Date: Sat, 31 Dec 2005 00:45:00 +0000
From: Mike Rich <gridlinked@gmail.com>
Subject: Paranoia Chapter 3

Disclaimer:

The following story contains sexual content and deals with homosexual
relationships.  It is not for people under the legal age.  If you are
offended by the contents of this story, or it is illegal in your location
to view this type of material, leave now.  This story is fiction and is not
intended to imply anything about the true sexuality of the celebrities
mentioned or any personal knowledge about their private lives.


Hello again, one more Chapter, lets just start.

_____________________________________________________________________________

Chapter 3

What was he doing? After the call to Mathew, he pretty much avoided talking
to anyone in the family except for Tommy and Ben, and if we count Alicia,
her too.  He was sure at least his mom would know what was happening. That
woman knew everything, it was almost creepy.  Almost.  Yes things could be
better, but they are not all that bad, all things considering the year had
started good.  His son was of good health, Alicia was seeing some guy named
Steve she apparently liked a lot, and Tommy was getting along great with
him, on the down side Tommy was on the phase that many straight friends of
gay people go through when they think they should make jokes about "the gay
thing", but he knew it would go away and he was thankful that his nephew
was accepting him so well.

Kevin.

AH yes, Kevin, he hadn't heard from him since that awkward phone call, and
truth be told he hadn't done much of an effort to call him either. It still
bothered him, and the worst thing was he didn't knew why.  On all accounts
Kevin was a hunk, so even if there was a small almost insignificant
possibility that he could be into guys he should have been flattered by the
pet name.  'Happy New Year Andy' Yeah, he wasn't. Why not?  The thing was
he knew that Kevin was probably just being friendly, but he couldn't be at
ease with it. More and more he felt like he should open up to Ally, but he
knew what she would say, she would think this as an opportunity, one that
he wouldn't want to take, after all he was going to work with this guy, and
we shouldn't mix work with personal affairs.  Life would get complicated he
knew it.


"Come on Tommy we have to go, Alicia is waiting in the car downstairs."
Andrew shouted to his nephew. This was it D day, if that's not too much of
a cliche, they were going to Paris and in just 16 hours he would meet
Kevin.  He would have been sweating, but he never does sweat.

"Yeah yeah I'm coming, chill, i just have to get my phone... OK got it."
Tommy came running to the door and they rushed out. You could tell he was
excited, it was his first trip outside of the country and Andrew knew he
was all joy.

They closed the apartment that would be cleaned by a company wile they were
gone, it just made sense to Andrew, Since they wouldn't be home, might as
well use the opportunity to hire someone to clean the place top to bottom.
Alicia had offered to take them to the Airport herself and that worked out
great for the two men who both wanted to say goodbye to Ben as late as
possible.  Andrew knew he would miss the toddler something fierce, he knew
that Tommy would too. On this past month he had started talking better, he
already said daddy and mommy and other simple words and sentences, but the
new thing was calling his cousin Tommy. Tommy cried that day, he was happy,
for a straight guy he could be sappy.

"Finally what were you guys doing?" Alicia asked wile she started the car.

"Don't look at me Ally, I'm the gay one and i was ready for like hours,
this guy" Andrew said wile siting on the passenger seat and pointing at
Tommy in the back next to Ben in the Baby seat " took forever, its like he
is getting married and we both know sweetie that even at our wedding i was
ready way before you."

"Yeah" Alicia started saying wile she drove "You can be a bad gay man."

Tommy couldn't help laugh so did Ben but he just did it because the cousin
he loved so much was doing it, and Andrew just mumbled something inaudible.

Tommy was more than excited at this point and he had been looking at his
uncle with a look of adoration for an hour. They were at the entrance of
the Check in counters ready to say goodbye to Ben who was smiling like he
always did.

'This is it Buddha, you listening? This past month you did OK, its time you
worked extra hard for a few days to protect the little one wile i am not
here.'

"This is it hum?" Tommy said wile he took Ben from Alicia and hugged him
tight. You could tell the child was in heaven "Don't drive your mom crazy!"

