“Tell me again why we’re going to a flea market.” Lance said, reluctantly closing his laptop and turning to look at Justin.

Justin tossed Lance’s jacket at him. “Because JC wants to and I need company of the less emotional variety.” He said.

“Where’s Chris?” Lance asked, pushing an arm into the jacket.

Justin chuckled. “In the kitchen with JC. JC’s lecturing in frugalness 101.”

“Oh god, just what Chris needs another phase.” Lance rolled his eyes and headed for the door.

Justin patted Lance on the shoulder. “This too shall pass my friend.”

“I know but with each phase that passes a stranger one comes along. God next week he may decide that naked golf is the way to go.” Lance said, cringing as he heard JC teaching Chris the finer points of bargaining through the kitchen door.

Justin looked at Lance as his hand touched the kitchen door. “You know that if we make a break for it now maybe we won’t have to go.” He said almost pleadingly.

“Jayce’ll kick your ass too.” Lance said laughing as he pushed Justin through the door.

“Hey, Baby.” JC greeted Justin with a kiss on the cheek as he leaned on the counter next to him.

Justin grinned pressing closer to JC.

“Ok that’s just nauseating. Are we going soon so I don’t have to see this?” Chris asked pointing at Justin who had wrapped his arms around JC’s waist kissing his neck.

Lance laughing leaned over to kiss Chris just as the doorbell rang. “Nice timing.” He half growled turning to leave the kitchen.

Chris pulled Lance back by the waist of his pants. “No, let one of them answer it.” He whined.

“It’s our house.” Lance said, kissing Chris quickly and heading for the door.

“Well it better be important then. I was just about to get me some Bass ass damnit.” Chris gave his laughing friends the finger and followed Lance out of the kitchen.

Justin tugged on JC’s hand. “Let’s go see who Chris is about to murder.” He said, grinning mischievously.

~*~

“Shit.” Justin grumbled entering the hallway and seeing Lance talking to Joey at the door.

“It’s ok.” JC said, squeezing Justin’s arm and smiling encouragingly at him.

Justin kissed JC’s temple before moving down the hall toward his band-mates.

“JC. Justin.” Joey said, nodding stiffly at his friends as they approached.

“Hey Joey.” JC said, smiling and nudging Justin lightly with his elbow.

“What’s up, Joe?” Justin said, returning the nod.

Joey breathed a sigh of relief that at least Justin was going to try to be sociable. “Not much, man. I was bored and I was on my way home and saw you guys were all here. Thought I’d stop by and see what’s up.” He said.

“We were just... uh getting ready to go out.” Lance said, not wanting to hurt Joey by not including him but also not wanting to upset JC and Justin by inviting Joey along.

“We’re going flea marketing.” JC said, leaning into Justin and elbowing him inconspicuously.

Justin looked at JC sighed and then turned back to face Joey. “Why don’t you come along, man? It’ll be fun just the five of us out hunting bargains.” He suggested, grinning warmly under the proud smile JC was enshrouding him in.

Joey glanced hesitantly at JC and then back at Justin before asking, “Are you sure?”

“Yeah, man. The five of us haven’t done anything fun together in a long time. Besides Lance and I are gonna need another voice of reason on our side when JC and Chris start buying stupid shit they don’t need just because it was a good deal.” Justin said, laughing slightly at the offended look on JC’s face.

Joey nodded enthusiastically. “Yeah alright it sounds like fun.” He said.

“Let’s get going then.” Chris said, pulling Lance out the door behind him.

Joey laughed following Chris and Lance out the door.

JC halted Justin with a hand on his back. “Thank you.” He whispered, pressing a soft kiss to Justin’s lips.

