Chapter One

Three years later…

Jeff looked around the table, "Everyone is in agreement then?"

There were nods all around, "Great. Sadie Pierce is now hired as The Backstreet Boys’ new photographer."

Nick smiled as everyone chuckled at him, "Hey… It's not just because she's my girlfriend. She's got talent… the rest is just an added bonus."

He grinned the whole car ride home, not being able to wait to tell Sadie.

Nick pulled up at the house and ran inside. “Sadie!” he called, “Sadie, come here!”

Sadie didn't even look up from the book she was reading as she heard him cry out. She answered with, "No… I'm comfy… You come here."

He groaned, “You’re lucky I love you!” He walked into the living room. “Guess what…” he kneeled in front of her.

She still didn't look at him. She knew he was excited and she loved teasing him, "What?"

He took the book from her hands and threw it into the other room. “You have been hired as our photographer,” he told her nonchalantly.

Sadie’s wide eyes met her boyfriend’s, “They went for it?”

“Totally. Everyone loved your work!” Nick said, finally breaking into a smile.

She suddenly got very excited as the news set in. Not only would this be perfect for spending time with Nick, but it would also gain her a good reputation starting out with such a respectable job. "Oh, Nicky!" she screeched, wrapping her arms around his neck, "I can't believe it!"

He smiled and hugged her. “I can,” he stated softly.

She pulled back, "You're too good to me, Nick. I love you."

He shrugged. “I know,” he kissed her, “I love you.”

She kissed him lightly, "Okay… now I have some bad yet funny news… and then… I have just plain bad news."

He looked at her funny, “Okay…”

"First the funny," Sadie stated, rolling her eyes, "Jake called." She cringed, knowing how much Nick HATED her former roommate from college, Jake.

Nick growled, “Why must you tell me this? Do I have to beat his ass… again? I think I’m gonna change our number…”

She laughed, "Nick… he didn't know I had a boyfriend when he kissed me."

“So what?!” Nick answered pouting.

"So nothing… but you didn't have to punch him," she took hold of his chin. "He's in town this week, and I AM going to have lunch with him… and that's that," she said firmly, "but… you're welcome to come with to protect me."

He pouted some more, “Damn straight I’ll be there!”

"You'll be nice?" she warned.

“Of course,” he said with the infamous Carter grin.

She knew he was being cocky. "Good," she breathed, "Cuz I wouldn't want him to kiss me with those… nice, warm, soft lips of his. I wouldn't want them pressing against my own and in the heat of all the passion… I wouldn't want us ripping each other's clothes off and having rough, hot sex together-"

Nick pulled her to him and kissed her with all he had in him. He ended up laying her down with him on top. He moaned into the heated kiss. He broke it, “You still want to think about him?”

"I don't know, Nick," she giggled, "He IS pretty cute."

He pouted and moved off her, sitting on the other end of the couch. “Fine. BE that way!”

Sadie smiled and walked over to her boyfriend. She swiftly sat across his legs, straddling him. "Jake is nothing to me, but a friend. But you get so jealous… It's hard for me not to tease. Could you do me a favor though?" she pressed herself closer, "Kiss me like that again?"

He smiled and brought her head down to his, kissing her the way she liked it.

"Mmm…" she groaned as he pulled away, "Damn Nicky… You're so fucking good at that."

He chuckled. “So what was your plain bad news?” Nick asked, not sure if he wanted to know.

"Oh," she looked away and grumbled, "Your mom called."

He laughed, “I see… did she say what she wanted?”

"I don't know, but she said it was important. I asked her what it was, thinking that if it was that bad, that you'd rather hear it from me, but she wouldn't tell me. It's ‘family business’."

“I should probably call her back…” he stated, a sinking feeling in his stomach.

"Yeah…" Sadie gave a half-hearted smile, "You should." She slid off him, "I'm gonna see if the pugs need to go out."

Nick nodded as he reached for the phone and dialed the number. He listened to the rings.

Jane raced for her cell phone, "Hello?"

