Nick did well in the hospital, and was released to go home late Sunday night, 10 hours before his original release date. They had time to take a quick nap before their flight left for Tampa.

“Hey, don’t forget to bring your bathing suit.” Nick reminded her as she packed. They had just woken up and realized they only had 20 minutes before they had to leave for the airport.

“Got it already.” she said.

“OK, clothes; toothbrush; check, check, check....Got everything.” she said going through the checklist in her head.

“This isn’t fair, you like, don’t even have to pack!” She realized why he had been standing there watching her instead of packing his stuff.

He smiled. “Well, do you need any help?”

“Nope, I’m ready.”

They grabbed their windbreakers and headed to say goodbye to everyone.

After a round of good-byes, Nick wished the guys luck and apologized again for not being able to be there with them for the shows in Italy. They set off to find Michael, their ride to the airport.

The ride to the airport was uneventful, everyone was still tired. They boarded the airplane and settled into their seats.

Rayanne looked at Nick and took his hand in hers. “Would you have come home anyway? Or are you doing this just so I won’t get bored?”

He looked at her and smiled. “Why does it matter? We’re going to have fun.”

She leaned her head against the seat and closed her eyes.

“So, do you have any ideas what you want to do for your birthday?” he broke the silence.

“Umm...I told you.” she said with a devilish grin.

“Ray, you know what I mean.”

“I don’t know right now, I’ll decide before Thursday, don’t you worry.”

“OK, you better. Let’s play a game or something.” he suggested as the plane lifted off the ground.

They played hangman for 3 hours straight before they got in a fight.

“Ray, ‘The Harder They Come’ is not a movie, it’s a song.”

“It is too a movie. Just cause you’ve never seen it, doesn’t mean it doesn’t exist, ya know.” she defended herself.

“I think I would have heard about it.”

“Maybe your taste in movies sucks.”

“Maybe you like to cheat.”

“Maybe you can’t accept that fact that you’re wrong.”

“Because I’m not.” he countered.

“Whatever. You’re so immature.”

“I’m immature? Who’s the one who slept with a teddy bear until she LOST it.”

“Who’s the one who calls his mother TWICE a day?”

“Who’s the one who...who...”

“You got nothing Carter.”

“You’re such a dumbass Rayanne.”

“I learn from the best dear.” she said not looking at him.

“Whatever.”

She didn’t respond or look at him for a full ten minutes. She really was mad, but when she finally looked at him, and thought about why they were fighting, she had to smile.

“Nick?”

“What?” he didn’t look at her.

“Hun. Look at me.”

He turned his head and looked at her. He saw her smiling and smiled back, although she could tell he was trying not too.

“We’re fighting about Hangman.” she reasoned. “A game.”

The small smile on his face slowly grew bigger. “I guess we’re pretty dumb huh?”

“Ya think?”

They decided against playing Hangman again, but did take quizzes out of Rayanne’s Cosmo magazines for a while. When they got bored of that, they listened to music and took naps.

When the plane landed in Tampa International Airport they realized they were almost an hour early.

“Hmm...how often does this happen?” Nick asked as they made their way to a payphone to call his friend John to let him know they were early. They sat on Rayanne’s bags in front of the airport while they waited to be picked up.

While they waited under the lights a little girl, about 4 or 5 made her way slowly to where they were sitting, talking about how they were going to spend their 5 days in Florida. She cautiously stood in front of them, her face red.

“Scuse me, Nick Carter, can I haf your awtogwaf?” her tiny and very tired voice ventured.

“Well, of course you can.” he smiled at her as he took her pen and paper out of her hand. “What’s your name cutie?”

She smiled at him. “Brooke.”

“Brooke, to the cutest little girl I’ve ever met. Stay as sweet as you are. I hope to see you at a concert someday. Love, Nick.” he spoke out loud as he wrote.

Brooke said thank you and turned heel to run to her mother and show off her newest prized possession.

“That was really sweet Nick. You’re so good with them.”

“She was so polite, did you see that? So cute.” he laughed.

“Uh oh. Should I be jealous?” she asked jokingly.