~*~

The flea marketing was fairly uneventful except for the small skirmish between Lance and Chris. But to hear Chris tell it Lance was just being unreasonable. Lance’s take on it was more along the lines that Chris had lost his ever-loving mind. Justin stood to the side and laughed until JC said that if Chris didn’t buy the naked clown lamp he would. Justin of course had to put his foot down then because no way in hell was there going to be a naked clown lamp in his house. Clowns were scary enough but a naked clown was just fucking terrifying he said. JC argued that it was art. Chris’ argument was less eloquent but a little more plausible when he said that he just wanted it because the size of the clown’s dick would put Lance’s mother into hysterics. Joey snagged the lamp and bought it himself while they argued over it. Justin and Lance were of course very grateful. Joey laughed and said that it would make a great housewarming gift for Carson Daly’s new apartment. Nobody could argue with that because they knew Carson was a big enough ass kisser that it would at least be displayed whenever they visited his place.

~*~

“I’m hungry. Let’s stop and eat somewhere.” Chris whined from the from the front seat.

“I could eat.” Joey said, from behind Lance who was driving.

JC nudged Joey with an elbow laughing. “You can always eat, Joey.” He said from where he sat in the back between Justin and Joey.

“You hungry, Baby?” Justin asked, running a hand gently over JC’s stomach.

JC shrugged. “A little.” He smiled leaning back into Justin’s arms.

“I take it that means we’re stopping?” Lance asked, grinning in the rearview mirror at Justin.

“Yup.” Justin nodded, swatting the back of Chris’ head when he snorted.

“Hey there’s a McDonald’s. I haven’t been there in so long.” JC said, pointing excitedly at the McDonald’s not even a mile up the highway.

Lance pulled into the McDonald’s without asking because he knew that if JC wanted McDonald’s everyone else would be fine with it.

“Mmm mmm mmm, Big Mac’s here I come.” Chris said, rubbing his hands together gleefully.

JC groaned. “Oh god, that sauce on those things is just nasty. I don’t know how you can eat it.” He said.

“Yeah and I don’t know how you can sleep with Timberlake so I guess that makes us even.” Chris laughed and darted for the door when Justin swung at him.

“Let’s go get some food.” JC said, laughing and pulling Justin along behind him.

~*~

“Umm, you forgot my chocolate shake.” JC said to the kid behind the counter as he pushed the tray toward them and turned to take the order of the next customer.

The kid eyed JC up and down mumbling that JC didn’t look like he really needed a shake.

“Is everything here?” Justin asked, coming up behind JC and dropping the napkins and straws onto the tray.

The kid unceremoniously plopped the shake onto the tray as JC answered quietly that their order was all there.

Justin looked curiously at JC but kept quiet as he picked up their order and headed to the table that the other guys were already at.

JC slid into the booth next to Joey and Justin pulled a chair up to the end of the booth between JC and Chris.

Justin separated his own and JC’s food and then tossed the tray onto the table behind him. When he looked back what he saw shocked him. JC sat with his quarter pounder open in front of him looking down at it as tears rolled down his cheeks.

“Baby, what’s wrong?” Justin asked, moving closer to JC and pressing a gentle hand to the back of his neck.

JC looked down at his burger and sniffled in between hiccups. “Pickles. I... ha... ate... pic... kles.” He stammered.

Justin reached up to wipe the tears away with a napkin and asked, “Why didn’t you order it without pickles then, Babe?”

JC sniffled a little more before dropping the bun back down on top of his burger. “I did.”

“Well give it here. I’ll take it back up and ask for another one without pickles.” Justin said, reaching for the burger.

JC’s hand over it stopped him. “No, don’t worry about it. I’m not really all that hungry anymore.” He said softly.

“Well at least drink your shake, Jayce.” Justin said, pushing the shake toward him.

At the sight of the shake and Justin’s words the dam burst and JC began sobbing.

Justin looked frantically at his friends who gaped at JC. “Shh, don’t cry. It’s ok if you don’t want the shake, Baby.” He said softly, attempting to soothe the weeping man.

JC only seemed to cry harder the more Justin tried to calm him.

“Must be like hormones or whatever.” Lance said quietly.

