For the next hour Brian sat with Xanda trying to make her laugh and was quiet successful. His  vocal and facial expressions added to her laughter and caused frequent trips to the bathroom, barely making it at one point. "I'll get the mop next time!" Brian offered as she continued to laugh while threatened to pee her pants. Before long it was close to 5 AM.

"I better let you get some sleep before the sun comes up." Brian told her. She felt a little let down. Up until that point he had been the only person there for her and the only one to cheer her up. As her mind drifted she let Brian push back the covers so she could crawl under them. "I'm a big girl." She grinned as she watched him tuck her in. "I know. But, you've had a hard day." He replied in a old mans voice causing her to laugh again. "That's a good sound, ya know?" He questioned as he sat on the edge of her bed.

"What is?"

"Your laugh. No one should have to go through what you did. I mean, not just with the baby but the problems you had growing up. You deserve to laugh after all you've been through." He replied quietly. Without realizing what he was doing, Brian bent down and pecked her on her forehead. He pulled back to make sure he wasn't crossing the line and grinned when he saw a small smile on her face. "Goodnight." She said as she pushed her long hair out of her face. "Goodnight." He replied. 'I'm gonna regret this.' He told himself as he leaned back in to brush his lips against hers. When she responded he decided to deepen the kiss.

After a moment he pulled back and smiled. "Goodnight. If you need me I'll be next door."

Xanda thought for a moment as she watched him walk out of her room to go home.

"Brian, wait!"

Brian stopped in the doorway and turned around.

"Don't leave." She pleaded.

"All right, I won't. I'll be downstairs." He replied as he pointed down the hall toward the stairs.

"No, I mean, don't leave this room."

Brian didn't know what to say or how to act. Instead, he walked back over to her and sat down on the bed. "Why not?" He questioned.

"I don't want to be alone tonight." She explained.

"All right, I'll sleep on the chair." Brian stood up to walk across the room to the large chair in the corner.

"No, don't. I mean, you can sleep here." She said as she patted the side of her bed. Brain walked back over to her and sat on the edge. She sat up and watched as he awkwardly laid down. Xanda giggled and laid on her side with her head propped up on her hand.

"What's so funny?" He asked quietly.

"You." She laughed.

"Me?" He asked seriously.

"You act like you're about to lie on needles." Before he had a chance to argue with her she leaned over and kissed him. He quickly wrapped his arms around her waist and pulled her closer to him until she was laying half way on top of him. She had no idea where it was leading but at that moment she didn't care.

***

The next morning Xanda woke up happier than she had been in a long time. She looked over at Brian and grinned. He looked like a little boy with his curls hanging in his eyes. She quietly tip toed out of bed to head downstairs. She wanted to cook him a nice breakfast. As she was walking into the kitchen her doorbell rang. She grinned at the thought of who it could be and ran to answer it, stubbing her toe on the coffee table.

"Fuhhhhh..." She groaned as she answered the door.

"Good morning to you, too, hot thang!" Nick grinned as he strolled inside.

"Good morning, Nick, c'mon in!" She sarcastically said mostly to herself.

"Thanks." He grumbled.

"Okay, what's up? You walk in here too damn happy and now you're pissed." She pointed out.

"Eh, you don't want to hear my problem. It involves Brian." Nick mumbled.

"Sure I do. Tell me about it. I might be able to help." Xanda offered.

"YOU!? You want to hear about my problem with Brian? Um, okay...??" Nick couldn't believe she would want to hear it.

"Come into the kitchen with me and I'll make you breakfast. I just got up anyway and I'm starving."

Nick followed Xanda into the kitchen and watched her form as she walked. "You could stand to gain a few pounds." He noted.

"Hey, leave my figure alone. I haven't had an appetite for the past mon..."

"year." Nick interrupted.

"Anyway," she went on, ignoring his comment, "I worked up an appetite last night and I'm starved. Belgian waffles, eggs and orange juice okay?"

Nick was shocked as he nodded his head. "Sounds damn good to me." He smiled while patting his stomach.

"So? What's your problem with Brian?" Xanda asked as she began to cook.

"Oh man, he's so dead when I get a hold of him. Last night we made plans to go play some Bball at the park. Normally their aren't any, kids, ya know, teeny boppers, around and it's our only time to play without the bodyguards protecting our ass. But I've been callin' him ALL morning and even went to his house and he's not there. I can't get a hold of him and he didn't even call to tell me he couldn't go. How nice is that?"

After twenty minutes of bitching and complaining Xanda placed a large plateful of waffles and eggs in front of Nick. In between bites Nick would make comments about Brian's lack of manners. "But I don't have to tell you that, you've known it all along."

As Nick continued to stuff his face Brian walked into the kitchen and gave Xanda a kiss. "Morning." He smiled. "Good morning. I think you have some explaining to do." She whispered as she pointed at Nick who was still eating and complaining.