Part Eight

    Fifty years later, JC opened his eyes and forgot where he was at first. It was weird sleeping in a new bed and not being alone. He could definitely get use to it. Yesterday, after hours of reminiscing about that crazy night, they finally had to leave. He could tell Lance was sad and he was too. He hated leaving him there alone, but he couldn't do anything about it.
    He looked at the clock to see that it was 9:00 in the morning and he shook his head in disbelief. He hadn't slept this late in a long time, he thought as he got out of bed. He use to be a late sleeper, but through the years he became a early riser just because Riley would always wake up early to jog or do something. She hated to sleep in.
    He yawned as he slipped on his slippers and stood up and stretched his tired body. Still in his pajamas, he made his way out of his room and stopped for a second when he heard someone playing the piano. "They're good, whoever it is," JC said aloud and made his way down the stairs and towards the living room.
    He paused at the edge of the room when he saw Bailey sitting at the bench playing a familiar piece by Beethoven. She looked so focused, he thought with a grin. She was very good as he admired how her fingers traveled over the keys. When she was done he started to clap his hands with a smile.
    Bailey jumped at the sound and put a hand over her heart. "JC...you scared me."
    He chuckled. "Didn't mean to," he said as he made his way to her. "Mind of I join you?"
    She smiled as she scooted over and patted the seat next to her. "Do you still play?"
    He sighed. "Not since Riley died."
    "Oh," she said sadly. "I'm sorry."
    "That's okay," he said as he gave her am encouraging smile. "Where's Maggie?"
    "She's still asleep," she said with a chuckle. "She loves to sleep in."
    He grinned. "I don't blame her."
    She noticed his urgency to play and so she offered. "Would you like to play something?"
    He looked at her. "Oh...um, I guess."
    "If you don't want to that's...."
    "No, sure...It's about time I started again, it DID always make me happy. I loved to make music."
    She grinned. "Yeah, I know how you feel."
    "Do you write your own music?"
    She lifted a shoulder. "Yeah, a little. I've been writing songs since I was in high school."
    "Bai, that's great," he said in amazement. "Would you play something for me?"
    "Something I wrote you mean?"
    "Yes, if you don't mind. I'd love to hear it."
    "Okay," she said with a smile. "Here's a song I'm working on...I haven't put any words it it yet.
    "That's fine," he said.
    "Okay, here it goes," she said and then took a deep breath before she stroke the first chords.
    JC smiled the whole time while he watched her play. It was a beautiful piece. Real slow and had a nice rhythm to it. "Bailey, that's really good," he said when she was done.
    "Really? Because I'm still kind of working on it," she said as her eyes started to beam with excitement.
    "It's coming along fine, Bai....keep it up."
    "Thanks, I..." She stopped talking when she noticed Gram standing across the room watching them. "Oh, Gram you're up...JC and I were just playing around."
    "Yeah, your granddaughter has quite the talent," JC said with a smile and then froze when he noticed the tears in her eyes. "Maggie? Are you okay?"
    "Um...I...yeah, I'm fine," she said as she wiped a tear away. "Excuse me, I need some fresh air."
    "Gram," Bailey said worriedly as Maggie walked out onto the patio. "What in the..."
    "I'll go talk to her," JC said and then patted her back. "Don't worry, I'm sure it's nothing."
    "Okay," she said with a nod.
    JC got up and slid open the glass door and saw her looking out into her garden. "Maggie?"
    She turned around to reveal her eyes that were still red from crying. "JC, I'm fine...I just..."
    "You're not fine," he said as he walked to her. "Maggie? Why were you crying? You were watching us and it upset you....why?"
    Maggie sniffed and shook her head. "JC," she said quietly, knowing she was about to reveal her deepest secret. "Bailey has always been musical, ever since she was a little girl."
    "Yeah," he said. "I can tell. Were her parents musical too?"
    "No," she choked. "It skipped a generation actually. Her mother was more like me, but Bailey was more like...."
    "More like who?" JC asked concerned. "Maggie, what are you..."
    "JC," she said softly and turned him around so he could stare at Bailey through the glass. "Look at her...who does she remind you of."
    His heart went up to his throat. "She...she reminds me of myself when I was that age."
