Nikki picked up ellie and placed her on her hip stratigically as she grabbed her bag and turned to her appartment. She had already been on a tour with the guys once. But for 4 months? And while she was 4 months pregnant? With a soon to be 1 year old? She closed her eyes and inhaled and exhaled slowly.

" You can do this nicole. For him." She whispered to herself then look back at ellie who was cuddled into nikkis neck, still tierd. " Come on sweetheart, lets go back to sleep on the bus." She said softly as she walked down the hall. Ben had gotten a job on the california marine base camp facility where he was training other soilders, so as much as he wanted to he wasn't going to be on tour with them this time. Everything seemed to be hitting top speed really fast. Logan even came to her last night, telling her something that still was setting in. He wanted to propose to camille. He said he was more then ready, and wanted to start a family of there own. Although she didn't love him like that logan was still always going to be her first. He was her first kiss and the first person she lost it too. So no matter what he did it was going to sting a bit. However she smiled and hugged him assuring him that he was going to be just fine and that she was going to be there for him every step of the way.

" There are my girls!" James said from the door of the large tour bus sitting out front of there building. Nikki smiled. No matter what happens she gets to wake up in the morning to the man she loves and thats all that really matters.

" Yeah your tierd girls!" she said rolling her eyes. She walked past him and placed her stuff on the couch setting ellie in her portable crib. They had gotten her a really nice luxuray one like the one they had at home since it was going to be her bed for the next 4 months. Logan hopped on the bus camille in tow and rubbed his hands together.

" alright lets get rollin!" he said excitededly. Nikki rolled her eyes and leaned her head back pulling her hood over her eyes in chance to shield the sun. Logan had insisted on sharing a bus with her and james. She wasn't entirely sure why, but she did like the idea considering they were closest next to her and james.

Xxxx

Nikki stood in the kitchen area cleaning the dishes. As much as she loved them, the guys were down right pigs on tour. Suddenly she felt james snake his arms around her waist and kiss her neck.

" What do you want." She said smirking. He laughed.

" What I can't show affection to my wife?" He said lovingly. She rolled her eyes and turned around wrapping her arms around his neck.

"Not unless you want something from me." she said kissing him softly. James laughed a bit and pushed the hair from her face.

" Well I have something for you this time." He said pulling out a long box. Nikki's face fell serious. " I know we didn't get a chance to celebrate our 1 year. And thats one of the most important anniversaries. But with tour and everything..." He trailed off. " Anyway, I got you this." he said opening the long bracelet box. It was a pandora charm bracelet, she covered her mouth and looked up at him with tears in her eyes.

" James you didn't have to..." she said full of emotion as he took it out of the box and fastened it on her right wrist.

" I did though." He said smiling at her reaction. " This charm is for our wedding day, this is for ellie, this is for our one year and this..." He said pulling out a smaller box with a gold and diamond incrested guitar shaped bead. " Is for our son. For every occasion, and special event in our life im going to add one." He said kissing her again. She wiped her eyes hoping her makeup wasn't trailing to much on her face.

" But james I didn't get anything for you..." she whispered embarrased. He rolled his eyes and laughed.

" Yes you did." He said bending down and pressing his lips to her stomach. " You got me a family." She ran her hands through his hair and smiled, tears cascading uncontrolably. He stood up and wiped her face clean and kissed her forhead.

xxxx

James held nikkis hand as the doctor pressed the ultrasound wand across her small baby bump. His eyes were glued to the screen waiting for a picture of there future son or daughter. The doctor pressed a few buttons and suddenly a black and white image appeared on the screen. Nikki smiled as she saw the baby's sillohuette.

" would you like to know what your having?" The doctor asked smiling at nikki and james. James started to nodd excitededly.

" Yes ! Please!" He said anxiously. The doctor looked at nikki to make sure it was okay and she just rolled her eyes.

" Yeah, just do it before he pees himself with excitement." She said teasingly. James stuck his tongue out at her and she giggled.

" Its.." the doctor pressed a couple buttons on the keybored. " a boy!" Nikki felt her heart flutter. A boy. They we're going to have a little boy. She looked over at james who was fighting his tears and smiling wildly.

" can we have a picture?" he asked softly. The doctor nodded, cleaning off nikkis stomach and walked out of the room to print up the photos. James ran his hands along the screen.

" We're having a boy." He said kissing nikkis hand.

" I know. This is crazy, I can't believe ellie's going to be a big sister." she said quietly, sitting up and looking down at her belly.

