Hayley snapped out of her daydream and looked around and saw she was at her wedding. She looked around and saw that she and Nick were still dancing and she looked up at him.

"Hey, you okay, baby," Nick said stroking her cheek.

"Yeah, I'm fine, just had a little daydream, that's all," Hayley said.

"Do you want to talk about it"" Nick asked.

"No, I'm fine," Hayley said. Nick put his hand on her stomach.

"I love you, baby, and I can't wait to be a father," Nick said. Hayley smiled up at him. "I love you, too," Hayley said. They kissed deeply.

Three months later, Hayley was in the hospital holding the baby. She and Nick had a baby girl. They named her Emily Jane Carter. Everyone came in to see her and the baby. Brian and Kevin came in. Emily was sleeping in her little bed by Hayley's bed.

"Hayley," Brian said sitting on the bed beside her.

"Hey, what's wrong," Hayley said. Brian took her hand in his.

"Nick's missing," Brian said.

"What," Hayley said.

"He went home to get you some clothes and stuff and he never made it back here, we went to the house and saw his car there and the stuff in the driveway," Brian said.

"The cops are looking for him," Kevin said.

"They have to find him, they have to," Hayley said.

"They are not going to give up on him," Kevin said. Two cops came in.

"Mrs. Carter?" one asked.

"Yes," Hayley said.

"I'm Officer Grant, and this is Officer Davis, we were leading the search for your husband," Officer Grant said.

"Were?" Hayley asked.

"We found a body down on the beach," Officer Grant said.

"Oh god," Hayley said. Brian looked at the officers.

"We ran a test and I'm sorry, your husband is dead," Officer Grant said.

"There has to be a mistake," Kevin said.

"I'm sorry, you can come looking for yourself, the body is in the morgue," Officer Grant said.

"Take me down there," Kevin said. They went out of the room. Brian held Hayley close. Kevin came back awhile later and looked at them.

"Kev?" Brian asked.

"The body was too bruised and beaten and too messed up for me to be convinced that it's Nick," Kevin said. Officer Grant came in.

"They did an autopsy, it's Nick," Officer Grant said.

"NO!" Hayley cried as Brian held her close. She buried her face in his chest and cried. Jane and Bob came in. Officer Grant told them the news. Jane collapsed in Bob's arms and cried as they held each other. Jane looked at Hayley as she cried. Three days later, Hayley was at Brian's house with Emily. She was lying in bed. Leighanne said she would take care of Emily until Hayley was able to. The guys arranged a memorial service at Orlando Arena for all the fans that could come. Two weeks later, they all were at Orlando Arena. The place was packed with fans. They had posters of Nick and alot of "We'll Miss You, Nick" posters. Hayley sat backstage. Jane sat there holding Emily.

"Hayley, are you sure you feel like doing this," Jane said.

"They know about me now, I have to do it, for Nick," Hayley said. Kevin came in. "Hayley, ready to go out there"" Kevin asked.

"Yeah," Hayley said. She took Emily and followed Kevin out the door and they joined AJ, Brian, and Howie and they all went out onstage.

"Hello everyone, I'm Hayley Carter, Nick's wife, and this little girl is Nick's daughter, Emily Jane Carter, I want to thank you all for coming tonight, for everyone who has come from all over the US, thanks for making the trip and for showing how much you cared and loved my husband, this is hard for me to do because I lost my husband and the father of my daughter, he was the love of my life, he died on the same day I gave birth to our daughter, I don't know who killed my husband, but I hope they come forward and pay for what they did, they took away someone who meant the world to me, the guys, our family, and all of you, when you came in, you were asked to record a statement about what you liked about Nick, I will watch it later on with the guys, Nick was very excited about becoming a father and now he won't get the chance to be the father he wanted to be, but these four guys behind me will be there for me, anyways, I want to thank you all for coming tonight, and please, never forget Nick, and Keep the Nick Carter Pride Alive," Hayley said. Everyone clapped and Brian hugged Hayley and Emily. Leighanne helped Hayley backstage and Hayley sat down and held Emily close and Leighanne held her hand as they listened to the guys, Jane, Bob, BJ, Leslie, Angel, and Aaron speak about Nick. They showed a slide show of Nick from when he was a baby to his last moments of his life.

Chapter 36

He sat there watching everything on TV. He watched Hayley and everyone he cared about. He heard the door open and Willa came downstairs with some food.

"Do you like what's on TV"" Willa said. He groaned.

"Everyone thinks you are dead, so you are here forever," Willa said. She looked at him as he sat there looking at the TV. Willa removed the tape from his mouth.

