"No, Bri.. Why?" Nick asked sitting up on the couch.
"I can't find her.." Brian said.
"Hold on, I'll help you, in a sec.." Nick said getting up.
Brian walked into the kitchen, she wasn't there either. He looked out the window into the backyard and there he saw her sitting on the swing. She was shivering. Nick came up behind Brian, "Looks to me she's been up all morning... you should go out there, she's going to get sick." he suggested.
"Nick, thank you, for allowing me to be with Karen, you are the best." Brian said softly.
"You guys were meant to be.." Nick sighed. "Now go, before she gets sick."
Brian nodded and walked out the door. As he walked closer and closer to Karen, he noticed she had been crying, and that she was cold. "Karen? Are you okay?"
Karen looked up and ran into his arms. "Brian? I'm scared, what if my stepfather gets custody of me, what if he doesn't get put into jail?"
"Karen, he's not going to win... I told you I'm not going to let him." Brian said. "How long have you been up? I got worried about you when you weren't in my arms this morning."
"Brian, I've been up since 3 am.."
"You must be tired..."
"No, I'm fine.."
"Well we have to be in the courtroom in about 20 minutes, we should get ready."
"Okay," Karen agreed.
They went to get changed and by the time they were finished everyone was dressed and ready to go. When Brian opened the door, there were fans running towards them. He quickly shut the door, "Shoot, what are we going to do?" Brian asked.
"Well, all our cars are up in the front. We're going to have to face them.." Kevin said.
"Shit, they must've camped out or something." A.J. said.
Brian opened the door and they all ran to their cars. They locked all their doors. Fans were everywhere, on the rooftops of the cars, everywhere. Brian didn't want to run anyone over so he honked his horn and slowly began to back up. The fans saw this and backed away from the car. As they sped off the fans ran after them, screaming and yelling.
As they arrived at the courthouse another group of fans were there and reporters everywhere. Security and police were everywhere. They surrounded the vehicles and ushered everyone in as quickly as they could. Brian held on to Karen's hand as tightly as possible to let her know he was still there. Nick and Theresa walked right behind them hand in hand. Fans were confused, some fans were angry and some were surprised and happy. One girl yelled out, "Nick's mine!" And another yelled out, "Karen, you're only using the Backstreet Boys for popularity you slut! First you sleep with your stepfather, then Nick and now Brian."
That alarmed Karen and Brian shot that girl a look. He couldn't believe his ears, where's the support, where's the respect. Karen, now angered, stopped and said to the girl, "I'm sorry but you're mistaken, I'm not sleeping with Brian, but he does look good doesn't he..." she said rudely. The girl looked at her shocked. "But at least he's holding my hand and not..."
Brian pulled her away before she said anything else regretful, "Karen, don't let them get to you..." he said softly. He turned to the girl, "I'm sorry, she's a little stressed and tired. Please keep your comments to yourself..."
"I'm sorry, but she.."
"They're just jealous, fans like to spread rumours about us, let them, they don't know what the truth is...." he whispered.
"Okay, I'm sorry."
"Now let's go inside." he said.
They walked into the courtroom, Karen walked passed Mr. Walsh without looking at him. They sat down with the others.
"ALL RISE!"
"You may be seated," said Judge Foreman. "The jury has reached a decision. But first, Mr. Walsh, please stand. Do you plead guilty or not guilty in the case of rape and abuse?"
"No guilty, your honour." Mr. Walsh said.
"Backstreet Boys, please stand. Do you plead guilty or not guilty in the case of kidnapping?"
"Not guilty," they all replied.
"Alright, jury, both sides plead not guilty. What was your decision?" Judge Foreman asked.
One of the juryman stood up. "In the case of kidnapping, we found the Backstreet Boys not guilty."
Everyone looked at each other and smiled, they didn't care about that because they knew they didn't kidnap her, they were waiting for the case of rape and abuse.
"In the case of abuse and rape, we find Mr.Walsh..."
Brian held onto Karen's hand, and he felt her squeeze his hand.
"....GUILTY!"
With that, Karen started to cry out of joy. She looked over at her stepfather who was shocked at the decision.
Judge Foreman spoke up, "The case of kidnapping, congratulations. Whereas the case of abuse and rape. Mr. Walsh, you lied and you pleaded guilty. This was a serious case, raping two minors and threatening them and others. You will be sentenced to a life time in jail and will not be allowed out on bail until further notice. You were seeing to 20 years in jail, but the fact you lied, threatened people and pleaded guilty, ruined your chances on getting out any time soon." He looked at Karen, "Karen, you are still a minor, you will need to go to a foster home until you turn 19. Even if it's for a couple of months, you still need to be under the care of an adult. It's in your mother's wishes, and we have to carry that out..."
