Date: Sun, 29 Dec 2002 05:56:12 EST
From: Angel36745@aol.com
Subject: Double Take 14

Disclaimer: I don't know BSB or anyone connected to them in anyway. I don't
know their sexual preferences, this is just a story. I made it all up in my
own little twisted world. Well, it's not that twisted but that's not the
point.

Warning: I don't know where this is going, or what will happen. I've had
this story on my mind for the past couple of months. There may be sex, but
if there is it won't be in the first chapter. So if that's what you're
looking for you might want to look in another place. Now I'm going to try
and not use any super natural beings. I may fail but hell trust me when I
say I can't help it.

Authors Note: Well this is the last chapter so I wanted to thank everyone
for reading the story this far. I had thought about writing more to this
story but certain health concerns have made sure that I won't be able to do
that. While on the other hand the other stories that I have posted I will
try to finish them as well. Still there aren't any promises in that area as
well since I have good days and bad days. I will try my hardest to finish
my other stories as I have done with this one. Thank you all from the
bottom of my heart for reading this and your kindness in the letters that I
have gotten. I hope that you all enjoy the last chapter of Double Take as
much I have enjoyed writing it.

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****Ash****

When it had started I didn't know what to do or think, and they had ruined
my spot on the beach. Now I couldn't go back without worrying about being
spotted and then plagued with questions I wouldn't know how to answer. So
my answer was to hide out in my house until they stopped and left me alone,
or I got in contact with the guys. Once I knew what to do it wouldn't
really be a huge problem, it was the waiting that was starting to get to
me. Still no one had contacted me yet, not even Mom, but then again she
might not know what's going on yet. I on the other hand knew what was
happening my secret was out, and so was Nick's, now things would get
messy. There was still the problem that Nick didn't want anything to do
with me so talking to him was out of the question. My only real choice had
been to hide, now everything was out of my hands, which really sucked. I
hated not being able to control this, and it was making me break my
promise, I was interfering with the guys and the band. That made it a whole
lot worse since I had managed to stay out of band business, now it looked
like I couldn't. Then it hit me I could get in contact with the guy's
management and tell them to make sure the guys didn't say anything. After
that I could confront the reporters and tell them that they were mistaken.

I could come up with enough lies, and if I needed to I could fake a blood
test with Brenda's help. That way nothing happened and Nick wouldn't have
to come near me for longer than a few minutes. Then he could go on his way
and continue to live his life while I lived mine. When I went for my phone
I stopped thinking that maybe the lines were bugged, or someone could be
listening from outside. After a while of thinking I thought it might be
best to head out of town and get their management to meet me
somewhere. Still I would have to make a call, and I didn't really know how
I could do that safely, not with all the high tech stuff that was out
anyway. I guess I could use my cell but I would rather be on the move when
I did that way I could at least see if someone was following. After peaking
through all my windows I slowly made my way out to my car and then raced
away from my house. I drove for about twenty minutes and made sure no was
behind me when I tried calling their management. No one was willing to
connect me with anyone that could get in contact with the boys as they
said, then they hung up. So I did the only that I could do, I called Brian
hoping that he had his phone and wasn't busy.

"Hi Bri, it's me Ash, and I was wondering what I should do, but I have an
idea, so give me a call back as soon as you can." I hated being put through
to the answering service but hopefully I would get a call back soon. Then I
would at least know who else I should call, and what I should get myself
ready for. It took seven hours and filling my tank up again before Brian
was able to get back in contact with me. Even then all he said was to head
home and that he and guys were on the way to my house regardless who saw
them. So I went back home after traveling for a good length of time only to
see a few reporters camped on my lawn, so I called the police. Then I
parked down the street and waited until they arrived and started hauling
people off my lawn. After I had a good shot I drove into my driveway and
ran into my house before to many pictures could be taken of me. It was then
that I stood in front of a mirror and decided that if they really wanted a
show I would give them one. I started with cutting my hair really short and
nothing like Nick's, then shaved and continued with the change of
appearances. When my phone ringed I was ready, it was the guys, they were
less than a mile away and wanted to know what was going on outside.

