I Will

Anna glanced around the church. It was almost completely filled. It was a medium sized church, beautifully decorated in a light silver and blue. Most of the witnesses of this joyous event were Chris’s friends and family. People she had met and grown to love.

Anna had never had a family, or known her real one. She was abandoned as a baby and jumped from foster home to foster home all throughout her life. Never knowing or experiencing the real joys of love. At the age of 18, she was able to take care of herself. She got her GED, saved up enough money, and went to college to pursue an interest in dancing.

Anna had no friends when she was young, due to the fact that she never stayed in one place for very long. However, she was able to make some in college. Her four best friends were in her wedding as bridesmaids. Mrs. Allenton, one of her college professors and only mother figure Anna had ever known, was also in her wedding as the maid of honor. Mrs. Allenton was her first friend and confidant. Having lived a similar life to Anna, she understood what Anna was going through, and was a mentor as well as a mother figure to her.

Anna’s attention focused once again on Chris, her soon-to-be husband. Chris smiled, winked, and made a goofy face that made her giggle. She knew she would be truly happy with him.

“Before the vows begin,” the priest began, “the groom has a song he would like to sing.” Chris winked again and walked to the piano, situated to the right of the stage, taking his bride with him. After making himself comfortable, he began to play the first notes to the song and then began singing.

When life seems hopeless and you’re all alone

And no one’s there to dry the teardrops from your eyes

When you can’t find a single reason left to try

Baby I will (Baby I will)

Baby I will  

Anna smiled lovingly at Chris. He was everything she ever wanted and needed in life from a guy. As he sang the song he wrote for her, she was reminded of the day they first met.

*~Flashback~*

“Oh! I can’t believe how late I’m going to be for tryouts! This is not the way to make a good first impression,” Anna said nervously as she waited for the bus. She looked anxiously down the street. ‘Man I really need my own car.’

Sighing in frustration at not seeing a bus coming, she pulled out her cell phone to call her friend Alex. No answer.

“Argh! Today is not my day!” Anna cried out, not knowing that someone had witnessed the whole event.

“Having a bad day?” A voice asked behind. Startled, Anna spun around to find a man standing behind her. He was tall, or at least, tall to her since she was only 5 feet in height, and was wearing shades with a hat pulled low onto his face. His shoulders were pulled all the way up to his ears, as if he were trying to hide within himself. Although she would be scared, or at least leery of the man standing before her, strangely she felt calm and relaxed.

“Yeah, you could say that. Nothing is going my way today,” she replied. “And today just has to be the day that I run late for an important appointment.”

“I know what you mean. I’m late also and everything that could go wrong has gone wrong today,” the man replied. “I’ve called a taxi; you could ride with me if you want.”

“Thanks err…”

“Chris,” he answered, putting his hand out for her to shake. Anna took it.

“Chris,” she repeated. “Thanks Chris. You have no idea how much I love you right now. I’m Anna by the way.”

“No problem Anna. So, where ya headed?”

“The dance studio down on fifty-second street. I’m a dancer and a group is holding auditions today, which, thanks to you, I won’t be all that late for.”

“I’m heading over there myself.”

“Really? Are you trying out too?” Anna asked, looking around for a duffel bag that dancers carried with them.

“I guess you could say that.” At that moment, the taxi that Chris had called pulled up and the two got in. After giving directions to their destination, the taxi was off and Chris and Anna continued their conversation.

*~End Flashback~*

Anna remembered her joy at being picked as the head dancer. Being a dancer period would have been great. But the judges liked her style, confidence, and ability to catch on quickly. Plus, her performance was H-O-T!

She also remembered the happiness she experienced when she found out Chris was the same Chris from NSYNC. They had a lot in common and now she would be traveling with him. Only, she thought she had gotten the job out of friendly ties, so she was sad that she had to turn down the offer. Anna wanted something on her own without ties and/or connections. It had taken a lot of convincing to make her think otherwise and stay with the team, which eventually did and she was glad.

Tell me the secrets that you’ve locked away

Confide your deepest fears that haunt you everyday

All of the little things no one else could understand

Baby I will (Baby I will)

I will

Chris looked at his bride as he sang that verse. She smiled and nodded her head in understanding, knowing that she would always be able to tell him anything. Chris remembered a time when he had to convince her to trust him.

