In Real Life (Nemi)

Two worlds collide

I wasn't even sure what time it was when I woke up in Nick's arms, my cheek pressed against his chest. I wasn't even sure what day it was or if the last few days were a dream. His hand was resting on my arm & I suddenly remembered it wasn't a dream. I saw Nick's bruised hand & scabbed knuckles from where he hit Wilmer. I was glad to have him here with me. He came close to going to jail & I was relieved he was released.

I decided to let him sleep, so I slithered out of his grasp to get dressed. As I was putting my shoes on, Nick stirred in the bed. I heard him groan as he stretched so I looked at him, meeting his smile with one of my own.

"You going somewhere?" He asked in a gruff voice.

"Yea. I have to go home. I have an interview tomorrow & a live chat this afternoon. I'm glad I woke up in time."

Nick stuck his hand out toward me. "Come give me a kiss, please."

I took his hand & he yanked me down on top of him. Our lips came together, so hard, it made me laugh. Nick kissed my lips, tenderly, then looked into my eyes. His hand brushed my hair & he looked like he wanted to say something, but wasn't speaking. "I'll call you later. I love you." I said in my softest, sexiest voice.

"I love you." Nick responded in an equally soft voice. I started to get up off the bed, but Nick wouldn't let go of my hand. I turned & gave him a smirk. "I'll be watching your live chat today."He smiled.

"Good." I laughed, pulling my hand from his. I gave him one more smile before I left the room.

Nick wasn't able to come to my ultrasound appointment with me because it was when he had studio time booked, but he was planning on going to the next one, which would determine the gender, hopefully. It was amazing seeing the baby's heartbeat & he got a kick out of seeing the photos of our peanut. It looked like a peanut in the photo, so that's what I kept calling it. Or a wadded up piece of chewing gum. Or a little blob of nothing. It was amazing to think that the little blob with a heartbeat would develop into our baby. It was hard to wrap your head around that miracle.

The next few weeks I was busy doing promotions & Nick was in the studio during his time off. Nick & John were still designing my tour, Nick trying to help out when he could between studio projects. We were starting rehearsals, for the tour, on July 27 & were rehearsing for about three & a half weeks. I was taking off, the week before the tour started, to relax. Plus it was my birthday & my ultrasound for finding out the sex of the baby.

The week before the rehearsals started, I was walking in L.A. on a breezy day with Marissa & a paparazzi caught a photo of me with my shirt pressed against my stomach. The baby bump was getting more & more visible, but if you didn't know I was pregnant it could be explained away. Well, needless to say, the pregnancy rumor started. When I saw the photos online, I was visibly upset & when Nick called to talk to me, he heard it in my voice.

"But, baby, you are pregnant." Nick almost chuckled, even though he knew better.

"I know." I whined. "I just didn't want to have to explain them away just yet."

"Just ignore them & then in a few weeks, you can respond." Nick took a deep breath & let it out. "We should think about telling our families though. I think it's time. Think they can all keep a secret?"

I laughed out loud. "I sure hope so. We could Phil draw up some contracts, to sign, that says we will sue them for a million bucks if they tell anyone." I laughed again & heard Nick chuckle into the phone.

"And Phil would do it, too." Nick said. "Maybe we could tell them next week."

"We could invite them to the first day of rehearsals & tell them all together." I suggested.