Part 522
Sarah had already packed the majority of their stuff and gotten Raoul to take it to the bus so while the others were getting their things together, the couple had a chance to talk. In their bedroom, Howie went onto the balcony to look at the mountains and Sarah followed him. The two stood side by side leaning against the rail, their shoulders touching. Down below, they could hear and see the fans gathering around the buses and the front door to catch a glimpse of the Boys.
"Thank you for bringing me here, ‘D’."
"I’m beginning to regret it."
"Pearlman would have still done the same things, Howie, it would have just been somewhere else. And the effects might have been worse. I know what you’re doing. You’re beating yourself up over the stuff with Nick. There was NO way you could have known because Nick didn’t tell anyone, except Kevin and Kevin took care of it…which is the most important thing. You were still there for the other important things in Nick’s life. He looks up to ALL of you and he’s become a wonderful man because of you, Kevin, Alex, and Brian."
"Do I apologize to him?" asked Howie as a lone tear rolled down his cheek.
"You don’t need to, baby," said Sarah as she wiped his tear away. "Nick knows you would have taken care of him if he’d told you. Come on, I need to get our overnight bag together."
Howie took her hand and they faced each other. "Thank you, ‘Angel’."
"No need to thank me, ‘D’. This is what we’re about…being there for each other."
Howie ginned, "You know, when your hor…"
"DON’T say it!" frowned Sarah. "I HATE my hormones."
Howie laughed, "My poor angel. Just think, after February, you won’t have anything to blame your moodiness on."
"Oh, so you can just call me a bit…"
"I can CALL you my wonderful wife. Let’s go before we’re late and Kevin’s head explodes." Seeing the thoughts of that prospect running through Sarah’s eyes, Howie said, "AND NO, it would NOT be fun to see."
Sarah laughed as she put her arm around Howie’s waist and headed into the room. As they got their things together, Howie told Sarah about his conversation with Steve. To say that Sarah was completely surprised was an understatement. She’d NEVER imagined Steve EVER falling in love with a woman.
Their bag ready, Howie took Sarah in his arms and kissed her. "You weren’t REALLY jealous of Kryss, were you?"
"No, just irritated with her throwing herself at you. If it had been a different situation, I wouldn’t have had a problem with it but that was business….NOT a time to go teeny!"
Laughing, Howie said, "I expect that Steve is gonna use it to get her into bed with him."
"HOWARD!" scolded Sarah. "You just said that he couldn’t be with her because of his policy at the office."
"Yeah, but Steve will find a way around THAT. I know him. Let’s go, ‘Angel’. I hear Nick and Becca."
The two headed out together in their ‘perpetual’ embrace that Becca was always teasing them about and laughing about Steve and Kryss.
"Oh good grief," groaned Nick. "Can’t you two go into a bedroom WITHOUT doing the horizontal mambo?"
"Nope," grinned Howie as he pulled Sarah closer. "I needed me a piece of heaven!"
Nick rolled his eyes and made gagging sounds.
"Just wait, Nick…your day is coming," promised Sarah. Seeing Becca struggling with her bag and Garrett and Nick’s arms full, Sarah said, "Let me take my nephew. Howie can handle the bag."
"Yeah, he handles YOU all the time," smirked Nick as Sarah brushed by him to take Garrett.
"Can it, Blondie," scolded Becca.
"What?" asked Nick, his eyes wide as he pretended to be insulted. "You know it’s the truth."
"You’re just jealous," she shot back at him, her lips in a thin irritated line.
"Maybe," he grinned, shrugging his shoulders and egging her on.
"Then MAYBE you should have taken me up on my offer," she retorted, feeling a zing of triumph as Nick winced. "I’ll see you on the bus," she said and flounced past Sarah and Howie and down to the elevators.
"Ouch," Nick said, making a face and putting his hand over his heart as Sarah giggled.
Howie looked from Sarah to Nick. "I don’t get it."
"Neither did Becca," Sarah quipped and cracked up.
"Ha fucking ha," Nick said, shooting her a look. "You know-"
"Whatsa matter Nicky, you can dish it out but you can’t take it?" Sarah grinned an evil grin.
"Howie, curb your wife. Please?"
Sarah rocked Garrett to and fro in her arms and began to sing, "Nicky got no nookie, Nicky got no nookie…"
"You know," he said, taking a menacing step forward, "if you weren’t holding my son-"
"Gotta GO!" she crowed, and laughing a maniacal ‘AJ’ laugh, she sprinted off to follow Becca.