Katelin and Nick never talked about that morning in her hotel room. After what had previously happened, Nick didn't want to press the issue. Kate was sharing a room with Elise. Brian and Ang were more in love than ever and almost sickening to be around. Krista and AJ were getting more excited for the baby, although Krista still hadn't gotten around to telling her parents. She was still scared to death about how they would react. She was still able to dance because she hadn't really started to show yet. But they would have to find a replacement once they returned home from Europe. Howie and Christine had started to make preliminary plans for the wedding and it was starting to become a source of some petty arguments between the two. Finally, Brooke hadn't heard from or seen Alex since that night when Kevin met him and she was beginning to wonder what he was up to.
It was a day off in Paris and everyone was ecstatic to get out of the hotel and see the city. Ang, Brian, Katelin, and Nick all went sightseeing, more for the girls' benefit since the guys had been there so many times before. Krista, Brooke, AJ, and Kevin went shopping and Christine and Howie decided to work on wedding plans.
"Howie," Christine began. "I want to have the wedding at home."
"Of course we'll have it at home,” He glanced at her, confused. “Where else would it be?"
"I mean my home,” She clarified. “In Connecticut." She looked at him for a response but he didn't offer one. "What do you think?"
"But Chris,” Howie protested. “All of our friends are in Orlando."
"No,” She rolled her eyes at him. “All of your friends are in Orlando. Mine are all up North."
"Chris, I thought we decided this,” He sighed. “The wedding is in Orlando."
"No Howie!” Christine jumped up, angrily. “You decided this. Since I was a little girl, I've wanted my wedding in the Greenfield Hill Church in Fairfield. All of my family is up there. If you can't deal with that then maybe we shouldn't be getting married at all!" She stomped out of the room and slammed the door. Howie sighed and flopped back on the bed.
***** ***** ***** ***** ***** *****
"So what's the plan for tonight?" AJ asked as he took a sip of his wine. He, Kevin, Brooke, and Krista all sat around eating dinner at a small café on the Seine after a long day of shopping.
"I want to go out!" Krista cried, suddenly. All three looked at her strangely, surprised at her outburst. "I'm sick of being cooped up in a hotel room every night. I need to go dancing." She explained.
"Dancing it is then!" AJ exclaimed, raising his glass. They all clinked their glasses as they heard a shriek coming from the direction of the river.
"Carter! Put me down! Now!" The four of them jumped up and ran over to the railing. Looking over, they spotted Nick holding Katelin upside down over the river with her long blond hair dangling into the water. Ang was trying to pull him back and Brian was, literally, rolling on the ground, laughing.
"Oh my god," Brooke breathed.
"I swear to god, Carter. She goes in, you're going in right after her!" Ang screamed.
"One too many smart-ass comments, Kate! I told you I'd get you back!" Nick yelled.
"If anyone is going to draw attention to us, of course it would be those four." Kevin commented.
"Say you're sorry," Nick commanded.
"I'm sorry, Nick!" Kate cried. "I'm so sorry. You're the hottest guy in the world and I'm so lucky to have you as my boyfriend." Nick finally gave in and sat her down on her feet. She punched him on the arm. "Jerk!” She started to run away but he was too quick for her and grabbed her around the waist. In one swift motion, he picked her up and tossed her into the water. He stood there laughing as she came up sputtering. He didn't even notice Ang coming up behind him. She pushed him hard and he went tumbling into the river with his girlfriend. This caused Brian to laugh so hard that he could barely even breathe. Once he regained his composure, he picked up Ang and got ready to throw her in.
"Brian don't you dare!" She shrieked.
Suddenly, they all heard an extremely angry voice. "Littrell, put her down right this second."
Brian glanced up and saw the two, extremely pissed off faces of their bodyguards whom they had successfully ditched earlier in the day.
"Uh oh," Kevin muttered, under his breath.
"You guys are dead!" AJ called down to them.
