Laura smiled and hung up the phone. She looked up at Kevin with tears in her eyes. "Beautiful, what's wrong?" Kevin didn't like to see her cry. "Nothing. Nothing, Love. Just wondering where you've been all my life," she said, and Kevin took her in his arms and held her, wondering the same to himself. "How's your head? Feeling OK?" he asked. "Well, I've certainly been worse, but it's still a bit tender. I know I'll bounce back soon, though. With you here with me I know I'll recover fast," Laura said as she snuggled in Kevin's arms. She sure did feel safe with him, but he was doubting himself. "Laura," he began, "I'm so sorry I didn't find you sooner. I tried to but this hotel is just so big and if I wouldn't have heard you yell I probably wouldn't have--" Laura stopped him. "Love, it's OK. I know you were looking for me. I'm the one that should have just stayed with you. I should have never gone off by myself, that wasn't too bright of me," she said as she sighed from her headache and continued. "I hope you know that I trust you with every part of my being. I know you would do anything in your power to make sure I'm safe. And I do feel safe with you--more safe then I've ever felt with anyone. And your love keeps me safe too. I couldn't ask for anyone better or more perfect. I love you so much, I hope you realize that."
Kevin smiled as Laura spoke. Her words wrapped around his heart and soul like a blanket of love. He knew she meant every word she said. "I love you too--more than I could ever tell or show you," he said, as he stroked her hair and started singing to her. Laura loved to listen to him sing. She could listen to his voice for hours. Kevin was singing From This Moment, which had become "their song" months ago. To Kevin's surprise, Laura joined him immediately.
Kevin sat there stunned for a minute. He had never heard Laura sing. "So how long were you going to keep it a secret from me that you can sing?" Kevin asked accusingly, but also lovingly. "Why haven't you sang to me or with me before?" Laura smiled as she said sarcastically, "Well you never asked me to!" Kevin kissed her on the cheek. "I didn't ask you now, smarty pants. I guess I'm just a bit stunned because Leah can't carry a tune, I just assumed I've never heard you sing because that was a family trait," he joked. Laura laughed. It was true. Leah was given the gift of songwriting, just not song-singing. "Well, obviously and thankfully, we are not alike in that department," she laughed. "My sister and I used to sing at weddings and stuff all the time, we loved it." Kevin started to wonder. "Laura, have you ever thought about getting on a stage and doing what we do? Obviously you don't get stagefright if you can sing at weddings." Laura chuckled, "Yeah, that's true. I don't know if I could do what you guys do as a career, but yes, I'd love to have the chance to do it maybe just once, just to feel the rush of the adrenaline as you hear the cheering of the crowd. But it's OK if it never happens, because all I need to make me happy is you, and that's good enough for me," she said as she kissed Kevin. Kevin stayed with her until she drifted back to sleep.
Kevin knocked on Brian's door. All of the guys were in there taking the day easy, because they had the concert that night in Madison, they needed to relax. "Hey Train, how's Laura?" AJ asked as he answered the door and let Kevin in. Everyone was concerned about how Laura was and if Kevin had found out what happened. Kevin sighed as he told them what Laura had shared with him. "So anyway I don't know how he found her--maybe it was just a bizarre coincidence. All I know is if he tries to hurt her again, I'll be there to make sure he doesn't succeed." Everyone was very sympathetic to Kevin. "If he treated her like that then he never deserved her in the first place," Brian said. Everyone nodded in agreement as he continued. "We all love her Kevin, and if you're certain that you want to do what you said you were going to--"
"You mean propose? Oh no, I'm going to do that another time. I gotta ask you guys, have you ever heard Laura sing?" They all had confused looks on their faces as they shook their heads. "Well, I just did. You guys, she's incredible. She said her sister and she used to sing for weddings and stuff. I was so surprised because we've all heard Leah sing," he laughed. Everyone laughed along, because they knew... heck, even Leah admitted she couldn't carry a tune. They all agreed it was pretty bad if the person themself admits they can't sing. AJ spoke up. "So she's actually not tone deaf?" he joked. Kevin smiled. "Guys, I still want to surprise her onstage on her birthday. But not with my proposal. I'm still planning on doing that, but I really want to do this--I want to have Laura come onstage with us and sing with me. She said she's always wanted to sing in front of a huge crowd like we do, just once, just to feel what it feels like. I'd like to sing From This Moment, since it's "our song." Think we can squeeze this in somewhere?" All of the guys saw how much this meant to Kevin to be able to do this for Laura, so they all agreed that it could be worked into the show after Back To Your Heart, since Kevin wanted to play From This Moment on the piano while they sang. "Great you guys. I'll notify the band after the concert tonight. I mean I don't think they'll care, since they don't have to play it," Kevin smiled as he left the room. "Thanks you guys... I'm going back to Laura to see if she's woken up yet. Bye!"
