Chapter Six

Nick paced the waiting area at the front of the police station. His palms sweat as he fought to stay calm. Seeing the people coming and going, he was suddenly concerned with what his baby sister had been exposed to in the last twenty-four hours.

The officer handed her the envelope of things she had brought and showed her to the waiting area. She set her eyes on her brother and tears filled them as her feet took off running. She threw her arms around him and buried her face in his shoulder, seeking comfort.

Nick was thrown back as the body crushed into his, but he soon recovered. He wrapped his arms around the girl, rocking them slightly back and forth while whispering comforting words.

"Nick… I was… so… scared…" she choked out, "I've… never… I can't… I hated it… thank you for getting me out… I love you."

"Shh…" he hushed, "It's okay, Beej… Everything’s okay now. It's over and you're going home."

BJ sighed and pulled away. "Home," she whispered, "Let's go home."

Nick shot an angry look at the police officer smirking behind the counter and led BJ off, a protective arm around her shoulders.

Nick opened the back door and BJ slid in next to Aaron and behind Sadie. She felt a little out of place, but shook the feelings off. These people had been there… through it all. These four and the three in the car behind them. She smiled. These people were her family.

That car ride to the airport was fairly quiet. Nick drove, thinking about the situation. Even when someone did say something, Nick would not include himself.

They checked the little luggage they had, and the seven of them took their seats in first class. AJ, Julia and Aurora sat together, smiling and laughing. Sadie, Nick, BJ, and Aaron all sat together, quietly. The emotional hardships were almost over. All they had to do now was get used to living together. The plane took off, and before any one could realize, it landed in sunny Florida. They all exited the plane and headed home.

***

Julia held the sleeping Aurora in her arms, and unlocked the door to the house as AJ carried the bags. She held the door for him to walk in, "I'm gonna go put her in her crib, I'll be right back down." She placed a kiss on his lips.

AJ smiled and nodded, "Okay… hurry back." He left to get something to drink.

She smiled back and walked upstairs placing her gently in her crib. She kissed her fingertips and placed them on the baby's forehead. Grabbing the baby monitor, she head out of the room. She sighed walking into the kitchen and sitting on a stool by the island.

Alex turned around offering her a glass of kool-aid, Aurora's favorite. "Tired?"

She nodded, taking the kool-aid and sipping it, "Exhausted. I didn't expect that whole situation to be so… draining."

"What do you mean?" he questioned, leaning on the counter.

"The entire thing… watching Nick go through all that… From finding out about Beej, his parents taking off, him having to watch her get arrested, Aaron hating me… the entire thing… it was… hard," Julia said softly,

"I didn't think it would have effected me the way it did." She drank the last of the kool-aid.

AJ looked at her kindly. He rubbed her arm, "Well… just feel better that you don't have to worry about it anymore." He turned to walk out of the kitchen.

"What do you mean?" she asked quickly.

He looked surprised, "I mean, you don't have to worry about them. It don't have nothing to do with you."

"Alex, how does it have nothing to do with me?" she asked, feeling misunderstood.

"You guys broke up. Why should you worry about their problems? It's not your fault they're fucked up."

Julia was shocked, "AJ, Nick's… like… my best friend and… BJ was my maid of honor, I care about them still. I can't believe you think just because Nick and I are no more… I shouldn't care," she spoke barely audible, in shock of her husbands thoughts.

AJ peered at his wife, "I thought I was your best friend. Now, Nick is? Should I be worried or anything?"

Julia didn't know how to respond to that. Tears filled her eyes, "Fuck you." She just stared at him.

He shook his head, "Nicky, Nicky, Nicky… Repeating history, Julia?"

"So you don’t trust me, is that it?" she asked him, her voice trembling.

"I trusted you just fine until this shit came up. Tell me again, why are you worried about Nick's problems?"

"Alex, Nick is an important part of my life, always has been. He was your Goddamn best man. I don't believe you're not more worried about him," Julia responded, only semi-answering the question.

"I'm worried about him, but I'm not going to fret over it. I can't do that. Like I said, it's not your fault the kid's fucked up. And it certainly ain't mine."

"I'm not saying it's your fault, or mine. But best friends are there for each other always… I… I can't believe I'm having this conversation with you," she said with a disbelieving tone.

"I can't believe that you're…" he trailed off, "I can't believe it either."

"That I'm what?" her eyes narrowed.

"Never mind," he said firmly.

"No, tell me," she demanded.

AJ's eyes rose to hers. Surprisingly enough, they looked upset, "Julia… are you… Are you cheating on me with… with… him?"

"What?!" she exclaimed loudly.

He flinched, "It's an honest question."

"Do you really think that?" she asked, not believing the incredible amount of pain that filled her.

"I don't know what to think anymore," he replied softly.

"Alex, I would never, ever… cheat on you. With anyone. Especially Nick," she responded, offended.

