AN: LOL I’m glad you guys liked the ending to the last chapter even though it was completely random on my behalf. I was like, huh wouldn’t it be funny if he proposed. I had ideas for this story and this wasn’t one of them but hey, it works dontcha know. LOL sorry, I’m in a weird mood. Since you guys were nice enough to leave me comments I wrote this chapter fast. It’s dedicated to Carrie (the person the character’s based on) Ima miss ya, shmoo. By the way Destiny, I’ll read your story/stories? and review when I’m done. And Kimberly, I see you still don’t get Nick’s attitude so I’ll explain it in the chapter. Okay well here goes nothing:

~~

“Marry you?” Destiny gasped, a shocked expression plastered on her face.
“Not exactly the answer I expected but yeah, marry me.” AJ nodded.
“I know I don’t have an engagement ring to present you with but I wasn’t planning on doing this. Please say yes.” AJ continued as he noticed she was still speechless.
“The ring doesn’t matter, AJ. Are you sure you want to do this?” Destiny let her eyes wander around the room.
“If I wasn’t I wouldn’t have asked, Destiny. I want you to be my wife.” AJ rasped out.
“Yes.” Destiny nodded as a tear ran down her face.
“Really?” AJ looked at her in disbelief.
“I would like nothing more than to be with you for the rest of our lives.” Destiny stated as she jumped out of her chair to hug him.
“OUCH!” AJ groaned as her hand hit his head.
“Oh god, I’m sorry!” Destiny expressed, half sorry half amused.
“And that’s why you’re minutes away from cracking up?” AJ patronized.
“Perhaps.” She smirked as their lips met.

~~

“Ain’t this cute?” Nick chuckled.
His bruises were the only signs indicating yesterday’s mishap. He seemed to be in a good mood, one neither one of the people present in the room had seen him in for quite a long time.
“Hey Nick.” Destiny kicked the chair she was sitting on toward Nick’s direction as she sat beside AJ on the hospital bed.
“Hey Des. Hey Aje.” Nick plopped down on the chair.
Last night had been awful for all of them. Destiny couldn’t find out what was wrong with AJ. She was chasing after nurses, doctors or anyone else who worked at the hospital and could find some information out for her. At the early hours of the morning the doctor told her she had nothing to worry about. After being reassured of his state, she finally allowed herself to the much needed sleep she had been missing lately. During her wait, she had accompanied Nick. The two had talked and reached an understanding. She wouldn’t hold it against him. As for Carrie and AJ, that was still unclear. Nick stayed in the hospital overnight just for protection and now he was ready to face his mistakes and try to mend them with care.
“Nick...” AJ muttered.
“Can I talk to him privately?” Nick turned to Destiny.
As she was about to get up and leave, AJ grabbed her shirt and pulled her back down beside him.
“She stays.” AJ demanded.
“Fine.” Nick shrugged and lifted his feet to rest on the foot of AJ’s bed.
“I don’t think so.” AJ used his left leg to remove Nick’s feet from the bed.
“Okay, I’ll just sit here and not move. Is that okay with you?” Nick asked as he kept to himself.
“Well, the ideal situation would be if you would shut up and slowly leave my room but since that’s not happening, your idea will have to do.” He cleared his throat and sneaked his arm around Destiny’s waist.

~~

“Listen J, I’ve been pretty unfair to you lately, to everyone actually. You know the power Lin had over me. She used to make me do everything for her. Everything used to be second to her and I did it because I was madly in love with her. But with Carrie it was different and it was really good and then I fucked it up. Like I always do, I guess. And I thought I’d be okay having Lin with me and being able to date whichever girls I want. Party it up or whatever but I was wrong. Lin started aggravating me and I was taking it out on the wrong people. I should have just told Carrie and dealt with the consequences but now she’s gone and I’ll never have her back. But anyway, I just wanted to apologize for my attitude, for kissing your girlfriend and for that unconscious thing.” Nick scratched his face and uncomfortably squirmed in his seat.
“Fiancee.” AJ corrected.
“What?” Nick asked, a bit surprised that AJ’s response to his entire lecture was a one word sentence.
“Destiny’s not my girlfriend.” AJ stated.
“You broke up? No, don’t do that. I couldn’t live with myself if you two broke up a second time because of some mistake I made. And you know what AJ? It wasn’t even good. Nope, it sucked. So you guys can get back together now.” Nick smiled nervously.
“Nick, you have to listen more. She’s my not girlfriend, she’s my fiancee.” AJ explained.
“And don’t you dare diss my kissing technique!” Destiny threatened as she playfully stuck her tongue out.
“Yeah, that you don’t do or you’ll be sleeping with the fishes kapeech? ” AJ spoke with a thick Italian accent.
“Wow! you guys are engaged? When did you do that? Don’t tell me I kissed an engaged woman?” Nick panicked.
“Would you lay off the kiss, Nick?” Destiny laughed.
“Sorry.” Nick rose from the chair and walked over to couple.
“About three minutes ago.” AJ winced as his headache returned.
“That’s great...Forgive me, bro?” Nick reached his arm out for a handshake.
“Forgotten.” AJ ignored Nick’s hanging hand and gave him half a hug.

