Brizee sat in her living room, waiting for her best friend, Alicia, to get ready. They were going out to Tabu. Alicia hoped to see one of the Backstreet Boys there. Brizee told her that the guys were on tour and were not in Orlando but Alicia refused to believe it. They went to the club and Alicia looked around while Brizee went to the bar and sat down. She had been here plenty of times and got to know the bartender.

        “Hi John,” Brizee said.

        “Hi Brizee, it’s good to see you again,” John said smiling at her while getting her drink. Since she was normally there, he got to know what she wanted to drink. He put her soda in front of her and smiled.

        “Thanks,” Brizee said.

        “Here alone?” John asked.

        “No, my best friend, Alicia, is with me, she’s looking around the club,” Brizee said.

        “Who is she looking for?” John asked.

        “Well, this being Howie’s club, take a guess,” Brizee said.

        “She’s looking for one of the guys,” John said.

        “Yup, I told her they are on tour and wouldn’t be here, but she didn’t believe me,” Brizee said.

        “And you aren’t looking for them,” John said.

        “No, I believe in fate, this is a cool club and it is a nice and friendly atmosphere and a place to relax,” Brizee said.

        “That’s how the boss wanted it,” John said.

        “Tell your boss that this club is awesome, and that I would not go to any other club,” Brizee said. John nodded.

        “So who is your favorite Backstreet Boy?” John asked.

        “Nick, I don’t know why but his smile just makes me melt, and his eyes, those blue eyes, heaven,” Brizee said. Alicia came over and sat down.

        “I am sorry for not believing you,” Alicia said.

        “Yup,” Brizee said drinking her soda. She paid for it and she said bye to John and they left and went home. John closed up and made a call. He headed home and his cell rang.

        “Hey bro, busy night, yeah, one girl said the club is awesome, and she would not go to any other club, yeah, is Nick dating anyone, I think she would be perfect for him, yeah, she comes into the club every Friday night, yeah, she is his type, yeah, see ya, bro,” John said. He hung up.

Two weeks later, Brizee saw the tour was over. She was at work and got off and went home and changed and went to Tabu and saw John behind the bar.

        “Hi John,” Brizee said.

        “Hi Brizee, where’s your friend tonight?” John asked.

        “Working, she got the late shift at the hospital,” Brizee said. John saw Nick come in with Howie and AJ.

        “I heard the tour was over, the guys should be back home,” John said.

        “I saw that, but they wouldn’t come to a club after coming home, they would be resting,” Brizee said. 

        “Some of them would,” John said.

        “I would,” Brizee said. Howie, AJ, and Nick had disappeared to his office. Brizee sipped her soda. John left the bar and went up to the office.

        “Hey bro,” Howie said hugging him.

        “Hey D, hi guys,” John said.

        “So what’s up, D said you know a girl who would be perfect for me,” Nick said.

        “Yeah, she’s at the bar right now, I was talking to her,” John said. They went down the stairs and saw Brizee gone. John talked with his help. He came back over.

        “Mike said she had to get home to get some sleep, she has to work early,” John said.

        “What’s her name?” Nick asked.

        “Brizee,” John said.

        “Where does she work?” Nick asked.

        “Never got that info,” John said.  Nick sighed.

        “I can’t wait another week to meet her,” Nick said.

        “Well, maybe she’ll come in tomorrow night,” John said.

The next night, Brizee went to Tabu and saw John and sat down.

        “Hi John, I broke my cycle,” Brizee said.

        “That you did, I’m glad you came in, are you dating anyone?” John asked.

        “No, why?” Brizee said.

        “I know someone who would be perfect for you,” John said. Brizee looked at him.

        “Who?” Brizee said. He pointed and she turned around and saw Nick standing there behind her, smiling.

        “Hi, I’m Nick,” Nick said holding out his hand. She shook it and looked at John. He smiled.

        “I’m Brizee,” Brizee said.

        “How about we go somewhere private and talk?” Nick asked. Brizee nodded and stood up. Nick paid for her soda and took her hand and led her outside to his car.

        “Did you drive here?” Nick asked.

        “No, my best friend has the car so I got a cab,” Brizee said.

        “Okay, then,” Nick said opening the passenger side door. She got in and he closed it and got into the driver’s seat and drove to Tampa. He drove to the marina and they got out and he took her hand and helped her onto a boat.

