I took a deep breath and tried to steady my voice as I returned her greeting.  "Mom!  It feels good to hear your voice!  I really miss you guys.  Everything is great here, how are you?"
 
    "Oh, we're fine honey.  We're all working hard.  But we miss you terribly!  When will you come back home to visit?"
 
    That was my opening.  Nick and I had both decided to hold the wedding in Winnipeg, where most of my family was.  The relatives he invited would be flown in to attend.  And as soon as there was a break on the tour, we wanted to have the ceremony.  "It may be sooner than you think, Mom.  Is Dad there too?"
 
    "I'm here baby.  What do you mean it may be sooner than we think?"
 
    This was it.  "Well, Mom & Dad, Nick and I have grown very close since the tour has started.  We've been through several rough patches, and we seem to have only grown stronger.  So, um, as soon as the tour breaks for a little bit, we're flying back to Winnipeg and...we're going to get married."  I let an enormous breath out, and braced myself for their response.
 
    "My baby girl is getting married?  That's wonderful Sam!  I bet you and Nick are deliriously happy right now!  Oh, my, that's such good news, isn't it Will?"
 
    My father's voice came back to me as the most joyous sound I'd ever heard: "Yes it is Diane.  And Samantha, you and Nick have our blessing."
 
    I couldn't hold it any longer; I burst into tears.  "Oh thank you Daddy!  Thank you Mom!  I was so worried that you wouldn't approve, I hesitated calling, but I knew I had to...thank you so much for being happy about it!"
 
    My parents laughed.  "Why wouldn't we approve?  Nick is such a wonderful young man, and he's done so much for you already.  We're ecstatic at the prospect of having him as our son-in-law!"
 
    There was a loud "Ahem!" coming from their end.  Suddenly I realized Shane hadn't said a word since our parents had come on the line.  "Shane?  What do you think?"
 
    "I'm just happy that you're finally happy.  Now maybe you won't be so grouchy when you're here!"
 
    We all had a good laugh.  After a little while I checked my watch and realized I had to start getting ready to go to the sound check.  "Sorry guys, but I've gotta go.  Duty calls.  I'll make sure I call you when we have some more of the plans sorted out."  Then I said something I hadn't told  my parents since I was 10 years old: "I love you mom and dad."
 
    And for the first time since I'd last said it to them, they also reminded me, "We love you too honey.  Come home soon."
 

    The next few weeks passed in a blur.  As usual, everything on the tour was going off without a hitch, and everyone was relieved that we hadn't had any problems with the shows.  Brian was back to his old cheerful, upbeat self, and he and Lindy had worked out most of their problems.  Even I had gotten a chance to talk to her, and we were finally friends, after she assured me that she had no intention of hurting Brian again.  Nick and I were finding a little bit of time each day to be together, just the two of us, and with that time we also continued with the wedding plans.  By now, there were only a few details that need ironing out, and then we'd be set.  My parents had been very helpful with the plans, as were Nick's, and for that we were grateful, since we really didn't have enough spare time on our hands to take care of all the little things.  The only thing that we were waiting for now was a break on the tour.
 
    That said, Nick and I were thrilled one day when Denise and the rest of the tour management called everyone in for a meeting.  We just knew it had to be the announcement for the tour break.  So hand in hand, we walked into the hotel conference meeting room, but to our surprise, there was no one there yet.  It was exactly time for the meeting, and even if no one else was there, Denise was always 15 minutes early for the meetings.  We shrugged our shoulders, and took the rare opportunity to sit alone together in silence, just enjoying each other's company.
 
    Just as I rested my head on Nick's shoulder, every single one of the remaining lights was flicked on, and about 20 people jumped out from behind several different entrance doors and hollered ‘SURPRISE!!!'.  My hands flew up to my mouth as I suppressed a yelp.  Nick drew his arm around me protectively and asked, "What's all this?"
 
    Everyone smiled back at us.  Brian stepped forward and started explaining.  "Tonight we are having two parties: the girls are having a bridal shower for Samantha, and us guys are having a bachelor party for Nick."
 
    Lindy came over to me and took my arm.  "So kiss your sweetie good-bye for the night, and let's get this show on the road!"  I looked warily over at Nick, and he gave me the same look back.  We totally weren't expecting this, but at the same time I could see a hint of excitement in his eyes as he anticipated what the guys had planned for him.  So I stood on my tiptoes and pressed my lips against his in a lingering kiss as the guys made catcalls and the girls giggled.  I broke away, my face red and hot, and turned to walk toward the crowd of girls.  Nick grabbed me before I could go too far, spun me around and whispered fiercely, "I order you to have fun tonight."  Then he slowly lowered his lips to mine and kissed me again, smiling when he heard the catcalls continue.  Then he let me go.
 