"cwazy" was all Ben had to say. They laughed.

"Come here little guy" Andrew voiced wile he took Ben from Tommy "God i am
gonna miss you so much, you take care of your mother." He kissed him and
gave him to Ally.

"OK we have to go" Andrew said with a sad look "We'll call as soon as we
get there." He gave Ally a kiss.

'God i miss kissing'

"You better, or ill go there" She would too, he knew "You make sure he is
alright" she said turning to Tommy.

"No problem Mrs Archer, i will."

They said their goodbyes and each of the men kissed Ben one last time
before they went through customs.

They were siting on the lounge waiting to be called, one of the perks of
flying first class. There weren't many people in the lounge and they had a
corner all to themselves. Andrew noticed that Tommy was looking at him, he
had been for awhile.

"You know" he started "you don't have to take her wish too seriously its
not like i am going to be stoned at the airport"

Tommy blushed "I know its not that" he started stuttering "its
just... well... this is a very nice gesture, taking me to Paris with you,
even after what i did you still did it and i just" he started to get misty
eyed "i guess i am just happy and i am not sure if i deserve to be."

Andrew just looked at his nephew for awhile. He was tall, 6 ft, he was very
built and had dark hair and brown eyes 'Tall dark and handsome... and
sappy' he smiled to himself.

"Look Tommy" He moved a bit further on his seat so he could grab his
nephew's hand, "You deserve it, and as far as what happened is concerned,
just forget about it."

"I love you Andy"

There it was, why did it feel out of place again, it was just a caring pet
name. "I love you to Tommy, i love you too."

The plane ride went smooth, even though Tommy was nervous throughout the
entire flight, he managed to calm down a bit during the meal
periods. Andrew was nervous himself but for other reasons. All he could
hear for most of the time they were on that plane was the breathing sounds
Kevin had made on that awkward phone call.  The only hope he had, was of
Kevin acting nonchalantly once they met in a few hours. Yes, that would be
the best thing. Near the end of the flight Tommy was sleeping peacefully
with his head on his uncle's shoulders.  Andrew couldn't help smile a
little at the tall youth, after all, only a month ago the guy wouldn't even
touch him.

They landed without a problem and half an hour later they already had their
bags. They took a shuttle from the Orly airport to Les Invalides, and from
there they got a cab to take them to the Hotel on Rue de Tilsitt.  The day
was sunny despite the freezing temperature, and both men were feeling
good. Andrew's mood had definitely improved by the time they reached the
Hotel.  They went to the lobby after paying the cab and Andrew could see
the back of an old friend.

"Lou!" Andrew said aloud. Lou, the manager of the Hotel and a long time
friend turned around. Once he saw Andrew he smiled and came to him with
open arms.

"My friend" he said with flawless English "Its so good to see you" They
hugged for a few seconds.

"Thanks Lou" Andrew said when they finally parted "Lou i would like you to
meet my nephew, Tommy" Andrew stepped aside to make room for Tommy to let
himself be shown.

"He's big" was the only comment Lou made before he took out his hand to
greet the young man.

Tommy took it and they shook hands.

"Yes yes he takes after his father" Andrew observed, "Anyway Lou, it was a
long plane ride, do you mind if we go to our rooms and freshen up?"

"Of course not my friend come come, everything is ready. You have the 104
and your big friend here has the 102."  Lou said wile handing them the
keys.

"Thanks Lou, you're a saint, we'll talk more tomorrow, do you want to have
breakfast on the Champs?"

"That's a good idea my friend, of course i do, now go go, you two are tired
go rest" Lou said wile urging them to the elevator "I'll send the bags in a
few minutes."

"Thanks Lou" Andrew said already inside the elevator.

"Yeah thanks Lou" Tommy said smiling, he still couldn't believe it, he was
in Paris.

