“Can’t I have a painkiller or something?” Rayanne asked as the Doctor checked her pupils.

“I’m sorry Miss Winters, there’s nothing we can give you due to the stage your pregnancy is in.”

“OK. Warm cloth?”

“A warm cloth we can do.” he smiled and sent the nurse to the bathroom which she returned with a moment later and placed gently on Rayanne’s forehead.

“When can she go home?” Nick asked the Doctor.

“I would like to keep her here overnight just to watch her, but if she wishes I will release her this evening.”

“I want to go home.”

“You’ll have to be watched very closely for the next 48 hours.”

“Just tell me what I have to do, I’m going to take care of her.”

“I’ve taken the liberty of setting up an appointment for you to see Dr. Witter in P.N. unit on Tuesday afternoon.”

“Thank you.”

After watching her stats and explaining to Nick what needed to be done, the Doctor signed the papers to release Rayanne. Nick drove home where they had sent Mandy after assuring her Rayanne would be home in a few hours.

“We’re home!” Nick called ushering Rayanne slowly through the door.

“Good! How ya feeling sweetie?”

“I’m feeling fine. My head on the other hand...”

“Do you want me to get you some Tylenol?”

“No thanks, I shouldn’t.”

“Why?”

“Uh...OK, come here.” she said sitting on the couch.

“OK...”

Mandy walked into the living room and sat in the recliner.

“Nick, come sit next to me.” she said holding her hand out.

He walked to the couch taking her hand and sat next to her.

“So..what’s up?” Mandy asked raising her eyebrow.

Rayanne looked at Nick.

“You wanna tell her?”

“Oh my God!” Mandy shouting jumping out of the chair. “Are you pregnant?!”

Rayanne and Nick both smiled at her, but didn’t say anything.

“Oh my God! Did you just find out today?” she said running toward them, giving them a big hug.

“Yeah.” Rayanne said, her face buried in Mandy’s neck.

“Yay! Name it after me?” she pleaded with her eyes.

“How about you let us tell our parents first and let me get a little more pregnant before we start picking out names?”

“Parents...oh yeah. Whose first?” Nick looked at her.

“Um...I’m not sure. I actually would like to talk for a while...us. Is that OK? Before we tell people?”

“Sure.” he said a little uncertainly.

“OK, I’ll leave you two alone, I’m gonna go to Derek’s for a while.”

“Have fun! Tell him we said ‘hi’.”

“I will! Feel better hun!”

“I feel OK, just a little headache.”

“Good. I’ll be back in a while.”

Mandy walked out the door and Nick turned to Rayanne.

“What’s wrong sweetie? Are you sure you’re OK with this? You don’t seem-”

“Nick, I told you I want this baby and I meant it. You’re going to have to bear with me and this pain.”

“You just told Mandy that-”

“I lied. My head is killing me, but there is something I need to tell you.”

“OK...” he said slowly.

“I’ve been thinking about it since the second the Doctor said I was pregnant.”

“Ray? What is it?”

“The night after I left Europe I had a party. I intended it to be fun, but it was bad. Someone brought liquor, which you know I hate, and it was still all so fresh, it still hurt...”

“What happened?”

“Nothing that seemed like a problem until today.”

“Problem?”

“I got a little...I missed you and I didn’t handle it right. I drank so much that night Nick, and all the next day I was taking any kind of pain medicine I could find.”

“Oh. Well, it was once...that can’t be so bad, right?”

“I don’t know. I really don’t. I guess it’s not that bad, but once is all it takes ya know?”

“But he said the baby is fine. Our baby is fine.”

“I know. I just worry.”

“I know. Did you think I would be upset?”

“Kinda.”

“But you didn’t know, so you weren’t doing anything intentional.”

“I know.”

“OK, is that what we needed to talk about? Can we tell people now?” he said his face lighting up.

“I am so glad you want this.”

“Why wouldn’t I?”

“Cause we’re young. And because of what you do.”

“Nope, doesn’t make a difference to me.”

She smiled and kissed him on the lips.

