Nick flinched as a young girl, who looked to be about nine or ten, screeched something he couldn't even begin to comprehend what she was so excited about. He thought he had been spotted, but sighed in relief, when the young girl's mother appeared and handed her a t-shirt. He smiled slightly and began his journey to his original destination.
He had to stop at the security checkpoint and his shoulders visibly tensed when he heard a gasp and then the whispers and conversations began.
"Why is he here?"
"Yea..what is he doing here??"
"Think he got lost or something?"
"Cindy! That was mean!"
"So? I bet he's just checkin' out the competition!"
The large man standing at the checkpoint smiled at Nick, "Hey, how you doin'?"
"I'm good..you?"
"Doin' just fine.."
"Like your new job Lonnie?"
Lonnie laughed, "It's just about the same...you here to see your woman?"
Nick nodded, "You know it.."
Lonnie nodded, "Cool..go on back, I think you know the way by now.."
Nick smiled, "Thanks man, I appreciate it."
Another large, African-American man, followed closely behind Nick. He was now Nick's security guard, had been for about three months or so.
Nick smiled as he caught site of her. She stepped out of the dressing room, dressed in jeans and a tank top, her hair pulled back. She looked around, as if expecting him, and finally their gazes met. She smiled and walked a little quicker. Finally, they reached one another and they hugged tightly. "I've missed you so much!"
He smiled, kissing her, "I missed you too.."
She pulled back, "Lemme get a look at you Mr. I'm going to go to the Bahamas and not take my girlfriend with me."
He smiled, letting her walk around him in a circle. She nodded, "Mmmm hmm..I like!"
He smiled, "Naaaatt...don't embarrass me."
"Sorry..hey Tonio.," She said acknowledging the man behind Nick.
Tonio smiled with a wave, "Hey Natalia, looked good up there."
"Thanks!"
Nick nodded, "Yea..you all looked great.."
"And what'd you think of the five guys on stage with me?"
He smiled, "I wasn't paying attention to them Nat.."
"Mm hmm..I'm SO sure Nick."
He smiled, "Naaah..I'm jokin'...they were good though, real good stage show."
"Give you some ideas?"
Nick let her take his hand as they started down the hallway. He grinned, "No..but the girls waiting to try to get backstage sure thought I was..."
"Did you get harrassed?"
"Naah, not too bad..I think they were a little surprised though to see a Backstreet Boy at an N'Sync show.."
"Nick..they probably thought you were trying to 'steal' ideas or something.."
"Probably..I just came to get my girlfriend and steal her away for a few days.."
"You're lucky the tour ended today."
"I know I am.."
She rolled her eyes and slapped his arm playfully, "Whatever. Let me get my stuff and say bye to the girls and I'll meet you out front?"
He nodded, "Sure..you don't need any help or anything?"
She shook her head, "Naah, I'll get it."
"Cool..see you in a few."
She smiled, him giving her a quick kiss, before ducking back into the dressing room.
Natalia hugged the four other girls that joined her on the N'Sync jaunt and got everyone's numbers and addresses before heading out. The backstage area was beginning to finally filter out. She spotted the five guys of N'Sync, the group whom she had been dancing for for the past 4 months on their second leg of their U.S. tour since one of their previous dancers was out with a leg injury. It was tons of fun, she still missed touring with BSB, but it was good to get out in a different group of people.
Joey was the first to acknowledge her presence, "Hey girl..what are you doin'?"
She smiled, "I'm leavin' Joey!"
"you are! You can't!"
"And why not Joey?"
He put his hands on his hips, "Because, DUH, you haven't said bye to us!"
"That's why I came over! But I gotta make it quick..I've got a vacation to start and it's gonna start now."
"Is Nick here?," Chris asked.
She nodded, "Yea..I think he went to go get the car though..some girls recognized him out front so I think he's scared something's gonna happen..."
"Well tell him we said hi."
"I will..and I just gotta thank you guys so much for these past couple months, it's been a blast and I'm glad I got the chance."
She hugged them all, JC being last. Justin smiled, "Well ya know...in September we got the VMA's...maybe you could help us out on that one?"
She smiled, "Well, tell Wade and he'll be able to contact me...but I'd be happy to do it.."
They all nodded and Natalia said her final goodbyes. Tonio met her at the backstage entrance to lead her to the car. It was then Natalia realized just how tired she was and just how much she was looking forward to the vacation Nick had planned.
Nick had been in the Bahamas for a month recording with the "Boys" and had just arrived two days earlier. But this night was the first they had gotten to see one another in over two months.
