Two weeks had passed since Nick and his family returned from Los Angeles. Aaron and Angel had settled into their new home. It was now time to tell their side of the story and for BSB to make it's announcements.

"James your office is taking care of the TV interview and I will be handling the People article right," asked Denise McLean

"Yes. So we all agree on this," asked James Michaelson, who was now acting as the primary manager for the Backstreet Boys.

"I believe we do," answered Kevin. "You all OK?"

"Yeah," said Lesley answering for her and the twins.

"I say it's Mickey D's time."

"Can we go with AJ," Aaron asked.

"Yes, but Alex you drive safely," ordered his mother.

"Don't I always? Don't look at me that way!"

They adjourned and everyone went their separate ways. Brian invited Nick over to shoot some hoops. He called ahead and Leighanne had lunch ready.

"Honey you didn't have to fix lunch."

"You don't like it," asked Leighanne as she began to tear up.

"No it's wonderful. Thank you for being so thoughtful," said Brian, kissing his wife. He was learning her pregnancy driven mood swings.

"Yeah thanks Leigh. I'm starving."

"Good! Sit down and eat. How did the meeting go?"

"Really good," replied Brian. "We are going to do a joint MTV/VH1 interview and the kids are talking to People magazine. Denise and James are working out the timing."

"So what all are you going to announce?"

Nick answered, "Well the first thing is about you becoming a mommy. We're asking for prayers since B is gong to be the daddy. We figure you will need all the prayers you and the baby can get."

"Hello I'm listening!"

"Hush Brian," chuckled Leighanne.

"There is also the matter of AJ's engagement and Howie can gush about Maddy," laughed Brian.

"Are you going to talk about Kassidy?"

"Yes. I'm not hiding her anymore."

"Finally, we will tell them about the plans for the newest album and tour."

"Why didn't you just say you were going to talk about everything," teased Leighanne.

"Because it would have been too simple, Leigh," replied Nick. "This is really good. B you ready?"

"Yeah."

"You guys just inhaled your food."

"It was so good honey."

"Fine, go play with your ball."

Brian and Nick headed outside laughing. They played hard for a couple of hours. Nick stopped by Denise's before heading to Tampa. She told him the interviews were in three days.

Once home he let the dogs out to play. He looked around; Lilly had stopped by and cleaned the place up. He was glad she had, because he was going to get Kassidy immediately after the interviews were done. He and Denise were taking his siblings to their interview with People; then he would hook up with the rest of BSB for their interview the same afternoon.

Nick wander through his house. He stood in his bedroom for a moment looking around. Suddenly, he bounded into his office and came back with his drawing materials. He spent the time until he went to Nashville on his project. He just hoped Kassidy liked it.

Two days later, he was driving from the interview with People to the place where they were meeting with MTV and VH1. The two networks agreed Brian McFayden would conduct the interview. He had replaced John Norris as the main interviewer when John moved into the spot vacated by Kurt Loder. Kurt had taken over as Director of the MTV News Department.

Nick arrived and was hurried into the makeup chair. The other guys were ready. They had all agreed for the initial interview only the five Boys would be present, no family. VH1 had asked them about allowing follow up interviews at their homes. The two networks would again share the footage.

BSB took their seats. Brian McFayden greeted them warmly. He was in the dark about what news they were sharing today. He only knew the guys were making announcements both professional and personal. They had purposely not allowed any details out. He asked if they wanted to do personal or professional first. They decided on personal first and the interview began.

Brian talked about Leighanne and the pregnancy. Kevin talked about being a first time dad as well. Howie gushed about Maddy. AJ announced his engagement. Nick fielded questions about what was going with his family. He explained anything dealing with his siblings was talked about with in an interview with People Magazine. He did admit he was seeing Kassidy. The guys were all quick to say the tabloid stories were inaccurate. They also discussed plans for the next album and new tour.

Once they got the all clear, Brian McFayden congratulated all of them and thanked them for doing the interview. AJ took Nick to the airport after dropping his car off at AJ's house. Kassidy got lucky when finding a buyer for her house. Jessica, the girl who house sat for her was engaged. She had always loved the house and so did her fiancé, Dan. The realtor had also been working with them. She had casually asked if they would be interested in Kassidy's house if it went on the market. They had jumped on it. They made an offer and Kassidy accepted. Jessica's fiancé, Dan, picked up Nick at the airport. The couple didn't want their reunion splashed all over the media. He couldn't believe the group of photographers standing across from Kassidy's house. The media guys looked up when Dan came into view, but lost interest when they recognized the car. They didn't realize Nick was with him until he ran across the yard to the front door. He was inside before they could get any pictures. He dropped his bag and picked Kassidy up, kissing her. She giggled about her feet not touching the ground. He put her down but didn't let go.

Flashes blinded Jessica and Dan when they opened the front door to leave. The media guys were calling for Nick to come out. Kassidy stepped out and asked them to cut her some slack. She had kept her word and so had they up to this point. The house and yard were off limits. She couldn't stop them from getting pictures of people coming and going. However, the person in her house was a guest and would not come out for a photo op. They didn't like it, but they conceded.

"You have trained them well," commented Nick from the couch as she closed the door.

"I practiced on a group called Backstreet Boys first."

"Hey now!"

Kassidy kissed him and said, "I'm glad you're here."

"Me too. Do you have everything packed," he asked, rubbing noses with her. "Pretty much," she replied quietly.

"Have you thought about where your furniture will go?"

"I guess."

"What's wrong?"

