Hayley walked down the hall of the hospital where she was a nurse and delivered some charts to one of the nurses’ station when she felt arms around her waist. She looked and saw her husband smiling at her.

        “Hey honey,” Hayley said. He smiled and kissed her cheek.

        “Hey yourself, how soon are you off?” Nick asked.

        “Two hours,” Hayley said looking at the clock.

        “But I thought you were off now?” Nick said.

        “I was supposed to be but one of the other nurses had a family emergency and asked me to cover for her for two more hours until the nurse they called to cover for her could make it in,” Hayley said.

        “Can you tell them you have a family emergency?” Nick said softly.

        “What kind of emergency?” Hayley said.

        “That I need you, that I’m in pain and I need my wife to take care of me,” Nick said in her ear.  Hayley smiled and looked up at him.

        “As much as I wish I could, I can’t, honey, I’m sorry, if you can hold on for the next two hours, I will be home to take care of you, all night long,” Hayley said stroking his cheek.

        “I will be looking forward to it, I love you, so much,” Nick said. Hayley kissed him softly.

        “I love you, too, now you better go so I can get back to work and get home sooner, I have a lot to do and need to get it all done if I want to leave on time,” Hayley said.

        “Okay, see you,” Nick said. Beth came up to them.

        “Hey lovebirds,” Beth said. Beth is one of her closet friends at the hospital. Beth was engaged to Nick’s best friend, Chris and they all often double dated.

        “Chris will be by later to see ya,” Nick said.

        “Good, I will need to be in his arms after tonight, Hayley, we got a big one coming in, muilt car pileup on the freeway, four victims are coming in,” Beth said.

        “I better get going,” Nick said.

        “You might as well stay, Nick,” Beth said.

        “Why,” Nick said.

        “One of the victims is Aaron,” Beth said.

        “What, how is he, do you know?” Nick asked.

        “They said he’s stable but that’s all they can tell until he gets here and the doctors examine him,” Beth said. Hayley hugged Nick.

        “I’ll take care of Aaron, you call your dad and sisters,” Hayley said. Nick nodded and sat down.

        “I’ll call,” Hayley said. He nodded. She called Bob.

        “Hey Dad, it’s Hayley, you guys better come to the hospital, it’s Aaron, he’s on his way in, a car accident, yeah, he’s here, bye,” Hayley said.

        “Baby,” Nick said.

        “Dad’s on his way, Ginger and the girls are coming with him, they all were there,” Hayley said. She sent a text to Leighanne telling her about it and to tell Brian and have him call the others. Ten minutes later, the ambulances arrived and the victims were in rooms with doctors. Hayley stuck with Aaron as Dr. McBain examined him.

Nick sat in the waiting room with Brian, Leighanne, Howie, Leigh, AJ, and Rochelle.  Bob, Ginger, BJ, Leslie, and Angel came in. Nick hugged Bob.

        “Hayley’s with him,” Nick said.

        “He’ll be okay, Nick, he is in good hands, you know Hayley won’t let anything happen to him,” Angel said.

        “Yeah, she is part of the family and she loves all of us,” BJ said. Leslie sat with Nick.

        “Yeah, she loves him like a brother,” Leslie said. Nick nodded and saw Hayley come out.

        “He’s going to be fine, he’s got a concussion but he’s going to be okay, he just needs rest,” Hayley said. Nick smiled and hugged her.

        “Thank god,” Nick said.

        “I told you I wouldn’t let anything happen to him,” Hayley said. Nick smiled and kissed her softly.

        “I love you,” Nick said.

        “I love you, too, he’s asking for you,” Hayley said. Nick went to his room. Hayley looked at everyone.

        “Did anyone call Jane?” Hayley asked.

        “Not yet,” Bob said.

        “Good, don’t, he doesn’t want to see her,” Hayley said.

        “What, why,” Bob said.

        “The reason he was in the car was that he moved out and was going to stay with Jake, he and Jane had a huge fight and he wants nothing to do with her ever again, his words,” Hayley said. Bob groaned.

        “I can’t believe this,” Bob said sitting down.

        “I’m sorry, but it’s what he said,” Hayley said. Leslie called her mother.

