*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. I do, however, own all fictional characters such as Devon, Mike, Ashley, Rachel and Carli. Plagiarism is still against the law. Thank you.

The airport had been crowed with hundreds, nearly thousands of people either coming back home or going back home, but they had somehow managed to find Cassandra White and her daughter Tabitha. Cassandra was a beautiful woman in her mid to late thirties, though her looks belied her age. She looked tired and ragged from doing too much in too little time. Her daughter Tabitha was a rambunctious pre-teen who happened to know who 'N Sync was, and just happened to be in love with Justin, and was very vocal about it, but Chris and Devon took an immediate liking to the pair.

Cassandra remained quiet and somewhat aloof, but her daughter seemed to make up for it. She chattered non-stop from the second she stepped off the plane, throughout most of the car ride back to the bed and breakfast. She was a constant joy, giving Chris a run for his life with information about Justin. Devon glanced over at Chris and gave him a knowing smile, as if to say 'Oi teenagers. Who knew?'.

"Is it true that Justin's the grumpiest in the morning?" Tabitha inquired, leaning forward in her seat so she could better hear the answer.

"That is a fact. He's so grumpy that we all leave him alone until he's gotten breakfast and taken a shower." Chris answered with a laugh as he turned down the radio.

"How about....," Tabitha thought for a moment. "What kinds of cereal does he like?"

"Just about anything, but last I saw him, he had a bowl of Apple Jacks." Chris replied, glancing in the rearview mirror. He hoped this would go over well with the Whites. He knew that Grace and henry would be happy to see their granddaughter again, but somehow he knew that the family had a falling out somewhere along the way between their daughter and themselves.

"Tabby, why don't you give Chris a chance to catch his breath?" Cassandra admonished softly as her eyes closed and her head rested back on the seat. She always seemed to be tired these days.

"Oh, I don't mind at all. Actually, it's probably better that she did ask me all these questions. You never know when you have to participate in some kind of trivia quiz." Chris laughed with a smile.

"

Mom." Tabitha sighed with a roll of her eyes. "He said it was okay."

Cassandra remained quite, feigning to be asleep. Tabby sat back in her seat, pouting with her arms folded over her chest, momentarily rebutted from any more inquires. Devon reached over and rested a hand on top of Chris's thigh, his hand immediately grasping hers and intertwining their fingers. She smiled and rested back in her seat, eyes drifting shut as she hummed softly to a song that was stuck in her head. Soon they reached the bed and breakfast and everyone was roused from their dozes. Chris helped Cassandra with the bags as Tabitha and Devon ran ahead of them to see who could reach the house first.

"Grams? Gramps?" Tabitha yelled as she opened the back door which opened into the kitchen. The house was quiet, with only the noises of the refrigerator and the clocks making their whirring and ticking sounds. Grace entered the kitchen, wiping her hands on the apron she was wearing, and stopped short when she saw her granddaughter taking off her winter coat and tossing it on one of the chair that surrounded the kitchen table.

"I don't believe it." Grace shook her head, tears springing to her eyes as she took a step forward. "Henry! Come see who's here!"

"Hi Grams!" Tabitha yelped rushing into the open arms of her grandmother. Grace enveloped the little girl into a hug and placed a kiss on her forehead.

"Look at you! All grown up." Grace laughed as Henry stepped into the room and gazed on with a smile.

"Hi Gramps!" Tabitha laughed as she hurled herself into his waiting arms. He spun her in a small circle, hugging the daylights out of her. Chris and Cassandra walked inside, each carrying bags. Chris set the bags down and smiled as he took the scene in. Cassandra also set her bags down and looked about the room with apprehension.

"Cassie." Grace whispered, a hand flying to her mouth.

"Hi mama." Cassie replied softly, not knowing whether she should walk over to her mother to deliver a hug or not. Henry stood silent, his eyes glued to his daughter as Tabitha rushed up the stairs to find the room she wanted to stay in.

"Hi daddy." Cassie sighed, finally realizing that it would have been best if she had let her daughter come alone.

"What are you waiting for, girl? Come and give you father a hug." Henry's gruff voice boomed throughout the room. Cassie smiled slightly and rushed into her father's arms. Grace glanced over at Devon and Chris who were making themselves busy with talking to one another quietly in the corner. Grace walked over to the couple with a smile and tears of joy filling her eyes.

"I don't know how you did it, but, thank you." she whispered bringing them each into a hug.

"It was our pleasure, Grace." Devon smiled giving the woman a firm squeeze.

"Bless your hearts." Grace laughed then turned back to her family.

Devon and Chris sat in front of a blazing fire, wrapped up in a quilt, watching a romantic movie in the livingroom. Everyone had gone to bed already, so the two were alone. Dinner had been a bit stressed with the tension of time and families being separated for too long, but had been fun nevertheless with all the chattering Tabitha had done. She regaled the whole group with tales from her school and friends. Her best friend happened to be in love with JC, which made the two girls a match in heaven. There was no one who didn't laugh at least once through dinner.

