Britney walked into the venue and went backstage after talking with security. She walked down the hall and saw Nick, Brian, Howie, and AJ sitting there talking. They looked up and saw her.

        “Hi there,” AJ said.

        “Hi, my name is Britney, I work at the Sports Authority at the Orlando Mall, my boss wanted me to come and get your measurements for the shirts and pants you ordered for the shows,” Britney said.

        “Sure thing,” Howie said. She took their measurements and wrote them down. Her cell phone rang.

        “Hey Matt, what, what is it, what does it say, just bring it here, bye,” Britney said. She hung up and finished writing down the measurements.

        “Everything okay?” Brian asked.

        “Fine, that was my boss, someone delivered some papers for me,” Britney said.

        “So, why not take a seat and hang out with us,” Howie said. Britney smiled and sat down and they talked.

        “You graduated from Tampa High?” Nick asked.

        “Yeah, I moved to Tampa when I was a sophomore in high school,” Britney said.

        “If only I stuck around in school, we could have hung out,” Nick said.

        “Well, we are hanging out now, besides, if I had a choice between joining a music group and school, I would pick music any day,” Britney said.

        “You sing?” AJ asked.

        “Nope, don’t have a good voice, I know, I’ve taped myself and I sounded horrible, besides, I hate being in front of crowds,” Britney said.

        “It’s not so bad,” Howie said.

        “I almost died from having to get up in front of a class to read a report, it took the teacher everything she had to get me up there,” Britney said.

        “How did she get you up there?” AJ asked.

        “Promised two tickets to see you guys in concert, it was when you guys hit it big in the states after being in Europe, anyways, I did the report and got the tickets and I grabbed one of my best friends and came to the concert and had the time of my life,” Britney said.

        “Was that the only concert you went to?” Brian said.

        “Afraid so,” Britney said.

        “You should come on tour with us,” Nick said.

        “I can’t leave my job,” Britney said.

        “Yes you can,” Matt said from behind her.

        “Matt,” Britney said. He came up to her and handed her an envelope. She pulled out the papers and read them.

        “I took them by to my lawyer and they are legally done,” Matt said.

        “How is this possible?” Britney said.

        “They don’t know but they are real, the seal and all,” Matt said.

        “Is everything okay?” Brian asked.

        “No, it isn’t, she will have to go on tour with you guys,” Matt said.

        “Okay, why is that?” AJ asked.

        “Because she is Mrs. Nick Carter,” Matt said. Nick’s eyes widened. Britney sat down looking at the papers.

Chapter 2

Nick stood there in shock at Matt’s announcement. Britney sat there looking at the papers over and over again. Nick took the papers and read them.

        “How is this possible?” Nick asked.

        “I took the papers to my lawyer and they are real, it’s got the seal and everything, no one knows where they came from but you and Britney are married, and I want you to know that Britney wouldn’t do this, she knew nothing about this until I showed her the papers, she has been very content with her life, I know her well, I’m not only her boss, I’m her cousin, my father and her mother are brother and sister, I have known her all my life and she would not do anything like this, this is as much of a shock to her as it is to you,” Matt said. Nick looked at Britney who sat there staring at the wall with a shocked look on her face. He stood beside her.

        “Britney,” Nick said. Britney stood up and looked at him. He smiled at her.

        “I know this is as much of a shock to you as it is to me,” Nick said.

        “Nick, this isn’t something I would do, I’ve always dreamed that my wedding would be big and a fairytale wedding, not some paper that says I’m married,” Britney said. Nick nodded.

        “Okay, I can’t lie anymore, I did it,” Matt said.

        “Matt?” Britney said.

        “The papers are real, I set up the marriage, you guys are really married,” Matt said.

        “Matt, why,” Britney said.

        “I wanted you to be happy, Britney, I wanted to find the right guy for you and I picked Nick because I knew he was the one for you,” Matt said.

        “Matt, finding the right guy should have been my choice, not yours,” Britney said.

        “I’m sorry, Bri, I’m sorry, guys,” Matt said. Matt left. Britney sat down and covered her face with her hands. Nick knelt down next to her.

        “Britney,” Nick said.

        “I can’t believe this,” Britney said.

        “He set it up the marriage, and got the clause where you two can’t divorce or annul the marriage, you two are stuck in it,” AJ said reading the papers.

        “I’m sorry, Nick, I can’t believe he did it, I could tell he was keeping a secret and he wouldn’t tell me, I bet my mom set him up to do this, she’s always been after me to find someone to make me happy,” Britney said.

        “And she thinks it’s me,” Nick said.

        “No, Matt did, my mom didn’t care as long as it was with someone who made me happy,” Britney said.

        “Well, then, let’s do it,” Nick said.

        “What,” Britney said.

        “Let’s be a married couple,” Nick said.

        “Are you serious?” Britney asked.

        “We are married,” Nick said. Howie’s phone rang. He answered it and hung up.

        “AJ, turned on the TV,” Howie said. AJ turned it on and the news was on and there was a picture of Nick and Britney.

        “In the news today is Backstreet Boy Nick Carter, we learned that Nick is now officially off the market, that’s right, Nick Carter is married, the woman he is married to is a long time Tampa resident and works at the Tampa Bay mall, no word on where the ceremony took place or when but reports said it was very private and intimate,” the reporter said. Britney turned off the TV.

        “I could kill him!” Britney said.

        “We just found out and it’s in the news already,” Nick said. Britney closed her eyes and took a deep breath. She got out her phone and called Matt.

        “Matt, how could you, it’s in the news already, you had to have called the news, how else could they have known, oh no, she didn’t, I can’t believe this, just stay out of my life!” Britney said. She hung up and dialed another number.

        “Mom, how could you do this, I don’t care if you wanted to share the news, that wasn’t to be shared, I don’t care, now the fans and the press are going to go crazy, I can’t believe you, I don’t care, recant the story, say it was false, just do it, Mother, or stay out of my life!” Britney said. She hung up and sat down.

        “I’m sorry, guys, my mother was so excited about what Matt did,” Britney said.

        “Let’s get started,” Nick said.

        “What,” Britney said.

        “Being married,” Nick said.

        “Nick,” Britney said. Nick knelt down beside her.

        “Britney, we can do this, I felt like we’ve known each other forever, we can do it,” Nick said.

        “Are you sure about this?” Britney asked.

        “I’m sure,” Nick said.

        “Okay,” Britney said. Nick smiled and took her hand and helped her up and led her down to his dressing room.

Chapter 3

Nick and Britney walked into his dressing room and closed the door.  Britney sat down on the couch. Nick sat down.

        “Are you sure about this,” Britney said.

        “We are married, the press knows about it, we can’t hide it now,” Nick said.

        “I don’t want you regretting anything, what if the right girl for you comes along and you want to be with her,” Britney said.

        “Maybe you are the right girl,” Nick said.

        “Do you think us being married will work?” Britney asked. There was a knock at the door.

        “We can if we try,” Nick said. He got up and opened the door and Brian came in and glared at Britney.

        “What,” Britney said.

        “I know who you are,” Brian said.

        “Yeah, we met awhile ago when I came here,” Britney said. Brian shook his head.

        “No, you are the girl who almost ruined my marriage,” Brian said. Britney looked at him.

        “Excuse me?” Britney said.

        “Don’t pretend that you don’t know,” Brian said.

        “Look, Brian, before I came to this venue, I never have seen you guys in person unless it was in concert which I told you about, I haven’t met you before tonight, okay, I don’t know what is going on or how I could have possibly almost ruin your marriage but I would never do that, ever since you and Leighanne got married, I thought you guys were the greatest married couple in the world, so don’t accuse me of something I didn’t do!” Britney said. She sat down and glared at him. Brian looked at her.

        “I slept with someone, okay, her name was Bri, I thought it was you, okay,” Brian said.

        “Well, it’s not, because the truth is that I never slept with anyone before, okay,” Britney said.

        “I’m sorry,” Brian said.

        “Just don’t do anything to hurt Leighanne again, okay, I may not know her, but I watched InStyle Wedding, I could tell how much you guys love each other,” Britney said. Brian smiled.

        “I could never do anything to hurt her again, I’m still making it up to her,” Brian said.

        “Matt may call me Bri, but my nickname is Brit, but you guys can call me Bri,” Britney said.

        “I’ll let you two talk,” Brian said. He left the room. Britney looked at Nick.

        “So you said something about trying?” Britney asked.

        “Yeah, we can make this marriage work if we try,” Nick said.

        “Well, we can take it one day at a time and see where it takes us,” Britney said. Nick smiled.

        “Come on,” Nick said. They went out to where AJ, Brian, and Howie were.

        “Guys, Britney and I decided to take this marriage one day at a time and see how things work out,” Nick said.

        “We support you guys no matter what, Britney is married to you so she’s part of the family now, no matter what,” Howie said. AJ and Brian nodded in agreement. Leighanne walked in and Nick introduced Britney to her. Leighanne smiled and slapped Britney across the face. Britney stood there holding her cheek and looking at Leighanne. Brian came up to them.

        “What was that for, Leighanne,” Nick said.

        “She almost ruined my marriage,’ Leighanne said.

        “Honey, this isn’t the girl I slept with,” Brian said.

        “Her name is Bri, isn’t it,” Leighanne said.

        “Her cousin calls her Bri, her nickname is Brit, her name is Britney, and I thought she was the one also, but she isn’t,” Brian said.

        “Oh god, Britney, I’m so sorry,” Leighanne said.

        “It’s all right,” Britney said.

        “No, it’s not, I slapped you for no reason, I’m so sorry,” Leighanne said.

        “It’s okay,” Britney said.

        “Let’s sit down and talk,” Leighanne said. They went and sat down at the table and talked and got to know each other. Nick and Brian sat down.

        “So you two are giving it a shot,” Brian said.

        “Yeah, we are, I like her, I think she may be the one,” Nick said.

        “Well, the guys and I support you two no matter what,” Brian said.

        “Thanks, man,” Nick said.  They watched Leighanne and Britney talk and smiled.

        “I think our wives are becoming best friends,” Brian said. Nick smiled.

        “Double dates?” Nick asked.

        “I would think so,” Brian said.

Chapter 4

Later that night, Nick took Britney to her apartment and she packed her stuff and he took her to his house.  She walked in and looked around.

        “You live here by yourself?” Britney asked.

        “Yeah,” Nick said.

        “Wow, well, where should I put my stuff?” Britney asked. Nick smiled.

        “Well, we are married,” Nick said.

        “We hardly know each other,” Britney said.

        “Britney, we can share a room, it won’t be so bad,” Nick said.

        “Nick,” Britney said.

        “Britney, we have to share a room sometime, why not start now,” Nick said. Britney sighed and nodded.  He took her stuff up to his room and she came in and looked around and saw the big bed.

        “So you have a king size bed,” Britney said.

        “Yeah,” Nick said. Britney sat down on it.

        “Comfy, I’m so used to queen size or twin, since it was just me, I dealt with it,” Britney said.

        “Well, I like big beds,” Nick said. The doorbell rang. Nick groaned and went downstairs and opened it and saw his mother standing there.

        “Hi Mom,” Nick said.

        “Hi honey,” Jane said hugging him. She came in and he closed the door.

        “What brings you by?” Nick asked.

        “I heard about your marriage, why didn’t you call us, I called your father and he didn’t know anything about it until he saw it on the news,” Jane said.

        “I’m sorry, I meant to call you, but I wanted to marry her before the tour started up again,” Nick said.

        “You must love her,” Jane said.

        “Yeah, I do,” Nick said.

        “I would like to meet my daughter-in-law,” Jane said.

        “Britney,” Nick called. Britney came downstairs.

        “Hi,” Britney said.

        “Hi, Britney, I’m Jane, Nick’s mother,” Jane said.

        “Nice to meet you,” Britney said. They sat down and talked and got to know each other. Jane got up and hugged Nick and Britney and left. Nick closed the door and looked at Britney.

        “Well, that was easy, I thought she would be pissed,” Nick said.

        “I thought she would hate me,” Britney said.

        “If she did, I wouldn’t care what she thought, we are married, there isn’t anything she can do about it,” Nick said. Britney smiled.

        “Well, I’m going to go take a shower and get ready for bed, I’m so tired,” Britney said. She went upstairs and went into the bedroom and got out her bathroom stuff as Nick came in. He went into the bathroom and came out with his towel and soap.

        “I’ll get one in the other bathroom,” Nick said.

        “I was going to get one in the other bathroom, you can get one in this one,” Britney said.

        “It’s okay, Bri, you need to get familiar with this one,” Nick said.

        “Are you sure?” Britney said. Nick came over and knelt down beside her and looked at her.

        “I’m sure,” Nick said. He left the room. Britney went and got a shower and she got out and dried herself off and wrapped a towel around her and went out and saw Nick standing there in a towel. He looked at her.

        “Sorry,” Nick said.

        “I’m glad I didn’t come out naked,” Britney said getting her clothes and going back into the bathroom and closing the door and leaned against it and closed her eyes. She hardly knew Nick as a person and she already felt like she has known him forever.

Chapter 5

Britney got dressed in the bathroom and came out and saw Nick sitting on the bed in boxers. He looked up at her and smiled. She smiled and sat down beside him.

        “So what now,” Britney said.

        “Well, we could go watch a movie or go to bed,” Nick said. Britney looked and saw a TV with a DVD player.

        “How about both?” Britney asked.

        “We can do that, you can take the side closer to the window,” Nick said. He put a movie in and sat down on his side and she sat up on her side and they watched the movie. After the movie was over, Nick turned it off and saw Britney asleep. He smiled and gently pulled the covers back and covered her with them and got under the covers and went to sleep. The next morning, Britney woke up and saw Nick still asleep. She got up and went to the bathroom and changed and came out and saw him sitting up.

        “Morning,” Britney said.

        “Morning,” Nick said smiling at her. She smiled and went downstairs and walked into the kitchen and saw a man there and she screamed.

        “Whoa!” he said. Nick came running downstairs and saw the man.

        “Bri, it’s okay,” Nick said.

        “She screamed when she saw me, Nick,” he said.

        “Who is he?” Britney asked.

        “This is my dad, Brit,” Nick said. Britney looked and saw that it was Bob Carter.

        “Oh god, I’m so sorry, I have seen pictures and I should have recognized you, I’m so sorry for screaming like that, I wasn’t expecting you in here,” Britney said.

        “It’s okay, you must be Britney,” Bob said.

        “Yeah, I am, I’m so embarrassed, I didn’t mean to scream like that,” Britney said.

        “It’s okay, really, it’s nice to meet you, I talked to Jane last night and she said that you are a really nice person, she approves by the way,” Bob said.

        “Well, I didn’t care if she did or not, nothing is making me change my mind about making this marriage work,” Nick said.

        “How did you two meet?” Bob asked.

        “My cousin is manager of the Sports Authority at the Tampa Mall, the guys had ordered outfits for the tour and I went to the venue to get measurements, and my cousin brought some papers that said that me and Nick are married, and there was a clause saying we couldn’t divorce or annul the marriage,” Britney said.

        “Her mother set the marriage up, thought I was the right guy for Britney,” Nick said.

        “I had no idea what she did or why she did it,” Britney said. She sat down at the table.

        “Jane explained everything to me, she believes you weren’t involved in the whole marriage setup, my ex-wife has turned over a new leaf, she wants to be a mother to the kids, Nick, your mother realized that if she kept going the way she was, she would alienate all her kids and she wouldn’t have anything, she wants to be a mother to you, and your brother and sisters, more than anything,” Bob said. Nick smiled.

        “I know, she told me, I told her that if she messes up, she’s out of my life,” Nick said.

        “Well, I can’t forgive my mom for what she did, I mean, I should decide who I wanted to marry and be with, it’s like an arranged marriage, I mean, Nick’s a great guy, but I don’t like the way she done things,” Britney said.

        “We understand, you don’t have to have anything to do with your mother if you don’t want to,” Bob said.

        “I better go,” Britney said.

        “Where?” Nick asked.

        “Work,” Britney said.

        “You don’t have to work for your cousin anymore, if you don’t want to,” Nick said.

        “Matt was doing what my mom asked him to do, plus, I owe him my life,” Britney said. She went upstairs. Nick looked at his dad.  He went upstairs and went into the bedroom and saw Britney putting her hair up in a ponytail.      

