Nick sat backstage at one of the concerts. He saw his best friend, Hayley, kissing her husband and his best guy friend, Brian. Nick felt his heart break in two. He couldn’t believe that he has fallen for Hayley. Kevin sat down next to him. Kevin was the only one who knew how he felt about Hayley.

      “Why did I do it, why did I fall for Hayley, Kev, I should not feel this way,” Nick whispered.

      “You can’t help who you fall for, but you know nothing can happen,” Kevin said.

      “I know that, Kev, I can’t do anything about it, they are my best friends, they are very important to me,” Nick said.

That night, Nick laid in his hotel room, watching TV when there was a knock at the door. He got up and opened it and saw Hayley standing there crying.

      “Hey girl, what’s wrong,” Nick said. Hayley flew into his arms and he closed the door and sat her down and held her.

      “What happened,” Nick said.

      “Brian and I had a fight, Leighanne called and wanted to have dinner with him, he said yes, I asked him not to go but he said that he can do what he wants, I asked him if he loved me, he said with all his heart, I told him if he loved me, he wouldn’t go, he called me selfish, I think he still wants her,” Hayley said crying.

      “Do you want me to talk to him?” Nick asked.

      “Could you and Kevin talk to him?” Hayley asked. Nick nodded. He hugged her.

      “I’ll be back,” Nick said. He went to Kevin’s and knocked on the door. Kevin opened it and Nick quietly told him what’s going on. They went to Brian’s room and knocked on the door. Brian opened it and saw them.

      “Hayley went to you,” Brian said.

      “She told me,” Nick said as he and Kevin went in.

      “Brian, are you crazy, you are married to Hayley and you want to get together with your ex-wife,” Kevin said.

      “It’s just dinner,” Brian said.

      “Hayley didn’t seem too happy about it, she asked you not to go, she told me that she told you that if you loved her, you wouldn’t go, you said you were going so I guess you don’t love her like you say you do,” Nick said crossing his arms and glaring at Brian.

      “I do love her!” Brian said.

      “Then don’t see Leighanne, it’s that simple, you have a wife, Brian, who loves you, don’t go see your ex, you told us you never wanted to see her again,” Kevin said.

      “It’s not that simple,” Brian said.

      “Why is that,” Nick said.

      “Because I am still married to Leighanne, okay!” Brian said. They heard a gasp and turned and saw Hayley standing there.

Chapter 2

Hayley stood there looking at Brian. She went and got her stuff together. Brian came in.

      “Hayley, please,” Brian said.

      “No, you are still married to her, go be with her, I’m done with you!” Hayley said angrily. She got her bags and went out and looked at Nick.

      “Nicky, can I stay with you?” Hayley asked.

      “Of course,” Nick said. He glared at Brian and they went to his room. Hayley put her stuff in Nick’s room and laid down on the bed.

      “Hayley, that’s my bed,” Nick said.

      “I know, Nicky, when was the last time we were in the same bed,” Hayley said.

      “Before you started seeing Brian,” Nick said.

      “I just want to sleep with you holding me, Nicky, you are my best friend, I need to have you holding me tonight,” Hayley said. Nick got into bed and pulled her close and held her close to him. She relaxed and closed her eyes.

      “Night, Nicky,” Hayley said.

      “Night, Hayley,” Nick said. He laid there and closed his eyes. He couldn’t believe that he had the woman he loved in his arms. There was a knock at the door. Nick got up and went and looked through the peephole and saw Kevin. He opened the door.

      “How’s Hayley,” Kevin said quietly.

      “Trying to sleep, she wanted to sleep in the same bed, in my arms,” Nick said.

      “You are her best friend, she needs you at a time like this,” Kevin said.

      “Yeah, I know,” Nick said.

      “Just be careful, okay,” Kevin said.

      “Duh,” Nick said. He closed the door and went back and laid down beside Hayley and she moved back against him and he wrapped his arms around her and fell asleep. In the middle of the night, Nick woke to someone kissing his neck. He peeked over and saw Hayley.

      “Hayley,” Nick said. She stopped and looked at him.

      “You were moaning my name,” Hayley said.

      “I was?” Nick asked.

      “Yes,” Hayley said. She got on top of him.

      “Hayley, what are you doing?” Nick asked.

      “I should have been with you, Nicky, I should have told you how I felt, I know you wouldn’t have lied or hurt me,” Hayley said.

      “What,” Nick said.

      “Nicky, I have wanted you for a long time, I went to Brian because I was too scared to tell you how I felt, I am in love with you, Nicky, you are the one I want,” Hayley said. Nick pulled her down and kissed her deeply. She pulled back and smiled.

