By the time Jenika and TJ made it out of the auditorium the signing line was getting long. Jenika headed towards the end of line but TJ pulled on her arm to go the other direction.

"TJ? What the heck? I thought you wanted to meet Adam?" Jenika asked with a shocked look on her face.

"I do, but I have to go to the bathroom. I can't stand in that line and then talk to Adam while doing the peepee dance." TJ said as he pulled her towards the restrooms.

Jenika laughed out loud and was having a hard time controlling herself while TJ pulled on her. She didn't realize that her laughter was attracting the attention of most of the room. She finally gained control just as they got the restrooms. She waited outside for TJ for quite some time. She was just about to go in and check on him when he pushed through the door.

"I was starting to get worried about you." Jenika said as she looked him over. "Are you alright?"

"I'm fine, mom. My tummy was just hurting a little. I'm nervous about talking to Adam." TJ said with a worried look on his face.

"Honey, I've never known you to be afraid to talk to anyone. You scare me sometimes they way you talk to everyone and their brother. Yes, he gets up on stage in front of all these people but remember that he's just like you me, a regular person." Jenika finished her pep talk and asked TJ to wait for just a minute as she used the restroom and then they would go meet the guys.

When Jenika came out of the restroom they headed for the signing area and got in line. She soon realized they were last people in line as everybody milling around seemed to have already gone through. Maybe TJ would get a few minutes of Adams time since there was no one behind them.

TJ seemed to be getting more nervous with every step they took towards the front of the line. Right before they got to the front Jenika leaned down and whispered "Breathe honey. He's just like you and me, a regular guy. Talk to him like you would talk to anyone else."

Jenika and TJ placed their picture and shirt on the table to have them signed. Chance was first. Jenika and TJ said hello and thanked him for signing their things.

They moved on to Rob who reached out to give TJ a high five. "Hey buddy. Did you enjoy the show?" "Very much so." TJ replied. Rob cocked his head to the side as he looked at TJ and then looked at Jenika. "I'm sorry." she said "Sometimes he forgets he's only four." Rob smiled at her as she moved him down the line.

Austin had been listening to Rob and Jenika so he tried a different approach than he usually does with kids. "Hello young man. Was this your first Home Free show?" "Yes, sir it was." TJ said politely. "It won't be my last." Austin smiled and said "Cool, so I'll see you again then?" TJ took a step towards Tim as he looked Austin straight in the eye and said "Without a doubt sir." Jenika shook Austins hand and apologized again for her son, "I'm sorry, he's 4 going on 40. He can be a little precocious at times." Austin shook his head at Jenika and said "Please don't apologize. I think he's adorable and it's never a bad thing to be smart."

Jenika missed what TJ had been saying to Tim since she was talking to Austin but as she got in front of him her nerves kicked in as she heard his deep voice say "Austins right you know?" She smiled at Tim and was trying to form coherent words when she heard Austin say to Tim "Did you just say I'm right about something? Did anybody get that on video? You all heard that right?" The other guys looked at Austin like he was crazy. Rob, Chance, and Adam all said in unison "I didn't hear a thing."

Jenika was giggling, trying to keep herself from full on laughter. She was doing okay until the she looked at the pout Austin was giving everyone. She leaned down in front of the table so she was eye level with Austin, reached out and rubbed his arm, and whispered "Don't worry. I heard him." Austins eyes lit up and he smiled wide. That was when Jenika lost control and couldn't stop her laughter.

It took her a few minutes to calm down and get her breathing under control. When she finally got it together, she realized Tim was staring at her. Jenika managed to giggle a few words out: "Oh my gosh. I'm so sorry to hold you guys up. But he went from pouting to smiling so quickly. I just couldn't hold it in."

"You apologize too much." Tim said bluntly. He caught Jenika off guard and she said "I'm sorry. What did you say?" "See there, You did it again" Time scolded. "You apologize too much. Please, don't ever apologize for having fun at one of our shows: before, during, or after."

Jenika smiled and said "Sorr...." Tim lifted an eyebrow at her. She stopped midword and said "I'll work on it."

---Meanwhile---

TJ had stopped in front of Adam and was just about to say hi when he heard Austin getting excited about being right. Adam looked at the other guys and said "I didn't hear a thing." then turned his attention back to the child in front of him. "Sorry about that." He said. "So this was your first show? What did you think?" Just as TJ was about to answer he heard his moms giggles turn into uncontrollable laughter.

TJ had been through this before and knew they could be here awhile waiting for his mom to get it together. He turned back to face Adam and said "This could take awhile. I hope you don't have anywhere else you have to be." "Nope." Adam replied. "I think we have all night if she needs it."

"She might. She hasn't laughed like this in a long time." TJ said nonchalantly. "She's been sad ever since my grandparents were killed in a car accident. She needs this." Adam looked at TJ like he had two heads. He had never heard such a young child speak so eloquently.

"How long ago did it happen?" Adam asked TJ quietly. "About six months. She tries to act happy around me but I hear her cry when she thinks I'm asleep." TJ whispered. Adams heart broke for the little boy and his mother.

-------

Jenika had finished apologizing to Tim (and getting scolded for it) and was trying to get TJ moving. "C'mon honey, we've taken up much more than our share of their time and we need to get you to bed. It's been a long day." TJ was following Jenika when he heard Adam say "You never told me your name, little man."

TJ walked back over to Adam, extended his hand for a shake and said "I'm TJ. My mom is Jenika. I'm pleased to meet you." Adam shook the hand that was extended to him and said "It was my pleasure, TJ. I hope to see you at another show." As TJ walked backward slowly he said to Adam "You definitely will."

TJ turned and ran to his mother who was waiting for him at the exit. They gave the guys one last wave as they walked out the door.