        “Mom, it’s Leslie, yeah, we are here with him, look don’t bother coming because he doesn’t want to see you, who cares, it’s what Aaron wants, Mom, you can’t boss any of us around anymore, you don’t have any control over us, Aaron is 18, Dad’s got control of his assets so Aaron can do what he wants, just stay away from him, or else, don’t make us call the cops or the bodyguards, just stay home and leave him be,” Leslie said. She hung up.

        “Leslie,” BJ said.

        “She saw it on the news, call Billy, Hayley,” Leslie said. Hayley called Billy, Nick’s bodyguard. He arrived and she told him the situation and he stood outside the door of Aaron’s room. Jane arrived at the hospital and saw everyone. Brian, AJ, and Howie stood with Billy. She came to the door.

        “Guys, I want to see my son,” Jane said.

        “He doesn’t want to see you, Jane, just go home,” Brian said. Nick came out of the room and saw his mother.

        “Would you settle for your other son,” Nick said.

        “Nick, I want to see Aaron, he needs me,” Jane said.

        “He doesn’t need you anymore, Dad’s with him, you don’t need to be here, you were the reason he was in the car to begin with since you pushed him to leave,” Nick said.

        “That’s not what happened, Nick,” Jane said.

        “You don’t want Aaron, you want his money, you can forget it, he isn’t your bank, he’s your son!” Nick said. Hayley came out of the room and saw Jane.

        “What is she doing here,” Jane said.

        “She’s working, Mom, she’s been taking care of Aaron since he got here, he’s going to be fine, he’s in good hands so leave now,” Nick said. Jane looked at Hayley.

        “Thank you, Hayley, for the care you have given to Aaron,” Jane said.

        “He’s family, Jane, I wouldn’t let anything happen to him, please leave the hospital before I call security, Aaron will call you when he feels like it,” Hayley said. Jane looked at them and walked down the hall.

        “I have a feeling this isn’t over,” Hayley said.

        “I think you are right, sis,” Brian said hugging her. Hayley smiled and hugged him and AJ and Howie.

        “Billy, if she comes back, don’t let her in,” Nick said.

        “You got it, boss,” Billy said. An hour later, leaving Aaron in the hands of Beth and the rest of the night crew, Hayley and Nick went home leaving Billy at Aaron’s door. They walked into the house and locked up and went upstairs and got into the shower and he smiled and kissed her and they made love in the shower. They washed off and got out and dried off and he carried her to the bed and collapsed on the bed and they made love off and on for the rest of the night. The next day, Hayley got up and got ready for work. Nick woke up and sat up.

        “Baby, already?” Nick asked.

        “Yup, but don’t worry, after tonight, I’m off for three days straight,” Hayley said. Nick smiled.

        “Awesome because when we go to bed tonight, we won’t be getting out of it for three days,” Nick said.

        “What about Aaron, honey,” Hayley said. He got up and got dressed.

        “I’m going to take you to work so I can hang with my bro,” Nick said. They locked up the house and went to the hospital and Hayley signed in while Nick went to Aaron’s room. He walked in and saw Ginger and BJ.

        “Hey,” Nick said.

        “Hayley was right, it wasn’t over, your dad just got arrested, some stupid charge, Leslie and Angel are at the station now,” Ginger said.

        “And no one called me,” Nick said.

        “He said not to, he wants you here with Aaron to keep Mom away,” BJ said.

        “And he told me to stay with him,” Ginger said.

        “Angel said she’s getting a restraining order against Mom for Aaron,” BJ said.

        “Good,” Nick said. Hayley came in.

        “Billy told me, Leslie called me, she said that she got the charges dropped and Angel got a restraining order so Jane can’t come near Aaron or anyone of us, they are on their way here,” Hayley said.

        “Thank god,” Ginger said. Aaron woke up.

        “Nick,” Aaron said weakly. Nick sat down on the bed beside him.

        “Hey bro, you scared me,” Nick said.

        “Sorry, I just had to get away from her,” Aaron said.

        “I know, Angel got a restraining order, she can’t come near any of us or she’ll go to jail,” Nick said.

        “Good, I hate her,” Aaron said.

        “Security is tight so she can’t get to you,” Hayley said.

