JUNE 2010

Josh stood out on the balcony overlooking the ocean. The warm breeze blew over him and he took it in, inhaling the ocean air and the freedom of being on vacation again. He looked out at the early morning joggers on the beach, the surfers in the water, the sunbathers already staking their claim. He smiled at the young family who were setting up their beach gear, trying to watch a toddler and a little girl at the same time. The dad had managed to grab the younger child before he had gone into the water and picked him up, throwing him playfully over his shoulder. The little girl was starting to collect sand in her bucket while the mother was getting her chair and beach items organized. It was a beautiful sight and one that Josh hoped he and Becca could create sooner than later.

He turned to peer into the bedroom where Becca was still sleeping. She was facing him, her eyes closed, her hand on her pillow. She looked so peaceful and he couldn’t help but smile when he thought of being with her the night before. They’d literally flown in just an hour or so before they’d checked into their hotel and Becca had been all over him from the time they got on the plane in Orlando until they reached their hotel room in Cabo. It had been an all day trip, but even as tired as they were, they both wanted each other and the last time they’d been in Cabo ten years before, it had been just like that and so far, it hadn’t been any different.

In the four months since Becca’s accident, their lives had returned to the normalcy they’d always wanted. Her fractured ribs had healed in a matter of weeks but her arm had been in a cast for almost three months. The healing process finally ceased around May and they could enjoy their new life together as a real family. Dylan now had two parents that took care of her in the same house and that slept in the same bed. They tucked her in collectively, even though she had just turned nine and recently had let them know she was good with just a kiss goodnight. Josh assured Becca, who’d been a little distraught that their daughter was getting older, that there would be more children soon enough.

“I’m still on birth control,” she’d told him.

“We’re going to Cabo. That seems to be where we have the best luck conceiving children,” he’d reminded her.

And so Becca had come off birth control just a month before they’d left. Joey had told Josh that he’d better start thinking about a ring sooner or later if there were going to be more children. Josh was quite aware and had already picked one out years ago when he and Becca had dated then. But both of them were a little wary of getting engaged so fast when Becca had just broken off the engagement with Seth and Josh didn’t want to rush that. Besides, he knew that he and Becca were for keeps now and it didn’t matter when it happened. However, he’d packed the black ring box and hidden it in his suitcase for good measure. He figured a little walk on the beach tonight might not be a bad idea and if the time was right, he’d do what he should’ve done years ago and ask her to be his wife.

He walked back into the room, slowly closing the sliding glass doors and over to his side of the bed. Becca stirred as he crawled beneath the sheets and rolled over to face him. Her eyes opened and she smiled sleepily at him.

“Hi,” she said, her voice groggy. She stretched her arm over the sheets and reached for him. He pulled her to him and she closed her eyes again, her foot lazily rubbing his leg underneath the covers.

“Hi,” he answered, his lips making their way from her cheek to her lips and down to her neck.

“I like waking up like that,” she sighed, returning his kisses.

“You know,” he mumbled, as his lips began to trail down her body. “I’m thinking if you get pregnant on this trip, we might want to name our next kid after Cabo San Lucas.”

“Lucas is a nice name,” she said, her breathing became heavier as Josh propped one of her legs up, his teeth and his tongue biting and licking the skin on her inner thigh.

“Mmhm,” he was barely audible now and Becca reveled in what he did to her. Bucking involuntarily, she moaned his name over and over again, her hands clutching onto the sheet. Whenever he pleased her like this, Becca’s head felt as though it could explode and her body jerked with insatiable gratification. Josh loved watching her and it only turned him on more. He dragged his tongue up her stomach to her breasts and then met hers in a kiss that made them both almost animalistic for each other. He turned her on her side, pulled her thigh back towards him, and inserted himself inside of her. His hands held her breasts, massaging them as Becca met up with him.

“Keep doing that,” Becca panted. “That feels so good, baby.”

