Highway 98 By JeN (C)by JeN and used with permission by BSB Escapes. ************ All characters in this story are just that, characters. They are in no way meant to present the Backstreet boys true to live. All their actions are fictional and not meant to imply anything about any of them. If you understand the difference between fiction and fact, continue. If you do not, please press your back button on your browser right now. ************ Ami shifted uncomfortably in her seat. It seemed lately, no matter what position she was in, she was uncomfortable. Being seven months pregnant usually had that effect on a woman. --I have to go to the bathroom. --Dammit woman. You just went to the bathroom 50 miles back. --I can hold it. --If we have to stop every 50 miles for you to go to the bathroom we are never going to get there. --I didn't mean right now. I just meant when we get a chance. I need to go to the bathroom. She sat back in her seat and began to look at the license plates of all the cars that passed. She had to focus on something besides her bladder. Maybe if she just thought about something else, she could go a little longer without making him stop. Unfortunately, there weren't that many cars on the road and so her method didn't help much in taking her mind somewhere else. Instead she began to think of names for the baby. --What do you think about the name Annie? If it's a girl, and...Adam maybe if its a boy? --I don't like Annie. That reminds me of that redheaded little brat that runs around singing all the time. Ya know...in that movie. Nah, I don't like that name. --Okay...well have you thought of any names? --Nah. I don't much care hon. whatever you wanna name it. That'll be just fine. --Well obviously you do care because you just said you didnt like the name Annie. --Hell, Ami. Why do we have to think about this right now anyways? We have two more months. Ami suddenly felt the need to cry. That was another one of those feelings that seemed to stay with her over the last seven months. But she pushed her tears back down her throat. She wasn't going to let him think he upset her. Her feet were swelling, and she wasn't going to be able to go much longer without asking him to stop again to go to the restroom. Trying desperately to think of something else she pulled her magazine out of her bag. She flipped thru it absently, but she had read it cover to cover already and it couldn't hold her attention either. --Hon, I really need to stop again. Silence. He ignored her and continued to drive. --Curtis... At the mention of his name he began to scan the stations on the radio. Trying to block her out. He wasn't about to stop again. He'd stop when he damn well felt like stopping. And right now...he didn't feel like it. Ami tried to cross her legs. But her swollen belly wouldn't allow it so she just held them together as close as she could, tightened her muscles and tried to think of anything else. --Wanna feel the baby? --No. --Here...Feel right there. Ami reached for his hand and placed it on her lower stomach. --Right there. Can you feel that? He jerked his hand away and placed it back upon the wheel. --I didn't feel nothing. The need to cry suddenly felt overwhelming. But she would not do it. He would only make fun of her again and then she would cry harder. And that would probably only make her need to go to the restroom even more. The pain in her bladder was excruciating and she knew it wouldn't be long before she either made him stop, or just went in the truck. Placing her hand on her belly she began to focus on the signs that they passed. Noticing one for a gas station she looked over at the gage. But they still had over half a tank. This was ridiculous. She HAD to go to the bathroom. --Honey, I REALLY need you to stop. He said nothing. Only jerked the wheel to the right and sped down the ramp to the gas station. He was mad again. Maybe he would be alright if she didn't have to stop for awhile after this. --Are you going to get out? Maybe stretch your legs a little. --No. Hurry up. Once she had gotten out of the truck she walked as fast as her legs would let her to the restroom. But there was someone in it. Pacing back and forth she prayed they wouldn't take too long. Then she heard the flush and thanked God that she could finally relive herself. A short, younger man, about her age exited the bathroom and she practically knocked him down to get inside. Blushing, she told him she was sorry and then continued to hurry. Curtis was going to be mad she'd taken this long already. Once inside she didnt even take the time to cover the seat with paper, or even bother to look and see if there was paper. She just peed and almost cried at the sudden relief in her side. When she finished she washed her hands and made her way back to the truck. But as she walked out the door, all she saw of the truck was its tail lights and the gravel it was kicking up as it sped away. Feeling light headed she looked down at the ground and saw he had thrown her bag out before leaving. Brian noticed the young pregnant lady just before she fell. --Are you alright? And that's all it took. Someone to speak to her and she just collapsed right into the strangers arms. --Oh shit. KEVIN! KEVIN...C'MERE MAN...I NEED YOUR HELP! Chapter Two --------------------- When Ami woke up the stranger she had pushed out of the way to get to the bathroom was sitting beside her. He had a cold rag on her head and a very concerned look on his face. She was inside now...inside what she did not know. When he noticed she had opened her eyes he seemed to let out a breathe that he had been holding. --Well, hey there. She smiled, unsure of what to do or say. And then she remembered what had happened. Curtis left her. He left her...and their baby, and she had no where to go. She didn't even know where they were. --Oh my God!! Who...Where...I don't...Oh my God! She sat up too suddenly and her head began to swim again, forcing her to lay back down. --It's okay. You fell and we had to carry you on our bus. I think maybe you have heat exhaustion or something. Do you want some water...juice maybe? Ami began to cry. She didn't know what she was going to do. Curtis had all the money. The only thing in her bag were a few magazines, a camera, and her scrapbook. She knew no one in town...or what town she was in. Her family obviously wouldn't care where she was. The young strangers eyes grew wide when her sobbing would not stop. --Do you want me to help you to your car? Or... --I don't have a car. --You don't have a car? You walked here? Well no wonder you passed out. Is that sucha good idea? Bein pregnant and all... Her sobs stopped as she looked up into the eyes of this man she did not know. They seemed different from any pair of eyes that she had ever seen. Something about the feeling in them. But she did not know him, and she would not burden him with her problems. Maybe she could call home. Maybe she could hitch a ride home. Where home was tho...she really couldn't say. She had had so many. --I think I should go. Thank you for... --Where are you going? Maybe we could give you a ride. I don't think its safe for you to be out walking in this heat, being pregnant and... --I really couldn't. I don't... And then she started to cry again. But instead of only watching her cry this time, he pulled her in and let her cry on his shoulder. He had intended only to comfort her but her sobs only seemed to deepen at his touch. It felt as though she cried forever. She cried for herself, and she cried for her baby, and she cried for everything else in her life that never seemed to work out any better than this situation she was in now. When her crying appeared to have stopped, he pulled her away from him. --I'm sorry. --It's okay. He was unsure of what else to say. He wanted to help her. But he did not know what to do. --Are you sure we can't give you a ride somewhere? --Where am I? --Oh. You're on our bus. Me and my cousin...we carried you on here when you fell. --No, I mean...where are we. What town...I don't even know. He...we were going to California. How far are we from California. He's probably just mad. Maybe I should just stay here incase he comes back and... --Someone left you here? I thought... Ami lowered her head in shame. She had not meant for all that to come out. Now he would feel sorry for her. And she did not need that. --I should go. I...he will come back for me, I'm sure. He probably just needed to clear his head or something. He's probably out there right now. She stood to make her way off the bus and realized she did not know which direction to go. --It's that way. But, really...it wouldn't be any trouble for us to take you somewhere. Do you have any family around here? --I...don't know. I...don't even know where we are. --Oh. Yeah...we are in Houston...Texas. --Oh God. That's a really long ways a way from... She felt as tho she might pass out again. --California. Yeah...it's quite a ways. --Well, Thank you. For helping me and...offering me a ride. But I'll be just fine. Thank you...and...It was nice to meet you... --Brian. My name is Brian. She smiled. --Thank you Brian. And then she made her way off the bus. The heat hit her like a freight train. She could not stand out in this to wait for Curtis. And she doubted the store manager would allow her to just stand around in there while she waited. She wanted to cry again but she did not know what good it would do. Maybe she should have just let Brian give her a ride. She began walking towards the front of the store when she realized she had left her bag on the bus. Turning around, she noticed Brian was getting back off the bus with her bag. Ami made her way to him and reached to take her bag. --Thank you. Again...Brian. --You're welcome...I don't believe you told me your name. --Oh. Ami. --Here's you bag Ami. Is he here? --Who? --I don't know. You said he left you...but that he would probably come back. She looked around. Hoping there would be anyone at the gas station she could claim was "him". But it was only herself and Brian's bus. --No...I uh...guess not. --Are you sure we can't help you out? They both turned as a tall blonde guy yelled for Brian to hurry up and that they were already late. --We don't bite. I promise. Ami scanned the parking lot one more time. He wasn't there. And she knew...deep down...that he wasn't coming back. He had left her and would not return. --I...uh...I guess I don't really have much of a choice. ------------- Three days. It had been three days and she was still no closer to knowing what