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Chapter Forty :: Building Confidence

Leaning back in her chair, Alana was truly mesmerized by the way Brian performed on the practice stage. They had spent several days in this large building, allowing Brian to run through his entire line up of songs. Brian wanted Alana to watch so she could see how a concert was performed. To build her confidence so to speak. Though, Alana was merely awed at the brilliance of his performance. The band had been wonderful behind him and Brian was so passionate about his music. He was doing what he loved and sharing his faith with the world. She wasn't sure much else could possibly compare to that as he finished his last song, asking her to come on stage and practice. It would be her first time on stage. And, at first, she wasn't sure she heard correctly as she leaned forward in her chair and Baylee tugged on her hands.

"You do fab'wu'lous," Baylee insisted, bouncing up and down with excitement. "Daddy no make you look t'upid. Mommy cheerin', make you feel good. P'womise!"

"Your Mommy ain't even here," Alana reminded the young boy as she allowed him to pull her to her feet. Slowly moving toward the now ominous stage, she noted that Brian was murmuring softly to the band. Probably telling them to take it easy on her. Not to cringe when her voice projected through the place.

"Her's cheerin' in 'pirit!" Baylee declared as he tromped up the steps leading to the stage. "Daddy film you so Mommy c'n watch later!"

"I don't think anyone needs to be filming this disaster," Alana groaned as Baylee pulled her toward Brian, immediately tugging on his father's pants so he would lean down for a whispered conversation.

"Otay!" Baylee squealed upon hearing his father's reply. Skipping across the stage, he found the knapsack that held the small digital video camera, grinning with glee when he pulled the expensive gadget out. Pressing the button to turn it on, he raced across the stage once more, leaping down into the pit so he could locate a chair.

"Do you have to encourage him?" Alana chided as she heard the distant opening of the back door, assuming the tour producers were coming to see how she sounded. After all, she was an expensive investment. Far too expensive to let her ruin the entire show.

"He's going to film it so Natalie can watch it when we get back to your place," Brian confirmed with a grin, setting his guitar down as he turned to see who was coming from backstage. "And, look, the cavalry's here!" he whooped, seeing Kevin and Kristin walk hand-in-hand towards them. "Didn't think you'd actually make it, cuz--"

"Kris insisted," Kevin interrupted in a neutral tone, obviously not wanting to spark any unwanted flames of anger as Kristin nursed a chocolate milkshake.

"I quote: 'We're going to see Brian and Alana rehearse whether you like it or not'," Kristin returned, rolling her eyes. "As I knelt over the toilet, no less--"

"Kevvy! Krissy!" Baylee screeched from the middle of the rows of seats, jumping up onto one so he could be seen. "Whoa, Krissy! YOU'S FAT!"

"Baylee!" Kevin actually screeched as he hurried through the isle to snatch Baylee up from the seats. Clamping a hand tightly over the boy's mouth, he paled as he searched for his wife, finding her climbing the stairs to greet Alana. "You don't ever say that about a pregnant lady! Especially my pregnant lady!"

"You look beautiful," Alana saved as she reached to shake Kristin's hand, not expecting to be pulled into a tight squeeze.

"Awe, Honey. No I don't, but thank you," Kristin murmured, embracing Alana tightly. "We didn't mean to interrupt anything, Kevin was just so all-fired anxious to come and show his ungrateful cousin some support--"

"You didn't interrupt," Brian promised with a grin as he came down the steps, a handful of music sheets clenched in grasp. "Alana was just about to go up and go over some songs with the band."

"That's what I really wanted to come and watch," Kevin admitted with an encouraging smile as he sunk to the seat that Baylee had occupied, leaning to help the toddler steady the small camcorder. "Everyone has been praising her voice so much. I only got to hear her on CD. I already know what your voice sounds like, Brian, so don't even start whining."

"Nothing like taking the pressure off a person," Alana mumbled.

"Just picture my husband in his baggy boxer shorts scratching his chest," Kristin murmured before stepping back. "If that doesn't make you relax, or at least start giggling--"

"It'll probably make her lunch come back up," Brian decided with a grimace, laughing when Kristin swatted his shoulder. "Come on, Alana, let's get this show on the road."

