Part Three

    "Joey, there you are."
    As soon as she heard his name, she stopped laughing and looked straight at him. He was starting at her, almost studying her at the doorway. "Joey," she finally managed to say. "Good seeing you again."
    "You too," he said as he walked in. "You look a lot better."
    "I feel a lot better," she said as she leaned on her crutches. "I'm still a little bit woozy."
    "You just missed her family," Phyllis said. "They wanted me to tell you hi and thanks for everything."
    Was this family normal? he thought as he shifted uncomfortabley. He put a memeber of their family in the hospital and they are thanking him. "Sorry I missed them," he finally said.
    "Um, would you mind if I went upstairs and took a nap," Natalie said tiredly. "I'm kind of tired."
    "Sure," Phyllis said. "Joey, show her to her room."
    "Okay," he said as he waited for her to limp toward him. "Where's your bag?"
    "Steve already took it up," she said as they made their way to the stairs.
    Joey watched her try to make her way up the stairs, but she was having a hard time. "Here, let me help you," he said as he went to her side.
    "No, I'm fine, I just...."
    "Here," he said as he took away her crutches and laide him against the railing. "I'll bring them back up later. Can you lean on me?"
    "Uh, yeah," she said as she put an arm around his neck for support.
    Joey reached up and grabbed her hand that was dangling around him and then slipped his other arm around her waist. "Okay, step up, take your time."
    Natalie grunted as she tried to hop up on one foot, but she took her time like he said. They were half way up the stairs, when Natalie slipped on her good foot and almost fell backwards. But luckily Joey's arm supported her and he pulled her against him. "You okay?" he asked softly.
    Her eyes were wide when she looked up at his brown eyes. "Y..yeah," she said shakily. "A lot harder than it looks."
    He chuckled. "I bet, here let's do this," he said.
    Natalie opened her mouth to say something, but she was speechless when Joey cupped the back of her legs and lifted her in his arms. He had her cradled in his arms like a baby. "Much better," he said with a wink.
    She just let out a laugh as he carried her up the stairs and down the long hallway. "This is your room," he said as he nudged it open with his back. "We actually share a bathroom, so I'll try my best to stay clean."
    She laughed as he gently put her down on the bed. "Don't worry about it, this is your home not mine. Besides, I'm pretty messy myself."
    He let out a sigh of relief as he placed a hand over his heart. "A woman after my own heart," he teased.
    She chuckled as she shifted to get comfortable. "You really are a flirt, aren't you?"
    He grinned. "Yeah, it just comes naturally, I can't help it." He just smiled when she laughed. Her laughter was addicting. "Is there anything you'd like? Water or anything?"
    "No, I'm fine," she assured him. "I just need a good hour of sleep and I'll be fine."
    He nodded. "Okay," he said as he walked to the door. "Natalie?"
    She looked up. "Yes?"
    He shifted. "I...I'm sorry for everything."
    "You don't have to apolo...."
    "Yes I do," he said softly. "It was careless and I...." He sighed. "I just hope I can make it up to you."
    "You're doing enough by letting me stay here," she said. "My mom said that you even called the people about rescheduling my interview. I appreciate it."
    He shrugged it off. "It was the least I could do. They said they'll be more than happy to see you before you go home and to take your time getting well."
    She smiled. "Thank you."
    He smiled back. Even her smile was addicting. "You're welcome. Sleep good, Natalie."
    "Thanks," she said and then closed her eyes when the door shut behind him.
    Thirty minutes later, after Natalie was fast asleep, the door to her room slowly creaked open. A pair of small brown eyes peered in the room and studied the mysterious hump under the covers. He shuffled in the room as he wiped his chocolate smudged cheek and leaned up on his tiptoes as he looked on the bed.
    Little Nicki squatted down and set his sippie cup on the floor before he hiked up his pants. He clutched a piece of comforter and he stuck out his tongue as he grunted to pull himself up. He quietly crawled on his hands and knees and studied the stranger sleeping beside him.
    He grinned as he poked his chocolate smudged finger at her cheek, but she didn't move. He let out a giggle and then rested his head against the pillow and closed his eyes. Five minutes later he was fast asleep.

    "Hey Joey?" Steve asked as he peeked his head in the den.
    "Yeah?" he asked as he was helping himself to leftovers from Christmas dinner while watching TV.
    "Have you seen Nick anywhere?"
    Joey shovled in a forkful of sweet potatoes. "Nope."
    He rolled his eyes. "Well, would you mind getting off your lazy ass and help me look for him."
    "Yeah, sure," he said without taking his eyes off the TV.
    Steve sighed and then grabbed the remote and turned off the tv. "You've seen that movie ten thousand times, Joe. You can bare without it for a few minutes."