"Well, there are about thirty or forty reporters waiting for me to make a
move, do you think I should head to mom's or somewhere else?" The phone was
silent for a little bit while they talked it over, and then finally
decided.

"Don't go anywhere, we're going to come to you Ash, it's time the world
knew about you and Nick. Just get ready to open the door to let us in, then
slam it closed behind us, we'll see you soon." I said good bye then hung up
the phone and watched for them from my window ready to run to the
door. When they pulled up I moved to the door and looked out the peep hole
until I saw Brian, then I opened the door. As they flowed in it looked like
a million bolts of lightening had just struck where they had stood
before. I guess the press now had a small piece of what they wanted, after
all they just wanted some money for a picture. That picture just happened
to invade lives and destroy people from time to time, but as long as they
got their money they were happy. Slowly I turned to face the others, even
my brother who refused to speak to me, but that was ok.

"I'm willing to do and say whatever you want, and I'm so sorry that this
happened. I just didn't think that going to a beach would do this to you, I
just hope you can forgive me." Brian stopped me from ranting on with a
simple kiss that knocked me off my feet, and scared me to death. For all I
knew there was someone in my house taking this picture as well. That didn't
mean I was going to stop it, that just meant I had to worry a little as my
mind lifted to heaven.

"It was bound to happen someday Ash, and you know that it's not that bad
we've come close to revealing who you are anyway. Or did you forget that
little fashion show you put together to get my attention?" I couldn't help
the smile that formed or the way he made me feel, he made me feel like
everything would be ok. No matter what happened my Brian could fix it and
make all my worries fade, that was until I saw Nick. He was just looking at
me without any emotion on his face, like I was someone he didn't know or
care about. To him I was just someone that had screwed up his life more
than anyone else in the world. When he moved toward my body tensed ready
for a punch or anything else he thought I should get for causing all this
to happen. Only he just stopped about an inch away from my face and looked
at me for a little while. When he reached out and touched the side of my
head my heart sped up a little bit, then his hand fell.

"You know I didn't want this to happen, I could have lived the rest of my
life without anyone ever knowing that you were my brother." That had hurt a
lot, still I just nodded a little and tried to hold back the tears that
refused to be stopped. The others seemed a little bit out of it, and Brian
looked like he was about to attack.

"Then I came in here and looked at you, I had forgotten how much I loved
you, and how much you meant to me. I kept thinking that you were going to
run away again, but you didn't, you stayed and you're willing to face this
with me, with us. Honestly I didn't think you would, I thought you would
already be on a plane to some other country. Ready to hide this out until
it was over, but you didn't and that proved so much to me. One of those
things being on how wrong I was to push you away, and stay away from you. I
shouldn't have said what I said to you when you had first came back, I
should have just punched you in the arm and called it even." He was crying,
but he made no attempt to reach out to me, and I didn't know if I should.

"Well, my arm is right here, if you want to give it a slug and be my
brother again I'm sure I can take it." Then his arms were around me, and
mine were around him, we cried and I knew now that everything would be ok,
no matter what happened from here on out. Soon other arms found there way
around us, and the simple hug had become a full on group hug. I could feel
Brian behind me as his lips rested on the back of my neck, and Kevin to my
right with his hand behind my waist. There was no doubt that it was the
back of AJ's hand between Nick's waist and mine, then there was Howie who
took up the other side. His head lightly leaning against mine and Nick's,
it was nice to feel so close to so many people.

"Ok loving this bounding time, but we have things we need to take care of
before it gets too out of hand." I couldn't stop myself from speaking since
I had been going out of my mind trying to think of a way to handle
this. Now that I knew that we were going to take this problem on with the
truth it made things a lot easier.

