Part Five

    "Uhh, Justin," Natalie said nervously as she sat back tight against her car seat. "You realize that those people just flicked you off, right?"
    "What?" he asked as he looked at her. "Who?"
    "Justin, whatever you do keep those eyes of your ON the road," Natalie said as she sat up. "And slow down while your at it."
    "Jeez, Justin," Joey said from the back. "Give her a break, you don't want to put her in ANOTHER coma, it's NOT a good feeling."
    Justin let out a sigh as he slowed down. "Sorry, Nat...I wasn't thinking."
    "That's okay," she said as she patted his leg. "I'm use to it actually, you drive like M.A."
    The car was quiet as they listened to the local radio station and made their way down the freeway. The guys groaned when The Real Slim Shady came on the radio, and Justin quickly changed the station and then grinned when Britney's "Stronger" came on. "NOW, we're talking."
    JC and Joey rolled their eyes. "Come on, J, give us a break."
    "No, I LIKE this song," Natalie said when he was about to change it. "This video rocks too."
    Justin grinned. "Oh, I like you, Nat, yes indeed."
    JC and Joey looked at each other like it was the end of the world, while Justin and Natalie were singing along with Britney. “I’m stroooonger than yesterday!” They both sang as they danced in their seats. Justin pulled into the repair shop as the song ended and pulled his car into an empty spot.
    "Thank the lord," JC said as he crawled out.
    "Get me out of here," Joey said as he crawled out as well.
    Justin and Natalie stared at them and then at each other. "You know, Nat, I don't think they appreciate our singing abilities."
    "Me either," she said as she got out. "How rude."
    "Hey, where are you going, aren't you gonna ride with me to lunch?"
    She laughed. "Hell no, I can't very well eat my lunch when I'm dead. I'm taking my chances with JC."
    "Traitor," he said and then just laughed. "Okay, I'll go and get a table and meet ya'll there."
    "Okay," she said and then shut the door and limped over to wear JC and Joey were waiting for the keys.
    Once JC got the keys, they walked over to his newly fixed car. "Hello, my sweet," JC said as he patted the steering wheel. "Did you miss me?"
    Natalie looked at him weird. "PLEASE, tell me your not one of those people who actually name their car?" she asked as they pulled out of the lot.
    "Hey now," he said as he petted his dashboard. "Rhonda is VERY sensitive."
    Natalie and Joey both laughed. "Oh, man that's sad....RHONDA?"
    "Rhonda," he repeated with a grin.
    "May I ask why?"
    "Oh no," Joey groaned. "NOT the Rhonda story."
    "Rhondaaaa, was my eight grade English teacher," he explained ignoring Joey. "Had the biggest crush on that woman."
    "Your teacher?!" Natalie said with a laugh. "Oh, what would the fans think?"
    He chuckled. "They'd probably think it was cute."
    Natalie laughed. "ANYTHING you guys do is cute to the fans. If one of you farted on air, it would STILL be cute."
    Joey laughed. "Hey, C, remember that time on Rosie when Justin let out a silent one and....."
    "And we were all trying our hardest not to laugh?" He asked with a laugh. "Yeah, I remember."
    Natalie was turning red from laughing so hard. "He did not?!"
    "Oh he did," Joey laughed. "I told him not to eat Taco Bell before we went on, but did he listen? NOOO."
    "That...was the worst...smelling fart...ever," JC laughed as he drove through an intersection. “Even Rosie tried not to laugh, cause she smelled it too!”
    "Oh, that's classic," she said as she wiped away a tear. "Oh, man good thing it was a silent one."
    "Oh, it's happened to all of us I'm sure," Joey said with a chuckle as they turned into the restaurant.
    “Hell ya,” JC chuckled as he parked Rhonda. “I did it once during a Bye Bye Bye performance.”
    Natalie laughed even harder. “Okay, C, too much information.”
    The three of them were still tickled by the time they sat down at the table, where Justin was sitting there looking at them strangely. “What are you guys chuckling about?”
    Natalie cleared her throat. “You know, Justy, I could go for some Taco Bell....how bout you?”
    Justin froze when he saw their evil grins. “Guys, you didn’t,” he said embarrassed.
