Nick walked up to the very familiar door. He knocked twice before a 16-year-old answered.
"Hey kid, what's up?" He asked her walking in the huge house.
"Hey Nick. Nothing really except I made the basketball varsity team!" The proud sophomore beamed.
"Really?! That's so great Tara!" Nick said giving her a hug. "I guess the practicing we did paid off."
"You bet it did! Hey Emily's upstairs." Tara told him speaking of her 18-year-old sister.
Nick nodded and made his way to Emily's room. He knocked and entered. He found Emily sitting on the floor with boxes around her looking at a picture frame. She didn't even acknowledge Nick until he sat next to her sating 'hi'.
"Oh hey. I didn't hear you." She said with no emotion.
Nick looked at the picture and immediately understood why she was being so distant. "How long has it been?"
"Two years." She replied. She could feel the tears coming but tried hard to hold them back. "I still don't understand how I've gotten this far without my own parents." She said through clenched teeth. "That car accident took their lives and almost Tara too. I don't know what I would've done if I lost Tara also. I would be all alone."
Nick looked at her sad face and placed his hand under her chin and lifted it to look in his girlfriend's eyes. "You're never alone. I've been here for you since we were 4. I've been here since we started dating 3 years ago. I'll always be here for you."
"It's just so unfair!" She screamed standing up. "It's all my fault! I was the one that asked them to go to the grocery store after Tara's school play. If only I didn't ask them to do that they'd still be here today! It's my fault my dad won't walk Tara and I down the aisle. It's my fault that my mom will never give us her advice or never see her grandchildren! It's all my fault! And Tara's been paying for it too. I can't believe what I've done." She cried.
Nick stood up and enveloped her in a war hug. "It's not your fault. If only they had left the play a few minutes later, if only they took a different route home, if only that drunk driver hadn't been driving that night, if only he would have stayed home, if only the school play was rescheduled for another night. Do you see how many 'if onlys' there are? Do you realize that a million things could have prevented this from happening? It's not your fault. Don't you ever blame yourself." He said and backed away a little to look at her face.
"Nick I don't know where I would be without you. You have held me together this whole time. When Tara and I had to move in with my aunt and uncle for those 2 long years. I finally got full custody of Tara and inherited the house and everything. You've been there for Tara and I throughout everything. My appreciation is more than words can say. I love you so much." She said and hugged him.
"I love you too honey. I always will." He replied and stroked her chestnut brown hair.
Emily was the love of Nick's life. And Nick was the love of Emily's life. They had been a steady couple for the 3 wonderful years. they hardly ever fought and were teased by the other BSB and Emily's closest friends by being the 'perfect couple'. They didn't mind that sort of attention at all. They loved each other very much. And couldn't see their futures without being together. When Tara and Emily's parents died in the car accident Emily was inconsolable. With the help of Nick, Emily eventually got back on her feet and attended her last year of high school. She had enough credits to graduate in her junior year. Tara and Emily had to live with their aunt and uncle in Orlando. When Emily turned 18 she took custody of Tara and moved back into their home.
"Now stop crying ok." Nick said to her. He hated seeing her cry. It was like a stab in the his heart. It actually made him want to cry. And if he could he'd take all the pain away from her. He'd do anything for her just to see her smile.
They broke apart and Emily took the picture. She placed it on her bedside. How young Tara and her looked. They were celebrating their parent's 20 year anniversary on a cruise ship. It was the summer before the car accident. Emily was about 16 and Tara was only 12. Nick had come with them on the cruise but he was the one who took the picture. Her parents loved Nick like he was their own son. And treated him like it too.
"C'mon let's go out." Nick said trying to get Emily in a better mood.
"Nick we just moved back here last week. I still have to unpack." Emily said looking at the boxes in her room.
"Worry about that later. Let's go out. What's Tara doing today?" He asked.
"She's hanging out with her friends at the mall. And spending the night at her friend's place. Where are we going?"
"Why only the happiest place on earth! Disney World!" He said with a grin.
Emily smirked and said, "I could use some happiness right now." She smiled.
"There's that beautiful smile I love to see. Now go get ready and I'll wait for you downstairs." He told her. She agreed and he went in the family room downstairs. He turned on the TV and picked up the phone. He dialed his phone number to his place which he shared with the other BSB.
"Hello." An all-to familiar voice answered.
"Rok. It's me. It's going to happen man. Tonight."
"Really?" He asked shocked. "Are you sure she's ready? Are you sure you're ready?" He questioned his best friend.
"Oh yeah. I've been ready since I first saw her. This is it man." He said excitedly. Not too loud so Emily wouldn't hear. Tara had already left. "I hope she....you know....agrees."
