I don't own JONAS. Please review :)

"So Joe, about that kiss…"

Joe dropped the napkin that he had been trying—and failing—to turn into an origami crane, looking very much like a deer caught in headlights. He and Stella were sitting in the hospital's cafeteria, waiting for Macy to come out of surgery. "Um, what about it?" He asked.

Stella rested her chin on her palm and smiled at him. "I don't know. You tell me."

Joe gulped. "Well, erm, actually it was more of…you see, I kind of…fell. Yeah, that's it. And your lips just happened to be in the way."

"So you're saying you kissed me on accident? Joseph Lucas, that is the lamest excuse I've ever heard. Why don't you just tell the truth?"

Joe sighed, defeated easily by the look she gave him. "Come on, Stella, isn't the guy allowed to be nervous sometimes?"

"You? Nervous? What happened to Mr. Smoothtalkin' Pants that we all know and occasionally love?"

"He went to Mexico and got a reality check, I guess."

"Oh really. So now that you're a whole new person, are you going to stop playing pranks on everyone?"

"Whoa, let's not talk crazy, woman. What else would I do for fun?"

"I have an idea," Stella said, smiling. She leaned forward and kissed him.

The sound of Nick loudly clearing his throat a second later broke them apart. They looked up to see him standing there with an amused expression on his face. "Dad wants to see us all. He has news about Macy," he told them.

"Oh. Okay then," Joe said, trying to act like nothing had happened as he and Stella stood up.

"Bout time," Nick whispered to his brother as they walked down the hall.

"Seriously, dude. If you're going to hound me about this I shall be forced to find you a girlfriend."

Nick groaned. "Not again, Joe. The last one was emo."

"So? You had a lot in common."

"There is a difference between keeping to yourself and being emo."

"No, not really."

"Don't worry, Nick. I'll make sure Joe behaves. Although there is this girl I know back home named Emily who I'm sure would love to go out with you. She's a little ditzy but once you get to know her she's a real treasure," Stella said, going into matchmaker mode.

"I'm doomed," Nick surmised softly as his friend continued to list Emily's qualities, hobbies, and the exact shade of nail polish she liked best. Joe had zoned out right when the conversation had started; he was too preoccupied with the fact that Stella was holding onto his arm the whole time. When at last they turned the corner into the waiting room where Mr. Lucas and Kevin were waiting, Nick began to breathe easier.

"There you guys are," Mr. Lucas said. He looked worried about something.

"Is Macy okay?" Joe asked.

"Yes, she's fine. But I don't know how long that's going to last."

"What do you mean, Dad?" Kevin questioned, concerned.

Mr. Lucas took a deep breath. "Macy's father is here."

**********

Who would believe that those four little words could fill the air with such fear and loathing? Kevin swore he could hear his heart thumping faster.

"What do you mean by 'here', exactly?" He asked.

"I mean he flew in from Mexico City about an hour ago and is requesting to see Macy."

"But Dad, he can't! There's gotta be some way to keep him from her. He's the reason she's here, for goodness sake!" Kevin shouted.

"I know, son. But without a restraining order there's not much we can do. Mr. Misa still has partial custody of her."

"Then let's go get one," Joe said, as if it was the easiest solution in the world.

"Joe, you can't just 'go get' a restraining order. You have to go to court first, and convince the judge that's there's a reason for one. It takes time," Stella told him.

"Well at least we have evidence," Nick spoke up. "Remember those bruises on Macy's neck? It's almost like her dad left fingerprints. There's no way he'll be allowed to take her away once they see that."

"Wait, where is Mr. Misa right now?" Kevin asked. A sudden feeling of foreboding had entered his heart, like something bad was about to happen.

"I don't know. Last I saw him he was trying to convince the receptionist to let him in to see his daughter," Mr. Lucas replied.

Kevin didn't waste time on words. He was already running, hoping he wasn't too late. Joe, Nick and Stella were once again on his heels, no one trying to stop him this time.

Okay next chapter's going to be a little more dramatic. I think it's also the last one. But I'll make sure to round it off with a little humor :)