*Disclaimer - I do not own any of the members of 'N Sync (nor would I ever really want to) they belong to their respective owners. I do, however, own all fictional characters such as Ashley, Mike, Devon, and Rachel. Plagiarism is against the law. Thank you.

Joe quickly climbed to his feet and glanced around the room again. The woman he had seen that looked exactly like Ashley was nowhere to be seen. She had disappeared making Joe think he just imagined the whole thing. He shook his head with a sigh as music blared from the speakers set u p throughout the room.

"Joe, you all right?" JC inquired raising an eyebrow at his friend.

"Nothing. I just thought I saw someone." Joe shook his head his eyes wandering back over to Justin and Chris, who were still dancing together in the middle of the dance floor. JC nodded, hiding his knowing smile. Ashley must have just shown up.

"Weird." Lance mumbled, also trying to hide a smile.

"All right, what do you guys know that I obviously don't?" Joe demanded turning to face the duo.

"I have no idea what you're talking about Joe." JC shook his head as he took a sip from the glass he was holding.

"Yeah right, and if I believe that one, you have ocean front property you want to sell me in Wisconsin." Joe countered tossing his hands up into the air.

"Now that I think about it....," JC laughed as he climbed to his feet.

"Where you headed off to?" Lance inquired loudly over the music.

"Make a phone call to someone I miss." JC answered with a smile before walking off toward the balcony, where he knew it would be quieter. Lance laughed shaking his head as Joe glanced around the room again. The person he saw must have been an apparition or just plain wishful thinking. He waved down a cocktail waitress and grabbed a glass off her tray as she walked by. Joe sat down again and looked about the room, intent on finding out what was going on as he sipped his drink.

"You sure you're okay, Joe?" Lance questioned and took a sip from the glass of soda he was drinking.

"Yeah. I guess I'm missing Ash more than I thought I was because I swear I just saw her." Joe mumbled shaking his head.

"I've heard of things like that happening on like, Unsolved Mysteries and that other paranormal show, Sightings." Lance nodded with a sympathetic smile.

"This isn't a television show Lance." Joe smiled ruefully as he set his glass down on the table.

"No kidding. I was using it as an example." Lance replied sarcastically as Chris and Justin made their way back to the table that had become their personal headquarters.

"Uh oh, I think we may have a cat fight on our hands." Chris whispered loudly to Justin, knowing everyone would hear.

"Oh shut up, Chris." Joe laughed giving the older man a playful shove.

"Big words, my boy." Chris grinned as he walked off to find something to drink.

"Big words my ass." Joe mumbled rubbing his face tiredly.

"Do what to who?" Justin raised an eyebrow.

"Behind which corner?" Lance laughed.

"For how many cookies?" JC joined in from behind them.

"Chris did the ugly dance with the cocktail waitress for a crumb of a cookie." Joe replied shaking his head.

"How the hell did you find out?!" Chris demanded only catching the last part of the retort.

"I have magical powers. How do you think?" Joe laughed as everyone sat down.

"Oh God, here we go with his Superman complex." Lance groaned.

"Joe, listen to me carefully and repeat after me." JC smiled, leaning over so Joe could hear him. "I am not Superman."

"I am not Superman." Joe sighed rolling his eyes.

"I will never be Superman." JC continued.

"I will never be Superman." Joe shook his head.

"So I should just give up on this fascination I have with him." JC smiled, trying his best not to laugh.

"So I should just give up on this fascination I have with him." Joe mimicked with another roll of his eyes.

"Because it's unhealthy and it drives everyone nuts." JC grinned evilly.

"Because it's unhealthy and it drives everyone nuts." Joe sighed.

"And if I would just shut up and pay attention to things other than Superman." JC continued.

"And if I would just shut up and pay attention to things other than Superman." Joe repeated, glaring at everyone who was laughing.

"I would see that Ashley is standing right behind me." JC retorted, finally reaching the end of his charade.

"I would see that Ashley is standing right.......," Joe sighed and stopped short, realizing what he was saying. He jumped to his feet and turned around in one fluid motion. Ashley waved smiling up at him.

"Hi there, stud." she laughed teasingly.

"Ash, how the hell did you get here?" Joe demanded pulling her into his arms.

"It's a wonderful invention called the plane, Joe." Ashley replied smartly.

