Disclaimer: Not mine, don't sue.

Dedication: To my angel, Amy! Happy Birthday, honey! This one is for you!

        "Hey sweetie."
        Lance grinned. "Hey mom!" he greeted cheerfully, looking over at Justin, who looked up from the computer to smile at him. Justin knew how much Lance loved hearing from his family. Hell, all of the guys did. But the other guys weren't in the living room with them, they were in the back of the bus, playing games.
        "How're you doing?"
        Lance drew his legs up onto the couch in a cross-legged position. "I'm good," he assured her happily. "How're you? And Dad? And Stacy?"
        "We're all wonderful, honey. But I don't know about you."
        Lance's smile fell. "What?" He could sense Justin's eyes on him, but he kept his gaze on the ground, confused and bewildered by the change in tone in his mother's voice. She sounded worried, a little edgy... Nervous, even.
        "Honey, I called earlier, and JC said that you and Justin were napping. Why are you napping at this hour? Is it a regular occurance? I couldn't get anything out of JC."
        Lance frowned. "Mom, it's no big deal. We were just tired." He could feel Justin shifting, sitting up straight, but he continued to gaze at the ground, not sure where his mom was going with this. Actually, he had an idea where she was going with it, and it worried him.
        "Lance, that's not answering the question. How regular of an occurance is this?"
        Lance nibbled his lower lip. "I dunno," he answered evasively.
        "It's every day, isn't it, honey?"
        Lance flinched. He knew exactly where his mom was going with this. "Sometimes."
        "And do you nap together?"
        There it was. "Sometimes."
        "Lance, you know I don't approve of that. You spend way too much time with that boy, and I think it's time we need to discuss your plans for your break. You and Justin were going to go to California for a week with Lynn and back to Orlando, and then here, is that correct? I don't think that's going to work, honey."
        Lance swallowed hard. His mom was going to make him stop being friends with Justin and he knew it. How could he choose between his best friend and his family? He was only 17. It wasn't fair. And Justin... He'd only known Justin for a year. Almost two, actually. But his family, well, he'd been with them his whole life...
        Lance slowly raised his eyes to look up at Justin, who was sitting in the chair across from him with the laptop in his crossed-legged lap, looking worriedly at Lance. He was sitting up straight, and while he appeared only concerned, Lance could see how tight his fingers were clutching the computer.
        "Justin, out," Lance told him softly. He could hardly look at Justin a moment longer when his best friend paled and his lip quivered. "Go on, man."
        "He's just with you at all times, isn't he?" Lance's mom asked sarcastically.
        Lance closed his eyes but ignored her, opening them and fastening them on Justin again. "Justin, go."
        Justin clicked off the computer and stood, his eyes anyplace except for on Lance as he left. A moment later, Lance heard the bedroom door shut, and he flinched.
        "Mom," Lance began slowly. "I'm not giving up Justin."
        "Honey, no one is asking you to give him up. We just think that you two are spending too much time together. Everytime I call, you're with Justin. It's... It's unnatural, James!"
        Uh oh. James. He really was in trouble. He clenched his teeth. "No, Mom, it's not. He's my best friend. We live together. We're together every day. How can you say that us spending time together is unnatural?"
        Her voice broke. "I've heard you," she sobbed. "When you're home, on the phone with him when you think we're asleep! Can you boys go even one hour without talking?"
        Damn it, she'd heard them talking? It wasn't his fault. He'd miss Justin and call him up, or Justin would miss him and call him up, and they'd just start talking. They were apart and had a lot to share. But he didn't know that his mom knew. "Mom, of course we can. When he gets angry, we can go hours without talking."
        "But I bet you're always together, aren't you?" she sniffed. Lance couldn't even deny it. If Justin was angry and not talking, Lance still sat with him. And by the off chance that Justin was angry at Lance, Justin would plop down onto the couch beside him, inform him that he was in trouble with Justin and to not talk to him, but they were together. "James, tell me what's going on with you two. Please. I have to know."
        "Mom, nothing is going on between--"
        "Don't lie to me!" she cried. "I know that there is! I know. I've heard you talk about him. I've seen the way your face changes when you talk about him, heaven forbid when he comes into the room!" Her voice broke again. "You're my son, James. Not Lynn's. Lynn may support you two, but how do you know that I wouldn't?!"
        Lance clenched his teeth in anguished defeat. "Miss Harless supports our friendship, Mom, that's all, because that's all there is. I don't even know why we're having this conversation. Justin and I aren't gay, and we aren't gay together." That was the first time in his whole life that he'd ever actually blatantly lied to his mother, and it felt bad. But he had to. He couldn't let his mom take Justin away. He couldn't. Justin was his best friend.
        "Honey," she began brokenly. "Why won't you just be honest with me?"
        "Mom, I am," Lance tried desperately. "Justin and I are just friends!"
         "Oh baby," she whispered. "Why can't you trust me?"
        Lance dropped his head to his knees and sighed. "Mommy, I trust you," he promised. "But there's nothing to tell."
        "I love you, James," she pleaded.
        "I love you too, Mommy."
        "I don't want you to see Justin anymore outside of the group."
        Lance closed his eyes. "You can't mean that," he begged, feeling the tears flooding his eyes and the large lump forming in his throat.
        "I'm sorry, baby. I wish I didn't."
        Lance swallowed hard. "Mom, I-I can't just... I mean, he's my best friend. We do everything together. I can't just forget that. Please don't mean that, Mom."
        "I'll be sending you a ticket for the extra two weeks," she told him stiffly. "I'm sorry it came to this, Lance."
        "Mom, this is insane--"
        "I'm sorry, Lance."
        "Mom--"
        "Goodbye."
        "Mom!"
        Click.
        Lance stared at the phone in his hand, pulling it down from his ear to stare at it with a pounding, aching heart. His tears were falling rapidly, but he was so stunned that his thoughts were whirling around in his mind without focus. Justin... His mom was taking Justin away from him. Justin was his best friend. He loved Justin. Clips and images of Justin popped into his mind, whirling around and around and around until he thought his head would burst from the ferocity of it all. He clenched the phone tightly in his hand but he didn't even notice it as he stood, pulled back his arm, and flung the phone straight at the window.
        There was a distinctive shattering sound, and then the immediate rush of cold wind. Glass was flying into the living room everywhere, and the speed at which they were traveling and the wind made all the papers and small things they had lying around take off and fly around the room, creating instant chaos. In the middle stood Lance, surveying it all in disinterest. Nothing mattered anymore. His mom was taking away Justin.
        "Lance!"
        And then Justin was there, holding him by the shoulders in horror. "What the hell are you doing?" Justin demanded fearfully. "What happened?" Lance was pulled into his tight embrace, and Justin was shouting at the other guys. "Cover it up!" Justin ordered. "Get something... Anything!"
        JC and Chris quickly worked together to tape the hole shut, using Joey's windbreaker as the buffer. Lance stood immobile, watching them from Justin's arms, until the hole was covered and they all turned to look at him with wide, disbelieving eyes.
        "What happened?" JC asked worriedly, hurrying towards him. "Lance?"
        Well they weren't angry. That was a relief. Not that Lance would have really cared. They didn't matter. Only Justin mattered, and Lance's mom wasn't going to let Lance have him anymore. Justin's arms were around him right now... What was he going to do?
        "Let go," Lance ordered finally, pushing away from Justin and stepping away from both sides, JC and Justin. Justin's eyes were wide and hurt and confused and worried, and Lance had to look away.
        "Lance?" Chris asked softly. "What happened, man? What did you throw?"
        "My phone." Lance gazed at the now covered up window and studied it thoughtfully. "I suppose I'll need a new one."
        "Why did you throw your phone at the window?" JC asked, eyeing him warily.
        "Because," Lance answered, then dropped down into the chair Justin had once occupied. He felt empty inside. He wasn't sure if he wanted to tell his friends or not, but whatever he chose to do, he was going to have to decide quickly. Could he lie to his friends? Probably not. But he didn't want to hurt Justin. Justin was his number one priority. Justin always had been, even at the beginning.
        "Lance?" Justin asked brokenly. Lance looked up slowly to see Justin holding onto JC's arm for dear life. In that moment that their eyes met, Lance knew that Justin knew exactly what Lance's mom had said.
        And Lance's mom could go fuck herself.
        Lance stood and leapt over the coffee table separating them, throwing himself into Justin's arms. Justin hugged him so tightly Lance's bones ached, but he didn't care. He needed Justin and anyone who was going to try and take Justin away from him was insane. He wouldn't give him up. Ever. And the sooner everyone else knew that, the better.
        "Please don't leave me," Justin begged, his voice thick with tears. "I'll do anything to make a better impression on your family. But please don't leave me."
        How could Lance's family expect Lance to give this boy up? They were insane. Absolutely insane. Lance could no sooner give up Justin than he could give up... Himself. "I won't," he promised earnestly, clutching Justin's head beside his. "I won't, I promise. And don't worry about them. Don't ever worry about them. I don't care. They can go to hell. Don't change for anyone, Justin. Not anyone."
        "I'd change for you," Justin sobbed. "I'd change everything for you, but don't leave me!"
        "Justin, I won't," Lance soothed, closing his eyes against the tears. "I won't, I promise. I don't care about them. They don't mean anything. I'm not going anywhere."
        "I don't want to tear you away from your family!" Justin cried miserably over Lance's shoulder. "Lance, tell me what to do and I'll do it, I promise!"
        How the hell could anyone ever try and say anything bad about this boy? Didn't they see what Lance did? He slowly raised his eyes and found the other guys gone, to his surprise. He hugged Justin tightly and then pulled back, staring at his best friends' bowed head as he held his hands on Justin's shoulders. Justin's hands were on Lance's waist, his fingers hooked through the belt loops. Lance supposed that they did look a little odd, but that was just the way their friendship worked. They'd always been very physical friends. And, when Justin continued to keep his head down, Lance slowly reached out and lifted Justin's chin.
        Justin's eyes were full of tears that kept streaming, even as Lance stood there, gazing seriously into Justin's beautiful face.
        "Don't ever change," Lance instructed gently. "You're perfect, Justin. Just the way that you are. My family... They don't know anything." He was shaking and he knew it, but he had to make Justin understand... Had to prove to Justin that Justin didn't need to do anything. It wasn't Justin's wrong, it was his family's, and fuck what they wanted.
        Justin's blue eyes were settled evenly on Lance's, pleading with Lance to fix him... To make him better. To make the tears stop. Lance cupped either side of Justin's jaw and lightly ran his thumbs over Justin's cheeks to wipe away the tears. Justin blinked his eyes slowly, and more fell. Lance lightly stroked those away as they gazed at each other.
        Lance was trembling inside, but he forced himself to speak. "They don't know," Lance began shakily. "How when you wake up in the morning, you mumble incoherently for about ten minutes, roll over, and go back to bed in one of the most adorable sights to ever show up on this earth. They don't know what it feels like to look into your eyes and lose themselves completely. They don't know what it's like to touch you and..." Lance swallowed hard. "And never want to let you go." Justin's eyes flickered, but held Lance's strong. "They don't know what it's like to listen to you speak and never want you to shut up, no matter how annoying you get or how boring the topic is. They don't know what it's like to be completely intoxicated by every single little thing that you do." Lance closed his mouth, faltering, and then closed his eyes, releasing Justin and shaking his head, slowly looking back up at his best friend. "They don't know you, Justin, and they don't know anything about me."
        Justin was still staring at him with a startled, surprised expression, and Lance smiled weakly at him. He took a step back, but Justin's hands didn't release him and he frowned slightly. "Justin--"
        Justin took a step towards him, closing the distance between them quickly, forcing their bodies to be pressed together. Lance looked at him with wide eyes, especially when Justin leaned forward.
        And rested his head on Lance's shoulder.
        "You mean all that?" Justin asked softly, his lips only centimeters from Lance's neck. His hands slid from Lance's sides up his back and held him tightly.
        "Yeah," Lance whispered softly. "Yeah, I do, Justin."
        Justin hesitated, then pulled away only far enough to meet Lance's eyes. "I love you," he told Lance seriously. "I love you more than I've ever loved anyone in my entire life. Family, friend, anyone." Slowly his hands slid farther up Lance's back, holding Lance's shoulders with his hands. "Anyone."
        They stared at each other for a long time, until Lance finally gave up trying to decipher what Justin was telling him and leaned forward, resting his cheek on Justin's shoulder. "My mom's gonna kill me when she finds out that she can't call me," he sighed drearily. "And then when I tell her that her buying me a ticket home two weeks early was a total waste of money." He paused thoughtfully. "Think she'll kick me out?"
        Justin hugged him tightly. "Lance..." he trailed off and hugged Lance as tightly as possible. There was something final about that hug that frightened Lance, especially when Justin released him completely and stepped back. "I can't do that to you. I-I wish I could... But I can't. I can't make you give up your family. Not for me." Justin was stepping backwards, his eyes filling with tears that were tearing Lance's heart out. "I-I would rather die than watch you hurt." He stumbled against the couch and quickly clutched onto it, putting it between him and a stunned, horrified Lance as Justin continued to cry. "If your mom doesn't want us to be friends any-anymore, then, um, I-I'm not going to... I won't let you disobey her and ruin everything for me."
        "Justin--" Lance started, hardly aware that tears of panic and fear were slipping down his cheeks. His stomach was knotted into a hard ball of steel that weighed him down completely.
        "Lance, please don't," Justin begged, holding up a trembling hand as he stepped back. "I'm trying to, to be strong, you know? 'Cause... 'Cause you're always really strong for me when I need you to be. So now I'm going to be strong for you, and-and make a decision that's best for you, no matter how much it hurts."
        "Justin--" Lance tried again helplessly, feeling his legs start to buckle under him as Justin continued to back up towards the bedroom area.
        "I-I can't, Lance," Justin told him, his voice breaking. "I can't let you give your life up for me, no matter how much I love you. I can't. I-I just can't." Justin's hand groped for the bedroom doorknob. "I'm sorry, Lance. I-I'm just... I'm just so sorry..."
        "Justin!" Lance cried as Justin disappeared into the bed area, the door shutting behind him. Lance swallowed the lump in his throat and with silent heaves shaking his body, dropped down onto the couch and sobbed.

