Germany was a beautiful country, that was plain to see for anyone who took the time to look. That was one thing they had been right about. Customs was a totally different experience all together. Those people lived for making weary travelers' lives a pure, living hell. The flight had been excruciatingly long with frequent trips to the lavatory and no sleep, and now the customs officers were trying to search every bag and person trying to get through the airport in Germany.

Mike folded her arms over her chest with a look of pure astonishment on her face. This was unbelievable. They couldn't possibly search everything, could they? She soon found out when someone was stopped and told to open their suitcases so they could be inspected. Mike groaned closing her eyes. Things like this always seem to happen to me, why? She tossed a gaze heavenward as she took a deep, calming breath. This was too much, even for her to deal with and she knew she would snap soon.

Three hours, and a few disgruntled travelers later, Mike was finally allowed to pass through. Just what I always dreamed of. Having Nanook of the North search through my underwear looking for a buried treasure. She shook her head as she walked toward the baggage claim, where she had one bag most undoubtedly waiting for her with a giant rip in the side. It would be just her luck. The baggage claim area was bigger and much more crowed than customs had ever thought of being and she swore she was going to be crushed in the mob of people standing around, waiting for their luggage to make it's appearance. Mike dropped her ever present book bag onto the floor and sighed looking around the room. Justin was going to meet her here and drive her back to the house, which was about an hour and a half away, but she couldn't see him anywhere. Her five foot nothing stature didn't help matters in the least either. Finally the baggage started making the rounds on the conveyor belt and everyone swarmed to get their bags so they could leave as soon a physically possible.

Mike groaned as she was pushed against the wall and smashed almost as flat as a pancake. It's the new German diet. Smash unsuspecting tourists up against the wall and see how flat she can become. She thought drily to herself. She pushed hard against the person who was doing the most damage to her person and took a deep breath, only to forage ahead and claim her suitcase. She was never doing this again. Her first attempt in grabbing her bag was a riotous event. She almost landed on the conveyor belt and carried around in the never ending circle. Her second attempt wasn't much more successful, and she only proceeded in getting her arm yanked nearly out of her socket. Finally, on the third try, she snagged her bag and hung on for all she was worth. The bag came off the carousel and she nearly toppled backwards with the sudden weight difference she was carrying. She then walked out into the cool German climate and looked for a familiar face.

"Mike!" a voice cried from the parking lot. She turned and saw a giant of a boy waving at her as he walked toward her, three men following behind at a leisurely pace. As the giant came closer, recognition leapt into her eyes.

"Good Lord, Justin?" she inquired looking up into the familiar blue eyes of the young boy she had known years ago.

"Yeah. How was your flight?" he questioned giving her a tight squeeze of a hug before taking the heaviest of the two bags she had.

"You don't want to know." she smiled shaking her head with amusement as she eyed the others with a guarded look.

"Oh, this is Chris Kirkpatrick, Joe Fatone, and Lance Bass. They're all members of the group." Justin introduced as they walked toward the car.

"So, this is the infamous Mike. We've heard a lot about you." Lance raised an eyebrow.

"Yeah? I bet all you've heard is how bad my temper can be and how I can tear people to shreds with a few words." Mike laughed shaking her head. They all climbed into a small looking van and with Justin behind the wheel, they took off at nearly a breakneck speed.

"Justin, if I've traveled all this way only to have you murder me with your driving skills, I'll have to haunt you for the rest of your days!" Mike admonished loudly as she steadied herself with a hand on the dashboard.

"I wouldn't do that to you. Come on, Mike!" Justin scolded, his voice filled with humor. Mike sighed settling back in her seat and closed her eyes tiredly as the men around her talked of the surprise birthday party they were throwing for JC that night. She soon fell into an exhausted sleep.

"I don't know about this guys. I mean, JC does talk about her a lot, but are you sure this was a good idea?" Joe questioned, a bit on the worried side.

"Joe, he talks so much about her we feel like we've all known her for years. The kid has got it bad. Maybe this will help out, besides, I think he'll love the fact that she's here for his birthday." Chris shrugged giving Joe a playful shove. All too soon, they showed up at the house and Mike groaned opening her eyes. Justin helped her into the house through the back so she wouldn't be seen by JC who resembled a vegetable in front of the television. He snuck her up to his room and turned to her, only to find her sprawled out on the bed fast asleep.

JC sat on the couch laughing with a group of his new friends as the people around him helped him celebrate his birthday. Most everyone looked as if they were having a good time, and he was glad for that, but in his heart, something was missing. His family and a few choice friends. JC shook his head, trying to pay attention to the woman who was talking animatedly to him about an experience she had gone through at a concert. After a few minutes of listening to her, he excused himself and headed out onto the deck where it was empty and he could hear himself think. He missed his family more and more everyday, and sometimes, on days like these, all he wanted to do is go home and get on with his life. Then he would remember why he was doing this. Because he loved music and loved to sing.