Justin shook his head. “No, it’s more than that. He was acting funny when I came back to the counter with our napkins and straws. Did that punk say something to you, JC?” He asked, looking from JC up to glare at the kid behind the counter.

JC sniffled and mumbled. “I’m fat.”

“What?” Justin asked incredulously.

“I’m fat.” JC said again dropping his head onto his folded arms on the table.

Justin turned JC’s head toward him. “He called you fat?” He asked with contempt.

“He said, that I didn’t look like I needed the shake.” JC said hiding his face again.

“Son of a bitch.” Justin growled, knocking his chair over as he jumped to his feet.

“Whoa, Justin no.” Chris said, clamping a restraining hand down on Justin’s arm.

Justin looked down at the hand on his arm and then looked back up at Chris. “Let go, now.” He demanded.

Chris shook his head. “No, you can’t just go kick his ass. Think of the press.” He urged.

“Screw the press. I’m gonna fuck him up.” Justin roared, jerking at his arm again.

Lance grasped Justin’s shoulder. “Just, you can’t do this. I know he deserves it but think what the press will say about JC.” He reasoned.

Justin’s shoulders slumped at Lance’s words.

“Can we just go?” JC asked weakly, glancing up at his friends.

“Of course.” Justin said automatically, reaching down to help JC to his feet. “Thanks.” He said to Joey who’d been trying to calm JC down.

Joey nodded following JC out of the booth.

Nobody noticed as Chris plucked the shake from the table. “Hold on a second.” He said, heading toward the counter.

They all looked on in shock as Chris pretended to stumble and the shake went flying over the counter and hit the kid who’d upset JC square in the chest. “Oops, you didn’t really need that either, did you?” He asked, grinning mischievously at the horrified look on the kid’s face before ushering his laughing friends out the door.

~*~

“You ok?” Justin asked, leading JC into the living room and helping him sit on the sofa.

JC nodded mumbling that he was fine.

Justin frowned. JC was not fine. He hadn’t uttered a word the whole way home even when everyone else was yelling at Chris for singing his own version of Britney’s ‘Stronger’ at the top of his lungs.

Justin sighed kneeling on the floor at JC’s feet. “You’re not fine. You’re too quiet.” He said, resting his hands on JC’s knees.

“Why didn’t you tell me?” JC asked softly closing his eyes and leaning his head back against the sofa.

“Tell you what?” Justin asked, running his hands up and down JC’s thighs.

JC sighed and kept his eyes closed as he answered. “That I’m fat and grotesque.”

“What? Why the hell would I tell you that? You’re not fat, JC. And you’re definitely not fucking grotesque.” Justin growled.

JC covered his eyes with an arm. “I am too. That kid at McDonalds saw that I didn’t need that shake but you keep encouraging me to eat and shit. Why?”

“You’re not fat. And you need to eat to keep yourself and the baby healthy. Don’t even think about what that fucking idiot said.” Justin said, leaning forward and laying his head on JC’s legs.

“I am fat. That’s why you don’t wanna touch me. Don’t deny it, Justin. You haven’t touched me since you found out about the baby.” JC said, his voice beginning to shake.

Justin sat up and shot JC a disbelieving look. “I have too. I touch you all the time, Baby. Where is this coming from?” He asked.

“You touch me but you don’t touch me.” JC said, rubbing his stomach tenderly with his free hand.

“Are you talking about sex? Is that what this is about? Because I’m not molesting you every chance I get, you think I find you disgusting and fat?” Justin asked in astonishment.

JC peeked under his arm at Justin and then quickly covered his eyes again. “So, if I’m not fat why won’t you touch me?” He asked.

Justin groaned banging his head against JC’s knee. “It’s sure as hell not because you’re fat. I don’t wanna hurt you. If it weren’t for that you’d be beating me off. Trust me JC I don’t find you gross at all. You’re beautiful. You always have been and you’re even more so now.” He said, leaning forward to run his hands up JC’s sides.