        It had been two weeks since the tearful split up between the two best friends, and everyone was walking on total eggshells. Justin and Lance sat as far from each other as they could get. They never looked at each other, and they never spoke. Even pre-concert hugs were forgotten between them. When someone asked them if they were mad at the other, the common response was a confused frown and a, "No, of course not." That led to the only conclusion that they were too hurt to talk to each other. It was too painful for them to be around one another if they could not be best friends.
        But no one knew what to do.

        "Now boarding our first class passengers for flight 2525, direct flight to Clinton, Mississippi."
        Lance swallowed as he studied all of his friends, who were gathered around him in a semi-circle. The body guards were behind them, standing silently and unobtrusively by incase anything should happen.
        JC was smiling sadly at him. Chris was gazing at the ground. Justin was looking past Lance at the terminal with a blank expression. Joey was looking between Justin and Lance sadly. And Lance was feeling like his heart was being cut off from his body. Though he'd been feeling empty like that for two weeks now, so there really wasn't much difference.
        Finally Chris cleared his throat and stepped forward. "Bye, Lance," he offered, hugging him tightly. "Have a nice flight. Call us when you get there."
        "I will," Lance promised, trying to ignore the pricks of tears against the back of his eyes. He stepped back and was immediately captured by JC's arms. JC hugged him tightly, and Lance really had to blink rapidly to try and keep the tears at bay. JC had really kept him together the past couple of weeks, and without JC... Lance would have lost it completely.
        "Take care," JC whispered. "I'm gonna miss you, man."
        "I'll miss you too, Jace," Lance whispered back, resting his cheek on JC's shoulder and then pulling back, trying to smile brightly. He turned to Joey and hugged him, startled when Joey picked him up and spun him around a couple of times.
        "Don't be a stranger, Scoop," Joey instructed. "We'll miss you."
        Lance felt a choking sensation in his stomach. "I'll miss you, too, Joey." He stepped back and studied his friends, ignoring the painful searing in his heart at not being able to hug Justin, who was standing slightly behind Joey and Chris and staring blankly at the seats past Lance. "Bye, guys. I'll miss you. Um," he swallowed doggedly and then smiled weakly. "See you in a month."
        Lance was handing over his ticket when he heard the strangled, choked cry of, "Oh god." He turned around, knowing that voice as well as his own, when suddenly Justin was flying at him full speed, crashing against Lance and straight into his arms. Lance staggered backwards a few steps but managed to regain his balance, hugging Justin just as desperately, both of them crying.
        "Tell me not to go," Lance breathed. "Tell me not to and I won't, Justin. I swear to god, I won't."
        "I can't," Justin sobbed. "I can't do that to you or to your family, but god knows I want to." He clutched Lance tightly. "I love you, Lance. And I am going to miss you so much. E-even these past couple of weeks, when we haven't been talking... Just hearing your voice, or seeing you... It's made me feel so much better, even when I was..." Justin broke off and cleared his throat. "Anyway, I'll miss you--"
        "When you were what?" Lance asked, pulling back and frowning at him. Justin's wet blue eyes were scared, and Lance took a step back, paling. "Justin, tell me you didn't do something dumb."
        Justin shifted uncomfortably, looking away from Lance's eyes. "I don't know what you're talking a-- Hey! Cut that out!"
        "Oh Jesus." Lance stared down at the bandaged wrist that had previously been covered by Justin's long sleeve and stared in horror at his best friend. "Justin. Justin, no..."
        Justin pulled his arm free. "It's not what you're thinking--" he began slowly.
        "The hell it isn't!" Lance hissed, grabbing him by the upper arm. He had never been more scared or angry in his entire life. "Tell me you didn't do what I know you did." He shook Justin's arm violently. "Tell me!"
        "Let go!" Justin ordered unhappily, pulling at his arm. "Lance, let me go!"
        "God damn it!" Lance yelped furiously, holding tightly to Justin's arm and dragging him past their three astonished friends, past the wary body guards, past the staring people, and dragged him straight to the bathroom. One of the body guards followed, but Lance ignored him as he threw Justin into the tiled room and then proceeded to slam him up against the wall.
        "Ow!" Justin cried out indignantly, then groaned when Lance did it again. "Shit, Lance!"
        Lance looked at the man standing at the sink until the man darted a nervous look at them and hurried out. There was one other person in the bathroom, but they were in the stall, and Lance didn't want to say anything until they were gone. He turned to the door and flung it open, looking up at Jake. "No one comes in, got it?"
        Jake hesitated.
        Lance glared at him. "Don't mess with me right now, Jake."
        Jake crossed his arms and faced forward to keep out any intruders.
        Lance nodded once in satisfaction and turned back to Justin, who was staring in half hurt, half anger, at Lance.
        "What the hell are you doing?" Justin demanded. "You're going to miss your plane. And then your mom really isn't going to like me."
        Lance just glared at him. "Not a word out of you until I'm done," he ordered. He didn't want that psycho guy in the stall to hear them, and he was just waiting to ream Justin. Justin was fidgeting and had pulled his shirt back over his wrist, which made Lance nausious just to think about. Justin had been suicidal because they weren't talking? It was scary and exciting at the same time, and it just made Lance giddy. Giddy good or giddy bad, he wasn't sure. But he leaned across the small hallway from Justin and stared blatantly at him with his arms crossed over his chest. Justin was avoiding his gaze nervously.
        Five minutes later, the guy finally walked out of the stall, eyeing Justin and Lance warily in the mirror. When he stepped between them to go outside, he muttered, "Couple of gay fags."
        Lance caught Justin as Justin surged towards the man's back. Justin reached past him, but by that time, the guy was already gone. "Let go!" Justin barked. "I'm going to rip his throat out!"
        "You just stay there!" Lance snapped, shoving Justin back against the wall again angrily, holding Justin there by keeping one arm across his chest. "Look at me!" he ordered, grabbing Justin's chin and forcing their eyes together. "What the hell were you thinking, Timberlake? Jesus!" He grabbed Justin's shoulders and slammed him against the wall lividly. "Do you know what I would do without you, Justin?" he demanded wildly, ignoring Justin's attempts to fight back. "I hope you do, 'cause I sure don't! Do you know what that's like?! To depend on someone else to live for your own sanity? It's absolutely positively hell and I wouldn't give it up for anything! And you! Here you are, trying to kill yourself! Would you kill me, too, while you're at it? Because that's what would happen! Jesus Christ!" He gave Justin's battered body one last slam against the cold tiles and stepped back, running his hands through his hair and trying to blink away the tears. "Don't ever do anything like that again," Lance told him softly, his low voice lower than normal. "I would collappse if something happened to you, Justin. I've known you for less than two years, and you've become as much a part of me as I am." He turned away, closing his eyes and covering his face with his hands as he breathed hard. A minute later, shoes scuffed on the floor and then two strong arms encircled Lance, pulling Lance towards a strong, firm body.
        "I just panicked," Justin explained quietly. "I-I thought I'd lost you, and I love you... God, Lance, I didn't even know what love was until I met you. I wake up in the morning and... when you're not with me... It feels wrong. I feel wrong. I feel like I'm missing something. And you weren't there when I woke up, you weren't there to smile your perfect smile, you weren't there to laugh at my dumb jokes, you weren't there to talk to me in your low voice when I got into a mood, you weren't there when I went to bed... I'm not sure what was worse: waking up alone, or going to bed alone, but they were both awful. A-and then I had a nightmare about you, and I couldn't even call you to make sure you were alright... And I felt helpless and useless and I missed you..." He choked on his words. "Do you know what it's like to be obsessed with someone, Lance? Because I think I'm obsessed with you, and I know that's not normal."
        Lance shuddered and clutched Justin tighter. "I know what it's like to have an obsession," he promised, closing his eyes. "I know because you're mine."
        Perhaps it was then that they both realized there was something more than a little odd about their friendship, because after a minute they pulled away and studied each other before collappsing into each other's arms again, promising never to let go again.

        Lynn was more than a little surprised when the son that had been absolutely miserable on the telephone to her for two weeks was perky and cheerful when she met him at the airport. What had her stunned, however, was that he was with Lance.
        And his hand was in Lance's pocket.
        "Hey Mom!" Justin carolled happily.
        "Justin, I told you, it's not in there," Lance sighed in exasperation. "Now get your hand out of my pocket!"
        "It's got to be!" Justin whined. "I put it in there an hour ago!"
        Lance sighed patiently. "No. You put your garbage in my pocket an hour ago and I threw it out. You put your suitcase key in your pocket."
        Lynn cleared her throat. "Um, boys?"
        They both stopped and turned to look at her, Justin's hand still in Lance's front pocket as they waited with innocent expressions for her to continue. Well with faces like those, they couldn't possibly be hiding that they were... together... Could they? Nah, because they certainly wouldn't do it in front of her.
        "Lance, not that we're not thrilled to have you, because we always are and you know that, but weren't you supposed to be going home?"
        Lynn watched as they both stiffened and Justin's hand in Lance's pocket actually flattened against Lance's leg comfortingly. Lynn tried not to let her disbelief show through as he stared at them. She had always loved Lance like a son, and she thought that the boys thought of each other as brothers... Could she be wrong? And who was pushing who to do what? She had a bad feeling that it was her own son pressuring Lance, both in personality and by what she was seeing.
        Which was actually pretty cute.
        No, she did not just think that! But, she reasoned immediately, why not? Who cared if they were gay? Or gay together? They were cute, and they obviously looked out for each other.
        But oh, Lance was almost two years older than her baby. Okay, so Justin was 16 already. Maybe they were just experimenting together. Oh god, how far had they experimented?!
        "Actually, Mom," Justin started slowly. "Change of plans, again. Lance is going to come with us."
        "If that's okay, Miss Harless," Lance broke in quickly. "I don't want to be a--"
        "Of course it's fine!" Lynn admonished immediately, hugging Lance. She was startled to feel her son's hand still in Lance's pocket, and when she let Lance go, Justin actually pulled Lance closer to him possessively, though it was only a few centimeters and hardly noticable. Now she was really curious. "Honey, you're like my other son! You know that! You are welcome with us at any time, at any place, no questions asked!" She hesitated. "Wait, question. Do your parents know?"
        Lance smiled dryly. "They will in about ten minutes."
        "Wanna talk about it?" Lynn asked sympathetically.
        "No, he doesn't," Justin interrupted Lance quickly. They exchanged a look that only they could read, and then they turned in unison back to Lynn. "It's a sensitive subject, Mom."
        Lynn shrugged. "No problem." She pointed past them to the McDonald's. "Now how about I buy you two breakfast and you can tell me all about the past few weeks?"
        "Sounds good. Let me just find my key," Justin told her, then continued digging through Lance's jangling pocket. "I hear it... I hear it..."
        "Justin, for the last time, look in your own pocket! I don't have it!"
        "It's not in my pocket!" Justin exclaimed, finally letting Lance's pocket go and turning out both of his to reveal only a twenty dollar bill. "See?" His hand reached back into Lance's pocket. "Now give me my key!"
        "Oh for cryin' out loud," Lance sighed, shaking his head. "Are you sure you didn't bundle it up in the garbage and I didn't throw it out?"
        Justin stopped and paled. "Please tell me you're kidding."
        Lance held up his hands in defense. "You're the one who did it. I just threw out your trash."
        "Oh man," Justin moaned, pulling his hand out of Lance's pocket and slapping himself in the forehead. "That's so like me!"
        "I know," Lance sighed. "That's why I had a copy made and stuck it in the front zipper of your suitcase."
        Justin gaped at him. "Are you serious?"
        Lance arched an eyebrow. "Of course I'm serious. Shouldn't you be thanking me right about now for being smart enough to know how absent-minded you can be and anticipating the worst before it could happen? Can you imagine if you had to go all week in my clothes?"
        Justin snickered. "Hey, I picked most of those out. They're cool."
        "Who picked them out?" Lance yelped in disbelief.
        Justin flashed a grin at his mom. "I did."
        Lance opened his mouth to protest, then slumped his shoulders and gave up, defeated. "Forget it. I give up."
        "Never say die," Justin admonished cheerfully, then turned and wrapped an arm around his mom. "Now let's talk about that breakfast..."