*~Flashback~*

It was break time, seeing as the guys were half way through the tour. They had 2 glorious weeks off, and to kick the whole thing off, they decided to have a family and friends only BBQ. Anna and Chris had been dating for 5 months now, so naturally she was there, and things had been going great. 

At the end of the party, Chris drove Anna home. He noticed that she seemed unhappy through most of the party, and he wondered what was wrong. Sure, she would smile and laugh when she spoke to someone, but he noticed the hurtful look on her face.

“Anna, baby, what’s wrong?” Chris asked once they reached her house.

“Nothing,” she said, shrugging it off. She plastered on a smile that Chris knew had been forced.

“Babes. Something’s wrong. I can see it in your eyes. You can trust me to tell me what’s going on.”

“It’s nothing, really,” Anna replied and got out of the car. She walked up to the front door and unlocked it. Chris, who had turned the car off long ago, got out, and followed her.

“That’s bullshit and you know it! Something’s wrong with you and I want to know what! I care about you too much to let this go!” Chris yelled.

Anna, who had been standing in the doorway with her head down, looked up at him with tears in her eyes. He instantly regretted having yelled at her, but was now even more worried than before, since she was crying.

“Anna–” he began, but was cut off.

 “Chris, come in,” she said turning and walked inside, leaving the door cracked open for him to enter. Chris stepped inside and locked the door behind him, following Anna to her living room. They both sat down on the couch.

“Anna, I’m sorry about–”

“It’s alright. You care about me. But I need to tell you something…” she began. Chris gave his full attention as she explained all about her past. About how she was abandoned when she was one, and about jumping foster home to foster home. She explained how she never fit in anywhere because of her constant moving and how all she ever wanted was a loving family and someone to love forever. Seeing all of them with their family and many friends made her a little envious.

“Dancing was the one true thing that made and kept me happy throughout my life. I love it, and I don’t know where I would be if I didn’t have it. At eighteen, I started to take care of myself. I found a job, earned my GED, saved up enough money to get this little place as well getting into college. It was there, that I met my four best friends and Mrs. Allenton, the only mother figure in my life. Then I met you, and you’ve made me so happy.”

Chris pulled her into a hug. “Oh baby. I know how it must have felt. I was never rich like I am now. And I went though life without a father.” He then went on to explain his own past. The two found that they had a lot more in common than they originally thought and this moment brought them a whole lot closer.

*~End Flashback~*

Chris continued to sing, putting all his emotion into the song. The crowd sat in amazement at the love and sincerity emanating from the two. The guys smiled as Chris, their brother, put on the best show of his life. Joey was glad he had convinced Chris and Anna to have Steve tape the wedding because this would be watched repeatedly by all who owned the private copy. The two had obviously found their other half.

It’s alright

I’ll be there

Count on me

Anytime anywhere

I’ll show you love

‘Til the end of my life

When no one else will stand by your side

I will

*~Flashback~*

When the tour had started back up again, Anna received a call from a man. That man claimed he was her father and wanted to meet up with her. She contacted the orphanage she was in and asked for information on her parents. It turned out that George Ramirez, the man who had called, was her actual father. All information he gave matched the one she received from the orphanage. After much thought and discussion with Chris and Mrs. Allenton, she decided to meet up with him. Chris, of course, would be attending, with his body guard not too far behind, just for safe measures.

Today was the day Anna would meet her father. They met at a little restaurant in a small town in Pennsylvania, where George lived. They sat and ordered their food, and were waiting for it to arrive.

“You look beautiful,” George commented. He was a middle-aged looking man with grey eyes and a lean body that was in good shape for a man his age.

“Thank you,” Anna replied. She was sitting next to Chris and they had linked hands under the table. She actually was clinging to his hand out of nervousness, but he didn’t seem to mind. “So, what made you decide to look for me after all these years?”