        “Bri, why do you owe Matt your life?” Nick asked.

        “Three years ago, I was in a car accident and lost a lot of blood, Matt donated some of his to save my life, if he hadn’t, I wouldn’t be here today,” Britney said.

        “I’m glad he did,” Nick said.

        “Really?” Britney asked.

        “Yeah, if you weren’t here, we wouldn’t have met or be married,” Nick said.

        “I better get going,” Britney said.

        “Be careful,” Nick said.

        “I will,” Britney said. She smiled at him and got her purse and left. She went to the mall and walked into Sports Authority and saw Matt surrounded by reporters.

        “I don’t know what you are talking about, Nick Carter’s wife doesn’t work here, may have said the mall, but not this shop, sorry,” Matt said.

        “Our source said Sports Authority,” one reporter said.

        “Well, the source isn’t right, my cousin works here and she is not married,” Matt said.

        “I think she works at the Gap or the Music Store,” Britney said walking up to them.

        “You know who Nick Carter’s wife is?” one reporter asked her.

        “Well, I don’t know what she looks like but I heard people talking that Nick usually is seen in one of those stores, I can’t remember which one,” Britney said.

        “Let’s go,” the reporters said. They left.

        “Matt, I’m going to have to quit, there won’t be a store left if the press finds out the truth,” Britney whispered.

        “I know, Bri, I think your mother is responsible for this,” Matt said.

        “I know you wouldn’t do anything to hurt me,” Britney said. Matt hugged her.

        “I sure wouldn’t, I saved your life, remember, I couldn’t hurt you if my life depended on it,” Matt said.

        “I better go,” Britney said. Matt hugged her and she left and ran out to her car and went back to Nick’s. She went in and saw him and his father talking.

        “Hey, I thought you were working,” Nick said.

        “I told Matt that I quit,” Britney said sitting down.

        “What happened,” Nick said.

        “When I got there, the press was there, Matt couldn’t get rid of them so I said that I think your wife worked at The Gap or the music store, I said that I heard that you hung out in one of those stores from time to time, after they left, I told Matt that I had to quit because if the press finds out the truth, there wouldn’t be a store left,” Britney said.

        “Who called the press?” Nick asked.

        “My mother,” Britney said.

        “Damn,” Nick said.

        “I have to talk to her,” Britney said.

        “I’m going with you,” Nick said.

        “Me, too,” Bob said. They went to Britney’s parents’ house. Britney walked in with Nick and Bob behind her and saw her parents sitting on the couch talking to a reporter. Britney looked at Nick.

        “Mom!” Britney said.

        “Britney, this is our daughter, Britney, she is married to Nick,” Laura said. She got up and came over and Britney slapped her mother.

        “Britney!” Steve said standing up.

        “I’m sorry, but my mother has lost her mind!” Britney said glaring at Laura. The reporter left.

        “Mrs. Hardin, I’m Bob Carter, Nick’s father, you need to stop what you are doing, you are destroying Britney’s life by sending the press to find her,” Bob said.

        “If the press finds out, they won’t leave Britney alone, she went to work and found reporters hounding Matt, your nephew!” Nick said.

        “I was so excited,” Laura said.

        “Mom, how could you do this to me, you are so excited about a marriage you set up, I wanted to choose the guy to marry, I’m almost thirty years old, I’m old enough to take care of myself and choose who I want to be with!” Britney said.

        “Britney,” Laura said.

        “No, Mom, I’ve had it with you, both of you, I have no parents anymore, you two are nothing to me, the only family I have is Matt and Nick and the Backstreet family that you so much wanted me to be a part of, they are my family now, stay out of my life and no more reporters!” Britney yelled. She turned and walked out. Nick looked at them and followed. Bob shook his head and followed them out the door.

Chapter 6

Britney walked into the house and went out back and sat down in a chair and stared at the pool. Nick came out and knelt down beside her.

        “Hey,” Nick said.

        “I can’t believe them,” Britney said.

        “I’ll be your family,” Nick said.

        “You are, you, your parents, siblings, the guys, you all are the only family I have now,” Britney said. Nick held her hand. She smiled at him. The doorbell rang. Nick groaned.

        “Stay here,” Nick said. He went and opened the door and saw a guy there with an envelope.

        “What’s this,” Nick said.

        “For Britney Carter,” the man said. He left. Nick closed the door and locked it and went out back and handed the envelope to Britney. She opened it and read the papers.

        “What is it,” Nick said.

        “Adoption papers, I was adopted,” Britney said.

        “So your parents aren’t really your parents,” Nick said. Britney shook her head.

        “It doesn’t say who my real parents are,” Britney said.

        “Where was the adoption out of?” Nick asked. Britney looked and looked at him.

        “Lexington, Kentucky,” Britney said.

        “I’ll call Brian,” Nick said. He called Brian. Britney looked at the papers.

        “It says I was adopted when I was two years old,” Britney said. 

        “Maybe Brian will know,” Nick said. Britney nodded. The doorbell rang. Nick answered it and came back with Brian and Leighanne.

        “What’s up,” Brian said.

        “Britney just got papers saying she was adopted, the place she was adopted out of was Lexington,” Nick said. Britney showed Brian the papers.

        “Oh man,” Brian said.

        “What,” Nick said.

        “Britney, I think you are my sister,” Brian said.

        “What,” Britney said.

        “I had a sister, she was kidnapped when she was two years old, she was the same age as Nick, it could be you,” Brian said.

        “How do we know for sure?” Britney asked.

        “A blood test,” Brian said.

        “Oh man, no, I hate needles, no,” Britney said.

        “Britney, it’s the only way to know for sure,” Brian said. Britney looked at him.

        “Okay,” Britney said. They went to the hospital and got a blood test. They went home and Nick came in from the back and saw them.

        “Well?” Nick asked.

        “She’s my sister,” Brian said. He called his parents and the rest of the family. Britney sat down. Nick sat down and looked at her.

        “You okay?” Nick asked.

        “Yeah, now I know who my real family is,” Britney said. The doorbell rang. Nick opened it and saw Laura and Steve standing there.

        “What are you doing here,” Nick said.

        “We came to talk to Britney,” Laura said.

        “If you didn’t hear her, she doesn’t want anything to do with you anymore,” Nick said.

        “Nick, please,” Laura said. Britney came to the door.

        “What do you want, Laura,” Britney said.

        “You got the papers,” Laura said.

        “About me being adopted, yeah, got them,” Britney said. Laura looked at Steve.

        “We want you to know that we didn’t kidnap you, we found you in a bus terminal in Lexington, we took you home after adopting you,” Laura said.

        “Okay, thank you,” Britney said.

        “We didn’t do anything with the marriage, we couldn’t, we wanted to make things right but the courthouse said the marriage stays as is,” Steve said.

        “That is fine with us,” Nick said. Britney nodded. Steve and Laura left. Britney sat down.

Chapter 7

(Author’s Note:  I know Brian’s brother is Harold III but in this story, he is called Harold JR.)

The next day, Britney was pacing the living room. Nick sat there with Brian.

        “Bri, it’s okay,” Nick said.

        “What if I say the wrong thing, what if they don’t like me,” Britney said.

        “Bri, they will, you are their daughter, they never gave up on you or stopped loving you, they kept talking about you every day, how much they missed you, how much they loved you, that they would never give up trying to find you,” Brian said. Britney sat down next to Nick.

        “What do they think of my marriage to Nick?” Britney said as Nick held her hand.

        “They love Nick like a son, they will support you guys,” Brian said.  The doorbell rang. Britney sat there. Nick squeezed her hand and got up and opened the door and saw Jackie, Harold, Harold JR, Kevin, Kristin, Ann, Tim, and Jerald JR standing there.

        “Hi everyone,” Nick said. Jackie smiled and hugged him and he shook hands with Harold and Harold JR. Ann hugged him. Kevin hugged him and Kristin kissed him on the cheek and Tim and Jerald JR shook his hand. They all came in and saw Brian on the couch but no Britney.

        “Where’s Britney?” Nick asked.

        “She ran out back,” Brian said. Nick went out back and saw Britney sitting on the lounge chair staring at the pool. He sat beside her.

        “Hey, what’s wrong,” Nick said.

        “I’m scared,” Britney said.

        “You’ll be okay, me and Brian are with you, this is your real family, you get to meet Kevin and Kristin,” Nick said. Britney sighed.

        “I know, but I’m scared, what if I’m not what they want me to be,” Britney said.

        “You just be yourself, they will love you, it’s been twenty-seven years since they last saw you, just be yourself,” Nick said.

        “Don’t leave my side,” Britney said.

        “I won’t,” Nick said taking her hand and they walked back in and went into the living room where everyone was.

        “Everyone, this is Britney,” Nick said. Everyone looked at her and she smiled a little. Jackie and Harold came over to her.

        “Hi,” Britney said softly. Jackie smiled and cried and hugged her. Harold hugged them both. Britney never let go of Nick’s hand as she hugged Jackie back with her other arm. Jackie pulled back and looked at her.

        “You are so beautiful, you are so grown up, we finally have you back, and you are a beautiful woman and married!” Jackie said hugging her again. Harold smiled and Brian and Harold JR came up to them. They joined the hug and Nick smiled.

        “My whole family together again,” Harold said hugging his wife, daughter and sons.  After introductions to the entire family, Britney sat down beside Nick and held his hand and told everyone about her life away from them.

        “So your adoptive mother set up the whole marriage?” Jackie asked.

        “Yeah, she asked her nephew, my adoptive cousin, Matt, to get everything set up, then she thought it would be fun to announce the news,” Britney said.

        “We can’t divorce or annul the marriage, we decided to give it a try and so far, everything is good,” Nick said.

        “Are you two sleeping together?” Harold JR asked.

        “Harold!” Jackie said.

        “What,” Harold JR said.

        “They are married,” Jackie said.

        “I didn’t mean in a sexually way, I meant, in the same bed?” Harold JR said.

        “Yes, we are, okay, like Mom said, we are married,” Britney said. Jackie smiled.

Chapter 8

That night, Britney and Nick went to bed after everyone left. Britney laid there looking out the window. Nick laid there looking at the ceiling.

        “Bri,” Nick said.

        “Yeah,” Britney said.

        “How about going out to dinner tomorrow night?” Nick asked.

        “Do you think we should go out in public?” Britney asked.

        “Yeah, we can get you a disguise and look different so when you go out as yourself, you won’t get mobbed,” Nick said. Britney sighed.

        “Maybe I could wear a wig, like a blonde wig or a auburn color, something that won’t show my natural hair color,” Britney said.

        “Okay,” Nick said.

        “Or we could go out and if anyone asks, you are just having dinner with Brian’s sister and that your wife is at work, no one knows I quit working at the mall,” Britney said. Nick looked at her.

        “Or we can go out and just state the truth, that you are my wife and Brian’s sister, that won’t cause much craziness if they know you are Brian’s sister,” Nick said.

        “We could, but no one knows that Brian had a sister,” Britney said.

        “Well, he wants everyone to know,” Nick said. Britney looked at him.

        “Are you sure about this?” Britney asked.

        “Yeah,” Nick said.

        “Okay,” Britney said.

        “Goodnight, Bri,” Nick said.

        “Night Nick,” Britney said. They went to sleep. (**means dream)

~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~

**Britney laid there feeling his lips on her neck and she closed her eyes and moaned softly. Their clothes were removed and he laid on top of her, his blue eyes looking into hers. He gently pushed inside her and she closed her eyes and held onto him as he moved inside her. They moved together as he kissed her deeply. He came inside her and she felt his hot liquid inside her and she came around him and cried out his name softly. He laid on top of her and kissed her softly. She looked into the eyes of her husband and saw love. Nick laid beside her and pulled her close to him and held her as they went to sleep.**

~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~

Britney woke up and saw Nick asleep. She laid there looking at the ceiling. She looked at the clock and saw it was three in the morning. She went back to sleep.

Chapter 9

Britney woke up and saw that it was nine in the morning and she sat up and stretched. She heard the doorbell rang. She got up and went and changed and went downstairs and put her hair up in a messy ponytail and opened the door and saw Brian, Howie, and AJ standing there.

        “Hey guys,” Britney said.

        “Hey sis,” Brian said kissing her forehead as he came in. AJ and Howie hugged her as they came in. She closed the door.

        “What’s up,” Britney said.

        “We need to talk to you and Nick,” Brian said.

        “He’s not up yet,” Britney said.

        “Can you get him up?” AJ asked. Britney went upstairs and into the bedroom and sat on the bed and shook Nick. He stirred.

        “Nick, wake up, the guys are here, they want to talk to us,” Britney said. Nick opened his eyes and saw her and smiled.

        “Morning,” Nick said.

        “Morning, come on, the guys are downstairs, they want to talk to us about something,” Britney said getting up. He got up and got dressed and went downstairs behind Britney and sat down on the couch next to her.

        “What is it,” Nick said.

        “We are holding a press conference at noon today to announce your marriage and Britney,” Brian said.

        “No, the fans will go nuts, I don’t want them going after Britney,” Nick said.

        “Nick, we need to do this, we need to explain the truth so if it ever gets out, there won’t be any lies,” Brian said.

        “Brian, no, I can’t do it,” Nick said.

        “Britney,” Brian said.

        “Nick, we might as well get it over with, I can’t hide forever,” Britney said. Nick looked at her.

        “You’re right,” Nick said holding her hand.

At noon, they were all at the press conference. Britney was seated between Brian and Nick. Nick and Brian both held her hands. The press sat down.

        “The reason we call this press conference was to introduce the newest member of the Backstreet family, this is Britney, Nick’s wife, and we just found out that she is my long lost sister, when she was two years old, she was taken from my family and she came back into our lives,” Brian said.

        “Any questions?” Howie asked.

        “I have one, Britney, why did you lie to us at the mall?” one reporter asked.

        “Because I didn’t want anyone knowing who I was, I was protecting myself and Nick,” Britney said.

        “Can you tell us anything about the wedding?” another reporter asked.

        “Just like the report said, it was very private and intimate,” Britney said. Nick squeezed her hand and she looked at him and saw him smiling at her. She smiled at him and squeezed back.

        “So that guy, Matt, is not really your cousin?” another reporter asked.

        “His aunt and uncle adopted me, we were cousin by adoption,” Britney said.

        “Why are you coming forward now?” a reporter asked. Britney looked at Brian.

        “Because we wanted everything out in the open so there won’t be any lies, we like to be honest with our fans,” Brian said.

        “We would like for you guys to respect us and our private lives,” Nick said.

        “That is all for today,” Howie said. The guys and Britney got up and left. They went back to Nick’s. Britney went out and sat down. Brian came out and sat beside her.

        “Hey sis,” Brian said.

        “I hope everything works out,” Britney said.

        “Yeah, so what’s your plans for tonight?” Brian asked.

        “Nick wanted to go out to dinner,” Britney said.

        “That’s good,” Brian said. Britney looked at him.

        “I have a better idea,” Nick said coming out.

        “What’s that,” Britney said.

        “Take out, we’ll get take out and go out of my boat,” Nick said.

        “That’s a good idea,” Brian said.

        “I like that idea,” Britney said.

        “Better than dinner at a restaurant?” Nick asked.

        “Yeah, I like the ocean,” Britney said. Nick smiled.

That night, Britney and Nick got food and went out on his boat. Nick pulled the boat to a stop and anchored the boat and went down below and saw Britney getting the food ready. Nick stood there smiling at her. He went in and sat down. She smiled at him.

        “Bri, you okay?” Nick asked.

        “I’m fine,” Britney said. She sat down with their food and they ate. After dinner, Britney cleaned up and Nick got up and stood beside her.

        “Bri,” Nick said.

        “What,” Britney said.

        “Something’s wrong, what is it,” Nick said.

        “Nothing, I’m fine,” Britney said.

        “You can talk to me,” Nick said.

        “I know, I’m fine, really,” Britney said. She went up on deck and sat down and looked at the stars. Nick came up and sat beside her.

Chapter 10

Nick sat down looking at Britney. She looked at him and sighed. He took her hand in his.

        “What,” Britney said.

        “We need to talk,” Nick said.

