It has been almost 10 years since the show ended and about nine and a half since I finished my first BTR story. Can you believe it's been that long and I still get reads on that story. When it was completed and for the next eight years it was the longest story I had ever written. When I finished I didn't think I'd write any more for that world. I really didn't despite people asking for a sequel for it but here I am. I intended this as a one shot to catch up on the life after the awards show but somehow it's morphed into something longer. All reviews and comments are welcome. Please remember this is set within the continuity of the show with most of it turning out the way it did.

It all started about four months after the awards show and after party, in early November, when Big Time Rush made the last of their dreams from that night come true. That dream being James getting back together with Kendall's twin sister and country superstar, Kylie Knight. They had been out for their 20th birthday celebration in Ontario after BTR had performed and just after midnight as she and Kendall were twins that had been born on either side of 12 am, James had asked her out again. Having danced around the subject for the last four months since that fateful night of their second award, Kylie couldn't resist saying yes.

In the following two years, BTR had put out two more albums then agreed to step back so Logan could go to medical school. Kendall and James continued making music and playing small gigs around Hollywood and Carlos got into acting, both starring in TV movies and as a stuntman in some huge blockbusters.

Meanwhile, Kylie continued making music as well, her next two albums debuting in the top 10 on the country charts as well as going platinum. Then one day about a year after BTR had played their last farewell concert and Logan doing extremely well in Med school, things changed. Kylie, while not only putting out new music and touring, had also been working as the Vice President of Brooke Diamond cosmetics teen line. Most people would say that she had gotten the job only because she had been dating James, but it had been more than that. In fact, Brooke had insisted Kylie get a business degree and then shadow her for six months to get the hang of the business before she had put her in charge of the teen line.

It had come as a huge surprise when James had showed up in her office one day not long before she began her next tour. She sent her an assistant a look but the man only shrugged as James sent her a heart-melting smile. "James, I love you and I know I'm not forgetting anything so I really need to get back to work," Kylie told him.

"I know but I want to take you out. Just a surprise last minute trip. I already cleared it with Mom and everything."

"So now you're going over my head?" Kylie loved Mrs. Diamond almost as much as loved her own mother. Though the woman wasn't as maternal as Kylie's own mother, she loved Kylie very much and was there for her when she needed someone else to talk to. Kylie was also the only real girly-girl of the group and had more in common with the woman than Katie did.

"Only because you work so hard and I am not going to see you for such a long time on tour."

She stared at him for the longest time. "When do we leave?" she finally asked.

"First thing in the morning."

It was a long day during that spur of the moment snowboarding trip when James did something Kylie wasn't expecting. Two and a half years together and she really didn't see this coming. They were headed back to the lodge when he pulled her through the trees to a spot that looked out at what was becoming a beautiful sunset. "It's beautiful, James. Thank you for making me slow down to see it," Kylie said.

"Anytime, though that's not why we came," James answered, turning to face her.

"Oh?"

"No. Ky, you have been the love of my life, the calm to my crazy, and brought out the strength I never knew I had in me. I know that I haven't been the best boyfriend you have ever had, nor the easiest to deal with, let me finish, but you've been there for me in ways I may never be able to properly thank you for. I want to spend the rest of my life trying to though." James dropped to one knee. "Kylie Knight, will you marry me?" Kylie's jaw dropped, not only at his words and what they meant but also at the most beautiful diamond ring she had ever seen. Maybe she had been all those things for James but he had been so much for her. After everything her father had put her through, he had done everything he could to pull her out of the locker depressive state she had been in. Though sometimes he still messed up, he still did his best to help her out.

"Yes, yes," she answered. She knew she couldn't see her life without this man even if she didn't feel completely ready for marriage.

"Really?"

"Yeah, really." Kylie pulled off her glove and presented her hand. James took the ring out of the box and put it on her finger. Then he gathered her in the biggest hug he could manage.

"I love you," James told her.

"I love you too."

Once he let her go, she put her glove back on and they walked hand in hand back to the ski lodge. As soon as they got comfortable on the couch, James pulled out his phone.

