Hayley ran down the hall to Nick’s hotel room. She and Nick were best friends. They have known each other since they were babies and have been through everything together. She knew she could talk to him about anything. She ran to his room and noticed it open slightly. She quietly opened it and heard sounds coming from the bedroom. She quietly went to the door and peeked through and saw Nick on the bed, having sex with a girl. She turned and started for the door when she ran into the end table and knocked over the lamp. She scrambled to pick up the lamp and get out of the room before Nick found her. The bedroom door opened and Nick came out in his pants and saw her.

        “Hayley,” Nick said.

        “Nick, I’m sorry, I’m going, I’ll leave you to whoever you are with, I wanted to get out of here before you saw me, I’m going,” Hayley said frantically. She headed for the door and Nick caught her.

        “Hayley, what is going on,” Nick said.

        “Nothing, I gotta go,” Hayley said. Nick held her shoulders and looked at her.

        “Hayley, sweetie, I know you better than anyone, you are upset about something, you wouldn’t have came into my room if you weren’t upset, what happened,” Nick said.

        “Nothing, it can wait, I’ll leave you alone now,” Hayley said. Nick sighed.

        “Honey, just tell me what happened,” Nick said.

        “Is this your wife?” the girl asked coming out of the bedroom dressed.

        “This is my best friend, Hayley, I’ve known her since we were babies,” Nick said.

        “I better go,” Hayley said.

        “No, not until you tell me why you are upset, you can tell me anything, you know that, Hayley,” Nick said. Hayley looked at the girl and back at Nick.

        “I’m sorry that I interrupted, I’ll talk to you later,” Hayley said.

        “No, it’s okay, I’m leaving anyways, bye Nick,” the girl said. She left. Hayley sat down.

        “I’m sorry, Nicky, the door was slightly opened, I didn’t know,” Hayley said. Nick sat down.

        “It’s okay, sweetie, now tell me what is going on,” Nick said.

        “Mark broke up with me, he called and broke up with me, he met someone else,” Hayley said. Nick hugged her close. She closed her eyes and rested her head on his chest.

        “Oh man, I’m sorry, I’m here for you,” Nick said.

        “I know you are, Nicky, like you always have been,” Hayley said.

        “I’m going to get a shower, I’ll be right back,” Nick said. Hayley nodded. Nick went into the bathroom and closed the door. Hayley laid her head against the back of the couch. She couldn’t believe what she walked in on. There was a knock at the door. She got up and peeked out and saw Kevin and Brian. She opened the door.

        “Hi guys, Nick’s in the shower,” Hayley said as they came in. They hugged her and sat down.

        “You okay, sweetie,” Brian said. Brian and Kevin treated her like a little sister. Kevin’s wife, Kristin, and Brian’s wife, Leighanne, were her best girl friends.

        “Yeah, just got my heart broken again,” Hayley said.

        “Mark,” Kevin said.

        “He met someone else,” Hayley said.

        “What a jerk,” Brian said.

        “Yeah, well, at least there are five guys who won’t break my heart,” Hayley said.

        “You got that right,” Kevin said. Nick came out of the bathroom in a towel.

        “Hey guys,” Nick said. He went to get dressed.

        “You always have Nick,” Kevin said.

        “I know,” Hayley said. Nick came out dressed and sat down beside Hayley.

        “So what’s up,” Nick said.

        “Just came over to see if you wanted to join us for dessert in the café downstairs,” Brian said.

        “Nah, I’m going to hang with Hayley,” Nick said.

        “Maybe I want to go,” Hayley said.

        “Okay, we’ll go,” Nick said.

        “You don’t have to,” Hayley said.

        “I want to, like I said before, I’m here for you,” Nick said. Hayley smiled and nodded.

        “Let’s go,” Brian said. They went down to the café. Kristin and Leighanne were waiting for them. Hayley sat down and began talking with them. Nick sat down with Brian and Kevin.

        “So what’s going on, Frack,” Brian said quietly.

        “Well, Hayley came into my room and I wasn’t exactly alone,” Nick said.

        “You mean you were with a girl,” Kevin said. Nick nodded.

        “What were you guys doing?” Brian asked quietly.

        “Um, sex,” Nick whispered.

        “And Hayley walked in on it,” Brian said.

        “Sort of,” Nick said quietly. His cell phone rang. He answered it.

        “Hello,” Nick said.

        “Nick, this is Mark, don’t hang up, I’m sure Hayley already told you that I broke up with her because I met someone else, I lied about that, Nick,” Mark said.

        “What do you mean,” Nick said getting up and going outside.

        “I broke up with her to free her, so she can be with her true love, you, Nick, she loves you, I know she does, more than a best friend type of love, and how do I know this, well, we have been sleeping in the same bed and I wake up in the middle of the night and she is softly saying your name and moaning, plus I have seen the way she looks at you,” Mark said.

        “Are you sure about this?” Nick asked.

        “Positive, man, I want her to be happy and she can’t be happy with me and in love with you, yes, Nick, she is very deeply in love with you, I better go, I just thought you should know the truth, bye,” Mark said. He hung up. Nick hung up and stood there. He went back and sat down.

        “Everything okay?” Brian asked.

        “Yeah, I’ll tell you later,” Nick said. He looked at Hayley who was engrossed in a conversation with Leighanne and Kristin. He had to talk to her about what Mark said. If what he said was true, Nick knew things would change.

Chapter 2

Nick and Brian headed for the elevator and got on and the doors close.

        “Mark called me, said that he broke up with her to free her to be with me because she’s in love with me,” Nick said. Brian looked at him.

        “This is your chance, Nicky, now is the time to tell her how you feel,” Brian said.

        “I know, it’s just that she’s been my best friend my whole life, I’m in love with her, now finding out she feels the same way, it’s like a dream come true,” Nick said.

        “You two would be great together, and we could triple date, since she’s best friends with Leighanne and Kris,” Brian said.

        “Yeah,” Nick said smiling. He went to his room and closed the door. There was a knock at the door. He opened it and saw Hayley. She came in.

        “Who called you, Nicky,” Hayley said.

        “Um, Mark did,” Nick said.

        “What did he want,” Hayley said. Nick pulled her close and kissed her deeply.

        “He told me you’re in love with me,” Nick said.

        “I am,” Hayley said.

        “I’m in love with you,” Nick said. Hayley smiled and hugged him.

        “You know what I wished, Nicky,” Hayley said.

        “What,” Nick said. He pulled back and looked at her. She ran a finger down his chest.

        “When I walked in here and saw you in bed with that girl, I wished it was me instead of her, I am not saying that I want it now, I don’t want to rush things between us,” Hayley said. Nick kissed her softly.

        “Be my girl, Hayley,” Nick said.

        “Most definitely,” Hayley said.

        “Can we make out?” Nick asked.

        “I think that would be good,” Hayley said. Nick smiled and picked her up and carried her over to the couch and laid her on it and laid on top of her and kissed her deeply and passionately. There was a knock at the door. Nick groaned and kissed her lips and got up and opened the door and saw the girl he was with earlier.

