Gwen was waiting in an airport in Texas waiting to get on her flight that would take her to LA. She hated getting layovers and made a mental note to herself to request only direct flights. She heard the PA come on throughout the airport and listened to the announcement. "Flight 705 to Los Angles has been canceled due to fog."

"You've got to be shitting me," Gwen said, aloud. She got out her cell phone and called her boss in New York. She told her about the cancellation and her boss told her it was okay to fly back home, that she'd catch the show next month. Gwen sighed and hung up. She went to the ticket counter.

"I need a flight to Charlotte," she said. AJ had a show there that night and she could surprise him. Maybe it would actually work out this time. Gwen got her ticket and boarded the plane that was leaving in 20 minutes.

~~~~~~~~~~~~~

AJ finished another great show and got escorted to his hotel like every night. He got into his once again huge suite and sat down in the huge plush leather recliner. He took out his cell phone and called the LA hotel Gwen was supposed to be in. He was told that no one under the name Marie Matthews checked in at all and AJ hung up. He looked puzzled at his phone. "Where is she?" he wondered. He looked over at his mini bar but soon looked away.

"No, I can't do it," he said, aloud. "I promised her and I'm stronger than this." But his glance kept drifting over to the fridge. He kept hearing a voice in the back of his head that said everything way okay and one drink wouldn't hurt. Ten drinks and ten empty mini bottles later, AJ was drunk. He was blaring music from his room as high as it would go as he walked around his suite.

Gwen was out in the hall and immediately heard music blaring out of one of the rooms. She walked down the hall and realized it was AJ's. She slipped her key in the door and walked in the hall. She looked into the living room seeing AJ stumbled over the furniture. She slammed the door shut and threw her luggage down. She ran over to the stereo and turned it off. AJ turned around and saw Gwen's angry face.

"Baby!" AJ slurred, walking toward her. He tried to kiss her but she pushed him off.

"Get off me, AJ. You're drunk," she said, harshly.

"Am not," AJ said. "Why do you call me AJ?"

"What?!" Gwen asked.

"Why do you call me AJ?" he repeated.

"Because that's what you told me your name was when we first met," Gwen said.

"I'm Alex, not AJ. Alex isn't the Backstreet Boy. Alex isn't the one who drinks," AJ said.

"You're confusing me," Gwen said, getting scared.

"Don't you get it?!" he yelled.

"Why the hell are you doing this AJ?!" Gwen screamed.

"Because when you leave me, I get lonely. And I'm not lonely when I'm drunk!" AJ yelled back.

"AJ, I have a job to do! That is the only reason I leave you! If you weren't so goddam insecure, you wouldn't get drunk every time I get on a plane!" she barked.

"I am not insecure! Loving you more than loving myself does not make me insecure! I need you here with me, Gwen! Not off in New York or in LA. How can you even say you love me when you say you'll be here for me and then leave?! Fuck you!" AJ yelled. Gwen could feel rage, anger, hurt and tears all swell up in her. She turned around and ran out of the room and ran full speed throughout the suite. AJ realized what he said and went after her and was quickly on her tail. He wrapped his arms around her and held her tight as she tried to break free.

"Let me go!" she sobbed, trying to kick herself free from his grip. He wouldn't budge and held her while she flung her arms and legs. She calmed down and started to sob uncontrollably in his arms. Still with her back to his chest, she sobbed. She settled in his arms as her cries slowly became steady. AJ could feel his hot tears burning his face as he cried. This went on for a long time. Just the two of them sobbing in each others arms. About an hour later, just when AJ thought she fell asleep, she got out of his grip and stood up. She walked over to her stuff and put on her jacket. She picked up her purse and suitcase.

"Where are you going?" AJ asked, standing up. He prayed she wasn't leaving him for good.

"I'm getting my own room for tonight. Then in the morning, I don't know what I'm doing," Gwen replied coolly. She opened the double doors of the room and slammed them before AJ could say anything else.

~~~~~~~~~~~~~

The next morning, AJ tried everything he could to get Gwen's room number. He called her cell, but it was shut off. He begged and even bribed the lady at the desk but she wasn't allowed to tell him. He was back up in his room and laid on his back on the bed starring up at the ceiling. He didn't stop the tears flowing down his face because he could only think about Gwen leaving. Was this for good? His heart ached so bad that his whole body shook. Suddenly, he was surprised with the ringing of the phone in his room. He snatched it off the counter and received word that Marie Matthews had just checked out. He grabbed his jacket and flew out the door before even hanging up the phone. He ran out to the hall and took the elevator to the lobby. He ran out and searched for Gwen. He ran outside and saw the back of Gwen's head in a cab driving off. He hailed the next taxi and jumped in the backseat.

"FLOOR IT!" he shouted, throwing a hundred dollar bill at the driver. The driver obeyed and sped up to catch the other cab. They followed closely behind and halted to a stop at the airport. AJ scrambled out of the car and ran over to Gwen.

"GWEN!" he screamed. She looked up toward his voice. Her eyes were shielded by sunglasses and quickly looked back down. AJ ran to her side and grabbed her hand while she was at the curbside check in.

"Please don't leave me," he begged. She ignored his eye contact.

"I'm going home AJ. I'll see you when the tour is over," she simply said.

"Gwen, I'm sorry," he apologized as they realized they were drawing a crowd. He grabbed her hand and pushed her into the cab.

"AJ! I have a flight!" she protested.

"I don't care. Listen to me, Gwen, I'm sorry," he said again. He took his hand and removed her sunglasses from her face and reviled her red, puffy eyes.

"I'm sorry too, Alex," she whispered. Alex. She called him Alex. AJ gasped.

"Alex..." he said.

"It's your name isn't it?" Gwen replied.

"I love you Gwen," he said. She looked at him and reached for the door.

"I'm going home," she said, getting out of the car and slamming the door shut. AJ sat in the cab and watched her walk into the airport without looking back. It was useless to go after her. He suddenly got an idea and fished out another hundred.

"I need to go back to the hotel, NOW," he told the driver as they sped off.

~~~~~~~~

Gwen cried to herself the whole plane ride home. She didn't know what she was going to do. She loved AJ with all her heart and knew they were meant to be together. That didn't mean they would have it easy the whole time. This was going to be something they had to overcome together. She had a short lay over in Atlanta but was soon on the flight to Orlando. She finally got to the airport and rushed out without being seen. She hailed a cab and told the driver where to take her. They reached her house and she was dropped off at the gate. She let herself in and walked in their house. The minute she shut the door, she heard piano music coming from the living room. She walked in and saw AJ sitting at their Grande piano playing the most beautiful song she ever heard. Before she could open her mouth to speak, AJ started singing.

Chapter 47
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