~*Chapter 76*~
Nick closed the door of his hotel room,and Amy followed him into the
kitchen.
"Want something to drink?," he asked,pulling a can of soda from the
refrigerator.
Amy shook her head."No thanks," she replied.She gazed at him,until he
finally looked up and gave her a small smile.
"Nick,we need to talk," she told him.
He nodded."Yeah,we do," he said,and took her hand and they went into
the living room.
Once they were seated on the couch,he turned to her."The truth
is,Amy,I made a mistake when I broke up with you.I realize that now.I guess I
just wasn't ready to get serious so soon after losing Blane."
She squeezed his hand."These past couple months apart has given me
time to realize just how much I really care about you Nick.I missed you so
much," she said.
He squeezed her hand."Can you forgive me for being such a jerk and
hurting you the way I did?," he asked.
She scooted closer to him."I think I can forgive you," she said.
She moved so she was sitting in his lap,and ran her fingers through
his hair.
He smiled at her."I think I'm finally ready to move on with my
life,Amy.When I lost Blane,I told myself I wouldn't fall in love again.Then I
found myself falling for you,and I guess I got scared,and that's why I pushed
you away," he explained to her.
Amy rubbed her hands up and down his chest."You don't have to explain
anything to me Nick.I know how upset you were over losing Blane," she
said.She was quiet a moment."I guess it's mostly my fault.I DID throw myself
at you."
Nick ran his finger across her cheek."You didn't throw yourself at
me.Besides,I didn't exactly try to stop you," he reminded her.
She smiled at him.They gazed into each other's eyes,and he slowly
moved his face toward hers.Just when their lips were about to meet,she stood
up.
"No,no.You have to catch me first," she tossed at him,and Nick jumped
up and began chasing her around the room.Amy squealed as she darted around
the room.
Finally Nick caught up with her and pulled her against him.She gazed
up at him.Finally,he couldn't control himself any longer,and he leaned down
and kissed her.
She wrapped her arms around his neck as the kiss grew deeper.Slowly
they made their way to the bedroom,and once the door was closed,she reached
up and took off his shirt.Then she reached for his shorts and hooked her
fingers around the elastic band.
He began to kiss her neck,and she slid his shorts off.He removed her
clothes,and they fell onto the bed.He placed himself on top of her and gazed
into her eyes.
"Do you want me?," he whispered.
She nodded."Yes," she answered.
A moment later he was inside of her,and their lovemaking began.And for
the rest of the night,they made up for all the time lost over the past two
months.
~*Chapter 77*~
Brian and Karen were laying in bed talking.A gentle breeze drifted
through the room,and she snuggled up against him.
"I'm so glad Erica is going to be OK," she told him.
He kissed her shoulder."Yeah,me too.She's a great girl.She and AJ are
so right for each other," he replied.
She turned onto her back and gazed up at him."Just like you and me."
She smiled."I can't believe we've been together for almost 6 months already."
He kissed her."The best six months of my life," he said.He
stretched,and in the process mananged to pull a small box from underneath the
pillow.He nonchalantly dropped it,and she picked it up.
"What's this?," she asked.She gazed at the box.
HE shrugged."I dunno.Why don't you open it up and see?," he
asked,trying to keep a straight face.
"Brian,what are you up to?," she asked,as she opened the box.A second
later she gasped.Her hand flew to her mouth."Oh my...Is this...?," she choked
out.
He sat up and gazed into her eyes."Yes,It's what you think it is," he
said.He took the ring from the box and slid it onto her finger."Karen
Peterson,will you marry me?"
Tears streamed down her cheeks.She was unable to speak for a
moment.Finally she threw her arms around him."Yes,Brian.I'll marry you," she
answered.
When they pulled apart,he kissed her."I know this is sudden,but I love
you Karen.And I think you and I could make a great life together," he said.
She returned his kiss."I think we could too," she told him.
He took her in his arms then,and slowly eased off her nightshirt,then
eased her back on the bed.He began to travel kisses up and down her neck,and
a moment later they began their lovemaking.
~*Chapter 78*~
AJ helped Erica into the hotel room the next day.His mom had Taylor so
they could be alone.She wrapped her arms around him,then kissed him.
"I'm so glad you're here AJ," she told him.
He returned her kiss."I'll always be here for you baby," he said."I
love you."
She smiled at him."I'm going to go lay down for awhile," she remarked.
He nodded,and she disappeared into the bedroom and closed the
door.After about a half hour,he stood up and went in to check on her.She
wasn't on the bed,but he noticed that the balcony door was open ,and he
walked over and peered out.She was standing at the rail,the wind whipping her
hair around her face.
He walked up behind her and circled his arms around her waist.She
jumped,and reached up and wiped her cheeks with her hands.
It was then that he noticed that she'd been crying.Her eyes were
red,and her cheeks were wet with tears.He reached out and stroked her cheek
with his finger.
"Erica,what's wrong?," he asked her,concern in his voice.
She shook her head."Nothing.I'm OK.Really," she said.