Josh began to move faster and Becca fastened her arm around his neck, bracing herself and felt him release into her, which only made her come faster. Her body was soaked with sweat and her legs still ached from their romp the night before but she didn’t care. Being with him here alone brought out something in her that she had never experienced before with anyone else. It turned her on like she’d not been turned on in a long time. Back in Orlando, they were constantly worried that they’d be too loud and Dylan would hear them. Or, if she was spending the night out, they were just happy to be alone with one another that it usually turned in to a movie night. But here in this hotel room, they were alone with no interruptions and it made them feel like two wild animals. They couldn’t get enough of each other. Becca grunted and groaned with him like she never did back home and Josh wasn’t afraid of being too rough with her because she loved it.

Josh eased himself out of her and Becca turned to face him, her face covered with sweat as was his. They both smiled at each other and Josh began to lazily trace circles around Becca’s nipple, watching her expression as she basked in the pleasure her body was receiving. He dipped his tongue towards his finger and began to suck and kiss her breast as Becca rolled on her back, pulling him with her. The ocean crashed onto the beach outside and it covered their noise because soon Josh was inside of her again, and Becca was almost screaming his name from the ultimate ecstasy he was giving her. They couldn’t get enough of each other.

Becca finally rose from the bed and looked back at Josh, who was propped on his elbow watching her. The bedclothes were a mess of crumpled sheets and pillows and held evidence of all of their lovemaking and Becca smiled at that. She walked over to the couch and took the robe she’d discarded the night before from it. She wrapped it around her body and looked back at Josh.

“Come outside with me,” she whispered, heading for the balcony. Josh said nothing as he pulled his boxer briefs on again and followed her outside. He enveloped her against him and kissed her cheek, then her neck and rested his chin on her shoulder.

“What if we didn’t leave this room all day?” he whispered in her ear, nibbling on her earlobe.

“I like the sound of that,” she answered, pressing her body against his and resting the back of her head on his chest. They both heard thunder in the distance, and watched as rain clouds began to descend on the beach. The young family Josh had observed earlier began to quickly gather their things together. The sky suddenly became darker and thunder sounded again.

“Looks like we couldn’t do much else today anyway,” Josh felt a raindrop hit his face.

“Good,” Becca turned to face him, as rain began to release from the sky. “We were a part for a long time. I figure we still have a lot of time to make up for, right?”

Josh didn’t answer her, only picked her up, her legs wrapping around his waist, and took her back into the room.

The rain cleared up in the late afternoon and Josh made reservations at restaurant down from their hotel, facing the ocean. He made sure to tell the reservationist that he wanted the perfect table, away from the noise, but still with a view. He was assured that both were possible and after the day he’d spent with Becca wrapped up in bed, he knew he’d be a stupid man not to take that ring he’d held onto for so many years.

“Whoa,” he sucked in his breath when Becca sauntered out of the bathroom. She wore a strapless pink cotton dress that came just above the knee and simple nude sandals. Her make-up was also elegant but just as unassuming. She walked up to him, draped her arms around his neck and he was like a magnet to her lips. “We can order room service,” he breathed in her sweet floral scent.

She chuckled against his lips and pulled away from him. “No. We’re finally having a grown-up dinner without having to ask for a children’s menu,” Becca linked her fingers through his as they headed for the door. “I don’t want to miss it.” Josh had to agree with her there. Most of their outings since they’d moved back in together had been to The Cheesecake Factory or some kid-themed, family-friendly restaurant that Dylan could be entertained. Once they’d tried going to an upscale sushi restaurant and figured Dylan would enjoy a California roll. Although she hadn’t balked at it, she became bored very easily and the restaurant hadn’t really offered children’s items or anything to entertain her.

“We’ll come back as soon as we’re finished,” she promised him, his hand draping along her backside. There had just been something about this trip that made him drunk on her unable to keep his hands off of her for too long. He only smiled. After they were finished with dinner, he was taking her for a nice, secluded walk on the beach.

Upon entering the restaurant, they were led to the back corner outside, where a table for two was exquisitely set up with candles and a single white rose in a vase. The lighting was just so that the ocean gleamed before them and they were away from the commotion of the somewhat crowded outdoor seating area.

