*Disclaimer - I do not own any of the members of 'N Sync they belong to their respective owners. I do, however, own all fictional characters such as Rachel, Mike, Ashley, Carli, and Devon, etc. Please, no plagiarism, it is against the law. Thank you.

*Spoiler - still yet another Christmas story. (Almost done with these... I promise)

The young woman groaned kicking the tire of her old, beat up car that had left her stranded out in the middle of nowhere on a deserted highway. Why do things like this always happen to me? She sighed shaking her head, tugging her winter coat tighter around her body. Snow covered the highway, making it almost a majestic sight, that is if her car hadn't broken down. She leaned back against the car, deep in thought. Her cellular phone had died hours ago because her family kept calling her to ask her how much longer it would be until she made it home.

It had been an hour and a half since the car had decided to quit on her, and no car had passed which discouraged her thoughts. I feel like I'm trapped in one of those horror movies my brothers like so much, only I have no knight in shining amour to save me should a axe murderer happen by. She shook her head with vague amusement. Some Christmas this is turning out to be. First the car breaks down, now it's snowing like it's all going to melt in a second. The snow came down in sheets, making it hard for her to see more than a foot in front of her. Snow globe, who shook up my damn snow globe world? She tossed a gaze heavenward. Tis the season and all that crap, how about a little help, huh? A car would be nice. Just one, that's all I'm asking for here, big guy.

She glanced down the highway and let out an ear piercing scream of frustration, then smiled with satisfaction at how loud she had been able to be. She had always prided herself on her lungs, in her line of hobbies, she had to be. Being a part of the drama club at the college helped her maximize her potential as an actress. Okay, well, I feel like this is the movie Alive, only edited for television. I might as well start walking my ass down the road and see if anyone is around. She reached into the car and grabbed her book bag, something that she never left home without, and started down the highway at a leisurely pace, kicking at the snow on the ground with her stylish hiking boots.

"I'm singing in the rain, just singing in the...wait. Wrong movie." she sighed with a impish smile. "I'm dreaming of a white Christmas, like the ones I used to know...well cripes, I forgot the damn words. May the tree tops glisten and children listen to hear sleigh bells in the snow. I'm dreaming of a White Christmas with every Christmas card I write. May your days be merry and bright! And may all your Christmases be white." she sang at the top of her lungs, turning in a lazy circle as she walked. She closed her eyes and lifted her face up to the falling snow. She had always loved snow, even as a child. Her dad would bundle all the kids up in their winter clothes and take them out to the field behind the house to build snowmen and have snowball fights. Somehow, her team always lost, even though her dad was part of her team.

The trees around her were covered in a blanket of heavy snow, making the branches droop with the weight. It really did look like a winter wonderland, and even in her present predicament, she appreciated the beauty of it all. She laughed gaily to herself as she dropped into the snow and made a snow angel. She stood up to admire her handiwork and her eye caught something moving on the side of the road. Her heart jumped into her throat when she realized it looked like a wolf.

"Oh no. Hell no. You just stay right where you are, pal." she stated firmly as she glanced around for some kind of weapon to defend herself. The wolf whined and sat on it's haunches, watching her intently. She groaned when she couldn't find anything suitable. The wolf got to all fours and slowly trotted to her, a happy doggy grin on his face.

"I told you to stay where you were! Damn it, why don't animals ever listen?" she cried out taking a couple of steps back.

"Peloquin? You lousy mutt, where'd you run off to this time?" a female voice called from somewhere in the distance.

"I told you that dog was trouble and we shouldn't bring him, but does anyone ever listen to me? Noooo. You had to bring that God forsaken dog which in turn ran out the house to make us search in this God forsaken blizzard!" a male voice countered loudly.

"Oh shut up, Chris! Who the hell asked you anyway." the female voice snapped bringing a smile to the woman's face. Must be a lover's spat, she mused to herself as a figure appeared over a hill. Another figure appeared behind her and attacked her with a snow ball.