“I’ve been searching for a while now. I decided to be a man and get to know my daughter,” George answered. Chris, however, didn’t believe him. Something about him just wasn’t right, and he didn’t trust him one bit. From the time George came into the restaurant, Chris had gotten a bad feeling about it, but it wasn’t his decision to make. He was only there for emotional support. “If she would want to get to know me of course.”

“Why was I abandoned in the first place? Why didn’t you care about me then?” Anna asked her father, keeping her cool more than normal. She was upset and petrified inside. Chris rubbed his thumb across her hand gently in support. 

“We were young and didn’t know what we were doing. Giving you up was the best thing for all of us.”

“Yeah, well, it was hell for me.”

“I’m sorry,” George said, bowing his head. At this time, the waitress had returned with their food and the conversation was momentarily halted. Anna was forced to release Chris’s hand as she ate. As soon as the waitress left, the conversation resumed. This time, at a more relaxed and happy feel as daughter got to know father, and father got to know daughter. Chris’s initial thoughts remained the same the whole time.

*~End Flashback~*

Anna was nearly to the point of tears as she watched the man she loved with all her heart sing. He sang the song he wrote for her, from the heart, and she was overwhelmed by the display of emotion. She had truly found her soul mate, the one she could love forever and be loved in return. The next verse touched her deeply as she remembered the moment it referred to.

When all you’ve counted on comes tumbling down

And there’s only emptiness that nothing seems to fill

And when you can’t remember to be strong

Baby I will (Baby I will)

I will

*~Flashback~*

After getting to know her father for a while, and building a relationship with him, all dreams of having a family were shattered. It turned out the only reason George sought out to find Anna was for her money. He had needed it to pay off his drug dealer. George didn’t want to get to know his daughter; he just wanted some cash for all drugs he took.

The only reason he knew Anna had money, was because he had seen her on TV. She was advertised as Chris’s girlfriend and lead dancer of some group. She had done one TV appearance on TRL, when Chris had hauled her on stage when the fans questioned who his girlfriend was. He had proudly shown her off and made sure to let his fans know how upset he would be if she received any threats or hate letters.

The police had shown up at the hotel she and the guys were staying at, searching for her. Once they found her, they told her that her father had been shot and killed instantly. His body was found in an alley, and this was how Anna came to find out all the information about her father being a druggie. Devastated, Anna had cried the rest of the day. The next day, she immersed herself in her dancing. For 3 days straight, she did nothing but dance morning, noon, and night.

Chris understood that dancing was her outlet, and she needed to get out her frustrations, but this wasn’t healthy. She barely ate and didn’t say a word to anyone. He tried talking to her but she refused. So he called Mrs. Allenton, hoping Anna would at least talk to her “mother”. But that proved useless as well.

Today, though, Anna’s dancing had stopped. Earlier in the morning, she had pushed herself too far and fell at an odd angle, injuring her knee. Chris and the guys had rushed her to the hospital. The doctor had given her upsetting news. She had seriously injured her knee and would have to stay off it for a few weeks. And worst of all, she might never be able to dance like she used to.

Anna now sat alone in the emergency room crying. Dancing was the only thing she had and now it was gone. The one thing she could always depend on had turned on her.

“Annie?” Chris called, stepping inside, using the nickname only he alone called her. The doctor had jut told him the news, and he knew how upset Anna would be. He sat down next to her on the bed and hugged her, kissing the side of her head. She leaned against him, enjoying the comfort he gave her. “It’s alright sweetie.”

“Why do all the bad things happen to me?” she sobbed, as Chris slowly rubbed her back.

“Everything happens for a reason, and every grey cloud has a silver lining.”

“My whole life is and has been one giant black cloud. There is no silver lining.”

“That’s not true.”

“Yes it is. You’re the only good thing that’s happened to me. The best.”

“Also not true. You have your dancing, just as I have my music.”

“But that turned on me. Your music never betrayed you.”

“Yes it did,” he said seriously. Anna looked at him with her tear-streaked eyes, not believing him. “All that mess we went through with Lou Pearlman. My music betrayed me then because I wouldn’t be able to do what I love. But we overcame that, and my music is back with me. Just as your dancing will be too.”

“But the doctor said I might never be able to dance the same way again.”

