They all went to the food court, since that had been the entire reason for going to the mall in the first place, and grabbed a seat. Although usually Ali would have gotten NY Fries, she thought that all the grease was probably not the best thing for her to be eating during her pregnancy so instead she had a sub.
While they were sitting at their table, eating and talking, Alex thought that she spotted her brothers. The two tall dark haired men were standing outside a store.
"Hey Jules, does that look like Joe to you and is that James beside him?" she asked Julia.
"Yeah it kinda does." Ali got up from the table and went over to see if it was her brothers. She hadn't seen Jamie in 2 years and Joe in a couple of months and she really missed both of them.
"Jamie, Joe?" she said tentatively once she stood directly behind them.
"Yes?" they said at the same time before they turned around and saw that it was their little sister, maybe not so little anymore, standing there.
"Hey, Bozzo," she said to Joe and opened her arms for a hug. "Hey kook." Joe said back and hugged his twin.
"Al? Is that really you? Man you look so different." Jamie said and held out his arms for a big hug.
Nick was watching from his vantage point over at their table and he was desperately trying to conceal his jealousy at seeing Ali with not one but 2 other men.
The baby kicked for the first time while Alex was hugging her brother and when John felt it he jumped away from her. "What the hell was that?!?!?" he yelled.
"What is wrong with you bro?" Joe asked Jamie.
"Calm down brother of mine. I'm pregnant. It was just the baby kicking."
"You're what?!?!?" Now it was Joe, usually the cool one of the family losing his head.
"Pregnant." Alex said slowly as if she were talking to children.
"Yeah that's what I thought you said. Now I would like to know, Who, what, where, when and how?"
"Who is David. What is that I'm pregnant, duh. Where is in my apartment. When is about 4 months ago and how I think you both should know and if you don't I'm not gonna be the one to tell you. Guys, can we just talk about it later. I have enough on my mind worrying about how I am gonna be able to tell Dad and Deanna and especially Grams. I just need you 2 to be supportive. Now come meet and re-meet a couple of my friends."
"All right I have just one question. Has David been there for you and supporting you?"
"No but again, we can talk about that later." Alex took Jamie and Joe's hands and led them over to the table where Nick and Julia sat.
"Julia you already know who these two are and Nick this is my big brother Jamie and my twin brother Joe. Jamie, Joe this is my good friend Nick."
"Hey Jules, Nick." Jamie said and shook each of their hands. Joe gave Julia a hug and shook hands with Nick.
"Seeing you two makes me homesick for my brothers and sister." Julia said. Alex whispered to both Jamie and Joe, before they could start in on Nick, to "Be Nice!''
So Jamie and Joe sat down with them and despite Alex's warnings they still gave Nick the thorough, but luckily for them, subtle third degree.
"Oh so that's why you're wearing the hat and sunglasses." Jamie said when he recognized Nick as one of the BSB.
"Seriously cool." Joe said in his way.
"So how are Lucy and Camille?" Alex asked her brother, talking about his daughter and wife. "They're just fine. I was just out on my own finishing my shopping for them. You know how I am, the most procrastinating person on the planet."
"Oh me too. It's been 2 weeks since I talked to Deanna, not long since I talked to Joe, but nearly a month since I talked to you Jamie." Alex said talking about her older sister.
They sat around and talked for a while longer then Alex, Julia and Nick headed off to their hotel, Joe went back to his apartment with a promise to see them soon and before Jamie left he made Ali promise to call him.
"Man this place looks great!" Julia said when they saw all the decorations hanging all over the huge "room". There were actually 8 bedrooms of the huge main room. This huge suite included 2 and a half bathrooms, and a gigantic living room, where the huge tree stood.
"Well it looks like we'll have a lot of space, we'll only need 6 of the bedrooms in this one and 5 in the other room." Alex said mentally counting the number of people that would have to house in each room.
"Did I forget to mention that I invited the guys along?" Nick asked sheepishly.
"Yes, but luckily for you it's all right. We'll have enough room for the guys in this room and since I assume that they will be bringing along security guards, we can put those guys in the other room with the adults. You are soooo lucky." Nick breathed a sigh of relief, "Yeah I know."
Since most of the two families wouldn't be arriving until tomorrow on the 24, Jules, Ali and Nick each went to grab a room for themselves. They didn't have to fight over who got a bathroom and it was just great.
Once they were all out they sat down in the living room area just to chat for a bit.
"After I finished my shower I went around the hotel and said hi to everybody. Dad's on a trip and he won't get back until tomorrow."
"Well my parents are visiting other relatives so they won't be coming here until the 24th.'' Julia said.
"And the guys won't be getting here until then either." Nick supplied.
"It's perfect. When the huge group of our families get together we usually have a little Christmas Eve party in the downstairs, there is karaoke, but with Christmas songs. It's a lot of fun all around." Julia said.
"You know Jules, I was just thinking about how long our families have been celebrating Christmas together. It's been, what 9 years or so?" Alex reminisced.
"Yep 9 years. I remember they started it when we were still in elementary school. It's not surprising really, since you and I spent most of our time together it was nearly inevitable that our families would start spending time together too." Alex nodded, "And I am never going to let Deanna forget that we set her up with your brother Aaron."
Julia laughed a agreed, "And I am never going to let Aaron forget."
They went to bed not long after that. Alex was almost asleep when she heard Nick say, "Ali, are you asleep?"
"Not anymore." she replied rather grumpily.
"I'm bored." he whined.
"Nick I am gonna come kick you if you don't shut up!" Julia yelled from her room.
