He couldn't contain his laughter as he watched her snuggle closer to his pillow and pull the plush comforter closer around her neck, silently trying to make him go away. "Whitney, don't do this the hard way..."

She only groaned as an answer and pulled the comforter completely over her head, blocking out all light and muffling the sound of his voice. Justin let out a playful sigh before reaching behind her head and pulling the pillow out from in under her, causing her head to hit the bed and the comforter to be jerked away. "You know how to ruin good dreams don't you?"

"Hey...I'm just trying to do you a favor so don't bite my head off. Plus, I think you should come eat something...Mom made spaghetti and your ass is going to get up and come downstairs," he told her, leaning down and placing a soft kiss on her forehead.

"Was that girl still here when you got here?" Whitney asked suddenly as she remembered meeting Natalie when she had arrived back at the house. The feelings that she had gotten earlier had not left her body and her curiosity was starting to get the best of her.

Justin looked at her for a moment before sighing and nodding her head. "I know you want to know who she is and what she means to me...but I don't feel like going into that story at the time."

She looked at him before shrugging and getting out of the bed, raising her arms above her head to stretch her still tired muscles. "I'm in no hurry...there hasn't by any chance been any news on Emily has there?"

Justin sadly shook his head and slid his arms around her waist, bringing her body into his. "The only phone call that we've received was from Johnny because he saw JC on the news. So we're having a meeting a little later tonight to discuss some urgent issues, or so he says...but I can tell you he was less than thrilled."

"Its not JC's fault," Whitney said as she pulled the door open and stepped out into the hall, waiting for Justin to join her before moving further through the house. "He didn't know that some weirdo was going to kidnap one of his friends...doesn't Johnny need to get all the facts before he gets upset?"

Justin couldn't help but smile as he rolled his eyes and pushed her farther down the hall towards the stairs. "Its not exactly that easy..but don't worry about it. Everything will be straightened out and Emily will be out of Riley's hands soon and everything can go back to being normal around here."

"That's where your wrong," JC's voice interrupted him as he met them at the top of the stairs. "There isn't anything normal around here."

It was good to see that JC could crack a joke in this situation. He looked to be doing better, and Whitney assumed that he was starting to calm down. "He does have a point, Justin."

"I see how it is," Justin said as he started down the steps, stepping down two at a time with his long legs. "Take his side and leave me all alone!"

"I'll take your side," a female voice said as Natalie made herself visible to everyone that was around. She looked up the stairs and sent a sickeningly sweet smile in Whitney's direction that could easily be seen as fake.

Not wanting to seem phased by the girl, Whitney kept walking into the dinning room where Lynn was in the process of putting plates out for everyone to eat on. "Do you need any help?"

"I've got it dear," she replied as she winked at Justin and placed the last plate on the table. "I think we're all set now."

After everyone had taken a seat, a prayer was said that requested the return of Emily safely as well as the well being of everyone they knew. As Emily's name was spoken, Whitney felt a twinge of guilt for what she was experiencing right now. She was getting to sit down and have a nice meal with wonderful people, while Emily was stuck at the hands of Riley who was doing God only knows to her friend. She suddenly didn't have an appetite and could only bring herself to push the spaghetti around her plate, as she kept her eyes away from Justin's questioning stare that she knew she was receiving.

"Whitney...do you not like spaghetti?" Lynn's concerned voice asked causing Whitney to be startled to look up. "I can make you something else if you'd like.."

"Its not that, Lynn..I love spaghetti, actually," she said, slightly embarrassed that she was having to deal with this situation. "Its just..I don't really have an appetite right now."

Justin knew what she was thinking because all of them, excluding Natalie, were feeling the same guilt but they weren't trying to show it. He reached over and grabbed her fork, twirling some spaghetti around it and held it to her mouth. "Eat."

Whitney smiled slightly before opening her mouth and allowing him to slide the fork in. As she chewed she promised herself that she wasn't going to allow little things to eat at her. Riley would take joy in knowing that not only was he reeking hell on Emily, he was reeking hell on everyone else. She would not allow him to win in all aspects of the situation.

The door to the huge room opened, startling her into reality. She smiled as she watched Chris and Lance enter, smiling at her when they noticed her presence. "Hey guys."

Chris looked at her, already noticing the dread that was plastered upon her face. "How are you, Cait? I haven't heard from you in a while."

"I'm doing good..I've been busy and now I get to yell at you...Johnny isn't a very happy person with everything that's going on."

"He can get over it," JC said as he walked into the room, followed by Justin who nodded his head in agreement. The two of them took seats as they waited for Joey to arrive. They always had to wait on Joey because he seemed to be the last one to everything, but they had grown use to it and it no longer bothered them.

Cait glanced up at the clock and noticed how it seemed to be moving very slowly. Four sets of eyes were observing her with her knowing it. When she pulled her eyes away from the clock, she jumped slightly when she saw all the guys looking at her with sympathy.

"Don't act like you're tired of us already," Justin joked as the door pushed open to reveal a frowning Joey. "Its about time.."

"I got stuck in traffic," he said, not noticing Cait looking at him from the other side of the room. He took his seat and kept his head down, allowing his fingers to drum on the side of the table.

Cait cleared her throat and walked to the front of the room, leaning against the wall for support as she looked upon the five bodies in the room. "Johnny has sent me to do his dirty work.."

Hearing her voice caused Joey's head to jerk up and his eyes widen in surprise. She was standing a few feet in front of him and he hadn't even noticed her when he had walked in. "Cait..." he whispered so softly that no one would hear him.

