Mama starts to rub my back. "Shhhh, what is it?"

I pull away from her and wipe my eyes. "Well first off he and Brad got into this macho thing. I kicked them both off of the bus."

Mama smiles. "Good for you."

I shrug. "Yeah…so anyway I was heading toward the catering area and Marcus was off to the side, waiting for me I guess."

"He was alone?"

I nod. "Yeah. So I sat next to him because I wanted to find out why he really thought we had a relationship. But whatever I asked him he somehow turned it into this thing we had. I don't know, so I was finally starting to get firm with him and he…" I take a deep breath.

"Adriana," mama says in a warning tone. "You tell me what happened."

"He just started to kiss me. Without any kind of warning. So I pushed him away as hard as I could but he was so strong."

I can see the color start draining from mama's face. She takes my hand and starts to squeeze it.

"So the only way I could get him away from me was to bite his lip."

She puts her hand over her mouth to cover her smile. A slow smile creeps across my face. "I know," I giggle.

"Oh sweetie. Where was Andre?"

"I'm not sure. I mean he doesn't always follow me backstage because it's pretty controlled back there. I just couldn't get over him…he was delusional."

"Well, it sounds like you handled things well."

I look down and nod.

"But it's still upsetting…" she adds.

"Yeah. It made me mad. It was like, how dare he think he could do that to me. Thank God I ran into Brad right after that. I just wanted him to hold me."

She puts her arm around me and pulls me closer.

"Cannon ball!!!" Cody yells and jumps into the water. Both mama and I scream when we get splashed.

His head comes up and he starts laughing as he sees us sitting there wiping our wet faces.

"Thanks, I needed a shower," I say.

"Will you read me a story?" Ashleigh asks me.

I turn my head and see her standing in the doorway to my room.

"Sure," I say making room for her to sit next to me on my bed. "I have to get going soon though."

"Can I come with you tonight?" she asks as she sits down next to me.

"I don't see why not. We'll have to make sure that it's okay with mama and daddy."

"Make sure what's okay with me?" mama asks as she stands in the doorway.

"Can I go to Adriana's show tonight?" Ashleigh asks.

Mama looks over at me.

"Your daddy and I have a dinner we have to go to…" she starts.

"I think she'd be okay with just me. Don't you? I'm coming home again tonight. The show's in Tampa, it's only a couple hour drive."

"What about when you're performing?" she asks as she walks over to the bed.

"Well, what did you used to do when Aunt Jamie Lynn came on tour with you?"

She smiled slightly. "Rob or Mo would keep and eye on her…or Fe. Okay, I'll call Tony and see if he's okay watching to make sure nothing happens to you while Sissy's on stage, okay?"

Ashleigh smiles and starts jumping up and down. "Yay. I promise I'll be good."

We both laugh. "Sweetie, you're always good," mama says touching her head. She sits down so that she's facing both of us. "Actually, I'm glad you're both here."

"Is there something wrong mama?" I ask, almost afraid to ask.

"No. I have something to tell Ashleigh and I'm glad that you two are together."

I smile and nod, because I've figured out what mama's going to say.

"Did I do something wrong?" Ashleigh asks.

Mama takes her smaller hand and shakes her head. "No, you didn't do anything wrong. I just wanted to tell you that you are going to have a baby brother or sister to play with soon."

"Really? When can we go get it?" she asks excitedly.

Mama laughs. "Well, we aren't getting it anywhere. It has to get bigger. Right now he or she is in here," she says patting her stomach.

"Nuh uh," Ashleigh says. Then she looks at me. "Do you believe that?"

I laugh. "Yes, I do. That's where you were before you were born."

"Oh, this is like with Aunt Jamie Lynn, right? But she was bigger mama, I think something's wrong," she says getting a serious look on her face.

Mama leans down and kisses her cheek. "No, so far everything's fine. We'll have to wait a few months but I'll get bigger and then I'll go to the hospital and your daddy and I will bring home your baby brother or sister. How does that sound?"

"You make it sound so easy," I say shaking my head.

We laugh.

"I wish. Anyway, Ash, how do you feel about this?"

"You've been talking to Aunt Kristen, haven't you?" I ask.

Mama looks up at me. "What makes you say that?"

"You're getting in touch with our emotions in only the way Aunt Kristen would do," I kid her.

