~*Chapter 23*~
Howie was taking a stroll through the hotel garden when he noticed Erica sitting on a bench.As he approached,he could hear her crying softly. He sat down next to her. She looked up and gave him a small smile,wiping quickly at her wet cheeks.
"Hey Howie. What brings you out here?," she greeted him.
He shrugged. "Just thought I'd get some fresh air." He gazed at her. "Are you ok, Erica?"
She nodded. Then, changing her mind, she shook her head. "No. Actually I'm not. AJ and I had a fight,and I just feel real bummed out right now," she told him.
Howie gently patted her on the shoulder. "Every couple fights. If they didn't, they wouldn't be normal," he said,and she gave a small smile.
"I just feel like it's all my fault. I realize that he's stressed out because of the tour, but I haven't been making it easy for him either. I just haven't been myself lately, and i guess I took my problems out on him," she explained.
He looked over at her. "Is everything ok?," he asked.
She was quick to answer. "Yeah.Nothing to worry about. I've just been real run-down lately and haven't felt like doing much. I think I'm just coming down with something;I don'tknow."
He was quiet. "I hope that isn't the case,because the last thing we need is to have one or all of us get sick," he joked.
They talked awhile longer before heading back inside.
*************~*Chapter 24*~***********************
LATER THAT EVENING....
AJ knocked softly on Erica's hotel door. A moment later, she opened the door. She was in her robe and slippers,and she looked like she had just woken up. She gave him a small smile.
"Hey you," she said.
He instantly folded her into his arms. "I'm so sorry for what I said before. It's just I'm under a lot of stress right now,and with the way you've been acting lately, I guess I just snapped," he said when they pulled apart. "Can you forgive me?" He gazed into her eyes, and she nodded slowly. He leaned over and they kissed. A moment later she took his hand.
"I'm glad you came. I was just about to get dressed and come talk to you," she told him.
They walked over and sat down on the couch. She turned to him. "I myself apologize for the way I've been acting lately too.I know I haven't been acting like myself lately, and there's a good reason for that." She took a deep breath."I'm ready to tell you now.I was afraid to say anything until I knew for sure and I know we agreed to never hide anything and to always be honest with each other and I...," she gushed.
AJ ran his finger across her cheek."Erica,you're rambling. Now tell me what you want to say before I tickle it out of you," he teased.
She laughed. "OK. Here goes.Alexander James McLean, in about 8 months, you're
gonna be a daddy," she told him.
She watched his expression go from shock, to disbelief,then to happy.
"You're...?," he choked out,and she nodded slowly. After a moment he asked, "Why didn't you say something sooner?"
She looked at him."Like I said,I wanted to be absolutely sure before I said anything.And another reason I didn't say anything is because you're right in the middle of touring and I didn't want to bother you."
He grinned at her."You're having my baby!This is incredible!," he blurted out,and pulled her into his arms."I love you so much," he whispered in her ear.
She felt tears start to stream down her cheeks."So you're happy?," she asked,pulling away and looking at him.
He nodded."How could I not be? This baby is you and me and our love for one another," he told her.
He wrapped her in his arms again and she buried her face in his chest.
*************~*Chapter 25*~***********************
Blane knocked on Nick's hotel door. She waited a moment,and when he didn't answer,she knocked again. He still didn't answer,and she got a funny feeling in the pit of her stomach. He had told her to meet him back here at 7,and it was now 5 after.
"Nick?," she called,as she gently pushed opene the door."Are you here?"
She walked into the living room and gasped when she saw him lying on the floor by the coffee table. She dropped to her knees and reached over to feel for a pulse. It was there, and it was strong. "Nick! Can you hear me?," she blurted out, tears streaming down her cheeks.
Nick moaned,and a moment later he opened his eyes. "Blane? What happened?," he groaned, reaching up to rub the side of his head. He winced,and she looked where he was rubbing. There was a big bruise on his right cheek.
"Oh baby," she whispered, and took his hand and helped him to his feet. He held onto her tightly; the room was spinning around him. She led him over to the couch and he laid down, and she propped a pillow underneath his head.
"I'll go get some ice. You got yourself a nasty bruise," she said.
A few minutes later, she gently placed an ice pack on his cheek.
"So what happened? Do you remember anything?," she asked, as she gently rubbed her
fingers over his hand.
He was quiet before answering. "The last thing I remember is me and Mandy arguing!! I don't remember what about. Then I left the room for a minute, and when I came back I took a sip of my drink. After that is a total blank," he murmered. His head was throbbing, and it hurt to talk.
She shook her head. "I'll bet you any amount of money she slipped something into your drink.That no-good,skanky-ass bitch!," she exclaimed.
Nick rubbed his head. "I think that's what happened too," he replied.
She leaned over and hugged him. "I'm just glad you're gonna be ok," she murmered."You must've passed out after drinking whatever it is she slipped into your drink." She gazed at him."Do you think you should see a doctor?"
He shook his head. "No.I think I'll be OK," he said. He wrapped his arms around her. She leaned over and kissed his cheek, then stayed with him for awhile to make sure he was really OK.
~*Chapters 26-28*~
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