"Are you out of your mind??? You want to adopt a 14-year-old?" Johnny asked still not believing what he was hearing.

"He isn't JUST a 14-year-old. He has come to be like my brother. I love him as if he was my little brother. The other guys feel the same way. This is the way we can get him to stay with us." Kevin said to his manager.

"Fine. If you really want this we will go through the courts and see if they let you. But you are only 22 and unmarried so they probably won't let you do it." Johnny said matter-o-factly.

"I know. But I need to try." Kevin said with hope in his voice. Johnny nodded and got on the phone to start calling the people that would try to get Kevin custody of Nick.


"I hope you know what you're doing Kev." AJ said after hearing of what Kevin wanted to do. The guys were pretty stunned that Kevin wanted to adopt Nick. But all knew that it was just Kevin's nature to help out others.

"Have you told Nick yet?" Brian asked.

"No. But I am about to. You guys wanna be there?" Kevin asked hoping they would say yes. To his relief they nodded their heads.

The 4 boys walked into Nick's room. He was staying at Kevin's house for now since he had no where to go. Nick looked up from the video game that Kevin had bought him.

"What's up guys?" Nick asked wondering why everyone converged in his room.

"Well Nicky, I have something I want to ask you." Kevin stated looking at the other 3 for approval. They nodded for him to go on.

"Ok. What is it?" Nick asked confused.

"Well, I want to know if you would want me to adopt you?" Kevin asked nervously. Nick looked at him in shock.

"Y...You want me?" Nick asked a smile playing on his face and his eyes glistening.

"Yea Nick I want you. I have come to love you like a brother and I don't want you being taken away. The other guys feel the same way." Kevin said and looked at the 3 guys who nodded and smiled.

"YEA I WANT YOU TO ADOPT ME!" Nick yelled happily. He then jumped in to Kevin's arms. The two held a tight hug and the other 3 boys soon joined in.

"Oh Kev?" Nick asked.

"Yea?"

"Can I keep my last name? It was my real dad's and I really want to keep it. It is all I have left." Nick asked looking at Kevin.

"Sure kiddo! You can keep your last name." Kevin said smiling.

"Thanks." Nick said and hugged Kevin again.

"Nick, we just have to wait to see if I can adopt you first. We have to wait and see if the courts say it is ok before I can." Kevin stated. Nick frowned a little.

"When will that be?" Nick asked

"In a few days. But until then you will be staying here with me ok?" Kevin said and Nick nodded.

~~~~~~~~~~Few days later~~~~~~~~~

For Nick the few days seem to go really slow. All he wanted was to find out if Kevin was able to adopt him. The days also went slowly for Kevin as well. He also wanted to know. It was driving him nuts. Then at about 4 that afternoon Kevin received a phone call. The other guys were in the living room watching TV and Nick fell asleep on the couch.

"Hello?" Kevin answered. "Yes this is he. (pause) Yes I filed for adoption. (pause) Oh I see. Thank you. Good-bye." Kevin hung up the phone and went into the living room.

"Who was it?" Brian asked.

"That was the adoption agency." Kevin stated. "Can you guys come into the kitchen; I don't wanna wake up Nick." AJ, Brian and Howie followed Kevin into the kitchen.

"Well can you adopt him?" Howie asked.