| Chapter 11 "Wait, I'm confused," Howie said. "So what else is new?" A.J. asked. Howie shot him a look, "Why would they do that?" Kevin shrugged his shoulders, "I have no idea. Something's going on that we don't know about, that's for sure." The three had been standing at the windows watching the couples talk. They had watched as Tara and Brian threw their rings into the ocean, then turned and walked back to Nick and Lyn. "Man, I dunno. The more I watch the more confusing this gets," A.J. said, as Nick pulled Brian off to talk with him, leaving the girls alone to talk as well. ~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~ "What is it man?" Brian asked as Nick pulled him away from the girls. "I need to tell you something," Nick said. Brian watched as Nick shifted his weight from side to side, and avoided looking him directly in the eye. "Brian, I'm sorry. I sent Jered here to kill you, and I'll never forgive myself for that. I'll understand if you don't want to hang around me anymore, but I just needed to tell you that," he said. Brian stared at him for a moment, and the silence caused Nick to actually look at him. "Nick, I'll never understand why you did what you did, but I can't hold it against you. I know that you weren't the same person I'm looking at now, so I can't hold you responsible for it. You're my best friend, nothings changed that," Brian said. "So you aren't angry with me?" Nick asked. Brian shook his head, "No, I can't be. I think if we were anyone but us, we'd be at each others throats right now, but I can't be angry at you for any of what happened. Especially when I was here doing some of the same things. I should be asking you if you're angry with me." Nick laughed, "No. I'll have to admit though, I was a little shocked. I never saw that coming, and then when we saw you two last night...... just .....damn." Brian sighed, "I'm sorry. We didn't want you two to find out that way." Nick shrugged his shoulders, "Well, it all worked out I guess." "Yeah, but what are you gonna do if the counsel refuses to let you guys be together?" Brian asked. Nick looked out at the ocean, "I'm not sure. We promised we'd abide by the ruling, but I love her. I'm not sure how we'd make it, but we'd find a way to live with it. We'd have to. I just hope we never have to find out." Brian put his hand on Nick's shoulder, "If it helps, I pray you don't either." ~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~ "Tara, I'm sorry," Lyn said, looking at her best friend. Tara smiled at her, "I'm sorry to, but I think it worked itself out, don't you?" Lyn nodded, "I still can't help but feel guilty though." "Yeah, me to. I'm sure we'll feel that for a while, but I kinda think this all happened for a reason. Not just cause we pushed you two away and you went to each other for support," Tara said. "Yeah, I think that's what had us so scared in the beginning. We were afraid that was what we were doing. That we really didn't love each other, but were just holding on to each other because you two were gone," Lyn said. Tara shook her head, "No. I know you weren't. I can see it when you look at each other, and feel it. There's true love there, just like with me and Nick." Lyn nodded, "Yeah, I may not have your abilities, but I don't have to, to see how in love you two are." Tara smiled, "So we're OK right?" "Yeah, you know I can't stay mad at you," Lyn said. "Me either," Tara said, laughing. "Um, I have a question though," Lyn said, getting serious. "Uh oh, what?" Tara asked. "Well, do you know about Brian's �tired spells'?" she asked. Tara looked over at the guys talking, "Yes. He's refused to let me do anything about them. Why did he have one?" she asked, looking back over at Lyn. "Yeah, it really had me worried. I've never seen him that exhausted before," Lyn answered. Tara sighed, "He's so stubborn sometimes, I swear. All he has to do is ask me, but he won't. He said that if I wasn't told to heal whatever it was, then it was just for him to deal with. I even tried telling him one time that I had been told to do it, but he knew I was lying to him, and refused to let me." Lyn laughed, "That sounds like him. I did make him promise that next time it happened, he was going to see Uncle Ted and have some tests run." "Well, that's further than I've ever gotten with him. See, there is a reason you two are together," she laughed. Lyn rolled her eyes, "I hope it's for more than that," she said laughing. Tara put her hand on Lyn's arm, "It is." Just then Nick and Brian walked up. All four looked at one another. "So we're all OK, right?" Brian asked. Everyone nodded. "And we all still love each other?" Tara asked. Nick put his arm around Brian's shoulders, "Like my big, �little' brother." "Hey!" Brian protested, "I'm not that little, and I can still kick your ass at b-ball." "Keep telling yourself that Bri," Nick said, laughing. Tara and Lyn looked at each other. "Oh man, they're starting already," Lyn said. "I know," Tara groaned. Nick looked up, seeing the three standing in the window. "Um guys, I think we may need to go explain a few things," he said. Everyone looked up, smiling and waving. The three waved back, confused looks on their faces. "Yeah, I guess so," Brian said. "Yeah, we can't avoid the Kevin melt down for long," Tara said. "You think it'll be that bad?" Lyn asked. All three