“Now who do we call first?” she said pulling away.

“Moms...which one?”

“Mine. It’s late here, it’s early where you’re mom is, she has to wait.”

“Good point. Call her.”

She picked up the cordless phone and held it in her hand.

“What if she’s mad Nick?”

“Oh...I never thought about anyone not wanting this.”

“Me either.”

“She’ll be OK Ray, we’re not asking for help, we’re doing this on our own.”

“I know. How about you call your mom first.”

“Are you sure?”

“Yeah.”

“OK.” he said taking the phone from her and dialing his parent’s phone number in California.

Rayanne lay down slowly placing her head in his lap and closed her eyes to ease the pain in the back of her head.

“Hey Ang!”
“I’m OK.”
“Yup, I’m in Buffalo.”
“Nope, we haven’t seen them yet.”
“I don’t know yet, Ray had an accident today, that’s why I’m calling.”
“No no! Calm down Ang, she’s fine.”
“Sure, just talk quiet, she has a big headache.”

“Ray...Angel wants to talk to you.”

She took the phone from him without opening her eyes and put it to her ear.

“Hey Angel!”

“Ray! Are you sure you’re OK? Nick’s not just saying that?”

“I’m OK. The doctor let me come home so I must be.” she reassured her.

“Good. I was a little worried. What happened anyway?”

“We were at the mall and I got bumped into and fell down the stairs.”

“Ouch, and hit your head?”

“Yeah, very hard.”

“Nick told me to talk quiet.” she giggled.

“He’s taking good care of me.”

“He is a good take-care-er...you know what I mean.”

“Yeah.” she laughed. “Amazingly I do Ang. Is your mom home?”

“Yeah. Want to talk to her?”

“Yes please.”

“Just a sec.”

Rayanne heard Angel cover up the phone and yell to her mother. When she didn’t answer right away she heard Angel running up the stairs calling for her.

“I’m in here!” She heard Jane’s muffled voice.

After a few more minutes of muffled whispers Jane took the phone from Angel.

“Rayanne?”

“Hi Jane!”

“Sweetie, what’s this about an accident? Is everything OK?”

“Yeah, I’m fine. I fell down some stairs at the mall and hit my head. I’m OK though, just a concussion.”

“Well that’s good, Angel had me all scared for a moment there.”

“She was worried, but I told her I was fine.”

“Well, if you need anything...”

“Thank you Jane. Your son is taking very good care of me, he’s all I need.”

“How long is he staying with you?”

“That’s actually part of the reason we called. I’ll let you talk to Nick now.”

“Alright. You take care hun. We send our love.”

“Thanks Jane, bye.”

She held the phone up for Nick to take. She listened to his end of the conversation with her eyes still closed.

“Well, I’m not going back I don’t think. She needs me.”
“I know, but I have my reasons.”
“Well, yeah, that’s why we called.”
“OK.”
“Yeah.”
“Mom just listen...when she was taken to the hospital we found something out. She’s pregnant mom. We’re having a baby.”
“Yes, we’re sure.”
“The Doctor said so mom!”
“I know! We are too!”

Rayanne could hear Jane’s voice from where she was, and she could tell that she was excited. Nick leaned down and kissed her forehead.

“Can you hear her?” he whispered.

“Yeah.” she said opening her eyes. “She’s happy isn’t she?”

“She’s so happy.”

“Nick...we’re having a baby. And we just told your mom.”

She sat up and wrapped her arms around his neck, kissing him over and over on the cheek and mouth.

“Nothing mom, she just got excited. Headache must be gone.” he laughed.

“Congratulations honey!” Jane yelled loud enough for Rayanne to hear.

“Thank you!”

“Yes mom, there’s a lot to tell. We have a lot of people to call.”
“April 6th.”
“We have an appointment Tuesday afternoon, another reason I’m not going anywhere.”
“Yes, we’re going to call them tonight.”
“Well, Michael will learn to deal with it. We only have a few shows left anyway.”
“OK.”
“Yeah, we should go, we’ve got a lot of people to call.”
“Yup, you were the first Grandma Carter.”
“You’re something else mom. We’ll call back tomorrow when we have more time to talk.”
“Tell them, but no one else yet.”
“OK, we love you!”
“Bye.”

