"Hey Jess," Sanya greeted her roommate as she entered their comfortable townhouse after a waste of an evening.

"Sup?" Jessica replied from her worn in corner on the couch. "How's Mark?" she asked inquisitively as she stopped channel surfing on MTV.

"I don't know and I don't care," Sanya huffed as she fell back on the chair.

Jessica winced. "Ouch. I'm assuming your not back together?"

"No way in hell with that jerk." Sanya took one of the throw pillows and smothered her scream of exhaustion.

Jessica laughed at Sanya's misery and was promptly met with a pillow in the face.

"Score 1 for Sanya and zip for Mark!" Jessica giggled at their antics and gave her best friend a high five.

"I cannot believe I dated him," Sanya sighed and noticed the TV. "What time is it?"

"It's time for the #1 video on TRL, which just happens to be-"

"Hold on!" Sanya interrupted. "Let me guess..." she stuck out her hand like a swami and put a look of deep thought on her face. "Is it.... The Backstreet Boys?"

"Ding! Ding! Ding! We have a winner! Carson, tell her what she's won!" Jessica yelled as she unmuted the TV just in time to hear him announce the totals.

"And with 31% of your e-mails and 34% of your calls, here's your #1 pick of the day. Beating *Nsync for a 5th straight day, here's the Backstreet Boys with "I Want It That Way". Check it out, TRL," Carson spoke to the viewing audience with his ever-present, sarcastic smirk.

Jessica cranked the TV loud enough not to disturb the neighbors and sat there in awe of the screen. Before Brian's verse was even over she began to squeal. She made her fingers and thumbs into a square and framed the TV. "Here comes the poster shot..."

"Hey! Brian's mine!" Sanyas laughed, but noticed Jessica wasn't even paying attention now that Nick was curling his lips perfectly on screen. "No drool, hun. The couch wasn't made to be drooled on."

Jessica didn't utter another noise until the show was completely over.

"They are all so do-able," Jessica sighed and kept making the little square with her fingers

"Riiiiiiigght," Sanya laughed. "Somehow, I knew that was coming."

"But I gotta be realistic. It's never gonna happen. Not with my screwed up life, at least."

"Now, Jess." Sanya said sternly. "You know, you could have any guy you want."

"Sanya-" Jess was cut off by the sound of a little girls voice. "Yes, Cici-hun?"

"Can we go to 'da park now?" she pleaded with her baby blue eyes and little, pouty lips.

"Sure thing. Go get your shoes," Jessica told the little girl and her face lit up like a christmas tree. She ran back to her room with her little medium blonde curls bobbing behind her. Once the she was out of ear-shot, Jessica spoke freely to Sanya again. "Guys just don't dig girls with babies, Sanya."

Sanya shrugged a response as her daughter ran back in the room and sat on the floor. She put on her "Wee-bok's" and velcroed them tightly. She stood up and held out a hand for Jessica. Jessica giggled and picked up the little girl, swinging her on her back. Sanya grabbed her keys, locked up, and they were off to the park.

"Hey Nick! That's traveling!" Brian grinned while he and his 4 best friends played a game of basketball in the park. They were in Orlando for a month before their next World Tour started.

"It was not, Bri and you know it."

"Hate to break this to ya, little man... but it was."

"No one asked you, Kev," Nick turned and retorted with a smile. He was in game mode, but that didn't stop him from kidding around.

"Ok! You're benched, Nick!" Howie laughed and pushed Nick aside while Kevin came in and took his place. They high fived each other because they were, after all, on the same team. Instead of sitting court side, Nick went and sat on one of the swings nearby.
 
"Man it feels good to be free," Nick thought to himself as he sat motionless in a chair made for moving. "A full month off is exactly what we all needed," he sighed to himself. "And I'm so glad we get to spend this time home."
 
Just then, a little girl with medium blonde hair and bright blue eyes came and took a seat on the swing next to him. She looked about 3 years old and you could easily tell she had parents of different races. She was outfitted in a pink t-shirt and jean, ''Osh-Kosh-B'gosh" overalls. She even had on little, white, "Wee-Bok's". Her curls fell all around her face, coming out of her ponytail and she scrunched her pug nose when she smiled. All and all, she was your average, extremely cute, little girl.
 
