Date: Tue, 15 May 2001 16:24:13 -0700 (PDT)
From: John D <zachstack@yahoo.com>
Subject: BSB HA Book 2:  Hearts in Harmony Pt 3

Previously....

[Flashback to Lou's house]

Brian muttered his apologies and ducked out of the
bathroom in disbelief of what he had just witnessed.

"Brian!  Wait!"  Nick's shrill voice called out in
panic.  "Please wait..."

[Flashback ends]

"Nick...I can't...I..."  Kevin couldn't find the words
to say at such a sad moment, that he did the next best
thing.  "Nick, I..."  In one quick flowing movement,
Kevin gently lifted Nick's face with his delicate
fingertips and leaned into the tall blonde and planted
a gentle kiss on his lips.

End of Part 2
*******************************************************

-------------------------------------------------------
**Disclaimers:  Thank you all for staying with The
story for this long.  We're almost to the homestretch
now.  This is a work of fiction and created to be
enjoyed by anyone who wants to read it.  It is utterly
fictionalized so any resemblances to real people is
highly coincidental.  The story does not necessarily
reflect the lifestyles of those involved.  Thank you
for reading.  Enjoy**
-------------------------------------------------------

BSB Hearts Assunder Book 2:
Hearts in Harmony Part 3

[Flashback]

Lou Pearlman's house...

"Brian, wait...please wait."  Nick's shrill panic
stricken voice called out to Brian.

"Nick, I'm sorry to have bursted in on you like that,
man.  I thought you were crying.  I'm sorry..."  Brian
couldn't even look Nick in the face: he was too
ashamed for not knocking first.

"Brian, don't t-t-tell.  Please don't tell anyone."
Nick was on the verge of tears.  "I-I don't know how
my mom is going to take this if she finds out that
I'm...I'm gay...please don't tell, Brian"  Nick
pleaded again and again.  He was so desperate that he
had failed to notice that for the first time he had
confessed the truth of how he felt inside.

"Nick...I.."  Brian was confused, but fortunately
interrupted when Howie came in looking for them.

"C'mon you guys.  Kevin says we need to talk about
practice.  He wants us all in the living room."  Howie
fretted where he stood by the door.  His feet kicking
at something only he could see.

"O-okay, Howie, thanks.  Nick and I will be right
down."  Brian turned back to Nick as soon as Howie
shut the door quietly behind him.

"Don't tell..."  Nick was about to cry.

"Don't worry about it.  We'll talk later."  Brian
dismissed the topic, despite the fact that it was
still troubling him inside.

Nick let out a loud relieved sigh and went back to
wash his hands.

Brian stood awhile in his spot thinking about what he
had just witnessed.  He knew that he should've been
more disturbed, if not offended, granted his religious
background.  But for the life of him, Brian couldn't
lay a finger on what he was feeling right about then.
He was red and heated alright, but it wasn't because
of him being embarrassed.  It was something else
entirely.

[Flashback ends]
*******************************************************
In Nick's Dressing Room in the Ice Palace...

Nick's eyes were wide at first, then he couldn't help
but melt into the kiss.  Kevin's strong arms wrapped
around his waist.  One of Kevin's strong hands stroked
his back even now.

The kiss felt a lot better than he thought.  Kevin
hadn't planned this, it was just a spur of the moment
thing.  The kiss was already lasting longer than he
ever expected him to be locked in with another guy.
But deep in his heart he knew he was enjoying this new
sensation because he had just wanted Nick to stay with
them so bad.  The kiss almost symbolized everything of
how he felt about his younger bandmate.  Kevin loved
him no matter how hard he was on Nick.  Many times
Kevin had only been hard on Nick because he wanted the
other to be stronger.  Did he mention he loved Nick a
lot?

Kevin leaned back from his kiss.  His eyes searching
for anything, any clue as to what Nick felt at that
moment.  He had remembered what Brian had told him the
day they found out about Nick.  The day they all had
caught Nick straddling Brandon in the private gym of
their hotel.  "Nick, I..."  Kevin tried to talk, but
again he was interrupted when Nick placed a delicate
finger to his lips.

"Kevin, it's okay.  You don't...you don't have to say
anything.  I know you love me, but you are only doing
this to try and get me to stay."  Nick sadly smiled at
his friend.  "I love all of you guys.  Even Brian.  I
just don't think that my place is here with the
Backstreet Boys anymore.  Please understand that,
Kevin.  I..I just need to find where I lost my heart.
I just need to find, where I lost my life, my love, my
soul."

"You're right...I'm sorry Nick." Kevin sighed, finally
acknowledging the fact that Nick was decided to leave.

"Besides, what about your wife?  What about her?  You
can't just leave her for me, I know I'm irrisistable
and everything, but I couldn't do that to her.  You
understand."  Nick valiantly smiled at Kevin, trying
to cheer the other man up.

For a second there Kevin thought he saw some of Nick's
old vitality returning.  But just as sudden, it was
all gone again.  Washed away in the overwhelming tide
of agony lapping away at Nick's sweet young visage.

"Just be strong, Kev.  I know you can.  I know you
always will be.  For all our sakes, Kev."  Nick smiled
softly at the stronger man, and peacefully closed the
door behind him.
*******************************************************

[Flashback]

"Nick?"  Brian crept into the room of the youngest
Backstreet Boy.  He had originally thought that the
room was empty, but Nick had answered him after his
third inquiry.

