“Hey baby,” Brian walked up behind Leigh.
She turned and took his hands. “Happy Anniversary,” she kissed him, “I’ve been thinking…” she looked sad.
“About what?” Brian looked at her concerned.
“It seems like we’ve tried everything to have a baby and all around us our friends and family have it so easy.”
“Oh baby,” Brian had small tears running down his face.
“I see how you look at Grace and I want so bad to give you that joy,” she rubbed her hands over his and began to cry, “and it makes me mad that I can love you so much and not be able to give you your hearts greatest desire.”
Brian’s eyes circled the room everyone seemed so happy. Kevin was talking to Kristin on the phone. Nick and Erica were laughing about something and Howie and Jen were cuddled together in a corner. He turned away from them and closed his eyes.
“I feel like you’re ashamed of me,” Leigh admitted.
Brian fell to his knees in front of his wife and put his hand to his face to wipe away the tears. “Baby, I’m not, I would never, I could never be,” he took her hands in his and pulled her down in front of him.
“I’m sorry Bri, I don’t know why I said it,” Leigh hugged him.
“Maybe we could adopt if like in a year we still have no luck,” Brian ran his fingers through her hair.
“You wouldn’t mind?” Leigh looked into his face, “I mean, you really want to?”
“I guess not, we’ve just tried so hard and,” he closed his eyes again and set his head on her shoulder, ”I guess it’s worth a try.”
“Frick, are you two okay?” Nick called across the room.
“So we’ll adopt if all else fails in the next year?”
“Yes,” Brian answered smiling.
“Are you saying that to me or her?” Nick asked laughing.
“Both,” Brian softly kissed Leighanne. Slowly he stood up then reached down and lifted her into his arms. Then he carried her over to their room.
As the door closed Leigh flipped the sign on the door to ‘Do Not Disturb’. Nick just stood there completely baffled. “What the heck just happened?”
“I don’t know but it is their anniversary,” Erica laughed.
“Oh duh, of course… sorry I’m dumb.”
“No not totally,” Erica yawned,” Well, I’m tired. I’m headed to bed. Are you coming?”
“Be right there,” Nick smiled and kissed her.
In the middle of the night Erica woke up to find Nick sitting up staring out the window. “What are you thinking about?”
“Oh, hey baby, I don’t know,” Nick took her hand and held it to his chest.
“This is the third night in a row you haven’t slept. Is something wrong?”
“I just keep having these nightmares.”
“Do you want to tell me?”
“I don’t know.”
“Is it the same dream every time?” Erica could feel Nick’s hand trembling in hers.
“Pretty much,” Nick looked over at her and tried to smile. He had never been so scared of loosing someone in his entire life.
“Are you sure you don’t want to talk about it? It might help you get some sleep.” She sat up and set her head on his shoulder.
Nick sighed and stared back out the window. “I always thought,” he started, “that if I had sex with a girl she wouldn’t leave me because we had that special connection. And time and time again once they had me happy and content, what I could only explain then as being in love,” he stopped and closed his sullen blue eyes.
“Nick this isn’t your dream,” Erica said just as a statement.
“He shook his head and let go of her hand to run his fingers through his hair. He then made a fist and put it to his mouth as if to stop the flow of words building up, and to keep his composure. “I was the only one who didn’t notice. I never saw it coming.”
“What?”
“They all screwed me over just when they got my heart. Fan’s knew, the guy’s knew and they all warned me but I was too blind and stubborn to listen to them.”
“Nick,” Erica leaned over and took his hand in hers. “I need you to know that I love you with all my heart. At first I was a little skeptical of dating a superstar, but now it doesn’t matter. I know where my heart belongs. And I don’t mind all the fans; I won’t let them get to me. I won’t screw you over Nick, I promise,” then she smiled and kissed his cheek. “Now you may screw me but that’s a different story.”
Nick’s face grew bright red ad he began to laugh, “Thank-you, I needed that,” he scooted down and put his head on the pillow. “I love you Erica.”
Erica set her head down on his bare chest. Nick gently kissed the top of her head and wrapped his arms around her. She gently set her hand on his stomach, “I like your six-pack,” she whispered and drifted off to sleep.