"Zac's back!" Taylor shouted, rushing over to gently hug his younger brother. Isaac and Nicole did the same. Zac was on crutches with his knee in a brace, and several scars still ran across his face.

"Zac," Nicole said, "we were so worried about you! You should have seen yourself...it was scary."

"But...," Isaac continued, "we did manage to remember some of the nonsense you were saying and buy you.....,"

"A purple monkey!" Zac shouted. Then he looked confused. "Hey, how did you guys know that I had a dream about a purple monkey?" Taylor smiled.

"It wasn't a.....oh, we're just gifted, I guess," he said, lauging. Taylor, Nicole, and Isaac shared a secret smile as Zac tried to figure this one out. But Mrs. Hanson spoke up first.

"Okay, okay," she said. "Zac needs his rest everyone, so let's leave him alone for the rest of the day. Come on Zachary....your father will help you up the stairs."

"Don't worry mom," Isaac said. "Me and Tay can get him. You and dad need to rest too." Not waiting for an answer, Isaac swiftly lifted up his younger brother and carried him up the stairs, Taylor following with the crutches, and Nicole bringing up the rear with the purple monkey.

They got up to the room and pulled Zac's trundle bed out from under Taylor's bunk, and situated him on it. Nicole pulled the comforter up around his shoulders, then leaned back on the bunk and into Isaac's arms.

"Hold on," Zac said. "Are you guys back together?"

"Pretty much so yeah," Isaac said sarcastically.

"We're going to do this slowly this time," Nicole explained. "To see if it works."

"No," Taylor said, "they're actually just trying to confuse us Zac."

"It's working," Zac said.

"Should I take these?" Ike asked, holding up a pair of black velvet pants.

"Oh yeah," Nicole said slyly. "Wear those when you're on TV, so I can see you."

"Hmmm.....," Isaac said, playfully tapping himself on the cheek. "If I didn't know any better, I would think that you were flirting with me." He walked over to where Nicole was sitting.

"Oh don't worry, I am," Nicole said. He reached out his hands and took hers, pulling her up to face him. They embraced each other tightly, still holding their hands to their chests. "I want it to stay like this forever," Nicole whispered.

"Me too," Isaac said. "Do you know what else I want?"

"What?" Nicole asked, staring into his deep brown eyes.

"Well, we've been back together for two and a half weeks, and we still haven't kissed. I know we have before, but....that was before." Nicole felt his warm breath on her face, and she closed her eyes and raised up on tiptoe. Isaac's lips met hers in a heart-stoppingly passionate kiss. Nicole ran her fingers through his long hair and he wrapped his arms around her waist. When they pulled back, Isaac smiled down at Nicole.

"I've been waiting to do that for a month," Isaac said softly. Nicole kissed the tip of his nose and pulled him down into the floor with her. Isaac laid down on his side and Nicole rested her head on his stomach.

"Do you know how much I'm going to miss you?" she asked him. "I mean, two weeks? Why can't you go for a week? Or just a couple of days."

"Come on Nic," he said. "Let's not make this any harder than it is. Just make good of the time that we're together."

"Now that I can do," Nicole said, gently kissing his neck. The door of the room opened then, and Taylor walked in. He jokingly covered his face with his hands.

"Okay, okay," he said. "Is there anything going on that I shouldn't see?" Nicole threw a pillow at him.

"Shut up Taylor," she said good-naturedly. He uncovered his eyes.

"Mom said that we need to be ready to go in an hour," Taylor said. "And it looks like you're not." He gestured to Isaac's overflowing suitcase.

"I get it," Isaac said. He stood up and began to pack his last few things that he would need, and soon he was shutting his suitcase. He carried it down the stairs as Nicole followed. Taylor had gone down earlier.

"Everyone must be outside," Isaac said. He opened the door, letting Nicole out first. Jessie, Avie, and Mackie were running around in the yard, Taylor was helping his dad load up the car, and Mrs. Hanson was helping Zac into the van. Mr. Hanson loaded Isaac's suitcase and slammed the door.

"Ready guys?" he asked. After a chorus of 'yes'es, he looked at his watch. "Okay, you have five minutes to say good-bye." Nicole said goodbye to all of the kids and Mr. and Mrs. Hanson. She gave Zac a big hug, and kissed Taylor on the cheek.

"Do good you guys," she said. Then she turned to Isaac. He took her hand and led her around the house, to where his parents couldn't see them. "I miss you already," she said.

"Ssshhhh....," Isaac said, "I'll try to call you every night. And I'll send you postcards from every city." He pulled her close. They kissed again, longer this time. Mr. Hanson's voice caused them to break apart, and Isaac slowly pulled back. He walked backwards across the yard until he turned the corner, dissappearing from sight.

Nicole turned and walked around the back of the house and made her way home. Her parents were once again packing to go on a business trip. She sat down on the couch in the living room and flipped through the channels on the television. Her parents came down a few minutes later.

"Nicki," her father said, using her childhood nickname, "we need to talk to you honey."

"What's up dad?" she asked.

"Well honey," he started, "you know that your mother and I hate leaving you alone while we travel. So, this time we've decided to let your cousin Catie come and stay with you these next few weeks. How does that sound?"

"What?" Nicole asked, shocked. "Dad, I'm perfectly fine staying at home! Don't you trust me?"

"Of course we do dear," he said, "but we would just feel better if someone was here with you. And Catie wanted to come for a visit, so we just decided to try this out. If you don't like it, you never have to do it again. Deal?"

"Fine," Nicole sighed. Three weeks with her cousin Catelin, Catie for short, would be pure hell. Catie lived in Beverly Hills, California, and loved to rub it in everyone's face. Her parents pampered her and she was a complete snob in Nicole's book.

"Good," her father said. "Catie will be here tomorrow morning, so be sure and wake up to meet her cab. We'll be home a few days before she leaves." Her mother came down the stairs then, toting a carry-on bag and a make-up case.

"So are you excited about Catie coming?" her mom asked.

"Thrilled," Nicole said, rolling her eyes. Her parents left a few minutes later, and Nicole retreated to her room. She finished some schoolwork and listened to Middle of Nowhere for awhile, hitting the repeat button on 'A Minute Without You'. On her third time listening to it, the phone rang.

"Hello," she said, adjusting the phone to her shoulder.

"Huh huh, huh.....hey baby," came an idiotic voice over the phone. She immediately recognized it as Isaac's "Butthead Impression".

"Hey Ike," she said, laughing. "Are you guys in New York yet?"

"Yeah," he said in his normal voice. "We just got here. Tay and Zac just ordered room service, so we're going to stay here tonight."

"You guys are so lucky," she said. "I just found out that my cousin, Catie, is coming tomorrow to spend the next three weeks with me. And she and I aren't on exactly the same wavelength."

"Meaning what," Isaac asked.

"Meaning that she's a stuck-up snob," Nicole said coldly. "I'm sorry, but she really is."

"It won't be that bad," Isaac said. "We'll be back before you know it. And a week later, she'll be gone."

"Yeah, that's pretty good," Nicole said. "I can't wait to see you again!" They talked for another half-hour, and soon Isaac had to go, since he had to perform the next day.

"I'll call you after the concert tomorrow," Isaac said. "Bye."

"Bye baby," Nicole said, in her not-so-good Butthead impression.