    "Oh, man," he pouted. "Superman was about to kick that guy's ass!"
    "Yes I know, and you can watch it as soon as we find Nicki," he said and then took the bowl away from him. "You check upstairs, I'll look down."
    "I swear, that boy should be on a leash," he mumbled to him. "He keeps doing this."
    "I know, it's just a phase."
    "Whatever," Joey sighed and then trotted up the stairs. "NI..." He silenced himself quickly as he slapped his hand over his mouth. He forgot Natalie was upstairs asleep. He walked down the hall and stopped when he saw a half eaten chocolate bar laying next to Natalie's room.
    "Uh-oh," he said as he picked it up. "Daddy's not gonna be pleased." He set the candy bar he had given to Nicki earlier on the corner of the table that was in the hallway. Steve was not happy about the gesture, so he hid it from him to save it for later. But somehow he must have found it.
    Joey chuckled but stopped short when he saw the chocolate fingerprints on Natalie's door. "Oh man," he said softly and then slowly opened the door. He froze when he saw his nephew sound asleep in Natalie's bed. He was on his tummy, but resting on his knees and his little butt was sticking up in the air.
    Natalie was on her side facing him and their heads were so close, because they were sharing a pillow. He smiled at the sight and almost didn't want to disturb them, because they looked so peaceful. But he was afraid that Nicki might move suddenly and hurt Natalie, so he walked over to the edge of the bed. He slowly leaned over Natalie and gently shaked him so he would wake up. His eyes fluttered open and when he saw Joey he got a little excited. "UNCLE JOEY!" he yelled.
    Natalie flew straight up. "What the???"
    "Sorry, sorry," Joey winced as he placed his hands on her shoulders. "Nicki snuck in here and fell asleep next to you."
    "What?" she asked still groggy and then looked over at Nickolous' grinning face. "Oh, you decided to take a nap with me."
    "Yup," he said and then laid back down. "Let's go night night now, Uncle Joey you can come to bed with us too and go night night."
    Joey felt himself turn red and just let out a nervous chuckle when he saw Natalie turn red as well. "Um, maybe another time, squirt," he said and then picked him up. "Let's leave Natalie alone so she can rest."
    "Okay," he said. "Bye bye bye, Natalie."
    Joey laughed. "He really likes that song."
    Natalie giggled. "Well, then bye bye bye Nick."
    He giggled and then squirmed in his arms. "Down, down."
    "Where do you think your going, Squirt?" he asked when he set him down.
    "I'm gonna go and see Daddy," he said and then trotted off.
    Natalie smiled. "He's adorable."
    "Yeah, he's a cute little rascal," he said with a chuckle. "Takes after me, you know."
    Natalie laughed. "I can see that."
    He just laughed. "Sorry, about the interruption."
    "It's fine, I'm use to it. Jordie wakes me up all the time."
    "I know exactly how you feel," he laughed. "Well, I'll let you get back to bed."
    "Actually, I'm awake now," she said as she threw her feet over the bed and reached down for her crutches.
    Joey beat her to it and leaned down to hand them to her. "Here you go."
    "Thanks. Mind if I come and just hang out downstairs?"
    "Not at all," he said. "I was just watching Superman III."
    She laughed as she got up and adjusted herself with the crutches. "You know, I haven't seen three."
    His eyes widened. "You haven't?"
    She shook her head with a laugh, not knowing that Joey enjoyed watching her curls flow around her face. "No."
    "Girl, I'm gonna just have to start it over then," he said as they started to walk out of the room. "It's a definite MUST see."
    "Okay," she said. "But Joey?"
    "Yeah?"
    "I think I should watch one and two first."
    He stopped and his jaw dropped. "Oh, girl you are sad."
    She laughed. "I know, I know. I only watched the superman series, with Teri Hatcher and Dean Cain"
    Joey winced. "That is SO not good. Come on, girl, I'll show you the REAL superman."

    Joey and Natalie were sitting on the big leather couch side by side while they watched Superman I. They started out sitting on seperate cushions, but somehow they mangaged to slide closer and their hips were touching. They had their feet propped up on the coffee table and a bowl of popcorn that sat between them.
    Joey's eyes shifted to Natalie's and he couldn't help but grin. Her eyes were wide as she watched the movie and she had a peice of popcorn next to her mouth that she had not yet eaten. He noticed she had it there for about five minutes now. He chuckled. "Natalie?"
    "Yeah?" she asked still watching the movie.
    "Were you ever planning on eating that popcorn," he teased. "Or were you saving it for later."
