�No,� Sunshine said not taking her gaze from her fianc�.
�Why not?� Venus asked.
�It�s a need to know basis and you don�t need to know. Only Nick needs to know and he won�t say anything.� Nickolas smiled. �And then there�s Bradley, but he won�t say anything either.�
�Can we have a hint?� Josephine asked and Sunshine looked at them. �Just a little one.�
�All I�m going to say is that I was sick, but I�m on my way to a full recovery thanks to Nick.� They smiled at each other and she kissed him, as the others looked at her worried.
�Where were you hiding out?� Brian wanted to know.
�Switzerland.�
�Why?� Destiny asked.
�Because Sunnie wanted to,� Nickolas answered.
�Why?� Destiny asked again.
�I don�t think it really matters why we were in Switzerland,� Nickolas stated. �The important thing is that Sunnie�s not sick anymore and you can stop worrying about her.�
�Exactly,� Sunshine agreed. �I can take care of myself.�
�Does it have anything to do with what you were popping in Vegas?� Brian asked and Sunshine looked at him.
�No; they were painkillers for my shoulder.�
�Positive?�
�Positive. It was something totally different.�
�You got married,� Josephine said.
�No we didn�t,� Nickolas said. �If we did do you think we�d actually deny it?�
�No,� they all said.
�The wedding�s still scheduled as planned.�
�And I told you I was sick,� Sunshine said.
�How sick?� Josephine asked and Sunshine looked at her. �Was it life threatening? Did ya have to get surgery? Do ya have to get surgery? Are you going to be all right? Is there anything we can do to help?�
�I�m perfectly fine,� Sunshine replied. �And I don�t want to talk about it anymore.�
�We�re just glad you�re feeling better,� Howard said. �Right, Josie?�
�Very,� Josephine said smiling.
�Thank you,� Sunshine said. �And it�ll mean a lot if it�s not mentioned again.�
�You have our word,� Kevin said.
�Thank you,� Sunshine said looking at Nickolas again and smiling. He smiled in return and kissed her. �Thank you.�
�For what?� Nickolas asked.
�Being with me. If you weren�t by my side the whole time I don�t think I would�ve gotten through it.�
�I didn�t want to be anywhere else.� He kissed her again.
�Awe how sweet,� Danielle said. �Anything for love.�
�Anything for Sunnie,� Nickolas said and Sunshine smiled.
�Did ya still have fun in Switzerland?� Venus asked.
�Of course we did,� Nickolas stated. Sunshine stayed silent and looked at Nickolas, as he pulled her closer to him and kissed her forehead.
�Where�d ya stay?� Destiny wanted to know.
�The first couple of weeks we stayed in a townhouse by the lake,� Nickolas replied. �Then bought a country side home by the water.�
�In the country?� Brian questioned.
�He means a lake,� Sunshine answered.
�I understand now,� Brian said.
�It was fun,� Nickolas stated. �No worries, no press, no fans, and no interruptions. It was just the two of us.�
�I think I got better so fast, because Nicky was helping me,� Sunshine said. �If not for him I�d probably still be there.�
�Anything for you gorgeous,� Nickolas said kissing her yet again.
�Get a room,� Brian said.
�It�s my condo,� Sunshine reminded him.
�She has a point, Rok,� Howard said.
�Let�s eat,� Sunshine said.
�It�s probably cold,� Danielle said.
�I ain�t eating cold pizza,� Venus said.
�Alex, you try it,� Sunshine said.
�Why me?� Alexander asked.
�Because I said and this is my home and if ya want to stay you�ll do as I say,� Sunshine replied and they laughed. �Do it or suffer the consequences.�
�She�s back to normal,� Kevin said and everyone laughed again.
�You do it,� Alexander said.
�I only do things for money,� Sunshine smirked.
�Including sex,� Alexander said and Destiny slapped him. �Do you see the abuse I get from her?�
�Next time use protection,� Josephine said.
�Just try the pizza, Alex,� Destiny said and Alexander did as his wife requested.
�It�s good to eat,� Alexander replied.
�Good, because I�m starving,� Sunshine said getting a piece.
�Her appetites back too,� Nickolas said. �So hide all food.�
�Jerk off,� Sunshine said, as they all got a piece. �You can forget about us being together on your birthday.�
�I�m kidding,� Nickolas said smiling.
