*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 (which I sincerely hope is themselves). However, I do own all fictional characters such as Rachel, Mike, Devon, etc. Plagiarism is, as always, against the law.

A lone figure stood at one of the floor to ceiling windows in the living room, just staring out into the snowing atmosphere thinking in retrospect about everything that had happened in the past few years. If you had told him four or five years ago that he would be a part of the hottest singing sensation, he never would have believed it for a second. Even now he couldn't believe it, but he couldn't live without it. He enjoyed singing too much to ever dream of not having it in his life. He sighed, resting his forehead on the cool glass. He was tired, but too tired to sleep, though he tried. So he had made himself a cup of hot cocoa on the wood stove and propped himself in front of the window, hoping that doing something this relaxing would help put him to sleep. He rested his head back against the chair and sighed again as his thoughts turned toward the woman who had blown into their life earlier that day.

She was beautiful in the most dramatic way with her cheekbones high, and her eyebrows slanting to make her eyes look as if the were feline. She was tall and slender, almost looking like those super models, but she somehow seemed more down to earth. More attainable than the people he saw in ads across the country. Her personality matched her dramatic looks. She always made grand gestures and pranced around the room, almost as if she owned everything in the world. She would make faces while trying to think of something, and her smile had almost made him forget how to breathe. She had caught his attention the second he had met her, and had kept it most of the night. She was witty and sharp with her comments, but her smile was also quick and easy.

He groaned silently to himself and shook his head. You've lost it. You've barely known her six hours and you can't stop thinking about her. He climbed to his feet and paced the room like a caged animal. He wanted to get to know her better, that he could admit to anyone, but these thoughts of her possibly being the one had to stop. That was just rushing things and thinking just a bit too prematurely. He turned to the fireplace and noticed that the fire had died. He walked over to the woodpile and chose a couple of logs to relight the fire with, then tossed them into the hearth. He watched, one arm draped along the mantle, as flames licked the wood bringing the fire back to life.

She has the most stunning eyes, almost a silver color. He sighed raking a hand though his almost non-existent hair, his eyes closed. He looked down into his empty mug with a slight smile as he thought of Rachel's comment about them being the Backstreet Boys. She looked so innocent and happy when she finally remembered the name, that he knew she hadn't done it intentionally. He padded to the kitchen to set his mug in the sink and shivered slightly with the temperature difference of the two rooms. He set the mug in the sink then headed back to the living room.

"Lance? What are you still doing up?" a familiar female voice questioned from the stairs.

"Couldn't sleep." he mumbled to Mike as he dropped down onto the couch.

"Me neither. Is there something you want to talk about?" Mike inquired walking over to the young man, her robe hanging open to reveal a pair of sweats and a t-shirt. Lance shook his head silently.

"All right. Mind if I join in your silent brooding then?" she smiled impishly. Lance shook his head again as he gave her his own smile. Mike sat down on the other end of the couch and made herself comfortable.

"How come you can't sleep?" he questioned suddenly.

"I don't know, just some thoughts that are bothering me. Nothing major." Mike sighed glancing over at him.

"You want to talk about it?" Lance laughed softly.

"Not really, but to fill this God awful silence, I suppose I will. I guess I just like having Josh all to myself and I don't really want this whole vacation to end. Pretty pathetic, huh?" Mike laughed shaking her head.

"No, it's not because I know for a fact that he likes you having him all to yourself just as much as you do." he smiled turning to face her. "Let me ask you something."

"Okay, go right ahead." Mike smiled, knowing that she had been right about Lance thinking about love and everything that goes with it.

"I asked Chris and JC the same question earlier tonight, how did you know that JC was the one for you?"

"What do you mean?" Mike inquire making a face.

"How did you know that you were in love with JC?" Lance sighed rubbing his face tiredly.

"Oh, okay. I don't know, really. It was just a feeling I got." she shrugged with a smile.

"That doesn't help any." he snorted shaking his head.

