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"Well Mrs. Littrell," The doctor began "Everything looks good. I will began your discharge papers and have you out of here
shortly. once I get them done I will send a nurse in here to let you know." Sara nodded her head at him and he headed out of the
room.

Sara wasn't too sure she was happy to be getting discharged. Sure, she wouldn't be stuck in bed all day long, but now she
would have to face her husband. She wasn't too sure if she was ready for that yet.

Thankfully AJ walked in the door at the right moment. "Oh, hi AJ." Sara said as she sat up some in her bed. "I haven't seen you
for a while."

"Yeah, sorry about that, Lori showed up a few hours ago." AJ sat down in the chair next to her bed.

"I was wondering when she would wind up here. How did she get out of her movie early?" Sara wondered.

"They ended up wrapping it up early, and she headed here right after. Right now she's with Jenn. Nick told me that she
remembered her, he seemed kinda disappointed that she still doesn't remember him. I felt bad when she remembered me, and
now she remembers Lori and I think that stung him a little bit more."

"Well hopefully she just remembers everything very soon. I hate to see Nick so upset." Sara sat there silent for a few seconds,
took a deep breath, and began," AJ, can I talk to you seriously for a second."

"Sure sweetie, is something wrong?" AJ asked sounding concerned and also a bit nervous.

"It's just that the doctor just left and he said that he was releasing me today."

"Well, that's great, what's so bad about that?" AJ asked a bit confused.

"In my heart the first thing I want to do is go and run to Brian's room, cuddle up next to him in his bed, and help him to get better.
But then there's this part of me that just wants torun away. I honestly don't know how I can tell Brian what had happened to me."
Sara soon started to cry as she continued on opening herself up to AJ. "I'm afraid that he won't be able to ever look at me the
same. Is that wrong of me?" Sara then began to sob as AJ embraced her.

"Sara, shhhhh, don't think like that, Brian loves you and will no matter what. Shhhhh…" AJ just held her as he allowed her to let
it all out.

*****

Jenn and Lori had been talking for a little over an hour when Jenn suddenly let out a yawn.

"Oh, honey, you need to rest don't you. I've just been yammering on to you like nothing is going on. I should leave you to rest."
Lori said as she began to stand up.

Jenn suddenly reached up and grabbed Lori's arm, "No, Lori please stay. I felt so good when you walked in that door and I
actually remembered someone. Nick is about to bring Nicole in anyway. I really want you to meet her. Please stay." Jenn looked
so pathetic Lori couldn't say no.

"Alright, I'll stay, but only until Nick brings in Nicole. But until then I want you to close your eyes and rest for a bit. I don't want to
be yelled at for you not getting better."

"That's fine, but will you tell me more about how we met Nick and AJ." Jenn asked as she turned on her side and closed her
eyes.

*****

Sara swallowed hard as she held a tight grasp on AJ's hand. She was going to do it. Her heart hadn't pounded in her chest this
hard since she was walking down the aisle for her wedding. Sara smiled a bit to herself, it had been the same man at the end,
waiting for her.

And that's what kept her walking. The longing and need for that security that she knew only he could give her. Those clear blue
eyes that told her it was going to be okay and those soft loving hands that, for 5 years, knew every part of her.

But it was also this that made her hesitate on the short journey from one floor to the next and down that immaculate hallway.
What if she felt guilty in his arms of security? What if once he knew, those blue eyes would cloud over with hurt and anger? How
could she deal with that? No, she couldn't do that to him. Not after he'd been so good to her.

"C'mon Sar, you're almost there.." AJ jerked her hand a bit as he noticed Brian's wife slowing down to a halt. He had been
watching her, knowing all the thought and emotion that ran through her head was bound to be too confusing for anyone that had
been in the situation they were all in. At one point, when he saw the tears welling up in her dark brown eyes, AJ was tempted to
just take her back and put it off for another day.