    "Exactly," she said as the tears started to fall. "She got her musical traits from YOU, JC....Bailey is your granddaughter."
    Maggie waited for him to say something...anything, but he was silent. She watched him stand there completely still as he watched Bailey through the glass. His eyes were glazed and his chest began to fall rapidly as his breathing quickened. "JC...please, say something."
    "What do you want me to say, Maggie?" he said quietly as he looked at her. "I just found out that I have a daughter that I never had the chance to know, and a granddaughter that I never had the chance to watch her grow up into the woman she is today. I mean...what do I say to that, exactly...you tell me."
    The tears started to swell up in her eyes as she shook her head. "I don't know, JC. I was...I was so scared when I found out. I didn't know what to do."
    "Why didn't you try to reach me?" he asked.
    "And how was I suppose to do that?" she exclaimed. "Dammit, JC, no one knew about me except for you and Mike...what was I suppose to do? It would have been impossible to find you."
    JC wanted to argue, to tell her she should have at least tried, but he knew she was right. Back then, it was impossible to reach him. "What did you do?" he asked as he turned away from her and walked to the railing.
    She sighed. "I told my parents. They weren't happy, but they were supportive and...and when Georgia was only three months I met Tom."
    "Her name was Georgia," he said to himself. "What was her full name?"
    She smiled. "Georgia Ann."
    He clinched the railing with his wrinkled fingers and let out a shaky sigh. "That's beautiful."
    Maggie wiped the tear that escaped her watery eyes. "She was amazing," she said as she walked up to him. "And she had your eyes....they were angel eyes, just like you and..."
    JC shook her head when he felt himself start to fall apart. "Maggie...please, I can't..."
    "JC, it's okay," she said as she tried to comfort him.
    "No," he said as he backed away from her. "I need...I can't be with you right now, I need to think."
    She sighed. "Okay, JC....okay."
    JC just stared at her, before turning and walking back inside. "Can I borrow your car, Bai," he said not even looking at her. He couldn't look at her...not now.
    "Um... yeah sure," she said as she got up from the piano and followed him to the back door. "JC, what's wrong?"
    "Nothing, I need to talk to Lance," he said and grabbed her keys that were on the kitchen counter. "By myself."
    "Okay....are you sure that...."
    "Everything is fine," he said curtly. "Feed Gigi for me, okay?"
    She nodded. "Yeah...sure."
    He sighed and made himself look at her. He saw her in a whole new light now. She was perfect. She was beautiful. She was HIS. "Thanks Bailey," he finally said and then leaned over and kissed her forehead. "Don't worry, everything is fine."
    Before she open her mouth and say something, he opened the backdoor and walked to her car. She shook her head as she watched him slowly drive off. She didn't have a clue on what was going on, she was determined to find out the truth soon enough.

    JC opened the door to Lance's room and slammed it behind him. Lance jumped in his chair as he looked up from his crossword. "JC, you scared the crap out of me....what's wrong?"
    "She's my granddaughter," he blurted. He didn't meant to just come out and say it, he meant to take it from the beginning but it just kind of came out.
    "What? Who?" he asked as he motioned for him to sit down. JC did the opposite. He started to pace the room, while he started to gather his thoughts. "JC, will you please sit down? You're making me nervous here and I don't think I can afford another stroke."
    JC paused and stared at him. "That's not funny, Lance."
    "Well, then stop pacing, sit your ass down and tell me what's wrong?"
    JC groaned as he sat down in the chair and rested his elbows on his knees. He covered his face with his hands. "She's my granddaughter," he muffled into his hands.
    "Who??"
    He pulled his hands away and stared at him. "Bailey," he finally told him. "Bailey's my granddaughter."
    Lance looked at him, not quite sure he heard him right. "Bailey," he repeated.
    "Yes."
    "My Bailey," he said again.
    He cleared his throat. "Yes....that Bailey."
    "I don't get it....how in the world can she be your granddaughter?"
    He sighed. "It's a long story."
    He let out a harsh laugh. "Well, then I guess you'll be here for awhile, because your gonna tell me every damn thing."