“Mom… it’s me. You called?” Nick asked, knowing something was wrong just by the tone in her voice.

"Oh… hi, Sweetie…" she breathed, "I'm sorry I didn't call your cell… Um… that girl told me you probably wouldn't even have it on."

“Mom, ‘that girl’ has a name… What did you want?” Nick asked, getting frustrated.

"Honey… don't get angry… I haven't known her long," she felt the day catching up with her. She had lots of emotion in her voice, "That's not the point, Nick. Nick… there's been an accident."

Nick’s heart dropped into his feet, “What? What happened?”

"It's BJ," she whispered, "I'm at the hospital, Nick… We all are."

Nick felt like he couldn’t breathe, “Mom, wha… what happened to her? Wh… what happened?”

Jane's voice cracked, "She… God… She crashed her car right into a tree… and… they don't know if she's gonna pull through or not. But there's so much more to that story, Nicky…"

Nick nearly dropped the phone. He couldn’t speak. Tears brimmed his eyes. He couldn’t think. “Mommy, I’ll… I’ll be out there… today. I’m practically on my way. Tell her… tell BJ, I love her, and I’ll see her soon…”

"Nick… wait…" she paused, "I have to tell you the whole story first… We want you here, but you have to know."

Nick dropped his head into his hands. “Go ahead,” he whispered softly.

"She crashed because she was trying to get away from the police," Jane whispered, "She was trying to get away from them because she didn't want to get caught. The cops wanted to pull her over for speeding, but that's not what BJ was worried about."

“What?” he spat.

Jane lost control of her emotions, "Heroine, Nicky… Heroine. They found angel dust in her car and doing some tests… it was in her system, which is why her driving was so bad in the first place."

“BJ?” Nick asked, not believing it.

"PCP… phencyclidine the doctors said. I know, Honey… I know. I couldn't believe it either… but we saw it. There was more in her purse."

“My God, what was she thinking?” Nick asked to no one in particular. “Is that all? I really wanna get on a plane and get my ass out there.” Everything he’d been told hadn’t really sunk in.

"There's one more thing and then that's all. Her car is totaled, Nick. It was the BMW." There was silence on Nick's end of the line. "Are you okay, Baby?" her motherly instincts kicked in, "Do you want to talk some more first?"

“No… I’m… I’m gonna…go. I’ll... I’ll be there before the night is… is over. Tell her I’m on my way and I love her,” he fought to keep his composure.

"Okay… I love you, Baby," she told her first born, "And it's gonna be okay…"

“I love you too,” he sighed. “Yeah…” He hung up. He sat there, in shock on his couch. He couldn’t move, he couldn’t think. He just sat there.

Sadie laughed as the pugs jumped at her feet, "Calm down! There's enough treats for all of you!" Turning the corner she saw Nick's figure, "Nicky, you should have seen Mikey!" Her laughter stopped as she saw Nick's tear stained face. "Nicky…" she became concerned, "Nicky… what's wrong?"

“I… I have to go to Cali…” Nick stated numbly.

"What?" she asked. She could barely hear him, "What for?"

Nick shook his head like he was coming out of some sort of trance, “BJ was in an accident… Oh God… she could die! I… I have to pack and call the guys and call for a ticket. I have… I have to go… ” he babbled as he stood. He started walking around aimlessly like he was trying to remember if he was coming or going.

Sadie's eyes went wide. "Nick! Nick, calm down! Stop," she pulled on his body, trying to get him to slow, "Nicky… It's okay… Just sit down!"

“No… no, it’s… it’s not okay… she could… she could die…” Nick’s knees gave out and he fell into a sitting position on the couch. “I can’t sit! I have to go! I have to be there!”

She pushed his body back down, cradling his head in her hands, "Shh… okay… You'll be there, Baby… I promise you, we'll get you there. First you have to tell me what happened though… okay?" She noticed the far off look in his eye. It was going to take a lot to calm this boy down.