"Why are you doing this, Willa, we are over, ok, we were over when you abused me and hurt me, you used me for a record deal, I thought we were through this," Nick said. "Well, I still love you," Willa said.

"Willa, I am married with a new baby, my daughter needs me, don't you understand that," Nick said.

"She has her uncles," Willa said.

"SHE NEEDS HER FATHER!" Nick said.

"She has him, it's Brian," Willa said.

"Emily is my daughter, Hayley would never cheat on me," Nick said. Willa put a tape in and pushed play and Nick looked at the screen and saw Hayley and Brian on the beach walking to a secluded area and Nick watched them remove their clothes and have sex. Nick looked at the date and realized that it was the night after he thought he and Hayley conceived Emily.

"Emily could still be mine," Nick said. Willa showed him papers. It was Hayley's medical records and Willa circled the date of when Emily was conceived. Nick's heart sank and he looked at the TV. Willa switched it back to the current day and it was at his house and he saw Hayley walk in with Emily. Leighanne came in with her stuff. Willa turned the volume up.

Meanwhile, at the house...

"Thanks, Leighanne, I really appreciate you and Brian letting me stay with you guys, but I need to be strong for Emily, she's all I have left of Nick," Hayley said sitting down with her. The phone rang. Hayley picked it up.

"Hello, hi Dr. Green, what, what do you mean, my records are missing, why would someone take my records, who was it, do you know, does anyone know, what, oh god, okay, thanks," Hayley said. She hung up and looked at Emily.

"Hayley, what's wrong?" Leighanne said.

"Someone stole my medical records, they have a witness seeing one of the orderlys handing a file to a blond girl, they questioned him and he admitted that he gave my medical records to the girl," Hayley said.

"Who would want your records"" Leighanne said.

"Who has blond hair and wants my husband," Hayley said.

"Willa, but why," Leighanne said.

"Something must be up, I don't know, I mean, there is nothing different from those records as from what I know," Hayley said.

"Hayley, I know about that time with Brian, what if the records say when Emily was conceived," Leighanne said.

"You mean, what if they said that Brian is Emily's father, no way, I know what the records say, Emily was conceived during the first time me and Nick slept together after I was given the all clear to start trying for a baby again, I even had a paternity test and they ran three tests, she is Nick's daughter, not Brian's, the only kid that is going to be Brian's is the baby you two will have when you guys get to work on it," Hayley said.

"And you will be the godmother of mine and Brian's baby," Leighanne said.

"There is no way this little one is Brian's, she has Carter written all over her, Jane and Bob said so, she looks like BJ when she was a baby, do you think a Littrell baby could look like a Carter baby, this little one is all Carter," Hayley said kissing her forehead.

Back at Willa's basement....

"Damn him!" Willa said.

"I told you Emily was my daughter, my mom knows a Carter baby," Nick said.

"But she still slept with Brian," Willa said.

"If Leighanne can forgive them, then so can I, nothing is going to break me and my wife up, Willa, let me go and I won't press charges, you can remain free and I won't say anything, I promise," Nick said. Willa looked at him.

"They think you are dead," Willa said.

"I know that," Nick said.

"I will turn myself in, and tell the cops where to find you," Willa said. She left. Nick sat there looking at the TV.

Chapter 37

Hayley was doing laundry when she heard the door open and close. She heard noises in the front room and she heard the front door open and close again and she heard a gasp. She went out and saw Leighanne and Kristin in the front room. She went back into the laundry room and continued what she was doing.

"Hayley!" Leighanne called.

"What!" Hayley called.

"You better come out here," Leighanne said.

"I'm doing laundry!" Hayley called.

"Hayley, you are going to have to come in here," Leighanne said.

"What is so important," Hayley said walking into the living room. She saw Leighanne and Kristin looking at someone. Hayley looked and saw Nick standing there.

"Nick?" Hayley asked. Nick came over to her and kissed her deeply. She hugged him and cried.

"I'm home, baby," Nick said.

"But how, they said you were dead," Hayley said.

"It was all Willa, baby, she did everything, but that doesn't matter, I'm home with you and our daughter," Nick said. She hugged him close as he buried his face in her neck. Leighanne and Kristin left to tell Brian and Kevin the news. Hayley pulled back and they kissed deeply. She cried happily and hugged him tight. He cupped her face in his hands.

"I love you so much," Nick said kissing her lips softly.

"I know you do," Hayley said. Nick remembered something.

"Hayley, I know everything, I know you slept with Brian the night after we conceived Emily," Nick said. Hayley looked at him and looked away. He turned her chin towards him.