    And he did. He told him about the fight he had with Bobbie, the night he shared with Maggie and the morning after she left and to what happened today. He told him the whole story and Lance didn't once interrupt or say anything. He just sat there and took everything in.
    "So let me get this straight," Lance finally said once he was finished. "You had a daughter all this time and didn't know about it?"
    "Georgia Ann... yes," he said as he got up and stood by the window.
    Lance turned his chair towards him. "Did you know that....that Bailey's parents were killed in a plane crash."
    JC closed his eyes. "I knew that they were gone, but I didn't know how."
    Lance sighed. "Man, JC....I don't know what to say. That's very hard to deal with, but at least you know one thing."
    JC looked at him. "What?"
    "You have a woman who obviously still loves you and a beautiful granddaughter who is an amazing young woman....I'm jealous, C....I'm jealous as hell."
    "Lance," he sighed as he sat back down. "I just don't know what to do."
    "Talk to her."
    "Who? Maggie or Bai?"
    "Maggie first, then you guys should both talk to Bai. She has the right to know."
    JC shook his head. "It's gonna hit her hard."
    "Yes, I know," Lance said with a soft smile. "But it'll all work out. And things will work out with Maggie, too."
    "Lance, what happened to Maggie and I was just a one night thing and it was a long time ago and..."
    "But there's still feelings there," he said. "JC, you kept that letter with you for a long time and what are the chances that you would run into her again. Look how this is all connected....it's fate, C."
    "Yeah, but...."
    "You love her, JC," Lance said out loud. "Does this mean your being unfaithful to Riley? No, it doesn't. You loved her more than anyone ever could... but it's been five years, C. And you’re too healthy and have too much energy in life to spend it alone."
    JC's lip started to tremble and his eyes began to fill with tears. "Why did all of this happen, Lance? We shouldn't have been the last ones, we all should still be alive. Why did God take them away from us?"
    Lance fought back the tears that wanted to form. This was not the time to cry, he needed to be strong for JC. "I don't know, C," he choked as he leaned forward and grabbed his hands. "But it has and we can't change the past. All I know is that I'm grateful that you are here. Promise me you won't leave again until..."
    "I promise," he said quickly before he could finish his sentence. "I could never leave you again, it was too painful and I couldn't go through it again. God, I'm so sorry Lance. I was being so selfish."
    "No you weren't. You were just scared. But that's in the past and you’re here now and look what you have found? You found the only woman you could ever love besides Riley, and found a granddaughter. You're lucky JC."
    "I know," he said as he wiped away his last tear he refused to shred. "I know. I'll talk to Maggie tonight."
    "That's good," he said and patted his hand. "Are you going to stick around, Bailey and James are suppose to be here soon."
    He smiled. "Yeah, I'll stick around. We have to tell them about Riley's birthday party next."
    Lance chuckled. "Oh, another interesting night...."

    "Bobbie," JC sighed as he sat down on his couch in his Orlando home. "I don't want to get into this with you right now. Why? Because I just don't, okay? I told you I needed space. You know I think it’s time for the both of us to move on," JC winced and moved the phone away from her ear when her high pitched voice shrilled in his ear. "Bobbie calm down. I'm not the right guy for you. You crave attention Bobbie and I can't give you that. Fine. Okay, you know what? I'm just gonna hang up now okay?" She didn't listen she kept talking and finally JC just rolled his eyes and clicked the portable off. "God, that woman gives me a headache."
    JC leaned his head back against the couch and closed his eyes. "I don't want to do anything tonight except sit here and do nothing. Just enjoy the silence."
    Unfortunately, the "silence" only lasted thirty seconds when the doorbell rang through out the house. "Damn, who could that be," he groaned as he stood up and walk down the hall towards the door. He opened up and to his surprise saw Lance dressed in a pair of nice khakis and a dark green button down. "Lance, what are you..."
    "You forgot didn't you?" he asked with a sigh and then looked at his watch. "We still got time, hurry and go change."
    "What?" he asked confused. "What are you talking about?"
    "Don't play dumb JC, you know what I'm talking about. You promised me AND your sister that you would go to this party."
    JC was still lost but then he closed his eyes when he remembered. "Riley's birthday party."
    "Ding Ding!" Lance exclaimed as knocked his knuckles on his head.
