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Wish Upon A Star - Sequel #2 Chapter 1 Kristy Richardson made her way through the house, turning off lights as she roamed room to room � picking up the rare abandoned toy in her otherwise spotless house. Her golden blonde hair temporarily hid her face as she retrieved a stray child�s sock peeking out from under a formal, yet comfortable couch in the living room. She had quit her job at the medical center and was now working as a pharmacy consultant, a change that allowed her to work at home so she could more fully pursue her other careers � being a wife and mother. Kristy�s eyes lingered on a picture of her and her husband with a group of their close friends. She�d be the first to admit that she was hardly the typical housewife. Married to a member of one of the most successful music groups of the last decade � and counting � had afforded her certain luxuries that most working mothers didn�t have. Kristy believed in being a "hands-on" mom, and had forgone the nanny-route that was so common among celebrities. Instead, Kristy chose to have help in the more monotonous tasks around the house � in the form of cleaning and lawn services. She dimmed the hall lights as she climbed the stairs to the second floor and deposited the toys she�d collected from downstairs in the expansive playroom. She giggled to herself as she thought about the numerous hours she and Kevin spent in the brightly colored room with soft, overstuffed furniture and a wide assortment of toys � for kids of all ages, including her husband and his bandmates. The room had certainly become a focal point of the large house. The couple and their friends � the other Backstreet Boys and their wives and girlfriends � congregated there more often than the formal livingroom, "entertainment room" � complete with wide-screen projection TV and surround sound, deluxe stereo system, comfortable Italian leather couches and wet bar � or even the recording studio Kevin had set up in the house�s furnished basement. It was to be expected, Kristy reasoned, as the BSB family grew. Kristy crossed the hall and quietly entered the newly decorated room that was fit for any princess... especially their princess. She adjusted the covers around the sleeping form curled in the center of the toddler-bed and brushed dark black curls off of soft, fair skin. Kristy looked lovingly at her daughter, Ashtyn Leigh Richardson, knowing that beneath the thick, dark lashes that she�d gotten from her daddy, were a pair of familiar vivid blue-green hazel eyes that sparkled with curiosity, laughter, and love whenever she was awake. Kristy smiled as Ashtyn moved in her sleep, snuggling closer to her blanket and teddy bear with a peaceful smile on her innocent face. Kristy�s eyes swept over the room that she and Kevin had worked on practically right up until he had left a week ago for an extended publicity trip with the Boys. It had become a major project, but the smile on their birthday girl�s face the first time they�d led her into her new room was worth all the work. From the day she was born, Kevin had referred to his baby girl as "Daddy�s Little Princess". The moniker had stuck, and Ashtyn was lovingly referred to as "Lil Princess" by everyone around her... while Kristy retained her own "Princess" status with Kevin. The little girl�s room was something out of a fairytale � or, as Nick had said the first time he�d seen it, Disney World. They�d hired someone to paint the walls, turning the boring white surfaces into a magical forest and meadow, with one wall covered by an elaborate Cinderella-like castle � and of course, a wishing well nearby. The rest of the d�cor and all of the furnishings continued the theme, with even Ashtyn�s small bed hand-painted to resemble a princess� carriage. Kristy's favorite detail of the room involved a far corner, above the trees of the magical forest. The artist had painted a small silver star, accenting it with glow-in-the-dark paint so that at night, it really did shine. Each night Kristy and Kevin would join Ashtyn in making a wish - after singing "When You Wish Upon a Star" to her. It'd quickly become part of their routine, and Kristy would admit she enjoyed it. Kristy bent down and kissed the sleeping child�s forehead before exiting the room and closing the door part-way behind her. She headed down the hall, passing the now-empty room Ashtyn had been in as a baby. Kristy�s heart ached a little as she realized her baby � now two � was no longer a baby. She couldn�t stop herself from entering the room and absentmindedly picking up a Classic Pooh doll that had inspired the theme of the nursery. Again they�d hired a local artist to paint the walls with the old-fashioned A. A. Milne characters and incorporated soft, comfortable furniture that was both functional and decorative. Kristy