        Lynn studied the two boys curled up in the seats beside her. Justin's head was resting on her shoulder, and Lance was leaning against the pillow against the wall. Even so, their legs were pressed against each other, and their bodies faced one another. They had even lifted the arm separator between them, and if she wasn't mistaken, their hands were touching.
        She sighed as she thought about the breakfast. The boys had been all chatter and talk and excitement. Something had happened between them, it looked like, but she wasn't sure what. The vibe they were giving one another just felt different. While before it had always seemed very cautious and careful and friendly, now it seemed more excited and open and... flirty. They were still being cautious, though. They weren't flirting, they were playing. And Lynn wasn't sure if she was imagining things or not. Half the time she thought she was, like when they joked and teased each other like best friends and boys did, and half the time she thought she wasn't, like right now, when they seemed to be trying to hold hands without actually making the move.
        When Justin had run off to play a video game, Lance had immediately explained to her the truth behind why he was not at home with his family, without any prompting what-so-ever. Lance was scared, but he was being very adult about it, and while Lynn wanted him to call his family, he calmly shook his head and requested that he not be forced to, but that he would if she felt it necessary.
        Lynn adored Lance.
        And, Lynn thought dryly, so did her son. He just looked at Lance with an adoring, idolic expression. Somehow, Lance didn't seem to notice. And as adult as Lance could be, it was obvious that he loved to play with Justin just as much as Justin loved to play with him. There was a gentle balance between the two of them, and the more that Lynn thought about it, the more she liked the idea of Lance and Justin. Not that she would push it. But if it happened, she would be okay with it.
        Justin made a small protesting grumble, shifting around on Lynn's shoulder. She looked down at him and kissed his golden curls. He smiled slightly, yawned sleepily, opened his eyes and blinked a couple of times. Lynn knew her son well enough to know that he was still asleep, no matter how awake he looked, and she opened her mouth to say something. She shut it promptly, however, when she watched Justin look over at Lance. Justin smiled warmly, still asleep, and got off of Lynn's shoulder, melding his body to rest against Lance's. Lance shifted in his sleep, compensating for Justin by putting one arm around him. Justin leaned the back of his head on Lance's shoulder and closed his eyes, not moving again.
        But they were both smiling slightly.

        "I'm going to take a shower. Why don't you boys go swim in the pool?"
        Justin looked over at Lance, Lance looked over at Justin, and then they in unison looked back at Lynn blankly. When her back was turned, Justin edged closer to Lance a few centimeters, not liking the few inches between them. He felt Lance stiffen slightly and glance at him, and then Lance put both arms behind him, resting on them.
        And one of his arms was resting against Justin's back.
        Justin smiled to himself and waited patiently for his mom to pull out the map. She showed them where it was, and then she told them to be in by 8 so they could go eat dinner at the Shipwreck Cafe.
        When Lynn was in the bathroom, Justin looked over at Lance again, who was looking back at him in bewilderment.
        "Close your eyes?" Justin suggested, knowing exactly why Lance was giving him that look.
        Lance shrugged and flopped back on the bed, throwing an arm over his eyes for good measure. Justin watched him for a moment, then haistly got up and opened his suitcase, grateful for how well Lance knew him as he unlocked it. If not for Lance and that spare key... Lance was a genius, a pure genuis!
        The fact that Lance could open his eyes at any second--not that he would--and see Justin completely naked was actually a bit of a turn on, and the entire time Justin dressed he watched Lance, laying there on the bed, breathing calmly and looking absolutely perfect. He was still stunned that he'd admitted to Lance that Lance was his obsession... But even more stunned that Lance had said Justin was his. Something had changed between them, but Justin wasn't sure what it was. They acted the same, they looked the same, but something had changed.
        And it was nice.
        Exciting, and kind of scary, but Justin just knew inside that it was going in the right direction. He and Lance were made for each other. They had to be. It hurt too much to be apart.
        "How do you plan on doing this with your wrist?" Lance asked so suddenly that Justin let out a soft cry and jumped. Lance stiffened, alarmed. "Are you okay?"
        Justin sighed, trying to stop the rapid beating of his heart. "Yeah. Fine. Um, I just thought I'd wear a watch or something."
        Lance made a face. "You really think that's going to cover it completely? Can I look at it?"
        Just the idea of Lance looking at what Justin had done to himself make him sick. "I'd really rather that you didn't. You'll be upset--"
        "Justin, I'm over being upset. No, I'm not. But I'm over being angry."
        Justin fidgeted nervously. He knew it wasn't a particularly brutal wound, but it wasn't a pretty one, either. He'd been sad, it was late, and the glass of water had slipped out of his hand.
        "Justin?" Lance asked, frowning. "Are you okay?"
        Justin suddenly realized that Lance was waiting for him to say something, and quickly Justin cleared his throat. "Fine. Sorry. You can look."
        Lance removed his arm and blinked a few times to readjust to the light before propping himself up on his elbows and gazing evenly at Justin, in that look that meant that he was studying every aspect of Justin's behavior. "Can I?"
        He looked so sexy, laying there in that propped up position with his legs dangling off the edge of the bed that Justin would have given him anything he wanted. Before he could even think about it, he was already sinking onto the bed beside Lance and holding out his arm, staring at his best friend. Lance glanced up at him, and then slowly his soft fingers began working at the crappy bandage Justin had put on it. Justin winced as Lance ripped off the tape while Lance apologized softly, off-handedly. When the guaze and tape was lifted, Justin turned away while Lance stared.
        "Ah Jesus," Lance muttered in disbelief. "You really had fun, didn't you?"
        Justin frowned at him, carefully avoiding looking at the angry red wound and the exposed tissue. "The point was that I wasn't having fun."
        Lance sighed, and to Justin's shock, he took Justin's hand and rested his head in Justin's lap, holding the hand possessively to his chest. "I'm really glad you're okay," he sighed against Justin's knee, then rolled and looked up into Justin's eyes from upside down. "You gonna let me dress it? You can't let it be exposed for too long. It's not pretty and I don't want it getting infected."
        "I-I... Y-yeah. Sure."
        Lance nodded once up at him, stared into his eyes for a second longer, and then rolled up off the bed and went to his suitcase, unlocking it and pulling out a first aid kit that Lance always kept for emergencies. Lance was never a boy scout, but he had that "be prepared" motto down.
        Lance climbed onto the bed beside Justin, facing Justin's legs. He tucked one leg against himself, touching Justin's, and the other he stretched in front of Justin's crossed legs, touching them as well. Lance was warm and so intoxicating that Justin barely noticed when Lance was so dilligently taping up his wounded wrist. Lance's touch was hardly more than a gentle caress, and when he was done, Justin was actually disappointed.
        "You okay?" Lance asked, lifting his eyes from the wound to Justin's, who nodded blankly, still staring at Lance.
        "Okay. Then I'm going to change." He hesitated, then slid off his watch and carefully placed it around Justin's wounded wrist. To Lance's obvious satisfaction, it covered the small tape Lance had used. "Perfect." He stood and ruffled Justin's hair. Justin flopped back onto the bed and covered his eyes with his arm as Lance had done, still feeling butterflies in his stomach from Lance's touches. The weight of Lance's watch sat carefully on his wrist and he smiled to himself, proud to wear something that belonged to his best friend.
        Lance was done within a few minutes, and to Justin's disappointment, Lance was back in his clothes, just wearing his board shorts under his pants. Justin pulled his own clothes back on, wearing just the wife beater, and leading the way out of the bedroom. Lynn actually had her own room, but she had come in with the boys, and Justin had a feeling that they would probably end up in her room just because she would unpack and not want to move.
        Justin bounced around excitedly, chattering about anything and everything he saw. Lance laughed and chatted back easily, though Justin dominated the coversation. They were used to hotels, though the Disneyland Hotel was famous, and they were thrilled to get to go through it. It was huge, and lavish. Obviously no expense had been spared. Even the gift shop was huge, and Justin was tempted to go shopping, but he knew there would be plenty of time for that later. He was eager to get Lance into that sunshine and out of those clothes!
        They found the fake beach--a bunch of sand with a volleyball net and a pool--rather easily. There was another pool that wasn't surrounded by sand a distance over, but Justin happily snatched a towel from the stacks on either side of the gated entrance and placed it out on the ground. The place was busy, but not too busy, which wasn't surprising, considering it was a weekday and not a vacation time.
        Justin stripped out of his clothes rapidly, then slipped on his shades so that Lance couldn't see Justin watching him strip. Lance's shirt was on the ground beside Justin's arm before it occured to Justin that he might need the cover of more than the shades, in a second. Still, he was fascinated by Lance's body, from the way his muscles moved to the almost graceful flow of his movements. Justin's jaw almost fell when Lance's hands tugged down his zipper, and then Lance was slipping out of his pants, revealing black board shorts with dark and light green trimming that they'd picked out the last time they'd gone shopping. Justin was delighted to discover he had been right when he said Lance would look hot in them. Lance put the freakin' sun to shame in those shorts.
        "Hey!" a petite brunette suddenly appeared in front of Justin and Lance, who was kicking aside his pants and still standing. The girl was cute enough, Justin supposed, with her hair pulled back into a pony tail and a pale pink bikini that most males would love. She was carrying a volleyball and grinning. "You two up for a game?"
        Justin had noticed the group playing volleyball when they first came in, but he really hadn't given it much thought. He actually just wanted to lay there with Lance or play with Lance in the pool, but maybe watching Lance's body move about as they played volleyball would be fun, too.
        "Ah, I pretty much suck at volleyball," Lance offered, grinning. "But my friend here," he nudged Justin with his foot. "He's a god at any sport."
        She smiled while Justin tried to hide his blush and pleasure at Lance's compliments. She looked up at Lance, then. "Come on. Both of you play. Keep our teams even."
        "Yeah, Lance," Justin teased, lifting himself on his feet. "Keep their teams even."
        Lance laughed. "I really don't think they want to lose."
        "Oh, none of us are any good," she admonished playfully. "No one cares. It's all in fun." She held out her hand to Lance. "I'm Amy."
        Lance smiled at her and took her hand. "I'm Lance, this is Justin."
        Justin took her hand. "Nice to meet you."
        "You too! So, are you guys up for a game?" She tossed the ball up into the air and caught it again. "C'mon..."
        "Alright," Lance grumbled slowly. "But I warned you."
        She grinned cheerfully. "Alright. I consider myself dutifully warned." She turned around and led the way to the volleyball court, and Justin had to admit, she was cute. "Each of you choose a side," she instructed, going to the server position on the court of four people.
        Justin and Lance exchanged a look and shrugged at each other. "I'll play with the sun in my eyes," Justin told Lance, grinning slyly. "'Cause you need all the help you can get."
        Lance laughed out loud as he ducked under the net. "That's for sure."
        They introduced themselves quickly to everyone, and then Amy served the ball. Justin had to give her credit, she was good. She was very good. And so was the team he was on. Though Lance's team wasn't bad by any means, either. And, when Lance spiked the ball right in front of Justin and Justin had to fall to his knees to save it, Justin wondered what Lance was talking about when he said he sucked.
        Actually... After a few rotations, Lance served the ball beautifully. Gracefully. Without any inhibitions. Almost as though it were second nature to him. And it landed cleanly in the middle of the court without anyone even moving towards it. Lance's team cheered while someone went to go grab the ball. Justin was floored. "I thought you said you sucked!" Justin called at him in disbelief.
        The ball rolled under the net towards Lance, who stuck his foot in the way and let it roll onto that, popping it up in the same movement and catching it fluidly. "Oh, did I say that?" he teased, a devilish grin on his face. "Did I forget that by sucking I mean that my friends and I went to the beach and played against guys twice our sizes almost every day and kicked their butts?"
        The ball landed right in front of Justin's gaping face.
        Lance's team won with him as server by a landslide: 15-5. Justin was still astonished when he and Lance went to go grab some water at the cabana.
        "Why didn't you tell me?" Justin asked, staring at him as Lance scanned the menu, while Justin rested his back against the counter and crossed his arms over his chest.
        "Tell you what?" Lance laughed, leaning against the counter on his forearms and pumping up on them a couple of times. "That I played volleyball? It's not exactly a big 'guy sport', Curls. You played basketball, I played volleyball. You played football, I rode horses." Lance studied the menu. "I am so thirsty. You want something?"
        Justin frowned. "Who cares if it's a 'guy sport' or not?" he countered, completely ignoring Lance's question. "You should have told me."
        Lance glanced over at him, his face blanking as he stopped rocking back and forth. "You never asked. It wasn't important."
        "We've been best friends for two years and I had no idea that you played volleyball." Justin frowned at him. "You should have told me."
        Lance frowned back. "It's not a big deal, Justin." He went back to rocking and studied the menu. "Now, do you want something or not?"
        "No."
        Lance stood up straight then, turning his back to the counter and leaning his waist against it as he crossed his arms over his chest, looking Justin dead in the eye. "Justin, it's not a big deal. Why are you making it into one?"
        "Because it is a big deal. I tell you everything about me!"
        Lance sighed. "I tell you everything. You just never asked, it never came up, and I pretty much forgot about it. I don't do it anymore."
         Justin fumed angrily. "I hate it when you get that tone with me!"
        Lance looked startled. "What tone?"
        "That tone that says, 'I'm just being patient with Justin'. I hate that tone!"
        Lance threw his hands up in the air. "Justin, we're not fighting right now. We're in Disneyland, man. The happiest place on the earth, and we're fighting about a stupid game. What? Are you mad that you lost?"
        Justin's eyes narrowed and he glared at his best friend angrily. "Now I'm a poor sport, too? Along with being judgemental about the sports you played, I'm a poor sport, too. This is just great, Lance. Anything else you think sucks about me?" He didn't wait for an answer before spinning on his heel and storming away angrily. How dare Lance accuse Justin of not wanting him to win? Justin loved it when Lance won. It felt like a freakin' victory for himself! But no, if Lance was accusing him of being a spoil sport, well, then Lance didn't know him at all!
        Justin sat at the edge of the pool glaring unhappily into the water as he kicked his feet in it. He had his hands on either side of him, and occasionally his eyes strayed to his wrist--to Lance's watch on it. A minute later, a shadow loomed over him. The person sat down and held out a cup of juice. "Here."
        "No thanks."
        "He asked me to give it to you. He said you'd be thirsty and if you didn't drink then you'd get exhausted and he'd have to carry you back up to the hotel room and he was too tired for that so to drink."
        Justin sighed and took the drink, bitterly swallowing half of it before setting it aside. He looked over at Amy and studied her. She was pretty, with four earrings in each ear, big brown eyes, and a quick, easy smile. Too bad he wasn't attracted to her.
        "So you two are having problems, huh?" she asked sympathetically, gazing over at the volleyball net, where Lance was back in the game, his back to them.
        Justin shrugged noncommitably. "He didn't tell me he played this."
        "So?"
        Justin's eyes snapped to her. "We've been best friends for almost two years. I should know this stuff."
        "Two years?" she asked, her eyes raising. "That's all? Two years and you expect to know everything?" She laughed out loud while Justin scowled. She knew nothing about his and Lance's rather intense bond. He should know everything about Lance. "Honey, let me tell you something. My best friend and I have known each other for eight years, and we still don't know everything about each other! And we've grown up together!" She shook her head and drew her slender legs to her chest. "No, I think it's more than that." She gazed out at the net again, to where Lance was jumping up to spike the ball down with a fluid, graceful motion that left Justin absolutely dazzled. "He's cute."
        Justin looked at her quickly but said nothing.
        "But I suppose you know that, don't you?" she asked, slowly looking back at Justin. Justin gaped at her in disbelief, too stunned to say anything else. How could she have possibly known that? "Let's put it this way, man, if he spent as much time watching the ball as he did watching you, they would have won a lot sooner."
        Justin's jaw fell. "A-are you serious?" he asked in disbelief. How the hell could that girl know that? The sun had been in their eyes, for cryin' out loud!
        She laughed. "As a heart attack. And if you weren't so star-struck by him, you'd have played better, too." She shrugged. "It's cool. I just hope you guys settle this, soon. You're cute together."
        Justin just stared at her before finally sputtering, "It's not like that."
        She paused and frowned slightly, studying him thoughtfully. "Of course it is," she corrected slowly. "That's why you're so upset by this." She stood and held out her hand. "Come on. I'll even let you be on his team."
        Justin slowly took her hand and together they made their way back to the net, Justin's mind still reeling, so much so that he didn't even realize he was still holding her hand until Lance turned around and saw them, his eyes going wide.
        Justin quickly snatched back his hand and slid into the rotation beside Lance. "So you send peace-offerings in the form of juice now-adays, huh?"
        Lance was still looking in confusion between Justin and Amy, but he shrugged. "It was either that or liquor, and even if I could get it for you I wouldn't."
        Justin snickered and settled into the position beside the server as Lance pulled back his arm. "Ace?" Lance asked him, grinning.
        "Give 'em hell," Justin agreed, glad that he and Lance were okay again. Maybe he had been acting stupidly. If it never came up, it never came up. He could spend the rest of his life getting to know Lance. And actually, that sounded nice.
        Lance laughed and smashed the ball straight into the middle of the court.