“She… she was… in the BMW… and she was… speeding… trying to get away… and she crashed… It’s all my fault…” he whispered.

"Not your fault," Sadie corrected, "No, Nick… don't do that to yourself." She knew that the BMW had been a gift to BJ from Nick, "Just because of the car, doesn't mean it's your fault. You had nothing to do with it…" She wiped a few of his tears away.

“I should have been there to… to show her… to be a big brother. But I wasn’t. I was here. She was running from… the cops…” Nick insisted, “God… it’s my fault. It’s all my fault.”

"No!" she yelled, "Stop, Nick!"

Nick just looked up at her, tears rolling from his big blue eyes.

"Oh, Nicky," she opened her arms, silently asking if he needed her.

He wrapped his arms around her and pulled her close, burying his face in her stomach. “Call… call… the airport… please. I have to go pack a bag.”

"Shh, Baby Boy… The airport will still be there and so will your family… Just stay here for a bit, okay?" she soothed his hair and kissed the top of his head.

“BJ… BJ might not be there. I have to go,” Nick stated firmly, “She could die… die.”

"It's okay, Nick… BJ would want you to calm down before acting on anything… So just calm down and talk to me…"

Nick dropped his head into his hands, “BJ would want me there holding her hand! I’m such a bad brother!”

"No… you're an awesome big brother, Nicky… BJ is a grown woman. You're a grown man. You both have your own lives now… and you will hold her hand, Sweetheart," she responded softly.

Nick broke down in front of her eyes. He’d been trying to be strong, but he lost the battle. He became a shell of a man on the couch as he cried uncontrollably.

Sadie's jaw slacked and tears welled in her eyes as Nick crumbled, "Nicky…" She quickly sat down next to him and placed a hand on his shoulder, "Baby… It'll be okay."

"No! It won't!" he screamed as he stood and stared running upstairs, "I have to go! I have to go to my little sister!"

"Nick!" Sadie yelled after him. He didn't stop so she yelled again, "Nick! Stop!" Knowing that this wasn't helping, she ran up the stairs after him. There he was throwing anything and everything into a suitcase placed on the bed, "Nicky… just stop." She walked over and pushed the bag aside, ignoring Nick's reach for it. Sadie closed it and sat on top.

"Why are you doing this?! MOVE!" he yelled, pushing her off the suitcase as he continued to throw things into it, "I have… I have to go. BJ needs me and you're trying to keep me here! Why?! Can’t you just help me?!"

"Nick, I'm trying to help you, but I have to know what I'm helping you with!" she cried in frustration. She cursed softly as she saw Nick's face fall slightly. She once again pushed the case away.

"Sadie… My little sister could die. All I'm trying to do is get to her," Nick stated softly, "She could… she could die.” He had left some details out.

"Is that all? Is there more to that?" she asked softly, caressing his cheek, "Baby… It's gonna be okay."

"Sadie! She could DIE! What part of that are you missing?! DIE, SADIE… like forever… I have to be there… Okay?!"

Sadie stared at him, "Of course you have to be there, Honey… and you will be there. I promise you, okay? I promise." She sighed, "Just tell me what's going on… What's REALLY going on, Nick."

Nick slumped to sit in an Indian position on the floor. He rested his elbows on his knees and his head dropped into his hands. "She was driving the BMW I gave her, and… she was running from the cops… My kid sister... "

Sadie nodded and moved off the bed to kneel beside him, "Okay… What do you want me to do?" When he didn't respond she lifted his head to meet her eyes, "Baby… How can I help you right now?”

He looked up at her and whispered, “Call Jules.”

Sadie blinked a few times before regaining her composure. She forced a small smile, "Okay, Nicky… Whatever you want." Maybe… maybe she wasn't the person he needed through all this. Maybe that's why he wouldn't tell her.

Nick knew that last comment would hurt her, but Julia knew Nick's family. Nick’s family accepted Julia. Shit, BJ was Julia's maid of honor at her wedding. Julia should know. Julia would understand. "Thank you."

