When I came home, Nick wasn't in his bed where he had been when I'd gone to the movies with Anne. "Mom, where's Nick?" I looked panicked.

"Is he not in bed? He was sleeping…"

"He went walking," Frankie shrugged. "He seemed fine."

"Oh…ok." No one seemed to care that Nick was gone, just me.

I wanted Nick to come home. I didn't like the idea of him out, walking alone with the way he was feeling. He wasn't well and we all knew it, even he must have known it. We took him to the hospital, but the doctor had said that there wasn't anything wrong with him, that he was just tired, probably had food poisoning, but the way that he had looked when he had been vomiting scared me and I wanted him home and safe until I was sure that there wasn't anything wrong. I decided to call him.

"Hello?"

"Nick, it's me…"

"I know." He sounded bitter, angry even, why?

"Nicky, why don't you come home? I'm worried about you…"

"You don't give a flying fuck about me, going out with Anne while I'm sick…it's not right."

"I told you earlier, we were going to a movie, it meant nothing…Nicky, don't you remember this? You said that you were just gonna stay home and take a nap while I was out…you know I'm in love with you…" I was scared by what Nick was saying and I hoped that it was just some sort of sick joke.

"N-no…" his voice was shaky.

"Nick, come home."

"I'm with Miley…" What was he doing with her?

"Wait, Nick…you didn't…with her…to get back at me?"

"No! We're just walking."

"Oh, good. Can't you tell her that you're not feeling well and that you need to come home? Nick, I'm worried about you.

"I know…I'll try." I heard him put the phone to his chest and talk start speaking to Miley, telling her that he had to go home because I wasn't feeling well…which wasn't too horribly far from the truth right now. "Hey, you still there?"

"Of course."

"I'll be home soon."

"Ok…Nick, I love you."

"You too." I knew that in front of Miley he had to be careful what he said, so that was enough for me. I paced by the door until he got home. I was worried that something was seriously wrong to him. I wanted to pull him in to my arms, shake him, tell him to remember, but that wouldn't be a good idea. "Hey." He walked in the door.

"Nick!" I pulled him in to my arms, hugging him as though I hadn't seen him in years. "Do you really not remember our conversation this morning?" I asked him, stepping back and looking at him. He looked slightly pale, but better than he had this morning.

"I'm sorry…I don't remember anything since I passed out…"

"Oh hon…" I looked around to make sure that no one was looking and I gave him a quick kiss. "Joe and I took you to the hospital, but they didn't find anything wrong with you, so we brought you home and you've been up and about a little, but mostly you've been sleeping, he said you were fatigued…"

"Oh, so then I should cancel the doctor's appointment that I made for Tuesday?"

"No." I shook my head. "If you don't remember than I want you to keep the appointment, ok? I know, I'm probably just worrying too much, but with you…well I just don't want to risk you." That was more than true, Nick meant more to me than anything and I was terrified of losing him.

"I love you Kevin," he buried his head in my shoulder and hugged me.

"I love you too Nick."

"I'm a little scared…"

"So am I," I began to stroke his hair. "Don't worry baby, it's gonna be alright. Everything is going to be alright, I promise."