Once AJ's things were moved into Ciara's room, they readied the room within half an hour. Afterwards, Ciara checked phone messages and handled some business issues.

When she'd stop to think about her father and what she remembered, she'd cry. She managed to get herself to stop by concentrating on business.

---

"Hey, your brother just called your cell phone. They're leaving as soon as his wife gets home." AJ explained from the doorway. It was nearly five pm.

"Thanks, that was a long shower." Ciara replied when she looked up.

"Nah, I just couldn't find my underwear." AJ grinned.

"What? Didn't I put it away?" Ciara asked.

"Oh yeah, you did… I just couldn't remember where."

"Where did you find them?" she asked, embarrassed at the thought of how she wouldn't mind seeing him without any on.

"In your dresser with your things. Where is your mind? Moving me completely in already? I thought we were taking things slow?" AJ teased.

"Oh my gosh, I really am absent-minded today. I'm sorry." Ciara was blushing. AJ went over to her.

"Uh huh… now tell me what you were really thinking." He stated as he got in her face. She turned even redder. "Where you thinking how you'd rather see me in nothing at all?" he whispered as their lips connected.

"What? Like you don't look at me and think the same thing?" she replied, breathless after the kiss. She couldn't believe how he could still read her like an open book after all these years. As AJ kissed her again, he closed her laptop and gently took it off her lap. Ciara put one arm around his neck and pulled him closer to her as she laid back on the bed. Neither of them wanted to stop their make-out session. As AJ moved to unbutton her shirt, they heard Rachel and the guys return from the lake.

"Damn." They both said out loud and then broke into laughter.

"AJ? Ciara?" Rachel shouted from the kitchen.

"Our timing sucks." Ciara found herself saying.

"Since when were you ever this forward?" AJ replied. They heard two sets of footsteps coming down the hall.

"Hey! What's going on?" AJ asked as he opened the door to Howie and Kevin.

"Just wanted to let you know we're having fish for dinner." Howie explained.

"Great. We'll be right down." AJ told them both. Ciara joined him at the door.

"How was the lake?" she asked.

"Fun… what did you two do all day?" Kevin asked.

"I got some work done. Oh, my brothers are on their way over for a day or so. They should be here around eightish." Ciara said.

"No… don't analyze this right now. It's late. You need… I need sleep." AJ said. There was a knock on the door. AJ went to answer it.

"Everything okay?" Rachel asked.

"Yeah, just battling memories. Nick?" AJ asked.

"Finally asleep, slight fever, but that's to be expected. Will you stay with her?" Rachel asked.

"Yup. Goodnight Rachel." AJ said and closed the door. "All right C… lights out." AJ hit the switch before going back over to the bed. Ciara didn't say anything. She got under the covers and fell asleep in AJ's arms.

Ciara and AJ slept until ten am. They were awakened by Ciara's mom knocking on the door.

"Ciara… it's momma… I need to talk to you." The voice said. Ciara responded by pulling the blankets over her head. AJ went to the door.

"Today is not a good day." AJ said when he opened the door.

"AJ!" Ciara's mom was shocked to see him at her daughter's bedroom door. "What are you doing in my daughter's room?"

"I don't owe you any explanations as to why I'm here. Ciara is not going to see you today. Please leave." AJ stated. He tried to be nice about it.

"I drove all this way to talk to her in person. The least she can do is see me." Ciara's mom was persistent. Ciara had managed to crawl out of bed and went over to the door. She was angry.

"You bitch! Daddy knew and I knew about the affair several weeks before the accident. Several weeks! Daddy wanted a divorce and custody of me and Jarod. You never loved us! Never! Get out of my house before I have someone throw you out." Ciara screamed at her mother. AJ closed the door as Ciara slumped to the floor and sobbed. AJ scooped her up and took her back to bed where he held her until she fell back to sleep.

An hour later there was a soft knock on the door. AJ got up to answer it. It was Rachel. AJ pressed a finger to his lips and went out into the hall.

"Kevin and Nick told me what happened. How's Ciara?" she asked.

"Asleep." AJ said. Rachel handed him a tray of food. She could see the worry in his face.

"I'm taking the guys to the lake for the afternoon. Wake her up and get her to eat. Don't let her stay silent. Get her to talk even if it's a fight that you two end up in. Got it?" Rachel instructed. AJ trusted Rachel, more so because she was Ciara's best friend and had probably been through this before with Ciara.