        “I’m glad you are taking care of me, Hayley, I know I can trust you with my life,” Aaron said.

        “You bet you can, you are like a brother to me, you are my brother-in-law, you are family, I take care of my family,” Hayley said. She hugged him.

That night, it was close to the end of her shift and she was going to check on Aaron. She walked down the hall when she felt something poking her in the back.

        “You take me to Aaron’s room, now,” Jane said. She realized that Jane had a gun stuck to her back. She walked down the hallway to Aaron’s room. Billy saw her with Jane.

        “Stop right there,” Billy said.

        “I’m going to see my son, you try and stop me and your boss here dies,” Jane said. Billy looked at Jane and sighed and stepped aside.

        “If you call anyone, she dies,” Jane said. They went into the room and Aaron saw them and his eyes widened.

        “What the?” Aaron asked.

        “Sit down in the chair and don’t move,” Jane said. Hayley sat down in the chair. Jane kept the gun on her.

        “I had to do what I could to see you, Aaron,” Jane said.

        “Have you gone insane, I don’t want to see you, you can’t control me anymore, I’m over 18, I make my own choices,” Aaron said.

        “You are my son!” Jane said.

        “No, I’m your moneymaker, you are too lazy to get a job so you keep me around to support you, I’m done, you are on your own,” Aaron said.

        “You better change your mind, Aaron, or Hayley dies,” Jane said.

        “Mom, she’s your daughter-in-law, if you kill her, you will destroy Nick’s life, she is everything to him, if she dies, it will kill him, don’t you even care about your eldest son!” Aaron said. Jane looked at Aaron and then at Hayley.

        “Of course I care about Nick,” Jane said.

        “Then don’t kill her, Mom, please, if you care about Nick, you won’t hurt her,” Aaron said.

Billy had quietly sent a text to Nick to get back to the hospital quickly. Nick came down the hallway and he quietly told him what happened. Nick quietly told him to call the police.  He knocked on the door. He slowly opened the door and saw his mother holding a gun and Hayley sitting in the chair by Aaron’s bed. Jane looked and saw him. He came in and closed the door and stood there.

        “Mom, why are you doing this,” Nick said.

        “I wanted to see Aaron and everyone was keeping me from him,” Jane said.

        “Because it was what he wanted, we treat him like he wants to be treated, we won’t force him to do what he doesn’t want, he said he didn’t want to see you, we were doing what he asked,” Nick said.

        “But I needed him!” Jane said.

        “You needed his money, Mom, it has always been about the money, when you couldn’t have mine, you went for Aaron’s, why do you think Dad divorced you, because it wasn’t about us kids, it was about the money, Dad is the only one who cares about what we want, the only one who doesn’t want our money, he wants us,” Nick said. Hayley stood up.

        “Listen to Nick, Jane, all they wanted was their mother to be their mother, not a freeloader,” Hayley said.

        “Stay out of this,” Jane said.

        “I’m a member of the family, Jane, I am involved in it all,” Hayley said.

        “You know nothing about any of this!” Jane said. She fired at Hayley, hitting her shoulder. Nick kicked the gun away and grabbed his mother as Billy and hospital security came in. Dr. McBain came in and attended to Hayley.

        “Hayley,” Dr. McBain said kneeling down beside her.

        “It’s okay, just my shoulder, need to stop the bleeding,” Hayley said. He put pressure on the wound and she cried out in pain. Billy and security pulled Jane out the door. Nick knelt down next to her.

        “Baby,” Nick said.

        “Let’s get this taken care of, Nick, stay with Aaron,” Dr. McBain said.

        “I want to be with my wife,” Nick said.

        “Nick, I’ll be fine, just stay with Aaron, please, for me,” Hayley said. Nick sighed and nodded. Maintenance came in and cleaned the room. Nick sat down beside Aaron’s bed.

        “I better call Dad,” Nick said.

        “He will flip,” Aaron said.

        “Yeah,” Nick said. He called Bob and told him what happened.  He hung up.

        “He couldn’t believe how far Mom went, he’s coming down,” Nick said.

        “All of this because she wanted to see me,” Aaron said.

        “Aaron, don’t go blaming yourself, she was desperate for money, she should have understood why you didn’t want to see her,” Nick said. Brian and AJ came in.