she was going to do, or what she could do. She had no family, no friends, and now she had no Curtis. Brian and his friends had all been nice. No one had seemed impatient for her to leave. Still, she barely knew them and she felt as though she had worn out her welcome about two and a half days ago. --How old were you? --I was eleven. Brian shook his head. He could not begin to imagine living the life Ami had lived. The past two nights they had stayed awake nearly the entire night talking. She had confided in Brian things she had never confided into any other person. And he had listened. Actually listened when she spoke. No one in her life had ever done that. --You haven't seen your mother since you were eleven? --No. She met some guy who promised her riches and...a life without a child. So, I dunno. It was Christmas Eve when she left. And it was raining. She just packed her things and left. Didn't even say good-bye. I lived with my grandmother for a while. But, I was just a burden. Eventually I got moved into a foster home. And they were real nice. Then she got pregnant and they didn't want a child that wasn't their own flesh and blood anymore. So, they moved me into a state home for children. I ran away when I was 16. But I didn't make it far. The police picked me up about an hour later. --An hour? Ami laughed. --Yeah. A whole hour. So I was stuck back in the state home until I got sent into another foster home. This one was awful. Just horrible. I mean, the lady she was nice. But she had...fits. --Fits? --Yes. She was old. And she just went through spells where she couldn't remember anything. Or, she'd get her check in the mail. But she'd give it away. Sometimes she'd just throw it away. She always felt really bad once she remembered what she did. --And that's when you met Curtis. --Yeah. But, you heard about all that already. Brian nodded. --I can't believe you've gone through all of this and your only nineteen. Ami ran her hand over her swollen belly. --Well it's not as if you have lived the normal life either. --You have a point. Still... --I know. --You should get some sleep. --Me? I get to sleep all day. You're the one who needs some sleep. You've been yawning for the last hour. He laughed and got up to walk away. --Sweet Dreams. --You too. But she did anything but sleep. She couldn't think of anything except for how she was going to get herself out of this mess. Her gut knew she couldn't live on this bus forever. Tomorrow. Tomorrow she would leave. ` Brian drifted in and out of sleep. His mind staying with Ami. What was it about this girl? She seemed so innocent and naive yet she had already lived through more than most people do their entire lives. And here she was, about to have a baby of her own. He wanted to be there to see the baby. He wanted her to stay. But how do you tell a girl you've only known for three days that...that you want them to stay with you? That you want to know everything about them. To tell them everything about you. Especially with what she had just been through. The father of her baby leaving her stranded at a gas station. Why? Because she had to go to the bathroom? --Son of a bitch... --Excuse me? --Oh. Nick...sorry man. I..uh didnt realize I was talking out loud. --S'okay. I just came to talk to you. Brian sat up in his bunk. This was it. He knew they were going to have questions. And that he couldn't avoid the topic forever. --What...well. About Ami... ---------------------- --I don't know Nick. We can't just put her back on the streets. She has nowhere to go. No family to go to, and no money to support herself. She's pregnant for God's sake. --Whoa! Whoa! Slow down there buddy. I wasn't gonna say we wanted her to leave. But... --But what? --Well, we've got to figure out what we're gonna say. I mean, it'll be a little hard to hide a pregnant girl traveling with us; don'tcha think? Brian smiled. It seemed as though she had charmed them all. Now if he could just convince her it was okay to stay with them for a while. --Brian, I can't. --Ami...what else are you going to do? --I could get a job. Work at Wal-Mart or something. --And where are you going to stay until you get enough money for an apartment? How do you plan to pay for your doctor bills? Diapers? Bottles? --Well, I can't just live on this bus. I can't live off of you guys. You've all been really nice to me and you've all done more for me in these three days than anyone has ever done for me before. But I refuse to let you support me. I can support myself! And my baby. --How? --Have you really thought about this? Have you even considered what you're asking? You want me...who you've only known THREE DAYS to travel around the country with you and your friends. A different city every night, a new crowd of screaming faces everyday. You want to support me and my child. A child you have no connection to. That's expensive...and its ludicrous. What is the press gonna say? What will your managers say? What are your fans gonna think? --Money is not an issue. --I don't want to feel like I'm a burden. Which is what I will end up being. --No you won't --Yes, Brian I will. Maybe not financially. But, have you given any thought to what this could do to your career? *Backstreet Boy picks up stray pregnant teen*. I can just see the