AN: LOL it’s okay you can stop bouncing and just read this chapter to find out what AJ was doing but since I haven’t really written about Brian and Coral (lol you’re going to love me for this, Liz), I’m going to start with them. Anyway, thanks for the reviews and keep on writing feedback and I’ll keep writing more chapters.

~~

“Brian, get up!” Coral wrapped the towel around her body as she exited the hotel’s bathroom.
Brian groaned and recovered himself with the blankets he kicked off during the night. Lazily, he lifted his arm and signaled for her to leave him alone. Coral sighed and removed a few articles of clothing from her duffle bag. She returned into the bathroom and slammed the door behind her.
“What the...” Brian mumbled as he stretched on the bed. He rolled over to the side, not taking in consideration that he was already on the edge of the bed. In an instant, he found himself on the floor.
“You have gotta be kidding me. This is a great wake up call.” He let out a whimper while rubbing his sore head.
“I see you’re up.” Coral returned into the bedroom and smirked at the sight before her. She was pulling her long, wavy, now blonde hair into a messy ponytail.
“I guess so. What time is it?” Brian asked, letting his eyes get reacquainted with the hotel room.
“About 6pm.” Coral informed him.
He shook his head and exhaled deeply.
“Don’t worry about it.” Coral finished her primping and sat down on the floor beside him.
“I’m not. Could you order some room service? I think I need to take a shower.” Brian kissed her cheek and wobbled toward the bathroom door.
“Aw, just like a cute little duck.” Coral chuckled. She moved her eyes in search of the phone, locking on the target, she walked in that direction and pressed the right digits to connect her with room service.

“Room service, this is Rosie speaking. What can I get for you?” A chirpy female voice was heard.
“Um, two ham and cheese sandwiches.” Coral decided, resting the thin menu on the desk.
“What room?” She asked.
“104.” Coral replied.
“Would you like to charge this on a credit card or pay cash?” The woman’s words rolled out fast as the speed of light.
“Credit card. Could you hold for a sec? I need to get it.” She didn’t wait to hear the reply of the woman, instead she searched through her purse for her wallet. She removed the credit card and returned to her phone call.
“Back.” Coral gave the woman her credit card number and waited for the approval.
“Ma’am, that credit card has been canceled.” Rosie responded after a minute of silence.
“Well, we’ll just pay with cash.” Coral replied in confusion.
“It’ll be up in 30 minutes.” Rosie said, suspicious of Coral. She hung up.

~~

“BRIAN!” Coral yelled as she made her way into the bathroom.
“Coral, are you just trying to embarrass me today?” Brian continued washing his hear. The room was steamy and it was difficult to hear over the flowing water.
“No but I just wanted to make sure if someone comes to arrest me today that you’ll bail me out.” Coral leaned against the door.
“Why would someone arrest you?” Brian turned off the water and wrapped his body with a towel.
“Because my dad decided to cancel the credit card he got for me and I just tried to use it. Usually, they arrest people for doing that. They probably think I stole it or something.” Tears started to form in her eyes.
“Aw baby, we’ll just explain it to them. Hopefully all they bring up is some food for me to eat instead of cops cause I doubt they’re really tasty.” Brian stepped out of the shower and embraced her with one hand, the other trying to keep the towel around his lower part.
“He better not try to take anything else away from me. I’ve been damn independent but I needed his name to assure the merchants I was reliable. He can take so many things that I’ve worked so hard for. Why is he doing this to me, Bri?” Coral nuzzled her head into his neck, taking in his scent. She allowed herself to cry for a few minutes. Brian sang in her ear to soothe her.
“He’s doing this because he hates me. Not you. Don’t you forget that either. If he takes anything else away from you, I’ll be forced to have a little talk with him.”
“Really?” The tears left her eyes and a smile appeared on her face.
“Yes and don’t worry about it, honey. You’re my wife, nothing’s going to happen to you.” Brian noticed another frown appear on her face.
“What?” He questioned.
“You got me all wet!” Coral laughed.
“Lets just pretend you didn’t enjoy it.” Brian stuck his tongue out.

