Chapter 7

It had been a week since they had had that fight. They went about their 
day in glumness and quietness. Neither of them has eaten much in the past 
week. Each was thinking about one thing...each other. They had always been 
close, but now they couldn't even look at each other.

Nick was sitting on the balcony watching the sunrise for the 7th time 
that week, he hadn't slept much since the fight. Isis came down at about 
7:30 to grab an apple to eat on the way to school. Nick noticed how thin she 
was getting. Neither has eaten much, even he has noticed his own weight 
loss, but he was more concerted for Isis. She was never a big child, she was
always tall and petite. He decided that it was time to do something 
before it went to far.

"Isis" he said approaching her. She just turned away and walked out of 
the room. "God damn it Isis." He stormed after her. "I am your father, you 
are to do what I tell you, and I demand you talk to me." He told her. He 
reached over and pulled her into a tight hug. " I love you, and I won't let you 
go over a stupid reason and mistakes I made in the past. :Get away from 
me." she said pushing herself away from Nick and rushing out the front door. 
"No Isis." Nick screamed. Tears falling from his eyes once again.

***********************************************

Nick had been sitting on the floor, across form the door since Isis 
left. He was thinking on what he could do to make it up to her. An idea hit him 
so he stayed waiting for her to come home. When she did, he grabbed her arm 
and took her to the car.

"Dad, STOP where are we going." She said angrily as they drove down the
driveway and down the road.

"You'll see Isis, you'll see." he replied as he continued driving.

Chapter 8

"So, you really thing it's Nick?" AJ asked. They were all gathered at 
Jane Carter's house. Jane was flipping thaw a photo album. Ever now and then 
a tear falling down her cheek.

"It has to be. She looks so much like my Nicky. It has to be. I've 
waited and searched for over seen years, this just has got to be her." Jane 
said, looking up from the album.. Everyone was silent, all lost in their own
thoughts.

"I agree with Jane." Brian said quietly, breaking the silence. "I mean, 
Isis said that her father got hysterical when she mentioned my name. Now why
would anyone who didn't know me do that?"

"He could have thought that you were someone else." Kevin inquired.

"yeah, but a Nick Carter, with a daughter named Isis Marie Carter, who 
is 13 years old. I'm sorry, but that is too much of a coincidence for me." 
Brian said sarcastically.

"well, I don't know how much longer I can go on with this curiosity." 
Jane said.

`Ding Dong' Everyone jumped at the sound of the doorbell.

"I'll get it." Jane said. She walked over to the door and opened. :Oh 
my goodness." Jane whispered as she looked at the two in front of her .

"Dad, that's the lady from the store." Isis told her father.

"Nick?" Jane asked quietly.

"Hello mother." Nick said right before Jane fainted.

Chapter 9

"Nicky." Jane asked quietly.

"Hello mother." nick said right before Jane fainted.

"Some one help."" nick shouted into the house. He picked Jane up and 
took her to the living room and put her on the sofa.

"Oh My God!, NICK!" Howie shouted.

"Yeah, go get some water for her." Nick said. "Come on mom, wake up."

"I thought I saw my Nicky." Jane said, slowly snapping out of it.

"You did mom. I'm right here." Nick said.

"OMG, " Jane said sitting up and embracing Nick in a tight hug. Tears 
were falling down her cheeks. Isis stood off to the side, watching the whole 
scan unfold in from of her. Jane was holding onto nick for dear life.

"Mom." He said pulling away fro her and motioning for Isis to approach. 
Isis came. "This is Isis Marie." He said. " Isis, this is your grandmother,
Jane," He introduced them. Jane reached over and pulled her into a 
tight embrace.

"I'm sorry I scared you at the store." Jane whispered to her.

"It's ok. I'm sorry I ran." Isis replied. Jane reached over and 
included Nick in the hug, tears falling from each of their faces.

Chapter 10

`1 hour later'

Everyone was sitting in the living room. For the past hour nobody 
spoke, except for Isis and Jane who was sitting on the couch talking quietly
amongst them. Nick was sitting across from them, watching them talk. 
Nick felt glad that his mother and daughter were getting along. Everyone 
else was watching Nick. Not believing that he's here. Brian had so many 
questions to ask Nick.

