"Nathan?" she whispered again, her brow furrowing. "Where are we? Why is it so bright?"

Nathan swallowed hard, his mind racing. He looked back at Dr. Aris, who was staring at Fiona like she was a miracle and a puzzle all at once. Nathan went to her side immediately, sinking onto the edge of the bed.

"You’re in California, Fiona," Nathan said, his voice barely a murmur. "You’re safe. We’re at a private villa."

Fiona blinked slowly, trying to process his words. "California? How? We were just... we were just at the fair. I remember the lights and the cotton candy." She winced, pressing a hand to her temple. "My head feels like it’s exploding."

Nathan felt a sharp pain in his chest. The fair. That was years ago, back when he was still pretending to date her.

"Where is everyone?" Fiona asked, her voice rising with a hint of panic. "Where’s Hannah? And Caleb? Is your mom okay? I need to see them."

"They’re fine, Fiona. They’re at the mansion," Nathan said quickly, trying to soothe her. 𝕗𝗿𝕖𝐞𝐰𝗲𝕓𝐧𝕠𝕧𝗲𝐥.𝚌𝐨𝚖

"And Leo?" she asked, her eyes searching his. "Is the little guy okay? I was supposed to check on him."

Nathan felt the air leave his lungs. Leo. The boy Natasha had used to trick him. To Fiona, Leo was still a child she was helping to care for. She had no idea the boy was part of a trap, and she had no idea about the past years she’d lost.

"Leo is... Leo is resting," Nathan managed to choke out.

"How’s Ella? Why is she so quiet?" Fiona looked toward the door like she expected her best friend to burst in at any second. "Nathan, talk to me. Why am I in this room with all these machines? Did I faint at the fair?"

Nathan looked at Dr. Aris, his eyes pleading for help. The doctor stepped forward, his face serious.

"Fiona, I’m Dr. Aris. You’ve had a very bad reaction to some medication," the doctor said gently. "It’s caused some holes in your memory. You need to rest so your brain can heal."

"Medication? I don’t take medication," she argued, her voice getting a bit stronger. She looked at Nathan, her eyes filling with tears. "Nathan, you’re scaring me. Why are you wearing that heavy tactical jacket? And why do you look so... old? You look like you haven’t slept in years."

Nathan reached out and caught her hand. He didn’t know how to tell her that he hadn’t slept, not really, not since the day her car went off that bridge.

"I’ve just been worried about you," Nathan said, trying to keep his voice steady. "Everything is different now, Fiona. But I’m here. I’ve got you."

"But we’re still... you know... together, right?" she asked shyly, her cheeks turning a faint pink. "Even if the dating was just for show at first... you still want me here?"

Nathan’s heart broke into a million pieces. She was stuck in the time when they were still "pretending." She didn’t remember their real kisses, or the fact that he would burn the world down just to see her smile.

"Yes," Nathan whispered, leaning in until his forehead touched hers. "I always want you here. More than anything."

Fiona sighed, her eyes fluttering shut as the exhaustion took hold again. "Okay, that’s a relief."

As her breathing evened out, Nathan stood up, his body trembling. He turned to Aris, whispering. "She’s living in the past Aris. She thinks we’re still just a fake couple living in the mansion."

"The wall is only half-gone, Nathan," Aris whispered. "She’s pulled the oldest, strongest memories forward to protect herself. If you tell her everything at once—about Nikolai, about the body swap, about the time she lost...her mind might snap."

"So I have to pretend too?" Nathan asked, his voice cold and hollow. "I have to act like we’re still just starting out?"

Nathan looked at her, his eyes stinging. He had forgotten how she used to tease him back then. In the past years he spent hunting her, he had become a ghost—hard, bearded, and cold.

"Nathan?" she whispered, her eyes tracking the movement of his jaw. "Why are you being so formal? You keep calling me Fiona."

Nathan blinked, his mind flashing back to the silly nickname he used to use when they were pretending to be in love to fool the press and his family.

"I... I’m sorry," he said, forcing a small, shaky smile. "I’m just tired, cupcake."

Fiona giggled weakly, but then her face clouded over with worry. She reached out and touched the thick, rough hair on his chin. "And what is this? You look like a mountain man. You know I hate the beard, Nathan. You always stay clean."

She pulled her hand back, her lip trembling slightly. She looked at his tactical vest and the dark, tired circles under his eyes.

"Do you not like me anymore?" she asked, her voice cracking. "Is that why we’re in this weird house and you’re looking at me like I’m a stranger? Did I do something wrong at the fair? Did the your family find out about the deal and you just don’t know how to tell me?"

Nathan grabbed her hand, holding it tight against his chest so she could feel his heart beat.

"No! No, cupcake, never," Nathan said urgently. "I like you more than anything. I’ve just been... I’ve been through a lot while you were sleeping. I grew the beard because I stopped caring about how I looked. I only cared about getting you back."

Fiona looked confused. "Getting me back? Nathan, we only went to the fair yesterday. I just had a nap."

Dr. Aris stepped forward, checking the IV drip to hide his own shock. He caught Nathan’s eye and gave a tiny, warning shake of his head. Don’t push her, the look said. Play along.

"You had a very bad fall," Nathan lied, the words tasting like poison. "You hit your head. You’ve been out for a few days, and I haven’t left your side. That’s why I haven’t shaved. I was too worried to leave the room."

Fiona’s expression softened. "Oh, Nathan. You’re such a worrier. You don’t have to look like a castaway just because I took a long nap." She yawned, her eyes getting heavy again. "Go shave. You’re scratching my hand. And call Ella... tell her I’m okay."

"I will," Nathan promised, kissing her knuckles. "I’ll go shave right now."

"Okay.." she yawned again and laid down back, closing her eyes.

As she drifted back into a drug-induced sleep, Nathan stood up and walked to the bathroom attached to the medical suite. He leaned over the sink and looked at himself in the mirror. He grabbed a disposable razor from the cabinet, his hands shaking.

He started shaving away at the beard he had grown. As he watched the dark hair fall into the white sink, revealing the face of the man she remembered—the man who was supposed to be her "fake" boyfriend.