Sadie nodded lightly and got up, "Sure… I'll tell her to come over. Then… I'll call for three tickets to LA…"

Nick looked up at her. "Three?" he asked, "You're coming?"

She stared at him helplessly. "I… I thought you'd want me to come. I thought… All right… I'll call for," she took a breath, "I’ll call for two then." She started toward the door of their bedroom.

"No… I want you to come. I just… didn't think you'd want to be there. Make it three," Nick said, watching her.

She turned around and repeated him quietly, "Want to be there… Nicky?" She shook her head and walked out.

"Why can't she just… ugh! Why does she have to be so difficult?!" he asked himself as he sat there. He stood and continued throwing stuff into the bag, going through the motions. He'd packed without thinking how many times before, he'd do it again. It just seems like all he ever does is pack. He sighed when he finished and carried the bag downstairs.

Sadie willed the tears away, making her way to the phone. She couldn't make a big deal of this right now… Nick was upset, not thinking clearly, or at least she tried to tell herself. Finally reaching Julia after calling their home, her cell, and then AJ's cell. She agreed to come over. Then Sadie booked three first class tickets to California. She realized she had to pack her own bag and walked upstairs again.

Nick passed Sadie on the stairs, "Sadie…"

She continued her path, "What?"

He'd made it to the bottom of the stairs, "Did you book the flight?"

"Yes…" she said quietly, stopping at the top, "The next flight leaves in four hours… It's the next one out. The earliest there is… Julia will be here in about an hour, she said."

Nick nodded, "Did you tell her?"

"As much as I know," she nodded, continuing to walk away.

Nick just let her walk away, not able to deal with her hypersensitivity at the moment.

After forty-five minutes had past, there was a knock at the door. Nick stood, walking to it. He opened it to a confused Julia, bag in hand.

Julia dropped her bag at the sight of him. She reached her arms up and wrapped them around his neck, hugging him. She was still curious as to what happened. She knew Nick needed a little comfort, but she was confused why she'd been called. It didn't matter though. She was Nick's ‘other’ best friend, and she'd be there if he needed her.

Nick whimpered into her embrace, hugging her tightly. His tears flowed again as he didn't know what to do anymore. For the next hour before they left for the airport, he had no way of helping his baby sister.

She just let him cry for what seemed like forever, still in his doorway. Julia spoke after a few moments of silence, "Nick, maybe we should go inside."

Nick was knocked out of his thoughts at her words. He suddenly became embarrassed, "Yeah…" He let go and walked inside, hastily wiping at his eyes, "Sorry about that, Jules…"

"Stop rubbing your eyes like that, you'll make them look worse. Let it out, Nick." Julia picked up her bag and followed him. It was weird being in the house without AJ. She sighed, "Nick, what's going on? What happened?"

"Didn't Sadie tell you?"

"All I got from her was bits and pieces of information. Then she said it was all she knew. Sit down and tell me," she coaxed as she sat on the couch, pulling him with her.

Nick groaned as he realized that's all he HAD told Sadie. In other words, he'd told Sadie shit. He shook his head and stared at Julia, "BJ's been in an accident. The cops were after her for speeding and she was trying to ditch them. The reason she didn't want to get pulled over was because she was high… on heroine. She'd obviously been doing it for a while and it was in her system as she was driving. They found more in her purse and in the car, I guess… She's at the hospital now… and they're not sure if she's going to make it." Damn… that had been too easy. It felt so good to say it. Why couldn't he have just told Sadie? Why'd he need Jules there?

Julia's hand went to her mouth, "Oh my God… when does the plane leave?"

Nick swallowed, "I don't really know… Sadie made the arrangements."

"Shouldn't you find out?" Julia asked quietly.

He closed his eyes, "She'll tell us when we're leaving… But I'll go find out anyway."

Julia nodded, "And… um… talk to her, okay? She seemed upset on the phone…"

Nick looked at her, "She should be… She has a right to be." He smiled weakly and got up to find his girlfriend.