Mama rolls her eyes and looks back down at Ashleigh.

"I like it."

"Do you?"

"Yeah and I can hold him or her and help feed him or her…"

"Sounds good to me," daddy says from the doorway.

"Daddy, mama's going to have a baby," Ashleigh says.

I bite my lip so I don't laugh and I can tell mama is trying to do the same. Daddy's smile gets bigger as he walks into the room, scoops her up and sits her down on his lap as he sits on the bed.

"You don't say?"

She nods. "Yep and she said I could help."

"Well, I'm sure she'll really appreciate that," he says before he kisses her on the cheek.

"She says it's growing in her tummy. It's going to get bigger," she whispers to daddy.

"Thanks for the warning," he whispers back. Mama punches him in the back with makes him go, "Ugh."

I glance over at my clock. "Oh we need to get going," I say as I stand up.

"We?" daddy asks.

"I'm going with Sissy to her show tonight," she says getting up off of his lap.

Daddy turns around and looks at mama.

"She'll be fine. We'll have Tony watch her."

"I'm not a baby daddy. I will be okay."

"No, you're not a baby are you? Just remember to always stay with your sister. If you loose her or Tony or Andre then you find a person with one of those necklaces on and tell them you need to find Ana's bus."

She stares at him wide eyed. "Okay."

"I'm going to go take a shower," I say leaving my room.

"How did your talk with Cody go?" Britney asks as she walks down the stairs behind her husband.

"He was grossed out, just like we thought," Justin laughed. "He's like, dad I don't need to hear details."

"What were you telling him?" she asks as they reach the bottom of the stairs.

"I was just telling him that when a man and woman love each other, they…"

"Justin. That's not even funny," she says with her hands on her hips.

He scoots in closer and wraps his arms through her arms, around her waist and kisses her. She doesn't budge.

"I just told him that we're going to have a baby in the spring."

"That's it?"

"He said, that's cool. Do you know if it's a boy or a girl yet? I told him not yet, it was too soon. He did mention that he would like to know this time so that if it's another girl he can plan on living with Uncle Lance in New York," he says shrugging.

She laughs and wraps her arms around his waist. "Awww, but he's such a good brother to his sisters…when he's not tormenting them."

They both laugh and Justin leans down and kisses her. He nibbles at her lips.

"Stop teasing," she warns before she runs her tongue across his lower lip.

He smiles against her lips and touches his tongue to hers.

"Get a room," Cody says as he passes by them.

They break apart and mama laughs. "So don't watch," she says walking behind him to the kitchen.

Justin stands in the middle of the room and looks around. He and Britney bought this house when they were pregnant with Adriana. They thought it would be the perfect size for their growing family. They were right.

"Whatcha thinking about?" I ask as I walk down the stairs.

"Just thinking," he says. "You ready?"

"Yeah," I say taking a deep breath.

"Did Adriana leave yet?" Ashleigh yells as she comes running down the steps. When she gets to the bottom of the stairs she looks up at me and goes, "Oh."

The doorbell rings so I answer the door.

"Hi Andre," I say.

"Hi Miss Ana…how are you today?"

"I'm fine. We're going to have company tonight," I say motioning toward Ashleigh who's not standing right behind me.

"Hi Miss Ashleigh. I'll be in the car," he tells me.

"Okay."

I walk over and hug daddy.

"Have a good show," he says kissing the top of my head.

"I will, thanks."

Mama walks into the room and I give her a hug. Daddy picks up Ashleigh. "Now, remember what I told you."

"I will," she says wrapping her arms around his neck. I look over at him and see the love on his face as he hugs her.

He hands her over to mama who gives her a big kiss and then sets her down. We say our 'I love yous' and leave with Andre.

"You having fun?" I ask Ashleigh as we walk to the stage for my soundcheck.

She smiles and nods as she holds onto my hand tighter. "Can I sit up on stage with you right now?"

"Sure. Just make sure you don't get in the way of the dancers…you might get hurt."

"Okay."

"Two of the most beautiful girls here."

We both turn towards the voice we hear.

"Hi Brad," Ashleigh says, waving to him.

"Hey there," he says patting her on the top of her head. "Hi," he says leaning closer to me.

"Hi," I smile and wait for his lips to get closer to mine. He gives me a quick kiss before he pulls back.