        “Is this yours?” Brizee said looking around.

        “Yup,” Nick said. He removed the ropes from the dock and went up and drove the boat out to sea. He stopped awhile later and went to find her. She was sitting at the bow of the ship, looking up at the sky. He sat down next to her.

        “John says I’m your favorite,” Nick said.

        “What else did John say?” Brizee asked.

        “That you like my eyes and smile,” Nick said.

        “Well, that’s true,” Brizee said.

        “Where do you work?” Nick asked.

        “Orlando General Hospital, I’m a receptionist,” Brizee said.

        “So you work at the front desk,” Nick said.

        “Yup, I answer phones and take messages for doctors,” Brizee said.

        “That seems like a cool job,” Nick said.

        “It is, and I have many friends there so it is a good place to be, I can always look forward to going in,” Brizee said.

        “That’s good,” Nick said.

        “So, are you guys on a vacation or back to work,” Brizee said. Nick smiled.

        “A little mini vacation to rest up and then back to the studio for a new album,” Nick said.

        “Cool,” Brizee said.

        “So what made you start coming into Tabu every Friday night,” Nick said.

        “My best friend, she has the hots for AJ so she goes to Tabu and drags me there in hopes of seeing him, and after awhile, I started to like it there, it was relaxing even though I didn’t drink, it was a positive atmosphere where I can go to just unwind,” Brizee said. Nick took her hand in his.

        “I’m glad you did,” Nick said. Brizee smiled at him.

        “Me, too,” Brizee said. Brizee’s cell phone rang. She answered it.

        “Hey Ali, what, oh god, I’ll be right there,” Brizee said. She hung up and looked at Nick.

        “What is it,” Nick said.

        “I’ve got to get home, Alicia said it’s on fire, she just got home and saw the flames and the firefighters working on it,” Brizee said. They went back to shore and got into Nick’s SUV and they went to her house and saw the fire trucks and the fire was out but the house was destroyed. Nick pulled to a stop and Brizee got out and went to Alicia.

        “Ali!” Brizee said.

        “Thank god you’re all right!” Alicia said.

        “I’m fine, I was on a date,” Brizee said.

        “Ms. Hardin, how was the house when you left,” the fire chief asked.

        “Everything was fine, I made sure everything was turned off and left, it was still daylight and I didn’t see anything out of the ordinary, and I don’t have any enemies or anyone wanted to hurt me,” Brizee said.

        “Ryan,” Alicia said.

        “Your ex?” Brizee said.

        “The relationship was abusive, I have a restraining order against him,” Alicia said.

        “I found it, chief, faulty wiring in the laundry room,” a fire investigator said.

        “Did you have laundry going when you left?” the fire chief asked.

        “No, we always doing the laundry on Sundays when we are both off,” Brizee said.

        “That way we are saving water and electricity,” Alicia said.

        “It’s clearly an accidental fire, we will inform your insurance company,” the fire chief said.

        “Thanks,” Brizee said. Alicia gave him the information and Brizee saw Nick and went over to him.

        “You didn’t have to stick around,” Brizee said.

        “I wanted to, what happens now, do you have a place to stay?” Nick asked.

        “We will probably go to a hotel, we will have to go shopping for more clothes,” Brizee said.

        “You can stay with me,” Nick said.

        “Thanks, but I should stick close to Ali,” Brizee said.

        “She can come, too, I have plenty of room, and maybe I can get AJ to come over,” Nick said.

        “Brizee, who is your friend, oh gosh,” Alicia said as she recognized him.

        “You must be Alicia, I’m Nick,” Nick said shaking her hand. Alicia smiled.

        “I know, so Nick was your date?” Alicia said.

        “Yup, and he offered to let us stay with him,” Brizee said.

        “Thanks, saves us from getting a hotel room, we can save the money to buy clothes and a new house,” Alicia said.

        “Follow me,” Nick said. He got into his SUV and led the girls to his house in Tampa. He called AJ on the way to meet him there. They pulled into the driveway and got out. The girls looked at the house.

        “Wow,” Brizee said.

        “Nice house, Nick,” Alicia said.

        “Thanks,” Nick said. They went inside and Nick went to make up two guest rooms for them.

        “So how did you meet Nick?” Alicia asked.

        “I met him at Tabu, John introduced us,” Brizee said.