Julia watched him walk away as the reality of what was happening sunk in. She pulled out her cell phone and dialed her husband’s number, just needing to tell him she loved him. So she did.

***

Nick sighed when he found Sadie sitting on their bed. Her bag was packed and she sat there, obviously upset, yet still tried to comprehend the words she read in her book. The same book he had thrown across the room that day after the meeting, "Sadie?"

"Yes, Nick?" she asked softly, glancing at him before returning to the typed print.

"Sadie…" he walked over to her and, for the second day that day, took her book away, "Sadie… I… I…" He suddenly didn't know what he was trying to say.

She looked up at him, "You?"

Nick's lip trembled, "I'm worried about BJ…"

"Nick, what is going on?"

"She's… God…" he gulped, "They don't know if she's gonna make it and… Sadie… She ran into the tree because she was on… angel dust and didn't want the police to find out. She didn’t want them to know that she was on it or that she had it with her… She's… my little baby sister…"

Sadie cupped his face in her hands, "Nick, God wouldn't give you anything you couldn't handle. BJ's strong, she'll make it through. I just don’t understand why you couldn't tell me that to begin with…" Her voice trailed to a whisper with her last sentence.

"Sadie, I'm sorry…" Nick tried, "Please don't be angry… I'm sorry. I didn't mean to hurt you. I just… didn't…" He gave up.

She kissed his forehead, "Talk to me."

He shook his head, "Not now… I promise I will… but right now…" A blush crept up his cheeks, "Right now I just need to be near you."

Sadie sighed, "The plane leaves in an hour and forty five minutes. We should probably head to the airport."

"Sadie…" he didn't know how to make things right again, "Sadie… I love you. I love you so much. Thank you for coming with…"

"I wouldn't want to be anywhere else. I can't… Never mind. Come on," she said standing.

He pulled her arm, "No… say it."

"I can't believe you thought I wouldn't want to be there," Sadie whispered, "Let's go though, so you don't miss your flight."

"I just… didn't…" he nodded, "Yeah… Let's go." He made sure to grab her hand before picking up her bag and heading downstairs, "Ready to go, Jules?"

Julia nodded, wiping her eyes. She stood and followed the two out the door. It was a very awkward situation they were in.

Sadie kept her eyes forward, not looking at Nick's ex-girlfriend that he would have rather gone with him. She forced the thoughts out of her mind as she remembered that Julia was married now.

Nick drove them to the airport, all the while holding Sadie's hand. He wasn't sure what to do at that moment. They got settled and took their seats on the flight. He took the window seat out of habit, not realizing that meant one of the girls would sit by him and the other would be on the end.

Julia stood in the aisle and allowed Nick's girlfriend to take the seat next to him. She sighed as she sat down. She leaned her head back and closed her eyes. She wished Aurora was there, That little girl could make anyone laugh.

Sadie sat next to Nick and linked their hands together while he continued to stare out the window.

Nick glanced at her and smiled before leaning his head on her shoulder. He sighed, "Is this okay?" He needed that closeness right then.

"Of course," she whispered, kissing his head before laying hers on top.

Julia watched the interaction between the two and smiled. She really was good to him.

Nick moaned as the day caught up with him. Sleep overtook him as he felt Sadie's hand lightly rubbing his leg.

Julia sighed softly, "He's lucky to have you."

Sadie jumped in surprise, caressing Nick's arm as he whimpered from the movement. She answered, "Thank you… I guess…"

"I'm serious. You're good for him. You love him… more than I ever could," Julia said with a knowing smile, "and he loves you back just as much."

Sadie turned her head as much as she could, "But he wouldn't tell me anything… Don't think that I didn't see and hear you guys when you came over. He wouldn't even let me hold him and he just kinda… fell into your arms. And then he proceeded to tell you everything about BJ’s situation."

"I can't explain that. I don't get it. I just know that, BJ's like… my little sister too, ya know? And I think he knew I'd be feeling some of the same things he's feeling…" Julia said as she thought about the situation some more, "You know?"

