*****The next day****

Lance and the rest of the guys got up early. The girls arrived and everybody left except for JC and Kevin.

"So? What are we supposed to do together, all day? You got any ideas?" JC asks.

"Yeah, you could go jump in a lake, and I stay here. When your friends come back I'll tell them you got tired of living. How's that sound?" Kevin sneered.

"Look." JC seethed. "I promised Lance I would try to get along with you but if you keep that kind of shit up I'm heading to the basement. See you later."

Pretty soon Kevin hears a piano and can't help but be nosey. He heads down the stairs quietly, so as not to disturb JC.

(Man, what a prick. I don't know how he can be such a jerk. You try to be nice and see if he wants to do something and all you get is attitude. Fine two can play at that game.)

{Kevin: Wow that's beautiful. I don't recognize it either. I wonder if he wrote it? Maybe I should try and take Nick's advice. I could at least try. He hasn't exactly been cruel to me except for in the kitchen last night. I guess I could try and be nice and see if he really is nice or if that is just an act.}

Creak.

{Kevin: Shit I hope he didn't hear that. Shit, guess he did. Better step out before he has a conniption fit.}

"Hello?" JC questions. "Is there somebody there? Kevin? Is that you?"

"Yeah, it's me. I heard your music and figured I'd come and apologize. Look, I know we haven't really started out on a very good note, but can we try again? I'm sorry for being such a jerk."

(Damn, just when I had decided to have it out with him, he had to go and apologize. Oh well, guess I better say something.)

"Yeah. I'm sorry too. I'm just not used to having anyone around that knows what they are doing in the kitchen. Sorry, I have been such a jerk since yesterday. So what are we going to do?"

"Well, we could work on music. That is something we both have in common. We both sing and play the piano. Maybe we could actually work on something together and have it done by the time the rest of them jokers get back. What do you think?"

"Couldn't hurt. It might actually be kinda nice."

They work on a couple of songs. One that Kevin had written a melody for but couldn't come up with any words for and one that JC had written a melody for but couldn't come up with words. Then they decided to try to write something from scratch. So in all they ended up writing three songs.

*****Later that evening.****

"Hello, is anybody here?" Chris yells. "Maybe they killed each other."

"Chris, that's not even funny. Listen. What's that?" Lance says.

"That my dear boy is a piano." Justin states.

"No shit Justin. I knew that." Lance quips. "I was wondering what that song was. It is beautiful."

"Let's go see. Maybe one killed the other and is now feeling sad about it and writing a song to make himself feel better." Joey says.

"Man, you guys are morbid. Lance why on earth do you hang around these guys?" Brian asks.

"Beats me." Lance answers.

"That's probably why he hooked up with JC. He's the only other normal one in the group." Nick states.

"Um, guys. Don't you think we should let them know that we're back?" Allison asks.

"I guess that would be a good idea." Howie replies.

"I'll go." Alexis volunteers.

****In the basement****

"Hey, Kevin? JC? We're back." Alexis yells.

"Hey sis. Come on down. We were just working on a song. Where are the rest of the clan?" Kevin says.

"They're upstairs. \Looks at JC\ Those friends of yours are weird. They were betting all day about which one of you would have the most bruises or be dead. What is that all about?" Alexis asks JC.

"Don't mind them. They're all crazy, except for Lance."

"Yeah, he seemed like the only one that was sane. Your friends aren't a whole lot better Kevin."

"Sorry about that. They guys are just like that. Be glad they're acting that way around you. That means that they like you. If they didn't like you they would be giving you the cold shoulder. You don't want that, believe me."

"So you guys really can play and sing huh? I really didn't believe it when you all said that at first. But when I came down stairs it was pretty obvious that you guys are really talented. You'll have to let me know when your stuff hits the states so I can get a copy of it."

"There is now way you will ever have to buy one of our albums. Just make sure we have your address before the week is over and we'll send you copies. Won't we Kevin?"

"You got that right. Hey, Alexis, could you go get the girls? There are a couple of things that we need to talk about as... well... I guess as a family. If one of us goes up there we'll never get back down here and this is kind of important and we have to decide this as a group." Kevin says.

"I'll be right back."

****A few minutes later back in the basement****

"Ok, we're all here. So what is so important boys?" Allison asks.

"Well, we wanted to know how you guys would feel if we tried to find our mom and dad? Would you want to meet them and all that if and when we ever find them?" JC states.

