Back Again
a Backstreet Boys story
by Hermione Eveningfall
*Bump. Thunk.* Nick Carter opened a bleary eye one morning to a sudden sound outside of his window. He groaned, struggling to lift his body from the mattress, and peered across the room. It had barely been five hours since he'd returned from the tour...couldn't he just get a proper day's sleep? He glanced at the clock, seeing that it read noon. Thankfully, neither his parents or siblings had come in to wake him, but who the hell was at his window?
Nick coughed, cringing at his sore throat, and slid off the bed. He'd been feeling absolutely terrible for the past couple of days, and had driven the other members of the Backstreet Boys crazy with his constant sneezing and coughing fits. He yawned, stretching his arms, and peered down. What met his eyes filled him with deep amusement...he saw his girlfriend of three years, Amy, making her way up a ladder. He'd been too exhausted to call her when he got in...not to mention the fact that it had been at least two a'm.
He pulled open the window, but before he could shout "Hello!" he sneezed instead. "Huh...ESHHH!" he tried his best to muffle it into his shoulder, but wasn't all that successful.
"Hey!" Amy cried, reaching the top of the ladder at last. He sniffled, turning towards her, and accepted a hug. "Your Mom said you were in. I saw her when I was taking the trash out this morning." Nick kissed her on the forehead, and aided her into the room.
"You're going to get yourself killed one of these days," he laughed, picking her up and spinning her around after she got stronger footing on the carpet. She buried her face against his chest, not wanting to let go.
"Oh God," she breathed. "I've missed you so much. I thought you'd never come home." She felt her heart flutter as he kissed the top of her head, smoothing her arms.
"I would kiss you on the lips," he replied, "but I'm a little sick. I have a cold or some...or some...HuhCHHHHH1 EtCHHHHH! Something." He groaned, sitting down on the edge of the bed, and flopped down on his back. Amy sat down beside him, resting the palm of her hand against his forehead.
"Well, you're not feverish at least. What time did you get in? It must have been really late if you didn't call."
"It was two something." Nick cleared his throat, pulling her down beside him. "I figured you needed your beauty rest." He kissed her cheek, taking in her sweet scent...or what his stuffy nose could detect of it.
"I'll forgive you this time," she teased. "You called me every week on the tour. How did the other guys handle getting home? Brian sounded beat when I talked to him on Thursday." She reached over to Nick's nightstand, and pulled a few tissues from the box he kept there. "Here," she told him, pressing them into his hand.
"Thanks," he told her, blowing his nose gratefully. "Ugh." He closed his eyes. "So," he added, once he was looking at her again. "Tell me all that's been going on. How did you end up doing in summer classes?"
Amy was currently a senior in college, and had been catching up on a few credits during the first summer session at Florida State University. She laced her fingers through his, and squeezed his hand.
"I did great," she told him. "I aced both classes, though I thought I was ready to die at the end of my literature class." She laughed. "I mean, I can't say I don't love the stuff, but reading five books in five weeks is just a little intense!"
Nick sat up, yawning. "I'm so proud of you," he told her. "Did you have lunch?" he asked, rubbing his wrist against his nose. Amy sat on his lap, facing him, and wrapped her arms around her neck. He pulled her close, taking her in, sighing in content. "You're so beautiful," he whispered, and she leaned her head on his shoulder.
"You're so tall," she teased, and he tickled her sides.
"Very funny," he laughed. "Come on." He took her hand. "Everyone's probably wondering if I've died or not." He led her out into the hallway, nearly being run over by the small figures of his younger brother and sister. They were yelling about something-- Aaron was making dinosaur movements, trying to catch his twin, Angel, who shrieked as she reached the platform. She turned to walk into the hallway, when she caught sight of Nick, and gave a squeal of delight.
"Nicky!" she cried, pushing Aaron aside, and bounded back up the stairs. Nick laughed, scooping his sister into his arms, and hugging her tight.
"Hey, Ang!" he kissed her cheek.
"I was wondering when you were gonna wake up," Aaron teased. "Hi!" he added to Amy, and a look of confusion spread over his face. "How'd you get here?"
Amy grinned. "I have my secrets," she teased, ruffling his blonde hair.
"Mom told us not to wake you," Angel told him. "She's outside helping Dad clean the pool."