She looked up at him and smiled. "Hi!" she chirped. "What's your name?"
 
"My name's Nick. What's yours?" he smiled.
 
"My name is Kayci Ayanna Robinson. I live at 2410 Walnut circle. Where do you live?"

"I don't live around here," he answered.
 
"Oh... I'm 4. How old are you?" Kayci asked with wide eyes.
 
"I'm 19."
 
"Wow," she whispered softly and it made Nick smile. "You're the same age as my mommy. Wanna meet 'er?"
 
"Sure thing, but I really don't think-" Nick was interrupted when someone started yelling in their direction.
 
"Kayci! Kayci!" the approaching voice repeated in a concerned tone.
 
"That's my mommy now."
 
Nick nodded and looked up. The sight he saw took his breath away. The girl running towards him was about 5'6'' and slim. To Nick, she had a great body and there was no way she could be this child's mother. She had this awesome reddish brownish, dark hair that came to the middle of her arm. She was black and had noticeable features like her almond shaped, brown eyes, and her full lips.
 
The girl came up in front of Kayci and kneeled down to her level.
 
"Now, what have I told you about running off like that, Cici?"
 
"Don't do it," Kayci sighed and looked down. The girl kissed Kayci's forehead and stood up. Finally, she noticed the guy next to her daughter.
 
"Thank you for... well... just thank you for not being some psychotic maniac who wants to steal my daughter," she shrugged and he laughed slightly. She outstretched her hand to him. "I'm Jessica, and I see you've met my little rug rat, Cici."
 
"Oh mommy! This is Nick. He's 19. Doesn't he look like that guy on TV that you drool over?" Kayci happily exclaimed and took her mothers hand and put it in his. Jessica tried to cover her embarrassment in front of this complete stranger, but then she was forced to do a double take. That blonde hair and those gorgeous blue eyes? Kayci was a lot smarter than she thought.
 
"So, you're Nick Carter, huh?" she asked and he nodded. "It's a pleasure."
 
"The pleasure's all mine," he said with a slight smirk grazing his features.
 
Jessica blushed at his words and noticed their fingers were still intertwined and dropped his hand.
 
"I'm sorry if Kayci bothered you. We'll just leave you alone now," Jessica said as she picked her daughter up off of the swing.
 
Nick reached out and gently grasped her arm. "She was no bother at all. I enjoyed the company."
 
Jessica shrugged and sat back down on the swing with Kayci in her lap. Kayci wiggled free of her mothers arms and was about to run off, but stopped herself in her own tracks.
 
"Mommy, can I go play with Sanya?" she pouted playfully. She was quite the actress.
 
"That's fine, but don't... run," Jessica warned but Kayci had already taken off. Nick laughed at Kayci's anxious behavior and Jessica tried to stifle the giggles as they came from the back of her throat. "Soooo..." he was at a loss for words.
 
"Yeah." Jessica agreed to absolutely nothing, smiled, nodded, and then broke out into laughter again. Nick joined in with her, finding the same 'absolutely nothing' amusing.
 
"If I'm not being too nosy, can I ask you some questions?"
 
Jessica sighed. "About Kayci?" This was the part where guys get scared and run away.
 
"No. About You," he got up off of his swing and stood behind her holding the chains. He looked down at her and she looked up at him. "Want a push?"
 
"Sure," Jessica smiled and was happy he was behind her and couldn't see her blush.
 
"So how old are you? You look to young to be a mother already."
 
"I'll take that as a compliment."
 
"It was meant to be one," he flirted back.
 
"I'm 19, the same as you," she said and wanted to melt into a pool of Jell-O right there.
 
"You had Kayci when you were 16?"
 
"Yeah. I was on a road trip when I was 15, got pregnant, and had her at the beginning of my junior year in high school. She just had her fourth birthday last month."
 
"Wow," he said and was silent for a little bit. Jessica thought he was thinking of leaving, so she sighed. "What's the sigh for?"
 
"See this is the part where most guys say 'Ok. Time to move on.'"
 
