He smiled gently at the young blond woman. It was Jacie, his youngest but favorite grandchild.
“Jacie, when did you arrive back in Orlando?” he asked opening up his arms and the young woman quickly walked over for a hug.
“This morning Grandpa,” replied Jacie with a smile. “I wanted to surprise you for your birthday.”
“Oh yes, my birthday,” replied the elderly man, the smile disappearing from his face. He hated his birthday. He had for the past five years when Lance died and it became worst three years ago when Justin died.
At one time though he had loved his birthday, back when he was Jacie’s age. Back then he was known as known as JC Chasez. Back then he, along with Lance Bass, Justin Timberlake, Chris Kirkpatrick and Joey Fatone were *NSYNC, the most popular and talented group around. Back then he had a love for music and an even greater love for his band mate and future husband, Lance.
Now he was simply Joshua Chasez-Bass or Grandpa to his family. He was also the only one left out of the group.
Chris had been the first to go, seven years ago. Joey followed two years later and Lance a year after that. Finally Justin passed away three years ago leaving JC as the only *NSYNC legacy left alive.
“I’m sorry Grandpa,” whispered Jacie sadly. “I didn’t mean to bring up so many painful memories.”
“It’s okay dear,” replied Joshua forcing a smile. “I know you didn’t mean it.”
“It was still wrong of me Grandpa.”
“I do miss them,” admitted Joshua sadly. “But it helps when I think about the old times when we were young. Those were fun times.”
“I bet they were,” teased Jacie as she began humming the tune of ‘Digital Get Down’. “What show was it again where you licked the stage?” she asked knowing full well the answer.
“At our 2000 ‘No String Attached’ Tour, HBO special,” laughed Joshua at the memory. “My popularity skyrocketed past Justin after that. Your Grandfather all ready held my heart though.”
“I’ve seen the footage you two were cute together. If I was around back then I would have been one of those girls on the Internet with a website devoted to you two.”
“Jacie Diane Chasez-Bass,” declared Joshua failing to hide his smile. “In my day we didn’t want to think of our parents having sex, let alone our grandparents.”
“Welcome to the year 2062,” laughed Jacie. “But seriously, you were so cute. All the little looks you’d give each other. It was a miracle you weren’t outed long before you did get caught.”
“That wasn’t a fun day,” replied Joshua grimily remembering the day he and Lance woke up to the phone ringing like crazy. It had been Johnny and he had sounded angry when he told them they should look at the morning paper. Doing as they were told, they were shocked and scared when they saw the burry picture of themselves on the front page kissing each other.
They hid in the house all that morning, clutching each other and ignoring the ringing of the phone which never seemed to stop. Finally around noon, Joey and Chris came over, Justin would of gone too but he had been in LA with Britney when the news broke.
Both had thought that Chris, Joey and Justin would of hated them for spoiling everything, for not being more careful, but they calmly hugged the pair and told them that it wasn’t their fault. Later, when they had started answering the phone again, they discovered that Johnny was also not mad at them but mad at the person who trespassed on Lance’s property to take the picture and made at the papers for publishing the photos which were clearly an invasion of privacy and of a person moment between the pair.
Lance and JC had still been upset by what happened though, but they started feeling better once positive responses began pouring in from the fans. Four days later, they announced their relationship live on MTV and then three months after that they were married in a small private ceremony in front of family and their closest friends.
“I’m sorry Grandpa,” sighed Jacie, she hated seeing her grandfather in so much pain.
“It’s alright, dear,” replied Joshua again, giving her a small smile. “I’m just tired. I’m going to take a nap. I’ll see you later.”
“Okay Grandpa,” replied Jacie, watching him walk off with sad eyes.
‘Lord please end his pain’, she silently prayed. ‘He’s been so strong for me all my life, now it’s mine turn to be the strong one. I’ll survive without him.’
*~*~*
Darkness surrounded him. In the distance he could see a bright light.
He was scared. He knew he couldn’t be dreaming but the last thing he remembered was telling Jacie that he was lying down for a nap.