The limo dropped them off at about 11:30 that night. Natalia didn't recognize the house but knew it was on the beach near Miami since they drove from Orlando. Nick got their bags and took them upstairs while Natalia explored a little.
He came back down to find her in the dining room by the huge bay window that overlooked the ocean. He smiled, sneaking up on her and snaking his arms around her waist. She jumped, then relaxed, "That was mean Nicky.."
He smiled, leaning down to kiss her neck, "Yea..I'm sorry.."
"It's okay..I guess I'll forgive ya.."
"Ok..good...so..what do you think?"
"It's wonderful...very relaxing..."
"It's AJ's.."
"Really? Wow..his taste HAS gotten better."
Nick laughed, "Yea..somewhat. But just think Nat..we're alone for a whole week."
"Mmmm..sounds nice to me.," She said turning in his arms so she faced him.
Nick kissed her gently, "I can't believe...we have a WHOLE week to ourselves...no concerts, no interviews...no reporters...no phone calls from the guys wondering what to do for the night.."
"No nightly calls from crazy Justin Timberlake fans who think they've gotten his room and then scream at me.."
He smiled, "Awww..poor baby.."
"It was annoying for awhile!"
"I bet.."
Nick and Natalia had decided about three months earlier to go public with their relationship. Reporters had been hounding them ever since, especially when they found out she was a dancer for N'Sync. Rumors had begun to spread all over the Internt and in the tabloids that Natalia was just using Nick to get into the business and how her and Justin Timberlake had 'something' going on and Justin was cheating on Britney Spears..etc...etc....etc. It had gotten old pretty quickly though but every now and then a new rumor would pop up about Natalia using Nick for something or another.
But, they remained together.
Nick began to kiss her and moved down to her neck; Natalia laughed, "Nicky?"
"Mmmmm?"
"Aren't you hungry or tired or...oh nevermind!"
He laughed, pulling away, "I love you, you know that, right?"
"Of course I do, and I love you."
He smiled, "Ok..just makin' sure.."
"Where is all of this coming from?"
He shrugged, "I dunno...I just wanted to tell you.."
She smiled and reached up to run her hands through his hair, "Very sweet Nick."
"I try."
"Takin' lessons from AJ?"
"Mmm..no...can I ask you something?"
Nick had all of a sudden gotten serious so Natalia assumed it was something serious, she dropped her hands to her sides, "Sure...ask away."
Nick wanted to grin evilly, she was going to KILL him! "You've met Britney, right? At one of the after-parties?"
"Yea.....?"
"Did you ever tell her that me and you sorta kinda got hooked up thanks to you dancing like a hooker to her song?"
"Nick!"
"What? Just a question Nat.."
She put her hands on her hips, "You better RUN Nickolas!"
Uh-oh! She had used the full first name! He took off for the stairs, laughing as he heard her cussing and running behind him. She had always had the mouth of a sailor.
Natalia somehow grabbed the back of one of his arms just as he reached the master bedroom. He tripped over a shoe or something and went flying to the floor, taking her with him. She landed on top of him with an "OOMPHF!"
Nick looked up, "Well..if I had known you were THIS easy Nat..."
"Shut UP Nick!"
He laughed, "I'm joking! Anyways..are you okay?"
She nodded, "Yea..I'm ok.."
"Well, then get up!"
She laughed crawling off of him and then helping him up. He rubbed his tailbone a bit painfully, "Ooooww.."
"What'd you do you big baby?"
"I hit my tailbone on the edge of that...trunk thing."
She smiled, "Sit down Nicky."
He sat on the bed and she crawled behind him, massaging his back gently. He smiled, "Now this is nice."
"I thought you'd like it."
Natalia turned his head and kissed him gently, "I love you Nick."
"I love you too Nat...I'm glad we're taking this little vacation with each other.."
"Me too..we both needed it."
He nodded, taking her hand and kissing her palm, "Yea..we did.."
She giggled, pulling her hand away, "That tickles!"
He laughed and laid down on the bed, "Come on, snuggle with me."
He didn't have to ask her twice as she flopped down on the bed next to him. He wrapped an arm around her back and pulled her closer and they just laid there.
They laid there so long, in fact, that Natalia fell asleep. She had had a long day and was exhausted. Nick looked over, about to ask her if she was hungry, when he noticed her fast asleep, her eyes fluttering gently against her cheekbones. He smiled, so this is what a normal life was like? Lying in bed at nearly midnight, doing nothing, having no schedule to keep up with, cuddling. He loved it. He leaned over and kissed her cheek gently before whispering, "Goodnight Natalia.," and shutting his eyes as well. Food could wait till morning. :)
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