"I'm not sure I can do this." AJ admitted.

"You can do it, AJ. It may take all afternoon, but you can do it. She may get physically sick from the food at first. That's usually what happens with her after stress and fighting. She'll be fine. Don't baby her." Rachel explained.

"Thanks Rachel." AJ replied.

"Not a problem. I've forwarded the phone directly to the answering service. Jarod and the twins are worried about her. If Jarod doesn't hear from her by four, he and the boys are coming out. Got it?" Rachel was finished.

"Understood." AJ replied solemnly.

"AJ… just love her, but be strong. Coax her to eat, coax her to talk, coax her to laugh. Once you get her started and you don't baby her, she'll be fine." Rachel replied.

"I hope so." AJ gave Rachel a hug. He opened the door and took the food into the room.

"…Jarod, please come here. I need you." Ciara cried into the phone.

`She must have wakened while I was talking with Rachel' AJ thought to himself. He placed the tray of food down on the bed. Ciara looked up. Here eyes were red and puffy.

"I'll bring the guys too. They can hang out in the video room." Jarod said. "We'll be there in a few hours."

"Thanks." Ciara said to her brother and hung up the phone.

"Hey! I'm glad you're up. Rachel made us some food. Wanna try to eat something?" he asked. Ciara nodded as she wiped her eyes.

"Did everyone hear what happened?" Ciara asked. She didn't want the guys to think she was a freak.

"Your mom deserved it. I'm sure the guys just think you and your mom had an argument. Juice?" AJ asked. He was trying to keep things as normal as possible for the both of them.

Ciara forced herself to eat some lunch and drink the juice. It didn't stay down, but she was determined to get something solid in her stomach. AJ really didn't know what to do so he decided to ask her bluntly.

"Is there anything I can do to help you?" he asked.

"I'm not going to let myself fade back to when Rick died, AJ. I have to overcome this. Dry toast might work. Could you go down to the kitchen and make me a few slices?" she asked. She went to go back to the bathroom.

"Where are you going?" AJ asked.

"To take a shower, get refreshed and then you and I are going to move your things in here. Jarod and the twins will be spending the night. Where did you say Rachel took the guys?" Ciara asked. She felt that the sooner she got normalcy back to an somewhat even state that things would begin to balance themselves out.

"To the lake. Should I go get them?" AJ asked.

"Nay, we can do this on our own." Ciara decided.

"Are you sure you're okay?" AJ asked.

"I'm not okay, but I'm working through it. Thanks for being here, AJ." Ciara gave AJ a hug.

"Always." AJ replied, "I'll be back in a few minutes with that toast." AJ gave her a smile before taking the tray and going down to the kitchen.

After Ciara showered, she went down to the kitchen and burst into laughter at what she saw happening out on the patio. AJ was toasting the bread on the grille. AJ looked up when he heard her laughing.

"I couldn't find the toaster." He admitted.

"Mister… you are too much." She said as she shook her head at his silly yet ingenuous way of making toast.

---

AJ waited until everyone was asleep before going to Ciara’s room. He had a feeling she’d still be awake. He was right. She was typing away on her laptop.

“Do you ever sleep?” AJ questioned.

“Only in your arms.” She replied without looking up at him.

“Ciara… we’ve got to stop this.” AJ sat down across from her. He was looking extremely serious.

“Stop what?” Ciara saved her work and looked up at him.

“The flirting… the teasing. Truth is C… now that you’re back in my life, the feelings I’ve kept locked away in the special place in my heart all these years have resurfaced and I’m falling in love with you more and more. Us testing each other, flirting like we do… it’s torturing me.” AJ explained.

“The last thing I would ever do is hurt you AJ. You’re my missing link, the one I’ve been searching for all my life.” Ciara explained. She went over to him and sat in his lap.” Truth is, I always knew that there was someone else out there for me besides Rick. I think he knew it too and now that I’ve got my memory back it all makes sense.” Ciara stopped for a moment as she realized that AJ was trying to process everything she had just said. “What are you thinking?” she asked him

“Just thinking back to that day in the MTV studios. The only thing that has changed is we’ve aged. You know that, don’t you?” AJ asked.