“Oh no...that’s something you’re never going to have to worry about.” He pulled her down to lay on his lap.

“Ya know, I’m kinda surprised. I thought you would cause more of a commotion. You’re just sitting here outside the airport and no one is bothering you.”

“Yeah, it’d be crazy anywhere else, but here everyone’s used to me.”

“Oh, good deal.”

“Yeah, it makes it easier.” he said standing up. “I see John coming.”

John pulled up in front of them in Nick’s green Durango. He got out and gave Nick a big hug.

“Ray, this is John. Be careful around him, he’s another me.”

“Oh goodness. Two Nick’s?!” she feigned genuine fear at the thought.

“We grew up together, two of a kind.”

“Well, nice to meet you John.”

“You too.”

They put Rayanne’s bags in the back of the Durango and started the drive to Nick’s house. John told Rayanne she could sit in the front with Nick, but she let him instead.

In 20 minutes they were at the entrance to the gated community Nick’s house was in. They drove in and around the circle to his house. Nick cut the engine and got out to open Rayanne’s door for her.

“Are you showing off? You don’t usually open my doors for me.”

“Oh, you are so lying! What a snot.” he said and lightly slapped her head.

They helped her carry her bags in and Nick started sorting through the mail on the kitchen table.

“How’s everything been?” he asked John.

Just then, 5 of the most adorable dogs Rayanne had ever seen all filed from the living room into the kitchen and started jumping at Nick’s legs.

“Hey puppies!” he said bending down. “Come here Ray.” he said grabbing her hand and pulling her over to him and the pile of puppies.

They both sat on the floor as the dogs all struggled to be the one who got to be closest to Nick. He picked the one closest to him up.

“This is Houston. Houston, Rayanne.” he said handing the pug to her.

“And this one is Mikey.” he handed Mikey to her. She set Houston down and took him.

“Nicky. See her crossed eyes.” he smiled. Rayanne rotated the dogs once more.

“This is Rocky. Boxer.” Rayanne grunted as he handed her this dog, who was slightly bigger than the pugs.

“OUCH!” Rayanne yelled as she dropped Rocky into her lap. “Who was that?!”

Nick laughed. “That would be Willie. Feet biter extraordinare.”

“Well, Willie. Nice to meet you.” she said putting Rocky down next to her and petting Willie trying to get his teeth off her sock. Willie kept nibbling at her feet as she laughed.

“Nick, get him off me, that tickles!”

“You’re lucky it tickles, usually it hurts! Anyway, it means he likes you.”

“That’s good to know I guess.” she said as Willie became disinterested in her feet and started playing with Nicky.

Nick picked up Houston and headed for the living room. He flicked on some lights and turned on the TV, sitting down on the couch. Rayanne sat down next to him and Houston climbed on her lap.

“Hey there girlie. Look, I have a new best friend.”

John stuck his head in the room and said that he was going to go home and get some sleep, but for Nick to call him if they wanted any company the next day.

“Will do. Thanks for the pick-up!” Nick said as John turned and walked out the door.

As soon as he heard the door close, Nick picked Houston up and put her on the floor. He pulled Rayanne onto his lap so she was straddling him, putting his hands on her face and pulling it close to his. He kissed her for a long time, running his hands over her body before he pulled away.

“We should christen this house.” he grinned devishly as he gave her his “sexy” eyes she had come to be familiar with.

“Mmm...very tempting.” she said as she leaned in for another kiss.

He pulled her shirt up over her head and threw it on the floor next to the couch. He laid her down so he was on top of her and kissed all over her from her forehead down to her stomach.

He unbuttoned her pants and lightly kissed the skin that was once hidden under the material. She ran her fingers through his hair.

“Hun?”

He stopped kissing and looked her in the eye. “You wanna stop?”

“I don’t know.” she answered truthfully. “I want to do this so much, I really do, but for some reason I have it stuck in my head I want it to be on my birthday.”

He laughed and laid his head down next to hers. He kissed her cheek and whispered in her ear, “I love you. And I’ll wait.”

She smiled a thank you at him and closed her eyes. They fell asleep as they were, on the couch for the night.

