chapter eighteen

Word spreaded quickly around the Backsteet Circle and everyone had rejoiced. AJ probably was the happiest. When Lauren had told him, his grin was as wide as his face.

Lauren missed everything she and Nick had done before. They did the loud, obnoxious video games things, which both liked. Lauren always loved the thrill of knocking Nick's character off the track and seeing him bitch about it.

They did the intimate thing, too. Lauren would never give up those days which they spent in bed the whole time. She'd intertwine her fingers with his and smile at him. He'd pull her closer to him and kiss her forehead once. Lauren would tell him stories as she talked into his neck. He had always found it so easy to talk to Lauren.

As the days passed on, their time was slowly getting cut shorter and shorter. Lauren had been promoted to a better, more time-consuming job. Nick had to return and get ready for the tour that was up-and-coming. Sometimes Nick would come home and collapse into bed without saying a word, Lauren right behind him. Other nights he'd come home to find Lauren typing busily on the computer.

When he'd kiss her, she'd murmur, "I have to get this done, Nick. My boss needs this by tomorrow."

Nick would only sigh, kiss her lips and then find something else to do. Some nights she never came to bed, she would be still persistantly tapping on that keyboard until dawn. She would finally come to bed when Nick woke up and begged her to get some sleep. He'd tuck her in and then get ready for the long day ahead of him.

Nick was fine with it, even though sometimes he wished Lauren would relax more often. He was glad she was working. Lauren always talked about wanting to have a hard, challenging job and she finally got it.

One Saturday afternoon, Lauren was pacing around the living room with a planner in one hand and a cup of coffee in the other. Nick was watching some show on the TV, but kept on getting distracted. Lauren was talking to herself and Nick couldn't help smiling as he watched her.

"Okay, Monday, Mr. Reid has the conference with the associates from Italy at 9:30. At twelve, I have an appointment with my doctor...2:20. I have that thing with Darcy..." She put down her coffee, pulled out the pen from her hair and scribbled something down. "Oh shit! Casey's birthday is Monday, isn't it? I promised my sister we'd come visit. Shit." Nick laughed a little and Lauren looked up at him. She grinned, "What?"

Nick shrugged and asked, "So when can you pencil some time in for me in that planner of yours?"

Lauren flipped a few pages in her planner and replied, "I think I can squeeze you in next month."

Nick motioned for her to come close and she closed her black book and shuffled to him. He put his hands on her hips and grinned up at her.

"We need to get something for my niece's birthday. She's turning five, isn't that amazing? It seemed like just yesterday she was a little tyke, crawling around."

Lauren's little niece, Casey, was probably the cutest child ever. She had firy red ringlets of hair and her dad's blue eyes. She was a very charming girl with a heartwarming smile. Nick and Lauren both adored Casey.

"She must be huge now," Nick commented.

Lauren nodded and ran her fingers through his hair. She bit her lip, trying to consider gifts to buy Casey.

"Lauren, do you want kids of your own?"

Lauren looke down at him as if he had an extra arm coming out of his head. "What?"

"Not now, obviously, but in the future. Would you?"

"I don't know," she began, "See, I'd love a kid, but I don't think I could handle the responsibility. I'd have a new mouth to feed, so I'd have to get a better job..."

"Baby, I'm Nick Carter. We are way ahead moneywise, trust me."

"I can't depend on your money forever, though. I'd still get a better job. Then there's that big factor of the nine months of pregnancy. No way in hell I'd survive."

"I'd be there to help you," Nick said.

"You'd better," she teased. "I don't think I'm ready for one yet. So you'll just have to wait a while."

He nodded and smiled. "You'd be a great mom. I can jsut see you as you carry the baby in one arm and that damned planner in the other. Not even your child can stop you from kicking ass, girl."

Lauren chuckled and kissed him once. She said, "I'm sorry I've been so busy lately, it's just...My boss is really ridin' me here. Not that I don't appreciate some extra cash and better health care."

"It's okay. I'm just worried you're gonna just wear yourself out too much."

Lauren waved it off with her hand and told him that she'd be fine. She had a large assignment due that upcoming Monday and her boss promised her a short break after it.

Lauren yawned and stretched a little. She gave Nick another kiss and squirmed out of his grasp. She took a shower and ressed before returning to where now Nick was in the kitchen.

"I'm gonna go get her gift, okay?" she said, putting a few dishes in the sink.

"I might have the Boys over to hang out, so don't be surprised if you come home to see Bone."

"Okay, just don't let the house burn down," Lauren said, putting on her coat and grabbing her purse and keys.

"That's what he's here for," Nick joked.

Lauren laughed and left for her car.

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chapter nineteen