The weeks that followed dropped the Carter family into a comfortable routine of work, school, and decorating. No one could deny how much happier Nick was with being able to go home every night and be with his wife and daughter. It showed where it mattered. In the music.

Victoria Winslow called, making tentative plans for their interview that kept getting changed. Lexie joked with her that she could just say "Don't call me, I'll call you."

Messages flew between Marty, Lexie's PI in L.A., and her. He still found tidbits of information, but nothing about the boy's father or even Christine's real name.

"It's like she didn't exist before her first modeling contract." Marty had told her. "I've had people talk to her old acquaintances, and while she made a brief appearance after she and Nick broke up, she vanished again about a year later."

"Sorry, sweetheart, but I've got no idea." He sighed heavily.

Lexie had seen how sick she was, and reports had indicated that she rarely left her apartment these days. Lexie knew she had to make a decision and make it quick.

"You're up late." Nick's musical voice mused from her home office door.

"Nick!" Lexie gasped as Nick startled her out of her thoughts. "Is it that late already?" She looked at her watch.

"Yes, it is." He smiled softly. "Whatcha' working on?"

Lexie looked up at the computer as he came closer and closed one window, the latest message from the PI, leaving another up.

"I'm looking at this showing at the MacFey Gallery in New York. Nice primitive. . ." She began as he came to look over her shoulder.

"Oh, don't start. I never know what you're talking about." Nick laughed as he threw up his hands and sat on the edge of the oak desk.

"The show is going on for another week. . ." She sighed.

"You want to go?"

"Could I? I mean, I know you probably don't want to go."

"I know I don't want to go, but you could go." He leaned over and kissed the top of her head. "Why don't you make arrangements?"

"It'll just be for like two days. . ."

"I know, I know." He got to his feet, straightening his back and stretching. He gave out a great yawn and then his arms dropped to his side. "It's safe to assume you want to go; that's why you brought it up."

"I'd love to go." Lexie smiled up at him.

"Go. I'll miss you, but I'd just be a pain in the ass if I went with you." He returned her smile.

"Thanks, Nick." She smiled, getting to her feet and hugging him. "You're the best, you know that?"

She prayed he would understand. Understand what she was going to do. He kissed her sweetly on the lips, not knowing that when she returned from New York nothing was ever going to be the same again.

The recent headaches were intensely painful. Howie wanted to just screw his life away to get away from the stress of running the record company, but then one of children would walk by and he'd remember why he was doing this in the first place.

Leah soothed his boiling forehead with cool rags and medication for days on end, but they still hung on. She finally convinced him to go to the doctor, and he just knew what she would say when she heard what the doctor had said.

"Retire. Quit. We have plenty of money. I want you at home."

Howie also knew he couldn't do that, even though the pain growing in his temples just might convince him to listen to her.

"Howie, I warned you this might happen. You're having small, very small, vascular events in your brain now. You need to take some time to rest. To heal."

Howie steeled himself as he walked through the halls of "Sweet D Records," greeting the employees and heading toward his office. He'd have to prepare his assistant, Michelle, for his leave of absence. He'd have to convince her that he'd be back after he named an interim President and CEO, even though he doubted he would be back.

"You look like crap." Michelle smiled brightly as he returned her grin with a weak one of his own. That was the first sign to her that something was wrong. He took her arm and steered her toward his office.

"We have to talk." He said slowly.

Michelle went with him into the office and took a seat as he closed the door. He took a seat next to her, instead of sitting behind his desk. He rested his head in his hand for a moment and then rubbed his eyes.

"Howie?"

"I got to take some time off, Michie. I don't have a choice." He spoke softly.

"What did the doctor say?"

"I'm having bleeders again. I have to rest and heal."

"Then that's what you have to do. . ."

"I need to tell you. I don't think I'm going to come back." He admitted.

"What?! You're going to sell the company?"

"I'm not sure, actually." He sighed, still unwilling to look at her as he continued to rub his eyes. "This is the first time I've said it out loud." He finally looked up at her. "I'll find someone to run things for a while. Maybe six months and then we'll see what the options are. It's my company, and I had wanted to leave it to my children. I hoped that maybe one day, John might run it. . ."

"It's more important that he have his Dad."