        “Was AJ there?” Alicia asked.

        “No, I wasn’t there,” AJ said from the door. Alicia spun around and saw him.

        “Oh god,” Alicia said.

        “Hi there,” AJ said.

        “Hi AJ, I’m Brizee and this is my best friend, Alicia,” Brizee said shaking hands with him. Nick came downstairs.

        “Hey Bone, thanks for coming,” Nick said.

        “You called him?” Brizee asked.

        “Yeah, on the way here,” Nick said.

        “What’s up, Kaos,” AJ said.

        “Well, these two lovely ladies have been going to Tabu in hopes to see us,” Nick said.

        “Well, actually at first I was dragged there by Alicia but then I started to like the club so I kept going, but I don’t drink, I always get sodas,” Brizee said.

        “She chatted up John and he got to know her and thought she would be perfect for me so he hooked us up,” Nick said.

        “And we should thank John,” AJ said.

        “How do you guys know John?” Alicia said.

        “John is Howie’s brother,” Nick said.

        “Oh god, you mean all this time, I’ve been talking to Howie’s brother?!” Brizee said.

        “Yup,” AJ said.

        “I can’t believe this,” Brizee said sitting down on the couch. Nick sat down next to her.

        “Hey, it’s okay, I’m glad things happened the way they did,” Nick said.

        “Really?” Brizee asked.

        “Yeah, because I really want to see where this goes,” Nick said. Brizee looked at him and smiled.

        “Me, too,” Brizee said.

        “Alicia and I are going to go hang out, don’t wait up,” AJ said. They left. Nick showed her the room he made up for her. She kissed his cheek.

        “Thank you,” Brizee said. Nick smiled and took her hand and kissed it.

        “You’re welcome, good night,” Nick said. She smiled and he went to his room. She went into hers and closed the door and leaned against it. She went into the bathroom and came out and she stripped off her clothes down to her bra and panties and got under the covers and went to sleep. The next morning, Alicia and Brizee went over to what was left of their house to see if there was anything left to keep. They saw that everything was ashes and they went back to Nick’s.

        “So how did things go with AJ last night?” Brizee asked.

        “We are a couple,” Alicia said.

        “Cool,” Brizee said.

        “And you and Nick?” Alicia said. Brizee shook her head.

        “I don’t know, we had a date and it was fun and he’s letting us stay with him, I have to wait and see,” Brizee said. They went in and saw Nick and AJ playing video games.

        “Hi boys,” Alicia said sitting by AJ.

        “Hey,” they said. Brizee sat down by Nick.

        “What did you girls find?” AJ asked.

        “Ashes, nothing but ashes, everything’s gone,” Brizee said.

        “Okay, then it’s time for shopping,” Nick said turning off the game and standing up.

        “What,” Brizee said standing up.

        “You guys need clothes, right,” Nick said.

        “Yeah, but we can get our own,” Alicia said.

        “But we want to take you,” AJ said. Alicia and Brizee looked at each other and shrugged and they got into Nick’s Durango and went to the mall. Alicia and Brizee tried on clothes and bought them and soon they had five big bags full of new clothes that the guys were carrying.

        “I think that’s enough for today,” Alicia said looking at her bags and Brizee.

        “Yup,” Brizee said.

        “You guys, we can carry our bags,” Alicia said looking at Nick and AJ.

        “We don’t mind carrying them,” AJ said.

        “We wanted to come and this was the reason, you guys need help with the bags so we are helping,” Nick said.

        “Next on our list is house hunting,” Alicia said.

        “We could see about a condo, Ali,” Brizee said.

Three weeks later, they had found a condo not far from Nick’s house and moved in and got settled. Brizee was at work, answering phones when she looked up and saw Nick walk in and she smiled. He came up to the front desk and smiled.

        “Hey,” Nick said.

        “Hey yourself,” Brizee said smiling at him.

        “When do you get off work?” Nick asked. Brizee looked at the clock and looked at him.

        “In an hour,” Brizee said.

        “Do you have any plans for after work?” Nick asked.

        “Nope,” Brizee said.

        “I was wondering if you would like to come with me out on my boat,” Nick said.

        “Sure will,” Brizee said.

        “I’ll be back in an hour to pick you up,” Nick said.

