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Author's Chapter Notes:
Last update for this week - My Summer Theater Workshop is just about to start dress rehearsal and everything for our first performance this weekend *is nervous*, so I won't be able to update again until early next week. Enjoy, and thanks again for all of the wonderful reviews.
Natalie stirred slowly from an exhausted sleep, turning onto her side with every intent of curling her arms around Baylee and Brian. Surprisingly, the night spent in the hospital hadn't been too horrendous. Baylee had slept most of the night and the bed had been comfortable. Of course, she assumed that was because Brian was only a few inches away from her, considering Baylee had snuggled in the middle. Only, when she turned, she found a somewhat cooling, empty spot beside her. Allowing her light caramel eyes to open to find where her men had drifted to, she found herself staring into a pair of large cobalt eyes. She naturally leaned back in shock at the discovery, not expecting to be nose to nose with the little boy.

"It's ten-clock, Knot. We missed 'Lana. Daddy went for 'fast. Want 'Lana, but you's blocking my walkie-talkie line to 'Lana," Baylee informed her quite seriously, extending his splinted arm with the IV port toward the intercom system. "Ain't seen 'Lana t'day, Knot. P'ease, get up?"

Sitting up slowly, Natalie muffled a yawn behind one hand as Baylee slid over into her lap, his splinted arm resting gently over her chest as he leaned up to kiss her good morning. Gently smoothing his curls, she brushed her fingers over his cheek, grateful to see that a night's rest had reduced the redness she had seen the night before. She had been so worried upon receiving Brian's heartbreaking message, her chest heavy with a worried pain when she had quickly thrown together things to be with him. Finally making contact with Leighanne at the airport, she had been shocked to learn Baylee was in the hospital, her friend not having even mentioned the extent of the little boy's illness. Giving him a soft smile, she hugged him gently. "Call your 'Lana, Bay-Bee," she encouraged softly. "And I'll go get dressed--"

"Is Alana in here?" Nick blurted, rushing hurriedly into the room before Baylee even had a chance to reach the intercom. He looked completely flustered as he hurriedly attempted to smooth the blue pinstriped, short sleeve, button down shirt over a gray t-shirt with some graphic design. He had matched the tops with a pair of worn jeans, ripped and faded. But they were his favorites. Running his hands quickly through his messy blonde locks, he glanced about the room. "She ain't here 'cause I called her last night, right? Hiding from me? I knew I made a complete ass of myself-Oh, hey, Natalie."

"Hey, Nicky," Natalie replied with a bemused smirk as she slid out of the bed, squeaking softly when her bare feet touched the cool floor. Keeping a grip on Baylee as he reached for the intercom, she glanced over at Nick, raising an eyebrow when she saw he was checking his reflection in the surface of the window. She could probably count on one hand the times the man had shown any interest in his appearance. Alana must be important… "Um… Hand me my bag? I need to get some clothes on--"

"You're naked?!" Nick blurted, whirling away from the window in horror. He hurriedly reached for her suitcase, tossing it toward her. He barely paid mind to what she was wearing, scooting her toward the bathroom as he reached for Baylee who hurriedly called for Alana. "Get the Hell in the bathroom before Alana gets in here! Who knows what she'll think!"

"For goodness' sake, Nicky!" Natalie squealed, catching herself on the foot of the bed before she fell face first to the floor. Sending him a scowl, she pulled a few items from her suitcase, hoping Brian would return soon. "I'm not naked, I'm in my pajamas. In case you forget, I'm not married to Bri--"

"And he's horny as Hell and his wife left him. I doubt it would matter at this point. Just…" Nick whined loudly. "Please get into the bathroom and get clothes on?"

"Why is the state of my undress important to you all of a sudden?" Natalie questioned, backing slowly towards the bathroom. "The last time you saw me, you were practically begging me to take something off--"

"Just go!" Nick insisted with a growl that ended in a higher pitched whine, causing Baylee to giggle with amusement. Satisfied when Natalie was finally concealed behind the closed door of the bathroom, he turned to offer Baylee a quick hello. He had all but given up hope about his date with Alana, especially as he walked by the nurses' station and couldn't locate her. Though he did locate plenty of nurses willing to alleviate his heartache. But that was besides the point as he heard a young voice call out her name. Lurching toward the hallway, he popped his head out to find Alana embracing two young girls in hospital gowns pulling IV poles.

