It was almost two months into the new tour. The Backstreet Boys, and crew, had already been in several cities in Europe. Now they were taking a much needed and deserved three days off before returning to the States for the final two months of the tour. Chris had been devoting herself to helping out with the stage crew whenever possible, avoiding AJ in the process. As much as she missed him, she couldn’t come up with the courage to tell him how sorry she was. Not only that, Chris had caught a cold that was getting worse.

AJ had been busier, too, although he was often overcome by thoughts of Chris, usually at the most inopportune times. He had tried to find the time to go over and talk to her, but with the concerts, interviews, and meet and greets, it was practically impossible. And any free time he had was spent sleeping or practicing. Kevin had tried to stay out of it as long as possible, not bringing Chris up to AJ and vice versa. But one day AJ couldn’t take it any longer, and asked Kevin what he thought he should do.

"Just let her deal with it in her own way," Kevin had offered to AJ. "But be ready to talk when she’s ready. Sometimes little things affect her deeply."

"But this wasn’t a little thing," AJ had responded. "And it’s affecting me a whole hell of a lot."

"I’m not going to say anything about that. But I really think that it’s been too long without you two talking." Kevin sighed. "I actually kinda miss hearing you two argue."

AJ shook his head sadly. "You’re telling me."

A few days after that conversation, AJ was determined to make up with Chris. He had always been creative, and it didn’t take long for him to come up with an idea. The only trouble he would have would be getting Chris to show up.

Emily pulled Chris off the street and into a store.

"What are you doing?" Chris asked, surprised.

"I think we need to spend some money that we don’t have," Emily said. "We haven’t been shopping together since, like, never. So let’s go totally nuts. Besides, it might bring a smile to your face," she added gently.

"Don’t bet on it," Chris replied, coughing. "Ugh! Excuse me."

"No problem. Where do you want to go?"

"Well, we’re here, aren’t we? Why don’t we just look here?"

Emily looked around at the items in the store. "Um, because it’s a tuxedo shop?"

"Oh." Chris followed Emily back outside. "Why not we look in there?" she suggested, pointing to a very classy dress shop across the street.

"Oooh," Emily cooed. "Now that’s where I want to spend my money. Let’s go!" Emily pulled Chris by the arm to the store, stopping in front of the window. Both women dropped their jaws at the dress on display in the window.

"Oh, my," Chris whispered. It was plain navy blue satin covered with a sheer navy fabric, with spaghetti straps made of rhinestones and a V-shaped neckline. Under the lights, Chris could see that there were shiny strands of gold and light green which, as the dress rotated on the mannequin, changed the navy blue to a subtle blue-green. The back was low-cut, but not too low to cause a stir. Chris could imagine the way it would feel against her skin, and the looks she would get from the guys. She looked at Emily to see her reaction.

"That is such a beautiful dress," Emily said.

"I have to try it on," Chris said as she went into the store, Emily behind.

The saleswoman behind the counter looked up from the dress she was altering as they walked in. "May I help you?" she asked in English with a heavy Italian accent.

Chris pointed to the dress in the window. "I’d like to try that dress on, please."

"Of course," the woman said. "You are a size four, no?"

Chris nodded.

"One moment." The woman left Emily and Chris standing in the store, going through a door into a back room Emily looked around.

"What beautiful dresses!" she exclaimed. "They are absolutely fabulous!"

"I don’t know what it is, but something drew me to that dress. I just hope it fits," Chris said.

"I’m sure that if you were drawn to it, you were meant to have it. Besides," Emily said, "if you’re supposed to get it, then we won’t have any problem finding shoes." Chris smiled slightly. Emily jumped and gave Chris a hug. "That’s my girl! It’s been so long since you’ve even attempted to smile!"

"Excuse me, miss." The saleswoman had returned, the dress on a hanger draped over her arm. "Would you like to try it on?"

"Yes, please," Chris said, going over to the woman, who gave her the dress and pointed her to a dressing area. A few moments later, Chris emerged from behind the dressing room curtain. Emily caught her breath. Chris looked absolutely stunning, even with her hair just in a loose French braid and her bare feet.

"You look fabulous," Emily said. The saleswoman nodded in agreement.

"That dress is definitely made for you," she said, coming over to Chris.

"Are you sure? I haven’t even looked in the mirror. I was too excited."

