Brizee sat on the couch on the tour bus and watched her brother, Brian, play video games with his best friend and bandmate, Nick.  She and Nick don’t get along very well.  Howie and AJ treat her like a sister. She saw Brian beat Nick at the game and she snickered. Nick glared at her.

        “Why are you in here,” Nick said.

        “Just wanted to see you get your butt kicked by my brother,” Brizee said.

        “Go away,” Nick said. Brizee looked at Brian.

        “Nick, she can be here if she wants,” Brian said.

        “Why do you always take her side!” Nick said.

        “Nick, you’re my best friend, she’s my sister, you two will have to get along,” Brian said. He got up and left the room. He closed the door and they heard it lock.

        “Brian!” Nick said going to the door.

        “You two aren’t coming out until you two are no longer fighting and are getting along,” Brian said.

        “It’s no use, Brian, he won’t get along with me, and I won’t get along with him, we’ll kill each other before we ever get along,” Brizee said. Nick turned and glared at her.

        “You planned this, didn’t you!” Nick yelled.

        “Yeah, like I really wanted to be locked in the same room as you!” Brizee said.

        “You are sick!” Nick yelled. Brizee glared at him.

        “Look in the mirror, asshole!” Brizee said.

        “I hate you!” Nick yelled. Brizee got in his face.

        “I hate you!” Brizee yelled. They glared at each other.  She gave him an evil look and turned and went and sat down on the couch and crossed her arms and stared at the wall. Nick sat on the other couch and stared at the wall.

        “Stop copying me!” Brizee said.

        “I’m not!” Nick said.

        “Yes you are, I’m sitting here staring at the wall and you are doing the same thing!” Brizee said.

        “You’re copying me!” Nick said.

        “Bullshit, I sat down and stared at the wall first,” Brizee said.

        “That’s it, I’ve had it with you!” Nick said getting up. Brizee got up and faced off with him in the middle of the room. They glared at each other.

Brian stood there at the door listening to what was going on. Howie and AJ stood there with him.

        “Brian, all that anger they have for each other will turn into passion,” AJ said.

        “Or they will kill each other,” Howie said.

        “I want them together, it’s better for them to be in love than hate each other,” Brian said.

        “Brian, you said we couldn’t date your sister,” Howie said.

        “Yeah, well, I changed my mind, they belong together,” Brian said.

Nick and Brizee continued glared at each other.

        “I hate you,” Nick said.

        “I hate you more!” Brizee said.

        “I can’t stand you!” Nick yelled.

        “I can’t stand you either!” Brizee yelled. They glared at each other. The bus swerved and she fell onto him. He held her up.

        “Let go of me, asshole,” Brizee said moving away from him.

        “You fell onto me!” Nick said.

        “Like I wanted to be touched by a pig!” Brizee said.

        “You are a brat!” Nick said. The bus came to a stop and they sat on the couches and didn’t look at each other. The door opened and Brian came in and looked at them.

Chapter 2

Brian walked down the hall with Nick and Brizee behind him. They went into a room and looked around. Brian went out and closed the door.

        “Brian!” Brizee said opening the door. Billy stood there with his arms crossed.

        “You two are to stay in there, nothing will make me move from this door,” Billy said. Brizee glared at him.

        “What!” Brizee said.

        “You have got to be kidding, we are stuck in this room alone together?” Nick asked.

        “Yes, Nick, you are,” Billy said. Brizee closed the door and looked around and saw one bed. She saw the phone gone and the TV.

        “Oh great,” Brizee said. The door opened and Brian came in with their bags and held out his hands.

        “Cell phones,” Brian said.

        “Brian,” Brizee said.

        “Now, you guys,” Brian said.

        “Why are you doing this,” Brizee said.

        “You two need to get along, and we are not leaving this city until you two are the best of friends,” Brian said.

        “Then we might as well move here,” Brizee said.

        “Brian, this is crazy, we can not get along,” Nick said.

        “Well, you will have to,” Brian said.

        “Brian, you can’t lock us in this room, we’ll kill each other,” Brizee said.