"No," Kylie said instantly.

"No, what?" he asked.

"No posting about this. Not yet. I know this is a happy moment and you want to share it with our fans, but can we not tell our family that way too?"

"Our family? They've known for weeks and I know better than to post about our private lives on my public skuttlebutter. I was going to text our family, see?" He pulled up seven contacts and turned Kylie so she was leaning back against his chest. "Now, hold up your hand." Kylie did so and James snapped a picture of the ring on her hand and typed a simple message under the picture. 'She said yes.'

"Before you send that, you may wanna add Mrs. Mitchell and the Garcias," she told him.

"Of course."

"You know, about our fans. I got an idea."

"And what's that?"

"My tour, Home, Where the Heart Is, kicks off next week in Minnesota. What if…"

"I propose to you on stage? You think Gustavo would be ok with that?"

"Sure. You could tell him you want it to be a surprise. Work it out with my band to do Rockin' Years after. It will get out to our fans after that." Rockin' Years was one of her favorite duets to do with James despite him being less of a fan of country music.

"You really want to upstage your concert with a marriage proposal?" James asked.

"Upstage? Nah. It's going to make it better because that's what this album and tour are about, my heart. I think it's always belonged to you, which is why it makes sense." Kylie paused. She remembered something her therapist had told her. While it was good to focus on you and what you want, she needed to remember the best way to have friends was to take their needs into consideration. "Unless you don't want to."

"You've had so much taken away from you-"

"This isn't about me, it's about us."

"It's a great idea. Now, let me show you how much." James pressed kisses to her throat but Kylie pushed him off. Though they could be seen here, it was a public ski lodge, this time of year most people were abandoning cold, snowy ski lodges for the warm, sunny beaches of the south. It was the perfect time of year for Kylie's winter baby heart.

"Once you answer the phone."

As James answered his phone to find his father on the other end, Kylie's phone began to ring. The ID said Pappy, taking Kylie by surprise. She wasn't upset to hear from her paternal grandfather but the timing did seem a little suspicious. Her father was a jerk but that had nothing to do with his father. "Hi, Pappy."

"My little Thumper. I hear congratulations are in order."

"Congrats? For what and how'd you hear?"

"Your brother Kendall just texted me the photo James just sent as confirmation of the conversation I had with the boy three weeks ago."

"He talked to you?"

"Of course he did. I'm sure his father drilled that into him. I made sure your father knew it before he asked your mom."

"Thanks, Pappy."

"Well, I'm sure you've got other calls to field and even if you don't, you'll want to enjoy this time with James so I'll let you go."

"Ok. Love you."

"Love you too."

Kylie hung up and looked at James who smiled at her despite still being on the phone. "I'll call you back later, I promise. Right now, I want to enjoy my girl," he said. James hung up and smiled down at her. Before either could say anything, Kylie's phone rang again. Kylie's shoulders fell. She just wanted to enjoy her new fiancé. "Go ahead," James sighed.

"Hello?" Kylie said.

"Did he ask? Tell me he isn't lying to me and that is real. That he didn't just pull a picture off the internet."

"Hello, Mama Brooke. I thought he worked it out with you." Now, it was James's mom who was calling and preventing her from enjoying being with him.

"He told me his plan but he wasn't sure if he had the guts to do it."

Kylie took the phone from James's hand and pulled up the picture he had just taken. She smiled as she zoomed in. "You got the picture, right?"

"That's what I said."

"Pull it up and zoom in on the base of the thumb." Kylie heard Brooke muttering to herself as she did as she was told. "Now, you see that really white line?"

"And?" Brooke asked.

"Do you remember why you told the guys snowboarding was too dangerous and you made them take ballet instead around the same time you told them you didn't like Logan's name?"

"Because James is my baby and snowboarding is dangerous," Brooke said.

"Mama."

Brooke was silent on the other end of the phone. "It's because you sliced your thumb open trying to do a trick that you weren't ready for."

"And because of that, I have an inch and a half long scar at the base of my thumb from the stitches."

"Well then, congrats."

"Thanks, we'll talk more when I get back, I promise, but right now I want to spend a little time with your son."