“AJ… for you that may be true, but for me it’s a lot different. A lot. From the accident to loosing my memory to going to rehab, copying with my father’s death and then my mom marrying someone new. I’m totally not the same Ciara you knew back then. In many ways, I’ve changed so much, but yet, in some ways, my memories have helped me to see that I am still that Ciara in some ways as well.” Ciara explained.

“So what are you saying?” AJ wanted everything out on the table so-to-speak.

“I think what we’re both wondering about is the what ifs. What if the accident never happened? What if we went through high school as a couple?” Ciara continued, “AJ, we have to take this slow, okay? I want to find out if the love I feel for you is a lot more than just the love/crush/lust hat I had for you at fourteen. Can you understand that?” Ciara hoped he would.

“Well, this is what I understand…” AJ said. He moved Ciara onto the bed and got up. “My Ciara is back in my life. She has brought back a calmness and a unity that I haven’t felt since we were fourteen. I understand that you need time to deal with getting your memories back and with everything else that happened, and in a way… I guess I need time too. But know this. I love you, Ciara. Not just the fourteen year old love, but the real thing. I want to know everything about the twelve years we were apart. From the time of the accident on up to the moments before I walked into that room in the studio. I want to know everything and I want you to know everything too. But most of all, I want you to know that I’m here for you. Here for you to lean on , here for you to yell at when you need to, here to hold you when you need to be held. I’m here.” AJ said. He was very animated with his facial expressions and his hands.

“Even when I can’t sleep because I’m afraid that I may wake up and these past few days are all a dream?” she asked.

“Yes, even then.” AJ said. He looked at her alarm clock. It was nearly three am. “Speaking of sleep, what do you saw we get a few hours?” he suggested.

“I’m game.” She replied.

“Good. I’m going to go to the bathroom so you can change. I’ll be right back.” AJ kissed her forehead and disappeared into the bathroom. She changed into her nightshirt and closed the drapes to the door to the balcony.

“My turn.” She knocked on the door. AJ came out with a smile.

“That was quick. I didn’t even have time to read the table of contents for the Reader’s Digest!” he teased.

“Oh you! I’ll be right out.” She patted him on the ass as he walked by. When she returned, they turned back the covers of the bed and fell asleep in each other’s arms.

AJ was still sleeping when Ciara woke up. She looked at the clock. Six fifty-three am. She put on some sweatpants and a long shirt, put her hair up and decided to check on Nick before going for a run.

“Ciara?” Nick whispered as Ciara turned to leave. She had gone in to check on him. Brian was asleep on the couch and she thought Nick was asleep too.

“Nick? You alright?” she asked. She went back over to him and felt his forehead. He felt fine.

“I think so. Just can’t sleep. Do you know where my backpack is? It has my CD player and some CDs in it.” He wondered. She looked around the room and spotted it on the chair. She went over and got it for him. “Thanks… where are you going?” he asked.

“For a jog. Need some thinking space.” She said.

“Don’t be gone too long. Everyone will be up soon.” Nick sounded like a protective brother.

“I’ll leave a note on the fridge, dad.” She teased before leaving him to his music.

When Ciara returned an hour later, she found Howie cooking up some breakfast for everyone.

“Hey! Nick said you went jogging. Did you have a good jog?” Howie asked.

“It was pretty good. Anyone else up yet?” she asked.

“Nope. Everyone’s still sleeping. The guys should stir soon as they smell what’s cookin!” he smiled.

“I’m just going to go on up and take a shower.” Ciara replied. She had to get out of the kitchen. She had a flashback of her father cooking. She was ready to cry. She passed Rachel in the hall.

“C… are you okay?” Rachel stopped her.

“Define okay?” Ciara replied. Rachel gave her a puzzled look. “Yeah, I’m alright. Go check on Nick. I’ll see you downstairs in a little while.” Ciara gave Rachel a hug before going into her room. AJ was still sleeping.

After her shower, she took a glass of cold water and held it above AJ’s head in case he gave her a hard time about getting up.

“AJ, time to rise and shine.” Ciara said as she stood next to the bed.

AJ swiftly grabbed Ciara and pulled her to him. She screamed with laughter as she spilled the water over them both.

“You stinker!” she playfully slugged him in the arm.

“Ow!” he laughed, “I should have known you’d do the water cup thing!” he said. She went to get up to change. As if he could read her mind, he stopped her. “No, don’t go. It’s only water.” He told her, pulling her even closer to him.

