~*~ Destiny Dreamer ~*~
An hour before the boys were to go on stage, Andi’s contractions were three minutes apart and AJ had made up his mind.
"Come ON, AJ," insisted Kevin. "If you don’t shake a leg, you’re gonna be late."
Squeezing Andi’s hand, he said, "I’m not going on. Do the show without me."
"You HAVE to go on, AJ…we can’t do this without you," insisted Nick.
"I’m NOT leaving Andi’s side. I promised her I’d be with her for this and that’s what I intend to do."
Belinda tried, "Alex, it could be HOURS before this baby is born."
"Belinda is right, son. With you, my contractions were one minute apart for ten hours before you decided to give up your warm spot."
"I don’t give a damn. I screwed myself out of the first seven months of this pregnancy. I’m NOT going to miss this." AJ’s jaw was set firmly as he gazed at his wife who was now breathing through a contraction.
The four guys looked at each other trying to figure out what to do. They had known this was coming but they still didn’t know what to do.
Andi saw the way they were looking and she knew she was the only one who was going to be able to persuade AJ to go. With the contraction over, she reached up to touch AJ’s face. "Baby, you have a job to do and there are thousands of girls who have been looking forward to this night for weeks on end. You can’t disappoint them."
"I have only one girl who I need to be worried with and she’s right here getting ready to have my baby," whispered AJ as he put his hand on hers. "I’m not breaking another promise to you, Andi."
"I know how you feel, Alex, but you need to go on. I promise, I’ll be okay. Besides, this is your son and he’s already two weeks late. I don’t think he’s gonna be in any hurry to get out. It’s only gonna be a few hours and I promise, I’ll get Marcus to update you EVERY time you change your costume. Besides, my water still hasn’t broken."
"Are you sure?"
"I’m positive. Tell you what. I’ll walk in with you and watch some of the show."
Belinda protested, "Andi, you REALLY should stay put."
"Mom, I’ll be…fine. It’s not like I’m gonna…be an hour way," said Andi as she tried to get up. The contractions felt like they were coming closer together but she couldn’t tell AJ. "Besides, Marcus will be with…me."
Howie looked at Belinda and knew she suspected something too. "Andi, you should listen to your mom. You know how uncomfortable you are in the dressing room and watching the show."
AJ had helped Andi up and had his arm around her. "She’ll be fine, ‘D’."
Denise had to try. "Alex, please, this is…."
AJ ignored his mother as he cupped Andi’s chin with his hand. Looking into her eyes, he was lost. He wanted her to be with him and he wasn’t thinking clearly. If he’d really looked at her, he’d have known she was keeping something from him. "Ready, baby?"
"Yeah," she smiled trying hard to be happy.
Taking her hand, AJ started to lead Andi out but she stopped and he looked back at her. "Andi?"
Leaning against the doorframe, "I’m okay, Alex. Look, go on in and get ready. I’ll get Marcus to walk me in."
Giving her a quick kiss, AJ took off never realizing anything was wrong.
Kevin, Brian, and Nick followed AJ but Howie hung back and as they closed the bus door behind them, Howie caught Andi as her knees started to give way. "Andi, what’s wrong?"
"My water broke," gasped Andi as she let Howie help her back to the bed. "Howie, you can’t tell Alex. He’ll never go on if he finds out."
"He’s gonna know something’s up if you aren’t in there."
"Tell him whatever you want but you can NOT tell him that my water broke. You saw him earlier. It was all I could do to convince him to go." Andi was panicked knowing how AJ would react if he found out the truth. "Please, Howie."
"He’s gonna be pissed if you have this baby without him."
Squeezing his hand, "I’ll send Marcus to get him when it’s time."
Howie shook his head. "He’s STILL not gonna be happy."
"I know, ‘D’, but he’s got a job to do…and so do you. Get going before you’re late."
Howie looked at Andi as she winced from another contraction. "I’m gonna tell AJ the truth, Andi, but I’ll find a way to keep him there until you send for him."
"Thank you, ‘D’. Hey…give him this for me," and she gave Howie a kiss. "And tell him I love him."
