Rayanne opened her eyes and almost threw up.

“Oh my God.” she said softly, but Nick woke up anyway.

“Somebody not feeling well this morning?” he teased as he gently brushed the hair out of her eyes.

“Don’t talk please.” she practically whispered.

He granted her request and rubbed her back until he was sure she was almost asleep again.

“Uhh.” she moaned as she sat up and put her feet on the floor.

“Babe, why don’t you go back to sleep for awhile?”

She rocked back and forth for a minute before getting up and running into the bathroom. He waited a minute to see what she was doing before he followed her.

“Huuh, bleh” he could hear her gagging from the bedroom. With a touch of amusement he made his way into the bathroom to see her head half missing in the toilet.

“Is my baby OK?” He tried not to sound like he was teasing.

She threw up again, pulling her head up to look at him when she was done. She saw he had a small smile on his face.

“It’s not funny.”

“I’m sorry. You OK now?”

“I’m done.” she said flushing the toilet. She grabbed her toothbrush off the sink, squeezed on some toothpaste and started brushing her teeth. When she was done she walked back to the bedroom, Nick right behind her, and flopped back down into bed.

“Let’s go to sleep, you’ll feel better when we wake up.”

“OK, do me two favors though. Get me some ibuprofen?”

“Alrighty.” he said getting back out of bed.

He disappeared for a minute and came back with two tablets and a glass of water.

“What’s the other favor?” he asked as she took a long swallow of water to wash down the pills.

“I don’t mean this like it’s gonna sound. But don’t touch me please.” she laid down and pulled the blankets up around her head.

He let out a small laugh. “It’s OK, I’ve been there.” he said snuggling close to her, but being careful not to get too close.

They spent most of the day in bed, sleeping on and off. At 5:00 Rayanne decided to get something to eat. She walked out into the kitchen, Nick attached to her hand. Amanda and AJ were sitting at the kitchen table. She could tell they had just taken showers.

“Morning sweetie, how ya feeling?” Amanda asked sympathetically.

“I’m OK now, just a little hungry. I don’t know why I got sick and not you.” she said sitting down next to her. “Brat.” she added with a smile.

“You want some toast?” Nick asked standing at the counter in only his boxers.

“Sure.” she said as he took two pieces of bread out of the bag and slipped them into the toaster.

“Everyone else go home?” he asked.

“Andy and Catie were gone when we got up, they left a note. John and Annabelle left about an hour ago.”

“What have you guys been doing all day?” Rayanne asked.

“Just got up a while ago. We’re getting ready to go out, you guys wanna come with?” Amanda asked.

Rayanne just looked at her for a minute before Amanda cracked a smile.

“Oh, sorry, nevermind.” she laughed.

“Nicky, you can go with them if you want sweetie. I’ll just stay here and rest, maybe I’ll pack our stuff to go back.”

“No, you’re not feeling well, we’ll just hang out or something. Anyway, I am supposed to be resting this week too.”

“Where are you guys going?” she asked them.

“We’re gonna eat, then go to a club or something.”

“Ya know, AJ, you’re fun, but you’re exhausting sometimes.”

“Tell me about it!” Amanda agreed.

The toast popped up out of the toaster and Nick began to spread peanut butter on them. Rayanne ate her toast as the four of them talked about going back to Europe the next day.

“Well girlie, we better get going if we’re gonna eat before we go out.” AJ said taking Amanda’s hand.

20 minutes later they were gone and Nick and Rayanne lay on the couch watching Brady Bunch re-runs on Nickelodeon.

“I think I’m gonna take a shower.” Rayanne said rolling over to face Nick, who was laying behind her.

“What? No more Brady Bunch?” he laughed.

“I think 8 episodes is enough.”

“I see how ya are.”

“Yup, I’m exactly how I am. Live with it.”

“I will, because I love you just the way you are.”

“Aww, so sweet. Let me up.”

They stood up and she walked by him, down the hall to the bathroom. She took a long shower, putting on her silk nightgown when she was done. She walked into the living room and found Nick on the computer.

“What are ya doing? Talking to cute girls?” she teased.

“Oh yes...my mom Ray.”

“Tell her I said ‘hi’”.

“How was your shower?” he turned to look at her. “Ooh, I like your pajamas.”

“Wore ‘em just for you.” she smiled.

“I better tell my mom it’s time for me to go to bed.”

“Oh no, you talk to your mom. I want to check my email when you’re done.” She sat down in the big recliner and flipped through the channels.

“Nick?”

“Yeah?”

“What exactly did we do last night? I have a bruise on my thigh and one on my hip.”

“I don’t remember exactly what we did, but I know it was fun.” he answered her. “And you liked it a lot.”