        Justin whimpered as he delicately tried to slip into the button down tee shirt. Lance winced just looking at him, and carefully tried to guide Justin's arms through the sleeves. Everytime he caught sight of Justin's wrist, with his watch on it, he got a strange giddy sensation, almost as though Justin were wearing his freaking class ring or something. Almost like it declared Justin as his, even if it didn't.
        "I am so burned," Justin moaned, flinching as the soft fabric touched his shoulders. "Why didn't you tell me to use sunscreen?"
        Lance sighed and lightly patted Justin's waist. "Sorry, man." He pointed to the two spray bottles of Solarcane and the one bottle of green aloe-vera burn relief gel. "That's the best I can do for you."
        Justin turned to look at him. "Are yours okay?" he asked concernedly.
        Lance's shoulders were red, as was his back and part of his chest, but he was no where as red as poor Justin was. "I'm fine," he assured him. "Now button up. Your mom's going to be here any minute and I can already hear her scolding me for letting us leave without suntan lotion on."
        Justin snickered. "Please. You're Mommy's angel. It's me she'll scold." He began mimicking her. "'Justin, don't be such a bad influence on Lance!' 'Justin, leave Lance alone!' 'Justin, why can't you be good like Lance?' 'Justin, Lance is perfect, be him!'"
        Lance had never felt worse about himself in his entire life as he stared at Justin, who was grinning even as he winced in pain, trying to button up his shirt. "Justin," Lance finally breathed upsetedly. Justin raised his eyes in surprise and confusion at Lance's tone.
        "What?"
        Lance wanted to touch him, but he couldn't touch any part of Justin's torso except his hands, and he wasn't about to grab Justin's hands. "Don't say that, man. I'm not perfect, and you should never try to be like me. I like you--"
        "Just the way I am," Justin finished, smiling gently. "I know, dude. I was just saying that that's what she was going to say." He shrugged, then winced. "I figure if you like me the way I am, then screw what everyone else says."
        Lance smiled, hoping that Justin couldn't see the blush on his cheeks. "Right," he agreed, captivated by the blue in Justin's eyes. He and Justin stared at each other for a moment, both of them jumping when there was a knock on the door. Lance hurried to open it while Justin tried to button the shirt.
        "Hi Miss Harless," Lance greeted warmly, holding open the door for her to enter. "Justin's getting--"
        "You both are burned!" Lynn exclaimed, horrified. She snatched Lance's chin in her hand. "Your cheeks, sweetie! How bad is the rest of you?"
        "Not too bad--Ow!" Lance gaped at her in disbelief when she clamped a hand on his shoulder quickly. Justin took a step forward automatically, but he stopped then.
        "Shirt, off. Let me see!" Lynn ordered Lance, to Lance's utter embarassment. Lynn briskly strode to Justin, calmly undoing the two buttons he had gotten done and stripping him quickly. Lance tried not to watch, and he tried even harder not to stare, but with a body like Justin's, it was impossible not to. Justin was georgeous. Hard muscles, 6 pack, a little on the skinny side, but he was bulking out as the days went by. Soon he was going to be buff, and then there would be no stopping him, especially since Justin kept growing up and up and up. He was going to be way taller than Lance, soon.
        "Well, you're both red," she sighed. "But it's not too bad. You're lucky. It should be gone in a couple of days." She shook her head. "Why weren't you wearing sunscreen?"
        "My fault, Miss Harless," Lance offered quickly, when Justin opened his mouth. Justin and Lynn both looked at him, so he continued. "I forgot the sunscreen up here, and then when I noticed Justin turning red I thought it was just my eyes and ignored it. It didn't even occur to me that we'd get burned."
        She sighed. "Shirt off, Lance. I want to see you, too." She noticed the solarcane on the dresser and looked back at Lance. "Smart boy."
        Lance was trying to get out of his shirt without scraping himself. "Thanks. I've got my moments between dumb things."
        Lynn laughed and picked up one of the bottles, turning to Justin. "Turn around. Lay on the bed."
        "This is Lance's bed."
        "I don't care," Lance assured him quickly. "It doesn't matter."
        Justin sighed and dropped face first onto it, his arms crooked by his head. Lynn immediately set to work spraying his back, and Lance couldn't help but stare as Justin shuddered and shivered. When his teeth started chattering, Lance wanted to throw a blanket over him, but he knew that that would be even worse.
        "Your turn," Lynn told Lance, pointing to the spot on the queen size bed beside Justin. "Lay it down, babe."
        Lance slowly slid onto the bed beside Justin, being careful not to touch his best friend, whose face was facing him but had his eyes closed. Lance closed his eyes, wincing when Lynn sprayed the cold liquid on his hot back. After a minute, he was coated, and she sighed.
        "I'll be back in about ten minutes. You boys lay there." Then she was gone.
        "Sorry about her," Justin sighed, yawning.
        Lance smiled at him. "Don't be. I love her and you know it."
        Justin smiled at him. "Did I ever tell you how much it means to me that you and my mom get along so well?"
        Lance shook his head as much as possible with the mattress below his cheek. "Nope."
        "A lot. More than a lot. Way a lot." Justin smiled. "Thank you."
        "Thank you for sharing her with me," Lance corrected. "I love your mom. A hell of a lot more than my--" he interrupted himself quickly with a purse of his lips, disgusted with himself and the words that slipped out of his mouth before he could stop them.
        Justin gazed at him seriously. "I know, Lance. It's okay."
        Lance sighed drearily and closed his eyes. "No, it's not okay. But I can't do anything about it. She's my mom."
        "Have you called her, yet?"
        "Nope."
        Justin sighed, the breath soft against Lance's cold arm. "You also haven't told her that you got a new cell number. She's probably frantic."
        Lance slowly opened his eyes and found Justin closer than he'd been when they first laid down, and he had resist every urge in his body to reach out and hug Justin tightly. "She deserves it," he stated simply. He knew the words were cold and callous, but it was true and he couldn't help the way he felt. "She should know better than to try and keep you and I apart. I've told her every time I've gone home with you that you mean too much to me to just ignore like that. She doesn't listen, and this time she went too far." Lance couldn't resist reaching out and lightly touching his watch on Justin's wrist. "This shouldn't have happened. It wouldn't have if not for her."
        Justin sighed. "No, it wouldn't have if I had been thinking. It wasn't her fault, your fault, or anyone's fault but my own. I was stupid and I know it."
        Lance studied him thoughtfully. "Why didn't you go through with it? I mean, I'm glad that you didn't, but why didn't you?"
        Justin dropped his eyes. "Really?"
        Lance frowned slightly. "Yeah."
        "I saw you. Smiling. Laughing. And I knew that there were far too many pictures of that left in our lives for me to end it so soon." Justin's eyes raised to meet Lance's again. "I just want to see you smile and laugh and be happy, always." He hesitated. "I know that our friendship is a little different than most, Lance. I'm not an idiot. It's... Intense, to say the least. But I like it that way. I like the bond that we have."
        Lance suddenly felt like he was holding back tears, and swallowed thickly past the lump in his throat. "Me too," he assured Justin softly. "It's why I wake up in the morning."
        Justin smiled. "Me too," he whispered. "Me too."

        Lynn Harless lay in her bed at 10:30 and stared at the ceiling. There was certainly something going on between Justin and Lance. It was bordering between friendship and something more, and it looked like they were both pushing towards the 'something more' side. All through out dinner, they had laughed and joked and teased each other like best friends always did. They included Lynn without hesitation or problem, and somehow, even though she wasn't in their friendship, she didn't feel left out at all. They just didn't seem to know how to exclude someone.
        All through out dinner she had watched them and the small glances that they shot each other in indistinguishable looks when the other wasn't looking. She couldn't forget the way that Justin's eyes lit up when Lance said something good about him, or the way that Lance seemed to glow when Justin complimented him. There was just a feeling about their interaction together... Lynn didn't know how Diane could possibly try to keep the two of them apart, and she was going to tell her herself.
        Lynn turned on her light, went for her purse, and began flipping through her address book.