Nick stopped the swing and whispered in her ear. "I'm not most guys."
 
Jessica was sure her heart had stopped.
 
"So, where exactly is 2410 Walnut circle?" he asked sitting on the swing next to her again. Nick noticed how her face looked slightly red and she was smiling.
 
"Cici told you her whole 2 page life story, huh?"
 
"Not really," he said and put a finger under her chin and tilted her head up so she had to look at him in the eye. She smiled and her eyes darted back to the ground.
 
"It's just down the block," Jessica replied and turned and pointed, happy to have a reason to stop looking at him for a moment. When she didn't turn around, Nick decided to ask the question that had been on his mind.
 
"Where's her father?"
 
"If I had things my way, he'd be rotting in hell... but he's up in New York. He doesn't even know she exists," she frowned.
 
"So you're single?" he asked and she quickly replaced the look of sadness with one of curiosity. Why would he care?
 
"Yeah. It's hard to find guys who stay with you-"
 
"After they find out you have a daughter," Nick finished for her.
 
"How'd you know?"
 
"Guys are jerks. I should know. I am one."
 
Jessica smiled and looked Nick dead in the eye. It caught him off guard and he just stared. "Oh... So, you're a jerk too?"
 
"I'd like to hope not, but I can be when I want to be."
 
"That means I don't even really know what side of you am I talking to right now?" Jessica pretended to be confused but was just messing with his head, as she got up and started walking away.
 
Nick ran up to her and took her hand and stood in front of her. "You're seeing the I-really-wanna-get-to-know-you-better side," he blurted out and even seemed surprised with himself. What the hell was he doing getting involved on a break, with a woman who had a kid already?
 
Jessica smiled and leaned up to his ear. "Well tell that jerk side of you to stay hidden for a while," she whispered in his ear and the sensation gave him the chills. She backed away slowly to see his face turning a lovely shade of pink. "You're really cute when you blush," she flat out told him and kissed his cheek.
 
Nick, in turn, kissed her cheek and watched her face get red. Then he leaned in and whispered in her ear. "So are you."
 
Jessica kept herself calm. It was a peck on the cheek. They pecked fans on the cheek all the time. It was nothing to get all hot and bothered over. She turned her eyes away from him and directed her attention to her shoes. "Thank You."
 
"For what? The kiss? 'Cause I can do better than a kiss on the cheek," he grinned and leaned in but Jessica put a finger up to his lips. Ok, maybe it was meant to be more than just a friendly, fan peck.
 
"I was thanking you for not being like most guys, but then again... maybe you are," she giggled and began walking again with Nick towards the basketball court where all the guys, Sanya, and Kayci were. "Man, I wanna play," she pouted and looked just like her daughter. Then again, her daughter must take after her.
 
"C'mon," he said and started pulling her to the court.
 
Jessica struggled back. "C'mon, where?"
 
"You can meet the guys and then we're gonna play."
 
"We?"
 
"Yes, we. Unless you're scared you'll lose?" Nick teased.
 
"We'll see if you're so sure of yourself on the court then," Jessica said and quickly kissed Nick's lips leaving him standing there with a silly grin on his face. "Race ya!" she exclaimed excitedly and took off running for the court. She couldn't believe the way she was acting. She hadn't flirted this much since... she met Kayci's father.
 
When Nick came to his senses, he shook his head and ran after her. Jessica was almost there, when Nick started to catch up to her. She screamed like a kid, and turned quickly going in another direction right passed the table that Sanya, Kayci, and Brain were sitting on.
 
"Go, Jess!" Sanya yelled at her friend just as Nick sped by them too.
 
"Get her, Nick!" Brian cheered his friend on.
 
Jessica ran around the court once and then ran through the game. Nick was hot on her trail.
 
"Hey! That's interference," AJ complained and laughed when Nick ran past him after Jess. "That boy is moving faster than I would," he joked and all the guys laughed.
 
Jessica made a sharp turn through the sand box, but Nick finally caught her and tackled her down. All the guys cat-called and Sanya and Kayci whooped like rejects from an Arsenio Hall audience.
 
Nick and Jessica were out of breath and laughing uncontrollably.
 
