Their first kiss was a few weeks after Justin’s 16th birthday. JC was about 21, and it was wrong.

But when JC’s hands were cupping Justin’s cheeks, the other man’s fingers tangled in short dark hair, tongue’s tongue with hesitance, softly, gently, it didn’t feel wrong.

It felt like this was for him, that Justin couldn’t find this anywhere but JC. That he wasn’t anyone’s but JC’s.

For JC, it felt like a higher power was screwing him over, teasing him though for a 16 year old, Justin could kiss like the devil. JC couldn’t deny that.

After that, there was tension and they tried to act the same. But Justin couldn’t cuddle up to him, tuck his head under JC’s chin, thoough the younger man was almost as tall now, because they had crossed a line and whenever JC’s touch turned too affectionate, guilt would wash through him like bleach. And it was weird.

The guys didn’t know about it. Didn’t need to. Because... they had made a descision to let it go, and whatever will be, would be.

Now, 5 years later, Justin was a man. A tall, great, beautiful man who smiled at JC like he never smiled at anyone, though his arm was around some randomn girl who was about to piss her pants because she was taking a picture with Justin Timberlake.

JC shook his head and walked into the building, glad for his beanie and his glasses. He looked like a nobody.

They were all coming back from the break that did each good. They had deserved it, and all of them had took advantage of that. Though Justin had been doing his album, it was a break from Nsync and that’s what they had set to do.

It was January, close to Justin’s birthday and when he had walked into the house, he made sure everyone knew.

Joey was here, all warm smiles and big smiles. He had lost weight, mayb gotten taller but he still had those disappearing eyes and that great smile.

Chris was playing in the arcade of the large house, his lip peirced and his eyes bright. He lived for Nsync.

“Lance isn’t here?” JC asked and Joey nodded, his smile weakening JC’s knees. He gave Joey a big hug, sighing because yes, he was home.

“Ey, no Nsync lovin’ without me.” Justin joined the hug and it wasn’t long before Chris hopped in, licked JC’s face and all dispersed.

“Thanks for ruining the mood.” Joey spat, but his smile stayed and JC reached up and pinched a chubby cheek, just because.

“So how was every- Lance! Group hug again! We got the albino here this time.” Chris started grabbing and they had a joint hug, their heads all in the middle. They were huddled together and Justin couldn’t stop smiling either. He guessed it was contagious.

“Alright, this is the formation 3 little pigs. Joe? You go after Justin, Lance, you got defense. I go for the twig named JC, everyoen ready? Ready on 3!” Chris straightened and put his hand in the middle. “Hustle, ladies, hustle!” he yelled and JC sat on the couch, giggling while Joey pushed him, causing him to fall back.

“Alright, alright. Everyone, sit sit.” Johnny came in the room and JC was a little surprised to see him. Not that he didn’t miss him, he had just thought it was Nsync time. He tensed. He hoped it wasn’t meeting time just yet.

Justin sat beside him, looking handsome with a little scruff stubble, his eyes vibrant, his perfect teeth glazed.

“Hey there partner.” JC said as Justin put an arm around his shoulders, squeezing it affectionately.

JC smiled and gave JC a once over. Every year, JC got more flamboyant, and every year Justin loved it. He picked at the “Tell Your Mom I Said Thanks” t-shirt and scoffed.

“Crazy man.” He wanted to. He needed to. It wasn’t anything out of the ordinary. And JC was begging for it. All big smile and cute face. He was gonna do it.

He leaned forward, giving JC a chaste kiss on the lips, soft lips and pulled away, his grin two times wider. JC looked at him, a bit shocked, not knowing how to answer that. And the guys...

“Are we missing something here?” Chirs asked, loud and boisterous. The session had reassured that this is where everyone had belonged. That this, in this group, in this cluster of friends, is where each and every one of them belonged. It was an exciting feeling, and JC was grinning non stop. Damn, it had to be contagious. Everyone had one, except for Chris who was sulking but smiling so it looked like his lips were just deformed. JC smiled.

“Alright, now I know this is the hardest part about coming back, the business but it has to be done-”

“I’m ready! I’m ready!!” Chris squealed, doing his a surpisingly well impersonation of Sponge Bob Square Pants.

“You’re crazy.” Johnny chuckled and then cleared his throat. “But before we get to that torture, I’m giving yall 15 minutes to breath some fresh air together, so go out and chill while I make phone calls.”

The 5 wandered outside and gathered around the pool. Chris sat on the top of the slide, daring anyone to give him 5 bucks to go in fully clothed. No one took him up on it. Lance sat on a bench, putting on his prada glasses that made his face look girly. Joey sat on a lawn chair, his legs spread out before him. Justin sat on a lawn chair also and JC sat on the edge of the pool, jeans rolled up, his legs underwater.

“So...” No one knew what to say first.

“I love y’all.” Justin spoke and even though he was squinting in the sunlight and his face was screwed up, you could see he meant it. That was a nice feeling, too.

“Me too. All of you. Even you, Chris.” JC smiled at Chris and sheilded his eyes. Chris blew him a kiss and he pretended to cath it and stick it in his pocket.

“You’re such a dork. And Justin is Mr. Perfect. And Lance is Hollywood and Joe is Rico Suave. And I love you guys.”

Lance and Joe hugged dramatically, pretending to sob in each other’s shoulders. Justin guessed they were secretly sucking face.

“Us too.” Lance said when he had come up for air.

“So, now that we got that outta the way, how many of yall got my album?” Justin asked with a grin and JC took off his cap and threw it at him while Chris opted for his shoe. “I was just playin’...” He looked at everyone and smiled. “It’s hot, aint it?”

