Jane and Robert Carter looked up as Nick and Alisha walked. They jumped off the couch and ran over to Alisha, throwing their arms around her. Alisha couldn't believe the reaction they gave her.

"Alisha, it's so good to see you!" Jane said, tears in her eyes. "Where did you disappear to? Bob and I were worried sick about you. Not to mention, how crazy Nick was going."

"That's what we're here to talk to you guys about, Mom," said Nick. "Where's BJ, Leslie, Angel, and Aaron?"

"They're upstairs, doing their homework," Jane told them.

"Okay, good. That'll get us time for a private talk," said Nick.

"Well, let's sit down and talk." Bob motioned to the couches. No one spoke until everyone sat down.

"What do you have to say to us?" asked Jane, looking at Nick and Alisha.

Nick was about to speak when Alisha held up her hand. "Nick, I think I better tell them." She looked at Nick's parents. "I moved to New York City without telling anyone where I was going. I was going through a lot at the time and I need to start some things over. I've been in New York City for over the past year and I have a job working in the MTV studios. That's were Nick found me, when he and the fellas were on MTV Live."

"What was so bad that you had to leave Florida?" Bob asked. "When Nick told us your cousin couldn't find you, we were really worried."

"Well.... Man, this is hard to say," Alisha breathed.

"Why don't we just show them, Ali," Nick suggested. He turned to his parents. "Mom, Dad, we'd like to introduce you to someone. Brian, bring him in!"

Jane saw Brian and VJ walk in, holding a little boy with straight blonde hair. When the little boy looked in their direction, their eyes widened in disbelief. VJ put the little boy down and he walked over to Nick. Nick picked him up and sat him on his lap.

"Mom, Dad," Nick started. "This is Nickolas Daniel Walker. He's my son."

"Oh my God," Jane said. Bob reached over and put his arms around his wife. "This is why Alisha left?"

"Yes, it is," Alisha answered. "I didn't want to get in the way of Nick's career, so I moved to New York City when I was four months pregnant. He was born February 18, 1997."

"Nick, how could you let this happen?" Bob looked at his son. "You're only eighteen years old." He looked at Alisha. "And you. You're only.... only...."

"Nineteen," Alisha finished for him.

"Nineteen?!" Jane said.

"Guys, I know you're upset," Nick started.

"That would be putting it lightly, young man," said Bob, frowning. "You're eighteen, Nick, and you have a son!"

"What's going on down here?" BJ asked, walking down stairs. She saw Alisha sitting next to Nick. "Alisha! You're back!"

BJ was about to run over to her when she saw Nick holding his son. She stopped dead in her tracks and stared.

"BJ, go back upstairs," Jane told her.

"But who's...." she started.

"BJ, go back upstairs now!"

BJ took one last look at Nicky then ran back upstairs.

"Look, Mr. and Mrs. Carter, Nick and I just wanted you to meet Nicky before his first birthday. We wanted him to meet his grandparents. If you don't want us around, that's fine with me. Nick, let me have Nicky. I don't feel very welcome and don't want Nicky to be getting any bad vibes."

Nick handed Nicky to Alisha and she walked back out to the car. VJ got up and followed her. When she found Alisha by the car, Nicky was sitting on the roof, crying along with his mom. VJ went to them and put her arms around them.

"I don't know why I let Nick talk me into doing this," Alishs cried. "I knew they were going to hate me as soon as they found out about Nicky."

"They don't hate you, Ali," VJ said, soothingly. "They're just really shocked and.... and.... upset that they had a grandson they didn't know about for almost a year."

"I'm so sorry, Nicky," Alisha said, looking at her son with tears in her eyes. "I've failed you."

Alisha picked up Nicky and held him as close as she could to her. VJ stood by and watched them, feeling completely helpless.

*^*^*^*^*^*^*^*^*^*^*^*^*^

"How could you do that!?!" Nick yelled. "Now Alisha probably thinks you hate her!!" Nick looked at them angrily. "And my son sure as hell sensed it! I thought you'd understand!!"

"How did you expect us to react, Nick?!" Bob yelled back. "You come home, tell us that you have a son that's almost a year old and you expect us to be jolly and happy?! Well, I'm sorry, son, that's not the way it works!"

"Bob! Nick! Calm down," Jane yelled out. "The others are upstairs." Jane turned to Nick. Tears filled her eyes. "My baby boy has a baby boy."

Nick walked over to his mom and put his arms around her. "Mom, everything is okay. Nicky is a great kid. And I love him. But I can't raise him right without your and dad's support."

"What about you, Brian?" Bob asked. Nick and Jane had forgotten he was there. "How long have you known about this?"

"Since Alisha found out she was pregnant, sir," Brian answered him. "When they told me, VJ, Kevin, Howie, AJ, and BJ, we freaked out, but we told them we'd help them any way we could. We wanted to tell you, believe me, but we didn't know how to tell you."

"I think I've heard enough," Jane said. "I'm going to bed."

"Okay, dear," Bob said. "We'll talk about this more in the morning."

"We're not going be here in the morning," Nick said, quietly. "I don't think it's a good idea. The doctors say Nicky can sense any bad feelings around him...."

"Don't worry, Nick. I'm sure we'll all be thinking more clearly in the morning. Goodnight, everyone." Jane gave Nick and Brian a peck on the cheek, then walked upstairs to her room.

"Bring your, Alisha's, and Nicky's stuff upstairs. Put Alisha and Nicky in the guestroom down the hall from your room. I'll see you in the morning. Goodnight, Nick, Brian." Then Bob walked upstairs to comfort his wife.

Nick looked at Brian. Brian patted him on the back. "Come on," he said. "Let's go get your stuff."

They walked outside and found Alisha, holding Nicky, and sobbing. VJ was standing there, looking completely lost. Nick walked over to them and wrapped his arms around Alisha and Nicky. Brian came up behind VJ and put his arms around her waist. He was surprised when she leaned against him. Usually, she kind of shrugged him off. But Brian was glad VJ was letting him comfort her. All of them got Nick's, Alisha's and Nicky's stuff, and took it upstairs. After everyone got settled, Brian and VJ went to the downstairs guestrooms and went to bed, considering how late it was. Alisha put Nicky to bed, then went to sleep herself. Nick had a little bit harder of a time getting to sleep, but when he finally did, he slept really good.