AN:  Again, don't really know where this is going but someone asked for a Brian story and this 
popped into my head and dammit, I have to write it when it comes.  Never look the karma gift 
horse in the proverbial verbal mouth children.  Writer's block is a heavy curse to shoulder.  
Hope everyone had wonderful holidays, whatever your belief/ religion.  Sorry I'm not up to date 
on the latest politically correct lingo.  I'm usually pretty safe saying "Happy Holidays".  And 
yes, my holidays were wonderful.  It was nice to be home with the family.  Crazy as we are I 
miss em when I'm not around.  Aright, I've rambled enough...  Here's the chapter- its a shortie!


**************************** Cheers: Chapter Two **************************


They were back in town a few months later, a break during their Millennium tour for some more 
promotional things and a benefit concert.  They weren't staying in the same hotel this time but 
he still came to the darkened bar and pulled up the stool he had occupied months earlier.

Maury looked up from polishing and flashed him a bright smile that dazzled and reassured all at 
the same time.  "Welcome back stranger," she said as she continued to grin.  It pleased him that 
she was happy to see him, pleased him that she remembered him.  

Pleased him that he remembered her.  They met so many new people in this business names were as 
changing as a river.  He wasn't sure why he remembered the masculine name that went with the 
pretty, open face, but he did.  

"Hay Maury."

"Glad to see I made an impression upon you."

He blushed despite himself, a mere flush but he still turned red none the less, before quietly 
ordering a house special.  She slid it across the counter and left him quietly to his people 
watching and thoughts.  It was nice to be the one staring instead of being the one people were 
staring at for once.  

"Its nice to be treated like a normal human being for once," he finally said softly in an echo 
of his thoughts as he was mid way through his second drink.  Maury raised dark brows and nodded 
simply.  

"Yeah I could see how that would be hard some days.  How's the self love thing coming?"

Brian chuckled lightly and skimmed his fingers across the top of the bar aimlessly.  "Better," 
he replied earnestly.  "Its like once I verbalized what was bothering me so much, I could 
finally deal with it all and face some of my fears, ya know?  I didn't even realize how 
frightened I was of being weak personality wise...  I mean, we dealt with Lou and my heart and 
crazy fans and critics and still came out on top of everything but I didn't know... Its hard 
to explain..."

"You don't have to," she said, voice the gentle almost purr that he remembered.  "You don't 
have to explain anything to me Brian.  I'm just the local bartender."

He smiled genuinely at her.  "I know and I guess, maybe that's why I came back.  We're not 
even staying here this trip."  Brian laughed self consciously and jumped as Maureen reached 
across the bar counter that separated them to pat him on the hand with an openness that was 
oddly reminiscent of a childhood spent with a large family and close friends.  If anything the 
assumed familiarity endeared her to him even more because, even as she touched him, she 
maintained her emotional distance.  There was nothing behind her touch but kindness and 
conciliatory concern for his ownwell being.

"Well its always nice to see an old face and I certainly have my regulars..."  She nodded her 
head towards the man who sat smoking in a dark corner, the woman who was carefully playing on 
the small baby grand piano in a rumpled business suite, and another man who had his head buried 
in the newest copy of The Wall Street Journal.  "You're not alone."

"Always nice to know," Brian murmured.  

Maury laughed, throaty and low in the back of her throat.  "What did you mean about your 
heart?" she asked.

He blinked, surprised because, for a minute, he had forgotten that she wasn't a diehard fan or 
someone who had been around since the beginning.  "Oh... um, I had to have surgery  a few years 
back.  I had some heart trouble.  I'm better now, its better now."  

He met her hazel eyes head on.  "Sure about that?"

"Yeah I am."

"All right then."

He drank in silence for another moment before laughing.  "I was just thinking how weird it was 
to be telling you all of this.  I don't know anything about you..."

"And I don't know anything about you.  That's what makes it so appealing to tell strangers 
about yourself.  The only things I know about you are what you want me to know.  Brian Littrell 
begins, and ends, with what you decide to reveal to me.  Or at least that's how it works in 
theory.  Thanks to the wonder of the Internet your life is slightly more public than the average 
Cheers Prospective."

"Cheers Prospective?" he demanded with a raised brow.  

Maureen laughed, almost guiltily.  "Just my private term I use for the people who come in 
here to talk more than drink."

"Oh.  I like your hair down better than up."  

She chuckled and tucked an errant strand behind her ear.  "Thanks I think."  

Brian leaned upon the counter, propped his elbows up on it and cradled his chin in his cupped 
hands.  "So have you looked me up, on the Internet I mean?"  

Maureen looked at his eager, half apprehensive face, and shook her head.  "Nope, sorry to 
disappoint but I'm happy with the Cheers façade.  Its cool to say, 'Hay- I met another
celebrity today' but apart from that, the only things I know about you are what you've 
told me."  

Brian beamed.  "You're cool."  

She snorted but smiled despite herself.  "Thanks... I think."