"Alright," Alana agreed with a nervous smile, stepping toward the microphone stand that had been lengthened to fit her height. Staring uneasily at it for a moment, she then turned to ask what song she would be doing. The lead guitarist suggested I Saw Heaven and she nodded, listening to the count in for the rest of the musicians. The music behind her was loud and abrasive at first and she wasn't sure how to hold the microphone. So, nervously, she stood in the center of the stage and watched Brian and Kristin take their seats with Kevin and Baylee. She had never been so sick to her stomach in her life. But she sang nonetheless. "I've felt the winds of change blow through my hair / I've heard the voice of reason when no one was really there / I've seen signs that change my life with a glance / I've even seen myself deny; it was anything but chance…"

"Oh," Kristin breathed in surprise, her milkshake forgotten. Pushing the cup into her husband's hand, she paid no attention to his protesting grunt as the gentleness of Alana's voice rang throughout the venue. It had a calming effect on her, easing away the tension and worry that came with being pregnant for the first time. Resting a hand on her protruding abdomen, she smiled slightly. "Her voice is gorgeous…"

"Her's sings to me all the time, Krissy!" Baylee squealed, clapping loudly.
"She's had no training whatsoever? She's just… A pure natural? God, Howie said they didn't have to work much on the single and I thought he was lying… How many times has she been on stage?" Kevin marveled as Baylee then thrust the camcorder into his hands, sliding off the man's lap to reach his small microphone already set on the stand beside Alana.

"This is the first time," Brian explained with a grin.

"My God…" Kevin breathed, shaking his head in a soft disbelief. "She is absolutely amazing…"

"I told you," Brian murmured. "Howie and Natalie are looking into some clubs and places for her to get some stage experience, so she won't look like a deer caught in the headlights when the tour starts…"

"Nick's been begging me to take Zachary for the night because he wants to go to this red carpet thing that Howie has set up for her. She's going to sing on the red carpet after her single is debuted..." Kevin trailed, suddenly grimacing when he felt Kristin smack his shoulder. "And I totally forgot that I didn't tell Kristin about it yet, knowing she'd automatically do anything Nick wants…"

"Well…" Kristin shrugged, her attention on Baylee and Alana. Alana had turned to face Baylee on the stage as she sang, grinning as he attempted to sing along with her. "…That's true, Baby…"

"…What's true?" Kevin hesitated, looking to the stage to see Alana loosen up considerably as she stooped to scoop Baylee into her arms. Using his microphone as he held it to her lips, she carefully swayed her hips to the beat of the beautiful song, her voice far more powerful and confident than before.

"…I don't know," Kristin admitted with a shrug. "Something about Nicky?"

"He asked Kevin if you two could watch Zachary for the night, because Howie planned a red carpet event for Alana. He wants to be there to support her," Brian answered, leaning back in his seat to watch Baylee laugh against the side of Alana's face as she serenaded him. He honestly felt bad for his friend. In the few weeks since he had brought Alana to California, he had barely spent any time with her. She had been caught in a whirlwind of musical politics. Every night she came home, she merely curled into bed and fell asleep beside him.

"Of course we'll watch Zachary," Kristin insisted. "Anything for Nicky--"

"Of course," Kevin mimicked, scowling toward Brian. "…Where is the blonde scouring pad?"

"He had to take Zach to the doctor for a checkup… He should be here soon, though--"

"Did Alana make an appointment with our obstetrician?" Kristin interrupted suddenly as she glanced sideways to Brian. "Natalie had been asking about what OB/GYN's were good in this area for Alana..."

"I have no idea," Brian answered honestly. "I think Natalie made a consultation appointment for her, but--"

"Why does she need to see an OB?" Kevin suddenly questioned of his wife.

"Why don't you ask her?"

"Because she's busy!" Kevin exclaimed, horrified that Kristin would even suggest he ask such a personal question.
"You could ask me," Nick suggested, overhearing the small snippet of conversation as he slipped into the building, diaper bag slung over his shoulder, carrier filled with teddy bears in one hand, and a whimpering Zachary braced against his chest. His son had been quite good during the check-up with the pediatrician. That is, until the battery of shots were lined upon the metal tray. Nick had never been so unnerved in his life.

"Awe, Sweetie," Kristin cooed as she stood to take Zachary from Nick. Snuggling him close against her chest, she kissed the top of his head, plucking the blanket from the diaper bag. "Did that mean old Daddy take you to the doctor and you got hurt? You poor little thing… C'mon, Aunt Krissy'll give you a taste of her milkshake…"

"It wasn't my fault!" Nick exclaimed with a fixed pout, taking a seat beside Kevin. "I had no idea what kind of line up of needles they do for these kids. Holy Hell, it's like he's a human dart board!"