"You creep! I'm gonna sic my boyfriend on you when we get back to the house!" the female screeched.

"Mike, look around you, man. You're already covered in snow. There's a blizzard goin' on. Remember?" the male questioned patiently, using a tone of voice one would use for a disobedient child.

"Oh, right. Silly me, I totally forgot what this white, frozen water stuff was. Man, you're a genius Chris." the woman who had been called Mike stated sarcastically.

"I know." Chris grinned as the two kept walking. "JC wouldn't be able to take me." he stated suddenly.

"Oh no?" Mike laughed raising an eyebrow.

"Hello." the woman said, smiling at the two people whom she assumed were Chris and Mike.

"Oh my God. Heart attack. I'm having a heart attack!" Chris exclaimed loudly, holding a hand to his heart. Mike pushed Chris over onto the ground with a grin and turned to the young woman.

"Hi, you lost or something?" Mike questioned.

"Not by choice, let me tell you. My car broke down and my cell phone died." the woman sighed shaking her head.

"Man, it must suck having a life that resembles a bad country song. I'm Mike and this is Chris. There's a phone back up at the cabin, but with the way the weathers been, I doubt you'll be able to call out, but you're more than welcome to try." Mike smiled warmly at her.

"Thank you kindly ma'am. That's down right hospitable of you. By the way, is that the beast you were looking for?" the woman questioned in a thick southern drawl as she pointed to where a dog was happily rolling around in a huge snow drift.

"Peloquin! Get over here you inbred hound!" Mike called with a smile. The dog jumped up and bolted to it's owner, the doggy grin bigger than ever.

"What's your name?" Chris inquired from his position on the ground.

"Rachel Jasper, at your service." she stated with a flourished bow. Chris quirked an eyebrow as he slowly climbed to his feet, and came dangerously close to landing on his rear again when he slipped, but caught himself just in time.

"Nice save." Mike nodded with a grin.

"Thank you." Chris nodded giving her a playful shove.

"Well, let's go before I give Rudolph a run for his money with the nose bit." Mike snorted as she turned in the direction from which she came. Rachel followed with amusement, keeping an eye on the inanely grinning dog. After a few minutes of trekking through knee deep snow, a huge cabin loomed up ahead.

"As God as my witness, I will never be frozen again!" Rachel called out suddenly, holding a hand to her heart. Mike glanced over her shoulder at the dramatic woman she had just met with a bemused smile. At least I won't be the only girl anymore, she laughed to herself. The stomped up the stairs to knock off all the lose snow from their bodies and entered the cabin.

"Honey, I'm home!" Chris yelled loudly as he took off his jacket. A young blond man bounded into the room and jumped on the unsuspecting Chris's back.

"Daddy, what'd you bring me?" the man demanded as he and Chris toppled over onto the floor with a loud thump and a muttered curse then loud laughter.

"Back off, you Panteen commercial reject from hell!" Chris cried shoving at the young man. Mike rolled her eyes and motioned for Rachel to follow her up the stairs to the second floor. She opened a closet door and pulled out two white fluffy towels and handed them to Rachel.

"Why don't you go take a hot shower, and come downstairs when you're done. You can try the phone then." she suggested.

"You're my savior! Thank you." Rachel gushed with an impish grin. "Bathroom would be where?"

"Second door to the right." Mike directed pointing down the hall.

"I should have known. It's always the second door to the right. Thanks." Rachel laughed shaking her head then headed to the bathroom and shut the door behind her. Rachel quickly stripped and jumped under the hot water and sighed in total and complete bliss. Twenty minutes later she was dressed in a pair of jeans and a big, bulky, warm sweater with her long dirty blond hair dripping down her back. Rachel rolled the towels up into a ball and placed them in the clothes hamper then headed downstairs. Loud laughter came from the large living room, which had equally large windows nearly reaching from floor to ceiling. Impressive cabin. It looks like something Trump would use for a camping trip, Rachel thought as she stepped into the room.