Two minutes to 6.  He was definatly freaking out. In just two minutes he
would meet Kevin Richardson and he couldnt stop pacing.  He had long given
up on the "i am not the starstruck type" speach, but he was definatly more
nervous thinking about the way Kevin would act. After that phone call, even
though it had been his fault, he wouldnt blame Kevin if he was a bit
widrawn.

One minute.

'Damn it, ok Buddha here is when you come up again, please please, make
this barable.'

He was busy pacing the room when he heard the knock on the door.  Swiftly
he opened to reveal Tommy, looking as nervous as he was.

"What? Why are you sweating?"

"Oh come on, you might not like pop music but i do, siriously, Alicia is
right you can be a bad gay man."

"Funny..." mumbled Andrew, "shouldnt we go?" Andrew said picking up the
keys from the table near the door.

"Yeah we should, i was just knocking to tell you that."

"Instead you chose comedy, great, come on lets just go."

Together they reached the elevator and pressed the groundfloor button.

'This is it'

Kevin was nervous and for the life of him he couldn't tell why.  First he
thought of the first call he made to Andrew, after knowing he was going to
work with him, he thought it would be a nice gesture if he called to wish a
Happy New Year. Instead he forgot to do so, and just enjoyed the
conversation.  Then there was the second call.  The call from hell. Why did
he had to say "Andy" why? Where did that come from?  The truth was he knew
where it had come from, he was lonely. He has been for a long time, and the
calls to Andrew were like a breath of fresh air. He knew the guys were
trying to reach out for him, trying to get him to open up, he couldn't, he
couldn't tell them what he knew.  Now they were all on the limo, at the
entrance to Andrew's Hotel.  This was it. He had a game plan, he was going
to act like nothing had happen, that's right, over the years he got perfect
at doing that. Some call it being cynical, he called it being Kevin.

"Kevin?" he heard Brian call "Kevin!"

"Hum... what?" Kevin turned to Brian still day dreaming "What is it?"

"Come on cousin, shouldn't you go in and meet them?"

"Yeah Kevin, we'll wait here so we can make this quick i am hungry" That
was Nick, Kevin couldn't help smile a bit.

"Yeah OK." He opened the limos door and made his way to the Hotel Lobby
"Yup, this is it" he said to himself in almost a whisper.

And then he saw them, both of them talking to some guy behind the check in
counter's desk. One of them was pretty tall and heavily built, dressed in
dark pants and a dark long coat that finished way beyond the knees.  He was
going to start looking to the other one, the smaller one, when the guy
turned, and for a moment, even though he didn't realized it, for a moment
time stood still. It could have been the attraction, but it was mostly the
awkwardness.

'Oh my God'

'Oh my God, Kevin, damn it, why am i not saying anything? Why is he just
staring at me? God he is a hunk... Why am i not saying anything? Snap out
of it Andrew, NOW!'

"Hey Kevin nice to finally meet you, sorry that the CD and posters thing
didn't work out but apparently i cant sing to save my live" Andrew said
wile he walked to Kevin and extended his right hand to shook his.

'Wow this was easy, Buddha kudos to ya'

"Yeah" Kevin laughed though you could tell he was nervous "Well they tell
me you are a whiz with the clothes, so we all got our strengths, by the way
nice suit." Kevin responded wile they shook hands. 'Nice suit? NICE SUIT?
What am i thinking?'

"Yeah well i felt like blue today, sorry if i am a bit slow, but you know,
jet lag, by the way this is my nephew Thomas" Andrew moved aside so Kevin
could shake hands with Tommy.

Until now Thomas had been listening to the words exchanged between the two
and was smiling to himself.

"Nice to meet you Thomas, sorry if i am a bit surprised i was expecting a 5
year old" Kevin said amused.

"Well" Andrew quickly intervened, "he does behave like one most of the
time" That got him a blow on the side of the stomach.

"That was lame Uncle Andrew." Tommy said laughing.

"Alright alright, mind the fabric will ya, anyway, Kevin?" He looked at the
tall man "shouldn't we be going? Are we going to a cafe here on the Champs
or..."

"Actually" Kevin interrupted, "the guys are here with me, waiting in the
limo so..."

