�One of us will have to go down and get another can,� Howard replied.
�I like the sound of that. I�ll be right back.� They kissed.
�I can get it.�
�You stay put. I�ll be back in a quick sec.� They kissed again and Josephine grabbed a blanket and left the room.
Howard just laid on the bed and began to think. He thought about his future with Josephine and wondered if everything was all right between them. Of course everything was all right. They shared a wonderful night of passion to make up for earlier. He smiled and continued thinking. What was taking her so long? Everything�she is a woman after all and Josephine easily forgets what she�s doing. His thoughts though were interrupted by the ringing telephone. He leaned over and picked it up.
�Dorough�s.�
�Hey, D, ain�t interrupting am I?�
�No, just sitting here. So what�s up, Bone?�
�Des is in the hospital.�
�Is she all right?� He sat up straighter.
�She�s having the twins.�
�You�re kidding.�
�Serious.�
�But it�s so early.�
�I know. The doctors with her now and in about 15 minutes he wants to take them if she soon doesn�t have them naturally. I decided to call ya�ll and let ya know.�
�Thanks.�
�Hey, do you want to try to get a hold of Sunn and Nick? I tried calling, but no one answers and I want to get in with Des.�
�No problem.�
�Thanks. Bye.�
�Bye.� Howard hung up the phone and dialed Sunshine�s condo. He left it ring until he got the machine. �Sunn, its Howie. Destiny�s having the twins. I�ll just try Nicky�s. Later.� He hung up the phone and called Nickolas� home number in Apollo Beach. It rang five times and no one answered. He climbed out of bed as Josephine walked in.
�Whatcha doing?� Josephine asked.
�Alex called; Destiny�s having the twins.�
�Then get dressed so we can go.� Josephine picked up her clothes and started getting dressed. �Get dressed.� Howard did as she requested and got his cell phone. They walked out of the house as Howard called Nickolas and Sunshine again, but got no answer.
* * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * *
�Hey, Kev,� Brian said, as he and Danielle walked into the hospital waiting room to see Kevin and Venus. �Anything yet?�
�Nothing yet,� Kevin said. �Alex just went back in.�
�Will they be all right?� Danielle asked.
�The doctor said they should be since she had no complications at all,� Kevin replied.
�That�s good,� Danielle said. �Does everyone else know?�
�Howie and Jo are on their way and no one can get a hold of Sunn and Nick,� Kevin stated.
�Can you ever?� Venus questioned. �But I�ll try again anyway.�
�The most important day of Alex�s life and we can�t fine Nick,� Kevin said. �It�s pathetic.� Venus walked away.
�It�s only Sunn to him,� Brian said.
�Who cares?� Danielle said. �Destiny�s having twins. I wonder what she�s going to have. I hope girls. I can buy them cute little dresses and stuff.� She walked away.
�She wants a girl,� Brian stated. �I don�t care though as long as Dani�s happy.�
�V wants children,� Kevin said.
�And�� Brian said eyeing his cousin closely and remembering his secret.
�I said we can talk about it after the wedding,� Kevin stated. �We have the rest of our lives.�
�That you do,� Brian replied and they sat down. Danielle and Venus joined them and they all took turns trying to call Sunshine and Nickolas.
Twenty minutes went by and they were joined by Josephine and Howard. They just sat there and waited patiently for the news. None of them could get a hold of their two friends and just stopped trying. Another 45 minutes went by and they still didn�t hear anything. They paced around the waiting room and then ten minutes later saw Alexander walking towards them and smiling.
�Well�� Josephine said.
�One of each,� Alexander stated, as they all hugged him. �They�re fine, but the babies have to be in incubators until March. Doc said they should be fine. They�re taking Destiny and the twins upstairs. I wanted to come and let ya�ll know.�
�We�ll go up with ya,� Danielle said. �I want to see them.�
�They�re so cute and tiny,� Alexander gushed, as they walked to the elevator.
* * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * *
Sunshine sat alone in the bedroom, as Nickolas talked with Jane. She was trying to read a magazine, but wondered what was happening with her fianc� and future mother-in-law. She didn�t want to come between Nickolas and his family, but it seemed like Jane was putting her between. She couldn�t help but think Jane was trying to make him choose. Hopefully it didn�t come down to that. She and Nickolas went through too much already and didn�t want to go through anymore. She continued thinking, but a knock at the door interrupted her.
�It�s open.� She looked, as the door opened. �Bob?�
�Sunn, may I talk to ya for a minute?�
�Um�sure.� She sat up, as Robert walked over and sat on the edge of the bed. �What�s up?�
�I just want you to know that no one in the family hates you. We�re all happy Nick�s marrying you; especially the girls. They�ve been waiting a long time for Nick to get a girlfriend they really like and you�re it.�
�I think Jane hates me though.�
�Jane doesn�t hate you. She actually envies you, because you can make Nick so happy and get him to forget about his problems.� Sunshine just looked at him. �I think she�s having a hard time dealing with the fact that our children are all grown up and finding their own paths to follow. They realized they don�t want to focus their lives around mommy and daddy anymore and that bothers Jane.�
�I�m not trying to take Nick away from you guys. It�s just that I�ve needed him the most the past few months. I don�t want there to be any problems. I love Nick very much and want him to be happy.�
�We all love Nick very much and want him happy. You just know how to make him the happiest.� Sunshine gave a little smirk. �We all adore you and want Nick with you.�
�Besides Aaron, because he wants me.� They laughed.
�Aaron�s just going through a phase. He�ll meet someone and forget about you.�
�Hopefully. I think if Aaron could do it his way, he would try to knock off Nick�which won�t score points with me.�
�None of us hate you�including Nick�s mother.�
�I�m glad.�
�Am I interrupting?� Nickolas asked.
�Not at all,� Robert said, as Nickolas walked over. �I�ll leave you two alone.� He got up and left the room, closing the door behind him.
Nickolas sat beside Sunshine, as she asked, �How�d it go with your mom?�
�I don�t know,� Nickolas said shrugging. �She did apologize for what she said in the kitchen, but I know there�ll always be that tension because of it. I don�t want it, but it�s there and always will be.�
�You can�t hate her, Baby.�
�I don�t. She just knows how to piss me off.�
�Do I piss you off?�
�No; you make me really happy�and I mean really.� They kissed, as there was a knock. �Of course.� Sunshine only smiled. �Yeah.�
�Alex is on the phone!� Leslie said.
�Bring it in,� Nickolas said and the door opened. Leslie walked over and gave Nickolas the phone. �Hey man.� Sunshine got up and he slapped her butt before she walked away saying, �Quality time, Bro.� Sunshine walked over to the desk and Leslie joined her.
�Is Nick all right?� Leslie asked.
�I think he�ll be fine,� Sunshine replied.
�Are you? I now what mom said hurt you.�
�I�ll be fine. Your dad kind of talked to me about your mom. She doesn�t hate me thankfully.�
�It doesn�t matter just as long as Nick likes you.� They looked at Nickolas who laughed then looked at the girls and smiled. �He�s really in love with you.�
�And I�m really in love with him. He�s truly amazing.�
�That�s my brother. I�m glad he met you.�
�Thanks. I thank God each day for making us stop at that gas station. I probably wouldn�t know Nick right now and be flipping burgers at McD�s and asking, �Do you want fries with that?�� They laughed.
�You could�ve met him at Mickey D�s then. It is his five star restaurant after all.�
They laughed and Sunshine said, �And I�d be known as the McDonald�s girl instead of the gas station girl.� They only smiled. �I�m very happy with Nicky though.�
�I�m glad,� Nickolas said turning off the phone and walking over.
�I�ll leave ya alone,� Leslie said taking the phone from her brother and leaving the room.
Sunshine sat on the desk as Nickolas said, �Destiny had the twins.�
�So soon?� Sunshine said. �Are they all ok?�
�Alex said they�re fine. I told him we�ll visit tomorrow.�
�What�d she have?�
�A boy and girl; Alexander James II and Paradise Michelle.�
�Just what this world needs�another Alexander James McLean.� They laughed and Nickolas kissed her. �What was that for?�
�Just because I love you.�
�And I love you.� They put their arms around each other.