*The next morning*
“Ouch. God, cut it out!” he yelled in her ear.

Rayanne opened one eye to see Nick’s foot hanging over her body off the side of the couch, with a very-awake Willie attached to the other end.

“Come here Willie.” she said extending her hand as a distraction from Nick’s foot. Willie walked up and sniffed her hand.

“So, now that we’re awake!” he said sarcastically.

“We’ll eat breakfast and take showers and do something fun.”

“Oh, I know, let’s go to Disney.”

“We can do that? Just go?”

He laughed and wrapped his arms around her. “We can do whatever we want. We should just hurry if that’s what we’re going to do. Should we go alone or bring someone?”

“We can bring John and Anna, I know you haven’t seen him in a while.”

He climbed over her and stood up pulling her by her arms with him. “Let me go call John and I’ll get us breakfast.”

As Nick picked up the phone to call his friend Rayanne started rummaging through the cupboards looking for something to make for breakfast. She found bread, butter, and eggs.

“Good enough.” she mumbled to herself.

She found the toaster and a pan and started making toast and cooking the eggs. She had four pieces of toast made and two eggs when Nick walked up behind her and wrapped his arms around her waist.

“Sweetie. You didn’t have to do this.”

“I know. What time are we meeting them?”

“They’ll be here in an hour and a half.” he began to butter the toast as it can out of the toaster.

They ate breakfast together at the kitchen table, washed the dishes and cleaned up. They had an hour left to get ready. While Rayanne took her shower, Nick let the dogs out to play and fed them. Rayanne got out and got dressed then yelled to him that he could come in the bathroom. She put her hair in a french braid and got dressed. She wore a pair of khaki shorts and a red tank top with her most comfortable white canvas sneakers. Nick was out of the shower and dressed in his khaki’s and a white wife beater with 20 minutes to spare. They put the dogs in the backyard and sat on Nick’s front steps waiting for John and his girlfriend Anna.

They pulled into the parking lot at DisneyWorld at noon and took the Tram to the park.

“Ooh! The MickeyTrain!” Rayanne said excitedly as she took her seat next to Nick.

“What did you say?!” he asked a little surprised.

She smiled her sweetest smile at him. “That’s what I called it when I was little.”

“Oh.” he smiled at her and rolled his eyes.

“Problem?” she asked with a grin.

“Of course not.” he said. “It’s cute.”

He put his hand on her leg. She turned her head and looked at him.

“And mister, what do you think you’re doing?”

“Oh, I forgot, we’re on the MickeyTrain. Can’t touch my girlfriend on the MickeyTrain.” he laughed. “But, Ray, what are you gonna do about it?”

She smiled her ‘come here’ smile at him tempting him to try more.

He leaned forward and pinned her down on the seat. He kissed her quickly on one cheek, the other cheek, the eyes, the nose, the forehead, her neck, over and over; quick little kisses. He was laughing but didn’t stop with the kisses.

She laughed and tried to get him off her.

He finally sat up and took her hand in his. The MickeyTrain came to a stop about two minutes later and they piled off with the rest of the passengers. They headed down Main Street, stopping to get cotton candy.

“Mmm, my favorite part of amusement parks.” Rayanne joked.

“Mine too, now I get to have a girlfriend with blue lips all day.”

“Here.” she said shoving a chunk of her blue cotton candy in his mouth. “Now we match.”

John laughed and pulled Anna down Main Street ahead of them. Rayanne took Nick’s hand in hers and laced her fingers in between his.

“I love you.” she said turning sideways to look at him.

“I love you too my little Ray of sunshine.” he laughed.

They walked around for about an hour before going on any rides. They headed first to Space Mountain. They had been in line for about half an hour when Rayanne looked at Nick, smiling sweetly.

“Hey, Nickolas...this would be a good time to throw your name around and get us on this ride a little quicker.”

“No Ray, I’m not gonna do that.” he smiled.

She put on her best smile for him and gave him puppy dog eyes.

He started laughing. “Don’t do that. I said ‘no’.”

“I know, I was just teasing.”