        “Hi, did you forget something?” Nick asked.

        “I was hoping we could finish what we started earlier before we were interrupted by your best friend,” the girl said. Nick glanced back at Hayley.  Hayley got up and went out the door.

        “Hayley,” Nick said.

        “Nick, go ahead, finish what you started, forget about me, I’ll be fine,” Hayley said going to her room and slammed the door. She leaned against the door and closed her eyes.  A knock came to her door.

        “Hayley, open up!” Nick called.

        “Just leave me alone, Nick,” Hayley said.

        “Hayley, come on, don’t do this, we can be together, I want to be with you,” Nick said. Hayley closed her eyes.

        “Nick, I think it’s best that we stay best friends, I know you can’t stay with one girl, once a player, always a player, go have fun,” Hayley said.

        “No, I will only have fun if I’m with you,” Nick said.

        “No, you won’t, I know you, Nick, you will be miserable,” Hayley said.

        “Dammit, Hayley, stop this, I love you, I want you and only you, please!” Nick cried. Hayley closed her eyes as tears came down her cheeks.

        “Nick, you are creating a scene out here,” she heard Brian say.

        “Nick, give her space,” she heard Kevin say.

        “No, I’m not leaving this door until she talks to me,” Nick said. 

        “GO AWAY, NICKOLAS!” Hayley cried. She stepped away from the door and laid down on the bed and cried softly.

Chapter 3

Nick went back to his room and sat down and held his head in his hands. He came so close to being with the woman he always loved and something messed it up. He sat there thinking and knew what he wanted. He wanted Hayley and he wouldn’t stop until she was back in his arms. The next day, he and the guys went to the arena to get ready for the show. He figured Hayley wouldn’t come to the show so he didn’t bother looking for her. He went on performing like normal. After the show, he went to shower and headed back to the hotel. He walked through the lobby with his hands in his pockets and head down. He looked up and saw Hayley with Leighanne and Kristin in the café talking. Hayley glanced over and saw him. He looked away and continued onto the elevators and got up and the doors closed and he leaned against the wall and closed his eyes as the elevator took him up to his floor. He got off the elevator and went to his room and went in and closed the door and laid on the couch and stared at the ceiling.

Hayley, Leighanne and Kristin came out of the café just as Brian and Kevin came in.

        “Hi honey,” Brian said kissing Leighanne said.

        “Hey, how was the show,” Leighanne said.

        “It was good, the crowd was awesome,” Brian said.

        “Everything went fine until Nick screwed up,” Kevin said. Brian looked at his cousin.

        “He didn’t screw up, he performed like normal,” Brian said. Kevin looked at him.

        “You didn’t see it, he sang Don’t Wanna Lose You Now and he started crying,” Kevin said.

        “If he was crying, he hid it well because I didn’t see him crying,” Brian said.

        “Nick never lets anyone see him cry but I caught him,” Kevin said.

        “Nick cried?” Hayley asked.

        “Yeah, Hayley, he did,” Kevin said.

        “He did look a little down when he came in, he had his hands in his pockets and his head was down, he looked at us and continued on the same way he came in,” Kristin said. Hayley stood there.

        “I guess I should go talk to him,” Hayley said. She went up to Nick’s room and knocked on the door. Nick opened it and saw her. She went in and he closed the door. She hugged him.

        “Nicky, I’m so sorry,” Hayley said. He hugged her close.

        “I had no intention of doing anything with that girl,” Nick said.

        “I know, I feel like an idiot,” Hayley said.

        “No, you are not an idiot, you know me, Hayley, like you said, but know that when I’m with you, I will not hurt you, I have never hurt you and I never will, you’ve changed me, Hayley, being with you is amazing, I can see us being together forever,” Nick said. She smiled. He kissed her deeply. He picked her up and carried her to the couch and laid her on it and laid on top of her and kissed her deeply and passionately. She wrapped her arms around him and her legs around his waist. He moaned and kissed her deeper. He began kissing her neck when there was a knock at the door but Nick didn’t move. He continued kissing her. The knock came again. Nick groaned and got up and opened the door and saw AJ.

        “What do you want, Bone,” Nick said.

        “I was wondering if you wanted to come clubbing with me and D,” AJ said.

        “Nah, I’m staying in,” Nick said.

        “Okay, bye,” AJ said. Nick closed the door and came back over and laid on top of Hayley and began kissing her again.

        “I love you,” Nick said. Hayley smiled.

        “I love you, too, Nicky,” Hayley said. Nick kissed her hungrily.

        “Nicky,” Hayley said as he kissed her neck.

        “Yeah,” Nick said.

        “Make love to me,” Hayley said.

        “Are you sure,” Nick said. Hayley kissed him deeply.

        “Yes, please, Nicky, I want you inside me,” Hayley said. Nick crushed his mouth to hers and he removed her clothes and his. He got up and picked her up and carried her into the bedroom and laid her on the bed and got on top of her and reached into his bag by the bed and pulled out a silver package and opened it and slid the condom on and laid between her legs.

        “Make me yours, Nicky, forever,” Hayley said. He kissed her softly and pushed himself deep inside her. She wrapped her legs around his waist and held onto him as they moved together. He leaned down and took a nipple in his mouth and sucked.

        “God, Hayley, you feel so good,” Nick moaned as he went faster and harder. She held onto him and pulled his head down and kissed him deeply.  Their tongues explored each other’s mouths.  He moved his lips down to her neck and licked and kissed her neck. He went deeper with every thrust. She ran her hands through his hair.

        “Oh god, Nicky!” Hayley cried. She came around him and he came behind her and he collapsed on top of her and buried his face in her neck. She held him close.

        “I love you so much,” Nick said kissing her neck.       

        “I love you, too, Nicky,” Hayley said. They heard someone knocking on the door. Nick groaned. They got up and got dressed and Nick went out and opened the door and saw Kevin, Brian, and Howie standing there.

        “Nick, why didn’t you go with AJ?” Kevin asked. Hayley came out of the bedroom.

        “Was I suppose to?” Nick asked.

        “We thought you would,” Kevin said.

        “He asked, I said no, he said Howie was going with him,” Nick said.

        “Howie said that AJ said you were going with him,” Kevin said.

        “Guys, what is going on,” Hayley said.

        “AJ is missing, he hasn’t come back from the club and he’s not answering his cell phone,” Kevin said.

        “He probably hooked up with some girl,” Nick said.

        “Nick, we all know that AJ has a drinking problem, we have to keep an eye on him,” Kevin said.

        “So I’m his baby-sitter, is that it, was I suppose to be his baby-sitter, the ultimate screw up of the group, Kevin, you are the oldest, you go find him and leave me alone, I am no one’s babysitter, AJ can take care of himself!” Nick said slamming the door. Nick sat down. Hayley sat beside him and rubbed his back. He hugged her.

