One Last Cry

Heather and AJ's wedding Chrissy stared at her friend and the beutiful dress she wore . Valentine's day and here she was marring the man she loved .The church had been filled with red and white roses , candles lite the church in a almost holy glow .The brides maids wore red silk gowns and the grooms mens black tuxes with red bow ties and cumberbuns . It was one of the most beutiful wedding anyone had ever scene . Heather had just told everyone in the dressing room that she was three months preganut with her's and AJ's first child . Which excited everyone there. Though a shadow fell on the ceromony one no one knew how to take . You see the whole gang had been shocked resently by Joe's marrige to a girl named Diane . He'd gone to Vegas for some fun and came back a married man . The girl was nice and well liked but you could tell that Joe hadn't been ready for marriage . Poor Jen had been devstated by the whole thing . She had been Joe's girlfriend up till he came back . He had told Jordan ,Chrissy's fiance and international superstar , about his concerns . You see he had yet to find a record label and he had started drinking . The next morning he had a wife . Jordan really felt bad for him, having a number 1 album hisself he kind of felt gulity for getting a better start at a solo carrer and for his happy home life with his fiance. Heather and Patty , Danny Wood's wife , were securing the last buttons on her dress and then it began .The bride cried when the groom sang a beutiful love song he had writen for her and so did ever other female in the place . Chrissy's little sister Ashley who had her 19 th birthday in January was upseting Tracy Kevins date by coming on to him . But other then that the cermony went perfectly . The resption on the other had went a little off. Joe got a little drunk , after spending the first hour ignoring his wife , he preceded to dance with every woman but her . He even got as far as slow danceing with Jen his ex-girlfriend and disapering with her .When Jen came back she was in tears and so was Diane . AJ and Heather had luckly already left for their honeymoon . Donnie and Amy, his wife , got him out of there and back to Donnie's and Nic and Chrissy got Diane out of there as well . " I've never seen Joe like this before ." Nic said in a hushed voice . They went to Jon's house and they finally got Diane to calm down . While she was in the bathroom Nic , Jon ,Jordan and Chrissy were talking . "I've known him a long time and he's never drank like that before hell he was taking shots of the waitress's chest . Thats more Donnie's style ." Jon replied to his wife . " I hope Donnie can find out whats wrong ."Chrissy said while in the shelter of Jordan's strong arms . " Hi I hope I'm not causing any trouble ?" Diane came back in and they all shook their heads at her question ,"I've offerd him a divorce and all be he always says no . If he would just figure out what he wanted we could all find peace in that family . I think his parent's blame me for this and I guess in away it is but he was diffrent the night I met him ." she started to cry all over again and Nic ran over to hug her . " This is all Joe honey don't worry . Even the best of men have problems with commentment . Let me tell you a story ." Nic procede to tell her about Jon and Jordan and the pain they put the Nic and Chrissy through just to get an engament ring .,"Danny I think was born for marriage though." Ring ....Ring "Hello?" Jon ased as he answered the phone ,"It's Donnie ." he listened for a moment his eyes got huge ,"Got it . We'll be there in a moment ."he looked at the others with a sad glance at Diane ," We gotta get over to Donnie's house I'll tell you about it in the car . Nic get my address book , we're going to need help..."

