Author's Note: So here's the final chapter of Reclaiming Love. Thanks so much to my one faithful reviewer Ghostwriter! It means so much to me that a die-hard Tommy/Kim fan would give a story like this one a chance. I wasn't sure how people would react to a story that paired Tommy with neither Kim nor Kat so it's nice to see that there were people out there who actually read this story. My next story involving Tommy/Nikki will be titled Bewitched so look for it to come soon.
"Nikki, where are you!" Tommy yelled as he walked through the front door.
"Shh, Thomas be quiet I just got the kids to sleep," Nikki said to her husband as she came downstairs.
"Oops, sorry, I'm just so excited I just couldn't wait to get home and share my news," Tommy told her.
"What news, what's got you so excited?" she asked as she took a seat on the couch.
"Mercer Industries just got a contract to do a dig in Europe this summer and Anton has offered me the position to lead it," Tommy explained.
"Oh Thomas, that's wonderful, how long would you be gone for," she said as she got up to give him a congratulatory hug.
"It's for a month and Anton even rented a private house for me right on the beach," Tommy replied.
"A month is a really long time for you to be away but I know what a great opportunity this will be for you," Nikki said.
"No, you don't understand, that's what's so great about it, I want you and the kids to come with me, besides it's the one place that I know you'd love to go more than anywhere in the world," Tommy explained.
"Oh yeah and what place is that?" Nikki questioned.
"Honey, you're not going to believe this, but the dig is in Italy," Tommy told her.
"This is so great, I mean just the other day Abby was telling me how much she missed it there and wanted to know when we could go back," Nikki replied.
"Then it's settled, we're going to Italy for the summer," Tommy decided.
"I can't wait to see Abby's face when she hears the news," Nikki said as she and Tommy embraced.
"Yeah me neither and just think it's going to be Johnny's first trip outside the States," Tommy said and as if on cue their one year old son, Jonathan Thomas Oliver began to cry.
"I better go see what's wrong," Nikki said.
"No, let me, the little guy was still sleeping when I left this morning, I missed seeing him," Tommy said as he went upstairs.
A few weeks later, Nikki was in the master bedroom packing her and Tommy's things when someone knocked on the side of the door.
"Mind if I come in?" Hayley asked as she entered the room.
"Of course not," Nikki told her.
"I still can't believe you guys are going to be gone for a whole month, what am I going to do with myself while you're gone," Hayley mused.
"Well, you could always come with us," Nikki told her.
"No, this is a family vacation, I wouldn't want to intrude," Hayley replied.
"Hayley you are family and besides Thomas will be working so it's not really that much of a vacation," Nikki responded.
"I'd love to go but I'm short staffed right now so I couldn't see leaving the Cyberspace unsupervised," Hayley told her.
"Ok but if you change you're mind, we have a huge house right on the beach and a room with your name on it," Nikki said smiling at her friend.
"Sweetheart, I finished packing for the kids, are you almost done in here," Tommy said as he came in.
"It's so cool, of Anton to loan you his plane for your flight," Hayley told them.
"Well, it'll make traveling easier with the kids and Anton knows that," Tommy told her.
"I'm going to go say a quick goodbye to the kids but you guys have fun," Hayley said as she gave each of them a hug.
A week later, Tommy and Nikki had arrived in Italy and moved into their new beach front home. They were sitting on the beach not far from the house watching their kids play in the sand.
"Is this the life or what?" Tommy asked as he held Nikki in his arms.
"I am so glad Anton suggested you take that job, this is going to be just the thing our family needs," Nikki told him.
"Mom, Dad, can I take Johnny to look for seashells?" their seven year old daughter Abby asked as she ran up to them.
"Alright, but make sure to hold your brother's hand tightly, and don't go too near the water," Tommy told her.
"And stay where we can see you!" Nikki shouted after them.
"What a perfect family," a voice said.
"Oh my gosh, Bruno!" Nikki exclaimed as she got up to hug her old friend.
"Hey Bruno, how's it going," Tommy said as he shook Bruno's hand.
"We weren't expecting to see you so soon," Nikki told him.
"I know but I just couldn't wait to see Abby again and meet your son, plus I have someone very special that I wanted to introduce you to," he said.
"This is my wife, Adriana."
"I've heard so much about all of you, I feel like I already know you," Adrianna said as she steeped forward.
"We've heard a lot about you too, I'm so happy to finally meet you," Nikki said as she gave her a hug.
"And who is this handsome little guy?" Tommy asked bending down to the child that held Adriana's hand.
"This is our son, Dante, sorry if he seems a little shy he just woke up from his nap," Bruno told them.
"He's adorable, he looks about the same age as Johnny," Tommy replied.
"Hi there Dante, I'm your Aunt Nikki," Nikki said as she picked Dante up.
"Uncle Bruno!" Abby suddenly shouted and she came running up to them dragging Johnny behind her.
"My, what a beautiful young lady my butterfly has grown into," Bruno said as he picked her up and twirled her around.
"I missed you," Abby told him.
"I've missed you too, Abby I want to introduce you to my wife Adriana and this is our son Dante," Bruno told her.
"Hello Abby, I've heard so much about you, your Uncle Bruno talks about you all the time," Adriana replied.
"Does this mean you're my Aunt now?" Abby asked.
"If you want to call me that I would like it very much," Adriana told her.
"Johnny, this is your Uncle Bruno and Aunt Adriana," Nikki said as she brought Johnny over.
"Hello Johnny, I am happy to finally meet you," Bruno said.
"What do you say we all go back to the house for dinner," Tommy said.
"That would be wonderful," Adriana replied.
"Come on Dante, you can play in Johnny's room," Abby said as she took Dante's hand and they all headed up to the house.
A few weeks later, once again Bruno and his family had come to spend time at the beach house but this time there was one other family that joined them.
"Are you sure we're not imposing?" Elsa Mercer asked Nikki as she helped set the picnic table outside for their meal.
"Of course not, Anton was so generous in renting this place for us and besides we have more than enough room for the three of you," Nikki replied. Anton had come to Italy to see the progress Tommy was making on the dig and he had brought his wife and their two year old daughter Maeve along with him. Anton had also brought along a surprise when Hayley had also decided to take a break from the Cyberspace and came along with them.
"Elsa, do you mind if I steal my wife for a few moments?" Tommy asked as he came over to them.
"Of course not, I can finish up here," Elsa told him.
"Thomas, what's going on?" Nikki asked as Tommy led her down the beach and away from the house.
"With everything that's going on, I just realized I hadn't spent a lot of time alone with my beautiful wife lately," Tommy told her as they walked along the shoreline.
"Oh Thomas I don't mind you know that, this whole vacation has been simply wonderful and the kids are happy and healthy what more could I ask for," Nikki told him.
"See now that is why I love you so much, you always put everyone else's needs above your own," Tommy told her as he brought her in for a kiss.
"I love you too and we're going to have plenty of time alone this weekend because I booked us a room at this little inn not too far away and Hayley is going to watch the kids for us," Nikki told him.
"That's funny, I was going to surprise you by telling you Anton gave me the weekend off," Tommy replied.
"And who do you think arranged that?" Nikki said giving him a knowing smile.
"I really do love you, you know that," Tommy said as he kissed her.
"I love you too Thomas," she said as they walked back towards the house with their arms around each other.