Nick and I where sitting in the kitchen having breakfast. 'Are you okay honey? You seem alittle... distracted.' Nick said and pulled a strand of hair away from my eyes.

'I'm okay. I'm just thinking... poor Jasmine.' I answered. 'She didn't deserve to die... like that.'

'I hate to admit it... but you're right.' Nick said and stared outside. 'All these years... I forced it out of my memory. Nobody knew... 'cuz nobody asked... I just played along and pretended that she committed suicide... but Sylvana knew...' Nick stopped and closed his eyes. 'She was there when I threw her off the cliff, she followed me, and somehow she was also at the house... I never told anybody about any of this.'

'I can't blame youit's horrible' I whispered and drank my tea.

We where playing a game in the living room when the doorbell rang. 'I'll get it.' Nick said and got up. I heard him walk through the hallway and open the door.

'Hi. How can I help you?' Nick asked.

'Mister Carter?' A man's voice said.

'Yes. That's me.' Nick said.

'Nick Carter, you're under arrest for the murders of Sylvana Rodriguez and Jasmine Silver.' The man said. I got up and ran into the hallway. I was just in time to see the cop put his handcuffs around Nick's hands.

'Nick!' I cried.

'It's okay Kathy.' Nick whispered. 'I deserve everything they decide to do to me.'

'But Nick. I love you.' I said crying.

'I know you do.I love you toovery much.' Nick admitted. 'But I deserve this.'

'Let's go.' The cop said and leaded Nick outside.

'I'll come visit you Nick.' I cried. 'I promise.'

'I'll see you later Kathy.' He replied. 'Remember that I love.'

'I know Nick! I love you too!' I said and watched them put Nick into the patrol car. He looked at me with tears in his eyes. I waved at him and he smiled. We waved at each other until he was out of sight.

Nick's trial was a week later. 'Case 4.15: the state vs. Nick Carter in the murder of Sylvana Rodriguez and Jasmine Silver.' A man stated. They trial took more than 2 hours. The jury decided that Nick should only be persecuted for the murder on Jasmine.

They decided that the murder on Sylvana was out of defense. 'What does the defended has to say for himself?' the judge asked Nick.

'Nothing sir.' Nick said. A tear ran down my face.

'We reached a verdict.' the chairman of the jury said.

'Speak up.' The judge said.

'We think the defended is... guilty of all charges.' The man said and sat down. A lump formed in my throat.

'All rise.' The judge said. 'Nick Carter ­ you are found guilty of all charges. I condemn you to a life long in prison.' I started to cry but stopped when I noticed that Nick was staring at me.

'Have you got anything to say?' the cop, who took him away, asked. Nick nodded.

'Yes. There's only one thing I would like to say.' He said and turned around to face me. 'I love you, Kathy.'

'I love you too Nick.' I replied and cried even louder.

'Take him away.' The judge said.

They leaded Nick out of the court room and transported him to a prison facility in Jacksonville.

It took me 3 days to find the strength to visit Nick.

'Nick Carter.' A guard said and woke him up. 'You've got company.'

'Who is it?' Nick asked.

'It's your girl Kathy.' The guard answered. 'She looks mighty fine man.'

'I'll be there in a minute.' Nick said and got out of bed. He combed his hair and straightened his clothes. The guard waited and then brought Nick into the visitors room. I stood up as soon as I saw him come in.

'Nick.' I cried. Nick ran towards me and hugged me tightly. 'I've missed you so much.'

'I've missed you more' Nick whispered as we sat down.

'How are you?' I asked. Nick raised his shoulders.

'I'm okay I guess. It's not as bad as it looks in here.' He replied. 'But I do get lonely sometimes, it's pretty scary when the light go out at night.'

Nick was trying really hard to sound happy, but through his happiness I could feel the pain. Nick wasn't happy... he was depressed.

'I can imagine that. But not as scary as at home.' I figured. 'At least in herethere's nobody waiting to kill you.'

'No. That's true. I've made some friends here.' Nick said smiling. 'My god Kathy. I've missed you so very much.'

'I've missed you to my love.' I replied and we hugged.

'Can I kiss you?' he whispered.

'Yes, please kiss me.' I said. Nick leaned forward and kissed my lips.

Visiting hours where from 14.00 till 15.00. The hour was gone very fast. 'Time's up.' The guard said. 'Time to day goodbye.'