Ashleigh tugs on my hand so I look down. She looks up at us with her eyes closed and her lips puckered. Brad and I laugh. He kneels down and gives her a quick kiss on the lips.

"There ya go. You just made my night."

She blushes, smiles and then hides behind me a little bit as she still holds onto my hand.

"I'm jealous," I kid.

"I like younger women," he says as we continue walking to the stage.

"I came here by myself," Ashleigh says.

"You did? No mom or dad, huh?"

"Nope. Just me and Sissy."

"Since we're going back tonight," I add.

"Well, that's good. You two will have lots of fun. Stay out of trouble," he says winking at me before he walks over to his keyboard.

I laugh. I walk over to where my microphone is laying and I pick it up.

"Hi guys," I say to the rest of the band. "I have a little helper here today so keep an eye on her for me…"

I take Ash to the side by Brad and tell her to sit down.

In the middle of the soundcheck, we're practicing Wanted and I turn around and look for Ashleigh but she's not there. I crane my neck to see if she's sitting closer to Brad, but I still don't see her. In the middle of singing, I stop and say, "Where's Ashleigh?"

The band stops playing.

"Brad, where did Ashleigh go?" My heart starts beating faster.

"She said she had to go to the little girls room," he says.

"How long ago?" I asked in a panicked tone.

"Andre's with her," he says.

I place my hand over my heart and nod. "Okay. Sorry. Start again," I say.

I kept my eye out and watched for her to return. She smiles and waves when I catch her eye. I smile back and continue on with the song.

"You kind of freaked a little back there," Brad says as we're sitting on my bus.

"Well, this is the first time she's been with me without mama or daddy…I thought I had lost her right away or something."

"She's a good girl."

"Yeah."

"Cute too. I wish I had a little brother I could set her up with."

We both laugh.

"Actually, I can see her and Pete becoming more than friends one day…wayyyyy down the line though. They just have this connection."

"That would be cute."

I nod.

"Brad? You're going to be able to play with us at the VMA's right?"

"Of course," he says taking my hand.

"Good. I just wanted you to be there."

"I was hoping you'd be my date."

"Oh…I….uh…"

"Behind the scenes date. Don't worry, I won't break the rules."

I smile at him. "I'd like that."

We lean in closer and start to kiss. Suddenly I hear a noise next to me and jump when I see Ashleigh standing there.

"Oh God, you scared me. I didn't hear you walking down the hall baby," I tell her.

"Oh sorry. I was thirsty."

"Okay, get something out of the mini-fridge."

She nods and grabs a bottle water and heads to my bedroom again.

"What?" I ask Brad when I see the strange look on his face.

"I don't know, it just seemed odd to me that it didn't even bother her or embarrass her that we were kissing."

"You kidding? We grew up with our mom and dad. Tons of kissing going on, Brad."

He laughs. "Oh, that's right. Well, we go on in a few so I'll get going. Have a good show," he says before he kisses me one last time.

"Thanks, you too."

He leaves the bus and I yell for Ashleigh to come back up front.

"Is Brad your boyfriend?" she asks as she sits down next to me.

"Why do you ask that?"

"Well, mama says mommies and daddies kiss and husbands and wives kiss and boyfriends and girlfriends kiss…"

"Oh well…I don't know. We like each other…a lot."

She nods. "Okay."

We get back home really late that night. Daddy greets us at the limo.

"Hey, how was the show?" he asks as he sticks his head in the door.

"It was good. She fell asleep on the way back," I say nodding towards Ashleigh.

"I figured she would, that's why I came out here. "So, she did okay?"

"Yeah, she did great. She had to go to the bathroom in the middle of my soundcheck but she asked Andre to walk her…she's a smart girl."

"I think so…takes after me," he says as he picks her up and we start to walk toward the house.

"Goodnight Andre," daddy and I say. "So, you have tomorrow off right?"

"Yeah. Then it's Miami and then we go to Atlanta. Why?"

"Nothing…we're just trying to plan our schedules."

"Oh, how was dinner?"

He shrugs as we make our way up the stairs. "It was your typical charity dinner. It was for a good cause so I'm glad we went."

"That's nice. Good night, daddy," I say as I tip-toe up and give him a kiss on his cheek. "Night Ash," I whisper before I kiss her on her forehead. She doesn't even move a muscle. "Heavy sleeper," I giggle.

"Just like your mama. Good night baby."