The next morning Nick knew what he had to do. He got up, showered, got dressed and into his car headed for the mall.
Elena woke up and hugged her pillow thinking of Nick. She smiled to herself thinking how lucky she was. She still couldn't believe that after a year, after all that happened with Mandy, that they were together once again. Elena thought for a while.
The 2000 Olympics and Olympic tours were over. She had nothing left but going back to Russia to train for months before the next major meets. She sighed. Did she still want to do this? Was gymnastics all that was left of her? Truthfully, she was kind of tired of gymnastics. After all, she had been doing it most of her life.
She thought long and hard before she came to a decision. She was going to retire from gymnastics. She had thought about it before she had found Nick again, but this was just one thing to make it sure. She smiled, then got ready to go see Nick.
Nick looked at the case. "It's perfect!" he exclaimed. He was talking about the huge diamond ring sitting on the pillow in the case.
"It's a 2 karat," the sales man pointed out.
"Let me see it please," Nick asked studding it through the case once more. The man took it out and handed it to Nick. Nick studied it as if it held the answer to the world. Then he looked up.
"Ok I'll take it." Nick and the man began to talk about what kind of box to put it in. Nick smiled to himself. Yes I'm sure this will all work out.
Elena pulled up to Nick's house just as his car did. She got out of her car and went over to hug him. He hugged her then pulled back.
"Come on. Let's go inside we need to talk."
Elena agreed. They walked inside together and sat in the living room.
"So who should go first?" Elena asked.
"Um," Nick was suddenly afraid, "Why don't you go first?"
"Ok," she simply said. "Well Nick, I've been doing a lot of thinking and over this past year, after finishing the Olympics and all of the tours, I've realized that I'm just really tired of gymnastics and all of this training and stuff." She looked up at him. "Nick, I have decided to retire."
(Authors note: Elena really did retire after the Olympics and Olympic tour)
Chapter 10
Nick stared at her in surprise. This was not what he had expected but he was glad she still loved him. Then he realized Elena was still waiting for him to say something. He looked at her.
"Are you sure you want to do that?" He asked concerned.
"Yes," She answered strongly, "This is exactly what I want."
"Does this have anything to do with me?" He didn't want her to quit because of him.
Elena looked at him with a steady gaze. "Partly," she answered truthfully, "but I was thinking about it even before you came back into my life."
"Elena if you are sure about this, then I will give you all of my support, but I want you to do whatever makes you happy."
She thanked and hugged him. "Now," she said, "What is it that you wanted to talk to me about?"
He took a deep breath and led her to the couch. He sat down next to her, and then he took her hand in his own. He gazed deep into her eyes and then began speaking.
"Elena, when I first saw you, I felt something...something that I have never felt before. It confused me, it scared me but it wouldn't go away. I realized that... that was the feeling of true love. I knew then that no matter what happened with us, I would always love you. And Elena, I do love you." He paused for a moment. "Elena Produnova, will you marry me?"
Elena could not believe all of what she just heard. Everything was just so unreal. Nick wanted to marry her. She felt if like she was in a dream and she never wanted to wake up again. She looked at him.
"Yes, Nick. Yes, I will marry you."
He blinked then jumped up and pulled her up with him swinging her around the room shouting for his joy. She laughed at him but was as excited and as joyful as he was.
"We have to plan the wedding, make the guest lists, get everything together..." Nick started rambling on.
She giggled. "Nick calm down! We have plenty of time for all of this. First off we do need to tell our family and friends. Then we can do the rest later. But what should come first is the place. Here in America... or in Russia... Where will we live and all of that good stuff."
Nick realized that what she said was right. "OK, I'm sorry. I'm just a little nervous."
She agreed. "Yeah well I guess we all are. That is just the happier part of life."
He rolled his eyes at her and she smacked him.
"Cut it out!" she demanded hiding her giggles.
He turned on her. "Why you little rat," he sneered playfully.
She stuck her tongue out at him. "You love me for it," she told him.
"Don't remind me," he groaned.
She sighed. "As you Americans would say, what a little boy!" He pouted at her causing her to laugh. "Nick! Stop making those faces at me." She pleaded.