Chapter 4

Three days later, things in the group got worse as Kevin and Nick weren’t on speaking terms. AJ’s drinking problem got worse each day. Kevin and Howie confronted him about it and he told them to fuck off.  Hayley sat in Nick’s dressing room with Nick.

        “Kevin and I aren’t speaking, AJ wants to drink all the time, I think the group is falling apart,” Nick said holding his head in his hands.

        “I’m here and I’m not going anywhere, Nicky,” Hayley said. He looked at her and smiled at her.

        “I don’t want you to go anywhere, I want you here with me,” Nick said. He cupped her cheek and kissed her softly. There was a knock at the door. Hayley got up and opened it and saw Kevin, Howie, and Brian.

        “What now, guys, you want to blame Nick for something AJ did now,” Hayley said.

        “We have to postpone the rest of the tour,” Kevin said.

        “Why,” Nick said.

        “AJ finally admitted to having a problem with alcohol so he is going to rehab, as soon as he is finished with rehab, we were resume the tour,” Howie said.

        “Oh,” Nick said. Hayley sat down and hugged him.

A week later, Nick sat in his house and watched TV. Hayley came in and sat down.

        “Hey, you doing okay?” Hayley asked.

        “Yeah,” Nick said.

        “Want to go lay down with me?” Hayley asked. Nick nodded and they went upstairs and laid down on the bed and Nick laid with his head on her chest.

        “I love you,” Nick said.

        “I love you, too,” Hayley said.

Two months later, they were back on the road. The guys were doing soundchecks while the girls were backstage, talking. Hayley sat there as Leighanne and Kristin talked.

        “Hayley, you okay?” Leighanne asked.

        “Yeah, except that I’m pregnant,” Hayley said.

        “How far along?” Leighanne asked.

        “Two months,” Hayley said.

        “Does Nick know?” Kristin asked.

        “Yeah,” Hayley said.

        “Is he happy, I bet he is, he’s always said he wants to be a father someday,” Leighanne said.

        “He wasn’t,” Hayley said.

        “What!” Leighanne said.

        “He said it’s a bad time, we argued, what can I do, I’m pregnant, it’s too late, the baby is coming whether it’s the right time or not,” Hayley said.

        “I can’t believe that,” Leighanne said.

        “Girls, don’t say anything, I don’t want him yelling at me for talking his business,” Hayley said.

        “Screw that, he knows you tell us everything and we don’t repeat to anyone else besides our husbands and they know better than to brag,” Leighanne said. The guys came backstage. Kristin and Leighanne stood up and glared at Nick. He froze.

        “Nicky is in trouble with our wives,” Brian said.

        “Nickolas Gene Carter, how dare you,” Leighanne said. Nick looked at her.

        “What,” Nick said.

        “Hayley just told us you weren’t happy with the fact that she’s pregnant, and that you said it’s a bad time, you helped her get pregnant, she didn’t do it alone, you should be happy for the fact that you are going to be a father, and that you helped create an innocent life,” Leighanne said. Hayley covered her face with her hands.

        “It is a bad time, Leighanne,” Nick said.

        “So what, it happened and you will have to deal with it, do you want her to get an abortion,” Leighanne said. Nick looked at her and Hayley.

        “No!” Nick said.

        “Then be happy, Nick, don’t argue with her, she needs to stay calm, stress could cause a miscarriage,” Leighanne said. Nick looked at Hayley. She looked at him. Nick came over and pulled Hayley up gently and hugged her.

        “I’m sorry for being stubborn, I love you and our baby,” Nick said. Hayley smiled.

        “I know, I love you, too,” Hayley said. The guys and girls went on and left them alone. Nick and Hayley went to Nick’s dressing room and closed the door. Nick sat on the couch. Hayley sat next to him.

        “I’m sorry, honey, I didn’t know what I was thinking, now that I’m thinking about it, a baby, a life created by you and me,” Nick said putting his hand on her stomach.

        “I know, I love you, we are together, we are having a baby, my life is empty without you, I don’t want anything else, just you in my life,” Hayley said. Nick smiled and kissed her deeply.

        “Same here, baby,” Nick said. She leaned against him and rested her head on his chest as he held her.

Chapter 5

Three months later, Nick was sitting at home, playing his playstation when the phone rang. He picked it up.

        “Hello,” Nick said.

        “Nick Carter?” someone asked.

        “Yes,” Nick said.

        “This is Dr. Davis at Orlando Regional Medical Center, your wife was brought in a few minutes ago,” Dr. Davis said.

        “I’m on my way,” Nick said. He hung up and turned everything off and grabbed his keys and wallet and ran out the door. He got into the car and drove to the hospital, calling the guys on the way. He ran in and ran to the front desk and asked for Dr. Davis. The nurse directed him to the nurses’ station on the 3^rd floor. He went up and went to the nurse’s station.

        “I’m Nick Carter, Dr. Davis called and said my wife was here,” Nick said. A woman in a white coat came out.

        “Mr. Carter?” she asked.

        “Yes,” Nick said.

        “I’m Dr. Davis, please come with me,” Dr. Davis said. Nick followed her. She stopped outside the door and looked at Nick. He looked at her.

        “Nick, your wife has been through a difficult trauma,” Dr. Davis said.

        “What happened, why is she here?” Nick asked.

        “Mr. Carter, your wife was attacked outside the mall, she was raped and beaten,” Dr. Davis said.

        “Oh god, the baby, she’s six months pregnant, is the baby okay?” Nick asked.

        “Surprisingly, the baby is fine, whoever beat her avoided her stomach and chest, she has bruises on her arms and legs, her left ankle is fractured, her right wrist is fractured, she has cuts on her forehead and arms, but Nick, she may not respond to anything around her, she won’t talk or move or anything, at first, she won’t let anyone touch her but she realized she was safe, but she wouldn’t look at me or any of the nurses,” Dr. Davis said.

        “I want to see my wife,” Nick said. He went in and saw her sitting on the bed staring at the wall. He slowly walked over to her and stood there.

        “Honey, it’s me, Nicky, I’m here, I’m not letting anyone hurt you again,” Nick said. Hayley didn’t move or look at him. He took her hand and held it. The door opened and Brian, Leighanne, Kevin, Kristin, AJ, and Howie quietly came in. Nick looked at them and shook his head.

        “Frack,” Brian said quietly.

        “She won’t talk or anything,” Nick said quietly. Leighanne and Kristin came over.

        “Hayley, it’s me, Kris, and Leighanne’s here, we all are here,” Kristin said. Hayley just sat there staring at the wall. Leighanne stood in front of Hayley, blocking the view of the wall but Hayley didn’t move or look away.

        “Sweetie, you are safe now, we are here, Nicky is here, you remember him, don’t you, your husband, father of your baby, snap out of it, Hayley, no one is going to hurt you anymore, you are completely safe,” Leighanne said. Hayley still sat there not moving.

Three hours later, Nick got her settled in bed. He kissed her forehead and she laid there staring at the ceiling. He made sure the windows were locked and he went downstairs and sat down. Brian and Leighanne came in with groceries.

