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When Nick opened his eyes he realized he wasn't alone. He looked down and remembered that he'd been watching a movie on the couch with Julia. He smiled, seeing her sleeping peacefully. She was so beautiful and so far he loved everything about her. He brushed a piece of hair out of her face and then unwrapped her arms from around his waist. He didn't want to wake her to take her home so he gently picked her up and carried her up the guestroom. He laid her down and threw a light blanket over her.

"Sleep tight Julie" He whispered, gently kissing her lips. He turned out the light, closed the door and headed down to his room.

*********

"Bloody hell Brian, what's wrong with you?" Brian groaned getting out of bed. He looked at the clock, 2am. He'd been tossing and turning for hours just thinking about the past day with Jo. He couldn't figure out for the life of him though, why he was doing just that. Thinking about Jo.

"Okay that's it" Brian said as he picked up his phone and dialed.

"Hello?"

"Mrs. Wallace? It's Brian. I'm sorry if I woke you but I need to talk to Leigh Anne. Is she around?"

"I believe she just got home from the hospital. Let me see if she's in bed yet dear"

"Thank you" Brian played with the telephone cord as he waited patiently for Leigh Anne.

"Brian?" he finally heard Leigh Anne's voice.

"Hi baby. How's everything?"

"It's okay. My sister is doing alright"

"I'm glad hun. I couldn't sleep so I thought I'd give you a call and see how everything was going"

"You're sweet Brian."

"Leigh, I've got some things on my mind. Do you think we could talk?"

"Brian, I'm really not in the mood for that tonight. Do you think it can wait a couple days?"

"Oh...sure" Brian replied a little taken back. Leigh Anne was supposed to be the one who was always there to listen to his thoughts, concerns, fears and dreams and here she was turning him away. It wasn't as though Brian really could talk to her about this though. Perhaps it was better that she turned him away.

"Thanks honey. I'm gonna head to bed now. You should do the same"

"I will Leigh Anne. Call me tomorrow if you need anything okay?"

"I will. I love you"

"I love you too. Goodnight" Brian hung up the phone and laid back on his bed.

"Ughhhhhhhhhh, this is bad"

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

~*~THE NEXT MORNING~*

Julia opened her eyes and sat up in bed, stretching. She yawned and let her eyes adjust to the light.

"This isn't my room" She thought as she glanced around the room. She thought for a minute and then everything came back to her. She'd fallen asleep on the couch with Nick, at least she thought she did. She carefully got out of bed, her jeans and shirt pretty much wrinkled to death. She opened the door and the strong aroma of eggs and bacon filled the air.

"Yummm" she said heading down the stairs and into the kitchen. She saw Nick setting down two plates of eggs and bacon on the table with a red rose in the middle.

"Well, good morning sunshine" He said smiling.

"Good morning. What's all this?" she motioned to the table where Nick pulled out a seat for her.

"This my dear, is breakfast. I thought you might be hungry" He went around to the other chair and took a seat himself.

"You went through all this trouble for me? You even got a rose"

"Ah, the rose wasn't a problem. I just swiped it from my neighbor's garden. SHHHHHH, don't say anything"

"Your secrets safe with me" she giggled.

"I knew I could trust you. Did you sleep well last night?" he asked as he took a bite of bacon.

"Yeah, just perfect. I think this is the first time I've stayed at a guys house without having sex with him"

"Hmmm, well you can stay here anytime you want without having sex with me alright?"

"Thanks" they smiled at eachother and continued to dig into their breakfast.

*********

"You got home late lastnight" Valerie said yawning when she walked into the kitchen that morning. Jo took a sip of her coffee before proceeding to answer her.

"I know. I was doing some late wedding planning with Brian"

"Ahhh, I see we're back on a first name basis huh?"

"Yeah, I apologized and we're friends."

"Well, how's the wedding coming along?"

"Well his fiancee had an emergency back home in Georgia so she's gone. We've had to postpone the wedding for about 2 weeks which just gives us more time to make everything perfect"

"In other words, it gives YOU more time to get your claws into the groom"

"Val, I'm not a fiancee stealer"

"Are you saying you wouldn't love to have a piece of him?"

"I'd love to have MORE than a piece of him but ya know, he's off limits" Jo answered, as she got her things together.

"Off for more wedding planning?" Valerie said slyly.

"Of course. You can never get enough of wedding planning...even if it is Saturday" Jo smiled as she headed out to her car. She was off to Brian's again.