'I'll be back soon Nick. I promise.' I whispered while hugging.

'I know Kathy. I can't wait to see you again.' Nick replied. 'Can I write you?'

'Please do.' I said and smiled. 'I'll write back, I promise.'

'I know. I love you.' Nick said and kissed me.

'I love you too Nick. Goodbye.' I said and watched as they took him away. He turned around once and waved.

'I love you so much Nick Carter.' I whispered. 'I don't care what you did. I love you.'

A surprise was waiting for me at the house a few days later when I returned home. I went to Cedar Key to get some groceries and to have a talk with Eric and Annie.

'Brian!' I cried and fell into his arms.

'Oh Kathy. I'm so sorry for you.' Brian said and cried with me.

'I love him Brian.eventhou he killed those girlsI still love him.'

'I know you do Kathy. We all love him very much.' Brian admitted.

'What's gonna happen to us?' I asked Brian. He raised his shoulders.

'I don't know Kathy.' He replied. 'But you're going home with me. That's one thing.'

'Thank you Brian. Let's go right now. I can't stay here any longer.' I cried. 'This house caused nothing but trouble! Howie's death and Nick's arrest.'

'Yeah, I suggest we sell the damn house.' Brian said. 'I'll call Kevin about it..'

'You don't have to call me anymore...' A voice behind us said. It was Kevin.

'Kevin!' I cried and tried to seem happy.

'Hello Kathy. How are you holding up?' he asked.

'Okay, I guess. Better than Nick.' I replied.

'Why? What's wrong with him?' Kevin asked.

'He's very depressed Kevin. He hates himself for the things he did.' I explained.

'How do you know?' AJ asked as he walked into the room.

'AJ! Hi.' I said and continued. 'He wrote me a letter.'

'Can I read it?' AJ asked. I nodded and went op to my bedroom to get the letters.
I handed them to AJ who started reading them.

My dearest Kathy

How are you? That's a strange question coming from me, don't you think? I'm asking how you are instead of you asking how I am.Well, it's better this way. You wouldn't like the answer I'd give you. I miss you so much my love. I lay awake every night... I love you... until death do us part. I'm feeling rather lonely lately. When will you come visit me again? I can't wait to see you again, to hold you... to kiss your lips. You can't imagine how much I love you! I don't know what to sayso I'll stop talking. I miss you Kathy, and like I said: I hope you visit me very soon. Lots of love, and forever yours,

Nickolas Gene Carter

'He's... your..' AJ stuttered. 'You're lovers?'

'Yes AJ. We've been lovers for some time now.' I replied and stared outside.

'Why didn't you guys tell us?' Kevin asked.

'I don't know...' I said and whispered. '...Howie knew...'

'Howie knew?' Brian repeated. 'How?'

'He caught us... red handed.' I replied and smiled. 'We where kissing in the whirlpool when Howie arrived at the house... he scared the hell out of us.'

AJ smirked and shook his head.

'So you're lover's in jail...' Kevin figured.

'Yes Kevin. I love Nick... like I've never loved anybody in my life...'

'You loved Nick... more than you loved me?' Kevin asked while staring at his feet.

'How can you say that...' Brian asked. Kevin raised his shoulders.

'It was out before I could stop it...' he said feeling guilty.

'Look at us! Look what this did to us?!' I cried. 'We're fighting over something this insignificant!'

'Kathy's right.' AJ said. 'We shouldn't be fighting.'

'I'm sorry Kathy.' Kevin whispered. 'I didn't mean to'

'I know Kevin. I forgive you.'

We decided to all stay at the house for a while after all. AJ called Amanda and she arrived a day later with Will. Kristen, Leigh Ann and Lucy arrived 3 days later. And we all spend some quality time together.

Kristen and I went to see Nick the other day. And even Kristen said that he looked awful. 'Baby, how are you?' she asked. Nick remained silent.

'Please Nick. Speak to us.' I begged. A tear ran down his face. 'I'm sorry' he whispered. 'I don't know what to say'

'He looked really horrible.' Kristen said while we where on our way back home.

'Yes. He looks worse every time I visit him.' I admitte fot himd.

'He's slowly dying in there...' Kristen whispered. I started to cry. She was right, Nick was slowly dying in his "new home". And there wasn't anything I could do for him.

>>>>>

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