But then another image entered his mind. It was his brother, Brian, whose sleep had been restless for the past few days for the
rest was interupted with thoughts of her. Although no one else knew, he had been crying in his sleep and, sometimes, just to
calm his friend, AJ would take his hand and tell him it was that of his wife. Maybe it was wrong, but there was only so much AJ
could take and Brian had been through so much..

"Honey you have to." He finally told her.

"Why?" Sara looked up, tears visible in her eyes once more.

"Because.. because you love him and God knows he loves you more than anyone.." He sighed a breath of relief when she inched
towards the next door, which happened to be her husband's.

AJ turned Sara to face him and, grinning a bit, embraced her. "You know what to do now. So, I'm gonna go find my girl and, ya
know, thank God for every day I have her." It had just occured to him, what if this had been him and Lori? Suddenly, he felt what
Brian must be going through and quickly let go of Sara. "Go...follow your heart." With that, he turned and left.

Sara stood and watched until he was out of sight and then, trembling, turned to the door.

****

As we move to embrace, tears run down your face

I whisper words of love, so softly

I can't believe this pain, it's driving me insane

Without your touch, life will be lonely

So raise your hands to heaven and pray

That we'll be back together someday

Tonight, I need your sweet caress

Hold me in the darkness

Tonight, you calm my restlessness

Who'll relieve my sadness

****.

"Oh my God! BRIAN!" Came a distant sound of joy from some girl she couldn't really recognize.

Laughter and music filled Jenn's ears as she realized she had her feet dug in the sand and water from the ocean's spray was
throwing gentle beads into her dark hair. She turned to see a house, a patio filled with party people. The house looked so
familiar....

"JEEEEENNNNN!" She heard a voice call out from behind her as she had just turned back around. Then, just as quickly as she
had realized where she stood, a pair of arms whisked her away.

Jenn looked down to see an ivory breezy sundress flowing around her body as Nick swung her in the air.

She turned around to find the man with familiar blonde hair and blue eyes filled with love. It was as if everyone and everything
was perfect.

"Nicky!" Jenn laughed as he picked her up over his shoulder and ran along the shore.

"Shhh..We're gonna tackle Romeo and Juliet..." Nick breathed out, nodding towards a couple, who were tenderly cuddling o­n a
further part of the beach.

That couple. They looked familiar. Just ..blurry...

Suddenly, it was as if she lost control of her own dream and she was o­nly watching as they spoke.

"Awww baby..." She whispered into Nick's ear, rubbing her nose against his cheek a bit. "Why don't we just make them
jealous?"

And so, with a mysterious wiggle of his eyebrows, Nick abruptly changed his direction and the couple was soon flinging
themselves into the amiable waves of the ocean.

"WOOWOO!" She could hear AJ's familiar voice followed by catcalls of two other men and their respective counterparts. Jenn
smiled, realizing they had also grabbed the attention of the couple whom Nick had planned o­n disturbing seconds before. She
realized that her laugh matched Nick's in perfect harmony....

And suddenly, she remembered. She remembered that this was AJ's house. That this was some kind of party. That the couple
were two of their best friends and, the rest of the people, they were good friends too. But the harder she tried to remember...the
more vague the visions became...

-----------

Jenn's eyes snapped open to meet a tangled blonde mess asleep o­n her arm. She smiled a bit, more confident in her love for
this man beside her.

"Nick?" She whispered a bit hoarse.

"Mmm...yes baby?" Nick turned his head and groggily opened his eyes before realization set in. When it did, he sat straight up.
"Um, I'm sorry. I didn't mean to ..fall..asleep.." He rubbed his tired eyes and worried that he had gotten to close or hurt her or
something.

"No..no..baby..come back.." Jenn opened her arms, welcoming Nick for the first time in weeks and, although, he was a bit
hesitant, he accepted within seconds. Then, in the next moments of silence, he had buried his head in her neck and she smiled,
knowing this was how it was supposed to be. "Nicky?"

