Chapter 25

Nick stood there looking at the kitchen doorway. He sat down and thought about everything. He went upstairs and saw Hayley folding clothes.

      “You kissed Kevin, two weeks ago, and you are just now telling me,” Nick said.

      “I thought it was the right time to tell you, I didn’t know that you would be kissing Mandy, when I saw you kissing her, I figured I should come clean about kissing Kevin, Nick, all we did was kiss, nothing else, I haven’t slept with anyone else, just you,” Hayley said.

      “I can’t believe this!” Nick said. He sat down.

      “I’m sorry, but I think we are even now,” Hayley said. Nick looked at her.

      “Do you have feelings for him?” Nick asked.

      “Yes, but I’m not acting on them, I meant it when I said I wanted to marry you, if I wanted to be with him, I wouldn’t have accepted your proposal,” Hayley said.

      “I don’t know about this, I may have kissed my ex-girlfriend, but you kissed my older brother, my bandmate, I think we should call it quits for now,” Nick said. Hayley looked at him. She grabbed a bag and packed some clothes and looked at him.

      “Fine, I’m out of here, goodbye,” Hayley said. She went out the door and left and went to her old house. She locked up and called Leighanne and told her what happened.

Three days later, the guys gathered at Tabu. Leighanne came in with Hayley. Hayley saw Nick sitting with Brian, AJ, Howie, and Kevin. Nick looked up and saw her and looked away. Leighanne and Hayley sat at another table.

      “Aren’t you going to sit with Brian?” Hayley asked.

      “Nah, he understands, I told him I was hanging with you here, he said he didn’t mind because he’ll get to see me,” Leighanne said. Brian came over and kissed Leighanne and hugged Hayley.

      “How are you, Hayley,” Brian said.

      “I’m okay, just hanging in there,” Hayley said. Brian nodded and he kissed Leighanne again and went over and sat with the guys. Hayley felt eyes on her. She looked at Leighanne.

      “Who is looking at me?” Hayley asked.

      “Nick,” Leighanne said. They heard someone tap the microphone.

      “Ladies and gentlemen, tonight is the first ever dedication night, where anyone can come up and dedicate a song to their special person, they will have to sing it, it won’t be special any way else, you can pick any song, pop, rock, country, latin, etc., we did have someone call in and tell us they are going to sing a song to someone special to them, so let’s hear it for Hayley Hardin!” John said. Leighanne hugged Hayley as she went up to the stage.

      “Hayley hails from Missouri, she’s lived down here for a long time now, everyone knows the Backstreet Boys are in the house tonight, Howie is my brother, after all, Hayley is AJ’s, Kevin’s, Brian’s, and Howie’s best friend, and I think she was engaged to Nick, but I think that has ended, right,” John said. Hayley nodded. She whispered something in his ear. 

      “The song that Hayley is singing tonight is Breathe, from Faith Hill, and it is dedicated to her true love, and he is here tonight,” John said.

Nick looked up and looked at the guys.

      “What, who is her true love?” Nick asked.

      “Who do you think?” Howie said. Nick looked at Hayley as the song started. She started singing and stared at him like she was singing it to him. After she was done, she went and sat down with Leighanne.

Brian and Kevin looked at Nick. He just sat there staring at the table. He got up and went over and took Hayley’s hand and pulled her to Howie’s office and closed the door and locked it and pushed her against the door. He kissed her deeply. She pulled him closer.

      “I love you so much, please come home, I need you tonight, I need you in my life,” Nick said kissing her neck.

      “My stuff is in the car,” Hayley said. Nick smiled and kissed her hungrily.

      “Let’s go home, I want to make love to you,” Nick said. They went out and told everyone they were leaving and went to his house and brought her stuff in and locked the house up and went upstairs and collapsed on the bed, kissing. They removed each other’s clothes and made love. Afterwards, they held each other.

      “You are my true love, Nicky, no one else, you have my heart,” Hayley said.

      “And you have mine,” Nick said.

      “I don’t ever want to be away from you,” Hayley said.

      “Same here, baby, the last three days were hell, I never want there to be a day without you, I love you,” Nick said kissing her forehead.

      “I love you, too,” Hayley said. They cuddled close and went to sleep holding each other.