They waited in line for another 45 minutes before getting on.

The rest of the day was full of junk food and waiting to get on rides. Rayanne had fun though. As they settled in on the couch to watch Total Request Live later that night she looked at the stuff she had gotten at the park. A framed picture of her and Nick with Goofy, her favorite Disney character; an extra bag of blue cotton candy; a little pink tee-shirt with Donald Duck on it; a fisherman hat with all the characters on it and a sunburn.

“Nicky, where are those pictures we took in that little booth?” she asked helping herself to a sucker from the candy bowl on the coffee table.

“In my pocket.”

“Give ‘em to me.”

“Who taught you your manners?” he laughed. “No please?”

Instead of saying please she scooted closer to him. She put her hand on his cheek, turned his face to hers and kissed him softly.

When she pulled away he reached into the pocket of his khaki shorts and pulled out the strip of pictures they had gotten from the photo booth earlier that day.

“That’s a bad habit. I hope you don’t think you’re gonna get whatever you want without saying please.”

“Would you rather me say please next time.”

“That’s not fair.”

She smiled at him and inspected the pictures in her hand.

“We should blow this one up.” she said pointing to the picture of her sitting on Nick’s lap.

Nick had his arms wrapped around her so she couldn’t move. She had a confused look on her face as she tried to figure a way to get out of his clutches. His eyes were closed and he had the most beautiful smile on his face laughing at her. The next picture showed Rayanne free, her arms wrapped around Nick’s neck. He was kissing her cheek.

“Well, maybe we should blow both of these up. They’re too funny.”

“Yeah, cause you’re so funny looking.”

“Oh ya think? Fine then...we’ll remember that tonight when it’s time to go to bed.”

“Just teasing.”

“Somehow I thought so.” she said smacking him on the arm.

“What was that? Go get me the flyswatter.”

“Oh, you are asking for it!”

“For what?”

“A beating! I’ll take ya down!”

“Let’s go.” he said standing up and moving the coffee table out of the way.

Rayanne stood up on the couch and showed off her muscles. “Want a piece of this?”

“Oh God, I can’t do this...you’re too funny standing up there. It’s not fair, you make me laugh, then I can’t fight.”

She jumped off the couch and charged at him. He anticipated her attack and stuck his hand out, stopping her dead in her tracks. He kept his hand on her forehead, holding her at arm’s distance, her arms swinging for him, but missing.

“Nickolas! Let me go!”

Laying in bed later that night, Rayanne, almost asleep, felt something poke her on the back.

“Mmm...Nick, what are you doing? I’m tired.”

“Nothing. Just go to sleep.”

She tried to fall asleep, but it was hard through the poking on her back. It was peaceful quiet for a few minutes, before Nick woke her out of her almost sleep.

“Ray.”

“What?” she asked groggily.

“Get up.”

“Are you kidding me?”

“I want you to see what I did.”

“Ugh. I have to see tonight?”

“YES.”

“Fine.” She rolled out of bed, Nick hot on her trail and walked to the mirror on the back of the closed door.

“Turn around.” he gently turned her around.

He pulled her hair out of the way to reveal a tattoo...made of blue marker, but no less a tattoo.

“Turn the big light on.”

He turned the light on as she backed closer to the mirror to get a better look.

“Wow. Nick, that’s really pretty.”

“Thanks.” he said touching it gently with his hand, as if it were real.

He had drawn a shark and a dolphin on her back, near her right shoulder blade. The shark and dolphin’s tails were touching and their bodies were curved upward, their noses curved in, touching. Their bodies made a heart, and it said N+R inside the heart.

“What made you want to do that?” she asked.

He turned off the light and pulled her back toward the bed. “I was bored and couldn’t sleep and your back just looked so flawless and perfect. So I decided to mess with it.” he smiled.

“Gee, thanks. I really like it though.”

They were under the covers with all the lights off.

They both fell silent and Rayanne was almost asleep for real when she had a thought.

“Nick?” she rolled over so she was facing him.

He didn’t answer. “Nick?”

“What?” he woke up, not opening his eyes.

“Guess what I want for my birthday?”