        “Billy told us what happened, how’s Hayley,” Brian said.

        “I don’t know, she left with Michael and told me to stay with Aaron,” Nick said.

        “Go find her, we’ll stay with Aaron,” Brian said. Nick went to find his wife.

        “Nick, they took Hayley to surgery to remove the bullet,” Beth said.

        “I just can’t believe what my mom did, I think she’s losing her mind,” Nick said.

        “She just didn’t know how to listen to what Aaron wanted,” Beth said.

        “I hope she stays in jail,” Nick said.

        “She probably will,” Beth said.

        “I got to go take care of something, tell Hayley I’ll be back later,” Nick said. He went out the door and went to the police station where he found Leslie and BJ.

        “Why are you guys here,” Nick said.

        “We heard Mom was here, but we don’t know why,” BJ said. Nick sighed.

        “Don’t bother spring her, let her stay in jail,” Nick said.

        “Nick, she’s our mother,” BJ said.

        “She’s not mine, not anymore, not after what she did,” Nick said.

        “What did she do,” Leslie said.

        “She lost her mind, Leslie, she brought a gun into the hospital, held it on my wife and forced her way into Aaron’s room, Billy called me down there and I went in to talk to her and she didn’t like what Hayley said and shot her in the shoulder, my wife is in surgery now to remove the bullet, she could have been killed if Hayley hadn’t of moved the way she did,” Nick said. BJ looked at Leslie.

        “That’s good reason to leave her in jail,” BJ said.

        “Yup,” Leslie said. They left. Nick went to the front desk.

        “I’m Nick Carter, my mom was brought in, I would like to speak with her, please,” Nick said.

Twenty minutes later, he was sitting in a room waiting for his mother to be brought in. She came in and they sat her down and left the room. Nick sat there glaring at her.

        “Nothing I say will make things right,” Jane said.

        “You bet it won’t, have you lost your mind, you could have killed my wife tonight, you would have if she didn’t try to move out of the way, do you have any idea what it would have done to me if she died?” Nick said.

        “I just wanted to see Aaron, I had to do what I could to see him,” Jane said.

        “You could have waited and let him come to you, no one was keeping him from coming to you or forcing him to not come to you, you needed patience, Mother, he would have come to you eventually after time, you destroyed our family, with your money-grubbing ways, that’s all you wanted was money, and all five of us were your ticket to getting it,” Nick said.

        “I wish I could go back and change things but I can’t, I’m sorry, okay, I don’t know what I can say to you to make you believe me when I say I’m sorry,” Jane said.

        “I don’t think you can, you shot your own daughter-in-law for no good reason, you blew it with me, I’m done, you are nothing to me!” Nick said. He got up and walked out the door and went back to the hospital and went to Aaron’s room and found his dad, Ginger, BJ, Leslie, and Angel with Aaron.

        “Nick,” Bob said.

        “I am so done with her, she is nothing to me,” Nick said.

        “Nick, she’s still your mother,” Bob said.

        “Not anymore, she shot my wife, Dad, she could have killed your daughter-in-law, if Hayley hadn’t moved the way she did, she could have died,” Nick said. Beth came in.

        “Nick, Hayley’s out of surgery,” Beth said. Nick looked at his father and went to see his wife. He walked into the room and saw Hayley sitting up on a bed with her arm in a sling.

        “Honey,” Nick said going to her side.

        “Hey, I’m okay,” Hayley said

        “I know, I can’t believe she would do that, if you hadn’t moved,” Nick said. Hayley took his hand.

        “Don’t think about that, Nick,” Hayley said.

A year later, Nick was on tour for his latest solo album and then it was two months off before resuming a tour with BSB and NKOTB. Hayley was home cleaning when the phone rang. She answered it.

        “Hello, Dad, what, oh god no, I’ll tell him, see you,” Hayley said. She hung up and broke down crying.  Brian and AJ came in.

        “Hayley!” AJ said running to her. He hugged her. Leighanne and Rochelle came in and saw them.

        “Hayley,” Leighanne said as she and Rochelle went to her. Hayley said nothing and sobbed as AJ and Brian sat with her.