“So,” Josh said, as soon as they’d ordered their drinks – gin and tonic for him, appletini for her – “Can you believe it? We’re back here in Cabo. You and me, Becca. Did you ever think this would happen?”

She smiled at him, leaning towards him, her elbow resting on the table, her chin propped in her hand. “Sometimes I wondered. Other times I gave up hope. Dylan never gave up. Did I tell you I found her little diary from two years ago?”

Josh raised his eyebrows. “No! What did it say?”

Becca laughed softly and recalled the day that she’d been cleaning up Dylan’s bedroom when she’d left for school. It had been thrown aside with her shoes in her closet and Becca didn’t realize what it was until she opened it and saw the first entry, which had been dated October 2008. Dylan’s illegible handwriting was hard to read, but Becca had managed to read the gist of it, which she could quote almost verbatim to Josh: “Dear Diary, I want my Daddy and my Mommy to live together again like when I was a little girl. I wish they liked each other.”

“We liked each other a few times this morning,” Josh couldn’t help but jibe and Becca shook her head, smirking at him. “And this afternoon. I’d say we really like each other now. A lot.”

“Anyway,” Becca continued, “She wrote another little entry later on that said she wondered if one day we’d be like The Parent Trap. Although since there’s only one of her, I don’t think she’d be all that scheming.”

“She has Briahna,” Josh added. “They’re pretty schemy together if you ask me.”

“They’re nine. Whatever do you mean by that?” Becca couldn’t help but laugh as their drinks were set on the table.

“She has enough of me and Briahna has enough of Joey that it wouldn’t surprise me what they do when they’re teenagers,” Josh shook his head at the thought. “But go on. What else did you find?”

“Little snippets of things,” Becca answered, sipping her appletini. “She hated Seth, but I already knew that. She secretly wished you would be at his house everyday that she had to be there. But the whole time she would add that it didn’t matter, that one day we’d be together and she knew it.”

“Smart girl,” Josh winked at Becca. “I have to admit, I wondered if the time would ever come again.”

At that minute, their server came to take their order and Becca excused herself to go to the bathroom. Her heart was soaring and she felt more free than she had in ten years. Yes, there was something about Cabo, but there was also something to say for the fact that they were ten years older now. Older and wiser. And better. At everything.

As she was coming out of the restroom to head back to the table, she stopped dead in her tracks.

“Becca?!” Nick Carter was sitting with a woman at a table right by the entrance of the restaurant. He smiled at her and waved her over.

She cleared her throat, hardly believing it. The last time she’d seen Nick had been years ago and he had barely acknowledged her. She walked over to the table.

“Hi, Nick,” she said softly, looking up to see Josh staring out at the ocean from their spot on the back patio. “How are you?”

“Good! It’s so great to see you. This is my girlfriend, Tricia. Tricia, this is-“ he started, but Tricia interrupted him.

“Becca Sebastian! I loved you in Sarah! It was my favorite show in high school!” Tricia gasped. Becca balked at that. Clearly, Nick was dating someone a little younger than usual.

“Well, thanks,” Becca smiled politely, then turned to Nick. “I need to get back to Josh-“

“Josh? As in JC? Are you guys-“ Nick looked up to see Josh approaching their table.

“Hey, man,” Josh extended his hand to shake Nick’s. “I was wondering where you were,” he said, addressing Becca. “Nice to see you again.” He looked at Nick, then over at Tricia. “Hi, I’m JC Chasez.”

Tricia nearly fell out of her chair reaching to shake his hand. “Oh my god! I had the biggest crush on you in high school, too! I didn’t know you two were back together! I saw you guys at least ten times in concert!”

Josh looked at Becca and they both smirked at each other. Who was this girl that Nick was dating now? She sounded like the world’s biggest pop culture groupie. “Um, wow, thanks,” Josh cleared his throat. “So, enjoying Cabo?” he turned to Nick.

“Yeah,” Nick was blushing at the behavior of his girlfriend and Becca could see it all over his face. “It’s our last night. Then we’re heading back to Los Angeles.”