      “You feel the same way,” Hayley said.

      “Hell yeah,” Nick said kissing her again.

      “Be my guy?” Hayley asked.

      “Hell yeah,” Nick said. He rolled them over and kissed her hungrily. They removed each other’s clothes and made love. They laid there holding each other.

      “Like I said, I should have been with you in the first place,” Hayley said. Someone pounded on the door. Nick got up and got dressed. Hayley got dressed. Nick went out and looked through the peephole and saw Brian. Nick groaned and flung open the door.

      “Do you have any idea what time it is?” Nick asked angrily.

      “I need to see Hayley,” Brian said.

      “She doesn’t want to see you!” Nick said. Kevin came up to Brian.

      “Brian, let her go, okay, you made your choice, Hayley can’t be with a married man,” Kevin said.

      “But I love her,” Brian said.

      “If you loved her, you wouldn’t have lied to her,” Kevin said.

      “I’m with Nick now, Brian, I’ve been in love with him ever since before I got together with you,” Hayley said.

      “What,” Brian said.

      “It’s true,” Nick said.

      “How could you do this,” Brian said.

      “Hey, I fell for her, but I wasn’t going to do anything while she was with you, now that she isn’t, she wanted me,” Nick said.

      “I bet you were just waiting, happy that I screwed up,” Brian said.

      “Actually, no, she was the one who started it,” Nick said.

      “I started it, Brian, I wanted him, I asked him to be my guy,” Hayley said.

      “I see, have a nice life,” Brian said. He left. Nick looked at Kevin.

      “I lost my best friend, didn’t I,” Nick said.

      “I’ll talk to him,” Kevin said. Nick closed the door and looked at Hayley.

Chapter 3

Hayley walked backstage and went straight for Brian and grabbed him and pulled him to his dressing room and threw in.

      “Okay, you have no right to be mad at me and Nick for getting together when you and I were over before he and I got together, you lied to me about us being married when you are still married to Leighanne, Nick is hurting because he lost you as his best friend, his Frick, you swore to him that nothing and no one would come between you two, he doesn’t want to lose you, Brian, he doesn’t want to lose his best friend,” Hayley said.

      “Are you finished?” Brian asked.

      “Yes,” Hayley said.

      “Kevin already gave me this lecture, I was going to talk to Nick, where is he?” Brian asked.

      “His dressing room,” Hayley said.

      “Hayley, I am sorry for lying to you, I hope someday we can be friends,” Brian said.

      “Someday,” Hayley said.

      “I better go talk to my Frack,” Brian said. He went to Nick’s dressing room and knocked. He heard Nick yell to come in. He went in and saw Nick lying on the couch, staring at the ceiling. Nick looked and saw him.

      “Hey Frack,” Brian said.

      “Hi,” Nick said.

      “I’m sorry for what I said, I told you nothing would come between us, I was just upset and all, I was going to talk to you today, gosh, Frack, you know I could never hate you, you know I could never turn my back to you, I told you that nothing and no one can come between us,” Brian said. Nick got up and came over to him. He hugged Brian. Brian smiled and hugged back. They stood there hugging.

      “I meant when I said best friends forever, nothing can tear us apart, nothing, no girls, nothing, you and me, Frick and Frack, best friends for life,” Brian said.

      “I know, oh and even if you and Hayley were still together, I wouldn’t have done anything to ruin the relationship, I would have kept my feelings to myself forever, I didn’t want to hurt you or Hayley,” Nick said.

      “I want you both to be happy, I’m glad you two got together, I know she will be happy now,” Brian said. They hugged again.

      “Awwww!” they heard from the doorway. They pulled apart and saw Hayley, Kevin, Howie, and AJ smiling.

      “It’s a Kodak Moment,” AJ said.

      “Glad to see you two like this, better than fighting,” Kevin said. Brian and Nick smiled.

Chapter 4

Nick and Hayley were lying on the couch in his dressing room, making out when they heard yelling outside the door.

      “Get out of here and never come back and never contact me or anyone around here ever again!” They heard Brian yell. They opened the door and saw Brian pushing Leighanne down the hall. Kevin and Howie came up to them.

      “What’s going on,” Nick said.

      “Leighanne is a lying bitch, she lied about her and Brian still being married,” Kevin said.

      “What,” Hayley said.

      “That means that Hayley and Brian are still married,” Nick said.

      “Yeah,” Howie said. Hayley looked at Nick. He leaned against the doorframe and stared at the floor.

      “I’m sorry, guys, we didn’t know until Leighanne confessed the truth,” Kevin said. Brian came up to them.