"What? You want to know the actual feelings?" she laughed.

"Yeah, I guess." he mumbled a slight blush coloring his cheeks.

"Well, love is kind of hard to explain, but I'll give it a shot. I got butterflies in my stomach when I saw him, and I'd get nervous around him, even though we were best friends. I would catch myself smiling when I thought about him, and would find myself getting slightly jealous of his girlfriends." Mike shrugged, doing her best to explain the unexplainable. Lance just looked at her, waiting patiently for more.

"When you're with that one person, it's almost as if you feel like you belong. God, this is hard. When I'm with JC, I feel like a complete person, like he somehow filled a part of me I never knew had been empty until he filled it. I feel safe when he's around, because I know he'd never do anything to intentionally hurt me. People say that couple who don't fight are perfect, but JC and I fight, sometimes more than I like, but it shows us how much we care about each other. People who fight are trying to keep things going, making sure they feel the same way, but that's just my theory and I could be wrong." she laughed softly, gazing over at the fire. After a moment, she turned back to Lance and burst out laughing.

"You look more confused now than you did ten minutes ago." she stated with a smile.

"I guess it is hard to explain love. Hell, I don't know. Let me ask you another question." he inquired.

"Okay."

"Is there something wrong with me?" he questioned with seriousness.

"There's nothing wrong with you, Lance. You are one of the sweetest, most caring and amazing individuals I have ever had the pleasure of knowing. And gorgeous to boot. Dear, you have it made." Mike laughed shaking her head.

"Then why don't the girls I like see that?" Lance demanded tossing his hands into the air with a frustrated smile.

"Because they aren't ready to see it. One of these days, you're going to find a girl who you will constantly fight with in the beginning, and you might not know it, but she'll be the one for you. Remember when Devon and Chris first met? They fought constantly. JC and I were the same way when we realized that love was entering the picture. Now all of us are the happiest we've ever been. You're day will come, don't worry so much about it. Besides, if you look to hard for love, it never shows itself because it's in the most unlikely places." Mike countered placing a hand on her friend's arm.

"Thanks, Mike." Lance smiled with a sigh.

Dancing trees, and singing apples. Yellow brick roads and a magenta city looming up ahead. A nasty old man with a crooked cane chasing her while riding a huge mouse with whiskers that were as long as she was tall. Little people offering advice and a song to help her on her way. Suddenly, the little people started exploding with noise which startled her awake.

"What the Christ?!" she cried out, terrified, as she sat up in bed. The whole cabin had exploded with noise unexpectedly. "Armageddon's here already?! I haven't had time to pack!"

Rachel sighed jumping out of bed. She ran to the door and opened it, noticing that the power had come back on, and everything that they had forgotten to shut off, had suddenly come to life. Doors up and down the hallway opened to show that she hadn't been the only one terrified out of her sleep.

"What the hell is going on?" Justin demanded angrily as he stomped down the hallway to the stairs, everyone following him, clearing the sleep from their minds. Mike and Lance rushing around trying to shut everything off was the scene that greeted them. All the lights downstairs were on, as was the television and the stereo in the kitchen. Everyone helped shut everything off then all walked to the living room to calm their racing hearts.

"I suppose you all are wondering why I've called this meeting." Mike stated drily as she sat down on the couch with a sigh.

"Sure, why don't you tell us." Rachel smiled getting comfortable on her chair.

"There's no way I'll ever be able to get back to sleep now." Chris groaned folding his arms across his chest. "I'm an old man, I need my sleep."

"Old man is right, one foot in the grave. Hey, maybe we should tell Devon that you're too old to do anything fun anymore." Joe smiled tiredly as he poked at the fire with the metal poker.

"Hey, I have an idea to kill time and its even fun." Rachel stated suddenly with a devilish grin.

"Why don't I like that smile and what the possibilities could be to cause a smile like that?" JC groaned with a good natured grin.

