An hour later, everyone had arrived and was out in Kevin's backyard where he was planning to fix some burgers for everyone.
Lila was sitting with Brian, Nick, and LeighAnne at the patio table. Nick had immediately taken a liking to Justin, and vice versa. Nick had Justin on his lap and was busy playing with him. Kevin was right about one thing, LeighAnne was very nice and her and Lila had almost immediately became friends.
The other Backstreet 'girls' seemed nice enough, although Howie's girlfriend, Lynda, didn't seem too fond of Lila and the fact that she had a child. Sarah was also very friendly but had left them when AJ had come back from whatever he had been doing inside.
Nick looked up from Justin towards Lila, "So..how does it feel?"
"How does what feel?"
"To be a mom."
Lila smiled, "It's wonderful..tiring but I love him so much that I forget about it about half the time."
"He is adorable.," LeighAnne said holding onto one of Justin's hands while Nick pretended to make him dance.
Lila smiled, "He is pretty lovable..I can't believe he's this awake...hopefully he'll sleep real good later."
"I'm sure he will..he's had a big day..," Nick said.
"I have too..and I haven't even begun to unpack."
Brian smiled, "Well, ya know, me and Nick could help out on that part."
LeighAnne nudged him playfully, "No you can't. A girl has a place for everything, am I right?"
Lila nodded, "Exactly. I pretty much have an idea where I'm going to put everything in my mind. But thanks for the offer, you two did enough with Justin's room...thank you so much."
"Not a problem..we thought it needed to feel like home so we tried to make it as comfy and homey as possible.," Brian said.
"Yea..plus, a baby has to have everything...and the other guys helped out as well.."
"Well I guess I should thank you all.."
"No need..," Nick said with a smile, "It's good to see you happy though...and it'll be good to have you around, and Justin is just a bonus in the whole situation."
"If you say so Nick."
"I do."
LeighAnne followed Lila up the stairs and into Justin's room. "Wow..Brian told me about it but I hadn't had the chance to see it..they actually did a really good job.," She said as she looked around.
Lila smiled, "Funny, Kevin said the same thing...are the two of them together just a bad idea or something?"
LeighAnne nodded, "Sometimes. When Brian and Nick get together, their attention span is about that of a five year old...but this came out really well.."
"I know..I can't believe...all of this for me and him..and I feel like the guys barely know me..."
"They know you better than you think they do...I swear, all I heard about when they came back here after they went to Kentucky was about you and all that stuff...I'm so sorry Lila.."
Lila smiled softly as she put Justin down in his crib; he was wiped out. "It's okay...it tends to get better day after day.."
"Brian told me, I hope you don't care.."
"No..no..not at all. I'm sure all of the guys know. I'd rather them know and let ME know they know rather than them walking on eggshells around me. I'm okay now.."
LeighAnne looked out the window and at Kevin and Brian laughing and joking around, "I guess I just can't imagine..being without the one person you love in the whole world."
"I can't either..I mean, the same day of Scott's funeral was the day I found out I was pregnant. I think I had known for awhile..but I didn't want to admit it...Scott would have loved to of had a son...and, I mean, he does...but he's not here to enjoy him completely...but..I try to take it one day at a time..some days are easier than others. I'm just glad I have the friends I do...they help alot."
"And Scott's parents? They supported you moving here?"
"Actually they really did...I thought they'd be mad at me wanting to leave with their only grandchild..but they agreed and told me it'd be a great opprutunity...plus, it was a little hard to stay there with all the memories and stuff.."
"I bet..but, we're glad you're here now."
Lila smiled, "Thanks..I am too.."
"He asleep?"
"Yep..worn out completely. Now hopefully he won't wake up at three a.m."
The two women walked back down the stairs and back out to where everyone was. Kevin looked over at Lila, "Where's Justin?"
"Asleep..I just put him down."
"Ohhhh..think he'll sleep through the night?"
"I hope so..but I think he will."
"That's good.."