Nick nodded, though the sneezy expression came over his face, and he quickly set his sister to the floor. Angel noticed too, and she and Aaron covered their ears, running away quickly. "HuhCHESHHH! HuhKESHHHH!" Nick nearly stumbled down the stairs, catching himself on the rail. Amy steadied him around the waist, smirking.
"Bless you," she told him, and he shook his head.
"Geeze," he muttered. "Thanks," he added. "That's just an Aaron and Angel thing," he told Amy. "They always run away when I sneeze."
Amy laughed. "Siblings," she snorted, and he raised an eyebrow.
"And you would know, how?" he asked, because Amy was an only child.
"I've hung out in your house long enough," she told him, and urged him into the kitchen. BJ, Nick's other sister and the eldest of the three Carter girls...Leslie was the middle...sat at the counter, talking on the portable phone. She saw Nick enter, and gave a wave, grinning at him.
"All right, Dee, I'll talk to you later." She hung up, and was off the stool in seconds. "Hey!" she cried. "Welcome home!" she accepted a kiss on the cheek, and nodded towards the doorway that led to the living room. "Leslie's in there if you want to say hi to her. She's practicing some dance routine or whatever."
Nick nodded. "Well, I'm going to bring Amy out to see Mom and Dad, since she climbed through the window to get in again." He winked, and BJ smirked.
"Better be sure you don't start letting othe people know you do that," she said, and Amy gave BJ a hug.
"You know me better than that," she replied, and BJ winked at her.
Nick brought Erin onto their deck, overlooking the enormous pool. Bob and Jane Carter were standing on opposite sides of it, shouting commands at each other as they moved the vaccum through the water. Nick put both fingers in his mouth, giving a whistle that startled both parents.
"Well, good morning!" Jane laughed, blowing a strand of her dark hair out of her eyes. "Did you sleep okay?"
Nick shrugged. "Pretty well, I guess." He gave his Mom a hug, and smiled when she went to hug Amy next.
"Help yourself to anything in the kitchen," Mrs. Carter told them. "It's a free for all, here. You know that." She felt Nick's forehead. "You still sound stuffed up, though. And you're running a little temperature."
Nick pulled away, embarrassed. "Mom," he groaned. "I'm fine. Well, better. Sneezing like crazy, but better than I was two days ag... CHSHHHH!" he managed to cover his mouth with his hand, and Amy raised her eyebrow at him.
"Bless you," she and Mrs. Carter told him in unison.
"Go take some Sudafed," Mr. Carter suggested...he'd just come over, and gave his eldest child a hug. "Welcome back, kiddo," he greeted. "Hi, Amy. How are you?"
Amy smiled. "Fine," she told him.
"Well, go help yourselves to any of the food in the pantries," Mrs. Carter insisted. "Nick, take some ibuprofen for that fever, okay? And just try to take it easy."
Nick gave his parents a kiss each, and Amy brought him back into the house. They stopped in front of the doorway that led to the living room, and watched with amusement as Leslie stood in front of the big screen tv, dancing to a music video. Nick put his finger to his lips, and gave Amy a secret smile. He tiptoed over to his sister, and covered her eyes with his hands. She gave a great shriek of alarm, whirled around, and smacked right into Nick's chest. "Nick!" she snapped, slapping him on the arm. "God, I hate it when you do that!" she scowled, and Nick laughed.
"What a nice welcome home greeting," he joked, and her expression softened.
"I've missed you, Nick," she told him. "Hey Amy," she added, and Amy gave a single motioned-wave. "So how was the tour?"
Nick ran his fingers through his bleach blonde hair, blowing out his breath. "Exhausting," he replied, "but satisfying at the same time. The concerts turned out to be really amazing. Fans in lines a mile long, and each of the theaters and stadiums we performed in were filled to capacity."
Amy wrapped her arms around Nick's waist from behind, and he laced his fingers through hers. Leslie wrinkled her nose at the sight, and turned back to face the television. "You two go kiss, and I'll keep dancing, k, thanks, bye." She took a deep breath, and began to practice the moves again. Nick sniggered, and led Amy into he kitchen.
"So, what can I get you?" he asked, as she hopped up onto the counter stool.
