Alannah woke the next morning with the covers still pulled over her and with sunlight streaming through the curtains. She looked at the clock and realized that she'd better shower and get dressed in a hurry or she'd be late for breakfast. She was just pulling an outfit from her suitcase when there was a knock on the door. She sighed and placed her clothes on the bed on the way to the door. Lillian was standing there with a big smile on her face.

"Hey sis, what a great morning," she greeted Alannah cheerily.

"Ugh. Go away with the cheeriness until it's a little later and I've had a shower."

"Hmm. Someone didn't get much sleep last night, huh ?" Lillian teased.

"I got a lot of sleep. I figured you were the one that didn't get much sleep," Alannah replied grumpily.

"Nope, I didn't. That's why I'm so cheery. What happened to you last night ? Did something happen between you and Lance last night ?"

"Lil, what on God's green earth are you talking about ? Nothing happened between Lance and me last night. We watched a movie and had a food fight. That's it. We're just friends, remember ?" Alannah explained with a yawn.

"Sorry, Lannah. I was just picking. So you guys just hung out last night ?"

"Yeah. I guess I fell asleep during the movie and he put me in bed. Did the other guys go clubbing ?"

"Yep and they have some awesome hangovers this morning. I think Chris's is the worst. Apparently he got so drunk last night that he was dancing on the tables and declaring his undying love for you to everyone that he encountered," Lillian laughed.

"Oh no," Alannah groaned. "Please tell me you're kidding."

"No, I'm not. So now you have no doubt that he is in love with you. My question to you sis is: Are you in love with him ?"

"I don't know. I don't think I've known him long enough to know that answer. Besides, it's not like we've ever been on a date or anything for us to be alone."

"I thought you'd say that, so I'm going to help you out. I'm going to set you two up on a little date."

"That's nice, but when ? There's no time while they're touring and they're going on vacation once they finish the tour."

"Don't they have a day off tomorrow ?" Lillian asked after a few minutes of thought.

"I don't know. Why are you asking me ?"

"Because you're Scoop's best friend. I figured you'd know the schedule as well as he did."

"Well I don't. Why don't you go ask while I take a shower ?"

"Cranky, cranky. I'll be back in a little while.

Half an hour later, Alannah was just putting the finishing touches on her makeup when she heard her sister knocking on the door calling her name. She picked up her purse and opened the door. "OK, OK, I'm ready to go now."

"Wait a second. I have something to tell you first," Lillian replied as she pushed Alannah back into her room.

"What ? What's going on ? Did you set up the date ?"

"Actually no, but we'll do that later. I've got something to tell you and it can't wait." Lillian was nearly jumping up and down in excitement of her news.

"Well go ahead."

"Maybe you should sit down. Or maybe I should sit down. OK, I'll just say it. I'm pregnant. You're going to be an aunt !" she screamed.

"What ? Wow! I can't believe it! That is so awesome! Does JC know yet ?"

"No, I'm going to tell him tonight after the show. I'm afraid he'll screw up the entire show if I tell him before," she replied with a laugh.

"You're probably right. You know how hyper he is during the shows anyway. I can't believe it. Are you feeling OK ?"

"I'm a little nauseous this morning, but I think I'll be fine."

"When did you find out ?"

"I suspected it a few days ago so I did a pregnancy test this morning while I was waiting for you to get ready and while JC was still asleep."

"Oh this is great news, but we've got to get to breakfast right away before they send a search party."

"OK, but remember it's a secret." Just as the girls stepped out of Alannah's room, they met JC and Lance walking toward the room.

"What's going on ? What was all that screaming about ?" JC queried.

"Oh nothing. Lil saw a spider and I had to kill it," Alannah replied, pretending to flex her muscles.

"Oh right. You ? Kill a spider ?" Lance questioned with a laugh. Alannah smacked him on the arm.

"You're mocking me, aren't you ?" she asked with mock hurt.

"Of course not," he replied as he picked her up and threw her over his shoulder. He carried her to the elevator and dropped her on the floor inside.

"Ooh, muscle man, I'm so impressed," she mocked him as she batted her eyelashes in mock adoration.

