"So, he just kissed her, so out of the blue like that?" Kristy asked as she walked back from putting David down in his bassinet. She sat down next to her mother.

Karen smiled at her daughter as she leaned back into her arm. "Apparently Dad felt more for Mom then he was willing to admit."

"You've got that right, Karen," Howie said, smiling. "Little did she know she felt the same way. Or maybe she did know. If she did, she never let on."

"Howie's right," AJ continued. "I remember their belligerent behavior toward each other continued for quite a while... at least, from what we knew..."

"Wow, I can't believe you're twenty... I feel so old," Kevin said, giving Nick a hug. "Happy birthday, bro." He handed Nick a package.

Nick examined the long gift carefully, then looked at Kevin and the rest of the guys puzzled. "Who's this one from?"

"Actually, we don't know. It was delivered here with specific instructions that it was for your eyes only. But after you open it, if you want to show us, we're not going to stop you," Brian said, giving Nick a shove.

"First let me look at it, then I'll decide if you guys can see it," Nick said, taking the gift with him as he walked to another room. He sat down and opened the attached envelope, taking out the card. He smelled a familiar perfume as he opened it. He inhaled deeply as he read the loopy handwriting...

Happy birthday, Punk :-)

Since I couldn't be there to torment you in person (and I know how sad you are about that), I figured I could at least be nice and send you a gift. I know what you're thinking, "Laura? Nice?" *laugh* Yeah, I can be nice when I want to be. Anyway, happy birthday, Carter.
So how old are you now? Nineteen going on nine? :-Þ

See you in a week. Now don't go and break these before you get a chance to use them. ;-)

~Laura~

Nick wanted to be angry, but he just laughed. "She's not even here, and yet she continues to annoy me," he said aloud as he surveyed the gift once again. "'Don't break these before you get a chance to use them?' What did she mean by that??" he said as he tore open the package. Tossing aside the wrapping paper, he lifted the cover off the box. Pulling back the tissue paper, it revealed a new pair of drumsticks. Nick's breath caught in his throat as he took them out of the box. "But how did she know that I--" Nick stopped mid-sentence, then continued. "Oh, yeah! She was with us that day at that music supply store. But that was so long ago, before we even went to Europe in June... How did she remember??" he thought aloud as he grasped one stick in each hand. He drummed with them in the air. I can't believe she did this...

It was two days before the guys' first show back on the second US leg of the Into The Millennium Tour. Three days ago, they started their rehearsals prior to their return on the road. In the studio they worked on their dance steps, then today they made their way to Pennsylvania to start rehearsing the entire show at the venue.

They were a few songs into their full show rehearsal when Laura arrived at the arena. Laura walked in at the back end so she wouldn't distract them. She smiled and took a deep breath. It's good to be back, she thought to herself as she began walking up closer to the stage. Kevin was seated at the piano. Realizing that they were about to start Back To Your Heart, she looked as Nick appeared at the drum set, the drumsticks she gave him in his hands as the song began. Walking right to the front row of seats, Laura sat down, directly in front of Nick. Teresa, Leighanne and Becky were there, also. Teresa and Leighanne said hello to her, while Becky just glared. Tart... what does he see in her? she thought as she glared back, before turning her attention back to the stage.

"...If I wasn't such a fool, right now I'd be holding you..." Nick sang as he played the drums. At that point he opened his eyes and saw Laura sitting among the others in the front row. She smirked at him as he continued singing. He smiled back at her, twirling one of the drumsticks she gave him, and continued. "...There's nothing that I wouldn't do, baby, if I only knew..."

The rest of the guys joined Nick singing the chorus of the song. Still playing the drums, Nick's attention was now focused on Laura. Again his part came up as he sang. "...Let me prove my love is real, and make you feel the way I feel. I promise I would give the world, if only you would tell me, girl..." Nick's voice rang out, sending shivers up Laura's spine. She had now seen the show many times, and had noticed that Nick is a very emotional singer, but she had never heard him sing with such passion. And this was just a rehearsal.

The show continued on. They had reached the final song of the production, I Want It That Way. Laura had now stood up to see better. It wasn't that she couldn't see where she was sitting, but Nick was on the other side of the stage, and she wanted to see him. Of course, she wasn't going to admit that, not even to herself.

Laura unconsciously walked around the stage slowly, until she was within Nick's sight. Brian sang his part at the beginning of the song, then it was Nick's line. "But we are two worlds apart, can't reach to your heart, when you say that I want it that way, tell me why-y..." Nick looked Laura's direction as the guys sang their backup line. Making eye contact, he continued. "Tell me why-y..." pausing as the guys sang their backup line once again, smiling a sexy smirk at Laura, to which she smiled and shook her head in amusement. He continued. "I never want to hear you say, I want it that way..."

The rest of the song played out until Howie's part. Howie sang his part, and Nick had the next line. Running to the edge of the stage, directly in front of Laura, he fell to his knees and closed his eyes, singing with all his strength, "Don't wanna hear you--SAAAYYYYY..." Laura's breath caught in her throat as she watched him open his eyes, continuing as he got up, never breaking eye contact with her. Soon he did, though, as he rejoined the formation as they ad-libbed, singing as they walked around to each side of the stage with their dancers, taking bows. After doing so, they disappeared down into the center of the stage, and waited for the band to finish their musical finale. Once finished, a silence fell upon the arena, broken after a few seconds by applause by all present.

Their tour manager was sitting back by the sound board. He grabbed a microphone. "Great job, you guys, all of you. Glad to see you didn't lose your touch over the break! In fact, you guys are so ready for this show, we are going to cancel rehearsals tomorrow, so y'all have a free day to do with as you please." Everyone cheered, hugged and high-fived as this announcement was made. "OK, OK, just don't let me regret this decision on Friday. I want a flawless show! Now go, get outta here!" he said, putting the microphone down. Everyone went backstage to wash up and leave for the day. Laura also went backstage with Teresa, Leighanne, Cherie, Misty and Becky, so she could catch up with everyone after the long absense.

Laura walked back into the arena before leaving, realizing she left one of her bags where she had been sitting. She looked up at the stage at the drum set. It's been a while, but what the hell? she thought, walking up the steps onto the stage. Laura approached the drums, and grabbed a pair of sticks. Sitting down, she positioned herself behind them, tapping her foot on the bass drum, and then her other foot on the cymbals. Starting out with a few drum rolls, she warmed herself up.

Feeling a bit more confident, Laura continued to play the drum part for Back To Your Heart. Little did she know, she had an audience. Nick walked quietly onto the opposite side of the stage. Who's at the drum set? he thought as he walked slowly around the stage to get a better view. Laura-- he thought, amazed. I didn't know she played. Nick watched her as she played, impressed by her ability, an ability she hid well from everyone. As much as Nick wanted to criticize her, he couldn't. Her playing was near flawless. He just smiled as he grabbed his sticks from on top of the keyboard, and walked off the stage.