"Yah?" It had been forever since she called him that.

"I..I had this dream. We were at AJ's house and I actually remembered a few things. It was a party and you and I...we were
swinging around o­n the beach and...Nick..I know that I'm meant for you..I know it was just a dream but...I'm falling in love with
you..again I think..."

"Jenn, were...were you wearing an ivory colored sundress?" Nick interupted, lifting his head to look at her.

"Yah..w-why?"

"Jenny..That was..the night I proposed." His eyes formed big blue tears as did hers and it seemed like forever as they
embraced. And that was the time that Nick and Jenn finally kissed again. A kiss to last forever this time.

Jenn's POV

I slowly opened my eyes and noticed the room was dark, and that I was alone. I looked over towards the window and saw that
the light was trying desperately to break through the curtains keeping it out. So its daytime, and I really don't wanna sit in the
dark. Maybe I can try to get up, haven't tried that by myself yet.

It had been so nice before I had fallen asleep. I actually felt good being in Nicks embrace and actually having the feeling that is
was right. We had reminisced for a while, he just seemed so happy that I had actually remembered something that involved my
Nicky. We had just cuddled in my bed for a while until I had fallen asleep.

So I manage to work my legs to the side of the bed and let them dangle there for a minute. Now comes the hard part, actually
standing up. I carefully brace myself against the edge of the bed and slowly slid off. Perfect! I smile to myself as I begin to make
my way across the room to the door, using my IV pole to help hold myself up. As I near the light switch I hear voices coming
from right outside my door.

"....has the press found this out yet?" Now I know that was Nick, but who is he talking too?

"No, luckily they haven't gotten wind of this yet. I mean, if the press finds out that this was more than just an accident, that it
was actually planned by someone, all hell just might break loose." Now I don't know who that is, I just can't place it. God! Stupid
memory. But wait a second, this wasn't an accident. Someone actually did this to us o­n purpose??!! I was starting to get really
confused again.

"You're right man, this could get even worse. We just need to keep this o­n the DL, cause its obvious that these people are still
out there. They cause the car accident, then they went after Sara, I just fear what they plan o­n doing next." Nick sounded so
sad.

"Well, we need to be sure to get some more security around us, they can't get to us if are asses are covered. I'm gonna go
ahead and get o­n that, why don't you go and fill in the others, they really need to be informed of this." Now I'm thinking that this
is that Kevin guy, Nick was telling me that he was all into protecting us and all. I don't know....

"Okay, I'll do that now. Jenn's sleeping anyway, and Nicole is with Brian and Sara right now. Let's meet back here in like and
hour, sound good?"

"Bye bro."

With that I heard them walk away and I decided it was a good time to turn o­n the lights. I turned myself around to go back to my
bed, and stopped dead in my tracks. There was a guy standing in the corner dressed in a doctors uniform. He had this odd look
about him and I noticed he had a syringe in his hand.
"Wh...who are you." I managed to squeak out.

"I told them I'd be back........"

******
No POV

Sara was sitting in the chair next to Brian's bed, watching him as he slowly rocked Nicole trying to get her to go to sleep. Yes,
she had told him about losing their baby. No, she didn't tell him about being attacked the other night. When she had walked into
the room he was sitting there with the baby in his arms. It had almost made her break down, but she knew she had to be strong.

Then when he mentioned their baby, she just had to tell him. She was worried about him though. Because after she told him he
didn't say a word, he just sat there rocking Nicole.

That's where she was now. Waiting, wanting him to say something to her, but he didn't.

Then he looked up at her and began to speak, "Isn't she just beautiful. I always knew Jenn and Nick would make beautiful
babies." Then he just went right back to looking intently at Nicole and didn't say another word.

Now she was really worried. This was so unlike her Bri, and she was lost as to what she should do next. Just as she was about
to open her mouth to say something, she heard a loud commotion outside of the room.

Sara got out of her chair, glancing back to make sure Brian and Nicole were still okay, she opened the door and was shocked
as to what greeted her o­n the other side.