I think she will. Wow little Nicky! You're growing up!" Brian said happy for his friend. He called to the other guys who were in the same room as Brian, "Nick's gonna go through with it guys!" He said. Loud whoops and cheers and 'go Nick' could be heard.
Nick laughed a little. "Well we're gonna go soon. I'll talk to you later."
"Alright man. Hey good luck." Brian told him before hanging up. A few minutes later Emily came bounding down the stairs in khaki shorts and a white two-finger tank top with Adidas sneakers on. "Ready my love?"
"Yup. Let's go!" She replied excitedly. They rode in Nick's Mercedes for the hour long drive.
"God I can't remember the last time I've been here." Emily said as they entered Magic Kingdom. "C'mon let's go on Space Mountain. She said grabbing his hand.
They walked through the crowds, determined to go on as many rides as possible. Around lunch time they headed to Epcot and ate in 'France' by the artificial Eiffel Tower. They headed toward MGM in the afternoon and at nighttime they headed back to Magic Kingdom.
"Nick do you know how stupid we look!" Emily said speaking of the Mad Hatter hats they had just bought and had on.
"I think it makes you look sexy." He replied with a devilish grin.
"God you are so weird!" She said and playfully hit him. "But I love you anyway."
"I love you too. Promise me something Emily." He said sincerely and seriously.
"Anything Nick." She replied unaware of what he was going to ask her to promise.
"Promise me you'll never leave me."
Relieved Emily said in a serious tone "I promise you. And you promise you'll never leave me, right?"
"Never in a million years." He gave her a soft kiss on the lips and they got ready to watch the fireworks. Nick had his arms around Emily's shoulders from the back. And they watched the beautiful, colorful fireworks erupt in the sky.
"It's so beautiful." Emily said. "I haven't seen fireworks in a while." She said as another firework went in the sky. But this one was different. "Nick look at that! Isn't it sweet? Someone named Nick is asking someone named Emily to marry him." Emily gasped after a second then turned to Nick. "Ohmigod. I'm Emily. And you're Nick." She said as though she had just met him.
Nick smiled a little. Nervously he said, "Emily. I love you with all my heart. And I would love for you to be my wife." He said opening a black velvet box to reveal a beautiful diamond ring on a gold band. "Will you marry me?"
Emily gasped at the site of the beautiful stone. She came back to reality and replied "Yes I'll marry you." She said with a huge smile. Nick gave her a big hug and a passionate kiss. He then placed the ring on her finger. "Let's do it!"
"What?" He asked confused.
"Get married silly! Let's get married now!"
"This isn't Las Vegas sweetie."
"Come on. My neighbor! He's a minister. He loves me, he'll do it. C'mon!" She said dragging him out of the park.
"Emmy." Nick said calling her by her nickname. "What's the rush? Don't you want a big beautiful wedding?"
"No. I don't care about all that crap. All I want is to be married to you. And the sooner the better!" She gushed.
The 2 headed to the Minister's house. Even though he was awaken at 11 at night he was happy to marry the young couple. And by 11:30pm, September 16, 1999 Emily Evans and Nick Carter were an official married couple.
"Hey guys. I'm home." Nick called out walking in the huge house he shared the guys.
"Nick! Where have you been the last 2 days?" Brian asked walking in the foyer to greet Nick.
"You called saying you were gonna go for it 2 days ago and we haven't seen you since!" Brian said with a little anger in his voice. "NICK'S HERE!" He yelled to the others. They all came in the foyer.
"Wow you were all worried?" Nick asked. "I feel so loved." He said making his way in the kitchen.
"Well c'mon Nick what did she say?!" Howie asked right to the point.
"We've been waiting forever to find out!" Kevin and AJ added.
"Guys you are looking at a married man." Nick said proudly.
The guys looked confused. "Married?" AJ asked. "Don't you mean engaged?"
"Nope. I mean married." He held out his hand to show the gold band with diamonds on it as well. "We picked it out yesterday. Emily didn't want a plain old band so we got diamonds."
"Wow Nick! Congratulations." Brian said giving him a hug followed by the other guys.
"I'm moving out soon. To live with Emily and Tara. And-" Nick was cut off by the sound of a crash. "Ok what was that?"
"Sounded like it was from outside." Kevin said and went to the front door. he opened it and saw a car crashed into a tree a couple hundred feet away. "Holy shit. Someone call an ambulance." Howie went for the cordless.
"Omigod!" Nick yelled and ran as fast as his legs could take him toward the car. The guys followed (Howie on the phone) confused. "Holy shit!" He said and looked through the window of the car to see his bleeding injured wife moaning in pain. "Emily! Emmy! Emmy baby please say something!" He reached his hand in the car through the opened window and touched her face. "Emily!!!" He yelled.