    I turned toward the group of girls and searched the mob for more familiar faces.  Lindy, Denise, Kayla, Natalie, Jayme, -- wait!  Natalie and Jayme were here?!  "Hey you guys!" I yelled as I rushed over to them.  I hugged both of them tightly and continued.  "It's so good to finally see both of you again!"
 
    Jayme giggled.  "I was hoping we'd surprise you.  Brian called us and asked if we would come down for this.  He sent us tickets and everything!  Apparently Denise pulled some strings with their management and here we are!"
 
    I felt so happy, I was sure that I would burst.  Denise came and put a blindfold over my eyes, and the group led me into another room.  When they took the blindfold off, I could see that everyone had put a lot of work into this.  There were balloons everywhere, streamers swooping down from every corner, and at the back of the room there was a huge table piled high with gifts of all shapes and sizes.  I let out a gasp, and Jayme took my arm and led me over to a chair that had more streamers and decorations on it.  I sat down, with Jayme and Natalie to my left, and Lindy, Denise and Kayla to my right and everyone else fanned out in a circle.
 
    "Now Sam, we've prepared a little skit, to try and predict what your life with Nick is going to be like.  So without further ado, let me present to you....Mr. and Mrs. Nick Carter....after 10 years of marriage!" Jayme grinned at me as she and Denise scurried up to the front of the room; Jayme as me, and Denise as Nick.
 
    I sat back and tried to take everything in.  As I laughed hysterically at the skit, I wondered if Nick was having as much fun as I was.
 

   ***At the same time, at the bachelor party...***

 
    "Nick, I've got a little surprise for you," AJ said in a slurred voice.  He took another swig of his beer.  He was the only one left int he room, besides Nick.  The other guys had gone out to get something, they hadn't said what.
 
    AJ spread his arms wide.  "Here she is...the girl you thought left you forever 3 years ago...Jill!"
 
    Nick's jaw dropped when he saw the attractive girl sashay out from behind a curtain.  She was wearing the bare minimum, a skimpy bikini top and the shortest miniskirt Nick had ever seen.  She swayed over to him, and all the reasons he'd dated her came flooding back to him in an instant.  She caressed his face and ran her thumb over his lips.  "Hi Nick, remember me?  I've missed you baby..."
 
    Nick felt like he was in a trance, or a bad dream (then again, maybe it wasn't so bad), that he couldn't escape from even if he'd wanted to.  This girl was the definition of sexy.  Those long legs, curved body, shimmering blond hair...why had they broken up again?  Oh, yeah.  He'd cheated on her...what had he been thinking?!
 
    Jill continued to tease him as she sat down on his lap.  "I thought maybe we could have a little fun tonight honey...give you a little taste of what you've been missing."
 
    He was torn.  Here was this girl, sitting on his lap, practically begging him to kiss her, hold her...and much more.  But all at once, the memory of why he'd cheated on her, and why they'd eventually broken up hit him like a tonne of bricks.  Although she was sexy in every way possible, her personality left much to be desired.  When he'd been with her, he'd felt trapped; he hadn't really wanted to be there, and she'd squeezed every ounce of energy out of him.  Every time he'd gone out, she needed to be there with him; when he was on tour, she begged him to fly her out to be with him, so that any spare time he may have had was spent with her.  He hadn't had a moment to himself.  So when she'd gone on vacation, he'd taken the opportunity.  He'd found the girl he'd had a crush on for so long, and never looked back.  When Jill came back from vacation, she'd found him with the other girl, and she'd broken up with him on the spot.  It had been the only way he knew of to get Jill to let go of him.
 
    Nick's brain returned to the situation at hand.  Jill was proceeding to untie the top string on her bikini top.  He stood up abruptly and, trying to control his anger, said,  "AJ, a word please?"
 
    "Sure Nicky, anything for you."  Nick stormed into the kitchen while AJ hurried to keep up.
 
    As soon as he closed the door, Nick blew up.  "What the hell were you thinking?  You know why Jill and I broke up, why did you bring her back here AJ?  Are you out of your mind?!"
 
    But AJ was too drunk to respond.  Nick growled as he went back into the room and headed straight for the door.  "Good-bye Jill.  And that's the last time I'm going to say it."
 

Chapter Twenty-Four
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