"I won!" Jessica shouted for herself as Nick sat up on top of her.
 
"Did not!" he gave her a shocked expression.
 
"Did too!" she smacked his arm.
 
"Did not!" he pushed her back.
 
"Did too!" she threw sand at his chest.
 
"Did..." Nick started and then leaned over and began tickling her. "Not!"
 
Jessica was squirming and squealing to no avail. Finally she got enough strength to get up and pin Nick down. "Ha! See how ya like these apples!" she giggled and tickled him worse than he did her. She especially attacked his neck after noticing how much more he reacted to that.
 
"Hey!..... Let up!... Jess!!" he said and threw her back over and onto her back, pinning her to the sand. Nick held both of her wrists down to the ground. They both breathed heavily for a moment trying not to laugh. When he wasn't paying attention, Jessica jerked her hand away from his grasp. She used that hand to free her other and then rolled over Nick quickly. To put an final end to the argument, Jessica sat on top of Nick and lifted her arms in victory.
 
"Go mommy!" Kayci yelled and clapped. Everyone laughed, even Jessica and Nick. She got up and held out her hands for Nick. He took them and got up out of the sandbox. They dusted themselves off and Jessica shook her hair.
 
"Hold on, Jess. There's something blue in your hair," Nick said.
 
"That would be my hair," Jessica laughed. "It has blue streaks in it."
 
"Wow, I didn't even notice before. You should give tips to AJ."
 
"I heard that!" AJ yelled from the court and Nick and Jessica laughed.
 
"I have to go get cleaned up, and take Kayci home. It's almost 7," Jessica explained and began walking towards the group.
 
"But I don't wanna go to bed," Kayci whined.
 
"We'll you're gonna have to, Cici-hun."
 
"Phooey," she pouted and held out her arms to Nick. He picked her up. "Can he come home with us?"
 
Everyone laughed. "I'm sure he'd like that," Brian said and Sanya nudged him.
 
"I live there too. I don't wanna have to hear anyth-"
 
"Sanya, there is a kid here," Jessica eyed her best friend with a smile.
 
"Well, how about Kevin takes AJ and Howie home and I'll go with Nick and then he can take me home after we leave your apartment?" Brian suggested mainly to Sanya.
 
"Sounds good to me," she replied and got up from the table. "It was nice meeting you all," she said good bye. Nick threw Brian his keys and he took the hint and began walking off with Sanya to Nick's truck, to drive it to the apartment.
 
"Yeah, it was nice not meeting you all," Jessica laughed.
 
"I'm pretty sure we'll be seeing you again, if Nick has anything to say about it," Howie assured her and gave her a hug.
 
"Your daughter's a sweetheart. I want one just like her," Kevin said and hugged Jessica too.
 
"I'll take one of you," AJ joked and Jessica blushed as they hugged good bye.
 
"I'll see you guys tomorrow, all right?" Nick said and they all agreed and did those weird guy-slap-hand-things.
 
"You ready now?" Jessica asked Nick and Kayci.
 
"Shhh. I think someone had a long day," Nick smiled and took Jessica's hand and they walked with the sleeping Kayci, to the apartment.
 
"You know, usually she doesn't take to guys to well. You're really good with her."
 
"I have 4 younger kids in my family. I have to to be good with kids to survive," Nick said and contained his laughter.
 
They arrived back at the apartment and Sanya and Brian were no where to be seen. Nick followed Jess into Kayci's room and laid her down on her bed.
 
"I'll wake her up and change her clothes later," Jessica said and took Nick's hand. She led him back into the hall. As they passed Sanya's room, they could hear laughing and the sounds of a video game. "She's probably whooping his butt at Playstation," she concluded, mostly to herself, but thought aloud.
 
"I doubt it. Brian is 'da man at video games," Nick said proudly of his friend. A little too proudly. He followed Jessica into her room.
 
"Are you saying that women are inferior to men?" Jessica stood in front of him with her hands on her hips.
 
"Maybe," Nick flirted and put his arms around her waist. "Now about earlier, in the sandbox. What was that? I had you dominated."
 
"Not even," Jessica laughed and pulled out of his reach. "I had you wrapped around my pinky. I won, remember?"
 
