As Danielle opened her eyes she slowly became aware of three things. One was that her head was pounding. Two was that she wasn't quite sure where she was. And three was discovered by looking at the clock sitting on the nightstand next to the bed. . . it was 11:30am.

She sat up slowly and ran her hands through her hair and over her face. I must look like a complete mess, she thought. Then she started thinking about where she was. "OK. . . New Years Party. . . Joey. . . new hotel," she said out loud. She then kept running through her mind what was next. She couldn't remember getting to bed, and why would she still be wearing her clothes? She fished through her bath bag for a bottle of aspirin as she went through the evening in her mind.

"OK, I got here, and then I went to the bar," she reminded herself, finding the bottle of aspirin. "Then there was beer. Then. . ." she closed her eyes, while popping the top of the bottle. She thought hard about what happened next. She dumped three aspirin into the palm of her hand. She was just about ready to pop them in her mouth when the memories started to become clearer. She opened her eyes wide, "Oh my God. Nick. Nick!"

She dropped the aspirin and her hand flew up to cover her mouth. "Nick!" she whispered to herself. She quickly looked down at herself to MAKE SURE she was still wearing her clothes, patting her legs to verify that her jeans were indeed intact. She then looked around the room in a panic, wondering if she was going to find him on the other side of the bedroom door. Only one way to find out, she thought. Besides, she was in desperate need of a bottle of water, and the mini bar was in the living area.

She stood at the bedroom door with her hand on the doorknob and reluctantly turned the knob. Wincing as she swung the door open, she took a cautious step out into the living area. She looked around. And looked some more. She checked the bathroom, empty. "Nick?" she tentatively said. When there was no response, she let out a deep sigh of relief. "Whew, gone. Good. That would have been pretty awkward."

She got a bottle of water from the mini-bar and went back into the bedroom to retrieve the aspirin she had dropped. She sat down on the bed and her mind began to wander. What am I going to do now? For the last two years, Joey has been the center of my life. Pretty much everything I have done revolved around him. Everything except for school. Yesterday she was dreading having to go back to classes and today, she couldn't wait to get back. At least she wouldn't have to worry about her studies being affected by Joey's crazy schedule anymore. But what about her future? She was going to marry Joey. Her entire circle of friends has been disrupted. She'll always have Britney, of course, but there was no way she could spend the kind of time she once had with Britney anymore. So much of Brit's world revolved around NSync too.

She felt cried out. She wanted to keep crying but she just couldn't. Her tears had literally run dry. She had cried so hard last night; she didn't even remember when she had stopped. But she did remember who held onto her while she did. It was Nick. Why in the world Nick had come to her room was beyond her, and why he sat with her while she cried her eyes out over Joey was even more confusing. She felt so safe in the comfort of his arms. She remembered holding onto him and soaking the shirt that he wore with her tears. He never complained, just kept holding her and whispering that everything would be OK. She didn't understand why he did it. But one thing she did know, she was glad he did.

Nick was slumped in the chair at the airport waiting for his flight to board. He was so tired. He hated just leaving Danielle but she was sound asleep and he didn't have the heart to wake her. He couldn't miss his flight. His mind wandered to the events of last night. How Danielle felt in his arms. How he longed to feel her in his arms now. He held her while she cried until she just plain wore herself out. She fell asleep while he held her; fell asleep in the middle of her sobbing. She just kept asking why Joey would do that to her, what she did to deserve it. He had no answers for her. He didn't think she would have listened to him anyway. She was almost incoherent when he went to her. He almost wondered if she even knew he was there and that it was him who was holding her and not Joey.

After she had drifted off to sleep he carried her into her room and put her to bed. Rather than go back to his room, he slept there next to her in case she needed him. Lying next to her had felt so good. Watching her breathe. . . touching her skin. . . her hair. It would have been so easy to take advantage of the situation. Any other girl, he probably would have. But he couldn't do that to her. Instead, he just held her and pretended like she was his.

"Yo Nicky, what are you smiling about?" AJ interrupted his thoughts.

Nick looked up to see a rather haggard looking AJ. "Age, man you look like shit!"