    “Good thing it was a silent one,” Natalie said and then the whole table busted out laughing.
    They spent the hour laughing and talking while they ate their lunch. The guys asked Natalie a lot of questions, because they liked being around her and wanted to know more about what kind of person she was.
    She talked about school, and what she did in college and what she majored in.
    “So, how did you meet Mary Ann?” Joey asked.
    JC laughed. “I could tell you that.”
    Natalie smiled. “Did she tell ya?”
    “Sure did,” he said as he wiped his mouth with his napkin after he swallowed a part of his cheeseburger. “They’re in the same sorority, but Natalie is a year older than M.A. They knew each other, but were never really good friends until last year, right?”
    She nodded. “Right, you got it right so far, keep going.”
    He smiled. “Well, somehow they found out that they both liked us and then they started watching appearances and shows together and M.A even took her to the Dallas concert.”
    “So, ya’ll are became friends, because you guys liked us?” Joey asked in amazement.
    She laughed. “That about sums it up.”
    “Wow,” he said. “That’s pretty cool.”
    “Yeah, it’s....ahh,” Natalie groaned all of the sudden as she put her fingers to her temple.
    Joey froze and put a hand on her back. “Natalie? Are you okay?”
    She rested her elbows on the table and bowed her head. “Yeah,” she said softly.
    “No you’re not,” he said as he rubbed her back. “What’s wrong?”
    “Just a damn migraine,” she mumbled. “The doctor said it’s normal after what I’ve been through.”
    “Is this the first,” JC asked.
    She nodded. “Yeah, it is. Just kind of... snuck up on me.”
    “Do you want me to get you something?” Joey asked as he started to stroke her hair.
    Yeah, keep doing what your doing, she wanted to say out loud. His comforting hand rubbing up and down her back and hair, started to relax her. “No, I’m fine,” she finally managed to say. “It’s going away now.”
    “Are you sure?” He asked warily.
    “Yeah,” she said and then finally lifted her head. She turned to Joey and smiled when she saw him looking at her with concern in his eyes. “I’m fine,” she assured him.
    “Okay,” he said and then rubbed her back one more time before he pulled his hand away. She scared him to death, he thought with a sigh as he took a sip of his water. The look on her face was horrible and he felt like he was in the hospital all over again, feeling helpless.
    Natalie studied his worried profile. He was biting his lip and his eye’s were hard. “Joey,” she said softly and waited till he turned his head to her. She placed a hand on his arm and squeezed it. “I’m fine.”
    He smiled softly and nodded. “Okay,” he said and let out a shaky sigh.
    “Excuse me?” JC asked the waiter. “Can we get a check when you can?”
    “Sure,” the bubbly waitress said.
    Just then JC’s cell phone rang and he reached in his back pocket and pulled it out, and flipped it open. “Hello?”
    “Hey!”
    JC laughed. “Hey! It’s M.A,” he informed everyone.
    Joey’s eyes widened. “Oh, dear lord she has his cell phone. They are practically dating!”
    Natalie snickered. “I think it’s cute.”
    “What’s up, girl?”
    “Well, there’s a slight change of plans, have you made the reservations yet?”
    “Not yet, why?”
    “Well....Timmy, my nephew, got sick and so I don’t have to baby-sit tonight.”
    “You don’t?” He asked. “So then you can come in tonight?”
    “She can!” Natalie said excitingly.
    “Well, yeah I can,” she said as she paced the room. “But if it’s too much trouble I can..."
    “No, not at all, girl,” JC interrupted her. “Start packing and I’ll call the airlines and call you back.”
    “Okay,” she said as she leaped up on her bed and started jumping up and down.
    “Call ya right back.”
    “Okay, bye,” she said and then screamed as she jumped up higher, before collapsing on her bed. “Look, at me I’m behaving like a damn teenager.” She took a deep breath and then ran to her closet and pulled out her bag. She started pulling out all her clothes, picking out which outfits she should wear and even pulled out the outfit she was going to wear on the plane.
    She was almost done packing, when her phone rang. She ran to her bed and took a deep breath before answering. “Yeah?”
    “Hey, can you make the 6:30?”
    M.A glanced at her wristwatch to see that it was two hours away. “No sweat.”
