She had been writing a plan to keep things in check. She had to be on top of things, now more than ever, if they wanted to pull this off.

They had thought about everything, every little detail, except how Kevin was going to handle the press.

Ariadne let out a soft sigh, walking over to the small bar and getting out a bottle of water. She uncapped it in one movement and took a long drink.

"I'm sure the first thing they'll ask in the interview is about your condition," Ariadne said as she walked back to the couch, bottle in hand. "There are standard things you'll say, like I'm glad to be back. I'm still on medication, but ready to kick the tour."

Kevin nodded slowly, trying to remember the words.

"They'll ask what you've been doing this time. Be honest," she said with a small smile. "Just resting, focusing on getting better and waiting for the doctor's green light." She took another drink of the bottle. "Lets try it. I'll ask you, all right? Kevin, how ya being doing?"

Kevin gave her a shaky smile she didn't buy. "Fine, thanks. Just resting until the doctor let me come back on tour."

Ariadne sighed softly. There was doubt and staggering in his voice. The press would eat him alive. She uncapped a pen, writing down in his agenda. She would have to tell the guys never to leave him alone when it came down to press conferences. She thought about it for a second, her eyes drifting back over to his posture as he sat down. His back was slightly hunched back and he kept looking at his fingers. She shook her head. No. The guys couldn't leave him. He wasn't strong enough.

She smiled at him, trying to look reassurance, but she wasn't sure if she actually pulled it off.

"What did you do during your small break?"

Kevin looked at her, surprised all over his features. He seemed to be wondering wherever they were still practicing of she was actually making a question of her own.

Ariadne nodded and Kevin tumbled over with his words. Ariadne pinched the bridge of her nose.

"Hmm... I was just resting. Nothing much. Practicing the choreography."

His voice was as doubtful as it could be and Ariadne shook her head. "No, you're supposed to be on bed rest regarding your medical condition. You couldn't have been practicing."

"Then what do I say?"

"I've been anxious to get back. I've never been any good at bed rest. I can't stay on bed for too long before I start to fidget around and get on every one's nerves." Ariadne finished her impromptu answer and Kevin looked at her with confused green eyes. She shrugged. "That will sound funny and they would lay back on the questions. You gotta make them feel like you're talking with old friends. "

"But I can't say what actually happened?"

Ariadne shook her head.

"Then it's like lying to friends. You can't lie to friends."

Ariadne thought about his words for a moment before biting back her answer and feeling something crushing her chest in iron fist. She shook it off, but icy cold run down her spine as she did that. "They are not your friends, you just gotta make them feel like it. They'll be easy on you if you pretend you're not hiding anything."

Kevin bit his lower lip. "But I am hiding something, right?"

Ariadne wished she didn't have to nod, but apparently, morals where now on the agenda. Kevin didn't used to have any regards concerning press. "Really, don't worry. You just gotta say some things, then the guys will make sure they change the line of questioning." And she had made sure the guys would change it. Each one of them had precise instructions.

"Thanks."

"Sure." Ariadne lowered her eyes to her clipboard, writing down a couple of notes.

"Do we do this a lot?"

The question got Ariadne out of her axe. "What?"

"This," he said, waving his hands around the room. "Interviews. Do we do this a lot?"

"Hmmm..." She thought about it, biting her lower lip. "Yeah. Sometimes. Publicity it's always good."

Kevin leaned again the side of the couch, pillow held tightly in his arm. Kevin pressed his cheek on his open palm, looking girlish in Ariadne's eyes and oh so very young. "What else do we do?"

Ariadne sighed slowly. There really wasn't a way to answer that question without talking about everything the five of them had been through for the past eight years. How do you sum up a life in a couple of words? How do you explain Kevin's old behavior when this Kevin was new to all that life? She didn't know. So she didn't pretend.

"I'm not so sure I can explain," she said slowly. "Besides interviews, there are some photo shoots, radio shows, some TV shows." She thought about the guys' schedule. "Autograph signings, meet-&-greets." She couldn't help but grin at her own words. "It's fun. I think you'll like it."