        “Hayley, what is it, did something happen to Nick?” Brian asked. She shook her head and cried.

        “Did he leave you?” AJ asked. Hayley cried and shook her head. Leighanne knelt down in front of her.

        “Hayley, what is it,” Leighanne said.

        “Bob just called, Leslie died this morning,” Hayley said sobbing. Brian hugged her as they all teared up.

        “Does Nick know?” AJ asked.

        “I told Bob I would tell him, he’ll be home tonight,” Hayley said. The door opened and Nick came in with his bags.

        “Hey everyone,” Nick said. He saw them all crying and he went to Hayley.

        “Honey,” Nick said as he sat next to her.

        “Nick, Dad called,” Hayley said crying.

        “What is it, baby,” Nick said. Hayley started sobbing. Nick looked at Brian.

        “Leslie died this morning,” Brian said. Nick looked at Hayley and she nodded.

        “How?” Nick whispered.

        “No one knows how yet,” Hayley said crying. Nick sat there and he took his wife in his arms.

        “Dad’s on his way with BJ, Angel, and Aaron,” Hayley said. Nick nodded and closed his eyes as tears ran down his cheeks. Brian, Leighanne, AJ, and Rochelle gathered around them as they knew nothing would be the same.

Two hours later, Bob, BJ, Angel and Aaron came in. Nick hugged his father and his two sisters and brother.  Hayley stood up and BJ hugged her.

        “Does your mom know?” Hayley asked.

        “Not yet,” BJ said.

        “I know what Jane did was wrong, but she should be out of jail for this, Leslie was her daughter,” Hayley said.

        “Hayley, she shot you,” Nick said.

        “I know, Nick, I won’t forgive her for that, but she should be with the family, regardless of what she did, she is your mother, she gave you life, you all need to grieve together as a family, regardless of anything else,” Hayley said.

        “I’ll go with you,” BJ said.

        “Me, too,” Bob said. They went with Hayley to the police station and waited for the officer to bring Jane to a room. She was brought in and saw them. 

        “Why are you guys here,” Jane said.

        “Something has happened, Jane, something bad,” Hayley said. Jane looked at Bob and BJ and then at Hayley.

        “What’s going on,” Jane said.

        “Jane, you better sit down,” Bob said. Jane sat down and looked at them.

        “Okay, you guys have red eyes and tear stained faces, did something happen to one of the kids,” Jane said.

        “Mom, it’s Leslie,” BJ said.

        “What, Bob,” Jane said.

        “She’s gone,” Bob said.

        “Gone?” Jane asked as tears ran down her cheeks.

        “She died this morning, we don’t know how yet,” BJ said crying. Jane held her face in her hands and sobbed.

        “Oh god no!” Jane cried. BJ went to her mother and hugged her. Jane looked at Hayley.

        “Was there anything you could have done?” Jane asked.

        “Mike called me and then I called BJ and Angel, I told Aaron, and called Hayley to tell Nick, Mike went to the store to get some things for Alyssa and came home and found her, Alyssa was with Mike’s parents at the time, they were to go get her,” Bob said.

        “Jane, if I was there, I would have done everything I could,” Hayley said.

        “I know you would, Hayley, I’m sorry that I shot you and if I could go back and change everything, I would,” Jane said.

        “Jane, we are here to take you home, I’m going to see about getting the charges dropped so you can be with the family at this time,” Hayley said.

        “We all need to come together as a family, Jane, nothing else matters but family, not money, not anything, just family,” Bob said.

        “I have done a lot of thinking over the past year, I’ve come to realize that there is nothing more important than family, not even money,” Jane said. Hayley went to talk to the chief and an hour later, Jane was in the car with them on the way to Nick and Hayley’s house. They walked in and saw Nick, Angel, and Aaron on the couch. Brian, Leighanne, AJ, Rochelle, Howie, and Leigh sitting around on the floor. Nick, Angel, and Aaron looked and saw their mother.

        “I know I’m not welcomed but Leslie was my daughter and as of now, family comes first for me, not money, that is not as important to me as my kids,” Jane said.

        “So you want to be our mother for sure this time?” Nick asked.