"Nick! What’s wrong!?" She asked, afraid of the answer. When she realized that her tall friend was too shaken up to even
answer, she welcomed him into the comfort of her arms and he gratefully accepted.

"It’s all set up Sar." He mumbled into her shoulder. Nick lifted his watery eyes to meet hers. "We’re playing a losing game."

"Oh god.." Sara felt her back hit the wall as she covered her mouth with her hands. "What…how…"

"The driver of our limo that night.. He was in o­n it." He stopped to swallow. "They got him because the police found it suspicious
and.. and they dragged it out of him that there were more people but.. But he won’t say when, where, or who. Kevin’s gone to
order more security." Nick ran a nervous hand through his thick blond hair.

"Oh.. Okay." The brunette bit her lip. "So, that would explain what happened to me.."
"He was caught too. Um, so, how’s Rok?" The blonde asked, wanting to change the subject, thinking Brian would be happy to
have his wife back.

" Well… He’s very fond of Nicole." Sara plastered a temporary smile o­nto her face. But the facial expression gave way to the
next words that spilled out of her mouth. "But.. He doesn’t love me so much right now."

"Sar…that’s crazy!" It was just yesterday that his best friend had been upset over not seeing his wife, his baby. Oh yeah.. "You
told him?"

Brian’s wife o­nly nodded and dropped her head. Suddenly, the white floor was more interesting than Nick’s face. The man o­nly
opened his arms to embrace the young woman who had silent tears streaking her cheeks but the scene was soon interrupted
by a shrill cry from Jenn’s room.

"Oh God.."

"Go Nick!" Sara urged, as the fear in Nick’s eyes reflected the rising fear in her stomach.

She watched as Nick took off towards Jenn’s room. She couldn’t take all that right now. Not when everything was falling apart
as it was, she had to keep a little sanity. Sara turned back towards Brian’s room but, upon cracking the door a little, she saw
her husband, still cradling Nicole, sharing the same tears that she had outside his door. In her heart, Sara knew they should be
together now but, she couldn’t take it. For some reason, she had this feeling that she didn’t even know that man in her husband’
s body right now.

For this reason, the short girl silently closed the door and found the nearest elevator. She needed a breath of fresh life and she
knew just where to go. Where she had been just the week before.

~*~

"Oh my God!" Came a horrified gasp from Nick Carter as he entered Jenn’s room.

AJ was o­n the floor, o­n top of someone who looked to be a doctor, punching him in the stomach as the other man’s hands
reached up to wrap around AJ’s thin throat.

"AJ! Holy Shit! What.." Nick breaths became harder as he saw a terrified Jenn laid back in her bed, Lori beside her, trying to get
her to say something. What he saw next though, really scared him.

A syringe was laying o­n the floor beside his fiancé’s bed. Empty.

His fiancé had a slow stream of blood running down her arm.

Quickly putting the two together, Nick knew she had been injected with something. The man o­n the floor. The tall man ran out of
the door just in time to see a security guard walking with Kevin.

"KEVIN!" Nick screamed in desperation, not caring who noticed him.

Kevin turned, confusion all over his face. "Nick, what the hell-"

"It’s Jenn.. and AJ.. HELP!" By this time, his voice was strangled with a suppressed cry.

The security guard took off running toward Jenn’s room, followed by an entourage of doctors who had been paged about the
commotion in room 304. Nick was frozen, just watching.

"Nick, c’mon buddy. You don’t need to be in there. We’ll come back in a couple of minutes, ok?" He heard Kevin’s calm voice say
as an arm wrapped around his shoulder.

As much as Nick wanted to argue and fight for his love, he couldn’t and gave in to Kevin’s offer. As the two Backstreet Boys
walked down the hall, they ran into Howie who also had a confused look o­n his face.

"Do you two know where Sara is? I was going to tell her about the security thing but she’s not with Brian. I can’t get anything out
of him, either. He’s being really strange."