      “I can’t believe her, she made everything look like she was telling the truth,” Brian said.

      “It’s not your fault, Brian, she tricked you,” Howie said.

      “So what happens now,” Nick said.

      “Hayley and I are married,” Brian said.

      “Yeah, we know that,” Nick said.

      “Can we talk, Hayley?” Brian asked. She nodded and went with him to his dressing room. Nick went into his dressing room and sat down on the couch. Kevin sat beside him.

      “You okay, Kaos?” Kevin asked.

      “No, I know she will stay with him,” Nick said softly.

      “We’ll see what happens,” Howie said. Hayley came in. Kevin and Howie left the room.

      “Well, what’s going to happen?” Nick asked.

      “Nicky, Brian and I are still married, I can’t break the vows,” Hayley said. Nick nodded.

      “I know,” Nick said. He looked at her.

      “I’m sorry, Nicky,” Hayley said.

      “Yeah, I know,” Nick said. She hugged him.

      “Will you be okay?” Hayley asked.

      “Yeah,” Nick said. He smiled at her. She went out the door. He laid on the couch and closed his eyes. Kevin came in.

      “Nicky, soundchecks in ten minutes, okay,” Kevin said.

      “Okay,” Nick said.

      “I’m here for you, Nicky, if you need anything,” Kevin said.

      “Thanks, Kev,” Nick said. Kevin went out the door and saw Brian.

      “How is he?” Brian asked.

      “He seemed fine,” Kevin said. Brian peeked in and saw tears running down Nick’s cheeks as Nick stared at the ceiling.

Chapter 5

Nick stood onstage for soundchecks. Kevin and Howie were talking. Brian and AJ were talking. Nick just stood off by himself. He saw Hayley sitting in the front row with Kristin. They were talking.

      “Kaos, you okay?” AJ asked.

      “I’m fine!” Nick cried. Everyone looked at him. Nick looked at AJ.

      “How many people are going to ask me that, I am fine, okay, I’m fine,” Nick said.

      “Okay, you looked like you were in another world, just getting you back into this one,” AJ said. Nick took a deep breath.

      “Sorry, I’m just tired of everyone asking me if I’m okay, if I’m fine, yes, I’m fine,” Nick said. They ran through the songs they were going to perform that night. After they were done, Nick quickly left the stage and went back to his dressing room. He closed the door and locked in and laid on the couch. He heard someone knock.

      “What!” Nick yelled.

      “Nicky, open the door,” Hayley said.

      “Just go be with your husband, Hayley, okay, I’ll be fine, I just need time alone, away from everyone,” Nick said.

      “Nicky, please,” Hayley said.

      “Just go, Hayley, okay, I’m not good company right now, I need to be alone!” Nick yelled.

      “Fine!” Hayley cried. He heard her walk away. He closed his eyes and tears ran down his cheeks. That night, the guys were onstage performing. Kevin noticed Nick was messing up on the routines. After the show was over, Nick showered quickly and headed for his bus.

      “Nick, wait up,” Kevin said.

      “I don’t want to talk about it or hear about it, Kev, I know I was messing up out there, I don’t need to hear the lecture, I want to be alone,” Nick said.

      “Nick, come on, man, I know you, you are not fine, you say you are but I can see right through you,” Kevin said.

      “Damnit, Kevin, leave me the fuck alone, okay!” Nick yelled angrily. Brian and Hayley heard what he said.

      “Nick, come on, man, you can talk to me, you can always talk to me, you always came to me when something was wrong or bothering you,” Kevin said. Nick looked at him and shook his head.

      “I don’t want to talk to anyone, I want to be left the hell alone, okay, why can’t anyone listen to me!” Nick yelled. He went to his bus and got on and laid on the couch. Kevin got on the bus.

      “I’m riding with you, I’m not leaving you alone,” Kevin said. The buses pulled out and got on the road.

Chapter 6

Kevin sat there watching Nick sleep on the couch on his bus. Kevin knew deep down that Nick was heartbroken. He knew Nick really loved Hayley and now that she had gone back to Brian, he knew it broke Nick’s heart. Kevin grabbed his phone as it started to vibrate. He went back and closed the door and answered it.

      “Hello,” Kevin said.

      “Hey cuz, how is he?” Brian asked.

      “He’s sleeping, he wouldn’t show it but he cried himself to sleep,” Kevin said quietly.

      “What’s wrong with him?” Brian asked.

      “He’s heartbroken, cuz,” Kevin said.

      “Oh man,” Brian said.

      “Yeah, he is hiding how he feels, he’s trying to do the right thing but he’s dying inside,” Kevin said quietly.