Mike sat curled up on the couch gazing at the fire in the fireplace as Chris and the young blond man played a video game on the big screen tv. Mike heard Rachel walk in and smiled at the freshly scrubbed woman.

"Phone's on the coffee table over here." she nodded toward the table a few feet away. Rachel smiled as she walked over to the table and picked up the phone. Her eyes narrowed suspiciously as she tried dialing the number to her father's house. Why do those two guys look familiar? She shook her head both in confusion and disgust.

"Phone's dead." Rachel sighed as she flopped down in an empty overstuffed chair.

"It would figure." Mike groaned softly as the door opened emitting three very cold, shivering guys covered with snow.

"Any luck?" Mike inquired as she got to her feet.

"None at all. We're stuck her until this thing blows over." another blond stated shaking snow out of his hair.

"Oh yeah, and staying in this fabulous cabin out in the middle of nowhere really breaks your heart, Lance." Mike countered giving him an evil grin.

"Yeah, well, you know." the man called Lance shrugged laughing as he hung up his jacket on one of the hooks near the fireplace.

"It must suck to be you." Mike laughed as she walked over to a shivering brunette. He stopped and gave her a mock glare, then smiled devilishly as he grabbed her into a bear hug.

"JC! You're cold and wet, and I'm warm and dry!" Mike cried laughing as she tried to push him away from her.

"Don't you mean you were warm and dry?" the man called JC chuckled letting her go so he could strip off his jacket.

"Justin, I swear to God, if you don't stop cheating I'm gonna hit you in your head then throw you into the nearest snow bank!" Chris yelled from his chair causing everyone to look over at the two sitting in front of the tv.

"It's cold out there." another brunette mumbled through chattering teeth as he walked over to the fireplace to warm up.

"Joe, snow is generally cold. That's why it's frozen." Mike laughed as she sat back down on the couch as JC and Lance disappeared upstairs.

"Mike, no one like a smart ass." Joe admonished with a smile.

"Looks like I'm out of a job then, eh?" she grinned as she got to her feet once again, then walked into the kitchen with Rachel not too far behind her.

"You're the only female here? With five very testosterone filled men?" Rachel inquired as Mike filled seven mugs with hot water which had been simmering on the wood stove.

"Yeah. This was a vacation of sorts for us. Getting away from humanity thing. Unfortunately, it backfired on us and we're all stuck here." Mike replied chagrined. Rachel watched as Mike scooped hot cocoa mix into each of the mugs then stirred each to dissolve the powder. She then put all the mugs onto a tray and carried it out to the living room.

"Rachel, looks like you're stuck here with the rest of us." Chris laughed as Rachel walked into the room, her eyes studying the faces of Chris, Justin, Joe and Lance. I swear I've seen them before, but where? I know they don't live around here.

"Yeah, a terrible thing, living in the lap of luxury." Rachel sighed as she sat back down on the chair that she had claimed as hers. Mike set the tray down on the coffee table, took a mug then sprawled out on the couch.

"Rachel, where you from?" Lance inquired glancing over at the girl as he took a mug of hot cocoa.

"Everywhere," she snorted. "But right now, I'm attending a college in Nevada."

JC walked in, hair still damp from the shower. "You guys are gonna start losing brain cells if you keep playing that game the way you have been for the past week." he stated with a good natured smile.

"You mean they actually have brain cells?" Lance quipped with a laugh.

"Hey! I heard that PooFoo!" Chris exclaimed as he jabbed a button on the control pad vigorously, trying to beat the snot of out Justin's character. Lance grimaced slightly and shook his head.

"Will I never live that down?" he questioned with a laugh.

"Never. You will always be known in the hearts of all women as PooFoo, the what was it? Rabbit?" Justin laughed shaking his head.

"Dog." Lance replied absently gazing into the fire.

"I've got it! Finally!" Rachel yelled jumping to her feet, her eyes filled with excitement which also caused everyone to look over at her, startled.

