Nick stared at his reflection in the mirror. He couldn't let Adalind see his bloodshot eyes and make her realize he had been crying. She had gone through enough in the last few days, he didn't want her to worry about him on top of everything else.

Adalind had finally come home with him tonight, this time for good. They had been apart for far longer than Nick could take, and he had missed her more than he thought possible. When Adalind had mentioned that she was so happy to be back here with him, he had taken her hand and let her know he had thought he would go crazy without her. And he had meant every single word. His mind had travelled to extremely dark places in the time she had been away; he would have gone on a murderous rampage just to get her and their son back. But he thought best not to let her know just how close to the edge he had been. So instead, he had locked himself in the bathroom and had let the tears flow.

Nick decided to shower in the hopes of washing away the pain that had engulfed his heart on the night he discovered her goodbye letter in their empty loft. He hadn't been angry at Adalind, she had simply done what she thought was the only way to protect him. He knew Renard and Bonaparte had been the ones to force her hand; she never would have taken Kelly away from him. She loved him, she had said so in the letter. And he believed her completely.

The warm water felt incredibly soothing, and it seemed to heal his wounds. He stayed under the showerhead for a while, until he was sure the pain had completely disappeared from his face. He then dried off and slipped on his jogging pants. He took another look at his reflection in the mirror. The darkness that had taken over his eyes was now gone. He was going to be fine... nothing and no one would keep him and Adalind apart from this day forward.

He walked out of the bathroom and went to check up on Kelly in the room next to his. He was sound asleep in his crib, with a faint smile on his face; 'he must be dreaming about his mommy' Nick thought. He bent down to kiss his forehead as if to let him know his daddy was there now, and that he would never let anyone take him away from him again.

When Nick walked into the bedroom, Adalind was sitting in bed. She was absolutely gorgeous, her blond wavy hair perfectly combed, her eyes as blue as the Caribbean Sea. He could feel his heart starting to beat a little faster; he had longed to have her back in his bed, and now she finally was.

He turned off the light and noticed Adalind was staring at him, a smile across her lips.

"What?" Nick asked.

"You better kiss me" Adalind responded defiantly.

Nick smiled at her and slipped under the sheets, climbing on top of her. He kissed her gently at first, then with increasing intensity. He drowned himself in her arms, forgetting about the terrifying nightmares that had kept him awake all those nights they had spent apart. He had missed the smell of her skin, the sweet taste of her lips, and most of all, the warmth of her body against his own.

"Nick" Adalind whispered. "I've missed you... I need you."

Nick looked down at her beautiful face. He didn't need her to ask him... he knew what she wanted, and he so desperately desired the same thing. He bent down to kiss her again and slowly started undressing her as he caressed every inch of her perfect body. She ran her fingers down his back, sending electric shocks through him. When he slid inside of her, he heard her moan softly. She felt so warm, like the water that had washed away his tears earlier. Every muscle in his body craved her after having been away from her for what seemed like an eternity. As he made love to her, Nick swore to himself that he would never let her go again, that he would shield her from all the evil out there. He silently vowed to protect her at all costs and to give her all of him, including his heart.

It was in that very instant that Nick Burkhardt realized he had fallen in love with Adalind Schade.