He hung up the phone and kissed the top of Rayanne’s head, where it was resting on his shoulder while he talked to his mother.

“So who do we call next?”

“Doesn’t matter. Someone you want to. It’s your turn to tell.”

“Let’s call Brian and Leigh.”

“Ooh...good idea.”

“I get to tell though.” she smiled.

“He’s my best friend!”

“I know...I’ll tell Leigh, you tell Brian. That sound good?”

“You can tell him hun, I was just kidding.”

“Nah, it’s OK, I want you to tell him.”

He just smiled at her and pulled her closer to him. Still on his lap she dialed LeighAnne’s cell phone number from memory and waited for her to pick up.

“Shit Nick. What time is it there?”

“It’s almost 10 here, so it’s 4 there.”

“Ooh...I’m calling anyway.” she giggled and held the phone to her ear.

“Hello?” LeighAnne asked groggily.

“Leigh?! It’s Ray.”

“Hey Ray. What’s up?”

“Sorry to wake you up.”

“It’s OK. It just took me forever to find the phone. We’re on the bus and now AJ’s pissed.”

“Good, he woke us up when he came to Nick’s.” she laughed.

“Is something wrong though? Is that why you’re calling me this late?” She sounded more awake now.

“Nope. I fell down the stairs at the mall today and hit my head.”

“Are you OK?”

“Yeah. I have a concussion, and a bad headache but I’m OK.”

“Wow, sounds painful. I’m glad you’re OK.”

Rayanne heard Brian quietly ask who it was and LeighAnne tell him it was her.

“Hey Ray!” he laughed into the phone.

“Tell him ‘hi’. Listen Leigh, this is why I called.”

“Yeah?”

“When they took me to the hospital after the accident, I found something else out.”

“What?”

“I’m pregnant!”

“What?! Oh my God! Are you serious?”

“Yup. Don’t say anything to Brian though, Nick wants to tell him.”

“OK, I won’t. Oh wow Ray...you can’t be very far along though right?”

“Almost four weeks. Brian didn’t hear you say that did he?”

“No, he got up to go to the bathroom.”

“Good. As soon as he gets back tell him Nick wants to talk to him.”

”OK. I’m so happy for you guys. Are you excited?”

“Yeah. We called Jane and told her, she was so loud I could hear her through the phone.”

“Sounds like her. Oh, here comes Bri.”

“OK, good. I’ll put Nick on.” She handed the phone to Nick. “He’s coming.”

He smiled as he took the phone away from her and she listened to yet another one ended conversation with her head in his lap.

“Hey B.”
“Good, how’s everything there?”
“Yeah.”
“It’s fun to wake you guys up though!”
“Tell him to shut it.”

Rayanne heard him laugh and figured he was referring to AJ.

“Hey, guess what?”
“Ray had an accident at the mall today. She hit her head and had to go to the hospital.”
“Yeah, concussion.”
“Nah, she’s a lot better than I thought she would be.”
“Yup, guess what else?”
“We’re having a baby.”
“A baby. You know what those are, right Rok?”
“I know, but it doesn’t take long ya know.”
“I know, I’m talented like that.”
“Must be better than yours!”
“Can you believe that though? Our baby is inside her.”
“I know! Thanks Rok.”
“We’re gonna call them as soon as I think he’s up.”
“Oh yeah, can’t wait.” he said sarcastically.
“Uh...I guess you can, yeah. Just them though.”
“Yeah you can tell him too.”
Alright, go back to sleep bonehead!”
“Thanks. I will.”
“Bye.”

She heard the phone click off but she was too tired to open her eyes and see how it went. She was so close to such a peaceful sleep...

“Ray. Ray! Rayanne!”

“Mmm.”

“Rayanne, GET UP!”

She tried to make a noise but nothing came out.