“Me?!” he smiled without opening his eyes.

“No. Well, yes, but that’s not what I mean.”

“What then?”

“I want to get this tattoo. Us. I want us to get it. Matching tattoos. Exactly like the one you drew.”

He opened his eyes and pulled her closer to him.

“I think we could manage that.”

“Good. Now hold me tight and go to sleep.”

*The next morning*
“What today?” They had just woken up and were still laying in bed.

“God, I don’t know, I am so tired.” she complained. “Let’s lay in bed all day.”

“We could do that. For real. I am supposed to be getting rest, and I’m sure we’ll be busy tomorrow.”

“Let’s get movies.”

“Movies and lots of Mountain Dew.”

“If you say so...” she laughed.

“I do.”

After taking quick showers and throwing on some clothes, they went to Blockbuster to get movies. They stopped at a grocery store to get munchies and Mountain Dew and were back home in less than an hour.

“I’m gonna let the dogs out back for awhile before we start the movies OK?”

“OK, well let’s go out and play with them.”

They took the dogs out and tried to start a game of five dog fetch, but Mikey wanted no part of it. The rest of the dogs played for a while before they forgot all about the stick and started chasing each other around. Rayanne was playing with them when Nick called to her.

She walked over to the tree he was sitting under with Mikey.

“Feel his nose.”

Rayanne did as she was instructed. “It’s cold. That’s not good is it?”

“I’m not sure. I think that’s OK, but it’s wet.”

“Well, I’m not sure which one of those is bad, but I’m pretty sure one of them is.”

“Yeah. What should I do?”

“Did he eat this morning?’

“Not a lot, but he did.”

“We’ll watch him today. If he doesn’t eat or if he acts sick, we should take him to his vet tomorrow.”

“OK.”

They sat under the tree petting Mikey until Houston, Nicky, Willie and Rocky all decided it was OK to go inside.

They both changed back into their pajamas, and got back in bed. Houston and Nicky jumped on the bed with them as they put in ‘Jawbreaker’.

They watched movies in bed all day, getting up only to go the bathroom or let a dog in or out. At about 10:00 the phone rang.

“Hello?” Nick picked up the phone next to the bed. “Hey, wassup?!”

He pulled the phone away from his mouth and told Rayanne it was AJ on the phone.

“Oooh! Is Amanda still there?”

“Hey man, is Amanda still there? OK, I have a feeling Rayanne wants to talk to her after.”

Rayanne smiled and continued watching “Alien Resurrection”.

It was about 20 minutes before Nick handed her the phone. “He’s getting Amanda for you.”

“Thanks Nickolas Pickolas.”

“What the hell did you just call me?!” He was laughing so hard she could barely make out the words.

“Nickolas Pickolas.” she said with a straight face. She held the phone to her ear waiting for Amanda’s voice on the other end.

“Oh my...” he said still laughing.

“Ray?” came Amanda’s voice through the phone.

“Hey Manders!”

“Well, aren’t we just full of nicknames today?” Nick said still laughing.

“Hang on a second.” she said into the phone.

“If you are not going to be quiet while I am on the phone please go somewhere.”

“REER!” he said sarcastically as he got up off the bed and walked to the bathroom. “Nickolas Pickolas.” she heard him say to himself from the other room.

“OK. I had to kick Nick out, he was being obnoxious.”

“It’s OK. So, how are things going?”

“Good. We went to Disney yesterday and we’ve been vegging today.”

“Sounds fun. That would be nice to be able to veg for a day.”

“Has it been hectic over there?”

“Probably not anymore than usual. I’m just not used to it.”

“Yeah, I wasn’t either.”

“LeighAnne is a pro though, she’s helping me keep my sanity.”

“So, how long do you think you’re staying?”

“A long time probably. AJ asked me to stay the whole tour...and get this. He wants me to like move to Florida when we get back to the states.”

“Wow. He sure moves fast!”

“I know. I told him ‘yes’ about the tour, but I’m not sure about the whole moving thing yet.”

“I don’t blame ya. That’s a big step. And it’s been, what, a week?”