"Well, honey, go ahead and look!" the saleswoman said. As Chris looked in the mirror, she was amazed at how beautiful she looked. She turned around and around in front of the three-way mirrors, the dress gently swishing with her every move, showing off every curve. A true smile, six weeks absent, finally came upon Chris’s face.

"I’ll take it! I don’t care how much it costs! I’ll take it!"

The saleswoman smiled at Chris’s enthusiasm. "This is definitely the easiest sale I’ve had today. Go back and change, and I’ll ring it up for you." Chris lifted up the dress so she could run back to the dressing room. Coincidently, as Chris pulled the curtain closed, Emily’s cell phone ring.

"Emily’s phone," she answered.

"Hey, Em?" a male voice asked.

"Yeah."

"It’s AJ."

"Oh, hey! How are you?"

"I’m super, but I’ll get better. How’s the plan going?"

"No glitches so far. She has this awesome dress. Your jaw is going to go through the floor and your temperature through the roof."

"That’s great. That’s great," AJ said. "It’s fancy then?"

"Yeah. It’s like a prom dress. Why?"

"No reason. I was hoping it would be something expensive because this surprise wouldn’t go over well if I were dressed up and she was wearing a church dress."

"So how’re your preps coming?"

"It’s like 4:00, right? Dinner’s already on and in the stove, and I’m getting ready to rearrange the flowers. I just hope she doesn’t think something’s up."

"I don’t think she will. You’re having it on the balcony of her room, right?"

"That’s assuming it doesn’t rain and you guys don’t come back the back way."

"Don’t worry about it. Uh,oh. She’s coming back. I’ll have her back around six then, okay?"

"Sounds good. Thanks so much, Em. I owe you one."

"If this gets you guys back together, then that’s all you need to owe me." Emily ended the call and put the phone back in her bag. Chris came up to the counter, and handed the dress to the woman, who hung it from a rack behind her and began putting it in a garment bag.

"Who was that?"

"Just Brian checking up on me. You know, it’s a good thing you got that dress. He and Kevin want to take me and you out for dinner tonight."

"No way! Is that why you pulled me out here?" Chris asked.

"Actually, yes. That’s exactly why."

"You lie." Chris said, pulling out her wallet. "How much is it?"

"The dress is five hundred."

"Five hundred? Wow! Okay, uh, do you take Visa?" Chris asked, pulling out her credit card.

"Yes, miss, we do."

"Okay, then. Here you go." Chris handed over her card and shook her head as she signed the slip. "I can’t believe I just spent five hundred dollars on a dress." The saleswoman took the receipt and gave Chris her bag. "Thank you so much."

"Have a good evening."

Chris and Emily walked out of the store and into the sunlight. "Which way to shoes?"

"And jewelry." Emily added.

"And hair. Hey!" Chris thought of something. "Why aren’t you looking for a dress? You’re going, too, right?"

"I am, but I went out yesterday while you were helping out, and the store’s going to deliver it today to the hotel. Hopefully everything’s there."

"What about your hair?"

"I think I want to leave it down. It’ll go better with my dress."

"Oh." The reason seemed legitimate enough. "Well, what do you think I should do with mine?"

"Well..." Emily began. As they conversed over hair, nails, and earrings, they continued to walk down the street. Chris bought a pair of gold high heels and a pair of small silver dangling earrings. She and Emily had debated on whether to get gold or silver, but Chris had said that silver would be better because her ears were closer to the rhinestone straps which would be over her shoulders. Emily agreed, and fifty dollars later, Chris was carrying her earrings.

Emily spotted the salon first, and told Chris that if it was closed, she would do her hair. It wasn’t, and Emily told Chris to wait outside until she checked to see if there was a wait, how much longer, and when they were closing. A few minutes later, Emily came back outside and told Chris to go in.

After showing the stylist the dress, he pointed Chris to the chair, and she sat, removing her braid. Mark, his name was, thought a moment as he considered the length of her hair.

"Perhaps we should cut it a little?" he suggested. When Chris looked at him with horror in her eyes, he laughed. "Perhaps not."

"But don’t you think you should treat yourself?" Emily asked. "I don’t want to pressure you, but maybe a new style would be good for you."

"I’ve had the same hair forever, it seems," Chris thought aloud. "Okay, Mark. I’m putting my hair in your hands. Go for it. But make it easy to style, and able to go with anything. I’d still like to be able to pull it back, though. If that’s not a problem."