        “Briz, don’t argue with me, you are my sister and I love you to death but Nick is my best friend and I’m tired of you two fighting all the time,” Brian said.

        “Brian,” Brizee said.

        “Briz, nothing is changing my mind about this,” Brian said. Nick and Brizee handed him their cell phones and he went out and closed the door.  Brizee sat on the couch.

        “Why did this happen, why am I stuck in this room with a pig!” Brizee said.

        “Shut up! I’m not a pig, you are a spoiled brat!” Nick said. Brizee glared at him. She got up and got in front of him. He glared at her.

        “I hate you!” Brizee yelled.

        “I hate you more!” Nick said.

        “You aren’t a pig, you are a jerk!” Brizee said. He grabbed her arms and pushed her against the wall and held her there.

        “I’m not a jerk!” Nick said.

        “Let go of me,” Brizee said.

        “No!” Nick said. He crushed his mouth to hers and held onto her.  He pulled her close and held her against him. She pushed at him but he wouldn’t move. She gave into the kiss and the kiss deepened as she wrapped her arms around his neck and held onto him. He pressed her against the wall. They pulled apart and looked at each other.

Chapter 3

Brizee and Nick looked at each other and they began kissing again.  She lifted her leg up and he grabbed it and lifted her up against the wall. She wrapped her legs around him and held on as he carried her over to the bed and collapsed on the bed and rolled over on top of her and kissed her deeper. Their tongues explored each other’s mouth. She wrapped her legs around him and held onto him as he began kissing her neck. She closed her eyes and enjoyed the feeling of his lips on her skin.

        “Brizee,” Nick said between kisses.

        “What,” Brizee said.

        “I want you,” Nick said.

        “I want you, too,” Brizee said. There was a knock at the door. They got up and stood on opposite sides of the room and straightened their clothes. Brizee went into the bathroom. The door opened and Brian came in.

        “Hey, Frack, where’s Briz?” Brian asked. Nick looked at him and saw that Brian had been crying.

        “Bathroom,” Nick said. He sat down.  Brizee came out and saw Brian and looked at him.

        “Brian,” Brizee said. Brian came over and hugged her.

        “Briz,” Brian said.

        “Brian, you are scaring me, what is going on,” Brizee said. Brian looked at her.

        “It’s Harry, he was in a car accident, he’s on life support, they don’t know if he’s going to make it,” Brian said. Brizee hugged Brian.

        “We have to get to him!” Brizee said.

        “Let’s go,” Nick said.

        “You guys haven’t killed each other yet,” Brian said.

        “Brian, now is not the time to get into that, okay, Harry needs us,” Brizee said. They went out the door and went to the airport and got on the next flight to Kentucky. Brizee sat by the window.

        “Mom and Dad are with him, Kevin, Kris, and Ann are there, also,” Brian said.

        “We can’t lose him, B, we just can’t,” Brizee said.

        “We won’t,” Brian said.  He noticed something.  Brizee saw him looking at her.

        “What,” Brizee said.

        “Is that a hickey on your neck?” Brian said. He looked closer and his eyes widened and he looked at Nick. Nick looked at him.

        “What,” Nick said.

        “You gave my sister a hickey?” Brian asked.

        “You’re crazy,” Nick said.

        “Brian, we hate each other, why would he give me a hickey, oh wait, he did, he gave me a rash because he was in the same room as me,” Brizee said.

        “Briz, that is a hickey, I know what hickeys look like, I’m married, remember,” Brian said.

        “Is Leighanne coming up with Baylee?” Brizee asked.

        “Yes, and don’t change the subject,” Brian said.

        “Brian, it’s not a hickey, give it a rest, Harry is more important than anything,” Brizee said. The plane landed in Lexington and they went to the hospital and saw Kevin, Kristin, and Ann sitting in the waiting room. Brizee ran to Kevin and hugged him.

        “Is that a hickey on your neck?” Kevin asked.

        “No, it’s not, it’s a rash, okay, Brian locked me and Nick in a hotel room and wasn’t going to let us out until we stopped fighting and became the best of friends,” Brizee said. Kevin looked at Brian.

