She had been standing there for almost ten minutes before she finally felt a sharp yank on the rope.

"Are you ready?" No answer. She began hoisting him up from the pit. He was a lot lighter than she imagined but then again, who knows how long he had been done there. She struggled to lift him with hitting him against the sides. Finally, after what seemed like forever, her first sign of life.

One of SpongeBob's little, yellow hands came up and grabbed the sides of his trap. Sandy quickly tied up the rope to a small tree next to her and ran for the pit. She grabbed his arm, shuddering at how dry and cold it was, and pulled him up, toppling backwards with him in her arms.

"SpongeBob! I'm so glad you're alive!"

The little sponge she held in her arms was almost the same as how she remembered him. His right tooth was chipped, and his colors were duller but a little sun would fix that right up! He looked up at Sandy with his baby blue eyes and gave her a heart-warming smile. She barely had time to smile back before his whole world blacked out.

He woke up in the warm water of a bath tub. Looking around, he could tell he was in a tree just like the one Sandy used to live in. That's when he remembered who had just saved his life, and a big smile spread across his lips. He tried to stretch but felt a sharp pain in his left leg. Looking down, he realized it was in a cast. He laid back down and sighed loudly. A brown blur showed above him. It took a moment, but he realized it was Sandy at sat up in the tub.

"Hey SpongeBob, how are you doing?"

"Wonderful." He replied in a small, stuffy whisper.

"Good. I thought you might be hungry so I brought you some…. Why are you smiling at me like that?"

His smile grew even bigger (if that was possible) when she asked him.

"It's been so long but you're still so pretty." Sandy blushed. "And, I've been looking for you for so many years. I can't believe you found me. I thought I was going to die in that cave." Thinking of that week in the cave made him shudder. A single tear fell down his cheek.

"Aw SpongeBob, I'm so sorry I put you through all that. I was a real idiot huh?" SpongeBob nodded his head making them both laugh. "Actually, I had this nightmare about you, and you kept telling me to "follow the stones". That's how I really found you." His eyes opened wide.

"I had the same dream! Except, you were falling down a cliff and you were falling down a cliff and kept saying to "look to light." I thought you meant… the light at the end of the tunnel. Well, until I heard something that sounded like my name, and looked up at the top of that pit, and I saw you with light shimmering all around. For a moment, I thought I was already dead and you were an angel." His eyes twinkled with a strong compassion. Tears were falling down both of their faces now.

Sandy set the tray she was holding aside and knelt down to hug him. They wrapped their arms around each other and just cried for a little while.

"SpongeBob, I seriously screwed up big time. I can't believe I wasted half our lives with one stupid decision. Can you forgive me?"

"I never blamed you Sandy."

"Thank you." He leaned back and stared into her eyes.

"Sandy, do you love me?"

"Yes, I do."

"Good." He brushed a tear off her face and pulled her closer. "I love you too."

They both leaned in to the kiss. Nothing could have spoiled that moment. It was the first time either of them had ever really been that close. No helmets, no air suits, nothing. Just two people completely in love with each other. The years apart didn't matter. They could make it all up.

This close, she could hear his heart beat fluttering. She was sure hers was too. SpongeBob was the first to lean back.

"Sandy… I want to stay here forever. With you."

Sandy stopped to think about Bikini Bottom. Maybe, if he went back, it would eventually be pieced back together. Wasn't it her responsibility to return things to the way they were? But then again, why make another stupid mistake?

"Ok." She smiled and her eyes shone with love for the overly excited sponge in her arms.

"You really mean it!?"

"Of course." She kissed him on the cheek. "I'll never make the mistake of pushing you away again. I swear."

"I don't think I can live without you anymore Sandy."

"Me neither SpongeBob… me neither."