"Awe, who asked you Mr. Serious?" Rachel smirked, then continued. "You remember when you were kids, playing that game Truth or Dare? How about it?"

"Oh my God, she wants to play Truth or Dare, when we should all be in our beds, sleeping." Justin laughed shaking his head.

"Well, it's either that or strip poker, and kid, you're too young for that." Rachel snorted, raising an eyebrow.

"Oh for crying out loud." Justin exclaimed jumping to his feet.

"Sit down pretty boy, you're giving me a headache." Lance mumbled pushing Justin back down onto his chair. Mike covered a laugh with her hand, and buried her face in JC's shoulder.

"I wouldn't mind playing, just cause I'd have nightmares if I saw Joe naked." Chris shrugged as he sat on the floor.

"Funny, that's not what you said last night, baby." Joe winked with a girly voice as he sat next to Chris and batted his eyelashes at him.

"Get away from me, you freak!" Chris yelled with a laugh. Joe pouted and folded his arms across his chest.

"You don't love me anymore." he stated in a whine.

"Yeah, but he doesn't love you any less." Mike laughed as she sat on the floor, helping to form a circle for the game.

"Cute, you're so funny!" Joe exclaimed clapping his hands in a childish manner. JC laughed taking a seat next to Mike, as Lance, Justin and Rachel finished making the circle.

"Okay, who goes first?" Justin inquired.

"I say Rachel goes first. She thought of playing this." Lance shrugged.

"Okay, um, Chris, truth or dare?" Rachel smiled.

"Dare."

"Go to the kitchen and stick your head in the freezer for ten minutes." Rachel said with an impish grin.

"Who's gonna take my turn?" Chris questioned with a groan as he got to his feet.

"Mike will." Rachel replied, glancing over at the other young woman.

"Okay, Joe, truth or dare?"

"Truth."

"Is it true that you like Ashley?"

"You had to ask that, didn't you?" Joe sighed, his shoulders sagging slightly.

"Yeah, I did. After all, she's my roommate." Mike stated, folding her arms across her chest.

"Yes, I do like her. JC, truth or dare?"

"Dare." JC laughed nervously.

"Go up to Mike's closet and put something of her's on and come down her to show it off." Joe grinned.

"Joe, if he stretches anything out because of this, I'm gonna extract revenge on you butt." Mike warned as JC disappeared up the stairs. A few minutes later, JC walked downstairs wearing one of his own sweaters that Mike had laid claim to.

"That's cheating!" Joe exclaimed loudly.

"No it's not, this was in her closet and she owns it." JC laughed as he sat back down. "Lance, truth or dare?"

"Here we go, dare." Lance groaned.

JC and Mike started talking quietly, going back and forth about what kind of dare they should give him. Finally JC turned to Lance with a laugh. "Run around the cabin once, in nothing but your skivvies and boots."

Rachel burst out laughing as Lance groaned loudly and stood up. His cheeks turned a bright red as he stripped down to his boxers and put on a pair of boots. He then headed outside and took off like the devil himself was after him. Moments later, he stumbled inside, shivering madly.

"Mike, truth or dare?" he questioned between clenched teeth as a blanket was thrown to him from Justin.

"Dare."

"Do a lap dance for Justin." Lance grinned evilly.

"What?!" Justin, Mike and JC exclaimed loudly.

"Y'all heard me." Lance laughed. Mike covered her face as she climbed to her feet and walked over to Justin. She did a single move then walked back over to her seat and sat down.

"You can't do that!" Lance exclaimed.

"Oh no? You didn't say for how long, dear." Mike laughed, her cheeks still slightly red.

"Justin, truth or dare?"

"Dare."

"Do a lap dance for Lance for at least five minutes." Mike laughed.

"Now why you gotta be like that?" Justin laughed, his own face taking on a red hue. Lance groaned, covering his face as Rachel burst out laughing. Justin reluctantly walked over to Lance and started dancing. Chris walked back into the room and burst out laughing.