"No..why can't I stay with them.." she said looking at the Backstreet Boys.
"You will be allowed to go back to them as soon as you turn 19, it's only a couple of months." Judge Foreman said.
"What if I adopt her, take her in for the next few months?" Kevin suggested.
"Mr. Richardson, how old are you?"
"27."
"Will you be able to watch over her in the next few months?"
"I'll be going on tour, but we will take her with us.."
"Doesn't she have to go to college?"
"Well, Nick here is 19 and he does his school work on tour. She can be tutored. She can do home schooling through the University of Florida. That's what Nick is doing.."
"Mr. Richardson, your offer is hard to pass up, she seems happy with you guys. If you promise to give her an education and put her on track where she can earn money on her own, I will give you the right to be her guardian."
"I promise, I swear on my life.." Kevin said.
"Well, then it is GRANTED. Court adjourned."
The Backstreet Boys, Jordan, Leigh Anne, Amanda, Dawn and Theresa stood up and gave hugs all around as they cheered. Karen watched her stepfather get cuffed, she walked up to him, "Mr. Walsh, I truly did want to love you as my father, I was greatful when you took my mother and I in.." Brian saw this and walked up behind her, not wanting to interrupt what she was saying, he figured it was something she had to do, to put some closure onto the situation. "...but once you started to rape me and hurt my mother, I couldn't love you knowing your insanity. And losing my friends just cause you were hurting them behind my back... you deserve this and I know my mother will agree."
Mr. Walsh looked at her with hurtful eyes, he knew what he did was wrong but it was too late to change anything. "Karen, I want you to know, I'm sorry..." he started.
"No, I don't want to hear it..." she turned around to walk away and stood face to face with Brian. She walked into his arms and smiled. "Brian, thank you for standing by my side all the way through.." Everyone else crowded around. "Thank you all for being there 100%. You guys are true friends." She walked up to Nick and gave him a hug. "Thank you, you mean a great deal to me.. thank you for everything." she whispered.
Nick smiled. "It's not a problem..." he whispered back.
The group slowly made their way outside. Press just heard the news and as they walked out, they crowded around. The group felt, this was the time to answer some questions about the case and nothing more. They needed to clear their name. One reporter asked, "Kevin, you adopting Karen, is it true?"
"Yes, I am now Karen's father," he laughed.
"Karen, are you happy now that you're stepfather is in jail?"
"Yes, now he can't hurt anyone else. I don't want to be harsh, but he deserves it, he lied and lied to protect himself but never cared about others." she replied.
"Nick is it true you and Karen dated?"
Nick looked at Brian and the others around them. "Yes, we DID date."
"Brian, it is obvious that you and Leigh Anne are broken up. But you guys are still friends right?"
"Yes, everyone here, we're all like siblings, we're one big happy family." he said looking over at Leigh Anne who was smiling at him.
"Karen, what is going to happen between you and Christy?"
"Well, we talked about it and we are going to re-mend or friendship, we are definately going to be friends again."
Lou Pearlman walked up to the group. "Congratulations guys," he said.
"Thank you." Everyone said.
"You were the one who had no faith is us Louie, you owe us an apology." Howie joked.
"Actually, you owe Karen an apology." A.J. said.
"I'm sorry everyone and Karen." Lou Pearlman said. "You guys are truly great people. But you guys must go home now before more fans show up and a riot happens."
"Alright," Brian turned to the press. "Thank you."
They all climbed into their cars and headed off to Kevin's place.
When they got back, the fans had cleared out, "Hey, guys, I say we should celebrate tonight," Kevin suggested.
"Yeah," Nick said. "For winning this case and for happiness."
"And since Theresa and Dawn are leaving in a week, we will also have the party for them." Howie said.
Nick looked at Theresa sadly. "I forgot you were about to leave..."
Aaron walked up to his big brother, "Actually.."
Dawn stepped in, "We're staying.."
"You what?" asked Nick.
"We're moving down here, our fathers got jobs down here." Theresa smiled.
"You are!!" Nick said excitedly.
"Yup." Dawn grinned at Aaron.
"Well, I guess this is a party for winning the case, and our new lives with our new friends." Kevin said.
Everyone cheered. They all sat around talking and having great laughs.
A couple hours have passed, "Well, let's get this party goin.." Nick said as he turned on the music and started dancing. The song "U Drive Me Crazy" by Britney Spears came on. He looked at Karen and smiled. "You gotta show these people your dance," he laughed. He pulled her up and she stood there embarassed. But Leigh Anne, Amanda Theresa and Dawn joined her.
"Hey look at here," A.J. laughed. "It's the Backstreet Girls." Everyone laughed.