"A LIMO?" Instantly Tommy was excited.

"Calm down Thomas" He said it with a stern tone but he was amused by his
nephew's inner child, mostly because it was just like his.

"Yeah well, i figured you would meet them at some point, so why not right
now, so with all of us its better if we go somewhere a bit more secluded
than a cafe in the Champs, is that OK?" Kevin asked looking directly at
Andrew's eyes.

"Sure Kevin that's fine, lets go then" He said turning one last time to the
check in counter and waving at Lou.

They were all seated in the limo on their way to wherever they were
going. Andrew was making small talk with Kevin and things were going as
they should be. The other guys were nice, all of them had greeted the two
men warmly with and inviting smile on their faces.  Tommy was still
enjoying the feel of the limo, he was actually more impressed with it than
with the five singers, Andrew noticed, that or he is just trying to focus
his attention on something safe.

"So Andrew" Brian started "fashion designer, walk us through it."

Andrew turned to Brian "Well i like it" Andrew said smiling.

"Was it always your first choice?" Brian asked.

Everyone was pretty much paying attention to the two.

"Well, actually no." Andrew confessed "I have a masters in Economy"

"Really?" asked Kevin with interest.

"Yeah" Andrew glanced at him slightly, "well, it wasn't my first choice,
but with a father in the army and a brother that was in the army, telling
my parents that i wanted to "make clothes" scared me when i was 18, so i
just did what they expected of me and went to New York so i could be away
from them, but i went to do Economics witch i ended up liking"

"So what changed?" Howie asked.

"Well" Andrew started looking at the handsome man, "I wanted to do what i
absolutely loved, and with the help of my best friend i started designing a
few models, then she introduced me to a guy who is like this big fashion
guru, well his wife is the actual guru, but he is the front man, and after
talking a bit and after i wrote him a letter he got me this gig on the
Paris Fair and wouldn't you know it, he got me this great model, talk dark
and handsome he called him."

Kevin was blushing, and Nick was laughing openly, joined by everyone.

"So, this is your first time then, at a show." Brian observed.

"Yeah, it is, i am a bit nervous, but i have great people working with me
so it should be great." Andrew was feeling more and more at ease with the
singers, and he had put the phone call behind him.

"So tell me" A.J. finally spoke "do you like our music?"

Andrew could feel his head turning crimson, and he knew without looking,
that Tommy was straining not to laugh.  "Well, i think we should discuss
music at dinner."

"Yes i think that's best." Tommy added still trying not to laugh.

"What? What is it?" Kevin asked. And Andrew remembered the first phone
call.

"Kevin i thought we had settled this, you are too old to pout." They all
laughed.


The restaurant was beautiful, if anyone asked him for directions to it he
wouldn't know how to give them. All the time in the limo he was too into
the conversation with his new friends to pay attention to the streets they
were going through.

The manager of the restaurant came personally to sit them on a big table
all the way in the back. After greeting their host, the group was seated
and the waiter came to fill the glasses with water.

A few minutes into the conversation and after they had already ordered,
A.J. brought the subject back to the table, so to speak.

"So, i am curious" Andrew knew what was coming "What about our music, we
are at dinner, lets discuss it."  A.J. was wearing an amused smile on his
face.

"Well" Andrew started once more feeling uncomfortable, he noticed Kevin,
who was seated next to him, looking at him waiting for his response "Lets
just say that i like pop music in small doses"

"What does that mean?" Asked Nick smirking.

"It means" Intervened Tommy looking directly at Nick, and for a moment
Andrew thought he was home free, he should have known better, this after
all was his brother's son "It means that he will listen to it if the second
choice is dogs barking, or if he is tied down unable to reach the stereo to
change the station." Tommy looked at his uncle, chuckling and feeling proud
of himself. Andrew just gave him a dirty look that said "I will kill you
for this" Tommy just smiled.

"So" Kevin spoke up "not a fan."

