Chapter 25

"Why are you here?"

"AJ, i want to make this right."

"Well it's too late for that. Leave and never come back, you don't belong here. And how did you get Anna's address, its not exactly public knowledge? " Anna stared at the man she loved, the look of hurt and disappointment spread across his delicate face. It saddened her to see him so upset.

"I have my ways Aj, you're important to me, so i needed to know where you were."

"Important, thats good...I'm glad i'm IMPORTANT..so important that you never came around when i needed you, needed my dad...where were you then? huh? where were you?"

"Aj, please, you don't understand. you don't know the whole story son."

At the mention of 'son', Aj lost control.

"SON!!SON!!! How dare you call me your son? Being a son requieres a father, and as far as i'm concerned, I never had one!"

His words shocked him, he couldn't believe they had left his lips, for so long he'd wanted to say that, so long he'd wanted to tell him that. And now he'd said it. The look on his 'fathers' face was indescribable. AJ had never seen his words hurt someone so much. HIs father's face crumbled as her turned and stalked away, never looking back.

***At the Doctor's office***

Becca sat nervously next to Kevin. She shifted in the hard, uncomfortable vinal seat, starring at Kev, praying he could make all the hurt go away. He took her hand and squeezed it lightly, "It'll be ok Bec, you'll see. Have faith, baby."

"I'm trying Kevin, but right now i need more than faith, i need a miracle."

"Well, If a miracle is what you need, then that's what you'll get."

After what seemed like hours of waiting, the nurse appeared at the doorway. "Rebecca, we'll see you now."

She got up with Kevin. As they walked over to the entrance of the exam room, the nurse requested that Kevin wait outside for a moment or two. "Would you mind waiting out here for a few minutes, the doctors woudl like to speak to Rebecca alone and do another examination." He looked to her for an answer. He wanted to go with her, but he would look for her expression to tell him whether to stay or go in with her.

"Nurse, can't Kevin come in after the exam? Whatever the doctor needs to tell me, Kevin needs to hear. i need him there. PLease."

"OK, Kevin. I'll call you in when the doctor is ready to speak with her."

"Thank You."

Rebecca disappeared into the back room, leaving Kevin alone with his thoughts. He starred at the wall, praying to the LORD up above. Becca was right, they needed a miracle...so it didn't hurt to put in an extra prayer or two. Kevin was stratled by the ringing of his cell phone.

"Hello, Kev speaking."

"Hi Kev it's me. Oh gosh, you're never gonna believe this!" a voice sounded short of breath.

"Hey Jerald! What's up man?" he responded, trying his best to hide the pain he felt. Trying to be happy about whatever his brother needed to tell him.

"Kevin, i'm a Daddy again!!!"

Snapping back to reality and remembering that Jerald's wife, Hannah was eight months pregnant, "OH gosh, already..i'm an uncle again...Madison must be so thrilled (his goddaughter). Boy or Girl??BOy or Girl? Jer, come on, make Uncle Kevvy proud."

"Boy...7lbs.2oz. William Benjamin Richardson...aka Willie."

"Ah, Jer, prescious. Is mom there? tell her i love her, and congradulate Hannah for me. Give Willie and Madison a kiss for me too. Love you, this is great man. I gotta go. Bye." His face fell.

As he pushed end on his cell phone, his joy about the baby slowly faded. He may never be a DADDY. Sure being an uncle was great, it ws the best...but nothing like having pair of YOUR eyes stare back up at you and call you Daddy. The news of Willie confused him. He was thrilled for his brother, but now he realized how much he wanted a baby of his own. The phone call proved it, and it couldn't have come at a more damaging time.

The nurse then appeared, "Kevin, Rebecca would like for you to come in now."

"Ok, thanks." He got up and walked through the door, pushing away the memory of his phone call. "The doctor will be here shortly."

Kevin sat down next to Becca in a stuffy, office. The smell of doctors and hospital was in the air. The smell disturbed Kevin, it irritated him. He hated that smell, ever since he was young..he had hated it. It was the same smell that lingered in the air when his father was ill. The same smell that was found in the waitng room while Brian had underwent open heart surgery. A smell that scared him. The doctor, complete with the white lab coat walked in. Kevin looked over to Becca and took her hand. Pray for the best. This was the moment of truth.

***At Mel's Apartment***

"Oh gosh, you're'kidding me. Then what did he say?" Michelle gushed, wanting all the details of Nick's proposal for Mel to come on tour with bsb.

"Well, at first he said that they needed a new financial consultant to take and he asked if i was interested. Of course, i said yes. Then he confessed that he'd miss me too much, if i wasn't with him." Mel went on a smile bursting from ear to ear.

"That's so amazing Mel. This is great. I have some major news too."

The girls sat on the apartment floor, on top of the sleeping bags which they had spread out all over the living room. The girls decided it would be fun to throw a girl's sleepover party, to catch up, get to know each other even better, and basically act like a bunch of teenagers for just one night. They had all the essential party food...chips..popcorn..ice cream..the works!

Already in their PJ's, they were so hyper. The day's events were getting to them and causing extreme giggling.

"Ok Michelle, what's your news?"

"Brian asked me to be his girl!!!"

"What?!?!!? That's great!! I knew it..i said it, i said i saw love!"

"And that's not all...."

"What, what could he do that could possibly top that?"

"Hehe, that's what i said. But he asked me to go to the Billboard Awards too...like be his girlfriend and date!" She sounded like a teenybopper that had just been handed a backstage pass. Thrilled was putting it mildly.

"Oh gosh...the Billboards..do you think Nick will ask me too?"

"Yeah..definitely. Because now you're gonna tour with him so...i think he's gonna ask you to come to that too. He's probably just waiting for the right time to surprise you!"

The girls switched on the CD player. "Larger than Life" poured though the speakers loudly. They sang real loud, and really off key...but they were having fun..and the sweet lyrics of their backstreet boys...no..men...spoke to them in a way words could never say.

Through the loud music, Mel faintly heard the ringing of the phone. "I got it!!"

"Hello?" Mel screamed over the song.

"Hey Mel, it's Nick..i can't here you!"

"Wait, let me tell Michelle to turn it down."

She yelled, "Michelle...Michelle..stop singing for a second. Turn it down. Nick's on the phone!"

"All you people can't you see, can't ya see!" she sang totally off and caught up with the moment. "Oh sorry..i didn't realize! I'll stop singing now"

"Gee girls, it seems you're having party without us!!!" Nick teased, pausing for a sec to talk to Brian.

"Hey Bri...your GIRLFRIEND is singing her heart out to Larger. You gotta hear this!" Brain took the phone from him to here Mich and Mel belt out one of their fave bsb tunes. "Hey girls!" he yelled

"Hi Brian!"

"Ok, Mel..it's Nick again. Can I talk to you for a sec? Like seriously talk?"

Her hyperness fading from her tone, "Ya baby, what's up."

"Well...Mel....about the Blillboards..."

Melanie smile lessened. Her expression was anything but happy. She gulped and hung on his every word.

Chapter 26