AJ wrapped Gwen's hair around his finger as he watched her sleep. She was smiling in her sleep and it made AJ laugh. He had his arms around her as their laid in their bed together. She started stirring and snuggled into AJ's chest.
''Mrs. McLean..." AJ whispered. She giggled and rolled over to face him. "I love you so much," AJ said. She smiled
"I love you too," Gwen said.
"You don't know how it makes me feel that you saved yourself for me," AJ whispered, kissing her neck.
''It was worth waiting for," Gwen giggled as AJ kissed her bare skin to her belly button.
"Yes, it was," he said. The way AJ kissed her gave her chills. "Cold baby?" he asked.
"No, you give me chills," she said. He smiled devishly.
"Oh so do I?" he teased. She laughed. They looked at each other, both knowing what each other wanted to do and they laughed as they went under the sheets again.
~~~~~~~~~~~~
Everyone had left Gwen and AJ's house except for Judi, Whittney, Denise, Ashleigh and Nick. Judi and Whittney left for the airport to pick up Dave and the girls. Denise left to go to the church to cancel things with them. Nick and Ashleigh were alone in the theatre watching Forrest Gump.
"Nick?" Ashleigh asked.
"Hmm?" he asked, not looking away from the movie.
"I think I'm going to move back to New York," Ashleigh said.
"What?!" he asked. He grabbed the remote and stopped the movie. "Why?!"
"I can't live with my sister and her new husband...they need privacy," Ashleigh said. She had been thinking about this for awhile but could never confront Nick about it. Nick sighed and ran his fingers through his hair. Deep down, Nick knew this was going to happen but he never wanted to admit to it.
"I need to finish school Nick...I already made arrangements with Gwen to move into her old apartment and pay for the rent," Ashleigh said. "You're in New York more than here...right?"
''How are you going to pay for the rent Ash? Become a bar tender like Gwen?" Nick asked.
"What's wrong with that?" Ashleigh asked, getting defensive.
"Ash, I don't want my girlfriend parading around in a bar where drunk guys can drool all over you," Nick said.
"It's my life Nick. You don't control me. I can do whatever the hell I want," Ashleigh said, raising her voice.
"You're right..." Nick said, quietly. "But I respect you."
"Gwen and AJ had plenty of respect for each other and she worked in a bar," Ashleigh said.
"That's different. Gwen and you are two totally different people," Nick said.
"What's the problem here...do you really not want me to work in a bar? Because I won't if you really want...but I don't think this is the problem," Ashleigh said.
"It's not...I don't want you to leave," Nick confessed.
''Nick, we are still going to see each other," Ashleigh said.
"Ash you know we have a big break coming up and I'm going to be here in Florida," Nick said.
"What do you want me to do here Nick? Drop out of school so I can stay here for you?" Ashleigh yelled. Nick was silent.
"There is a school here that you can transfer to," Nick said.
"Where would I live Nick?" Ashleigh asked.
"With me," Nick said, after a long pause. Ashleigh was silent.
"I...I can't," Ashleigh said.
"Ashleigh, I'm serious," Nick said.
"So am I Nick! I can't!" Ashleigh yelled.
''Ash, Gwen and AJ lived together with out sleeping with each other," Nick said.
"I'm not Gwen!" Ashleigh screamed. She calmed down and took a deep breath. "It's not just the temptation," Ashleigh said. She sat down on the recliner and put her head in her hands.
"Then what is it?" Nick asked, gently.
"If word got out that I was living with Nick Carter, people obviously start assuming that I'm sleeping with you. Then word gets out and my father will hear it. Nick, my father will disown me," Ashleigh said, starting to sob. Nick sat down next to her and wrapped his arms around her.
"No he won't because he'll know it's not true," Nick said.
"He'll think since I messed up once, it will happen again," Ashleigh sobbed.
"It won't. I won't let it happen because I love you too much," Nick said. Ashleigh looked up at Nick. Their eyes met and Nick searched her soul.
"That's not all...is it?" Nick asked. She shook her head. "Does it bother you that Mandy lived with me?" Nick asked quietly, about his ex-girlfriend. Ashleigh nodded her head. "Ash...you know that is behind me. That's my past. You are my future," Nick said. He knew Ashleigh was sensitive about this whole topic and started thinking again about living together.
"I'm sorry Nick...I don't mean to put all this emotional baggage shit on top of all your stress," Ashleigh said, sitting up and wiping her eyes.
''Ash, what if we bought a house together. A brand new house. I'll talk to your parents and explain to them that with us living together would save the money of you buying your own apartment here in Florida and it being a waste since you'd always be here. Your mom knows I love you and I respect you. And about the temptation part...well, we can have separate bedrooms," Nick said, trying to make her laugh. It worked and she laughed slightly.
"You are such a geek," she laughed.
"Well, what do you think?" he asked. She thought for a moment.
"What if fans find out we're living together and word gets out?" Ashleigh asked.
"We can either deny it or tell the truth," Nick said, "whatever you want."
''Nick, what if we break up and I'll have to move out...you'll meet someone else and she'll move in after me," Ashleigh started rambling on again. Nick put his fingertip to her lips.
''That won't happen and you know it," Nick silenced her. Nick searched her eyes and held his breath as she thought.
"One condition," Ashleigh said.
"Name it."
"We get a yellow lab," Ashleigh said. Nick smiled.
"Eh...I guess," he laughed. She smiled and he picked her up and hugged her.
"I love you," Nick said, starring into her eyes. It was the first time they had ever said it so sincerely. It was always 'love ya' or 'I heart you' but this time, it was full of passion.
"I love you," Ashleigh said, kissing him.
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