He pulled her to him and kissed the top of her head."Come on
honey.Talk to me," he replied.
She let out a deep breath."I just feel like I've let you down by
losing our baby," she told him.
He pulled away and gazed into her eyes."Erica,what happened was NOT
your fault," he told her firmly.He was quiet a moment."Besides,it's not like
we can't try again."
She shook her head."I've been thinking,and I've decided I don't want
to have any more kids,AJ," she said.She waited to see what his reaction would
be.
He let her words sink in.Finally he said," You can't mean that.You're
only 25,Erica.I'm sure you'll want more children;I know I do."
She ran her fingers through her hair and sighed."AJ,please.I don't
want to talk about this right now." She turned to walk away,but he grabbed
her by the arm.
"You have a miscarriage,so you call it quits on having any more
children?That hardly seems fair to me,Erica," he tossed at her.
She crossed her arms over her chest."It's not about YOU,AJ! It's about
ME! It's MY body,and MY choice on whether I want to have more kids," she
exclaimed.
He snorted."That's funny.Last time I checked,we WERE married
Erica.We're supposed to make these kinds of decisions together," he said.He
stepped towards her,but she pulled away.
"You know what,AJ?I think we need to spend some time apart.I'll take
Taylor and go back home to Orlando,and when your touring schedule slows
down,you can come see her," she stated.
His mouth fell open."You can't be serious.Taylor is my daughter
also,in case you forgot.I want to be with her," he said.
She walked back into the room,and he followed her.She spun on him."And
when would you have time to take care of her AJ?You're always off doing
something with the guys." She put her hand up when he began to
protest."That's all there is to it,AJ.I'm leaving in the morning." She turned
and slammed out of the room then,and he let out a huge sigh and threw himself
on the bed.
~*Chapter 79*~
ONE MONTH LATER...The guys finally got a much~deserved rest and went home to
Orlando.They had four whole months off,and planned to make the most of it.
Kevin and Kelly were planning on getting married,as were Howie and
Kari.Brian and Karen had decided to wait awhile longer.
AJ wanted to try to work things out with Erica.They had spoken on the
phone a few times since their fight,but there was still some tension between
them.He couldn't stand not being with her.He missed her terribly.And he knew
that deep down,she felt the same way,even though she didn't want to admit it.
The day after he got home,he went to Erica's mom's house,where she was
staying with Taylor.He wanted to see Taylor,to hold her in his arms and kiss
her tiny face.He had missed her so much over the past month.It was the
longest he'd ever been away from her.
When Erica answered the door,she gave AJ a small smile.HE wrapped his
arms around her.
"Hey.How you doing?," he asked.
She nodded."OK,I guess," she said."Taylor's in the nursery."
They walked into the nursery,and AJ immediately picked Taylor up and
kissed her."Daddy's missed you," he said,holding her against him.
After a few minutes,he put Taylor back in her crib and he and Erica
went outside to talk.
They were both quiet before AJ turned to her and said," I've really
missed you the past month,Erica.I was hoping we could work this out,for
Taylor's sake."
Erica ran her fingers through her hair."I've missed you too,AJ.But I
gave us this time apart for a reason."
There was a tense silence between them.AJ finally turned to her."Which
was what?," he asked.
Erica sighed."I can't believe you asked me that,AJ.You and I want
different things out of life.You want more than I'm willing to give.Or that
I'm ready to give right now," she told him.
He placed a hand on her shoulder."Erica,I can understand the fact that
you're scared about having more kids after what happened.But I want to help
you through this,and I can't do that if we're apart." He ran his fingers
through her hair."I love you.And the past month has been pure torture for me
being away from you."
Erica gazed into his eyes for a moment.AJ reached up and stroked her
cheek with his finger.He slowly moved his face toward hers,and their lips
were about to meet when they heard Taylor start to cry inside the house.Erica
stood up and went inside,and a moment later returned.
"Is she OK?," he asked.
She nodded."Yeah.Just dropped one of her toys on the floor," she told
him.
AJ scooted closer to her and put his arm around her."I meant it when I
said I want to work things out between us." He paused."The house seemed so
empty without you there last night.Please come back home so we can be a
family again."
Erica turned and gazed up into his eyes."I don't know,AJ.I still need
some time," she said.
AJ pulled away from her."Erica,why are you acting like this? I want to
be there for you,to help you any way I can," he said.
A tear slid down her cheek as she stood up and wrapped her arms around
herself.She turned around and faced him."AJ,I love you with all my heart.But
I can't be with you right now.Please don't make this harder than it already
is."
AJ jumped up."Don't I get a say in this at all,Erica?Obviously
not,because you're not letting me get a word in edgewise," he yelled at her.
She opened her mouth to say something,but he held up his hand."I can't
be here if you refuse to let me have my say,Erica." He turned to walk
away,then turned back to her."I'll see you at Kevin and Kelly's wedding next
week.Give Taylor a kiss for me."
And with that he walked away,leaving Erica standing there with tears
streaming down her face.
Chapters 80-84
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