        “Brian,” Kevin said.

        “Kevin, I had to, Howie, AJ, and I were tired of them fighting all the time, I’m tired of being in the middle of it so we came up with a plan,” Brian said.

        “Which isn’t working, by the way,” Brizee said itching the mark on her neck as to show that it’s a rash. She wasn’t going to let Brian know that she and Nick were making out and came close to having sex.

        “How’s Harry,” Brian said.

        “No change, your parents are with him now, he’s in ICU room 111,” Kevin said. Brian and Brizee went to the room and looked through the window and saw their parents sitting by Harry’s bed. They knocked on the window and Jackie and Harold saw them and came out and hugged them.

        “How is he?” Brizee asked.

        “Still the same,” Jackie said.

        “Tracy was here but she went home to rest,” Harold said. Brizee hugged her father.

        “Can we sit with him?” Brizee asked.

        “Yeah, we are going to go home and rest,” Jackie said.

        “We will call if something changes,” Brian said. Jackie and Harold left. Brian and Brizee sat with Harry.

Chapter 4

Three weeks later, Brizee and Brian sat by their brother’s bedside. Brizee leaned against Brian as he held her.

        “I’m scared, B, what if we lose him,” Brizee said.

        “We can’t lose him,” Brian said. She looked at Harry and saw his eyes start to open.

        “Harry,” Brizee said. His eyes opened and he looked around and saw them.

        “Hey bro,” Brian said. Brizee ran and got the doctor and came back. The doctor unhooked the life support and removed the tubes. Harry looked at Brizee and Brian.

        “Hey sibs,” Harry said. Brizee gently hugged him.

        “I was so scared that we were going to lose you!” Brizee said. Jackie and Harold came in.

        “Mom, Dad,” Harry said.

        “Oh my boy!” Jackie said gently hugging him. Harold put his arms around his younger son and daughter.

        “Family is back to normal,” Harold said.

        “Where’s Tracy?” Harry asked.

        “She’s right outside,” Jackie said. Tracy came in and hugged Harry.

Three days later, Harry was released from the hospital and Brizee and Brian went back on tour.

        “You and Nick aren’t off the hook, you two still will be locked in a hotel room until you two are best of friends,” Brian said.

        “Brian, it will never work, we can’t get along no matter how much you try,” Brizee said.

        “Brizee, you have to,” Brian said.

Three hours later, Brizee and Nick were in a hotel room with no TV, phones, or radio. Brizee sat on the bed. Nick sat on the couch.

        “So the last time we were in a hotel room, we were making out, now we are just sitting here not talking, how things change,” Brizee said.

        “You didn’t like my hickey,” Nick said.

        “I never said that,” Brizee said.

        “You said it was a rash,” Nick said. Brizee got up and went and sat on his lap.

        “I had to say that, otherwise, we wouldn’t be locked in this room, alone,” Brizee said.

        “So you are playing a game with your brother,” Nick said wrapping his arms around her.

        “More like making his little plan play out, I think I caught on to what he was planning, he doesn’t want us to be best friends, he wants us to be more than friends,” Brizee said.

        “He wants us together,” Nick said.

        “I have good ears, when they locked us in the back room of the bus, I heard Brian talking, he said he would rather have us be in love than hate each other,” Brizee said.

        “So you want to keep fighting in front of them, and have private makeout sessions,” Nick said.  Brizee turned and straddled his lap.

        “Before Brian came in before, we both said we wanted each other,” Brizee said. Nick put his hands on her hips.

        “Yeah,” Nick said.

        “I still do,” Brizee said. Nick moaned and kissed her deeply. He got up holding her and carried her over to the bed and laid her on the bed and got on top of her and kissed her hungrily.

        “I’m done fighting with you, I can’t fight with you anymore, be my girl?” Nick asked.

        “I will be your girl, if you be my guy,” Brizee said.

        “Oh yeah,” Nick said before kissing her again.

        “Shall we tell Brian that he won,” Brizee said.

        “Nah, let’s keep this going,” Nick said. He began kissing her neck. 

        “Before anything happens, I think there is something you should know,” Brizee said.