        Meanwhile, in the next room over, Justin and Lance were trying not to moan. They were both laying sprawled out width-wise on Lance's bed, both their backs radiating heat and pain as they laid on their stomach. Neither spoke as they listened to the radio in a pair of shorts and nothing else. Every few minutes Justin would whimper and try to bury himself in the bed, but that just hurt him and he'd whimper again. Each sound was like a stab through Lance's heart, until Lance could take no more and sat up.
        "Where're you going?" Justin asked pitifully, not moving.
        "No place," Lance promised, going to the dresser, snatching up the bottle of aloe vera. He climbed back onto the bed, stradling Justin's butt, feeling Justin stiffen in surprise.
        "This'd be better if I was on my back," Justin objected, his voice sounding slightly strained.
        Lance laughed, his heart skipping a beat. "Not quite, Curls. You're in no shape." He snapped the bottle open and squirted some of the green gel onto Justin's back.
        Justin yelped and grimaced, whimpering. "That's cold. And it stings!"
        "Only 'cause it's touching sensitive skin," Lance explained, closing the bottle and setting it aside. He had to remind himself that he was not going to cop a feel of Justin while he was rubbing the lotion into his back. He had self control. He could do this.
        He hoped.
        The gel was already melting from the heat on Justin's back, so Lance carefully went to work, lightly rubbing it across Justin's burning back. Justin moaned and Lance almost moaned himself at the sound, especially when Justin arched his back against Lance's touch. "Owwww... Jesus!"
        "You okay down there?" Lance asked shakily, the touch of Justin's skin almost more than he could bare, especially with the sounds Justin was making.
        Justin only moaned in reply.
        "I could stop," Lance offered, rolling his head back and removing his hands. "If it hurts too much."
        "No," Justin objected. "I'm okay. It's just... I don't know. It's like, half pain, half pleasure."
        Lance hesitantly placed his hands back on Justin's burning back, feeling the heat there and grimacing against it. Justin moaned and again arched at the touch, which almost made Lance moan as Justin pushed against him. Justin, Lance decided, was just cruel sometimes. Even if he didn't know he was doing it.
        When Justin's back was coated, Lance got off of him and laid beside him, looking at Justin's closed eyes. "You okay?"
        Justin's eyes slowly fluttered open. "I don't know. Give me a few minutes."
        Lance laughed. "You got it." He rested beside Justin and closed his own eyes, startled when the phone rang. Justin's own eyes were open and they frowned at each other. "I thought your mom went to bed," Lance stated, confused. He shrugged and dragged himself up, snatching up the telephone. "Hello?"
        "James Lance Bass, you are in so much trouble."
        Lance sat on the bed, his legs giving out under him. Justin was up in a second, his hands on Lance's legs worriedly. "Mom?!"
        "We are coming to get you, so you had better be ready."
        Lance swallowed hard in disbelief and confusion. "How did you know where I was?"
        "Do you know that Lynn spent an hour with me on the telephone, trying to convince me that you and Justin needed each other?"
        Lance frowned. "Mom--"
        "Be ready--"
        "Diane!"
        There was silence.
        Lance didn't meet Justin's eyes as he spoke slowly. Justin's hands had tightened on Lance's legs, but Lance ignored him. "I'm not going to go home with you. I'm staying here. And until you're ready to accept the fact that I will not stop being friends with Justin, I won't be coming home. If you're willing to stop being my mother because of that, then there is nothing I can do about it. But I will not give up Justin."
        Justin whimpered quietly, and then he was laying down with his head in Lance's lap, hugging both of Lance's legs tightly. Lance sighed softly and lightly stroked his hair, nervously waiting for his mother's reply.
        "Does he really mean that much to you?" she whispered. "Enough that you would give up your own family?"
        "I don't want to, Mom. I love you guys." Lance swallowed hard. "You're my family. But are you so willing to give up on me?"
        She was crying, Lance could tell that much. "It's just unnatural," she sobbed. "You're obsessed with each other, James. How can you think that's a good thing?"
        Lance, meanwhile, was running his fingers through Justin's curly hair. "Because it feels too right to be wrong," he told her simply. "I don't have any answers, Mom. I don't know why. One day I had no idea who he was, the next I did. That's all I know. But I will defend this friendship with my life."
        "And with ours?" she cried. "You'll turn all of our lives upside down because of him?"
        Lance closed his eyes. "I don't want to, Mom. Why can't you see that? I was perfectly fine, and then one day you told me to stop talking to him. Just like that. What would you do if you had to suddenly stop talking to Jesse? Or, or if you had to suddenly stop talking to Dad? Why is it any different?"
        "Because I love your father--"
        "I love him, too!" Lance burst out angrily. "Why is that so hard to understand?"
        "Because loving him and being in love with him is different," she whispered.
        Lance froze. He felt Justin look up at him in concern, but he could only stare at the lamp. Was he in love with Justin? He hadn't really thought about that before. He supposed he could be... That would make a lot of sense, actually. Why he was obsessed with Justin. Why everything he thought of reminded him somehow of Justin. Why their friendship was so intense. Why Justin was the first person he thought of in the morning and why he was the last before he went to bed. That made so much sense.
        Justin sat up and studied him worriedly. "Lance?" he asked softly, and it was then that Lance realized he was trembling. He swallowed doggedly and averted his eyes, closing them after a moment.
        "I'm not coming home with you, Mom," Lance told her softly. "You can come, and you can try to drag me out of the hotel, but I'll just leave the first chance I get."
        She sniffled. "I won't come for you," she whispered. "But only if you promise to bring him home, Lance. For the two weeks that you're supposed to be here. You bring him back with you. I want to really meet the boy that you're willing to tear this family up over."
        That hurt. Bitterly Lance opened his eyes and glared at the ground. "This is not his fault," Lance told her coldly. "Don't say that ever again."
        "Lance," Justin reprimanded gently, but Lance ignored him.
        She sighed. "Bring him home, Lance. I want to see you two together."
        Lance swallowed and shook his head. "No. No, I won't. I'd rather die than watch you tear him apart." He felt Justin's hand snatching his, interlacing their fingers as Justin held Lance's hand between his own. "Don't tell me that you won't, Mom, because I know that you would and will. And I couldn't watch that."
        "You're only 17, Lance. Do you realize that I could keep you home? Not let you tour? Call Lynn in for kidnapping charges?"
        Lance froze. "You'd do that?"
        "I'm tempted."
        Lance couldn't stop the tears that spilled down his cheeks. He nodded once to himself, pursing his lips. "I'm sorry you feel that way, because Miss Harless has been more of a mother to me than you ever were."
        "James!" she exclaimed, horrified.
        "Lance," Justin gasped softly.
        "Goodbye," Lance told her softly, then hung up the phone. He stared at it for a long time, neither he nor Justin moving. He had just cut himself off from his family. His mom probably hated him. He probably wouldn't be welcome back there anymore. He had just let go of the family that had taken care of him for 17 years.
        Slowly Lance brought his eyes to Justin's, which were spilling tears rapidly. Lance wasn't sure who moved first, but he was suddenly in Justin's arm, resting his head against Justin's stomach and sobbing hysterically as he hugged Justin around his waist while Justin cried with him, soothing him all the while.

        Lynn was not really surprised when she snuck into the boys' room the next morning to see them curled up on Justin's bed together. Their limbs were intertwined, their hair ruffled, and they were facing each other, cuddling even in sleep. Justin had his arms and a leg around Lance protectively, and when Lynn stepped closer, she saw why.
        Both of their cheeks were tear stained.
        She knew that the scene before her should probably freak her out, but really, it didn't. She was naturally a bit put out by it, but it was more along the lines of the fact that her baby was growing up and sleeping with people--whether they were having sex or not--and that was hard to deal with.
        Lynn put her finger to her lips and motioned Diane in, deciding to let Lance's mother get the real look of the boys at their most vulnerable. Diane entered hesitantly, her cheeks tear-stained as well. Her hand flew to her mouth as her eyes widened in shock, filling with tears again.
        "They're sleeping together?" Diane whispered, horrified.
        Lynn glanced at her. "Obviously, Diane. But that doesn't mean that they're having sex."
        Diane swiped at her cheeks with a tissue angrily and pointed at the two on the bed. "Look at them!" she hissed softly. "They look like they're lovers! They're only teenagers!"
        Justin's eyes flew open.
        Both mothers froze when his head turned to look at them, obviously wide awake. He looked slightly groggy, but upon sight of the two mom's, his eyes brightened and then darkened when he saw Diane. He looked down at the boy in his arms and then back up at her, speaking more coldly than Lynn could ever remember. "You made him cry," Justin accused her flatly. "Give me one reason why I shouldn't make you leave."
        Diane and Lynn's jaws both fell.
        "I'm his mother," Diane snapped softly, indignantly. "And you're the boy--"
        "Who's his best friend," Justin interrupted darkly. "And that 'mother' bit isn't going to work, Mrs. Bass. I need a lot better than that."
        "Justin--" Lynn reprimanded. She wasn't happy with her sons' tone, but he was certainly sticking up for Lance, and he was protecting him well.
        Justin ignored her. "Mrs. Bass?" he pestered. "Why should I let you see him?"
        She glared at him. "Because I'm his mother!"
        "Get out."
        "Justin!" Lynn gasped, horrified.
        Justin didn't even glance at her. "I told you to get out," he told Diane simply. "Go. Lance doesn't want to see you, and neither do I. He doesn't need you. My mom and I will be his family."
        "He's my baby," Diane sobbed, clutching a hand to her mouth. "I love him!"
        Justin frowned. "No, you love the idea of him. If you loved him, you'd accept him. Everything about him."
        "Justin, I have nothing against you," Diane whispered, her eyes spilling tears. "It's your friendship with him. You two are obsessed with each other--"
        "We know," Justin interrupted gently. "We know, Mrs. Bass. And it's scary. It's terrifying when I actually think about it. To think that your sanity depends on someone else. To think that without someone else, you wouldn't want to wake up in the morning. To think that without someone else there, you would be utterly miserable. To think that life without this person doesn't seem like life at all." Justin swallowed doggedly, and even Lynn could see that Justin was getting choked up. She herself was crying silently as she listened to Justin's speech. Her little boy was growing up, and in love, whether they knew it or not. And that was hard, especially since her little boy was in love with another little boy. "D'you know that I can't even remember a day in my life before Lance? I've got all these vague memories, but they don't mean anything. The day I met Lance, I felt it. This... click. Everything just sort of locked together. We were together every day, and then we just never stopped hanging out. Within a few months, we were best friends. My life is wrapped up in your son, Mrs. Bass." He shook his head sadly. "I don't know how you can say that's so wrong."
        Lance mumbled something in his sleep, and Justin looked down at him while Lynn and Diane both watched. Lance's eyes fluttered open, looked up into Justin's, and then Lance smiled, closed his eyes again, and went back to sleep, burrowing further into Justin's shoulder.
        Diane whimpered softly, her hand back over her mouth. "D-does he do that often?" she breathed, and even Lynn had to admit the sight had an affect on her. She was astonished and amazed and... Happy. It was like on the plane, when Justin had woken, smiled at Lance, and moved to sleep on his shoulder. How Diane could want to keep them apart was beyond her imagination.
        Justin shrugged slightly, obviously used to this sort of behavior from Lance. "I don't know. Why?"
        Diane shook her head, still crying. "I-I just... He-he never used to do that..." She let out a soft, choked sob and closed her hand over her eyes. "Tell me," she pleaded quietly. "That you love my son."
        "I love your son."
        The answer was automatic, but it was rich and real and so full of meaning that even Lynn let out a soft sob of her own, covering her mouth as she clutched the dresser behind her. She was happy for her son. For both of them. But they were going to go through so much... And right now they were just fighting for their friendship. Imagine to what lengths they would go when they discovered their love. It was almost inconceivable.
        "Do you love him, or are you in love with him?" Diane whispered, and even Lynn had to hang on in deafening silence for Justin to answer.
        Justin frowned in confusion briefly, staring at Diane. "I don't know," he answered finally, his eyes holding Diane's firmly even though his voice shook. "I'm sorry."
        Lynn had never been more prouder of her son in her entire life.
        "I won't do anything about it, though, Mrs. Bass," Justin told her softly, his eyes somehow finding Lance's face. "He's not... I mean... He doesn't think about me like that."
        Lynn felt a steel trap gripping her heart.
        Diane sobbed quietly, shaking her head. "Well now I know," she said finally, her voice thick and shaky. "Now I know why he wouldn't let you go." She tried to smile, but the expression broke. "I wouldn't, either, if I were him."
        Justin's eyes filled with tears.
        "And," Diane continued slowly, still shaking. "Justin, Lynn, we would be honored if you would both come stay with us when Lance is scheduled to leave for the remaining two weeks that the boys are home." She managed a tight smile for Justin finally. "I would like to get to know you better."
        Justin's cheeks were damp. "I'd like that, too, Mrs. Bass," he told her softly. "Would you like to talk to him...?"
        She sniffed and nodded. "Yes, please."
        He nodded back and slid out from beside Lance, joining his mom nervously. Lynn embraced him tightly, feeling his legs collappse. She held him up, hugging him as tightly as she could. "I'm very, very proud of you, baby," Lynn whispered in his ear. He uttered a choked sound and clutched her back.
        "I'm sorry, Mommy."
        "Don't you ever be sorry," Lynn swore at him vehemently. "I love you for you. And I love Lance, too. Nothing will ever change that."
        Justin simply cried in her arms.
        Diane, meanwhile, had sunk onto the bed beside Lance and was gently shaking him awake. Lance muttered something, smacked at her hands, and rolled over, away from her, to where Justin had been. He frowned slightly in his sleep and snuggled against the pillow, still asleep. Diane sobbed softly, turning away.
        Justin hesitated, then slowly went to the bed and sat on the other side of it, which put him only inches from Lance. He placed his hand on Lance's arm. "Lance," he whispered softly. "Lance, man, wake up."
        Lance shifted and grunted in his sleep, leaning closer to Justin, even wrapping an obviously possessive arm over Justin's legs.
        "Lance, wake up," Justin said, a bit louder, but still gentle. "Dude, open your eyes."
        "G'way..." Lance moaned, snuggling against the pillow. He grimaced and moved his pillow until it and Lance's head were in Justin's lap. Then he settled down, snuggling into Justin, who looked perfectly at ease with this behavior. Lynn wondered just how common it was. As she watched, Lance frowned again and tossed the pillow aside, resting his head simply in Justin's lap.
        "Lance, I'm gonna stick Chris on you if you don't wake up."
        "I'll kill you," Lance muttered, still half asleep, his hand running up and down Justin's leg sleepily. Justin didn't appear at all fazed by this, either.
        "Lance, just wake up. Please? We gotta talk."
        That got Lance's eyes open. They actually flew open, alarmed. "Why?" He caught sight of Justin's face and sat up quickly. "Why're you crying?" He hugged Justin quickly, tightly. "Are you okay?" He pulled away haistly, his hands sliding into Justin's hair and clutching the curls tightly, possessively. "Sorry. Your burn. Are you alright? What happened?"
        Diane sobbed.
        Lance jumped out of the bed in shock, staring at her with wide, shocked eyes. "M-Mom?" His eyes narrowed as he looked from Justin to Diane, to Lynn, back to Justin, and then to Diane again. "What did you do?" Protectively he stepped towards Justin, frowning at her coldly.
        Diane could only stare, and then break down. Even Lynn was shocked at the polite boys' behavior, and she wondered how Justin could possibly think that Lance didn't feel the same way about him.
        "She didn't do anything, Lance," Justin assured him gently. "She actually invited Mom and I to stay with you guys, when you go home."
        Lance stared at Justin, then slowly raised his eyes to his crying mother. He looked hurt and scared, and he was trembling slightly. "Mom?"
        Diane cried so hard her body actually shook, but she didn't answer.
        Lynn watched Justin stand beside Lance, and they exchanged one of their looks. Then, slowly, Lance let out a deep breath and climbed back onto the bed, nervously sliding over to sit beside his mother.
        "Mommy?"
        Diane sobbed loudly and threw her arms around him tightly. Lynn watched Lance's face contort in brief pain, then his eyes fill with tears and close as he hugged her back. Justin smiled slightly and stood, gesturing for Lynn to join him as they crept out of the room and back into Lynn's.
        "Mom, I know that--"
        Lynn held up her hand. "You don't have to explain anything to me, Justin," she told him gently. "This changes nothing. Not between you and I, not between Lance and I, and not between you and Lance. Yes, I'm a little... Disappointed, but only because your life won't be easy. But baby..." She couldn't resist the tears that slid down her cheeks. "You did nothing wrong. The only wrong thing would be to keep you two apart. Most people only dream of finding what you two have."
        Justin sniffed and suddenly threw himself into her arms. "I love him, Mommy!" Justin sobbed. "Why doesn't he love me back?"
        "Oh baby," Lynn breathed. "He does. He does so much. How can you not see that?"
        Justin whimpered quietly. "He doesn't. I'd know. We don't have any secrets from each other."
        Lynn closed her eyes at that. Her son was giving himself completely to another person, and there was nothing she could do about it. "He doesn't know that you think about him like that," she reminded softly. "Why would you think that you don't know?"
        Justin just shook his head. "It's not possible." He sniffed and looked up at her. "I do love him, Mom. I love him so much I ache when he's not with me. I-I know that I'm only 16, and I haven't lived a lot, but I know I know what love is. And he is my love."
        Lynn sobbed hearing her baby boy talk in such an adult way, and she hugged him tightly. "I'm so proud of you, Justin," she whispered fiercely. "I am so proud of you. You are the best thing to ever happen to me." She kissed him several times and pulled back, smiling warmly at him through her tears. "And to Lance."
        He shook his head sadly. "His mom can't say the same."
        "She will," Lynn promised softly. "Lance is probably convincing her right now why, though I think your speech did it."
        Justin flinched. "I was pretty rude."
        Lynn nodded. "Yes, you were. But you were very adult about it and got your point across. There's times when you have to be rude."
        "I didn't want to be--"
        "I know," Lynn assured him. "I know. It's okay."
        There was a knock on the door, and Lynn and Justin exchanged a nervous look. Justin went to answer it, while Lynn tried to pretend like she wasn't watching. Justin pulled the door open to reveal Lance, whose cheeks were wet, but his eyes were glowing. They stared at each other, and then embraced tightly, clutching onto each other.
        Only love looked like that.