“Good morning, Alex.” She had calmed down, but was still giggling. AJ smiled. He had never let anyone call him Alex except for her. It was good to hear it again. Very good.

“Good morning, C… been up long?” he asked her.

“Since around sever or so… you?” she asked. She went to get up again so that she could change her shirt but AJ wouldn’t let her go just yet.

“I guess since I heard you in the shower.” AJ replied.

“You were sleeping so soundly earlier… I didn’t want to wake you.” Ciara admitted.

“Everything okay?” Where’d you go?” AJ inquired. Ciara slipped out of his arms and sat down next to him on the bed.

“I went jogging after I checked on Nick. Needed some space, I guess. Then when I got home and saw Howie cooking, I had a flashback of my dad standing in the kitchen in Florida cooking breakfast for Jarod and I. It was too much.” She admitted.

“Can I do anything?” AJ asked.

“You just did. But now, you need to get up. Howie’s working hard to prepare a wonderful breakfast for everyone.” Ciara replied.

“Can we just stay here for a little while longer, just you and me?” I don’t want to share you just yet.” AJ admitted.

“You are one of my best friends, AJ. You don’t have to share me with anyone, but you do have to get up.” Ciara pulled him off the bed. Before they both knew it, AJ was on the floor.

“I’m going to be so sorry for that some day…” Ciara replied as she laughed.

“Oh yeah, starting with this.” AJ said and begun tickling her. She was laughing so hard, she had to beg him to stop because she was afraid she was going to pee her shorts. As AJ had tickled her, Kevin had to bang on the door to be heard.

“Kevin! Good morning!” Ciara answered the door finally when AJ lost momentum when he first heard the banging.

“Good morning, Ciara. Breakfast is ready. Will you two be down?” he asked. Kevin saw AJ run to the bathroom.

“We’ll be right down. How’s Nick?” she asked.

“Sleeping. Rachel said we should help him move around a little today though. Start out slow with him, ya know.” Kevin explained.

“Yeah, that’s probably a good idea.”

“See you downstairs. Ah… AJ might need a change of clothes so I brought these.” Kevin handed Ciara an outfit for AJ.

“Thanks Kev!” AJ shouted from the bathroom. Ciara giggled.

“Thanks Kev.” Ciara closed the door and handed AJ his clothes. “AJ, I’m gonna go on downstairs. See you in a few?”

“You bet.” AJ replied. Ciara peeked in on Nick before joining the others for breakfast.

After breakfast, Brian and Howie took a plate up to Nick. Rachel, Ciara, Kevin, and AJ cleaned up the kitchen.

“I need to go into town today. Anyone want to come with me?” Ciara asked.

“Where are you going?” AJ asked.

“I have a book signing at the mall at two and then an interview with ABC at five.” She replied.

“Oh! That’s right! I forgot about that.” Rachel explained.

“I’ll go with you. I’d love to see you at work.” AJ said.

“Maybe that’s not a good idea…” Rachel began to say.

“Why not?” AJ asked.

“You’ll get mobbed if you’re spotted.” Ciara said, remembering his celebrity. “If word gets out that you’re at the mall, we’re all in trouble. I didn’t think of that.”

“Maybe if we put you in a wig, shaved your face and had you wear a long t-shirt, maybe we could pass you off as someone else.” Rachel walked around AJ. “It just may work.” She said. “I’ll be right back.” Rachel was off to find the wig.

“AJ, are you sure you want to do this?” Ciara asked.

“Let’s give it a whirl. You never know.” AJ liked the idea of trying to outsmart the fans. Kevin was taking all of their scheming.

The disguise worked, so afterwards, Ciara and AJ decided to have dinner at one of the restaurants in town.

---

Meanwhile… back at the house…

Howie and Brian were playing a board game after they took Nick on a walk. Rachel and Kevin talked in the kitchen.

“Okay, I’ve been hoping you would bring this up on your own, but since you haven’t, I will.” Kevin sighed. Rachel stopped chopping up some potatoes to give Kevin her full attention. Kevin took a deep breath before continuing. “Who’s David.” Kevin asked. Rachel knew this was coming. The first night that they went back to his hotel room, she woke up screaming David’s name. Kevin didn’t press her then because she was so upset. She took a deep breadth before she spoke.

