Chapter 30

“You know, they say that time flies when you’re having fun!” Nick yelled across the railing at Liz, as he exited the El Bandito rollercoaster.

“Hey, Mr. Goofball, get down here.  Your daughter wants an ice cream.  And, she said that you have to pick it out.”  Liz chuckled back as she held on to Katie.

“Daddy!  You pick ice cweem!” Katie shouted loud enough for the entire park to hear her.

“Fine, fine…but then after we get ice cream, we need to go find your aunties and uncles.  Okay?” Nick said with a grin.  “I think I have an idea.”

Liz and Katie knew instantly that Nick’s ideas usually ended up in pure embarrassment, for all of them.  However, they learned to play along, usually just to see what crazy antics Nick could pull off.

After they each grabbed a double scoop of ice cream each, they set off to find the rest of the guys and gals.  Today was a day of much needed fun and excitement.  They all were so stressed from the rigors of touring, life in general, and the negative press from the past few months.  Time off was something that they hadn’t had, and if they were pushed too far, one of them would snap.  The three of them remembered events of the past few months as they walked around.

AJ was finally pulling out of his “funk” as Nick called it, and started to get out more.  Brianna was always at the back of his mind, but he soon realized that there was nothing he could have done to help fix things.  She was so strong minded, and he was stubborn.  They often were found butting heads about things, and well, in the end, it became tragic for them both.

Howie and Kat were busy planning their special day.  Neither wanted a media frenzy.  Howie had carefully arranged with Nick to propose to her.  Kat never saw it coming.

***

She was busy working on the stage, checking mics and stuff, when she heard this booming voice from the rafters.

“Katrina!  Look up!” Howie shouted from high above her in the arena, during one of their recent stops.

As Kat looked up, thousands of rose petals fell from the rafters and showered over her.  And then a little white parachute dropped slowly with a single long stem rose attached to it.  As it fell towards her, she watched it in awe.

“Howie, what is all this??” she said as she continued to watch it fall.

“I will be right down…whatever you do, catch that flower!” he said as he started climbing back down from the ceiling.

As he approached her, the little parachute made it’s final descent and landed safely in her hands.  Howie told her to open the note that was attached, and to read it out loud.

“Dear Kat, I love with you all my heart, I love you with all my mind, and I love you with all my soul.  Now I want to know if you will be a part of all of that for life everlasting.”  She said quietly.

“And now Kat, with all that I am, and all that I have, I would be honored if you would be my wife.  Will you marry me?” Howie said, trying to hold back the tears that were stinging his eyes.

Kat was in total awe when she heard this.  She never thought Howie would get around to asking her, and started to cry.

From the top row of the arena, they heard a voice yell,  “Does that mean ‘YES’!!!???”

Kat turned around and saw the whole group watching her expectantly.   Without thinking, she fell into Howie arms, eyes pouring and whispered “yes” into his ear.

“She said Yes!  She said yes!!!!” he yelled, followed by the cheering from the stands.

Everyone was excited by the news and thought that something like this would bring back some life to the group.

***

As Nick, Katie, and Liz strolled through the park looking for the others, a group of fans noticed them and ran up.

“Oh My God!!!  Look, it’s Nick Carter!”  one girl screamed.

Liz and Katie backed away; they were used to this usual behavior.  However, it had been months since any of the Boys had experienced the pandemonium from the fans.   Just like the first time Nick ever experienced the craziness of the fans, here he was eating it up.

“Hi! Sure, I’ll take a picture with you…Oh, you want and autograph, sure…here ya go.” He kept saying as the girls crowded around him.

It wasn’t long before the four other guys were making their way towards the group.   Nick looked up with a grin that was a mile wide.  He was totally at awe with what was happening.  They had all missed it.  With everything that had been happening, they were afraid they had lost a majority of their fans.  It was something that hurt them deeply, knowing that without their fans, they had nothing.  Well, actually, they had everything they needed, except for their music.  If the fans were to stop listening, then what were they singing for?

Nick and the guys ate it up while the girls swarmed them.  It was a like a beehive, girls everywhere.  It quickly turned into chaos as more and more people noticed the commotion.  However, as crazy as it got, the Boys just played it for all it was worth.

“Come on guys, I think we need to sing a little something for these lovely ladies.  After all, we need to show the girls how much they REALLY mean to us!”  Nick shouted above the cheers.

Brian, Howie, AJ, and Kevin quickly agreed and they all decided on a few songs.  Within seconds, they broke out into their beautiful five part harmony and sang their hearts out to the group of girls and guys that had surrounded them.  It was the first time, in a long time, that the guys truly enjoyed singing for the fans.  Not even the excitement of the concerts could top this.

They were in heaven, and nothing, in their eyes, could take that away.   The bad press, the trials of the past few months, and the tragedies in their lives, could not ruin the moment of happiness they all felt.  It was, in their minds, the greatest day of their lives.

Nick and Brian looked to each other, remembering their phone conversation only weeks before, and prayed that their luck was changing.  It was just something that they would have to wait out and hope to God that life was changing for the better, for each of them.
 
 

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