"Ready to dance today on my break, Chickadees? I learned this hot new dance a few nights ago. Macarena or something?" Alana announced to the girls, sure enough demonstrating the movements to the long over dance fad. Though, Nick approved of the way she wiggled her round, tight backside to make the girls giggle.

"You're a few years too late, Al," one snorted.

"Are you serious?" Alana offered a hurt pout, and then sighed as she shrugged her shoulders. "Guess I can just shake my badonkadonk like y'all." And she demonstrated the exact movement, swaying her hips seductive manner before rolling them.

"Oh, fuck me now," Nick moaned, holding a hand over his mouth in hopes she hadn't heard. Feeling his body respond to her innocently seductive movements, he quickly reached down to make an adjustment, wishing that for once he could keep his hormones in check. Glancing back when he felt someone poking his back, he nearly fell from the room when he saw Natalie. "Natalie-Shit, don't scare me like that--"

"What are we looking at?" Natalie inquired, peering around Nick in attempts to see, though he quickly blocked her. "Damnit, Nick--"

"You just saw all of that… Didn't you?" Alana inquired softly as her cheeks flushed with a deep crimson, tucking her hands behind her back to stand erect. Her strawberry blonde locks falling into her teal eyes as she shifted her feet uncomfortably. Showing her first signs of shyness.

"Um… Kinda," Nick answered, training his eyes on hers, not daring himself to even peek at her chest. Though, when Natalie poked one fingernail in his side, he lurched forward with a howl, landing face first into Alana's chest, sending the both of them falling against the opposite wall. "Damnit, Natalie!"

"TOLD YOU NICKY LIKES 'NUGGLING BIG BOOBIES!" Baylee shrieked as he popped up from between Natalie's legs.

"Glad they're useful airbags," Alana groaned, her body crushed beneath Nick's weight.

"Sorry, sorry, sorry," Nick apologized repeatedly as he pulled himself away, his face flushed a deep crimson. Vowing to murder Natalie later, he grasped Alana's hand gently. Helping her to her feet, he instinctively reached to adjust her scrub top, jerking his hand away when she slapped it. "I'm so sorry--"

"I can handle the boys on my own. Trust me, I've been handling them since I hit puberty," Alana assured as she slipped away from the wall and hurriedly smoothed the Tinkerbell scrub top she had been wearing. Her cheeks were a dark crimson, near purple as she hurriedly swept the straight strawberry locks away from her face. Usually, she wouldn't have cared much about it. Nursing had seemed to erase any kind of personal boundaries. Children were constantly using her as a pillow. But the heat that Nick had left her with… That scared her. "And you might want to handle the boys in your pants… Privately… 'Cause you're bound to break something with that whipping around."

As Nick released a pitiful whimper, Natalie stepped forward, biting back several giggles as Baylee leaned from her arms to reach for the nurse. Smiling when the other woman welcomed into her arms, cooing with excitement, she was relieved to see Brian heading down the hall, her stomach growling loudly when she spied the large bag he carried. He was delayed by the young girls, however, and she turned to see Nick was sputtering to respond to the nurse. "You must be Alana, the one Nicky's been all agog over. I'm Natalie--"

"I'm not agog!" Nick growled.

"It's nice to meet you, Natalie," Alana greeted, reaching one hand from underneath Baylee to shake Natalie's hand. She felt Baylee tuck his face against her neck, breathing with relief as he held tight to her scrub top. She shifted to kiss the side of his face affectionately, assuring him that she was sorry for taking so long. Though, when Natalie mentioned that Nick was 'agog' with her, she couldn't deny that she felt a thrill of a shiver rip down her spine. But she regretted that thought when her heart panged with guilt.

"Nice to meet you, too," Natalie assured her, reaching to smooth Baylee's hair. Loving to torture Brian's friend, she leaned close, murmuring just loud enough for Nick to hear, "Nicky's agog. Nearly threw me in the bathroom 'cause I was in my jammies--"

"Natalie, damnit," Nick growled, his eyes narrowing when he heard Alana's soft laugh. "It wasn't--"

"Nicky threw Knot," Baylee informed Alana, squeezing her tightly. "My 'Lana watch 'Nocchio t'day? Get good lunch? Knot be best friend now? 'Tay th' night like Knot?"

"I see you've been making tons of plans while I was working hard this morning," Alana guessed, carrying the little boy into his hospital room. Settling him back into his bed, she then turned to retrieve something from the closet as Natalie, Nick, and Brian entered as well. Moving to sit on the bed beside Baylee, she tucked her feet beneath her and offered the festive bag to Baylee. "This is to say I'm sorry for all the mean nurses you've been having lately. I had a very, very, very long talk with them this morning. And none of them are going to be taking care of you at night anymore."

