| Chapter Ten |
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Before any of them knew it, it was
February and they were heading out to LA for the Grammy's and 4 concerts that
they had been working for diligently while Nick and Kevin gained back their
strength. The flight out to LA was quite a raucous one; Chris, Justin and Nick
deciding they should all share a plane. So 4 days before the Grammy's, the
world's top two pop groups, the top pop singer, a wife and 11 huge body guards
boarded a flight in Orlando for what would later be called “one of the craziest
rides I have ever been on” according to the pilot. He didn't mind
though. He got quite a kick out of seeing all these grown men acting like 10
year olds. Once in LA though, both groups were all business. They parted ways
at the airport, the boys of Nsync After relaxing and regaining their
bearings from being on a plane for 6 hours, the guys got right down to work,
heading over to the area where their concerts were being. They spent the better
part of the afternoon and night messing around with staging and rehearsing with
their band before Leighanne, who had been off picking out their Grammy clothes,
showed up with food. ”Hey Leigh, I think you should quit
acting and just be our full time caterer!" Nick called out as he bit into
his 15inch-meetball sub. "It's really good thing Kevin
won't let us go after you yet Nicky!" Leigh said sarcastically. “Yeah I know! I'm quite enjoying it!
I can say anything I want and no one can touch me!" Nick said with a
maniacal grin. However, he failed to notice Howie coming up behind him;
otherwise he would've ducked and avoided getting hit upside the head.
"Hey! I'm on the injured list you can't touch me!" Nick cried out as
he rubbed where Howie biffed him. "Kevin! Howie hit me!" "Good you deserve it! I told them
they couldn't chase you or do anything that would hurt your leg. I never said
anything about not hitting you in the head," Kevin said, stealing a fry
from Nick's plate. "Well, what good is that?"
Nick said, joking as he threw his hands up in mock disgust. They finished their dinner then went on
to rehearse for another two hours before Leighanne dragged them out at 11:30,
reminding them they had an early radio station gig the next morning. She
couldn't wait till the boy's manager Jack got there two days later so she could
stop being their gatekeeper. However, since he wasn't there and Kevin had to
much to deal with getting his leg back in shape and concentrating on himself,
Leighanne took on the job as mother hen and she did quite a good job at it.
Plus, it gave her full reign of harping on the boys for nit-picky things she
couldn't usually comment on without getting it back. All too soon the night of the Grammy's
was upon them and they were headed to the red carpet in a huge stretch Limo,
dressed complimentary to each other in D&G, and she was wearing a gorgeous
Armani gown. The red carpet took a good hour and half since it was their first public
appearance all five of them together after Nick and Kevin's accident. The show
was spectacular. U2 and Nsync performed, in addition to a new country singer by
the name of True. Brian particularly liked her. But then the moment they all
had been waiting for: Best Pop Performance by Duo or Group. They along with
NSYNC, U2, and REM were nominated. Britney Spears and Sean Combs, as he
was now going by, were presenting. "And the Grammy goes to…Backstreet Boys
“High Flying Angel,” written by Nick Carter produced by Max Martin."
Britney said into the microphone barely holding her excitement. It was utter
chaos. The Boys first Grammy. They had been working so hard for so long. To be
continually passed over year after year, then this year of all the times to win
it, felt like God really did love them after all. "Um, I want to thank God, Jive,
Jack, everyone at the firm. My brothers Tim and Jerald, I love you. Mom and
Dad, I miss you both so much. Thank you for believing in me. Thank you for
watching over me. Nick, you inspire me to sing," Kevin said with tears
streaming down his face. "Um, thank you to all our parents,
Jack, you are the best. Leighanne, you are the best. God, I couldn't do this
without your help," Brian said, leaning into the microphone. "Mom, Nana, Papa, I love you all
so much. Thank you for all your help through the years. My brothers, I look
forward to our future together," AJ added with the biggest grin anyone
ever saw. "So, I guess it's my turn. My
brother, Aaron, my sister's BJ, Leslie and Angel, I love you all. Dad, I look
forward to seeing you soon. My other brothers, you are my family. I can't live
without you. Kevin, oh God what a year. I can't wait to live out the rest of
them with you," Nick said. After all five of them were done, they went
back stage to talk to the press. But before they did, they took a moment for
just the five of them. That was the picture that made the front page of every
newspaper the next morning. The five of them gathered together in a hug. The
boys went on to win the other category they were nominated in: Best Record of
the Year, and Nick won the Best Writer's category. The five of them and Leighanne were
flying high. After making the obligatory stop at the Jive after party, they
decided that as a group, they were going to go back to their hotel and
celebrate the six of them together. Plus, there was a rehearsal the next
morning at eight, and a concert that night, which they didn't want to be tired
for. "Kevin?" Nick whispered as he
lay on his stomach with his head resting on Kevin's chest. "Mmm?" Kevin mumbled, not
totally awake. "Are you awake?" he asked
quietly. "No." Kevin said. “Let's get
married," Nick said, brushing Kevin's hair out of his face. "Now I'm awake," Kevin said,
opening his eyes wide to look down at Nick, who was looking up at him with wide
eyes. "I want us to get married. Or
unionized, or something. I just want us to have that thing that says to the
world, “Fuck you. We love each other and we're together,” and we make it
work," Nick said as he rambled on, not noticing Kevin's statement. "I don't need something or someone
to tell me that Nick. But yes, I join in a union with you," Kevin said
while Nick was still rambling. It promptly stopped and Nick looked up at him. "So you'll do it? You'll marry
me?" Nick asked amazed. "Yes, you dork. I'll marry
you," Kevin said, laughing as he pushed Nick over and leaned down to kiss
him. The two men lay together for several
minutes, kissing passionately until Nick started giggling uncontrollably.
"What is so funny?" Kevin asked as he nuzzled Nick's neck. "We're getting married. We're
doing it Kevin. We're starting on our way to the family we always talked
about," Nick said, hugging Kevin as close as possible. "Yes, baby, we are," Kevin
said, hugging Nick equally as hard. Two
hours later: 4AM
After making love for two hours straight, both Kevin and Nick lay
in each other's arms, basking in a glow neither of them had felt in a long
time. "I love you," Kevin whispered
as they fell asleep. "I love you more," Nick said
as he too slipped into a peaceful sleep. THE END
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