Kevin nodded, setting comfortably on the couch, "I think I will." Looking at her, he smiled softly, his dimples showing and his eyes clearing.

Ariadne's grin deepened. This was Kevin's genuine smile; she could recognize it deep in his features. It had changed; she could also see that, but barely. Buried in Kevin's green eyes, she could still see his smile. "That's good."

She stood up, checking her agenda. "Today it's just that interview with Teen Beat, then a photo shoot. We were told it was only going to be a couple of group pictures, no single ones, so there shouldn't be a problem. Always stay close to one of the guys, in case something happens." She waited long enough for him to nod. "It shouldn't take long."

She checked her watch. "It's getting late. You'd better take a shower and change. The rest of your stuff it's in your room."

Kevin paused for a second, not saying anything. "Could you help me?"

Taken back, Ariadne stared at him quizzically, one eyebrow raised, her lips closed in a thin line. "What?"

"With the clothes," Kevin smiled shapelessly at her. "When we were in Virginia, I only had to wear sweats and that was fine, I couldn't mess that but. But now..."

Ariadne nodded understandingly. "Now there are much more option s and you don't know what to wear."

Kevin lowered his head in shame, nodding barely perceptible. "It's just that..."

He paused and Ariadne waited with the utmost patience. People like Kevin, this shy all of a sudden, you had to give them time to open up to you. She knew that from experience. Knowing like in her past time, times when books were all around and things were hectic but a different kind of hectic, things would work out beautifully with a stunning reward. Like it had before.

"I've seen the videos," Kevin continued, "All of them. And there I always looked so... together. So on top of things. The clothes were nice, the colors blending perfectly with each other. "He shrugged. "I don't know how to do that. I don't know how to pull that off."

Oh, god, Ariadne thought sadly. Her heart went out to him. He was lost. All tall, dark and handsome, with a posture of a God and he was so lost it was heartbreaking; she couldn't believe it. She could barely recognize Kevin under all that insecurity and shyness.

"It's okay," she said softly, walking over to him, doing something she had never dared to. She invaded his personal space as she placed a hand on his shoulder. "It's okay."

And, as expected, he rewarded him with the sweetest smile.

*****

It really wasn't all that hard dressing Kevin. There was something on Ariadne's favor: Kevin looked great in practically anything. Anything.

And standing before Ariadne, dressed in dark green cargo pants, a white shirt and a turtleneck sweater with brown shoes completing the look, Ariadne proved that theory oh so very true.

Kevin smiled shyly at her and Ariadne bit back the instinct to whistle. In a second, her mind wondered why in the world he hadn't found that someone special, being the jewel he was. But she was a professional, and a professional never questions her employer's personal life, so she didn't.

"How do I look?"

Ariadne nodded, both thumbs up. "You really look great." And she wasn't lying. The woman was sure he could be wearing boxer shorts, a leather jacket and a helmet and he would still looked like a model, but she didn't say that.

She checked her watch, frowning slightly. "We've got just enough time to head to the lobby and prove, once again, that we're the only two who can tell time."

Kevin returned the smile and headed to the door, opening it for Ariadne. She would have blush if she wasn't trying so hard not to.

*****

Nick flashed the now famous Carter grin as he stepped into the conference room, the place set for this interview.

"Darla!" He said loudly, opening his arms wide. "Darla, my dear! It's been ages since I last saw you. What have you been up to?"

The girl chuckled, shaking her head as she did so. "Nick..."

"Yo, man," Alex said, walking over her and dropping his arm along her shoulder. "Are you hitting on my girl?" He tightened his hold on the girl, who only chuckled along.

"Please, Darla, forgive them," Brian said, greeting her as well. "They haven't been taking their medicine lately."

"That," Howie added his own two cents, "and puberty hasn't hit yet."

Kevin took the hint. "You shouldn't pay them any attention," he said, his voice steady. "How are you Darla?"

