(A/N: Hey kids! Guess who? Yeah that's right. We are updating! 2000 words of joy my friends! It's long overdue, we know. However we also know that we need to finish this story and plan to have it done in the next month! So get excited, expect updates and review! We want to know who's still out there!)

OoOoO

"Katie, you don't have to hide what you're feeling from Freddy," Zack brushed Katie's hair off of her face.

"He's not going to like it though. He'll get so mad."

"I think it's a risk you need to take if it's hurting you this bad," he said with a sympathetic smile.

Katie laughed, "When did you get all wise?"

"You know I'm here if you need me right?" Katie nodded and Zack pulled her close. "Go get 'em!"

Katie laughed and jumped to her feet. She rushed to the door but froze in her tracks before opening it.

"What if that guy is still out there?" Katie's eyes were wide. Zack got up, slowly opened the door and peeped through the crack.

"He's still out cold. I must have got him good!"

Katie laughed and shook her head at him as she left, heading back towards the foyer of the hotel. She roughly dried her eyes as she neared the final corner.

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"This one time I even hit Zack in the head with my stick!"

Nikki was giggling as Freddy recounted stories of his mistakes on stage. She grabbed his arm.

"It could just be that you're way too strong for your sticks," she winked. Freddy flexed his muscles, causing another round of giggles. The large clock in the foyer interrupted Nikki's giggles and broke Freddy's attention. He hadn't realised how late it was! They'd been standing in the foyer for an hour.

"Hey Nikki, it's late. We should really get to bed."

"Should we?" Nikki looked up at him with a smirk.

"We should both separately make our way to our separate sleeping quarters and sleep in our separate beds, yes."

"Oh you're no fun, Freddy," Nikki whined, her lower lip sticking out.

"Well, fuddy duddy Freddy needs to sleep," he laughed.

"Well how about a good night kiss?"

Freddy raised one eyebrow.

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Katie heard the unmistakable tones of the 'skank flirt' voice as she reached the corner.

"Well how about a good night kiss?" she heard the skank say. Katie rolled her eyes and exhaled. She often wondered how on earth girls could be like that, so forward. And it was really embarrassing.

"How about a nice goodnight hug?" the boy replied but Katie was too lost in her thoughts to register the voice belonged to her boyfriend.

Katie turned the corner to see Freddy arms wrapped around Nikki's waist, she was shamelessly pressing herself as close to him as possible, his arms wrapped around her comfortably, in a way that made Katie feel sick to her stomach all over again. She stopped, waiting for them to separate but they seemed to stay there for an age.

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Freddy finally pulled away from the hug, "Night Nikki."

He didn't hear her response as movement in the corridor caught his eye. All he saw was the purple converse shoe as the wearer of the shoe rounded the corner, but that was enough for him to know. Without a second thought he was running after her.

"Katie!" he called. He didn't see her as he raced toward their rooms but he did hear a door slam as he reached the corridor. He didn't slow, seeing Katie's door just drove him on. He lifted his hand to knock but found with his momentum he couldn't stop in time. His forehead creased for a moment before his head hit Katie's door.

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Katie hadn't even had a moment to catch her breath when a loud bang caused her to jump at least 7 feet into the air, she let out an uncharacteristic squeal of surprise. Summer rushed out of the girl's bathroom and met Katie's eyes, their faces with identical alarmed expressions. There was a muffled grunt from the other side of the door. Knowing only moments earlier the guy Zack had previously knocked down was laying on the ground outside Katie was very hesitant to open the door.

"Should we open it?" Summer had obviously seen the man when she had entered the room.

"I… think so," Katie bit her lip. Katie slowly opened the door and found Freddy laying there, eyes closed. Katie bent down quickly, she placed her hand on his face.

"Freddy!" His eyelids fluttered for a moment before closing again, he moved his head ever so slightly towards her hand. "Freddy?" she sniffed. She looked back at Summer. Emotion overcame her, she did everything she could to keep her voice from shaking. "Call someone!"

