Brian and VJ looked at Nick and Alisha, astonishment in their eyes. I can't believe what I just heard, VJ thought. Brian was thinking pretty much the same thing.

"So, you and Nick went to the doctor's office yesterday and not the beach," VJ said. "I don't know what to say. I'm at loss for words."

"Nick, do you know how much this is going to affect your career?" Brian questioned him. "You don't have time for a child. You're not even old enough to be a father. Hell, I'm not old enough to be a father."

"I know, Brian," said Nick. "I thought about all that. I know I have to take responsibility for my actions and I'm going to. I'm going to be there for Alisha and the baby as much as I possibly can."

"Well, there is always another option," Brian hinted.

"NO!!" VJ and Alisha yelled out.

"I refuse to get an abortion," said Alisha, firmly.

"And I refuse to let her," said VJ, looking at him. "It's against our religion and our moral beliefs."

"I wasn't talking about abortion," said Brian. "I don't believe in that either. I was suggesting adoption."

"She can't do that either," VJ said.

"Why not?" asked Brian.

"It's against tribal regulations," Alisha said. "If they find out I did that, they'll go to court with everything they have and take the baby away from me."

"How do you know? Maybe it's only until you have a stable income."

"I do that, and neither me or Nick every see our child again," said Alisha. "It's happened before."

"She's right, honey," VJ agreed. "Our cousin did that, with the tribal officials saying she'll get her son back when she had a good job and shelter, but she never saw him again. I'm not saying it happens every time, but she was one of the unlucky ones."

"She ended up committing suicide," said Alisha, quietly.

"Okay, I guess that rules that one out," said Nick. "I won't let that happen when I can prevent it."

VJ walked over to Alisha and hugged her. "Don't worry about a thing, Ali. We'll all be here to help you."

Alisha hugged VJ back, with tears in her eyes. "Thank you so much for not being angry with me. I don't know what I'd do if I didn't have you on my side."

"I don't have a right to be angry," VJ told her. "None of us do. We just want to help you. And Nick."

Brian sat down next to Nick and patted him on the shoulder. "I think we should wait to tell the parents. I can tell you right now, Nick, you're mom and dad won't be happy when they find out. Not to mention, our managers, Jive Records, and the fans."

"I know that, but we don't know when to tell them." Nick shook his head.

"What about the rest of the fellas," said VJ. "I don't want them to think badly of Ali."

"They'll be shocked just like we were," said Brian. "But I'm sure they'll do everything to help."

"My dad is going to kill me first, then ask questions," said Alisha.

"We'll figure something out."

They all got into a group hug. Brian got up and called AJ, Howie, and Kevin, telling them to come over to VJ's apartment. VJ called BJ, also telling her to come over. Together, the four of them broke the news to their friends. As predicted, Howie, Kevin, AJ, and BJ had looks of shock on their faces. But, eventually, they all agreed to do whatever they could to help Nick and Alisha. After a few more hours of discussion, they went home. Nick and Alisha went to bed, as did Brian and VJ.

As Brian and VJ lay in bed, VJ suddenly spoke. "Do you think they'll be able to handle this? I mean honestly, do you think that a seventeen-year-old girl and a sixteen-year-old guy can take care of a baby?"

"If this were any other couple, I'd say no," Brian answered. "But I honestly think Nick and Alisha can do this as long as they stick together and we help them out as much as we can. They need us more than ever right now."

"I know. I'm just so scared for Ali. I never thought this would happen to her. She had so much she wanted to do before she had a family."

"She can still do it, Angel. She'll just have to put off those plans for a while."

"I just want her to know that we'll always be here when she needs us. I need her to know that."

"She does. Listen to me, Angel. Ali is a very smart girl. She knows what she has to do. So does Nick. He loves her. He hasn't exactly told me that, but I can see it whenever he looks at Ali."

"Ali loves Nick, too. She told me two months ago."

"Let's get some sleep. We'll ask Nick and Ali what the doctor says in the morning."

"Okay."

Then VJ and Brian fell asleep.

*-*-*-*-*-*-*-*-*-*-*-*

Nick and Alisha went to the doctor's office the next morning, while the rest of the people waited at VJ's apartment. When they got home, Nick and Alisha explained everything about the what Alisha would need to do during the pregnancy, that Nick would a part of every doctor's appointment made by way of speaker phone while the Backstreet Boys were on tour. They also decided not to say anything about the pregnancy until they absolutely had to, which would be in about two months. Then Nick and Alisha showed them all the sonagram picture they had. Everybody ooohhh'd and aaahhh'd over it.

Then, the Boys went home to get their stuff ready for departure the next day. Nick hated to leave Alisha right then, but he had no choice. Nick placed his copy of the sonagram picture on top of all his clothes, next to the picture of himself and Alisha, in his suitcase. That's my baby, he thought. I helped create that baby. I'm going to show that child every day of his life how much I love him. Wait a minute, how do I know it's a boy? Nick sat on Alisha's bed for a minute. It's going to be a boy, Nick smiled.

Alisha came out of the bathroom and saw Nick smiling. He's probably thinking about the son he's going to have, she thought. How do you know it's a boy? Alisha looked down at her still-flat tummy. It's going to be a boy. But she decided to ask anyway.

"What are you thinking about?"

Nick looked over and saw Alisha looking at him in amusement.

"Just about the baby," he said. "What it's going to be."

"Hoping it's a boy," Alisha teased. "I know how you men think."

"Hey, don't knock my specimen," Nick laughed. "But I wouldn't mind a girl who looked like her mother."

"It doesn't matter what it is to me 'cause I'll love it anyway, but to be honest, I wouldn't mind a boy that looks just like you." Alisha sat in his lap and put her arms around his neck, as he put his arms around her waist. "I think you're going to make a great dad. I remember clearly how good you are with your brother and sisters."

"You're gonna make a great mom. My brother and sisters loved you. I've seen the way you are with children. You're a natural."

"Well, dad, we better get to sleep. We have to get you to the airport early tomorrow morning."

"I hate leaving you like this," Nick said, sadly.

"It can't be helped, sweetie," Alisha told him. "I can understand you can't be with me 24/7. You have a career to think about."

"I don't think I'll find anyone as loving, caring, understanding, and beautiful as you." Nick brought his face closer to hers.

Alisha and Nick kissed for a long time. Finally, they went to bed, asleep in each other's arms.