Note: This story was written for Joie Lee and the Nslashfic crew. I hope you all enjoy it.

***************The next Afternoon****************

"So, you gonna go with us?" I ask Joey.

"No. Man this is between you and Bobbee. You guys don't need me there."

"No Joe, this baby is going to be a part of your life too. Unless there is something I need to know that you haven't told me yet." I raise an eyebrow.

"No. What? No. Baby. You know better than that."

"I like to think that I do. Sometimes I wonder, and lately, with all the shit going on, we really haven't had any time to let each other know."

"I know and I'm sorry I can't take some of the stress off you baby." Joey sighs.

"You know...I'd really like you to come with us. I don't really think I can do this without you. With her being so big and sleepy all the time....I'm kinda worried."

"If you want me there baby, I'll be there. When do we leave?"

"In about 10 minutes. I gotta go get Bobbee, then we'll leave."

"Ok, I'll be ready. Just gotta brush my teeth."

"Thanks Joe."

"Anything for you Baby."

I walked down the hall and knocked on Bobbee's door, "Bobbee? You ready? We gotta go?"

She opened the door, "Yeah, I'm ready."

"Bobbee, did you look in the mirror before you opened the door? You should at least comb your hair. Have you been sleeping again?"

"Yeah, I fell asleep after you called. I'm sorry. I hope this damn doctor can explain why I'm so tired all the time."

I walk into her bathroom, grab a brush, "Come on. You'll have to do it in the car or we're gonna be late."

"Ok, I'm coming. Don't get so pushy, shit. You wouldn't be moving very fast either if you were carrying this load."

"I know and I'm sorry but we've gotta get going. If we aren't there on time, he won't see you."

"Ok, let's go then."

We leave the room and head down the hall. I knock on the door to our room, Joey steps out and we all head for the elevator.

"Why is he coming, Jayce?" Bobbee asks.

"Because, this baby is going to be with him and I and I'd like for him to be there."

"Oh, ok."

The rest of the trip to the doctor's office was quiet. Bobbee fell asleep as soon as the car started moving and I just leaned on Joey's shoulder.

We arrived at the doctor's office with about 5 minutes to spare. I had to fill out the insurance information, then we sat down and waited. When they called Bobbee, I got up and went with her into the examination room.

"So what exactly is the reason you are here?" The doctor asked.

Both Bobbee and I looked at him like he'd lost his mind, "Um...isn't that a bit obvious?" Bobbee asked.

"Well...All the chart says is that you are tired a lot. I just wanted to make sure that you weren't here for any other reasons."

"Um... You are doctor Hawley? Right?" I ask.

"No. I'm just the nurse. I have to take her pulse, blood pressure, and draw a bit of blood for some tests. I just need to make sure that she's here because she's pregnant. Not for anything else."

"Yes, she's here because she's pregnant. That's kind of obvious though, I would think." I growled.

"Jayce," Bobbee placed her hand on my arm. "She's only doing her job. I have to explain to her everything that's wrong and then when the doctor comes in I have to explain it again. They do that to make sure I'm not here for drugs or anything. Just making sure I'm not lying to them. Sit down and relax."

"Ok, but...What are you gonna do with that?" I ask as the nurse pulls out what appears to be a rather large needle.

"I told you I have to take some blood to run some tests."

"Oh, right."

"Jayce, you need to sit do......" She trails off as I pass out. "Could you go get our friend out in the waiting room? He'll take Jayce out there until I'm done. Thanks."

"He like this all the time?"

"No, just when someone whips out a needle. He's got a phobia about them."

"I guess so. I don't think I've ever seen anyone react that way. I'll be right back."

*************The Next Day at the Funeral***************

I come out of the shower and catch Joey's reflection in the mirror, "Damn, love. You look amazing."

He meets my eyes in the mirror, "Baby, you need to hurry up. We only have an hour and it'll take that long to get that nest on the top of your head looking like hair."

I walk over to the bed where my suit is laying, drop my towel and put my clothes on. Once I've got my pants and shirt on I stand up and Joey is just standing there staring at me, "What? What's the matter?" I ask, looking down at the shirt I'm buttoning.

"Nothing is the matter." He smile, "Just admiring you."

I smile and walk over to him, "Thank you love, but your nest isn't all that easy to tame either. You might wanna quit staring and finish getting ready." I kiss him on the cheek and walk back into the bathroom.