"You gonna 'tay every night?" Baylee chirped hopefully, peering into the bag with interest. Glancing up at Alana with wonder, he waited for her answer, wanting to know before he opened the gift. Curiosity got the better of him, and, ignoring his father's soft admonition, he dug into the bag.

"I'm going to give you and your Daddy my cell phone number, so, if you need me, no matter where I am, you can get in touch with me," Alana attempted to explain as Baylee pulled out a soft stuffed lion cub. At his excited squeal, she smiled and reached to kiss him again. "I thought George could use a friend… And since Lion King is our favorite movie… You needed a big kitty!"

"Simba!" Baylee squealed, diving to scoop up George. "George! It Simba! You new best friends!"

"That is so sweet," Natalie cooed, ignoring Nick's scowls in her direction as she moved to sit on the other side of Baylee.

"You really didn't have to buy him anything, Alana," Brian chided the young nurse as he reached into the large paper bag, pulling out a Styrofoam container. Popping the top open, he placed it on the bedside table in front of Natalie, revealing a hearty breakfast of pancakes, sausage, fried eggs, hash browns, and several pieces of toast. He then reached back inside to grab a large cup of ice cold milk along with packages of butter and syrup. It was Natalie's favorite breakfast and she would eat it all. Without any help from Baylee. Smiling when she beamed a grin of thanks, Brian reached to retrieve the French toast sticks he had bought for Baylee.

"I know I didn't have to. I wanted to," Alana explained as Baylee crawled into her lap with George and Simba, giving her ample opportunity to listen to his heart with her stethoscope. "And, I've decided that I'll come to take care of Baylee during the nights. Off the clock, so my employer won't be beside herself."

"Daddy! We have s'eepover wit' 'Lana and Knot? Get Nicky come?" Baylee questioned hopefully as he reached for his breakfast. Smiling his thanks when Natalie pulled the tray closer so he could share her syrup, he looked towards Nick. "Nicky! We have s'eepover t'nigh! You c'min'?"

"Your Dad and Nat could just go home for the night," Nick mumbled absentmindedly, ignorant of Alana's bewildered look. That is, till Baylee giggled and pressed a hand to Alana's thigh.

"Nicky's a d'ood 'nuggler, 'Lana," the little boy insisted.

"Oh really?" Alana laughed. "And here I thought you were the best 'nuggler in the world."

"Nuh uh, not me. Nicky wraps his arms 'round you and holds real tight and 'ticks his chin 'gainst your shoulder," Baylee explained around a mouthful of his breakfast, giggling when Natalie reached to wipe syrup from his chin. "On'y, Knot's gots big boobies, so she might be bester than Nicky. But you got'a ask Daddy, they 'nuggle all the time--"

"I knew it!" Nick blurted loudly.

"Don't even get started on that mess again, Nicky, or I can let all your shit bare," Natalie warned with a hiss, causing Nick to contort his hand and slash at the air as if he were a feisty feline.

"And on that delightful note… Brian, if you want me here at night, just let me know, okay?" Alana reminded as she pulled the bright purple stethoscope from around her neck. Popping the cushioned ear pieces into her ears, she held the diaphragm of the scope and snuck it underneath Baylee's scrub top, taking a quick listen to his lungs before sneaking it around to listen to his heart.

"'Lana always warms the 'teth'cope 'fore puttin' it on me," Baylee informed Natalie with a proud smile. "Her's gots rid of nasty nurses for me, an' I call her anytime--"

"Why don't you finish eating your breakfast, Bay-Bee, then you can tell me everything there is to know about your 'Lana," Natalie suggested with a smile, offering him a box of orange juice. "'Cause you're getting your breakfast everywhere but your mouth, Sweet Pea…"

"It'll be the worst hour conversation you'd ever have," Alana assured as she moved to stand.

"'LANA! SOMEONE WROTE ALL OVER YOUR SHOES!" Baylee suddenly shrieked.

Tripping in surprise from Baylee's shriek, Alana fell against Nick. Feeling his arms snake around her trim waist to hold her up, she braced her hands against his. Immediately glancing down at her purple Converse sneakers, she sighed with relief, forgetting about pulling herself from Nick's arms. "All the kids I take care of write on my shoes. I keep a special pen in my pocket and they just take it and write whatever they want."

