"And that's AJ and Howie?" I asked looking at a photo of the two dressed up 60's hippies.

"Yeah, that was when they were all going to a Halloween party. AJ and Howie were hippies and then Nick was zombie, Brian was a doctor and Kevin was a cowboy," she said pointing to other pictures around the original.

"Look Jacquie...a cowboy," I said smiling slyly. Jacquie didn't have a thing for Kevin....OK she did have a thing for Kevin but it was small compared to her thing for cowboys.

"Shut up Lex, don't make me beat you down," she said sternly and then bursting into giggles.

"What all the laughing about out here," asked a twenty-something guy walking through the sliding glass door. He had caramel blonde hair and bright blue eyes. He had the typical defined chin and cheekbones. The smile on his face fell as his eyes rested on me.

"Hi," I said softly getting up "I'm Alexandra."

"I know," he said a little harshly "You were given up for adoption."

"Yeah, you're probably wondering what I'm doing here."

"I know exactly what you're doing here. You see that your brother has gotten famous and decide 'hey why not go to their house and tell them I'm family. They'll welcome me with open arms.' Hoping to cash in on a little of the family fortune, hey?" he asked coldly.

"Harold! That is no way to speak to any woman let alone your own flesh and blood," scolded Jackie.

"Oh come on, Mom, you don't find it the least bit odd that she's showed up?" he asked as I stood there stunned. I never thought that my real family could feel like this. I should have figured, though. I'd be pissed if my brother was famous and some chick showed up claiming to be family.

"You apologize right now," stated Harry Sr. sternly.

"No, he's right," I said as I felt 4 pairs of eyes shift to me "He has every right to feel like that. Maybe my timing wasn't the best but I assure you, Harry, that my intentions here are true. I just found out that I was adopted not more than a month ago and ever since I found out I wanted to find my real family so here I am. You may not like it but I am your sister....your real sister."

Harry sighed heavily and turned around walking back into the house. Jackie got up to follow.

"I'm sorry about this, Lex. He didn't mean it."

"Don't apologize for him. It's OK-I understand," I said smiling though I must admit my feelings had been hurt a little....OK hurt a lot.

"....and that over there is Aunt Leona. She's really nice but she's a little weird. She lives with close to 20 cats. All the kids in the neighborhood call her the crazy cat lady," explained Harold Sr. We had just arrived at the family picnic and I was getting curious stares from everyone there. Harold, I'm still getting used to the whole 'dad' thing, was pointing out all the relatives to me. "Mom" was going to announce to everyone who I was after the buffet lunch. I could lie and say I wasn't nervous but we both know it was taking all my willpower to stay calm.

"MOM! DAD!" exclaimed a short guy with a blue backwards baseball cap. He was with a tall handsome fellow and I instantly recognized them as Brian and Kevin. Brian ran up to his dad and hugged him tightly letting go so that Kevin could hug his Uncle.

"Hi, I'm Brian," he stated as we shook hands. He looked at me like he recognized me but didn't know from where.

"Hi, I'm Alexandra, everyone calls me Lexie," he smiled and nodded his head. I looked to Harold and we both watch Brian's face at it dawned on him.

"Alexandra....as in the daughter my mom gave up? My sister?"

"The very same," I stated sweetly. Soon I felt huge arms envelop me in a hug. I was so happy that he reacted this way instead of how Harry jr. reacted. My eyes started to mist over and I was soon crying. Brian pulled me away from his shoulder and looked at me.

"Don't cry, Lex. You have nothing to cry about," he said soothingly. "But I'm just so happy, I mean I'm finally getting back my real family. You don't know how much this means to me."

"I think I do. I always wanted to know you and if nothing else just be pen pals with you but now you're here and you wanna be my sister. You don't know how incredible this is. My prayers have been answered once again," he said hugging me again. I think I was going to like this brother thing. I heard someone clear their throat and I looked up to see JQ walk over with "mom".

"Brian, this is Jacquie, my best friend. JQ, my brother Brian," I stated as they shook hands.

"And this handsome guy would be?" asked JQ looking to Kevin.....always the flirt! Mom and dad just giggled as Bri introduced Kevin.

"This is my ...I mean our cousin Kevin," he said as a woman walked up to our ever growing group.

"Hey mom!" exclaimed Kevin slinging his arm around the woman's shoulder "I want you to meet Alexandra and Jacquie. Girls, my mom, Ann."

Ann looked at us curiously obviously wondering who we were. "Your dates for the party?"

