"Um, do you need me to say that again?" Alissa asked Brian. "Huh? Oh, no, I heard you. I'm just a little..um, well, shocked. What was your name again?" Brian asked the little girl. "Alissa Littrell. And you're Brian Littrell. And you're Nick Carter, right?" She directed at Nick. "Yeah, how did you know that?" Nick asked her. "My mom showed me lots of pictures from when you were in that group. And I also saw you on that tv show called My Heart's Attachments. My mom told me a lot of stuff about you guys." ALissa said with a smile. Nick observed that she had the same blue eyes and cheezy smile as Brian. "Who is your mom?" Brian asked her, slipping out of shock and into the real world again. "Amanda. Amanda Riley. She used to be Amanda Shelton. She married my stepdad Mike. She didn't want me to come here today, so I called my Uncle Dave and he brought me. I heard that Nick was coming and I figured being since y'all are great friends and such, then you'd come see him. So, I came here." "Whoa. Amanda Shelton. That's a name from the way far past. I ain't heard that name in years. So, you're what, about nine years old, ten?" Brian asked. "Yes,I'll be ten in a month. October 29, 1999 is when I was born." "Well, did your uncle leave?" Brian asked. "Yes, he left." Alissa said. "Well then, let's go see your mom and have a talk." They all walked out to the parking lot after getting Nick's luggage. They loaded up in Brian's Dodge Ram. As Brian was driving to Amanda's house, he was thinking, How could this be?

"Brian! Oh my gosh! It's been a long time!" Amanda said when she opened the door to the face of the man she missed for so long. "Yeah Amanda, I know. How have you been?" Brian asked. "All right I guess. I'm married now. My husband is a big executive in a law firm. And as you can see, I'm about to pop. I'm almost seven months along. The baby is due in February." AManda informed them. "That's great. Congratulations.So what else is new? Anything else happen to ya over the last ten years that I dont know about?" Brian said non-chalantly. "Well, I see you've already met my daughter, Alissa." Amanda said. "You mean, OUR daughter, Amanda, I'm hurt. Why didn't you tell me? Why didn't you call me? We had something, Amanda. Something special. I would have, at the very least, been there for you. You know that. I just want to know why." Brian said. He was almost in tears now. "Alissa, go play in your room for a little bit, okay sweetheart? Show Nick your collections." Amanda said. Alissa exited the room with Nick. "Brian, I was so scared. I was 16. I didn't know how to tell a guy that had just broken up with me that I was pregnant with his baby. I never thought it could or would happen to me. I am so sorry. I never wanted to hurt you." Amanda said. "Amanda, like I just said, I would have been there for you. You know that. You know I loved you. When are you going to understand?" Brian said. "Brian, I know that you loved me. But my point is that I was a scared sixteen year old girl. My parents kicked me out of the house. they said they would not have a bastard child living in their home. You were on tour and I had no way of getting ahold of you. My life was toppling upside down. I wanted with every bit of me to tell you. But why I didn't I can only say this: I was scared." Amanda said, crying. "I understand. All I ask now is that you let me in her life. I want to be here for her. I want to be her father. I want to make up for the lost years." Brian said. "Are you sure Brian? I mean, are you absolutely positive. I don't want her to be one of the kids that her father promises things and she waits and he breaks promises left and right. I don't want that. I won't let it happen." Amanda said. "Don't worry. You'll never see me hurt that little girl. I love her. She's my daughter. I have known her for a total of about half an hour, but I already love her." Brian said.

"Alissa! Come here sweety." Amanda called. Brian smiled as his daughter walked in the room. "Yes'm?" "You're going to go stay with your daddy for two weeks. How would you like that?" Amanda asked ALissa. "YEA! I'd love that!" The nine year old exclaimed as she jumped up and down." "Go get you some stuff up. But hurry cause Daddy is going to leave in ten minutes." Amanda said. Alissa gathered some belongings and was ready to go in about five minutes. They all piled back into Brian's truck and headed towards Brian's house in Orlando.

