The next morning, with Alyssa and his parents at his side, Brian went to the hospital to get all the post-op work done. Coincidentally, the same nurse who took care of Alyssa was on staff. When she saw her she smiled. "Hi hon! You're looking a LOT better since the last time I saw you!"

"I feel better too!" Alyssa said.

"What can I do for you today?" The nurse asked.

Brian spoke up "I'm here to have some blood work done, because I'm having heart surgery on Friday. My name is Brian Littrell"

The nurse looked at her clipboard and saw his name. "Oh yes, here we are! Why don't you come on back?"

Brian started to follow her, but he stopped and looked at Alyssa. "Can she come back with me?" Brian asked.

The nurse looked like she was about to say no, but then she changed her mind and said "Okay"

Brian took Alyssa's hand in his, and together they followed the nurse into an examination room. The first thing, she needed from Brian was a urine specimen. Alyssa didn't even bother going there. Then, when Brian completed that the nurse drew some blood. Brian gritted his teeth and made one of his goofy faces, making Alyssa AND the nurse laugh. When she was done, she left the room, and said she'd be back in a couple of minutes. Brian closed his eyes and then opened them again, he looked like he was gonna throw up. Seeing this Alyssa went over to him, kneeled on the floor beside the chair, and took his hand in hers. He smiled at her. The nurse came back with an I.D. bracelet which she put on his wrist. "Okay, you're free to go hon, just remember no food or drinks, only water, after midnight before you come back here!" Brian stood up, took Alyssa's hand in his, and together they walked back out to the waiting room.

"Mommy look at my pretty bracelet!" Brian said pretending to show his mom the I.D. bracelet, he was talking in a child's voice.

"I want a bwacelet!" Brianne said coming up to Brian and wrapping herself around his legs.

Brian picked her up and said "You can have my bracelet when I'm done with it!"

"Pwomise?" Brianne asked.

"Promise!" Brian said giving her a quick kiss on the cheek before he put her down. Then they all walked out of the hospital together, and headed back to Brian's place.

The days before the surgery went by fast, and before anyone knew it Friday had come. Alyssa left Brianne with Kristen and A.J., figuring Brianne would have more fun there then at the hospital. Brian was given a room to get ready in, Alyssa and his parents decided to wait outside. While they were waiting the elevator doors opened to reveal Kevin and Theresa. They stepped out, and walked over to Alyssa. "Are we too late?" Kevin asked.

"No...just in time!" Alyssa said giving them both a hug.

"Kevin REALLY wanted to see Brian before the surgery, so we drove here from California." Theresa explained taking a seat in one of the chairs. 5 minutes later, Brian was wheeled out into the hallway. The group walked over to him. Brian's parents were the first ones to talk to him, then Alyssa stepped up "Hey you!"

"Hey!" Brian said taking Alyssa's hand in his.

"I'll wait right here for you!" Alyssa said

"You better!" Brian said smiling.

Then Alyssa kissed him softly on the lips.

Kevin was next, "Hey cuz!" He said as he stepped up to the gurney.

"Kev! You made it!" Brian smiled

"Of course! We'll all be here when you get back! I'll talk to you then!" Kevin explained as the surgeon came back. Brian was wheeled off to the operating room. Now all they could do was wait. After 45 minutes, Alyssa started to get worried. She started crying silently. Brian's mom, who was sitting next to her, was the first to notice. "Alyssa what's wrong?" She put her arm around her and gave her a hug.

"I forgot to tell him I love him..." Alyssa managed to reply between sobs.

"Oh..." Jackie gently laughed "Honey he knows..."

"But...my....mom...used to say...ALWAYS, no matter what, tell the person you love....how much you love them.....because....you...you...never know when you....might see them!" Alyssa explained.

"You'll see him again!" Jackie said letting Alyssa rest her head on her shoulder.

"But...it's already been 45 minutes!....it wasn't supposed to take any longer!" Alyssa pointed out.

"Let the doctors do their job...hon...a procedure like this takes time..." Jackie said brushing some strands of hair off Alyssa's face.

