�Maddie, what are you doing here?� Sunshine asked the next afternoon after opening her condo door.
�Danielle called up to Cincinnati and said Josephine had the twins,� Madeline said as she walked inside with Dominic and Jordan. �We just got in and finding a hotel in this place is horrible.� Sunshine nodded and closed the door as Jordan reached for her. �Do you mind if we stay a couple days?�
�Just as long as you don�t start anything,� Sunshine said taking her youngest nephew. �You can use one of the guest rooms.�
�Thanks.� Madeline picked up the suitcases and they walked to the parlor. �Where�s Nick?�
�On the phone with Kevin. Where�s Nick?�
�In L.A working on the new album.�
�When does that come out?�
�July 24.�
�So does BSB and LFO.�
�I heard NSync�s comes out that day too.�
�And O-Town�s,� Nickolas added joining them.
�Uncle Nicky!� Dominic yelled running over to him.
�Hey, Big Guy,� Nickolas said picking him up. �Hey, Maddie.�
�Nick,� Madeline said with the same unamused tone towards him and Sunshine shook her head.
�I wish you would be a little more friendlier to Nick,� Sunshine said.
�Excuse me?� Madeline said. �I am kind to Nick.�
�Your Nick.�
�Whatever.�
�Sunnie don�t worry about it,� Nickolas said and she looked at him. �I�m serious. All I care about is that you like me.�
�Unfortunately she does,� Madeline said.
�Ugh!� Sunshine exclaimed disgusted.
�Cookie,� Jordan said and they all looked at him.
�Did you hear how clear that was?�
�Yeah,� Madeline said. �He usually says �ookie�.�
�Not this time.�
�I teach,� Dominic said and they smiled.
�Well you�re a good teacher,� Nickolas said.
�Cookie,� Jordan repeated. �Cookie.�
�Ok, ok,� Sunshine said walking to the kitchen. �We�ll get you one of the good Gerber kind, because mommy buys you those cheapo yucky kind when she can afford the best.�
�Don�t start,� Madeline said and she looked at Nickolas as he tickled Dominic. �How can you put up with her everyday?�
�It�s easy when you�re in love,� Nickolas said as Sunshine walked from the kitchen with a box of cookies. She walked over to Nickolas and Dominic.
�Here ya go, Honey,� Sunshine said holding out the box to Dominic.
�Thanks, Sweets,� Nickolas smirked putting his hand in the box.
�No,� Dominic said. �Mine.� Sunshine laughed.
�I just want one,� Nickolas stated.
�No,� Dominic said.
�DJ, why don�t you show Uncle Nicky what we do to big bad boys that try to steal your cookies,� Sunshine replied and Dominic slapped Nickolas� hand and laughed.
�Ow,� Nickolas said. �That hurt.�
�Good,� Dominic said. �My cookies.�
�I guess he showed you,� Sunshine said smiling.
�Don�t get cute,� Nickolas warned giving her a kiss.
�Oh please,� Madeline said. �Spare me.�
�What?� Sunshine and Nickolas asked and Madeline looked at them.
�Not in front of my children,� Madeline stated. �They�re too young. I can�t wait until you have kids.� Sunshine and Nickolas just looked at her. �What?�
�I�m going to go check the mail,� Nickolas said.
�Alright,� Sunshine said.
�Give me JT,� Nickolas said taking him from Sunshine. �We�ll got for a little elevator ride.�
�Yea!� Dominic exclaimed beginning to squirm and Nickolas put him down. He ran to the door. �Let�s go, Uncle Nicky.�
�I�m coming,� Nickolas said. �I�ll be right back.� Sunshine nodded as Nickolas walked to the door. She watched him walk out and Madeline looked at her.
�So are you going to tell your sister what�s going on?� Madeline questioned.
�No,� Sunshine said getting a cookie. �Because nothing is.�
�Don�t lie. Can�t you and Nick have children?�
�I don�t want to talk about it.�
�Why not?�
�Because I don�t!� She slammed the box of cookies on the coffee table and walked to the kitchen.
�If you and Nick can�t have any just say so. I�ll be glad to carry one for you.�
�You and everyone else.� She slammed a cupboard door shut.
�So you can�t have any then.�
�It�s not that we can�t it�s just highly recommended that we don�t.� She slammed another cupboard.
�Why not?�
�Why do you think?� Madeline just looked at her and said nothing as Sunshine slammed a third cupboard door. �Well?�
�I�m sorry.�
�You�re sorry. Don�t you care that us having a child could kill me? I could die or end up a cripple and all you can say is �sorry�. Whatever happened to the words of sympathy you�re supposed to get from your family? Or don�t they matter when it comes to me?� She slammed another cupboard.
�Sunn, I��
�No! Just don�t alright. I don�t� want you to breathe a single word of this to anybody in our family�including Nicholas. I hear you opened your mouth to anyone about this we are no longer sisters. Do you understand?�
�Yeah.�
�I swear to God, Madeline. A single word and we�re not family. No one has to know.� She slammed a drawer shut. �Damn it!� She walked pass Madeline and left the kitchen.
* * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * *
�No, DJ, don�t play with that,� Nickolas said as he opened the mailbox. �Get away from there before Howie comes and sees you.�
�Mine,� Dominic said picking up the plant.
�Put that down,� Nickolas said. He walked over and too the plant from Dominic. �That�s not a toy. Come over here with me.� He took his hand and walked back to the mailboxes. �Stay right here.� Dominic smiled and Nickolas started getting the mail out. �Dominic Joseph.� He laughed. �Ugh!� He finished getting the mail and closed the box. He looked at Jordan. �Let�s get your brother and got back up to Aunt Sunnie.� Jordan giggled.
�No!� Dominic yelled and Nickolas looked at he ran over to him. �Witch!�
�Hey, it�s all right, Buddy.� He bent down. �What�s wrong?�
�Witch!� He pointed and Nickolas looked to see Sapphire.
�Ya got that right.�
Sapphire walked over and said, �Hey, Nick.� She smiled.
�What do you want?�
�To talk.�
�I have nothing to say to you.�
�Go away,� Dominic said.
�Oh I ain�t going to hurt you,� Sapphire said bending down.
�Witch,� Dominic said burying his face in Nickolas� shoulder.
�They�re cute,� Sapphire said and Nickolas only looked at her. �What are their names?�
�Dominic and Jordan,� Nickolas replied.
�Yours?�
�Nephews.�
�To who?�
�My wife�s sister and Nick Lachey.�
�Interesting.�
�What is?�
�That they both landed superstars. Makes ya wonder.�
�It�s not like that. Sunnie loves me for who I am and not what I do.�
�Are you sure about that? I�ve seen her around town with Brad Fischetti.�
�They�re best friends.�
�And you�re comfortable with that?�
�Yes I am.�
�Witch!� Dominic repeated.
�It�s all right, Champ,� Nickolas said.
�Why would he say that?� Sapphire asked.
�I don�t know.�
�Hey, little guy. I ain�t going to hurt you.� She touched his back.
�No!� Dominic yelled and he looked at her. �Go away!� He slapped her across the face.
�Hey,� Nickolas said picking him up and he held both Dominic and Jordan. �It�s all right. I wont� let her hurt you.� He started walking away.
�Nick, can we please get together and talk sometime?� Sapphire asked.
�No,� Nickolas replied. �I�m a busy man and have a wife who needs me.� He got on the elevator. �Goodbye, Sapphire, and I definitely mean it.� The elevator closed.
�Don�t count on it, Nickolas,� Sapphire said to no one. �You haven�t seen the last of me.� She smiled and left the building.
CHAPTER 8 CHAPTER 10
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