Hey, I'm back again. I'm sorry to inform that emotionally heavy stuff will pop up here and there, but I'm trying to tone it down. My mother was in the hospital this past weekend so I did update the other day if I recall, so I'm getting out any frustrations here.

To the amazingly faithful reviewer that shared her story with me a little bit, and you know who you are, I also almost lost my mom this past year and I refuse to revisit such a topic in my story. TK's mother is alive but split after his fame, and isn't a factor in this story much. Thus, my touchy subject warning.

I appreciate the faithful reviewers I have on my two stories here, and hope that everyone continues to read and enjoy. Now, with the end to my sob story, here is the next installment in the story everyone's waiting for...

He was going to send her to an early grave, of that she was certain. Nico was going to be at the house in less than a half hour, and Ray had decided to stop by on the day of her flight to North Carolina. She thought it was all some sort of cosmic joke, but fate seemed to have it in for her lately. She couldn't sleep last night, slept through her alarm this morning, and is running around as her ex husband follows her around harassing her over nothing. Finally, she finishes packing her things and starts to bring it down the stairs when he really starts.

"Where are you going? Why didn't you tell me you were leaving? Where are the kids?" he asked, upset yet again.

"I don't have to answer to you Ray, in case you forgot already" she bit out, tired and in need of the coffee she was conveniently out of. It was a bad morning that was about to get a lot worse.

"Well I have a right to know where my kids are Dani"

"Where were you when they said they didn't want to see you? Last time I checked, they refused to see you last week and never returned your phone calls"

"That isn't the point-"

"That's exactly the point! They're angry and hurt that you're going to be starting a family in the New Year with someone else. It's going to take time if they ever come around" she stated, but balked when she saw the panic flash across his face. She'd known him long enough to know there was something she was missing.

"About that…"

"What in the hell could you have done in a week Ray, find out you're having twins?"

"She's having her baby shower Saturday" he mumbled, stuffing his hands in his pants pockets as he inched closer to the door. He knew she'd understand in 3, 2, 1…

"Saturday! She isn't due for a while, right?"

"Well, see…we found out back around Christmas-"

"Christmas? Really Ray?" she said as she dropped her luggage in the hallway and sat on top of it. She hadn't filed for divorce until February. He'd known before she knew about Amy, and he'd gotten sloppy on purpose. It all made sense now.

"Dani I'm so-"

"Don't you dare say you're sorry Ray. You wanted me to file, then when this all came out it wasn't your fault. You thought about you…again" she whispered brokenly. Her marriage was done before she realized it, and he was hoping she'd divorce him. He made a fool of her for not only missing his affairs, but for divorcing him when his girlfriend was pregnant. It was just one punch after another.

"Dani-"

"I need to leave for the airport soon. Call the kids and see if they'll pick up, if not go get ready for your next child. Now get out of my house" she said, keeping her head down as she heard him mumble a sorry before closing the door. In frustration, she hurled her phone at the door and heard it smash against the wood and fall brokenly to the ground. The crunch wasn't nearly as satisfying as she'd hoped, but soon the tears were enough to consume her.

She sat in her hallway on top of her luggage, sobbing into her hands as she felt the tears overwhelm her need to take deep breaths. As the sobbing subsided, she just continued to stare into space as silent tears ran down her cheeks. She hadn't heard the door open until Nico was directly in front of her, crouching down so she had to meet his eyes. She immediately dropped her eyes and moved around him to gather her things.

"Dani what's-"

"Let's get going, we're gonna be late" she said, grabbing her things and heading out the door. He followed, conflicted about the hauntingly vacant look on her face, but allowed her her space to lock the door and get into the passenger seat of his car.

The drive to the airport was deathly silent, Nico seeing tears slide down her face at slower intervals until they stopped all together. She hadn't spoken more than a handful of words to him in the span of a half hour, and it was starting to set him on edge. Another silent hour passed as they waited in the terminal to board the plane, Nico disappearing for a minute, not that Dani noticed. The only sign that she was awake was the silent thankful look she gave him as he handed her a cup of coffee before heading onto the plane. Boarding the plane went smoothly, but sitting in their seat while everyone else got situated got to be too much for him. Dani was scaring him.

