"You know Nick, it's been a week since you stopped by to say hi. You can leave at any time you want," I laughed as Nick jumped up to grab Nikki at her first whimper.
"Why would I leave? I get home cooked meals, you've done my laundry and I get to play with Nikki and Jacob," he said with a smirk on his face.
"Besides," Howie chimed in, "its pretty nice having an extra pair of hands around."
Howie was right. Since Nick has been over, I had actually been able to get a little bit more sleep, clean up the house and actually have a few minutes of quiet time.
"Well...it's wonderful that you've been staying here Nick, but just don't feel obligated to."
"I don't," he smiled and went back to trying to teach Jacob to say 'Uncle Nick'.

"Hey Rhon!" I heard screeching through the answering machine. "It's Missy. I just wanted to see if those babies popped out yet. I'm up here visiting my mom so give me a call. You know the number."
"Missy didn't even know that I had the twins?" I asked myself. "That's strange. I thought Nick would have told her that." I went back to putting the groceries away and listening to the rest of the messages.

"Did you get the Count Chocula?" Nick asked suddenly appearing in the kitchen. I handed him the box of cereal and he headed over to the cabinets to get a bowl.
"You didn't tell Missy I had the twins?" I asked.
"What are you talking about?"
"There was a message on the machine from her asking if the babies popped out yet."
"Oh...I guess I didn't," Nick said as he fumbled through the bags looking for the milk.
"Okay...if she doesn't know that I had the babies, then why would you be staying here?"
"Well, she doesn't exactly know that I'm staying here."
"Oh what, did you just forgot to tell her?"
"Well...I haven't talked to her since she went to see her mom."
"Why not?" I asked, the curiosity getting the best of me.
"Because...we broke up," Nick said heading into the other room with his bowl of cereal.
I quickly followed him. "What do you mean you guys broke up? You said that she went to see her mom – you didn't say that you guys broke up!"
"Yeah well, things weren't working out the way we wanted them to, so we broke up. Hey could you hand me the remote," Nick said obviously trying to avoid this conversation.
"Not until you tell me what happened!" I said.
"What happened?" Howie said walking into the room.
"Nick and Missy broke up!" I told him.
"When did all this happen?" Howie asked.
"A little while ago," Nick said trying to lean over and take the remote from me.
"But...why?" Howie asked, you could tell that he was just as curious as I was.
Nick sighed and realized that he was fighting a losing battle with Howie and I. "We just realized that we don't have what it takes ... we didn't have the 'Rhonda and Howie' kind of love ... so we ended it."

"Well," Howie said putting his arms around me, "it's not easy to find, but once you find it, it's definitely worth keeping." Howie pulled me closer to him and kissed me. Howie then suddenly pulled away. "I hate to leave at this touching moment, but I promised Pollyanna that I would meet her at the studio by 1:00."

"Fine – be that way," I said playfully pouting.
"I should be back by 6:00," Howie said pulling me into his arms for one more kiss.
"Why don't you two go out to dinner tonight?" Nick asked. "I'm sure that it's been awhile since you guys went out."
"Are you going to watch the kids?" Howie asked.
"Sure," Nick answered.
Howie smiled, "Cool, I got a date with my wife!"
I walked Howie out to the car and gave him another kiss goodbye. I whispered into his ear, "You know if the evening goes right, you just might get lucky tonight."
Howie's cheeks turned slightly red, "I sure hope so," and with one more kiss Howie got into his car and left.

"Okay – you know where all the bottles are, and don't forget to put them in bed by 8:30 and Nikki likes her mobile turned on but Jacob doesn't like his, he likes the musical piano turned on instead..."
"You act like I haven't watched these guys before," Nick laughed.
"Well you haven't, at least not without me or Howie around."
"Rhon – we'll be fine. Go spend time with your husband!"
"You're right...but you have my cell phone number and Amber's number and Howie's mom's number..."
"Yeah, yeah, yeah...wait, what was the number for 9-1-1-?" Nick asked completely mocking me.
"Nick!!"
"I'm sorry!! I couldn't help that one!"
"Okay...how do I look?" I asked modeling my new outfit that I bought for this special evening.
"You look like a nervous mom about to leave her helpless children at home."
"NICK!! You're not helping!!"
"I'm sorry! I'm sorry!! Its just too easy!! I can't resist!! Seriously though, you look great and I'm sure that Howie would agree with me if he were here."
"I guess they ran a little bit over in the studio. I'm suppose to meet him at the restaurant."
"Well, get going – and don't worry about us. We'll be fine."
I gave the kids a kiss goodbye and grabbed my coat. "Are you sure you don't want Amber or Paula to come over to help?"
"NO! I'll be fine," Nick answered. "Go already!"

I got into the car and drove down the street. I fumbled through my purse to find my cell phone.
"Hello?"
"Hey Amber, its Rhonda."
"Aren't you supposed to be out to dinner?"
"I'm on my way. Howie was running a little late so we pushed it back a little. Do me a favor?"
"What's that?"
"Would you mind either calling or stopping by my place to check on Nick in like half an hour or so?"
Amber just laughed at me. "Yeah, I'll do it. But he won't like it!!"
"I know, but I will."
"Rhon..."
"Yeah Amber?"
"Have fun tonight and don't do anything I wouldn't do."
"If you put it that way, I guess just about anything goes!"

Amber's View

"Knock, knock, knock," I said as I opened the door to Rhonda and Howie's house. "Nick it's me, Amber." I looked around and didn't see anyone. "Come on Squeak, let's go find Uncle Nick." I said picking Arrianna up and heading upstairs to do my snooping for Rhon.

"Anyone here?" I asked as I came to the top. "Hellooooo…."
"Hewooooo…" Arrianna called imitating me.
All of a sudden Nick walked out of the bathroom with just a towel wrapped around his waist. He looked shocked to see me, not quite as shocked as I was to notice how much he'd grown up since I remembered. "Umm I'll just wait in the twins room," I said trying hard not to look at any part of him for too long. "Why don't you go get dressed."

"Yeah," Nick mumbled and he quickly turned and headed towards the room he was staying in. I knew I was a happily married woman but I couldn't resist checking out the disappearing Nick.
I walked into the twin's room to gain back my composure and to make sure that everything was all right. "You can call her back and tell her everything is ok," I heard from behind me. I swung around and saw Nick leaning against the door with a smirk on his face. Arrianna jumped out of my arms and ran to Nick.

"What are you talking about?" I asked trying to play innocent.
"I know she sent you over here to check up on things," Nick said bending down and picking Arrianna up. "As you can see the babies are fed, changed, and they're taking a nap, so you can tell Rhonda that everything is fine."
"Busted huh?" I laughed.
"Just a little," he said laughing now.
I watched him play awhile with Squeak and realized that Nick did have a way with kids. Maybe he could handle the job. Hmmm maybe I had found a new babysitter. "Well I guess we're not needed here," I said as I took Arrianna from his arms. "Call me though if you need anything."

"I will, I promise."
We walked down the stairs and Nick opened the door for me. I got in the car and headed back home. On the way I gave Rhon a call to let her know that everything was just fine and not to worry.