JC’s legs fell apart allowing Justin to lean into him more. “You’re not gonna hurt me. I’m fine, Justin. I know you’d be so careful anyway. Just please don’t not touch me just because you’re afraid.” He begged.

“I won’t. I promise I won’t.” Justin whispered, dipping in to capture JC’s lips with his own. JC moaned into the kiss and Justin’s tongue slid between soft pink lips. JC felt Justin's hot tongue against his, moist and moving fluidly. JC's entire body felt on the verge of overheating, like any moment he would simply melt. He caught Justin’s bottom lip between his teeth as he gently pushed him back. “Touch me.” He whispered.

Justin lifted the hem of JC’s shirt lightly prodding him to raise his arms. JC held his breath as his shirt was lifted up and over his head in one fluid movement. JC guided Justin’s hand to his nipple. He rubbed the nub under his finger, feeling it harden, tweaking it lightly. JC sighed and ran his hand slowly over the back of Justin’s hand.

Justin leaned forward and ran his tongue along JC's nipple, licking it gently, half afraid of hurting him. JC’s fingers wound through Justin’s hair. Justin moved in even closer and sucked it into his mouth, running his tongue over it in slow circular motions.

“Feels good.” JC murmured.

Justin smiled, leaned in and tasted JC’s lips, wet tongue, the subtle taste of the cinnamon gum JC’d been chewing. Justin was so hard he thought his dick was throbbing in time with his heartbeat.

Justin’s hand ran along the smooth pale skin of his shoulder. Justin broke the kiss, his lips trailed across JC’s jaw to his collar bone. JC’s head rolled to the side. Justin continued to kiss, lick, and nip at his neck and collar bone. Justin slid his arm across JC's stomach, pulling him in closer until they were pressed together. Justin's hand was drifting down JC's side, stopping short when he reached JC's hip.

“Touch me.” JC whispered, guiding Justin’s hand just inside waistband of his sweat pants.

“Lift up a little.” Justin said, pressing soft kisses to JC’s rounded stomach and slowly drawing the pants down over JC’s hips. He chuckled when JC’s hard cock slapped against his cheek. Justin pulled back smiling, wrapping his hand around JC’s cock , feeling it hot and throbbing in his hand. He slowly stroked it and JC’s back arched, a low moan escaping his lips.

Justin grinned at the whimper that left JC’s lips as his hand moved away. He rested both hands on JC’s shoulders, touching smooth hot flesh. He felt JC's body with the palms of his hands, running across the smooth chest, over the ridges of his ribs and across the firm round stomach. Justin pressed a kiss to the middle of the mound, whispering his love.

Justin placed his hands on JC's thighs and spread them apart gently. JC inhaled sharply the second Justin’s tongue touched the head of his cock. Justin wrapped his lips around the head of JC’s cock and sucked gently. He loved the way JC’s body shivered under his hands, the way the muscles moved. He flattened his tongue and licked the underside of JC’s cock, feeling it twitch, and worked his way back up to the head. He wrapped his hand around the base, slipping the head between his lips he worked his way slowly down the shaft. JC’s fingers ran gently through his hair as he gagged slightly. He began to suck slowly and JC groaned.

Justin began a steady rhythm up and down the swollen shaft. He felt JC tremble underneath him and tasted the salty precome.

JC moaned his encouragement and ran his fingers lightly all over Justin’s head, cheeks, and ears. Justin’s fingers and tongue reaching all of the most sensitive spots. JC arched into him, hips thrusting until Justin tasted the first string of come. He choked a few times but, managed to swallow it all.

Justin leaned back to smile up at JC. JC’s smile was soft and his eyes were heavy. He touched Justin’s cheek tenderly with one hand, guiding him up into a soft kiss. His fingers tangled lightly in Justin’s curls as their lips parted. “Thank you.” He whispered.

“I love you. You’re so beautiful.” Justin said softly, gently urging JC to turn to the side and lay on the sofa. He crawled up beside JC wrapping him in strong arms, kissing his head until his breathing evened out and he slept.