"Baby, take the top off my drink?" Kristin requested as she took her seat again, her heart clenching when the baby tensed as her hand brushed his thigh. "It's alright, Sweetie…" she soothed, taking the bottled water Brian was about to open. Laying it gently against Zachary's thigh, she cooed softly as Kevin fumbled with her milkshake. "See? The cold makes it better, doesn't it? It's alright… Daddy won't take you to that awful place again…"

Nick made a face. "He has to go in another two months--"
"Ma," Zachary implored with a soft whimper of hurt, reaching up to touch Kristin's face. His dark cobalt eyes were teary with pain as he puckered his bottom lip into a heavy pout. "Ma…"

"Your Ma's singing right now, Sweetie. As soon as she finished-I don't care what the mean Brian has to say-I'll take you right to her, okay?" Kristin soothed. "Here, have a taste of some milkshake… It'll make Daddy stop being so mean, I promise."

Nick looked as if he might argue the point with Kristin, insisting that he wasn't the culprit to his son's pain. But, in reality, he did feel quite guilty about the whole ordeal. Sighing, he glanced to the stage to watch Alana perform the end of the song. "…How's she doing?"

"She's doing great," Brian told him with a grin as Zachary sucked a bit of the milkshake off Kristin's straw. "A little nervous, but that's to be expected… Remember the first time we were onstage together? And you barfed on Kevin's shoes--"

"You still owe me for them," Kevin interrupted with a heavy growl, obviously a tender spot in his memories.

Nick rolled his eyes. "Like you even know how much they cost anymore--"

"Seventy five dollars and twenty-nine cents."

"Did you count for inflation?" Brian asked his cousin with a chuckle as the song ended.

"Then its ninety five dollars and fifty-nine cents," Kevin recalculated as Kristin stood to whistle for Alana.
"How was that, Brian?" Alana inquired as she turned to thank the band, waiting for an answer. Though, when she looked out into the crowd, she noticed the added pair. Squealing with excitement, Alana carefully set Baylee on the stage and hopped down. Racing to embrace Nick with an affectionate squeeze.

"That was great," Brian promised as Nick swept Alana into his arms for a heated kiss. "…I think I'll call and check on Natalie, see if she needs anything--"

"I missed you!" Alana breathed against Nick's lips, tasting the sweet spice of his lips as she brushed off Brian's small break allotment. Curving her arms around his neck, she wrapped her legs around his hips to intensify the kiss. It seemed like centuries since she had last been allowed to kiss him. He felt like a stranger.

"I missed you more," Nick promised, tangling one hand in her tousled locks, his other arm tight around her waist to hold her closer. It was like they had been separated for years.

"Why don't you ever kiss me like that?" Kristin asked her husband in a whisper as she offered Zachary another taste of her milkshake.

"Because even if I manage to get a kiss on your cheek, you still slap me and blame me for getting you pregnant," Kevin grumbled, wincing when he received another sharp slap. "I'm going to go make a phone call to Howie, tell him how great Alana's doing…"

"I didn't think you'd be coming today," Alana admitted softly as she pressed her forehead to his with a soft sigh.

"Snot Sucker insisted," Nick whispered, ignoring the soft murmurs of Brian, the sharp grumbling of Kevin and the cooing of Kristin. He was vaguely aware of Baylee yammering into the microphone onstage about bodily functions, but paid no mind to it as he offered Alana a softer, gentler kiss. "He hates his Daddy right now…"

"Why?" Alana questioned in confusion, leaning back to search his sapphire eyes for the answer. Noting the glimmer of guilt, her turquoise eyes widened in realization. Shifting, she attempted to slide from Nick's arms, only wanting to comfort her son. "The doctor's appointment was today. He must be in so much pain!"

"He's fine," Kristin assured her. "He's starting to go to sleep…"

"Nick, I should have been there," Alana sighed as she unwrapped her legs from his waist in attempts to stand on her own.

"It's okay, Beautiful," Nick murmured, loosening his grip so she could stand. "He'll be alright, the doctor said he'll probably run a slight fever, and I gave him some of the Infant Tylenol right before we left there. His leg'll be sore for a day or two, but he'll be alright."

"I still…" Alana murmured, though her sentence never reached a final conclusion as she tucked her face against his chest. She inhaled the soft scent of his favorite cologne, relaxing as she winded her arms around his torso. Zachary may have done fine at the appointment, but she still should have been there. If Nick wanted her to be Zachary's mother, then she had to do better. "I'll cuddle him in the big bed tonight…"

"…Does that mean I have to sleep in the crib?"

"Why would you have to sleep in the crib?"

"Because he's taking my place in the bed?"

"Are you jealous of your own son?"

Nick's eyes widened. "Never--"

"Nicky? Alana? Kevin and I wanted to let you know that we'll be more than happy to take care of Zachary anytime you want us to… Is it alright if we steal him this weekend so you two can have time alone?"

Alana looked to Kristin in surprise. "Take him for the whole weekend? Kris, we can't--"

"—Stand to part with him for that long?" Kristin guessed.