"You know something?" Devon mumbled, burrowing deeper under the quilt while snuggling closer to Chris.

"Hhmm?" he inquired, resting his chin lightly on top of her head.

"You're the most amazing guy I've ever known." she smiled, closing her eyes.

"I am, huh?" Chris chuckled as he hugged her a little tighter.

"Yeah. I think you're wonderful." Devon laughed pulling away from him so she could see his eyes.

"Believe me, the feeling is mutual." he whispered softly, brushing his lips gently against hers in a brief kiss, lingering only for a moment before pressing a kiss to her collar bone.

"You sure about that?" Devon countered, a small smile on her face.

"I'm positive." Chris nodded, pulling away from her.

"Only fools are positive." Devon replied, tracing his jaw line with her fingertips.

"Then I guess I'm a fool." he shrugged nonchalantly as he climbed to his feet.

"Hey, where are you going?" she pouted, her arms folding across her chest.

"Kitchen." he answered with a mysterious smile.

"What for?" Devon made a face.

"Champagne." Chris mumbled as he left the room. Devon flopped back against the couch and sighed as she picked up the remote control for the vcr to pause the movie for him. She smiled to herself as she thought of Chris. Her family thought he was the best thing to ever happen to her, and she tended to agree. He made her want do things instead of working. He made her feel loved, cherished, which was something she rarely felt. He taught her how to have fun, something she and her cousin had in common. He took her places, all over the world so she could experience other cultures. When he wasn't around, she just didn't feel like a whole person anymore. It was hard for her to explain to her friends who hadn't experienced love in it's truest form. They all laughed at her when she did try to explain. Being in love for her was like flying. Actually, more like falling without a parachute; thrilling, exciting, and all jumbled up.

After the movie had ended and the glasses of champagne were gone, Chris wandered upstairs to draw a hot bubble bath for Devon with scented soaps. He had planned on spoiling her all week, something he rarely got to do. He smiled with satisfaction as he lit the last of ten candles spread strategically around the room.

"Chris?" Devon called out from her room. "What are you doing?"

"Why don't you find out for yourself?" Chris countered with a laugh. Devon stepped into the room just as he blew out the match he was holding. She took in the sight before her and smiled, leaning back against the door frame.

"What's all this?" she inquired softly as she walked over to him.

"Something to pamper you. Thought you might like it." he shrugged, blushing slightly.

"You never cease to amaze me, Chris." she stroked his cheek with her fingertips. He closed his eyes for a moment then smiled brightly at her.

"I hope you packed a bathing suit."

"Why's that?" Devon inquired incrediously as she raised a delicate eyebrow.

"Because this isn't a normal bubble bath. This is a makeshift Jacuzzi, silly woman." he admonished playfully.

"A Jacuzzi with bubbles?" she laughed. He nodded with a devilish smile as he reached for a pair of shorts that he had proclaimed a bathing 'suit' for this occasion.

"I don't have one. It's the middle of winter. Why in the world would I be traveling to Vermont with a bathing suit?" Devon gave him a playful shove nearly causing him to topple backwards into the bathtub.

"Go check in the drawers." Chris shooed her out and into her bedroom to search for something suitable to wear to this little get together in the makeshift Jacuzzi. She muttered to herself the entire time, pulling drawers open and looking through things. She finally found a one piece suit with the price tags still attached and she gave the mirror in front of her a rueful smile. When she walked back into the bathroom, Chris was already lounging in the bathtub with another glass of champagne.

"Are you sure this thing is going to hold the two of us?" Devon questioned dubiously.

"I'm sure. Now, on to the main event." he laughed. She sighed with a shake of her head, then almost reluctantly climbed in. She settled back into his arms with a blissful sigh. Maybe this idea of his wasn't so bad after all. Chris reached behind him and grabbed the second glass from the small table next to the tub. He handed her the glass then wrapped an arm around her.

"This is relaxing. I'm impressed Kirkpatrick." Devon smiled resting her head back against his shoulder, eyes closed.

"Thank God. I was nervous for a second there." he teased softly in her ear.

"Why would you be nervous? I would like anything that came out of your mind." she brought his hand to her lips and placed a soft kiss on his knuckles.

"Which reminds me," Chris stated suddenly. He reached over the side of the tub and grabbed something off the table. Something that, thankfully, she hadn't noticed when she walked in. "I have something for you."

"Kirkpatrick," she groaned. "You're spoiling me way too much."