"C'n I write somet'ing?" Baylee inquired, hurriedly slurping down the rest of his juice. "Daddy, I done, otay?" Swiping a sausage from Natalie's plate, he turned to face Alana, his eyes widening when he saw Nick holding her close.

"You okay?" Nick whispered, his fingers pressing against her back to keep her close. She shifted slightly in his arms, her head snapping up until she looked into his eyes, and instantly the breath was sucked from his lungs. He saw her eyes widen with the realization of what was resting against her hip, and he bit back a whimper when she pulled away. "I'm sorry--"

"It's okay," she quickly interrupted, taking a step back only to have Baylee grab at her foot. Not ready for the shift of gravity, she ended up on her backside, just staring up at Nick. The pain barely recognizable as warm pooled in the pit of her stomach. It had been so very long since she had even identified the warmth of wanting from within; much less felt a physical reaction from a man. And, she could hardly deny the excitement that caused her heart to race as she drowned within his dark indigo eyes. "Really… It's okay…"

As Nick continued to stare at Alana, Natalie munched thoughtfully on a hash brown, trying to come up with a reason why Alana would so blatantly attempt to ignore the mutual attraction. From what she had observed, there was no significant other, and Baylee had informed her during his monologue in the middle of the night that Alana had no boyfriends at all. Save for Baylee, of course. Sighing softly, she glanced up to see Brian gazing at her. Instantly her cheeks flushed slightly, still unused to his stares after all the years she had known him. "I was just thinking…"

"That I got's no room on these 'neakers!" Baylee announced with a huff, crawling into Alana's lap. "You buy new ones?"

"Natalie was talking, Baylee," Brian chided.

"Yeah, but I more important?" Baylee cooed, tugging on Alana's stethoscope. "You buy new ones, 'Lana?"

"It's not important," Natalie assured Brian softly when he opened his mouth to lecture his son.

"Nat was just looking to spend a night away from the hospital. She just got here from a long ass plane ride. She needs a bed to sleep in. Both of you. So, I can stay with the Squirt," Nick suggested, though his gaze was no where near Natalie.

Natalie shook her head, refusing to even think of what she would do alone with Brian. In his house… "No, no, I'm fine. I'm used to sleeping in weird places. But you, Nicky, you're used to having a big old bed to yourself. And Bay's a kicker. Why don't you go back to Brian's tonight? Bumpkin, you can go with him. I'll stay with Bay--"

"'Lana here'd 'night. Knot an' Daddy go 'ome. Nicky 'tay!" Baylee interrupted with derision.

Nick grinned with satisfaction. "You heard the Squirt, Nat!"

Natalie scrambled for an excuse. "But your Daddy doesn't have a bedroom for me--"

"You use his bedroom!" Baylee decided, ending the potential argument as he turned to Alana. "So, buy new 'Neakers for me and only me?"


*~*~*


"You're not taking me to get all those samples and specimens you were talking about last night, are you? 'Cause honest, I thought you were joking," Nick chuckled nervously as Alana led him down a hospital corridor. Keeping a step behind her, he trained his eyes on the swing of her hair as she walked, ignoring the carnal instincts that made him long to drag his gaze down. Huffing out a breath, he bit the inside of his mouth, a useless attempt to drown out the flames of arousal licking his body. The woman barely had to look at him and he was turned on. "Or are you going to do some wickedly twisted nurse thing to me and they'll find my mutilated body in the morgue?"

"Don't look so scared, Mr. Carter, you know you'd be spinning with ecstasy if I did that wickedly twisted nurse thing," Alana purred as she stopped just before a closed door, turning around to face him. She leaned demurely on the wall, offering a seductive smile as she crossed her arms beneath her supple breasts. She had just stolen the man from Baylee's room after it was decided who would be spending the night with the young boy. He had sounded so forlorn on the phone when he insisted that he wasn't important. So, she was set to show him otherwise.

"If… If you're about to have me… Spinning with ecstasy… Can you at least call me Nick? Please?" Nick requested, gulping at the images that came to his mind.

"I was hoping I wouldn't have to be so formal. But I figured maybe you were kinky and did that whole 'say my name' angle…" Alana laughed, slightly thrilled to see Nick squirm so much. Since tragedy struck in her life, she felt plain and unattractive. Though, that's how she had kept herself for a better part of the years. But, having Nick so close was starting to change her mind.