"No problem at all," Mark replied, amused, and began to cut. Chris kept her eyes closed the entire time he was cutting. Fifteen minutes later, he informed Chris that he was finished cutting and that she could look before he began to style. She opened her eyes slowly and gasped.

"All my hair’s gone!!" She turned her head this way and that trying to look at it.

"No, it’s not! It’s just shorter, that’s all," Emily said. "It looks good hanging just past your shoulders."

"I’m thinking," Mark said, "of a French twist with several curled strands hanging from the top. What do you think?" He gave a rough impression with Chris’s hair, and she closed her eyes again.

"Go for it."

Twenty minutes it took this time, and when Mark finally finished hairspraying her head, Chris opened her eyes. Not only had he styled it, but whatever products he had used had lightened her hair the slightest bit in places. It looked fabulous, and Chris couldn’t stop reaching up with her hand to touch it. Eventually, Mark swatted her hand away and asked her what she thought.

"What do I think? I think I’d like to have this style hair forever!" Chris exclaimed. "I love it!"

"Since you are a beautiful woman, and you are honest, I will give you this makeover on the house." Mark turned the chair around and removed the apron from Chris’s neck.

"Oh, no! I couldn’t!" Chris said, standing up and reaching for her purse. "I have to give you something!"
"Please, why not give me the satisfaction of changing the life of a beautiful person. I insist." Mark said. Chris looked at Emily who shrugged, then looked back at Mark. On impulse, she gave him a hug.

"Thank you."

"You’re welcome. Now go have fun."

Emily and Chris gathered their things and left the salon. It was 5:30 when Chris looked at her watch. "What time’s dinner?" she asked Emily, who was trying to hail a taxi.

"Six. We’d better get back, showered and changed in a hurry. Finally!" Emily said, opening the door to the backseat of the stopped taxi. "Come on! Let’s go!"

"You certainly seem excited about this dinner," Chris commented.

"Well, Brian and I haven’t had much time together for a while. And I can’t wait to see his reaction when the two most beautiful women in the group come to dinner with him. He’s not going to know which one to put on his arm."

"Although you know for a fact that it’s going to be you," Chris said.

"Yeah, I know," Emily said knowingly. "Hey, when we get back, do you mind changing in my room? I’m going to need help with the zipper in the back."

"Only if you let me shower first. And I promise not to get my hair wet."

"Oh, no problem. Here’s the key. Keep the door unlocked, though, so I can get in later."

"Why later?" Chris asked.

"I have to tell Brian and Kevin that we’re going to be a little late."

"Can’t you call them?"

"I think that’d be stupid considering that we’re here already, don’t you?"

Sure enough, the taxi was in the hotel parking lot. Chris paid the driver as she and Emily exited. They walked into the lobby of the hotel, got into the elevator, and went up to their floor. The rooms were on the fifth floor this time, and as the doors opened, Chris thought she smelled lasagna.

"Don’t tell me that they’ve already eaten," Chris said.

"I don’t think they would," Emily replied. "I know Brian’s been looking forward to this for a long time. At least for today, anyway."

Chris shook her head. "So you don’t mind if I get in first?"

"Not at all. I’ll do what I can at the sink and then I’ll hop in when you’re done."

"Okay." Chris put the key in Emily’s door and went in, hanging up her dress on the closet door. She went into the bathroom and shut the door. Emily waited until she felt it was safe enough to leave, then left her room and went to Brian’s.

She knocked gently on the door before opening it. Brian and Nick were laying on the beds watching television. They both looked up when she came in.

"You’re back!" Brian exclaimed. "How’d it go?"

"It went okay, I think. She may be a bit suspicious, but she hasn’t said anything. You should see her dress. It’s totally awesome. AJ’s gonna fall through the floor." She looked around. "Where is he anyway?"

Nick pointed behind him. "He’s in his room."

"I’m gonna go tell him we’re back, but she’s not ready yet." Emily knocked on the door separating Brian and Nick’s room from AJ and Howie’s. AJ opened it slowly, peeking out. When he saw it was Emily, he gave a sigh of relief and opened the door the rest of the way.

"Wow!" Emily exclaimed. "You look great!"

"Thanks," AJ returned. He was dressed in a pair of black leather pants with a wide silver belt, and a white dress shirt opened over a white tank top. His goatee was neat, as usual, and he was wearing his cross necklace. "Do you think she’ll come back?" he asked, hopefully.