      “There is no way he’ll be happy, will he?” Brian asked.

      “I don’t know, I guess time will tell,” Kevin said.

      “I hope so, I hate seeing him like that, it’s my fault, isn’t it,” Brian said.

      “It’s Leighanne’s fault, none of this would have happened if she hadn’t lied,” Kevin said.

      “That’s right,” Brian said.

      “But Nick would still have had his feelings hidden,” Kevin said.

      “I don’t know what to do,” Brian said.

      “It will take time, cuz,” Kevin said.

      “I’ll talk to you later, cuz, take care of my Frack, okay,” Brian said.

      “I will, bye,” Kevin said. He hung up and went out and saw Nick still sleeping. Kevin sat down and went over some things for the next show. He looked over at Nick. A few hours later, the buses pulled into the next city and pulled up in front of the hotel. Kevin woke Nick up.

      “Nicky, time to wake up,” Kevin said. Nick woke up and got up and stretched. They went into the hotel and checked in and went to their rooms. Nick looked at Kevin.

      “I’ll be okay, Kev,” Nick said.

      “I’ll be next door if you need anything,” Kevin said. Nick nodded and went in and closed the door and put his bags in the bedroom. He laid on the bed and closed his eyes. Someone knocked on the door. He groaned and got up and went to the door and opened it and saw Hayley standing there.

      “Hi Nicky,” Hayley said.

      “Hi,” Nick said.

      “Can I come in?” Hayley asked.

      “Where’s Brian?” Nick asked.

      “Back at the room, I wanted to come see you,” Hayley said.

      “Does he know you are here?” Nick asked.

      “Yes, he does,” Hayley said. Nick stepped aside and Hayley went in. Nick closed the door. Nick sat down and flipped the TV on and began to change channels.

      “Nick, we need to talk,” Hayley said.

      “Why,” Nick said.

      “Nick, I know you are hurting,” Hayley said.

      “I’m fine, Hayley, really,” Nick said.

      “No, you are not, I know you, Nick, I know you better than anyone, I know you hid your true feelings deep down and pretend everything is fine when it isn’t, Nick, I know you are hurting, but you know that me and Brian are married, I can’t just turn my back on him,” Hayley said.

      “I know that, Hayley, like I said, I’m fine,” Nick said.

      “No, you aren’t, don’t shut me out, Nicky, please, I know you can’t stand me being with Brian, I know this is killing you, that you finally got to be with me and then everything ended, it’s not my fault or Brian’s, it’s Leighanne’s fault for lying in the first place,” Hayley said.

      “I know that, Hayley, okay, I know it’s Leighanne’s fault, why do you think I didn’t throw a big fit, huh, why do you think I just stepped aside so you can be with your husband, because I cared for you that much that I can’t hold onto something that wasn’t fully mine, you are married, I can’t be with a married woman, I had to let go, I didn’t have the choice, yes, it hurt but I will heal, now everyone won’t leave me alone, and I wanted to be alone,” Nick said. Hayley got up.

      “Fine, you can be alone,” Hayley said. She went out the door. Nick sighed and closed his eyes.

Chapter 7

Nick laid on the couch in his hotel room. There was a knock at the door. He groaned and got up and opened the door and saw Kevin standing there.

      “What now,” Nick said.

      “Just checking up on you,” Kevin said.

      “I’m fine!” Nick said.

      “Okay,” Kevin said. Nick shut the door. Awhile later, he got his disguise on and went out the door. That night, Brian, Hayley, AJ, Kevin, Kristin, and Howie were at the venue.  Kevin hung up his cell phone. He looked at everyone.

      “Still no answer,” Kevin said.

      “Where could he be?” Brian asked.

      “There is no beach around here so that’s out of the question,” Kevin said.

      “Why would he disappear like that,” AJ said.

      “Because no one would leave him alone,” Kevin said. He sat down.

      “Kev,” Brian said.

      “He wanted to be alone, no one would let him, all of us kept asking if he was okay, no one would let him be, no one would do what he asked,” Kevin said.

      “He’s doing this to get Hayley back, isn’t he, doing everything to make us feel bad so he could have her back,” Brian said.

      “He said nothing about that, he knows you two are married, he knows he had to let go, even if it meant for him to be heartbroken and alone, he had to do the right thing,” Kevin said. Their manager came backstage.

      “Guys, we can’t stall any longer, be ready to go on in fifteen minutes,” he said.

      “Jeff, we can’t go on without Nick!” Kevin said.

      “The fans will go nuts if he’s not onstage, we are a group, we can’t go onstage without Nick,” AJ said.