"I won't let anything happen to you. You've been invaluable to me and SDR. I want to protect everyone here."

"I know." She swallowed hard. He reached over and covered her small hand with his, giving it an affectionate squeeze.

"Hell, I've told you before I told my wife." He chuckled dryly.

The little blonde only nodded, unable to say another word. Howie knew it would harder to tell her than Leah.

True to Howie’s prediction, Leah was not only relieved, but wanted him to start his leave earlier than 30 days from now. They would have the family over and tell them this weekend. Right now he was in bed early, waiting for the pain medication to kick in. Caroline had fallen asleep in his arms, and they were resting together in their bed. The boys were out playing when she heard the front door open.

"John, Tyler. Be quiet, your father is resting. . ." She called out softly.

"Okay, but he's been dead a while." She heard AJ call back softly.

"AJ McLean!" She gasped, slipping into his arms for a hug.

"Hey, good-looking! What's shaking?!" He kissed her cheek. "I swear you and Howie are the only multi-millionaires I know who leave the front door unlocked."

"That's just so the kids can get in and out. You want to stay for dinner, there is plenty. Where's Alex?"

"He's with his grandparents this weekend." AJ smiled. "Suzanna's parents." He explained.

"Oh, that's right. " She nodded.

"So, you'll have a dinner guest." AJ smiled as he took a seat at the kitchen table. "Where's D?"

"He's resting. He's got a terrible headache."

"Yeah, he's been having them awhile. He didn't say what the doctor said, though."

Leah let out a sigh as she reached for a coffee cup for him, pouring him a cup.

"It's that bad?"

Leah set the cup in front of him and took the seat next to AJ. She pushed her long blonde hair off her shoulders and then rested her elbows on the table.

"He's having bleeders, ones they are pretty sure they can heal up with medication." She said softly. "We're going to tell the family the day after tomorrow. Have them over for a Saturday afternoon. He'll be taking a leave of absence from SDR."

"Really? How long?"

"So far? At least 6 months."

"Who's going to run the show?"

"We don't know yet. He's pretty sure he'll name Steve Russell, his Senior Vice President, to run the company in the interim."

"He's a good man." AJ mused with a nod of his head.

"I think so, too. He's going to give him 30 days for the transition." Leah sighed. "I just wish he'd leave earlier. I don't want anything to happen to him."

"No one does, Leah." AJ reached out and gave her hands a squeeze. "Have you told Lexie or the children?"

"No, we're going to have her and Nick over Friday night. Lexie is going to a showing in New York this weekend."

"She won't want to go once she hears about Howie."

"There's nothing she can do, so she might as well go. I mean, he just needs to take the time off and rest."

"You're worried sick. I can tell." AJ sighed.

"Of course I am." She choked.

"Oh, honey, don't cry. If you start, then I'm gonna start blubbering, and it's all just going to be a mess." AJ joked lamely, rubbing her back.

"I won't, I promise." She smiled back weakly. "Thanks, AJ."

"No prob, Leah." He winked.

"So, you'll pick CJ up at school on Friday?" Nick asked over dinner.

"Yes, then meet you in Orlando."

"We should just spend the weekend in Orlando, Dad. I mean, Lexie's gonna be gone, so we could hang out there." CJ announced.

Nick arched a brow at her, "Hmmm, that might be a good idea. I do think Leighanne is coming from Atlanta for Saturday's get together at Howie and Leah's."

"I can't believe they won't reschedule." Lexie groaned.

"It's no big deal." Nick shrugged.

"This is all of a sudden, don’t you think? You don't think something is wrong, do you?" Lexie asked.

"I don't think so." Nick shrugged around a mouthful of Cook's chicken dumplings. "Just sounded like a hangout kinda deal."

"Maybe we could stay with Grandpa and Grandma." CJ added.

"You really don't want to be here this weekend with me, do you?" Nick chuckled.

"Everyone I know is in Orlando." She sighed.

"You just want to flirt with all the boys." Nick teased her.

"Dad!" She groaned loudly, putting her head on the table.

"Nick, stop teasing her!" Lexie laughed, but she and Nick were cracking up at CJ's dramatics. "You guys could go doing something fun in Orlando. Why don't you just get a room?"