�Whatever, don�t talk to me,� Sunshine said. �How�s it going, D?�
Howard looked at Josephine and then said, �Good. Can�t wait until February.�
�The sucker�s getting married,� Nickolas snickered and Sunshine elbowed him. �Oiy!�
�I�m happy for you both,� Sunshine stated.
�Thank you,� Josephine said. �We�re happy too.� Josephine looked at her engagement ring and Sunshine tried to hold back her laughter.
�Something�s bothering you though,� Sunshine pointed out, �but I won�t ask what even though I should, because you guys always butted into my business. I didn�t appreciate it, but I shared my problems with you anyway. I never had a problem where someone wasn�t involved. I wonder�� She didn�t finish, as Nickolas turned her face to him and kissed her.
�Thank you,� Venus said and they laughed.
�That�s a way to get her to shut up,� Danielle said.
�Leave it to Nicky too,� Howard said smiling as Sunshine and Nickolas ended their kiss.
�I wonder what it would be like if you stayed silent for a little bit,� Nickolas smirked.
�You wouldn�t be able to get me to stay silent,� Sunshine shot back. �Even if you tried.�
�I�ll just have to tie ya to the bed and gag ya,� Nickolas said smiling and giving Sunshine a seductive look.
�Too much info,� Josephine said.
�Sounds fun,� Sunshine stated. �Let�s go.� Nickolas only smiled and shook his head. �I�ll let ya cover me in chocolate syrup, preferably Hershey�s, and lick it off me. I know just the sound of it turns you on. I know it�s been your fantasy since you met me.� Nickolas only looked at her. �Oops! So�um�did anyone important call?�
�Brad called a�� Josephine started only to be interrupted.
�You have no clue what my fantasies are, Sweets,� Nickolas said. �That is one of the secret parts of my life�I tell no one.�
Sunshine smiled and said, �Go on, Jo.�
�Brad called a few times, your agent called, Maddie called, your mom called, and someone named Jonathan called,� Josephine said.
�Did he sound young or old?�
�Young. I bet it was Jonathan Taylor Thomas wanting to hookup.�
�Cool.� Nickolas shook his head. �I still love ya, Snuggle Bums, and I always will.� She gave him a quick kiss. �Where�s the drinks?�
�In the kitchen,� Alexander replied.
�Alex, you�re my favorite Backstreet Boy,� Sunshine said smiling at him.
�That�s not going to work.�
�You�re a better kisser than Nick is.� She blew him a kiss.
�Will you stop flirting with my husband,� Destiny requested.
�I ain�t flirting. I�m sucking up.� They laughed. �You�re hotter than he is too, Alex.�
�You�re not going to give up until I give in, aren�t ya?� Alexander asked.
�No.� She smiled. �I would like a mountain dew.� Alexander sighed and got up. �I should have some six packs in there if Jo didn�t drink them all.�
�Gotcha,� Alexander said walking to the kitchen.
�He even has ya spoiled,� Josephine said. �I think he should be spoiling his wife.�
�He does spoil me,� Destiny assured them. �Alex and I have a good relationship, because I let him have his little obsession with Sunshine.�
�Doesn�t it bother you?� Howard asked.
�Nope, because I know it�s me he comes home to at night,� Destiny replied and they all looked at Josephine.
�At least ya realize it,� Sunshine said. �Unlike someone in this room.�
�Sunnie, don�t start,� Nickolas pleaded and she looked at him and grinned.
�Your drink, milady,� Alexander said handing her a soda.
�Spank you, Alex,� Sunshine said and he winked at her, as she smiled.
�Sunn, Justin called for you also,� Josephine said and Sunshine only looked at her. �Timberlake.� She nodded. �He said to tell you �thanks for nothing�. Whatever that means.�
�Shit,� Sunshine said.
�What?� everyone wanted to know.
�Shit,� Sunshine said putting her plate on the coffee table and quickly getting up. �Excuse me.� They watched her leave the parlor and walk back the hall saying, �I got all pissed off, because Nick broke his promise to me and I broke my promise.�
�Someone lost it,� Destiny said.
�She�s perfectly sane,� Nickolas replied. �In some cases anyway.�
�As in sexually,� Alexander snickered.