"We have time, our label is pulling reporters in right now for an interview
that you and I are going to attend." I nodded to Nick slowly then headed to
my bed room to get some better clothing on, leaving the others to walk
around the house. After changing into the best outfit I could put together
with my current hair style I walked back into the living room. All the guys
were watching MTV, and now they were showing them running into my
house. There was no way in hell we could ever lie about anything from this
point on, at least not who I was anymore. It just kept going on and on,
reporters standing just outside my home, and I was watching them on the
TV. So far they had managed to destroy all my plants, my lawn, and even my
tree looked pretty bad at the moment. I couldn't take it anymore so I
walked outside and faced them, they all started asking questions.

"Stop right now or I will never answer any questions for anyone, and
neither will the others. I have a few questions of my own to ask, like how
you plan to pay for the yard work that's going to have to be done. Don't
think that any of the people in my yard aren't going to get a bill, and if
you don't pay I will take each and everyone one of you to court. One small
fact that you forgot to find out and that was how powerful my adopted
parents are, I can make sure that none of you have jobs tomorrow." Everyone
that was on my lawn was now off and at a pretty good distance, maybe to
conceal their faces.

"There will be a meeting in a short amount of time, at that meeting you
will get your answers. Now on the other hand if you refuse to leave my home
alone, and the homes of my friends I will be forced to never answer any of
your questions. I have the money and the means to vanish without a problem,
and take all my friends with me. This isn't simply a threat, this is a
promise, now you have the choice to leave or stay." I turned and walked
back into my home wondering if my threats would do any good, I was meant
with some interesting looks.

"Well, it's not your lawn their destroying, and I didn't tell one single
lie or threat that I couldn't carry out." Brian just shook his head slowly
as he turned back to the TV and watched as the news teams switched to other
stories.

"No, it's the last part, about vanishing, you said you could take us all
with you, that might be kind of fun." I looked at Nick and nodded slowly
before entering the living room to sit on the couch. It was there that we
started talking about how to handle everything and when we were going to
handle it. By the time it was over most of the guys were asleep, Nick was
the only one still awake. We hadn't said anything to one another for going
on an hour, we just looked at each other.

"I am sorry Nick, I didn't mean to stay gone that long, I shouldn't have
left I know that now." He just shook his head before walking over and
kneeling down in front of me, then he took my hands in his.

"Ash I don't blame you for leaving, I might have done the same thing if it
had happened to me. It wasn't how long you were gone, it was just that you
were gone, and I couldn't reach you. I felt like everything in my world was
falling apart, it wasn't your fault, it never was. Still I needed someone
to blame for all the pain that was coursing through my life, and you made
the easiest target." With the last word spoken he leaned his head down to
meet my hands and his. Slowly I lifted his head so his eyes and mine met,
then I knelt down and kissed his forehead softly.

"What you did to me really hurt, but I needed that pain to finally find a
place to stand and not a place where I could run. You didn't have to wait
so long to come back into my life, but I understand why you did that. It's
all over now, we're finally going to get the chance to be brothers, like we
should have been." Nick could only nod as he wrapped his hands around my
waist and rest his head on my lap. We stayed like that for the rest of the
night, just staying near one another, praying that nothing would ever pull
us apart again.

*****Brian

I had no choice but to watch as Nick and Ash slowly walked up the stairs
that led to the stage. This wasn't something Ash was use to, so I feared
that this could hurt him in someway. Nick was starting to breath deeply as
they neared the top of the stairs, but through it all he made sure that he
kept an eye on Ash. I knew that once the questions started it would be a
while before they would end or offer any kind of breather. Ash was looking
around like a scared cat, wondering where the attack would come from. It
was strange to see him like that, he started looking a lot younger then,
almost like he had reversed his age. Then they were gone, and I had to move
to a different spot to see them and be sure they were fine.

"Mr. Lee, is it true that you and Mr. Carter are twin brothers?" Ash nodded
slowly before looking to Nick who answered with a simple yes.

"Then how does it feel to be the one that was given up, does it hurt that
your birth mother chose Nick over you?" Nick's mouth had fallen open at the
question, and his face had started to get red.