        “You haven’t done it before,” Nick said.

        “How did you know that?” Brizee said. Nick looked at her. He kissed her forehead.

        “I heard Brian talking to Kevin, they were talking about your parents beliefs, and how you were set on sticking with those beliefs,” Nick said.

        “Yeah, wait until marriage to take that step, I know the drill,” Brizee said.

        “So you want to wait, because I will,” Nick said.

        “I don’t want to disappoint my parents,” Brizee said.

        “I don’t want you to either, they are like parents to me, they treat me like a son,” Nick said.  Brizee grabbed his face and pulled him into a passionate kiss.

        “But I don’t care, I want you, Nick,” Brizee said.

        “Are you sure,” Nick said.

        “Yes,” Brizee said kissing his neck.

        “Not here,” Nick said.

        “What,” Brizee said.

        “We aren’t exactly free here, Brian, AJ, or Howie could walk in,” Nick said.

        “Oh right,” Brizee said. She got up and went to the door and opened it and Billy stood there.

        “Billy, tell Brian that we would like to see him as soon as possible,” Brizee said. Billy nodded and called Brian. Brizee closed the door and Nick sat on the couch and Brizee sat down next to him and put her feet on his lap.  Brian came in and saw them and smiled.

        “So you two are getting along,” Brian said.

        “Actually we are together, as a couple,” Brizee said.

        “Good, I knew it would happen,” Brian said.

        “How?” Nick asked.

        “The way you two were fighting, I knew it would lead to passion,” Brian said.

        “So you don’t mind that we are together,” Brizee said.

        “I couldn’t ask for a better guy for you, sis,” Brian said. Howie and AJ came in with the TV and phones.

        “Now go away and leave us be,” Brizee said. She and Nick pushed them out the door and grabbed the room keys and closed the door and turned and jumped on Nick, kissing him deeply as they moved to the bed and collapsed on it. They removed each other’s clothes and he gently and slowly made love to her. He laid on top of her and kissed her gently. He laid behind her and held her close.

        “That was amazing,” Brizee said smiling.

        “Yes, it was,” Nick said.

“Thank you for being gentle,” Brizee said.

        “I didn’t want to hurt you,” Nick said kissing the back of her neck.

        “We can’t tell anyone,” Brizee said looking at him. Nick nodded and kissed her forehead.

        “Dammit,” Nick said sitting up.

        “What is it,” Brizee said.

        “They will find out if you end up pregnant,” Nick said.

        “Nick,” Brizee said.

        “We didn’t use protection, Briz,” Nick said.

        “Nick, it’s okay, I’m on the pill, my mom wanted me to start them to be safe,” Brizee said.

        “How long have you been on them?” Nick asked.

        “Two months,” Brizee said. Nick rolled on top of her and kissed her deeply. They made love again before going to sleep holding each other close.

Chapter 5

The next morning, Nick woke up and saw Brizee asleep next to him. He smiled and kissed her shoulder and cuddled up against her. There was a knock at the door. Nick groaned and got up and got dressed. Brizee sat up.

        “What is it,” Brizee said.

        “Someone’s at the door,” Nick said. Brizee got up and got dressed and straightened up the bed and her hair and went out and sat on the couch. Nick opened the door and saw Brian, AJ, and Howie standing there.

        “Hey guys,” Nick said. They came in and saw Brizee sitting on the couch.

        “Hi guys,” Brizee said.

        “How are you two doing?” Brian asked.

        “Fine,” Brizee said. Nick sat down beside her.

        “Good,” Brian said sitting down. Howie and AJ sat down. The phone rang. Brizee picked it up.

        “Hello, hi Mom, what, oh, no, Mom, no way,” Brizee said. She hung up.

        “Briz,” Brian said.

        “Mom and Dad are coming,” Brizee said.

        “What’s wrong,” Brian said.

        “Mom ran into Matt, he told her that I broke up with him,” Brizee said.

        “You did break up with him,” Brian said.

        “He told her that I cheated on him,” Brizee said.

        “That is crazy,” Brian said.