“David was my fiancé.” She spoke softly at first. She sat down next to Kevin and looked into his eyes. “David was a good man who didn’t deserve to die. He was a New York City police officer on his way to becoming a detective when he was murdered right before my eyes.” Rachel stopped for a moment and took a swig of her pepsi.

“How did you two meet?” he asked.

“At a press party for Ciara right after graduation. We were getting out of a limousine when someone tried to break through a barricade to get into the hotel. He was thrown against the limousine. I went into nurse mode.”

“How did he die?” Kevin asked.

“He stopped an armed robbery on our way back to his apartment after dinner one night. We stopped for ice cream and some cold medicine. Anyway, I was in the aisle looking at the cold medicine when I heard him shout `Freeze! Police!’. Then it happened. I tried to stop the bleeding. I really did. But he bled to death before the paramedics could arrive.” Rachel stopped. She needed a break. She wasn’t crying but she was upset. She still had nightmares about the shooting. “At least he took out the two robbers with him.” She got up and went back around the counter to continue cutting up the potatoes.

“Tell me about David. About the kind of man he was.” Kevin wanted to know more about the man who had captured her heart.

“No. You aren’t in competition with him Kevin. Yes, I have nightmares about the night he died still. I’m working through that. All you need to know about him is that he was a good man and he was good to me. I promised myself I’d move on. And I have.” She said as she chopped.

“I’m just trying to get to know you better.” Kevin felt that she was on the defensive with him. She sighed.

“I know. And I should have mentioned him the night of the nightmare. I was just thrown. I hadn’t had any dreams about him in a few months. I’m sorry.” She explained.

“I’m sorry too. Truce?” Kevin asked. He had his head bent down and he had to look at her from the tops of his eyes. This made her laugh. He looked so sexy when he did that for her.

“Only if you help me cook dinner.” She replied.

“You’re on.” He answered.

---

”That sauce was fantastic!” AJ commented as he and Ciara left the restaurant.

“I have never seen someone drool over pasta sauce before.” She laughed. AJ stopped in his tracks and looked around. “This is nice. Not being surrounded by security. It’s peaceful and quiet here. I hope it remains this way.” AJ said.

“It’s the disguise.” Ciara told him. “Life must be difficult for you and the guys. I can’t imagine being hounded by fans 24/7.”

“Sometimes it’s great, but times when you just want space, like now, are very, very rare and far and few between.” He admitted to her. “I couldn’t tell you the last time I could just walk along the sidewalk without being noticed or without bodyguards.” AJ explained.

“Don’t think, just enjoy.” Ciara offered him her hand. They were photographed by a guy in a bush. They were none the wiser.

---

”Hey! There you guys are. What did you do? Walk back from town?” Rachel teased when Ciara and AJ walked through the door. It was nearly ten pm.

“How’s Nick?” AJ immediately asked.

“I’m better, thanks!” Nick replied from the hallway. He was walking unassisted and very slowly, holding onto the wall as he did so.

“How’d the book signing go?” Brian asked.

“Very well. There was a good turn out. Dinner was quiet. No one recognized AJ.” Ciara replied.

“So what did all of you do today?” AJ asked. They all got caught up on the day’s events before Ciara called it a night. She had had a long day and knew she’d be able to sleep without any problem. When AJ insisted on going up with her she pulled him aside and explained that she wanted some alone time. AJ gave it to her without any more questions. However, around two am, AJ couldn’t sleep. He crept into Ciara’s room and discovered her crying while she was standing at the balcony. He went up and hugged her from behind, never saying a word.

“How did you know I needed this right now?” she asked when she calmed down.

“I couldn’t sleep and I had a feeling something was wrong so I came to check on you.” He explained. She leaned back into him. He tightened his arms around her. “And I’ve decided that as long as I’m here, I’m sleeping in here with you so we both can get some sleep.” AJ stated. Ciara felt that he was right. She wasn’t going to get much sleep without him nearby. Not with all the memories she was having. “So… what has you this upset? What did you remember that has this affect on you? Can you tell me?” AJ asked. Ciara turned to look at him. They walked over to the bed and got in it.

