He didn't know if her fear was fear of loving him..or fear of being hurt. He wrapped his arms around her knowing that if he let go for one minute and turned his back on her, she would run away and not come back. "Candi, Candice. Don't be scared. There's nothin' to fear," he whispered feeling the seriousness of the moment. "Nicky's here!"
"Never serious when you need to be," she laughed laying down beside him. He could still see the fear in her eyes and no matter how much he told her it was ok, the fear stayed.
"Earth to Nick," she waved her hand over his nose.
"You wanna fight," he asked standing up.
"NO! You're like 100 feet tall," Candice cackled.
"You'd kick my ass."
"Ass, I see no ass," he laughed helping her up and twirling her around.
"Hey, you can't judge," once again Nick silenced her with a kiss, she had to admit she was starting to like the quiet ..or maybe it was just being silenced by him. She still knew this would never work, all the differences, all the problems ..no time. She knew what she had to do. "Once you fall asleep," she whispered as he held her in his lap on the floor near the sofa. His eyes were closed and his arms wrapped around her tightly, she knew he was almost asleep and she was glad.
"Once I fall asleep what?" Nick asked opening one eye.
"Once you fall asleep I can do this," she kissed his lips lightly and then each eye lid and he smiled.
"Go to bed," he mumbled.
"On the floor? I was not raised in a barn like you Nick!" She jumped out of his lap.
"No..come back..blanky..blanky.." Nick whined.
"You're the biggest baby in the whole wide world!"
"Nicky want blanky!"
"Ohmigod," Candice laughed sitting back down in his lap. "I'm not sleeping on the floor Nickolas, once you fall asleep I'm moving up to my bed," Candice sneered.
"Or mine," he grinned stupidly.
"Nick..you have a two track mind," Candice tried to stand up again, but Nick had his arms around her too tightly. "Nick!"
"Two track mind huh?" Nick raised his eyebrows.
"Yeah one: food and two: girls!"
"Haha, you know you are going to have to sleep on the floor for that!"
"As long as I have my blanky!" Candice laughed wrapping her arms around his neck tightly. "Air..Nick need air!" Candice smiled sweetly and released her arms from his neck. "I'm gonna go to my bed and get some sleep," Candice stood up and pretended to dust herself off. "Geeze tomorrow you should clean your house," she laughed walking away.

"You know technically that is my bed..since this is my house," Nick called walking after her.
"Well, than technically, I'm sleeping in your bed and you should be happy!" Candice smiled to herself as she made her way up the stairs. She shut the door behind her and grabbed an oversized t-shirt and slipped it on. She could hear Nick yelling in his room.

"Oh those video games are so mean," Candice teased standing in his doorway.
"Hey now," he looked up at her and smiled. "I'll have you know I was beaten' da crap outta that game!"
"Sure you did Nick," she rolled her eyes has she sat on his bed and watched him play the video game. "Is that like stress release of somthin'?"
Nick chuckled, "why would ya ask that? You know I'm justa big baby, or no 'the biggest baby in the world.'" He mocked her voice and laughed. "Can I talk to you?" Nick turned off his video game.
"Yes..What bout?"
"Well, do ya like it down here," he asked sitting next to her.
"I wouldn't have come down here and stayed if I didn't think it was right." Nick felt like a ton of weight had been lifted off his shoulders. He still couldn't shake the feeling she was scared. What did she have to be scared of down in Florida?

"Can I touch it?" Nick asked looking at her stomach.
"Yes.." she trailed off as he lifted up her shirt and laid his head on her stomach.
"You can almost hear it," Nick said pulling his head away. Candice had to laugh, the look on his face was priceless.
"Nick, you're too cute," Candice said chuckling.
"Cute? I'm cute?" He asked pretending to pout.
"You're as cute as a button," Nick began to laugh.
"I've always wanted to know..how cute IS a button?"
"Very, almost hot," she snickered turning on the TV as she ignored the glare from Nick. "Oh look the Real World is on!"
"I haven't watched that in forever."
"You watch the Real World," she asked raising an eyebrow.
"Yes, I do," he said flatly sticking out his tongue.
"Oh! I got a great idea! I think we should make a list of all the stuff we have in common," Nick sent her a frustrated look.
"Why?"
"Just to prove my point," Candice grinned evilly.
"And your point is.." Candice got up and grabbed two notebooks and two pens.
"Here," she handed him the stuff and sat across from him on the love seat.
"Why do I hang out with you, again?" Nick looked at her oddly.
"Cuz I'm a good kisser," she laughed.
"Well, now," he scribbled something down on his paper and smiled. "That makes two of us."