        “Yes, Nick, I had a lot of time to think over the past year, you guys are my kids, my reasons for living, nothing else matters to me but you guys,” Jane said. BJ, Nick, Aaron, and Angel hugged their mother.

        “If you go back to your old ways, you will lose all of us, Mom,” BJ said.

        “No more of that, BJ, this is a fresh start, no more thinking of the past, I’m not going back to that person,” Jane said.

Three days later, they were at the funeral. Hayley stood beside Nick holding his hand when they were at the cemetery.  She knew she had to be strong for Nick whom she knew was breaking down inside at the loss of his sister. Brian, Leighanne, AJ, Rochelle, Howie, and Leigh stood behind them. In a way, they lost a sister as well. They all went to Bob’s house for the wake. Nick went upstairs to a guest room and laid down on the bed. Hayley came upstairs and found him and closed the door and sat on the bed. He looked at her. He pulled her close and she laid beside him and he held her close as he rested his head on her chest and started to cry softly. She held him close and ran her fingers through his hair. There was a knock at the door and it slowly opened and Brian came in.

        “I came up to check on you guys, your dad was worried,” Brian said.

        “I needed to be alone, I didn’t want anyone else to see me like this,” Nick said crying. Brian closed the door.

        “Well, I’ll hang here, too, since me and Hayley are the only ones who have ever seen you cry,” Brian said. He sat on the bed and he and Nick did their handshake. Leighanne came in and closed the door. Nick hid his face from her.

        “Nick, sweetie, it’s okay, I know you have to be crying, I’m not going to say anything but be here for you guys,” Leighanne said sitting on the bed beside her husband.

Three weeks later, things between Nick and Hayley have become strained as Nick had taken up drinking again and they have been fighting a lot. She knew he was still devastated over the loss of his sister. She went to work and saw Beth with Chris.

        “Hayley, you okay,” Chris said.

        “No, your so-called best friend is a big jackass,” Hayley said. Chris and Beth looked at each other.

        “What happened,” Chris said.

        “He’s drinking again, nonstop, and fighting with me over everything, I know he is still upset over losing Leslie but the others are moving on slowly with their lives,” Hayley said.

        “I’ll talk to him,” Chris said kissing Beth and he left. Beth hugged Hayley.

        “I love him so much, Beth, I don’t want to leave him but he is being a jerk,” Hayley said.

        “Do the guys know?” Beth asked.

        “I almost called Brian last night,” Hayley said.

        “Call him,” Beth said. Hayley called Brian.

        “Hello,” Brian said.

        “Brian, it’s Hayley,” Hayley said.

        “Hey girl, what’s up,” Brian said.

        “Your Frack is a big jackass,” Hayley said.

        “What happened,” Brian said.

        “He’s drinking again, Brian, partying like he used to, he is going downhill again and I can’t help him,” Hayley said.

        “I’ll get the guys and get over there,” Brian said.

        “Thank you, tell Leighanne to get the girls to come here to the hospital, I need my best friends, Beth is here already, Chris should be there by now,” Hayley said.

        “Sure thing, bye,” Brian said. Hayley hung up. Michael came up to them.

        “Hayley, you okay?” Michael asked.

        “No, I’m exhausted and I just got here,” Hayley said.

        “I think we’ll be okay if you want to go home,” Michael said. Hayley shook her head.

        “I don’t want to go home, I want to stay away for awhile,” Hayley said.

        “Nick?” Michael said.

        “He’s being a total jackass, I can’t deal with him right now,” Hayley said.

        “Why don’t you go lay down, Beth can get you if we need you,” Michael said.

        “Thanks, Michael,” Hayley said.

        “You’re welcome,” Michael said. Hayley went to the lounge and laid down on one of the cots.

Meanwhile….at the house,

Brian, AJ, and Howie walked in and saw Chris sitting with a passed out Nick.

        “He’s drunk off his ass, he just passed out,” Chris said.

        “Find all the liquor and let’s dump it and find his wallet and keys so he can’t get more,” Brian said. They went and took care of it all. They sat and waited for Nick to wake up.  Two hours later, he woke up with a killer headache. He saw them sitting there watching him.

        “Oh great, Hayley called you guys,” Nick said.

        “She called me, Chris was at the hospital with Beth when Hayley got there, I called Howie and AJ,” Brian said.

