That night, Billie and Brian's engagement party was a success. It was a pretty small affair, only close friends and family were invited. It was mainly Brian and Billie's immediate family, the Backstreet Boys, Jamie, Danielle, William, a few of Brian's close friends, Nick's family, some of Howie's family and AJ's mum. So basically, they were all squeezed into the huge dining room in Brian's huge house.
"Ok everyone, here's my speech," said Brian as he stood up confidently. He knew everyone pretty well, even Billie's parents. The only exceptions were Danielle, William and Jamie, although he had met her before. "All of you, my close friends and loved ones, are here to celebrate my, well, our engagement." Brian gave a loving look to Billie. "I knew Billie was someone special the very first moment I saw her. I just wanna let her know I love you with all my heart. I am very happy right now. I'd like to thank all of you for supporting me, us. Mom and Dad, thanks for being here to share this happy occasion with me. Harry, for making it here, despite complications. The other Backstreet Boys who have become some of my closest friends and a family to me away from home. Thank you for supporting and helping me in everything I've wanted to do. And last but not least, thanks to Billie, for agreeing to marry me," finished Brian as he ended with a loving gaze into his fiancee's eyes. She was so taken that, when she stood up to make her speech, she planted a quick, but sweet kiss on Brian's lips.
"Thanks Bri. I love you," whispered Billie sweetly into his ears. "Ok, here goes nothing. First of all, thank you Jamie for dragging me horse riding that day I met Brian."
"I told you you'd love it," answered Jamie, who then let her continue.
"And you were right. I don't know if all of you know how we met. It was roughly 2 and a half years ago, horse riding. I was on a runaway horse, and Brian was my knight in shining armor. Thank you Brian, for saving me that day. From then onwards, the rest is history. Thank you Mum and Dad, and even Tommy (her teenage brother) for supporting me with this and putting up with me when I was never there."
"You're welcome, even though let it be known ,I just wanted the house to myself," laughed Tommy.
"If I can continue... Also thanks to the BSB for welcoming me and being so nice. I owe you guys. Um, Jamie again, for moral support over the years, and for paying some of those phone bills. And obviously, Brian whom I hope I will spend many happy years with," finished Billie.
"Nick, my best man, you're supposed to give a speech," said Brian who urged him to go on.
"What? You never even warned me," said Nick who reluctantly stood up and thought quickly. "Ok, I've known Brian for.." Nick thought for a while, "round about 8 years. He's been a great friend, my best pal actually. Um, we always knew he'd be the first to get married, and this shows how well we knew him. The first time I met Brian, I was only 13, and he was like 16 or 17 or something. I remember, he had the thickest southern accent you could possibly imagine. And, we were buddies from the first time we met. We instantly clicked. Now, thank God his accent has thinned out. I've also now known Billie for quite some time now, and she's a really good person, and she makes Brian very happy. So, they deserve each other because I've never seen either of them happier without their other half. So Brian and Billie, I wish you all the best," ended Nick.
"Thanks man," thanked Brian.
"Jamie," called Billie and Jamie stood up.
"Even though Billie, I haven't seen you in the flesh for ages, I still consider you my best friend. I've known you almost all my life, since I was like 4. You've been very good to me, your friendship is very important to me. I know you'll be happy with Brian. And I knew from the first time I talked to you, after you met him, you were a goner. Brian, I don't know you all that well, but from what I've heard about you, I know you'll treat my best friend right. And I know for a fact, she loves you very much. Ok, that's it. I propose a toast to the happy couple." She lifted her wine glass up and stood up. The rest of the people on the table followed, even William held his plastic cup of milk into the air.
"To Brian and Billie, we wish you all the best." And then, glasses clanged together all across the table.
Billie finally placed her suspicions. She knew who William reminded her off, and it wasn't Jamie.
"Jamie, we have to have a long talk. You've gotta explain some heavy stuff here." said Billie in all seriousness. It was only the 2 off them, sitting in the kitchen, over mugs of hot coffee.
"I know. I'm sorry for not telling you. It's just that, that.." her voice trailed off.
"Nick's his father, isn't he?" asked Billie directly. She was all in all a very direct person. She also saw the way Nick looked uncomfortably at Jamie and William at first.
"How the hell did you know?" asked Jamie. She had hoped no one could see the similarity.
"It's so obvious. He's got exactly the same color hair and eyes, but the rest of him looks like you."
"Yeah, the bad bits."
"You still haven't explained anything."
"Ok, here's the really, really, abbreviated short version." She took a deep breath. "That night you met Brian, I was at the stables worrying my head off, and along comes Nick, looking for Brian. One thing lead to another, and we slept together that night. Then, we both knew it was a mistake, and agreed to forget the whole thing. Even though the doctor had mentioned something about a faulty condom, nevertheless, William was conceived. Then, my parents abandoned me. But my mom, you know, my mom, she paid for the rest of college and then I moved in with Danielle. So, William was basically the reason I moved, because I had nowhere else to go. Then William was born, and I loved him from the day I first set eyes on him. I couldn't tell you, or you'd tell Nick and then there would be some crazy shit going on." Jamie took another breath in relief. "There, you have it. Still mad at me?"
"A little, but I can't stay mad at you. After one look at William, your forgiven. Maybe, he can be a page boy or something."
"Guess what, I named him? William Brian. William after you, y'know, Bill, William. Then, Brian after, well, Brian ,because you guys was what caused him to be."
"Really, aw, that's so sweet." And she gave Jamie a hug.
"But, you won't tell anyone, right?" asked Jamie.
Everyone else, I can promise, but Brian, I can't guarantee anything. I can't lie to him, Jamie."
"Just make sure he keeps his mouth shut."