“I can't believe you made me come,” I said under my breathe to Rhonda as we walked through the terminal to meet the guys getting off their plane. Arrianna broke free from my grip and ran as best as she could towards her father. He picked her up and swung her around.

“Hey sweetheart did you miss daddy? Arrianna shook her head yes so much I was surprised it didn't fall off. “Well then give me a big kiss.” She planted a big kiss on his cheek. He walked over to me “I think it should be law to kiss everyone you miss.” Before I could stop him he leaned down and kissed me lightly on the lips. The sound of Arrianna giggling made him pull back. He looked at me for a minute and then walked over to the baggage claim area.

I didn't know what to do. I just stood there. I looked around to see Kevin and Brian trying to hide their smiles. I wondered what was up.
“So who gets what seat on the vans?” Nick asked as all of us walked up to the two vans with tinted windows. “Hey squeak, you wanna ride with Uncle Nick and play with his new video game. Nick climbed into the first van and pulled Arrianna up onto his lap.
“I guess we'll go in this one,” everyone said as they climbed into the first van. I was left standing on the sidewalk next to AJ.
“Well,” he said looking at me and then into the crowded van. “I guess that means we get this other one all to ourselves.” I looked to Rhonda for help but she just turned away with a smile on her face. I knew I was trapped and that no one was going to help me out of it.
AJ helped me up into the van. The first half of the ride was quiet. “We're almost there,” I said to him after a while. “I know this wasn't purely coincidental so if you have something you want to say to me you better do it soon.”
“I was just trying to figure out the best way,” he said turning in his seat to face me. I turned my head slightly to look out the window. I wanted to be looking anywhere but at him right then. I couldn't take the raw emotion that was written on his face and I didn't him want him to see the vulnerability and guilt in my eyes. “Look at me,” he said turning my face towards him. “I want us to try and work things out. I miss you and the kids and I think that deep down you miss me to. I want us to be a family again.”

I looked away again. “I…I…I don't know what to say. There are things that have happened that can never be changed,” I said thinking more about what I had done with Nick than what had happened between him and Amanda. “I don't know….”
“I'm not saying it has to happen all at once. We can go slowly if you want us too.”
“How?”
“Well how about if we start with trying to get along in front of the kids. And I'd like to see them more often.”
“I agree we should try to get along in front of them. It doesn't do them any good to see us fight. Even though they are young it still affects them, especially Arrianna. I…they would love to see you more, but how can they while your on tour. I can't travel around with the group with two kids. That's wouldn't be fair to any of us.”
“What if you were to fly out with Rhonda when she brings the twins to visit Howie. It's only a couple of times and the tour will be over soon.”
The van pulled into its destination. I could see the others piling out of theirs. AJ and I just sat there. “That sounds fine,” I said finally.
“So, where do we go from here?” he asked quietly.
“I don't know?”
“How about us and the kids go somewhere together. We can pick Tyler up and just spend some time together. What do you say?”
He looked so eager and sincere. How could I say no? “That sounds good.” I opened the door and climbed out of the van. AJ climbed out behind me. I could see everyone giving each other looks wondering how our talk had gone.
AJ walked over and took Arrianna from Nick, grabbed his bag and slung it over his shoulder. He then walked over to me and with a hand on the small of my back led me to his waiting car. I turned and silently mouthed “Call me later” to Rhonda.

Rhonda's View

“Oh, AJ, hi. Is Amber around?”
“Um, yeah, she's in the other room changing Tyler so I grabbed her phone.”
“Oh.”
“So, what's going on with you?” AJ asked trying to make small talk.
“I was just wondering if Amber was going to come home tonight. Nick and I are taking the kids out for ice cream later and wondered whether or not we should wait for her.”
“I would say go without her,” AJ laughed.
“Okay, we'll go without her then. Just tell her I called. Bye!”