�So I�ve been doing a lot of thinking since about 3:00 at the condo.� She just looked at him. �I was wondering how you knew what my fantasy is?� Sunshine smiled. �Well�� They just looked at each other and Sunshine opened the top left desk drawer. He looked as she pulled out a green binder with a picture of the two of them on the front. Nickolas raised an eyebrow, as she opened the first page.
�Cute pic.� Nickolas grinned and she began to read, �Denver, Colorado, October 17, 2001, 9:01 p.m. I met the most beautiful girl today. Her name is Sunshine Robinson, but I�ll always call her Sunnie. The name fits her well too, because she could brighten up the most darkened place. We met at a gas station of all places. Just meeting her once and for a few minutes I know there�s something special about her. She�s so gorgeous...blah, blah, blah. We�ll skip to�Paris, France, February 14, 2002, 7:42 p.m. Valentine�s Day and I�m not with Sunnie. Even though she�s seeing Howie I can�t help but want to be with her more than ever. She�s the only one that�ll ever have my heart. I guess this is what they call love when you miss someone so much and want to be with them more than anything. I must be falling in love�and blah, blah, blah.� She turned a couple pages.
�Were you snooping?�
�I�m not finished.� She smiled and continued reading, �Tampa, Florida, July 20, 2003, 4:26 a.m. Wow! What a night! I told Sunnie I loved her at Alex�s party and in front of everyone. I didn�t care though�yadda, yadda, yadda�we made love for the first time tonight. Such an incredible experience. Sunnie�s asleep right now and I�m watching her�yak, yak, yak skip to�London, England, April 24, 2004, 3:58 a.m. Just got back from having dinner with Sunnie. She asked me to marry her. Surprised the hell out of me, but I said no. I want to ask her myself. Anyway, we talked, danced, I fed her strawberries, and kissed her after each bite�� Sunshine smiled at the memory and Nickolas kissed her before she went back to reading, �The things I want to do to her, like pouring chocolate syrup all over her and licking it off each inch of her sexy body�blah�blah�blah�so many interesting things.�
�Why were you snooping?�
�I wasn�t. I was looking for your Papa Roach CD and came across it.� They looked at each other. �I knew you loved me, but I just never knew how much.�
�Now ya do.� He took the binder from her. �I write in it everyday�twice some days.�
�Why do ya?�
�I don�t know. I guess it�s for; if anything would happen to me, people to know how much I love you. If I die people can publish my memoirs about you�us.�
�Which won�t be for a very long time. We�re going to die together and in each others arms after a wonderful night of making love.�
�Is that so?�
�Yeah.� Nickolas put the binder away. �I didn�t read all of it. Just the days that mean a lot to me.�
�You could�ve.�
�No, because it�s your personal thoughts and things. It�s your journal and it�s private.� Nickolas shrugged. �I can�t believe you have something like that.�
�Like you don�t.� Sunshine only looked at him. �Don�t deny it either, because I found it.�
�Whatever.�
�So you didn�t write�July 20, 2003. I saw Nicky last night. I wasn�t mad at him like I thought I would be. It took all I had to not throw myself in his arms and tell him how much I love him. I left him know I love him though. We made love on the beach for the first time. It was so romantic and Nick was so good�give me a break. I know it was you, because I know your handwriting.�
�You memorized it?�
�I�m pretty good at memorizing.� He kissed her. �Don�t be so surprised. I know a lot of your secrets.�
�I�m not amused one bit.�
He kissed her again. �Do you want to make babies?�
�Are we married?� Nickolas made a face. �Exactly and we agreed in a couple years.�
�You have a point. So do you just want to��
�Your family�s here.�
�We can keep it quiet�well try to anyway.�
�You�re a pig, Nick.� He started kissing her neck. �But that�s bed�s looking pretty comfy.�
�I knew you�d agree plus you still taste like chocolate ice cream.� He picked her up and carried her over to the bed.
CHAPTER 6 CHAPTER 8
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