headlines now. --I don't care. --I do. I will not do this. I will not cause that kind of trouble for you...or for me. Can you imagine the things they will say about ME? About my baby? I just can't do it. I don't know how I will support myself and my child. But I will. I'm a strong person. It might take me some time to get on my feet. But I will be okay. I always am. --Work for us. --What? --As much as it takes for us to be who we are, there must be a job that you can do. Not indefinitely. But until you save up enough to be on your own. I can't just let you go wander the streets, Ami. I may have just met you. But...I wouldn't sleep at night not knowing if you were okay. Not knowing if your baby was okay. Where you were sleeping. --I...Bri.. --Think about it. Okay? Just...stay with us a few more days. Let us figure out a job for you. That way you won't feel like your living off of us. You'll be supporting yourself. But I'll still know that your alright. --I'll think about it. But that's all I can promise. --Thank you. --Thank you? Your thanking me? That's a bit backwards don't you think? You picked me up off the street. Have given me a place to sleep, food to eat and anything else I needed for the last few days. Now your offering me a job. And your thanking ME? Brian smiled. --I have an interview I need to get to. Ami nodded and watched him walk away. ----------------- Ami was getting out of bed when the first one hit her. The sudden, almost breathe taking cramp that about knocked her right back down in the bed. But as soon as it hit, it had passed. Slowly, she dragged herself to the shower and that's when the second one came. Worse this time, and lasted longer than the one before it. Was it time? It couldn't be. She still had two full >weeks before she was due. And the doctor had told her that normally the first pregnancy carried well over the due date. This couldn't be happening. And then again, stronger even still. This time, it did knock her down. She sat in the shower waiting for the pain to pass. I've got to call Brian. It's time. Finally, she was able to get to her feet. She stepped out of the shower, dried herself off, put her gown back on and made her way to the phone beside the bed. --Brian? --No, This is Nick. Brian got voted into the radio interview this morning. --Oh God. --Why? Ami, are you alright? --It's time Nick. --Time for what? --Time for this baby. I need your help. OH GOD! That's when the fourth cramp hit her like a ton of bricks. It enveloped her entire body. A pain unlike anything she had ever experienced in her life. Starting at her hips, moving to her abdomen and making its way slowly, excruciatingly up her spine. She had to hold her breath to keep from screaming into the phone. --Shit. OH shit...What do I...Fuck...why can't Brian be here. Hold still --Ami, I'll...we'll be right there! Nick hung up the phone and picked it right back up. --Kev? --Nick, do you have any idea what time of morning it is? --We're about to have a baby Kevin, get your sorry ass up and call an ambulance. I'm going to Ami's room to try and help her downstairs. --NOW? The baby's coming NOW? --YES! NOW! HURRY! Nick practically threw the phone down and raced down the hall to the room Ami was staying in. --Ami? --Nick...Oh GOD...NIIICK!! --Shit, can you stand up? --Not right now. Give me a... She had to take a deep breathe again, and grabbed hold of Nick's hand. Ami squeezed it so hard he was sure it would fall right off when she finally let go. And then she could breathe again. When Nick got her to her feet her water broke. She blushed. Even though she knew that was part of it, she still felt like an embarrassed child who had wet itself. --Let me grab a towel and then I'll carry you downstairs. Kevin saw Nick coming toward them with Ami in his arms. He quickly made his way to them and took her from him. Nick let out a breath he'd been holding for the last fifteen minutes --The ambulance is waiting. But only one of us can ride with her. --You go ahead with her. We'll follow. --Okay. AJ got ahold of the radio station and Brian is on his way to the hospital right now. --OOH MY GOD!! Ami grabbed hold of Kevin's shirt and buried her face in his chest. Trying desperately to make the pain subside. --Let's go Kevin. NOW...we can talk LATER! Brian made it to the hospital first. And when they arrived Ami already had the baby cradled in her arms. Kevin and the paramedics in the ambulance had been the delivery team. And when it was all over Kevin nearly passed out. The paramedics wheeled Ami in. One took the baby and the other took her to her room. --Brian...I tried to wait. I...I.. >Brian laughed. --I tried to hurry. I wish I could have been there. --She's beautiful Brian. Absolutely beautiful. ________ Brian stood at the nursery window staring in at her. She was the most beautiful baby he had ever seen. Like her mother. She had a head full of black hair and a set of green eyes. Like her mother. She lay peacefully sleeping, and as he watched her, he knew he would love her. Like her mother. --She's quite a kid, huh 'Rok? Brian grinned. --She's beautiful. I can't believe how tiny she is. --Six pounds and 3 ounces they said. Twenty inches long. --You look like a proud father Kev. --I could say the same about you. --Poor girl. She's