"What happened" he questioned gently, noticing the grip she had on the armrest tighten to the point that her knuckles started to turn white. He gently placed his hand on top of hers and pried her fingers off the metal, setting her hand palm to palm on top of his. She seemed to be able to speak after that.

"Amy's having a baby…" she whispered, afraid that if she said it any louder it would suffocate her. He nodded, but knew that it had to be more. Last week she was furious, today she just looked…lost.

"I know, but what happened today" he urged her.

"She's having a baby-"

He was just about to interrupt when her eyes welled up with tears again. He squeezed her hand and she held onto him for dear life, filling in the blanks.

"She was pregnant at Christmas. He knew, and made sure I divorced him. He knew, she knew, and I was never going to know" she finished, holding in her tears, but her eyes looked glassy as she looked up at him.

Nico looked down at her and his heart broke, she never deserved this kind of hurt over and over from the same person. He shifted his hand and slipped his fingers in between his, gently pulling their hands into his lap as she settled her head on his shoulder and cried once again. The tears soaked into his shirt as they sat in the air for the flight south, each time she took a shuddering breath he took his free hand to run it through her hair. After an hour she seemed to fall into a deep sleep, lightly snoring into his chest where her head had slipped. He continued to absentmindedly run his fingers through her hair, letting her heart beat settle his nerves.

He'd kept the way he found her fascinating and intriguing under control, but her turning to him in a time of need made everything that much harder. He knew they were supposed to in a relationship, but he couldn't help but think of what the end of the week would bring. Endings. Disappointment. Passion. He shook his head slightly, remembering just how upset she was; knowing anything between them would be anything but easy. She didn't need complications in her life, and he wasn't going to be selfish just because he felt something for her. He'd let her take the lead, if there was anything for him to follow anyway.

As the plane landed in the Concord Regional Airport, he gently woke Dani, her not waking once during the flight. She slowly opened her eyes and subconsciously squeezed his hand as she straightened. She raised her hands above her head, but embarrassingly dropped them when she realized she hadn't let go of Nico yet. She smiled a shy smile as he just looked at her in amusement, tilting his head to the side as he held her gaze.

She'd seen his eyes be intimidating, guarded, and hard when they weren't hidden behind sunglasses, but this look was new on him. It still held that same intensity they always did, but it seemed like they were burning a hole through her, trying to learn everything he ever needed to know from this one moment. Usually, this would make her uncomfortable, but Nico made her feel safe above all else. Just as she was about to say something, someone hit the back of her seat, alerting them that they were one of the only few still left on the plane. She smiled at him and stood, dismissing their moment at they left the airport, silently lost in thought on the way to the house.

As they pulled up to a large ranch style house, they were met with a grinning TK, nearly bouncing towards their car. Dani got out and remembered every reason she should be happy this week, and it was all towering over her at 6'3. TK bounced on his heels as he waited for Nico to grab and his and Dani's bags, despite her protests before he started talking.

"Dr. D! I'm glad you both made it here in one piece" he said laughing, and she couldn't help but join in. She refused to let Ray ruin this unique opportunity for her, and she was going to enjoy her time with TK and Nico.

Nico…

"So, where's the ring?"

Dani's eyes snapped up to him as she stared, remembering why she was there in the first place. Nico cleared his throat and spoke to afford her some time.

"We're in a relationship Terrence, I'll propose later in the week" he said meeting her eyes. His eyes darkened as he saw the flush across her neck. Her eyes bore into his as she tried to speak, but remembering who was with them, she decided against it.

"Terrence, is there any way we could have some time alone before meeting everyone?" Nico asked, silently hoping he'd get his way.

"Oh, it's like that? Damn Nico, I didn't think you had it in you" TK said laughing as Dani looked away embarrassed again as Nico squinted at him for a few minutes.

"Stop doing that! Dr. D does the same thing. You guys can go in the garage for a bit, no one's here yet and Gram's at the store. Just don't make too much noise, I really don't need that image in my head" he said winking as he walked away from them, opening the garage door for them and closing it behind them as well.