"Ok. Bye sweetheart."

"Bye." Kylie hung up and leaned back against James. "Now where were we?" she asked.

James smirked and leaned down to kiss her. Kylie smiled, pressing her lips against his. "Maybe we should take this up to our room."

"Maybe you're right," Kylie answered.

The following morning, Kylie woke to a vase full of snow lilies. She smiled softly. Then James entered with a tray of food.

"Snow lilies and breakfast in bed? What did I do to deserve this?" Kylie asked.

"You are amazing and sometimes I want to spoil you," James said.

"James …" Kylie said.

"Please?"

"Ok."

James set the tray down and climbed back on the bed. "Besides, the flowers aren't from me." He reached over to the nightstand and then handed her the card he retrieved.

Kylie unfolded the card. "Congratulations on the engagement. You've always been like a daughter now I get to call you one officially. Love, Mama Brooke," Kylie read aloud. "Your mom. She never fails to surprise me in the best ways."

"This is the text I got back from your mom. "Congrats, Hun. Of all the guys Ky could have picked, I'm glad it was you." I'm glad they like me," James said.

"You've been family for years. This doesn't really change all that much. Let me guess, Katie threatened you?" Since the third grade when Kylie had defended him to two big fifth graders who didn't like his haircut and then introduced him to Kendall, James had been like family to the Knights. Katie and Kendall were also more protective of Kylie since they had found out their father hadn't been very nice to her when she had lived with him for a few months when she was 16.

"Spoke sternly about hurting her big sister but there was no direct threat."

"Just one that's implied."

"Yeah."

"And Kendall?"

"That was the direct threat. Told me if I ever hurt you, I would regret it."

"And my grandpa?"

"Told me to take care of you. You'd been through a lot and needed someone who would love you the way you deserve."

"You are that man. You wrote a song for me. What kind of guy does that if he doesn't love her?" Kylie asked.

"More than one, but I know your point. And I do love you. Very much. Think I knew that since the first time we dated. I fell in love with you so fast and I blew it but now I know better. I have something really good and I don't want to do anything to lose that."

Kylie rolled onto her side and ran her hand across his side and around to his back. "I love you," she said softly. She pressed her lips to his. James pulled her closer, enjoying her and their peace for the moment.

Back at work after their mini vacation, Kylie spent more of her time staring at the ring now on her finger than actually working.

Camille called her out on it one day while they were having lunch. "I know that sometimes I dramatize a story so much that some people just zone out but you were talking and then just sort of cut yourself off. What gives?" Camille asked.

"I don't know what you're talking about."

"Yes, you do. You were talking about that vacay you just came back from then you stopped and smiled at your lap. I thought it was one of the boys texting but then I saw your phone on the table so, back to my original question."

"Can I-can you keep a secret? From everyone?"

"Even Logan?"

"Even Logan and Jo."

"Ok," Camille said. "I promise."

Kylie sighed then finally laid her left hand on the table. Camille stared at it as Kylie watched. Then like a cryptid she had once played, she let out an inhuman squeal.

"Camille!" Kylie groaned.

"Sorry, sorry. Can I see it?" Kylie held it out. "That is so gorgeous."

"Thank you."

"Logan said James talked about it with the guys but he never said if James actually did it."

"I know. On one hand, I'm really happy. I can't wait to marry him. On the other hand, I'm still a kid, I'm not ready to get married."

"Does he feel the same way?"

"I don't know. He was happy that day and doesn't seem upset any time I talk to him."

"Have you brought this up to him?"

"Should I?"

"You trust him, you love him, he deserves to know."

"Yeah, I guess you're right. Now, how amazing is that ring?"

"It fits you. Have you thought about any details for the wedding?"

"It's in Tennessee."

"That it?"

"For now. Though I am considering asking Katie to be my maid of honor. I hope you don't mind."

"It's about you. I would never want to put you in a position where you're uncomfortable or I ruin your big day."

"Thanks, Camille."

"Any time. Now, tell me all about the proposal."