Katie grabbed Freddy's hand and he lightly squeezed her hand in return. "It'll be ok. I'm here," Katie assured him. "It'll be alright."

The next few hours passed in a blur as a half conscience Freddy was taken to hospital in an ambulance, and worried band mates quickly filled the halls of the hotel, trying to find out what was going on. He didn't let go of Katie's hand for a moment.

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Summer and Zack sat awake in the girls' room, neither of them could sit still. Their hands were entwined tightly but they didn't speak for a long time after Freddy was taken to hospital.

"Want a drink or something?" Zack asked.

"Oh, not really. I just want Katie to call," Summer looked at Zack with clear concern in her eyes.

"Sum, don't worry about Freddy. He's tough and he's in good hands...and I doubt Katie's let go of his."

Summer laughed. Zack had a way of easing any tension she felt with a few simple words. "Ok, let's go get a drink then. It'll take my mind off things anyway."

Zack smiled and pulled her up off of the chair and into a hug. She smiled, "Let's go!"

The duo made their way to the twenty-four hour cafe in the hotel. It had a cosy cottage feel to it, completely surrounded by bushes with lovely soft lighting that echoed the way a fireplace would light up a room. As they walked around the outside of the bushes to the entrance Summer suddenly stopped.

"Wha-"

Summer quickly shushed Zack and signalled him to listen.

"- look she wasn't even sick for twenty-four hours. Clearly this stuff isn't good enough, Ashlee. I thought you said you knew this stuff worked!"

"It does! I promise my sister takes it all the time!"

"Well I think we should put double the amount in next time to be sure Katie can't play."

Zack and Summer's jaws were both open as they turned to meet each other's wide eyes.

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As the sun rose Freddy's eyes opened to see Katie asleep beside his bed. He whispered her name and she jolted instantly.

"Freddy! How are you feeling?" she stumbled over her words slightly.

"Pretty good knowing you're obsessed with me," he smirked.

"Just cause I care doesn't make me obsessed, Spazzy," Katie hit back.

"But you are, Posh. But you are."

Katie was surprised by how alert he was. "Should I get the doctor?"

"He's been already. Said I don't have concussion so I'm right to play tomorrow but I need to take it easy today," he smiled. "Want to take it easy with me?"

"Definitely."

They fell silent for a moment, staring at each other.

Katie let out a short laugh. "What a role reversal huh?" She commented.

Freddy frowned for a moment, the remembered the time Katie hit her head and ended up in hospital. He chuckled a little. "Yeah, kind of is I suppose. We must be the klutziest couple ever."

Katie's heart jumped at the word and she tried to stop the butterflies in her stomach. "So we're... still..."

"What?"

"A couple. We're still together?"

"What are you talking about? Of course are."

She stared down at her hands avoiding eye contact, she was tempted to just smile and drop the subject, but Zack's words echoed in her mind, she had to bring it up with him... she couldn't torture herself anymore. "It's just... lately... it hasn't really felt like it."

"Katie." He stared at her wide-eyed and horrified, how could she say such a thing? "Is this about not getting to play?" He asked. "Because Dewey was just being cautious. He didn't want all the lights and vibrations from the speakers and everything to be too much. It gets really hot on stage."

"I wouldn't know would I?" She shot at him. "And no, this has nothing to do with not being able to play."

"Then I'm really confused."

Katie bit her lip, she didn't know whether to press the issue further or to just drop it. Maybe it truly was all in her head and Freddy wouldn't even think to give Nikki a second glance. Finally she shook her head.

"Nothing. It's nothing that's more important than your recovery."

"I'm fine though. Doc said so himself. Something's bothering you Posh. Care to let me in?"

Katie sighed. "Nothing, it's... nothing, honestly. I guess I'm just tired from a hectic night. That's all. You still ended up in hospital though... what happened?"

"What do you mean?"

"How did you end up passed out on the floor?"