"I was just talking to her.." Nick offered, a glazed look in his eyes.

Howie looked questioningly at Kevin, wondering about Nick. The oldest man just shook his head and sat Nick down in the
waiting room.

"I’ll go look for her. Stay here with Nicky, ok? He could use some of your peacemaking ways right now." Kevin gave Howie a grin
and hugged him as he left in search for his cousin’s wife.

He stepped out into the bright hall. It had quieted in Jenn’s room a bit and to the opposite side, his cousin seemed to be dead to
the world.

When would this nightmare be over?

Chapter 16

Jenn's POV

"Jenn, Jenn please say something." I could hear Lori talking to me, and I could see her lips saying the same thing. Although her
lips didn't quite match up with her voice. I tried to talk back to her but it just wasn't happening. Tried to move, anything, but I
couldn't.

I saw Lori get a frazzled look on her face, then nothing. For a second everything was pitch black, and I figured I was dead. That I
fought against, struggling against the blackness for that not to happen. Then it was like when you turn on a TV and you dont
have cable, it was all fuzzy. As it cleared I could clearly see that I was in the hallway of the hospital.

I began to walk the halls and I could hear a woman weeping. I turned the corrner and I saw her leaning her head against a
window. The only thing I was hearing was her saying the name Brian over and over again. As I got closer a voice in my head told
me that this woman was Sara, Brian's wife. Suddenly, I saw Kevin appear next to her and begin consoling her. I wanted so much
to go to her and give her a hug, but there was this force that wouldn't let me get closer to her. It was actually making me walk
away, further down the hall.

The hallway got darker and darker, and as I got to the end of the hall it was pitch black. Then a light slowly turned on in the
corrner and I saw my Nick. He was sitting in a rocking chair, with Nicole resting against his shoulder. I couldn't hear what he
was saying, but I could see that he was crying.

Tears welled up in my eyes at seeing this. I didn't understand what was going on. Did I die? What in the world was going on
here? Why is all of this happening to us?

"I wish I knew...." Nick said as he looked right at me. Could he see me? But his eyes quickly adverted from the spot I was
standing at back to Nicole as more tears shinned in his eyes.

Suddenly everything started to spin, I heard the sound of tires sqealling, metal crunching, and my own scream. All I felt was pain
and I suddenly couldn't breath. I could hear Nick calling my name and reaching for me. As I suddenly remembered everything, I
felt nothing.

****

The doctors had pushed Lori out of the room once they had gotten in there. Unfortunatly help arrived a bit too late, the bad guy
had already ran off after he had thrown AJ into a wall knocking him unconcious. The thing that scared her the most was the
look in the guys eyes as he looked at her and said, "I'll be back for both of you ladies." Then he ran, out the door and to god
knows where.

The door to the room suddenly opened and a nurse stepped out, "Miss, do you think that you could find Mr. Carter for us, we
need him in here."

"Sure is everything okay?" Lori asked hesitantly.

"I will only be able to relay that information to Mr. Carter." The nurse said almost on automatic.

"Sure, I will find him." With that said Lori quickly ran off to find Nick. Lucky for her he was only 2 hallways down. "Nick, Nick, the
nurse wants to see you."

Nick got this terrified look on his face and quickly made his way to Lori. Lori lead him back to Jenn's room, and as they got to
the room the door opened as they wheeled AJ out. Lori gave Nick a nod then followed wherever they were taking AJ.

Nick hesitated just for a second, then opened the door fearing the worst, but hoping for some hope.

Kevin pressed the button that would bring him to the 5th floor. He had searched three other floors until it hit him where he would
be most likely to find Sara.

The elevator doors slowly swooshed open to reveal an entourage of expectant mothers and some new fathers carrying
balloons and teddy bears out to their cars.