~~

Carrie was pacing in the waiting room. She heard about what happened last night after she left Nick’s house and contacted one of the guys to get more information. Within minutes she was in her car, driving to the hospital. Her intention wasn’t to see Nick but she did want to make sure AJ was okay. She walked in on Nick’s apology and couldn’t help but soften her heart. Her heart was beating fast and a warm feeling crept through her body. Nick looked changed but was he really?
“Carrie?” a voice was heard from behind her.
Carrie shuddered at the squeaky voice. Yesterday’s voice of fate.
“Lin, hey.” She flashed a fake smile.
“I didn’t expect to see you here after last night’s soap opera” Lin giggled.
“I think Nick deserved it.” Carrie shrugged.
“I don’t doubt that for one second that’s why you should go home.” Lin pushed Carrie toward the exit.
“What’s wrong Lin? Are you scared that I might take Nick back?” Carrie smiled wickedly.
“I don’t want Nick.” Lin insisted. She sat down on the orange chair, seeing there was no chance on getting Carrie to leave.
“You don’t want Nick? Is that why you threatened him? Is that why you made him break up with me? You want your little slave back and the fame he brings you but that’s not going to happen. He doesn’t like you Lin. He’s mine now back the fuck off.” Carrie said in a stern voice, finally giving in to her temper.
“Whatever. I was just going to give Nick a message from someone.” Lin crossed her legs in satisfaction. She knew something Carrie didn’t. Lin knew a secret. A new secret about Nick and a new secret led to some more blackmailing. She would get Nick back., there was no questioning that.
“What the hell are you doing here?” Nick’s voice was heard as he approached the two women in his life.
“I told her to leave, Nick.” Lin perked up as she heard the familiar voice. She wrapped her arms around his neck and placed kisses up and down his cheek.
“I wasn’t talking to you, Lin.” Nick pushed her off with a disgusted look on his face.
“You want me to leave?” She stressed the word ‘me’.
“You’re insanely slow, Lin. Yes, I was talking to you. I would like you to get out of my face and while you’re at it, move out of my house. I don’t want to see anything that even belongs to you when I get back.” Nick ordered.
“Are you serious?” Lin looked hurt.
“For god sakes Lin, go away.” Nick avoided her and walked over to where Carrie was standing.

~~

Just as he was about to speak, Lin approached the two and separated them.
“Listen, I have something to tell you, Nick. There’s something you need to see back at your house. I have it taken care of for now but as soon as I leave, you’ll have to take care of it. So instead of gawking at eachother with lovey dovey mush, you’re better off going home and seeing the deep shit you’re in, Carter. It’s not over quite yet.” With anger in her eyes, Lin violently stepped on Nick’s foot.
Nick bit down on his lip to keep from yelling. He closed his eyes shut. and stayed that way for a few minutes until the pain disappeared. Once he opened his eyes slowly, he caught a glimpse of Lin leaving.
“I really want to talk to you but um, I guess I should see what she’s going on about.” Nick traced his index finger along her lips, treasuring the touch he had lost.
“I’ll come with.” Carrie said, surprising both Nick and herself.
“Okay...do you have a car?” Nick asked, remembering he had no way of going back home.
“Yeah and um, I’m better off driving anyway. You keep getting lost.” She joked and removed a set of keys from her back pocket. She gestured toward the exit and the two were off.

~~

“We’re going to release you, Mr. McLean. You seem to be doing okay and it looks like you’re going to have someone to take care of you at home. I’m not worried about you but if anything bothers you and the pain killers seem to be affecting you the wrong way, I want you to come back here as soon as possible. We’ll take no risks.” The doctor explained the happenings to AJ, who nodded, not really paying attention to what he was saying. Instead, he was busy caressing Destiny. She on the other hand, was listening to the doctor’s instructions. She couldn’t help feeling guilty and wanted to get AJ back to normal health as soon as possible.
“You can get dressed and we’ll get you outta here.” The doctor concluded and closed the door behind him.
“There ya go.” Destiny handed him the clothes his mother brought with her.
“Thanks.” He said as he started removing the hospital gown he was put in.
“Help me out?” He asked slyly.
“Sure.” Destiny returned the smile and climbed on the bed beside him.
“Come here.” As she fiddled with the paper gown, AJ scooped her up into his arms and jumped off the bed, walking towards the bathroom.
“What are you doing?” Destiny’s brows furrowed.
“You talk too much.” AJ silenced her by brushing his lips over hers.
“In the bathroom? There’s a new place.” Destiny realized his plans.
“A new place to add to your ‘unique places I had sex in’, I guess.” AJ winked. He locked the door to the bathroom and returned his attention to his fiancee.
“I didn’t know I had a list like that.” She replied and with one fast movement, tore off his apparel. Lost in eachother’s bodies, they ignored the knocking on the bathroom door.
“Excuse me? I need to clean.” A foreign cleaning lady’s voice was heard.
She was answered with moaning and groaning. Needless to say, she departed in a hurry.

