Nick and Sidney were both awoken by the telephone ringing. Nick caught the time, 9:10 as he answered it, "Hello?"
"Yo Nick, its me B, I was just calling to tell you that we've postponed recording until Tuesday" Brian said.
"Ok, why?" Nick asked.
"I dunno, I think George had to take an emergency flight to Cali" Brian answered, reffering to their main producer at Parc Studios in Orlando.
"Oh, Ok" Nick replied.
"Well I'm going back to bed, I was just calling to tell you that" Brian said.
"Ok, see you later" Nick said back
"Bye" Brian replied before cutting off his phone.
Nick hung up the rolled over to see Sidney, half awake stretching in the sheets, "Are you ready to get up?" he asked, she shooke her head no, "Good" he said, not wanting to leave the warmth of the sheets. Nick closed his eyes and a vision of the girl the night before invaded his memory, chills ran down his spine and he made his eyes open to push out the mental picture. He laid there, staring at the ceiling, he couldn't sleep at the moment, it was impossible. At ten Sid began to stir in her sleep and she awoke.
"Can we go to Unlce Brian's, PLEASE" were the first words from her mouth. Sidney Carter and Skylar Littrell, were inseperable, 'two peas in a pod', much like their daddys.
"Yeah, we'll go over there, but first you need a bath" Nick answered as he got out of the bed, the cold of the house hitting his bare chest and causing him to shiver. He cut the heat up a little and went into the bathroom where he cut the bath tub faucet on and made the water the apporiate temperature. He got out a big towel with Mickey Mouse on it, Sid's favorite then went back into the room to get his daughter. She quickly stripped down and got into the bathtub, after washing her body, Nick lathered her hair with coconut shampoo, rinsed it then let Sid play in the water until 'water wrinkles' appeared on her hands. He dressed her in GAP jeans, nikes and a long sleeve pink GAP shirt. Sidney stood on the counter by the sink as Nick blow dried her hair, "Done" he said as Sidney outstretched her arms so he could put her back on her own two feet.
He decided to make her breakfast before he got dressed, the two filed down the stairs. He put two poptarts on a plate, fixed two glasses of milk and proceeded back upstairs. "You sit right here and watch Tv while I take a shower, Ok?" he asked as Sid climbed onto the bed and Nick put the Tv on Nick Jr.
"Ok" Sidney answered, Nick eyed her quizically before going into the bathroom and stepping into the shower. He let the warm water cascade down his chest and back, running his fingers through his hair as he rinsed out the shampoo. He hummed a familiar song as he cut the water off and just stood in the shower, this was the only time he actually had to himself to think, relax during the day. He wrapped a towel around his waist and stuck his head out the door to check on Sidney. "I'm fine daddy" she said before he even asked the question. He nodded and shut the door back, he went ahead and got ready except for his clothing. He entered the main room, holding up the towel with one hand and picking up a pair of jeans, Timberland boots and a deep blue sweater with the other hand.
"C'mon lets go downstairs" Nick said, cutting off the Tv as he came out of the bathroom.
"Ok" Sidney said back as she got herself off of the bed. She handed Nick her empty glass and carried her own plate downstairs like so many previous mornings and back into the kitchen to discard the dirty dishes. Sidney went on into the livingroom to continue watching Tv while Nick stayed behind to check the mail, he slid the pile in front of him, leaned up against the counter and began to sort it.
"Bill, bill, another bill, magazine, bill, really late Christmas card, AJ's birthday card from Mom since she can never remember AJ's address, and ..... a blank envelope" Nick labeled each peice of mail as he came to it. He sighed before tearing the back of the envelope open, a single slip of paper laid inside it, he unfolded it and read silently to himelf:
Nick,
Yes, she is beautiful, she does have the 'voice' and I love the new song, it'll be hit. I do see you and her and everyone else and you don't know how bad I wish I was there, but believe me, I tried that day to win, I did, I promise. I miss you so much and I love you every second that passes.
Love you
Blueeyez
PS- Go for her, Nick, trust me on this one
Nick felt shivers run up and down his spine, 'blueeyez' a nickname shared my only himself and Whit. What was going on, was he dreaming or going crazy? He didn't know, he couldn't take it anymore, he was tired of being strong. His body mostly collapsed forward, the counter being the support from his waist up, his breath came to him in short flashes that were rapid and fast, he broke down. Tears flowed down the flesh of his cheeks, he wasn't holding back anything. He laid there a good ten minutes he had calculated to himself before regaining his composure, he ws still crying, but not sobbing when Sidney came back into the kitchen.
"Daddy, don't cry, its not good for you, remember what Uncle Bri says" she said, pulling on his pant leg.
Nick forced a weak smile, "I know" he said, wiping his eyes. He had to think. "How about spending the day with Skylar?" he asked.
"Could I plllleassssseee?" Sid asked.
"Yeah, gimme the phone so I can call Brian" Nick said. Sidney did as directed, "Can Sid come over, I really need to think about some things, if its not too much trouble...."Nick rambled into the phone.
"Nick, man its fine, do you even have to ask, and are you Ok?" Brian asked.
"Um...yeah....see you in a few" Nick ended the conversation and hung up. "Lets go babygirl" he said, picking Sid up and throwing her over his shoulder as she laughed. The arrived at Brian's ten minutes later and Brian and Skylar were waiting outside, "I'll be back, have fun" he said, hugging Sid as she followed Skylar inside. "Thanks Brian" he said, putting the Durango in drive.
"No problem man" Brian said back.
Nick pulled into a lot marked, 'Public Beach Access' and parked the Durango. He got out and headed to a place in the sand, beside the peir. He always sat there when he needed to think. There was something about the way the Atlatic waves crashed upon the shore that took his breath away, made him forget his problems, he could sit for hours on end, never getting bored. "Please somebody up there give me a sign" he whispered, looking up at the sky.
"Hello stranger" he heard a voice from behind. Startled he jumped and turned around. He started at her feet which were bare and let his eyes roam the course of her body. Drawstring cargo pants covered her long legs, and a long sleeve white shirt her upper body. The wind blew her hair from her face, it was Neve. Nick's heart sped up in pace as she smiled and his eyes met hers. He found himself, standing up then before her, wrapping his arms around her slim waist and pressing his lips to hers. "You got me" she said.
"God I've missed you" Nick said, still holding her.
"Me too" Neve said as they kissed again and both smiled.