    "OW!" he groaned as he rubbed his head. He hadn't seen Riley since the night on the roof and the last thing he wanted to do was go to her birthday party. It was going to be awkward and weird and he wasn't looking forward to it. “Lance. you know I don't feel like going out. I mean me and Bobbie just..."
    "I don't give a rats ass about you two. She wasn't for you, end of story, move on." He gave him a push. "Now go and get ready."
    "Ugh, FINE," he said in defeat.
    "I don't suppose you remembered getting her a gift?" he asked as he watched him turn to leave.
    He froze. "Damn, no I didn't. I'll think of something," he said and then ran up to his room to change. "Damn, what should I give her," he thought aloud as he ran around his room, pulling out clothes in his closet. He wore a pair of khakis too and decided to wear a orange collared polo shirt and slipped on a pair of brown burken stocks.
    He put his hands on his hips and searched his room for any sort of present he could give her. He grinned when he spotted the old trophy on his shelf and walked to it and chuckled as he picked it up. "Perfect," he thought as he rubbed his thumb over the rusted metal.
    Every fourth of July when he was growing up, the Chasez's and the Shane's held an annual basketball shoot out and ever since he could remember it always came down between him and Riley. The winner got to keep the "Shane-Chasez Shoutout" trophy the whole year, until it was up for grabs again the next year. The last shoot out they had before he moved to Orlando was to determined who kept the trophy forever, and he won. Now that he looked back on it, he remembered how upset she was. Of course he was too cocky to care back then, but now he felt sorry for her.
    "JC!! Hurry up!"
    With the trophy in tow, he trotted downstairs and went to the chest of drawers in the hallway that held old birthday and Christmas bags and tissue paper. He wrapped it in white tissue paper and stuck it in a gold bag and then walked over to Lance. "Ready."
    "What did you give her?"
    He grinned. "A part of our history," he said with a wink and then patted his back. "Let's go."
    "History huh?" he asked as he followed him to his car. "Mind if I ask what part?"
    "Yes," he said before he left him to walk around to the passenger side.
    "Oh, come on," Lance said as he opened the car door. "Please tell."
    He sighed as he shut the passenger door and then shrugged. "It's not a big deal really. It's just a little trophy that I won for the..."
    "Shane-Chasez Shootout?" Lance asked as he drove.
    JC looked at him in shock. "How did you?"
    "Heather... she told me one time," he said and cleared his throat.
    "Ohh," he said as he studied him.
    "Yeah... um, so you're giving it to her? From what Heather told me, you love that trophy."
    He shifted uncomfortably. "Yeah, I do. .I mean, I don't think I could give it away for good, but maybe loan it to her for a year or something."
    "That's nice of you, C."
    He lifted a shoulder. "It's not big deal."
    "Sure it is. Heather told me that you and Riley fought like cats and dogs for that piece of metal."
    He chuckled. "We sure did...every year."
    "Well, then it's perfect. It shows that you care."
    He cleared his throat. "Yeah...whatever, um...so what's going on between you and my sister?" he asked desperate to change the subject.
    He swallowed hard. "What do you mean?" He hadn't seen Heather since the VMA's, but they talked on the phone every night. That night after the party, they spent it in his hotel room just holding each other and talking about everything. He remembered how good she felt in his arms and how her laughter filled the room. They just laid there and held each other, while sneaking a few kisses in between. That night will be with him always, because he knew he fell in love with JC's sister in that hotel room.
    "Don't play dumb, man," JC finally said.
    "JC, we've just gotten close, okay?" he asked as he clinched the wheel nervously. "Ever since her and Brad broke up..."
    "Woah, they broke up?" JC asked as he turned to him.
    "Yeah, where have you been?" he asked with a laugh. "The night of the VMA's Heather had a conversation with him and they broke up."
    "Why did they?"
    "Um...things just weren't working out," he said and leave it at that.
    "Well, what kind of..."
    "JC, if you want to know more, ask your sister, okay? I told her I wouldn't say anything."
    He sighed, worried what happened to his Heather Bear. "All right, fine. Fair enough."
    Lance just nodded and then turned down Justin's street. "The party's at Justin’s," Lance told him, not knowing if he knew.