        “She in bed?” Leighanne asked. Nick nodded. Brian sat down next to his best friend.

        “Frack,” Brian said.

        “How can I help her if she won’t let me, she won’t look at me or anything,” Nick said.

        “Nick, she was beaten and raped, it was a horrible thing that happened to her, she needs time,” Brian said.

        “I love her, man, she’s safe with me, I’m her husband, I am suppose to protect her, why did I let her go alone to the mall, why did I let her go at all, she insisted she didn’t need Billy, but I should have made her take him,” Nick said. Brian nodded.

        “No one knew this would happen,” Brian said.

        “What if she never recovers, what if I lose her forever, in three months, we are going to be parents, what if she isn’t recovered by then,” Nick said crying. Brian hugged him as Nick cried. Leighanne stood there. She went upstairs and saw Hayley lying in bed staring at the ceiling. She sat on the bed and waved her hand over Hayley’s face.

        “Hayley, you can’t do this, you are pregnant, you need to recover, I know it must have been horrible, but Nick and the baby need you, you can’t keep doing this, Nick is downstairs crying, yes, crying on Brian’s shoulder because he is afraid of losing you, he loves you and would die protecting you, we all would, you meant a lot of all of us, we are lost without you,” Leighanne said. She didn’t get a response. She got up and went downstairs and looked at the boys. They looked at her.

        “Anything?” Nick asked. Leighanne shook her head. She and Brian left. Nick went upstairs and laid down on the bed and looked at Hayley. He stroked her cheek.

        “Baby, you have to snap out of this, I need you and so does our baby, I’m here, I’m not going anywhere, I will not let anyone hurt you, baby, please, I love you so much,” Nick said. He kissed her lips softly. He fell asleep.

Chapter 6

Three weeks later, things were still the same. Nick didn’t know what to do. He had tried everything. Brian, Leighanne, Howie, AJ, Kevin, and Kristin came in.

        “Nick,” Kevin said.

        “Still the same, I have tried everything, I can’t reach her, she may be too far gone for me to bring her back, the attack must have been so bad,” Nick said crying. Kevin sat down and hugged him. Kristin looked at Leighanne as they watched Nick fall apart in Kevin’s arms. They went upstairs to the bedroom and stood next to the bed as Hayley laid there staring at the ceiling. They shook her.

        “Time to wake up, Hayley, time to snap out of it,” Leighanne said. Kevin, Brian, Howie, AJ, and Nick came in and saw them.

        “Leighanne, she won’t,” Nick said softly.

        “We have to do something, guys, this can’t go on, she hasn’t eaten or anything to take care of the baby,” Leighanne said.

        “Leighanne, I have tried everything, nothing has happened, I don’t know what else to do, I called Dr. Davis, I’m admitting her to the hospital,” Nick said.

        “The mental hospital, Nick, are you crazy,” Kristin said. Nick looked at her.

        “I don’t know what else to do, Kris, I have tried everything, there is nothing I can do, she needs help, I’m doing this to save her and the baby, she hasn’t eaten or slept and it’s not good for the baby, if I don’t do this, I will not only lose her, I will lose my baby, I can’t bear the thought of losing either one of them, okay,” Nick said. He went out of the room. Everyone followed. No one noticed tears running down Hayley’s cheeks.

Nick sat down in the living room. Kristin and Leighanne stood in front of him.

        “What!” Nick said angrily.

        “How can you sit here like this when you are sending away the woman you love,” Kristin said.

        “Kris, the guys and I agree with Nick, if it’s the only way to save her and the baby, it’s what needs to be done,” Kevin said.

        “She needs to be here with her husband!” Kristin said.

        “Nick has tried everything, putting her in the hospital has been the hardest decision of his life, he is trying to save her and the baby, they are his life and he can’t lose them, he will do anything to save them, if you were in that position, I would do the same,” Kevin said.

        “She’s my best friend, and Leigh’s, we can’t lose her either,” Kristin said.

        “You won’t,” a voice from the stairs said. They all looked and saw Hayley standing here holding onto the wall. Leighanne and Kristin ran to her and hugged her.

        “Oh god, Hayley, we were so scared, we thought we lost you for good,” Leighanne said.

        “I’m not lost anymore, I’m not going anywhere,” Hayley said hugging her two best friends.  The guys came up to her and she hugged Brian, Howie, AJ, and Kevin. She went over to her husband. Instead of hugging him, she slapped him.

        “I heard everything, you were going to put me in a mental hospital,” Hayley said.

        “Hayley, he was trying to save you and the baby and he didn’t know what else to do,” Kevin said.

        “I don’t care, it comes to show how much he really loved me, willing to give up and send me away, well, you’ve succeeded because I want nothing to do with you, ever again!” Hayley yelled. She turned and looked at Kristin and Leighanne.

        “Get me out of this house and away from him,” Hayley said. They helped her out the door. Nick stood there, watching them go. He sat down on the couch and held his head in his hands. Howie called Dr. Davis and told her that Hayley was back to normal. The guys stood there watching Nick.

Chapter 7

Three days later, Nick received divorce papers and he read the custody papers. Hayley filed for sole custody of their child once it was born and gave him no rights to see the baby. He threw the papers across the room. He leaned back against the back of the couch and laid his head back and closed his eyes. The front door opened and closed and he opened his eyes as Kevin and Brian came in. They had bags with them.

        “Guys,” Nick said.

        “Leighanne threw me out, Kris threw him out, the girls have taken over my house, they are filing for a divorce, all because we supported you,” Brian said sitting down. Kevin sat down and saw the papers.

        “Divorce papers, and custody papers,” Kevin said.

        “Yeah, apparently I have no rights to my child,” Nick said. Brian shook his head.

        “That is so not right,” Brian said.

        “I lost my wife and child because I was trying to save them, all because I was going to send her to a mental hospital, I tried everything else, I didn’t know what else to do,” Nick said.

        “It was the only thing you could think of that could have saved her and the baby, we have always supported you and we will never stop,” Kevin said.

        “Yeah, about this custody thing, we can fight it, and all three divorces, we can’t give up on the women we love,” Brian said.

Three months later, Brian and Kevin were still living with Nick. They all have torn up the divorce papers and custody papers. They also learned that Hayley gave birth to a baby girl she named Emily Marie Hardin. She refused the give the baby Nick’s name. With Leighanne’s sister watching Emily, Hayley, Leighanne, and Kristin headed to Nick’s.

Nick, Brian, and Kevin were lounging out by the pool. They heard the front door open and closed. Leighanne, Kristin, and Hayley came out and glared at them.

        “Sorry, girls, no divorce papers signed,” Kevin said.

        “Yeah, we kind of ripped them up,” Brian said. Nick remained silent. He just sat there staring at the pool.

        “Ripped them up?” Leighanne asked.

        “Yeah, we ripped up the divorce papers and the custody papers,” Brian said.

        “What!” Hayley said. She looked at Nick. He looked at her and stood up.