        “About what?” Britney asked.

        “Our marriage,” Nick said.

        “What about it,” Britney said.

        “I want it to be real,” Nick said.

        “What,” Britney said.

        “I have fallen for you, Britney,” Nick said.

        “I’ve fallen for you,” Britney said.

        “You think we can make it work?” Nick asked.

        “We can,” Britney said. Nick cupped her face in his hands and kissed her softly. The kiss deepened and pulled her close. She pulled back and looked at him.

        “I had a dream last night,” Britney said.

        “About us?” Nick asked.

        “Yeah,” Britney said.

        “What were we doing?” Nick said stroking her cheek.

        “Um, we were making love,” Britney said softly.

        “How was it?” Nick asked as he took her hands in his.

        “Well, dreamy,” Britney said.

        “You want it to happen?” Nick asked.

        “Someday, I like the way things are now, slow and easy,” Britney said. Nick smiled and kissed her softly.

        “That’s how are we are going to go, I don’t want to rush you into anything you aren’t ready for,” Nick said.

        “Good, now kiss me,” Britney said. Nick smiled and kissed her deeply. Nick’s cell phone rang. Nick groaned and pulled away to answer it.

        “What,” Nick said.

        “Hey Frack, did I interrupt something?” Brian asked.

        “Yeah, Frick, you did,” Nick said.

        “I wanted to talk to my sister for a minute,” Brian said. Nick rolled his eyes.

        “Okay, but only a minute and I’m timing ya,” Nick said. He handed the phone to Britney and he looked at his watch.

        “Brian, what is it,” Britney said.

        “Hey sis, I was wondering if you wanted singing lessons,” Brian said.

        “Is that all you wanted,” Britney said.

        “You’ve been around Nick too long,” Brian said.

        “He is my husband, Brian,” Britney said.

        “I know, so how about it,” Brian said.

        “I don’t know, Brian, I have listened to myself and I am not that good,” Britney said. Nick pointed to his watch.

        “Bri, come on, sis,” Brian said.

        “I have to go, the minute is up so I’ll talk to you about this later, bye,” Britney said. She hung up. Nick took his phone and turned it off and put it away and pulled Britney close and kissed her deeply. He pulled back and smiled at her. She smiled at him and he got up and went up to the controls and drove back to the marina. He got everything secured and took her hand and helped her off the boat and headed to the car.

Chapter 11

They arrived at the house and went in and locked up and went and got showers and met each other at the bed and they got up and laid there looking at each other. Soon they began kissing. They were kissing deeply and passionately when the phone rang. Nick groaned and reached over and picked it up.

        “What,” Nick said.

        “Frack, Frack, Frack, am I interrupting again,” Brian said. Nick growled.

        “You always are,” Nick said.

        “Can I talk to my sister,” Brian said.

        “You already did, earlier,” Nick said.

        “Frack!” Brian said. Nick groaned and handed the phone to Britney. She took it and sat up. Nick sat up and moved her hair back and began kissing her neck.

        “What is it, Brian,” Britney said closing her eyes and enjoying Nick’s lips on her neck.

        “Can we talk tomorrow about what I asked you earlier,” Brian said.

        “I guess, what time?” Britney said as Nick pulled her closer as he moved to her shoulder.

        “Eleven o’clock?” Brian asked.

        “Fine, okay, I’m tired, I gotta go, night Brian,” Britney said as Nick reached for the phone.

        “Night, Bri,” Brian said. She hung up and Nick tossed the phone on the floor and pulled them down and he leaned over her and began kissing her.

        “Bri,” Nick said.

        “Nick,” Britney said.

        “I want you,” Nick said kissing her neck.

        “I want you,” Britney said closing her eyes. They gently removed each other’s clothes and he slid a condom on and he gently made love to her. He laid on top of her and buried his face in her neck and she held him close.

        “Oh god, Bri,” Nick said lying beside her and pulling her close.

        “Just like my dream,” Britney said.

        “And now reality, our marriage is official and I’m in love with you,” Nick said kissing her forehead.

        “I’m in love with you, too,” Britney said. Nick smiled and kissed her softly. They went to sleep holding each other.

Chapter 12

The next morning, Britney woke up and saw Nick awake watching her. He smiled.

        “Morning,” Nick said.

        “Morning, what time is it?” Britney asked.

        “Ten,” Nick said. Britney sighed.

        “Brian will be here at eleven,” Britney said.

        “Why is he coming over?” Nick asked.

        “He said something about giving me singing lessons, I don’t want to sing,” Britney said.

        “Tell him that,” Nick said.

        “I will,” Britney said.

        “And if you ever want singing lessons, I’m perfectly capable of doing that,” Nick said.

        “Among other things,” Britney said.

        “I know,” Nick said holding her closer.

        “Thank you for being gentle,” Britney said.

        “I didn’t want to hurt you, how are you feeling?” Nick asked kissing her neck.

        “I’m in heaven,” Britney said smiling.

        “I’m in love,” Nick said. He kissed her deeply. The phone rang. Nick groaned.

        “I will kill him if it’s Brian,” Nick said. He grabbed the phone.

        “What,” Nick said.

        “Hey Nicky, what’s up!” AJ said.

        “I thought it was Brian, he’s always interrupting,” Nick said. Britney faced him and stroked his cheek.

        “Well, sorry, just me, what are you up to today?” AJ asked.

        “Brian’s coming over to talk to Bri, and I wanted to hang around here today,” Nick said.

        “I was hoping you would come join me and D for some shopping,” AJ said.

        “Okay, see ya,” Nick said. He hung up and continued kissing Britney.

Chapter 13

Britney and Nick were in the middle of making love when the doorbell rang. Nick groaned.

        “Can I kill your brother, please,” Nick said. Britney smiled and grabbed her phone and called Brian’s cell phone. Nick moved back on top of her.

        “Bri, I’m here,” Brian said.

        “Come back in an hour,” Britney said.

        “Bri, I’m already here,” Brian said.

        “Then let yourself in and don’t come upstairs!” Britney said as Nick ran his hands down her body.

        “Are you still in bed?” Brian asked.

        “Just do what I asked, Brian, god!” Britney said hanging up as Nick kissed her deeply as he pushed himself inside her. She wrapped her legs around his waist and pushed him deeper inside her body.  She came around him and he kissed her deeply muffling her cry as he came inside her, spilling his love into her body. He laid on top of her and kissed her softly.  He moved and she got up and got dressed and put her hair up and went downstairs. She found Brian out by the pool.

        “Okay, so what is so important about singing lessons, I don’t want to sing, if I ever do, I’ll talk to my husband,” Britney said sitting down.

        “Bri, you are my sister, you can sing, it’s in our blood, if I can sing, so can you,” Brian said.

        “Can Harold sing, can Mom and Dad sing, I think you are only one in the immediate family who can,” Britney said. Brian looked at her.

        “Have you really tried,” Brian said.

        “Brian, I taped myself singing along with a song and I sound terrible,” Britney said.

        “Come on,” Brian said pulling her inside and pulling her to the studio Nick had in the house. Nick came downstairs and saw them go in and followed.

        “What’s the deal,” Nick said.

        “I want to hear her sing,” Brian said.

        “Brian, she doesn’t want to,” Nick said.

        “Brian, I don’t want to sing,” Britney said.

        “Britney, just once, and I won’t bother you again about it,” Brian said. Britney sighed and sat down. He found a song and played the music and Britney sang the song. After she was done, she sat there looking at her brother and her husband.

Chapter 14

Britney sat there looking at her husband and brother and the look on their faces.

        “See, I told you, I’m terrible!” Britney said.

        “Bri, no, you were amazing!” Brian said. He played back and they listened. Her eyes widened.

        “What did you do to it, because I have listened to myself sing and it was horrible,” Britney said.

        “Bri, when did you tape yourself?” Brian asked.

        “Ten years ago,” Britney said. Nick came over and cupped her face in his hands.

        “You were amazing, you have the voice,” Nick said.

        “Bri, your voice changes over time, you may sound horrible but after awhile, your voice gets better,” Brian said. Britney looked at him and Nick.

        “So what now, you want me to get a record deal or something, because that would be a big no,” Britney said.

        “Bri, you have what it takes,” Brian said.

        “No, I hate crowds, I won’t last one second onstage, no,” Britney said. She went out of the room.

        “Nick,” Brian said.

        “Let her make her choice, don’t force her,” Nick said.

        “What are you doing today?” Brian asked.

        “Going shopping with J and D,” Nick said.

        “I’ll spend the day with my sis, just hanging out, no pressuring her, just brother/sister time,” Brian said.

        “Good, I don’t want to come home to a pissed off wife,” Nick said.

        “You are in love, aren’t you,” Brian said.

        “Yeah, I am, and she’s in love with me, and we made love for the first time last night and we were making love this morning when you showed up,” Nick said.

        “That’s why she said don’t come upstairs,” Brian said.

        “Yeah, she is the one for me,” Nick said. The doorbell rang. They went out as Britney answered it and AJ and Howie came in and hugged her.

        “Yo, Kaos, ready to go,” AJ said.

        “Yeah,” Nick said.

        “Bri, I’m sorry, want to hang out, just the two of us,” Brian said.

        “Yeah,” Britney said. Nick kissed her and left with AJ and Howie. Brian hugged her and they went out to hang by the pool.

Chapter 15

Nick, AJ, and Howie went to the mall. Nick walked into Sports Authority and saw Matt.

        “Hey Matt,” Nick said.

        “Hey Nick, what’s up,” Matt said.

        “Not much, how are you doing,” Nick said.

        “I’m good, how’s Bri?” Matt asked.

        “Good, we are in love,” Nick said.

        “That’s great,” Matt said smiling. 

        “Yeah, and the marriage is official,” Nick said.

        “That’s great, man, I’m happy for you guys, really, and I’m glad she is back with her real family, I grew up thinking that she was my real cousin, my parents and aunt and uncle never said anything to me about her being adopted,” Matt said.

        “Well, she’s happy, she’s hanging out with Brian today,” Nick said.

        “Can I call her?” Matt asked.

        “You can come over anytime, just call first, she still considers you family, we both do,” Nick said.

        “Thanks, man,” Matt said.

        “Um, you don’t know her ring size do you?” Nick asked. Matt smiled.

        “7, I remember because we got our class rings at the same time,” Matt said.

        “Thanks,” Nick said. They shook hands and Nick left and went to the jewelry store and got rings for him and Britney. He left and caught up with AJ and Howie at the music store.  Nick was looking through music when he heard a voice next to him.

        “Hi Nicky,” he heard her say and he looked and saw his ex-girlfriend, Willa.

        “Hi,” Nick said as he continued looking at music.

        “I heard you got married,” Willa said.

        “Yeah, I did,” Nick said.

        “I got married, too,” Willa said.

        “That’s cool,” Nick said.

        “But I still have feelings for you,” Willa said.

        “You do,” Nick said.

        “Yeah, I was wondering if we could get together and talk,” Willa said.

        “I’m busy, with my wife,” Nick said.

        “Where is she?” Willa asked looking around.

        “She’s not here, she’s at home, hanging with Brian,” Nick said.

        “And you aren’t worried about her being alone with him,” Willa said.

        “Obviously you didn’t hear the news, my wife is Brian’s sister, she was taken from Jackie and Harold when she was two years old and she found out that she was adopted and took a blood test and found out she was Brian’s sister, there is nothing to be worried about,” Nick said looking at her.

        “Yo, Kaos, time to go,” AJ said coming up to them.

        “I’m coming, goodbye Willa, have a nice life,” Nick said. He followed Howie and AJ out of the store.

Chapter 16

Nick walked into the house and looked around and went into the kitchen and saw Britney cutting up some vegetables. He smiled and stood behind her and wrapped his arms around her and put his chin on her shoulder.

        “Hey,” Nick said burying his face in her neck.

        “Hey,” Britney said smiling. She put the knife down and turned in his arms and hugged him.

        “We need to talk,” Nick said.

        “About what?” Britney said. Nick took her hand and led her into the living room and sat down on the couch and pulled her into his lap.

        “I need to tell you this before you see it on the news or in papers, while I was at the mall, I ran into Willa,” Nick said. Britney looked at him.

        “That’s it?” Britney asked.

        “She still has feelings for me, she said, she is married, but still has feelings for me, but I don’t have any feelings for her anymore, I wanted to tell you the truth before it got out into the press, I wanted to be honest with you, nothing happened, I looked at music, she talked to me,” Nick said.

        “I believe you, and I guess Howie and AJ were nearby,” Britney said.

        “Yeah, they saw the whole thing, so if you didn’t believe me, they would back up my story,” Nick said.

        “Okay, then,” Britney said starting to get up. Nick kept her in his lap.

        “I got something for you,” Nick said reaching into his pocket. He pulled out two ring boxes.  She took one and opened it and saw two rings, one solid gold band and one gold band with a diamond.

        “Nick,” Britney said. Nick slid them on her finger.

        “Perfect fit,” Nick said smiling.

        “How did you know my ring size?” Britney asked.

        “Matt told me,” Nick said.

        “You talked to Matt,” Britney said.

        “Yeah,” Nick said. Britney nodded and opened the other box and saw a gold band. She slid it on his finger.

        “It’s official,” Nick said. Britney smiled and kissed him deeply.

        “I decided to sing, Brian got Mom on board in convincing me to sing,” Britney said.

        “He brought in the big guns, huh, can’t say no to Mom,” Nick said.

        “No, I can’t,” Britney said.

        “I’m with you no matter what,” Nick said.

        “Good, because I’m scared,” Britney said.

        “It’ll be okay, I’m here for you,” Nick said. Britney kissed him and rested against him.

Chapter 17

The next day, Nick and Britney walked into the studio where the guys were recording their new album. Brian, AJ, and Howie hugged her and Nick went with them to work. Britney sat down with Leighanne and they talked.

        “So Brian got Jackie to get you to sing, huh,” Leighanne said.

        “Yeah, Nick supports me no matter what,” Britney said. Leighanne smiled.

        “You guys are in love, aren’t you,” Leighanne said.

        “Yeah, we are,” Britney said playing with her rings. A man walked in.

        “I’m looking for Britney Carter?” he asked.

        “That’s me, can I help you?” Britney asked.

        “This is for you,” he said handing her an envelope. He left. Britney sat down and opened it and read the papers.

        “Bri,” Leighanne said. Britney put the papers down and covered her face. Leighanne read the papers and ran and got Brian and Nick. They came back. Nick knelt down beside Britney.

        “Bri,” Nick said. She handed him the papers.

        “Nick, what does it say,” Brian said.

        “We aren’t married, the marriage was invalid,” Nick said. Brian read the papers.

        “I thought the marriage couldn’t be ended,” Brian said. Britney looked at Nick.

        “Apparently my adoptive parents were arrested for fraud and anything they did would be invalid, that includes the marriage,” Britney said softly. Matt came in.

        “Bri,” Matt said.

        “Matt,” Britney said. He hugged her.

        “I’m sorry,” Matt said.

        “The whole marriage was a lie,” Britney said.

        “Steve and Laura were arrested, yes, they told the police the truth, that they planned everything, I got community service, and they were behind your kidnapping,” Matt said.

        “What,” Britney said standing up.

        “They kidnapped you from your parents when you were two and made up the story about finding you in the bus station,” Matt said.

        “My whole life was a lie,” Britney said. Nick hugged her. She cried on his shoulder.

        “I better go, got to get the community center,” Matt said. Britney hugged him and he left. Britney sat down.

        “What now,” Britney said.

        “We get married for real, the right way,” Nick said.

        “You want to be married to me,” Britney said.

        “Yes, I do,” Nick said. Britney hugged him.

        “Bri, let’s start planning,” Leighanne said.

        “The press will find out about this,” Brian said.

        “We will counter it,” Nick said. They went back into where AJ and Howie were. Britney and Leighanne started to plan the wedding.

Chapter 18

Nick and Brian came out and saw Britney and Leighanne talking about weddings.

        “Hey ladies, we are done for the day,” Nick said kissing Britney’s cheek.

        “Let’s go,” Britney said. They went out the door and got into the car.

        “Let’s go get married, Nick,” Britney said.

