"Okay, its nap-time," I announced. The kids quickly got in bed.

"Ali, will you sing for me?" Turn asked. I nodded and sang a lullaby softly. He soon feel asleep. I checked on Kat, she was asleep too.

"Ali, that was great," Nick told me when we sat back down on the living
room couch.

"Thanks," I said shyly looking away. It had been a long time since anyone
liked my singing.

"You could go on tour too, and sing. I could work that type of thing out," he
suggested.

"I was going to be a singer, but that was the old me, I have responsibilities now," I told him.

"Seriously Al, you have talent, you could sing," he offered.

"It'll help pay the bills," I thought out loud.

"Are you having money trouble?" he asked.

"No, I'll do it. I'll sing something," I said disappointed with myself.

"Ali, you don't have to work, I can support you," he told me.

"No, I won't have it," I replied.

"How about, I order a pizza for tonight," he offered.

"Nick, I don't need your charity," I told him, "I'll get the pizza."

"Okay," he shrugged. He wrapped his arms around me and hugged me.

"I've missed you," I whispered.

"I've missed you too," he replied. He pulled me into his lap. I turned around and kissed him softly.

"Lets go in my room," I whispered to him. I know now it wasn't right to
act that way while the kids were in the house, but we hadn't seen each other for four months and we were young, there was no stopping us.

"I love you," he whispered as we layed in my bed with his arms around me like if he let go he'd lose me. I looked into his eyes. I didn't know if I
should say it then, but I did.

"I love you too," I smiled. He grinned and kissed me. Nick had taught me
how to love again, "Oh my gosh...the kids," I said worried. I got up and got
dressed and fixed myself up to make it look like nothing had happened.

"I'm gunna go check on them," I told him.

"Okay, I'll be down in a minute," he said getting up too. I ran to their rooms to see them still sleeping, "Thank God," I whispered. I called the pizza place and ordered a pizza for dinner.

Nick then came down with his hair slicked back.

"Nicky, your hair looks so much better down," I told him.

"Yeah, but after what you did to it, I couldn't leave it down," he laughed.

"Liar," I said smugly. I ran over and messed it up. He started tickling me until the doorbell rang.

"Go wake the kids up, I'll get the pizza," he told me.

"You know I'm paying," I called as I walked away.

Nick pull HIS wallet out and paid for the pizza. He brought it in and sat it on the table. He saw my wallet sitting there. There were only 27 dollars in
it. He took a couple of his 20s out of his wallet and placed them in mine.

"Pizza!" Turn called running over to Nick and the box. Kat followed.

"Al, its getting cold c'mon," Nick called me.

"I'm going to run out to the store. I'll be back an a few minutes," I said coming in the kitchen and picking up my wallet. I ran out and got in my car. I opened my wallet to see how much money I had and saw the 20s, "He's too kind for his own good," I mumbled to myself.

When I got to the grocery store I saw a small girl on the sidewalk sleeping. I kneeled down beside her and gently shook her.

"Who are you?" she asked.

"I'm Ali, do you have a home?" I asked.

"Nah, I ran away a week ago," she shrugged, "I'm Mary," she looked about
like13.

"Well, how about you come home with me and when your ready, you can
call your folks," I suggested.

"Thank you," she smiled. The grocery store could wait, I needed to get
this girl warm.

We got in my car and drove home.

"Are you a fan of the Backstreet Boys?" I asked.

"They're my favorite," she said excited, "Why?"

"Well, I'm kinda the girlfriend of one of them, and he's at my house right now," I explained.

"Really? Wow, this is really nice of you," she smiled.

"Don't think anything of it," I smiled back as we parked. We both got out
and went in.

"Nick?" I called. He didn't reply, "Come on in, he's here with my kids."

"You have kids?" she asked.

"Yeah, Kat and Turn. Their mom died so I take care of them now," I explained.

"SUPERTWINS TO THE RESCUE!" Nick yelled running through the living
room. Bother kids were tucked under an arm. He ran through one more
time and he finally dropped them on the couch.

"Hey Al," Nick's head perked up when he noticed I was home, "Who's this
little lady?" he asked.

"Nick this is Mary, Mary this is Nick...as you probably already know. She's going to be staying with me for a while," I introduced.

"Ali, could I get a shower? I feel dirty," she asked. I nodded. I gave her towels and showed her where it was. I gave her some of my clothes to wear.

"Where'd you find her?" Nick asked.

"Ali! Nick said I have super powers!" Turn giggled.

"Who was that girl?" Kat asked.

"Mary, she' gunna live with us," I told them.

"Is her mommy in heaven too?" Turn asked.

"No, she's taking a break from her parents for a while," I explained, "Now look at those faces!" I picked them up and too them in the kitchen. I wiped their faces off with a wet towel.

"She's a runaway?" Nick asked.

"Yes, and I couldn't let her freeze outside. She's harmless. She's going to call her parents in a few days anyway," I told him, "By the way, I don't need you money," I said handing it back to him after I found it.

"Damn," he whispered. I hit his shoulder, "Sorry," he said innocently.

"Could you get them ready for bed?" I asked.

"Ali, I'm not ready to be a father," he told me.

"Fine," I said simply, "Turn, Kat c'mon," I called. They followed behind me. I put Kat in bed first.

"Don't make Nick leave Ali, please?" Turn asked.

"I'll try my hardest," I admitted. He soon fell asleep.