        "Justin, put that down," Lance sighed in exasperation. Justin had been holding the same shirt up to Lance for the past ten minutes, and Lance still hated it. "You have terrible taste, my man. So just set it down and stop fidgeting."
        "I'm not fidgeting!" Justin protested, reluctantly putting the shirt away. "I'm just checking this out. I like this shirt. I think it'd look nice on you."
        Lance scoffed at him in disbelief. "Sure. Just sit there and look cute, okay?" He pulled out a shirt from the rack and held it up to Justin, eyed it critically for a moment, then put it away, continuing to look through the shirts.
        "Look cute, huh?" Justin teased. "Something you aren't tellin' me, Bass?"
        Lance shot him what he hoped look like a dry look. Justin had no idea... "Sure, Justin." He sighed. "Why are you so picky?"
        Justin shrugged innocently. "I dunno." He glanced at Lance's watch on his wrist. "What time are we supposed to meet our moms?"
        Lance answered without hesitation. "7. Why?"
        "No reason. 'Cept it's 6:30."
        Lance groaned. They'd been shopping almost all day because Justin wanted a shirt! Lance wanted to hit some rides, but no, Justin wanted a new shirt! And then he was too picky to like any of them! Honestly! Lance wasn't a girlfriend! He didn't shop for Justin!
        "Get a girlfriend," Lance sighed, rubbing his eyes. "I can't choose clothes for you." When he moved his hands and saw Justin's stricken face, he quickly went on. "I'm just kidding, man. Relax. I'll do your girlfriend-ly duties." He winked at Justin, hoping to make him smile, relieved when it worked. "But you better buy me presents."
        Justin laughed. "You can be bought?"
        Lance shrugged. "Sometimes. Depends what you got."
        Justin stepped towards him, so close that Lance froze in moving shirts. "I can get anything you want."
        Lance slowly looked over at him, and their eyes met, Justin's eyes dancing mischeviously. "Really?" Lance asked softly. "'Cause I'm not a cheap date."
        Justin grinned slightly. "I've got money."
        Lance smirked. "I know. I know exactly how much goes into your bank account. I practically manage the damn thing."
        Justin grinned at him. "And I love you for it."
        Lance smiled playfully and nudged him lightly in the chest. "Move it. We gotta get going if we want to make it in time. How good would it look if we were late?"
        "Probably not very." Justin sighed and nibbled his lip nervously. "Do I look okay?"
        Lance stopped short and stared at him. Justin was georgeous, no matter how nervous he was. "Justin, it's my mom."
        "That's avoiding the question," Justin panicked. "What's wrong? My hair? My shirt?"
        "It's your shoes."
        Justin frowned and looked down at them in confusion. "What's wrong with my shoes?"
        Lance laughed out loud and tipped Justin's chin back up. "Nothing! I'm playing with you!" He shook his head and opened his eyes, stopping short when he saw just how close to Justin he was.
        "I'm going to hurt you, Bass," Justin warned softly, his eyes dancing. "One of these days."
        Justin's breath on Lance's lips was maddening. "Double dare you," Lance teased, stepping back quickly out of Justin's reach and then hurrying out of the store. Justin chased after him, and they ran through the park, laughing. Lance leapt over several benches, over small plants, all the while dodging people with packages. Justin was faster than he was, but he also had a head start, so they were fairly evenly matched. Lance jumped another bench, racing for the monorail gate. He was just about to go through it when Justin caught him from behind around the waist and swung him around.
        "Gotcha!" Justin exclaimed breathlessly, laughing.
        Lance laughed, and when he was finally set back on his feet, turned to look up at Justin with a grin. The air between them seemed to shimmer with light and sunshine as they both gasped for air, grinning at each other. They were breathing so hard that Lance could feel Justin's breath against his lips, a smooth, sexy feel. Then he shook himself. "We gotta hurry," he reminded. "We don't have much time."
        "Where're we meeting them again?" Justin asked, as they both began walking side by side, panting for air.
        Lance laughed out loud. "The Monorail Cafe." He nudged Justin in the ribs. "How could you have forgotten? They told us 12 times in a half an hour!"
        Justin grinned sheepishly, scuffing his shoe on the pavement as they went through the monorail gate and then stepped up onto the escalator. "I was just kinda glad that your mom wasn't taking you away, you know?"
        Lance smiled gently at him. "I know." He hesitated. "She told me what you said to her, earlier."
        Justin stopped, stricken. "She what?"
        Lance frowned at Justin's face. "She told me what you said to her this morning. About our friendship being really important and stuff." He shrugged. "She didn't give me exact details, but whatever you said worked." He studied Justin closely. "Why? What's wrong?"
        Justin swallowed and smiled weakly. "Nothing. I-I just told her how I felt about you."
        Lance grinned at him as they stepped off the escalator and got in line behind one of the gates to get on board. "Well thank you. You got through to her a lot better than I ever could."
        Justin shrugged. "Just told 'em the truth. Moms are suckers for that."
        Lance laughed out loud. "Amazing, isn't it?"
        "Excuse me?"
        Lance and Justin both turned to a woman, probably around 30 or so, and smiled at her. "Yes?" Lance asked politely.
        "Aren't you two those nice boys from that band? Nsync?"
        Lance smiled at her, watching Justin grin impishly. "Well, two of us!"
        "My daughter is a huge fan of yours. Would you be willing to sign...?"
        "Absolutely!" Lance agreed immediately, patting his pocket and looking up at Justin. "Got one?"
        Justin reached into his pocket and immediately pulled out exactly what Lance was looking for. "Gettin' a little forgetful, aren't ya, Bass?"
        Lance made a face at him and laughed, taking the pen and the piece of paper the woman held out. "What's your daughter's name, ma'am?"
        "Amy."
        Lance scrawled out, "To Amy, thanks for being such a great fan! Stay Nsync! Love, Lance Bass." He handed the paper and pen to Justin, who signed his name and then handed the paper back to the woman.
        "Thank you," the woman said gratefully. "She'll love this."
        "How old is she?" Lance asked.
        "She's 17."
        Lance and Justin exchanged a look. "About this high?" Justin asked, gesturing with his hand to his eyes. "Brown hair? Brown eyes? Piercings in her ears?"
        She nodded excitedly. "You've met her?"
        Lance and Justin gaped at her, at each other, and then Lance recovered quickly, clearing his throat. "Yeah. She's a very, very sweet girl. We played volleyball with her."
        "Oh yes. She loves you both very much. Her room is papered with pictures of you." The woman winked at them, and the monorail pulled to a stop in front of them. "Well, thank you boys. It was lovely to meet you."
        "You too, Mrs...?"
        "Michaels."
        "Mrs. Michaels," Lance finished with a smile. "Thank you, and please tell Amy hello for us."
        "I will definitely do that. Thank you!" The woman hurried away to join the rest of her family, a little boy and a little girl and a man that looked like her husband.
        Lance and Justin exchanged another look and then slowly climbed onto the monorail, both stunned.