"Shut up, I just got up, I barely made it here," he answered, rubbing his head. "Plus, I had to get rid of what's her name without promising I'd call."

"Tammy." Nick stated.

"What?" AJ looked confusingly at Nick.

"Her name was Tammy, the waitress, your fling last night?"

"Oh yeah, you're right." AJ smiled and plopped down next to Nick. "Seen Howie?"

"Yeah, he's in the bathroom right now. . . he's pretty sick," Nick laughed.

"Well, I wonder why?" AJ responded with sarcasm. AJ tilted his head and narrowed his eyes at Nick. "So, how was it?"

"How was what?" Nick answered.

AJ knocked on Nick's head, "Uh, hello? Danielle? How was it? Do we have something to gloat over Joey's head?"

Nick smacked AJ's hand away from him, "Fuck, AJ! No, nothing happened!"

"Shit, you're losing your touch Nicky," AJ leaned back in his chair and slumped down. "The way you two were getting all cozy when I left, I thought for sure you would have fucked her."

"I'm not losing my touch!" Nick was pissed. How dare AJ insult his abilities with women. He could have anyone he wanted. He could have had Danielle. But, it wasn't right. Not yet. "You're an asshole Age. She's not like them other girls. She's got. . . feelings. . . ya know?"

"Oh don't go getting all soft on me," AJ flipped his hand at Nick. "Since when did you ever care about feelings? SHE was not about feelings. SHE was about getting some ass and rubbing it in Fatone's face."

"Maybe you could have done that. But I couldn't. Not to her." Nick said softly but firm.

Just then Howie came stumbling over to the two of them. He wore dark sunglasses that were protecting his bloodshot eyes from the bright sunlight coming through the windows.

"Hey Bone," Howie said as he crumpled into the chair. "I'm dying." AJ and Nick laughed as Howie continued to groan while clutching his stomach.

"Want to hear something that will really make you sick?" AJ leaned in to Howie.

"Sure. I don't think I can feel any worse than I already do," Howie replied.

"Young Carter here had a shot at banging Fatone's girl," AJ began. Howie tilted his sunglasses down his nose to make eye contact with Nick.

"What? Really?" Howie asked. Nick just shook his head and looked at the floor.

AJ smirked and continued, "Yes, he did. Spent the night with her."

"How was she?" Howie inquired.

"I didn't fuck her!" Nick exclaimed in a whisper. "Bone, man, shut up!"

"What do you mean, you didn't fuck her? If you spent the night with her, what the hell did you do? " Howie asked.

"Yeah, did she just blow you or what?" AJ pressed, getting impatient with Nick.

"It wasn't anything like that. I told you, she has feelings. She's really upset over this whole thing with Joey. She wasn't in any condition to be in the mood for anything other than crying." Nick explained.

Their conversation was interrupted by the ringing of Nick's cell phone. Nick frantically patted down every pocket he had until he was able to locate the ringing phone. He took a deep breath and then answered, "Hello?" The anticipated look on his face fell when he heard Brian's voice on the other line. He explained to Brian that he was expecting someone else to call.

Nick spoke with Brian for a few minutes, when he hung up it was time to board the plane. Nick, Howie and AJ boarded the plane and made themselves comfortable in first class. Howie, who was sitting next to Nick, couldn't help but notice how nervous Nick got when his cell phone started ringing, and the look on his face when he heard it was Brian.

"Nicky, what was up with that phone call?" Howie nudged Nick. "Who were you expecting to call?"

AJ, who had been listening to Howie ask Nick the question from behind them popped his head over the seat, "Yeah, Nicky, who were you expecting? The cry-baby?"

"She'll call." Nick smiled.

"Yeah, right." AJ laughed. "You blew it. You had your one chance in the world to fuck her and you blew it."

Nick just kept smiling and smirked at both Howie and AJ. "She'll call."

AJ kept laughing, "You going to have to follow Britney around to get a glimpse of her, because you can bet she won't be with Joey."

"I don't think so, Bone. You don't give me enough credit." Nick smirked and reached into his pocket. "She's gonna call."

Howie's interest was peaked. "Why are you so sure?"