"Okay, I want to shake the hand of the person who thought of that one!" he laughed loudly. Mike raised her hand with a grin. Five minutes later, Justin sat back down in his seat, glaring over at Mike with a smile.

"Rachel, truth or dare?"

"Dare."

"Eat an entire gallon of ice cream, and if you can't, you have to sleep at the foot of Lance's bed tomorrow night." Justin smiled.

"Wh..what?" Lance stuttered as Rachel stood up and walked to the kitchen.

"Strawberry?! It had to be strawberry?! I hate strawberry!!" Rachel screamed from the kitchen causing everyone to laugh. She walked back into the livingroom with a spoon and the gallon of ice cream then sat down next to Lance.

"Justin, truth or dare?"

"Holy...dare."

"Get a sheet, use it as a toga, not wearing anything but undies underneath, come down here and stand in front of the fireplace to sing 'We Are The Daughters of Triton' from the Little Mermaid for us." Rachel laughed. Everyone burst out laughing at the look of utter shock on Justin's face. He got to his feet, mumbling something about always being picked on as he stomped up the stairs, only to return minutes latter wearing a sheet like a toga. Chris gave out a loud catcall and winked at the young man.

"Nice boxers, dude." JC laughed, commenting on Justin's black boxers covered with smilie faces. He tossed a glare in Chris and JC's general direction as he stood in front of the hearth and turned to everyone.

"We are the daughters of Triton, great father who loves us and named us well..." Justin sang loudly, startling everyone as they tried to keep straight faces. As soon as the song ended, Justin ran back upstairs to put his clothes back on then hurried back down stairs.

"Chris, truth or dare?"

"Um, dare?"

"Go make everyone a cup of hot cocoa wearing nothing but women's lingerie." Justin grinned.

"How the hell did this get so sadistic?!" Chris demanded as he climbed to his feet.

"No, Justin, come on! He'll ruin my damn night gown!!" Mike cried out trying to get to her feet, but Justin shook his head.

"If he does, I'll replace it." he replied as Chris sauntered up the stairs. Minutes later, he walked back down, careful not to move too quickly.

"Uh, it's a little tight." he mumbled much to Mike's horrified look. He had chosen her favorite purple night gown. He strolled to the kitchen and put a kettle on the wood stove to boil. Five minutes later, he walked back out holding a tray filled with mugs. Just as he bent down to set the tray on the floor, a huge ripping sound filled the air. Everyone became silent all of the sudden.

"Did it just get colder in here?" Chris questioned with a laugh. Mike sighed, shaking her head as Chris straightened up again.

"You're ass is hanging out, pal." Justin grinned as Chris backed his way up the stairs. Moments later, Chris was sitting back in the circle, dressed in his own clothes.

"JC, truth or dare?"

"Dare."

Chris smiled with pure evil intent as he thought of something. "Sing that song you detest so much from the MMC album, to a girl, but changing the her to him."

"What?! No way, man!" JC laughed shaking his head.

"You have to do it, JC." Chris countered shaking his head.

"Fine," JC sighed, turning to Rachel, then began singing 'I Saw Her First' to her. When the song was over, JC then turned to Justin.

"Justin, truth or dare?"

"Dare."

"I dare you to either go shopping for a new night gown with Mike, or give her the jacket she's been trying to filch from you since we did that Disney special." he smiled over at his younger friend.

"Awe, man. I'll take the lesser of the two evils and give her the jacket, much as I don't want to part with it." Justin sighed shaking is head. "Rachel, truth or dare?"

"Um, I'll go for truth this time."

"Did you really think we were the Backstreet Boys?" Justin inquired raising an eyebrow.

"Yeah, I did." she laughed with a nod. "Mike, truth or dare?"

"I'll have to go with truth." Mike nodded, to tired to do anything that required movement.

"Um, let me think for a moment," Rachel sighed rubbing her forehead. "Have you ever had any impure thoughts about the other band members?"

"Sure, who wouldn't?" Mike shrugged nonchalantly. "Lance, truth or dare?"