        “Yeah, now she’s on a mission to reunite me and Matt,” Brizee said.

        “Who is Matt?” Nick asked.

        “My ex, we dated for a few months and he wanted to sleep with me and I said no so he jumped into bed with my best friend, I broke up with him,” Brizee said.

        “So I suppose she’s bringing him with them,” Brian said. Brizee nodded.

        “Oh great,” Nick said.

        “I wouldn’t get back together with him no matter what,” Brizee said.

        “Not even if your parents want you to,” Nick said.

        “I’m not a kid anymore, I’m over 21 and in control of my life, they can’t tell me what to do,” Brizee said.

The next day, Brizee sat in the hotel room. Nick played his video games.

        “Nick,” Brizee said.

        “Yeah,” Nick said.

        “Are we okay?” Brizee asked. Nick paused the game and kissed her deeply.

        “Yeah, we are together and nothing is tearing us apart,” Nick said. Brizee straddled his lap and kissed him tenderly. The kiss grew passionate. They were making out when there was a knock at the door. Brizee groaned and got up and straightened up and fixed her hair. Nick turned the TV off and fixed his clothes and hair. Brizee went into the bathroom. Nick opened the door and saw Harold, Jackie, Harry and a guy standing there.

        “Hi Nick,” Jackie said hugging him.

        “Hi Jackie,” Nick said. He shook hands with Harold and Harry.

        “This is Matt,” Harry said. Nick shook his hand.

        “So are you one of the bodyguards?” Matt asked.

        “Matt, he’s Brian’s bandmate,” Harold said.

        “So you are a Backstreet Boy along with Brian,” Matt said. Nick nodded.

        “Yeah,” Nick said. Brizee came out and saw them. She glared at Matt and stood behind the couch.

        “Why is he here?” Brizee asked.

        “Brizee, he wants to give you another chance,” Jackie said. Brizee shook her head.

        “You don’t know the truth, Mom,” Brian said as he, Howie, and AJ came in.

        “Brian,” Jackie said.

        “She didn’t cheat on him, he cheated on her, with her best friend, Amy, he couldn’t wait for Briz so he jumped into bed with Amy, and I walked in on it and I told Briz,” Brian said.

        “That’s a lie!” Matt said.

        “No it isn’t, I have never lied to my sister, and I never will,” Brian said glaring at him. Jackie stood in front of Matt and looked at him.

        “Matt, tell me the truth,” Jackie said.

        “Okay, I cheated on her, I slept with Amy, I wanted to take the next step, Brizee told me about the beliefs, I couldn’t wait for her, and it was too soon for marriage,” Matt said.

        “So you jumped into bed with her best friend,” Harry said. Matt nodded.

        “Get out of here and stay away from my family,” Harold said.  Matt nodded and left. Jackie hugged Brizee.

        “Mom, me and Nick are together,” Brizee said as she went and stood beside Nick. Jackie smiled.

        “I was hope you two would get together,” Jackie said. Brizee smiled and Nick hugged her close. They all sat down and talked about all that’s happened.

Chapter 6

The next night, the tour was in the next city. Nick and Brizee were in their hotel room, kissing in bed after making love. What they didn’t know was that Brian was on his way to the room.

Brian walked down the hallway and knocked on Nick and Brizee’s door. He got no answer. He looked at Billy.

        “Are they in there?” Brian asked.

        “Yeah,” Billy said. Brian knocked again.

        “Maybe they are asleep,” Brian said.  He knocked louder on the door. The door swung open and Brizee stood there in a robe.

        “Hey bro, sorry, we were asleep,” Brizee said. Brian looked at her and looked at Nick who was sitting up in bed.     “Everything okay?” Brian asked.

        “Yeah, everything is great, what’s up,” Brizee said.     “I was going to see if you wanted to join me downstairs for dessert,” Brian said.

        “Sure, I’ll meet ya down there in a few minutes,” Brizee said.

        “Okay,” Brian said. She closed the door and Brian went downstairs.

Brizee grabbed her clothes and changed and kissed Nick and went downstairs to the café and found Brian and sat down in the chair and smiled at him.