        “Let’s do it,” Nick said smiling. He called Brian and the guys to meet them at the courthouse and they went to the courthouse. They went in and got a marriage license. Brian, Leighanne, Howie, and AJ came in and they went to the justice of the peace. Nick and Britney were married and they made sure the marriage was legal. Nick and Britney hugged everyone and went home. Nick carried Britney into the house and locked up and carried her up the stairs to the bedroom and closed the door. He let her down and kissed her deeply. They removed each other’s clothes and they laid on the bed. He kissed her neck and collarbone. They made love. Afterwards, they laid there holding each other. Britney looked up at Nick. He smiled at her.

        “Nick, we forgot protection,” Britney said.

        “We are married, Bri, if you get pregnant, I will be happy with that, I want to be with you, always,” Nick said.

        “Are you sure,” Britney said.

        “You are the one for me, I know it, and I want to have babies with you,” Nick said. Britney rested her head on his chest and sighed.

        “I just didn’t know if you were ready for kids, or wanted it to be just us for now,” Britney said.

        “When it happens, it happens, I love you, Bri,” Nick said cupping her face in his hands. Britney smiled and they kissed.

        “I love you, too,” Britney said. They heard the doorbell ring. Nick groaned and Britney got up and got dressed. Nick got up and got dressed and followed her downstairs and opened the door and saw a cop standing there. Britney looked at Nick.

        “Britney Hardin?” the cop asked.

        “It’s Carter, Britney Carter,” Britney said.

        “I’m Officer Smith, I was told the marriage was invalid,” the cop said. Nick sighed.

        “We know that, we went to the courthouse and got a marriage license and got married by the justice of the peace and made sure it’s legal this time so she is now Britney Carter, why are you here,” Nick said.

        “Mrs. Carter, you are under arrest,” Officer Smith said. Britney’s eyes widened.

        “Excuse me?” Britney said.

        “You have got to be kidding,” Nick said.

        “I’m sorry, but I’m not,” Officer Smith said.

        “What for?” Britney asked.

        “Fraud, your parents said you were the mastermind behind the marriage deal,” Officer Smith said.

        “They are not my parents, they kidnapped me when I was two years old from my parents, my brother is Brian Littrell,” Britney said.

        “Brian Littrell, as in Backstreet Boys,” Officer Smith said. Britney nodded.

        “Yeah, and got the blood test to prove it, Officer Smith, my wife was not involved in the whole marriage thing, she didn’t know about it until the papers were delivered to her, she is innocent here, she didn’t do anything,” Nick said.

        “I have my orders, I’m sorry,” Officer Smith said.

        “I will bring her to the station myself, okay, so we can clear this up,” Nick said. He grabbed his keys and wallet and went out and got into his car with Britney and followed Officer Smith to the station, calling Brian on the way.

Chapter 19

They walked in and saw Steve and Laura. Britney glared at them.

        “Why are you doing this to me, you know I had nothing to do with all this crap,” Britney said.

        “You’re releasing them?” Nick asked Officer Smith.

        “We made a deal with them,” Officer Smith said.

        “They kidnapped her, they set up the whole marriage thing, Matt said they confessed!” Nick said.

        “Nick, you were conned, by Britney,” Laura said.

        “Bullshit, you are a lying bitch, I had nothing to do with it and you know it!” Britney said.

        “Why are you doing this, she isn’t your daughter, you took her from her family, you have no right to her,” Nick said. Brian came running in. Nick told him everything.

        “Officer Smith, my sister is innocent, they are the ones who should go to jail,” Brian said.

        “Your sister?” Steve asked.

        “Britney is my sister, got the blood tests to prove it, you took her from my family, but you know that part, she was only two years old and you kidnapped her from my family!” Brian said. AJ and Howie came in.  Matt came in.

        “Britney didn’t do anything, Officer Smith, my aunt and uncle are lying to get out of jail, they did everything they confessed to, they are lying about Britney, I grew up with her, I know her, she didn’t do anything,” Matt said.

        “Matthew!” Laura said.

        “Aunt Laura, I’m done lying for you, my parents are coming down here with proof that you kidnapped Britney and set up the marriage,” Matt said.

        “Stop lying, Matt,” Laura said.

        “Why are you doing this?” Britney asked.

        “You deserve to be in jail for what you did,” Laura said. Britney closed her eyes and took a deep breath.

        “I did not do anything, you lying bitch, you did, you kidnapped me when I was two years old and you set up the marriage deal, you set it up and you were so excited that you called reporters and were so happy to announce it, I didn’t want the marriage, Laura, you set it up on your own, Nick and I are married for real this time because I want to be married to him, I grew up thinking you were my parents, you kidnapped me because you wanted a kid, why destroy my life now, huh!” Britney said. Nick hugged her close and she rested her head on his chest.

        “Aunt Laura, please, do what’s right, tell the truth, before my parents get here with the proof,” Matt said. Laura looks at Steve. She sighed.

        “Okay, Britney is innocent, I lied, Steve and I were behind everything,” Laura said.

        “Charges against Britney Carter are dropped, back to jail for you two,” Officer Smith said. He took them away. Britney hugged Matt.

        “Thank you, Matt,” Britney said.

        “You’re welcome,” Matt said.

        “You will always be family to me,” Britney said.

        “Same goes for me,” Matt said.

        “You are our honorary cousin,” Brian said shaking his hand. Matt smiled.

Chapter 20

Nick and Britney arrived home. Nick closed the door and locked it and picked Britney up and carried her upstairs to the bedroom and closed the door and laid her on the bed and got on top of her. They removed each other’s clothes and made love. They laid there holding each other.

        “You are wearing me out,” Britney said resting her head on his chest.

        “I know, but I can’t help it, I want you all the time,” Nick said kissing her forehead.

        “I think we should take a break from making love for awhile, just for a little bit,” Britney said.

        “All right, just for a little bit,” Nick said. They went to sleep holding each other.  The next morning, Britney woke up and saw Nick gone. She got up and got dressed and went downstairs and heard Nick in the living room talking. She went to the doorway and saw him talking to Brian. She stood where they couldn’t see her but she could hear them.

        “Nick, are you saying that you believed Laura and Steve’s lies?” Brian asked.

        “I think for a minute, but then I thought, Bri didn’t want the marriage and she wasn’t jumping all over the chance of making it work, but she was willing to try because I was, but that doesn’t matter, I love her, Frick, I want to be with her forever, she is the one,” Nick said.

        “Well, we all head to the studio tomorrow, Bri will be meeting with Barry tomorrow so she can come with ya,” Brian said.

        “Okay, see ya, Frick,” Nick said. Britney heard the door open and close. Britney walked into the living room. Nick looked up and saw her. She sat down beside him. He pulled her into his lap. Britney straddled his lap.  His hands were on her hips.   They kissed deeply and passionately.  She pulled back and looked at Nick.

        “What’s wrong?” Nick asked.

        “What are you thinking?” Britney asked.

        “Making love,” Nick said.  He began kissing her neck.  She knew he was seducing her. Nick pulled her mouth to his again in a hungry kiss.  He nibbled on her neck and throat eliciting a moan from her.

“I want you, baby,”  He whispered in her ear.  His hand went to her breast and caressed it as he held her body to him with his other hand.  He could feel her weakening to his attentions and it spurred him on.  He knew the power he had over her and he was prepared to use it.

“You’re not playing fair,” Britney mumbled as Nick continued his attack on her senses. 

“I know,” Nick said before his lips captured hers again, thrusting his tongue into her mouth and she finally responded in kind.   He moaned into her mouth as their tongues dueled, teased, tasted, trying their best to drive each other crazy.  Nick broke the kiss and spoke into her neck as he nibbled on her earlobe.

“I want you too much to play fair.”  He took her hand and placed in on his erection. 

“Please, I need you so badly right now,” With his hand on her throat, he used his thumb pushing her chin, tilting her head so he could caress her throat with tender lips. As soon as Nick caressed her tender spot on her throat with his tongue and tender lips, she was all his.  She was so far gone, he could have carried her outside and taken her in the front yard for all she cared.  His lips and hands felt so good all she wanted was for him to keep doing what he was doing.  She knew he was seducing her so she would give in and make love, and she really didn’t care anymore.  All she cared about was how this wonderful blond God was making her feel.  His lips traveled back to her ear and he whispered his love for her and what he wanted to do to her….. for her….. with her.   His kisses were greedy and his hands seemed to be everywhere. Her soft moaning made him want her even more.  She was breathing faster and clutching at him, letting him know he had finally gotten to her. 

“I want to be cocooned inside you where heaven is Baby,  I want to love you and be loved by you,” He whispered in her ear.   She put her hands on his shoulders and pushed him back. Their eyes locked in an unspoken conversation.  Finally, she stood up and pulled her clothes off, throwing them behind her.   She pulled off his shirt. She bent over and put her hands on Nick’s shorts. He smiled and raised his bottom off the couch and she pulled them off him, leaving Nick sitting on the couch naked with his length at full attention.  She took in the grandeur of his body and the part of him that cried out for attention. 

“Do you hurt at all?” She asked him.  Nick held his length in his hand. 

“This is the only part of me that hurts and it hurts because it needs to be buried deep inside you,” Nick said. She got back on his lap in the same position that she had just left.

“I love you,” she said before she captured his lips.   As they continued to kiss, Nick pulled her hips as close as he could get them and rocked his hips so his length rubbed against her wetness, massaging her nubbin, finally sending her to that place where she would only find contentment if Nick was buried deep within her.  She could take no more. She rose to her knees kissing Nick hard. 

“Now Nick,” He guided her down onto his length, dragging soft moans from both of them as he filled her. Nick pulled her mouth to his in a ravenous kiss that lasted and lasted as she began to move on him with his hands guiding her hips showing her just what he wanted.  He pulled her closer and held her tighter as she wrapped her arms around his head and neck, cradling his head to her. There was very little room to move, but it didn’t seem to bother them.  As long as they were together, in each other’s arms, connected and their bodies pressed together as close as they could be, they were content. Soon, their passion intensified into an urgency that took control.  Their hands touched, caressed, clawed and clutched at each other.  Her soft moans as he pleasured her drove him even further to the point of desperately needing to find release. 

“I love you Bri,” He whispered into her neck as he devoured it.  “I didn’t think it was possible to love someone this much, but, my God, I do love you,”  Hearing the need in Nick’s voice, her eyes welled up.  She held him even tighter as she took him deep within her with stronger and more forceful movements.  When Nick’s hands went to her hips pulling them down even harder as he began to thrust up so hard, his bottom came off the couch then crashed back down only to thrust up again, she was hit by an orgasm so intense she actually felt dizzy. 

“Ohhhhooo,” Britney moaned.

Feeling her walls stroke him with vice like strength, Nick lost all control, growling as he thrust up one final time, finding his release with wave after wave of his seed spurting deep within her, as he whimpered. He clutched her so tightly; he lost himself in her, as tears filled his eyes from the intensity of his emotions. 

“God Nick. That was......” Britney said.

“I know, pretty incredible.” Nick said.

They held each other, rocking gently, soothing each other, loving each other.  Both with their head on the other’s shoulders. 

“I love you Nick,”  she whispered into Nick’s neck. 

“I love you,”  Nick pulled back and looked at her with teary eyes.  He cupped her face and gently kissed her, then pulled her to him again.  They laid down on the couch and went to sleep. 

Chapter 21

The next morning, Nick woke up and saw he was on the couch. He got up and got dressed and went looking for Britney. He found her out back, sitting there staring at the pool. He sat down beside her.

        “I heard you and Brian talking,” Britney said.

        “Why didn’t you say anything?” Nick asked.

        “I don’t know,” Britney said.

        “Bri,” Nick said.

        “I have no reason to lie to you, Nick, I could never lie to you about anything,” Britney said. Nick pulled her close.

        “I know, baby, I know, I believe in you, I had that one doubt in my mind for a minute, but that’s it, I love you so much, even if we didn’t get those papers saying we were married, when you came into the venue, I knew you were the one for me, if you didn’t get those papers, I would have asked you out,” Nick said. Britney smiled and he kissed her deeply.  He laid on the lounge chair and she laid on top of him as they continued kissing. He got up holding her and carried her inside and he locked the doors and carried her up to the bedroom and laid her on the bed and got on top of her and removed her clothes and his and he made love to her. He laid on top of her afterwards and kissed her deeply. They heard the doorbell ring. Nick groaned and got up and got dressed and went downstairs and opened the door and saw Brian, Kevin, AJ, and Howie standing there.

        “Hey guys, what’s up,” Nick said. They came in. Britney came downstairs dressed.

        “Hey guys,” Britney said. They hugged her.

        “Hey sis,” Brian said.

        “Hey cuz,” Kevin said

        “Hey Bri,” Howie and AJ said.

        “So what brings you guys by?” Britney said as Nick hugged her to him.

        “Band meeting,” Brian said.

        “Do you guys want drinks?” Britney asked.

        “Water,” Kevin said hugging her before going into the living room.

        “Tea if you have it,” Howie said hugging her before following Kevin.

        “Water,” Brian said hugging her and following them.

        “Water,” AJ said as he hugged her and followed Brian. Britney looked at Nick.

        “Coke,” Nick said kissing her forehead. She went into the kitchen. She got the drinks and went into the living room and handed out drinks and started to leave the room when Nick grabbed her and pulled her into his lap.

Chapter 22

Britney rested her head against Nick’s shoulder. Brian, Howie, AJ, and Kevin smiled.

        “So what brings you guys by?” Britney asked.

        “First, Kevin has something to ask us, he would say anything until we all were together,” Brian said. Kevin looked at them and stood up.

        “I would like to come back to the group, I miss you guys, I miss singing and everything, I miss it all,” Kevin said. Brian, Howie, AJ, and Nick looked at each other. Britney got up and hugged Kevin. She looked at the guys.

        “Guys, this is a no thinker, I know you guys want him back in,” Britney said.

        “Guys,” AJ said.

        “Welcome back, Kevin,” Howie, Nick, Brian, and AJ said at the same time. They got up and hugged Kevin. 

        “Let’s have a barbecue,” Britney said. The guys agreed and Brian called Leighanne while Kevin called Kristin. Howie called Leigh. They arrived and they all went out back and hung out. That night, after everyone left. Britney cleaned up the kitchen and went upstairs and got into the shower. She was washing her hair when she heard curtain move and Nick got into the shower with her. She finished washing her hair and turned to him and smiled. He smiled and pulled her close and kissed her deeply. He turned her away from him and bent her down and she put her hands on the shower walls as he got her into position and pushed himself inside her. He held her hips as he went fast and hard. He came inside her. They finished showering and got up and dried off and he picked her up and carried her into the bedroom and laid her on the bed and got on top of her and got inside her again. She wrapped her legs around his waist and held onto him as they moved together. He kissed her deeply as he came, spilling his love for her inside her body. He laid on top of her and kissed her and held her face in his hands.

        “I love you so much, I can’t stop making love to you, I don’t ever want to stop,” Nick said kissing her lips softly.

        “I love you, too, and I don’t want to stop either,” Britney said. He kissed her deeply and moaned as their tongues met in a passionate duel. They went to sleep holding each other.

Chapter 23

Britney woke up the next morning and saw Nick still asleep. She got up and got dressed and went downstairs to make breakfast. She was in the middle of cooking when she felt arms around her waist and lips on her neck.

        “Morning, baby,” Nick said nuzzling her neck.

        “Morning, sexy man,” Britney said.

        “You have too many clothes on,” Nick said running his hands up her shirt. He removed her shirt and bra and removed her pants and underwear and pulled her against him. He ran his hands up and cupped her breasts and nibbled her shoulder.

        “I’m trying to fix breakfast,” Britney said. Nick turned everything off and turned her around and pulled her close to him. He kissed her deeply.

        “I’m hungry for you,” Nick said as he grabbed her bottom and pressed against her. He lifted her up and pressed her against the wall and pushed inside her. She held onto him as he went fast and hard. He captured a nipple in his mouth and sucked it. She cried out his name as she came around him. He came spilling himself deep inside her. He held her there against the wall, not moving. He let her down and she kissed him hungrily and she got dressed and finished cooking breakfast. He went up and put boxers on and she smiled and went up and changed and came back down in a long shirt.  She sat in his lap and kissed him softly. He held her in his lap.