        “Yeah, into a million pieces and then we burnt them,” Brian said.

        “We wanted to do this out of court,” Leighanne said.

        “Well, it’s going to have to be in court,” Kevin said. Nick stood there. Kevin and Brian stood up.

        “A media circus will happen,” Kristin said.

        “We were hoping for that,” Brian said.

        “You want to have your private lives out in the open,” Leighanne said.

        “What private lives, Leighanne, me, Brian, Nick, AJ, and Howie, our lives are never private, we are famous, we can’t have private lives for anything, everything is always in the public eye because of what we do, we accepted that when we got this group together, now Hayley, you have been Nick’s best friend and now his wife, you two have been through everything, now you are divorcing because he was trying to save you, after the attack, you wouldn’t eat, you wouldn’t move or do anything but stare at the ceiling, Nick did everything he could and still nothing, he didn’t know what else to do, he had to get you help or Emily wouldn’t be here right now, he loved you that much that he would do anything to save you and Emily, he couldn’t sit by and watch you waste away, he had to take a stand and find a way to save you, if you want to be mad at someone for that, blame me and Brian because we were the ones who suggested it, we talked him into it, he didn’t want to, but we convinced him, it is our fault, open your eyes, Hayley, Nick loved you more than anything in the world and would do anything to save you, you weren’t responding to him, or Leighanne, or Kris, we all kept telling you that you were safe, that we all loved you, that you were protected, but nothing came out of it, and then when we talk about a mental hospital, you suddenly come back to us, we are sorry about that but we didn’t know any other way, we know how much you wanted Emily, we knew that if  you woke up and Emily was gone, that you would be devastated, Nick was devastated when you were lying on that bed, not responding to anything, he was lost, but you think that because he wanted to send you to a mental hospital that he didn’t love you enough, that was where you were wrong, Hayley, I know Nick loves you more than anything in the world and he would die for you, he was willing to do anything to get you back with him, he was willing to give up his life for you, and now you want to throw everything away because he was trying to save you, maybe it’s you who doesn’t really love him, come on, guys,” Kevin said. Hayley stood there looking at Nick. He shook his head and followed Kevin and Brian inside. Hayley looked at Kristin and Leighanne.

Chapter 8

Three months later, Hayley, Leighanne, Kristin, Brian, Kevin, and Nick were sitting in a courtroom. The girls on one side and the guys on the other. AJ and Howie sat behind the guys. The judge read their statements. He looked at the girls and then the guys.

        “The first ruling, of the divorce of Kevin Scott Richardson and Kristin Richardson, not granted, I suggest couples therapy,” the judge said.

        “You mean I’m stuck with him,” Kristin said.

        “Yes, Mrs. Richardson, the reason of the divorce is not a good enough reason, according to Mr. Richardson’s statement, you wanted a divorce because he took Mr. Carter’s side on a matter of the well-being of Mrs. Carter, that is a matter between the Carters’,” the judge said. Kristin sat back.

        “The same goes for Mr and Mrs. Brian Littrell, couples therapy, divorce not granted, you are stuck with him, Mrs. Littrell,” the judge said. Leighanne sat back.

        “Now onto Mr. and Mrs. Carter, because of the state you were in, Mr. Carter wanted to send you to a mental hospital to save you and your unborn child, according to Dr. Davis, that would have saved you, if you hadn’t recovered before going, Mrs. Carter, and it says here that you petitioned for sole custody and have no allowed Mr. Carter to see his daughter, the divorce is not granted,” the judge said.

        “Great,” Hayley said coldly.

        “Also, Mrs. Carter, Mrs. Littrell, and Mrs. Richardson, I hereby order you to move back in with your husbands, I will send a therapist around to each couple and they will report to me, and yes, Mrs. Carter, your daughter will be in the same house as her father and he will get to see her all the time, that is a order of the court, court is adjourned, have fun,” the judge said.

        “Did they pay you to make these choices!” Kristin said standing up.

        “Mrs. Richardson, I don’t take bribes, I read their statements, I made the decision on my own, without bribes, and I have not spoken to them before this session, good day,” the judge said before going to his chambers. Kristin looked at Kevin who stood there with his eyebrows raised.

Three days later, the girls were living with the boys. They all decided to stay in the same house which was Nick’s house. Since the house had seven bedrooms, everyone chose their own room. Nick laid on his bed in the master bedroom. Brian and Kevin came in.

        “Leighanne and Kris won’t talk to us now,” Kevin said. Nick sighed.

        “I’m getting the silent treatment from my wife,” Nick said. Brian laid down on the bed.

        “I love Hayley so much, she isn’t happy because she was denied a divorce, she has herself locked in her bedroom with Emily, my own daughter is in my house and I can’t see her,” Nick said.

        “That is not right at all,” Brian said.

Leighanne and Kristin came in.

        “What now,” Nick said.

        “Leighanne and I would like to talk to our husbands in our rooms,” Kristin said. Brian and Kevin went with them. Nick sat up and sat cross legged, facing the window and stared at the sky. He heard a noise and turned his head and saw Hayley standing at the doorway with Emily.

        “Um, I’m sorry for not letting you see your daughter, I have an appointment with Dr. Davis, I can drive myself but apparently Leighanne and Kristin are busy with Brian and Kevin, I was wondering if you could take care of your daughter while I’m gone,” Hayley said. Nick nodded. Hayley went over and sat Emily in his lap. She left. Nick held Emily. He picked her up in his arms and looked at her and smiled at her.

        “Hey Emily, I’m your daddy, you are so beautiful,” Nick said. Emily looked up at him and gurgled.

Chapter 9

Hayley walked into Dr. Davis’s office and sat down. Dr. Davis smiled at her.

        “Thanks for coming, Hayley, everything checked out fine, you seem to be back to normal,” Dr. Davis said.

        “Thanks, Dr. Davis, um, about when I was out of it, Nick was going to send me to a mental hospital,” Hayley said. Dr. Davis looked at her.

        “It wasn’t going to be the part where crazy people go, we would have had you in a special part of the hospital where you wouldn’t be tied down, it was the special care unit where would have put a feeding tube and a monitor to watch the baby, Hayley, you were in that state for three weeks, Nick called me every day worried sick that he was going to lose you and the baby, I told him that if you weren’t better after a three week period, to bring you in, we would have took care of you, I recommended that he bring you in because you weren’t eating, you were six months pregnant, not eating for a long period of time during a pregnancy could be fatal for the baby, Hayley, I talked to him when he came to ask for a statement for the court, he said you were mad because of what he was going to do, honey, if I was in your shoes, I would be grateful that my husband would do anything to save me,” Dr. Davis said. Hayley nodded and left and stopped by the courthouse and went home. She walked in and saw Kevin, Kristin, Leighanne, and Brian in the living room. Kevin was sitting in one chair with Kristin in his lap. Brian was sitting in another chair with Leighanne in his lap. They were talking quietly. She looked and saw Nick asleep on the couch with Emily on top of him asleep.

