"This is too strange" Kevin said. "To actually spend some time alone with you, while I'm on tour. No fans, no bodyguards...."

Aileen smiled and gave Kevin a hug, she was just leaning in for a kiss when he spoke up again.

"Come to think of it, where is everybody? The guys should have been here for practice by now, and I haven't seen any of the security guys for at least an hour."

Aileen laughed "I'm sure they're here somewhere, they always are. They're probably spying on us, waiting for you to go all romantic on me!"

Kevin smiled "That's probably true! But the guys are late by about half an hour, no getting around that."

"Oh that's good Mr.-I need one more hour sleep-Richardson! How many times have you been late this week?"

Kevin sighed, he couldn't argue there. He loved his sleep and had been late nearly every day of the past week.

"But the rehersal was scheduled..."

"Quiet" Aileen said putting a hand over his mouth "I'm sure AJ and Howie are out shopping and Bri and Nick are probably playing basketball somewhere."

"Yeah, Nick probably got B playing and Nick is the one who needs this practice most, he totally screwed up last night." Kevin threw up his hands in disgust "I wish he could be a little more responsible, maybe keep a thought in that blond head of his once in a while!"

Aileen punched him lightly in the arm "Lighten up! First, you don't know where any of them are and second, Nick is only 19. He's grown up on tour, he needs to blow off steam like a normal person once in awhile. He needs free time more than the rest of you, I think. And, like I said you don't know where they are, it might not be Nick's fault that they're late, you know?"

Kevin looked at her in exasperation, he hated when she was right. He laughed "You're right, as usual, it's just a lot easier to tease him when it is his fault so I guess I keep hoping it is!"

He stood up and put his hand out to pull Aileen up as well.

"What do you say we go for a walk around while we're waiting, maybe we can find a quiet place to talk or something?"

Aileen caught all the implication of that question. "You mean quieter than the tomb we're in now?" She looked at him and giggled. "I don't think there is anyplace quieter!"

Kevin looked at her and smiled. "I think you know what I mean!".

They started to gather up their things to stash them in a locker while they were out. They were both heard the door open, but didn't pay a whole lot of attention to it.

"'Bout time you guys showed up" Kevin yelled over his shoulder "We were about to send out a search party!"

He straightened up and turned when he got no reply.

"Hey, who's...."

his voice trailed off when he realized the people who had entered the building were complete strangers and all four of them had guns pointed at him and Aileen.