“I know. About that. He’s so much fun though Ray. They all are.”

Nick walked back in the room.

“I’m ready to be good.” he said and laid back down on the bed.

She just smiled at him. “I know, I liked it too.” she said to Amanda.

“It’s not the same with you guys not here though! Hang on.”

“Okie dokie.”

She heard Amanda cover the phone with her hand. Her voice was muffled.

“OK, I’m back. The guys and LeighAnne are here. I’m gonna put you on speaker phone OK? Hey, put me on too.”

“OK.”

Rayanne asked Nick to push the speaker phone button since he was closer and set the phone back in the holder.

“Hey guys! What’s up? How are you? We miss you!” came the voices of Brian, LeighAnne, Amanda, AJ, Kevin and Howie.

“Hey! We’re fine...loving the vacation though!”

“I bet!” said Brian. “Now listen, we all gotta go back to bed. We woke up to do something. I realize it’s still yesterday there, but it’s today here...whatever. You know what I mean.”

Rayanne looked at Nick confused.

“Don’t look at me!” he said holding his hands up in the air. “Just cause he’s my best friend doesn’t mean I understand him!”

“Happy birthday to you, happy birthday to you, happy birthday dear Rayanne Elizabeth, happy birthday to you.” they all sang sweetly, although Rayanne detected a bit of Brian’s amusing operatic voice near the end.

“Aww...thank you! My very first Happy Birthday!”

“Have fun tomorrow! We’re outtie.” Brian said.

“Hey Ray, call me tomorrow night when you get time!” she heard LeighAnne’s voice get farther away as she talked, probably being pulled back to bed by Brian.

“OK Leigh!”

“Pick up the phone now.” Amanda instructed her.

Nick handed Rayanne the phone. They talked for a few more minutes, mostly about Nick and AJ before Amanda’s yawning became more frequent than her words and Rayanne told her to go to bed.

“OK, you have fun tomorrow. I heard about what you want to do for your birthday.”

“Oh did you really? Now how did that happen?” she asked raising her eyebrow at Nick.

“What did I do now?” he asked innocently.

“Nothing babe.” she said kissing him.

“Anyway, have fun. Make sure you talk to me when you call LeighAnne tomorrow.”

“OK, thanks for calling!”

“Happy Birthday!”

“Thanks. Night!”

“Night.”

She clicked off the phone and put it on the nightstand next to the bed.

They had both become disinterested in the movie and started talking while it played in the background. Mikey was on the bed between them. They both rolled on their sides and started petting him.

“I hope he’s OK.” Rayanne said concerned.

“Me too. Poor little shit. So...do you know what you want to do tomorrow?”

“I’ve been thinking. I have lots of stuff, so you can pick what would be most fun.”

“I’m not picking, it’s your birthday Ray.”

“Well, I would like to go to that place you told me about before, the waterfall. That would be fun. Spend the day there. Then go get our tattoos-you still will do that right?”

“Of course! I can’t wait.”

“OK. After that we can just come back here...for...the night.” she said slowly.

He smiled. “Is that everything you want to do? Do you want to go out to dinner or eat here?”

“I don’t care.”

“OK. I’ll take care of that then.”

She closed her eyes and snuggled up to him as closely as she could without squishing Mikey. He put his arm over her side and rubbed her back.

They had 3 more movies, but they decided not to watch any more of them.

When the clocked flicked to midnight he kissed her gently. “Happy Birthday.”

“Thank you.”

“Love you.”

“Love you too.”

They talked about everything that night. By the time they fell asleep, they knew everything about each other’s families and friends. They told their secrets, shared embarrassing stories and childhood memories. They both cried and both laughed. Mikey had jumped down off the bed, and they were laying with their legs intertwined, their heads touching.

“You thought you knew a lot about me before, huh?!” she joked.

“Yeah, lots you didn’t know about me too!”

“Now that you know all this stuff about me what do ya think?” she asked more serious.

“I think you’re the most beautiful person I’ve ever met.” he said as serious and kissed her forehead.

Rayanne loved Nick, she had always know that, but at that moment she knew she was in love with him.