"Nick, why did you leave?" Brian asked straight out, breaking the 
silence. Everyone now was looking at Nick.

"Because." He said simply.

"Because why?" Brian pressed.

"Just because." Nick said, standing up and walking out of the room.

"Nick, that's not an answer!" Brian shouted after him. Isis got up a
followed. She found him in the kitchen sitting at the Center Island, 
his face in his ands. Isis walked up behind him and embraced him in a hug.

"Thank you dad." She whispered. He turned around and returned the hug.

"You are welcome sweetie." He said, hugging her tighter.

"But why did we leave Dad? I don't understand." She asked, looking him 
in the face. Nick sat on the stool still rubbing her back, trying to think 
of an explanation.

"Isis, Sweetie." He began. " I left here, for personal reasons. I had 
to go. And I didn't want to leave you behind, so I took you with me." He said. 
Isis stood there, processing what he had said.

"What are those reasons thought?" She asked.

"It's something that you would never understand. And looking back it 
seems like silly reasons but I don't regret it." He told her.

"Will you tell me someday dad, Please?" She asked.

"Yes, I will." He said, as they hugged again, and walked out of the 
room.


Chapter 11

"So where did you guys live when you left?" Jane asked, putting the 
cookies into the oven. Isis was over at Jane's to spend tie and get to know her
grandparents better.

"We lived in Oregon." Isis replied. Putting some frosting on a cookie.

"Oregon huh? He really did want to get away from us." Jane said softly. 
So softly that Isis almost didn't hear her. But she did, and stopped what 
she was doing to slowly turn towards Jane.

"Why did he leave?" Isis asked Jane curiously. Jane stood there, 
looking at Isis, thinking of words to say.

"Well, no one really knows why exactly he left. I personally think it's
because of the pressure that was on him." She confessed.

"What pressure?" She pressed.

"The pressure on being a pop star." Jane said throwing her towel on to 
the counter. "All he wanted to do was raise you. He wanted to drop the pop 
star act so he could stay at home and raise you. But everyone, incllludig me
wanted him to continue with his career. " Jane said, plopping down into 
the nearest chair as she started crying softly.

"I-I-I is sorry, that I ruined his life and your hope for him." Isis 
said almost too quietly. She grabbed her bag that as sitting near her and 
walked towards the door.

"Isis wait!" Jane shouted as she heard a door slam. But she was already
gone.

Chapter 12

"Thanks for inviting us over for lunch." Howie said as Nick put the 
last of the dishes into the dishwasher.

"You're welcome." Nick replied.

"Well, we've talked about everything except what really should be 
discussed." Kevin said. Every one was silent then knowing that Kevin was right. 
Until Brain finally asked the question that was on everyone's mind.

"Why did you leave Nick?" He asked him. Nick closed hi eyes for a 
moment, shaping words.

"Because. I had to leave." He said.

"No, that's not an answer. We want to know why." AJ said, slightly 
raising his voice. Once again Nick was silent.

"Nick, We're not doing this to torture you or anything. We're doing 
this because we need to know the truth, and to stop hurting." Howie said 
quietly.

"I-I Just wanted to raise my daughter, not be a back street boy. " Nick 
said almost too softly. Suddenly a door slammed, causing them to jump. Isis
appeared in the doorway. 

"Isis honey, what the matter?" Nick asked, concerned, standing up.

"I'm sorry I ruined your life. If I was so much trouble for you then 
why didn't you just leave me!. Like my mother did!" She screamed at him, 
then stormed off to her room, slamming the door.

"Oh boy!" He sighed.

"I think it's time to go. Good luck Nick." Kevin said.

"Nick stood at the bottom of the stairs. "Here we go again." He said
silently to himself.


Chapter 13

"Isis..." Nick quietly said as he slowly opened her bedroom door. Isis 
was franticly packing a suitcase. Throwing things carelessly in it. "What 
are you doing?" Nick asked her stumped.

"I'm leaving, then you can have your life back." She shouted threw 
gritted teeth.

"What?" He said, some what confused. "What happened at grandma's 
house?" He asked taking things out of the suitcase just as quickly as she was 
putting them in. She plopped on the bed, exasperated, and started to cry 
harder. Nick sat down next to her and embraced her, tiring to comfort her. 
"Shhhhh. What happened at grandma's house? " He repeated silently.

