When Ciara awoke, she could smell something being cooked. She let it lead her into the kitchen.

"Well, hello there sleepy head. How do you feel?" AJ asked.

"Rested. How long was I out?" she asked.

"About three hours. And I called Rachel and the guys and I told them we arrived safely. Nick's actually walking without anyone's help and in an upright position." AJ explained.

"That's great. So what are you making?" Ciara asked as she opened the large pot.

"Hey, don't look in there… I'm creating." AJ replied and lightly smacked her hand.

"But… I just wanna peak…" Ciara replied and batted her eyes at him. She knew he was making spaghetti sauce and therefore she knew he was making pasta and that the sauce had to be his mom's recipe.

"Okay… just a little taste." He gave in and gave her a small spoonful of the sauce. The taste sent Ciara into a tail spin as she closed her eyes to enjoy the taste of the sauce.

"Ciara???" AJ immediately asked. Ciara saw a memory flash before her. "What is it? What do you see?" AJ asked as he held onto her.

"We're at your mom's and she's giving us a taste of the sauce. She promises to teach me how to make it when I get older." Ciara smiled. That was a nice memory.

"Well, she still can, if you want. Or I could do it." AJ replied as Ciara opened her eyes to see him smiling.

"That was a nice memory. Can that simmer a while so we can go get some fresh veggies and some bread to go with that?"

"Already done. My mom dropped everything off for us while you were still napping." AJ replied as he opened the doors to his refrigerator.

"Did you get any sleep?" she asked.

"An hour or so… too excited to have you back in Orlando, I guess. I managed to get the voicemail and emails out of the way before mom came in with the groceries. Tonight, we relax and have a nice dinner." AJ explained as Animal walked into the kitchen meowing for attention.

"Aawwweee, what's the matter Animal… daddy need to feed you?" Ciara said as she picked up the cat. "Geez, AJ… he's heavy." Ciara said as she carefully put the cat back down. AJ proceeded to feed the cat.

"Can I help it if my mom spoils him when I'm gone?" AJ laughed, "How about I put some music on?" AJ suggested.

"That would be nice." She replied as she took the salad ingredients out of the refrigerator and began to make a salad. They fell into a comfortable silence as they fixed dinner together and then set the table together, laughing when they both went to move a fruit bowl.

"AJ, I can't do this… I can't." Ciara said to AJ as they stood in Baggage Claim waiting for their luggage to come down the shoot.

"Don't back out on me now, babe… you can do this. I won't leave your side… besides, you'll get to see my mom again after all these years and then there's that date I promised you with Mickey and Minnie Mouse. But first, I want to take you to my house so you can take a nap. The plane ride took a lot out of you, didn't it?" AJ held Ciara as he spoke to her. He had this way of making her feel like they were the only two there in the Baggage Claim. She loved that feeling. She felt safe and secure in his arms.

"Yes, it did… I have to admit that. There's our luggage." Ciara noticed.

"Great… let me get it…" AJ replied as she went to grab a piece of luggage off the shoot.

When they got to his house, he immediately took her up to his bedroom.

"Animal… off the bed…" AJ said to this huge, white long-haired tabby cat.

"Animal? You named your cat animal?" Ciara giggled.

"He's huge… see him… Animal fits him… into bed with you. I'm going to go check email and voicemail and such… if you need anything, just yell." AJ replied.

"Can that stuff wait another hour or two? I'd really like it if you'd sleep with me." She replied.

"But baby… are we ready for that step yet?" he teased.

"You know what I meant, Alexander James." Ciara looked at him.

"Let me just make sure the front door's locked and then I'll be right back." AJ promised. When he returned, she was already asleep. AJ slid in next to her and wrapped his arms around her. He could feel the tension in her body give way once she felt him next to her.