        “Just so you know, this shirt is all I have on,” Britney said. Nick moaned and kissed her hungrily. The phone rang. Nick groaned. Britney reached over and picked it up.

        “Hello,” Britney said.

        “Hey sis, where are you guys,” Brian said.

        “Home,” Britney said.

        “You guys were supposed to be here at the studio an hour ago,” Brian said. Britney looked at the time.

        “Oh crap,” Britney said.

        “You guys okay?” Brian asked.

        “Yeah, we’re fine, lost track of time, we were a little busy,” Britney said as Nick nibbled her ear.

        “Are you guys coming down here,” Brian said. Britney put her hand over the phone and told Nick. He took the phone.

        “Hey Brian, we aren’t coming down today, I’m not feeling so good,” Nick said.

        “You okay, Frack?” Brian asked.

        “My stomach is a little upset, Bri’s getting ready to make me some soup,” Nick said moving his hand up and down Britney’s leg.

        “Okay, Frack, get better soon, I’ll call later to check up on ya, okay,” Brian said.

        “Thanks, man, bye,” Nick said. He hung up and put the phone down and kissed Britney. They ate breakfast and cleaned up and Nick picked Britney up and carried her up to the bedroom and laid her on the bed and removed her shirt and took off his boxers and he made love to her. They went to sleep holding each other. They woke up two hours later and made love again. They continued making love for the rest of the day.

Chapter 24

They laid there kissing after making love when they heard the doorbell rang. Nick groaned and Britney got up and got dressed and went downstairs and opened the door and saw Brian and Kevin.

        “Hey sis,” Brian said.

        “Hey cuz,” Kevin said. They came in.

        “Hey guys, what brings you by?” Britney asked.

        “We came to see how Nick was feeling,” Brian said.

        “He’s a little better,” Britney said.

        “He wasn’t really sick, was he?” Kevin asked.

        “He was, Kev,” Britney said. They went upstairs and saw Nick in bed.

        “Nick,” Brian said.

        “Hey guys,” Nick said. Britney sat down on the bed.

        “Nick, were you really sick or did you just want to stay home today,” Brian said.

        “I was sick, my stomach is still a little upset,” Nick said. Brian and Kevin looked at each other.

        “Nick, I know when you are lying,” Brian said.

        “Brian, he was sick, his stomach was upset, he just woke up from a nap,” Britney said.

        “Why are you two lying to us?” Brian asked. Britney looked at Nick. He sighed.

        “Okay, I wasn’t sick, okay, I wanted to stay home because I wanted to be with my wife, all right!” Nick said. He crossed his arms and looked out the window.

        “Nick, Britney was going to come with you,” Brian said. Nick looked at him.

        “He wanted to spend the day in bed with me, Brian, okay,” Britney said.

        “Oh, well, I guess you two couldn’t do whatever you did at the studio, huh,” Brian said.

        “Nope,” Britney said cuddling up with Nick.

        “Well, we understand, just don’t lie next time, be honest, we would have understood, you guys will be there tomorrow, won’t you,” Brian said.

        “Yeah, we will,” Nick said kissing Britney’s forehead. Britney got up and walked her brother and cousin down stairs. Kevin went out the door. Brian stood there with Britney. She looked at him.

        “You two spent the day making love, didn’t you,” Brian said.

        “Yeah,” Britney said.

        “You two are really in love,” Brian said.

        “Yeah, we are, I can’t imagine my life without him,” Britney said. Brian kissed her forehead.

        “See ya tomorrow, sis,” Brian said.

        “Bye bro,” Britney said. Brian went out the door. Britney closed the door and leaned against it.

Chapter 25

The next day, Britney and Nick walked into the studio hand in hand. They saw Brian, Leighanne, Howie, Leigh, Kevin, Kristin, and AJ there. They all saw them and faced them.

        “Hey guys, sorry about yesterday,” Nick said. The guys and girls just looked at them.

        “What’s wrong,” Britney said.

        “We just found out something,” Brian said.

        “What,” Nick said.

        “You have met Britney before, Nick,” Brian said.

        “Uh, she’s my wife,” Nick said.

        “I meant before the first time we met her, when she came to get measurements at the venue,” Brian said.

        “What are you talking about?” Nick asked.

        “Do you recall dating a girl named Britney, and you couldn’t see her anymore because her father had forbidden it,” Brian said.

        “Yeah, so,” Nick said.

        “You are married to that Britney,” Brian said.

        “What,” Nick said.

        “Brian, what are you talking about?” Britney asked.

        “You had surgery on your face, that’s why none of us recognized you from before,” Brian said.

        “Brian, I never met any of you guys before that night at the venue,” Britney said.

        “Britney, don’t lie to me,” Brian said. Britney shook her head.

        “You are the one who is lying, the first time I met Nick was the night I met you guys, Brian, you are my brother!” Britney said.

        “Bri,” Matt said.

        “Matt, what are you doing here?” Britney asked.

        “Brian asked me to come, he’s telling the truth, only half of it,” Matt said.

        “What are you talking about, will someone tell me!” Britney said.

        “Bri, 10 years ago, you were in a horrible car accident, no one thought you were going to make it, you needed reconstructive surgery on your face because it was so messed up from the accident, and you lost your memory, you can’t remember that you had met Nick before,” Matt said. Britney shook her head and sat down.

        “That can’t be right, it can’t be true, if it was, why didn’t Steve and Laura say anything and if it was true, Nick would have remembered them, but when he met them, he didn’t say anything about knowing them, right,” Britney said looking at Nick. He shook his head.

        “Britney, after you had surgery on your face, they had surgery on their faces, that’s why Nick didn’t remember them because they changed their looks,” Matt said.

        “Oh god!” Britney said covering her face with her hands.

        “I’m sorry, Bri,” Matt said.

        “If it’s true, why did it end!” Britney said.

        “Because your father never wanted you to see Nick again, he said he was all wrong for you,” Matt said.

        “If that was true, why did they have you set up the marriage!” Britney said.

        “To make up for what they did, because you were only 19 at the time,” Matt said. Britney covered her face and cried. She looked at Nick. He came over and knelt down in front of her.

        “I love you and I’m never leaving you, ever, we are together forever,” Nick said kissing her hands. She pulled him into a room and looked around and closed the door and locked it. She pushed him against the wall and kissed him deeply. He held her close to him. She pushed down his pants and boxers and wrapped her hands around his length and he moaned. She licked the tip and took him into her mouth. He put his hands in her hair and rested his head against the wall as she took him deep into her mouth. He moaned and came in her mouth. She swallowed every drop and let him slip from her mouth and she stood up and wiped her mouth with her hand and he pulled her close to him and kissed her deeply as he ran his hand down her pants and found her center and pushed two fingers inside her. She rested her head against his shoulder as he moved his fingers within her. She came all over his hand and he pulled his hand out and licked his hand. She pulled his clothes off and he pulled hers off and he turned her around to face away from him and bent her over and pushed himself inside her. He held her hips as he went fast and hard. She came around him and he came spilling himself deep inside her. They didn’t move for awhile. He ran his hands down her back and over her bottom and she moved and turned around and pressed her body against him. They kissed hungrily.

        “I love you so much,” Britney said running her hands down his chest.

        “I love you, too, baby,” Nick said kissing her deeply. They got dressed. They went out and saw everyone sitting around.

        “You guys okay now,” Brian said smiling.

        “Oh yeah, um, we are going home,” Nick said. He pulled Britney out the door. The guys shook their heads and smiled and they all went home.

Chapter 26

Britney stood there in the bathroom looking at the tiny stick in her hand. She put it down with the other three and sighed. She went out and saw Nick lying on the bed.

        “Well?” Nick asked.

        “All positive, we’re pregnant,” Britney said. Nick got up and kissed her deeply.

It has been two months since they were in the studio and found out the truth from Brian and Matt. Nick and Britney had gotten closer ever since that day and had been making love every night. Britney had a meeting with Barry and was signed a record deal. She had already recorded one song and Brian and Kevin were in the process of writing more songs. She put singing on hold when she came down with what she thought was the flu. Now that she knew what it was, everything was different. She was having a baby with her husband. Nick pulled back and smiled at her.

        “I better go to the doctor to confirm it, sometimes those tests aren’t accurate,” Britney said.

        “I’ll go with you,” Nick said. Britney smiled and they went to the doctor. Dr. Kelly ran tests on her and left the room. Britney held Nick’s hand.

        “So if I am pregnant, do you want a boy or a girl?” Britney asked.

        “Either one is fine with me, if it’s a boy, great, if it’s a girl, my little princess,” Nick said kissing her hand. Dr. Kelly came back and looked at them.

        “Britney, you are two and a half months pregnant,” Dr. Kelly said.

        “Really?” Britney said.

        “Yeah,” Dr. Kelly said. She told Britney what to do and Britney made an appointment for the first of the monthly checkups and Britney and Nick left and went home and called everyone over. Brian, Leighanne, Howie, Leigh, Kevin, Kristin, and AJ sat down in the living room. Britney and Nick stood holding hands.

        “We have some news,” Britney said.

        “Britney and I are having a baby!” Nick said. They all cheered and hugged them. Brian hugged Britney.

        “I’m going to be an uncle, congrats, sis, I love you,” Brian said.

        “Love you, too, bro, I better call Mom and Dad,” Britney said. She went into the kitchen. Brian went over to Nick and they hugged.

        “Congrats, Frack, you take good care of my sis and niece or nephew, okay,” Brian said.

        “You know I will, Frick,” Nick said. Britney came back in and hugged Nick.

        “Honey,” Nick said.

        “Mom and Dad are happy, they can’t wait to be grandparents, they are coming down here,” Britney said.

That night after everyone left, Britney took a shower and came out and put on a nightgown and got into bed. Nick came in and got a shower and put on a pair of boxers and got into bed and laid there facing Britney. He put a hand on her stomach and smiled.

        “I love you,” Nick said.

        “I love you, too,” Britney said. He leaned up and kissed her softly. The kiss deepened and he leaned over her and placed soft kisses on her lips and moved to her neck and he removed her nightgown and his boxers and he moved on top of her and kissed her neck and moved down to her chest and licked and sucked her breasts. He moved down and placed soft kisses on her stomach. He removed her panties and moved his face down between her legs and licked her and he thrusted his tongue inside her.

        “Oh god, Nick!” Britney said. She came into his mouth and he moved up and kissed her deeply letting her taste herself. He laid between her legs and gently pushed himself inside her. He moved deep inside her and she came around him and he came spilling himself inside her. He laid beside her and pulled her into his arms.

        “I love you so much,” Nick said breathing heavily.

        “I love you, too,” Britney said. They went to sleep holding each other. Nick rested a hand on her stomach and stroked it.

Chapter 27

The next day they went to the studio and walked in. Brian came over and hugged Britney.

        “How are you feeling today, sis?” Brian said as they sat down to talk.

        “I’m good,” Britney said.

        “I can’t wait to be an uncle,” Brian said.

        “And you will be a great uncle, too,” Britney said.

        “Kevin and I got a couple of songs for you if you want to read them,” Brian said. He handed her a couple sheets of paper and she read them and smiled.

        “They are good,” Britney said.

        “I’m surprised you are going for a country type sound,” Brian said.

        “Well, I like country music, pop music isn’t me, I’m more of a country girl,” Britney said.

        “How about country with a pop edge to it,” Brian said.

        “As long as people like the songs, it’s okay,” Britney said. Britney looked over the songs. Nick sat there talking to Kevin and watching her.

        “Nick, you okay, man,” Kevin said.

        “I love her so much, Kev, I’m crazy about her,” Nick said. Kevin smiled.

        “We know that,” Kevin said.

        “I want her all the time, I can’t stop wanting her all the time, it’s like I have to make love to her all the time, I can’t stop,” Nick said.

        “Does she want you to stop?” Kevin asked.

        “One time she said we should take a break, I said okay, but then I seduced her later on, I thought I would stop once she was pregnant, but I can’t, I am addicted to making love to my wife,” Nick said.

        “Nick, you can’t help how you feel,” Kevin said.

        “I have never felt this way about anyone, she is my soulmate, I know she is,” Nick said.

        “Nick!” Brian called. Nick looked and saw Britney holding her stomach.

        “Bri,” Nick said running to her and kneeling down beside her. Kevin followed.

        “Something’s wrong!” Britney said crying. Nick picked her up and carried her out the door with the guys following. They went to the hospital and she was put in a room. Dr. Kelly came in and examined Britney. Nick held her hand as they waited for the news. Dr. Kelly looked over the tests and looked at them.

        “I’m sorry, Britney, I’m afraid you had a miscarriage,” Dr. Kelly said.

        “Oh god!” Britney said crying. Nick hugged her to him as she cried softly. Dr. Kelly released her and Nick pushed Britney out in a wheelchair. The guys stood up.

        “What happened?” Brian asked. Britney reached out for him and Brian hugged her.

        “Nick,” Kevin said. Nick shook his head.

        “I miscarried,” Britney said crying.

        “Oh sis,” Brian said kissing her forehead.

        “I’ll be okay, just need some time to get over this,” Britney said softly. She looked up at Nick. He leaned down and kissed her softly. They all went home.

Chapter 28

Britney laid in bed looking out the window. Nick brought her a glass of water. She took a drink and laid down. Nick laid behind her and pulled her against him and held her close. She sighed.

        “We won’t give up, sweetheart, I know you want a baby, so do I, we won’t stop trying,” Nick said kissing her neck. She smiled.

        “I don’t want to stop, Dr. Kelly said to wait a couple of months before trying again,” Britney said.

        “So we can’t make love until then?” Nick asked.

        “Let’s give me time to heal before doing it again, we have been making love nonstop and as much as I don’t want to stop doing that, we should take a break and just enjoy being in each other’s arms,” Britney said.

        “I love you so much,” Nick said.

        “I love you, too,” Britney said. She looked at him and he kissed her deeply.

The next day, Britney and Nick walked into the studio. Brian hugged Britney.

        “You doing okay, sis?” Brian asked.

        “Yeah, I’m fine, Nick and I aren’t going to give up,” Britney said.

        “When are you going to get started again?” Brian asked. Britney smiled.

        “Giving me time to heal, Dr. Kelly said two months, we can start trying again,’ Britney said.

        “That’s good,” Brian said.

        “I don’t know what I would do if I lost him, Brian,” Britney said looking at Nick who was talking with AJ and Howie. Brian smiled.

        “You won’t lose him, he loves you too much,” Brian said. Britney smiled.

        “I love him so much,” Britney said. Brian smiled and they started going over songs. The door opened and Willa walked in.

        “What the hell are you doing here!” Kevin said.

        “I need to talk to Nick,” Willa said.

        “I don’t want to talk to you,” Nick said.

        “We have to,” Willa said.

        “Fine, just say what you came to say and leave,” Nick said. Willa looked at everyone.

        “You and I are married,” Willa said.

        “I’m married to Britney,” Nick said.

        “I got papers saying the marriage was annulled and you and I are married and I swear I had nothing to do with it,” Willa said. Kevin looked at the papers.

        “She’s right, you guys were married before you legally married Britney,” Kevin said. Nick looked at the papers. He sat down.

        “So all this time, me and Nick weren’t married,” Britney said.

        “You guys made sure it was legal!” Brian said.

        “I guess we weren’t talking to the right person,” Nick said. He threw the papers on the table. Brian looked at them and read them.

        “It says it can’t be annulled and can’t get a divorce, you two are stuck,” Brian said.  Nick looked at Britney. Britney ran to another room and closed the door and locked it and leaned against the door and slid down the door sobbing. There was knocking at the door.

        “Bri, sis, it’s me,” Brian said.

        “And me, cuz,” Kevin said. She moved over and unlocked the door. Brian and Kevin came in and closed it and locked it. They saw her and Brian knelt down and took her into his arms.

        “I lost everything!” Britney said sobbing on Brian’s shoulder. Kevin knelt down and stroked her head.

        “You have us, sis,” Brian said.

        “Yeah, you have me, Brian, Leighanne, Howie, Leigh, Kristin, and AJ,” Kevin said.

        “I lost Nick, I lost my soulmate!” Britney cried.

        “You know he has to go with her,” Brian said.