"Kevin," she said, looking right at him with a small smile, "the only one with some sense."

"Hey!" Alex pulled away from her, "I resent that."

They all took their seats around the small table that had been set for the occasion, waiting for the questions to start.

"Well," she said, hitting Rec and Play in her tape recorder, "I think some things are first. Kevin, how are you feeling?"

He smiled just as Ariadne had instructed, remembering her words in his mind, telling himself to stay calm and controlled. "I'm fine now, thanks, just glad to be back on tour."

She nodded. "I'm sure you were anxious to be back."

"Yeah, you have no idea. I've never been any good at bed rest. I just can't keep still for so long, and three weeks was too long for me."

She chuckled, looking at his sideways. "So, you're good as new?"

"I can't really say he was ever good," Brian said with a small frown, his eyebrows wrinkled together.

"Yep," Alex nodded, agreeing one hundred percent. "I think he's damaged goods."

"Not everyone can be perfect from the get go," Nick said, proudly, bushing his chest in a rather obnoxious manner.

Kevin just glared at his four friends, shaking his head. "I believe I was answering the questions."

"But Kevin," Nick said in an almost childish voice, "you can be expected to remember anything. You're senile, remember?"

"Oh, right, when was the last time you wet your bed?" Kevin grinned. "Yeah, two days ago."

The blond pouted as Kevin smirked.

"Boys, boys, please," Darla said, lifting her arms in sign of surrender, even though she was smiling. "There's no need to get physical."

"You don't know them Darla," Alex said, leaning over, pretending to be telling her a secret. "Those two are all about the yelling."

"And screaming."

"And grounding."

Kevin and Nick only glared at their so-called friends.

Darla laughed, enjoying the share animosity. This was one of the many reasons she loved interviewing the boys. They were a tight group, and you could see it by spending five minutes with them. They were always goofing around and just being themselves.

"I am fine," Kevin said after a little while, "thanks for asking. I'm still under medication, but fine nonetheless."

"That's good," she said, nodding as she did so, "it's great to have you back. We missed you so much."

"And I missed this, let me tell you."

She nodded. "Well, what else?" Darla looked at her clipboard. "Oh, yeah, Howie, I heard you have a new sweetheart."

Howie waved it off while Nick patted Kevin's shoulder amicably, smiling softly at the older man. The line they had practice just before the interview had gone smoothly. Darla hadn't even realized it was rehearsed. Kevin lifted one eyebrow and Nick nodded, smiling reassuringly.

The rest of the interview was barely noticed, as Darla focused mostly on Alex's teasing, Brian and Nick's jokes and Howie's proud talk about his Lupus Foundation. Kevin, mostly, just laid back and answered the two or three questions she sent his way. It was a piece of cake.

*****

After lunch that followed suitably the interview that had gone so well, the guys had two more things in their schedule. They had yet another interview with yet another magazine, but they weren't much worried. Since Kevin had practically aced the first one, he could handle another one. And then, they had an open autograph signing. It really wasn't open, as it was friendly. There weren't any lines, just the guys mingling with forty girls, answering questions, getting their pictures taken and so on.

Everything was going fine; Kevin was almost a natural when it came down to dealing with little girls. When a seven-year-old girl began tearing up in front of him, Kevin patted her cheek lovingly and gave her a sweet smile. The girl calm down considerably and handed him a group photo for him to sign.

Another little girl walked over towards Kevin, smiling at the older man sweetly. "Hi," she said with a shy smile.

Kevin grinned, lowering his gaze to look right at her. "Hey there. What's your name?"

"Brenny," the girl said. She turned around, getting something from her backpack. There seemed to be million of things there, as she rummaged for whatever it was she was looking for. She found it, getting out a picture of the five of them. Brenny smiled proudly. "My big sister got me this picture a couple of months ago. It's my favorite."

Kevin nodded absently, taking the picture from her hands. He didn't recognize the moment, which didn't surprise him at all.