      “Either all five of us go onstage or none of us,” Brian said.

      “Guys,” Jeff said. They looked at him.

      “We mean it, Jeff, either we wait for Nick and all five of us go onstage, or none of us,” Kevin said.  Nick came running in.

      “Nick, where have you been!” Kevin said.

      “Out,” Nick said.

      “We will find out later, get ready,” Jeff said. They went to get ready and went out and performed. After the show, Brian, Howie, AJ, and Kevin looked at Nick. He looked at them.

      “Where have you been, Nick,” Kevin said.

      “Like I said, out,” Nick said.

      “You almost made us postpone, Jeff wanted us to go on without you, we didn’t want to do that,” Kevin said.

      “Like anyone cares what I do anymore,” Nick said. The guys looked at each other.

      “We care, Nick,” Howie said.

      “Yeah right,” Nick said.

      “What the hell is your problem, Nick!” Brian said.

      “You, okay, and your fucking ex-wife, okay, that’s what’s wrong, everything was just fine until your ex had to come clean, I had waited three fucking years to be with Hayley and then I was and all the sudden I wasn’t, do you have any idea how much that hurt me, huh, do you have any idea how much it hurt for me to step aside and let you two be together, I know you two are married, but it killed me inside, it killed me to see you together after I had my chance, for that short time I was with Hayley, I felt alive, I felt like I was in heaven, now I’m in hell, I have nothing anymore, I have nothing!” Nick yelled. He went down the hall and went into his dressing room and slammed the door and locked it. He started throwing things. After he was done, his dressing room was destroyed. He sank down to the floor and broke down crying. He heard knocking at the door. He didn’t move. He laid on the floor and curled up in a ball and cried.

Chapter 8

Kevin tried to open the door to Nick’s dressing room. Brian, Howie, and AJ were right behind him.

      “You don’t think he’ll do something stupid, do you,” AJ said.

      “I hope not,” Kevin said.

      “Why is he so upset?” Brian asked.

      “Brian, did you not hear him,” Kevin said.

      “Yeah, I did, but he knows that me and Hayley are married,” Brian said.

      “He knows that, Brian, but he’s really mad at Leighanne for making him feel this way, for making him feel like he doesn’t have anything to live for,” Kevin said.

      “I hate her,” Brian said. One of the backstage crewmembers came with a key. They unlocked the door. They opened the door and saw Nick’s dressing room destroyed and Nick lying on the floor in a ball, crying. The guys looked at each other. Kevin knelt down beside Nick. Nick looked up at him.

      “Go ahead, yell for what I did,” Nick said crying. Kevin shook his head.

      “I’m not going to,” Kevin said. Nick sat up. Kevin sat down and hugged Nick. Nick cried on his shoulder. Brian went to his dressing room. Hayley stood up as he came in.

      “Brian, we have to talk,” Hayley said.

      “Yeah, we do,” Brian said. They sat down.

Nick looked up at AJ and Howie.

      “I must look stupid,” Nick said.

      “No, you don’t, Nicky,” AJ said. Hayley came in and looked at the guys.

      “Can I talk to Nick alone, boys,” Hayley said. Kevin, Howie, and AJ left the room. Hayley looked at Nick. He stood up and she came over to him and kissed him deeply.

      “Hayley,” Nick said.

      “I’m yours, Nicky, all yours, Brian is calling to file for a divorce, he and I thought alike, he was going to let me go so I can be with you, and I was going to tell him that I wanted to be with you, so me and Brian were thinking the same thing, no hard feelings, I want to be with you, Nicky, always, and you will never have to let me go,” Hayley said stroking his chest.

      “Is this a dream?” Nick asked.

      “No, Nicky, it’s not a dream, it’s real,” Hayley said. She kissed him tenderly. He deepened the kiss and held her close.

      “The way I was acting, it was not my intention to win you back, I really did understand why you went back to him, I didn’t expect to hurt because of it, and I was so angry at Leighanne for what she did,” Nick said.

      “I know, Nicky, I know you too well, I could see you were hurting, I know it wasn’t an act,” Hayley said.

      “I don’t want to let you go,” Nick said holding her close.

      “Don’t let me go,” Hayley said. Brian came in. They looked at him.

      “The papers should arrive in LA when we do,” Brian said.

      “Brian,” Nick said.

      “Nick, I’m okay, I did the right thing,” Brian said. He hugged Nick and went out the door.

Chapter 9

Nick looked at Hayley and sat down. She closed the door and locked it. She came over and straddled Nick on the couch. He looked at her.

      “Hayley, we can’t do this,” Nick said.