"Kris and Kev really need to get used to that whole parenthood thing, Beautiful," Nick murmured. "It'd be great for Zach to spend the weekend with them…"
"You don't mind them taking him for the weekend?" Alana questioned.

"They live twenty minutes away and we can call them every five seconds," Nick encouraged softly. "I think it'll be good for him."

"You mean for us?" Alana guessed with a small smirk.

Nick grinned, leaning to offer her another soft kiss. "That too--"

"Alright, can we get back to it? I have to stop and pick Natalie up some… Items…" Brian grimaced slightly with realization as he tucked his cell phone away.

"At least we know she's not pregnant," Alana mused, leaning up to nibble affectionately on Nick's bottom lip.

"Yet…" Kristin trailed softly with a knowing smile.

"He's got to get his ass divorced first," Nick chuckled.

"I'm working on it," Brian informed them all with a slight scowl. "She's just being… A…"

"Oh, shit," Kristin breathed in surprise.

"I don't think you're allowed to put Bitch in the paperwork, Dear," a far too familiar voice echoed, causing Nick to cringe immediately. Leaning to glance over Nick's shoulder, Alana searched for the source of the voice. She was short with bleached blonde hair, a sharp, angular nose, and what most definitely looked like a large breast augmentation. It wasn't hard to identify her as the source of Brian's heartache. The wife.

"If I could, that's what would have been on the line for your name," Brian returned, dropping into a nearby seat as fear overtook him. He knew she wanted something. He had already agreed to part with nearly everything he had accrued during their married life. What more could she want? He was almost grateful that Natalie's migraine had set in that morning, not wanting her anywhere near Leighanne.

"You'd say that about the mother of your children?" Leighanne admonished, glancing around the concert hall. She noted Kristin holding an unfamiliar infant as she walked toward the back doors and Nick with a strange woman who coaxed Baylee into her arms. Narrowing her eyes, she extended her arms out to the toddler, but Baylee buried his face into Alana's shoulder as they walked away.

"Mother of my child," Brian corrected with emphasis, sliding down several seats to avoid the cloying nature of her perfume. Glancing towards Kevin and Nick in hopes that they could do something-anything, he nervously cleared his throat. "What do you want, Leigh?"

"To tell you that we can't end this marriage, because I'm pregnant."

*~*~*

Sitting next to Alana in the booth at the radio station, AJ offered her an encouraging grin as her debut single played over the airwaves. Leaning slightly to the side, he could see that already the phone lines were lighting up with callers, and he knew they would be raving over her talent. Leaning close as Ryan Seacrest spoke to an assistant about getting hot chocolate and a decadent danish for Alana, he pulled her headphones back so he could whisper in her ear. "You might want to relax that smile a bit, Babe. It's starting to look like you're in pain…"

"I am in pain… I think I just bit the inside of my cheek open…" Alana confessed with a grimace as she leaned back in her plush chair, furiously rubbing her face with both of her hands. The release of her single had been official over two minutes ago when Ryan Seacrest had debuted her. Howie and Natalie had sought for one of the most popular radio shows throughout the United States and Seacrest's show had been anxious to get hold of her. Waves of her popularity were circulating through the media, though most were about her joining Brian Littrell's tour as well as her beauty. Now they wanted to see if she could really sing. Though, she worried about that as she slouched in her seat. Just listening to her song, knowing it was broadcasting everywhere, made her absolutely sick. Especially when Ryan insisted on taking phone calls for opinions afterwards.

"Just relax and be yourself, alright? Ryan's a nice guy. If he didn't believe in you, he wouldn't be sending some gofer ten blocks away to get you a nice breakfast." AJ reached for his nearly empty cup from Starbucks, draining the remainder in one quick gulp as the song reached the second chorus. "Tomorrow we start shooting the video, and hopefully it'll premiere on TRL in a couple of weeks. Which means you'll be making a trip to New York. Me and Howie are trying to work it out so it'll be around the time Brian's tour stops there and--"

"We're shooting a video tomorrow?" Alana interrupted in bewilderment, turning slightly to catch AJ's dark sepia eyes. "Do we even have a concept for the video? Or did you get that picked out, too? How am I supposed to do that underneath all this… You guys are so damn lucky that I'm in my first trimester."

"Natalie's talking with Joseph about the concept right now," AJ promised. "She said that she's going to run everything by you today, alright? And don't worry. Once this tour is over and your album comes out you're going to have a nice break to rest and put your feet up until after the babies come," he whispered. "And I wouldn't mention trimester in front of Ryan, unless you want the whole world to know you're pregnant…"

"What's the nice break? Ten days?" Alana murmured with an air of sarcasm, though she smiled with amusement at AJ just the same. Nick and her had yet to talk about how they wanted to approach their relationship in the media, much less her pregnancy. She was still in her first trimester, so it was easy to hide the changes of her body. Well, more or less the fact that she was rounding ever so slightly in the middle. It was enough of a difference for her to notice, but she assumed not many others realized. Nick had yet to say anything. But when had he seen her? Even that seemed trivial now with Leighanne sniffing around Brian and Baylee once more, the man not even having the courage to tell Natalie yet.