~~

“How the hell did I get myself into this?” Nick smacked his head onto the wall repetitively.
“Are you crazy, Nick? Stop doing that, you’ll open your wounds.” Carrie dragged Nick away from the wall.
“How the hell do I always get myself into these things? I took you from the altar went to Paris with you and for some dim-witted reason slept with some other girl and now this happens.”Nick was close to tears.
“Okay Nick, you need to stay calm.” Carrie tried her best to soothe him.
“No, I can’t stay calm. If i was in your position maybe but I’m the one with the problem. ME not you.” Nick reminded her as he started pacing again.
“Don’t dare raise your voice, Nick. This isn’t my fault. You’re the one who screwed around.” Carrie growled.
“Sorry...I just don’t think I’m ready to be a father.” Nick looked over at the baby in the crib.

~~

A few hours had passed since Destiny and AJ arrived at his house. Excited to see the two, Buttercup pounced on the them and wagged his tail quickly. The couple was sitting on the couch, as they did the night before. Except these time under much better terms.
“You’re still moving in, right?” AJ played with Destiny’s hair.
“Of course.” Destiny smiled as she snuggled up closer.
“Good.” He kissed the top of her head.
The phone rang and they both looked like they wanted to run and hide. The drilling ring disturbing the silence they were enjoying. Destiny quickly kissed AJ’s cheek and went to answer the phone.
“Hello?”
“Hey Des.” Nick said.
“Nick, hey.” Destiny tapped her fingers on the counter.
As AJ heard the name he frowned. He knew that they didn’t have anything going on between them but why did Nick keep calling her? They’re friends. He kept telling himself that but for some reason it didn’t stick. They made him nervous.

~~

“Could you come over? Me and Carrie need your help with something.” Nick requested.
“Is it urgent?” Destiny sneaked a glance at AJ. She smiled.
“Yeah.” A crying was heard in the background.
“What was that?” Destiny asked in confusion.
“Come over and you’ll see.” Nick sighed and hung up.
“Baby...I have to go do something.” Destiny sat down on AJ’s lap and rested her head on his shoulder.
“At Nick’s house?” AJ groaned.
“Yeah, I’m sorry.” Sadness overwhelmed her when she sensed the disappointment in his voice.
“Go ahead.” He finally said.
“Are you sure? If you want I can stay...” Destiny looked in his eyes.
“I’m fine, go.” AJ looked away.
“Okay...I’ll be back in a few.” She kissed him lightly and ran out the door.
AJ needed escape and he needed it now. He jogged over to his bedroom and rummaged throw his drawers, finally finding what he was looking for. AJ smiled and reached for it.

~~

“Come on Ash!” Howie called out to his girlfriend who was still fixing her makeup in the car.
“Sorry, sorry, I just want to look okay.” Ashley locked the cars’ doors and walked over with Howie to the AJ’s front door. Being AJ’s best friend, Howie felt obligated to go visit AJ after the night he spent in the hospital. Ashley insisted on coming along. She was anxious to see AJ since they had gotten very close over the boys’s six month break.
“You always look great.” Howie smiled and pulled her in for a hug. While embracing him, she stuck her hand into his back pocket and removed the key to AJ’s house.
“Why don’t we just knock?” Howie asked as he felt what she was doing.
“Because you already have a key!” Ashley laughed and opened the door. The house was pretty dark. They hoped AJ was home but since one of his cars was missing, they didn’t know for sure. If he wasn’t, they would wait.
“I’m going to grab a glass of water.” Howie informed his girlfriend.
“Okay, I’ll go look for him.” Ashley walked through the hall and into the living room.
“AJ are you here?” The livingroom was empty. They were blankets lying on the couch, still messy from the time people were lying in them. She walked up the stairs toward the bedroom area. Ashley peeked her head through AJ’s bedroom. Her eyes widened at the sight.
“WHAT THE HELL ARE YOU DOING?” She hollered, trying to remain calm as the fear started to attack.

~~

AN: Cliffhanger. Yes I know I suck. Oh well, I’ll live with it.