        “What’s up,” Brizee said.

        “Are you sleeping with him?” Brian asked.

        “Is that the reason you wanted me down here, to question me?” Brizee asked.

        “Briz,” Brian said.

        “What,” Brizee said.

        “Just be honest with me, you have never lied to me,” Brian said.

        “Yes, I am, okay, and it is amazing, okay, happy now,” Brizee said.

        “Briz,” Brian said.

        “Brian,” Brizee said.

        “Are you being careful?” Brian asked.

        “Mom put me on birth control pills two months ago,” Brizee said.

        “Why are you sleeping with Nick when you wouldn’t sleep with Matt?” Brian asked.

        “Maybe because I’m in love with Nick and never was in love with Matt, okay, Matt wasn’t the one for me, Nick was and always has been, I’ve had a crush on him since the moment I met him and he thought I was a brat,” Brizee said. Brian smiled.

        “Or maybe he was in love with you and was in denial,” Brian said.

        “What,” Brizee said.

        “Briz, Nick had the hots for you ever since he first met you, he wanted to ask you out but I wouldn’t let him because I didn’t want the guys to date you so he shoved the feelings aside and began to fight with you to keep your attention,” Brian said.

        “So you aren’t mad that me and Nick are sleeping together,” Brizee said.

        “No, because I know Nick is safe and I trust you both,” Brian said.

        “Good, because whether you would like it or not, I wouldn’t stop sleeping with him,” Brizee said.

        “I know, sis, couldn’t stop you from doing anything, I love ya, sis, don’t know what I would do without ya,” Brian said. Brizee smiled and leaned over and kissed his cheek. They ate ice cream and talked about music and life.

Chapter 7

Three years have gone by. Nick and Brizee were married and had twin girls. They were one year olds with their father’s eyes and mother’s looks. They were named Emily Jane and Hayley Ann Carter.  It was their birthday and they were gathered at Nick and Brizee’s house for a big birthday party. Brian came with Leighanne and their son, Baylee. Kevin came with Kristin and their son, Mason. Ann, Jerald JR, and Tim and their families came. Jackie and Harold came. Harry was there with Tracy and their kids. Brizee was in the kitchen cooking dinner. She felt strange. Leighanne came in and saw her.

        “Briz, you okay?” Leighanne asked.

        “Yeah, I’m fine, I feel tired, I’m going to go lay down,” Brizee said. Leighanne looked at her.

        “Briz, you are pale,” Leighanne said.

        “I’m fine,” Brizee said. Nick and Brian came in.

        “Guys, Brizee is pale,” Leighanne said.

        “Briz,” Nick said going to her side and looking at her.

        “I’m fine,” Brizee said.

        “Are you sure?” Nick asked.

        “Yes, I’m fine, I’m going to go lay down,” Brizee said. She went into the living room and laid on the couch. Nick stood there. Brian and Leighanne looked at him.

        “She said she’s been feeling odd lately, I suggested she go to the doctor but she insists that she’s fine,” Nick said. Brian and Leighanne looked at each other.

        “Check on her in a little bit,” Brian said. Nick nodded.

        “I love her so much, she and the girls are my world,” Nick said.

        “We know, that’s how I feel about Leighanne and Baylee,” Brian said holding Leighanne’s hand. Jackie came in carrying one of the twins.

        “Hayley is tired, she wants Mama and Daddy,” Jackie said. Nick smiled and took Hayley in his arms and hugged her close.

        “Briz isn’t feeling well, she’s laying down in the living room,” Nick said. Jackie went to check on her daughter. She saw Brizee lying there not moving and pale. She checked her and called out for Brian.

        “Mom,” Brian said running in.

        “Call 911,” Jackie said. Brian called 911. Nick came in with Hayley. Leighanne behind him.

        “Jackie,” Nick said.

        “She’s not breathing, her heartbeat is faint,” Jackie said. Leighanne took Hayley and went out back. Nick knelt down next to Brizee.

        “Briz, Briz!” Nick said holding her hand.

        “The ambulance is on the way,” Brian said kneeling down next to Nick.