"We're talking your tour won't start until after New Years," AJ promised, dropping a quick kiss on her cheek before leaning back. "Hey, Ryan, any chance I could get a coff--"

"Alana? What kind of danish do you want? Cream cheese? Strawberry?" Ryan questioned, ignoring AJ for the time being as his assistant hurriedly scribbled down an order.

Alana smiled sweetly. "Cream cheese would be absolutely fantastic, Ryan, but you don't have to send someone out--"

"It's really no trouble. Make it two, Jim, and get AJ a coffee. AJ? You want a danish?"

"Well, actually--"

"Just the coffee for AJ, then. And the usual for me," Ryan told the assistant, who nodded before darting from the studio. Pressing a button on the board before him, he spoke into the microphone. "That was I'm Not Sleeping Alone by Alana Moore. Be sure and call us and tell us what you really think about this fantastic new voice. We'll be taking calls right after this!"

Alana smirked at the crestfallen look appearing on AJ's face as Ryan hurriedly placed on a roll of commercials. Leaning close to her friend, she affectionately kissed the side of his face before murmuring into his ear. "It's a chick's world, Alex, better get used to it."

AJ scowled. "That doesn't mean my dick has to be chopped off by--"

"Be nice," Alana warned with a purr, squealing slightly when his hand dropped to tickle her side, acquiring Ryan's attention, though it wasn't as if she hadn't had it from the beginning.

"You two seem to be close," Ryan commented.

"Kind of hard not to be close when he yanks you into the studio, locks the door, and forces you to work all the time," Alana explained as she pushed AJ's chair far away from hers, only to have him wheel back even closer. Wrinkling her nose, she couldn't resist laughing when he cackled wildly against her face. "He's like a puppy."

"The kind that you see in a pet store and can't resist or the kind that follows you home and won't go away no matter how much you ignore it?" Ryan questioned with a chuckle.

"The follower. I think that was his first pick up line - I'm lost, take me home with you?" Alana crooned in a raspy impression of AJ, causing him to snort.

"Is that right?" Ryan asked with a wide grin at AJ.

"I don't sound like that--" AJ began, cutting off abruptly when the commercials ended, the light on the wall alerting them that they were once more on the air. Snorting with irritation, he leaned close to Alana, resting his head on her shoulder.

"And we're back; I'm sitting here with to faces-one familiar, one very new-and we're talking about Alana Moore. You've all just heard her debut single, I'm Not Sleeping Alone, and I want to hear what you think about it."

"If it's horrible, then you better just blame the old face now," Alana suggested as she helped to fix AJ's headphones back onto his ears.

"I didn't write the song," AJ huffed in defense. "Blame the old man that ain't here--"

"I meant about signing me to a label!" Alana exclaimed.

"Again, blame the old man that ain't here!"

"You two sound like an old married couple," Ryan decided with a laugh. "Let's take our first caller. Laurie? You're on the air!"

"Ryan? You are an awesome radio host! And I'm not just saying that 'cause I love American Idol! And the song? Absolutely, completely, amazing! Alana, you have one of the best voices that I've ever heard. You had me in tears!" Laurie exclaimed in a sharp squeal.

"Thank you so much, Laurie," Alana breathed in honest surprise.

"No comments about her gorgeous manager?" AJ questioned in disbelief.

"I love you too, AJ," Laurie promised belatedly. "I can't wait to see you on the road with Brian this summer, Alana. I just got my tickets!"

"Thanks so much for calling Laurie," Ryan said with a chuckle at AJ's offended expression. "I'm sure I'll talk to you tomorrow." Pressing a button, he mouthed, 'regular caller' to AJ and Alana before moving on to the next call. "Tim? You're on the air!"

"I love you AJ," Tim crooned dramatically, causing Alana and Ryan to laugh. "Alana, I just wanted to say that your voice is breathtaking, and I really look forward to hearing more from you."

"What man says breathtaking?" AJ screeched away from the microphone toward Alana.

