"I need you beside me." he had said. "I'm so afraid they'll hate me for staying away from them, for ignoring them. I need your strength and love."

Elisha sighed. She loved Nick with all her heart and it killed her to see him so troubled. Damn Mandy had him so twisted up inside he didn't know if he was coming or going sometimes. Elisha knew with time, love and support he would get over any weird ideas the bitch had put in his head. "It just takes time." she said outloud. "And he's worth it. This is his first step to some sort of independence from her. He needs to get back with his family and realize that they still love him."

The flight was uneventful, Elisha realized she must have fallen asleep when she heard the pilot announcing their landing in just a few minutes. She yawned and stretched and gathered her things from the overhead bin. As she was waiting for her luggage she felt strong arms embrace her from behind.

"Hi beautiful." he whispered in her ear. She spun around to face him.

"Nicky, I missed you so." She kissed him on the lips.

"Have I told you how much I love you?" Nick grinned.

"A couple of times, I think, but I don't get tired of hearing you say it!"

Mandy watched their reunion from behind a pillar a few feet away. She had a hunch that Nick was flying the bitch to Florida so she had staked out his house the past couple of days. She lucked out this morning when he left at lunch and drove to the airport. Mandy had made sure she stayed well back, he would have recognized the car for sure, after all, he had bought it for her. She turned green with envy when Elisha kissed Nick.

"That bitch! I'll teach you to stay away from my man! Just you wait, you're on my turf now!"

Nick gathered up Elisha's luggage and tossed it in the trunk.

"Are you ready to face the folks?" he asked, helping her into the car.

"Ready as I'll ever be!" A short drive later they pulled into the laneway of Nick's parents house. Nick stood nervously on the doorstep. Elisha held his hand and smiled at him.

"It's okay Nick, they're your family, they won't bite."

The door opened and someone Elisha assumed was Nick's mother rushed out and embraced him tightly.

His father shook her hand and introduced himself. "Hi, I'm Bob, Nick's dad, that's his mom, Jane and you must be the wonderful someone new that Nick mentioned."

Elisha blushed. "I guess so! I'm Elisha, a pleasure to meet you."

Bob tapped Nick's mom on the shoulder. "C'mon, dad wants a hug too!"

Jane stepped back and gave Elisha a small smile with a gaze that made her feel like she was being examined.

Elisha brushed it off inwardly. "After the last one, can you blame her?" she said to herself.

"Well, let's go in!" Bob put his arms around her and Nick and pushed them through the doorway.

After they got settled in the large, sun filled main room, Nick rounded up his brother and sisters and introduced Elisha to them. Aaron wanted to stay, but Jane shooed him out for the time being.

"So how did you two meet?" Bob asked.

Nick relayed the story and continued on with how he broke up with Mandy.

"Mandy's called here a couple of times in the past few days." Jane mused. "She's been very friendly and didn't mention a breakup."

Nick shook his head. "You know what she's like, ma. Except for backstage, I haven't seen her since we split."

Jane turned to look at Elisha and spoke to her for the first time. "What is it that you do?"

"I'm a dancer with a...."

"So how long before we see you on tour with the group?"

Elisha was taken aback. "No, no, no! As much as I would love to see Nick everyday, that type of dancing doesn't interest me!"

Jane raised her eyebrows and turned back to Nick. Bob asked her about her dancing so Elisha began telling him about the troup and some of the shows they had done.

Jane spoke up again, interrupting her. "Do you mind if I ask a personal question?"

Elisha nodded no.

"How old are you?"

Elisha glanced at Nick.

"She's 33, mama." Jane took a sharp intake of breath. "Before you say anything, I don't care, we don't care, about the age difference. I love her!" Nick declared.

"Nick, I don't think..."

Bob quieted her. "Now Jane, you can see how happy he is. She brought him back to us, how bad is that?"