    “That’ll get you in at about, 10:30, including the time difference,” he informed her.
    “Okay, who is picking me up?” She asked as she zipped up her bag.
    “Well, Joey promised to watch Nicki and Justin has to watch his little brother, so Justin is coming over to Joey’s so they can help each other out. So it’ll be me and Natalie.”
    She smiled. “Okay, see you in a few hours, stud muffin.”
    “Counting the hours, sexy mama,” he said with a smile. “Bye.”
    “Bye,” she said and then hung up the phone and then fell on her back and stared up at her ceiling. “Dear lord, this is not happening.”

    “Hey, ya’ll PLEASE hurry back,” Joey said as he held his squirmy nephew in his arms as JC and Natalie walked to his car.
    “Aww, you’ll be okay,” Natalie teased him as she opened the passenger side door.
    “Uncle Joey!” Nicki started crying “I don’t want to go night night!”
    He rolled his eyes. “Sure. Just hurry.”
    JC and Natalie laughed as they got in the car. He pulled his seatbelt and ajusted the seat a little. It was still a little off when Justin drove it. Natalie flipped through the radio stations as JC made his way to the freeway.
    “So, Nat,” JC finally said once they were on the freeway. “Can I ask you a question?” “Sure,” she said as she leaned back in her seat.
    “What’s going on between you and Joey?”
    Natalie was staring outside the window, but she turned sharply when she heard him. “What?”
    “What’s going on between you two?” He repeated.
    “Um, what do you mean?” She asked as she began to fiddle with her hair.
    JC looked at her and then back at the road. “You're not gonna play stupid with me are ya? I really hate that.”
    Natalie looked at him and saw him grinning as he maneuvered his way through traffic. She sighed. “I don’t know.”
    “Oh, well....thanks Nat, that answers everything, thanks!”
    “JC, I seriously DON’T know. I mean as far as I know, nothing.”
    “Bull shit,” he mumbled as he took the airport exit. “I like ‘I don’t know,” better than ‘nothing’.”
    “Fine,” she said as she stared out of the window. “I don’t know.”
    “Nat,” he sighed as he turned off the radio and waited for her to look at him. “I’ve seen the way he looks at you....he cares about you.”
    She looked out the window. “He feels guilty for what he did to me,” she corrected. “He’s just being nice.”
    JC let out a laugh as he shook his head. “No, no, nice doesn’t cut it. When Joey is NICE to someone he doesn’t offer that person to stay at his house, and he sure as hell doesn’t carry her up the stairs like a protective bo....”
    “Brother,” she finished for him.
    He grinned. “That’s NOT what I was going to say,” he said as he pulled his car in the short term parking.
    She smiled. “I know, but trust me...you're wrong.” She looked out of the window and shrugged. “Just wishful thinking,” she mumbled.
    “What?” JC asked not making out her words.
    “Nothing,” she said as she shook her head. “Look, there’s a spot.”
    JC decided just to let it go and pulled his car in the spot. They both got out of the car and JC pulled down his cap and put on a pair of sunglassesas the two walked into the crowded airport. Natalie looked at him weird. "What's the matter?" she asked. "The lights too bright."
    "I dont want to be recongized," he said. "Smartass."
    She just laughed as they went through security and walked down the terminal to M.A's gate.
    After Natalie talked to the front desk, she found out that her plane was close to landing and it should only be about ten minutes. And during that ten minutes, JC drove Natalie crazy. They were setting down and JC could not keep still. He was either bobbing his knee up and down and when she put a hand on it to stop, he would crack his knuckles. No what she did to stop his nervous habit, he managed to find another one.
    "Dammit, C, why are you so nervous?" she asked annoyed as he started biting his fingernails.
    "What?" he asked as he looked at her strangely. "I'm not nervous. Why would I be nervous? It's just Mary Ann? I mean I've only talked to her on the telephone for long hours at a time, I mean it's no big deal, she's just a girl that....."
    "JC, JC," she said softly as she placed a hand on his bouncing knee and he stopped and looked at her. "Clensing breaths, breath in.....and breath out."
    JC let out a shaky sigh as he removed his hat only to run his fingers through and placed it back on. "JC, you're not breathing," Natalie said annoyed.