"She said that you were desperate to leave here because of me. That you 
gave up everything you loved for me, including your career." She told him. 
Nick broke the embrace and stood up. "Is it true dad? " She asked him.

"Some of it." He said. Isis started crying again and Nick sat back down 
next to her. Once she was calm he continued. "I did give up everything I 
loved for you. Including my career. But it was my choice, and I did it 
because even though I loved the spotlight, I loved and still do love you more." 
He paused momentarily, studying her face for some sort of reaction. "After 
your mother left, leaving full custody to me, I thought that I could do 
both. But I couldn't. Each time I left for a tour or something, the pain and
loneliness in your eyes got worse and worse. And I didn't want to keep
hurting you. So I made the decision to leave here." He explained.

"Why didn't you tell anybody?" She asked.

"Because, originally I did tell them that I wanted to quit. So I could 
care for my daughter. And they told me, that I couldn't. I have an 
obligation to my career and my parents were trying to convince me to give up custody 
of you and I didn't want to. So we packed up and left for the other side 
of the country." He said.

"I'm sorry Isis, I thought I was doing the right thing" he whispered.

"It's ok, I think I finally understand dad. I love you." She said 
giving him a big hug.

"Why don't you take a nap, I'll call you when supper is ready." Nick
suggested.

"Ok" She said. Lying down on the bed. Nick tucked her in and gave her a 
kiss on the forehead, before heading to his office, to pay a little phone 
call to his mother.


Chapter 14.

"Nick sat in his office, staring at the phone. He was trig to calm 
himself before calling his mother. Eventually Nick picked up the phone, he 
waited for some one to answer the phone.

"Hello ?" A man's voice said over the line.

"Hey there dad," Nick said.

"Oh Nicky, hey what's going on." Bob cater said, surprised to hear from
Nick.

"Nothing, uh. Can I speak to mom?" Nick said.

"Oh, ok. Hold on." Bob replied Nick heard the hurt in his voice, he 
made a note to call him in a few days.

"Hello? Nick. How are you?" Jane's happy voice boomed threw the phone.

"Why did you upset my daughter? " Nick said, getting right to the 
point.

"Whatever do you mean?" Jane said innocently

"My daughter came home from YOUR house upset, saying you told her that 
it's her fault I quiet my career. Why did you do that?" Nick said Slightly
raising his voice.

"Because, It's true Nick." She said.

"IT is NOT true, If you ever want to see her again then I suggest that 
you come and apologize to her tom mow." Nick said sternly.

"Ok, I'll be over. I'm sorry Nick." She said before he hung up.


Chapter 15

(*Authors Note:!*  K, Peep's, this is a sort of knock off from an 
episode of
Gilmore Girls, where Rory goes to a dance and stays out all night with 
Dean)

"Wow honey.  You look beautiful."  Nick said, admiring his daughter as 
she came down the stairs.

"Really, I thought the Dress was a little over done."  she said.

"Oh no, its wonderful, comer."  He said as Isis walked over to him.  He
turned her around and fixed the bow in the back, then put a strand of 
hair back into place.

"You probably won't think it's so nice once you get the credit card 
bill." Isis said.

"I don't care about it.  That's why I invested wisely along time ago.  
So you would never have to worry. "  Nick told her, bending over and 
kissing her forehead.

'ding don' went the bell.

Nick limped over to answer the door.

"Dad, your limp got worse." Isis giggled as he headed to the door.

"Oh hush."  he said smiling.

"Mom!, what are you doing here?" Nick said when he opened the door.

"Brian told me there was a dance tonight at Isis's school.  SO I came 
to see my grand child off."  She explained walking into the house.

"what do you mean?" Nick asked closing the door.

"Well, I'm just here to make sure that you put her in a dress and not
sending her in jeans and a t-shirt."  she said.

"Mom!"  Nick groaned loudly.  " I know how to take care of my 
daughter."  he said.

"Hi grandma."  Isis said and Jane turned around.

"Oh my goodness, you look beautiful."  Jane exclaimed.  Nick's hip was
hurting so he wobbled to he living room while Jane wasn't looking and 
hopped onto the sofa.
"Nick!, you are rude.  I know for a fact that I taught you better than
 that."  She said turning around.  Suddenly there was another knock at 
the door.