Two Days Later:

"Okay, Leigh, please just trust me on this. I know I have made some mistakes in my life. And yes, I still love you and the kids. No she isn't going to do that. Please, leigh, I love you. You know it. Thanks. When? Okay. I'll see you then. I love you. Take care of yourself." Brian said as he hung up the phone in his bedroom. Lately he was missing Leighanne and the kids more and more. Leighanne and he had married on JUly 7, 2000. On January 18, 2005, they'd had their first child, Andrea Michelle. On May 29, 2007, they'd had their second child, Bradley Thomas. "Alissa, what do you like to do for fun?" Brian said as he entered the downstairs living room. "I like going places. I like rollercoasters. Do you like rollercoasters daddy?" Alissa asked. "Actually, I'm scared to death of heights. Maybe if you want to go on a rollercoaster, we'll bring Uncle Nick along." Brian said. "That's cool daddy. I like getting to know you. When do I get to meet Ms. Leighanne and my brother and sister?" "Well, Leigh, Andrea, and Brad are in Virginia right now filming. They'll be back in a week. Then you can meet them." Brian said. "I'm so excited to meet them!" Andrea said. She hopped down on the couch and turned on the tv. Too bad Leighanne wasn't as excited. She hadn't taken the news so well. It was going to be a long getting to know you process, Brian concluded.

A week later:

"Daddy, I'm nervous about meeting your wife. And what about my brothers and sisters? I'm really nervous now." Alissa said as she sat in the passenger seat of Brian's truck, on their way to pick up Leighanne and the kids. "Honey, don't be nervous. You'll love her. She's beautiful, smart, sweet,caring..." Brian said as he started to recall all the reasons he'd fallen in love with Leighanne. "What does she look like, Daddy?" ALissa asked. "She's really beautiful. She has blonde hair, brown eyes, and a beautiful smile. She's a little bit shorter than me, but not too much shorter." Brian said. "She sounds pretty. And what about my brother and sister?" ALissa asked. "Well, Bradley has blonde hair and big blue eyes. He goes up to my shin. Then, Andrea, she's three, has a head full of blonde curls. And big brown eyes. She's about as tall as my knee. She's three and Brad is two. I miss them a lot when leighanne has to take a trip." Brian said as he thought about how long it had been since he and Leighanne had been 'intamite'. "Well, I can't wait to meet her. I'm glad uncle Nick came with us, daddy, but I wish he'd stop snoring." ALissa said as she sat back in her seatand watched Nick's chest move up and down as he snored. Brian giggled and the two shared a laugh at what she'd just said. "I love spending time with my children." Brian thought to himself.

Meanwhile at the airport:

"Mommy."
"What is it Andrea?" Leighanne asked her daughter. "Hungry mommy." Andrea replied. "I know sweety. But, we have to wait for daddy to get here then we'll get some food." Leighanne said. She looked around for Brian but didn't see him. When she finally spotted him, she didn't like what she saw. "BRIAN! You look terrible. You must have lost fifteen pounds. What? I leave you at home for three weeks, and you lose fifteen pounds?" Leighanne said. "Leigh, I want you to meet someone." Brian said as he took Alissa's hand as she was hiding behind him. "Leigh, this is Alissa. Alissa, this is my wife, Leighanne." Brian said. "Hi Alissa. I'm your Daddy's wife. It's very nice to meet you." Leighanne said with a big smile. Alissa smiled shyly and said, " You're just what daddy said about you." "What did daddy say about me?" Leighanne said curiously. "He said you were beautiful, smart, and sweet." Allisa said. Leighanne reached down and hugged her and looked up and smiled at Brian who was blushing. "Alissa, I want you to meet the other special people in my life. This is your sister, Andrea, and your brother Brad." Brian said. Alissa looked at the two small kids lovingly. Brad was wearing a little Atlanta Braves t-shirt and Andrea had on a frilly little dress. "Hi! Are you my sissy?" Andrea said to Alissa. "Yes. My name is Alissa. I'm ten." "Hi!" Brad said. "Hi. How are you?" Alissa asked politely. "Hi!" Brad replied. "Alissa, that's the only word he knows. He's still young." Brian explained. "Now, Brian, let's get you home and feed you, you little starving rat." Leighanne said with a laugh. Nick smiled and walked out with the big happy family.