    "What?" she asked as she turned her head toward him and gave him a weird look. Joey just raised his brows as he motioned with his head towards the uneaten popcorn. Natalie turned to see that she was in fact holding a piece of popcorn inches away from her mouth. "Oh," she said with a laugh and then popped it in her mouth. "I got wrapped up in the movie."
    He chuckled. "Tis okay, I know what you mean."
    Just then Steve walked in with Nickolas at his hip and rolled his eyes at the TV screen. "Oh, no, Joey, you're gonna corrupt the poor woman."
    "Oh, shove it," he said and threw a peice of popcorn at him.
    "Baaaney, Baaaney," Nickolous chanted as he bounced up and down on his father's lap.
    "Sorry, buddy," Steve said as he placed Nick down. "The prince has spoken."
    "I know, I know," he said with a sigh. "Barney rules over Superman, I know the drill."
    Steve just laughed as he put the purple tape in the vcr and as soon as the music started Nick clapped and smiled at Natalie. "Baaaaney!!"
    "Yes, I know," she said with a smile. "Can you sing the song??" Natalie started to clap with Nickolous and sang the song she knew too well.

    "Barney is a dinasour from our imaginiation,
    When he's tall he's what we call a dinasour sensation
    Barney's friends are big and small they come from lots of places
    And after school they meet to play and sing with happy faces
    Barney teaches lots of things like how to play pretend
    ABC's and 123's and how to be a friend
    Barney comes to play with us whenever we may need him,
    Barney can be your friend too if you just make believe him!"

    Nick squealed with delight as he clapped his hands and jumped up and down. Natalie just laughed, but then her laughter died when Steve and Joey looked at her weird. "What??"
    "You realize you knew all the words to Barney, right?" Joey assured her.
    She rolled her eyes. "And YOU don't...I have three neices, of COURSE I know the song."
    Steve let out a laugh. "She knows the words to Barney! See Joey I told you it was normal!"
    He laughed. "I guess it is," he said. "I'm just....."
    "OH MY DEAR LORD, SHE'S GONNA KILL ME!!" Justin yelled as he ran into the room.
    "Justin, you scared us to death!" Joey said as he watched him fly behind the couch. "What is the matter with you? Who's going to kill you?"
    "Your sister," he said as he tried to catch his breath.
    "What did you do this time," he said with a roll of his eyes.
    "I uh...accidently rearended her...when I drove up the driveway," he stuttered as he warily watched the entrance for Janine to storm in.
    "You hit her car!" Steve exclaimed. "She just got that car."
    "Forget about Janine," Joey said with a laugh. "I'm surprised you aren't mad for ruining YOUR car."
    Justin cleared his throat. "Well, uh...I'm driving JC's car."
    Joey's eyes widened. "Nice knowing you Justy."
    Justin groaned as he hid his face with his hands. "I'm more scared of your sister than JC."
    "I would be too," Steve mumbled.
    "Where is that egotistical, curly headed, I think I'm da shit popstar!" Her voice yelled through the house.
    "That would be YOU Justin," Joey said with a grin. "Better hide."
    "Oh, crap....Janine," he said calmly when he saw her angry face. "It was an accident, I...."
    "I am gonna pull on your hair so hard all those damn curls will be straight as an arrow," she threatened.
    "Janine, I...." He then quickly plopped next to Natalie and lifted her up and plopped her in his lap. "Wouldn't hurt the cripple to get to me would you."
    "Hey!" Natalie said in shock but still managed to giggle. "Let go! I refuse to be your security blanket, ya little shit!"
    Steve busted out laughing. "Oh, I like her!"
    "Come on, Justy, let go," Joey said with a laugh. "Fend for yourself."
    "She scares me," he whispered to Natalie. "Please just protect me."
    "Come here curly!" Janine demanded as he stepped toward them.
    Justin just wrapped his arms tighter around her and hid his head under her back. "Go away, don't hurt me."
    "Janine, you're scaring me now," Joey said with a grin. "I can see the veins popping out of your neck."
    "Stay out of this, Joey," she said as she put her fists on her hips.
    "Yes mam," he said and cleared his throat.
    "Is this normal around here??" she asked as she tried to struggle away from Justin, but couldn't. Then she finally elbowed him right in the gut and he let out a grunt. She then finally managed to free herself, sense he was too busy holding his stomach in pain.
    Janine smiled at her. "Hi, I'm Janine," she said as she held out her hand. "And I like you already."
    She let out a laugh. "Hi, I'm Natalie. And thanks. And to think Justin used to be my favorite."
    The den busted out laughing, except for Justin. "USED? What do you mean used, who's your favorite now??"
    Joey leaned forward and gave him a wave with a grin. "That would be me."
