Chapter 54

A week later

"Hi!" I said excitedly as Candy came running to me.

I picked her up and walked inside the house.

"Let's go wake up Daddy," I said as I walked up the stairs.

I walked into the room and Kevin was still sleeping. He was laying on his side facing the balcony. I quietly moved closer to him.

"Don't even think about it," Kevin said as he rolled over and looked at me.

"What?" I asked. "I was just going to have Candy wake you up."

"Her and her slobbering," he said as I walked over to him.

"She can't help that," I said.

"Come here Candy," he said as he reached out his arms.

I handed her to him and then I climbed in bed.

He sat up and played around with her. She was rolling all over the bed. Then she almost fell off the bed, but I caught her.

"Whoa!" I said as I held her. "Daddy almost made you fall of the bed, didn't he?"

Kevin petted her head. Then we laid down and put Candy in the middle. Kevin rubbed her belly while we laid there.

"What time are we going over to Nick's?" Kevin asked.

"Tina said about 7:30," I said.

"Do we have to bring anything?" Kevin asked.

"Bathing suits," I said.

"What?" Kevin questioned.

"Nick's spa," I said.

"Oh yeah. That should be fun," Kevin said as he kissed my forehead.

We got up and enjoyed the rest of our day. Everywhere we went Candy followed. Kevin sat down in his room to write and Candy followed. She climbed on to the couch and rested her head on his leg. Kevin smiled and placed his hand on her back. Then he continued to write.

I walked out and got Kevin's camera. Then I went back and took a picture. Then I quietly walked out letting them enjoy their time together.

I went into my room where all my boxes were. I took out some of my clothes looking for my swim suit. I couldn't find it so I searched through every box. But I got distracted by some pictures of the girls and I. I laughed at some of the stupid pictures of us.

"What are you doing?" Kevin asked as he walked in.

"Looking for my bathing suit," I said. "I just got side tracked by these pictures."

"You ready to go?" he asked.

"Yeah," I said as I grabbed my swimsuit and got up.

Kevin and I both changed, then we left.

We pulled up into Nick's driveway and three other cars were all ready there. We went up to the door and rang the door bell.

Lauren opened the door.

"Lauren!" I exclaimed as I hugged her.

"Janel!" she exclaimed.

"Come in you guys," she said as she led us to the backyard.

We walked to the back where everyone was in the enclosed patio. Tina and Nick had set up decorations for the New Year. They also had a stereo system set up. Everyone was dancing.

"Hey guys!" Brian yelled as he came over to us. He gave each of us a hug.

We walked around and said hi.

"Guys! Janel and I have an announcement to make," Kevin said.

Everyone turned their attention to us as I held Kevin's hand.

"Do you want to tell them?" Kevin asked.

"Do you?" I asked.

"You can," he said.

"No, it's okay you can," I said.

"No you go ahead," he said.

"Someone tell us!" Stacey exclaimed.

"All right, I will," Kevin said.

"Good," Stacey said.

"Over Christmas. . .I proposed to Janel," he said happily.

"We're getting married!" I exclaimed happily.

"All right Kevin!" yelled A.J..

Kevin smiled.

"Congratulations girl!" Ashley said as she hugged me.

"Thank you," I said.

Everyone came up to us and congratulated us.

Nick brought out the champagne and gave a glass to everyone. Then he poured it as we stood in a circle.

"A toast!" Brian said as he raised his cup.

"To two of my closest friends. From this day on may love and happiness fill your hearts as you spend the rest of your days together loving each other."

"To Janel and Kevin!" everyone said.

Kevin and I smiled at Brian then kissed each other.

Everyone raised their glass. We toasted and then drank our champagne. Then we set our glasses on the table.

Then the Thong Song by Sisqo came on. A.J. grabbed me by waist, pulling me onto the dance floor.

"Come on Kevin!" I said as I laughed.

A.J. and I began dancing while everyone else came over. Kevin ran over to me and cut in.