got five fathers. She'll never get to date. They laughed as the nurse brought the baby out to them. --You can take her to see her mother now. Doctor said she's perfect. --Smart doctor. Ami couldn't help but laugh as she watched Brian walk in with her baby. He looked as though he were carrying a piece of glass that would break with the slightest touch. --What? Why are you laughing? --She's not going to break Brian. You don't have to hold her like that. --Well, she might break. You don't know that. How many kids have you ever had? He handed her to her mother and sat watching the two of them. He wanted to kiss her, to hold her, to tell her how much he loved her, to explain to her that he needed them to stay forever, that he wanted to be her father...and to love and protect them both. Ami had been on the road with the guys for nearly two months. In that short period of time he had gotten to know her better than he thought he could possibly know a person. And he still needed to know more. He wanted to know everything there was to know about her. But she depended on him. She trusted him, and he couldn't break that. He couldn't ruin the relationship they had with romance. Curtis had left her broken in more ways than one could imagine. But he wanted to heal that. He wanted to heal her hurt, and make her understand that he loved her...that he needed her...and most of all...that he wanted her, and her baby. --Don't you need to be going? AJ said you guys had a show tonight. --Yeah. I just don't want to. --Brian Littrell doesn't want to go on stage and sing for millions of screaming pre-pubescent little girls? Maybe I should call the doctor and have him give you the medication. He smiled. --I want to stay here with you and the baby. --Oh my. It is bad. Should I buzz the nurse? --Okay. Okay. I'm going. But I'm coming back after the show. --Why? You need to sleep. Just come back in the morning. --Well, I was... --Don't even say it. You're not sleeping here. I'll be fine. She'll be fine. You'll be fine. We're all gonna be just fine. Go to your show. --I thought this moody, bossy attitude ended when you had the baby. --Oh no. Now we have to go through post pardum depression. I'll be even worse. Brian stood up and kissed both of them on the forehead. --You were never moody. --Yeah, sure. --I'll call you later. --K. Knock 'em out. --Always do. Ami watched him leave. She could see him walk all the way down the hall out her hospital room window. --Just gonna be you and me now kiddo. I have finally saved up enough money that we can be on our own. I'll still need to find us a job though. This is a nice town. Dont'cha think? Kind of small. Wouldn't take us too long to learn our way around. And I'm sure we'll meet some really nice people. I'll tell Brian in the morning. Maybe he can get someone to help me find an apartment. One small tear made its way down her cheek. --I know sweetheart. I'm going to miss him too. But we can't stay with him forever. He's a really important man and I'm sure he doesn't need us to be slowing him down. Can't be a burden to him. He would never leave us like your daddy did, that's why we have to leave him. So, he doesn't feel weighed down by us. Ami lay talking with her baby for over an hour before the nurse came and took her back to the nursery. She told her all about her daddy. And she told her all about Brian, and the things that she had done while on the road with him. She had slept through most of it. But Ami liked talking to her. The immeasurable love she felt for her daughter was something she could not have understood before she held her for the first time. She knew that this child would now be the single most important part of her life. And now she was finally ready to make a life for them both. ------------------------ --Good morning sunshine. --Hey Howie. --Where's that beautiful baby girl? I'm the only one who hasn't gotten to hold her yet. Ami smiled. How was she going to leave these guys? --The nurse is about to bring her in. --Good. So how are you feeling? --I'm okay. A little sore. --That's understandable. But hey, at least now you have that six weeks maternity leave to get back to your old self. --Yeah. I..uh..kinda need to talk to you guys about that. --What? You need more than six weeks you think? --No. I...Howie. I'm gonna leave the tour. It's time...I --Whoa! Whoa! Why? You can't... --I have to Howie. I can't stay with you guys forever. The road is no place to raise a baby. --As opposed to the street? Howie looked down at the floor. Ashamed he had let that slip. --I'm sorry. I shouldn't have... --No. Your right. But I have saved up enough money. I can afford a down payment on an apartment. I can get a job...here...and... --What about the baby? You don't know anyone here to watch her. I don't understand why you can't just keep working for us. Your doing a great job. What is it... --Howie...I...I'm in...nevermind. --No. Tell me. --I can't. It's silly. --Ami. All of us love you very much. You've become a very important part of our lives. Do you have any idea how crushed Brian is going to be? --Brian will be fine. --I wouldn't be so sure about that. Ami began to say something else when the nurse came in with the baby. She started to hand her to Ami, but she motioned to let Howie hold