We all giggled as Harold spoke up "No, Ann, this is Alexandra. Our Alexandra..."

"Oh my dear," she whispered as she came to give me a hug. "You're so big."

"That's what kids do, mom. They grow," commented Kevin laughing.

"You don't think I know that? I raised 3 of you angels but this is different. She's come home, finally. Sweetie," she asked pulling me out of the hug "There aren't any hard feelings right?"

"Oh no, Ann. I understand completely. I'm just glad everyone is happy to see that I'm back." I said as happily as I could. 'Well almost everyone,' I thought to myself.

"Can I have everyone's attention," asked my mom standing up. The family had just gotten done eating and turned their attention to Jackie. "Hi, I'm Jackie Littrell. As most of you know about 20 years ago I gave up my daughter for adoption. It was the hardest decision I ever had to make and I know most of you never agreed with it. Well to make a long story short, Alexandra has come home."

Gasps and murmurs came from the crowd of family. I stood up and moved around the table to stand next to my mom.

"Hi, I'm Lexie. I know that many of you may think I'm only here because Brian is famous. The truth is I just found out about a month ago that I was adopted. See my dad-well my adopted dad-got in a car accident and needed blood. Thing is he has O blood and I'm AB and my adopted mom is A + so there was no way I could be their natural daughter. That's when I started looking. All I wanted was to find my family and hopefully have a somewhat normal relationship with them. And I got even better, I got a family that wanted me back," I said looking around the table and smiling.

"Not everyone wants you here," commented Harry Jr.

"Dude," said Brian slapping his brother "Shut up."

"Come off it, Bri. You may be all fine with getting back the sister you always wanted and never had but let's use our head here. Alexandra, I don't care how many times you say it you have other motives than just wanting your family back."

I stood there with a look of complete shock on my face. That was it, I had had it with this jerk.

"Look, Harry, you've had it out for me ever since I got here. What is your deal? If you don't like me, I'd like to know why since you haven't even taken the TIME to get to know me," I fumed.

"Uh-oh," whispered JQ to Kevin "This could get bad."

"Have you not been listening? I don't like you because you are a goldigging little brat trying to weasel her way into the family goods," he yelled heatedly.

"Have I once asked any of you for ANYTHING other than acceptance. I don't want nor do I need your money! You'd know that if you knew me," I screamed back.

"Alexandra, Harold! Could you please not do this," asked Mom.

"Mom-" we both started and Harry Jr. shot me an evil look.

"Don't you DARE call her mom. She isn't your mother. You didn't grow up with her, you don't know her, you can't love her!"

"Harold! That is enough," boomed Dad loudly. The silence was eerie. Everyone stared at us. Harry and I facing each other and breathing heavily. Mom and Dad breaking up the fight and Brian, JQ, Kevin and Ann staring, mouths open, at the scene. I stood there like I had just gotten slammed in the stomach. The wind was knocked out of me. Harry Jr. was right. I didn't deserve the right to call her Mom. The tears started to fall and Mom tried to put an arm around me and I shrugged it off running off into the woods.

"Nice job," said Brian brushing past him and running into the woods also.

"Oh great! I'm lost," said looking around the quickly darkening woods. I sat down with my back against a large tree and pulled my knees into my chest. I laid my head down onto my knees and sobbed. This was not going the way I wanted it to. I heard some tree branches crack and my head snapped up.

"Whose there," I yelled "Hello?"

"It's the Blair Witch, who do you think it is?" asked a male voice as a person came into view.

"Brian?"

"The one and only," he said standing in front of me.

"What are you doing here?" I questioned wiping the tears from my face.

"Not much, just chasing my sister through the woods. You can run fast, I'll give you that," he said sitting down next to me.

I giggled a little "Thanks, I ran track in high school."

"I can tell," he replied. He looked at me and took in a nervous breath. "You OK?"

I looked over at him and gave him a look that said "Duh."

"OK, stupid question. Wanna talk about it?"

"I don't wanna put you in the middle of the crisis between your-our brother and me. I wouldn't want you to have to chose sides or something," I said stretching out my legs.

"Lex, I really want to hear your side. I wanna be there for you and be your brother but I can't do that if you won't let me in," he knocked on my shoulder "Can I come in?"

I laughed at him again. "I guess."

"So what happened before I showed up?" asked Bri. I gave him the whole sorid tale from beginning to where it stood now and he just sighed.

"Well this should definitely make for an interesting made-for-TV movie," he commented. "Nah," I said nudging him "I see it more of a episode of VH1's Behind the Music."