    "Okay, okay," he said and then breathed in deeply and then let it out.
    "Better?"
    He looked at her and even though his eyes were covered, she could tell they were scared. "I think I'm gonna throw up."
    Natalie laughed. "That wouldn't be the smart thing to do."
    JC jumped up when they announced her flight coming in. "Okay, she's here."
    Natalie smiled as she stood up. "You two must of had some powerful conversations."
    He grinned and then shrugged. "I guess you could say that?"
    "You two didn't REALLY do any digital getdown did ya?" she teased.
    He chuckled. "No, of course not....yet."
    Natalie gasped and shoved him. "You little perv!"
    He just chuckled and threw an arm around her. "Oh, Nat, you gotta lot to learn about us."
    She grinned. "I bet."
    "Oo, Oo, people are starting to come out," JC said as he stood on his tiptoe to look for her.
    "Why the hell are you looking, you don't know what she looks like?"
    He stopped and then looked at her. "Oh yeah," he said with a laugh. "Tell me when you see her."
    "Okay," she said with a smile. "Oh, I see her head in the crowd."
    "Where where?" he asked as he started jump up and down.
    "There....M.A!"
    Mary Ann looked around for the familiar voice and then her grin broadened when she saw Natalie maneuvering her way through the crowed. "Hey!" she said as she made her way and hugged her friend. "You look great girl!"
    "Yeah, pretty good for a girl that was in a coma a couple of days ago, huh?"
    She laughed. "You feeling okay?"
    "Fine, we'll talk later, right now you gotta meet your stud muffin."
    JC grinned as he watched the pair talk. She was even more adorable in person, he thought as he studied her. Her light brown hair lay loose around her face and she was dressed in a pair of casual khaki pants and an orange fitted sweater. She had on big silver hoop earrings and a smile that could warm up anyone. Natalie smiled at him as she pulled M.A through the crowd towards him. He wondered if she was just as nervous as he.
    She was beyond nervous! The sight of him just brought butterflies in her stomach and her heart managed to do mulitiple backflips. He was dressed in a pair of jeans with a black turtlneck. The man always had to wear a damn turtleneck and she didn't mind one bit. She couldn't see those beautiful blue eyes or his wavy brown hair, because they were covered, but she still saw the heart stopping smile.
    His smile brightned when she stood in front of him. "Ohh, sexy mama indeed," he teased when he looked her up and down.
    "And you, stud muffin, look even better in person."
    She then surprised him and even herself as she dropped her carry on bag and flew her arms around her.
    "Ooof," he grunted as he stumbled backwards and then just laughed as he tighted his arms around her and lifted her off the ground.
    Natalie smiled at that. It was the first time they met face to face, but they greeted each other like long lost friends. It was as if they known each other always. It got her wishing that Joey would hug her like that some day, as well. She sighed. "Okay, you two, break it up. We gotta get out of here before anyone recognizes you. If they do, I am not in good shape to run."
    JC finally set her down and then smiled down at her before picking up her bag. "Gotta point, Nat. Did you check in luggage?"
    "Sure did," she said as they began to walk towards the baggage claim.
    Once they got there, the luggage was already roatating around in a circle. "Oh, that's mine," she said as she pointed to the big black bag.
    "This one?" JC asked.
    "Yeah, that's the one."
    JC grunted as he lifted it up. "Damn girl, you staying till the summer or something?"
    She laughed. "I know it's a lot, but I didn't know what to pack, so I packed my whole wardrobe basically."
    JC shook his head as they walked outside. "I will never understand why women feel they have to pack SO much."
    "It's a mystery," Natalie said.
    "Yeah, men will NEVER understand," M.A said.
    "I gave up a long time ago," JC said and then popped open the trunk with his key remote and then loaded up the car and headed towards Joey's.
    Natalie told M.A that she would sit in the back. Mary Ann resisted for awhile, telling her that she was more than happy to sit in the back, but as soon as she told her that she wanted to streatch out her legs in the back she agreed. She was pretty quite in the back, while JC and Mary Ann chatted away. She was busy thinking about what has happened in the last couple of days.