      “Nicky, we can, we can be together, it’s what I want, Brian knows that, I can’t be happy with him if I want to be with you, we can be happy, Nicky, Brian wants us to be happy, we can be happy together,” Hayley said. Nick stood her up and got up. He went out the door and got Brian and they came back in.

      “I can’t do this, I can’t let you two throw away your marriage because of me,” Nick said.

      “Nick,” Brian said.

      “Look, you two are married, I can’t let you two through it away because of me, okay, it’s wrong!” Nick said.

      “Nick, stop it, okay, we have talked about this, Hayley and I decided it was for the best,” Brian said.

      “Nick, listen to him,” Hayley said. Brian came over to Nick.

      “Hayley and I talked, the love we felt for each other, it just isn’t there anymore, you are the one she wants, you are the one she loves, you have her heart, Frack,” Brian said. Nick looked at him. He looked at Hayley. He shook his head.

      “I can’t do this, I just can’t do this,” Nick said. He went out the door. He ran to his bus and got on and told his driver to lock the door and not let anyone on. He laid down on the bed and closed his eyes and thought about what he did. He fell asleep. When he woke up and saw Kevin looking at him. He sat up and grumbled.

      “We are at a rest stop, driver had to go to the bathroom, I got on and told everyone else to leave you be,” Kevin said.

      “Thanks, Kev,” Nick said. Kevin sat down.

      “Nicky, you know I’m always here for you, I am always on your side, what you did took guts, you didn’t want to be the cause of the end of their marriage, no matter how much you love Hayley, you weren’t willing to be the cause of them ending the marriage,” Kevin said.

      “I can’t believe I did that, I finally had the chance to be with her and I just walked away,” Nick said rubbing his face.

      “You did what you thought was right,” Kevin said. Nick looked at him.

      “My heart is breaking,” Nick said.

      “I’m here if you need anything,” Kevin said. He gave Nick a hug and went back to his own bus. Nick got up and went out and laid on the couch and watched TV as his driver got back on the bus.

Chapter 10

The buses arrived in the next city and pulled up in front of the venue. Nick got up and went up to the front and got off the bus. He walked in and saw Kevin talking with Brian and Hayley. Kevin saw him and came over to him.

      “Hey Nicky, you doing okay,” Kevin said.

      “Yeah, I guess,” Nick said.

      “Your dressing room is the second one down,” Kevin said.

      “Thanks,” Nick said. He headed down to his dressing room. He went in and closed the door and sat down and took a deep breath. There was a knock and the door opened and Brian and Hayley came in.

      “Nick,” Brian said.

      “Forget it, I don’t want to talk about it, I’m not changing my mind,” Nick said.

      “We are going through with the divorce,” Brian said.

      “Why!” Nick said.

      “Because you and Hayley belong together,” Brian said. Nick shook his head.

      “Damnit, Brian, I don’t want to be the cause of the marriage ending!” Nick said.

      “Nick, you aren’t, even if you didn’t want Hayley, we would have ended it, we have talked about this, the love we had isn’t there anymore, we both realized that,” Brian said.

      “Look, I can’t do this, okay, I can’t do it!” Nick said sitting down. Hayley sat down.

      “Nicky, do you want to be with me?” Hayley asked.

      “Yeah, I do, I just don’t want you two ending your marriage like this,” Nick said.

      “Nicky, we both decided it’s for the best,” Hayley said. Nick looked at Brian who nodded.

      “Nick, you two belong together,” Brian said. Nick looked up at him and looked at Hayley.

      “This isn’t a joke, right, you guys aren’t just saying this to not make me feel bad, I don’t want to  do this if it’s my fault that you two are ending the marriage,” Nick said. Brian shook his head.

      “It’s no joke, Nick,” Brian said.

      “Nicky, I would never lie to you,” Hayley said.

      “I don’t know,” Nick said. Hayley looked at Brian. He looked at her. 

That night, the guys were ready to go on. Hayley came out dressing up.

      “I’m going to perform some songs,” Hayley said.

      “Huh,” Nick said.

      “Brian didn’t tell you that I can sing,” Hayley said. Nick shook his head. Hayley went onstage and announced herself. She sang I Will Be There, Born To Make You Happy, Sometimes, I’m Not A Girl, Not Yet A Woman, and Drive Me Crazy by Britney Spears. She came offstage and looked at Nick. She went to him and stood in front of him. He looked at her. She went to his dressing room. He went after her and went in and saw her sitting on the couch. He closed the door. She came over to him and stood in front of him, looking at him.

Chapter 11

Brian sat there looking down the hall, wondering if things will work out. He looked at Kevin.