�Not while we�re eating,� Destiny warned.
�Sorry, Baby,� Alexander apologized. �Anyone else going to have a baby?� They all gave him a weird look. �I�m being serious.�
�Actually, I�m due next week,� Nickolas said sarcastically. �Can�t ya tell? I think its sextuplets.� They all laughed. �I�ll be the first man in history to give birth.�
�That�s wonderful to hear,� Howard said. �Are you going to breast feed?�
�Do you think they�re big enough?� Nickolas questioned lifting up his shirt and looking at his chest.
�What the hell are you doing?� Sunshine wanted to know making a weird face. They all just laughed and Sunshine sat back down not taking her gaze off Nickolas.
�Seeing if my boobs are big enough to breast feed,� Nickolas stated.
�Are you feeling ok?� Sunshine asked concerned. �Should we call the doctor?�
�Do you think they�re big enough?�
�He�s having sextuplets,� Danielle replied.
�I don�t want to know,� Sunshine stated.
�Do ya? Do ya? Do ya?� Nickolas asked sticking his chest against the side of Sunshine�s face and she leaned closer to Alexander.
�Get off me,� Sunshine said pushing Nickolas away.
�I know you want this,� Nickolas said.
Sunshine smiled and said, �Actually I do, but not here.�
�Why not?� Nickolas asked putting his arm around her neck and pulling her towards him.
�Because we have company,� Sunshine said as Nickolas kissed her.
�But I want you now.�
�Maybe after everyone leaves.�
�Promise.�
�Maybe.� She kissed him this time. �My little Snuggle Bums.�
�I asked you repeatedly not to call me that.�
�But you look so cute when I do.� She patted his cheek and picked up her plate. �Snuggle Bums.� He sighed disgustedly and she looked at him. �What?�
�You never listen. It�s bad enough I let you get away with calling me Nicky and I ain�t going to let you get away with calling me Snuggle Bums.�
�Oh, but its ok for you to call me whatever the fuck you feel like? I don�t understand what the big deal is about me calling you a silly name in the manner of fun.�
�Because I don�t want to be called Snuggle Bums.�
�And you�re a fucking dick.� She got up and walked away, as the others just watched. They all waited then heard a door slam.
�You owe her an apology,� Danielle stated. �I don�t know what�s wrong with her, but it seems serious and you don�t treat her the way you just did.�
�She knows I hate it when she calls me Snuggle Bums,� Nickolas said.
�She does it out of fun,� Danielle stated. �If we all got pissed off by a silly name she had called us we wouldn�t be her friends right now. We take it in stride and let her have her fun, because we know it makes her happy.�
�I want her to be happy too,� Nickolas said.
�Then who cares if she calls you some stupid silly name,� Destiny said. �She does it out of love. Everything she does is out of love.�
He sighed and Danielle said, �Go apologize.� Nickolas only looked at her.
�Go on, Nickolas,� Kevin chimed in. �She was only having fun and you know it.�
�Don�t you like it when the tables are turned?� Josephine asked. �If you dish it out you better be able to handle it.�
�She does it just to piss me off,� Nickolas stated.
�Just apologize,� Destiny snapped.
�I don�t need relationship advice from you guys,� Nickolas said getting up and walking away.
�Just listen, because it looks like you�re not doing too well,� Brian replied.
�Whatever,� Nickolas said going back the hall.
�That boy needs a beating,� Venus said. �Put the whipping post up and give me the whip.�
�No violence, Venus,� Kevin said.
�Hey, Baby, do you want to try that tonight?� Alexander asked.
�No I do not want to try that tonight,� Destiny rebutted. �Shut the hell up.�
�Babe, what�s your problem?� Alexander questioned.
�I�m pregnant,� Destiny snapped.
�Sorry,� Alexander apologized.
�I don�t think I want to have children,� Howard stated. �Jo, will be grouchy all the time.�
�Such a shame,� Josephine smirked. �I want to have at least two little Dorough�s.�
�Cute,� Destiny said smiling. �I�m having two.�
�Lucky you,� Danielle said. �I�m having one.�
�Nick definitely needs a beating,� Venus said shaking her head and they all looked at her.
CHAPTER 2 CHAPTER 4
HOME