He smirked. "Ha! So I have some sort of power over you and there is nothing you can do about it."
She grumbled something but didn't answer him at all.
The doorbell rang a few minutes later and Brian came in with Svetlana.
"Hey guys!" Brian called out to them. Svetlana waved.
Elena dragged Svetlana off and began to talk to her in fast Russian, while Brian and Nick sat down to talk.
"So what's up bro?" Brian asked.
"Um," Nick blushed, "I asked Elena to marry me and she said yes."
"Congratulations!" Brian shouted as he jumped up to give Nick a hug.
Elena glanced up and smiled then turned back to Svetlana. Nick watched he two girls wondering what they were talking about. He began to daydream when Elena walked over to him.
"What's up?" he asked he.
"Nothing, I was just telling Svetlana about my retiring from gymnastics."
Svetlana gave a grim smile. "I knew this was going to happen sooner or later." Then she sighed. "I am really going to miss her but I know Nick that you will make her happy."
"Thank you Svetlana. I will do my best to make her happy." Nick assured her.
Chapter 11
Elena gazed around her. She was so happy. She couldn't believe that this was her wedding day. Finally, after three months, they were getting married. She looked at Svetlana who was fixing the flowers; Elena Z. had flown down to be a bridesmaid with Svetlana and Yekaterina. Elena looked around at all of her friends. She was so excited words couldn't express what she wanted to say.
She looked into the mirror and turned around to try to see herself from every angle. She bit her lip and sighed.
"What's wrong?" Svetlana asked.
"Nothing seems right." Elena answered.
"What do you mean?" asked Yekaterina.
"I'm just not sure that this is the right dress. It looks all wrong."
"Oh Elena cut it out!" Lena told her.
Elena looked surprised. "What?"
Svetlana cut in. "Honey, you know you look beautiful."
Elena sighed. "I guess I look all right. I'm just so nervous."
Yekaterina laughed. "Nick is a great guy. There is nothing for you to worry about."
"I know, I know," Elena groaned, "but everyone is nervous on their wedding day so just let me be nervous."
They all laughed at her. "OK," they agreed, "If that's what you want."
She stuck her tongue out at them then turned back to the mirror. OK something old... this necklace from Mom, something new... pearl earrings, something borrowed... Svetlana's bracelet, something blue... my garter. She turned back to her friends.
"Well, this is it. I think I am ready. Are you girls ready?" she asked.
They all looked at each other then shouted out "Yes!" together.
She gave a weak smile. "OK, let's go and do this!"
They went to go get B.J and Leslie who were also in the wedding. Angel was the flower girl and Aaron, the ring boy.
Nick looked around at all of his friends. He was so happy about the wedding that was going to take place in a few minutes. They were all there. Brian, Kevin, AJ, Howie, and Aleksei.
"So," Brian asked, "Are you nervous?"
Nick thought for a moment. "No I'm not because I know that this is true love and that this is the right thing. I never was more sure about anything in my life." Nick adjusted his tux then looked at everybody.
"Are you all ready?" he asked.
They nodded and together they walked out.
Elena danced with Nick at the reception party after the wedding.
He bent to whisper in her ear, "How does it feel to be Mrs. Nick Carter?"
She whispered back to him. "It feels great."
They continued to dance though out the night having the time of their lives now, as they were Mr. and Mrs. Nick Carter. They floated on the dance floor not having a care in the world.
Chapter 12
* One year later *
Elena struggled to get up. But no matter how hard she tired it was useless. She couldn't believe being pregnant could be so hard. Worse, she was only 4 months. She was happy that she was going to be a Mom, but it was just so hard.
Finally she was able to get up and she waddled over to her vanity and sat down to brush her hair. After a few different changes with it, she decided to keep it as red. She thought back to a few years ago at the 2000 Olympic games where her hair was a deep red and she wore gold glitter in it.
She studied her face in the mirror. That had also changed a bit. Back then, she had shaved two arches in her eyebrow to be different, now it was normal, just like any other eyebrow.
Elena sighed, but she wasn't unhappy. She loved Nick and being married to him. But now everything was so different. Now she was more grown up, she wasn't constantly training or doing wild things to change her look. Elena thought about it and realized that even though things were very different for her now, especially living in America, she was happy with her life and her decisions.