Emily nodded. "I really think she will. You’ve gone through so much, I can’t see how she could turn down. I honestly wouldn’t have expected anything like this unless you were going to marry her."

"He’s working on that," Nick said.

"Shh! Nick! We’re not supposed to know!" Brian said in a loud stage whisper. Emily rolled her eyes.

"I’m guessing that’s the cue," AJ said.

"Yeah. Hey, you’d better get over to her room! She’s gonna be ready soon."

"Oh! Right!" AJ came into Brian’s room and took the room key out of Nick’s raised hand. "Thanks. Wish me luck."

"Good luck," the three chorused. As soon as AJ left, Emily heard a knock on the door between her room and Brian’s.

"Come in!" Brian called.

"I would, but it’s locked," Chris called back. Brian jumped off the bed and raced to the door, beating Emily. He unlocked the door and started to open it, then stopped.

"You’re not going to come in here naked, are you ?"

"Please do," Nick said. Brian gave Nick a "what?!" look.

"No, I just need help with my dress. Is Emily there?"

"Yeah, I’m here," Emily said. "I’ll come right over."

Brian opened the door and Emily went in to zip Chris up.

"Why aren’t you dressed?" Chris asked.

"Don’t worry about it. Brian’s not done yet, either. He’s watching a basketball game."

"Are we still going?"

"Of course. There." Emily patted Chris on the shoulders. "You look fabulous."

"But..."

"But nothing. Although I think you should use that little gold purse you bought in France."

Chris nodded thoughtfully. "You’re right. I’ll go get it."

"Okay. I’ll be in the shower. Just come right back, okay?" Emily walked to the bathroom. Chris turned and went out in the hallway to go to her room. When she went to open the door, she saw that the door was partially opened. Curiously, but cautiously, Chris pushed the door open completely, her breath catching in her throat. What greeted her eyes was the most beautiful sight that she’d ever seen in her entire life.

The suite was lit up with a soft glow from the candles, of which there were at least a hundred. Here and there were vases of white roses; on the floor scattered petals. Chris went over to her dresser and drank in the sweet smell of the roses, her favorite type of flower. She walked across the room to the bed and saw, on her pillow, a long-stemmed red rose. Picking it up, she noticed movement out of the corner of her eye. Chris looked towards the doors to the balcony and saw AJ sitting at the table, which was set up for a dinner for two. Holding her rose, she went out to the balcony. There was a small CD player playing romantic love songs, and Chris could hear the beginning strains of I’ll Never Break Your Heart, and felt tears begin to fill her eyes.

AJ looked up as she came outside. She looks so beautiful, he thought. Please let this go well.

"Did you do this?" Chris asked quietly, looking around.

"All by myself," he replied, getting up and going to stand by her. He could smell her perfume, and the body wash she had used. The dress revealed her slender neck and shoulders, and his fingers ached to touch her.

"It’s beautiful."

"Not as beautiful as you."

Chris turned her head away. "Please don’t do this."

"Don’t what? Don’t tell you how beautiful you are and how I’ve been plagued by nothing but dreams of you? Don’t tell you how much I’ve missed you these past weeks and how badly I wanted to talk to you, to hold you in my arms and tell you over and over that I’m sorry?" AJ reached out and cupped her chin with his hand, turning her head to face him. "Don’t tell you that I love you so much, with everything that I am, and that I’d never be able to go on without you? I’m sorry, Chris, but I can’t do that."

Chris was silent, a single tear running down her cheek. AJ wiped it away with his thumb, and Chris reached up and gripped his hand. "Why did you do this? After I treated you so badly. You didn’t deserve--"

"Yes, I did," AJ interrupted. "I deserved everything you said and did. And I swear to you that it will never happen again, unless it’s what you want. But please, Chris, please. Please forgive me. I’m so sorry."

When Chris didn’t answer again, AJ felt his heart break. But then, she wrapped her arms around his neck and pressed her lips against his. She pulled away, and with a smile said, "I forgive you."

"Really?"

"Really. I can’t believe that you would still want to be with me after everything that I’ve done to you."

"But, baby," AJ said, "the only thing you did to me was good."