had wanted a room that was pleasant to be in � especially for those 2 a.m. feedings that she and Kevin had both come to cherish as quality time for their little family. Kevin and the rest of the Backstreet Boys had continued to record and tour, but at a much less aggressive pace now that many of them were married and had children. Each of them valued their families, and weren�t willing to sacrifice being a part of their children�s lives just to be rock stars. This publicity tour had been the longest the Boys had been on for a long time, and despite Kevin�s frequent phone calls, Kristy missed her husband. She was thankful that he would be getting home the next day. She replaced the stuffed animal on the changing table and thought of Leighanne Wallace-Littrell�s visit that afternoon so Ashtyn and her cousin Jacob could play together � and the women could talk. Leighanne and Kristy had sat outside watching over the toddlers while they played in the sandbox Kevin and Brian had constructed as part of a growing play area. The two youngsters were only separated by five months and already as thick as thieves. Ashtyn wanted to do everything her older cousin tried, and the two couples laughed that she was already taking after her parents as an over-achiever and a stubborn little thing � which they each jokingly blamed on the other. Leighanne had been actively fanning herself while they�d talked, more sensitive to the August heat since she was 4 months pregnant. She had teasingly suggested to Kristy that she and Kevin "get to work" so the two couples could have their second children close together too. Kristy had dismissed the suggestion, but now � as she stood in the empty nursery � thought that the timing might be right after all. Kristy crossed the hall to the master bedroom, her eyes drifting across the collection of familiar pictures on top of the dresser. Kevin and her smiling faces had been captured throughout the years and served as a sort of "love timeline" for the couple. Kristy�s gaze lingered on a particular picture, taken at Typhoon Lagoon the day after they�d first met. She and her then-roommate, Cheryl, had run into Kevin and his brother Tim at a Pleasure Island club one fateful night, and were soon joined by Kevin�s bandmate, Howie, and his brother John. Within a few short hours � or minutes, depending on whom you asked � two couples were formed that would ultimately fall in love and get married. Kristy looked at the blissfully happy smile on her and Kevin�s faces as he stood behind her with his arms wrapped securely around her. Looking back, she realized that even then � having known him for less than 24 hours � she�d started to fall in love with him. And every day that they were together, their love grew and deepened. With a contented smile on her face, Kristy moved into the master bathroom and drew a hot bath � still her favorite way to unwind. After the bubbles had faded and the water had cooled considerably, Kristy toweled off and slipped on a knee-length satin nightgown, catching her reflection in the mirror. �Not bad� for a mom,� she thought to herself with a small smile. Her smile broadened as she recalled a conversation she and Nick�s girlfriend-of-the-moment, a 21 year-old named "Bekki", had had a couple of months ago. The younger woman had asked Kristy, who at 31 could still pass for a college student most of the time, what her trainer�s name was. Kristy had answered sincerely "Ashtyn Leigh", puzzling the other girl. �And we're just starting the "terrible twos",' Kristy thought with a wry smile � knowing that while sometimes "spirited", Ashtyn was actually a very well behaved child. Kristy emerged from the bathroom into the bedroom and was welcomed by relative darkness � save some softly glowing candles about the room. Lying in bed was the most beautiful man she�d ever seen � the same one she was with in all the pictures on top of the dresser. Kristy blinked her eyes a few times � uncertain if what she saw before her was real, or just a very vivid dream. "You�re not dreaming," Kevin answered, reading her thoughts � like he always could. Kristy crossed the room and knelt on the king-sized bed, leaning in to kiss her husband. "How�?" she trailed off, letting him pull her to him. With his beautiful wife now under the covers and wrapped securely in his arms, Kevin explained between kisses. "We got done early� made some calls� wanted to be with you tonight." Kristy giggled as she willing accepted his kisses � and fragmented explanation. "Scary thing is � I actually understood all that." Kevin grinned at the woman in his arms � the love of his life and his best friend. "You should, we share a brain � remember?" Kristy laughed again, recalling how amused the other Boys were when Kristy and Kevin first started completing each other�s sentences or knowing what the other