Seven months later they were back in Sweden, recording in Cherion Studios under the direction of Max Martin. Whit and Nick had the best relationship, they got along almost perfectly. Whit had landed a record deal shortly after the Backstreet tour had ended, she'd performed in front of representatives for Columbia Records and signed her contract two months earlier. She'd started working with songwriters at Parc Studios in Orlando. Her whole reason for being in Sweden in the first place was to work with Max, ironic so were the guys. The difference, the guys were staying for two months to finish out their album, then coming back to the States to do some promoting in New York, then off to Europe again to start their world tour. Meanwhile, Whit was staying in Sweden two weeks, then going back to Florida where'd she'd fly back and forth from Florida to New York recording her own album. "Remember, I'm picking you up at nine thirty, be ready" Nick instructed as Whit left the studio around seven that night, Max had been working with her for the last three hours, now it was the guys turn. Whit was staying at a hotel only a couple of blocks from the guys rented house, she'd end up staying with Nick there, she knew, or he'd end up staying with her. But due to strict regulations from her managment-none of which had came with her, luckily-she had to check into the hotel and at least appear to stay there. Plus she'd flew in early that morning and put her stuff there, she didn't know how to get to Nick and he couldn't meet her at the airport because he was in the middle of recording a song.

Whit opened her door expectantly at nine thirty seven. "Your late Carter" she said, glancing at her watch, then to the figure standing in her doorway. She laughed to herself looking over his clothing, his baggy kacki cargo pants, Timberland boots and long sleeve white shirt adding to his already good looks. "But your looks make up for it..so.." she trailed off.

"I was two minutes late, your not looking all that bad yourself" Nick said back as he cracked a smile and leaned in against the doorframe, surveying her like she'd done him. Her legs were covered by boot cut Silvertab jeans, black clunky shoes on her feet and an orange long sleeve ribbed sweater covered her upper portion, also added was a black leather coat. Her short hair had clips slid into the sides and was in it's normal wild look.

"Yea, well let's go, where are we going anyways?" Whit asked as she squeezed between him and the remaining portion of the doorway, soon standing in the hall as she awaited Nick to take his spot beside her.

"Umm...theres this place on Main, on the corner, it looks pretty neat" Nick answered as he pulled the door shut and stood beside her, wrapping his arm around her waist as they proceeded to walk down the hall.

"It isn't fancy is it, you know I hate those fancy places.." Whit argued as they stood on the elevator.

"Na, it's not THAT fancy, but it's not like fast food, I gotta give you some luxury" Nick laughed as the two made their way out of the glass entrance doors and the cold air hit their bodies suddenly. Nick wrapped his arm tighter around Whit, conserving all the body heat he could.

"So...where we going now?" Whit asked as herself and Nick exited the resturant and continued on their walk down Main Street. "Off the subject, but do I have anything in my teeth?" she asked, giving a huge fake smile as she looked at him.

Nick laughed slightly before straining in the darkness to look, the reflection of the street light helping a small bit, "Na...ya don't" he finally answered. They'd ended up spending most of the night walking into small shops downtown, they'd encountered a few fans, it was late at night. At one AM they were making their way back up to Whit's room, they had planned to stay there for the night. The two were stretched out across the bed, watching re-runs of 'In Living Color', Nick watching Whit as she pratically died from laughter. She hadn't noticed him looking at her, she was caught up in the Tv program. Nick was just sitting there, laughing along, but focusing on the woman laying beside him. Something about her gave him a feeling he'd never had, his blood ran when he felt her touch and something about that smile, those eyes, that laugh....'everything about her' he thought. He loved her country accent, how she'd laugh at his corniest jokes, how she'd stay up til six AM on the phone with him, even if deep down she was wanting to fall asleep. But most of all how they got along, how she could make him smile when he wanted to cry...how.....how..he couldn't even think straight. He bit his lip as he looked over at her, running his hand through her hair, he let it run the path or her cheek, she looked over at him. "I love you" he stated.

Whit's heart sped up when she actually realized what he had said, she'd never said those words to a man before, "I...I love you too" she replied. She'd given into him in every possible way, there was no way of turning back now.

No words were spoken as they kissed one another, "And remember Whit, I'm not like them..." he whispered as he wrapped his arms around her. "...I promise..." he added when he heard her sigh.

"I know, I've noticed by now Nick..." Whit trailed off, starting to blush a slight bit.

"Oh my god, Whit's blushing, it's amazing....why are you blushing anyways?" Nick joked as he laughed along with her.

"I dunno, because I'm not used to having talks like this..it's all....I dunno..." Whit replied, looking at him.

"One simple word Whit, change, thats all it is.....change for the better though..." Nick said as he met her gaze.

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