"Mel . . . you got the mail this morning, right?" Nick asked as he walked into the living room, a frown creasing his forehead as he read a folded piece of paper.

Looking up from the coloring book Mackenzie and Sebastian were sharing, she nodded before standing up. "I'll be right back, kids . . ." She walked over and then led Nick to the kitchen. Sitting down at the table she placed her hand on top of his and whispered, "What's wrong?"

"I'm worried . . . I got this in the mail . . ." He handed her the paper in his hands and started to chew his lower lip.

Curiously, she started to read the small, typed printing . . .

Dear Nick, Hello. I just wanted to let you know that I am your biggest fan. I love you. And I mean that I love you. You are my life. Once you realize the mistake you made, we will be together. I know it. Your wife will be easy to get rid of, you know? It's the kids that will be a problem. But then we'll be together. We'll be together forever. Just you and me. That's why I follow you wherever you go. So I can know when she's out of the picture. I love you, Nick. And I mean that. I truly love you with all my heart until my dying day and even after that. I will write to you again soon. Love, Your Secret Admirer

Melissa's eyes flew up to meet Nick's. "You don't think . . . "

"Mel . . . someone has been folowing me recently. That's why security keeps getting tighter around here and on tour. This just proves how crazy she is, I guess." He ran his fingers through his hair until it stood up at every angle.

"Nick, don't do that . . . you look like a crazy person." She reached over and smoothed the sides so his hair didn't stick out over his ears.

Scowling, he looked up at her and said, "I just don't want some crazy fan hurting you or the kids."

With a sigh she nodded and stood up. She walked over to the entrance from the kitchen to the living room and watched as the two children amused themselves. Mackenzie sat indian style on the carpet with her crayons in a straight line beside her as she carefully colored her page in the book while Sebastians sprawled form laid beside her, some of his crayons next the the book, a few scattered on top of the page and a couple under the sofa behind him. Both of their blond heads were bent, Mackenzie's curls restrained by pigtails today and Sebastians locked sticking up like his father's today instead of their usual smooth sweep onto his forehead. "He tries so much to be like you . . ." she murmured over her shoulder as Nick walked up behind her. His arms snaked around her waist as they stood and quietly watched the two kids.

"I know . . . the other day he asked me over the phone if he can be a Backstreet Boy when he grows up, too."

"They both adore you . . . you know that, right?" She looked up at him with a faint smile.

"I know . . . they don't exactly let me forget." He grinned down at her before leaning close to steal a kiss.

"KISSY KISSY!!!!" came the sudden squeal from the living room. Nick and Melissa broke apart to see that Sebastian was no longer absorbed in a simple coloring book.

"Bastian, behave," Mackenzie's pert little voice broke into the boy's giggling. "Mommy and Daddy are in love and they can kiss whenever they want to. Right, Daddy?" Her green eyes lifted from the page to look up at him with the pure innocence that can only be found in a child.

Nick smiled at her and said, "That's right, Munchkin . . ."

Nick stood silently by the sliding glass doors that led to the back deck. The night sky was a dark, velvety purple . . . almost blending in with the calm water of the bay. He loved the veiw out the back of the house . . . except the gate the cut between him and the water. It circled the whole house, dividing their property and the beach. He could always go through the locked door and venture onto the sand . . . but he still felt trapped. He would always be like a caged animal . . .

"Nick? What are you doing up? It's 4 in the morning . . . " Melissa's groggy voice came from behind him.

"I couldn't sleep . . ." he replied softly, turning to look at her. His bath robe was dragging on the floor behind her and her hair was a tangled mess aroudn her face . . . but the blue and silver light of the moon made her look like an angel. "And why are you up? It's 4 in the morning you know . . . " The side of his mouth pulled up in a lopsided grin as he looked at her.

"I woke up from a dream and realized you were gone . . ." She lowered her eyes and began to chew her lower lip.

"What kind of dream?" His playful mood vanished into worry as he saw her expression.

"A bad one . . . that girl - the one with the letters - she came after me. She didn't have a face . . . or at least it was blurred . . . but I couldn't move. Even as she attacked me. No matter how hard I tried, I couldn't move. I was so scared . . . I wanted to scream out to you . . . to anybody . . . but I was paralyzed . . ." The tears running down her cheeks turned to liquid silver in the light of the moon but were soon sheilded from the gentle rays by Nick's shadow as he approached her. His arms were warm and comforting as he pulled her against him and tried to sooth away the fear.

"Hush, baby . . . it's alright. I'm not going to let anything happen to you . . . never. Not without one hell of a fight."

"But how can you fight when you don't even know who you're fighting?"

"I'll find out . . . I promise you I will."