**Kayci**
I ever so carefully carried the dress of diamonds up the stairs and the diamond bracelet and necklace in one arm and held the white blanket around my body with the other. Nick already went up ahead of me and blew all the candles out. Good God, the way I figure it, he must have spent about twenty-one thousand dollars tonight between the dress, dinner and jewelry.
I walked into my room and saw Nick standing there in just his dress pants, holding a red rose and a coat hanger. He took the dress, handed me the rose and went to hang up the dress. I carefully put all the jewelry on my dresser and walked over to Nick. I wrapped my arms around him and hugged him as tightly as I could. “Thank you so much Nick. God, that was so perfect.”
“I'm glad you liked it,” he whispered.
I pulled away slightly and looked into his eyes. “Liked it? I loved it!” I lessened my tone and said, “Thank you.”
Nick laughed softly and kissed me. “You're welcome.”
I turned away and started heading for my closet but Nick grabbed my arm, almost causing me to drop the blanket. “Nick?”
“Where do you think you're going?”
“In my closet,” I said, giving him a look.
“And why...” he asked, his voice trailing off.
“To change...” I answered, my voice, too, trailing off.
He smiled and in one, quick move he scooped me up into his arms. “I don't think so.”
“And why...” I mimicked him.
“Because...” He laid me down on the bed and ran his hand around where the blanket was tied around me. “This is much easier to get off of you.”
“Oh really?”
“Yeah.” He leaned down and kissed me but then stopped abruptly and sat up.
“Nick? What's wrong?” I re-tied the blanket and sat up next to him.
His voice was shaking and so was the rest of his body. “Kayci, I'm leaving tomorrow,” he said in a low tone.
My whole body gasped at this realization. “I know, Nick.” I wrapped my arms around him tightly. “I know.”
He turned around and looked at me seriously. “Kayci, when are we gonna get married?”
“Jeez, I hadn't thought about that. Probably when you get done with your tour.”
His whole body fell and he whined out loud. “Damn it! I can't wait that long! How about when we have time off for a while we get married?”
I thought about it for a second. “Okay.”
He looked at me stunned. “Okay?”
“Yeah,” I smiled, “okay. I can't wait that long either, but you'll have to work out the details.”
“I think that I can definitely handle that.” I looked at him and I could tell that he wanted to say something else but couldn't. “Nick?”
“Um...Kayci?”
“Yeah?” He wasn't saying anything but I could tell that he really wanted to.
“Nothing. Let's just go to bed, okay?”
“Um, okay. Are you sure?”
“Yeah.” He leaned over and kissed me. “Good night,” he said and rolled underneath the covers.
“Um, good night,” I said, a little unsure. I walked into my closet and changed for bed.
Well, the day is finally here. The guys are leaving for their European tour. I looked over and saw that Nick wasn't in bed but the shower was going so I assumed he was in there. I buried my face in my pillow and hope that this was all a nightmare and that I would wake up.
“G'morning, Baby.” I sat up and saw Nick dressed and toweling off his hair. “What do you want to do today?”
“I dunno. What time do you guys have to leave?” Please be late...
“Noon.”
I looked at the clock and saw that it was already nine thirty. “Noon?” I screamed.
He held up his hands in defense. “Don't yell at me! It's not my fault.”
I looked down and quietly said, “I know.” I saw him move and walk over to the bed. He sat down next to me but I couldn't look at him.
“Just say the word and I won't go. Say the word and I'll stay right here with you.” He pleadingly looked at me.
“Really?” I said, a little too overenthusiastically. Would he really?
“Just say the word, Kayci.”
**Nick**
I held my breath as she made her decision. Secretly, God I wanted her to tell me to stay. I would in a fucking second.
“No, Nick, you can't.” What? Did she say no?
“Did you just say no?” I asked.
“Yes.”
“So I can?”
“No!”
“Make up your mind!”
“Nick, you have to go on tour.”
I don't know what to say. I could feel my face begin to burn. “Fine!” I yelled and stormed out of her room. I ran out the back door and down to the beach. None of the neighbors were on the beach. Thank God. I stopped and just stood there looking out over the water. I don't know what to do.
“Nick?” I heard a soft voice say behind me. I turned my head to see Kayci standing about ten feet behind me, her hands twiddling nervously.
“Hi,” I barely choked out. Out of the corner of my eye, I saw her begin to slowly walk towards me.
“Nick what's wrong?”
“Stay back,” I said slowly, turning around. If she came near me, I was gonna lose it.
“Okay.” She looked down and started staring at the sand. I could hear the sadness in her voice and it made me feel even worse.
**Kayci**
I had learned that at times like this, if he said to back off, I did. He looked up at me. “Nick?”
“Kayci, I...” His voice cracked and his face turned redder. I took a chance and walked right up to him.
“Nick-”
“I can't do it, Kayci. I just can't!”
“Do what, Honey?”
“Go on tour! I can't do it again!” A tear slipped down his face. I tried to touch him but he took a step back.
“Nick, please-”
“Don't make me go. Baby, please, don't.”
“Nick, you know I can't do that.” I paused. “Why wouldn't you want to go?” He took a step forward, fell to his knees, buried his face in my stomach and started crying. “Nick?”
“I can't...I can't...” He wrapped his arms tightly around me and his cries got louder each second. “I can't take it! I'm afraid. Kayci, I'm afraid I'm not gonna survive.”
I was so scared now. I was afraid of the same thing. I dropped down to his level. “I'll be there in two weeks. Just two weeks, Baby, you can make it.”
“No, I can't.”
“Yes you can! And you have to!” I kissed him quickly and hugged him.
“I'm afraid,” he whispered in my ear.
“Don't be. You're going to be out there with millions of people that love you.”
He looked at me. “But only one that counts.”
“Yes Nick, but you have no choice.”
“It's not fair!”
“But you love this. This is your life, this is your music...support it. I do.” He looked at me, quickly buried his face in my neck and tightly wrapped his arms around me. There we stayed kneeling for a while.