"You're face Ohmigod!" Candice howled with laughter. After they both finally got serious she began her list. 1. Blonde..2. Funny..3. Hobbies: Kissing, Video Games, Music.. 4.Loving. She stopped writing when she noticed a pair of blue eyes looking over her shoulder. She quickly pulled the paper to her chest and laughed. "Hey now!" She stood up and looked down at him on his knees behind the sofa and couldn't help but laugh.

"Man!" Nick whimpered scribbling something else down.
"You're a loser," Candice grabbed his paper; Nick blushed. "You copied my list word for word!" Candice threw down the paper and jumped on him.
"Don't even start," Nick warned trying to lift her off of him.
"Nope, now you're gonna pay!" Candice lifted up his shirt and began to tickle him. "You make this way to easy Nick!"
"Stop," he managed to choke out between laughter.
"Nope!"
"Now!"
"Haha you lose!"
"Nope! Now it's your turn," he pushed her off him and started to tickle her everywhere.
"No!"
"You're right..it's time to go to bed!"
"Ohmigod.."
"G'night!"
"Leave Nick just leave," she waved at him as she collapsed on the sofa.

"Gimme an 'N'," she screamed jumping on his bed. "Gimme an 'I'!"
"What da fuck are you doin'," Nick asked rubbing his eyes.
"Gimme a 'C'!"
Nick glanced over at the clock and moaned, "it's 9 AM!"
"Gimme a 'k'!"
"Who made you marry fuckin' sunshine?"
"Gimme an 'O'!"
"Not the whole name," Nick rolled over to face the wall.
"Gimme a 'L'," she jumped higher and started to yell louder.
"Why are you waken' me up anyways?"

"Nick, I came all the way down here just to see you and," Nick rolled over quickly and grabbed her by the legs, sending her crashing down on the bed.
"Listen here," he whispered not even 1 inch from her face. "Unless the fuckin' house is on fire, I don't get up til noon! Got it Miss Sunshine?"
"I made breakfast," she smiled proudly.
"I'm not hungry," Nick murmured rolling back over.
"Nick? Not hungry?" Candice sat up in shock.
"Ok now leave!" Nick waved his arms at her wildly.
"Ok, fine I'll leave," she stood up and walked out holding her head down. "Nick..you didn't eat dinner last night," she stopped in her tracks in front of his doorway.

Hearing the hurt in her voice, he sat up and stared at her. "I just don't feel good ok?"
"You're lying to the wrong person Nick. I'll bring your food up to you, breakfast in bed, but I will not let you fuckin' starve!" Candice walked out the room slamming the door, which caused Nick to jump a little.

She returned later with a tray and two plates of food. "Now we're both gonna fuckin' sit down and eat," she sat the tray in his lap and sat next to him. Nick hadn't moved since she stormed out, he wasn't scared to, he just didn't know what to think of her outburst. He had to admit, the food did look good--he was starving. "Now eat or I'll fuckin' feed your ass," Candice said placing a fork in his hand.
"Why?"
"Why the fuck what?"
"Why do you fuckin' care so much?"
"Don't start this Nick, you're really startin' to piss me off!"
"No! You're pissin' me off! I hardly ate the past two months and NOT ONE fuckin' person has noticed it!" He screamed throwing the tray on the floor. Candice, who had stood up during her yelling, sat back down next to Nick.
"Nick I care. I don't want you to get hurt," she ran her finger up and down his arm, trying to calm him down.
"You left," he whispered. She wrapped her arms around him.
"Nick, I'm sorry! I love you. I'm so, so sorry!"
"Sorry," Nick whispered. "I'm sorry, too."
"Nick we are so gonna pig out on all the junk food I bought, cuz I was thinkin' I had Nick here, and not some sensitive weirdo who don't eat!" Nick cracked a smile. "If you pull out a big ass book instead of a video game, I'm gonna cry!"
"Haha," Nick said smiling. "Want a drink?"
"Sure," she smiled.
"Be right back," Nick stood up and walked off grinning.
"Shake that ass!" She laughed, not knowing that was going to be the last joke she would make...