"Temper, temper." Nick said. Growling could be heard from Julia's room.
"All right all right. Good night Jules." he said sweetly
"Good freakin night Nick."
"Good night Ali."
"Go to sleep Nick."
After that all was quiet, thank God. They all woke up around the same time the next morning. "I cannot believe that you are going to go work out." Alex looked at Julia like she had grown another arm. "I just feel like working off some stress today." Alex still couldn't believe it. But Julia went anyway and that left Nick and Alex alone.
"I'm really glad that you came with me for Christmas." Ali said to him.
"Me too Ali. What I have met of your family seems really nice."
"Don't bother lying, my brothers purposely gave you the third degree. But trust me, once you get to know them and they get to know you, you'll all really like each other." Nick just nodded, he understood about being protective of your siblings.
"Well I think that I am going to go have a shower." Ali said to Nick.
"Me too."
"I am taking that bathroom."
"No! I want that one!"
"Too bad. Pregnant woman takes priority over you."
"Fine, take the best bathroom you bathroom hog you!" Nick said and stuck his tongue out at her.
"That's not very mature!" Alex shouted over her shoulder as she walked to the bathroom.
Nick went into the shower too and of course Alex got finished before him so when she got out of the shower she thought that she would play a little game with him. She had to do it quickly so that Nick wouldn't catch her red-handed. Alex planned to hide all his clothes so he would have to just wear his towel around.
Just as she finished hiding them all, Nick got out of the shower and went to his room in only a towel to get changed. Alex was on her way to her room to get dressed when there was a knock at the door. Since Nick obviously didn't hear it, she had to go open the door.
She opened it and there were 6 guys standing outside in the hallway. "Hello." she said to them, waving with one hand and holding her towel with the other.
"Uh, sorry we must have the wrong room." the one with sandy-brown hair mumbled.
"Wait just a sec. Who are you looking for?" Ali asked.
"N..." the man was cut off when Nick came out of his room and said.
"All right Ali, what did you do with all my clothes?" The people at the door took one look at Alex, who was wearing only a towel and at Nick who was also only wearing a towel, and got very confused looks on their faces.
"Nick, I believe that these men are here to see you." Alex had known who they were all along, it was just fun to play with them a bit.
"For God's sakes put your clothes on, you're scaring our guests. Its all under Jules' bed."
"Thanks so much Al." Nick said sarcastically and headed over there.
"Do you guys want to sit down and wait for Nick and I to get changed, then you will get all the explainations that I'm sure you want." Alex said as she headed to her room again to get changed. Then there was another knock at the door.
"Am I destined not to get dressed today?" Alex yelled and stalked over to the door. There stood her 2 brothers, sister, Julia and Kevin.
"Great! Just what we need, more of a crowd. Jules you can't go in your room, Nick is getting his clothes on." Alex said as she ushered everyone into the livingroom.
"Why is he doing it in my room?"
"Let's just say that I hid his clothes from him." Julia started laughing right there.
"Kevin, good to see you again. I'd give you a hug but as you can see, I haven't gotten a chance to get dressed yet."
"That's quite all right."
Julia and Kevin went to go sit down with the rest of the Backstreet Boys and their bodyguards.
"I am not even going to ask." Deanna said as Alex's 28 year old sister walked into the room.
"Me either." Jamie said as he went to sit beside Deanna in the livingroom area.
"Well I am. What in God's name are you doing, with 6 guys in your room and you're not even dressed?" Joe demanded.
"Why can't you be easy and accepting like your brother and sister."
"Uh maybe that could be because I am your TWIN."
"All right, calm down. I will go get dressed if it makes you feel better. I was planning on spending the day in a towel, but since you're ruining all my fun..." Alex started running before Joe could smack her, like she knew he would if he got the chance.
When Alex came back out of her room, fully dressed in a t-shirt and overalls. "So you're all staying here for Christmas?" Alex asked the BSB and their bodyguards. "If you have the room." Brian said.
"We all wanted to apologize for not recognizing you at the door and assuming that you and Nick were..uh.." Howie said.
"That's all right, I get the picture. Don't worry about not recognizing me. I look a lot different from when you last saw me."
Alex then went over to Deanna, "Sis, it is so great to see you." Alex said to her.
''You too short stuff. Now what is this I hear about David.''
"You want the short version? Basically, he visited New York, we..you know, I got pregnant, he told me to abort the baby and I said no and for him to leave us alone."
She gathered her up for another hug, "I know that it can't have been easy, but I am proud of you."
"That means a lot to me." Alex said and started crying.
"Sorry, these hormones are kind of wreaking havoc on my emotions. Just then there was another knock at the door. Alex wiped the tears from her eyes, "I'm guessing that we're not gonna have any peace today."
At the door were her cousins Patrick and Gillian. "Hey you 2! I am so glad that you could come!" Alex said and gave them both a great big hug. "Sorry that our parents aren't coming, they're spending Christmas with Amanda and her husband. They did say something about coming for a bit on Christmas Eve." Patrick said.
"Don't worry about it Pat. Now I have to introduce you to everyone you will be spending Christmas with.Patrick Gillian, this are the Backstreet Boys, as I am sure you could already tell, that's Brian, Kevin, Howie, AJ, and my good friend Nick. You both remember my best friend Julia. And I think you know those 3 sitting over there." Alex said gesturing to her siblings.
They were all sitting and talking when there was another knock at the door. "I'll get it this time." Julia said and raised herself up out of her chair. It was Julia's family, or at least her siblings, Aaron, who was engaged to Alex's sister Deanna, Matt and the youngest, Georgia.