"Oh yes… I know… yet…" she swallowed, "When I told him I'd get us three tickets because he wanted you to come, he was so shocked to find out that I was coming with. To me, that'd be a given. But of course Julia would come cuz everyone LOVES Julia… Jane loves Julia. BJ was Julia's made of honor. Bob wanted Julia as his son’s wife. Leslie and Angel wanna be just LIKE JULIA."

Julia had never realized how hard this was for her. "I'm sorry, Sadie. All I can say is that eventually, the entire Carter clan will realize how strong what you and Nick have is. They'll see that what we thought we had doesn't even compare… Just wait, you'll see," Julia offered.

"Yeah…" she waved it off, kissing her boyfriend's hair, "I just wish they didn’t make everything so hard on him."

Julia smiled softly, "Me too…"

Sadie's lips gave something like a half grin, "What's AJ gonna do without you? How's he gonna manage with Aurora?"

Julia chuckled, "God only knows! This is the first time it's been just the two of them." Julia sighed suddenly really missing her baby, "As much as I hate the reason I'm on my way out here, I am glad I get some ME time. I haven't had ME time in awhile."

Sadie shook her head, "I hate ME time… I used to love it, but now… I just wanna be with him." She laughed, "God, I sound like a soap opera."

"Wait till you're with him non stop for two years," Julia chuckled, "Actually, what would be really nice would be Julia and Alex time, but we never get that anymore either.”

Sadie smiled, "Well… Whenever you're in need, send the lil thing our way… I promise I won't let Nick near her."

"Seriously?" Julia asked laughing out loud, "Hey, it’ll be good practice, right?”

Sadie’s eyes got wide as she giggled, "Uh... NO. I don't so…" Nick started to move beside her. She place a finger to her lips, singling to Julia to be quiet.

As soon as he'd settled down again, Sadie spoke, "Well… First, yes I was serious. Feel free anytime you feel… overwhelmed. I'd be happy to. And second…" she stalled, "Could I talk to you for a second. I kinda… have an important question."

"Of course," Julia smiled warmly, "What’s on your mind?"

"Um…" How was she supposed to say this? Okay… start with, "Julia… how many times during your relationship did Nick ask you to marry him?"

"Uh… um… like…" Julia though back, "six or seven? I think, around there." Julia answered honestly, curious where this line of questioning was going.

"How did you tell him no," she whispered, looking away, "without him thinking you didn't love him… or didn't want to?"

Julia looked at her for a moment before answering, "I simply explained that we were both young, and that our lives were too hectic for marriage. He was like… nineteen the first time he asked me, and I was twenty-three. So… I was honest. I simply wasn't ready. Why?”

Sadie's voice sounded lost, "Because he's asked me twice already."

"Oh… I… what did… I had no idea…" Julia stuttered, "And you're not ready?"

"I’m ready…" she sighed, "I just don't want to. God… how do I tell him that?"

"Why don't you want to?" she asked not sure if she was over stepping any lines, "You don’t have to answer that if you don’t want to…"

"No… I need to talk about this…" Sadie scrunched her eyebrows, "First… We both know we're forever so why do we need a piece of paper to prove that? And then… there's his family, who hates me by the way… Okay, they don't hate me, but they love you and marriage is probably not the best thing for them right now… and… Damn it… Isn't it supposed to be the other way around? Shouldn’t I be the one begging for this? Shouldn't I be happy?"

"His family doesn't hate you. They just don't know you. Nick loves you, so they will love you. You know Nick. You know how he is with… feeling stable and secure. A piece of paper will do that for him the same way a hug will for you. Why are you not happy?" Julia asked. It was the last part of that statement that confused and shocked her the most.

Sadie realized how that must have sounded, "Oh no… Julia, I'm very happy with Nick. Don't get me wrong… I love him so much it physically hurts to see him this upset. I just… I don't know why I wasn't thrilled when he asked me. But I wasn't… I was afraid and a little angry that he'd ask that of me," she shook her head, "You know what the worst part was for me?"