“I overheard a fight mom and dad were having. It was a few weeks before the accident. I was suppose to be outside playing, but forgot my jump rope so I went back in to get it. I remember my mom telling my father that it wasn’t fair that she was stuck at home with me and Jarod while he was always away on business trips. She then asked him… Oh my god… AJ! He knew she was having an affair.” Ciara turned to look at AJ. “And I ran out to the living room and begged them to stop fighting. Daddy told her he knew about her affair and that he was going to get a divorce and custody of me and Jarod. My god Jarod… she moved me away and had your mom lie to you because she didn’t want me to remember. She didn’t want me to remember that I knew about the affair and what daddy said. It wasn’t because your mom knew… it was because I knew… I knew!” Ciara sobbed.

“The meat is ready! Who’s hungry?” Brian announced a half hour later.

“Nicky, how about a burger?” Ciara was offering to make him a plate. Nick agreed and AJ helped him sit up a little more.

“Wait! You guys have to sing for your supper!” Rachel declared as everyone else began to make their plates.

“Rach!!!!!!!!!!!” Ciara couldn’t believe Rachel had just said that.

“It’s okay. We can do it.” Kevin replied with a chuckle. He went to each of the guys and whispered the song they would sing into their ear. He counted the guys off and the song began…

Even in my heart I see
You're not bein' true to me
Deep within my soul I feel
Nothing's like it used to be
Sometimes I wish I could turn back time
Impossible as it may seem
But I wish I could so bad baby
Quit playin' games with my heart

Quit playin' games with my heart (Quit playin' games with my heart)
my heart (before you tear us apart)
my heart (quit playin’ games with my heart)
I should've known from the start (you know ya gotta stop)
from my heart (your tearing us apart)
my heart (quit playin’ games with my heart)

I live my life the way
To keep you comin' back to me
Everything I do is for you so
So what is it that you can't see
Sometimes I wish I could
Turn back time, impossible as it may seem
But I wish I could so bad baby
You better
Quit playin' games with my heart

Chorus
Quit playin' games with my heart (Quit playin' games with my heart)
my heart (before you tear us apart)
my heart (quit playin’ games with my heart)
I should've known from the start (you know ya gotta stop)
from my heart (your tearing us apart)
my heart

Quit playin' games
Baby, baby the love that we had was so strong
Don't leave me hangin' here forever
Oh baby, baby
This is not right
Let's stop this tonight

Baby, oh, quit playin' games (nah nah…)
Sometimes I wish I could
Turn back time, impossible as it may seem
But I wish I could so bad, baby
Quit playin' games with my heart

Ciara and Rachel giggled as the guys sang. By the end of the song, everyone was laughing.

“Okay, okay, all is fair in food and starvation. Ciara, why don’t you sing something for us?” Brian suggested as the guys sat down. Nick had stayed seated but sang from the chair.

“How about after dinner? I need sustenance.” She replied, referring to the food on the table.

“Okay… you’re on!” AJ replied for the guys. During dinner, Ciara and Rachel talked about the history of the house with the guys and how Ciara decided to decorate it.

“It really is homey. You’d never have guessed that it was once just a summer cabin for the rich and famous.” Howie remarked as the girls concluded their dinner story.

“Thanks Howie. That was my intention. To make it a home all year long. Our nearest neighbor is a half mile away. My stepfather’s family owns most of the land for a two-mile radius. It helps when your stepfather’s family has lived here in the area for generations. His great-great grandfather bought the land for a penny per acre. My stepfather tells the story better.” Ciara explained. Everyone had finished eating and was just relaxing. Nick was sound asleep in the lounger.

“Maybe we should move him up to his room?” Rachel suggested.

“Let’s leave him there for a little while. He hates being in unfamiliar places alone.” Kevin, ever the watchful big brother, suggested. Brian and Rachel began clearing the table. When Ciara stood up to help, Rachel said, “Oh no, you came home and got the house ready and you went shopping earlier. My turn.” Rachel explained. It was her way of saying that Ciara had done enough for one day.

“Besides, you said you’d sing for us.” Howie smiled.

“I sure did. Now the only question is what do I sing for you?” Ciara laughed.

“I bet you’d make a better Britney than Britney does.” AJ said from the end of the table.

“You want me to sing Britney? Hmmm… I don’t know… what about `Rush, Rush’ by Paula Abdul or `Foolish Beat’ by Deborah Gibson?” Ciara didn’t like Britney Spears. The music was okay, but Britney was nothing at all appealing to her to make her want to go out and buy the cd.

“Ooohhh, eighties kick?” In that case, how about `I Think We’re Alone Now’ by Tiffany?” AJ teased.