    The wreck, waking up and seeing Joey for the first time, becoming his friends and being a part of the gang. And she had no doubt that Mary Ann would easily be welcomed to the gang as well. It was obvious JC already adored her. He was smiling like a goofball, she noticed as she studied him from the backseat.
    "Nat, you're awfully quiet back there," Mary Ann said as she turned around. "You okay?"
    She laughed. "Oh, I'm fine. You guys are just keeping me entertained."
    They just laughed as JC took the exit to go to Joey's. The car was pretty much silent after that, and they listened to the radio all the way to Joey's. He pulled into the driveway and parked it behind Joey's car. "That's weird, Justin's car isn't here."
    "Maybe he already left?" Natalie said as they got out.
    "No, he said that Steven was just going to spend the night, because his parents were going to be so late. Or at least that's what I thought. I don't know."
    "Hmm, that is weird," Natalie said.
    "I can get that," Mary Ann said as JC carried his bag.
    "I know, but I got it," he assured her and then the three of them walked into the backdoor.
    They walked towards the den where the sound of kids screaming echoed the house. They stopped dead in their tracks as they saw Joey running around, trying to get a hold of Nicki and Steven. Both kids were half dressed in their pjs, Steven having on his bottoms and Nicki had on his top. "Joey?" Natalie asked warily. "Having problems?"
    Joey heard the sound of her voice and ran to her. "Thank the GOD!" he said as he threw her arms around her and pulled her close.
    "OH!" she gasped as he slammed her against his chest.
    "Joey? What the hell??"
    He pulled back. "Please tell me you know a lot about babies?"
    She let out a laugh. "Are you kidding? Three neices right here," she said as she pointed to herself.
    "And two neices, four nephews and one on the way right HERE," M.A said as she set her purse down. "So I can help too."
    Joey hugged her. "Well, then I like you already, M.A."
    "Where the hell is Justin?" JC asked.
    He sighed. "Well, Britney called and....."
    He held up his hand. "Say no more, I understand."
    "I'm gonna kill him, he said he was only going to be gone for ten minutes!"
    "And you were stupid enough to believe it," JC laughed.
    Mary Ann laughed. "Okay, so which kid do I have?"
    "Get Steven," Joey said as he ran towards the kids. "Me and Nat got Nicki."
    "Sounds like a plan," she said.
    "I'm just gonna....put this in your room," JC said and tried to walk away, but M.A grabbed his arm and yanked him back. "Shit," he cursed as he tumbled backwards.
    "I don't think so," she said with a smile. "You are helping me."
    "Okay, you little squirt," Natalie said as she picked up the rambunctious child. "Time to get you dre....Woah!"
    "What?" Joey asked.
    "He has a dirty diaper, big time!" she said as she hoisted him up on her hip. "Did you not change him at all?"
    "Change?" he asked. "No, no, I NEVER change the diaper."
    Her eyes widened. "Are you kidding?"
    "No...I'm never around and when I'm am, I always pass him to my Mom or Steve."
    She shook his head hopelessly. "Well, you're gonna learn right now," she said and then grabbed his arm and yanked him upstairs.
    "Ahh, man," he pouted as he trotted up behind them. "I knew this day would come."
    Steven squealed with laughter as he tried to run away, but JC caught him and lifted him up high over his head. "Where do you think YOU'RE going young man," he said and then started to tickle him while Steve squirmed in his arms.
    "Oh great, just get him more riled up," she said as she started to tickle him as well and his laughter grew.
    "C, tickle lady, tickle lady!" Steve ordered as he pointed to Mary Ann.
    "My pleasure," he said with an evil grin as he put down Steven.
    "Don't even think about it," she said as she backed away from him. "JC, no..." She tried to run, but his arms went around her and started poking at her sides. She laughed as she tried to squirm away, but he was too strong.
    "Steven, come help me buddy."
    Steven trotted towards them and helped him tickle her as she fell on the couch. JC put his knee on it and leaned over her as he continued to torture her. "Stop," she laughed and then managed to grab Steven and pulled him on top of her to protect her. "Two can play at this game," she said as she started tickling the squirming boy.
    As the three of them continued the tickling war, this time Steven and M.A ganged up on JC, Natalie was putting Nicki on the changing table. "Okay, get over here and be a man."
