Death, Love and Family

Niki's POV

I finally got out of bed around noon and put some clothes on. The reason Matt was there earlier was he moved in with me shorty after the accident! I hadn't had much time to take care of things around the house lately. Being the manager for almost everything Avenged was a hard time consuming job. Today I had the day off which meant I was going to clean the house and take of things that I'd been putting off.

I took a shower got dressed and started in the bedroom. I changed the sheets and comforter. Then I dusted and sprayed some air freshener to get rid of the sex smell. I made my way around the house cleaning and fixing everything I needed to. At one point when I made it downstairs I turned on the sterio and started blasting music "Old Movie" by Juliet Simms came on and I realized it was 1:45 am. "Where is Matt?" I asked my self aloud. Then shrugged and sang along to the music swaying back and forth to the slow beat.

I was into the music that it scared me when I felt two arms wrap around my waist and start swaying to the music with me.

Matt turned me around and slowly danced with me. At that momment my heart just melted. I love this man, he's sweet, he's careing, and he's perfect. I wrapped my arms gently around the back of his neck and nestled my head in his chest. He leaned his head down resting his cheek on the side of my head at my temple. He gently kissed my temple then went back to resting his cheek next to mine.

As the song slowly faded out I looked at him in the eye and couldn't help but smile some what sadly. I still didn't know what he meant this morning when he told me he loved me. He seemed to notice my normal cheeryness was missing and asked "Hey, what's wrong?" he was genuinily concerned but he was my best friend of course he was concerned!

I sighed and shook my head pulling away from him, "Nothing, it's nothing." I said dully as I went to walk away he grabbed me and pulled me back towards him.

"Niki," he cupped my cheek in his hand and made me look at him "What's wrong? Please tell me!" he begged.

I shook my head again and said "I don't know, I guess I've just been thinking lately and I just don't know anymore!"

"Don't know what anymore?" He asked.

I closed my eyes as I thought of the words to say then I opened them I found his vibrant hazel eyes staring back at me "I don't know what I am to you anymore, we've been through so much in the past years and I ju........."

I was cut off when his lips hit mine, kissing me gently. His kiss was passionate yet full of love. I didn't want it to end but he pulled away a minute later "Niki, I meant what I said this morning. I love you. Without you I don't know what I would have done to myself after I lost Val, but you, you helped me through all the pain all the heartache..........................all the sexual frustration!" We both chuckled at that, "But Niki I'm serious in these past six months I fallen in love with you, you'll always be my best friend nothing in the world can change that, But I'm in love with you Valary Nicole Richards in some ways I always have been!"

I couldn't stop the tears now they just kept falling but I was smiling. I just wrapped my arms around the back of his neck and hugged him tightly whispering "I love you too Matt.....................I was so scared you were just using me to get over Val."

He pulled back and cupped my face in his big hands "I could never in a million years do that to you Nik no matter what, I would never use you," he pecked my lips and whispered "Ever!" before kissing me again slowly slipping his hands up the back of my shirt rubbing small circles on the small of my back.

I gently ran my hands down his chest resting my thumbs in his belt loops. Then he pulled away sighing and resting his forehead against mine he said quietly "We should get cleaned up and head to bed we have to wake up early."

I sighed and nodded before lifting my head up to kiss him I said "Go upstairs and get ready for bed I'll lock up down here and shut everything off."

He smiled at me before kissing my forehead and unlocking his arms from around me. He walked upstairs to get cleaned up and I finished up everything downstairs before locking up and shutiing everything down. I walk upstairs into our room to find Matt in his boxers laying on top of the comforter already half asleep. I chuckled slightly and walked over to him. Sitting on the bed next to him I rubbed his back and asked "Hard day at work?"

He grunted in responce and said "Everyone went phsyco on me when I told them about you and me and Jimmy broke atleast 4 pairs of drum sticks and Brian couldn't concentrate to save his life."

I sighed and asked "Was Sara there?"

He just nodded "Yep, but it wasn't her that distracted him funny as it sounds it was Pinkly that distracted him!"

I couldn't help but start laughing which caused Matt to laugh "His damn dog distracted him wow Brian sure is a special one!" I laughed.

Matt chuckled and said "Yeah he is! Oh and then Johnny and Zacky decided they wanted to play baseball inside the studio."

I just shook my head and said "And I'm guessing you were the baby sitter for the day huh?"

He nodded and said "Yeah but I did write a new song!"

I smiled and leaned down kissing his shoulder I said "Good for you I can't wait to hear it. I'm gonna go put on some pajamas why don't you get under the covers and get some sleep I'll be right back."

He nodded as I got up to go get some pajamas on he sat up pulling the comforter over him before laying back down. I came out of the bathrom and get in bed cuddeling into Matt's side as he instictivily wrapped his arms around me.

He leaned down and gave me a good night kiss before saying "Good night, I love you Niki!"

I smiled and said "I love you too Matt, night!"