"Carter," Mike, one of the bodyguards, began. "Out of the water. NOW! You too, Taylor.”
Nick climbed out and then pulled Katelin out after him. "You guys are no fun," Katelin grumbled.
Mike slung an arm around her and started to walk away. "Aw, Kate. You know you love me."
"Um, excuse me,” Nick cleared his throat from behind him. “Could you please not put the moves on my girlfriend?"
Dave, the other bodyguard, glanced up at AJ, Krista, Brooke, and Kevin. "What are you guys doing tonight?"
"Going dancing," AJ answered.
"You better come back to the hotel first," Mike warned. "We're going with you."
"Yeah, yeah, yeah," they all chorused. They went back to their table.
"I'm twenty seven years old," Kevin groaned. "Is it necessary for me to always have a babysitter?"
"Aw baby," Brooke said. "He's just looking out for you. They don't want you to get mobbed by all of those hormone-crazed fourteen year olds." Kevin stuck his tongue out at her and Brooke rolled her eyes. "Are you sure you don't need that babysitter?"
***** ***** ***** ***** ***** *****
As Brian, Ang, Nick, Katelin, Mike, and Dave approached the hotel, they saw the fans crowded around the entrance. "Back entrance, guys," Dave instructed them. "You guys sure as hell can't walk in there looking that." The six of them snuck inside through the back and took the service elevator up to their floor. Brian and Ang went into their room for some 'alone' time and Dave and Mike went into their rooms. Nick walked Katlein to the door of the room that she shared with Elise. "Why don't you shower and change and meet me in my room in an hour."
"Sure,” Katelin nodded. “What do you want to do tonight?"
"I don't care,” He shrugged. “Whatever."
"I don't feel like going out with everyone tonight,” she sighed. “Can you and I just hang out around here by ourselves?"
Nick's face lit up. "I think that’s the best idea you’ve had all day." Katelin planted a kiss on his lips before disappearing into her room. Nick got an idea suddenly and raced down the hall to his room.
Katelin shut the door to her room and noticed Christine and Elise in deep conversation. She cleared her throat loud enough to get their attention. "Hi guys! What's up?"
They both looked up, startled by her soaking wet appearance. "What the hell happened to you?" Elise questioned.
"Uh, I decided to go swimming?" Katelin answered, hoping Elise would buy it.
"In your clothes?" Christine asked.
"Nick threw me in the river." Katelin admitted, mumbling.
Elise busted out laughing. "In the Seine? Ew, Kate, how dirty is that water?"
"That's why I need to take a shower." She replied, the all-too familiar eye roll making an appearance. She glanced at Christine. "What's wrong with you?"
"Nothing,” Christine sighed. “Just having Howie problems. You wouldn't really understand."
Katelin's face fell, realizing that Christine, just like everyone else, it seemed, thought she was too young to listen to their problems. "Oh," she said before grabbing her towel and walking into the bathroom to take a shower.
***** ***** ***** ***** ***** ***** *****
Nick rushed around his room, getting things ready, before Katelin was due to arrive. He checked his watch and noticed he still had fifteen minutes. He heard a knock at the door. "You're not supposed to be here yet!" He called as he opened it. He noticed Brian standing on the other side. "What are you doing here?"
"Nice greeting, Frack," Brian said while wiping away a pretend tear. "Glad to know that I'm loved."
Nick rolled his eyes. "Why are you here?" Brian tried to walk in but Nick stopped him.
"Chill, Nicky,” Brian snickered. “I was just seeing if you and Kate wanted to go clubbing with the rest of us tonight."
Nick shook his head, quickly. "Not tonight, man. Kate and I are going to take it easy and just stick around here tonight."
Brian threw him a knowing glance. "I got ya, man. Just be careful. I'll see you tomorrow."
***** ***** ***** ***** ***** *****
Christine unlocked hers and Howie's door and walked in, expecting him to be there. Instead she was greeted with a dark, empty room. She slipped off her sandals and threw her key on the dresser, seeing an envelope with her name on it, scrawled in Howie's distinctive handwriting. She opened it up and started reading.
