| Chapter 30 "Dude, that is so much better," A.J. said, after getting his contacts in. Howie laughed, "Yeah, you wouldn't think extra sunlight would have that affect on ya." A.J. looked over, seeing Kevin standing on the balcony, looking out at the mountains, "Yo Kev, whatcha doing?" He shrugged, "Looking." Howie and A.J. glanced at each other, then joined Kevin. "You OK man?" A.J. asked. "Yeah, you're awfully quiet," Howie said. "Just thinking," he answered. "About?" A.J. prodded. Kevin turned to look at his friends, "I just can't get it through my head that we're here. That Brian is part Angel, and I could be too. And that Nick is the freakin king of the entire planet!" A.J. looked at Howie, "I think someone is on big brother melt down." Howie nodded, "Come on Kev, why don't you come in and rest for a little while?" Kevin laughed, "I don't need to rest, and I'm not having a melt down." A.J. raised his eyebrows, "Um, yeah, sure you're not." Kevin glared at him, then went inside, plopping down on the bed, "I'm fine, I just need to think about this." "Kev, what is there to think about?" Howie asked, "We're here. And who Nick and Brian are, we can't do anything about. So just enjoy it." "Enjoy it?" he asked, "How can I enjoy this? Our families think we're in hiding, Nick's family thinks he was kidnaped. Who knows when we'll see them again, and to top it off, I could be a freaking alien!" "Ahhh, so we get to the real reason you're freaked out," A.J. said, "You don't wanna be an Angel." "I didn't say that," Kevin barked. "Well you might as well have," Howie said, "What difference does it make if you are or not?" "Yeah, look at Nick and Bri. They're still the same Nick and Bri we've always known. So what if they aren't completely human?" A.J. said. "And how much do you think it would hurt them if they heard you right now?" Howie asked. Kevin looked down at his hands, "You're right, I'm being stupid." A.J. put his hand over his heart, "Oh my Lord, Kevin admitted he was being stupid." "Alex," Howie said, sternly. Kevin laughed, "Naw, it's OK D. I am." A.J. started laughing. "What?" Kevin asked. "I just .... I can't imagine how Brian reacted when they told him," A.J. laughed. Howie smiled, "I bet he freaked." "Yeah, probably so," Kevin chuckled. "But he seems really happy now," Howie noted. Kevin nodded, "That he does. More so than I've seen him in a long time." "Speaking of," A.J. said, motioning the two back out onto the balcony. Brian and Marie were walking towards the palace from the garden. They were holding hands and talking quietly with one another. Both were smiling and laughing. "Oh man, he's got it bad," A.J. said. Kevin nudged him, "Hey, he deserves it." "Yeah, so does Nicky," Howie commented. "What are we gonna do about that?" A.J. asked. "What can we do? You heard the queen, she's working on it," Kevin said. A.J. grinned, "Well, we could kinda help it along." Kevin and Howie stared at him. "J, I don't like that look on your face," Kevin said. A.J. smiled wider, "Just trust me." ~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~ Tamara rubbed her forehead in frustration. She and Tom had been interrogating the soldier Nick had singled out since they left, and had gotten nothing. The man wouldn't even answer the simplest of questions. "Here," Tom said, handing her a cup of coffee. "Thanks," she said, taking a sip and grimacing. Since Howie's departure the old cook had taken over, much to everyone's disdain. "What are we gonna do? He won't talk," she asked. Tom shrugged his shoulders, "I dunno. I had no idea that's what we were doing. I thought we were protecting Nick, not holding him hostage." "So did I," she admitted. "Well, we've got to figure this out. If we don't Earth is in for one rude awakening," Tom said. "Not to mention that we'll take the blame for it. I don't even wanna think what the punishment would be for Celeste breaking all ties with earth," Tamara said. "Why don't we start with his background? Find out what unit he came from, and track his history with the agency. See if we can find out anything from that angle," Tom suggested. She nodded, "Sounds like a plan." ~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~ Nick walked down the hall to his room. He passed Brian's door, noticing that it was ajar. He stopped, turning back around and knocking softly on it, walking in. Marie smiled at him, "Hello your highness." Nick smiled back, glad she didn't bow, "Hey, how long as he been asleep?" Marie glanced over at Brian who was sound asleep, curled up with a pillow, "Bout an hour. His head was still hurting." "Yeah, A.J. kinda clocked him pretty good," Nick whispered. Marie nodded, "Brian puts on a good front, but he is still weak and sore. It will take him some time to completely heal from the accident." "Well, as long as he has you to take care of him, I'm sure he'll be fine," Nick smiled. Marie blushed. "I hope he feels better by supper, we're having a little party," Nick said. "I'm sure he will," she replied. Nick smiled, "Good, wear your dancing shoes," he