He nodded, "Then what's with the Nick thing?"

"What Nick thing?" She was confused.

"You're obsessing over this. All I hear is ‘Nick this,’ ‘Nick that,’ ‘I wonder if Nick's okay’…" he spat, bitterly.

"Then next time, I just won't say how I feel. How's that?" she asked just as bitter.

"That's not telling me how you feel. That's telling me stories about Nick."

"What stories have I been telling?"

"Every time something else happened with him, you'd come back to me and say, ‘Oh God… Poor Nicky… Guess what happened to the poor soul now.’"

"Where is this coming from?" she raised an eyebrow.

He looked up quickly, "What do you mean?"

"Where… when did you start to feel like this?" she asked him.

"Well… You took off to Nick's in such a hurry that day. I hardly knew why you were going. Next thing I knew, you were in California," he glanced away, "That's all I could get you to talk about for the next few days…"

"I thought you understood my and Nick’s relationship," she mumbled. "BJ and I were close, and I thought you… cared."

He sighed, "I do care… God, Baby I care so much. I didn't really think you were cheating on me. I just… Julia, I don't want to be second to him. I'm afraid that's what's happening. I didn't want BJ's accident to be an excuse."

Julia looked at him, walking over to him. She stood directly in front of him and took his face in her hands. "Do you trust me?” she whispered.

Alex stared into her eyes, "Yes... I do."

"Alex, baby, how could you ever think you'd be second to him?" Tears filled her eyes.

"He..." AJ stopped, getting choked up, "Julia... he had you for so long. I can't just assume that there's not gonna be any unresolved feelings between you two. You have such a history. I'm always on my guard. I trust him and I trust you more... but I can't expect nothing to be there."

The tears slipped from her eyes, "Alex, there's always going to be part of me that loves him. Because of the history, but baby, I'm yours. All our feelings were resolved. There's nothing there.”

"Do you promise? If he asked you for 'one more time' together, you wouldn't take it?" he asked softly.

"I promised you that already," she whispered taking his hand with her left one, "the day you put this ring on my finger."

AJ gave a relieved moan, kissing her lightly, "I'm sorry... I'm so sorry. I was just scared. I love you so much, Jule."

She kissed him back, still kind of hurt that he’d thought she would take Nick up on that offer, "I love you, too, Alex.”

He hugged her tightly, "Wanna go to bed? I know you were tired..."

She nodded, as Aurora's soft wails were heard over the monitor. She groaned, leaning her head on his shoulder.

"I'll get it," he suggested, "You go up to bed and I'll meet you in our room. Okay?"

She nodded, and kissed him again, before walking up the stairs.

***

Nick walked in with three bags in his hands, switching on the lights. "Home, Sweet Home," he sighed, "Baby, you wanna go let the dogs out? They probably haven't been out since the housekeeper this morning…"

Sadie nodded. "Sure," she said, walking to the back door being greeted by the pugs, "Come on! Let's go outside!"

Aaron walked in next and looked around. "It's changed…" he stated simply.

Nick smirked, "Yeah… unlike Jules… Sadie gets into making things… comfy and… less pretentious."

"That's why I like Sadie better," Aaron chuckled, scanning his eyes over the pictures.

He shook his head and finally noticed his sister standing awkwardly in the dinning room, "Come on, Beej… you too Aaron. I'll get you settled in your rooms. I bet you're beat."

BJ smiled and walked over to Nick, hugging him tight.

Nick just laughed, "Let's go…"

Aaron followed them up the stairs.

"Well, Beej… Welcome to your room," he sighed, walking into his old bedroom, "I know it's a little bare… but we can go shopping this weekend."

BJ grinned and climbed into the bed, "I'm tired… go away now."

Nick rolled his eyes with a laugh, "Jeez…" He shooed Aaron out of the room and flipped off the light.

"Thank you, Nick…"

Nick's heart melted, "You're welcome, BJ." He shut the door and walked down the hallway, "And your room, Mister Carter, is right here…"

Aaron walked in and looked around. "Not too shabby. Can WE go shopping this weekend?" Aaron asked with a smirk, "I have some redecorating to do."

Nick looked down at his brother. "Do I ever deny you anything?" he asked seriously.

"No," Aaron smiled and reached up to hug his brother, "and I don’t say thank you enough so… thanks."

Nick was a little shocked at the gesture, but embraced the boy anyway, "Uh… Sure, Aaron. It's no problem. I like you having nice things and stuff."

"No, for… for everything. Just, thanks," Aaron replied pulling away, "Go away now."

Nick's jaw dropped sarcastically, "You kids have no manners… I could of left you in the airport!"

"Shoo, shoo…" Aaron snickered, "I have a phone call to make…"

Nick started making kissing sounds as his little brother pushed him out of his room. His cackling could be heard all the way down the hall.