Later that night when everyone was asleep on the tour bus after the show,
Kaitlyn woke up with a dry throat. She quietly slid out of her bunk, and made
her way to the fridge. She got out the milk, and grabbed a glass. She poured
herself some, and set the milk back in to the fridge. When she turned around to
sit at the table, she saw Zac sitting there quietly. She jumped. " Damn! You
scared me, Zac."
" Sorry. Didn't mean to. I couldn't sleep, so I got up and made a
sandwhich." He told her. " What are you doing up?"
" I woke up thirsty." She sat down next to him, and smiled. " You guys were
amazing tonight by the way, as usual."
" Thanks." He smiled back. " I hope your enjoying yourself. I mean, I know
things aren't the same with Britney being gone, but I would hope being around us
would help some."
She nodded. " It does help a little. You and your brother's certainly know
how to make me laugh." Sipping on her milk, she looked into his eyes. She could
feel herself melt at his glance.
" Well, we try." He gave her an even bigger smile. Finishing his sandwhich,
he pushed the plate out of the way. " I'm glad we took you on tour with us. I
think this will be good for you and Miranda. Especially for you."
" I don't know, Zac." She sighed. " I had a run in with Natalie earlier. I...
I don't think she likes me very much."
" She can be a bitch at times I know, but just ignore her." He locked eyes
with her. " Whatever she said to you, just let it be. She just isn't used to
actually us becoming friends with fans. She has that fear that someone will take
Taylor away from her."
" It... it wasn't about Taylor. She thinks that I'm going to take you away
from Kate." She told him.
He gave her a little smile, and rubbed a strand of hair from her face. " I
would say that's not possible, but... I can't deny how beautiful I think you
are. How sweet and funny you are to be around when your in a good mood. Your
absolutely amazing with my children." He leaned closer to her. " How much I want
to kiss you right now."
She could feel his breath on her face. She swallowed nervously, as his lips
gently touched her's. He kissed her softly, and she kissed him back. One arm
went around his neck as their kiss deepened. When they pulled out of the kiss,
both were out of breath. " I... that was... amazing."
He smiled and kissed her again. " Maybe that will give you good dreams
tonight." He got up from his seat and cleaned up his dishes in the sink.
She smiled and finished off her glass of milk. When she lay back down in her
bunk, she fell back to sleep within minutes. Sure enough, she dreamt of nothing
but Zac that night.
____________________________________________________
Zac woke up the following morning to a kiss from Kate. She kissed him gently,
and he opened his eyes. He smiled, and kissed her back. " Hey Kate. How are you
feeling this morning?" He asked her.
" Pretty good. Although I wish this baby would pop out already. He or she is
kicking like crazy this morning." She told him, giggling. " How did you sleep?"
" Kind of crappy. Finally got up in the middle of the night and had a
sandwhich." He sat up, and looked at his wife. " Kate got up for a glass of milk
and we talked for a bit, then I came back to bed."
" Well, maybe you'll have a better nights sleep tonight." She said, and
kissed him again. " What did you and Kate talk about?" She asked.
" How good this should be for her. Although she thinks Natalie hates her and
is having second thoughts about being here on the road with us." He told her.
Sliding out of the bunk, he went into his suitcase for an outfit. " Maybe you
could talk to Natalie and get her to calm down a little?"
Kate nodded. " Sure thing. When we get a moment together alone, I will talk
to her."
" Great." He headed into the bathroom and changed into a red stars and
stripes t-shirt and black jeans. When he came back out, he was combing his hair
out. " I just want for Kaitlyn to feel comfortable."
" Of course. I do too." Kate smiled at her husband. " She needs a vacation.
Not another reason to stress out."
" Exactly. We don't need Natalie to cause her more stress." He put his comb
in his jeans pocket, and smiled at his wife. He kissed her. " I'm going to make
some coffee and see if she wants to get up to have some breakfast with us."
" I'll make the coffee. Go ahead and wake her up." She walked out of the bunk
bed area, and went to go make the coffee.
He sat on the edge of Kaitlyn's bunk, and looked around to make sure no one
was looking before waking her up much the same way Kate had woken him up. He
gave her a gentle kiss, and she slowly opened her eyes. " Hey beautiful."
She smiled up at him. " Hey. What time is it? Did I sleep in too late
again?"
" No. But we will probably reach our destination soon I am sure." He smiled
back. " Want to have some breakfast with me and Kate? I'm not sure what that
will be yet, but..."
" Wouldn't that be a little uncomfortable for you? I mean, having your wife
and me in a room alone in one room. Now that we... we've kissed?" She asked.
" Maybe a little. But it's not like the other's won't wake up soon and join
us." He said. " Get dressed and join us. I'll make up something good."
She nodded and climbed out of her bunk. Grabbing an outfit from her suitcase,
she went into the bathroom to change herself. She got dressed in a lilac colored
floral shirt and white jeans. Brushing her hair out, she joined them at the
table five minutes later. " Good morning, Kate." She smiled, trying not to feel
guilty about kissing Zac.
" Good morning." Kate smiled back. " I hope you slept okay. Zac said you were
up late last night along with him."
