They woke in the morning, in each other's arms, to someone knocking insistently on the door.
"D! C'mon! It's time to get up. We have to leave in an hour!" Brian's voice came from the hallway.
"Okay, we're up!" Howie groaned, and climbed out of bed. "Cait? Sweetie, you awake?"
"Unfortunately!" She sat up and rubbed her eyes. "Ugh. What time is it?"
"Eight o 'clock." Howie's voice was muffled as he changed his shirt. "Too early."
"I better go back to my room and get showered and dressed."
"Cait, do you think...would you...share a room with me in the next hotel?" Howie looked uncertain.
"Yeah. I'd like that. Besides, it'll save money."
"I don't care about money, I just want you with me." Howie grinned, leaned over and gently kissed her.
"I want you with me, too. But right now I better go."
"I'll pick you up in half an hour."
"I'll see you soon, then." She kissed him and left the room, quietly shutting the door behind her.

Twenty-five minutes later, as Cait was brushing her hair, there was a knock on the door. She walked over, and opened it, to reveal Howie, holding a single white rose.
"Hi. Come in, I'm not quite ready."
"Wait! Come here." Howie grabbed her hand and pulled her over to the bed, where they sat down. "This is for you. A white rose means love and that's how I feel about you." He murmured softly.
"It's beautiful." She turned and wrapped her arms around him.
"Not as beautiful as you, but it'll have to do." He smiled and kissed her softly. "I love you, Cait."
"I love you, too." She kissed him. "Oh, shoot, now I'm going to cry. No one's ever done anything like this for me."
"Don't cry, the guys'll think someone died." Howie joked. Cait laughed. "We better go. They'll be waiting for us."
"I just have to do my hair."
"You should leave it the way it is, it's so beautiful."
"Okay, I'll leave it. So, you going to help me carry this suitcase?"

"About time, you two. We were ready to leave without you." Nick called.
"You wouldn't leave without us, Nick, 'cause then you'd have to sing my parts." Howie grinned.
"You're right!" Nick cracked up. "That wouldn't be good."
"Yeah, the fans would run screaming out of the building." Kevin teased.
"Hey! I'm not that bad." Nick protested.
"Singing Howie's parts? Yeah you are." AJ mocked.
"Hey, what is this? Dump on Nick day?"
"Sorry man." AJ appologized. "We were just kidding."
"C'mon you guys! Let's hit the road!" Brian shouted from the bus door.
The guys, Cait and Anna scrambled aboard the bus.
"Okay! Let's go!"

A couple of days later Cait and Howie were in the TV room on the bus, which was on the way to the next show. They were lying on the couch, Cait cuddled in Howie's arms, watching 'Drive Me Crazy'.
"I love that movie." Cait sighed, as the credits rolled.
"You're such a sap, girl." Howie joked.
"Look who's talking! Who publicly admits to being a hopeless romantic?" Cait demanded.
"Okay, okay. You're right. I'm just as bad." Howie grinnned.
"You better believe it! I saw that silly little smile you had on your face when they hooked up. Don't even try to deny it." Cait started giggling and couldn't stop.
"Cait! Jeez!" Howie groaned. "Okay, that's it. Either stop laughing or I'm gonna have to tickle you."
"I can't stop." Cait gasped, still giggling.
"Okay, fine. I guess I have to tickle you, then." Howie grabbed her and started tickling.
"Howie!!! Stop! Please, that's not fair!" Cait shrieked.
"Not until you quit laughing."
"Okay, okay. I'll try. But please stop tickling." She begged.
Grinning, he let her sit up. Her face was red and she was out of breath.
"Howie, that wasn't funny." She glared at him.
"Yeah, it was." He laughed.
"Alright, that's it. You're in for it, buddy." She said, as she tackled him, pinning him to the couch. "Gotcha." She grinned, sitting on his stomach.
"Hmmm. This could be interpreted differently if someone was to come in here." Howie observed, with a cheeky grin.
"Howard Dwaine Dorough! What would your mother say?" Cait pretended to be shocked.
"I dunno. I don't really care at the moment." He feigned innocence, and pulled her to him, pressing his lips to hers.

Chapter 9

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