Chris started to cry, and AJ held her close, swaying gently on the balcony. "No one’s ever said anything like that to me before." She lifted her face to his. "Will you forgive me, too? I’ve been such an awful person, and you don’t deserve--"

"Chris, I forgave you a long time ago." He let Chris ponder that for a moment, and then he went over to the CD player and turned up the volume. "May I have this dance?" he asked, holding out his hand.

Chris took it, and pressed her body against his. As they swayed to the music, Chris’s heart began its mending, and she reaffirmed the fact that they were two people who were meant to be together.

"Would you look at that!" Kevin exclaimed, watching Chris and AJ on the balcony.

"Do you think they made up?" Nick asked.

"Either that or she’s cold," Brian said. Emily looked at him.

"What’s that supposed to mean?"

Brian shrugged. "But look at the picture the two of them make. The sunset’s back behind them."

"It’s a Kodak moment," Nick said.

"Here! Do you think they’d notice if I took their picture?" Howie asked, his video camera in his hand.

"Just don’t let them see," Emily warned. "We’re not supposed to be watching them anyway."

Howie turned off the lights in the room and went over to the window. "Welcome back to the Backstreet Saga. When we last left you, Chris and AJ had an argument and had not been speaking. Today we see that those conflicts have been resolved." He zoomed in on AJ and Chris dancing and talking on the balcony. Then he zoomed out and turned around to face the others. "Here with me are members of the group who have witnessed this event from beginning to now."

"Now? What kind of reporter is he?" Emily muttered. Brian jabbed her with his elbow. Howie stood in front of Brian and Emily.

"Brian and Emily, I have to ask you what your opinions are on this whole ordeal and its outcome."

"Well," Brian said, "It’s been very traumatic and tense. Personally, I’m glad things might be back to normal now because our last couple shows have sucked because AJ’s mind was elsewhere."

"Brian!" Emily cried. "That’s mean!"

"Well, they have, haven’t they?"

"They just haven’t been up to par. And don’t blame it all on Chris and AJ. Howie, turn off the camera." Howie lowered the camera and turned it off. Emily focused her attention on Brian. "Thank you. You guys have been running nonstop for two months. There’s bound to be mistakes."

"Em," Kevin said. "I don’t think Brian meant to cause a fight."

"I’m not fighting," Emily said. "I’m just saying that it’s not right for him to put the blame on Chris and AJ. They’ve both been through a lot. And Chris even has leukemia, for crying out loud!"

There was a sudden silence in the room. Emily’s last words hung in the air, creating an uncomfortable atmosphere. Howie looked at Kevin.

"Is that true?"

Kevin hesitated, then nodded slowly. "Yes, it is. AJ, Brian, and I were the only ones who knew, and then I guess Chris told you, right, Em?" he asked Emily. She shook her head.

"Brian told me."

Kevin shifted his gaze to Brian. "Well, it doesn’t matter who told whom. The problem now is that Chris doesn’t know that everyone knows. And don’t let on that you do know."

"Is she gonna die?" Nick asked. Everyone looked at him. "I didn’t mean for it to come out that way. I just didn’t know what other way to ask."

"She’s in remission, and has been for a while," Brian said. "There’s always a chance for a relapse, but at the last doctor’s visit she was okay."

Howie seemed uncomfortable. "I don’t know if we should pretend we don’t know. I think we all should have a meeting or something. I mean, it was hard when Caroline was sick, but it was easier when we all knew. Nothing came as a surprise then, you know?"

Kevin nodded. "But let’s not bring it up now. Let’s wait until Chris and AJ get back in gear before we bring that up."

"She’s been sick for a while now, though, Kevin," Emily said. "I don’t want to alarm you."

"I’ve noticed that, too," Brian said. "It’s a good thing we’re going back to the States soon. Isn’t it almost time for her next treatment?"

"I don’t know. She hasn’t been telling me much."

"Why is that?" Howie asked.

"I don’t know."

"Do you know anything?" Nick joked.

"I don’t know," Kevin said, a serious look on his face. The rest of the group burst out laughing. "You know what? I think we all should go to bed."

"Silly. It’s only seven," Emily said between laughs. "It’s too early for bed."

Howie looked out the window and saw AJ and Chris looking in. "Hey, guys! Guys!"

"What?" Nick said, giving Howie an exasperated look.

"They’re watching us this time." Howie waved at Chris and AJ, who waved back. The rest of the group inside waved and broke into laughter again.

"I wonder how long they’ve been watching us," Brian said.

"Probably not as long as we’ve been watching them," Howie said.