Andrew knew he was blushing a lot now, and as he turned to face Kevin he
looked at the rest of the group on the round table all grinning at him
"Well no sorry" he said slightly embarrassed.

"Hey no problem, we all have our tastes. So tell me whats your favorite
band?" Kevin asked.

"Well to be completely honest, i would have to say Nightwish."

"OK i can understand why you hate pop music" Brian laughed soon joined by
all of them.

The food arrived shortly after that and Andrew found himself once more
emerged in a wonderful conversation with the fun group.  Soon they were
having desert and spirits were light.

"OK wait i have to ask you" Nick said in a conversation with Tommy "do you
hate our music too or are you better than your uncle?"

"Me?" Tommy started saying "No, i like your music, actually i have your
latest CD back at my parents house in L.A."

"L.A.?" Kevin asked "you guys moved far, is the family that bad?" Kevin
jokingly asked.

"He he, no no" Andrew said smiling, "But since we were already there
studying in New York, my wife and i chose to live there."

"Your wife?" Kevin suddenly asked "you're married?"

Andrew didn't know why Kevin was so surprised by the information, nor why
he seemed troubled by it. "Yeah, well no, currently i am divorced, even
after Ben was born i... "

He was interrupted once more, this time by Brian. "You have a son?" The
group by now had stopped eating their deserts and Tommy was just looking at
his uncle amused by the surprised look on all the singers faces. 'Why
wouldn't they be surprised, he looks younger than me' he thought.

"Yeah i have a two year old named Ben. Even after he was born my ex wife
and i" he put extra emphasis on the "EX" "thought it would be best if we
just remained best friends, so we did." He looked at Kevin who by now
seemed lost in his own thoughts.

"That's cool" Nick finally said "can i ask why you guys split up?"

That shook Kevin out of his stupor "NICK!" he said with a stern look, Nick
just looked apologetically at Andrew.

"Hey that's OK Kevin, no harm in asking" But Tommy was thinking
otherwise. "We decided to separate because we realized at the same time
that i was gay." There it was, out in the open, not that he usually hid it,
but he was nervous about their reaction.

He scanned the table. Tommy was just looking at Nick, Nick was looking down
at his plate where the tiramisu was waiting to be eaten, Howie just smiled
slightly at him with an expression that said "its cool", Brian was looking
intently at A.J, who was finding his desert rather interesting, and Kevin
was looking at him with a smile.

'He is smiling, why is he smiling, is it sympathy? Buddha a little help
here.'

Then he heard the noise of a chair rubbing against the floor.

"A.J." Brian started wile Alex started getting up "A.J. sit down please."

A.J. just looked at Andrew with a disgusted look. "No" He said coldly, "I
am out of here, you guys can play with the queer."

Before he could say anything Tommy jerked from his seat "What did you call
my Uncle, i swear to God I'll break your face." Tommy said agitated.

"A.J. stop being an asshole and sit down you are making a scene, just sit."
Kevin said in a stern tone.

"Kevin shut up" A.J. said turning to Kevin but talking in a lower tone "I
am tired of this shit, first you are miserable because you broke up with
Kristen, then you are miserable and you don't tell us why, and now you make
us hang out with this fag like being around Nick wasn't enough" When he
mentioned Nick Tommy looked down at the singer who had started crying with
his head bent low.

"A.J. please" Brian tried one more time.

"NO!" A.J. said raising his voice "I m going to the Hotel, I'll see you
guys later." With that he left the group and was out of the restaurant in
few seconds.

Andrew was quiet, he was thinking that this could have been better, sure it
could have been worse, but he had to admit 4 out of 5 was a good score. His
thoughts were interrupted by Tommy talking loudly.

"I cant believe that guy! I swear I'll bash him"

"Thomas sit!" Andrew said firmly to the young man. Kevin was now looking at
Andrew's reaction to the situation wile Howie was hugging Nick.

"But Andrew did you..." Tommy started.