Donnie's House 2 am

"So your saying Mr.McIntrye jumped out of the car at a stop light and you failed to notice , Mr.Walhberg please that i s upsered ." the police officer looked at the people in the room and rolled his eyes . Famous people always me me me . No wonder an intoxcated man could slip out of the car . " Well sir you have to understand , we thought he was a sleep and we were talking up frount and next thing we know we're home and Joe's gone ." Donnie turned to Amy for support "He's telling the truth .We were talking about what a jerk Joe had been this evening and how upset his wife was and I guess we got wraped up in convertion ." she turned to her husband ,"Donnie we have to find Joe . His family needs him and I can see the headlines now ' Former Teen Idol Missing ' or 'Joe McIntyre Walks Out In Drunken Rage ' . Diane I'm so sorry that he's done this and I know that might appal all of you but I think we should call Jen. she knows him well and she would know where he is better than us." at Diane's nod Amy went to call Jen . The police said they could keep an eye out for him but 24 hours was the time limt on an adult missing person . Eveyone else went out and searched for Joe and Chrissy went over to Jen's knowing her friend would tell her more then she would Amy . " Jen , whats going on between Joe and yourself ? Don't lie I know you to well ." "Oh Chrissy , its a mess . He does care for Diane I think but , I'm pregnaut . With his baby, it happened before he left and I told him when he came back. He came over to tell me he was married and before he could tell me , I bursted out with my news. I was so happy then thinking we would be the ones getting married . Then he sat down and put his hands over his face . When he looked up at me his eyes we filled with tears he whispered there would be no happy ever after for us . That he never wanted to hurt me or anyone else but he always seemed to in the end ." Jen took a breath as she cried her own tears and put her hands over her stomach . It seemed like an unconcious effert to protect her unborn child . "Then he told me that he just married someone else and that he had top fufill his commitment to her . That even though he loved me and know our child that his wife deserved his complete commitment . Looking at it know , I think he's torn between me and Diane . I have his child and she has his name ." "Jen , will find Joe and help him out . I know your child will never want for anything , love or money wise ."Chrissy looked at her friend ," Let me call a friend of mine and get him to sit with you , I have to go help Jordan and the rest look for Joe . In the state Joe's in right now he might do something he might regret and I want you to be safe ."Jen nodded and Chrissy went to use the phone ."Nick , I need your help . I'm over at Jen's apartment and I don't want to leave her alone Can you come over and sit with her ?" at the confermation on the phone Chrissy called Jordan and he came to get her . 10 am the next day -Arcade ,NY

Joe sat and looked into the fire in Jordan and Jon's vaction cabin they had bought 4 years ago . Joe knew no one would find him here and he needed the time alone . AJ's happiness at marring the woman he loved most had made him more confussed then he had been before . He had a choice in his own mind the wife he barley knew or the child he knew less with a woman he adored ?Tough choice for anyone , and he felt inadquite to handle it . He had to know what to do .He had to find out how he felt about his wife . Did he love her ? Did he care enough about her to live the rest of his life with her ? Then there was his child , could he be a part time Dad ? Was he even ready for the job of being one ? Question, thats all that filled his mind . Question that needed time to anwser and time was the one thing he didn't have .............

Meanwhile back in Boston ...

"Where in the world is Joe?" Donnie asked to no one in general , but the whole room echoed his thoughts . "Honey we all wish we knew but alas we are not fortune tellers ." Amy smilled she knew they all needed a good laugh and looked at her friends ," Unless of course someone is hiding something ?" "Well Howie does have a secret , but not that ."Joy tapped her boyfriend on the arm,"I'm going to tell them ."he nodded ,"He got a call from Jonny today . The pay-per view people want to do a concert spetacular . BSB and NKOTB in concert togther for the verry first time !" "COOL!!" they all screamed except Jon who was still a little bothered about going back on stage . "Jordan ,"Chrissy said ,"I better go back to Jen's and let Nick take a break . " "I'll drive you there ."Kati said .Kati had dated Nick breiflly untill she and Brian had got locked in a storage closset togther and found love toghter . "OK my cars there so I can drive myself back." When the two girls got in the car Chrissy confided in her old friend about what Jen had told her . She hadn't told Jordan but she knew Jen wouldn't mind Kati knowing becouase the 3 of them had been friends for a long time .They knew almost everything about each other and never really surprised the other .Untill today , when they got there Jen's door was shut but not locked so they just walked in when no one anwsered the door . "I'll look in her room , you check the kitchen . I hope nothings wrong , she always locks her door ."Kati said .The 2 girls went in search of their friend and Kati got the shock of her life in the form of Jen and Nick sleeping togther . "Oh my god !" she screamed and Chrissy came running and repeated her friends words ...

Back in Arcade Joe was getting restless . Very few of his questions were anwsered and he knew they would be worried back home ,and on top of all that he had a hell of a hangover . The snow had yet to fall today but there was at least 3 feet on the ground . The pond had frozen over and his cell phone was out of distance to call anyone , on top of that the phone lines here were turned of for the winter . He headed for the rentle car that he had outside and went to the local grocery store called Tops . There he found a pay phone and dialed his home number . The anwsering machine picked up in somewhere deep inside him he felt relif at not having to exsplaine to Diane why he had done what he had done . "Hi it's Joe ."he said after the beep ," I'm fine , and I'll be back soon . Don't worry about me I needed some time to get myself straight . I'm sorry , I didn't mean to do anything like I've done . When I get back things are going to change ." he hung up the phone and went to buy some food .