"A man that loves you, Alex," Alana crooned, turning back to the microphone. "Thank you so much, Tim. Alex appreciates all your tender loving care. If you just hang on a minute, he'd be quite glad to get your number. He's been looking for someone to take down the red carpet on Friday--"

"I have a date for the red--"

"And who would that be, AJ?" Ryan asked with a peak of curiosity, though he continued to gaze at Alana from across the table filled with equipment. She had to blush at his long stares, immediately glancing down to clasp her hands in her lap. She had decided to wear a light olive tank top with matching army cargo hip huggers. Her long locks were piled underneath one of AJ's lucky hats and she couldn't have felt more comfortable, though to the male ego she looked utterly adorable.

"I asked Staci," AJ whispered to Alana before turning to grin at Ryan. "Just a lovely young lady I've met through Brian--"

"So, Alana is free?" Ryan guessed hopefully. "Because--"

"You ain't taking her," Alana immediately interrupted with a scowl.

"You talking about yourself in third-person now?" AJ questioned with complete innocence, scribbling a quick note on the paper in front of him. Pushing it towards her, he grinned.

Leaning to scrutinize the chicken scratch AJ had scrawled, she rolled her eyes as she read one simple word - Gotcha. Tugging hard on the hat, she flopped back in her chair. "Can we get back to answering phone calls, Ryan?"

"Do I sense some jealousy between you two?" Ryan questioned. "AJ playing the field on you, Alana?"

Shifting slightly, Alana noted the wicked grin crossing AJ's face as if he had triumphed in the game. They always seemed to be teasing one another. It was an amusing game to say the least as she offered a small, sad pout toward Ryan. "Like a fiddle, Ryan. He's always got to dangle some new toy in my face, y'know? Little jailbait here. Little Playboy here. Little producer's daughter over there. It's hurtful…"

"And you're always dangling some other guy around, Babe. It's horrible, Ryan. Like Nick, she practically lives with the man--"

"She's a beautiful young woman, AJ. Men are naturally going to want to be around her. You can't get all overprotective and Daddy-ish over it," Ryan informed him, shaking his head sadly. "So, Alana, you're free for the red carpet this weekend? I'll be doing some interviews, but I can always throw the mic away when you come by…"

"That's right, Alexi, when the last bit of your hair comes fluttering through your fingertips, you're going to be begging to put your lips on my hand again," Alana teased, actually giggling when AJ attacked her playfully with hard tickles. "Ryan! I'm sure I could pull away to have a mini-date with you!"

"Why don't we have another listen to Alana Moore's new single, I'm Not Sleeping Alone, and then after a commercial break we'll listen to a few more calls? Alana's breakfast is coming in now, so we'll be right back!"

Hearing the commercials start to run as she was thrown to the floor by AJ for merciless tickles, she gasped for breath and pulled the headphones from her ears. Reaching to grab a fistful of AJ's form fitting t-shirt, she yanked him close to throw a punch into his shoulder. "You can be such a prick! Now I'm going to be known as the whore of Backstreet! Howie is so going to kill you!"

"Cream cheese danish and hot… Chocolate…" Jim, the assistant, announced as he entered the booth, though he paused when he saw the scuffle on the floor. Glancing towards Ryan uncertainly, he cleared his throat.

"I didn't say shit! Beat Ryan-though he'd probably enjoy that, he's the asshole who brought up you and me as a couple!" AJ growled. "What was I supposed to do? Agree with him and announce that we're banging each other every night?!"

"Would have been a hell'uva lot easier!" Alana returned with a grunt, hurriedly shifting beneath him to slam him to the ground, easily straddling his hips. "At least then I could have admitted what an incredible lover you were instead of making you out to be a sleaze! I hope you get mugged in the parking lot!"

"If you don't get off me now, Ryan'll have all this on the fucking entertainment news tonight," AJ informed her in a whisper, gently pushing her off him. "And your breakfast is here--"

"Wouldn't you just love that," Alana breathed as she pulled herself up, hurriedly tugging on her cargo pants as well as her tank top before adjusting her cap. Taking a deep breath, she looked to Ryan with a small smile. "You really didn't have to get me breakfast, Ryan."

"It's my pleasure," Ryan promised as Jim moved to set the danish and chocolate in front of her.

Getting back into his chair, AJ glanced down at the lukewarm coffee Jim handed him. Taking a tentative sip, he screwed his face up in distaste. "Could I get some--"

"Would you like some marshmallows for that hot chocolate, Alana? We have some in the staff break room," Ryan interrupted as he accepted his own danish.

"You going to walk her down to the break room yourself, holding hands, and slip her some digits?" AJ muttered with an escalated perk of sarcasm.

"Why would I go to all that trouble when I can just do this?" Ryan returned, handing Alana a card.

"Why are you giving me your business card?" Alana murmured in surprise as AJ pulled her down in the chair beside him.

"That's my personal card--"

Alana wrinkled her nose. "You actually have a personal card?"

