JC tried to forget about Lance as he went upstairs to finish packing. The reason he and his bandmates had gathered at Lance’s that night was JC was leaving in the morning on a two month writing trip and wouldn’t be having any contact with them until the end of the two months.
Somehow, JC managed to get through to finish packing without thinking too much about Lance but his green-eyed bandmate was in his thoughts again as soon as he laid down to get some sleep.
*~*~*
JC woke early the next morning wanting to get away quickly. However he soon realized that two things were very odd.
The first thing he noticed, that was odd, was the fact that he was a small, furry little puppy. The second thing was that a beautiful woman dressed in white was sitting in a nearby chair.
“It’s alright Joshua,” spoke the women, her voice soft and soothing, sensing him panicking. “I am Harmony, your guardian angel, and this was my doing.”
“Why?” asked JC, surprised to hear his own voice coming out of his little puppy mouth.
“Because it’s the only way you both will learn,” smiled Harmony. “And to answer the question I know is forming on your mind, only I can hear you speak. Everyone else will only hear dog noises.”
“But my trip, my job!” protested JC. “*NSYNC!”
“Do not worry, little one,” soothed Harmony. “I will take care of everything. Remember I’m here to help you, not to harm you.”
“Now come along,” ordered Harmony standing up from the chair and walking over to pick up JC. “It’s time to get you in place.”
Before JC could reply or protest a white light appeared and when he could see properly again, he discovered they were now outside in front of what JC recognized as Lance’s house.
“Don’t worry, little one, I will always be watching over you,” whispered Harmony as she placed JC in a small basket with letter inside of it. She then, rang the doorbell before disappearing in another flash of white light.
After about five minutes of sitting in the basket, JC started to wonder if Lance had even heard the doorbell when finally the door swung open and a very sleepy Lance wearing only boxers peered outside.
Realizing that Lance didn’t see him and that he was about to close the door, JC gave a small whimper and caused Lance to finally look down at him in wonderment.
“Hey little guy,” smiled Lance, keeping his voice soft as he bend down. Picking up the letter he quickly read it.
Dear Sir,
No longer am I able to look after my little, puppy Jace. Instead of sending him to one of those awful shelters I would be very grateful if you took him in.
Sincerely, H.
“Awww. . . you poor thing,” soothed Lance, scooping up the puppy. “Of course I’ll take care of you.”
Happy to be in Lance’s arms, even as a puppy, JC licked Lance’s neck and wagged his tail.
“You’re so cute Jace,” observed Lance as he carried JC into his home and sitting down with him on the couch which JC enjoy. Then Lance started petting him and JC really, really enjoyed that.
“I’m going to have to run to the store sometime today and get you some things though,” continued Lance but JC was beyond the point of paying attention and was merely enjoying the feel of Lance’s hands in his fur. “I guess I could take you with me though. Most pet stores allow animals in them nowadays. Plus you should get use to being around lots of people as soon as possible with my career.”
‘No problem there,’ thought JC as he snuggled down on Lance’s lap and went fast asleep.
*~*~*
“Come on Jace,” whispered Lance after what seem like only a few minutes to JC after he drifted off, but in reality was a half hour. “Time to get up and head to the store.”
JC sighed to himself as Lance picked up his small body and carried him upstairs to so that Lance could change into some clothes, really wanting to sleep longer however he quickly perked up when he realized he was about to see Lance naked.
Deposing JC on the bed, Lance quickly made his way to his large walk in closet before returning wearing jeans and a t-shirt.
Slightly disappointed, JC didn’t stay upset long as Lance again scooped him up again to carry him back downstairs and out to his car to head to the pet store.
The ride to the pet store was quick, which made JC happy, as he never realized how bumpy car rides could be for dogs before. The store however was just as frightening until JC realized that any potential teenyboppers should be in school. Nevertheless, Lance was well equipped with a baseball hat and sunglasses as he once again picked up JC and carried him into the store.
Lance had wanted to make the store trip as quick as possible but he soon realized that was going to be impossible with a cute, little puppy and JC was eating up the attention.
“He’s so cute,” cooed a young woman. “How old is he?”
“I’m not sure,” admitted Lance, hugging JC tightly. “He was a gift.”
“He can’t be any more than six months old,” smiled the woman. “He’s so tiny. What’s his name?”
‘Watch it lady,’ thought JC. ‘I may be small but I have huge teeth.’
“Jace,” replied Lance. “And he seems to be getting a little cranky so I should probably be going.”
“Oh okay,” nodded the young woman as Lance started walking away. “It was nice meeting you Lance.”