Nick spoke up. "Wow, I hope I find someone that means that much to me one day." Howie smiled, "It will happen for all of us one day. And if we're half as lucky as Kevin, you know we'll be happy." They all nodded in agreement, and decided that they better start getting ready for the concert.
Meanwhile, Kevin returned to his and Laura's room. Laura heard him as he came in. "Baby, where did you go?" Kevin's eyes looked deep into hers as he lay down next to her. "I was just by Brian's room. They are helping me with your birthday present," he said with a hint of mischief in his voice. "Oh geez, you're lucky I'm down for the count, or I'd torture it out of you," she joked. Kevin smiled sexily at her and replied, "But your 'torture' is the sweetest I've ever experienced." Kevin kissed her softly on the lips then got up to get ready for the concert. They needed to be there early, because the tour coordinators were sending a last minute replacement for Laura, since she needed another day or 2 to recover.
Just as Kevin was ready to leave, he leaned over and kissed Laura. "You know, I've been spoiled having my sweet lady do my hair and makeup. It's sure not going to be the same without you there." Laura smiled and said, "I know, but this is it until Monday, and I'll be good as new then. You'll see!" I hope so, thought Kevin, because you've got to be well to get your birthday present. Kevin smiled to himself as he kissed Laura goodbye. "I'll see you later, beautiful," Kevin said, and blew her a kiss as he walked out the door.
Lisa, Laura's sister, was going to attend the concert that evening as well as the concert in Milwaukee. Through Leah, Lisa had gotten a backstage pass to go back and meet the guys. Shortly before she was going to go to the backstage area, Kevin spoke up. "Someone very near and dear to us, our makeup artist Laura, was attacked yesterday. Her injuries were not serious, thank God. But she means a lot to us, and to me, and I'd like to dedicate this next song to her." Lisa was so happy for her sister. She wasn't kidding when she spoke of Kevin's love for her and hers for him. Lisa smiled inside as well as outside for Laura as the guys sang Anywhere For You, a song that said all Kevin was feeling for Laura at that moment. This was the second to last song of the night, so Lisa decided to head backstage so she didn't have to fight her way through a crowd.
The guys were all happy they now had a few days off for the holidays. Kevin especially, because he had a few days to shower Laura with the attention she deserved. As they arrived in the wardrobe room, Lisa was there. Everyone did a double-take. If not for the different color hair, she could have been easily mistaken for Laura. Lisa immediately walked up to Kevin. "So you're the one that stole my sister's heart," she said. Kevin was shocked. The only sister Laura had was Lisa, but Laura never mentioned that she might have been a twin. Lisa sensed his confusion. "She's the older one. I was born 9 minutes later," Lisa said, grinning ear to ear. She figured Laura didn't tell any of them. She so loved to shock people when they met Lisa. Kevin relaxed and smiled. "Lisa... Laura didn't tell me--" She laughed. "I figured. That's Laura for ya, always going for the shock factor," she joked. "I hope you don't mind, but Leah got me a backstage pass for tonight and the concert in Milwaukee, and I just wanted to come back and introduce myself. The concert was just great, by the way. All the lighting and special effects... and especially," she said, turning back to Kevin, "the beautiful dedication to my sister. That bastard better hope they throw away the key, because if I ever get my hands on him I'll wring his neck."
"Oh, trust me," said AJ, "I'm sure Kevin shares your feelings." Lisa smiled at him and back at Kevin. "Well, I'll get out of your hair so you can get outta here and YOU," she said pointing at Kevin, "you can get back to your sweetie." Lisa then hugged Kevin and said she'd see him Christmas Eve, and left.
"Wow, that woman never ceases to amaze us, even when she's not here," Brian joked. All of them laughed in agreement. Kevin was the one that was surprised the most. A twin--haha, her and her surprises. Well, it worked, I'm surprised, he thought as he got ready to go home. He missed Laura so much. Just knowing she wasn't backstage was near killing him. As soon as he was ready, he said his goodbyes to everyone, and headed back to the hotel with Brian, since he was ready also.
Ten minutes later, Kevin was back and entering the hotel room so not to wake Laura. Laura was awake, though. She was standing close to the door. Kevin gave her a big hug. "Honey, are you sure you're OK to be standing? I mean, I'm glad to see you up and about but you've got to--" Laura cut him off. "I heard what you did tonight. Lisa called me," she said as she looked at him with more love in her heart then she's ever felt before. It was almost as if Kevin could feel her love, like their souls were connected. He smiled at her as he approached her. "I didn't do anything special," he said as he embraced her. "I'd do it for anyone I love." Kevin hugged her tightly. He never wanted to let her go. Laura sighed as she looked up to kiss him. Laura knew right then that she truly did love him, and that perhaps after searching for so long, she found her soul mate at last.
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