"Nah, I only do that when the lady wants to be dominated…" Nick trailed with a knowing smirk.

"Bet you've had plenty of them," Alana guessed, pulling herself away from the wall. Any hope of kindling what she had been feeling quickly doused by doubt and guilt. She had no right to be starting another relationship. She had vowed against that. She didn't need the heartache. "But, I'm taking you to prove that you are important."

"How?"

"C'mere," Alana drawled with a sweet southern accent native to her Kentucky roots, reaching for Nick's hand. Smiling to give him confidence, she pulled him inside the private recreation room. There was one on every unit; just a place for the children to play without the worries of diseases, treatments, and hospital paraphernalia. Waiting inside was a small group of five girls that were very special to Alana's heart, then an empty chair and an acoustic guitar. The girls were from a variety of pediatric units at the hospital. Units she visited frequently. Two from her cardiac unit. Two from cancer treatment. And the other from orthopedics. "These girls are extremely special to me. I love them with all my heart. The one with blonde curls is Justine. The redhead is Allison. The lighter blonde is Samantha. The girl with a kick-butt Adidas hat, that I bought her mind you, is Gloria. Then the beautiful little toddler with a purple bandana on her head is Elizabeth. They are, by far, your biggest fans. Just promise you're going to forgive me for putting you on the spot."

"Okay… What do you mean by putting me on the spot--" Nick yelped slightly when Alana pushed him further into the room, feeling uncomfortable when five pairs of eyes turned to stare at him.

The girl with the purple bandana--Elizabeth--grinned from ear to ear with recognition, and seconds later she was launching herself at him. "Nick!" she squealed with excitement, beaming up at him as he carefully lifted her into his arms. "'Lana, it Nick!"

"Yes, Ma'am, that's your Nick," Alana approved with a sweet coo, leaning to kiss the side of the toddler's pale face. "Lizzie listens to your solo CD every time she has a Chemotherapy treatment. She doesn't cry as much, especially when the IV is started."

"I a big d'irl, Nick," Elizabeth informed with a soft giggle, resting her head on his chest.

"My solo CD? The one that--" Nick shut off the statement before he finished, not wanting to sound like a spoiled pop star. Glancing over at the four remaining girls, who were sidling over shyly, he cleared his throat before looking down at Elizabeth. "So you're a big girl, huh? What's your favorite song, Lizzie?"

"Who need da world," Elizabeth answered, her large ginger eyes widening as she glanced up at Nick. "'Lana like Miss 'Merica. She sing all da time to me."

"Me too," Samantha, the light blonde, announced as she wrapped her frail arms around Alana's waist, tucking her face close. "Only, my favorite is Girls of the USA. And Al has a fantastic voice. She makes everything hurt so much less when they're poking and prodding me because of my heart…"

"I like I Need You Tonight," Gloria announced, adjusting her Adidas cap before stepping over to gently rub Elizabeth's back. Her dark chocolate eyes glanced up at Nick shyly before looking away, a faint flush touching her pale cheeks. "Alana made me a special CD filled with that song to play during my treatments… Though she put Scandalicious in the middle…"

"Hey, this ain't Alana time, girls," Alana chided as she leaned to kiss the top of Gloria's head. A crimson blush rose to her lightly caramelized cheeks as she turned to invite Justine and Allison closer. Justine gripping her hand tightly as Allison used her wheelchair to propel herself to Alana's other side.

"My… My songs help?" Nick questioned incredulously, looking from one innocent face to another. His throat closed with emotion at the thought that they listened to his music during their treatments. They went through pains and heartaches that he would never understand, and he felt humble in their presence. It always tore him up to meet pediatric patients, children who had been given a short time to live. Only to spend their days locked in a hospital. His eyes filled with tears as the girls all nodded enthusiastically, and he tucked his face against Elizabeth's neck.

"Is otay, Nick," the little girl soothed, tenderly brushing his cheek with one small hand. "No cries, p'ease?"

"I told you that you were important," Alana murmured softly as she reached to hug Nick tenderly, not expecting such a sensitive reaction from the man. She had thought he knew what had did for these children. For his fans. But the lost look in his indigo eyes warned her otherwise. He had seemed so lost.

"Can I do anything?" Nick questioned, turning to kiss Elizabeth's cheek softly as she continued to coo softly towards him. He choked on a laugh at the irony. Such a small girl in pain comforting a grown man. When he should be the one comforting her. Spying the guitar, he cleared his throat, reaching to wipe his tears away. "How about I sing you girls a song I've been working on?"