Christine,
I'm sorry for being so insensitive earlier. We can get married wherever you want. Even on the moon if we have to. I don't care as long as I get to spend the rest of my life with you.
Put something nice on and meet me in the lobby at 8pm. I'm taking you out for a night on the town.
I love you,
Howie.
A single tear rolled down her cheek. He was just too sweet. She looked at her watch and saw that it was 7:15 already. She still needed to take a shower so she needed to hurry.
***** ***** ***** ***** ***** *****
Katelin quickly dried her hair and threw on a pair of wind pants and a white tank top. She slipped on her flip flops, grabbed her key, and made her way to her boyfriend's room.
Nick answered the door in a pair of sweatpants and a t-shirt, holding a single red rose. He handed it to her and led her into the room. Katelin looked around in awe. The room was dimly lit and there was a candle-lit dinner for two at the table in the corner.
"If I didn't know any better, I'd think you were trying to seduce me, Carter," Katelin said, sarcastically.
Nick closed the space between them and gently placed his lips on hers. "This night is about you, babe. Whatever you want to do, we'll do."
Kate's stomach growled. "I guess I want to eat."
"Okay,” He laughed. “We’ll eat.”
***** ***** ***** ***** ***** *****
"Let's party!" AJ yelled as the eight of them entered the Paris club. The eight consisted of AJ, Krista, Kevin, Brooke, Brian, Ang, Mike, and Dave. Brian patted him on the back. "Nice way to draw attention to ourselves, J."
Aj glared at him. "Oh and what was that stunt you and Nick pulled in the river today?"
"Hey, I'll have you know that I was completely innocent in that," Brian defended himself.
"Oh please,” Ang rolled her eyes. “I would've been in there too if it wasn't for Mike and Dave showing up."
Brian planted a kiss on her forehead. "You know you love me."
They followed everyone else over to the VIP section. "What's everyone drinking?" Kevin asked as he stood up. They all rattled off various alcoholic drinks.
Kevin looked at Krista. "Kris? What about you?"
"I guess I'll have a water,” She sighed.
"Change mine to a water too, Kev," AJ chimed in.
"Baby, you don't have to do that for me," Krista said. He slung an arm around her shoulders. "I'm spending time with you. I don't need alcohol to have a good time. As long as you're hear with me."
She kissed him, gently. "You're too good to me."
"You know it,” He smiled as he pulled her up. “Now come on and dance with me."
Meanwhile, Brian and Ang decided to sit at the table and go shot-for-shot with each other. "You know I'll kick your ass, Littrell," Ang said as she knocked back another one. "I have two older brothers. I learned from the best."
"We'll just see about that, Angela," Brian retorted. They clinked glasses and both downed another one.
Kevin and Brooke watched from the next table. "Maybe they should slow down,” Kevin commented, watching the two of them carefully.
Lighten up, Kev,” Brooke scolded. “They're just having some fun."
***** ***** ***** ***** ***** *****
"Where are you taking me?" Christine asked Howie as they stepped into the limo.
"You'll see,” Howie grinned. “I've actually had this planned for a pretty long time."
They rode the rest of the way in a comfortable silence before the limo pulled up to a posh restaurant on the Champs D'Elysees. They stepped out and walked into the restaurant. A waiter led them to a quiet table in the corner. "Howie," Christine breathed. "This is absolutely perfect."
"It's just the beginning, baby." He told her, grabbing her hands. “You’ll see.”
After dinner, they walked hand-in-hand to the Eiffel Tower. They stopped briefly to go window shopping. They looked in the window of a jewelry store, where there was an engagement ring display. Christine didn't have one because Howie had asked her right before they left for Europe. They hadn't had time to shop for one. At least that's what she thought. Little did she know that Howie had this night planned since before he asked her to marry him.