Chance Encounter

Over the next two months, Samantha tried to visit Brian as often as possible. After her fourth visit, she realized it really wasn't fair to Adam to leave him so much. When Brian called to invite her to come to Minneapolis, she had to decline the invitation.

"I can't," she said, quietly.

"Why not?" Brian asked, closing his eyes and preparing himself for the inevitable.

"Because. Brian, it's just getting too hard, baby. I can't leave Adam every other weekend. It's not fair to him, or Lila. And I'm certainly not leaving him with his grandmother. She's a nutcase."

"Bring him with you," Brian pleaded.

"I can't do that," she said softly. "I can't leave him in a hotel room while I'm making love to you in another room. That would just be wrong. And, to be honest, the screaming crowds are starting to get to me."

"I understand," he said softly.

"I do love you, Brian, but you have to understand that I'm not into all this fame and stuff. I fell in love with you Brian Littrell, the cute guy from Kentucky, not Brian Littrell of the Backstreet Boys. I'm just not sure I'm cut out to be the girlfriend of a rock star."

"Are you breaking up with me?" Brian asked, his head beginning to spin.

"I... I don't know. Let's just take a little breather, ok?" Samantha said, sighing deeply. She couldn't believe she was saying this. Brian was her dream come true, but she wasn't sure she could handle all that went along with loving him.

"So you really are breaking up with me," he said.

"I just can't handle this, Brian. Maybe when all the hysteria dies down, I..."

"Ok," Brian said, swallowing hard.

"Brian," Samantha said, "I do love you."

Brian hung up without responding. He sat on his bed and sobbed. Nick could hear him in the next room, and went to check on his friend. He knocked on the door several times.

"Rok, let me in, buddy," Nick called.

"Go away, Nick," Brian said in a monotonous voice.

"Let me in or I'll kick the door down," Nick threatened. Brian got off the bed and opened the door. Nick followed him back inside, and Brian collapsed on the bed again. He buried his face in his pillow, determined that Nick was not going to see him cry.

Nick sat down beside him and rubbed his back a little.

"What happened?" Nick asked.

"I don't wanna talk about it," Brian replied, his voice muffled by the pillow.

"Tell me," Nick demanded. "What did she do to you?"

"She broke up with me, ok?" Brian yelled. "There. I told you. Are you happy now?"

"No, I'm not happy," Nick said quietly. "Why did she break up with you?"

"Because of all of this," Brian said, gesturing around the room.

"Because of the hotel room?" Nick asked, confused.

"No, you nimrod. Because of the touring and the screaming fans and the lack of privacy and all that," Brian snapped.

"Well, that's a change. Most of the girls we go out with like all that stuff," Nick said.

"Nick, the girls you date are hussies or they wanna be famous. Sam's a grown-up. She has a job and a child to take care of. She can't be galavanting all over the country chasing after my sorry ass," Brian groaned.

Nick nodded, finally understanding. "I'm sorry, man. I really am."

"I can't believe she's gone," Brian said, his sobs finding renewed strength. "I love her so much, Nicky."

"I know you do, buddy. But you're gonna be ok."

Brian nodded. "Can you just leave me alone for awhile?"

"I don't think that's a good idea. I'll just sit over here and watch television, though," Nick said.

"Ok, whatever." Brian closed his eyes and fell asleep, dreaming of Samantha.
**********************************************
The tour wrapped up in Las Vegas, at the Bellagio hotel. The place was packed, and it the show was amazing. Samantha nervously waited in the lobby for just the right moment. As soon as she saw him approach the elevator, she hopped on, and pretended to be reading a magazine.

Brian stepped onto the elevator and pushed the button for the 18th floor. He stood back agains the wall and looked up at the mirrored ceiling. The girl standing beside him looked very familiar, although he wasn't sure, since her hair was shorter and she was wearing sunglasss. The woman approached the metal panel on the wall and pushed the stop button. She turned to him and took off the sunglasses. Brian stared in astonishment.

"Hey baby," Samantha said softly.

"Oh my God," Brian said. "What are... I mean..."

"I missed you," she said, looking sheepishly.

"I missed you, too," Brian said, closing his eyes.

"I was wrong, Brian. I was so wrong to leave you like that. I mean, if I'm going to love you, I've got to love everything about you. And Brian, I do love you. More than I ever realized. I've been so miserable without you."

Brian stared at her, unable to think straight. His mind was racing.

"You think you can handle the fame and all that?" he asked.

"If it means I get you in the end, I can handle anything life throws at me," Samantha replied.

"You said you didn't know if you could be the girlfriend of a rock star. But what about the wife of a rock star? Think you could handle that?" he asked softly.

Samantha stood, shocked into silence. Her eyes grew huge as Brian sank to his knees in front of her and took her hand.

"Samantha Rose, I love you. You're my soulmate, and my best friend. I never thought I'd feel this way about anybody, but I can't imagine spending another day without you being my wife. Will you marry me?"

Samantha bit her bottom lip slightly, then smiled.

"Is that a yes?" Brian asked. "Please say it's a yes, cause my knees are starting to hurt."

"Yes!" Samantha said, tears spilling over and rolling down her cheeks.

Brian stood up and hugged her tightly.

"But you said you couldn't imagine spending another day without me as your wife," Samantha said. "What exactly did you mean by that?"

Brian looked at her and got an impish grin on his face.

"How would you feel about having Elvis as the best man at our wedding, and maybe a drag queen dressed as Marilyn as your maid of honor?"

"You've got to be kidding me," Samantha laughed through her tears.

"Actually, I was kidding about Elvis and Marilyn, but how about Kevin as the best man and AJ can be your maid of honor?"

Samantha burst into peals of laughter. "That sounds wonderful, but please don't let AJ dress in drag. He'd make a really ugly woman," she replied.

Later that night, in a small wedding chapel in the center of Las Vegas, Samantha and Brian sealed their union. Elvis wasn't the best man. He was the preacher...
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The End