    "JOEY??" he asked in shock. "THAT'S who you converted too??"
    "Gee, thanks Justy," he said dryly.
    "We are not talking about who's Natalie's favorite, we are talking about MY car!"
    "I'll pay for everything, Janine, okay?" Justin said as she waved her off.
    "You bet your ass you will," she said and then popped him on the back of his head as she walked passed him.
    "Ow!" he whined as he rubbed his head. "The witch."
    "Serves you right, Justy," Joey said with a chuckle.
    "Shove it, "he said and then turned to Natalie. "Now, I want to know why......"
    "Oh, Justin calm down," she said with a roll of her eyes. "You still got it. You still got the cute curls, the smile that make girls scream so loud they rip their hair out, and those hips are still in 100% condition...you can't be EVERYONE'S favorite you know."
    "Then why'd ja change??" Justin asked curious.
    "Um....ahem...you're too young for me, sweetie," she said as she patted his soft cheek.
    Joey pointed at him and laughed. "You're da baby!"
    Justin replied by throwing a pillow at him and then turned back to Natalie. "Girl, I am NOT too young."
    She rolled her eyes. "I don't want to hear this bitching anymore, I mean you got Britney Spears, stop complaining."
    Justin gave her a weird look and then busted out laughing. "Natalie, I got a feeling your gonna fit right in."
    She smiled at both Justin and Joey. "Well, thanks. You two make it easy."
    "JUSTIN!!" JC's voice boomed as he pushed open the door. "WHAT HAPPENED TO MY CAR!!!!!!"
    Justin's eyes widened. "Ah hell," he said and then picked up Natalie again and behind her for dear life.
    "Justin, I swear to God," he cursed as he came storming in here.
    "JC, it's not the end of the world," he said as he hid behind Natalie.
    "Not that bad!" he exclaimed. "I drive 20 miles under the speed limit in your car, just because I know how obsessed you are with it, and you rear end MY care in the DAMN driveway!"
    "I'll pay for it, C," he pleaded. "I promise just don't...."
    "Oh, leave the poor woman alone, for cryin out loud," he said as he threw Justin's keys on the table. "You are a sad young man."
    "JC, I really don't like that look," he said warily as he slow pushed Natalie aside.
    "I'm giving you the count of three to TRY to run for your life," he warned as he stepped closer. "One...."
    "Now, C..no need to get...."
    "Two..."
    Justin laughed nervously. "Jayce, please don't..."
    "THREE!" He yelled and then flinched his body towards him as if he was going to attack.
    "SHIT!" Justin cursed as he flung out of the chair and started to run. But he stopped when he heard JC and everyone else laughing. He turned around and glared at JC's grinning face. "You are SUCH a bastard."
    "And you are SO pitiful," he laughed. "If only you could see your face, you....you..."
    "You looked like you were going to pee in your pants," Natalie finished for him and then they whole room laughed louder.
    "Exactly," JC laughed.
    "Why you little..." Justin ran towards JC and the rest of the room just laughed as he chased him around the house.
    Natalie gasped out a laugh as Justin finally tackled him right by her feet. She smiled as she lifted her feet so they wouldn't run into her. She looked at the pair of guys that were rolling on the ground, yanking hair, calling each other names. "Are ya'll always like this??"
    Joey chuckled. "We sure are." He sighed. "It's how we show our...LOVE for one another."
    "I am so taking you and your skinny ass down!" Justin yelled as he punched his shoulder.
    "Go for the fro C!" Joey encouraged.
    "The fro?" Natalie asked. "Hell, why not go for the crotch."
    Joey winced and JC and Justin immediately stopped fighting. "Are you insane?" JC asked and then punched Justin in the stomach before getting up and helping him off the floor. "That's a definite violation."
    "Violation?" Natalie asked confused.
    "You can bite, punch, pull at the hair, kick, but NO RACKING," Joey explained. "That is a definite violation to the male code."
    "Well, if the guys an asshole, then yeah," Justin said and then patted JC hard on the back causing him to stumble forwards. "But if it's a pal, like, C here...a definite NO."
    "Ahh, I see," Natalie said with a nod of the head. "Well, you learn something everyday I guess. But there is one thing you guys should know."
    "What's that?" they all asked in unison.
    "Pal or not...if the guys being a dick, the girl racks him. I've racked my own brother one time."
    All guys winced at the same time. "Believe me, I know it," JC said. "My sister has done it many of times."
    "Let's not talk about it," Joey said as he got up. "Dinner is probably almost ready. Natalie, you like pasta?"
    "I live for Itallian food," she said.
    Joey grinned as he helped her up. "She just keeps getting better and better," he teased.

Part Four