Part 382

Becca stretched and rolled over, groaning as her tired muscles fought against waking up. As she turned on her side, her hand came to rest on Nick's arm, and she slowly opened her eyes and smiled. He lay next to her, propped up on one elbow watching her with a grin.

"Hey," she mumbled sleepily, "you're back."

"Um, yeah, Bec, been back for a while now." He grinned more, enjoying watching her fight the fog that currently controlled her brain.

"I'm sorry, I didn't hear you come in. Sarah said Garrett was fussing …"

"Yeah, that's what she told me." It was all he could do not to laugh when her brows furrowed. He could see that she knew she was missing something, but hadn't quite figured out what it was. "I thought you were going to wait up for me, Bec?"

"I did, Nick, I came in to see what was wrong with Garrett …"

"Eight hours ago?" Nick smiled.

"What?"

"Bec, you never came back after Sarah sent you in here."

"Nick, that's not- what time is it?" she frowned.

Nick rose up a little higher to peer over her shoulder at the alarm clock on her night table. "Seven-thirty-five."

Becca's expression was priceless.

"Nuh-uh," she said.

"Yuh huh," Nick grinned.

"You suck," she pouted, flopping onto her back and resting her arm over her eyes.

"Very well, so I've been told," Nick smirked.

"Why didn't you wake me up? I wanted to talk to you." Becca pushed the covers down around her waist and sat up, brushing her long hair away from her face.

"Baby, you were exhausted. I sat outside and talked with Sarah for a long time, we all did," he said as he reached up lovingly to pull the rest of her hair back for her.

"How was she?"

"Well, by the time we got here, she was so into planning for the show tonight that she didn't even hear us."

Becca groaned dramatically, dropping her head onto her knees. "Tonight…" she mumbled.

Nick knew what the problem was, and smiled, rubbing her back soothingly. "What's up?" he asked, wanting to hear it from her.

"Nick, Sarah wants me to sing with her tonight."

"I think it’s a great idea, Bec."

"She says it's a way to help promote the foundation, and-" She stopped in mid-sentence and looked over her shoulder. "You think what? Nick, you knew about this?"

Nick shrugged and scooted closer. "Sarah told us all about it last night, baby and you should see the other ideas she has. If you sing with her, it will be awesome. This could be just what you need to get things going, Bec."

Becca laid her head on his shoulder and sighed. "I dunno, Nick…"

"Bec, I know how you feel about crowds like this, but you've sung with Sarah before, right?"

"Yeah…"

"And she's talking about a song you've done together before, so it's not like you have to learn something new."

"Well, that's true…" Becca thought about what he'd said and the long-term benefits that could come from this one performance.

Nick sat in silence and could almost hear the war she was waging within herself.

"You'll be there?"

"Right offstage where you can see me, Bec. I wouldn't be anywhere else." He hugged her tightly. "You gonna do it?"

"I don't have anything to wear."

With that one simple comment, he knew her decision had been made. He smiled proudly and pushed her back onto the bed, kissing her soundly. He sighed against her mouth as he felt her arms wrap around his back and his heart swelled with love. He knew what it was costing her to put her fears aside and there were no words that could adequately express that to her. Framing her face with his hands he pulled back to look into her eyes, and smiled.

"What?" she asked softly.

"Nothin', I just love that look you get when I kiss you," he grinned.

"Carter-"

"Bec, I'm sure one of the dancers has something you can wear. Or Sarah … we'll figure it out when we go over to the venue later this morning."

"Nick are you sure I can do this?" she whispered with a frown.

"Bec, you can do anything you want. You're strong, and you know your stuff. Just focus on the music and what you're trying to accomplish and you'll be fine."

"Promise?"

"Yeah, baby, I promise." He kissed her gently once more, and threw off the covers.

"Where are you going?" she pouted.

"To take a shower, wanta help?"

"You're incorrigible." Becca rolled her eyes and tossed a pillow at his naked rear end.

"You love me," he countered.

"Maybe," she sniffed.

"Hah! You know you do, you women can't resist me."

"This woman can, get outta here, Carter."

"Yes Mrs. Carter, anything you say." Nick grinned at the soft, dreamy expression that came over Becca's face. "Busted," he smirked, ducking onto the bathroom and closing the door against her shriek of mock outrage.

As the door closed, Becca began to laugh, and sank back against the pillows. The morning peace and quiet had been too good to be true, and she was beginning to wonder where her son was when she heard him begin to stir. Before his snuffles could turn into full-fledged cries, she was at the crib, lifting him out and singing softly to him as she changed his diaper and settled in to feed him. She completely missed the look on Nick's face as he watched from across the room, leaning in the doorway clad only in a towel. The smile on his face was one of peace and serenity, and that of a man hopelessly in love.

Part 383        Index(4)