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I woke up the next morning at around 3 a.m. and raced to the bathroom where I was promptly sick. I pulled my head out of the toilet bowl and tried to catch my breath. This time felt a little different than the other times. I felt so weak and drained. I rocked back on my heels and fell in a heap on the cold floor. It felt good against my hot body. The last thing I remembered seeing was that I had locked the door.
AJ reached for Kelly and when he didn't feel her he sat up. Her side of the bed was cold so he knew she had been gone awhile. Throwing the covers back he got out of bed. Thinking she had run off again he put on some Nike sandals and ran to the window searching for her car. It was still there so where was she? He walked to the bathroom and turned the doorknob. When it didn't open he pressed his ear against it. He didn't hear anything so he knocked. After two knocks she didn't answer.
"Kelly, open the door," he said. There was no answer. He stood by the door knocking for three minutes and then he began to get scared. He knew something was wrong he could just feel it. He gave himself a little room and proceeded to break the door down. After three tries the door popped open and AJ walked in. He looked around and saw Kelly on the floor by the toilet in her nightshirt out cold.
"Oh no," AJ said.
He ran over to her and knelt beside her. He touched her and she was ice cold. He lifted her up and lightly slapped her face.
"Come on Kelly wake up."
He tapped her face twice more before he realized she wasn't going to wake up. Scared out of his mind he lifted her into his arms and ran downstairs, out of the house, and to the car. He carefully placed her in the passenger seat and closed the door. Slamming the car into drive he drove to the nearest hospital. On the road he picked up his car phone and called Howie.
"Hello," Howie said sleepily.
"Howie, its me AJ."
"What's wrong?"
"Its Kelly, I found her in the bathroom passed out. I'm on my way to the hospital now."
"Oh shit! Look we'll be there soon," Howie said. AJ heard him telling Shannah what had happened.
"All right, I'll see you there," AJ said hanging up. Finally he pulled up into the hospital's emergency lane. He ran out the car, lifted Kelly out, and raced into the hospital.
"I need some help," he yelled. That must've been the magic word because a doctor and some nurses came out of nowhere with a stretcher.
"What happened?" the doctor asked.
"I don't know I found her collapsed in the bathroom," AJ explained.
"Has she been on any type of medication?"
"No, but she's pregnant."
"Get her upstairs stat," the doctor ordered.
When AJ tried to follow them the doctor told him no and that he had to wait out here. AJ raised hell, but the doctor still told him to stay out there. AJ slammed himself down into a chair and waited. About thirty minutes later the rest of the BsBs and the girls came flying in. Everyone was in sweats and houseshoes or sandals.
"What's wrong with her?" Shannah demanded.
"I don't know, they haven't told me yet," AJ said.
"What happened?" Jessica asked.
"I found her collapsed in the bathroom."
"Oh my God," Hazel cried.
"The baby," Dominique moaned.
Just then AJ's mother walked in. AJ jumped up and walked over to her. "Mom, what are you doing here?"
"I was here picking up a prescription when I saw your car parked out in the emergency section. What are you doing here, is one of the boys hurt?"
"No, something happened to Kelly."
"Who is Kelly?" his mother asked.
"Don't you remember I told you about that girl that I wanted you to meet?"
"Oh yes, what's wrong with the poor dear?"
AJ took a deep breath and said, "She's pregnant mom."
"What did you say?"
"She's pregnant and its mine."
"AJ, I am so disappointed in you. How do you know she isn't after your money or if she's not some crazy groupie?"
"You sound like Kevin mom."
"Well its obvious he's the only one with sense."
"Look mom, the baby is mine and Kelly is not some gold digging groupie."
Just then the doctor that had been with Kelly walked in. AJ and everyone else ran over to him.
"Is she okay?" AJ asked.
"Well the bad news is that she has a severe case of the flu," the doctor said.
"Oh no," AJ said falling.
"Come on Bone, be strong for Kelly," Brian said catching AJ.
"And? What about the baby?" AJ asked.
"The baby is fine," the doctor said.
"Thank God," Shannah said.
"Can I see her?" AJ asked.
"Yes, she's in room 310. You can take her home just pick up the pills I've prescribed and she can leave with you. Tell her to take it easy because she's going to be weak and she needs to be strong for the baby," the doctor, said.
"Thank you," AJ said taking off. He walked into the room with everyone else and saw her. She was in a bed propped up with pillows with her eyes closed.
I woke up slowly and looked around. Where was I? The last thing I remembered was falling asleep on the bathroom floor. There was AJ and everyone else coming through the door. I tried to sit up, but my muscles hurt so I just lay there.
"Are you okay, Kelly?" Hazel asked coming to stand near me.
"I'm fine. Where is AJ?" I said in a hoarse voice.
"Right here baby," he said coming to take my hand.
"What happened?"
"You collapsed in the bathroom and I brought you to the hospital."
"Am I all right? What about the baby?" I asked.
"The baby is fine, but you have the flu."
"Oh."
"If your ready to leave we can go home," AJ said.
I nodded my head and let him help me off the bed. Just then I noticed a woman standing near the door. I looked at her then at AJ then at her again. I knew that this was AJ's mom, but what was I going to say?
"I'm sorry for the way we've met. My name is Kelly," I said.
"Nice to meet you," his mother said politely.
"You too," I said.
AJ led me to the pharmacy where he sat me down and went to get my prescription. AJ's mother sat down next to me and I had a feeling something was going to happen.
"You seem like a nice enough girl, but don't hold it against me when I say I'm not sure whether or not to think of you as some crazed groupie wanting to get pregnant by my son."
"Ms. Mclean, the last thing I wanted was to get pregnant, but I am and there is nothing I can do about it."
"Have you told your parents?"
"Yes."
