Note: This story was written for Joie Lee and the Nslashfic crew. I hope you all enjoy it.
When we left the hospital Lance called Chrissy's parents. They said they'd meet up with us the next day to start working on the arrangements for the funerals.
*************The next Morning*************
"Jayce?" Joey asks from the bed.
"Yeah, Joe?" I respond from the bathroom.
"Do you think Lance is gonna be ok?"
I walk out of the bathroom and approach the bed, "I don't know. He seems to be taking it pretty well so far, but I think Justin stayed with him last night."
"Jayce. Sometimes I really wonder how you got as far as you have."
"Why's that baby," I ask. "Don't worry, I can guarantee nothing happened between the two of them last night."
"How can you guarantee something like that?"
I look at the bed next to ours, "Um....because, I'm pretty sure we would have heard them." I smile.
"Damn, when did they come in here?"
"Lance came in about an hour after we went to bed."
"Why didn't he go to Justin's room?"
I raise an eyebrow, "Baby, why would he?"
"Well...He is in love with Justin."
"True, but they've never told each other and I really don't think he'd be that comfortable with going to Justin just yet."
"I knew you were smart, baby."
"Yeah, well....one of us has to think with our brains once in a while." I smirk.
"Oh, yeah," he grabs me and pulls me down to him. "Remember what you're standing there in when you say something like that. If you weren't so damn sexy, I might actually think with my brain once in a while too."
"Hey, keep it down over there." Justin whispers.
"Sorry, man." I whisper back and smack Joey on the chest, "Stop, you're gonna wake Lance."
"Hey, you told me about Lance, but when did Curly join us and why?"
"I went and got him when Lance appeared at the door. I thought he'd need someone to hold him through the night and didn't really think it would be appropriate to hold him with you in the same bed."
"Thanks, I appreciate that. But I still don't understand why Justin didn't just take him back to his room. What am I missing?"
"Lance was asleep when I got back with Justin but not sleeping very well. When Justin crawled into the bed and put his arm around Lance he stopped thrashing around and slept a bit more soundly. I wasn't about to wake him up and niether was Justin."
"That's cool. I don't care, but do you think maybe tonight, they could just share a room. I don't wanna sound callus but I'd like to spend a little bit of time with my man, just me and you, you know?"
"Yeah, I hear ya, baby. I'd like a little time with you too, but with all the shit that's going on I don't really see it happening anytime soon."
"I know, but it would be nice to just have one day, just the two of us. Especially with the babies coming, you know we aren't gonna have any time once they get here."
"Maybe once we're done here, we can take a day for just us. We've got a couple days off before we gotta start on the tour again. How would you like that?"
"That'd be nice." He pulled me and kissed me. "But now we have to get ready to meet with Chrissy's parents, don't we?"
"Yes, I'm sure he's not gonna want to do this by himself."
Joey gets up and heads into the bathroom. While he's showering, I order breakfast for all of us and wake Justin up.
"Justin, time to get up man. Come on J."
He swats at me, "No, don't wanna, comfortable."
"J, come on. You're gonna wake Lance. Now stop being goofy and get up."
At the mention of Lance's name his eyes pop wide open, "Lance? What's wrong with...."
He trails off as he realizes he's half underneath Lance's body, "There's nothing wrong with him yet, but I don't think he'd be too appreciative if you woke him up telling me to stop waking you up. I can think of better ways for you to wake him up, now get it done so you two can get in the shower."
"Right, good point Jayce. Thanks for waking me up first."
"No problem. Joe's probably about done, but you're gonna need to get you and him some clothes first. Then wake him up."
"Thanks for letting us stay here, Jayce. I'll try to get him to stay in my room tonight. That way you guys can have a bit of peace and quiet. I know it can't be easy for you guys right now."
"Don't worry about it J. We're...."
"I heard Joey, earlier. He's right. You guys really do need to take some time for yourselves. I'd hate to see........."
"Nothing is going to happen to our relationship. I love Joe very much and I'm pretty sure he loves me just as much."
Joey walks out, wraps his arms around me, "Baby I love you more than I could ever tell you."
I lean back against his shoulder, "I know love and I love you more than anything in the world."
"God you two make me sick," Justin states as he squims out from under Lance and makes his way to the door. "I'll be back in a few. I'm taking a shower in my room, then I'll come wake him up. Try to keep the noise down a bit would you?"
"You got it J. We'll try not to wake him don't worry."
Justin walks out the door and quietly closes the door behind him.
"Is he gone yet?" Lance whispers.
"Yeah, he's gone. How you doing?" I ask.
"I'm doing better this morning. What time is it?"
"You got about 2 hours before they show up man." Joey answers.
"K, thanks. I think I'm gonna go over to my room, get a shower and just chill for a bit. Thanks for everything last night Jayce."
"Ok, you..."
"Don't Jayce. I'm not ready to deal with Justin just yet. I'm thankful for what he did last night but I'm not ready for a relationship with him. He's got too many issues and I'm just not ready to handle them right now."
"I understand Lance, but don't be too hard on him. He does love you."
