*Mon Seulement Amour* (My Only Love)-[Chapter 7]

“Are you kidding me?” Kevin asked incredulously. “You are kidding me, right?” Brian closed his eyes as he shook his head back and forth.

“I’m not going,” Brian repeated.

“Like not going now and you’ll meet us in Argentina or not going at all?” Howie questioned trying to remain calm, knowing full well that if he didn’t nobody else would either.

“I don’t know if I’m going to be able to come back at all,” Brian responded. “I can’t leave…”

“Is everything okay Brian?” AJ asked concern evident in his voice. “Is everything okay with you, your parents, what’s going on?”

“I can’t tell you that,” Brian answered as he locked eyes with his cousin. “You have to believe me when I say it’s for a good reason, I just can’t tell you what the reason is.”

“So you’re just going to skip out on the tour for an indefinite amount of time and it’s supposed to be okay?” Kevin questioned. “Oh and you’re not going to tell us why, what are we supposed to tell people?”

“I don’t care what you tell them,” Brian responded honestly. “Tell them that I jumped ship and you don’t know where I’ve gone for all I care, I’m telling you now though I won’t be there, I don’t know how long I’ll be gone, and I can’t tell you why.”

“I guess we can’t do anything but deal with it,” Nick cut in.

“This is bullshit,” Kevin announced as he threw his hands up in frustration. “You cannot just not go, it is your job…”

“And this is my life,” Brian yelled as he jumped to his feet. “God, how long have I been in this? How many years have I lived this life, I want to do something for me for a change and I can’t do it while I’m catering to everybody else’s needs. I need some time off and I’m gonna take it I don’t give a fucking shit what you say.”

“You’re being so fucking irresponsible,” Kevin spat out.

“You go ahead and believe that,” Brian yelled back. “Believe that I’m not going because I don’t feel like it but if you knew me at all you would know that I would NEVER abandon our commitments if it wasn’t something important.”

“What could be more important then our work?” Kevin questioned. “Our fans…”

“Obviously not my life,” Brian cut in. “I’ve literally almost worked myself to death trying to please you and everybody else all of these years. I’m telling you that this is a life and death situation. There is more to all five of us then what we do, we’re human and we worry about the people we love when they are hurt. There’s more to you then all of this Kevin, wake up and realize that.”

“Kev, it has to be something of importance…” Howie began.

“It is,” Brian whispered as he looked around the room at his four ‘brothers’. “I’m sorry but I have to stay.”

“Everything will be fine Brian,” AJ assured as he stood up. “You just call and let us know what is going on,” he insisted before giving Brian a hug.

“Yeah man,” Nick agreed. “Take care of business here.”

“Thank you,” Brian muttered before turning and heading for the door.

“You walk out that door and you’re done,” Kevin called after him. Brian opened the door before turning back to look at his cousin.

“Then I’m done,” he announced. “I’ll settle with Jive and I’ll be out of my contract before you guys get back,” he finished before turning and exiting the room slamming the door behind him.

“Decided where you want to go yet?” Brian questioned as he eased Braden down onto the bed and began changing his diaper.

“You don’t have to do that,” Camille laughed as she stepped up behind Brian and rested her hands on the small of his back.

“Oh but I want to,” Brian stated. “Answer my question,” he insisted.

“Dad always loved New York,” Camille commented as she leaned down and rested the right side of her face against Brian’s back. “What if I said that I wanted to file for divorce?” she questioned softly.

“I’d stand behind you one hundred percent,” Brian responded. “I’d help you in any way that I could.”

“Could I do that, file for it, if I’m not in the state that we were married in?” Camille questioned as her hands rested on either side of Brian’s waist and her fingers gripped onto him.

“I know people who can help,” Brian stated as he picked Braden up off the bed and held him against his chest. Camille nodded as allowed her fingers to tug at the hem of Brian’s t-shirt sleeves.

“It’s like we’ve never been apart,” she finally commented as she rested her chin on Brian’s right shoulder. “It’s like we’re a family.” Brian reached around and ushered Camille around so she was leaning up against his chest instead of his back. Camille allowed Braden to grab onto her left pointer finger before wrapping her right arm around Brian and allowing her right hand to rest on his back.

“I love you,” Brian sighed as he pressed his lips to Camille’s forehead. Camille pulled back and looked up into Brian’s eyes before resting her left hand on his right, which was supporting Braden against his chest, and her right hand came to rest on the base of his neck.

“You make me feel safe,” she admitted lightly. “I’ve never stopped loving you Brian no matter how hard I tried.”

“You can stop trying now,” Brian stated. “I’m never letting you go.”

“I’m counting on that,” Camille whispered before guiding Brian’s lips to her own and allowing her mouth to press against his, savoring the taste of his kiss like it was all she needed to continue living. A sigh escaped from her lips as Brian captured her bottom lip in between his teeth and she was able to ease her tongue into his mouth and kiss him like she had when they were young and in love. “I love you so much,” she confessed as Brian pulled away and set a soft kiss on each of her closed eyes.

“I know,” he muttered.