“Rayanne Elizabeth get off your ass! You know you’re not supposed to sleep.”

“I’m tired.” she managed.

He got off the couch, careful not to move her head much and knelt down beside her. He gently shook her with his hands trying to keep her awake.

“Hey Ray?”

“Huh?”

“Dance with me.”

“Mmm.”

“Come on.” he said pulling her arms.

For no other reason than to avoid the severe pain she knew was going to slam her head if she left it hanging as he pulled her up, she stood up slowly and leaned against him.

“I’m sorry sweetie, you just know the Doctor said not to sleep.”

“I know but I have to sleep sometime.”

“In a couple hours we’ll go to bed, but I have to wake you up every hour.”

“Yay.”

“Does it hurt bad?”

“Yes. Very.”

“I’m sorry sweetness.” he said kissing her forehead lightly, holding her head with his hand.

He began to dance slowly in place singing in her ear.

“You’re so good to me.” she whispered.

“You’re what I’ve been waiting for my entire life.” he whispered back.

“Awww, I know sweet talk when I hear it.”

He laughed and kept dancing, still holding her head.

“Can we sit?” she asked after a few minutes.

“Sure. Is there someone else you want to call?”

“Not right now. Can you get me a cloth and a glass of water?”

“Yup.”

He left her alone on the couch and went to get the requested items. When he came back her found her sitting up watching TV.

“Here ya go.” he said holding out the glass. As she took it he placed the cloth on her head.

“Owie! That’s hot!” she smiled.

“Sorry.” he grinned.

“It’s OK. It feels good.”

“I wish there was something else you could do.”

“Me too.”

“What time is it? It’s not quite 11. Oh well, I’m gonna call Michael anyway.”

“Uh oh. Do I want to be here for this?” she smiled.

“I’ll go in your room and do it if you promise not to fall asleep on me, I don’t know how long I’ll be.”

“I promise.”

“OK, I’m right in here if you need me.”

He disappeared into her room and closed the door. She silently prayed Michael wouldn’t be too hard on him. On them. She felt bad that Nick couldn’t go back, but she needed him and he knew it.

She had watched almost an entire episode of Seinfeld when he finally emerged from her room.

“How’d it go?” she asked cautiously.

“Not great, but better than I thought.”

“Is he really mad?”

“I think he was at first until it hit him that just because we’re in the middle of a tour, lives don’t stop.” he said sitting next to her.

“Yeah, I actually never thought about it that simply.”

“It’s hard not to sometimes. I mean, anyone else could have a baby and get time off from work easy enough, right? What makes me so different?”

“Exactly. So you got Michael to see that?”

“Yeah. I mean he’s not happy, but I guess I couldn’t expect him to be.”

“So you’re not going back at all?”

“No. There are only like four or five shows left, they can do it.”

“Thank you.”

“I want to be here for this. To take care of you and for the baby.”

For the first time since they had found out about the baby, Nick put his hand on her, right below her stomach.

“There’s a baby in there, and it’s ours Ray.”

“I know. Part of us.”

He smiled and kissed her lips gently then scootched down and laid his head on her stomach.

“Hey baby. Mommy and Daddy love you very much.” he whispered before pulling her shirt up to softly kiss her skin.

“Aww...so sweet.” she smiled and ran her fingers through his hair.

“I try.” he laughed, sitting up again.

“So is there anyone you need to call tonight? Or want to?”

“Umm...parents know, the guys know, management knows...I’m all set for tonight.” he smiled.

“OK.”

“What about you?”

“I’m all set.”

“Ray, what about your mom?”

“It’s late Nick.”

“That’s not why you’re not calling her and you know it.”

“Kind of it is.”

“Kind of? You’re going to have to tell her sooner or later.”

“I know. Just not tonight, OK?”

“What are you going to do? Wait until she asks why you’re-”

“Nick, please.”

“I’m sorry.” he sighed. “I just want everyone to be happy for us. You really think she’s going to be upset?”