"Can we get autographs and pictures afterwards, too?" Allison inquired hopefully, though she blushed instantly at the thought of her pushiness.

"If he don't, I'll kick his ass later," Alana murmured toward the older girls, causing them to laugh.

"How about I get Alana to go get my camera out of my bag… Then we can get pictures together and I'll bring them back later?" Nick suggested with a glance at Alana.

"You're going to visit us again?" Justine questioned in shock.

"You bet. A friend of mine… Well, you guys know Brian's little boy Baylee, right? He's a patient here, he's getting ready for surgery--"

"Mama was tellin' me," Elizabeth interrupted softly. "I want'a meet 'im…"

"I'll hook you up," Nick promised in a soft whisper so no one else could hear. "Anyway, I'm staying here a lot to be with Brian and all, so I'm here every day. And as long as it's okay with you, I'll see if Brian can come down here with me tomorrow, okay? But you've got to promise to do what Alana and your doctors tell you--"

"Oh, that's reassuring. Nick Carter telling my patients to behave…" Alana interrupted with a dry sarcasm, causing another fit of giggles. That is, till Nick shifted Elizabeth in his embrace to reach for her. "Hey!"

"Don't make me tell you to say my name," Nick growled low in her ear, tickling her sides. At her soft squeal, he chuckled, giving in to temptation and lightly kissing her cheek. "Thank you," he whispered softly before turning to the girls. "Now, how about some music?"

"I should go get the camera while you girls swoon, huh?" Alana decided as she helped the girls back to the plush couches, taking Elizabeth from Nick's arms to settle her into Gloria's lap. She didn't know if Nick wanted her intruding upon the moment.

"Hurry back," Nick murmured.

"I ain't playing your bodyguard," Alana warned, though she offered a coy smile as she ducked out.

"You want dirt on Al, don't you?" Samantha guessed with knowing as Nick strummed and tuned the acoustic guitar.

"Al?" Nick repeated dumbly, his fingers scattering against the strings at Samantha's question. "Uhm…"

"He likes her," Allison giggled.

"Well, what's new about that?" Justine inquired. "Dr. Wright has been trying to get her number forever…"

"And Dr. Adams," Gloria reminded.

"My brother, too," Samantha announced.

"An' the chaplain," Elizabeth piped up, eyes wide with innocence when everyone looked at her.

"Every man within a hundred mile radius of Al is hot for her," Samantha summed up for Nick. "So, you, too?"

"She's… Nice," Nick answered carefully, though the heat in his cheeks told otherwise. "She's pretty… Funny… I like her…"

"Nick's hot for 'Lana," Elizabeth announced with a peal of laughter.

"Well, can you blame him? I hope I look like that when I grow up," Justine decided, picking at her hospital gown. "She joked about getting me balloons filled with pudding to stuff in my bra… I never thought she'd actually do it… She makes me laugh when I feel like there's no way I'd ever laugh again…"

"When I started chemo and was worried about my hair falling out, she brought her laptop to the hospital… We got online and she let me pick out a bunch of hats and bandanas to wear," Gloria added softly, removing her cap to show off her lack of hair. Rubbing one hand over her bare scalp, she smiled slightly. "And then when they all arrived, she brought in a hairstylist to shave my head… For two weeks she wore one of those things that makes you look bald, so I wouldn't feel so alone…"

"Every weekend she comes to my room and paints my toenails for me," Allison offered. "Even though she whines about doing girly things…"

"She's an angel, Nick," Elizabeth summed up, leaning against Gloria's chest with a smile. "P'ay song now?"

"The new one you're working on, right?" Justine concluded as Alana tapped on the door and popped back inside. She set the expensive camera at Nick's side, then crawled amongst the girls on the couch, Elizabeth immediately reaching for her.

"Yeah… Promise to tell me if it sucks a big one okay?" Nick requested softly, glancing from face to face with a slight smile.

"Just sing!" Elizabeth insisted with a firm pout, extending her hand with an accusatory finger.

"Alright, alright," Nick laughed, strumming a few chords carefully. Concentrating on the music, he closed his eyes before he began to sing. "She wears lots of makeup on her face / All the boys think she is great / Check out all the attention that she gets / Like a proud princess / She lurks, she smiles, she gets / But I, no I, no I won't be sold / By a pretty face with Daddy's moneybags / I see through the shore / I don't want a beauty queen / I want a real girl…"