"Ah!, It's him."  She jumped in excitement.

"COME IN" Nick shouted as the door opened.

"Nick, that is NOT how you answer the door."  Jane exclaimed again.

"It is in this house."  Nick said.

"Hi Ian, This is my grandmother Jane Carter."  Isis said introducing 
them.

"Hello Mrs. Carter. " he said.  "well, we are running late so we ought 
to go."  He said.

"ok, have fun honey."  Jane said.

" we will, oh and dad, do not go upstairs until I get home.  I don't 
want to come home to you at the bottom of the stairs in a huge heap"  Isis 
said.

"Why, what's wrong?"  Jane asked concerned.

"Oh, dad fell and pulled his hip out.  The doctor said he'd be fine in 
a few days."  Isis said leaving.

"I can't leave you here alone."  Jane said.

"Mom please just go.  I'll be just fine." Nick said, trying to get rid 
of her.

No, I'm going to make some tea for you."  she said, going into the 
kitchen.

Nick grabbed the nearest pillow and screamed as loud as he could into 
it.



Chapter 16.

'2 hours later.'

"This is a very boring movie Nicky."  Jane stated.

"Please don't call me Nicky."  Nick said popping another piece of 
popcorn into his mouth, totally engrossed in the movie."

Jane looked at him and took in his appearance.  He looked almost as he 
did seven hears ago.  His blond hair  was cut neatly and his hair was 
spiked. His eyes were the same deep ocean blue, his cheeks pale with a slight 
tan. His smile always noticeable on his face, even when he wasn't smiling.  
He didn't even look like a single father.  But he was, and it changed his 
life forever.  But staring at him Jane can see clearly that he loved being a
father.

"Nick."  Jane started.  Nick turned to look at her.  " I'm sorry Nick."  
she said.

"Sorry for what?"  He asked.

"I'm sorry or hurting you.  for hurting your daughter for pushing you 
two away." she said, tears falling freely from her eyes.

"Mom...It's ok."  Nick said.

"Not it's not!"  She yelled.

"It's not ok because you left. You left because we were pushing you 
towards the opposite of what you wanted to do.  You wanted to raise your 
daughter, and the rest of us wanted your career.  And that hurt you and pushed 
you away from me, and everyone else.
Nick looked at her for a long moment, trying to form words.

"Mom."  He started, quietly.  "It's ok mom. I forgive you.  I 
understand that you only wanted the best for me.  I'm your child, you felt that I
deserved better.  But I had a child too.  And I wanted nothing but the 
best for her also.  And she came first in my life because of that time, I 
was old enough, and wise enough to care for myself, but Isis couldn't do that.  
She was too young, so I had to do that.  For her."  nick said.  tears 
streaming down his eyes.
He continued staring at Jane, tears falling from her eyes too.  She 
tried to form words but couldn't.  She just shook her head, she go off the 
couch and moved over to Nick and kissed his forehead.

"I love you"  She whispered.  " I love you."  They embraced for while 
before they both fell asleep on the couch.


Chapter 17

"wow, it was really great of you Ian to take me to the dance." Isis 
said as they reached his house.

"Oh, it's no problem.  My pleasure.  I really enjoyed taking you."  Ian
said, unlocking his door.  They walked inside and sat on the couch.

"So.."  He started.

"so, she said, as they locked lips."

***************************************************8

' The next morning'

"Nick wake up."  Jane said shaking her son awake.

"hmmm.  He mumbled trying to wake up, kinda stiff from sleeping on the 
couch all night.

"Nick, Isis isn't home."

"What?" he said, getting up a little quicker.

"I dozed off at about 1 am and woke up and Isis isn't in her bed."  
Jane said.

***************************************

"Isis, Ian, What's going on."  a female voice said, waking them both 
up.

"mom?" Ian mumbled sleepily.

"What time is it?"  Isis said just as sleepily.

"8AM, "  Ian's mom said.

"OMG!, My dad is going to kill me!." she said, grabbing her stuff and
running out the door.

"Isis wait!"  Ian shouted after her.

"I got to go!' She shouted back.


Chapter 18

"What?"  Nick asked his mother again, blinking the sleep from him.

"Isis never came home last night."  Jane repeated.

Nick got up from his place on the sofa and started hobbling around the
house. "Isis?"  He shouted.  "Isis!"

