I'll Be There For You: Chapters 31 - 35

Nikki was in the kitchen washing dishes the night after the Orlando concert. When she finished, she found Howie laying down on the couch with his eyes closed. She smiled and kneeled down in front of him. Nikki lightly kissed him on the cheek. Howie opened his eyes and looked up at her.

"Honey, if you're tired why don't you go on home?"

"I don't wanna go home. I wanna stay here with you."

Nikki snickered. "Howie, you're falling asleep. I think you should go home and rest up for tomorrow's show."

"Can't I stay here?"

"If you want. It doesn't matter to me, but if you stay here you're going to sleep. You're tired."

"I love it when you're bossy." Nikki hid her grin and grabbed Howie's hand.

"Come on, time for bed."

Howie followed Nikki into her bedroom. He took off his shirt and pants while Nikki changed into a pair of shorts and a tank top. She slid into bed with Howie and settled herself into his arms. Howie kissed her on the top of her head.

"This is nice," he said.

Nikki smiled and turned around, facing him. "Howie, we've been sleeping in the same bed together for months. How is this any different?"

"It's different because this is more like home. We're not in some strange hotel room."

"True," Nikki said as she laid her head on his chest.

Howie played with a few strands of her silky brown hair and sighed. "Man, I gotta get up early in the morning since I'm staying here."

"Why?"

"Because I don't have any clothes here. I'll have to leave here in the morning and go home to get showered and changed."

"Why don't you just leave some clothes here so you won't have to do that anymore?" Nikki said.

Howie smiled. "I have a better idea."

"What's that?"

"I've been thinking about this a while. What do you think about us living together?"

"You mean like us living together in the same place?"

“No, I mean you living a guest house by the pool,” he said with a snicker. “Of course I mean us living together in the same place. What do you think?"

"Well, we practically do that anyway, don't we?"

"Yeah, but I think we should make this official. Go to the next level of our relationship. I think we're ready."

"Won't you miss living with your family?"

"Yeah, a little but it's not like I'm moving to another country. I can still see them. Besides, I think my mom would like to see me get out on my own."

Nikki thought a moment and smiled. "If you're ready to do this, so am I."

Howie smiled and kissed her. "I'm ready. I'll start bringing my stuff in tomorrow night."

"Okay," Nikki said with a yawn. "Baby I'm tired. I've gotta get up and take my finals in the morning."

"Okay, good night, sweetie," Howie said.

Nikki sat up and kissed him. "Night," she said then turned off the lamp.

Sarah was in the kitchen cleaning and sweeping the floor when Kevin came in, looking exhausted from his long day of performing.

"Hey, baby," Sarah said as she set the broom aside and kissed Kevin.

"Hey," he said with a smile. "How are you two?" Kevin asked, referring to Sarah and the baby.

"I'm fine, just really tired. I spent the day cleaning the house. I had to do something to keep my mind off morning sickness," she said as she put her hand on her stomach.

Kevin wrapped his arms around her and held her tight. "I'm gonna head on to bed. You wanna come?"

Sarah nodded. "Sleep sounds good," she said as she followed him to his room.

The two laid in bed together and fell asleep almost immediately. Two hours later, Sarah woke up to find Kevin gone. Feeling her stomach spasm she got up and went into the kitchen. She grabbed a package of crackers and a bottle of water from the fridge and sat down at the kitchen table. Sarah had just finished her third cracker when she heard a door creak. Curious to what it was, she grabbed her crackers and water and went down the hall. The light was on in her bedroom, so she opened the door. To her surprise, she found Kevin sitting on her bed looking around the room.

"What are you doing?" Sarah asked.

Kevin jumped and looked over at her. "Sarah, what are you doing up, honey?"

"Nausea," she said as she sat down on the bed next to him.

Kevin kissed her on the cheek and rubbed his hand on her back. "Anything I can do?" Sarah shook her head.

"Just hold me." Kevin smiled and wrapped his arms around her waist.

"You didn't answer my question. What are you doing up?"

"I was thinking about the baby."