said, walking to the door. Marie nodded as he left, a plan forming in her mind. ~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~ "Alex, stop pulling at it," Kevin said. "Dude, this sucks! Who wears this?" A.J. asked, tugging at the tight pants he had on. "We do," Nick said, laughing at his friends. All three were decked out in the traditional Celestian dress, complete with uncomfortably tight pants and a shirt that didn't quite cover what you wanted it to. "I swear Nick, if we show up looking like this and no one else does, I'll kill you," Howie laughed. "Ohh threatening the king already?" Nick teased, "I could have you imprisoned for that." "Hey how come your shirt is longer than ours?" A.J. asked. Nick smiled, "Because I'm the king. No one wants to see the king's what nots and all." All three laughed. "What nots?" Kevin asked. Nick shrugged, giggling, "Anyway, they got to see all they wanted when I was prince." "Oh, glad we missed that," A.J. said with a relieved tone. "Shut up J," Nick laughed. "Hey guys, you ready?" Brian asked, coming in the door, "Oh my," he said, laughing hysterically. "Oh shut up Bri," Kevin said, adjusting his shirt for the hundredth time. "Sorry Kev, it just that ...you look so ..." Brian started. Kevin pointed his finger at his cousin, "Don't even go there. You're wearing the same thing we are." Brian looked down at himself then back up, smiling, "Yeah, but mine fits better." "Oh God," A.J. laughed. "Yeah, you keep telling yourself that cuz," Kevin chuckled. Brian grinned, "Well, I know one person that likes it." They all rolled their eyes. "Yeah, yeah, just don't get all mushy on us already," A.J. groaned. "Sorry can't help it," Brian smiled. Nick put his hand on Brian's shoulder, "I'm happy for ya man." Brian stared at his friend, "Someday you will be too." Nick nodded, walking past him to the hall, "Come on guys, we're late." ~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~ "Marie, please don't," Ana begged. "No one will notice, we just have to get them to trade partners, that's all," Marie said. Ana stopped her, "Listen, I appreciate what you're trying to do, but don't. Nick and I will handle this. We run a much greater risk of getting caught if you guys are helping us." Marie shook her head, "I don't think so. Brian and I can watch out for you. That has to help." Ana sighed, "Alright, but don't force anything. Don't draw attention trying to get us together." "We won't, I promise," Marie smiled. Just then the guys came around the corner. "Evening ladies," A.J. said, smiling. They both curtsied, "Evening my lords." Brian took Marie's hand, leading her into the dinning hall. Nick glanced at Ana, knowing he couldn't escort her in. Howie stepped up, "My lady." Ana smiled, "Thank you," she said as they walked in. A.J. grinned at Nick as he followed them. "Kev, why am I getting a bad feeling?" Nick asked. Kevin smiled at him, "Don't worry, we got it covered." "That's what I'm afraid of," Nick mumbled as he took his seat. The guys sat down to a large feast. Several of the high class were there to meet the kings friends. They were all amazed that they seemed to know who they were. Some even going so far as to sing a few lines of one of their songs. "Man if we get tired touring earth, we could come here and go on tour," A.J. laughed. Howie nodded, as the band struck up and the tables were cleared. Nick escorted his mother out to the dance floor and the two seemed to glide across the floor. "That's a beautiful dance," Kevin said. Ana nodded, "It's my favorite." Kevin held his hand out, "Teach me, and then we'll teach you one of ours." Ana smiled, taking his hand and leading him out to join Nick and the queen. A few moments later everyone was dancing. Each of the guys had found a partner, and were quickly learning the steps. When the band stopped, Kevin pulled Ana over and had her translate for him. A few minutes later and they walked back onto the floor. "Nick, you know this one," he called. Nick stared at his friends, wondering what they were up to. When the music started Nick smiled. It sounded a lot like a ballad from their tour. The guys started their choreography, and Nick joined in. LaDonna laughed, "What dance is this?" "It's from our tour," Nick told her, smiling as the guys smoothly changed partners. Marie smiled at him, "It seems you have more help than I thought." Nick stared at her, wondering what that meant. Then it was time to change partners again. Ana smiled at him, "It seems we have some helpers." "Yeah it does," he said. The guys moved to change partners again, but instead took the girl they each had and dipped her. Then began the dance again in the opposite direction, keeping the same partners. LaDonna watched her son dance with Ana, the smile on his face was undeniable. "You are flirting with danger," she warned. Kevin sighed, "We're just trying to help. We want to see him happy." "So do I, but if it is found out, the price would be dear," she said. "No one will find out," Kevin assured. "I hope you are right," she said. Chapter 31 |