"Josh, is that you?"

"Yeah, I hope you don't mind. I came back early."

Please don't be mad. I just wanted to be here for you.

God, he is so sweet. What would I do without him? How could I mind that he is here.

"No, I don't mind. In fact I'm glad that you are here. After the day I've had it is nice to see a friendly face."

"Good. I ordered some Chinese food. Are you hungry?"

See, all he does is worry about me. So sweet.

"Yeah, just let me take this crap to my room. I'll be down in a few. OK?"

"Great, I'll go dish the food out."

*******

"So what are you doing back so early? I thought you were staying at your mom's place to think some stuff out? Did you get it all figured out?"

"No, but I figured if your parents took it half as poorly as we discussed then you would probably need someone here. Even if you didn't really want to ask. So here I am."

"Well, thanks, but you really didn't have to."

"I know but I couldn't leave you hangin' any more than you would let me. I know you too well Lance. You say you don't want to talk or you don't want anyone around when all you really need is someone there. Not necessarily to talk to but just a body so you aren't alone. Now am I right or not? Tell me you weren't glad when you realized I was here. Even just the littlest bit. If not, I could leave and go hang at Justin's for a while."

"No you don't have to leave and you know you're right. I really was glad when I realized it was you. At first I thought Joey was here and had thrown some kind of wild, kinky party and left the mess for me to clean. Then I realized it was just you and your Chinese food. That stuff really reaks. I swear, how on earth do you eat that stuff so much? Don't you get sick of it just a little?"

"Not any more than you and the guys order pizza. Don't you get tired of having pizza every other day?"

"Ok, point taken."

He is so cute when he is thinking. I wonder if I should ask how it went? I don't want to bring it up, what if he gets upset.

"So, tell me what you did during your visit with Moma Chasez."

"Nothing much. Worried about you, thought about you. I spent most of my time sleeping and relaxing."

"Wow, what a shock there, JC Chasez sleeping."

"Yeah, I know."

They sit in silence for a while, both thinking about what to say next.

"Lance?"

Lance leans over and drapes himself over JC, crying. He spends the next few minutes crying.

"Lance, what did they say? Do you want to talk? You don't have to tell me anything if you don't want to but sometimes it helps." God, I feel like a blithering idiot.

"My dad just started yelling, sniffle, and my mom just told me to get out. They didn't want to talk about it or anything. I'm so glad that I reserved that flight back. I don't know what I would have done if I had to stay in Clinton and see there faces after that. I don't think I ever want to see them again. Is that a bad thing?"

"No, they treated you like crap. You have every right to be pissed." I know I am. When's the next flight. I think I'll go kick some Bass ass.

"JC, I know your pissed. I can feel it. Please don't be mad at them. I don't want you doing anything stupid." He's pissed. That means he really does care about me. Whoo hoo.

"I won't do anything stupid, but you can't blame me for getting pissed. Nobody hurts Lansten. Nobody. Not without answering to me for it."

"I don't blame you. I'm pissed too, but it's over and done with. What can we do about it?"

"Ok. You are taking this better than I figured you would. You are way too calm. What is going on? You aren't like gonna freak out and kill a bunch of people or something later on down the road are you?"

"No, I knew they wouldn't take it well. Granted I didn't think that it would be that bad, but I kinda expected it. I mean, I grew up with that attitude all my life."

"I know, but still man. Aren't you even upset at all?"

"Man, what do want. I just ruined your shirt, crying all over you. What else is there to do? I gotta move on. I can't dwell on the past forever."

"Alright man, I'm moving on then. So, what do want to do now?"

"It's like four in the morning. I think I'll try sleeping for a while."

"Yeah, that might be a good idea. See you in the morning."

"See ya."

I can't believe he was here waiting for me. God, that was the best feeling in the world. To walk in and see that man's face looking at me. I gotta figure out how to thank him. I know a few ways I would love to thank him but he may not appreciate that too much.

Whew, I'm glad he didn't get pissed that I was here. I can't believe his parents. I'd go there and smack some sense into them if I didn't think he needed someone here. He is so sweet. How could anyone hate him. What the hell is wrong with his parents. Yeah, like I have room to talk. Mine will probably freak out when I tell them. They are a little more open minded but still, I'm dreading that day. Anyway, I wonder how I can make Lance feel better. I don't care what he says. I know he is still hurting. I should call the guys in the morning and we should do something, all of us. Maybe go to Disney or something. I hope he is ok. Maybe I should go check on him before I go to sleep. [Walks to Lances room] He is so adorable when he is asleep. Ok, back to my room to try to get some sleep. Night my Lancey. I love you.