CHAPTER TEN (continued)

The guys heard her saying, "Oooh, how sweet" and Howie got up and went over 
to stand behind her.  He smiled sweetly and then wrapped his arms around her 
waist and rested his head on her shoulder.  Her arms automatically covered 
his and they stood that way watching the three sleeping babies before them.  
Kevin and AJ came over and pushed the door all the way open to see.  There on 
the bed was Nick, Kim and Brian, all sound asleep.   Kim was lying on her 
stomach in the middle with her head at the foot of the bed.  Brian was to her 
left, closest to the windows, curled onto his right side.  Kim's foot was 
pressed against his neck.  Nick was on the other side on his back, propped up 
by a couple of pillows.  In his hand, which was lying on his stomach, was a 
Nintendo controller.  The television screen at the end of the bed was black 
with red letters blinking on and off.  

"I wish I had a camera right now," whispered Michelle.  

"I've got one," AJ said and ran off to his room next door.  When he returned 
he had a camera in one hand and a video camera in the other.  He handed the 
camera to Kevin who proceeded to snap a picture of the three of them.  He 
entered the room quietly and took three more pictures, one of each of their 
sleeping faces.  He turned around quickly and snapped a picture of Michelle, 
Howie and AJ as well.

Howie chuckled and released Michelle.  "We should move at least one of them, 
or someone will end up on the floor".

"Wait a sec," said AJ as he brought the video camera up to his face and 
started filming.       

AJ draped his arm over Michelle's shoulders and proceeded to record the scene 
before them.  Howie went over and removed the controller from Nick's hands 
and placed it by the television.  He then looked at the camera with a sly 
grin and moved to Nick's feet.  He slowly drew the white socks off his feet 
and turned back to the camera, pretended to sniff them and made a grotesque 
face.  He then turned back to Nick and placed the offensive items under his 
nose.  Nick unconsciously waved them away and mumbled something incoherent.  
Kevin leaned against the dresser and laughed quietly.  Howie continued to rub 
the socks against Nick's face and tried to push them into his mouth.  Nick 
bolted upright and swung his arm wildly, hitting Howie in the shoulder.  He 
stumbled backwards and grabbed the bedside table to break his fall, laughing 
hysterically.  

Nick looked at him wild-eyed and said, "What the fuck?"  

Kevin chuckled and pushed himself away from the dresser and walked over to 
Nick, bending down to grab his arm.  "Come on, Buddy, get in the other bed."  
He pulled Nick up and Howie clutched his other arm.  The guided him to the 
bed and he fell onto it and rolled over onto his stomach and fell back 
asleep.  AJ and Michelle were laughing uncontrollably at the door.  

AJ then swung the camera back to the other bed and filmed Howie as he pulled 
the covers down from the spot Nick had vacated.  He flipped the pillows over 
and then leaned on the bed to scoop Kimberly into his arms.  He turned and 
placed her in Kevin's arms who took her and put her in the bed properly and 
covered her up.  Howie went over to the closet and grabbed a spare blanket 
and then brought it over to Brian and covered him.  He noticed something 
gripped in Brian's hand and gently removed it.  It was a picture of Lauren, 
Brian's true love.   On his way back around the bed he switched the 
television off and headed out of the room.  AJ and Michelle moved out of his 
way and Howie leaned forward and kissed Michelle's cheek as he passed.  
"Goodnight, all."

AJ shut off the video camera and said he was beat too and going to bed.  

Michelle entered the room and went over the bed where Kimberly lay.  She sat 
gently next to her and watched her daughter's face, peaceful and innocent in 
her sleep.  She leaned over and kissed her temple lightly while brushing her 
hair from her face.  Michelle felt overwhelmed with emotions and shed silent 
tears while she watched her daughter sleep.  She tucked her bad hand behind 
Kimberly's back and drew them together in a tight embrace.  She wasn't aware 
of how long or how tightly she held her when she felt Kevin's hand on her 
back.  He whispered, "Michelle, you'll wake her."  He gently pulled her left 
arm and she released her hold on Kimberly.  He guided her from the room and 
closed the door behind him. 

Kevin led Michelle to their bedroom and she climbed in her bed gratefully.  
She was overcome with exhaustion.  She curled up on her left side and pulled 
her blankets virtually over her head.  

Kevin bent down and planted a soft kiss on her head and wished her sweet 
dreams.  He left the room and went about turning off the lights and making 
sure the main door to the suite was locked.  He strolled, thoughtfully, to 
the sliding glass doors at the opposite end of the living room and looked out 
into the dark night.  He could barely make out the trees swaying dangerously 
in the wind.  The rain beat down onto the patio and flooded the flowerpots in 
the corners.  His mind was flooded with thoughts of Michelle and Kimberly.  
He cared for them both so much already and wanted to protect them and make 
them feel safe.  He thought of the little girl who had poured her heart out 
to him and the others earlier and felt his heart breaking over her anguish.  
Too many bad memories for such a short life.  He thought of his own parents 
and said a silent thank you to them and God for giving him a happy and 
peaceful start on life.   He pictured Michelle lying against the car earlier 
looking so fragile and alone.  Then he saw her in the shower with her hands 
trying to cover her body from him and felt another tug at his heart.  She was 
beautiful with her long hair hanging around her face.  He felt a surge of 
desire when he thought of her body.  She wasn't perfect or pencil thin.  She 
had just the right amount of curves to make her so desirable, but not enough 
to lead him to think she was overweight.  In his estimation he guessed she 
was around a size ten.  People always assumed someone like him and the others 
only gravitated to women who resembled models.  True, they had a public image 
to uphold, but they were all tired of the cliches and comments about anyone 
they happened to be seen with.  Kevin's mind drifted to AJ and felt a surge 
of guilt for not thinking sooner of how he had affected his good friend.  "I 
have a lot of making up to do," he sighed, "to everyone!"  

He turned away from the doors and headed to the room he was going to share 
with Michelle.  He looked down at her before climbing into his own bed, glad 
to see hear her breathing steadily.