“I don’t know. At first she might be, but I know she’ll accept it. I just value her opinion, ya know? She’s all I’ve had for 17 years of my life.”

“I know hun, whenever you’re ready. Maybe we could take her out to lunch and tell her.”

“You’re always thinking. I’d love for you to be there with me when I tell her.”

“You just let me know when you’re ready.”

“OK, right now I’m ready for something else though.”

“And what would that be?” he asked with a sly grin, moving closer to her.

“Sleep.” She flashed a bright smile at him and kissed his cheek.

“Worth a try wasn’t it?” he laughed.

“Yup, I’ll give ya credit for trying. My head hurts so much though.”

“Uh oh! The old headache excuse! Is it getting that boring to you already?” he laughed as he helped her up.

“No!” she slapped his arm. “I don’t have a headache, I have a constant and very aggressive throbbing in the back of my head. Try that sometime.”

“Teasing!” he said holding his hands up as they walked into her room.

“Me too. Ugh, I’m too tired to change.”

She pulled her bra out from under her shirt, took off her shorts and fell into bed.

“Let’s see...it’s 11:42, so I need to wake you up at 12:45. You’re not gonna beat me are you?”

“No. Just be nice about it.”

“You know I will.”

She watched as he undressed and set the alarm. He went to the bathroom to brush his teeth and brought back a new cloth and glass of water.

“Thank you hun.”

“You’re welcome.”

He finally climbed in bed next to her and gently lay his arm across her back. He kissed her lightly on the lips and turned off the lamp on the stand. She was asleep before he had even gotten comfortable.

*52 minutes later*
“Ray. Ray, wake up sweetie.” Nick said shaking her gently.

“Already?” she asked barely moving her lips.

“Yeah, sit up and take a drink of water for me.”

“No.”

“Please Ray.”

“I’m awake, see?” she said peeking one eye open.

“I know you’re awake, but sit up and talk to me for a minute. I don’t want to be up anymore than you do.”

She sat up slowly and accepted the glass he was holding out to her. She took a drink slowly and gave it back to him.

“Come here.”

She snuggled into his open arms and rested her head against his chest.

“How’s your head feel?”

“Actually a little better. Sleeping feels so good.”

“I can imagine.”

“How long do I have to stay up?”

“We can go back to sleep now. I was just supposed to make sure you were awake and coherent, which I see you are.”

“Yup. I even know my name. It’s Rayanne Elizabeth W-w-w...” she said, a confused look on her face.

“Ray?”

“Nick, what’s my last name?”

“What?”

“What’s my last name? I know I’m Rayanne Elizabeth...”

“Rayanne...don’t do this.”

She wiped the confusion off her face and replaced it with a smile.

“Joke dear. Winters, I’m fine. Just playing with ya.”

“That was not funny!”

“Sure it was.” she said laying back down.

“Well, OK it was, but you scared me.”

“OK, not more playing. I promise.”

“Good, better get some sleep, only about 55 minutes till we’re up again.”

“Yippee!” she said sarcastically before falling back asleep.

*The next morning*
“Wake up my beautiful Ray of Sunshine!”

“This is way too annoying. I could kill that Doctor for making you do this.”

“We should get up for real though. You’ve been sleeping for almost an hour and a half, I gave you a little treat.” he laughed.

“What time is it?”

“After nine.”

“Mmm.” she squinted and rolled over.

“How is it today?”

“Bad right now. Oh God, my stomach.”

“Are you sick?”

“I will be in about 2 minutes. I know it.”

She slowly made her way from her bedroom to the bathroom where she spent the next 10 minutes throwing up, Nick holding her hair back.

“Is this from the concussion or just the baby?”

“It must be the concussion, cause I don’t usually throw up in the morning.”

“That’s good.” He looked relieved.

“I think I’m OK now. I need a shower though.”

“OK, want me to make breakfast while you’re in there?”

“Sure. Did Mandy come home last night?”

“Yeah, I heard her at like 3.”

“OK, just checking.” she said as she started the shower.