Emily groaned in pain and opened her eyes. "Ohh Nick! It hurts! Baby it hurts please help me!"
"We're on it Em just hang in there." He said to her. He tried to keep her talking until the ambulance arrived. He kept telling her how everything would be OK, that he loved her, that their new life together was beginning and she was going to be fine. That's what he kept telling her. But he wasn't 100% sure he was telling the truth.....
Nick ran his fingers over the marble tombstone one more time before standing up. The funeral had ended and everyone was leaving. Emily's family and closest friends came and mourned her death. Along with all the BSB and some of their parents.
"Hey Nick. "Brian said. "You ready to go?" He asked him.
"I'm going to stay here a little longer. I'll be fine."
"Are you sure?" Brian asked just to make sure.
"I'm fine. I'll see you at the house." Nick reassured him and Brian walked off with the guys.
Tara came by Nick in her long black skirt, and her black cardigan. "I'm so sorry Nick."
"Tara. Sweetie, I'm the one that's sorry. You have no one left. I feel horrible."
"It's not your fault. And I'll be ok. Don't worry about me. It's back with Aunt Karen and Uncle Paul for me. Keep in touch big brother."
"Definitely." He said and gave her a hug as she left.
Nick was the only one left in the small cemetery. He began talking, "Emily I'm sorry. I wish you were still here. And I miss you so much."
"Nick." He jumped at the sound of his name. 'It couldn't be...' he thought. He turned around and almost fainted at who was in front of him.
"Emmy." He said.
"Hi sweetie." She said walking toward him.
"Whoa. Hold on....you're....."
"Dead." She finished. "Yeah I know. But I have some unfinished business. Emily Carter. Such a beautiful ring to it."
"Emily. I love you so much and I miss you."
"I know. And I love and miss you too. But you have to deal and move on."
"No, no." He said shaking his head. "I can't. You're my wife Emily and I can't see my life without you."
"Nick you have to. I'm so sorry we won't have a married life together. I'm so sorry we won't have kids together. I'm so sorry we won't spend the rest of our lives together. I'm sorry. But that's life. And life can be unfair at times. And we have to accept it no matter how much we don't want to. I'll always love you."
"I'll always love you too Em." he choked. He went to give her a hug. She gave him a kiss. "Let me go with you." He pleaded.
"No. You can't come with me. You have a long life ahead of you."
"It means nothing if you're not with me. Life without you is worthless. You promised you'd never leave me. Don't you get it Emily? I can't live without you." He said with tears. "It's too painful waking up and not seeing you next to me. Not being able to hear your beautiful voice. Not being able to hold you in my arms. Not being able to show my love for you. It hurts so much and I can't go on without you." He said while he sobbed. "I need you Emily. You're my other half. Without you nothing to me matters. Music, fans, it doesn't matter without you."
"Nick please stop. You're making this so hard." Emily told him also tears streaming down her face.
"It's the truth Emily."
"I know this isn't going to be easy. I'm sorry I broke my promise. I'm sorry. But I can't do anything about it. I love you so much that I'm willing to let you move on. Don't you for one minute turn down a girl because of me. Because I understand. Go on with your life. Please Nick. Promise me you'll move on and have a beautiful life. But never forget me." She choked out. "I'll always be with you in your heart. I'll look over you. And whenever you feel a little push it'll be me. Pushing you to do the right thing. To move on with your life. So right now, make a new promise to me. Promise me you'll move on and never forget me."
Nick shook his head and cried. But choked out, "I promise." He said. "And I could never forget you."
"I have to go soon. Tell Tara that I love her and I'll be watching over her. And that I'm fine. I have one more request."
"What's that?" He asked.
"Will you sing me a song?" She asked.
"Of course." he held her close and began singing "End of The Road" by Boyz II Men.
"Although we've come to the end of the road. Still I can't let go. It's unnatural. You belong to me, I belong to you."
He finished singing the meaningful song and let go of Emily. "That was so beautiful." She said.
"Remember I'll always be with you and I'll always love you."
"I'll always love you too. Thank you for loving me." He gave her a passionate kiss while tears streamed down both their faces. They knew that this was the end. That this would be the last kiss they would share together. And they never wanted the moment to end. Memories of their past flashed in their heads. Since they were 4 up until when they exchanged their vows.
They broke away and looked at each other once more before Emily turned and walked into thin air. Out of Nick's life. For good.
Nick thought about his encounter with her and thought about what she said. "Move on." He repeated to no one. "I don't know if I can." He said aloud. He felt a gentle push and smiled. "I love you Em. And I can do this."