"What about it?"

"Just stuff we have to get before it gets here. I was thinking maybe we should turn your room into a nursery and we share my room. What do you think?"

"Actually, that's not a bad idea. We'll have to take turns feeding the baby in the middle of the night."

"I know...I can't wait," Kevin said excitedly.

"We should go shopping together when you're done with your shows. You know, to get things for the baby."

"Like start decorating the room and stuff?"

"Yeah, I mean we have a little over seven months to prepare everything."

"Don't you think we should wait to find out the sex of the baby before we start doing the room?"

"Not if we pick something appropriate for both boys and girls."

"Okay...but no clowns."

Sarah laughed. "Okay no clowns. So which do you want more? A boy or a girl?"

"Doesn't matter to me. I'll be happy either way."

Sarah smiled and kissed him. "Me too. I don't know why but I have this weird craving for Thai food."

Kevin laughed. "Well, we don't have a Thai place nearby but there is a Chinese place just down the street. Wanna go there?"

"Yeah sounds good let's go," Sarah said as she got up. "All right," Kevin said then left the house with Sarah.

"No, not this," Kristin said out loud as she went through her closet. "Maybe this one," she said as she pulled out a blue button shirt. She quickly put it on and looked herself in the mirror. "No, this will never work." Kristin took off the shirt and tried on a purple stretch sweater. "Oh, god, this is so last season. Where did I get this? Ugh, I need to go shopping. Ooh I found it!" She put on a red checkered shirt and glanced into the mirror. "Ew, no way! He'll think I'm a lumber jack." She let out a flustered sigh. "Okay, forget the clothes lets try my hair," she mumbled as she brushed out her hair.

She was putting her hair up in a clip when she heard someone knock on her door. "It's open," Kristin said.

The door opened and Rachel came into the room. "What are you doing? I heard you dropping things."

"I'm trying to get ready to go over to Nick's."

Rachel smiled in excitement. "You called him?"

"Yeah, we talked it out. He apologized, I accepted, and now he wants me to come over to his place."

"So everything's cool between you two?"

"Yeah," Kristin said with a smile.

"Yay, I'm so happy!" Rachel exclaimed as she hugged Kristin. "Need any help getting ready?"

"Yeah I need something to wear," Kristin said as she grabbed her curling iron and started curling her ends.

"Hmmm," Rachel said as she looked through Kristin's closet. "How about this?" she asked as she help up a pale pink Tommy cardigan.

"Oh, yeah I forgot I had that. You think my white Tommy shorts would look good with that?"

"Definitely."

"Great," Kristin said as she got up and pulled the shorts out of her dresser. "I need shoes."

"You can never go wrong with Doc Martins," Rachel commented.

"Perfect," she said as she put on the outfit. Kristin checked herself out in the mirror. "I look good," she said with a laugh.

Rachel grinned and looked at her watch. "I gotta get going. Brian and I are gonna spend some time together. If I'm not home by midnight. Don't wait up for me," she said a smirk.

"What makes you think I'm gonna be home by then?"

Rachel laughed. "Have fun. I'll see you tomorrow."

"All right, don't do anything I wouldn't do."

"That doesn't leave me much, does it?" Rachel joked. Kristin laughed. "Go see your man."

"All right, all right I'm going," Rachel said then left.

Kristin finished up her make up and sprayed on a little of Happy perfume. She gave herself one last glance in the mirror and headed out the door. Kristin got into her tropical green mustang convertible and drove to Nick's house. She practically ran to the door when she got there. Kristin rang the doorbell and patiently waited for Nick to answer it. When he opened the door Kristin suddenly grew shy.

"Hi," she said softly.

"Hey," Nick replied, avoiding her eyes. "Come on in."

Kristin stepped inside and set her purse down on the table by the door. She followed Nick to the couch but didn't sit down. Nick sat down and looked over at her.

"You can sit down, you know. I won't bite."

"Oh....yeah....right," Kristin said with a nervous smile and sat down.

There was an awkward silence. Finally Nick spoke.