We both laughed and Brian shook his head. "I don't know why Harry wouldn't like you or think you wanted something."

"I can see where he's coming from and he does have a point," I commented.

"How so," asked Brian

"I haven't been around and I haven't been raised by your mom. He's right about me not having the right to call her mom," I stated the tears springing up again.

"You have every right! She gave birth to you and she did the best she could to give you the life you deserve. Wanna know a secret?" he asked taking my hand and holding it.

"Sure, what is it?" I asked.

"I always blamed myself," he said softly.

My brow furrowed. "For what?"

"I was the reason you were given up. If I hadn't-"

"Brian!" I exclaimed cutting him off. "Don't you dare feel bad for getting sick. You almost died! Now how could I have lived with myself if you'd died because we didn't have enough money for a treatment or something?"

"So you know about the whole thing?" he asked looking over to me shyly.

"Yeah, um...I was, I mean am a big fan of the Backstreet Boys," I said cracking a lame smile. Brian just laughed softly.

"I wondered. So whose your favorite?"

"I'm not telling you-that would be way unfair," I said defensively.

"Please tell me it wasn't me," he said with a concerned look on his face.

"Well we are from Kentucky...." I trailed off. The smile fell from his face and I laughed.

"Brian, I'm kidding. AJ, AJ is my favorite. Happy now?"

"Actually I am. AJ, huh," he said looking out into the forest.

"Yep, AJ," I said softly.

"Lex, don't worry about Harry," said Brian turning to face me "If he can't see what a cool person you are. It's his fault. He's the one who is losing out on the great sister."

"Thanks, Bri," I replied hugging him tightly "It means a lot for me to hear you say that."

"Good because," he started getting up and stretching "I think I'm going to have to tell AJ about your little crush on him."

"You wouldn't," I said venomously.

He smiled and wiggled his eyebrows "I would!" and he took off running.

"BRIAN THOMAS LITTRELL!!!!! Get back here now," I said running after him.

"Oh no the full name, I'm so scared."

"Happy birthday, dear Lexie. Happy birthday to you!"

It was several months after the reunion. I had gone back to Georgia and moved into my own apartment. I don't know but it just felt weird to move back home. I still talk to my adoptive parents. They did raise me and I do love them. They are really supportive of me and my new family. I keep in touch with Mom, Dad and Brian. It was great when Bri was on tour because I could hear all the exciting stuff in the background and he even flew me over to Europe to see a show. And no he never did tell AJ about my crush....well not that I know of. Harry was still having trouble with this whole me being related. He had to see by now that I wasn't here for the money. Well today was my birthday and it was a small family affair. I flew up to Kentucky to celebrate with my real family. JQ, of course, came with me. So now I was sitting in front of a cake being sung to by my family.

"Here sis have some cake," said Brian shoving a square of the confection in my face.

A camera clicked and I laughed. "Brian, you got frosting up my nose. Thanks loser!"

"Awww, poor baby," said Mom giving me a couple of napkins.

There was a knock at the door. I bounded up and answered it. I flung it open expecting Kevin but there was a small box on the stoop. I picked up the box, walked back into the kitchen and sat down at the table.

"What is it Pumpkin?" asked my Dad.

"I don't know, it was on the stoop," I said as I untied the silver ribbon. I opened the navy blue velvet box and found a beautiful silver ID bracelet. I gasped.

"Oh my," commented Mom.

Alexandra was engraved on the front it and I turned it over. Engraved on the back was 'For all the birthdays I missed~H' I got up without a word and walked out of the front door and down to the gate. I saw Harry walk towards his car and I rushed after him.

"Harry, wait!" I yelled. He turned around but keep walking. "Harry."

Finally he stopped and turned to face me. "Nothing needs to be said, Lex, OK. The ID bracelet is my peace offering. I know you probably hate me-"

"Hate you? Never. Harry, your my brother: I could never hate you," he just looked up at me astonished. Like I was playing a huge joke on him or something.

"After all the nasty things I said and-"

"Harry," I said stopping him "You were looking out for your family. Honestly I probably would have done the same thing. But do you see now that I'm here for the family and not the money?" We stood in silence for a couple of minutes. I finally spoke up. "Come on, you're just in time for cake."

He cracked a small grin and I took my hand in his. "Really? Looks like you already had yours."

"Yeah, Bri decided to make me Cake Girl."

"How about we go get him back. Ya know get a little revenge on the middle child?" I smiled devilishly as Harry and I ran back into the house, preparing to attack Brian.