Back in Boston

Diane sat beside the phone and played the message for the hundreth time . Up till that moment when he mention change she hadn't known how much she loved him. Her heart broke into and she knew he was going to leave her for good . But she needed to be the strong one . To handle the whole thing she had to be the one to leave not him . For once in her reltionship with Joe she needed control . But at this very moment she lacked the stregth . She wanted to see him to touch him , more then anything she had ever wanted in her life . She went into the kitchen and made herself a cup of tea then went up to the bedroom . The pictures of Joe sat around the room and tears swelled up in her eyes again , she turned the tv on and went to watch a movie . She walked over to the video stand and graped the tape labled 'The Way We Were ' thinking it was the Redford movie she poped it in . The video started and Joe sitting in a chair was talking to the guys," Hey guys for Christmas this year I complied a tape of our old home movies from the days on the road . I hope you like it . " Joe waved them off and videos started playing from the years . Watching Joe and seeing how he really was made her heart ache more and her love grow deeper . The last thing she wanted was to lose him , but was that the only way she could make it ? Could she risk losing herself to find maybe one moments happiness in the arms of a man who may not even love or care about her ? "Love ," she said outloud ,"It really has no easy answers . " she felt a jolt up her side and from somewhere she could not figure out she heard a soft voice replie "Wouldn't it get boring anyother way ?"

Jordan and Chrissy's place

" I really can't belive Jen and Nick were in bed togther ." Kati and Chrissy laughed at Jordan's shocked expression. The two of them just finished telling him about the surprise they had incountered and he was having a hard time taking in the situation .,"Nick's just a kid how did he learn to move that fast and on sweet Jen?" "Ah Jordan , remeber when you were his age ?" Jordan blushed at her question because he knew very well what he'd been doing at that age.,"Also Jen is not as sweet as you may think trust me !" Chrissy laughed and patted his shoulder . "Well I guess we should keep looking for Joe ."Kati said "I'm going to check on Diane . In this whole mess we've forgotten she is his wife ."Chrissy replied and they were off again.

Arcade

Joe felt strange , it was almost like he was missing something important . He couldn't think of what though . As he lay there on the bed the silence in the room almost driving him insane he saw the radio . Ah exscape from silence he thought . Only one problem he could only get 2 stations where he was Kiss 98.5 and 106.5 WYRK . Pop and country , on the pop station some mindless DJ keeped cracking jokes so he switcherd to the country station , bi mistake the first words he heard we from an Alabama song ," The maker said taker and love her forever / take care of her for life /never forsake her don't be her heart breaker /take care of her for life/ and treat her right " he switched back to the pop station quickly the other song making him feel more guilty then ever . How he was treating Diane it was hurting him as bad as it hurt her .Maybe the pop station wasn't a good choice either the words of another sad love song filled his head ,"Unbreak my heart/ say you love me again / undo this hurt you caused when you walked out the door and walked out of my life/ uncry these tears /I've cried so many times /unbreak my heart / sweet darling without you I just can't go on " Joe felt like the forces were working aginst him , the only thing he could think about was his wife . He woundered how she was doing tonight and if she was crying ? Was she as confussed as he was ? Did she lay in the bed they had shared and think of the passion they had once shared there ? Diane how wrong he had been to try and blame her for his own stupidiy . What should he do know ? The ones he loved most were in pain and he knew he had do to something to stop it .

Joe's house

Diane closed her eyes against the pain .She had cried so hard and long her eyes had begun to throb .Someone was ringing the door bell and she knew she had to answer . It might be abiut Joe . As she reached the door she found Chrissy standing at the door with take out . She let the girl in .Chrissy had always been kind , she found the girl to be the warmest welcome she had when she arived here as Joe's wife . "Hey ,we haven't found him yet but were still trying ." Chrissy looked at the other girl and felt her own heart ache at Diane's pain. "He called and said he was fine. I've just been so out of it I didn't think to call anyone ." Chrissy asured her that was fine and they sat down and ate the mooshoe pork Chrissy had brought with her . "I think I'm going home I don't think I can face him again . Knowing he could leave me like that .But I don't know if I can ." Diane began to cry again and Chrissy went to find some tissue . While she was gone Diane had the strangest feeling of arms holding her and a voice saying it will be ok soon........

