Title: Shades of Gray - - Light Gray
Author: Granitite Stone, granitite@yahoo.com
Disclaimer: If they were mine, would I be writing fanfiction? There is no malicious intent in this story, I know nothing about these men's real lives.
Rating: R
Summary: When one moment changes everything, and one decision can change a lifetime, you make the best choices you can. The question is, what choice is the right one? Even if you think you've made it, what's not to say you wouldn't have been happier the other way?

From the Journal of Brian Littrel, December 1998
Now what am I supposed to do? All I asked was what he wanted for Christmas, and what does my best buddy do? He smiles, and the next thing I know I'm flat on my back, him looming over me. He's so much stronger than me, I couldn't have escaped if I'd wanted to. What am I supposed to say to him, when all he wants for Christmas... is me?

The alarm was ringing, but didn't they have the day off? Brian reached over and shut it off. A warm arm pulled him back. "Forgot to turn it off. M'sorry."

"It's okay." Brian rolled over, before realizing that wasn't the right voice in bed next to him. "Nick?"

"That's what the screaming fans call me." Nick mumbled, snuggling against him. "And if you were expecting someone else, I'll kill you."

"Go back to sleep." Brian was very, very confused. He and Leigh had argued last night, but he'd gone back to their room... after talking to that girl in the lobby.
---
He wanted a soda. No, actually he wanted to give his wife a chance to cool down. It was three in the morning, he didn't think he needed a bodyguard. There was a sole teenager in the lobby. She was dressed in black, and at first he didn't think she was a fan. He was almost out the door when she spoke.

"Mr. Littrel?" She was holding an autograph book. "Would you mind?"

"Of course not." He tried to write legibly, and handed it back.

She grabbed his hand as he walked past to leave. "Are you happy with your life? Are you glad you walked the road you walked?"

He looked at her funny, trying to figure out if she was a member of the hotel staff who had heard them arguing. He didn't want to lie, but he couldn't tell the truth. "Why wouldn't I be?" He pushed past her and headed for the elevator.

"For every choice you make, there's one you didn't." Her voice followed him. "There must always be an opportunity to see the other side."

This was too strange to believe. He picked up his journal and flipped back to just before that Christmas. No, no, no. This was all wrong.

'I said yes. I told him yes, I can't believe it.'

All wrong.

----
He stormed into Kevin's room and shook his cousin awake. "I need to call the Firm."

Kevin blinked a few times. "The call came last night, Brian. I got you permission to do the song at tonight's concert."

He had no clue what Kevin was talking about. "I need to call them.

"Fine." Kevin fumbled for his cell phone, and gave it to Brian.

Brian dialed. "Hi. This is Brian. I seem to have woken up in an alternate reality this morning."

Kevin growled, and grabbed his phone back. "Don't listen to him, he's just trying to cause trouble. You've been what? No, I will not calm down! It's not possible to travel through time or realities." Kevin got a little pale. "Really? How long should I expect this to continue? Yes, I'll check. Ask him what? Okay. Thank you."

"Kevin, are you okay?" Brian wondered what management had told him.

"They said...it's happened before. To Joey Fatone. They've been expecting this." Kevin had to sit down. "They want me to make sure you know all the music for tomorrow night's show."

"Typical management." Brian muttered. "Kevin, I know this is strange."

Kevin cut him off. "How did you know? You look like you just woke up. Are we in a different city, is the date on the calendar wrong? What was so obvious you knew right away?"

"I woke up in bed with the wrong person."

Kevin swore. "I knew this would happen eventually. How long from no do you and Nick break up? Do I have to worry about this affecting the group?"

"Nick and I were never together. I said alternate reality, not time travel." Brian did his best to calm Kevin down.

Kevin tossed him a CD. "Listen, go watch the tapes from last night's concert. Look for monkey wrenches. I'm calling a group meeting."
---
Three sleepy Backstreet Boys walked into Kevin's room a few minutes later. Nick hadn't even brushed his hair. "There had better be a PR nightmare or a draft. Otherwise, I will be avenged for getting me up this early on the one day we can sleep in."

"Not exactly a nightmare." Kevin shut the door to the bedroom where Brian was watching the tape, but not before Nick saw something that made him go pale. "We have a little problem with Brian."

"Trouble with Brian?" AJ fell into a chair. "Yeah, and the saint's halos are falling off."

"That's not Brian." Kevin wondered how to say this without sounding crazy.

Nick was still staring at the door. "I know."

"Know what?" Howie thought it was way to early for this.

"On his left hand. He's wearing a wedding ring." Nick looked ready to cry.

Go to Dark Side Part One or Go to Light Side Part Two

~When I look into the mirror, and see a face I don't recognize, I am no longer surprised.
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