"I can't believe all the kids passed out already. It's only 9 o'clock, I can barely get Juaqin to bed before 10 and the boys fell asleep at 8:30." Gina said, looking at her watch.

     "Well the way they were all chasing each other around, not to mention all the 'big boys' were chasing after them too. I am surprised they lasted that long." Leighann smiled while taking a sip of her wine cooler, "So, you happy to be back in California?" She asked China.

     Putting her beer to her lips, China only nodded. After taking a sip she couldn't help herself as a huge grin formed on her face, "Yeah, I am. It's really great out here after spending the whole winter in Wyoming. Plus it's great to be with Nick again."

     "I bet, according to Brian all he talked about was you coming back out here and how nervous and scared he is about Brennon coming on tour also.." Leighann paused, then looked at China who had was staring wide eyed, "Oops, I shouldn't have said that. China I am sorry, when I drink my tongue has a mind of it's own. I shouldn't have said anything."

     Taking in a moment China thought. Nick was scared of her and Brennon being on the tour? Why? "No it's okay Leigh, I get the same way. It's just that I wish he would have or would talk to me about it."

     Leaning forward Gina patted China knee, "Don't worry he will eventually. It's just his way. Howie was the same way when we started dating also when it came to my children." Standing up she grabbed her margarita glass and motioned to the other 2 woman, "Refills?" they nodded, "OK, I will be right back and try to pry Joce from Drogyn. And call Howie to find out why it's taking him and the guys so damn long to get back with the pizza's and more drinks."

     Walking into the home, Gina headed up stairs, looking for her sister. Turning the bend she saw her, talking on her cellphone. Leaning up against the wall she couldn't help but want to ease drop on her little sister.

     "Joe- Don't... please... " She heard Joce plead. "That will kill Drogyn. You are the only father he has ever known and if you pull this shit-- No Joe! Look, the lawyers and the judge sided with me that Drogyn is going to be fine coming on the tour. You will get to see him in 2 weeks-- No! DAMN IT JOE! Listen, there is NOTHING between me and Kevin, I don't care what the fuckin' tabloids say!--- Don't even think of trying to take him away from me. The courts won't listen to you just because some tabloid is saying that shit!" Joce practically screamed, Gina winced at the sound of pain in her baby sister's voice.

     "Fine if you want a fuckin' paternity test then fine! I don't really give a damn shit anymore!--- You know what if you want to do this just to fuckin' hurt my career I don't care... Drogyn is more important to me than this damn album! ------ Fine...... FINE! I will call my lawyer and have him get everything together and in 2 weeks when Dre and I fly back out to Wyoming we will have the test done that day. Fuck off, Joe." She said curtly and flipped the phone closed. Gina turned into the doorway of the rec room and looked at Joce who was pulling at her hair as she slumped on the floor leaning up against the pool table rocking back and forth.

     "Aw, baby." Was all Gina could say as she fell to her knees beside Joce, wrapping her arms around her sister's trembling shoulders. Joce clung to her sister's arms for dear life as tears began to fall down her face, she tried her best not to scream out loud even though it was eating at her from the inside. Gina looked down at her sister, as she brushed the hair back away from her face, "Shh, Joce. It's going to be okay. What is Joe trying to do now?"

     "He - he saw the tabloid and said he is going to take it to the courts to petition for full custody of Drogyn using the grounds of my 'affair' and the fact that my celebrity is not a healthy environment. What celebrity? I haven't even dropped the album and all I am know as is -'That girl who did the duet with the Backstreet Boys". I don't want to lose Drogyn, he is my baby. And- and now Joe is saying that if I don't let him have placement of Dre that he is going to demand a paternity test."

     Gina shook her head, "First off, no judge in his right mind is going to take a tabloid seriously. Not to mention you have all of us to vouch that your's and Kevin's relations is strictly platonic. And so what if he wants a paternity test. It's only going to make him look more like an ass in court when it comes back that Drogyn is his."

     Joce looked up at her sister then back down at the floor, "That's the thing. He's not."

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

     Alex sat in the backseat of the BMW as Howie drove back to the house, looking to his left at Nick he saw the worried look on his younger brother's face, "Nick are you okay?"

     Nick's head snapped around and he shook his head, "No - yea, I mean - why?"

     "You just look like your troubled. Are you still shaky about China and Brennon?"

     Shrugging his shoulders Nick turned toward the window, staring off at the landscape, "A little I guess. It's just - I am so scared that I am going to fuck it all up. I really care about Chi, and Brennon is a great kid, I just want to make them happy. But I am just waiting for something to fuck it all up.... like I always do."

     Turning in the passenger seat, Brian looked back at the guys, "Why don't the two of you talk about it when you get back to your place later? You never know she might have some of the same fears."

     "Words of wisdom," Alex said shaking his finger at Brian, while still looking at Nick, "You listen to that man, he knows what he is talking about."

     Howie's chuckling came from the front of the car, "This coming from the man who pines away after Jocelynn like a lost puppy for a home."

     "Yeah man, when are you guys going to make a decision? Either you get together or you stay the hell apart. You won her from me, you better take advantage of that before someone else nabs her." Nick told Alex.

     "Hey no changing the subject fellas." Alex warned them, "After we fix Nick's problem, then you can talk about Joce and I."

     "Solved, Nick talks to China. Right Nick?" Brian asked, receiving a nod from Nick, "See problem solved. Now you and Joce."

     Throwing his hands up in the air, Alex gave in to defeat, "Fine, you want the short version or the now?"

     "The now. Gina already filled us all in when she found out from China." Howie answered as he turned onto the on ramp for the highway.

     "What the hell? Are there no secrets about my life that you don't know about?" Alex asked.

     Howie shook his head, "Man you are talking about Joce, who is Gina's little sister. No such thing as secrets when it comes to my fiancee. So what is going on with you and her?"

     "Ok, we did manage to talk the last time they were out there. After everything I pulled and said and she said and did, we manage to come to an agreement that once she got back we would figure it all out so we could make decision. But I have a feeling that now this stuff with Kevin and their supposed 'affair' might put it on pause ONCE again." Alex explained.

     "I am surprised that the Andros brother's didn't come back out here with her after what went down between the two of you." Brian quipped, "Those guys make our guards seem tame."

     Groaning Alex tilted his head back against the seat, "Oh god, why did you have to mention the Human Shields? Anytime I hear or think of those guys my shoulder starts to ache all over again."

     "Well prepare for some real great new," Howie chimed with a happy voice, "Kolas is flying out tomorrow as Joce's security."

      "WHAT?!?!" Nick and Alex exclaimed.

      "Dude, you have got to be shitting me!" Alex snapped, glaring at Howie who only shock he head laughing.

     "Man, that is so not cool." Nick whined. Alex hit the seat in front of him.

     "Hey, I didn't do nothin'!" Brian cried out.

     Alex shrugged, "Sorry man," He apologized. "Why the hell didn't Joce tell me?" He asked out loud as he  looked out the window. Silently and intently he seeked her thoughts, "Joce?" A wave of emotions hit him, all negative. Something was wrong, she was hurting and he needed to be there. "Howie, floor it. We need to get home now!" He ordered.

     Glancing back at Alex, Howie hit the gas pedal and headed home. He knew Alex well enough to not feel the need to ask why. Minutes later the whipped into the drive way with Alex jumping out of the car before it fully stopped. No one even noticed the figure hiding in the bushes underneath the window of the rec room.