"NOW Thomas, sit right now!" Andrew said again. He knew what was done was
done, no point in dealing with it now.  Tommy sat and Andrew knew he was
disappointed in his Uncle's reaction. "We should be comforting Nick who is
obviously upset, not screaming about someone who is no longer here. What is
done is done, lets eat and move on."

Tommy just looked at Nick and he nodded. He knew what was happening, it was
all going to come back to his Uncle and they both would deal with it later,
for now they had to deal with Nick.


They had left the restaurant and were now in the limo parked at the
entrance to Andrew's Hotel. Nick had cried a bit but was looking better and
had fallen asleep in Howie's arms. Brian was looking pissed, and Kevin just
looked sad.

"OK, well so much for a fun evening" Kevin said with a sad smile.

"Yeah well, we have tomorrow to make up for it." Andrew encouraged.

"That's right" said Kevin more brightly, "at what time are you going to the
Fair, maybe we can go together."

"Well, i have to be there at 5" he paused for emphasis "am"

"Sorry you are on your own" Kevin said managing a laugh. "I'll be there at
9 though all ready to sell Paranoia."

Andrew smiled. "OK than we better hit it, it's going to be a long day
tomorrow and i want to be sure i sleep."

"Is he going to be OK?" Tommy finally asked referring to Nick.

"Don't worry about it" Brian said with a firm tone "I'll make sure he will
be."

"I'll try no to" Tommy said.


They both went to Andrew's room to talk. Even though Andrew was exhausted
he wanted some time to talk to his nephew, his friend, so he could explain
his reaction at the table. Images of the look of disgust A.J. had given him
filled his mind and for a few seconds he though that Kevin's apparent
accepting way could be a front.  He knew better though. No, he knew Kevin
was OK with it.

"Look Tommy about earlier..." he started.

"No! Its OK Andy i understand" Tommy said hugging his uncle "You were right
i just have a bad temper."

They hugged for a few seconds both enjoying the closeness. Finally they
parted and when they did Andrew noticed his nephews eyes were moist.

"What is it Tommy?"

"Did you see the look on Nick's face? It killed me Andy." Tommy said
holding back the tears Andrew knew wouldn't fall.

"Well lets just hope they know how to take care of him." Andrew said to his
nephew.

After saying good night, Tommy went to his room still bothered by the
happenings at dinner. Andrew washed his face several times and finally went
to bed. The 3 days in Paris had started wonderfully, he thought.

'Where the fuck were you Buddha, i am starting to think you do as you
please.'

He fell asleep looking over the view from his window.


He woke up with a start because of the heavy noise coming from the
door. The first thing he thought was that he had overslept, but a quick
glance at his bedside clock put him at ease.

3 am.

'What the...'

He stood and walked to the door. As soon as he opened a very panicked
Thomas walked into his room.

"We have to talk" he said still wearing nothing but his boxers.

"What? Its 3 am Thomas." Andrew said closing the door.

"I know its 3 am, do you think i go like this outside? Its freezing
Andrew."

"Alright calm down, whats going on?" Andrew asked siting at the foot of the
bed.

"Nick's gone!"

"What?" Andrew got up again.

"Yeah exactly, Nick is gone."

"How do you..." Andrew started but was interrupted by his nephew who was
still wearing a panicked look on his face.

"Brian called, he called the Hotel and they patched him through to my
room. He said" Tommy kept going not letting his uncle interrupt "that they
had put Nick to bed and he went to check on him a few minutes ago but he
was gone."

"OK... what are we suppose to do, i mean they have bodyguards... are we
going to look for him with them or..."

"No!" Tommy said with a firm tone "I am. You and Kevin have to work today i
just came here to tell you that i am going to meet with the guys at the Le
Meridien right now, its not far from here, actually its just all the way
down the Avenue des Les Grand Armée."

"OK, didn't know you spoke French, OK, well, I'll get ready anyway no point
in sleeping now, just let me know if you find him OK? I am gonna phone Ally
anyway we forgot to do that last night."

"OK, I'll go now."

Andrew was left alone in his room thinking that Buddha was a bastard, a
very fat bastard.