“Relax, Josh,” came a gentle, familiar voice.
“Lance!?” cried Joshua spinning around expecting to find the familiar old face of his lover. He did indeed find Lance but instead of being old, Lance looked like he was twenty-two again.
“You’re young again,” observed Joshua confused.
“Look at yourself Josh,” chuckled Lance and Joshua did as he was told. Expecting to find wrinkled skin, he was shocked to find his skin was smooth again and his old man clothes were replaced with jean and a tight black t-shirt. It was amazing he was twenty-five year old JC Chasez again.
“You look nice Josh,” whispered Lance taking JC in his arms and covering JC’s lips with his own. They stayed that way for a few minutes before they both needed to come up for air.
“What’s happening?” asked JC still confused.
“Quiet, Josh,” whispered Lance hugging him tighter. “We don’t have much time left alone together.”
JC was about to question him on what he meant when a loud voice cried out behind him.
“Hey it’s JC!” cried a familiar voice.
“Chris?” called JC as turned in the embrace towards the light as three figures rushed from it and tackled him.
“'Bout time you showed up,” teased Joey hugging him tightly.
“Yeah,” added Justin. “We can’t be *NSYNC without you.”
“I’m dead?” asked JC in shock finally clueing in to where he was. “But then that means Jacie is now all alone.” Years ago Jacie’s parents had been killed in a car crash, which left JC and Lance to raise her throughout most of her life. With both of them now dead that met all the closes people to her were gone.
“She let you go Josh,” whispered Lance. “You would of died sooner if she hadn’t been holding you back. She wanted us to be together again.”
“But-“
“She’ll be fine,” reassured Lance. “She could see that you were hurting. Plus she still has various aunts, uncles, cousins and the other dorks children and grandchildren to keep her company.”
“So what happens now?”
“Touring,” shouted Chris.
“Recording,” added Justin.
“Clubbing,” joined in Joey and he was met with stares from Chris, Justin and Lance. “What? Clubbing was an important part of being *NSYNC.”
“Got us there,” shrugged Justin agreeing with Joey and Chris nodded his approval.
“Lance?” asked JC turning to his lover, more confused then ever.
“Give him time guys!” ordered Lance pulling JC close, protecting him. “He just got here! Give him time to adjust to everything!”
“Whatever,” replied Chris rolling his eyes. “We’ll give you some time alone right now. Fill him in quickly though, you can do that other ‘stuff’ later.”
With that Chris, Joey and Justin headed back towards the light and disappeared in it.
“Come on Josh,” whispered Lance tugging on JC’s hand as he led JC towards the light. “Lets go home.”
*~*~*
60 years later
“Hello?” called Jacie out to the darkness as she began walking towards the light in the distance. She knew something was very odd, since she could tell she looked young again. Which was very odd for a grandmother with four children and ten grandchildren.
“You’re here!” cried a voice and a young couple came running towards her.
“Mom? Dad?” asked Jacie looking at the pair, also in their twenties. Were these really her parents?”
“It’s us,” smiled her father, James Chasez-Bass, hugging Jacie tightly, before slipping his arm back around the waist of his wife Helen.
“Come on!” cried Helen grabbing Jacie’s wrist and began dragging her towards the light with James following close behind. “The concert is about to start!”
“What concert?” asked Jacie confused as they walked through the light.
“*NSYNC’s concert,” explained James. “They’ve finally started touring in the after life.”
“I don’t understand.”
“Time has no meaning here,” explained James. “That is why everyone is the same age. We do what makes us happy here and *NSYNC is happy, singing and performing for their fans, which is why they’re still doing it. Your mother is just a little excited right now since she grew up on their music but has never been to a concert before now.”
“Come on!” cried Helen dragging them to the all white stadium which was packed with people.
Finding their seats, which were near the stage, Jacie couldn’t help but smile when the music started playing and her grandparents appeared on stage in all their glory.
Seeing her in the crowd, JC and Lance both gave her huge smiles and Jacie knew then that everything was going to be all right. It was good finally being home, she thought.