      “I hope he gets his head out of his ass and realizes that this is no joke, she wants to be with him, that he realizes that we truly did want to divorce because the love is gone,” Brian said.

      “Is the love gone?” Kevin said.

      “I think it just turned into a best friend kind of love, the deep love we felt just isn’t there anymore,” Brian said.

      “He just thought he was doing the right thing, he didn’t want to be the reason of you and Hayley getting a divorce,” Kevin said. Hayley came down the hall, crying.

      “Hayley,” Brian said.

      “He told me that he couldn’t do it,” Hayley said. Brian looked at her. He talked to Kevin and pulled Hayley onstage and they performed Love Will Find A Way from the Lion King II: Return to Pride Rock soundtrack. Nick came out and listened and Kevin told him that they were singing it to him. They came backstage. Nick stood there looking at them. He went back to his dressing room. Hayley went after him and went in and slammed the door.

      “Damn it, Nick, I’m tired of you turning me away, get your head out of your ass and open your eyes, we can be together, we can be what you want!” Hayley said.

      “I’m scared, okay, I’m scared that the same thing is going to happen, that you are going to be running back to him, that you are going to realize that you love him, I can’t take it if that happened, I am trying to keep my heart from being broken,” Nick said.

      “Nicky, my heart would be broken if you don’t give us a chance,” Hayley said. Nick stood up and came over to her and kissed her hungrily.

      “You win, we are together,” Nick said. Hayley smiled and they kissed deeply. They went out and told the guys that they were officially a couple. Brian got up and came over and hugged them.

      “Nick, there is no changing your mind, I don’t want her to get hurt and the only way that will happen is if you decide you can’t be with her,” Brian said. Nick smiled.

      “That’s not happening this time,” Nick said.

      “Good,” Brian said.

      “Hayley!” they heard someone say. They turned and saw Alicia standing there.

      “Ali!” Hayley said running to her. They hugged.

      “Hey guys,” Alicia said.

      “Hey Ali,” they said. Hayley and Alicia sat down and talked.

Chapter 12

Nick and Hayley laid in bed in Nick’s hotel room after making love. Nick held her close.

      “I feel like this is a dream,” Nick said.

      “It’s not a dream, Nicky, it’s real,” Hayley said resting her head on his chest.

      “I know for sure this time, I’m not letting you go, no matter what happens,” Nick said.

      “Good, because I never want to be away from you, I don’t want to lose you,” Hayley said. They kissed and they made love again. Afterwards, they laid there. Hayley jumped up and ran for the bathroom and threw up in the toilet. 

      “Hayley,” Nick said coming in and he rubbed her back. She flushed the toilet and leaned back against the tub. He got a cold washcloth and put it on her forehead. He went and got dressed and came back with some clothes for her. She slowly got dressed.

      “I’m taking you to a doctor,” Nick said. He helped her get up. They went to a doctor. Nick sat there holding her hand. An hour later, the doctor came back.

      “Hayley, you are pregnant, three months along,” the doctor said. Nick looked at her. She looked at him. They both knew it was Brian’s. They went back to the hotel and went to Brian’s room. Nick knocked on the door. Brian opened it and saw them.

      “Hey guys,” Brian said. They went in and Brian closed the door.

      “Brian, we have some news for you, well, Hayley has some news for you,” Nick said.

      “What’s up,” Brian said.

      “Brian, I’m pregnant, with your child,” Hayley said. Brian sat down.

      “What,” Brian said.

      “I’m three months pregnant, it’s yours,” Hayley said. Brian looked at her.

      “We just came back from seeing a doctor,” Nick said.

      “Oh boy,” Brian said.

      “Yeah,” Nick said.

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

      “Is the divorce still pending?” Nick asked.

      “It’s in the works, I mailed off the papers to my lawyer,” Brian said.

      “Brian, we need to know what you want to do,” Hayley said.

      “I do want to be there for my child, but we don’t have to be married, but this baby will have two fathers,” Brian said.

      “What,” Hayley said.

      “As soon as the divorce is final, you two get married, Nick can be the father, he can adopt the baby, I’ll give up my rights for him to do that, but I’ll be there with you guys,” Brian said.

      “Brian, you said you wanted a child,” Hayley said. Brian smiled.

      “I did, but I will be a father to the child in a way,” Brian said.

      “Are you sure about this?” Hayley asked.

      “I’m positive, but since the baby isn’t born yet, no one has to know, no one has to know that the baby is mine, when the baby is born, you can put Nick down as the father,” Brian said.

      “We don’t want you doing anything you’ll regret, Brian, you need to be sure this is what you want,” Nick said.