        “Hey girl, we got pictures, they look so adorable,” Kristin said.

        “Yeah,” Hayley said.

        “He was amazing with her, he played with her and made her giggle, she never fussed, we tried to take her but he was like no, finally we did and she started crying, Nick took her back and she stopped, it’s like she knows he’s her daddy,” Leighanne said.

        “So you guys are back together?” Hayley asked.

        “Yeah, we realized that we knew Kevin and Brian would take Nick’s side because he’s their little brother and they always would support him, and we realized that we shouldn’t have let any problems come between us,” Kristin said. Hayley looked at Nick.

        “I got a wake up call, too,” Hayley said.

        “From Dr. Davis?” Brian asked quietly.

        “Yeah, “ Hayley said. Nick stirred and woke up. He saw Emily on top of him and smiled and looked around and saw everyone.

        “Hey guys,” Nick said. He stroked Emily’s back. Hayley came over and knelt down next to him.

        “I talked to Dr. Davis, I’m so sorry, Nick, I was stupid and an idiot, I know you were trying to do what you could to save me, she explained everything, I want things back to normal, I stopped by the courthouse on the way home, I changed Emily’s last name to Carter, I want us to be a family, can you forgive me for being stupid and an idiot,” Hayley said. Nick reached out and stroked her cheek. Emily woke up. Leighanne came over and took her.

        “We will watch Emily while you two talk,” Leighanne said. Hayley and Nick went up to the master bedroom and closed the door. She sat down. Nick sat down.

        “I knew I shouldn’t have considered the hospital but I only wanted to save you and the baby,” Nick said.

        “Dr. Davis explained everything, I’m sorry for everything, Nick, I just want us to be normal again, be a family, you and me and Em,” Hayley said. Nick smiled and stroked her cheek.

        “I want that more than anything in the world, I love you,” Nick said. Hayley smiled.

        “I love you, I know you love me, always have, I was so stupid,” Hayley said. Nick kissed her softly.

        “No more thinking of the past, a fresh start,” Nick said.

Chapter 10

~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~

Okay, I read this story and decided to go a different way with it. So I decided to start over and it’s going to be before Chapter 1.

~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~

Hayley woke up and sat up and saw she was in a hotel room. She looked around and scratched her head.

        “Must have been a dream,” Hayley said to herself. She got up and straightened her clothes. She picked up her phone and called Mark.

        “Hello,” Mark said.

        “Hey, it’s me,” Hayley said.

        “Hey, how’s the tour,” Mark said.

        “It’s great,” Hayley said. She heard giggling in the background.

        “Marky, are we going to have a little fun or what,” she heard a girl say in the background.

        “Mark, who was that,” Hayley said.

        “The TV,” Mark said.

        “So there is someone on TV named Marky?” Hayley asked coldly.

        “Well, yeah,” Mark said. The girl giggled.

        “You are cheating on me, aren’t you,” Hayley said.

        “Hayley, you are always on tour all the time, you are never home, you are always with Nick and the guys, I didn’t want to be lonely,” Mark said.

        “I can’t believe you, you know why I’m on the tour, I work for the guys and they are my best friends, my brothers, my family, and you are lonely,” Hayley said.

        “Hayley, I can’t have a relationship where it’s always long distance, I think we should end it,” Mark said.

        “Fine, goodbye!” Hayley said hanging up. She covered her face and cried.  She had to find Nick. She went out the door and saw his door open a little. She remembered her dream but she figured it wasn’t true. She quietly went in and looked around. She heard sounds and she went to the bedroom and looked in and saw Nick in bed with a girl, just like in her dream. She quietly went into bathroom and closed the door quietly and put the toilet seat down and sat on the toilet and hugged her legs to her chest. She heard footsteps and heard the front door to the room close and more footsteps and the door opened to the bathroom and the light came on and Nick stood there.

        “Hayley, what are you doing in here, sweetie,” Nick said kneeling next to her.

        “I was waiting for you guys to get done,” Hayley said.

        “I guess I didn’t get the door shut all the way,” Nick said. Hayley shook her head and rested her forehead on her knees. Nick put his hand on her back.

        “Hayley, what’s wrong,” Nick said. Hayley started sobbing. Nick picked her up and carried her to the couch and sat her down and sat down next to her.

        “Look, I’m going to shower and I’ll come back and we’ll talk, okay, you know you can talk to me, I’ll be right back, okay, sweetie,” Nick said. Hayley nodded and cried. Nick went to shower. There was a knock at the door. Hayley slowly got up and peeked out and saw Kevin and Brian standing there. She opened the door and looked away from them.

        “Nick’s in the shower, come in,” Hayley said sniffling. They came in and looked at her.

        “Hayley, sweetie, what happened,” Brian said. Hayley shook her head and sat down on the couch and hugged her legs to her chest.  Kevin closed the door and sat down. Brian sat down.

        “Hayley, what did Nick do?” Brian asked.

        “Nothing, Nick didn’t do anything to me,” Hayley said crying. Brian looked at Kevin. Nick came out and saw them. He went to get dressed.

        “We’ll come back later,” Brian said hugging her. Kevin hugged her and they left. Nick came out and sat down beside her and pulled her into his lap and held her.

        “Now, tell me what is going on and why you are upset,” Nick said. She rested her head on his shoulder.

        “Mark broke up with me, he’s been cheating on me,” Hayley said.

        “That jerk,” Nick said. She told him everything else and Nick just held her tight.

        “It seems that the only guys I know who will never break my heart are you, Howie, Brian, Kevin, and AJ, I don’t think I can trust anyone else with my heart, I give up on trying to find that right guy, every time I think I found that right person, it ends in heartbreak, he was actually angry of the fact that I spent all my time on the road with you guys, I told him that I work for you guys, it is my job to be on the road with you guys,” Hayley said.

        “Want me and the guys to take care of him?” Nick asked. Hayley shook her head.

        “No, he’s not worth it, I just want to move on with my life,” Hayley said.

        “Good, forget about him, you deserve better,” Nick said. Hayley nodded and hugged him. Nick kissed her forehead and held her close.

        “I’m just glad to have you in my life, Nicky, you are always there for me, no matter what,” Hayley said.

        “You are my best friend, Hayley, I’m always going to be there for you,” Nick said.

        “I had the weirdest dream, Nicky,” Hayley said.

        “What about?” Nick asked. Hayley told him everything. Nick sat there and looked at her.

        “Hmm, you and me, huh, wow,” Nick said.

        “Yeah, and then as things happened, it was wow, everything is really happening, only in a different way, I didn’t make any noise when I came in here,” Hayley said.

        “So Mark isn’t going to call me and say he freed you to be with me,” Nick said. Hayley shook her head.

        “He broke up with me so he could be with someone else who isn’t gone all the time,” Hayley said.

        “Aww shucks, just kidding, he didn’t deserve you, Hayley,” Nick said.

        “I know, I’m glad he’s gone, I’m single, I’m going to enjoy it,” Hayley said. There was a knock at the door. Nick and Hayley looked at the door.