        “Okay,” Brizee said. He smiled and left. Brizee smiled and sighed. An hour later, she waited out front for Nick. He pulled up and she got in and they went to the marina and went out on the boat. Nick stopped a short while later and looked for Brizee and found her down below, sitting on the bed in the cabin. He sat down next to her.

        “You okay?” Nick asked.

        “Just thinking of things,” Brizee said.

        “Like what,” Nick said.

        “Well, how lucky I am,” Brizee said.

        “I’m the one who is lucky,” Nick said taking her hand in his and holding it.

        “How’s that,” Brizee said.

        “To have you in my life,” Nick said.

        “Well, you can thank John for that,” Brizee said.

        “Yeah, I thanked him, he and Howie know me so well, they knew I would want to be with you,” Nick said. Brizee smiled and stroked his cheek. He cupped her face in his hands and they leaned towards each other and she felt his lips against hers. They kissed softly. The kiss deepened. He pulled back and rested his forehead against hers.

        “Be my girl?” Nick asked.

        “Yes,” Brizee said. He smiled and kissed her deeply and pulled her close.

Two months later, Brizee and Nick were closer than ever and totally in love. Brizee and Alicia gave up their condo and Brizee moved in with Nick while Alicia moved in with AJ.  Brian and Leighanne came in.

        “Hey guys, um, we are renewing our wedding vows tomorrow in a special ceremony, Nick, I was wondering if you could sing Heaven,” Brian said.

        “How about a duet?” Brizee said.

        “Briz,” Nick said.

        “With me,” Brizee said.

        “You sing?” Brian asked.

        “Yeah, but I don’t want to do it professional, I just sing around the house and Ali said I sound like Britney and Jessica,” Brizee said.

        “We’ll find out tomorrow, then,” Brian said. They left. Brizee looked at Nick.

        “So you want to sing with me?” Nick asked.

        “Do you?” Brizee said. Nick smiled and pulled her close and kissed her neck.

        “Oh yeah, so what song would you like to sing,” Nick said.

        “Well, let’s listen, this song would be perfect,” Brizee said. She played the music and Nick looked at her.

        “I don’t recognize that song,” Nick said.

        “You never heard of Kenny Rogers and Dolly Parton,” Brizee said.

        “Oh god, now I do, Islands in the Stream,” Nick said.

        “What do you think?” Brizee said. Nick nodded.

        “Perfect,” Nick said.

The next night, they were at the ceremony and Brian looked at Brizee and Nick.

        “Now singing a duet, Nick and his girlfriend, Brizee, they picked a special song for tonight,” the minister said. They sang the song. After they were done, Brian and Leighanne hugged them. Nick and Brizee sat down.

That night, they went home and sat down. Nick took Brizee’s hand in his.

        “You are amazing,” Nick said.

        “So are you, come on, you got to watch something,” Brizee said pulling him to her computer and found it and had him watch a video of Dolly and Kenny performing Islands in The Stream. Nick looked at her after it was over. He stood up and hugged her. She rested her head on his shoulder.

        “I want to get you a record deal, Briz, you can make it,” Nick said. Brizee looked at him.

        “I don’t want one, Nick, I don’t want to do it professionally,” Brizee said.

        “But you are an awesome singer,” Nick said.

        “I don’t want to be the next Britney, or Jessica, or Christina, or Mandy, I want to be me, and do what I want to do, and all I want is to be your girl, that’s it, just to be there for you and I don’t want to do anything that would keep me too busy that I can’t be with you,” Brizee said.  Nick hugged her close and kissed her forehead.

        “Okay, I won’t say anything,” Nick said.

Three months later, Nick and Brizee were closer than ever and more in love than before. They moved out of Florida and moved to Tennessee to experience country life.  They laid in bed after making love. She had her head on his chest and was tracing patterns. He held her closer and kissed her forehead.

        “I love you,” Nick said. She looked up at him.

        “I love you, too,” Brizee said. She got up and went to the bathroom. She came out and saw him grinning.

        “What,” Brizee said getting back in bed. He rolled on top of her and kissed her softly.

        “You are so sexy,” Nick said.

        “So are you,” Brizee said. He kissed her deeply and they made love again before falling asleep in each other’s arms.

Two weeks later, Nick noticed a change in Brizee’s behavior. She was taking off without letting him know where she was going and gone for hours before coming home and wouldn’t say anything about where she went. She came home one night and he got tired of it and confronted her.

