| Chapter 44 Brian quietly walked down the halls. He was tired and ready to crawl in bed. The nachtk game had gone into extra innings making him hours late getting back. He knew Marie would be worried sick about him, and he'd probably hear it too. He laughed to himself, realizing he wanted to hear it. He loved having someone that cared about him so much that they would be worried if he was late. As he passed several doors he could hear faint sounds. He slowly crept closer, listening. It was the sound of someone crying. The door was ajar, so he carefully pushed on it, opening it up enough that he could see who it was. He was shocked to find the queen sitting behind her desk in tears. He knew he shouldn't, but something compelled him to walk into the room. He walked closer to the desk and knelt, "Your highness, is something wrong?" he asked in a soft voice. LaDonna looked up, quickly wiping the tears from her face, "Brian, I didn't hear you come in." He smiled, standing back up, "I just got in. What's wrong?" She smiled at how much her son's friend seemed to care. "It's nothing you need to be concerned about," she answered. He nodded, "If I can help, please let me know." The queen smiled again, motioning for him to sit down. As he did, he noticed the picture of Nick's father on her desk. LaDonna saw him glance at it, "It was taken in White Cap, not long after we were married." "Nick looks just like him, well, except for the eyes and hair," Brian said. She nodded, "He does look a lot like his father. So, what keeps you out so late, that you are walking the halls at this time of night?" Brian smiled, "Marie's brother took me to a nachtk game." "Ohh, enough said. Those can last forever," she smiled, "So tell me, when are you two getting married?" Brian sat up straighter, "Um, I'm not sure. We really haven't discussed it." "Well when you do, you are welcome to use any of the facilities here. It's been ages since we had a wedding inside these walls. It'll be a welcome celebration," she said. Brian nodded, biting his lip, "I guess it would be on the vid too?" LaDonna laughed, "You are the only one of your kind here. The people are interested in you." Brian laughed, "And I thought being a Backstreet Boy was an invasion of privacy." "If you don't want it to be broadcast, all you have to do is say the word," LaDonna offered. "Thank you. I'll talk to Marie, and see what she says," he said, standing up. "Please do," she said. Brian got to the door and turned back around, "Um, I meant what I said. If I can help ...." The queen smiled, "I wish you could, but this is something that I must handle myself." He nodded, turning and leaving the room. LaDonna sighed, "I just wish I knew how," she muttered. ~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~ Brian stepped through the door to his room, seeing Marie in bed. He quietly took off his jeans and jacket, crawling into bed. She turned over and snuggled up to him, "How did you like the game?" she asked sleepily. "It was good. I'm sorry I woke you," he said, kissing the top of her head. "I wasn't asleep. I just left Nick a little while ago," she admitted. "How is he?" Brian asked. "Better. It took a few tries, but we finally found a drug that worked. He should sleep through the night," she said. "Good. He must be really stressed, cause he hasn't had one of those in years," Brian said. Marie nodded, resting her head on his shoulder, "So, my brother behave himself?" Brian laughed, "Yeah, we had a good time." She lifted her head and stared at him, "Really?" He nodded, "Yeah, he's a pretty nice guy. Why are you looking at me like that?" Marie shook her head, "Sorry, I just ... maybe he's changed since the last time I saw him." Brian wrapped his arms around her, "Maybe. It's been known to happen." "Well I'm glad you two are getting along," she commented, closing her eyes. "Um baby, I need to ask you something," Brian said. She looked up at him. "I just ran into the queen, and she wanted to know when we were getting married. I think she wants us to have the wedding here, like a big huge celebration type thing," he said. "She does? Wow, Bri that's such an honor to be allowed to have it here," Marie said, her eyes gleaming. He laughed, "I know that, but um ... I dunno bout the big huge part of it. I mean, I already feel like a spectacle as it is." She pushed up and kissed him, "You are not a spectacle. But I'm sure if we didn't want the whole world to see it, that could be arranged." "Yeah, that's what she said," Brian smiled, "So now I guess we just have to pick a day." Marie nodded, laying back down, "I really don't care. All I want is to be yours for the rest of my life, and the sooner the better." Brian chuckled, "My sentiments exactly." "I'll talk to the queen tomorrow," she said, yawning, "We'll find a day." Brian nodded, closing his eyes, "OK, sounds good." ~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~ Tamara looked at the directions again, then glanced at the house at the end of the long dirt drive, "This has to be it." Tom nodded, turning the car up the drive, "I hope he doesn't mind visitors this early." "I hope we're not here for nothing," she said, biting her lip. He nodded, stifling a yawn. They'd both been up all night, traveling. They tracked Mr. Michael Sussing to a small farm in Montana. If the man had wanted to hide, this was surely the place to do it. He was fifty miles from the nearest anything. You had to know he was out here to find him, and even that proved difficult. Tom had driven in circles a few times, missing the small road that led to Michael's place. He stopped the car, and they got out, making their way to the door. As they approached the yappy bark of a house dog could be heard. Tom knocked on the door, stepping back to wait. Tamara panned the windows. Someone peeked