"Because my friends, I got something that she wants," Nick nonchalantly replied.

"It ain't you!" AJ howled.

"It will be." Nick smiled pulling his hand out of his pocket to proudly display a woman's gold watch. "She's probably wondering what time it is. . . right. . . now."

A smile crept over AJ's face, "You sly dog. Good thinking. . . I don't think I would have thought of that."

"I don't get it." Howie looked at the both of them flatly.

AJ playfully smacked Howie on the head, "She has to get her watch dumbass!"

"OH! Well, give me a break guys, I'm still half drunk here!"

Danielle called the airlines and changed her flight plans. The last thing in the world she wanted to do was fly back to Florida with Joey. She was glad she was able to switch to a later flight.

She had so many thoughts, so many emotions going through her right now. She didn't even know where to begin sorting them. She had started packing before she called the airlines, and before she continued she knew she needed to make one more call. She had to call Britney. Britney and Justin were staying in New York an extra couple of days instead of flying back to Florida right away.

Danielle dialed up Britney's room and got the voice messaging service. "Hey, Brit, it's Dani. I just wanted to let you know that I am OK, and that I stayed at the Plaza last night. I'm just getting ready to leave now. I was able to change my flight so I wouldn't have to see the asshole. Tell Justin I said 'hey' and have a nice couple of days here. Call me when you get back."

Danielle hung up the phone and finished her packing. Her main suitcase was packed, and she had just zipped up her carryon. "Now to grab the final necessities and I am off," she told herself. "Let's see, sunglasses. . . shoes. . . watch. . ." Watch. Where was her watch? She went back into the bedroom and checked the nightstand. Checked the bathroom, no watch. She stood in the middle of the living area and just waved her head from side to side, eyes darting around the room to catch a glimpse of her gold watch. "Fuck. . . it figures. I'm going to be late now, and I won't even know how late because I can't find my fucking watch!" She went over to the couch to check the cushions when a sheet of paper on the coffee table caught her eye. She picked it up and began to read:

Dear Danielle,

P.S. By the way, looking for your watch? I guess you'll have to call me to find out where it is.

"Fuck! That bastard! Who the hell does he think he is? That's MY watch!" Danielle fumed. "What a dirty, dirty trick!" She paced around the room.

Oh how I wish I didn't care if I ever got that watch back. But it was a gift for my golden birthday from my brother. I can not believe the balls he has to do something like that! I don't care where in the world he is, when I call him, he better bring me my watch. I don't care if he has to fly in from Paris. What an asshole!

She grabbed her luggage, stuffed Nick's note into her pocket, checked to make sure her cell phone was charged, and headed out the door. She got downstairs, had the bellman hail her a cab and once she was safely on her way to the airport, flipped her phone on and dialed Nick's number.

Nick had just gotten home and in the door when his cell phone started ringing again. This time he looked at the caller ID and saw that he didn't recognize the number. This has got to be her, he smirked. He took a deep breath, sat down on the couch and answered the phone.

"Hello?" he answered sweetly.

"Who the hell do you think you are?" she shouted.

Nick shut his eyes and fought back a laugh, "Danielle? Is that you?"

"You know god damn well who it is!"

"Hey Danielle, how's it going? Hey, do you know what time it is, I seem to have misplaced my watch?" he asked, preparing himself for her next attack.

"Very funny Carter! Where's my fucking watch?" she was in no mood to play his game.

"God, calm down, Danielle," he told her. "Your watch is fine. Safe and sound."

"Where are you?" she asked him.

"I'm at home." He answered.

"Where's home?" she pressed.

"Tampa. You know that."

"No, I didn't know that. But luckily, you're not far from me." She told him. "You better be around in 3 hours, because I am on my way to the airport right now to come home. I want you waiting by that phone of yours because I expect you to deliver my watch to me when I get there."

Nick laughed at her tone. He had no intention of returning the watch so soon. What else was he going to use for leverage? But he humored her, for now. "Sure, Danielle, call me when you land."

"Fine!" she yelled and hung up.