“Nicky’s working on a new album with the band,” Tricia interjected.

“I see,” Josh nodded, looking at Tricia as if she were from a different planet. “Well, you two enjoy your last night. We’re going back to our dinner.”

“Good to see you,” Nick shook Josh’s hand once more then looked at Becca. “Glad you two are back together. Hey, how old is Dylan now?”

“Nine going on fifteen,” Becca smiled at him. “She’s beautiful.”

“I’m sure she is,” Nick told her. “Ok, well, you two have a great vacation.”

“We will,” Becca gave him a little wave and followed Josh back to their table. Once they were seated, Becca looked at Josh and bit her lower lip, trying not to burst out laughing.

“What?!” he asked, catching the gleam in her eye.

“Interesting to see the one man that made us fight all the time back in the beginning,” she chided him, reaching across the table to take his hand in hers.

“I was stupid,” Josh shrugged then looked over at Nick’s table. “And what was that girl all about? I can’t believe Nick would ever date someone so celebrity-obsessed.”

Becca eyed Tricia and then raised an eyebrow, looking back at Josh. “The size of her boobs is probably a good indication of why he’s with her,”

Josh looked in the direction that Becca was. “Oh yeah. I see,” he glanced a little too long for Becca’s liking and she kicked him lightly under the table. “Hey! I’m quite satisfied with yours, babe.”

“As you should be,” Becca smirked at him, and leaned forward, letting her breasts rest on the table.

“Don’t do that!” Josh groaned and shook his head. “You should know by now that this whole atmosphere just makes me want to take you right here on the table!”

Becca couldn’t help but laugh at him and then sipped her drink, gazing into his eyes. “I love you, Josh,” she said softly. “This week has been amazing and it’s only started.”

Josh only nodded and felt the ring burning a hole in his pocket. Could he wait until after dinner? The walk on the beach sounded so romantic and he knew Becca would be over the moon about getting her ring there. But did it matter? It seemed the perfect time right now. They were both watching each other, the ocean breeze blowing lightly in their face. Becca’s auburn locks caught on her lower lip and Josh reached over and removed it, stroking her chin with his thumb. He could feel the ring in his pocket and he knew. Before the server came back with their appetizer, before he refilled their drinks, Josh knew he had time. He let out a shaky sigh and looked away from Becca and then back again, a smile spreading across his face.

“I love you, Rebecca Jane,” he could barely get her full name out and when he did, Becca looked at him in complete surprise. He’d never called her by her full name before, much less even ‘Rebecca.’ He let out another unsteady sigh and realized he was nervous. He gulped his gin and tonic down quickly and then reached in his pocket, his hand gripped on the black ring box.

“Are you okay?” Becca asked him, looking at him quizzically.

“Uh huh,” Josh coughed and pulled the ring out, setting it carefully on his lap. “Okay, look, I wanted to do this after dinner. But I can’t wait. Becca, you’ve been the love of my life even when I didn’t know it. I can’t imagine life without you and when I thought you were going to die, I didn’t want to think about how I’d have to make that a reality. Living without you I mean. And we have Dylan and one day I want to make her all over again with you.” Josh took a breath and produced the ring box, opening it to show a diamond glistening in the light. Becca gasped, her hand moving to her chest and laughing softly, hardly believing her eyes. “Becca, will you marry me?” He was on one knee now and Becca was frozen in her seat for a second before she realized she’d yet to answer him.

“Yes!” she answered exuberantly, laughing and crying at the same time. Josh’s hand was shaking as he placed the ring on her finger and stood up, pulling her up with him. She was glad they were in a cloistered area and no one could really see their private celebration.

“God, I was so nervous!” Josh chuckled in her ear, hugging her tightly.

“You knew I’d say yes, didn’t you?” she pulled away and looked up at him.

“Yeah,” Josh nodded. “But you know, jitters and all.”

“I love you, Josh,” Becca squeezed him tightly. She looked down at her ring. “How long have you had this?”

“Oh, about ten years,” he winked at her. “I knew the minute I met you, Becca. You’ve always been it for me.”