"I will, baby," replied Howie kissing her hand.
*************
AJ was ready to go on and was now pacing wondering where Andi was.
"Yo! ‘Bone’! What’s wrong?"
AJ spun to face Nick as he came out of his dressing room. "Damn, ‘Kaos’! Scare me why don’t ya!"
Nick laughed, "What’s got you on edge?"
"I was looking for Andi. She should be here by now."
Howie, Kevin, and Brian came out in time to hear AJ and Howie said, "She’s not coming, ‘Bone’. She asked me to give you a kiss and tell you that she loves you."
"That’s it! I’m NOT going on!" and he started for the back door.
Kevin caught him by the arm, "No, you’re not. You’re staying here and going on stage like normal…like Andi asked you to do."
Seeing AJ was about to argue, Howie said, "Andi wants you to go on, like Kevin said. She’s going to get Marcus to come get you when the time comes."
"How am I suppose to concentrate when my wife is giving birth? I made her a
promise…
"We know ALL about the promise, AJ," said Kevin, "but you aren’t breaking
that promise when she tells you it’s okay. You’ve got a job to do, now let’s go
do it so you can get back to her."
"What if she has the baby during the show?" AJ was desperate.
"Relax," soothed Brian. "We’ve all agreed to stop the show. You’ll be able to be there with her."
"Really?"
"Yeah, ‘Bone’. Marcus it gonna come get you…he’ll call over our headsets and we’ll all hear," reassured Kevin. "Now let’s go."
The five guys went through their pre-show ritual with their ban and dancers then headed to the underworld to take their places. AJ was on edge, his mind on Andi. He knew doing the show was what she wanted and what he needed but he couldn’t shake the guilt he felt not being with her.
During the first costume change, AJ grabbed his cell phone and dialed. He had to know how Andi was doing.
"Hello?"
"Mom? Where’s Andi?"
"She’s right here. Hang on."
"Hey, baby."
Hearing her voice, AJ felt overwhelmed and tears welled up. "How are you?" he managed to choke out.
"I’m fine, Alex," comforted Andi. "I’m not completely dilated yet and Mama thinks you’ll be able to get through the show."
"You promise that if you need me, you’ll send Marcus?"
"I promise, baby. Are you changing?"
"Yeah, our white suits." AJ heard Andi’s sigh and relaxed. "You goof. You’re having a baby. Don’t go getting all horny on me."
"Can’t help it. You look so good wearing your white suit. Reminds me of the day we got married."
"I love you, Andi."
"I love you more. Go break the girls’ hearts."
"See you soon."
**********
AJ managed to go on with the show after talking to Andi but his mind was still on her. He watched the pits for Marcus and every time his headset crackled, his heart stopped. The end couldn’t get there soon enough for him.
The catwalk was down and they were singing ‘Time’ making their way back to the main stage as AJ thought about the time he’d spent with Andi, the time he’d wasted, and the time they had in front of them. He wanted to give this baby and Andi everything he’d missed growing up without a father. He didn’t want this little one to ever wonder if he or she was loved. He wanted them to know that even though he was out on tour performing they were his priority.
Over his headset, he heard Marcus’ voice, "Finish the song and get your ass out to the bus."
AJ spotted Marcus in the pits grinning like a possum and he looked back at the others. They’d heard Marcus too and were grinning too knowing the time was here. The minute his feet hit the main stage, AJ was gone, not waiting for the song to be over. He had to be with Andi.
When the song was over, Kevin stood in the middle of the stage and held his hand up to get the crowd quiet. "Normally, we’d do ‘Shape of My Heart’ now but in case you missed it, AJ left. Well, there’s a really good explanation. AJ’s heart is about to take on a whole new shape. See, his wife is having a baby and he wanted to be there for it so if you guys can be patient, we’ll finish the show as soon as AJ’s baby is here and he comes back. We’ll be back soon."
AJ rushed through the back stage area bursting through the back door. Racing to his bus, he slid to a stop in front of Carlos.