"You know it baby," he replied. JC and Lillian followed them into the elevator shaking their heads.

"Kids, you gotta love them," JC commented.

"Who you callin' a kid ? I'm older than you are," Alannah retorted. They finally arrived downstairs and met the others who were already eating breakfast. Alannah grabbed some toast and fruit from the buffet. She noticed that Lillian looked pale, but managed to eat one piece of toast and drink a little orange juice. She also noticed that Chris avoided her and that he was extremely quiet. After everyone else had finished breakfast and was preparing to leave, she walked up to him and asked if she could talk to him for a minute.

"Sure," he replied quietly. They walked over to a couch in the lobby and sat down together. "Is something wrong ?"

"No. I just wanted to talk to you about something in private. You see, I heard about what happened last night and I wanted to tell you not to be embarrassed about it."

"What are you talking about ?" He acted as though he had no idea, but then he saw that she really did know and he dropped his front. "I'm sorry. I didn't mean for that to happen, really I didn't."

"It's OK. What would you say to dinner and a movie tomorrow night ?"

"Are you asking me out ?" Chris asked incredulously.

"Yes I am. Do you accept ?"

"Of course, but why ?"

"Well I think that since you obviously like me and I like you, maybe we should get to know each other better," Alannah explained.

"Really ?" Chris brightened up considerably at that statement.

"Yes. Now, we'd better get upstairs and get ready to leave." Alannah stood and started walking toward the elevator. Chris watched her leave in amazement. Did what just happened really just happen ? He couldn't believe the turn of events, but he wasn't going to question them. He bounced up from the couch and followed Alannah into the elevator.

The rest of the day was filled with the usual interviews and a souncheck before the concert. The news of Lillian's pregnancy and Alannah's date with Chris wasn't revealed until everyone was getting their hair and makeup done that night for the concert. Alannah heard Chris whispering to Lance as they walked to their chairs in front of the mirror.

"Hey, no secrets in here !" she said in a loud whisper.

"Sorry, Al, but this isn't really a secret, not to you anyways. Chris was just checking with me to make sure that we have all of tomorrow off so you guys can go on a date," Lance explained with a grin.

"Who's going on a date ?" Joey asked as he entered the room.

"Al and Chris are," Lance replied as the two of them blushed.

"OK, why don't we just announce it to the world ?" Alannah asked sarcastically.

"OK," Lance answered. "Listen up everbody, Chris and Alannah are going on a date tomorrow night."

"Whoa, congratulations guys!" Justin yelled from the dressing room.

"It's not like we're getting married, it's just a date," Chris stated as he slapped Lance upside the head.

"Well since there is announcing going on, Lili and I have some news of our own," JC spoke up from the chair where Alannah was touching up his makeup. She moved out of the way so that Lillian could stand beside her husband while he made the announcement.

"So, what's the big announcement ?" Justin questioned anxiously.

"Calm down, J, I'm getting ready to tell you. We found out today that we're going to be parents. Lili's pregnant!" He hugged Lillian as he told everyone and they smiled at one another.

"Wow, maybe I should have saved my congratulations for the two of you," Justin exclaimed.

"Thanks. I guess my guys can really swim," JC said proudly as Lillian smacked him.

"Men," Alannah commented from the corner. "Talk about TMI." Everyone laughed as Lance looked at his watch.

"OK guys, we've got to be on stage in ten minutes. We've got to stop congratulating everyone for now so that we'll be on time."

"Leave it to Scoop to break up the party with his timekeeping," Chris commented as Lance chased him out of the room.

Everyone was doing their own thing for a change since they had the day off. Lance, Alannah, Chris, and Justin went sightseeing, JC and Lillian spent the day calling relatives about the baby, and Joey's girlfriend and their little girl came for a visit so he spent the day with them. That night everyone was involved in some way in helping Chris and Alannah get ready for their date. The other guys were helping Chris get dressed, while Lillian helped Alannah get ready. Both camps were dealing with a very nervous and hyper person so it wasn't easy.