        “I know, why is this happening!” Britney said crying.

        “I don’t know, but AJ went to get Matt,” Kevin said. There was a knock at the door. Brian opened it and saw Nick standing there. Brian hugged him. He and Kevin left them alone. Britney sat there sobbing. Nick knelt down in front of her.

        “I’m sorry, baby, I wish there was a way out of this, I so much want to be with you,” Nick said.

        “I know,” Britney said crying. Nick pulled her into his arms.

        “You are my life, my heart, my soulmate, I love you more than anything, I will do what I can to come back to you, I promise you,” Nick said. Britney nodded. He kissed her deeply. He hugged her. She cried as she held onto him. He got up and went out the door. Britney sat there crying as her heart walked out the door with Willa.

Chapter 29

Brian took Britney home to his house and they walked in and Leighanne hugged her. They helped her up to the room Leighanne made up for her. She laid on the bed and curled up into a ball and cried. Brian covered her with a blanket and left the room with Leighanne.

        “Who keeps doing this,” Leighanne said.

        “I suspect it was the last thing Steve and Laura did  before getting arrested,” Brian said.

        “Why do they keep trying to destroy Britney’s life?” Leighanne said.

        “Because she turned against them when she found out what they did, the first time they set up her and Nick’s marriage, Britney turned her back on them, didn’t thank them or nothing, Britney didn’t want any part of the marriage but made it work when Nick wanted to make it work,” Brian said.

        “We have to do something, Brian,” Leighanne said.

        “I’m calling Officer Davis,” Brian said. He made the call. He hung up and looked at Leighanne.

        “Well?” Leighanne asked.

        “He is looking into it,” Brian said. The doorbell rang. Brian opened it and saw Nick standing there. Brian looked at him. Nick’s eyes were red and his face was tear-stained. Nick had two bags in his hands.

        “I brought Bri’s things,” Nick said. He put them down. Brian hugged him.

        “I called Officer Davis, he is looking into things, I think the marriage thing was the last thing Steve and Laura did before getting arrested,” Brian said.

        “I hope things get fixed, I want to be married to Bri, not Willa,” Nick said. Fresh tears rolled down Nick’s cheeks.  Leighanne came to the door and hugged him. Brian took the bags.

        “I better go, tell Bri that I love her and will do anything to be with her again,” Nick said. He left. Brian took the bags up to Britney’s room and put them down.

        “What’s that,” Britney said.

        “Your bags, Nick brought them by, he said he loves you and he will do anything to be with you again, I called Officer Davis, he is going to look into it,” Brian said.

        “I hate Steve and Laura, they did this, before they were arrested, it had to be them,” Britney said.

        “I think you are right,” Brian said. Brian hugged her and left the room. Britney laid there staring out the window.

Chapter 30

The next day, Britney laid there in bed. Brian came in and sat down on the bed.

        “Hey sis, you coming?” Brian asked.

        “Where?” Britney asked.

        “The studio, silly, work on your music,” Brian said.

        “Oh right,” Britney said.

        “You will get to see Nick, I know he wants to see you,” Brian said. Britney got up and got dressed and came out. Brian hugged her.

        “I love you, sis,” Brian said.

        “I love you, too,” Britney said. They went to the studio and walked in and saw Kevin, AJ, and Howie there.

        “Nick isn’t here yet,” Kevin said coming over and hugging Britney. She sat down. Brian sat down and handed her some papers. She went over the music. Brian, Kevin, Howie, and AJ sat at a table and talked.

Nick walked into the studio and saw Brian, Kevin, AJ, and Howie talking. He saw Britney sitting at a table. He went over to her and leaned down. She looked up at him.

        “Hi,” Britney said. Nick smiled and kissed her deeply.

        “Hey baby,” Nick said. He sat down and put some papers in front of her. She read them and looked at him and he nodded. She smiled and moved into his lap and hugged him and kissed his face.

        “Hey, what happened,” Brian said.

        “The papers Willa had, they were fake, my marriage to Britney is legal and holding, we aren’t divorced or annulled, Britney is my wife, not Willa,” Nick said as Britney rested her head on his shoulder.

        “Thank god,” Brian said.

        “Willa and I went to the courthouse this morning, the judge told us the papers were fake, Willa was sent false papers, she didn’t know they were fake, the judge said that Steve and Laura confessed to typing up false papers and sent them to Willa, they did it while they were still in jail, they did it a week ago,” Nick said.

        “So what will happen to them now?” AJ asked.

        “More charges against them, they swore an oath on paper that they will not cause any more trouble for us or Britney,” Nick said.

        “Good,” Brian said.

        “Let’s get to work, guys, and then we will go celebrate,” Kevin said.  Britney got up and pulled Nick up.

        “We’ll be right back,” Britney said as she pulled him to a room and went in and looked around and closed the door and locked it and pushed him against the wall and kissed him hungrily. He pulled her close and deepened the kiss. She ran her hands through his hair. He ran his hands under her shirt.

        “Bri, wait,” Nick said.

        “What,” Britney said.

        “We can’t go any further, remember, you need time to heal,” Nick said.

        “Yeah, I know, but I wanted to make out and didn’t want to do it with the guys there,” Britney said.

        “Good,” Nick said.

        “What exactly happened between you and Willa?” Britney said.

        “Not a damn thing, I refused to share a bed with her and slept in separate rooms, I was in our room with the door locked, I didn’t even touch her, baby, I was faithful,” Nick said kissing her neck.

        “Okay, good, I love you so much,” Britney said.

        “I love you, too, baby, and I’m never letting go of you again,” Nick said. Britney hugged him. There was a knock at the door.

        “What,” Nick said.

        “You guys can make out later, we have work to do,” Brian said. They straightened up and came out. They worked all day. After they were done, they all went to Brian’s house for a barbecue. Nick and Britney curled up together in a lounge chair by the pool.

Chapter 31

That night, Britney and Nick went home.  Nick took her bags up to the bedroom. Britney looked around.  Nick came back downstairs.

        “Baby,” Nick said. 

        “Hmm,” Britney said. Nick picked her up and carried her upstairs.

        “You okay, baby?” Nick said laying her down on the bed and removing her shoes and helping her change and he got ready for bed.

        “Yeah, just tired and happy,” Britney said. Nick smiled.

        “Good, because I want you happy,” Nick said laying beside her and pulling her close.

        “I am happy, and in love,” Britney said. Nick smiled and kissed her deeply.

        “So am I,” Nick said. He kissed her deeply.

        “Nick, I need you,” Britney said softly.

        “Baby, we can’t, I want you to be completely healed, I promise, as soon as you are healed up completely, we will be in this bed making love all day and all night,” Nick said.

        “Okay, I will hold you to that promise,” Britney said.

        “Let’s get some sleep, baby, I want to hold you and never let go,” Nick said. Britney smiled and rested her head on his chest and they went to sleep.  The next morning, Britney woke up and saw Nick still asleep. The phone rang. Britney reached over and picked it up.

        “Hello,” Britney said.

        “Bri, it’s Matt,” Matt said.

        “Matt, hey, what’s up,” Britney said.

        “Can you come down to the police station?” Matt asked. Britney looked at Nick. He was awake.

        “Why?” Britney said.

        “Just come down here, alone,” Matt said. Britney hung up and got up and changed.

        “Baby, what is it,” Nick said.

        “Matt wants me to come down to the station, alone,” Britney said.

        “I’m going with you,” Nick said. He got up and got dressed and they went to the police station. They walked in and saw Matt talking to Officer Davis.

        “Matt, what is going on,” Britney said.

        “I thought you should know, Steve and Laura are dead,” Matt said.

        “What,” Britney said.

        “How?” Nick asked.

        “They hung themselves in their cells, they didn’t want to cause any more trouble and felt the only way to keep from doing that was to die,” Matt said.

        “This isn’t a joke, right?” Britney asked.

        “I never lied to you in my life, Bri,” Matt said.

        “He’s telling the truth,” Officer Davis said.

        “I want to see them,” Britney said.

        “Bri,” Matt said.

        “Mrs. Carter,” Officer Davis said.

        “I want to see them!” Britney said. Officer Davis took her to the jail cells where there were two gurneys. He uncovered the sheets. Britney looked and saw the bodies of Steve and Laura.

        “You two ruined my life too many times, I’m glad you two are gone, maybe things will be better now, goodbye,” Britney said. She walked out and saw Nick. He hugged her.

        “I want to go home,” Britney said resting her head on his chest.

        “Let’s go,” Nick said. They went home.

Chapter 32

Nick and Britney walked into the house and sat down on the couch. Britney straddled Nick’s lap.

        “I love you, Nick,” Britney said.

        “I love you, too,” Nick said. She kissed him hungrily as he held her close to him. They heard the front door open and close.

        “Oh, sorry, guys,” Brian said coming in.

        “It’s okay, B,” Britney said.

        “We just got back from the police station,” Nick said.

        “What happened?” Brian asked.

        “Steve and Laura killed themselves,” Britney said.

        “Oh, you okay, sis?” Brian asked.

        “A part of me is glad they are gone, but another part of me is sad,” Britney said resting her head on Nick’s shoulder. Brian sat down.

        “The part of you feels sad because they raised you,” Brian said.

        “I know,” Britney said. The doorbell rang.

        “I’ll get it, sis,” Brian said. He got up and opened the door and saw a guy standing there.

        “May I help you?” Brian asked. The guy handed him an envelope.

        “This is for Britney Carter,” the guy said. Brian closed the door and went in and handed the envelope to Britney. She opened it and read the papers. She put them down and covered her face with her hands. Brian picked them up.

        “Oh not again,” Brian said.

        “What is it,” Nick said.

        “Papers saying that you and Bri aren’t married and that she’s married to AJ,” Brian said. Nick looked at them.

        “I’m going to check this out,” Nick said. Britney got up and he got up and kissed her and left. Britney sat down.

        “They couldn’t resist sticking it to me one last time,” Britney said. Brian hugged her.

        “Nick will never let you go, he doesn’t want to let you go,” Brian said.

        “I love him so much, I just want to be his wife, and be happy,” Britney said.

        “You will,” Brian said.  Nick came back an hour later and sat down.

        “The papers are fake, again, we are still married, I made sure that nothing will happen to our marriage,” Nick said. Britney got into his lap and hugged him.

        “I love you,” Britney said.

        “I love you, too,” Nick said.

Chapter 33

That night, they went to bed. Britney woke up and heard Nick moaning in his sleep. She laid there listening to him say Willa’s name over and over and moaning her name and smiling and giggling. She couldn’t believe her ears. Her husband was dreaming of his ex-girlfriend. She got up and changed and left and went to Brian’s.  She knocked on the door. The door opened and a sleepy Brian stood there in his boxers. He saw her and she came in.

        “Sis, what’s wrong, it’s one in the morning,” Brian said. Britney shook her head and went and sat on the couch. Brian sat down.

        “I couldn’t sleep, Nick was dreaming, he was moaning, giggling, smiling in his sleep, Brian, he was dreaming of Willa,” Britney said.

        “What!” Brian said.

        “Yeah, he was moaning her name, giggling and smiling, I think something happened between them, he said nothing happened, but I think he’s hiding something or developed feelings for her again,” Britney said crying. Brian hugged her close.

        “Come on, you can sleep here tonight,” Brian said. He went and made another room up and she got into bed and went to sleep. Brian closed the door. Leighanne came out.

        “Brian,” Leighanne said. Brian took her to their bedroom and quietly told her what happened. They went to bed. The next morning, Britney woke up and heard the doorbell ringing. She didn’t move. Brian went downstairs and opened the door and saw Nick.

        “Hey Frack,” Brian said.

        “Hey Frick,” Nick said coming in.

        “Bri’s asleep,” Brian said.

        “What is going on, we went to bed and we were fine, I wake up and she’s gone,” Nick said.

        “You don’t remember anything,” Brian said.

        “Remember what,” Nick said.

        “You were dreaming about Willa, Britney woke up and you were moaning Willa’s name, smiling and giggling,” Brian said.

        “I don’t remember anything about my dream,” Nick said. Britney came downstairs.

        “We need to talk, Nick,” Britney said. Brian left the room. Britney stood there.

        “Bri,” Nick said.

        “What happened between you and Willa?” Britney asked.

        “I told you, nothing happened, I have been completely truthful with you,” Nick said.

        “Why were you dreaming of her?” Britney asked.

        “I don’t know, I don’t remember it, Bri, you are my life, my heart, my soulmate,” Nick said.

        “Nick, it is obvious you still have feelings for her if you are dreaming of her,” Britney said.

        “I don’t have feelings for her!” Nick said.

        “Why were you moaning her name, huh, why were you giggling and smiling and moaning Willa’s name, you have feelings for her still, and we can’t be together until you deal with them, I am going to Kentucky to my parents, I think time apart will do some good, Brian will be keeping tabs on you, you best tell him the truth while I’m gone, you deal with your feelings for Willa,” Britney said. She went out the door. Nick stood there. Brian came in.

        “Do you still have feelings for Willa?” Brian asked.

        “I don’t know, I know one thing, I love your sister more than life itself,” Nick said.

        “You best do something before you lose my sister forever,” Brian said. Nick sat down.

Chapter 34

Britney arrived at her parents’ house and knocked on the door. Jackie opened it and saw her and hugged her.

        “Brian called and told me,” Jackie said.

        “Mom, what do I do, I love him so much, but he’s dreaming of his ex,” Britney said.

        “Honey, just give him time to deal with all of this, Brian said that Nick doesn’t know what he feels, but he loves you more than life itself,” Jackie said.

        “I don’t want to lose him, Mama,” Britney said crying. Jackie hugged her daughter close as she cried.

Meanwhile in Florida…

Nick sat on the beach staring out at the ocean. Brian and Leighanne were sitting down the beach. Willa came up to Nick and sat down.

        “So what is going on, Nick,” Willa said.

        “My wife left me, because I had a dream about you, she said I was moaning, giggling, and smiling, but I don’t remember it,” Nick said.

        “It was just a dream, Nick, you and I know that we have been over for a long time now, and that time we thought we were married, we never touched each other,” Willa said.

        “I know, but she thinks I still have feelings for you,” Nick said.

        “Do you?” Willa asked.

        “No, I don’t, I thought I didn’t know if I did or not, but now, I don’t, the feelings are gone, I have to prove it, she asked Brian to keep an eye on me,” Nick said.

        “Brian!” Willa called to him. Brian and Leighanne came over.

        “Hi Willa,” Brian said.

        “Tell your sister that Nick has been telling her to the truth and he has no feelings for me, he just told me that,” Willa said. Brian looked at Nick who nodded.

        “I have been honest with Britney, Frick, you know I can’t lie to you,” Nick said.

        “Yeah, I know you too well,” Brian said. He went to call Britney. He came back.

        “Well?” Nick asked.

        “She’s coming back,” Brian said. Nick went home to wait for her.

Chapter 35

Nick laid down on the couch and went to sleep. Britney came home and saw Nick asleep on the couch. She went over and knelt down beside him. She ran her hand down his chest and he woke up and saw her and smiled.

        “Hey baby, you’re home,” Nick said cupping her cheek. Britney laid on top of him and kissed him deeply.

        “I love you so much,” Britney said.

        “I love you, too, baby, you are the only one for me, I can’t live without you,” Nick said stroking her cheeks.

        “I don’t ever want to be without you,” Britney said.

        “You have me forever, baby,” Nick said. He kissed her softly. She pulled him up and pulled him up to their bedroom and closed the door and locked it and removed her clothes and his and pushed him on the bed and got on top of him.

        “Bri,” Nick said.

        “I want to just lie here and feel your skin against mine,” Britney said laying on top of him and resting her head on his shoulder.

        “Call Dr. Kelly,” Nick said.

        “Why,” Britney said.

        “Because I need you and I want to make love to you, and I want to make sure we can,” Nick said. Britney made the call. She hung up and looked at him.

        “She said to wait two months to try for another baby, but we can make love if there is protection, she wants me to start birth control pills, but that will be a month before they are effective,” Britney said.

        “What about condoms?” Nick asked.

        “Do you have some?” Britney asked.

        “Nightstand,” Nick said. She reached in and pulled out a silver package.