"Excuse me," Kevin said as he cut in.

He placed his hands on my hips as we continued to dance.

The ten of us continued to party through out the night.

By 11:30 we were all enjoying ourselves in Nick's spa. I was sitting on Kevin's lap as he held me.

"So have you and Brian set a date?" I asked Ashley.

"Yeah, July 21st," she said.

"Oh, a summer wedding. How pretty," I said.

"We've decided to have it on the beach here in Florida," Ashley said.

"Wow, that'll be beautiful," I said.

"Janel, will you be my maid of honor?" she asked.

"Me?" I questioned.

"Yes," she said.

"I'd love to," I said happily.

"Good," she said.

"Good what?" Brian asked as he turned his attention to Ashley.

"Janel's going to be my maid of honor," Ashley said.

"Perfect," Brian said as he smiled at me.

"So when are you and Kevin getting married?" Ashley asked.

Kevin and I just laughed. "We haven't even thought about that," I said.

"We're just going to take things as they come," Kevin said. "I know she's mine so I have nothing to worry about."

I looked up and kissed him. "You're so smart Mr. Richardson," I said.

"Hey guys! Two minutes!" Nick yelled.

He turned one the t.v. and we watched Dick Clark get ready for the ball to drop. "10 seconds!" yelled Tina.

"10. . .9. . .8. . .7. . .6. . .5. . .4. . .3. . .2. . .and 1!" we yelled.

"Happy New Year!" all of us yelled.

I turned to Kevin and wrapped my arms around his neck. He leaned in and kissed me passionately.

"Happy New Year baby," Kevin said as he held my face.

"Happy New Year Boo," I said.

A.J. grabbed a couple of bottles of champagne. He took a drink of one and then passed them around.

"Another year of the Backstreet Boys conquering the world and to this Backstreet family sticking together," A.J. said.

"To us and our family," Nick said.

We all drank the champagne toasting to the New Year. Then we continued to celebrate the New Year.

About 3 o'clock Kevin and I made our way upstairs. All of us were staying at Nick's so we wouldn't have to leave that late at night.

"Night everyone," I said as I took Kevin's hand and walked into our room.

"Night!" they yelled.

Kevin closed the door while I climbed into bed. He shut the light off and laid next to me.

"I love you Kevin," I said as I kissed him.

"I love you too Janel," he said.

Then we fell asleep in each other's arms.

A.J. woke up about 12:30 in the afternoon with a massive headache. He slowly made his way downstairs to look for something to take.

"Morning Tina," A.J. said as he walked into the kitchen.

"Hey A.J.," she said. "What's the matter?"

"Hangover," A.J. said.

"Oh. Here let me get you some Tylenol," she said as she got up.

"Thanks," A.J. said after he took the Tylenol. "I'm going back to bed."

"All right," Tina said.

I walked down the stairs as A.J. was coming up. He looked extremely tired.

"Hangover?" I asked.

"Yep," he said.

"Feel better," I said as I passed him.

"Uh huh," he said.

I walked into the kitchen where Tina was.

"Morning," I said.

"Hi," she said.

"Great party," I said as I sat next to her.

"Did you enjoy yourself?" she asked.

"Yeah, I had a lot f fun. But now I'm so tired," I said.

"Yeah, so am I," she said.

"Is Nick up?" I asked.

She laughed. "Yeah, that boy's been playing video games all morning long. Him and Brian," she said.

"Why?" I asked.

"He had to make sure everything still worked cause of the Y2K bug," she said smiling.

I laughed. "That's just crazy."

"You should have seen him. He was turning on all of our t.v.'s and stereos. Then he checked his N64, Sega Dreamcast, and the Playstation," she said. "He was even playing games on the computer this morning."

"Wow! I'd hate to see what happens if the power went out," I said.

"God help us," she said jokingly.

We laughed and then went to watch Brian and Nick play video games.