"Okay, I give. You've got what?" Joe questioned raising an eyebrow.

"Where I've seen you guys before." Rachel laughed swinging in a small circle. Mike shook her head with amusement.

"Yeah? Where's that?" JC questioned sitting behind Mike, then pulling her into his arms.

"My kid sister's teen magazines. Y'all belong to that group. Oh hell...what was the name. Oh the pressure of a name." Rachel groaned rubbing her forehead, making a face. Everyone looked on, trying to keep straight faces as she paced the room.

"No game playing with hearts. God, what was their name. I can hear that damn song in my head. 'Quit playing games with me heart'. The Backstreet Boys!" Rachel exclaimed loudly. Mike choked on her hot cocoa and coughed to cover her hysterical laughter. Chris's jaw dropped so low, it nearly hit the floor.

"Um, excuse me?" Justin demanded raising an eyebrow.

"Alright Mike, how much did you pay her to say that?" Chris demanded jumping to his feet.

"Why's it always gotta be my fault?" Mike retorted folding her arms across her chest. "I wish I had thought of it, but I didn't. I give all credit to the person who did though. Congratulations Rachel." Mike sighed as she got to her feet.

"Wait, you guys aren't the Backstreet Boys?" Rachel inquired, confusion written all over her face.

"Hardly, we're 'N Sync." Lance laughed shaking his head. This girl was definitely a trip.

"Oh, wow. Well, how the hell am I supposed to know that? I mean, my kid sister likes you and the other one and she's nine." Rachel sighed shrugging her shoulders with a smile. Mike disappeared into the kitchen to rinse out her mug and set in the sink, a glimmer of a smile on her face. She stood at the kitchen sink, the hot water running as she rinsed the mug. Strong arms circled her waist from behind her and she smiled.

"Where did you find that chick?" JC questioned, his voice filled with humor.

"Her car broke down not too far from here. We kind of stumbled upon her when we were looking for Peloquin." Mike explained as she leaned back into his arms.

"I thought Justin was going to have a coronary when she called us the Backstreet Boys." he laughed shaking his head.

"Rachel is an unusual individual, I'll give you that much." Mike nodded in agreement. Suddenly the lights flickered, then went out.

"Oh for cryin out loud, can things get any worse?" Rachel cried out loudly from the living room causing most everyone to laugh.

"Yes, so shut the hell up!" Chris countered.

"Why the hell are you being so rude? I think your dreads are pulling your brain just a little too hard. Loosen those suckers up and let the poor thing get some oxygen!" Rachel shot back, her voice icy.

"Guess she told you." Lance laughed as he stepped over to the fireplace to toss another log onto the fire. Mike and JC walked back in, each carrying a handful of candles.

"Oh, they're gonna make it all romantic like." Rachel commented as the candles were lit and placed on the table.

"Do I sense some hostility in the room?" Joe inquired with a shake of his head as he climbed to his feet.

"The kid is perceptive. Good for you." Rachel smiled as Joe grabbed a candle and headed over to the bookshelf on the far side of the room. He took a book out then sat down to read in the corner.

"I am sorry I called you guys by that other name." Rachel sighed from her chair.

"It's okay, it happens more than you think." JC smiled reassuringly at her as he took a seat on the floor next to the fireplace. Mike lounged back on the couch, her eyes slowly closing with exhaustion.

"So, what are you guys doing here, of all places, for vacation?" Rachel questioned raising an eyebrow.

"It was Lance's idea, and we liked it. He thought it would be cool to just disappear from the world for a week or two. This cabin belongs to a friend of ours from the studio." JC shrugged taking a sip from his mug.

"And you're Lance?" she inquired looking directly at Justin.

"No, that's Lance. I'm Justin." he sighed shaking his head, amusement finally poking through.

"My God, he graced me with a smile. Be still my beating heart." Rachel exclaimed drily with a smile.