“Alexander James, you’re cruisin’ for a bruisin’ and if you aren’t careful, I’m gonna sick the rest of the guys on you.” Ciara playfully replied back to him. Everyone was laughing.

“I think you would do a beautiful version of `Rush, Rush’, right AJ?” Kevin asked as he went over to check on Nick.

“Yeah, where are the karaoke tapes?” Ciara asked Rachel as she came back out onto the patio.

“Usual spot, hidden behind the board games.” Rachel laughed.

“What’s going on?” Nick asked with a scratchy, sleepy voice.

“Sorry, Nicky… didn’t mean to wake you.” Ciara went over to him, followed by Kevin and AJ.

“Let’s get you to bed Nicky, okay?” Brian asked from the doorway.

“But it’s so nice out here, can’t I stay?” Nick asked.

“It’s going to rain Nick. Maybe tomorrow.” Rachel replied. Kevin and Howie helped Nick to his room. AJ, Brian, and C iara finished clearing off the patio table and putting the grille away as Rachel put the left over food and condiments away.

Ciara found the karaoke tape that had the song on it. She had AJ set up the karaoke machine for her so she could sing for them.

“I’m a little nervous so bare with me… I haven’t sung this in a few years.” Ciara admitted. Rachel had gotten her a glass of water and that seemed to help her throat somewhat.

(Rush Rush
Sung by Paula Abdul from her CD, Spellbound, released May 1991
Written by P. Lord. ©)

You're The Whisper Of A Summer Breeze
You're The Kiss That Puts My Soul At Ease
What I'm Saying Is I'm
In To You
Here's My Story, And The Story Goes

You Give Love, You Get Love And More Than Heaven Knows
You're Gonna See
I'm Gonna Run, I'm Gonna Try
I'm Gonna Take This Love
Right To Ya
All My Heart, All The Joy
Oh Baby, Baby Please

Rush, Rush
Hurry, Hurry Lover, Come To Me
Rush, Rush
I Wanna See, I Wanna See Ya
Get Free With Me
Rush, Rush
I Can Feel It, I Can Feel You All Through Me
Rush, Rush
Ooh What You Do To Me

And All I Want From You Is What You Are
And Even If You're Right Next To Me
You're Still Too Far Away If I'm Not Inside Your Arms
I Get Dramatic Baby, Yes I Know
But I Need You, I Want You
Ooh Man, I Love You So

Ooh, Ooh

You're Gonna See
I'm Gonna Run, I'm Gonna Try
I'm Gonna Take This Love Right To Ya
All My Heart, All The Joy
Ooh Baby, Baby Please

Rush, Rush
Hurry, Hurry Lover, Come To Me
Rush, Rush
I Wanna See, I Wanna See Ya
Get Free With Me
Rush, Rush
I Can Feel It, I Can Feel You All Through Me
Rush, Rush
Ooh What You Do To Me

Rush, Rush
Hurry, Hurry Lover, Come To Me
Rush, Rush
I Wanna See, I Wanna See Ya
Get Free With Me
Rush, Rush
I Can Feel It, I Can Feel You All Through Me
Rush, Rush
Ooh What You Do To Me

When You Kiss Me
Up And Down
Turn My Senses All Around
Oh Baby, Oh Baby

I Don't Know
Just How Or Why
But No One Else
Has Touched Me
So Deep, So Deep,
So Deep Inside

You're Gonna See
I'm Gonna Run
I'm Gonna Try
I'm Gonna Take This Love Right To Ya

All My Heart, All The Joy
Oh Baby, Baby Please

Rush, Rush
Hurry, Hurry Lover, Come To Me
Rush, Rush
I Wanna See, I Wanna See Ya
Get Free With Me
Rush, Rush
I Can Feel It, I Can Feel You All Through Me
Rush, Rush
Ooh What You Do To Me

Ciara’s eyes were fixated on AJ the entire time and everyone noticed as she ended the song and tears were falling from her eyes. AJ handed her some tissues and pulled her into an embrace.

“We need to talk, but later, when we’re alone.” AJ whispered in her ear. She nodded.

“Okay, who’s next???” Rachel asked as she passed out the karaoke tapes so the guys could see what songs were available. They spent the rest of the night singing songs like they were in a karaoke bar and just having a good time. Periodically Brian or Rachel would go check on Nick.