"Baby, I'm so glad you're home. I missed you." Brian told Leighanne as they were unpacking her clothes in their bedroom. "I missed you, too." She said as she came over and sat on his lap. "You want to know how much I missed you?" Brian asked her playfully. "Hey, why not?" Brian placed a passionate kiss on her. They sat there making out on the bed before Brian finally laid Leighanne back on the bed. He got up real quick and locked the door. "Brian, you know we can't..." Leighanne started. "I know I just want to make out a little." Brian said. They maid out for about an hour, and after that, they just laid there in each others arms. "I missed you so much, baby." "I missed you more, Brian."

Meanwhile:

"Mike, are you sure this is the road we're supposed to go on?" Amanda asked her husband. "I think so. I'm not sure." Mike told her. They turned onto the street and drove on, in the rain. They drove on for about five minutes without saying anything. Then Mike noticed something in the road. "What is that in the road?" Mike asked. "I can't see it." Amanda replied. "I think it's a man." When the image came into view, it wasn't a pretty one. There was a car in the middle of the road, and the man said that it had just broken down there. Mike got out, against Amanda's wishes, tohelp the man. She waited in the car. After all, being seven months pregnant with a child, she couldn't help much anyway. Just as Mike was getting under the car, the man took out a gun. He shot Mike seven times. Hearing the shots,Amanda reached for the doorhandle, only to grasp a hand. "Where do you think you're going sweety?" "I--I please, let me go, please, I'm pregnant, please?" Amanda begged. "Sorry hun, but no can do. But I can make it less painful." "Please, let me live,for my baby. Please!" "No can do sweet thing." He took his gun out and shot her in the chest. "You know what babe, I'll be nice, I'll drop you in front of a hospital." The man said. He laid her in the back of the truck and drove the 15 miles away to a hospital. He dropped her off in the front of the hospital and sped off.

"Alissa, do you want to watch Aladdin with Brad and Andrea?" Leighanne asked as she knocked on Alissa's room. "Yes ma'am. I'll be there in one second." She is so polite. I hope my kids are like that when they're that age, Leighanne thought. Leighanne waddled down the stairs and popped Aladdin in for the kids. Brian was in the kitchen making popcorn.Alissa came down the stairs with her hair pulled into a tight bun and in her nightshirt. She sat down by Andrea and Andrea kissed her on the cheek. The movie began and the kids were glued to it.

Meanwhile:

"Where did you find her?" The doctor asked. "She was dropped on the ground outside. She's been shot in the chest. The person just threw her out of the truck and sped off. I couldn't get a license plate." The man said that had found Amanda outside. "We'd better get her to ER imediately. Or else we'll lose her and the baby." the doctor said. They put Amanda on a gurny and wheeled her to the ER. "Doctor, I have her purse, would you like me to call her family?" The man asked. "Yes, please."

Ten Minutes Later:

"Hello?" Mrs. Granda Shelton asked when she answered the phone. "Yes is this Mrs. Granda Shelton?" "Yes it is. May I ask whom you are?" "You don't know me ma'am. But, your daughter. Something has happened to her. There's been a shooting. She was shot in the chest. You should come down to Florida Hospital. She is in ER right now." "Oh my gosh. I'll be there in ten minutes. Have you gotten ahold of Mike? Or Alissa?" "I couldn't reach her husband Mike. I don't know an Alissa." "Can you call this number for me and talk to whomever answers. Wait, no talk to Brian. He'll know what to do. Tell him what happened." "Yes ma'am." They clicked. Ring,ring,ring "Hello?" Leighanne answered the phone. "Yes is Brian there?" "May I ask who's calling?" Leighanne asked. "You don't know me, but my name is Fred Applebee. It's imperative that I talk to him." "One moment please." a minute later: "Hello?" Brian asked. "Is this Brian?" "It is. Whom is this?" "My name is Fred Applebee. You don't know me but I take it you know Mrs. Amanda Riley?" "Yes. She is my daughter's mother. What about her?" "There's been an accident. Amanda is in the ER right now. I was told to call you by her mother. She said you'd know what to do." "Thank you. I'lkl be there in ten minutes." Brian said quickly and hung up the phone.