Chapter Nine

Nick watched Sadie climb into the taxi bringing them to their buses. His brother and sister glared from the doorway. They were both a little angry with his job right now. "Oh Guys…" Nick sighed, "It's okay… Jeez."

Aaron sat on the doorstep and placed his head in his hands. Looking up at Nick, he though about why did it always seemed that when things were getting good between the two of them, Nick always had to leave?

Nick walked up and ruffled his baby bro's hair, "Chin up, AC. It's not that bad…"

"It was just getting fun again," Aaron muttered.

"I'll leave you two alone for a few. Come see me before you leave though," BJ almost ordered as she walked in the house and shut the door.

Nick sat beside him, "Aaron, why are you so upset over this? It's just gonna be a few months, then I come home. Be thankful that it's only a mini tour."

Aaron just shrugged, "I… I don't know."

"I'm coming back, you know… I'm not just leaving you here," he stated, "I'm not like Mom and Dad, AC…"

Aaron looked up at Nick, "I know that. I don't know why this is bothering me so much. I know you'll be back… too soon… and when you get back, I'll want you to leave. I just… I don't want… I don't want to have to start all over again when you get back."

He nodded, understanding entirely. "I know, Bro… And don't worry… We'll pick it right back up," he playfully shoved him, "And I'm not THAT bad to live with, am I?"

Aaron smirked, "Not all the time."

"ALL the time?!" Nick exclaimed, laughing and tickling Aaron's sides. "You'd better take that back, lil man! I treat you two DAMN good!"

"NICK! NICK! I said NOT all the time!" Aaron said between laughs.

Nick let up, looking at him cockily, "So? I have selective hearing…"

"Nick, can uh… can Jackie come over while you're gone? Or should I just go to her house?" Aaron asked. He would totally understand if Nick said she couldn't.

He stared at his little brother, "Um… Air, I'm gonna ask you a question and you gotta tell me the answer…"

"Shoot…" Aaron replied.

"You gotta be truthful, promise?" Nick warned.

"I promise. Have I ever lied to you?" Aaron asked almost offended.

"Not yet," Nick smiled, "Okay… Aaron… Do you plan on having sex with Jackie while I'm gone…?"

Aaron shrugged, "I don't ‘plan’ on it. If it happens, it happens. I'm always prepared so you don't have to ask that question. I know how you feel about me… and… sex and I wouldn't have sex with her in your house," Aaron answered.

Nick shook his head, "No… Aaron, listen."

"What?" he asked exasperated.

He smiled softly. His baby brother… having sex… whoa… "Aaron, if you're gonna… do that…" he took a breath, "then I'd rather it be here. I don't want you getting in any trouble. Jackie's still fifteen."

"Nick, Jackie turns sixteen next week," Aaron answered with a smile.

"I don't care," Nick's eyebrows raised, "I'm not telling you what to do, Bro… I'm just telling you what I'm comfortable with."

"I know you're not. Do you trust me, Nick?" Aaron asked.

"Yeah, I do…" Nick smirked.

"Then… trust me. Okay?" Aaron asked.

"Okay," he patted the young man's back, "Sounds good to me. So, how you wanna go about this?"

"Go about what?" Aaron asked.

"This goodbye thing," Nick stated, "How ya wanna go about it?"

"I'll see you later," Aaron said, holding his arms out for a brotherly hug.

Nick snorted, "I have to hug you?"

"Fine!" Aaron said, standing and calling for BJ.

Nick reached up and before Aaron could protest, pulled him down into a hug.

Aaron smiled and hugged his brother, "Thank you, Nick."

"Always," he whispered, "I don't mean to get all icky on ya… But I love you, Baby Bro."

"I know, I'm so lovable!" Aaron joked, but immediately turned serious, "I love you too."

He let go as he heard his sister clear her throat, "Hey, Beej."

"Nick, I'll talk to you later," Aaron said and walked into the house. He didn't want to say Good-bye. Good-bye's lasted too long. He shut the door and left Nick and BJ on the front porch.

"Hey Nick," she answered, sitting down where Aaron had been minutes before.

"Hey Sis," he answered, swinging an arm over her shoulder. It was almost scary how different the relationships were between he and Aaron and he and BJ.

She leaned her head on his shoulder and sighed.

He rolled his eyes, "Now what's wrong with you?"

"Just… thinking that's all," BJ responded, "What did you think I was getting all mushy on ya? Shit, my head hurts."

Nick chuckled, "I got something to ask of you, Beej."

"I don’t know if I can handle all this… " she said, then looked at him, "Kidding. What do ya need?"

He smiled weakly and took hold of her shoulders, "Beej… You know I love you and believe in you… but tell me that you're gonna stay clean. Just cuz I'm gone, does not mean you have to resort back to that… that… that hell. I'm just a phone call away. Leave it be. You don't need it."

Tears sprang to her eyes. "I promise," she said and smiled weakly.

"Oh…" his face fell, "Don't cry, BJ. I'm sorry, Honey." He pulled her to his chest, "I'm so sorry… I know you can do this."

"Nick, these are happy tears," she informed him, "You have no idea what it means to hear you say that. That you believe in me. It means so much."

Nick's grin returned, "I do, with all my heart. Okay… I gotta go, Beej. Have fun and keep your and my brother safe, okay?"

"Of course. When can we expect a call from you?" she asked.

"Tonight," he promised, "Is that okay?"

She nodded, "It's perfect. I love you."

Nick sighed, "I love you too, Beej. I love you both and I'll get home quick as I can."

"I know. Take your time and have fun doing what you love," she smiled, pulling out of the hug.

Nick laughed, "Will do." He saw his girlfriend waiting for him, "I gotta go." He stood up and kissing her on the cheek, walked to the car. Sitting down next to Sadie, he took her hand and breathed a shaky breath.