"Dare."

"I dare you to jump off the balcony into that huge snowbank." Mike smiled.

"Fine." Lance sighed climbing to his feet. He walked upstairs and through his room to get to the balcony. Everyone watched the window and suddenly Lance appeared, falling from the balcony a floor above them. Minutes later, he walked back inside, shivering. "Justin, truth or dare?"

"Truth."

"What do you really think of Carli?" Lance questioned, raising an eyebrow.

"I dunno. She's nice and all, but I guess I really haven't given it all that much thought." Justin shrugged then turned to Rachel. "Rachel, truth or dare."

"Dare."

"I dare you to passionately kiss a guy in this room." he replied leaning back against the couch. Rachel's eyes flitted across the room, silently dismissing Chris and JC because they were already taken, then Justin because he was just too young, and Joe because he was looking like he wanted to crawl under the nearest rock. Her eyes then rested on Lance. She climbed to her feet and walked over to the young man.

"I guess this means you get to know me a bit better, wouldn't you say?" she countered as she leaned over to Lance and placed her lips on his. Surprised, he didn't move, not that he wanted to. His eyes fluttered closed as he enjoyed the kiss she had delivered to him. Moments later, she pulled away and walked back over to her spot then sat down.

Justin climbed to his feet, covering a yawn. "I'm going back to bed now. I'm exhausted." Most of the others agreed and followed him up the stairs leaving Lance and Rachel alone in the living room.

"Man, what a bunch of party poopers." Rachel groaned, eyeing the gallon of strawberry ice cream, which was only half gone. Lance just smiled as he leaned back against the chair he was sitting in front of. He glanced down at his watch. 4:23 am.

"You know, you don't have to eat the rest of that ice cream." he stated suddenly. She looked up at him, startled. "Since they all went back to bed, its not as if they can prove that you didn't eat all of it."

"I like your style." Rachel nodded with a smile as she slipped the cover back on the gallon container.

"So, what's your major in college?" Lance questioned leaning over to switch off the overhead light.

"I haven't really decided yet. I know its going to be Liberal Arts, but what section, I have no clue. I love acting, being on stage doing plays and stuff." she shrugged, oddly becoming somewhat shy.

"I could tell." Lance grinned.

"Really? How so?" she countered with her own grin.

"Just by the way your personality is. You do a lot of extravagant things when you speak." he shrugged, turning to look into the fire.

"What about you? You like being a part of 'N Sync?" Rachel questioned softly.

"Yeah. I don't think I could imagine my life without the guys. They're my best friends, brothers. And I've always loved to sing, so that's just an added bonus. Not to mention, I've always wanted to travel the world." Lance answered with a shrug.

"I'd love to see Rome and Paris." she sighed dreamily.

"Beautiful cities. Paris especially, the sights are magnificent." he commented, nodding.

"I would love to go to all the museums and art galleries in Paris and Rome. Some of the most beautiful pieces of art are there." she sighed sifting her position into a more comfortable one.

"You like art?" Lance raised an eyebrow.

"Who doesn't? Art is my life. I love sketching things, mostly children and animals. You know, one of these days before we all go back to our lives, I'm going to sketch you and the guys." Rachel stated suddenly.

"You're an actress and an artist. Is there anything you can't do?" Lance chuckled shaking his head.

"Well, I can't carry a tune in a tin bucket, but I can play the violin and piano." she laughed.

"I'd like to see some of your sketches sometime, that is, if you wouldn't mind." he smiled at her with warm eyes.

"Only if I can sketch you. That's one of my rules. If you look at my sketch book, I must be allowed to sketch you." she stated climbing to her feet.