        “Shall we?” Britney said. He smiled and pulled her down and kissed her deeply. They heard the doorbell ring. Nick groaned. Britney got up and got dressed and went downstairs and opened the door and saw Brian.

        “Hey bro,” Britney said. Brian hugged her.

        “You guys okay?” Brian asked.

        “Yeah, we are,” Britney said.

        “Where’s your hubby?” Brian asked.

        “Upstairs, naked in bed, bad timing, bro,” Britney said. Brian shook his head.

        “As always, I thought you had to wait to be healed,” Brian said.

        “If I want another baby, but we can do it if there is protection,” Britney said.

        “I better go, huh,” Brian said. Britney smiled.

        “I’ll call you later, okay, or I’ll see you tomorrow at the studio,” Britney said. Brian hugged her and left. Britney locked up the house and went upstairs and into the bedroom and closed the door. Nick still laid on the bed, naked and ready for her. She stripped off her clothes and got on the bed. She laid down and he rolled over and leaned over her and kissed her deeply as his hand ran down her body. He slipped two fingers inside her.

        “Nick, please,” Britney said. He slid the condom on and laid between her legs. He pushed inside her. They moved together as she held onto him. She came around him and he came inside her and he laid on top of her and buried his face in her neck.

        “I love you, so much,” Nick said.

        “I love you, too,” Britney said. Nick got up and went to the bathroom and came out and laid back down. He pulled Britney close and kissed her deeply.

Chapter 36

The next day, they went to the studio and walked in holding hands. Brian and Kevin hugged Britney.

        “You guys okay?” Kevin asked.

        “Yeah, we are good,” Britney said as Nick hugged her to him and kissed her forehead.

        “Here are some more songs to go over, Bri,” Brian said handing her some papers.

        “Okay,” Britney said.

        “Nick, let’s get to work,” Brian said. Nick kissed Britney and followed Brian. Britney sat down with Leighanne and Kristin and talked with them while looking over the songs.

        “Brian said that he and Kevin interrupted you and Nick yesterday,” Leighanne said.

        “Yeah,” Britney said. Dr. Kelly came in.

        “Britney,” Dr. Kelly said.

        “Dr. Kelly, hi,” Britney said.

        “Here are your pills, remember they will take a month to be effective,” Dr. Kelly said.

        “Thank you for bringing them by, Dr. Kelly, by the time I got out of here, you would be gone for the day,” Britney said.

        “You’re welcome, Britney, see you next month,” Dr. Kelly said. She left.

        “Birth control pills?” Leighanne asked.

        “Yeah,” Britney said putting them in her purse.

        “Britney, shouldn’t you guys wait to make love when you are healed?” Kristin asked.

        “Dr. Kelly said Nick and I can make love, just be protected,” Britney said.

        “Oh,” Leighanne said.

        “What,” Britney said.

        “Bri, we care about you,” Kristin said.

        “I know, I think I should go,” Britney said.

        “Go where?” Leighanne asked.

        “I don’t know, I have to get out of here,” Britney said. She got up and went out the door. Kristin and Leighanne ran after her but Britney got into a cab. Leighanne and Kristin went in and went to the recording studio and saw the guys and motioned them. They called for a break and came out to them.

        “Girls, what is it,” Kevin said.

        “Britney’s gone, she left, she got into a cab and left, we don’t know where she was going, she said she didn’t know, she said she should go,” Kristin said.

        “What!” Nick said.

        “I’m sorry, Nick, we went after her but she was already in the cab and gone,” Leighanne said. Nick went out the door and went home and saw the house empty and saw her car still in the garage. He made some calls and sat down on the couch and wondered why his wife left him.

Chapter 37

Brian and Kevin went to Kentucky to Brian’s parents house and went in and saw Jackie and Harold sitting there.

        “Mom,” Brian said.

        “Hi baby duck,” Jackie said hugging him.

        “Have you seen Bri?” Brian asked.

        “Or heard from her?” Kevin asked.

        “No, why,” Jackie said.

        “She took off, she had no reason to leave, everything was fine, the girls were talking and then she got up and left, Nick is worried and upset, he won’t leave the house,” Brian said. Jackie looked at Harold.

        “I’m sorry, Brian, we haven’t heard from her,” Jackie said. Brian sat down and looked at his mother.

        “Mom, please, she had to of called you or something, she is my sister, I’m worried sick, we need to know where she is,” Brian said.

        “Brian, I would tell you if I knew, but we haven’t heard from her, she obviously doesn’t want to be found if she hasn’t called me because she would know that I would tell you guys,” Jackie said. Kevin got off the phone.

        “I just talked to Matt, he said she called him but didn’t say where she was,” Kevin said.

        “Mom, if you hear anything or if she comes here, call me immediately,” Brian said.

        “I will,” Jackie said. Brian and Kevin went back to Florida and went to Matt’s. They knocked on the door and Matt opened it.

        “Hey guys,” Matt said.

        “Do you know where my sister is, Matt?” Brian asked.

        “She called from her cell phone, but she didn’t tell me because she probably knew I would tell you, I told her to go home to Nick but she said she couldn’t, she didn’t say why,” Matt said.

        “If you see her, let us know, please,” Brian said.

        “If I see her, I will drag her back to Nick myself,” Matt said. Brian and Kevin left.

Chapter 38

Nick laid on the couch staring at the ceiling. He heard the front door open and close and saw AJ and Howie come in.

        “Hey Nick, Brian and Kevin are on their way back from Kentucky, Jackie and Harold haven’t seen or heard from her, neither has Ann,” AJ said.

        “Why would she leave me,” Nick said.

        “We don’t know, we are hoping she comes back,” Howie said.  The phone rang. Nick grabbed it.

        “Bri,” Nick said hoping it was her.

        “Yeah, it’s me,” Britney said.

        “Thank god, where are you, why did you leave?” Nick asked. He looked at AJ and Howie who sat down.

        “I’m in Orlando at a hotel, I’m coming home,” Britney said.

        “Do you want me to come get you?” Nick asked.

        “If you could,” Britney said.

        “What hotel?” Nick asked.

        “Comfort Suites,” Britney said.

        “I’ll be right there, baby,” Nick said. He hung up and ran out the door. AJ and Howie locked up the house and went home. Nick drove to Orlando. He pulled up in front of the hotel and saw Britney. She got in and he drove home. He held her hand all the way. They arrived home and went into the house and she sat down on the couch. Nick sat down next to her.

        “I don’t know why I left, I love you so much, I don’t know why I left,” Britney said.

        “Are you still feeling the loss of the baby?” Nick asked. Britney looked at him and nodded.

        “I want babies, Nick, I know I need to be healed before we can try again, but I really want to sing,” Britney said. Nick took her hand in his.

        “I love you, baby, we can wait awhile before we decide to have a baby,” Nick said.

        “That means no sex, Nick, just until I’m completely healed up,” Britney said. Nick smiled.

        “I will do anything as long as you don’t leave me again,” Nick said.

        “I won’t, I couldn’t leave you, I was stupid, when I got to Orlando, I was kicking myself for leaving like that,” Britney said.

        “Let’s go get a shower and we can watch a movie,” Nick said.

        “Good idea,” Britney said. They went upstairs.

Chapter 39

Britney sat at the studio going over some music. It’s been two months since the day she took off to Orlando and she and Nick have been closer than ever.  Brian sat down next to her. She smiled at him.

        “Hey sis,” Brian said.

        “This song is really good,” Britney said.

        “Nick and I wrote it,” Brian said.

        “I know, that’s why it’s good, my two favorite guys wrote it,” Britney said.

        “Two favorite guys?” Kevin asked coming up to the table and sitting down.

        “My husband and my brother,” Britney said. Brian smiled at Kevin.

        “What am I, chopped liver?” Kevin asked.

        “No, you are my favorite cousin,” Britney said.

        “What about us,” AJ said as he and Howie came over and sat down.       

        “You two are my favorite guy friends,” Britney said.

        “So who is your most favorite guy here?” Howie asked. Nick came over and bent down and kissed Britney softly on the lips.

        “That’s easy, my hubby,” Britney said grinning at Nick. He smiled.

        “So if we kissed you, we would be the most favorite,” AJ said.

        “No, Nick is my most favorite guy in the room,” Britney said as Nick pulled her up and sat down and she sat on his lap.

        “Guys, face it, I’m her husband, she loves me, I’m her favorite,” Nick said.

        “Oh man,” AJ said.

        “Sorry, AJ,” Britney said as she kissed Nick and hugged him.

        “So are you ready to head home?” Nick asked.

        “Yep,” Britney said getting up. She hugged the guys and she and Nick went home.

Chapter 40

Britney and Nick walked into the house. Nick locked up and picked Britney up and carried her upstairs.

        “You know it has been two months since the last time we made love,” Nick said. He let her down in the bedroom.

        “I think it is safe now, I want you so bad,” Britney said as she pulled him close. He leaned down and kissed her softly. He removed her clothes and his and moved to the bed and she laid down and he laid on top of her. He reached over and got into the nightstand and pulled out a condom. She took it and threw it back on the nightstand.

        “Bri,” Nick said.

        “I want to feel you, Nick,” Britney said.

        “Are you sure, do you want to try for another baby?” Nick asked.

        “Do you?” Britney asked.

        “Let’s have another baby,” Nick said kissing her deeply. They made love. Afterwards, they went to sleep.

The next morning, Britney woke up and saw Nick gone. She got up and got dressed and went downstairs and saw Nick watching TV.

        “Morning, baby,” Nick said as Britney sat down next to her and curled up against him.

        “Morning,” Britney said.

        “Brian called, he said the studio is closed today so we get the day off,” Nick said.

        “Cool,” Britney said.

        “Still tired, baby?” Nick asked.

        “A little,” Britney said.

        “Did you sleep good?” Nick asked.

        “No, you weren’t there when I woke up,” Britney said.

        “Sorry, baby, I got up and didn’t want to wake you,” Nick said kissing her forehead.

        “It’s okay, I just want to be with you,” Britney said. Nick smiled and kissed her deeply. They laid on the couch and removed each other’s clothes and made love.

The next morning, Brian came by and picked Britney up to go to the studio early.

        “Nick said he’ll be along in awhile,” Britney said.

        “It takes him longer to get around,” Brian said. They arrived and went in and sat down.

Chapter 41

Britney sat there looking at the table. Brian looked at her.

        “Sis, what’s wrong,” Brian said.

        “I haven’t been completely honest with everyone, Brian,” Britney said.

        “About what, Bri?” Brian asked.

        “You will hate me, everyone will,” Britney said.

        “Bri, you are my sister, we missed 27 years together, do you think anything will make me hate you,” Brian said.

        “This might,” Britney said.

        “What is it, are you having an affair?” Brian asked.

        “No, I couldn’t do that to Nick, I love him too much to do that to him,” Britney said.

        “Then what is it?” Brian asked.  They didn’t see Nick come in.

        “Matt lied for me,” Britney said.

        “About what,” Brian said.

        “The marriage, when it was first set up, I helped him,” Britney said.

        “What!” Nick said. Britney froze.

        “What!” Brian said.

        “You set up the marriage, you lied about that!” Nick said angrily.

        “Nick,” Britney said.

        “No, Britney, I can’t believe you did this!” Nick said.

        “Nick, please,” Britney said.

        “No, you lied to me, you conned your way into my life, and we are done, over, no more, get out of my life!” Nick said. He walked out. Britney stood there. Brian hugged her as she cried. Kevin, AJ, and Howie came in.

        “Bri,” Kevin said. Brian shook his head as he held her. He quietly told them what happened.  Brian took her home. Kevin went with them. Kevin sat down on the couch and Britney curled up against him as he held her while Brian and Leighanne went to get her stuff from Nick’s.

        “I’m so stupid, Kev,” Britney said.

        “You made a mistake, who doesn’t, you still have me, Brian, Kristin, Leighanne, AJ, and Howie, we all don’t hate you and aren’t mad at you, there is a plus side in all this mess,” Kevin said.  

        “What’s that?” Britney asked.

        “We have you in our lives, if you didn’t do what you did, we would have never found out that you are my cousin and Brian’s sister,” Kevin said. Brian and Leighanne came in with her stuff.

Chapter 42

Britney laid on the bed in the guest room staring out the window. Brian and Leighanne had left to run errands. She heard the front door open and close.

        “Brian, are you here!” Nick called. Britney closed her eyes and felt tears run down her cheeks. She wiped them away when she heard footsteps coming up the stairs. She heard them stop at the doorway of the bedroom.

        “Brian’s not here, he and Leighanne are out running errands, I’ll tell them you stopped by,” Britney said not looking at him.

        “Why are you here?” Nick asked.

        “Brian is my brother, whether you like it or not, he wants me here,” Britney said.

        “So he doesn’t hate you,” Nick said.

        “No, he doesn’t, he and I lost 27 years, he doesn’t want to lose any more,” Britney said.

        “Oh,” Nick said.

        “I’m sorry that I’m not completely out of your life, but Brian doesn’t want me out of his, neither does Leighanne, Kristin, Kevin, AJ, or Howie, but don’t worry, I wouldn’t dream of turning them against you,” Britney said.

        “I know you wouldn’t,” Nick said.

        “Nick, why are you here?” Brian asked coming in.

        “I was looking for you,” Nick said.

        “Let’s go downstairs,” Brian said. Nick followed Brian downstairs. Nick sat down. Brian sat down and looked at him.

        “You hate me, don’t you,” Nick said.

        “No, Nick, I don’t, if I was in your shoes, I would do what you did, but she is my sister, I can’t turn my back on her,” Brian said.

        “I know,” Nick said.

        “I missed 27 years with her, I’m not missing any more, I’m glad she did what she did, if she didn’t, I would have never found my sister, my mom and dad wouldn’t have their daughter back, I have never seen my parents this happy in a long time,” Brian said.

        “I can’t stop loving her, Brian, but I can’t get past the hurt and the anger, she lied to me, Frick, she played me, she made me think she had nothing to do with the marriage, that she was innocent in this whole mess,” Nick said.

        “I know, Nick, she made a mistake and it cost her,” Brian said.

        “And now I can’t annul the marriage or divorce her,” Nick said.

        “Did you talk to a judge?” Brian asked.

        “Yeah, he said the clause can’t be removed, the marriage stays,” Nick said. The phone rang.  It stopped ringing and Brian looked at Nick. They heard a shout and Britney ran downstairs.

        “Bri,” Brian said getting up.

        “It’s Dad, he’s in the hospital, he had a heart attack, we have to go!” Britney said. Brian called for Leighanne and they locked up the house and they got into Brian’s car. Britney saw Nick get in.

        “Nick,” Britney said.

        “I’m going,” Nick said. They all went to the airport.

Chapter 43

The plane landed in Kentucky and they went to the hospital. Brian and Leighanne went in. Nick held Britney back and looked at her.

        “We have to pretend that we are still together and happy, I don’t think you would want your mother knowing what happened at a time like this,” Nick said.

        “No I don’t,” Britney said. He took her hand and they walked in together. They found Jackie, Brian, Leighanne, Harold JR, Jerald JR, Kevin, Kristin, Tim, and Ann in the waiting room. Britney went to her mother and hugged her.

        “How is he,” Britney said.

        “We haven’t heard anything yet, the doctor wanted to run tests before telling us anything,” Jackie said. Jackie noticed something.

        “Bri, honey, where are you rings?” Jackie asked.

        “I took them off to do dishes, I must have forgotten to put them back on,” Britney said.

        “Nick has a dishwasher,” Jackie said.

        “It was full and there were some pans that needed to be scrubbed,” Britney said.

        “Mom, Britney and Nick are separated,” Brian said.

        “Brian,” Britney said. Nick hung his head.

        “What, what happened,” Jackie said.

        “Nothing, Mom, Brian doesn’t know what he’s talking about,” Britney said. She dragged Brian away and Nick followed.

        “Bri,” Brian said.

        “Brian, Nick and I agreed to pretend to be together so that we wouldn’t have to tell Mom what happened at a time like this, she has too much to worry about now, she doesn’t need to worry about me,” Britney said. Brian looked at Nick who nodded.

        “Okay,” Brian said. They went back over.

        “I’m sorry, Mom, Nick and Bri aren’t separated, I have no idea why I said that,” Brian said.