JC smiled and laughed softly to himself. Some birthday party. They don't even realize the guest of honor has disappeared. Suddenly a single white rose appeared in front of him, startling him out of his musings. He took the flower with a small smile and turned to see who had given him the gift. He didn't know who he was expecting, but it surely wasn't the person who was now standing before him.

"Happy Birthday, Josh." Mike smiled softly.

"Thanks." he smiled back briefly holding the rose to his nose.

"All right, enough of the awkward moments. Give me a hug." she demanded holding her arms out slightly. JC laughed and pulled her into a tight hug that lasted a little longer than it probably should have.

"What are you doing here?" he finally asked as they pulled away from each other.

"I was kidnapped by one of your friends. They said that you really wanted someone around and I guess I was the only one they could find on such short notice." Mike shrugged hoisting herself up onto the railing so she could sit on it and still look JC in the eye if she needed to.

"I'm glad you were kidnapped. Maybe now we can finish that conversation you keep telling me to save until we were face to face again." JC sighed standing in front of her.

"Not tonight, Josh. Not on your birthday." Mike shook her head, touching his cheek gently. JC sighed and nodded.

"Why don't you sing me one of your new songs?" Mike inquired, grinning impishly. He looked up at her with a faint smile as the song 'God Must Have Spent A Little More Time On You' drifted into his head. He debated on whether or not he should actually sing to her, and decided against it. He would save that for another time.

"Nah, you wouldn't like it." he laughed shaking his head.

"If you won't sing, I will." Mike countered smiling devilishly.

"Go right ahead. It won't bother me at all." he replied giving her a mock bow. Mike threw back her head and laughed as the perfect song entered her mind.

"You don't know, you're not the best judge...." she started softly, waiting with amusement for his reaction. "You'll find out one of these days, you don't know what it's like, to be in love with a girl like that."

"Don't go there." JC admonished shaking his head as he recognized the song as one of the songs he sang on the MMC album years ago.

"There's so many ways, you can lose all your friends, and lose your heart, the frustration just never ends." Mike continued singing softly, trying to keep from laughing. "I'm onto your tricks, make sure you keep your distance, when you see my girl, she's strictly out of bounds cause....."

"Don't even do it, Mike. I swear I won't be held responsible for what I do!" JC laughed stepping closer to her.

"I saw her first! I'm gonna keep her! Whoa, she's mine! I saw her first! I'm gonna keep that girl! Whoa, she's mine!" Mike sang loudly through her laughter.

"That's it, you're gonna get it!" JC scolded.

"Hey, I gave you fair warning! I told you either you sing or I would!" Mike laughed warding him off with her hands.

"You know, as much as I hate to admit it, you're right." he sighed with a smile. "Fine, I'll sing a song for you."

"Off of your album?" Mike grinned triumphantly. JC nodded folding his arms over his chest.

"You sheltered me from harm, you kept me warm, you kept me warm. You gave my life to me, you set me free, you set me free. The finest years I ever knew, were all the years I had with you, I would give everything I own. I'd give up my life, my heart, my home. I would give everything I own, just to have you, back again." JC sang softly and she smiled closing her eyes. "You taught me how to learn, what a time, what a time. You never said too much but still you showed the way."

Mike opened her eyes when he stopped singing, a look of disappointment in her eyes. "I liked that song."

"Yeah, it wasn't written by us." JC snorted shaking his head.

"That doesn't matter. I liked the song." Mike sighed shaking her head. "You have a wonderful voice, Josh. And I like to hear you sing. I always have."

The mood suddenly became serious when JC took her hand and brought it to his lips and kissed her fingertips.

"JC, this shouldn't be happening. We're best friends. This would just complicate things more." Mike whispered closing her eyes.

"I want a little complication in my life." JC countered softly, holding her hand in his.

"No you don't. You may think you want it, but you don't. You belong in a studio and touring around to new places. Not with me." Mike shook her head, trying to remain rational, trying to stay grounded.

"What about that kiss then?" JC inquired softly.

"The kiss at the airport years ago? That was something special, not to be confused with anything but curiosity." Mike shrugged.

"That's the biggest load of crap I've ever heard come out of your mouth. We need to talk, Michaela. Things need to be said." JC stated racking a hand through his hair. Mike pressed a fingertip to his lips gently.

"Not now. Wait a while longer. Find out if you really want to say these things to me. If you do, there'll be plenty of time." Mike whispered, trying to think of what was best for him. A relationship at this point and time would only cause friction in his career pursuits.

"Okay, let's just get back to being best friends then." JC sighed, giving her the best smile he could muster.

"Sounds like a plan to me. How's your birthday been so far?" Mike smiled hopping down from the railing.