"Yes, at first I felt like I was the outcast because I wasn't good enough
to be loved and kept close by. Then I finally meet my mother, and my
family, and it hurts a little more to know I was the only one given
up. That was at first, but then I got to know them and understand the
reasons why they gave me up. They could only look after one of us and give
that one a good life, if they had kept both of us we would have
suffered. Our mother did what was best for the both of us, and she didn't
chose Nick over me, she just chose Nick." I watched as Nick looked over at
Ash, then he turned back to the crowd of reporters.

"How long have you known one another, and why did you keep it from the
public, why all this hiding?" Ash laughed for a few seconds before shaking
his head and smiling like nothing could touch him.

"We've known about one another for a few years now, and I never really hid
from anyone, no one ever noticed before. Still I didn't scream from the top
of the mountains either, I didn't want the attention. I'm a fashion
designer, and I didn't want people to buy my clothing just because I was
Nick's brother. My reasons were simple, I wanted to make it on my own
without any help from anyone. Still I didn't hide, and there have been
times when I would face the people at my shows, they just didn't pick up on
the likeness." So far Nick had only answered one question, but all he
seemed to be doing now was looking at Ash with awe in his eyes.

"Mr. Carter, how do you think this will affect your fans, or your band for
that matter, this was a pretty big secret." Nick looked out at the crowd
until he found the person that had asked the question.

"Well, I honestly don't think it'll make people not like me, and my friends
support me all the way. Like my brother said it wasn't a real secret, we
didn't do anything to stop anyone from learning the truth. All we did was
live our lives, I don't see how that makes me a bad person, or Ash for that
matter." Then question after question came and Ash and Nick both handled it
like it was nothing more than a normal act of everyday life. After I was
sure that nothing bad would happen I walked back behind the stage area
where the other guys were waiting and watching everything on TV.

"You know I didn't think Ash would handle himself so well up there, he
really surprised me Bri." I looked to Kevin slowly, knowing that when he
looked at Ash he wanted more than a simple hug. Yet I didn't say anything
to him, all I did was nod, and smile a little as I turned my eyes back to
the TV. I knew that Ash was mine and that as long as we were honest with
one another nothing could come between us. My faith in Ash was getting
stronger every day, and today I knew that he could handle anything that
happened. The reporters continued their assault on Nick and Ash, who took
it like a friendly conversation. When it was finally over they had spent
close to three hours answering questions, both of them looked like they
were about to pass out. Nick was almost holding Ash up as they walked down
the stairs smiling for the most part.

"I hope that I never have to see another reporter for the rest of my life,
no more news, no nothing from now on." Nick just looked at Ash for a moment
then helped him sit down in a chair.

"So does that mean you're not going to come on tour with me and keep me and
the guys company?" Ash looked up at Nick and smiled before letting his head
fall down to rest on his chest.

"I don't know if that would be a good idea Nick, last time didn't go so
well, and I don't want to mess up what we have going. You're really
important to me Nick and I can't lose you again, not even for a moment. So
going with you on tour isn't a good idea since we might fight and you'll
stop talking to me again." Nick just looked at Ash, he had tears in his
eyes, yet he managed to keep his voice calm.

"What if I promise that even if we fight that I'll talk to you right after
the fight, that way we can make up right then and there? That way you can
come and we can hang out, get to know each other better than we do. Plus
you can see Brian everyday, spend the night with him in his room and, well
maybe I should stop there." I looked at Ash as he started to slowly nod his
head, Nick started smiling and getting that look in his eyes. He was about
to get hyper, something I hadn't seen happen to him in a long time, maybe
to long. When Kevin pulled me away from everyone else I thought there was
going to be a problem between us.

"I'm really happy for you Bri, but I'm going to tell you now so there
aren't any surprises while we're on the road. I love Ash, and if you so
much as give me a chance with him by hurting him I'm going to take it. Only
I know that I can't make him as happy as you can, so please don't give me
that chance. You're more than my cousin you're my brother and I don't want
to hurt you, but you hunt him and I will hurt you. I know he's not perfect
or that there aren't going to be problems but if I see him crying I'm going
to be there for him." I didn't know what to say to him, it was like he was
threatening me only not really threatening me, it was weird.

