What's Simple Is True by Teri
Chapter 1: The Turn Of The Tide by Teri
Author's Notes:
WOOO it's starting! Nick and Alyssa hold a barbecue =)
What’s Simple Is True: Sequel To AS
Chapter One: The Turn of The Tide

“NICKOLAS GENE WHERE DID YOU PUT THE STEAKS?!” Alyssa screamed at the top of her lungs from the kitchen. Nick laughed as he came down the stairs.

“In the freezer in the garage.” He said walking in the room making her jump out of her skin.

She whirled around and put her hand to her chest. “Jesus fucking Christ!” She said breathlessly. He laughed and walked over to her backing her up against the cold stainless steel of the refrigerator. Alyssa grinned as he pinned her up against the doors.

He leaned in letting their lips just lightly graze each other before he pulled back as she began to move forward to kiss him. “You kiss your mother with that mouth?” He replied making her giggle at him.

“Well I suck you off with this mouth so I don’t think you should really care either way…”

He smirked and kissed her softly letting her get slightly more aggressive she tugged at his hair with her fingers lightly scraping over his scalp making him moan into the kiss and press his hips into hers. They broke the kiss smiling at each other. “Do you think…that we have enough time for a quickie before everyone gets here?” She asked with a small grin on her face. It frustrated her to no end that they still hadn’t had sex even after the events of the previous day on the boat.

“I don’t think so…” He said hearing the doorbell ring. “Besides someone else is aleady here.”

Alyssa groaned and pouted, “You sir are a fucking tease.”

“So says the one who likes to give hand jobs in public libraries.” He quipped back. Alyssa giggled and went back to cutting up vegetables and went out to the garage to grab the steaks and chicken. She threw them in the microwave defrosting them as Nick went to the front door. He looked throw the peephole seeing AJ and Kellie standing there. He opening the door and grinned at them. “Hey losers.”

Kellie rolled her eyes and handed him a plate of homemade fudge she’d made. “Assbag.” She replied giving him a hug. “I missed you Carter”

“Missed you to Kel. Alex, how are you?” He asked giving AJ a hug. “I’m all right, where’s the lil lady I miss her!” He said as Nick nodded towards the kitchen. AJ ran off in that direction and made Kellie giggle at him.

“He’s so excited that she’s feeling better. Mostly we’re just happy that you two are back to being happy again. He won’t say anything but he really envies your relationship with Ali.” Kellie admitted giving him a hug.

“Thanks Kel.” He said in return. He was definitely taken aback by her admission. Did that mean that she envied them too? He hoped that she and AJ could hopefully find that measure of happiness he’d been able to find. Things definitely hadn’t been easy for them to say the least and there was still a lot for them to do to grow together. At least now, he felt like he had the confidence in their determination and their love to be able to overcome those obstacles that were still left for them.

Meanwhile in the kitchen AJ walked in seeing Alyssa standing there in short jean shorts with frayed edges, a black camisole and the strings of her bikini wrapped around her neck. “There’s my favorite brunette!” He said with a warm grin. He felt good that she was feeling more like the Alyssa he’d grown to be so close with on the Never Gone tour two years prior.

Alyssa looked up and smiled brightly. “Alex!” She beamed giving him a hug. “How are you?” She asked breaking the hug and going back over to mix cream cheese and diced green chilies for her favorite appetizer; pin wheels.

“Good, Kellie’s on her way in…”

“And how are things going there? Good right?” She asked with a curious look on her face. She’d hoped for her friend’s sake that they’d found happiness together. After all the drama Aaron had put Kellie through, she needed a man and not a little boy. She hoped sincerely that Kellie had finally let herself go and be in a relationship that meant more to both sides rather than just one.

AJ grinned and nodded not wanting to give too much away. At that moment Kellie came walking in with Nick behind her. Nick walked over and wrapped his arms around Alyssa from behind while she continued to work in the kitchen. Kellie grinned seeing the physical contact between her two friends if that was any indication as to their recovery it gave Kellie a little bit of hope that maybe love could conquer all.

