Alexa awoke in the darkness, AJ still beside her. She laid there, trying to fall back to sleep, but her old habit of thinking was always worse in the dark. She didn�t regret anything, certainly not that night, but she wondered what she�d gotten herself into. There was no out anymore. Not that there ever had been, really. Her eyes scanned the dark room, and then came to rest on his still form. How does it happen that a plain little doctor like her ends up with a pop star? She might be inclined to believe in destiny, considering their history.

She decided she needed to get up, and she moved carefully trying not to disturb him, but it didn�t work.

"�Lexa?" His voice was groggy, still half-asleep, "Where you goin?"

She stopped where she was, half off the bed, "I was going to be back in a minute."

"Good. I thought you were leaving."

Alexa heard the sad tone in the statement, and decided she didn�t really need to go anywhere. Slipping back into the bed, she sighed. "I�m not going anywhere. Done that a few too many times already, I think."

He moved closer to her on the bed, and she reached out, putting her arms around him. "I think so too."

The next time Alexa woke, she could feel the morning sun in the room before she opened her eyes. She also knew that AJ had woken up before her. He was fidgeting and trying to wake her up without making it obvious that was what he was doing. She kept her eyes closed for a few minutes longer, mentally giggling as he brushed her hair back, and then sighed when she didn�t react. She waited another minute, and then stretched, opening her eyes lazily. "Morning."

"Finally. I�ve been trying to wake you up for hours." Alexa smiled at the frustrated look on his face.

"Hours huh? Ever think of saying, �Wake up?� It tends to work pretty well." Alexa idly traced the tribal tattoo on AJ�s arm with her fingernail. He shivered and groaned.

"�Lexa..." She continued tracing the tattoo, until he gently grabbed her arm. "Stop. Please." He sighed, and looked her into her eyes, "You know how much I want to just stay here, with you, but I gotta meet the guys and I still have to pack."

Alexa sighed, and pouted, pulling her hand away. "You�re going to be gone for two weeks."

She sighed again as AJ took her hand, kissing her fingers. "I know. Two weeks is too long. But we all agreed, none of the women. Just us guys."

Alexa smiled sadly as she played with a lock of his hair. "I wouldn�t be able to leave the clinic anyway." She wasn�t sad about not leaving the clinic. Just about being away from AJ for so long. He moved from kissing her fingers to the palm of her hand, and then slowly up the inside of her arm. "If you don�t stop, you�ll never get me out of here."

He paused long enough to look in her eyes, "Maybe I don�t want you to have to go."

"I have to go, because you have a two week trip planned with the rest of the boys. We can�t stay here forever." Alexa ran her finger along his jawline.

AJ propped himself up on his elbow, "I want you to move in, baby. When I come home, I want to come home to you." Alexa didn�t answer, couldn�t answer. She didn�t know what to say. "Baby?" He gently tilted her face to look into her eyes. "�Lexa, I�ve thought about this a lot. I want you here. But if it�s too much . .."

"No," Alexa tried to straighten out the mess of thoughts in her head before she spoke. "It�s not too much. I just... with all the problems, do you think it�s the best idea?"

"Well, Miss logical," AJ half-smiled, when Alexa rolled her eyes, "it doesn�t make sense for you to pay rent on that apartment of yours, while my perfectly lovely house, sits empty when I�m away.. And, " he paused, while he pulled her closer to him, resting his head on top of hers, "you�re good for me. I need you. I want you here when I�m here" He kissed the top of her head, "I love you, you know."

Alexa sighed, contentedly, and laced her fingers with AJ�s wrapping his arms tighter around her. She knew her silence was making AJ impatient, but she needed to take a minute or two to sort out her thoughts. She lifted one hand, and gently kissed the back of AJ�s hand.

"What�s that mean, baby?" His voice was raspier than normal, and Alexa realized it was because he didn�t know what she was thinking, and it scared him.

She turned herself carefully, far enough so that she could kiss him softly. "It means," she stopped to take a breath, "It means that I�ll be here when you get back from the Bahamas."

AJ didn�t move. "Seriously?"

Alexa nodded, before their lips met again, in a much more demanding kiss. "Baby," Alexa was breathless when they separated, "no time. You have to go, soon."

AJ groaned. "I�ll have more fun here." Alexa felt his eyes follow her as she got out of the bed.

"You�d rather help me move, than hang out with the guys and record a new album in the Bahamas? Are you insane?"

"So they tell me."

�1997 - 2002 [email protected], Intelexual productions