NEW YORK CITY, NY – HOSPITAL – MAR. 19TH, 2002 – TUESDAY

     Kirstin had to spend another 2 days at the hospital. She had lost too much blood and, of course, the baby, so she had to be supervised for a while.

     “Thank you so much, Claire.” Kirstin said as she got up from the bed after the doctor left her room telling she could go home now.

     “Oh, don’t mention.” the nice nurse said with a smile.

     “You were too nice.” Ashley hugged the nurse too.

     “Oh, it’s my job.” she smiled to the Kirstin, Ashley and Grace, who were now heading for the door.

     “I guess we’ll see you. Hopefully not so soon.” Grace said to Claire.

     “Oh, yes! Not anytime soon.” Claire smiled again and waved the trio goodbye.

 

NEW YORK CITY, NY – KIRTIN’S LOFT – MAR. 19TH, 2002 – TUESDAY

     Ashley and Kirstin had dropped Grace at her apartment building and were now heading inside Kirstin’s loft.

     “Oh, God, it’s so good to be home again. No hospital food, no hospital smells… Just… my sweet home.” Kirstin stated as she collapsed on her couch.

     Kirstin was much better after these 2 days at the hospital. The hospital provided a psychologist so Kirstin would get her feelings under control. It was pretty hurtful for Kirstin to share her feelings, especially her feelings of loss, with a total stranger. Kirstin just didn’t like talking about her feelings with anyone. But the psychologist was a really nice older woman and she helped Kirstin open up herself. Occasionally, Kirstin would have some mood swings, but nothing that Ashley would be able to handle.

     “Yes… these days at the hospital were harsh, huh?” Ashley placed his bags on the floor.

     “Yes… But thank God, that’s over now. Come here.” she patted the couch so Ashley would sit next to her.

     “I still have to talk to the guys.” Ashley said.

     “About?”

     “About everything. I haven’t talked to them ever since I got to New York. My cell phone battery died and they must be worried because I haven’t called or anything.”

     “Oh, ok. If you wanna use the phone...”

     “Do you mind?”

     “Oh, come on, Ash! It’s your house too and you know it!” Kirstin smiled.

     “Ok.” Ashley smiled at her “Do you mind if I go upstairs to talk to them?”

     “No, not at all. You do your thing and I’m gonna see if there’s something to eat because I’m starving.”

     “Ok.” Ashley pecked her lips, got the phone out of the base unit and headed upstairs.

     He entered the upstairs bathroom. He couldn’t talk in Kirstin’s room because it didn’t have any walls around it and Kirstin could see and hear him from downstairs. So he closed the door behind him in the bathroom and dialed Dan’s cell phone number.

     “Hello?” Dan answered after 4 rings.

     “Hey, man, what’s up?”

     “Ash! Thank God! Where have you been? It’s been 4 days and we haven’t heard a thing from you!” Dan sounded worried.

     “Yeah, sorry, man. A lot happened, my cell phone battery died and I just couldn’t find the time to call you guys.”

     “What happened?” Dan questioned.

     “Oh, man. Too much. I’m devastated. Kirstin is… way worse. Actually, she is a lot better than she was 2 days ago.”

     “Why? What happened? You’re scaring me now.”

     “Kirstin lost the baby.”

     “WHAT?” Dan shouted.

     “Kirstin lost the baby.”

     “How?” Dan couldn’t believe it.

     “Some complications, I can’t really tell you everything now. I just wanted to call you to tell you guys I’m ok and I don’t know when I’m coming back. I can’t leave Kirstin right now.”

     “I feel bad for both of you, man. But we’ve got a little press tour coming up, remember?”

     “Shit! I forgot!” Ashley hit his forehead “Shit! When does that start?”

     “We leave on Thursday to Chicago.”

     “This Thursday?”

     “Yes.”

     “Shit, shit, shit!” Ashley exclaimed.

     “Yeah…”

     “Oh, shit! I’ll talk to Kirstin. I don’t wanna leave her. Oh, God. Well… I’ll talk to you later, alright?”

     “Ok. You hang in there, man. And call me if you need anything.”

     “I will. Thanks, Dan.”

     “No problem, man. Bye.”

     “Bye.” Ashley hung up the phone and just stared at it for a whole minute. He had to leave in two days. How would he tell Kirstin that after he told he wouldn’t leave her side?

     “So, how did it go? Were they worried?” Kirstin asked when she saw Ashley emerge from the bathroom.

     “Yes, they were.” Ashley headed downstairs.

     “Good thing you called them, then.”

     “Yes.” he placed the phone back on the base unit “We need to talk.”

     “Oh…” Kirstin said, sensing something wasn’t too good “Ok.” she sat on the black leather couch next to Ashley.

     “I talked to Dan and he said that we… ahm… we have this press tour that coming up. It’s starting the day after tomorrow in Chicago.”

     “Oh…” Kirstin looked down and played with her fingers.

     “I don’t wanna leave you, Kirstin, but I just can’t not go, it’s the preview tour before the cd comes out and…”

     “No, you go! I’ll be fine. I totally understand.” Kirstin kept nodding.

     “Are you sure? Because I don’t wanna leave you alone and…”

     “Oh, I won’t be alone. Grace is here. She can say here for a few days.”

     “No, Kirstin, I…” Ashley started “I… I know you’re probably gonna say no, but just listen, alright?”

     “Yes?” Kirstin frowned.

     “I want you to come with me. I don’t wanna leave you behind anymore. I want you with me so I can take care of you. And I guess I need you by my side too.”

     “But, Ash…” Kirstin started but Ashley cut her off.

     “I know you’re gonna say you can’t because of your college and your work. But I’m pretty sure that if you talk to your boss he will give you a few days off, because of what you went through these past few days. And the same with college. I just really want you with me and…”

     “Ok.” Kirstin cut him off.

     “I’m sorry, what?” Ashley was confused. He didn’t think it would be that easy to convince Kirstin to go with him. He had tried before and never succeeded.

     “Ok. I’ll go with you.” Kirstin smiled at him.

     “Really?” Ashley smiled back “Ok, you’re kidding me here.” Ashley frowned.

     “No, I’m not.” Kirstin playfully hit him on the arm “I wanna be with you too. And I’m sure it will be fine with Andrew and college. I really could use some time off. And I don’t wanna be apart from you right now. I just didn’t suggest it before because I didn’t know if you’d want me around you on your tour.”

     “Oh, come on! Now you’re just talking nonsense.”

     “Good. Because I really need to be with you right now. I’m still not 100%.” Kirstin played with her fingers again.

     “I’m not 100% either. So if we’re together, we’re gonna even it out.”

     “I guess…” Kirstin smirked.

     “Come here.” Ashley placed his hand of her neck and pulled her to him “I love you.” he said before kissing her passionately.