"Man, this was a lot easier on the phone."

"Yeah," Kristin agreed.

"Look, baby, I'm sorry. I know there's no excuse for what I did, but all I can say is that I'm sorry."

"I'm sorry too," she said.

"For what? You didn't do anything."

"Yes, I did. I was the one who was too smothering. I didn't give you enough space."

Nick sighed and scooted over closer to Kristin. "Kris, you did nothing wrong. I'm the one to blame for all of this. I'm the one who screwed up not you. I let my stress take over me and I took it out on you. I love you and I don't want to hurt you."

"Do you really mean that?" Kristin asked, looking into his eyes.

Nick looked at her and gave her a genuine smile. "Yes...I do."

"I love you too," Kristin said as she wrapped her arms around Nick then kissed him.

Nick glazed his thumb over her bottom lip. "Oh, god, how I've missed your kisses."

"I've missed yours too. Lets never fight again okay?"

"Never," Nick said with a smile and kissed her.

A.J. knocked on the door to Amanda's apartment on his first day off from tour. He waited a minute, but she didn't answer the door. He knew she was home since her car was sitting in the parking lot. A.J. fished out the spare key she had given him and unlocked the door. He peeked his head inside and she was no where in sight.

"Amanda?" he said as she stepped inside. "Baby, are you home?"

A.J. shut the door and walked down the hall to her room. The door was shut so he quietly opened the door to find Amanda under the covers fast asleep. He smiled and quietly walked over to the bed and laid down next to her. He kissed her lightly on the forehead and gently brushed his hand across her cheek. Amanda fluttered her eyelashes and looked at A.J.

"Oh, man, what time is it?" she asked in between yawns.

"It's almost two thirty. What are you doing sleeping so late? You feeling all right?" A.J. asked, concerned.

"Yeah, I'm fine. I just didn't get much sleep last night. Between the baby kicking and not finding a comfortable position to sleep in I couldn't get to sleep. What are you doing here?"

"Do I need a reason to see my girl?" he asked.

Amanda smiled. "No, usually you call though."

"I did, you never answered so I came on over."

"I see," Amanda said as she sat up and cuddled up to A.J.

"Actually I came over to talk to you about something."

"What?"

"Well, with the baby coming and all I was thinking maybe you should move in with me. You know, so we both can take care of the baby together. Plus it's more room than this one bedroom apartment. Where were you planning on putting the baby?"

"Oh, wow I never thought about that. You're right it can't stay in my room forever. When do you think I should move in?"

"Whenever you're ready. You've got a little over a month. I just don't like the idea of you being alone in this apartment being so close to going into labor."

Amanda nodded in agreement. "You're right. I'll move in with you sometime this week. You think we can get some of the guys help me get my stuff moved? I can't lift anything heavy."

"Yeah, I'm sure we can get someone to help us."

"So, are we going to share a room, or what?"

"That's where my surprise comes in. Get dressed, I wanna show you something."

"All right, I'll be ready in a few minutes," Amanda said as she got out of bed and made her way to the bathroom.

A.J. waited patiently as she got ready. A few minutes later, she came out of the bathroom dressed and ready to go.

"All right, lets go," Amanda said as she headed toward the door.

"You're gonna love this surprise," A.J. said as they got into his car.

"How do you know for sure I will?"

A.J. smiled and backed out of the driveway. "Trust me, you will."

"If you say so."

When they arrived at the house, A.J. drug Amanda up the stairs and stopped at a door in the hallway.

"Okay, close your eyes."

Amanda snickered and closed her eyes. "All right, they're closed," she said.

A.J. slowly led her into the room and smiled. "Okay, open your eyes."

Amanda opened her eyes and was astonished by what she saw. A.J. had turned the room into a nursery. The whole room was covered in pink and teddy bears.

"Oh, my, gosh! A.J., it's wonderful. When did you do this?"

"While we were on tour. I had everything set up after I found out you were pregnant."

Amanda smiled and looked around the room once more. "You did a good job, but I have on question."