        "C'mon!" Justin pleaded. "It'll be fun!"
        "Justin, we need sleep," Lance moaned.
        "C'mon!" Justin tugged on his arm. "We never get to go to concerts! We're always preforming them! No one will recognize us! Let's go!"
        "Justin, they're all going to be a bunch of people our age there! Of course they're going to recognize us!"
        Lance groaned when Justin got on his knees on the bed and clasped his hands together in a begging position. "Please, Lance? Pretty, pretty please?"
        Lance sighed. "Damn it, Justin. One of these days I'm going to learn how to tell you no." He dragged himself up off of the bed, following Justin's excited bounce to Lynn and his mom's room. They quickly told them where they were going, and then Lance was dragged down the hotel hallway. Justin snickered as he punched the elevator button.
        "I'm used to us having to sneak out," he admitted. "This feels kinda odd."
        Lance grinned. "Yeah. I was just thinking that."
        Justin held onto his pocket and gave him a little shake. "Great minds, you know."
        "I know," Lance assured him, grinning. The elevator dinged and they got on.
        Justin chatted excitedly the whole time they went from the hotel to the park. Lance could hear the music even before they hit Tomorrow Land, where a stage was set up and a band played a concert every night. Teens gathered and danced and had a good time, but Lance was scared. All those sweaty bodies pressed against each other, people's hands feeling everywhere... Justin flashing that charming grin at Lance...
        Lance swallowed hard just thinking about it.
        Justin grabbed Lance's hand and led him through the crowds and masses of people, to an area towards the front middle. Lance couldn't believe Justin got them there in one piece, and when a girl grabbed him and began dancing with him before he could even blink, he was even more floored. He glanced past her to Justin, who was already involved in a line up of two girls and laughed to himself, ignoring the pangs in his heart. That was familiar. Justin with a bunch of chicks, Lance feeling jealous... He sighed to himself and unconsciously pulled the girl closer.
        "Cutting!" someone shouted over the music, and then Lance was grabbed and turned to a new body. "Hey, Bass!"
        Lance grinned at the girl in his arms. "Hey, Amy!" he returned loudly. "What're you up to?"
        "Dancing!" she shouted, laughing. She nodded in Justin's direction, who was now dancing with two other girls. "Ladies man, isn't he?"
        Lance shrugged and nodded. "He's got it all," he agreed, grinning at her. "We met your mom today! You didn't tell us that you knew who we were."
        Amy shrugged. "Not really that big of a deal. You guys are just people."
        Lance smiled warmly at her. "Thank you. It's true, but thank you. Most people forget that."
        Amy laughed. "Not me. But you're welcome." She nodded at Justin. "That doesn't bother you?"
        Lance frowned and looked over at him. He was grinning at one girl, who was smiling up at him. Lance felt like his heart was being ripped out, but he shook his head. "No. Why?"
        Amy touched his heart. "Liar."
        Lance stopped dancing and stepped back, frowning at her.
        Amy stepped forward, closing the distance between them, and wrapped her arms around his shoulders gently, speaking just in his ear as they resumed dancing. "Why can't you two see it? I don't even know you and I see it. I saw it in your guys' pictures for cryin' out loud. Everyone says you two are best friends... Duh! It's so way beyond that, Lance. I wish I could show you how he looks at you, but you're blind to it because you see it all the time. But I'm telling you, I've never seen anyone look at someone else that way before. My best friend and I have known each other for seven years and we don't look at each other like that."
        "Like what?" Lance asked helplessly. He should not be having this conversation. He should be telling her that she was wrong, wrong, wrong, but he couldn't.
        "Like you're afraid if you look away that the other will vanish," she whispered softly. "I only hope that someday I can find someone to love me like that. Do yourselves a favor and save on a lot of heartache. Just get together now and spend the rest of your lives in bliss."
        Lance gazed at the ground, unable to look at the sea of dancers surrounding him. They were all mindless faces, except for Justin, whose presence glowed brightly someplace to his right. He couldn't see Justin, but he could certainly sense him. And in that moment, he dreaded coming to this dance more than anything in the entire world. He closed his eyes and pictured the way he'd gone to bed the night before, wrapped tightly in Justin's embrace. Or when he'd woken up that morning, saw Justin, and knew that nothing bad would ever happen to him.
        "I think you're 'it's not like that' friend is going to burn a hole in my head," Amy told Lance softly. "So I'm going to step out. Bye, Lance." She lightly kissed his cheek and slipped something in his pocket. "I'll talk to you later."
        "Bye Amy," Lance returned, watching her go sadly. A moment later he felt a hand on his arm, and looked over his shoulder at Justin, who was gazing after Amy. Lance sighed and slumped his shoulders. "I'm going back to the hotel, Justin. You can stay if you want, but I'm tired and sore and I wanna go back." Lance turned to walk away, feeling Justin's hand slip down his arm as he stepped, until Justin's hand latched onto Lance's. Lance continued walking, startled, but Justin was coming with him and not resisting at all. Lance cut through the crowd and went to the monorail, sighing. He was tired. He just wanted to go to bed and forget that he had seen Justin with no less than a half a dozen girls in just the few minutes that they'd been there. Justin was coming back with him, didn't that mean something?
        Yeah. They shared a room and Justin had forgotten his key.
        The thought made Lance groan out loud, and he flushed under Justin's sharp eyes. He sighed and rested against the gate, wishing that the monorail would hurry up already. He wanted to go lay down and pout. Oh god he was childish. But he did!
        The monorail finally showed up, and as everyone surged forward to board, Lance gasped out loud when two hands slid into his front pockets from behind him. He looked over his shoulder at Justin, who was pulling Lance tightly back against him, being careful to avoid Lance's burnt shoulders and trying to get close to him all the same. Lance would have moaned if Justin didn't look so innocent. Instead he slid his hands in over Justin's, clasped Justin's tightly, and then pulled both pairs out as they chose their seats side by side, their sides pressing against each other from their shoulders to their feet.
        They didn't speak the whole ride back, or when they rode the elevator, or even when they changed for bed, both of them leaving their shirts off.
        "Down," Lance instructed, gesturing to the bed.
        Justin sighed drearily and flopped down face first onto Lance's bed. Lance shook the bottle of solarcane and sprayed it liberally across Justin's pink back. It wasn't as red as it had been yesterday, and if they were lucky, it would be gone after tomorrow.
        When Lance was done, Justin sat up and took the bottle from him, and Lance dropped onto the mattress, closing his eyes. The spray was cold against his sun-fried skin and he flinched before slowly detensing. When it was finally over, Justin returned the bottle to the dresser and dropped beside Lance.
        "Amy looked pretty," Justin offered.
        Lance's eyes flew open. He ignored the pang in his heart and forced a smile. "Yeah she did. She's really sweet."
        "What'd she put in your pocket?"
        Lance frowned. "I don't know." He groaned as he thought about moving. "I'll get it tomorrow."
        "I'm curious."
        "Then you look," Lance retorted, a bit snappier than he should have. Justin, however, was already off the bed and searching through Lance's pocket. He pulled out a slip of paper, looked at it, and threw it at Lance's face, where it fluttered harmlessly against his cheek.
        "I think it's for you," Justin told him bitterly. He turned and stalked to the bathroom. "Excuse me." The door slammed behind him and Lance winced, sitting up and looking at the piece of paper.
        "Amy Michaels, 555-8394."
        Lance smiled at the paper, then frowned as he looked up at the bathroom door. "Just 'cause she didn't give it to you doesn't mean you have to be pissy!" he shouted at Justin through the door.
        He was answered by the screech of pipes being turned on.
        Lance sighed and tossed the paper onto the beside table, flopping down onto his stomach. Great. Justin was jealous 'cause the cute girl gave Lance her number instead of Justin. But there was nothing Lance could do about it! If Justin wanted it so badly, Justin could have it!
        Lance sighed again, dragging himself up off the bed and going to the bathroom door. He knocked on it. "Justin?" he asked. "Justin, c'mon, don't be like that. Look, if you want the number, it's yours. I really don't care. I mean, she was nice, but I'm not all that interested."
        There was a loud screech as the pipes went off, then the door was yanked open to reveal an angry Justin. "No thanks. I don't want your cast-offs!"
        Lance threw his hands up in exasperation. "Justin! Man! This is stupid! It's a chick for cryin' out loud! There's much better things we could be arguing about!"
        "Like what?" Justin demanded, crossing his arms over his chest.
        Lance sighed. "I don't know. Everything?"
        Justin nibbled his lower lip, the look of anger dying. "You really don't like her?"
        "Well she was nice, but she wasn't exactly... I mean... She was pretty and all, but..." Lance sighed, a nervous pit in his stomach. "I wasn't interested."
        Justin stared at him. "Why not?"
        Lance groaned. "I don't know! Because she wasn't my type! Jesus, Justin!" He turned on his heel and went back into the room, uncomfortable with the whole line of conversation.
        "You wanted to talk about it!" Justin argued, following him. "So let's talk. Why not? What wasn't 'your type' about her?"
        She wasn't you, Lance thought sourly, throwing himself onto the bed. "I don't know. There just weren't any sparks. Any chemestry. There was nothing. Just a nice girl."
        Justin sat down beside him cross-legged. "C'mon, Lance. Even you can do better than that. Why not?"
        "You can't explain chemestry!" Lance yelped. "How should I know why not?"
        Justin frowned at him. "If you don't like her, why are you so defensive?"
        Lance sat up so quickly his head spun. "Why are you being so offensive?" he returned shortly. "You're the one who started attacking me!"
        "I did not!" Justin exclaimed. "You said you weren't interested in her, I asked you why not. Simple! There was no 'attacking' involved!"
        Lance groaned. "Justin, I just wasn't, okay? I wasn't attracted to her. I didn't feel anything when I saw her. There were no... No sparks, no electricity, no anything. She was nice. I don't want her. If you do, you can have her! It's certainly not worth arguing with you over!"
        Justin studied him with a frown. "I don't want her."
        Lance uttered a moan and silent prayer, dropping face forward to the bed again, his legs still in a sitting position as he leaned his head against the comforter. "Justin, what do you want from me?" he whimpered. "I didn't do anything! I didn't even hint to her that I was interested! She cut in on me, she slipped me her number completely unprompted, and I just stood there wanting to come back here."
        "Then why did you go?" Justin asked, studying him.
        "Because you wanted to go!" Lance exclaimed in exasperation. "Jesus, Justin! What is the matter with you?"
        Justin crossed his arms over his chest sullenly. "Nothing," he muttered. "Nevermind. Sorry I started this." He stood up to go back into the bathroom.
        "No," Lance snapped, sitting up and grabbing his arm. "Sit down. Be honest with me." He dragged Justin back to the bed. "What is going on with you?"
        "Nothing," Justin repeated firmer, his voice a little edgier. "Let's just drop it, alright?"
        "No," Lance argued. "We're not dropping this. Just spit it out already, Justin. I'm not playing games with you right now."
        Justin smacked his hand on the bed. "Right now?" he repeated, sneering. "When do you normally play games with me, Bass?"
        Lance groaned and dropped his head to his hands. "Damn it, Justin..."
        "Forget it," Justin growled darkly, standing again. Lance noticed him moving and reached out, snagging Justin by his front and back pockets on his right side and dragging him back onto the bed.
        "Sit down!" Lance ordered. "We're doing this, now, whatever 'this' is! What is wrong with you? If you have a problem with me, then tell me!"
        Justin tugged away from him. "Let go," he snapped, smacking away Lance's hands. "Let go of me right now!" The more he struggled, the tighter Lance held, until Justin managed to actually get off the bed. Then Lance grabbed him around his waist and hauled him back across the length of the bed onto his back, climbing on top of Justin and pinning him down. Justin struggled so hard that he got out from under Lance, and again Lance grabbed him around the waist, throwing him onto the bed once more and holding him down as tightly as he could.
        "Stop it!" Lance hissed at him. "What the hell are you doing?"
        "She can't have you!" Justin hissed back furiously.
"What the hell...?! Why are you acting like this?" Lance exclaimed, bewildered.
"Because you're mine!" Justin shouted.
        Lance was so stunned he went limp, falling against Justin.
        "Now that you know, get off of me!" Justin ordered, squirming under Lance. He actually made it to the edge of the bed before Lance was able to gather enough wits about him to snag Justin around his waist again, and once more pin him onto the bed. "Get off!" Justin barked.
        Lance's heart pounded furiously as he dropped his mouth to kiss Justin.
        Justin fell back instantly, his fight dissolved by the simple contact. It took a few seconds for Lance to recover from what he had done in his moment of weakness and he pushed off of Justin quickly, horrified.
        "Oh god, Justin... I'm so sorry... I didn't mean... I-I'm so sorry..."
        Justin's hands locked around his waist and pulled him back. The moment that his lips touched Lance's, on Justin's own accord, Lance moaned and opened his mouth to Justin's rather insistent tongue, feeling it sliding over his own testingly, already loving the sensation and taste of Justin. Lance could feel their hearts pounding against one anothers, and together they created a heat between them that put the heat radiating from their backs to shame.
        Lance was vaguely aware of Justin turning them, rolling on top of him, and he slid his hands up Justin's back as they kissed. Justin moaned when Lance touched his burn and instead of arching back, he arched forward, pushing their hips together, which only made Lance moan. Lance moved his hands back to Justin's waist, knowing that what they were doing was deathly wrong, and yet he wasn't even thinking as he reacted to Justin's movements and Justin's body and everything his heart was telling him was so right. He tucked his hands into Justin's back pockets, pulling Justin towards him, his eyes fluttering open and then closing when Justin moaned his name against his neck. He captured that moan with his lips, needing to feel it and taste it as his own. He half grunted, half growled when Justin's hands slid into his front pockets, pulling them together further. Justin was pressing against him up and down gently as they kissed, enough to elicit moans but not enough to have to tear off each other's clothes.
        "Justin," Lance panted against his lips.
        "I love you," Justin breathed back, almost as if he hadn't heard him.
        "Oh Jesus," Lance whimpered, kissing him ravenously. Justin's mouth trailed down his neck to his chest, kissing all the way down to Lance's waist before Lance gasped. Justin smiled against Lance's skin, lightly kissing his way back up until he was laying on top of Lance again, their lips hovering above each others, their eyes locked endlessly.
        "Tell me that you're mine," Justin pleaded softly.
        "I have always been yours," Lance whispered back, arching his body against Justin's touch before he could stop himself. "I love you."
        Justin kissed him desperately, his gentle kisses and tickles and playful nibbles against Lance's body taking them well into the night.

        Lance splashed the remaining shaving creme off his face, wiping it off with a towel. He gasped when two arms encircled his waist from the back and a pair of lips met his neck hungrily. He smiled and tossed the towel aside, hugging Justin's arms over him happily and meeting his eyes in the mirror.
        "Hey," Lance greeted softly. "When'd you wake up?"
        "About two minutes ago," Justin answered, yawning against Lance's bare shoulder. The unexpected heat made him shiver, and Justin smiled devilishly. "How's your burn, babe?" He stepped back to look. "Not too bad." He leaned forward and trailed kisses along Lance's pinkened tissue while Lance closed his eyes, loving every touch Justin bestowed on his body. When Justin's tongue darted out and kissed with his lips, Lance's eyes flew open and met Justin's teasing ones in the mirror.
        "Yeah, funny," Lance returned dryly, turning around with a stomach full of fluttering butterflies. "Take a shower and get dressed. You smell like me."
        "I like to smell like you," Justin objected playfully, his blue eyes innocent but devilish as he slipped his hands into Lance's back pockets. "You're georgeous..."
        Lance kissed him quickly and stepped back, but Justin had other ideas. He grabbed Lance and pulled him close, kissing him passionately. Lance gave in rather easily, meeting Justin's tongue and sliding over it delicately with his own. He smiled against Justin's lips when Justin lifted him by the waist and set him on the counter. Lance wrapped his legs around Justin's waist, drawing him as close as possible and trying to keep his hands away from Justin's still burned shoulders.
        "You," Lance began softly, leaning his forehead against Justin's as he panted for air. "Are so beautiful."
        Justin smiled sweetly, breathing hard himself. "I was thinking the same thing about you, angel."
        He certainly was one for pet names. Last night Lance had been called everything from 'baby' to 'Justin's play toy.' Not that Lance minded. He thought it was cute, and he rewarded Justin with another kiss before sliding off the counter, standing in front of Justin. Justin didn't move back, however, and it was a tight, snug fit between Justin's body and the counter.
        "Where're you going?" Justin pouted.
        "To finish getting ready," Lance reminded, smiling. "We've got two mothers to convince that there's nothing between us."
        "Screw that," Justin muttered, kissing him lightly. "They know."
        Lance sighed. "But they don't know, know. And if they know know, they're going to make us start staying in separate rooms."
        Justin groaned. "Okay. I'll be good."
        Lance laughed and kissed him quickly. "That's my big boy," he teased, lightly patting Justin's butt.
        Justin smirked at him. "I could--"
        "Don't," Lance interrupted, holding up a warning hand. Justin laughed out loud and closed his mouth while Lance let a small smile peek through. "You, shower." He pointed to it. "I left you hot water, so no complaining." He stepped out of the bathroom and closed the door behind him. He hesitated for an instant before throwing the door back open and pressing himself against a waiting Justin, their mouths finding each other's again.