her. Smiling, the nurse gave Howie the baby girl and walked back out of the room. --You can't take her away from us, Ami. You can't take you away from us. --It's something I have to do. I can't explain. --I wish you would try. There must be some way to work it out. --There's not. Howie nodded and gave the baby to her mother. --Well, I've got to go. We have to make up that radio interview this morning. But Brian wanted to be here so I'm going in his place. Don't tell him yet okay? Give it some more thought? Ami smiled and Howie bent down to kiss them both. --I'll be back later. After he was gone she began to cry. --Don't tell Brian what? That I'm in love with him and that's why I have to leave. Because he deserves better. And I know he could never love me. The tears silently made their way down her cheeks as she cradled her new baby in her arms. Brian stroked her hair as he watched her sleep. He wanted to wake her up but he knew she needed to rest. Instead he walked over to the small crib the nurses had set up in Ami's room and picked up the baby. --You, little girl, are the second most beautiful woman on this planet ya know that? Second only to your mother. She stared up at Brian in wonder. She seemed to be taking him in. He made his way back over to the chair beside Ami's bed and began to sing to her. --I think that was the most amazing version of Twinkle Twinkle Little Star I have ever heard. Brian jumped and then began to laugh. --I didn't know you were awake yet. --I heard you singing. --I can't wait till I can sing her to sleep every night. --She'd like that. --She...we can't keep calling her that. Have you thought of a name yet? --I've thought of a million. But I can't seem to decide on one. Any ideas? --I always liked the name Hailey. She looks like a Hailey. --Must be an old girlfriend. --No. My mother, she always said if she got to have a little girl, she'd name her Hailey. And I always thought it was a perfect name. Unfortunately, she got stuck with only two boys. The two turned as Nick and Kevin walked in the door. --Give me that baby girl. --No way Kevin. You got to hold her first. It's my turn. --Well it just sucks to be both of you. Cuz I've got her right now and I'm not gonna give her to either of you. --Hey! Hey! The baby girl has a name ya know. All three of them stopped and turned toward Ami. --Her name is Hailey. So stop calling her "baby girl". --No way. She's my baby girl. --Shut up. She's my baby girl. God, Kevin. Just cause you got to help deliver her, it doesn't give you more rights to her than me. --Actually, she's my little Hailey and you can both come back later. Brian looked over at Ami and smiled. --Isn't that right? --My poor little girl. How is she going to function with all you overbearing men around? --She'll function just fine. As long as we are the only men around her. Ami sat in her bed laughing at the three of them fighting over Hailey. Maybe she could stay. Just a little longer. Until Hailey got big enough for a sitter. She had some time to think about it. The guys didn't expect her to go back to work right away anyhow. Ami sat on the far side of the room watching Brian and Hailey. She was sitting up and he sat facing her, reading a Dr. Suess book. Whenever Brian spoke Hailey was almost mesmerized. She never moved, she never cried, she only sat and watched him. It seemed to be that way from day one. And now, a little more than six months later, it hadn't changed. The only thing that had changed was Ami's feelings for Brian. Everytime she watched him with her daughter she felt herself falling harder. She couldn't leave now. Hailey was far too attached to the guys, and Ami feared that a separation, especially from Brian, would only cause her daughter sleepless nights and many tears. Not to mention what it would cause herself. --I think someone wants their mom. Ami took Hailey from Brian and waited for him to sit down beside her. --I should probably get back to my room. Munchkin looks sleepy. --I'll go with you. So...I can sing her to sleep of course. She nodded and they made their way across the hall. Forty-five minutes later Brian finally came out of Hailey's room. --Was she that hard to get to sleep? She looked so tired. --No. I just like to watch her. I'll be glad when she starts talking so we can carry on conversations. Ami laughed. --Yeah. Those conversations would probably be more on your level than the ones we have I guess. --You're a funny one tonight. Maybe you should take that show on the road. --Brian, we are on the road. --Smartass. --Oooh. My goodness...such language. --Ami? --Yeah? --Well...never mind. I...I guess I better get some sleep. We've got a long day tomorrow. --Okay. Sweet Dreams. --You too. Brian lay tossing all night. He had to tell her. He just didn't know how to bring it up. They were so comfortable with each other. What if he told her he loved her and she didn't feel the same way? They would loose the bond they shared. Could he risk that? Ami lay on her back, eyes wide open. This was getting worse. She loved him so much she almost felt sick when he wasn't around. Hailey loved him. He was so great with her. But she couldn't tell him. It might make him uncomfortable and then he wouldn't want to spend as much time with her and the baby. She couldn't