"Nothing to it. We were coming back from snow-boarding when we stopped to watch the sunset. Then he proposed."

"Was it sweet or just simple?"

"Both."

Camille's phone beeped with a notification. "Shoot, I gotta run. We'll talk more later."

Kylie was trying to finish the paperwork on the next marketing campaign when her assistant popped his head in. "Ms. Ky, I know you're busy but you have a VIP visitor. Say the word and I'll get her to leave, but I'm certain she'll try to insist first."

"Five minutes and then I have a very important meeting I cannot miss."

"It won't come to that."

Kylie watched him leave and just like he suggested when the woman entered, she wouldn't want to be interrupted. Still, she paged him. "Interrupt with anyone but my ICE list and you're dead to me." Her ICE List was about a dozen people who could interrupt anything she was doing and she wouldn't get mad.

"Understood."

"Now that's out of the way, Mama Brooke!" she squealed the last two words as she rushed to hug the woman. Though they worked for the same company, Kylie worked in the L.A. office and usually Brooke was in Minnesota. It was rare she came into town.

"I love the way you're always so excited to see me." Brooke wrapped her arms around her soon to be daughter and hugged her tight.

"Why wouldn't I be? You've never really brought me bad news and you've never hurt me."

"I'm sad that's your standard for happiness."

"Would you prefer it to be more complicated?"

"No. Come, sit," Brooke said as they went to the couch in the office and took seats. "So, out with it."

"With what?" Kylie asked. "I'm not keeping anything from you."

"No?"

"I promise, but if you want to clue me in on what you think I'm hiding from you, I'd be glad to clear it up."

"That he was going to propose while he was on the ski trip."

"I didn't know that and you called moments after he sent that picture. I'm also certain he approved the trip through you. You could have known about this before I did."

Brooke watched her suspiciously. "Have you spoken to your mom since?"

That was a subject change but she went with it. "No. I've been busy."

"Ky, honey, my marriage failed, and to an extent my relationship with my son failed, because I spent more time working than being home with the ones I loved. So let's wrap this up and head home."

"I've got work to do."

"Work." Brooke took a deep breath and slowly let it out. "Ok." Brooke walked over to Kylie's desk and pressed the intercom button. "Could you step here for a moment?"

Kylie's assistant appeared in the doorway. "Yes, ma'am?" he asked.

"What does Kylie need to have done in the next two days?" Brooke asked.

"Mama Brooke!" Kylie squealed in protest.

"Hush," Brooke snapped, waving her off.

"The commercial marketing needs her signature, there was supposed to be a video chat with you tomorrow, her weekly meeting with the scientists-"

"Honey, I'm only interested in things that can't wait."

"The marketing," he said. "If we miss the printer tomorrow, we'll have to wait a month."

"Where is it?" He walked around the desk and offered the tablet to Brooke. She scrolled through the proposal and at the last page, she offered it to Kylie. "Will you sign this? I want to take you and James to dinner."

Kylie swallowed but scribbled her name on the line. Brooke offered the tablet back to the assistant then grabbed her purse. "Mama," Kylie protested again.

"Kylie Anne. This is my company and I can fire you. There is absolutely nothing here that can't wait two days. Why are you so resistant?"

Kylie swallowed. "I'm scared," she whispered.

Brooke put her bag down and sat back down next to Kylie. She took the girl's hand between her own. "Scared of what, honey?"

"This changes everything. We're not kids anymore. Everything suddenly seems so much more real and there's so much I don't know."

"Stuff you can't ask me or your mom? Getting married doesn't mean your phone stops working or that you can't hop in a car and come see either one of us."

"50% of marriages end in divorce. 25% end in the death of a loved one before their time."

"And 25% end in happy ever after. You can't let your fear of my mistakes or your parents' ruin what you have. James really loves you and you should really be having this conversation with him."

"Fine." Kylie stood and gathered her stuff before heading to the door. Brooke stopped by the assistant's desk so that Kylie was out of sight before she made a phone call.

There it is. Thought I'd post this today since it's the start of BTR's tour. So tell me what you think. Should I keep going or should I have just left my last story as it was?