I woke up the next morning to the sound of Nick walking in my room.

"Oh, sorry to wake you, I made you breakfast in bed," he smiled holding
up the tray.

"You didn't have to," I said weakly and sat up.

"I wanted to," he said checking my forehead again, "Ali, you're even hotter than last night," he said worried.

"One day of rest and I'll be fin," I said moving his hand away, " I have to take care of the kids," I said starting to get up.

"I got 'em. They're eating breakfast right now. You stay in bed," he demanded. I spotted a mark on his neck.

"What's that mark from?" I asked rubbing it.

"What mark?" he asked innocently.

"That one," I pointed it out. He looked right at it in the mirror.

"You must be delirious," he laughed.

"Must be," I sighed, "Nick, I've decided. I don't want the kids to tour yet. They're only 3," I told him. He nodded understandingly.

"I knew this would come up sooner or later," he replied.

"I WANT THE PRIZE!!" Kat yelled from the kitchen.

"I'll go take care of that," Nick said quickly leaving. Turn ran in my room crying.

"Nick gave the prize to Kat," he cried jumping on my bed.

"Oh, sweety, its okay," I hugged him, "Tell ya what, later on I"ll take you to the toy store and you can pick out your own prize," I smiled and tickled
him.

"Thank you mommy," he sat on my lap, "Nick likes Kat better. Just because she's a girl," he whined.

"No, he just isn't use to being a fatherlike figure and is trying his best," I told him.

"But he likes Kat better. This morning I wanted him to carry me, but
nooo...he had to carry Kat. And I wanted Lucky Charms, but nooo...Kat gets the rest of the Lucky Charms and I get pops! And that's where the prize came from so I thought it was mine, but nooo...it has to be Kat's because she's Nick's favorite," he explained.

"Give me a half hour and I'll take you out. Just you and me," I offered.

"Aren't you sick?" he asked.

"Yeah, but I'd have more fun with you than in this bed," I smiled and got
up, "Just stay in here and watch TV. I'll be ready to go soon," I said turning the shower on. I didn't want Turn to feel unloved because I knew how that felt and he shouldn't have to go through it.

Nick was in the family room playing with Kat. I was finally ready to go. I
swallowed a few Aleves and still felt awful.

"Ready?" I asked walking to where Turn was.

"Yeah!" he smiled. He jumped in my arms.

"Nick, I'm leaving," I called.

"What? You're suppose to be in bed!" he replied finding me on my way to
the garage.

"Yeah, well, Turn needs me more than I need bed. So, I'll see you later," I gave him a peck, "You smell like chanel," I commented, "Don't mess with my perfume," I warned.

"Okay," he shrugged, "Be careful and if you feel sick come home," he told
me. I nodded and left.

Turn and I went to the mall. We walked about 15 ft. before a girl stopped
me.

"Are you Ali? Nick Carter's girlfriend?" she asked.

"Yep, that's my mommy alright," Turn said proudly clinging to me in my
arms.

"Is this his son?" she asked.

"Oh, no, my best friend died and I'm his guardian now," I replied.

"But he wants to be my Daddy," Turn cut in proudly.

"Now how do you know that?" I asked him.

"Yesterday I asked if he'd be my daddy and he said eventually," he smiled.

"Are you two engaged?" the fan asked worried.

"Oh, no, we're just dating, don't worry," I smiled, "And we fight a lot so ya never know in the future," I said raising her hopes up.

"It was nice meeting you," she smiled sweetly.

"You too, Bye," I waved and took Turn to the Toy Store. I felt really light headed so I sat down in a blow up chair.

"Mommy, are you okay?" Turn asked crawling in my lap.

"Yeah, I'm fine. You got something you want?" I asked him.

"Could I get this?" he asked holding up a toy truck.

"Of course," I smiled and ruffled his hair. I got up slowly and we headed
for the cash register with Turn in my arms.

"You son looks so much like you," the cashier complemented.

"Thanks," I smiled pleased people couldn't tell he was adopted. I paid for the truck and we headed for the food court. Turn got a Happy Meal. I didn't get anything. My stomach still ached.

After a trip to the playground we headed home.

"I had fun today mommy," Turn commented as we went inside.

"Me too," I replied fainting but someone caught me.

"Hey Al," Brian smiled, "You okay?"

"I think so," I rubbed my stomach, "Why are you here?"

"Nick went grocery shopping. He said to put you to bed when you gohome
so orders are orders, its to bed with you," he said shoeing me off to my
room.

"Where's Mare?" I asked.

"I convinced her to go back home and I dropped her off at her house last
night," he explained. I nodded. I got in bed and layed down, "Al, I'm always here if you need me," Brian said seriously and hugged me. I didn't know what he meant by it, but didn't question it. I closed my eyes and fell asleep.

Around 8:15 that night I woke up. I went out to see the kids sleeping on
the couch with Brian watching TV.

"Nick still not home?" I asked sitting on a chair nearby.

"Oh, um, no, he'll be back soon," Brian said softly.

"He must be getting a lot," I assumed.

"Bet so," Brian sighed.

"I'll go put the kids to bed, "I said getting up and picking them up. I carried them to their rooms, "Bri, you can go home. I'm feeling better and I can take care of them."

"Okay, I'll seeya later. And al, I'll always be here. Remember that," he
hugged me.

"I know," I shrugged. He smiled uneasily and went home.