"Okay, okay. We'll get a room." Nick nodded as he stabbed at the food on his plate.

"What about staying with AJ?" Lexie asked.

"Naw, Alex is with his grandparents this weekend. He's going to. . .uh. . ." Nick stammered.

"He's gonna have Tina over." CJ smirked.

"Young lady. . ."Nick warned her.

"It's true!" She declared.

"Please don't remind me." Lexie groaned.

AJ did finally tell Lexie and was surprised that she wasn't more accepting. Lexie's attitude hadn't been anything more than lukewarm platitudes. AJ was hoping she'd be happier for him, but she turned out to be rather reserved. The other guys chalked up to the fact that she was his 'dad', but Nick figured AJ wasn't accepting that answer.

"Lexie, don't. AJ and Tina are very happy together."

"Very?" She said dryly.

"Yes, very." He corrected her. "You're just jealous, you know that."

"I'm what?!" She gasped. "You've lost your mind."

"No, I mean it. Why else can't you be happy for them?"

"No one would like to see AJ with someone more than I would, but why her? She's just. . .not what I'd expect from him."

"What? She's smart? Intelligent?" Nick smiled. "You're just used to seeing him with other kinds of women."

"Bimbos." CJ piped in and Nick slowly turned his head toward her. "That's what Grandpa said."

"You know, I've really got to talk to all of those guys." Nick sighed.

"I don't dislike her." Lexie said defensively.

"Coulda fooled me."

"I just don't think she's the right woman for AJ."

"You mean for your 'dad'." Nick said to her.

"You're being a pain in the ass." She warned him.

"Did you buy that doghouse yet, Dad?" CJ asked him. "Looks like you're about to move in."

Howie was nervous. He didn't want to tell Lexie he was sick again. Then again, it wasn't a big deal, really. He'd get better in time.

He had been glad that Leah had told AJ, because he didn't have the heart. She told him he looked shocked, worried, and very sad when she said it. He didn't think he could bear to see that on his friend's face. He also didn't want to see it on his daughter’s face, either. Or Nick's. Or anyone's.

Oh, crap.

"It's going to be okay." Michelle said quietly as she set a bottle of water in front of him at his desk.

"Yeah, she's not your daughter." He sighed, looking up. She simply arched a dark brow at him in agreement.

Later that afternoon, Howie and Nick drove to the house and waited for the girls to show up. He didn't think Nick suspected anything because they had sworn AJ to secrecy.

Nick was quick to scramble into comfortable clothes and play basketball in the court in the backyard with the boys as he made the excuse to stay and help Leah with dinner. Nick and CJ were going to be their houseguests for the weekend, which was fine with both Howie and Leah. It would be better to have family close and Nick was family now, not that he ever wasn't.

"Nick should be more careful." Leah sighed, watching him play with the boys from the kitchen. "He's not a kid any more."

"He's always been a kid. A big kid. He'll be fine." Howie sighed.

"I'm sorry, honey. I know you want to be out there with the boys."

"I will again. Don't worry." He smiled weakly, kissing her cheek. He looked out the back window and watched John hang from Nick's back. In no time, John would be taller than Howie. God, time flies. . .

"Dad? Mom?" They heard Lexie call as she walked in the front door.

"We're in the kitchen!" Howie responded.

"Hi, Grandpa!" CJ squealed, throwing herself into his arms.

"Hey, pretty girl." He laughed as she moved from him to Leah.

"Where's my dad?" She asked eagerly.

"At the court in the back." Howie pointed out.

"Okay! See ya!" She laughed, running to join Nick and the other kids.

"Not much of a 'how do you do'." Howie laughed.

"Not when her dad's around." Lexie laughed with him as she slipped into his arms. "She's looking forward to this weekend with him."

"Can't you cancel your trip?" Leah asked.

"No. This is the last weekend of the showing. I really want to see this." Lexie smiled, not really seeing the exchange between her parents as she sat at the kitchen table. "Besides, I'm sure y’all have that much more fun without me! I know those two will."

"That's not true." Leah said.

"I'm kidding, Mom. They need some time together, and I need some time alone." She sighed.