" Yeah...This is going to be amazing. Having a full family with you...we're gonna need to look at houses soon. That appartments too small for all of us." He said pushing the hair from her face.

" a house? Really? You want a house? With like...a backyard and pool?" she said laughing a bit.

" Yes with like a backyard and pool. I love the appartment don't get me wrong but...i was looking at some places over in beverilly hills and they're huge." She nodded.

" sounds like a plan jay." she said as the doctor walked back in and handed them the dvd and pictures. James grabbed them happily and shoved them in nikkis bag. They thanked the doctor and headed back to the venue. They had been in a month of tour and things were moving swiftly. Nikki enjoyed it that way but sometimes, taking it slow was a good thing.

Xxx

James lit the candles on the small chocolate cake that read Happy Birthday Ellie in big bold red icing. He smiled to himself. 1 year. 1 year ago today he was standing in the hospital holding nikki's hand helping bring this beautiful baby girl into the world. 1 year ago he held her for the first time starring into her eyes as the nurses handed her to him anouncing she was happy and healthy. To this day she is flawless and perfect in his and nikki's eyes. He lifted up the cake and walked to the front lounge where everyone had crowded for ellies special day. She sat on nikki's lap and reached for james as he came closer.

" You want cake ellie?" he said placing it on the table in front of her. " Say cake ellie!" He said stroking her finger.

" mine!" She giggled and reached for it but nikki pushed it away.

" No no no, we have to sing first ellie." Nikki said tickling her tummy. She laughed again and sat there as everyone sang happy birthday to her.

" Blow out the candle ellie!" carlos said smiling from the other side, with his iphone recording. Ellie smiled and reached for the candle and nikki gasped pulling her hand back.

" no ellie blow." she said blowing ellies bangs asaid. Ellie giggled and turned to her cake. She inhaled and blew softly as nikki helped her.

" There you go baby doll!" Kendall said lifting her up and kissing her cheek playfully. Ellie smiled and pulled at his hair. " ow ellie!" he said laughing a bit. James took the cake and started to cut it handing it out to everyone.

" So how does it feel man, being a dad for 1 year now?" Logan said slapping his best friend on the back as james slid next to him across from nikki and camille. James shrugged.

" I don't know. I think we did a pretty good job for noobs." he said winking as nikki laughed aloud. James watched as she rolled her eyes and took a bite of cake.

" God chocolate makes everything feel better." She said closing her eyes and smiling dreamily.

" What do you mean by that? Are you still in pain?" Logan asked concerned. Nikki sent him a death glare, kicking him under the table. He winced and rubbed his leg.

" Pain? You're in pain?" James said putting down the fork and starring at her concerned as well.

" No I...it was like...ugh LOGAN! Your such an ass. James it nothing really. I just had a back ache before." She glarred daggers to logan who merrily looked down at his piece of cake.

" Nicole, don't say its nothing. How long have you been having his pain? Where is it?" James said pushing his cake away and looking at her.

" Its gone okay? Give me my baby." She said scooting out of the booth and taking ellie from kendall. She slipped her in her high chair and put a bib on her. " You ready for cake baby?" She clapped her hands together as nikki put a piece in front of her. " Okay but you have to be clean okay? No mess-" Before she could finish ellies hands were deep in the piece and smooshing it around her fingers. She pressed a piece to her mouth and then rubbed her nose. " cause now we have to bathe you again." She said rolling her eyes and laughing. There was no way she was going to tel james about that pain again. It wasn't that big of a deal right? I mean it was only back pain. She had it with ellie, although not as bad as now but still pretty painful. She sunk down into the couch next to carlos and leaned her head back. She was 6 months pregnant, she shouldn't be this tierd but travel wears her out as it is.

" You okay?" carlos asks next to her sipping his coke.

" Yeah im just sleepy." she said smiling werily. He nodds and smiles to her. Carlos placed his hand on her large stomach and smiled as he felt the baby kick.

" He's a rough little guy huh?" He said rubbing her tummy. She laughed.

" Yeah he takes after james." She said looking down. She had to admit, although she was nervous as hell, another baby was kind of exciting. She looked over to james who was snapping pictures of ellie and her completely chocolate covered face. Nikki smiled as she watched everyone coo over ellie. Never had she ever dreamed about being where she was now. On the road with her family pregnant for a second time and celebrating her daughters first birthday with the man she loves. When she snapped back to reality she looked down to see carlos talking to her stomach. She smiled and rolled her eyes. Some family she had, she thought to herself.