Later that afternoon…

Alyssa busied herself in the kitchen mixing virgin and non-virgin daiquiris for everyone as she was surrounded by the women she held close to her heart. “So…you and Nick…” Kellie started with a snarky grin. Alyssa rolled her eyes and dropped some diced pineapple into the blender.

“Me and Nick…?”

“Yeah have you two done some mattress mambo yet?” Lori interjected wanting to skip the pleasantries. She knew that something had definitely happened recently between the two of them and wondered exactly what that was.

She rolled her eyes and dished up the pinwheels she’d been making. “What are you guys, John Jay and Rich now?” She said laughing a little at her reference to her hometown DJs’ favorite phrase to describe sex.

“Still no sex huh?” Kellie asked in all sincerity. Just then Nick walked in the patio door hearing Kellie’s question. He hesitated before heading into the kitchen wondering what exactly Alyssa would say. He knew she always talked to the girls about their relationship and even though sometimes it bothered him that she so openly discussed it with them he was curious as to what she had to say when he wasn’t around.

“I’m not saying anything.” She said blushing a little.

“But something happened?” Kristin asked with a big grin.

The room was silent for a moment, “Oh come on Ali you always tell us!” Lori whined a little really wanting to know why her best friend was being so mum about what may or may not have happened.

“Well maybe I don’t want to talk about it okay? Things have changed, and I don’t really feel the need to tell you guys everything anymore. I’m happy with just being with him so it’s not all that important anymore what you think.”

Each of the girls got a shocked expression on their faces, that was definitely a completely different response than anything she’d ever given them before. “Something must have happened. Was it good?”

Alyssa sighed and closed her eyes momentarily. “We didn’t have sex yet. He’s really slowed us down from where we were. Maybe this is how it was meant to be, instead of hopping in the sack and deciding on a relationship later.”

“Do you think the pact ruined everything?” Kellie asked unsure if that’s where this conversation was heading.

Alyssa shrugged, “I don’t know maybe, but then again, it was our fault we didn’t talk to each other anymore. I didn’t realize how much I missed just laying around and talking like we used to. It’s the little things like that, that I didn’t think I would miss but I did and we have that back now. Hell we joke around again like back years ago. We’d been so consumed with bullshit and tragedy in our lives that I think I lost sight of how much I need his friendship even more than any of the physical stuff.”

“Wow…therapy’s been good to you hasn’t it?” Lori asked completely astonished by Alyssa’s insight and honesty. It shocked her how much of a turnaround she’d made so quickly within the last month. At the same time it made her happy that her sister-in-law had finally begun to understand what a real loving relationship was all about.

“Yeah it has…it’s at least made me see how good he’s been to me. No one else would have stuck by me through everything we’ve been through. Not even Collin would have.”

“Honey he loves you…” Kristin reasoned making everyone nod their heads in agreement.

Alyssa nodded too, “I know, but I guess I just didn’t realize it until now how much he really does care. I guess I don’t know I just felt for so long that everything was one sided, like I knew he cared but I just didn’t want to let myself really believe it was real. I wanted him to be like every other guy and eventually leave me or just get sick of me.”

Olivia snickered and hugged her sister grimacing slightly still feeling a bit out of it from her attack two months before hand. “Sweets come on it’s Nick…when has he ever not wanted to be around you?” She said breaking away.

Alyssa nodded, “Yeah…I know but I’m just glad it’s different now.”

“Have you told him that?”

“No not yet, I plan to just I need to do it at the right time. There’s so much I want to say to him about everything, and its just gonna take some time for me to get it all out. Anyways can we please stop talking about Nick and I now? Sometimes I feel like that’s all we ever talk about. So tell me about Mason and Baylee and Jamie..”

“Jamie can count to 15 now, and he’s only a year and a half.”