"I'm not going to give you a chance, and I know you love him, it's written
all over your face. Out of everyone in the group you were the one that had
me worried, I don't think anyone else could take him away. I won't let you
do that Kevin cause I can't live without him, he's everything to me, and he
always will be. On the other hand, if anything ever happens to me, I want
you to take care of him. He cares about you, like he cares about all of us,
but I think he could fall for you, so if I die, please help him." Kevin
nodded and then we hugged there was an agreement between us now, Ash was
going to be taken care of no matter what.

I turned back to the others and just looked at them, and for a minute I
could see how we use to be. Ash had changed the most, I could still see
Nick in him, but not as much as I use to. Now I just saw him as he was, the
man that I was in love with, and I could feel the fear of losing
him. Something had been edging it's way into my mind for a while now, only
I didn't want it to surface. All I could really do is hope that I was wrong
and that I hadn't lost to much time with him. Still something was there
that told me that there was a good chance I would outlive him. That thought
scared the living hell out of me, but it was still there, and I knew that
if he died I would soon follow. There was no way I could face the world
without him now, he was just to important to me. I guess it was that way
with the rest of the guys too, Ash had buried himself in our hearts. Now I
knew their was a real chance at happiness for all of us, and that Nick and
Ash would get to be the brothers they were meant to be. Even now I could
see the bounds becoming unbreakable as the whispered back and forth to one
another. Slowly I walked over and sat down pulling Ash into my arms, I held
him and he let me hold him. If this was as close as I ever got to heaven
that was fine by me, nothing could take this feeling in my heart away from
me now.

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One year after that fateful day Ash and Brian got married, at first it
remained a secret, yet both decided that they would rather be open about
their love for one another. Nick and AJ remained unmarried, yet stayed
together and supported Ash and Brian. Kevin never remarried or even tried
to find anyone else, he appointed himself Ash's guardian. His love for Ash
never faded, it only grew stronger by the days that passed, and his heart
only suffered more from watching Ash and Brian. Howie being the odd member
got married and had four children, three boys and a girl. Through all of
their troubles that followed throughout their lives they always remained
there for one another. Always making sure to go to one another when one of
them was in need of help or support. On March 16, 2034, Brian's day of need
came as Ash passed away in his sleep. The boys, now old men found that they
were far from alone in morning the passing of their beloved brother,
friend, and lover. Nick and Brian held to each other the hardest as Aaron
held onto them. Tears flowed like rivers, and hearts broke into millions of
pieces, as they laid Ash to rest. Kevin no longer had anything to do since
Ash was now gone, so he slowly withdrew from everyone. Seven months later
Brain joined Ash in his rest, as he had known he would do.

Nick had now lost his brother and best friend, his heart screamed in agony,
this wasn't fair. Aaron did his best to help his older brother through his
loss, through their loss, but in honesty it didn't matter. AJ was there as
well holding onto Nick trying to keep him going, but all efforts were
failing until Kevin found a way to help Nick through. He had told Nick that
Ash had loved life, and had never given into anything, that he should do
the same to honor his brothers memory. From that moment Nick tried to be
more like Ash, and in doing so he found his will to live again. Four years
down the road Kevin followed his cousin and his little dreamer to
heaven. Not much more time passed before the other members of the group
passed as well. Howie was the last to go, and on that day he smiled knowing
that his brothers were waiting for him so they could fill the heavens with
their sweet voices like they had done on earth. While Ash made sure they
had the best clothing he could make from clouds and dreams. The world
mourned the passing of the last Backstreet boy and honored their memory
with their music. Old fans cried, and new ones began to understand why, the
world had changed but music would always remain the same. It is something
that will always touch the human heart, and bring back memories of old.

The End