***Nick And Nikki's House***
"Daddy!!! Daddy! Daddy!!!" the tiny 4-year-old screamed in Nick's ear.
"Huh? Honey go see what Mommy is up to; daddy is trying to take a nap ok?" he said opening only one eye to see his daughter pouting at him. "Alright, alright. You got me missy. I'll get up." he grinned as he swung his legs off the couch to sit up.
"Daddy?"
"Yes sweetie?" he asked as he picked her up and set her on his lap.
"Where is Mikey?" she asked referring to their dog.
"Oh hon Mikey had to go see the doctor."
"Why?"
"Because he is very old."
"Why?"
"Because he has been with daddy for a very long time."
"But I miss him."
"Oh it's ok, Mikey will be alright." he said cuddling his little girl.
"Nick, Where is Savannah?" Nikki called from the top of the stairs.
"She is in here with me babe!"
"Oh ok." she said as she walked down the stairs. "You ready to go pick up Conner, sweetie?" she asked Savannah as she made her way over to where Nick sat with her on his lap.
"Are you coming daddy?"
"Well..." Nick had originally planned to go check on things at NC records but when he looked at his daughter's hopeful smile he decided he'd spend the day at home. "Yeah daddy is coming too."
"I thought you were going into work today hon." Nikki questioned.
"Nah, they're fine without me. Besides I have to go in tomorrow for sure." he said grinning as he placed Savannah on his shoulders and walked over to his wife. "If I didn't know better, I'd think you were trying trying to get rid of me." he whispered as he leaned in and kissed her cheek.
"Well lucky you know better Mr.. Carter." she laughed.
***Kevin and Kristin's***
"Shawn???" Kevin asked disbelieving that his son had actually called.
"Yeah Dad, listen I am sorry. I had no idea." he replied his voice beginning to crack.
"What happened??" Kevin asked worriedly.
"I talked to the woman that handled Brian's case. I was wrong. I thought Brian had abandoned Marie; turns out he was the good guy throughout the whole thing."
"Shawn are you alright?"
"Yeah I am fine."
"Kevin who is on the phone?" Kristin's voice called out in the background.
"It's Shawn!!!"
"Is he ok??" she asked as a worried expression took over her features.
"Yeah, he is fine babe. Here I'll go grab the cordless phone." he said handing her the phone.
"Shawn??"
"Yeah Mom, I'm still here. I am really sorry about the way I acted. You were right. I didn't know anything about Brian's situation. I hope you can forgive me mom." he said sounding as if he were on the verge of crying.
"Oh of course I'll forgive you Shawn! Honey I am your mother, I'll always love you no matter what you do!"
"I'll be back probably tomorrow night."
"You're going to miss some school."
"Yeah I know. But I have to drive back home. I think I am going to find some place to stay for the night."
"Do you have enough money?"
"Yeah I've got plenty."
"What have you been doing for food?"
"I've been eating at a little diner down the way."
"Are you sure you are alright?" Kristin pursued worriedly.
"I'm fine mom. I'll talk to you guys later."
"Ok drive careful son." Kevin's voice boomed.
"You watch out for yourself Shawn. I love you honey."
"I love you too Mom. Bye."
***The Littrell House***
The phone rang out for the 3rd time and Leighanne realized she was the only one that would actually pick it up. So she walked over to the telephone and picked it up.
"Hello?"
"Hello, may I speak to Mr.. Littrell?" a young girl's voice asked.
"May I ask who is calling?"
"Um This is Marie." she replied nervously.
"Ok. I'll go get him." Leigh Anne said hoping it was who she thought it was. 'This'll make Brian's day.' she smiled. "Brian!! Brian you have a call!!" she called looking into their bedroom which was empty. She turned around hearing some one behind her. "Brian there is a call for yo... Oh Dev it's you. Have you seen your father?"
"Nope sorry mom. I think he said he was going out to the studio. Or else he is probably out in the garage working on that car."
"Ok if you see him tell him I am looking for him." she smiled as she watched Devon grinning at some letter he had in his hand. He looked just like his father when he was younger. She started walking again when she realized she still had Marie waiting on the phone. She went and grabbed the portable phone so she could take it out to the studio. "You still there?"
"Uh yea."
"Ok well I'll figure out where he is in just a second." Leigh Anne said as she entered the studio to find Brian humming along with the piano as he played a few chords. "Bri, sorry to interupt but you have a phone call."
"Oh that's alright, I was just messing around." he said smiling as he walked over to her. "Who is it?"
"It's Marie." His eyes bugged out as she handed him the phone.
"He..h...Hello?" he stuttered trying to clear his throat."
"Hello Mr.Littrell..."
"Listen I am sorry about the other day...It didn't come out the way I wanted it to. I am really sorr..."
"It's alright...but I do....uh have some questions for you..."
"I'll be happy to answer any questions you have. There is so much that I could explain to you and show you...Things about yourself I'll bet you never knew."
"Yeah well um I don't really want to do that all over the phone. So I was uh wondering if maybe there was a time when I could meet with you."
"Of course! How about you come over to my place...when is a good day for you?"
"Um I have school still so would tomorrow after school be alright?"
"Yeah that's fine, I'll see you then. And thank you for giving me a chance." he smiled. He clicked off the phone and stood in shock.
"Well, what'd she say Bri?" Leigh Anne asked snapping him out of his trance.
"She is coming over tomorrow." he said smiling.
"That's great babe." she said forcing a smile. 'If it's so great why do I feel so scared? What if Brian doesn't love me as much as he did this other woman...maybe he never will love me like he did her...' she thought sadly to herself. Suddenly she felt Brian's arms wrap around her and pulling her in for a hug.
"I love you so much Leigh. Thank you so so much for helping me with this. I know it's probably weird but you are so wonderful and understanding of me to let me do this. I'm so happy to know that you really understand it all." he whispered into her hair.
"I love you too Bri." she mumbled as she wrapped her arms around his neck all the while wishing she could get rid of the nagging feeling that she was doing the wrong thing letting Brian find out about this girl.
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