"So what's going on with you and AJ?" Rachel immediately asked.

"We're getting to know each other again. I feel so comfortable with him like we were never apart. Isn't that strange?" Ciara asked her best friend.

"I don't think so. I don't think I've seen you smile like this since before Rick died. Did you talk to him about Rick and the transplant?" Rachel continued.

"He knows it all, Rach… what about you? Are you still letting Kevin and Brian vie for your attention and affection?" Ciara was chopping up carrots as Rachel tore at the lettuce.

"I think Brian knows that it's Kevin for me. Brian's just too wholesome for me. I mean… if he only knew about my past, he'd run for the hills." Rachel explained.

"Don't be sure. You may be surprised by him. He seems to be a very caring and understanding person. Wait… you mean to tell me that neither of them know about David yet?" Ciara put down the knife she was holding and looked at Rachel. Rachel looked away.

"No… no they don't. I managed to change the subject each and every time someone brought up past relationships. I'm not sure how things will be with either of them after these few days so I'd rather not say anything to them." Rachel avoided looking at Ciara.

"Rachel, if anything, I think that we'll be friends with the guys for the rest of our lives. I can see how attached Kevin, Howie, Brian and Nick are to you already. You should tell them about David. Hell, I should tell them about Rick." Ciara went back to chopping up veggies for the salad.

"I don't know, C…"

"I do… if it's brought up tonight, you and I will both talk about Rick and David. Deal?" Ciara asked.

"Deal." Rachel replied as AJ and Nick appeared in the kitchen.

"Nick… what are you doing out of bed?" Rachel asked. He was wincing. It was obvious he was in pain still.

"Everyone's out back and you and Rachel are here. I've had enough of being couped up in bed. Please, if I promise to stay seated, you'll let me stay down here for a while?" Nick asked.

"Well… at least through dinner, I guess. But if you get cold, you have to promise me that you'll let us know so someone can bring you inside." Rachel bargained with Nick.

"Sure thing." Nick replied.

"Fine… AJ, help Nick to a lounger. I'll go get an afghan and a pillow for master Nicky. Ciara… can you finish the salad for me? Oh, and AJ, send one of the guys in to get the meat… the grille should be ready by now." Rachel handed out orders.

"Yes ma'am… right away ma'am." Ciara saluted Rachel.

"Oohh, will you do that for me later?" AJ said without thinking. Nick tried not to laugh as Ciara threw a towel at AJ. Rachel disappeared to the front of the house giggling. Ciara swayed just a little as she had a déjà vu moment. She remembered when she and AJ were about thirteen and she was helping her mom bake cookies when her father carried him into the house from the yard with a sprained ankle.

"Ciara? You okay?" Nick asked as he and AJ walked past her to go out onto the patio.

"Oh yeah… just a flashback. Moment of déjà vu… I'm expecting these. Thanks for asking though… I'll bring you out some lemonade in a few minutes, all right?" Ciara smiled for him.

"Sure… thanks." Nick smiled back. AJ and Nick disappeared out onto the patio.

Howie came into the kitchen for the meat just as Ciara had finished the salad. She helped Howie get the meat out of the refrigerator as Rachel rushed out the doorway to the patio with an afghan and pillow.

"Is she always in nursing mode?" Howie asked.

"When someone's not up to par, yes. It's a good attribute to have. She's an excellent nurse. Can you carry all that? Let me get the door for you." Ciara opened the door for him as he passed through. AJ came back into the house.

"What can I help with?" he asked.

"Um………. Well…." Ciara laughed. She loved the banter and teasing she shared with AJ.

"Oh… we could go upstairs." He played along.

"And be rude to our company? Hmmm, tempting." Ciara replied as AJ walked over next to her.

"They won't mind." He continued. She giggled.

"I believe you on that." She said. AJ stole a kiss from her. "I thought you came to help me?" she said when they parted.

"Isn't that what I'm doing?" he asked innocently.

"Smooth talker. Here… take out the chips for me oh, and the salad. I've got to get Nick's lemonade." She replied.

"Anything else?" he asked.

"Yeah, thanks for being here." She gave him a pat on the butt as he headed back outside.

Rachel came back in and helped Ciara get the plates and glasses down. Howie and Kevin came in and helped them take everything outside while Brian and AJ manned the grille and Nick stayed put in the lounge chair like he promised.