    "Yeah, I remember you telling me that. When did they get into Orlando?"
    "They flew in from Maryland this morning," he told him. "Dani picked them up."
    He nodded and then sighed when they pulled up. "Let's get this over with," he mumbled and grabbed his present and followed Lance towards the door.

    Lance opened the door, knowing that it was unlock and JC closed the door behind them. "Kind of quiet for a party," JC mumbled.
    "It's out back," Lance told them as they made their way down the long hallway towards the backdoor that led outside to the pool.
    The party was already underway, with people chatting while they casually sipped at their drinks. They had a full bar and a table filled with finger foods and chips and salsa. It was nothing fancy, just a nice get together of friends and family to celebrate Riley's birthday.
    "Lance, JC," Heather exclaimed and ran over to them.
    Lance smiled at her, before she flung her arms around his neck. He tightened his grip and lifted her off the ground and she giggled. "Missed you baby," he said softly in her ear so that she could hear.
    "Missed you more," she said softly.
    "Hey, now where's the love sis?" JC asked as he put his hands on his hips.
    Heather laughed as Lance put him down. "Hey, to you, too," she said with a smile and then hugged her brother. "Glad you came."
    "Yeah, well, I promised," he said as he pulled her away.
    Heather smiled. "You look good."
    "Thanks," he said as he looked down at himself. "You look good too. I miss my sister that use to run around in jeans and a t-shirt."
    "Ha ha," she said with a laugh. "Very funny."
    He just chuckled as he put an arm around her and they both walked towards the bar. "So, where's the birthday girl?" JC asked, anxious to get their first encounter over with.
    "Yeah, where IS the big 23 year old," Lance said as he leaned up against the bar.
    "She's still upstairs getting ready," she said with a sigh. "She's been a nervous wreck all day. I don't know why."
    JC cleared his throat. He certainly knew why. "Where should we put these?" he asked as he held up the present.
    "Oh, I'll take them in the den," she said as she took it from her.
    When she turned to take Lance's he just smiled. "I'll go with you," he said and winked. "Mines kind of heavy."
    She flashed him a grin. "Okay, follow me sir."
    JC rolled his eyes as he watched the pair walk off and turned toward the bar to order a drink. Because he was going to need it.
    Lance followed Heather towards the door, while flashing smiles and saying quick "hellos" to his friends. She opened the door and they made their way to the den. They both dropped their presents with the rest of the batch and immediately flew in each others arms and their lips met in a fury. "God, I missed you," Lance breathed against her lips before he captured him again.
    "Me too," she mumbled against his lips and then moaned when he plunged his tongue into her mouth. "Lance, we have to stop."
    "Okay," he said as he trailed tiny kisses down her neck.
    She clutched an handful of his blonde hair and bit her lip at the feel of mouth on her soft skin. "Seriously," she finally said. "Someone...might see...us."
    "Like me," a voice said.
    Lance and Heather froze and then slowly turned towards the familiar voice.
    "Riley?" Heather said with a smile as she backed away from Lance. "Um, we didn't hear you come in."
    Riley gave them a lopsided grin. "Obviously. Lance, you're a little red there buddy."
    "What"?" he asked as he looked at her. "Oh... um.. ahem.... Happy birthday, by the way."
    "Thanks," she said with a laugh. "WELL, this is awkward for you guys I'm sure, so I'm gonna mingle with the guest. Bye you two."
    "Riley?" Heather asked before she could leave.
    Riley turned to her and grinned. "Don't worry your secret is safe with me," she said with a wink.
    "Thanks," she smiled and then turned to Lance. "See! I TOLD you we need to be more careful."
    He groaned in frustration as he pulled her back in his arms. "This sneaking around is getting old. I say we tell everyone."
    "Okay," she said and giggled when he started to kiss her neck. "But not today. This is Riley's day and I don't want to steal her thunder."
    "Fair deal," he said against her neck and then nibbled her ear.
    "Okay, down boy," she teased and pushed him away. "We should go back outside."

    Riley was still chuckling to herself when she walked outside to join the party. She knew something was going on between those two and now she just found out her assumptions were correct. She heard someone yell her name and she smiled at them and went to greet her guests.