"All right, I guess. I wish I were back in Orlando with my family, but other than that. It's perfect." He shrugged as the strolled back toward the sliding glass door, which led into the house.

"I know what you mean. Hey, you hear that?" Mike stopped suddenly as a song filtered through the open windows. It was one of Mike's favorites to date, back from the seventies and she smiled closing her eyes, softly singing with the words.

"Beth, I hear you calling, but I can't come home right now. Me and the boys are playing, and we just can't find the sound. Just a few more hours, and I'll be back home to you. I think I hear them calling. Oh Beth, what can I do? Beth, what can I do?"

Her father had told her years ago, that when she was born, he gave her the middle name of Elizabeth because of this song. He was stationed out of the country when she had been born, and Beth sung by Kiss had been his favorite song. It had been playing when his wife had called to tell him that he had a new baby girl. So he chose the name Michaela Elizabeth.

"Would you like to dance?" JC inquired with a small smile. Mike nodded and stepped into his arms as the words continued.

"I know you feel so empty, that our house just ain't a home. I'm always somewhere else, and you're always there alone. Just a few more hours, and I'll be back home to you. I think I hear them calling. Beth, what can I do? Beth, what can I do?"

Mike closed her eyes as she rested her head on his shoulder, almost regretting what she had said about waiting. Maybe waiting was the wrong idea. Maybe they should just clear everything up. Their phone conversations were never this difficult, yet standing in front of him brought everything back. Everything she had felt the morning she had left Orlando.

Two days went by, and though JC and Mike spent a lot of time together, their friendship had become a strained one. There would be pauses of silence that neither of them knew how to fill, so they pretended like nothing was wrong. As if nothing had changed and they hadn't changed. Now, JC and Justin were driving her back to the airport so she could return to the states and get back to her life there. They were running late, so they rushed through getting her ticket and getting to the departure gate.

"I'm gonna call you Mike!" Justin called to her as she walked over to JC.

"You better, Timberlake!" Mike called back, tossing a smile at him over her shoulder, then she turned to a brooding JC.

"That day, if you had asked me one more time to stay in Orlando, I would have. That's what I meant when I said what I said." she told him, her voice soft and filled with regret.

"I did ask you to stay. You just weren't listening." JC sighed shaking his head. "Whatever, it's fine. I'm glad we didn't get into a relationship. It would have ruined the friendship that we have and that would have devastated me more than…." his voice trailed off as he shook his head.

"As usual, you're right." she sighed as her flight number was called. "I feel like the most important conversations we have, happen in airports. This is a sad revelation."

"I know what you mean. You better get going. So, give me a hug and get outta here." JC smiled holding his arms out. She threw her arms around him and hugged him tightly before turning away and walking to the ramp. She stopped in the doorway, but didn't look back. She couldn't look back now. Josh was a friend and nothing more now, and she had to move on. She took a deep breath and stepped onto the plane.

"I love you, Mike." JC shook his head sadly as he and Justin headed for their car out in the parking lot.

No one knew where she was, she hadn't bothered to tell anyone where she was going or how long she would be gone. She just picked up and left. James would be worried about her, but she refused to think about that. It wasn't as if he truly loved her in any way, shape, or form. If he did, he wouldn't do the things he was constantly doing to her. He wouldn't do things like make her decide between him and her best friend. He wouldn't have said all of those nasty things to her when she told him she needed to think about his proposal.

She set her book bag down on the floor and looked at the front door of her sister's apartment for a few moments before reaching down to take out the extra key from under the welcome mat. Dawn had taken an extended vacation in Boston to visit the family, so she knew she would be able to do some sorely needed thinking about her life. She slipped the key into the lock and opened the door. She walked inside with a sigh of relief and tossed her book bag on the nearest chair.

"You've really done it now, Mike." she scolded softly to herself. She had no clue as to what she was planning on doing. She knew she didn't want to marry James, that he didn't treat her the way she deserved to be treated, but she did care about him, even if she didn't love him. She paced the room like a caged animal waiting to be released then bolted for the door. She needed to talk to JC. She drove to the recording studio that he mentioned they were recording at for the next few weeks and walked inside. She donned the mask she had become so used to wearing as she walked down the hallway to where the booths were located. She heard Justin's voice and smiled, using it as a guide to get her to where she needed to be.

"I'm telling you, JC, it sounds perfect! I'm not gonna sing that line one more time!" Justin stated loudly as Mike stood in the doorway of the sound booth.

"Justin, you're just not putting enough feeling into it." JC sighed shaking his head.

"I don't know, from what I heard, it sounded pretty good." Mike shrugged from her position in the doorway. Five heads snapped around to see her standing in the doorway.

"Mike!" Justin yelped pulling her into a hug.