"Baby, do you think I would be mad at you, Willa had a camera here and she had me watch everything, I heard everything you and Leighanne said and if she can forgive you, so can I, I love you so much and we have a daughter, we are a family now," Nick said stroking her cheeks with his thumbs. Hayley pulled away and sat down. Nick sat down.

"I don't know why I slept with him, I am so sorry, I hurt you, I slept with your best friend!" Hayley said.

"Baby, I said I forgive you, I know you love me, you do love me, right," Nick said. Hayley looked at him and looked at the floor.

"I don't want you to forgive me, my feelings have changed, I know we have a daughter, and we are married, but I am feeling different," Hayley said. Nick looked at her. "You don't love me anymore," Nick said.

"Nick, I don't know how I feel right now, I think I feel something for Brian, I don't know, I'm confused," Hayley said.

"I come back to you and this is what I get, you feel something for Brian, why don't you just say it, you want Brian, to hell with me," Nick said.

"Nick, I never said it like that, you are Emily's father, she needs you and me," Hayley said.

"I need to go for a walk," Nick said. He went out the back door. The front door opened and closed. Brian, Leighanne, Kevin, and Kristin came in.

"Hey, Leighanne and Kristin said that Nick's alive, where is is," Brian said. Hayley looked up at him with tears.

"He went for a walk out back," Hayley said. Leighanne sat down.

"Hayley," Leighanne said.

"We had an argument," Hayley said.

"Does he know about what we did that night?" Brian asked.

"Yeah, thanks to Willa," Hayley said.

"Damn her!" Brian said. Hayley sat there.

"Watch Emily for me," Hayley said. She went out the door and got into her car and drove off. Nick came back in the house and saw Brian, Kevin, Leighanne and Kristin there but no Hayley.

"Nick!" Kevin said coming over to him. They hugged.

"Hey Kev," Nick said.

"I am so glad you are okay," Kevin said. Nick looked at Brian.

"Where's my wife?" Nick asked.

"She left, she told us to watch Emily and left, didn't say where she was going," Brian said.

"Nick, we just found out that me and Brian are having a baby, and we want you and Hayley to be the godparents," Leighanne said.

"Congratulations," Nick said.

"Nick, we know you know about what me and Hayley did, I swear it was the only time and it won't be happening again," Brian said.

"Did she tell you that she has feelings for you," Nick said.

"No, she said you two had an argument," Brian said.

"She doesn't love me anymore, she has feelings for you, Brian," Nick said. Brian looked at Leighnane.

"Oh man," Brian said.

"Do you have feelings for my wife?" Nick asked.

"Only friendship," Brian said.

"He has feelings for her, but he is committed to me, we had a talk last night, he loves only me and he has a feeling he'll be over his feelings for her, like she will be over all this and love you again, Nick, just give it time, give her time to sort out her feelings," Leighanne said. Nick sat down and talked with them.

An hour later, Hayley came home and saw Nick sitting there holding Emily while talking with Kevin. Brian and Leighanne were in the kitchen. Nick stood up and put Emily in Kristin"s arms and came over to her and pulled her upstairs to their bedroom.

"Where have you been?" Nick asked.

"I went for a drive, I needed to clear my head," Hayley said.

"I was worried, even if you don't love me right now, I love you more than anything in the world and I will do everything I can to get you to love me again and be like we were," Nick said. Hayley kissed him deeply.

"I love you, too, always have, I was confused, but I cleared my head and realized that my life is with you and I love you so much, I can't be without you another minute," Hayley said. He kissed her deeply and held her close. He hugged her tight and buried his face in her neck.

"I love you so much," Nick said.

"I love you more," Hayley said. They kissed again. They went downstairs as the doorbell rang. Nick opened the door and saw two police officers standing there.

"Can I help you"" Nick asked.

"We are here to see your wife, Mr. Carter," one officer said. He let them in and closed the door. The officers saw Hayley sitting there holding Emily. She looked up and saw them.

"Mrs. Carter?" one officer said.

"Yes," Hayley said.

"I'm Officer Davis and this is Officer Thomas, we would like to question you in the disappearance of Mandy Whilford," Officer Davis said. She looked at them.

"She disappeared?" Hayley asked.

"I take it you didn't know"" Officer Thomas asked.

"I didn't know," Hayley said.

"She was suppose to be in court today on the kidnapping charges when she kidnapped your husband, we went to her house and saw signs of forced entry," Officer Davis said.

"I haven"t seen her," Hayley said.