“Sorry about that,” apologized Lance once he and JC were back in the car, along with three bags full of toys and food. “It’s bad enough when it’s just me since I’m famous and all, but you’re so cute, even non-fans are approaching just to see you.”
‘It was fun’, replied JC in thought. ‘It’s much better being gawked at while being a puppy than when you’re another person. I liked the attention.’
“Too bad none of them were my type,” continued Lance with a chuckle. “Of course it’s hard to meet my type at all in this business.”
‘What are you talking about?’ wondered JC staring up at Lance from the passenger seat while Lance drove them back to his place. ‘You’re Lance Bass! You could have any woman you wanted!’
“It’s the price of being famous,” smiled Lance glancing down at JC, before turning his attention back to the road until they were safely pulling into his driveway.
“Come on Jace,” chuckled Lance picking up the puppy in one hand and the bags in the other and began walking towards the door. Only when he reached the locked door did he put JC down so that he could unlock it and while Lance was doing that JC took the time to explore Lance’s lawn and do some “business” before he happily followed Lance indoors.
“At least I now know you’re house broken,” smiled Lance to JC as he walked towards the kitchen with JC scurrying along next to him. “Why don’t I get you some food now though. I’m sure you’re hungry since I am.”
Digging out two brand new dishes, Lance filled one with water and filled the other with puppy food before placing both dishes on the floor. Lance then quickly set about making himself his own lunch.
JC sniffed at the food, unsurely. He knew it had to taste somewhat good since real dogs seemed to love the stuff. However JC had also seen real dogs eat an assortment of disgusting objects, not all of which would appear edible to the human eye.
“Go on, you’ll like it,” encouraged Lance from the kitchen table where he was eating his own lunch.
Figuring the food probably wouldn’t harm him and the fact he knew Lance would rush him to the vets if anything happened, JC tasted the food and surprised himself by actually enjoying it.
“See I told you, you’d like it,” grinned Lance.
‘Yeah, yeah’, thought JC as he gobbled down the food.
*~*~*
‘Play!’ ordered JC, dropping the small rubber ball at Lance’s feet. It was later that afternoon and since lunch, JC had been busy testing all his new toys that Lance had bought him. By far his favorites were the keyboard squeak toy and the red rubber ball that he currently wanted Lance to throw.
“Okay I get the hint,” chuckled Lance as he picked up the ball and threw it across the room where it narrowly missed a lamp. “Umm . . . maybe we should take this game outside.”
‘Outside! Yay!’ cried JC happily as he danced around in front of the patio door that led to the backyard.
“Okay, okay,” laughed Lance as he slid opened the door and threw the ball outside before following JC out. To his horror however, the ball landed right in the middle of the pool.
“Jace! No!” cried Lance watching as his puppy tumbled into the pool after his ball.
Rushing to the pool, Lance jumped in to save JC who was splashing around trying unsuccessfully to get out of the water.
“Are you okay?” asked Lance after placing JC back on the cement ground before hauling himself out of the pool.
‘You saved my life!’ cried JC bouncing over to Lance, wagging his tail and licking Lance’s face. ‘Thank you, thank you, thank you!’
“Stay out of the pool from now on, okay?” chuckled Lance seeing that the puppy was unharmed by the incident.
‘Good idea’, agreed JC as he allowed himself to be picked up by Lance and carried into the house for drying off. He had far too much excitement for one day as being a puppy and right then he wanted only to be dry and to snuggle up with Lance for some rest.
*~*~*
‘Outside,’ whimpered JC, while he patted his paw against Lance’s arm. He had been a puppy for four weeks now and in those four weeks he had fallen into the simple routine of waking himself and Lance up early to go outside to do his business, come back inside for some more sleep, lunch, play, supper, nap, play again and then bed.
Lance meanwhile was more than happy to follow the puppy’s routine since in those four weeks; JC had quickly taken over the household, while Lance also spoiled him rotten.
“Okay,” sighed Lance dejectedly. JC was slightly concerned by this since any other morning Lance had always been cheerful, but he quickly pushed away his concerned thoughts as Lance scooped him up and carried him down the stairs and outside where JC quickly took care of his business.
Once back in Lance’s room, JC snuggled back down on the bed and waited for Lance to join him, however Lance merely sat down on the bed and picked up the phone, all while JC glared at him behind his back, upset that not only Lance would interrupt his routine but the sleeping part of it which JC considered the most valuable part.
JC continued to glare at Lance while he dialed a number and then sighed when he reached the voice mail of the person he was trying to call.
“Hey C it’s me,” sighed Lance when his friend didn’t answer while JC stopped his glaring and look at Lance in curiosity. Why would Lance be calling him? “I know you didn’t want to be bothered during your trip but if you have some free time call me okay? Bye.”