" Yeah. But once I fell back to sleep, I slept great." She said, sitting next
to Kate.
Zac made up a few breakfast sandwhiches, and got them each a cup of coffee to
go with it before sitting down to enjoy his sandwhich.
____________________________________________________
A few hours later, everyone was getting settled into their hotel room's. They
had first gone to the North Carolina Zoo on the way, thinking the kids might
enjoy some time there. Kaitlyn had found it pretty fun herself. She hadn't been
to a zoo in so long. Miranda even found it kind of fun herself.
The two girls were still barely speaking to each other, but Hanson's mother
decided it was time to change that. Once settled in, she pulled the two aside to
talk things over. This gave Kate a chance to talk to Natalie as well.
Kate pulled Natalie into her room with Zac, who had gone to get some ice for
their room.
" So Zac told me that Kaitlyn told him you seem to have
something against her."
Natalie rolled her eyes. " Figures she would go to him."
" Natalie, what is your problem with her? She has enough stress in her life
right now, and so she doesn't need you in her face."
" My problem is that she has a thing for your husband. And if you can't see
that, then you are blind." Snapped Natalie. " I see the way she looks at him
when you aren't looking."
" There is nothing wrong with her having a little crush on him, Natalie. I
mean, my husband is pretty hot if you ask me. And he is so kind, caring,
and..."
" Exactly! She is going to take advantage of all that, Kate. If you don't
watch out, your pregnant ass is going to end up in the streets and she will be
in your spot. She will take over your life."
Kate laughed at the thought. " Zac would never do that to me, Natalie. He
knows I would sue for full custody of the kids if he even thought about it. He
won't leave me for her when he knows there is that risk involved."
Natalie shook her head at her. " You are wrong. He is doing to you as you
speak, and you know it. He has a wandering eye, Kate. And it is set on Kaitlyn
right now."
" Whatever Natalie. Just back off of her, okay. I can take care of myself. If
she does so much as make a move on him, I will take care of her. But just...
leave it alone." Kate told her, just as Zac came back from the ice machine.
" Leave what alone?" Zac asked, setting the ice down on the table in the
corner of the room.
" Me and Natalie were talking about her backing off of Kaitlyn. I think she
has agreed to back off, haven't you?" She asked her best friend, glaring at
her.
" Yes. I'm sorry. I just... I worry about you two. I don't want anything to
break you two up." Natalie told them.
Zac swallowed hard. He looked at her, trying not to seem nervous. " Nothing
will. I love Kate and you know that."
With a nod, Natalie left the room and went back into her room with her
husband.
Kaitlyn woke up with a dry throat. She quietly slid out of her bunk, and made
her way to the fridge. She got out the milk, and grabbed a glass. She poured
herself some, and set the milk back in to the fridge. When she turned around to
sit at the table, she saw Zac sitting there quietly. She jumped. " Damn! You
scared me, Zac."
" Sorry. Didn't mean to. I couldn't sleep, so I got up and made a
sandwhich." He told her. " What are you doing up?"
" I woke up thirsty." She sat down next to him, and smiled. " You guys were
amazing tonight by the way, as usual."
" Thanks." He smiled back. " I hope your enjoying yourself. I mean, I know
things aren't the same with Britney being gone, but I would hope being around us
would help some."
She nodded. " It does help a little. You and your brother's certainly know
how to make me laugh." Sipping on her milk, she looked into his eyes. She could
feel herself melt at his glance.
" Well, we try." He gave her an even bigger smile. Finishing his sandwhich,
he pushed the plate out of the way. " I'm glad we took you on tour with us. I
think this will be good for you and Miranda. Especially for you."
" I don't know, Zac." She sighed. " I had a run in with Natalie earlier. I...
I don't think she likes me very much."
" She can be a bitch at times I know, but just ignore her." He locked eyes
with her. " Whatever she said to you, just let it be. She just isn't used to
actually us becoming friends with fans. She has that fear that someone will take
Taylor away from her."
" It... it wasn't about Taylor. She thinks that I'm going to take you away
from Kate." She told him.
He gave her a little smile, and rubbed a strand of hair from her face. " I
would say that's not possible, but... I can't deny how beautiful I think you
are. How sweet and funny you are to be around when your in a good mood. Your
absolutely amazing with my children." He leaned closer to her. " How much I want
to kiss you right now."
She could feel his breath on her face. She swallowed nervously, as his lips
gently touched her's. He kissed her softly, and she kissed him back. One arm
went around his neck as their kiss deepened. When they pulled out of the kiss,
both were out of breath. " I... that was... amazing."
He smiled and kissed her again. " Maybe that will give you good dreams
tonight." He got up from his seat and cleaned up his dishes in the sink.
She smiled and finished off her glass of milk. When she lay back down in her
bunk, she fell back to sleep within minutes. Sure enough, she dreamt of nothing
but Zac that night.
____________________________________________________
Zac woke up the following morning to a kiss from Kate. She kissed him gently,
and he opened his eyes. He smiled, and kissed her back. " Hey Kate. How are you
feeling this morning?" He asked her.