        “I told her to go to the doctor, she wouldn’t go,” Nick said. Brian looked at Jackie.

        “My daughter is hard headed at times,” Jackie said. The ambulance came and they got Brizee loaded up and took her to the hospital. Nick, Jackie, and Brian followed. Harold, Harry, Ann, Kevin, Jerald Jr, and Tim followed, leaving the kids in the care of Leighanne, Kristin, Tracy, Howie, and AJ.

Nick paced the waiting room. Brian was also pacing. Jackie sat there in Harold’s arms as they waited for word on Brizee. The doctor came out.

        “Mr. Carter,” the doctor said.

        “Yes,” Nick said.

        “Come with me, please,” the doctor said.

        “Whatever you have to say, you can say in front of all of us,” Nick said.

        “Mr. Carter,” the doctor said.

        “We are her brothers, doc,” Brian and Harry said.

        “I’m her mother,” Jackie said.

        “I’m her father,” Harold said.

        “We are her cousins,” Kevin, Jerald JR, and Tim said.

        “I’m her aunt,” Ann said. The doctor looked at all of them and nodded.

        “I’m afraid there is nothing we can do for Brizee,” the doctor said.

        “What,” Nick said.

        “What do you mean,” Brian said.

        “She’s dying, her organs are failing,” the doctor said.

        “Why!” Nick said.

        “We found a hole in her heart, if we operate to repair it, it would kill her, I’m sorry, as much as I want to do everything to save her, it can’t be done, I’m sorry,” the doctor said.

        “What caused this!” Nick said.

        “The pregnancy, I talked to her about this, the fact that she was pregnant with twins, with the family history of heart problems, her pregnancy was at high risk, double the risk with her being pregnant with twins, we examined her when she first became pregnant and we saw no evidence of her having the hole in her heart, but after she had the babies, we examined her again, we found the hole, but it was very small, there was no need to operate then because the hole wasn’t life threatening, but as the year went by, it got bigger, I advised her to have surgery but she refused, I informed her last week that if she didn’t come in for surgery by tomorrow, I would call her family, she told me that she talked to you and her family and she said she didn’t need surgery, that she was fine and didn’t feel any different, she denied there was a problem,” the doctor said.

        “You mean she knew she was going to die!” Nick said.

        “I’m sorry, Mr. Carter, I was under the assumption that you knew about this,” the doctor said.

        “No, I didn’t!” Nick said.

        “I’m sorry,” the doctor said.

        “Can I see her?” Nick asked.

        “Room 118,” the doctor said. Nick went down the hall and went in and saw her lying there hooked up to the machines. Nick sat down and took her hand.

        “Why didn’t you tell me, Briz, why didn’t you go for surgery!” Nick said crying. He looked up and saw the flatline and cried as he kissed her hand and held it to her cheek. He kissed her and went out the door and went to the waiting room and stood there. Brian came over to him.

        “She’s gone,” Nick said softly. Brian hugged him. They cried as they hugged. Harold hugged Jackie close. They all went home. Nick went home and Leighanne hugged him and left. Nick went upstairs and walked into the nursery and looked in the cribs and watched his baby girls sleep. He went to the bedroom and laid down and cried.

Epilogue

Two days later, Nick stood there watching them lower the casket into the ground. Brian stood next to him with Leighanne. Jackie and Harold sat beside them holding Emily and Hayley in their laps. They all went to Nick’s house and Jackie helped Leighanne put Hayley and Emily down for naps. Jackie went to Nick’s room and saw him lying on the bed. She put a blanket over him.

        “I’m sorry, Jackie,” Nick said.

        “It’s not your fault, Nick, like I said, my daughter was hard-headed,” Jackie said.

        “I was thinking of selling the house and moving up to Kentucky close you guys so you can be near the twins,” Nick said. Jackie smiled.

        “Don’t worry about that right now, get some rest, Harold and I will be here as long as you need us,” Jackie said. Nick nodded and closed his eyes. Jackie left the room. Nick opened his eyes as the wind blew the curtains from the open window and he felt Brizee’s presence in the room and he knew she was watching over them.

THE END!