~~

“Oh my god, AJ. Oh god. Oh god. Oh god.” Ashley kept repeating those lines as she paced around the room.
“Ash, you’re giving me a head thing.” AJ stuttered.
“A head thing? A headache? You’re going to have one hell of a headache when you wake up tomorrow.” Ashley yelled. She walked over to AJ, who was sitting on his bed, and snatched the close to empty bottle of Jack Daniels from his hand.
“Please tell me this wasn’t full when you started drinking it.” Ashley pleaded as she shook to bottle.
“Give it back!” AJ demanded. His voice gaining volume with each word.
“How about no?” Ashley emptied the remaining contents of the bottle in the sink.
“What the hell is wrong with you? You don’t just go destroying things that you know, don’t belong to you and belong to other people like me.” AJ said incoherently. He was trying his bed to follow Ashley around the room.
“I’m not watching you do this to yourself again.” Ashley stopped and turned to face AJ.
“You didn’t watch when I first did it.” AJ rolled his eyes.
“Don’t do this to yourself.” Ashley pleaded. He was scaring her. The look in his eyes was changed. He looked mad, tired and completely drunk. He was a complete mess.
“I’ll do whatever the hell I want, Ashley. Before I get fucking mad, you better get me another shot.” AJ warned her, waving his fingers in her face.

~~

“Not a chance in hell.” Ashley shook her head and looked at him in disbelief.
AJ collapsed to the floor and looked down at himself in disgust. The effect was starting to wear out and he felt disappointed of himself. Sobbing hysterically, he grabbed a hold of Ashley’s feet and held on to her as if his life depended on it. Ashley felt her knees get week as she fell beside him. She wrapped her arms around him, trying to calm him down. She had to stay strong for his sake.
“You can’t tell anyone about this!” He sniffed.
“AJ, I can’t do that. I have to tell someone who can deal with this better than I can. You need some help.” Ashley wiped his tears away with a tissue she managed to reach.
“I already got help. I don’t need anymore help. I don’t want attention for this shit. I promise never to do it again. Just help me look normal again and I’ll be fine.” AJ bit down on his lip.
“Okay...” Ashley answered reluctantly. She wanted to believe him, really she did but right now, she didn’t know if she could.
“So, how do I sober you up?” Ashley rose to her feet and helped his unsteady figure up.
“Um, shower, coffee, water...” He listed a few things and sat back down on his bed.
“Right. “Ashley noted everything and went outside to keep Howie occupied while she fetched the things.
“And I have to get back to who I was before Des comes back. There’s no way in hell she’s seeing me like this.” AJ looked at the mirror across him. He shuddered and lied down to avoid the reflected image.

~~

“Aw, look at the cute baby.” Destiny cooed as she traced her finger along the infant’s cheeks.
The baby giggled in response and raised her arm up. Destiny stuck her finger out and the baby held onto it.
“Are you babysitting?” Destiny turned to Nick.
“Not exactly.” Nick muttered.
“She’s his.” Carrie answered for Nick, who seemed to be at a loss of words for the past two hours.
“Yeah, right.” Destiny laughed, positive that they were playing around.
“I’m serious, Des. That’s Nick’s baby.” Carrie retorted.
“Who’s the mother?” Destiny looked at the serious expressions on their faces and knew they weren’t kidding.
“Some French girl.” Carrie sighed.
“Jezebel.” Nick whispered.
“Do you know where this Jezebel lives?” Destiny’s anger appeared at the thought of someone abandoning an angel like the one lying in front of her.
“She was a one night stand, Des. Do you honestly think I keep the phone number and address of each whore I sleep with?” Nick snapped.
“Don’t you go there, Nick. And that whore is the mother of your child. Consider that.” Destiny lectured.
The baby girl was fair with an angelic look on her face. She looked as if she could never do any harm to the anyone. She was a gift, a majestic gift. Her eyes were sky blue. They had a sparkle which attracted people to her. Those eyes could make even strangers fall in love with this child. Destiny moved her hand a long the pink bodysuit the baby was wearing. Her heart ached to think she wouldn’t know her mother.