"Well then I suppose they feel the same way I do."
"Yes, I'm sure they do," I said laughing shakily.
AJ came over to us with what looked like a year's supply of pills. He drove me home where everyone said they would meet after they got dressed (including his mother).
"You're going straight to bed," AJ said.
"AJ, calm down if what you said is true it's just the flu," I laughed.
"The doctor said you need rest."
"I am not tired AJ," I said.
"Doesn't matter," he said.
Okay, this was getting carried away. "AJ, I said I'm not tired and that is that," I stated.
"Well then don't sleep just lay there."
"NO."
"YES."
"I said NO!"
"What is all this noise for?" AJ's mother asked as she walked into the kitchen.
"Can you please tell Kelly that she needs rest if not for her than for the baby," AJ pleaded.
"AJ dear you know nothing about being pregnant, if Kelly says she doesn't want to rest then listen to her."
"Women," AJ said leaving the room.
His mother and I laughed as AJ left the kitchen. "Are you hungry?" she asked me.
"To tell you the truth I'm starving," I said.
"Good, I'm going to make you some blueberry pancakes, bacon, and eggs."
"That isn't necessary," I said.
"Nonsense, that's my grandchild you're carrying."
For the next thirty minutes AJ's mother made breakfast and we talked. She got to know me and I got to know her. She told me story after story of AJ's childhood. At around 11:00 she left and everyone else arrived.
"We're here," Jessica yelled from the door.
"We're in the kitchen," I yelled trying to hop down from the countertop.
"No, don't move because of us," Brian said.
"It's okay," I smiled hugging Brian and Jessica.
"Are you okay?" Jessica asked.
"I took my pills and I'm feeling a bit better," I admitted.
"But she won't listen to a damn thing I say," AJ said walking in.
"Aww poor baby," I laughed kissing him on the cheek.
"We just came over to see if you were well enough for a little trip," Hazel said.
"A trip where?" I asked.
"To the mall for some baby clothes," Shannah said.
"Yeah, its time to get started on this baby," Jessica said.
"Listen to them," Howie groaned.
"Yeah," AJ agreed.
"Well while you guys are doing that we have an interview to go to, right AJ?" Kevin reminded them.
"Oh yeah, let me get my jacket and we can go," AJ said.
We all left the house at the same time each heading in different directions. We all drove to the nearest mall and proceeded to shop. I bought some clothes that I knew would only fit me for a few more months, but I wanted to buy them anyway. Then we began to baby shop. We walked into some baby store full of cute little baby clothes.
"Look at this cute little Guess jacket," I cooed.
"Aww," Hazel said.
The next hour was full of oohs and ahs as we looked at all kinds of clothes. For the next four months I enjoyed my impending motherhood. I went home for a month to visit my family, but soon became a little homesick for AJ. In fact all the girls had returned to California, but I was the only one that had come back. Backstreet was getting ready to start performing again. AJ and I were in the middle of remodeling a bedroom for the nursery. He wanted yellow (of course) and I wanted powder blue. Finally, his mom had settled it with both colors. I no longer was skinny, but AJ didn't seem to notice. Almost every night he would rub my stomach or massage my back or my favorite, sing to the baby. The day before AJ was set to go back on tour we were setting up the crib.
"AJ babe, I was thinking of going home to California while you were away," I said.
"Do you think its safe?" he asked.
"Yes it is and I kind of miss all the girls. They haven't seen me in months."
"If you really want to Kelly go ahead."
"Thanks boo."
And so I returned to California where the next day I called up all my friends to tell them about my upcoming baby shower. I planned the shower for a Saturday and on that day I was nervous as ever. I put on a cute little dress and awaited their arrival. When the doorbell rang I could hardly get up fast enough. I answered the door and screamed. They were all on the front door step holding gifts. They dropped them on the couch and we all hugged (well we hugged as best we could with my 5 month pregnant stomach in the middle).
"Look at you," Shannah laughed.
"I know, I feel so stretched," I said.
"She just started to show," my mom yelled from the kitchen.
"She thinks I don't eat enough," I told them.
"I can't believe it," Hazel said.
I led them into the den with the other guests and we sat down.
"So how is my Kevy Kev?" Dominique asked.
"He is fine as are all the boys except they miss us. Don't you talk to them?" I asked.
"Nope, they've been too busy," Jessica said.
"Yeah, Nick hasn't called me in a month," Hazel said.
"I talked to AJ yesterday and he said they were all missing us," I smiled.
"Of course you'd talk to AJ, that's your baby's father," Shannah said.
The baby shower was a complete success. I got all kinds of gifts, ones for little boys and ones for little girls.
"It's a girl," Dominique predicted.
"It's a boy," Shannah said.
"Girl."
"Boy."
"Calm down you two it doesn't matter what it is," Jessica said. "And besides she's having twins."
"What!" I laughed.
We spent the next hour debating on whether or not the baby was male or female. The doorbell rang interrupting our conversation. I got up to answer it and it was a deliveryman.
"Flowers for a Ms. Kelly Scott," the man said.
"That's me," I said.
I took the huge bouquet from him and returned to the den.
"Who are those from?" Hazel asked.
I read the note and a huge smile played across my face. The note read: Sorry I couldn't be there at my baby's shower, but I am thinking of the two of you. See you soon. Miss you boo. Love, AJ.
"AJ," I laughed.
"Those look expensive," Jessica said.
"I should hope so," I said.
We sat around my house for a little while longer and then they all left. Seeing my friends again had made me feel pretty good. The next few months went by slowly but surely. I went to lamaze class with Shannah as my coach and learned how to breathe even though I knew it wasn't going to help me. I was in my ninth trimester and in my opinion as big as a house. I needed help now to get out of my chairs whenever I sat down.
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