In Country A,early in the morning

Alicia was in the kitchen mixing a batter of brownies while humming a tune.Suddenly a pair of arms snuck around her waist and a chin landed softly on her shoulder.Stopping for a minute,Alicia leaned back into Ryu's embrace with a soft smile.Staying there for a couple of minutes,Alicia had a blissful smile on her face as she went back to mixing her batter.But Ryu had other ideas and angled his chin a bit to kiss the spot where her neck and shoulders met.Leaning her head to the side to give him more access,Alicia let out small moan.Ryu's hands started to roam her body but just then the timer on the oven dinged breaking the small cozy atmosphere(as always!).

Sighing,Alicia moved to pour the batter into the mould but Ryu's hands were back around her waist and his chin on her shoulder as he followed her towards the mould...Smiling and moving slowly,Alicia poured the batter into the mould and inside the oven.Setting the timer on the oven,Alicia turned around in the arms of her hubby and pecked his lips while looking into his eyes..Pus.h.i.+ng her up on the kitchen counter,Ryu went closer and leaned in for a small kiss..Smiling against his lips,Alicia closed her eyes and kissed him back..

Finally coming up for air after a few moments,she looked into Ryu.s eyes and asked softly,"Why is your mood so weird today?"Shaking his head,Ryu said nothing.Scanning her face lovingly,he tucked behind her ear the hair that had escaped her knot.He loved to see her like this,wearing his s.h.i.+rt and her usual cartoon shorts.Similar to the ones he had seen her wearing almost three years ago.."

These past two years had been a struggle for him.Feeling guilty over having forgotten her and then not being able to remember so many things.The worry about the treatment and the regular check ups.The highs and lows of the slowprogress of medicines.And even though he had suffered,she had been the one to suffer more.But not once had his missus complained.Not even when he had to leave her alone to go on frequent business trips or when she had to handle the busness he had given her alone.So many times and so many things..Soon she was going to attend her graduation ceremony and then finlly they would go back to their country..but there was something he needed to do..

Ryu had meant to cherish her always but instead he felt as if he had ignored her and taken her love for granted.But not anymore..The last two pieces of his lost memory were back-he could now remember his confession as well as the last time they said goodbye before his memory loss..

Holding her face in his hands,he looked into her eyes and first said,"Sorry..'

Alicia had sensed Ryu's weird mood since he came back last night.And when he apologized,she stilled..'Why would he just apologize just out of the blue?'

Her eyes questioned him and with a small squeeze,he answered,"I am sorry that I did not keep my promise and come back to you safely.."

Alicia's heart stilled a moment for a moment before pounding at a rapid speed.With happy tears and smiling eyes,she fused her mouth to his and kissed him for all she was worth...

Then breaking the kiss,she laughed and said,"Your memory is back!"

Ryu just nodded and a small smile graced his lips..They had checks conducted last week and though the clot had slowly thinned out and there was nothing left,certain pockets of his memories were still empty..Their parting had been one of them.

There was another memory that had returned to him that Alicia was unaware of.He had been holding it close to his heart and had almost blurted it out last night as they made love.But he had stopped himself and waited it out till morning.Breaking the kiss,he said those fateful words that his wife had longed to hear for the last two years,"Missus,I love you..You still are the reason for my smile and still the warmth in my heart.Your eyes still make me feel as if I am a super hero,You're still all that I need and want and even today my days and happiness begin and with you..You will Always be everything to me."

A shreik of joy was the answer he received.The words Ryu had just said were familiar and yet new.Familiar from the time they had confessed and new because he had added more feelings to them again..Winding her arms around his neck and her legs around his waist,Alicia clung to him as if she was an octopus!Her Ryu remembered everything...Though everything had slowly turned back to normal and they had resumed ther relations.h.i.+p as if nothing had changed,there was one thing that had indeed changed..Ryu had never again said 'I love you' to her.

Alicia had consoled herself that it was unimportant.She had even tried to believe that actions speak louder than words and Ryu had not been stingy with his affection but only as she heard those words agan and they reverbated in her heart,did she realise that the words were just as important.She had come to this country with the knowledge of his love in her heart and she would be going back with it..She could dance with joy,she was so happy!

Kissing him again,she cried silent tears and soon they were both lost in a haze of pa.s.sion.Putting a hand under her to support her,Ryu carried her towards the couch in the living room. Laying her down,he kissed her lips hard at first and then gently...