"I'm so glad that you're finally mine," Nick said against her lips. "Mine. All mine."
"Oh, me too honey," she kissed him back. "I've been waiting forever and a day for this to take place. I'm so happy that I'm Mrs. Nickolas Carter now!"
"Didn't everyone look so happy and thrilled?" Nick asked. "Kevin didn't start any fights today! That's a major accomplishment!"
"Yeah, I know. Did you see my mom and Chandra?" she smiled blissfully. "They were crying so hard! It made me want to cry as well!"
"I'll make sure that whenever you're with me, you'll never cry," Nick promised. "And if you do, it'd be out of pure happiness."
"I don't think I'll feel any other emotion besides happiness! Hey, did you see Howie and Joanna?" she said, changing the subject quickly.
"Yeah, she looked like she had been crying. And come to think of it, so had he! I hope nothing terrible has happened. We'll call them tomorrow," he grinned slyly. "But now, it's time for us. No one else but us. I hope you like the room I reserved. I know how much you like Scottish castles."
"I'm sure it's gorgeous, Nick," she peered out the window and looked back at him. "But not half as gorgeous as you are!"
"I know," he laughed. "Hey, look at that man in a skirt!"
They both relished the fact that it was just them and no one else with them. They enjoyed their time together in the vast limo, knowing that it'd end soon enough. Meanwhile, Howie and Joanna began to have problems.
"I just don't understand!" she screamed. "How in the hell could you do this to me?"
"I guess I had always known it. I was just denying it," he wrinkled his brow. "I'll always love you. Just not romantically. We've been through a lot and I thank you for being there for me when I needed you."
"I can't believe that after 2 years of marriage that you decide that you're gay!" she continued to yell. "What am I going to tell my parents?"
"The truth?"
"I'd be banished from all social functions! And the media!! Just think of what they're going to say! I'll be laughed at and ridiculed!" her eyes blazed fire. "They believed that you were in love with me!"
"Don't make this any harder, Jo," he pleaded. "Just go along with the divorce. I'll give you half of everything I own. There's no children, so we won't have that to worry about."
"You are so insensitive."
"I'm sorry. That's all I can say," he shrugged. "We can still be friends, right?"
"Hell no! Go to your gay lover! Do you even have one?" she sniffled. "No, I don't want to hear about it. Just get out. I'll have your stuff shipped to you when we get back home. Don't even think that you're going to get that beautiful Victorian sofa though! It's mine!"
"Okay, okay," he held up his hands as to defend himself. "Keep it. I'll just buy a new one. See you when we get back to America."
"Bye."
"Bye, Jo," he stared wistfully at her. "I wish I wasn't like this. I would have fallen so completely in love with you."
"Get out!" she threw a vase at his head and watched his retreating form. Pressing her fingers to the bridge of her nose, she sighed and slumped down to the floor.
"You haven't dissappointed me yet, Mr. Carter," she said laughingly.
"No, I imagine not," he grinned and closed his eyes, letting sleep engulf him.
"Look here, ya'll," Kevin sniffed rightously and waved his hand in the air. "I will sing most of the leads on the next album."
"What do you think you are?" AJ scoffed. "Some kind of Jedi?"
They all laughed, except Kevin who got red and angry. He was trying to remember those 12 steps to controlling his anger. He couldn't remember and muttered "To hell with it."
"Ya'll will do as I say. I'm the oldest. I know the most. I can sing better than all of you combined. Don't screw around with me."
"Kevin, I thought those therapy classes helped you," Brian said. "Did you remember to bring your medication?"
"DAMMIT! Yes I did! I'm not a child!" his eyes flared. "And I just had another though. The next time we do a photo shoot, I want all of you to get behind me. I prefer that I'm in front and all of you look unimportant."
Laughter rang throughout the pub as Kevin made his speech. "Ya'll think that's funny?"
"It's damn hilarious," AJ said, wiping a tear from his eye. "You remember what I did to you two years ago? Don't think I won't do it again."
"Yeah yeah."
"Come on ya'll. It's getting late and I'm tired. We've got an early plane to catch tomorrow," Howie rubbed his eyes. "I'm tired of all this bickering. Grow up Kevin."
With that said, all but Kevin exited the pub. He continued to shout orders at the little man running the shop. The man hurried to do his bidding, knowing that he'd get his butt kicked if he didn't. It made Kevin extremely pleased to see that at least he could boss someone around. He left the pub, happier than he was before.
Nick and Nichole ducked their heads as rice flew at them. Running down the steps of the castle, they smiled and waved joyfully at their friends and loved ones. Batting her silky, shiny veil out of her eyes, Nichole looked over at Nick and mouthed "I love you". Clutching her hand tightly, he smiled and nodded. People were screaming all around them, making it hard to hear. Finally, they reached the bottom of the steps and got into the awaiting black limo. While motioning the driver to go ahead, Nick sighed contentedly and looked sideways at his new bride. It had taken two years, but they were finally married. Two years of planning, preparing, waiting and loving had brought them to this exuberant day. Twining their fingers together, they smiled widely and thought about that coming night. They could hardly wait. Two years of frustrating agony...wanting to touch each other, but knew they couldn't, had taken its toll. Reaching over, Nick cradled her head into his big hands and kissed her gently but forcefully.*At The Same Time*
"No, it's not you, Joanna," Howie sighed loudly. "It's me. It's all me."*A Few Hours Later*
Nichole laughed as Nick swept her up and carried her into their room. Burning red and white candles were scattered throughout the room, giving off a sexy, romantic atmosphere. He leaned down and deeply kissed her, while stroking her silky brown hair. She sighed against his mouth and returned his kiss enthusiastically. Moving toward the bed, he continued to kiss the breath out of her. When they finally reached the huge velvet covered bed, he dropped onto it on one knee and threw her on top of it. Smiling, she reached up to him and motioned for him to join her. He stretched out on top of her and ran his hands down her body. Kissing him frantically, she tore off his clothes, piece by piece and threw them across the room. He groaned and returned the action. A few hours later, they lay satiated and tired. Reaching up, she touched his blond hair and kissed him lightly.*At The Same Time*
Kevin, AJ, Brian, his new girlfriend, Jessica, and Howie went to a pub down the road from their hotel. Jessica and Brian had started seeing one another about 2 months ago. He had spontaneously invited her to his best friend's wedding, but now he didn't think that was such a good idea. After the ceremony, she had been dropping hints about when they were going to get married. He didn't like that idea at all so he just kinda shrugged it off and dismissed the hints. AJ was happy for Nick and Nichole...he was just wondering how long it was going to last. Since they were both young, AJ didn't think it would last but a few months. He figured that they just thought that they were in love. Howie was drowing his sorrows in a tall pint of dark nasty looking beer. He missed Jo already. At least they were all going home tomorrow to work on their new album, minus Nick, who was going to stay in Scotland for a week with his sweetie. Kevin was anxious to get started. He was going to make them let him have some singing parts. It worked last time, why wouldn't it work again? He had to threaten bodily harm last time to get his song on Millennium and sing a few solo parts. Slamming his beer on the table and sloshing it around, Kevin stood up and announced that they had better give him their undivided attention.
