Becky didn't begin to worry until it was 10 o'clock. She was accustomed to Nick making plans with her at one hour and then not showing up until an hour or so had past. He usually was detained by fans or some last minute studio work or some damn unexpected meeting or another.
Today was her birthday though, and Nick was over three hours late. He had sent her flowers and a note telling her to meet him at the Royal Plaza at 7 for a special celebration. She had left work early and arrived at the hotel to find an elegantly decorated suite with flowers, cake and, Becky noticed, white satin sheets. She eyed those with a small shiver of anticipation.
Slowly the hours ticked by and she began to worry. Picking up the phone a few times, she was annoyed to find that he had turned his cell phone off. This too, was an annoyingly common occurance. Finally, finally at ten fifteen, her own cell phone rang and she rushed to her purse to answer it. Not recognizing the number, her heart dropped in panic. Dammit it. It wasn't Nick. Where the hell was he?
"Hello?" she asked.
"Bec?" Nick's tired voice came through.
"Where the hell are you? I'm having a goddamn panic attack here, thinking you're in some ditch somewhere, or mugged or kidnapped or-" Becky ranted.
"I need you to come get me," he said, his voice was cracked and she didn't miss the edge of worry. "And bring a lot of money."
"Money? What the-? Where are you?"
"I'm in jail," Nick said, and she could feel him holding his breath for her explosion.
"I'm sorry?" Becky asked, reigning in her temper. "Could you repeat that please?"
"I'm in the slammer. I need you to bail me out," Nick explained.
"Again?" Becky asked in disbelief.
"Please Bec. I'm really sorry about this but-"
"No, don't even try to explain. You can explain when I get there. It can be your last words before I kill you!" Becky vowed slamming down the receiver.
It was hard to stay mad at the man when Becky saw the humongous giant they had paired him with in the holding cell. Nick was gripping the bars tightly, his blue eyes clenched tight with panic as the man breathed down his neck.
"I'm here for Nick Carter," Becky explained to the officer behind the desk. Nick's eyes flew open at Becky's voice and his body visibly sagged with relief. "What exactly did he do?"
"Assaulted a man," the officer explained.
"Hey! He was trying to take my car!" Nick shouted out through the bars.
"That's what tow guys do Blondie. You were illegally parked."
Becky shook her head and reached into her purse. "What's the bail amount?"
"Five thousand with his own recognizance." Becky's snapped her head around at Nick in disbelief and anger. Nick averted her eyes and in that moment, Nick wondered if he might be safer in here with Big Morton.
* * * * * *
"I can explain yanno?" Nick said as she gripped the steering wheel, her knuckles turning white.
"I'm sure you can," Becky seethed.
"I was actually getting your gift okay? I got ambushed by a bunch of fans," he said.
"Right. A bunch of nice big bosomed hootchies who you just couldn't tear your attention away from right?" Becky snapped.
"That's not fair!" Nick whined.
"No, you know what's not fair? Having to bail my boyrfriend out of jail on my birthday. THAT is not fair!"
"I was the one who was sitting in the cell you know? I was the one who had to be stuck in a cell with some overgrown freak who was only to happy to show me that I was his favorite Backstreet Boy by flashing me a tatoo of MY face on his ass," Nick growled. Becky couldn't help the burst of laughter that escaped her lips. Nick looked at her in horror.
"It wasn't funny!" he protested.
"Oh God, I'm sorry, but yes it was," Becky laughed clutching her stomach. The car swerved, dropping them into a ditch.
"Jesus! Are you okay?" Nick asked.
Through her still bubbling laughter, Becky nodded. "Yeah. You?" Becky asked. "Crap, we're really stuck. What do you think are the odds that if we call the towing company, we'll get the same guy you knocked out?" Becky asked, bursting out laughing all over again.
"Well, fuck, I'm glad this all amuses you now," Nick said throwing up his hands.
"I could go back to biting your head off if you'd like," Becky warned taking a deep controlled breath.
"Are you really still mad at me?" Nick asked softly. Becky sighed.
"Nick, you have to learn to deal with your problems differently. You can't just start swinging at everyone who pisses you off. Especially in your position."
"I was only in the damn store for a fucking minute and the guy knew I was on my way back to the car when the fans came up to me. He fucking saw me on my way to the car!" Nick insisted.
"Fine but you know you weren't supposed to park there in the first place," Becky countered.
"There was no other parking around and I was just picking something up."
"Oh you said it was my gift. What is it?" Becky asked eagerly sticking out her hands. Nick slapped them away.
"Hell no. I'm not givivng you it here, in a ditch in the middle of nowhere."
Becky looked out the car window. "Geez, we really should get out and call someone to help us out."
"You have your cell phone with you?"
"No, I left it back at the hotel. You?" Becky asked.
"Yeah, but the stupid battery's dead," Nick said.
