Chapter 9 � 7:45pm
December 25th

(Chrissy�s POV)

Danielle was in the living room playing with all the new toys that Santa had brought for her. She couldn�t have been happier. I could have been. I wanted to find out what happen to her and Stephanie. Maybe it was just playing rough, maybe not. Only she could tell me and she wouldn�t tell anybody.
Chris and I were sitting on the porch with a cup of hot cocoa. I was snuggled up with him in the new Pittsburgh Steelers fleece blanket that I had bought him. We looked out at the city and the brake lights that seemed to go on and off in almost a pattern. The lights of the city reflected off the river and everything looked alive. I looked the view. I loved it more from Chris�s warm safe arms. I loved him with all my heart and knew that he was going to make such a good dad again in 5 months. I couldn�t believe it had been 4 since the night I got pregnant again. It seemed so long ago.
Danielle was pretty excited about it. She keeps saying, �Daddy, where the baby?� I couldn�t help but chuckle. She was so adorable with her daddy�s eyes and nose and my ears and hair. I wondered what the new baby would look like, who�s features would it have.
�Chrissy,� Chris asked pulling me closer to him. �What are we going to name the new baby?�
I put my arms on Chris�s knees, which I sat between.
�Um�� I began. �I don�t know. I haven�t thought about it until just now.�
We heard Danielle start screaming and we jumped up and ran into the living room to find her on the floor next to the couch.
�Honey,� Chris said running over to her. �What��
�NO,� Danielle screamed as he went to touch her. �NO PLAY TIME!�
�Chrissy,� Chris said as he started to cry. �I can�t deal with it. She won�t even let me hug her.�
�I know,� I said, I picked her up and gave her a hug. She had fallen over the side of the couch. �It�s okay. Go see daddy.�
�No,� Danielle said clinging to my neck. �He�ll hurt me.�
�Daddy won�t hurt you,� I said. �Daddy loves you.�
Chris ran upstairs crying.
�You don�t love daddy,� I asked. �You hurt his feelings. Maybe we should go give daddy a kiss.�
�No,� Danielle said as she began to cry. �No playtime.�
�Can you tell mommy what happened,� I asked as I sat down on the couch with her and a blanket. �I promise not to tell anybody. I want to know who hurts you.�
�Play time,� She said. �Play time.�
She drifted off to sleep with tears in her little brown eyes. I took her upstairs and laid her down in the crib with her new stuffed animal that Justin had gotten for her. I kissed her head and walked down to my room where Chris was sleeping.

(Justin�s POV)
�I have to go,� I said to Alicia. �If I stay something might happen.�
�I wouldn�t mind at all,� Alicia said as she lay down on her bed and pulled me on top of her. �I would welcome the idea.�
�Oh,� I said resisting. �I would love to, but I can�t do this.�
�I understand,� Alicia said as she unbuttoned her shirt. �But, before you leave, tell me that you are sure you don�t want me.�
�I want you,� I said moving closer to her lips. �I really want you.�
�I can�t do this,� I said. �I am not ready to do this.�
�Fine,� Alicia said as she got up and walked out the door leaving me feeling stupid but proud of myself.
�I did the right thing,� I said. �I really believe that I did the right thing.�
I got into my boxers and my new beater that Joey and Nicole bought for me and feel asleep listening to *Nsync�s Christmas CD.

(Joey�s POV)

�Nicole,� I said. �Will you dance with me?�
I was listening to the Christmas CD that *Nsync had put together a few years ago.
�Joey, I�m going home tonight,� Nicole said. �He wants me to come home. I think I should.�
�You told me you weren�t going to leave me again,� I said. �You promised me.�
I got up and ran out of the room. I jumped into my car and took off. I wasn�t sure where my exact destination was going to be. I was so hurt and disappointed and nervous. Nicole was going to get hurt again. I knew she was going to. I hated when he hurt her. He was going to end up killing her if he wasn�t careful. I drove around and around again and I was so tired I decided to go home.
I pulled into the driveway and saw no lights on inside. I walked in and straight up stairs to my room with a heavy and sad heart.

(JC�s POV)

I curled up in bed with the book that my mother sent to me and I began to read it. It was the newest book from Stephen King. It was supposed to be really good. I began to read it and got sleepy. I put in the bookmark and curled up next to Amanda. I kissed her cheek and soon began to dream of the day. It was so much fun and the best part was having Amanda here to share it with me. I was so happy that I actually enjoyed the holiday.
Back to Library
Chapter 10
Hosted by www.Geocities.ws

1