"Oh yeah… Oh baby, that’s so good," a voice groaned huskily.

The covers slipped down to reveal a taut male back, beaded with sweat, his hips plunging forward and back. A pair of female legs were wrapped tightly around his waist, clenching tighter, drawing him in deeper.

"Oh God," the woman gasped, body twisting as he continued to thrust into her.

She opened her mouth to cry out his name, but his lips came down on hers, tongue stroking, swallowing her moan. His hands threaded themselves through her hair, pulling it back, exposing her neck to his mouth. He adjusted his position a little, slowing his pace. He pulled himself almost out of her hot tight core, swirling his hips, then surging deep within her.

"Harder, dammit. Faster," she panted, frustrated by his new pace.

"Is that what you really want?" he asked gruffly, not making any changes.

"I want you to FUCK me!" she growled, then tightened her legs around him and rolled over on top of him. She grinned evilly down at him. "Or I’m going to ride you so… Oh God!"

She broke off as he grabbed her hips and started to slam aggressively up into her. She tried to regain control by clenching her inner muscles, but that only brought her orgasm on faster. Within moments she was clinging to his chest, nails clutching into his skin, screaming his name in ecstasy.

He wasn’t far behind.

She slid off him, rolling onto her back beside him, panting. He was also trying to regain his breath; taking big gulps of air. His hands shook as he removed the spent condom, flicking it into the wastebasket nearby. Once it was dispensed with his arm snaked around her shoulders, pulling her close. He laid a tender kiss on her forehead, lightly brushing aside her sweaty hair.

She sighed, snuggling up close to him, her hand sliding over him, fingers curling in his patch of sodden chest hair.

"Baby?"

"Hmm?"

"Why doesn’t Brian like me?"

"Jesus, Patti," AJ swore as he exploded up from the bed.

"What?" she asked wide-eyed.

"Christ, woman. I don’t know if you noticed, but we are in bed together, making love. And you bring up Brian?!"

"Well, its bugging me," she pouted petulantly.

"Yeah, well, its bugging me too," he muttered angrily.

"See?" she said, misunderstanding him completely and snuggling up closer to him. "So what’s his problem?"

AJ sighed angrily, his teeth clenched, than slid his legs over the side of the bed and got up. He rubbed a hand through his hair. "Brian doesn’t have any problems."

"What is that supposed to mean?" Patti asked defensively.

"Nothing," he sighed. "Just that Brian’s too smart for his own good sometimes." He walked to the bathroom, shutting the door and gazing at his reflection in the mirror. "And for my own good too."

"So?" Kat arched an eyebrow, an unconcealed grin on her face.

"Oh, leave me alone."

"Come on. You can tell me," she purred. Then laughed as the blush went up Nick’s face. "Oooooo, Nick-boy’s in luv."

"Shut up," he growled, his face getting redder.

"Oh, lighten up, Nick. I haven’t had a chance to tease you in a long time."

"Who’s fault is that?" he retorted.

When she didn’t answer he looked up. She was staring out the window, a distant look in her eyes, her face white.

Dammit. He’d hit too close to the bone.

In the three days he’d been in Kat’s house he’d tried very carefully to broach the subject of Kevin and Howie. She’d blocked him at every turn.

She’d talk about Chris. She’s let him talk about his life. She’d even listen when he talked about Brian, Leighanne or AJ. Mention either of his other two group mates and she’d clam right up. Or leave the room.

Chris, on the other hand, soaked it up. He wanted to know everything about the Boys. He asked about singing. And his dad. He asked about Bryleigh. He asked about whether it was scary being in front of all those people. And did his dad get nervous? And was going lots of places fun?

Nick was amazed at how much Chris actually knew about Kevin. Even what he’d been up to in the past two years. She wouldn’t talk to him about Kevin, but she didn’t seem to have any problem painting a very rosy picture of his absence father to her son.

She just wouldn’t talk about him herself.

Three days she’d avoided it. They’d fallen into a little routine. Every morning they had breakfast the three of them. Then Kat and he would walk Chris to school (this morning she’d let Nick do that by himself). Then she’d go to work. And he’d usually accompany her. More to see Emma than anything. Still, he was now getting better at slicing and dicing vegetables. If he kept this up he’d stop ordering out for pizza: he’d know how to cook for himself. The horror!

In the afternoons he usually headed back to spend time with Chris. He’d managed to get Deb to accept him, though it was a little grudging. When Kat came home the three of them would have dinner together and goof around until Chris went to bed.

Then he’d try again to get her to open up.

And invariably he’d fail.

Then he’d call Emma and they’d meet up for a few hours.

Not a wildly exciting life, but he was actually really enjoying it.

"Kat… I’m sorry. It just came out. I…"

"You’re not called Kaos for nothing. I know. It’s okay, Nick."

"We have to talk about it sometime. You know that."

She sighed. "Yeah. We do."

"When?"

"How about the fourth week of the sixth month of the third millennium?"

"Kat," he whined.

"Don’t whine."

"I don’t… Okay, so I do sometimes. But please: talk to me."

She shook her head. "Not yet. I’m not ready yet. Tell me about your date with Emma."

"Not yet. I’m not ready yet," he said, mimicking her tone.

She snorted.

"Oh all right. We went for a walk along the lake. Happy now?"

"Oooo. A lake walk," Kat teased. "Tell me more."

"And we talked."

"Is that what they call it now?"

"Kat," he growled warningly.

She smirked at him, then her face turned serious. "She’s good people, Nick. Don’t hurt her."

"What?" Nick was startled by the change in direction. "Why would I want to hurt her?"

"I’m serious. If this is a casual flirtation just because she’s there… Don’t do it."

"I’m not…!"

"Nick, I’ve seen you do it before."

He flushed. "I know. But this is not… I like her. I really like her. She talks to me. Not to Nick Carter, Backstreet Boy. To ME. And she listens too. And she doesn’t judge. You know, I honestly think she doesn’t want anything more from me than that."

"Well, that and someone to peel carrots," Kat smiled.

"And potatoes. Don’t forget the potatoes," he replied, grinning back at her.

"And washing dishes."

He groaned, looking down at his slightly reddened hands. "Don’t remind me. I’ll never be able to play the drums again."

She shrugged. "You couldn’t in the first place."

"Hey!"

"Big wuss."

"Harpy."

"Moron."

"Dumbass."

"Dilettante."

"Slave driver."

"Really, really good friend."

He was stunned for a moment. Then, "I missed you too, Kat," as he drew her into a tight hug. She clung to him, enjoying the fact that their connection, despite the years apart, despite the angst and confusion, hadn’t been broken.

"Nick?"

"Hmm?"

"You promise you won’t hurt Em? That you’re not just leading her on?"

"I promise, Mom," he said with a smile. "I really do like her. And I like her more and more each day. So no, MOM, you don’t need to worry."

"Good. And don’t call me Mom."

He chuckled.

"Oh, and Nick?"

"What?"

Kat started to chuckle as she sang, "Nick and Emma, sitting in a tree, K I S S I N G!"