"Damn. We could start walking and hope we find a motel or something," Becky suggested, pushing open her side door.
* * * * * *
They found a room at the Lucky Motel. A name which made Nick dissolve into a fit of giggles. The towing company would be by in the morning to pick up Becky's car.
"Man, this sucks. We were supposed to spend your birthday at the Plaza instead we're stuck here!" Nick groaned, pushing open the door to their room.
"Oh man," Becky shook her head turning on the lights. She wished she hadn't. Tacky didn't even begin to describe the room.
"What do you want to bet that's a vibrating bed?" Nick asked flopping onto the matress and looking around for the switch. When he found it, he let out a squeal of surprise as his body jumped and then started to shake on the mattress. Becky laughed as she watched him gripping the blankets.
"Oooooohhhhhhhhh," Nick exclaimed, his voice coming out bubbled and broken with the vibration. Reaching over he stopped the movements of the bed. "Man, I can't believe this." He buried his face in the pillow.
Becky spread out on the bed beside him. "It could be worse," Becky offered diplomatically. He turned to look at her.
"You're right. The guys and I once stayed in a place where the bed vibrated and had bells ringing off of it too." Nick said. Becky bit back a giggle. Nick sighed."You hungry?"
"I doubt they have room service here sweetie," Becky said.
"I saw a vending machine in the hall, genius," Nick pointed out.
"Ah yes, fine dining indeed," Becky smiled.
"It's either that or we starve," Nick reminded her.
"Fine, fine. Can you go get it though? I'm gonna brave a trip into our bathroom," Becky asked.
"You're braver than I am." Nick shuddered as Becky handed him all her loose change.
When Nick came back he found her sprawled towards the edge of the mattress, staring at the tv screen. Which at the moment was showing two writhing bodies in the throes of passion.
"My honey watching porn," Nick shook his head.
"God, this is so bad Nick!" Becky exclaimed in disbelief. "I mean really awful."
"Well them ladies don't go into it thinking they're gonna get Oscars ya know?" Nick pointed out sitting down on the carpet.
"I mean, my God. They can't act for beans! Aand I think I can get every single thing on that blonde at some mall." Becky said grabbing the bag of chips Nick tossed at her.
"We don't watch it for the acting honey," Nick smiled at her. "And there ain't much on her anyways."
"And look at those- Oh wow, she certainly is flexible isn't she?" Becky gasped watching her being thrust into backwards over a chair.
"See, they are talented," Nick cracked, his jeans fitting a bit too snugly. Becky would really kill him if he said he was getting aroused by the images on screen. Becky snorted.
"I mean, where do they find these women? And the guys? God, they're always so nasty looking!" Becky switched the channel to another porno.
"Look at that. Or excuse me, look at those. They look like those huge cantaloupes you can get at the market. How can that be attractive?"
"Feeling a little inferior are we?" Nick cracked, fulling expecting the pillow shot at his head. Becky jumped onto him, sliding off the mattress onto the carpet.
"You little bastard!" Becky squealed pulling his hair. "I'm perfectly happy with my boobs," she elbowed him in the stomach.
"Awww, sweetie. I like your boobs better too," Nick said, holding her down. She rested her head on his lap.
"Pop, pop, pop," Becky said tapping her cheesy against the oversized breasts on screen. She felt a slight tug between her legs when she watched the man spread the woman's legs impossibly wide and thrust into her repeatedly.
"Oh, my God, that woman has no bones in her thighs. That's the only explanation," Becky said shaking her head. "Oh hey! What's my gift?" she suddenly burst looking up at him.
"Well, geez, change the channel at least, I can't do this if we're watching porn. It'll spoil the mood," Nick said laughing.
Becky turned off the tv set and sat up expectantly.
"Okay. Gimme," she said sticking out her hands.
"Dammit did you eat all the cheesies?" Nick asked dissapointed.
"Gimme my gift!" Becky squealed impatiently. Nick sighed.
"Alright, now. I was gonna have this whole romantic set up at the hotel and get down on one knee and everything but here ya go. Bec, I love you and I know you love me cause you would have tossed my ass to the curb after all the shit I put you through. You're the best, sexiest, strongest, funniest woman I know and I love that I can be just as happy out at some fancy restaurant with you as I can sitting in some dingy motel room, watching porn," he said, both of them bursting out laughing. Then Becky sucked in her breath when he pulled out the small velevet box. Inside was a small simple diamond in a platinum setting.
"Will you marry me?" he asked. She brought his face close to hers and kissed him softly.
"I would have enjoyed the nice romantic set up, but this was just as perfect and I wouldn't have changed it for anything. I knew I wanted to marry you after the first week we met. I was just waiting for you to catch up. Yes. I'll marry you," she said with a shaky smile. He closed his mouth over hers while slipping the ring on her finger.
The End