        “I suppose I’m going to hear that I shouldn’t be drinking, I don’t care, my sister is gone!” Nick said.

        “And drinking all the time isn’t going to bring her back, but it’s going to cause you something else, your wife, you are destroying the marriage, Nick, you almost did last time,” AJ said. Nick sighed.

        “Nick, Hayley loves you a lot and she doesn’t want to leave you but if you are going to continue with the drinking and being a total jackass, she will, is that what you want?” Chris said.

        “No, I don’t want to lose her,” Nick said.

        “You need to stop drinking and be the Nick she loves,” Chris said.

        “I know what I need to do, okay, what if I screwed up for sure this time,” Nick said.

        “Nick, all she wants is you sober and healthy,” Howie said.

        “I better talk to her,” Nick said.

        “Get some rest and shower before you go, she’s pulling a double at the hospital tonight,” Chris said.

        “Can someone hang out here,” Nick said.

        “I will,” Chris said. Nick nodded and said bye to Brian, Howie, and AJ and went upstairs. Brian, Howie, and AJ said bye to Chris and left. Brian went to the hospital and found Hayley.

        “Well?” Hayley asked.

        “He was passed out when we got there, we talked to him, he’s going to rest up and shower and then come talk to you, he’ll be sober, he doesn’t want to lose you, Chris is staying with him so he’s not alone at the house, all the liquor is gone, Chris has his keys and wallet so he can’t get more,” Brian said.

        “Thanks, Brian,” Hayley said.

        “Where’s my wife?” Brian asked.

        “She’s home with Baylee, the sitter had an emergency,” Hayley said.

        “I’ll better get home, see ya,” Brian said. He left. Hayley went back to work and a few hours went by. She was at a nurses’ station writing in some charts when she felt someone come up behind her and she knew it was her husband.

        “Hayley,” Nick said.

        “Hi,” Hayley said.

        “I know I screwed up, I’m sorry,” Nick said.

        “You promised me you weren’t going to drink ever again,” Hayley said.

        “I know, I’m sorry, just losing Leslie, it broke my heart,” Nick said. Hayley turned and looked at him.

        “And you think it didn’t break anyone else’s, your parents, Ginger, Victoria, Angel, Aaron, BJ, all of them lost her too and somehow they are going on with their lives but they know Leslie will always be with them, they aren’t turning to liquor, but you did, instead of coming to me and talking to me, you turn to alcohol,” Hayley said.

        “I know, okay, I’m sorry, I don’t know what else I can say, okay, I know I messed up, I just don’t want to lose you, I can’t do this without you,” Nick said.

        “I have work to do,” Hayley said. She grabbed the charts and went down the hall. Nick stood there watching her go. Chris came up to him.

        “Nick,” Chris said.

        “I think I destroyed my marriage in the process, I don’t think she’ll forgive me,” Nick said softly.

        “Just give her time, you told her you were sorry, you admitted you messed up, give her time,” Chris said.

        “I love her so much, Chris,” Nick said.

        “And she knows that, you need to prove to her that you are for sure done with alcohol,” Chris said. Nick sighed and left and went to Brian’s. He rang the doorbell and Leighanne opened it and saw him.

        “Hey sweetie,” Leighanne said hugging him. Nick hugged her as he came in. Brian came into the foyer and saw them.

        “Frack,” Brian said. Nick pulled back and Brian saw the tears in Nick’s eyes.

        “She didn’t want to talk to you, huh,” Brian said.

        “We talked, but she took off and now I don’t know what to do, I think I messed up big time, Frick,” Nick said. Brian hugged his little brother.

        “You should let her come to you, okay, let her think about what you said and just wait,” Brian said.

        “Can I crash here for awhile, so she can have some space and she can go home,” Nick said.

        “I’ll make up the guest room,” Leighanne said going upstairs.

        “You know you can crash here anytime, Frack,” Brian said. Nick hugged him and sat on the couch and called Chris and told him what was going on and hung up.

Chris went to the hospital and found Beth and they went to find Hayley. Hayley came out of the lounge and saw them.

        “What,” Hayley said.