"That was a joke? My personal number's on the back, though. If you ever need anything, just give me a call," Ryan encouraged with a smile. "Jim, how about those marshmallows for Miss Moore?"

Jim nodded, already halfway out the door. "Absolutely--"

"--Unfuckingbelievable," AJ muttered in disgust.

"If you ever need to get hold of me, Ryan, you can call my cell," Alana offered as she tore a piece of paper away from a nearby tablet, scribbling her number down and offering it toward him.

"And why would he need to get hold of you?" AJ questioned with a dark scowl as Ryan carefully tucked the paper into his pocket.

"He's in the know, Alex. He might hear of a great new club that I can perform at to get my stage fright problem over with," Alana explained with wide-eyed innocence.

"You have stage fright?" Ryan interjected as he sat down with a sympathetic smile, reaching out to pat her hand as if he were some close friend. "Why would anyone as gorgeous as you with such a powerful voice have stage fright? You have got to know that you're fantastic and that the audience absolutely falls in love with you when you sing. It's just amazing. I can't even imagine what it's going to be like seeing you perform on the red carpet--"

"Would you muzzle your dick, Pearly?" AJ protested with a growl.

"Alex!" Alana exclaimed.

"What?!" AJ demanded.

"Howie said--"

"For me to take care of you."

"And--"

"I'm taking care of you! Pearly, hit the button, your manager says we're on air!"

"Welcome back! We're chatting with a…" Ryan cleared his throat. "We're chatting with Alana Moore-that great new voice-and one of her managers, Backstreet Boy AJ McLean. And we're taking calls to see what you thought about Alana's debut single, I'm Not Sleeping Alone… Joshua? You're on the air!"

"Alana, I just want you to know that you can take me to the red carpet party! My sister is some obsessed Backstreet Boy fan. She hacked into this site and found pictures from one of your recent photoshoots with you in the bed and damn! Anyway, she insisted on getting tickets to the one dude's concert, so I'm totally taking her just to see you!"

"Awesome!" Alana cooed with a firm blush. "I can't wait to see you there, Joshua. Bring a sign, and I'll be sure and meet you personally."

"Are you for real?" Joshua breathed with a high pitched squeak.

"Bring one of the photographs from the shoot. Your favorite. And I'll throw my dorky signature on it," Alana promised, still rubbing her flaming cheeks.

"You are too cool," Joshua announced with a pleased voice.

"And he's not even old enough to be looking at that photoshoot," AJ guessed.

"Harry, you're on!" Ryan called, wanting to get several calls in.

"I just wanted to say that I really enjoyed hearing Ms. Moore's pleasing voice during my morning commute," Harry declared in a crisp, business-like tone. "I almost didn't even turn on the radio, usually bogged down with the junk that people consider music these days. But Ms. Moore is very refreshing, and I am astounded that someone hadn't discovered her before."

"Dude, I like the way you talk," AJ told him with a grin. "Are you a lawyer?"

"Harry Baker, music reviewer for an online magazine," Harry informed with a chuckle.

"Is it a popular online magazine?" AJ asked further.

"Last month we had over three million hits."

"See, Babe, this is the kind of people we need to be talking to! Setting up interviews with! Getting--"

"My boss is sitting right here and he's very willing to get a photo spread of her for front page--"

"Score! Ryan, switch this guy to another line and I can get his info?" AJ requested hopefully.

"For Alana, sure thing," Ryan promised, doing as he was told before the assistant came hurrying in with marshmallows as well as to take AJ to the other room where the phone would be waiting.

"It's all about business," Alana explained with a shrug of her shoulders.

"So Alana, while it's just the two of us, tell me about yourself. It says here that just a few months ago you were a Pediatric Nurse in Kentucky? How did you go from that to the woman everyone's talking about in the music business?" Ryan inquired.

"Everyone knows that Baylee Littrell was in the hospital to get heart surgery. Well, he happened to come to my hospital and I was assigned to work with him. And, I know he's listening right now, so I've got to say that I love my Jungle Boogie Boy," Alana suddenly crooned into the microphone, blushing slightly when Ryan laughed. "…Anyway, Brian's entire family was really supportive of Baylee being in the hospital. Nick flew down almost immediately to be with him… And, he threw a concert for the kids at the hospital and asked me to sing with him on the insistence of Baylee. So, I did, and then Howie heard and started pestering me. Then, a few months ago I was rock climbing and took a nasty spill that put me out of commission in nursing, so I thought I'd give this a shot. Most of my money needs to be going to Baylee in the first place. Kid got me signed."

"So your first big paycheck will go to get him something he's always wanted? He's three, right?" Ryan questioned. When Alana nodded, he made a note. "What's a three year old want--" Cutting off when he saw the flashing message onscreen from one of the assistants, he chuckled. "Why don't we find out from the boy himself? Baylee? You're on the air!"