    "Okay, I can do this," he assured himself as he stood next to Natalie. He watched her take the diaper off and almost gagged when the smell hit him. "Lord, Nicki," he said as he waved his hand in front of his face. "Just like your dada!"
    "Here," Natalie said as she handed the dirty diaper to him.
    Joey looked at it warily. "What?"
    She rolled her eyes. "Put it in the diaper genie?"
    "The diaper what?"
    "Genie," she said as she pointed to it in the corner.
    "Stick it in the trashbag and then twist it....it blocks the smell."
    Joey reached out and grabbed the dirty diaper and held it away from him as if he were carrying a posionous snake. He wadded it up and then stuffed it in the genie and twisted it shut. "Whew, we done now?"
    "Not even close," she said as she handed him a wipe. "Now clean him up."
    Joey looked at the wipe and then at Nicki's dirty butt. "Oh, you GOT to be kidding me."
    "Don't be a baby," she said as she pushed him toward his nephew. "Buck up and do it."
    "Oh, god," he groaned as he leaned the wipe toward him and prayed.
    "No, No," Natalie interuppted as he began to clean him.
    "What?" he asked as he froze."
    "Go up?" she instructed.
    "Up?"
    "Yes, up...with boys you wipe up, with girls you wipe down."
    "Oohhh, I see...learn something every day," he mumbled and then started to clean him up.
    After the tickle war downstairs settled down, they managed to get Steven quited down so they can change him as well. "Please tell me he doesn't have a dirty diaper," JC said as he pulled down his pajama pants.
    "Doesn't smell like it," she said as she took off the diaper. "Negatory."
    "Thank God," he said as he handed her the diaper.
    Mary Ann shifted the new diaper underneath him and then suddenly moved out of the way. "Uh-oh, watch out you're about to be christened."
    "About to be what?" JC asked in confusion as he looked at her. M.A pointed down at him and he looked down and then cursed as he shifted out of the line of fire. "Damn, that was close."
    M.A bent over laughing. "Oh man, he almost got you."
    He let out a breath. "Yeah, the keyword is ALMOST," he said and then they both leaned back over when he was done doing his business and finished putting on his diaper. JC lifted Steve to his feet as M.A put on his pants and then JC put on his top. "There, all done. Now, it's night night time."
    "Gonna have to wait until Joey and Natalie are done," she said and then looked at the spot of pee that Steven just left. "Know if they have any carpet cleaner?"
    JC chuckled. "I'm sure they have some," he said as he stood up fom the couch. "I'll go find some, and you watch Steven."

    Natalie watched Joey as he concentrated on puting the diaper on his nephew. He was brave enough to survive the wiping, but now he had to suceed in the changing. He looked absolutely adorable, she thought as she watched the tip of his tongue peek out the side of his mouth as he pulled the sticky tab into place. He then grinned as he lifted him up. "I did it!"
    "Sure did," Natalie said with a smile.
    "Yea!!!" Nickolous cheered as he clapped his hands.
    "Yeah, your Uncle Joey ain't so bad," he said and then gave him a big fat kiss on the mouth.
    Nicki sqealed in delight. "Kiss Natty! Kiss Natty!"
    Natalie's eyes widened and her heart stopped as she looked up at Joey, who was no longer smiled. He then gave her a soft smile and shrugged. "Well, the prince has spoken, gotta do what I gotta do."
    Natalie didn't say a word, all she did was stay completely still as Joey leaned his head towards her. She closed her eyes, waiting for the kiss, but instead she felt his rough cheek against hers as his lips brushed the side of her face. She felt herself turn red as he pulled away and he gave her a wink before turning to his nephew. "There, ya happy?"
    He giggled. "Yeaa!!" he said as he clapped his hands.
    He laughed. "Why don't you go downstairs, and see if Steven is ready for bed. I'll put him to bed."
    She smiled. "Okay," she said and then ruffled Nicki's head. "Night, sweetie."
    "Say night, Natty," Joey said as he kissed the top of his forehead.
    "Night, Natty!" he said sleepily as he yawned.
    Joey watched her leave and then let out a breath when she shut the door. "Man, Nicki, is it hot in here or is it just me?" But Nicki was already asleep in his arms to answer.

Part Six