        “Hey Billy, who is it?” Nick called to his bodyguard outside the door.

        “It’s Brian and Leighanne,” Billy said.

        “Open the door, I can’t get up,” Nick said.

        “I can get up,” Hayley said.

        “Nah, Billy has a key,” Nick said tightening his hold on her. The door opened and Brian and Leighanne came in and smiled.

        “You couldn’t get up, huh, is Hayley holding you down?” Brian asked.

        “No, Brian, I’m not, I was upset and this is the way he comforts me, by holding me in his lap and I like it, okay, he knows how to make me feel better by just being a good friend and holding me, I’m quite comfortable, thank you,” Hayley said.

        “Yeah, Brian, I don’t like seeing her upset so I put her in my lap like this and just hold her,” Nick said.

        “What happened?” Leighanne asked.

        “Mark decided he didn’t like me being out on the road and got lonely, he’s been cheating on me and he broke up with me, good riddance, I deserve better, but I’m single now and I’m going to enjoy it,” Hayley said.

        “Good for you,” Leighanne said.

        “Yeah, you deserve better, Hayley,” Brian said. Hayley’s phone rang. She looked at it and rolled her eyes. Nick took it and answered it.

        “Hello,” Nick said.

        “Nick?” Mark asked.

        “What do you want,” Nick said.

        “I want to talk to Hayley,” Mark said.

        “What for, to break her heart even more,” Nick said.

        “She broke mine first, when she left to tour with you,” Mark said.

        “It was her job, Mark, she works for us,” Nick said.

        “So what, all she cared about was you and the guys and going everywhere you guys went, who cared about what I wanted, no one, I didn’t know what she was doing out on the road, she could have been cheating on me,” Mark said.

        “Fuck off, Mark, she wasn’t cheating on you, she was working, you were the one cheating, you couldn’t wait for Hayley to leave so you can jump into bed with the next girl who came along, you never deserved Hayley, do her a favor and all of us, never call her again and never talk or see her again, goodbye,” Nick said. He hung up.

        “That asshole said I was cheating on him?” Hayley asked. Nick nodded.

        “He said he didn’t know what you were doing, that you could have been cheating on him,” Nick said.

        “That jerk,” Leighanne said.

        “I don’t want to talk about him anymore, I want to move on with my life and just enjoy being with my friends,” Hayley said. Brian and Leighanne smiled as they watched Hayley rest her head against Nick’s shoulder.

Chapter 11

Three months later, everyone went home after the tour. Hayley walked into her house and looked around and saw all of Mark’s stuff gone and his key on the counter. She made sure her stuff was still there. She put her bags down and checked her messages. She sat down and sighed. She couldn’t tell Nick that she was in love with him. During the tour, he met a girl named Mandy and they got serious. The phone rang. She picked it up.

        “Hello,” Hayley said.

        “Hey girl, I’m coming over, okay,” Nick said.

        “Okay, bye,” Hayley said. She hung up and sat back. A few minutes later, Nick came in.

        “Hey,” Nick said.

        “Hey, what’s up,” Hayley said.

        “I did a wild and crazy thing, Hayley, Mandy and I got married this morning,” Nick said.

        “Nick, you only have known her for two months,” Hayley said.

        “I know but it feels like I’ve known her my entire life,” Nick said.

        “Does the guys know?” Hayley asked.

        “Yeah, they thought I was insane but they had to accept it because it’s done,” Nick said.

        “And you want me to accept it,” Hayley said.

        “Yeah, you are my best friend,” Nick said.

        “Well, I don’t, have you gone insane, Nick,” Hayley said. Nick looked at her.

        “I thought you would be happy for me,” Nick said.

        “Well, I’m not,” Hayley said.

        “Some friend you are,” Nick said. He went out the door. Hayley sat there. Brian and Leighanne came in.

        “Hayley,” Brian said.

        “Nick hates me, I couldn’t accept his marriage,” Hayley said.  Brian hugged her.

        “I can’t believe him, he’s only known her for two months,” Leighanne said.

        “I know, she’s probably using him,” Hayley said.

        “Probably is,” Leighanne said.

        “I lost my best friend,” Hayley said.

        “You didn’t tell him how you felt about him,” Leighanne said.

        “No,” Hayley said. The door opened and closed and Howie, Kevin, and Kristin came in.

        “Guys, this is crazy, Nick won’t talk to us,” Howie said. Hayley sat back.

        “Well, he hates me now since I didn’t accept the marriage,” Hayley said.

They all looked at each other and they all went to Nick’s house and went in and saw Nick and Mandy sitting on the couch, watching TV.

        “What the heck,” Nick said standing up.

        “Nick, we are not happy about this, you two have only known each other for two months, and now you are married,” Kevin said.

        “Are you using him for a record deal?” Brian asked.

        “Is that why you married him?” AJ asked. Leighanne, Kristin, and Hayley stood back.

        “Nick, we are your brothers, we care about you, but this isn’t right, whose idea was it to get married,” Howie said. Nick looked at Mandy.

        “It was mine, and you guys are right, I wanted a record deal, so I went after Nick and asked him to marry me,” Mandy said standing up.

        “What!” Nick said looking at her.

        “I’m sorry, I couldn’t do it on my own,” Mandy said.

        “I don’t take well to people who use me, our marriage is over, get out!” Nick said. Mandy nodded and got her stuff and went out the door. He looked at the guys.

        “Thanks guys,” Nick said. He went out back. Hayley followed and found him sitting in the lounge chair looking at the ocean. She sat down.

        “Nicky,” Hayley said.

        “I’m sorry about what I said to you, you are a great friend to me,” Nick said.

        “Nick, you just wanted everyone to accept it,” Hayley said. Nick looked at her.

        “Everyone got me to see the truth, that I was used for a record deal, how come every relationship I’m in, they want a record deal and dump me when I get them one, I want to find that one person,” Nick said

        “Nick, I have to tell you this before I lose my nerve, I am in love with you, I have been for awhile, I better go,” Hayley said. She got up and ran into the house and out the door and got into her car and went home and locked up the house and collapsed on the couch.  Someone pounded on the door. She looked out and saw Nick. She went to the door and stared at it.

        “What do you want, Nick,” Hayley said.

        “Hayley, let me in,” Nick said.

        “Nick, I can’t right now,” Hayley said.

        “Hayley, please, come on, you can’t just admit your feelings for me and run, we have to talk about it,” Nick said. Hayley closed her eyes and took a deep breath.

        “Why,” Hayley said.

        “Hayley, we are best friends first, we can talk to each other about everything, please open the door for me, please let me in,” Nick said. She unlocked the door and opened it and Nick came in and closed the door.

Chapter 12

Hayley looked at Nick and walked into the living room and sat down on the couch. Nick sat down beside her.

        “Hayley, I don’t feel the same way,” Nick said.

        “Then why did you come over here,” Hayley said.

        “You ran out, I had to talk to you about it,” Nick said.

