Now he was standing there, alone looking at the picture of her. Howie had been right, who ever married her would be an incredibly lucky man. And Alex hoped with all his soul that it would be him, he wanted to be with her more then he wanted anything else. Knowing that no other person in the world would love her the way that he did. Scanning the outside backyard through the window he spotted her and decided to test the strength of their connection. He had made it a game between them over the past few days, knowing it annoyed her but it also made her laugh.

     He stood next to the window and slightly openned the door. 'Jocie-doll, what are you doing? What are you thinking about?' He asked in his head. And saw her look up at the sky. 'Alex, stop that.' he could heard  her voice whisper into his head. 

     A throaty deep chuckle left his lips, 'Now what would be the fun in that?'

     'How do you expect me to think about making my life work, if you keep barging into my thoughts?'

     'Does that mean you still are not ready, Jocie?' he asked as he watched her get up from the lounge chair and walk back into the house. He got no response from her. 'Joce?... Jocelynn?.... Stop ignoring me, baby..... We need to talk about this.' He pleaded in his mind to her. As he leaned out the window trying to look for her.

     "I don't know yet. I still have to go back and settle things between Joe so that I can bring Drogyn with me on tour with you guys." She said from behind him, scaring the living daylights out of him. "Would you please get out of the window before someone sees you." She added, while leaning in the doorway, clutching her notebook to her chest.

     Pulling himself back into the room, Alex spun around to look at her. "So you really hate it when I do that huh?"

     "Hate, no. It's scary actually. We shouldn't be able to do that."

     "I know, it scares me as well. And I thought it was bad enough when we could sense eachothers emotions."

     "As long as you don't try to read my thoughts, I am happy. Ok, my mind should at least me only mine." She requested while brushing her hair from her face.

     "Ok," He concedded, "So, Kevin finally convinced you to come on tour with us?"

     "Only because he played dirty. He somehow got Gina on his side and she threatened to tell our mother what I have been doing out here. Plus I convinced Kevin to call Kristin so that they could talk over dinner sometime in the next week."

     "You guys don't really get along with your mom do you?"

     "Not really, we love her she's out mom. But we would prefer to keep a safe 3 state distance from her."

     "So what song were you guys working on earlier, it sounded really great." Alex said motioning at her notebook, as he took a few steps closer.

     "Oh, we were just dinkin' around. Kev and I just came up with this verse and chorus the other week, we've been trying to figure out a 2nd verse to it, but nothin' seems to work. He thinks that it would make a great duet, but he said as long as it wasn't him."

     "What song is it? Maybe I can help," He offered as he walked up close to her and pulled her out of the door frame, pinning her against the wall.

     "I know that I want to call it 'Where We Were'. The chorus says 'Cuz I'm still here for you... Cuz Im so in love with you... And I would do anything just to hold you in my arms" Her voice trailed of as she sang the words lightly. Finding herself not being able to think.

     Alex lifted her chin up so that their eyes met and he sang, "Do you still need me too... Baby let this be true. Don't let us leave things the way they are.... Let us find our way back to where we were...."

     "Either you were listening to us or you read it."

     "Both," He answered at he leaned forward and brushed his lips across hers. "Please Joce. Can we finally make this work. Can we try?"

     "Jocelynn!!! The food is here and is everyone else!" They heard China shout from downstairs.

     "I gotta go," Joce said as she moved out of his arms and made her way out into the hall. Before she started for the stairs she looked over her shoulder at him, "When I come back, I promise I will be ready."

                                           ~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

     Everyone stood in the foyer of Nick's house a few hours later. It was time for Joce and China to go back to Wyoming, and everyone was there to see them off to the airport. Jocelynn and China would fly back in 2 weeks to come on the tour with them, so that Joce and Kev could work on tracks for her album. And since China was going to be bringing Brennon on tour with them, Jocelynn didn't really have any arguments about taking Drogyn with her. It was all set, Jocelynn and her son would be on the tour bus with Kevin and Alex, where they had a studio build in. Brian and Howie were all sharing one, since Gina and LeighAnn were staying behind with the children to plan the wedding. But they were going to meet up with them for the show in LA mid-way through the tour. Nick, China and Brennon had their own tour bus.

     Joce stood holding hands in the circle of her friends and family, as they all prayed for a safe flight and for everything to go well and reunite them all in 2 weeks for the kick off of the 2nd leg of the US tour. Lifting her eyes as her head was bowed she let them look around the room. She took a good look at each of them, and was shocked at how well they all got along, acting like their own family. Always there helping eachother, willing to do anything for one another, and protect those that they considered part of the family. She found her eyes resting on AJ and she felt her heart pause when she saw his eyes meeting her own.

     She could hear his voice in her head asking her if she was ok. Slowly she nodded and he let a small grin form on his lips. And she started to remember their conversation earlier that morning and her promise that she made, to be ready when she comes back from Wyoming. She just hoped that she could up hold to that.

     "... And in God's name, this we pray. Amen." Brian finished.

     "Amen," They all said after him.

     "So, you girls ready?" Gina asked, since she was the one who was going to take them to the airport. In hopes to not start a scene, which would have occured if Nick had gotten his way to take the girls to LAX.

     China looked up at Nick who was holding her tightly, "I don't want to go.." She pouted.

     "Oh my god, cut it out!" Joce complained as she gave everyone else a hug. When she got up to Alex he held her tightly.

     "I will be waiting for you," He promised quietly in her ear while he held her close.

     "I will be ready, just give me these last 2 weeks." she agreed, pulling away from him and headed out the door with her bags.

     'I love you Joce.' She heard his voice in her head as she climbed into the truck.

     Smiling she looked back at him with the rest of the group, 'I love you too," Jocelynn thought back. Suddenly feeling better about all the new things in her life.