        “You guys had me worried there, you two are meant for each other,” Jackie said. Nick hugged Britney close. Britney pulled away and went over to the window. Nick followed.

        “Bri,” Nick said.

        “I don’t know if I can lie to my own mother, I know I lied to you and all but she’s my mother, I missed 27 years with her and I’m already lying to her,” Britney said. Nick hugged her from behind.

        “Let’s not pretend anymore, I want you back, I forgive you,” Nick said.

        “Are you serious?” Britney asked.

        “Yes, baby, I’m serious,” Nick said. Britney turned and hugged him.

Chapter 44

Britney and Nick came back over as the doctor came out.

        “Mrs. Littrell?” the doctor asked.

        “How is my husband?” Jackie asked.

        “He will be fine, from what the tests show, it was a mild heart attack, we want to keep him overnight for observation,” the doctor said.

        “Thank god,” Jackie said hugging Brian.

        “Can we see him?” Britney asked.

        “And you are?” the doctor asked.

        “Britney Littrell Carter, his daughter,” Britney said.

        “I didn’t know Harold had a daughter,” the doctor said. Britney looked at Jackie.

        “Britney is our daughter, she was taken from us when she was two years old, she came back into our lives five months ago,” Jackie said.

        “Can I see my father, please?” Britney asked.

        “Sure, room 1122,” the doctor said. Britney took Nick’s hand and went to the room and walked in and saw her father lying in the bed. He opened his eyes and saw them and smiled.

        “There’s my baby girl,” Harold said. Britney smiled and hugged him.

        “I love you, Daddy,” Britney said resting her head on his shoulder.

        “I love you, too, I’ll be okay, honey, I couldn’t leave you guys,” Harold said.

        “Bri, we should let your dad rest, we’ll see him tomorrow,” Nick said.

        “I’ll see you tomorrow, Dad, I better let everyone see you,” Britney said hugging him.

        “I’ll see you guys tomorrow,” Harold said. Britney and Nick left. Britney hugged her mother.

        “We’ll see you at the house,” Britney said. Jackie nodded and hugged her and Nick and they left and went to the house. Britney walked in with Nick behind her.

        “What room do you want?” Britney asked.

        “Wherever you are,” Nick said. Britney looked at him. Nick came over and kissed her deeply.

        “Nick, do you really forgive me?” Britney asked.

        “Yes, I do, I love you, baby, I’m never letting you go again,” Nick said kissing her hungrily. He picked her up and carried her upstairs to a bedroom and closed the door and locked it and looked around and removed their clothes and picked her up and laid her on the bed and made passionate love to her.

        “I love you so much,” Britney said. Nick kissed her hungrily.

        “I love you, too, baby, I am never letting you go again, a minute away from you was hell,” Nick said. He kissed her and they made love before falling asleep in each other’s arms.

Chapter 45

The next morning, Britney woke up and looked and saw Nick still sleeping. He was spooned behind her and she smiled and relaxed in his arms. He held her close to him and kissed her neck.

        “Morning, baby,” Nick said.

        “Morning, we better get up and get things ready for my dad,” Britney said. He kissed her deeply and rolled her on her back and laid on top of her and he made love to her. He kissed her and let her up. She dragged him to the shower where they made love again. They showered and got out and Nick dried her off and she dried him off and he wrapped a towel around his waist and a towel around her and he pulled her close and kissed her deeply.

        “Let’s get going, baby,” Nick said. They got dressed and went downstairs and saw Brian, Leighanne, Kevin, Kristin, and Harold JR at the kitchen table.

        “Morning, guys,” Britney said.

        “Morning, guys,” Nick said.

        “Is Dad coming home?” Britney asked.

        “Yeah, Mom went to get him, we need to talk to you two,” Brian said.

        “About what?” Nick asked hugging Britney from behind.

        “You two back together?” Brian asked.

        “Yeah, and I’m never letting her go again, one minute without her and I went crazy,” Nick said resting her chin on her shoulder.

        “Should we tell Mom the truth about what happened?” Brian asked.

        “Does it matter, me and Nick are okay now,” Britney said. Brian looked at her.

        “Okay, I’ll tell her everything,” Britney said. They heard the front door open and close. Brian and Britney went into the front hallway and saw their parents’. Brian and Britney hugged them and helped their father up to bed. They tucked him in and hugged him and went downstairs to the living room. Britney sat down next to her mother.

        “Mom, I have to tell you something,” Britney said. She went on and told her mother everything. Nick came in and sat down. Jackie looked at her daughter.

        “Britney, how could you do such a thing,” Jackie said.

        “Jackie, I forgave her, I love your daughter more than life itself, I can’t be without her anymore, I forgave her, this is a fresh start,” Nick said.

        “She is not my daughter, this is something my daughter would never do,” Jackie said.

        “Mom,” Brian said.

        “Brian, you knew about this,” Jackie said.

        “Mom, I was the first one she told, Nick overheard us, that’s how he found out,” Brian said.

        “I can’t believe this,” Jackie said.

        “Mom,” Britney said.

        “Don’t you call me that, not anymore, not after what you’ve done,” Jackie said. She went upstairs. Britney covered her face and started to cry.

Chapter 46

Britney, Nick, Brian, Leighanne, Kevin, and Kristin sat on a plane back to Florida. Nick held Britney’s hand.

        “My mother hates me, she hates me for what I did,” Britney said crying.

        “She’ll get past it, Bri, she’ll realize what she did,” Brian said.

        “I hope you’re right, Brian,” Britney said.

        “You still have me, sis,” Brian said.

        “And me,” Kevin said.

        “And me,” Kristin said

        “And me,” Leighanne said. Britney looked at Nick.

        “You have me, baby,” Nick said kissing her softly.

        “I know I do, but I lost 27 years with her, now she’s thrown me out of her life because of what I did!” Britney said. Brian took Britney’s hand.

        “I will talk to her,” Brian said.

        “I will, too,” Kevin said.

        “I just want things to be normal again,” Britney said.

        “They will be,” Kevin said.

Meanwhile….

Harold JR looked at his mother and shook his head and paced the room.

        “Mom, why did you do that!” Harold JR said.

        “I didn’t raise my daughter to lie,” Jackie said.

        “You didn’t raise her, remember, she was taken from us!” Harold JR said.

        “Harold JR!” Jackie said.

        “No, Mom, listen, okay, you know she was taken from us when she was two years old and we got her back, do you realize that if she hadn’t done what she did, we wouldn’t have never got her back in our lives!” Harold JR said. Jackie looked at her eldest child and held her head in her hands.

        “What have I done,” Jackie said.

        “You need to fix this, Mom, we missed 27 years of Britney’s life, we don’t need to miss any more of it,” Harold JR said. Jackie nodded and left to go to the airport and got on the next flight to Florida.

Chapter 47

Britney and Nick walked into the house and took her stuff upstairs. Britney took a shower and got out and laid on the bed. Nick took a shower and got out and laid on the bed and held her close to him. She rested her head on his chest and held onto him.

        “Don’t ever let me go, Nick,” Britney said.

        “I could never let you go, baby,” Nick said.

        “I love you, so much,” Britney said. Nick kissed her softly.

        “I love you, too, baby,” Nick said. They began kissing and soon were making love. They were kissing in the afterglow when the doorbell rang. Nick groaned and got up and put on his boxers and went downstairs and opened the door and saw Jackie standing there.

        “Jackie, what are you doing here?” Nick asked.

        “I came to see my daughter, I need to apologize to her,” Jackie said. Nick let her in and closed the door.

        “Bri!” Nick called. Britney came downstairs and saw Jackie.

        “Mom,” Britney said. Jackie burst out crying and went to her and hugged her close.

        “Honey, I’m so sorry!” Jackie said.

        “Mom, I deserved it,” Britney said.

        “No, not from your own mother, you should have had my love and support no matter what, I shouldn’t have yelled at you and said those things,” Jackie said. Britney hugged her mother.

        “I forgive you, Mom, I love you,” Britney said.

        “I love you, too, honey,” Jackie said. Nick smiled. The door opened and Brian, Leighanne, Kevin, and Kristin came in and saw them hugging. Brian went to them and joined the hug. Kevin, Nick, Leighanne, and Kristin stood there smiling.

        “How’s Dad?” Britney asked.

        “He is doing much better, he’s resting, Harold JR is with him,” Jackie said.

        “I want to come back with you to help you,” Britney said. Brian looked at Nick.

        “All of you are welcome to come back,” Jackie said.

        “We would but we have promo to do for the new album,” Kevin said.

        “I’m going back with Mom,” Britney said. Nick hugged her and kissed her.

        “Call me, okay, I’ll miss you,” Nick said. Britney kissed him hungrily.

        “I’ll miss you, too, be good,” Britney said.

        “I’m always good,” Nick said. Britney hugged him and Brian and Kevin and the girls and left with Jackie.

Chapter 48

Nick sat at the building where they were doing the photoshoot for the new album. Brian sat next to him.

        “Hey bro-in-law, you okay,” Brian said.

        “I miss her already,” Nick said.

        “I know, I miss her too, but we have to work, D is almost done and then it’s your turn, let me have your phone so in case Bri calls,” Brian said. Nick handed him the phone and went to get ready. The phone vibrated and there was a text message from Britney. He read it and immediately grabbed Kevin, Howie, and AJ and pulled them to another room and closed the door.

        “Brian, what is it,” Kevin said.

        “Britney just sent a text message to Nick, she said she met someone else and is not coming back,” Brian said.

        “Oh no,” Kevin said.

        “That is going to destroy Nick,” AJ said.

        “Are you going to tell him?” Howie asked.

        “How can she meet someone else so quickly, she just left yesterday,” Kevin said. Brian called his mother.

        “Hello,” Jackie said.

        “Mom, where’s Bri at,” Brian said.

        “She up with your dad, why,” Jackie said.

        “Did she meet someone else, she just sent a text saying that she met someone else and is not coming back,” Brian said.

        “I’m afraid so, honey, I’m not real happy about it, she won’t say who the guy is,” Jackie said.

        “Nick doesn’t know yet, I have his phone while he’s doing the photo shoot,” Brian said. Brian heard Nick’s voice out in the hallway.

        “Yo guys, where are you!” Nick called.

        “I have to go, I have to tell Nick, bye Mom,” Brian said. He hung up and looked at the guys.

        “It’s true, isn’t it,” Kevin said.

        “Yeah, she won’t tell Mom who the guy is,” Brian said. Kevin shook his head and opened the door. They all went out and saw Nick coming towards them.

        “Guys, what’s going on,” Nick said.

        “Let’s get out of here,” Brian said. They all went to the beach.

        “Guys, what’s the deal,” Nick said.

        “My sister sent you a text message while you were getting your pictures taken,” Brian said.

        “What did she say?” Nick asked.

        “Nick, she said she met someone else and is not coming home,” Brian said.

        “You mean she’s not coming home right away,” Nick said. He looked at AJ, Howie and Kevin.

        “Nick, she said she isn’t coming back at all, I called my mom and she confirmed it and my mom isn’t happy about it,” Brian said. Nick sank down to his knees. Brian knelt down.

        “Kevin and I are going up there,” Brian said. He and Kevin left. AJ and Howie took Nick home. He went upstairs and curled up on the bed and hugged the pillow and cried softly.

Chapter 49

Brian and Kevin arrived at Brian’s parents house and went in. Britney came out of the kitchen and saw them.

        “Hi guys,” Britney said.

        “Why did you do it,” Brian said.

        “What,” Britney said.

        “You sent a text message to Nick saying you met someone else and you were not coming back, I called Mom and she said it was true,” Brian said.

        “Brian,” Britney said.

        “Who is the guy, Britney, huh, who is it that you left Nick for, who is it that you had to destroy Nick for,” Brian said. Britney hung her head.

        “His name is Mark, I met him at the airport, well bumped into him, he’s an old friend and we got to talking,” Britney said.

        “So you automatically dump your husband who forgave you for lying to him so you can be with this Mark,” Brian said.

        “He was my first crush,” Britney said.

        “Did you kiss him?” Brian asked.

        “No, he asked me out,” Britney said.

        “And you said yes,” Brian said.

        “Yes,” Britney said.

        “And you didn’t think of your husband, Nick, remember him,” Brian said.

        “Brian,” Britney said.

        “No, Britney, Nick is at home crying his eyes out because you ended the marriage, you destroyed him!” Brian said.

        “Brian!” Jackie said.

        “I’m sorry, Mom, Nick is my best friend and he’s devastated and I don’t understand my sister, she runs into an old flame and gets asked out by him and sends her husband a text message saying it’s over, so the guy asks you out and you end things with your husband because a guy asks you out, an old friend, I can’t believe you,” Brian said. He walked out the door.

        “Kevin,” Britney said.

        “You are unbelievable,” Kevin said. He walked out the door. Britney looked at her mother.

        “Oh Mama, what have I done,” Britney said covering her face with her hands. She ran out the door and stopped Brian and Kevin from leaving.

        “Wait, I’m going back with you!” Britney said.

        “Don’t go back out of pity!” Brian said.

        “No, I’m not, I am stupid and an idiot,” Britney said. Brian got out of the car.

        “Bri, Nick loves you to death,” Brian said.

        “And I love him so much, it scared me, Brian, I didn’t know I could love someone that much,” Britney said.

        “Get your stuff,” Brian said. Britney went in and got her stuff and hugged her mother and went out the door just as Mark pulled up. Britney put her stuff in Brian’s car and faced him.

        “Britney,” Mark said.

        “I’m going back to Florida, Mark, I’m sorry, I’m going back to my husband, I didn’t realize just how much I love him until my brother and cousin came up here,” Britney said.

        “It’s probably best, I ran into my ex-girlfriend before I came over here and I’m not over her, have a safe trip and take care,” Mark said.

        “You too,” Britney said. She shook his hand and got into Brian’s car. They went to the airport.

Chapter 50

Britney, Brian, and Kevin walked into Nick’s house. AJ and Howie came in from the living room.

        “Where’s Nick?” Brian asked.

        “Out by the pool,” Howie said. Britney went out there and saw Nick curled up in a lounge chair staring at the pool. She slowly walked to the chair.

        “Why did you come back?” Nick asked.

        “Because I love you more than life itself, I was stupid and an idiot,” Britney said.

        “You love me, huh, then why did you send me a text saying it was over and you met someone else,” Nick said. Britney sat down in the chair next to him and faced him.

        “Because I did, at the airport, I bumped into an old friend, his name was Mark, he was my first crush, he and I got to talking and he asked me out, stupid me said yes, so I sent the text message, then Brian and Kevin came up to the house and chewed me out and that made me realize that I was stupid, I was an idiot, it opened my eyes and made me realize, I had everything, my family, you, that’s all I needed, I love you so much, Nick, it scared me that I love you so much, I didn’t think I could love anyone that much but I love you more than anything in the world,” Britney said. Nick looked at her and looked at the pool.

        “So what happened to Mark,” Nick said.

        “I was getting ready to leave when he pulled up, I told him I made a mistake and I was going back to you, and he said it was best because he bumped into his ex-girlfriend and he still had feelings for her, I made my choice before he showed up,” Britney said.

        “Why should I forgive you, huh, when Brian told me, I couldn’t believe it, but he said it was true and I felt like my life was over,” Nick said.

        “I will do anything, Nick, to make it up to you, anything,” Britney said.  Nick looked at her.

Chapter 51

Brian, Kevin, Howie, and AJ stood there in the front hallway waiting for any news of whether Nick forgave her or not. Brian went to the backdoor and looked and saw Nick and Britney making out on the lounge chair. He noticed Nick’s hands under Britney’s shirt. Brian smiled and cleared his throat. They broke apart and looked at him.

        “You two okay now?” Brian asked.

        “Yeah, we are,” Nick said.

        “Good, we are taking off, see ya guys tomorrow,” Brian said. He left with the guys. Nick picked Britney up and carried her inside and locked up the house and carried her upstairs to the bedroom and closed the door and laid her on the bed and removed her clothes and his and laid on top of her and they spent the rest of the day in bed, making love. They laid there holding each other afterwards.

        “Baby, you wore me out,” Nick said kissing her forehead. Britney smiled.

        “You wore me out,” Britney said.