~*Chapter 78*~

Nick sat on Mandy's couch,waiting for her to put the rest of the dishes away.Their dinner had gone smoothly,with him telling her about him and Blane's engagement,and Blane being pregnant.He had felt bad lying to Blane,but he knew he had to or she wouldn't have let him go. Mandy came back into the room then and smiled at him."Sorry I took so long," she said. He shrugged."No big deal," he replied,and tensed a little when she sat down next to him. She noticed and turned to him,stroking her hand up and down his arm."What's wrong?," she asked,as he scooted away a little. He turned to her."Dinner was real good,but I gotta get going," he told her,and went to stand up,but she stopped him by grabbing his shirt sleeve. His heart began to pound as she moved her face closer to his and whispered in his ear," Don't you want any dessert,Nicky?" He turned to face her,and she leaned over and kissed him.He pulled away. "What the hell are you doing?," he exclaimed,jumping up and glaring at her. She stood up and wrapped her arms around him."Nick,I realize I didn't treat you too good when we were together,and I want you to give me another chance," she said. Nick pulled away from her."I can't believe you just said that,Mandy.You know how happy I am with Blane," he replied. She raked her fingers through his hair."But I still love you NIcky," she remarked. Nick snapped then and spun on her,grabbing her roughly."I've told you a million times not to call me that Mandy!," he yelled."I can't believe I actually thought you were gonna be nice for once.You only invited me over so you could put the moves on me and get me into bed.Well,I'm done messing around with you,Mandy.I'm trying to move on with my life and you're not making it easy." He raked his fingers through his hair and walked toward the door."Don't contact me again." She grabbed him roughly by the arm,making him wince.Her eyes were filled with anger."You're going to pay for this Nick.Believe me!Blane will know everything,and I do mean everything!," she threatened. He yanked his arm away from her."What do you want from me?," he demanded. She smirked at him."You know what I want," she told him. He shook his head as he opened the door."Well,too bad.You're not gonna get it," he said,and walked away. Mandy stood glaring after him,her arms crossed over her chest.
***************~*CHAPTER 79*~************
Erica sat in the rocker in the nursery,staring out the window.Taylor had finally gone to sleep,after two straight hours of crying.She was so lost in her thoughts that she didn't hear AJ come into the room.She jumped when he placed his hands on her shoulders. > "Oh AJ.Don't sneak up on me like that," she scolded him. He knelt down next to her."I'm sorry baby.I didn't mean to scare you," he said.He took her hand and kissed it."How's Taylor?" She sighed."I just finally got her to sleep," she told him,and walked over to the crib. He wrapped his arms around her and kissed her neck."I'm sorry I couldn't be here to help," he replied. She turned to him."It's OK.I understand," she said,an edge to her voice. He gazed at her."Are you mad,Erica?," he asked. She ran her fingers through her hair ."Yes,I am actually.Ever since Taylor came home,I've been doing everything.Getting up at night when she cries,plus all the housework.I think it's time you started doing your part," she exclaimed. AJ glared at her."For your information,I have been doing my part.Who got up at 2am and fed her the other night?Huh?," he exclaimed. She snorted."Oh wow.One lousy time.I'm real impressed AJ," she tossed at him. AJ glared at her."Don't you dare accuse me of not doing my part.She's my daughter too,Erica,and I love her." He took a deep breath and stepped closer to her.She looked up,tears in her eyes.He leaned over and kissed her gently "Look,we're both tired and upset right now,baby.Let's end this silly fight before it goes any further." She nodded slowly,tears falling down her cheeks."I didn't mean to snap at you AJ.It's just that I'm so exhausted,and stressed out because of the wedding," she replied. He pulled her into his arms and kissed the top of her head."It's OK baby," he murmered.After a moment he pulled away and removed a strand of hair from her eye and tucked it behind her ear."Why don't you go lay down and get some rest?I'll watch Taylor." She gave him a small smile."Ok," she said,and kissed him before walking into the bedroom and laying down. The only thing that put a smile on her face was the wedding in eight days.She couldn't wait to become his wife and spend the rest of her life with him.
**********~*CHAPTER 80*~***************
TWO DAYS LATER...Nick walked into the beach house and closed the door."Blane?You here?," he called,and when there was no answer he walked into the living room and found her sitting on the couch watching tv.He went over and sat down next to her,and kissed her on the cheek."Hey.How you feeling?," he asked. She continued to stare at the screen,and finally turned to him.He noticed then that her eyes were bloodshot from crying,and his heart fell. "What's wrong,baby girl?," he asked,concerned,rubbing his hand along her arm. She pulled away from him and glared at him."Don't you dare call me baby girl!," she seethed,her eyes flashing with anger. He was taken aback at her words,and gave her a confused look."Blane,what's wrong?," he asked,not understanding why she was acting this way. Tears began to stream down her face again as she looked at him."Like you don't already know," she tossed at him. He shrugged his shoulders and looked at her helplessly."Blane,what the hell are you talking about?!," he demanded,growing impatient. She stood up,turned to him,and crossed her arms over her chest."I ran into Mandy at the store today,and she told me all about what happened the other night," she yelled. Nick felt his heart begin to pound in his chest,and he stood up and took a deep breath."Blane,I can explain..," he began,but she cut him off with a wave of her hand. "I don't wanna hear it Nick!I'm pretty much clear on what happened~you had dinner with her,then you slept with her,forgetting all about me and our baby," she accused him. He waved a hand to stop her."WHOA! Just one second.She said we slept together?!," he asked. She nodded,wiping the tears from her cheeks."Don't deny it Nick.You've been acting weird the past couple days," she threw at him. He glared at her."You believe her?! After all I went through with her in the past?How could you Blane?I can't believe you," he exclaimed. She spun on him."Don't you dare turn and put this on me Nick!I've known for awhile that you still have a thing for her,you just don't want to admit it.Well,guess what?You can go be with her as much as you want now,because I never want to see you again.You're a lying,no~good bastard who was just after one thing!," she yelled. HE stepped forward and tried to put his hand on her shoulder,but she pulled away."Blane,you don't know what you're talking about.I love you,not her," he said,trying to make her understand. She pulled off her engagement ring and threw it at him."I wish I could believe you,Nick,but I can't.Goodbye," she said,and turned to walk away,but he stepped in front of her. "Would you please let me explain about the other night?," he begged her. She shook her head."No.Obviously you felt you had to lie to me to go see her," she replied.She pushed past him."I'll be leaving in the morning to go home.Once there,I don't ever want to see or hear from you again." He tried to stop her,but she left then.He slammed his fist into the wall,then slid to the floor crying.
~*Chapters 81 & 82*~
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