" Pretty good. Although I wish this baby would pop out already. He or she is
kicking like crazy this morning." She told him, giggling. " How did you sleep?"
" Kind of crappy. Finally got up in the middle of the night and had a
sandwhich." He sat up, and looked at his wife. " Kate got up for a glass of milk
and we talked for a bit, then I came back to bed."
" Well, maybe you'll have a better nights sleep tonight." She said, and
kissed him again. " What did you and Kate talk about?" She asked.
" How good this should be for her. Although she thinks Natalie hates her and
is having second thoughts about being here on the road with us." He told her.
Sliding out of the bunk, he went into his suitcase for an outfit. " Maybe you
could talk to Natalie and get her to calm down a little?"
Kate nodded. " Sure thing. When we get a moment together alone, I will talk
to her."
" Great." He headed into the bathroom and changed into a red stars and
stripes t-shirt and black jeans. When he came back out, he was combing his hair
out. " I just want for Kaitlyn to feel comfortable."
" Of course. I do too." Kate smiled at her husband. " She needs a vacation.
Not another reason to stress out."
" Exactly. We don't need Natalie to cause her more stress." He put his comb
in his jeans pocket, and smiled at his wife. He kissed her. " I'm going to make
some coffee and see if she wants to get up to have some breakfast with us."
" I'll make the coffee. Go ahead and wake her up." She walked out of the bunk
bed area, and went to go make the coffee.
He sat on the edge of Kaitlyn's bunk, and looked around to make sure no one
was looking before waking her up much the same way Kate had woken him up. He
gave her a gentle kiss, and she slowly opened her eyes. " Hey beautiful."
She smiled up at him. " Hey. What time is it? Did I sleep in too late
again?"
" No. But we will probably reach our destination soon I am sure." He smiled
back. " Want to have some breakfast with me and Kate? I'm not sure what that
will be yet, but..."
" Wouldn't that be a little uncomfortable for you? I mean, having your wife
and me in a room alone in one room. Now that we... we've kissed?" She asked.
" Maybe a little. But it's not like the other's won't wake up soon and join
us." He said. " Get dressed and join us. I'll make up something good."
She nodded and climbed out of her bunk. Grabbing an outfit from her suitcase,
she went into the bathroom to change herself. She got dressed in a lilac colored
floral shirt and white jeans. Brushing her hair out, she joined them at the
table five minutes later. " Good morning, Kate." She smiled, trying not to feel
guilty about kissing Zac.
" Good morning." Kate smiled back. " I hope you slept okay. Zac said you were
up late last night along with him."
" Yeah. But once I fell back to sleep, I slept great." She said, sitting next
to Kate.
Zac made up a few breakfast sandwhiches, and got them each a cup of coffee to
go with it before sitting down to enjoy his sandwhich.
____________________________________________________
A few hours later, everyone was getting settled into their hotel room's. They
had first gone to the North Carolina Zoo on the way, thinking the kids might
enjoy some time there. Kaitlyn had found it pretty fun herself. She hadn't been
to a zoo in so long. Miranda even found it kind of fun herself.
The two girls were still barely speaking to each other, but Hanson's mother
decided it was time to change that. Once settled in, she pulled the two aside to
talk things over. This gave Kate a chance to talk to Natalie as well.
Kate pulled Natalie into her room with Zac, who had gone to get some ice for
their room.
" So Zac told me that Kaitlyn told him you seem to have
something against her."
Natalie rolled her eyes. " Figures she would go to him."
" Natalie, what is your problem with her? She has enough stress in her life
right now, and so she doesn't need you in her face."
" My problem is that she has a thing for your husband. And if you can't see
that, then you are blind." Snapped Natalie. " I see the way she looks at him
when you aren't looking."
" There is nothing wrong with her having a little crush on him, Natalie. I
mean, my husband is pretty hot if you ask me. And he is so kind, caring,
and..."
" Exactly! She is going to take advantage of all that, Kate. If you don't
watch out, your pregnant ass is going to end up in the streets and she will be
in your spot. She will take over your life."
Kate laughed at the thought. " Zac would never do that to me, Natalie. He
knows I would sue for full custody of the kids if he even thought about it. He
won't leave me for her when he knows there is that risk involved."
Natalie shook her head at her. " You are wrong. He is doing to you as you
speak, and you know it. He has a wandering eye, Kate. And it is set on Kaitlyn
right now."
" Whatever Natalie. Just back off of her, okay. I can take care of myself. If
she does so much as make a move on him, I will take care of her. But just...
leave it alone." Kate told her, just as Zac came back from the ice machine.
" Leave what alone?" Zac asked, setting the ice down on the table in the
corner of the room.
" Me and Natalie were talking about her backing off of Kaitlyn. I think she
has agreed to back off, haven't you?" She asked her best friend, glaring at
her.
" Yes. I'm sorry. I just... I worry about you two. I don't want anything to
break you two up." Natalie told them.
Zac swallowed hard. He looked at her, trying not to seem nervous. " Nothing
will. I love Kate and you know that."
With a nod, Natalie left the room and went back into her room with her
husband.