"Nick?"  Brian whispered in the dark, feeling around
for the light switch.  He thought that Nick really
needed someone to talk to after what he had witnessed
earlier.  If Nick was indeed gay, then he is in a
whole new world of trouble if he didn't have anyone to
confide in.  Brian new the pressures of having such
mixed and confused feelings for just about every
mammal that walked on two legs; he too had gone
through this stage when he was Nick's age.  Hell,
Kevin was the one that got him through his first year
to begin with.

"B-Brian?  That you?"  Nick's voice came out muffled
and afraid somewhere in the dark recesses of his room.

"Yeah, it's me."  Brian found the switch and turned
the lights on.

"No!"  Nick's young voice erupted from all corners of
the darkened room.  "Leave them off, please.  I...I
don't want you to look at me."  Brian could now tell
why Nick's voice was muffled.

"Nick, about earlier..."

"Please d-d-don't tell, Brian.  Please d-d-don't
tell."  Nick's beautiful voice was strained and
stuttering.  Brian couldn't help himself but shed a
tear for the frightened little boy.

"Oh, Nick..."  Brian whispered as he slumped onto the
bed beside Nick who was curled up in a tight foetal
position.

"D-d-d-don't tell, please Brian."  Nick whimpered in
the dark, hugging his knees tightly to his chest.

"Nick, it's alright."  Brian gently laid his hand on
what he envisioned to be Nick's tremblind back.  It's
hard to find the right body parts in the dark.  "I
won't tell, I promise."  Brian rubbed Nick's back,
smoothing away his trembling fears.

"P-p-promise?"  Nick swallowed his tears long enough
to look at the outline of Brian's face in the dark.

"Promise."  Brian whispered as he leaned in to kiss
Nick on his lips.

[End of Flashback]
*******************************************************

Back at the Ice Palace Hours into the Concert.

"LADIES AND GENTLEMEN, THE BACKSTREET BOYS!!!"  The
five boyz took to the stage to the thunderous ovation
of their home town sell out crowd.

"We're going to be doing something different tonight
ya'll."  Howie spoke up first, adjusting his mic.

"Tonight we will be celebrating our long time
success..."  Aj followed, turning to Kevin to finish
the sentence.

"And saying good bye to someone that has become such a
big part of us all."  Kevin smiled at Nick resignedly.

The crowd became uncomfortable after that last
statement.  Many fans, young and old, cried fearing
what was going to happen next.  Many more screamed out
their opposition to the idea.  But all in all, they
all in their thousands felt it in their hearts.

"Unfortunately, fans, tonight will be Nick's last
night with The Backstreet Boyz for an indefinite
amount of time."  Brian's voice croaked over the audio
sound system.

"No."  The crowd took a collective gasp and groaned in
their sorrow and despair.  "WE LOVE YOU NICK!"  Many
screamed in their trembling places.  "Why Nick?"  Many
more in the front questioned his intentions.

All the commotion and the despair pierced Nick in his
still raw heart.  He could not help from crying then
and there.

"I love y'all too.  You fans have been the greatest!"
Nick wiped his tears with the back of his hands, while
one by one the other Backstreet Boys came over to hug
him.  One by one, except for Brian who was still
feeling guilty for what had happened.

Hand in hand, the boyz took to the front of the stage
and thanked them together as the complete group that
had exploded onto the pop charts so many years ago for
the last time.  Together their voices rang out over
the ceiling of the arena, together, complete, united
for one last time before they say goodbye to one of
them.

~~
We've been through days of thunder
Some people said we don't belong
They try to pull us under
But here we stand together and we're millions strong

Let's get on with the show
(Let's get started)
Turn the lights down low
(Turn the lights down low)
You were there from the start
(You were there)
We know who you are
And this one goes out to

Everyone (yeah)
Everyone
Everyone
Said this one goes out to
Everyone
We're standing strong
`Cause of what you've done
And this one goes out to you

We've been inside the circus
We took the pleasure with the pain
I guess there's something about us
Whatever comes around we'll always stay the same
Oh yeah
Let's get on with the show
(Oh let's get started)
Turn the lights down low
(Turn the lights down low)
You were there from the start
(You were there)
We know who you are
We know
Who you are

Everyone (everyone)
Everyone
Everyone
This one goes out to
Everyone (baby)
We're standing strong
`Cause of what you've done
And this one goes out to you

Now we're minutes away
'Til it's time to play
Our heart beats are rising
They're letting you in
Time for the show to begin

We, we're standing strong
`Cause of what you've done
This one goes out to you, you, you
You make us feel like we've just begun
And this one goes out to you

Everyone (yeah)
Everyone (ye-heah)
Everyone
Said this one goes out to
Everyone (oh ho)
We're standing strong
`Cause of what you've done
And this one goes out to you

Everyone
Everyone (yeah-eeyeah-ah)
Everyone (yeah)
Said this one goes out to
Everyone
We're standing strong
`Cause of what you've done
And this one goes out to you
(you, you...)
~~

After the song, they all bowed, one by one starting
with kevin down the line to Nick.  The crowd cheered
their hearts and love to the group, their voice
singing together in a collective note of love and loss
for the five boyz they have all grown to love for
these past 6 years.

End of part 3


-------------------------------------------------------
There's part three.  I hope none of you are
disappointed with the way I dealt with the Kevin Kiss
thing.  I didn't believe that turning Kevin would be
good for the story.  But anyways email me what y'all
think.

thanks for reading

John