Brian held Lis' hand as they walked along the streets of New York. Surprisingly he wasn't getting recognized, which he mentioned to Lis.
Lis looked at Rok and smiled. "Its because you can blend in B, AJ he'd get recognized anywhere with that hair and those tattoos."
He laughed and they walked along, stopping to look in a few windows. After, a waiter showed them to their table. Bri held the chair for Lis and sat down across from her.
"Having fun?" he asked, taking a sip of his water.
"Yeah." she smiled at him. "So you were right, getting away was a really good thing."
"You sure?" he asked, looking her over. For once he didn't see the sadness in her face.
"Duh! I just said this is a good thing." she teased.
"Now you want to make this a quick lunch, I've got some stuff I want to pick up."
"Whatever you say."
Nick followed Aaron onto his boat and sat down, putting his backpack on the seat.
Aaron put on his sunglasses. "I still cannot believe you haven't gone out on the boat before now."
Nick looked around at the water and the beach. "Me either AC. This is perfect."
"Great boating weather. You want me to drive?"
"Sure." he handed his brother the keys and sat down in the passenger seat and watched as Aaron expertly pulled the boat away from the dock and headed out into the water.
Aaron drove till they reached their usual fishing spot. "I can tell something's bugging you." he said, dropping the anchor.
"Bugging me? What would be bugging me?" Nick asked, avoiding looking at his brother.
"Oh I don't know, the fact Lis went with Rok to New York?"
Nick stopped. "Aaron, what did I tell you?"
"You two were moving on, yadda yadda. But you've been acting odd since you watched the tape."
Nick sighed and cast his fishing reel out into the water. "AC, can we cut the lecture?"
"Yeah yeah ok." Aaron sat down.
"We went to Vegas huh?"
"Yeah, left here the 24th and came back on the 2nd. You two invited me to stay for a few days."
Nick nodded. "Were we happy?" he asked suddenly.
"You and Lis?"
"Yeah." He wondered that a lot lately. Since Bri had taken her to New York, he'd stayed up nights looking through Lis' photo albums. More than once he'd fallen asleep in their old room, more bits and pieces of his life coming back to him in dreams. Although lately it had been more to do with his life as a Backstreet Boy.
Aaron smiled in memory. "You guys were very happy. Sometimes sickening to be around." he laughed. "But you two were good together, in fact..."
"We were going to get married." Aaron shot him a confused look. "Rok told me awhile back," Nick explained.
"Yeah you were, the last little while you kept teasing her about how it wasn't going to be long till she was pregnant. You really wanted kids together. She did too. Heck I think you two had them named and everything."
Nick stared out at the ocean for a few minutes. He couldn't figure out why he kept getting two pictures of their relationship, one where they were happy and in love and his picture, the one where they were just together. Part of him deep inside hoped it was the first option, he didn't want to know Lis was just going through the motions of caring for him because she felt obligated. "So how about you AC, seeing anyone?"
Aaron groaned. "Can't we talk about something else?"
Lis threw her shopping bags on the bed and flopped down beside them. "Can we say you bought out all of Manhattan?" Bri teased from the doorway.
She lifted her head and looked at him. "Can you say you bought out that sports store?"
"Hey I needed that stuff."
"Sure sure. You'll need a new suitcase to lug it back to Orlando in."
"And you'll need three. Exactly how many new tank tops and shoes did you need?"
"Hey! I at least wear that stuff. You don't even wear baseball hats anymore and I'm sure you bought every one that said Kentucky on it."
"Gifts!" he said, walking towards her.
"Nah, I think they're all for you."
Brian flopped down next to her and started to tickle her. "Nope, I bought one for you and one for each of the guys and one for Tyke and one for AC."
"Yeah right." Lis giggled managing to roll away from him.
He stopped and stared at her. "You know it's been a long time since you've laughed like that Lissy."
Lis stopped. "I know, but I think like Jenn told me I have to come back to the land of the living."
Brian nodded. "And we're all here for you, if you ever need me for anything Lis I'm right here. All you have to do is ask."
She looked into his bright blue eyes. "Anything huh?"
"Absolutely anything."
"Well then I think I could do with a good night of dancing before we go home. What do you say?"
"If you want, count me in."
~~ Next day ~~
Aaron walked around the house listless. Nick had gone out to get some food, Han was still staying at her friends and Lis and Bri were due home any minute. He crashed on the couch and looked out the window waiting for Lis to get home.
Brian parked the convertible in the driveway. "And so, our New York adventure is over." he said, wiping away imaginary tears.
"Awww it's ok B." Lis said giving him a hug. "We can go back whenever you want."
"You've got another three months till you go back." he said, getting out of the car.
"If I go back, that's a big if Bri." Lis said, watching him unload the suitcases.
The sound of a car honking made them both turn around to see Nick pulling his new Durango up beside them. "Hey you two, you're back!"
Lis froze, don't let him get to you, she told herself. "Just got home."
Aaron heard the sound of voices and opened his eyes, having dozed off for a few minutes. He walked to the front door and swung it open, seeing Lis' convertible in the driveway. "Lissy!" he yelled, running down the stairs.
"AC! What...hey you!" she said as he gave her a hug.
He picked her up and set her back down. His eyes looked her over carefully, picking up on something he doubt anyone else had noticed. "So Lis, I'll take your bags."
"There's a lot of them." Brian said, motioning to her three suitcases.
Nick walked over, McDonald's bag in hand. "And she left with one! Man, what all did you buy?"
"Things...stuff...can you move that bag Nick?" she asked him.
"What? You love McD's." Bri said, walking over to her. "You sick again hon?" he asked, putting a hand on her forehead.
Aaron sighed. "That's it, bed rest missy!" he said taking her hand and leading her inside the house. "I'll be back for the bags Rok!"
Brian nodded and watched them go into the house.
Lis sat on the bed. "Aaron come on I can take care of myself."
"Can't I be concerned about you?" he asked, kneeling in front of her.
"You remind me way too much of your brother you know that?" she said, smiling at him.
He smiled. "I'll take that as a compliment."
"You should."
He glanced at the door, he hadn't heard Nick or Brian come inside. "Why aren't you telling him the truth?"
She sighed. "Because I don't want him feeling he has to prove something to me."
Aaron shook his head. "Don't you think he'd like to know he has a wife?"
"You didn't say anything did you?"
"No, I figured out you hadn't said anything to him for a reason. I don't know about this Lissy..."
"You want me to walk downstairs and go 'Hey Nick, I never told you this before but we were married seven weeks before your accident'?"
"No, but I mean leaving him in the dark...and the way he's acting with Han." he stood up and walked around the room, "Do you know how bad he's going to feel when his memory is back? It could kill him."
"I know AC, but what can I do?"
He shrugged. "You and Rok, what's going on there?"
"Nothing, we're just friends."
"I'll go grab your bags. Just lay down and get some rest."
"I'm fine really. Why does everyone keep saying that?"
Aaron smiled. "You'll know soon enough," and with that he turned and left the room.
Nick stood in the doorway to his room and watched Aaron walk by, heading downstairs. He took a deep breath and walked into Lis' room. "We're married?" he asked, closing the door behind him.
"What?" Lis asked, staring at him in shock, silently praying he hadn't heard their conversation.
"Aaron said I had a wife. Logic points to you." he said, walking over to the bed.