looked at her like she was nuts. "We taking bets?" Nick asked. "Of course," Brian said. "Alright, ten bucks his face turns red and he does that thing where he rubs his head, like if he doesn't it's gonna explode," Lyn said. "And paces," Brian added. "And throws his hands in the air, like it's gonna help," Nick said. "Then runs his hand through his hair repeatedly," Tara said, as they all giggled. "OK, group hug before we go?" Lyn asked. They all smiled, piling in, then headed for the house. ~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~ Kevin stood in front of the windows staring at the four. They had spent the better part of the last hour explaining everything. Howie and A.J. sat on the opposite couch, just as shocked. They had stopped talking several minutes ago, with Kevin staring at them. Nick glanced at Brian. Brian shrugged his shoulders. This was something new from Kevin. They expected the yelling, the waving of hands and all. But to just be stared at in utter shock was new. Even Howie and A.J. were starting to get nervous. Neither one wanted to be the first to speak. It was always Kevin who was the first to speak when things like this happened. Then when he calmed down, it was their turn. "Kev, say something," Brian said. Kevin shook his head, "I can't. I don't know what to say." Tara looked at Nick, raising her eyebrow. "Kev, we know this is a lot to take in, but can you at least be happy for us?" Nick asked. Kevin walked over to the couch and sat down, putting his elbows on his knees and rubbing his temples in small circles. "You guys are fine with each other?" he asked, not looking at them. All four said yes. Kevin stopped rubbing his temples and ran his hand through his hair a couple times before standing back up. "And just what are we gonna tell the fans?" he asked. "We'll think of something," Brian said. Kevin shook his head and started pacing in front of the windows, "Something huh? It's gonna have to be good, our fans aren't stupid." "We know that Kevin," Nick said. "Do you know what this is gonna look like?" Kevin asked, his voice raising, "Tara you left Nick to be with Brian. You married him for God's sake, now you're leaving him to be with Nick again?" "I know Kev. It looks bad, but this is what we all want," Tara said. Kevin threw his hands in the air, "Just great. You've all lost your minds!" As soon as Kevin had thrown his hands in the air, all four started laughing. "What is so funny?!" Kevin asked. "You," Nick said. "Oh I'm funny huh? You four are playing musical beds with each other, and I'm funny?" Kevin said. "Kev, that's not fair," Howie said. Kevin glanced at him, "Well, how do you see it D?" Howie looked at them, "Can't you tell they really love each other? Jeeze Kev, look at them!" Kevin sighed and looked over at the four. For the first time since they all sat down and started talking, he really looked at them. Nick and Tara were sitting next to one another, holding hands. Brian and Lyn were doing the same. "You really do?" he asked. They all nodded. "We really do Kev," Brian said. Kevin put his hands over his face, "Management is gonna shit a brick when they hear this." "So let em," A.J. said, smiling. "Yeah, let em earn some of what we're paying them," Nick added. Kevin dropped his hands, looking at the four, shaking his head, "This better be the last time," he said smiling. All four looked at one another, "Oh it is," they all said in unison. Kevin held his arms out, and they all gathered in for a group hug. "As long as you guys are happy," Kevin said. "We are," Nick said. "You better be," Kevin warned jokingly. Howie and A.J. got up, hugging all of them. "So, we're all OK with this?" Brian asked. Everyone agreed. "Good," he said, "Tara, you and I need to make a phone call." "Yeah, we do," she said, following him up the stairs. "Who are you calling?" A.J. asked. "Lawyer," Tara said. "And family," Brian added. "Oh...um..good luck," A.J. called. They both laughed as they topped the stairs and rounded the corner. "Hey if I was calling Jackie to tell her that, I'd want all the luck I could get," A.J. said. Everyone burst out laughing, nodding their heads. "Come on Nick," Kevin said, motioning for the younger man to follow him, "You and I have a date with Management." Nick groaned, as he turned to follow Kevin into one of the bedrooms. "Well, looks like the ball is rolling," Howie said. "Yeah," Lyn agreed. "Hey Lyn," A.J. asked. "Yeah?" she said. "So when did you and Bri hook up anyway? You said you've been hiding it for a while," he asked. Lyn blushed, "Um well..." A.J. grinned at her, "Let me guess. Does the word hangover mean anything to you?" Lyn turned nine shades of red. "Oh my God!" A.J. said, laughing, "I helped you two get together." "Just how do you figure that?" Howie asked, confused. "Cause it was my stuff they drank that night. If they hadn't drank that, they probably wouldn't have ....." he started. Lyn threw her hands up, "OK, OK, you had a hand in getting us together. Now drop it before I have to hurt you." A.J. grinned from ear to ear, "Yes mame." Howie laughed at him, "Come on girl. Let's go make lunch, I'm starving." "Yeah, and I can make some more of my specialty," A.J. added. "Shut up Alex," Lyn said, smiling back at him. "OK, shutting up," A.J. said, plopping down on the couch as the two went into the kitchen. Chapter 12 |