be selfish when it would hurt her daughter. It just wasn't fair. She woke up the next morning to a knock on the hotel door. Rolling over she noticed the clock read 10:00am. Had Hailey let her sleep that long? She was usually up by six. Worried, she got out of the bed, opened the door to AJ, and then went to check on the baby. AJ jumped when he heard the scream. A scream like nothing he had ever heard from any human in his life. He ran so fast into the baby's room he wasn't even sure how he had gotten there. Once he realized what was going on, he almost wished he hadn't gotten there. Hailey was gone...and Ami lay in hysterical sobs on the floor. Chapter 9 Brian couldn't stop pacing the room. AJ hadn't moved from the phone. Howie and Nick were still sitting at the police department waiting for some sort of information. Kevin nervously flipped the channels on the television, needing some sort of escape. And Ami sat on her bed with a vacant stare. It had been nearly five hours and they had heard nothing. --I can't sit here anymore. I'm going crazy. I...I have to do something. --Ami, what can you do? --I don't know Kevin. But I can't just sit here and do nothing. I...God, who's got my baby? Kevin took her in his arms and tried to comfort her. But he knew there was nothing that anyone could do that would help at this point. She needed Hailey. --What if they aren't feeding her Kevin? What if she's hungry...or cold? They didn't take her blanket. She can't sleep without it. And the bear Brian gave her...its all still in her bed. It's all here...everything's here except her. And I can't sit here. I have to go do *something*. --I'll drive you. I can't sit here anymore either. Ami looked at Brian and nodded. The two went by the police station first. The officer in charge said there was still no word but they were doing everything they could. They made their way to a small diner but neither of them ate anything. After that they went to the nearest baby store to see if the clerk had seen someone buying a lot of baby stuff. There were no unusual purchases she had told them. --Brian, go back to the police department. I think I remembered something. --Huh? --Just go. Brian turned the car around and headed back to the police station. When they arrived Ami went into the questioning room with one of the officers that she had spoken to earlier that morning. --You said you remembered something? --Yes, this morning you asked if I had noticed anyone unusual in the hotel yesterday. --Yes Mam and you said you wouldn't know what was unusual in any of these foreign hotels. --Right. But... --But.. --Yesterday afternoon when Brian and I came back from the park. There was a lady on our floor. She said she was passing out Bible passages. But the passages were just run off copies. I thought that was odd. --Bible passages? --Yes sir. --Mam, are you aware that we found a small hand sized Bible in your daughters crib this morning. Ami felt her stomach muscles tighten and all the breath seemed to leave her lungs. She couldn't even answer the man. She only shook her head. --I will make the other officers aware of this. Thank you for coming in. And if you remember *anything* else... --Don't worry. I will be here. Brian and Ami were making their way back to the hotel when a police car practically flew past them with their lights on. --Probably a wreck or something. --Yeah. Right behind that car was another one. Brian looked over at Ami. --Do ya think... Before he could even get the sentence out the next police car sped past them. Brian didn't bother to ask anymore questions. He floored the gas pedal and followed the police cars to wherever they were going. About fifteen minutes later they were all in front of a small church. The policemen rushed out of their cars and in the front doors. Brian and Ami followed them inside and as soon as she stepped thru the door she could hear Hailey crying. She grabbed Brian's hand as all the feeling seemed to seep right out of her and out her toes onto the floor. If he hadn't of been standing there she probably would have fallen down. --Brian It was barely a whisper. But he squeezed her hand to let her know he was there. A few moments later one of the officers picked Hailey up out of the manger on the alter where a small baby Jesus scene had been set up. Ami rushed toward the man and had her baby in her arms, quieting her tears as soon as she could get to him. Brian was right behind her and he had them both in his arms as quickly as Ami had taken Hailey. They were all three in tears. To anyone who did not know, it would appear that mother, father and daughter had been reunited. CHAPTER TEN --You're kidding me? She actually said that God told her to take Hailey? --That's what she's telling the police. Kevin shook his head in disbelief. --That's sick. Brian and Ami both nodded. --She's back. That's all that matters right now. Brian looked down at Hailey sleeping peacefully in her crib and patted her back. --Thank God. An hour later AJ, Nick, Kevin and Howie had each departed to their rooms while Ami and Brian still remain standing above Hailey's crib. Each afraid that if they left her side she'd disappear again. --I don't guess we could stand here like this all night huh? --No, it's just so hard to leave her right