Chapter 26

Three months went by. It was Nick and Hayley’s wedding day. Hayley and Leighanne were in the bride’s room getting ready.

      “I can’t believe it, I’m going to be Mrs. Nickolas Gene Carter today, I am going to marry the man I love more than anything in the world and want to be with forever, I never want to be apart from him,” Hayley said.

      “You won’t have to be apart from him, you two are getting married, you two are going to be husband and wife,” Leighanne said.

      “How do you and Brian do it?” Hayley asked.

      “Well, we take things one day at a time, but it’s like dating only we are together every day and night and I have his last name and a marriage license,” Leighanne said.

      “Marriage license!” Hayley said covering her face. Leighanne looked at her.

      “You don’t have a marriage license?” Leighanne said.

      “I was so busy planning the wedding that I forgot about that, I am sure Nick did too,” Hayley said. Leighanne ran to the groom’s room and knocked on the door. Kevin opened it and she ran in and saw the guys sitting around.

      “Nick, did you get a marriage license?” Leighanne said.

      “Yes, I did,” Nick said.

      “Everything is taken care of, all they have to do now is get married,” Brian said.

      “Thank god, Hayley was freaking out,” Leighanne said. She went back to the bride’s room and smiled and sat down.

      “Well?” Hayley asked.

      “Nick got it, all you have to do is get married,” Leighanne said.

      “Is it time?” Hayley asked.

      “Not yet,” Leighanne said. There was a knock at the door. Leighanne opened it and saw Kevin standing there.

      “Hey Leigh, can I talk to Hayley alone for a sec,” Kevin said. Leighanne nodded and went out the door. Kevin came in and closed the door.

      “You okay now?” Kevin asked.

      “Yeah, I completely forgot about that marriage license, I just wanted today to be perfect and something that me and Nick will remember,” Hayley said.  She stood in front of the mirror and checked her dress and vail.

      “You look beautiful, Hayley, Nick will be more in love with you than ever when he sees you,” Kevin said.

      “I hope so, god, I love him so much, it will kill me to be without him,” Hayley said.

      “You won’t be because you two are going to be together forever,” Kevin said.

      “I never want to be away from him, he’s my first everything, he’s my true love, I know he’s my soulmate,” Hayley said.

      “I just wish Kristin was here,” Kevin said.

      “I know, me, too,” Hayley said.

      “I want to move on so badly, but I can’t find the right girl,” Kevin said. Hayley smiled.

      “I think I know one,” Hayley said. She made a phone call.

      “My old best friend, Cheryl, will be coming to the reception,” Hayley said.

      “Does she know me, I mean, has she heard of me?” Kevin asked.

      “Yes, she has, she and I went to the concerts all the time, she’s living in Orlando now, you are her favorite Backstreet Boy but she thinks of you as Kevin Richardson, not Kevin Backstreet, she respects your private life and she was upset when you and Kris got married, but she realized you were happy and she wanted you to be happy,” Hayley said.

      “I can’t wait to meet her,” Kevin said.

      “Kev, she’ll be perfect for you, I know she will, the one thing that me and her have in common is our music,” Hayley said. Kevin hugged her.

Chapter 27

Nick sat there in the groom’s room thinking about everything. Kevin came in and smiled at Nick.

      “I have a date!” Kevin said.

      “A date, cuz, with who?” Brian asked.

      “Hayley’s old best friend, Cheryl, she’s coming to the wedding reception, Hayley said she’ll be perfect for me,” Kevin said sitting down

      “Are you over your feelings for Hayley?” Nick asked. Kevin looked at him.

      “Yes, I am, Nick, I want to move on with my life, okay, I think from what Hayley said, Cheryl might be able to help me do that,” Kevin said. Nick nodded and sat back and closed his eyes.

      “Kaos, what’s wrong,” AJ said.

      “I don’t know, nerves, I guess,” Nick said.

      “There is nothing to be nervous about, Frack, Hayley is crazy about you, she loves you more than anything in the world and would die without you, you two are going to be together forever,” Brian said.

      “I know,” Nick said.

      “Nick, what’s wrong,” Kevin said.

      “Nothing, is it time yet?” Nick asked.

      “Nick, come on, man,” Kevin said.