"What's that?"

"The room's pink, but what if the baby's a boy? Then what are we going to do?"

"It won't be a boy."

"And just how do you know that?"

"Just a hunch," A.J. said with a smile.

"A.J., that's not funny. How can you be so confident?"

"Just trust me."

Amanda eyed A.J. with suspicion.

"Whatever, I'm too tired to argue with you about this."

A.J. grinned and wrapped his arms around Amanda. "Do you like it?"

"I love it. I can't wait to have this baby."

"Neither can I," he replied.

"It's going to be the best day of my life."

"Mine too," Amanda said then kissed him.

A.J. kissed her back. "So, you wanna move in tomorrow?"

Amanda laughed. "Someone's anxious."

"That's right," he said with a smile.

"We'll see. Come on, lets go get something to eat. I'm starved."

"Okay," A.J. said as the two headed out the door."

Rachel and Brian were curled up on the couch watching TV with the lights turned down low. Brian leaned over and laid his head on Rachel's lap. Rachel smiled and played with the curls at the back of his head.

"Tired?" she asked.

"Very," Brian replied with a yawn.

"Well, you just got done with a very long tour. I can't imagine why you would be tired."

Brian chuckled at her remark. Rachel grinned and rubbed her hand on his arm as she went back to watching TV. She flipped through the channels and sighed.

"There's nothing on TV. You wanna watch a movie?" There was no answer from Brian. "Brian?" she said as she glanced down at him. "Earth to Brian. Are you in there?" Rachel said as she playfully tapped him on the head.

Brian sat up and looked over Rachel. "Sorry, I was thinking about something."

"What were you thinking about?" she asked as she wrapped his arms around her and rested her head on his chest.

"Well, I was just thinking since we're going to my parents' house for the holidays, I thought we could go down to your hometown in Springfield to see your mom. What do you think?"

Rachel sat up and stared at Brian. "No, absolutely not."

"Why not? You haven't seen your mom since you moved here. In fact, I don't think you ever called her while you were on tour with me. Don't you miss her?"

"Of course I miss her, but that's not the point. You don't know my mom they way I do. Trust me, things are better this way."

"Oh, come on. How bad can it be?"

"Bad," Rachel said in an angered tone.

"Give me one good reason why you don't want to see your mom."

"Because I don't want to! Brian, I thought you said you'd never make me do anything I didn't want to do?"

"I did, but I think should mend whatever problems you have with you mom. I just want to see you happy."

"I'm happy with the way things are. I can't mend things with my mom. Believe me, I've tried. She just doesn't care. She's selfish, conceited, and a complete utter bitch and I don't want to see her."

"Rachel! How can you say that about your own mother?"

"Look, I didn't come from a sweet and fun loving family like you have, okay? Things were a little bit different for me. I had to fight to get where I am today. Now, can we just drop this, please?"

"No, I want to know why you have so much hatred for your mother."

Rachel wiped the tears from off her face. "Brian, I really don't want to talk about this. I don't want to see her and I'd appreciate it if you'd not bring her up again."

Brian stared at Rachel with lost eyes. "I just wish you'd talk to me. That's all I want. We don't have to see her, but at least talk to me about it."

Rachel sighed and covered her hands over her face. "I'm not ready," she said, close to tears.

Brian scooted next to her and hugged her tight. "When you're ready will you tell me?"

Rachel sat up and looked at Brian straight faced. "Maybe," she said as she stood up.

"Where are you going?"

"Home, I'm really tired."

"You're not gonna stay here tonight?"

Rachel shook her head. "I just need to be alone, clear my mind."

"Okay," Brian said gently.

"I'll walk you to your car," he said as she stood up and followed Rachel outside.

They stood next to her car and Brian hugged her close.

"I'll call you tomorrow okay?"

"Okay," she said with a quivering voice.

Brian wiped the tears from off her face and kissed her. "Good night."

"Night," Rachel said as she got in her car.

"Be careful baby."

"I will," she replied then pulled out of the driveway, leaving Brian alone.