"This is from Nick and me." Melissa said, handing Alyssa a wrapped gift.
"In other words, you pick it out, wrapped it, and just put Nick's name on the card." Howie stated with a smirk.
"Hey Howie, I have you know, I went with Mel to help pick out your gift." Nick said wrapping his arm around Melissa's shoulders.
"It's true Howie."
"Oh Mel, it's beautiful!"' Alyssa replied as she opened the gift.
"Honey, look at what Mel did." Alyssa showed Howie the framed photo of them. "Thank you so much Mel." Alyssa and Melissa hugged.
"You're welcome."
"Thank you Mel." Howie also hugged Melissa.
"Don't I get a thank you too?" Nick asked them.
"Thank you, Nick." Alyssa stated hugging him.
"Thanks Frack." Howie and Nick quickly hugged.
"Jonathon, did you remember to bring in Alyssa's and Howie's gift?" Julie asked.
"I knew I was forgetting something. I'll be right back." Jonathon stated as he got up and left.
"Howie, how did you and Alyssa meet?" Julie asked sitting next to Melissa.
"Well, our families were very close when we were growing up. When Alyssa was about ten years old, her family moved away and I didn't see her for ten years." Howie replied reaching for Alyssa's hand.
"It was also around that time that my parents decided to have this big family reunion. They called Howie's parents and invited them to come." Alyssa said smiling at Howie.
"We came and that was when this goddess entered my life. We started talking, catching up on each others' lives. A week later, I asked her out on a date and she said yes."
"Of course I said yes. I had a crush on him for years and I was devastated when my family moved away. I was hoping I would run into him at the reunion and when he asked me out, I couldn't have been any happier."
"And now you two have been together for two years." Melissa stated looking at the happy couple.
"I couldn't picture my life without her." Howie replied before kissing Alyssa.
"So Howie, when are you going to ask Alyssa to marry you?" Jeni asked with a grin on her face.
"Alyssa and I both agree that we aren't ready for that. It is in the future, just not right now." Howie said looking at Jeni. "What about you and AJ, Jeni?"
"I don't have him trained yet, once I do, he'll be all mine."
"What am I, a dog?" AJ questioned Jeni. Everyone laughed, even AJ.
"I guess none of us are ready for that big step, except for you too!" Alyssa stated gesturing towards Melissa and Nick. "Mel, are you ready to be married to this guy?"
Melissa looked over at Nick and smiled. "I have never been more ready. Nick is the only man I want, now and forever." Nick smiled when he heard those words, now and forever. Ever since that night, those three words have been a code to them. A code for their love.
"Well I'm glad that Nick finally found someone who isn't annoying, like Becky was. That girl had issues." AJ responded.
"Yes, she did. She loved to play with peoples' minds, and oh she loved to run her mouth." Howie added.
Nick started to grin like a fool, causing everyone to wonder what he was laughing at.
"What is with that grin Frack?" AJ asked wrapping his arm around Jeni.
Nick turned and looked at Melissa. "I was remembering when you punched Becky!"
"What? You punched Becky?" Jeni asked Melissa.
"Well I wouldn't say I punched her."
"I would say you punched her. Nick and I had to hold you back." Julie said giggling.
"Wow, she must have said something to piss you off." Alyssa replied leaning into Howie.
"She disrespected my family, so I defended them by hitting her."
"Mel, you are my hero. You don't know how many times I wanted to pummel that girl." Jeni stated with a smirk.
"I loved what you said to her afterwards. Get the hell out before I break your pretty little nose!" Julie laughed.
"Nick, you better behave yourself or Mel could really hurt you…literally." AJ stated, causing everyone to laugh again.
"Where is Jonathon? It shouldn't have taken this long to get the present from the car." Julie said looking at Melissa.
"I'll go and find him. He probably got lost in the parking lot. I'll be right back." She quickly kissed Nick on the lips and then exited the club.
Melissa slowly walked down the parking lot, looking for Jonathon. She wrapped her arms around her. The thin sweater covering her lavender lace tank top provided little warmth. She had reached the far end of the parking lot, when she felt someone's presence. Melissa carefully looked around her and saw no one. She wrapped her arms around her even tighter, but not because of the coldness.
"Jonathon? Jonathon, where are you?" Just then she heard a noise by one of the cars. Cautiously, she walked over to the cars. "Jonathon, you better not be playing a game! Remember the last time you tried to scare me. I told you that I would make sure you and Jules couldn't have kids! So you better come out now!" Still no response, so she moved closer. As she peered between the two cars, a cat ran out growling. Melissa calmed herself and started to laugh.
"Get a grip Mel!" She stated to herself as she continued to walk. "Jonathon, if you don't come out now, I'm leaving!" The silence continued around her. "Alright Jonathon, I'm leaving!" She started to walk back, when she heard a moan.
"Mel!"
"So are you two doing anything special to celebrate your anniversary besides this party?" Julie asked.
"I was thinking about going away for a couple days, so we can celebrate alone." Howie stated looking at Alyssa.
"What about the whole Adam situation?" Alyssa asked everyone.
"Go Alyssa, have fun. Mel would want you to." Nick stated.
"Are you sure?" Nick smiled and nodded. "So where are we going?"
"Jonathon, oh my god, what happened to you?" Melissa asked as she rushed over to him. He was sitting on the ground, leaning up against a car. He had cuts and bruises all over him. His right hand was clutching his head firmly. But what scared Melissa even more then his scars, was the blood on his shirt.
"I don't know. I was walking to the car and someone jumped me." He moaned in pain.
"Jonathon, where did all this blood come from?" She asked looking for a wound.
"I think it's from my head." He stated removing his hand from his head. It was then that Melissa saw a huge gash on his head.
"Oh my god!" She quickly stripped off her sweater and applied pressure to the wound.
"Mel, I don't feel so good. I think I need to lay down and rest." Jonathon started to move.
"No, Jonathon, you might have a concussion. You need to stay wake." She said pulling him back up. Jonathon screamed in pain when she touched his side.
"My side is killing me. Mel, something is wrong, I can't keep my eyes open."
"Jonathon, look at me!" He slowly looked over at her. "I think you have a concussion and maybe a few broken ribs. You need to stay wake and focus on me. Can you do that?" He gradually shook his head. "I'll get you help, just hang on." Melissa reached into her pocket. "Damn it, I left my cell phone in the club."
"HELP! I NEED SOME HELP! SOMEONE PLEASE CALL 911!" She yelled at the top of her lungs, hoping someone would hear her. Someone came rushing over.
"What's wrong?" A tall dark haired man asked.
"Do you have a cell phone on you?" He shook his head. "Call 911, my friend needs medical help." The man quickly dialed 911 and told them what happened and where they were.
"They are on their way. Is there anything else I can do?" The young man asked.
"Um... yes, go into the club and find the owner, Howie Dorough, with him should be a man named Nick Carter. They should be in the V.I.P lounge, tell Nick that Mel needs him and get him out here as fast as you can!" The man nodded and ran off to the club.
"Jonathon, are you still with me?" He nodded slowly. "Good, help is on the way. I just need to you hang on a little bit longer."
"Mel, I'm feeling... cold. Is something seriously wrong with me?"
"No, you are going to be fine. I promise." She looked at her sweater that was now completely covered in blood, Jonathon's blood. She wasn't a doctor, but she knew losing that much blood couldn't be good.
"Mel, I can't keep my eyes open. I'm going to close them just for a moment." He said as his eyelids closed.
"JONATHON, NO! WAKE UP JONATHON!" His eyes remained closed. "NO JONATHON, STAY WITH ME PLEASE! JONATHON!!!"