"I think not," Nick followed her every move with his eyes.
 
"I think so, but anyway, do you wanna watch some TV or something till Brian is ready to leave, defeated?" Jessica asked and pushed the power on her remote to see what was on TV. It was some sitcom on NBC. Jessica sat down on her bed and patted the spot next to her.
 
Nick almost fell over himself trying to get next to her.
 
"Did it hurt?" she playfully asked him when they were both situated.
 
"What?" he asked and looked at her.
 
"When you go that major case of whiplash?" she laughed and rolled over onto her back.
 
Nick crawled over her and stared at her face. It suddenly changed from smiling and laughing to smiling and blushing. Nick leaned in slowly and brushed his lips against hers. He could feel her under him trembling. He whispered in her ear.
 
"Now who has who whipped?"
 
Jessica hit his chest and sat up. "God, you are such a flirt."
 
"You know you like it," Nick said playfully and sat up behind her and kissed her shoulder.
 
Jessica giggled and stood up. "Who said anything about me liking you?"
 
"I did. And I think you do." he said getting up and standing next to her.
 
"Well, I think you like me."
 
"You thought right..." he blushed. "I do. I'm not gonna hide the fact that I do. When I said I wanted to get to know you better, I meant that."
 
Jess smiled and took his hands. "I can handle that," she nervously rolled her eyes, in thought. "Do you wanna do something tomorrow?"
 
"Well, me and the guys were gonna go to Disney, but I would have a much better time if you came?" he asked her with hope in his eyes.
 
"I can't, Nick," she sighed and dropped his hands. "I'm sure Brian already invited Sanya and there would be no one to watch Kayci."
 
"Jess..." Nick said and cupped her face in his hands. "I want you to bring her too."
 
"Are you sure?"
 
"Yes, I'm not like most guys. I understand getting involved with you means getting involved with the both of you."
 
"Are we... ya know?.... involved with each other?" Jessica asked him without looking at him.
 
Nick leaned in and kissed her lips tenderly. "God, this feels so elementary school... Jessica, would you by chance like to go out a few times and see what it leads to?"
 
"I, I'd love to." Jessica blinked a couple of times thinking she was dreaming. "Seriously?"
 
Nick shook his head and smirked. "Would I ask otherwise? C'mon. Me and Brian should be heading out now," he said taking her hand and going down the hall where it was extremely quiet.
 
Jessica knocked twice and talked through the door. "Sanya. Stop making out with Brian so Nick can leave," she giggled when she heard the two of them get up and come to the door. She hadn't expected to be close to right.
 
"Ready, man?" Brian asked Nick smiling.
 
"Yeah, bro. Let's go," Brian walked ahead with Sanya following closely behind down to the car to say good bye while Jessica stayed upstairs at the door with Nick.
 
She slipped a piece of paper in his back pocket. "Call me."
 
"I will," he said and took her arms and wrapped them around his neck.
 
"You better." Jessica said and kissed Nick goodnight. They had never actually kissed and meant it. It was to be the first of many things they would do together. Breaking from the first proved to be hard enough enough in itself. Resisting from kissing again proved to be even more difficult. Temptation won out again, and they caressed each others lips for a third time.
 
"Geeze, break it up you two. Brian's waiting for ya, Nick. Night, Jess," Sanya said and walked back to her room to go to bed, which was odd considering how early it was for Sanya.
 
Jessica laid her head on Nick's chest. "She's right. I'll see you tomorrow," she looked up into his blue eyes.
 
"One more," Nick said and tilted Jessica's chin up once more. She felt her knees get weak and held him tighter. When they parted, they were each a little dazed.
 
"Bye, Babe," she whispered and pressed her forehead against his.
 
"C-ya, Sexy," he whispered back and smiled. She let go of him and followed him to the door.
 
"Oh, and Nick?" she said and he turned around. She quickly kissed him one last time and shut the door. Nick went down to his car and he drove Brian home. They made small talk, but were both basically in different worlds.
 
Leaning against the door, Jessica sighed and went to change her daughter. Then she went to bed and had dreams about the most amazing guy she had ever met.

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