"This is the last gift. I promise." he chuckled holding the small bag in front of her. She shook her head with a smile as she took the bag from him. She opened it and peered inside. A small box rested at the bottom and she reached for it, not quite knowing what to expect. With Chris, it could be anything. She tossed the bag over the side then opened the small box. Her breath caught in her throat and she almost dropped the box into the tub. She hadn't imagined anything like this. Nothing even remotely like this.

"I was shopping with the guys one day, and something hit me like a ton of bricks. So I bought that because I wanted you to have it. And I wanted what goes with it. Everything that goes with it. The commitment, everything. Don't say anything right away if you're not sure. Think about it, because I don't want to rush you into anything." Chris explained in her ear. She glanced over her shoulder at him, her eyes bright with tears.

"Ask me." she whispered.

"Devon, make me happy and tell me you'll marry me." he countered, his lips a breath from hers.

"That wasn't a question." he shook her head.

"You want me to get down on one knee too?" he rolled his eyes with a smile.

"Kind of hard to do it a bathtub, so no. I just want to hear the question. It's the only time I'll hear it in my life." Devon punched him playfully.

"What question?" he feigned stupidity.

"Ask the question! Damn you, Kirkpatrick!" she laughed loudly.

"Fine!" he practically shouted before his lips met hers in a mind spiraling kiss. "Devon Summers, will you marry me?"

"I thought you'd never ask." she giggled as she glanced down at the ring.

"Now that I've asked, what's your answer?" Chris smiled as she settled back into his arms.

"That, I don't know about. I mean, if I do, I'd have to break up Raul and I'd be very upset." she sighed with a shake of her head.

"Then I'll just have to make it up to you." he kissed her earlobe, causing her to shiver slightly.

"Raul will be hard to make up for." she laughed when his teeth dug playfully into her shoulder.

"Answer me, woman!" Chris shouted sternly.

"Yes! Yes, yeesh. Yes I'll marry you." Devon shouted back with a laugh. Chris took her left hand in his and slipped the diamond onto her ring finger.

"I love you." he smiled as he kissed her lips.

Devon flopped on her bed, a intensely happy smile on her face as she picked up the phone and dialed her cousin's number. It was nearly two am, but she couldn't hold it in any longer. She had to tell someone, and Mike had always been great for an interesting phone call at this hour. The phone rang three times before someone picked up.

"Grand Cental."

"Hi Mike...you're still up?"

"You're a bright one. I'm so proud to call you my cousin."

"Not a good night I take it."

"No, not really. Josh just got here about three hours ago and he's been on his damn cell phone nearly the whole time. I think he keeps me around as a decorative piece that he can gaze longingly at to remember the good old days when I actually talk, moved and kissed."

"Oh God, I'm sorry Kayla."

"Sure, laugh at my frustration. Go ahead. See how I care."

"You're laughing too."

"Either I laugh or I cry. Take your pick."

"I like you laughing better."

"Alright, then quit your bitching."

"Okay. I'm sorry you haven't had any time with JC."

"Me too. Anyway. What's up? You don't generally call at this hour unless something important has happened, so talk to me."

"What's that noise?"

"Oh, I'm throwing paper wads at JC. Using him as target practice so to speak. His head is the main goal, but I have yet to hit that. I'm pretty good at getting him around the chest and back area, though."

"Okay, carry on. Anyway, I have some news that will shock you into speechlessness."

"Oh Lord, here it comes. He broke up with you, didn't he?"

"Such a pessimistic little girl. No, it's nothing like that."

"You're pregnant."

"No! What do you take me for?!"

"Sorry. I forgot who I was talking to."

"I guess you did. Chris gave me something tonight."

"If he gave you his hair stylist's number, it's true love."

"It's something better than that."

"Would you just tell me already!"

"I'm getting married."

"To Chris?"

"No, to JC. Of course Chris."

"Wait. Our Chris? The one who swore he wasn't going to marry until he became to weak to walk?"

"That's the one."

"I need to sit down."

"So sit down."

"I am now. How did he propose?"

"He made the bathtub into a makeshift Jacuzzi and put bubble bath in it. He proposed to me while we were drinking champagne in the tub."

"Well, at least he wasn't unoriginal."

"I'm scared, Mike."

"Of what? You know you love him. Now you know he loves you just as much."

"Married life. I'm a workaholic."

"And he's not?!"

"Okay, so he is. But it's not really by choice."

"And neither is yours. You do it just to fill up the time between Chris sightings."

"That's not true."

"Oh no?"

"Damn it, I hate it when you're right. What was that noise?"

"Josh threw a pen at me."

"What for?"

"Cause he's bored. His phone call ended ten minutes ago."

"Okay, then I'll let you go. Have fun with him, and don't hurt him."

"I won't. Badly at least."

"Whatever. I don't want to know." Devon laughed softly as she hung up the phone. She rested her chin on both her hands, closing her eyes. Within minutes, she was asleep.

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