"Nothing."

"Kass tell me."

"My furniture doesn't work in your house."

"What?"

"You heard me! So I guess I will sell it or throw it out."

"No you won't."

"Then what," she asked looking at him, tears spilling down her cheeks.

"We will make them work. All your furniture is special, because it's from your parents."

"I know, but it's all antique. It doesn't exactly go with your house."

"I don't care."

”Really?"

"Really. We will figure it out. Actually, I wanted to talk to you about something."

"What?"

"I love my house."

"I love your house too."

"Good, because I want to keep it. But I would also like a place down in the keys. A little place where we can go hide and spend time together."

"But Nick the money."

"Kassidy, it is a practical way to invest my money."

"True."

"Now if we buy the right place some of your stuff could go there. It would be part of our special place."

Kassidy thought a moment. "I like that idea. Have you been looking at places?"

"I've contacted my realtor and she getting together some possibilities. She should have some to show us at the end of the week. What do you say?"

"I say thank you."

"For what?"

"For not making me get rid of my furniture and for making my stuff apart of your place."

"Baby it's our place now."

"Our place. I like the sound of that."

"Me too."

"Nick I'm sorry about not really celebrating your birthday."

"I don't care."

"But 25 is special."

"Yeah well there was too much going on thanks to mom and dad."

"Still I'm sorry and I will make it up to you."

Nick grinned and said, "Promise?"

"Promise! Now, you hungry?"

"Am I me?"

"Of course, come out to the kitchen with me, ye bottomless pit."

After dinner they finished packing up her stuff. Once making sure everything was ready for the movers, they climbed into bed, made love and fell asleep. The next morning, Jessica and Dan arrived early. After breakfast and last minute instructions, Kassidy and Jess left in her car. Over the past two weeks, Jessica and Kassidy had developed a pattern of working out together at a local gym. It was Saturday and a regular workout day so the photographers outside didn't think twice about Kassidy carrying her duffel bag out to the car. None of the photographers bothered Following them, because they weren't about to miss out on an opportunity to photograph Nick Carter.

A half-hour later, the guys came out carrying their bags and Nick was dribbling a basketball. He ignored the camera's going off as he quickly got into Dan's car. They headed to the gym and the photographers followed this time. They had gotten their pictures of Nick at the house, now they wanted a picture of the couple. They camped out in front of the fitness center, because the center's security would not let them inside. Funny, they never noticed Kassidy's car was not in front of the building.

Dan and Nick walked in with their bags to find Kassidy pacing in front of the juice bar and Jessica chewing her nails. She had never been a good sneak. Dan pulled her hand from her mouth and kissed her. The owner of the center took Nick's bag and disappeared. He was putting the bag in the car and making sure none of the reporters had figured out what they were doing. He came back in saying the coast was clear. Kassidy and Jessica cried when they said goodbye. Nick and Kassidy thanked the couple and owner for their help.

They were out the backdoor and an hour down the road before the photographers realized they were gone.

After Jessica and Dan left the center, one of the media guys went inside and "bribed" the owner for information. He said the couple had talked about going to Cheekwood Botanical Gardens and Mansion. Cheekwood had walking trails and beautiful gardens. The mansion had been turned into an art museum. He gave the photographer directions. Of course the directions took them way out of their way.

Once at Cheekwood, they scoured the grounds and mansion. As a last resort, they stopped in the gift shop. The person at the register looked at the pictures they showed her and told them she remembered seeing the couple. She asked them if they checked Opry Mills, the biggest mall in town? Again they were given directions that took them the long way. What they didn't know was the lady at the gift shop was a member of Kassidy's church and a very close friend. Technically, she didn't lie, because she didn't say when she had the last seen the couple, but when she had they did talk about going to Opry Mills.

The photographers wandered around the huge mall for an hour before finally giving up and heading back to Kassidy's house.

The reason for the wild goose chase became apparent as soon as they pulled up to the house. There was a moving van pulled up to the front door. They were momentarily puzzled when they saw things being carried into the house. Jessica and Dan appeared around the back of the truck. Questions were immediately fired at them. Dan held up a hand to silence them.

"I know you are all wondering what's going on. My fiancée will read you statement from Kassidy."

Jessica read, "Hey guys, its Kassidy. I know you are wondering what the heck happened. Some of you may be figuring it out, but I will explain anyway. I made a promise to you that I would not try to lose you when I was out in public. I broke that promise today with good reason. Hopefully by now, my friends are moving into the house. That's right moving in, because they are now the prouder owners. Congratulate them! I pulled a sneak play on you. I won't give you all the details, but suffice it to say with the help of friends Nick and I are on our way home. To our new home that is. Also with the help of the aforementioned friends we manufactured enough time for the movers to come in and load up my stuff. They are also on their way to our new home. I'm sorry that I pulled a fast one on you, but any move is stressful, then add you guys and it's much worse. I wanted to move out quietly. And with your help we did, because if you hadn't followed us this morning and then went looking for us we would have had so much commotion here. Finally, I want thank you for playing by my rules the last few weeks. You could have made it unbearable and you didn't. You were only a small pain. Laugh, cause you know you are! Anyway, go home and get some rest. I'm sure I will run into all of you again. Take care until then, Kassidy Rivers." "So now ladies and gentlemen if you don't mind we are going to finish moving into our new home," stated Dan.

The reporters watched them walk back around the truck and into the house. They began to pack up their equipment and go home. For the most part they grudgingly admitted they liked Kassidy Rivers and her spunk.