        “Why bother, you made me feel worse about myself,” Hayley said.

        “Hayley, please, I’m not divorced yet, or my marriage isn’t annulled yet, I need to get that done before anything else,” Nick said. Hayley turned away from him.

        “Then go,” Hayley said.

        “Hayley, we can’t leave things like this,” Nick said.

        “Like what, Nick, huh,” Hayley said.

        “With you being this way, like you hate me,” Nick said. Hayley turned to him.

        “I don’t hate you, I can’t hate you, Nick, that is too hard of a thing for me to do, I love you, Nick, I love you more than anything in the world and it hurts me that you can’t feel the same way,” Hayley said. She ran upstairs and went into her bedroom and closed the door and locked it and leaned against the door. Nick knocked on her door.

        “Hayley, please, don’t hide from me,” Nick said.

        “Nick, please go,” Hayley said.

        “No, I’m not leaving until we talk,” Nick said.

        “Nick, please, just go,” Hayley said.

        “Dammit, Hayley, open the door,” Nick said.  She flung the door open and looked at him.

        “I opened the door, okay, what now,” Hayley said. Nick looked at her and cupped her face in his hands and kissed her deeply.

        “Nick, stop, don’t do that if you don’t feel the same way,” Hayley said.

        “I do, I’ll be back,” Nick said. He went down the stairs and out the door. Hayley leaned against the doorframe and closed her eyes. She went and locked up the house and went up and took a shower and went to bed.

A few hours later, she woke up and saw Nick sitting on the bed. She sat up and looked at the clock.  

        “Nicky, it’s after midnight,” Hayley said sleepily.

        “I had to come back, I got my annulment, I’m free, it’s official,” Nick said.

        “You can’t wait until later in the morning to tell me that,” Hayley said.

        “I wanted to come now, Hayley, I want to be with you, I am in love with you, too, you know me and I know you, we are perfect,” Nick said before kissing her deeply. They laid on the bed and began making out. Nick began removing her clothes.

        “Nick, aren’t we moving a little fast,” Hayley said.

        “No, we already know each other, Hayley,” Nick said.

        “Good point,” Hayley said. He removed her clothes and his and he slowly and gently made love to her. Afterwards, they laid there holding each other. Hayley rested her head on Nick’s chest and smiled.

        “Wow,” Hayley said.

        “Yeah, wow, how about moving in with me?” Nick asked. Hayley looked up at him.

        “What about my house?” Hayley asked.

        “Sell it,” Nick said.

        “What if things don’t work out?” Hayley asked. Nick rolled them over and he laid on top of her.

        “Things will work out, baby, I’m never letting you go, this is forever for me,” Nick said kissing her softly and moving to her neck. He made love to her again before they went to sleep holding each other.

Three weeks later, Hayley walked into the studio where the guys were recording and saw Brian, Howie, AJ, and Kevin looking at Nick who was standing there with Mandy. She saw they were holding hands. Leighanne and Kristin came in behind Hayley and saw what was going on.

        “What is going on?” Leighanne asked. They all looked at her and Nick looked at Hayley. She glared at him.

        “It seems that Mandy and Nick are still married and they decided to be together,” Brian said.

        “What!” Kristin said. They came up and stood beside Hayley as she stood there looking at Nick.

        “Yeah, he decided to make the marriage work,” AJ said. Hayley felt her heart drop. Nick came over to her.

        “Hayley,” Nick said. Hayley felt anger come over her and she raised her hand and slapped Nick across the face.

        “You bastard, I hate you!” Hayley said. She ran out the door. Leighanne and Kristin glared at Nick and followed Hayley out the door. Nick looked at the guys and Mandy.

Chapter 13

Hayley laid in bed and stared out the window. She was in a guestroom at Kevin’s house. Leighanne had gone with Brian to get her things from Nick’s house. Kevin came in with Kristin and they sat down.

        “I can’t believe this, why would he do that,” Hayley said crying.

        “We have no clue, he said he was done with her, that he was with you, and now all the sudden he’s back with her, he must be going crazy,” Kevin said.

        “I loved him, Kev, he said he wasn’t going to let me go!” Hayley said crying. Kevin hugged her. The doorbell rang. Kevin got up and went downstairs and opened the door and saw Nick standing there with his hands in his pockets.

        “Nick, she doesn’t want to see you,” Kevin said.

        “Kev, I have to talk to her,” Nick said.

        “Nick, man, she’s up there crying her eyes out, she loved you, man, and you go back to Mandy, why,” Kevin said. Nick looked at him.

        “I don’t know, the annulment didn’t go through and Mandy threatened to go to the press and tell everyone that I’m married to her and living with another woman, having an affair, I know I went the wrong way about things but I was trying to protect us, Kev, what affects me affects all of us, I couldn’t do that to the group, I don’t want Mandy, I never did, I was just protecting the group, and my big brothers,” Nick said. Kevin hugged him. Hayley heard everything from the stairs and went back to her room. She told Kristin what was said.

        “That bitch,” Kristin said.

        “Instead of going back to her, he could have come to me and told me the truth, before flaunting everything in my face,” Hayley said.

        “Well, let’s make sure that bitch doesn’t win the game,” Kristin said. Hayley looked at her.

        “You are so right,” Hayley said. They went downstairs and Hayley hugged Nick.

        “Baby, I’m so sorry, I didn’t want her, you are the only one I want,” Nick said burying his face in her neck.

        “I know, Nicky, I know you wouldn’t lie to me about that, I’m sorry for slapping you,” Hayley said.

        “It’s okay, I understood you were angry and upset,” Nick said. He kissed her deeply. They looked at Kevin and Kristin.

        “Brian and Leighanne are taking care of Mandy for me, I don’t want to see her again,” Nick said resting his forehead against Hayley’s. Brian and Leighanne came in smiling and Brian handed the annulment papers to Nick. Nick looked and saw Mandy’s signature.

        “How did you get her to sign?” Nick asked.

        “Easy, we told her that if she goes to the press, we will deny it and just say she’s a lying bitch,” Leighanne said.

        “And the fact that we are Backstreet Boys and we can make the press believe us over her,” Brian said.

        “Yup,” Kevin said. Nick hugged Hayley.

Epilogue

Three months later, Nick was officially free from Mandy and he and Hayley got married a month after the annulment became official. Nick was home playing video games when Hayley came in and smiled at him.

        “What’s up, baby,” Nick said. Hayley sat down in Nick’s lap and kissed him deeply.

        “Good choice of words, Nicky,” Hayley said.

        “What,” Nick said.

        “We are having a baby, I’m four months pregnant,” Hayley said.  Nick smiled and kissed her deeply.

        “I love you so much,” Nick said.

        “I love you, too, Nicky,” Hayley said.

        “Five more months and we will have a baby, a little precious life created by our love,” Nick said putting a hand on her stomach.

        “I’m glad we are married, Nicky, I know our love is forever,” Hayley said.

        “Forever isn’t long enough,” Nick said kissing her and held her close swearing to never let her go.

THE END!