"So full crowds, huh? Any bra flingers again?" she winked as he brought over a loaf of bread and lunchmeat, setting out the different kinds so she could choose. He coughed into his shoulder, giving another sniff.
"HuhCHUUUUH!" he turned away, and reached for a napkin. "I think more than one," he mumbled, as he blew his nose.
"You know what?" Amy asked, hopping down. "I'll make the sandwiches, and you just sit up here and relax. The last thing I want you doing is keeling over on me." She pushed him away from the sandwich-making materials, and Nick kissed her on top of the head.
"I miss being spoiled," he joked, clearing his throat. "But you know what? Why don't we bring our sandwiches up to my room, and we can just catch up on everything? It's been so long, and I only told you a portion of it."
Amy glanced at him, grinning as she placed cheese on each of the pieces of bread. "I'd love it," she told him. "Hey, am I going to get to see the other guys this week, or are they pretty much out of commission?"
Nick shrugged. "I have no idea. Brian said he'd give me a call once he woke up, but giving that he hasn't yet..."
Amy smirked. "He's probably out like a light. Poor B-Rock." She handed Nick his sandwich, and continued making hers. "I love you," she told him, once she sliced her sandwich in half. Nick's eyes watched as she did so, and he smiled.
"I should watch myself when you have a butter knife in your hand." He gave her a mischevious look, and she waved it at him. "I love you too," he added. "You know that."
Amy nodded. "I've known it since we were kids." She put the knife into the dish washer, and picked up her plate. Nick slid off of the stool, and, after getting sodas from the fridge, they made their way towards the front hall. Nick paused, and Amy turned around just in time. "Give me that," she told him, snatching the plate away.
"HahCHSHHHH! HuhESHHHH!" he took a breath, and, after waiting for another and deciding it wasn't coming, sighed with relief. "Thank you," he told her. "Sorry I keep sneezing," he apologized, and Amy gave a shrug.
"You're sick," she said. "That's not your fault. I'm just glad you're home now, so you can take it easy." They reached the top of the stairs, and Nick led the way down the dimly lit hallway. The air conditioning felt so good after being out in the thick, Floridian humidity. When they reached Nick's room, Amy set the sandwiches on his desk--where she could find space that is, and just as Nick lay down on the bed,the phone rang.
"Can you get that?" he asked, as it was his cell phone.
She looked at him, and gave a nod. "Probably Bri, right?" she asked, as he began coughing again. She shook her head sadly, and picked the cell phone up from the nightstand. Sure enough, Brian Littrell's number appeared in the little screen, so she answered it.
"Yo what's up, Frick?" she asked, and was amused by Brian's pause.
"Hey squirt," Brian replied. "Is Frack around?"
Amy glanced at Nick, who was gazing up at the ceiling. "Right here."
"You doing okay?" Brian asked, in his thick, Kentucky drawl, and Amy sat down on the bed beside Nick. "I'm hoping to see you two this week."
"I'm fine. Welcome back, by the way. But here's Nick," she added, handing the cell phone to her boyfriend. As she sat listening to him, she thought about how much time had passed since they first met. Amy moved onto the street when she was five years old, and had met Nick while she was riding her bike with her single mother. They'd become fast friends, and though they went to different schools...Nick went to public, and Amy to private...they hung out as much as possible in their free time. As they grew older, their friendship began to grow more deep and intimate, and before she knew it, Nick was asking if they wanted to officially consider themselves boyfriend and girlfriend. Naturally, she'd agreed, and had been with him from the beginning of his musical career to the present. `And I will always be there for him,' she added, smiling as he hung up.
"What are you thinking about?" he asked, noticing the contemplative expression on her face. Amy lay down next to him--the sandwiches sat forgotten.
"I'll always be here for you, Nick," she told him, resting her head on his chest. He closed his eyes, her face still in his mind.
"I know," he replied. "Are you really hungry?" she asked, glancing over her shoulder at the food. He pulled her close, kissing her cheek.
"Are you?" he asked, his deep blue eyes twinkling.
"Nah," Amy laughed, and the two of them rolled over, relishing each other's presence after so long of an absence. `He really is back,' she thought with a grin.
This is in honor of the boys' new album that debuts tomorrow: "Never Gone". Congratulations and welcome back, you guys! :-D *hugs them tight*