Nick watched as Isabel laid down on the towel and rolled over onto her stomach to get a tan on her back. He was standing knee-deep in the cool ocean water as Willy and Mikey chased after an old-worn tennis ball he threw them time after time. He smiled and threw the ball up towards Isabel. The water bounced off it and onto her; she jumped, rolled over, sat up and glared at him playfully.
Nick waded out of the water and up the beach towards his wife. He wanted to grin and yell out to the world over and over again when he thought about that...his wife. She was his and he was hers in every which way. He bent down to pick up the tennis ball as Willy and Mikey jumped and nipped around his feet, Nick threw it down towards the water and both dogs took off after it.
"What was that for?," She asked pulling her sunglasses up.
Nick just grinned and sat down next to her on his towel, "No reason."
"I was trying to sleep."
He shrugged, "I know."
"You are too cute for words."
Nick rolled his eyes and laid down on his back as the two dogs ran up, Mikey with the ball in his mouth. "I hate being called cute. Here I am nearly 30 and people STILL call me cute."
Isabel rolled back over on her stomach and looked at him, "Yeah but I'm allowed to call you cute and I'm also allowed to call you Nicky."
"That you are but you're married to me therefore, I can punish you."
Isabel cocked an eyebrow, "Oh really now?"
"Yep."
"Don't sound so confident Nickolas.," She said as she got up and walked towards the water.
Nick watched her, appreciatively, as she walked away from him. "What's that supposed to mean?"
She shrugged but didn't turn around, Nick groaned. Usually whenever she used his full name, or part of his full name, he was in trouble. But he was just joking and she had been too. At least he thought she was. Surely she was. She had to of been.
He got up and followed to where she was. She suddenly bent down, and splashed him as much as she could. Nick stood there, now soaked from head to toe. "That would be YOUR punishment Nick."
"Oh yeah?"
"Yeah."
He lunged forward, tackling her into the soft surf. She squealed as the cold water washed over her and began to struggle to get out of his arms as he began to tickle her. "AH!! NICK!! STOP IT! AHHHH!!"
She pushed him up and rolled over so she was sitting on his stomach. Nick raised his head as a small wave crested and rolled onto both of them. He held both her hands so she couldn't tickle him and smiled, "I miss doing this with you."
"Miss doing what with me?"
"Playing around and goofing off like there's nothing else in the world going on."
"There doesn't have to be anything in the world going on but only the things going on in our world."
He smiled and kissed the back of her right hand, "I love you Isabel."
"I love you too Nicky."
"Let's head back in, it's gettin' cold."
She nodded and stood up, holding out a hand to help him up. He took it and got out of the surf and they walked to get their things.
The next day, Nick drove to Orlando to meet up with AJ and Brian for their now weekly basketball game. Isabel stayed behind at the house to work on her book that she was writing. Nick had helped her come up with the idea of the book; her life now that she was a Backstreet Wife. Kristen and LeighAnne also had little parts in the book about their experiences with fans and what it was like to be thrust into the public spotlight so quickly.
Nick parked at Brian's house and went right on in since the door was unlocked. LeighAnne was in the kitchen feeding their two year old daughter, Alyssa. "Hey Nick; Brian's out back and AJ's running late as usual."
"Cool..hey Ms. Alyssa.," Nick said bending down to kiss the little girl's forehead.
Alyssa smiled and laughed at Nick while LeighAnne cleaned up a little. "How are you doing Leigh?"
"I'm good, you?"
"I'm cool..glad to be home."
"I bet, how's Isabel? I thought she'd come over."
"She wanted to, but her publisher is pushing for the book to be done soon."
LeighAnne nodded, "Ohhhh that's cool. Tell her to call me and we'll have to go shop or something."
"I will..see ya."
"Bye."
Nick opened the backdoor and stepped outside. He found Brian dribbling the basketball around. "Hey B."
"Hey! I was wondering when anyone was gonna show up! How are ya?"
"I'm cool..pass me the ball."
Brian nodded and did so, Nick dribbled once and then shot the ball. It swished easily through the net. "Good shot..you talked to AJ?"
Nick shook his head, "Nope..Leigh said he called and is running late."
"Yeah..But I thought he'd called you or something..where's Isabel?"
"Home, she's working on the book."
"Ohhhh...how's it coming?"
"Pretty well I guess, she showed me some of it last night. It sounds good.."
"That's good to hear."
"Yeah.."
"What's wrong?"
Nick sighed and shot the ball again, "What was it like before you and Leigh had Alyssa?"
Brian went to get the ball and dribbled it, "Well...it was normal, I guess you could say. It was ALOT quieter. Why?"
"I dunno..I just think that Isabel wants to have kids.."
"Do you?"
"Yeah, of course I do. It just hasn't happened yet."
"It will Nick, I promise you it will one of these days. But you both need to be sure that's what you want because after a baby comes; it's completely different."
Nick nodded, "I know...I've seen how you and Kev changed..you got more senile."
Brian pushed Nick playfully, "Ha, Ha, Ha."
"I thought it was funny."
"Yeah well, you would."
Isabel was sitting on the front porch when Nick came home later that evening. "Hey baby, whatcha doing?"
"Nothing..have fun with Bri and AJ?"
"Yep, it was cool..I won."
"Uh huh..who really won?"
Nick looked at the ground, "Weell...B did."
"How's Leigh and Alyssa?"
"They're good..Alyssa's getting bigger and bigger."
"Yeah..I'm gonna have to call Leigh soon."
She stood up and they went inside. "Nicky?"
"Yeah?"
"Who's Jennifer?"
"Jennifer? Jennifer who?"
Isabel shrugged and motioned for him to follow her into the kitchen. "Some woman called like right after you left and asked for you. She said her name is Jennifer and for you to call her ASAP."
Nick looked very confused, "I don't know who she is Isabel.."
"Oh..okay..well, I'm gonna go upstairs and watch some tv..you headin' up?"
"I'll be there soon.," He said smiling.
Isabel smiled and leaned up to kiss him, "Okay.."
Nick waited until she disappeared upstairs before the smile dropped off his face. 'Why is she calling me now? Damnit..I knew she wasn't gone for good..but should I call her?,' He thought as he stared at the number.
"Yes, um, is Jennifer there?"
"This is her."
"Jenni, it's Nick."
"Oh hi Nick, I was wondering if you would call me back."
"I figured I had to know what you wanted after all ths time."
"Was that your lovely wife I talked to yesterday?," She asked, sarcasm evident.
"Yeah, it was. What do you want Jennifer?"
"Nicky..I think you know."
He sighed, "No, I don't Jennifer. Why after all this time do you call me out of the blue?"
"I want money Nick, and I know you'll have to give it to me."
"There is no way in hell that I am going to give you one red penny."
"I think you will..unless you want your lovely wife and every tabloid to find out about the son you and me have together."
"That's blackmail and we both know he's not mine."
"Surprise Nicky; he looks exactly like you."
"That means shit Jennifer. Leave us alone."
"Nick; I have all the tabloids numbers and I know your wife's cell phone number on speed dial. Give me the money or it'll be all over the papers about the illigetimate son you refuse to support."
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