Howie sat down across from his daughter, watching her speak with her mother. Leah was the best mother Howie could have picked for her and all of his children. He must have done something right at some point, he thought, as he watched her slim form move around the kitchen while the two women chattered.

She and Lexie were back to their regular trips to the salons, and Leah's hair was nearly the same natural blonde it was when they met. They had both gotten their hair trimmed and their nails done. They were even taking CJ and Caroline to "start them young."

Leah's honey-colored hair laid curled gently down her back. Very loose today, because that's how he liked it. She was one of those women who could retain their figure after having children, so she was as beautiful as the day he first met her. Regardless of what she thought, he remembered it like it was yesterday.

"Earth to Dad." Lexie snapped her fingers in his face.

"Huh?!" He was startled from his memories.

"It's quite a shindig tomorrow, huh?" She smiled.

"Yeah, real big." He nodded. "I'm going to go get the boys cleaned up. Dinner about done?"

Howie got to his feet and headed toward the back door without waiting for a response. He knew her routine well enough, he knew it was time to eat. He hustled the kids and Nick into the house to clean up, and they all settled down for dinner.

After the loud family dinner, Nick followed a distracted Howie into his study. Nick instantly remembered the night of Lexie's birthday when he had joined her in here to reassure her about Howie and AJ. He remembered the irresistible pull she had on him that he had to kiss her temple. Had it really begun that far back?

"Earth to Nick." Howie joked as they each headed toward the leather chairs in the corner around the fireplace.

"Oh, hey." Nick chuckled. "Just daydreaming, that’s all." He smiled as he took a seat across from Howie. "You okay, D?"

"Yeah, yeah." Howie sighed with a wave of his hand.

"Are you sure?" Lexie asked from the doorway where she stood with her mother. "You seem very distracted."

"Where are the kids?"

"They’re in the theatre watching a movie." Leah said, leading Lexie into the dark wood room.

"Okay. I need you two to sit down." Howie sighed, getting to his feet to lead them to the dark leather couch.

"Dad, what is it?" Lexie was suddenly very anxious.

"There is something I need to tell you, but I don't want you to tell anyone until tomorrow. AJ already knows, as does Michelle at the office." Howie began. He stood behind a chair, gripping the back until his knuckles turned white.

"Howie. . ." Nick began.

"No, no. It's not too bad. I'm taking a medical leave of absence from the record company. . ."

"What?! What for?!" Lexie demanded, moving to the edge of her seat.

"I went to the doctor this week and there's been some bleeding. Not a lot, but enough that I need to take some time off." He sighed, not looking at them.

"Are. . .are you okay?" Lexie asked, her voice suddenly so small. That made her father look up into her dark eyes.

"Oh, yeah, baby. In time and with medication, they will heal up. I'm asking Steve Russell, my most senior VP, to step in for the next six months, and then we'll see where things are at." Howie nodded. The shock and silence was thick in the room until Howie continued, "There shouldn't be any bearing on your project, Nick, or any other future projects. SDR will run like it always did."

"Not like always. It won't be the same without you. You care for the people there." Nick said firmly.

"Steve is a good guy."

"He's not you." Nick muttered, knowing that Howie was the reason he was recording and creating music at all. He was the only one willing to take the risk, and he did it out of love, regardless of what the contract said. Howie had given Nick back his will and his desire and his dreams. It wouldn't be the same without him there every day.

"When does your leave start?" Lexie asked.

"In 30 days, give or take. I need to get Steve and Michelle settled and get some other people in place. I won't be working full time after today, but I'll still be around." Howie smiled. "You're my new cash cow. I'm not letting you out of my sight, Kaos."

"I'm not going anywhere." Nick agreed.

"So, AJ knows?"

"Yes." Leah stood behind Howie, her arms around his waist.

"Is Tina taking care of things still?" Lexie asked.

"Yes. SDR needs her. I'm not thoroughly convinced the company is any danger, but it never hurts to have a couple of guard dogs around. I'm sure she'll make a good sentry." Howie smiled at his daughter. "You don't like her, do you?"

"Why do people keep saying that?!" Lexie groaned, getting to her feet. She crossed the distance between them and put her arms around him. "It's not true."

"Of course it's not, baby. Of course, it's not." Howie mused against her ear.