Julia looked at her and waited for an answer.

"Seeing him start to cry when I said no," she stated with no emotion, “Both times.”

"Does he understand why you don't want to? Do you understand why you don’t want to? You have to remember that it's between Nick and you. Not nick, you and his family. Not Nick, you and his fans… You and Nick. I learned that when I got married," Julia said, "I had to learn that no matter what the fans, the media, or anyone else said… it was Alex and Julia. That’s all that mattered."

"I don't even understand… It just didn't feel right. And he didn't help any… saying that…" she stopped, "Never mind."

"Saying what?" Julia urged.

"He kept saying that it was gonna happen again… That the whole thing with you, me, and him… was gonna happen to me and him. You wouldn't marry him either, but said you loved him. Now that he knows that was fake… he's starting to think that I'm…" She stopped, having said enough.

"So prove him wrong," Julia said softly, "He would never cheat on you. I know that. Prove him wrong."

"It's already starting to affect him…"

"How?" Julia asked.

She glared at Julia, "He wanted you here. He wouldn't tell me what was going on… He wanted to tell Jules. He wouldn't even let me hug him…"

Julia looked to her hands, "I'm sorry… Maybe… maybe I shouldn't have come…"

"No," she closed her eyes, "No, I'm sorry. I shouldn't have taken it out on you like that… It's not your fault, you're just caught in the middle of it. You have the right to see BJ. And Nick's family will want you there so…"

"Nick's family is trying to forget about me. They’re still kinda pissed that I married Alex and not their son. Well, except BJ, she was happy for me," Julia's eyes glistened a little, "They didn't even call me and tell me."

"They would have… I'm sure, Julia… BJ would have made sure," Sadie smiled, placing a hand on Julia's arm.

"Ladies and Gentlemen, I'd like to the first to welcome you to California. It's beautiful outside…" the pilot’s voice buzzed through the speakers.

Julia smiled back, "Sadie, there's one thing that all this has taught me. If something is meant to be, it will be."

"That's very true," she rolled her eyes, "I should probably wake sleeping beauty over here…"

Julia nodded with a smile, "Did he drool on you?"

Sadie chuckled, "So, you've noticed that habit too, huh? No… I'm clean…"

Julia laughed.

"Nicky…" Sadie whispered in his ear, "Baby Boy, you gotta wake up. We're here… and my shoulder's gone numb."

"Hm…?” he asked rubbing his eyes with his fists. He sat up, it took him a few minutes before he realized where he was and what was going on. "Oh… sorry."

Sadie smiled, "It's okay…" Without warning, she leaned up and kissed him.

He kissed her back momentarily, then pulled away, "What was that for?" He knew he'd been a jerk all day. He wondered what he’d done to deserve that.

She kissed him again, this time pressing into it.

Nick just went with it, letting her lead.

After a few minutes, she broke it, "I love you… That's what that was for."

Nick couldn’t help his small grin, "I love you too… You know that."

"Yeah, I do know that… but do you know that I feel the same?"

He looked into her eyes, trying to read her. He hesitated slightly, "Yes."

"I do, Nicky… I love you very much," she rubbed his cheeks, "There's no way I would have let you come here to deal with this without me… I can't stand to see you hurting like this and I know you don't think I'll understand, but at least vent to me. I care about it even if I don't fully know what’s going on in your head…"

Nick felt his eyes well up. Maybe that’s what he’d needed to hear all day. "Thank you,” he whispered before leaning in and kissing her again.

Her lips lingered on his as she smirked, "Why do I always make you cry at airports?"

He chuckled and kissed her quickly again, "Cuz I can never tell if you're coming or going…"

"Well, Nicky…" Sadie took his hand and kissed it, "I'm not leaving… Let's go?"

"Let's go," Nick said with a small smile.

Julia followed behind them. She really wanted to talk to Alex now.