"Did you leave the house today?" Officer Thomas asked.

"Yeah, I went for a drive, I need to think about some personal things, but that's all I did," Hayley said.

"We have evidence that you have done something with Ms. Whilford," Officer Davis said.

"Well, that is impossible because I didn't have anything to do with it, I have a daughter who needs me and I would not do anything to hurt my family," Hayley said. They held up a watch with Hayley's initials.

"This was at her house," Officer Thomas said.

"It must have been when I was kidnapped by her, I was bringing Hayley"s stuff to the hospital when I was kidnapped and it must have dropped out of my pocket at her house," Nick said.

"I did not have anything to do with her disappearance, I swear on my daughter's life," Hayley said.

"We are so sorry to bother you, Mr. and Mrs. Carter, have a good day," Officer Thomas said as they left. Nick looked at Hayley.

"Hayley, I believe in you, but did you have anything to do with her disappearance?" Nick asked.

"Nick, no, I didn't, I went for a drive," Hayley said.

"Are you lying to me?" Nick asked.

"No, I'm not lying," Hayley said.

"Nick, if she said she didn't, she didn't, and we know if she did, you wouldn't tell anyone, you would cover it up," Brian said. Nick sat down by Hayley and hugged her and Emily.

"I would not let anything break up my family," Nick said.

Three months went by. Willa was caught and put in jail without bail until a trial date can be set. Nick and the guys were recording a new album. Hayley sat in the house watching Emily sleep. She felt hands on her shoulders. She looked up and saw AJ.

"Hey AJ," Hayley said.

"You okay, girl"" AJ asked.

"Just thinking, where's Nick?" Hayley asked.

"He and Brian are hanging out, Nick wanted me to check on you and Em," AJ said. "AJ, we"re best friends, right," Hayley said.

"Yeah, of course," AJ said.

"I'm feeling sad, Nick and I have been trying for another baby, but no luck," Hayley said.

"Have you talked with Dr. Green"" AJ asked.

"No, not yet, can you watch Emily while I go see her?" Hayley asked.

"Sure," AJ said. She got up and hugged him and went out the door and went to the doctor. Two hours later, she returned and came in and saw AJ playing with Emily.

"Hey, what did you find out"" AJ asked.

"I'm totally fine, I guess it"s Nick who has the problem, I called him and he said he was going to get tested, I told Dr. Green to not tell him the results because I wanted to know first," Hayley said.

"Hayley, why are you in a hurry to have another baby?" AJ asked.

"I love Nick, with everything in me, I just want to have proof of our love inside me, something that our love created, a new life, I loved being pregnant with Emily, Nick wants lots of kids, and I want to give it to him," Hayley said. The phone rang. She answered. "Hello, hi Dr. Green, what, are you sure, thanks for calling," Hayley said. She hung up and sat there.

"Hayley," AJ said.

"She said that he looks like he had a vasectomy," Hayley said.

"He wouldn't do that, would he," AJ said.

"No, he wouldn't, it might have been done when Willa had him, without him knowing, god, if he finds out, it will kill him," Hayley said.

"He can't know, I won't tell him, you won't tell him," AJ said.

"She told him that she would call with the results," Hayley said.

"Oh," AJ said.

"What am I going to do, he wants more kids and he can't have anymore," Hayley said. "I'm sorry, Hayley," AJ said.

"AJ, I need to be alone right now," Hayley said. AJ hugged her and left. Hayley sat there thinking. Brian came in with Leighanne behind him.

"Hey, AJ told us what happened," Brian said.

"Where's Nick?" Hayley asked.

"He went to hang out with Howie," Brian said sitting down.

"I need your help," Hayley said.

"What is it," Brian said. Hayley talked to them.

"You want to sleep with Brian to get pregnant so Nick can be happy, Hayley, it's lying, if you get pregnant, the baby will look like Brian, there has to be another way," Leighanne said.

"I don't know what to do, we can't have any more kids because of that bitch Willa, I need to get pregnant so he won't know the truth," Hayley said.

"Hayley, it would be wrong if I got you pregnant," Brian said.

"I"ll do it," AJ said. They looked at him.

"AJ, no, that can't happen, he would know that the baby wasn"t his," Hayley said. Nick came in with Howie.

"Hey guys," Nick said kissing Hayley"s forehead.

"Hey Nick," AJ said.

"Did Dr. Green call with my test results?" Nick asked.

"Yeah, she said you were fine," Hayley said. Nick smiled and kissed her cheek.

"I say let"s get to work," Nick whispered in her ear. Hayley looked at him and smiled.