        Lynn eyed the two boys warily. There was something strange about them. They were laughing, giggling, teasing, joking, just like normal, but they kept shooting strange glances at each other. Lynn had a feeling that something had happened between them, and from the look on Diane's face, Diane did, too.
        As much as Lynn didn't want to face up to reality, she had to know, and she had to make a decision before she even approached the two boys. If she told them separate rooms, one of them--probably Justin--would inevitably sneak over to the other's. All she could ask is that they were... What? Safe? She supposed, but as far as she knew, both boys were virgins. She didn't know much about gay people, but she was willing to be open and accept them.
        She just wanted to know the truth.
        Long after Diane went to bed, Lynn called up the boys, waiting nervously with a large pit in her stomach for them to answer. It took a few rings, but a breathless, "Hello?" came back at her.
        "Justin, honey? It's Mom."
        "Mom?" Justin asked, sounding bewildered. "What's up?"
        "I was wondering if I could talk to you and Lance for a minute, and no, you aren't in trouble."
        "Uh, sure, Mom. Right now?" Lynn heard rustling going on in the back and could only imagine what clothes the two boys were putting back on their bodies.
        "Yes, if you two aren't busy."
        "Nah, we're not busy. Come on over."
        "Okay." Lynn hung up the phone, took a deep breath to try and compose herself, and went next door. Lance was waiting, looking slightly rumpled, but that could have been either from sleep or wrestling with Justin.
        Eep.
        "Hey Miss Harless," Lance greeted, looking a bit concerned and... was that fear? Lynn hoped not. "Come on in."
        Justin was sitting on the bed, which was only thrown back the covers of. It didn't look like they'd been throwing each other around or anything on the covers... Maybe she was wrong.
        When Lance sat beside Justin and Justin seemed to inch closer to him, she knew she wasn't.
        "Boys," Lynn began slowly. "This is very hard for me to say, and before I even begin, let me just say that nothing that happens will affect how I feel about either of you." She turned her attention to Lance. "You are like a son to me, Lance, and I love you just like I love Justin." She took a deep breath. "That said, we need to discuss sleeping arrangements."
        Justin actually snatched Lance's hand. "Mom--"
        Lynn held up her hand, swallowing. "Justin. Let me. I am 110% behind you both. I'm happy for you. To try and keep you two apart would be ridiculous, and I would never be able to live with myself. I don't want to know what you boys are doing behind closed doors, because that's your business. What I would like to say is that whatever you do, be safe." She smiled. "End of lecture."
        Justin and Lance exchanged a look, and then in unison gaped at her. "That's it?" Justin asked in disbelief. "I just made the biggest decision of my life, and all I get is, 'I love you, be safe, I support you?'"
        Lynn laughed out loud. "What else would you like me to say, baby? I've had some time to get used to the idea."
        "Wow," Lance breathed, amazed. "I hope my mom is as good about this as you are." He glanced at Justin, took a deep breath, and then met Lynn's eyes seriously. "Miss Harless, I know that we're really young, and probably really irresponsible and immature, but I do love Justin. I honestly can't explain how it started or how I know that I'm in love with him, but I am." He frowned slightly. "A-and I know that it's not... conventional, to say the least, but--"
        "Well that's enough of that!" Lynn interrupted. "There is nothing wrong with what either of you two are doing. You love who you love, and you can't change that." She knelt down in front of Lance. "Sweetie?"
        Lance met her eyes a bit nervously.
        "I know that you're young. But neither one of you is irresponsible or immature. Except for Justin on occasion." Lynn winked at Justin, who only smiled. "You're both capable of making your own decisions, and anything I did to try and keep you apart would be insane." She smiled gently at him. "As you and your mother demonstrated. I have no desire to split the two of you up. I just ask that you be careful," she gave Justin a look as well, "and that you be safe, in all ways, including from the public." She patted their joined hands. "Now goodnight, you two. Pleasant dreams."
        Lynn turned and walked to the door, startled when four arms hugged her tightly. She turned around and hugged both boys tightly, tears coming to her eyes. "I love you both," she told them.
        "We love you too," they chorused in unison. Lynn had to laugh as she squeezed them, and then released them.
        "Goodnight," Lynn bade them.
        "'Night," they chorused again. Lynn laughed and opened the door, walking back to her own room feeling better than she had in a long time.

        Justin and Lance exchanged a look of disbelief as soon as the door was shut.
        "Wow," Lance breathed finally. "That's... Wow."
        Justin grinned happily at him. "Well, that's the first person to know besides us and she was cool about it! That's a good way to start, right?"
        Lance nodded affirmatively. "It is."
        Justin hugged him tightly. "I love you, Lance."
        "I love you too, Justin," Lance promised softly, leaning his head on Justin's shoulder. Justin smiled and lightly kissed his neck, dragging Lance back to the bed they'd been in before his mom called. Their shirts were discarded on the way, and they slid back into the bed in only their pants, Justin on top of Lance as they continued their slow, gentle kissing.

        "Ow," Lance whimpered, looking at his shoulder in the mirror. Justin was sitting on the counter beside him and winced.
        "Sorry," Justin apologized for at least the tenth time in the past two minutes. "I really didn't mean to."
        Lance flashed a weak grin at him and lightly kissed him before looking back at his shoulder. "I know you didn't, babe. It's okay."
        "Well now you're branded," Justin offered. "My teeth marks in your shoulder... Who's gonna mess with you if you've got teeth marks in your shoulder?"
        "Vampires?" Lance suggested, touching the tender bruised area. They'd gotten pretty... rough, last night, and Justin had bit him instead of crying out when Lance pressed against him. They'd yet to have sex, and while they were going at it pretty hard, Lance doubted they'd actually cross that barrier for quite some time. Neither of them were ready for it, yet. And they had the rest of their lives for that.
        "Nah, because then you'd have been bitten by another vampire and the ones that saw you would back off," Justin admonished, kicking his legs against the counter. "I really am sorry."
        "Justin, chill. It's cool." Lance stopped touching the purple area and rested his forearms on Justin's legs, peering up at him. "Though if you wanted to make me feel better, you could..."
        Justin grinned devilishly, already pulling Lance towards him. "What do you have in mind?"
        Lance shrugged innocently. "I dunno. Maybe you could think of something...?"
        "Baby, I could think up a million somethings," Justin promised, then leaned down and kissed him. Justin suddenly started laughing, and Lance pulled away, looking up at him in confusion. "Sorry," Justin apologized, still laughing. "I was just thinking about how funny it is that this is the happiest place on earth and it really is the happiest place on earth. I'm always going to love it here, just 'cause of you."
        "Aww..." Lance teased, kissing Justin's bare stomach and peering up at him. "That's so sweet."
        "Yeah, I'm sugar," Justin agreed cheerfully. Lance laughed and kissed him quickly before pulling back. "Hey!" Justin protested when Lance continued to back up. "Where are you going?"
        "Back to bed," Lance told him innocently, knowing that Justin would take the bait as he calmly backed towards the door. "We still have two hours before our moms come a callin'."
        Justin grinned and chased after Lance, grabbing him around the waist and picking Lance up onto his shoulder, carrying him to the bed and throwing him on it. Lance couldn't help but laugh, getting butterflies in his stomach again when Justin climbed on top of him.
        "Love me?" Justin asked playfully.
        "Love you lots," Lance assured him, smiling.
        "Love you, too," Justin promised, kissing him lightly. "Wanna kiss me again?"
        Lance pretended to ponder it. "Maybe. Try it again and let me decide."
        Justin kissed him quickly.
        "Too fast. Try again."
        This time the kiss lasted a few more seconds.
        "Better. Try it again. Longer."
        A few more seconds.
        "Hmmm... Still can't decide. Longer."
        Justin grinned, dropping his mouth to Lance's again. The kiss was long and slow and involved, and Lance forgot completely about joking around as he arched against Justin, who was pressing and touching back against him. Justin rubbed against him particularly pointedly, and Lance moaned, his head falling back.
        "Now that's the sound I like to hear," Justin teased, kissing Lance all along his neck. "You want a hickey, baby?"
        "Don't even try it, Timberlake," Lance warned, then moaned when Justin pushed against him again. "Do whatever the hell you want."
        Justin laughed and began sucking at Lance's chest, moving up and down lightly against Lance the whole time. Lance was sure there was no better feeling than having Justin on top of him, kissing him, loving him, and making him gasp by touching places Lance didn't know he had. But he was tired of moaning, and in one fluid movement had them flipped so he was on top. He worked his body into rhythm with Justin's, who moaned when Lance pushed down against him.
        "Much better," Lance teased breathlessly, capturing Justin's mouth and his consecutive moans as Lance purposefully pressed against him. When he decided that Justin had had enough, he pulled his mouth away from Justin's and began kissing his neck, working his way down to Justin's navel. He slipped his tongue in, eliciting a gasp and a hiss of surprise, so he did it again. This time he got a moan, and when he did it once more, Justin squirmed under him. He did it one more time, just for kicks, gasping when Justin suddenly yanked him up and under Justin's body.
        "Unless you want me screaming in about three seconds, cut it out," Justin warned, gasping for air.
        Lance grinned devilishly. "I want to hear you scream."
        "Not with our moms next door, you don't."
        Lance groaned. "Oh man. When did you become the responsible one?"
        "I'm sure I don't know, 'cause making you stop is the last thing I want."
        Lance grinned. Justin was trembling, which was nice, but most of all, Justin wasn't the only one getting someone to gasp around here. Lance reached up and kissed Justin soundly, feeling Justin's arms give way from where he'd been propping them up, and soon Lance was smothered in everything Justin, and he'd never been happier in his life.
        The phone rang.
        Only it wasn't just a phone, it was a cell phone. Lance and Justin both snatched up their phones, saying, "Hello?" in unison.
        "Lance?"
        "Yeah?" Lance asked, confused and breathing heavily.
        "Is Justin there?"
        "Chris!" Lance exclaimed happily, ignoring that he was on Justin's cell and Justin had his. "How's it goin', man?"
        Chris sounded wary. "Fine, Lance. Justin?"
        Lance felt like he'd been slapped. "Sure." He handed the phone over to Justin, who was looking at him worriedly.
        "Hello?" Justin asked. Lance barely listened as he stared at the bedspread, frowning sadly. Justin's hand was on his leg, but he hardly noticed. "So?" Justin frowned. "Well what do you want me to do about it?" He scoffed at whatever Chris said. "Whatever, man. No way." He listened for another minute. "No." His jaw clenched. "As a matter of fact, Chris, you just interrupted some hot fucking, so if you don't mind..." Justin pulled the phone from his ear and hit the 'end' button, his eyes trailing up to Lance, who was gaping at him in disbelief. "Fuck Chris," Justin muttered, setting the phone aside and leaning forward on Lance. "You okay, baby? What'd he say to you?"
        Lance shrugged weakly. "Just that he wanted to talk to you."
        Justin rolled his eyes. "Joey. He wants me to call up Joey and prank him 'cause he thinks Joey pranked him this morning at three a.m. and Chris is ticked. He probably just knew that you wouldn't go for it." He smiled supportively. "Really."
        Lance sighed and shrugged again. "It's okay."
        "No, it's not," Justin corrected. "You know Chris. He's an idiot sometimes; thinks before he says something." He lightly kissed Lance's stomach, his eyes on Lance's. "Cheer up?"
        Lance smiled gently at him and ruffled his hair. "I'm okay. Don't worry about me."
        Justin scoffed. "You know me. I love to worry about you. I think it's my hobby."
        Lance laughed and hugged him. "Don't bother."
        "I can't help it," Justin sighed. "You're just so adorable that you occupy my every thought."
        Lance grinned impishly. "Well I could occupy a lot more than that..."
        Justin tugged Lance's body under his. "I agree."

        "Where're we going to live?"
        Lance gave a start and looked down at Justin, who was curled up in his arms. "What?"
        "Well," Justin looked up at him. "We live in Orlando, but your home is in Mississippi. So where're we going to live?"
        Lance paused thoughtfully. "I just thought we'd live in Orlando. I haven't given it much thought, to be honest with you. I've got that apartment in Orlando, and when you get old enough, you can move in with me."
        Justin sighed drearily. "I hate being young."
        "I hate being old," Lance countered, lightly kissing his forehead. "Don't worry about it. Just go to sleep. I'm tired."
        Justin sighed, and Lance was unable to stop the shudder from going through his body at the warm breath on his bare chest. "Love you."
        "Love you too, baby," Lance promised, hugging him close. "Now sleep." He closed his eyes and slowly drifted off to sleep pleasant dreams of the boy in his arms forever to come.

~~~~END~~~~

Shorts Index
Main page
Write me