"Nick, what are you doing."  Jane asked, following him around the 
house.

"Isis!"  he shouted again, opening her bedroom and seeing it the same 
as before she left.  "Isis!" He shouted again heading back downstairs.

"Nickolas, what are you doing she's obviously not here."  Jane shouted 
at him.

"I know mom, and you yelling at me isn't helping much."  He said, 
turning to her.  Fear and panic in his voice.

"Well, call the police."  Jane said.  Them the phone raing.  Nick 
hobbled quickly to the phone and picked it up.

"Isis?"  He said panicked hoping it was her.  He stood there listened 
for a few minutes before saying thank you and hanging up.

"well, who was that?"  Jane asked anxiously.  "was it her?"

"No, that was Ian's mom.  She said that she found them sleeping on the 
sofa this morning.  Isis is on her way home.

"Well, you obviously know what they did."  Jane said angrily.

"I'm going to make coffee."  Nick said ignoring her and heading towards 
the kitchen.

"Nick, listen to me.  You are going to put a stop to this or you are 
going to loose her like I lost you."  She said, following him.

"Mom, Please stop."  She said, begging.

"You know, I never thought you were a rotten parent until now, letting 
your 13 year old daughter run around wiled,  sleeping around with guys"  
Jane said.  "you are going to lose her...."

Isis entered the house quietly, sneaking to the side so she can see 
into the kitchen.

"She's too young.  But look at you!  SO it's really no surprise."  Jane
continued.

"Mom! That's enough."  He shouted.  "Isis is not me.  She's smart and
careful and she's not sleeping around.  I'm not going to lose her. we 
talk and I'm not trying to control her life like you did mine, so she's not 
going to get pregnant and ruin her life."  He shouted.

"I'm so sick of hear on how controlling I was.  If I was so controlling 
then how come I couldn't stop you from sleeping with that slut of a girl and
getting her pregnant when you were 14!" she shouted louder.

Nick stood there for a few minutes before speaking again, quietly.

"Get out."

"What?"  She asked just as quietly.

"Get out of this house!  This is my life and I'm doing great with Isis 
and if you can't accept that then get out!"  He shouted.

Jane grabbed her purse and quickly left the house.  After a few minutes 
Isis came out.

"Thank you for saying those thing to grandma."  She said quietly.

"What were you thinking! Staying out all night.  and with a boy! you 
are going on the pill!"  He yelled.

"But...nothing happened!"  She said, tears falling from her eyes.

"You are NOT getting pregnant!"  He continued

"Dad, you aren't listieng. Nothing append.  and you know it!!"  she 
shouted, breaking into sobs and running to her room, slamming the door.  Nick 
sat down at the kitchen table putting his face in his hands, crying.


Epilogue


" Isis?"  Nick said quietly, slowly opening the door.  He had given her 
the rest of the day and last night to be alone.   He was worried when she 
hadn't come down for school this morning.

"Isis?"  He said again. He opened the door to peer in, turning the 
light on to see threw the darkness.

"Isis"  He said again coming into the room and gasping when he realized 
she wasn't there.

"Oh my God."  He whispered silently to himself.  "Isis?  Where re you?"  
He shouted, franticly looking around her room, stopping when his eyes feel 
on an envelope laying on the pillow.   He slowly picked it up and opened 
it. Another gasp came out of his lips as he quickly sat on the bed shacking 
as he read the letter.

 Dear Dad,

 I'm sure by now if you are reading this that you're realized that I'm 
gone. I'm sorry it happened this way.  I am truly sorry that I ruined your 
life and career.  And that I ruined your relationship with your mom mother 
and friends.  I understand your guilt for me and having to raise me.  So 
now I'm gong and not  your burden anymore.  Hopefully you will learn to forget 
I ever existed and go back to concentrate on your music career.  I can 
already see that music is your life.  I took the $1200 that you kept in the 
cooking jar on the fridge.  I'm sorry about that and I will send you money to 
pay you back as soon as I can.
 I love you and never forget that. I am off to find my mother.   I went
threw your office and found some information on her, so I'm going to 
find her.

I love you dad

Love always, your daughter

Isis Marie.


Nick held the letter to himself closely as he laid on Isis's bed, and 
cried.


THE END