Somewhere in Ireland

"What do you mean Joe's been gone for 3 days and all we have to go on is a phone message ?"AJ yelled at Brian on the phone . "We didn't want to bother you but well Nicks gone love sick for Jen , Howie and Joy partnered off and every so often a call from them saying they haven't found him and I frimly belive their not looking for Joe but at each other . Kevin and Tracy got lost and we already had to go and rescue them from RI because Kev toke a wronge turn . Kati and I are trying our best . Then theres the others , Donnie well I don't know he keeps mumbling about when he does find Joe and Danny he's flying up again . Jon and Nic keep in touch with the police .Jordan and Chrissy are all over the place . I think we all need to regroup and get our acts toghter . I thought you should know . Heather should probably as well , cause I think when D finds him the next event will be Joe's funeral ." As Aj hung up the phone he looked at Heather and smiled a sad smile . He told his wife waht was going on and she could almost laugh at the whole thing ."Well as Donnie used to say . Let's posse up !" the 2 newlyweds got the first plane back to Boston . Times like this your friends are the only ones you can count on .Heather was only slightly upset with missing out on her honeymoon but this was for Joe . AJ on the other hand was planning on helping Donnie finish off Joe .Joehad really lost it and only a few people knew why . meanwhile back in Boston

The few who knew what was going on had a terrible time trying to decide if they should tell the others .Even Jen had no idea what to tell them . She pondered to her self should I just burst out loud ,"Ok I'm pregnaut with Joe's baby and I've fallen in love with Nick who's 2 years younger then me ." or should it be more like," Surprise I'm having Joe's baby !' ah who knew .

Joe's

After Chrissy left Diane decided to go back upstairs and lay down . She must have fallen asleep because when she woke up the sun shined down on the freshly fallen snow . She felt slightly better today aleast untill she looked in the mirror at her swollen eyes .She called her friend from way back Stef and they chated about what was going on . When they hung up she felt more human . Diane decided to get up and out of the house today .She knew things were only going to get better with time and time is what she was going to give things .Her first thought was she needed to talk to Jen . The two of them needed to talk things out and find out what kind of hold this woman had on her husband ...

Buffalo Airport

Joe looked at his the 2 tickets in his hands . One to Boston and one to Cancun , he decided to find out at the last minute where he was going .He did not get the departure time for either flight so which ever one is called first he knew would be his destiney or fate which ever it was . The anoucement came over the speacker and Joe stood to board his flight . He prayed to God that this was the right choice . Enough pain had already happened and he wanted no more hurt for anybody .

Boston

They sat across from each other niether knew what to say . Jen figured that Diane had a reason for being there but what it was she didn't know . Diane looked at the other girl and wondered if Joe was in love with her or had it be something else that had drove him away ? Of course one of them needed to bring this out in the open but they both were a little scared of what might be said . "I think I know why he left the way he did ."Jen told her,"I'm having his baby .He does care about you Diane but I think the baby had thrown him off kilter ." "Your having his baby ."Diane looked at the floor .SHe felt like a greedy person for wanting Joe all to herself . This baby needed him to . She knew she should walk away then but she still couldn't. "Nick and I want to raise the baby togther .We don't want to shut Joe so he can see the baby anytime , but we want to care and love the baby here . Nick will be a great Dad , Joe will be too someday but somehow I know deep down inside Joe just wasn't meant to be this childs Dad .He'll always be part of the baby's life but .."Jen trailed off and Diane wonder at the sence of almost peace about her. Then the questions hit . Would Joe want to do things Jen's way ? Would he fight for this child or walk away ? Diane and Jen parted a short time later with a deep respect for each other .Now it was Joe's turn could he handle the way things had changed here . They way she had changed? She was no longer going to put up with the days of silence or be his whipping dog .If thats what he wanted he was deeply mistaken .

back at Jen's

"Can I come in ?" "Joe !" Jen scremed as he walked through the door ."Where have you been ? Everyone has been worried sick about you ." "I had to be alone and think .We need to talk about the baby ." Jen stoped him there and told him what she had told Diane .Joe felt regret at losing his child but in a since relived .He had less to handle in a way and more to decide .As the two of them talked the setled things so that it was to both of their liking . They parted as old friends at the door . Things had changed for them as well . Gone was the lust and in it's place a friendship had formed that that would last forever . Joe only had one thing left to do , settle with his wife . Make things with her as good as with Jen . He just hoped it was as easy ...

to be continued ......

