PART 29<bR><bR>
Nick walked out of the hotel, wondering what the hell he was doing and where he was going.  He knew he was overreacting, but when he’d heard her say Michael’s name he hadn't been able to stop himself from walking out.  He had the doorman hail him a cab and headed back to the park that he and Ellie had gone to the previous night, wondering if somehow he could clear his head by going back there.<bR><bR>

*Nick’s suite*<bR><bR>

“What’s wrong Elise? You sound upset.”  Ellie sighed, Michael, why are you calling me?  I told you I needed some time off to take care of some things.  What are you doing in London anyway?  And how did you know I was here?”  “I had business to take care of so I flew in last night…your sister told me you were here.  Are you here because of Nick?”  Ellie sighed, “Yes Michael…but...” Michael interrupted her, “Elise…please tell me you’re not going to throw away an opportunity like the one I am giving you to be with that boy.”   “Michael, Nick is hardly a boy....and I don’t really want to have this conversation with you right now.  I need to go find Nick.”  “Fine, but we WILL have this conversation later, you and I are having dinner tonight and I am not taking no for an answer Elise.”  Ellie ran her hands through her hair in frustration, “I can’t…I don’t know where Nick is…I can’t make any decisions until I talk to him.”  By the time she finally hung up the phone nearly 30 minutes had passed since Nick’s abrupt departure and Ellie didn't have the first clue as to where he might have gone.  She lay on the bed, rubbing her face in the pillow that still bore his scent, wondering when and if he would come back to her, <<Why did I answer the phone?  Why couldn't it have been Anna?>> she asked herself.<bR><bR>

*In the taxicab*<bR><bR>

Nick stared sightlessly out the window of the cab, <<I am such a fucking idiot, why did I leave her like that…shit, she’s never gonna take me back now…>> he thought.  Suddenly coming to a decision, he knocked on the window separating him from the cabdriver.<bR><bR>

*The Hotel*<bR><bR>

Making up her mind, Ellie got off the bed and quickly got dressed, determined to figure out where Nick had gone.  She rushed out of the room and into the elevator, tapping her foot impatiently as she waited for the elevator to reach the lobby while she wondered if the doorman might have seen Nick when he left.  As the elevator doors opened she walked out into the lobby and stopped, her eyes drawn to the hotel doors.<bR><bR>

Nick rushed into the lobby, hoping that somehow Ellie hadn't left and was still upstairs in his room.  He looked towards the elevators and stopped, realizing that the woman walking out of the elevator was looking right at him.  He started walking towards her just as she moved towards him and they met in the middle of the lobby.  “You came back...” Ellie breathed.  Nick felt like his heart was pounding so hard that everyone could hear it, “You’re still here...or were you leaving?” he held his breath, waiting for her answer.  Ellie shook her head, “No...I was coming to look for you.”  Nick relaxed visibly, “I thought I had totally screwed things up by leaving again...I...I...when I heard his name I kinda lost it.  I know you said there’s nothing going on between the two of you anymore...but knowing that you two used to be...”  Ellie raised a finger to his lips, “Shhhh...I understand...that’s why I was coming after you. I should never have picked up the phone, I was just worried that it was my sister.”<bR><bR>

Nick sighed, “What now?  There’s a part of me that wants to take you upstairs and pickup where we left off earlier, but I don't think that's a good idea, do you?”  Ellie shook her head, “I...” she was interrupted by the sound of Howie’s voice, “Hey you two, what’s going...” his voice trailed off as he realized that he was interrupting a serious discussion, “Ooops, I screwed up didn't I?  You guys were talking about something important.”  Nick shook his head, “Don’t worry about it D...this isn't exactly the place for us to have this conversation anyway...so where are you coming back from?”  Howie looked from Ellie to Nick and back, “Uh...I tell you later, you two look like you need to finish whatever conversation you were having...”  Ellie smiled gratefully at him before taking Nick’s hand, “Let’s go upstairs...”  Nick nodded, “Later D...” Howie watched them walk away, wondering, once again, what was going on.<bR><bR>