      “Does she really want to marry me?” Nick asked.

      “More than anything, you are her true love, her soulmate, she put this wedding together to have something you two can remember, that you guys had a beautiful wedding,” Kevin said. Nick nodded.

An hour later, the wedding had begun. Nick and Hayley stood at the altar. Hayley said I do and the minister turned to Nick. Nick looked at Hayley and listened to the minister. Nick froze, unable to speak.

      “Nick,” Hayley whispered softly. He looked at her and looked at everyone and looked at the minister and then back at Hayley. She had a worried look on her face. He saw love in her eyes. Brian nudged him. He looked at the guys. They looked at him. He looked back at Hayley.

      “I can’t, I’m sorry,” Nick said. He ran up the aisle and out the door. Hayley just stood there frozen. The crowd was murmuring to themselves. Leighanne helped Hayley to the bride’s room where Hayley fell apart. Kevin and Brian came in and Brian took Hayley into his arms and held her as she cried.

Chapter 28

Hayley laid on her bed in her old house and stared out the window. Brian came in with a glass of water.

      “Here is some water, Hayley,” Brian said. Hayley sat up and took a drink and put it on her nightstand and leaned back.

      “Did AJ and Howie find him?” Hayley asked.

      “Yeah,” Brian said.

      “Why did he walk out?” Hayley asked.

      “He wouldn’t say,” Brian said.

      “Brian, come on,” Hayley said.

      “He said he thought you were just using him for his money, that you just wanted him for what he does,” Brian said.

      “Has the last year mean nothing to him?” Hayley asked. Brian shrugged.

      “I don’t know him anymore, he was crazy to think you don’t love him the way he thought you did, Leigh and I know that you aren’t using him,” Brian said. Hayley laid down and looked out the window. She looked at her hand and saw the ring and took it off. She handed it to Brian.

      “Take that to him, tell him I want nothing to do with him anymore if he’s going to believe that crap, tell him I truly loved him and didn’t think of him as a Backstreet Boy, I thought of him as a normal guy who sings for a living,” Hayley said softly. Brian left and went to Nick’s and went in and saw him lying on the couch. Nick looked at him.

      “Brian,” Nick said.

      “This is for you,” Brian said handing Nick the ring. Nick took it and looked at it and held his head in his hands.

      “I screwed up, didn’t I,” Nick said.

      “Nick, Hayley truly loved you, she didn’t think of you as a Backstreet Boy, she thought of you as a girl who sings for a living, she thought of you as a normal guy, gosh, Nick, she didn’t care what you did, she cared about you, she knew you were happy with what you do, she knew you wouldn’t give it up and she supported that, she truly loved you and wanted to be with you forever, for richer or poorer, through sickness and health, til death do you part, but you had to walk out on her, it’s over, man, she wants nothing to do with you anymore, you totally blew it,” Brian said. He went out the door. Nick laid down on the couch and closed his eyes.

The next day, Nick came back from walking on the beach and found Hayley in the bedroom, packing some stuff in a bag. She looked up and saw him. He stood there looking at her. She finished up and walked past him. He grabbed her arm and she looked at him.

      “Can we talk,” Nick said softly.

      “Why,” Hayley said.

      “Hayley, please,” Nick said. She heard the sadness in his voice and nodded. They went down and sat on the couch. She glared at him.

      “Well, talk,” Hayley said.

      “I know I screwed up, I regret walking out on you, god, Hayley, I wanted to marry you more than anything, I know you aren’t using me for what I do, I don’t know why I thought that, I guess I was scared, any past relationship I had was girls who wanted me for being a Backstreet Boy, no one wanted me for me, Nick Carter, until you, I have realized today that you wanted me for me, I will do anything to get back to where we were, I would give anything to go back to yesterday at our wedding where I would say I do and be married to the love of my life, if I wasn’t so dumb and stupid, we would be on our honeymoon right now, but I ruined that,” Nick said. Hayley looked at him.

      “I think I know the real reason, you didn’t want a church wedding, you wanted a small, intimate beach ceremony, you got nervous at all the family members and friends watching you in church that you couldn’t go through with it,” Hayley said.

      “I just wanted you to be happy, you planned everything, I didn’t want to make you mad, but you are right, I got nervous up there,” Nick said. Hayley took the ring off the table and slid it back on her hand.