    She was talking with Dani when all of the sudden two arms came around her and lifted her up. "Riley baby., when are you gonna run away with me?"
    Riley laughed at Joey. "Not now sweetie," she teased when he put her down. "You're girlfriend is standing right there."
    Rene laughed. "Please. Take the big lug, he's a handful."
    "You see, you have her permission," he said and put an arm around her. "I say we head off to Italy. What do you think?"
    "Sure sweetie. Whatever you say," she said sweetly and patted his cheek.
    Everyone laughed, but Riley's laughter died when she saw JC sitting at the bar chatting it up with the one and only Faith Temple. She went to college with Faith and Riley and Heather did NOT want her to come, but of course she managed to sneak her way in. She couldn't care less about her, but she only came for one reason only, JC. She always had a thing for him and so she tagged along with her just because she knew that Riley grew up with him. "Excuse me," she finally said and strutted her way over to the bar.
    Faith was laughing at something JC said while rubbing her hand up and down his arm. Riley wanted to gag right there. "Faith, will you excuse us for a second?"
    JC turned away from Faith and looked at Riley. He had been admiring her every since she came out of the house. She looked beautiful with her long hair floating around her and she showed off her calves that were peaking out of her red knee length skirt. He couldn't take her eyes off of her, however when Faith decided to come along he had to force himself not to drool over the birthday girl.
    "Riley, we're talking," she said annoyingly. "JC, was just about to talk about his music."
    "I was?" he asked in a daze and looked at Faith.
    Faith giggled as she leaned forward just enough to expose her cleavage. "Uh huh."
    He forced a smile. "Maybe later. Right now I'd like to talk to the birthday girl if you don't mind."
    Faith's mouth dropped as she heard his words. She couldn't believe she was just turned down by a man. She was never turned down. Oh well, she'll get him alone soon enough. Riley was hardly competition. She finally smiled at both of them. "Sure," she said as she stood up and stepped closer to JC. So close, that JC had to lean back a little. "Catch you later then," she whispered and then walked away.
    "SO sorry to interrupt," Riley finally said angrily as she sat in the seat Faith was just sitting.
    He wanted to give her a big fat kiss for sending Faith away, but instead he decided to tease her. "Jealous?"
    She sighed. "Don't start."
    "You're jealous."
    "No, but Bobbie would be."
    JC's teasing grin faded and he looked away. "We broke up."
    "Oh," she said breathlessly. "I'm, I'm sorry."
    He let out a laugh. "No you're not."
    She sniffed. "Alright fine, I'm not. She was a bitch and you deserved better." He looked at her to see if she was kidding, but he could tell she was dead serious. He simply nodded and turned back to his drink. "You didn't have to come."
    He turned his head. "Why wouldn't I?"
    "Please," she laughed. "I know your sister made you, I'm not stupid."
    "Look," he said angrily. "No one makes me do anything I don't want to do. I PROMISED Heather that I would come and so here I am. But I wasn't FORCED to do anything I didn't want to do."
    Riley bit her lip and looked down at her lap. "I just figured you didn't want to after what happened."
    "It was a mistake," he said dryly, even though that night still haunted him in his dreams.
    She nodded in agreement, even though the words hurt her. "Yeah."
    "I tried to find you the next morning," he stated and he looked at her confused. "To apologize," he added. "For the way I acted afterwards."
    "Oh," she said and then nodded her head. "I took an early flight and left early."
    "Why?" he asked softly.
    "I didn't want to face you the next morning," she said and then looked up at his eyes to see what he was thinking. His eyes were soft and full of concern as he looked down at her. Damn him for caring, she cursed.
    "Riley," he said softly. "I..."
    "Can I steal him back now?"
    They both looked over to see Faith standing there with a smile. Riley sighed. "He's all yours," she said as she scooted off the stool.
    "Riley," JC said as he stood up as well which allowed their bodies to touch.
    "I need to go talk to the other guests," she said quietly and then turned and walked away.
    "Finally," Faith said in annoyance and then pressed herself against JC. "Now where were we?"
    JC forced another smile at her, before staring back at Riley's retreating back.

Part Nine