now, Brian. --I know. There was a long silence while they both stood watching her. --Thank you. --For? --Everything basically. Today specifically. I don't know how I would have made it without you. I really don't. --Ami... They both looked up from the sleeping baby and turned to say something to the other, their lips meeting before another word could be exchanged. Ami felt as though her heart really had stopped. Brian pulled away and moved his hand from her waist to her cheek. --Ami...Ami, I love you. Ami could feel the tears forming in her eyes. She was afraid to say anything for fear they'd find their way down her cheeks. Brian seemed to understand and simply found her lips with his own again. Ami could feel that they were moving away from the crib. Her heart was racing and her head was spinning. She thought that if she opened her eyes to see what they were moving toward she might actually pass right out. The second before he laid her down on her bed the only thought she could process was that she didn't care where he was leading her as long as he never stopped kissing her. Ami woke the next morning with Brian's arm draped over her bare stomach. She wanted to cry. This was not supposed to happen. Now her and Hailey would both hurt because it had. --Oh God. She gently picked up Brian's arm and moved it back beside his sleeping frame. Quietly she got out of the bed and made her way into the other room where she began to pack her and Hailey's things. When that was done she picked up the phone. --Yes mam. I need a one way ticket back to America...No, It doesn't matter which state...whatever is leaving in about an hour is fine....Yes mam...Thank you. Ami could feel the hot tears slipping down her cheeks as she picked up the piece of paper and pen she would use to say good-bye to Brian. Twenty minutes later the note was placed beside the night stand and she was ready to leave. She kissed Brian on the forehead, picked up the still sleeping baby from the crib and made her way downstairs. --Excuse me? The lady at the front desk looked up from her computer. --Yes mam? --Can I get a car to the airport please? --Yes, of course. And do you need someone to help you with your luggage as well? --Yes, please. That would be wonderful. Ami sat in the back of the car giving Hailey her bottle. Willing herself not to cry she prayed Brian would not hate her. She prayed he'd understand. ------------ He sat in the limo and pulled the letter from his back pocket again. Brian, I'm sorry that I had to leave this way. But I don't think I could face you now. Last night was a mistake on both of our parts. We were both overwhelmed with the events of the day and let our emotions take control. I shouldn't have let it happen and I'm sorry for that also. Thank you Brian. Thank you for everything that you have done for me. I pray that you will not hate me. Know that Hailey loves you and she will grow up watching you guys. You have done more for me than anyone in my life. For that Hailey and I will be eternally grateful. Always, Ami He read it over and over on the way to the airport. A mistake? Did she really believe that? --We are here, sir. --Thank you. Brian got out of the limo and ran to find her gate. He only hoped he would make it in time. He had to make her understand that he loved her. That last night was not a mistake. It was something he had wanted to happen regardless of the day or the events. He spotted Ami just as she was getting out of her seat to board the plane. --AMI! Her heart sank to the pits of her stomach. How had he found her so quickly? --Brian, what are you doing here? --You left the piece of paper with the plane information on it in the trash can. --Oh. --Don't go Ami. Stay with me. --I can't Brian. I have to go. --No. You don't. I can't let you leave me. I know you love me Ami. I need you and I need Hailey. Please do not leave. If you get on that plane I don't think I'll ever get over it. My heart...it will not survive this. She wanted to stay with him. She wanted to drop everything and let him take her back to the hotel. But it was something she could not do. He was everything and she was nothing. She wanted to give him the world but she could give him nothing. Only a burden and a baby. That was something she could not allow herself to do. She loved him too much. --I can't Brian. Please, I'm going to miss my plane. --No, Ami. Please. I love you. You love me too. Tell me that you love me...just say it. --Brian, of course I love you. You're the most amazing friend I've ever had. --That's not what I mean and you know it. Dammit Ami, do you love me? She had to do this. So he could go on and be great things without her. She wouldn't allow herself to weigh him down. She had to break his heart. --Brian...I... And she had to break her own. --I don't love you. Not the way you need me too. Brian stood stunned. The tears made their way down his face and he didn't care. She held hers back until she was on the plane. Away from where he could see them. She looked back only once as the plane pulled away from its gate. He was still standing in the same spot, head bent over. She knew he was still crying. --I'm also sorry I lied. The End The sequel to this story is, The End of the Road, so if you enjoyed this one check out the sequel.