*Nick’s suite*<bR><bR>

Both Nick and Ellie started talking at the same time and with a sigh Nick sat down on the couch, "You can go first..."  Ellie licked her lips nervously, "I guess you overheard me say that Michael is in London...he's planning on us having dinner tonight to talk about the tour."  Nick raised his eyebrows, "Us??"  Ellie sighed, "Okay, not us, me...but I want you to be there."  Nick shook his head, "I don't think so...I know you don't think Michael was trying to come between us by not giving you my messages but there's no fucking way I'm having dinner with him."  Ellie's eyes widened, "Nick..."  "No way Ellie...Jesus, I can't even believe you would ask me to do that!"  "You're being unreasonable Nick..."  "Unreasonable...I'm being unreasonable??" Nick yelled, "I called you every single day for the last couple of months and that bastard didn't give you ANY of my messages and you want ME to be reasonable?!!!?!!  You must be out of your mind if you think I'm doing this!!!!!!!!!"  Ellie stared at Nick openmouthed, shocked that he was shouting at her, and she burst into tears.  Nick looked at her aghast, "Oh shit...baby...come here" and he pulled Ellie into his arms, stroking her back, "Baby I'm sorry I yelled at you...it's just that...shit...I don't want him to come between us again...and I don't want you leave me again..."  Ellie pulled out of his arms, "That's not fair Nick...I put up with your schedule and your touring and not seeing you for weeks on end...if anyone should understand that I have responsibilities it should be you!!"  Nick shook his head, "No, that's not what I meant...I understand all that and I know I have to live with it.  I...I don't want you to walk out of my life again...that's what I meant."  Ellie took a deep, shaky breath, "Nick...I love you...I'm not going anywhere...please come to dinner with me...Please??"<bR><bR>


PART 30<bR><bR>
Nick didn't say anything and Ellie decided to try again, "Nick, I don't want to make decisions about the tour and about my career without you there...you're part of my life now...can't you see that?"  Nick's eyes widened, "I like hearing you say that," he said softly, his voice husky with epart of my life motion, "You're now too Ell..a big part."  Ellie smiled up at him as she allowed him to pull her back into his arms, "I like hearing you say that too..."  They stood wrapped in each other's arms for a while, neither one wanting to let go, then Nick yawned tiredly, "Wanna take a nap??"  Ellie laughed, "Are you sure that's all you want to do??" she wiggled her eyebrows. "Yeah...I hate to admit it...but I'm really tired...I want to get some rest..." Nick responded, pulling her into the bedroom.<bR><bR>  

*That evening*<bR><bR>

The phone rang, waking Nick and Ellie from a sound sleep, Nick rolled over and grabbed the phone, "Hello?" he responded groggily, "What...yeah, just a minute..."  He shook Ellie gently to wake her up, "It's him..." he said, handing her the phone.  Nick got out of bed and walked over to the window, trying not to listen in on their conversation.  He was startled when Ellie dropped the phone and jumped out of bed, "Shit, Nicky he's downstairs already...what time is it???"  Nick looked at her, "6:45 p.m.  I was going to take a shower and change..."  "We don't have time...he's been waiting 15 minutes already...he finally decided to call and see if we were up here...shit...he hates it when I am late..."  She grabbed Nick's hand and pulled him out the door before he could protest.<bR><bR>

By the time they reached the lobby Ellie was almost frantic and Nick was trying to calm her down, unused to seeing her this way.  They rushed out of the elevator and came to a stop as a dark haired man turned to look at them.  Nick stopped short and stared, taking in the other man's impeccable grooming.  "Great, just great..." he mumbled, thinking about his rumpled and baggy clothing and the baseball cap jammed on his head.  Nick's eyes widened as he watched Michael greet Ellie with a kiss on her lips.  "What the fuck??" he mumbled, causing Ellie to pull away from Michael's grasp. "Ummm...Michael...this is...um..." her mind went blank and Nick stared at her in shock, "Nick..." he said, extending his hand reluctantly.  Ellie felt her face flush red as she realized she'd momentarily forgotten Nick's name, "Sorry..." she whispered.  Nick gave her hand a squeeze, "So, Mike, where are we going for dinner??" he asked, trying to make polite conversation.  Michael looked at Ellie's sun dress and then looked Nick up and down, "Well, the way you're dressed we can't go where I was planning...there's a fine restaurant right here in the hotel...I suggest we eat there."  Nick rolled his eyes as Michael took Ellie's arm and led her towards the stairs to the hotel restaurant, his anger was already starting to build and the thought of a couple of hours in Michael's company was making him feel sick.<bR><bR>

The three engaged in polite conversation as they ordered dinner and waited for their food to arrive.  Nick tried to hold up his end of the conversation but soon tired of the private conversation that Ellie and Michael seemed to be having and stared off into the distance, his mind only half on the uncomfortable situation he was in.  He was brought back to reality by Ellie excusing herself to use the ladies room.  "You won't win you know..." Michael said as soon as Ellie was out of earshot.  Startled, Nick looked up, confusion in his blue eyes, "What?"  Michael looked at him, a smirk on his face, "Right now Elise may think that she wants you...but those feelings will change.  She'll see that I have so much more to offer her...she was too young when I proposed the last time but..." he smiled at Nick's sudden sharp intake of breath, "ah, she never told you...now I think she's ready.  Do you really think that she's going to wait around for you to grow up?"  Nick stared at him, shock written all over his face.  He barely had time to regain his composure before Ellie came back to the table, his mind still reeling at what Michael had told him.  Ellie sat down and looked quizzically at Nick, noticing that some of the color seemed to have left his face.<bR><bR>




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