Ok.  Hit the pause button right there.  You know when you're so totally shocked, and your mouth just hangs open like you're an animal trap of some sort?  Something totally unexpected has happened, and you can't quite grasp that it's happening to you.  There are a million thoughts running through your head, but at the same time, your mind is blank.  That's exactly how I felt.  I mean, I'd thought about marrying him, but what girl doesn't fantasize at one point or another in her relationship about marrying her boyfriend?  But I mean, marriage?  And then, in a split second, I knew.  I just knew.  He was the one.  This was destiny, fate, or whatever you want to call it.  It was meant to be!  And if I blew it, I'd be throwing away the best thing that had ever happened to me, and it quite possibly would never happen to me again.  There.  I've justified my forthcoming action.  You may now press play.
 
    I sucked in my breath, and as I did, Nick looked terrified.  I almost burst out laughing at the sight of his face, but I maintained my composure.  I looked deep into his eyes, and managed a barely audible "yes".
 
    For a moment, he looked stunned.  Then just as quickly, he let out a trickle of joyous laughter and lifted me up in his arms.  He held me tight and kissed me over and over again.  Both of us were laughing and crying at the same time.  Apparently we were doing this fairly loudly, because we heard Brian calling from his room, "Are you two alright?  I'm trying to get some sleep in here!"
 
    Nick looked back at me and laughed, then called out to Brian.  "Yo B, come in here for a minute, will ya?"
 
    I heard footsteps coming toward us on the plush carpet, and then Brian appeared around the corner, hair tousled and face twisted in an enormous yawn.
 
    "Alright Nick, what's so earth shatteringly important that you have to get me out of my warm, totally comfy bed?"
 
    Nick grinned at him, like a four-year-old with a huge secret.  Finally Brian hit him and said, "Come on Nick!  If you're gonna get me outta bed in the middle of the night, you'd better have a damn good reason for it!"
 
    "Ok ok," Nick relented, "Sam and I have some big news (to which Brian replied "duh")....we're engaged."
 
    Brian's mouth dropped open.  After he'd absorbed what Nick had told him, his eyes darted back and forth, to me, to Nick, and then back to me again, like he was watching a tennis match of some sort.  But at the same time he was doing this, Nick was growing increasingly worried.  "Uh, Bri, man, um, say something, ok?  You're making me really nervous."
 
    Brian looked up directly at Nick with a serious look in his eyes.  Quietly, and with a forced smile, he said "Congratulations, you two...uh, Nick, could I just talk to you for a second?"
 
    Frowning, Nick looked back at me, shrugged his shoulders, and then went with Brian.  Worriedly, I crept up to where they were talking.  I could faintly hear Brian's voice as he asked Nick, "Are you sure you want to do this?"
 
    "Of course I do!  I love Sam very much, and I don't ever want to lose her.  She's the one Bri, I thought you'd be happy for us."
 
    "I just think you might be making a mistake Nick.   You two haven't been dating very long, so I didn't really expect this...especially not from you.  You never used to be this...committed.  Remember Jill?  You cheated on her left and right.  She was devastated when she found out.  And Callie, remember her?  The only reason she was dating me was so she could get a record deal.  So what makes you think that this time is gonna be different, huh?"
 
    "Dammit Brian, people change!  I've changed, you're my best friend, you should know that-"
 
    "I know you've changed, and I know that you haven't cheated on Sam, and I hope you don't plan to.  But there are still girls out there who just want to use you.  I think you're moving too fast Nick.  And besides that, you're only 19.  Don't you think that's a bit young to be making such a life- altering decision?"
 
    Nick sighed heavily.  "How can I prove this to you?  Sam has no interest in my money.  She's got a good job now, she's making real good cash.  She's not interested in starting a singing career, and she doesn't want to use me.  I'm telling you, she's totally sincere.   You just don't know her as well as I do.  Any way, my mom's gonna be thrilled when she finds out, because she loves Sam almost as much as she loves us kids.  BJ, Leslie, Aaron and Angel love her too, and she's great with them.  What else can I tell you?  How else can I make you see that she's genuine?"
 
    There was a long pause, and then Brian finally spoke.  "Alright man, I'm trusting your judgement.  Just don't elope or anything, ok?  Maybe try being engaged for a while, make sure things are gonna run smoothly.  Ease into it, ok?"
 