Karen looked around her friends. Her new life was about to begin. She decided to go upstairs and change when she noticed Brian was missing. 'I wonder where he could be.' She walked up the stairs and into her room. As she was about to turn on the lights she noticed that candles were lit in her room, she looked on her bed and there was a dozen roses laying there. She walked around the room, she noticed a stereo there. She went to her closet to grab some clothes to change into and Brian jumped out of her closet startling her. "You scared me.." she said.
He pulled out another dozen roses from out behind his back.
"When did you have time to do all this??" Karen asked.
"Well, I told the guys to distract you for awhile..." Brian said.
Karen took the flowers, "Well what did I do to deserve all this?" she asked.
"Nothing, Karen?" he said embracing her. He released her and looked straight into her eyes, "Karen we've been through so much.. and I'd like to know....Will you be my girlfriend? I want to help you start your new life, and I want it to have me in it..." he whispered.
Karen looked at him and kissed him.
"Well, so does that mean yes?" he asked out of breathe.
"Hmm.. no it doesn't."
"It doesn't..."
"It means I'm all yours...and I have been since day one..." Karen smiled.
Brian pulled her into him and began to kiss her passionately. He carried her to her bed removing the roses and placing them on her dresser. He walked over to the stereo and turned on "Music of My Heart" by 'N Sync and Gloria Estefan. "This song talks about what we've been through and everytime I listen to it, it reminds me of you and me.."
"Brian, shut up!" Karen said pulling him on top of her. She kissed him ever so softly. Brian slipped his tongue into her mouth and slowly entangled his tongue with hers. She was happy to be with him, she was happy to be with all these guys. As things heated up and started getting out of control, Brian and Karen felt they should go downstairs to join the others.
Brian went to turn off the stereo, but as Karen was about to walk out the door, Brian pulled her back into his arms. He whispered, "Before we go downstairs, can I have this dance?" He had turned on 'Angel of Mine' By Monica. They danced closely with each other as their heads rested against each others. Brian started to sing softly into her ear, "When I first saw you.... I already knew, there was something inside of you...Something I thought that I could never lie..Angel of Mine..."
Karen looked at Brian with sparkling eyes, as he continued to sing to her, Karen embraced him tighter and they danced till the end of the song. As the song ended, Brian saw tears in her eyes. "Don't cry, Karen." He wiped away her tears.
"I'm crying cause I'm happy..." she explained. "You are one sweetie, Brian.. I've never been sang to before.. That was --"
"Shhh." Brian said putting his finger on her lips. He leaned in and he kissed her. "Now we can go downstairs..." He grabbed her hand and they walked down hand in hand.
Meanwhile, in the backyard, Nick and Theresa were having some fun. They were chasing each other around in the yard like they were little kids. Nick tackled Theresa, "Ha, I got you.." he laughed.
"Yeah, I guess you did.." she laughed along. She laid on the ground, 'I always have so much fun when I'm with him.'
"Theresa, I like this, having fun and being here with you..." Nick said fondling with her hair.
"I do too." Theresa smiled. Nick leaned in to give her a peck on the lips, but Theresa rolled away and he kissed the ground. She laughed hysterically. Nick looked at her and pouted. "Ohh.. I'm sorry..." she said sweetly. She gave him a kiss but he pressed his lips like a little kid having a tantrum. "Fine, I'm going to find myself a guy who will kiss me...." she said pretending to get up.
Nick pulled her back, "No, you're staying right here with me...." He started to tickle her crazily.
They continued to play around with each other when they heard loud music playing. A.J. had cranked up the music. "Let's go inside and dance up a storm..." Theresa suggested. The two got up and ran inside.
In the rec room, Dawn and Aaron were playing N64, Aaron was interested in beating Dawn in Mario Kart, he wanted the title and the fact he kept losing to a girl, made him feel like a wuss. "I'm really glad how things turned out.." Dawn said. "For you and me, for Theresa and Nick..and Karen..everyone seems to be happy."
"Yes, and now that you guys are staying in Florida, I can spend all my time with you." Aaron said.
"Yeah, all of us..." Dawn said. "..ONE BIG HAPPY FAMILY!!"
Aaron grinned and gave her a kiss. It distracted her and he won the race.
"Hey no fair, you distracted me...."
"Too BAD, I win.. I'm am now crowned the CHAMPION.." he raised his arms in the air. "I BEAT DAWN! I BEAT DAWN!!!"
"Yes, rub it in, I'm going to reclaim the title..sit your butt down.." Dawn laughed.
"NOPE, I'm going to enjoy it now and forever.." he said. Just then, they heard the music playing loudly, "LET'S GO HAVE SOME FUN!!!" Aaron said grabbing Dawn's hand and pulling her out with him.
© 1999fanfic4all@yahoo.com
