"Here AJ! You can use MY toothbrush!!" Madaline said, stuffing her pink toothbrush in his face. He smiled politely.
"That's okay Maddy," he said, laughing. Gwen brought him upstairs and showed him her old room.
"It's kinda empty because everything is in NYC," she said, as she let him in. He looked around and took in the beautiful smell. It smelled just like her. He smiled. "I'm in heaven," he thought to himself. She left him in there while she got on Ashleigh's PJs. AJ said he'd just sleep in his boxers and wear an old shirt of Gwen's. It grew late and everyone quickly fell asleep in their own rooms. AJ was about to turn the light off when he heard a light tap at the door. Expecting to see Gwen, he opened the door to see little Maddy standing there.
"Will you tuck me in so I can brag to all my friends?" she asked, smiling. AJ couldn't help but laugh and picked her up. He never had a little sister but liked the thought. He tucked her in and blew her a kiss. He gently shut the door behind him and bumped into someone in the hall.
"Oph," they both said. AJ looked at Gwen and they smiled.
"Hi," she smiled. She was wearing a tank top and cloud pajama pants. AJ melted. He realized how lucky he was to have such a wonderful girl that was worth waiting for.
"Want me to tuck you in too?" he whispered. She smiled and grabbed his hand. They walked into her room and shut the door.
"I'm sorry again about all the fuss," she said.
"Nah, it's okay. I understand," he said. They sat in front of each other Indian style on her old king sized bed. They talked for a while and AJ noticed her yawning. It was 2:30 AM and she was very tired. She was lying down in his lap and he noticed she was sound asleep. "Oh man," he said to himself. "What do I do? I guess I'll just let her sleep here." He gently picked her up and laid her down on the bed. He tucked her in and stood up. "Now where the hell am I gonna sleep?" he thought. He really didn't want to sleep on the couch. He wanted to be with her for as much as he could. He knew she trusted him so he laid down next to her. When he pulled the covers over himself, he felt Gwen snuggle up next to him. He smiled and wrapped his arms around her. He kissed her forehead and fell asleep next to the girl he loved.
~~the next morning~~
AJ woke up and looked at Gwen who was sound asleep in his arms. He smiled. He had fallen in love with her all over again. He held her and watched her sleep peacefully. She was just about to open her eyes when they were awaken by pounds on the door.
"Gwen!" her dad hollered. Gwen's eyes shot open and she looked at AJ in fear. They jumped out of her bed and she walked over to the door. She looked at AJ and he stood right behind her as she opened the door. Her father stood in the doorway and AJ could swear he saw smoke come out of his ears.
"Dad, it was an accident..." Gwen started.
"An accident?! You accidentally slept together?!" he hollered. By now, all her sisters were awake and in the hall.
"DAD! We fell asleep talking! We didn't do anything. You know me better than that!" she screamed back at her father.
"I will not accept this behavior under my roof!" he barked. He shot a look at AJ. "You are not allowed into this house again unless you drop your child ness acts off at the door!!" he screamed so loud that Maddy jumped into Whittney's arms. Tears swelled up in Gwen's eyes.
"Mr. Matthews, it was an accident," AJ started but was quickly interrupted.
"You stay out of this!" he hollered. "I will not take this behavior from both of you!" he screamed. Gwen stepped back and slammed the door. She ran into AJ's arms and he cradled her.
"Honey, I'm so sorry," AJ said. He didn't know what to say or do. He loved waking up next to Gwen even if they only talked that night. He was only sorry that they got caught. She sniffled and grabbed a tissue.
"It's okay. I'm not going to let it get to me because I am a grown adult and you are too," she said, standing up. She had her own bathroom and grabbed the clothes she wore yesterday.
"Let's get out of here," she said quietly. AJ nodded silently. She walked in the bathroom and shut the door behind her. AJ swore under his breath.
"Damn..I love that girl," he said. "But how can I love her when her father hates me? This isn't good," he thought. He changed into his clothes and waited for the bathroom. Gwen came out and AJ walked in to brush his teeth with a new tooth brush they gave him.
"I'm so sorry I had to put you through this. It isn't your fault. It would happen with any guy I would have brought home," Gwen apologized.
"Baby, it's not your fault," AJ said with a mouth full of toothpaste. He spit it out in the sink and wiped his mouth. He wrapped his arms around her and hugged her tight. He kissed her forehead. She grabbed a piece of paper from her desk and scribbled a note to her mom and sisters. She left it on her bed and grabbed AJ's hand.
"Uh, how are we getting out? Jumping?" AJ asked. Gwen laughed.
"No stupid. There is a back stairway outside that leads into my closet. How do you think I didn't get in trouble when I came home past curfew in high school?" she asked. AJ laughed.
"Rebel," he said. She smiled.
"My parents would always lock the back door so I couldn't get in but I know how to pick a lock," she said. They walked into her huge closet and sure enough there was a door leading to a stairway. They grabbed all their stuff and walked down the stairs and out to her car. She took one look at the house before AJ started the car and drove them home.