The tall dark man had to smile. He could just imagine Brian walking around the halls, taking his baby to meet everyone, really
wanting to show off his little one. Kevin was sure Nick would be just as bad in different circumstances. Suddenly, these
thoughts brought a certain undying sadness into his mind and he was thankful when he spotted Sara, standing in front of the
nursery, hands pressed to the glass, a sort of sad smile drifting across her face with a few long awaited tears.

"Hey Sar.." Kevin spoke up, digging his hands into his pockets and walking a few steps forward.

"Oh.. Kev.. Hi." Her body had jumped at the sudden familiar voice. The brunette’s hand instantaneously reached up to wipe away
the tears she had been careless to hide minutes before.

"Hey.. it’s okay to cry sweetie." The man just walked up beside her until he, too, was facing the nursery window. Gently, he
wrapped an arm around her shoulders and felt her head lean into his chest.

"Why all of this at once Kevin? Why OUR baby? Why not just me?" Sara’s words were filled with emotions and still unshed
tears, for she had really no time to grieve over the life that she and Brian had lost way too soon.

"Because Sara.. what would Brian do without you? Hell, his own cooking would probably kill him." The last comment brought a
smirk to Sara’s face but it was soon gone when another newborn was brought into the room behind the window.

She quickly turned away, it was too much. She knew none of those babies were going home with her and it would be quite a
while before any baby would.

"He doesn’t even want to talk to me Kev. I just miss him.. I just do."

"Well, why don’t we just go down there and try to work things out? He’s missed you just like you’ve missed him, Sar. But,
understand that there’s been a lot dumped on him all of the sudden. Y’all are just so good for each other, you can’t handle things
alone anymore." Kevin offered a smile and, wrapping his arm around her one more time, they made their way back to 306.

~*~~*~

"What in the hell do you mean you don’t know?" Nick yelled quietly.

He was now located in Jenn’s doctor’s office, Dr. Anderson.

"Nick, all we know is that the man somehow got past security and injected her with some substance drug that is making her
come in and out of consciousness. We’re running tests as fast as we can." The middle aged woman explained.

"God…" Nick propped his elbow on the arm of the chair and rubbed his unshaven face. "So," his blue eyes met the doctor’s,
"What.. what’s going to happen to her?"

"Well, Mr. Carter…"

"Nick.."

"Well, Nick, we’re not sure. We’re doing our very best for her and I suggest to you that you go home, take Nicole, and get some
rest. You’re running yourself ragged." Dr. Anderson smiled at the young man. "You know, once Jenn and Nicole are both at
home, you’re gonna wish you had more time to sleep."

"I wish I was wishing that already." The blonde rolled his eyes, knowing that didn’t make much sense and that he should go
home for a while. He couldn’t do anything here except become anxious. He knew Jenn was in good hands now. Her room was
under maximum security now and one of the other Backstreet boys was usually always there. "Okay, I’ll go… but..can I go tell
her goodnight?"

"Sure." The doctor patted Nick on the back as they both stood to walk out.

A few minutes later, the youngest Backstreet boy was sitting on the edge of Jenn’s bed, watching her chest slowly rise and fall,
feeling her hand , limp, in his. His gentle fingers removed a wisp of hair from her face and, not having the courage to just sit here
and talk to her, he did what he does best. Nick sang.

"The first time I saw you, it felt like coming home and if I never told you.. I wanted you to know.. you had me from hello."

Not wanting to lose his cool in front of Jenn, the blonde stood and kissed her lips. "Goodnight my love. I’m still with you,
remember that."

And with that, Nick left to get Nicole and travel to a much needed place. Home.

~*~*~

Sara Littrell pulled into her driveway for the first time since the whole incident. It was her escape. No one would expect her to
come back here now, not alone at least. But who the hell cared now?

When Kevin walked Sara back to Brian’s room, she hadn’t prepared herself for what she might see. What met her brown eyes
was an image of Brian in his bed… with an arm wrapped around Lori, laying beside him.