"Am I too late?"
"I don’t think so."
Frantically, he scrambled onto the bus and made his way to the back calling, "Andi, I came as fast as I could.’
At the door of their room, AJ stopped short. On his bed was Andi, her face glistening and sweat dripping from her hair. She’d never looked sexier.
Seeing AJ as her mother instructed her to push, Andi growled, "About…damn…time."
AJ smirked, "Hey, I was busy breaking girls’ hearts."
"If you’re gonna help her, you need to get over here," instructed Belinda without looking up.
Taking the cool rag his mother was using, AJ took his place behind Andi letting her lean against him. Holding one hand so that she could lace her fingers with his, he wiped her forehead with the cool cloth. "Do you know how sexy you are right now?"
"Screw you!" she hissed through clenched teeth.
AJ chuckled, "That’s what got us here in the first place, ‘Kitten’."
"What is it? You’re NERVOUS all damn day and NOW you’re being a smartass?"
"Andi, you need to concentrate...push," instructed Belinda.
"Push baby," encouraged AJ helping her to breathe through the push.
"Okay, sweetheart, relax a minute. You’re doing fine. A couple more and you’ll have the head."
Andi leaned against AJ crying. "I can’t do this any more!"
"Yeah, you can, Andi. You’re doing fine. Where’s your focal point?"
Whimpering, "I don’t know."
"What is it?" asked Denise.
"It’s a picture of a sunrise," said AJ as he wiped Andi’s forehead.
"I’ll try to find it."
"No…need," grunted Andi as she pushed again.
"That’s it, Andi. Bear down…ah…there it is…I’ve got the head. Don’t let up, baby," instructed Belinda.
Andi felt like she was going to collapse but AJ was there, holding her, singing to her, and encouraging her. Finally, she felt the pressure release and seconds later, everyone on the bus which now included Brian, Kevin, Howie, Nick, several of the dancers as well as Marcus, Carlos, and Tommy heard the sweet sounds of a baby crying.
AJ kissed her tenderly, "You did it, Andi. We have a baby."
Closing her eyes and letting his body support her, Andi rested in his arms, too tired to say anything.
"Alex, you want to cut the cord?" asked Belinda.
AJ didn’t want to let go of Andi just yet so it was difficult for him to reach. Looking at his mother standing by the bed watching her first grandchild, he said, "Mama, you do it."
Surprised, Denise’s eyes moistened. "Are you sure?"
"Go ahead," smiled AJ lovingly.
Belinda handed Denise the surgical scissors and showed her where to cut.
Andi’s father was there to take the baby and do his part with cleaning it up. "Andi, what are you going to name the baby?"
Andi looked over her shoulder at AJ to see him staring at the baby and she knew in her heart what the first name should be. This little baby, created from their love, had been their destiny and she said, "How about Destiny?"
AJ thought about it and said, "I was thinking more along the lines of Dreamer…because we’ve been dreaming about this day."
"Okay…how about Destiny Dreamer?" suggested Andi.
AJ thought aloud, "Destiny Dreamer McLean. I like that." Andi’s father handed the now clean baby girl to Andi and AJ reached around to take her small fingers in his. "Hey there, little princess!"
Standing in the doorway, Howie captured the look of pure joy in the couple’s eyes as they looked down at their daughter. The months of pain and anguish had been forgotten and they had what they’d been working for. Everything had worked out just fine.
"I’ve got to go back to the show, Andi," whispered AJ. "Are you going to be okay?’
"I’ll be fine, Alex."
Andi turned her head to look at him and he captured her mouth in a deep, passionate kiss. His heart was ready to explode with the love he felt for her and Destiny. Pulling away, he rasped, "I’ll be back as soon as the show’s over."
"I love you."
AJ smirked, "I love you the most."
Starting to leave, AJ looked back from the door at his wife and daughter on the bed and his destiny was clear. One night’s indiscretion had almost cost him the most precious gift in the world and he was thankful that Andi had been able to forgive him. They’d met by accident, fallen in love on purpose, and Destiny had seen them through the rough times.