"What about you? What are you doing out here?" Lance questioned, making himself comfortable in his chair.

"I was going home for Christmas, but my car broke down so I'm not going anywhere until I can get a tow to take it to a mechanic." she sighed resting her head on her hand.

"What do you do besides college?" Justin questioned, propping himself back against the wall.

"What is this? Twenty questions? I'm in the drama club, I love music, watch movies and am addicted to the Internet. I have on black underwear and a black lacy bra. Anything else you'd like to know?" Rachel shot back, becoming aggravated with the entire conversation.

"No, I think that about covers it. No, wait, are you an innie or an outie?" Chris replied rolling his eyes.

"Innie. Look, as much fun as this is, I need to get some sleep, so where can I do that?" Rachel inquired getting to her feet.

"There's an empty bedroom upstairs. Last door on the left." Lance told her. She nodded giving him a small smile, then headed upstairs. Damn infuriating men asking too many questions. I didn't hear them divulging any information that I could use as blackmail material, she railed silently as she climbed the stairs. She sighed when she noticed the dog, Peloquin, lying in front of her bedroom door.

"What? You again? Don't you have anything better to do?" Rachel questioned the dog, who just perked his ears and gave her another one of his doggy smiles.

"Hey, I have an idea. Why don't you go downstairs and bother the New Kids rejects?" she suggested with a grin. Peloquin gazed at her for a moment, then rested his head back down on his front paws.

"Of course not, that would be too east, wouldn't it?" she sighed shaking her head as she inched her way to the door. She stepped over the dog, careful not to disturb him, then opened the door. She stepped into the silent, dark room and immediately regretted leaving the warm easy banter of the living room. Rachel had never been overly fond of the dark.

"Get a grip Jazz," she mumbled to herself as she walked to the bed. "Even though this is a strange house, and you're staying with strange people doesn't mean they're gonna sneak up on you and graciously place a knife in your back while you're sleeping. 'Sides, what could they do, really? Death by singing?"

She pulled the covers on the bed back, and sat down with a sigh. Why do I always get stuck in these situations. It's not like I ask for this. She shook her head and flopped back on the bed, gazing up at the ceiling. Her mind wandered to the people she had just met and a smile flickered across her face.

She had taken an instant liking to Mike because of her sarcastic whit and easy humor. Mike was a tough act to follow sometimes in the sarcastic department, but Rachel would have fun with the woman, and it had been so long since she actually had a woman around to talk to. Rachel's roommate at the dorm was just plain evil and she couldn't stand the fact that Rachel had more male friends than she had boyfriends in her entire life.

The others seemed equally as nice, though she imagined Joe was just stressed out from not being able to go home. The all took the news of being stranded pretty well. No one threw temper tantrums, and no one even got all that angry.

She smiled as her mind drifted toward the quietest man she had met tonight. I don't really like their music, but I will give them the fact that they look good. Especially that Lance character. My God, girl, you're loosing it. You're thinking about a guy who sings for hundreds of adoring young girls. So young that they haven't fully.... Rachel groaned covering her face with a pillow, stopping her train of thought. She shifted to find a comfortable position then closed her eyes, letting her body relax. Soon, she was fast asleep, dreaming of wild and fantastic things.

Lance sighed tiredly as he gazed into the fireplace, watching the flames make interesting and odd shapes. Everyone was talking around him about Rachel and what they thought of her.

"She seems nice enough. A bit clueless, but nice enough." Chris nodded sitting down in an empty chair.

"You're one to talk about being clueless, Chris." Mike snorted shaking her head. "I think she's great. That Backstreet Boys thing that she pulled was hysterical."

"I don't think that she did it on purpose though." Lance stated suddenly, looking over where everyone had congregated.