It wasn’t that Sara thought there was anything going on between the two, they were more than likely only comforting each other.
It was just that, well, Sara hadn’t even kissed Brian in what seemed like forever and it just felt all too strange to his wife and she
had to get out. Quick.

So, here she arrived. Walking up the stairs of their beautiful family home, Sara opened the first door and burst into tears.

The walls were painted baby blue with big fluffy clouds that Brian did over and over again until they were perfect. The room was
so incomplete and now, it wouldn’t be finished for years to come. Sara stepped on the immaculate white carpet, taking ginger
steps as if her heart would break faster if she stepped too hard.

Finally, she reached the wall that bared a lonely picture frame. Inside the frame was a happy couple. A happy couple who, that
morning, had found out they would be expecting their first child. The baby that they had been waiting for for what seemed like
forever. The baby that would complete them.

Inside the picture frame, were Brian and Sara, in a world of happiness that they had long forgotten. Her fingers gently ran along
the words inscribed around the frame. The song Brian would sing to her tummy when it was disturbing her.


"Hey you, you're a child in my head
You haven't walked yet
Your first words have yet to be said
But I swear you'll be blessed
I know you're still just a dream
your eyes might be green
Or the bluest that I've ever seen
Anyway you'll be blessed
And you, you'll be blessed
You'll have the best
I promise you that
I'll pick a star from the sky
Pull your name from a hat
I promise you that, promise you that, promise you that
You'll be blessed
I need you before I'm too old
To have and to hold
To walk with you and watch you grow
And know that you're blessed"



Tears splattered on the glass but they were out of closed eyes. Eyes that had fallen into a rest sleep.

~*~*~*~
Nick Carter was lying in his bed, staring at the ceiling. He had discovered two hours ago, that if he rolled over and opened his
eyes, the fact that Jenn wasn’t there beside him hurt him unbearably. For a moment, he had considered just driving back to the
hospital, he couldn’t be happy without her. But it would disturb Nicole, he supposed.

Smiling, the blonde’s feet hit the cold floor and he shivered unexpectedly. He quietly moved to the basinet under the window of
his room. There, lay a precious innocent baby. A human being that kept Nick going for the past few days. This little girl named
Nicole, gave him hope for the future…that everything would be okay.

Nick lifted her into his arms and brushed her dark hair away from those beautiful sleeping blue eyes. Laying her down in the bed
next to him, the man put his face close to hers and smiled once again.

"Hey Nikki. I know I hate when people call me that but, it just seems cute for you. Anyways, it’s just me and you here tonight.
Usually, mommy’s here but.." He stopped. How could you explain everything to this little mind? "Nikki, just…always remember
that you were conceived out of SUCH great love. It’s a love that will never die, even after mommy and daddy have long gone.
Every girl should be as lucky as you to have a mom like you, she’s gonna love you so much baby. And uncle Brian and Kevin..and
AJ..and Howie. They’ll all love you too. You’re…just such a special little person princess. I hope you know…" Nick stopped as
tears filled his eyes, and he pressed his lips up against his baby’s forehead. "I hope you know that you’re daddy’s little angel.
You always will be."

He scooted closer to her and never wanted to let go. Finally, both pairs of blue eyes found a much deserved rest.

So, with Nick asleep with Nicole in his arms and Sara asleep, laying in the middle of the nursery floor, things had calmed at the
hospital too.

Brian woke up next to Lori and an overwhelming sadness washed over him. He wanted to talk to Sara as soon as possible. But
not now, his thoughts were too tired but there were things that he needed to tell her. Things he should’ve told her earlier. And,
when Lori left to join AJ again, the Backstreet boy found it hard to sleep with this incredible lonely feeling. So, taking a pen and
paper, he wrote :


Where can we go from here
All I know is that I love you still
Sometimes we do things against our will
I know I cry lonely tears
Where can we go from here


And, inside the hearts of Nick, Sara, Jenn, and Brian, they all asked the same question.

Where do we go from here?