing nothing immediate his worries were somewhat abated. She was more beautiful then he remembered, now that she was awake and moving. He couldn't wait to take her home.