"You know, it's just not fair. He gets taller and better looking every time I see him, and I get getting shorter and a bit more saggy every time I see you guys." Mike smiled shaking her head as she pulled away from Justin. JC smiled walking over to her to deliver his own hug. She closed her eyes and hugged him tightly before pulling away to give and receive hugs from Joe, Chris and Lance.

"What are you doing here?" Lance questioned, leaning back against the wall.

"Truth? I ran away from home. I couldn't stand Boston anymore." Mike laughed shrugging her shoulders.

"Is that so?" Justin replied. "You can always move back to Orlando."

"I know and I'm checking out my options. I've already looked at a bunch of schools around here that have good curricular and stuff." she stated, rubbing her forehead with the tips of her fingers.

"Mike, you okay?" Chris questioned, a worried look on his face.

"Yeah, fine. Why do you ask?" Mike replied making a face.

"You just seem a little anxious, that's all." Chris shrugged, turning back to the sheet of paper he was holding. She and Chris had formed a unique bond through a friendship they both had seriously doubted in the beginning.

"I haven't slept in about 36 hours, so I'm a bit hyper." Mike replied with a smile and a shrug. Her back was killing her.

"Why haven't you slept?" JC inquired, concerned.

"Well, I've been driving. Actually, I didn't expect to end up here. I just got in the car and went for a drive, not really knowing where I was going, and ended up here." she shrugged flopping down in a chair. JC and Justin exchanged worried looks.

"Okay." JC replied slowly.

"You and I are gonna hang out tonight, cause I have to leave in the morning if I'm gonna make class in time." Mike stated out of the blue.

"I can't, dear. I have to work in here tonight. Have a ton of vocals I have to lay down before I head home and that's gonna take a while." JC shook his head with a sigh.

"Fine. Forget it." Mike sighed waving a hand as she stood up, then turned to Justin. "It was good seeing you again, kid. Hope we can do it again sometime soon."

"Now hold on just a damn minute." Justin exclaimed grabbing Mike's arm as she turned to the door. Mike looked up at him expectantly. "Just because JC's being a dink by saying no to hanging out, doesn't mean I don't want to."

"Oh, okay. You wanna hang out with me tonight then?" Mike laughed.

"Duh, I wouldn't have said anything if I didn't. Let's go. My work here is done." Justin stated with a grin as he grabbed his jacket.

"Okay, lets rock and roll." Mike smiled heading for the door.

"You're a dumbass, JC." Justin smirked as he left the room, which cause Chris and Joe to snicker. Justin and Mike climbed into her car and headed over to Justin's house where so they could veg out in front of the tv or something. Mike gave her young friend a sideways glance as she cut the engine in the driveway.

"You all right?" she turned toward him.

"Yeah, just women problems." Justin sighed.

"Women problems? I didn't know you were old enough for women. (sigh) Sorry, J. You wanna talk about it?" Mike questioned getting comfortable.

"Carli. I love her, but I just don't know if getting into a relationship right now is the best thing. I mean, with all the traveling that I do, I wouldn't want her to be with me, yet alone." Justin shrugged.

"You want to know what I've learned in the past six years? You have to follow your heart, because any other way, you'll drive yourself so insane that you wish you had never even laid eyes on the person. I know it's going to be hard, but you should tell her how you feel, and let her make the decision on whether or not she would feel alone. You two may not physically be together, but that doesn't mean that she would be lonely." Mike stated softly, trying to help her friend in the only way she knew how. By being there and talking.

"I don't know." Justin sighed getting out of the car. Mike shook her head, a small smile on her lips as she followed him inside the house. It was empty and quiet. As Justin walked to the kitchen to grab something to snack on, Mike flopped down on the couch a turned on the tv to channel surf. She came across the Disney channel and nearly had a coronary. Reruns of the Mickey Mouse Club were on as an all day marathon type thing.

"Justin! You have to see this!" she yelled, amusement filling her voice.

"What?" Justin questioned as he rushed back into the room. "Oh my God. Talk about a trip down amnesia lane."

He sat down on the couch with a laugh as the opening credits ended and the show started. The two friends got comfortable as they talked and laughed about the good old days. Four shows and a ton of laughs later, the front door opened and JC walked inside. Mike glanced at her watch. It was only five pm.

"So I changed my mind." JC stated shrugging his shoulders.

"Too bad, so sad. I've made plans with Justin." Mike smiled impishly.

"Uh, actually Mike, I'm gonna head over to Carli's house and see what's she's up to." Justin laughed.

"Sure, fine! Leave me in my hour of need!" Mike cried out in mock sadness.

"Sorry kiddo." Justin laughed as he climbed to his feet and headed for the door. "Catch y'all later."

Mike looked over at JC who was leaning back against the wall. "Well, I guess it's just you and me, jellybean." she sighed with a smile.

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