***The Guys' Bus***
Jesse was on the girls' bus hanging out with A.J., Andrea, Kelly, Nikki, Nina, Jessica, Howie, and Natalie. Kevin and Nick were on the guys' bus talking to Brian.
"You guys, I think Nina is the one for me. I really love her and having her sister around I realized how much I want a family."
"Are you sure??" Kevin said not surprised. Brian was the one they all expected to get married first but A.J. had purposed to Andi first. Still there was a chance that Brian would get married before A.J. because of how much A.J. procrastinates. "I mean are you ready for a family Cos?"
"Yeah, I mean I've got something good and I don't want to lose it."
"But Bri, You haven't known Nina that long." Nick said trying to tell Brian he didn't need to rush into anything.
"I know! I'm just thinking about it right now." Brian said now wanting to go on the other bus to see Nina. "you guys I think I'm gonna go on the other bus. I wanna go talk to Nina." He said as he stood up and walked to the door.
"Wait up Bri, I'm coming too. Kevin do you want to come?" Nick said not wanting to leave Kevin alone.
"Sure, I'll go see Natalie." He said as he followed Nick and Brian out of their bus to the girls' bus.
Brian walked on first and found Nikki, Nina, and Natalie playing with the baby. "Hey Nina!!" Brian said as he wrapped his arms around her.
"Hey you! What have you been doing?" Nina asked as she leaned in to kiss his cheek.
"Oh we were just talking. Nothing much really. Kind of boring. That's why we came to see you!" he said smiling at her. He looked over at Nicola who was smiling and giggling as Nick tickled her tummy. "Plus I had to see my favorite Girl!" he said as he joined Nick in tickling Nicola.
"Umm Your FAVORITE??" Nina asked as she cleared her throat loudly.
"Umm I meant my SECOND favorite." He said trying to save himself.
"Uh huh right!" she said as she wrapped her arms around his neck and pulled him in for a kiss.
"Your SECOND favorite?? What about me? I can't believe how insensitive you can be Brian! I did everything I could for you!" Nick said in a girly voice. Everyone cracked up.
"I'm soo sorry. You know you’re my number one favorite! But I can't let Nina think that!" Brian said playing along with the joke and getting his arm slapped lightly by Nina.
"Nick you are going to have to back off or prepare to fight for him!! He is MINE!" Nina said trying to sound angry with Nick.
"Oh and you think you can take me on lil miss thang?" he said trying to use slang and make it sound right.
"Oh hell yeah! I could take you any day so don't you go testing me boy!" Nina said as she stepped closer to Nick.
"Really?" he said taking a step toward her.
"Really!" she said as she reached out and started tickling Nick. Suddenly Nick started tickling Nina back and they were both laughing their heads off.
"Ok, Ok!! I Give up!!!" Nick said trying to stop laughing.
"YAY!! Brian I won!!!" She said as she turned to face Brian, who was laughing at Nick giving up so soon.
"I knew you'd win! I taught her everything she knows Nick! That's why she is so awesome. She is just like me!" Brian said jokingly as he swept Nina up into a huge bear hug.
"Just like you? Jeez I'm sorry Nina! I am not sure they can help you now that you're so badly damaged." Nick said trying to sound sad and hopeless.
"You're just jealous Nick Carter! You wish you could be like Brian!! But you can't," Nina said jokingly as she looked at him as if inspecting. "You couldn't ever be like him. Sorry. You don't stand a chance. Maybe aim your goal a little…or a lot lower and you can reach it some day."
Nick grabbed his chest as if he were deeply hurt and said, "I can't believe you'd say that! I thought we were friends!" he said now pretending to cry with his hands over his face. "I just thought I knew you better then this."
"Oh I'm sorry Nick!" Nina mumbled as she turned to face him. She leaned back as Brian wrapped his arms around her.
***Later***
"You guys want to rent a movie?" Brian said hoping it would give him a chance to spend time with Nina.
"Umm, Sure but I need to talk to Nick real quick." Nikki said as she stood up and grabbed Nick's hand. He willingly got up and followed her. "Nick I know this may cause problems in our relationship but…" she paused.
"Go on Nikki, It's ok. I won't leave you! No matter what you say or what happens." He said making her think he could read her mind.
She stood on her tippy toes and kissed Nick's lips gently. "I'm staying here…. My mother needs me here. I don't know how much longer she is going to be around. I hope you don't hate me now!"
"Hate you?? No way!!!" he said sounding hurt that she would even think he would hate her for staying with her mother. He wrapped his arms around her tightly. "I could never ever hate you!!"
"Good!! I was scared you'd leave me!!" Nikki said as a tear slowly rolled down her cheek.
"Aww, what's wrong Hun?" Nick said when he noticed her crying softly.
"I was just so scared I'd lose you… and I know I'm losing my mother…I was just so scared that I was losing everyone I love."
"Hey listen, don't worry. I'll always be here for you. No matter what remember this…I LOVE YOU!!" he said right before leaning down and giving her a kiss. "Plus you've got your brothers and sister and the rest of the guys and Nina and Nicola. Lots of people!!"
***The Next Day***
Brian, Nick, and A.J. all ended up staying in the girls' bus in the TV room. Nina was cuddled up next to Brian on part of the couch and Nick and Nikki were on the other couch. While A.J. was lying on the ground cuddled up next to Andrea.
Nina woke up first and saw it was only 5 so she went back to sleep, four hours later Brian woke up. He got up slowly so he didn't wake Nina up and went to check on Nicola. She was awake and giggling as she played with her toes. She had managed to pull one of her socks off and threw it out of her new baby bed that was a folding play pin. He smiled and reached down to pick her up. She giggled happily and Brian lifted her high above his head. "Let's go wake up your sister Nicola!" he said smiling at the tiny baby. She was a strong but small baby. She was 6 months old and starting to crawl. He walked to the back of the bus carrying Nicola and walked over to the couch Nina was sleeping on. "Nina! Time to get up Hunny!!" he said as he gently kissed her cheek.
"Mmm…Hey Bri!! Aww you brought Nicola to wake me up too!" She said smiling at the little baby.
***Later***
"Nick will you please drop me off at the ferry?" Nikki asked as she picked up her bags and headed for the door.
"You have to leave now??" Nick asked suddenly feeling a sickening sadness overcome him.
"Yes you guys are leaving tomorrow. So I have to go now." She said looking at the ground. She didn't want to look into his eyes because she'd start crying and didn't know if she'd be able to stop.
"ok Does anybody else want to come?" Nick said not really wanting anyone else to come.
"I'd rather not. It'd just make things harder for me. Can I meet you in the car. I want to say bye to everyone."
"Sure." Nick said sadly as he picked up her bags and carried them out to the car. Where he waited for about 5 minutes then Nikki came out and got in the passengers side.
"Let's go." He looked over at her and saw tears in her eyes. He hated this. He didn't want to lose her. But he didn't have a choose. He drove down to the ferry docks and decided he wasn't ready to say bye there and got in line instead of dropping her off at the passenger only area he lined up to get on with his car. "Nick you don't have to drive me there."
"I know, I want to. I am not ready to say Good Bye." He said sadly.
"Neither am I, Nick. I love you and I want you to remember that." She started crying again and Nick wrapped his arm around her best he could to comfort her.
"I love you too and we'll see each other again…I promise you that."
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