They all grumbled and Justin leaned back, now just on two legs.

It got quiet and Chris scooted down, all watching with baited breath. They wouldn’t have been surprised if he did it but he didn’t, just scooting to the edge, his legs dangling over the end.

“So Justin, you gave JC a kiss. I want one.” You could hear Joey’s smile in it and Justin’s heart warmed.

“You want one?” he got up. “I’ll give ya one, but if you slip me the tongue I’ll bite it off.” Joey coward back and pushed Justin face away when it came close. “You said you wanted one.” Justin laughed and then turned away, walking over to JC, copying the older man, rolling up the jeans and dipping in his feet.

“Shit, that’s all kindsa cold.” he hissed and JC watched him with fond eyes. He looked back and grinned. “I gotta talk to you later, ‘bout something really important.” And ok, so they were leaning closer but nothing was going to happen. Nothing... at... all-

“Shit, are they gonna kiss again? Justin, leave our pretty kitty alone.” Lance laughed and Joey grinned. Chris looked like he was serious.

“Alright boys, come along now! The stew is getting cold!” Johnny yelled from the french doors and everyone got up, smiles everywhere.

Later, as promised Justin sat next to JC to talk. Unfortunately, the only time he’d getto as on the limo ride to a restaurant to meet their stage directer, Tim Miller. Justin had told the other to close thier eyes and to stick their fingers in their ears for at leats 5 minutes. After 2, Joey and Chris gave up and started a conversation of their own. But Justin hadn’t even started, trying to find words to say it.

“What?” JC was curious and you could hear it in his voice. They were sitting really close, closer than they had before and JC couldn’t help it as his hand ran over Justin’s side, bunching up the t shirt, then smoothing it down. Lance pretended not to notice.

“Well... um, first. I missed you...alot.” he blushed and chuckled, nervously. He leaned close and whispered in JC’s ear. “OK, and anyway... ‘Member when... when we were in Germany and we had just gone gold and ya know, I was 16 and... you remember that kiss?”

JC smiled to himself and nodded. “Yeah.” he said and his voice was way too breathy, catching the eye of Chris. He turned away and more into Justin.

“Well I had a dream about it and well...” He leaned closer and his tongue slid out, swiping across the smooth skin of JC’s earlobe. “I’m grown now.”

JC shivered. Oh he knew. Knew all too well. He turned and even though they had an audience, JC couldn’t see anything but Justin and his pink mouth and his dark blue eyes and his soft, tan skin. He put a hand to the blonde’s cheek, his thumb rubbing circles on the flesh before he leaned in, brushing his lips against Justin’s. Justin’s arms came around him, pulling him closer, JC’s hand on his waist gripping him tightly. It had been too long.

Justin angled his head and JC’s mouth opened in invitation to Justin’s tongue, which the blonde eagerly accepted. Their tongues met softly, and it was deja vu, soft, and gentle, and hesitant. It was love.

Chris watched with questioning eyes. “They’re kissing.” he whispered to his companions.

Joey nodded. “Yeah, ya know that’s what happens when you like someon. You kiss them-”

“When did Justin start liking JC?”

“Who doesn’t like JC?” After receiving a look he shut up.

“That’s cool.” Lance added. “Ya know, cause if they hook up, you don’t have to worry about anyone snitching and crap.”

“But I didn’t know Justin was gay.”

“What about JC?” Joey said and received looks from both Lance and chris and decided not to say anything for the rest of the trip. They all became quiet again as they settled back to watch the show.

JC pulled away first, panting for air. Justin was a hell of a kisser. He took a nip of the swollen bottom lip.

“You kiss even better now.”

Justin smiled and held JC close. “You just wanna get me buttered up so I’ll hop in bed with you.”

“Hey, are you sayin’ it would work?”

Justin smiled and gave him kisses until they got to the restauraunt, all of the other riders discretely admiring.

Ah, tour time. One of the best, and worst times of their lives. Be yound hectic schedules, probable no shows, mechanical defaults, lost of risks.

But then again, you got your life back. You got to do your living again and you could go crazy on stage and sing your heart out and make people swoon. They loved it.

“Thank you Atlanta!” they all held hands, took their bows and ran off the stage, to the bus. They had deicded only on this one.

JC was the last one on, and when the door closed the screaming was only a faint sound, set in the background.

He walked over to the couch, plopping down next to, or rather, on Justin and snuggled. He was exhausted.

“Damn, that was a hard show. Why?” he asked no one and Chris walked by, tripping over Justin’s outstretched leg.

“Punk.” the older one mumbled as he went to the back, Joey jumping from his seat to follow him. Halo was calling to him.

Lance was the victim this time, sitting innocently across from him. He silently busied himself with his palm pilot.

JC got more comfortable, finally just pushing them both into a lying position. His back rested against the couch and his hand snaked out and wrapped around Justin’s waist.

“Mmm.” he drew closer. “You smell good.”

Justin smiled. His broad tongue reached out and licked up the side of JC’s face. “And you taste good.”

JC grinned. “You feel good.” His hand slipped further and cupped the slight bulge in the front of Justin’s pants. The blonde groaned and put a hand over it. “Ooh, and you sound good too.” JC chuckled.

Justin took his hand off of JC’s and put a hand ove JC’s cheek. “Well, you look great, so I win.”

JC smiled and leaned forward, his lips moving when he talked. “Didn’t know we were playing a game.”

Justin stared for along time. “I’m glad I waited for you.”

“You waited for me?” JC was confused, you could hear it in his voice.

“Yeah, I didn’t give up on you... ya know?”

And that made JC’s heart flutter and he gave Justin a love filled, lasting kiss, more than glad Justin hadn’t given up on him.