"I didn't think she did, I just thought it was funny." Mike smiled as she cuddled closer to a very tired JC. Lance watched the couple, barely veiled envy in his eyes. Mike and JC had been best friends for years but have been a couple for almost two years now, and they were the happiest couple he'd ever seen besides his parents. They seemed to be able to know what to do and when to do it. They had conversations with each other without saying a word. The way Mike looked at JC explained it all, and that what he wanted. He wanted to be able to see love in a woman's eyes for him. Not the kind of love he saw in the fans' eyes, though that was euphoric on it's own, he wanted a love that had nothing to do with how well he sang or how good he looked.

"I know, I was just saying..." his voice trailed off into silence as he shrugged a shoulder. Mike nodded, closing her eyes as JC whispered something in her ear. She nodded then climbed to her feet.

"I'm heading to bed, good night everyone." she smiled to the guys, then turned and kissed JC before she headed upstairs. JC watched her walk away, a small grin on his face. Justin laughed softly, shaking his head.

"I'm going in that direction myself." he groaned getting to his feet. Joe agreed, putting the book away and the two walked upstairs talking about the next video game they wanted to add to their growing collection.

"You okay, Lance?" JC questioned as he stood to get another cup of hot cocoa from the kitchen.

"Yeah, just thinking." Lance replied distractedly.

"You want to talk about it?" Chris turned toward his young friend.

"There's really nothing to talk about." Lance shrugged as JC walked back into the room and sat down on the floor, legs out stretched.

"Sure there is, you forget Lance, we know you." JC smiled holding the mug with both hands.

"Just the same stuff bothering me." Lance shrugged evasively.

"What? About the fans 'loving' us?" Chris inquired raising an eyebrow.

"Not necessarily that, but along those general lines of argument." Lance nodded with a sigh.

"Then what's going on?" Chris questioned, folding his arms across his chest.

"I don't know really. I can't put my finger on it. All I know is that I feel like I'm missing out on something wonderful." Lance tried to explain, making a face.

"What do you mean? JC questioned, confused.

"Take you and Mike, for example. You two are so damn happy together that it makes me sick sometimes, because that's something that I would like, too." Lance sighed shaking his head, his eyes never leaving the fire.

"Oh, I see what you're getting at now." JC nodded, finally understanding. "You'll find your Mike, you just have to be patient."

"I'm tired of being patient." Lance exclaimed, almost laughing.

"I know, we all get frustrated when looking for the right person." Chris nodded, entering the conversation with a small smile.

"How did you two find Devon and Mike?" Lance questioned suddenly, gazing over at his friends.

"I found Devon through Mike, after all, the two are cousins." Chris laughed softly, shaking his head.

"I don't know how I found Mike. She was just there one day and we started talking. That's how we became friends, and later, best friends." JC shrugged.

"Yeah, but how did you know they were the one?" Lance persisted quietly.

"I don't know. I knew from the first night I knew her that she would change my life, and she has. In the most amazing way. She makes me want to come home instead of remaining on tour all the time. It's just a feeling you get. Call it a gut feeling, call it an instinct, call it whatever you want. It all means the same thing." Chris stated as JC nodded.

"Well, how did you know with Mike?" Lance questioned looking over at JC. The older man thought for a moment.

"Well, she kind of helped me. You know that song by Vanessa Williams, 'Best For Last'? Mike played that one day, unintentionally, and the words hit home. The line 'how could you give your love to someone else, and share your dreams with me'. That was Mike in a big way. I would tell my girlfriends that I loved them, but Mike would always be the one I would call when I wanted to really talk, to share my so-called dreams with." JC shrugged a shoulder as he took a sip from his mug.

"See what I mean. The two of you are happy beyond all belief, and I didn't think wanting that for myself was all that selfish." Lance shook his head as he got to his feet.

"If you look for love, chances are you won't find it. When you stop looking, it'll find you." Chris stated as Lance climbed the stairs to his bedroom. JC smiled, shaking his head.

"I sometimes wonder about him." He laughed as he too, headed upstairs to his bedroom.

"Yeah? Well, I wonder about all of us sometimes." Chris laughed to himself as he sprawled out on the couch with a book.

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