“I’m gonna call Grandma and Grandpa Douglas today. Just to tell them, we’ll put off seeing them until you feel better.” he called to her in the shower.

“OK, thanks, I want to meet them, just not like this.”

“I know. What do you want for breakfast?

“Umm...toast.”

“Anything else?”

“A banana.”

“Toast and a banana. Anything bigger Ray? I was gonna cook.”

“Make whatever, I’ll eat some of it. I’m just hungry.”

“OK.”

He made a big breakfast; french toast, pancakes, eggs, bacon, regular toast and cut up a banana. Mandy woke up and set the table, then helped him get the food ready.

“Mmm, it smells so good.” Rayanne said, walking out of the bathroom.

“I know, it woke me up.” Mandy laughed as she poured orange juice into three tall glasses.

“Yummy, I want some of everything.”

“Feeling better I see?” Nick smiled at her.

“Yeah, it still hurts, but nothing compared to yesterday.”

“That’s good.”

Ten minutes later they were seated at the table eating the breakfast Nick had cooked for them.

“So, what did your mom say Raybee?” Mandy asked.

“I haven’t told her yet.”

“Why not?”

“I’m a little nervous. Do you think we could take her today Nick?”

“If you’re ready.”

“I am. In fact let me call her right now.”

Rayanne left Mandy and Nick at the table and went to call her mother.

“Hey.” she said when her mother answered.

“Morning sis.”

“What are you doing today?”

“I have to go grocery shopping, Tyler keeps complaining cause we’re out of Mountain Dew.” she laughed.

“Sounds like him. Nick and I would like to take you to lunch, can you?”

“Are you feeling OK?”

“Yeah, better. Good enough to go to lunch.”

“Sure, I can come. What time did you have in mind?”

“Not sure yet. Maybe one or so? That OK?”

“Yeah, that’s fine.”

“OK, I’ll call somewhere and make reservations. Maybe Gramma Mora’s.”

“Alright. Tyler wanted to go to Eric’s, so that would be a good time to take him.”

“He can come too if he wants.”

“I’ll tell him, but those boys have some kind of big plans they say.” she laughed.

“Alright. I gotta go finish eating breakfast, so you just be here at 12:30.”

“OK, I will.”

“Tell Ty I said ‘Hi and I love him’.”

“Hey Tyler Paul! Sis say ‘Hi and she loves you!’.”

“Oh I just love you right to death too Rayanna Banana.” she heard him laugh.

“Nice. I’m 20 and he still calls me Rayanna Banana.”

“His way of showing he loves you.”

“I know. I like it actually, it’s cute.” she giggled.

“OK, well I better get some stuff done if we have a lunch date today!”

“Yup, a lunch date it is. See you at 12:30.”

“OK, see you then. I love you Raybee.”

“I love you too mom.”

She hung up the phone and rejoined Nick and Mandy at the table.

“She’ll be here at 12:30, I’m gonna call Gramma Mora’s and make a reservation.”

“Sounds good. I’m glad you’re telling her.” He leaned over and kissed her softly.

“Me too.” Mandy chimed in.

“Alright, now let me eat, I’m still starving.” she laughed.

Rayanne took a drink of orange juice, amazed at how much better she felt, knowing that in four hours her mother would know.

*12:15*
“Well, who else do we have to tell?”

“My mom knows, you’re mom is about to find out. Grandparents, friends...I don’t know. Seems like everyone knows. We’ve been on the phone for two hours.” he laughed.

“Yup. Just one last very important person to tell.”

“And we’re doing that now.”

“I feel so much better now.” she smiled.

“I can tell. She should be here any minute we better get our shoes and stuff on.”

They grabbed their shoes from her bedroom and sat on the couch putting them on. Just as Rayanne was done tying sneaker, the phone rang.

“Ugh, people always call when you’re trying to leave don’t they?”

“You better get it though, it might be her. Maybe she’s going to be late.”

“Oh yeah, good thinking.” she said.

She reached for the phone, picking it up after the third ring. She put it to her ear and looked at Nick.

“Hello?”