"Are you sure that she really wants to go out with me ?" Chris asked as he stood in front of the mirror combing his hair.

"Duh dude, she asked you, didn't she ?" Joey answered.

"Yeah, but only after she heard about what I did the other night. I think she felt sorry for me so that's why she asked me out."

"You are pretty sorry, that's for sure," Justin teased. "Seriously, I think she's had a crush on you for a while, but she's been too afraid to admit it. Just like you were afraid to admit it, until you got plastered that is."

In the next room, the almost exact conversation was taking place. Lillian was French braiding Alannah's hair while Alannah finished putting on her makeup.

"Are you sure that Chris really likes me ?" Alannah asked nervously.

"Yes, I'm sure. Now stop fidgeting so I can finish here," Lillian scolded.

"I'm sorry, but it was such an impulse to ask him out and now I'm not sure it was the right thing to do."

"Calm down sis, everything will be fine. You like him, he likes you, what could be more perfect ?" Lillian assured her as she wrapped a ponytail holder around the end of the French braid and then pinned the end of the braid underneath the rest. "There, you look absolutely perfect." She spun Alannah around so she could see the back of her hair.

"Thanks so much Lil, I could never have done this without you," Alannah replied as she hugged her sister. "So, what do you think of my outfit ? Is it too casual or too dressy or what ?"

"It's perfect, not too casual and not too dressy." Alannah was wearing a pink sleeveless sweater with black dress pants. She pulled a long sleeve pink sweater over top of the sleeveless one that matched it perfectly. Her only jewelry was small silver earrings dangling from her ears and a silver and black watch. Lillian sprayed her with a little perfume and then proclaimed," You are going to knock his socks off, sis!"

"I hope so," Alannah sighed. Her nerves were beginning to take over and she kept wondering if this was a good idea.

"Stop being nervous and just have a good time. Remember, it's just Chris. You guys are friends and this is one date. If it doesn't work out, it's not a big deal."

"OK, I guess you're right." Alannah looked in the mirror once more and assessed her looks. Just as she decided that this outfit would have to do, there was a knock on the door. She walked to the door and opened it slowly. There stood Chris wearing khakis and a black short-sleeved shirt with a white shirt underneath. He was holding a bouquet of roses and there were four shadows in the hall behind him.

"Wow you look great!" Chris spoke first as he handed her the roses.

"You don't look so bad yourself," Alannah complimented. "Thank you for the flowers, they're beautiful." Everyone in the hall "oohed and aahhed" while the two of them rolled their eyes.

"Are you ready to go ?" Chris asked.

"Sure, let me just give these flowers to Lil to put in water." Alannah handed the roses to Lillian who gave her a big thumbs up. She offered her arm to Chris who took it gently and they walked quietly past the four guys in the hallway. Once they reached the lobby, Alannah let out a big sigh.

"What was that for ?" Chris asked in concern.

"Oh nothing. Just glad to be rid of the chaperones. You'd think it was the first time either of us had ever been on a date before."

"Yeah, I know what you mean." He opened the door to the limo and ushered her inside.

They headed for an Italian restaurant that was one of Alannah's favorites. Once they were there, they sipped wine and talked while they waited for for their dinner to arrive. They discussed their backgrounds and memories from when they were growing up. By the time they were eating dessert, Alannah felt like she had known Chris forever and she was enjoying herself immensely. At the end of dinner, they decided to forgo the movie and walk around the city for a while. They laughed over incidents that had occurred on the tour and it seemed they had the exact same sense of humor. After walking around for a while, they decided to return to the hotel. Chris kissed Alannah on the lips quickly as they were riding in the elevator and they ended up kissing until the doors opened at their floor. Fortunately, no one was waiting for them so no one saw. Chris said goodnight to Alannah at her door and Alannah slipped quietly into her room, hoping that Lil wouldn't be waiting for her. She needed some time to relive the night and decide on her feelings for Chris. She changed into her pajamas and got into bed. This had been a perfect night and she was glad that she'd had the courage to ask Chris out. Now she knew that he felt the same. She smiled to herself in the darkness and fell into a deep sleep.