"And the winner for best song by a group is the Backstreet Boys and Shy Rose for 'One Time'" the now famous Christina Aguilera announced. It has been an entire year since the song had been released and it had finally won the award it deserved. The boys ran up to the stage with smiles plastered to their face. "We're accepting this on behalf of Shy. She's out touring in Europe and couldn't be here tonight but I know she would be grateful." Brian announced. The rest of the guys lined up to say thank you. "I'd like to thank my beautiful fiancée Izabel and our three year old son, Thomas. I love you both!" Brian was beaming from ear to ear and the audience cheered for him. He was a man in love. "I want to thank my wife, Eve. Take care honey and take care of Shy! Don't let her get into too much trouble. We love you both!" Kevin shouted happily. Eve had since become Breanna's manager and was touring with her in Europe. "This is for Natasha! Baby, you were with me the entire time we recorded this song and if it wasn't for you, I couldn't have finished the song much less the entire album. I miss you! Come home soon! Oh, Shy, babe, you are da bomb! Luv ya!" Nick and Natasha were still together but Breanna hired Natasha as a dancer on the tour. The two girls had become close in the past year and Breanna was successful at bringing her out of her shell. AJ stepped up to the mike and looked around at the audience as the crowd grew quiet. He smiled and let out the loudest cheer he could muster. He started jumping up and down and pumping his fist into the air. The group had finally won the award that was predicted for that song. "Thank you everyone! Mom, you guys, Mya! Hun, finish recording and get home! I miss you too, Shy! We all do." AJ was looking at Howie who seemed to be lurking in shadows staring at the ground. "D? Your turn." Brian smiled at Howie. "Thank you God, our families, friends, and significant others. We'd like to especially thank the fans. If it wasn't for you, none of this would be possible. You really *are* larger than life. Thank you Shy. This was one of your best songs. We all miss you and hope the tour is going well."

The guys all went out to the after parties with Alexei in tow. He and the guys had remained good friends over the past year and partied together whenever the guys were in LA or whenever Alexei was in Orlando visiting his sister. After the parties died down everyone went to Alexei's new house that he had just moved into. Alexei had become a successful stockbroker and the first thing he wanted was a 6 bedroom home overlooking the ocean in Santa Monica. AJ was always in heaven when he stayed at Alexei's house. The two had become close friends and AJ would frequently fly out to LA to party with his bud. "Lex, how much did you spend on this place?" Nick asked, walking around the house. "I didn't buy it." Alexei stated while looking through the liquor cabinet for champagne to celebrate the Grammy win. "What? You didn't buy it?" Nick asked again. "Nope. Breanna bought it for me. Didn't she tell you?" Nick shook his head in response. "I hardly talk to her anymore. Not since the breakup." Nick mumbled. Alexei nodded his head. He knew that Breanna's career kept her away from everyone, especially her friends. "So, Eve never told you about the house either? She's Kevin's wife!" Alexei teased. "I don't think Eve knows about it." Nick answered. The rest of the guys were wondering around the house looking at all the photos and the interior design of the house. The only person who had ever stayed in the house so far was AJ. He was in his room on the phone with Mya who was back in Germany recording another album. Howie wondered into the living room when he heard the phone ring. "Answer it, D." Alexei stated. Howie shrugged his shoulders and picked up the phone. "Hello?" "Hey, this isn't Lex." Breanna replied. "Nope, it's not." Howie answered back. "How are you?" She questioned with a feeling of guilt and pain. "I've been better. At least we won." He smiled into the phone. "I know, I heard. Eve told me a few minutes ago. Congratulations!" "You, too! Hey you wrote it!" Howie felt a little bit better talking to Breanna. "Thanks. So, you like Lex's house?" "It's amazing! It's really nice. I can tell that you picked it out." Howie missed Breanna more than words could express but he knew that pressing the issue would only end with her hanging up on him. "Nah, he picked it out himself. So, is he around?" She asked in a calm voice even though she was on the verge of tears. "Yeah, hold on." Howie walked towards the kitchen where Alexei was trying to open the bottle of champagne and placed the phone in front of him. "It's your sister." Howie smiled at Alexei. Anyone could see that that smile was fake. Before Alexei answered the phone he watched Howie slowly walk up the stairs to his room in no mood to celebrate.

"What did you say?" Alexei demanded. "What? What are you talking about?" Breanna asked quietly. "This should be one of the happiest days for him but instead he's going to bed. What did you say to him?" Breanna sighed. "I didn't say anything. I asked how he was, how he liked the house and I congratulated him on the Grammy. What else could I say?" She demanded as tears streamed down her face. Breanna sat in her hotel suite overlooking the Eiffel Tower. It was the same hotel room that she and Howie had occupied over a year ago when Eve and Kevin became engaged. "I'm sorry, Breen. I didn't mean to snap at you like that. It's just, well, you and D are meant for one another. He really needs you and I know you need him!" Breanna sighed again as she pushed a long strand of auburn hair out of her face. "I don't need him. I don't *need* anyone. I have you and Eve. Who else do I need?" She demanded as she cried harder. "You need him. He needs you. Why did you two end it?" Alexei asked gently. Alexei spoke with his sister while he poured champagne for everyone. He motioned to the rest of the guys who were in the living room that the champagne was in the kitchen. He walked slowly towards the private den to speak with his sister to see if there would be any way to get Breanna and Howie back together. "I couldn't handle the pressure. And I couldn't handle him not having anyone there for him. He deserves someone to be there to hold his hand and to tell him everything will be alright. I couldn't and I still can't do that. Where would I find the time? When he's touring, I'm in the studio. When he's in the studio, I'm touring. When we both have time off, it's at different times. If he's in the US, I'm in Europe. If he's in Europe, I'm in the US. If..." "Okay I get the picture." Alexei stated flatly. "Breanna, you are one of the smartest people I've ever met in my life! And I'm not just saying that because you're my sister, but sis, I think you my have made one of the dumbest mistakes of your life!" Brian walked into the room and sat down on a nearby couch. He held out his hand to Alexei who handed him the phone. "Hi, Hun." Brian greeted quietly. "Oh, hi bro." She joked back as she sniffled. "Do me a favor?" Breanna asked. "Sure, anything!" Brian stated happily to his 'little sister'. "Please don't nag me about D. I can't handle it." She sobbed quietly. He sighed nodding his head. "I won't. I promise. I just wanted to see how you were doing, that's all." "I'm fine. The tour is fine. It's exhausting and all I want to do is go home but I'm still having fun." He laughed at her. "All tours are like that." She smiled and listened as he told her about all the hard times he had while on tour. After 20 minutes she became quiet. "Thinking?" Brian asked. Breanna nodded her head then let out a laugh. "Um, yeah. I just realized that you can't see me nodding my head." Brian laughed at her. "Want me to let you go? I'm sure you have things to do." "No, I really need to speak with Kevin. That's originally why I called." Breanna stated in a concerned voice. Brian didn't like the tone of her voice but agreed to go find Kevin.