~~

“Sorry.” Nick apologized, not making any attempt to move from where he was situated.
“Nick, stop denying this and look over at your daughter. Start acting like an adult and take care of her. You have siblings, all of them younger than you, might I add. You should know how to take care of babies. I would love to help you with anything you need and I think Carrie here too...” Destiny shot a glance at Carrie, who nodded.
“She’s your responsibility, Nick. And she needs your attention. Don’t take out the fact that you made a mistake on her. I gotta go Nick.” Destiny gave him a hug and whispered something in Carrie’s ear, who just nodded again.
“Nick, I think we should work something out between us.” Carrie started talking as soon as she heard Destiny shut the front door.
“What do you mean?” Nick asked.
“I heard what you said to AJ and Destiny and if they can forgive you then so can I.” She knelt down to face his sad eyes.
“You know I can’t commit myself to a relationship, not way it was before. I have her to consider too.” Nick pointed at the peaceful baby.
“And I’m willing to help you with her.” Carrie smiled.
“Yeah?” Nick looked shocked. He cupped her face and bent down to kiss her forehead.
“I’m really lucky.” He stated, getting up to face reality.
“What’s her name?” Carrie stood up and held his hand. Both of them walking toward their future, a baby.
“According to the card, her name is Natasha Kassidy.” Nick looked over the card Jezebel wrote. He read through the card again. It basically stated she wanted nothing to do with the baby anymore. She was leaving her with her father and demanded no one to try to find her. She was gone from his life, never to be contacted again.
“Natasha Kassidy Carter, It has a ring to it.” Carrie smiled and picked up the baby. She gurgled and dozed back into sleep.

~~

“Alex!” Destiny called as she entered the house. The light returned back to the abode. Ashley had made sure to open all the curtains to air out the place. It was tidy and clean. It looked exactly like it did before AJ’s actions. Oblivious to what happened, Destiny walked into the livingroom to find AJ sitting on the couch with Howie. He was dressed in different clothes but she shrugged it off and leaned in to give him a kiss.
“Hey babe.” He smiled.
“Hey...what’s up D?” Destiny turned to Howie.
“Trying to figure out why my girlfriend is acting like AJ’s maid.” Howie raised his eyebrows.
“Hey, I don’t mind. If she wants to clean for me, she’s more than welcome to.” AJ smirked.
“One less thing for me to do.” Destiny shrugged and squeezed herself between the two men.
“Des, hey.” an exhausted looking Ashley joined the group.
“On your absence, I decided to steal your man. He’s cozy.” Destiny joked as she rested her head on Howie’s shoulder.
“Go ahead.” Ashley shrugged, playing along.
“I feel the love.” Howie pouted.
“I was just kidding.” Ashley sat on his lap.
“Can I help you with your cleaning?” Destiny asked, entwining her fingers with AJ’s.

~~

“Not really, I’m done. You know how I love neatness. I guess it’s a fetish. But we just came over to see AJ and I think we’re going to go now. We’re going out to dinner, you guys can come if you want.” Ashley offered.
“Nah, that’s okay. I can cook something up.” Destiny reassured them. They said their goodbyes and the couples went their separate ways.
“So, what are you going to cook up?” AJ rubbed her arms.
“Alex...” Destiny licked her lips.
“What?” He gulped down. A worried expression appeared on his face.
“You know I love you, right?” She gave him an Eskimo kiss.
“I love you too.” He traced his finger over her perfect, pouty lips.
“You know that you could tell me anything at all...” Destiny continued.
AJ nodded.
“Why are you drinking again?” She finally blurted out.
“How...how did you know?” He looked at her in surprise.
“Your breath.” Destiny said plainly.