"I know..." Alyssa whispered.

2 hours and 45 minutes later, a surgeon came into the waiting room. "Mr. and Mrs. Littrell?" Brian's parents stood up, along with Kevin, Theresa, Alyssa, Harold and his wife. "The surgery over-all was a success, but the reason why it took longer was because we found another hole in his heart. He also had some clogged arteries that needed to be cleaned out..." The surgeon explained.

"Can we see him?" Kevin asked.

"Yes, but please let him rest too!" The surgeon cautioned them.

They all headed towards Brian's room, but Alyssa heard her name being paged over the intercom. "Will Alyssa Jones, please come to the front desk?" Worried something might have happened to Brianne, she rushed to the main desk.

"Hello?" Alyssa asked.

"Oh my God! Lyssa... you won't believe who called for you?!" Kristen excitedly asked.

"WHO?!" Alyssa asked.

"Jive Records! Lyssa, do you know what this means?!" Kristen asked.

"SERIOUSLY?!" Alyssa asked getting excited.

"YES!" Kristen replied.

"WHAT DID THEY SAY?!" Alyssa yelled excitedly into the phone.

"They said they heard your demo tape, and liked it! They want to sign you along with TransCon!" Kristen explained.

"OH MY GOD!" Alyssa cried out.

"I'm so happy for you!" Kristen congratulated her friend.

"Kris, I've gotta go now! I've gotta tell everyone!" Alyssa explained.

"Okay! Bye!" Kristen said and then she hung up the phone.

Alyssa nearly did cartwheels up to the I.C.U. when she got to Brian's room, she noticed everyone waiting outside.

"What's wrong?" Alyssa asked.

"Oh... we're done visiting..." Jackie said. "Who called?"

"OH! I've got GREAT NEWS! Jive Records and TransContinental want to sign a contract with me!" Alyssa said jumping up and down. Everyone hugged her. Then Alyssa remembered Brian, so she excused herself from the party, and slowly opened the door. When she saw him, tears came to her eyes. He looked so pale, he was sleeping still, and he had one of those heart machines hooked up to him. He had those tubes stuck up his nose for oxygen. Alyssa walked over to the bedside, and picked up his hand, it was warm. So she pulled up a chair, and sat down. She promised him she'd be there when he woke up, and she intended on keeping that promise.

An hour later, Alyssa still sitting and staring intently at the sleeping Brian noticed his eyes start to blink. Slowly he opened them, and looked directly at her. He smiled and tried to talk, but his voice was still hoarse from being asleep.

Alyssa just smiled at him. "Hey sleeping beauty!" She playfully greeted him.

"Hi..." Brian whispered.

"Shhh... don't try to talk hon, just get some rest...." Alyssa whispered.

Brian nodded and closed his eyes. Alyssa stayed by his side for the whole week Brian was in the hospital. He was able to go home on Sunday, but he was given strict orders to stay in bed for a couple days before attempting anything strenuous. When Brian got home, he settled into bed. A few hours later, Nick and Laura showed up to visit him. Nick seemed a little uncomfortable around Laura, but maybe he was sunburned or something. Laura pulled Alyssa into the kitchen. "I see you notice, huh?"

"What?" Alyssa asked.

"That Nick and I are...oh...not as close shall we say?" Laura asked.

"What happened? Did you guys have a fight?" Alyssa asked.

"Well... I sorta told Nick, I wasn't ready for anything serious right now..." Laura explained. "Ever since then, he seems withdrawn. I think I hurt his feelings Alyssa..."

"Have you talked to him since then?" Alyssa asked

"I've tried, but he just changes the subject! Oh... all I did was try to explain my feelings, and now, I'm afraid he's gonna break up with me!" Laura looked sadly down at the floor.

"He likes you! A LOT!" Alyssa explained. "Give him time, I'm sure he's had a bad relationship once...maybe he doesn't feel confortable talking about it!" Alyssa explained.

"Maybe..." Laura replied.

The two girls returned to Brian's room where everyone else was, and joined in on the quiet/welcome home party. All their problems were forgotten for the moment.