“Wow, that’s really good, you and Clark teaching him all that I’m assuming?” Alyssa asked. She loved her nephew and how much he looked like a perfect mix of Clark and Lori. While she didn’t ever really get the chance to know Noah, she felt like maybe she could make up for it a little bit by being the best aunt she could be to her small nephew.

“Yep…” Lori said with pride, they all tried to avoid the topic of children around Alyssa since what had happened with Noah, but all of them felt at ease now that Alyssa had brought up the topic herself and seemed to be rather happy with talking about the two small boys and infant that were all out on the deck with everyone else. Nick walked into the kitchen finally making Alyssa look up and grin at him.

“Hey you…” She said with a grin. “Here are the steaks and chicken all defrosted and marinated.” She said handing him a large heavy plate.

He smiled and kissed her temple as he took the plate from her. “Thank you…” He replied not exactly replying to her handing him the food but the conversation he’d overheard. He laughed to himself as he turned and left the kitchen at all the times he’d overheard her talking with her friends over the years yet this was so much different than all those other times.

He went over to the grill firing it up as the other girls walked out carrying plates of food and glasses and pitchers for everyone. “Hey baby…” AJ said as Kellie took her seat next to him. All the girls watched Alyssa as she walked over to Nick who was standing at the grill throwing the steaks and chicken on over the flames.

Kellie smirked, “Guys…” She whispered to everyone. “Look at them…” She added making everyone turn their glances towards the couple at the grill.

Alyssa wrapped her arms around his waist hugging him from behind. She leaned up and rested her chin on his shoulder. “I love you…” She whispered just quietly enough for him to hear her.

He took a deep breath and placed his hand over her folded ones that were resting at his waist. He grinned to himself and rubbed his fingers absently over the soft skin of her hands. “I love you too…” He whispered back making her grin and kiss his neck. “You’re really asking for it aren’t you?” He added craning his neck a little bit smiling at her.

“Maybe…then again…good things come to those who wait…” She replied breaking away from him.

Kellie grinned widely at the display though no one at the table heard what was said between them there was one thing for sure. “They’re back…” She announced making everyone smile that somehow they’d been able to finally get through to each other.

That evening…

Nick watched in amazement as Baylee chased Alyssa around the back yard. He laughed a little every time Baylee got close and she’d shriek and run faster away. Alyssa ran up onto the deck hiding behind Nick’s chair. “Save me!” She shrieked.

“Nah you’re on your own.” He chided pushing her out into the open for Baylee to get her with a squirt gun.

“Assbag!” She shrieked as Baylee got her again and she ran into the house. Baylee ran after her quickly and within a few moments there was a loud crash of what sounded like glass breaking. Nick stood up and rushed inside along with Brian and Leighanne worried that their son had gotten hurt. They walked in seeing Alyssa kneeling by Baylee and a broken picture frame on the ground of Alyssa and her father. “Hey it’s okay Bay…” She explained a little trying to soothe the upset child.

“I’m sorry I broke your frame…” He replied pouting.

Alyssa gave him a sympathetic look, “It’s all right just please be more careful next time, a picture frame is completely replaceable but you lil one are not.” She explained giving him a hug. “I’d hate to see you get hurt okay? So go play outside and be careful there’s glass on the floor.” She explained as he carefully went out of the room. Nick grinned and grabbed the dust pan and broom. He went over to her and knelt down as she picked up the frame with a disappointed sigh.

“That was really great of you to not yell at Baylee.”

“What else was I supposed to do? Be a total bitch and flip out over a stupid frame? At least the picture itself isn’t ruined. I can always get a new frame, I’m just glad that Baylee didn’t get cut or something.” He helped her clean up and took the dustpan over and tossed out the broken frame and glass. He took her and hugged her close to him. She broke away a moment later and grinned at him. “Any reason for that?”

He shrugged and took her hand leading them back out to the party and their guests. They took their seats and joined in the conversation that was animatedly going around with a small glance and a grin to each other they each felt like they’d come full circle.




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