      “Nick, it is, you two belong together, I actually am moving on, Ali and I have a date after the show tonight since we aren’t leaving until tomorrow,” Brian said.

      “You are going out with Ali?” Hayley asked.

      “Yeah,” Brian said.

      “That is so great, she needs a great guy,” Hayley said. Brian smiled.

      “She’s very cool,” Brian said. Hayley and Nick said bye and went back to Nick’s room. They sat down and talked about the baby.

Chapter 13

Nick laid there in bed, watching Hayley sleep. He rested his hand gently on her stomach. He couldn’t believe she was pregnant with Brian’s baby. He couldn’t believe that Brian would want Nick to be the father. He watched the woman he loved as she slept peacefully. He gently got up and went out the door and went for a walk. His bodyguard was close by. He found himself at a nearby park. He sat down on a bench and thought about everything. An hour later, he went back to the hotel and went to his room. He found Kevin waiting by the door.

      “Nick, where were you,” Kevin said.

      “I went to the park, why,” Nick said.

      “Hayley’s not in the room,” Kevin said.

      “Where is she,” Nick said.

      “At the hospital,” Kevin said. Nick ran down to the elevators and got on and went down to the lobby and ran out the front doors and went to the hospital. He ran in and saw Brian sitting in the waiting room.

      “Brian!” Nick said running up to him.

      “Nick, where were you,” Brian said.

      “I went for a walk, what happened,” Nick said.

      “She had some pains and called me, I brought her here,” Brian said. Nick sat down.

      “I should have stayed in the room,” Nick said.

      “Nick, you didn’t know, you didn’t know this was going to happen,” Brian said. The doctor came out.

      “Mr. Littrell,” the doctor said.

      “Yes,” Brian said standing up.

      “Could you come with me, please,” the doctor said. Brian looked at Nick. Nick nodded.

      “Go, she’s your wife,” Nick said. Brian nodded and went with the doctor. Nick sat there staring at the floor. Kevin, Howie, and AJ came in.

      “Nicky,” Howie said sitting beside him.

      “I shouldn’t have left her alone,” Nick said.

      “Nick, you can’t blame yourself,” Howie said.

      “Nick, no one knew this was going to happen,” Kevin said.

      “Nick, stop blaming yourself, okay, Hayley is going to need you,” AJ said. Brian came out pushing Hayley in a wheelchair.

      “Nicky,” Hayley said. Nick moved and knelt down in front of her.

      “Hey sweetie,” Nick said.

      “Let’s get back to the hotel,” Brian said. They all went back to the hotel. Nick helped Hayley to his room. He closed the door and helped her lay down on the bed. He laid beside her and held her close.

      “What happened, baby,” Nick said.

      “I lost the baby, Nicky, I miscarried,” Hayley said. Nick held her close.

      “Oh god, baby, I’m so sorry, I should have been here,” Nick said.

      “Where did you go?” Hayley asked.

      “I went for a walk, I was sitting in the park down the street,” Nick said.

      “I woke up and you weren’t here and I felt pains and I called Brian,” Hayley said.

      “I feel like it’s my fault that I wasn’t here,” Nick said. Hayley looked up at him.

      “It’s not your fault, Nicky, the doctor said that people miscarry, but the doctor said it isn’t the end of the world, I can have more children,” Hayley said.

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

      “You are stuck with me, Carter, forever, there is no way I could leave you,” Hayley said.

      “I love you, Hayley, I really love you,” Nick said.

      “I love you, too, Nicky,” Hayley said. He kissed her deeply and held her close as they went to sleep.

Epilogue

Three years went by. Hayley and Nick were married and expecting their first child together. Hayley was five months along and loving every second of it.  Brian and Alicia got married and they were expecting their first child together. Alicia was three months pregnant and loving it. Alicia and Hayley always went shopping together. Brian, Alicia, Hayley, and Nick often double dated. Hayley slowly made her way downstairs in her and Nick’s house. Nick came up to her and kissed her deeply.

      “I love you, wife,” Nick said.

      “I love you, too, husband,” Hayley said hugging him. Nick knelt down and kissed her expanding stomach. He lifted her blouse to expose her stomach. He gently kissed her stomach and she felt tears in her eyes at the sight of her husband kissing her stomach and their baby.

      “Hey little one, I can’t wait until you came into the world, I love you already,” Nick said kissing Hayley’s stomach again. Nick stood up and kissed his wife again.

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

      “I love you, too,” Hayley said. They kissed and Hayley knew they would always be together cause their love for each other found a way for them not to be apart ever again.

THE END!