“The key word is might. You can defy all medical knowledge by believing you can dance again, and by trying until you do. You CAN and YOU WILL dance again. And I’ll be there to help you every step of the way.” He grinned.

“Really?” Anna asked. By now, her sobs had been reduced to sniffles and her crying had stopped. Smiling and wiping the remaining tears from her eyes and cheeks, Chris replied.

“Of course. You and I aren’t that different. If I can overcome something, then so can you.”

*~End Flashback~*

It’s alright

I’ll be there

Count on me

Anytime anywhere

I’ll show you love

‘Til the end of my life

When no one else will stand by your side

I Will

Anna was happy she had Chris in her life. He was so supportive and loving, something she never had growing up. True to his promise, Chris had helped her. Even though she couldn’t dance on stage yet, Anna still continued to tour with the guys. The tour ended with only 4 dancers. Every spare moment he got, Chris was with her, helping her strengthen her knee again. After many months, Anna was dancing again and it was the happiest thing she’d ever known. Chris never let her doubt herself, and she never would again.

When no one else will be by your side

I will

Her father’s funeral was three weeks after his death. Anna planned the whole thing, and Chris helped as much as he could. When the funeral day came, he stood right by her side.

It’s alright

I’ll be there

Count on me

Anytime anywhere

I’ll show you love (I will show you love)

‘Til the end of my life

When no one else will stand by your side

Both Chris and Anna remembered the day they admitted they loved each other. They were having a dinner date at a restaurant and talking about Anna’s dream. She wanted to open up a dance studio of her own and teach different types of dancing for a living. Then, in her free time, have dance lessons at an orphanage, to show children to never stop believing in themselves and show them anything is possible. Chris stated how he loved the idea and supported it fully because he loved the person with the dream and wanted her to be happy. It was a joyful and teary moment as she told him “I love you too.”

I’ll be standing right by your side

I will

Anna was in tears of joy by now. She had so many happy times with Chris, and would have many more, as they were only seconds away from begin husband and wife. The last two lines struck the last joyous memory of her and Chris.

Earlier on in January of last year, the mention of how Anna had loved stuffed animals came about. However, she didn’t have any. She was never given one, and she never went out and bought one. When Chris asked her why, she just shrugged.

On Valentine’s Day morning of that year, he presented her with a brown teddy bear with “I Love You” printed on the front. The bear also held in its hand a small box. Curious, Anna opened it up to find a beautiful engagement ring. She looked up at Chris who grinned nervously as he asked her to be his wife and permanently stand by his side as he would for her.

Anna said yes and they kissed as he slipped the ring on her finger. It was also at that moment he sang to her the song he was singing now. He had written it for her – for them – and it had officially been adorned “their” song.

The priest joined them at the piano as the last notes of the song died out and the clapping began. As the clapping stopped, the priest began again.

“Do you, Christopher Alan Kirkpatrick, take Anna Elinorea Ramirez, to be your lawfully wedded wife, to have and to hold, in sickness and health, ‘til death to you part?”

“I do,” he replied steadily, his eyes brimming with his own tears of joy. He wiped her cheeks dry with his hand and kissed her cheek.

“Hey, hey, hey! That part doesn’t come yet!” Joey said from his place at the front of the church.

“Yeah,” Justin agreed. Everyone erupted into a small fit of giggles, including Chris and Anna.

“And do you, Anna Elinorea Ramirez, take Christopher Alan Kirkpatrick, to be your lawfully wedded husband, to have and to hold, in sickness and health, ‘til death to you part?” 

“I do,” Anna answered happily.

“If anyone here objects to the union of these two people, speak now or forever hold your peace,” the priest said, quickly scanning the church.

Silence followed the comment.

“Then by the power of God has invested in me, I now pronounce you husband and wife. You may now kiss the bride.”

Chris took his cue and he and Anna shared their first kiss as husband and wife.

“I now present to you Mr. and Mrs. Christopher and Anna Kirkpatrick.”

The crowd clapped as they kissed again. Steve made sure to get a close up of the newlyweds. There were a few wet eyes as they made their way down the isle to start their new life together, forever standing by each other’s side.

The End

Song: I Will

By: Chris Kirkpatrick

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