        “Where have you been going,” Nick said.

        “Out,” Brizee said.

        “I know that, what are you hiding, are you cheating on me?” Nick said.

        “Nick, I couldn’t cheat on you if my life depended on it,” Brizee said walking past him.

        “I’m tired of you not talking to me about what’s going on, you are hiding something from me, I’m an open book with you but you are keeping something from me and I’m tired of it, I love you, Briz, but if you can’t be honest with me, then what is the point of being together if you can’t be honest with me,” Nick said. Brizee looked at him.

        “You’re breaking up with me?” Brizee asked.

        “If you can’t be honest with me, then yes, I believe honesty is the best thing in a relationship and there is not a damn thing that I’m keeping from you, but you are keeping something from me, I can feel it in my heart, and it’s breaking,” Nick said. She sat down on the stairs. She looked at him.

        “I’ve been going to the studio here in Nashville every day, I got a record deal, I’m singing country music,” Brizee said.

        “You said you didn’t want a record deal,” Nick said. He sat down beside her.

        “I know, I wanted to surprise you, I wanted to do it on my own, without your help, that way everyone won’t think you had anything to do with me getting the deal,” Brizee said.

        “Briz, baby, it doesn’t matter what everyone thinks, we all know you are an amazing singer and that you don’t need help getting a record deal,” Nick said.

        “I was scared that you would want me to do pop music when I want to do country,” Brizee said. Nick took her hand in his and kissed it.

        “You sing whatever kind of music you want to, you could have told me and I would have been supportive, and I am going to support your choices, I love you and I never want to lose you, I just wanted you to be honest with me, I hate being lied to,” Nick said. Brizee hugged him.

        “I’m sorry, I just was afraid you would be mad or something,” Brizee said.

        “Never, you are going after your dream,” Nick said. She handed him a cd.

        “Stuff I have finished, you get first listen,” Brizee said. He went over to his cd player and put it and listened. After the songs were over, he smiled and looked at her.

        “Number one hits in my book,” Nick said pulling her close and he kissed her deeply.

Eighteen years later, Nick and Brizee were married and had three kids, Jason, who was 16, Hayley and Gracie, who are fraternal twins, were 14. All three were singers along with AJ and Alicia’s daughter, Emily who was 15. Brian and Leighanne’s son, Baylee, who was 15 is also a singer along with Howie and Leigh’s son, James. The Carter family had to endure one of life’s biggest test of their love and support for each other the year before. Brizee had been diagnoised with breast cancer and had to have surgery. She is currently in remission and she knew that Nick’s love and support kept her going along with the kids. Then a week ago, they were put to the test as Nick’s sister, Leslie passed away. There was no word yet of why she died. They went to the funeral and came home the day before. Now, they were at Disney World where Jason, James, Baylee, Hayley, Gracie, and Emily were going to perform a song they recorded for the Disney Channel. They filmed a video for it and they wouldn’t let their parents hear the song or see the video. They wanted to sing it in front of them for the first time along with the fans in the audience. They all paired off. Jason and Emily, Baylee and Hayley, and James and Gracie. They announced they were dedicating the song to Leslie.  They performed the song. Nick, Brizee, AJ, Alicia, Brian, Leighanne, Howie, and Leigh watched their children and knew they did an amazing job.  Jason, James, Hayley, Baylee, and Emily left the stage leaving Gracie standing by herself. She walked to the middle of the stage and looked out at everyone.

        “Last year, my family went through something that has hit many women all over the world, my mother, Brizee Carter, was diagnosed with breast cancer and she is currently in remission, it was a tough time for all of us but we got through it together as a family, my dad was the rock of our family, he held us together and kept my mom going with strength and his love for her, he took care of her every day, through the good days and bad days, I wrote a song with my brother and sister and I want to sing it for you all tonight, I hope you all like it,” Gracie said. She performed the song.

She dropped the phone and burst into tears
The doctor just confirmed her fears
Her husband held it in and held her tight
Cancer don’t discriminate or care if you’re just 38
With three kids who need you in their lives
He said, "I know that you’re afraid and I am, too
But you’ll never be alone, I promise you"

When you’re weak, I’ll be strong
When you let go, I’ll hold on
When you need to cry, I swear that I’ll be there to dry your eyes
When you feel lost and scared to death,
Like you can’t take one more step
Just take my hand, together we can do it
I’m gonna love you through it.

