"Wake Up Nick!", the voice echoed in his head and when it got so loud that it felt as if his ears were ringing Nick opened his eyes.
Where was he?
His eyes traveled through the room. It felt strange and yet so familiar. He had been here before. It was a hotel room. The structure of the room was an evident sign of that.
As he kept his eyes darting around he noticed he wasn't alone. Next to him below the blanket there was another person. Curly hair, blue eyes, a warm smile. It was Brian. His Brian and he was alive looking down at him with a smirk. "Yo sleepyhead, get up we have to be ready for the show in half an hour.", Brian spoke with the most gentle of voices, leaving Nick confused.
What show? They hadn't done a show together in forever. And wasn't Brian supposed to be dead? And why did he look so young? "Is this heaven?", Nick spoke confused and tried to look into Brians eyes. When he met the smaller mans gaze he was even more confused. He had hoped to find answers there, but all he could see was love, care and amusement.
"Wow, thank you Nick. Didn't know I was such a good lover, that you consider this to be Paradise!", Brian chuckled and pulled him tightly into a hug, "You're cute you know?", he whispered into his ear before placing one single kiss on the corner of his lips. Nick felt a warmth rush through his body, but he still didn't feel comfortable.
Had he not just shot himself? Had he not just shot Lou? Had it all been a dream? Everything? Backstreet Boys disbanding: a dream? Brian falling to drugs: a dream? Them dying: a dream? Looking at Brian Nick noticed, that he surely did look a lot younger now, than as he last remembered him.
It was confusing to see him that healthy and young. Nick watched as Brian slowly left the bed to put on some clothes. Then the younger man sat up pulling his legs up to his chest. Perhaps it really had been a nightmare.
As he thought about it memories came back to his mind. They were on tour in Europe, to play the songs of their "Backstreet's Back" album. They had just played a great show in Hamburg. The evening that followed with Brian had been even more amazing. Ever since they had settled things with Lou outside of court Brian was playing with a whole new energy. Finally they could decide things on their own. Finally they could play music for themselves. It made his lover happy. And when Brian was happy, that meant lots of joy and pleasure for Nick.
He smiled as he remembered their last night, but sighed as he remembered the dream: "Bri... I had a terrible nightmare.", he said whining a bit then standing up from the bed still stark naked.
He needed his Frick now. So he quickly moved over to him tugging on his shirt. "Please hold me!"
Brian looked him over with a lustful sparkle in his eyes, obviously enjoying his nakedness. But when he noticed Nicks sadness, the expression changed into a caring one. Gently he put the arms around him and pulled him close. "Tell me about it.", the smaller man asked in a soft voice. Gently he buried his right hand in Nicks hair pulling his head down so he could nuzzle it against his neck.
"You were dead Brian. You... it was terrible.", he sobbed as he buried his face against Brians neck.
"Aw... but I'm alive Frack. It was just a dream.", the smaller man responded and started to trail his left index-finger along Nicks cheek. "But it was so bad. You... I mean we lost the lawsuit... and then we split up and you were lovers with AJ.", the younger man started to talk like a waterfall. But Brian was quick enough the interrupt him.
"AJ? Really? C'mon Nick, he's not even my type. And you know he's into girls.", Brian reassured him and wiped some tears away, shaking his head lightly. But Nick wasn't done speaking.
"But you were with him and then you guys did drugs. You did. You became a heroin junkie and sold your body. And then Lou came and... you died.", he got faster the more he spoke. Stumbling over his words in the end.
When he was finished talking Nick took an even stronger hold of Brians shirt. He was crying badly and only as Brian caressed his head gently was he able to calm down a little. That dream had been so bad, that it left him shaking.
"Don't be sad Nicky. It was only a dream.", his Frick said and pulled back a little so he could place another kiss against Nicks temple. "I'm alive. Nobody is taking drugs. Babe, everything is fine.", he tried to calm him down. "See, this is reality!", Brian finally said with a slight smirk as he pinched Nicks side.
Nick gasped when he felt the soft pain. What Bri said was true. This was no dream, he had felt the pain so clearly and he could remember the days before too. With a soft and coy smile he looked up to the love of his life.
As their eyes met, Brian grinned. "And right now you are all naked and in my arms. You better get dressed or I can't guarantee you that we make it in time for the show.", the older man winked. He was obviously thinking naughty thoughts again Nick could see that in his face. If only they had the time to stay a little longer, but Brian was right they had to get to the show. So with a sigh he parted from his Frick, looking around to find his clothes. And as he gathered them up and looked back at Brian he blinked lightly. Did he always have this shine around him?