It was the five of them, standing together, smiling at the camera. There were all in thick coats, apparently freezing to death. Kevin didn't recognize the cold winter in New York, or the top of the MTV studios last November after the 100-hour Tour. He only saw five guys, smiles on their faces as they had accomplish something Kevin had no memories of whatsoever.

But he smiled at the little girl and took his dark blue marker in hand and proceeded to sign the picture.

"Can you write your whole name?" The little girl asked, her face showing she wished she had meant no disrespect. "I always wanted to have a picture with both your names on it."

He couldn't do anything but bit his lower lip and nod, even though he had no idea how he was going to accomplish it. In other given circumstances, there would have been no problem. In other circumstances, Kevin would have smiled at her and signed both his names, handing the picture back to the little girl.

But these were yet other circumstances and Kevin found himself in a predicament.

The moment seemed to freeze in time, as Kevin looked at the picture for a second, trying to wrap his memory about the things that had been said to him. He remembered the guys names, and his own. He remembered Ariadne's name and the color of Nick's eyes. He remembered he liked scrambled eggs when Howie made them and how Alex smoked after dinner and in the bathroom. But for the live of him, he couldn't remember if he had even been told he had a middle name.

Kevin clenched his hands into fists, his hold onto the picture so tight, the corners were doubling and undoubtedly would leave mark; then the instant melted away as a hand lay on Kevin's shoulder and barely perceptible squeezed.

He turned around, finding himself staring at the pair of blue eyes he had reminiscent barely second ago, and there was a faint flicker of emotion there that seemed to go unnoticed as Nick smiled at him.

"What's up man?" The blond asked, placing himself by Kevin's side, resting his elbow where his hand had been only moments ago, his hand dropping forward. His eyes moved over to the little girl standing before Kevin. "And who are you my dear?"

"I'm Brenny." She said proudly. "I wanted Kevin to write his whole name on my picture."

Nick nodded, understandingly, having heard that part of the conversation where he had been standing, barely three feet from Kevin. "I see. And what's wrong? Kevin won't add Scott by his name, or what?"

Kevin chuckled, shaking his head as he did so, covering ever so masterly the fact that Nick had just given him the clue he needed. He wrote down both names in one quick motion, giving the picture back to Brenny. "Here you go darling. I hope you enjoy the rest of signing."

Brenny squealed in emotion when she saw the names written right under the image of Kevin and Nick, shoulder by shoulder, both of them seeming so right together in that picture. She nodded at Kevin, and then stood on tiptoe, wanting to give Kevin a kiss on the cheek. Kevin leaned over just enough for her to reach as she peeked him on the cheek. "Thank you," she said, walking away.

Her eyes drifted over to the picture, staring at Kevin's signature thoughtfully. She frowned slightly, picturing her friend's, Dana's, autograph of Kevin. It was weird, because, as far as she remembered, in Dana's picture of only Kevin sitting on the grass, Kevin's signature looked very different.

She shrugged it off, not really giving it another thought as she approached AJ.

"Thanks," Kevin muttered under his breath as Nick placed his left arm along the older man's shoulders.

Nick shrugged, chuckling as he did so, pretending Kevin had said something funny. "No prob man." He had heard the little girl's request, and was grateful for that. Nick didn't even want to think what would have happened if he hadn't.

"Can I take a picture of the two of you?" A girl of about fourteen asked, showing her camera to the duo.

Kevin and Nick looked at each other, shrugging. "Sure," Kevin said, standing up straight, as he looked right at the camera.

Nick drew a sharp breath, his intake of air catching in his throat as Kevin accommodated his right arm, squashed between both bodies, around Nick's waist. He smiled naturally, feeling Kevin's body heat in waves that seemed to surround him and capture him. His eyes cleared and his thoughts melted away as he let himself enjoy the moment, the second the touch would last.

And then there was a click of a camera and the flash going off, and Kevin's arm fell from his waist and Nick was forced to untangle himself from the position, and he bit his lip.