"I can't speak for the others but I would like to meet them." Ashlyn says. "I have a few questions for them."

"So do I" Alexis states matter-of-factly.

"Well, I guess that makes it unanimous. I know I'd like to see them again." Allison says. "What kind of information do you have on them or do you have anything?"

"Yeah, we have an address that they lived at before we were all taken away. It is in Montana. We have a guy that is trying to find out if they are still there but we haven't heard from him. Once we do we'll let you guys know and try to set up a day where all of us can be there at once. That is, assuming they want to see us." Kevin runs off.

"Ok. So we'll all leave our addresses with you guys and you'll get back to us with the date and time and any other information?" Ashlyn questions.

"Yes. You can leave it with either me or Kevin or both of us if you want. We won't give the information to anyone. Believe me, we know all about keeping certain things private. Don't we Kevin?"

"That's for sure. Speaking of which. I suppose we should go up and make sure the guys haven't killed Lance and torn the house down. It is awful quiet up there." Kevin states. He leans over to JC and states quietly, "Do you think you could take a few minutes tomorrow and look at a couple of things in our contract with Lou? I'd really like an outside opinion on it?"

"Sure. I'd be happy too." JC replies in a whisper.

****The next morning****

Everybody is sitting around the house trying to think of something to do for the day. JC, Kevin, Lance and Nick are all in Lance's home office looking at the contract between Lou and the Backstreet Boys.

"Man, these numbers don't match up." JC says as he looks up from the calculator. "Are you sure this is all you made last year? You guys should have made more that than that. There is something definitely wrong with this. Lance, you got the pages with how much of the profit Lou is supposed to get, right?"

"Yeah, it says he is supposed to get 30% off the top and then the rest is supposed to be divided evenly between Jive and the Boys. Why what's it adding up to?"

"There isn't another clause in there or something saying that after his 30% is removed, he gets a share of the rest is there? That's what it looks like he is doing."

"No, I don't see anything like that."

"Kevin. If I were you I would get this contract into the hands of a lawyer and fast. He is ripping you guys off. Instead of you getting a piece of the pie that is divided between 6 parties it is being divided between 7. You guys aren't getting crap." JC states flatly.

"Thanks guys. I just wanted to have someone else look at them before I took them to a lawyer. I really appreciate you guys doing this." Kevin says.

"Man. It's cool. Now we know we need to watch Lou and make sure he doesn't pull the same shit with us." JC says. "Besides what else are brothers good for."

Kevin smiles and says, "Yeah, I guess you're right. So what are we going to do today to entertain our sisters?"

ring, ring

"Hello?" Lance answers. "Yes he is. Just a moment please."

"JC. It's that investigator guy that you guys hired."

"Thanks, baby." JC says and kisses Lance on the cheek. "Could you get Kevin the cordless? I'd really like him to listen too. Thanks. Hello? Yes, thank you. We'll call you back in a few minutes and let you know what we decide. Thank you again for getting this information so quickly."

click.

"Ashlyn, Allison, Alexis. Could you please come in here for a few minutes?" Kevin bellows.

"Yeah, you didn't have to yell though. We were only down the hall. So what's up?" Allison berates him.

"Alright. Sorry about that. We have some news on our dad. The guy we hired has found him and it turns out he is here in Florida now. He even said he would be happy to meet all of us again." JC rambles.

"Great. So when do we leave?" Ashlyn asks.

"We can meet him today if you want." Kevin answers.

"Wonderful, let's go then." Alexis enthuses.

"What are we going to do with the others? I don't really want to bring all of them with, but I'm not going without Lance" JC states firmly with a glance to Lance who nods his approval.

"Well, I'm taking Nick too so that just leaves the six of them. They can figure out what to do with each other while we're gone. They are adults. We shouldn't have to plan everything for them." Kevin replies.

"Ok, so Nick is with Kevin and Lance is with JC we got that. So how are we getting there?" Allison asks.

"We can take my jeep." JC says and Lance rolls his eyes. "What, it's the only thing big enough unless we take two cars."

"I know, babe. It's just, nothing, we'll take the jeep. Everybody ok with that?" Lance replies.

"Fine with us. JC we gotta call the detective back and then we'll know when to leave." Kevin says.

****An hour later****

"Is this the address?" JC asks.

"Yeah, this is the place." Kevin answers.

"Lets go." Ashlyn says as she jumps out of the jeep.