Jordan's place

'So you want our advise ? McIntyre I'll give you some advise ."Donnie reached for the frount of his friends shirt ,"You every make me worried like that again and I'll ripe you throat out ." Donnie told his friend the he pulled him into a big Donnie bear hug .He was relived to have his little Joey Joe home where he belonged . "Donnie your such a ho . You were way to easy on him." AJ said as he and Heather walked through the frount door . "Well I figure that wife of his is gonna do some whoop ass on him so someone had to show him some love."they all laughed at Joe's pained exspression .He knew he was in for it .Heck he was surprised he'd made in here alive .The girls kept giving him mean looks and Chrissy ,Joy and Tracy were giving him the silent treatmeant .Somedays it just didn't pay to be Joe McIntyre .

Joe's

She sat in frount of the fireplace . She knew he was home and it was almost time .Diane went over to the piano which sat in the den . On it sat photos . Years of photos .There were many photos in this house yet none were of her .She wondered if that was an omen of sorts . Maybe this wasn't her home , maybe someone else should be here ? One wrong move and more people get hurt . She picked up a piture and looked at it . She didn't know the place it had been taken but she knew the people . It looked to have been taken in 93 or 94 . Jordan stood there with his then girlfriend and a young Chrissy who looked up at him adorlingly , Donnie and Kim and baby Xavier , Danny and Elise with Dan jr, Jon and Nic , Mark and a girl , plus it looked to be a few friends there to then there was Joe and Nina . He really looked happy there with his friends . She looked at Chrissy again , the girl could only have been 15 there and yet she already knew what she wanted . Diane woundered if in pictures she and Joe had taken of them at the wedding , did she look so pathetically in love as this child in the photograph and did he look as ablivous as Jordan did here? Thinking of this she didn't here the door open or the man come in the room and stand staring at her . "Diane ?" Joe watched as his wife slowly turned towards him . "Joe ,"she hoped the quivering hadn't entered her voice she really didn't want him to know how much she was effected by this. "We need to talk .There are somethings you don't know about , things that helped send me over the edge ."he looked at he and she just stood there like a statue not moving a mucle and staring dircetly into his eyes .,"Jen is having my baby ," "I know we talked about it . She is a great person Joe . She is a whole lot stronger then I would be in the same circumstances ." she got a slight smile to her face and he noticed how pretty her eyes were when she smilled . "Yeah well she and Nick Carter are going to raise the baby togther . " Joe smilled ," I never knew untill today how grown up Nick really is . He wants that baby so much , and he loves Jen to . I guess love at first sight might be true ." "Joe , what about us ?" Diane saw him smile " Were going to try and start over if you'd like . We'll go out on dates and do things that normal people do . Diane we have to make this work."Joe looked at her down turned head , as she looked up the tears flowed freely . "Why Joe why does this have to work . I mean you've put me through hell and back . I can't figure you out . I'm standing here in frount of you and still can't . Why does this have to work so badly , is it because your catholic ?"Diane almost scremed it . " Because I love you ."he whispered so low she almost didn't hear him but she did . But after all he'd done to her she wanted better. "You what ?" she asked "I love you dammit!" Joe yelled "Ok , Joe I heard you ."she turned away and smilled . It was his turn to squrim ,"So you love me , is that all .When did this happen Joe or is this some little trick . Did your Daddy tell you that always works ?" "Listen of forget this ,"Joe took the last 5 steps towards her and sweeped her up in his arms .

1 year later

They all sat around the living room and smilled . AJ and Heather keeped playing with their little girl Jaquline Rose and Jen and Nick their son Nathan . Joe walked into the room carring his 1 month old daughter Brianna Marie , and Jordan his 4 month old son Alexzander Troyal . They had all found happiness and all of the children were there Donnie played with Xav and Molly his children while Amy told him to be carefull with her baby girl . Danny and Patty had Danny jr and Brook with them . Tracy and Kevin just stared at each other and the 5 carat ring on her left hand . Howie and Joy patted her swollen stomach Jon and Nic played with there twin boys , Adam and Andrew . While Brian and Kati laughed with all the joy of newlyweds . They were all finally settled and happy . Chrissy stood in the kitchen area with her friend Heather , "The only one left is my baby sister . I hope she does it better then we did ." Chrissy laughed "What could be any better then this ."Diane said as she walked through the door . "I don't know ." Heather replied . "Well as the say in that Christmas movie , it trully is a wonderful life." the all smilled and knew they had found a kind of happiness that does not end ...