She made it through the surgery fine
They said they caught it just in time
But they had to take more than they planned
Now it's forced smiles and baggy shirts
To hide what the cancer took from her
But she just wants to feel like a woman again
She said, "I don't think I can do this anymore"
He took her in his arms and said "That's what my love is for"

When you’re weak, I’ll be strong
When you let go, I’ll hold on
When you need to cry, I swear that I’ll be there to dry your eyes
When you feel lost and scared to death,
Like you can’t take one more step
Just take my hand, together we can do it
I’m gonna love you through it.

And when this road gets too long
I'll be the rock you lean on
Just take my hand, together we can do it
I’m gonna love you through it.
I’m gonna love you through it.

 Everyone stood up and clapped and there wasn’t a dry eye out in the audience. Nick hugged Brizee as she cried happily.

        “Mom, Dad, could you come up here, please,” Gracie said as Hayley and Jason came onstage. Nick and Brizee walked onstage holding hands. Brizee went to Gracie and hugged her.

        “I love you, baby,” Brizee said.

        “I love you, too, Mom,” Gracie said. Nick hugged them and Jason and Hayley joined in and everyone cheered and clapped. Brian, Leighanne, Baylee, Howie, Leigh, James, AJ, Alicia, and Emily came onstage. Hayley whispered something to Nick. He looked at the guys and they nodded. He stepped forward.

        “As you may have heard, my sister, Leslie, died a week ago, we still don’t know why she died, I want to perform a song off my solo album and dedicate it to her,” Nick said. Brizee, Jason, Gracie, Hayley, Brian, Leighanne, Baylee, AJ, Alicia, Emily, Howie, Leigh, and James stayed onstage as Nick performed Falling Down.

It’s so cold
In this room
And I’m trapped inside your heart
All by myself (yeah)
All alone
In your sea
And I’m sinking like a ship
I’m going down (going down)
I don’t wanna live my life without you
The hardest thing I ever do
Is try to pick myself up off the ground

[Chorus]
Trying to outrun all the memories
But I keep falling down
I keep falling down
And it’s like you still got a hold on me
Cause I keep falling down
I keep falling down

I can’t sleep, I can’t dream
Cause you’re scent’s still here
On the pillows in my bed (you’re in my bed)
And this pain’s so insane
I’m still haunted by the stupid things I’ve said
All the things I said
I don’t wanna live my life without you
The hardest thing I ever do
Is try to pick myself up off the ground

[Chorus]
Trying to outrun all the memories
But I keep falling down
I keep falling down
And it’s like you still got a hold on me
Cause I keep falling down
I keep falling down

And how do I let go
I know I should move on
But without you I don’t know where I belong
And everywhere I go
Every happy face I see
It reminds me of the way it used to be
Oh, oh, oh

[Chorus]
Trying to outrun all the memories
But I keep falling down
I keep falling down
And it’s like you still got a hold on me
Cause I keep falling down
I keep falling down

Oh, oh, oh
I keep falling down

Oh, oh, oh
I keep falling down

Oh, oh, oh
I keep falling down

Oh, oh, oh
I keep falling down

Brizee and the kids came up to Nick after he was done and hugged him. He held his family close as he cried softly. That was the first time anyone outside of family had seen him cry but they all understood the reason. Nick didn’t know that his dad, stepmother, his brothers and sisters were there. Brian, Howie, and AJ came forward and talked to Nick and they performed Helpless When She Smiles and dedicated it to Leslie.

[AJ]
She keeps her secrets
In her eyes
She wraps the truth
Inside her lies
Just when I can't say
What she's done to me
She comes to me
And leads me back to paradise

She's so hard to hold
But I can't let go

[Chorus]
I'm a house of cards
in a hurricane
A reckless fire
In the pouring rain
She cuts me and the pain
Is all I wanna feel
She'll dance away just like a child
She drives me crazy
Drives me wild
But I'm helpless when she smiles

[Howie]
She smiles

[Brian]
Maybe I'd fight if I could
It hurts so bad
But feels so good
She opens up just like
A rose to me
When she's close to me
Anything she'd ask me to
I would

It's out of control
But I can't let go

[Repeat Chorus]

When she looks at me
I get so weak

[Repeat Chorus]

They all bowed and waved and went backstage. Nick leaned against the wall and saw Bob, Ginger, Kaden, Aaron, BJ, and Angel standing there. He looked at Brizee who nodded. Bob came forward and they hugged.