Twenty minutes later I come out and he's still standing in the same spot still fighting with his tie, "Love? Are you having a bit of trouble with that thing?"

"Yes. You know I can't tie a tie to save my life."

"Good thing I'm here then. Come here."

He walks over, "I love you Jayce."

I reach up, fix his tie, "I love you too Joe."

He leans in and kisses me. This was a kiss filled with more love than I've ever felt from him in our entire relationship.

"Joe? Are you ok?"

"Yeah, just a little emotional I think."

"Why, love?"

"I don't know. Things like this always set me off. I just get...."

I wrap my arms around him, "I'm here Joe and I love you with all my heart. You don't have to hide with me."

"I know baby, thanks for being here."

"I wouldn't be anywhere else."

He wipes his eyes, "We should probably make sure the others are ready to go."

I look at him and smile, "You ok now?"

"Yeah, I'm good. Come on Big Daddy, we gotta go gather the rest of this crew and get over to the funeral home."

I smack him on the butt, "If I'm Big Daddy, what's that make you?"

"Hey, Jayce." Chris calls from the other end of the hallway, "You guys ready to go?"

"Yeah, I see you and Dani are looking quite good together."

"But of course," She picked out the outfit. I just put it on."

I smile at Dani, "I see you have him trained well already."

"Hey, knock it off. No bright ideas from you gorgeous." Joey teases.

As we walk down the hallway we gather the rest of the clan. We pile into several limos and make our way over to the funeral parlor. Lance and Justin had gone ahead of the rest of us because Lance had to be there to make sure everything was set up the way the Carpers had asked it to be.

When we walked in the first thing I noticed was the strong scent of flowers. There were flowers everywhere.

"How many people are they having ceremonies for today?" Chris asks.

"Just Chrissy and the baby. Lance told them he wanted the whole place. Nothing else is taking place here today." I answered.

"Man, you mean all those flowers are for Chrissy and the baby?" He asks looking into a room that is basically wall to wall flowers.

"I guess they must be."

"Wow, that's amazing."

We walk into the room that they have set up for the ceremony, "Joe."

"Yeah, I'm right here baby."

"Stay with me today."

"Always."

I look around the room. There were pictures of Chrissy at various ages, pictures of her and Lance, her and her sisters, her and her parents. Eventually I couldn't avoid looking at the coffins any longer. The one for the baby was closed, of course, with a bouquet of flowers that was almost bigger than the coffin itself.

When I looked at Chrissy I was taken by surprise. She looked as if she were just taking a nap. There was a white quilted blanket laid over the edge of the lower portion of the coffin, a beautiful bouquet of red roses and white carnations on top. The coffin itself was a light pine with brass trim. Chrissy lay there with a smile across her face.

I reached behind me and grasped Joey's hand, "What? What's the matter, baby?"

I just stood there. I couldn't say a word.

Joey put his hand on my shoulder, "Baby? Is this the first funeral you've ever been too?" I nodded my head yes. "Hopefully, it will be the last one for a long time. Come on. We have to sign the registry then we'll go down the hall. I think I saw a sign for a lounge down the hall."

"Thank you Joey."

"For what?"

"For being the strong one today."

"Jayce. You're strong all the time. You're allowed to have a weak moment once in a while."

"JC. There you are. Thank you for coming. I don't think I could have made it without you here." Lance stated as he attached himself to me.

I wrapped my arms around him and smile weakly at Joey, "How could I not come Lance? You didn't doubt that we'd be here did you?"

"Gentlemen. If you take your seats please we can begin the ceremony." The priest states.

"Sorry." I comment. I disentangle myself from Lance's grasp. "Lance, you have to go sit down with the family. I'll be right behind you. Ok?"

"You'll be right here?"

"I'll be right here."

The priest reads several passages from the bible and then the family gets up and says a few words. Finally it is Lance's turn to get up and say a few words.

He gets up, walks to the front of the room. "Um..." he clears his throat. "I didn't know Chrissy for that long but I do know that she was a very special person. She brought a love into my life that I never thought I would ever have. I will never be able to repay the love that she showed me. There will always be a place in my heart for her and Ivy. I hope they are together in heaven."

After Lance's few words the ceremony was over. The actual internment was schedule for the next day and to keep fans away Lance would be the only one of the group actually attending.

The return trip to the hotel was silent. I leaned on Joey the entire trip. Hoping furiously that I didn't have to go to another one of those for a very long time to come.