Chapter 52It was the day before the Backstreet Boys were to leave for their tour promoting their new album. This time the world tour would be starting in the United States instead of overseas. Kristen was still staying with the Carter family and refused to see or to speak to AJ. She figured since he didn’t want anything to do with the baby then he wouldn’t want anything to do with her so she just avoided him. AJ was going crazy trying to figure out where Kristen was staying. He wanted to talk with her and patch things up with her before he left to go touring. For about the hundredth time he went over to Nick’s house to talk with Toni about Kristen. He knocked on the door and when Toni answered it she rolled her eyes and tried to shut the door on him but he blocked it so it wouldn’t shut. "AJ just stop bothering me about Kristen. I told you for the thousandth time that she is fine."
"Toni I’m leaving tomorrow and I would like to talk to her before then," AJ said walking in the house as Toni shut the door behind him. "Where is she staying? She’s not with you, Mandy, Jasmine, Angela, Kristin, or any of the guys. She didn’t go back home to her parents did she?"
"Yeah right, her parents hate you. Why would she go back there when they would probably just lecture her about how they told her you were no good."
"They said that about me?"
"Oops, my bad. Guess you weren’t supposed to know that huh?"
"Please Toni where is she then?" AJ begged.
"I’m not saying anything. You fucked up big time and if you want to fix it you’re going to have to do it on your own."
"I’m trying to fix it Toni but how can I when I don’t know where she is!"
"Well I guess that’s your problem huh?" Toni asked getting an attitude with him. "I don’t know why you want to make up with her when we all know that you don’t have your mind changed about that baby."
"I’m just scared. I thought I was ready to be a father but I’m not if it’s going to change things between me and Kristen."
"When are you going to realize that the baby isn’t the one that is changing things between you two? It’s you AJ. You’re the one screwing things up. Kristen has been living in a world of complete hell since Christmas. She’s completely stressed out about it and she’s not keeping herself healthy. Jane is doing her best taking care of Kristen since all she does is cry."
"She’s at Jane’s house!" AJ yelled.
"Uh….no she’s not…..shit," Toni said since she blew it.
"Thanks Toni, I love you lots and I owe you big time," AJ said giving her a kiss on the cheek then running back out of the house and into his car. About half an hour later he arrived at Jane’s house and went and knocked on the door.
"AJ, it’s a surprise to see you here," Jane said answering the door. "Do you need anything?" Jane asked acting like she didn’t know the real reason why AJ was there.
"I really need to talk to Kristen. I know she’s here so please let me," AJ said then saw Kristen pass by. "Kristen!" he hollered at her and Kristen turned towards the door and was shocked to see AJ standing there. Jane let him in and he went to wrap his arms around Kristen but she backed away from him.
"What are you doing here?" Kristen asked him.
"I came to apologize to you. I miss you and I want you to come back home, please."
"I don’t want your apology. You already made it perfectly clear how you felt. The only thing you want back is me but now I come with a baby. So you either get both of us or nothing at all."
"That’s the thing Kristen I do want both. I was stupid for listening to Nick in the first place."
"You can say that again," Jane said to herself out loud and AJ turned to look at her. "Sorry, I’ll just go in another room while you two talk this out," she said leaving towards the kitchen.
"I’m not stupid AJ so just stop lying to me. If you could change things you would make it so you could take me home without the baby growing inside of me. Well guess what honey? You can’t so get over it. I hope you have fun touring and here, I’ll even give you a little present to take with you," Kristen said sliding her wedding ring off her finger then placing it in AJ’s hand. "Goodbye AJ," Kristen said softly then turned and walked away as tears filled her eyes and rolled down her cheeks. She went to the room she was staying in and laid down on the bed clutching a pillow as she cried her eyes out. AJ stood there watching her walk away until she closed the bedroom door. He didn’t know if he wanted to live or die right then as he clutched Kristen’s ring tightly in his hand. Jane came out of the kitchen having seen and heard everything that just happened. AJ looked at her as tears filled his eyes.
"This….this can’t be the end of it can it?" AJ asked as he had to stop clear his throat. Jane stared at him for a few seconds before he spoke again. "Jane, I love her with all my heart and soul, and the baby. I was wrong for listening to Nick before but…"
"But she doesn’t know if you’re telling the truth or not and as far as she can tell you’re not. I can tell with you right now that you are unsure and sure about having the baby even thought it seems you’re more sure. You have to be 100% sure about this."
"I’m trying. Jane I swear to God I’m trying, I’m just a little scared by all this. I mean in a few months our lives won’t be the same."
"Stop thinking that it won’t be the same in a bad way because it will be completely opposite. And you need to start thinking about how scared she is. She has to deal with nine months of caring a baby to go through a world of pain just to bring it into this world. You need to start thinking about her instead of just yourself."
"But what if this is it?" AJ asked holding up Kristen’s wedding ring. "What if she really ends our marriage over this?"
"Let’s put it this way. She’s pregnant which causes her to be over emotional so I wouldn’t worry about it until she actually starts filing some divorce papers."
"Thanks for everything and please take care of her while I’m touring."
"I’ve been doing a good job so far haven’t I?" Jane asked and AJ smiled as if to say yes.
"I hope you won’t mind if I call almost every day to see how she is."
"I’d be upset if you didn’t because you should be worried the entire time you’re gone. I’ll see you and the other boys when you get back," Jane said giving him a hug. "Don’t over work yourselves."
"We won’t and thanks again," AJ said then left. While he was touring for the next few months he literally would call Jane everyday to see how Kristen was doing. He would always see if Kristen would speak to him but she would always refuse to pick up the phone. Kristen was seven and a half months pregnant and was still staying with the Carters. She hardly ever left the house so Jane called Toni up and told her to pick Kristen up and take her out for a few hours.
"Stomach still growing?" Toni asked sarcastically when Kristen came to the door.
"Shut up Toni. I don’t find you a bit funny. It’s as if my boobs are growing at the same rate as my stomach. I’m tired of getting new bras, aren’t they supposed to stop growing?" Kristen asked as they got to the car.
"How should I know? I’ve never been pregnant."
"You took Nick’s prowler?" Kristen asked getting in the car.
"Hey, he left his car keys at the house. That’s like an invitation telling me to drive his car."
"If I asked Nick that I bet you anything he would think otherwise."
"Well you’re not going to ask Nick now are you?" Toni asked as she drove to the restaurant that they would be eating lunch at. After they finished eating the waiter brought their check and Kristen went to grab it with her left hand and Toni took notice that there was no wedding ring on her finger and she grabbed her hand causing her to drop the check on the table. "Where the hell is your wedding ring?" Toni asked.
"I…I gave it back to AJ the day before he left for the tour."
"Kristen! I can’t believe you’re even considering leaving AJ for good by giving him back that ring! What the hell is wrong with you!"
"He is what is wrong with me."
"You’re stupid. It’s as simple as that. This is why you and AJ make such a good couple. You’re both stupid. I’m going to pray to God that that baby comes out with more brains then you and AJ have combined."
"Gee, thanks a lot Toni."
"Any time, let’s go," Toni said as she paid for the bill and they got back in Nick’s prowler and started heading towards the mall. Toni gave Kristen a weird look when she saw her clutch on to the car door. "What? What’s wrong? My driving isn’t that bad." Kristen looked at Toni as she started breathing heavier. "What is wrong with you? Are you okay?" Toni asked since Kristen was freaking her out.
"My………..my water just broke."