Cait tried her best to avoid Joey's eyes as she concentrated on what she was trying to say, but feeling hesitation each time that she spoke. "He's not very happy with this publicity that you guys are getting...there are new rumors arising, speculations and criticism from all aspects of the music world. JC..he's very ashamed that you didn't hide yourself better from the camera..."

JC opened his mouth to argue but Cait held up her hand cutting him off. "I'm not agreeing with what he told me, I'm just the messenger. I can tell from the look on your faces that you're wanting to cancel the rest of this promotional tour and concentrate on helping to find Emily...but...I don't think that would be a good idea...Johnny would go crazy. He wants me to inform you that every one of you is to finish this promotional tour like nothing is wrong..and if there is controversy with this decision, than speak to him about it."

"He wants us to do what?" JC asked in disbelief as her words echoed in his ears. "A good friend of ours has been kidnaped by some crazy ass bastard and Johnny wants us to pretend as if nothing is wrong? We're musicians not actors!"

"JC.." Cait said, suddenly feeling out of place at the moment. "I can't do anything about it..I agree with you totally but all I can do is tell you what he wants done and ask that you respect that and do it without causing trouble."

"He'll be getting a phone call from me," he mumbled before taking a deep breath to calm down and returning his attention to Cait.

"The only other thing I have to tell you is that your opening acts for the upcoming tour have been chosen...the order in which they will appear hasn't been chosen as of right now but it looks like Avril Lavigne, LMNT, and a new band that I've never heard of called Those Guys are going to be appearing with you....that's all I have as of now..so you guys are free to go and I'll be in touch with you all soon," she told them as she reached for her purse, ready to leave the room and get away from the questioning eyes of Joey. She knew it would seem rude if she was the first to leave so she stood patiently waiting for all of the guys to exit, knowing that Joey would be the last.

"Cait.." his voice called to her hesitantly as he took a step towards her. "We have to talk."

"Joey..I think its best if we just forget everything..I've decided that," she said taking a step towards the door but stopping when he sprinted forward and placed his hand upon her shoulder. "Joey.."

"I won't let you walk out.."

"You can't stop me," she said stubbornly as she tried yet again to leave but having to stop again when he shut the door. "Joey I don't feel like dealing with this.."

"You can't run from it forever," he said as he turned her around and pushed her towards a chair. "Sit down..you're gonna hear me out."

She sat down and crossed her arms over her chest as she watched him look at her for what seemed like hours. "If you're going to speak, please do so."

"Cait..you changed me...in that short time that we were together..you made me a better person..you made me stronger and you made me into the man that I've always wanted to be..I can't let you just give up on us..I WON'T ALLOW YOU TO DO SO..Cait, as much as you're trying to hate me, you know you can't..you know that there's something between us and its time you stop acting scared and admit that deep down in your heart, you're in love with me."

His words left her speechless as she registered the last part that he had said. "I don't love you..I care for you.."

"That's bullshit and you know it! Why are in such a hurry to leave, Cait? You know you have feelings for me..I will not let you out of this room until you stop acting scared and admit it to me!"

"You're being pretty bold," she said, feeling her nerves starting to tighten in her stomach. "You're actually out of line..you don't know what I feel towards you!"

"Why are you getting so defensive?" he asked as he knelt down in front of her and looked her in the eyes. "You can't sit here and lie to me, Cait..as much as you're trying to deny it, I KNOW you..I know how you think, I know how you bite your lip whenever you want to be kissed, I know the way you look when something is true that you don't want to admit..I know so much about you.."

She looked at him, feeling her eyes growing misty as she tried to not give into his verbal assault of the truth. She did love him...she had known all along that she did, but she wasn't going to allow him to be the one to announce it. She was supposed to do that. "Whatever, Joey...you've made an ass out of yourself, now if you'll excuse me I have things to do and reports to file.."

Joey looked at her before standing up and moving away. "Why do you have to be so stubborn, Cait? Why can't you just accept the truth and quit running..let someone love you.."

She placed her hands on her hips and looked at him with anger starting to build. "How could someone like you ever love me? I know your reputation Joseph Fatone..I know how you like to go out and have random one night stands..if you'll remember I've been your press secretary ever since you signed with JIVE..I'm not dumb so don't treat me as if..."

Her words were stopped when he reached out and pulled her body into his, roughly placing his lips upon hers. Her senses were shocked as the rough assault turned into a slow and sensual pace that had her dizzy. She had missed his kisses and she had missed the feeling of his body pressed up against hers. She could not stop herself from giving into his touch and leaning into him for all she was worth. When his lips did pull away from hers, there was a half smile across his face as he looked at her swollen lips. "I would never treat you as if you were dumb.."

"Joey," she whispered before placing her head upon his shoulder and sighing at how things were happening. "I can't do this if you're not going to trust me.."

"I trust you with all my heart, Cait...I can't apologize enough for how I acted..I love you, Cait..I have now since the moment you stepped onto our tour bus parked in JIVE parking lot..when I saw those beautiful eyes of yours, I was trapped."

"What do we do now?"

He looked at her and smiled. "We just let things happen."

While one conflict surrounding the group had been solved, there was still an impending one that needed everyone's attention. Emily needed to be brought back so everything could start to function as a whole again. But now that Joey and Cait were back together as a team, the energy had shifted into their field and they could now focus it towards Riley. No one messed with a friend of theirs and got away without being punished.