Gwen was standing outside on the balcony that looked out to the backyard in their room. Her mind was swimming in thoughts and she didn't even hear AJ come up behind her.
"Beautiful, isn't it?" AJ whispered in her ear.
"You scared me," Gwen said as AJ wrapped his arms around her waist and rested his head on hers. ''The view? It is beautiful," Gwen said, as they looked out on the bright sunny day.
"Well, I meant you but the view is pretty too," AJ said, cheering her up. "Are you feeling okay?" Gwen took a deep breath.
"I'll be fine," she said. "It just isn't fair."
"I know baby, it isn't fair," AJ agreed with her. "But we will make the best of it." Gwen sighed.
"I know we will," she said.
"I wanna marry you now," AJ said. Gwen giggled.
"We could elope," she joked. The phone rang from inside but AJ wouldn't loosen his grip around her.
"The machine will get it," he said.
~~four months later~~
The wedding was in a week and Gwen's mom and Whittney had already flown in. Her dad and sisters were coming in a couple of days. Gwen and AJ decided not to tell anyone about Gwen's secret. Not only were Judi and Whittney staying in the house, Denise and AJ's grandma were in too. Everyone was coming in for the wedding and the house was packed. Gwen was running around trying to figure things out.
"So, tonight we are going to pick up your dress and all the bridesmaids dresses..." Judi went over, as she and Gwen came down the stairs.
"Well all the bridesmaids should have already picked up their dresses. I got all their shoes today," Gwen said.
"Right. So after we pick up your dress, we are stopping by the floral shop to check up on the flowers," Judi said.
"I already did that," Denise said, joining the conversation.
"Right. So we'll pick up your dress...Oh honey, have you decided on how you are going to do your hair yet?" Judi asked.
"No mom, I'm just going to let the hair dresser do whatever," Gwen said.
"Oh honey, I hate that idea. What if she makes it horrible? I'm going to call you in for a practice appointment," Judi said.
"Mom, I don't have any time! I have to go pick AJ up from the airport soon," Gwen said.
"Gwen, did you pick up my shoes?" Ashleigh asked. Gwen grabbed a shoe box from a shopping bag and tossed them to Ashleigh who caught them.
"Yep, there," Gwen said, searching for her purse.
"Honey, I called management to make sure the press doesn't show up anywhere," Denise said.
"Okay, thank you," Gwen said, still trying to find her purse.
"Oh, and we need to call the hotel and make sure we have the entire 15th floor rented out," Denise said.
"I called yesterday to confirm. We need to pick up the passes to hand out to the guest," Gwen said, running around the living room.
''Are you sure we need the whole 15th floor?" Judi asked.
"Yes mom, we've gone over this. Brian and Leighanne rented out a whole floor for their wedding and it was perfect. That is where the big reception hall is and there are about 20 rooms for all the traveling family," Gwen said. Her mother nodded.
"Where is the honeymoon suite?" Judi asked.
"I'm not telling!" Gwen said, finding her purse and holding it up triumphantly. Leighanne and Illianna soon walked in the back door.
"Hey!" they both said. Gwen grabbed two shoe boxes and tossed them at the girls. They both caught their boxes.
''Shoes," Gwen said, grabbing her keys and running out to the car. Once she was in the car, she let out a scream. She had been so stressed for the past week she could explode. She started the car and drove to the airport to pick AJ up from New York.
~~earlier that day while the boys were on the Rosie O'Donnell show~~
"We have the Backstreet Boys here who just performed their new single, 'Not for Me'. Great song guys!" Rosie said to the guys who all had seats next to her desk.
"Thank you. We wanted to pump things up after we released More Than That,'" Kevin said. Rosie laughed.
"Okay guys, rumors have it that one of you guys are no longer going to be a bachelor," Rosie said. The guys knew she'd say something about AJ's wedding. "Who is the lucky guy?!" All eyes went on AJ and he laughed.
"It's me," he said. There were some screams in the audience and he blew the audience a kiss. Rosie gasped.
"AJ is getting married?! Wow...only two single men left ladies!" Rosie shouted.
"Well actually, I'm seeing someone," Nick said.
"You aren't getting married yet, right?" Rosie asked. Nick laughed.
"No, not yet," he said, smiling into the camera. There were more screams from the fans.
"And I've been dating someone as well," Howie said, about Regan.
"Oh no! What happened to all of the cutie-pattotie single Backstreet-ers!" Rosie laughed. "So AJ, who is the lucky girl?" Rosie asked.
"Soon she'll be Gwen McLean," AJ smiled. The crowed "ohh"-ed and "aww"-ed.
"Congratulations! How do you guys feel your fans will react with now three marriages?" Rosie asked.
"The fans have been really supportive. Both Kevin and I got a lot of wedding gifts from fans. We are really blessed to have fans that care enough about our music to still like us even when we are off the market," Brian said. The fans cheered and he waved up to them.
"That is great! Okay, we are gonna take a commercial break and then come back for Backstreet Trivia!!" Rosie said. The commercials came on and the guys relaxed for awhile. AJ looked at his watch. The show was running late and he had to catch a plane soon.
"Uh guys, my plane leaves in an hour. I better take off," AJ said.
"We can't do this segment with one missing Backstreet Boy," Howie said.
"Well you're gonna have too," AJ said, taking his mic off. He went backstage and talked to their manager. They agreed he could go and AJ left for the airport.
~~airport~~
Gwen was escorted to a VIP room in the airport to wait for AJ. AJ was flying back on a private jet and would be able to skip the fans seeing him. She saw his plane land and got excited. She soon saw AJ. The moment he saw her, he ran toward her. She ran and met him half way. She jumped in his arms and he hugged her tight. They kissed to make up for lost time. The finally pulled away.
"I missed you," AJ said. She nodded.
"I missed you so much more. I need you to keep me sane," she said. He laughed.
"Since when have you ever been sane?" he asked. She laughed and they got escorted out to their car without harm. Once they were in the car, AJ looked over at her.
''Is it that bad?" he asked. All the sudden, Gwen burst in tears.
"Our moms can't agree on anything....I haven't even picked up my dress....the flowers aren't done...my mom is controlling my life..one of my bridesmaids has strep throat..and fans won't stop calling," Gwen sobbed. AJ scoped her up in his arms and consoled her.
"Baby...everything is supposed to go wrong before the wedding so that the wedding itself is perfect," AJ said. "Which bridesmaid is sick?"
"My cousin Lisa," Gwen sobbed.
"Honey, everything is going to go fine. I promise. All that matters is when we say ‘I Do," AJ said. Gwen wiped her eyes.
"I hope so," she said.
~~~~~~
