Valentine's Day, 2001

The ringing of Danielle's phone woke her from her slumber. She checked the time on her clock. . .7:30am. Who would be calling me this early? She thought. Sure, she had to get up in a half hour to make it to class in time, but still. No one called her this early.

"Hello?" she answered groggily.

"Happy Valentine's Day, Dani."

Danielle smiled. It was Nick. "Thank you. Happy Valentine's Day to you too."

"Thanks!" Nick responded.

"What are you doing up so early?" she asked him.

"Interviews. I'm on central time now too, so I'm up even earlier than you," he told her.

"Poor baby," she laughed. Danielle rubbed her hand over her eyes and turned to lie on her back while she talked to Nick.

"I just wanted to be the first to tell you Happy Valentine's Day," he said softly. "And, that I'll be thinking about you."

"Thanks, Nick," she told him. "I wish you were going to be here to keep me company. Valentine's Day can get kind of lonely when you don't have a Valentine."

"I wish I could be there too. But, don't look at it like you don't have a Valentine. If I were there, I would stand in and be your Valentine. Take you to dinner, buy the chocolates and flowers. The whole nine yards."

Danielle giggled, "And I would let you too! Something about today, makes girls all weepy and soft."

"Oh! You mean you aren't weepy and soft ALL the time?" he teased.

"Hey!" she protested.

Nick laughed, "Just kidding!"

"Good!"

A silence fell over them for a moment and Nick finally spoke up, "Well, I gotta go. Interviews."

"I know. Thanks for the wakeup call."

"You're welcome. I'll call you later, okay?"

"I'll be here! No Valentine ya know," she reminded him matter of factly.

"I know, I know," he laughed. "Later, Dani."

"Bye, Nick."

Later that day. . .

Danielle returned from class to find a purple covered package outside the door to her condo. She opened the door with her key, then scooped the large package up and brought it inside. She ripped open the purple paper to find two dozen pink roses in a large crystal vase.

"Oh my!" she gushed. She dug around in the greens and stems for the card attached to the flowers. She found the little envelope and pulled out the card:

Danielle,

Sorry I couldn't be there to pamper you today. I hope you enjoy these and they brighten your day.

Happy Valentine's Day!

Love, Nick

Danielle clutched the card to her chest and stuck her nose in one of the roses, smelling the sweet fragrance. She moved around from rose to rose, smelling each one of them. She smiled wide and picked up the large vase and brought them over to her coffee table, where she placed them in the middle of the table. She sat on the couch and stared at them, then re-read her card. Her heart was pounding. It was so sweet of him to do this. She couldn't wait to hear his voice and tell him how much she loves the roses.

Just as she was about to dial his number, there was a knock on the door. She contemplated not answering it for a moment, then gently hung up the phone and walked to the door.

She opened the door and standing before her was a figure holding a large bouquet of red roses. She couldn't see who was holding the bouquet.

"Wow! Are those for me?" she asked.

"Are you Danielle Miller?" A familiar voice asked her.

She answered skeptically, "Y. . .yes."

"Then I guess these are for you," the voice said as he brought the bouquet down from covering his face. Danielle gasped. It was Joey.

"Joey?" she asked. "What are you doing here? Why are you here?"

"Hey Dani," he said calmly. "Can I come in?"

"S. . .s. . .sure," she moved aside from the door and allowed him to enter.

He stood there for a moment, "Do you want to put these in water or something?"

Danielle was still in shock. "Huh? Oh, yeah, sure." She quickly grabbed the bouquet from Joey and ran into the kitchen. She found a vase for the dozen roses and brought them back into the living room. Joey was already standing near the coffee table. He knew that was where she always put her flower arrangements, only this time, there was already one there.

Danielle saw the look on Joey's face as he silently looked at the arrangement of pink roses. "I'll just, put these over here," she told Joey as she placed the vase of red roses on the mantle of her fireplace.

"I was a little late, huh?" he asked her. "I don't have to ask you who those are from, do I?"

Danielle put her defenses up, "I don't know, Joe, do you? Last time I checked I don't think it was any of your business anyway."

Joey bit the side of his cheek and nodded, "Ok, ok. I deserved that."

"Yeah, you did."

"Dani? Let's sit down, please?"

Danielle threw her hands up and motioned for them to sit on the couch. As they sat down, a rush of memories came back to her. She started remembering all the hours they spent cuddled up on that couch. All the times that Joey had told her he loved her. All the times they would laugh and tell each other stories. And of course, all the times they made love there. Danielle found it difficult to look him in the eyes. She became very nervous all of the sudden.

"Dani?" Joey spoke up. He reached out for her hand, but she pulled it away.

"No, Joey. Just say what you came here to say, and then leave."

He sat there staring at her before he spoke. It was as if he were trying to form the right words to make her relax with him like she used to.

"Dani, I came over here to talk to you. Just see how you are doing. It's Valentine's Day. It still feels like you are my Valentine," he began.

"Well, I'm not," she snapped. "Now I suppose you are going to start in on me about Nick?"