    I didn't stick around to hear any more.  I bolted out of the room, and into mine.  I threw myself down on the bed and let the tears that were welling up in my eyes spill onto my cheeks.  Was it something I'd said, or did, to make Brian so doubtful of me?  I heard a knock at the door, followed by Nick's voice pleading with me.  "Sam, please, open the door.  C'mon baby, please?  I just wanna talk."
 
    I wiped the tears from my face, and walked over to the door.  I opened it slowly, and Nick's cherubic face appeared.  He stepped into the room, and wrapped his arms around me.  "I'm so sorry babe, I didn't know he was gonna do that.  I thought he'd be happy.  He wanted to come with me, but I told him it would be best at this point if he didn't.  Are you ok?"
 
    I wiped my eyes again, and looked up at him with a confused and bewildered look.  "Why doesn't he trust me, Nick?  Why?  What did I do to him, that makes him doubt me so much?"
 
    "It's not even about you, Sam.  There's something you need to understand about Brian.  He was treated pretty badly by his last girlfriend.  He found out that she was dating him just so that she could get into the record business.  She never did make it, but that's not the point.  As soon as he found out, he broke up with her, but it was extremely hard for him, and ever since then he's been really careful when it comes to trusting people.  I thought he'd be over it, since he started dating Lindy, but I guess not.  It's not that he doesn't like you, he just likes to play the role of over- protective big brother to me sometimes.  Do you understand?"
 
    I nodded, but my heart was still broken.  I wanted so much to be liked by everyone, Brian especially, since he was Nick's best friend and all.  Nick saw the hesitation in my eyes, and pulled me closer to him.  I could hear his heart beating, and it reassured me a little.  He smoothed my hair, and then tipped my face up.  Lightly, he kissed me, and then suggested that we go and talk things out with Brian.  I agreed, and followed him into their room.  Brian was sitting on the floor against his bed, his head in his hands and his knees pulled up to his chin.  He looked so vulnerable just sitting there.
 
    Nick broke the silence by clearing his throat.  Brian looked up, and quickly jumped to his feet.  "Sam, I...I'm so sorry.  I didn't mean to sound so harsh, and I certainly didn't mean for you to hear that....but you did, and it might even be for the best that you did.  It's got nothing to do with you, and I'm really sorry I said anything, that really wasn't fair of me to do that."  He looked at me with saddened eyes, and impulsively I reached out and hugged him.
 
    "I understand, Brian.  I'm really sorry you got hurt, but I promise you I won't do that to Nick.  And if anyone treats you like that again, you send ‘em to me.  I'll take care of them."  I pounded my fist into my palm, and both Brian and Nick laughed.
 
    Brian looked at both of us.  "Can we try this again?"
 
    Nick smiled.  "Sure, B....Hey Brian, guess what?  Sam and I just got engaged!"
 
    "Wow, really Nick?  That's so great!  I'm so happy for you guys!"
 
    "Thanks Brian," I piped up, "That means a lot to us."
 
    Nick looked at Brian seriously.  "Bri," he started, "It would mean a lot to me if you agreed to be my best man."
 
    Brian answered without hesitation.  "Definitely.  I wouldn't pass that up for the world."
 
    Nick looked at his watch.  "Wow, time flies when you're having fun...it's really late.  I guess we'll have to tell everyone else tomorrow, and besides, I'm beat.  ‘Night, B."
 
    "G'night, you two.  See y'all in the morning."
 
    As Nick and I trudged back to his part of the suite, I could barely keep my eyes open.  Nick noticed this, and he scooped me up, and placed me on his bed.  He flopped down beside me, took me in his arms, and lay my head against his chest.  He kissed my forehead and said, "Tonight I want to fall asleep with you in my arms."
 
    I smiled as I closed my eyes and drifted off to sleep.
 
 

    ***The next morning***
 

     When I woke up, I saw that Nick had covered me with a blanket, and as I looked up at his face, he smiled at me.  "Have a good sleep?" he yawned.
 
    "The best."
 
    Brian came out of the bathroom and grinned at us.  "Shower's free guys.  We should get going."
 
    Nick yawned again, stretched, and hopped off the bed.  I fell over on my side and got up, laughing at him.  "I think I'm gonna go back to my room and use the shower there.  I'll see you two in a bit."
 
    I walked out of the room, and closed the door.  Putting my hands up to my face, I rubbed my eyes as I leaned against the door.  Last night seemed like such a blur, was I really engaged?  To Nick Carter, the guy of my dreams?  It hardly seemed possible, yet as I looked at my left hand, it was very real.   As I ran my fingers over the diamond ring and realized that my dreams were finally coming true.

 Chapter Nineteen
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