TAYLOR: I sighed heavily and flopped down on my hotel bed, dropping my bag at the foot. All I could think about was Jess, stuck in that hospital room, when I knew she just wanted to be home, and even more than that, I wanted her with ME. I looked at the clock and then turned on the TV, to wait for my father and brothers and the rest of the crew to show up. Once they were checked in I could call Jessie. I flipped through the stations and stopped quickly at ESPN, there was my beautiful wife's face flashing before me on the screen, her smile dazzling as she waved to the audience and accepted her title. Tears stung my eyes as I watched the interview that followed, when she talked about getting married and then deciding what her plans for the next season would be. She looked like an angel to me as the camera moved in for a closeup, her coffee colored, silky, hair pulled back, except the blonde streak at the front that always wound up in her eyes. She brushed it out of her face as she spoke, and I wondered if this was the way she felt when she saw us on TV, when we were away. I wanted to reach through the TV and pull that strand out of her face for her and stroke her cheek, breathe in her vanilla-laced scent and hold her close. Keep her safe. I hoped that she'd taken another pain med, so she could sleep and hoped her arm wasn't too sore now, then I thought about taking that sick bastard of a step-father of hers and skinning him alive. I saw the look on his face when he eyed my wife, his own step-daughter and I wanted to throw up, then kill him. I was used to men staring at her, it happened wherever we went, and I could not blame them in the least. She was beautiful, and she was also fast becoming quite famous in the fitness word, which I knew would cross over into other areas of the media as well, especially with Jake backing her. Wattley too. But something about the fact that Alex raised her, from a baby and then looking at her like THAT. I felt my blood begin to boil and I turned my attention back to the TV screen, then called my dad's cell phone to tell him to tell Zac to watch, Wattley's spot was on. My dad informed me that they were about fifteen minutes away, and then hung up. They finally showed up half an hour later, checked in and got settled, we had a quick meeting then I went back to my room to try to sleep. It wasn't happening and I realized why. I had watched Jess on TV, but I hadn't actually talked to her. I looked at the clock and then picked up the phone. It was late, but I was sure she'd still be awake.

JESSIE: I woke with a start when the phone rang next to my head. "Hello?" I answered, sleepily. "Oh baby. I woke you. I'm sorry. I thought for sure you'd still be awake." Taylor said, hurriedly. "Don't be silly, Tay." I told him, rubbing my eyes and sitting up. "I miss you already. Everyone get in okay?" I asked him. "Yeah. Guess what I saw on ESPN tonight?" he asked. "You watched? Really?" I asked. He had been there, I was sure he remembered all of it. "Of course I did. made me miss you more, though. I wanted to jump through the screen and ravage your sweaty body.." he chuckled. "Oooh baby..don't do that to me now.." I teased, "Jacob is snoring in the cot next to me." "He's not actually snoring?" Tay laughed. "Hell yes he is! Listen..." I held the phone out so Tay could hear. I brought the phone back to my ear and giggled when I heard his sweet laugh. "I have to try to sleep through THAT." I groaned, making him laugh again. "I just wanna go HOME, Tay. I can't believe you guys are making me stay here. You know I hate hospitals. And I wanna hold your pillow.." I said softly, feeling tears well up. "I'm sorry." I muttered. "It's okay, Jess." he said soothingly. "I know you'd rather be home. Probably cleaning something or building something or who knows what." he chuckled. "Just stay there for me, please? I need to know that you and the baby are okay. Just to be safe.." he urged. "I'm not going anywhere, Tay." I sighed. "Jacob would just tie me to the bed anyway, then ruffle my hair or give me a noogie or something. But that doesn't mean I don't want to sleep in OUR bed, in OUR home. I'd just feel closer to you. I miss you." I told him. "I love you." "I love you, too, Jess. And I miss you like crazy. I can't wait until you get all those damn photo shoots and interviews done, so you can join me. That bunk is going to be awfully lonely.." he said. "Yeah.." I giggled, "You won't be saying that when we're in there and my belly is the size of the great pumpkin.." I said sarcastically. I smiled when he laughed out loud. "Jessie...I can't wait to see that. I want to rub your tummy and know for a fact that that's our baby in there. It's still hard to keep it real in my head.." he told me. "Soooo..what you're saying is," I teased, "that if you hadn't seen the ultrasound you wouldn't believe me? When would you? When my stomach is finally bigger than my chest?" I giggled again. "Oh thanks for the visual of you luscious cleavage, baby. Now how am I gonna sleep?" he groaned. "And yes I would believe you. You've never lied to me...and I love you." "I love you too baby. You really should sleep, Tay. I know you have an early radio show in the morning." I told him. "Yeah..you should rest too, Jess. How's your arm?" he asked. "Better, still sore as hell though. My foot should be good as new tomorrow, I can walk on it okay, now." I amswered. "Good. Take it easy on your arm, baby. Try not to remodel the entire house while I'm gone." he teased. "Not doing anything but the baby's room. And I am waiting for you for that. I don't want to do that room alone." I told him, softly. "Good. I was hoping you'd wait." he said and I could picture his smile. "I'll call you tomorrow night, Jess. But call my cell if you need me before that, kay?" he said. "Okay. I love you, Taylor. Dream about me..." I told him. "I always do. I love you Jessie, dream about me..." he answered. "Only you baby.." I told him. "Love you." "Love you, too Jess. Good night." "Nite Tay." I hung up the phone and tried to sleep, but it was a long time coming after that.

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