“Hey Lisa,” Brian greeted as he and Leighanne strolled into Nick’s back yard, seeing Nick and his new girlfriend sunbathing by the pool. “What’s up, Frack?”

Nick looked up and squinted at the bright sunlight. “Nothing much. Where are the others?”

“On their way,” Leighanne answered, making herself comfortable in a chair. A little difficult to do at seven months pregnant.

“Yo yo yo!” AJ called as he and Amanda joined them, Howie, Ashley, Kristin and Kevin following closely behind. “Let the party begin!”

“Who else is coming?” Brian asked.

“My family,” Nick answered. “Carolyn and Rick, Brooke and Brad.”

“Brooke’s coming?” Howie questioned. “I haven’t seen her in years it seems like.”

“It has been a year and a half,” Kevin commented. He glanced at Nick. “How’d you convince her to come?”

Nick shrugged. “I don’t know. It took some convincing. She’s never really forgiven me for…” He trailed off, not wanting to get into it in front of Lisa. She didn’t know that much about Kayleigh and Nick didn’t want her to. All Lisa knew was that Kayleigh used to be Nick’s best friend and she wasn’t around anymore, for whatever reason.

“Hey guys,” Brooke said, nervously from the entrance to the backyard where she stood with her boyfriend, Brad. AJ walked over and scooped her up in his arms. “What’s up girl?” He set her back down on her feet and looked her over. “What is that on your finger?” Brooke grinned sheepishly as she glanced at Brad. “An engagement ring. We’re getting married.”

“Congratulations!” AJ exclaimed, drawing a crowd around them. They all took turns to congratulate the happy couple.

An hour later, Nick’s party was in full swing but Nick was nowhere to be found. Brooke glanced around, trying to find him. She desperately wanted to talk to him. Something she hadn’t really done since Kayleigh had left.

“Hey Bri,” she announced, approaching him and Leighanne. “Have you seen Nick anywhere?”

“I saw him go inside about ten minutes ago,” Brian answered.

She smiled. “Alright. I’ll see you in a few.” Brooke walked inside and looked around the downstairs for Nick. Not finding him there, she walked upstairs and found him sitting on his bed, his back to the door.

“Hey Nick,” she announced quietly. Nick quickly wiped his eyes and looked up at her.

“Hey,” he responded. Brooke carefully walked inside the room and over to the bed where he sat:

“What’s wrong?”

“Nothing,” Nick answered. Brooke looked down and noticed the picture in his hand. One of he and Kayleigh in Europe during the Millennium tour. They were goofing off outside of the Eiffel Tower.

“I can’t believe it’s been over two years,” she whispered.

“She’s turning twenty three today,” Nick commented. “Twenty three years old and I’m not there to celebrate it with her.” He wiped his eyes. “There are some things that I’m never going to get used to. Birthdays and holidays without her are one of them.”

Brooke just sat there quietly, not knowing what to say. She felt bad about all of the horrible things she had ever said to Nick when Kayleigh left. She was just angry and needed to take it out on someone and the obvious choice was him. It wasn’t Nick’s fault. It wasn’t anyone’s fault. But Kayleigh had made her decision and they all had to deal with it. She had disappeared without a trace and whenever they tried to find her, they always came up empty.

“Do you think I have a son or a daughter?” Nick asked, a few minutes later.

Brooke smiled and shrugged. “I don’t know, Nicky. No matter what, I’m sure that he or she is just perfect.”

“I find myself laying awake at night,” Nick began. “Picturing what he or she might look like. Definitely blond hair. Definitely blue eyes. Hopefully Kayleigh’s nose.”

“Don’t do this to yourself, Nick,” Brooke advised him. “It’s killing you. I can tell.”

“I can’t help it,” Nick whimpered. “I don’t know what else to do. It’s driving me insane. I just want to know if she’s okay. If the baby’s okay. Why won’t she just let us know?”

“Because she’s scared, Nicky,” Brooke said. “She doesn’t want to be found and no matter how much that hurts any of us, there’s nothing we can do about it.” She stood up and offered her hand to him. “Come on before people start to wonder. Let’s get back to the party.”

He smiled and pulled her into a hug. “Thanks Brooke.”

“You’re welcome, Nicky.” She took his hand and the two walked back downstairs and outside.

“Hey guys,” BJ greeted. “Where have you two been?”

“Just talking,” Brooke smiled.

“So when do you leave, Bri?” Lisa asked, wrapping her arms around Nick’s waist.

“Tomorrow,” he answered.

“Where are you going again?” Howie asked.

“L.A.,” Brian replied. “I’m helping Harold with his new album.” He looked over at Leigh. “Are you sure you’re going to be okay while I’m gone?”

Leighanne smiled up at him. “Of course I am, honey. Don’t worry. I won’t have this baby without you.”

“Good. Cause I want to be there to hold your hand when he’s born,” Brian said, kissing the top of her head. “I want to be the first one he sees.” No one noticed Nick walk away from the group.

“He?!” Leighanne snorted. “I don’t think so, sweetheart. A girl. Definitely a girl.”

“Nick,” Carolyn said as she approached him. “Are you okay?”

Nick quickly wiped his eyes and glanced at her. “I guess. It’s just that all of this baby talk kind of gets to me sometimes. I don’t even know if I have a son or a daughter. What their name is. When their birthday is. It’s not fair.”

Carolyn pulled him into a hug. “I know, sweetheart. It’s not fair. I miss her so much sometimes it kills me. She’s my only baby. And she’s all alone out there with a baby of her own.”

“Hi guys,” Lisa interrupted quietly. She noticed the tears in Nick’s eyes. “Is something wrong?”

Nick shook his head. “Nothing’s wrong, honey. I’m fine.”

Lisa looked at him, oddly, but decided against saying anything. Something was wrong with him. She knew that. But she had no clue what it was. And she was determined to find out.

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