***

It wasn't too hard to find the hospital after renting a car. Nick always had been good with directions, but Sadie was getting worried about how he was going to react upon seeing his family. She tried to get him to call them, but he refused. Obviously, he was afraid of hearing bad news.

Nick pulled into the hospital's parking lot and sighed. He parked and looked down to his hands before shutting off the car. "Think it's too late to turn back?" he asked. He was terrified to go in there and hear what had to be said.

Sadie looked helplessly at Julia. Sadie responded to Nick's question, "Yes, Nick… It's way too late." She placed her hand on his thigh and pat gently, "We're gonna be with you the whole time… Good or bad."

"Promise?" he looked back and forth between the two women he cared for more than anything. His ‘Jules’ and his ‘Forever.’

Julia nodded, "Of course."

"Always," Sadie whispered.

Nick took a deep breath and shut off the car. He stood and looked at the big building in front of him. He was… scared.

Sadie gave him a little push and they walked through the door. Knowing Nick wouldn't take the first step, she went and asked the nurse for BJ Carter and flashed Nick's ID to show they were family. Getting a room number, she repeated it to her boyfriend, "637."

They walked down the hall, Julia on Nick's right side, Sadie clasping Nick's left hand. Julia was slightly behind the couple. They walked through double doors opening to a small waiting room. In the room sat Jane, Bob, Leslie, Aaron and Angel. Jane stood immediately and practically ran to Nick, who dropped Sadie's hand to hug his mom.

Julia just stood back with tears in her eyes as she watched the scene before her.

Sadie watched Nick's tears start to fall again, along with his mothers and wondered what she could do. Suddenly, she felt two arms being thrown around her and someone crying softly into her neck. Embracing the person, she found herself looking at blonde hair much like her boyfriend's. Aaron, it was Aaron. She pulled back and looked up at him, "Hey, Sweetie… How are you?"

"Scared," he whispered before crying into her shoulder again.

Julia saw Nick's dad sitting there staring at the floor, she hadn't seen him in a long time. She walked over and sat next to him, "How are you?"

Bob looked up in surprise, "Oh… Julia. I'm doing okay, actually. The doctors say she's doing well, but that they won't be sure if… until she makes it through the night."

Julia nodded, she put her hand on his back and sighed. Leslie and Angel were asleep curled up in their chairs.

"Mommy, what's going on now?" Nick finally pulled away.

Jane wanted to cry at Nick's small voice, "Nothing new… They want to see how well she does tonight… But… don't you worry about, okay? Go be with your brother and other sisters… and pray."

Nick had never gotten along with his family except when there were emergencies. "Can I see Beej?" he asked hopefully.

"They're letting people in two at a time… No one's in there now. You want me to go with you?" she asked.

"I kinda want to go in with… Julia…" he whispered so Sadie wouldn’t hear. He didn't want to upset her again.

Jane's eyebrows raised, "Julia? Not… um…" She struggled to remember the girl's name, knowing it was important to Nick, "Not Sadie?"

"Julia came all this way to see BJ and Sadie doesn't really know Beej. BJ loves Julia like a big sister," Nick explained softly.

Jane nodded, "I understand. Sure… I'll tell the doctor."

"Thanks Mom…" Nick said and turned to see Aaron and Sadie in an embrace. He walked over and wrapped his arms around Sadie, sandwiching Aaron between the two.

Sadie smiled weakly at him as Aaron began to cry again, "You wanna take him, Nicky? I think he needs a big brother right now…"

"Actually, um… I was going to take Julia and go see BJ," Nick whispered.

Sadie gave him a nice grin, "Okay, Nicky… I'll be right out here if you need me." She reminded herself that she had to understand, "I'll keep Aaron for ya."

Nick nodded and kissed her forehead, "Thank you."

"Love you."

"Ditto," he smiled and pulled away, walking towards his dad and Julia. He didn't know what to say to Bob.

"Jules, come on, we're gonna go see Beej…" Nick said.

Julia nodded and stood.