"Oh." This time it was Freddy's turn to drop his gaze. "I uh... don't really remember, actually."

"Well, what do you-

"Freddy!" A high pitch squeal came from the door of the room. "Oh my goodness, I'm so glad you're ok!" A tiny blonde blur tackled him into a hug, she was practically lying on top of him.

"Nikki, you're crushing my lungs." He wheezed out.

"Oh. Sorry." She climbed off him, not sounding sincere at all. "I'm just really glad you're ok."

"So you said."

She grinned at him, fluttering her eyelashes so much Katie couldn't help but wonder if maybe she actually had a mutant eyelash, or better yet a bug, stuck in her eye.

"I was so worried when I heard. I would have come with you, but the ambulance had already left by the time anyone bothered to wake me." She shot a glare at Katie.

Freddy brushed it off. "I had Katie with me. Don't worry Nik, it was all taken care of."

"Are you sure? I could have kissed you better," Nikki giggled.

Katie rolled her eyes indiscreetly. "That was taken care of too."

There was a moment of tension as each girl glared at the other.

"So...I'm starving! Anyone want to head to the cafe?" Freddy smiled at between the girls, obvilious. They both nodded but their eyes remained icy.

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"Katie, you need sleep," Summer urged. Katie mumbled a reply.

"Tink's right, Katie," Zack said. "Like a day ago you were vomiting everywhere, remember?"

Katie groaned, her hand automatically went to her stomach. With her eyes on the sleeping blonde lump she finally nodded. "Ok, but I'm only going to the visitors quiet area."

"That's good enough for me," Summer said. "Do you want company?"

"No, I'm fine," Katie said as she left the room.

Zack noticed Summer's creased brow. "What's wrong Sum? You won. That usual makes you smile."

"Oh, shh," she laughed, swatting Zack's arm.

"Well turning that frown upside down was easy," Zack exaggerated his smile.

"I was worrying about Katie being by herself but she'll be ok, won't she?"

"Of course! We can go and check on her later."

Summer nodded, approving of this compromise. The young couple's hands found each other instinctively as they sat in silence.

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When later eventually came Summer and Zack left half asleep Freddy as they went in search of Katie. They didn't really know where they were heading but Freddy assured them he'd be fine alone. He couldn't seem to get comfortable on the blasted hospital bed, aside from that taking it easy was, well...easy. He definitely wasn't complaining, but he was hoping Katie would be back soon.

With thoughts of Katie circling in his mind Freddy forgot his discomfort and found himself lapsing between dreams and reality. At some point he became aware of the small hand that was holding his. He didn't bother to open his eyes but that was exactly what he needed to officially lull off to sleep, he managed to mutter, "Love you Katie." The hand gripped his a little tighter and that was the last thing he needed before he was able to completely lose consciousness.

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Katie woke up feeling stiff and sore, the chair she'd been sleeping in hadn't been designed with comfort in mind. She stood up and yawned, still exhausted, but feeling a little better. She glanced at the clock on the wall. She'd only gotten about an hours sleep, but she wanted to go back to Freddy and see how he was going. She knew he'd said he felt fine, but he clearly hadn't been completely with it when they were in the café and had fallen asleep quickly when they got back to his room.

She ran a hand through her hair, a little conscious of the messy greasy state it was in, before navigating her way through the halls of the hospital to find his room.

The door was closed and she knew he was likely still asleep, so she pushed the door open as quietly as she could. When she stepped into the room her stomach dropped.

Nikki had her arms either side of him, she was draped over him, to the point she might as well have been laying across him completely, they were staring at each other, oblivious to the rest of the world.

A choked noise escaped Katie's throat before she could stop it. The pair broke apart, Freddy quickly flung himself to the other side of the bed and pushed Nikki away from him. But Katie wasn't interested in sticking around. She turned her back and left.

"Katie!" Freddy all but yelled after her, but she didn't turn around.

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(A/N: Hopefully there's still someone to enjoy this! But we will finish regardless!)

Ash and Nikki