would say before they said it. It�d been happening for such a long time that now no one expected anything less. Kristy snuggled closer to Kevin. "That�s not the only thing we share." She brushed her lips over his to emphasize her point. "Mmmm," Kevin murmured, enjoying just being able to hold his wife close to him. "Speaking of� I peeked in on the �Lil Princess�. How�s she been?" "Wonderful� though she missed you." Kevin caressed the side of Kristy�s face looking deeply into her hazel eyes. "How �bout you? Did you miss me too?" Kristy didn�t even begin to pretend she hadn�t. "So very much." She savored Kevin�s response as he claimed her lips in a kiss that left them both breathless. "The entire flight down," Kevin whispered against her temple as he pulled her even closer against him, "All I could think of was this � lying in our bed with you� holding you in my arms� kissing you� making love to you." The combination of Kevin�s deep, sexy voice, the words he whispered so lovingly, and the feelings they elicited could still send a shiver through Kristy�s body. She turned her face upwards to his and Kevin could see the passion and love in her eyes. "I love you so much, Angel." She let herself get lost in the sensual kiss and ran her fingernails across Kevin�s back, smiling as she heard him groan against her lips. Her amusement faded as Kevin turned the tables on her, using his muscular body to pin her beneath him while he lavished hot kisses down her neck. Kristy savored every whispered endearment� every kiss� every caress. Even a week separated from Kevin was too long for her, and she knew Kevin felt the same.Kristy stretched leisurely and turned to greet her husband on what was already a perfect morning. She frowned slightly as she was met by an empty space next to her. She knew she hadn�t dreamed his presence � or the night�s activities� the contented smile that lingered on her face and the rumpled sheets were proof that Kevin was home. She was about to get up and search for her missing husband when he entered their bedroom � carrying a tray with breakfast for three and a bouquet of cream tulips, followed by Ashtyn clutching something close to her chest. "Good morning!" Kristy smiled brightly at the two most important people in her life. "I didn�t expect you to be up so early," she said, directing her comment with a sly smile at Kevin. Kevin chuckled as he placed the breakfast tray on the bed and kissed Kristy softly. "I wanted to thank my beautiful wife for last night� and I heard someone playing in her room," Kevin said with a tip of his head to Ashtyn. "Mommy! Daddy�s home! See my new dolly?" She presented the object she�d been clinging to as Kevin helped her climb onto the large bed. Kristy sent Kevin a mock-scolding look, though she knew whenever her husband traveled, both girls got presents out of it. "That�s a very pretty princess," Kristy said, fingering the doll�s elaborate dress and dark curls. "But not as pretty as this princess." Kristy tickled Ashtyn, sending the toddler into a fit of giggles that caused both parents to smile broadly. The family spent a leisurely day at home, Kevin cherishing each and every moment with "his girls". Kristy and Kevin put Ashtyn to bed that evening before curling up on the couch to watch a movie together. They chose "The Cutting Edge" � one of their favorites � allowing them to only partially watch the movie, and spend the rest of the time talking and cuddling. Kristy was snuggled against Kevin�s chest as the movie drew to a close. She smiled as she remembered the first time they�d watched it together � the first night Kevin had spent the night when they were dating. Sometimes it seemed like a lifetime ago� but most of the time she felt like it was just yesterday that she and Cheryl had moved to Orlando � something that had changed both of their lives. Kristy had known she was falling for Kevin right away � and they�d had amazing chemistry from the start. She�d been a Backstreet Boys fan even before they�d met � and Kevin had always been her favorite. Meeting him and getting to know him removed the "Backstreet" stigma, and she got to know the real person� the man she fell in love with. Yet when it came to proclaiming their love, she�d waited for him to say it first � an event prompted by a bit of jealousy on Kevin�s part following running into one of Kristy�s ex-boyfriends. Hearing the words for the first time had made her cry with joy, scaring Kevin until she�d returned his declaration of love. As the characters on screen finished their Olympic routine and skated to a halt, Kevin joined the man in the last line of the movie, "Just remember who said it first." Kristy turned slightly in his arms and smiled warmly at him. Together they whispered "I love you" and followed the example set by the couple on screen, kissing tenderly.Next: Chapter 2 |