"I don't have a problem with that." he shook his head. She disappeared upstairs to retrieve her supplies, leaving Lance to brood about her. She's damn near perfect, but why do I get the feeling that things are going to come to a strange end? He shook his head as he got to his feet and made himself comfortable on a chair near the windows. A few minutes later, she came back down with her book bag in tow. She flopped down on a chair opposite of him and gazed at him for a moment before taking out her sketchpad. She flipped to a clean sheet of paper, then quickly sketched an outline of his profile. Lance watched her with a secretive grin. She looked stunning while she was trying to concentrate on the task at hand. Her brows furrowed and her eyes kept darting to him to take another glance before she would continue sketching.

"Don't move!" she scolded with a smile when he shifted positions because of a limb that had fallen asleep.

"Sorry." he whispered loudly with a look of mock fear.

"It's okay." she giggled shaking her head. For the next hour, they sat in silence, Rachel sketching the man she was fast falling for, and Lance silently brooding about what he should do.

"Done." she sighed closing the sketch book. She stood up and handed it to Lance on her way to the huge windows. The sun was starting to rise, though it was still snowing heavily. Lance flipped through the sketchbook, looking at each drawing carefully. When he was done, he set the sketchbook down and walked over to her.

"You're very good at what you do." he commented from behind her.

"Thanks." she mumbled with a muted sigh. "Do you think we'll be stuck here for Christmas?"

"I honestly couldn't tell you. I hope not, cause I'd really like to see my family. If we are stuck here for the holiday, it'll be my first Christmas without them." Lance shrugged heaving a sigh.

"Me too." Rachel smiled sadly. "I can just imagine what they're doing tonight." she closed her eyes.

"What would they be doing tonight?" Lance inquired softly.

"Trimming the tree. Laughing about the year and talking about what everyone had been doing in school and work. Mom would be making the popcorn strings, and dad would be rigging up the lights, while Debbie and Jason hung up the wreaths and mistletoe. Tayler and I would be stringing the lights on the tree and putting tinsel all over the place." Rachel sighed hugging herself as her eyes opened once again. "What about you?"

"My family, well we'd be sitting around the house talking. We don't generally decorate the tree until Christmas Eve, so there would be a fire going and we'd all have hot chocolate and just talk." Lance replied with a smile. She nodded turning to face him, then covered a yawn with her hand.

"I think I'm going to head up to bed now. Good night Lance." she smiled and leaned to kiss him on the cheek.

"Night Rach." Lance mumbled watching her leave. He was still wired and couldn't even think about sleeping, so he decided to wander around the cabin to see what was lying around. He made his way down to the basement and started sorting through boxes, knowing exactly what he was looking for. He just hoped that Rob kept the seasonal things here at the cabin. After an hour and a half of searching, he finally came across exactly what he was looking for. He grunted loudly as he lugged the box up the stairs to the living room and started to clear an area near the windows. He then started setting up the plastic Christmas tree. It was all they had, so it would have to do, especially since none of them had any experience cutting trees down. As soon as it was set up, he walked back down to the basement and grabbed the many boxes that held the ornaments then brought them upstairs. He smiled in satisfaction at his handiwork then walked over to the fireplace to stir the fire with the poker. He then walked to the kitchen and opened the fridge, deciding to make breakfast for everyone. He took out a waffle iron, and the ingredients he would need to make them. He plugged in the iron, then set to making the batter. He also pulled out a frying pan to make some eggs, and plugged in the coffee maker. He roamed around the kitchen with a small smile on his face, humming a Christmas song to himself as he made breakfast. Soon the whole house filled with the aroma of eggs, waffles, coffee and bacon.

"My, you've been busy. You set up the tree?" a tired voice asked from the doorway.

"Hi Chris," Lance smiled not bothering to turn around. "Yeah, I did."

"What's for the breaking of the fast?" he mumbled walking over to the counter. Chris looked at all the food that Lance had prepared and his eyes widened.

"Wow, you really were bitten by the domestic bug. What's gotten into you?" he questioned his friend with a smile. Lance remained silent, the only answer being a smile. "Wait, I know. Is the reason for this a cute female who happens to be our guest for a few days?"

"Could be." Lance nodded with a shrug.

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