"No. No I'm not. I know he's not here though, is he? I made a special trip back here so I wouldn't miss tonight. Luckily, we didn't have a show."

"Oh really? How do you know that Nick didn't make a special trip home for me?"

Joey started to laugh, "Cause I happen to know that he is going to be going on stage in Wisconsin in about two hours."

He did his research. But still. As far as Joey knew, Danielle and Nick were an item. He didn't know any different. Per Danielle's request, Britney hadn't talked to him about it and neither did Justin.

"I'm not here to talk about Nick. I'm not here to talk about our breakup. I'm here to take you out on Valentine's Day. You deserve that. And, I wanted to make sure that we had this night together," he told her.

Danielle looked into those brown eyes and saw her Joey. The man that she had fallen in love with. She could feel her willpower breaking down around her. She had missed him so much. They had shared so many memories and as much as she wanted to start ranting and raving at him and throw him out, she couldn't. A tug in her heart was yearning for him to stay.

Danielle knew she needed to say something, but she didn't want him to know she was breaking. She quickly put on a front and spoke, "OK. Here are the rules. No talk about Nick. And no talk about 'us'. Two people, having dinner. That's it."

Joey smiled and nodded. Bingo, he thought. "That's fair," he told her.

"Alright, let me go and get changed and then we can go," she said and she hopped up to go and put some dinner clothes on.

Joey sat back on the couch and watched her walk into the other room. Once she was gone, he picked up the card that was sitting on the coffee table next to the pink roses Nick had sent. He read the words and smirked. Don't worry Carter, I'll pamper her for you. Then I'll take her back. At least for tonight. You'll be a memory in no time.

A few hours later. . .

The boys arrived back at the hotel after their show in Milwaukee. Leighanne, Kristin and Sarah arrived earlier in the day to meet their significant others for Valentine's Day. They all wanted to get showered and changed, then go their own ways to celebrate.

Nick was just opening the door to his room, when he heard Howie yelling at him down the hall. "Nick! Are we going out or what?"

"Nah, D, don't think so," Nick opened the door and walked in. He poked his head back out to finish talking with Howie. "I'm just gonna shower and get some pizza and chill here."

Howie was now at Nick's door. "What? Are you kidding? Do you want to go down to the hotel bar or something?"

"Just not feeling up to it tonight," he shook his head, giving Howie a passive smirk.

"But, it's Valentine's Day man," Howie reminded him. "Don't you want to, you know?" Howie prodded giving him the up and down eyebrows.

"Not tonight, too tired," he responded.

Howie shrugged his shoulders, "Suit yourself. I'll be downstairs scoping the scenery if you change your mind."

"Thanks D," Nick said and closed the door. Nick just wanted to take a shower and kick back and call Danielle. He hated that she was sad today. He hoped that the flowers he sent her cheered her up. He hoped she got them, since he hadn't heard from her at all.

He ordered a large pizza, then went and hopped in a hot shower. Wisconsin in February was not exactly Nick's idea of fun in the sun. He was freezing. He couldn't believe that Danielle was from Minnesota. . .and LIKED the weather. Why couldn't their tour management schedule all winter concerts south and all summer concerts north? Boggled his mind every tour they took. Spending most of your life in the Florida sun can make you feel this way.

He threw on a t-shirt and a pair of sweatpants and called Danielle on his cell phone. He knew better than to use the hotel phones, since the hotel kept records of calls made. He didn't want anyone having her number and calling and harassing her. He made that mistake with Mandy.

*Ring*Ring*Ring*. Answering machine. "That's weird," Nick said. She must not have heard the phone or something. So he tried again. *Ring*Ring*Ring*. Answering machine. Where could she be? Nick looked at the clock and noted that the time was 11pm in Tampa right now. He waited for the beep, then left her a message, "Dani, hey, it's me. Where are you? Anyway, I'm back at the hotel. Give me a call when you get this message." He looked at the cell phone and pressed the end button. He scratched the back of his head, threw the cell on the bed and stood there thinking. Was she going somewhere? No, she said she would be home. Where could she be?

Same evening, 11:15pm

Joey and Danielle arrived back at her condo from dinner. The evening had been wonderful, aside from a few paparazzi snapping photos of them as they left the restaurant. Joey and Danielle spent the last three hours laughing and reminiscing about old times. There was no talk of Nick, and no talk of the night of the breakup. No talk of Joey's dalliances with other women. Just two close friends catching up.

Danielle hated to admit it, but she was so happy that Joey was there. She really didn't want to spend Valentine's Day alone. It seemed only appropriate that Joey and her spend this night together. After all, they really did love each other. But, Danielle couldn't shake the thoughts she was having of Nick all night. She pictured his smile, his blue eyes. His laugh. She thought about the two dozens pink roses he sent her because he couldn't be here. But, wait. Joey bought her roses too. And Joey was here. She felt as though her heart was being pulled in two different directions. Why though? She was in love with Joey, not Nick.

Joey stood on the doorstep with Danielle as she fished for her keys. Before she could locate them, Joey had already unlocked the door with the key he had for her condo. Danielle made a mental note to get that key back from him, or change the locks.