        “How are we going to do this, Dad, how can any of us go on without Leslie,” Nick said.

        “We take it one day at a time, remember what you said when we were at the hospital with Briz,” Bob said.

        “A miracle happened that day, you were there for her, she is here for you,” BJ said. She hugged Brizee.

        “Gracie, that song you sang, it was amazing, it was perfect,” Bob said hugging her.

        “Thank you, Grandpa,” Gracie said hugging him.

That night, the kids went to bed. Nick and Brizee laid in bed holding each other.

        “I know Leslie is smiling down at you, I know she loved the song, when you gave her an advanced copy, she called me and told me that Falling Down was her favorite song on the album,” Brizee said.  He looked at her and kissed her softly.

        “I love you so much, I don’t know what I would do if I lost you,” Nick said. They heard the doorbell rang. Nick got up and got dressed and came out of the bedroom as Jason came out.

        “I’ll get it, Dad,” Jason said.

        “I got it, bud,” Nick said going downstairs. He opened the door and saw his mother standing there.

        “Mom, why are you here so late,” Nick said.

        “I’m sorry, I just got here from New York, it was the only flight out, I wanted to come to the show but I couldn’t get an earlier flight,” Jane said.

        “Chris taped it,” Nick said.

        “I want to watch it,” Jane said.

        “Come in,” Nick said. She came in and he closed the door.

        “Angel told me what you did, that you dedicated a song to Leslie,” Jane said.

        “Yeah, and Briz just told me that it was Leslie’s favorite off my album,” Nick said.

        “It’s mine, too, me and Leslie listened to the album together and we said Falling Down was our favorite, Angel also said that Gracie, Jason, and Hayley wrote a song for Brizee,” Jane said.

        “Yeah, about what we went through last year with the cancer,” Nick said.

        “Angel said the song was perfect, I can’t wait to watch the video to hear it,” Jane said. Gracie came downstairs.

        “Grandma!” Gracie said running into Jane’s arms.

        “Hi sweetie,” Jane said hugging her granddaughter to her.

        “You missed my song,” Gracie said.

        “I know, sweetie, I couldn’t get an earlier flight, I’m sorry, but your dad said Chris taped it,” Jane said.

        “Well, Jason had me record it so you can hear it now,” Gracie said pulling her down to Nick’s home studio. She played the song for Jane. During the song, Jason, Hayley, and Brizee had made their way downstairs and watched. After the song was over, Jane hugged Gracie.

        “It was beautiful, Gracie, now about that song you all did for Disney, do I get to hear that one,” Jane said.

        “It is better on the tape, you can see us singing it,” Hayley said hugging her grandmother.

        “I can’t wait, I’m sorry I couldn’t get down here sooner,
 Jane said.

        “It’s okay, Grandma, we understand, you are here now, that’s what matters,” Jason said hugging her.

        “Hey, what about the video of the song you guys did, don’t we get to see it, maybe we could watch it with Grandma,” Nick said. They nodded and they got the video and they sat down and watched it. After it was over, Jane hugged her grandkids.

        “That was awesome, I loved it, like I love you all,” Jane said hugging Jason, Hayley, and Gracie. Then she hugged Nick and Brizee.

        “Mom, do you have a place to stay tonight,” Nick said.

        “I was going to check into a hotel,” Jane said.

        “I’ll make up the guest room for you, Jane,” Brizee said.

        “I’ll do it, Mom, you go rest,” Gracie said going upstairs.

        “I’m fine,” Brizee said.

        “Mom, you have a doctor’s appointment tomorrow, you need lots of rest,” Hayley said.

        “I know, but I feel fine,” Brizee said.

        “Mom, don’t argue with us,” Jason said.

        “Fine!” Brizee said going upstairs with Jason and Hayley. Jane looked at Nick.

        “What was that about,” Jane said.

        “They are afraid that the doctor will say the cancer is back, that went through my head as well, when they did the surgery, they said they got all of it, but the kids are afraid that won’t be the case,” Nick said.

        “I’m sure she’ll be fine,” Jane said.