"You okay, Sweetie?" she squeezed his hand as she looked out and saw Aaron join BJ on the porch.

He leaned his head back, "No."

Sadie sighed, wishing she could read him. Normally she could, but not when it came to his family. She lifted his hand and kissed his knuckles.

Nick gave her a emotionless smile, "I just don't want to leave them."

She looked at him. "They'll be fine. Baby, right now, you're house is the safest place to be in the country," she referred to all the security guards he hired to watch them.

"I don't care," Nick shook his head as the car started moving, "I have a bad feeling." He was always so stubborn.

Sadie just sighed and watched the trees go by as they drove, not knowing what to say anymore.

"But thank you," he whispered, staring at the seat in front of him.

She didn't know what she did, so she smiled and moved over kissing his cheek lightly.

Nick leaned into her lips before turning his head to catch her in an actual kiss, "There is one good thing about this though…"

"Hm…?" she asked softly.

"No more kids," he replied, running a hand up her leg.

She giggled. "Nope… no more kids," she repeated, moving her lips to his neck.

He moaned, "Nuh uh… Now way you're doing this to me in here. We're in a taxi cab and I'll be walking around hard all day."

Sadie just snickered and relented.

Nick sighed in relief, laying his head on her shoulder, "I'm so exhausted." Then he was asleep.

She kissed the top of his head and smiled, leaning on it and thinking.

***

AJ watched Julia from the doorway to Aurora's room as she packed up the last of the baby's things. Rory was playing with some building blocks on the floor. He couldn't help but smile. "This is going to be a good tour,” he predicted.

Jule looked up at her husband, "Go wait in the car. We'll be right there…"

He gave her a crooked glance. "You okay?" he asked cautiously.

"Fine," she smiled, "Stop worrying and go."

"Fine…" AJ mumbled and turned to leave, pouting.

"Baby," she sighed, "I'll be there in just a sec."

"I know…" he responded and walked down the stairs. He hopped in back of the cab, and waited patiently.

Julia finished packing the baby's stuff and head out, bag on her shoulder. Setting Rory in her car seat and putting the suitcases in the trunk, she climbed in next to her husband.

AJ smiled, "You excited?" He loved his time off, but he missed the fans, the rush, being in stage.

"Some what," Julia shrugged, "I liked being home."

AJ didn't know how to take that statement, so he dropped it.

She leaned against him, "I missed dancing though."

He smiled and kissed the top of her head. "I guess it's part of the price you pay… ya know?" he asked, inhaling the sweet scent of her hair.

"Yeah…" she reached over AJ's lap to play with her daughter, "It's her first tour. Let's keep her outta the spot light?"

"Yeah," he agreed, "She doesn't need to be exposed to all this."

Julia sighed, "Exactly…" She leaned her head against the window for the rest of the drive.

They pulled up outside Jive's main building, seeing the seven tour buses parked there, and all the guys standing around. AJ smiled. "It starts," he said as the car stopped.

Julia sighed and stepped out. Nick immediately waved them over, looking as thrilled as she was.

AJ unbuckled Rory from her car seat and passed her to her mother. AJ grabbed the car seat as the bodyguards, bus drivers, and people low on the chain of command at Jive grabbed their bags and took them over to the bus.

She balanced the child in her arms, glancing at her husband. Nick was still waiting and Sadie looked as if she were rather… distraught.

AJ suddenly felt awkward like he was the only one excited about the tour. Suddenly, he got a bit depressed. He saw a group of fans standing by the buses. Then he noticed Aurora had fallen asleep on her mother’s shoulder. Taking off his jacket and placing it over the sleeping child, he blocked her from anyone's view. "Let's get this show on the road," AJ wrapped his arm around Julia, leading her toward their bus.

***

Sadie stood against the bus and watched as Nick waved Julia and AJ over, then smiled softly as they walked over.

Julia gave Nick a small hug, "What's up?"

He laughed, "I'm starting a tour. That's what's up. I just wanted to say hi and… stuff."

"Hey, Man," AJ greeted Nick and smiled softly at Sadie. "Jules, let's get Rory in a bed, okay?" AJ suggested. It was suddenly making him nervous as the crowd of fans grew. What was Jive thinking?

Julia looked him strangely, but nodded, "Yeah… Okay… Later guys," and she followed him into the bus.

"Let's do the same, huh?" Nick asked, kissing her forehead, "Wanna check out the bus? You've never seen it before."

Sadie smiled and agreed with a nod.

***

AJ reached behind him and took Julia's hand. Once the fans saw AJ, they screamed and tried calling him over. He just waved with his free hand and continued to lead Julia to the bus.

Julia smiled at them, but gasped as she heard a word come from behind her. "Slut!" they yelled. She turned slightly, but brushed it off.

AJ's jaw dropped and he turned and glared at the group of fans that had said it. He let Julia walk onto the bus before him and sighed as the doors closed behind.

She smiled, "Don't worry about it, Honey. Go put her down somewhere."

AJ went and laid Rory down in the crib that had been installed in the bus. He walked back over and looked at Julia. "I am worried about it," he stated, sitting next to her.

"Don't," she kissed him, "I'll be fine. I'm prepared for it and we can't stop it. We just gotta deal, Babe."

AJ smiled and kissed her cheek, "Yeah, you're right. As usual."

"Course," Julia smirked, "I'm always right. Let's get settled in then? I'm glad we have our own bus." Because of the number of people in each bus, each family got their own to share. They came with a double bed in a small bedroom, and small bathroom. A kitchen, dinning area, and entertainment room were also included.

"Me too," he smiled, kissing her lips lightly.