Dani stood awkwardly in the middle of the room until she sat on an empty stool near the door. Nico came to stand next to her against the washing machine as they got underway.

"Look I know we're supposed to be engaged, but I figured after this morning, you'd enjoy the easiness of just being. No pressure"

"I appreciate that Nico, I really do. It's been a crazy few weeks, but that's not going to affect this week. We need to establish some details before we meet everyone so we seem convincing"

"Ok, well you know my favorite color, favorite food, and guilty pleasure; what else could you possibly want?" he asked teasingly, glad to see the light return to her eyes.

"Well, for starters, how did we start dating? Are you touchy feely?" he gave her a look at the words touchy feely, but stood close enough to her to make her lean back against the dryer she was seated in front of. He put his hands on the dryer behind her, bringing them to eye level as he spoke.

"We met at work; you intrigued me to the point where I asked you out to dinner after getting back from Atlantic City for work. We instantly connected and made the balance between work and our personal lives successful. I don't usually call women by pet names often, usually just 'hun'. I like to touch," he said as he ran his hands down her arms, making her shiver.

"I like to show that a woman is mine," he said as he brings his hand back up to rest at the base of her neck, cradling her face in his palms.

"And I like to be close" he whispered, bringing his lips to her ear, feeling her pulse race and her breath quicken. He pulled back to his original position a few feet away from her, and let her find her footing before talking again.

"That good enough for you?"

Dani heard the challenge in his voice, and decided he wasn't going to win this little game. She remembered the green comment, and decided to up the ante.

She got off of her stool and walked into his personal space, resting her hands on his hips. She felt him stiffen before he relaxed, but giving nothing away. She got closer and with each breath, her chest brushed his, making his breath quicken this time.

"I like the back story" she started, slowly bringing her hands around his back to slip into his back pockets. His jeans weren't too tight so it was an easy fit, and she got him to take a deep breath and stare at her with a new intensity. It was empowering.

"But, I am touchy feely. I like to be close, hands on someone, showing what I want" she whispered seductively as he leaned into her, trying to catch her words and a whiff of her perfume. She was intoxicating in the best way, and he was slowly coming undone. He slipped his hands around her waist to bring her closer and felt her relax into him.

"But I guess we can go by your rules" she said as she quickly detangled herself from him, stepping back and smirking as the lust in his eyes started to fade. He squinted at her and she squinted back, and then walked away before he could change her mind.

"That was cruel Doctor" he said lowly, his voice still husky. She giggled as he caught her waist and pinned her to the wall just inside the door leading into the house. She gasped and held her breath, Nico being close enough to do crazy things to her stomach.

"Is that how it's going to be? You push and pull until I…" he trailed off as he ran a finger from her ear to the hollow of her throat and back again. "Snap"

She inhaled deeply as his finger dragged over her skin again, this time pushing her body up and into his. She heard him groan as he used his body to press her into the wall again, them being pressed together from the torso up.

She grabbed the collar of his leather jacket in her hands and pulled him to her, leaving less than an inch between their faces.

"Green isn't my color hun. And I'd like to see just how much it'd take to make you lose control"

The double meaning wasn't lost on him, and he saw the way her eyes flickered between his hazel eyes and his lips. Just as he was about to capture her lips, she slipped out from under him and walked into the house, calling over her shoulder,

"Not yet" she let out as she closed the door behind her, and he let his head land against the wall where she had just been. If she could do this to him in less than ten minutes, he'd gladly lose control. But only for her…

He sighed and grabbed their bags and followed her into the house, ready to get introductions out of the way before the real fun began.

Like? I ask this every chapter, but I really do wonder. I hope things are accurate, small details really aren't my thing in my stories so much. I do need to give a special thank you to the following reviewers in no particular order for sticking around, giving good criticism/making helpful contributions, and general positive feedback. (If you're not mentioned, please don't be offended, these are just people that have given good, thoughtful responses)

tanya2byour21

Majors Darlin

Lattelady

Angels-heart1

CMC3

CFCfan1

diavoloduchessa