"Hey honey, we're here" Andrew managed to say into the phone with a normal
tone when Alicia picked up."

"Whats wrong?"

'Damn her'

"What do you mean Ally?" It was no use he knew.

"Don't insult me Andrew, whats wrong?"

"Look can i just talk to my son?" He was not in the mood.

"Yes, after you tell me what's wrong, I'll swear I'll go there if i have to
Andrew."

There was no way out so he just told her. Everything, from the meeting at
the hotel, till the panicked entrance by Tommy a few minutes earlier,

"OK well, they are all looking for him right?"

"Yes they are, look let me just talk to Ben, i have to get ready for the
Fair soon."

He talked to his son for awhile even though he would only get "Daddy" as a
response to almost every sentence. By the end of the call he had a smile on
his face.


When he got to the Fair at the Porte de Versailles, he was amazed by the
amount of people working on every booth.  Immediately someone from his
staff came to take him to his. It was a big space with a modern logo saying
Paranoia in big red letters. It looked good. He helped organize what was
left and talked to some of the models that were already there. The show
would be at 8 pm, his brand would be on the runway at 9, he was nervous and
there was still 16 hours to go, it was going to be a long day.

"Andrew!"

He turned around to be hugged by Philippe his assistant. "Hey Philippe,
whats up?"

"Nervousness, and with you?"

"I am scared shitless" They laughed "So how do you think is going to go?"

"Well, with Kevin Richardson here with us, what do you think? Starting a
brand never looked easier my friend"

Andrew knew he was right. He calmed a little.

By 9 Kevin arrived. 'God is he ever late?' Andrew asked himself.

"Hey Andrew" Kevin greeted with a handshake and a sad smile.

"Hey Kevin, let me introduce you to Philippe" Andrew said taking Philippe
by the arm and placing the man in front of him. After the two men greeted
each other Andrew pulled Kevin aside and made him sit on a couple of chairs
that were placed for the future buyers. "So, any word about Nick yet?"

Kevin just looked up and exhaled "No, i am getting worried Andrew, if we
cant find him until the end of the day we'll have to tell the police."

Andrew just sat there for a few moments, obviously A.J. had really gotten
to Nick. "Well lets hope they find him then." Andrew placed his hand on
Kevin's shoulder and squeezed a little. Kevin just gave him another sad
smile.

"OK well i have to get ready" Kevin said finally getting up "need to get in
Paranoia before the crowd starts to arrive." He left Andrew and went to the
small set they had to prep the models. Andrew kept siting there just
telling himself that Nick would be found, and he would be OK.


Seven hours had passed and not a word about Nick. Kevin was obviously
troubled even though he managed to put on a happy face to everyone that
came to their booth to check out what Paranoia was all about. Andrew talked
for most of those 7 hours. Mostly to buyers, and by 5 o'clock he had made a
lot of money.  He wasn't so good at pretending as Kevin though, and
everyone at the booth knew something was wrong with him.

At 6 Kevin and all the models were called by the stage manager so they
could be prepped for the show. Andrew stayed behind in the booth so he
could finish business with clients.  He was talking to one of them when his
cellphone rang. He quickly excused himself got up and pressed the talk
button.

"Yes talk to me" He urged.

"Jazz?"

'What??'

"Sarah? Sarah is that you sis?"

"Jazz" he heard one more time, his sister saying with a strained voice
barely a whisper "Jazz help me."

"Sis whats going on? Where are you Sarah?" Andrew was getting troubled, he
could hear her starting to cry.  "Sarah you have to talk to me, come on
please, where are you?"

"Paris" he heard faintly "Mom said you were here."

"You talked to mom? Does she know you're here? Where are you exactly?"
Andrew was now in panic, he knew his sister was supposed to be in Hawaii
with some guy named Glen or Sven or something like that.

"Andy I'm scared" She was crying heavily now.

"Shh sis, I'm here, I'll help, just tell me where you are, please sis, I'll
go right now" 'What? i cant go, i have to be here, damn it' "I'll send
someone to bring you to me sis, please everything is gonna be OK i
promise."