Evening of January 1, 2001

Nick was in his green Durango on his way to Danielle's apartment. She was still mad when she had called him to tell him where she lived so he could bring her watch back. He wasn't sure how he was going to brace himself for her anger when he showed up without the watch. He'd deal with it somehow.

Danielle had just finished throwing the last bit of travel clothes into the laundry when she noticed her answering machine light flashing. Joey, was her first thought. She raced to press the message button. Not that she wanted to talk to him, but it would be nice to know if he even still cared.

BEEP - Dani, hey girl, it's Brit. Just checking to see how you are doing and to make sure you got back okay. We're going out to catch some dinner. Call me later. Justin says hi.

BEEP - Happy New Year, Dani. It's your big bro. Give me a call when you get back - hope you brought me something from New York.

END OF MESSAGES

No Joey. That figures. That's just as well. I don't want to talk to him anyway. Shane, her brother, she would call back tomorrow after class. She didn't feel like going into everything with him right now. Especially since he would be on the first flight down there if she broke into tears. Shane was back home in Northern Minnesota. He was three years older than Danielle, and coached high school hockey. Their parents divorced when they were 8 and 11. Their mom ended up in Orlando as a voice coach and their Dad, who was a teacher, stayed in Minnesota where he retired 5 years ago.

Danielle and her brother split their year between homes. Summers spent with mom, during the school year with dad. Although, Shane had opted to stop visiting mom once he reached the age of 16. "You can only visit Disneyworld so many times," he would say, and then he would comment about how the fishing was better in Minnesota anyway.

But, it was those trips to visit mom that landed Danielle where she was today. Her mom ended up being Britney's voice coach when she became a Mouseketeer, and that was how she met Britney, Justin and JC. Danielle was 14 then and Britney was the tender age of 11. Britney and Danielle became great friends, and when Britney started touring with NSync in 1998, everything came full circle. Danielle was reunited was Justin and JC, and also introduced to Joey Fatone. By the end of 1998, Joey and Danielle were an item, and so were Britney and Justin.

At that point in time, Danielle was in the middle of her junior year at the University of Florida. Dating a pop star touring all over the country took its toll on her studies. Graduating on time soon took a backseat. When Danielle realized she wouldn't be graduating in four years, she told Joey she wasn't touring with him anymore in order to finish college within five years. 2001 was now her goal and she was going to stick with it. Now here she was, with only five more months to go till graduation. And now, there was no Joey. He had said he cheated on her because she wasn't around. She was NOT going to take the blame for this. HE cheated. He made that decision to do that, so screw him.

She walked over to the mantle in her living room and picked up a picture of her and Joey. She stood there holding the frame staring at the smiles on both of their faces. How could you, Joey?

She was startled by the sound of knocking on her door. She headed over to the door and opened it to find a smiling Nick on the other side.

"About time," she muttered.

"Nice to see you too, Danielle," Nick sighed with sarcasm.

"Sorry, I was in the middle of unpacking. Come on in," she told him as she stepped aside from the door.

"You have a really nice apartment, right on the beach. Not too bad for a college student," he smirked, raising his eyebrows to her.

She just stared at him and his smirk trying to figure out what that comment meant. When it dawned on her that he was insinuating that Joey paid for this apartment.

"For your information, Joey does NOT pay for this apartment, I do have MY OWN money," she angrily told him.

Nick was immediately taken off guard, he put his right hand up and stepped back, "Hey, I didn't say that, I didn't mean for you to take it all wrong!"

"What DID you mean?"

"I was just making an observation, geez, you need to chill out," he said as he stepped forward again.

"Fine. Do you have my watch?" she asked flatly holding out her hand.

"Uhh," he stammered. Here we go, he thought.

"Well, do you?" her eyes were wide and she leaned her head forward.

"Actually, I kind of forgot it," he said carefully squinching his face.

"Oh, you've GOT to be kidding me," she turned around and started walking away.

"Wait, wait, wait," he walked after her. As he approached her back he finally brought his left hand out from hiding behind his back. He reached around the front of her to display a pink rose. "I did bring you this though."

Danielle stood there and stared at the pink rose in front of her. She wasn't expecting that to come from Nick. Why would he bring her this? She turned around to face him when she realized just how close behind her he was. He was looking down at her, his face just inches from hers. He brought the rose back in between them and she looked at it again, then back at Nick.