      “Nicky, next time, tell me what you really want, don’t hide anything on my account,” Hayley said.

      “Do you forgive me?” Nick asked.

      “I can’t live without you,” Hayley said stroking his cheek.

Chapter 29

Two weeks later, Nick and Hayley stood on the beach with the guys and their immediate families. They stood and listened to the minister.

      “Do you, Nick, take Hayley to be your wife?” he asked. Hayley looked at Nick. He smiled.

      “I do!” Nick said grinning. Hayley smiled. Everyone smiled and relaxed.

      “Do you, Hayley, take Nick to be your husband?” the minister said.

      “Most definitely, I do,” Hayley said. Nick smiled. They exchanged rings and vows.

      “I now pronounce you husband and wife, you may kiss the bride,” the minister said. Nick smiled and cupped Hayley’s face in his hands and kissed her tenderly. Everyone clapped. Nick and Hayley hugged. They hugged their friends and family. They went to the beach reception. After that, Nick and Hayley went on their honeymoon.

Two weeks later, they were back from their honeymoon and enjoying married life. Nick came downstairs and saw Hayley in the kitchen. He wrapped his arms around her and rested his chin on her shoulder.

      “Hey baby,” Nick said kissing her neck.

      “Hey yourself, did you get enough sleep?” Hayley asked leaning back against him.

      “Yup,” Nick said.

      “I love you, Nicky,” Hayley said.

      “I love you, too, baby,” Nick said. They heard the front door open and close and Brian and Leighanne came into the kitchen.

      “Hey newlyweds,” Brian said.

      “Hey Frick,” Nick said.

      “What are you two up to today?” Leighanne asked.

      “Nothing,” Nick said.

      “Good, because Hayley and I are going shopping,” Leighanne said.

      “We are?” Hayley asked confused.

      “Yeah, I’ll tell you on the way,” Leighanne said.

      “I’ll tell while they are gone,” Brian said to Nick.

Hayley kissed Nick while Leighanne kissed Brian and the girls left. Brian sat down with Nick.

      “So what’s up,” Nick said.

      “Nick, I’m going to be a dad!” Brian said.

      “Leighanne’s pregnant?” Nick said.

      “Yup!” Brian said.

      “Congrats, Frick,” Nick said hugging his best friend.

      “Thanks, Frack,” Brian said.

~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~

      “Congrats, girl!” Hayley said grinning.

      “Thanks, we both have wanted to have a family for so long, now it’s finally happening,” Leighanne said.

      “So you want to go shopping for baby stuff,” Hayley said. Leighanne nodded.

      “Starting early,” Leighanne said.

      “That is a good time to start,” Hayley said.

      “So have you and Nick talked about kids?” Leighanne asked. Hayley shook her head.

      “No, we haven’t, god, Leighanne, I want to have Nick’s kids, to have a family with him, to have a life created by our love,” Hayley said.

      “It is amazing, Hayley, to have that feeling inside you, to have a new life growing inside you, it’s just the beginning, but I am feeling Brian’s love inside me,” Leighanne said. They arrived at the mall. They shopped. They were on the way out when the whole mall went crazy. A guy ran through the mall with a gun, chasing another guy. He was shooting the gun at the guy. He kept missing. One shot bounced off and hit Hayley in the chest. She fell to the ground. Leighanne shrieked and knelt down beside Hayley. Police arrived and caught the guy with the gun. An officer came over and helped Leighanne. Paramedics arrived and loaded Hayley up and took her to the hospital. Leighanne followed. She waited in the waiting room. A doctor came out and told her the news. She sat down and covered her face and cried. She called Brian. Ten minutes later, Brian and Nick came running in. They looked at Leighanne. The doctor came out and looked at them.

      “Mr. Carter,” the doctor said.

      “Yes,” Nick said.

      “I’m sorry to say this, we did everything we could, I’m sorry, Mr. Carter, your wife is dead,” the doctor said.

      “No!” Nick cried. Brian ran to Nick and held him as Nick broke down. Kevin, Cheryl, Howie, and AJ ran in. Leighanne told them what happened. They stood there in shock as they watched Nick crying in Brian’s arms.