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» CHAPTER TWELVE «

The group splits up, to spend holidays with their families. Brian and Kevin go to Kentucky, and A.J., Nick, and Howie, along with Jenny and Kelly go to Florida. Jenny gets a pet carrier for Sweetie. They plan to meet in Florida after the holidays, to go back on the road. Jenny and Kelly are going to meet Howie's parents, as soon as the plane lands. His parents are picking
them up, but don't know about Jenny and Kelly, except that he's bringing friends with him. They don't know about the proposal, or what happened between them. The plane lands, and Jenny is getting nervous. It will be the first time to meet his parents, and she hasn't really seen them, except in pictures in magazines.

"It'll be all right, Jenny. They will love you." Howie smiles.

Jenny is still nervous, but smiles. Kelly is not as nervous as Jenny. The only reason why she might be a little bit nervous, is meeting people, who are the parents of someone famous. They go to get their luggage and look for them. Howie is the first to see them, and heads in their direction. Jenny and Kelly follows, and sees them as well. They reach his parents, and Howie
hugs them. Jenny puts Sweetie down, in his carrier. Then his mom, named Paula, sees the girls.

"Who are these two ladies?" she smiles.

Howie smiles, putting his arms around Jenny and Kelly, "This is my girl, and her younger sister. Mom, Dad, this is Kelly, and this is Jenny, my fiancé."

His parents look at him in shock. His father, Hoke, whispers to the group, "Fiancé? You're getting married, Howard?"

Howie smiles and nods. Jenny smiles uncertainly and waits for an answer from Paula. Paula smiles at the girls.

"Well, I'm sure we'll have a lot to talk about, when we get home."

The group goes to the car and heads to the house. Howie is sitting next to Jenny in the back seat, while Kelly is sitting next to a window. His parents ride up front.  When they get to the house, Jenny takes Sweetie outside, after a long trip. The group sits around the living room talking about the tour, how Howie met the girls, and what has happened in between. They talk about the gang, and the group's reason for the girls to go with them.  They talk about Jenny's signing in the group, and about how Kelly helps out with some tasks around the band and the group. As soon as all of the information is told to Howie's parents, it's late. They get ready for bed. First, Paula shows Jenny and Kelly to their rooms. Then they find a place for Sweetie,
downstairs, and they all go to bed.

The next day, it is New Year's Eve. Howie's family is all coming to his parent's house, for the holiday.  Jenny gets a little nervous, but relaxes as soon as the day went on.  During the day, everyone goes out on errands for New Year's. Jenny is getting sick in the bathroom, Paula notices, and knocks on the bathroom door.

"Jenny, hon, are you all right?"

Jenny hears her, and cleans herself up, and flushes the toilet. She walks out, smiling at Paula.

"Yeah, I'm fine, just a little stomach upset. It's nothing."

Paula looks at her uncertainly, but doesn't pursue the conversation any further. Later on that evening, the whole family is in the house, and they all get ready to ring in the new year. Paula finds Jenny, and motions for her to follow her. She does, and ends up in the upstairs bathroom. Jenny looks at her uncertainly, and walks in. Paula closes the door.

"Jenny, I talked to Kelly and she tells me that you've been sick for the last couple of days. Now, I just want to know, if you are really all right."

Jenny sighs. She sits down, and begins to talk.

"I'm late for this month. I've been late for a couple of weeks now. I just don't how to tell Howie. I don't know how he will react. I didn't take any tests. I didn't want to raise false hopes."

Paula smiles, and goes into the cabinet. She pulls out a pregnancy test, and gives it to Jenny. Jenny looks at her confused. She reads the box. Paula explains.

"I bought it earlier this morning. I didn't want to assume, unless I talked to you and Kelly first. I know that my son would be really happy to find out. But, I know that he would want proof too, so that's also why I bought it, to show him. Take it now, and come out and tell him."

Jenny smiles and nods.

Paula closes the door, and waits in the hall. Jenny takes the test, and a few minutes later, it comes out positive. She smiles, and walks out in the hall, and nods. Paula hugs her, and goes downstairs. Jenny follows. She sees Paula whisper something to Howie, and sees him walk towards her. "My mom says that you have something to tell me." She looks ahead, past Howie and
sees Paula standing there. Paula smiles and nods for encouragement. Jenny smiles and begins to speak to Howie.

"Howie, I have something very special for you. I've been sick now, for a few days. And thanks to your mom, I've come up with the courage to find out for my self, and to tell you....that...." she takes a deep breath, "I'm pregnant."

Howie looks at her in shock, and gulps some breaths.

"You're what?" he whispers.

Jenny pulls out the test and shows him, "I'm pregnant."

Howie looks at the test in her hand, and sees that it's positive. He smiles and starts laughing. He hugs Jenny and twirls her around. Everyone looks at them. Paula starts to tear up, and smiles. Howie stops twirling and looks at Jenny, and starts kissing her, passionately.

After kissing her, he hugs her one more time, and whispers, "Thank you."

Jenny smiles and hugs him tightly. Everyone goes to the couple, and finds out what's happening. Kelly doesn't find out, until everyone clears up a little bit. Jenny tells her, and she ends up speechless. When she finally composes herself, she hugs Jenny and Howie.

"I guess we're really a family now, aren't we?" she laughs.

They all laugh, "I guess so, you'll be an aunt soon, at 16 years old, too." Jenny laughs.

Paula heads to Howie and Jenny, and starts to tear up, she hugs both of them.

Howie whispers to her, "Thank you, for helping her come forward, and for being a great mom."

The New Year came ringing in a few minutes later, and everyone shouted, "Happy New Year!" and is making a lot of noise. Sweetie is barking, as if to say "Happy New Year!" with everyone else. Everyone stayed for a while after that, but then they left, little by little. They all congratulated Howie and Jenny, and then they left. After a little cleaning, and letting Sweetie out,
everyone went to bed.

¤ Chapter 13 ¤
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