"Are you going to accept my peace offering?" he asked quietly.

"I don't understand," she asked with tears starting to fill her eyes. "Why are you being so nice to me? Why are doing this?"

"Because, I'm sorry for forgetting your watch," he began, "and I'm sorry for what you are going through right now. And, I want you to know that you have a friend."

"I don't know whether to still be furious with you or start crying again," she choked.

"You know what I think?" he asked her with a knowing grin.

"Hmmmm?"

"I'll tell ya what I think if you go and put this rose in some water and come back here," he proposed.

There was no fighting him. The warm expression on his face, the friendly gesture of giving her the rose. Sure he had forgotten the watch, but something about him was telling her to listen to him. To let him stay and let him be there for her. She really didn't want to be alone, thinking about Joey all night. So she carefully took the rose from his hand, their fingers touching lightly. She went into the kitchen and put the rose in a bud vase with some water.

"Nick?" she hollered from the kitchen.

"Yeah?" he answered.

"Do you want anything to drink? Beer, water, juice, soda?" she yelled again.

"Beer would be great!" he told her.

Whew! At least she was loosening up a little bit. The rose thing was a good idea, he smiled nodding to himself. Girls are always suckers for flowers. He started walking around the living room, looking at her belongings. She had many pictures in frames. Everywhere in the room. Pictures of her and what must be family, her and Britney. He got to the couch and sitting on the seat was a picture of her and Joey. He picked up the picture and looked at it. She looked real happy in this picture. So did Joey. A pang of jealousy ran through Nick. He wanted to make Danielle smile like that. Joey had that ability and he threw it all away.

"Okay, two beers and a flower in a vase, coming through," Danielle announced as she came back into the living room. She saw that Nick was holding onto the picture of her and Joey. She set the beers and the vase down on the coffee table and grabbed the frame out of Nick's hands.

"I was just getting rid of that," she told him abruptly and placed the frame face-down on the table.

"You guys look really happy in that picture," he noted.

"Yeah, well, that was happier times. Two days ago, was happier times," she told him pointedly.

Nick hated to see her mood change so quickly. "Okay, sit down. Let me tell you what I think." Nick sat down on the couch and patted for her to sit too.

He sat sideways and she sat the same, with them facing each other. He rested his head on his hand with his elbow on the back of the couch. He stared at her in silence for a moment before he continued.

"You are mad at me. Right?" he asked her.

She nodded.

"But, really. . . you're not. I think that you are so angry with Joey for what he has done to you and your feelings, that I think you are taking it out on me because I'm the person who has been nearest to you since this all went down. You lashed out at me last night in the bar, and then cried on my shoulder for hours. Now, you are lashing out at me again, when really you want to be telling Joey exactly what you feel."

"I'm mad at you for forgetting my watch," she reminded him.

"Yeah, I know. But, I also think that you are using that as an excuse to be more mad than you probably are," Nick tilted his head down looking up at her. "Am I right?"

Danielle was getting frustrated with him. When did Nick get his psychology degree? Who was he to tell her how she was feeling. As much, as she hated to admit it, though, he was right. She really wasn't that mad about the watch. She knew she would get it back. And, maybe she was lashing out at Nick more than he deserved.

She covered her face with her hands, "Nick! Why do you have to read me like a flippin' book? Do you do this with everyone?"

He laughed and pulled her hands from her face, holding them both making her look at him. "Nah, Danielle, just you. I'm only that in tune to you, I guess."

She started crying again and without thinking leaned over into his arms and rested her head on his shoulder.

"Someday, you are gonna stop crying Danielle. I promise," he whispered.

"It doesn't feel like I ever will," she sobbed.

"You will. My shoulder won't rest until you do," he joked.

"I still don't understand why you are being so nice to me," she questioned him.

"Because I know that you need someone. Regardless of all of the past history between your friends and mine. . . this is a new beginning. Let me be here for you, Danielle."

She wrapped her arms around his waist and whispered into his shoulder, "Thank you, Nick."

Chapter 3
Chapter 1
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