out, quickly shutting the blinds again. She looked at Tom, wondering if their man was going to run. Tom knocked again, "Mr. Sussing?" Another moment passed before someone unlocked the door and opened it. The little terrier bouncing at his feet, Michael Sussing inspecting his visitors. "Mr. Sussing, I'm Agent Tom Neely with AIP, this is my partner Agent Tamara Dawson. Could we have a word with you?" Tom said. Michael looked at him, wary, "What's this about? I haven't heard from the agency since I left." "Sir, it's about Nick Carter," Tamara said. "Nick Carter? I don't remember that name," Michael mused. "Um Frederick DeGrafe the fifth," Tom offered. Michael's eyes went wide and the color drained from his face. He glanced down the drive, opening the door wider, "Get in quick before someone see's you." ~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~ Nick walked into the throne room, taking his seat at the table. "Good morning your highness, you are feeling better?" Tunk asked. Nick nodded, "Much better. I must apologize for yesterday. I'm not sure what happened, but I haven't had a headache like that in years." Tunk nodded, "No apology needed. Many of the Kholathians suffer from severe headaches. Soon we will have to start filtering our atmosphere I'm afraid." "Now that his highness is better, we must proceed," Kelah said, not wanting Nick and Tunk to get into a friendly conversation. He didn't come here to make friends, he came here to gain control of the mines. Nick nodded, taking the papers in front of him and beginning where they had left off. Mason watched his nephew, intent on finding something he could use. It was hard to focus though, his mind going back to the conversation he'd had with LaDonna the night before. He sighed, flipping the pages in front of him, feigning interest. When was she going to realize that what they had, she could have again? He shook his head, knowing she wouldn't. She had made a vow when they were found out, and he knew she would die before she broke it. He sighed again, looking over at Nick. He was listening to Kelah go on and on about why he couldn't agree to whatever paragraph they were on. Mason watched as Nick took everything the man said into consideration, asking the appropriate questions. He smiled, remembering a time that he himself was that interested in everything brought before him. A time when he was passionate about his work. Maybe that's why he loathed Nick, because he reminded him of himself when he was young and had his whole life in front of him. Now most of his life had passed, and he still had nothing to show for it. In fact, he'd lost everything he cared about over twenty years ago. And now here was life, slapping him in the face again, in the form of a nephew he hadn't seen since the first day he was born. He sighed, remembering that day. It was raining, a storm the likes they had never seen before, nor since. LaDonna had gone into labor in the wee hours of the morning, but it was the middle of the night before Nick had been born. He had waited impatiently all day to see her. Watching as his brother paced back and forth with worry. Mason was consumed with his own worry, knowing that if his brother were to find out about his relationship with LaDonna that they both would be in danger. Finally the doctors let them in. Mason stood back as Frederick saw his son for the first time. He remembered how awed his brother was, and he felt the same way. When Nick had opened his eyes, and those lavender orbs looked out at the world, he felt a chill. The realization that the prophecy might actually be true, staring him in the face. Mason looked up at Nick, seeing the man that child had become. He had to stop it. He couldn't let the prophecy come to pass, he just couldn't. ~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~ Michael sat down, taking a sip of his coffee. Tom and Tamara had told him why they were there. Told him about Nick becoming king, and his desire to find out the truth. Michael shook his head, still not believing it. "Mr. Sussing, we need your help. You are the only person we've found that was with the agency then. You must know something," Tamara said. Michael stared down into his coffee for several moments, contemplating. If he helped them, his life could be in danger. But he'd always felt that what had happened was wrong, and maybe this was his way of making it right. "Alright, I'll help," he said. Tom and Tamara smiled at each other. Finally a break! ~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~ Kevin, Brian, Howie and A.J. walked into the dining room for lunch. Ana, Marie and the queen were already there, chatting a mile a minute. Kevin raised his eyebrows, nudging Brian, "Looks like a planning session to me." Brian laughed, going over and taking his seat. "So, what are you lovely ladies discussing?" A.J. asked, grinning. "We are talking about our wedding," Marie answered, taking Brian's hand. "Oh great," Brian said, "Do we have a day?" Ana laughed, "Not only do we have a day, but we've pretty much already planned the whole thing." All the guys looked at Brian. "So when is it?" he asked, getting excited already. "Two weeks," Marie answered. "Wow, two weeks. That's soon," Howie said. Marie and Brian both shook their heads. "It's not soon enough," he said, "I can't wait!" The group laughed. "We'll have everything taken care of," LaDonna said, "We will announce it to the public, but no cameras will be allowed." "Thank you," Brian said. LaDonna smiled, "No, thank you. I never had a daughter to help plan a wedding. Thank you for the opportunity." "Well, this deserves a toast," Kevin said, raising his glass, "To the two most in love, caring, wonderful people I know...." "And to the party of the century ... um I mean the wedding," A.J. laughed. Chapter 45 |