Nick sat in the living room thinking about his life now. He was still with the band and loved his music just as much as he always had, but he realized that he had grown up.
He wasn't constantly doing boyish things. He was still the same Nick Carter everyone loved and knew, but now he just had a little more serious attitude. He smiled at the thought of Elena upstairs, four months pregnant. He couldn't believe that in just 5 months, he would be a dad. Then he frowned.
In 6 months, he would have to go with the band on tour. He bit his lip and wondered what to do. If she wanted, Elena and the baby could go along with him. If not, then as often as he could, he would come home in between everything. He wondered if it were going to be a boy or a girl. He glanced up as he saw Elena coming down the stairs.
"Hey." He called out to greet her.
"Hi Nick," she said with a tired voice.
"We need to think of names for the baby," he pushed.
She grinned. "All right Nick. Let's think of names. Do you have any ideas?"
"Well," Nick started looking thoughtful, "If it is a boy, then how about... James? And if it is a girl, I like the name... actually I am not sure of a girls name. If it is a girl, then we should give her a Russian name."
Elena smiled. "OK let me think. Um how about Tatiana?"
"I like that name," Nick answered her, "How did you think of it?"
"Well, I want to name her after Tatiana Gutsu, one of my favorite gymnasts that was a gymnast before me."
"Good idea," Nick agreed.
They continued to talk until it was time for Elena to leave for the doctor. They were going to find out if the baby was going to be a boy or a girl.
Elena got into the car and backed out. Nick was going to stay home to take care of something's that he had to get done. She turned on the radio. The Backstreet Boys song "Quit Playing Games With My Heart" was playing.
Elena sang along with Nick�s part. She tapped the wheel with her fingers at the red light. Finally 15 minutes later, she made it to the doctors. She walked in, signed in, and sat down until they called her to a back room.
"Hello again Elena," the doctor greeted her with a smile, "How are we doing today?"
Elena smiled. She really liked Doctor Myer. "I'm fine, she answered, "Just a bit tired."
"Well that is understandable," the doctor told her. "So are you ready to have the tests taken?"
Elena nodded.
The tests took awhile and they tired her out. Elena lay down to rest until she got the results.
The door to the room opened and the doctor came back in with some papers. "Well Elena, I'm happy to tell you that you are going to have a little boy."
Elena smiled and thanked the doctor. After she signed a few papers, she got back into the car and began the drive home. She began to flip through the stations again trying once more to find a good song. Finally she settled on one station playing some good songs.
As she was just about to pass the railroad tracks, her car died out. She was confused. What was wrong with the car? she wondered. She tried over and over again to start the car, but no matter what, it just wouldn't start.
A sound meet her ear and her head whipped up. Elena's eyes grew in terror as she recognized the sound. It was the sound of a train whistle.
She tried harder and harder to start the car and move it off the train tracks, but the car still refused. Elena glanced up once more and she saw the train speeding towards her. She began to panic as it began to pour.
The rain danced upon the windshield. Elena knew she had only one choice and that was to get out of the car and quickly. She reached for the handle, but the door would not open. Franticly, she reached to unlock it, the train bearing down on her faster and faster.
Elena put her hand on the lock to pull it up so she could get out. Elena managed to unlock the door. She looked up once more, as the train was right there at her.
Her hands flew to her face and she screamed as the train hit the car. It flew off the tracks spinning wildly. Elena hit her head on the dashboard and blood began to trickle down. She slumped over the wheel as the car began to slow down. The door opened and she fell out, the car tipped on it side. She lay there thinking of Nick, thinking of the baby and she blacked out as the ambulance raced to her and the car, the radio playing the song by Enya. The words floated into the night...
Who can say where the road goes, where the day flows, only time...
And who can say if your love grows as you heart chose, only time...
Who can say why your heart sighs as you love flies, only time...
And who can say why your heart cries, when your love lies, only time...
Who can say when the roads meet, that love might be in your heart
And who can say when day sleeps, if the night keeps all your heart, night keeps all your heart...
Who can say if your grows, as your heart chose, only time... And who can say where the road goes, where the day flows only time...
Who knows, only time, who knows, only time...