She giggled. “I remember that I liked it. I just can’t remember how I could have gotten these bruises.”

“We can try to find out when I’m done.” He gave her a devilish grin.

“Maybe if you’re lucky.” she teased.

“If I’m lucky? What about you? You’re not lucky to have me?” he asked raising his eyebrow.

“Of course I am! But you know what I mean.”

“Sure I do.” he smiled.

“Nick?”

“Yeah?”

“When do you plan on answering your mother?”

“Oops, you got me all distracted, I forgot she was talking.”

“Good one slick.” she said turning her attention to the TV.

“Done.” he said about 20 minutes later.

“Huh? Oh, OK, just a second, I want to see if Ruthie’s going to be alright.”

“What are you watching?” he asked sitting on her.

“Ugh. Careful man. The Real World. It’s almost over.”

They watched the rest of the show in silence. When it was over Rayanne sat in front of the computer checking her email. She wrote to her mother and Sarah, before closing the program.

“Wanna find random people to mess with on AIM?” he asked as she got up.

“You’re awful.”

“It’s fun.”

“Sure then. I’m gonna go get something to eat while you find victims.” she laughed.

She walked into the kitchen as she heard Nick sign on to AIM. She rummaged through the cupboards, then the refrigerator until she found a frozen quesadilla she wanted. She warmed it up in the microwave, taking a big bite as soon as it came out.

“OUCH!!!” she yelled.

“What’s wrong?” Nick called from his spot in front of the computer. “I found a girl on here to talk to.”

“GOD DAMN IT. OUCH, OUCH, OUCH!!!” she yelled ignoring him.

“What is wrong with you?”

“I burned my lip. Shit that hurts!” she said almost in tears.

He walked into the kitchen and over to her. “Are you gonna make it?”

“I don’t know. Man, it hurts so bad.”

“Let me see.” he said taking her hand away from her lip. “Oh no, it’s red. My sweetie’s lip is hurt.”

“Bad. Ouchie.”

“What do you want me to do?” he asked.

“Make it feel better.”

“I can do that.” he smiled.

He gently cupped her chin in his hand and brought his lips first to her forehead, her earlobes, her cheeks, her neck and finally her lips. He kissed them gently, taking her hands in his. He stared contently into her eyes as he picked her up and set her on the counter. He kissed her again, letting his tongue slip into her mouth, lighting touching hers. He ran his hands up and down her thighs, as she ran her fingers through the back of his hair, pulling him closer to her, wrapping her legs around his waist. They made their way to his bedroom, her nightgown finding it’s way to the floor. He laid her down on the bed, gently spreading her legs as she laid back and relaxed. He positioned himself over her, propped up on his left elbow. He caressed her body gently with his right hand from her neck, down her stomach and between her legs. He let his fingers slip inside, kissing her passionately as he felt the warmth inside her. She ran her hands up and down his bare back until he pulled away to stand up and take off his boxers. He dropped them on the floor and lay back down, letting his body fall against hers. He leaned down to kiss her on the lips, using his hands to spread apart her legs and guide himself inside her. She felt his hand lightly drag across her stomach, up her chest and down the length of her arm. He held her hands above her head and kissed the length of her neck and her ear. Making his way back to her face, he paid special attention to the sore spot. He began easing himself in and out of her, slowly at first.

“Mmm, Nick. You feel so good.”

“So do you. Lip feel better?”

“Yes. Thank you. I love you.”

“I love you too.” he said as he began to go faster, in and out, until they climaxed together.

*The next evening*
“Yo! Wassup?!” Nick said embracing Brian in a hug.

“You’re finally back man. Wasn’t the same without ya!”

“I know, I’m the glue...”

“Oh gee, that holds us together right?” Brian laughed.

“Where is everyone else?” He set Rayanne’s bags down on the bed.

“Downstairs with Tima.”

“It’s gonna be hard to get used to this again.” he laughed. “I know it’s only been a week, but man...”

“You’ll do fine. You always do.” his best friend assured him. “Where’s Ray?”

“Somewhere with Amanda. Who knows.”

“I know what you’re thinking, just say it.”

“Those girls.” he said with a smile.

“What would you do without them though? One imparticular.” Brian smiled.

“I don’t know Rok.” Nick said seriously. “I really don’t know what I would do without her.”

“Uh oh.” Brian teased. “Is what I think is happening, really happening?”

Nick didn’t answer.

“Yoo hoo, Nicky.” Brian waved his hand in front of his face.

“Sorry man, I dazed.”

“Are you falling in love with her?”

“Huh?”

“I said, are you falling in love with her?”

“I’m not falling in love with her...I already am.”