"Dad...please don't yell at Ash when you see her," Whittney begged as they pulled up to the venue. Her father didn't respond. "Mom," Whittney said. Judi nodded at her and they got out of the van. Maddy and Olivia could barely sit still and they ran to the door.
"Passes," the guard said. Whittney pulled out the passes that Gwen sent them and they were let in.
"Let's find them!" Maddy yelled.
"Slow down girls," Judi told them. All the sudden, they saw Brian walk by.
"OH MY GOD!" Maddy screamed. Whittney covered her mouth and blushed. Brian turned around and saw the family.
"You guys must be the Matthews!" he greeted. "I'm Brian," he said, shaking Whittney's, Judi's and Dave's hand. Olivia and Maddy stood in awe and Brian laughed. He bent down to their height.
"Hey there," he smiled. The girls smiled and shook his hand. "Come with me, I'll take ya'll to Ash and Gwen." They followed Brian to the wardrobe room and they saw Ashleigh and Gwen.
"GWENNIE! ASHEY!!" Olivia and Maddy screamed. The girls put down their clothes and hugged their little sisters.
"Hey you!!" Gwen said, picking up Maddy. Whittney hugged Ashleigh tightly. Whittney missed Ashleigh being at home. She hugged Gwen.
"Hey Mom and Dad!" Gwen said, hugging her parents. Ashleigh was silent. There was an odd feeling in the room.
"Hello Ashleigh," Judi said, calmly.
"Hi mom," Ashleigh said, not moving. Dave didn't say anything and the silence was broken by AJ.
"Do I see Maddy and Olivia Matthews?!" he shouted.
"AJ!!" the girls squealed, jumping into his arms. He picked them up and hugged them both.
"Hey Beautifuls," he said. He hugged Whittney.
"Dang Whitt, guys are going to be lining up to date you," he said. She blushed. He hugged Judi and shook Dave's hand.
"How was your trip?" AJ asked, noticing the tension between everybody.
"It was good," Judi answered. AJ wrapped his arm around Gwen's waist and Nick popped his head in the room.
"Oh my ..." Maddy started to say.
"You must be little Maddy Matthews," Nick said, smiling. Nick knew he was Maddy's favorite and Maddy screamed.
"Hi Nick! I'm Madaline Renee Matthews and I love you!" Nick laughed at the little red head and hugged her.
"And you must be Olivia," Nick said. Olivia smiled and he hugged her.
"Hey Nick," Whittney said.
"Hey Whittney," Nick said. Whittney knew about Ashleigh and Nick and she talked to Nick on the phone a couple of times. Nick walked over to Ashleigh and looked at her.
"Uh..mom, this is Nick Carter," Ashleigh said.
"Hi Nick, I'm Judi," Ashleigh's mom said, shaking his hand.
"Hi Judi," Nick smiled.
"And this is my father," Ashleigh said coldly. Mr. Matthews didn't move or didn't make an attempt to greet Nick. Maddy noticed Nick's arm around Ashleigh's shoulders.
"Is Nick your boyfriend?!" Maddy asked. Ashleigh's eyes grew big and looked over at Gwen for help.
"No Maddy, they're friends," Gwen said, covering for her sister.
"Come on girls, I'll take you guys on a tour," AJ said, picking up Maddy and giving her a piggy back ride. Whittney and Olivia followed with Nick.
"Mom...I.." Ashleigh started to talk but was interrupted.
"I don't find it humorous how you come on this tour and immediately get a boyfriend," Judi said to Ashleigh.
"Mom, it's not like that," Ashleigh said.
"You can't fool me Ashleigh. I know you are dating that boy. He looks more like trouble than Cole did," Judi said.
"Mom, will you let me handle this?" Gwen asked. Judi looked at her daughter and nodded. Ashleigh left the room and slammed the door. Gwen sighed.
"Ashleigh loves Nick and he loves her. They are exactly what each other needs. The last thing Ash needs is you guys telling her how to live her life," Gwen told her parents. "I am responsible for her on this tour and that is all that matters. Will you guys cut her a break? She made a mistake," Gwen said.
"She ruined our good solid name. Everyone in town now knows," her father spoke up.
"Well, I hope you are defending her because you love her...not because you're embarrassed," Gwen said, leaving the room and slamming the door.
~~~~~~
"Hi Maddy, Olivia and Whittney," Howie said, smiling.
''Hi!" the three overwhelmed girls said.
"You guys ready to have fun tonight?" Howie asked them.
''Oh yeah!" Maddy said.
"Hey D, can you show them our dressing rooms? That's the only place I didn't take them. I'm going to find Gwen," AJ said.
"Sure. Follow me ladies," Howie said, leading the way. Ashleigh came running up to Nick in tears. He caught her in his arms and held her close. She sobbed in his shoulder.
"I hate them Nick," she sobbed. He rubbed her back.
"Shh..no you don't. You're just angry," Nick said.
"They didn't even give me a chance," she sobbed.
"I know.." he said, running his fingers through her hair. ''But that doesn't matter. All that matters is us. Okay?" Nick said. Ashleigh looked up at him and nodded.
~~~~~~
AJ walked around looking for Judi and Dave. He found them in the green room talking to Leighanne and Brian's mom.
"Hello AJ," Judi said. She had always liked AJ and Dave honestly didn't mind him. Leighanne and Kathy said goodbye and left the room. AJ sat down at their table across from them.
"I know this really isn't a great time to bring up this subject...but Mr. and Mrs. Matthews.." AJ said.
"Dave and Judi," Dave said.
"Okay..Dave and Judi...I love your daughter. I love her more than anything in this whole world," AJ said. "And I want to ask you for permission to marry her," AJ said. He felt relieved he actually said it. Judi gasped and Dave actually smiled.
"Aww AJ...that is so beautiful!" Judi said, near to tears.
''Yes AJ. You can marry Gwen," Dave said. AJ jumped up and hugged them both.
"Thank you!" AJ said, ecstatic.
"AJ, we have a question for you before you leave," Dave said. AJ sat back down.
"Tell us about Nick," Judi said. AJ took a deep breath. He had to be careful of what he said.
"Nick really cares about Ashleigh. Nick was everything Ash needed to heal her broken heart," AJ said. What he said must have been the right thing because Judi nodded. AJ hugged them again and went off to find Gwen.
~~~~~~~~~~