        “Just letting you know that Nick’s going to stay at Brian’s so you can have time to yourself, he’s going to give you space to decide what to do,” Chris said.

        “I’ve already done it,” Hayley said.

        “What did you do,” Beth said.

        “She filed for divorce,” Chris said.

        “You what!” Beth said.

        “No, Chris, I did not file for a divorce, I didn’t file to end the marriage, okay, I’ve already decided what to do, tell him to go home, okay, I’ll be home after my shift, since I’m working a double, it will be in the morning,” Hayley said. Chris nodded and called Nick. Beth hugged her.

        “I’m glad you didn’t file for a divorce, that would have sent him back to the bottle for sure,” Beth said. Hayley nodded.

After her shift was over, she went home and walked in just as Nick came downstairs.

        “Hi,” Nick said.

        “Hi,” Hayley said.

        “I’m glad you’re home,” Nick said. Hayley put her stuff down and went to him.

        “Come here,” Hayley said. He pulled her into his arms and they held each other as she rested her head on his chest.

        “I love you so much, I will do anything for you,” Nick said.

        “I love you, too, take me to bed,” Hayley said. Nick locked the door and picked her up and carried her upstairs and laid her on the bed. She pulled him down on top of her and kissed him.

        “Aren’t you tired, you just had a double shift,” Nick said.

        “I’ll sleep better after you make love to me,” Hayley said tugging at his shirt. He kissed her hungrily as he removed his clothes and hers. He slowly and gently made love to her. He laid on top of her and kissed her gently.

        “I love you,” Nick said stroking her hair from her face. She stroked his arms.

        “I love you, too,” Hayley said. He laid beside her and held her close as she fell asleep in his arms. Two hours later, she was still asleep. He gently got up and got dressed and went downstairs just as someone knocked on the door. He opened the door and saw Chris and Beth with Brian, Leighanne, AJ, Rochelle, Howie, and Leigh standing behind them.

        “Hey, what’s going on,” Nick said.

        “Is everything okay, we were worried,” Brian said.

        “Everything is fine now, she’s sleeping, don’t want to wake her,” Nick said quietly.

        “That would not be a good idea, I know how she is when she is woken up before she’s ready, not good at all, it’s best to let her sleep so let’s go and we’ll come back later,” Beth said.

        “You guys can come in, just be quiet,” Nick said. They came in and went downstairs to the studio Nick had in his house.

        “So what’s up,” Nick said sitting down. They all sat down.

        “We were wondering how things were going, if you two were okay,” Brian said.

        “We’re okay, it’s all good now, I’m not going to screw up again, I will not do anything that would cause me to lose my wife,” Nick said. They continued talking.

Hayley woke up and saw Nick gone. She sat up and looked around and got up and got dressed and put her hair up in a ponytail and went downstairs and looked around. She heard voices downstairs. She went downstairs and saw everyone sitting around talking.

        “Hey sleepyhead,” Beth said. Hayley smiled sleepily and sat down on Nick’s lap and rested her head against his shoulder.

        “She’s still sleepy,” Brian said.

        “I woke up and he was gone, I couldn’t go back to sleep,” Hayley said.

        “Sorry, honey, I came downstairs and they showed up,” Nick said.

        “We should go so she can get some sleep, she needs it after that double shift,” Beth said. They all said bye and left. Nick locked up and carried her upstairs and laid down with her and she curled up beside him.

        “Go back to sleep, baby, I’ll stay here with you,” Nick said. Hayley smiled and closed her eyes and went back to sleep.  Nick laid there watching her sleep and realized how lucky he was that she didn’t leave him. He felt his cell phone vibrate. He got it out and looked at it and saw a text from Aaron. He called Aaron.

        “Hey bro,” Aaron said.

        “Hey AC, how are you doing,” Nick whispered.

        “Why are you whispering?” Aaron asked.

        “Hayley’s sleeping, she had a double shift and only two hours of sleep,” Nick whispered.

        “I was just calling to see how you were holding up,” Aaron said. Nick looked at Hayley.

        “Bro, that is a long story for another time,” Nick whispered.

        “I will call you later and we can meet somewhere and talk,” Aaron said.

        “Okay, bye bro,” Nick whispered. He hung up and looked at Hayley and closed his eyes.