"I'm at the station Andy" she managed to say between sobs.

"What station honey, please you have to tell me."

"Gard du Nord"

"OK, honey, OK, do you see a big clock, a very big looking one, do you see"
he was desperate now.

"Yes" she said weakly.

"OK, sis, go stand next to it, OK?, someone will pick you up in five
minutes i promise, sis, I'm here OK?"

"OK" was all he heard.

"What are you wearing sis, i have to know" He was pacing by now, and the
client was long gone. He managed to hear his sister say blue dress. "OK sis
5 minutes OK, will you be able to wait 5 minutes?"

"Yes."

"OK don't move, just stay there."

He hung up and started thinking, the guys were all looking for Nick, Kevin
was getting dressed, who was he going to call? And then he remembered
something. He quickly called the Meriden.

"Bonjour, Le Meriden Comment est-ce que je peux vous aider?"

"Hi do you speak English? Good... listen i need you to patch me through to
the Backstreet Boys's Suite. What do you mean you cant? Listen i
know.. OK... Look i need to talk to someone that i know is there OK? How
about this" He was irritated now "Just call up and tell whoever is there
that Andrew Archer is calling and see if they want to talk to me OK? Thank
you." He waited, 'Damn you star treatment, God I'll kill 'em all.'

"Hello?"

"A.J.?"

"Yes what do you want?" he asked coldly.

"I knew you would be there instead of looking for your friend" Andrew said
matching A.J.s cold tone.

"Look if you called to verbally assault me I'll just hang up...."

"Wait! OK look i need a favour."

"You're kidding right?" By his tone Andrew knew he really thought that.

"No i really need a favour, you staying in actually might save my ass."

"Why should i help you, please tell me." A.J. said with an amused tone.

"Look Alex" Andrew started loosing patience "my sister just called crying
saying she was at Gard du Nord, i haven't seen her for a year and now she
calls me and she sounds terrible, i am worried shitless and i need you to
be less of an asshole and be a more of a man and help out" 'Please' he
thought.

There was silence for a few seconds. "OK, fine, I'll get her"

"You will?" Andrew asked not believing his luck but quickly continued
talking "OK then she is wearing a blue dress and she is standing near the
big clock at the Gard du Nord, do you know where it is?"

"Yes i know where it is idiot, i said i was going."

"Alright" Andrew said containing himself "Please hurry Alex, i really think
she isn't well."

"OK, I'll call you when i reach her." With that he heard the dial tone
after A.J. had hung up.


He was tired, he had been walking for 12 hours and he was exhausted. He
kept going though, until he reached Les Jardins de Luxembourg. He got in
the massive gardens that surrounded the palace and made his way through the
woods until he reached the fountain facing the palace. There he sat down
and looked up.  It was snowing. He almost laughed. Almost. He had been
crying for hours and he was all cried out.  He felt so alone. He was sure
A.J. was fine with him being gay by now, he was sure.  Apparently not. He
hated him.  He was alone, and he knew he could manage more tears.

"I WAS SUREEEE" The sudden outburst made the few pigeons on the trees take
flight. He got up and just looked at the palace. this was always his
favorite spot in Paris. The gardens were deserted, mostly because of the
temperature. He looked around and saw already a thick layer of snow
covering everything. It was almost perfect.

Then he herd it.

Steps.

Someone was running coming from beyond the fountain. because of the small
echo made by the trees he wasn't sure exactly where this someone was coming
from, but he knew it was from the main entrance to the gardens.  Then he
saw him. The figure just at the end of the big fountain. Once the figure
saw him it stopped, and then started running fast. It ran along the left
side of the fountain, and Nick with his back to the Palace of Luxembourg
just waited.

Him.

Nick felt Tommy's arms quickly envelop him and he hug him for dear life.
The last tears he knew he had started falling.

_____________________________________________________________________________


Well this is it. I hope you liked it. Again i want to wish a Happy New Year
to all of you.  All the best

Mike