"My 'Lana!" Baylee cooed with a giggle. "I 'tole Daddy's phone t'call you!"

"Boogie!" Alana exclaimed with excitement, forgetting she was on the air as she crooned to the little boy. "Did you hear me say I loved you? Like I promised?"

"Yes I did! I loves you too, 'Lana! An' I wanted to tell Pearly that I no want a 'resent from you," Baylee announced with a sharp gasp. "Hold on! Howie chasin' me!" There was a series of the boy's squeals as he apparently ran through Nick's house, sharp pants until the sound of a door slamming. "'Lana? You an' Pearly still d'ere?"

"Yeah, I'm here," Alana promised with a bemused smile. "But you don't want a present from me, Boogie?"

"No! Jus' want my 'Lana! To myself! We go on date? Just the two of us? I get woses an' candy for you?"

"I'd love to go on a date with you, Boogie. When we go on tour. We'll find a fun place to run away to for the day. Okay?"

"P'w'omise?"

"I promise," Alana cooed, reaching to gently wipe tears away from her eyes as she laughed, hearing the very distinct pounding of Nick's fist on the door. "Nicky wants you, Boogie."

"He jus' wants the phone," Baylee grumbled. "Pearly? P'ay my 'Lana's song again? P'ease? Have-to-go-I-love-you-'Lana-bye!"

"Love you too, Boogie--" Though Alana's voice was cut by a resounding squeal from the other side that had Ryan laughing.

"Sounds like you have yourself quite the little boyfriend there, Alana," Ryan commented. "And, so I won't have to watch my back later on, here it is again, everybody. Alana Moore, and I'm Not Sleeping Alone."

"He's something else…" Alana murmured as she pulled the headphones from her head, watching AJ speak with one of the managers of the radio station, probably setting up a longer interview session. Smiling toward Ryan, she stood to shake his hand, though her back pocket started to vibrate. "Can you hold on for one moment, please?" she asked, already reaching to take the phone and head to the window. Flipping it open, she pressed it to her ear. "Hello?"

"Why did you let him cut me off before I could announce how much I love you and want to kill AJ for his stupid middle school stunt?!" Nick questioned immediately.

"Because I didn't realize you were getting on the phone and Ryan is the host of the show, so he gets to do whatever he wants," Alana answered calmly, glancing out the window to see a fan base already starting to build at the front doors.

"I love you," Nick murmured. "Snot Sucker's been in my lap the whole time, listening to the stereo and squealing--"

"Ma!"

"That's my baby boy," Alana approved, reaching to rub her already misty eyes. "If Alex don't got nothing else planned, I'm hoping to make it home to the both of you…"

"Okay… Do what you have to do, Beautiful, okay? You're doing a fantastic job. I’m really proud of you," Nick promised. "And we love you."

"I love you both, too," she promised. "…How did it sound? Really?"

"A little nervous at first, but you've really relaxed, Beautiful, I can tell. Natalie keeps squealing like a pig, saying how great you sound… And Howie almost creamed his shorts when he heard you talking to that reviewer dude. You sound awesome."

"…And the song?"

"Brought tears to my eyes…"

"Handsome…"

"I'm serious. It's a great song, you have that mind-blowing voice, and the two together is just… Overwhelming."

"You do realize that you're so getting some extra loving for saying that, right?"

"I am? …Does that mean I should call Kev and Kris to baby-sit?"

"If you like…"

"And we can lock ourselves in the master bedroom for the rest of the day and night?"

"I'd love that."

"Then I'll let you get back to doing your interview and I'll set everything up," Nick murmured. "Oh, and Beautiful? …I'll be in the bed with that red bow again."

"And it ain't even Christmas yet!"

"But you can unwrap me all night long…"

"I think that's enough of the kinky euphemisms."

"So I'll see you later then?"

"As fast as I can get home… After stopping at Frederick's of Hollywood--"

"Get something crotchless."

"Why's that?"

"I'll show you when you get here?"

"Too bashful to say it over the phone?"

"You want me tainting our son's virginal ears?"

"He won't even get his first memory for years…"

"Okay…" There a soft shuffling, Nick murmuring to Natalie to keep an eye on Zachary. A moment later, "I plan on making love to you against the door as soon as you walk in."

"Green?" Alana suddenly asked. "You love green on me, right?"

"Green," Nick confirmed.

"I love you, Handsome."

"I love you more. Now go be dazzling for some more drooling men."

"I'll be home soon," she promised in a southern drawl as she snapped her phone shut, waving toward the growing crowd before turning back to Ryan.