        “I know, it’s the kids I’m worried about, I can’t even think of what would happen to them if the doctor does say that cancer is back,” Nick said.

        “I hope it doesn’t, Nick, Brizee coming into your life was the best thing that had ever happened to you, and she gave you three amazing kids, who are very talented and following in your footsteps, I’m proud of you, Nick,” Jane said.

        “You are?” Nick asked.

        “Yeah, you let the kids decide for themselves what they want to do, they didn’t have someone pushing and pushing them like I did with you, you gave them the freedom to do what they want, something I should have done with you,” Jane said.

        “Mom, I wanted to sing, I wanted to join the group and look where it had gotten me,” Nick said.

        “But look what it did to our relationship, face facts, Nick, I was not the perfect mother, we have had our moments, fights, estrangements,” Jane said.

        “But we are in a different place now, you actually are being my mother, not wanting money, you wanting to be my mom, that’s all I ever wanted,” Nick said.

        “And that’s how it will be, me being your mom,” Jane said. Nick smiled and hugged her. She held her son close to her.

        “I love you, Mama,” Nick said.

        “I love you, too, I don’t know what I would do without you or your siblings, losing Leslie was an eye opener for me, it made me realize how much you all mean to me and that I need to step up and be a better mother,” Jane said. They went upstairs and Jane settled into her room for the night. Nick went into the bedroom and closed the door and saw Brizee asleep on the bed. He stripped and got into bed with her and she woke up and saw him and smiled and snuggled up to him.

The next day, Nick took Brizee to the doctor while Jane stayed home with the kids. Hayley sat down on the couch next to Jane and curled up beside her.

        “I’m scared,” Hayley said.

        “It’s going to be okay, Hayley, your father’s love will get you all through anything, his love for your mom will keep her strong,” Jane said.

Two hours later, they sat in the living room when Brizee and Nick came home. Jane and the kids stood up and looked at them.

        “You tell them, I’m going to rest,” Brizee said. She went upstairs. Jason, Hayley, and Gracie looked at their father.

        “Daddy,” Gracie said. Nick looked at them and his mother.

        “The cancer’s back, I’m sorry, kids, we’ll have to go through all this again,” Nick said. They hugged their father. They went upstairs. Nick sat down on the couch. Jane sent a text to Bob and sat down next to Nick.

        “You need to find the strength to do this again,” Jane said.

        “I thought after the surgery, it would be over, no more cancer, but it’s back, more chemo, I don’t know if she’ll have the strength to do it all again,” Nick said.

        “She has three reasons for it, and you to hold her,” Jane said. Nick held his head in his hands.

        “Of all people, why my wife, she doesn’t deserve this, she’s the best mom to the kids and the best wife a guy could ask for, she doesn’t deserve to be brought down like this,” Nick said. Jane hugged her son as Bob, Ginger, BJ, Angel, Aaron, Brian, Leighanne, Baylee, AJ, Alicia, Emily, Howie, Leigh, and James came in. Baylee, Emily, and James went upstairs to where Jason, Gracie, and Hayley were. Bob sat down next to his son.

        “We all are going to help you all through this,” Bob said. Leighanne, Alicia, and Leigh went upstairs with BJ and Angel behind them.

        “I can’t believe this, this should not be happening, to Briz of all people!” Nick said holding his head in his hands and resting his elbows on his knees.  Bob and Jane comforted their eldest son.

        “You have to be strong, Nick, for Briz and for the kids, and we all will be with you both to help you all through this,” Bob said. Jane nodded.

        “I don’t know how this time will go, what if I’m not strong enough for her this time,” Nick said.

Two months later, after all the rounds of chemo, Brizee and Nick sat in the doctor’s office.  The doctor sat down with the results.  Nick held Brizee’s hand.

        “Well?” Brizee asked.

        “Chemo worked, all the cancer cells are gone, you are officially in remission once again, I want you to keep coming in once a month for checkups to make sure there are no more that show up,” the doctor said. Nick hugged Brizee and they went home where Brian, Leighanne, Baylee, Howie, Leigh, James, AJ, Alicia, Emily, Bob, Ginger, Jane, BJ, Aaron, Angel, Hayley, Jason, and Gracie were waiting.  Brizee and Nick walked in and faced them.

        “Well?” Hayley asked. Nick and Brizee smiled.

        “Remission!” Nick said. They all cheered and hugged them.