They walked into the living room together. Danielle threw her purse on the floor next to the couch and flopped down on the cushions. Joey shut the door and followed her.

"Is it OK if I stay a little bit?" he asked.

"Of course it is," she softened. "Come on, sit by me." She patted the cushion.

Joey smiled and walked over to her. This was his opportunity. He knew that her defenses were down, and that she was being comfortable with him again. The fact that they didn't talk about their breakup or Nick at all that night, worked to his advantage. Nothing to distract either of them from each other. This was working too perfect.

He sat down on the couch and didn't waste any time leaning over her and laying her back on the couch. He ran his hand up to her face and pressed his lips to her. Within seconds their kisses grew hungry. She laced her fingers in his hair and he moved his hand down her side to massage her outer thigh.

Danielle became lost in her feelings. She had missed feeling his lips on her. Being in his arms. This was just like it used to be. What she didn't miss was the scruff burn his whiskers always gave her. And she noticed that yes, he had sloppy kisses. His tongue was all over her face. Maybe she just never noticed how sloppy they were until she had been kissed by Nick. Nick, she thought. He's going to be so disappointed in me. But she couldn't help it. She had loved Joey for so long. Everything at that moment, felt so right between them.

Joey brushed his lips along Danielle's neck, "Oh, Dani. Baby, I've missed you so much."

"I've missed you too, Joey."

"I love you, Danielle. You know that don't you?" he asked her, then attacked her neck again as she nodded. "You still love me don't you, Danielle?"

Before she could answer him, he had his mouth on hers again. As he brought his lips back to her neck, he whispered again. "Don't you, Dani? Have you forgotten about Carter yet?"

Suddenly, Danielle froze. Have I forgotten about Carter yet? What the heck did that mean? Why is he bringing Nick up NOW? Unless, this was what he wanted. Joey wanted to hear her say that she still loved him. He didn't want to be replaced by Nick Carter.

She pulled his head away from her. "What did you just say?"

"What's wrong?" he asked, shocked that she stopped him.

"I asked you a question," she told him.

"I asked you a question too," he reminded her.

She pushed him off of her and sat up on the couch. He sat back and stared at her.

"So now you want to get into this?" he asked her.

"I guess we're going to have to, Joe."

Joey shook his head at her and rubbed his hand on his forehead. "I don't understand you, Dani. We were having such a nice night, and one mention of his name and it's ruined? What the fuck?"

"One mention of HIS name, huh? Tell me something Joey. Why are you really here? Are we getting back together?" she challenged him.

"Well, if we were on our way to getting back together, we're not now, are we?"

"Don't turn this around Joey. I want the fucking TRUTH. I deserve the truth!" she yelled.

Joey stood up and walked behind the couch. "You deserve the truth? What about me? Danielle? What the fuck is wrong with you?"

"What are you talking about?" she yelled back.

"We were broke up a whole two minutes before you went off with him? Nick Carter? Dani? Why?" he screamed.

"You don't even know what the fuck you are talking about!" she screamed at him getting up off the couch.

"Oh no? What the fuck are those?" he asked pointing at the arrangement of roses from Nick. "And, let's not forget the infamous appearance with that son of a bitch at the Superbowl. I KNOW you went home with him that night."

"What? I brought him home, I didn't sleep with him! You need to get your facts straight Joey!"

Joey started pacing behind the couch, we threw his arms out at her. "Enlighten me Danielle. Give me the damn facts!"

"We are not dating! We are only friends! I did not just pick up and run off with Nick!" she screamed.

"Am I supposed to believe this?"

"I don't give a damn what you believe! I don't owe you an explanation for anything! As of January 1, you lost that right!" Danielle was crying now. "Joey, you hurt me more than I thought I could ever be hurt. You broke my heart. Nick has been there for me, while YOU went off and slept with whoever came along."

Joey moved closer to her, "Dani, this is not what I wanted to happen tonight. Please, stop crying."

"Quit telling me what to do! What was supposed to happen Joey? I was supposed to fall into your arms and tell you how much I love you. . .that I'm still yours? Mission accomplished? Joey, if I hadn't stopped this, we would have made love. Then what? Everything would have gone back to the way it was before? Or would you have been as good as gone?"

"I don't know Dani. All I know is that I do miss you. I do want to make love to you and yes, I want you to stay the hell away from Nick Carter."

"I can't believe you Joey. You are the one who started this whole thing! You are the one who wanted me to be free."

"You deserve someone better than him," he said moving closer to her.

"No, Joey. I think you are wrong. The more I think about, the more I think he is exactly what I need," she snapped.

"What are you saying?" he asked.

"I'm saying. . .GET OUT."

"Dani," he began.

"Now."

She walked over to the door and opened it. Joey stood and looked at her for a moment before shaking his head and walking out the door. Before he left the entryway, he turned and said softly, "This isn't over Dani."

"Oh, yes it is." She said firmly and slammed the door in his face.

Chapter 8
Chapter 6
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