"I know, and maybe someday we'll get together. Just not right now." He walks out the door.
"Damn, I didn't know...."
"Joe. Don't. Whatever issues Lance has with Justin are between them. We have enough to deal with. Can you just hold me for a bit? I need to feel your arms around me, before we have to start today. It's gonna be a really long day."
"Come on. Why don't we relax a bit before breakfast gets here?"
"Sounds like a great idea."
We climb back into the bed and just lay in each others arms for a few minutes. We didn't get a chance to get too comfortable before the knocking began again.
"You might wanna get some clothes on Joe." I said with a sigh.
"K, you might wanna too though."
I look down to see that all I had on was the towel I'd wrapped around myself when I'd gotten out of the shower. "Damn, I guess so." I walk over to the door and open it, "Hi, just bring it in and set it up over there. Thanks."
They set up the food and then quietly leave. I no sooner got the door shut when someone esle began knocking on the door.
"I'll get it baby, you go in the bathroom and get dressed." Joey said as he kisses my cheek.
"Thanks Joe, what would I do without you?"
"Never get dressed. I imagine. Although I don't think too many of our fans would really mind that. I know I wouldn't." He swats my ass as I walk away.
"Hey now." I smile. I gather my clothes and quickly rush to the bathroom.
Joey opens the door to a freshly showered Justin, Chris, Dani, Bobbee and Kelly. "Morning everybody, please come on in and enjoy the food."
"Thanks Joe. Hey, where'd Lance go?" Justin asks.
"He went back to his room. He needs some time to himself before the day starts."
"Oh." He states with disappointment.
Joey puts his hand on Justin's shoulder, "He's not ready for any more than what you did for him last night J. Don't rush him. He's got enough going on right now."
"Thanks Joe." He smiles.
I walk out of the bathroom to a roomful of people, "Well, morning all. So how is everyone today?"
I'm met with a chorus of fines, greats and oks.
"Great, so what's on the schedule for today? Anybody got any ideas?"
"We don't have anything as far as press conferences go." Justin states.
Another knock on the door. Joey gets up and answers the door again. Wade, Karen, Diane and Lynn all walk in.
"Wade? What do we have on the schedule for today?" I ask.
"We got rehearsal today at one. We have to be there for three hours. Then you guys are done for the day. We'll decide on rehearsal times for the rest of the week after we see what happens today."
"Good, thanks for giving us a bit of flexability."
"No problem. You're gonna need it. No arrangements have been made yet, right?"
"No, not that we know of." I answer.
Another knock on the door brings Lance and the Carpers. After the introductions have been made and breakfast deposited back in the hallway, we all sit down and discuss the arrangements for the funeral.
At first the Carpers were a bit nervous with so many people in the room but once they realized that it was acutally necessary to have us all in the room for the arrangements to be made and they got a bit accustomed to us they became relaxed. The funeral was scheduled for the day after the award show, which gave them two full days to make all the necessary arrangements.
"So what were you gonna name the baby, Lance." Mrs. Carper asked.
"Well, if it were a boy we were gonna name it Daniel James and if it was a girl it would have been Ivy Christine."
"So, the name on the gravestone should say..." Mr. Carper trailed off.
"I guess it should read Ivy Christine." Lance responded.
"And the last name?" I prompted.
"Well, I think it should have her father's last name on it?" Mrs. Carper stated with a slight smile.
Lance looked up sharply, "Are you sure?"
"I'm absolutely sure. You're the father. Why shouldn't your name be on her certificate and headstone?"
"As long as that's what you want. I'd be honored." Lance stated.
"Good, it's decided then. Ivy Christine Bass will be the name on the headstone for the baby." Mr. Carper comments. "We'll probably need to talk to you a couple more times before the actual funeral and all."
"That's fine. You have my cellphone number right?" Lance asks.
"Yes, we have yours and JC's. Just in case." Mrs. Carper answers.
The Carpers get up and head for the door, "If you need anything, please call. And don't worry about the cost for the funeral. You pick out what you want and have them send the bill to me. I'll take care of it." Lance stated.
"That's not necessary." Mr. Carper said.
"I know, but it's the least I could do for her."
"As long as you're sure about this. It would really help." Mrs. Carper stated, grabbing her husband's arm.
"I insist."
"Fine then, thank you very much and we'll make sure they send the bill here." She replied and they promptly turned and left the hotel room.
"I'm going back to my room for a while. Justin could you join me for a bit please?" Lance stated, heading for the door.
Justin jumped up and followed Lance out the door, "Make sure you get us before ya'll head out."
"Will do. Now go on." Chris says. "I think we'll be heading back to our room for a while too." He takes Dani's hand and helps her up from her spot on the bed.
Everybody got up and headed off in different directions. Leaving Joey, Bobbee, who had passed out on the extra bed that Lance and Justin had slept in, and I to a few hours of peace and quiet before rehearsals.
Before Lynn walks out the door she says, "JC. Don't forget Bobbee has a doctor's appointment at 1 pm tomorrow."
"Thanks Lynn. I'd almost forgotten about that."
"No problem hun. That's what I'm hear for."