Chapter 5 The River

It finally came to the day that the guys started touring in Germany at first it was just one week in 5 different cities in February but then it turned to March and when they weren’t doing a show on the I want you back tour they were rehearsing and recording. The guys barely had time for themselves let alone anyone else and it slowly became apparent to the parents that were on the road with them that even though the guys were young they too needed a well deserved break.

It took Justin’s mother, Lynn demanding the lighter schedule or she would rip Justin away from everything for Lou to let off the backs of the young group. They didn’t do much touring in their time off mainly just rehearsal, radio spots and whenever possible sleep. Except in Joey’s case, when he was out at a local store and ran into Reann McKinley, an 18 year old American stationed in Germany with her father. He had spent the entire night with her. He found out that her mother was killed when she was just a toddler. Her father was all she had and for as long as she could remember she had been here in Germany. The two made a pact with each other that no matter what may come their way they would always be friends.

It was shortly after the all night stand that Joey took that Lou started getting outrageous with the demands on their time. Also their music was having an explosive effect on the European crowd they want more and wanted it now.

*July 4^th*

Sam woke up early that morning to prepare the house for the massive feast that was going to take place that day. He and Natalee had decided not to tell anyone that Connor wasn’t his. They just let everyone assume what they wanted to. The last year had been a total riot with all of Connor’s first and today was going to be a special first.

"I can’t believe that my baby is a year old today. Can you believe it? It seems like yesterday that we brought him home." Natalee said watching Connor play with his toys.

"I can’t believe it either. I just dread the day that his father sees him for the first time." Sam said in a sullen voice.

"You stop that. If it was meant to be it would have already happened by now. Besides I am sure that he has long forgotten about me anyway." Natalee said standing up and getting the table ready for the holiday festivities.

*GERMANY*

August and September came and went and with that the guys were working every weekend. The crowds were amazing. They traveled from Germany to Austria and the United Kingdome; singing and dancing their way into the teen girls’ hearts. At the end of November they had already missed Thanksgiving the group got some encouraging yet scary news: they would be home for the Christmas holidays but it was time to take their sound to the United States.

They were all nervous but they were going to set sail and let the River take them where they were meant to go.