Sarah and Lynda joined LeighAnne and Lila at the table. Lila had a feeling this was interrogation time. She didn't have Justin or Kevin around her so it was prime time. LeighAnne smiled, "Now don't look all nervous Lila.."
"I can't help it..I feel like I'm about to be interrogated."
"Well...we just want to make sure you...have Kevin's best interests at heart.," Lynda said.
"what do you mean?"
"We mean, what is the real reason you moved in with him? Apparently, you have no feelings for him."
Lila could already tell her and Lynda probably wouldn't get along too well. But, she stayed calm. "Kevin is my friend, first and foremost. Anything else I feel for him is my private business, so I don't have any obligation to tell you or anyone else. The real reason I moved here is because I couldn't stand to live with my dead fiancee's parents and be surrounded by all of his memories. Some day's I would just stay in my room and cry because in the span of nine months, I lost him and had a baby. And as much as I didn't WANT to escape Scott, I wanted to all at the same time. Sometimes I felt like I was being smothered by everything. Kevin has been the greatest friend anyone could have...as have the other guys. Kevin asked me to move here about three months ago...I wasn't sure..because I knew people would begin to wonder if we were really JUST friends or not...and I was scared. But..he convinced me, and here I am."
Lynda just glared at Lila. Sarah silently cheered for Lila; the girl had guts...she'd fit in just fine with them. LeighAnne smiled; she liked Lila alot..and could tell she would be the type of girl that wouldn't take crap from many people..if any at all. Lila would certainly do for Kevin alright.
"Kiss Justin for me?," Nick said before he left for the evening.
"I sure will...now come here and give me a hug Nicky."
Nick leaned down and hugged Lila tightly, "I'm glad you're here Lila.."
"me too.."
"You need anything, you know the number."
"I do..thanks."
"Not a problem..see you later."
"Bye.."
Sarah appeared next, "I don't know where my boyfriend is so when you see him, tell him I'm at the car. And it was really nice to meet you Lila."
"You too Sarah.."
"And I'm sorry for Lynda's 'interrogation'..she tends to do that alot."
"It's okay..really..I think I understand her motives."
Sarah smiled, "But, me and Leigh figure you'll fit in just fine...nobody tells Lynda off and gets away from it..and you did."
Lila shrugged, "Just told the truth."
"Well it was very nice to meet you and Justin..we'll definitely have to get together sometime and go shop..ok?"
"Sounds good.."
"Later..."
Lila walked into the kitchen to get something to drink before she headed up to bed, she was really getting tired. AJ poked his head around from the patio, "Sarah go outside?"
"Yep..said to tell you she'd be at the car."
"Cool...hey guys! I'll see y'all later!!"
A chorus of 'ok!' and 'bye AJ!' echoed from outside as AJ walked inside, the door closing behind him. "You goin' to bed?"
Lila nodded, "Yep..I'm tired..and I've got a full day of unpacking ahead of me."
AJ scrunched up his nose, "Eww..no fun. It was nice to see you again Lila.."
"You too AJ.."
AJ hugged her, "I'll see you soon, I'm sure."
"I bet..bye."
"Bye."
Kevin came in a second later, "Hey..you comin' back out?"
"No..I'm going to head to bed..I'm tired."
He smiled, "Alright.."
"Tell everyone else that it was nice to meet them and that I'm sorry I couldn't see them out.."
"I will..go get some sleep.."
"Kevin?"
"Yea?"
"Thanks..for everything...I know I keep saying that..but it seems the only thing that I can say anymore."
Kevin smiled, "You don't have to thank me for anything Lila...you're my friend, and friends help out friends. Goodnight."
"Night..."
Lila walked up the stairs to her room, checking on Justin one last time, before heading into her new bedroom. '...you're my friend, and friends help out friends....', Kevin's thoughts ran through her head as she pulled the comforter up to her chin. 'Friends..that's all you are...and that's all I can be..right?,' She thought finally as sleep claimed her.
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