~~~~~~
"Nice one Dad," Ashleigh said, as she saw the two run out to their car and drive away from the kitchen window.
"I don't like him," her stubborn father said.
"No really? I couldn't notice," Ashleigh said, sarcastically.
"Watch it Ashleigh," her father said, still in a bad mood.
"Was that Gwen and AJ leaving?!" Judi cried out, running into the kitchen.
"Yes, thanks to Dad," Ashleigh said. Her father gave her a LOOK and she left the kitchen.
"Judi, I don't like him," he told his wife.
"Oh stop it Dave. You wouldn't like anyone she would bring home," Judi said, getting mad at her husband. "AJ is a very nice gentleman and I think he is perfect for her."
"Perfect?! Judi, he has 21 tattoos!" he said.
"Twenty-two Dave," corrected Judi.
"And you don't have a problem with that?!" he questioned his wife.
"No Dave, I don't. She is HAPPY. When was the last time you saw Gwen so happy last night? And now that you've scared the hell out of her and AJ, they will probably never come back. Nice going," Judi shot at her husband, leaving the kitchen.
~~~~~~~~~~
The two hour ride back to NYC was silent. AJ offered to drive because Gwen was still mad. An hour had gone by and AJ hated seeing her so pissed off. But what could he say? Maybe it was a good time to bring up Christmas.
"Are you still coming to my place for Christmas?" AJ asked, breaking the silence.
"Yes, of course," she said, breaking out of her daze.
"Okay, I'll make the guest room nice and pretty for when you come," he said, smiling. She laughed.
"Okay. Who do you usually spend Christmas with?" she asked.
"Well, it's usually me, mom and my grandparents. But this year, all the guys will be in Florida, so we are all going to get together," he said.
"That sounds great," she said, cheering up.
"We are still deciding if we are going to have Christmas Eve dinner at our house or at Nick's," AJ said. He caught himself saying 'our house'. It was really his house but he referred to it as if Gwen already lived there. She caught it too and there was an awkward silence between them. She looked over at him and smiled.
"I can't wait till it IS our house," she said. "Whew," he though, relieved she wasn't mad. He smiled slyly.
"We can play house when you come," he joked. She hit his arm and they laughed. He loved just being with her. Even if they weren't talking because sometimes, to AJ, the best conversations are without saying anything. She leaned her head back on her seat and closed her eyes. She fell asleep and AJ re-played what happened that morning in his head. He sighed aloud but not loud enough for Gwen to hear.
"What am I going to do? I need her father's respect," he thought. He knew he wasn't exactly the type of guy to bring home to parents, but he had decency and respect for people. He knew he had to get her fathers approval before he could get serious with Gwen. How was he going to do that, he didn't know.
~~2 weeks later~~~
"Okay, so I'll talk to you later?" Gwen asked over the phone.
"Yeah Babe," AJ replied. He was acting distant and Gwen didn't know why.
"Okay..I'll see you in two weeks," Gwen said.
"I can't wait," AJ said.
"Bye," Gwen said.
"Bye Babe," AJ said, clicking off his cell. The more he thought about Gwen, the more guilty he felt about her father. It was killing him thinking about it and didn't know what to do. She was coming to see him for Christmas in two weeks and he needed to shape up his act. AJ and the other Backstreet Boys were currently in LA and AJ heard a knock at his hotel room door. He opened it to see Kevin.
"Hey Man," Kevin greeted. AJ nodded and let him in.
"What up bro?" AJ asked.
"Kristin and I are throwing a party tomorrow night at Club Nine. We wanted to make sure you were coming," Kevin asked.
"Yeah sure. I'll be there," AJ said. He really didn't feel like going because he knew he wouldn't have fun. He'd feel even more guilty if he danced with other girls only to prove Gwen's dad right of him being a jerk. But he didn't want to let down his friend.
"Okay...well, I'll see ya in the morning," Kevin said, noticing AJ's distress and letting himself out. AJ walked around his hotel suite. He had a mini-bar like always and opened it up to see what was inside. It was all alcohol and no water, what he wanted. He sighed. He stopped drinking when he met Gwen. He reached for a beer but turned away and shut the door.
"I'm not going to give in. I am not some ass who relies on alcohol," AJ said aloud to reassure himself.
~~~~~~
Gwen noticed AJ acting weird lately and she couldn't figure out why. Was he mad at her? Was he getting impatient with their relationship? Was he still upset about her dad? Was he seeing someone else? The last though pained Gwen's heart. What if he was? Gwen had to find out what was wrong. She remembered him mentioning a party Kevin was throwing and Gwen decided it was time for a surprise visit. She picked up her phone and dialed.
~~~~~~
Nick heard his cell ring and he paused his play station. He searched his backpack and found the mobile and turned it on.
"Hello?"
"Nick? It's Gwen," Gwen said. Nick smiled.
"Hey Gwennie, wassup?" Nick asked. Nick and Gwen became really good friends and they would often call each other up.
"I need some information and help from you..."