‘Lance?’ whimpered JC as Lance hanged up the phone and flopped back down on the bed.
“Oh Jace,” sighed Lance cuddling JC in his arms and pressing his face into his fur. On his back, JC could feel the tears from Lance’s eyes. “I miss Josh so much!” he cried which surprised JC, not only that Lance missed him but that he had called him Josh which Lance rarely did before. “Why did he have to go on his stupid writing trip in the first place let alone not want any interruptions from us? If it hadn’t been for you Jace, I don’t know what would have gotten me through this past month.”
‘I’m right here,’ was what JC wanted to say as he wiggled around so that he was able to lick Lance’s face in an attempt to cheer him up.
“I wish I could be a dog!” sniffed Lance. “That way I wouldn’t have to worry about being in love with my best friend who happens to be straight!”
‘Well being a dog isn’t all that it’s cracked up to be,’ JC wanted to reply, before Lance’s words sunk into him. ‘You love me? I love you too!’
“I miss him so much,” whispered Lance as he closed his eyes and fell into a restless sleep with JC still clutched in his arms.
*~*~*
JC felt gentle arms pulling him out of Lance’s grasp which was what woke him from his slumber.
“No,” protested JC sleepily. He wanted to stay there, knowing he was a comfort to his friend.
“It’s time to get up Joshua,” commanded a soft, gentle voice that JC recognized. Harmony.
“I need to stay with Lance,” protested JC as Harmony scooped him up into her arms and then placed him on the floor of the room.
“That’s right,” smiled Harmony sweetly before the white light flashed throughout the room. When the light vanished, JC discovered that he was standing in the middle of Lance’s bedroom and Harmony was gone.
JC took a moment to thank Harmony for leaving him fully clothed, before sitting down next to Lance on the bed.
“Lance?” whispered JC, placing a hand on Lance’s shoulder and gently shaking him awake.
“Josh?” asked Lance in surprise as his sleepy green eyes opened and stared up at his bandmate. “What are you doing here?”
“It’s complicated,” sighed JC.
“I’m glad you’re here,” admitted Lance as he sat up on the bed. “I missed you.”
“I missed you too,” whispered JC.
“I—Wait a minute!” cried Lance madly looking around the room. “Where’s Jace?!? Did you see him when you came in?”
“Lance . . . umm . . . that’s complicated too, but Jace isn’t here any more.”
“What do you mean?” asked Lance with tears in his eyes.
“Jace . . . umm . . . went home with his real owner.”
“But I thought—"
“Just trust me on this,” interrupted JC. “I’ll buy you a new puppy.”
“You don’t have to do that.”
“I want to Lance,” JC gently replied.
“Thanks,” grinned Lance looking down at his lap, so he wouldn’t have to look at JC. He was touched that JC would do that for him. “So what are you doing here? You aren’t suppose to be back in Orlando for another month.”
“I told you,” whispered JC. “I missed you.”
“So you came back for me?” asked Lance, touched.
“Yeah,” nodded JC. “I needed to tell you something.”
“What?”
“I love you,” whispered JC, causing Lance to jerk his head up to stare at JC. “I loved you since the moment I met you. I’m sorry but I can deny it anymore.”
“I love you too,” replied Lance as tears fell down his face that JC gently brushed away with his thumb. “I never thought you would love me back though.”
“I should have told you sooner,” whispered JC, bending forward and gently brushing his lips against Lance’s for a short but sweet kiss.
“Wow,” giggled Lance before grabbing the back of JC’s head to bring their lips together for another kiss, this time longer and more intense.
“Yeah, wow,” agreed JC with a grin when they had broken apart.
“Does this mean you’ll be my boyfriend?”
“I’d be crazy to say no,” smiled JC.
“Good,” grinned Lance before frowning. “I’m still worried about Jace though.”
“Trust me Jace is very, very happy right now.”
“You know a lot about Jace for never meeting him,” commented Lance while raising his eyebrow.
“Umm . . . Lance?” asked JC wondering how he was going to get out of this mess.
“Yeah?”
“Do you believe in angels?”
“Of course,” replied Lance wondering what JC was trying to say.
“Well what if I told you that my guardian angel turned me into a puppy named Jace?” asked JC as Lance stared at him.
“Good one!” Lance finally laughed. “You almost had me with that one!”
JC was disappointed that Lance didn’t believe him but he forgot all about his disappointed when he realized that he liked seeing Lance laugh. In fact, he liked it a lot.
“You’re even cuter when you laugh,” smiled JC causing Lance to turn red.
“Shut up,” groaned Lance, causing JC to kiss him again. As Lance melted into the kiss, he forgot all about his puppy.