"I know that dear." Joe sighed, shaking his head with a rueful smile.

"Talk to the guys. They did most of the work." Ashley replied. Joe glanced over at the guys who just smiled and shrugged.

"Merry Christmas, Joe." JC laughed, his heart contracting slightly.

"Thanks guys." Joe smiled at them as Ash took his hand to pull him away from everyone. She stopped short and smiled over at the rest of them.

"Oh.....Chris, JC, your Christmas presents from your girlfriends are at the front desk over by the door." she smiled before pulling Joe toward the dance floor. Chris and JC smiled at one another and bolted for the front desk, leaving Lance and Justin to laugh after them. The clerk almost laughed when they told him why they were there, but gave them the boxes without comment.

"Um, she wrapped it in Backstreet Boys paper." Chris muttered shaking his head as he took a seat on a nearby chair. JC laughed joining him on the chair beside his friend and ripped the paper off the box while Chris did the same. Inside Chris's box was a beautifully framed Bruce Lee autographed poster that was one of the first posters ever released of him. Chris's jaw dropped open and he nearly dropped the thing.

"Wow." Chris laughed softly as JC opened his box. Inside was a Hard Rock Cafe leather jacket with his name embroidered on the front left hand side.

"Oh, cool." JC smiled shaking his head. He had seen the jacket but didn't have the time to get it right away. When he had gone back, it had been gone for hours.

Joe gently pulled Ashley into his arms as they slow danced to the music the DJ had started playing. The party had toned down just a bit and was becoming more on the romantic slower side by playing mostly ballads.

"I can't believe you're here." Joe whispered as she rested her head on his shoulder.

"I know, neither can I. I thought you were going to run into me earlier today though. JC did really well at keeping you from turning around." Ashley laughed softly.

"So that's what that whole thing was about. I was wondering about that." Joe shook his head, tightening his arms around her.

"Yeah. I was sure I was caught." Ashley nodded with a faint smile.

"I'm glad you're here." Joe sighed happily.

"Me, too." Ashley returned gazing up at him. "Merry Christmas, Joe."

"Merry Christmas, baby." Joe smiled and kissed her softly. Ashley let out a content sigh as she once again, rested her head on his shoulder. They danced throughout the night, ignoring anyone who tired to interrupt them. Soon the party died to an empty state. The only people left in the room were the guys and Ashley.

"Hey, you two ready to get outta here?" Justin called from the table everyone was hibernating at. Joe opened his eyes and glanced down at his watch. It was nearly three in the morning.

"Yeah, lets go." Joe mumbled with a tired nod. After twenty minutes of driving, they made it back to the hotel in one piece. Each went into their rooms, leaving Joe and Ashley to say goodnight to each other in private.

"I'll see you tomorrow morning." Joe whispered to her as he slipped his arms around her waist.

"You got that right, pal." She smiled then placed a kiss on his lips and turned to let herself into her room. Joe waited until the door was safely shut behind her then walked to his own room. Ashley crawled into bed and picked up the phone then quickly dialed a number.

"Never-Never Land, Tinkerbell speaking."

"Hey, it's me."

"Hi, how'd it go?"

"Mike, it was so romantic. We danced all night. He was really very sweet to me. He loved the collectors comic I got for him. It was just a perfect night."

"Sounds like it. I'm jealous."

"Nah, you have your family around you."

"I'd rather have Josh."

"Things really that bad?"

"No, but you know me.. always a flare for dramatics."

"You're telling me."

"Oh stop. How was the party?"

"It was nice. A bit upper class, but comfortable. JC and Chris wallowed most of the night though. He loved the jacket you gave him."

"Good. I was wondering. God, I miss all of you."

"Believe me, I miss me too. Kidding. I miss you, too. I mean, you're my roommate for crying out loud."

"You're telling me. My parents are being really cool though. So, I guess I can't complain too much."

"Cool parents? What are those?"

"Oh stop! You're dad is awesome Ash, and you know it!"

"Only other people think my dad is cool. On the other hand, I think your dad is great."

"This conversation is getting a bit weird."

"I know. Why don't you give JC a ring? He's still up."

"I called him last night, it's his turn to call today."

"Okay, I'll let you go so you won't miss his call."

"See you soon, Ash."

"G'night." Ashley smiled as she hung up the phone. It had definitely been an interesting night and one hell of a Christmas.

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